The story of the Exodus is the most repeated story in the Old Testament. It’s the story of God saving the Israelites from terrible slavery in Egypt; of God using Moses to call the Israelites to fulfil their purpose, which is to worship him; of God going to war on behalf of his people. It’s …
The question “who will contend with me?” is found in the lectionary readings for tomorrow, 9th April. This is my summary of the OT portion, Isaiah 50:4-9a: Isaiah says God called him to comfort the weary by passing on to them words which God gave him, regularly. He says he could have chosen to be …
What should we make of Isaiah’s prophecy of “rivers in the desert?” Click here for the lectionary readings for tomorrow, the fifth Sunday in Lent. As usual, on this Saturday, I’ll offer some comments on the Old Testament reading, Isaiah 43:16-21. This is my summary of it: It’s true that in the past God saved …
For me, “injure yourselves before your enemies” summarizes what God told the Israelites to do, as soon as they set foot on the promised land, in Gilgal. What they did in Gilgal is the subject of Joshua 5:9-12, the OT passage in the Lectionary Readings for tomorrow, the fourth Sunday in Lent. Gilgal Footnotes in …
The OT passage in the lectionary readings for tomorrow can be summarized by the words “eat, drink, listen, live.” The passage is Isaiah 55:1-9. The English Standard Version (ESV) groups verses 1-13 together, with the heading “The Compassion of the LORD.” Many Bible scholars encourage us to think of Isaiah as a book in 3-parts: …
The question “to whom did God promise territory” arises not only because there is now a modern state called Israel. It also arises in the general sense of the rights and abuses of those who occupy any territory. The lectionary readings for tomorrow, the second Sunday in Lent, are Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians …
Can you resist the sin of covetousness by giving to God? Could that be a reason why so many Bible texts tell us to give gifts to God? I mean, why give to God since He owns everything already? Perhaps the answer is found in one of the readings for tomorrow, the first Sunday in …
At the transfgiuration of Jesus, God said “Listen to Him.”
Why do the wicked prosper? The lectionary readings for tomorrow (Sunday 20 February, Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany) are Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38; 42-50 and Luke 6:27-38. They give us a hint as to the answer. The Genesis passage is about Joseph in Egypt, revealing himself to his brothers who had …
God ordered Jeremiah to go stand in The People’s Gate. We are told this in Jeremiah 17 in verse 19, just beyond 17:5-10, the Lectionary Reading for Sunday. The Reading applies the image of trees to us, as individuals. The Psalms portion says people who obey God’s ethical demands are like a flourishing tree (Psalm …
