[This Firestarter is from the version for families with children.]

Asaph is pretty angry at God’s enemies.  Images run through the whole psalm of God getting back at them.  Asaph wants enemies to stop being so proud and hateful.  He longs that they come to repentance and shame in coming to realize that they are fighting against the God of the whole universe.  The last verse comes as a final wake-up call for them…and for us.

     When you have people coming against you in some way, just pray for them and turn then over to God who wants them to come around to God’s ways and love, just as we are all supposed to do.  Linger with the last verse until you and all those sharing this passage with you find that all the noise of the enemies in your life are brought to silence.  Sometime we can hear these enemies talking inside our own head! Wait quietly until the silence itself speaks of God’s tender loving presence to you.

[Here is the Firestarter from the original version.]

We long for God to intervene in the presence of enemies; so does the psalmist. He uses images of victory and conquest to stir belief that the Lord indeed has power over all enemies.

Those who call themselves your enemy need not be named so by you. Jesus commanded us to love our enemies. Intercede for them with love—much more powerful than all the hatred that might rise before your face. Pray with love so that the kind of shame and confusion described in verse 17 will move your enemies beyond all intrigues, to surrender their lives into God’s great love.

Remember what happened when God’s people ignored divine power when it was needed.

Psalm 83

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More

We follow a reading of the Psalms in numerical order.

For all the Firestarters in the original version I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

[This Firestarter is from the version for families with children.]

In the book of Proverbs, we have the inside scoop on how to live and think.  Peace runs through the wise sayings here. But there is a problem with verse 13.  It seems to say that it’s OK for parents to hit their children!  From it there has come a saying, “Spare the rod and spoil the child!”  This apparently means, if you’re afraid of damaging a rod for punishing a child, you may have a rod in one piece by you’ll have a spoiled child!  

There are lots of problems with a physical, spanking approach to this verse, especially these days when we hear of child abuse.  Many times an angry parent is tempted to strike a child, not as a consequence to what a child does, but rather as an expression of frustration and anger.

So, let’s have another look at the meaning of verse 13.  Take out your12 inch ruler from school.  It’s a stick, isn’t it–a rod?  You could use it to give someone a whack on the back, but it’s not meant for that. It’s what you use when you want to measure things in inches, or to make a line straight.  You compare what you are measuring with the ruler; you draw a line with it so that a line is neat.  So in a deeper sense, what this verse means is that parents are meant to hold up a measure, a ruler–not as a physical thing, but rather as a guide–something spiritual to which our actions can be measured.

Look at it this way, parents.  If you have good habits and ways of living that you want to be sure that your children live by, then hold this “ruler” up to them as an example. If you don’t, then a child could be spoiled, thinking that life is just about oneself, not following the “ruler” of loving others as we would like them to be loved.  When children don’t live up to the measure or ruler of what parents teach their children about proper living and loving, there are alternatives to hitting physically. As a young person, you may be “hit” by the absence of the privilege of music, or your computer or telephone because you did something wrong.   The absence of these privileges that you like is meant to “strike” you so that you can think more deeply in the silence about the wisdom that your parents and teachers have about guiding you in your life.

 Proverbs 23:1-25

What are Bible Breaths? Learn More…

Tuesdays are dedicated to the Old Testament books of history
and the Hebrew “Writings.”
In this season, Proverbs 20-11; 1 Kings

For all the Firestarters in the original version I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information

[This Firestarter is from the original version.]

Daniel lives in such intimacy with the Lord that he knows he will receive all he needs in the crisis in which he finds himself. He already has the prayer of thanksgiving and praise in his heart that he expresses after he receives the answer from the Lord about the King’s dream. Daniel’s commitment to the Lord alone results in receiving God’s protection, comfort, and power against all adversities. Daniel is a model of intimacy maintained with the Lord. God alone is sovereign.

All you need to know spiritually will be given to you as you pour out your heart in prayer before the Lord. As Daniel, stand out against the crowd in your trust in the Lord. It will give you a serenity that no one can take from you.

Daniel 2

Mondays are dedicated to the reading of the Hebrew Prophets.
In the season of Kingdomtide this year, we read the Book of Daniel.

What are “Bible Breaths”? Learn More…

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information.