Tag: prophets and prophecy
-
New Perspectives, and Their Implications
Our wonderful pastor preached on 2 Samuel 11:1-15 yesterday – from one perspective, “the familiar story of David and Bathsheba.” She pointed out that historically Christian readers have carefully protected the Great King David’s reputation, even here. The NRSV’s editorial heading reads “David commits adultery with Bathsheba.” Even though “commits adultery” presumes or assumes, and…
-
Reflecting on Jonah 3
We are studying Jonah 3 for Sunday, May 30: the imaginative, over the top vision of successful prophetic ministry: universal repentance, and divine forbearance. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want to ask ourselves, or discuss in class: The people and animals of Nineveh in this story give…
-
Reflecting on Ezekiel 18 1-9, 30-32
We are studying Ezekiel 18:1-9 and 30-32 for Sunday, May 23. The text is part of an uncompromising statement of God’s concern with individual righteousness or transgression, along with a plea to choose repentance and righteousness, as the way of life. [Some notes on the text are here.] Here are some questions we might want…
-
Studying Ezekiel 18 1-9, 30-32
We are studying Ezekiel 18:1-9 and 30-32 for Sunday, May 30 23. This is the core of Ezekiel’s uncompromising announcement of individuals’ responsibility for their own behavior, one of Ezekiel’s distinctive messages. [Here are some questions about the text.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Some general background notes on Ezekiel,…
-
Studying Isaiah 29 15-24
We are studying Isaiah 29:15-24 for Sunday, May 9. The text is a prophetic poem that seems to speak to – but perhaps also beyond – the dire situation of the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. [Some questions on the text are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND…
-
Reflecting on 1 Kings 22 15-23, 26-28
We are studying 1 Kings 22:15-23 and 26-28 for Sunday, May 2. This is the story of the final interaction between the prophet Micaiah and king Ahab of [the Northern kingdom of] Israel, and it’s a textbook example of the prophet as someone who “speaks truth to power.” Also, of the frankly political issues highlighted…
-
Studying Isaiah 53 4-11
We are studying Isaiah 53:4-11 for Sunday, April 4 – Easter! Christians have embraced this challenging text since the early days of the church as a portrait of Jesus’s redemptive suffering and ultimate triumph. There are lots of ways to embrace a text. This Easter we might want to think about which of those ways…
-
Studying 1 Kings 18 5-18
We are studying 1 Kings 18:5-18 for Sunday, March 28. This is the story of Elijah’s encounter with Obadiah and then Ahab, king of [the northern kingdom of] Israel. This story is the prelude to Elijah’s more famous contest with the “prophets of Baal” at Mt. Carmel. There’s a lot more going on in this…
-
Reflecting on 2 Kings 22 14-20
We are studying 2 Kings 22:14-20 for Sunday, March 21. This is the story where King Josiah of Judah sends a delegation to the prophet Huldah to confirm that the “book of the law” he has just heard is an authentic word from God. His next step, described in 2 Kings 23, will be to…
-
Studying 2 Kings 22 14-20
We are studying 2 Kings 22:14-20 for Sunday, March 21. This is the story of Huldah, the woman prophet, who authenticates the “book of the law” found in the Temple during the reign of [good] king Josiah of Judah. [Some questions on the texts are here.] Here are my notes on this text: BACKGROUND AND…
Matters of Interpretation 