Was Hurricane Katrina really God’s judgment on New Orleans? How about the 1906 earthquake that devastated San Francisco—was that a judgment on the Barbary Coast? When tragedy strikes, people are quick to assign a moral cause. Luke 13:1-9 shows us pious judgments designed to explain away bad things. This reflex goes way back. We don’t know…
Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one…
King Solomon was rich, wise, and he had many wives (in that era this was another form of riches). His reign was successful and Solomon’s Temple is the temple that future generations aspired to re-create. So it would be natural to skim past the following verses, because this is when all of his kingly greatness…
If there’s a word with a bad rap, it’s the word repent. That word can conjure up images of an angry prophet-like, old man scowling and pointing at people while bellowing the word REPENT! Or maybe that’s just the imagery that comes up for me. The underlying concept of a change of heart is wrapped up…
