Topical
Were the exiles concerned about racial purity in marriages? Part I.
Ezra 9:1-2 Given that modern readers are particularly sensitive to the issue of racism, it is not surprising that we immediately suspect it in the exiles’ story and this assumption is sadly reinforced by many translations that have ‘holy race’…
Were the exiles racist in their definition of identity? (Ezra 2:1-70)
Ezra 2:1-70 Throughout the book of Ezra and Nehemiah, Israel (i.e. God’s people) are defined as Jews who returned from exile (Ezra 2:2). For modern readers with a greater sensitivity to racial and ethnic exclusion and to related atrocities in…
Does God change His mind? (1 Sam 15:29)
1 Sam 15:11, 29, 35 In 1 Sam 15:29, Samuel insists that God does not lie or change His mind like human beings do. In context, God has resolved to take the kingdom from Saul and He is not going…
The destruction of the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:1-3)
1 Sam 15:1-3 The incident of Saul commanded by God to destroy the Amalekites sounds dangerously like genocide and is deeply troubling. How could God require such a thing? This is the kind of scenario that gives the Old Testament…
Our part in God’s plan (Exod 23:20-33)
Exod 23:20-33 One of the hardest things to know as we seek God’s will is what our part in the unfolding of His plan is. Depending on the Christian tradition we come from, some of us are more inclined to…
- An eye for an eye (lex talionis), Bible reading notes, Exodus, Exodus 20-24 (Book of the Covenant), Topical
Protection and justice for all (Exod 21:18-36)
Exod 21:18-36 As a relative newcomer to NZ, I am nevertheless aware of Māori who rightly feel bitter about their historic grievances (loss of ancestral land, destruction of their identities and their way of life) whose impact reaches into the…
Pointers towards reading OT Law
Making sense of OT law is one of the hardest parts of reading Scripture. First of all, we get side-tracked when some OT regulations (like the ones on slavery) shock us, so that we wonder how God could mandate or…
‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God’ – Do these titles describe Messiah? (Isaiah 9:6)
Isa 9:6 Christian readers and some conservative commentators typically understand the names in Isa 9:6 to describe the royal child. Since the prophecy is seen as a messianic prediction that finds its fulfilment in Jesus Christ, it seems self-evident and…
Light and God’s salvation plan in Isaiah
This post forms the background to today’s Advent reflections on Isa 9:2 (‘Light out of darkness’) and is for those who enjoy more in-depth Bible study. As I prepared the devotion, I wanted to explore how Isaiah understood the concepts…
Jealous God, intergenerational punishment (Exod 20:5)
Exod 20:5 In my last post on the second commandment I had no space to engage with two particular issues that causes concern for readers and I address them here. Jealous God The motivation clause in Exod 20:5 describes God…