"I am better off dead than alive". Have you ever heard such nonsense? - and from a prophet of the Lord, too! Yet Jonah has not been the last to adopt this attitude. He, like many others since, did not get his own way in the path God had chosen for him and so became ... Read more

"now they have no excuse for their sin". Modern translations use the word 'excuse' for cloak or covering. Jesus is teaching that His coming swept away any excuse man felt he was able to make for his sin. There is no excuse for the sinner continuing that way because Jesus' blood cleanses from all sin. ... Read more

"and increasing in the knowledge of God". The Christian life is a progression and ever moving forward. Not least in this advance is an increase in the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is the greatest of sciences. Those seeking after God are ever discovering new areas: their path is strewn with blessing at ... Read more

"they came to Elim". The place called Elim to which the children of Israel came shortly after they left Egypt in what was to be 40 years' wandering in the desert speaks of 1. refreshment and never ending supply - there were twelve springs of water 2. peace and safety - seventy palm trees provided ... Read more

rehearse the matter before Him when you come in prayer. Neither does it mean that our heavenly Father will give us what we need without having to ask Him. In fact the New Testament clearly states that we do not receive because we do not ask. It does mean that there is something more important ... Read more

"in him we live, and move, and have our being". Our every breath is given by Him! Many would like to pursue a course through life independent of Him. Yet by saying they do not believe He exists in no way do they remove the truth of their dependence upon Him. The knowledge that He ... Read more

"in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion". In the world of sport, "pavilion" is associated with the field of play. Life can be likened to a field of play and can be very tough for the players. The more rough the game, the more the player appreciates the pavilion to ... Read more

"when Jesus saw great multitudes". Many measure success according to the size of the multitude. But the motive behind the assembling of the great multitude on this occasion is important. In the previous verse we read that Jesus had healed all who came to Him. When He saw the crowd increasing in number He gave ... Read more

"As the offering began, singing to the Lord began". These words describe the time when Hezekiah restored the temple and its offices that had fallen into disrepair during the reign of Ahaz. There was a personal sanctifying of the Levites and a thorough cleansing of the temple building and the offerings ordained by God began ... Read more

"you, O Lord my God, brought me back from the depths alive". Jonah's experience is a sign of Jesus' resurrection from the grave - back from the depths to newness of life. It is also a picture of salvation - man has sunk to the depths of despair for his sin and rebellion but God ... Read more