The nature of God has been a subject of philosophical and theological inquiry for centuries. Throughout human history, people have attempted to understand the nature of the divine and the role it plays in the universe. While the concept of God varies among different cultures and religions, there are some common features that define the nature of God.
Continue reading THE NATURE OF GOD
The Ten Commandments remind children to honor their parents. Paul applies this command here by teaching that honor begins with obedience. Paul’s reason is not that parents are always right or because children owe some debt to parents, but because obedience toward parents pleases the Lord.
Continue reading HOW SHOULD CHILDREN TREAT PARENTS?
Solomon’s bride, the Shulamite, is speaking in this verse. In an age when women prized pure white skin, she was a country girl whose skin had been darkened by long exposure to the sun.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (SEEING BENEATH THE SURFACE)
NEW TESTAMENT – The contrasting elements of wisdom and folly evident in the OT were clearly in the mind of Paul when he asked, “Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? (1 Cor 1:20b HCSB). However, in the NT, this polarity between wisdom and folly is not always stressed. In fact, it is possible that a certain kind of wisdom can actually be folly. In Matt 7:26;2-3; Rom 2:20 “folly” is used synonymously with “experiential wisdom.” Wisdom based only on human intellect and experiences without considering God is folly.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (FOOL, FOOLISHNESS, AND FOLLY PT 2 OF 2)
In this verse, Amos charged the wealthy class of the nation of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) with oppression the poor and worshiping pagan gods.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (OPPRESSION OF THE POOR)
As students , we learned to raise our hand in the classroom to gain recognition to speak. The en masse raising of hands at a sporting event signals celebration. Neither of these forms of hand raising are apparent in the art and literature of the ancient Near East, but we do find both morals and gods depicted with uplifted hands in a variety of scenarios.
Continue reading EVERYDAY LIFE IN BIBLE TIMES (HANDS “TO RAISE OR STRETCH OUT” PT 1 OF 3)
Sailors of ancient times tended to be very superstitious because of their constant exposure to the dangers of the sea. When a storm struck the ship in which Jonah was escaping from the call of the Lord, they assumed the pagan gods were punishing them because of their displeasure with one person on board.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (SUPERSTITIOUS SAILORS)
Someone once remarked that growing old isn’t a battle but a massacre.
Sadly, in most cases this is all too true. If we live long enough, we are forced to grieve a lone, painful series of losses. As we age, we say farewell-usually to our careers, often to our health, sometimes to our memories, always to the independent lives we once knew. And the older we get, the more often we will have to stand in funeral homes and cemeteries and say goodbye to beloved family members and dear friends.
Continue reading WOMAN OF THE BIBLE (ANNA “FAITHFUL TO THE VERY END”)
Essential part of Jewish life in Bible times. According to Eccles. 3:4, there is “a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (NASB). Dances were performed on both sacred and secular occasions, though the Hebrew mind would not likely have thought in these terms.
Continue reading DEFINITOIN OF THE DAY (DANCING)