INTRODUCTION Isaiah’s oracle concerning the “valley of vision” focuses on Jerusalem (vv. 9-10) and specifically on the house of David (vv. 15-25). Though the city is full of confidence, Isaiah sees disaster looming. Like Babylon in the previous oracle, Jerusalem is unprepared to . . . . Continue Reading »
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power,” sing the twenty-four elders and four living creatures in the heavenly throne room (Revelation 4:11). The reason the Lord is worthy of glory, honor, and power is that He created all things (a chiastic clause: . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 21:14: Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, meet the fugitive with bread. The final oracle in Isaiah 21 concerns Arabia. An unnamed enemy has attacked, and Arabs are in flight, chased by swords, drawn swords, bent bows, weighed down with the weight of battle. . . . . Continue Reading »
In today’s sermon text, Isaiah delivers a cryptic oracle to Edom, the sons of Esau and inhabitants of Mount Seir. But Edom is not called Edom. It is called “Dumah,” a pun on Edom that means “silence.” That pun summarizes the oracle. A voice asks a night watchman the . . . . Continue Reading »
Mann again. He points out that US aid is not typically spent for development purposes but for strategic purposes. Hence, a good deal of it goes to a small number of countries in the Middle East: “A third goes to one of the 20 riches countries in the world - Israel. A fifth goes to Egypt, . . . . Continue Reading »
In his 2005 Incoherent Empire , UCLA sociology Michael Mann notes that US tariffs are on average only 4%, “low by historic standards.” But a closer look shows that this openness to foreign goods is selective, and allied to a form of protectionism-by-subsidy. Mann observes that . . . . Continue Reading »
When saints first appear in heaven, they are beneath the altar (Revelation 6:9-11). The great multitude that is caught up to heaven “stands” around the throne (7:11). They have moved up, from a place beneath the altar to a place before the throne. But that is not the end of their . . . . Continue Reading »
The list “lightning, sounds, thunder” frames the “seal” section of Revelation, occurring in both 4:5 and in 8:5. Plus, there is a reference to fire in both 4:5 and 8:5. Though the phrase is repeated here, there is also a progression. In 4:5, the lightning, voices, and . . . . Continue Reading »
The Bible’s first kiss occurs when disguised Jacob receives a blessing from his father Isaac. Isaac is suspicious, and wants Jacob to come closer so he asks for a kiss (27:26-27). From that point on, the book of Genesis uses the word “kiss” about ten times. Men kiss men (Genesis . . . . Continue Reading »
Jesus promises the saints at Sardis white garments (Revelation 3:4), and also puts white garments on sale at Laodicea (3:18). But how does one overcome so as to receive the white robe? Revelation 4-7 (the seal section) tells us. The section opens with John’s ascent into heaven to see . . . . Continue Reading »
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