By Sam E. Stone Today’s text is one most readers associate with the Christmas season. It pictures the coming of Jesus (the Messiah) into the world. Today we see it is also a prophecy that goes back long before that. To the original audience—the people to whom Isaiah spoke—it simply meant hope for the […]
Praise for God’s justice–The Uniform Lesson for August 5
By Sam E. Stone The book of Psalms is divided into five sections. The last five psalms are sometimes called the “Hallelujah Psalms,” since all of them begin and end with the word hallelujah, literally, “Praise the Lord.” Bible scholars like to try to guess what prompted the writing of Psalm 146. Had the […]
Jehoshaphat makes judicial reform–The Uniform Lesson for July 29
By Sam E. Stone King Jehoshaphat was one of the more godly kings in the time of the divided kingdom. He ruled Judah around 873-848 BC, succeeding his father, Asa, on the throne (2 Chronicles 17:1). The writer declares, “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his […]
A king acts on a widow’s behalf–The Uniform Lesson for July 22
By Sam E. Stone To fully appreciate today’s text, we need to review what led up to it. God kept his Word to Abraham when he brought him into the promised land and gave him the “promised son” late in his life. His descendants continued to receive the Lord’s blessings as the nation grew […]
Solomon judges with wisdom and justice–The Uniform lesson for July 15
By Sam E. Stone Solomon succeeded his father, King David, as ruler of Israel. Early in his reign, before he built the temple in Jerusalem, he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices. There he offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar. At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Ask […]
