Passage, Paragraph, and Prayer

Can you imagine stumbling upon great spoils or treasure of some kind, so that you were suddenly, instantly rich? How much joy would that give you? Do you realize that you already have an even greater treasure the provides a source of even greater joy?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

What did the Lord’s confusion of human language accomplish, apart from the physical result of scattering humanity over the face of the whole earth? What good came out of it?Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

We’ve made it to the twenty-first stanza of Psalm 119. The psalmist begins this stanza by confronting us with the question: Whom do you fear more—mortal earthly rulers or the eternal God of the universe?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

God did not just confuse everyone’s language randomly and form the people into new groups arbitrarily. He still let the people taste of his mercy.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 concludes the twentieth stanza of Psalm 119 by stating, literally, that “the head of [God’s] word is truth.” What does he mean by that?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

To put a stop to humanity’s rebellion against him, the Lord came down and confused their language. Can you imagine the creative potential for a director if this were adapted for the big screen? What did this confusion look like?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 119:159, the psalmist contrasts what he sees in others, which he mentioned in vs. 158, with what he is confident God will see in him. Yet that is not the basis on which he wants God to deal with him.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

When God saw what was happening in Shinar, his response almost makes it sound like he is worried that humans might pose a threat to his authority. But God is concerned about humans, not himself. That’s why he imposed limitations on their project and abilities.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Why is double-crossing and deceitfulness so disgusting to God? Why should it be disgusting to us?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Moses tells us in Genesis 11:5 that “the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men had built.” How are we supposed to understand expressions like this?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 devotion, we reflect on the “even though” verses of Psalm 119, where the psalmist states some hardship or difficulty he must endure in the first half of the verse, but affirms his dedication to God and his word in the second half of the verse.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

The building of the enormous tower in the Shinar settlement was also symptomatic of humanity’s disobedience toward God. But this tower also betrays the root cause of all their disobedient symptoms.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

How are you saved? What are the works that are pleasing to God? Just as important, do your answers to those questions originate with you or some other human, or with God?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

God had told Noah and his sons and their wives to “throng in the earth and multiply in it” (Gen. 9:7). But we don’t get the impression that humanity wanted to do that, even a century after the Flood. (In the bonus content, we consider possible dates for the settlement in Shinar.)Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

It seems pretty bold to ask the holy and almighty God to take up your case, as if he were some nonprofit legal organization seeking justice for the innocent. But in Psalm 119:154, the psalmist encourages us to do so. In this devotion we consider how we can.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Even when we speak the same language as someone else today, we can’t always understand them. But from the beginning of the world up to about a century after the Flood, humans all spoke the same way and shared the same vocabulary.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 begins the twentieth stanza of Psalm 119 asking God to see his affliction. We have a good basis on which to ask the Lord of the universe to pay attention to us.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

This devotion could also be called “The Descendants of Shem, Part 3.” Our last Genesis devotion was about Eber and Peleg. In this devotion we look at the descendants of Eber’s other son, Joktan, one of whom became renowned for gold.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

From where do the Scriptures get their authority? How do we defend them, or become more convinced of their eternal and reliable character?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

After tracing the sons of Japheth and Ham, Moses now pursues the line of the Messiah, which will continue to be his focus in the rest of Genesis. In this devotion, we consider how Eber and Peleg received their names, and how their lives coincided with the events of the Tower of Babel.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Those who pursue evil plans are constantly drawing near to Christians. But there is Someone else who is always near, who is infinitely more powerful than all of them combined and whose word and promises never fail.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Moses is going to focus on Arphaxad and his sons, including Eber, because they will be in the lineage of the Messiah. But first he briefly covers the other sons of Shem, giving a little extra attention to Aram, due to the Aramaic influence on God’s people.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

This side of heaven, Christians are not immune from evil things or evil people and evil spirits. Those who pursue evil plans are constantly drawing near. What does this mean for us?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

The Canaanites were descended from Noah’s son Ham, and inhabited the Promised Land before the Israelites. Where did they settle, and what were they like?Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

The trial the psalmist introduced at the beginning of this stanza is continuing and is sapping his strength. But his devotional regimen provides him with bold and confident petitions to set before God.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

On the surface, the descendants of Mizraim just look like a lot of unpronounceable names. But these peoples would noticeably factor into the history of God’s people, for good and (more often) for ill.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 119:148, the psalmist leads us to think about why evening is a good time for devotion and prayer.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Moses continues telling us about the Israelites’ very distant relatives. But he is also showing us how it didn’t take long for people after the Flood to become like people before the Flood—Nimrod the hunter being a prime example.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 119:147, the psalmist leads us to think about why morning is a good time for devotion and prayer.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Ham and his sons are identified primarily with Arabian and African territory. In this devotion, we attempt to locate more precisely where Ham’s sons and grandsons settled. We also consider how much we have in common with them, in spite of our cultural differences.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

In verse 145, the psalmist lamented his failure in the Christian struggle. In verse 146, the psalmist tells us what kept him from despairing and gave him the strength to keep fighting the good fight.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Japheth and his sons are identified primarily with European territory. In this devotion, we attempt to locate more precisely where Japheth’s sons and grandsons settled.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Do you ever feel like you’re living a lie or a contradiction as a Christian? You’re not alone.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Moses begins the fourth account of Genesis with an overview of Noah’s three sons and their descendants. He starts with Japheth and his descendants, who are likely the ancestors of majority of those listening to this podcast.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Righteousness has been a major theme of the eighteenth stanza of Psalm 119. To close this stanza, the psalmist explicitly spells out the means of our righteousness, and concludes with a fitting prayer.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Hearing about the sons of Noah fathering children after the Flood gives us an opportunity to reflect on how their parental attitude might have changed in their new circumstances, and to reflect on our own parenting.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

We all know what it’s like to be under stress, to be in high-pressure situations, to feel like we’re restricted, even imprisoned by our circumstances. But do we also know that there is a pleasant diversion available, guaranteed to refresh and strengthen us?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Noah was the last person the Bible records to surpass 900 years in age. Through his long life, God made him a vital link between the pre-Flood and post-Flood world, especially for the transmission of his Word.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous; God imputes Christ’s righteousness to our account. And the psalmist tells us that that righteousness has no expiration date.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

We have looked at the curse of Canaan and the blessing given to Shem. In this devotion, we consider the blessing given to Japheth.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 devotion, we consider how children and young people are often despised, *and* how that should not discourage them from learning and retaining God’s word. Scripture references for examples cited in this devotion: 1 Samuel 16; Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17; 1 Timothy 4:12.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

In Genesis 9:24–27, Noah doesn’t just pronounce a curse on Ham’s son Canaan. He also pronounces blessings on Shem and Japheth. In this devotion, we look at the blessing pronounced on Shem, or rather on “the LORD, the God of Shem.”Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

There are plenty of people who will challenge and defy God’s word. But here’s the thing: It’s been tested time and again, and it always passes.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Now that we know what the curse of Canaan was, and wasn’t, how was it actually fulfilled?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 noticed how those who care the most also tend to get worn out the easiest? In Psalm 119:139, the psalmist says this is true of himself. So what does he want us to take away from this?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Noah didn’t just pronounce a curse on Canaan so that the curse would be more limited than, for instance, a curse pronounced on his son Ham, but also because he saw, by divine inspiration, how Ham’s moral perversity would live on among the Canaanites.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

If you check five different translations of Psalm 119:138, you’ll likely find five different things being said (even if they’re related). In this episode, we wrestle with what the psalmist is saying about God, his word, and righteousness and faithfulness.Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Especially in early to mid-1800s, when slavery was being hotly debated in our country, many pro-slavery preachers would speak of “the curse of Ham” to defend slavery. But was there actually any curse of Ham?Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Since God is righteous, he also judges righteously. So how does he judge us not guilty, when we are in fact guilty?Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

In Genesis 9:24–27, Noah pronounces a curse on his grandson Canaan and a blessing on his sons Shem and Japheth after waking up from his drunken sleep. These words have been widely misunderstood and misapplied. In this devotion, we consider how we should always listen to God’s word, regardless of the mouthpiece he chooses to use.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).