Category Archives: John

A Stone’s Throw Away

The Bible’s rocks and stones have come up in my previous studies here and there, but there’s still more mystery on which to meditate. A while back, I considered the interplay between iron and rock. Ironwork was considered the work and weapon of the enemies of God (Ex. 20:25, Jdgs 1:19, 1 Kgs 6:7, 2 SamContinue reading “A Stone’s Throw Away”

A Tent with No Idols

During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ never utters the words for “idol” and “idolatry.” My friend Rev. Bill Dennison pointed out this omission a few days ago. What makes it so intriguing is that idolatry is mentioned many times and in many ways throughout the Hebrew Bible. And idolatry comes up again later, repeatedly, asContinue reading “A Tent with No Idols”

So Esther arose, and stood before the king.

With Haman’s plot against the Jews looming, Esther put on her royal robes at the command of Mordecai and stood in the inner court of King Ahasuerus’s palace in front of the king’s rooms. And the king was sitting on his royal throne. Esther’s entrance was a seriously huge deal, since she had not beenContinue reading “So Esther arose, and stood before the king.”

The Word of the Lord came

In Genesis 1, the Triune God speaks the world into existence as His Spirit hovers over the surface of the waters. King David brings the Creation account into sharper focus, declaring, “by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host” (Ps. 33:6). I’ve written already about the breathContinue reading “The Word of the Lord came”

The Cupbearer’s Memory

In Hebrew Bible times, the cupbearer to the king was an office of extraordinary responsibility and prestige. A cupbearer served wine to the king, but his job was much more as it involved tasting the wine before the king drank, for quality but also in case of poison. An office of oppositions. There are twoContinue reading “The Cupbearer’s Memory”

The zeal that consumes us

Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13:31 The book of Nehemiah is so compelling, so piercing, so full of love and longing for God. So full of Christ. Nehemiah rebuilds the Temple after exile, as Jesus would rebuild the Temple of His Body, even us (Jn 2:19, 1 Cor. 12:27). But there’s more.Continue reading “The zeal that consumes us”

Breath like Apples

In Genesis 4, Cain, tiller of the earth, offers fruit to the LORD and murders his brother Abel. This act comes hot on the heels of Adam and Eve’s lost paradise, where Satan too had offered fruit to God’s people and ushered in a reign of death across the earth. Just as He had doneContinue reading “Breath like Apples”

Into the Hands of a Woman

She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.Judges 4:9 I deliberately didn’t mention the verse above in yesterday’s post because itContinue reading “Into the Hands of a Woman”

Ishmael, a Wild Donkey of a Man

In Genesis 12, Abram betrays his wife Sarai and sows the seeds for the tragic story of Ishmael. Lacking faith in God’s protection, he tells Sarai to pretend she is his sister and sends her into Pharoah’s house as a concubine (v. 15). In exchange for trafficking his wife, Abram accepts Pharoah’s reward of “maleContinue reading “Ishmael, a Wild Donkey of a Man”