Intro to Joel
The author of Joel is a literal enigma; we've no information about him except his very common Hebrew name and his father's name, which was either Pethuel (Hebrew manuscripts) or Bethuel (the Septuagint). Joel didn't provide us any clues, either. Most prophets date their prophecy by kings or major historical events, but not Joel/ The few events he does describe — such as a locust plague, are common enough as to be unhelpful. This has caused a great many theories about when the book was written — theories spanning over 200 years of history! 830 BC? 760 BC? 595 BC? No one knows for certain.
Elohim Kedoshim
From the time of Abraham God had purposed to build a nation of people who would be his own, apart from all the other nations. The Hebrew word used to describe them was kedoshim, a people set apart with respect to their way of life and interaction with YHWH. If this sounds familiar, it should. In English the word translates to "holy". Both people and things may be holy, but the holiest of all is the Lord God Almighty. It is little wonder then that we come across the name Elohim Kedoshim in Joshua 24.19, Holy God.
Intro to Ezekiel
This marks the start of a prolonged series on the Gospel of Luke. As we’ve already examined the book of Acts, it seems reasonable that the first Gospel we study should be Luke as both share a common author. Ask anyone to compare the gospels and two facts will almost always be mentioned: (1) that John is the Gospel of Love, and (2) that Luke is the Historical Gospel. While it is true that John gives us a look into Jesus’ personal struggles and relates stories not contained in any other gospel account, it is not true that Luke is purely a historical account.
El Chay
A single truth can have multiple applications. For example, when attempting to compute the area of a circle we use a limited value for pi (3.16...). While pi has only been a recognized value for the last 250 years, it appears the ancient Egyptians knew of it and used its value to help build the Great Pyramid at Giza whose vertical height has the same relationship to the perimeter of its base as a circle has to its circumference. The same is true of Biblical truths, and the one I'm thinking about directly applies to today's name of God study.
Isaiah's Names of God
Every Thursday for the last nearly 30 weeks we've been examining some of the names of God found in Scripture. We've got a ways to go still, but this Christmas seemed like a good time to remind everyone why we're doing this. It's not an exercise in academics, rather it is our hope that you find two or three names that strike a special chord with you, a name of God that encourages you and that can express itself in your prayer life. Due to the season, we thought it best to examine the four names of Jesus expressed by Isaiah.
Into to Daniel
Daniel is one of the most remarkable books in the Bible. Divided between it’s powerful telling of history and it’s prophetic revelations it has likely been the most studied book of the Bible. Even so, it is not without its detractors. Liberal scholars claim it is a complete work of fiction. Early on the complained that King Belshazzar (whose story is told in chapter five) never existed. Then in 1854 British Consul G J Taylor proved them wrong by unearthing ancient scrolls referring to the King's son, Belshazzar. As embarrasing as this was, it wouldn’t keep them from attempting to diminish this important text.
Intro to Ezekiel
This marks the start of a prolonged series on the Gospel of Luke. As we’ve already examined the book of Acts, it seems reasonable that the first Gospel we study should be Luke as both share a common author. Ask anyone to compare the gospels and two facts will almost always be mentioned: (1) that John is the Gospel of Love, and (2) that Luke is the Historical Gospel. While it is true that John gives us a look into Jesus’ personal struggles and relates stories not contained in any other gospel account, it is not true that Luke is purely a historical account.
Intro to Lamentations
Jeremiah served as a prophet for 40 years, warning the people of Israel about the coming judgment. He did his very best to guide the people toward repentance and acceptance of their discipline, but the people would not listen. Then the Babylonians came, and they brought fire, death and destruction with them. The author of Lamentations had a front row seat to the carnage — not only that which Nebuchadnezzar brought once he breached Jerusalem, but the misery and even cannibalism the citizens of that great city participated in during the previous months of siege. The events on both sides were heartbreaking.
Intro to Hosea
Hosea began his ministry in a near golden age for Israel. His calling came at a time when Israel had experienced a period of military success leading to prosperity both the Northern and Southern kingdoms (2 Kings 14:25-28; 2 Chronicles 26:2, 6-15). During the first half of the eighth century Assyrian influence in the West had declined, allowing the kingdoms of Jeroboam II and Uzziah to flourish. But all that began well would not end as such. Hosea foresaw dire times ahead. The Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 b.c.) were about to revive their expansionist policy westward.
Names of God - El Hayyay
My good friend Leonard Cook (whom I am co-writing a book on Jonah with) once said, "As you read the stories of the Bible, if you don't recognize God as the hero you've missed the point." I thought then that he was on to something and it occurred to me that the same could be said about the events of life. Everyone experiences hard times and tragedy that bends but does not break us; God sees us through it. Likewise, we all have victories and moments of pure joy also because of God's grace and mercy...
Intro to Ezekiel
The purpose of the book of Ezeiel is largely dependant on the author and date of writing. If, as some late liberal scholars attest, it was written very late (circa 200 BC) then the book itself falls apart as being completely unnecessary. The careful structure of the book itself, and its recording specific dates, only makes sense if it were written for the people of the exile. As a book of history alone, which is what it must be if the late date is considered, makes all the hope and consolation passages unnecessary and moot.
El Hakabodh
When we think of the creation event, we think of the big acts of creation like the stars, planets and animals. Rarely do we consider the miraculous of the minute, things like molecules and atoms and gravity, all working perfectly and in order with constancy and consistency. Like gravity's constant pull there is another reality that works just as powerfully, a force not of nature but of super-nature: God's glory. It is for this reason that the seraphim sing in Isaiah 6, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."