Dr Paul Allen

“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove ! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” ( Psalm 55:6 ) The 55th Psalm is a psalm of “ complaint ” (v. 2) by David and gives an insight into his thought process as he tried to deal with the great problems and burdens that were overwhelming him. His first instinct was to run away from them, flying like a dove far off into the wilderness. The prophet Jonah (whose name means “dove”) tried that strategy years later, only to encounter even worse problems ( Jonah 1:3 , 15). One does not solve problems by fleeing from them. Then, David decided to berate those who were causing him trouble and to complain about them to the Lord. “Evening, and morning, and atnoon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” ( Psalm 55:17 ). The words “pray, and cry aloud” here actually mean “complain and mourn.” “Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues” (v. 9). “Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell” (v. 15). His bur...

Christ Pantocrator study (Photo credit: DUCKMARX ) “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.” ( 2 Samuel 14:14 ) NIV says it this way: "Like water  spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die.  But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person  does not remain banished from him." These words of the “wise woman of Tekoah,” spoken to King David concerning Absalom , his son, were wiser than she knew, for they reflect a principle of human experience that affects us all. Human life must eventually deteriorate and die; this declension cannot be reversed any more than water poured down on the ground can be “un-poured” up into the cup again. This principle is the famous law of entropy (“in-turning”). Physical systems wear out; biological organisms get old a...

English: Nathan advises King David (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The account of David’s positive, dramatic rise pivots with the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1–12:27). Through the prophet Nathan , God rebuked David and showed that He valued character more than competence (2 Sam 12:1–15). David’s humble response led God to promise forgiveness. However, God also promised continual trouble in David’s own family; these troubles dominated the remainder of his reign. • David’s eldest son, Amnon , raped his half-sister , Tamar (2 Sam 13). David failed to take action. • Tamar’s brother, Absalom , killed Amnon in retribution and fled north to Geshur , the neighboring kingdom from which his mother had come. David again failed to take action. • After Joab rebuked David through a wise woman, David recalled his son, but refused to meet with him until again prompted by Joab. David’s failures and inability to take proper action within his family contributed to...

English: Infant smiling (1 month old) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) First what does the Old Testament say about the death of children and their destiny. 1) Infants belong to God in a special and particular way. In Ezekiel, God describes the slaughter of children born into pagan families as a slaughter of “my children” (Ezek 16:21). This expression of ownership by God over children born into idol worshiping families is stark, and implies God’s care for those children in a personal way. 2) God describes children as “having no knowledge of good and evil” (Deut 1:39). They have a sin nature, but they sin in the way that gravity works: they are pulled down. They do not sin in the way that adults do: adults love sin. Children default to sin, while adults run there. 3) God refers to Gentile children as unable to discern the difference between right and wrong (Jonah 4:11). Children are born with a sin nature, and even babies love to sin. But they do so without appreciating why they are doi...

Mordecai and Esther (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it" (Esther 5:14) In the Book of Esther , much of the plot is set in motion by the hatred of Haman for Mordecai. When Haman expresses his resentment of Mordecai to his family, they recommend, "Let a gallows fifty cubits (22m / 75 feet) high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it" (Esther 5:14, ESV ). Some of the more recent English translations offer something different from the ESV. The TNIV , for example, reads, "Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it."  The NLT offers something similar: "Set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall, and in the morning ask the king to impale Mordecai on it." At the end of chapter 7, Haman ends up being "hanged" on that...

Image via Wikipedia Here are some wonderful principles from John Newton, puritan pastor and author of Amazing Grace , to keep in mind when confronting someone. Whether we confront them for sin or wrong doctrine, whether in private or in a blog, these are critical principles to apply. As to your opponent, I wish that before you set pen to paper against him, and during the whole time you are preparing your answer, you may commend him by earnest prayer to the Lord ’s teaching and blessing. This practice will have a direct tendency to conciliate your heart to love and pity him; and such a disposition will have a good influence upon every page you write. If you account him as a BELIEVER, though greatly mistaken in the subject of debate between you, the words of David to Joab concerning Absalom , are very applicable: “Deal gently with him for my sake.” The Lord loves him and bears with him; therefore you must not despise him, or treat him harshly! The Lord bears with you likewise, and...

Image via Wikipedia Image by OSU Special Collections & Archives via Flickr Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia "And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up." ( 2 Samuel 15:30 )   The Mount of Olives overlooks Jerusalem from the east . This first reference to it notes the sad occasion when King David had to flee Jerusalem for his life, escaping the conspiracy of his estranged son Absalom .   Just as David wept over Jerusalem as he left it, so would his greater son, Jesus , a thousand years later, weep over the city as He entered it from Mount Olivet ( Luke 19:37, 41 ). It was there that He gave the great prophecy of His second coming ( Matthew 24:3 ). It was also there He went with His disciples after the last supper, and there He agonized in prayer,  alone, in the Garden of Geth...