It’s summertime! * And with it come visions of barbecues, long summer days, walks in the woods and glorious starry nights. All these powerful aspects of nature have been a focus the past few months while preparing three talks for a Bible conference on Scriptural Metaphors in Nature. What a powerful topic and the two […]
Archive | Old Testament
Light: Three Distinct Biblical Uses
Everyone knows what light means – whether it’s the child convinced it’s all that stands between monsters and his bed, or the person appreciating street lamps after leaving the theater. It just makes life better, easier, happier. In fact, light is defined as the energy source for illumination, the very power that makes sight possible.But […]
The Ascent Psalms: Great Traveling Companions
As Easter approaches, what can we do differently this year to approach history’s most seminal event, Christ Jesus’ resurrection and ascension? Please join me in considering taking a page from ancient Israel’s practice by looking at The Ascent Psalms. If we were contemporaries, for example, of Mary and Joseph in the 1st century, this would […]
Psalm 137 and Popular Culture
Just when you think popular culture has shelved the Bible as passé, along comes a haunting version of Psalm 137 sung by American singer-songwriter, Don McLean,* and captured on this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTnspbSjKVc A lament over the destruction of Jerusalem, McLean’s version of Ps. 137 captures the ache of those who were taken from their homes and brought to […]
Snakes, Mountains and Moses
Jordan is a country full of surprises, mainly of how many Biblical sites there are. One of my favorites is Mt. Nebo, the traditional site thought to be where Moses hands over the reins to his number 2 in command, Joshua. Was it because Moses was tired and decided to give up leadership to the […]
