David’s plea to God to “restore to me the joy of your salvation” in Psalm 51:12 is a cry to be reconciled and renewed after his grievous sin with Bathsheba. This verse comes in the context of Psalm 51, which is David’s prayer of repentance after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband Uriah. David had fallen into terrible sin, but he knew that repentance and restoration were possible through God’s great mercy and grace. 1. David had lost the joy of salvation due to his sin When David asks God to restore the joy of His salvation,…
Author: Aaron Chin
Cenchrea is only mentioned a few times in the Bible, but it holds some importance in understanding the early spread of Christianity as well as the ministry of the apostle Paul. Cenchrea was one of the two seaports of the city of Corinth in ancient Greece. The other port was Lechaeum. Cenchrea was located on the eastern side of the Corinthian isthmus along the Saronic Gulf, about 7 miles from Corinth itself. It served as Corinth’s outlet to the Aegean Sea and was a critical hub for maritime trade and transportation. The first mention of Cenchrea in the Bible comes…
Abiathar was an important priest and high priest in the Bible who served during the time of King David. Here is an overview of Abiathar’s life and role in the Bible: Abiathar’s Family Background Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech, who was the priest at Nob during the reign of King Saul (1 Samuel 22:20). Ahimelech belonged to the priestly line of Eli, who was the high priest during the time of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 14:3). Eli had two sons, Phinehas and Hophni, who were wicked priests. God judged Eli’s family by allowing both of his sons to…
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions for Christians about how to respond in a godly way. One issue that has been hotly debated is whether or not Christians should wear masks in public during the pandemic. There are reasonable arguments on both sides of this issue, and Christians of good faith can disagree. However, when we look at the principles of Scripture, we can find some helpful guidance. The command to love our neighbor One of the most important principles in Scripture when it comes to ethical issues is the command to love our neighbor. Jesus said the two…
The Bible teaches that God sent Jesus Christ into the world to accomplish His divine purposes and bring salvation to humanity. Here are some of the key reasons highlighted in Scripture for why God sent His Son: To reveal God to us Jesus came to perfectly reveal the nature and character of God to humanity (John 1:18, John 14:9). Through His life, teachings, death on the cross, and resurrection, Jesus manifested God’s love, mercy, righteousness, and grace to the world in a way that had never been done before. To be the atoning sacrifice for our sins The Bible teaches…
The verse “at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” comes from Psalm 16:11 in the Bible. This beautiful verse points to the eternal joy and blessing that comes from being in God’s presence. Let’s take a closer look at the meaning and significance of this verse. The Context of Psalm 16 Psalm 16 is attributed to King David and is a psalm of faith and hope in God’s protection and care. In verses 1-2, David expresses his trust in God as his only good. In verses 3-4, David delights in God’s people and refuses to worship idols. In verses 5-6,…
King Nadab was the second king of Israel after the kingdom divided. He reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel for approximately 2 years, from 910-909 BC. Nadab was the son and successor of Jeroboam, the first king of the divided kingdom of Israel. Here is an overview of what the Bible tells us about King Nadab: Nadab’s Family Background Nadab was part of the dynasty founded by Jeroboam, who had led the northern tribes of Israel in a revolt against the house of David after the death of King Solomon (1 Kings 12:20). Jeroboam was from the tribe of…
Sihon was the king of the Amorites when the Israelites were nearing the end of their 40 years of wilderness wanderings after the exodus from Egypt. As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, they requested passage through the lands controlled by Sihon, but he refused. This led to a battle between Israel and Sihon in which Sihon was defeated. The Israelites then took possession of Sihon’s land. The Amorites were one of the tribes living in Canaan prior to the arrival of the Israelites. They controlled territory on both sides of the Jordan River. The Amorites were fierce warriors and…
The verse 1 John 4:7 states “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” This verse teaches an important truth about the nature and origin of love. Specifically, it makes three key points: 1. Love comes from God The verse clearly states that “love is from God.” This means that the very capacity and motivation to love ultimately comes from God. As humans, we are able to love because we are made in the image of a God who himself is love (1 John 4:8). Love…
The topic of whether a wife should submit to her husband is a complex and nuanced one that requires careful examination of Scripture. At a surface level reading, there are verses that seem to indicate that wives should submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1). However, looking at the full counsel of Scripture reveals that the Bible promotes mutual submission between husbands and wives out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). In Ephesians 5:22-24, the passage starts with verse 21 which calls for all believers to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This…