The phrase “house of prayer” comes from Isaiah 56:7, which states “these [the temple] I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” This verse refers to the temple in Jerusalem being a place where all people can come to worship and pray to God. The “house of prayer” represents the temple as a sacred place of communion with God. The phrase “den of thieves” comes from Jeremiah 7:11,…
Author: Aaron Chin
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because of his prophetic messages of doom and grief for Judah and Jerusalem prior to and during the Babylonian exile. Throughout the book of Jeremiah, we see Jeremiah express deep anguish and sorrow regarding the sins of Judah and God’s impending judgment on them. Here are some key reasons why Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet: Jeremiah was called by God to deliver very difficult and unpopular messages to Judah regarding their sin and need for repentance (Jeremiah 1:4-10). Yet the people refused to listen to him and continued in idolatry and…
Jesus performed many miraculous healings and exorcisms during His earthly ministry. Some of these miracles involved Jesus using His saliva in the process. Why did Jesus spit as part of performing certain miracles? Let’s explore what the Bible tells us. Jesus Spitting to Heal the Blind Man One of the most well-known instances is when Jesus healed a blind man in Bethsaida. Mark 8:22-26 describes this event: And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out…
Christian humanism is a philosophical and ethical perspective that affirms the value of human beings, individual dignity, and rationality and emphasizes the importance of virtue, ethics, and compassion from a Christian perspective. It sees human beings as created in the image of God with inherent worth and seeks to apply Christian values to promote human flourishing and the common good in society. Key ideas in Christian humanism Some of the key ideas in Christian humanism include: Human dignity – All people have inherent worth as they are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). This affirms the value of every human…
The valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 is a profound prophetic vision that speaks to the core of Israel’s condition and God’s redemptive purposes. This dramatic scene depicts Israel as a nation of lifeless skeletons, utterly devoid of any hope or future. Yet God uses Ezekiel to prophesy life into these bones, foretelling Israel’s eventual spiritual restoration. Examining this passage in its biblical context sheds light on its rich theological significance. The Historical Background Ezekiel was a priest called by God to prophesy to the exiles in Babylon after Jerusalem’s destruction in 586 BC. Having witnessed his homeland ravaged…
Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” This is an incredible verse that gives us insight into God’s heart for His people. Let’s break down the meaning and significance of this verse. The Context of Zephaniah 3:17 The book of Zephaniah was written by the prophet Zephaniah, likely around 630 BC during the reign of King Josiah in Judah. Zephaniah’s message was one of judgment for sin, but…
The sovereignty of God is one of the most important and foundational truths in Scripture. It speaks to God’s supreme power, authority, and rule over all of creation. God’s sovereignty is total, absolute, and unlimited by anything outside of Himself. As Creator, God is free to do whatever He desires with His creation. The Bible declares, “Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). Nothing can thwart His good plans and purposes (Job 42:2). God’s sovereignty means that He has complete control over all things. Nothing happens without His directive will or His permissive will.…
Micah 5:2 is often understood by Christians to contain a prophecy about the birthplace of the Messiah. The verse reads: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” This verse has led many Christians to believe that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. There are several reasons why Micah 5:2 is considered Messianic: It speaks of one who will be a ruler in Israel. The Messiah…
In John 6:35, Jesus declares “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” This is a profound statement that requires some explanation to fully understand its meaning and significance. Context of the Statement To properly unpack what Jesus meant, it’s important to look at the broader context surrounding this statement in John 6. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus had just miraculously fed the five thousand with only five loaves and two fish (John 6:1-13). The next day, some of those who had been fed sought out Jesus…
The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture teaches that the Bible contains all the words of God that He intends His people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it teaches all that is necessary for salvation and spiritual life. The Bible claims to be sufficient The Bible claims to be sufficient for all aspects of the Christian faith and life. Here are some key verses: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be…