Judges 11:12-40 (Episode 210)
Jephthah makes an ill-advised vow to God before going into battle and then tragically fulfills it.
Contributors
Chad Bird
Chad Bird holds master’s degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He draws upon his expertise as a former professor of OT and Hebrew to cohost the podcast, “40 Minutes in the OT.” Chad has authored several books, including his latest, "Upside-Down Spirituality: The 9 Essential Failures of a Faithful Life." He has written for Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and elsewhere. He and his wife, Stacy, have four children and two grandchildren.
Chad Bird
Most Recent
Judges 10:6-11:11 (Episode 209)
Once again Israel ramps up its idolatry and God is not pleased and says He will not save them again and then does. How does law and gospel help us understand texts like this? When is God’s impatience a comfort…
Three Hebrew Handholds in a Spinning Crisis
Long ago, the people of Israel began to sing words of encouragement to each other in times of distress. In their songs, the psalms, are three Hebrew words that provide stability for us. They are more than just words—each one encapsulates the way of God with his people. They serve as helpful handholds in times of stress and upheaval. The…
Judges 9:30-10:5 (Episode 208)
Abimelech gets word of the drunken threats issued against him and plans an ambush. Zebul’s eyesight isn’t any better than his judgment. The wrath of Abimelech is thorough and includes a whole lot of salt. Jotham’s fable/prophecy comes full circle…
The Dad Who Didn't Have to Be a Dad: Joseph as the Mask of God
Joseph was not the father of Jesus, but then again, he was. Jesus was the true offspring of the heavenly Father, but even the Son of God needed a daddy.
Marrying a Nun to Prepare for the End of the World
In the vortex of uncertainty and upheaval, what’s the best thing we can do? Seize the ordinary.
Judges 8:29-9:29 (Episode 207)
Gideon takes many wives and has a ton of children and one son named Abimelech from a woman who was not his wife. Gideon dies, and the people take their idolatry to the next level. Abimelech puts together a plan…
Salvation Is from the Jews: Three Ways to Recover Our Old Testament Heritage in the Church Today
The Old Testament often seems like a long lost family--and a rather weird family, at that. How can followers of the Messiah today live our heritage in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings? Here are three simple suggestions.
Judges 8:8-28 (Episode 206)
Gideon makes a 2nd threatening promise and then follows through on both of them. We learn more about his family and what may be some additional motivation in these conflicts. The people start wanting a ruler and Gideon slips into…
I Can’t Wait to Get out of Heaven
When talking about God’s ultimate destination for us, we’ve grown sloppy in our language, nearsighted in our gaze, and un-Easter in our hope. We act and speak as if dying and going to heaven is what the faith is all about. It is most emphatically not.
Judges 7:8-8:7 (Episode 205)
Gideon gets some reassurance from an interpretation of a very strange dream. He and his reduced force go into battle with trumpets and jars. Why are all these victories so lopsided and how does Isaiah talk about this battle when…
Lead Us into Temptation
There’s a delicious freedom to wrongdoing. It taps a primal desire within us for rebellion. We feel liberated, unshackled by demands to be this way, do this, avoid that. We become masters of our own destiny.
The Misunderstood Story of Bear Attacks, a Bald Prophet, and Forty-Two Mouthy “Kids”
This misunderstood story is not a moralistic tale about bald prophets and child-eating bears, designed to teach youths to honor their elders and preachers. Rather, it's a brief glimpse into the age-old war that began in a garden and ended at an empty tomb.
Psalm 13
Psalm 13 is a story of sorrow and joy, confession and absolution, it declares that God has answered all our trouble.
Psalm 55
Psalm 55 instructs us to call out to God and look to His sure promises when sin and darkness assails us.
Psalm 77
Is there any assurance when it doesn't feel like God is with you?
Psalm 40
The Psalmist speaks about how God delivers the poor and needy.
Psalm 38
Psalm 38 shows a confession of sin that seeks and trusts in God alone forgiveness.
Psalm 22
In Psalm 22, we see our pain and suffering imputed to Christ on the cross as he confesses the words of the Psalm.
Psalm 88
Crumbling and forsaken, a cry goes out to God.
Psalm 31
Psalm 31 delivers the promise that God is our deliverer and steadfast refuge.
Judges 6:25-7:7 (Episode 204)
Contending with false gods, fleeces, and a new nickname are all in store for Gideon.
Where’s the Sunday School Picture of Jesus Crushing Skulls?
He is no sweet and sappy, romanticized and Disneyfied, cartoonish Christ. He is ferocious, free, untamed, and heaven-bent on not leaving the battlefield until the war is won and he makes his enemies a footstool for his feet.
Judges 6:1-24 (Episode 203)
Bad things happen when you refuse to listen to God and Gideon meets Jesus.
Weaponizing Our Virtues
Virtue, like all good things, can easily be weaponized. And not only can, but constantly is. Indeed, I would argue that, for churchgoing, rule-following, tradition-honoring, morality-applauding people, virtue often becomes the cancer that we deem a badge of honor.
Upcoming Events
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God's Extraordinary Grace for Ordinary Men
Chad Bird - Canadian Rockies Theological Conference 2020
Essential Failures of a Faithful Life
Here We Still Stand 2020
An annual three day event, designed to center your faith in Christ for you, based in the Scriptural truths rediscovered in the Reformation.