It’s an astounding fact that western Christianity has largely made itself no Christianity at all. How is it that we’ve come from the early church, in which the apostles and the followers of Jesus were severely persecuted, to a place where following Jesus is made to be like having a boy- or girlfriend? In those…
1 Samuel 14:12 – Against All Odds
Early in the days of Saul’s kingship, the Philistines gathered a large army to come against Israel. One contingent of this force camped upon a rocky plateau called Michmash, which provided a strategic advantage for the Philistines. Upon seeing how powerful and well equipped this army was, the Israelites trembled in fear and hid themselves….
1 Samuel 12:21 – Empty Things
“And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.” (1 Samuel 12:21) How the world loves to pursue empty things! All of humanity has a void in their heart and seeks to fill it, yet they almost always seek to do so in ways that don’t include…
1 Samuel 8:7 – Rejecting God
The mindset of the people in the Ancient Near East (ANE) was quite different from ours today. This is a major reason that when we read the Bible, we need to do so with the mind of someone in ancient Israel. If we don’t do that; if we read and judge from our modern perspective,…
Luke 12:46 – Cut to Pieces
When I read Luke 12:35-48, sub-headed in the ESV as You Must Be Ready, the passage inevitably disturbs me. Jesus was speaking to His disciples and relating a parable that reflected directly upon His return from heaven. The parable deals with the master who has gone away for his wedding feast and the servants who…
1 Samuel 2:15-16 – Corrupt & Ungodly
The book of 1 Samuel gives us a glimpse into the condition of the priesthood in the days of the Judges. God had been silent, as the Word of the Lord was rare (1 Samuel 3:1). When we look at Eli and his worthless sons who ministered as priests, we can certainly see the reason…