Peter J. Leithart

Giffiths speaks of the “complex admixture of regret and lament for unworthiness . . . and delight in lovability” that marks human love, and adds: “The presence of the one without the other makes it impossible to receive the offer of love and therefore impossible to be a beloved. . . . . Continue Reading »

Some profound meditations about sex, time, life, the universe and everything from Paul Griffiths’s Song of Songs (Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible) : The first six verses of the Song “point the hearer first to what everyone knows about [human love and sexual desire], which is . . . . Continue Reading »

“Bowl” ( phiale ) is used twelve times in the New Testament, all in Revelation. This is obviously the number of Israel. Israel’s twelve tribes are the twelve golden vessels of God, molded by God, fired in the furnace of affliction, shined up for service in God’s house. Once . . . . Continue Reading »

John sees the Lamb “in the midst of the throne” (Revelation 5:6), precisely where he had seen the living creatures (4:6). Before the Lamb’s arrival, the four creatures make up the seat of the throne – they are in its midst; and they are also surrounding the throne, forming . . . . Continue Reading »

The Lamb is as if slain, but stands in heaven (Revelation 5:6). That might appear odd, John knows his sacrificial system. This is precisely what happened to all lambs that were slain on Israel’s altars. The sacrificial procedure was not completed when the Lamb was killed. The Lamb was killed, . . . . Continue Reading »

At the climax of Isaiah 33, the prophet envisions a restored and secure Zion, its regular feasts back in place and Yahweh (or His Davidic Son) reigning in beauty. But the image of restoration is not taken from the glory-days of Solomon. Jerusalem will be undisturbed, but not because its walls are . . . . Continue Reading »

Tinker, tailor, spy. Yahweh is declared to be Israel’s Judge, Lawgiver, and King in Isaiah 33:22. As Thomas Leclerc ( Yahweh Is Exalted in Justice ) points out, Yahweh is assuming responsibility for the failures of Judah’s leaders. Judges take bribes and ignore the pleas of the weak . . . . Continue Reading »

Isaiah 33 is arranged into two fairly neat chiasms. The first goes from verses 1-13: A. Woe to the destroyer, v. 1 B. Prayer for mercy in time of distress, vv. 2-3 C. Yahweh exalted, vv. 5-6 B’. Land laments, vv 7-9 A’/C’. Yahweh arises, is exalted, lifts Himself, and lets distant . . . . Continue Reading »

Only twice in Scripture are the words “treasure,” “wisdom” and “knowledge” used together. In Isaiah 33:6, Yahweh promises that after He destroys the Assyrian destroyers, He will fill Zion with justice and will open the fourfold treasure of wisdom - salvation, . . . . Continue Reading »

I flew into Toronto recently on a smallish regional plane from Chicago. It was a wild landing, the plane flopping this way and that in a strong wind. At times, we seemed certain to land wing-first, not the kind of landing one dreams of. Even after we landed, we could feel the wind pushing the plane . . . . Continue Reading »