A ‘through the Bible in a year’ plan done in two: read one day, reflect the next.
Go ahead and start mourning, Judah. Everyone is going to die. That’s the message here. The worship in the temple, the sacrifices, it’s all completely meaningless, because it isn’t from the heart. It isn’t real. It’s just form. The people are worshipping all the other gods, too. There’s no devotion. Worse: they’re sacrificing their children. …
This isn’t the first time I’ve discussed the command to circumcise the heart. It came up in Deuteronomy. My understanding has had time to develop. My understanding hasn’t changed, exactly. I still believe it requires a removal of reservations, a cutting away of the defenses that come between us and surrender to God. However, I …
Jeremiah does not feel fit to fill the role to which he is called. He is too young. He does not have the experience. It isn’t that he’s worried no one will listen to him, though that would be the outcome I suppose. He’s worried that he does not have the skill to do what …
It’s a strange book. There’s no way around that. It’s meaning or purpose within the canon is not entirely clear. It’s application is even less so, if that’s possible. Other than being beautiful, what does this have to do with us? What should we take away from it? How should this book impact our daily …
So, I grew up with translations of Scripture that call this book the Song of Solomon being taught that Solomon wrote it. A lot of people have believed he wrote it because it has the subtitle, provided in the first line of the book, “of Solomon.” Song of Songs, which is of Solomon, is a …
“As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.” This one struck me because that is one of the great mysteries of life, isn’t it? Humans have souls, spirit, but what …
“Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom you ask this.” Well, then. Isn’t that something we hear an awful lot? Isn’t that something that is constantly getting thrown about? People are constantly evaluating “where we went wrong.” I’ll be honest. I get tired of it. I …
Ecclesiastes is a cheerful book, isn’t it? EVERYTHING ABOUT LIFE IS POINTLESS!!! Except that isn’t exactly what he is saying. At least, I don’t read it that way. If you live for indulgence, you’ll enjoy it, sure, but it won’t mean anything. If you live for ‘success,’ it’s all temporary, might be inherited by entitled …
“If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.” Stop making people angry. It makes life difficult for everyone. That’s it. It’s not too late. If you’ve been foolish, …
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. I love this. But I love plays on words and interpretation. I love how contextual language is. Don’t respond to a fool in kind or you …