In Psalm 119:114, the psalmist calls God his shelter and shield. What is the difference? And what do those names or descriptions means for us? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
When the wind began to blow on the one hundred and fiftieth day of the Flood, initially Noah and his family may have thought that things were getting even worse. But God had a twofold plan with that wind. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
In Psalm 119:113, the psalmist says he hates vacillating people. That’s strong language. Whom does he mean? And why does he hate them? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
What was going through the minds of those treading water and clinging to floating debris during the Flood? What should we take away from this complete and devastating destruction? Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724). Quote Source: Carl J. Lawrenz and John C. Jeske, "A Commentary on Genesis 1–11" (Milwaukee: Northwestern, 2004), 262.
Is your heart something you follow, or something you bend? And if you bend it, in which direction do you bend it? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
Have you ever stopped to think about what those first forty days of the Flood must have been like for Noah and his family? How did they cope with it? And what applications are there for us in our dark days? Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
Have you ever received an inheritance? How did it become yours? How long did it last you? In Psalm 119:111, the psalmist tells us that God’s word is an inheritance, but one unlike any other. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
The day had arrived. It was time for Noah and his family and the animals that had come to him to board the ark. Noah made sure he had everything and everyone he was supposed to. And the Lord took it upon himself to shut the door behind Noah. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
In Psalm 119:110, the psalmist helps us to be on the lookout for the sinful allurements all around us every day. The devil wants us to see them as exciting opportunities to inject some fun into our lives, but the psalmist helps us to see them as the traps they really are. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
Moses names two sources for the floodwaters. In this devotion we look at the second one—the opening of the sluice gates of the heavens. (Sluice gates are sliding gates or other devices for controlling the flow of water.) Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
Generally speaking, Americans used to be more religious years ago than they are now. Part of the reason for that may be that modern comforts have led us to forget what the psalmist says in this verse—that our lives are continually at risk. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
Moses names two sources for the floodwaters. In this devotion we look at the first one—the rending asunder of the springs of the greet deep. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
The psalmist describes the words that he directs to God as “freewill offerings of [his] mouth.” But it is the words that God directs to us that put the “freewill” in our mouth-offerings and make them pleasing to him. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
Moses wanted his audience to know the precise chronological framework of the Flood. The dates that he gives us suggest that, when the rain first began falling, it was expected. Which is precisely why its ultimate disaster was unexpected. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
Psalm 119:107 is the sixth verse in which the psalmist has explicitly referred to himself being afflicted. This tells us something about Christians and affliction, and the psalmist also tells us where we find restoration and revival in our affliction. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
Did you know that Noah loaded up his family and all the animals into the ark seven days before the Flood came? What were those days and nights like, as they made sure they had everything they were going to need and that everything was prepared? What was their peace in the midst of that stress? What is ours? Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
In Psalm 119:106, the psalmist says he has made and ratified a vow to keep the decrees of God’s righteousness. Christians are not always comfortable with religious vows, so this verse gives us the opportunity to talk about them. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
In 1 Peter 3:20–22, the apostle Peter says that the water of the Flood was a type, foreshadowing, symbol, or picture of the water of baptism. What the water of the Flood did for Noah and his family, the water of baptism does for us. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
“Where should I go?” “What should I do?” “What is the right course of action?” These are all questions about where we should step next on life’s path, and they are all questions God’s word helps us to answer the right way and the best way. NOTE that the main devotion is fairly short, but there is some bonus content on choosing a career, after the usual closing podcast information. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
There are only seven days left before God sends his destruction. Here we see the perseverance of Noah’s faith (by God’s grace), and here we see the stubborn persistence of the world’s unbelief. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
In this episode, we wrap up our meditation on the thirteenth stanza of Psalm 119. The psalmist tells us why God’s word is the only path for him, and why it should be the only path for us. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
In Genesis 7:1–3 God modifies his earlier instructions from 6:19–20. This simple modification highlights truths about God’s character and about the priority of worship. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
Honey tastes good. It makes life more pleasant. The psalmist says God’s sayings are even more pleasant to his taste than honey. So do our own tastes need improvement? Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
Imagine what kind of ridicule and rejection Noah and his family faced in the 120 years between God’s announcement of a flood and the actual flood. There is a parallel between what Noah’s family faced and what Jesus said we will face in the days leading up to the ultimate day of destruction. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
The psalmist makes some pretty bold and ambitious resolutions—to keep his feet from every evil path and not to turn aside from God’s decrees. In Psalm 119:102, he makes clear the only way this is possible. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
After God spoke to Noah, Noah’s perspective changed. He now saw all his usual haunts and acquaintances (besides seven of his family members) as places and people that would be *under water* and completely destroyed. God wants us to have a similar perspective. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
The poet Robert Frost famously talked about two roads diverging in a yellow wood. In Psalm 119:101, the psalmist talks about forks in the road of our life that we encounter every day. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
God gave Noah enormous tasks, and then Noah went to work and did them, just as commanded. How do we do a better job complying with what God has commanded us? Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
Psalm 119:100 concludes a string of three verses where the psalmist reflects on the outstanding effects of God’s word by listing three groups of people who cannot stand up to its wisdom. In this devotion, we consider how God’s word gives us more understanding than our elders, even those recognized for their wisdom. Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4
Even though it might not be very devotional content, at some point when talking about Noah’s ark, we have to talk about dinosaurs—both to satisfy human curiosity and to address the criticisms of skeptics. Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).
