Old Testament

Blogging friend and InterVarsity staff Ben Emerson is blogging through the Bible (The Whole Dang Thing).  As his journey took him to the problematic books of Joshua and… — May 4, 2012

Saul's sins involved a premature sacrifice (1 Sam. 13) and an incomplete slaughter (1 Sam. 15).  That doesn't sound too bad, particularly in comparison to David's murder and… — April 30, 2012

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word (Psalm 119:28 NRSV). What do you do when you're depressed?  The psalmist writes a poem of… — April 29, 2012

Why was God so mean to King Saul?  A premature sacrifice (1 Sam. 13) and an incomplete slaughter (1 Sam. 15).  As sins go, those seem mild.  David,… — April 26, 2012

Make me understand the ways of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wonderous works (Psalm 119:27 NRSV). After 27 weeks of blogging, I wonder if I'll be able… — April 22, 2012

The Israelites had just lost a battle to the Philistines, so they came up with the brilliant idea to get the Ark of the Covenant for the next battle (1 Samuel… — April 20, 2012

When I told of my ways you answered me; teach me your statutes (Psalm 119:26 NRSV). If questions don't come to mind when we read the Bible, we're… — April 15, 2012

On Good Friday (4/6/2012) I spoke at the InterVarsity chapter at Swarthmore College on the second chapter of God Behaving Badly .  It was filmed. The sound is… — April 12, 2012

"How long will you go on being drunk?" When the priest Eli sees Hannah mumbling something as he sits at the door of the temple, he assumes she's… — April 11, 2012

Now is the time of the year when one reflects on the deeper meaning of foolishness.  (If you believe that, you need to check the calendar.) The Bible has a… — April 1, 2012

Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors (Psalm 119:24 NRSV). Once again the psalmist "delights" in the commands of God.  The word "delight" appears ten times in… — March 25, 2012

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes (Psalm 119:23 NRSV). Enemies have gathered together against their common foe.  You.  They are… — March 18, 2012

Take away from me their scorn and contempt for I have kept your precepts (Psalm 119:22 NRSV). The anticedent for "their" here comes from Psalm 119:21, the insolent, accursed… — March 12, 2012

My wife Shannon was doing face painting at a church event recently.  The Face Painting Supervisor (FPS) informed her that there would be no demons, witches, unicorns or… — March 9, 2012

Do you believe in unicorns?  A student in my psalms class (Phil) pointed out to me recently that unicorns appear in the Bible. I said, "What?"  He said, "Yep". … — March 7, 2012

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments (Psalm 119:21 NRSV). The psalmist is informing YHWH about something that he already knows.  Which is something… — March 4, 2012

My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times (Psalm 119:20 NRSV). This is my favorite verse in Psalm 119, and one of my favorites… — February 27, 2012

In a few hours, after coaching my younger son's basketball team (leaving at half-time; fortunately, I have great co-coaches, one of whom is my older son), I drive back to… — February 25, 2012