Why did God turn the sundial back ten degrees? Was it as a sign that He would heal Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:7-11) or as a sign that He would defend the city against the Assyrians (Isaiah 38:4)? Is there a contradiction?
What a wonderful thought the apostle Paul presents. Those who are raised with Christ are said to have died, and now have a life hidden with Christ in God! In the rest of Colossians 3, the apostle goes on to tell us what that means in the life of the Christian.
Before we look at the life changes which must take place, Paul alludes to our entrance into Christ. His mention of a death and a resurrection is an allusion to the penitent believer’s baptism. Only those who have been baptized into Christ can be raised to life with Him (Romans 6:3-5). Until we are buried in the likeness of His death, we cannot be in the likeness of His resurrection.
How should strangers be treated? Should they be killed (Numbers 1:41; 3:10, 38; 18:7; Deuteronomy 7:2) or should they be treated kindly (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:19; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:10; Matthew 25:35)? Is there a contradiction?
With just 5 verses, Psalm 100 is among the shortest in the Bible. However, the ability of a psalm to encourage us in the faith is not determined by how much is written, but what is written. The five verses of this Psalm are packed with encouragement for the child of God.
1 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Did Joshua remove the twelve stones from the Jordan River? Joshua 4:20 says that he took them to Gilgal, but Joshua 4:9 says they are still there. Is there a contradiction?
As we look at the Psalms of David, certainly we see an element of praise to God in all of them. But in particular, the last five Psalms (146-150) emphasize the praises of God. In the 59 verses of these Psalms, the word “praise” appears 43 times. Needless to say, these are Psalms of praise!
Psalm 148 is of particular interest, for it is the basis one of my favourite hymns, “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah,” the 1899 work of William J. Kirkpatrick.
The Psalm naturally divides into two sections, verses 1-6, praises to God from the heavens; and verses 7-14, praises to God from the earth. The Psalmist very emphatically reveals that everyone and everything should give praise to God. Let’s consider the Psalm today.
As we read the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse, there are some interesting things to note about His work to preach the gospel to the lost. In looking at just a few verses from the letter, we can learn a great deal about our responsibility to share our faith with others, and of the extent to which God’s people can affect the world, if we would do as God commands.
The extent of the work of the early church as recorded in Colossians 1:23 is simply wonderful! Paul wrote:
…if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:23)
Who were the sons of Heman? 1 Chronicles 25:4 lists fourteen sons. 2 Chronicles 29:14 lists two sons, neither of them from the list in the previously mentioned text. Is there a contradiction?
Jesus spoke with a crowd of religious leaders about who their father is. They tried to associate themselves with the patriarch Abraham, but Jesus said,
If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. (John 8:39)
Their claim to Abraham was based upon physical lineage, not obedience to God’s will. Jesus then affirmed, “You do the deeds of your father.” Whether they knew yet what He meant by this statement, we do not know, but they retorted,
We were not born of fornication; we have one Father – God.(John 8:41)
What was the payment from Solomon to Hiram? Was it “wheat and oil” (1 Kings 5:11) or “wheat, barley, wine and oil” (2 Chronicles 2:10)? Is there a contradiction?
