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When interpreting the prophets it is always important to understand the historical context in which the prophetic message was uttered, lest that particular word of the LORD, delivered to a particular people, in a particular (...)

The hopefulness and unity of the kingdom of Israel glimpsed in last week’s readings are no more. Jealousy, greed, and selfishness in David’s household and among his descendants, have led to coups, rape, murders, and (...)

Wisdom Literature Worship and Preaching Series Introduction: The following commentary and worship “Wisdom Literature” worship and preaching series is designed for congregations that follow the Narrative Lectionary (NL) during the normal North American congregational program (...)

Narrative models of reading scripture encourage interpreters to consider the meaning of a text (its cognitive content) and the “action” or “effect” of the text. Texts not only mean something, they do something. Many of (...)

Luke’s account of the nativity of Jesus begins not with Mary and Joseph, not in a manger, nor even among shepherds (at least not yet), but in the distant center of Roman power: “In those (...)

Isaiah 55 appears at the end of the so-called “Book of Comfort” (Isaiah 40-55), which is believed to be addressed to the exiles who were returning from Babylon. It appears that Isaiah 40-48 is addressed (...)

When a scripture passage begins with “But,”1 that’s probably a hint to question the lectionary selection. And indeed, it is better to read this passage with Isaiah 8:16-22. Even with the proper literary context, this (...)

This Old Testament reading ranks among the most famous of Old Testament texts. Elijah’s flight to the wilderness and his encounter with God in “a still small voice” (KJV, NKJV) is well known. It is (...)

Any attempt to harmonize John’s version of Jesus’ demonstration in the temple in 2:13-22 with the Synoptic accounts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-46) risks missing John’s theological “take” on this important moment in the (...)

Sometimes we see a movie that wows us and we rush to tell others about it.  We want them to go see it for themselves so they may share the experience we had. This is (...)