Author: Phil Rehberg

“Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart” Psalms 15:1-2 (ESV). What is the “holy hill”? The Psalmist, David, is referring to Mt. Zion where the tabernacle (forerunner of the temple) was situated. Inside the tabernacle was the holy of holies where God’s presence was more powerful than anywhere else on earth. So to dwell on the “holy hill” meant to dwell close to the presence of God. This was the most blessed state a person could hope for. So who had the privilege of dwelling close to God? Those who live without patterns of damaging others, who do the right thing and embrace honesty in their heart. Isn’t this what God wants from us? In this way we are lights of the world, for the majority do not live this way. But isn’t this some Continue Reading →

“God is present in the company of the righteous” Psalms 14:5 (NIV) God is everywhere but he is present in different ways in different places. We find this throughout the Bible. God is present in the burning bush, on Mt. Sinai, in the Temple, at the Transfiguration, and at Pentecost. But the last is best for God likes to progressively increase his grace. When the Psalmist wrote Psalm 14 God was more present to his followers than to those who rejected him. He watched them and helped them. But after Pentecost God is now present inside his followers because we replace the Temple. So now God is even present in a single righteous person! But even better than that: “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” Matthew 18:20 (NIV). So when we gather in Jesus’ name his presence is magnified! This is something that Continue Reading →

“The Lord is King for ever and ever,” Psalms 10:16 (NIV). In Psalms 10 the author recounts the ways in which the wicked destroy the innocent and prosper in their ways. Yet the Psalmist also declares that Yahweh is the true king of the earth. He also affirms that God will help the victims and do justice to the wicked. We may not be under attack from the wicked but we feel the impact of the ungodly ways of the people around us. Loved ones turn away from God and ministers mislead their congregations. We can offer help but we cannot stop the destruction. Yet God is king and he will redeem all that is his. He will bring everything to a just and good conclusion. If we are willing to trust his kingship then we can allow him to grace us with mercy and peace. We can let him Continue Reading →