The Bible by David Alley: Recent Episodes
David Alley
A bible commentary by David Alley from Peace Apostolic Ministries.
A new episode comes out daily. Cover the entire Bible plus Apocryphal books in four years. Each episode includes the reading of a full chapter, plus comments both historical and spiritual, and prayer.
Join this podcast, and grow in faith.
Paul was tough on laziness, and said that a lazy person doesn't deserve to eat. Why would he say such a thing? Join David Alley as he reads 2 Thessalonians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
According to Paul in 2 Thessalonians the second appearing of the Lord and the 'rapture' occur on the same day. Join David Alley as he reads 2 Thessalonians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The Thessalonians were suffering for Christ - and Paul assures them the Lord will repay those who need to be repaid. But they must focus on serving him and not on those who are giving them trouble. Join David Alley as he reads 2 Thessalonians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Many of the usual end times passages are symbolic, but in Thessalonians Paul writes some points that are clear. Join David Alley as he reads 1 Thessalonians 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The Thessalonians were worried that Jesus might have already returned, so Paul had to write to clarify a few details about that. This clarification has ended up being one of the few very clear end times passages we have in the scriptures. Join David Alley as he reads 1 Thessalonians 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul HAD to find out how the Thessalonians were doing, and so he sent Timothy on a mission for an update. Join David Alley as he reads 1 Thessalonians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In this letter to the Thessalonians, Paul explains his motivation for preaching to them, and his heart is sincere and for them. It is how our hearts should always be towards each other. Join David Alley as he reads 1 Thessalonians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The Thessalonians were from Macedonia and were a church facing persecution, but yet had strong faith, and were a church Paul greatly loved. Join David Alley as he reads 1 Thessalonians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul finished his letter to the Colossians with final instructions, and greetings to many interesting people. Above all we must devote ourselves to prayer. Join David Alley as he reads Colossians 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
You are seated with Christ above, if you are found in him, that is. And while it seems you are here on Earth, spiritually you are also with him. We don't know how that works precisely, but there is a profound and wonderful power and truth to it. Join David Alley as he reads Colossians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In Jesus the complete fullness of God was found. Paul said "the fullness of the deity" dwelled in him in bodily form. Such an amazing thought. Join David Alley as he reads Colossians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Have you ever wondered what God looks like? You need to look at Jesus because in considering him, we learn about God. Join David Alley as he reads Colossians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In Philippi there were two women who didn't agree - Eudodia and Syntyche - and Paul tells them to have the same mind. But who will give in so that they agree? Join David Alley as he reads Philippians 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul considered all things to be nothing compared to knowing Jesus, and said he was going to "press on" to win the prize. Join David Alley as he reads Philippians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There is a lot of talk about human rights in the world, and people demans their rights. Even people when arrested 'have the right to remain silent.' But Jesus didn't cling to His rights, and we are told to 'have the same attitude as Jesus.' Join David Alley as he reads Philippians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul was only in Philippi for about one week, a very difficult and tumultuous week, but a church started in the house of Lydia and the first Christians were very eclectic. But what God started, he would finish, wrote Paul. Join David Alley as he reads Philippians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Spiritual Warfare is something which on the one hand is controversial, but on the other hand, every believer experiences either knowingly or unknowingly. Join David Alley as he reads Ephesians 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
What can we make out of the submission verse in Ephesians, and the context of the even bigger marriage issue that Paul was alluding to? Join David Alley as he reads Ephesians 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There is a lot going on in every chapter of Ephesians, and this chapter is no exception. One high point is the discussion of the giving of ministry gifts in Christ's ascension - including the extra apostles that the church needs, why it needs them, and for how long. Join David Alley as he reads Ephesians 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul said that he was given a mystery of God's administration, which was that God made him responsible for the inclusion of the Gentiles into God's plan. This was indeed a mystery - an unexpected turn of events - and Paul explains it here. Join David Alley as he reads Ephesians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There was both an actual wall in the Jewish temple, and a metaphorical racism against Gentiles. Both of these things were a "dividing wall of hostility" that kept them away from God. Paul writes now that "we all have access to the Father" in this chapter. Join David Alley as he reads Ephesians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Join Paul in his letter to the Ephesians as he teaches us a powerful prayer to pray. We also discuss the academic controversy over whether Paul actually wrote this letter or not, and give the simple answer, that yes he did, and explain why. Join David Alley as he reads Ephesians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Apples trees produce apples, and so it goes. If you live to please yourself, with no regard for God, what type of fruit does that produce? Join David Alley as he reads Galatians 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul talks about how trying to be good enough for God is bondage. LIving under a thousand rules is a type of captivity, but being released from all that legalism is freedom. Why go back to that? But the Galatians were trying to go back, and it made no sense. Join David Alley as he reads Galatians 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul compares Abrahams experience with Hagar having a son, and his experience with Sarah having a son and shows how one was by faith, and one was by human effort. But only one of these two ways worked how God intended. What do we learn from this? Join David Alley as he reads Galatians 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul loved the Christians in Galatia, but after leaving they came under the spell of strange ideas - they were bewitched. Paul writes to sort that out. Join David Alley as he reads Galatians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The issue about the negative Jewish influence on Christian faith was influential and not always easy to discern, so much so that Peter himself was led astray, and then challenged by Paul. Join David Alley as he reads Galatians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul established churches in Galatia, but not long later others came through teaching them that they had to be circumcised to be a Christian. Paul is astonished that they are giving up on faith alone, and starting to go back to the Jewish laws. Join David Alley as he reads Galatians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Some people think that once saved, you will alwasy be saved, but in writing to the church in Corinth in 2 corinthians, Paul tells them to "examine themselves" and see if they are in the faith. In other words, even if you think you are saved, take nothing for granted. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 13 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There was a serious issue that Paul repeatedly faced, that was not disclosed to us by Paul, except that it was labelled a "thorn" in the flesh. This thing troubled him constantly so much that he prayed three times for it to be removed, but the Lord was not willing to remove it. This persistent problem kept Paul grounded, which he needed very much. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 12 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul continues to defend himself against the context of the False Apostles who have moved into Corinth in his absence. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 11 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Back in Corinth false apostles had arrived on the scene. And these false ministers undermined Paul, and his genuine apostolic ministry. Paul felt he had no option but to explain and defend himself, not for his own sake, but to protect them. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 10 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Sowing and Reaping is a concept increasingly popular, but some people have given away huge sums and become poor in the process. Does it really work? What is the go with giving and faith? Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 9 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul now takes two chapters to talk about money and giving, starting with a the offering he was raising for the poor Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 8 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul paid a quick visit across the Adriatic sea from Ephesus to Corinth. It was short, and as it turned out painful. Paul talks about it in this chapter. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 7 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul made a deliberate choice not to put any stumbling block in the way of another finding God. The result was that he was often humiliated, shamed, beaten or experience hardship. He was crushed, but not broken for the sake of others. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
It is the job of every believer to work with the ministry or reconciliation, that is bringing people back to God. AND, of course to reconcile people to each other in Christ. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
As believers we carry with us the most wonderful treasure of all, but you would not know it by looking at the broken lives we have. But our brokeness demonstrate how good God is. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul says that the first covenant was glorious... it had an ark of the covenant that could electrify people with its glory. The second/new covenant however is more glorious, but doesn't' come with anything physical or amazing like the ark. How exactly is it more glorious? Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Being a minister of God's new covenant (which you are) is a special responsibility because God trusts you with his very own grace, a life-changing grace for others. What will you do with this trust? Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul had some problems with the Corinthians, a bit like a parent with a troubled teenager. They belonged to each other, but were still trying to work it out. Paul writes his second (actually fourth) letter to the Corinthians and starts out trying to comfort them with Christ's comfort. Join David Alley as he reads 2nd Corinthians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In closing the book of 1st Corinthians, Paul makes arrangements for a special offering, and before closing with a blessing makes personal requests. Here we meet some interesting people we never knew about. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 16 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In this chapter Paul quotes a creed dated back to within just a few years of Christ's death. That's very cool on its own. But additionally this chapter explains the resurrection, which isn't just being raised back to the same life you had before. No its another thing entirely. This video explains. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 9 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Do Christians today prophecy? Its a question that not everyone agrees on, but once you listen to David explain more about the simplicity of prophecy, you might agree that yes every believer can and should. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 14 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter, often used at weddings, but is actually the middle part of a discussion about spiritual gifts as this video will explain. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 13 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The Lord gives gifts to his church, and also gifts to individuals in the church for the benefit of the whole. Paul is now going to take three entire chapters to discuss this matter, starting right here. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 12 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There is much ado or at least much confusion about head coverings. Well there is at least one simple way of thinking about it, as David explains. Also we go into the Communion Passage read in churches almost every Sunday. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 11 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The last two chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul has been talking about meat offered to idols and how a Christian should handle that. It's always in the best interests of others. But what if an unbeliever offers you something and you think it "might" be bad but you don't know for sure? Here is how to handle that. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 10 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In the middle of a three chapter discussion of how to handle idol meat in a Christian church, Paul demonstrates how we should give up our rights, to what we want for the sake of others. He uses himself as an example.
Idol meat was actually a huge issue in Corinth, but one that seems to not quite fit into our society today, and yet there is an application that remains for us out of this chapter. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 8 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul was single and seemed to think that was the best scenario in his case, but many people are terrified by the idea that God may call them to be single. To be single or not, that is the question it seems nobody wants to consider. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 7 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In Corinth, some Christians took other Christians to court, but Paul felt the entire situation was embarrassing for the church and undermined the gospel. What should we do for situations like that? Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There was a most horrible case of unusual sin in the church at Corinth, the type that even unbelievers with low standards would would consider wrong. What did Paul say about it? Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul describes his willingness to be a fool for Christ, his willingness to suffer disgrace, and endure hardship for the sake of the gospel. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
When your life is over there is a test to see if what you have done was eternal or temporary. It will be tested by fire. This isn't hell, but a test applied to all Christian believers. Paul explains it right here: Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Without the holy Spirit's help, the things of God remain complicated, but with his help they become simple and easy to understand. It is a strange thing, and yet for those with the experience of having the Lord with them, not strange at all. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul spent substantial time in Corinth planting the church and seeing it established. But not long after he is in Ephesus and finds out there are problems, hence this letter. Join David Alley as he reads 1st Corinthians 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The last chapter of Romans might seem like not much more than the usual courtesies for finishing off a letter, but it is much more than that. Here along with them, we find that in Paul's greeting to 29 unique people, there is a female deacon Phoebe, a female apostle (we think) and a personal greeting from Tertius, the scribe who took Paul's dictation. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 16 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
We should be patient with others, and accept them, even if they have different views to us on schooling, vaccines, flat-earth, end-times or many other things. Paul wrote in this chapter to Jews and Gentiles who were much more different than many Christians are today, asking them to accept one another. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 15 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul spends a whole chapter talking to two groups - the weak and the strong. Ironically each group seems to consider themselves to be the strong, and the others to be the weak. Are we weak, or are we strong? And how should we consider others? Join David Alley as he reads Romans 14 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
After speaking about theology for the entire book of Romans thus far, Paul turns to practical things, and starts by telling the Jews and the Gentiles in Rome how to think, and how to act towards God and towards each other. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 12 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
What is the remnant? Is the leftover part of Israel (the biblical people) that had real faith and was included by God in the real Israel. This is controversial for some people, but seems clear enough in the Bible, and certainly was for Paul. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 11 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Some people assume that just because Jews are God's chosen people, they must automatically be saved. But for Paul this was definitely not the case, and he agonised over his fellow Jews who were not saved. Romans 10 covers this. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 10 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Israel is one of those very confusing things to define, especially because there is not a country int he world with that name, and which many equate to actually be the Israel of the Bible. This chapter will help with that. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 9 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There is nothing greater in all of creation that God's love, which is of course the very nature of God himself. So when life has gone awry, keep your eyes on Him, as something will bring about redemption. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 8 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In this chapter we find a biblical tongue twister as Paul talks at length about the good he wants to do, but doesn't do, and the bad he doesn't want to do, but does do. Its a real conundrum, not the reading of passage, but the issue that Paul raises with our hearts. Who delivers us... Christ does!! Join David Alley as he reads Romans 7 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
While grace increases as sin increases, this is definitely not a reason to sin more says Paul. In fact the desire to sin more is hideous - perish the thought. Paul digs deeper into what it means to be dead to sin and alive to Christ. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Adam's sin has affected every human, even those that were not born yet. This is a strange thing, that seems unfair, and yet reflects the way things are. But conversely Christ's sacrifice affects and offers life to all people, including those before and after Christ. This also seems unfair, but is a wonderful reversal that offers not just eternal life, but much more because of Christ's works. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
A long time before Jesus, and even before the ten commandments was Abraham, a man who became the friend of God. How exactly did that happen given the Bible wasn't written yet, and nobody had heard of Jesus? This chapter explains. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Sin kills people. And sin infects people regardless of race, colour, sex, age or belief system. The Jews have no advantage over sin despite initially knowing more about God than anyone else. Everyone is doomed and needs a Saviour. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Being Jewish doesn't guarantee things are easier in eternity writes Paul. All people no matter what their ethnicity must face the judgements of God, and they are the same whether one knew the law or not. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul wanted to travel to Rome, but writes a letter instead that makes it there many years before he does. This letter clarifies how we are saved. There isn't two ways of salvation, one for Jews and another for Gentiles. There is just one way, and it is by faith. Join David Alley as he reads Romans 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Finally after having written to the Romans that he wanted to come and impart a spiritual gift to them, Paul makes it to Rome. He is under house arrest but preaches from there. The book of Acts ends abruptly with us not knowing what happens to Paul. Later Paul is released by Nero, travels again - probably to Crete, returns to Rome, is arrested a second time, and executed by the sword. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 28 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
God turns bad things into good. Finally Paul is underway to Rome after appealing to Caesar Nero. Enroute there is a shipwreck (Paul's fourth) and they end up in Malta where the gospel is preached, the Christianity is established. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 27 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, the Lord said he must speak to "governors and kings." Paul is doing that repeatedly during his incarceration in Caesarea, now speaking with Herod and his wife Berenice. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 26 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Because Felix was wanting to pander to the Jews, or hoping for a Bribe, Paul was left in jail for two years in Caesarea. When a new governor comes to town, Festus, another trial happens. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 25 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus was on trial before Governor Pilate, and Paul is tried before Governor Felix, but there is not resolution and it drags out leaving him incarcerated for two years. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 24 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
A plan is made to kill Paul. Forty men take a vow not to eat or drink until the deed is done, and wheels are set in motion. But the Lord rescues Paul because He has a plan for him to go to Rome. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 23 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Having been arrested and accused of causing a riot, Paul is on trial, and defends himself before the Sanhedrin. This is the same group that previously accused Jesus and prompted his crucifixion. They now desire Paul's execution too. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 22 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Paul has gifts for the poor in Jerusalem, but also knows trouble awaits him. Heading there to do good, evil is done to him in return. The Jews attempt to kill him in that moment but he is resecued by the Romans who after learning he is a Roman citizen keep him safe. This is the beginning of about 5 straight years in prison and a period when much scripture is written. Luke is not arrested, and uses this time to conduct interviews for his Gospel of Luke. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 21 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
With so many Gentiles being saved, and so many Jewish Christians preceding them, it was inevitable there woudl be questions about how to be saved, and then how to live as Christians. The Jerusalem Council was a gathering of Apostles and Elders - a key moment that sorted out this question. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 15 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
After miraculously healing a lame man in Lystra things go wrong and he is stoned to what the Lystrians believed was death. Then he is either miraculously healed, or raised from the dead and able to leave town to continue his missionary work. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 14 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
It is the church at Antioch, the Gentile Church, that first sends out missionaries deliberately for the sake of converting Gentiles. The first missionaries were Paul and Barnabas. You may have a map of their travels in the back of your Bible. And first stop was the island of Cyprus. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 13 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
One of the most miraculous prison breaks in history is recorded in Acts 12 when Peter escapes while chained to guards in an inner cell. Later in the chapter, Herod who had tried to kill Peter is himself eaten by worms. Coincidence? Join David Alley as he reads Acts 12 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
It was in Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. This was because they were in fact not Jewish and the distinction was clearer, that they were followers of Christ. So in Antioch we have the first church to be non-Jewish. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 11 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Meet Cornelius the first Gentile Christian, from the city of Caesarea on the coast of modern day Israel. The Lord and the Holy Spirit pulled a number of miracles to make it possible for this first non-jew to become saved, and he continues to work miracles in saving many people today. This chapter is a huge turning point in the New Testament and indeed the entire Bible. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 10 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In this chapter Saul is converted in miraculous circumstances, and the Lord saves the most prolific of the apostles, and also saves the church from his determined persecution. A genuine turning point not just for Saul, but for history itself. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 9 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
After Stephen dies as the first Christian martyr, persecution ramps up, and believers start leaving the city of Jerusalem for their safety. The result is the spread of hte gospel. Philip converts a eunuch on the road south and then starts preaching in Caesarea. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 8 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus said if they persecuted the master, they will persecute the servants. It wasn't long before this began and Stephen, one of the seven deacons, is the first person to die for his faith as a Christian. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 7 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In the Bible we have the 12 apostles and the 7 deacons. This chapter describes the choosing of the seven. But what exactly is a deacon, and what did they do? Why were they needed? Do we still have deacons today? Join David Alley as he reads Acts 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Great fear was on the early believers is how the book of Acts describes the feeling after Ananias and his wife Sapphira died after lying to the Lord. This is a chapter easily misunderstood. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Just a few chapters ago in the Bible back in the book of John it was Jesus on trial, but now it is the turn of the apostles. The Pharisees are a bit confused as the problem they had solved with Jesus and his miracles seems to be coming back bigger than before. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Peter and John heal a lame man in miraculous circumstances one day, while on their way to pray at the temple. The healing of that beggar, who initially just wanted money, prompts another sermon by Peter, this time in the temple courts. The apostles are preaching more and more, just as Jesus did. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Acts Chapter 2 is considered by many to be the birthday of the Church, even though faith in God traces itself back to Abraham and all the way back to Adam. On the day the H0ly Spirit fell, remarkable things happened in Jerusalem including people speaking in other languages, and most remarkable, that their hearts were changed to love one another. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Luke begins his second book which is a history of the things the Lord did through the early believers, the Acts of the Apostles. Chapter one commences with the decision to replace Judas who died, with Matthias, so that there would remain 12 apostles of the lamb. Join David Alley as he reads Acts 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples was after they had been fishing in Galilee and had caught nothing. It was a dramatic encounter which fills the entire last chapter of John, and contains not just the miracle of the fish, but his words to Peter about both Peter and John. Join David Alley as he reads John 21 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
One of my favourite parts of the Bible is where Jesus appears to the twelve a second time, and this occasion Thomas is there. Thomas doubts, but then believes and cries out "My Lord and My God." Having visited the tomb of St Thomas, this whole chapter is alive for me. Join David Alley as he reads John 20 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The last six chapters ofJesus were detailed, covering the many words Christ spoke to his disciples the night before he died. Now the action kicks in aplenty with in the space of one chapter Jesus is sentenced, flogged, crucified, dies and is buried. Join David Alley as he reads John 19 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In John 18, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane when Judas comes with a mob to take him. He is then taken before the Sanhedrin and then Pilate on trial. The things he says surprise us to this day. Join David Alley as he reads John 18 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In John 17 we have a whole chapter which is a recorded prayer of Jesus. In that prayer he prays for himself, for the disciples and for those who will believe - in other words, you and I. Very few of Jesus' prayers are recorded, so what was it exactly that he prayed? Join David Alley as he reads John 17 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The Largest part of the Gospel of John is last supper, which covers a period of five entire chapters. In chapter 16, Jesus promises to send another comforter, the Holy Spirit who will be with them forever. These things are as relevant to us now as they were to the disciples then. Join David Alley as he reads John 16 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus teaches us that He is the TRUE Vine... a remarkable thing to say given all the Old Testament already said about Israel as the Vine. He then goes on to explain how by abiding in Him, a number of remarkable things will happen. Join David Alley as he reads John 15 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In my Father's house are many mansions, right? That is certainly what the King James Version says, but there is another way of understanding what Jesus said to his disciples. Join David Alley as he reads John 14 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The most surprising thing happens, Jesus does the thing for his followers, that his followers should have been doing for him. He demonstrates that instead of our focus being about what should be done for us, we should focus on how we can serve others. Join David Alley as he reads John 13 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
About six days before Jesus dies, he is at dinner with Mary, Martha and Lazarus, when Mary pours a pint of spikenard oil on Jesus' feet and anoints him for his burial. She knows what she is doing, but nobody else has a clue, least of all Judas. How did she know? Join David Alley as he reads John 12 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In John 11 one of Jesus dearest friends dies. The shortest verse in the Bible records that 'Jesus wept.' After waiting four days, and the body had begun to decompose, Jesus returns saying "I am the resurrection and the life." He then raises Lazarus back up causing many to believe. Join David Alley as he reads John 11 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In John 10 Jesus talks about how he is the Good Shepherd, and the door for the sheep pen. He also talks about "other sheep" but who are these other sheep? Some suggested they might be aliens, but the answer is much more down to earth than that. Join David Alley as he reads John 10 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus heals a man who is blind, and was born that way. But we are all born blind and all of us need to see. This chapter is both about the miracle that Jesus performs and also the miracle of spiritual sight. Join David Alley as he reads John 9 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
A woman caught in the act of adultery is brought before Jesus. (Where was the man?) He is reminded that she must be stoned for her sin, and they ask Jesus what to do? He wants to extend mercy, but cannot ignore justice for sin. He is trapped between law and grace? How would you respond? Join David Alley as he reads John 8 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus attended all the major festivals, and some of the minor feasts in Jerusalem. In John 7 he is attending Tabernacles, the festival at which you live in a tent for a week. During that time, there is division in Jerusalem about Jesus because he does Messiah-like things such as miracles, but says the most (in their opinion) un-Messiah-like words. Join David Alley as he reads John 7 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
John's gospel not only has seven signs (miracles) but also seven 'I AM' statements of Jesus. The first of the 'I AM' statements occurs here when Jesus says "I am the bread of life." This entire chapter talks about bread, and the bread of heaven, and there are some interesting things to observe about communion out of this chapter. Join David Alley as he reads John 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
A man lame for 38 years is healed by Jesus in the most remarkable place - a five-sided pool at Bethesda. Details of the pool are themselves a bit controversial, as was the healing of this man at the time that it happened. Join David Alley as he reads John 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
On his walk back to Nazareth Jesus goes through Samaria - a region not overly hospitable to Jews. Jesus meets a woman at the well and has (for her) a most surprising encounter, which results in the entire city of Sychar coming to faith in Christ. Along the way we learn about double speak, and about the Samaritan religion and about true worship. Join David Alley as he reads John 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Nicodemus wanted to follow Jesus, but was a Pharisee. In this chapter Nicodemus has a nightime meeting with Jesus, possibly in secret, to discuss what it means to be his follower. In their conversation we learn about what it means to be born again, something about how to enter the kingdom of heaven, and find the most famous bible verse of all, John 3:16 Join David Alley as he reads John 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
There are seven signs or miracles in John, and this is the first, a remarkable creative miracle at a wedding. The wine had run out, but Jesus creates more from six amphora vessels filled with water. CS Lewis said this was not a remarkable miracle because.... Join David Alley as he reads John 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
John the last of the four evangelists opens his gospel up with an astounding set of verses, and commences to reveal Jesus to the world in a completely different way to the previous three Gospels. Join David Alley as he reads John 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus is alive!!! And he appears multiple times to his disciples in surprising ways revealing himself again. In this chapter he walks with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, a town 11 kilometres away, but they don't realise it is him until a few hours later. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 24 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus is tried, declared innocent, and then sentenced to death. A more unjust scenario could not be described. Luke 23 describes Luke's account of the passion of Christ. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 23 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Luke recounts the last supper and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is in such agony that blood comes out in his sweat, a condition known as hematohidrosis. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 22 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus in the temple starts commenting on the gifts given both the big and the small. Then this video moves into Luke's version of the Olivet Discourse, wehre Jesus warns them about what is ahead, and gives them a unique prayer to pray... "pray that you will escape..." Join David Alley as he reads Luke 21 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The Pharisees want to know who gives Jesus permission to do the things he does, like tear up the temple. Jesus doesn't answer the question. But then they try to trap him with other questions, and he does answer those, with the most remarkable comments. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 20 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Zachaeus was no ordinary tax collector - he was the chief tax collector - the superdintendant of taxation, and a greatly despised human. In striving to see Jesus he climbs a tree (on account of his shortness) and as Jesus walks by he sees him, and invites himself to dinner at his home. The result is that Zacchaeus is converted and starts giving money away. Jesus says "salvation has come to this house" and proves that even a rich man CAN get saved. The impossible can happen. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 19 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
By the side of the road at Jericho was a beggar who was determined to get Jesus attention. The result was that he could see. This chapter also tells the story of the woman who persisted in appealing to a judge for justice, and received it. And the story of a tax collector who approached God in humility and was heard, and Pharisee who approached God in pride and was not. It's a chapter about getting God's attention. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 18 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
On the border of Samaria and Judea, Jesus encounters ten lepers of mixed ethnicity. After healing them, only one returns to say thank you... and it was a Samaritan. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 17 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The parable of the shrewd manager is by all accounts a strange and hard to understand parable. The interpretations of it are numerous. After having contemplated this parable for days, here is what seems a sensible and genuine perspective. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 16 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus tells the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, otherwise known as the prodigal son. This parable continues to speak to us today in some of the most profound and moving ways possible. As it turns out, we are all the prodigal son... and we are also the cranky older sibling. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 15 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
This is the 1000th Bible Video - is been Quite a lot of hard work to get here. Thank you for coming with us on this journey. There are still ~189 videos to go to complete the Bible.
When a tower collapsed in Siloam killing 18 people, what was Jesus perspective on that? And would that be the same as his perspective on 9/11 and the twin towers? When disasters happen, who is to blame?
Jesus says repeatedly not to worry about this life and its concerns, but to seek first the kingdom of God. How exactly do we do that?
The Disciples wanted to know how to pray as do we all. Jesus gives them the Lord's prayer, but gives them more than that. This chapter goes over a number of points from Jesus teaching helping us learn how to pray.
In this video we cover the sending out the the 72 workers, and Jesus instruction to pray for workers in the harvest field. Then we discuss the Good Samaritan - an oxymoron as far as a description goes in the minds of Jews at the time of Jesus. A modern might have put the story in terms of the Israel-Hamas situation in trying to answer who one's neighbour is. An interesting discussion. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 10 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus spent time with his disciples teaching them to do the things he did, and they learnt. Jesus also intends that we learn to do the same things also. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 9 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Luke chapter 8 opens with a list of women who supported Christ in the ministry. What does this mean, and why was it quite radical? Also we clear up a few facts about Mary Magdalene. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 8 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus raises the dead, nothing is beyond him. In raising the widows son, he does what both Elijah and Elisha did int he old testament, replicating the sign of their miraculous ability. He then helps a Gentile soldier, a most unexpected thing. Both soldier and Gentiles were not appreciated by Israelites. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 7 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
In Luke 6 Jesus chooses his twelve disciples, preaches the sermon on the plain, and heals on the sabbath.... again. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 6 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus tells the disciples to "put out to the deep" which is not only what he said, but a metaphor for where he wants us to go in our spiritual lives. Then the disciples catch a miraculous haul of fish. This is also historical and a metaphor for our lives too, which are supposed to be fruitful. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 5 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Jesus visits his own home town and preaches in the synagogue. Reading from Isaiah he makes it plain he is the Messiah, and invokes their wrath. This video explores in more depth this narrative, what his reading means, why his hometown was so angry, AND, the languages Jesus spoke - could he speak Greek? Join David Alley as he reads Luke 4 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
This chapter has a geneaology of Jesus that doesn't match the one in Matthew. They both report that Joseph has a different father, apparently. This video explains the most basic and straightforward way to understand the differences between Matthew and Luke's genealogy of Jesus, and why this is a significant part of the gospels. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 3 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
The birth of Jesus was announced in a royal fashion as myriads of angels sand and welcomed the King. At the same time the newborn king was born in a cave and placed in a feeding trough. Never did such grand happenings coincide with such down-to-earth ordinariness. Such is our Saviour. Join David Alley as he reads Luke 2 and then discusses the chapter and these issues.
Luke writes more of the New Testament than Paul does, or anyone else. Fancy that. In this video we meet Luke, discuss a little of who he was (a medical doctor) and how he came to be included in the Bible. Also who is Theophilus, the person he writes this gospel to? Join David Alley as he reads Luke 1 and then discusses the chapter and these issues. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Jesus said he would destroy the temple and rebuilt it in three days. This was a comment about his death and resurrection. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 15, the crucifixion passage, and then discusses the chapter bringing the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
There are two endings to Mark's gospel, the short ending and the long ending. Most Bibles cut off and say something like... "earliest manuscripts do not include the following verses." Is the ending of Marks' gospel authentic? Is the ending of Marks' gospel inspired by God? Should it be included in the Bible. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 16 and then discusses the chapter and these issues. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Theologians and academics have wrestled for years over an apparent discrepancy between the synoptic gospels and John's gospel - the passover problem. What is the passover problem? Can the passover problem be harmonised? If not, which version is correct? This video presents a simple explanation to the passover problem, drawn from David's research as part of his Masters in Theological Studies at Ridley College. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 14 and then discusses the chapter bringing the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Jesus gave warnings about a period of time called the end of the age. Watch out for false Messiahs!! Brother will betray brother to death!! Do we need to pay attention to these warnings? Join David Alley as he reads Mark 13 and then discusses the chapter bringing the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Jesus was asked some pretty tough questions which seemed to put him in a corner, but he found a remarkable way to answer. Should a believer pay taxes? Is there marriage in Heaven? What is the greatest commandment? Jesus answers all of these in this chapter. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 12 and then discusses the chapter bringing the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Why did Jesus wreak havoc in the temple? Why was he so upset about the money changers? What is a house of prayer for all nations? In Mark 11, Jesus goes into the temple deliberately with a purpose, and a whip, to mess up the sellers and money changers. He was zealous for God's house, and labelled them a "den of robbers." What does it all mean? Join David Alley as he reads Mark 11 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
What is the one thing that is the most important thing for any Christian to do? In this video Jesus talks about the greatest commandments. And what about those videos on youtube where people claim to have gone to Hell? Are they authentic? Join David Alley as he reads Mark 8 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Jesus is Transfigured, and afterward comes down the mountain to cast out a demon that his disciples couldn't remove. He commands the demon to leave, and then tells it never to come back. Why does he add on this last line? Join David Alley as he reads Mark 9 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Jesus feeds a crowd of 5000 men plus women and children. And... there is also a story of Jesus feeding a crowd of 4000 men plus women and children. How many times does Jesus feed a crowd? And what is the meaning of the feeding of these two crowds? And after feeding the crowds, despite how much leftover food there is, the disciples forget to bring bread. Jesus tells them to "Beware the yeast" of the Pharisees, which causes them to assume that something is wrong with bread obtained from those people. What was he really meaning? Join David Alley as he reads Mark 8 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Can a Christian eat bacon? We made a previous video about this at https://youtu.be/1mF0h9qz4Gg That video created an interesting comment thread with many various opinions. Here is part 2 following on from that. In Part 1, Jesus talked about clean and unclean food in Matthew chapter 15. Now, in the light of Mark 7 and Jesus comments there, and mindful of the comments on the previous video, here are some more consolidated thoughts on the matter. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 7 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Mark's Gospel is the only gospel that tells us Jesus was a carpenter. But the english word carpenter isn't a cabinet marker, or furniture creator as you might first thing. Jesus was a Builder. And that is important. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 6 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Are demons real? Why are there demon stories in the Bible? Are there demons today? In Mark 5 there is a story where Jesus meets a truly demon posessed man, and cleanses him of two thousand. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 5 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
What is the kingdom of God like? What will God's rule be like? How will God manage people and everything? Jesus tells parables to try to explain, but those with ears will hear. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 4 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Our dear Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ love Mary and many say the 'Hail Mary' which labels her the Mother of God. What should we think about that? In this chapter Jesus is visited by his mother and brothers and sisters. What he says about that visit sheds light on who we are. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 3 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Mark is a person not many people know too much about. Who exactly is he? The Gospel of Mark is an action packed adventure, written a blistering speed. Learn about the differences between Matthew and Mark and why we need four gospels. Join David Alley as he reads Mark 1 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Mark chapter 2 tells us the actual house that Jesus live in. Where was that? And archaeologists have found that house? What did they find? Join David Alley as he reads Mark 2 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life. This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information.
Who is to blame for Jesus death? The Romans? The Jews? Or You and I? And why did Jesus allow himself to die? What was it about Jesus that compelled him to go to the cross? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 27 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus never told the apostles to make disciples until after the resurrection. What an interesting thought. Does that prove the resurrection happened? And Jesus told them to baptise converts, so baptism is a command of the Lord, and also something he did to set an example. In this chapter we talk baptism, evangelism and more. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 21 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Which disciple knew Jesus was going to die, and helped him get ready for it? Why didn't the 12 disciples know even though they were told. And why did Judas betray Jesus? This is the second longest chapter in the NT, covering the last few days before Jesus dies. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 26 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus continues his sermon on the Mt of Olives and is now explaining how to be ready for when he will return. To do so he tells three parables. The parable of the ten virgins. The parable of the talents The parable of the sheep and goats. So.... how do you be ready for the Lord's return? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 25 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
The End of the World is a attention getting topic, and Jesus talked about it. What did he say? Will is happen soon? What will the sign be that it is about to happen? Will it be in our lifetimes? How can we be ready? This video is a longer one than usual. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 24 and then comments on this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
After the temple and religious leaders fail to trap Jesus, he proclaims woe and disaster on them... seven times. Is this symbolic? Is this anything like the seven trumpets of revelation or any of the other sevens? What were the seven woes? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 23 and then comments on this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus tells a few parables which the temple leaders resent, and then they send their best to discredit him with tricky questions. Should we pay taxes to Caesar? A question designed to trick Jesus into seeming like he either does or does not support the Romans. That fails and then the Sadducess have a go and Jesus answer to them about the resurrection is also a breathtaking answer. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 22 and then comments on this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus goes into the temple with a whip? He is wild. What was he thinking? And what about that little Christian bookshop in your local church? Are they committing the same sin that upset Jesus? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 21 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
James and John ask to sit on Jesus left and right in his kingdom. They think this is an earthly and political kingdom, but even so Christ asks them back, "Can you drink the cup of my suffering?" That's a question for us to consider too. This chapter also contains another anti-Israelite parable and the healing of two blind men on the road from Jericho. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 20 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
In the time of Jesus there were two views about divorce, and the experts at the time asked Jesus which of these schools he supported. His answer didn't neatly fit into either school. Today there are four main views on divorce. What are those views and what should a Christian believe in today's world. Jesus makes it clear. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 19 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
After finding out that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus takes his closest disciples (just 3 of them) to climb Mt Hermon (3km high) where he changes form and shows them his glorious self. It's an exciting moment, and its "proof" of who he says he is to these three disciples. But a very significant thing is overlooked by them, and it seems by us too. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 17 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Peter asks Jesus if giving people forgiveness seven times is good enough. He must be thinking its a generous amount. But what is real forgiveness and what is going on with Jesus answer that it should be not seven times but 490 times. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 18 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Who do you think I am? Jesus asks, and Peter realises, "You are the Christ." This is a major turning point in the gospel stories and in all of human history. From this time Jesus starts trying to correct thier misunderstandings about who the Messiah is, and what he was to do. But sadly they are stuck on their concept of a military Messiah. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 16 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Up north of Israel, in Lebanon, Jesus and the disciples meet a Canaanite. Why does he call her a dog? And how does she react to that? Was Jesus racist? Was Jesus biased against non Israelites? What does Jesus think about non Jewish people today, like you or I? Join David Alley as he reads the later part of Matthew 15 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Did Jesus eat Bacon? Did Jesus say we can eat Bacon? Why do Christians eat Pork but Jews and Muslims don't? What makes someone clean or unclean? Can a food made you morally unclean? Jesus talks about being clean and unclean in this chapter. Join David Alley as he reads the first part of Matthew 15 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus experienced personal tragedy too. In this chapter his cousin has his head chopped off, and Jesus is thronged by huge crowds and has no time for personal grief. Have you ever struggled to get personal space? Have you had a loved one brutally murdered? How do you feel when you family suffers? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 13 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus tells more parables to help us understand the kingdom of God. He talks about a treasure worth more than anything else. What is that treasure?And does Jesus have brothers and sisters? Why do Catholics say he doesn't and the Orthodox say he "kind of does?" Join David Alley as he reads the second half of Matthew 13 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
In Matthew 13, Jesus starts telling parables to describe the kingdom of Heaven. In the parable of the mustard seed he says the kingdom grows fast. John Lennon of the Beatles famously said "we're more popular than Jesus." So who is right, Jesus or Lennon? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 13:1-42 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Can you drive on the Sabbath? What is the Sabbath? Is the Sabbath Saturday or Sunday? What did Jesus say about the Sabbath? So many sabbath questions answered in this video. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 12 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
The town that Jesus grew up in was Nazareth, but they struggled to receive Jesus. Some other towns that Jesus visited regularly also really struggled to realise who he was. These towns are condemned in this chapter and Jesus said it will be better for SODOM AND GOMORROAH than these places on judgement day. Does it seems a bit extreme? There is a very good reason why. And a huge lesson for our lives too. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 11 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus sends out the 12 apostles, but won't let them talk to anyone other than Israelites. Why? He also tells them if they are not accepted in a town to wipe the dust off their feet. Is he telling them to curse that town? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 10 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Jesus goes to raise a dead girl back to life, but tells the parents she is only sleeping. People ridiculed Jesus, but he was very serious. What on earth could he have meant? This video explains. Jesus also calls Matthew, a tax collector to come be a follower of his. Tax collectors were despised. This was a radical moment. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 9 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
After healing a terrible case of leprosy, Jesus tells the leper to keep it a secret. Why would he say that? The casting out thousands of demons out of two insane men, the demons enter an entire herd of pigs (two thousand) who rush into the lake and drown. The entire town wanted Jesus to go away, but why were they farming pigs? Don't Jews avoid pigs? And Jesus tells a parable which seems to suggest the Gentiles will do better in Heaven than Jews will. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 8 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Does your church have a hypocrite in it? How do you know if you are being hypocritical or not? Plus does God give you whatever you ask for? Why did God say not to judge others, and what does that mean? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 7:1-12 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
There would be nothing more shocking that thinking you had served God your whole life to find out, you were serving your own interests instead. As the Sermon on the Mount wraps up there are more surprises. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 7:13-29 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
We've all seen those cartoons of the man at the Pearly Gates with a wheelbarrow of gold who can't take his gold in. But you CAN take some things to heaven with you. And you can store up treasure in advance before you get there. This video continues int he sermon on the mount as JEsus talks money.
Mr Beast gives away millions, but uses it to grow his popularity on youtube. Does he get browny points with God? How do you earn favour with God? And how do you pray? Jesus talks about these things in this chapter. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 6:1-18 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
What is the hardest thing Jesus told us to do? It's found in this passage. What advice did Jesus give Jews when Romans asked them to help them, and how exactly was Mahatma Ghandi influenced by the sermon on the mount? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 5:34-48 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
Previously Jesus told us about the 8 Beautiful Attitudes - the Beatitudes. But now he warns us about some Ugly Attitudes - Uglitudes. What attitudes does he refer to? Do these uglitudes infect you? How do you get rid of them? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 5:13-32 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
In this video Jesus has been living in Nazareth for years, but he decides its time to move north east and setup in Capernaum on the shore of Lake Galilee. Prior to starting his ministry he is tempted by Satan. However does the temptation seems a bit lame to you? Is being tempted to thrown yourself off a building actually a serious temptation? What does this say about when we are tempted? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 4 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
What are the 8 things that Jesus says will make you happy? What is the most famous sermon of all time? What does Jesus say in his sermon on the mount? How was even modern India impacted by Jesus teaching? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 5:1-12 and then answers questions about this passage bringing the books of the Bible to life.
What does a grasshopper taste like? Does cooking them improve the taste? Why did John the Baptist start baptising people? Why did Jesus need someone lower than him to baptist him? Learn about why Jesus honoured John even though Jesus was greater. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 3 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the chapters of the Bible to life.
The wise men, otherwise known as Magi, come from an Eastern land seeking a king they discerned was to be born. Who were these Magi, and are they the same as the wise men we already met in the book of Daniel? And Jesus moves to Nazareth and becomes a Nazarene, but what is that exactly? Is it the same as a Nazirite? In the same way the wise men seek Jesus, how can we also seek him? Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 2 and then answers questions about this chapter, and gives insightful and spiritual comment, bringing the chapters of the Bible to life.
The New Testament kicks off with Matthew's Gospel, an immediately we find ourselves immersed in a world we are not familiar with. What is a gospel? Why is the family tree of Jesus such a big deal? Why does the mathematics of the family tree of Jesus seem so 'exact?' Was Jesus really born of a virgin and much much more. Join David Alley as he reads Matthew 1 and then answers questions about this chapter bringing the books of the Bible to life.
After Having Complete the Entire Old Testament we come to..... the 400 years gap, otherwise known as the Inter-testamental period. WHat is the go with that? Why did God seem to dissaper for 400 years?
In the last chapter of hte Old Testament we have a surprise - Elijah is going to come, and he has a special job to do. So who/what is this Elijah and what was he going to do?
Bring the Whole Tithe into the storehouse says the Lord. So are we supposed to tithe or not? Do the NT and OT really say opposite thigns?
God hates divorce, so says the book of Malachi. But why exactly is that the case, especially given that God divorces his own wife earlier in the Bible.
The last little book of the Old Testament contains some surprises, including a comment that seems to suggest God hated Esau, the brother of Jacob. What is that all about?
The last little book of the Old Testament contains some surprises, including a comment that seems to suggest God hated Esau, the brother of Jacob. What is that all about?
In Zechariah 13 it says a spring will be opened in David's house. What is this spring? It would seem that over 2200 years later, the English songwriter William Cowper would pen "There is a fountain filled with blood, that flows from Emmanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath the flood, lose all their guilty stains. This chapter is an amazing view into what Jesus would do, from 400 years before he did it.
In Zechariah 11, we find what seems at first an obscure and difficult prophecy about three shepherds, and about fire devouring Lebanon. But soon it becomes apparent it is talking about the temple and the probably the priests.
Who put Jesus on the Cross? Its an age-old question and so often the blame is either the Jews or the Romans. Who then exactly is going to look on the one "they" have pierced and mourn? Is it the jews, or something else?
In this chapter, Zechariah comes out with a prophecy more like the type we would see in Isaiah, and it includes strong Messianic and gospel ideas. The most obvious is the Palm Sunday prophecy in verse 9 quoted by the gospel writers. Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey. However hidden in this chapter is also the telling of the destruction of the temple and the spreading of the gospel after Jesus death and resurrection. Who knew? Christ did, that is for sure.
In this video God is cranky because the people are listening to what they think is the voice of idols, and they attribute the blessing of rain and fertile harvests to Teraphim, that is other gods which are not even gods. The Lord declares he is sendin the cornerstone and the nail which are both symbols of Christ. He is also sending the battleblow - a symbol of judgement against Jerusalem. He is going to sow them into the nations, which is what happens, and the result is an amazing gospel outcome some 400 years later.
In this chapter God finishes answering the question started in chapter 7. As a part of that answer he fortells of a time when people from everywhere will take a hold of the edge of the robe of Jewish man and want to be with him, for God is with him. That strange picture is in fact a reality in a most unexpected way. It is true right now. But how?
A delegation of Jewish people from Bethel came to ask Zechariah if they should keep up thier fasting on Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the year. The answer from the Lord was rather surprising... he said, you are not fasting for me, you are.....
Zechariah has a vision of a large flying scroll about ten meters long and five meters wide. In this unusual chapter it seems God is calling in the covenant and winding it up, the end of Mosaic Judaism is foreshadowed. What does it all mean?
Get your symbols wrong and the meaning shifts wildly. In this vision of a golden menorah with two olive trees, one on each side, it is important to know what the lampstand and the trees represent. While the menorah is a symbol in culture of Israel, in the Bible it is a symbol of the Church.... (see Rev 1) and thus we have a vision of Church times.... but what might it mean?
The visions of Zechariah are strange and the interpretations can be diverse. In this chapter he sees four sets of horses in varying colours, just like the horses of hte apocalypse in the book of Revelation. What is the chance these are the same horses? The chapter finishes with an unexpected reference to people who are far off (the Gentiles) coming to build God's house (the temple). What does this mean?
In this chapter Zechariah has a vision of a man called Joshua. On the human level this is a man wearing dirty clothes, and they are rmoved and he is given clean high priestly clothes to wear.
Ezekiel has strange visions, including of a man with a tape measuring the apparent third temple. John sees also a man with a measuring rod in the book of Revelation, and now Zechariah sees probably the same man. What is this all about.
Zechariah is the second post-exilic prophet - that is the second prophet in the Bible after the exile. HIs book is quirky, and full of the most interesting and strange visions which have people debating still today. In this first chapter a man appears on a red horse with an army behind him... we are pretty sure that is Jesus. What is the go with that? And in the first six verses we meet the fastest revival in history.
The newly rebuilt second temple looked a bit ordinary compared to the fantastic first temple of Solomon which was covered in gold. Haggai declared that the glory of the "latter" temple would be greater than that of the first temple. Was that latter temple the one standing at the time of Haggai 2? Was it the temple of Herod? Was it he temple in Ezekiel's vision? Was it the spiritual temple in the New Testament? What does that phrase mean?
The last three books of the Old Testament are the post-exilic prophets. Here the people were focussed on getting their lives back on track, but were neglecting the work of the Lord and his temple. We do the exact same thing today, focussing on getting ahead in life, financially, health-wise, marriage-wise and more, and the Lord's work is on the back burner. Haggai teaches us about this scenario and the lesson is worth learning.
The last chapter of Zephaniah talks about the rebellious and obstinate city Jerusalem, but also about how God will redeem, not just Israel, but also the nations far away. From beyond Cush (that is Ethiopia) offerings will be brought. What does this mean in New Testament terms? Could this be talking about us?
Zephaniah is a prophet that seems to declare the judgements of God in the most pointed terms, and while many people think there are two judgements in this chapter, it seems there are actually three. What are they? And how do they affect you?
Zephaniah prophecies with such urgency that it seems as if action is not taken immediately the world will end. Why the urgency if the world in fact will not end for thousands of years or more?
The last chapter of Habakkuk is a prayer, similar to the psalms. It is a prayer of praise in the midst of a situation where every single thing you can possibly imagine has gone wrong. What do you do in such a situation like that? You follow the example of Habakkuk, as described in this video.
Three times in the New Testament this chapter of Habakkuk is quoted, in Romans, in Galatians, and in Hebrews. What does the New Testament have to say about Righteousness, faith and life?
Habakkuk prays for revival in Judah, but it seems like God is not listening to him, so he complains about it. But then, God answers his complaint with the most surprising of answers...
The Assyrians were not known for mercy, and they were responsible for the complete and absolute destruction of No-Amon (Thebes) in Egypt. Now just fifty years later, Nahum compares Thebes to Nineveh.
Nahum prophecies the fall of Nineveh, down to the colour of the attacking armies, who wore red battle attire. The Lord in his everlasting patience had given the Assyrians an extra one hundred years from the time of Jonah's warnings, but Nahum comes to declare that the end is near. That great city of 600,000 people was soon gone.
Just a few books earlier in the Bible Jonah went to Nineveh and the result was mercy. Now Nahum has a word for Nineveh and the result is doom. This chapter outlines how the city was to fall to flood, fire and attacking armies, and Diodorus Siculus outlines how massive flooding undermined the walls of the city, which collapsed allowing in the attacked Medes and Babylonians.
This chapter is divided into two parts. The first is for the ungodly Israel and the second for the godly Israel. One the one hand they are both Israel, but on the other hand only the godly is true Israel.
God has a complaint and takes Israel and Judah to court. In the process the question is asked... what does God actually want from his people. And the answer is to "Act Justly, Love Mercy and to Walk Humbly with your God." A famous passage.
This chapter of Micah continues with the Messianic and gospel prophecies and here the location of the birthplace of the Saviour is identified. This was quoted by Matthew in his gospel and was the reason why Herod the Great sent soldiers to try to kill infant Jesus at Bethlehem.
In this chapter, which is very similar to Isaiah 2, Micah prophecies a time coming which seems idyllic. It is gospel times - in the days after the Messiah has come. In this video David explains how in fact these days are here right now and tells a story from the Solomon Islands to illustrate.
In this Chapter Micah Prophecies that Zion will be a plowed field. That reference makes an appearance in the book of Jeremiah about 100 years later. It is there that we discover that Micah was listened too, and appears to have played a part in sparking a revival in Jerusalem, because this word was heard. But later generations failed to heed, and Micah's prophecy ultimately came true. How did this all happen?
Micah prophesies that the Lord is preparing a disaster for Judah. There was extortion and a lack of justice in the land, and God was not happy. He planned on teaching a lesson. More precisely the Lord decided he was going to take the land back from the people He had originally promised it to. And the reality is that from that point until today, the inheritance system of land ownership that was setup in the Mosaic law has not functioned.
Micah of Moresheth is an otherwise unknown prophet from a small town near the border of the land of the Philistines. But his message is not a small message. The Lord bears witness against Israel and Judah. In a regular Bible, the Lord had just spoken of his mercy to the ruthless foreigners at Ninevah in Jonah chapter 4, and now just words later in Micah 1, the Lord is tough on his own people. But why?
Jonah was a prophet and a gospel preacher, but why did he want those he preached to, to end up in Hell. This chapter delves into the very bad attitudes and values of Jonah the prophet.
After Jonah's miraculous deliverance he does in fact go to preach at Nineveh, and the weirdest thing happens. The people of Nineveh repent and receive the word of the Lord - there is a great old testament revival.
Jonah was swallowed by a big fish and in that place prays a desperate prayer. In his prayer he "prays from hell." Is he in fact dead? Is Jonah a death and resurrection miracle.
God wants Jonah to preach at Nineveh - the biggest city in the world at the time. Jonah struggles with prejudice against Ninevites and doesn't want to go, so he flees the opposite direction, by boarding a ship for Spain. But you can't really run away from God, can you?
After 8 chapters of judgement, the last chapter of Amos contains hope, and the Lord is going to restore the fallen tent of David. But what is that tent, and what does it mean? This is a messianic prophecy about Christ, and about the inclusion of the Gentiles into the plans of God.
Amos sees a vision of fruit - ripe and ready to be eaten. This fruit is a picture of Israel - ready to be consumed. The sins of Israel had gone before it and in some ways we are just the same.
In this chapter the priest at Bethel, Amaziah, commands him to leave. Bethel was the site of the golden calf worship and Amos took advantage of this location to declare the words of the true God. But now he must go. And meanwhile Amos has five visions from the Lord and we find out he is a farmer of sycamore figs.
Are you a "fat Christian" enjoying the goodness of God? Are you "secure in Zion" while not considering the needs of others? Or are you looking forward to the punishment and judgement of others becase "they deserve it." There were people going through all of these types of scenarios in Israel and Judah. But we must not fall into the same trap
"Off you go to Bethel, and sin. Go to Gilgal, and sin more." (Amos 4:4) Since when does the Lord actually tell people to sin. In this chapter the Lord gets sarcastic against the people of Israel and in reality his message is a message of Judgement through the prophet Amos. What does it mean for us?
Amos writes a lament for Israel - a very sad poem. "The virgin of Israel has fallen, she shall rise no more." We see in this chapter that while the Lord judges, he is also sad and sorrowful. God is emotional - he cares a great deal.
In chapter 1 of Amos, there were judgement prophecies against Tyre, Edom, Syria and the Philistines. But now the prophecies circle in closer and closer to Israel, and she gets the toughest judgement of them all.
God chose Israel, but they received it like a spouse in marriage that wants all the benefits but none of the responsibility. Can two walk together unless they be agreed, says the Lord? And so Israel deserts the Lord, and there are implications of this, which the prophet Amos reveals.
God had enough of Edom - that is the descendants of Esau - and he determined that there would be nothing left of them. Esau/Edom has featured prominently in the Bible, but the Lord decides to remove them. In this chapter we consider why, and thier marvellous city of Petra.
Amos is a prophet, a shepherd, and a man who grew figs, from the small town of Tekoa. He is quite unknown, but his declarations of Judgement from the Lord, are not just for Israel and Judah but for all the surrounding nations. The Lord has decided there will be wrath. What does it all mean? And, have you ever heard a sermon on Amos before?
When you hear that God is going to juge all nations you think He is going to wipe them out, but it turns out he rescues them. And When you hear that he is going to restore Israel - it means something different too.
The most famous quote from Joel, preached by Peter on the Day of Pentecost is in this chapter. It gives us context to unerstand what the Lord was really thinking when he said to "Blow the Trumpet in Zion." The chapters starts with an "air raid siren" warning the people to get to their spiritual bunkers and get right with God.
In Joel's day he witnesses a locust plague so severe that even the bark on trees was eat back. Joel tells the Lord's people to get themselves into church and start praying NOW. There is real urgency. This is a serious matter indeed.
So much of the book of Hosea has been specifically about the northern nation of Israel and its specific sins and woes. But the book finishes with a Messianic gospel prophecy that Israel - but this time the Israel is a different Israel - will be saved. The true Israel - those of faith in Christ - would be restored. The book of Hosea finishes with hope.
Although coming at the end of the book of Hosea, we have a chapter that lists the horrible, nauseating, and depressing sins of Israel. The Lord had been so patient with them, and from the time Hosea spoke he would continue to be patient. Why did they not listen?
Jacob wrestled with God once at Penuel in the book of Genesis, but as a nation and a people group, Jacob has never stopped wrestling with God and God wrestles with what to do about them.
This chapter starts with "Don't Rejoice Israel" and the things that God had to say to them through Hosea were not good news. They did not please God and it wasn't ok, and they were not to be happy about it. LIke a smirking teenager the Lord was going to remove that bad attitude.
This chapter contains the famous verse in Hosea quoted by Matthew in his gospel. It got us all thinking about how Jesus parallels what Israel did in his own life, except He did it properly. This chapter helps us understand that Jesus is the true Israel.
Hosea's prophecy of judgement and warnings continue. In this chapter he tells them to "break up their fallow ground," or in other words, to soften their hearts. Charles Finney the great revivalist preached from this chapter in his lectures on revivals of religion and brought many people back to heartfelt faith in Christ.
How can you forget your maker? Can you forget your parents? This is what Israel did in the days of Hosea. The Lord announces that he is going to send an Eagle - the nation of the Assyrians - to punish Israel. This is a prophecy of judgement.
There were things that Israel did, and they thought that nobody saw them, but God sees everything. "Be sure your sins will find you out" says the scriptures. King Jeroboam not only setup the false worship system at Dan and Bethel, but celebrated the wicked use of it. God had something to say about that as Hosea records.
The people of Israel had this idea that if things went wrong, they could "just say sorry" and everything would be find - after all God is so kind and gracious. In this chapter of Hosea, we find out that God isn't a meal ticket and knows the intent of the heart.
Hosea says "Listen you priests", but these are not hte priests of the temple in Jerusalem, these are the priests of the golden calves at Dan and Bethel. Another entire religious system is happening in Israel and in the mind of God, this is a type of prostitution.
Hosea lived in a day with many gods - a polytheistic culture. People were free to worship whatever they felt like. They had choice. Today's culture is relativistic and you can believe whatever you want. There is a remarkable similarity between polytheism and relativism. What does Hosea have to say about that?
Hosea's wife Gomer (a prostitute) gets to the bottom of the barrel and ends up on the slave auction block. The Lord commands Hosea to go take his wife back, so she is redeemed. This is a picture of the Lord's redemption of His Church.
Hosea married a prostitute (chapter 1) and has three children, some of which are not his children. The story of Israel's (and our) unfaithfulness continues, while the Lord's faithfulness also continues. In this chapter Hosea declares the Lord's displeasure with his wife, and Hosea must care for children that are not his.
Nobody wants to swap places with Hosea - the prophet that was told by the Lord to take for himself a "wife of unfaithfulness." His prostitute bride ended up having three children and it seems at least two of them were not his kids. This chapter introduces us to a living illustration of the Lord's faithfulness and his wife's unfaithfulness.
Daniel 12 is the last of three chapters describing his angelic appearnce and what the angel had to say. The angels words described a lengthy history of at least a few hundreds years of striving between the king of the north, the asian kings of Greece, and the king of the south, the ptolemies. Many people throw this chapter right into the end of the world and see antichrists and other things in it, rather than seeing it as about the time leading up to the arrival of Jesus the first time he appeared.
Daniel had remarkable visions about the future, and this chapter is no less remarkable. An angel reveals to Daniel political and spiritual details about the future for hundreds of years, which quite specifically came to pass. God knew what the future held and information like this was able to assist the HIgh Priest of Jerusalem in future years to not resist Alexander the Great, but to cooperate with him. But after Alexander came Antiochus IV - of who the books of Maccabees mention. He was a nasty Tyrant who tried to force the Jews into being Greeks rather than following the Lord. Daniel was shown it in advance of when it happened.
Daniel is in prayer and the Lord sends an angel with an answer, but the angel is held up by a demon and they battle in the spirit realm for three weeks. And so Daniel continues his fasting and prayer oblivious of what is transpiring. Finally the angel arrives with the vision, and a story of his experience. This chapter opens the door to the spirit realm, something we don't see very much of in overt terms in the Bible. We learn that sometimes 'princes' are people but sometimes they are spirits. There are implications for this. In this chapter we learn about prayer, spiritual warfare, and something about the spiritual realm.
There are many remarkable prophecies in scripture, but this must be the most amazing of them all. Sadly, a dispensational perspective tries to steal the thunder from Jesus and give it to the 'AntiChrist.' We are not even sure there will even be an AntiChrist. But once we get the perspective fixed properly, this is an incredible prophecy about Jesus and what he was going to do for the Jews and also for the Gentiles. We also consider the symbolism of the number 490 which is found int he Bible in a number of places from Genesis 4 and 5, right through to Matthew's gospel where Jesus talks to Peter about forgiveness. The seventy sevens of Daniel is a passage of scripture that should bring awe to the heart of every believer and show us a new perspective of God's wonder working grace.
We now get to the prophecy part of Daniel's book which is no less interesting than the story part was. We are thrown right in with the vision of the four beasts, the fourth of which is..... terrifying. And what is that little horn that Daniel sees?
In this marvellous vision of the future, Daniel sees a vision of a goat, which represented Alexander the Great, who conquered the Persian Empire, but then his horn snapped off and was replaced by four horns, which were the four empires that came from him. This vision is so accurate that it prompted some people to think Daniel could not possibly have seen this vision, and the book must be a made up book later after the events. Is that the case? The answer is stranger than you think.
Daniel survives an elaborate ruse to get rid of him, and the lions as well. But those who plotted the ruse had short-sighted thinking and end up as lion chow. This chapter is more than just a great sunday school story - it has meaning that applies to our lives today, and is also a picture of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection and his intercession on our behalf.
As King Belshazzar has a wild party using cups from God's temple in mockery, a hand appears and there is mysterious writing on the wall. TEKE TEKE MENE PARSIN It was all over for the Babylonian empire and that night the Persians invaded the city via an elaborate trick that involved lowering the water level in the river and entering the city through the moat. Daniel explains the mysterious writing and becomes the third highest ruler in Babylon.... for a brief time.
In my opinion (David Alley's) this is one of the most remarkable chapters of the entire Bible, because it was written by the evil King Nebuchadnezzar and seems to show us that he became a believer in God, and then encouraged the entire Babylonian Empire to know Him. How is it that Israel for 500+ years have so little effect on the surrounding nations, to show them God's love, but one person (Daniel) has such a big effect in just a short amount of time on this King, resulting in this incredible chapter.
Inspired by his dream, but apparently not having learned the lesson, Nebuchadnezzar builds a giant statue and compels the people of Babylon to worship it. This presents an ethical dilemma to three of Daniel's friends. In this chapter we consider what faith is - do you obey God when it appears you are gong to die for it? What do we learn about how we should walk and trust the Lord?
Nebuchadnezzar has a terrifying dream, and calls his expert dream interpreters (the wise man, enchanters and the magi) to figure it out.... except he will not tell the the dream. They must tell him the dream AND the interpretation or he will kill them. Daniel seeks the Lord and has the same dream and the Lord gives him the meaning. It was a dream of a giant statue with a gold head, and a rock that flew in from outer space and destroyed it. What does it mean? How does this affect us today?
Daniel, and his three friends Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael are among the earliest Jewish people taken into exile in Babylon. They are presumably castrated and put into the public service under the watchful eye of Ashpenaz the caretaker of the eunuchs. While in Babylon Daniel is renamed after a foreign god, taughter a foreign way of life and language, and is surrounded by worldliness. How does he maintain his faith, while maintaining friendliness and kindness to those wanting him to change?
In the final chapter of Ezekiel's grand vision, he is shown how the promised land is to be divided up. The tribes get a strip each from left to right starting with Dan at the top, each tribe in turn all the way to Gad at the very bottom. In the middle is a giant chunk designated for the priests. What should we make of this unusual and quite impractical breakup of the land?
In Ezekiel's grand 9 chapter long vision, this chapter is one of the most intruiging features, and strongly suggests we are not talking about a physical temple, but a spiritual one. The river gets deeper and deeper as it goes, eventually flowing all the way to the dead sea, which it turns into a living sea full of fish. This is nothing other than the fruitfulness of God's people, who have springs of living water welling up within them.
Ezekiel's grand vision continues, and now he sees the city. It would seem it is the same city that is described in Revelation 21 - the New Jerusalem.
Ezekiel's grand vision of the future temple continues, and now he sees the festival practices, including the Passover, that are happening. What do we make of these things, when we are clearly in the New Covenant?
Ezekiel's grand vision of the temple continues and now he sees some of the practices of the temple. In this chapter it becomes clear that only the Prince can enter by way of the east gate. What does this mean? What is the symbolism of the east?
Paul tells us that the glory of the new covenant surpasses that of the old covenant. And in this chapter Ezekiel's vision of the spiritual temple continues, and he sees the glory, which previously departed from the physical temple, now return and fill this spiritual building which is the Body of Christ on earth.
In chapter 3 of this nine chapter long vision of Ezekiel's, the measuring of the temple continues. The outer area is now measured and we find out that the space required for this temple is too big for the available space. David explains why that is ok, because this is not a temple that is ever going to be physically built. NOTE: In the youtube comments section, @Noniksleft made this correction to the math: 500 x 6 x 52.4cm = 1.572Km
Ezekiel continues his grand vision and the man with the rod takes him into the most holy place. As the measurements of all the various parts of this grand new temple are advised, one thing becomes clear.... this temple is not going to fit on the existing site of the current temple. What is the reason for these measurements? Is this even a real temple?
Later in Ezekiel's life he has a grand vision, the longest of any in his book. In his vision he sees someone who appears to be Christ, with a measuring reed in his hand, and they set out to explore the land and what seems to be a third temple.... except, the second temple wasn't build yet. What do we make of this visionary temple? There are many theories, and starting with this chapter and the 8 that follow it, we will explore these ideas.
Gog and Magog are misunderstood in scripture, and every commentator seems to have a different belief. What seems clear to David is that when Jesus went to the cross, he defeated the works of Satan, and conquered the kingdoms of the world. In this video we learn that "on the mountains of Israel" when Jesus submitted to the Father, he defeated the devil and led him in triumph, destroying his works. God and Magog were humiliated.
This is one of the most misunderstood chapters in the Bible, but David believes it is a picture of the great triumph of Jesus over Satan, who in this chapter and the next is called the "Chief Prince" of the nations. Jesus defeats Satan at Calvary and takes the nations back through his atoning work. Gog and Magog are not some combination of Russia, and Iran attacking Israel. That idea is particularly tenuous and as is based on just about no evidence whatsoever.
Have you every tried to raise someone from the dead? What about if there were only bones to work with? In this chapter Ezekiel sees a vision of a valley of bones that becomes a living army. This is the closest you get to a Zombie Apocalypse in the Bible, but is nothing of the sort. What is the interpretation of this remarkable vision? Also, in this video David explains why there is a skull on his desk - is he copying St Jerome?
In the last chapter (Ezekiel 35) God prophecies against one mountain - Mt Seir. But in this chapter God prophecies towards many mountains in the land of Israel - promising many good things including.... that he would pour out the Holy Spirit on them? How exactly does a mountain receive the Holy Spirit? This video explains.
A strange prophecy against.... a mountain? Well the mountain actually represents the Edomites, the people of Edom, the descendants of Esau. God is very annoyed with them for reasons this video will explain.
Ezekiel hears the Lord's frustration against the Shepherds of Israel who only feed and care for themselves, and have little regard for the flock. Then we hear that there is one flock and one true shepherd - which of course is Christ. Watch this video and consider the Shepherd of our Souls, Jesus.
The Lord sets Ezekiel as a watchman over the house of Israel. A watchman had a job of alerting when an enemy was approaching, and like Paul Revere, sounding the alarm. But what about spiritual watchman, and our role today?
We have heard that at the end of hte world the sun, moon and stars will go out. Jesus said it in Matthew 24. But did you know he was quoting the Old Testament prophets concerning thier prophecies about Egypt, and about Babylon. The lights went out for those nations. Here in the Egypt prophecy we will consider what it means for the lights to go out, and hence what it also meant for Jerusalem in Matt 24.
Some things are too big to crash, right? We cannot imagine Google going away, or Facebook, or the USA. And yet Egypt in its day was such a big immovable object but in this chapter Ezekiel says they are going down.
End time Bible enthusiasts have heard about the prohpecy that the Euphrates River will dry up - but did you know Ezekiel predicts the rivers in Egypt will dry up.... surely not the Nile? In this video we discuss what the symbolism of a river drying up means. It doesn't mean actually going dry right?
In Ezekiel 28 we have a passage of prophecy against the King of Tyre, but it turns out that this "king" is a demonic principality none other than Lucifer. This angelic being was found in Eden and wore a breastplate of twelve precious stones just like the High Priests did in the Temple. What do we make of that? Join us as we explore the Lucifer Prophecy.
Pharoah the king of Egypt is called "that great monster" in this prophecy against Egypt. The Lord says he will put hooks in his jaws and take him away, and Egypt will become the lowest of kingdoms, never to recover its prominent position. Does this happen?
The Phoenicians are described in the most horrible way in the Bible, and the ancient Roman historians agreed. The discovery of a "baby cemetery" at Carthage seems to give evidence that agrees with both the Bible and the Romans. But what was so horrible about Tyre and the Phoenicians? And is this why God proclaimed such judgements against them?
Tyre was to have it's walls pulled down, and become a palce for the spreading of nets. How exactly was a city on the mainland, going to become a place where fishing would happen. In this video we explore the amazing fulfilment of a prophecy that occured when Alexander the Great threw the mainland city into the sea to build a land bridge.
Ezekiel brings four short prophecies against four nearby countries all of which have the same concluding idea - that they would know that He is God. One of the nations, Ammon, looked at what happened to God's people and was delighted - they were so happy that Jerusalem was destroyed, but that terrible attitude brought them down too. In this video we talk about the gods of the nations, and how these nations would know that the Lord was God through the judgement of what happened.
The Lord tells Ezekiel that when his wife dies, he is not allowed to mourn or show any signs of sadness.... and that night she dies. Why did the Lord say that to Him? Anyone want to swap places with Ezekiel?
Oholah and Oholibah were two sisters who did the most lewd, rude, adulterous and unfaithful things, and the Bible describes their practices in .... well, language you don't want your children reading about. This is "that chapter."
In this video we explore the city of blood, Jerusalem. Or at least in the mind of God it was a city of blood. Why exactly was that the case, and what could the Lord has been so upset about?
A sword! A sword! It is sharpened, and also polished. The sword is sharp, and clean…. Ready to be used. It is sharpened that it may make a slaughter. It is polished that it may be as lightning. Should we then make mirth? The rod of my son condemns every tree. In this chapter Ezekiel gives us a song, the song of the sword. A terrible song about the judgement coming on Jerusalem.
Ezekiel is approached by leaders of God's people wanting to inquire of the Lord, but the Lord refuses to be inquired of. In his mind, their behaviour is despicable. In this video you will learn why God would refuse to talk to people that seemed to be interested in Him.
Judah was a majestic lion, and she had several cubs. The first was taken away in hooks and chains to Egypt, but then the next cub was taken away in chains to Babylon. Ezekiel sang a kinah - a special type of funeral song - for these poor cubs, and the end of Judah. Join us as we explore what this is all about.
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? That parable is the basis for a word from the Lord to Ezekiel about how the moral choices of parents affect their children.
An Eagle flies down and snaps the top off a cedar tree and plants it far away, but the plant actually reaches out towards a different eagle. What is that all about? In this video we explain the riddle of the two eagles and the cedar tree.
The House of Israel is described as God's wife in this chapter - and she is an adulterous woman, who chases after her lovers. God does everything he can, but she is one wild lady, and God loses his wife's heart. This is not only the longest chapter in Ezekiel, but also the saddest. Join us in exploring God's heart towards his wife.
In this chapter, God tries to compare a fruitless burnt vine to a tree..... any tree. The tree wins. Jerusalem is the burnt and fruitless vine - totally useless for any purpose. In this video we consider why God said this, and also the analogy of the true vine in John 15.
Noah, Daniel and Job were three of the most righteous people in the Bible. Noah saved 8 people, Daniel saved 4, and Job saved 2, but if these three were in Jerusalem, none would be saved. Why?
In this unusual chapter God says he hates pillows, but the question is, what was that pillow that was being referred to. The bigger picture of this chapter is about false prophets, male and female, and the things they did (sometimes using "pillows") were tied in with speaking on behalf of the Lord, when in fact they were speaking false things. Watch this video and clear up this whole pillow thing.
The Lord tells Ezekiel to dig through the wall and then move house. Given the strangeness of what he did, it prompted his neighbours to ask the inevitable "what are you doing?" This video will answer that question and why.
"We are the meat" must be the strangest metaphor to modern ears, but that metaphor is what the residents of Jerusalem used in an attempt to make themselves feel safe.... safe inside the cauldron. The cauldron however is on fire... and the meat is being cooked.
In Ezekiel's vision, he sees the glory of God get up (in the previous chapter) and now has gone to the door and has paused for one last look around (this chapter) before leaving for good. (chapter) Why is God leaving His very own temple? What does it mean in context, and what does it mean for us?
Ezekiel's vision of Jerusalem continues. In the vision he sees a man dressed in linen with a writers inkpot who has the task or marking people for safety. Then six executioners go through the city killing everyone who does not have the mark. What is this mark? Who are these executioners? What is this about?
Ezekiel has a second major vision in which he is lifted and taken to Jerusalem where he sees a series of terrible idols and idol worship in the temple. Things are terrible and the people who should be worshipping the Lord are worshipping everything else.
God tells Ezekiel than an unique evil is coming agains the land of Judah. What is this unique evil? Then we find that God has a unique name - Jehovah Makkah - the God who strikes. What is that about?
The Lord tells Jeremiah to shave with a sword, then weigh his hair, divide it into thirds, and then attack one third of it with his sword. Ezekiel seems to be asked to do many strange things. Why is he doing this, and what does it mean?
Ezekiel is told to speak to the mountains, the valleys and the watercourses. What is that all about?
Ezekiel is told by the Lord to build a model city of the Lord and symbolically lay siege to it. Then he is bound and told to lay on his left side for 390 days for the years of the sins of Israel, and to lay on his right side 40 days for the years of the sins of Judah. What do these numbers mean? And why is God wanting him to do this?
Having been given (in a vision) a double-sided scroll to eat, Ezekiel is told to fill his bowels and to prophecy. He is then sent to the house of Israel, just as the apostles were sent in the NT. But what is he to say?
As Ezekiel's weird vision continues, he is called by God to speak for him, and as part of that is given a scroll with writing on the inside as normal, but also on the outside. Then weirdly he is told to eat the scroll and "fill his bowels." What is this about bowels? And why does he have to eat a scroll?
Ezekiel is a Prophet that we meet after he has already been taken away by the Babylonians, but while Jerusalem is still intact. In this first chapter he sees strange visions by the river Chebar in Babylonia - things that we see again later in the book of Revelation.
In the last chapter of Lamentations the numerical pattern in the literature continues, but this time we find Jeremiah changes the content... and prays one of the saddest prayers of all time for those around him. I wonder what would happen if we carried such a big heart for others too?
It's a good thing Jeremiah used poetic language to describe the horrors he witnessed, because children reading the Bible won't grasp the fullness of how bad it was. In this chapter, Jeremiah describes through another beautiful Hebrew acrostic poem, the worst sights he had even seen.
"I am the man who has seen affliction..." says Jeremiah in this third chapter which describes his own personal suffering and affliction. Anyone want to swap places with Jeremiah? Despite its sadness this particular chapters holds a special place of affection in my (David's) heart.
Jeremiah continues his lament for Jerusalem, and like chapter 1, this chapter also follows a 22 verse acrostic poem with each verse starting with a successive Hebrew letter. In this chapter he mourns that God had to get so angry, and acknowledged it was righteous and necessary, but sad because it was avoidable.
In the final chapter of Jeremiah, a kind of appendix or postscript written by someone later, we see that the deeds of God, though seemingly harsh are filled with kindness and grace. Judgement requires a judge and the sorting out of good and evil is necessary and done for the good of all. What happened to Jeremiah and what comes next in the Bible?
"And it happened after Israel had been led captive and Jerusalem had been destroyed that Jeremiah sat and lamented with the following lamentation and said:...” And so begins the saddest book in the Bible. Why is that? Find out here:
Jeremiah 48 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Jeremiah brings a long prophecy against Moab and their detestable god Chemosh who required child sacrifice. After great patience, the Lord determined this false religious system which was corrupting the earth was to be removed. How did this happen, when and why?
Jeremiah 47 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. The Philistines were a nation that came from over the sea (possibly Crete) and were a thorn to Israel for a long time. But in this prophecy from Jeremiah the Lord is going to make an end of this nation. What did God say, what did it mean, and what was the outcome in history?
Jeremiah 46 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Jeremiah now begins a series of prophecies against all the nations surrounding Israel, beginning with Egypt. It is a prophecy of judgement and doom. Why does God care about these nations? Why does he judge them? Do they even know about these prophecies?
Jeremiah 45 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Baruch was the one faithful man that stood by Jeremiah in his difficult years, and now the Lord gives Jeremiah a personal prophecy for him. We all want to receive a personal prophecy, but would you want to receive this one?
Jeremiah 44 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Even after going to Egypt the Jews that survive still do not give up idol worship. In this chapter Jeremiah confronts them as they worship the Queen of Heaven. This video explores what Jeremiah has to say, who the Queen of Heaven is, and why they still keep on worshipping other gods.
Jeremiah 43 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. This chapter contains the prohpecy of Jeremiah, who was now in Egypt at the time. He predicted the people who had left Jerusalem to avoid trouble, would find the exact thing in Egypt. He was not popular as a result. Why was this the case? Why was God so against them going back to Egypt?
Jeremiah 42 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. After Gedaliah the governor is assassinated, Jeremiah is consulted by the remaining poor - and given his amazing track record you would think he would have been believed. But his answer isn't' what they want to hear and once again they don't listen. What does this say about sermons we don't agree with?
Jeremiah 41 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. After the seige is over and only a few are left, Gedaliah is appointed governor, but he is quickly assasinated by Ishamel of Ammon. Chaos reigns. This video explores the chaotic days before Jeremiah is dragged away out of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 40 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. The narrative around the siege of Jerusalem continues and in this video Nebuzaradan, the commander of the Babylonian army captures Jeremiah and releases him. In his mind he is fulfilling the word of the Lord in what he does. Why would this be so? This video explains.
Jeremiah 39 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. This chapter diverts from the usual prophetic/poetic style and is narrative. Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians and King Zedekiah flees the city, but is captured. At this point two prophecies, one by Jeremiah and one by Ezekiel which seem to be in opposition to each other are both fulfilled and God is proven to be double right.
Jeremiah 37 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In this chapter and video, Zedekiah secretly talks to Jeremiah to try to find out what God is saying without others knowing, but the word from the Lord is the same. Zedekiah promises Jeremiah will not tell that they had a conversation, so how do we know that they talked? Was Jeremiah unfaithful to his promise? And what is up with Zedekiah and his double minded flipping all the time?
Jeremiah 38 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. The things that Jeremiah was preaching and prophecying seem to be subversive and politically undermining the king, even though they are true, and so he has enemies. In this chapter his enemies try to kill him by throwing him in an underground cistern (which you can still visit in Jerusalem) and leave him for dead. He is rescued by Ebedmelech as this video explains.
Jeremiah 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Since Jeremiah is unable to preach in public, he gets Baruch to do it for him. Baruch is apprehended in the temple reading out the scroll of Jeremiah's words. The scroll ends up in the Kings winter residence where it is burned and destroyed column by column... the first act of vandalism of God's words that we are aware of.
Jeremiah 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In this video we meet the Rechabites, an interesting group of nomads who live in tents, and have abstained from alcohol for hundreds of years, based on the commands of an ancestor. God makes the point through Jeremiah that this group obey the command of their tee-totalling ancestor, but God's people don't listen to him though he speaks in the present. We also discuss alcohol in the Bible in this video.
Jeremiah 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 34 we discuss the two prophecies given to King Zedekiah - one by Ezekiel and the other by Jeremiah which seemed to be contradictory. Certainly that is how Zedekiah interpreted them, and henceforth ignored Jeremiah. Were they really contradictory? This video explains that God sometimes gives words that don't make sense until later.
Jeremiah 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 32 the strangest thing happens - the Lord tells Jeremiah he is going to be offered a property for sale and he is to buy it. Sure enough this happens, but the question is, why buy a property in the middle of a war, when the security of land is not guaranteed. Watch this video and find out.
Jeremiah 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 33 we learn God's phone number by which you can have a direct line to God at anytime. What is his phone number? Watch the video to find out.
Jeremiah 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 31 we have another Messianic gospel-times prophecy from Jeremiah - along the vein of things we see in Isaiah. Taken literally it seems to be saying that the tribes of Israel will be reunited, but there are reasons for understanding it at a deeper and more true level. How should we understand this prophecy - this is a video that will help.
Jeremiah 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 30 the Lord tells Jeremiah to write a book - which is the scroll of Jeremiah and the then chapter then goes on to contain a messianic prophecy about gospel times. A strictly literal interpretation will not uncover what the prophecy is about - hence why it says "in the latter days you will understand." And what is the Latter days? This video explains? Its not what you think.
Jeremiah 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 29 we find a letter which contains prohpecy to the exiles already in Babylon - which included Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Jeremiah encourages them to settle down and make the most of life as the captivity will last a longer time than they think. He also gives the promise that God has plans for them to do them good. This promise is often taken by believers today for ourselves, but is important to understand in context.
Jeremiah 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 27 the chapter starts with a prophecy to five nations surrounding Judah, and ends with the same prophecy to Judah itself. In each of these Jeremiah makes a set of yokes to wear and sends it to the nations as a sign that they are to be enslaved by Babylon. These six nations, the five plus Judah, had a conspiracy to work together to overthrown Babylon, but Jeremiah predicts it will fail. As usual, they do not listen to him. This video also explains a scribal error in verse one which places the chapter in the reign of the wrong king, but later verses clear up the mistake. New translations of the Bible fix this automatically.
Jeremiah 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 28 the false prophet Hananiah breaks the yoke that Jeremiah made in chapter 27 off his neck. This is supposed to be a sign that God is going to break the yoke of Babylon off of Judah. However God replies by declaring that the yoke of Babylon will be a yoke of iron. Additionally, Jeremiah prophecies against Hananiah who dies two months later.
Jeremiah 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 26 he goes to the temple and proclaims judgement against it as happened to Shiloh. He is then accused of having a capital crime, and almost dies, but his reputation is strongly tarnished.
Jeremiah 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 25 the Lord is displeased with Jehoiakim and send Jeremiah with a word to outline the timetable of the punishment that is to come. It predicts 70 years of subjugation at the hand of Babylon, which is historically what happened.
Jeremiah 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 24 the Lord shows Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs. One is good and the other is so bad it cannot be eaten. He then goes on to make a distinction between two types of people in the land. The same distinction can often be made today.
Jeremiah 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 23 the Lord gives Jeremiah prophecies about the false shepherds (pastors) and the false prophets both of which are profane. They peddle the word of God for money, and take advantage of the people for their own benefit. God is not happy!!
Jeremiah 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 22 we have a collection of prophetic words from Jeremiah which cover various aspects of the last 5 kings, four of which were evil. This video goes into the remarkable things said about Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) and how Christ descends from this king.
Jeremiah 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 21 the King Zedekiah calls upon Jeremiah for a word regarding the approaching Babylonian army, and the word that God gives is the opposite of what he is expecting.
Jeremiah 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 20 immediately following the smashing of pottery incident (Jeremiah 19) Passhur - a public official puts Jeremiah in the stocks at a public location to humiliate him. Jeremiah then complains to the Lord about his treatment. He cannot speak publicly because he is persecuted, but likewise he cannot hold in the Lord's words because they are like a fire inside his bones. Jeremiah is in a catch-22 situation.
Jeremiah 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 19 he goes at the Lord's instruction to the Hinnom valley where he calls a gathering of people to observe him smash pottery. Judah is the pot, says the Lord, that is to be smashed. The HInnom valley was the location of where many babies were sacrificed to false gods and buried in a Topheth there. This video considers the horrific location of the Hinnom valley, and the enacted prophecy of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 18 the Lord sends Jeremiah to observe a potter in action, and he notices how during the shaping of a vessel, if it doesn't turn out properly, the potter starts again. Can I not shape you for my purposes, asks the Lord. We are the clay, and he is the potter.
Jeremiah 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 17 the Lord says that the sins of Judah are so permanent they are written with a pen of iron. The Lord goes on to observe how deceitful the human heart was - a thing that remains the same today. What does it mean to have a deceitful heart?
Jeremiah 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 16 the Lord forbids Jeremiah to get married or to have children. This seems so harsh at first hearing, but in this video we find out it was the great kindness of the Lord.
Jeremiah 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 15 God is so determined to judge that he declares that even if Moses or Samuel were present it would not stop Him. Both of these prophets convinced the Lord to relent at previous times in Israel's history, but nothing will stop the Lord this time. Why - what was so bad - Manasseh was a big part of why.
Jeremiah 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 14 there is a drought in the land of Judah, and Jeremiah (once again) is told not to pray for their relief. There is a biblical precedent for how to handle drought as this video explains. In addition, false prophets were common at the time, and this video considers the idea of false prophecy then and now.
Jeremiah 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 13 the Lord instructs Jeremiah to buy a belt of fabric which he must not wash - it becomes filthy. He then has to walk to the land of Babylon and bury it in a highly symbolic act of what was going to happen to Judah.
Jeremiah 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 12 he raises questions about the way the Lord does things because it seems unfair that the wicked get away without jugdement, while the righteoss struggle. This is an age-old question that began with the story of Job.
Jeremiah 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 10 we have a chapter which contains instructions to the exiles who are headed for Babylon, including an entire sentence in Aramaic, the only Aramaic language in the entire book. Just because God used the Babylonians to judge His people, didn't mean the ways of the Babylonians were right, as this chapter covers.
Jeremiah 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 11 God continues explaining why he is done with His people, and then instructs Jeremiah NOT to pray for them. What reasons could there be that would allow a refusal of prayer? Then the people of Jeremiah's own home town, Anathoth, turn against him.
Jeremiah 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 9 the weeping of Jeremiah continues in poetry over what he sees is coming for Jerusalem. In this video we consider the differences in style and content between Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel and why one is the thundering prophet, one is the weeping prophet and the other a hard prophet,
Jeremiah 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 8 the prophet sees what is coming and his prophecy turns into poetry as with the use of parallelism he begins to weep and mourn over what is ahead. He weeps night and day, and we see why Jeremiah has become known as the weeping prophet. I remember clearly an experience of culture shock in Sri-Lanka which I couldn’t get out of my mind for days. Jeremiah is in shock over what he has seen, but also because his listeners ignore his warnings of peril.
Jeremiah 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 7 things have become so serious that Jeremiah is now instructed to stand at the door to the temple and proclaim warnings to everyone “as they come to church.” Jeremiah calls them nasty names at it reminds us of when Jesus cleared out the temple. Both Jesus and Jeremiah’s actions were perceived as anti-establishment and earned both of them a place on the hate list.
Jeremiah 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 6 the tone of the prophecy is now a warning to FLEE!!!! Danger is coming from the North in the form of the Babylonians. Jeremiah tells the people of Tekoa who are out of Jerusalem to be afraid of great destruction. The prophecies are now very different to those of earlier prophets - because these are now warnings of impending doom that is on the way. Strangely however not only were the Israelites deaf to the earlier prophecies and thereby didn’t avoid the disaster from starting, they are deaf to the warnings of doom too, and so will not flee.
Jeremiah 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 5 the Lord announces that if he could find just one righteous person, he would save the city of Jerusalem from destruction. This reminds us of Abraham’s intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah, and the prophecy of Ezekiel about a similar thing. Was there really not a single righteous person? This video explores which righteous people were alive at the time, and why perhaps the destruction of Jerusalem was not prevented.
Jeremiah 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 4 God seems to be giving the Israelites one last chance and calls them to circumcise their hearts. This chapter brings up the whole circumcision discussion and what it means to be circumcised, and what value there is in it. What is the difference between heart circumcision and regular circumcision.
Jeremiah 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 2 he receives his first prophetic task and is to call Israel to account for failing to keep the covenant of the Lord. Covenants in patriarchal times followed a prescribed pattern between a Lord and a vassal, and in that same pattern the Lord is now calling Israel, the vassal, to account in this prophecy. There will be consequences.
Jeremiah 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 3 the prophet proclaims that the Lord has finished with the Old Covenant - the covenant God made with Israel. As a sign of this, the ark of the covenant is going to be removed and will not be found again or remembered again. This video considers both the covenant and the ark of that covenant.
Jeremiah 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Jeremiah 1 we meet Jeremiah, a priest from Anathoth near Jerusalem. The Lord calls him to be a prophet, but he resists because of his age. He is about twenty years of age. The Lord overrules his objection and requires his service. The Lord then tests his ability to see and know the Lord's voice and he passes both tests. This video discusses prophecy both at the time and today.
Isaiah 66 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 66 the last chapter of the great book of Isaiah we find that we (the Earth) have become the resting place for God - once we were his enemies, but have now become his repose. What an amazing final chapter to a great life of prophetic ministry.
Isaiah 65 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 65 we meet a nation that found God but didn’t know they were looking for Him. It turns out that this nation is the Gentiles - those who were excluded from God’s presence and ways. BUt we also find out that it was God’s plan all along to include them.
Isaiah 64 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 64 we find ourselves listening to a prayer by someone - it feels by Isaiah, asking the Lord to rend the Heavens and come down. This is a prayer for revival as applicable to us today as it was to him back then.
Isaiah 63 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 63 we meet someone who comes up from Bosrah, capital city of Edom, covered in the blood of the nations he has destroyed. Who is it? Surely it isn’t Christ, right? Turns out it is. Watch this video to understand why Jesus is covered in blood that isn’t his.
Isaiah 61 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 61 we come across the passage that Christ famously read from in the synagogue in Luke chapter 4 - the passage that nearly had him killed on the day. In this video we explore not only what he said in Luke, but the rest of what is talking about him too.
Isaiah 62 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 62 God says through the prophet that for the sake of Jerusalem he will not rest or take a break until he makes her great among the nations. That cannot be talking about the actual city Jerusalem right? Surely not? If so, he has done a lousy job of fulfilling this prophecy. Watch this video and see what it truly means.
Isaiah 60 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 60 we consider the light that has come - which is Christ. We discover that God is building a New Israel which includes the faithful from the Old Israel along with those from the nations (aka the Gentiles) who have come to love Him.
Isaiah 59 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 59 God outlines the depressing and helpless state of his people. They are so rebellious that he wants to turn his face away from them, but in the end He helps them, because he is able to do so. His hand is not too short it seems.
Isaiah 58 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 58 it seems there were people making a great show out of their fasting practices, but simultaneously motivated by selfish motives, and even eating while they should be fasting. Isaiah the prophet speaks the Lord’s word and outlines what constitutes a true fast.
Isaiah 57 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 57 we explore why good people sometimes die young - we expect them to live a good long life, blessed by God, but why in some cases do they go away? Thee are good reasons it seems, says the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 56 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 56 we find what seems like a great overturning of previous things God has said about eunuchs and foreigners. IN Deuteronomy it seemed they were kicked out of God’s presence, but here we find them welcomed in. Why the difference?
Isaiah 55 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 55 we are told to buy things without money - but how? By listening to God, that is how. This chapter explores the benefits that come to those who take time ot know what God is saying to them.
Isaiah 54 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 54 we meet the woman who is unable to have children, and yet she is deliriously happy because of the number of children she has. Paul speaks of her in Galatians also. This video speaks of being barren, of having children, and what it means for us of faith.
Isaiah 53 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 53 we meet the suffering servant, the man of sorrows who very convincingly is Christ the Messiah. It's no wonder that Jewish people are uncomfortable with this chapter as it portrays the Messiah suffering for the sins of others, which Christ clearly did.
Isaiah 52 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 52 Israel is asleep and God is trying to wake her up. More specifically it is Jerusalem who is asleep. IN this video we explore who Jerusalme is that is being talked of and why she needs to wake up.
Isaiah 51 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 51 a word from the Lord comes to His people to listen - a word that is repeated multiple times through this chapter. However it turns out that God is not speaking to all the people called by HIs name - but only to those true to Him within that group.
Isaiah 50 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 50 we find the Lord asking Israel where her divorce certificate is. God has had enough of his people. In this video we explore a little about divorce in the Bible, but also discover that Go takes a new wife remade out of his old wife.
Isaiah 49 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 49 he prophesied to the islands - a weird idea in itself. In this video we explore what the islands are and discover they are a who, and we find out who the who is.
Isaiah 48 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 48 we find a prophecy against false Israel or cultural Israel because they have stiff necks and have turned their backs on the Lord. In this prophecy, the Lord predicts things that will happen in advance, so that it cannot be said to be attributed to any other cause. We consider the amazing power of prophecy in hindsight, and why the best prophecies in the Bible make more sense after the fact.
Isaiah 47 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 47 the prophecy of judgement against Babylon continues, and God’s people are called to come out of her. This is very similar to the same thing in the book of revelation. It seems that one of the seven Israel's - cultural Israel or false Israel, has become spiritual Babylon and the Lord is not happy.
Isaiah 46 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 46 we have a notable prophecy of Judgement against Babylon, over one hundred years before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem - remarkable. In this prophecy we start to discern that there are two Babylons being described, firstly physical Babylon with which we are familiar, and spiritual Babylon.
Isaiah 45 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 45 we come to the second servant song, and we meet King Cyrus, who here is called the anointed one, which means the Messiah. Is he really the messiah? This video explains. And how can an evil King be the Lord’s servant? We consider that too.
Isaiah 42 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 42 we encounter the first of the four servant songs. It’s clear we are talking about Christ, especially when it is quoted concerning Christ in Matthew’s gospel in chapter 12. However why does it go on to say “who is blind like my servant?” Is that Christ too? This video explains all.
Isaiah 44 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 44 we encounter more servant language, even though we have not yet made it to the second servant song. This time, God is speaking to Jeshurun. Now who on Earth is Jeshurun. This video explains. And then God says to Jeshurun he will blot out his sins, but how does that happen before the cross. And finally we meet King Cyrus of Persia, prophesied in scripture 150 years before he was King.
Isaiah 43 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 43 God tries to comfort Israel, and it is here that we explore the idea of the “seven Israel’s.” Not every place in scripture that Israel is spoken of, does it refer to the same thing, there are in fact seven different Israel references at least. When God said to Israel “be not afraid, for I have redeemed you,” to whom was he speaking? And when Christ heard these words as a little boy, do you wonder what he thought? And why is it written in past tense, when Jesus had not yet gone to the cross?
Isaiah 41 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 41 we will be introduced to the “servant songs” of Isaiah, even though the first of the four official servant songs will not be found until chapter 42. Here we meet someone called the servant of God but who is it? Some say Cyrus, others Abraham, but we think neither.
Isaiah 40 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 40 we enter into what is sometimes called “third Isaiah” but is in reality the same Isaiah but it's now into the “new testament” section of the book if you will. HEre we meet John the Baptist as prophesied seven hundred years earlier, and Isaiah 40:3 is quoted by all four of the gospel writers. Join us as we explore and interesting and crucial chapter of the scriptures.
Isaiah 39 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 39 we have the last of the four narrative chapters in Isaiah, and Hezekiah is paid a visit by diplomatic officials from Babylon. In this chapter he “does an instagram” and gives them the impression he has a wealthy perfect life, showing them all the wealth of Jerusalem. THat was a terrible mistake, said Isaiah the prophet. Why exactly?
Isaiah 38 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 38 we are in the third of the four narrative chapters of Isaiah, and Hezekiah is sick. God does heal Hezekiah, extending his life for fifteen more years, but his healing comes with the use of medicine. This video discusses medicine, signs and the art of dying well.
Isaiah 37 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 37 the narrative chapters of Isaiah continue, but not without some metaphoro sneaking into the passage. Why does God say the rivers of Egypt wil dry up... the Nile is a pretty big river right? In this video we discuss the rage people have against Go, and how God handles it in this case.
Isaiah 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 36 we get to the first of four narrative chapters in Isaiah. These cover the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib and closely match what is found in 2 Kings 18-20, but not quite exactly. In this video we cover the background to the siege and what may have given the Assyrian king such false confidence.
Isaiah 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 35 we have the second of a pair of chapters proclaiming a messianic judgement and hope for the nations. This is the hope half. Its clearly about CHrist and what the gospel would bring. THe wilderness will be glad, and the dry land will come to life. Marvelous analogies of what the gospel does for society. It will “strengthen weak hands”, “open blind eyes” and “the lame will walk.” Join us as we explore what the Messiah has done, and continues to do. Plus, we find ourselves on a highway... the highway of holiness.
Isaiah 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 34 we have the first of a pair of chapters that together proclaim judgement and hope for the Gentiles. These two chapters seem to be commonly mistaken for end of the world passages, when they are in fact gospel passages about messianic matters. We start by talking about what the nations are and why they are asked to listen.
Isaiah 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 33 we have a prophecy against Assyria, and boy did they deserve it. They double crossed King Hezekiah in the most heart-wrenching manner. But before you get too judgemental, what might you have in common with the Assyrians?
Isaiah 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 32 we meet a word of warning to complacent women, which seems to really be speaking to all complacent people, but it comes in the form of an encouragement sandwich. In this video we talk about hope and why complacency is a bad thing.
Isaiah 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 31 the prophet warns the people about placing their trust in Egypt, which actually made rational sense to doo because it was a strong superpower at the time, and the only real military threat against the marauding Assyrians. But God said to trust Him, and it seemed like at the beginning the Israelites did not do that. So the Lord removed their prop, something he does to us at times too.
Isaiah 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 30 we have a prophecy against God’s rebellious children.... Which again is the nation of Judah. They have decided to trust in Egypt, a picture of the flesh, and found themselves fighting Rahab - a sea monster. What does this all mean?
Isaiah 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 29 we have a prophecy against Ariel.... Which once again is Jerusalem. This video considers why in this one place God calls Jerusalem by another name, and what it means. We then consider God’s declaration that he would confuse the wise among his people, and show how that is exactly what happened.
Isaiah 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 28 God once again turns to proclaim judgement on his own people. The northern tribes are guilty of wearing a “crown of pride” and the southern tribes guilty of a “covenant with death.” This video explains these things, and why we have the same sins too.
Isaiah 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 26 we encounter a psalm oof praise in expectation of the gospel days to come - the times when the Messiah would walk the earth, and the legacy he would leave behind as he takes up his throne in heaven. This chapter describes our day, and the world we have inherited because of Christ and the gospel.
Isaiah 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 27 we consider the establishing of the kingdom of God, and the defeat of Leviathan, the dragon, the evil one Satan. God’s kingdom is then described as a vineyard filled with the nations as its tenants, who do produce great fruit. This is the complete opposite of the parable of the vineyard which Chrisst described, which was the house of Israel that did not produce fruit. This chapter describes gospel times.
Isaiah 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 25 we have a tale of two cities. Not the story by Charles Dickens, but a comparison by the Lord of Jerusalem which was unholy, and the new Jerusalem which is his holy people. This video considers some of the interesting way that the same words are used in prophecy to give different meanings.
Isaiah 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 24 we have the start of a 4 chapter passage which basically all commentators classify as apocalyptic, but which is NOT. These four chapters do describe teh “shaking of te olive tree” but it is referring to gospel times, and not the end of the world. This begins the burden against all nations.
Isaiah 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 23 we have a judgement against tyre - the port city of the Phoenecians. This video explains the prophecy and the two attacks against Tyre by first the Babylonians, an then later by Alexander the Great. We consider then that this city was called a prostitute, and her wages were called “holy to the Lord.” Why is that?
Isaiah 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 22 we have the burden of the valley of vision, which it turns out is Jerusalem, despite Jerusalem being on a mountain. This video explains that anomaly, and also covers the sin for which God would not forgive Jerusalem.
Isaiah 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 21 we encounter three burdens (prophecies of terrible judgement) against babylon, edom and arabia. The Babylon burden is the second burden, and the book of revelation quotes from this chapter a few times. Why exactly does it do that, and is there a hidden message?
Isaiah 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 20 we have the fascinating account of how Isaiah went around barefoot and naked for three years. Was he really naked? Would God really ask someone to do that? Watch the video and find out.
Isaiah 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 19 Isaiah takes up the burden against Egypt - one of the great world powers of the time. Egypt is described in judgement prophecies with a punishment that sounds like a redo of the Exodus. But at the end it sounds like God elevates Egypt and Assyria to equal status with Israel, and all three will be a blessing to the nations. This is a remarkable Messianic promise
Isaiah 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 18 we have a prophecy about Ethiopia, but unlike the previous heavy words, this is not a burden. Rather it seems to be a word to King Hezekiah suggesting he not make an alliance with Ethiopia, which later is in fact advice he follows.
Isaiah 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 17 we encounter the burden against Damascus, the capital city of Syria. Damascus had a chance to know the Lord, having close ties with Israel, but it had “forgotten the Lord” and was scheduled for destruction, which happened not long after Isaiah prophesied it, with the Assyrian invasions.
Isaiah 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 16 the burden against moab continues, and we learn the great sin of Moab…. Pride. There isn’t much detail, but that sin is explored, and why it was significant enough for Moab to come under the judgement of the Lord. Do you have any pride?
Isaiah 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 15 we now come to the burden against Moab, where among other things it is predicted that every beard will be cut off, a possible reference back to 2 Samuel 10. This video contrasts some of the various burdens against nations near Israel and why some were destroyed completely and some not.
Isaiah 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 22 we have the burden of the valley of vision, which it turns out is Jerusalem, despite Jerusalem being on a mountain. This video explains that anomaly, and also covers the sin for which God would not forgive Jerusalem.
Isaiah 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 13 a series of “burdens” begin, which are heavy prophecies. The first is against Babylon. This video explores the double meaning of this burden, first against physical Babylon, and second in the next chapter, a description of Satan’s doom at Calvary. An amazing chapter, which Christ quotes in the gospel accounts.
Isaiah 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 12 we are surprised to find a song of praise. So this is a psalm of Isaiah written for the time when the world is under the control of the Messiah, which is actually now. Let’s consider this millennial song of praise.
Isaiah 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 11 is a continuation of chapter 10 which describes the giant tree of Israel being chopped down. Out of that stump was to come a shoot of Jesse, the Messiah. The Messiah was anointed by a seven-fold spirit which this video considers. We will then discuss the “rod of his mouth” which beats the nations. How does that work exactly?
Ecclesiastes 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Ecclesiastes 5 Solomon continues his testimony and pauses from sharing human wisdom (ie his nihilistic worldview that he struggled with before repenting) to instead share some practical tips for life. He speaks to the struggles that the wealthy have which we do not often consider. What do the wealthy want? A good sleep, and for their children to turn out well, but these things don’t easily happen.
Ecclesiastes 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Ecclesiastes 4 Solomon continues his testimony which sounds in many places like an ancient nihilistic worldview, which makes sense because he has left Christ out of it. In the many places where God is mentioned, the name Yahweh (who is Christ) never appears once. However if we place Christ, life is no longer nihilistic but supremely purposeful. In this chapter we also find the famous marriage passage used at weddings. This passage too as we shall see is a reminder to include Christ in all you do, especially marriage.
Ecclesiastes 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Ecclesiastes 3 we come to the famous passage sung by the band the seekers. Solomon makes a series of 14 comparison observations about time and life. He then goes on to continue the idea of what is the point of life. Of course the burden of sin is on everyone and without Christ to lift it off, life is a complete burden. Solomon observes that life is a test, but Jesus is the answer.
Ecclesiastes 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Ecclesiastes 2 Solomon continues his testimony. He had concluded that laughter was meaningless, but of course that is only if you don’t have christ. Christ brings laughter and joy to your life. The son of Abraham was named Isaac because it means laughter, and Isaac was the seed of Abraham, a picture of Christ. We continue thorough this video finding that without Christ everything is meaningless, but with Christ everything is meaningful.
Ecclesiastes 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Ecclesiastes 1 we meet the preacher (koheleth) who has gathered an assembly the ecclesia for a special message. But the message turns out to be really strange. The preacher is King Solomon and despite being so wise, he starts speaking about the foolish things he has done, and seems to be peddling a message of nihilism. He seems to be sayin that everything is meaningless. As we shall find out this is like his personal testimony and he doesn’t really have spiritually meaningful things to say until the end of the book in chapters 11 and 12. Join us as we start to explore the testimony, life experiences and thoughts of Solomon. We will conclude that without Christ there is no meaning in life, but with Christ life is nothing other than meaningful.
Proverbs 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 31 we come to the last and possibly the most interesting chapter in the book of Proverbs. We also meet Lemuel, a wise man who was taught by his unnamed mother. He was the king of Massa, possibly an Arabian place, but in any case we have the wisdom here of a woman passed down through her son. And here we meet the woman of virtue. We quickly realise that the standard of an ideal wife is not only far beyond possible for the average woman, but for any person. It is a standard to which all people should strive. After an entire book of warnings about avoiding the wayward woman, and the adulterous woman, this last chapter is wonderful because it shows us that the best things in life also come in female form too. Ultimately the woman described here is the wife of Christ, and speaks for all of us. This video covers the many wonderful women we have in our families and churches, and all that God has called us to be.
Proverbs 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 30 we now come to mee Agur son of Jakeh - a wise man. We encounter his wisdom and his collection of tetrads, that is sayings that come in groups of four.
Proverbs 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 29 the proverbs of Solomon continue, but now these were his proverbs compiled by Hezekiah’s men. Here we learn that a person with a hard heart who ignores advice is suddenly destroyed and has no second chances… and a few stories go with this too. Don’t be that person
Proverbs 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 28 the proverbs of Solomon continue, but now these were his proverbs compiled by Hezekiah’s men. Here we learn the damage that is done when you conceal your sins, and why people might do that. We also learn how foolish it is to trust yourself.
Proverbs 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 27 the proverbs of Solomon continue, but now these were his proverbs compiled by Hezekiah’s men. Here we learn not to boast about tomorrow, and we learn to trust the wounds inflicted by a friend. We also consider the crucible of the heart…. what is that and why is it necessary?
Proverbs 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 26 the proverbs of Solomon continue, but now these were his proverbs compiled by Hezekiah’s men. Here we learn not to grab a dog by the ears. That might be common sense, but it was a proverb speaking about something else.
Proverbs 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 25 the proverbs of Solomon continue, but now these were his proverbs compiled by Hezekiah’s men. Here we learn about what gives God glory, and what gives people glory. Interestingly we find proverbs here advocating that we feed our enemy, and in doing so pour coals of fire on his head. This was quoted by Paul in Romans 12, but what does it mean?
Proverbs 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 24 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn not to celebrate when a competitor goes down, God isn’t happy with that for various reasons… but why?
Proverbs 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 23 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn about how to behave when in fine or upper class company. Who knew that such things were in scripture? We also learn that children are not as fragile as society would have you think, and we can mould them and train them.
Proverbs 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 22 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn about how to raise a child so they turn out right. We also consider whether the proverbs are promises as some people think, or whether they become promises when the Spirit inspires them.
Proverbs 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 21 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn about the interaction between what God wants and what earthly political leaders want.
Proverbs 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 20 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn about alcohol and consider the consequences of too much. Fascinatingly Solomon asks a question about the man of unfailing love - who can find that man? That man is Christ, and here we consider for a while the pistis christou debate that NT scholars spend time on. Are we saved by our faith in CHrist, or by Christ’s faithfulness? Or is it both?
Proverbs 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 19 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn that a certain type of lying really really gets up God’s nose. We also hear a story from a woman imprisoned by making up stories against someone who didn't do them.
Proverbs 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 18 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn that a fools mouth is his destruction. And surprisingly we learn that Godo is a tower, and this is NOT a metaphor. Actually we learn about the nature of metaphorical language and what it does and does not say about God.
Proverbs 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 17 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn that God tests the hearts and motivations of people… even though they may not realise it is happening.
Proverbs 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 16 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn what pride does to the path of a person’s life, and how people think they are clean and good, but God knows them truly.
Proverbs 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 15 the proverbs of Solomon continue. Here we learn that trying to win an argument doesn’t win friends at all. There are ways of winning that are not what you expect.
Proverbs 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 14 we learn about making amends and how good that is. We then enter into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and see how the wisdom of Solomon works there making a huge difference. Such wisdom should be working for you too.
Proverbs 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 13 we learn that the mouth is the gate of the soul, and it needs to be guarded, but few actually do. We also learn about wealth and appearances. Why is it that many wealthy people pretend to be poor, and many poor pretend to be wealthy?
Proverbs 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 12 we consider the idea of correction, and how easily we receive it. We also meet the worthy and the unworthy wivess of Billy Graham and Abraham LIncoln. What did King Solomon say about them?
Proverbs 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 11 we consider a number of proverbs in light of the way a ruler handles his or her people, and finish with a thought about the overthrow of evil, the Nazi regime and touch on the French revolution. The ancient wisdom of King Solomon still speaks today.
Proverbs 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 10 we start into the wisdom sayings. There are 900 in the book of proverbs, the majority by Solomon. In this video we explain parallelism in the proverbs and explore the Dunning-Kreuger effect in light of one of the very early proverbs.
Proverbs 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 9 we learn that wisdom builds a house, and sets a table. This is none other that Christ, and what he does for his kingdom, and for his people. The works of Christ are found strongly in the old testament wisdom writings as this video explains.
Proverbs 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 8 we meet wisdom personified, a woman. Previously we met the strange woman in chapter seven, but this woman in chapter 8 is noble, prudent, thoughtful and wise. Wisdom here is Christ personified, and this video explains and explores the idea that everything said about wisdom in proverbs is about Christ.
Proverbs 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 7 we meet the strange woman who allurred a foolish youth to his death. Nobody thinks they are the foolish youth, and yet all are easily led down that same path. As a precaution we must write wisdom on our hearts… this video explores what that means.
Proverbs 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 6 Solomon goes back to addressing his son, and talks about financial management. He talks about being careful with debt, and avoiding laziness. This chapter also contains the 7 things that God absolutely hates… and all of them have a theme as will be explained..
Proverbs 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 5 King David continues to speak addressing his son Solomon. Solomon recounts the things he learned from his father, passing them onto us. This video explains why Solomon valued wisdom so much.
Proverbs 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 4 a dramatic shift takes place. Solomon now tells us how his father spoke to him as a child. We now enter into the mind of King David, and see why Solomon thinks the way he does.
Proverbs 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 3 Solomon is still talking to his son, and this chapter will explain what wisdom will do for you if you are able to obtain it.
Proverbs 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 2 Solomon begins talking to ‘my son.’ This video explains the four ‘son’s or the four groups, which includes you, who this is written for. This chapter will also explain where wisdom comes from.
Isaiah 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Isaiah 10 God starts talking about the rising Assyrian Empire, which he calls “his rod” and which is going to punish Israel. This video considers how people can be evil, but still be used of God to fulfil his will, ust as Assyria did.
Proverbs 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Proverbs 1 we enter into a remarkable and unique biblical book, penned by Solomon, but also containing wisdom from Agur, Lemuel, King David and others. In the first chapter we learn the purpose of wisdom, which is not what you think.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 150 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 150 we are in the very last psalm - a great psalm of benediction, and aa hallelujah psalm. In this psalm we find out that everything that has breath will praise the Lord… and that includes animals… and even atheists.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 149 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 149 we have the second last psalm - a hallelujah psalm - all about the thing that gives God pleasure. What gives God pleasure? Listen to this video and find out.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 148 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 148 we find something interesting….. It seems we have a case of St Francis of Assissi going back in a time machine to write a psalm…. And this one is it. This is a psalm about nature and animals… all of it praising the Lord, just like his famous hymn, All creatures of our God and king, dated from the 1200’s.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 147 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 147 we have a psalm from the time of Ezra/Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the wall… a great song of praise…. A hallelujah psalm.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 146 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 146 we have another hallelujah psalm and the first of the last 5 in a row. This song is probably from the exile, but is a song of praise. In this video we discuss aramaisms, and why they do not necessarily date a text as more recent.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 145 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 145 we have the last psalm of David and the last acrostic psalm in scripture… and weirdly it misses the letter nun out. It is a kingdom psalm, and we have a king. This is a song for new testament times, written in old testament times.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 144 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 144 we find out that war is a thing we must engage in still… spiritual war of course. We are called to take up the sword, which is the bible, and engage the enemy, which are principalities and powers. This psalm teaches us that the Lord will arm us for battle
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 143 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 143 we have the last of seven penitential psalms in the bible. This one is not about sin so to speak, but about prayer for deliverance from the circumstances David had gotten into in his life. He needed a karma crop failure.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 142 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 142 we have a contemplation about being trapped in a prison, and it is written from a cave. David was cooped up in caves several times in his life, and this would have very much felt like a prison, but the prison was one of the soul, one of other circumstances. This is a psalm for anyone who feels trapped.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 141 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 141 is a prayer for sanctification… this video explains what that is. And it is a prayer for God to help us watch over our words… a very hard thing to do.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 140 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 140 we meet the evil man, do you know him? This is a psalm/prayer for deliverance from him. We also find out through Paul in Romans 3 that we are also this same evil man.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 139 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 139 we have a favourite psalm of many, but also a freaky psalm. God knows everything about you, even how many hairs are on your head. He has a book in which everything you will ever do is written down.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 138 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 138 we have an evangelistic psalm, or at least a psalm about evangelism. In this song, King David talks about how he shared the gospel with the other kings. What can we learn from this?
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 137 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 137 we have a genuine song from the exile - they were in babylon and wept by the Euphrates river. This is a song to remind the church today that we must also weep over the state of the church.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 136 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 136 we have the ‘song that never ends’ with its repeating refrain, ‘his lovingkindness is everlasting. While the song does in reality end, it gives us the impression via experience that God’s love in fact does not end.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 135 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 135 is another hallelujah psalm. In this psalm we are told to praise the Lord because he is the judge. He will judge for good and for evil and his decision is righteous, and final.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 134 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 134 is the last of the songs of ascent… and the shortest, jut three tiny verses. It is a benediction to the hymnal within a hymnal. In this song, the Lord’s people bless the Lord, and he blesses them back even more.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 133 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 133 we have the second last of the ascension psalms - about being united in brotherly love, which of course includes sisters, in the purpose of God.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 132 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 132 we have the longest of all the songs of ascents - a recounting of King David’s desire to build a house for God, and a reminder that we too have the same task - except that now we know that God's house is the people of God. We are to have the same heart anad seek to build our lives together with God’s people.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 131 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 131 is another song of ascent - about our desire to be with God - like a weaned child. It is a song about being content and not selfish.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 130 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 130 we have another song of ascent. Here we contemplate what would it be like if God DID keep a record of sins - but he doesn't - and he redeems his people. This psalm also considers the watchman who waits all night long making sure the city is safe, and really looks forward to sunrise so he can go to bed. That desire for sleep is compared to the desire we should have for the Lord
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 129 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 129 is a song of ascent (the tenth) about the enemy who oppresses and the deliverance of God over the enemy. Many pilgrims would have thought (aat Christ’s time) that the oppressor was the Roman empire, but not realised the true oppressor.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 128 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 128 is the 9th of the ascent psalms - about how fearing the Lord brings blessing on your wife and entire family. A great song to sing on pilgrimage and thought provoking for all the family members as they considered each other while walking and singing.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 127 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 127 we have the chiasmus of the ascent songs - the one and only song of ascent by King Solomon and the exact middle of the 15 ascent hymns. If God doesn’t work alongside you - your work means nothing, so goes this psalm.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 126 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 126 is the seventh of 15 songs of ascension - and this time a post-exilic psalm about how Good restored them from exile. A remarkable hymn about how unlike in Egypt, a ruler over Israel did let the people go home.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 125 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 125 we have the sixth of 15 songs of ascension - pilgrim songs sung on the way to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. This song talks compares the love of God to the mountains which surround Jerusalem. As they sung this song - they could see the mountains - a visual reminder of God’s grace.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 124 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 124 we have the fifth ascension song, and the second by david. In this hymn he reflects on what life would be life if God had not be involved up to this point… a grim reflection indeed.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 123 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 123 we have the fourth ascension hymn - in which the pilgrims sing an acknowledged that they don't serve God’s mercy, but praise Him for it.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 122 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 122 the third song of ascent recounts the joy of initiating the pilgrimage to the temple, which of course is a reflection of our journey into the heart of God.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 121 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 121 is the second of the songs of ascent… and its words reflect its geography. As pilgrims grew tired on their walk, they had to lift their eyes to the hills where they were going, and ask the Lord for help.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 120 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 120 we come to the mini-hymnal hiding inside the psalms - the first of 15 songs of ascent - pilgrim songs sung as people climbed the mountains on their way up to Jerusalem. This first ascent song starts from from Jerusalem in a foreign land.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 119 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 119 we come to the longest psalm in the world and the longest chapter in the Bible. It's not just long, but also poetically amazing aas this video will explain. It is also a great illustration of how to say the same thing in around abou 176 different ways. Learn about God’s law, and about acrostic poems.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 118 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 118 we come to the very middle chapter in the Bible. Congratulations - you are halfway through. This psalm is a song about the Messiah who comes to save. In context it was David and his military campaigns saving Israel from its enemies. But this is a psalm about Christ - and quoted by the giant crown on palm Sunday as JEsus walked triumphantly into the city. Sadly this psalm also contained things the crowd didn’t know at the time… watch and find out.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 117 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 117 we have the shortest psalm, and the shortest chapter in the entire Bible. It message about the Gentiles cannot be overlooked, but even so, it WAS overlooked by Jewish people until the time of the early church.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 116 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 116 we have a psalm that while not labelled is by King Hezekiah - who was quite sick and recovered miraculously because of the Lord. This psalm is about his response to the Lord’s salvation, and our response in being saved from the sickness of sin.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 115 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 115 we have a Hallelujah psalm - and also a passover hymn sung by Christ at passover events - Christ was singing about himself and only he knew it at the time.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 114 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 114 we have the second of the Egypt psalms (passover psalms) and this was also sung before the passover lamb was eaten. A psalm about fearing and praising God - an unique combination.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 113 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 113 we have the first of 6 egyptian psalms - which are also hallelujah psalms - here in a row. This psalm was sung on passover night before the eating of the passover lamb.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 112 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 112 we have a twin. This and the previous (psalm 111) are a pair that match linguistically in many ways, but also have similar themes… watch and see how.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 111 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 111 we have a twin. This and the next (psalm 112) are a pair that match linguistically in many ways, but also have similar themes… watch and see how.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 110 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 110 we have the most quoted individual psalm in the new testament, and a very messianic psalm. This was also quoted by Christ who used it to stump the Pharisees about his identity.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 109 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 109 we have probably the most extreme of all the imprecatory psalms where every curse imaginable is brought down on the heads of the enemies, and their families. Why would God allow this in the Bible?
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 108 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 108 we have another liturgical psalm put together for formal worship This psalm is a composite of psalms 57 and 60, previously psalms of David.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 107 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 107 we start book 5 of the psalms, and we are in a liturgical style psalms with repeating refrains like a chorus. It recounts what God did in bringing the Israelites back out of exile - guiding them like a ship into its harbour.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 106 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 106 we have the third of four historical psalms recounting all that God has done through israel. This time the focus is on the many many failings of Israel, and how God saves them ‘nevertheless.’ This is a great example of how God wins despite our weakness.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 105 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 105 we have a long historical psalm - the second of four. This psalm recounts God’s deeds only and does not consider the response of people good or bad. It is a great psalm of praise showing how mighty God is, and now nothing can oppose him. God does fulfil his promises - to Israel, and to us.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 104 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 104 we have a psalm of praise that mirrors the days of creation. This is a companion to psalm 103 which talked about how good God is to us, and now how good God was in creating all things. We are not here by chance.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 103 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 103 we have one of the most famous psalms - a song about the benefits of being a believer. It starts with “Bless the Lord o my soul…” and so many know the words that follow. In its parallel lines we learn about how easy it is to find not only forgiveness but also healing, and much more about what God does for us.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 102 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 102 we have a prayer which is both the prayer of a troubled believer at the time of the exile, and the prayer of Christ - a messianic psalm. The words of this psalm speak of the suffering and redemption of the messiah, but also of the struggling faithful at the time of the exile, who came to trust that God was at work through the situation.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 101 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 101 is a psalm that seems to be written when David was newly king. It is a prayer for righteousness, and a prayer that he will see his kingdom be righteous. This is a prayer for all whoo have any spiritual responsibility - even as parents over children.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 100 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 100 we have a psalm of pur praise for the sabbath day… in other words a song for when you go to church. This psalm tells us to serve God with gladness…. How exactly does being glad serve God… this video explains.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 99 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 99 we have a psalm of worship - a thoughtful psalm that talks bout the Lord’s holiness. It speaks of Christ enthroned among the angels, and calls him holy three times. This is the same scene we find in Revelation 4 with the angels around the throne saying ‘holy holy holy.’ This is a majestic psalm.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 98 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 98 we are told to sing a new song of praise to the Lord. As time goes on, and humanity comes into greater understanding of how wonderful God is… there is always room for new songs. This is a great psalm of praise.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 97 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 97 a third psalm in a row for praising God at church… that is, a sabbath day psalm. This is a psalm about God’s righteous judgements, and his destruction of wickedness. That is a GOOD thing. This would have been a perfect psalm for the day that World War 2 ended, but it IS a psalm for when sin is finally dealt with.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 96 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 96 we have another psalm of high praise, and this time it is the song used when the ark of the covenant was setup in Jerusalem after having been recovered from the Philistines. This is a great psalm of joy for a very joyful occasions. This is a celebration that God is with us.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 95 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 95 we have the first of a series of 6 songs for the sabbath - or basically songs for when you go to church. There are full songs of praise and typically the type of thing we think of when you think of psalms.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 94 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 94 we consider vengeance and how it is God’s prerogative to take revenge. What a strange thing fo rhe Bible to say. Why does God take revenge when we are encouraged not to?
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 93 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 93 we find a great little psalm about the Regin of God, and each verse ascends in grandeur as we see the reign of God in this psalm increase. God is truly remarkable and always has been as this psalm attests.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 92 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 92 we have a remarkable little psalm about the Sabbath. IT contrasts praising God for his works - a thing that is done while people rest - against the wicked who do not rest and who do not have God’s blessing.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 91 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 91 we have one of the most well known, well love and most used psalms in scripture - the protection psalm. This psalm has been said daily by more believers than almost anything and may be the most quoted piece of scripture in existence. Learn about this prayer, and some of the amazing outcomes it has brought in the lives of people.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 90 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 90 we have the prayer of moses, and a great contemplation about how God is, followed by a short six verse prayer for seven qualities. Do you want to pray for the same things that Moses prayed for… watch this video.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 89 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 89 we have a psalm of Ethan the Ezrahite. This is a great song of praise about the covenant that God made with David. The psalm is truly about Christ, and with NT eyes to see, it lives so much more as a result. This is also the last psalm in book three and concludes with the typical benediction.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 88 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 88 we have the saddest psalm in the the psalter, and one of the saddest chapters in the bible. It is also a psalm of Heman the Ezraite, the grandson of the prophet Samuel and an fairly unknown figure. He was in a state of hopelessness when he wrote this prayer and no hope emerges at any point through the psalm, yet he prays it anyway. We learn that we ust trust in Christ even when we feel nothing at all.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 87 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 87 we have a great psalm of praise by an unidentified psalmist. This psalm explains how much God loves his people and greatly appreciates and thinks of them.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 86 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 86 we have a psalm of David - the only one in book three of the psalms. This prayer is a psalm of prayers and a prayer to know God’s ways. In this psalm we find out that David was a true monotheist which doesn’t surprise many until we realise that monotheism didn’t truly get a foothold in Israel until much later, during the time of Elijah.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 85 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 85 the psalmist is an exile returned from Babylon to the land of Israel. As he looks around he realises things are in a desperate state, and this psalm is a prayer for mercy. He asks God to “revive us.” Such a psalm should be the prayer for every hard hearted believer.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 84 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 84 we have a third song on the gittith, this time by the sons of korah. It is a song put to music many many times over the years, including by David Alley. After this video and his explanation about the heart going on pilgrimage, listen as David plays his version of Psalm 84 on the guitar.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 83 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 83 is the last of Asaph’s 12 songs. It is a song about the abundance of Israel’s enemies over time, and how there never seems to be an end to those who want to take them out. Do you feel you never get to the end of the battle? This is your psalm
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 82 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 82 we have the psalm about the ‘gods’. Who are these ‘gods.’ Does Jesus settle the matter when he quotes from this Psalm in John 10:34?
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 81 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 81 is a second psalm played on the gittith, the instrument of gath, the instrument of the enemy. This psalm is about Israel’s failure to listen to God and obey, and speaks to us about our failure to listen. THe psalm says that if we do listen, our enemies will be defeated. So even the enemies instrument is a witness that this is true.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 80 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 80 is a song for when your enemies laugh at you and mock you. This is something Israel experience, and something Christ experience, and something we too experience.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 79 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 79 is the funeral for a nation psalm - a later Asaphite psalm written at the time of exile. This psalm mourns why Jerusalme is destroyed and is read every 9th of Av by Jews in commemoration. There are spiritual realities that describe the church today from this psalm. Not only was God’s city and temple destroyed then…. But they are attacked today. This calls for the soft hearts of God’s people.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 78 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 78 we have a great outlining of the history of Israel for the benefit of the next generation. It also tells of how God rejected Ephraim because of its failure to lead and do what God said, and selected Judah because it took up what Ephraim failed to do. Ephraim was the leadership of Joshua, which didn’t conquer the land, but Judah was the leadership of David, who did conquer the land.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 77 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 77 we have a psalm of mourning written by the later ‘Asaph’ concerning the exile of Jerusalem. The people have been taken away and questions are being asked of the Lord. Has he forgotten us?
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 76 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 76 is a psalm about God’s victory in war over his enemies and while this was an on the ground thing for the people of Israel at the time, it is an even more real thing for us today ‘in the air.’
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 75 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 75 we have a most interesting prophetic psalm of judgement. It foretells the destruction of the wicked, which include those inside of God’s nation, as well as those outside.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 74 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 74 we have another psalm by Aasaph, but about the destruction of Jerusalem. How could Asaph have lived hundreds of years to write this psalm… this video explains. The psalm is a prayer to God to rise up and listen to the mockery of his name… and do something. We would well pay attention to this as the same situation exists today. The Lord’s name is again a mockery and our prayers are needed.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 73 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 73 we are now into the Psalms of Asaph, and he makes a confession. He nearly fell away from faith because he saw how wicked people got away with things and did well. But in this Psalm he has a revelation of the consequences of their actions eventually and is so glad he is in the Lord.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 72 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 72 we have a psalm of Solomon… and a psalm of dominion. This is also a mssianic psalm that actually talks of Christ who has dominion over all things. This is a psalm for the millennium and for the kingdom of God… and incredible prophetic son.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html to select any specific Bible chapter, or for more information. In this video listen to Psalms 71 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 71 is a psalm for the elderly…. Written by David in his old age. When his strength is failing, he remains full of trust in the Lord.
In this video listen to Psalms 70 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 70 we have a short little psalm containing a prayer for those in need of an urgent and immediate response from God. It is also an almost verbatim copy of five verses out of Psalm 40. A psalm for those who need God to do something…. NOW.
In this video listen to Psalms 69 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 69 we have a messianic psalm similar to psalm 22 - a reflection of Christ’s passion week. Christ himself quotes from this psalm several times. It reflects a moment in david’s life when he was in great trouble, and is prophetic of the great trouble the Lord went through for us.
In this video listen to Psalms 68 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 68 we sing a great song of praise and imprecation, when David had just become king and was rising up to defeat his enemies. He says… “Let God arise! Let his enemies be scattered.” God’s enemies are his enemies and this psalm is a song of attack.
In this video listen to Psalms 67 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 67 we have an unexpected prayer… for the conversion of the gentiles. If there was ever a Jew, or a Pharisee who thought the blessings of Abraham was for them alone, this psalm is a witness against them. We are blessed, so that others might also be blessed
In this video listen to Psalms 66 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 66 the psalmist calls the earth to praise the Lord with joy… and the earth is the nations, meaning the gentile peoples. Why would a Jew call the Gentiles to praise the Lord…. because this psalm is about the Lord’s deliverance of Jerusalem and the defeat of Sennacherib and the Assyrian army. The whole world was blessed by this event, not just the citizens of Jerusalem.
In this video listen to Psalms 65 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 65 we have a psalm of common grace. It is a psalm of praise outlining the things that God does for all humanity, even if they don’t know about it. Someone overwhelmed by depression and pain can simultaneously be surrounded by God’s goodness but doesn’t see a drop of it. And also, regular people see the good things, but don’t ascribe it to the Lord. This psalm calls us to praise him for all he has done.
In this video listen to Psalms 64 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 64 we have a psalm about conspiracy theories…. Kind of. When David wrote this psalm there was a rising conspiracy in the land.
In this video listen to Psalms 63 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 63 while in the desert David writes “my soul thirsts for you.” This is a profound psalm about the true reality of thirst and what our true needs are.
In this video listen to Psalms 62 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 62 is a song written for Jeduthun - a very talented musician and singer in Israel. This psalm is about what is means to rest… in God. Few people know how to do that.
In this video listen to Psalms 61 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 61 we have a song when David is fleeing from an enemy and hiding in the desert. Not everyone has had to hide in the middle of nowhere for their safety. But perhaps you feel alone and isolated and long for things to be normal. This is your psalm.
In this video listen to Psalms 60 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 60 despite the ‘kind of’ misleading title, this psalm is about a military defeat. David is attacked by the Edomites while his army is away fighting Aram, and he questions the Lord why this was allowed to happen. Later his army sorts out the Edomites, but this psalm is in between those moments.
In this video listen to Psalms 59 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 59 we have another psalm in series of David… in trouble. This time people are all around David’s house watching to kill him. He escapes out a window, suggesting his house was built into the wall of the city. What type of song do you write in this situation?
In this video listen to Psalms 58 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 58 is another psalm in a series of songs which have David in the midst of terrible trouble. This time it is set (it seems) in the midst of Absalom’s rage. David goes where he needs to…. To the Lord.
In this video listen to Psalms 57 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 57 is a psalm when David is hiding in a cave from Saul. His safety and his refuge is the Lord however…. God is his true ‘cave’.
In this video listen to Psalms 56 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 56 we find out that David was seized at one point by the Philistines and he cried out to the Lord to save Him. A psalm of trust in a crazy time of trouble.
In this video listen to Psalms 55 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 55 is another psalm about betrayal, but this time seems to be more personal than the previous psalm 54. This is about Ahithophel - David’s trusted friend and a precursor to Christ’s betrayal by Judas
In this video listen to Psalms 54 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 54 we have a psalm about betrayal. The ziphites dobbed in David for a reward after he had been kind to them. If anyone has repaid you evil for good, this paslm is for you.
In this video listen to Psalms 53 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 53 we have an almost identical copy of Psalm 14 except for one verse which is different (verse 5) and a most profound change. Everytime God is named in psalm 14 it says “Yahweh” but here every time God is named it says “Elohim.” Such a change is not obvious to our english transitions, but it has implications.
In this video listen to Psalms 52 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. 1In Psalms 52 we have a psalm about the evil man who harms others for personal benefit. The psalm is specifically about Doeg the edomite who killed 80 priest for a personal reward, but about all people who drag others down so they can get ahead.
In this video listen to Psalms 51 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 51 we have the most famous of the penitential psalms - when David repented for his terrible sin involving Bath-sheba and the coverup with murdered many people. This psalm is a window into how the ancient world worked, and a very unique look at how true repentance should happen. We also briefly consider temptation.
In this video listen to Psalms 50 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 50 we have the first of Asaph’s 12 psalms, and an introduction to the idea of God’s saints in scripture, who are his people.
In this video listen to Psalms 49 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 49 we have a didactic psalm - that is a teaching psalm. This song teaches a lesson that Jesus later taught….everything is upside down.
In this video listen to Psalms 48 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 48 we have a psalm about the Church, using all the figurative language that describes Jerusalem. Jews will think its about an earthly city, but this psalm is about the heavenly city, which is God’s people.
In this video listen to Psalms 47 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 47 we have an amazing psalm for the millennium kingdom. While this psalm may well have been written about the time that David subdued the nations around him, it speaks about Christ and his subjugation of all things.
In this video listen to Psalms 46 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 46 is the inspiration for Martin Luther’s famous reformation Hymn
In this video listen to Psalms 45 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 45 is an unique psalm about a wedding. It is the marriage of Christ and his people. It doesn’t fit any actual living historic king, but is a prophetic song of what God would do.
In this video listen to Psalms 44 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 44 is a recounting of what God did in the past, and a plea for the same victory today. Each generation must find God for itself.
In this video listen to Psalms 43 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Psalms 43 we have a psalm that seems to be paired with psalm 42 and is about life in an ungodly nation, which was northern Israel at the time. Many believers know what it is like to live surrounded by those who don’t know the Lord.
In this video listen to Psalms 42 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 42 we have a son of Korah lamenting how much he misses God - as a deer thirst for water. The author seems to have been from the north of Israel - near Mt Hermon, possibly in the land of Dan. Set in the time after the nation split and the north was ruled by Jeroboam and the golden calves, the writer remembers how he used to go to Jerusalem for pilgrimage. His heart is sad - he misses the fellowship at the temple. It is a sweet psalm of longing.
Psalms 40 - My Help and My Deliverer | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 39 - What is the Measure of My Days? | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 38 - Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 37 -Fret Not Yourself Because of Evildoers |Bible Podcast, David Alley,Peace Christian Church
Psalms 36 - Transgression Speaks to the Wicked | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 34 - Taste and See That the Lord is Good | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 33 - Shout for Joy in the Lord | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Blessed is He1:43When your sins are forgiven3:10David knows he sinned4:33Adam Eve sinned5:15God is talking7:56
Psalms 31- Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 30 - Joy Comes with the Morning | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 29 - Ascribe to the Lord Glory | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalm 281:28Those People Do Not Respect the Works of Yahweh7:03Yahweh Is My Strength and My Shield7:43
Psalms 27 - The Lord is My Light and My Salvation |Bible Podcast, David Alley,Peace Christian Church
Psalm of Integrity1:00Ive Been Good2:00Ive Been Righteous3:00Search My Heart4:00Conclusion5:00
Psalms 25 - To You, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 24 - Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates! | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 23 - The Lord is My Shepherd | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 21- The King Rejoices in Your Strength | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 20 - Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God |Bible Podcast, David Alley,Peace Christian Church
Psalms 19 - The Law of the Lord is Perfect | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 18 - The Lord is My Rock and My Fortress | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 17 - In the Shadow of Your Wings | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 16 - You Will Not Abandon My Soul | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 15 - Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill? | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 14 - The Fool Says, There Is No God | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
Psalms 12 - The Faithful Have Vanished | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church
In this video listen to Psalms 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. Key Moments:The Headless Sheep3:28Yahweh Is Righteous4:36Not Even a Hair of Your Head Will Perish5:53
In this video listen to Psalms 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 10 we have the second half of a pair of matching psalms. It carries on from psalm 9, finishing off the acrostic poem that 9 started. Psalm 9 was a psalm of victory and praise, and Psalm 10 a desperate prayer for help. Why is this matching pair so contrasting, and what is the message for you? Why did David’s mood change so dramatically?
In this video listen to Psalms 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 9 we meet a pair of psalms for the first time joined with an acrostic poem. The first stanza of psalm 9 starts with an aleph, the first letter of the hebrew alphabet, and the second with a beth and so on. When Psalm 9 finishes, halfway through the alphabet, psalm 10 carries it on. In this video you will learn a little about Hebrew poetry and acrostic poems, and the marvellous opposing themes of the two Psalms. Psalm 9 is a psalm of victory and praise, and Psalm 10 a desperate prayer for help. Why is this matching pair so contrasting, and what is the message for you?
In this video listen to Psalms 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 8 we have a personal favourite Psalm (I have a few) which is played on a Gittith, and instrument from the city of Gath. David quite possibly acquired this instrument of his enemies while he lived there. The Psalm is quoted by CHrist to his enemies the Pharisees in Matthew 21 and is a song of praise concerning the Lord’s majesty.
In this video listen to Psalms 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 7 we encounter a mediation concerning a descendant of Benjamin who had spoken evil against David. Effectively this is a plaintiff prayer with David bringing this evil man before the Lord in a heavenly trial, and asking for justice. This video considers how to deal with evil people in our lives… there being two processes at work. The first to deal with the enemy in a loving manner, as Christ instructed and what is likely to occur as a result. The second is to deal with God in this plaintiff style as this psalm represents and make the matter a plea for justice.
In this video listen to Psalms 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 6 we find the first of seven penitential psalms, but no apparent reason for a prayer like this, unlike in Psalm 51. Very possibly this is the fourth (of four) connected psalms concerning the Absalom issue, and David is wresting not with the sin that prompted it many years earlier (ie the Bathsheba issue) but with the consequences of it. This is a Psalm asking the Lord to spare David from the consequences of sin, as opposed to other prayers with are focussed on the guilt. This Psalm was also played on the sheminith - an eight stringed instrument, most likely a base instrument
In this video listen to Psalms 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 5 the Absalom saga continues (so it seems) and David has woken from a good sleep but his worry is back and he takes up the matter in prayer again. This video considers the various ways that prayers are dealt with and answers obtained. Some issues seem to recur, or take multiple attempts to resolve… such as what seems to be happening to David in this Psalm. Also, this psalm was to be played on a nehiloth - a wind instrument of some type.
In this video listen to Psalms 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 4 it would seem we have a continuation of Psalm 3 and the Absalom problem - but this time David has prayed through the issue and come to peace. The Lord is with him and he is able to rest secure. We all have problems bigger than us, but when the Lord gets his hands on them, we are able to rest in peace. This video considers how to get a good sleep even with worries in your life.
In this video listen to Psalms 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 3 we have the first labelled Psalm of David - when he was fleeing for his life from his son Absalom. This is probably the first of four linked psalms all on the subject of David’s escape from Absalom covering the range of his emotions, prayers and experience as he went through this difficult time. In Psalm 3 he is anxious and cries out to God for help from his insurmountable enemies. We too have insurmountable problems at times…. This psalm is a help.
In this video listen to Psalms 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Psalms 2 we encounter the first Psalm of David - but it is not labelled as such. We find out in Acts 4 were this Psalm is quoted that this is a Davidic song. We delve into a contrast between righteous and wicked nations, just as we did between good and bad people in Psalm 1.And it turns out that believers have a role to play in the nations as this video explains.
In this video listen to Psalms 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Psalms 1 we cover an introduction to the entire book of Psalms, when it was written, and who are all the authors of the songs. We also consider the introductory Psalm as a kind of introduction to the entire book. The Psalms are a favourite part of the Bible for many believers and as we commence this journey into them, we are entering into the devotional part of scripture.
n this video listen to Job 42 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 42 one of the world’s most unique stories concludes. We summarise the book and its main points being: The patience of Job, and our call to patience The testing of Job, and our call to bear up under testing. The dangers of accusation and what to do about it. What we learn about the problem of pain. That God is above everything that happens and we can trust him. And that Job is a great inspiration to us all.
In this video listen to Job 41 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 41 the speech of God continues and the Lord brings up the subject of the Leviathan. Could this be a fire-breathing dinosaur? This video also considers the patience of God. Normally in this book patience is ascribed to Job, but by changing focus, we see it is God who has the greatest patience. In the book of Job we also see Christ… this video explains.
In this video listen to Job 40 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 40 the Lord’s speech to Job continues and must be history’s most unique speech. Here God challenges God to do a better job as manager of the universe than he does. To give one example of his grandeur God talks about the Behemoth, a creature with no modern equivalent. Could this be a dinosaur from times past?
In this video listen to Job 39 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 39 The last speech of the book of Job continues, and the Lord who speaks talks of wild goats, deer, wild ox, the stupidity of the ostrich, the strength of the horse, the hawk and the eagle. The entire chapter is about animals each created with unique abilities. It amazes phd students out in the field to find out details of the lives of various species, when they give birth, when they migrate, the size of their eggs and much more. So much happens that we have no idea about, and the world is full of incredible detail. But the Lord knows not only each species uniquely, but each individual animal. This video will consider the knowledge of God. Christ said “who of you by worrying can add an hour to his life,” … “consider the sparrow.” Here Christ ties in to what he already said to Job in chapter 39.
In this video listen to Job 38 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 38 we come to the last and greatest of all the speeches in the book of Job. Speech number 19. And so God starts his “explanation” by asking questions. No answers are given to any of these questions, but the questions themselves give answers. They are also intended to give an Impression to the reader as well as they did to Job too. We could truly read these 4 chapters slowly and thoughtfully and go through the same experience that Job did.
In this video listen to Job 37 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 37 at long last Elihu’s speech comes to an end… It took six chapters. We consider how a speech can contain much good and yet be so wrong. This final chapter of his speech is his best, and starts to sound grand and “god-like” which led some commentators to suggest it was an introduction to God’s speech which follows. Rather God is so annoyed he won’t even reply to it as we shall explain. How can good and bad be intermingled? This video explains.
In this video listen to Job 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 36 we are now into chapter 5 of 6 in the grand speech of Elihu. Some have labelled this the “fourth speech” of Elihu because this chapter also begins with a Moreover, as did two previous ones. Elihu tells Job that his life will “magnify the Lord” and he was probably thinking that God would be glorified in his justice, and yet we now see the truth of those words from a far distant perspective. This video considers that it means to glorify God, and how even the wicked do so without realising.
In this video listen to Job 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 35 Elihu continues his long speech attempting to prove that Job is wicked just as his older friends had done previously. Because this chapter begins with “Moreover, Elihu continued…” Some have interpreted this as a third speech beginning when Job didn’t reply to his previous words. And in this line of thinking Elihu gives four speeches, but this video suggests it's just one big speech. This video takes up a question by Elihu about the reason why people pray, and we find out that there are many selfless reasons why people pray.
In this video listen to Job 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 34 Elihu continues the 18th and longest speech in the book of Job. He declares that he wants Job put on trial, but doesn’t realise Job has been on trial. His entire experience has been a test of his character. When we go through trials, our character IS being tested. This video considers the testing of our faith in Christ. Some consider this a “second speech” because it beings with a “Moreover.”
In this video listen to Job 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 33 the 18th and longest speech in the book of Job continues. Elihu finished introducing himself and his reasons for speaking in chapter 32 and now finally gets down to his argument.He says that the Spirit of God “compelled” him to speak. He makes the dangerous assumption that his words are from God. This video considers God’s thoughts in our minds we interpret as out own,, and our thoughts we interpret as Gods, and the overlap, complexity and danger of it all.
In this video listen to Job 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 31 he now makes his final points in the book of Job before a long speech by Elihu and the final speech by God. Job maintains his innocence in a grand three-chapter long summation of his case, culminating here in a point by point argument about how he has done what is right. He begins by stating he has “made a covenant with my eyes” and would not look lustfully with his eyes. Even his motivations are pure it seems. This video will consider Job’s final case, the issue of what we look at, and what it means to be righteous on judgement day.
In this video listen to Job 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 30 his final speech continues as he summarises his case and in this chapter he talks about the time of distress that came upon him. This video considers the idea of a “time of distress” from a global perspective and observes that the entire world and its people are currently in a “time of distress” that began when sin entered the world, and will conclude when every enemy has been destroyed. In one sense the book of Job is a picture of all of humanity and the experience of those who trust God.
In this video listen to Job 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 29 he has finished his “ode to wisdom” and now begins a summation of his case over the next three chapters. Like a good lawyer, Job draws together everything he has said as a good defence council would in court. He begins in chapter 29 with a summation of his life before the troubles.
In this video listen to Job 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Job 28 we have an “ode to wisdom” where Job has now moved from speaking directly to Bildad, and now attempts to teach all of his friends how to acquire wisdom. Job 28 is unlike any other chapter among the human speeches of Job and is undoubtedly my (David Alley’s) favourite chapter spoken by Job. It is also a high point of wisdom literature coming out of ancient times. Job asks if wisdom can be mined. Or can wisdom be purchased? Or can wisdom be found? Where does one acquire wisdom and how?
In this video listen to Job 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 27 he continues his six chapter reply to Bildad, which morphs into a reply to all his “friends.” Some experts believe that this is a mislabelled speech by Zophar, but this video will explain how that cannot be the case.
In this video listen to Job 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 26 he starts a reply to his friend Bildad which ends up being a six chapter speech. In this speech a number of things occur, as he starts by addressing Bildad in person, then merges to addressing all of his friends as a group, and even attempts to start teaching them wisdom. In this video we contemplate the mysterious sea dragon Rahab that Job mentions. We also contemplate how Job knew that the earth hung unsupported in space. This video also answers the question about whether this book had Babylonian myth stories as background context.
In this video listen to Job 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 25 is the sixteenth and the shortest speech in the book of Job. It seems Job’s friends are running out of things to say, and the heart to say them. This chapter is one of the ten shortest chapters in the Bible. Bildad asks just a handful of rhetorical questions, which have implied answers. For example he asks, “can he born of a woman be clean?” Surprisingly the answer is that despite the obvious no… there was one born of a woman who was clean, and that was Christ. In this last of the speeches from the friends, we consider Christ. We then consider the three great speeches that are to follow and finalise the book of Job, a six chapter speech by Job, a second six chapter speech by Elihu and the final word by God, taking five chapters.
In this video listen to Job 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 24 Job’s third reply to Eliphaz continues, and he questions why God doesn't have a day of judgement…. but of course he does. In this video we consider Job’s words, and also the two judgements to come, the great white throne judgement, and the bema seat judgement.
In this video listen to Job 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Job 23 Job replies to Eliphaz in the fifteenth speech of the book. In his speech Job raises the question of how exactly one looks for a God that cannot be found? This video discusses this too, and the layers of reality. Job also raises how his trials will turn to gold - an insight which we can all consider.
In this video listen to Job 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 22 we are now into the third round of speeches. Eliphaz ratchets it up to attack Job at a new level, accusing him of specific sins. It becomes vitriolic. Eliphaz asks an interesting question - does God profit from man? This video will consider this question.
In this video listen to Job 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 21 we have Job’s reply to Zophar and the end of the second round of speeches. Job goes all out in defence against Zophar, so much so that Zophar declines a third reply. In all the other speeches of Job, he gets lost in philosophising, or moves into spontaneous prayer, but not in this speech in which he stays on focus. His defence is good, giving specific examples of the prospering wicked, which Zophar is unable to reply against. Today we also see the wicked prosper, and there is hardly a better example than Joseph Stalin.
In this video listen to Job 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 20 we have the twelfth speech in the book, out of nineteen. It is also the second speech of Zophar, the voice of religion or duty. In this speech Zophar goes one step beyond his friends - by accusing Job of specific sins. He accuses Job of injustice towards the poor. And weirdly, he also paints God as a tyrant who pretends to do good,and then pours out the opposite. Zophar doesn’t know the Lord. While the Lord allows pain in our lives, there is always redemption in it, so he converts bad into good, not good into bad as Zophar is suggesting.
In this video listen to Job 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 19 Job replies to Bildad’s second speech - the eleventh speech in the book and sixth speech of Job.
He says to his friends “How long will you torment me, and crush me with your cruel words?” It is a very telling question. The answer is of course for another round of speeches after this. They will have one more attempt each.
In verse 17 we get the only other mention of Job’s wife, who we find out loathes him.She doesn’t represent many of the godly women we know from elsewhere in scripture.
Also in verse 24 is a most interesting reference to writing with a steel pen on lead. A recent archaeological discovery at Mt Ebal is of this exact thing.
In this video listen to Job 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 18 we have Bildad’s second speech to Job and the tenth in the book. This time Bildad seems to not have a focused point, but wants to vent his anger against Job. He felt attacked by Job’s previous reply and now defends himself by going on the offensive.Bildad makes some true points, but not true in light of this world only, but true in light of eternity, but he doesn’t seem to realise it… we explore how the wisdom can be true, but not the way he was thinking.
In this video listen to Job 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 17 his reply to Eliphaz continues, and he discusses the grave. The grave is ready for him, and he is ready for the grave. What do these two phrases mean? We also discuss the plans of humans and the light they take on when disaster arrives. We also discuss Job’s unique combination of hope and despair in the same speech. Do we combine hope and despair in our lives also?
In this video listen to Job 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Job 16 we have the ninth speech in the book, Job’s reply to Eliphaz’ second speech. He accuses his friends of abandoning him. We compare that with Christ who also had his friends abandon him, but did not complain in hindsight, but did ask in advance “could you not pray with me for an hour?” In verse 19 we reach one of the high points in the book of Job, where he states “my witness is in heaven” and speaks of the one who will vouch for him. We explore this statement, Jobs' accusation of his friends lack of sympathy, and the place of trust each believer must come to when going through pain.
In this video listen to Job 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 15 we are into the second round of speeches by Job’s “friends.” Here we have the eight speech in the book, out of nineteen. Eliphaz the Temanite doesn’t mince words this time around, and his speech can be summarised by four points: 1 - Job has sinned 2 - Job is proud and ignorant 3 - The wicked get what they deserve 4 - Punishment also awaits Job. With friends like Eliphaz’ who needs enemies? Listen as we discuss the speech of Eliphaz.
In this video listen to Job 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 14 his reply to Zophar is still continuing.
Job talks about the brevity/shortness of life and gets philosophical. He then moves on as he does so often into spontaneous prayer, talking to God for help.
In this video find out what a 97 year old man in Australia also said about the shortness of life, and what he did on his second last day in life.
In this video listen to Job 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Job 13 he continues to reply to Zophar and pulls apart his speech by giving examples that are contrary to the main point made. Job gives examples of the wicked prospering, and of the righteous struggling… which he states is also happening to him. While this chapter is not the end of his speech, he asks the same question of the Lord that David asks in Psalm 139, that God would search him and reveal what is wrong. That would seem to be a risky question to ask, but in Jobs case he had nothing to lose.
In this video listen to Job 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 12 he replies to Zophar - the third reply to his friends, and his fourth speech. This is a long reply lasting three chapters, but not the longest speech which is the last one by God.
In contemplating this speech, and the others prior to this, the one element that seems to be completely missing is the context of eternity. This is something that seems lacking in many modern discussions about life and meaning too.
In this video listen to Job 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 11 is the sixth speech of nineteen, the third speech from the friends, and the first speech by Zophar. Zophar is the voice of religion, representing things from the “spiritual” point of view.
Zophar, like his friends begins with the assumption that Job is guilty, and questions his objectivity. So all three friends have that in common. Their arguments are all very similar even though they come from three perspectives of experience, tradition and religion.
Listen to the video and comments as Zophar goes after Job’s throat.
In this video listen to Job 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 10 the fifth speech of the book continues… and Job finally asks the Lord for understanding, which he will not receive (and only in part) until the end of the book.
But God has reasons beyond his understanding as we who have the narrator’s perspective can see. Here is a question though…. Why would God allow the evil one to succeed in his accusation? Why would God permit the pain?
Consider this, what value and comfort has the story of Job provided to generations of people for thousands of years? Imagine if God had not allowed Job to suffer and the story to unfold? Think of the countless good that has come from this story and its inclusion in the canon? How could God have explained that to Job at the time? Yet, by participating in this, and being unwilling to blame God, and being willing to accept that he didn’t understand God's reasoning, we are given an example to follow. We see that our own experiences match his in some ways, and that God being sovereign allows things for the long-term greater good.
In this video listen to Job 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 9 we have Jobs reply to Bildad the Shuhite. This is the fifth speech of 19 in the book of Job, the first reply to Bildad and the second reply in total. Once again Job is completely in disagreement with what Bildad had to say.
In this video we consider Job’s claim to be blameless, and compare it with the truly blameless Christ. We also compare their sufferings and their reponses to suffering.
In this video listen to Job 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 8 we meet Bildad the Shuhite. Bildad gives the fourth speech of the book, out of nineteen, and the first reply of his second friend, and the second of the replies from friends. Bildad is the voice of tradition, and he does not start with a skerrick of nicety as Eliphaz did.
After reading through Job 8 we will consider what Bilada says, from his perspective of tradition.
In this video listen to Job 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 7 his reply to Eliphaz’ speech continues. In his reply to a speech he slips into talking to himself, and then somehow spontaneously converts into praying. When talking to himself in the first six verses, he gets quite philosophical pondering the shortness of life. Then when he prays, we find there are assumptions in his prayer. Watch this video and hear comments on what it all means.
In this video listen to Job 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 6 he replies to his friend Eliphaz’ first speech. In doing so he starts by saying how miserable he is, how useless his friends are at sympathy, and finally demanding that they identify what he did wrong… which he implies is nothing.
Job does complain, but never about God, and doesn’t blame him. What can we learn from that?
In this video listen to Job 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 5 the first of Job’s friends continues his unhelpful speech. He compares Job to a fool, and declares that trouble doesn’t come along on its own, there is a reason for it. He finishes his speech by telling Job to do what every preacher tells its audience… to hear and apply the lessons.
In this video listen to Job 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 4 we meet Eliphaz the Temanite who makes the first speech from one of Job’s friends, the first reply to Job and the second speech in the book.
Eliphaz’ name means “my god is pure gold” which is either an adjective describing the Lord, or a hint at what he really served. Was his motivation wealth?
In his initial speech he effectively quotes Proverbs 22:8 - which wasn’t written yet. This video will explain how he could quote wisdom literature, which of itself was true, and yet the essence of his message was inaccurate.
In this video listen to Job 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 3 we have the first of nineteen speeches in the book of Job. Job speaks first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fifteenth and seventeenth. While Job has the first speech, he doesn’t have the last word, because the final and nineteenth, speech in the book is that of God’s.
In this primary speech, Job curses the day he was born. His speech can be summarised by saying “I wish I was never born.” It reflects one of the saddest chapters in scripture. If one can lose such hope from temporal suffering, imagine eternal suffering.
Alden observed that there was little expectation of eternity, and this is one of the key factors which we can apply in hindsight to Job to make sense and reconcile all the points made in the book and its speeches.
In this video listen to Job 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 2 we meet four more characters in the book of Job. We meet his wife, and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, who turn out not to be very good friends.
In chapter two Job is accused again and suffers again, with a terrible skin disease. Some experts think it was elephantiasis. Then he suffers spousal betrayal from his wife compounding his situation. IN the chapters ahead he will suffer the betrayal of support from his friends. He effectively loses everything, and even his disease gives his shortness of breath, so he is barely clinging to life.
In chapter 2 we discuss the idea of our motivation for following God, and whether we are “fair-weather friends.”
In this video listen to Job 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Job 1 we meet Job in possibly the oldest book in the Bible. This first Job video covers many things such as:
Who was Job?
Where did Job live?
Who write Job?
When was Job written?
Was Job a real man?
Was this story a real story?
Who is the Accuser?
Did Satan really go to Heaven?
How did the author know what Satan said?
And more…
This video also includes a primer on the scheme of accusation and how to deal with it in prayer.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 10 we discuss the sixth shortest chapter in the Bible, and the third time that Jewish person has risen to the equivalent rank of Prime Minister. Mordecai becomes the second in charge of the entire Persian Empire because of the Lord’s providence.
In this book Mordecai takes the symbolic type of the Holy Spirit, Esther takes the symbolic role of Christ and the King is God our Father.
And, there are of course extra sections to the book of Esther included in the Apocryphal books - aka the Catholic Bible - which will be covered when we get there after we conclude our New Testament videos.
Some think that Mordecai was not the author, because he would not have said this about himself. But Moses did say things about himself in Numbers 11 that seem hard to reconcile with his authorship. Sometimes the truth is stated even by one’s own self.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 9 what was to be the day of Jewish disaster turns out to be a day of deliverance. The celebration of Purim is authorised, and continues to be celebrated today. This video covers the events of the first Purim, including the death and posthumous hanging of Haman’s ten sons. It will consider the idea of legacy and posterity, and what type of blessing or curse you leave for your children because of your choices. And this video will discuss whether Jesus himself celebrated Purim.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 8 even though Haman is removed, the national emergency and threat of genocide remains. So Esther and Mordecai are able to petition the king and have a new decree written. Such is the way of believing Christians who also petition the king for the salvation of their people.
Proverbs 11:6 says that “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are trapped by their own desires.” While proverbs are true in general, and not in every specific instance, they are true in this case, and true in the end.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 7 the king, the humiliated Haman and Esther have their second banquet, at which Haman’s life is doomed. Haman throws himself at Esther’s feet and in doing so ironically bows at the feet of Jewish woman. Just a day earlier he was angry that a Jewish man would not bow at his feet. Irony plays a big part in the incredible outcome of the story of Esther.
In this video we contemplate how the Lord turns the most dire of circumstances, a national genocide, into a remarkable new different world.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 6 we have the great turning point in the book of Esther. It’s hard to imagine a more contrasting moment in any story than chapter 6. It begins when the king cannot sleep. The Hebrew literally says that sleep “fled” from him.
That night he has the archives of his kingdom read to him where he learns that Mordecai saved his life, but was not rewarded for his actions. The story hinges. While this seems a coincidence it is the providence of God. It follows on from three days of fasting and prayer by Esther, Mordecai and all the Jews of Susa. Does the Lord hear prayer?
This video considers this turning point, but also the amazing providence of God in answering prayer, and setting things up for answered prayer, before a prayer is even prayed.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 5 Esther makes her act of intercession, which is a picture of what all believers are called to do. We are to approach the king, with no regard for our lives, to make selfless requests on behalf of others.
This chapter considers intercession, and also the gallows that Haman made, which in fact was made for the purpose of crucifixion.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 4 we discuss the timing of the book of Esther…. Where the main story takes place five years after she becomes Queen. Why was that five years important?
You can find Christ in every book of the Bible. But where in the book of Esther is Christ? Firstly, Esther is a picture of Christ - she risks her life, that is she is willing to give up her life, to save her people. Mordecai is a picture of the Holy Spirit who guides the believer to a life of service, and in this case was with Christ.
Esther is also a picture of God’s bride, us, who is courageous, beautiful and willing to serve the King and her people. Vashti was courageous for her own dignity, but Esther was courageous for the dignity of others.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 3 we meet Haman the Agagite, the antagonist in the story of Esther. As a descendant of Agag, he is an amalekite, the sworn enemy of Israel, which was first encountered after the Exodus in the book of Numbers. We also explore Saul’s failure to obey the Lord and the implication of this a thousand years later in the Esther story.
Chapter 3 also unveils the plot of Haman, and the very coincidental timing of the casting of the purim, the dice. This video will cover these things, plus spiritual truth for you today.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 2 we meet an orphaned girl who rises to become the Queen of the Persian Empire, and how that happens. This chapter follows a four year gap after chapter 1 when King Xerxes deposed his previous Queen.
Esther and her uncle lived and served both God and king, during a very difficult historical time and situation.
In this video listen to Esther chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Esther 1 we enter a kingdom ruled by Xerxes 1, most famous for his invasion of Greece. The book of Esther is located in between Ezra 6 and 7, and is famously the only Old Testament book not found among the dead sea scrolls.
Come along with us as we learn more about the time, history and setting of Esther, and what the Lord has to say as we go through chapter by chapter.
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 13, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 13 after so much good having happened, the book finishes with the sad story of Tobiah the Ammonite.
Who are ammonites, and why were they excluded from God’s assembly?
And why was Tobiah allowed to have a room inside the temple?
This video explores the final chapter of Nehemiah, what he did about it, and his spontaneous prayers, several of which occur in this last chapter.
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
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In Nehemiah 12 the wall that has been built is dedicated to the Lord. According to 2 Maccabees 1:18, the events here took place on the 25th of Kislev, about 3 months after the building of the wall was completed.
Modern thinkers such as ourselves are conditioned with a separation of church/state mindset, so why dedicate a city wall? What does that have to do with the Lord? And yet for them all of life was spiritual.
This video will consider the similarity between work and worship in the Jewish mind, and the sameness of the secular and sacred too.
What does it all mean for you?
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 11, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 11 we enter the third section of the book. The book of Nehemiah is in three rough sections
Rebuilding the walls
Revival
Organising the Temple/Community going forwards.
Our lives also need to be brought back to being close to God, and then organised to stay there. Its not enough to rebuilt what was broken and restore a heart for the Lord, if true change is not put in place it will revert. In Nehemiah 11-13 they begin a process to put true change in place.
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 10 there is a revival at work, and the people’s hearts are moved towards the Lord and his Law. But they make a disastrous move… they make a covenant, which is something only God should make.
Trying to keep the law with one’s own covenant or effort cannot succeed. Yes the heart must agree with what the Lord says, but Christ on this matter said, “let your yes be yes” and “no be no” because “anything else comes from the evil one.” (Matt 5:37)
How can agreeing with good, be bad? This video explains.
We also share the example of the revival at Northampton under the oversight of Rev Jonathan Edwards. What was started by the Spirit’s leading, cannot be sustained by human effort and will ultimately break down, as it did in both cases. IN the case of Northampton it broke down with a loss of enthusiasm, and in the case of Israel it turned into harsh legalism.
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 9 the people attend a solemn assembly, of the type the prophets Joel and Zephaniah called for. They come to listen to the word and end up spending a quarter of a day in public confession of their sins.
In this video we cover the events surround this solemn assembly, but also consider why a God would forgive when he already knows in advance what sin yet remains to be committed. What a timeless, merciful and forgiving God we have.
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 8 we are now in the non-autobiographical part of Nehemiah. Considering that so much of the book of Nehemiah is written in the first person, this third person account in chapter 8 is part of a later inclusion… this video explains how that is ok, and this is still the word of God.
Also, in this chapter they celebrate the feast of tabernacles (sukkoth) for the first time since Joshua son of Nun. That was a thousand years earlier… WOW!!
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 7, which is the longest chapter in this book, we explore what happens when the priests have lost their genealogical records.
There was a system using the Urim and the Thummim, but what happens if these are also lost?
Watch and find out.
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 6 there are several sneaky attempts on Nehemiah’s life. The first is more overt, calling him to a diplomatic event in the plains of Ono, but the second is far sneakier. Nehemiah somehow sees through both attempts on this life and is not sucked in.
In this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 1 we have a story that commences about 12 years after Ezra, and about 33 years after Esther. It is a story of the broken down wall of Jerusalem, which is a picture of the church.
If there is ever a time that the Church needs its walls repaired it is now. So what are these broken down walls, and how does it apply to us? Watch this video an all those following to learn why repairing the walls is crucial for our protection and success.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 10 the book of Ezra wraps up, and we consider revival, which is what happened in Israel under Ezra. The nation turns back to God with moved hearts.
For us, how do we get these hearts that are moved. We turn to Charles’ Finney’s lecture on revival for some clues.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 9 we encounter the issue of inter-racial marriage among God’s people. There are BIG differences between this in that time, and in today’s world, where such a thing is fine.
This video considers inter-racial marriage, and why the Bible seemed so against it in this chapter.
And we find there actually is an application for everyone, if you are already married.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 8 they return with a great deal of treasure, but no formal protection. Ezra was not wanting to ask for a military escort after proclaiming the Lord's grace on them. So he prays, and obtains the grace. They travel for 120 days with great wealth and arrive safely.
Ezra fasts and prays… not something you see all that often today.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 7 we now consider Ezra’s journey to Jerusalem - the second of four returns covered in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra takes 4 months to return at a slow pace of about 11-12 miles per day.
We also consider the things Artaxerxes said concerning Ezra, adn what is means for us.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 6 we compare the construction of Solomon’s temple with the construction of Ezra’s temple, which took half the time.
And we also encounter the use of Aramaic in scripture instead of Hebrew. Aramaic is the third language of scripture, rarely used, but a by-product of the exile, and the language that Christ ultimately spoke. This video will go over the use of Aramaic and some of the associated facts that are less commonly known
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 5 we consider whey the building of the temple was delayed, and we tie in the prophecy of Haggai, a post-exilic prophet.
We also contemplate why Darius had such a big heart towards the rebuilding, and why he was so magnanimous towards Ezra. Did Daniel have anything to do with it?
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 4 we discover that the people of the land want to sacrifice to Yahweh too, but theirs is a syncretistic worship which is rejected. In this video we learn about Samaritans, and the history behind them, and what brought about such a despised attitude by those of the south.
And, we also learn that there were actually 3 major decrees by 3 kings concerning Jerusalem. Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes all were involved in commanding the reuilbind of the temple, the city, and the walls. One of these commands is reference in the prophet Daniel.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 3 the foundation of the temple (God’s house) is laid while they sing Psalm 136. For us, what is the foundation of the Lord’s house? According to the NT scriptures it is apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20) What seems so real in the Old Testament is a symbol a much more real temple in the NT.
So there are two ways to interpret this for us. Firstly we have the scriptures, being comprised of the OT prophets, the NT apostles and Christ - and this is the foundation of our faith. But secondly this is true in a relational way as well. As we walk with our leaders and with Christ, and our hearts are knit together, we become a temple of living stones as Peter said in his epistle.
Our lives are to be joined together as a house for the Lord. This is the real temple. And in our world today, such a foundation is needed.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 2 we learn of the first return to Jerusalem under the new appointed Governer Shezbazzare. There are actually 4 key returning moments described in the old testament. Two are here in Ezra, and a further two in Nehemiah. This first return is in around 536 BC, a full 70 years after Nebuchadnazzers first exile, and 50 years after his last.
Two million Israelites went into the promised land under Moses, but just 49000 under Shashbazar.
In this video listen to Ezra chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ezra 1 we meet a most remarkable Bible teacher, and learn why so many books are called Ezra or Esdras I, 2, 3 an even 4 in various versions of the Bible.
We also meet Cyrus and learn the remarkable background to this King, and the prophecy by name found in Isaiah the prophet which foretold his actions. Cyrus is called a shepherd and a messiah, the only Gentile to be given such a title.
Learn the background to the book of Ezra in this video
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 36, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 35, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 34, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 33, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 32, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 31, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 30, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 29, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 28, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 27, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 27 we have a very short chapter about King Jotham. Its says very little other than that he followed in the ways of the Lord and did a few things. One question remains, If Jotham followed in the ways of the Lord, why did he only reign sixteen years? This means he died at 41. We don’t know the answer to this..
The Chronicler seems only to care about what mattered to the Lord, so nothing much about this king is said at all. This reminds us of a famous poem by CT STudd, and here is the first section.
“Two little lines I heard one day,
Travelling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
All that is recorded about Jotham is effectively his relationship to the Lord. All that matters is what he did for Christ so to speak. And the same is all that matters for us.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 26, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 26 we meed Uzziah, who was one of the good kings. Uzziah has increasing success, and gradually he starts to regain the land that was originally thiers, and surrounding nations begin to pay tribute as during the time of David. Because he puts the Lord first things begin to work out. Sadly, success changes people, and it changed Uzziah.
He became proud and began to think he could do whatever he wanted. If you dream about doing better in life, you will often seek the Lord to bring you there, but the same thing can take you away from the Lord when you get it. This is undoubtedly why the Lord sometimes doesn’t answer prayers. He is thinking of your eternal welfare.
The Lord disciplines Uzziah with leprosy. Today, leprosy is what we call Hansen’s disease, a flesh rotting disease which we can now treat with medicine. But leprosy in biblical times could have been that, or other skin diseases also. So there is now a co-regency with Uzziah and his son Jotham.
So the son and the father reign at the same time. This is actually supposed to be how the kingdom of God works. We are called to rule and reign with Christ, in a co-regency. Except that is it us who are the diseased and leprous ones, depending on the mercy of God all the while.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 25, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 25 Amaziah followed the Lord, but Not with a perfect heart - That’s pretty much summarizes most believers. It is worth nothing that there is a difference between having a perfect heart, and perfect deeds. You can have a heart after the Lord, but not do things perfectly as David did, or have a heart that is not perfect. A mixed up heart follows many other things too.
One of Amaziah’s lunatic actions was after defeating the Edomites, to take their gods and worship them. This brought the Lord’s rebuke.
It was lunacy to think you could worship the gods of people you have conquered. They were not able to save their own people, so why would you worship them. The logic here is that they apparently turned on their own people and handed them over. There is a precedent for this when Yahweh handed the Israelites over to the Philistines and didn't fight for them. However the Philistines didn’t worship Yahweh but took the ark away as a trophy, not for adoration. But here Amaziah worships it… so he seems to have stopped thinking logically.
Amaziah felt proud that he had won a victory and must have thought he could now conquer the northern nation. Pride comes before a fall.
Amaziah is the second of the kings to be killed by others. In the northern nation we saw kings regularly killed, and they were succeeded by a new dynasty. In the south, there are several times the kings are killed, but their own children succeed them. The line of David, leading to Jesus continues. It's remarkable that this line seems so tentative and yet it succeeds in lasting. The Lord’s promises can seem so tentative too, and yet miraculously can survive.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 24, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 24 we discuss King Joash and consider what he did in repairing the temple, and the Jehoash tablet.
The big influence on Joash’s life is Jehoiada. Jehoiada lives twice as long as most people at his own time. David lived 70, Solomon maybe from 56 to 60, Others like Rehoboam 59 etc. When he died scripture says he was buried among the kings, but later when Joash dies, he isn’t buried among the kings. Effectively the good rule of Joash, is the rule of Jehoiada and Jehoida is honoured because of this.
Later when Jehoiada is dead, Joash changes. He ends up killing the son of the the man who raised him and gave him his wives, putting him on the throne. This is a shocking turn of events. Then the Chronicler describes how Joash is himself killed in turn.
Finally, we note that Joash is also one of 4 kings omitted by Matthew in the genealogy of Christ. All 4 of them were not good kings.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 23, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 23 Jehoida initiates a coup to put Joash on the throne. Usually a coup is to take power, but in this case it was to re-establish the rightful power. This was a brave move for a priest. Scripture says he “strengthened himself” and in other versions “showed his strength,” or “took courage.” Either way, he did a brave thing in organising a coup.
It could well have resulted in the loss of his life, but the Lord was with him. It’s time to take courage, show your strength and in doing so strengthen yourself. Notably under Athaliah, prior to the coup, there was a house of Baal in Jerusalem. Can you believe a temple to Baal was built in Jerusalem? Under Joash with Jehoiada’s guidance this is removed. In Judah at the time, one of the struggles was polytheism of a type.
It wasn’t that people didn’t believe in Yahweh, but that they believed in both Baal and Yahweh. This type of thing happens in India when Jesus is preached, because he is simply added to the collection of gods that Hindu people believe in. When I was in India, we visited the Mt of St Thomas, and also the Cathedral of St Thomas in Santhome, Chennai, where people were worshipping the statue of Thomas.
They saw him as a saint, like a kind of god to be worshipped alongside other Indian Hindu gods. But this displeases the Lord. He becomes jealous of this type of thing. So when something stands in the place of God, and we remove it, this represents real progress. What stands in the place of God in your life?
It is worth noting, that with every king of Judah there is a designated set of things they say about them, such as their age when they reigned, for how long, who their mother was etc. The standard things are not said about Athaliah, giving us the clear idea that she was not considered a real ruler.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 22, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 22 we find in the World English Bible translation an interesting numerical quirk. It seems Ahaziah’s father Jehoram died at 40 years of age, so how could Ahaziah be 42 when he became king? The answer is that this is a textual variation incorrectly translated. Many other translations say he was 22 when he became king, not 42.
In this chapter Jehu arises in the north, zealous for the Lord, and kills a number of people including Jezebel in Samaria, and Ahaziah here too. Athaliah responds by killing all remaining members of the royal family. At first thought it seems like she is killing her own children. In reality, she was probably killing her son's half brothers. They were probably not her own children.
There is thus a threat to the line of David, which was to lead to Christ, but the Lord preserves his line by rescuing Joash in miraculous circumstances. He grows up in the temple, in the Lord’s house. Here is a young boy whose father, and grandparents were evil, and his great granddad was Ahab, yet this event ended up turning him around so that he becomes good, under the influence of Jehoiada.
What do you surround yourself with? Do you let your children grow up in the house of the Lord? Do you make sure they are always there in the services?
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 20 Judah is attacked by an army coming from the desert, the area near the dead sea and south and west of there. Jehoshaphat calls the nation to prayer. It’s not often that a political leader calls a nation to prayer. This is what the King of England during the Dunkirk excavations in 1940. The series of events that saved the preserved 300,000 soldiers is nothing short of miraculous.
The outcome here in this chapter was also miraculous. The battle was the Lord’s, and they were commanded not to fight. The enemy ended up turning on themselves and slaughtering each other. But if the Israelites had fought, the Lord would not have fought. There are situations like this in our lives, where was take on things that the Lord is willing to carry for us. Walking with Christ helps us to know the difference.
This is a story of how the Lord defeated the enemies of Israel, and the people of God praised him. This is an incredible story, but is a lesson about the nature of spiritual warfare. So much of what comes against us today is defeated by thanksgiving and praise.
Merlin Carothers wrote a book “From Prison to Praise” about this topic. When depression, or a lack of motivation, or bitterness or other forces are against you, thanksgiving is a key weapon given by Christ. The evil one cannot handle the praise of Christ, and lifting up the Lord causes these other things to flee from him.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 19, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 19 we cover Jehoshaphat, one of the good kings. And yet his life is a mixture. This mixture of serving God and also serving self is common, and hardly anyone in scripture is exceptionally one-eye for the Lord. Perhaps Daniel, or maybe Mary & Joseph. But it is rare.
We too are a mixture. So what we see is that Christ’s discipline is at work in us because of this, but his love is also permanent and guaranteed because we strive to serve him too. Is there anything that you love, that Christ does not love?
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 18, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 18 the nation of Israel and Judah start to cooperate, but the Chronicler is down on this point, that the two nations worked together. IN the NT we are encouraged to work together, so why is it a big issue here? First, in gospel times, we are all serving Christ, nowhere are we encouraged to work together with pagans. Rather a house divided against itself cannot stand, says Christ.
Here we have Ahab, a chief proponent of Baal, and Jehoshaphat for the Lord. This is a practical political alliance, but it would be like a church and a witches coven working together. Its not right. Sometimes we use the analogy that the tribes of Israel are like the denominations and together we are the people of God. That’s certainly fine as far as analogies go, but it has limitations, and we can see one of those limitations in a chapter like this.
Jehoshaphat actually lets his son marry one of Ahab’s daughters - Athaliah, and that comes back to bite Judah later. Imagine letting your children marry into an evil family. The problem was that Jehosphabhat, and many of us today, do not recognise evil and sin for the seriousness that it is.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 17, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 17 During the reign of Asa, and Jehoshaphat, a huge number of kings were turned over in the Northern nation of Israel. There were about seven kings while only 2 reigned in the south. But eventually Ahab comes to be king up north bringing some stability there, and for the first time, the two nations begin to cooperate, Ahab with Jehoshaphat. This turns out to be bad in the chapters ahead according to the Chronicler.
But meanwhile, Jehosphaphat sends preachers throughout the land. Now it is national policy to teach people about the Lord. Imagine that, a country that raises up specific people to go throughout the land and make sure everyone knows how to follow Christ. Do you know any nation like this? After this the Lord rewards Judah with incoming tribute from the Philistines and Arabia.
So the message seems to be that if you put the Lord first, he strengthens your hands. In the NT this is the message of Christ in the sermon on the Mount - seek first the kingdom, and all these things will be added unto you. Jehoshaphat is an example. His father tore down idols, but Jehoshaphat teaches the Lord's way - he gives understanding.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 16, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 16 it says that Baasha attacks in the 36th year of Asa. But, according to 1 Kings 15 - Baasha rules from the 3rd to the 25th year of Asa, so he was dead 11 years by this point. The conclusion that seems most sensible and which historic church commentators like James Ussher and many others have concluded is that this is the 36th year after the divide of north and south, not the 36th year of Asa.
These number differences can cause people of weak faith to struggle, but what is not wrong is the strength of the Biblical accounts. These stories have been so remarkably preserved for thousands of years, and old documents freshly discovered always concur and match. There is such a rock we can lean on in scripture. Two chapters ago, Asa cried out to the Lord when a million strong army came and they were victorious.
But now the northern nation of Israel - the ten tribes - attacks one city of Ramah and they put their trust in the Syrians to sace them instead of the Lord. It works politically, but where is his trust in the Lord as before? When the Lord sends a messenger to confront Asa, He gets angry at the messenger. This happens regularly to us all the time too. We get angry at preachers because we don’t like what they say. Or people get angry at those who share the gospel because it seems like a personal attack.
What is the Lord supposed to do? How old was Asa when he died? We don’t know. Some of these details are not clearly explained in the Bible. Some are suggesting he began to reign about 18-22 and therefore died around about 56-60.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 15, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 15 King Asa gets a warning from the Lord’s prophet. The warning and encouragement for Asa comes on the tail of the great victory over Zerah the Cushite (Possibly Pharaoh Osorkon II). It is often after great victories and advances that we fall back. This happens from low level things such as dieting where after being good for a while, it's easy to reward yourself with a relapse, right through to national level things. Asa isn’t warned in the midst of failure, but at the peak of victory.
The word of the prophet spurs them onto action - doing greater things than before. What things should we be spurred on to do by the Lord?
He took the warning to heart, and obeyed, and even went so far as to depose the Queen Mother, which often had great influence over affairs. This was presumably a big deal, otherwise it wouldn't have been recorded. In recent times (Feb 2022) we saw the Queen of England strip her son Andrew of his titles and honours over criminal actions. This would have been hard to do for her, but was the right thing to do. What Asa did was more significant.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 14, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 14 Asa becomes king and begins to put back in place things which have slipped in Judah. We know that if we stop having our prayer times it's hard to restart them, but easy to stop them. Or it's easy to slip into being on your phone all day, but hard to discipline yourself. And so here the king makes an effort to clean up a nation from false gods.
He is rewarded for doing so with a great victory against Zerah the Cushite This is apparently the biggest army assembled in the bible, which has caused commentators to question the figure. And yet other ancient armies were assembled with similar numbers. For example, while the figure is in question, King Xerxes of the Persian empire also assembled a huge army to attack Greece.
It was reported by Herotodus to have 2.5 million people. Another writer, Simonides wrote that he sent 4 million soldiers and a third Ctesias said it was only 800,000 soldiers. Even the minimum estimate by a somewhat contemporary writer was still a huge number. The only reason the number is questioned is because people lean towards disbelief.
This battle is not recounted in the book of 1 Kings, so we have a story here of how the Lord hear the cry of one who called out to Him. If a giant army of a million soldiers approaches, would you cry out to the Lord? A number of experts think that Zerah the Cushite might be Osorkon II the 5th pharaoh of the 22nd dynasty. There are some things that don’t nearly fit, but future archaeological discoveries might make it clear if this is true.
Either way, the point remains true, a victory over an insurmountable force is possible for weak or strong only with the Lord’s help. What insurmountable problem do you have right now? Time to seek the Lord.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 13, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 13 we discuss King Abijah, a short lived king of Judah. It says that Abijah followed the ways of Rehoboam and was not fully devoted to the Lord. Despite the fact that Abijah may have been half hearted in his personal walk with the Lord, he knows that Judah has the true way of worship, and he clearly points out the northern faults to them. The result is a huge slaughter against Israel losing half a million soldiers.
The Lord’s nature is such that he listens to the prayers of weak believers too. It’s not only those of strength he hears. God is mindful of our weaknesses and if we needed to be righteous to have our prayers answered, no one would. Here the people of Judah cried out to the Lord in the middle of an ambush and the Lord delivered. Firstly, this is a huge battle with over half a million deaths. To put that in perspective, It is equivalent to the battle of Stalingrad where the German forces lost 500,000 men, including 91000 captured during the 6 months offensive.
For an event spoken of so briefly, this was a major moment between the two nations. Perhaps at some future moment, archaeology from this battle will be discovered at Mt Zemaraim. Battles of this type don't tend to cause people to warm up to each other, but rather to increase suspicions. So the tribes are not brought together through this.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 12 we are talking about someone who follows God, but acts without wisdom, and now he abandons the Lord. This is what a lack of wisdom will do to you, and in fact the essence of the foolishness is to abandon the Lord. We are talking about King Rehoboam There are many who grow up in church, or a christian home, so they have the tradition of Christianity, but not the heart.
This is a battle each generation has to win for themselves, which means that you cannot rest on what your parents have given you. Nor can you expect your children will automatically pick up what you give to them. Your prayers for them give them the best chance of picking it up. So Shishak of Egypt is sent by the Lord to punish Judah, except he didn’t know that the Lord was punishing Rehoboam because of his sin against the Lord.
The Lord can use people even without their knowledge. The temple at Karnak records the details and names 150 towns that Shishak attacked, but Jerusalem is not on the list. It seems Rehoboam bought him off with gold from the temple and spared Jerusalem. It would seem that Shishak is Pharaoh Shoshenq I of the 22nd Dynasty of Egypt. There is archaeology supporting this Pharaoh and the invasion of Judah. He is the first Pharaoh that is named in the Bible, because the previous Pharaoh’s are not named.
This dynasty was from Libya. Chronicles notes that it wasn’t the king who humbled himself, but the princes of Israel. These are typically the rulers of the tribes of Israel - there were 12 of them in the days of the wilderness wandering. This makes sense given that the 150 towns listed in Egypt were mostly in Israel. Rehoboam became king at 41, reigned for 17 years, and died at 58.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 11, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 11 we find out why Jews come from all the tribes, not just the tribe of Judah. The northern nation of Israel had decided to replace temple worship with golden calf worship to try to keep people from going to Jerusalem. It was a political decision, but got not only the Lord angry, but the Levites here deserted en mass, plus others. So from this point on the “Jews'' are actually people from a number of tribes, not just those from Judah.
This might be why today we think of Jews as being everyone descended from Abraham. Some of the Levites actually moved to Jerusalem and Judah, but others moved their hearts but remained in the place they were. They were in very much the type of position most of us are in today, where politically we are under the jurisdiction of whatever nation and state, but our hearts belong to the Lord.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Chronicles 10 Rehoboam becomes King of Judah. For someone who had for a father the wisest man on Earth, it seemed to do him no good. Rehoboam’s shocking lack of wisdom destroys a kingdom in three days, which has been preserved for 40 years by wisdom.
Solomon’s wisdom of course came from the Lord, but Rehoboam didn’t seek wisdom as his father did. Secondly, Rehoboam listened to the voice of inexperience. He didn’t value wisdom, and it didn’t value him in return. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king according to the 1Kings 12 account and was thus born when his Dad was possibly 13 years of age.
This makes sense if Solomon became co-regent king at 11, and married at 13 when he was considered a man. His mother was not Pharaoh’s daughter, but Naamah an Ammonitess - probably one of Solomon’s first wives, but not his famous wife. According to Josephus, Solomon then became king at 14. Rehoboam didn’t seem to appreciate what he had, and didn’t value it.
This is often the dilemma of billionaire’s when raising their children. Rehoboam may have struggled with an entitlement mentality. James 1:5 says “if you lack wisdom, ask…” Rehoboam didn’t ask as far as we know.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Chronicles Chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 29, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 29 the public speech to all Israel continues from the previous chapter. This is the second time Solomon is declared king. The first time was in a rush in response to Adonijah’s rebellion. But now done properly at length, with full state endorsement, and the approval of his father, Solomon is becoming king.
In verse 10 David starts a prayer, a kind of “ordination prayer” for Solomon. Part of it is used in modern day liturgies. In his prayer, David says the following, “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own.”
Here we see a little bit of David’s theology. We are only giving back to God what he already gave us first. These things are discussed in this video. The book of 1 Chronicles is finished for us, but Chronicles is really one account from the original author's perspective in two scrolls. And so the story continues. The breakup here is probably a natural place to break a scroll for readability. Big scrolls are harder to handle.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 28, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 28 we have David conducting a final handing over to Solomon speech. In 1 Chronicles 22 we had a private speech from David to Solomon, but now we have a public speech in front of the entire nation. This makes everything said official, but it also makes what is commanded a requirement of the new leader, which everyone knows. So the legitimacy of Solomon’s reign is connected to doing the things David says here.
This is in a type of way, an ordination process.
Here we learn that the plans for the temple were given to David by the Spirit, so in a similar way that Moses got the plans for the tabernacle from God, these plans come from God too.
The pattern here is the same pattern as the tabernacle, a series of three rooms teaching us about increasing intimacy with God.
The three rooms as
The outer courts
The Holy Place
The Most Holy Place
We are brought into the Most Holy place by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we can have intimacy with God… what a remarkable thing? And yet, most believers remain in the outer courts, never seeking to know God.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 27, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 27 we see that David not only ordered the temple, its priests, musicians and guards, but also ordered the military. When people know what to expect, they organise their lives around it and feel safe. Davids sets up 12 military divisions, under 12 leaders, some names we already know such as Benaiah, son of Jehoida.
Each division is on duty one month of the year, and has 24,000 soldiers. In total 288,000 men are involved in active military duty each year. But the rest of the nation, more than 1 million men, are reservists. One of the division leaders, was Asahel, killed by Abner when the two nations were merging in 2 Samuel 2:18-32. But this occurred before David was king of all Israel, he was king of Judah only at that point. How is this possible?
He would have been dead long before this point right? The answer is that David instituted this system that grew to become what is described here…. Zebadiah, his son after him, ran this division, as this chapter explains. So there was not only priestly systems in place, but military systems too. In the same way, each of us are in Christ’s standing army.
We fight the enemies of the cross, which are not people, but are things of the worlds which hinder the gospel. We fight principalities with prayer and righteousness. We are all called to this high responsibility.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 26, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 26 we discuss doorkeepers. In some bible translations, the doorkeepers are called the porters. Regardless, they have the task of guarding the ports, of being security for the temple and have some basic level of logistical responsibility. Of great interest here is the inclusion of Obed-Edom in the list of doorkeepers.
This man was a Gittite, (a Philistine from Gath) who had the ark in his home for three months and was blessed as a result. (2 Sam 6:11) Now, he and his family are to be in the Lord’s home, just as the Lord was in his home. This is how it works … if you make a place for God, the Lord makes a place for you. And of course he is the only non Levite in all of the lists of rosters, and a non Israelite. Because he opened his home to God, he was included in Israel.
Many people make the mistake that God has to accept them first, but he has already done that… he has. To have God’s presence in your life, you must accept him and then experience what comes as a result. The breakup for gatekeepers is different because it reflects rostered locations - the gates. It seems that rather than having 24 courses as for the priests and the musicians, they obtained a location to guard. Obed-Edom and his 62 sons were to guard the south gate and the storehouse in turn.
This section reminds me of Psalm 84:10. “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” It is better to be at the door of the temple for a small time, than outside for any amount of time. In a sense, we are all called to be doorkeepers and guardians of the Lord’s treasures.
We are not supposed to watch them be eroded around us by culture, but to guard them in our hearts, and guard them for our children, and guard them for society and culture. We can guard them through our prayers, and our moral upright stance, and our resistance to cultural drift.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 25, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 25 lots were also cast for musicians as they were for priests. And there were also 24 groups of musicians rostered on at the temple.
All the musicians were descendants of three men, Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman. Of the 24 groups, 4 came from Asaph, 6 from Jeduthun and 14 from Heman. Asaph is the same as the Asaph of the psalms.
This chapter says they were rostered on to “prophesy” with stringed instruments, but how? Matthew Henry says it is because they were singing the words of prophecies written by the prophets. This is true in the same way that when a preacher speaks of Christ’s return he is prophesying, but he didn’t invent the prophecy. However, some musicians, notably Asaph wrote psalms too, so they may be prophets in the more usual sense.
David is also considered a prophets, and Peter said so in his day of Pentecost sermon in Acts 2-3 In the NT, not only are we all priests, but we are all worshippers, and while not all of us may be musicians, we are to sing and prophesy the wonders of Christ. Between us all Christ is never failed to be worshipped.
n this video listen to Nehemiah chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Nehemiah 5 we have A different type of problem arise than that which arose previously from outside. This is an internal issue in how the society of the Israelites was working. There was lending to fellow Israelites and the charging of interest, something which was prohibited in Exodus 22. This was problematic on several levels.
Firstly it was against the command of the Lord
It was taking advantage of those who had given their time to help build the walls keeping the others who didn’t contribute safe.
The wall should have been the responsibility of all, not of some, so lending with no interest could have been a way of contributing to the wall’s construction, rather than hindering it.
This situation reminds us of the Corinthians who ate their love feasts with differences between them, without regard for one another.
After Nehemiah becomes the governor of Judea, whereas before it was under the governorship of Samaria, likely ruled by Sanballat.
Nehemiah is a fair governor and doesn't take advantage of his position. His prayer to remember me is one we can all emulate. One the one hand, the thief on the cross prayed this prayer when he had deserved nothing, pleading for mercy. But on this hand, Nehemiah has been righteous, and pleads for the Lord to notice and reward him. Whichever the case, we can ask the Lord to remember us.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 24, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 24 lots are cast to work out the twenty-four group roster of priests who were to serve and in what order. Of Aaron’s four sons, two died and their descendants are not a part of this, and of the other two, two thirds are from Eleazar. But the jobs given out, and the order of them is by lot, so is fairly distributed as God decided. The casting of lots was a way of deciding, kind of like rolling a dice. Because God was able to determine the outcome, it was a way of giving him the choice.
This was done in Acts 1 when they decided which of the two were to be the apostle to replace Judas. Today we might decide a matter by a coin toss, such as to start a football game, but this is merely practical, but these decisions were thoughtful, and the outcome considered genuinely God given.
According to Matthew Henry - this verse explains they put the 16 names of the families for Eleazar in one jar, and the eight for Ithamar in the other. They then cast lots for one jar or the other, and then pulled out a name to create the order of 24. These are the twenty-four courses of priests who were rostered on, a practice which continued in various forms through to the time of Christ and beyond until the ending of the temple.
In Luke 1 as an example, John the Baptist's father, of the eighth course here, the group of Abijah, was rostered on. Each course was rostered on for one week only… 8 days, with the Sabbath’s overlapping. In the NT, we are all priests, and these passages show us that we are all to give of our time and contribution towards the work of the Lord. Between us all, the work is done.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 23, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 23 begins a four chapter discussion on the preparations for temple worship. David is not just focussed on building a building, but on building an entire system of worship for God. THe building was magnificent, but it is what happens there that is the most important, so we have four chapters to that, whereas we only had one chapter on the building.
We know the church is people, and not physical things. You can have a church without physical structures, but you cannot have a church without people. This is why the church thrives and grows in places where it isn’t allowed to exist. Even in the Maldives, believers go fishing so as to have church in a boat, because they have no legal right to exist. So the intangibles, the worship, the people, these are the things of most significance.
Here there is a census of Levites. In Numbers 4, there were 8,580 Levites… and now 38,000. It has grown by almost five times. Also in the catastrophic census of Israel that David took, the Levites and Benjamites were skipped, but now we have this number, but he only counts the over thirties, and doesn’t anger the Lord. David sets up 6000 officers and judges, 4000 doorkeepers and a praise and worship team of another 4000.
These were all on a roster as we shall see. And of course churches still have rosters today. The rest of them, 24000 assisted in the temple - helping the priests with sacrifices etc. The next three chapters will go through the dividing up of the jobs of these groups. The first of these was the priestly division. The next three chapters will discuss how these groups were divided up for their tasks and what it means for us today.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 22, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 22 we cover David’s extensive preparations to build a temple for God. And this is why it should be known as David’s temple. David is a figure of Christ, and the temple is a symbol of Christ who said he would “tear down this temple and rebuild it in three days.” But interestingly, Solomon’s name is a representation of peace (Shalom) and through Christ we have peace. Solomon would probably not have thought to have built a temple except he was instructed to do so.
And undoubtedly no-one else may have either. David’s inquiring mind, and heart filled with spirit-led initiative is unique in the history of Israel. Also we attempt some type of estimate at the value of the preparations, which seems to be on the high side, to be in the trillions of dollars. Is that right? The question to us is, like David, are we willing to build God’s house.
Is our heart and soul set to follow God, and arise to build the sanctuary, and bring the ark there. This speaks not of physical buildings, but of the people of God, the body of Christ, which together is a temple. The true glory of God cannot be revealed to the world until it inhabits God’s house, his church, his people.
We see that David was the true driving force behind the temple, with his ideas, his preparations and his verbal encouragements and commands.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 21, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 21 we have the other census account, the first coming from 2 Samuel 24. There seems to be conflicting information between them, but by proper scrutiny of them both, we can harmonize and gain additional perspectives. This video will talk about the two accounts, and their harmonization, plus what lessons we might learn for today.
Isaac Marshmallow has written a comprehensive explanation about the discrepancies over the two different tallies. In 2 Samuel 24 it numbers all Israel at 1.3 million people. The account here numbered them at 1.1 million, a difference of 200,000 people. Also, This account says David paid 600 shekels for the site of Arunah the JEbusite.
The 2 Samuel passage says that he paid 50 shekels, but it was for the cattle. There isn’t a discrepancy here, because there are two different things being paid for, the total of them being 650 shekels. According to the rules for Census taking, those under 20 were not to be counted, but David did such a thing, so the differing totals were including the under 20’s in the Samuel account and without the under 20’s in the Chronicles account.
Isaac’s full explanation is at https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.co... The king is now counting all Israel, including the under 20’s, which he was not supposed to do according to the rules of Exodus 30:11-16. If this was done wrongly, the risk was a plague as Exodus 30:12 points out. This site - the threshing floor of Aruna (or Ornan) the Jebusite is the site of Mt Moriah, where Abraham sacrificed the lamb on behalf of Isaac.
This ties into the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf that stopped the plague of sin for all humanity. …. Also the site of the temple.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 20 we have the shortest chapter in the book, only 8 verses - but there are many shorter chapters than this, especially in the Psalms. It is during this chapter, but never mentioned by the Chronicler, that the Bathsheba/Uriah incident happens. Instead an account of victory is recorded. This is the truth for all who are in Christ Jesus - our sins are removed and all we have left is victory in Jesus.
We know that back in 1 Samuel 17, a young David killed the giant Goliath, but now we have here the records of other giants being killed by his followers. This is spiritual inheritance at work. The heart of David, his courage and his example and now being replicated in those after him. Ultimately Christ is the giant killer - the one who killed Satan at the cross, but now we must take on, and will overcome giants too, following his example.
One particularly notable giant that has been trampled is Communism in Eastern Europe, which was prayed away by the saints. It was a drawn out battle over several decades, and significant believers like Brother Andrew encouraged people to engage the battle everywhere he went. But what a great victory!! There are more giants waiting to fall.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 19, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 19 it is about this time, that David stays home from battle in the spring and the affair with Uriah the HIttite causes him huge problems. But the Chronicler never mentions it. What we have here is an example of true forgiveness in the mind of God. It is as if it never happened. Everyone of course knew what David did, but as God is teaching us about the true king of Israel, this isn’t required for that purpose.
In this chapter David sends Joab, who is defeating the Ammonites, and this chapter outlines a great victory. Keep in mind that this victory was right after the Bath-sheba incident. God is still here helping David have a victory. God is not vindictive. He doesn't snub us because of sin, but continues with us in great patience. If God does at some point turn his back on someone, as he did with Saul, it is after a lengthy period of patience and striving with them, and even then, his patience remains for a heart that turns back.
Out of the Bath-sheba incident was to come the future Christ. The Lord also redeems not only us, but our mistakes. It is one of the incredible miracles of God that his redemption goes beyond just forgiveness, but it rectifies that which was done wrong to bring out a better good. This video discusses redemption - not just of sin, but of circumstances. One incredible modern day example is the wrong done to people taken from their homeland of Africa as slaves to work on the plantations of America.
Out of that terrible evil, the Lord brought gospel music, the pentecostal movement, and revived the entire church in the world with worship and a move of the spirit. We can’t rejoice for the evil that happened, but how can we not rejoice at how God turned it into good.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 18, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 18 you get the impression here, that it is after David sorts out the rightful place of the Lord, he then defeats all his enemies. (see verse 1) The book of Chronicles isn’t just history, but also explanation. It teaches us something of why as well as what and who like Kings & Samuel do. However, while the explanation is correct, we learn in Samuel 7:1 that Daivd actually defeats his enemies first and then makes a place for the Lord.
Why is the timing switched around in this chapter? Both of these things actually go together. David was planning on making a place for the Lord all along, and the defeat of the enemies was actually a part of serving God. If we go back to the time of Joshua, when they were to drive out the inhabitants of the land, that IS what God instructed. So David Is doing exactly what he knows God wants, and then after this, he turns to the temple.
The account seems back to front here, because it is applying a theological and personal meaning. When we get the place of the Lord sorted out properly, we have victory over our enemies, but part of the process of making a place for the Lord IS removing the things which compete with him in our affections.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 17, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 17 David decides that God should have a house and as a result God blesses David much much much more that he expected. This video talks about David’s initiative, and how unique that was for the time, and even for now.
We talk about the idea of spirit-led initiative.
This video also talks about why the temple that Solomon built, should have been called David’s temple and not Soloomon’s temple. It also discusses why Christ was the son of David who built the true temple.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 16, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 16 when David brought up the ark, he made a LOT of sacrifices, including burnt offerings and peace offerings. This video will discuss those.
In addition, David setup 24/7 worship in Jerusalem…. 3000 years before they did it in iHOP, and 2800 years beefore the Moravians famous non-stop prayer meeting.
In this chapter we meet a Psalm sung for the special occasion of the ark arriving in Jerusalem. We analyse the psalm and find it is a composite song coming from three Psalms in the book of Psalms. And we consider a few of the verses it contains.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 15, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 15 David finally brings up the ark to Jerusalem, and we find out he “prepared a place for it.” David is courting God, like a man courts a young lady.
We also learn that David setup 24/7 worship, and also used 6 different Levite family groups to serve God. We know who three of these Levite families are, but who are the other three?
To carry the ark the priests had to sanctify themselves. But we too are priests, and we are also to carry the glory of God. This video explains this from a New Testament perspective and how we go about doing that.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 14, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 14 we see an example of the theology of grace. This chapter follows right after David’s failure to bring up the ark, and outlines all his successes with God’s help. God is with David, despite his weakness and assumptions. We discuss the meaning of this, especially given that the stories were told out of chronological order, it seems with this theology in mind.
This chapter will also discuss David’s sons, and why Solomon is listed down so far. And we will also discuss the attack of the Philistines against David. Why did they wait so long to attack him? Why didn’t htye attack when he was king of Judah only, and his army was much smaller?
We will explain how even in this chapter we see an image of Christ.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 13, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 13 we observe that there are different types of people - those that want to improve things their own way apart from God, those that want to do things for God, but make assumptions, as David did in this chapter, and those who seek the Lord.
In this chapter David tries to bring the ark into Jerusalem but without knowing what God requires. HIs failure gives him the fear of the Lord, leading to seeking God all the more.
His failure leaves the ark in the house of Obed Edom - a gittite. The Gittites were Philistines, from the city of Gath - so now the ark is being cared for by a Philistine for the second time in the Bible, and this video compares the two occasions.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 12 even before David is king of Judah, men are leaving the tribe of Benjamin, even while David is hiding from Saul. When we are persecuted for our faith, it is a witness to the Lord, and just as David drew people to his way during his persecution, so can we. In fact this is often the easiest time to be a witness because we don’t have to say much, simply forgive those who oppress and do our best to love in return. Our actions speak louder than any word.
Not only did valiant men of Benjamin join David, now we are given a list of valiant men from Gad, and also from Manasseh, both from across the Jordan. Even men of Simeon and some of Ephraim join David.
Under the new covenant Israel is the church, and all Israel is all who have given their loyalty to Christ. They come from all walks of life, some at Gadites, some Benjamites, some Simeonites and some from the tribes of Joseph, but all believers regardless of stripe, culture, or denomination, if they love Christ are a part of Israel. Thus all Israel will serve Him.
When Christ is king there will be joy in all the Earth. Christ is already king - seated on the throne at the right hand of the father in Heaven, and he rules the nations. But yet not all have seen his kingship, but the day is coming, and there will be joy.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 11, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 11 we discuss why the Chronicles account skips so much history that was included in Samuel and Kings.
And in this chapter we go back over David's mighty men, and ask - why are there extra people listed here that were not in the Samuel list? Then we talk about Bethlehem, which was in Philistine occupied territory. And we talk about the Philistines and the Palestinians, and make three points.Show less
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 10 we cover for the second time, the death of King Saul. He is one of just a handful of people who commit suicide in scripture. He was afraid of capture because tThe things that happened when the enemy leader was captured were often terrible. There was often the risk of torture, humiliation and a painful drawn out death. In modern times we saw what happened when Muammar Gaddafi fell into the hands of people who despised him.
In this account Saul falls on his sword, and yet it says in verse 14 that the Lord killed him. The Chronicler is writing from a later viewpoint and more from the perspective of salvation history - from what happened and why. The reason why was because he was unfaithful to God and not interested in what God’s opinion was. So this chapter has theology in it.
This video also discusses the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead and their 50 kilometre incursion into enemy territory to retrieve Saul’s body. We also discuss whether it was an oak tree, or a tamarisk tree, and why different versions say different trees.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 9 is the last of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile. After this the book proceeds to narrative.
The last of nine chapters which present as incredibly dull, and yet are somehow quite remarkable. Burt Coffmans wrote that “These nine chapters, composed principally of genealogical tables, must, without doubt, be among the most neglected chapters in the Bible.” That seems true, and yet if one would take the time to dig into the names, one finds a structure that reinforces the scriptures, as does steel inside concrete. There is nothing like this in all ancient writings that I’m aware of.
You would never begin any modern book with anything like what we find here, but for ancient readers/listeners, with an oral culture, this would have gotten listeners ready for what was to come. Chronicles is now about to recount the story from the first king through to exile, but now in the light of after it has happened.
IN the same way that the law was given, and then forty years later a re-explanation in hindsight with lessons learned and hope for the future…. Here we have a retelling in hindsight, with hope for the future. The chapter ends with the genealogy of Saul - in the leadup to the next chapter which is about King Saul, the first king of israel.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 8 is the eighth of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile.
Weirdly this is the second time we have a genealogy of Benjamin - the one in 7:7-12 above is conjectured to be possibly Zebulun because it was a missing tribe an the genealogy for Benjamin here seems to match the names of people, which the previous one doesn’t. One thing all these lists reveal to us is that there is a genuine history going on here.
Why would anyone make up 9 entire chapters of genealogies, including countless names and places that we know nothing of, for no reason. Simply that these represent many events and many dealings, and also how little we know about these times. It gives a very authentic feel to scripture and demonstrates why passages like this are essential.
Azel is mentioned a few times here as a man with six sons…. It stands out because of the prophecy of Zechariah 14:5 You shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azel; yes, you shall flee, just like you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Yahweh my God will come, and all the holy ones with you.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 7 is the seventh of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile. We are now going through the remainder of the tribes, one by one. Sadly, poor Naphtali gets just one verse. More than one commentator thinks these genealogies are reflective of who was coming back from exile, and the bigger tribes who returned had bigger genealogies.
The things written here must have had relevance to them even though so many names are not comparable to anything else. Interestingly Dan seems to be missing as a tribe - not getting any mention. And the other tribe with no mention is Zebulun. Why? Also there seem to be two lists for Benjamin - above in v 7-12 and below in chapter 8 which actually matches who Benjamins descendents were.
It seems that the Benjamin above is probably Zebulun and Dan might be left out, as happens in Revelation 7 when the tribes are listed there. In Genesis 49 - Jacob says Dan is a “snake” and perhaps the snake is now left out. Or perhaps at this point there is none left of the tribe of Dan, so there is no point discussing the genealogy? These things are conjecture.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 6 is the sixth of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile. This chapter has 81 verses, the chapter with the third most in the Bible, but not the third longest as some of the verses here are quite short. And we are now up to the 6th tribe to be considered - Levi, which gets the most attention in the lists, as compared to others like Naphtali which get just one verse. (1 Chron 7:13)
A significant patch is devoted to the specific genealogy of Aaron. The time spent is not a waste. According to the rules as outlined in Leviticus 6:11 and in other places only a descendant of Aaron could be the High Priest, so without such a genealogy there is no priesthood. This genealogy was crucial because after the exile it enabled the continuation of the priestly service in the temple.
Wikipedia has an article on the full list ofo serving High Priests at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of.... This list includes people whoo did the job who should not have done so, but is of interest.
However during the days of Herod the Great, and Idumean - that is an Edomite - he deliberately destroyed the records of genealogy so that he could appoint whatever High Priest he wanted. He turned it into a political position, as bishop and pope have been at other times in history.
This catastrophe, along with the destruction of Jerusalem, and the absence of an ark of the covenant mean the sacrificial system is irrecoverable. This is the purpose of God who replaced it all with Christ.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 5 is the fifth of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile. Here the genealogy of Reuben is the third of the tribes to be listed, despite him being firstborn, Instead Joseph takes the double portion, and because he had two sons, both of his sons getting one portion each - the birthright of Joseph. This chapter mentions the Hagrites, who are the Arabians.
This chapter now considers the three tribes east of the Jordan and how they ended up faithless and taken away by the Assyrians. In the process here we hear the names of many people we never heard of before. Apparently they were deported sometime during the reign of Tiglath Pileser III which was 745-727BC - 18 years, so this was before even the northern tribes were exiled in 722 BC.
Different commentators gave differing dates, but either way there is something to be said for staying close to the right people. These three tribes were not close to Jerusalem in proximity or in their practices. So the enemy got to them. Stay close to Christ - and close to His people.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 4 is the fourth of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile.
The genealogies start going through the tribes one by one. They begin with Judah, and then next is Simeon, an interesting order, given that these were sons, number 4 and 2 in order. Reuben the first born comes in third in the next chapter.
This chapter features Jabez, a man who despite having only one verse in the entire Bible, has had enumerable sermons preached about him, and the source of much Christian merchandise. The name Jabez means “he makes sorrowful.” His birth seems to have been so traumatic for his mother, that it caused his name to mean “pain.”
Hence is prayer to not cause pain - he cried out to the Lord for a new identity, which the Lord graciously gave. Bithiah, an Egyptian princess is mentioned in this chapter too - a woman who left Egypt along with the Israelites. Bithiah means “daughter of God” and is a Hebrew name adopted, her prior Egyptian name is Tharmuth
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 3 is the third of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile. We find in Chronicles that while much is repeated - it is done in a different light, but in addition there is other material that wasn’t in Kings. The Chronicler has other sources to draw from. In this chapter we get a clue to the possible dating of the Chronicles.
In the genealogy of Jeconiah/Jehoiachin, we have Shealtiel, (v17) is in the line of Christ before this list differs from Matthew 1’s list diverging down a different family line. From Jeconiah (aka Jehoiachin) to Christ is 14 generations including Christ. This spans a period of 586 years roughly speaking or about 41 years each. This gives us a rough sense of generational timing.
In verses 17-24 above we have gone down the generational line here from Jeconiah (aka Jehoiachin) it seems about 5 generations, so this could represent 160-200 years. The Chronicler could have lived in the period abou 400 BC which was right at the end of the OT canon. This chapter also outlines David’s 19 sons, including that Bathsheba had four living sons, and it seems Solomon is the youngest.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 2 is the second of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile. The book of Chronicles is going to cover a lot of material already covered in Genesis, the Judges, the Kings and more. Why is there a recovering? Because this is written about six generations after the children of Israel come back from Exile.
It is a way of going over everything they know but in a new light and making sense of it all, and giving hope for the future. Who is the author? We don’t know, but we call this person the Chronicler - they lived at least six generations after the exile.
So even though portions of Chronicles are taken from other biblical authors, such as Jeremiah and Moses, we don’t know who compiled it all together. Many think Ezra - who we will meet in 2 more books, but at least some of it was written later than him, because in the next chapter the generations go six past the exile’s return.
Most of this chapter is found elsewhere in the Bible, but there are new sections, such as from verse 25-41 below we have new material. This tells us that the early part of scripture was not the only source the Chronicler used in putting together this material. The genealogy of this chapter mentions Rechab - a most interesting man, whose family appears in Jeremiah 35 when Jeremiah tries to get them drinking wine, and they refuse.
In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Chronicles 1 is the first of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile. So with the book, A new scroll is opened - the scroll of Chronicles, which at the time of the translation into Greek doubled in size because of the addition of vowels and turned into two books.
If you thought the book of Numbers was dull - try the first 9 chapters of this book, which is entirely genealogies. In comparison Numbers didn’t have as many numbers as its title makes it sound. The genealogy starts with the very first man Adam. As boring as it seems, this is a very significant thing.
We are dealing with something authentic, traceable right back to God himself. No modern nation, or any nation at all can do such a thing. Ultimately we will be provided with a complete Genealogy from God to Christ - which is incredible and unique.
If God is remarkable, unique, sovereign, powerful and everything we ascribe him to be, would not a genealogy from the beginning of time to his arrival be precisely what we would expect. So why do people despise such a thing, or discount its wonder?
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 25, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 25 Nebuchadnezzar comes a third time to Jerusalem without patience and the city is utterly destroyed according to the words of Jeremiah and other prophets.
Why did it take 20 years for Nebuchadnazzer to destroy Jerusalem - why didn't he do it properly ten years earlier? Could it have been that Daniel was highly influential in Babylon? Or Did Daniel influence a later King Evil-Merodach to care for Jehoiachin?
This entire series of events is a clear fulfilment of Deuteronomy 28.
Josephus reports an interesting conjunction of prophecy. Jeremiah had told King Zedekiah that Nebuchadnezzar would carry him off to Babylon. And Ezekiel had predicted that Zedekiah would not see Babylon. Zedekiah had taken these apparent conflicting prophecies as a reason to disregard them. But they were both literally fulfilled.
Jerusalem’s fall occurred on Tish-B’av - the same day on the Jewish Calendar that Jerusalme was destroyed by the Roman Empire in AD70. This is known as the saddest day for Jews, and can hardly be a coincidence in the grand plan of God.
This chapter and book ends with a strange mention that Jehoiachin is cared for well by Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, Evil-Merodach. The question as to what would happen to the line of David is answered here - against all odds, the life of Jehoiachin is not only spared but blessed. This fact seems so unlikely and yet, we have cuneiform tables to confirm it, housed in the Pergamon museum in Berlin.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 24, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 24 is the first time Nebuchadnazzer came against Judah was here in 605 BC and he took away key people. This was the beginning of the 70 years prophesied by Jeremiah, which Daniel who was in the first round of exiles counted from.
Jeremiah 25:11 “This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”
Nebuchadnazzer came three times - these dates are only approximately correct.
605 BC during the reign of Jehoiakim - exile of Daniel
597 BC during the reign of Jehoiachin - exile of Ezekiel & Jehoiachin
586 BC during the reign of Zedekiah - exile of Zedekiah
There has been a giant long and very patient process by the Lord to redeem his people, but finally they are punished for their sins. And yet somehow through the process God still is at work in salvation history. Of the mystery of God!!
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 23, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 21, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 21 Manasseh is the 14th monarch and the 13th king of Judah. Despite having a wonderful name - one of the twelve tribes of Israel - he is a terrible king. Manasseh was worse than the Amorites… worse than “all the nations’ before.
He filled Jerusalem with blood… one phrase that speaks volumes. Jewish tradition tells us that he sawed the prophet Isaiah in half. This is something alluded to in Hebrews 11:37 - they were stoned, they were sawed in two….
The Chronicler (book of Chronicles) says that Manasseh repented in his last days. It mentions his punishment, his repentance and his restoration by the Lord in 2 Chronicles 33:11-13. Elsewhere we have the prayer of Manasseh included in some old versions of the Bible, but not believed by most scholars to be a true part of the Bible.
It this video we read and comment on a section of the repentance prayer of Manasseh which used to be considered a part of scripture but was removed in the reformation.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 20 Hezekiah knows he is dying and goes to prayer. As we have learned from other places in the Bible, you can challenge the Lord, and he even likes it. Not challenged by disobedience as some do, but a challenge by taking him on with fasting and prayer and surrender - the things he loves. It's a wrestling with God as Jacob did. So Hezekiah goes to wrestle with God.
This is what is called supplication - a deep and earnest petition of God. How few people knew the length of their days - Hezekiah did, and the Lord did. Does it make a difference as to how you spend them? Not necessarily as all people know their days are numbered but many are not wise in accounting for them.
In this chapter we also have the combination of medicine and healing working together. The Lord uses both… as is evidenced here, and in Acts and in the presence of the church on earth who started hospitals. Both are great miracles. Finally we cover the amazing miracle of time going backwards in this chapter. How does that work? How can God do such a thing?
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 19, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 19 Hezekiah goes to the Lord concerned about the Assyrian siege. His father Ahaz, and later his son Manasseh go toward the Assyrian gods. It was a common misconception that the gods of the strongest nations were the strongest gods, but there was plenty of Israelite history to demonstrate that the Lord was the strongest God (and only God) and he didn’t exercise his strength when he wasn’t followed.
Isaiah the prophet receives and incredible prophecy which comes to pass, and the Assyrians are vanquished miraculously. This miracle is hard to explain by historians who don’t want to trust what the Bible records. Even ancient Egyptian traditions explain this as a miracle.
This video goes over the prophecy of Isaiah, the incredible miracle and the great engineering feat that was Hezekiah’s tunnel.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 18, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 18 we meet Hezekiah, the 13th monarch and 12th king of Judah. He doesn’t just follow the Lord, he trusts the Lord. This is why he breaks with paying tribute to Assyria. The Assyrians seem to have been forcing Ahaz (his Dad) to pay tribute and along with that worship their gods. So to break with one thing (the idolatry) for the sake of God, he breaks with the tribute too, and his trust is entirely in the Lord.
This results in an incredible deliverance for Jerusalem, although not for all the cities of Judah. We discuss some of the politics of the time, and the incredibly risky, and yet profoundly safe move Hezekiah takes for the Lord.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 17, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 17 we meet Hoshea, the 19th and the last king of Israel. He is also from a new dynasty or family line, representing a ninth “dynasty.” Technically these “one king lines” are not dynasties, but what else can you call them?
The “promises” of Deuteronomy 28 are now in full swing. The Lord is taking the Israelites away, and they are being scattered throughout the world. This is called the dispersion, and Israel is exiled all over the place.
In the place of the Isrelites, the Assyrians put people from other nations who have been conquered, and they bring their own religions with them. THey make an attempt to worship Yahweh who they see as the god of the area, but its a syncretistic attempt. This is the historic background to the Samaritans of Jesus’ day.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 16, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 16 we have the chapter about King Ahaz. Ahaz was the 12th monarch and 11th king of Judah. Ahaz is also the king that Isaiah gives his famous sign to in Isaiah 7:1-10. Ahaz refuses to believe that God wants to deliver Judah, and he instead turns to other gods to trust them.
The sign is the “Emmanuel sign” which we hear of each Christmas, but it’s local application was that Isaiah’s wife would have a child as a sign that his words were correct. Listen as the local and the far explanation for prophecy is explained, and the emmanuel sign groiunded in its historical context.
This video also explains the pressure that Ahaz was under to conform to Assyria, and he even worships their gods and shuts the temple. He sacrifices one of his children to a false god. Contrastingly, God gives his son for us.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 15, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 15 we have the chapter of seven kings. Here they are:
Uzziah, also known as Azariah, 10th Monarch of Judah
Zechariah, 14th king of Israel
Shallum, 15th king of Israel
Menahem, 16th king of Israel
Pekahiah, 17th king of Israel
Pekah, 18th king of Israel
Jothan, 11th monarch of Judah
In this chapter we discuss not only these kings, but the growing Assyrian force in the north, and mention the ministry of Jonah which occurred at the beginning of this period, plus the meaning of some of the names of these men.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 14, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 14 Amaziah becomes the ninth monarch, and the eighth king of Judah, and weirdly becomeos antagonistic towards the northern nation of Israel. The two nations have gotten along for so long, all through the reigns of the last 5 or 6 kings from the time of Jehosaphat, so why this sudden antagonism?
This video will consider the name for Jerusalem - the city of Peace, which has been a long one troubled with war. Here is one of the many sackings of Jerusalem. How does this city have such a name?
After this, we cover King Jeroboam II, the thirteenth king of Israel and the fourth king of the fifth dynasty. The first Jeroboam was probably considered a hero of some type and maybe a national figure. We see the name Jeroboam as a bad name, but the Bible we have wasn’t written yet or seen that way at the time. And finally, Jonah here gets a mention outside of the book of Jonah.
There were many prophets in Israel, we have written prophets like Ezekiel and Isaiah and we know little about their lives. We have narrative prophets like Elijah and we know about what they did, but have no written prophecies like we do for Jeremiah. Jonah is a major figure in Israel, but his life and writings only take a small place in the Bible.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 13, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 13 we discuss Jehoahaz, and Jehoash and the first of the Assyrian incursions into Israel - the nations are beginning to invade as prophesied.
We discuss what Asaph wrote in Psalm 79….
And the post death resurrection miracle of Elisha… his second resurrection.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 12 this video considers the boy king Joash and his idea for a money box to repair God’s temple… except he is about 30 when he has that idea, he is no longer a child.
The high priest JEhoida is kind to Joash, but Joash pays him back by murdering his son Zechariah… why? Joash is a good king when he has good friends, but is easily influenced by those around him. What can we learn from this?
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 11, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 11 we meet Athaliah becomes the first and only queen, and the seventh monarch of Judah. She is actually from the north, of the house of Ahab. She destroys even her own grandchildren in an attempt to consolidate the throne. This was an attempt by the devil to remove the line of David. What of the promise to David that he would “never fail” to have a man sit on the throne.
How is that true, now that there is a woman, not of Judah, on the throne. This video answers the question. David wrote Psalm 146:10 which says “The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.” So what of God’s promises. We learn that they never fail, but also that God often thinks of them in a quite different, and much greater way than we do.
This video also covers the reverse-coup - to put the right king back on the throne, and the removal and death of Athaliah. The name of Athaliah means “the Lord’s time” and it was now the Lord’s time to remove her. Joash becomes the 8th monarch and the 7th king of Judah…. At seven years old… think of a seven year old…. My son Silas just turned 7.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 10 we discuss... Ahab’s Seventy sons. Gideon also had seventy sons, which were all killed except one by Abimelech, another son of a concubine of Gideon’s. The only son who escaped was Jotham. Now the seventy sons of Ahab will all be killed. None will escape. Ahab’s daughter Athaliah. Was she also Jezebel’s daughter?
Did Jesus descend from Jezebel? What did Josephus say? Jehu’s pretence ot be a Baal enthusiast and how he turned the altar of Baal into a toilet. Archaeology has found similar altar latrines at Laschich. Jehu is an improvement on Ahab, but he takes the nation back to the palace it was with Jeroboam, which is still not good.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 9 Elisha sends a man to anoint Jehu - the third of the tasks given to Elijah before his death is now completed. We see the generational nature of God’s commands at work here. At Peace the Lord gave John Alley a promise and a command. He was to “take an aposotolic message to the nations” and along with that the promise, that “this message will change the nations.”
Now we find that a second generation of people at Peace have committed themselves to this command and promise. God’s work often isn’t just for one person, and in the same way that Christ redeems the nations through his people, so our tasks is often for us and those after us together.
Jehu is the tenth king of Israel, and the first king of the fifth dynasty. When David was anointed King - he dared not touch the previous King. Now Jehu is about to kill that previous king, but in this instance it's ok because the Lord commanded it. However, Jehu ends up going way beyond his commission and takes it to horrific levels.
The prophet Hosea wrote in 1:4-5 “Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. 5 In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.”
The house of Jehu was to last 5 kings and this prophecy of Hosea was during the reign of Jeroboam II, the fourth of the five kings. And in this chapter Jezebel is thrown out a window, but not before putting on her mascara.
This is one of only a few places in the Bible that mentions mascara - another translation says she “painted her eyes.” Elsewhere in Jeremiah 4:30 (TLB) it talks about Jerusalem saying “Why do you put on your most beautiful clothing and jewelry and brighten your eyes with mascara? It will do you no good! Your allies despise you and will kill you.”
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 8 there was a seven year famine which Elisha predicted - and sent away the Shunamite woman. This chapter covers her return, and the mysterious appearance of Gehazi who is supposed to be leprous.
Elisha also goes to Syria - to Damascus - but why?
We meet Hazael the terrible king of Aram
And we meet Jehoram the 5th king of Judah.
And, Athaliah, Ahab’s nasty daughter from up north marries into the southern royal family bringin all sorts of complications… and future problems.
And Ahaziah is the sixth king of Judah, and is the grandson of Ahab, believe it or not. Did you know that Christ is descended not only from David, but from Ahab, and quite possibly from Jezebel too?
At this point the kings of north and south are relatives, and both families are Baal worshippers.
This chapter covers a lot, and the politics of the two nations get much more interesting.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 7 Elisha’s prediction about the siege of Samaria comes true.
An official challenges God not believing he can solve this problem and his challenge is answered.
It doesn’t seem smart to challenge God. The story of the Titanic comes to mind in this type of thing. Saying “even if God was involved, could he ever do anything,” is the same as saying “God couldn’t do that.” For some reason God has at times responded to these challenges.
Even God could not sink the Titanic…. right? Mussolini’s Challenge that God should kill him. The Italian newspaper who dared God to bring an earthquake, which came three days later and destroyed the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Messina_earthquake
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 6 is the miracle of the floating axe head and the incredible lifting of the siege of Samaria. Elisha is prominent in both.
In the siege a donkey's head became expensive - food was rare, and people were eating bird droppings.
King Joram of Israel does not follow God, but has a connection with Elisha which is seen at times, including in this chapter. This chapter is only half the story which is setup for and completed in the next.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 5 we have a strange miracle of Elisha…. For a Gentile, Naaman. A number of miracles of Elisha are in the Galilee/Samaria part of the world, despised by Jews in the time of Jesus, but this next miracle is a full blown act of mercy offered to an idolatrous gentile.
Jesus referred to it in Luke 4:27, during his sermon at Capernaum, for which he was almost killed. Why did the Lord extend grace to foreigners back then and not to “locals?” It often had less to do with how much someone knows, and more to do with the state of the heart.
This video discusses the military victory of Naaman - which was given by God. And the slave girl he had who is not bitter at her slavery. And what about how clean the rivers are in Syria… we will consider that too? And why did Naaman have to dip… a symbol of baptism…. in the Jordan…. The same place that Jesus was baptised.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
2 Kings Chapter 4 contains 5 ‘mercy’ miracles of Elisha. This is a foreshadowing of Christ. Later Christ would do these things and do them even more profoundly. People who knew the stories of Elijah and Elisha who had the spirit of Elijah in him, saw that same Holy Spirit at work in Christ, but in much greater ways.
Multiplying of oil
The pregnancy of the barren women
The raising of the woman’s dead son - the second resurrection in scripture.
The curing of the poison stew
The multiplying of the food to feed 100 people.
The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is in us… miracles are possible through us too by the power of Christ.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 3 we have King Jehoram and the battle with Moab and the account confirmed remarkably by the Mesha Stele discovery in the 1800’s. Moab rebels against Judah - who fights to retain it - with initial success but then the king of Moab resorts to spiritual tactics - sacrificing his son on the wall of the city.
The Mesha stele and the Bible both agree that the Israel-Edom alliance was winning the battle until the king of Moab sacrificed his son. In our modern times, spiritual power derived from sacrifice seems mythical, and yet both nations who won and lost this battle agreed with the reality of this.
Most commentators don’t understand the spiritual power of blood and sacrifice properly.
Christ sacrificed himself and gave a greater better blood. Christ’s sacrifice was also voluntary and not forced. Christ’s sacrifice was able to turn the tables on Satan and redeem the world back to him, and also redeem its people.
We also observe that the Mesha stele is in a type of phonecian script very similar to paleo-hebrew, showing that many of the people in the Levant area wrote a similar style.
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 2 Elijah leaves to go to Heaven in a spectacular heavenly chariot. What is more remarkable is that this is an event in the even more spiritual reality - and Elisha sees it. In the process Elisha picks up double the anointing/power that Elijah had.
Only three people go to heaven in miraculous circumstances… one here.
In this video we will talk about what qualified Elisha to get the double anointing.
We will talk about why Elisha left teh JOrdan and then doubled back to the same place before leaving.
We will mention the Essenes, and Qumran and the School of the Prophets.
And why does Elisha go to Mt Carmel afterwards?
And finally what about obtaining a double portion for yourself?
In this video listen to 2 Kings Chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Kings Chapter 1 King Ahaziah of Israel is sick and sends a messenger to Ekron, one of the cities of the Philistines to enquire of their god. Why is he going down to a PHilistine city, there to enquire of a false god? The result of this is that the Lord sends Elijah as a messenger to meet him on the way with a word of judgement. Ahaziah is only king for 2 years until he dies.
Ahaziah is furious and wants to capture Elijah and sends a group of 50 men, who are very disrespectful to Elijah, and he calls down fire on them. This happens twice, but a third time the leader of the fifty men is humble and contrite and his life is spared. In the NT when James and John were annoyed with some of the people in Samaria, they wanted to call down fire on the village, but Jesus stopped them, and told them they were of another spirit.
Their nickname “sons of thunder” comes from that moment. So why the difference? Why could Eliah call down fire, but Jesus didn’t allow it? There are differences which may explain. Firstly the Samaria in Elijah’s time was not indifferent, but antagonistic towards the Lord. They were intent on rescuing and destroying the Lord’s messenger. God had plans, and demonstrated his power through Elijah. But when Christ came, he came to demonstrate mercy.
Christ wasn’t under threat, and the people of Samaria at that time were clueless about Jesus. Being antagonistic would have undermined their openness, which was considerable as demonstrated in John 4. The two circumstances were very different. Wisdom knows how to act in its time.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 22, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 22 The year before this it seems - Ahab an an alliance of about ten other kings battled against Shalmaneser III at Qarqar in Syria. The Assyrians were endeavoring to build an empire, but the alliance of kings defeated him for the moment or at least held it at bay. Now Ahab wants to attack a previous ally, and use the southern nation for help.
They consult 400 prophets. But, these are not prophets of God/Yahweh, but prophets of other gods. One prophet Micaiah is a prophet of the Lord. According to the Jewish Midrash, Micaiah is one of four student prophets trained by Elijah the prophet. So this is a part of the Elijah story and not a rabbit trail. The discussion between the true and false prophets has caused all sorts of academic chaos. Does God lie to his prophets?
Does God endorse lying? Does God cooperate with false prophets? This video explains no to all these questions. In the leadup to Donal Trump (US Presidents) reelection bid in 2020, about 70 current prophets on youtube predicted his return to power. In the days after the election when it was clear he had lost, many of the same prophets predicted the result would be overthrown. How can so many be so confident and so wrong?
This isn’t to say that prophecy is wrong or that God doesn’t use prophets, but it seems that the same type of situation in Ahab’s time is at work now. This video talks about “yes men” prophets, and the importance of being open to the Lord’s voice, even if hard to hear. We talk about the approach to prophecy at Peace. Finally this video discusses Ahab’s death and the 55 kilometre ride with his dead body in teh chariot to the pool of Samaria, which can be seen today.
This video also mentions Ahab’s ivory palace and his successor Ahaziah.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 21, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 21 despite following the baals, the northern nation, still acknowledges and has knowledge of the laws of God. This chapter outlines the story of Naboth’s vineyard in which the law of LEviticues 25:23 is broken by Ahab and Jezebel. Leviticus 25:23 says “the land must not be sold permanently.” Despite this, Jezebel forcibly takes this land of Naboth and gives it to her husband. Ahab’s great sin was in allowing Jezebel to do this.
He “tolerated Jezebel” which the church in the city of Thyatira also did, in Revelations chapter 2. While he could not actually be responsible for her choices, because he could have resisted, he allowed it instead. He might have felt it was ok to do this by justifying that he hadn’t done anything wrong. Many people justify their actions. We saw earlier with King David, that he refused to participate in anything that even hinted of wrongdoing.
Even cutting the corner off Saul’s robe grieved him. Imagine a church split where someone doesn't actively cause the split, but they celebrate it’s happening. Their love for the results indicate their heart was a participant and they approved of what happened. No amount of justification can make it ok. Repentance, humility and amends are required.
Weirdly, he actually humbled himself and the Lord noticed. Ahab had the potential to be Israel’s only good king, but his humility didn’t seem to last.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 20 we have a funny chapter where God is working with Ahab out of patience for him, to show him who the true God is. He is however married to Jezebel which puts him in a tricky position. If Ahab wasn’t committed to Jezebel he may very well have become Israel’s only good king. Ahab is inside a besieged Samaria, but the Lord directs him to attack the sieging Syrians. It turns out they were drunk, so the Israelites win.
After this the Lord continues to help Ahab. This isn’t only to demonstrate that he is God, but as Coffman suggests, because he is protecting Judah too, by retaining a buffer between them and the enemies of Israel. Many are not aware that God is the Lord of the nations. He is the Lord of all, and not only concerned with Israel only. Many Jews failed to realise this, but these chapters show that God was always wanting to teach the nations about himself, and provided many opportunities to do that.
These nations and kings should have realised that there was something more to Yahweh than they thought, but at the same time Israel and Judah didn’t help the Lord out much by not following him wholeheartedly and thereby weakening the example. After the Lord gives Ahab a second great victory, he spares the life of King Ben-Hadad and makes a very generous treaty with him.
Ahab is a strange king. It's hard to explain a number of his choices.... This video suggests that the key to his weird behaviour is could be Jezebel.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 19, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 19 we properly meet the fiery Jezebel who wants to kill Elijah. Often in the NT we hear people refer to a Jezebel spirit and they think of this as some type of controlling influence, which Jezebel was. She however was determined and devoted to her false gods, just as Elijah was devoted to the Lord.
Even after the sign of fire from the mountain she didn’t change her mind. Jezebel is the type of person who will fight the Lord regardless of what signs there are. In the NT in Revelation 2:20 in the letter to Thyatira, the Lord said “you tolerate Jezebel,” who leads people into sexual immorality. Sexual immorality was a part of the worship of those false gods.
So Jezebel as a symbol is much more than control, but a devotion to immorality and idolatry, a devotion to false gods and serving them. What might JEzebel look like in the Body of Christ today? Elijah feels for his life, struggles with motivation, and wants God to kill him, just like Jonah, Jeremiah and Job.
This video covers that, plus the five biblical suicides. Elijah handles his depression differently to many people as this video explains. We also discuss a conundrum. Why did it take Elijah 40 days to travel a distance of 400ish kilometres to get to Mt Sinai, normally a 12 day walk.
We also discuss the voice of God and the three tasks Elijah was given, only one of which he completed, giving his successor the task of completing the other two.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 18, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 18 is the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Actually it is really the confrontation between Yahweh and Baal and it is no contest. Elijah is one of the key characters in the entire Bible. Even though he doesn’t write scripture like Moses, he is up there with Moses because he is responsible for a key turning point in spiritual thinking.
At this point the worship of Baal - that is canaanite idolatry - is a fully sanctioned state religion, with 850 prophets. The previous terrible sin of Jeroboam was to mix worshipping the Lord with local practices, but technically it was still ‘kind of’ worshipping the Lord. Now with Jezebel’s encouragement, they have endorsed the complete turning away from the Lord.
Thus the famine is in full swing to show Baal and Asherah powerless. The nation gathers at the base of Carmel, not the top as is popularly assumed. Afterwards, Elijah climbs Carmel, at elevation 546m to pray. The question before the people is not “Is Baal a God.” But “If Baal is God,” worship him. Yahweh is proved to be God. So here is a moment where Elijah demonstrates true monotheism to Israel.
There IS no other God except Yahweh, whereas up to this point they have believed in multiple Gods and accepted Yahweh as one of them. Elijah isn’t just extolling that God is better than the other gods, but that He IS God. The other gods are not gods. This is a key moment in the Bible where the Lord is introducing a new idea collectively, which may have been known to individuals before. With Elijah is introduced, a whole new way of seeing God.
The book of James says “Elijah was a man like us.” (James 5:17) We are able to walk with Christ and obtain answers to prayer in just the same way. Moses and Elijah are the clear two examples of God’s power at work in the Old Testament.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 17, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 17 against the backdrop of state sponsored canaanite idolatry, the Lord raises up Elijah. Baal worship was a worship of the “so called” god of storms. So the Lord sends a drought by Elijah’s word. The drought is severe so much so that God has to supernatural provide for Elijah. At first he goes to the brook Cherith, commonly believed to be Wadi Al Yabis in Jordan.
Then he goes to Zarepheth in Sidon where he is cared for by a woman whose flour and oil miraculously fail to run out. Elijah foreshadows many of the incredible miracles that CHrist supercedes, such as the feeding of the 5000. While in Sidon, Elijah raises the woman’s boy back from death, the first resurrection in scripture. There are 8 normal resurrections in scripture, where people will die again, plus the resurrection of Christ which is a different type of resurrection.
Christ never dies again. The number 8 represents new life, and is a fitting number to symbolised by how many resurrections there are. NOTE: According to some verbal traditions, the boy who was raised back to life, was the prophet Jonah who was to go to Nineveh, and the son of Amittai.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 16, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 16 more crazy transitions of kingship happen in Israel. Elah is the fourth king of divided Israel, and the second king of the second dynasty. He is assassinated while drunk by Zimri, who becomes the fifth king of divided Israel, and the first king of the third dynasty. He only reigned a week, but in that time he completely killed the whole house of Elah of Bashan.
His was the shortest reign, and the shortest dynasty. Omri beseiges Tirzah, and Zimri commits suicide, so Omri is the sixth king, and the first king of the fourth dynasty. By this point in Israel we have had 6 kings and 4 dynasties. Crazy!!! Because the old palace at Tirzah was burned in fire by Zimri in his suicide. Omri now moves the capital to a new place, rather than rebuilding the old palace.
Samaria is where we get the name Samaritans from. After Omri, Ahab his son becomes the 7th king of Israel and the second king of the fourth dynasty. Ahab married Jezebel who pushes pure Canaanite idolatry and it becomes state sponsored religion.
At this point we now have all types of religion at work - True monotheism following the Lord - Syncretistic worship of the golden calves which “kind of” follows the Lord - Canaanite idolatry - A Samaritan religion also emerges which only holds to the Pentateuch.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 15, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 15 the Bible really starts moving through the kings. We have Abijam (sometimes called Abijah), King number 2 of Judah after the division, who was evil. Then we have Asa, king 3 of Judah. In the north we have Nadab, king 2 of Israel after the division, and then a new dynasty with Baasha. Baasha is king 3 of Israel, and king 1 of the second dynasty.
Baasah assassinated Nadab and every man in his family just as the prophet Ahijah said in the previous chapter. These family assassinations become very common in Israel, the northern nation as time progresses. In this chapter, weirdly, both Asa here and Abijam above seem to have the same mother but they are actually father and son.
This is because often words explaining fathers or mothers etc can mean direct or more distant ancestors. Josephus clears this up by explaining that Maacah was the granddaughter of Absalom, via Tamar, not the daughter, and in like manner, She was the mother of Abijam, and the grandmother of Asa.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 14, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 14 King Jeroboam the first sends his wife in disguise to the prophet Ahijah to find out what will happen to their sick son. This is a bit like a child who covers their eyes and thinks that the other person cannot see them. The result is that a word of judgement comes from the prophet declaring the entire family of Jeroboam will be cut off.
The little boy dies, and incredibly according to the mercy of God, we will meet him in Heaven one day. Or at least those who love Christ will meet him. A shift is taking place now of emphasis in the Bible. The first few kings were described in great detail, and the prophets were briefly mentioned. Now the kings will be less mentioned and the role of the prophets amplified.
Here the entire reign of Jeroboam, twenty-two years in total is less than one chapter, and apart from a few notable kings after this, such is the manner of it now. This chapter also discussed Rehoboam who paid off Shoshenq I Pharaoh of Egypt with tribute to stop him attacking Jerusalem. Shoshenq (or Shishak) was the first Pharaoh of the 22nd dynasty. After the nation split into two nations, they never regained strength after the division.
Jesus said in Matt 12:25 that every nation divided against itself cannot stand. So we see here that they became weaker, and it was now a process of decline until both nations were conquered by others. In families, when there is divorce or disagreement the family becomes weak in many ways, resulting in poor finances, poor harmony, poor life for children, worse education and much more.
The same is true of churches. Such is why God gives good leaders, and we must give our heart to them, so with one heart we will be strong and find grace.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 13, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 13 an unnamed man of God confronts Jeroboam at Bethel. HIs name was Jadon according to Josephus. He rebukes Jeroboam for starting a new religion and predicts a coming King Josiah who will take action against the northern nation. Josiah wasn’t going to reign for almost three hundred years, so this is a true prophecy. The distance from Bethel to Jerusalem on Google maps is just 19.6 kilometres, so the man of God only had a short distance to travel.
The Lord told him to return home immediately, not to eat or drink, and to return a different way. Yet another “old prophet” says the Lord commanded him to stop for a meal. He assumes the other man has a true prophecy, stops for a meal and then is killed by a lion on the way home.
This must be one of the strangest stories in the Bible. A lion and the donkey are standing over the dead body of an unnamed prophet who said what God said to say, but didn’t do what God said to do. The lion is a symbol of God’s strength and the donkey a symbol of service and submission, plus peace. Is this an enacted prophecy? 1 Thess 5:20-21 it says to “test every prophecy”.
Once you know that you have a true word from God, you can cling to it. People are wrong sometimes, so testing is important, and not trusting any word that comes along, but waiting for it to be confirmed by Christ. In any case the word of God is trustworthy and not to be overruled by online words, facebook words, or other words.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 12 the kingdom of Israel divides into two kingdoms called Israel and Judah. This is historically important to understand because when speaking of Israel, we must know which Israel we speak of as there are many, none of which are to be confused with the modern nation of Israel.
The son of Solomon, King Rehoboam faces a revolt from day one The forced labor of his father Solomon wasn’t in God’s plan for the nation, and the tribes want it to stop. Repealing it would have been a good thing as it was never commanded by God. Rehoboam wants to prove he is more of a man than his father and says, “My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins.” He says he will increase their suffering. In this decision he loses ten of the tribes and the nation splits.
Commentator Coffman said that growing up as a spoiled and pampered palace brat might not have helped Rehoboam. Children who grow up accustomed to privilege find it hard to appreciate what life is really like. This is why some wealthy men do not leave an inheritance for their children, but make them work for it.
This is also why God, who calls us his sons and daughters, doesn’t just give us anything we want, but we have to grow into it through faith, prayer and learning to walk with him. The King of the northern nation of Israel is Jeroboam I. He said “it is too much for you to go to Jerusalem.” He wanted them to stay away to strengthen his political hold. So he instituted a new religion, with new priests, two new golden calves and a new festival.
This was a terrible wickedness. Jerusalem is a picture of the church, which is even called “the new Jerusalem” in Revelation 21. We must make the effort to go to Jerusalem. When we opt for the easy out because it is “too much” we soon fall away. Some people say they can have church on their own, but the church IS the people. How can anyone have church without being with the people.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 11, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 11 we see that all that glitters isn’t necessarily gold. Solomon doesn’t follow the example of his father David, and like a mouse goes after the baited mousetrap, disobeying the law against accumulating wealth and women. He ends up with 300 wives and 700 concubines who lead him astray.
There are somewhat modern equivalents to Solomon: - King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia had 30 wives and 35 children - Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia had 22 wives and 115 children. - Genghis Khan had more than 500 concubines - Moroccan King, Ismail Sharif in the 1700’s had over 2000 concubines and 1042 children... a world record according to Guinness. One of his concubines was Lalla Balqis a Englishwoman kidnapped by pirates while enroute to Barbados. Solomon built places of worship for his wives gods including the terrible Molech and Chemosh.
This angered the Lord. Why does Solomon do these things? After the Lord gave him everything, why did he go after other gods? It's hard to understand. It seems that unlike other pagan kings who worshipped gods from more powerful nations, he has turned to gods from nations less powerful, and nations that were conquered by his father David. This is best understood in my opinion by taking the bible literally... Solomon “loved” many foreign women.
The influenced him because his heart went after them, and he worshipped their gods because they wanted him to. A clear example of this would be Pharaoh’s daughter. Solomon seems to be trying to copy his empire on what Egypt was. He is trying to be like the other nations, rather than trying to be like what the Lord commanded in the law. Thus Solomon was not a monotheist, or even a henotheist like Abraham and Jacob, but a polytheist.
He worshipped God as the god of Israel, but also worshipped other gods. Wealth is an x-ray which shows the heart. Give any person a billion dollars and what will come out is what they love. A heart test can be done by saying to someone (even yourself), what would you do if I gave you a billion dollars right now? Once they start talking about all the fabulous things they would, buy and do, you see what they love. A giant ship cruising across the ocean cannot be turned quickly.
So as the heart of the king changes, the nation seems to keep on going “fine”, but all is not fine. The turning of the king will be seen in the generations to come. And so is cultural change in our day and nations too. We need to push into prayer to bring a turning back to Christ, which is something that often works itself out over time, even with revivalism at work it still is a time consuming process that takes generations. Solomon ruled for 40 years. Forty is a symbol of testing.
Perhaps this time they failed the test.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 10 a very great caravan which according to Ethiopian legend had 797 camels, came from Sheba to visit Solomon. When we do things God’s way, it leads to a place where it gets the world’s attention. A society run the way the Lord intends is very transforming and wonderful. According to Ethiopian legend - The queen stayed with Solomon six months, and the Queen had a son called Menilek to Solomon after returning home.
Jewish legends also has a similar story saying Solomon and The Queen had a child. This child became the king of Ethiopia. Many modern scholars think the Queen came from Sheba and connect that with modern Yemen, and yet Josephus the historian said she came from Ethiopia. Jesus called her the Queen of the South, which could refer to either place, but Ethiopia is more south, than Yemen. Just as David had a good part of his life and a bad part, so Solomon.
The difference was that David’s bad part was the consequences which followed one terrible choice, whereas Solomon’s terrible part had no consequences in his lifetime and consisted of many terrible choices. So what is better, consequences now that we notice, or no consequences now? Solomon’s life ended full of disappointment despite having had everything he wished.
Both the Song of Solomon and the book of Ecclesiasters demonstrate that he didn’t not follow his own wisdom as recorded in the book of Proverbs.
In 1 Kings Chapter 9 This time God doesn’t appear in a dream as far as we know. But this seems more of a warning than before. It's almost a promise of punishment. God promises to preserve if Solomon obeys, but also promises to destroy this magnificent temple if they don’t.
God has no loyalty to a building, even if it is the most fabulous thing on earth. Cabul means “good for nothing.” This is a different language to the modern city of Kabul in Afghanistan. Ezion Geber is the modern city of Eilat, a great scuba diving destination, and the confluence of Egypt, Jordan and Israel all at one point.
Ophir isn’t known, but many think it was India. And given that in the next chapter it says they brought back peacocks etc from there, it seems like an asian location.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 8 we have one of the longest chapters in the Bible. It is all about the dedication of the temple. Apparently, according to Dentan, the opening of the temple was delayed by 11 months so it could coincide with the seventh month, the feast of tabernacles. The symbolism that God has come to live among us does fit the opening of God’s house. The ark of the covenant is brought into the temple in the proper way. Inside was the ten commandments only.
What happened to the manna, and aaron’s staff? Was it lost when it went to the land of the Philistines? Or was it removed when it was returned and many men died looking into it? Even though no building is a perfect symbol of God’s house, he fills this building with his glory. This is to show that the later temple, built of human lives and hearts, is to be filled with his glory too.
Solomon thought he had built a place for God to dwell forever, but the people had no concept of temples or of God. Why did God allow such misunderstanding to remain? Because he was allowing a type to be established so we could understand the real thing. Yes a temple is real, but the temple of God as seen in the NT is the real real.
In Solomon’s prayer he acknowledges that the heavens cannot contain God, let alone this building. If the heavens cannot contain God - then what are we dealing with? God is not to be measured by time or space. He is not only eternal, he is ageographical. He is in no time or in no place, rather he IS all.
This is why buildings are very poor illustrations of God. In Solomon’s prayer we see a hint that the poor spiritual condition of people affects the climate. So yes climate change is caused by people.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 7 we cover the elaborate 5 part palance of Solomon, plus the elaborate temple furnishings. First Solmon’s 5 part palace included a forest of lebanon building. This building wasn’t in Lebanon as it sounds, but in Jerusalem. It was a courtyard made with many pillars resembling a forest. Along with this and 4 other incredible buildings it took twice as long to build as the Lord’s temple. And all overlaid with gold. NO matter that in the Law, in Deut 17:17, it said kings should not accumulate “too much gold.”
Solomon spent significantly more time and money on his own palace than the Lord’s house. If the Lord’s house was a 100 billion dollar project - what we have here is something on the grand scale of Egyptian like pyramidical construction. With Pharaoh’s daughter onside this makes sense. The temple furnishings are elaborate too, including two bronze pillars which are given names.
The freemasons took a hold of much temple language and features and worked it into freemasonry. The two pillars are Jachin - he establishes, and Boaz - he is mighty. Boaz is also an ancestor of David & Solomon. THe most interesting of all the temple furnishing is the brass sea. It is described as being 30 cubits around, but also as being ten cubits across.
A rudimentary calculation of pi here only gives 3.0 instead of 3.1428 as we would expect from our primary school mathematics. But there is something else going on. This video will explain the maths behind the brass sea, and how it is a possible indication of how big the handspan of the measurer was.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 6 we find possibly the most important scripture for dating the exodus. Because the building of the temple is fixed in history and its date well accorded. We are able to conclude the earlier dates based on this. It said that construction on the the temple was commenced 480 years after the exodus. This is 12 forties, so is a highly meaningful number. Temple construction occurred at 974BC.
According to Coffman this places the Exodus at 1446BC. According to the Associates for Biblical Research this is also right. The temple was a building about 26 metres long, 13 metres high, and about 8 metres wide. So not huge, but very elaborate. It was described as a being like a Faberge egg, but the size of a building. Here we are talking of the most elaborate goldwork in the ancient world.
And it was in a chamber that none other than God could see, except one high priest one time per year. There was no expense spared. When you think of the elaborate beauty of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's death mask, and then imagine the same beauty covering in and out a building 26 metres long by Here we have a project that involved 150000 slaves for 7 years, plus another 10,000 forced conscripted laborers (30,000 who worked one month on and two months off) plus another 3300 supervistors.
This is a total of 163300 people at work for an entire 7 years. Paid an average daily wage of $200 working 6 days a week, we put the total labor cost in today’s terms in AUD at $71,329,440,000. If we add onto this the capital costs paid to HIram of Tyre feeding his royal house for 7 straight years, plus the cost of all the gold, we have a building worth in excess of 100 Billion dollars.
This makes the temple a highly elaborate structure, representing the glory of God. God makes a promise for all who are concerned for God’s house, which is his people. He will put and establish his word in them and keep his promises to them. You see this promise in this chapter in verses 11-13.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 5 Solomon makes a deal with Hiram of Tyre. Tyre is a part of Phonecia. The Phonecians worshipped other gods, and later produced the terrible Jezebel. Phoenicia is also supposed to have produced the first or oldest alphabet. Interestingly the Canaanite alphabet, phonecian alphabet and the paleo-hebrew alphabet are basically the same. In other words, the oldest alphabet in the world is the biblical one, although Dr Douglas Petrovich is now a leading expert in an even older version of Hebrew coming out of Egypt, which may be older than the Phonecian.
Solomon’s deal with HIram was for materials to build a temple for God, and a palace for himself and for the Pharaoh’s daughter, his wife. Solomon assumed in all o othis, that he was the son of David who would build God a house. Solomon may have been wise, but he had no idea that he was not the son that God was referring to. Christ was the son who would build a temple without hands, and also reign on an eternal throne.
Solomon conscripted not just slaves, but also regular Israelites in the building of the temple. It was a big project. He conscriptured 30,000 non slaves, who worked in shifts one month on, and two months off. In addition he had 150,000 slaves and 3300 supervisors. How exactly did stone cutting happen in ancient times? Hre is an unfinished obelisk from ancient Egypt still in the process of being cut out. This explains why 150000 workers were needed to build a temple of stone which was only about 30 meters long.
And why it took 7 years. 80000 of them were just to cut the stone, and 70000 to transport the stone. What a blessing concrete is today.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 4 Solomon develops a national system to run the country of Israel. It meant he didn’t have to worry about making things happen, he only had to make sure the right people were in place. He had 12 administrators. Two features of his kingdom was his administrations daily consumption of 30 cors of fine flour. This is about 6900 litres of flour, estimated conservatively. Plus a great amount of other meats and products.
His Kingdom was peaceful the entire duration of his reign. To live in peace was an unusual thing in ancient times. This is why Solomon is a picture of Christ. He is the only one of the kings of Israel and Judah who gave peace to the entire nation the entire time he lived. Solomon had forty thousand horses, and twelve thousand riders. This is ratio of 3.33 horses per rider. Often chariots did have 2 horses per chariot. Either way there were many horses.
Earlier in scripture, in Deuteronomy 17:6 the Lord said “you shall not multiply horses to yourself.” So even in the midst of wonderous achievement, we see reason for alarm. Horses were equated with military might, and Israel was to trust the Lord, not in military power. Earlier, King David said in Psalm 20:7 says “Some trust in horses, and some in chariots, but we will trust in the name of the Lord.” David hamstrung horses and didn’t multiply them. Here we find it mentioned that Solomon wrote 3000 proverbs.
The book of Proverbs has about 800 proverbs, but not all of them were written by Solomon. So the majority of his proverbs are no longer with us. It also mentions he wrote 1005 songs, but of his 1005 songs, we only have four, the Song of Solomon, or the Song of Songs, plus Psalms 72, 127 and 132. Life in Israel at that time was unparalleled in the world up until then. Solomon was a picture of Christ and what will happen, when the world places itself under his rightful leadership.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 3 Solomon marries Pharaoh’s daughter, which was probably not a loving marriage, but a political one. This was about ensuring peace and an effective economy. The Pharaoh was probably Psusennes II - and Pharaoh’s daughter’s name is unknown. Solomon goes up to offer sacrifices at Gibeon, a high place. At this point God seems to overlook the use of the high places, because of no temple, and because it was towards him.
Solomon himself sacrifices at Gibeon in verse 4. After this Solomon has a dream where God tells him he can have anything he asks for, and he asks for wisdom. The he gets wealth and fame thrown in. Solomon has a lucid dream - he is able to interact with the Lord while asleep. This is rare, but not unheard of. In my own dreams at times I have been presented with temptations which I have chosen against. Some level of human will does seem to make its way into our dreams.
Having been conditioned as a child through this story, I always wanted to ask for wisdom. But the sad truth is that the request for wisdom in my own mind was motivated by obtaining the other things as a byproduct. As I have aged, I have realised that I do want the other things, but my true request would be to know Christ, who is wisdom in person.
Solomon’s request for wisdom was within a context. He wanted to be able to govern the Lord’s people well. This should be the prayer of all leaders, ministers and parents, to have wisdom for the tasks the Lord has given. An example of Solomon’s wisdom is given with the story of the two prostitutes and their babies. This is a remarkable story, even today.
The NT writer James tells us that in James 1:5 that “if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” What many don’t realise is that God has made the same offer to all, not just to Solomon. IN Christ’s own words we can “ask anything in his name” and it will be done. We don’t feel close enough to God, or lack faith, or feel we are not heard, oor many other reasons. But we should explore these things, and begin by seeking wisdom.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 2 David dies, but not before giving Solomon some advice. He reminds him of the Messiaanic promise, and the need to follow God. He also advises about certain people that need to be removed. It sounds like David is seeking revenge, but he is exercising great wisdom. If these people were lawless when David was alive, what now when he is dead?
These people are Joab, and Shimei. Adonijah is also someone Solomon has his eye on. Adonijah then asks Bathsheba, to ask Solomon for Abishag from Shunem as a wife. There was no technical reason why he couldn’t marry her, she wasn’t a concubine of the king, but only a nurse. If there was any suspicious reason, Bathsheba would have picked it up.
Solomon says no, and commands his death. Solomon’s reaction seems out of all proportion. But there is a way of seeing Adonijah’s request as a claim to the throne, because he wanted a king’s consort to be his wife, even if she wasn’t a real consort. Some commentators think that Abishag the Shunemite had been added to Solomon’s harem by this point, so he was asking for something treasonous.
Some also think that the Shulamite woman in the Song of Songs is Abishag the shunammite. In this chapter all of Solomon’s opponents are dead, and his reign is established.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 1 we cover the remaining 38 kings, and 1 queen of the nations of Israel and Judah. Samuel focussed on the first three kings, but now we are going to cover the rest. Ultimately through it all we are going to see that no human king is perfect, and hardly any of them are good, only seven.
The book starts with David being elderly and Adonijah, his oldest remaining son, aspiring to be king. When someone says “I will be king” they are on dangerous ground. This is what Lucifer said and plunged all creation into chaos. Christ IS the king of kings and yet he came to serve. It is the Lord who exalts. Adonijah is David’s fourth son - and his name means “My Lord is God.”
For David this was true, but Adonijah doesn’t seem to have walked in the same strict sense of doing things the Lord’s way. It must have been somewhat common knowledge that David wanted Solomon to be king, because Nathan knew it, and Adonijah didn’t invite Solomon to the ‘coronation’ event. Encouraged by Nathan the prophet and BAthsheba, David elevates Solomon while still alive, and this causes panic, and all of Adonijah’s help evaporates.
Solomon extends mercy to him for the moment. David and Solomon are technically king at the same time. David doesn’t seem to give the impression of a great father, but in the case of Solomon we know he took an interest because of things recorded in the book of Proverbs. With so many wives and so many children it would not be possible to spend quality time with them all, but he seems to spend time with Solomon - perhaps in an endeavor to ensure good things for the future.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 24, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 24 we have a census. Here it says God led him to take a census, but In 1 Chronicles 21 it says in the other telling that “Satan” enticed David to take the census. So who orchestrated it? This is a similar passage to Job where Satan accuses Job, God consents, and then later is is seen as God’s action. God allows it because he knows that ultimate goodo will come from it, but he is not the initiator.
Ultimately nothing can happen without God allowing it, but he allows free will and other things because he knows these things are required for ultimate good outcomes. The whole of human history is a similar situation to this. How did evil originate? There will always be people who blame God because without some allowance it could never have gotten started. God knows however that by allowing human free will, we will have error, sin, pain and other things, but ultimately will be achieved a great mystery, the union of God and humanity.
True love cannot be arrived at without the possibility of hate. Also, in the Chronicles 21 version of the census it comes back with different numbers. It says that there were 1.1 million men including 470000 men from Judah. This video explains a possible reason why. Finally God gives David a choice of three consequences, and he chooses the quickest one. In the punishment we have here is another example of the layers of reality working together.
People are dying, and the cause of death is a spiritual one, an angel, but the corresponding reality is a physical pestilence. This video discusses, free will, sovereignty, differences in biblical stories and the layers of reality
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 23, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 23 we have another psalm to add to the 73 in the book of Psalms. David is not only a significant character, but also a significant writer in scripture. Finally we have here a prophecy, and Acts 2:30 tells us that David was a prophet and we see that in this song, and in others also. This is a Messianic Song. After the song we have a list of David’s mighty men, and some of their deeds.
There was a time when David’s hometown, Bethlehem, where Jesus was to be later born, was under Philistine occupation. During the time of Saul’s reign, large sections of Israel ended up under Philistine control. Three of Davi’ds mighty men broke through enemy lines to get David water from the well at Bethlehem. This story probably happened when Saul was the king.
Also here we have mentioned Bathsheba’s father and grandfather, and here Bathsheba’s husband Uriah. The whole thing of mighty men is an example of discipleship. In the NT Christ called people to follow him, and he had 12, but also had 72. These became well known all through church history. Here in the OT we have the same type of thing. Whoever you follow, you will become like.
Its a reminder to leadership to be what you want your followers to become, and a reminder to disciples to follow the one God has placed in your life. This isn’t only about academics, or mental things, but about attitudes, of the heart, about having sonship in the heart.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 22, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 22 we have a song written after David had been delivered from all his enemies. The song here is almost identical to Psalm 18, but there are five phrases here that are not in Psalm 18, and there are four different phrases in Psalm 18 that are not here.
The Psalm 18 version also has a heading “To the Chief Musician.” David wrote songs and handed them over for specific use in worship, but here we see a version that he himself sang which is slightly different. Both versions are a part of God’s word even with their differences. The main theme of this song is how the victory is ascribed to God, who equips David for victory.
It is David who wins, but he wins because God trains him, secures, him, strengthens him and everything else. The four additional phrases here are found in verse 3, verse 28, verse 43 and verse 47.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 21, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 21 we come to the last four chapters of 2 Samuel, where we have a collection of stories which relate back to various moments in his life. Various scholars have analysed the linguistic features, and the chiastic pattern of these stories. Essentially it demonstrates that these stories are not an afterthought, but a planned inclusion.
It also reminds us that every part of the Bible is placed there with Christ’s intention, and there is value in it for us. The first story is of a famine. David sought the Lord and found it had a spiritual cause because Saul had sinned against the Gibeonites. The physical and spiritual layers of reality overlap but this is not often observed, but in this chapter it is clearly seen. In this chapter we discuss the physical and spiritual layers.
We will discuss the Gibeonites and how a famine can have been caused. We will briefly consider if climate change and things like it can have spiritual causes? The famine was resolved by taking the blood of seven of Sauls’ descendants. Today we discuss how a spiritual issue like this would be resolved today. We have a better blood available to ous.
In this chapter there are also a few textual issues to consider. Does Michal, David’s wife, have 3 husbands? Does she have five sons, or was it her sister? Also is there two Goliath’s? How many giants did David kill?
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 20 Amasa is now the commander of the army - Joab was replaced. This was both a political move by David because Amasa was Absalom’s army commander and it was a connection that showed David was on the side of all Israel. But David also replaced Joab because of his displeasure with Joab after killing Absalom. After Amasa becomes commander, Joab murders him.
This is the second time Joab has killed the commander of the army, after he killed Abner earlier in David’s life. Joab is lawless and cannot be trusted. Even though he did the right thing with Absalom, he was still lawless. Lawlessness is something which displeases the Lord, and something we all struggle with.
Christ said there would be those who stand on the day of Judgement, saying “Lord Lord.” but Lord was a name only, not retaining its true meaning to them. Joab was loyal to David but did things his own way. Many believers are like this.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 19 David weeps for Absalom, despite a great victory in battle, and all the soldiers are ashamed of their win. Joab has to rebuke David to snap his emotions and restore proper leadership. While weeping for your lost ones is noble, David allowed his emotions to overcome his leadership. Christ does weep for his lost ones, but remains fully in control, fully objective.
Christ is endlessly patient but knows when to end his patience. One the way back to Jerusalem, David meets Shimei who is very sorry for treating David shamefully when it looked like he would lose his throne. Shimei is almost certainly not truly repentant. But he recognises that he is at the mercy of David and tries to put things right. He is a picture of the average sinner who comes to Christ.
Most of us are not truly remorseful of our sins, but we do want the mercy of God. Is asks an interesting question. Do you forgive others when you know they might not be sincere? Absalom may not be there anymore, but the seeds of his rebellion remain, and have budded in many hearts. The problems haven’t gone away politically. Bad attitudes are hard to shift, and they easily spread.
I remember talking to one of my sons as a six year old, asking him to let go of his bad attitude at one point, he said “I want to, but I can’t.” Bad attitudes of contempt, pride, superiority, malice, anger and more, so easily come and are hard to remove. But there is a place where these things can be washed away, it is Calvary. We begin by asking God to forgive, and then we choose to forgive others. Soon the sting behind the problem melts away.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 18, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 18 the battle between David’s army and Absalom’s army happens in the forest of Ephraim across the Jordan. It makes much more sense for a smaller army like David’s to fight in a forest. This makes it hard to mobilise troop movements for the enemy and becomes more like guerilla warfare. David's men were experienced fighters and having the enemy spread out all around the place made it easier to defeat them, despite them being numerically disadvantaged.
Plus, the Lord was fighting for David as we shall see. As Absalom was riding his hair became entangled in an oak tree and he was left hanging in mid air as his mule rode on. Deuteronomy 21:23 says “cursed is anyone who is hung on a tree.” This highly coincidental act was not coincidental, the Lord had put Absalom under a curse. He was going to be the third of four of David’s sons who would die in accordance with the prophecy from Nathan the prophet in 2 Samuel 7-8.
When David’s commander Joab saw Absalom - he speared him to death. Then they buried him and heaped stones on his body. According to the law a man who dishonoured his father was to be stoned. Absalom is symbolically stoned here. With the leader gone, all Israel fled back home. They had backed the wrong horse. This chapter mentions a pillar of Absalom which existed previously. This is not the same “pillar of Absalom” which is there today. Today’s pillar is a tomb which dates to the 1st century AD, but this refers to a more ancient monument.
The pillar spoken of here is mentioned in the copper scroll discovered at Qumran as one of the locations of treasure. When news of Absalom’s death reached David, he mourned and said ““My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!” This is a picture of Christ who loved those that rebelled against him.
Christ does weep for those who hate him, and he does die for those who hate him, and they still have hardened hearts.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 17, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 17 David has just left the city when Ahithophel gives advice to assemble a lightning strike force of twelve thousand men, and pursue him through the night to kill just the king only and finalise Absalom’s coup. It was smart military and political advice. Ahithophel is the grandfather of Bath-sheba and many commentators think that he turned against David because he carried a grudge.
This might not be correct because by supporting a rebellion against David he almost certainly was supporting the ultimate death of his granddaughter and her son Solomon in the aftermath. My sense is that Ahithophel thought deeply about things that happened and wanted to be on whoever’s side was going to win, and from there use his position to preserve himself and his family.
In response Hushai, who is a planted agent of Davids, gives advice to wait, and assemble a big army that will be able to succeed with certainty. He plants fear based on the idea that David is smart enough to expect a lightning strike and is prepared for it. Imagine being Absalom and having to choose between these two ideas. Absalom goes with Hushai’s advice, and after this Ahithophel hangs himself. Ahithophel and Judas have several things in common.
Both of them shared deep fellowship with the person they betrayed, and they later hanged themselves. Psalm 41 which talks about Ahithophel in verse 9 is often seen as a prophetic picture of Judas. Each election in a democracy we choose sides and we do so without fear of reprisal. For some of these people in this story it was a life or death choice choosing who to support. In the same way - our choice to follow and support Christ is a life and death decision too
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 16, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 16 we see how David acts while on the run again, but this time he is in charge. We meet three fascinating characters and see how David responds to Ziba, Shimei and Hushai the Arkite. At the end of the chapter Absalom brings his army into Jerusalem as David is leaving with his much smaller army. David is only about 2 miles ahead of him, it is a narrow escape. In this position, Absalom stops and sleeps with David’s ten concubines on the roof of the palace, giving David extra time to escape.
This wasn’t a lustful move, but a political move demonstrating that he was now the king. In this we see the word of the Lord come to fulfillment spoken through the prophet Nathan back in chapter 7, and the ugliness of sin and its consequences is being born out. Our sin affects other people, not just ourselves and what David in private with Bathsheba has now come back against him in public multiplied ten times, and against those David loved.
After all of this, David walked with God and his heart was more tender than before. And in this chapter his attitude toward Shimei who pelted mud and stones on him, demonstrated a heart of submission to God in all things. This is a remarkable chapter.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 15, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 15 Absalom begins his treachery. For four years he misleads Israel about his intentions, then mounts a coup against David, raising an army, and marches on Jerusalem to take over the throne. It is 30 kilometres from Hebron to David - so David has just one day to make his escape. He wisely left people behind who could relay information, namely the priests who supported him.
As he leaves he finds out that his trusted friend and advisor Ahithophel has gone to Absalom’s side. He is very saddened and prays, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” God immediately began to hear this prayer and sent Hushai the Arkite to confuse the voice of Ahithophel. It's remarkable how God hears these prayers on the go. At this point Psalm 41 speaks and provides a window in the mind and heart of David at this point.
It shows how David considers his lost friendship with Ahithophel, someone he trusted deeply. Here are verses 5-8. It reminds us of Judas My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?” When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around. All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying, “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.” Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
In this video we will consider how to handle people when they do things against you, and do so in light of Christ’s attitude towards Judas.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 14, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 14 Absalom would have been third in line to the throne, but after murdering Ammon he goes into exile in Geshur. Joab for unknown reason initiates a process to restore Absalom. It takes five years in two stages to bring this about. Absalom’s banishment in Geshur for three years, and then isolation at home for another two seems cruel to us, but was somewhat merciful punishment for the times.
David loved his son, but probably felt he had no choice. The law required Absalom to be killed, just as it required Amnon to die. But David seems to be following the example of what God did to Cain, allowing him to live for killing his brother, but sending him away. Eventually David and Absalom are reconciled, but it is not what it was before, and Absalom only feins respect.
His heart is far away. After his restoration, Absalom sets about his strategy of winning people over in an attempt to take the throne. In some ways Absalom is like Lucifer - someone close to the king, who aspired to be the king, and had justification in their own mind as to why it was right. There is a thing called the Absalom spirit - a spirit of rebellion and usurping.
This happens in some ministries where an up and coming leader sees themselves as better and wants to remove the head leader. It can be done obviously or quietly. The spirit is not a person, and yet a person can act like Absalom, controlled by that same motive. We must make sure such a thing isn’t within us. Instead we seek a spirit of sonship, the heart of Christ towards his parents and towards his heavenly father. We seek to honor our leaders and serve with sincerity.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 13, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 13 the consequences of David’s sin continue, and the second of his four sons will die. Amnon, first in line to the throne, falls in love with his half sister Tamar, but abuses his position and rapes her. She tries to talk him out of it and gives him a lot of wise advice before he takes her, trying to avert disaster. She says she would be willing to marry him if he would only wait.
Actually, according to the law brothers and sisters were not allowed to marry, so that would never have eventuated, but it was a smart thing to say from her perspective. It was a wise attempt that failed, because Amnon had no self control, and didn’t truly care for her. According to Deuteronomy 22:28-29 in a similar situation to this, the man should pay 50 shekels to the father of the girl he violated and take her to be his wife.
For David 50 shekels would not have been a great sum of money. However even worse, these were siblings, and not allowed to be married. According to Leviticus 20:17 a man who slept with his sister was to be put to death. So for Amnon the levitical consequence was death. It is in fact what he ends up getting later in this chapter, although not in a proper judicial manner. The initial feeling Amnon had, of falling in love may have been outside his control.
But all his other choices and actions were controllable. Like many people they choose wrong, even knowing they are choosing wrongly. Tamar’s full brother, Absalom, third in line to the throne, murders Amnon in revenge, and flees to Geshur to live with his grandfather. What Absalom does is technically what the law required, but is actually murder because he takes the law into his own hands. In all of this, David knows that God is with him.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 12 David is confronted by Nathan the the prophet. He begins with an allegorical story. David judges the offender in that story proclaiming he must die, and payback four times. David actually decided his own judgement here… he must restore/pay fourfold. But the Lord overruled the first part of the judgement and David did not die. So often when we judge others we do not realise we are passing judgement on ourselves.
Later David ends up losing four of his sons over this one incident. The unnamed son in this chapter, Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah, who are the first, third and fourth in line to the throne. To David’s great credit he acknowledged the prophet is right. “I have sinned” is a phrase found in scripture spoken by a number of people, including Pharaoh, Judas, King Saul, Achan, Shimei and more. In almost every case it included remorse but not repentance and humbling. David is a rare case of repentance and humbling.
We can read the condition of his heart, recorded in Psalm 51. After this David and Bathsheba have two sons, Solomon who becomes the next king, and Nathan, named after the prophet Nathan. Both are included, one in each of the two genealogies of Christ in Matthew and Luke.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 11, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
2 Samuel Chapter 11 is the start of the bad chapters of David’ life. A series of terrible events begin here with his sinning with Bathsheba, and against her husband. The consequences come back against David’s own family and kingdom. David should have been at war serving God, but instead stayed home. While at home he looked at a naked woman and was interested. It isn’t a sin to see, but it is a sin to look. Today’s world is full of pornography and many people fall into this sin, both male and female, and it is hard to avoid.
At this point David had about twenty wives, so we could assume he was sexually fulfilled, but the Lord’s plan for sexual fulfillment comes with monogamy, and the variety only causes the mind to think further afield. Pornography does this too, and should be avoided. It can only be overcome by grace… pressing in for a victory. There are four major areas of overcoming required for all people who want to walk a godly life.
The first is what we must learn to do, the other three are what we must learn not to do. If you get the first one, it helps to get the other three. Learning to discipline oneself to pray and seek God Overcoming the fear of man - what other people think of you. Overcoming the love of money. Overcoming the lusts of the flesh We all tend to think the sin with Bathsheba was the bigger sin, but the killing of Uriah the hittite was more abominable. He killed the husband of the woman he took advantage of to cover his own sins.
Uriah was also one of David’s mighty men… a faithful man who had known him a long time and been with him through the difficult years. It makes the betrayal personal to this family. The bible says the Lord was displeased. This is one of scripture’s great understatements.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 10 is the account of the battle with the Ammonites, but is actually the backdrop for The next chapter, which is the start of the “bad part” of David's story, that of Bath-sheba. Apparently David already had some treaty with Ammon (according to Coffman) but the new king was looking to be free of it.
So when David sent messengers, they were treated badly, having their beards forcibly shaved and being sent back half naked. Both things that happened were humiliating. We may only relate to being naked, but having no beards was probably more humiliating for these men, and harder to fix. Jericho was the closest Israelite town to where this happened, and David sent them there.
They could find new clothes and wait for their beards to regrow. Up to this point David had not been in the battle, and Joab was fighting without him, as described in the next chapter. During these events David was committing adultery with Bath-sheba and arranging the death of Uriah the Hittite. His sin was grievous. Yet even while David had sinned, the Lord gave him a great victory.
And when God made promises to David in chapter 7 he knew this was ahead. This is a picture of grace at work. All of us live in grace of this type. When Christ died for our sin, all of it was in the future. We tend to think of Christ’s sacrifice as being only good for those who come after Christ, but his sacrifice was good for all sin, of all time, both before and after.
After this event, David’s empire now extended up into Mesopotamia - the area where Abraham and Jacob had come from. It is worth noting that Ammon in the Bible is where we get the capital of Jordan today, Amman.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 9 David wants to show kindness to his friend Jonathan and finds out that he has a remaining son, Mephibosheth. He calls for him to come. It was customary to put to death potential heirs to the throne from those who preceded a king. So Mephibosheth was probably terrified.
But David doesn't punish him but rewards him, giving him a place at the king’s table and putting in place servants to care for him and his property. Mephibosheth is a picture of fallen humanity in its crippled state. Yet we are called to dine at the table of the king because of the kindness of Christ. It would make complete sense that Christ would also want to slay all his enemies, but Christ's method is to turn enemies into friends.
Psalm 110:1 says God’s enemies would be his footstool. This sounds bad, but turns out that his enemies will become Christ’s resting place. In Romans 5:8 it says that while we were Christ’s enemies, he showed his love for us and died for us. Interestingly we also find out in this chapter that Mephibosheth was staying at the home of Bath-sheba’s brother before this incident.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 8, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 8 we have an outline of how David defeated all the enemies of Israel, but its a summary chapter, not giving any sense of how long it took, or what order. But his victories are comprehensive over the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, Syrians, and more. The Philistines were such a major threat to Israel for so long, but from David on, they are never a problem for Israel again. Today we get the name Palestine from the Philistines.
David also cuts the Moabite army by two-thirds, which seems overly forceful. According to Jewish tradition, David’s parents were killed in Moab after David trusted them to the King, and some think this is why he seems to have changed his attitude to Moab from earlier. When attacking King Hadadezer of Zobab, he hamstrung many horses. In Deuteronomy 17:16 it says the king should not acquire many horses. David follows this command.
But Solomon later does not. Just as David struck down all his enemies, so Christ. Colososians 2:15 says Christ led his enemies in triumph, and humiliated them. David’s victories are symbolic of greater victories in the heavenlies. At the end of the chapter is a short list of special positions in David's system. The Cherethites and the Pelethites were David’s bodyguard, special soldiers that seem to have come from elsewhere, but were highly loyal.
We too have been brought into the Lord’s army to show him loyalty. You are called to be a Cherethite and Pelethite for Christ… his bodyguard, someone who will defend Christ.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 7, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 7 David wants to do something for God. Now this is something that so many people seem to not do. Many are grateful for what God does for them, but it never seems to go to the next step, where they ask God, what can I do for you? David seems to have completely taken the initiative here, and yet, he runs his idea past God via the prophet, so seeks approval for his idea.
And unlike many who build ministries foro their own glory, David is sincere in his desire to do something for the Lord. His specific idea is to build God a temple. In response God says he will bless David for his heart, but he is not to build the temple. David’s son will build the temple. Who is that son, and what is the temple? In a short term physical sense, the son was Solomon.
The Lord raised him up, and he built the temple and his kingdom was established. But in the true sense the son was Christ who built the true temple which is the church. The throne of Christ is an everlasting throne, and his kingdom an everlasting kingdom. While this promise is grand and fulfilled here for David, the same promise comes repeatedly to God’s followers over and over.
Whenever anyone has a heart for the Lord’s work, for his house, for his family, for his people, for his church, the Lord sees that he builds their house and family in return. David’s response is one of humility, gratitude, faith and affirmation. He feels unworthy of the Lord doing anything for him, and yet he urges Him to do it. This is an unusual combination of attitudes, and we should learn from it.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 6 David seems to not be aware of the biblical rules for transporting the ark. Neither does he seem to remember recent history when a huge number of people were killed in an ark-related incident when it was returned from Philistine occupation. So he endeavors to bring the ark to Jerusalem, which killed Uzzah. He then leaves the ark with Obed-Edom who is blessed by having it there.
Then David tries again successfully to bring the ark to Jerusalem. As the ark comes he dances more or less in his undergarments willingly making a fool of himself. Having the presence of God with you as Obed-Edom did blesses you. When we make the Lord welcome in our lives and hearts, we blesses us. David set up a special tent for God. This was not the tabernacle.
This was called the tent of David. This is that to which the prophet Amos later referred saying “I will restore David’s fallen tent.” (Amos 9:11) What was happening here was very much a move of grace by God as it was outside the rules given to Moses. As David danced into Jerusalem, he embarrassed his first wife Michal. Michal had other struggles to begin with. Despite being David’s first wife, she now shared him with about twenty women.
She was also taken away and had another husband that seemed to truly love her, having five sons with him. Her marital situation was complicated, not to mention that her father was the previous king. Her attitude to David was worse than simply being embarrassed by what he did. Michal expressed her disgust to David, and never had anymore children after this. The Lord probably didn’t curse her fertility, but more likely David never desired to be physically intimate with her anymore.
She should have held her words, or have apologised and retracted them. But she did neither. It can be hard to know what to do when you are in such a complex position. Meanwhile, will you be Christ’s fool?
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 5 David becomes king over all Israel at 30 years of age. From the time David defeated Goliath until now has been at least 11 years, but more likely 12 to 15. For the last two years of his life (since age 28) he has been King of Judah at Hebron, and would reign there another 5 and a half years before moving his capital to Jerusalem.
In conquering Jerusalem, they got under the wall through a water shaft, which is almost certainly the shaft discovered by Samuel Warren in the 1800’s, now called Warren’s shaft. In conquering Jerusalem, David was now doing what Joshua and those after him should have done four hundred years earlier. David is now fully conquering the land and subjugating it, but sadly the Israelites have already been influenced by those around them.
David had a lot of children. It is worth noting here Nathan the third son of his to be born in Jerusalem, and named after Nathan the prophet. Also, in Luke’s gospel genealogy of Christ, Jesus is descended from Nathan. (Luke 3:31) Jesus is also descended from Solomon as listed in Matthew’s genealogy. (Matt 1:6-7) Interestingly, in 1 Chron 3 we learn that both Nathan and Solomon were children of Bath-sheba. Up to now,
David had been an ally of the Philistines, but no longer. Battles begin which David wins. All the losses to the Philistines in Saul’s time are now being reversed. When we turn back to Christ, who is symbolised by David in this chapter, we begin to take back from the evil one what was lost. The key is walking with Christ. Note: The introduction of the word Zion in scripture, theology and history is here.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 4 Ishbosheth, the king of Israel is assassinated in cold blood by two of his own military officers. They travel through the night and bring the head to David in Hebron thinking they are bringing wonderful news. Israel now has only one remaining heir to the throne, which is Mephibosheth, the lame and crippled grandson of Saul.
The two assassins declared to David that “God had delivered him of his enemies.” This is an interesting thing depending on one’s perspective. What they had done was cold-blooded murder and deserved to be punished. The Lord can hardly be endorsed as the motivator for this. From the men’s perspective they were glory-seeking and didn’t care about David’s deliverance, or the Lord’s honor, only their own advancement.
From David’s perspective these men had to be punished for their crime, and to show he had no part in it. This was both the righteous thing to do, and also the right political thing to do too. But strangely what they said was actually true. The death of Ishbosheth was a deliverance, despite being at the hands of evil men, that David needed.
The Lord used this to bring about his plan, despite its origination in the hearts of evil men. Incredibly the Lord often brings about his purposes despite the evil intentions of people. Is there anyone that you know with certainty is not in the will of God. Is there a so called king like Ishbosheth that you know of. It could be a leader of any type.
If it is clear to you that they do not belong… even still, do not raise your hand against them. What does Christ say? Love your enemies. Do good to those who persecute you.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 3 a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house began in which David grew stronger and stronger, but Saul’s house grew weaker and weaker. This was more of a cold war, and the Philistines were also in the mix controlling a lot of Israelite territory too. Up north in Israel a strange thing happens. King Ishboshet accuses Abner of sleeping with his father the king’s concubine. Quite a few commentators have mentioned that to take a king’s concubine was seen as a claim on the king's throne.
It was a way of saying the king's property was your own. So Ishbosheth is feeling threatened by Abner. Abner gets mad and decides to hand the tribes over to David, and begins the process of doing that. But after a good visit to David at Hebron, Joab murders Abner. Joab had two issues, one with revenge for his brother, and other may well have been a job security issue because Abner was his counterpart in Israel. David also requests Michal his first wife back.
This is one of the strangest things in the Bible. Politically this helped David’s cause as a son of Saul. He might also have still felt fondness for her because she saved his life, and she was his first wife and they were only married a short time. But it had been at least ten years, and she was now married to another and may even have had children. David also had many wives at this point. In today’s world we see people who have multiple partners, not usually at the same time, but often one after another.
Life becomes more and more complicated the more people one is married to. In all of this we can see why monogamy is God’s plan.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 2, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 2 David asks the Lord what to do, now that Saul is dead. David was always listening to what the Lord suggested. God is the omniscient one, and we should pay attention to his opinion. God sends him to Hebron, and the people of Judah anoint him the king of their tribe.
Now David blesses and encourages the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead who are outside the tribe of Judah. He is pleased with how they took care of Saul’s body. He thinks broadly and encourages and blesses all God’s people, not just those he is responsible for. This is exactly how pastor’s should think, and should also have a parish mentality, not a congregation mentality. But Israel appoints Saul’s last son Ishbosheth king in Mahanaim.
The battle against the Philistines was in the north of Israel and it meant they occupied territory normally belonging to Israelites. So Israel is governed from across the Jordan out of reach of the Philistines. Ultimately it is David who pushes the Philistines back, and if he doesn’t do it, probably all of Israel would have become under Philistine control. The tribes of Israel remain split for two years and have a mini civil war, but thorugh it all David remains civil and does his best to serve all.
In this video listen to 2 Samuel Chapter 1, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 2 Samuel Chapter 1 an Amalekite brings so-called good news to David. The distance from Mt Gilboa to Ziklag in a straight line is 139 kilometres on Google maps, and most likely the Amalekite didn’t travel in a straight line. He probably travelled more than 150 kilometres in just a few days.
He was rushing to meet David and carried with him Saul’s crown he lifted off his body after the battle. He expected a reward, but instead was punished for claiming to kill the Lord’s anointed. One of the big issues that caused the Lord to reject Saul was his failure to obey and completely destroy the amalekites. And here an amalekite takes the crown off his head to bring to David.
Its very ironic. One of the things many unbelievers and even young believers have complained about is all the apparent rules God gives. They feel the burdens of God are too much. But here we see that if Saul had obeyed it would have been life for him, and his disobedience If David was in danger, Saul would never have considered doing anything to protect him, but would have gleefully celebrated his demise.
Now we see in this chapter David standing up for Saul and mourning his demise. David is a picture of Christ to us. How many of us celebrate when we see the demise of any other person. Sadly people celebrate when a pastor of another church falls, because they think in competitive terms.
That type of thinking stinks and God abhors it. David then lamented Saul and Jonathan. He loved Jonathan, even if in the last ten years of his life he was not able to spend time with him. Their hearts were knit when they first met, and they had a close connection greater than in many marriages. It was not weird, but the way that God intends for his people to be in faith - to be of one heart. We have much to learn from David and Jonathan’s example.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 31, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 31 King Saul and three of his sons die in battle against the Philistines at Mt Gilboa in the north of Israel. Saul is left with only one remaining son Here in 1st Samuel it says Saul killed himself when he lost hope, but in 2 Samuel an Amalekite falsely claims to have done it. Then in 1 Chronicles in the retelling of this event it says “the Lord put him to death.” Such is the nature of the Lord’s work, it is often not recognised by people because it seems to them to be the hand of a human.
For example later in the Bible when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem they have no idea that God says he was sending them. Also, Cyrus the king of Persia is described by God as a shepherd, and he rebuilds Jerusalme and the temple. God often uses people and they have no realisation that God is working through them.
So God often does things through people, and this is how he puts Saul to death. In the battle, there was an intervening day here when the battle was still going, but the dead were not stripped yet. It is in this period that scavengers can take advantage. In this period of time, the Amalekite visited the battle and saw the dead body of Saul, and took his crown, which he presented to David in 2 Samule 1.
After the battle the Philistines and Saul’s body are on the wall at Beth Shan, but brave men of Jabesh Gilead take it down and bury it. Saul’s very first battle as king many years earlier was to rescue the people of Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites. So this response of thiers makes a lot of sense. They always had affection towards Saul for his help.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 30, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 30 David’s family is kidnapped from Ziklag. Ziklag is a town only recently unearthed in archaeology, since 2015 and contains the burn layer that matches the biblical story. This is a chapter about great disappointment for David, for his soldiers and for their families who were undoubtedly terrified in captivity.
The Amalekite raiders were taking them south to the Egyptian slave markets, along with great plunder. David enquires of the Lord, gets the green light, and pursues them. At the brook Besor, about twenty kilometres south west, two hundred of the soldiers are too exhausted to continue, so they are left behind.
After all is recovered they are rewarded equally despite not participating in the battle, marking a turning point in how war remuneration was conducted. In this incredible chapter David is symbolic of Christ in a number of ways.
In David Guzik’s enduring word commentary he makes these five points:
- We are like David’s men, David is like Jesus. · We are like the weary ones left behind, David is like Jesus.
- We are like the Egyptian slave, David is like Jesus.
- We are like the spoil David recovered, David is like Jesus.
- We are like the elders of Judah, and David is like Jesus. Finally there is the promise of recovery for all of those who have been attacked by the enemy. Some have lost loved ones, or health, or many calamities, but in Christ we are able to find hope, restoration, salvation, and much.
All is in Christ.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 29, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 29 David is summoned to war with the Philistines who are going to attack Israel in the north. We don't know how long David and his men were mercenaries for Achish up to this point, but it was at least for two years minimum. Though Achish trusts David, some of the Philistines commanders have doubts, so they push for David to be left behind.
The Lord is very gracious to David and delivers him from his dilemma of being a double agent. It's no wonder David later writes in the Psalms that the Lord delivers the righteous from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:19) David isn’t really wanting to go to war, but has to be annoyed to support his position of double agent. But the Lord is so gracious to him here for multiple reasons.
Not only is he saved from his position as double agent, but his home town of ziklag has been raided, and God is freeing him to go save his family. The Lord is always in the detail. Having said that... if David went to war, what would he actually have done? Undoubtedly he would have turned and fought the Philistines, and the Lord didn’t want that to happen either. God wanted to put Saul to death. In our trickiest moments of life, the Lord is in the detail, and we must trust Him.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 28, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 28 the Philistines are mobilising for full scale war against Israel and David is asked to join them. David and his men are now in a very tricky position. They have played the double agent for years, and now the rubber hits the road where their loyalty will surely be exposed. We will see how the Lord helps David through in the chapters after this. Meanwhile Saul is terrified and enquires of the Lord, who ignores him.
Saul had treated the Lord so badly, killing the priests and chasing the one anointed to be king, is it any wonder God wouldn’t talk to him. However the real reason is that Saul was rejected by God and the Lord was in the process of putting him to death as advised in 1 Chronicles 10:13. So Saul turns to the witch of Endor, a medium, proving he had no regard for God.
The Lord outlawed mediums and the like in Deuteronomy 18:10-12. In Leviticus they were commanded to be put to death. In the New Testament the same prohibition is found in Galatians 5:19-21 where it lists witchcraft as a fruit of the flesh. Paul says that anyone who lives like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. The second death is the eternal death and thus the real death, and with this in mind the sin of witchcraft still carries with it the same penalty.
This video will discuss whether the witch of endor actually brings up Samuel, or pretends? This video will also discuss why is it wrong to consult a medium instead of consulting the Lord? Finally, who else in the Bible does God put to death because he is displeased with them? Watch the video and find out.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 27, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 27 David and his men become mercenaries for the Philistines. He is safe here from Saul because Saul won’t pursue him into enemy territory. This must have seemed a very strange thing to do from an Israelite perspective because he was now working for the enemy. David is playing a very tricky game not wanting to be Philistine, but not being safe in Israel. If God had not been with David this would have probably failed.
David had a long history of seeking the Lord before doing things, and even though it isn’t written here, he probably had the Lord’s mind on this decision. Every minute detail shouldn’t have to be explained for us to know that was the case. Much later when David was the king, he was going to defeat the Philistines thoroughly and his time with the Philistines might have helped him with inside information. The WEB text says he served Achich for a year and four months but the Hebrew says “days and four months.”
Also, later in 1 Samuel 29 Achish of Gath acknowledges David has served him for years. So this time period was probably longer. David was physically with the Philistines, but his heart was not given to them. Many believers go to the world, but they give their hearts to it. So there was a difference. When Israel first came into its inheritance, God had commanded them to remove the inhabitants of the land, which they had failed to do.
David is doing here what God had commanded, and by leaving none alive this had a double purpose in leaving no trace of information that could get back to the Philistines. David then gave false information to the Philistines about his work, and was thus playing a very tricky double role.
One interesting issue discussed in this video is how long the period of time was from Sanuels; death to Saul’s death. Josephus says 22 years, but this cannot be right.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 26, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 26 David is hiding in the desert but Hachilah is on the edge of the desert, so David actually sends men secretly to see if Saul is really there and he is. What a shock? Despite the previous incident where David spared his life, Saul is still after him. So David embarks on an undercover night mission. Saul would not have been expecting anything like this.
David takes Saul’s spear and spares his life in a similar way to what happened before in the caves at En Gedi. Saul is once again sorry and appreciate. David realises that no matter what assurances there are from Saul, that he is going to relent again. Saul has now several times made promises that David’s life is safe but failed to keep them. So David will remain in hiding even after this incident. What this type of incident does though is send a very strong message to all of Saul’s soldiers, and to all of David’s men. It shows he is honourable, he is not self-serving and this attitude is what will bring about God’s will.
Later in the book of kings there are many examples of coups and assassinations to take the throne, and in most cases those people had unstable governments and were often assassinated themselves. David’s attitude of honor establishes something permanent and good. Later when the nation splits in two... the southern nation of Judah maintains the same dynasty throughout, descended from David, ultimately leading to Christ.
The northern nation goes through many dynasties as blood and controversy follow them all until ultimately the northern tribes cease to exist. Would David’s dynasty have survived if he had killed Saul here? Many people justify themselves in what they do, but few are single heartedly committed to doing what is right in God’s eyes.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 25, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 25 Samuel dies and is buried. At this point Samuel is no longer writing the book of Samuel, and may not have been doing so for the last few chapters. We know that Gad the prophet has been with David and is an eyewitness into what happens in David’s life. The rest of 1 Samuel and all of 2 Samuel are written by Gad and Nathan.
David goes to the desert of Paran and we meet Nabal and Abigail. Nabal is probably a nickname, meaning a fool and Abigail is described as beautiful. Only a small number of women are described as beautiful in the scriptures, being Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Tamar, Another Tamar, Abigail, Bath-Sheba, Abishag the Shunammite, Vashti the Queen of Persia, Esther and Job’s daughters. Abigail was a godly woman married to an ungodly man. There are women in churches today who have found themselves in such a situation.
The NT provides instructions for this situation in 1 Peter 3. As you are faithful to Him, and loving towards your earthly husband, you may win him to the Lord, but either way, you will win a crown of righteousness that lasts forever. The chapter then describes how David nearly kills all the men of Nabal’s household, but Abigail’s wise intercession saves him from doing so.
David had protected Nabal’s property against raiders, and it wasn’t appreciated in return. In the end Abigail saves David from taking things into his own hands, and the Lord gives Nabal a heart attack and puts him to death. In Abigail’s wise words to David she acknowledges that David fights for the Lord saying, “because my Lord fights Yahweh’s battles.” David was someone who took up the cause of the Lord.
We saw this right back in 1 Sam 17 where David was bothered about Goliath, not just after rewards. Do you fight the Lord’s battles? So God fights for David too which we saw when he put Nabal to death, and saved David from causing a blood feud in his own tribe of Judah
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 24, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 24 David hides at En Gedi with the wild goats, and spares Saul’s life. These wild goats are actually Ibex that live at En Gedi. The En Gedi system is large enough and represents a mini ecosystem supporting even goats. En Gedi is a fabulous tourist location supporting a million visitors per year. While at En Gedi, Saul seeks him and while relieving himself in a cave, David has a chance to kill him, but saves him.
That moment was predicted in a personal prophecy at some point prior. It’s a shame we don’t have a Psalm for this one. David was probably thinking and feeling many things. Here he overcomes temptation, because the death of Saul would have meant they were no longer fugitives and could return home. The personal prophecy could have come from Samuel who David knew or Gad, who was with David at some point, certainly when they were in Moab.
This prophecy seemed to give a sense that God was fine with David killing Saul, but David does what seems good.... which is to not harm. David’s move is also beneficial in the future, winning the hearts of all Israel because he was a man of loyalty, wisdom, thought, slow to anger, love towards his enemy and much more. He represents a type of Christ.
Warning: If you have ever received personal words or prophecies for your life, do not assume things based on them as to how things will happen, or that you can do whatever you want. You need to allow God to act, and to maintain righteousness in all things. The Lord’s anointed means the one God chose. If you consider that literally, it would be very dumb to go against somebody God chose, and David knew it. Christ is the ultimate ‘anointed one’ the Messiah.
Today many people speak against the anointed one, and raise their hand against Him, a very foolish thing to do.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 23, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 23 David goes to Keilah, where he delivers them from Philistine raids, but they later seek to betray him in return. It doesn’t seem fair. David was someone who enquired of the Lord, and before helping the people of Keilah, he asks the Lord for help twice. After this occurs, Abiathar the priest arrives with the ephod, which was a method of enquiring of the Lord. David is someone who sought the Lord even without an ephod, such as we should do today.
God is capable through many methods of making his mind known, we don’t need ephods or any object to aid us. Having said that, the ephod was a tangible sign that God was with David. Saul who seemed to always skip enquiry of the Lord in previous chapters no longer had access to the ephod. But David who enquired of the Lord in all circumstances, now obtained access.
This is the way of God... to those who have a heart to know God’s way and mind, he provides. This reminds us of why Christ spoke in parables, so that those who were not seekers would not know. In the desert while in hiding Jonathan visited David. This was the last time Jonathan and David would see each other, but neither of them knew it. Jonathan expected to serve David when he was king in the future.
After this, Saul almost has David caught, but a messenger comes and Saul has to race away... The Lord always knows how to deliver as he does in this story. Some have questioned God saying “why didn’t he deliver David completely so he wasn’t being chased at all?” The truth is that God does this type of thing too, but for those who have been completely delivered in advance of their problems, they have no knowledge of it.
Such is probably true of you who read this. God has delivered you from many things you know not of. After his escape David hid at En Gedi, a great place to hide, but also a potential trap.
n this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 22, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 22 David flees to Adullam where men gather to him. He writes Psalm 34 there. Then he flees to Moab and arranges asylum for his parents who are distantly related to the Moabites via Ruth. After this Saul hears that the priests of Nob had aided David and commands Doeg the Edomite to strike them down - killing 85 of them. Only Abiathar survives and flees to David.
This indecent and horrific act is a fulfilment of a prophecy against the house of Eli recorded back in 1 Samuel 2. It is hard three thousand years after the event to see much good in Doeg or Saul after reading a chapter like this one. In a similar way, after hearing of this event, David wrote Psalm 52, of which a few verses are repeated here; Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! (Psalm 52:1-4) Was David speaking of Saul in this Psalm, or of Doeg? It seems of Saul, but perhaps of both. Either way he speaks of all who are like them. Today there are also people who strike down the priests, those who do not hesitate to raise their voice against those the Lord has called to serve in his house.
We should not be quick to speak against those the Lord has called. We would be committing the sin of Doeg if we did. What advantage is it to us?
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 21, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 21 David goes to Nob to get help from the priests. The tabernacle was in Nob, but not the ark of the covenant which was in Kiriath Jearim for a long period of time as recorded in 1 Samuel 7. When Shiloh was destroyed at the first battle of Ebenezer, while the town was destroyed it seems the actual tabernacle and its other furnishings were saved.
This may have been because they had warning about the coming Philistines and the priests there acted quickly. In any case, we have a period of time where there is no ark in the tabernacle. It was at least twenty years in Kiriath Jearim, plus at most thirty-three years in Jerusalem with David, and then almost eleven years with Solomon before the temple was finished. So it seems about sixty-four years. Even after the ark was returned to Jerusalem by David he set it up in his own special tent, we call the tabernacle of David.
The priests are worried about David’s mission. David then lies about his purpose, but it is for the safety of the priest. If the priest doesn't know the truth, he won’t be guilty of working against Saul right? The priest gives David 5 loaves of bread - the number of grace. He also gives him the sword of Goliath. In the NT Jesus commented on this event in Matt 12:3-4 using it as evidence that it was ok to pick grain on the Sabbath. Sometimes the need outweighs the strict rules.
The priests had the freedom to bend the rules in the sake of real need. In the Mark 2 version of this story it says that it was in the time of Abiathar the High Priest not mentioning Abimelech the priest, but these were father and son. Both were working in the tabernacle. There is no contradiction, Abimelech gave the bread to David at the time that Abiathar was the high priest. After taking Goliath’s sword, David goes down to the land of the Philistines.
How does David who killed Goliath of Gath, go to Gath and survive? What is interesting is that he no sooner takes the sword of Goliath, that he goes to Gath where the sword comes from. To seek asylum in Philistine territory is most unexpected. Did he take Goliath’s sword back to its home town as a peace gift seeking asylum?
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 20 David leaves Samuel to get intelligence about what is happening, and why Saul is trying to kill him. But Jonathan seems to know nothing about it. The period between his fleeing to Ramah, and this coming back must have only been a short period for Jonathan to have remained ignorant. Jonathan and David agree on a system to find out and pass on information about the truth, and they do it with a secret message sent via the archers bow.
Here we see an example of the world of espionage as in ancient times, passing on secret messages as used to happen before technology changed everything. After the message from the archer’s bow confirmed David’s life was in danger, he and Jonathan briefly talked, agreed to treat each other's families well in the future, embraced and departed in great sadness.
This was the second last time they were to see each other in life, not that they were to know this of course. The Last was in 1 Samuel 23 when Jonathan snuck out to see David while he was hiding out in the wilderness. Not only was David in a difficult place, Jonathan was too being loyal to his father and also loyal to David.
What should he have done? Should he have left his father to serve David, or stayed with his father as he did? Perhaps if he had left his father to serve David he may have survived the battle of Mt Gilboa at the end of 1st Samuel. Meanwhile, though in exile, David himself actually remained loyal to Saul in his heart. Despite being physically separated he was emotionally connected.
Contrastingly many people remain physically connected but emotionally separated. It takes a great man or woman, to give the heart to another, and to not remove it even when things are not to your advantage.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 19, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 19 things were peaceful and Saul stopped trying to kill David for a while at least, but there was war again. It seems that war, and David’s clearly better military skill is the catalyst for jealousy. Saul tries to pin David with a spear again. This isn’t a repeat of the previous story, but a separate incident.
There had been a period where things seemed to have improved, but Saul slips into another bad patch and David escapes. Saul then sends soldiers to David’s house to kill him in his bed. He escapes out the window at his wife’s advice. She puts a teraphim, an idol in the bed to pretend he is there. David’s house was built into the wall just like Rahab in Jericho.
David fled to live with Samuel - for a little while. He probably had no idea what to do when on the run, and here he is seeking the Lord’s will. This is what we should all do when in trouble. Saul tries to follow David to where Samuel is, but the spirit of God waylays him and he prophecies. Saul is someone who actually prophecies a number of times in the Bible - he has the gift of prophecy.
This is a gift, not something based on merit or righteousness which clearly he is lacking. Gifts from God do not authenticate a person or their character.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 18, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 18 Jonathan and David discover they have the same heart, and they love one another in the Lord. Previously Jonathan had shown huge bravery at Michmash, and is a warrior-like man similar to David. Here the Lord knits their hearts together. David then enters Saul’s service and participates successfully in many battles over an undetermined period of time. After a while, the Israelite women sing a song which makes Saul jealous.
This didn’t happen after the Goliath victory, but at some point later. Verse 6 says “after he returned from defeating the Philistine.” However, according to the margin of the ESV translation, Philistine here is plural. So it was after the slaughter of the Philistines, not referring to defeating Goliath, but to an extensive campaign of war as indicated in verse five.
And so Saul becomes jealous. Jealousy is a terrible sin, perhaps one of the worst. In the New Testament we are warned against such things, saying they are a “work of the flesh” and that people like this will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. Galatians 5:19-21. Jealousy is the breaking of multiple commandments at once, that of covetousness, failing to love others, of murder all combined with a lack of faith in God, and overwhelmed by fear.
According to James 3:14-15 jealousy is demonic, and out of it comes disorder and “every evil.” Saul now tries to kill David in multiple creative ways. Yet everything was going David’s way... the Lord was with him, and this is the nature of it. Even what the enemy plans for evil turns to good.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 17, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 17 David slays Goliath, in what is a rare example of representative fighting or one-on-one combat. One-on-one combat was a way of saving many lives, but also required a lot of bravery, even on the part of Goliath. One-to-one fighting was not common in the Middle East, and here Goliath actually educates the Israelite army about how it works.
In the process, which drags over forty days, the biblical number for testing, Goliath also insults the Israelites, presumably with many different insults that are not recorded. In the Jewish Targum it notes Goliath as claiming to be the one who killed Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, and being the one who captured the ark of the covenant.
That probably wasn’t true, but it didn’t mean Goliath wouldn’t have said things like that to get them worked up. Another giant also called Goliath is named in 2 Sam 21:19 - this isn’t the same person as there were multiple people called Goliath in ancient times. David is a symbol of Christ who defeated Satan and humiliated him. David’s five stones are a symbol of grace that we receive, and the victory of David seemed uncertain, but was absolutely certain, just as Christ’s victory was never in doubt.
There are many “David facts” that are not quite right, such as his age, the size of the armour and more. This video goes over some of the differences between reality and the Sunday school story versions of this story. Back in the book of Numbers, Israel was afraid to take the land because of the giants. And now we see the same thing present here. Only two people in Israel back then were filled with faith, Caleb and Joshua. And now, we will see there was only one, David.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 16, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
We are in 1 Samuel Chapter 16. Previously we saw three stages in the raising of Saul to King - the private anointing, the public choosing, and the obtaining of public approval. Here David is now at stage one, being privately anointed, but the other stages do not come from a long time, like twenty years. As Christians, this is like when we are given a promise from God. It’s tempting to try and make it happen in our own strength. Instead we walk with Christ in faith until he brings it about. We don’t remain passive, but obey.
David is the eighth son - 8 is the number of new beginnings and Israel is going to start again with a new king, new tribe, and this time a dynasty that will lead to Christ. In this chapter after the Holy Spirit departs Saul, he is tormented by an evil spirit from God. How does an evil Spirit come from God? Simple, this is the shorthand way of saying that God allowed it. We see this type of thing in the book of Job where the devil attacks Job, but God allowed it, and all through the narrative everyone clearly sees the things that happen as having come from God.
God doesn’t torment Saul, but because of God's choices this indirectly happens. Because of Saul’s torment, he seeks a musician to make him feel better, and David is selected. God is opening doors for him. This and also later events, such as Goliath, indicate the Holy Spirit is now helping David. Meanwhile with Saul, common grace at work. Even when someone has turned their heart away from God, the Lord still sends his servants to minister to them. All over the world, the spirit of God is always appealing to those who are lost.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 15, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 15 is illustrated how Saul didn’t really care about what God wanted - that is, he didn’t have a heart after God. Many Christians do things for God, but don’t care about what God wants. They serve God for their own benefit, as Thomas a Kempis called it, as “spiritual mercenaries.” Very few serve God because they love Him and love His ways.
The amalekites were the first nation to attack Israel after they left Egypt - and may have been aligned with Pharaoh. Now God wants to deal with them, but they fail to do the job properly. Much later in the story of Esther, the antagonist, Haman is a descendant of Agag the Amalekite. Because they didn’t properly finish the job off and it came back to be a problem later on.
After Saul’s disobedience, Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. Listening to God isn’t about just knowing what he is saying, but about putting it into practice. True listening is challenging and requires grace.
Saul says “I have sinned.” This is something that six others in the Bible also said. These are Pharaoh, Balaam, Saul, David, Shimei, Judas and the Prodigal son. Of the seven people in scripture who said “I have sinned”, only David’s (plus the prodigal son” exhibit true repentance. The others simply regret they have been caught, or regret how it turned out.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 14 recounts Jonathan and Israel’s victory at Michmash. This was the scene of a similar WWI victory in 1918 with the General Allenby’s British troops copying Jonathan’s example.
A soldier who knew his Bible pointed it out, leading to the soldiers scaling the cliffs for an assault on Ottoman troops. Allenby decided to attack with just one troop instead of the whole company and the Ottomans were unsuspecting and fled, just as the Philistines did. Source: Gilbert, Major Vivian., The Romance of the Last Crusade with Allenby to Jerusalem, Appleton and Company.
Once Saul knows they are winning, he tells Ahijah the priest to stop inquiring of the Lord, so they can get into the attack. Circumstances being what they were, must have convinced him he already knew what God wanted and decided to save time. This is the Lesson, don’t assume that circumstances prove God’s voice. Can you think of a time this wasn’t true?
Once Jonathan attacked the Philistines panicked, fled, and even started fighting themselves. Previously a number of Hebrews had aligned themselves with the Philistines. Everyone wants to be on the winning side, and when it was evident God was delivering the Philistines up, they switched back. This also helps explain why the “Philistines” were fighting against themselves.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 12, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 12 the prophet Samuel recounts a basic history of Israel, covering the Judges up to the first King. He was building a case that the choosing of a King was a sin. This summarised recounting of the Judges is interesting because Bedan is a new name here.
Either it's another Judge we didn't know about, or it's Samson or Barak. St Jerome had translated it as Barak as hae others, for various reasons and the word Bedan literally means “in Dan” giving some the idea it was Samson, the judge from Dan. Samuel tells them that he is going to pray for thunder and show them that choosing a king was a sin, and this is what happens.
So even though the selecting of Saul as King was a great success, and his initial battle was a victory, Samuel confirms here their great sin in rejecting God. Samuel closes his speech with this “Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.” The last sentence is a prophecy, and it comes to pass in 586 BC.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 13 we find a genuine textual issue. They are not common, but here the age of Saul and the length of his reign is odd in the Hebrew.
This verse is translated in so many different ways. KJV: "Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel," ESV: "Saul was ... years old when he began to reign, and he reigned, ... and 2 years..." NIV: "Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel 42 years." NASB: "Saul was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 42 years..." LXX: Simply left out. The number of theories about this verse are astounding.
What we learn elsewhere is that Saul actually reigned for 40 years. We get this from Paul in Acts 13:21. Josephus also tells us that Saul reigned for 40 years. He clearly didn’t start reigning when he was 1 year old. This chapter outlines Saul’s first major act of disobedience/sin. He is to wait for Samule for the sacrifices, but Samuel is late. Saul acts out of fear and conducts the sacrifice himself, rather than be obedient to his instruction.
He also takes the role of priest which was not his job. Saul is rejected and God wants a king who is after his heart. This raises the question, what is God’s heart? How does one go after it?
In 1 Samuel Chapter 11 is Saul’s first battle as king. In this battle he wins the hearts of the people of Israel and they accept him. Jabesh Gilead is threatened by Nahash of Ammon. The citizens plead peace, but Nahash wants to gouge out their right eyes. Apparently the name Nahash means “snake” or serpent. So we may be dealing with a symbol of Satan in this narrative.
His name may also mean “oracle” according to Lockyer (cited in Coffman) According to Josephus this brutal eye-gouging act was so that they were unable to fight. Effectively it meant they couldn’t shoot a bow properly with only one eye, and make them subject permanently.
In the Dead Sea Scrolls in 4QSam - an extra verse was found in the Samuel Scroll - “Now Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the Gadites and the Reubenites. He would gouge out the right eye of each of them and would not grant Israel a deliverer. No one was left of the Israelites across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. But there were seven thousand men who had escaped from the Ammonites and had entered Jabesh-gilead.”
Very interestingly in Matt 5:29 Jesus said if your “right eye” causes you to sin, pluck it out. In the early period of Saul’s kingship he was moved by God and served in the power of the Lord, but his hard heart and disobedience later grieved the Spirit. Saul struck in the morning watch, the middle of the night. The ammonites were unsuspecting, and defeated.
Much later when Saul was killed by the Philistines on Mt Gilboa, it was the brave men of Jabesh Gilead who took down his body from the wall at Beth Shan and buried it. This city retained a sense of affection towards Saul all of his life after this event.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 10, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 10 are stages 1 and 2 of 3 lifting Saul to the throne of Israel. First is the private anointing, second the public selection and third proving himself in battle which comes in the following chapters. First he is anointed privately by Saul. Physically, anointing is rubbing or pouring oil on another.
This was done as a sign that someone was set aside or dedicated to service for God. It was often a sign that God’s favor and his Spirit was with that person. While many people were anointed for various tasks, there was one special anointed person... the Messiah, or “the” anointed one.
Much later when Saul turned bad, he was still considered anointed by David. This is an important point, given that God knows the future and chose Saul, fully aware of how he would turn out. After his anointing, Saul changed. When the Holy spirit works in us it does change us - we are turned into different people. What it does NOT do is take away our choices.
Those in whom the Spirit is working have to cooperate with the Spirit. This is completely unlike demonic oppression which is controlling. The result of this is that people have to learn how to cooperate with the Spirit. Essentially they have to practice.
Finally he was selected publicly before all Israel - this was stage two. When this happened he hid himself in the baggage. Why was he hiding in the baggage? Was it because he had already been anointed, and already knew what was ahead. Was he so afraid of leadership he hid.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 9, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 9 Saul is going to become king. He looked the part. He was going to be chosen because he “looked” like a king. A movie director would have chosen Saul for his great looks. He would have cast well. He is exactly what we would imagine a king to be like. However the people are getting what they want.
Even in this king, we learn that what we want isn't’ always good for us. Saul is missing animals and goes looking for them. Ironically he is about to become the shepherd of Israel. Because of the missing donkeys, he ends up at Saul’s town Ramah. Here we see that God either uses the missing donkey circumstance to bring Saul to Samuel, or perhaps he orchestrates it.
When things happen in life that seem unfortunate, God is often in them, or at least can work through them. Nothing complicates God’s life. They intend to pay a quarter of a shekel to see the prophet, Samuel. A quarter of a shekel wasn't much. Imagine cutting a dollar in quarters. Americans have an actual coin called a quarter, but back then they didn’t always have the smaller denominations, so this was an innovation.
Samuel is going to the high place at Ramah to sacrifice to God. This high place, and the one at Gilgal when Solomon seeks the Lord seem at face value to be contradicting what God said in the Law. And later in the OT, God speaks against the high places, so why is there an allowance just at this period of time for about 70 years. It is because the tabernacle is in ruins, and Shiloh was taken offline by the Philistines.
So the people are worshipping God as they can. Samuel as leader has set up a place where God can be worshipped and sought. God’s word through Samuel refers to “my people.” God still considers Israel his. It's always a mistake when someone rules God’s people and thinks they are their own. Pastors fall into this trap easily.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 8 Israel wants to be like the other nations, but God had always wanted them to be different to the other nations.
The “if” game is never possible, but what if Israel had truly followed the law from the beginning, how could this have been a unique nation unlike any other? Firstly poverty in Israel would have been minimal, the economy would have been strong, the land would have been healthy and produced continual harvests because of the sabbath rests, effectively fertilising the land.
Other nations would have become jealous and it would have demonstrated that the fertility cults of other nations were false. Even without active evangelism, the nation would have become a witness to the power of God. Other nations would have wanted to have become like them. Instead with narrow minds they want to be like the other nations. From God’s perspective Israel not only has a king, but has a “real” king.
They felt like they had no king, and even from our twenty-first century perspective we feel like God was only a “virtual king” of some type, but we don’t feel his realness. The problem was that God’s kingship and rule had not been followed. He had given them the most wonderful law, outlining how everything was to be done in Israel, but they didn’t follow it, and then felt that they needed a king believing they had none. It was a far greater tragedy that we imagine.
Samuel tries to warn them, giving God’s words saying what will happen if they have a king. The people refused to listen. Remember when this happened previously at Sinai. They didn’t want to hear God speaking. Here though, they heard the words and refused to accept them. Finally God tells Samuel to listen to them. So even though they have not listened to God, he listens to them and gives them what they want.
This also happened to the Israelites in the desert when they craved meat, but it killed them. God can answer prayers sometimes giving us things we shouldn’t have... be careful.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 7 the second battle of Ebenezer is about to happen. The ark of the covenant had been returned to Israel, but not at Shiloh which was no longer functional, but at Kiriath Jearim. The ark however is not brought to battle like it was the first time at Ebenezer.
The battle was prompted by a gathering of Israel to repent towards the Lord. They were at Mizpah at Samuel’s direction, when the Philistines sensed an opportunity. 3 Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
The language reminds us of what Christ said, “Seek first the kingdom and all these things will be added unto you.” The lessons and the struggles are the same today as they were three thousand years ago. After the repentance God fought for Israel. Thunder and lightning filled the sky and it terrified the Philistines. Many westerners have lost the sense that there are two realms that overlap each other in different dimensions.
The spiritual and the natural are overlaid. Even the Philistines knew this, and interpreted the thunder as a sign that God was against them. In 1 Samuel 3 the Israelites had fought the Philistines at the exact same place, Ebenezer. Except in that case they had taken the ark of the covenant out as a king of magic wand to help them win war.
They had no fear of God, and lost. Following on from this 50,000 men died at the hands of the ark, having no respect for God. But now, they have repented and the Lord has obtained a great victory in the same geographical place, Ebenezer. What a contrast. At the end of the chapter Samuel is labelled a judge.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 6, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
1 Samuel Chapter 6 the Philistines are distressed and want to send the ark back. It cannot go to Shiloh - but Israel in general. Shiloh had been destroyed by the Philistines and the tabernacle quite likely too. Yet the Philistines aren’t 100% convinced that God was behind their problems, so they propose a test.
The ark is placed on a cart pulled by cows, with their not yet weaned calves nearby. Despite this the cows walk off with the ark, proving that God wanted his ark back. The Philistines send it back with offerings of golden tumors and rats, signs of the bubonic plague which had troubled them. The ark went to Beth Shemesh, a border town in Israel.
There Apparently 70 men tried to look inside the ark. Or was is 50,070? Chad Ashby has an interesting article on this. It seems that 70 men from Beth Shemesh sparked something much bigger and more terrible by their actions that may have affected many others. https://chadashby.com/2018/07/23/text... eir-heads/ Interestingly, the Philistines have treated the ark with great respect, but the Israelites have not to the same degree.
The Philistines also would not have been aware of the rules concerning the ark, but the Israelites in theory should have known. Either way, this event which the Bible calls “a great slaughter” on the back of having lost the ark for seven months, was modifying the theology of the Israelites. It is on the back of this knowledge, that Uzziah later dies when he touches the ark 20 years after this.
Both him and David should have been much much more careful. What about the holiness and the glory of God? Here Israelites were treating God like a common thing.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 5, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
1 Samuel Chapter 5 the Philistines have captured the ark. In the mind of the Philistines they had defeated the Isrealite God, and they now believed their god to be superior. They knew the Israelite God had defeated the Egyptian gods, so this was quite a celebration for them, but their theology was also faulty. What God would allow himself to be defeated? Yahweh for one, because he cares more about the hearts of men, that the perception that he lost a battle.
The great temple of Dagon was in Ashdod. Previously there had been a greater temple in Gaza, but Sampson had destroyed it. Ashdod is also the NT city Azotus, which Philip visits in Acts 8. Once the ark is put in the temple, the statue of Dagon falls down before it overnight. The Lord so amazingly puts messages before people of all times and places.
Here God speaks to the Philistines showing them that He alone is to be worshipped, but nobody seems to pick up what is being said. After this the plague starts. Many people think this was the Bubonic plague because of the tumours and the rats. In the Bible, plagues are always associated with God’s action. It may well have been the Bubonic plague symbolised by both the tumors and the rats, but it can still be spiritually caused too.
The plague causes the Philistines to change their mind about wanting to keep the ark.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
1 Samuel Chapter 4 the Isrealites are camped at Ebenezer for battle against the Philistines. Ebenezer means the Lord has helped us thus far. Strangely, they are about to go into battle at the end of God’s help. The Israelites bring the ark, but view the ark of the covenant like a magic wand that can be waved.
They didn’t realise that the right heart and attitudes towards God are crucial. Today, someone can pray a good prayer for salvation, but not be saved because the heart is not truly humbled, and grace doesn’t flow. Here for Israel, despite the ark coming into the camp, grace doesn’t flow. So the Israelites lose the battle, and the ark is captured. This is the event prophecied in the last chapter that was going to make the ears of everyone tingle.
When Eli hears the terrible news, he falls off his chair, breaks his neck and dies. The scripture says he was “very heavy.” Essentially he was fat. His privileged position, and his profligate sons who helped themselves to everything may not have helped. Finally Eli’s daughter in law dies giving birth and names the boy Ichabod meaning “no glory.” This is the low point that kind of ends the period of the Judges.
Samuel is kind of like the last judge, and during the period of the judges, Israel had apostatized. This statement about the glory departing is a good statement to describe the low state Israel had come to. But under Samuel they were going to see the beginnings of Prophets and Kings.
Despite it being a low point, it is also a very important moment, because it shows the Israelites that they don’t control God. He isn’t something brought out to perform as required. The removal of the ark no doubt prompted many theological questions, and this was good long term. Also, Shiloh was destroyed by the Philistines as recorded in Psalm 78.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 3, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
1 Samuel Chapter 3 Samuel seems to be learning the duty of the priest. He in fact might have been Levite despite having lived in Ephraim. At this point he is about 12-13, a fact which comes from the historian Josephus. He is now old enough to be spiritually responsible for himself. Scripture says here that the word of the Lord was rare.
Perhaps because people didn’t seek Him for them. Also note that the proper translation here is not rare, but precious. The fact that the word is not common is what makes it precious, but it indicates our attitude towards those rare times when God speaks. Samuel at first doesn’t recognise the voice as the Lord. Learning to recognise the voice of God is a skill that many people do not have.
Even though this is a situation in which God seems to be speaking audibly, it doesn’t actually say that he is. God knows how to get the attention of people, so the onus is on him to be heard, but the onus is on his people to want to hear, and to seek his voice. Once God speaks however, it can take practice to learn to recognise Him.
Then Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.” Or “speak for your servant is listening.” This phrase is an amazing phrase to speak to the Lord at any time. During our times of silent prayer at Peace Christian Church, I have often said this to the Lord. Moses aside, Samuel is really the first of the prophets and is also the last of the Judges.
Counting the 12 in the book of Judges, there are 13 judges if we count Samuel, and Samuel is clearly the more significant.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 2, read by Hannah Batley, followed by comments and prayer.
1 Samuel Chapter 2 includes a prayer by Samuel’s mother Hannah. This prayer is one of praise, worship and thanksgiving. Many commentators also consider this prayer a song or prophecy. In the prayer, the justice of the Lord is emphasised, particularly in verses 9 - 10. As mentioned in Chapter 1, the Lord sees the needy, and he does provide. The chapter also gives us extra information on this family, telling us that Hannah went on to have three sons and two daughters.
Once a year, Hannah would bring a robe to Samuel, and the boy grew, both physically and spiritually (verse 21 and 26). Finally, the latter portion of the chapter tells of the disobedience and wickedness of Eli’s sons, which will be touched on in later videos. The Lord is both just and merciful. This is sometimes a difficult concept for us to grasp, because our human minds cannot comprehend how someone could show both justice and mercy, and know when to act accordingly.
Yet God isn’t limited to our finite minds, he created us and knows when and how to act. The Lord will forgive you when you sin, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t reap the consequences of your actions.
In this video listen to 1 Samuel Chapter 1, read by Hannah Batley, followed by comments and prayer.
1 Samuel Chapter 1 gives us the backstory of the well known Biblical prophet Samuel. Hannah, Samuel’s mother, was barren and unable to have children. Her husband Elkanah’s second wife, Peninnah, would provoke Hannah to the point where the childless woman wept and refused to eat. Following a persistent prayer at the temple, Samuel was born, and once weaned, Hannah gave him back to the Lord at the temple, where Samuel would grow up and serve the Lord.
Weaning often occurred at the point of 3-4 years of age. The Lord God hears the prayers of his people. God hadn’t forgotten Hannah, and he hasn’t forgotten you. Our heavenly father knows what is best for us, and in his time he will act. Today, if you have a request, bring it before God, lay it at his feet, and thank him that he has heard your prayer.
Sometimes he will ask us to wait, and sometimes he has something else in mind, but one thing is certain, he knows what is best, and he does remember. A key aspect in this chapter is the determination in prayer of Hannah, this is something that we rarely experience, because we are not as desperate as Hannah was.
In this video listen to Ruth 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ruth 4 Boaz goes to the city gate to make a transaction on behalf of Ruth, but another stands in the way. After the details emerge, the other doesn't want to endanger his own estate so is not able and only Boaz can proceed. In Revelation 5:4-10 we see this about Christ... “4
I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Christ is descended from Judah, from Boaz, from David .... And yet is before them. He alone is worthy to open the scroll. Only he is capable of being our redeemer, none other is worthy.
So a transaction to redeem Ruth occurs and Boaz removes his sandals. In the story of the prodigal son, the wayward son is given sandals by the Father. So here we see God represented as Boaz removing his sandals for our redemption, and we receive sandals as a sign of being included in the family, along with a ring (the Holy Spirit guaranteeing our inheritance) and a robe, Joseph’s robe” symbolising our inclusion in the family.
The Kinsman redeemer in Ruth 4 is redeeming both the land and the bride. This is an incredible picture of Christ who redeems not just people back from their sins, which is the wife of Christ, but also redeems the land back from Satan to whom it was deeded. Jesus is not only our propitiation and atonement, but he is also ‘Christus Victor’, the one who conquers death, hell and triumphs over all the works of darkness.
No longer can Satan tempt Christ offering him all the kingdoms of the world, now they are Christ’s. So the book of Ruth is also a key part of salvation history. Ruth is one of four women in the line of Christ, all of them with redemption in their histories. Rahab is an amorite, redeemed into Christ, Tamar is a Canaanite redeemed into Christ, Bath-Sheba is the wife of a Hittite redeemed into Christ, and Ruth is a Moabite redeemed into Christ.
None of them seem to have Israelite backgrounds, yet hidden in this is a clue, that Christ is the redeemer of all people, and of all nations.
In this video listen to Ruth 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ruth 3 The end of the barley harvest has arrived. It has been three months that Ruth has been gleaning and getting to know Boaz. Naomi advises Ruth to go to the threshing floor at night, uncover Boaz’ feet and lay down, asking him to cover her. She does this and after being surprised by her presence... who wouldn’t have been... he covers her and decides to take action in the morning to redeem her. Some people think that “feet” is a euphemism for genitals, but this seems like complete nonsense.
Block noted in his commentary that the only significant textual variant in the entire book of Ruth is on this point where it could either say feet or foot. To me it is clearly getting at the actual feet, because to say uncover a foot means that too. Laying at someone’s feet is also an act of humility - the place to be when making a request of someone greater than yourself.
We also must lay at the feet of Christ. In practical terms this means to serve those around us, and especially to serve and honour our spiritual leaders. Do you think that you can say you are at the feet of Christ when you despise spiritual leadership and undermine or despise your pastor? Christ is never wrong, but because our leaders are humans who do sometimes make even big mistakes, we think we don’t hold the same obligation to them.
Yet the Lord who asks all people to honour their father and mother, regardless of their behaviors asks us to honour our spiritual leaders. If our heart is toward them, then we truly are at the feet of Christ.. She isn’t asking for sex, she is asking for covering. This is both a physical thing in that moment as they share a blanket for the night, but also in life as she is asking him to protect her. Spiritually this is where we come when we come to Christ.
We ask him to spread his garment over us. In day-to-day terms the rubber meets the road in life in our relationships. God spreads the garment over people by having them come into relationship with others and walking with them. As a minister preaches and encourages, this is Christ’s word covering them.
As they walk together with their pastor, and serve together in this mutual place, with a heart to honor, they are under covering.
In this video listen to Ruth 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ruth 2 she asks her mother-in-law for permission to go and glean, or harvest on the fringes of the fields for the poor. Being able to glean on the margins was an allowance for the poor that God placed into the Laws of Moses in Leviticus 19:9-10. So it is Ruth that decides to make an effort to go and harvest barley, she isn’t dependent on her Mother in law, but actually supports her.
How unusual this is for any time and any place? Imagine churches filled with people who took this attitude towards their pastors and spiritual leaders. Imagine how much would be achieved. Rather than being asked to harvest, they ask permission to harvest and go. Then Boaz was understanding. The real reason is that the Lord was in this scenario, and Boaz has seen how unusual her behaviour was in a good way. Boaz however also had a mother who was a foreigner,
Rahab the woman from Jericho. So he knew that you cannot generalize about someone based on their nationality. This chapter has highlighted the principle of God working, if we also work. While God does work on his own, and occasionally we see something like the conversion of Saul which appears truly miraculous and sovereign, mostly God works through our work. So it is important that we seek the Lord for his will, and then actually work.
Here we see that the Lord blessed Ruth, while she worked. In this story, Ruth was told by her mother in law to stay in the field of Boaz. But Boaz also said to stay in his field and there she would be safe. Boaz is a picture of Christ to us, and we are to remain in him. Christ said, “remain in me, and my words will remain in you.” John 15:4. If we do this we will bear “much fruit.” Also, if we remain in Christ it is a place of much safety.
In this video listen to Ruth 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Ruth 1 we find a story with a tragic start and a very happy ending. If you were to remove the title and add this as another 4 chapters to the book of Judges it would fit it fine, but would change the tenor of Judges to have a much happier ending. This book is positive and highlights how good comes out of the bad, whereas the book of Judges doesn’t feel positive and ends on quite a down point. But which part of Judges does it fit in?
Judges span over 350 years from the death of Joshua in about 1381 BC to King Saul in about 1050 BC. Probably during the Judge period of Ehud or Shamgar because Boaz is the son of Rahab from the Jericho story in Joshua, but is now quite old. Ruth is from Moab. Moab was an enemy of Israel, who had oppressed them at the time they had entered into the land of Israel. Moabites were not welcome in the presence of God according to Deuteronomy 23:3.
The moabites worshipped the god Chemosh who required child sacrifice. Why Elimelech’s family was in Moab is a good question. Many people at this time are henotheists, they don’t worship as polygamists, but they seem to accept that other gods exist that they don’t worship. Ruth seems to be like this here and that isn’t surprising.
Rather what is surprising is that like Jacob at Bethel in Genesis 35, she chooses to follow God, with no evidence of any benefit to her. So many people choose to follow the Lord because of the perceived benefits they are going to receive, not least is salvation from Hell. How few people follow God because of dedication to doing good.
The meaning of names is significant in this book. Naomi means pleasant, but Mara means bitter. Yet out of bitterness comes redemption, and this is a mirror for much later when Mary gives birth to Christ.
In this video listen to Judges 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Judges 21 is possibly the strangest chapter in the Bible? Everyone in Benjamin is dead except for 600 men. St Paul was a descendant of Benjamin, who here was nearly wiped out. This story outlines how they found wives for these men, given that they ha taken vows not to give wives to them. First one city had no participate in the battle, Jabesh Gilead.
The inhabitants of the city of Jabesh Gilead were completely destroyed except for 400 virgin women. The 400 virgins provide wives for two thirds of the remaining Benjamites. They then arrange a strange kidnapping process to obtain the other 200. All of this is entertaining but very odd. The book concludes saying that there was no king, and everyone lived however they deemed right to them. The last sentence of the book is a good summary of the entire book of Judges.
We could even further summarise it with one word, lawlessness. In the NT this word is in Greek anomia - without a law. Jesus spoke against people who lived as if there was no law. The Israelites had a very clearly spelled out law, and yet it seemed to have been forgotten. We too have the law written on our own hearts, but we ignore it and our own consciences.
We have far less excuse that the people in the time of the Judges. At the end of Judges we realise there were few standout good people. Deborah was one, and Othniel and Ehud perhaps others… and if his vow is understood properly, Jephthah also. This comment by Block (1999) seems interesting at the end of the book of Judges: “No book in the Old Testament offers the modern church as telling a mirror as this book.
From the jealousies of the Ephraimites to the religious pragmatism of the Danites, from the paganism of Gideon to the self-centeredness of Samson, and from the unmanliness of Barak to the violence against women by the men of Gibeah, all of the marks of Canaanite degeneracy are evident in the church and its leaders today… everywhere congregations and their leaders do what is right in their own eyes.”
In this video listen to Judges 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 20 all Israel gathers at Mizpah, just a few miles from Gibeah, to go to war against Benjamin, an army of 400,000. The Levite gives a version of the story which is modified for effect and the Israelites are outraged and commit ten percent of their fighting men to this campaign.
Benjamin has gone off the rails as a tribe. They would rather defend their own evil than defend the law of the Lord. So Israel attacks. Initially 22,000 Israelite men die in battle. Then another 18,000 additional men die bringing the total to 40,000 in total, symbolic of a big test. Then we see the mention of Phinehas the high priest consulting the Lord for them.
Here we have one zealous for the Lord, the grandson of Aaron, but in the previous chapter is Jonathan the grandson of Moses who seemed to have no clue about what God required. This is also an indication about which part of the history of Judges this story appears. It is probably within the first 50 years after the conquest. Now 25,100 fighters from Benjamin die and the battle turns against them. In their zeal for what is right, the Israelites do a much better job destroying Benjamin than they had done removing the Canaanites from the land.
Benjamin effectively disappears leaving only 600 men, no women or children. So in the book of Judges we see two tribes with issues, first Benjamin, and later Ephraim, both greatly humbled and cut down to size. It’s easy to judge the Israelites, and much harder to avoid the same sins ourselves. We all fall into them, and must learn to rely on the Lord and not assume His will in anything.
In this video listen to Judges 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Judges 19 is a story spanning three chapters. One writer Campbell called this narrative the “sewer of scripture.” It outlines how low people could get without proper guidance, and with hearts that did whatever they felt was right.
This story was also in the early period of the Judges, after Joshua died, but before Phinehas died, according to the Pulpit commentary. So it indicates that things were bad early on, and only got worse. A Levite went to try to win his concubine back from her father’s house. Her father kept encouraging him to stay longer. That apparent strange behaviour is completely understandable in a world with no communication.
He was probably not going to see his daughter again for a very long time. Even so, the Levite ends up leaving late in the day, which turns out to be a very dumb decision. While he knew there was danger travelling so late, he assumed he would be safe in Gibeah, an Isreaelite city, but it was the men of Gibeah who were the unsafe ones. And in Gibeah we have a very similar story to that of Sodom and Gomorrah. How could such a thing happen?
Later the prophet Hosea to these things in chapter 9:1a & 9. “Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God… They have sunk deep into corruption, as in the days of Gibeah. God will remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.” Some people have used these types of things in the Bible to say the Bible approves of such things, but its a retelling of what actually happened, not a condoning of it, as is obvious if the entire Bible is taken together.
Also, what type of spiritual adultery takes place in the hearts and minds of people today? People use the internet, and their popularity to push things into others which rob God of his glory. Also, the stranger, weirder and odder people get, the more attention they get, and rather than controlling themselves and glorifying God that way, they seek to glorify themselves.
In this video listen to Judges 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 18 it says in verse 1 says that the Inheritance of the tribe of Dan “had not Fallen to them.” In Joshua 19 the tribe of Dan actually DO have an inheritance allotted to them, but it seems they haven’t obtained it yet. This is placed immediately after Joshua’s death. In Judges 1:34-36 it also describes the failure of the Danites to push out the Amorites, so what we have here is an attempt to look for land elsewhere, rather than to obtain what God allocated with faith.
So they are now going to try to take their own inheritance in their own strength outside of God’s will. The ephod and the idol from the previous chapter, are then used to enquire of the Lord. So now they believe they have the approval of God to do something which God never told them to do. This is going to have terrible future consequences for the Danites who would be the furthest tribe from Jerusalem of all the tribes.
Later Jeroboam I would set up a golden calf in Dan to keep people away from Jerusalem. There is still no sense that the priest is doing anything wrong, nor do the Danites think so either. The priest is glad because he now has a ministry promotion. Do not work for ministry promotion, but rather to do the will of God. This all happens during a time when Israel has no king, records Samuel the author. Does a king fix these problems in the future?
No, but when the hearts of people have God as their king in the long distant future, in the kingdom of heaven, it fixes it for those people. The city of Laish is burned with fire. This was renamed Dan. What seems like easy pickings for them, requiring little faith becomes a snare to all future generations and ultimately they become one of the lost ten tribes.
In this video listen to Judges 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 17 we are now in the so called appendix of Judges. The last five chapters of Judges don’t cover any more actual judges, but they do provide a window into what life was actually like during the time of the Judges. If you needed examples of how corrupt Israel was becoming, here they are. This part of the Judges does not continue chronologically from the previous chapter. We are jumping back from Sampson to much earlier.
According to Josephus this story took place during the reign of the very first Judge Othniel, the nephew of Caleb. We are now quite likely about 300 years earlier than Sampson. This whole chapter represents what seems like sincere behaviour toward God combined with very little understanding of what God actually requires. The woman for example praises Yahweh and then commissions an idol. The author says “there was no king” as an explanation of the behaviour.
This is both a statement which gives a window into the author’s mind, theology and dating of authorship. Some have tried to use this to prove that these examples were arguing for the need for a king, and were written by later authors in the time of King Josiah. However, that's odd given that they would be arguing about the need for a king, while already having had a king for many hundreds of years.
Also the author here thinks that having a king would avoid these problems, but if it was written in the time of Josiah, it would be obvious that many kings still allowed idolatry. Samuel is the author and he lived and wrote during the time of King Saul, the first of the kings. He was writing about this time explaining why things were the way they were politically and spiritually.
Israel had no king, either a man, or God. People didn’t have a man to follow, and neither did they do what God wanted. We must assume that most people had no idea of what God actually required. They didn’t have a bible to read, and most people were probably illiterate anyway.
They were sincere in doing things God didn’t approve of. A big lesson here has to do with assuming that our way of loving and serving God is the right one.
In this video listen to Judges 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 16 the saga of Samson concludes in this chapter where we see a picture of Christ. Even Samson as weak as he was, illustrated to us the power of grace at work in lives as weak as our own. The Philistines almost trap Samson in Gaza, but he rips off the city gates and deposits them close to Hebron. The distance from Gaza to Hebron is no less than 60 kilometres according to Google maps.
There is also a difference in elevation of 916 meters, so the gates of the city are removed to such an extent they are not recoverable. God has removed the thing which blocks us and traps us so completely that it is impossible for the evil one to contain us, whilever we are in Christ. Samson’s feat is a picture of the work of Christ, carrying the cross up the hill.
Jesus is the gate according to John 10 and here we see a picture of this reality. Finally he falls in love with Delilah, who is offered 5 lots of 1100 silver pieces to betray him. Considering Abraham bought a block of land for 400 shekels of silver. THis is probably a million dollar sum being offered. Eventually Delilah works out his secret and the seven locks of his head are shaved off, and he loses his strength and is captured, adn blinded.
A lot of people question what the seven locks are, given there doesn’t seem to be seven natural sections of hair on anyone’s head. I suggest his was simply how he had done his hair for his own practical purposes. He had a lot of hair to manage and tying it up in sections was probably how he did it. There were simply seven locks in his hair, and it's not an indication of all humanity. One of the clear lessons here in the Samson story is that the enemy within can be stronger than the enemy without. In Samson’s final moments he is put between two pillars.
He prays for strength and pushes them over and the building collapses killing thousands of Philistines, and himself. Here we are given a picture of Christ. Samson stretches out his arms and dies, and in doing so he destroys the enemy who has placed the people of God in bondage. He dies so that others will be liberated.
In this video listen to Judges 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 15 Samson tries to pay his wife a special visit, even though the marriage was never properly finalised. This was undoubtedly a conjugal visit, and the bringing of a goat might have been the cost of the visit, similar to when Judah sent a goat to Tamar in Genesis 38. His father-in-law isn’t keen and tries to buy him off by offering her sister instead.
Samson is wild and catches 300 foxes, ties them in pairs, lights their tails and lets them go in the wheat fields. Apparently the word here can mean jackals, and not necessarily the foxes that we think of that come from England. And he may not have caught them all single handedly. What is sometimes described in a sentence is a process that took considerable time. HIs actions destroy the wheat, grapes and olive crops making him very unpopular.
The Philistines negotiate with the tribe ofo Judah to hand him over, but it results in the death of a thousand Philistines at Lehi - the place of the jawbone. After having now killed a thousand Philistines, Samson has reason to feel significant and proud of his accomplishments. He seems completely unaware of his failings which are obvious to us.
He then calls out to God who answers his prayer for water, and God does. It is ALL grace. God answers prayers because he is good, noto because we are good. The NT reminds us that “if you think you are standing firm, be careful you do not fall. (1 Cor 10:12)
In this video listen to Judges 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 14 the scene is set in Timnah. Back in Joshua 15, Timnah was a part of the dividing up of the inheritance of the land and part of the boundary of Judah, but now seems to have reverted to the Philistines. One of the big tragedies of not doing what God asks is that you lose ground. There doesn't seem to be a neutral in spiritual matters.
Not rowing is to risk going with the current somewhere you didn’t want to go. Our first impression of Samsoon is a bad one. He is immediately going against everything taught in the Law, and looking at inter-marriage with the nations who worshipped other gods. In modern times we question the wisdom of marriage based on appearance only, but that is not a good enough reason to reject a potential partner, but for Samson simply knowing she was not of Israel was sufficient reason for that time.
This isn’t about inter-racial marriage which isn’t a problem to God, but rather about mixing worldliness with faith. Samson said he saw her, and she pleased him. Since when has pleasure been a good reason to do things? In modern times it is though, and Samson shows us that this is not a new idea. Today people say “if it feels good, do it.” Samson was a proponent of this.
The chapter tells the story of the killing of a lion, Samson’s riddle, his marriage which isn’t consummate and falls apart, and his revenge killing of thirty Philistines at the city of Ashkelon, for the purpose of taking their clothing. Apparently the shallot or shallot is an onion named after Ashkelon. Also it is an indication of the high value of 30 sets of clothing.
THis chapter is an introduction to the strength, and foolishness of Samson, and to the deception and treachery of the Philistines.
In this video listen to Judges 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 13 we now come to the backstory of Sampson, who was the twelfth and last of the Judges in this book. Samuel is ultimately the last of the Judges but is spoken of in the book of Samuel. Samuel is also the first of the prophets, with the exclusion of Moses. Samson is an enigma, but in some ways represents us all. We see the obvious lessons in his life about avoiding sexual impurity and temptation, but a bigger less obvious lesson is portrayed out through his life, and it has to do with giftedness.
Samson’s strength is a gift from God, but it was not based on merit. So the gift doesn’t validate the person, but the person’s life can certainly undermine the gift. An angel advises Samson’s parents about how he is to live. He is going to be a lifelong Nazarite. The Nazarite vow was covered in the Law in Numbers 6. There are only three lifelong Nazarites in the Bible, Sampson, Samuel and John the Baptist. The angel also advises that his mission in life is to “begin’ to save Israel from the Philistines.
But it is really King David, a reflection of Christ who completes the job later. In the same way, each of us are called to begin the task of subduing our flesh, but like Samsono we are totally helpless to do anything. Only when we have the Spirit at work, or we come into Christ, as reflected in King David can we actually overcome.
In this video listen to Judges 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 12 the tribe of Ephraim is jealous of Jepthah’s victory and threatens to burn down his house. This is the second time that Ephraim has been jealous. This also happened when Gideon was victorious over the Midianites. They seem to not want to fight the enemy, but seem to want the credit after it is over. Occasionally we find this type of thing in the Body of Christ.
Some people think that unless it is them that does something, it doesn’t count. The truth is that God deliberately uses weak things to achieve his ends, and so it leaves Ephraimites - people of strength out in the cold. Isn’t a victory worth celebrating? Why then cause a fight over a victory? But in the body of Christ some people are not happy celebrating someone else’s success, they want it for themselves.
Such people don’t really have a heart for the whole, but only for themselves. Jepthah wasn’t the diplomatic genius of Gideon, and so the pride of the Ephraimites was put to bed. This sometimes is the only solution for those who think so much of themselves that they cannot learn with words, but must learn with humiliation.
This story is also an interesting window into ancient accents of the Hebrew language. Apparently the Ephraimites couldn’t pronounce “sh.” After this the mighty tribe of Ephraim was much less mighty until later times. Here they lost 42000 fighting men. At the time of the second census about 300 years earlier,
Ephraim only had 32500 fighting men, so this was clearly a big percentage of their population. After this Izban was the ninth Judge. Elon is the tenth judge and Abdon is the eleventh judge.
In this video listen to Judges 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 11 we meet Jepthah, the son of an Israelite and a Canaanite prostitute who becomes the eighth judge. There is a backstory to Jepthah that we know basically nothing of. His heroics with a band of outlaws sounds like King David who is to come, and he gets a reputation for bravery. He is asked to judge Israel. Jepthath ends up fighting Ammon who holds a grudge that is 300 years old and demands the return of land.
The reply of Jephthah to Ammon ends up proving very helpful in dating the early history of Israel and the juges, and also helps firm up the early position for the Exodus at 1446 BC. There is no resolution and they go to war. As Jepthah leaves his home, he vows to offer to God whatever greets him on his return in exchange for victory. This was a tragic mistake, and clearly he thought an animal was going to greet him as he returned home.
This is also a window into the rural lifestyle of the inhabitants of Israel. Instead his daughter greets him. Jepthah says “I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can’t go back.” This phrase echoes a commitment to God which is binding. What a different world we would live in if people thought like Jepthah. Her response is to request permission, and then mourn her virginity for two months. This is an action that makes no sense if she was actually offered as a burnt offering.
Quite a few commentators think that she was redeemed with an animal sacrifice and then lived as a woman at the temple, never to marry. This is a real possibility and explains her actions here. The redeeming of the firstborn is an activity that fits this type of thing. Finally we learn there is an annual feast that remembers Jepthah’s daughter.
This feast makes a hero out of this woman, and also helps make Jepthah’s addition to the hall of fame in Hebrews 11:32 acceptable. Why would he be held up as a great hero if he killed his daughter, a thing which would have been hideous in the eyes of God?
We learn a few lessons from Jepthah - first about the foolishness of making vows. In the sermon on the mount Christ says to let your yes be yes and your no be no. (matt 5:37) We also learn the value of strong dedication to Christ that is unwavering. He did what he said he would do.
In this video listen to Judges 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 10 we meet the sixth and seventh judges and very little is said about them. Tola is the sixth judge. There is no military victory described but he is said to have arose to save Israel. This is interesting because it highlights the idea of salvation as being much more significant than just a military one. Because of his leadership, the slide away from God is halted.
Salvation in God’s mind is always a spiritual thing, and the real bondage isn’t a military issue. THe seventh Judge is Jair. He had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys and he ruled 30 cities. Probably he used his thirty sons and their thirty donkeys to rule the thirty cities. But interestingly the idea of a donkey being associated with kingship is found early in Israel.
Jesus later rides a donkey as a sign of his kingship. In the NT, Jesus heals the daughter of Jairus - the same name roughly speaking. It means he enlightens. And some Bible experts think it was during the time of Jair, that the story of Ruth happened. After these two judges are briefly mentioned, the scene is set for the rest of the book of Judges and in particular the two key judges to come, Sampson and Jepthah.
Their two main enemies were the Philistines and the Ammonites. Sometimes we read of the juges and get an impression that they are chronological in order, but Sampson and Jepthah who are the two final most prominent judges, seem to have overlapped. This helps explain why the ages of Judges add up to over 400 years, but in reality only covers a period of about 350 years.
In this video listen to Judges 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 9 the story of Gideon continues as an excursus telling about his sons. Abimelech was an illegitimate son of Gideon from Shechem, who convinced this town to support his initiative. With their support, Abimelech killed 69 of his 70 brothers in an attempt to take total control of Israel. He wanted to be effectively the king.
But his father’s words in 8:23 were to prove prophetic when he said that neither he, nor his son would be king. Jotham, the remaining son of Gideon told a parable and added a prophetic curse to it. He predicted that fire from Abimelech would destroy Shechem and fire from Shechem would destroy Abimelech. The chapter tells how these events come to pass and there is a battle between Shechem and Abimelech.
Ultimately Abimelech dies when a woman drops a millstone on his head from a city wall above.. Skeptics have questioned how a woman could have lifted an upper millstone. They have in mind a huge stone, but they come in all sizes, and this was clearly a smaller one. Female scholars have supported the possibility of this by using small stones to destroy watermelons from a height.
As seen in this article at brainerdispatch.com https://www.brainerddispatch.com/life... Much later in 2 Samuel 11:21 King David was well aware of this story and used it to give battle advice. Abimelech’s death lived on in notoriety. The double prophecy of Gideon and Jotham came to pass. Gideon that his son would not be king, and Jotham that fire would come out and devour.
This chapter is an illustration of how lawless things are starting to become in Israel, but it gets worse as Judges progresses.
In this video listen to Judges 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 8 the battle against the Midianites is still ongoing with 15000 troops and two king remaining on the eastern side of the Jordan at Karkor. Gideon requests help from two cities, Succoth and Penuel, but they hedge their bets and refuse help, probably thinking the Midianites might retain ongoing influence. This comes back to bite them later.
Gideon catches the remaining 15000 Midianite soldiers by surprise and defeats them. He then returns to punish the leaders of Succoth and Penuel. This illustrates to us that in the battle between the Lord’s kingdom and the kingdoms of this world, we should not hedge our bets. It always results in catastrophe. Finally Gideon overcomes and they want him to be the King.
He refuses, but internally sees himself as a king, naming one of his sons Abimelech, which means, my father is King. His position of pride leads him to make an ephod which becomes a snare to Israel. This chapter teaches us the danger of firstly not trusting our spiritual leaders, and secondly the danger of pride in spiritual leadership.
In this video listen to Judges 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 7 Gideon’s army camps at the spring of Harod to fight the Midianites. Harod means trembling. The Israelites were camped at the spring of trembling which was probably named after their experience there. So they were basically terrified. And in response God whittles their army down from 32,000 to just 300.
This is reminiscent of the Spartan 300 who fought at Thermopylae except that here Gideon’s 300 will win. God seeks to encourage Gideon who overhears the dream of one of the Midianites. It turns out that they are also terrified, and this is encouraging news for Gideon.
It is also a window in the world of dreams and dream interpretation in the scriptures. God’s strategy pays off and Gideon has a great victory. Once the enemy is on the back foot, it was much easier to get others to join in the pursuit. The challenge always seems to be obeying the Lord because his directions can be difficult, but in reality there are two challenges.
The first and maybe bigger challenge is to know what the Lord is saying. We need to seek Him.
In this video listen to Judges 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 6 the Midianites oppress Israel in a terrible widespread oppression which seems more significant than the previous oppressors in the book of Judges. The Lord appears to Gideon, calling him a “man of valour” and telling him to go in the strength of his hand. Normally going in your own ability doesn’t work, but when the Lord sends you, he is fighting for you as in the book of Joshua, and your own might is able to do it.
Gideon asks for an initial sign, after which he obeys the Lord and cuts down an altar to Baal and an Asherah pole. This earns the fury of people in his nearby town, but then also a nickname, Jerubbaal. In 2019 pottery was discovered in the Shahariya forest in Israel with the name Jerubbaal written on it - the first time this name was found outside of scripture. It was also carbon dated to the biblical period of the Judges.
GIdeon is delaying with his requirements for multiple signs. This is because of fear which makes the Lord’s description of him as a man of valour seem sarcastic. Moses delayed too but it seemed out of low self esteem, but the situation with the Midianites must have been quite terrible. Gideon ultimately asks for three signs and gets them all, first with the angel and then twice with the fleece. What reasons do people delay obeying the Lord? For some it is fear, or low self-esteem, but for many it is laziness, self absorption, or simply wanting to do their own thing first.
In this video listen to Judges 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 5 Deborah sings a song which makes a number of points and further elaborate how the victory in chapter 4 came about. Firstly, The people who fought offered themselves willingly - there was no compulsion. And not all of the tribes responded in this fight. It is like this sometimes in the kingdom of Heaven - not all are willing, but those who are are rewarded.
Verse 15 suggests that in the tribe of Reuben there was remorse that they did not participate. Verse 17 tells us that Dan and Asher didn’t participate. Verse 18 tells us that Zebulun and Naphtali risked their lives. Such are the contrasts even in the body of Christ today when it comes to fighting for the Lord.
Some are willing to risk their lives, and others like Dan, happy to remain safely at home. Verse 4 tell us that the sky trembled and the clouds dropped water. It began to rain. The river Kishon is normally just a stream, but when the heavens opened on Tabor flash flooding occurred, causing huge problems for the heavy iron chariots. God was fighting for them.
A similar thing happened in response to many prayers at Dunkirk when storms kept the German forces back allowing the evacuation of more than 150,000 soldiers from the beaches of France in WWII. God was involved, even though it was just as natural as supernatural.
The last verse says “So let all your enemies perish, Yahweh, but let those who love him be as the sun when it rises in its strength.” This is the prayer of every believer.
In this video listen to Judges 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 4 Jabin King of Hazor oppresses Israel. Jabin is a title, like Pharaoh king of Egypt. This is a different person to the one mentioned in Joshua 11. The defeat of the northern alliance of kings in Joshua 11 was about 200 years prior. In the intervening centuries Hazor has been rebuilt.
This is where Deborah the Judge and Barak the General work together against Sisera, the General of Jabin’s army. Deborah commanded Barak to go fight, but he wouldn’t go unless Deborah went too. This passage has at times been used to denigrate women, and paint Barak as a weak general, but instead it shows that the Lord was with Deborah.
The Lord does use men and women for his purposes and his intent as prophesied by Joel was to pour out his spirit on all flesh. However this passage does open up a discussion of another nature. God has created men to take responsibility - it is a requirement. Women seem to be more responsible by nature.
At Peace Christian Church in Rockhampton, it is our policy to require men to be leaders, but to give women the freedom to choose either way. If men are strong in church life, the whole church, children included will be strong in the Lord. When the battle began,
God went before them, just like in the book of Joshua. In the next chapter in the song of Deborah we learn that there was a heavy downpour on Mt Tabor which turned the Kishon river into a flood zone. The many heavy chariots of Sisera were bogged and unable to be used and the drivers became easy prey. Sisera died in a grizzly manner.
It is reminiscent of the book of Judith in the Catholic Bible’s apocryphal books where Judith killed King Helophenes and chopped off his head.
In this video listen to Judges 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 3 we meet the first three of the twelve judges, Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar. The Israelites intermarried, which they were told not to do. They mixed worldliness into their lives and became weak. Earlier in Genesis we saw that God had sent the Israelites to Egypt to help solidify them as a separate cultural group.
The Egyptians saw the Israelites as distasteful and generally wouldn’t mix with them, so it preserved them as a group. But now they are beginning to intermarry and it is causing problems. This does NOT inform the question of cultural intermarriage in today’s world.
Paul writes in the NT that believers should not be unequally yoked, but he isn’t speaking of one’s ethnicity, but rather of faith in Christ. Here we learn not to mix worldliness in with our faith as it has an undermining effect. The first of the judges is Othniel who delivers Israel from Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. Then there is rest for 40 years.
The second of the judges is Ehud who delivers Israel from Eglon king of Moab, after which there is rest for 80 years. The third judge in this chapter is Shamgar, but basically nothing is said about him. The periods of rest are multiples of 40 - a number which means testing.
Christ was tempted 40 days and the Israelites in the desert 40 years. This chapter teaches us that when all is quiet and peaceful - that is actually a time of testing of our souls.
In this video listen to Judges 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 2 Another generation arose who didn’t know Yahweh. This doesn't mean they didn’t know who God was, but that they didn’t know him meaningfully, or understand how to serve Him. Every generation faces the same challenges, but clothed in different clothing.
The tendency to distrust the advice of parents, and to seek out one’s own advancements is an old problem. It takes very prayerful parents to raise children in a worldly age. We are, just like the Israelites, surrounded by things that influence against God. This chapter describes the cycle of apostasy, where they turn repeatedly to follow other gods, and are handed over to them by the Lord. God allowed them to have the thing they loved.
Essentially this is also what happens at that final judgement. People hate God and love doing it on their own. The ultimate judgement is receiving that separation, the thing they love. Ultimate goodness, and all temporary goodness comes from the Lord only, and freedom only comes coupled with responsibility. So while God does judge as seen in this book, there are also consequences at work. So there are now a series of Judges.
Each of them shows us a quality of Christ, even though they are clearly human. But Ultimately the big picture of Christ in this book is that He is the Ultimate Judge and while ever he lives, we are not handed over to our enemies. Because Christ lives forever, this is a permanent position for those who are in Him.
There are now going to be 12 judges listed in this chapters ahead being, Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson.
In this video listen to Judges 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Judges 1 we are reading what are the words of the prophet Samuel. We won’t learn about him personally until the book of Samuel, partially written by him, and partially written by other prophets Nathan and Gad. Samuel is the last of the Judges and the first of the Prophets if you discount Moses. In this chapter we are given an overview of the failings of eight and a half of the tribes to drive out the prior inhabitants of the land before them.
This is going to set the scene for the rest of the book where they fall away from the Lord repeatedly in worsening cycles. This is sometimes called the cycle of apostasy, a process which many individuals also go through in their own lives. It is a reflection of lawlessness, not being submitted to God. Judges 1 described the defeat of Adonibezek at the hands of the tribes of Judah and Simeon.
Adonibezek was a king who defeated seventy tribal chiefs and tortured them. After his defeat he suffered the same fate as what he inflicted on others. This chapter is a symbol of completion, but completion is mutilated by this king, and this chapter highlights how the tribes of Israel actually failed to complete the job of subduing Adonibezek who symbolises the idolatry… his name is lord of lightning and is a symbol of the false god baal.
Even though Adonibezek is defeated and dies at Jerusalem, a symbol of peace, the picture of the failure and inability to complete the job is the big message of this chapter. The consequences of this flow in the rest of the book.
In this video listen to Joshua 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 24 his dying words continue in a second chapter. Here we find the most famous verse in the entire book of Joshua, written on the walls of the homes of believers, and on church walls and more. Joshua says “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Serving other gods in antiquity was a more obvious thing than the other gods so many follow now.
Today it's possible to say the above with apparent sincerity and to be entirely wrong about it. People worship many things and their hearts follow many things that don’t look idolatrous. The twenty four chapters represent about 25 years of time, so the book closes at around about 1381 BC. At this point the book ends with three burials. Burial 1 - Joshua is 110 years old, a picture of Christ.
Here he is labelled for the first time, with “servant of God” a title Moses was labelled many times with. May be all be servants of God. Burial 2 - Joseph also lived 110 years, the perfect age for an Egyptian. Burial 3 - Eleazar - the high priest of the righteous generation. Now the good generation is passing and the future awaits. This book represents many things. It represents the idea that God keeps his promises. What God said to Abraham 470 years earlier has come to pass. (430 plus 40)
And it is a picture of Christ who brings the people into the fulfilment of the promises. Without Christ we cannot inherit anything from God. The book starts with them living in the desert, and ends with every single person successfully living in a new land, each with an inheritance. And this is a picture of GOd’s great plan for all of humanity too.
This generation also was the good generation who didn’t grumble or complain, and who obeyed the Lord, unlike the generations before or after. Such are the people who are led by Christ. What a remarkable book, outlining all that God had done, and continues to do for us today.
In this video listen to Joshua 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 23 he is dying and going the way of all the earth. Here in these last two chapters are his final words to the Israelites, words of greater significance than normal. The chapter comments on how God has given them rest in the land. Note that it is God who has given them rest, even though it is them who have fought on the ground.
Without God fighting for them, they would not have succeeded. Joshua warns them not to marry in with the people who are in the land who have not been removed because God will stop fighting for them. The great danger of mixing worldliness with godliness is that God stops fighting for you. This was the problem of the next generation after Joshua died.
This is what Joshua is trying to warn them of in his last words. So many Christians today find that God is not fighting for them and it is too hard to be godly in a world like ours. We are weak as a result.
In this video listen to Joshua 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 22 It has been seven long years that these faithful men have been away fighting. Seven is the Lord’s number and so we all see that we must fight for the Lord. The men now get to go home, and take with them the spoils of war. There are spoils in warfare for us too when we plunder the enemy's camp in prayer. We also share the plunder with our brothers. The good things we obtain from the Lord are not for us alone.
We are meant to fight, to inherit and to share. The soldiers of the three eastern tribes built an altar on the jordan river on their way home, which causes the western tribes to be indignant at what seems to be a gross violation. They are zealous for the Lord and this indicates a different mind to the previous generation. Plus they have paid with seven years of hard work for their inheritance… so should it be so lightly thrown away?
Do we easily throw away things that have been hard fought? We should be zealous to keep them also. However in this case the eastern tribes were not sinful, but thinking with foresight. Verse 22 is one of many interesting things that undermine the JEDP theory. If the book was revised as theorised, why are all the names of God together in one place? The chapter finishes by highlighting one of the big problems in Christianity today.
There are parts of God’s body that do not recognize other parts of God’s body, just as was the danger here between the tribes. They effectively say to the others “You have no part in God.” This is a great sin, which grieves God very much, and grieves me too.
As my father John Alley has said on many occasions, it's sometimes not what we believe about God that is the problem, but what we believe about each other. This chapter is the witness against those people who say that, if they have eyes to see it.
In this video listen to Joshua 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 21 Even though the Levites didn’t get an inheritance, they were assigned cities to dwell in, which is covered here. There are various types of Levites, and those who were the sons of Aaron, ministering priests, were assigned cities within the inheritance of Judah, Benjamin and Simeon. This was the future area where the temple would later be located.
This confirms that the Lord determines the lot. All of those who were to minister as priests had land assigned in the area of the temple, four hundred years before the temple appeared. The Lord saw what was to happen. Even so before that time, the tabernacle at Shiloh was not far from them - just 1-2 days walk to the north. They were all rostered on to take turns. In total there were 48 cities assigned to the Levites. It makes the tribe of Levi seem humongous, but a few things are worthy of note.
First, the Levites shared the cities with other tribes where the cities were located. And second, some of the cities were small, not at all like modern day Metropolises that we imagine such as New York. Some were more like towns of a few thousand people. As an example, Hebron was one of thirteen cities assigned to the priests on duty. This city was previously assigned to Caleb for an inheritance, and while this sounds like a mistake to now assign it to the Levites, both were true.
The city wasn’t entirely lived in by just one man Caleb, nor was it entirely owned by Levites, but both shared this inheritance. Such was the nature of cities. This last verse is very cool…. Nothing failed of anything God did for Israel.
In this video listen to Joshua 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 20 the cities of refuge are assigned. These cities were mentioned in Numbers 35 and in Deuteronomy 4 and 19. Now they are assigned. The six cities are: Kedesh - which means holy - devoted to God’s work Shechem - the shoulder - the government shall be on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6) Hebron - Fellowship - also the highest elevated place in Palestine.
When we in Christ come into fellowship with one another, we are all elevated. Bezer - Fortress - the Lord is our Strength. Ramoth Gilead - Height - the Lord is lifted up. Golan - To remove - the Lord has removed our transgressions from us. Each of the cities is a picture of Christ because we run to Christ for our refuge. Here each of the cities highlight a quality of Christ.
In this video listen to Joshua 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 19 the remaining six tribes are allotted. God gives an inheritance to all of his people. The first of these was for Simeon. This assignment was the mercy of God because Simeon was the smallest and weakest of the tribes after the second census. They rebelled at Baal Peor and twenty-two thousand of them were put to death, greatly reducing their size.
Consequently they received a small inheritance. But the Lord mercifully assigned them a place with Judah, which strangely enough meant that part of this tribe was preserved inside the future nation of Judah even though ten tribes split away. This also was a mercy. The Lord is so thoughtful!! Beersheba was a city allocated to Simeon. Beersheba is the place Jacob had just left when he had his dream of the stairway going up to Heaven, and the Lord spoke to him in Genesis 28.
It is also the place where the Australian Light Horse soldiers broke through the Turkish lines in the Great War putting the territory of Palestine under British control for the first time. The Modern nation of Israel might not have existed without that moment at Beer-Sheba. The tribal boundaries hold little significance to most of us today. Interestingly Jesus grew up in Nazareth most likely in the tribal boundary of Zebulun.
Jesus ministered much in Capernaum in the tribal region of Naphtali. Finally Joshua is given a special inheritance. God also gives people an individual inheritance. When someone serves the Lord, he does not forget. Note also that Joshua is a type of Christ here, and there is an inheritance that is Christ’s. Psalm 2:8 says “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” People are God’s inheritance - his redeeming love has worked to take us for himself.
Yet there are also parts of God’s inheritance that remain unclaimed, and we are to work with Christ to claim them for his own.
In this video listen to Joshua 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 18 the tabernacle is set up in Shiloh. This was the home of the tabernacle for about 400 years now until David took the ark to Jerusalem, and then shortly afterwards Solomon built the temple. Biblical Shiloh is called Khirbet Seilun about 42 kilometres north of Jerusalem. It was in the inheritance of Ephraim. The associates for Biblical Research have a dig at Shiloh which has been going now for many years.
They have concluded that there were three sites that the tabernacle was setup on and they moved between them, possibly to adjust for the season and prevailing wind etc. At this point 5 tribes have already received an inheritance. The tribes of Reuben (the oldest), Joseph being two, who was Jacob’s chosen firstborn, and Judah who seems to have been the Lord’s chosen firstborn and Gad have all received inheritance, leaving 7 tribes plus the Levites.
The land was now surveyed, and then divided by lot. The first lot was for Benjamin who bordered Judah, which meant that ultimately the city of Jerusalem was inside of Benjamin and this kept both it and Judah together after the nation divided after Solomon’s death. It is the Lord who determines the lot. In Psalm 15:5-6 it says “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Spiritually we make our plans, but the Lord determines the outcome and our trust is placed in Him as in this Psalm. Benjamin’s lot fell in such a place as to ensure its future connection with the Lord’s temple.
In this video listen to Joshua 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 17 the portion of land which is the inheritance of the second half of the tribe of Manassah is given out. This includes the land given to the daughters of Zelophedad mentioned twice previously in Numbers 26 and Numbers 36. Then the tribe of Joseph, being both Ephraim and Manasseh request even more land. Joshua gives them options which required work.
They had to either clear vacant land, or drive our other inhabitants who had chariots of iron. Both required hard work of differing types. In the one instance it required pressing regular work, laboring to clear forests. THe other was quicker, but required bravery, except that in this case it meant removing from the land something which was a source of temptation.
Maybe they didn’t want to remove that temptation because they enjoyed it. That is an all too common problem many Christians face in their spiritual lives. They are too lazy to take ground, and they simultaneously resist the quicker victory over temptation because its enticing.
In this video listen to Joshua 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 16 the tribes of Joseph receive their inheritance. Of course Manasseh already received land east of the Jordan. Once again, they received their inheritance, but didn’t drive out the inhabitants. This becomes a repetitive idea as it seems all of God’s people fail to do this properly. What parts of the devil’s resistance in your own life are you failing to drive out?
The previous entire chapter was given to outlining the inheritance (63 verses) of Judah, but this chapter is so short and not anywhere as detailed. Of all the tribes, why was such attention given to Juda and not to the rest? Is it because God knew in advance that Judah represented the inheritance of Christ?
Also in this chapter Joseph is one of the twelve sons, but represents a double portion. Joseph was given two tribes in his place, and Levi was removed from inheritance. Here we see ourselves in both. Joseph is the effective firstborn who takes the place of Levi. He receives a double share.
And Joseph represents Chjrist, who is first born and takes our palace and in him we have a double share. Also as Levites/priests Christ is our portion but now we see it is a double portion.
In this video listen to Joshua 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 15 is longest chapter in the book of Joshua - 63 verses. The borders of the tribes are now being described. Without a good knowledge of the geography of Canaan, this won’t mean much to readers. I encourage you to download a map of the division of the land which will give a sense of it.
The portion for JUdah was the largest of all the tribes, and actually encompassed Simeon’s portion. Simeon was given the smallest portion, and here we see a grace being illustrated that the weakest is placed with the strongest. This is the Lord’s manner. Caleb also promises his daughter as a wife to the man who conquers Kiriath Sepher with its giants. His nephew Othniel does so.
We see that it was a close relative who took up the challenge. Often good thinking resides in family, or at least it resides in the company one keeps. Bad thinking does the same. Then he says to his daughter “what do you want, and she wants springs as well as arid land. So should our attitude be toward the Lord, who figuratively says here “what do you want?”
This is alway the Lord’s question even though he knows all things. We see it in his healing ministry where he asks the blind man in Mark 10:15. He requires the blind man to say that he wants to see. So we are required to ask the Lord for what we want… and we want springs of living water.
Finally it mentions that Jebus “to this day” wasn’t yet conquered. To this day is of course in the time of Joshua. Later David conquers Jerusalem and makes it his capital.
In this video listen to Joshua 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 14 we now start covering the division of the land to the tribes west of the Jordan. In verse 10 we find out some facts about Caleb, that he was 40 when he spied out the land and is 85 now. Many marvel at the age of Caleb who is 85 here and strong as ever, yet here is the key to the length of the campaign.
Because he spied out the land at the age of 40, which was in the second year after leaving Egypt, when he was presumably 38. So it has been 7 years since the campaign began, making it a 7 years campaign. Now, Caleb requests Kiriath Arba in the hill country to be his inheritance. This is the home of giants. Caleb was one of the twelve spies who wasn’t bothered by the giants, and now 45 years later he is still not impressed by them. His trust is in the Lord.
What do we learn from that? Our eyes should be on the Lord, as we work for our inheritance in the land he has given us.
In this video listen to Joshua 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 13 the land began to be divided, despite the fact that it was not totally conquered. This is also the Lord’s method for us. He doesn’t just give us what we want without having to work for it, but rather we inherit through working and serving. Just as some famous billionaires do not hand their children wealth on a platter, but make them work to learn its value, so God does the same with our inheritance.
So we are given work to do in God’s kingdom and as we pray and serve, we come into our inheritance. Joshua set them up, but it was to be a generational thing that others carried on. But sadly the next generation did not take up where the initial generation stopped. As a footnote, we learn the fate of Balaam in verse 22.
Previously when they attacked Sihon king of the Amorites East of the Jordan, Balaam was there and killed as recorded here. This was how they knew the inside story of what happened, as recorded back in Numbers. Moses was a part of the defeat of the two eastern Kings, and this was recorded by Moses. Three of the tribes inheritance is described, and then finally the Levites are said to not be given any because the Lord is there inheritance.
While this sounds disappointing, this is the most exciting of all. THat God is their inheritance is what should motivate us too. Earlier in Genesis, the Lord spoke to Abraham saying “I am your shield and your very great reward.” More than money, wealth, legacy or anything, God is the prize above all others. Nothing else can satisfy.
In this video listen to Joshua 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 12 it lists all the defeated king. It lists 31 kings west of the Jordan, but there were the two (Sihon and Og) east of the Jordan too making it 33 in total. This list is a tally of the victories of Joshua which took at least about 7 years to complete, based on an understanding of Joshua 14:10. There are a number of atonement models for Jesus death at Calvary.
One of them, the Christus Victor model focuses on Christ’s defeat of Satan and his obtaining ofo good things for us. Here we see the demonstration of Joshua as the Christus Victor, the one who overcome evil and opened up the good things for God’s people. Scripture tells us in Colossians 2:15 that “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Christ is our Joshua having conquered all the kings that fought against us.
In this video listen to Joshua 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 11 there is now a battle with the northern cities. Jabin (a title) king of Hazor was the leader. Hazor was the third city that the bible verifies was burnt by fire, and the archaeology verifies this showing a burn layer. In Judges 5 is another King Jabin - which some thought was confusing because they thought the bible was mixing narratives.
The Associates for Biblical Research have discovered that Jabin was not a name but a title given to all the kings of Hazor, just as Pharaoh was given to all kings of Egypt. Joshua once again employs a surprise attack at Merom. Merom is about ten miles north of Galilee. The alliance of northern kings is defeated and Joshua now has control over the entire land, although not every enemy is yet defeated.
Previously the land was a conglomeration of city states, but now it is under the control of one entity, being Israel and its tribes. So despite loose pockets that were not controlled, Israel had control over the area, the trade routes, travel, language and more. In our lives once we have overcome all the major strongholds of the evil one we will have rest too, and yet there will always be pockets of resistance that remain, while we are in the flesh.
Our tendency is to become lazy once the major part of the work has been done.
In this video listen to Joshua 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 10 the sun stands still during the famous battle at Gibeon. Joshua marches his army about 30 kilometres through the night for a surprise attack against an alliance of five kings. Unlike Rahab and the Gibeonites who chose humility, nobody else does, and this southern alliance is defeated here at Gibeon, speeding up the campaign for Canaan.
In Sunday school pictures we see the sun standing still, but in reality the battle was fought during an almighty hailstorm which killed many of the enemy combatants. The sun, despite standing still, was not visible. And of course God would have stopped the earth’s rotation to make the sun stand still, but if that happened normally, the coriolis effect would destroy all life on earth instantly.
So this was a supernatural event of the highest order, effectively freezing not just the earth, or the sun, but everything in an instant which time continued for a day. God is the author and sustainer of life, so this is not a challenge for him, because he sustains life every single day.
The chapter finishes with victory, and then Joshua systematically conquering a number of cities one by one. This symbolises our spiritual life where we are to overcome strongholds of the evil one in our lives one by one.
In this video listen to Joshua 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 9 we find the third of the mistakes made by the Israelites. First was the taking of the dedicated thing at Jericho, second was presumption in the battle at Ai, and now is the failing to enquire of the Lord, resulting in the deception of the Gibeonites.
The Gibeonites are close to Joshua, yet send a delegation pretending to be from afar, and make a treaty with the Israelites. This treaty ends up saving their lives, and the Israelites grumble against their leaders for having made this deal. This is the only time we see grumbling in Joshua, unlike the previous generation who grumbled regularly against Moses, and in this case the grumbling is justified.
In today’s litigious worlds, the treaty with the Gibeonites would be overturned on the basis of their lies, but Joshua is a man of integrity. Despite having made the mistake he honors his word. These type of mistakes are typical of Christian believers who allow the world into their lives and accept it willingly and live with it.
In this video listen to Joshua 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 8 Ai is conquered and the city destroyed. The city of Ai is one of three cities destroyed by fire in the Canaanite conquest. The first Jericho, and the last Hazor. Many of the other cities were probably not destroyed but preserved for use as is the normal way in battle. Joshua hid a second force in the Wadi Sheben between Ai and Bethel and lured the army of ai out of the city with an initial preliminary force, then sacked the city.
It was a strategic move that Joshua obtained from the Lord. At this point we see how simple the victory was, when done the Lord’s way. It is not only that the instructions came from the Lord as to how to fight, but that the Lord was also fighting for them as commander of the Lord’s army. We have often talked about the battle in the heavenlies.
When the Lord makes it possible in the spiritual realm, it looks like we are conquering on earth, but the reality is that without God’s help there isn’t progress. We must never be proud of our own abilities, or we may soon find that everything we do starts to turn to dust. On the other hand, for the humble hearted person who trusts God, it is amazing how his feeblest sincere effort for Christ produces fruit that lasts.
In this video listen to Joshua 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 7 we consider some of the spiritual lessons of the book of Joshua. The book of Joshua teaches us about the importance of overcoming in our own lives. We are called to be overcomers, and there are strongholds in each of us that must be torn down.
The last chapter contained the first major stronghold in Canaan, that of Jericho. Each of us have strongholds that seem so invincible that only the Lord can tear them down, and we must wait on the Lord for his method. But if we don’t follow the Lord’s plan we can be led to defeat as happened in this chapter.
People presumed that God was with them, as they went up to attack in their own strength. We cannot defeat strongholds in our own lives, even small ones with presumption, or trusting in our own abilities. Even the smallest sin in our own lives render us entirely powerless.
In Chapter 7 the Israelites were defeated at the city of Ai because of their own presumption, and failing to hear and obey the Lord. This chapter also outlines the sin of Achan, who touched the devoted thing, and removing the Lord’s help in battle. His greed cost the lives of many people.
What is the devoted thing? Is this a danger to us today Finally this video will briefly consider the archaeology of Ai.
In this video listen to Joshua 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 6 the first siege in the conquest happens, at Jericho. Twentieth century excavations of Tell es Sultan (Tel Jericho) show us that Jericho was well fortified. Multiple cities were built on top of each other, and the city of the Joshua period is called city 4.
It had an outer wall of stone, with a wall of bricks on top of the stone wall extending its height further. The stone wall was also found to have had dwellings build into it, so that people also lived in the wall. Joshua gave instructions to march around the city daily for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day. The strange instructions that Joshua gave also made little sense.
They were in some ways also a step of faith, just as the stepping into the Jordan was while it was in flood stage. As the army marched around the city it would have produced a lot of speculation within the city as to what was happening, and no doubt a lot of anxiety. Rahab’s testimony in chapter two gives an insight into the feeling inside. Interestingly, because they marched for seven straight days, one of these days coincided with a Sabbath.
However the entire seven days seems to have happened during the week of the feast of unleavened bread. The removal of Jericho from Canaan as a devoted object seems to match the theme of removing leaven from bread, that is removing the evil from among them. The city was the firstfruits of the land, and considered devoted. They Israelites were to completely give the city and all of the spoils to the Lord by utter destruction.
This was not the pattern typical of ancient warfare where all the spoils were kept to pay the army, or for the benefit of the occupying force/nation. This would have especially been so for the grain which was a source of food. In the archaeological record there is a burn layer several feet thick, including the burning of grain. This matches the complete devotion to the city to the Lord.
In Hebrew it says the walls fell beneath themselves. Interestingly of the four major excavations in the 20th century, the most biblically sceptical of them all was Kenyon, a british archaeologist. She noted that the mud brick wall had collapsed down in front of the stone wall creating a ramp. Thus the Israelites could have easily “gone up” into the city.
In this video listen to Joshua 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 5 describes how the Amorites melted in fear in the face of the impending invasion. As Hitler swept across Europe in WW2 the people in the nations before him were afraid. They sensed the inevitability of what was ahead, and so too the Amorites. So why continue to resist? This is sadly what people do, continuing to resist Christ. The smart Amorite would have realised something different was called for, and we find in coming chapters that the Gibeonites did endeavor to do something different.
As people it is repentance which is called for. Psalm 76:7 says, “who can stand before the Lord?” We realise that repentance is our only hope. Next a surprising thing happens. The men of Israel are all circumcised at Gilgal. Verse two describes a hill of foreskins. The circumcision of 600000 men would have indeed created a hill of foreskins. The timing of such an event was also not something any sensible human would have chosen.
We saw in Genesis 34 the story of Dinah and the Shechemites and how the circumcision of the men of Shechem rendered them unable to fight, and they were defeated. However God sees spiritual rightness with God as more important than military preparedness. God is no doubt teaching them to trust him through this. The men of Jericho could have attacked at this point, it was their opportunity, but because of fear they never took it, and most likely did not know to take it.
In verse 9, the Lord told Joshua that after the circumcision, the reproach of Israel was now removed. There is something about being uncircumcised which brings reproach. We are of course talking of spiritual circumcision, not the physical as the book of Galatians makes clear, yet the physical as in this story is where we learn about the significance of genuine circumcision.
This is the Lord of hosts, none other than Jesus. It is clear that Jesus is not on our side, but rather that we choose to join his side. Even though he is the servant of all, it is us who are called to lay down our lives and serve Him. He was the Lord of hosts here, and remains the Lord of hosts today. He leads the army of God, which is not Joshua’s army, but rather His army.
The Lord was fighting with, for and before Joshua.
In this video listen to Joshua 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 4 After they had crossed over, the water still hadn’t gone back yet, they were able to go in and take twelve big stones and build a monument. Once the blockage upstream was removed it would have still taken a significant time for the water to flow down, giving them ample time to collect the stones.
And, they also built a second twelve stone monument in the river, which ended up being covered over. Some commentators think that the double monument is a picture of the believers' experience in Baptism, both being buried in Christ, and being risen in Christ. That’s probably right because the monument in the water makes no sense at all as nobody would see it.
The book of Joshua notes that these monuments are “there to this day” which is the day that Joshua wrote these words, being within living memory of the event. Today (the year 2021) the monument outside the water no longer seems to be there, but there is no doubt it happened.
Other monuments such as the one on Mt Ebal which is large and harder to remove are still there, so this much smaller, easily moved monument could have had any number of things happen to it over time. Interestingly this chapter mentions the number of fighting men from Rebuen, Gad and Manasseh who crossover, which is about 97000 less than was counted in the second census in Numbers 32. This video explains why.
They finally get across the Jordan and have their first day in the promised land on the 10th day of the month of Nisan, which is four days before Passover, and the day on which the Passover lamb is selected. This video talks about how selecting Christ leads you into promise.
In this video listen to Joshua 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 3 they spend the last three days on the banks of the Jordan, which at this point was swollen due to being Spring. The river was impassable by normal methods at this time of year, for people with cattle, and goods. The spies in the previous chapter would have swum across, but this wasn’t possible for 2 million people and all they owned.
God then declares he is going to magnify Joshua just as Moses was elevated in their minds. He does this announcing in advance what the miracle will be. That it is not a surprise to Joshua shows his communication and standing with God. A step of faith is required here because it was completely unlike the Red Sea where there was a clear passage before, and a pursuing enemy behind.
Here there is neither, and they have to step into the water first before anything happens. But this group is also a different group to the others, who were completely helpless. So the priests carrying the ark went in front, and the waters miraculously stop. If God goes before us, nothing can resist us, but our problem is that we tend to go ahead of God doing what we want.
The stopping of the Jordan isn’t unprecedented and in this video we will talk about a similar incident in 1927 where the Jordan stopped for over a day after a landslide upstream, as recorded by Columbia Climate School.
In this video listen to Joshua 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 2 the military campaign begins with spies visiting the house of a prostitute. This was not just them jumping at human opportunity to be immoral, but a military smart move to gather information. A prostitute was the ideal person for the spies to visit, because she was someone who was connected with many others. Interestingly, Rahab ends up marrying Salmon, who is the father of Boaz who features in the book of Ruth later.
Rahab is also one of 4 women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ by Matthew. The four are in order, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bath-Sheba. All four of the women had something that would disqualify them, and each of them are a picture of grace given to God’s people, who are his wife.
These spies were secretly sent out, so that the Israelites were not told they had been sent, unlike the 12 spies earlier who had been sent out, one from each tribe in a much more public manner. Joshua not only followed everything the Lord told him to do in terms of conquest, he also seems to have been militarily quite smart doing things like this so as to be prepared. Rahab helps the spies and hides them under flax on the roof of her home.
The time was Pentecost, during the Barley harvest, and this passage indicates the treatment of the harvest. Archaeological records from several of Jericho’s four major excavations (Tel es Sultan) have shown grain burned in a massive fire event. The burn layer is often 3 to 4 feet in thickness in the excavations, indicating a major destruction.
This was the grain just harvested, which could have sustained the city in a prolonged siege, but was unused because the siege was so short. It also indicates the word of God to Joshua to destroy everything was obeyed because normally you would save the harvest in the event of a conquest. The key thing in this chapter is the scarlet thread in the window of Rahab's house.
The Scarlet thread here is the symbol of salvation in the blood of Christ. In the same way that the blood of the passover lamb was over a home to save those inside, here this scarlet thread is a symbol of salvation for those in Rahab’s home.
In this video listen to Joshua 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
The title of the book is none other than the name of the Lord, Jesus. Only two books in the Bible have such clearly defined qualities in the self-descriptions as to be all about the Lord.
First here is this book named after the Lord, and second is the Revelation in the NT, which describes itself as a revelation of Jesus Christ. Both books which reveal Christ are in the context of the judgement and destruction of his enemies. Joshua is a book about the conquest of Canaan in which God fulfils his promises to Abraham, and symbolically shows how we are to walk with God, overcoming evil, defeating strongholds, obeying Christ, and putting every weight aside. Is it any wonder that the sword and the cross are the same shape?
Both are methods of death, but through them both we have victory and salvation too in the name of Jesus. The book starts with “Now,” showing that in the mind of Joshua this is connected to the previous books. Scripture tells us that Moses was faithful in all of God’s house (see Hebrews) even though he didn’t enter the land because of his one example of disobedience.
We are all aware of Moses’ flaws despite his faithfulness. Yet Joshua is also faithful in all he is given, but we are not told of any flaws. This is in my opinion because he is a picture of the perfect Christ, who does everything the Father gives him. Both Jesus and Joshua here begin their missions on the banks of the Jordan river. Jesus is said to have been baptised in the same area where the Israelites are about to cross over to inherit the land.
The Jordan is highly symbolic, not of salvation, but of coming into the promises of God, and into the indwelling of the Spirit. The conquest begins with Joshua commanding them to prepare, because in three days they were to cross the river. Three days is the time period of Christ in the ground, and the biblical number of completion.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 34 is the last of the chapters in the Law. Although the first five books are written by Moses, this last chapter is probably written by Joshua, who also wrote the next book of Joshua. Moses died on Mt Nebo, and the Lord buried Moses. In Jude 1:9 there is an interesting additional piece of information.
The devil disputed with the angel Michael over Moses’ body, and the angel said “the Lord rebuke you” to Satan. According to the church father Origen, this information came from a document called the Ascension of Moses. Verse 10 says “Since then, there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face.”
This was true when Joshua wrote it, and remains true to this day. Though no-one since Moses, except Christ, has known God in such a personal way, the opportunity to truly know God remains for all who are hungry.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 33 contains the benediction of Moses. It is the last words of a very great man. In the ancient near east it was customary on a death bed for patriarchs to say important things, just as we saw with Jacob in Genesis 49. This death bed blessing however doesn’t have some of the obvious nasty “blessings” that Jacob spoke and is much more positive.
I call this a true blessing, because it is a passage of grace, with redemption being extended by God to every tribe, regardless of their past, or what God knows their future will be. For example in verse 6 Moses says of Reuben. “Let Reuben live, and not die;” This is a great example of the redemptive blessing given here by Moses. While the blessing of Jacob was true, here God’s mercy is extended despite the failure of Reuben.
This is the way of grace, and the message of the gospel for those who accept it. All of the tribes are treated like this. Another great example is to compare and contrast Jacob’s words over Levi in Genesis 49and Moses’ words over Levi. Another example is Dan. In Jacob’s blessing Dan was a snake that bit the rider. While in overall history Dan was such a thing, being the location of one of the two golden calves that helped bring down Israel, here Moses redeems Dan.
Dan is no longer a snake, but a lion. In verse 26 it says “There is no one like God... who rides on the heavens for your help.” The meaning of these blessings is clear. No matter who you are, or what you have done, or what has been spoken about you in the past, it does not define your future. The Lord himself speaks life and blessing over you, knowing both your past and future, and he holds out life. All that remains is for you to respond.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 32 contains the song of Moses, which the Lord gave him in the previous chapter, just days before his death. According to Coffman’s commentary there are three divisions in this song: the faithfulness of God and the faithlessness of Israel, verses 4-18.
The punishment and the need of its execution by God, verse 9-33 God's compassion upon the low and humbled state of his people, verses 34-42 Strikingly in the above three points, God cannot really bring people into true grace until they are humbled. While Israel was truly humiliated when in slavery, they were not contrite because their humiliation seemed to have been caused by an external source.
But as time progressed it became clear that they were the cause of their own terrible state. This leads to internal humility, allowing God to give true grace and lift them up. While God is always compassionate, he cannot extend compassion to lawbreakers, but once the heart has seen its own evil state, now it is in position to receive from God.
This song is called a didactic poem - or a teaching song. It was designed to teach the Israelites and it still teaches us today. The song covers the future of Israel after it enters the land, then the corruption of the nation, then its punishment, God’s final redemption and surprisingly the inclusion of the Gentiles.
Paul uses a quote from this song to make his point in Romans 10 about the Jews becoming jealous of the Gentiles. After this song it outlines what would happen to Moses and how he was to die on Mt Nebo at the age of 120.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 31 Moses is probably just a few days from death, and Joshua who has been hugely faithful (a picture of Christ in name and life) is about to lead them. The language in this chapter has changed and no longer sounds like a speech. It's back to narrative like in the earlier books.
In verse 2 Moses says he cannot go in or come out. Some people think Moses is old and frail, but later in chapter 34:7 he says his eye wasn’t dim and his vigor unabated. It just means God wouldn’t allow him to go on - he wasn’t limited by ability but by permission. In verses 9-13 it outlines how the Israelites were to read the book of the law every seven years.
God thus established a system where everyone would hear the words of the Lord regularly, and learn to obey. Bible reading is crucial for everyone. Earlier in Deuteronomy it said that “man would live by every word that came from the mouth of God.” We must not think of living in earthly terms like food and drink, but in terms of real living.
The realities of God are much more real. We too must establish a system in our lives to constantly consider the words of the Lord. In verses 14-15 there is a kind of handing over ceremony from Moses to Joshua. Both go into the tent of meeting with God. So now Joshua, just like Moses is standing in the visible presence of the Lord. While with God…. God prophecies what will happen and predicts that Israel will play the harlot. It's a sad view into the future.
The problems begin when we are satisfied with what this world has, and we stop being hungry for the Lord. This isn’t an ancient problem, but a human problem. Finally God gives Moses a song to teach Israel, which is covered in the next chapter. Strikingly in Psalm 90 we also have a psalm of Moses.
Following that is Psalm 91, one of the most famous of all psalms, a prayer for protection, which although is anonymously written, sounds amazingly like Moses. Jewish tradition says it was written by Moses. Thus we have three songs in the scripture by Moses.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 30 the speech of Moses is starting to wind down, even though there are still 4 chapters after this one. It now continues prophetically as the last few chapters have been. In verse 1-3 Moses talks about a future moment when in captivity, their thoughts turn back to God.
Much later the people that returned from the Babylonian exile were a different people to those just a hundred years prior. They had learned their lessons, and seemed to have been cured from their idolatry. Yet they were still tempted away from God by other things, and their hearts became proud in other ways, as Jesus would point out in Matthew 17 and other places.
Verse 6 is one of my favourite verses. “Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart, and the heart of your offspring, to love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” It is a wonderful promise to us of what God will do for the penitent.
The Lord told a parable in Luke 18 about two people in prayer, the Pharisee and the tax collector. The former was proud and his prayer was not heard, but the latter humble and heard. This promise is for those who seek God with a humble and repentant heart. THe Lord hears and responds with grace. Verse 14 talks about having God’s word in our hearts.
The key is always to have God’s law in our hearts. Romans 10 also shows us that it is the person who ‘believes in his heart’ who is saved. This generation that Moses addressed did so and were greatly successful as the book of Joshua shows, but sadly they failed to pass on these things to their children as the book of Judges shows.
The chapter closes with Moses outlining their choice between life and death. Choices always seem simple when spelled out in this manner, but the heart so easily leads us away.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 29 Moses makes a distinction between the law given at Horeb and the law here on the plains of Moab. There are not two laws, but one. The naming of the book Deutero Nomah in greek doesn’t mean there were two laws, but rather the second time the law was reiterated. Here the people have agreed to its terms in a binding way.
In verse 4 Moses observed that even though they saw God’s wonders, they did not have a heart to see, or ears to hear. Their hearts were not enlightened. It's possible to be in church for a lifetime and not see the wonders of God. In Ephesians 1:18 Paul told the church that he always prayed that their hearts would be enlightened. This is the need of every believer.
In verse 15 Moses comments that this covenant is also for some who are not present as he spoke. This is a covenant made with their descendants too, even though they are not present. This is the nature of God, being a generational God. He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, even when it was just Abraham. And so are the Lord’s dealings with us, they are for our children too, both natural and spiritual, and we are to walk with them as we also do with the Lord.
The consequences of our lives go far beyond us. In verse 22-24 it compares the future judgement with Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis the land of Sodom and Gomorrah was so desirable for sheep and goats that Lot wanted it for his flocks. He looked up and saw the green pastures. Today it is pure desert. Thus Sodom and Gomorrah are a great illustration of the dryness that comes on those who turn their backs on the Lord. Verse 29 is a very memorable verse, often quoted by preachers. It states that the secret things belong to God.
There is a lot about God we do not understand, and there must be many secrets. This is what eternity with God is all about. Getting to know God requires an eternity because of the nature of who He is. Meanwhile on the earth, we trust Him while we seek to Know Him.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 28 we now come to the second longest chapter in the Bible, and the longest chapter (just) in the Pentateuch, the five books of the law. Here the specifics of the curses and the blessings of the covenant are going to be outlined. God seems to think long-term, so while the first generation may not have seen all the blessings or curses, it builds over time.
God thinks of a corporate “you.” This was true of them as we see historically, but also true of us too. Up to verse 14 are the blessings. These blessings are incredible, any one of them a great promise to the believer, but of course these are in a context of the one who obeys and walks with the Lord. It is easy to be tempted to take the good parts of scripture for ourselves and throw out the other parts, such as all the verses that are about to follow in this chapter.
And naturally we often have an elevated view of our own righteousness, so we would never dream that we are not always wholehearted toward the Lord, but sadly we are often misled. From verse 15 are the curses. The curses get increasingly worse and it goes on, and they are gruesomely detailed. If the curses stopped at verse 44, we might easily think that these things were fulfilled in the invasions of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
However the continued disobedience of Israel and Judah meant that these things were to ultimately culminate in the Roman Invasion and the complete destruction of not just the Jewish nation, but also the Jewish system which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. John the Baptist was aware of it when he said “the axe is at the root of the tree.” (Matt 3:10) In verse 49 it speaks of a nation from far away, swooping down as an eagle.
This was none other than the Roman Empire with the eagle as its insignia. Italy is as far away, and as foreign a nation as you could get in ancient times. Josephus’ remariable book “Wars of the Jews” outlines the three and a half year campaign the Roman armies fought in Palestine and the terrible sieges, especially that against Jerusalem. Verse 53-57 outline the terrible cannibalism that would happen under siege warfare.
Josehpus in his writings later outlined the most horrible examples of cannibalism during the siege of Jerusalem. As sad as it is to recall here, what Moses prophesied, and what the Israelites agreed to by saying Amen came to pass about 1510 years later. (1440 BC + 70AD) In verse 63 God says he will take the land off them. The land which was promised to them, was also promised to be removed from them if they failed to obey, which they did, and which happened.
The nation that is there now, also called Israel, is a secular nation with a democatic government, nothing at all like the biblical nation of Israel. We are now the people of God, said Peter in 1 Peter 2:10. Paul also said the Jews and the Gentiles have now been joined with no distinction. (Romans 10:12)
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 27 we now come to the sanctions of the covenant, and one of the saddest sections of the entire bible. Briefly Moses is now talking about himself in the third person. This isn’t a problem as some think, but done this way because of the formality of the covenant terms and sanctions in line with ancient treaties. It then outlines the building of an altar on Mt Ebal. Mt Ebal is still there naturally, but so is the altar.
A simple flyover on Google Earth reveals a quite large non natural pile of rocks, left from this time. There are also many pictures on Google Images of this, even though the mountain is now off limits courtesy of the Israeli government. Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal are amazingly close together. They are perhaps only 4-500 feet apart at the base, but are substantial enough for a good amount of people to stand on each mountain. The view of these is worth a flyover on Google Earth.
The city of Nablus is in between. Mt Gerizim is the mountain referred to in John 4 by the Samaritan woman. Samaritans only held to the Law, but not the rest of the Old Testament, so for her, “this mountain” was Mt Gerizim. God sends 6 tribes up the mountain of curse, and six up the mountain of blessing.
This prompts a question. Did God curse 6 tribes and bless 6 tribes? No, the blessing and cursing of the covenant was by obedience, not by birth. This is always the way in God’s system. Nevertheless it is interesting that on Gerizim only tribes of Jacob’s wives are chosen, and on Ebal, tribes of Jacob’s servants, plus the oldest and youngest of the wives’ children are chosen.
There is a pattern there, but what does it mean? And now we begin the sanctions proper, with the worst of them to come in the next chapter. Here the people agree to the terms by saying Amen repeatedly offering proof that amen isn't always used as you think.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 26 we have a key turning point in Moses' speech. The entire thing is a suzerainty treaty and we transition from the end of the terms, to the beginning of the outcomes for obedience/disobedience. Before the transition it refers to Abraham as “a wandering syrian” or in other translations “a wondering aramean” which is how this is commonly remembered.
However Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldees which to modern ears is neither Syrian or Aramean, but Chaldean. The answer here is simple - his family was from Aram as was seen in Genesis when Isaac was sent there to get a wife. But Terah had moved the family, including Abram to Ur of Chaldea, but was not ethnically Chaldean.
Also before the key transition, it outlines how the tithe was to be spent every third year. It was to be given to the Levites, foreigners, fatherless, widows and the poor. Imagine a society where 10% of all revenue of an entire nation given every three years to the poor. Social care and concern in history began in the Law with the Lord our God.
Now in 16-19 we start into the nitty gritty of a Suzerainty treaty, the arrangement a sovereign makes with a people who are becoming a part of his rule. This was something customary in ancient times, and God was making use of this as something many people would have been familiar with, to have a people whose monarch was God.
Up until now we have had the terms, and in the following chapters we have the outcomes that will result from following these terms. It is very important to understand that the consequences of disobedience are what happens to people who do not follow God, even outside of a covenant. The implications of rejecting God are always catastrophic, but here it is formalised, and as we will see in chapters 27-28, it is also very prophetic.
One key difference is that this treaty/covenant is relational in nature, whereas those of ancient near east treaties were not relational but power based.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 25 we find an interesting verse about oxen that is quoted several times by Paul in the NT. This was a verse Paul quoted in 1 Timothy 5:18 and in 1 Corinthians 9 which he used to say that a preacher should get paid for his work, and not be expected to work without being fed. People wouldn't typically muzzle their own ox because they have to feed it anyway, and a healthy ox performs better than a starved one.
Justin Taylor of the gospel coalition writes that this rule cuts in when an ox is borrowed or leased. The user has no regard for the ox, but wants to harvest as much of his own grain as possible, so muzzles the ox. In this example no care is given to the beast doing all the hard work. In the case of those laboring in God’s field, they should not be taken advantage of says Paul.
God cares more about people than oxen. But most interesting to me in this example is seeing how Paul has understood Moses. This was obviously a practical rule for then, but a spiritual rule for all time. This is a demonstration of why the OT books are important for us now, and why even the most obscure rules have things in them for us to discover and learn.
We have been doing this to some extent in our videos. Then there is a strange verse about what to do when a woman grabs a man’s private area. This video discusses some of the thoughts behind that. Finally a discussion of Amalek, The Amalekites were long gone by this point, so why invent something like this if it was written later? (It wasn’t) The Amalekites are symbolic of the ultimate evil, and of the complete absence of the fear of God.
If Egypt is a symbol of the flesh and the world, Amalek is a symbol of the devil. The Israelites were to completely remove Amalek from their midst, and as believers we are to remove things which cause us to love the world, rather we are to fear God. When the Israelites left Egypt (symbolising the flesh and the world) they were unexpectedly attacked by Amalek in the desert.
When someone is liberated from sin and comes into the kingdom of God, the evil one seeks to attack them. We fight by coming into the fullness of our fear of God.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 23 there are various laws, concerning eunuchs, illegitimate children, foreigners and more. Concerning Eunuchs, it sounds here like God doesn’t approve of eunuchs. Eunuchs were typically men who removed their testicles through either of the above methods, often for the purpose of serving a king with his trusted female escorts, or for priestly purposes on false religious practices.
This command had the effect so far as I understand, to stop the Israelites from copying their surrounding neighbours in using eunuchs, and there are no biblical examples of them in use in Israel or Judah. Essentially those who had devoted their life to idolatry or sexual immorality were not welcome.
Later in the Bible there are much more welcoming things said about Eunuchs, such as Isaiah’s prophecy in 56:6 where they are promised a name better than children and promised they would not be cut off. This is a play on meaning because a eunuch would have no posterity, or children, and has in fact had part of his body cut off, plus his future. But to the repentant eunuch, or the repentant anyone, there is always a place in God's heart.
And in Acts 8 we have the perfect example of this in the Ethiopian Eunuch. However when Babylon took away the exiles, a number of them were made eunuchs without their permission. There were no finer Israelites than Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego who were in this category. This video also goes into details concerning illegitimate children, foreigners and more.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 23 there are various laws, concerning eunuchs, illegitimate children, foreigners and more. Concerning Eunuchs, it sounds here like God doesn’t approve of eunuchs. Eunuchs were typically men who removed their testicles through either of the above methods, often for the purpose of serving a king with his trusted female escorts, or for priestly purposes on false religious practices.
This command had the effect so far as I understand, to stop the Israelites from copying their surrounding neighbours in using eunuchs, and there are no biblical examples of them in use in Israel or Judah. Essentially those who had devoted their life to idolatry or sexual immorality were not welcome.
Later in the Bible there are much more welcoming things said about Eunuchs, such as Isaiah’s prophecy in 56:6 where they are promised a name better than children and promised they would not be cut off. This is a play on meaning because a eunuch would have no posterity, or children, and has in fact had part of his body cut off, plus his future. But to the repentant eunuch, or the repentant anyone, there is always a place in God's heart.
And in Acts 8 we have the perfect example of this in the Ethiopian Eunuch. However when Babylon took away the exiles, a number of them were made eunuchs without their permission. There were no finer Israelites than Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego who were in this category. This video also goes into details concerning illegitimate children, foreigners and more.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 22 there are various random rules, which seem strange connected her like this, but in a spoken speech as it was given, they fit fine. Taking responsibility for another's property is a thing, such as watching out for another’s animals.
There is a law against cross-dressing and this video discusses why that would be important. There is a law about preserving the mother bird when the eggs are taken. This is similar to the fishing laws in Queensland which require the preserving of the female of certain species, for their long term preservation. Among other laws, there is a discussion about the proof of virginity.
Here we see how important virginity was. If a woman was a virgin when married, she was able to prove it during her consumanation. But once a woman was no longer a virgin, even if she was violated, now she had lost something very precious. The sheet was her protection and honor. In the same way, the Church, being the bride of Christ, is protected by the blood that flowed when we were first drawn to Christ at Calvary. If not for this blood, we would be shamed, dishonoured and put away.
Our virginity however is found after Christ has worked on his people to redeem them and bring them to himself.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 21 the way that a murder is handled is discussed, and in particualr the implications of innocent blood crying out. The idea that innocent blood cries out from the ground goes right back to the story of Cain and Abel. There is no logical reason why blood should do this, but these ideas, plus other comments about blood are right through the entire Bible.
Bllood must be shed in the place of blood to atone. So the blood of the innocent Christ was shed to atone for the sins of all. The blood of Christ cries out… it speaks a better word, says Hebrews 12:24 than the blood of Abel. Other rules are discussed including how to handle a woman taken captive in war and married.
In the mind of God, taking a woman to have sex with her IS equated with marriage. It was not acceptable to treat sex as something casual, and a man has an obligation to a woman that he takes in this fashion. It also discusses favouratism in a polygamous situation, which is not a unusual today as one would think. This passage is worth contemplating in light of Jacob’s two wives, one of whom was loved and other not, although she did come to be loved in time.
We see the great pain for everyone in that family caused by such pain. Jacob was tricked into this position, but the truth of these words is just as true. In today’s world there are just as many complicated family situations, especially once you take into account multiple marriages, step children, de facto relationships, casual acquaintances and liaisons outside of marriage, including those that produce children.
The Lord treats each of these as seriously as marriage. Grace must be sought and obtained so that God’s people can live in a way that is not natural. Also this chapter discussed the curse that is one anyone hung on a tree…. A sneak peak into Christ on the cross.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 20 are instructions for battle, which have parallels with spiritual warfare for God’s NT people. Those who had their heart set on other things, or were afraid were excused.
The army of the Lord, so to speak, were to have their mind and heart focused on the battle. Such is the case for the church who goes to war spiritually.
Those who have other interests, or loves, are not found in the Lord’s army. God’s church is for the willing. The message of the gospel is always peace first. In Christ, when we surrender to Him and to the gospel, we all become His servants.
We serve each other, and in serving we become great. But if one does not submit to the gospel, then we fight, but not with the weapons of this world, but with prayer, truth, love and service.
We fight to make our enemies our friends. Just as Paul influenced Sosthenes into the kingdom, so we are with our enemies.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 19 the three (or six) cities of refuge are again discussed. These are for cases of second degree murder, or what we call manslaughter in Australia. This is killing without intention or planning, through negligence.
In this chapter, the intention to murder is a big deal, and hatred is here mentioned. Jews always made a big deal out of action, but a key difference between first and second degree murder is the intention. Jesus took this whole topic to its logical end saying that when you hate someone, that alone is murder.
He made the intention itself the sin. This must be purely correct because if an “innocent blood” must be protected as in verse ten, then a pure intention is innocent, but conversely an evil intention even without the corresponding action is guilty.
This chapter also discusses the importance of boundary stones - which related to the dividing of the land initially, and how it was not to be changed. We are not to desire that which God gives to another as his inheritance, but to serve God and obtain our own.
Finally, witnesses are discussed. A witness who harms another is to be repaid in like, at least according to the Levitical system here. What is not accounted for is intention, which was also a theme in this chapter. However, in this system, we find forgiveness works in like as in the new testament.
This is why showing grace and patience to others is a big priority as believers. How can we expect God’s grace if we are not ourselves gracious. This passage is a guide for judges, but we are not to be the judges according to Christ.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 18 we cover the paying of priests, seeking council from false gods, and the Prophet. First praying priests. Levites and priests ended up living all throughout the land, not just in the Jerusalem area, and so they had to travel to minister when it was their turn.
We see this in Luke’s gospel with the father of John the Baptist who was rostered on to take his turn at the temple. This passage is making sure that they are able to benefit from both their work for the Lord and their work for themselves. In reality this is how it happens as NT believers. We find the Lord propers and blesses what we do in both our own house and in his, as long as our heart and priorities are correct.
Second on divination. This chapter lists nine different types of discernment by another spirit, all of them displeasing to the Lord. One wonders why he would be so bothered?
They represent faith in another besides him, or consulting another besides him. It must be a real offence to the Lord for him to be all knowing, and all compassionate and all loving, and to have people turn to demons for advice. Imagine knowing that your wife knew the answer to a problem, but then deliberately consulting someone else.
Additionally, demons are not only limited knowledge wise, but they deceive because they intend to harm, even if they pretend to help. Essentially consulting a demon instead of the Lord is a huge insult to Him.
Thirdly, the Prophet. This person called the Prophet, so briefly mentioned here is none other than the Messiah or Jesus Christ. Moses said God would raise up a prophet “like me.” Of all the great people in the OT, none is more like Jesus than Moses. And Moses said it was crucial that they “listen to Him.” This is nothing other than paying attention to Jesus. The Israelites struggled to listen to God at Mt Sinai, so the Lord sent a person directly among them being none other than Christ.
Thus the failure to listen to Christ carries a great weight. This person called the Prophet, so briefly mentioned here is none other than the Messiah or Jesus Christ. Moses said God would raise up a prophet “like me.” Of all the great people in the OT, none is more like Jesus than Moses.
The Samaritans who know nothing of the prophets, but only the first five books knew of the Messiah. The woman in John 4 said the Messiah would explain everything. She was thinking of a Moses-like prophet. Jews try to explain this passage by saying that “in each generation” a prophet arises, but this is an attempt to avoid the obvious comparison with Jesus. So Moses warning to “listen to him” is ignored.
Moses and Christ are very much alike - according to the Coffman commentary:
Both were objects of Divine intervention to save their lives in infancy.
Both were sons of virgins.
Both were called to deliver God's people.
Both were rejected by Israel.
Both were the greatest miracle-workers that the world ever saw.
Both left a palace (Jesus left heaven, Moses left Pharaoh's) to do their work. Both gave themselves up for God's people.
Both were mediators, Moses of the Old Covenant, Jesus of the New Covenant.
Both were both prophet and king to the people.
Both have their words enshrined in the Bible.
Both accomplished their missions.
Both delivered God's law to men.
Both were transfigured.
Both had God's people baptized "unto them."
Both gave bread to Israel, the manna and "the bread of life."
Both received special treatment in death.
Both lead God's people - Moses in the wilderness; Christ during our lives.
Both Moses and Jesus were faithful.
Both were full of compassion and love for the people whom they led.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 17 it starts by telling the Israelites not to offer second rate sacrifices. There was a real temptation to offer blemished sacrifices, because they were cheaper. Upon arrival at a festival it was a way of saving money, but God is reminding them to make himself a priority.
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 was like this in that they pretend they were giving a better sacrifice than they were. In this case the amount of their offering was at thei discretion but they lied.
When it comes to service, we need to give God our best effort, from a good heart. When it comes to money or giving, we endeavor to put the Lord first. Later is goes to give instructions for kings, when inevitably they would ask for one. It said not to have many horses. King Solomon, for all his wisdom, seems to not have been aware, or chose not to follow this advice.
Horses were a sign of trust in one’s own strength, just as today people might trust in the dollar, or in technology. The law also said not to have many wives. Solomon also had many wives, who in fact did lead him astray. For a man with such wisdom, this was a highly foolish thing to do. He discovered this to his own shame, what he could easily have avoided by following what was written in the law in advance.
His own words in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;”
Finally the king was required to write out a copy of the law, which presumably was either this book of Deuteronomy, or the entire law, being the first 5 books.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 16 in Moses’ great speech he recounts the three great feasts. These three are pilgrimage feasts which meant people were meant to travel to the place, which was Jerusalem later, for them. While the 12 tribes were in the land, none was really more than a few days' journey from Jerusalem, as we see later in the life of Christ, he regularly travelled to Jerusalem for feasts,
This is seen most clearly in John’s gospel where he is present for multiple passover, plus other feasts. We have often heard that Jesus had a three year ministry, but if you read Matthew, Mark or Luke we only see one passover there, the final one. But in John’s gospel is where we get the multiple feasts that Jesus attends in Jerusalem. Plus in Luke we also see Jesus' parents take him to the temple for passover as a twelve year old boy, so we see that pilgrimage was his family habit.
Each of the pilgrimage feasts is a seven day feast - a symbolic number for God. And there are three, of them, the number of the trinity, also a number of God. In verse 14 he says “you shall rejoice”. It’s funny that God commands them to keep feasts and then commands them to celebrate the feasts.
This is because for humans the reason for joy is not obvious. Of course we cannot fake enthusiasm, (en theos) but we can through obedience grow to see the things that bring joy. So we always start with obedience to God. For the Israelites they were obliged to celebrate these three times per year as a way of remembering all that God had done for them.
As believers we participate not only in annual events like Christmas and Easter, but other regular practices like communion/eucharist, and weekly church attendance, which we should be joyful about too. IMagine if God said we had to attend church, and we had to celebrate. Many would not see the reason for doing so, but in time their eyes might be opened if they persist.
Ultimately the feasts are Christ, and we are celebrating Him. It is plainly stated by Paul in Colossians 2:16-17.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 15 Moses talks about debt, slavery and defective sacrifices. First on Debt: Imagine a country which cancelled debt every 7 years. Debt and credit would be low. God put in place a number of things to make sure there were no poor among them, including this debt management strategy, and elsewhere things like Jubilee, and the gleaning during harvest.
But we do see poverty in scripture… why? Simply that people didn’t follow the laws of the Lord. Much later the Lord exiled his people for 70 years, to Babylon because of the 70 sabbath years which were not observed. Effectively, lending was to be approached like giving.
We are told in NT terms to give to the poor, and we don’t expect to be repaid. This was effectively the same, but the poor were given a time frame within which they could repay and regain their dignity. Second on Slaves: We talked about bond slaves already in Exodus 21. These are love slaves, and Christ is the door.
We are to put our ear to Christ and be pierced into the door, permanently listening to him. Paul called himself a bondslave of Christ. Thirdly, on perfect sacrifices, Christ is the perfect sacrifice, and our sacrifices to him should also be perfect. Cain offered a sacrifice that may have been good in quality, but from a non-perfect heart.
That sadly constituted a sacrifice not accepted. Paul writes in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge your brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.” Here our attitude to God is part of making the sacrifice pleasing and true, and our lives, rather than the life of a sheep, are to be given to God.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 14 the speech of Moses continues, now relating specific things they should and should not do much of which has already been discussed in earlier books, such as in Leviticus 11. We then discuss practical matters relating to travel and sacrifices.
If the distance from where a worshiper lived ws too far to go to the temple, to conveniently take the sacrifices, they could instead buy the sacrifice on location. This is exactly what happened at the temple, with an industry booming supplying lambs for sacrifices at the temple. It is almost certain that the shepherds in the fields at Bethlehem, just ten miles or so from Jerusalem, who saw the glorious Christmas angels, were raising sheep that would be used in temple sacrifices, and ultimately as food for worshippers and priests.
We are familiar with the story of Jesus cleansing the temple and from that we get the idea that buying and selling in a house of worship is wrong, but it isn’t, because it is advocated right here. So what was Jesus doing? He was greatly bothered by price-gouging.
What was happening at festival times was the prices were rising when people had no other choice but to pay the price on offer. People who had travelled a long way with money, had to buy at highly inflated rates or risk wasting their trip to the temple.
This bothered Christ a lot, because it was turning the purpose of the feasts into a commercial opportunity. So we have the story in John 2 of Jesus cleansing the temple with a whip. There is nothing wrong with commercial opportunities in their own right, and there is nothing wrong with buying and selling as part of spiritual life as needed, but to deliberately turn something spiritual into something commercial is to change its purpose, the motivation for having it and more.
So it is ok to have a Christian bookshop in your church, which sells resources to God’s people? Certainly because its purpose is to resource people and help them spiritually.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 13 this whole chapter is about things which try to lead the Israelites away from God. Firstly a false prophet giving signs. It's not remarkable that a false prophet performs a sign. This is not just an OT thing, because we see it in the NT too, as part of the warnings in Matt 24 and elsewhere.
The truth is the truth regardless of signs. THen relatives who try to lead you astray. It was the death penalty in all these situations. Clearly this is serious. From an eternal perspective, this is exactly what happens to those who advocate turning away from God. As shocking as it seems to some today, it's a window into reality.
Finally on a more corporate level, if a city has turned away, the entire city had to be removed. The entire chapter is very strong about destroying the source that tries to lead you away from Christ. Jesus figuratively said as much in the NT when he said, “if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.” If there is an obvious source of apostasy in our lives, we need to remove ourselves from it.
Is this chapter advice to attack our enemies? No Christ taught us to love them? How do we reconcile these differences? These types of chapters were in a context of an entire nation where God was the king. These were instructions as to the rule in a country. But it was also to teach us how seriously we must treat things which cause apostasy.
Without this very firm boundary in place, we could never have come to the positions of grace and kindness which we have now. The truth is that without a firm commitment to God which is unshaking, we would never be able to love our enemies anyway.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 12 we discuss Asherah Poles and the Place that God would choose, which was firstly Shiloh, and ultimately Jerusalem. Asherah poles were probably not actually poles, but idols. Some people think they are trees, but archaeology has discovered many idols of Asherah but nothing that is recognised as an Asherah Pole. This video explains what these are.
Today we are not tempted by Asherah, but the things that Asherah represents are still tempting, wealth, success, advancement, prosperity, and of course physical intimacy. Imagine a way of life where these things would guarantee you success. How hard would it be for people to resist that?
Then, we discuss the place, which of course was Jerusalem, where the temple would ultimately be built, in the midst of the tribal land of Benjamin. Prior to that the temple was at Shiloh, in the tribal hill country of Ephraim - see Judges 21:19.
Practically a form of worship which required you to go to a certain place is difficult to sustain, but in this case the Lord was building a type to teach the human race something. Its hard enough for us to get spiritual concepts as it is, even with a physical example to lean on.
We know now that we must go to Christ, and he is our temple and our sacrifice, but imagine trying to lean on these invisible things without the redemption history we have. The problem facing the ISraelites was the choice between easy worship of Asherah anywhere they wanted, or the difficulty of travel to worship God in one place, with his rules. In the NT, Jesus tells a parable of the easy road and the hard road. This is located in Matt 7:13-14. The Israelites chose the easy road.
The warning was in advance for them, as it also is for us.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 11 Moses continues his speech using words which seem so very similar here to in many previous places in the book of Deuteronomy. He is repeating himself as a parent does when talking with a teenager.
Moses knows full well how the Israelites are going to end up and is trying to reinforce key ideas, such as obedience. This is also God's method too, trying to make abundantly sure we have received the message. Sadly we often do not hear, despite many repetitions. In verse 16 he advises care lest the heart be deceived.
The deceiving of the heart is the problem. Jeremiah said in 17:9 that the heart is deceitful above all else. We fool ourselves and justify our behaviour, and rationalise all sorts of things. We must be so careful not to assume we are better than we are, or that we deserve what good we have.
In verse 24 Moses said what God had promised to Abraham, that everywhere they set their feet would be theirs. Spiritually it is important to set our feet in many places, as we will inherit them. If you see another with graces and anointings, these are also potentially ours by faith if we seek to walk in that place too.
Then in verses 26-7 God gives them a choice between blessings and curses. The doctrine of Calvinism denies such a choice, but the truth is that God in his complete sovereignty has sovereignly chosen to give people choices.
He is also sovereignly capable of removing our ability to choose, but has not done so, because true love and fellowship is only possible when one has the ability to respond. There is going to be more about the curses and blessings in the second half of Deuteronomy
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 10 we surprisingly find out that Moses made an ark to put the tablets in, but is it the ark of the covenant, or another box? This video explains an answer. Next in verse 6 it say Aaron died at Moserah, but elsewhere the Bible says that Aaron died at Mt Hor causing some critics to jump on this as an apparent discrepancy.
We should always trust the Bible because these types of things have a way of clearing up in time, but if not, there is usually a good reason. Moserah may have been a broader area, and Mt Hor the more specific part of the broader area, or the other way around.
There are many examples of perceived contradictions that turn out to have good reasons, such as the example with Moses' wife in Numbers 12. See https://peace.org.au/numbers-12.html In verse 12 Moses asks “What does your God require of you?” and it echoes Micah 6:8.
This indicates that Deuteronomy is far older than the minor prophets (848-844 B.C.), and at the time of their writing, already well known throughout Israel. In verse 16 Moses tells them to circumcise their hearts. Circumcision of the heart is an old idea, but the concept of it wouldn't have existed without actual circumcision.
This demonstrates the power of real life practices established as examples. We also consider how God can be just when poverty seems rampant. And we contemplate the symbolism of the number 70 at the end of this chapter.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 9 Moses continues his speech and mentions the giants in the land who previously scared the Israelites. Later in the book of Joshua 14 and 15, Caleb personally defeats three of these giants, and displays the same boldness that he showed when he was one of the original 12 spies sent into the promised land 39 years earlier.
There are genuine obstacles in our lives that are insurmountable, but Caleb is an example to us that our attitude should be confidence in Christ’s work. In v4-5 Moses reminds them that it is not their righteousness that is the reason for inheriting the land. It can be very easy to think that when we have good things in life it is a sign of the Lord’s approval of us, but this passage demonstrates that they were to inherit the land because the sin of the previous occupants dispossessed them.
Our response to God is never presumption, or thinking we deserve anything, but always gratitude because of grace. In the rest of the chapter Moses proceeds to recount a number of the faults of the Israelites, demonstrating how weak, and human they are. He is attempting to put them in the middle of the humility they need to have reminding them of how dependent they are on God.
This whole passage and many others like it demonstrate that God has always been a god of Grace. There isn’t a dispensation of grace and a dispensation of law, rather there was an old covenant and a new covenant, but both contain grace and law.
You cannot have grace without the law, but you can have law without grace. This passage demonstrates the graciousness of God
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 8 is a reminiscent chapter bringing out lessons from the forty desert years. It begins by reminding them of some of the difficulties they faced in the desert. God allows tough times in our lives to humble us and test us.
We are told in the NT to rejoice in all things. These difficulties are worth their weight in gold, unless of course we fail the test as many did. Verse 3-4 was then quoted later by the Lord in his temptation with Satan, reminding him that man does not live by bread alone, a statement Moses made right here to teach the Israelites that they had to keep trusting the Lord. In verses 5-6 it talks about how the Lord disciplined them because he loved them.
Difficulty in our lives is not always a sign that God is against us, but that God is with us. The key is to always seek him so that we grow in grace and learn the lessons that we should learn. In 11-14 Moses warns them not to forget God when life starts getting better for them. It is easy to forget God when all is well.
Of course we do not forget him in the sense that we don’t know about him, but we don’t depend on Him and walk with him as we otherwise would. Humility is needing God’s help, and when we have everything under control, we no longer need him, and can easily be proud and cut off from grace. In v 18 it says “it is God who gives you the power to get wealth.”
This verse so often quoted by prosperity preachers, is usually taken out of context. Here Moses uses it to remind the people that when they are doing well, it may seem as if they don’t need God, but it is actually God who has provided for them just the same. It’s not a promise of wealth, but a reminder that when you are doing well, not to forget the Lord.
In Daniel 4:28 is the story of Nebuchadnezzer who took pride in what he thought was his achievements, not realising it was from the Lord. His humiliation was very great.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 7 Moses continues talking about the land they are about to enter and how they must think and act. There were seven nations that had to be destroyed and removed by God’s command. They had already destroyed the Amalekites, but not completely, and the Midianites completely and completely defeated Og of Bashan and Sihon of the Amorites.
For a merciful God, these commands seem unmerciful, but they demonstrate our complete lack of understanding of the situation being dealt with. In the same way a life-taking cancer must be removed from the body, even if it takes away an organ such as one lung, or one kidney, or the breasts, there is really no option other than death. These nations had to be dealt with, because of the seriousness of their sins, and it demonstrates to each of us the high stakes there are in dealing with our own sins.
They have a task in the promised land - to completely undo the idolatry that previously existed with all of its sexual practices. They had to remove them and abhor the practices of the nations before them. There are many things the world loves that we do not abhor. But it is because we cannot see it for what it is. Imagine how you would feel if you had a dream of a something you desired, such as money, or food, or a promotion, but as you sought it, suddenly you were in a pool of vomit and maggots. Such is the love of this world. May the Lord open our eyes to see the vomit and maggots that so many love. In 1 John 1:25 we are told “do not love the world.”
This is NOT the same as in John 3:16 where it says that “God so loved the world…” but it was talking about how he cared for its people, but we are now learning not to love what the world loves.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 6 we have a chapter devoted to the first law of the ten commandments. In it we see a major theme of Deuteronomy, obedience. Blind obedience is to be commended, but in reality, God seeks to impart understanding, hence a speech such as this. If we do not care for God, and put his law to the side thinking we understand it, our lack of understanding results in lack of obedience.
But if we seek to understand why, it results in such clarity of heart and mind, that it changes us, and it becomes our delight to obey. Chapter 6 is where we start to see more clearly the theme, although it has been there all along in the book. Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6 a number of times in his later gospel ministry. Here are the words that Christ used in Matt 22:34-40 when debating with the Pharisees.
They asked what was the greatest commandment and he quoted verse 5. The heart is the seat of desire, it is what you care about. These are not laws to be kept out of obligation, or fear of punishment, but out of it mattering to you.
Many believers follow the Lord more legalistically, but it is supposed to be something that we want to keep, not feel the need to keep. Later in Jeremiah the new covenant was prophesied to be “written on your heart.” So when one is truly saved by Christ, they now desire to keep the Lord’s ways.
This is where the love of God in the heart begins. In his testing in the desert with Satan, Jesus also quoted from verses 13 and 16. His second quote “do not test the Lord your God” is a clear bible statement about the divinity of Jesus.
We also consider monotheism in this chapter in light of the verse 4 saying, “the Lord is one.” Why would you have to say that the Lord is one, if there is only one God, but it makes sense later when we see God is three persons.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 5 Moses recounts the ten commandments. The differences between this and the original version in Exodus 20 is in Moses’ voice retelling. Here we have Moses’ own words, where earlier we had Moses’ recording of God’s words, but the meaning is the same. In the earlier decalogue, it was said here that you would live long if you honoured your parents, but here it is now live long and go well with you.
This is firstly practical, because parents love their children, and honouring them opens the door to their lifelong help and support, but also spiritual because there is a greater reality here than just practical outcomes. Going well with you is also something beyond this lifetime. These ten commandments, also called the decalogue, seem simple to keep at surface value, but in practice are nearly impossible for anyone to keep.
The last about coveting now goes deeper than just what one does, to what one desires, and there we have the heart exposed. Jesus in his sermon on the mount took this point much further when he said if anyone hates his brother he has already committed murder. This is such a difficult point for people to get their heads around, but the reality is that what we love or hate is who we are. Sin is in the heart, more than outwardly.
The temporary consequences of our actions affect us now, but there are eternal consequences for our desires. Verse 33 says “You shall walk in all the way which Yahweh your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”
Here the command to walk with the Lord is linked to having prolonged days, but it is spoken in a sense of not just one’s lifetimes, but of generations. When we walk with the Lord it has a future effect, as King David did on his generations.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 4 in verse 2 it says “You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I command you.” This is very similar to what is said in Revelation 22:19 “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”
On top of this Jesus said in Matt 5:18 that “not one smallest part of the law will disappear.” How do we as NT believers keep the commandments? The truth is that we look for Christ in the law and cling to Christ. We don’t cling to the shadows, but find the reality the shadows speak to. God spoke amazingly to these people back then, but we think that he has not spoken to us amazingly now. Yet we have the written words of God in our hands.
We also have the knowledge that the word became flesh and dwelled among us. God has spoken to us “in these last days by his son.” (Hebrews 1:2) We are in a much more privileged position than these Israelites. When we walk with the Lord this is the result.
We are not to understand the Law as a literal wooden thing that must be followed so strictly that we live as OT Jews. Rather the Law reveals the Lord who we follow and this is the result.
How Did Jesus keep the law when he seemed to violate some parts of it? Simply, he understood it at its true level, not what it was trying to illustrate. We see this type of thing at work in Jesus own life, in his language to his own disciples, for example in John 4 when he talked of having food to eat.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Deuteronomy 3 it recounts the defeat of Og of Bashan. In the previous chapter the defeat of Sihon king of the Amorites was also recounted. The victory over both of these kings, plus the defeat of Balak and the Moabites enabled them to conquer land and obtain wealth that was not part of the allotted promised land. Going into conquest they were well endowed with resources.
In the same way that God put wealth into their hands in leaving Egypt, now God is putting wealth into their hands in readiness for the conquest of Canaan. God is always providing what is required, even in abundance.
The NT says that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3) This tells us that the divine power of God which is clearly on display in Deuteronomy is also on display in our lives even if we don’t think it is explicit. As part of the recount of the conquest of Bashan, it talks of 60 cities with gates and bars.
The idea of a city with gates and bars at the timing of the Exodus (1400BCE) is interesting to some who struggle with the idea of steel in the Transjordan, but archaeology in the Transjordan has already located these things in the region of Bashan at that time.
https://biblearchaeology.org/research/conquest-of-canaan/3630-new-light-on-the-forgotten-conquest
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video on Deuteronomy 2 we start in 2 Kings 22, where it recounts the story of how the book of the law was discovered in the temple. This is either the entire 5 books of Moses, or most often believed to be this book, Deuteronomy. The teaching element of this book caused King Josiah to tear his clothes and repent, bringing the last great reform to Israel.
That reform was so significant that while it didn’t stop the impending Babylonian invasion and the destruction of Jerusalem, the revival changed the hearts of many so that in exile they were faithful to God. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are examples of people who were influenced in Josiah’s reform, under the influence of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy is also the book second most quoted by Christ after the Psalms according to Shari Abbott in her web article on the quotes of Jesus. He has quoted or referred to Deuteronomy more than 50 times in the gospels. https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/old-testament-book-jesus-quote-often/
So it's not just a repeat, but a powerfully inspired book. Many so-called experts have tried to make out that Deuteronomy is a later invention made during the time of King Josiah and then supposedly discovered as the book of the law. Even though this is believed, it is complete nonsense. It is so full of things which match perfectly during the time period including archaic turns of speech, and egyptisms which come form an Egyptian trained Moses.
Plus society had changed so much that it would make no sense to make up some of the things in the books, such as daughters having an inheritance, or the dividing up the land between tribes the way it did and many other practical things like that which had no purpose if it was written 700 years later than it was. In verse 7 it recounts that they lacked nothing, but on the other hand they were in the desert and life seemed bleak.
Such can reflect the Christian life at times, being both mundane and supernatural simultaneously. This is worth contemplating on, for what seems to us a life with nothing much happening is profoundly important and our eyes should be opened.
In this video listen to Deuteronomy 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Deuteronomy 1 starts with “These are the words of Moses.” In Hebrew,the name for this book is Debarim from the phrase,ʾēlleh haddĕbārîm, meaning ‘these are the words.’ And in Greek the name of the book is Deutero Nomos meaning the second law. Forty years earlier Moses had an encounter with God at the burning bush and argued with God five times about his suitability for service.
One of his key arguments was that he could not speak, but God clearly knew what he had created. Here we see what God saw when he called Moses, and the many words that came from Moses from God. What a spiritual and personal change in his life resulted from doing what God required.
The Israelites are about to enter the promised land, but two things are noteworthy. First, this is the new generation that wasn’t alive when the law was given, and they didn’t experience the setting up of the tabernacle, Mt Sinai, the crossing of the red sea and slavery itself. Only two of them, Caleb and Joshua, apart from those under 20 at the time have any memory of Egypt.
So Moses is effectively speaking to a new group and informing their collective memory. But secondly, Moses is about to die, and this entire book equates to something of a deathbed speech, where the dying words of a man are more important and living in light of what is about to happen. Deuteronomy also represents the closest thing in the OT to teaching.
While the NT is full of doctrine and explanation, there is really nothing in the OT like that, but here we get a little closer as Moses tries to explain reasons for some things, such as in Deuteronomy 8:3 where Moses explains why God put the people through humbling experiences to teach them.
In this video listen to Numbers 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 36 we have a continuation from what was previously discussed in Numbers 27. There it was realised that these daughters had to marry within their tribe or the inheritance would be lost. Sometimes to so called experts, these chapters can seem like an appendage with no meaning, but nothing is wasted in the Bible.
Spiritually, if we join ourselves to things outside of our tribe, that is outside to Christ, we find that we end up losing our inheritance. Or certainly it has an effect on our children and posterity. Also, it speaks of marriage and the importance of marrying within the Body of Christ, because to marry outside risks the loss of inheritance also. Paul in the NT talks about being equally yoked and it carries the same gravity of this passage.
And finally we come to the end of Numbers. The desert book (bemidbar) is over, and they are standing on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan ready to enter the promised land. It has been an incredible 40 years. But now there are still important spiritual things to do, which the book of Deuteronomy shall cover.
In this video listen to Numbers 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 35 six of the Levite cities were to be designated cities of refuge - not for injustice so that one would escape, but so that one would ensure that he obtained justice. If someone accidentally killed someone, they were labelled the manslayer. The protection of the manslayer was for cases of manslaughter, and not deliberate murder.
The cities of refuge were intended for both Israelites and foreigners, just as the justice of Christ is for all people, regardless of background. Anyone who comes to Christ can find refuge in Him. This passage was used incredibly among the stone age tribes of Irian Jaya who had such areas or protection in their midst, and was used to relate the gospel to them and bring many to Christ.
Don Richardson relates this in his book Lords of the Earth. We can come to Christ - our place of refuge.
In this video listen to Numbers 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 34 is outlined the boundaries of the land, and who was selected to help divide it up. The land extended from the Mediterranean on the west to the Jordan on the East, but most interestingly, three of the tribes had already selected land outside of these boundaries on the other side of the Jordan.
They had chosen an “inheritance” that was “outside of God’s promise.” This is something that many people do today, choosing things they think are wonderful, but outside of Gods’ boundaries for them.
Ultimately they end up with nothing, as was the case for these three tribes in the course of time. This video also discusses the names of the 12 men who helped divide up the land, all of which are hugely fascinating.
In this video listen to Numbers 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 33 Moses recounts the journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab, where they are about to enter the promised land, and he does so step by step, location by location.
THe starting location is the region of Rameses, which is modern day Tel Daba, or the ancient city of Avaris. Most of the locations are known to us today, but commentator Cole has 14 of them listed as unknown, which makes complete sense for something that happened thousands of years ago in a desert.
This video will comment on a few of the more interesting locations, and then finally on the significant of the number of them, being 42. This is the same number of the generations from Abraham to Jesus, and gives us a symbolic picture of our salvation, from slavery through to freedom.
In this video listen to Numbers 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 32 the tribes of Reuben and Gad request land be given to them east of the Jordan.
This was in the territory they had conquered from the eastern kings. (see previous chapters of Numbers) Moses was wary of repeating the problem of 40 years earlier, of shirking the fight because of a lack of faith.
But these 2 tribes don’t shirk the fight, and promise to settle and then send the men to keep the fight, and Moses is happy with that. It was beneficial because it provided a chance to settle where they were guaranteed to get land they liked (because of their cattle) and also to settle their families, and not take them into further warfare.. But there were two issues:
First of faith, were they shirking? And second being mindful of others. Would they fight not just for themselves, but for others? After being given permission, the tribe of Manasseh is also assigned land east of the Jordan too.
In this video listen to Numbers 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 31 They are now taking on the source of their temptation, and going to war against the forces which led Israel into sin and temptation previously. Phinehas is chosen to be the leader. This is hugely sensible because he is resistant to the potential for temptation that exists and other Israelites succumbed to earlier in the book of Numbers.
In our spiritual lives, when we have faced temptation and been defeated, we must overcome, but to go straight into the battle in the same state as before is a disastrous idea. Instead we must rally behind one that has not succumbed to temptation, which is Christ. Jesus said the evil one “has nothing in me.” Jesus also overcame the devil during forty days of testing in the wilderness and overcame, unlike the Israelites whose 40 years of testing in the desert was a disaster. We should take on those things that affect us in prayer, humility and bedding the guidance and leadership of Christ.
Our prayer should be that we “love righteousness, and hate wickedness.” Everything captured is destroyed except animals and unmarried women, essentially the girls. Passages like these sound horrific to the modern worldly mind, but spiritually the lesson is apt. We must not fall again into the same sin which previously entrapped us. We must be careful to remove all the sources of future temptation. The modern mind doesn’t really equate how abhorrent sin is to God, and how he sees all things from an eternal perspective.
God could easily have destroyed the Midianites via an earthquake or some other method, but in using Israel, we are taught a valuable lesson in confronting sin. These numbers of captured items are huge. 675000 sheep, 72000 cattle, 61000 donkeys, 32000 unmarried women.
The plunder from the defeat of the one who antagonised is a picture of what treasures are available to those who overcome sin. The rewards and treasury of Christ are huge when we press in and defeat the adversary who holds us back.
In this video listen to Numbers 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 30 we consider making vows. God took vows seriously, and here indicates vows shall not be broken. In the New Testament we are told by Jesus to simply let our yes be yes and our no be no, everything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matt 5:37) Making vows doesn’t make us holier, but instead binds us into legalism, from which we are surely bound to fail.
John Alley (my father) has a great teaching on the danger of vows and covenants. In particular the great Jonathan Edwards had overseen a wonderful revival in Northampton (I believe from memory) that he wanted to protect. He covenanted with the people to do certain things to preserve the revival, where it immediately ceased.
The vows were the death blow. John encourages us to simply cling to Christ’s words and not make our own. Making vows out of sincerity to help enhance our walk with the Lord only hinders instead. The rest of the chapter is about vows that women make, which can be overridden by the men in her life. Firstly here a father can override a daughter’s vow.
But if a woman had taken a vow and then later married, her husband can now override the vow and release her. A husband can override a wife who makes a new vow, but if he doesn’t it stands, but a divorced or woman who is widowed is bound by her vows. Is this similar to Adam, when learning of Eve’s sin, doesn’t overrule it, but accepts it, and thus it becomes his sin? Forever it is the sin of Adam.
Rather than the modern way of thinking which sees this as ‘patriarchal’ and a curse to women, instead this should be seen as a blessing. Rather it is the men who foolishly make vows and bind themselves with no voice to override their momentary words. Christ’s words to not make vows, because they are from the evil one, (Matt 5:37) seems to be relevant here to both men and women.
In this video listen to Numbers 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 29 the summary of sacrifices in the feasts continues. Confusingly for those not in the know, there were two years in the Jewish calendar, There was the usual year and the religious or ceremonial year. This is similar to Australians who have the normal year, and the financial year. Here the feast of trumpets is described as happening in the seventh month, but is also the first day of the normal year. It is a kind of day for new years resolutions. It depends on which calendar is being discussed. The day of atonement is the tenth day of the normal year. After this, the three great feasts are summarised in this video.
Firstly of the three great feasts is Passover, which equates with our salvation, and represents the outer court of the temple where we come to God.
The second of the feasts is Passover and represents the giving of the spirit, or the baptism into power, and represents the holy place in the temple. Believers who have experienced the spirit are drawn closer to God.
Finally the third great feast is tabernacles, which represents a true knowing of God, that is dwelling with him, an intimacy. This is represented by the holiest place, being in the very presence of God. The huge number of sacrifices at tabernacles represent the hugeness of the gift of God to all people in bringing us to Himself, but also represent the sacrifice required by those who truly want to know God. John the apostle writes in his short letters of children, young men and fathers, representing the three stages of christian life, and symbolised by the three feasts.
Those who have come to “know Him” have experienced tabernacles and really dwell with God.
In this video listen to Numbers 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 28 and the next chapter, all the offerings and feasts of Israel are summarised. This video considers a couple of things in this chapter. First, on the daily sacrifices. The daily sacrifice was two lambs, one in the morning at 9am, and the other in the afternoon at 3pm.
These coincide with the time Christ was nailed to the cross, and the time that he died. Second about Passover & the Feast of Unleavened Bread Passover is the night of the last supper, most likely to be Wednesday April 25th, 31AD according to my own calculations.
The feast of unleavened bread was a seven day feast starting the day after Passover. Because Jesus died on Passover (sundown of April 25th to sundown of April 26th 31AD) it meant the next day was the start of the feast of unleavened bread and a Sabbath by default, and a Friday. The next day was the usual sabbath giving two in a row.
Matthew 28:1 records (in greek) the resurrection occurred ‘after the sabbaths.’ What is important isn’t whether Jesus died on any particular day of the week, or that we even know what the date was, but that he died for us.
In this video listen to Numbers 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 27 two points are covered. First, How exactly does a father keep his family name, and his inheritance, when he has only daughters? This chapter explains how.
Some of the specific details as to how this would happen were ironed out in Numbers 36 where the daughters would be required to marry within their tribe only. Spiritually this is a precursor to the New Testament position where if you are in Christ you receive an inheritance. According to Paul there is no greek or jew, no male or female, and no slave or free.
In Christ inheritance is for everyone. Second, Moses does as the Lord commands and anoints his successor, passing on his authority. Such a godly thing alleviates a succession struggle afterwards, and also allows grace to pass from father to son in the Lord.
It is now going to be Joshua and Eleazar instead of Moses and Aaron. The laying on of hands is a real thing, because the Lord decrees it. The New Testament says not to lay hands on someone hastily, not only because of what people will think, or because of the danger of pride to the individual, but because of the spiritual power that is attached.
An amateur in such a position is ill equipped to handle the opinions of others, the pride and the power. But Joshua is hardly an amateur. Aside from Moses, only Caleb is older than 40 years old. He has served faithfully for 40 years, and was one of only two to keep the faith during the years of testing. Joshua is a type of Christ.
In this video listen to Numbers 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 26 we find the second census. The first was taken about one year into the wilderness time in the early chapters of Numbers, and the second at the end of 40 years. This provides the opportunity for comparison.
Reuben: Down 2,270 (-6%)
Simeon: Down 37,100 (-63%)
Gad: Down 5,150 (-11%)
Judah: Up 1,900 (+2.5%)
Issachar: Up 9,900 (+18%)
Zebulun: Up 2,100 (+5.5%)
Ephraim: Down 8,000 (-20%)
Manasseh: Up 20,500 (+63%)
Benjamin: Up 10,200 (+29%)
Dan: Up 1,700 (+2.5%)
Asher: Up 11,900 (+28%)
Naphtali: Down 8,000 (-15%)
TOTAL: Down 1820 (less than -1%)
Firstly we note that the grand total is roughly the same, slightly less. Usually one would expect modest growth over a forty year period, of at least 2-3%. However in this case, given the plagues in the wilderness, the judgements of God, and the harsh terrain, its actually remarkable that it didn’t decline more. Interestingly, inheritance is based on fruitfulness.
Those tribes which obeyed the Lord had greater populations and were more fruitful. Certain tribes which complained and rebelled, such as Simeon which was key in the Baal-peor problem, had less people.
They were thus allocated less inheritance. Levi is counted separately and the males (1 month+) grew by 1000.
In this video listen to Numbers 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Numbers 25 is a continuation of the Balaam story from the previous chapter. At first this seems at surface value to have no connection with Balaam, yet what happens in this chapter is the result of his advice to Balak. Balaam instinctively knew that God would be displeased with his own people if they sinned against him, so he enticed them to sin. This incident is recorded in Micah 6:5 and elaborated further in Revelation 2:14
Moabite and Midianite women tempt the Israelites into sexual sin, and it displeases God. Israel had been in the desert for 40 years, where following the ten commandments was simpler, absent from temptation. But the rest of the pagan world was heavily involved in sexually oriented religious practices, and this mingling with Moab was too tempting.
Such was the same for the Corinthian believers, and for many people all through history and even today. Why is a Midianite woman involved when a plan of Moab is underway? Simply because King Balak the king of Moab was a Midianite, ruling over both groups.
Various individuals may be one or the other, but both tribes are cooperating at this point. Phinehas becomes zealous for God, and kills Zimri and Cozbi, two of the perpetrators. God then makes a covenant with this individual, as he did with Abraham.
However, through the cross, he has made this same covenant of peace with us all. May we all be jealous for God as Phinehas was. Zimri and Cozbi are people of high ranking. This suggests a deliberate planned event here, not just giving into temptation that comes by occasion.
Coffman’s commentary says the name Cozbi means “voluptuous” in its language. This adds another element to the discussion.
In this video listen to Numbers 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 24 we have the last 5 of 7 prophecies by Balaam who was wrongly motivated, but spoke truly. Unlike the previous two prophecies, the Holy Spirit now comes upon the very unholy Balaam. This point is notable for a few reasons. Firstly, the idea that the Holy Spirit will not come on an unholy person is shown to be untrue.
Even the gross sin, and evil motivations of Balaam were not more powerful than the intentions of God to work through him. Secondly, this demonstrates that having the gift of prophecy is not a guarantee that one is themselves holy. Not only in this example, but later with King Saul, we see that even the unholy have prophesied, even accurately.
Prophecy number 4 is the standout of Balaam’s seven messages. This must also be one of the most remarkable of all the Old Testament prophecies, even though coming from a false prophet. In that prophecy it speaks of Christ. Even Jews who don’t acknowledge Jesus, do acknowledge that this is a Messianic prophecy. King David, who came a few hundred years later, was a type of precursor of the Messiah, and there is a partial fulfilment of some parts of the prophecy in him, but the fulness is in Jesus Christ.
Balaam didn’t actually return to Aram, as the next chapter shows. He presented to Balak an alternate strategy to undermine Israel, despite knowing God had determined to bless them. He set himself against the Lord, and died on the Moabite side as Joshua 13:22 records.
In this video listen to Numbers 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 23 the story of Balaam’s attempt to curse Israel continues. He is determined to go through with his attempt, even though he knows God doesn’t approve. He tries various ways to get God to speak evil, but only good comes out each time.
Out of his mouth come some of the most profound prophetic blessings in the entire Bible, despite him being a false prophet. Chapter 23 contains the first two of seven prophecies by Balaam. He is a false prophet not in the sense that his words were false, but in that his motivations were false. In verse 24, it says for example: “Behold, a people rises up as a lioness.
As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.” The Israelites are compared to a lioness, and then it says a “lion” will lift himself up and will not lie down until he eats of the prey and drinks the blood of the slain. Here we have a reference to Christ who will rise and humiliate Satan at Calvary.
The New Testament puts is even more cleary when Paul wrote that Christ “having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15) Some of the greatest Messianic prophecies have come through the prophetic voice of a man whose heart was far from God.
One wonders, why does God use such people? The truth is that like the donkey in the previous chapter, God can use anyone, oor anything, even Judas Iscariot. Even Satan unwittingly played into the hands of the Almighty bringing glory to His name through his own rebellion.
In this video listen to Numbers 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 22 the nation of Moab is terrified of the Israelites. In the last 40 years they defeated the Egyptian Empire, and then brought down the two big kings on the east side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og.
They didn’t engage with the Edomites because of God’s requirement to leave them alone, but they also defeated the Amalekites and the King of Arad. They have a history with God’s help of mighty military accomplishments. The King of Moab has realised there is spiritual power at work and he is going to endeavor to counter it spiritually too. So he hires Balaam and the next few chapters cover what happens.
Some have asked how Moses knew all of these details so as to include it in his writings. The answer is simple. After the Israelites ultimately defeat Moab, this information became available to them from presumably both conversations with people, and from official archives, giving Moses information he needed to include in the written story of what happened.
Some commentators such as Bill Creasy from Logos have suggested that Balaam was just playing a clever bartering game pretending to not want to help, so as to up the financial stakes and earn more, but this isn’t right. Here clearly God is recorded as saying he refuses Balaam permission, so the increasing financial stakes simply show that Balaam is crooked and willing to compromise, but it just takes a higher amount of money to make it happen.
Then the incident happents with the talking donkey and the angel. Such an unusual event as this demonstrates that God uses unintelligent creatures for his purposoes. That we are used by God is not an indication of our usefulness, or our own intelligence or any other redeeming quality, but rather that God can be glorified by our willingness to be used.
In this video listen to Numbers 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 21 the Israelites come to the south of Canaan and engage in a battle with the King of Arad, who they defeat. They then endeavor to shortcut through Edom to the main part of Canaan, but Edom refuses and they have to go the long way around.
They end up complaining and God sends a plague of venomous snakes. God tells Moses to setup a snake on a pole, and anyone who looks at it will be healed. It is here we get one of the great items famous in the book of Numbers, and which is now used in medicine as the symbol of healing. And this symbol is also a picture of Christ right here in the Torah.
Jesus himself referred to this passage in John 3:14 when Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus. How though is Jesus like a snake? He isn’t, but the snake represents sin which had to be placed on Christ on the cross, for it to be dealt with. Later in 2 Kings 18:4, King Hezekiah had the bronze snake destroyed, which had been preserved somehow until that later time. It had become an object of worship against the Lord. Where was it kept all of that time?
Either way, there was a foreshadowing of the cross physically in their midst for about 700 years from this point until Hezekiah.
In this video listen to Numbers 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 1 we start the fourth book of Moses, which in reality is the fourth section of one big book. In Hebrew it is named Bemidbar which means wilderness. This entire book is placed in the desert and starts about 14 months after leaving Egypt.
The Israelites could have in theory gone directly to Canaan, a walk of just eleven days or so, but they were not in the frame of mind to have done so. The process from Egypt to this point has formed them into a nation, and put God in his place as the leader, but they are still far from capable as a force to take the promised land. The wilderness is their boot camp as this book shall explain.
Chapter 1 starts with a census of the men able to fight, which is also renumbered later. We find a great fighting force, but they are not yet (as we shall find out later in Numbers) mentally ready for a fight. The number is at 600000 fighting men, giving us maybe 2 million people in total.
This number is so great that skeptics claim the desert could not have supported them. Clearly this is true, which is why God supported them with manna and water. This was a forty year miracle.
Finally we conclude by realising that we too are supported by God every moment of our lives. We should not take God for granted, or grumble or complain for we occupy the same position as these Israelites.
In this video listen to Numbers 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 19 we meet the red heifer. A heifer is a female cow that hasn’t had a calf yet, so is technically a virgin cow. This is an interesting symbol which represents both Christ and the Church. First of Christ because it is a sacrifice that happens outside the camp, just as Christ was sacrificed outside the city. But secondly of the Church because this is a female heifer without spot and wrinkle, and is red. The church is also described as the wife of Christ, pure and spotless and red meaning under the blood of Christ.
As Christ dies for the Church, symbolised by the sacrifice of the red heifer, the church is also dead in him in the same symbolism. In baptism we are told that we died with Christ, so this symbol is both of these things. Numbers 19 describes how the ashes of this sacrificed heifer are for cleansing when a dead body was touched. It was to be used on day three and day seven after becoming unclean. As believers, when we die with Christ we are now a new creature, and we must let go of our old dead man, but sometimes we want to dig him up again.
But if we dig him up again, we become unclean. So we must go to Christ again. And as Christ was raised on the third day for our redemption, and in creation the seventh day is also the day of rest, we find our redemption and our rest in Christ. This is an example of a powerful Old Testament symbol. Do you keep digging up your old man? The answer is to go to Christ.
In this video listen to Numbers 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 18 Aaron and his sons are told they have to “bear the iniquity” or carry the responsibility of the administration of God’s holy things. Thus they were accountable for things that others were not accountable for. In the preceding chapters Korah and others with him had aspired to this role and perished because of their terrible attitude, but this reminds Aaron not to be proud or presumptuous, but rather careful with the things of God.
This is also a reminder of James 3:1, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” It speaks to us of those serving God today that a similar weight rests on them. The priests also made a living from the offerings of the people. The benefits of this are two-fold.
Firstly who would serve in this highly responsible position at their own expense? And secondly, the priest can do the best job when his mind is given to it, and not concerned with supporting his family. This is also a reflection of the modern ministry, that those who serve God should be able to focus on service, and not be concerned about the welfare of their families. Some churches pay their pastors poorly thinking it is godly to do so, but such a thing is wicked.
Later in the scriptures, Paul DID work at his own expense, and many ministers do for varying reasons. Paul didn’t want to be paid for his work, because he wanted it to be a gift to God. Paul also didn’t want to be obliged to people, and gifts given must be obligation free, with no strings attached This video considers these things.
In this video listen to Numbers 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 17 we have a continuation of the former chapter which relates the story of Korah’s rebellion. Here God is going to settle the question once and for all who he has chosen.
God initiates a test. The twelve leaders of the twelve tribes placed their staffs in God’s presence, and God said the staff of the leader he had chosen would bud. The following morning the rod of Aaron not only budded, but produced almonds. This was a grand gesture to demonstrate God had chosen the sons of Aaron to minister as priests. Even despite such a grand sign the complaining didn’t stop. The problem with people is like this, when our heart is set against something, no amount of reason or evidence is enough.
After this, further complaining ensued as is seen later in Numbers. And in fact after seeing this sign, the people cried out that they would perish. Why? Coffmans says that their reaction was a sign of their lack of repentance. Clearly they believed they were still right, and somehow God was wrong.
What should have been their reaction? And what should our attitude be towards a leader God has chosen? We have a clear biblical example in seeing David’s attitude to King Saul.
In this video listen to Numbers 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 16 we find the story of Korah, a Kohathite responsible for moving the tabernacle. He was not a priest, because he was not a son of Aaron. He wanted elevated responsibility, and wanted a position not assigned to him. He had ministry jealousy.
The need for recognition is something we all have. Why God chose Moses who didn’t want to be chosen, and didn’t choose Korah and others who did want to be chosen is not something we have been told, but it is almost certainly something to do with the inner workings of the heart. As a pastor I have long trusted people who have a big heart for the ministry, but are not self promoters.
On the other hand, when someone pushes themselves forward, even if they are talented, it's hard to feel good about trusting them. What is needed is the spirit of sonship in God’s people, which is the attitude Christ had towards his father in Heaven. We need this sonship towards the leaders over us here and now, because how we love and serve them that we can see, IS how we love and serve God that we cannot see.
Joshua and Caleb were two individuals who displayed a heart of sonship towards Moses, supporting and serving with a big heart. Joshua inherited the ‘ministry’ from Moses despite not asking for it, whereas in this story, the rebels were cut off despite seeking the ministry.
This video discusses ministry jealousy, the calling of God, and how to love your spiritual leaders with a spirit of sonship, that is the attitude that Christ had towards his father.
In this video listen to Numbers 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 15 we consider defiant sin, the tassels on the clothing of Jews, and whether the law was excessive when it killed a sabbath breaker for collecting wood. FIrstly, defiant sin is not only wilful, but deliberately wilful. All people at some time have committed willful sin, but in their minds they were not rejecting God, even if practically they were doing so.
Defiant sin is the deliberate chosen rejection of God and it bears consequences. The Law seems at times to us overly tough. Yet the law was a precious gift to not just Israel, but to all humanity. Without the law grace could never have been given. If God wanted to give grace, against a backdrop of no law, that is against a backdrop of lawlessness, then there would never be anyone righteous. Nobody would know of the seriousness of sin, nobody would know how righteous living was needed, and nobody would feel bad after doing anything at all.
Without the law grace would just be what was already there, it would be an approval of lawlessness. So the law had to come, and it had to be a real law, that is it had to have real consequences. This passage shows us that the law of God did have real consequences, and during the forty years in the desert the Lord applied the law not just for the benefit of those there at the time, but for all humanity to follow. Later in the Psalms, especially in Psalm 119, the Law of the Lord is extolled. It is a lamp unto our feet. This remains true to this very day.
Finally we consider the tassels worn by the Israelits, and we note that the Lord Jesus wore such tassels. In Matt 9:21 the story is told of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, and who touched the “hem” of his garment. In greek it seems it was the tassel that she touched.
In this video listen to Numbers 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 14 the problem with the Israelites wasn’t the realisation they couldn’t take the land, but not trusting God who could do it. Joshua and Caleb had it figured out, they knew the Lord was with them, and He is with you. It is a fact that when God is with you, you STILL go to difficult places, but you go through them with him. It is a mistake to think that if God is with you, there will not be problems.
There may be even greater problems, but this is to teach us that we trust in Him. The NT scriptures say, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) It is precisely in our weakness, and in danger, and in trouble that God is able to shine, and so he takes us to those places deliberately.
So God is displeased and has to punish. He decides that everyone twenty or older will not inherit the promised land, with the only exceptions being Caleb and Joshua. By the time they do come to conquest in another 39 years or so, the new groups of Israelites are going to think differently. They will not think like slaves, and will be ready to inherit what God promised.
There is nothing more insulting to God than refusing to receive his promises, that is refusing to trust Him for them. God has made promises to you too and he wants to take you the hard way to get there and in doing so show himself to you.
In this video listen to Numbers 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 13 we finally come to the moment when the spies are going into the land. Its well over a year since they have left Egypt. Moses is going to name the twelve spies from the twelve tribes.
We should keep in mind that all of these people had been born into slavery and served thier entire lives as slaves. They have now been free just over one year, having come out of Egypt and seen what God did in great majestic power. They were also all leaders, so very influential.
The problem for them was Nephilim. In Genesis 6 it also talks of Nephilim, and all sorts of wild theories have abounded about this “super race” etc. It’s not magical, these were just bigger people, or giants.
In African today in the nation of Uganda and nearby nations such as Rwanda there are tribes with taller people like the Watusi (the Tutsi) living near tribes with smaller people such as the Pygmy. All of this is just natural variation in humanity, and the Nephilim were big people.
Their report was one of pessimism. After having seen what God did to the Egyptians, one wonders why more of the spies didn’t feel they could enter the promised land.
The problem here, and also the problem of grumbling and complaining in the earlier chapters, is that their eyes were on themselves. Eyes should be on the Lord.
In this video listen to Numbers 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 12 we hear that Moses had an Ethiopian wife, and it's a bit surprising. Josephus tells us her name was Tharpa. Previously when he was serving Pharaoh in Egypt, Moses had gone on a military campaign to Ethiopia and conquered. He had taken a princess to be his wife. Now Moses’ family complains about him, but it is really an attempt to make themselves more prominent. This chapter explains what happens with this. Notably it includes Moses’ own statement about how humble he was.
What is humility? Can someone say this about themselves and still be humble? This video is going to answer this question with a yes, and explain why.
God then got very angry with Moses’ family when they complained against Moses, but why? Because it was effectively complaining against Him. When we complain against God’s leaders, it is a complaint directly against the Lord. Leaders have faults, but God uses them anyhow and their weaknesses can be a great highlight to God’s strength.
This chapter is a lesson in humility and thankfulness What would have happened if the people had thanked God for Moses? Watch the video and learn.
In this video listen to Numbers 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 11 and in the following chapters, are going to outline a LOT of complaining from people, including Moses’ own family. There is not doubt that life was tough in the desert, but it was a test. And in the same way, we are also tested by tough things. As believers we must REFUSE to blame God. The NT scriptures tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.”
We all sympathise with how tyresome manna would have become, but rather than complaining, a simple request of the Lord with faith would have provided the meat and also pleased Him. The complaining assumes that God is opposed to you. The Israelites despite having seen all that God had done for them, had interpreted his intentions towards them negatively. But the NT scriptures tell us in Romans 8:32 that “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” So, finally they got meat, but they died. It is possible that we can push God for things, but they're NOT good for us ultimately.
Later in the chapter Moses tells God that he cannot handle the workload, so God puts the Holy Spirit on 70 others, but two miss the meeting but yet still receive the Spirit despite being in the camp elsewhere. Moses comments on this that “I wish all God’s people would receive the Spirit.” This is now a NT reality, and if you do not have the Spirit, it cannot be blamed on others, only on your own lack of knowledge, or lack of desire.
In this video listen to Numbers 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 10 we have instructions about how to use two silver trumpets. These were for summoning the people to gatherings, and to signalling them when the entire group was about to set off for travel.
Trumpets are everywhere in the Bible used for many purposes. Firstly, earlier in Exodus when the people were at Mt Sinai, and after that used for warnings, going into battle, summoning people, announcement of judgement and more. The idea of a trumpet blast before the entire congregation moving on to a new place (as in this chapter) is like the last trumpet before all God’s people are called home. Trumpets are very symbolic.
Trumpets used 114 times in the NIV including:
Giving of the Law An annual feast - Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) for Reconciliation
Call to War
Used in the Story of Gideon
Used in Joel’s Pentecost Prophecy (Aka Giving of the Law again)
Summons for a Gathering of People
End time Judgements
The Last Trumpet is Christ’s return
The Day of the Lord
And Finally, the trumpets blow and they Leave Sinai for the first time. They have been here for over a year since leaving Egypt and God has done many things with them, and they are now going to Canaan. Except, they don’t trust God and are going to wander for another 38 years.
Paul would later write in 1 Corinthians 10:11 - “Now these things happened unto them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.” After all God had done, why didn’t they trust him?
In this video listen to Numbers 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 9 some people missed being able to celebrate the passover because they had touched a dead body and were ceremonially unclean. Moses sought the Lord and they were required to celebrate a week later.
This demonstrated the importance of making it a priority. This also meant that people would not deliberately touch a dead body so as to miss out on having to celebrate Passover. We see parallels to church attendance:
People who don’t want to go, doing things to have an excuse not to goo
We should be making attendance a priority.
The Church is also God’s people, so we make them a priority.
There is much to say about this.
Later in the chapter we see God’s leading of the Israelites by a pillar of cloud and fire.
This was a very obvious and tangible way that God used to lead his people.
God starts with tangible to explain non tangible, and this happening from the Old Testament informs us about the nature of our life and faith now. Each of us is to be led, but as a group we are also to be led of the Lord.
But how?
We need to discern God’s will and Romans 12:2 speaks to that. We also need to abound in God’s love and Philippians 1:10 speaks to that. Love and truth as described above and both representative of Christ, who like the pillar of cloud and fire guides us today.
In this video listen to Numbers 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 8 the scriptures talk again about the candlestick. The discussion of the menorah has been spread out in many places. First in Exodus 25:31-40, where it is planned.
Second in Exodus 37:17-34, where it is made. Third in Exodus 40:24,25, where it is set up. Fourth in Leviticus 24:2, where talks about the sacred oil and now here we find the actual lighting described. Interestingly, God seems to not say everything about one subject in one place, and in fact the entire Bible is like this, it requires searching out to understand, and nobody can quickly know everything.
The bible requires more than a mind, it requires heart and will. This means that those with mind only either are hardened in pride, or give up thinking the Bible is foolish. They are prevented from finding the greatest of treasures. In the scriptures the lampstand represents three things: Christ himself who is our light The word of God…. “my word is a lamp unto they feet” (Psalm 119:105) The church - see Revelation 1
The reality is that without Christ, his word and the church we do not have proper light. Some people think they can in theory have one without the others but it doesn’t work as intended. Some think they can have Church or the Word without Christ, but that leads to heresy, or apostasy, or strange misunderstandings. But likewise people are not supposed to pursue Christ and ignore his people the church, somehow they miss Christ when they do this thinking they have him.
Finally the chapter ends discussing the commissioning of the Levites for service. There was a difference between Levites and Priests. Priests were Levites descended from Aaron, of the tribe of Kohath, but the Levites were a much bigger group. The ages when people could start working were
In this video listen to Numbers 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 7 we have the third longest chapter in the Bible with 89 verses. It is narrowly beaten by Deuteronomy 28 which has less verses but more words, and significantly beaten by Psalm 119. One of the things that makes this chapter long is the repetition. You would think that there is no point repeating the same thing twelve times.
But it is a clue about the dating of the book, being dated to the time of Moses, when all the literature of that point was repetitive in this manner. Some people think the book was written later, made up by priests after the Babylonian exile, but they wouldn’t have included repetition like this. The repetition is a dead giveaway that its old. Also, the writing is in prose.
All ancient writing was poetry with the exception of that coming out of Egypt. This is a dead giveaway that it was written by someone trained in Egypt writing. Obviously Moses. But spiritually, why all the repetition? God notices the things you individually bring to Him, and do for hIm. God doesn’t just look at the collective good happening in the world, but he knows each and every person’s involvement.
God knows your heart and your involvement, and a chapter like this demonstrates that what each person does specifically has purpose. Two things are worth stating. First do not be disheartened as though nobody has noticed. One of the great tests of this lifetime is how we handle the lack of recognition. Most people will not be recognised, but the Lord knows.
Second, it is a reminder that each of us has a part to play and not to look at the huge amount of good done by others, and think there is no need for our own contribution. That thought is a trap that renders your life meaningless.
In this video listen to Numbers 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 6 This chapter has two things Rules about nazarites The priestly blessing for Israel
Firstly Nazirites
A Nazirite is not the same as a Nazarene, which is a person from Nazareth. Nazir is a hebrew word that suggests consecrated or separated.
Only three lifetime Nazarites are listed in the Bible being Sampson, Samuel and John the Baptist. All three of them had special circumstances where their mothers could not have children and the children were dedicated to God at birth. And in Acts 24, Paul paid for a few men who were finishing off their Nazirite vows, this was to demonstrate he was not an enemy of the Law of Moses. As believers we are all supposed to be consecrated to God. This is not about our hair or not touching dead bodies, but rather about keeping our hearts clean before him.
Secondly, The Priestly Blessing
The oldest piece of scripture found…. The aaronic blessing. God has always blessed his people…. But we have often turned our backs on his blessing. Sometimes problems have brought us back to him. The last year the world has been terribly shaken by COVID, many have died, but at the same time, these words have inspired many people and strengthened many hearts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9EK8dAXl6I
In this video listen to Numbers 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 5 we find the test for an unfaithful wife. This seems unfair to modern people, but this is actually remarkable progressive and this video will explain why.
In the ancient near east culture at the time, trial by ordeal was common. Women suspected of adultery could be thrown into water with weights attached. If they floated, they must be guilty, but if they drowned, alas they were innocent. Or they could be tested by fire. Their hand was plunged into the flames and if it burned, they were guilty, but if it wasn’t burned they were innocent and could be released. In these cases everything was against them.
But this Bible passage flips it around completely, putting the matter in the hands of God, not in the hands of people. A miracle is required to prove guilt, rather than prove innocent. And in the case that the woman is vindicated, which is more likely, the jealous husband is shown to have unfounded suspicion, and not trust his own wife.
This was a huge step forward because it protected women’s rights. Dr Creasy says it should be called the test of a jealous husband, not the test for an unfaithful wife.
If God didn’t put things like this in place back then, we would never think the way we did now, about equality and the like. These type of rules have changed the way the world thinks and brought us to today. We should be amazed at our God who knew what was needed at what time.
Finally, symbolically we are the Lord’s wife, and must be careful of being unfaithful to Him. Such unfaithfulness will eat us away from the inside and make us fruitless.
In this video listen to Numbers 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 4 we have a census of the working Levites from the ages of 30-50. Priestly workers were unable to start their service to God until they were 30, and this is something we see with Jesus who came to serve as our great High priest. He didn’t minister until he was 30.
But these people also gave the prime of their lives to God’s service. Some people think that they should give the prime of their lives to their careers and only serve God later in life when they have more time. But this passage shows that we serve god in all we do, and that we should give him time, love and energy in our prime.
This chapter contains the instructions for packing the moving the tabernacle. The Kohathites were to pack it up, and were responsible for moving the furnishings. The other two mini tribes, the Merarites and the Gershomites were to move everything else such as the walls, veil, roofing, fencing and more.
Everything is packed up properly and covered in cloth and leather, no doubt this is how things are made to last in the desert.
But we note that some items are packed with blue cloth, some with scarlet and one with purple. Why these colors? These are the same colors repeatedly used in the descriptions of the building of the tabernacle in Exodus.
Blue is the colour of heaven, of holiness, of healing Red is blood, of atonement, reminiscent of our sin and also of flesh and man Purple is royalty (a mixing of man and of heaven…. Atonement of Christ)
The symbolism right through the Bible is huge and one can hardly pick up on most of it. For example we see that the altar is the only item covered in purple. Hebrews tells us that Christ is our altar. And in Mark 15:17, Christ is covered in a purple robe when going to the cross just as it is here. So we see both the altar, and Christ who is our altar clothed in purple.
In this video listen to Numbers 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 3 the tribe of Levi missing from the chapter 1 census is now counted, and they are placed in their position in the camp now.
Levi has three mini tribes, of Kohath, Gershom and Merari which are placed around the tabernacle as such:
Westward side (which is the back) Gershom
Southern side: Kohath
Northern side: Merari
Eastward side: Moses and his family, Aaron, his two remaining sons and their families.
What is interesting here is the comment in verse twenty three that the Gershonites shall camp behind the tabernacle, which is westward. This shows that for them the East is the most significant point in the compass, and is the top of their layout. Thinking back to the last chapter, this means that the Eastward three tribes, led by Judah is at the top of the layout, not the right.
Who cares?
God obviously cares and detail matters to him. Imagine your own camping situation setting up just one tent for one family with no organisation. Now imagine setting up tents for millions of people. Systems are needed.
In the same way our lives matter to him. We can trust he has the details in hand, and so when things are not as ordered as we want, we need to make sure we are doing things the Lord’s way.
In this video listen to Numbers 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 2 scripture explains the marching and the campaign layout of the Israelites. All 12 tribes are placed in 4 groups of 3 as follows:
First Group to march out (East Camping Group) led by Judah is the strongest.
Second Group to march (South camping group) led Reuben is the third strongest
Third Group to march (West camping group) led by Ephraim is the weakest
Last Group to march (North camping group) led by Dan is the second strongest The tribe of Levi is with the tabernacle right in the middle. Each of the groups, representing three of the twelve tribes, would march out in the order above, putting the strongest two groups and the front and the rear. The tribe of Judah is the leader here.
There are various drawings of what this looks like in camp. Some have rendered it like a big rectangle around the tabernacle. Others think it looks like a cross coming out from the tabernacle. But it could also have been more of cross with the arms running up and down instead of left to right.
One thing is certain, the camp setup in the same way every time, and so everyone followed a pattern and order and knew where they were. Dr Creasy observes that everyone knew their position in relation to God. Because the tabernacle was in their midst in the same place, Do you know your position in relationship to God?
In this video listen to Numbers 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 1 we start the fourth book of Moses, which in reality is the fourth section of one big book. In Hebrew it is named Bemidbar which means wilderness. This entire book is placed in the desert and starts about 14 months after leaving Egypt.
The Israelites could have in theory gone directly to Canaan, a walk of just eleven days or so, but they were not in the frame of mind to have done so. The process from Egypt to this point has formed them into a nation, and put God in his place as the leader, but they are still far from capable as a force to take the promised land. The wilderness is their boot camp as this book shall explain.
Chapter 1 starts with a census of the men able to fight, which is also renumbered later. We find a great fighting force, but they are not yet (as we shall find out later in Numbers) mentally ready for a fight. The number is at 600000 fighting men, giving us maybe 2 million people in total.
This number is so great that skeptics claim the desert could not have supported them. Clearly this is true, which is why God supported them with manna and water. This was a forty year miracle.
Finally we conclude by realising that we too are supported by God every moment of our lives. We should not take God for granted, or grumble or complain for we occupy the same position as these Israelites.
In this video listen to Leviticus 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 27 this chapter is about the redemption of things vowed to God. Various prices are set for the redemption of people depending on their age and gender. This is not discriminatory, but due to market value and how much work they could perform for their age and gender and societal status.
This chapter also opens up on the general tithe. There were three tithes in the OT, the general tithe, the special tithe and the tithe for the poor. Some have refused to tithe in modern times because they have dispensed with the law. Is that a biblical position? David will explain Finally, we have come to the end of Leviticus
We covered The 5 sacrifices all of which reflect parts of Christ’s work The five are the Burnt offering, meal offering, sin offering, peace offering, guilt offering Consecration and service of the High Priest The sins of Aaron’s sons - 2 being presumptuous, and 2 being accidental. We learned about being clean and unclean ceremonially and what this means today. We saw Leprosy as a symbol of sin.
We’ve learned about being holy and dedicated to God The Day of atonement was seen in the light of Christ’s work. We’ve learned about not eating blood. Blood is a major theme in this book. We covered laws against sexual behaviour and other laws to keep Israel different from other nations. The feasts of Israel were explained, all of which also demonstrate Christ And finally here the tithe. Is Leviticus as boring as you first thought?
In this video listen to Leviticus 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 26 we find one of the most frightful fulfilled prophecies in the Bible. It outlines exactly what will happen to the Israelites if they don’t follow God properly, and it is historically the precise thing that did in fact happen to them.
The chapter begins by listing things the people are promised if they obey including:
bountiful harvests,
peace and security
fruitfulness and increase, and
These things are ironically what they are chasing by not following the Lord. Happiness is not something you obtain by chasing it, but a product of chasing the Lord. From verse 14 onwards it outlines ever increasing curses which later parts of the Bible and history show us occurred.
These things are reminders to us about walking with the Lord.
In this video listen to Leviticus 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 25 we find the sabbath year concept, that land was to be given a break every seven years and not planted. This sounds great in theory, but in practice how would this work, and how would the owner feed themselves?
David answers this question here using both scripture and also with the practical things that Jews actually do today who follow this law. Historically though the Israelites didn't properly follow this law and the land didn’t have its sabbaths.
During the Babylonian exile, the tribe of Judah was exiled for 70 years (see JEremiah 29:10 and Daniel 9:1-2) to make up for the 490 years that the sabbath year was missed. Then Jubilee is also considered.
This is a celebration each 50th year, a release of debt, return of property and freedom for slaves. This video explains how Christ is our jubilee today.
In this video listen to Leviticus 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 24 we find a chapter containing the story of a blasphemer, who was stoned to death. It is a story which raises questions about the character of God, but only by people who already question God’s love and wisdom.
This video explains why this was a necessary action at the time. It was essential that the nation see the severity of the sin of despising God, because the truth is that the long term result of this is death in its worst sense.
The blasphemer was of a mixed multitude - in this video David explains what that means. Some hearts are beyond saving, not because there is a deficiency in God, but because those hearts are beyond repentance. God in his wisdom knew that this action was justified, and would also lead to good for the entire community.
Ironically, this blasphemy law was what Jesus was accused of and was killed for in the gospel accounts. He of course was being truthful. Here we learn, not to take God lightly, to keep a soft heart before God and the way to do that is to maintain our repentance.
In this video listen to Leviticus 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 23 are outlined the feasts of Israel - but Purim & Hanukkah are not included because they don’t occur in history until later. There are seven here, but eight in total from the Bible counting Purim, and nine in total if Hanukkah is included, which is a feast Jesus participated in according to John’s gospel.
Sabbath - Christ is our rest, he is our sabbath
Passover (Pesach) - Christ is our Salvation (a day)
Unleavened Bread - starts the day after Passover.
Pentecost - (Shavuot) - Christ is the giver of the Holy Spirit and the law is written on our hearts.
Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) - Christ is our reconciliation.
Day of Atonement - Christ is our atonement
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth)- Christ dwells among us by His Spirit - we have fellowship with God. All the six feasts here point to Christ and what Christ has done.
In this video listen to Leviticus 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 22 What type of sacrifices please the Lord? It would be easy to take a disabled animal from your flock and kill it as a sacrifice because it wasn’t really going to help you much, but this type of thing dishonors God.
In Malachi 1 the prophet says “where is the respect due me?” in regards to this very thing. If anyone had money stolen from them, they wouldn’t declare it their tithe to God, and in the same way, we should willingly offer to God our best. He is well able to bless in return. In New Testament times, our offerings and sacrifices are of time and financial, not of animals.
God is wanting us to give our full hearts, and of whatever else we give, to not give it half-heartedly. Financially we are not to give of our leftovers, but from our firstfruits. We should give to the Lord first, with a whole heart financially. We are also to give him our time, love, prayers, and service which includes our willingness to serve others.
So sacrifices, which today are financial, time and service related are:
Willingly given
Whole hearted
Must cost us something
Declares Christ the Lord
In this video listen to Leviticus 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 21 we have a chapter with rules for high priests.
For example, in verse 5 they were not to shave their heads. This seems so odd. Some people think this is an example of how irrelevant Leviticus is, but this misses the point entirely. This was a rule for High Priests which teaches us something today. THey were not to copy the example of Egyptians who shaved their heads. They were not to be like others in the world around them. It still informs us now.
A High Priest also had to marry “among his own people.” This meant from the tribe of Levi because all High Priests had to have a genealogical history to be eligible to serve. Today this is impossible to recreate, and there would not be a pure tribe of Levi remaining. This is undoubtedly because the real High Priest Christ has now superseded these things, and done away with them.
Although some would like to establish these things, it seems God has deliberately made it impossible. Later in the chapter it lists twelve physical defects which rules out someone from serving as a High Priest. This isn’t discriminatory as it might first seem, but rather a picture and shadow of the perfection of Christ and how none other is able to do what He did.
Listen as David explains more on this, and also talks about Hycanus II who had his ears chopped off to remove his eligibility as High Priest.
In this video listen to Leviticus 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 20 we read many similar things as in chapter 18 but now in more detail, especially with punishment. The death penalty is ascribed for so many of these things. For some of these, such as sacrificing one’s children to the demon Molech, it makes more sense, but for others, our modern minds have washed away the seriousness of the sin.
Why are the punishments so severe?
One key reason is that God wanted to reinforce to the Israelites in advance, how bad these things were before they were confronted by them in Canaan. Parents do this with their own children today on occasion when they are going into a situation unfamiliar.
For example child sacrifice was not really an Etyptian thing, but a Canaanite thing. The Israelites were going to see evil practices they had only heard about before, and were not at all to be tempted to participate in them. So the stakes were set high by the Lord. Those who didn’t obey, would be punished by God and be cut off, even if they were not punished by the nation. Most likely being cut off was a reference to the eternal consequences of their sins.
Even though we don’t live in ancient Israel, and are not under the civil laws of the nation at that time, we still need to walk before God and carry His priorities.
In this video listen to Leviticus 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 19 we get to the high point of God’s requirements in the law. And along with that we find the central statement of the law. God says to “be holy, because I am holy.” Modern society thinks it can be moral without God, but it's clear to any objective observers, that morality declines when the Lord is removed.
The ultimate question that is asked by anyone when given a law to follow is “why?” If we are commanded to be holy because God is holy, and he also requires it, that is a sufficient answer. This is one reason for the rise in the popularity of atheism, because if no God exists, there is no moral obligation to Him.
This chapter then goes on to list many laws for the Israelites, which include the ten commandments in other ways, plus many other things. There is much to learn and emulate here, and even though we are not under the law, our hearts should desire to please God in following him, setting an example to others in holiness.
Some examples of the laws included here are the ten commandments again, and other laws about how to treat the poor, how to treat refugees, not to tattoo your body, to conduct business fairly, and more.
In this video listen to Leviticus 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 18 God’s people are told they should not copy the behaviour of those in the world around them, very specifically the sexual practices of the world around us. The Coffman commentary explains that to “uncover their nakedness” was a figure of speech meaning to get married to. Here the Israelites were told not to intermarry with close relatives.
This was common in the ancient world, and there are previous examples of it in the Bible with the patriarchs. It was certainly common in ancient Egypt in the royal family of the 18th dynasty. Here in Leviticus, God steps in to stop this practice. Now this type of law is common worldwide, taking a leaf from scripture.
After the rules against marrying relatives, it then gives other rules about sexual behaviour, all of which are based on the physical act. But later in the sermon on the mount, Jesus increases the moral responsibility to include what the heart desires. So if a person wants to commit adultery, even if they don’t physically do so, they are now guilty of having committed adultery. The love of sin is also a sin.
St Augustine in his book City of God used negative reasoning to explain this. He said a women who is raped is not guilty of rape, becasue she did not desire to commit adultery. Then in the same way a person who does desire adultery, even though they physically do not participate, actually is guilty of that sin.
Later in scripture, in Psalm 45:7 and in Hebrews 1:9 it says we should love righteousness, and hate wickedness, and this is the example Christ sets for us. So we don’t just strive to obey God, we strive to love the things God loves. We are to be God’s holy people, not like the world around us.
In this video listen to Leviticus 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 17 two things are highlighted clearly. First that sacrifices MUST be done at the tabernacle/temple, and that blood must NOT be eaten.
First on the tabernacle, we see this is important because it makes a clear differentiation from the other worship in the land of Canaan which was under every spreading tree. It was a strengthening of the holy priesthood. It made people dependent on God, and it helped strengthen a nation. All the twelve tribes of Israel had the tabernacle as their central point and this rule was useful not just for worship, but politically.
Of course, later King Jeroboam the first deliberately built two golden calves to purposely undermine this rule, and cement his political control over ten of the tribes. This undermined everything God was highlighting in this chapter. But God still worked miraculously just the same to bring about his ends, through Christ who was the real meaning behind all these symbols.
Today, we must come to Christ who is our temple, and not try to work out our own righteousness any other way. We cannot go anywhere else except to Him, adn this is the key lesson here. But secondly on blood. Nowhere in the scripture is it more strongly prohibited than here. But contrastingly in John 6, Jesus said to drink his blood. This was a ghastly thought and the greek word scandalo described the idea of it.
Other nations consumed blood in their meat, but God wanted them separate. He also wanted them to consume his blood metaphorically as it contained the true life that would last forever. Later in the New Testament in Acts 15, the prohibition against blood continues as one of just a few remaining instructions from the Law, still relevant for all believers.
In this video listen to Leviticus 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 16 we come to the central point of the book of Leviticus, and the high point of the entire Torah. This is Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. This was a ritual atonement for the sin of the entire community, which occurred once a year ritual on day ten of the month of tishri.
The highpriest had a 21 step process, which included among other things, washing, changing into simple clothes, offering sacrifices for himself, and then cleansing the tabernacle, and then finally offering sacrifices for the nation. Part of this included casting lots over two goats, one for God which was killed as a sacrifice, and the other a scapegoat. The sins of the nation were laid on the scapegoat which was sent away into the wilderness.
Christ is the picture of both the sacrifices and the High Priest in this. Firstly as High Priest he laid aside his fancy heavenly position and took a humble position as a human, copying the task of changing into simple clothes.
Later he represented both goats. On the one hand, he died for our sins, at calvary, and on the other hand he took our sins on himself and carried them away, just as the scapegoat did.
But while this ritual is an annual thing, the work of Christ was once for all time. His death on Calvary represents THE DAY OF ATONEMENT for us all. The book of Hebrews has many things to say about Christ as both our High Priest and as our offering.
In this video listen to Leviticus 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 15 the discussion of things that make one clean or unclean continues. This isn’t a consideration of what is moral or immoral, but what is appropriate for coming before God. Essentially it is a big lesson about the level of seriousness we need to take about the holiness of God.
In my family there have been occasions where my children said something highly inappropriate at the wrong time. For example making a burp at the dinner table in front of an important guest. After an incident like that, we would make the child apologize in front of everyone. If we didn’t follow through on this, in front of our guests, they would end up thinking it was us, the parents, who were inappropriate.
And so there are things, such as in this chapter which teach that God is to be approached appropriately. The individual things, such as burping in front of guests, may not be sinful in themselves. Of course things like that become sin, if the motive of the heart, after being aware of what God wants, or parents have asked, isn’t right in obedience. So, what is appropriate and inappropriate today?
For example, what is our attitude while in prayer? And, what is the context of our lives, that prayer is in? A good example is in our prayers for forgiveness. It would not be appropriate to ask for that, if we ourselves were not forgiving others. We are not under law, but grace, and yet this passage shows us that we need to approach God in all seriousness.
In this video listen to Leviticus 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 14 we continue thinking about leprosy, but this time the aftermath of healing and the cure. This is the second longest chapter in Leviticus with 57 verses. Leprosy is really a symbol of sin, which is so pervasive in our lives and hard to remove. And with that in mind, we now realise that we should be excluded from the camp. We are all lepers in God’s sight and not safe to include. We are in need not just of forgiveness from sin, but cleansing.
In 1 John 1:8-9 it says that he will “forgive AND cleanse” us from all unrighteousness. In the blood of Christ is both the power to forgive us and to heal. For our healing from sin we have to go to God alone. There is no human way that this can be achieved, only on our knees at the foot of the cross.
Once again, like so many other times in Leviticus Christ makes an appearance. He is the offering of the two birds. One is killed and one flies away. Christ was killed and his blood atoned for us, but then Christ was also raised and flew away from the grave. Both of the birds symbolise what Christ does for us. He provides for us in his death, and for us in his life.
If we are truly to be not just forgiven, but cleansed of sin, so that we overcome its power in our lives, the only way this can happen is if the power of Christ’s death and resurrection are both at work in us.
In this video listen to Leviticus 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 13 we talk about skin diseases, and the general category of leprosy. This isn’t necessarily the leprosy we know of today as Hansen’s disease, but a group of skin diseases which include that.
In 2021 the world is in the grip of the COVID pandemic and governments have very strict rules about how to live, so as to prevent the disease from spreading. So looking back at this chapter we see God’s wisdom at work to protect the nation of Israel from infectious diseases too. As tough as it is being under restrictions, with social distance, face masks, sanitization, quarantining and much more, and we can all relate to that, we also see the wisdom of it.
Father Damien was a catholic priest who ministered on Molokai Island in Hawaii among lepers and ended up dying from the disease himself. We know that God cares for everyone, including lepers, but in this chapter we see the aspect of God's care for the entire group. Because there were no doctors in the camp, following these rules, with the priests in charge, was important.
As priests under the New Covenant, we also have a responsibility before God to keep our lives, our families, and the people of God free from things that are impure. This isn’t just the job of a church leader, but rather we see that we all have this job.
These chapters not only show us God’s care and provision for the health needs of a nation back then, but also the importance of spiritual purity now.
In this video listen to Leviticus 12 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 12 a woman who gives birth to a boy is unclean for 40 days. The number forty appears regularly in the Bible associated with the idea of trial or testing, and often ending with new life, or new blessings. For example Jesus tested for 40 days and then he entered into ministry in the power of the Spirit. So here we see this in the life of a mother and a new boy. This uncleanness isn’t moral, but ceremonial.
This is actually a hugely considerate move by God. When a mother gives birth she needs rest, and it's hard to get sufficient rest, and still remain involved while normal life beckons. But during a period of ritual uncleanness, she is unable to wash, cook, clean or do other tasks, as her unclean state forbids her. So she is required to rest. So this period of forced rest is good for her, and good for the baby boy she is bonding with, and also a time of trial for the rest of the family who have to do more than usual, but it will result in new life and blessing. So we see there are practical benefits to this command.
But why was she unclean twice as long after giving birth to a girl? At first it sounds like female babies are not as valuable, but what this double period of uncleanness meant, was that the mother was able to have twice as long resting if she had a daughter. It's possible that while society celebrated the birth of a son, because culturally they felt it was better, the mother inwardly was also very happy at having a daughter and was able to spend twice as long bonding with this little person, imparting love and value to her. It shows that God highly values women, and is far more considerate than we imagine. It wasn’t a double curse, but a double blessing.
And the sacrifice at the end of the period is the same for boys and girls indicating they have equal value.
Spiritually this chapter reinforces the idea that being clean is important, and the spiritual aspect is the real truth that the entire book of Leviticus is pointing at. Jesus said to his disciples in John 15, “you are clean” because of my word in you. This teaches us that we need to get Jesus’ words inside of us.
In this video listen to Leviticus 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In this video listen to Leviticus 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 10 all four sons of Aaron’s make mistakes in the Levitical worship system. Firstly Nadab and Abihu have just seen in the previous chapter how approaching God produced fire on the sacrifice, and it was glorious. They now presume and approach God but not the way he asked, and instead it is them who are consumed by fire.
The stakes are now much higher. God isn’t someone to be taken for granted. In the New Testament the story of Ananias and Sapphira is like this, where they presumed that they could do whatever and God would approve. Early in the spiritual life of the children of Israel, God is demonstrating the seriousness of approaching him properly.
And if we are all priests before Him, it indicates we too are to approach God in all seriousness. There shouldn’t be any presumption, or assuming that whatever is good enough for God. People seem to forget that God is both loving and a righteous judge. The judgements of God are conveniently forgotten. But they will catch up with all people at some point. These points illustrate that we consider Christ seriously regardless as to whether there is instant judgment or delayed judgement.
Then we see the failing of Aaron’s other two sons Eleazar and Ithamar. Their mistake wasn’t presumption, but forgetfulness as they tried to serve God, but neglected to eat the sacrifice. Here there is grace at work, rather than with Nadab and Abihu who were presumptuous. Aaron intercedes for them and mercy is extended. So we have here the intercession of a high priest (Christ) for the other priests. (us)
This demonstrates that all priests make mistakes, but our approach to God should be that of a resolve to please God to the best of our abilities, which results in mercy.
In this video listen to Leviticus 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 9 God indicates his blessing of the newly instituted sacrificial system, by giving a sign. After Aaron, the newly installed High Priest offers the first sacrifices, fire from the presence of the Lord comes out and consumes it. This means that fire probably came out of the Holy of Holies. It was an indication that God was pleased and things were being done right. Fire didn’t normally come out after this.
But it is also a sign of incredible change. Think back just a few hundred years to the Israelites as wandering nomads with sheep. They are now a nation, belonging to God, with a priesthood, and there has been a lot of change. But this was NOT the beginning of sacrifice. Rather that was already there at the very foundation of the world. First when Adam sinned, Christ killed a lamb to cloth them. Later Abel and Cain offered sacrifices. Right from the beginning people knew that sacrifice was needed. And of course scripture says that Christ himself was slain from the foundation of the world.
But society corrupted sacrifice, so that people began to offer their children to demons. We have now come to a point where God has redeemed sacrifice, and setup an example of Himself in the world. It's a picture of Christ.
And even though sacrifice is fulfilled in Christ, there is still a call for us who follow Him to offer spiritual sacrifices. Peter says (1 Peter 2:4-5)
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
In this video listen to Leviticus 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 8 we now have a type of repetition of Exodus 28-29 but with differences. There God commanded certain things concerning the High Priest and priests, and now we are seeing what God commanded actually happening.
And it begins with the washing of Aaron, performed by Moses. While the passages says in English “washing”, its a sign of baptism by immersion. Aaron was the to be the high priest and he was baptised by someone before him and greater than him being Moses. In a very similar way Jesus Christ who was to become our High Priest was baptised by someone before him, namely John the Baptist. NEither of these washings was for the forgiveness of sin, but for the setting apart for High Priestly ministry.
The Burton Coffman commentary lists 14 ways in which Aaron here is like Christ later. For example Aaron’s 4 sons watched the process of Aaron’s consecration. Later Christ has 4 gospels giving testimony to his life and ministry. No doubt Christ saw himself in not just this passage, but in all of them as he heard the law read in the synagogues as a child.
The chapter advances to consider the anointing of the High Priest which came after the washing. This also happened to Christ after his baptism when the Holy Spirit came on Him.
There is something for all believers to learn here. We are all priests in the Lord’s service under our High Priest.
We should be baptised
We should be set apart for service
We should be anointed too and filled with the Spirit
And then we should serve.
In this video listen to Leviticus 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 7 the rest of the instructions are given about how to dispose of the sacrifices after they are completed.
A very clear instruction is found in verse 26 that blood is not be consumed at all. We find that even though the law has not carried over in most instances into the economy of grace, that this instruction about blood did. Gentile believers in the New Testament were told to abstain from sexual immorality and from blood. This is outlined in Acts 15. There is something about sexual immorality with pollutes the body and soul, and something about blood which is so special that it must be treated with respect.
This chapter then wraps up the five offerings, all of which represent the person and work of Christ. They teach us about him, and about his purpose in coming. But the sacrifices also demonstrate that we are to continue to be holy and offer spiritual sacrifices too. This is what Romans 12:1-2 says
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Our response to God since Christ came then is that we still offer confession, repentance, but we accompany that with obedience, prayer, and with other sacrifices like out tithes, offerings and service to God. These are things done not out of obligation but out of love. The book of Leviticus emphasizes holiness and these are the kind of things we do as believers of Christ.
In this video listen to Leviticus 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 6 we continue to think about guilt offerings which had to be accompanied with restitution, or if they weren’t the offering couldn’t be accepted.
In the New Testament period some have the idea of cheap grace. They believe someone can sin and live however they want, and Christ will forgive. This is clearly WRONG. While Christ is our sin and guilt offering, repentance is always required.
In John 8 there is the story of the adulterous woman. Jesus was gracious and forgave but also gave the command to “go and sin no more.” She was required to repent, that is to change. But what if the woman was not humble and had said, “thank you for forgiving me, but I have every intention of sinning again.” Then there would be no forgiveness.
Hebrews 10:26 says “if we deliberately keep sinning, no sacrifice for sin remains.”
The chapter then goes on to discuss the disposal of the remains of sacrifices, and says that the fire must remain always on the altar. This reminds us of prayer, or at least the Moravian brethren in the 1700’s took it that way. They started a prayer meeting that ran non-stop for 117 years saying ‘we must not let the fire on the altar go out.” That prayer meeting had a profound historical effect on the evangelical and missionary movements that followed them.
Repentance must accompany confession, and our prayers are to be ongoing before the Lord. This is part of a holy life, which the book of Leviticus is teaching us.
In this video listen to Leviticus 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 5 there is more on the sin offering up until verse 13, and from verse 14 onwards is discussion of the guilt offering. What is the difference between these two?
Isaiah 53 can demonstrate as it talks about Christ Surely he took up our pain, and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
That passage says that the punishment was on Him. That is the blame and the guilt. But the iniquity is on him too, that is the sin. One is the act itself and the other is the restitution for that act. The payment for both is in Christ.
The priests standing in the tabernacle or temple each day would have felt the weight and expense of sin. The amount of blood and animals being offered would have demonstrated how high human guilt was. This all speaks to the greatness of what God did on our behalf in sending Christ. What then is our response to such a great sacrifice.
We come with confession, repentance, and then out of our gratitude, we offer our lives fully in return, quick to obey and quick to respond to God in all ways.
In this video listen to Leviticus 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 4 we encounter a sacrifice for unintentional sin. And interestingly there is NO sacrifice in the Law for intentional sin. When someone sinned deliberately, such as King David with Bathsheba, there was no outline for what to do. David had to cast himself on the mercy of God with repentance, and we see his prayer outlines in Psalm 51.
We also encounter the idea of collective sin, that of an entire community or nation. This something we rarely think about today, but it's true that entire nations such as Australia, undoubtedly have collective sin and guilt. The answer for this is not sacrifices like in Leviticus, but in Christ where these sacrifices point to. The truth is that there is no group that is completely blameless, and while some groups do blame others, they are never guiltless themselves.
This chapter also begs the question, why are there so many different types of sacrifices. A sacrifice for sin, for guilt, for peace, a burnt offering and an incense offering. David Alley will explain why each represents Christ and why there is a need for the variety.
In this video listen to Leviticus 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 3 we have my personal favourite sacrifice - the peace offering. Peace is everything in the Old Testament. The word shalom represents health, wealth, success, prosperity, favour, family, friendships, long life, wisdom and much more.
Peace is the name of our church - a name we were given by the Lord. Scripture tells us in E’phesians 2:14 that Christ is our peace. And in Romans 5:1 it says "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
The peace offering is an animal sacrifice that feeds the worshipper just as the previous meal offering did. So these two offered together to God represent joy and peace, and they feed the one making an offering.
It’s an amazing picture of how in Christ we are fully fed with meat and bread. Christ offered himself not just for sin, but to be our joy and peace.
In this video listen to Leviticus 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 2 we have the second of the 5 offerings in Leviticus 1-7, the meal offering. This was an offering of fine flour, which talks of the fine character of Christ. We know and love many great people like John Wesley, or Abraham Lincoln, but each of these have their own character flaws. Christ however is someone with no leaven, and of fine flour, he has no character flaws.
This offering was made often along with the previous one, out of gratitude to God. The scriptures tell us “for the joy set before Him, he incurred the cross.”
This was also an offering to be eaten by the priests and the one bringing the sacrifice. So Christ is offered for us, and we are to eat Him. But how do you consume the Lord? We do so by simply believing in Him and being hungry for him.
Christ tells us in Matt 5:6 that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Do you hunger and thirst for Christ? If not, that’s why you are not satisfied.
In this video listen to Leviticus 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Leviticus 1 we have a book that many people think is boring, and they skip it when doing their Bible reading. But rather than boring, its one of the most fascinating books.
Firstly, the book is written in the first person with God doing nearly all the speaking. There are not many Bible passages like this. It is a red letter book. Also all the offerings and sacrifices have Christ hidden in them, its all about Jesus. And it's also the middle of the entire Torah. It is the central part of the Law, and there is a chiastic structure, which essentially means this book has been put right in the middle to highlight its importance.
Chapter one starts with the first sacrifice, the burnt offering. Like all the sacrifices to come, it shows us an element of Christ. A perfect blemish free sacrifice was needed, which was Christ for us.
In chapter 1 we also see that there were various level of sacrifice that could be made depending on one’s financial position. The most wealthy could offer a bull, and others a sheep or goat, and the poor could offer birds, such as doves or pigeons. In theory pigeons could be caught, so as to provide the very poorest a sacrifice of time only. Later in Luke 2 we see that Jesus’ parents offered a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves indicating that Christ was born into a family with few resources. The God of all sent his son into a humble home.
Learn all of this and more in this video.
In this video listen to Exodus 40 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 40 the tabernacle is completed. It is now the first day of the first month of a new year. Burton Coffman in his commentary estimated they had left Egypt about 350 days earlier, about 15 days short of a full year.
In this video we consider the last 18 months of Moses’ life, from his call, leaving his wife behind, challenging Pharaoh, the plagues, the exodus, the forming of a nation, giving of the law, covenant with God, building of the tabernacle and more.
Now he is standing in the desert looking at the glory of God filling the tabernacle. What a whirlwind year and a half it was. It’s nothing short of incredible.
This video then considers the glory of God as it enters the temple, and then the glory in Solomon’s temple, and the glory in Zerubabbel’s temple, and then finally the third temple.
Finally the books of Exodus finished with a happy conclusion. God is with his people and leading them, and it speaks to us of how we should be as God’s people today.
In this video listen to Exodus 39 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 39 we see the similarities to the creation of the world in Genesis 1 and 2. It looks like a repeating of the instructions of Exodus 28 but we now see it is a complete recreation of things in the earth, from the Lord’s perspective. And in the same way God blessed the original creation, now Moses blesses it in God’s name.
Creation is a spiritual thing more than a physical thing, and here we have a new creation on Earth. Later in the new testament we are told that if we are in Christ we are a new creation, but here long before Christ physically came, he is here on Earth symbolically as the tabernacle. If Satan has his eyes opened, he would have been shocked at the bold advances of the Lord in taking ground and bit by bit taking back this fallen creation for Himself.
What began as the smallest seed of faith in the heart of Abraham, has now grown to become an entire nation of people in the wilderness, with God in their midst. Something powerful is at work, as the rest of the Bible to follow outlines.
In this video listen to Exodus 38 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 38 we see parts of Exodus 27 and 30 repeated but now in a past tense of having happened, rather than in the future tense as before. What we are seeing here is the willingness of the Israelites to actually do what God said.
Previously God did things for them, and they were largely ignorant of Him, but now they have seen a certain amount of His dealings, not just miracles, but also the golden calf incident. They have collectively now chosen to obey and follow.
There comes a time in the life of every person when they must choose for themselves. For children there is an age of accountability, and for every person there comes a time when they have learned enough information and they become responsible for their choices. This video considers this, and asks, will you choose the way of God?
In this video listen to Exodus 37 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 37 we have a showing, rather than a telling of the meticulous obedience to what God said. This is the reason why the information about the building of the tabernacle and its furnishings is repeated here.
The repetition however isn’t exactly the same. It’s second telling demonstrates that what God said, was done in the manner in which he said, and to the level of detail that he requested. Even though we don’t live under legalism, we do learn here that obeying the Lord properly always remains important. We live however by the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and so we apply the same diligence to the instruction of God in our lives today, as the children of Israel did at that time.
This chapter thus shows us the meticulous obedience of God’s people, rather than just telling us they obeyed.
In this video listen to Exodus 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 36 we talk about repetition.
… about repetition.
… about repetition.
… ok you get the idea. Exodus 36 seems like just Exodus 26 repeated, but the truth is that sometimes things have to be said multiple times.
In this video you will hear why repetition is important, and in particular why we should not just strive to read our Bible once in a lifetime, but to read it over and over again as long as we live.
In this video listen to Exodus 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 35 what seems like the beginning of a lifeless repetitious series of chapters is actually a remarkable insight into spiritual life and God. Exodus 25-31 is now about to be repeated in almost exactly the same in chapters 35-40.
However there are subtle differences which highlight bigger things.
First this is actually the first time the people of Israel are hearing these things. Because the first time we read them was when Moses was being instructed up the mountain on what to tell them. And when he came down, he met the golden calf and wasn’t able to do what God said. Everything was over.
But because God called Moses up a second time, now we are able to finally do what God wanted, and this time the people are able to hear Moses (although he has a veil over his face) tell them what God said during those 40 days. The tense of the language has changed from future to present/past, and the people are finally listening to what God said.
It was back in Exodus 19 they said they would listen, and it is finally happening. This video explains all of this and more, and what it means for you.
In this video listen to Exodus 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 34 Moses goes back up the mountain to spend a second forty days with the Lord. He is there to reissue the covenant, with new tablets and God goes over everything again, although greatly summarised in this chapter. But a few different things happen.
Firstly the people know what is going to happen this time, and they don’t go wild in his absence and there is no golden calf on his return. While Moses is gone, he has an experience of God’s love which greatly touches him, and he is covered in the glory of God. When he comes back down the mountain his face is shining.
And so Moses must feil his face so as to talk with people, because the glory was too bright for them to handle. Paul writes about this in 2 Corinthians 3, comparing the glory of this covenant and the glory of the new covenant, which is much brighter.
And the gospel today is covered and cannot be seen if anyone to tries to approach it via Moses, or via any other means than Christ. This video explains these things in more detail.
In this video listen to Exodus 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 33 God tells them to go to Canaan, but he isn’t coming with them. The broke their side of the covenant made just earlier, and now God is released from His promise to them. LIke an unfaithful partner, the other now has grounds for divorce.
Moses goes to sort the matter out with God in the tent of meeting. It turns out there are two tents of meeting, which is explained in this video. Moses convinces God to remain faithful to his promise even though the Israelites are hopeless.
He admits they won’t make it without Him, which is true for all people at all times. Thus God demonstrates his long faithful patience which has always been His way.
Moses then proceeds to ask if he can see God’s glory, which is a prayer every believer should pray.
But God advises he cannot see His face and live. Earlier in verse 11 it said that Moses talked to God face-to-face. Is there a contradiction here?
In this video listen to Exodus 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 32 the biggest thing that must be observed is that Elohim is the translation for the golden calf. The Israelites think they are worshipping the same God that Moses talked about. In verse 5 after making the calf, Aaron says “tomorrow we celebrate a feast to Yahweh.” They then begin to “play” which is actually practice sexual immorality like the fertility cults and 23000 of them (1 Cor 10:7-8) commit adultery. The KJV better translates in verse 25 that the people were naked.
The Israelites had been removed from Egypt, but here we see that Egyptian thinking was still in them. They saw their leader as a god and with Moses apparently dead, they needed God back. This futile and strange thinking wasn’t cured out of them until the exile and the destruction of the temple. Worshipping of idols was a problem right up until Josiah’s big reforms just a few years before Nebuchadnezzar began taking people away. Daniel of course was one of those exiles, a highly righteous person.
Moses had to intercede for the people because God wanted to destory them, and the key was giving God a good reason. We need to find good reasons to back up our prayers because we actually find it strengthens our faith and moves God’s heart.
This video also discusses the debate about the actual tablets.
At Sinai God instructed punishment and 3000 people died. Later on the day of Pentecost which celebrates the giving of the law, 3000 people were saved. This video goes over all these things and shows that the law kills, but the spirit gives life.
In this video listen to Exodus 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 31 the Holy Spirit is given to Bezalel and Oholiab, who are two tradesmen, for their work in building the tabernacle. This is surprising because we usually think the Spirit is given for spiritual work. Yet we see that building this tabernacle is spiritual work.
Earlier in scripture God was with Joseph in all he did, and later the “spirit of the gods” was with Daniel. We see in these examples that the Spirit of the Lord is given for our regular work as well, to give us success and favour with unbelievers.
Bezalel and Oholiab were trained in Egypt, and probably had slave jobs building elaborate things for Kings. Even so, this is still considered “wisdom’ that God has put into these men, and to be used for him. Everything good we have comes from God, even that which we learn from strange sources.
This chapter then makes clear that the Sabbath is Holy. Holy means it belongs to God. Later in the New Testament we see that the Sabbath has become the first day of the week coinciding with the resurrection. Fitting it remains holy and is called very clearly “the Lord’s day.”
Finally, God gives the tablets of stone written with his finger. NOTE: These tables were double sided and there were two copies. The finger of God is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and later in Jeremiah God says he is going to give a new covenant and write the law on our hearts. It is the finger of God that does that writing too. The Holy Spirit causes us to love God’s laws, and hate wickedness. If that is not your experience, then you need to seek the Spirit’s work within you so he writes on your heart.
In this video listen to Exodus 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 30 the table of incense is described with its requirements. It was located in the holy place and covered in gold.
Next in this chapter weirdly it describes the process of taking a census of the fighting men. It seems very out of place, but that is convenient as it puts to death the idea of a later redaction which would certainly not have happened here.
When a nation wanted to take a census of its fighting men, it had to redeem them, and every man had to pay a half shekel to the temple. This was the poll tax. This was to “buy them back” and remind everyone that they belong to God. A count is only undertaken in situations of ownership, and this reminded everyone that they belonged to God.
It described the consequences of not following this, which was a plague. Later in 2 Samuel 24:1 KIng David did take a census, did not pay the poll tax, and there was a plague. However it is worth noting the census displeased God because David was looking at how great he was, rather than how great God was.
Next the bronze laver is described, setup between the entrance and the tent of meeting. It turns out that the tent of meeting here is the part of the tabernacle housing the holy place and the most holy place. But to confuse things, later in Exodus 33 there was another tent of meeting where Moses met with God aside from all the regulations going on in the tabernacle.
So the two tents of meetings are a foreshadowing of law and grace. THere are two ways to meet with God, first through perfection in keeping the law, or secondly through faith and grace. Which way will you choose? You cannot mix methods.
In this video listen to Exodus 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 29 we have the consecration of the priests. This means they were set apart for God’s use. And they were anointed with oil as part of that process. In a same way we as Christians are called to be set apart for God’s purpose. We must not be like the world, but be different to it. And God wants to give us the Holy Spirit as an anointing to empower us for his service.
Even the Lord Jesus was anointed at his baptism when the Spirit came on him, and He was publicly affirmed at that time too. Afterwards he was tempted and then commenced his public ministry. This chapter, and Christ’s experience are a model of what should happen for every believer.
Once the priests were consecrated they began a daily sacrificial system where lambs were sacrificed morning and evening. This demonstrates the continual intercession of Christ on our behalf.
Finally with Christ as our high priest, we too are priests and we offer spiritual sacrifices continually. Peter wrote that “you also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” It’s chapters like this where Peter saw what he was talking about.
In this video listen to Exodus 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 28 we now turn to the clothing of the High Priest and priests. Their clothing is colorful, for example the robe worn under the ephod is entirely blue. The ephod which was a second layer like an apron, was multicolored. This is very different to the depictions we see of the High Priest wearing mostly white.
On the Ephod was the breastplate, with 12 interesting stones like jade, turquoise, onyx, sapphire and others. It also contained the Urim & Thummim, terms whose meaning has been lost. These were items for enquiring of the Lord. Some people think they were like sacred dice which could be cast to reveal a yes or no answer. Later in the Bible in 2 Sam 30 we see King David ask for Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod, so he can ask the Lord whether to pursue the Amalekites in battle.
However the High Priest is a picture of Christ. So we are learning about Jesus here. Firstly Jesus is a king, and the High Priests robe was blue representing holiness. Jesus also wore a seamless garment as the High Priest does here. Jesus is also the one we go to when we enquire of the Lord, just as people had to go to the High Priest to enquire of the Lord via the Urim and Thummim.
When Jesus was questioned by the High Priest wearing his seamless robe, He admitted to being God. At that point the current High Priest Caiphas actually tore his clothes, (Mark 14:53) which was an offence for a High Priest according to Leviticus 10:6. So the real High Priest was demonstrated in that moment, and when JEsus died, rather than rip his clothes, the soldiers gambled for them. (John 19:23)
Finally the other priests wore linen pants, a symbol or righteousness. Pants were also important rather than a dress or robe because it covered their nakedness from below.
In this video listen to Exodus 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 27 it Describes the outer court and the first big piece of furniture there, the altar.
There were three main sections to the tabernacle, the outer court, the holy place and the most holy place. The outer court was a busy location and where no priests could come. This is where the altar was located and one could come to make atonement. Everything here is made of silver or bronze, or less precious materials.
The holy place was the first inner room and only priests would enter and perform various tasks there every day and week. Finally the most holy place was only available for the high priest to enter one day in a year on the day of atonement. Everything in here is made of gold or more precious materials.
These separate sections teach us about how God is both approachable and unapproachable at the same time. None of us can fully approach him because of the greatness of His glory, but at the same time all of us can approach him. The modern danger is to assume that God is mundane because he is easily approached. The truth is that people with this assumption haven’t really drawn as near to God as they think. People who think little of God, or assume much are not privy to know Him. He is personal and relationship with Him is always required.
Finally, the chapter describes the need to keep lamps burning at the temple. This speaks of Christian witness and is well interpreted by Christ’s parable of the virgins and their lamps in the New Testament. Each of us must keep full of the Holy Spirit, which is the oil for the lamp, and thus we each have a spiritual responsibility to maintain our light, or testimony for Christ.
In this video listen to Exodus 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 26 we come to the actual building of the tabernacle itself. As you listen to the chapter read, try to imagine actually building a tabernacle with these instructions. A number of modern day replicas exist, which don’t look the same as each other, and in analysing them you can see that they don’t match these instructions perfectly either. For example the replica in Timnah Park, north of Eilat in modern day Israel is mostly white with 19 side panels. Whereas the replicas built by students at Bringham Young University had a colored tent entrance and 18 side panels.
Not only would it be difficult because we don’t have precise certainty about the size of the cubit used, but it's clear that the instructions are not complete.
This is deliberate and in verse 30 Moses is told to build it according to what he was shown on the mountain. In other words, Moses received a lot more from God during his 40 days than what was written down. So the question is then, why write down half a set of instructions. It would seem that these otherwise mundane instructions have spiritual value and are also needed to remember what God did, and certain important details about it.
The big thing about the tabernacle is that God was going to dwell among his people. Later in the New Testament Jesus came as God to dwell among the people. He took on flesh. So the tabernacle is a type or shadow of Christ. He himself alluded to this when he later said he would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days. The tabernacle was the first version of the temple.
In any case the replicas are useful for learning and good to stimulate thought, and these instructions certainly help with that.
In this video listen to Exodus 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 25 we get to one of the biggest shadows in the Bible. As humans we use metaphor to illustrate an idea sometimes in a unique powerful way. God does this too, but he also uses real things to illustrate (or to shadow) something that is even more real that the real thing. The tabernacle is one such thing, and we are about to start seeing it built, commencing with its furniture.
This chapter is God’s instructions to Moses while he is on Mt Sinai. God tells the Israelites to bring gifts of gold, silver and other precious things for the construction project. The giving however is not compulsory. What joy to contribute to what God is doing?
Now the chapter describes the first three things to be built, the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, and the golden lampstand with seven candles.
In this video listen to Exodus 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 24 one of the most remarkable passages happens in the Old Testament, but its huge significance may be overlooked by many. In ancient times a greater king would often make a covenant with a lesser king or group. This covenant would involve the wording or terms, a sacrifice and a meal.
Here what is remarkable is that God is making a covenant with Israel, and there is his law as the words, the sacrifices mentioned in the chapter, and then 74 men have a meal with God and partially see his shape. Who ever heard of such a thing as God doing this?
Later in the New Testament, God once again makes a covenant with people. At the last supper Jesus sits down for a meal, speaks his words to them and over passover, a sacrifice, he talks about the sacrifice of his own life given for many. Now God is not only negotiating the covenant but has become its sacrifice also, giving his own blood. Incredible.
But it becomes more amazing. God is also a human in the form of Jesus, who perfectly with his life fulfilled the human side of the covenant perfectly matching what God asked for
In this video listen to Exodus 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 23 more national laws continue.
Justice is for the rich as well as the poor, and they should be treated equally not on the basis of how much wealth they have.
Then when God outlines more details about sabbath rest, we find out here that indentured servants, slaves and animals also are required to rest. This is very unusual. In recent times, the last century in particular all around the world, workers unions have stood up for the needs of regular workers, but here God is standing up for the needs of servants and animals long before unions were ever thought of.
Do not name other gods. The Lord doesn’t want any attention being given to the evil one. Like a teacher who doesn't want the class attention to go to the badly behaved student, so the devil should not get our attention. This was possibly why the Pharaoh in the exodus story is not named, given that he considered himself godlike. Nor are any of the Egyptian gods named.
A weird random command appears not to boil a baby goat in its mother’s milk. Was this a culinary suggestion? Watch the video to find out.
In this video listen to Exodus 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 22 we continue with laws relating with daily life in the nation. We first talk about restitution. If people do something that harms another they must fix it multiple times over. This is not at the whim of people, but at a rate designated by God, and such a thing is designed to help people become mindful of others and create a considerate society.
Today we still have similar things at play, where if we harm someone's car or property we are expected to fix it for them.
If an Israelite helped another by caring for an entrusted item and it was accidentally destroyed, they could take an oath in God’s name that it was an accident, and no restitution was required. But, by invoking God they must be truthful or would otherwise be taking God’s name in vain, which is different to blasphemy. Having said that blasphemy is now also outlawed in this chapter, but is not a capital offence. However not just cursing God, but cursing human leaders is put into the same category. God sees both as equally wrong.
This chapter also begins to teach the Israelites to treat foreigners properly, showing that God was on top of racism way ahead of anyone else. Many of the commands here were to live in a way different to how they had been treated in Egypt, and certainly different to how people treated others in Canaan. God wanted a holy nation, different to others, and some of his commands didn’t make sense.
Also it talks about pre-marital sex and the lifelong consequences for such an act in the Israelite nation.
Sometimes we are asked to do things without understanding them too, but our trust in God is pleasing to Him.
In this video listen to Exodus 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 21 we start the second half of Exodus now getting into a lot of laws. In the last chapter we saw the moral law, the ten commandments, and now a lot of civil and criminal law is going to follow. Later in Leviticus we will see Ceremonial law.
The first set of laws seem to be about slavery, and some people condemn the Bible for seeming to be pro-slavery. Does God condone slavery?
Actually the entire book of Exodus is about freeing slaves from Pharaoh. Plus, the entire Bible picutre is about Christ freeing people from slavery to sin. What must be understood is the culture of the day, and the Bible’s intent, not God’s overall position.
The slavery here is temporary indenturerd servitude, a type of forerunner to our modern bankruptcy laws. A person could sell themselves to service but must be released in the seventh year. This was a great moral leap forward.
The idea of a bond slave now appears, which has symbolisms to giving our ears to Christ. This video explains.
Finally, why are some laws so barbaric sounding? Firstly imagine the HUGE need for clear law and order after two million people are lumped together with no clear oversight. Secondly the times were already barbaric, so very black and white standards were crucial. Finally, we wouldn’t have a sense of what barbarism is today, without laws like these that brought about genuine reforms.
In this video listen to Exodus 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 20 we see the Ten Commandments given and very briefly discussed. This video will discuss just 4 of the ten briefly. This is part of the moral law, whereas the civil and ceremonial law are also a big part of the scriptures ahead.
Taking God’s name in vain is not swearing, but has a deeper meaning and application. The Sabbath is also holy, so now a day is declared holy, and what does this mean for us today? Next honoring parents is something for adults, and the command not to murder is different from what the KJV says, not to kill.
In verse 19 the Israelites are scared and tell Moses they don’t want to hear God’s voice. They have already changed their mind in just the space of one day. This video considers God’s desire that all his people should want to hear his voice.
In this video listen to Exodus 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 19 they come to Sinai for the first time in the Bible. Now where exactly is Sinai? There are 2 popular theories which this video outlines. At Sinai they get ready to hear and receive the Law and Commandments. God tells them, they are a holy nation and a royal priesthood, but what does that mean?
This video explains what being holy is, a concept which is going to ripple through the entire Bible from here onwards.
Also they are a nation of royal priests. Just as the Levites were a tribe in this nation to serve the others, this nation is to serve the other nations in a certain way. This video explains how.
Finally the Israelites say yes to God, they will listen to everything he says and do it. This reminds us of Christ’s parable of two sons who were asked to work by their father. One said yes but later didn’t go out, but the second said no, but later did.
Here the Israelites turn out to be the son who says yes, but later doesn't go out. Which son are you?
In this video listen to Exodus 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 18 Jethro arrives to visit Moses bringing Moses’ wife and two sons. The whole story prompts a question (at least in the minds of commentators) if Moses had previously divorced her. That seems however trying to push the story too far. Moses had enough struggles going to Egypt on his own, and wanted her safe with her father, but now they are back where the story started, near Sinai in the desert.
And Jethro is a priest of Midian, a leader of a foreign religion, but clearly has an interest in Yahweh, because he is converted and ends up sacrificing to the Lord after hearing all that God has done. The Exodus story brought a conversion to many people, many Egyptians, certainly many Hebrews and now this Midianite leader. It also highlights why we must not withhold our personal testimony of what God has done for us. Through Moses’ testimony, Jethro was converted.
Finally the chapter finishes with Jethro giving Moses advice about how to use his time. Moses was in danger of burnout, by taking on too much. Each of us must make sure we are doing what the Lord wants of us, but not things he hasn’t asked, or we too are at risk.
In this video listen to Exodus 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 17 the Israelites grumble… again. This time they come to Rephidim where there isn’t sufficient water and Moses strikes the Rock, which is a symbol of Christ being struck and through him our provision coming.
The Israelites are so bothered they want to kill Moses, and of course it is not his fault. God was behind this again, and it was a test of faith. It's a reminder that not everything our leader does is directly his choosing, and we need to trust God.
Then ensues a battle for water… with the Amalekites. The Rephidim oasis was now a precious resource, and descendents of Esau, via Amalek, want it.
Whilever Moses has his hands raised, they are winning. This is a picture of the power of a prayerful leader. But sometimes it's too much for a leader who needs help, which is given by Aaron and Hur holding up his hands. Leaders need prayer support too.
Then the Lord wants this story recorded so that Joshua knows. Joshua was the winning general of the battle, but not privy to Moses’ actions. People on the ground should not assume all the glory, but be mindful of the invisible battle going on, and the power of prayer at work. Prayer doesn't guarantee there is no battle, but helps in the winning.
In this video listen to Exodus 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 16 the children of Israel experience something common to all humanity.
When things are going well, we assume that is normal, and that nothing special is happening, but rather that is the wrong assumption. When God lifts his hand and nothing actually is happening, that is when things go wrong, but when God is involved, things go right, and nothing seems out of place.
So the Israelites grumble when they face trouble, as we all do, because we notice so easily what God seems to not be doing, rather than his constant love and care for us.
They complain about nothing to eat, and rather than raining down fire, God rains down bread. He doesn’t give them as they deserve, but rather blesses them. He takes his own advice from the New Testament, and “turns the other cheek.” God repays kindness for evil. And He no doubt does this for us too, all the time, and we are unaware.
Manna is believed to mean (in Egyptian) what is it? People didn’t completely understand it. And Christ used this as an illustration of himself in John 6, saying that he was the bread that came down from Heaven to feed the world. And people are just as mystified about Christ as they were about the manna.
In this video listen to Exodus 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 15 we find the oldest song in the Bible, and possibly in the world. Various online places list other songs as the oldest, but they have forgotten about this one. What would it have sounded like? (Its even older than the Hurrian Hymn found in Uggarit)
Next the Egyptian army perishes in the red sea totally, but does Pharaoh die with them? It isn’t explicitly clear on this point, and many assume yes. At least one Christian archaeologist thinks a certain Pharaoh was the exodus Pharaoh based on a lack of his mummy in the archaeological record, but arguments from absence cannot be absolutely proven.
Next the Israelites come to a place with only unsuitable (bitter) water to drink. God is testing them and they quickly forget how he has saved them before and start to blame. They complain and Moses rescues the situation by placing a branch in the water. This branch is a symbol of Christ (the branch of Jesse) who took our bitterness on himself so that we could experience sweet living water instead.
As it turns out, we are no different to the early Israelites.
In this video listen to Exodus 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 14 Pharaoh's ugly head is raised again, he seems to not get the point of leaving God’s people alone. In this he is a symbol of the Accuser, Satan, who has such a hard heart he isn't able to let God’s people alone either.
Pharaoh thus brought destruction on himself, and while this brought momentary (a days worth) of panic on the Israelites, they were delivered now not only out of Egypt, but their oppressor was gone. They would not have to worry anymore about what they had left behind. In the same way God delivers us from sin, but there is going to be a day when we are delivered from our oppressor too.
Then we see the baptism of a nation, an idea noted by the writer to the Hebrews. This entire nation went into water and came out belonging to God. It's the first baptism in the bible, and a reminder that we too are dedicated to God.
Finally, the red sea story also shows us how God is the God of deliverances, and able to spare us when we are also trapped between a rock and a hard place.
In this video listen to Exodus 13 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 13 finally the Exodus is happening. They go out and before properly leaving God talks to them about the dedication of every firstborn. Those who were saved in the plague of the firstborn belong to God.
Later in scripture we are told in Hebrews 12:23 that we are the “church of the firstborn” and so all of us who believes is a firstborn son. This is fascinating in comparison with the genesis stories which always show a non firstborn obtaining an inheritance, but then of course we realise that most of us are not really actually firstborns or male, in a natural sense.
And Christ is the firstborn to rise from the dead, and we are to follow Him.
God then takes the Israelites the longer route on the way to Canaan. He avoids the short quicker route directly though Philistine land. The Philistines were a newly occupying force from Europe (possibly Greece, or Cyprus) and God opts for a longer road. How often as Christians does God take us on the longer road?
In this video listen to Exodus 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 11 God announces the final plague, the worst one of all, the plague of the firstborn. He also tells the Israelites to ask their neighbors for gold, and they are given huge wealth. Egyptian gold and the skills to work with it, are seen in the face mask of the boy Pharaoh Tutankamun.
Interestingly the Israelites take Egyptian gold into the desert with them, and it will be used to build the ark of the covenant, and other tabernacle furniture. Leaving Egypt are also Oholiab and Bezalel, skilled tradesmen at working with raw materials such as the gold. God provided for them. Of course before that, the gold would be used to make a gold calf.
Here we also see the shortest chapter in Exodus, a reminder that chapter breaks were somewhat arbitrary, and sometimes breaking thoughts, although not so much in Exodus. This is the work of Archbishop Stephen Langton in the 1200s.
In this video listen to Exodus 11 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 11 God announces the final plague, the worst one of all, the plague of the firstborn. He also tells the Israelites to ask their neighbors for gold, and they are given huge wealth. Egyptian gold and the skills to work with it, are seen in the face mask of the boy Pharaoh Tutankamun.
Interestingly the Israelites take Egyptian gold into the desert with them, and it will be used to build the ark of the covenant, and other tabernacle furniture. Leaving Egypt are also Oholiab and Bezalel, skilled tradesmen at working with raw materials such as the gold. God provided for them. Of course before that, the gold would be used to make a gold calf.
Here we also see the shortest chapter in Exodus, a reminder that chapter breaks were somewhat arbitrary, and sometimes breaking thoughts, although not so much in Exodus. This is the work of Archbishop Stephen Langton in the 1200s.
In this video listen to Exodus 10 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 10 God said he would show He was Yahweh through his signs. This chapter now outlines up to the ninth plague, the plague of darkness, and every plague is both showing God’s wonders, and the weakness of the so called Egyptian deities. Here is a list of the false gods challenged in the plagues.
Hapi, nile god...
Plague of Blood.
Heket, frog goddess...
Plague of Frogs.
Geb, earth god...
Plague of Lice Khepri, fly-headed god...
Plague of Flies.
Hathor, cow-headed goddess...
Plague of the Cattle Dying.
Isis, goddess of health...
Plague of Boils.
Nut, sky goddess...
Plague of Hail. Seth, also a sky god...
Plague of Locusts. Ra, sun god...
Plague of Darkness.
Pharaoh, son of Ra... Final Plague, death of the firstborn, a challenge to the supreme authority of Egypt, the Pharaoh himself.
In this chapter Pharaoh now starts being told by his own people to listen to Moses. Most people have a hard time taking advice, but in this case it would have been harder for Pharaoh. It would have required something of a change of identity for him, admitting he wasn’t infallible, and wasn’t the son of the gods.
Then Pharaoh seems to admit he has sinned, but in reality this isn’t what we think. He isn’t admitting that there is a moral good, and a moral bad, and that he is in the wrong. No rather, he is simply admitting he has done something that God doesn’t like and wants to fix the problem. Many people see morality in this light, thinking that it is simply a list of God’s wishes, rather than genuine right and wrong.
Finally in this chapter Pharaoh declares he never wants to see Moses again. Pharaoh has come from Atheism, not acknowledging that Yahweh was a God at all, through rebellion and fighting against God, and now to ignoring, hoping the problem will go away. These are three very common positions against God by people.
In this video listen to Exodus 9 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 9 we see the 5th and 6th plagues against Egypt, that of the cattle dying, and of the hail. Reading this you get the impression that every single cow died in the 5th plague, but a mistranslation of the word ‘kol’ for all, should have been better translate as ‘everywhere.’ Rather than saying all the cattle died, it should have said that cattle died all over the place.
Each of the major gods of the Egyptians is demonstrated to be false through the plagues, but the Pharaoh is also seen by Egyptians as a god. And now the real God starts to target him also by hardening his heart. Pharaoh has been hardening his own heart before and after this point, but in this plague, God turns the screws. God is now going to demonstrate through the entire plague process that Pharaoh is not a god at all.
Along with those who are refusing to acknowledge Yahweh, there is a growing group of Egyptians who now fear God. When the plague of hail is announced, they rush to bring in their servants and cattle. This proves that there were cattle that survived. But it also shows there are many Egyptians now inclined differently. When the Hebrews do leave Egypt, many go with them, explaining why we get millions of people.
Those who are attached to their false gods refuse to listen and they suffer the consequences of their choices. This is no different then to now, because all people must choose who they love and worship. God is patient with all demonstrating his grace towards those who choose him and warning of what happens to those who don’t.
In this video listen to Exodus 8 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 8 we now encounter the second, third and fourth plagues. Were the 10 plagues supernatural or natural? This video explains that this point isn’t important, because as they were induced by God through Moses, whether God used natural or supernatural means, they were supernatural either way.
This chapter is also the first time Pharaoh acknowledges that God is a God. But he also thought of himself as a god, and they believed that gods were gods of certain things. So his acknowledgement isn’t giving God a really significant place as creator, or God almighty.
Then Pharaoh’s magicians cannot repeat what Moses does and declare it to be the ‘Finger of God.’ This phrase is only found in the Bible three times. Once here, next int he writing of the ten commandments, and third when Jesus casts out a demon and says the finger of God did it. Essentially the finger of God is an example of the Holy Spirit defeating demons. And by implication, the Bible is saying that the false gods of Egypt are demons, defeated by God’s power.
Finally, Pharaoh keeps hardening his own heart. It makes things worse and worse, and gives us a terrible example of what not to do with God’s dealings in our own lives.
In this video listen to Exodus 7 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 7 God tells Moses that Pharaoh will not listen to him. This is because God is eternal, that is outside of time, and omnitemporal, that is everywhere in time. But God also knows Pharaoh so well he knows what we will do. This is like parents who generally know what their children will do.
If God knows what we will do, does this mean we have no choice? Not at all, but we should cry out to Him to change us and help us follow Him according to His will.
Next, the really supernatural part of the Exodus story begins, with rod turning into a snake, and the Egyptian magicians doing the same, thus hardening Pharaoh’s heart. Many people in western society think that something like this is mythical, and yet they are not aware that for billions of people, the supernatural is a daily part of life around the world. In the west the devil has a covert strategy, but many other places he has an overt strategy.
Moses then is told by God to use his rod to strike the Nile and it will turn to blood. Presumably this was only in the land of Egypt, as the Nile is a very long river running through other nations. This is the first of the ten plagues.
One wonders why all the people had to suffer for the sin of the Pharaoh, and yet if we paid careful attention to the story from the beginning we realize that all of Egypt had participated in his command to kill Hebrew boys. This is collective sin, guilt and judgement. And additionally, there are a number of other perspectives on why the plagues were collective which you can find out by watching the video. The plagues were God’s mercy, and this video will explain that.
In this video listen to Exodus 6 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 6 God repeats his promise to the whole nation, but this time they know his name. Back in Genesis 32:29, Jacob asked God what his name was, but God wouldn’t say. So this is quite a thing.
But now Moses finds that not only won’t Pharaoh listen to him, but the Israelites won’t either. It's terrible when a pastor knows he is saying what God wants but people won’t listen. Moses takes it personally in verse 12 telling God his lips are uncircumcised, that is not suitable or acceptable to God for his purpose.
Up to verse twenty we see a list of four generations from Levi through to Moses. If the Israelites were slaves for 430 years this would be odd, but from Joseph’s death to Moses birth is only about 65 years, so this works. For a correct chronology of how long the Israelites were in Egypt see the TOBI Talk - How long were the Israelites Slaves in Egypt?
If the four generations and the timing isn’t a problem, how on earth did the Israelites grow from 70ish people to millions? This also isn’t a problem, but needs a better explanation, which will be forthcoming in a later video.
Finally Moses repeats his problem about how he feels about his speaking ability… it is becoming a theme now. He really feels incapable, and has no choice but to rely on God. This should put us in a whole new light concerning Moses. He saw himself as completely not suitable for the task, and the great outcomes are all due to the Lord.
In this video listen to Exodus 5 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 5 Pharaoh’s real name is deliberately left out by Moses. Moses clearly knew it, and being trained and educated in Egypt did this on purpose. God either instructed him to do so, or there was a cultural reason. Dr David Downs thinks that this Pharaoh is Khasekemre-Neferhotep. Other archaeologists think it is Rameses II.
Pharaohs thought they were the incarnation of God, and all of Egypt thought it too. So as Moses approached Pharaoh with God’s request a battle of divine wills begins. And this is one possible reason why Pharaoh is not named, so as not to give him unwarranted significance.
Pharaoh asks who is Yahweh? When he finds out that Yahweh is the God of the Hebrews, he must have felt great disrespect, for a god of slaves cannot be any god at all. He has not regard or desire to listen. So he makes things worse for the slaves.
So we see that the first response to prayer of the Israelites for deliverance is that things get worse for them. Sometimes when we pray this is exactly what happens. The opposite is the first result. We must trust God because he has a process so as to bring about an even better outcome than we can imagine.
But the Israelites don’t trust, and don’t understand, so they begin by blaming their leaders, Moses and Aaron. Yet Moses was just obeying God. How sad for pastors when their people blame them because of misunderstanding. Hebrews 13:17 says “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” Hebrews 13:17
In this video listen to Exodus 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 4 Moses makes more excuses for not wanting to go. His initial excuse in Exodus 3 was “Who am I?” Now he says “they won’t believe me.” And, “I’m not a good speaker,” and finally, “Please pick someone else.” God is not impressed
Contrast this with Mary the mother of Jesus who cheerfully trusted and was willing. No wonder she was highly favoured.
God asks Moses “what is in your hand?” It was his rod. Through the rod that Moses already owned God worked wonders. And God will use us, with what we already have and are. We need our eyes opened to see.
Then Moses second son was left uncircumcised, most likely just after his birth. Moses became sick and was to die. But Zipporah realised that God was angry because the circumcision had not happened. So she did what should have been Moses’ responsibility.
Moses then recovered. This highlights how being called doesn’t spare us from having to obey. In fact the requirements are not lower, but higher. Moses seems stubborn and maybe lazy in this chapter, but nobody else could have performed the tasks he did later. God knew.
God has also called you to do certain things. Are you being stubborn and lazy?
In this video listen to Exodus 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 3 God is speaking again after what seems like silence for 145 years. He is saying the same things to Moses that he said to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Amazingly we see that God was working to answer the prayers of the Israelites long before they prayed. He started preparing Moses 80 years earlier, by putting him into the Egyptian palace to receive their education.
Then when the Israelites cried out, God had a deliverer he was already working on. Moses then doesn't think he is capable for the task. This is an astoundingly different position to that which he would have had as a prince of Egypt. God needed 40 years of desert humility to get the 40 years of Egyptian pride out of him. And he was indeed humble. Humility is being dependent on God. And we cannot serve God without depending on him.
Then God reveals his name for the first time in the Bible as “I AM.” It doesn’t seem like a satisfying name, but it reveals that God is the self-existent one. Without something self-existent nothing could exist. So we find out that God is this eternal all-knowing God. In this chapter we learn God’s name, that God is self-existent, and that there is only 1 God.
We also see God working to answer prayer, which is remarkable in itself, that God should consider people. But we also see him anticipating the prayer and working in advance. And we see that God is holy and deserves our reverence.
In this video listen to Exodus 2 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 2 the birth of Moses is described. Moses is no ordinary child, there is obviously something special about him which prompts his mother to risk her life to save him. He goes into the water in a basket and is drawn out of the water, in a very early picture of baptism.
Bithiah is most likely the Egyptian princess here who rescues Moses, a name given to her later when she married Mered from the tribe of Judah and left Egypt in the Exodus. Her Egyptian name was probably Meri, according to Maclaren’s Expositions. Bithiah was God’s enemy, an Egyptian. It’s incredible how God uses his enemies for his purposes, and in this case, the enemy became a friend. In Christ at the cross, God attempts to turn all of his enemies into his friends, and you and I are those.
Finally and remarkably, at the end of Exodus 2 the Israelites cry out to God for deliverance, but God has been preparing Moses for 40 years at least already for this. God hears our prayers before we pray them, and even though there is a timetable to it all, and it can take longer than we want, God is at work even when we don’t see it.
In this video listen to Exodus 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Exodus 1 a new king arises in Egypt. The kings were called Pharaohs. Egyptian chronology is very confusing and the world’s leading Egyptologists even among themselves have differing chronologies. There are possibly 30 dynasties, some which overlap. See this for a sense of the complexity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasties_of_ancient_Egypt#:~:text=In%20ancient%20Egyptian%20history%2C%20dynasties,%22%20and%20%22intermediate%20periods%22
The Bible doesn’t say which Pharaoh we are talking of here. The National Geographic and some other non-biblically-leaning experts think Rameses II was Pharaoh during the actual Exodus, which would mean that Seti was Pharaoh when Moses was born. Some Christian Egyptologists disagree with these names and place it in another dynasty altogether. For example Dr David Downs thinks the Pharaoh at the time of the Exodus was Khasekemre-Neferhotep.
No one is entirely certain, but the Bible is itself an incredibly old document and is the provision of huge evidence for Moses and these events to follow. More importantly, Jesus believed in Moses and made many comments about the law of Moses. Indeed Christ is in the law himself, and he said he had come to fulfil the law and the prophets.
The chapter then talks about the midwives who lied to save the lives of Hebrew boys. Boys were drowned in the Nile, but girls were saved. The Bible says they feared God, indicating there are a few limited occasions when being sneaky is allowed because we fear God. The hiding of Jews in World War 2 by the Ten Boom family is a modern day example of this.
In this video listen to Genesis 50 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 50 Jacob is embalmed and mourned for 70 days in the Egyptian style. Pharoahs usually had 72 days of mourning, so this is quite an honor given to Jacob. Jacob is then taken back to Hebron to be buried.
Joseph then has to reassure his brothers who now panic that revenge might come because their Dad isn’t around to defend them. Joseph assures them that God was in it all along. This brings us to Romans 8:28 in the New Testament where Paul tells us that “all things work together for the good of those that love God.”
Our lives may be a tangled mess, but the Lord works in it as our eyes are on him, to bring great good out of it all for His purposes.
Finally Joseph dies at the age of 110 in Egypt, is embalmed and put in a coffin but not buried. He request that his bones be taken out of Egypt when they leave, which is not for at least another two hundred years, depending on how you work out the 430 years time in Egypt.
This article from Answers in Genesis has an interesting explanation of the 430 years problem: https://answersingenesis.org/bible-questions/how-long-were-the-israelites-in-egypt/
When you understand the 430 years problem as explained above it creates a second problem, which was how 2 million Israelites left Egypt only 215 years after they went there officially. How were they able to grow from 70 people to 2 million in 215 years? This question will be dealt with in a later Exodus video.
Joseph’s age of 110 is the perfect age for an Egyptian given that for them 110 was the perfect number, and Joseph’s life fulfilled exactly what was required. Joseph is a type of Christ, saving his people, and having a life that fulfilled its purpose exactly.
We now come to the end of Genesis, join us tomorrow as we start our ‘journey’ through Exodus.
In this video listen to Genesis 49 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 49 Jacob is 147 years old, and is on his death bed. He now proceeds to prophecy and bless his twelve sons. Some of the blessings don’t seem very good for them, but are accurate as our knowledge of history shows.
The most profound of all the blessings is for Judah, his fourth son. Judah is told that the sceptre will not depart from Judah and that he will rule over his brothers. Later of course King David comes from the tribe of Judah, but of his lineage, Jesus is to come. Jesus is the king of kings, with an eternal kingdom, and the sceptre never departs from him. Before Jesus every knee bows and every tongue will confess. What we have here is a blessing, but also a prophecy about Christ.
The other prophecies/blessings are also instructive. The prophecy about Dan biting the riders heel, talks about him being one who pulls others down. Later in the national history of Israel, Dan was one of the locations of Jeroboam's two golden calves. These calves pulled the other ten tribes of Israel down into idolatry and away from God’s plan.
Another son Reuben found that his sins were to follow him. It speaks of the consequences of our choices. Even though we may be washed in Christ’s blood, there is an effect in this world on what we choose. If a prisoner finds Christ in jail, his soul is now free, but his body remains imprisoned. It is this type of consequence we see here.
In this video listen to Genesis 48 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 48 Jacob recounts the things God said to him, and passes it onto his son and grandsons. This is a picture of Christianity, and that God’s promises are not for us alone, but for us and our children, and spiritual descendants after us. We are a people. We need to pass on what God has given to us
.Next Jacob adopts the two sons of Joseph’s as his own sons, so that they become a part of the twelve tribes of Israel. Technically there are now thirteen tribes, but scriptures always have a way of it being twelve. For example when the land is given out later, the Levites are not given any, but live all through the land as priests. Thus the land is divided into twelve. So there is no tribe of Joseph, but he has a double portion in Israel. Joseph is a technical firstborn.
But now Jacob goes to bless the two boys, and blesses them back to front. He puts his right hand on the second born, and left hand on the first born. In doing so he repeats a bible theme where the underdog rises and the firstborn misses out. Joseph himself was not a firstborn, but became an effective firstborn. This also happens with Seth, Isaac, Jacob and with others to come. Indeed Israel itself as a nation is not the best nation, the most numerous, most successful oor most sophisticated. God chose an underdog.
And so we too are underdogs, and Christ alone is the true firstborn, but in Christ we achieve firstborn status.
In this video listen to Genesis 47 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 47 Jacob gets to meet Pharoah and says something of great interest. He confesses that though he is 130 years old, his life has been short, and full of problems. While his aged seems old to us, it is short in comparison to his forefathers and others in the Bible. It reminds us of the commandment to honor one’s parents.
The command to honor wasn’t yet given, but honor for your parents was still a cultural thing, and others before him knew how to honor. That commandment came with a promise that your life would be long, and go well with you. Jacob just 53 years prior had deceived his father, showing great dishonor, and seems to have reaped the reward of dishonoring.
These promises in scripture are general in nature, so that they are true most of the time as life happens how it should. But God can do things differently with individuals. So in one circumstance he can take an individual like Jeremiah who did honor his parents, but by necessity of God’s bigger plans, put him through a difficult life. Jeremiah of course is not without rewards in eternity. But others may seem to live with disregard for God, fellow people or their families and seems to do well. Just the same the scripture that says, “your sin will find you out” applies to them.
Later in chapter 47, the Israelites multiplied exceedingly. Joseph also instigated 20% taxation in Egypt, which seems quite reasonable from a modern perspective. And Jacob makes Joseph promise to bury him back in Canaan when he dies.
In this video listen to Genesis 46 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 46 at Beersheba God speaks to Jacob to reassure him. THey are on teh edge of Canaan leaving for Egypt to go to Joseph, and must have had many questions. God confirms his word to Jacob, and also what he had previously said to ABraham in Genesis 15;13 that “his descendants would be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.”
Jacob is able to trust God and relax… he isn’t being deceived again.
Now the Bible outlines the 70 names of the people going down, but many more not named were among them. We see this as a somewhat hidden backstory. Earlier Abraham had 331 fighting men in his family at a time when neither Ishamel or Isaac were born. It indicated the strength of the family and those with them. In the same way Jacob has others, servants, and workers with them, who are not named.
Finally Jacob meets his son again, and the scene if like the ending of the prodigal son story. Joseph is the son who once was lost, but now is found. Of course Joseph wasn’t a prodigal, but he represents each of us who were lost to our heavenly father, and have now been found by him. Our finding is a great cause for celebration by our father in Heaven.
Finally we see that God was protecting his family in sending them to Egypt. They would have intermarried with the Canaanites as we saw in various stories, such as with Jacob’s daughter Dinah, and also with Judah in Genesis 38. By leaving for Egypt, where they were despised as a people, they were not going to intermarry and would solidify their national identity. So God demonstrates his huge wisdom in these things.
In this video listen to Genesis 45 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 45 Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and they were terrified. That one word says a lot about the state of their emotions right in that moment. Forgiveness was not common in the ancient world, and revenge was. However Joseph’s reassurance must have done a lot.
Another thing that would certainly have helped, although not mentioned here, was the recalling to mind of Joseph’s dreams. That would have shown all the brothers that God had been in this right from the start. And also, by sending them back with provisions would have helped them a lot, it would have assured them too.
In verse 24 Joseph tells his brothers as they depart to go back to Canaan, not to quarrel on the way. In my opinion, this is one of the funniest verses in the bible. It is a brother having a dig at his brothers knowing what might happen.
When Jacob hears the word about Joseph, he is revived, and energy, hope and many other things return to him. This is right at the very end of his life. It goes to show that it can take until our very last moments to see what God has been up to.
There are two things to conclude here: God is always with us even if right until the end of our lives we don’t see it. And God is an eternal God…. so his goodness is waiting for us in eternity, even if we do never see it now.
In this video listen to Genesis 44 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 44 Joseph tests his brothers one more time with the ultimate character test. He wants to see if they hate his brother, who is undoubtedly also a favourite, in the same way they hated him.
They prove him wrong, and demonstrate how profoundly they have changed as a family. Before Joseph was a slave they happily sacrificed him for their own happiness, but now Judah is willing to sacrifice himself for his brother and father’s happiness. God has worked wonders in this family.
This is a family that has suffered. Certainly Joseph suffered in Egypt, but his journey seems cheerful in comparison to those left behind. Through the pain of what they experienced they have changed. The Lord knows how to bring good out of pain.
Christ himself is called the man of sorrows, who knew grief on our behalf. (Isaiah 53:3) And his road up the hill to Calvary was named the Via Del La Rosa, or the path of suffering. Jesus knew how to walk into suffering for the good of all of us. And sometimes he allows suffering to work inside of us for our good, and the good of others too.
Only God has this wisdom. Suffering can also cause us to change in negative ways also. We need to thank God for the suffering we are allowed to walk through, and keep our eyes on him, so that we will become like him in his death, and be raised to life with him also.
In this video listen to Genesis 43 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 43 we see that the famine is used by God in multiple ways. It was used to elevate Joseph, and to save Jacob’s family and now to force them to come to Egypt. God is remarkable in how he uses circumstances to bring about his will.
Jacob is too fragile to allow Benjamin to go, so Judah displays real sacrifice by putting his life on the line. Much later, Christ is called the Lion of Judah and lays down his life for us.
Jacob’s circumstances were tough, and it was hard to trust God, and eventually he does, partially because he has no choice. He is a changed man, as are all the sons. When we keep our eyes on Good through life’s challenges, we are changed into trusting Him, but if we keep our eyes on the problems, we also change, but not for good. LIke Peter in the New Testament who walked on water… for a while. Once he took his eyes off the Lord, he sank.
None of us have probably experienced the pain that Jacob did, and this story reminds us to keep our eyes on Christ through whatever we face.
Now Joseph was actually watching over his brothers and intending a good outcome, but tested them in the process to see their sincerity. God also watches over us and tests us, but not so He knows, but so that we will know ourselves. Have you failed any tests? If so, its time to see the Lord for his grace.
In this video listen to Genesis 42 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 42 Joseph must have surely realised that the dreams he had as a teenager were coming to pass. His trust in God and commitment to righteousness has paid off. But just the same, he now has to overcome possibly the greatest test so far… the desire for revenge.
What looks like him being mean to his brothers in this chapter and the ones to follow, is actually a test of their character. Joseph wants to know if he can trust them, and a wise ruler does want to know these things.
His test involves accusing his brothers of spying, and imprisoning Simeon demanding the other brothers bring back Benjamin. This places too much strain on the aging father Jacob who cannot handle it. Despite Reuben’s guarantee of his own sons lives in the place of Benjamin, Jacob is too emotionally fragile to allow Benjamin to go.
In Jacob’s discourse he regrets having lost Josephe, and then Simeon, and doesn't want to lose Benjamin. This shows his father's heart for his non favourite sons such as Simeon. There is probably nobody in scripture more than Jacob with whom I sympathize.
Through it all God was working in the way that only He can.
In this video listen to Genesis 41 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 41 Pharoah now has dreams, and his magicians are inept. Once again the Lord interprets the dreams. The Bible.org commentary tells us that Joseph was 30 years old here, so 13 years after he was sold into slavery.
Dreams are like personal parables and the Lord speaks to all of us in our own way. The key is firstly having a desire to understand and then seeking Christ for his interpretation. The disciples did this when Christ shared parables, later asking for the meaning. We too should ask Christ for his meaning in our dreams.
Finally Joseph is given the opportunity to talk to someone important, but uses that opportunity to serve, rather than seek his own advantage. In coming before Pharaoh, he is shaved, a humiliation for Hebrews as we later find out in King David’s day. (see 2 Samuel 10:4) Joseph accepts humiliation and strives to serve, and once again God helps.
Pharoah notices Joseph's humility, and also his capable administrative gift and suggestion. So Joseph becomes the Grand Vizier of Egypt. In my opinion it is doubtful if Joseph could have been a person of this character without his prison and slave experiences. They were necessary in shaping him. Can we compare his character now, to his person as a teenager when he was telling his brothers he would rule them. Now he had the character sufficient to actually be a good ruler.
In recent times archaeological evidence for Joseph, his wife Asanath, his father Jacbo, brothers, sons and more has been uncovered through the incredible research of Dr Douglas Petrovich. His interpretation of many ancient egyptian stele has provided many interesting insights into this period of biblical history.
Imagine if Christians were like Joseph, full of the spirit, humble, not pushy for their own advantage, but seeking to serve those who are clearly not mindful of the Lord…. What would the world be like?
In this video listen to Genesis 40 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 40 we start to see dreams and their interpretation figure in the Bible. A theological statement is made by Joseph when he says ‘Don’t interpretations belong to God?’ Finally someone here has their thinking straight.
Previously of course his father Jacob experienced God at Bethel in a dream, and prior to that Abraham had dreams in which God spoke to him. So God had frequently spoken through dreams, and Joseph is clued up.
When he understands what the dreams mean, which is a gift of the spirit, he has to take great courage in telling the baker he has only three days to live. But if he was uncertain about the meaning that would have been a dumb thing to do, so he was clearlry certain it was from God.
In the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 12 we are told of the gifts of the Spirit, and there are nine listed. Dream interpretation is not among them, but clearly requires the work of the Spirit, so the gifts are not nine, but more. As a believer, you should with wisdom, seek other gifts like Joseph did.
Finally, we realise that Josephe must surely have remembered his own dreams as a younger person. He knew that God was taking him somewhere, and he trusted the Lord. Now we know why Joseph served with a whole heart. Not only was God with him, but he saw a bigger picture and he trusted as Abraham did for so long when it looked impossible.
In this video listen to Genesis 39 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 39 Joseph is sold into the house of a prominent Egyptian, Potiphar. He serves wholeheartedly and rises to a good position. The Lord is with him.
Potiphar’s wife notices Joseph and tempts him with sex, and very strangely for the times, he doesn’t go through with it. This is very contrasting to the previous chapter about his brother Judah who seems to have no qualms about being immoral. There is of course no law or ten commandments given yet, so where does Joseph obtain his sense of righteousness. He is filled with the Holy Spirit.
The temptation however does not go away, and Joseph resists until eventually he is despised and accused. The writer of the book of Hebrews says that some of us haven’t “resisted until the shedding of our blood.” (Hebrews 12:4-6) This is the type of overcoming Joseph demonstrated here - he resists to his own hurt, but to the glory of God.
Although he could easily have been killed for the indiscretion he was accused of, he is somehow shown mercy by only being imprisoned. Prisons were unusual in ancient times, with capital punishment being much more common. The Lord was in that.
Finally, Joseph serves in the prison with a whole heart as before. Paul wrote to slaves who had become believers in Ephesians 6:5 to serve their masters as though serving the Lord. Joseph does that here without even being instructed. Joseph is a truly remarkable biblical figure worthy of emulation.
In this video listen to Genesis 38 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 38 there seems to be an interruption to the Joseph story, but it is placed here for a reason. It is going to starkly compare Joseph’s righteous behaviour to follow, with the unrighteous things going on by his family left behind. Joseph still had much to learn, but he had the grace of God, and was righteous in his heart.
It's hard enough to be righteous when you know you should and you have good examples around you, but try to be righteous where there is nothing to demonstrate it, and the ten commandments don’t yet exist. This is the difference between Judah and Joseph.
The chapter then outlines the sin of Onan, who is supposed to produce a family line for his brother as a moral obligation, but deliberately doesn't’. When having intimate moments, he deliberately spills his semen on the ground. This is because he doesn’t want any children to be his responsibility when the honor of the children is his dead brother’s and not his own. This isn't a passage about birth control as many assume, but about his immoral motivations.
Finally Judah does the wrong thing by not giving his third son to Tamar to fulfil legal and moral obligations in the culture of the time. Tamar takes matters into her own hands and tricks Judah into sleeping with her and it becomes a great fiasco resulting in twins. The twins are part of the ancestry of Christ. This demonstrates how such crazy and outlandish behaviour is accounted for by Christ in his sovereignty. God is able to still be sovereign while handling the wild human choices that occur.
One lasting thought seems clear. Judah and his sons were selecting wives from among the Canaanites. This was something Abraham and Isaac didn’t want, but Jacob seems to have had little power over. The problem was the corrrupting influence of the other cultures. But by eventually settling in Egypt this would stop… because the egyptians detested shepherds and would not mix with them. So the time that was about to follow would prove crucial for the settling of the national identity of Israel.
In this video listen to Genesis 37 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 37 the effects of Jacob’s favoritism of Joseph end up hurting him. It’s a powerful reminder that having a favorite child is not good for your family. If you have non natural children such as foster children, step children, or others under your care, you need to seek God for grace, and determine to be fair with them. God can provide you with an affection for them that is not natural but just as good.
Joseph has his first recorded dreams in this chapter, and the sun, moon and stars bow to him. These were symbols for people in his life, and remind us firstly that dreams are symbolic, but secondly that so often in scripture, references to stars and other heavenly bodies are also symbolic. We see this in the prophets, and also in Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew 24.
In the second half of the chapter Joseph is sold to Ishmaelites… or is it Midianites? The chapter seems to keep calling them different names. Various commentators, such as the Enduring Word commentary show us that this was a common language feature of the Israelites and also happens in Judges 8:22-28. They equated these two groups as the same.
Finally Jacob begins a whole new period of pain in his life. HIs favourite wife just died, and now his favourite son is apparently dead. He must have wondered where God was in this. Later of course, Joseph’s words come back into the situation when he says to his brothers, “you intended it for evil, but God intended it for good.” It demonstrates why when we face pain, and have no answers, we need to trust God and even praise Him. He is at work to bring about good.
In this video listen to Genesis 36 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 36 we have the one chapter in the Bible that goes into the family tree of Esau, Jacob’s brother. The land of Edom has a place right through scriptures.
There are prophecies in Isaiah and elsewhere about Edom. Also King Herod who ruled Judea much later was an Idumean, that is an Edomite. Also the incredible city of Petra, in modern day Jordan was part of ancient Edom. Because Jacob and Esau were brothers, these two nations of Israel and Edom were considered closer than other nations.
However the Lord was displeased when he judged Israel, and Edom gloated over the destruction. The prophecy of Obadiah was the result of that displeasure. Malachi 1:3 also tells us that God loved Jacob but hated Esau.
If God hated Esau, why did such a prominent part of Genesis be given entirely to his family tree? God’s hate must be for dramatic purpose only, to indicate he chose Jacob and didn’t choose Esau.
Rather when the Israelites, and us, see a passage like this, it should cause us to contemplate that if God is so interested in them to know the details of their history, that we should not hate them, but treat them with dignity.
In this video listen to Genesis 35 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 35 the deaths of three people are recounted, first being Deborah’s Jacob’s mothers nurse, who would have been quite elderly, perhaps, 140. The second to die was Rachel, Jacob’s favourite wife and Joseph’s mother at a young age of perhaps 36, according to the Jewish Encyclopedia (http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/art...), and Isaac at the age of 180.
Rachel died in childbirth giving birth to Benjamin, the only one of the twelve brothers to be born in Canaan.
Here Rachel names her son, ‘son of my sorrow’ or Ben Oni on her death. However Jacob overrules and renames him ‘son of my right right’ or Ben Jamin. Here we see the purpose of God at work. Because each of us have entered into life with sorrow because of sin, but when we come to Christ, we have sorrow overruled, and become sons of the right hand. Christ of course sits at the right hand of the Father.
Finally Isaac dies at 180, and the memory of his deceit is an old one. The boys, both aged 120 each, bury their father together.
In this video listen to Genesis 34 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 34 we see the behaviour of some of Jacob’s sons. Firstly in deception, then in murder and brutality. They also acted without thought of the future consequences of their behaviour.
Jacob’s daughter Dinah is taken inappropriately, and the young man Schechem wants to marry her. He is willing to pay a high price, but the brothers deceitfully only ask for the entire city to be circumcised, which happens. Two of the brothers then attack and kill all the adult males while they are in pain healing, and unable to defend themselves.
This causes Jacob to hate their action, and we see he has wizened in life, although he is now 100 years old. The young men here likely will be late teens to early twenties of age, and no doubt thinking came slower than reacting.
So who is right and who is wrong in the story. It seems everyone has done something wrong. It's an indication of life because none of us are guiltless, and all of us need the mercy of God.
In this video listen to Genesis 33 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 33 Jacob gets ready to meet Esau’s coming army of 400 men. He orders his family by how much he loves them, and this must have felt terrible to the women and children. Later we see in the story of Jacob how this favouritism played out. Jacob probably wasn’t aware of how his attitudes would affect his family, but today we are aware of these things, and know the wisdom of them.
Jacob of course was tricked into his unique family situation, but sometimes today people find themselves also in unique situations. Sometimes parents have step children, or grandchildren, or foster children, or others that are not natural children, adn they need equal love alongside the natural children. This calls for determination, but ultimately God’s grace must be added.
This will be for the long term good.
Finally when Esau arrives, he is friendly, and this must have been a huge relief. God no doubt was a part of that. A real answer to prayer. The third of Jacob’s adversaries (Laban, the Lord and Esau) turned out to be fear instead.
In this video listen to Genesis 32 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 32 Jacob gets the terrible news that his brother is coming with an army of 400 soldiers to meet him. It cannot possibly be good news. Jacob does what is practical, dividing his family into two groups, giving better odds for one group to survive, and he also sends a messenger and gifts to his brother.
But he also deals with the news by going to prayer. First he prays alone, but then he finds a strange man who wrestles with him. Jacob is unwilling to give up, and so prevails against a stronger opponent, who ends up being the Lord. This is an all night affair. This alludes to our call to wrestle with God in prayer, until we breakthrough, even if it takes all night.
Jacob’s situation was desperate, but we often face desperate spiritual circumstances which don’t bother us much.
In overcoming, Jacob was given a new identity of Israel, and that shaped the rest of the entire scripture, and salvation history. It also shows us that we are called to wrestle with God. No longer was Jacob a deceiver, he was a perseverer.
Finally the name Israel suggest that God started the wrestle. It suggests that God puts us into some predicaments for our own overcoming and good.
In this video listen to Genesis 31 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 31 Jacob is now wealthy. He arrived at Haran empty handed, but twenty years later he has a huge family and is well off. The Lord’s blessing spoken by his father oer his life has worked. But Laban is annoyed, and so he sneaks away from Laban. This is probably an indication of depth of Laban’s attitude toward Jacob, which was probably not comfortable.
As they sneak away, Rachel steals her father’s idol. This may have been an inheritance idol, or a sentimental family item, but either way it indicates how far things have come from the polytheistic society of then until now.
As Laban pursues Jacob the Lord gives a dream. This shows how even when we are unaware of it, God fights for us. If we walk with the Lord, he works in many ways which we are unaware of.
Finally Laban and Jacob make an agreement together asking the Lord to watch over each other. It sounds sweet, but this arrangement is made in suspicion because there is no trust between them. It’s not an example of how Christians should treat each other.
In this video listen to Genesis 30 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 30 infertility is again an issue in the scriptures and Rachel is unable to have children. She copies Sarah - her grandmother in law and gives her servant to her husband. This time there is no competition between servant and owner, but there is competition between sisters and wives, Leah and Rachel.
Infertility can happen for many reasons, but in this chapter we see it was the Lord, for his own undisclosed reason, that closed Rachels’ womb. At Peace, we have had the blessing of seeing many infertile couples blessed with children, and John Alley, long-time senior minister here has a grace for those type of prayers. I (David Alley) was the result of such a type of situation where the Lord opened my mother’s womb.
Finally a heap of children are born to the two sisters and their two servants - a total of eleven sons, with one more to come later.
In this chapter we see competition between wives in a polygamous sitution and it demonstrates why God never intended this. Jacob was deceived into polygamy, and his culture allowed it, but the scriptures show it was never God’s plan. When women compete for a husband’s attention it puts stresses on everyone that were never meant to exist.
Finally the chapter ends by Jacob now working for real wages and wealth, that is for sheep and goats. Once again he uses trickery to get again, and this time Laban reaps what he sows.
In this video listen to Genesis 29 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 29 Jacob arrives in Haran, and helps his cousin Rachel to water her sheep. The custom at that place was to cover the well with a stone, and Rachel was too weak to move it on her own, and for this reason shepherds, who were probably young, would gather at the same time to water. Cooperation here between the shepherds is an interesting point and reminds us that ministers of the gospel should work together for Christ.
Jacob then works seven years for his wife Rachel. This is quite different to how Isaac obtained a wife immediately without having to work. Abraham of course paid great wealth to get a wife for Isaac, but Jacob is empty handed. Jacob is also about 77 years of age here which is surprising.
But then Jacob is deceived by his Uncle Laban and finds he didn’t actually marry his sweetheart Rachel, but wakes up on the morning after the wedding to find her sister Leah in the tent with him. Imagine the shock. This video gives five reasons how this could have happened.
But the deception is a clear example of reaping what one has sowed. Despite God’s promises to Jacob, the consequences of his former life are still being worked out.
In this video listen to Genesis 28 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Genesis 28 Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother, and Esau finally realises (at the age of 77) that his Canaanite wives displease his parents. Esau now takes another wife (this makes 3) for himself from one of Ishmael’s daughters - a cousin of his. Here we see an example of him now trying to honor his parents, after having been quite oblivious about its importance before this. But he once again does so in his own manner, without actually considering how they might have advised.
Jacob leaves for Haran and has a dream of heaven, with angels coming and going via flight of stairs. God repeats his promise previously made to Abrraham, and Isaac, and after this Jacob is awed and makes the Lord his God. In a big way, it's a type of conversion experience for him, and we all must make such a choice to follow the Lord.
He also names the physical place Bethel, but in the New Testament the house of God is within us, so we are Bethel.
In this video listen to Genesis 27 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 27 contains the fascinating story of Jacob’s deceit of his father Isaac so as to steal the blessing from his brother Esau. Isaac is at this point 137 years old and Jacob and Esau are 77, which is much older than we often think.
Esau previously despised his inheritance and dishonoured his parents and may be receiving a spiritual backhander here as a result. Jacob does the wrong thing, but demonstrates how highly prized the blessing was.
Isaac mistakenly thought there was only one blessing, but we see in the scriptures that there is a blessing for all of God’s people. So go and seek it out. Find your fathers in the faith and ask them to bless you.
Today in churches most Christians think little of the blessing, as maybe just a nice collection of words, but for Jacob and Esau the blessing was something to fight for. When our attitudes match Jacob’s we will find the power of the blessing influences us for good much more.
Finally Jacob flees for his life, and is advised at the ripe age of 77 to go to his relatives in Haran, and Isaac suggests he might get a wife there. Why such suggestions waited 77 years is an interesting point to contemplate, but reminds us that we need to be involved in the lives of our children as much as possible, guiding them and blessing them.
In this video listen to Genesis 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 26 tells of how Isaac prospered during a famine. He went to the land of the Philistines where he not only prospered, but repeated the sins of his father ABraham in lying about his wife. This shows us that we must be careful how we act, because our children pick up our values and way of life.
Later in the chapter Isaac redigs wells that his father Abraham had dug. This must have been frustrating for him, but illustrates spiritual truth to us. Sometimes we have to go back to prayer and fight again to reobtain victories that were previously obtained. Each generation has to find its own breakthrough and shouldn’t rest on the laurels of those gone before, otherwise we may take for granted what was obtained.
Later in the chapter Esua does take his parents for granted and dishonors them by taking local wives. Abraham had gone to great effort to get a wife from afar that wasn’t tainted with the sins around him in Canaan, but Esau seems not to care. So he dishonoured his parents, and even though the ten commandments were not yet given, he showed that honour was not in his heart.
Is honour in your heart towards your spiritual leaders? Do you care about the effort they go to for you in prayer, preaching and care?
In this video listen to Genesis 25 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 25 shows us that Abraham actually had many more children and outlines who they are and their descendants. Abraham dies at 175, which was old enough to have met his grandsons, Esau and Jacob who would have been 15 at the time. Isaac was 75 when he buried his father and Ishmael was 88.
We then go on to hear the story of the birth of the twins, Jacob and Esau who were born when Isaac was 60 and Abraham was 160. The second Jacob tried to grab his brother's heel and was named accordingly. His name means deceiver, and it clearly had an effect on him as his behavior reflected this throughout his life.
Later God intervenes to change Jacob’s name and this was a great mercy, but Jacob had to fight for it. God also gives us the opportunity of a changed identity and if we follow Him we become new creations and are given a new identity too.
Finally Esau is convinced by Jacob to give up his birthright. This is the double share of inheritance that a firstborn obtains. Esau simply doesn’t care enough, but Jacob cares much, and later on in scripture we see that his attitude by Esau was not pleasing to God.
What spiritual inheritances do you despise and simply not care about?
In this video listen to Genesis 24 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in Genesis, and tells of how Abraham at the age of 140 organised a wife for his son Isaac. He didn’t want to get a wife from among the Canaanites, even though he was to inherit the land, but from his family. He sent his servant on a long journey, which took about 17 days each way, with ten fully loaded camels, to Haran where Bethuel lived.
There the servant prays and God helps in finding a wife. In this we learn how practical Godo is, answering prayers every day in situations all of the time.
After finding Rebekah, the servant gives her jewelry worth more than $6000 US Dollars according to estimates with online websites, and that must have helped put Rebekah’s mind at ease knowing her future master was wealthy. Ultimately they gave her, and her family many other things too. But what really settled the deal was knowing it was the will of God.
We make many choices in life, and just because the circumstances are correct doesn't mean we should proceed. What we need to know is if the Lord is in it, and thus we need to be people who seek him.
In this video listen to Genesis 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 23 seems like a story that while interesting has little to do with the rest of scripture. It recounts the death of Sarah at great old age of 127. Isaac is 37 years old at the time of her death and she is the only woman in scripture whose age at death is named.
The passage goes on to describe a negotiation between Ephron the Hittite and Abraham for the purchase/sale of the burial plot, which is a field with a cave in it. Both seem keen to do what they think the other wants, which for Abraham is to pay a good price, and for Ephron to give the field away. In the end they concede to each other and Abraham purchase the field for 400 shekels of silver, which was a good deal.
This passage, as well as showing some interesting historical things, also highlights preferential honor in relationships. Clearly these two men had a great deal of respect for each other, and as Christian believers, there is a calling for preferential treatment of each other also.
In this video listen to Genesis 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 22 tells the incredible story of the testing of Abraham. Up until now, the whole narrative has been about how Abraham had to exhibit faith so as to obtain a son. Now that he has a son, he is asked to give him up by sacrificing him.
While this is also a test of faith, it is really a test of values. Does Abraham value his son more than God? Does Abraham really love God, or only love what God can do for him? Many of us love God because of the blessings we receive from Him, such as Heaven, or His promises here and now. Later in scripture Job loses everything and rerfuses to give up on God, and thus goes through the same type of test, but without knowing it. Job is found to value God above what God can do for hm, and in the process all is restored in greater measure. Many of us are also called to go through tests of what we value, and whether God has a higher place than these things.
This passage also raises questions about child sacrifice, and God’s requests of us. Does God ask us to do things which are wrong? Listen and find out.
In this video listen to Genesis 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 21 tells the story of Isaac’s birth, which is a great culmination of all the faith and promises in all the previous chapters of Genesis. Abraham perseveres in trusting God even though it has gotten to the point that the evidence is now against anything happening. So he is a great example to copy.
But a battle of inheritance now begins between the two boys, but really between the two mothers who both want their son to be the one who inherits. First born sons inherit a double share, and Ishamel was the first born. But Sarah says he is the son of a slave and doesn't count.
First this is an example of a son, who is not the firstborn inheriting everything. This happens in other places too, such as with Jacob and Esau and later with Joseph and the brothers. Even Seth, the third son of Adam is the prominent one. This is a recurring theme and illustrates how God chooses the unexpected one for his purpose, and we are the weak, foolish and unexpected choice. We can identify with not being the prominent one, but having God’s grace.
At the same time, Christ is the true firstborn son, who does inherit everything, but the New Testament shows us that he does so by laying it all down and not claiming it. So Christ sets an example of not fighting for one’s rights, but serving others, and inheriting God’s blessing through service.
But Isaac does become the firstborn, despite being second, because Ishamel is in some senses illegitimate. Ishamel is the son of human effort, and not the son of God’s promise. Paul writes about this in Galatians later on. So we too will find God’s best for us through his promises, and not through our efforts.
This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to Genesis 20 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 20 tells the story of Abraham’s visit to Gerar and how Abimelech took Sarah to be his own wife, without realising she was Abraham’s wife. A curse comes on Abimelech’s house as a result of his ignorant sin, and God warns him in a dream.
In this story we see Abraham repeating behaviour that he previously demonstrated in Genesis 12. (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/I026wntk-bA) As humans we often repeat behaviour that we should stop, and the temptation here is to firstly think this story is fabricated because it sounds like the earlier story, but instead it is a mark of authenticity. Secondly its a reminder to consider our own repeated mistakes.
But next we see that we sometimes have life’s circumstances turn against us without knowing why also, and we need to find a way through in prayer. Often we too have sinned unknowingly (oro maybe knowingly) and we need to find repentance and rectification as did Abimelech. Other times like later with the biblical character Job, the curse is more mysterious. But in the same way, we must seek the face of God and find a way through the situation, but in doing so, also find a way into greater maturity as believers.
Listen to Genesis 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 19 starts with the account of how Sodom was destroyed, and ends with the origin story of two national groups, the Moabites and the Ammonites. Both of these are stories which leave us shaking our heads for different reasons, but at the same time they do provide us with historical background to things to come in the Bible, and spiritual lessons as well.
Sodom is destroyed because its sin is grievous and in its destruction God is glorified. He did what was right and demonstrated justice, which will one day come to all people. The real issue at Sodom not homosexuality although that was probably a big issue too, but its deliberate and cruel inhospitality. Other Jewish accounts give a sense of why there was an outcry against these cities.
In the end despite Abraham’s intercession there weren't enough good people, not even five were found. In truth this is always the case, because nobody is good outside of Christ. So those who were willing had to be taken out of the city, that being Lot, his wife and two daughters. This is a picture of Christ rescuing us from sin. However Lot’s wife looked back, her heart was back in the city. She was instructed not to look, but at the same time, Abraham whose heart was not in the city, saw the destruction from a great distance and his concern was for his relatives.
As believers we are not to have a heart for the world, like Lot's wife, but a heart for the lost, like Abraham. We are to leave the world behind, like Lot left Sodom and set our hearts on a new life in Christ.
Listen to Genesis 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 18 is the Bible account of Abraham’s visit by three angels, one of them who turns out to be the Lord. Abraham starts off by rushing to provide them hospitality, and ends up finding out that they have come to investigate the “grievous” sins of Sodom and then destroy it. Abraham clearly knows how bad things are in Sodom, because long ago he moved away from the area, now residing about 40 kilometres west in the mountains. Abraham then ends up negotiating with God to try to save the city of Sodom from destruction, but doesn’t negotiate hard enough to save it.
There are two things in this chapter that we should copy. Firstly the hospitality for strangers. The book of Hebrrews tells us that by showing kindness to strangers some people have actually entertained angels, and that is exactly what happens here with Abraham, except he actually entertains God. Jesus later tells a parable of the sheep and the goats in which he says that whatever we do for the lowest person, we do, or do not do for Him. So our attitude to strangers is important.
The city of Sodom of course has a terrible attitude towards strangers as is demonstrated in the next chapter, but also in other Jewish sources like Josephus, and it had gotten to the point that it was grievous and there was an outcry that reached Heaven. You must admit that is pretty bad. God demonstrates his goodness in destroying that which is beyond saving, for the benefit of others. What happens in this story is good, and a demonstration of justice.
Finally we see that we should also copy Abraham in intercession and prayer, negotiating with God for the salvation of those around us. This isn’t the physical saving of their lives, but the saving of their lives into Christ, so that they may be spared from eternal destruction.
Listen to Genesis 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 17 is the Bible account of the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham, that of circumcision. Every covenant has a sign and in the preceding chapters of Genesis we saw a covenant God made with Noah, and all his descendents, that is everyone, and the sign of that covenant was the rainbow. Later in the NT, Jesus would sit down at the table with the disciples for the last supper and make a new covenant with his disciples and their descendents. The signs of that covenant were the body and blood of Christ, and as Christians we regularly remind ourselves of the covenant through the practice of communion. And here in this chapter the sign of the covenant is circumcision. Abraham is told that if anyone didn’t participate in this sign, they would be cut off from the people. In other words, the decision to not participate in cutting off, would result in themselves being cut off. This is clearly a spiritual cutting off, separating oneself from the life and blessing that flows from God.
In this chapter God also changes Abram’s name, as he did later with Jacob, Simon and Saul who became Israel, Peter and Paul. And if we are in Christ we are also given a new name too, that is the name of Christ. Along with that comes a brand new identity, we are now in Him and that is really something worth celebrating.
Even though these were Old Testament things, they have relevance to us today, because we have the same God who has made covenant with us through the blood of Christ. We are to walk with Him too, following the example of Abraham.
Listen to Genesis 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
Genesis 16 is the story of Abram and Sarai’s attempt to take things into their own hands and try to fulfil God’s promise to them of a son. This video explains how firstly the practice of using a slave to have children was not only an accepted custom, but also lawful for the society of the times. Yet it isn’t God’s plan to do things in this manner.
Many believers have a sense of things that God is going to do for them, and can easily fall prey to the temptation of forcing things to happen. They try to rush ahead of God. There are things we should do because of obedience, but we must not take initiative when it's not within God’s plan to do so. Later in scripture David knew he was promised to be king, but he refused to kill King Saul when he had the opportunity. He didn’t overstep God’s law thinking that God’s promises gave Him an excuse because they didn’t. But here Abraham goes along with the culture of the day, and not stopping to enquire if this is what God wants.
There is a place to wait for God and believe Him. When Abram and Sarai took things into their own hands, the result was the birth of Ishmael, who did end up being a great man also, but also caused many personal difficulties for the family as this and subsequent chapters of Genesis reveals. When we do things God’s way, and allow Him to act, we are spared many unnecessary difficulties.