Making Sense of Life Through The Biblical Story Podcast: Recent Episodes
Garth Oliver
Our lives are stories that are best understood in the context of the Larger Story of the Bible. Garth Oliver leads us through an exploration the key developments of this Story as it unfolds through the Old and New Testaments. In the lives of each of the major characters—people like Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, the Disciples, and Paul—the Story is advanced. We will look at how the events of their lives build the Story, and move it toward its final resolution. Along the way, we will seek to understand the key issues of our own stories, the Life that is offered with its hopes and promises, and the threats to that Life that can take us out.
In this episode, we deal with the 4th of the eight visions given to Zechariah in Jan/Feb 519 BC, and look at what it contributes, not only to the combined message of those 8 visions, but also to the the Larger Story.
In today’s episode, we’re going to begin to dig into the prophecies of the Book of Zechariah, a book that, in my experience, hasn’t gotten a lot of attention.
In today’s episode, we’re going to move into the post-exilic period of Israel’s history with a look at the first 6 chapters of Ezra, along with the prophesies found in the book of Haggai, which occurred during the time period covered in Ezra 1-6.
In today’s episode, we’re going to try to take all that is revealed in Daniel about the future, and put it together into a single, composite picture of where the Story is going.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at the final, most detailed vision given to Daniel, which culminates with the rise of the antichrist.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at Daniel chapter 9, and what may be the most important chapter in the Bible for understanding how the Story ends.
In today’s episode, we’re going continue in Daniel, looking at chapter 8, where Daniel has another dream, that adds more details about how the Story will end.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at Daniel 7, and Daniels dream about the 4 beasts and the little horn, and how it expands on what was revealed to him concerning the Kingdoms of the Ages.
In today’s episode, we’re going to move into Daniel, where we’ll get an orientation to the Kingdoms that will unfold through the ages, as we consider what YHWH revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, through a dream.
In this episode, we’re going to finish up our consideration of Ezekiel as we tackle the last 8 chapters, which includes a vision of a Temple that will be built during the Millennial Reign of Christ.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at Ezekiel’s Prophecies concerning Gog and Magog in Chapters 38 & 39 of Ezekiel.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at Ezekiel’s prophecies about the New Covenant and the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 36-37.
In today’s episode, we’re going to move into the book of Ezekiel, focusing on chapters 16-18, where YHWH presents one of the most graphic descriptions of Judah’s unfaithfulness to Him.
In today’s episode, we’re going to examine the New Covenant, which YHWH promises to the exiles of Judah, and their descendants.
In today’s episode, we’re going to overview the first half of the book of Jeremiah, with a particular focus on the 70 weeks of captivity that he prophesies for the exiles of Judah.
In today’s episode, we’re conclude our look at the book of Isaiah, and summarize the contributions it makes to the development of the Story.
In today’s episode, we’re going first few verses of Isaiah 63, where we find, what I think is a surprising connection between redemption and vengeance.
In today’s episode, we’re going work through chapters 60-62 of Isaiah, which gives us look at the glorious future that YHWH has in store for Jerusalem.
In today’s episode, we’re going work through chapters 56-59 of Isaiah, where YHWH, through the prophet exhorts His people to live in anticipation of the Redeemer that is coming to establish justice and righteousness.
The episode I had planned for this week is just not ready, so I want to give you a brief update for what to expect over the next few weeks.
In today’s episode, we’re going look at Isaiah 55 and YHWH’s promise of a New Covenant with the people of Judah, as He invites them to return to Him and be reconciled without cost.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at the restoration that will be accomplished through the ministry of the Suffering Servant, found in Isaiah 54.
In today’s episode, we’re going wrap up our look at the Suffering Servant as we consider the 4th and final Song of the Servant, found in Isaiah 52-53.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at the 3rd Song of the Servant, found in Isaiah 50.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at the Second Song of the Servant, found in Isaiah 49.
In today’s episode, we’re going to encounter prophecy concerning Cyrus, King of Persia, whom YHWH calls His Anointed, as we look at Isaiah 45-48 .
In this episode, we’re going to encounter the first of what are called the Servant Songs as we look at Isaiah 42-44.
In todays episode, we’re going to move into the 2nd prophetic section of the book of Isaiah, in which the focus shifts from the failures of the people of Judah in Isaiah’s day, to the distant future, in which YHWH will comfort His people.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at some of the historical developments in Isaiah’s day, in which YHWH fulfills elements of the prophecies given through Isaiah.
In todays episode, we’re going to sharpen our picture of the Kingdom that is to Come, as we look at the 3rd major unit of the Book of Isaiah.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at Isaiah’s revelation of the events that are going to make up the Apocalypse.
In todays episode, we’re going to continue our look at Isaiah’s oracles concerning the nations of the world in which Israel existed.
In todays episode, we’re going to continue our look at Isaiah’s oracle concerning Babylon, and consider the implications of that oracle for both Judah, and for us.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at Isaiah 13, and the first part of an oracle YHWH gave to Isaiah concerning Babylon, and consider why He included this in His messages to Judah through Isaiah.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the reign of the One depicted as the Branch from the Root of Jesse in Isaiah chapter 11.
In todays episode, we’re going to begin to examine the imagery of the Stump, the Root, and the Branch as we follow his message into Isaiah chapter 11.
In todays episode, we’re going to examine YHWH’s message against Jacob in Isaiah 9 & 10.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the prophecy of A Child to Be Born to us; a child whose name will be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the birth of Isaiah’s son, and the message contained in his name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
In todays episode, we’re going to finish up our look at Isaiah 7, the sign of the virgin, and the other signs related to it.
In todays episode, we’re move into the heart of the book of Isaiah as we look at the Sign of the Virgin, in the first half of Isaiah 7.
In todays episode, we’re going to wrap up our look at the introduction of the book of Isaiah, with an examination of Isaiah’s call and commission.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the parable of the Vineyard in Isaiah 5, which was not only important to the message of Isaiah, but also provides the imagery behind several NT passages.
Today’s episode is going to be a special episode where we go back to the beginning of the Story — to the first 3 chapters of Genesis to unpack God’s design as He created Man male and female, and come to understand the distinct roles that He created each for.
In todays episode, we’re going to begin working our way through the book of Isaiah, which I think may be one of the most important prophets for understanding what happens in the Gospels.
In todays episode, we’re going to begin working our way through the book of Isaiah, which I think may be one of the most important prophets for understanding what happens in the Gospels.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the first 2 chapters of the book of Micah, which contains one of the more familiar passages of the Minor Prophets.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the first 5 chapters of the book of Micah, and its message to both Israel and Judah.
In todays episode, we’re going to cover the book of Amos, written to Israel around 760 BC.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at one of the smallest books of the Old Testament — the book of Joel, with its emphasis on the coming Day of the Lord, or Day of YHWH.
In todays episode, we wrap up our look at the book of Hosea, how Israel’s spiritual adultery destroyed her relationship with YHWH, and how YHWH’s love for her guarantees a renewal of that relationship.
In todays episode, we are going to begin our look at the book of Hosea, about a prophet who was commanded by YHWH marry a wife of harlotries.
In todays episode, we move into the Pre-exilic Prophets as we look at the message of the book of Jonah and what it contributes to the Story.
In todays episode, we are going to look at how 1 & 2 Chronicles, which are often thought of as parallels to 1 & 2 Kings, advance the Story.
In todays episode, we come, very simply, to the end of Judah, and consider the significance of this development to the Story.
In todays episode, we continue our look at the at the Kings of Judah, where we meet both, the man who is arguably the worst king of Judah, and the man who is right up there with Hezekiah as the best.
In todays episode, we continue our look at the man who was, perhaps, the most exceptional King of Judah, as he welcomes a delegation from Babylon, after his impressive recovery from a mortal illness.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at Hezekiah, one of the best kings to reign over Judah, as he resists the Assyrian Empire through his faith in YHWH.
In todays episode, come to a critical development in the Story as YHWH brings the Assyrian Empire against the Northern Kingdom, ending its existence.
In todays episode, we’re going to see how Judah responds to the circumstances that develop as the the Assyrian Empire begins to threaten the region.
In todays episode, we’re going to see the expanding Assyrian Empire as an instrument that God uses in His relationship with His people.
In todays episode, we’re going to continue our journey through the Divided Kingdom of Israel, watching Israel and Judah’s relationship with YHWH play out during the reigns of some of the lesser-known kings.
In todays episode, we’re going to switch our attention to the Southern Kingdom, as we look at the reign of Joash, King of Judah.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at end of the dynasty of Ahab in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
In todays episode, we’re going to wrap up our focus on the prophet Elisha, as he represents YHWH to the Northern Kingdom of Israel through a series of 5 stories, the most prominent involving the siege of Samaria.
In todays episode, we’re going to continue our examination of the role of prophets in the Northern Kingdom as we look at the story of Elisha, Naaman, and Gehazi.
In todays episode, we’re going to continue our focus on the role of prophets in the Northern Kingdom as Elisha represents YHWH to the nation of Israel in miraculous ways.
In todays episode, we’re going to continue our focus on the role of prophets in Israel as Elisha succeeds Elijah as YHWH’s representative.
In todays episode, we’re going to see Elijah again take a prominent place in the Story, as he delivers a word from YHWH to Ahaziah, Ahab’s son and successor.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the end of Ahab’s life and see how the judgements pronounced against him play out. In the process, we’ll see the curtain of the heavenly realm pulled back as we get a glimpse of the larger context that influences what we experience here on earth.
In todays episode, we’re going to focus on events during the reign of Ahab, the somewhat notorious 7th King of the Northern Kingdom who gets significant attention in the book of Kings.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the prophet Elijah’s encounter with YHWH on Mt. Sinai, and how this connects him with Moses in the Story.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the introduction of the prophet Elijah into the Story and how YHWH uses him to confront the Northern Kingdom of Israel for their unfaithfulness in the days of King Ahab.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the early days of the Divided Kingdom of Israel and Judah to see how the choices of those first kings from the two kingdom play out within the context of the sovereignty of God.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the end of the Kingdom of Israel as a single, sovereign nation, and see how the division impacts the Story going forward.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the end of Solomon’s reign, and see that, in spite of the fact that he is described as the wisest man that ever lived, he finished his life very poorly.
In today’s episode, we’re going to slow way down, and focus on one short passage, centered around 2 Chronicles 7:14, to see why the promise it contains belongs exclusively to Israel.
In todays episode, we’re going to see Israel at the pinnacle of her glory, as Solomon builds a magnificent House for YHWH, just as YHWH had promised David.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at Solomon’s ascension to the throne of Israel as the Son of David, and the Glory associated with his kingdom.
In today’s episode, we’re going to back out to the 30,000 foot level and review the Story from Adam to David, to think about what the critical developments are and how they move the Story forward.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the last segment of 2 Samuel, where David’s kingship is presented in a way that anticipates fulfillment in David’s ultimate Seed, the Christ.
In todays episode, we are going to look at the consequences of David’s sin with Bathsheba.
In today’s episode, we’re going to take a look at the dark side of David’s life as we examine the sin connected to his lust for Bathsheba.
In todays episode, we’re going to see God establish His covenant with David, and through that covenant, bring definition to the hope of everyone who will place their faith in God from this point forward.
In todays episode, we’re going to see David become the king of Israel, and begin to understand how his reign fulfilled Israel’s need for a king in a unique and very specific way.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the decline of the kind of king that Israel wanted, a the emergence of David, the man after God’s own heart, who would replace Saul.
In todays episode, we’re going to look at the kind of king that Israel wanted, a king like the other nations, who would judge them and go before them in battle; we’re going to look at Saul, who proved why this was the wrong kind of king for Israel.
As we’ve been tracking the Story, it’s become apparent that Israel is going to need a king if they are going to experience the blessings YHWH has offered them. In today’s episode, as we look at the life of Samuel, the Last Judge, we’ll see Israel decide that they do, indeed, want a king. But the king they desire turns out to be an explicit rejection of the very thing they need. To see how that plays out, let’s get into the Story.
In today’s episode, were going to focus on another of the godly women of the Story, and the important role given her. Her name is Hannah, and by most accounts, she would probably be considered a minor character, and yet she advances the Story in a surprising and significant way.
In today’s episode, we’ll be looking at the story of Ruth, a godly woman, who although she was a Gentile, and a Moabite at that, moves the Story forward by being faithful to the role entrusted to her.
In today’s episode, we’re going to be following Israel’s experiences through the time of the Judges — a period which I think contains some of the most unexpected, and even bizarre stories in all of Scripture. But through them, the Story is advanced.
In this weeks podcast, we will see the Promise to Abraham fulfilled as Joshua leads Israel to finally take possession of the Promised Land.
In today’s episode, we’re going to get a glimpse of the future as we look at the Song of Moses presented in Deut 32. This glimpse is going to provide some important details that will help us understand the path of the Story takes between Moses and our time, and also where we can expect it to head in the future.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at the Larger Spiritual Reality in which the Story occurs. This aspect of the Story often gets neglected, causing us to mishandle the parts of the Story we tend to focus on. Now, a big part of the reason it gets overlooked is because we only catch glimpses of it here and there. So, today, we’re going to take a little different approach — we’re going to step back and take a collective look at some of these glimpses that are spread throughout the Story. We won’t try to be nail down all the details given about this Larger Spiritual Reality now; we just want to understand enough about it to make sense of Deuteronomy 32, which we’ll talk about next week.
In today’s episode, we’re going to look at the choice that Israel faced in the Mosaic Covenant — the blessings that would come with obedience, and the cursing that unfaithfulness would bring.
In today’s episode, we will take a close look at the covenant that YHWH made with Israel — what we know of as the Mosaic Covenant, or The Law — as He offers them the opportunity to represent Him among the nations.
In this episode, we’re going to review God’s faithfulness to Israel in the first of 3 speeches that Moses makes to the 2nd Generation of Israelites. This will lay the foundation for the commitment required of Israel in the Covenant that will be laid out in the 2nd speech. The book of Deuteronomy is built around these three speeches.
In today’s episode we will look at the transition to a new generation in Israel, and the issues that need to be addressed if they are going to fulfill YHWH’s purpose once enter the Land.
In this episode, we’re look at a particularly enigmatic character who comes on the scene in Numbers. He is not an Israelite, and he’s lukewarm, at best, in his orientation toward YHWH, but YHWH’s prophecies through him are an important part of The Story. His name is Balaam.
In today’s episode we are going to watch Israel struggle with the concept of holiness through the 3 stories in Numbers that cover most of their 38 years of wandering.
In today’s episode, we’re going to see Israel continue to fight their relationship with YHWH bringing catastrophe on themselves as they journey toward the Land Promised to Abraham and his seed over 700 years earlier.
In this episode, we’ll be looking at God’s budding relationship with the nation of Israel. We concluded the last episode with the Tabernacle erected, and YHWH filling it with His presence and glory. But with that event, not even Moses could enter the Tabernacle. In this episode, we’ll see YHWH take the necessary steps to make Israel’s relationship with Him functional.
In today’s episode we’re going to be looking at the beginning of Israel’s relationship with God, giving the bulk of our attention to the incident involving the golden calf, and the impact of their actions on this newly established relationship with YHWH.
In today’s episode we’re going to see the relationship that God has been pursuing with Israel — the one that He promised to Abraham over 700 years earlier — be formalized in the covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai — the covenant known as the Mosaic Covenant, or the Old Testament Law.
In today’s episode we’ll be looking at God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt, considering, not only the plagues leading up to the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, but also the rituals that God gave the Israelites to commemorate these events, the truths those rituals communicate, and how all of this moves the Story forward.
My computer is out of commission and I will not be able to produce an episode this week.
In this episode we’ll pick up the story of Israel enslaved in Egypt, and see how YHWH raises up Moses to be His instrument through which He will fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In today’s episode we’re going to look what happened to Jacob through the lives of his sons, with a particular focus on two of those sons, Joseph and Judah. Through their lives, we will see the re-emergence of the expectation of a ruler who will come through Abraham’s seed.
In this episode, we’re going to look at the life of Jacob, who becomes Israel, and what this new identity means to the Story.
In today’s episode, we’re going to see the Promises to Abraham fully and completely ratified, and then watch as they pass from Abraham to Isaac, and toward Jacob. I also want to give you a key to thinking about the Story in a way that you can begin to track it in your own mind.
In today’s episode we’re going to look at Abram & Sarai’s efforts to fulfill God’s Promise of a Seed with the Hagar Solution, and then see God’s rejection of those efforts with the Promise of the birth of Isaac. In these events, we’ll also look at the Sign of the Covenant, circumcision.
In today’s episode we’ll look at the connection between Abram’s faith and God’s Promises to him. We will see the Promise of a Seed return to prominence in the Story, and we will see the Promises that have already been made formalized into a binding Covenant.
With the conclusion of the Story at Babel, things seem pretty hopeless. Man is nowhere near living up to what God created him for, and God has given men over to their defiance. There is no glimmer of hope in that smaller story. But the Larger Story isn’t over. In today’s episode, we’ll look at God’s initiative, through Abraham, to bring blessing to those who seem determined to live under the Curse.
After Babel, things seem pretty hopeless. Man is nowhere near living up to what God created him for, and God has given men over to their defiance. There is no glimmer of hope in that smaller story. But the Larger Story isn’t over. In today’s episode, we’ll look at God’s actions to bring blessing to those who seem determined to live under the Curse.
In this episode, we’re going to look at what happened to the sons of Noah after the flood. In the process, we’re going to see again that genealogies are simply a dry list, but make important contributions to the development of the Story. And by the end of today’s episode, we’re going to see that what happened at Babel was just as catastrophic as the flood.
The Story of Noah is more than a standalone Bible story. In it, God's relationship with mankind is dramatically altered. In this episode, we'll conclude our look at how the events related to Noah's life advance the larger Story.
The Story of Noah is one of those bible stories that is usually taught as a stand-alone story. But as we’ve seen, it’s not. It’s part of the larger Story of Scripture. So, what are the critical developments found in it, and how do they move the Story forward? That’s what we’re going to begin to look at in this episode.
In this episode we’re going to look how the Story moves from Adam to Noah. In particular, we will see what becomes of the Seed of the Woman.
- In this episode, we continue our look into the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman. In what we think of as The Curse, God had told the Serpent that He would put conflict between his Seed and the Seed of the Woman. At the time, it wasn’t apparent what these two Seed were, but in the story of Cain and Abel, they begin to come into focus. We began looking at that in the last episode. Today, we want to continue what we started there, and watch these two lines materialize more fully.
- In what we think of as The Curse, God had told the Serpent that He would put conflict between the seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman, and He told the woman that He would multiply her pain and her pregnancies, and that in pain she would bring forth Sons. In this episode, we’ll watch as these elements of the Story begin to play out.
It is commonly taught, at least among Evangelicals, that the Curse impacted how a man and woman would relate in marriage—specifically, that the woman would desire to control her husband, but that her husband would dominate her harshly. But as I've followed the development of The Story, I no longer believe that's true. I believe that Genesis 3:16 is saying something very different—something hopeful, not punitive. In this episode, we'll look at the woman’s desire—what it is, and why it is good, not bad.
In this episode of The Story, we explore the consequences of the Woman's decision to be like God and to pursue the knowledge of Good and Evil independent of Him. As we watch things play out, we will look at the things that happened as a result of that decision and the consequences of that decision that plague us still today. At the heart of this episode, we want to understand what God meant when He told the Man they would die in the day they ate.
- In this episode of The Story, we’re going to explore the account that is often called The Fall of Man. As we watch this play out, we will look at the temptation presented to the woman, what was wrong with the woman’s desire to know good and evil, and how the same elements of that temptation challenge us down to today.
In this episode, we’re going to take a look at the special place that God created for His representative, more detail about the role that God gave him in the Story, and the mate provided for him in all of this. In short, we're going to get a glimpse of Life, here at the beginning of the Story.
- In this first episode in The Story, we’re going to see how God brings order to Creation and fills it with Life, and then creates man, male and female, to continue that work as His representative. As we watch this play out, we will get a glimpse of the Fellowship God intended to share with His representatives, and encounter what I believe is a fundamental question that will guide us in our understanding of the Story.
Garth gives the background out of which this podcast grows. Motivated by a frustration with the random and fragmented nature of the Christian faith as he had experienced it, he set out to understand that faith in a cohesive and comprehensive way. In the process, he came to see the Bible, not as a collection of stories, but as a single a Story, and that the key to understanding it is to treat it as such.
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