Daily Devotions on the One Year Bible by Pastor Gary Combs

“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 112:7 ESV). Psalm 112 describes the blessed life of the person who fears the Lord and delights in His commandments. Yet the psalmist did not promise a life free from trouble or bad news. Rather, he described the remarkable

“Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make your heart like the heart of a god.” (Ezekiel 28:2 ESV). The Lord gave the prophet

“The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.’” (Psalm 110:4 ESV). Ten centuries before the coming of Christ, the Holy Spirit spoke through David, declaring that the Messiah would be both King and Priest forever. This was a remarkable prophecy because, under the

“Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love!” (Psalm 109:26 ESV). Psalm 109 is one of Davids most painful prayers. Surrounded by enemies who falsely accused, cursed, and opposed him, David cried out to the Lord for deliverance. Yet his confidence rested not in his own righteousness or strength, but

“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none (Ezekiel 22:30 ESV). Ezekiel 22 contains God’s indictment against Jerusalem and Judah shortly before the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. Although Jerusalem’s

“Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me” (Proverbs 27:11 ESV). Solomon taught that a wise sons life brings joy to his father and serves as a testimony to the value of his instruction. The fathers appeal is both affectionate and purposeful. He desires his son

“According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:9–10 ESV). What is this “time of reformation” that the author of Hebrews describes? It refers to

“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel” (Proverbs 27:9 ESV). Solomon compares the sweetness of genuine friendship to the refreshing fragrance of oil and perfume. In ancient Israel, fragrant oils were associated with hospitality, celebration, and joyful fellowship. Just as a pleasant fragrance gladdens

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26 ESV). Hebrews 7:26 offers one of the most magnificent descriptions of Jesus Christ as our Great High Priest. The phrase “it was indeed fitting” comes from the Greek word

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against your magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like birds” (Ezekiel 13:20 ESV). Through the prophet Ezekiel, God pronounced judgment against