Into The Word
265 Coldwater Road West L3V 3M1 Orillia, ON, Canada

Beware the censorious spirit: John answered, Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us. 50 But Jesus said to him, Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you. (Luke 9:4950 ESV)

Interesting to note that in the story of the census, "pestilence" is described as "the Sword of the Lord". ‘Choose what you will: either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ (1 Chronicles 21:1112 ESV)

Who incited David to sin in the matter of the census? Was it the devil as per 1 Chronicles 21:1 or was it God as per 2 Samuel 24:1? https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org//what-is-double-causali/

Affliction isn't always a bad thing: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word." (Psalm 119:67 ESV)

https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-w/1-timothy-5-2/

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. (Jonah 4:13 ESV) https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-word/jonah-4/

https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-word/daniel-12/

Who wrote the Old Testament? Well, in a sense, we could say that many people wrote the Old Testament. People like Moses, David, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. But on the other hand, it is also true to say that JESUS wrote the Old Testament. Peter seemed to think so. He said:... "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THEM was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories." (1 Peter 1:1011 ESV) According to Peter, whom we presume learned this from Jesus, it was the Spirit of Jesus moving and animating the Old Testament prophets who caused the Hebrew Scriptures to be written. He is the FOCUS and the AUTHOR of the revelation of God to men and women. Or as John says it: he is the Word made flesh - thanks be to God!

God's old ways are better than our new ways, every day of the week and twice on Sundays. "When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD." (Psalm 119:52 ESV)

https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-word/daniel-11/

https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-w/1-timothy-4-2/

Personal, moral and doctrinal drift can happen to any leader. Therefore: "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:16 ESV)

https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-word/daniel-10/

https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-w/1-timothy-3-2/

This feels timely: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Timothy 2:12 ESV)

2 Kings 5:1-14 is a Master Class in evangelism. The little girl is powerless and probably wondering why God allowed her to fall into this terrible situation. Nevertheless, when her master is sick she points him toward healing in the person of the great prophet of Israel. That's evangelism. That's "loving your enemies, embracing your weakness, pointing to the Savior" evangelism - praise the Lord!... The rest of the story is instructive as well. The sick man needs only to do that which the prophet says to do. It requires humility and faith. It seems counter intuitive, like looking at a Bronze Serpent on a pole or trusting in a crucified Messiah, but lo and behold, it works! The man is healed and he responds with joy and gratitude. That is a Gospel story - thanks be to God!

Daniel 9 contains what might be the most intricate prophecy in all the Old Testament. In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. (Daniel 9:12 ESV) https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-word/daniel-9/