One of humanity’s many responses to God’s revelation of Himself. The Bible recognizes that men and women also may be the objects of praise, either from other people (Prov 27:21; 31:30) or from God Himself (Rom 2:29), and that angels and the natural world are likewise capable of praising God (Ps 148). Nevertheless, human praise of God is one of Scripture’s major themes.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (PRAISE)
The king of Nineveh repented, and we wonder why. The only explanation for the king’s confession (and for your own) is that God fills the emptiness in the human heart so effectively that our normal and natural response (albeit with the help of God Himself) is to seek God’s forgiveness and comfort. The stubborn person who resists and refuses God’s overture-not the repentant sinner-should be the cause of bewilderment.
Continue reading WHAT EXPLAINS A PAGAN KING’S EAGER REPENTANCE?
Cattle were primarily a measure or symbol of wealth in biblical times. They were both familiar and significant, good characteristics for symbolic use. Among his livestock, the wealthy Job had a thousand oxen (Job 1:3). Cattle not only provided meat, milk, leather, and other by-products, they were the main animal workforce in ancient agricultural societies. Oxen (castrated bulls) pulled plows as well as wagons. Continue reading SIGNS AND SYMBOLS OF THE BIBLE (BULL/CALF)