Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 5 As Isaiah continues talking about the government of Jesus in Isaiah 9, he gives us more descriptions of the messiah. Consider his famous words in Isaiah, 9, verse 6: “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These royal titles showContinue reading “The Messiah’s peaceable kingdom”
Tag Archives: justice
Bringing joy to the oppressed
Advent 2025, Week 2: Isaiah 9, Part 3 This second week of Advent 2025, we’re studying Isaiah 9. In the previous two posts here and here, we’ve learned that the prophecy sees a light breaking into the darkness of war-torn northern Israel. A new hope of peace has dawned. No surprise, then, how the prophecyContinue reading “Bringing joy to the oppressed”
How to be an encourager – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 3
Editor’s Note: I once again welcome Molly Stouffer as guest blogger. Molly is from Hagerstown, MD, studying Pastoral Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. It can be easy to encourage someone who’s got it all going well. But what do we do when someone comes to us after they lose a job? Their relationship ends? AContinue reading “How to be an encourager – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 3”
What to do when life feels hopeless – Advent Hope, Part 4
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 30 years who now works in international fair trade. My favorite Old Testament minor prophet is Habakkuk. Habakkuk had a message of hope from God for people, but Habakkuk’s message doesn’t start out very hopeful. Here’s how Habakkuk begins,Continue reading “What to do when life feels hopeless – Advent Hope, Part 4”
Do not give up on your dreams – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 5
Kim Hale is a dancer whose dream is to dance on Broadway. But in her 20s and 30s, it didn’t happen for her. So she moved to California, and eventually became a dance teacher. A one point she stop dancing, and her dream faded away. Before I tell you what happened to her and howContinue reading “Do not give up on your dreams – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 5”
A shocking reason for famine in Israel (and an equally shocking solution) – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 4
Famine is awful. I’m from the northeastern USA, so I know nothing of famine. In fact, weather reporters in my region regularly report on how much rain we’ve gotten in a given month or year, and many times they will say we are in a drought when our rainfall total is simply below average. InContinue reading “A shocking reason for famine in Israel (and an equally shocking solution) – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 4”
Leadership that does what is just and right – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 2
Ancient Israel was a theocracy. A theocracy is a nation that is organized around a religious system. For Israel, God was their true king, and his law was the law of the land. God was the true Shepherd of the people. David was only an undershepherd. Great Britain had some similarities to theocracy. The KingContinue reading “Leadership that does what is just and right – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Part 2”
Human approaches to justice are often convoluted, but what about God’s approach? – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Preview
I am an adjunct professor, and in class recently I did something that the students were not prepared for. I raised my hand. Let me explain. I am teaching the Gospels, and one of the projects the students do is a group presentation on a section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Each week aContinue reading “Human approaches to justice are often convoluted, but what about God’s approach? – 2 Samuel 8, 10, 21, Preview”
Are you a typical human who doesn’t see the truth about yourself? – 2 Samuel 11—12, Part 4
Editor’s Note: This week we welcome guest blogger, Emily Marks. Emily is an adult and community educator. She and her husband Sean live in Lancaster, PA, with their dog Corvus. I learned so much from her sermon on 2 Samuel 11-12! I’m excited for you to read these blog posts. David has a big responsibilityContinue reading “Are you a typical human who doesn’t see the truth about yourself? – 2 Samuel 11—12, Part 4”
Can we learn anything from the story of David letting a murderer go free? – 2 Samuel 2:9—3:39, Part 4
Civil war has torn Israel apart. David is king of the tribe of Judah. Ish-Bosheth is king of the other eleven tribes of Israel. It is one versus eleven. Though David’s side is only one tribe, they are beating the other eleven. To make matters worse for the eleven tribes, their king, Ish-Bosheth, makes aContinue reading “Can we learn anything from the story of David letting a murderer go free? – 2 Samuel 2:9—3:39, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 