Psalm 22 is a prophetic psalm written by King David that points to the suffering and death of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. The very first verse of this psalm says “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – words that Jesus would later quote while on the cross (Matthew 27:46). The full verse in Hebrew is: אֵלִי אֵלִי, לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי; רָחוֹק מִישׁוּעָתִי, דִּבְרֵי שַׁאֲגָתִי. Transliterated into English, this verse reads: Eli, Eli, lama azavtani? Rachok mishuatecha, divrei sha’agati. The phrase “Aijeleth Ha-Shahar” is found in the subtitle or superscription of this psalm, which reads: “To the choirmaster:…
Author: Kerry Baysinger
The Bible teaches us in Colossians 3:23 to do everything we do “heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” This verse gives an important perspective on how we should approach our work and other daily tasks. In this article, we will explore the meaning, context, and application of this verse to help understand why Scripture emphasizes doing everything wholeheartedly as service to God. The Meaning of Colossians 3:23 Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” The word “heartily” means with all your heart, with enthusiasm, earnestly, and sincerely. Paul…
Hazael was an ancient king of Aram (modern day Syria) who ruled during the time of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Though not an Israelite, Hazael played an important role in Israel’s history and is mentioned over 20 times in the books of Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets. The first mention of Hazael comes in 1 Kings 19, when God instructs Elijah to anoint “Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel; and Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. Him who escapes from the sword of Hazael Jehu shall kill; and…
As we approach Easter Sunday, it’s important to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. This reading plan focuses on Jesus’ final days leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection. For day 35, we’ll be reading Mark 15. Mark 15 depicts the trials, suffering, and death of Jesus. After being arrested, Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, where false accusations are made against him (Mark 15:55-61). Jesus remains silent, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 that the Messiah would be oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Jesus is then brought before…
The Easter season is a time of hope, renewal, and reflection on Christ’s resurrection. As we approach the end of the Lenten period, it’s important to focus our hearts and minds on God’s word and promises. Here are some key passages to meditate on for Easter Reading Plan – Day 29: Luke 24:1-12 – The Empty Tomb On the first day of the week, the women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and others) went to the tomb and found it empty. Two men in dazzling white clothes told them Jesus had risen! The women went and told…
Easter is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead after his crucifixion. This event is the cornerstone of Christian faith, as the resurrection affirms Christ’s divinity and conquering of sin and death. As we approach Easter, it’s important that Christians prepare our hearts and minds to reflect on the profound meaning of this holiday. Here are some key Bible passages that are appropriate to read and meditate on in the days leading up to Easter: Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection “From that time Jesus began to show his…
The Easter season is a time of celebration and reflection for Christians around the world. After 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Lent, Easter arrives with the joyful proclamation that Christ has risen! He has conquered sin and death, and his resurrection offers hope to all who believe in him. As part of your Easter preparation, considering adopting a special Bible reading plan for the weeks leading up to this high holy day. Reading God’s Word daily connects us more deeply to the truths of our faith. When we meditate on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,…
The Easter season is a time of reflection, renewal, and rejoicing as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and the hope we have because of it. Continuing our Easter reading plan, day 3 focuses on the themes of the cross, Christ’s sacrifice, and God’s love demonstrated through giving His Son. As we read and reflect on these passages, may our hearts be filled with gratefulness and praise. Isaiah 53:1-12 – The Suffering Servant This powerful prophetic passage describes the coming Messiah – Jesus – as a suffering servant who would be “despised and rejected” and bear our iniquities. Though innocent, He would…
The book of Proverbs contains many wise sayings about the power of words. In particular, Proverbs 16:24 compares pleasant words to a honeycomb, saying “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” This proverb beautifully conveys how uplifting and nourishing good, positive speech can be in our relationships with others. Here are 9000 words exploring what the Bible teaches about the metaphor in Proverbs 16:24 and how pleasant words can bless others: The Refreshing Sweetness of Honey To understand why pleasant words are compared to honeycomb, it helps to consider the unique properties…
The phrase “to proclaim liberty to the captives” comes from Isaiah 61:1, which reads: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” This verse is packed with meaning and speaks to God’s heart for setting people free from all forms of captivity. Background of Isaiah 61:1 Isaiah 61 is a passage filled with hope and a future vision of restoration…