“It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas” at the “Little Condo”:
A NEW CHRISTMAS SONG?
Michael was very interested in Pastor Ronnie Rogers’ message on the Magi from the Christmas sermon at Trinity, Norman, last Sunday — especially that there may have been more than just 3, and perhaps between 50 and 200 in the entourage. After pondering a few minutes, he said, “I’m trying to fit all this new information into the tune of ‘We 3 Kings’ …. ‘We 50-to-200-Magi, from Babylon are …”!!
Psalm 130 begins with a couple of pleas to the Lord to hear the Psalmist’s prayers. In :1 he says: “I have cried to You, O YHWH” and again in :2, “Lord, hear my voice.” He wants God to hear and answer His prayers. Then, as if wrestling with the objection that the enemy of our souls (or perhaps his own conscience!) whispers in his heart, “You are not worthy of an answer from Him!”, he cries in :3, “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?”
INTRODUCTION:
Dr. David Dockery is one of the most highly-respected leaders in the SBC, and his observations should be considered with appropriate regard. In the Preface to the book, Dockery states his purpose: “I have attempted to provide a careful overview of the important themes related to a doctrine of Scripture.” He performs his task well, giving a brief, but surprisingly comprehensive summary of the doctrine of the Bible. (Though currently out-of-print, second-hand copies of the book are available on amazon.com, and may be found in many college and seminary libraries as well.)
Dockery quotes Basil Manley, a Baptist patriarch: “Originality on a subject like this, which has been under discussion for centuries, would surely be in error.” This is a key regarding Dockery’s approach to the book. It is NOT very “original” or “exciting” reading, but it is solid, scholarly, conservative, and is a reliable guide to understanding a pillar doctrine of our faith. Everything else we believe hinges on what we find in the word of God. Many Christians of the last generation have sold out to “creativity” — often at the expense of truth. While The Doctrine of the Bible is not “exciting” reading, Baptists across the board would profit greatly from a familiarity with its contents.
CHAPTER SUMMARIES: Continue reading
In Psalm 126:4 the Psalmist prays: “Restore our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.” That phrase “the streams in the south” is literally, “the stream beds of the Negev.” The Negev was the desert wilderness to the south of Israel. In it there were “stream beds” or gullies, which were formed at one time by the rains which previously fell. But now they are dry and empty. They sit waiting for more to come, but they can do nothing to bring it about. They just wait for the blessing of that rain to come and fill them up again.
This is such a picture of what God’s people need Him to do for us. Continue reading
Psalm 127 teaches that God (Yahweh specifically) is the source of blessing for the home, the city, for one’s personal work — for every sphere of life. It also can be used as an outline to pray for your church:
There were two totally different perspectives evident in the characters in I Samuel 30:22-23, which made all the difference both in their attitudes, and in the way they treated other people. Following the battle against the Amelekites, in which David and 400 of his men were able to defeat the enemy, and retrieve their families and possessions which had been captured, they came back across the 200 of David’s men who had been too weary to go with them to the battle. How would they treat them?
In the final chapter of I Samuel, Saul is killed in battle by the Philistines, and 31:9 says: “They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.” Saul’s continual refusal to honor and obey God had finally come to its inevitable conclusion: his death and humiliation. But it should be instructive to us that the Bible tells us that “the good news” of Saul’s demise went “to the house of their idols” of the Philistines. When we fail God, and stumble, as Saul did, it affects more than ourselves only. The news gets around, and the enemies of God rejoice and demean the Lord. Continue reading
In Psalm 119:130 the writer proclaims: “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Barnes writes of this word, “unfolding”: “The Hebrew word – פתח pethach – means an “opening” or “entrance” – as of a gate, Joshua 20:4; Judges 9:35″. When we open up, and enter into the exposition of God’s word, it gives light and understanding. This is a good reminder in several situations:
I Samuel 30:11-15 describes how someone who was totally helpless was treated by two very different men — and how God brought their treatment of this helpless person back upon each of them!
I'm a retired Southern Baptist pastor of almost 40 years. My wife Cheryl & I moved to Norman, OK in March of 2025. I share a weekly overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, as well as texts of my sermons and other articles.
shawnethomas 