William Willimon said, “Democracy really only works among a people who have been transformed by Christ. If the church wants to influence the world again, it must be able to transform people in the church before it tries to change the world.” Democracy depends on people choosing to do the right thing because of personal …
Ahab’s final ruin came at the hands of Jehu King of Judah in fulfillment of the Word of God spoken through Elijah because of Ahab’s wickedness as the King of Israel. Ahab had been killed along with his wife Jezebel. Then in II Kings 10 we are told of the slaughter of Ahab’s 70 descendants …
Ahab was the most wicked king of Israel. I Kings 20 and 21, however, speak to God’s grace to Ahab. He gave victory to Israel over the Arameans so Ahab would know that “I am the Lord.” The next year God did it again to show the Arameans that God is the God of the …
I Kings 10 speaks of Solomon’s outstanding wealth and wisdom. But I was reminded of the Jews coming back from captivity in Nehemiah and Ezra. They remembered the greatness of Solomon’s temple and the wealth. But they were coming back trying to rebuild from absolute rubble and ruin. God had warned Solomon that all he …
King David’s sin resulted in a plague on Israel. At the prophet Gad’s instruction, David goes to sacrifice to the Lord. Araunah offered the land to him for free. But David said, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (II Samuel 24:24) David paid Araunah for the …
II Samuel 14 tells the story of Joab using a woman to convince David to bring back his son Absalom who had fled to Geshur after murdering his brother Amnon. The woman said to King David, “God devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.” That really expresses the heart of …
Jesus had raised his good friend, Lazarus, from the dead. The Pharisees were more concerned about protecting their power and control than about standing for truth or the good of their people. They decided they needed to kill Jesus because people were believing in Jesus and they were afraid the Romans would take away their …
Today I read about David and Goliath. I was impressed with the trash talk used first by Goliath and then by David. Goliath used trash talk against King Saul and the whole army of Israel and he succeeded in demoralizing them. David approaches Goliath without armor or spear. Goliath’s trash talk has no impact on …
As I read I Samuel 1 I was intrigued by Hannah’s husband, Elkanah. He lived when having two wives was permitted and he did—even though having two wives was never wise! He was faithful to worship God. Elkanah loved Hannah. He comforted his barren wife, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” He …
Today I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Manoah in Judges 13. Unlike so many other Biblical angelic visits and miraculous conceptions, both Manoah and his wife believed without hesitation. Manoah just wanted more information from the angel about how to raise Samson. When the angel returns, he patiently waits for Manoah’s wife to find Manoah. Manoah …
