Bishop Hall
In my previous post, CH Spurgeon referred to one ‘Bishop Hall’. I had not heard of Joseph Hall who lived from 1574 to 1656. He was the Bishop of Exeter in the 1630s. The church historian, Thomas Fuller, said he…
Category 1 Samuel
It just happened no 3
In early late January and early February 2011, two cyclones bore down upon the Queensland coast. Cyclone Yasi was the largest storm in the State’s history and much larger than the other cyclone, which led the Premier to describe them…
Man of Blood (2 Samuel 16:7-8)
Man of Blood (2 Samuel 16:7-8) The last post about ‘the blood of Jesus’ brought to mind the time when David was accused of being a ‘man of blood’. The setting is David’s escape from Jerusalem due to the Absalom…
The Spirit of Prayer
“Hannah wept…She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly.” (1 Samuel 1:7, 10). Dale Davis notes that there is a myth which circulates around the church that runs along the line that Old Testament believers didn’t have…
Leithart on the heart
I’ve been preparing a sermon on Romans 6 this week. The baptism language of Paul (6:1-4) drew me to read Peter Leithart’s book on ‘Baptism – A Guide to Life from Death‘ (2021). It’s a great little read on the…
Firth on Samuel
The cover up – 2 Samuel 11. David Firth has written quite a long commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel in the Apollos series. I haven’t found the commentary style and format the easiest to work with though there are…
Beware congealing!
I’ve been reading the PG Wodehouse novel ‘A Pelican at Blandings’. I’ve read it before but I do so enjoy savouring a Blandings saga before bed. The other night I came across this lovely description concerning Lord Emsworth who has…
2 Samuel – My Top Five
My Top 5 2 Samuel Commentaries: Like most preachers (I presume), I read commentaries in order to better understand the passage that I’m preaching upon. Of course, it is vital to study the passage oneself – working through the text…
Studying Samuel
I have found that one of the greatest privileges of being an ordained Anglican minister is that I am given time and the opportunity to study the Holy Scriptures. And I do so in order to preach the word especially…
Right eyes & sin
“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye…