Judges 18:11-19:12 (Episode 217)
Levites, idols, war, and an "unfaithful” concubine.
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
The Gift of Being Proven Wrong: The Ascension and Israelizing the World
In their last Q&A with Jesus, the disciples ask, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" I used to think that was a dumb question by confused disciples. I was wrong. In his response, Jesus teaches them--and us--what the restoration of Israel's kingdom really looks like.
Judges 17:1-18:10 (Episode 216)
Silver, a. cult, and a hireling priest.
Unchristianity: Putting Jesus on the Unemployment Line
Far from being a Savior, the god of Unchristianity is a coach who whips us into moral shape, inspires us to be better people, serves as our example. The unspoken goal is to be so virtuous and free of sin that we don’t need Jesus anymore. The transaction is complete. Jesus is unemployed.
Judges 16:5-31 (Episode 215)
Sin is everywhere. Betrayal is everywhere. But the Christ whom Samson foreshadows has the final word.
Judges 15:9-16:4 (Episode 214)
A donkey jawbone, a prostitute, and the gates of hell.
God, Don't You Care That I'm Drowning?
In our liquid world, strung out on the meth of evil, full of poor souls fighting to stay afloat, where are you, O God? Don't you care that we are perishing?
Judges 14:9-15:8 (Episode 213)
A wedding, a riddle, a tragedy, and 300 fire-tails.
People Aren’t Downgraded to Angels When They Die
When Christians die, heaven does not “get another angel.” We cannot become angels any more than we can become giraffes or ocean waves or stars. We are people and will remain so after this present life. God did not make a mistake when he made us human.
Judges 13:8-14:4 (Episode 212)
Seeing God, the birth of Samson and rabbit hole regarding Hagar.
Judges 12:1-13:7 (Episode 211)
Jephthah wars with the men of Ephraim and we are introduced to Samson's mother and a messenger who is more than an angel.
Was Jesus in the Grave for Three Days and Three Nights? Avoiding Literalism by Accepting Hebrew Idiom
Was Jesus really in the tomb for a full three days and three nights? If so, how does this square with his death on Friday and resurrection on Sunday? Is there a contradiction here? In this article, Chad Bird explores the Hebrew understanding of this phrase to shed light on the words of Jesus.
Golgotha’s Bizarre Hebrew Backstory
One key to unlocking the significance of Golgotha is found all the way back in Joshua--in a "round" Hebrew word, a bizarre story about reproach, and five kings hiding in a cave.
Judges 11:12-40 (Episode 210)
Jephthah makes an ill-advised vow to God before going into battle and then tragically fulfills it.
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.
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