Have you ever faced death? Stood on a cliff and felt the danger in slippery gravel or a gust of wind? Have you looked in the face of a mad dog or a dangerous wild animal? Narrowly escaped a terrible car accident? Or worse, faced down an angry and dangerous man, perhaps one brandishing aContinue reading “Salvation is a Deep Well of Joy: Part Two–Rescue. Isaiah 12.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
Salvation is a Deep Well of Joy: Part One–Provision. Isaiah 12.
Image: children celebrating a new well provided by Living Water, https://www.livingwaterwells.org/ Restore to me the joy of thy salvation—Psalm 51:12. With joy shall you draw water from the well of salvation—Isaiah 12:3. I recently watched a stand-up comic (Randy Feltface, the puppet of stand-up comedy) do some crowd work. The writing that goes into theContinue reading “Salvation is a Deep Well of Joy: Part One–Provision. Isaiah 12.”
Managing Emotions. Psalm 142.
Season 11 of the survivalist television show ALONE features a librarian by the name of Peter Albano. After about ten days of absolute solitude, Peter begins to talk to the camera about his son, whom he describes as a small child who feels big emotions. Peter, on the other hand, has perfected the skill ofContinue reading “Managing Emotions. Psalm 142.”
Night Owls and Misfits. Psalm 134.
I have a confession. I am a night owl. It’s not a small thing. I suffered insomnia from age five to thirty-five. Morning coffee cured me, leaving me sleepy at night for the first time. But old habits die hard. I remain an absolute night person—and yes, I struggle not to feel shame about it!Continue reading “Night Owls and Misfits. Psalm 134.”
Hidden Mysteries: The Devil Did Not Understand Messianic Prophecy. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8.
“Behold my servant, … in whom my soul delights;I have put my spirit upon him:he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.… A bruised reed shall he not break,and the smoking flax shall he not quench:… I the Lord … will give theefor a light to the Gentiles;to open the blind eyes,to bring out the prisoners from theContinue reading “Hidden Mysteries: The Devil Did Not Understand Messianic Prophecy. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8.”
Psalms & Hymns Teach the Faith and Encourage Worship. Psalm 132.
Maybe I watched too much television as a child. In fact, I’m sure I did. I even watched the commercials. And I still remember so many TV commercial jingles: My bologna has a first name, it’s O-S-C-A-R … Gillette, the best a man can get! Raise your hand if you’re Sure! Be all that youContinue reading “Psalms & Hymns Teach the Faith and Encourage Worship. Psalm 132.”
Charles Spurgeon Calls Men to Christ With a Sermon on Psalm 130:3-4.
The great preacher of Victorian London was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. You might think of him as the Billy Graham of the 19th century. He began preaching at 19 and “quickly gained a reputation as an electrifying preacher. Spurgeon’s sermons were characterized by their passion, wit, and biblical depth, and he was able to connect withContinue reading “Charles Spurgeon Calls Men to Christ With a Sermon on Psalm 130:3-4.”
When it Rains, it Pours. Psalm 129.
When three or four bad things happen in a row, Americans trot out the old cliché, “When it rains, it pours.” This rich line was not created in any of the usual organic ways—as a famous line in a novel, song, play, or film, or perhaps spoken by a politician or celebrity. This pithy proverbContinue reading “When it Rains, it Pours. Psalm 129.”
Shadows, Figures, Analogies. The Earthly Temple is a Frontier Outpost. Hebrews 9:24.
The week of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ included some of the most mysterious events in all of Biblical history.[1] One that must have been shocking was that the veil of the temple was split from top to bottom. This was not just some gauzy curtain of sheer linen, the tearing of which youContinue reading “Shadows, Figures, Analogies. The Earthly Temple is a Frontier Outpost. Hebrews 9:24.”
The Book of Job Refutes the Prosperity Gospel. Job 17.
Image: Jim Bakker in 2025. “If I want to believe God for a $65 million dollar plane, you cannot stop me.” –Creflo Dollar, as quoted in God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies, by Costi Hinn, Zondervan, 2019. It is true that we reap what we sow. SowingContinue reading “The Book of Job Refutes the Prosperity Gospel. Job 17.”
Household Words: 