Category Archives: Bible Study

Topics and Themes from the Bible

God in a Box

Well, sorry, but God cannot be put in a box.

Columbia River

Columbia River


Mankind cannot make a box big enough for God.  After all, God created the universe including electrons, protons, atoms, molcules, and energy of all different kinds. He created the universe, the solar system, our galaxy and the earth. So could man build a box big enough for God? God created mankind. God created the heavens and the earth.

Now, history shows all kinds of events where man has tried to limit God, put Him in a box, and try to control nature. Even human beings do not get to choose when they are born or when they die. We do not get to choose our parents and which century we are born into.

The Bible is full of people who have tried to put God in a box. People have their view and image of God, but God is God. The best way to learn about God is to read the Bible.

God is 100 percent sovereign which means He is in control. So it only makes sense to cooperate with Him.

@DrewHaninger: God cannot be put in a box, He is too big (twitter.com/DrewHaninger)

Faith is not God on our schedule, it is trusting till God decides.

Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel

Jerusalem, Israel, is very special place to God.

Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem is mentioned almost 800 times in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament Abraham offered Isaac on Mount Moriah, the site which today is known as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem, Israel

David reigned from Jerusalem and spoke often of it. In the New Testament Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was in Jerusalem many times and spoke of it. The major writers of the New Testament including Peter, Paul, and John spoke of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Israel Walls

Jerusalem, Israel Walls

Psalms 83:1, O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!

Psalms 132:13-14, For the Lord has chosen Zion;he has desired it for his dwelling place: This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

Psalms 122:6-7, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!  Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem, Israel

The Deer Desires and Longs

Two Deer Below Tree

Two Deer Below Tree – only God satisfies

Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?  Wow, in this verse the deer is a picture of people longing and desiring something that’s really satisfies. The only thing that truly satisfies is God and His presence.

Multnomah Lower Falls, Oregon

Multnomah Lower Falls, Oregon

In John 4 we have a women asking Jesus about worship.  Jesus talks about Himself being the living water that really satisfies.  The only thing that truly satisfies is God and His presence.

Two Deer Looking at Me

Two Deer Looking at Me

 

Let it Go and Focus

Focus on Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

Focus on Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

Let it go and focus

Mary let go of  the kitchen duty and listened to Jesus words.
Luke 10:39-40 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving;

Red Flower in Focus

Red Flower in Focus

The apostles let go of kitchen duty; this is called delegation.  Apostles let go of kitchen and assigned it to seven men to manage so they could focus on the word and ministry.  Acts 6:1 Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

Focus on Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

Focus on Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach

God is Spirit

Columbia River, Washington and Oregon

Columbia River, Washington and Oregon

24 God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Notice there are two words “spirit” and “Spirit” in this passage. The Spirit (upper case) refers to the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. The spirit (lower case) refers to our human spirit. God gave us a spirit, soul and body. So we could use our spirit to worship and contact God who is Spirit.

God’s Word is Settled in Heaven

Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

Sunrise over the Dead Sea, Israel

Sunrise over the Dead Sea, Israel

Yet it is God’s intention that His Word would also be established on the earth. There seems to be no problem with the acceptance of God’s word in heaven. In heaven there is no opposition to God’s word. In heaven His will is done. Now on the earth we have some problems due to sin and Satan.  On earth there is a battle , in heaven no battle.

Let’s continue on to verse 101, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” Again the Word is something to keep. Verse 103, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

The Word of God is something sweet to our taste. Verse 105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Here we see that the Word of God is light to us; it tells us where to go. It shows us where to go. Verse 107, “I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.” Again we see that the Word give us life.

I really like this next verse, verse 130, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”  Notice it doesn’t just say, “The reading of Thy word gives light”, or, “The study of the Word gives light”.  You do need to read the Word and study the Word, but this verse says, “The entrance of Thy word gives light”. This passage always reminds me of John 6.  Jesus was speaking to the disciples, there. He was talking about Himself being the bread of life that came down from Heaven.

At the end of that portion He says in verse 63, “…The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” In order for the Word of God to have entrance into us, first of all, our heart has to be prepared to listen to the Word.  Secondly, we need to have the attitude that we are going to obey the Word of God. The Word of God needs to be spirit and life to us because when it is spirit and life it can enter into our hearts.

Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

Psalm 119

Deer on the Golf Green

Deer on the Golf Green

Hearing God’s Word in Psalm 119

Verse 25, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.” The word, “quicken” means to give life or to raise from the dead. That means the Word gives us life. That always reminds me of Hebrews 4:12 where it says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” This verse says that the Word of God is living. In other words, there is life in the Word of God.

We continue on to verse 74, “They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.” There is hope in the Word of God.
Verse 76, “Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.” This means there is mercy, kindness, and comfort in the Word of God.

Verse 81, “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” Again the Word gives us hope, and it gives us salvation. Verse 82, “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” In other words, we are expecting comfort from the Word of God.

Verse 89, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” In other words, in the heavenlies there is no problem with the Word of God, but on the earth there is some problem. That’s why the Lord Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven“, indicating that in Heaven there is no problem with the Word of God. Yet, Jesus taught us to pray to bring the will of God from the heavens to the earth.

Beth Shean, Israel

Beth Shean, Israel is an ancient city in northern Israel situated near the Jordan River and the Jezreel Valley.

Beth Shean, Israel

Beth Shean, Israel

Beth Shean is about 17 miles south of the Sea of Galilee.   The city seems to have been established thousands of years before the time of Christ.  It is also know as Scythopolis.

It may have been visited by Jesus in Mark 7.31 “And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.”

Beth Shean, Israel

Beth Shean, Israel

The city was allotted to the tribe of Manasseh. Joshua 17:11 “And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth- shean and its towns,…”

But the city was not conquered. Judges 1: 27 “And Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth- shean and its towns, nor of Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.”

Beth Shean, Israel

Beth Shean, Israel

King Solomon made Beth Shean a major city:

1 Kings 4:7 “And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year. ” 1 Kings 4:12 “Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth- shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth- shean to Abel- meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;”