Valley of Achor: A Memorial to remind us of the danger of Sin

I have been thinking about my reading of Joshua 7.  This might not be new to others but it stood out to me.

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Free PDF Apologetics’ Dissertation: The Literary Structure of the Fifth Book of the Hebrew Psalter: A Structural Analysis and Canonical Reading of Psalms 107–150

Here’s a doctoral dissertation that Southern Seminary has made available titled “The Literary Structure of the Fifth Book of the Hebrew Psalter: A Structural Analysis and Canonical Reading of Psalms 107–150.”

This is a treat for those into the Psalms and Messianic Prophecies!  In particular I think it contributes to apologetics with the insight of how Book five of the Psalms delineate a literary structure with three sections, each of which presents an angle of the future Davidic King and collectively all three sections gives us a three-dimensional Messianic portrait.

Those who read this blog knows I love exegesis, biblical theology, the Psalms, Messianic Prophecies and the implication of that for apologetics from the approach that esteem the Bible as self-evidencing.  So I cannot help but to share this find!

The dissertation was written by Jonathan Alan Ginn and was completed on December 2022.  Its neat to see his dissertation is available online for free.

Here’s an abstract:

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Update: Thanks for Praying for my recent time with my Dad

 

This is a quick update from my post My Dad’s Health and asking for prayers

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Jericho: A lesson on victory, God’s presence and not leaning on ourselves

I have been thinking about my reading of Joshua 6 last night with the story of the conquest of Jericho.  This might not be new to others but it stood out to me.

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My Dad’s Health and asking for prayers

 

I try not to talk about my personal life on my blog but I thought I share this.

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Messianic Passages and the Salvation of Nations

I love Messianic Prophecies.

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Free PDF and Review: The Duties of Children and Parents

Richard Adams. The Duties of Children and Parents.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, April 20, 2015. 24 pp.

4 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon

Want to look for a short read on the duties of children and parents? If so this resource is for you.  Written by Richard Adams a seventeenth century English nonconformist pastor this is a practical aide driven by Scripture on duties of both children and parents.  I like how it is biblical, practical, addresses the heart and apply grace driven motivation and is short!  Its perfect as a counseling resource for pastors, biblical counselors and teachers.

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This Sunday at Church: Let your wife know you thank God for her being a Mother

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Let your wife know you thank God for her being a mother.

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Free PDF Apologetics’ Senior Thesis: Inside Out Apologetics: Engaging Cultural Narratives in Peninsular Malaysia

Here’s a senior thesis that Liberty University’s School of Divinity has made available titled “Inside Out Apologetics: Engaging Cultural Narratives in Peninsular Malaysia.”   They just have this shared online this week!  I imagine this would be a treat and food for thought for those into apologetics, history and historical methodology.  I myself am fascinated with these areas.

The thesis was written by Xian Wei Hah was completed Spring 2023 as part of his completion of his degree.  I am thankful Liberty University has made this thesis available online for free.

Here’s an abstract:

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Knowing the Biblical languages is not enough

I love biblical languages for interpreting the Bible thought I can be better at it.

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Three Lessons on Biblical Finances

Did you know God’s Word has something to say about finances and money?

Its true.  Even Jesus’ Himself has quite a bit to say about finances.

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Guest Post: Esther For Such A Time As Then And Today

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am overseas.  This is by  Reverend Paul N. Papas II.  His blog can be found here.

By Reverend Paul N. Papas II

A brave woman who saved the Jews from extinction and the way for the Messiah to bring Salvation is known as Esther. Esther is written for all history in a Book of Bible named after her.

The Book of Esther is read on the festival of Purim, which commemorates the rescue of the Jews from Haman’s plots. The Book of Esther is one of the Megillot, five scrolls read on stated Jewish religious holidays.

Her becoming Queen was necessitated because of the disobedience of Queen Vashti. Jesus the second Adam was necessitated because the first Adam disobeyed. God does not want anyone to perish.

A central purpose of the Book of Esther is to record the institution of the annual festival of Purim and to keep alive for later generations the memory of the great deliverance of the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes. The book accounts for both the initiation of that observance and the obligation for its perpetual commemoration.

Esther is represented as an orphan daughter of the tribe of Benjamin, who had spent her life among the Jewish exiles in Persia, where she lived under the protection of her cousin Mordecai. The grand vizier, Haman the Agagite, commanded Mordecai to do obeisance to him. Upon Mordecai’s refusal to prostrate himself, Haman informed the king that the Jews were a useless and turbulent people and inclined to disloyalty, and he promised to pay 10,000 silver talents into the royal treasury for the permission to pillage and exterminate this alien race. The king then issued a proclamation ordering the confiscation of Jewish property and a general extermination of all the Jews within the empire. Haman set by lot the day for this outrage but Mordecai persuaded Esther to undertake the deliverance of her compatriots. (1)

Haman devised a plot to exterminate the Jews and hang Mordecai. Haman saw Mordecai as a threat to Haman’s power grab. Haman had the gallows built in the public square. Haman expected to be paraded in the public square as a hero. Through a series of events, that could be a thriller movie

today, the plot was exposed and it was Mordecai who was paraded through the streets and it was Haman who was hung on the gallows which Haman built.

God will complete the work he started through us as He did with Esther and Mordecai. God gave us boldness and not fear.

What is God calling you to do? We may never know what our part might be in God’s larger plan. I would say Esther was not thinking of the coming Messiah when she risked death for approaching the King without an invitation.

Say yes to Jesus, He saves. There is no better plan than God’s plan.

Reverend Paul N. Papas II is a Pastoral Counselor with Narrow Path Ministries (MA and AZ) and Founder of the Family Renewal Center (AZ) http://www.narrowpathministries.org and http://www.familyrenewalcenteraz.org

My blog can be found at https://preacher01704.wordpress.com

(1) https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/5872-esther

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Guest Post: Lamenting Before God

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am teaching overseas. This is by Alan Kearns. His blog be found here.

 (The road south to Dundee. Photography courtesy of Ben Bremner. https://www.facebook.com/ben.bremner3)

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.

Lord, hear my voice!

Let Your ears be attentive

To the voice of my supplications.

— Psalm 130:1-2 NASB

The word lament is not used often nowadays in expression of deep sorrow or grief. According to the Oxford dictionary lamenting can be over the death of a loved one or the loss of an item or practice in society. Lament certainly is a word that has fallen out of fashion in the 21st Century, and when used it is often inaccurately so. To lament is seen as inappropriate and weak nowadays; modern funerals prefer to celebrate the life of the departed and often shun the need of the loved ones to grieve. Such practice goes against the natural order that the Creator intended for mankind.

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Guest Post: Rejoice and Depend on Your Creator

Note: This is a guest post since presently I am teaching overseas. This is by Jeff Chavez. His blog be found here.

Rejoice and Depend on Your Creator

 

Passage: Psalm 104:27-35

 

 

“Bless the LORD, O my soul!” This psalm begins and ends with these words like Psalm 103. As we meditate upon this passage, may we ask ourselves, “Do we bless the LORD?” “Have I blessed the Blessed One?”

 

Truth: “Since all the creatures depend on God for His glory, we must rejoice in Him as long as we live.”

 

How do creatures reveal God’s glory?

– All Creatures by Necessity Utterly Depend on God’s Provision

– All of God’s People Joyfully Live for God’s Glory

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Guest Post: Life’s Milestone

Note: This is a guest post since I’m overseas.  This is by Tom.  His blog be found here.

I retired this past Fall after close to five decades of working. Phew! That was a big milestone! Now that I’m retired, I get to take a step back and contemplate the big picture of life rather than just focusing on the day-to-day work grind.

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