A Widow’s Snippets
‘For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.’ (Ecclesiastes 1:18). Ann Dawson was a faithful parishioner at our church for many years. I took her funeral back in 2018. Every now and then she would…
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Lilith – Jewish & Christian night-mare
“And wild animals shall meet with hyenas; the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; indeed, there the night bird settles and finds for herself a resting place.” (Isaiah 34:14). ESV has a footnote for the word translated ‘night bird’…
What is man?
‘A great admiration rises upon me; astonishment seizes me.’ Augustine. “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV). The word…
The ark of God in 2 Samuel 15
The placement of the meeting of David with the priests carrying the ark of God in 2 Samuel 15 and the language ‘of sight’ are some of the most intriguing aspects of this chapter. Here are my conclusions from the…
King David in 2 Samuel 3 and 16:5-14
Studying a passage like 2 Samuel 16 raises many questions. Here are some questions and notes I’ve had as I reflected on 2 Samuel 16:5-14. When does the narrative refer to David by name and as ‘the king’? Or as…
Preaching 2 Samuel 15-16
“For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” (2 Samuel 19:22). I have preached on 2 Samuel 14-16 over the past couple of months. In a series on a long narrative like 2 Samuel, I…
Bahurim – 2 Samuel 16:5
“When King David came to Bahurim…” (2 Samuel 16:5) The significance of the location of the cursing of David by Shimei is, by and large, overlooked by commentators. If a comment is made about the town, it is usually an…
Canon order – the Major Prophets
“Since the book of Kings ends with doom and the book of Jeremiah is all doom, and the book of Ezekiel begins with doom but ends with consolation, while Isaiah is all consolation, you see that we place doom next…
My Grandfather and Milton
My grandfather, Stan Claughton, was a Methodist minister in NSW. He retired about 50 years ago and I have only vague memories of going to his church as a young boy. He did baptise me when I was about six…
Here is Wisdom
Last Saturday, 6th May 2023, was the coronation service for King Charles III. Along with millions of people around the globe, I watched as the Bible was presented to the King. It brought to life what I have read in…