Category: Bible (Page 364 of 419)

Paul preached his most famous sermon in Athens, to a leading group of philosophers and thinkers. The group spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.

Paul knew the scriptures up and down. He usually preached to Jewish listeners and Gentile converts to Judaism. To these audiences Paul reasoned from the scriptures, their trusted texts. Notice the Bereans, who examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

But not the Athenians. They worshipped a host of other gods and followed a variety of pagan philosophies. The religion of the Jews didn’t amount to much in their minds, so Paul set his normal scriptural arguments aside.

Paul quoted Epimenides and Aratus, two philosophers recognized in Athens. Their writings helped him bridge between the emerging faith in Jesus and the tired worship habits of the Greeks. It worked – although some scoffed, others became followers of Paul and believed.

I’m curious – how Paul came across the writings of these philosophers? Texts in that day were limited (plus no free shipping). Paul worked to read and understand the thinkers of the world around him. It took effort to even get a look at the writings of others, let alone think through their philosophies and understand their ideas.

Paul masterfully demonstrated the wisdom of reading broadly. Through his consideration of their view of the world, Paul helped these Greeks understand that they were closer to the true God than they realized. People responded gratefully. I benefit from the same practice.

And that’s all excuse I need to buy a book today.

Acts 17 in week eighteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Kyle Glenn

David and his four hundred men descended like a swarm while Nabal, whose name meant fool, partied in ignorance. Nabal earlier rebuffed David’s messengers when they asked for provisions, after a long winter of protecting Nabal’s herds and showing kindness to Nabal’s employees. Nabal’s hateful stinginess promised the destruction of him and his people.

But before the riot kicked off Abigail, the wife of Nabal, intervened. Carrying loads of food, she met David and his men on the trail. She begged forgiveness and complimented David.

I read and listen to great speeches sometimes. I’m interested in how others use words. I’m impressed by phrases that make a point or turn an argument.

Abigail considered her audience. She told David, the lives of your enemies God will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. Abigail cleverly referenced David’s victory over Goliath as she pleaded with him to avoid senseless bloodshed.

Not many wiser speeches exist in scripture. Abigail averted a disaster, and impressed David so much that he married Abigail after the death of her husband.

Zillions of words fly around in our day, yet so few of them settle as wise. I pray for more of Abigail’s spirit as I write and talk and interact with others.

1 Samuel 25 in week eighteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

Read more about Abigail in Seers, Sayer, Schemers & Saints

Photo by Jessica Da Rosa

Saul entered the cave looking for a private place to relieve himself. He would have soiled his britches if he knew that the men he pursued were hidden in the far recesses of the same cave, his latrine now a trap.

While he did his business, David crept forward and cut off a corner of his robe. After leaving the cave, Saul heard the voice of the man he hated over his shoulder. My Lord the King! The Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave…but I spared you!

Overwhelmed, Saul wept and commended David, then left him alone. At least for the moment. Before long, Saul chased David through the wilderness again.

In that cave, with a sharp knife in hand, hardened men at his left and right, his pursuer vulnerable before him, David showed Saul mercy. He did so trusting the Lord, with the hope that the Lord would decide between them. Only God possessed the right to judgement in this case, not David or Saul.

I think about this through the eyes of Saul. Realizing David spared his life, Saul changed his perspective. Truth broke through, and Saul saw David clearly for an instant. But over the next few weeks, this insight faded. Saul saddled up once again to pursue and kill the outlawed hero.

While I like to see myself as David in this story, a man of integrity and mercy, I have an uneasy sense that I’m often more like Saul.

I wonder – where have I received mercy, only to let my gratitude seep away?

Photo by Ksenia Kudelkina

1 Samuel 24 in week eighteen of reading the Bible cover to cover

When my wife and I named our children, we thought long and hard about each name, and held long discussions over our options. Do we choose a popular name, or a name from an older generation? Should we name this child after a family member? A close friend? A famous person from history? Will a cute name for a child serve them later as an adult?

We considered names found in the Bible. As Christians, it felt important to reflect our faith through names for our children. Not every believer feels this way, but that stood out to us. All to say, we spent a lot of time on the names for each of our children. Every parent I know does the same.

Which is why the name Baal jumped out when I read the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 5 (see verse 5). I usually skim through the lists of names in the Bible (the begats – those dusty passages filled with odd names no one chooses for a child anymore).

I paused when I realized Baal was a local deity. Reaiah (the list names him as the father) and his wife choose to name their firstborn son after a god they were forbidden to worship.

These parents lived in peace and prosperity, enjoying milk and honey poured out from the Lord’s hand. Then they went and named their child after the devil.

The generation that followed reaped the harvest for such blatant disregard for the Lord; They were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of the king of Assyria…who took them into exile (I Chronicles 5:25-26).

The naming of children reveals a great deal about a society. Here it shows Israel’s collapse, evidenced by no longer honoring the Lord, but rather naming their precious children after a cancerous distortion.

Sobering thoughts from a dusty list of old names.

1 Chronicles 5 in week eighteen in reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Ben Wicks