The integrity of leaders matters. Honesty matters. Yet, with every scandal, a politician somewhere will argue that what happened behind closed doors does not matter—sort of the “what happens in Vegas” defense. But when you are a leader, what you do always matters. When President Clinton cheated on his wife with a White HouseContinue reading “The People Reap What their Leaders Sow: Pray for Leaders with Integrity. Isaiah 32.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
Plant, Prune, and Bear Fruit. Isaiah 27.
Your ancestors were probably hunters. Hunters and gatherers, nomadic people forced to roam every day.[1] Many of the earliest people did not build houses because they could not afford to stay in one place. They had to be free to move with the harvests and the herds. Farming changed all that. Someone invented plows andContinue reading “Plant, Prune, and Bear Fruit. Isaiah 27.”
Prophecies, Dreams, and Hope for the Remnant. Isaiah 17.
Bible Prophecy can read like a dream—you see elements that do not add up but clearly stand for something. There may be cause-and-effect problems. Words and scenes feel out of context. It can be baffling. Bible prophecy is not written in the linear, logical fashion to which Western readers are accustomed. This is not aContinue reading “Prophecies, Dreams, and Hope for the Remnant. Isaiah 17.”
Refugees & the Matthew Henry Commentary. Isaiah 15.
Image of a family of refugees seeking better times during the American Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Many traveled by car or bus, but this family was photographed walking with only an old wagon and a baby stroller. Yet, their plight is far better than some refugees—the nation was not at war, after all, andContinue reading “Refugees & the Matthew Henry Commentary. Isaiah 15.”
‘I Must Be Cruel Only to be Kind’: God is Kind to His Children and Cruel to Those Who Would Harm Them. Isaiah 13.
When I was a tiny boy, my father was tender and affectionate with me. My brother and I would run to grab him when he came in from work, and he would try to walk with one of us clinging to each leg. We would sit in his soft chair and he would gingerly sitContinue reading “‘I Must Be Cruel Only to be Kind’: God is Kind to His Children and Cruel to Those Who Would Harm Them. Isaiah 13.”
Jesus is the Shelter Through Which We See God’s Glory. Isaiah 4.
Our dog Georgie recently delivered a litter of nine puppies! These are outdoor dogs whose mother had never seen the inside of a building. And then the temperature dropped to 18 degrees—no problem when you have heat lamps, space heaters,[1] and a cozy dog house on a covered, concrete porch. But then the power wentContinue reading “Jesus is the Shelter Through Which We See God’s Glory. Isaiah 4.”
A Warning to the Beautiful. Isaiah 3:16-24.
“Beauty is meaningless, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” Proverbs 31:30. Each of us is born with gifts: athletic gifts, artistic gifts, academic gifts, gifts of leadership, job skills, people skills, physical strength, stature, height, and even gifts of appearance. Some people are simply born beautiful, and whether it seemsContinue reading “A Warning to the Beautiful. Isaiah 3:16-24.”
The Still Pond. Psalm 148.
“Steven, are you sure you understand what do?” “It’s drawing,” I said, “I always understand drawing.” I was in the second grade. My teacher, Ms. Foster, was so nice to me. She tolerated my short attention span, my outbursts, my inability to follow directions. She had decided I was “artistic” and she loved that aboutContinue reading “The Still Pond. Psalm 148.”
Salvation is a Deep Well of Joy: Part Two–Rescue. Isaiah 12.
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.”
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.”
Household Words: 