Verse/Verse Bible Podcast

We all know the story of Jonah, but reading it closely can give us a fresh appreciation for the deep literary features that make the story compelling and even moving. Reading it rightly helps us to see ourselves in Jonah (or see Jonah in ourselves) and rediscover the God of abundant Grace.

Both Obadiah and Nahum focus on impending judgment for foreign nations. Although the idea of God's judgment can be unpalatable to us today, both books are presented as good news and comfort to those who have been mistreated and oppressed by those nations. The truth is, we need a just God and should ...

The final chapters of Amos are full of visions. Some that God relented from, some that have come to pass, and some that will one day be fulfilled. At the center of them is the plan of God that culminates in Jesus Christ, the savior not just of the Jews but of the whole world.

The people of Israel in Amos' day were not just prosperous but very religious. However, Amos comes to warn them that their religion won't save them. Although they worship at the places of their forefathers, they do not worship as their forefathers did; theirs was a worship without change, without hu...

Amos lays a trap for his audience by beginning with their closest neighbors (and biggest enemies!) before centering his sights on Israel. He calls them out for their injustice and the false religious veneer that keeps them from facing their impending fate. True, they are God's special people, but th...

Joel's big topic is the Day of the Lord, which he connects with the recent judgment of locust, the impending judgment of Babylon and the final deliverance of God's people. As we travel through time with him our understanding of God's character is transformed and we learn, as John does in Revelation ...

Hosea's final chapters reach the highest point in all his major themes: the highest indictment against Israel, the highest vision of punishment, and the highest portrayal of hope. We also get one final window into the loving character of God who calls us, like Israel, wherever we are, to return to h...

Hosea's message of impending judgment ramps up to its highest level. He describes the sins of the Northern Tribes as consonant with Israel's worst historical happenings. He also points to all their false hopes which God is going to remove, one by one, culminating in the removal of Israel themselves ...

Hosea begins his message proper, although still in the spirit of a scorned faithful husband. As Gomer, we see that Israel has been consistently unfaithful. We also find that their supposed freedom is just slavery, blindness and death. However God has a plan that extends past judgment, and will lead ...

Hosea becomes a living prophecy as he is called to marry (and re-marry) an unfaithful wife and name his kids after the impending judgment. Nevertheless we find that after the judgment comes a new honeymoon and God proves himself to be a love greater than our sin.

As Ezekiel concludes his final vision we find not just a new temple but a new priesthood, new cultus and a new Israel. We discover that one day, God will fulfill his promise to Israel on earth, and after that will fulfill it in heaven.

An angel takes Ezekiel on a guided tour through the coming Temple. This temple remains empty until God sees to it that it is filled. This passage ends with the law of the temple being the promise that God will bring His spirit and His people into it.

As Ezekiel continues to lay out a message of hope after the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of his people, we see that God's plan of restoration for Israel is expansive. He will resurrect and reunite the nation, and preserve them from attack as only he can do.

With the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel is proven to be a true prophet and turns his messages to what comes next. Whereas the book has focused on judgment, Ezekiel now begins to lay out a message of hope which culminates not just in the restoration of Israel but a veritable return to Eden.

This week in Ezekiel, God has tasked His prophet to bring a word regarding Egypt. God assures that His judgment will lead the people of Egypt to know that He is the true God. Despite this, God sends a written lament for Egypt, its fallen allies, and for Pharaoh himself.

Ezekiel's ministry of prophecy continues as God tells him a parable surrounding two women, Oholah and Oholibah, figures representing Judah and Israel respectively. Prophecies surrounding the siege of Jerusalem, and the nations of Ammon and Tyre are given to Ezekiel and in the midst of his prophetic ...

Israel's continued rebellion has warranted judgment from God. Ezekiel is dispatched to tell God's people how God has temporarily replaced their promise of Holy dominion with divine judgment. But, as always, God promises to restore Israel to their place of grace.

God describes His people as a faithless bride. The nation's idolatry is likened to adultery and prostitution. Even so, God promises to take back His people and restore them from their shame. God also speaks a parable of two eagles and the planting of a vine, this represents Jerusalem's betrayal of t...

Ezekiel’s ministry of performance art prophecy continues as he crawls through the wall of Jerusalem blindfolded and trembles as he eats. Through this, God means to show the people of Israel how their exile correlates with their blindness in idolatry. God also promises swift judgement upon the false ...

God shows Ezekiel that there are idols and abominations in His temple and that His people had put them there. God promises judgment upon His workers who are given to idolatry. God's glory leaves the temple not to return. God also promises judgement upon the wicked counsellors in Israel who advise fa...

Ezekiel is restrained as a prophet, he may only speak what God has commanded him to speak. What he has been told to prophesy is the coming judgment and seizure of Israel. In so doing, Ezekiel has spoken contrarily against the other prophets who claim that no such seizure should come. Through Ezekiel...

Ezekiel has a vision of God's throne roaming over the world and God calls him to be a prophet to the people of Judah who remain in the land after the destruction of the city.

The book of Isaiah ends with God's judgment, but we see that God's ultimate reconciliation is as much a mark of judgment as it is of salvation. God's resolution of all things is both in justice as well as in mercy.

God looks upon Israel's piety and their religious practices and judges them for being emotionally vacant. Despite the appearance of spirituality, God's desire is for His people's heart dedication. In the future, however, God will fully reconcile His people to Himself, though the sequence of events m...

God promises that despite His righteous anger, He will uphold His covenant and therefore bless His people. God has great compassion even for the sinner and He will abundantly pardon their guilt. He will also expand His plan of salvation to the foreigner as well as the eunuch. God sees the licentious...

Isaiah tells of a coming Servant of the LORD who will rule and restore. He contrasts this Servant's faithfulness with Israel's disobedience and assures Israel that God will bring them comfort and a coming salvation. Unexpectedly, however, Isaiah begins to describe the execution of this Servant.

God reminds His people that He's chosen them and that He will not let them go. However, He foretells the coming judgment which He will send through foreign nations. Yet, just as He will send judgment through a foreign nation, He will also bring relief and deliverance through another; namely through ...

Isaiah 40 begins a new section of the book, much like the New Testament is a pivot from the Old. This new section opens with a voice in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord, then God promises a faithful Servant. God continues to rebuke His people for their idolatry, but promises that He Hims...

God promises the judgment coming through Sennacherib. Meanwhile, Hezekiah comes down with an illness that's got him shut in. Isaiah assures Hezekiah that he will recover but Hezekiah's successor will be the worst king Judah has ever seen.

God, through His prophet Isaiah, rebukes his people for their complacency, urging them to take seriously the coming judgment. God promises a coming redemption, but judgment will come first; even global judgment. Even so, passed the destruction, lush new life will arise. This shows God's righteousnes...

God rebukes His people for their alliance with Egypt. He reminds them that they can't depend on people, but they can always trust in His provision and protection.

Chapters 24 to 27 of the book of Isaiah are sometimes called 'the little apocalypse'. These chapters look toward the ultimate resolution and redemption of this fallen world.

The book of the nations continues. Isaiah experiences personal physical anguish over the promised judgement of these pagan nations, as well as Judah. But God has plans of redemption for even the worst of these peoples groups.

God promises judgment upon many of the nations surrounding His faithful people. Whilst telling His plans for judgment, He also expresses his wielding of said nations. Ultimately, we come to see that God also will judge Judah for many of these same atrocities, however, a special dispensation of grace...

Isaiah's book of Immanuel concludes with a promise for a divine Son who will take over the Davidic dynasty for all eternity. Also promised is a global restoration of not just humanity, but also the animal kingdom.

Isaiah has a vision of God seated on His throne and God calls him to a ministry of prophecy. Through Isaiah, God tells Israel of their coming judgment by Assyria and their coming Savior --God

God looks upon His people and has judged them unfaithful. The people of Israel and Judah have given themselves to idolatry. In losing sight of the one true God, not only have they lost their worshipfulness, but they've also stopped caring about one another. Replacing charity for overindulgence, God'...

The decline still continues toward the inevitable collapse of Judah. Along the way, Josiah is crowned and restores holy worship to Israel. But when he dies, judgment does come and Judah is carried away to Babylon. Still, God's promise to David endures when a remnant of the Davidic Dynasty is spared ...

While Israel's legacy of idolatrous kings continues, a similar king ascends in Judah. Israel is finally given over to their adversaries in Assyria. Then, Hezekiah comes to power in Judah destroying the high places and refusing to fall before Assyria. Though Sennacherib tries to also sack Judah, Isai...

The pace quickens as the narrative speeds past king after king. Aside from a repair of the temple, most developments in Israel's and Judah's follow a steady decline toward their eventual captivity.

This series of chapters follows Jehu's crusade over the Northern kingdom of Israel. Jehu exterminates the remaining members of Ahab's dynasty. Although God's judgment is poured out upon Ahab, we see that Israel's present is an entirely new low and a greater departure from God's character.

These chapters catalogue the many miracles God has done through Elisha. Within this list, we see God's compassion shown in the greatest of tragedies even to the most mundane of inconveniences. These miracles give us a glimpse into the reality of God's work beneath the visible surfaces.

Ahaziah reigns after his father Ahab and proves to be of a similar sort as his father. Elijah's ministry comes to a close and he passes his mantle to his student Elisha. Elisha now continues this ministry prophesying of God's judgment upon His people. But, when Moab revolts, Israel's victory further...

The book of 1 Kings comes to a close with the death of Ahab and Jezebel. Though the faithfulness of Judah's king Jehoshaphat lends mercy to Ahab's line, his continued sinfulness does bring him and his wife to divine judgment.

With Ahab, son of Omri in power, God raises up Elijah the prophet to speak His word. Elijah is bold in the face of opposition but when he sees that the Baal worshippers won't relent, he falls into a panic. God assures Elijah of His retained remnant, and sends Elijah on three final assignments.

Both Israel in the North and Judah in the South begin their descent into judgment. Israel's kingdom declines much more quickly with betrayal after betrayal leading to a number of separate dynasties. The Davidic Dynasty in Judah remains intact, but even the Davidic Kings display a departure from God'...

In this episode, we cover two chapters of sharp incline and two chapters of an even steeper decline. Solomon's reign marks the zenith of Israel's history, but his use of wealth and his polygamy turns his heart away from the Lord. God's favor is also turned away from Solomon's lineage (though He prom...

Solomon continues his father's legacy by building a temple to the Lord (plus, a house for himself). Despite the majesty of this edifice, Solomon's dedication speech makes clear that it cannot contain the Person of the Lord. God's glory fills this temple and so begins the pinnacle of Israel's history...

As David advances in age, his son Adonijah plans a campaign to laud himself as the successor to the throne. Bathsheeba and Nathan ask David whether he'd intended to appoint Solomon instead. David sees to Solomon's ascension and Solomon executes his father's final orders in the beginnings of his reig...

In the last stretch of the book, we see this epilogue which includes David's recompense to Gibeah, David's last words, and David's national sin. We find that no hero is without failure, but a lover of God is made blameless by the mercies and graces of God.