Recent content by Deacon

I can't say I've ever fully appreciated drums in church until recently. During the service, the drummer and his family sits right in front of me, in the 4th row of chairs in church, nice guy. Last week we sang a particularly lively song and when he returned to his seat, I commented to him that...

There are many quotes and allusions of the Hebrew Scriptures in the NT writings, and very few transliterations within those. A transliteration pushes the problem of how to interpret a problem passage on to those who are less knowledgable about the original language. IMO, I think it's a good...

It takes us back to the saying, "Translator, Traitor." The NET Bible's footnotes helps to clarify how and why the translators make their decisions. Modern versions often provide footnotes without such extensive explanations. Example: (ESV 2025) Genesis 2:19 Now out of the ground the Lord God...

The Hebrew word, יָצַר (yāṣar) is used multiple times in the pericope, with the general meaning to shape, form, or create. (VanGemeren, Willem, ed. 1997. In New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 2:503). The translation difference between “formed” and “had formed”...

The despairing cries in Psalm 88 are answered in the next Psalm: From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have...

In the OT, slavery was an accepted part of ancient society, even within the Israelite community. There are many notorious slavery texts that illustrate how the ancient Israelites could treat their slaves. 1. Human beings are property (Exod. 12:44; 21:20–21, 32; Lev. 22:11). 2. Foreign slaves...

God cares for us, but his focus is not on our own personal comforts. I see a priority of prayer requests in the New Testament; the priority revolves about God's plans, not our desires for ease and comfort. I've been in prayer groups where a person spends more time telling us their prayer needs...

I remember a sermon in the distant past that emphasized that we should pray specifically, "God, this is exactly what I want, and how you should do it...." I don't observe that in the prayers of Scripture. James 5 mentions certain ways to pray for healing for the sick. Prayers for healing in...

So I've recently been researching a theological topic associated with my study of the book of Joshua. My habit is to do some primary research, type up an outline, then run it through an AI site looking for areas I may have missed. The results I got provided additional areas for me to research...

Where's heaven? Heaven is "up." He's looking for latitude, longitude and altitude. We're getting attitude. Personally I don't think the first thing I'll get when I die is a map with directions to heaven. Heaven is where God dwells... believers will dwell with him. It's where you store your...

In Numbers 14:19–20 — Israel rebelled after hearing the negative report of the spies. Moses intercedes: “Please pardon the iniquity of this people…” (v. 19 ESV) The Lord responds: “I have pardoned, according to your word.” (v. 20) God appears to be changing his mind as a response to Moses’...

I'm working my way through the book of Joshua. Joshua 10:12–14 (ESV 2025) At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 And...

Adding to the confusion.... Exodus 33:1–3 (ESV 2025) The LORD said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’ 2 I will send an...

Well sort of…the Septuagint identifies the being as an “archistratēgos“ a commander-in-chief or an archangel. Then putting pieces together, (the multiple Moses/Joshua parallels), means this was either a divine messenger or the LORD himself. Rob

There is a reason why Michael might be associated with our LORD (not saying I agree with it though!) A passage in Joshua 5:13-15 fits into this discussion. In Joshua, chapter 5, where Joshua is about to begin the battle of Jericho, he confronts an angelic Commander/Prince/Leader. >Joshua...