Anybody who’s ever tried to live without God at the center of life understands meaninglessness.  Solomon, who’d experienced the pinnacle of success and the depths of despair, became very reflective about all he’d been given and all he’d missed in life when he wrote these passages. Obviously, Solomon was very bright, amazingly insightful, and clearly

There is nothing like wisdom to ensure we have the kind of life we desire.  Knowing what to do and understanding why it’s important is the greatest knowledge imaginable.  God gives us His best – the wisdom to make right choices and the grace to follow through – in the Book of Proverbs. The thirty-first

If you’ve felt it, you will find it addressed in the Book of Psalms.  Every human emotion, every ounce of pain, every longing, every sorrow and sadness, and every good and perfect feeling you’ve ever known is here. The experience of life is recorded and nothing is spared.  When we read the Book of Psalms

It’s one of the most familiar names and books of all time…Job.  We all know the absolute agony he endured.  Worst of all, God knew and did nothing to stop the pain.  How could Job survive such pressure and loss?  And how could a loving God permit His loved one to endure such pain, especially

Esther took a very courageous stand and boldly accessed the king with a request for her people.  She did it as if she’d been born for such a time as that, and indeed she had.  What grace.  What conviction.  What an example for all of us. As bold as Esther was, her story is one

Nehemiah had a burden and a vision to see his city restored, but rather than striking out with a plan of his own, he started on his knees. “O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive…to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this

Ezra, the book, is named for Ezra, the man of God.  He is referred to as one who had “prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).  What a commendation! Ezra wanted to understand God’s Word; he planned not

A highlight in the Book of 2 Chronicles is verse three of chapter seven: “When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord saying; ‘For He is

The Book of 1 Chronicles is aptly named – it is a detailed narrative record, and it is tedious.  At first glance, you might think one would have to be a serious biblical scholar to tackle such a book.  Some might think it would be best left to the professionals. That’s not God’s intention, however. 

The kingdoms of Israel and Judah go from division to disintegration to destruction in the Book of 2 Kings.  It’s a sad process for the people of God. Leaders who compromise create chaos and calamity not only for themselves, but for those they lead.  Society suffers when its leaders fail.  The Old Testament is full