PHall | September 23, 2015
The first 4 of the 10 Commandments provide a paradigm that is still followed in the covenant of Christ: 1) God wants first place, not only over other gods; but most importantly over ourselves. The way we treat God impacts God. God has feelings and emotions too. The way we treat God impacts how He […]
Category: Exodus |
Comments Off on Exodus 20 – The 10 Commandments in Christ (1st-4th)
Tags:
PHall | September 23, 2015
The Genesis 1 text reads, “In the beginining’” followed by “Then God said.” Not, “Then God thought;” although God’s thoughts are powerful enough to create. Not, “Then God made;” although the account is a record of God’s works. But “Then God said;” because Genesis 1 is setting the standard for the rest of all time […]
Category: Genesis |
Comments Off on Genesis 1 – Not “Then God Thought”
Tags:
PHall | September 23, 2015
The only command humans have been real successful in obeying is the first command ever given to humans: Be fruitful and multiply (Gen.1:28). After that its been pretty much a failure.
Category: Genesis |
Comments Off on Genesis 1:28 – The Most Successful Command
Tags:
PHall | September 23, 2015
Parents, when one parent allows the other parent to disrespect and disobey the other, they are not helping their children to honor both the father and the mother. If they dishonor one parent they dishonor the entire command. Dishonoring the command is dishonoring the One who gave the command. Parents, be honorable if you want […]
Category: Exodus |
Comments Off on Exodus 12:2 – Parents Honor One Another
Tags:
PHall | September 23, 2015
As an example that we don’t always want a literal translation consider that the Hebrew word for honor means, “to regard as heavy.” Literally then, “Regard your mother and father as heavy.” Such a translation is weighted with problems.
Category: Genesis, Humor |
Comments Off on Exodus 20:12 – Your Mother Is So Fat….
Tags:
PHall | September 23, 2015
All of our lives are videos replayed to us through the observations of others. Sometimes we are embarrassed by what we see. Sometimes we are embarrassed by what we are. We can close our eyes to the world; but we can’t close the eyes of the world. Neither can we close our eyes of ourselves […]
Category: Psalms |
Comments Off on Psalm 11:4 – Eyes
Tags:
PHall | September 23, 2015
The meaning of the Sabbath rest in the first giving of the 10 Commandments is different than in Moses’ second reiteration. In Exodus 20 it is based upon God resting after creation. In Deuteronomy 5 it is based upon God freeing Israel from slavery. These are not two distinct ideas although they are two distinct […]
Category: Exodus, Deuteronony |
Comments Off on Exodus 20:11; Deuteronomy 5:15 – The 10 Commandments In Christ
Tags:
PHall | September 20, 2015
Ever notice how easy it is to overreact to someone overreacting? They shout so we shout them down. They call names so we call names to show them name calling is hurtful. We might even couch our insult with super-righteous: “If I were like you I could call you a (blank); but I’m not like […]
Category: Proverbs |
Comments Off on Proverbs 15:1 – Overreacting to Overreacting
Tags:
PHall | September 13, 2015
One of the most well-known Bible stories is the temptation and fall of man (Genesis 3:1-24). But how familiar are we with the how the story is told? To method there is meaning. Seeing how a text is organized is more than just a time consuming exercise. It helps to explain why something is included, […]
Category: Genesis |
Comments Off on Genesis 3 – A Chiastic Story
Tags: Chiasm
PHall | September 9, 2015
Genesis 3:1 suggests why Satan chose to take the form of a serpent, but why did he choose to take an animal form to begin with? I wonder if it is all part of the upside-down world he helped create. The temptation is about usurpation: Satan’ s word over God’s; man over God; and female […]
Category: Genesis |
Comments Off on Genesis 3:1 – Why Did Satan Take the Form of the an Animal?
Tags: