Introductory notes
Introduction to Jonah
The story of Jonah is part of the Minor Prophets (minor indicates the short length of these books, not their importance). Although other prophetic books contain descriptions of events around a prophetic figure (e.g. Amos 7:10-17, Jer 26:7-24) alongside their…
Introduction to the patriarchal narratives (Gen 12-50)
The narrative of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the patriarchs from whom the people of Israel descended, as well as the events around Joseph, are the better-known stories of the Old Testament, perhaps remembered from Sunday School. The story line follows…
Introduction to Jeremiah
Jeremiah and Josiah’s reform There is no prophet of whose life and emotions we know as much as Jeremiah’s. Called from a priestly family in the small town of Anathoth (Jer 1:1), 3-4 km north of Jerusalem, he preached to…
Haggai introduction – the key to a fulfilling life
I generally introduce a book first but given we have already had the background in the Book of Ezra, I decided to leave the overview until the end as a kind of summary to the book. Haggai’s prophecies in the…
Ezra-Nehemiah intro – When restoration is not a quick fix
There are times when we need to hear uplifting stories where everything ends well; despair is overcome by joy, illness by healing, loneliness by a deep and meaningful relationship. We want to know that such things are possible, that we…
Justice and mercy (Intro to Micah)
In the last year or so, a NZ politician who professes to be a Christian was once asked what difference her faith makes to being a politician. Her response was, ‘Absolutely nothing’. Presumably, her answer is indicative of some defensiveness…
Reading the prophets – some preliminary comments
I suspect that many of us feel ambivalent about the prophetic books in the Bible. On the one hand, the passages of judgment on God’s people make for dismal reading. As we only get one side of the conversation and…
Introduction to 1 Samuel
The Book of Samuel tells how Israel became a monarchy and the story of its first two kings, Saul and David (1 Samuel ends with Saul’s death and opens the way for David to become king in 2 Samuel). Along…
Whom will you serve? (Introduction to Exodus)
As we start a new year, many set new goals for themselves such as learning a new skill, losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more or spending less. Many of these resolutions fall by the wayside as the weeks turn into…
Introduction to Judges – Beliefs Shape Attitudes
Judges is not a book that is often preached on or read given its violent story line and dubious heroes. Yet, it presents a stark warning for the church about the dangers of losing our moral and religious moorings. Modern…