This ancient “tale of two mothers” concerns far more than theological semantics—it is the difference between a God who sends and a God who comes.
This story points us from our unlikely heroes to the even more unlikely, and joyous, good news that Jesus’ birth for us was just as unlikely and unexpected.
Was Jesus ambitious or unambitious? We have to say that the answer is…yes.

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We give thanks to the Father who has made a way for us to sit at his table.
In the Lord’s Thanksgiving Supper, we are not served turkey, green bean casserole, and cornbread. We are served Christ.
Throughout the Scriptures, God puts "signs" or "seals" upon people. Often these are placed upon the forehead. How do all these connected stories take us from the mark of Cain, to the Exodus, to the cross, and finally to baptism?
In Christ, all things are new. This is also true in so far as His three-fold office of prophet, priest, and king.
Thanksgiving utters a confession of dependence, an acknowledgement of the gift of something not earned or deserved.
Preaching on this text isnan invitation to express love and longing in your relationship with your hearers.
The oddness of this moment, at the beginning of Advent, is God’s way of saying, “The reason I’m here...”
The youths that mock Elisha are representative of Israel’s collective contempt and disregard for all things relating to their One True God.
Forgiveness of sins does not come in bits and pieces. There are no levels of forgiveness.
“God in general” is of little use to all of us suffering the ravages of sin, the fear of death, and satanic prosecution.
What I like about Giertz’s approach is the devotional nature of these commentaries. He’s a pastor concerned with what these texts have to say to us today.
The Israelites had taken the Covenantal promise and the language of separation and interpreted them to mean the message of salvation and restoration was meant for only them. But this is counter to the reality of the Scriptures.