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11 mins read|04/08/20One 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.
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8 mins read|04/06/20This restoration is understood as a resurrection—restoration/return to the Land is equated with the resurrection to the courts of Heaven.
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7 mins read|04/05/20This text is chosen for Maundy Thursday and involves eating and drinking with God—in His presence, real presence. This is only possible with the shedding of blood.
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1 min|04/04/20Jephthah makes an ill-advised vow to God before going into battle and then tragically fulfills it.
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10 mins read|03/29/20In this text, Isaiah is quite explicit and reflects the suffering and disgrace this Servant will suffer as He faithfully does the will of God.
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1 min|03/29/20Once 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 to us? And we meet a warrior son of a prostitute named Jephthah.
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11 mins read|03/23/20Long 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 words are these: רָפָה (be still), קָוָה (wait), and שָׁמַר (watch).
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17 mins read|03/23/20The people to whom Ezekiel is prophesying are in exile—separated from the Holy Land. To return to the land of Israel is to be resurrected to new life, to be restored.
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1 min|03/23/20Abimelech 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 and Abimelech unsuccessfully tries to avoid what he sees as an embarrassing death legacy.
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1 min|03/16/20Gideon 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 to seize power that involves killing all his brothers. And Gideon’s youngest son delivers a fable/prophecy to the leaders of Shechem.
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10 mins read|03/15/20The preceding pericope uses the metaphor of a “mighty man,” a “warrior” for the LORD and this is not too much of a stretch for us. However, our text begins with the metaphor of a woman in child birth.
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16 mins read|03/10/20The 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.
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