Speech navigates our lives. Wise speech builds up and is prosperous, while foolish speech breaks down and causes loss. As he continues to address the contrast between wisdom and folly, Solomon turns his attention in 10:12–20 to the evidence of folly in our speech.

Like Israel, the new covenant church has experienced God’s grace and, with it, many victories. But, also like Israel, we could fall. What will aid us as a community of faith to advance in hallowing God’s name, extending of his kingdom, and the doing his will on earth as it is in heaven? Numbers 9:1–23 point us to three truths that, if embraced and exercised, will empower us for gospel conquest. We must be a freed community, a focused community, and a faithful community.

In the text before us, while Solomon’s thoughts appear to be all over the map, the basic theme that runs through it is that of folly. Having highlighted the necessity of wisdom in chapter 9, Solomon now turns to the dangers of folly in chapter 10. In the opening eleven verses, he highlights at least five things about the power folly.

Though we no longer have a physical tabernacle, no holy furniture, and no Levitical order, the principles revealed in Numbers 8 are just as relevant to the new covenant church as they were to old covenant Israel. These principles pertain to the Lord’s presence with his people and their response to him. In a word, they have to do with worship.

Numbers 7 is both the second longest, and (arguably) the most repetitive, chapter in the Bible. It is not a chapter that most Christians are thrilled to read. But it does teach us a very important lesson. Specifically, this chapter is about a cheerful, sacrificial response of worship to the gracious privilege of God dwelling with his people. Simply stated, this chapter is about cheerful giving to our great God.

When life situations don’t turn out as we expect or plan them to, we often attribute the outcome to “luck” or “chance.” But there is no such thing. All things work out and are worked out by the great King of everything. In this passage, we have a great refresher and motivation to live our lives under the sovereign rule and direction of the Lord.

As we continue our study of the book of 1 John, we will see how we not only recognise the Spirit of God in ourselves, but also in others. What we believe about Jesus Christ of the utmost importance and shows whether or not we, in fact, belong to him. False teaching can be subtle, and compelling and so John lays out in this passage exactly how we can determine truth from error and one who speaks for Christ, versus one who is antichrist.

What do you most enjoy doing and how do you make the most of it? Often, we are so weighed down by sin that to enjoy any pleasure feels wrong or decadent. Or perhaps we struggle to believe there is much good in life to begin with. In Ecclesiastes 9:7–10, we learn that having a sense of gratitude and thankfulness to God results in us seizing the day and making the most of what God has given. We learn that he has gifted us with contentment, comfort, companionship, and work.

Psalm 89, a twin to Psalm 88, tells the story of a seeming failure on God’s part to fulfil the Davidic covenant. But Ethan the Ezrahite in fact holds out hope that the promise will endure, and in Christ and his #resurrection we see the story repeated and fulfilled in its fulness.

Psalm 88 is one of the darkest psalms in the Scriptures. Upon first reading, there seems to be no hope. As we delve into this Psalm, we will get insight into the experience of the Saviour as he experienced a truly Black Friday for all those who would one day put their faith in him. Before Christians can truly rejoice in Resurrection Sunday, we need to remember the anguish we have been saved from.