Reflections and meditations about the Bible by Peter DeHaan, PhD.
A curious phrase pops up in the book of Joel: holy fast. A Holy Fast A fast is going without something, such as food, to draw closer to God. By implication it should be a holy act, so why does the prophet Joel make a point of specifying a holy fast? I wonder if it […]
Ezekiel was a prophet at a time when the people had little to do with God. God told him what to say and do. Sometimes the Holy Spirit would physically move Ezekiel to show him things. In Ezekiel 18, God grabbed his prophet by the hair, lifted him up, and brought him to the outer […]
Power, Knowledge, and Wisdom Jeremiah provides a succinct summary of God’s creative force: power, knowledge, and wisdom. Through it, he established the entire universe, our physical realm of existence. Power God is a god of power. He is all-powerful, that is, almighty; he is omnipotent. There’s nothing he can’t do; nothing is too big for […]
Some of the Psalms are a lament, while others are a rant. (Too many, for my taste.) However, there are also Psalms that celebrate God and affirm the Almighty. (I like those.) Psalm 144:2 proclaims God is our fortress, stronghold, deliverer, and shield. In short, he keeps us safe from harm and our enemies. But […]
Prior to his birth, Samuel’s father would give Samuel’s mother a double portion of the meat from his sacrifice. This showed his love for her and affirmed her, despite her being childless. She was doubly honored. Just before Elijah went up into heaven, Elisha requested to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He did; […]
Jesus Opens the Scroll In Isaiah’s prophecy, there’s a reference to words in a scroll. But no one can read the contents because the scroll is sealed. Later, God tells Daniel to take the words of his prophecy and seal it in a scroll until the end of time. In Revelation, God gives John a […]
In our society we value information and knowledge. We pursue it at great cost (just consider the price of a college education). In many situations, knowing the right answer is what matters most, and knowing more than someone else is the way to win. Many people who study religious stuff also pursue knowledge, often making […]
The Church in Thessalonica Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica. 3 Goals He tells them to do three things. I think we should all follow his instructions. Paul teaches them, and us, that: 2 Outcomes Then Paul shares two reasons for doing these things, the two expected results. When we do as he instructed: […]
The book of Ecclesiastes (in the Bible) is an example of wisdom literature, and it makes for an interesting read. At one point the author says, “Do not be overrighteous.” Over-righteous is a curious word. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard it before, and I certainly don’t remember seeing it in the Bible. In fact, […]
Say, “Amen” I recently blogged about the use and meaning of amen. Although its use in modern circles is a bit perplexing—especially from preachers—amen does occur in the Bible. The NIV uses amen fifty-two times. Scriptural Uses of Amen In forty-nine instances, over 90 percent of the time, the Bible uses “Amen” to conclude a […]