Paul tells Timothy that all Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Though we are reluctant to contradict an apostle, it may seem that Paul has overstated his case. All Scripture? Are the lists of names in the first nine chapters of Chronicles really ?useful for training in righteousness?E Is it really true that the dimensions of the temple are... Read more
Today, you are entering into the covenant of Christian marriage. David, you?re swearing in God?s name that you will love Alisha as Jesus loves the church and gave Himself for her. You are promising with an oath to give your life for her sake. Alisha, you are swearing in the name of God to submit to David joyfully, and in love and fear, obeying him as the church submits to Christ and obeys Him. You are becoming one flesh, and... Read more
A few thoughts on baptism inspired by reading a dozen student papers on the water symbolism of Exodus: 1) Several students pointed out that Moses was “baptized” as an infant. I’d never thought of it that way, but it works from various directions. Moses’ water-salvation is linked to the flood by the fact that Moses is put into an “ark” that is covered with pitch and tar (like Noah’s ark); and the flood is a baptism. Moses’ water-salvation is also... Read more
In the spirit of shameless self-promotion ?Eand what drives web sites like this except shameless self-promotion? ?EI am happy to announce that my book on Jane Austen, Miniatures and Morals , is now available from Canon Press. For those who don’t particularly like Austen, remember this: Every book you buy puts food in the mouth of a small child. Read more
The following suggestion is inspired by the renowned scholar Josh Davis: The “wheeled stands” made by Hiram for Solomon’s temple form a gauntlet of water stretching to the east of the temple. A worshiper approaching the temple passes through the water, reliving the experience of the exodus. Inside the temple, Solomon placed 10 lampstands of gold, which are also arranged in two rows of five. A priest approaching the Debir (Most Holy Place) passes between the rows of burning golden... Read more
In his excellent and stimulating book, The Intellectual Origins of the European Reformation , Alister McGrath includes a chapter on early Reformation hermeneutics, and its relation to the medieval quadriga. He also notes the close connection between the developments in hermeneutics and the Reformation treatment of justification. A couple of quotations and then some commentary follow: ?E . . an important difference between Luther on the one hand, and Erasmus and Bucer on the other, must be noted. For Erasmus,... Read more
And he made the cast-metal sea Ten in cubit from from its lip until its lip Round all around And five in cubit its height And a cord thirty in cubit Surrounded it all around. Now gourds from below to its lip all around surrounding it Ten in cubit caused-to-go-round the sea all around Two rows the cast-metal gourds in its casting. Standing on two and ten herd-animals Three faces north And three faces west And three faces south And... Read more
It is a curious fact that one of the Hebrew words for “cup” is the same as the word for “threshold” (SAF). This could be pure coincidence, but I wonder. Cups function as temple instruments in Ex 12:22; 1 Ki 7:50; Jer 52:19. And there are “guardians of the threshold” among the temple personnel – 2 Kings 25:18; 1 Chr 9:19, 22; 23:4. In Esther 2:21, there is a reference to the threshold-guardian of Ahasuerus’ palace, but that could, I... Read more
1 Kings 7:46-47 inform us that the casting for the bronze furnishings and tools of the temple worship was done in the “plain of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan.” There are a few noteworthy details in these verses: 1) In verse 46 Solomon suddenly takes over as the craftsman of the story. The craftsman between vv 14-45 is Hiram (mentioned explicitly in v 40), but v 46 treats Solomon as the one doing the bronze work. 2) Succoth and... Read more
Waterworks, 1 Kings 7:23-51 INTRODUCTION In the tabernacle courtyard, there was a laver that contained water for washing. We are not told its dimensions, and no particular emphasis is put on it (Exodus 30:17-21; cf. 38:8). Water is much more abundant in the temple. Not only is there a very large bronze sea, there are ten water ?chariots?Ealong the pathway leading to the temple. The tabernacle is a small oasis in the desert; the temple is a well-water garden. THE... Read more
Leithart
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In