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)
1.Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (1 CORITHIANS 13:1-13 “THE GREATEST GIFT”)
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)
Apart from these examples of literally raising hands, we also find biblical examples of this action in two related figures of speech. The mutinous revolt against established authority is described as raising one’s hand against a sitting ruler. Shortly after David survived the coup attempt of Absalom, Sheba initiated a revolt against David (2 Sam 20:1). Joab characterized this act of aggression by stating that Sheba had “lifted up his hand against the king” (2 Sam 20:21; 18:28; Ezra 6:12). The violence behind this figure of speech is also present in the figurative
Continue reading EVERYDAY LIFE IN BIBLE TIMES (HAND “TO RAISE OR STRETCH OUR” PT 2 OF 3)
God designed human sexuality. Like everything else God created, it was originally perfect and innocent. But after human fell into sin, sex became a source of confusion and perversion.
Continue reading WHY IS SEXUAL SIN SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE?
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)
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (2 TIMOTHY 3:10-17 “THE MAN OF GOD AND THE WORD OF GOD”)
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)
Isn’t it amazing how an entire life can change in a moment? That’s the way it happened for the unnamed woman we meet in John 4.
Continue reading WOMEN OF THE BIBLE (THE SAMARITAN WOMAN “MEETING THE THIRST QUENCHER”)
It’s hard to find nice things to say about the woman whose name has become synonymous for being shameless, brazen, and morally bankrupt.
Jezebel came from royalty-her father was Ethbaal, a Phoenician king. She also married into royalty-her husband, Ahab, was the king of the ten tribes that made up the northern kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 16:29-33),
Continue reading WOMAN OF THE DAY (JAZEBEL “HOW NOT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE”)