Biblical Conversation(s)

We are living in a day an age of skyrocketing mental health challenges. Anxiety and depression seem to be at all-time highs. This episode explores Psalm 42 (the famous “As the Deer” Psalm) for lessons and exhortation as to how we can do the work of soul-strengthening so we can avoid being devastated by the storms of life. 3) How are you crafting time in your schedule for private time with God? How are you developing this personal connection with God through prayer and scripture study?

Brandon and I discussed the issues surrounding the reception of wisdom traditions in the ancient and modern worlds. Brandon referred to a book exploring how the NT understands Jesus to be the embodiment of wisdom. Its by Ben Witherington III. The full title is “Jesus the Sage: The Pilgrimage of Wisdom” (Fortress, 2000).

Rabbi Wolicki describes a rabbinic biblical legend of a conversation between Moses and God during a key episode in scripture. Moses asks about the question we’ve been discussing: Why is there a righteous man suffering and a righteous man prospering? And why is there a wicked man suffering and a wicked man prospering. Rabbi Wolicki applies his depth of biblical interpretive insight and unlocks wisdom that provides true solace and succor for the soul in times of trial and distress.

This episode is called “Odds and Ends” because I go a little deeper on two topics. First, I discuss the divine name more thoroughly and examine the possibility of its being based on a causative verb (hiphil in Hebrew) rather than the regular verb (Qal in Hebrew). So Yahweh would mean, “He who causes things to be” more than “He who is.” Secondly, I discuss an article by Michael V. Fox about the various stages by which wisdom literature was received into the Israelite canon. At first, the reception was thorough, but eventually limitations were added such as “The Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.”

David and I discuss the notion of Satan and demons and how important it is to believe in these as real entities of existence. We also discussed how we understand biblical inspiration to work and how the scriptures function as God’s authoritative word.

This study examines the question through the lens: Did Jesus intend to leave behind a specific political/national entity? I argue that he does not. The primary passage which suggests Christian support for a particular government is Rom 15:1-6. I argue that this should be read in a very limited way: Christians should not incite anti-Roman insurrection and should pay their taxes. As proof that some Christians felt justified in condemning Rome, I looked at Rev 13-17 where Rome is depicted as a beast ridden by a prostitute inspired and empowered by a demonic dragon. This is certainly intended to depict the Roman government. I provide two reasons why this is beyond dispute. Study Questions: In what ways can we say America is a Christian Nation? In what ways is it not a Christian Nation? What significance is it that Jesus did not intend to establish a nation of any variety?

This episode covers commandments 3 and 4 found in Exod 20:7-8. “You should not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” and “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Study Questions: How can we honor the name of God? How might our own personal integrity bring dishonor to the name of God? In what ways can I increase in my awareness of God’s ownership and lordship over my time? How can I be better at designating rest into the craziness of life?

In this devotional episode, we’ll look at commandments 1 and 2 which are Exod 20:3-3. Hope you enjoy!

This is a shorter version, more devotional in nature. In this episode, I’ll look what Jewish folk understand to be the first commandment, “I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exod 20:1-2.) Study Guide Questions: How can I deepen my awareness of God’s Being as the foundation for my being? How can I grow in awareness that indeed I also was redeemed from the Land of Egypt?

This podcast examines the challenge of understanding biblical inspiration. How does it work? Three parts. 1) We examine II Sam 24 and I Chron 21 to see the shocking shift: God incites David in II Samuel and in Chronicles retelling of the same story he says Satan incited David to take the evil census. 2) We look at four (or really five) ways of understanding biblical inspiration. None of them satisfy me either because they are too weak or cannot explain the paradigm shifting seen in scripture. 3) We consider a three-legged stool model including a) progressive revelation, 2) didactic inspiration and 3) narrative authority. With these three factors in place, we can have an authoritative story that drives our lives and a scripture sufficiently human to bear the load of the conflicting opinions on display.

Andrew and I discussed the three-sided triangulation between God (the Covenant Maker), Israel (the Covenant people) and the Land of Israel (the covenant blessed). “the economic sphere is like a thermometer that reveals both the temperature of the theological relationship between God and Israel (angle A), and also the extent to which Israel was conforming to the social shape required of them in consistency with their status as God’s redeemed people (angle B).”

Does God promise blessings for the faithful? Does daily life bear this out? We see the primary position in the OT that God blesses the faithful. But the NT seems to change positions and claim that there is no guarantee of this. We look at Rom 8: 35-end, Luke 13:1-5, John 9:1-5 and Matt. 5:43-48. Study Guide: 1) How does loving your enemies make you “children of your father in heaven?” (Matt 5:45). How does the “rain on the just and unjust” explain the nature of God? 2) Explain how the two tragedies in Luke 13 display both moral and natural evils. Does Jesus equally reject both as indications of divine wrath? 3) What is the meaning of Jesus’ words in John 9:3, “but that the works of God might be revealed in him.” 4) Explain how Paul’s claim in Rom 8 that nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ Jesus our Lord relates to the issue of Godliness and the good life. How is Paul answering the question, “Does God promise blessings for the godly? Do my sufferings prove that I’m ungodly?”

Here we discuss the books of Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes on the question - does God secure the good life for those who live in accordance with God’s wisdom? Each book has a very unique perspective. Study Questions: 1) Read Job 38:1-11 Who is “darkening my counsel with words without knowledge?” (See v. 2) 2) How does mystery in Job provide a real answer for him? 3) Read Job 42:1-6. Describe how Job feels at the end of this whole process he’s gone through. 4) Flip through Ecclesiastes and name all the things the author (Qohelet) says are pointless. 5) In 1:2, Qohelet says “Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity.” Why does he say it this way? Put this message into your own words. 6) Describe the role played by Wisdom in creation as described in Prov 8:22-31.

In this episode, we will consider the tensions in scripture on the topic, “Does God bless and prosper those who keep God’s laws?” Some places say yes (Lev 26, Deut 28), some aren’t sure (Ps 44) and others no (Ecclesiastes, Job). Study Questions: 1) Is there a distinction to be made between God’s promised blessings to individuals and/or to groups? Perhaps God will bless nations and/or larger groups for their godliness? 2) Read Lev 26. Write down every blessing promised and count them up. 3) Read Ps 44 carefully. Starting in vs. 9, what has happened to make him believe God has rejected them? Why does he claim that this suffering is undeserved? 4) In Habakkuk, what is his original complaint? (1:2-4). 5) What does Habakkuk think about God’s answers to his questions? (1:2-11 and 3:16 to end).

Jeff and I had a wonderful conversation about God’s knowledge of the future, human free will and the A and B theories of time.

Rebecca and I discuss the podcasts on “Does God change God’s mind?” looking for pastoral perspective and insight.

The second half of the episode exploring the differing opinions in scripture on whether God changes God’s mind? Either a contradiction is in view or this could be a paradox.

This episode-first of several-examines the biblical texts for and against the idea that God can, like humans, change God’s own mind.

In this episode, Karl and I reflect on the biblical shifts of perspective on the notion of intergenerational punishment and pastoral implications.

This episode explores the debate and compromise in ancient Israel as to the appropriateness of reading and incorporating humanistic non-Israelite wisdom literature.