Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 23, 2020
Unintended Request: We are familiar with the Jews of Jesus’ time rejecting Him as their king saying, “We have no other king than Caesar”. Let’s go back to the time of Samuel when they asked for a king. They wanted a king who will “judge us, go out before, and fight our battles” (1 Samuel […]
PHall | January 17, 2020
Uncomfortable Lessons from Ruth:1. The most loyal woman is not an Israelite, but a Moabite (ch.1).2. The most bitter person is an Israelite bitter towards God (ch1).3. Boaz has to order fellow Israelites to “not touch” Ruth (ch.2).4. Although Ruth is loyal to Naomi, Naomi puts Ruth in a possibly socially compromising situation (ch.3).5. Although […]
PHall | January 17, 2020
I’ll confess. I like studying the book of Judges for the same reason I liked studying the Tudor-Stuart monarchy – horrible characters are never boring! When during the Judges, “Everyone did what was right their own eyes” is the philosophy of life, there is no telling what is creeping out of people’s heart. And yet….During […]
PHall | December 28, 2019
The word “redeem” is not used in Judges, but it might help us better understand redemption than we know. That is because the opposite action is found several times: “And he sold them into the hands” (Judges 2:14; 3:8; 4:2; 1:7). Sin, Suffering, Solicitation, Salvation are the four stages Israel continues to find itself in […]
PHall | December 21, 2019
The story, or stories, are true and familiar; one is an echo of the other.1. Each narrative comes at the beginning (Genesis 1-2; Matthew 1-2).2. Each is a story about a genealogy (Genesis 2:4; Matthew1:1).3. At the beginning there is a focus on a light that was not the sun (Genesis 1:3; Matthew 2:2,7-10; Luke […]
PHall | December 19, 2019
How Do We Understand God’s Violence in the OT? Reading Joshua, specifically the conquest of Canaan, and it is disarming (which is the opposite of the armies!) and disquieting (and battles are not quiet!). There are various ways to handle this, one of which is far more appealing to me, and I hope to you. […]
PHall | December 17, 2019
Jesus is found in the most unexpected places!Joshua 10:26-27 (NASB) 26) So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening. 27) It came about at sunset that Joshua gave a command, and they took them down from the trees […]
PHall | December 17, 2019
Two men went to a prostitute. There’s only one reason why. In fact they didn’t want anyone to know they were there. Again, there’s only one reason why. Your imagination does not need much imagination on this, does it? Except these two men were the spies that hid in Rahab’s house. Lesson? Don’t go by […]
PHall | December 17, 2019
3 Reasons to be Strong and CourageousI. TO PERSEVERE UNTIL GOD’S PROMISES ARE RECEIVED AND SHARED““Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.II. TO OBEY GOD WHOLLY AND NOT CHANGE GOD’S WORD“Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the […]
PHall | December 17, 2019
Why is the creation story, the first week, told the way it is? It is because of the last week of Jesus.Beginning of Old Creation –On the 6th day God breathed into man the breath of life and Adam lived (Genesis 2:7).Beginning of New Creation –On the 6th day The God/Man breathed out the breath […]