The Lampstand Magazine

Boaz and the Nearer Kinsman The following morning, Boaz went straightway to the gate of Bethlehem (Ruth 4:1). The gate was the most important place in a city (Deut 16:18; Josh 20:4; Job 29:7) and many people would pass through it each day. Boaz knew he was likely to see the nearer kinsman her...

Throughout our series we have highlighted the unique place of the book of Chronicles in Holy Writ. It is important to note that Ezra was not seeking to rewrite history or ignore the earlier record of the book of Kings; his purpose for writing was different. Under the Spirit’s guidance, he assemble...

Dear Brothers and Sisters Earlier this year, my wife and I were travelling in the remote and rugged far north of Western Australia. We enjoy exploring out-of-the-way areas, where there are fewer people and wide, open spaces. On this particular day, we turned off the main highway onto a less trave...

In the first part of this editorial, we had a glimpse of this remarkable man, Apollos, together with his interesting background. We saw that the record was drawing a parallel between John the Baptist’s work in Judea and the work of his 12 disciples in Ephesus. The fact that we find discipl...

Mark’s style and diction Mark writes to impress upon his readers the rapid, ceaseless energy of the Servant. One can almost feel exhausted after reading Mark, so quickly does the action seem to occur. As one writer said: “It is sometimes said of a story that “it marches”, but Mark’s ...

Job 37:10 “By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the water is straitened.” To set the scene before reading this article, you might like to get a cold drink and add some ice cubes. The NKJV translation of Job 37:10, quoted above, is a bit easier to understand: “By the breat...

Song four—14:1-5 The saints are now portrayed standing on Mount Zion. The throne of David in Zion has been established and the command for nations to submit is about to be issued (v6-7).  In this song there is a focus on the attributes and the qualities of character found in this select...

Have you ever noticed the unusual way the Truth came to Ephesus? Firstly, Luke describes Paul’s initial encounter with the city as a short stopover visit on his way from Corinth to Antioch (Acts 18:18-21). Whilst he reasoned with the Jews briefly in the synagogue there, there is no record of an...

The deep ocean is widely considered the ‘final frontier’ for human exploration on earth. Despite covering over 70% of the planet’s surface, more than 80% of the ocean remains entirely unmapped and unseen by humans. The deep sea, in particular, is a vast, largely unknown expanse, potentially ho...

Introduction “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God…” Thus, Mark commences writing his account of the life of the Lord. “The Son of God” is a title which will shape the narrative which follows. In the first chapter, we see the One over whom the heavens were re...

Iran’s Revolution woes On 28 December 2025, protests erupted in Tehran, Iran’s capital city. They followed a year of economic freefall and spiralling devaluation of the rial, Iran’s currency, which had lost more than 40% of its value since Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran in June 20...

Keen Bible readers and students give close attention to the text of Scripture. They know that as God’s inspired Word it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”. God...

Psalm 8:3 asks us to consider the heavens: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained”. If you’ve got a pair of gloves available, you might like to grab hold of these before reading this article. In P...

“Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and the honour of my majesty?” This arrogant remark brought Nebuchadnezzar to his knees and his great Babylon has since become a heap of ruins. Today we live in a bustling world bent on the pur...

In Ezekiel Of all the biblical accounts of the cherubim, Ezekiel’s visions give us the richest picture of their appearance and activity. The prophecy opens with a vision of the cherubim that was so awesome it caused Ezekiel to fall upon his face. What was it that Ezekiel saw and what did it sig...

The law of servitude release  Let’s examine another dimension of release in Deuteronomy 15:12-18, one operating on individual rather than national timing. Unlike the sabbatical debt release, this freedom-giving operated seven years from when service began: “If your brother, a Hebrew man ...

Naomi’s Plan for Redemption Things are now turning positive for Ruth. It required faith and commitment to leave Moab, dedicating herself to Israel’s hope, and labouring to glean barley in strenuous conditions, but ultimately, this wonderful faith was rewarded as Boaz’s grace extended toward...

Sometimes the Scriptures instruct us powerfully by a negative example, just as they do by a positive one. Truly, the “righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked, for God overthroweth them” (Prov 21:12). This is particularly true of the Chronicler’s presentation of the early histo...

We can’t overestimate the relevance of the last book of the Bible, the Apocalypse, or the ‘unfolding’ or the ‘revealing’. In 1:1 we learn that it is a book uniquely written for God’s servants—those who know and understand the One True Gospel. It was not written for the biblically uninf...

The temple of Diana of the Ephesians was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was the largest building in the Greek world, supported by 127 striking columns, surpassing even the Athenian Parthenon, and was the first monumental structure built entirely of marble. It is not surprising ...

During October 2025, world attention again was focused on Israel as the geopolitical landscape saw a flurry of activity in the Middle East, with US President Donald Trump brokering a peace deal between Israel and Gaza. This agreement garnered international attention and sparked both optimism and sce...

In the Tabernacle and Temple (cont’d) The faces of the cherubim Having considered the relationship between the cherubim, the mercy seat and the ark, we now turn our attention to the most captivating feature of the cherubim—their faces (Exod 25:20). In Exodus we’re not given any details o...

A New Worship Christ instituted the memorials of the New Covenant during the Passover meal in the upper room (Luke 22:15-20). He replaced the Old Covenant offerings and feast days with a simplified system of worship. This change was practical, for the gospel would be preached throughout the ...

“It hath fully been shewed me” Having been informed of Ruth’s impressive application to gleaning, Boaz finally meets her in Ruth 2:8. The fact he addresses her as “my daughter” indicates a generational age gap; Naomi also calls Ruth “my daughter” in Ruth 2:2. It is therefore likely ...

On 22 different occasions in the book of Deuteronomy, it is recorded that Yahweh would choose out a place in which to put His name. The identity of this location would be made clear once Israel had conquered its enemies and was at rest in the land (Deut 12:9-10).  Year after year p...