Ancient Words, Modern Message

Welcome to this edition of “Ancient Words, Modern Message.”  I’m your host Roger Wambold and today I invite you to settle in for the third of our “Bagel-side Chats” entitled “The Light of the World in the Festival of Lights.”   In the month of December nearly all of the 15.2 million Jewish people around the world will enjoy the festive holiday of Hanukkah, with all of its traditional features, but...

Shalom!   I’m your host Roger Wambold.   In a recent series of “Shmooze, News, and Views” sessions I presented six Bible studies on the life and reign of King Hezekiah as recorded in the Old Testament.  In view of current events unfolding in Israel and the Middle East, beginning on October 7, I believe that now, more than ever, we need to be reminded to look to God and His Word for solutions to si...

In this episode of “Ancient Words, Modern Message,” Roger Wambold shares thoughts from the heart and personal experience regarding the War in Israel.  He directs attention to the quest for real and lasting peace and how it can be achieved.  Join us and listen in to “Bagel-side Chat #2.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. A...

In one of the more difficult passages of Old Testament prophetic scripture to understand, Zechariah uses an easily understood metaphor to describe Israel’s past history and future destiny.  Within the passage are several very specific prophecies, one of which was precisely and amazingly  fulfilled in the betrayal of Jesus by Judas five hundred years later, and others which remain to unfold.   Join...

The old Gospel song written by Civil War Veteran Daniel Webster Whittle includes the line, “Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need: Mercy-drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.” Those lines express the idea that while we are experiencing God’s blessing now, there is an even greater blessing that could lie before us, that for which we plead. The Jewish people of Zechari...

The Jews who returned home from exile in Babylon in the sixth century B.C. faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives and their temple in Jerusalem, dealing with opposition from hostile neighbors and their own frailties.  Through His prophet God encouraged them with an amazing glimpse of what He would do for them in the future as a promise of His help in the present.  Join us for a study en...

Have you ever noticed how easily we can be distracted from pursuing that which is most important by the allure of that which is of secondary importance?  The Jewish people of the sixth century B.C. were released from exile in Babylon for the express purpose of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, but they were soon sidetracked and neglected that most important work, resulting in a lack of real fulf...

In this second in a series of studies from Zechariah seven through eleven entitled, “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” the Old Testament prophet declares God’s message regarding the future of the land of Israel and its largest city, Jerusalem, a future radically different from its past, a future which can only be brought about by an almighty God.  Join us in this study of “This Land is HIS Land!” ---...

In this latest episode of “Ancient Words, Modern Message” Roger Wambold introduces a new series of studies from the book of Zechariah entitled, “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” focusing on chapters seven through eleven of this amazing piece of Old Testament Literature.  Join us as we consider the prophet’s challenge to his fellow Jews and to us as, through him, God points to the serious results of...

This episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message is different from the previous episodes as Roger Wambold chats informally about the series and what to expect in future podcasts.  You might want to settle in with a bagel and cream-cheese as you listen to “Bagel-side Chat #1.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words,...

Anyone who has moved through these studies in the Old Testament book of Hosea would agree that the tone of the prophet’s message is overwhelmingly negative.  Thankfully, this last chapter of the book and this last study conclude with an overwhelmingly positive tone. Contained in the five stanzas of Hosea fourteen is advice not only to the Jews of the Northern Kingdom of Hosea’s day, but advice to...

In the 1994 blockbuster movie, Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, recalls what his “Mama always said, stupid is as stupid does!”   In this eleventh study in the book of Hosea, the prophet points to the stupid “does” of his people in the eighth century B.C. as he declares their stupid “is.” Nonetheless, God’s offer through his messenger is the promise that they could still “rise from the dust of de...

God is a God of grace and mercy, though His patience and long-suffering have a limit. The prophet Hosea’s message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the eighth century B.C. was one of impending judgment, but he calls them to repentance, reminding them that it is not too late to experience God’s forgiveness and blessing. In this tenth episode of our study of the Old Testament book of Hosea we are...

A Synopsis is a fancy word for a brief summary of a subject or a body of material.  In this ninth study in the book of Hosea we find a synopsis of this fascinating portion of Old Testament prophetic literature.  We also consider the very heart of Hosea’s message to his people and how similar that message would be if he were walking the streets of a U.S. city and addressing the American people toda...

The prophet Hosea made it clear to the Northern Kingdom of Israel that God really wanted to heal their land, but they were intent on persisting in their wicked ways.  And so, the immediate future was bleak as we will view in intricate detail in this eighth episode of “I Love You Truly:  Studies in the Book of Hosea.”  --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect epi...

All too often people think that going through the motions of religion is good enough, but what God really wants is those who will love Him and know Him in a personal way.  That’s the heart of the prophet Hosea’s message to Israel as we will see in this seventh episode of “I Love You Truly:  Studies in the Book of Hosea.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect...

Sometimes true love has to be tough love and sometimes the most loving thing to do is to turn away for a time.  So it is with God and Israel, but there will be a surprising outcome, all of which is powerfully displayed in this sixth episode of “I Love You Truly:  Studies in the Book of Hosea.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Mo...

Conditions in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the eighth century B.C. sound strangely like conditions in America today, as identified by the prophet Hosea.  The truth hurts, but it is absolutely necessary for improvement, as we will see in this fifth episode of “I Love You Truly:  Studies in the Book of Hosea.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes...

What happens when someone hits bottom as a result of poor choices and foolish behavior?  If that someone is truly loved by another, as the prophet Hosea loved his wife, and as God loves the Jewish people, there remains the prospect of brighter days, as we will see in this fourth episode of “I Love You Truly:  Studies in the Book of Hosea.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Messa...

While the prophet Hosea’s message to Israel was one of impending discipline and correction, it also offered the promise of restoration, reconciliation, and blessing in the future, the specifics of which we will consider together in this third episode of “I Love You Truly:  Studies in the Book of Hosea.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a m...

Hebrews 12:6 says, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves.”  Nowhere is this clearer than in God’s relationship with His chosen people Israel.  The ups and downs of that relationship are the subject of the prophet’s message to his people. Let’s consider it together in the second episode of “I Love You Truly;  Studies in the Book of Hosea.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern M...

The “matchmaker” (shadchan in Yiddish) has always played an important role in traditional observant Judaism, as heard in “Fiddler on the Roof,” but in the book of Hosea the matchmaker is none other than God who arranges a most unusual match for this Old Testament prophet.  We’ll learn about it together in this first episode of “I Love You Truly:  Studies in the Book of Hosea.” --- Thank you for li...

The past is a mirror. And the more we examine what came before us, the more we can understand where we are heading. This podcast is based on a series of Bible studies called Schmooze, News, and Views - where sections of old and new testament scripture are carefully examined. Hosted by Roger Wambold and released every other Monday. --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You c...