1 Corinthians 15:1-34. In this great resurrection chapter the Apostle Paul spoke of the risen Christ: Faith’s reality, the risen Christ: Our hope, the last enemy destroyed, the error of denying the resurrection, the glorious body and our final victory!
Proverbs 13 lists more proverbs of Solomon.
Psalm 69, of David. When you get that sinking feeling, this Psalm lifts you back up, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
1 Corinthians 11:17-34. The Apostle Paul deals with with desired conduct at the Lord’s Supper and the very institution of the Lord’s Supper. Examine yourself so you may participate in a worthy manner.
Proverbs 12 is one chapter in the collection of Proverbs of Solomon.
Psalm 67, a Song. A short, beautiful Psalm of praise and singing. It ends with the prophetic “God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.“
Psalm 68, of David. George Horne described how this psalm was assigned to Pentecost in the Anglican liturgy, no doubt because it describes gifts given upon ascension and is quoted in Ephesians 4. “This beautiful, sublime, and comprehensive, but very difficult Psalm, is one of those which the church has appointed to be used on Whitsunday.”
Romans 8:28-39. This is my favorite chapter in all the Bible, and is far too important for my feeble comments. Read it together with all the Old Testament references, let them serve as the commentary; then read it again. Let it sink in, then pray with thanksgiving.
Proverbs 11. The list of Solomon’s Proverbs is many chapters long.
Psalm 62, of David. David, as always claimed God to be his rock and salvation, even when surrounded by false and evil men, he would not be moved. All power belongs to God.
Romans 7. Thanks to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are free from the Law when we belong to Him. Yet, we struggle with sin; “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” The chapter ends up with “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” It will all make sense in chapter 8.
Esther 5. Esther prepared for a banquet with only her, the King and Haman in attendance. Meanwhile Haman’s rage against Mordecai was so great that he had built a seventy-five feet high gallows, on which to hang Mordecai.
Esther 6. As it so happened, the king had a case of insomnia. To become drowsy he had the annals read to him, which told that Mordecai had averted a coup. During the banquet the king wanted to honor somebody, and rather than Haman, Mordecai was honored.
Esther7. And so it was, Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.
Psalm 61, of David. As so often happened, David was in trouble and cried out to God, proclaiming his trust in God, singing praises.
Romans 5:1-11. This is a great chapter and tells how faith triumphs in trouble, one quote: “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Proverbs 10 contains some of the wise sayings of Solomon, with New Testament thoughts sprinkled in.
Psalm 56 , of David. The Psalm is from the time when the Philistines captured him in Gath It deals with the period between the visit to the tabernacle at Nob and David’s arrival at Adullam. David was alone, desperate, afraid – and had no one left to to trust but the LORD.
Psalm 57 , of David. Charles Spurgeon noted, “There are four of these ‘Destroy not’ psalms, namely, the 57th, 58th, 59th, and 75th. In all of them there is a distinct declaration of the destruction of the wicked and the preservation of the righteous.” It ends with “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.“
Psalm 58, of David. A short, but intense prayer that God would punish the wicked and judge righteously.
Acts 27:13-44. Against better advice from God via Paul the captain and Centurion ignored Paul’s warning, and sure enough a great storm grew up and they were shipwrecked on Malta, but all got safely ashore.
Proverbs 9 contrasts the way of wisdom with the way of folly.
Psalm 51, of David, written after Nathan confronted David after his adultery with Bathsheba. This Psalm explains fully, how God would say, after David was pointed out to be both an adulterer and a murderer: “He was a man after God’s own heart”.
Psalm 52, of David. The Psalm is a contemplation of David, contrasting the final end of evil men with the rewards of the righteous.
Psalm 53. This is a short Psalm telling about fools that say “No God”
Acts 24. The Apostle Paul was on trial before Felix. He put up a vigorous defense, but at no avail. Felix adjourned the trial until Lysias would come back. Two years passed and Felix kept Paul in prison, hoping for a bribe so he could release him. None came and Felix was replaced by Justus, but Paul was still kept in prison past the time allowed, in order to keep the Jews pacified.
Proverbs 8 praises the excellence of Wisdom.
Psalm 49, of the Sons of Korah. This psalm is more of a teaching Psalm and give instruction on how to live and gives hope of salvation “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,For He shall receive me”
Psalm 50, of Asaph. God says: “for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.” and “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Acts 15. There was much ado about circumcision, and the believers decided to settle the issue at the Council at Jerusalem, which led to the Jerusalem decree, (in short: Abstain from fornication and from blood). Barnabas and Paul argued about Mark, so they split up, and Paul took Silas and embarked on the second missionary journey.
Proverbs 7. Keep the Law, Seek wisdom and above all, stay away from harlots! They will use every trick to get you!
Psalm 44. Of the sons of Korah. It is a Psalm recounting the great victories God gave the Israelites when they followed God, and the humiliating defeats they suffered when they did not. Yet the psalmists were trusting God and claimed they had not forgotten the Lord and ended with an urgent plea for help.
Luke 20:20-47, continuing Holy Week, it is now Tuesday, Jesus was teaching in the Temple and his authority was questioned. Standing in Solomon’s colonnades the religious leaders tried to entrap Jesus so they asked him: “Is it legal to pay Taxes to Caesar?” You know the answer, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.” After that it was the Sadducee’s turn: What about the Resurrection? Jesus answered with scripture: “How can David call his descendant Lord?” Jesus finally warned the people: “Beware of the teachers of the Law.”
Proverbs 5 tells of the perils of adultery and does not mince words.
Luke 11:1-28. The disciples asked Jesus on how to pray and he gave them the pattern prayer, also called “The Lord’s prayer.” On prayers, be importune, ask, seek, knock, the key verse is: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Jesus healed a mute man and some said it was by Beelzebub (the lord of flies). Jesus knew their thoughts and rebuked them.
Proverbs 4. Wisdom is supreme and there is security in wisdom.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 