The Surprising God

This post exegetes Isaiah 7:1-17, providing context for the Old Testament reading on 12/21/25, which this year is the 4th Sunday of Advent. Insights are drawn from commentary by Derek Kidner ("New Bible Commentary") and John A. Martin ("Bible Knowledge Commentary"). "Virgin with Child" by Bonsignori (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction Isaiah chapters 7 through 12 are often called “The book of Immanuel” given its focus on the promised child (Isa. 7:14; 8:8) whose nature and reign emerge in Isa. 9:1–7 and Isa. 11:1–10 against a background of local menace (Isa. 7:1–9) and world-wide dispersion (Isa. 11:11–16). Though these prophecies arose out of a contemporary crisis, they extend to the last days (Isa. 9:1) and the whole earth (Isa. 11:9–10; 12:4–5). In this post, we'll look at Isa. 7:1-17, which sepaks to the Sign of Immanuel. Confrontation  Isaiah 7:1-9 1 When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram a...

This post exegetes James 5:7-12, providing context for the Epistle reading on 12/14/25, which this year is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Insights are drawn from commentary by Warren Wiersbe ("Bible Expository Commentary"), Peter H. Davids ("New Bible Commentary") and Luke Timothy Johnson ("James, Anchor Bible").   "The Sufferomgs of Job" by Chiesa (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction The book of James begins with an exhortation to suffering Christians to persevere (James 1:1-5), and now its conclusion begins with a similar plea to “be patient…until the Lord's coming…” (James 5:7). Perseverance and patience are needed as we await the “blessed hope” of Jesus’ return (Titus 2:13)—particularly when the going gets tough. And it often does. Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). And Paul noted, "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). And so we need patience (see...

This post exegetes Romans 14:1-15:13 providing context for the Epistle reading on 12/7/25, which this year is the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Insights are drawn from John Stott’s "The Message of Romans" and "The Expositors Bible Commentary." "The Apostle Paul" by van Dyck (public domain vie Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In Romans chapters 12 and 13 Paul presents love as the ethical center of the gospel, which fulfills the Law of Moses. In Romans 14:1-15:13 Paul then gives a lengthy example of how love is to be lived in the real circumstances of the church in Rome. The issue is the strained relations between two church groups, which Paul refers to as the ‘weak’ and the ‘strong’. His plea is that the ‘strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak’ (Romans 15:1) and the weak must not sit in judgment of the strong.  Who are the weak?  There are four possibilities: 1.  New converts from paganism.   There was such a group in Corinth (1Cor 8) whose over-sensitiv...

This post exegetes Matthew chapters 24 & 25, providing context for the Gospel reading on 11/30/25, which this year is the 1st Sunday of Advent. Insights are drawn from "Kingdom, Grace, Judgment" by Robert Capon; "New Bible Commentary" by RT France; and "Bible Knowledge Commentary" by Louis Barbieri. "He Wept Over It" by Simonet (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Note: This study of The Last Days is divided into two parts: The Great Transition (Mat 24:1-35) and The  Great Consummation (Mat 24:36-25:46).   Part 1: The Great Transition  Matthew 24:1–35 "Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem" by David Roberts (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction and interpretive approach At the end of Matthew chapter 23, Jesus mourns the coming destruction of Jerusalem (Mat 23:37-38). He sees this terrible event as signaling a great transition from the present dispensation (age) into a new one. The new age, elsewhere called The Last Days...