PHall | January 21, 2012
The words no mother wants to hear are stammered and whispered by the doctor. The word “mother” is synonymous with selflessness. Most women would immediately and easily choose to give their life to spare their child if the doctor said, “I can only save one.” Many mothers sacrifice not their lives, but a relationship with [...]
PHall | November 26, 2011
When reading the period of the Judges and Kings, one sad fact overwhelmingly – and even numbingly – is present: the draw of idolatry. It is easy for us to isolate the sensuality involved in fertility cults and wholly blame that as the sole cause. After all, we are good Christians who are not overtly affected by [...]
PHall | November 20, 2011
Miscalculation. Everyone does it, especially when discovering that the month lasts longer than the paycheck. In baseball, a runner tries to leg-out a triple, and miscalculates the strong arm of the right fielder – “He’s Out!” In fact, I miscalculated in every math test I ever took! Have you ever noticed how often we miscalculate [...]
PHall | October 29, 2011
The very first resurrection story actually contains two resurrection stories – one literal, and the other foreshadowing it through symbolic means…and maybe even a third, and a fourth. Elijah is the one of the most glorified and powerful prophets in ancient Israel. Today among the Jews he is still celebrated every Passover with “Elijah’s cup” [...]
PHall | October 22, 2011
Foreshadowing. I do not remember when I first heard of this literary device, but for some reason it stuck in my brain. Somewhat like my English teacher saying about commas, “When in doubt, leave it out.” Foreshadowing shows the foreknowledge of the author, revealing hints and clues of what is important but only if you [...]
PHall | October 19, 2011
Dynasties of Northern Kingdom – Dates, Number and Length (Explanation of Numbers – Ex. Basha 3-2-1 – 3 (3rd king in Israel); 2 (2nd dynasty); 1 (1st king in that dynasty) 1-1-1 – Jeroboam 2-1-2 – Nadab Totals – 931-909 – 22 years
PHall | October 14, 2011
I am king. I desire what is not mine. A plot is devised to kill an innocent man. I take possession of what I desired. God sends a prophet to rebuke me. I repent of my sin. Disaster is not brought upon me but upon my son. Who are the obvious and not so obvious [...]
PHall | October 14, 2011
1 Kings 14:10 NASB therefore behold, I am bringing calamity on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male person, both bond and free in Israel, and I will make a clean sweep of the house of Jeroboam, as one sweeps away dung until it is all gone. 1 Kings 14:10 [...]
PHall | October 14, 2011
“Divine sight” is a poetic way to describe someone’s claim to see things only God can reveal. While the term is not used in scripture, I find it interesting that the blind prophet “sees” despite his blindness and sees despite the disguise of Jeroboam’s wife, who she really is. I also find it interesting that [...]
PHall | October 14, 2011
Sincerity in religion masks what the self wants. Every one of us has believed a lie. Most often it is because the lie is what we want to believe. This is true religiously or personally. “Do these pants make my….” Well, you know the rest of that story. Believing a lie can have disastrous results, [...]
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