Tithing is one of those things that can betray our approach to and understanding of the Old Testament if we’re not careful. It’s easy to note that it meant ten percent, assign to Israel an unconscious, semi-spiritual attitude and move on to making applications to our giving today. But as Lee Corso used to say,Continue reading “Thinking About the Tithe”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Remembering our Song
Deuteronomy 11 begins and ends with a robust call to love the Lord and obey His commands (v. 1, 32)—with v. 13 functioning as the fullest expression of this. To those who have read the first ten chapters this comes as no surprise. Loving God and keeping His commands forms the “chorus” for the songContinue reading “Remembering our Song”
Facing the Anakites
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is preparing a new generation of Israelites to enter the land of Canaan. The previous generation died in the wilderness due to their unbelief and Moses wants the generation he’s addressing to do better. I think Daniel Block’s contention that we should listen to Moses here in a pastoralContinue reading “Facing the Anakites”
Words for the Wilderness
The backdrop for understanding the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4/Luke 4 is Israel’s time in the wilderness. The parallels aren’t difficult to see. I’ve adapted the following from Liefeld and Pao (Luke, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary). Israel was God’s son (Exodus 4:22-23); Jesus was proclaimed God’s Son at His baptism (Luke 3:21-22). God ledContinue reading “Words for the Wilderness”
Living in the Land of Promise
“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, The Lord is one,” (Deuteronomy 6:4). It’s hard to overstate the importance of this text for Israel or the follower of Jesus. For Israel, these words were spoken to them as they were on the brink of f-i-n-a-l-l-y entering the land of Canaan. The previous generation of IsraelitesContinue reading “Living in the Land of Promise”
Someone We Can Relate To
Moses was a great servant of God, but passion for God doesn’t mean immunity from struggles whether we’re talking about Moses, Noah, Esther, David, or anyone else. And there’s no hesitancy on the part of biblical writers to call out mistakes, flaws, or weaknesses in the people they write about and that’s one reason weContinue reading “Someone We Can Relate To”
Stepping into the Story
I suppose as long as there have been summer vacations there have been children who had to write about what they did on them. And as long as there have been vacations of any kind, there have been people like us who took way too many pictures. We can post those pictures, but it’s muchContinue reading “Stepping into the Story”
Background on Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is the final book written by Moses and a fitting conclusion to the Pentateuch (the first five books of Scripture). Genesis is the book of beginnings. Exodus advances the story from Egypt to the wilderness and ends with the construction of the tabernacle. Leviticus furnishes Israel with laws concerning the tabernacle and sacrificial system.Continue reading “Background on Deuteronomy”
Selling Out To Good
Finn Daly is six years old and lives in West Hartford, Connecticut. He has Down Syndrome and autism. He also has a great love and appreciation for our country’s flag. He can sit on the floor of his house and look through the storm door at the flag flying outside for long periods of time.Continue reading “Selling Out To Good”
Exhausted Yet Keeping Up The Pursuit
After Gideon and his three hundred men have thrown the Midianite army into panic with their trumpets, jars, and torches (and the help of the Lord—Judges 7:22), they set out in pursuit of those who have survived and fled. In 8:4, we’re told that they are “exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit”. If there hadContinue reading “Exhausted Yet Keeping Up The Pursuit”
