Posted by: ThomasMartin
on Dec 21, 2009
Zephania 3:14-17.
Christmas is near! Our singing, rejoicing and exalting is like a new verse of the Old Testament hymn: ʻThe Lord, our God, is in our midst!ʼ Among the benefits of Godʼs presence, the old verse mentions: Defeat of enemies and victory in battle. This language describes Godʼs help in military terms. The new verse of praise concentrates on Godʼs power to free us from judgments, Godʼs pleasure with us, Godʼs love in renewing us, and Godʼs loud song of exaltation over us. We prefer to understand God more as a loving parent than as a militant victor.
Posted by: ThomasMartin
on Dec 20, 2009
Isaiah 11:1-10
The other day I pulled up to a four-way stop sign in my neighborhood and watched as another car headed my way. The car wasn’t slowing down, so I just sat. As the car breezed through the intersection, I just looked at the driver and shook my head. Finally, he realized what he had done and threw up his hands in apology. He never saw the sign!