by Paul Apple | Apr 24, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE WILL PUT THE WICKED IN THEIR PLACEI. (:1-2) THE RIGHTEOUS REJOICE WHEN THE WICKED ARE FINALLY JUDGEDA. Give Thanks wholeheartedly“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart”B. Testify to God’s wonders“I will tell of all Thy...
by Paul Apple | Apr 24, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DESIGNED SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT MAN TO REIGN OVER THE EARTH IN MAJESTYI. (:1-2) GOD REIGNS IN MAJESTYA. His Intrinsic Majesty“O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth,Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!”B. His Rightful...
by Paul Apple | Apr 24, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: INTEGRITY ENSURES PROTECTION FROM FIERCE ADVERSARIES SINCE THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE WILL VINDICATE THE INNOCENT AND EXECUTE THE WICKEDI. (:1-2) THE RIGHTEOUS TAKE REFUGE IN GOD FROM FIERCE ADVERSARIESA. The Role of Protector1. Our Responsibility = Take Refuge‘O...
by Paul Apple | Apr 24, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD HEARS US AT OUR BREAKING POINTI. (:1-3) WE STRUGGLE WITH HOW GOD CAN WAIT SO LONG TO DELIVER USA. The Nature of the suffering — Discipline but not Wrath“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Thine anger,Nor chasten me in Thy wrath”B. The Intensity of the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 24, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THOSE WHO SEEK GOD’S FAVOR IN THE MORNING REJOICE IN GOD’S PROTECTION AGAINST ALL ENEMIESI. (:1-3) MORNING DEVOTIONS ARE CRITICAL: CRY FOR HELP IN THE MORNINGA. Attempt to Gain a Hearing“Give ear to my words”“Consider my groaning”“Heed the sound...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA:UNJUSTIFIED REPROACH AND REJECTION SHOULD NOT DISTURB THE QUIET CONFIDENCE OF THE GODLY LEADERI. (:1) PRESENT PETITION FOR HELP INSPIRED BY PAST RELIEFA. Answered Prayer is the Goal for Petition for Help“Answer me when I call”“hear my prayer”B. Righteousness...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD PROTECTS AND DELIVERS HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR ENEMIES(“A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.”)I. (:1-2) THE ENEMIES ARE CIRCLING IN FOR THE KILLA. (:1) The Odds are Getting Worse“O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!Many are rising up...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REBELLIOUS WORLD LEADERS MUST BOW DOWN BEFORE GOD’S ANOINTED RULER OR BE BROKEN BY GOD’S WRATHNote: It is important to determine who is speaking in each sectionI. (:1-3) THE FUTILITY OF FIGHTING AGAINST THE RULE OF GOD — FORGET IT!A. (:1)...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RIGHTEOUSNESS IS WORTH IT – BOTH NOW AND FOREVER!(THE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER AND BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUSVS. THE LACK OF CHARACTER AND JUDGMENTS OF THE UNGODLY)INTRODUCTION: Poem by Robert Frost –”Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT OF THE FALL OF JERUSALEM VINDICATES THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD AND THE ACCURATE PREDICTIONS OF JEREMIAHINTRODUCTION:This final chapter of the book of Jeremiah is apparently appended by another editor. Jeremiah’s own lament over the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON (TO POUR OUT GOD’S WRATH AND SECURE THE RELEASE OF GOD’S REMNANT) IS DESCRIBED IN A SERIES OF GRAPHIC IMAGESINTRODUCTION:These oracles against the nations reach their pinnacle in the scathing account of destructive judgment against...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BABYLON HAS BEEN CAPTURED – THE POWERFUL PAGAN WORLD SYSTEM WILL BE DEVASTATED BY DIVINE JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION:In light of Rev. 18-19, we must view Babylon as an actual pagan nation that will ultimately be overthrown in the end times, as well as symbolical of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DIVINE JUDGMENT WILL EXPOSE THE ARROGANCE AND FALSE SECURITY OF NATIONS THAT TRUST IN THEIR OWN RESOURCESINTRODUCTION:Powerful nations imagine that they are secure and impenetrable. They arrogantly trust in their military strength, their material resources,...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PRIDE AND IDOLATRY WILL NOT GO UNJUDGED –DESPITE SEEMINGLY INVINCIBLE STRENGTHINTRODUCTION:When someone has lived for a long time in a nation that has enjoyed peace and prosperity because of their superior military capabilities, it is inevitable that...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD CONTROLS THE ULTIMATE FATE OF THE PHILISTINESINTRODUCTION:When the sword of the Lord has been unleashed in judgment against sin, it cannot be restrained or mitigated by human intention or intervention. The God of all the nations will establish His...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD CONTROLS THE ULTIMATE FATE OF THE POWERFUL NATION OF EGYPTINTRODUCTION:Jeremiah serves not only as a prophet to the nation of Judah, but as God’s messenger to declare His sovereignty over the affairs of all nations. Here we begin the final section of the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DON’T SERVE GOD TO SEEK GREAT THINGS FOR YOURSELFINTRODUCTION:First, we need to recognize that Baruch was a faithful servant of the Lord. His life was characterized by courage and hardship in remaining a partner to Jeremiah in bringing difficult words of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: MAKE NO MISTAKE – GOD WILL CERTAINLY JUDGE YOUR SIN –DON’T PICK A FIGHT WITH GODINTRODUCTION:The world is very creative in contradicting God’s claim that sin will inevitably lead to divine judgment. They are willing to admit the specifics of their behavior...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: HUMAN ARROGANCE MUST BOW BEFORE GOD’S ABSOLUTE AUTHORITYINTRODUCTION:You would like to think that God’s miraculous redemption of His people from bondage in Egypt would have confirmed their hearts in submission to His providential care. But when times of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DISSEMBLING IN SEEKING GOD’S WILL REVEALS A HEART SET ON PURSUING ITS OWN DESIRESINTRODUCTION:This passage represents a perversion of that famous hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord!” For here we see God’s remnant in Judah already on the way down the forbidden...