Ever heard of the Masoretic Text? Know what it means? Know why it’s important? The Masoretic Text is relevant to this series on Nehemiah because the introduction in my commentary on Nehemiah says “the Masoretic notes on EzraNehemiah were not placed after each book, but after Nehemiah, a proof that the Masoretes regarded EzraNehemiah as […]
Would you dare disagree with the Masoretes? Read More »
What have you put in your pockets? Before I went to school, only two items could be found in my pockets: sweets and coins. After I was able to blow my own nose, a handkerchief was added to the list. I don’t think I’ve owned a handkerchief for several decades now. The handkerchief has been
Pockets, cargo pants and self-interpreting Bibles Read More »
The language of daily commerce and interaction in Nehemiah’s Jerusalem was Aramaic. But Nehemiah was very passionate about Hebrew. He even cursed, beat, and pulled out the hair of some fathers whose children hadn’t been taught Hebrew. Why? In Nehemiah chapter 8, we read of a day when a great crowd of people camped
Why did Nehemiah pull hair? Read More »
With the Living Word, one can revisit the same passage over the years, to discover a word in season. These words though spoken thousands of years ago, today can draw a parallel to us in a most personal and intimate way. It is the Living Word. Recently I was invited to lead one of my
I attended church services during my last two years as a student – also my first two years as a Christian. The preacher was invariably our pastor. I later learned that the elders, who had discerned God’s voice and called him to be pastor, had been adamant that God had called him to preach and
Sorry, Ezra, I’m dropping you for Nehemiah Read More »
It was Monday, 6.47 am. I’d been walking for about 15 minutes. Panting. Glad to be on a flat stretch of road. Glad to pause. I saw a string of lights on the road beneath the overpass I was on. The headlights of cars funnelling towards the road shoulder. I went to get a better
3 drains and a prayer Read More »
I turned and saw … I must have used this phrase a few dozen times now, ever since I took up that weapon of vivification – that gift-camera, about 11 months ago, shooting celestial bodies and everything that moves! I turned and saw two eyes staring at me. There she was, a beauty among the
Befriending Boogie Read More »
On the 21st of February, 1944, after 8 months in prison, Dr Alfons Wachsmann, in Brandenburg prison in Berlin, Germany, wrote a letter to his sister Minka. It’s first line is “At three o-clock I must die.” Before his arrest and incarceration on 23rd June 1943, he had served for 15 years as parish priest
At three o-clock I must die Read More »
By Celeste Choo Miss Lee had these black- framed-pointed-at-both-ends spectacles. She was slim, young. She had a face full of pimples. I do not think of her as particularly beautiful or attractive. I recall her as always attired in a white blouse with rolled up sleeves and a black skirt, whereas the other teachers dressed
All I wanted was to hide my two front gaps Read More »
Most of us have seen the following words, often on placards at protests. Some of us know that a man called Martin Niemoller spoke them: First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist.Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Pastor Niemoller, Hitler and our Neighbours Read More »
