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Esther is a strange and difficult book for several reasons, first and foremost because it is apparently non-theological. God never appears in the Hebrew version of the book, which is the form translated in most (...)

Proverbs 31:10-31 is the famous poem celebrating the “capable wife.” It is often cited in praise of wives and mothers, and is among the most popular and familiar texts from Proverbs. Of course, “popular” and (...)

How are the faithful to respond in times of pressing difficulty? The Hebrew Bible contains many rich traditions to address such questions. In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah offers a lament or complaint to God. (...)

This is the first time that Wisdom, personified as a woman, speaks in the book of Proverbs (see 8:1-36; 9:1-6). As the first speech, it carries particular importance because it sets the stage for what (...)

Having been introduced to King Solomon in last week’s reading, we meet him now eleven years later, as he finishes the work for which he is perhaps best remembered: building of the Temple in Jerusalem. (...)

In many ways, the message in this text of Proverbs is quite simple: wisdom is better than foolishness. The same point gets echoed in the New Testament text for today, when Ephesians 5:15 counsels, “Be (...)

“Be careful then how you live…” These verses continue instructions regarding the Christian life. This life is the result of the reconciliation that God has brought about in Christ (cf. Ephesians 2:13-18). Its focus is (...)

Preachers may need to remind their congregations about last week’s text and the feeding of the multitude because in today’s text, John begins to unpack the meaning of that earlier event. Verse 35 may seem (...)

Give us this day our daily bread…and meat. Anyone who has ever led a large group of people through unfamiliar territory is sure to have heard complaints — often over trivial matters — from some (...)

David was anointed to be king three times. The first time, he was anointed by the prophet Samuel, secretly, and at God’s direction (1 Samuel 16:1 — 13). That divine designation and election was prior (...)