God's eternal plan is being worked out today, though often out of sight; but it will one day be revealed in all its fullness. That is His promise and assurance to both Jews and Gentiles who put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Rejecting Christ has serious eternal consequences for individuals and even nations. But unbelief does not alter God's plan or His work of seeking and saving individuals. Neither does it cancel His eternal promises to us.
People do not reject the gospel because it is too difficult to understand. Salvation by grace is just something they do not want. Yet we can be confident God is still working and patiently waiting on unbelievers, appealing to them through us, as we proclaim the gospel of Christ.
The righteousness we all need to be acceptable to God is readily available to us and absolutely free. It comes not from our faultless performance but from a faultless Person--Jesus Christ.
Unbelievers may be proud and passionate and even very religious in their unbelief. They do not need our condemnation; they need our love and compassion and our prayers. Paul's attitude toward his unbelieving brethren is an example for us all.
God's sovereign choice works hand-in-hand with our faith in Christ. He chooses us, and He works to bring us to Christ. And in the end all glory is His, for it is all His work. Paul takes us deep into these truths as he concludes Romans chapter 9.
God chooses us! That is a wonderful truth we followers of Christ can rejoice in. In fact, we can rejoice in all God's sovereign choices because they demonstrate His holiness, justice, mercy, and grace and bring glory to Him.
We will never fully grasp the sovereign election of God, but as followers of Christ, we can rejoice in the truth that God chose us. And that is why we chose to believe in Christ. It could be no other way, for the work of salvation is solely of God.
Past privileges are no substitute for personal faith, as Israel's experience teaches us. Yet Israel's faithlessness does not alter God's eternal plan. Jesus Christ will be honored forever. Let us be sure that through faith in Him we are part of honoring Him both now and forever.
Psalm 51 records David’s heartfelt confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Stephen Davey explains it as a model of genuine repentance. He begins with David’s petition—a plea for mercy based on God’s steadfast love. Aware of the weight of his guilt, David asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from sin. The second step is admission: David accepts full responsibility, refusing to blame others and acknowledging his fallen nature. His sin, he admits, flows from the sinful heart of humanity inherited from Adam. Next comes restoration: David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” recognizing that only divine power can renew what sin has corrupted. Finally, his resolution is to teach others from his failure—to lead sinners back to God through honesty and repentance. Davey concludes that true confession involves humble honesty, complete dependence on God’s mercy, and a transformed resolve to live transparently before Him, proving that no sin is too great for God’s restoring grace.
Psalms 42–44 open the second book of Psalms, where Stephen Davey explains that God invites believers to pour out their hearts to Him with complete honesty. The sons of Korah—descendants of a rebel who chose faithfulness—wrote of spiritual dryness and discouragement: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Davey notes that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. These psalms teach believers to trust and wait for the Lord, declaring, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In Psalm 44, this personal trust expands to national suffering as Israel endures consequences for sin yet clings to God’s covenant faithfulness. Paul later cites this psalm to remind believers that suffering is not abandonment but evidence of spiritual maturity. Through these lessons, Davey encourages believers to be honest with God, steadfast in hope, and confident that even in dry seasons, God remains their salvation and strength.
In The Voice of Creation (Psalm 19:1–8a), Stephen Davey contrasts Carl Sagan’s hopeless view of a silent universe with David’s joyful proclamation that creation declares the glory of God. Davey explains that the heavens continually reveal God’s signature, wisdom, and grace—a universal testimony to His power and creativity. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature point unmistakably to a Designer, but this general revelation alone cannot save; it must be joined with the special revelation of God’s Word. David moves from calling God El (Creator) to Yahweh (personal Redeemer), showing that Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and causes the heart to rejoice. Davey concludes that while creation proves God’s existence, His Word reveals His character and plan of redemption. Believers, therefore, should worship the Creator revealed both in the world around us and in the inspired Word that leads us back to Him.
This lesson from Deuteronomy 16–26 emphasizes God's righteousness as the standard for all of life. Moses reviews the importance of righteous leadership—judges, kings, priests, and prophets—who are called to uphold justice and truth. God's laws are revisited to guide Israel in holy living, covering areas like inheritance, morality, and societal order. These commands act like protective boundaries, showing how a righteous person should live. Finally, Israel’s worship is tied to gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. The lesson encourages believers to live righteously, not just privately but visibly, so the world sees God's wisdom and character through them.
Psalm 19:8b–14 teaches that God’s Word is flawless, enduring, and deeply valuable—more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Unlike the temporary treasures of this world, Scripture enlightens the heart, exposes sin, renews fellowship with God, and guides believers in righteousness. David celebrates the Bible as a timeless revelation that cleanses, corrects, and delights those who cherish it, reminding readers to treasure and obey God’s Word as their greatest source of wisdom and joy.
