Gems from the Old Testament – Lutheran Spokesman

GOAT. Most sports fans recognize this as an acronym for the “greatest of all time.” Is Tom Brady the greatest quarterback of all time, or is someone else? Is Michael Jordan the greatest basketball player or someone else? The debate can be never-ending. Who is the greatest king of all time? Is it Alexander the… 

“Then the Israelite overseers came and cried out to Pharaoh, ‘Why are you doing this to your servants? No straw is given to your servants, yet they tell us, “Make bricks!” Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.'” (Exodus 5:15-16 EHV) Nostalgia is a very powerful influence these… 

(Read Exodus 35-36) Roy was the envy of little boys. He was a long-time member of his Lutheran church. Earlier in life, Roy had served as a soldier in Germany after World War II. Now retired, he drove a pickup truck with all sorts of tools in the back. When something broke at church or… 

Judges Chapter 19 has been described as the most disturbing chapter in the Bible. God included it for a reason. Can we figure out why? As difficult as it may be, let’s hear the details. A Levite (a religious leader) from Ephraim married a concubine (a secondary wife) from Bethlehem. She was unfaithful to him… 

One of the recurring themes of the Old Testament is “mercy in the midst of judgment.” At the very beginning, when Adam sinned and brought judgment on the whole human race, mercy was promised through the Seed of the woman. This theme continued during the period of the judges. When God’s people would sin grievously… 

Many people value name recognition. Corporations pay millions of dollars to put their name on sports stadiums. Basketball players “pop” their jersey or point to the last name on the back of their jersey after making a great play. Kings build grand memorials in hopes that generations to come will remember them. Man wants to… 

Have you heard of Rizpah? It would not surprise me if you haven’t. She is mentioned on only two occasions in Scripture. Not a single word is attributed to her, only actions. She was a concubine of King Saul (2 Samuel 3) and was likely also used as one by Saul’s general, Abner, after Saul’s…