Day Twenty--July 20, 2026--"But God.."

 

John 1:1-18

Hinge Verse: John 1:18

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." 

John 1:1

This verse is so fundamental in understanding exactly who Jesus is.  Word is capitalized throughout this chapter because the Word is a person--Jesus.  The Greek word translated Word is logos, which broadly means an account of or something said.  But specifically in this account concerning Jesus, it means "The Divine Expression."  Jesus was with God in the beginning, creating all things, being and giving life, being and giving light.  The darkness of sin had us all under it's rule, yet Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness and overcomes it.  

The Hebrew word for Word is Dabar and is found in Isaiah 55:10-11

"For just as the rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprouted, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do." 

The Word is an action--Jesus sent out by the Father with a purpose--to accomplish what He pleases.  And what pleased God was that those who received His Word--Jesus--would become His children.  So the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  He brought all of the grace of God and all of the truth of God, and by Him, we could observe all of the glory of God.  The phrase "Grace upon Grace" ties these two words--Hebrew and Greek--grace given in the New Testament life of Jesus is piling on the grace already given since the beginning.  No one has ever seen God, But The Son (BUT GOD..) the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father's side.  Jesus has revealed Him.  He accomplished what the Father sent Him to do and prospered with His victory over sin and death.  

The Geneva Bible was carried to America by pilgrims and settlers in the early 1600s.  Christopher and James Avery, father and son, brought the 1581 version to America.  According to Avery family tradition, they were on board the Arabella with John Winthrop who we met on Day 16  The Avery Bible is now on display at the Dunham Bible Museum.  

The first Bible printed in America was not in English.  It was John Eliot's translation into Algonquin, the language of the Masschusett, a native American tribe.  The first seal of Massachusetts was a picture of Native Americans saying "Come and help us" (Acts 16:9) It took 3 years to print, printing 1,000 copies of one page a week.  (My printer always gives me fits, but after reading this, I may go out and kiss it 😁)

At a time when Britain did not allow Bibles to be printed (all Bibles were imported), and no Bibles were printed in colonial America, local printer Robert Aitken took on the expensive project of translating and printing an English Bible from the "original tongues".  He was concerned that the Revolutionary War would prohibit Bibles from being imported.  In 1782, a Congressional committee was considering funding the importation of Bibles from Holland or Scotland.  However, they were presented with Aitken's Bible, and decided to endorse it instead.  It is the only edition of the Bible that was authorized by Congress.  (Congress also voted to fund the importation of the Bibles from Holland and Scotland, but due to the high cost of everything during wartime, this plan was not carried out.)

I could go on and on about the history of having access to a printed Bible in the United States.  It's so interesting, and we owe a great debt to people like Robert Aitken and his work to that end.  This line from his petition to Congress explains why this work was important to him:

"That in every well regulated Government in Christendom The Sacred Books of the Old and New Testament, commonly called the Holy Bible, are printed and published under the Authority of the Sovereign Powers, in order to prevent the fatal confusion that would arise, and the alarming Injuries the Christian Faith might suffer from the Spurious and erroneous Editions of Divine Revelation."

It would be a fatal confusion to the Christian Faith if we would not have had access to God's Word.  Period.  I love the Bible, obviously.  I have multiple Bibles, and we all have access to any version at any time on our phones and computers.  What a wonderful time to be alive.  I am so thankful.  But access to God's Word is through the Word Himself.  Jesus warned the Pharisees that although they had access to the scripture, they were missing the point.  He is expounding our verses from today. 

"And the Father who sent me has Himself testified concerning me.  You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, nor does His word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one He sent.  You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.  These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life."  John 5:37-40

BUT GOD--THEOS--owner and creator of all things.  BUT JESUS--LOGOS--Alive and active.  

Light. Life.  From Forever to Forever.  

History of Bibles in America

History of Bibles in America

Day Nineteen--July 19, 2026--"But God.."

 

Luke 16:10-16

Hinge Verse: Luke 16:15

Jesus starts Luke 16 telling the disciples the parable of the Dishonest Manager.  It's a confusing, conversation-starter parable that causes you to think deeply on the meaning.  There was a rich man who was told his manager was blowing all of the rich man's money and possessions.  He asked the manager to give account for his work.  The manager is like "oh shoot, what am I going to do now?  I'm too pretty to work, and too proud to beg!!"  So he starts contacting the ones who owe him money and cuts them each a deal of sorts--kinda like cooking the books and covering his tracks.  In a most shocking turn of events, the master PRAISED the unrighteous manager for his shrewdness.  The lesson, as Jesus explains it, is the dishonest manager's actions were an outcome of his time--his culture, history, and society shaped his thoughts, values, and behaviors.  Instead of making the wrong right, he made it wronger.  Even though he was going the wrong direction, it took him great effort.  So to his disciples He says harness this shrewdness for good!  The unrighteous should not be outpacing the righteous when it comes to intelligence.  The world is counting on the ones who value right living; the unrighteous will be the world's downfall.  

Of course, the Pharisees, who LOVED money, are eavesdropping on Jesus's conversation with his disciples and mocking him.  So Jesus turned to them (we need dramatic music playing in the background) and said:

"You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, BUT GOD knows your hearts.  For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight. "

Besides money, the Pharisees also love and are experts in the law and the prophets.  Jesus advises them that they can't pick and choose which ones to follow, because the law and the prophets all point to the invitation into the kingdom that is freely and urgently extended.  

Robert Matthews was born in 1788 in Cambridge, New York.  His parents, who died when he was young. were members of a division of the Presbyterian church called "Anti-Burgher", which simply put means they would not pledge allegiance to the established state church of Scotland.  

By the age of 19, Robert was learning a trade, yet was also leaning toward a life of crime.  He  started spouting some strange religious beliefs.  He dabbled in Methodism and Judaism for a while, but then left Christianity altogether.  He was a self-proclaimed "prophesying Hebrew".  Simultaneously, he was becoming more violent towards his wife and others.  He claimed to have prophetic visions, and when his wife wouldn't comply with his demands, he kidnapped three of their children to protect them from the coming "flood".  He was declared insane; his wife was unable to divorce him or have him arrested.  

Robert was developing his "new theology" and began to refer to himself as "The Prophet Matthias".  

After a while of fruitless street preaching, The Prophet Matthias was able to convince a well-known religious leader that he was legitimate.  He convinced others that Christianity was evil, and they should start following him.  Although he preached against women, clergymen, and "all men who wear spectacles", The Prophet Matthias still managed to generate a cult-like following.  He established "The Kingdom", married his best friend's wife, who he claimed would bear a child who would be the messiah.  

In 1835, The Prophet Matthias met Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church.  He introduced himself to Joseph Smith as "Joshua the Jewish Minister",  and claimed to be a direct descendant of Matthias, the apostle who took Judas's place after he betrayed Jesus.  After their meeting, the two "prophets" labeled each other satanists.  

Robert Matthews was born with proper religious teaching right at his fingertips.  If he had used the energy it took to be unrighteously shrewd and turned it for good to the Kingdom of God, what a difference that would have made.  Instead he spent his whole life, all of his possessions, all of his friendships, and cooked the books in what he thought was his own favor.  He won people over to the kingdom of this world and darkness, when with the same effort (or maybe less because when God is for you who can be against you...) The Prophet Matthias could have won people over to the Kingdom of God and light.  He was admired by some, BUT GOD found his heart revolting.  

The Name Jesus called God--Theos--the owner and creator of everything.  

Oh, BUT GOD....

The Prophet Matthias along with his housekeeper, Isabella Van Wagener, were accused and acquitted of murder.  Isabella would later become a devout Christian and change her name to Sojourner Truth.

Robert Matthews

Sojourner Truth

Day Eighteen--July 18, 2026--"But God.."

 

Luke 12:13-34

Hinge Verses--Luke 12:19-21

In our scripture reading today, Jesus has just left the company of a Pharisee who had invited Jesus to eat with him.   A crowd of MANY THOUSANDS assembled and were trampling over each other.  Yet, Jesus managed to keep his focus on teaching His disciples the danger of those around them.  With that many people aware of their location and mission, there must have been threats to them, and Jesus taught them their value, what to fear, who to trust.  

A man from this crowd of thousands calls out, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  (He DID NOT understand the assignment.)  Jesus is not there to settle disputes, yet in His kindness, He does address the root of this man's problem--Greed.  Then as is His way, Jesus doubles down on the lesson by telling a story meant to illustrate the truth He's conveying.  

A rich man has land that was producing more than he could use.  So he said he would just tear down his barns and build bigger ones, giving him plenty of room to store all he has accumulated.  Then he will pat himself on the back, have a seat with his food and drink, and relish all he's accomplished. 

"BUT GOD said to him, 'You fool!  This very night your life is demanded of you'll.  And the things you have prepared--whose will they be?" 

Jesus turns back to His disciples to teach them the meaning of what He just said.  Don't worry about what you have; look around and trust God; seek HIS kingdom, and everything else will work out.  Your heart is a check engine light for what is important to you.  Only work that is for the kingdom can last forever.  

William Borden was born in 1887 in Illinois to a family who had made their millions mining silver.  William's mother converted to Christianity in 1894 and took William and his siblings to church at Chicago Avenue Church.  Under the pastor's preaching, William accepted Christ and from then on his life was changed.  When William graduated from high school at 16, his parents graduation gift was a trip around the world.  (Millionaires, am I right?) It was during this trip that William felt called to be a foreign missionary.  He found himself in London during his travels, where his pastor was holding meetings, and it was there William surrendered his life to ministry.  

William graduated from Yale, and then Princeton Theological Seminary.  William intended to be a missionary to the muslims in China, so he moved to Cairo, Egypt and in with a Syrian family, so he could learn as much about Islam as he could, and hear Arabic as often as he could.  Shortly after he arrived in Egypt, he contracted cerebral meningitis and died three weeks later.  He was buried in Cairo and this is his tombstone--

William never made it to the mission field.  Much like the man in our scripture reading, William's life was demanded of him in a seemingly untimely manner.  Unlike the man in our scripture reading, William was prepared to live and die according to the plans God had for him.  Instead of "You fool",--according to Scripture--William would have heard "Well done, good and faithful servant."  Matthew 25:21

Two men, different treasures.  Jesus said "BUT GOD", calling Him Theos, Creator and Owner of all things.  The rich fool thought he owned all things, and created his own destiny.  But William gladly gave up all he had to pursue Christ and his calling.  A phrase that William is reputed to have written in his Bible (The Bible was reportedly given to his mother, but was never found) regarding his life's decisions as a young millionaire who died pursuing God's Will---

No Reserves.

No Retreats.

No Regrets.  

Oh, But God..

William Border

Day Seventeen--July 17, 2026--"But God.."

 

Matthew 19:16-30

Hinge verses: Matthew 19:25-26

{We finally made it to the New Testament!!}

Jesus is making His final rounds as He's making His way to Jerusalem.  In just two chapters, He will make His triumphal entry before His crucifixion.  Chapter 19 starts with Jesus being followed by large crowds, and He healed many there.  Of course, the Pharisees have been persistently following Jesus His whole ministry, asking questions, trying to trip Him up.  

In the crowd on this day is someone known to us as "the rich young ruler".  He runs up to Jesus and asks "Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?"  Jesus's answer "Why do you ask Me about what is good?" may seem confusing to us, because we know Jesus is good.  We are reading this all in hindsight, but the man is living it.  I believe Jesus is prompting the man to think about why he is asking Jesus about good.   Surely the man knows that it is God who is good, so why would he ask Jesus unless he is <so> close to understanding that Jesus is in fact God in the flesh? 

So Jesus answers him--If you want eternal life, keep the commandments.  The man is thrilled because he HAS kept the commandments since he was a boy.  (The commandments Jesus listed are the ones that address how we interact horizontally, with each other.  He did not mention the commandments that are vertical, our interaction with God. Jesus does all things well.)  The rich young ruler says "What do I still lack?"  Jesus tells him to go sell all he has, give it to the poor, and that will be proof that his treasure is in heaven.  Then follow Him.   Seems easy enough.  But the man is grieved, because he had many possessions.  

I have written in the margin of my Bible: "The man is grieved because he thinks the riches could come, too.  I picture him with a bag full of his stuff, like Santa Claus, trying to get through a needle's eye."  The disciples were astonished and asked (and I can kinda hear the snark in their voices.) "Then who can be saved?"

Jesus looks at them and said:

"With man this is impossible, BUT with GOD all things are possible."  (emphasis mine.)

Robert Gilmour LeTourneau was born in 1888 in Richford, Vermont.  He dropped out of high school at 14 to be an apprentice to an ironworker.  He learned many skills during his time as an apprentice, and took some basic mechanical engineering correspondence courses.  Over the course of his early working career, he learned welding, auto mechanics, farming, wood cutting, mining, and carpentry.  At the age of 32, he started his own earth moving business.  His business barely survived the great depression, but quickly gained after.  During World War II, LeTourneau's factories supplied approximately 70% of the earthmoving equipment used by Allied forced.  He developed the first portable offshore drilling platform in the mid-1950s.  

RG LeTourneau, the man known throughout the construction world as the "The Dean of Earthmoving" was also a very devout Christian.  A man with over 300 patents gladly told anyone who asked what guided him--one principle "God runs my business."  He struggled to decide whether to be a preacher or a businessman, until his pastor counseled him--"God needs businessmen, too."  LeTourneau set aside 90% of his salary and company profits for religious donations, living on the other 10%.  He once said "I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back.  But God has a bigger shovel."  When LeTourneau was featured on a radio show hosted by Robert Ripley, Ripley told him "You have made the word of God a glorious, practical reality."  Then turning to the audience, Ripley said "And of such is the work of faith...believe it or not." 

RG LeTourneau wrote an autobiography called "Mover of Men and Mountains".  A line from the book:

"For 25 years or more, I've been traveling this land of ours and a few foreign countries trying to teach and preach by word of mouth and example, that a Christian businessman owes as much to God as a preacher does."  

What did RG LeTourneau understand that the rich young ruler did not?  Based on a quote original to John Wesley, but one that RG LeTourneau adopted and popularized--RG understood this:

"It's not how much of my money I give to God, it's how much of God's money I keep for myself."

He knew he could give everything to God, and God was faithful to bless him with what he needed.   RG didn't give because he wanted to get, he gave because he knew the word of God was a glorious, practical reality.  The rich young ruler thought what he had outweighed what he would get as a follower of Christ.  BUT GOD--THEOS--the name Jesus called Him in verse 26 means God, the Creator and owner of all things.  With man, to give everything away is impossible.  But with God, all things are possible.  

RG LeTourneau

Mover of Men and Mountains

RG LeTourneau Wikipedia

Day Sixteen--July 16, 2026--"But God.."

Jonah 3-4

Hinge Verses--Jonah 4:6-7

We are returning to finish out the story of Jonah, started in Day 15 "But God.." post.  Jonah finally makes it to Nineveh after traveling about 3,000 miles in the wrong direction.  After the fish vomited Jonah on to the shore, Jonah was told again "Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach the message that I tell you."   Jonah gets up and does as he's commanded, walks into the city Day One, and warns the city what will happen if they don't repent "In 40 days, Nineveh will be demolished."  So everyone--from the king to the least--believed in God, proclaimed a fast, and dressed in sackcloth.  The king additionally removed his royal robe and sat in ashes--a sign of humility and repentance --and decreed:

"By order of the king and his nobles; no person or animal, herd or flock is to taste anything at all.  They must not eat or drink water.  Furthermore, both people and animals must be covered with sackcloth, and everyone must call out earnestly to God.  Each must turn from his evil ways and from his wrongdoing.  Who knows?  God may turn and relent; he may turn from his burning anger so we will not perish."

And that is exactly what happened.  God saw that they had turned from their evil ways, He changed His mind, and He did not demolish Nineveh.  

This would be a great ending, except Jonah.  He was livid that the Ninevites had turned from their wicked ways.  This is what he expected to happen--Jonah would put his reputation on the line by warning Nineveh that they were going to be destroyed; God would come through at their repentance because He is gracious, compassionate, patient, faithful, loving; and then Jonah would look like a fool.  That's literally the reason he went in the wrong direction in the first place.  Now Jonah would rather die than live.  The LORD asks Jonah "Are you right to be angry?" 👀

So Jonah marches off to pout.  He works on a  handmade shelter and sits in the shade of it to watch what would happen to Nineveh.  God goes the extra mile and makes a plant grow to provide shade, to "rescue him from his trouble".  Jonah was thrilled.  BUT then GOD sent a worm to destroy the plant.  Then He sent a scorching east wind.  Jonah returns to his thoughts of his own death, and God confronts him again: "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?"  Jonah explodes, "Yes it is right!!! I could DIE of anger."  Then God comes in with the knockout punch--Jonah cares about the plant but does not care about Nineveh or its people, nor does he want God to care about Nineveh and it's 20,000 souls.  BUT GOD...

John Winthrop was a Puritan born in 1588 in Suffolk, England.  He was a devoted religious teenager and, as an adult, he longed for a world where wickedness was replaced by goodness.  He was given a chance in 1629 to sail to America with a new company, and plant a colony there.  As he sailed to America on the Arabella, he wrote a sermon called "A Model of Christian Charity".  He dreamed of a colony in covenant with God and each other, and that they would build a "City on a Hill" in New England, and that all the eyes of the new land would be on them.  

"If we deal with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world; we shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God and all believers in God;  we shall shame the faces of many of God's worthy servants and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us, til we are forced out of the new land where we are going."  John Winthrop  BUT GOD...

Nineveh was built on two prominent mounds.  They are potentially a City on a Hill.  The whole city-- everyone-- has repented.  However, within 150 years, we find them again in the book of Nahum 1  Because of their wickedness, because someone has risen up who plots evil against the LORD, the LORD prophesies their destruction.  We find ancient Nineveh in Mosul, Iraq today.  So what happened?  Jonah missed an opportunity to disciple these new believers and potential followers of the LORD.  He was focused on himself, his comfort, his reputation, instead of on the next step that would've helped depend their faith.  So the city returned to its original state, their faith like the second seed in Matthew 13:20-21--on rocky ground with little soil, and because it had no root, it quickly fell away as soon as trials came. 

What happened to the city on a Hill that John Winthrop dreamed of?  Many well-known Americans have quoted this phrase and this sermon.  John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, Ted Cruz, Mario Cuomo.  But they are referencing it more in the bent of the Great American Experiment, and whether America has led the charge in a new government model.  And while our country was founded on Christian principles, I'm sad to say that I'm not convinced we are a City on a Hill to the eyes watching us.  I think we are more on thorny ground from Matthew 13:22 our love for the LORD choked out by the cares and riches of this world.  

We will end with the closing of John Winthrop's sermon--"A Model of Christian Charity"

"And to shut this discourse with that exhortation of Moses, that faithful servant of the Lord, in his last farewell to Israel, 

'Beloved, there is now set before us life and death, good and evil,' in that we are commanded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one another, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and his ordinance and his laws, and the articles of our covenant with Him, that we may live and be multiplied, and that the Lord our God may bless us in the land whither we go to possess it.  But if our hearts shall turn away, so that we will not obey, but shall be seduced, and worship other God's, our pleasure and profits and serve them;  it is propounded unto us this day, we shall surely perish out of the good land whither we pass over this vast sea to possess it.

Therefore let us choose life,

that we and our seed may live, 

by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him,

for His is our life and our prosperity."

Oh, BUT GOD.  

City Upon a Hill

A Model of Christian Charity

Ancient Nineveh

 

Day Fifteen--July 15, 2026--"But God.."

Jonah 2

Hinge Verse--Jonah 2:6

Jonah was a prophet of the LORD during the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel.  According to our chart from the beginning of this study, Kings of Israel and Judah, King Jeroboam II was "badly behaved", and Jonah seemed to follow in the king's footsteps.  Jonah received a very clear command from the LORD--

"Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me."  Jonah 1:2

Jonah's hometown was Gath-Hepher 2 Kings 14:25, where he likely was when he received his commission.  Instead of going straight up to Nineveh, he went down to Joppa to buy a ticket for Tarshish.  It was approximately 550 miles to Nineveh, and 60 miles to Joppa.  So obedience may have seemed like the harder choice.  But from Joppa to Tarshish was 2,500 miles!  It was like saying now, "We drove from here to Timbuktu!"  Jonah ran from God and His command in the opposite direction.  He boarded the ship bound for Tarshish and 

In another "But God.." moment, 

the LORD threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart." 

The sailors were afraid and started throwing stuff overboard.  The captain went to look for Jonah and found him stretched out and sleeping.  Jonah, who had already told the sailors he was running from the LORD, admitted he served the God of the heavens, who made the sea and dry land,  The sailors knew this storm was a punishment on Jonah, however they rowed like everything to try to avoid catastrophe. They found out you can't outrun or outrow God, so they prayed for forgiveness instead of permission, and threw Jonah overboard.  The LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he stayed in its belly three days and three nights.  

Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish is thankful, but not necessarily repentant.  He's sorry he ended up inside a fish, but not necessarily sorry for the disobedience that took him there.  The sailors threw him in the sea, but he knows it was God's punishment.  He describes his surroundings--basically a watery tomb--and the helplessness he feels.  In our pivotal verse, Jonah cries out to God from his hopelessness--

"To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever.  BUT you, LORD My GOD, brought my life up from the pit."   

Jonah promises to fulfill his mission and vows that, however he might feel about the hated Ninevites--ultimately, salvation belongs to the LORD.  (We will come back to Jonah tomorrow for the rest of the story.)

The USS Squalus was a US Navy submarine.  In 1939, The Squalus was going through rigorous trials to prove sea-worthiness off the coast of New England. There were 59 submariners on board.  It had been in the water for 83 days when the failure of a valve caused the ship to take on water and sink.  The boat ended up in 240 feet of water.  26 submariners died in the initial flooding of the boat, and 33 survived.  The survivors waited 39 hours to be rescued.  Like Jonah, they felt helpless, trapped in their watery tomb.  They sent up a buoy marker and waited.  No one had ever been rescued from this depth.  They considered a few methods of escape, but again, none of these methods had been tried at this depth.  Some of the rescuers working from above heard some rhythmic tapping, and recognized it as morse code. Two messages came from the crew--"Cold but bearable", and "Is there any hope?"  Over the course of 13 hours, divers rescued all 33 men.  All the while, family and friends and fellow soldiers prayed from the shore.  But God..

Jonah found himself trapped in the belly of a fish because of his disobedience.  The submariners found themselves trapped in the belly of a submarine because of mechanical failure.  All were helpless and losing hope.  We aren't sure what happened to the sailors on Jonah's ship; we know some on the USS Squalus didn't survive.  But God--Jonah called Him by name, Yahweh my God--He is sovereign.  He governs over all things; He is in complete control.  With Him alone, there is hope.  He does all things well.  

 

The USS Squalus

 

Day Fourteen--July 14, 2026--"But God.."

 

Daniel 2

Hinge Verses: Daniel 2:27-28

When King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in approximately 605 BC, he took King Jehoiakim captive, as well as Israelites from the royal and noble families.  The young men among the captives were meant to be trained for three years in language and literature of the Babylonians/Chaldeans.  Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel were among the captives.  After going through rigorous training detailed in Daniel 1, this was said of them--

"God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom.  Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind."  Daniel 1:17

The king who had orchestrated the attack on Jerusalem suffered from troubling, sleep-depriving dreams.  (Much like Pharaoh in Joseph's account.)  The confusing dreams filled the king with much anxiety, so he called up every type of fortune teller, wizard, diviner, enchanter, and astrologer at his disposal.  The men come to the king and ask for the dream so they can interpret it.  The king insists that if the "wise men" have they power they say they do, they will be able to divine both the dream AND the interpretation.  At the threat of violent death if they fail and great rewards if they succeed, the men concede that this is an impossible ask.  The order went out to kill the wise men, and while they were at it, randomly kill Daniel and his friends, too.  😟  Daniel stopped the executioner in his tracks with some quick thinking, and was granted an audience with the king.   The 4 friends used their time granted from the king to

"ask the God of the heavens for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon's wise men."  

God came to Daniel in a vision at night, revealing the mystery, and Daniel returned praise to God.  So Daniel went back to his contact within the king's court and, before asking for his promised audience with the king, he pleaded for the lives of the wise men.  

The king asked if Daniel had figured out the dream and its interpretation.  Daniel said no because, like all the men called before him, he had no more wisdom than anyone living.  BUT there is a GOD in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has deemed it appropriate to both describe the dream and give it's interpretation.  The gift of comfort was not necessarily for King Nebuchadnezzar, although he benefited from it; but for Daniel and his 3 friends, who escaped death and were promoted because God revealed the vision needed from heaven.  

Spiritualism has been around since the beginning of time.  But America saw it grow by leaps and bounds during the Civil War, the bloodiest war in American history.  So many families experienced so much death.  Often when a loved one (or several loved ones sadly), the families were not able to have closure because their bodies were never recovered, or were unable to be identified due to extent of injuries, or just lost to the distance from home.  This led to desperate grievers looking to mediums for a chance to be in touch beyond the grave with their lost loved one.  

A most famous grieving mother who turned to spiritualism was Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln.  Mrs. Lincoln lost her mother at a young age.  Her first son, Eddie, died at 4 years old of tuberculosis.  Her second son, Willie, died at age 11 of typhoid fever.  Her third son, Tad,died at age 18. It was Willie's death, while Lincoln was president, that sent Mrs. Lincoln into an unbearable grief.  She sounght the help of some well-known mediums, attending seances to help her process her losses.  She was so comforted by the seances that she hosted several in the White House, with President Lincoln in attendance at some.  She claimed to see the ghosts of Eddie and Willie, which seemed to bring her comfort.  

But God...President and Mrs. Lincoln had several trustworthy pastors in their lives that helped steer her away from her growing dependence on mediums.  Scripture clearly teaches in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 that consulting with the spirit world is "detestable to the LORD."  

Rev. Dr. James Smith was one such trustworthy pastor of the Presbyterian church in Springfield, IL.  He counseled the Lincolns, helped to ground them in their faith, and guided Mrs. Lincoln away from spiritualism.

Another pastor is Rev. Dr. Phineas D. Gurley, of the Presbyterian church in Washington, DC.  Pastor Gurley countered Mrs. Lincoln's practice with the occult, and guided her toward traditional Christian hope.  

Why does this matter so much to God?  Why didn't he leave an evil, conniving king to be comforted with whatever his so-called wise men said?  Why didn't he let Mary Todd Lincoln process her grief by whatever means she decided?  Is He afraid that the comfort He offers will be inferior?   No, He's not afraid.  He made us and He knows that true comfort comes from Him, The God in Heaven.  His Name that Daniel spoke in 2:28 is "Elah", the Aramaic equivalent of Elohim--one God with many attributes.  Gracious, holy, eternal, faithful, just, wise, sovereign.  The proof is in His Name that He is willing to go to any length to comfort His creation. His children. To draw them to Him.  We look for answers in the wrong places.  Oh, But God.  

Mary Todd Lincoln

Day Thirteen--July 13, 2026--"But God.."

 

Isaiah 40:1-8

Hinge Verse: Isaiah 40:8

Isaiah 40 starts with words of comfort from the only One who can truly comfort--God Himself.  He tells Isaiah the prophet to comfort the people of God.  They are in captivity in Babylon because they refused to turn from their wicked ways and trust in God.  The message from the LORD is one of tenderness, hope, comfort, pardon, and blessing.  

In verse 3, there's a prophecy of John the Baptist, given 700 years before he was born, as he will come before Jesus to prepare the way for Him and His ministry on earth.  I love the imagery of verses 4-5--

"Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled;

the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.  

And the glory of the LORD will appear, and all humanity together will see it, 

for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

All humanity has an expiration date; we are like grass and like the flower of the field.  The grass withers, the flowers fade, the effect of God's interaction with them in their seasons.  And then it's repeated to double down on the truth of the statement; Indeed, the people are grass.  The grass withers, the flowers fade, BUT the word of our GOD remains forever."  

The second continental Congress met on July 4, 1776 and adopted the Declaration of Independence, cutting ties with Britain officially.  Arguably, the most famous line from the document is this--

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

One ancient nation held captive in a foreign land because of rebellion against their Creator.  One newborn nation in a new land to stand for the right for all humanity to enjoy the rights bestowed on them by their Creator.  

But neither one of them got it right.  

Israel returned from exile in Babylon, rebuilt the temple, lived through 400 years of silence from the Lord.

America declared independence from Britain, only to find themselves entangled in slavery, civil war, savagery between them and the people native to the land.  

Isaiah 40:4-5 speaks of a time of equality for all.  But we don't see that in Israel or America.  Or anywhere else.  Why?

Because our freedom doesn't come from humanity.  We cannot level the playing field.  We can try.  Israel tries.  America tries.  Other countries try.  We want freedom, equality for all.  But inevitably, someone gets less.  Some are on a high road of success.   Some live in a valley of disappointment after disappointment.  Some have nothing but uneven, ankle-breaking ground of unfairness all their lives.  

Freedom only comes from our Creator.  Only He can grant us equality, all of us standing on even ground.  But it's not for the reason you think.  It's not so everything is fair.  He gives us level ground so we can all see Jesus.  Jesus came in on a straight highway in full view.  The glory of God appeared, and all humanity together has seen it.  

We see people treated unfairly everyday; by others, by their circumstances.  But one day, humanity will reach our expiration date set by the breath of the LORD from the beginning of time.  Elohim, God's Name in verse 8--singular yet plural--will level the fields forever.  Because He is wise, faithful, gracious, good, holy, just, loving--He will make all things fair.  And we--all humanity--will see Jesus, returning on a straight highway.  We--those who trust in Him-- will finally have our unalienable rights in the presence of Jesus--life, liberty, and happiness evermore.  His Word Endures Forever.  

The Declaration of Independence

Day Twelve--July 12, 2026--"But God.."

 

Psalm 94

Hinge Verses:Psalm 94:21-22

The Just Judge is the headline of Psalm 94.  The Psalmist (thought to be King David, although he is not credited specifically.)  is asking for the True Judge to rise up and judge the earth.  He is pleading for the proud to get what they deserve.  Echoing the Psalms we've already read with this study, the cries are directed toward the easy life the wicked seem to be living and the unfairness of it.  Not only are they wicked, they crush those who are trying to follow the LORD.  They kill widows, aliens who live among them, fatherless.  Not only do they kill them, they're not one bit concerned with whether God knows it or not.  The author is livid that the killers and murderers think the "God of Jacob" isn't paying attention to their wickedness.  "Pay attention, you stupid people!  Fools, when will you be wise?" the author rages.  Of course God hears, of course he sees.  He's the creator of both senses!  God created us and He wrote the instruction manual on how His creation can live the best, abundant life.  He knows that takes discipline (not necessarily the spanking we think of when we hear discipline, but training.)  But the thoughts of His creation are useless.  They don't see the happiness and relief that comes from the teaching of the One who  loves us and knows us best.  The LORD will win in the end, bringing justice for the righteous.  

The author turns his thoughts for himself and how unfairly he's been treated.  Who stood up FOR him?  Who stood AGAINST the wicked?  One answer--The LORD Himself.  Even the righteous are in danger of their foot slipping as they navigate life, but God's faithful love supports.  

God has no harmony with corruption and evil.  Corruption and evil join forces against the righteous and sentence them to death.  But God...He is the hideaway.  He is home base.  He will take their sins and evil, destroying them, because they have stored up wrath for themselves for that day.  Romans 2:5

The Salem Witch Trials are a stain on the fabric of American history.  They took place in the late 1600s in colonial Massachusettes.  I have done a deep dive into the stories behind the trials, and it's really hard to discern rightly the mindset that drove this.  Especially with the use of Google, AI, Wikipedia, and others, which allows people to interject opinion, which then allows the story to be skewed a certain direction.  So I'm going to follow the story of two people. 

Rebecca Nurse was a well-respected member of the Salem community.  Rebecca, together with her husband, Francis, had 8 children.  Francis was an artisan who was frequently asked to be a mediator in community matters.  Rebecca was considered to be untouchably loyal, reverent, and benevolent; as a wife, mother, and community member.  In March of 1692, only a month after the Salem Witch Accusations and Trials started, Rebecca was accused of being a witch.  When an accusation was made, the magistrates  (judges) in charge would usually claim that if someone was accused, they were probably guilty.  But for Rebecca, they prayed if she was innocent, that the Lord would make it obvious, because "It is a sad thing to see church members accused."  At the time of her arrest, Rebecca was 71 years old and frail.  She was not allowed to have a lawyer, yet many spoke on her behalf.  "The afflicted"--those who showed signs of "fits" in response to the presence of a witch--had outbursts in Rebecca's presence, to which Rebecca responded "I have got nobody to look to But God." (emphasis mine.)

Rebecca Nurse was hanged on July 19, 1692.

Ann Putnam Jr., as a 12 year old girl, was a primary accuser in the Salem Witch Trials.  Some of Ann's closest friends claimed to be "afflicted"--physically and mentally tormented by the dark magic of the witches.  Ann followed their lead, also claiming to be tormented.  Ann alone accused 62 people, which resulted in the execution of 20.  One of those accused by Ann was Rebecca Nurse.  

14 years after Rebecca's death, Ann consulted with the pastor of their church, who helped her write a public confession of the part she played in the trials.  Rebecca's son, Samuel, was allowed to read the confession ahead of time and deemed it satisfactory.  

Ann desired to read her confession and declare her faith at the same time.  On August 25, 1706, a large crowd gathered, and Reverend Green read the confession to them while they sat and Ann Putnam Jr. stood.  

"I desire to be humbled before God for that sad and humbling providence that befell my father's family in the year about '92; that I, then being in my childhood, should, by such a providence of God, be made an instrument for the accusing of several persons of a grievous crime, whereby their lives were taken away from them, whom now I have just grounds and good reason to believe they were innocent persons; and that it was a great delusion of Satan that deceived me in that sad time, whereby I justly fear I have been instrumental, with others, though ignorantly and unwittingly, to bring upon myself and this land the guilt of innocent blood; though what was said or done by me against any person I can truly and uprightly say, before God and man, I did it not out of any anger, malice, or ill-will to any person, for I had no such thing against one of them; but what I did was ignorantly, being deluded by Satan. And particularly, as I was a chief instrument of accusing of Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I desire to lie in the dust, and to be humbled for it, in that I was a cause, with others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause I desire to lie in the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and from all those unto whom I have given just cause of sorrow and offence, whose relations were taken away or accused.

[Signed]

"This confession was read before the congregation, together with her relation, Aug. 25, 1706; and she acknowledged it."

"J. Green, Pastor."

After the reading, Ann confirmed that this was indeed her confession and her signature, and received communion.  

"They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death."  Human Nature.  "But the LORD is my refuge; my God is the rock of my protection."  The nature of God.  Rebecca Nurse said when accused, "I am innocent as a child unborn but surely, what sin has God found me unrepentant of, that He should lay such an affliction on me in my old age."  Ann Putnam Jr begged forgiveness of God and from all she had wronged.  

The Salem Witch Trials will forever be a stain on our history.  But these two women--from opposite sides of the crisis--both ran to Yahweh, eternal God, and found refuge and protection.  

"All the wreckage of my choices You have turned to life from ashes.  

Lifted from death, risen with Him.  Now I stand in confidence.

Oh, but God."  --"Oh, but God" by the Worship Initiative

*Shout out to my own Salem Witch Trials expert

 --Kayla Priebe--for allowing me to talk this through with her ♥️ -

Day Eleven--July 11, 2026--"But God.."

Psalm 86

Hinge Verses:14-15

Within Book III, which spans Psalm 73-Psalm 89, Psalm 86 is the only one attributed to King David.  Experts in scripture think the timing of the writing of this Psalm is during a time of crisis in King David's life.  Possibly when he was running for his life from King Saul, who was jealous of the king-to-be.  Or  later, when he was running for his life from his own son, Absalom, who was trying to overthrow David's reign.  Either way, David is in full lament and prayer mode.  

When we did the Misery to Music series on lament, our working definition for lament was "Crying out, to God, with a list, and returning to praise."  King David follows this formula to a T.  He cries out "Listen!" "Protect!" "Be gracious!" "Teach me!" "Give me!" "Turn to me!" "Show me!"  Definitely cries for help.  But King David isn't just screaming into his pillow, his cries have a target--"Lord", "My God", "LORD", (notice the difference between the first Lord, which means "master"; and LORD, which is the personal name of God--"Yahweh") "Lord My God".  God is not opposed to us organizing our lament and petitions into lists; the book of Lamentations itself is written in alphabetical order!  King David isn't asking for much--protection, joy, an undivided mind, grace, strength, salvation, a sign of goodness, help, and comfort. As he cries out to God with his list, David promises in return to live according to faith, trust, prayer, truth, fear, praise, honor.  He sums everything up in these pivotal verses: 

"God, arrogant people have attacked me; a gang of ruthless men intends to kill me.  

They do not let you guide them.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, 

slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth."  

These are King David's problems, and God is the solution.  

`According to Psalm 86:9, "all nations You have made will come and bow down before You, Lord, and will honor Your name." America, with all of its problems and failures, has certainly tried at times to do this.  National Days of prayer have been declared many times as the United States struggled to come to terms with various crises.  They cried out to God with a list.  I can't necessarily  speak to their returning in praise.  Because the difference between American history and the History that is scripture is we know scripture is divinely breathed into the authors as truth, while all other history is subjective to human nature.  I hope they were sincere in their return to praise.  

Here are some notable examples of calls for prayer in America's History--

Early America--Pilgrims/Colonists regularly declared days of prayer and fasting to address droughts, threats from other nations, Indian attacks.  

In 1668, the settlers proclaimed August 27th as a day of Humiliation, fasting, and prayer, to implore God's mercy.  

October 16, 1746, Massachusettes governor William Shirley called on the people to fast and pray for deliverance.  

On May 24, 1774, Thomas Jefferson drew up a request to deem June 1, 1774 a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer because the Boston harbor was under the rule and blocked by the British.  George Washington wrote in his journal on June 1, 1774--"Went to church, fasted all day."

November 16, 1814, James Madison called for a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer to God for safety and welfare, confessing sins and requesting pardon.  

President Zachary Taylor set aside the first Friday in August, 1849, to be observed as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer for America, who was suffering from a cholera epidemic.   

April 1970, President Richard Nixon called for a National Day of Prayer for the Apollo 13 astronauts.  

When President Ronald Reagan officially made the national day of prayer the first Thursday in May, he said "Americans in every generation have turned to their Maker in prayer.  We have acknowledged our dependence on Almighty God." 

It's easy to be discouraged as we see America seem to move farther and farther away from humiliation, fasting, and prayer to God.  Ruthless people seek to lead our country astray; arrogance runs rampant.

Guidance from heaven seems a last resort.  But God...these are America's problems.  God alone is the solution.  

History of Prayer in America

 

Day Ten--July 10, 2026--"But God.."

 

Psalm 73

Hinge verse: Psalm 73:26

The heading of our reading today says "God's Ways Vindicated--a Psalm of Asaph."  Asaph is the chief of musicians (and cymbal player) for the tabernacle, appointed by King David in 1 Chronicles 16:4-7.  He and 9 others are to minister before the once stolen, newly returned ark of the covenant, where the LORD's presence dwells.  Their main focus is to the celebrate the LORD God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to Him.  

Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83 are all attributed to Asaph.  Above Psalm 73, there's a heading that reads

"Book III", which covers Psalm 73-89.  The Psalms were actual songs sang by the Israelites,  arranged and performed as their worship set; later referred to as Psalter.  Many churches still sing from the Psalter to this day.  

In Psalm 73, Asaph and the men sing about the goodness of God, and in contrast, their clumsiness before Him.  Much like our Psalm from Day 9, there is grieving over the arrogance, violence, prosperity, pride, malice, and blasphemy of the wicked.  Asaph wonders if there's any use in staying clean--heart and body. (And as a Levite, that would be a huge question.)  He struggles with the questions swirling around in his mind. (Reminds me of the lyrics of the Caedmon's Call song--"No one would love me if they knew all the things I hide.")  It all seemed really hopeless.  Until he entered into God's sanctuary.  Nothing the wealthy have would be worth trading for the presence of God.  Asaph recognizes his bitterness, stupidity, his lack.  He is human, his heart and flesh have failed, and will fail again.  BUT GOD will strengthen him again and again.   

 Because of the wide range of events referenced in Psalm 73-83, the songs written by Asaph were probably not all written by him, but maybe in homage to him or in his style.  The Psalms were sang in the Tabernacle, and also the temple built by Solomon.  Which means that these songs were being sung while the nation of Israel was being divided into two nations.  From the time David joyfully danced into Jerusalem as the ark of the covenant was returned, to the time the nation divided soon after King Solomon's death, 90-100 years passed.  1 Kings 12  King Rehoboam, King Solomon's son, and King Jeroboam, part of King Solomon's trusted inner circle, through a series of events--both saw themselves as the rightful king.  These men, both Israelites, essentially brothers--their flesh and their hearts failed.  They refused to truly lift their voices in unity, and march together toward one goal; giving thanks to God and praising Him.  They failed to see the pivotal moment--But God is the strength of my heart.  And so they led their two nations, Israel and Judah, into rebellion against God and each other.  

In 1776, America declared it's independence from Britain.  During the battles of the American Revolution, there were several popular marching songs, including the famous "Yankee Doodle".    Marching songs were meant to keep the troops united in step and morale.  (I remember my dad talking about marching songs--cadences--he learned while in Vietnam.)  They were often accompanied by fifes which provided the melody for singing along; and drums which kept the beat for marching.  They helped pass the time during long marches, and helped combat boredom.  There was a comaraderie, a brotherhood in the songs.  

But in 1861--85 years after the signing of the declaration of independence--the Civil war began.  A war not like the American Revolution.  This one was brother against brother.  

President Lincoln vowed to keep the union together, even as the south demanded independence.  The war began in April and in November, Julia Ward Howe visited Washington, DC with her husband.  As the troops were marching around the area, she heard them raise their voices in comaraderie and unity.  They were singing John Brown's Body who was a famous abolitionist.  Julia Ward Howe told a preacher nearby that she'd always wanted to write new words set to this tune.  The next morning, the poem started coming to her and she wrote it down before she forgot.  Mrs Howe was a very strong abolitionist (anti-slavery) herself, so she made sure the lyrics included a slap to the ones who were fighting against their own brothers for the right to own slaves.   We know this song today as "The Battle Hymn of the Republic".  

"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; 

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; 

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; 

His truth is marching on. 

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; 

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;

His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;

'As you deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;'

Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel, 

Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;

Oh be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant my feet!  

Our God is marching on!

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me; 

As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,

While God is marching on.

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!  While God is marching on!!"

We are human.  We choose violence, our feet slip, we are arrogant, we feel hopeless.  In Asaph's day, in Julia Ward Howe's day, today.  But God offers a marching song.  A song that, when we lift it together  in unity, comaraderie, solidarity--under Elohim (His Name in verse 26), under Jehovah-Nissi "The LORD is our banner"--it will strengthen our failing hearts.  We will know as one that God's presence is our good.  We have made the Lord God our refuge, so we can tell about all He does.  #goals

Battle Hymn of the Republic--The story behind the song