The Bible by David Alley

Psalms 25 - To You, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 24 - Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates! | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 23 - The Lord is My Shepherd | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

The Bible: Psalms Chapter 22

Psalms 21- The King Rejoices in Your Strength | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 20 - Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God |Bible Podcast, David Alley,Peace Christian Church

Psalms 19 - The Law of the Lord is Perfect | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 18 - The Lord is My Rock and My Fortress | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 17 - In the Shadow of Your Wings | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 16 - You Will Not Abandon My Soul | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 15 - Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill? | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 14 - The Fool Says, There Is No God | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 13 - How Long, O Lord? | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

Psalms 12 - The Faithful Have Vanished | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Psalms 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Key Moments:The Headless Sheep3:28Yahweh Is Righteous4:36Not Even a Hair of Your Head Will Perish5:53

In this video listen to Psalms 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 10 we have the second half of a pair of matching psalms. It carries on from psalm 9, finishing off the acrostic poem that 9 started. Psalm 9 was a psalm of victory and praise, and Psalm 10 a desperate prayer for help. Why is this matching pair so contrasting, and what is the message for you? Why did David’s mood change so dramatically?

In this video listen to Psalms 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 9 we meet a pair of psalms for the first time joined with an acrostic poem. The first stanza of psalm 9 starts with an aleph, the first letter of the hebrew alphabet, and the second with a beth and so on. When Psalm 9 finishes, halfway through the alphabet, psalm 10 carries it on. In this video you will learn a little about Hebrew poetry and acrostic poems, and the marvellous opposing themes of the two Psalms. Psalm 9 is a psalm of victory and praise, and Psalm 10 a desperate prayer for help. Why is this matching pair so contrasting, and what is the message for you?

In this video listen to Psalms 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 8 we have a personal favourite Psalm (I have a few) which is played on a Gittith, and instrument from the city of Gath. David quite possibly acquired this instrument of his enemies while he lived there. The Psalm is quoted by CHrist to his enemies the Pharisees in Matthew 21 and is a song of praise concerning the Lord’s majesty.

In this video listen to Psalms 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 7 we encounter a mediation concerning a descendant of Benjamin who had spoken evil against David. Effectively this is a plaintiff prayer with David bringing this evil man before the Lord in a heavenly trial, and asking for justice. This video considers how to deal with evil people in our lives… there being two processes at work. The first to deal with the enemy in a loving manner, as Christ instructed and what is likely to occur as a result. The second is to deal with God in this plaintiff style as this psalm represents and make the matter a plea for justice.

In this video listen to Psalms 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 6 we find the first of seven penitential psalms, but no apparent reason for a prayer like this, unlike in Psalm 51. Very possibly this is the fourth (of four) connected psalms concerning the Absalom issue, and David is wresting not with the sin that prompted it many years earlier (ie the Bathsheba issue) but with the consequences of it. This is a Psalm asking the Lord to spare David from the consequences of sin, as opposed to other prayers with are focussed on the guilt. This Psalm was also played on the sheminith - an eight stringed instrument, most likely a base instrument

In this video listen to Psalms 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 5 the Absalom saga continues (so it seems) and David has woken from a good sleep but his worry is back and he takes up the matter in prayer again. This video considers the various ways that prayers are dealt with and answers obtained. Some issues seem to recur, or take multiple attempts to resolve… such as what seems to be happening to David in this Psalm. Also, this psalm was to be played on a nehiloth - a wind instrument of some type.

In this video listen to Psalms 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 4 it would seem we have a continuation of Psalm 3 and the Absalom problem - but this time David has prayed through the issue and come to peace. The Lord is with him and he is able to rest secure. We all have problems bigger than us, but when the Lord gets his hands on them, we are able to rest in peace. This video considers how to get a good sleep even with worries in your life.

In this video listen to Psalms 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 3 we have the first labelled Psalm of David - when he was fleeing for his life from his son Absalom. This is probably the first of four linked psalms all on the subject of David’s escape from Absalom covering the range of his emotions, prayers and experience as he went through this difficult time. In Psalm 3 he is anxious and cries out to God for help from his insurmountable enemies. We too have insurmountable problems at times…. This psalm is a help.

In this video listen to Psalms 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Psalms 2 we encounter the first Psalm of David - but it is not labelled as such. We find out in Acts 4 were this Psalm is quoted that this is a Davidic song. We delve into a contrast between righteous and wicked nations, just as we did between good and bad people in Psalm 1.And it turns out that believers have a role to play in the nations as this video explains.

In this video listen to Psalms 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 1 we cover an introduction to the entire book of Psalms, when it was written, and who are all the authors of the songs. We also consider the introductory Psalm as a kind of introduction to the entire book. The Psalms are a favourite part of the Bible for many believers and as we commence this journey into them, we are entering into the devotional part of scripture.

n this video listen to Job 42 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 42 one of the world’s most unique stories concludes. We summarise the book and its main points being: The patience of Job, and our call to patience The testing of Job, and our call to bear up under testing. The dangers of accusation and what to do about it. What we learn about the problem of pain. That God is above everything that happens and we can trust him. And that Job is a great inspiration to us all.

In this video listen to Job 41 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 41 the speech of God continues and the Lord brings up the subject of the Leviathan. Could this be a fire-breathing dinosaur? This video also considers the patience of God. Normally in this book patience is ascribed to Job, but by changing focus, we see it is God who has the greatest patience. In the book of Job we also see Christ… this video explains.

In this video listen to Job 40 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 40 the Lord’s speech to Job continues and must be history’s most unique speech. Here God challenges God to do a better job as manager of the universe than he does. To give one example of his grandeur God talks about the Behemoth, a creature with no modern equivalent. Could this be a dinosaur from times past?

In this video listen to Job 39 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 39 The last speech of the book of Job continues, and the Lord who speaks talks of wild goats, deer, wild ox, the stupidity of the ostrich, the strength of the horse, the hawk and the eagle. The entire chapter is about animals each created with unique abilities. It amazes phd students out in the field to find out details of the lives of various species, when they give birth, when they migrate, the size of their eggs and much more. So much happens that we have no idea about, and the world is full of incredible detail. But the Lord knows not only each species uniquely, but each individual animal. This video will consider the knowledge of God. Christ said “who of you by worrying can add an hour to his life,” … “consider the sparrow.” Here Christ ties in to what he already said to Job in chapter 39.

In this video listen to Job 38 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 38 we come to the last and greatest of all the speeches in the book of Job. Speech number 19. And so God starts his “explanation” by asking questions. No answers are given to any of these questions, but the questions themselves give answers. They are also intended to give an Impression to the reader as well as they did to Job too. We could truly read these 4 chapters slowly and thoughtfully and go through the same experience that Job did.

In this video listen to Job 37 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 37 at long last Elihu’s speech comes to an end… It took six chapters. We consider how a speech can contain much good and yet be so wrong. This final chapter of his speech is his best, and starts to sound grand and “god-like” which led some commentators to suggest it was an introduction to God’s speech which follows. Rather God is so annoyed he won’t even reply to it as we shall explain. How can good and bad be intermingled? This video explains.

In this video listen to Job 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 36 we are now into chapter 5 of 6 in the grand speech of Elihu. Some have labelled this the “fourth speech” of Elihu because this chapter also begins with a Moreover, as did two previous ones. Elihu tells Job that his life will “magnify the Lord” and he was probably thinking that God would be glorified in his justice, and yet we now see the truth of those words from a far distant perspective. This video considers that it means to glorify God, and how even the wicked do so without realising.

In this video listen to Job 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 35 Elihu continues his long speech attempting to prove that Job is wicked just as his older friends had done previously. Because this chapter begins with “Moreover, Elihu continued…” Some have interpreted this as a third speech beginning when Job didn’t reply to his previous words. And in this line of thinking Elihu gives four speeches, but this video suggests it's just one big speech. This video takes up a question by Elihu about the reason why people pray, and we find out that there are many selfless reasons why people pray.

In this video listen to Job 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 34 Elihu continues the 18th and longest speech in the book of Job. He declares that he wants Job put on trial, but doesn’t realise Job has been on trial. His entire experience has been a test of his character. When we go through trials, our character IS being tested. This video considers the testing of our faith in Christ. Some consider this a “second speech” because it beings with a “Moreover.”

In this video listen to Job 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 33 the 18th and longest speech in the book of Job continues. Elihu finished introducing himself and his reasons for speaking in chapter 32 and now finally gets down to his argument.He says that the Spirit of God “compelled” him to speak. He makes the dangerous assumption that his words are from God. This video considers God’s thoughts in our minds we interpret as out own,, and our thoughts we interpret as Gods, and the overlap, complexity and danger of it all.

In this video listen to Job 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 31 he now makes his final points in the book of Job before a long speech by Elihu and the final speech by God. Job maintains his innocence in a grand three-chapter long summation of his case, culminating here in a point by point argument about how he has done what is right. He begins by stating he has “made a covenant with my eyes” and would not look lustfully with his eyes. Even his motivations are pure it seems. This video will consider Job’s final case, the issue of what we look at, and what it means to be righteous on judgement day.

In this video listen to Job 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 30 his final speech continues as he summarises his case and in this chapter he talks about the time of distress that came upon him. This video considers the idea of a “time of distress” from a global perspective and observes that the entire world and its people are currently in a “time of distress” that began when sin entered the world, and will conclude when every enemy has been destroyed. In one sense the book of Job is a picture of all of humanity and the experience of those who trust God.

In this video listen to Job 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 29 he has finished his “ode to wisdom” and now begins a summation of his case over the next three chapters. Like a good lawyer, Job draws together everything he has said as a good defence council would in court. He begins in chapter 29 with a summation of his life before the troubles.

In this video listen to Job 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Job 28 we have an “ode to wisdom” where Job has now moved from speaking directly to Bildad, and now attempts to teach all of his friends how to acquire wisdom. Job 28 is unlike any other chapter among the human speeches of Job and is undoubtedly my (David Alley’s) favourite chapter spoken by Job. It is also a high point of wisdom literature coming out of ancient times. Job asks if wisdom can be mined. Or can wisdom be purchased? Or can wisdom be found? Where does one acquire wisdom and how?

In this video listen to Job 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 27 he continues his six chapter reply to Bildad, which morphs into a reply to all his “friends.” Some experts believe that this is a mislabelled speech by Zophar, but this video will explain how that cannot be the case.

In this video listen to Job 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 26 he starts a reply to his friend Bildad which ends up being a six chapter speech. In this speech a number of things occur, as he starts by addressing Bildad in person, then merges to addressing all of his friends as a group, and even attempts to start teaching them wisdom. In this video we contemplate the mysterious sea dragon Rahab that Job mentions. We also contemplate how Job knew that the earth hung unsupported in space. This video also answers the question about whether this book had Babylonian myth stories as background context.

In this video listen to Job 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 25 is the sixteenth and the shortest speech in the book of Job. It seems Job’s friends are running out of things to say, and the heart to say them. This chapter is one of the ten shortest chapters in the Bible. Bildad asks just a handful of rhetorical questions, which have implied answers. For example he asks, “can he born of a woman be clean?” Surprisingly the answer is that despite the obvious no… there was one born of a woman who was clean, and that was Christ. In this last of the speeches from the friends, we consider Christ. We then consider the three great speeches that are to follow and finalise the book of Job, a six chapter speech by Job, a second six chapter speech by Elihu and the final word by God, taking five chapters.

In this video listen to Job 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 24 Job’s third reply to Eliphaz continues, and he questions why God doesn't have a day of judgement…. but of course he does. In this video we consider Job’s words, and also the two judgements to come, the great white throne judgement, and the bema seat judgement.

In this video listen to Job 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Job 23 Job replies to Eliphaz in the fifteenth speech of the book. In his speech Job raises the question of how exactly one looks for a God that cannot be found? This video discusses this too, and the layers of reality. Job also raises how his trials will turn to gold - an insight which we can all consider.

In this video listen to Job 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 22 we are now into the third round of speeches. Eliphaz ratchets it up to attack Job at a new level, accusing him of specific sins. It becomes vitriolic. Eliphaz asks an interesting question - does God profit from man? This video will consider this question.

In this video listen to Job 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 21 we have Job’s reply to Zophar and the end of the second round of speeches. Job goes all out in defence against Zophar, so much so that Zophar declines a third reply. In all the other speeches of Job, he gets lost in philosophising, or moves into spontaneous prayer, but not in this speech in which he stays on focus. His defence is good, giving specific examples of the prospering wicked, which Zophar is unable to reply against. Today we also see the wicked prosper, and there is hardly a better example than Joseph Stalin.

In this video listen to Job 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 20 we have the twelfth speech in the book, out of nineteen. It is also the second speech of Zophar, the voice of religion or duty. In this speech Zophar goes one step beyond his friends - by accusing Job of specific sins. He accuses Job of injustice towards the poor. And weirdly, he also paints God as a tyrant who pretends to do good,and then pours out the opposite. Zophar doesn’t know the Lord. While the Lord allows pain in our lives, there is always redemption in it, so he converts bad into good, not good into bad as Zophar is suggesting.

In this video listen to Job 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Job 19 Job replies to Bildad’s second speech - the eleventh speech in the book and sixth speech of Job. He says to his friends “How long will you torment me, and crush me with your cruel words?” It is a very telling question. The answer is of course for another round of speeches after this. They will have one more attempt each. In verse 17 we get the only other mention of Job’s wife, who we find out loathes him.She doesn’t represent many of the godly women we know from elsewhere in scripture. Also in verse 24 is a most interesting reference to writing with a steel pen on lead. A recent archaeological discovery at Mt Ebal is of this exact thing.

In this video listen to Job 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 18 we have Bildad’s second speech to Job and the tenth in the book. This time Bildad seems to not have a focused point, but wants to vent his anger against Job. He felt attacked by Job’s previous reply and now defends himself by going on the offensive.Bildad makes some true points, but not true in light of this world only, but true in light of eternity, but he doesn’t seem to realise it… we explore how the wisdom can be true, but not the way he was thinking.

In this video listen to Job 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 17 his reply to Eliphaz continues, and he discusses the grave. The grave is ready for him, and he is ready for the grave. What do these two phrases mean? We also discuss the plans of humans and the light they take on when disaster arrives. We also discuss Job’s unique combination of hope and despair in the same speech. Do we combine hope and despair in our lives also?