Is Esther an Advent Story?
An ancient empire oppressing the Jews, a young virgin, a descendant of Israel’s kings, a murder that didn’t quite take, a permanent yearly celebration of life… is Esther an Advent story?
Two New Ways To Read Psalm 136
Looking at familiar Scripture in new ways can help us see what it’s all about. Psalm 136 is famously repetitive, but don’t let “repetitive” become “boring.”
Moses’s Missing Math
The Israelites were famously bad at math, but here’s an instance where they relied on a technique that wouldn’t even be invented for another 3,000 years.
What If Malachi Was Wrong?
Malachi 4:5 seems impossible, or at best a contradiction. What happens when Jesus’s disciples finally get up the courage to ask about it?
9 Spectacular Place Name Puns in Micah 1
Who doesn’t love Hebrew puns foretelling destruction?
41 Miracles You Didn’t Know Existed
Hidden glory in “the boring part” of Numbers 33.
Motl, Tzeitl, and Moses
Learning about Mosaic law from Fiddler on the Roof.
Esther By the Numbers
The author of Esther embedded significant hidden structure in numbers. I can’t promise there will be no math.
Faith Rewarded: Caleb and Joshua, Five Hundred Years Later
God is always playing the long game. Here’s an example that takes five hundred years to play out.
Why is Esther in the Bible? Part 2: Rescue, Remnant, Rest
Esther revisits these three titanic themes from the history of Israel all in one book.
An Incomplete List of Things Over Which the Bible Says God Has Sovereignty
God’s sovereignty is infinite, unquestioned, unknowable… but let’s try to make a list anyway.
Why Is Esther in the Bible?
Of all the women in Scripture, only Esther and Ruth get their own books. For Esther, here’s one important reason why—and it has nothing to do with her.
One King, Two Queens, and a Three-Cornered Hat
Who knew a hat could be so delicious?
Everywhere and Nowhere: The Story of the Amalekites
Amalek somehow joins forces with all of Israel’s enemies but leaves no historical record.
Noah’s Numbers: Timeline of the Flood
Rigorously parsing the account of the flood in Genesis 7 and 8.
Sitting In the Shadows of History: The Story of the Ammonites
The Moabites get all the press, but the Ammonites were there the whole time.
Moab, Immigration, and Empathy
Foreign nations and the Fourth of July.
From Sodom and Gomorrah to Jesus: The Story of the Moabites
A centuries-long story of firebombing, attempted rape, war, incest, idolatry, prophecy, assassination, child sacrifice, archaeology, familial loyalty, and, um, a talking donkey. And it all ends in Jesus.
Who Was Jehoshaphat Anyway?
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about King Jehoshaphat’s Prayer, but we haven’t really asked who he is until now.
King Jehoshaphat’s Prayer: A Scriptural Response to Fear
In the spring of 2020, the world changed. The coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic bringing with it panic, overwhelm, and fear. Fight back with an ancient prayer.
15 Reasons to Use a Physical Bible Instead of a Digital Bible
Physical Bible vs. digital Bible: Should you use your phone’s Bible app? Here are fifteen reasons to stick with a paper version.
15 Reasons to Use a Digital Bible Instead of a Physical Bible
Digital Bible vs. physical Bible: Digital Bibles cost less, weigh less, and fit in your pocket. Here are fifteen reasons to keep—or switch to—a Bible app.
The Other Number of the Beast
The most famous number in the Bible may not be what you think it is.
Revelation by the Numbers: 1,600+
John’s vision of the end of the world involves an awful lot of math. Putting some structure on all those numbers will help you make sense of it all. (Part 5)
Revelation by the Numbers: 30–1,260
John’s vision of the end of the world involves an awful lot of math. Putting some structure on all those numbers will help you make sense of it all. (Part 4)
How Many Tribes of Israel Are There?
Jacob had twelve sons, but the number of tribes of Israel is much harder to pin down. This handy chart shows you every time it changes.
Revelation by the Numbers: 5–24
John’s vision of the end of the world involves an awful lot of math. Putting some structure on all those numbers will help you make sense of it all. (Part 3)
Revelation by the Numbers: 2–4
John’s vision of the end of the world involves an awful lot of math. Putting some structure on all those numbers will help you make sense of it all. (Part 2)
Revelation by the Numbers: 0–1
John’s vision of the end of the world involves an awful lot of math. Putting some structure on all those numbers will help you make sense of it all. (Part 1)
Understanding the Sevens in Revelation
If you’ve ever wondered why Revelation has 7 of everything, this article will help. (Warning: there’s a little bit of math.)
The Biblical Case for New Year’s Resolutions
Now that resolution fever has settled down, let’s take a hard, serious, Biblical look at New Year’s resolutions.
The Seventh Sunday of Advent
Jesus tells us how to avoid losing the preparation of Advent and the hope of Christmas in the messiness of January. And February. And March…
Four Hymns of Christmas: Nunc Dimittis
Simeon sings the Nunc Dimittis, the fourth and final song of Advent, a joyous farewell after a lifetime of waiting for the Savior of Israel, Jesus the Christ.
Four Hymns of Christmas: Gloria In Excelsis Deo
Angels sing the Gloria In Excelsis Deo, the third hymn of Christmas, to shepherds near Bethlehem. A glorious response to the announcement of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Four Hymns of Christmas: Benedictus
Zechariah sings the Benedictus, the second hymn of Christmas. His first words after nine months of silence are, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel.”
Four Hymns of Christmas: Magnificat
Mary sings the Magnificat, the first hymn of Christmas, an amazing display of hope and humility, along with a fair bit of knowledge.
Like Lightning From Heaven
You’re part of the invasion force of Heaven, and every work you do for the Kingdom of God is part of the assured fall of Satan at the word of Jesus.
Praise the Name
Sometimes I forget that God has a name. This psalmist is happy to remind me, over and over again.
It Happened In the Spring
Why does the author of Chronicles leave out the story of David and Bathsheba? That seems like a major oversight.
Raise Sounds of Joy
The mountaintop is waiting.
She Was Not Hidden
A lived example of Jesus’s proclamation about not hiding a lamp—or a woman—under a basket.
Being Renewed In Knowledge
Matching the cycle of forgiveness with the cycle of sanctification.
Take Care Then How You Hear
The economy of God is not based on fairness, but on gifts and obedience.
The Duty of Watching
Bringing the men who guard the gates of the tabernacle into the modern church.
It Is In Vain That You Rise Up Early
When the psalms appear to disagree with Jesus’s lifestyle, we need to take a second look.
Bear Fruit With Patience
What do Pulp Fiction and J.G. Wentworth have to do with the parable of the sower?
She Loved Much
Exploring the relationship of sin, repentance, and forgiveness with the help of a Pharisee and a prostitute.
All the People Heard This
How do we make sure we encounter God in the Bible, and not just a mirror of ourselves?
NaVerNoWriMo
In which I challenge myself to participate in NaNoWriMo here at VerseNotes by writing every day for the month of November.
About Three Months
Three months? Mary stayed with Elizabeth for a long time! Think with me for a few minutes about that visit.
Six Views of God
Close your eyes. Imagine God. What image appears? How does this image of God impact your prayers? your worship? your witness?
The Boy Jesus
How did Luke hear the story of Jesus staying behind in the Temple as a little boy?
Read Your Bible Sideways
I do my daily devotionals on my phone pretty much all the time. Unfortunately, my phone is pretty dumb. Let’s make it a bit smarter.
Nothing Left Over
Paul reaches back into history and into Scripture to write an old law in a new way for the Corinthians.
Read Your Bible Out Loud
Have you ever been reading a book, and suddenly looked up and realized you have no idea what you just read? Here’s what to do about it.
More Some, Some More
All the details about graded numerical sequences that didn’t fit in the last post.
Some, Some More
This little Hebrew idiom never fails to bring me joy when I encounter it.
How to Read the Bible
Part 3 of how to start reading the Bible. In which we actually start reading the Bible.
Understanding the I.O.U.S. Prayer
Part 2 of how to start reading the Bible. What is the I.O.U.S. prayer, and why should you pray it before opening your Bible?
Rethinking Bible Reading
The best way to start reading the Bible is probably not what you think it is.
Delight in Every Verse of the Word Of God
Welcome to VerseNotes!