Reformed Thinking

Deep Dive into The Biblical Expositor, Volume 2: Job–Malachi by R. Laird Harris - Psalms Introduction The Psalter, or Book of Psalms, is structured into five distinct books, each concluding with a doxology. While the specific arrangement of individual psalms may have been influenced by musical considerations, the collection is primarily studied through classification by subject matter. Key categor...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 26 Psalm 26, a work of David enduring reproach, is interpreted as an encouraging example of carrying slander to the throne of grace. It is an appeal to God, the supreme Judge, based on the testimony of a good conscience regarding his upright walk, avoidance of evil counsel, and dedication to holiness. Facing false charges, David bold...

Deep Dive into Luther’s Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther - Galatians 3 The Apostle Paul sharply reproves the Galatians, calling them foolish and "bewitched," not out of spite but with fatherly affection and Christian zeal, for departing from the truth of the Gospel after having received it with fervor. This strong language is permissible for a minister because the anger stems fro...

Deep Dive into The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments by Thomas R. Schreiner - Job The comprehensive biblical narrative spans from the initial creation mandate given to Adam and Eve, their subsequent sin, and God's promise of ultimate victory over the serpent through the woman's offspring. This promise drives the history of Israel, beginning with Abraham...

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - We Have Cause to Be Uneasy The author opens by acknowledging that the conclusion of the previous discussion—that a power or "Somebody" beyond the material universe is influencing us through the Moral Law—might lead some readers to feel annoyed, thinking they have been led into a predictable religious sermon. The author counters this skept...

Deep Dive into חסה The Hebrew root ḥāsâ is predominantly used as a poetic and figurative verb in the Qal stem, carrying the fundamental meaning of "to seek refuge" or "to take shelter." Its literal sense connects to earlier meanings of "to cover" or "to hide oneself," found in related Akkadian and Ethiopic roots. Figuratively, it evolved to mean "to con...

Deep Dive into Christ the Fullness: Walk in Him, Refuse Captivity (Colossians 2:6–10) The Christian church in every age faces the danger of accepting the subtle offer of "more than Christ"—a spirituality that promises fullness but actually leads to captivity. Paul's remedy is to cling to the Savior they first received: "As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.&quot...

Deep Dive into Specks, Logs, and Clear Sight: Repentance First, Restoration Next (Matthew 7:1–5) The source material explores Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 7:1-5, emphasizing that the command "Do not judge" targets self-righteous condemnation, not righteous evaluation. Jesus is not instituting moral silence; rather, He is forbidding the spiritual arrogance of acting as the final judge, a p...

Deep Dive into After Babel: God’s Quiet Providence in the Generations of Shem (Genesis 11:10–11) The story of the Tower of Babel details humanity’s coordinated rebellion, where people sought self-salvation and significance by building a city and tower to “make a name” for themselves apart from the Lord. God judged this act of human pride by confusing their language and scattering them across the e...

Deep Dive into A History of the Work of Redemption by Jonathan Edwards - From the Flood to the Calling of Abraham The work of redemption proceeded powerfully from the Flood to the calling of Abraham, with God orchestrating multiple events to prepare the way for the great Savior. The Flood itself was essential to this work, acting to remove the numerous enemies who violently opposed God’s church, w...

Deep Dive into The Moody Handbook of Theology, Revised and Expanded by Paul Enns - Theology of the Edenic Era The biblical account of the Edenic era focuses on the Creator, God, who is revealed as Elohim, a name suggesting great power and sovereignty. God is shown to be both transcendent and immanent, having created humanity specifically for fellowship and relationship. The world itself was create...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 25 Psalm 25, attributed to David, serves as a deeply personal miniature reflecting the King’s holy trust, numerous conflicts, significant transgression, and bitter repentance. It is traditionally identified as the second of the seven Penitential Psalms, illustrating how the sorrows of a believer lead them to confront their sins and d...

Deep Dive into Lectures to My Students by Charles Spurgeon - Open-Air Preaching - A Sketch of Its History Open-air preaching is asserted to be a practice as old as preaching itself, lending a halo of reverence to the custom. Its roots stretch back to the earliest biblical figures, including Enoch and Noah, and continued with Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, and Jonah, all of whom addressed large ass...

Deep Dive into The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments by Thomas R. Schreiner - Ezra-Nehemiah The book of Esther is a delightful narrative that chronicles God’s sovereign work in preserving the Jewish people from annihilation, even while they live under pagan rule. The theology of the book is unique because God is never explicitly mentioned; the deliberate omissio...

Deep Dive into The Life And Diary Of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards - Preaching Met with Remarkable Success The diary excerpts provide a detailed look into the demanding life and profound spiritual experiences of David Brainerd during his missionary work among the Indians, primarily at the Forks of Delaware and during arduous travels to places like Susquehannah. Brainerd continually grappled w...

Deep Dive into Financing Ukraine for the Long War: A Sustainable Funding Architecture Beyond One-Off Aid A prolonged war necessitates a comprehensive funding architecture for Ukraine to ensure its long-term endurance, moving beyond ad hoc emergency aid. This architecture must address a recurring fiscal gap caused by disrupted production and surging defense and social spending. A core principle of...

Deep Dive into The Great Exchange: How God Reconciles Sinners in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) The apostle Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 5:21 stands as a core explanation of the gospel, serving as the theological ground for the urgent appeal to "be reconciled to God." To achieve divine reconciliation, God’s justice must be satisfied, as He cannot simply overlook sin. Paul reveals the u...

Deep Dive into Kingdom First, Anxiety Last: Fatherly Providence and the Disciples’ Freedom (Matthew 6:25–34) Anxiety, as addressed by Jesus in Matthew 6:25–34, is fundamentally a spiritual posture rather than a mere psychological state, revealing misplaced worship and divided loyalty. This teaching is tethered to the impossibility of serving both God and "Mammon," suggesting that worry a...

Deep Dive into From Babel to the Better Name: Human Pride, Divine Judgment, and Gospel Unity (Genesis 11:1–9) The narrative of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1–9 serves as a profound confrontation with human pride and a quest for security detached from God. Following the flood, humanity, unified by "one language and the same words," settled in the land of Shinar. There, they initiated...

Deep Dive into A History of the Work of Redemption by Jonathan Edwards - From the Fall to the Flood The period spanning from the Fall of Man to the Great Flood was fundamentally preparatory, with all divine works and historical revolutions serving to pave the way for the ultimate arrival of Christ and the complete work of redemption. Although only a small number of souls were saved during this era...

Deep Dive into Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin - The Origin and Growth of the Roman Papacy Until It Raised Itself to Such a Height That the Freedom of the Church Was Oppressed, and All Restraint Overthrown The historical rise of the Roman Papacy reveals a progression from a modest, regional see to an absolute, tyrannical power, a development the source material argues is contra...

Deep Dive into The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 24 The exposition of Psalm 24, titled "The Song of the Ascension," is structured into three distinct sections: the universal dominion of God, the description of those fit to commune with Him, and the glorious ascent of the Redeemer. This sacred hymn was likely composed for the joyful occasion when the ark of the covenant wa...

Deep Dive into Growth Groups: How to Lead Disciple-Making Small Groups by Colin Marshall - Answers about Questions Questions are the life force of discussions, and mastering the art of leading a group relies on asking the right question at the right time. This skill is vital because asking the right question is a prerequisite for receiving the right answer. The primary goal of using questions alig...

Deep Dive into The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments by Thomas R. Schreiner - Ezra-Nehemiah The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are traditionally linked in the Hebrew canon, chronicling the historical period following the return of the Jewish people from exile. Their unified purpose is to detail the political and religious work required to reconstitute the community,...

Deep Dive into Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis - What Lies behind the Law The human understanding of laws must distinguish between the Laws of Nature and the Law of Human Nature. While physical laws—like those governing stones and trees—may be merely a description of how matter behaves, the moral law concerning right and wrong is fundamentally different. It is a real, inescapable law that people...