Today I write from a spontaneous delight in the Scriptures.  Some days my study of the Scriptures seem like just a discipline that is well worth it’s diligence.  Many days, I open God’s Word to find a message for my people and I find good food whose importance cannot be diminished.  However, there are some days like today when the study of the Scriptures is what it says about itself, “living and active.” As I Read More …

1 Kings 21 In the study of the kings of Israel one must expect a certain lusting after all one sees. In the immortal words of Bruce Springsteen, ” a rich mans not happy until he’s a king, a kings not happy until he rules everything.” Ahab finds himself staring longingly from his palace window into a vineyard owned by Naboth and his family. I do not pretend to understand why Ahab wanted this vineyard Read More …

1 Kings 22 In this passage the divided kingdom of Israel collaborates together to defeat the Syrian army inhabiting one of their territories. Before they finally agree to join together they listen to the prophets of their gods prophesy victory in rather eccentric ways. The king of Judah asks king Ahab if there are any other prophets to hear from. Ahab’s response is that there is but that the missing prophet never speaks anything good Read More …

1 Kings 17   Elijah had just prophesied to king Ahab that no rain would come to Israel unless he spoke it. From there Elijah was lead by God to a brook and was fed by ravens. When reading this story, it is tempting to view these introductory details as just the foothills by which the rest of the story will climax. In many ways this type of reading is true and very much beneficial. Read More …

1 Kings 9   After the building of the temple God came to Solomon again in a vision. YHWY had enabled Solomon to build a great temple. He gave Solomon the resources and the wisdom with which to use those resources. And now that the work was done, YHWY made it very clear to Solomon the tendencies of a man and a country who accomplishes much in earthly terms. God had filled the temple with Read More …