Entries by Bryan McKenzie

Abide Together: Reflections on Psalm 24

Psalm 24 is a Psalm of David expressing the LORD’s greatness and His sovereignty over all.  It begins with acknowledging that the LORD is the creator of all things.  Then based on his greatness and sovereignty, David asks the question, “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?  And who may stand in His […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Psalm 22

Psalm 22 is a Psalm of David that is one of the most obvious Psalms that point to Jesus.  David begins with the lament, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”  David, at this point in his life was being persecuted and was expressing his desperation to God.  Of course, Jesus said this […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Psalm 2

Psalm 2 begins with the rebellion of mankind against the Lord and His anointed one (the earthly king and ultimately the Divine King/Messiah).  The next part of the psalm is the Lord’s response to their rebellion.  The Lord responds with laughter at their futile rebellion against His sovereignty.  He responds also with a declaration that […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Psalm 16

Psalm 16 is a Psalm of David where he begins by asking God to preserve him.  He then proclaims that all goodness he has, comes from the LORD. Therefore, he rejects all false gods or those who seek them. David also express hope that the LORD will never abandon him, even in death.  He expresses […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Psalm 8

My family likes to go camping. We enjoy it for several reasons, but among them is simply just getting out in nature and experiencing God’s handiwork. We spent Thanksgiving break in Guadalupe River State Park. We hiked, geocached, and skipped rocks across the river. I’m always amazed by the majesty of God when I stand […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 8

In Esther 8, King Ahasuerus promotes Mordecai to the place Haman once held and gives him Haman’s possessions. Esther asked the King to stop the decree which called for the extermination of the Jews on the 13th day of Adar.  King Ahasuerus allowed Mordecai to write an edict of his own to counteract the previous […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 6

Esther 6 is one of the most ironic chapters in the entire Bible.  King Ahasuerus discovers that nothing had been done to honor Mordecai after he had saved the King’s life by reporting the two men that were plotting to kill the King.  Therefore, the King was determined to honor Mordecai.  He called in his […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 5

In Esther 5, Esther approaches the King and he gives her favor (really it is the LORD who gives her favor) and receives her request.  She asks that he and Haman attend a banquet prepared for them.  The king and Haman attend and she request they come to anther banquet in their honor the next […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 4

In Esther 4, Mordecai and Esther learn of Haman’s plot to kill all the Jews. Mordecai sent would to Esther to have her go to the king and plead for her people, the Jews.  Esther sent to Mordecai and told him the danger of approaching the king when uninvited.  Mordecai sent word back to her […]

Abide Together: Reflections on Esther 3

“Haman is Hitler.” That was my first thought today as I read this chapter. Like Hitler, he was working toward the extermination of the entire Jewish race. Haman was so prideful and arrogant that he couldn’t stand to have one Jew, Mordecai, who would refuse to bow down to him. Haman understood that other Jews […]