The Family Bible Journey Podcast

Paul experiences shipwreck on his way to Rome. What seems like a storm, or an obstacle, is instead a heavenly redirection, allowing Paul to share the faith with people he otherwise never would have met. Here, we can be encouraged when the storms of life alter our plans, recognizing that God is able to use the storms to put us exactly where He wants us.

This Psalm sounds like the coronation of a king as He ascends to the throne. In this episode, we hear how this psalm echoes the crowd's Palm Sunday praises and angelic praises of Jesus, Who has won our salvation.

We look at one of the most beloved passages in all scripture to hear how David's experience as a shepherd relates to the intimate relationship we have with God as his sheep. We will explore how the very real place of the valley of the shadow of death gives us a deeper understanding of this classic psalm.

This protest rallying cry means something different to Paul. He isn't motivated by anger or hate. Rather, he seeks, in love, to bring peace and salvation to his listeners.

Skeptics will always scoff, but a close examination of the scriptures proves that we have good reasons to believe! In this bonus episode, we consider many of the specific prophecies of Jesus's crucifixion, that are contained in this psalm.

Did the Holy Spirit allow David to see exactly what Jesus would do to earn our salvation nearly 1,000 years before He was even born? Psalm 22 includes many details of Jesus' suffering and death. We listen to this psalm as an eye witness account of the crucifixion of Christ.

Here we hear the heart of Jesus, as He anticipating doing the work of salvation. Psalms 20-25 are among the clearest Messianic prophecies in the Bible. They give us great courage and strength, knowing Jesus gave all He had for us!

Paul asserts his rights, as a Roman citizen, to appeal his case to Caesar. In utilizing his legal right to a free trip to Rome, and audience with the Emperor, Paul makes his case to go to Rome. If any of the judges violated his right, Paul would've been given back to the Jews and most certainly would have been killed. Here, God uses the rule of law to accomplish His purpose.

Nobody would question the laws of physics. Why then do they question God's moral law? The same God who orders the universe has given us very clear instructions on how to live this life. This psalm makes abundantly clear the connection between natural law and moral law.

God is our rock and refuge! As these psalms of the afflicted wrap up, we hear David proclaim his faith boldly. He extols the God who promised to save him, even though he spent decades running for his life.

Paul spends two whole years detained at Cesarea Maritima. It may seem like time is wasted, but it is not. Paul gets free access to friends and gets to preach to Governor Felix and his wife Drusilla. We learn here how to process slander, as Paul's opponents are denied. We also learn that God wastes no time, even when it seems things are delayed.

When others despise you, and even loved ones leave you, it's good to know that the Lord never will! In this psalm, we learn the meaning of a Hebrew idiom that has become an English expression of hope and endearment.

A dear friend, and listener to the podcast, Sarah, taught me the lasting value of this psalm. This life disappoints, and even those who we love the most can cast us off. Knowing that God never will leave us, nor forsake us, gives us eternal hope and great joy, even when life disappoints.

While Paul is under the protection of the Roman Tribune, forty Jewish men make an oath to neither eat nor drink until they kill Paul. Hearing of this plot, the Tribune sends Paul with a guard of hundreds of soldiers to the Governor. This Tribune, who almost abused Paul, a Roman citizen, now plays the hero as he delivers Paul to the custody of the Governor.

Even though there is nothing that we could do to improve our standing in God's sight, there is much value in us following the Lord. We are encouraged in our faith when we remember the good He's inspired us to do. Others are likewise blessed by our faithfulness.

For decades, it seemed like David's enemies were prevailing over him. This is why his psalms of affliction, or oppression, ring so true. When he felt defeated, he turned to the Lord, and found comfort and strength in God's promises.

When Paul speaks to his accusers, and says that he was preaching to Gentiles, a riot breaks out, and they are about to kill him. A Roman Tribune intervenes. Interesting that a gentile rescues Paul, after the Jewish crowd was about to kill him for preaching to gentiles.

We live in a time where lies are treated as truth, and the Truth of God as a lie. In this Psalm, we lament the harm caused by those who think they will prevail by the power of their words. For recourse, we turn to God, asking for his protection, and seeking to live according to His truth.

We live in a tumultuous time, where many of the institutions that long provided safety and security are passing away. How do God's people process such loss, especially when our beloved nation, church or denomination is being rent asunder? By relying on God, we find solace in His grace and not the things of this world.

Paul is broken-hearted by the outpouring of love and concern of his children in the faith. They are dismayed at the thought he would be arrested and likely killed for the faith in Jerusalem. Pleading with them to encourage, instead of discourage him, they weep, and pray, and Paul continues on his way.

David warns those who act like they are God that they will answer to the true God in the end. It's convenient for some to act as if there is no God, but disastrous in the end.

David exalts the cause of the poor and oppresed over those who afflict them in this section of the psalms. David himself was oppressed and opposed for decades, so he relates to the oppressed as one of them. He also warns oppressors that God will judge all in the end, so we heed his warning when we find ourselves in positions of power or influence.

As Paul begins his journey to Jerusalem, we see his sacrificial spirit. He gave everything for Christ and continues to pour his love and faith into the faithful. This he does with tears, knowing that he is unlikely to see most of the people he loves on this side of eternity.

In this psalm of praise we reflect, on the unique place of humanity in God's design. The stars, in all of their majesty and power, even if they burn for billions of years, will one day pass away. But God has endowed human creatures with an immortal soul, so that by His grace, we may live forever.

The weak often suffer at the hands of the strong. The poor are victimized by the rich. How do we reconcile God's care for the innocent in a world where the innocent often suffer? We wrestle with this difficulty in these psalms.

A stable and fruitful season of ministry unfolds for Paul in Ephesus. He teaches and preaches for years, planting the Word deeply in the lives of God's people and cultivating their spiritual growth. But all good things must come to an end, and he sets his heart on Jerusalem and Rome, where he intends to preach the gospel in the halls of power.

There is great difficulty for a person of integrity and faith to live among the wicked. We are constantly harranged and opposed. But we can take heart in our earthly struggles, knowing that we have God's favor as a shield.

Psalms three and four give voice to our cries for mercy. There are times that try men's souls, and leave us questioning God, His love and goodness. Here we learn to share our burdens with the Lord, Who promises ultimately to save us.

Paul gets a repreive from mob violence, God granting him rest and assistants to help spread the gospel. Here we see how his assistants are traveling apart from him, to solidify Christians and establish new churches and pastors. What a blessing it is to have good and faithful co-workers in Christ.

This is the first of the Messianic psalms. In the Psalms, God gave such clear prophecies of Christ, Who He Is, and how He would accomplish salvation that we are left marveling. How could th psalmist know his Savior so intimately 1,000 years before Jesus was born? Only by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Psalms begin with an encouragement to find "delight" in God's Word. We delight in God's Word because in it, we find wisdom and life.

Paul's sermon at the Aeropagus in Athens shows us how to engage with others. We must meet them where they are, sharing God's love with them when God gives us the opportunity. We need not worry about saying things exactly right. We share our faith humbly, trusting God with the results.

If Job gets twice the blessing he had before he was afflicted, why does he only get seven sons and three daughters, the same as before? Herein lies hidden a wonderful testimony of the resurrection! Redemption, a mighty theme of Job, is reinforced in these closing verses.

Is it a dragon, a Pleasaur or Mesosaur? Whatever it is, this terrible, firebreathing monster, that reduces all of man's strength to fear and ashes, is nothing more than a playful pet from God's perspective. Once again, God's imagination, wisdom and strength are beyond our understanding.

Now that Paul is traveling on his own, we see God bringing many new friends into his circle. Timothy and Luke emerge as his new travel companions, in the wake of Barnabas's departure. It's good that God grants him faithful friends, because his missionary work is getting harder, not easier, as he continues his preaching.

Job is humbled when his request to make his case before his Maker is granted. He repents of his sin of judging God and of speaking ill of God. We too must be quiet when confronted with God's greatness, or fall in danger of sinning presumptuously against God.

After using the depths to demonstrate his wisdom, God makes an appeal using the heights. Some of the most reclusive and elusive creatures, ibex, hawks, and eagles, demonstrate the surpassing intimacy God enjoys with His creation. Here again, we are limited, but God is unlimited in His knowledge of all things.

The Jerusalem Council is convened to answer a most basic question of faith. Must we do something to be saved? The leaders had been divided on the necesssity of circumcision before this, but after Peter's impassioned speech, they all agree that only faith and grace are necessary for salvation. But this great moment of unity is tempered by the end of the chapter, where Paul and Barnabas part ways over a disagreement.

God's speech begins by God contrasting His wisdom to the depths of the earth, the seas, the heavens, space and even human understanding. He puts Job and his friends in place not by condemning them, but rather by sharing with them the true nature of reality.

Elihu proves a faulty friend of Job for three reasons. He is foolishly arrogant, expouses the faulty logic of Job's other friends, and finds fault with Job, insisting that Job somehow deserves his lot in life. Elihu's faulty example gives us good reason to cherish good and faithful friends as the gift of God that they are to us.

In Lystra, a mob, inspired by Paul's healing of a cripple, want to offer sacrifices to him and Barnabas as representatives of Zeus and Hermes. Paul restrains the crowd, only to have the same mob whipped into a murderous state by his opponents, stone him, and leave him for dead. Revived and undeterred, Paul and Barnabas continue their preaching, and establish leaders and churches in every community they visit.

Elihu, the young man, speaks with some degree of naiveté and runs his mouth when he should be opening his years. In his speech, he wrestles with the difficulties of reconciling God's goodness with the reality suffering and evil in the world. Here we learn the dangers of conflating related ideas in a way that corrupts our thinking.

After rebuking Job's other friends for their worldly wisdom, Elihu turns his tongue on Job. Elihu's speech will alternate accusations against Job, and defense of God.

The church grows as a diverse assembly of saints by the Holy Spirit's leading. Leading businessmen, an African, a member of Herod's court and even the Roman Governor of Cyprus are brought to faith. This shows us that God does not discriminate between rich or poor, educated or uneducated. He welcomes all into His family.

Elihu, the thus far silent "friend," now speaks. In his speech, we see that in his silence, Elihu had defered to his elders. Eager to be heard, he promises to tell them exactly how he feels.

Job makes his final self-defense by insisting on the purity of his heart, extolling just punishments for evil, and recounting his generosity with those who had suffered. He ends his case with a final plea is to make his case before the Almighty.

The bookends of this chapter are the death of James, and the death of Herod, who had ordered James killed and Peter imprisoned. But the story of a little servant girl named Rhoda, who couldn't believe that her hero Peter had been freed from prison, stands out as a cute story of genuine faith.

We can commiserate with Job when others kick us when we are down. Job recalls the blessings of his earlier years and laments his demise. Even the poorest of the poor and the meanest of the mean are looking down on him.

Job tells his friends that they will only find wisdom with God and where God is found. So much of their "wisdom" was earthly, not based upon God's etermal Word. Listening to Job, and learning from Him, we want to find wisdom by spending time with God in His Word and in worship.

The key to the Christian faith is that repentance leads to life. Too many people have it too good, or are too distracted to care about sin or to think they've ever done any wrong. May we never lose sight of the most important fact that in Christ, we have life, through the forgiveness of our sins.