May I have a WORD with you?

John
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Helping ordinary people read the Bible for the sake of life application and a godly transformation. In other words, for the sake of becoming more like Jesus.

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep 127 (S7E12) Joel - Pt 4: God’s response: Mercy to Hope

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16Joel 2:18-19 - God will take pityA turning point - upon repentance God shows love for the land and His peopleAnswered prayer - grain, wine, oil = satisfactionShame removed - the surrounding nations that once mocked Israel will be silencedGod’s response in three partsGod will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21From the north? Assyria? Babylon? Northern armies   צָפוֹן  (tsef-o-nee') from   צְפוֹנִי(tsaw-fone')  The call of Jeremiah Jer 1:13-14Calling the northern kingdom (Israel) back Jer 3:11-13possibly how people moved along the fertile crescent.Into the eastern sea and the western sea (Dead & Mediterranean) - meaning complete victoryThe stench of death as a great reminderStink בְּאשׁ (be-oshe') foul odorStench צַחֲנָה (tsakh-an-aw') only here in Joel Poetic way of saying total annihilation of the enemy  God will restore the land - 2:22-26Restoration to the animals and treesRestoration to the threshing floor and wine & olive pressesRestoration of what the locusts stole (remember four locusts from 1:4Locust #1 גָּזָם (gaw-zawm)Locust #2 אַרְבֶּה (ar-beh’) most common in OTLocust #3 יֶלֶק (yeh'-lek) young locustLocust #4 חָסִיל (khaw-seel') God will dwell with His people - 2:27

    35 min

  2. MAR 13

    Ep 126 (S7E11) Joel - Pt 3: Second prophetic poem - Pt 2

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:162nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far')The Eden imagery of 2:3 and shalomDescriptions of the judgement forcesWe’ve moved beyond locusts to a cosmic sort of army (think Rev 9)What to think of current events in light of these prophetic words?God’s army - 2:11The Lord is the One pronouncing judgementThe Day of the Lord is a terrible thingWho can survive?A call to repentance - 2:12-14Repent while there is timeRend not clothing (an outward show) but hearts (an inward sorrow for sin)God’s character (2:13)Ex 34:6Psalm 103:8God’s mystery (2:14) “who knows” 🤷An act of repentance - calling out to the lord - 2:15-17The shofar again, this time not for warning but for assemblyGather ALL people - see description in MSGPray: spare your people O Lord

    35 min

  3. MAR 6

    Ep 125 (S7E10) Joel - Pt 2: Second prophetic poem

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:162nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far')Meant to trigger an immediate physiological response: fear (awe) and readiness. Military Alert: It signaled that an invading army was visible from the watchtower.Judgment: While many Israelites expected the Day of the Lord to be a time of triumph over their enemies, Joel uses the trumpet to warn that the judgment is actually directed at them. 1st use: Ex 19:16-20; 20:18 the heavenly shofarJerico - Josh 6 - the shofar as a weapon of God’s holinessThe festival of trumpets - Lev 23:23-25 (Rosh Hashanah)NT - σάλπιγξ (salpigx) trumpetAt Christ’s return 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thes 4:16By the seven angels of Rev 8:6-11:19Specifically the 5th trumpet, 1st terrorThe Eden imagery of 2:3 and shalomGen 2 - Eden createdJoel 2 - Eden de-createdBefore - shalomAfter - desolationRev 22 - Eden re-createdDescriptions of the judgement forcesWe’ve moved beyond locusts to a cosmic sort of army (think Rev 9)What to think of current events in light of these prophetic words?God’s army - 2:11The Lord is the One pronouncing judgementThe Day of the Lord is a terrible thingWho can survive?A call to repentance - 2:12-14Repent while there is timeRend not clothing (an outward show) but hearts (an inward sorrow for sin)God’s character (2:13)Ex 34:6Psalm 103:8God’s mystery (2:14) “who knows” 🤷An act of repentance - calling out to the lord - 2:15-17The shofar again, this time not for warning but for assemblyGather ALL people - see description in MSGPray: spare your people O Lord

    33 min

  4. FEB 27

    Ep 124 (S7E9) Joel - Part 1

    References: Setting and background/context of JoelWho was Joel?When did Joel work as God’s Prophet?Some suggestions from the textTemple - JerusalemNo kings - ?Most likely post-exhile in the time of Ezra/NehemiahJoel shows familiarity with many other prophetsJoel never identifies any specific sin on Israel’s partHe announces God’s judgment, but doesn’t say why.Perhaps he assumes that the people, like himself, are familiar with the work of the other prophets.How is this short book layed out?Mirror image prophetic poems - sin leads to disasterCh 1 - a past Day of the LordCh 2 - vss 1-17 - a future Day of the LordCh 2 - vss 18-27 - God’s response - mercy leads to hopeGod’s defeat of enemiesGod’s restoration of the landGod’s presence among His peopleCh 2&3 - vss 2:28-3:21 - THE Day of the Lord - God’s Kingdom in its fullnessGod’s Spirit poured out - 2:28-32God’s defeat of evil among all nations - 3:1-16God’s renewal of all creation - 3:17-21Joel 1:1-4 - announcement of disasterThe mystery of v 4The four types of “locusts”Locust #1 גָּזָם (gaw-zawm)Locust #2 אַרְבֶּה (ar-beh’) most common in OTLocust #3 יֶלֶק (yeh'-lek) young locustLocust #4 חָסִיל (khaw-seel') A literal biological view - an infestation of desert locust described at each stage of its biological development from larvae to winged adultA political view - metaphor for four successive empires that invaded IsraelThe BabyloniansThe Medo-PersiansThe Greeks (Macedonians)The Romans A looking back - the 8th plague upon Egypt (Ex 10) has come upon IsraelTHE Day of the Lord view - Acts and Revelation draw from Joel’s imageryActs 2 - Pentecost: Peter says is a fulfillment of JoelRev 9:1-11 - the 1st terrorJoel 1:5-18 - a call to repentanceDrunkards, for there is no more wine, like a bride in black mourning her dead husbandPriests, farmers, leadersPut on sackcloth (burlap) שַׂק (sak)First mentioned in Gen 37:34 as Jacob mourned for his son JosephJoel 1:19-20 - Calling out to the Lord (an act of repentance)

    34 min

  5. FEB 20

    Ep 123 (S7E8) Ashes and the Day of the Lord

    References: 40 Days of LentA season of introspection, devotion and journeying to the cross and the empty tombConsider Biblical 40 day/night periodsNoah and the flood - Gen 7 (purifying)Moses on Mt Sinai - Ex 24 (law-giving)Elijah’s journey to Mt Sinai - 1 Kings 19 (preparing)Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness - Mt 4; Lk 4 (fighting for us)Sackcloth, dust and AshesA sign of mourning - Esther 4:1A sign of repentance - Job 42:6; Jonah 3:6Nathan in The ChosenSpiritual disciplines: Prayer, Fasting and Alms-givingMat 6:1-6, 16-21In secret - κρυπτός from κρύπτω (kryptō)Reward - ἀποδίδωμι (ap-od-eed'-o-mee)Joel and the Day of the LordOne’s heart vs one’s outward appearanceOne of the most famous lines in the passage is: “Rend your hearts and not your garments.” This is crucial for Ash Wednesday because it prevents the ritual of receiving ashes from becoming a mere outward show. It sets a mandatory annual reminder that the 40-day journey ahead is an internal transformation that God works as we humbly align with Him.A total communal responseThe great refrain: "For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love..."

    32 min

  6. FEB 13

    Ep 122 (S7E7) Malachi Part 5: The Sound of Silence

    References:  The Day of the Lord - v 1Burning בָּעַר (bāʿar) - see Ex 3:2Joel 2:28-32Acts 2:16-21The זֵד (zade') arrogant and the רִשְׁעָה (rish-aw') wickedSame words as in 3:15 - the reversal making evil good and good evilFrom now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.Not only consuming the arogant and wicked, but their legacy and influence as wellRoots שֶׁרֶשׁ (sheh'-resh)  andBranches עָנָף (aw-nawf')Judgement: historical and future/finalSun of Righteousness - v2  Compare the judgement images in Joel with v 2The sun is turned to darkness Joel 2:10, 31, 3:15The sun brings healing - Mal 4:2Translator’s use of upper case for Sun or RighteousnessInterpreting this as Messianic prophecyHealing in (His/his/its) wingsSee Matthew 9:20-21 (fringe, hem, tassels)Vs 3 - the restoration of God’s justice and good/evil standardThe Law and the Prophets - vss 4-6The תּוֹרָה (Torah) of Moses: instruction, directionElijah to return BEFORE… devout Jews, particularly in Orthodox Judaism, are still waiting.During the Passover Seder, a cup of wine is poured and a chair is left empty for ElijahElijah will arrive to resolve disputes, reconcile families (v 6), and announce the final redemption.The arrival of Elijah is considered a direct precursor to the MessiahV 6: He will turn the heart (singular) of fathers (plural) to their children (plural) and the heart (singular) of children to their fathersA singular “heart” implies restoring a singular, unified, and loving relationship rather than fragmented, individual feelings.“Fathers” often refers to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and their covenant, meaning the hearts of the children (current generation) are to be turned toward that singular, ancestral, and righteous covenantal foundation.Matthew 17:3Each of the stories of Jesus’ transfigurationLuke 24:27 - post resurrection, Jesus took them through all the scriptures beginning with Moses and all the Prophets.“Otherwise” - the OT concludes and a period of four hundred odd years of Prophetic silence ensues.Mat 11:13-15Prophets and LawJohn IS ElijahThe Sound of 400 years of silence?Cultural unification under the Greeks (Hellenization)Political infrastructure under the RomansSpiritual preparation in Jewish diaspora with the establishment of the system of synagogues. Galatians 4:4-7… Period. Prophecy of Malachi 4:6 fulfilled

    37 min

  7. FEB 6

    Ep 121 (S7E6) Malachi Part 4: Written in the Book of Life

    References:  The sixth argument - 3:13-15God says “You’ve been hard on me” v 13The peoples’ typical response, “what are you talking about? How?”Vss 14-15 - “Why do the evil prosper and the righteous suffer?”A prominent question being wrestled out in JobThe theory of “temporal retribution.”See John 9 - “Who sinned that this man was born blind?”The Scroll of Rememberance - 3:16-18The remnantRemember Elijah’s morose assessment andGod’s correction - 1 Kings 19:9-18Names of the faithful recordedSee Dan 12:1; Lk 10:20; Heb 12:23; Rev 21:27Personal see Isa 49:16 - Don’t you love the image?Vss 17-18 - the answer to the peoples’ question in vss 14-15 What sense do we make of this?

    33 min

  8. JAN 30

    Ep 120 (S7E5) Malachi Part 3: The immutable God and prideful humanity

    References:  The fifth argument - 3:6-12Immutability of God - vs 6See Hebrews 6:16-20Also Hebrews 13:8Therefore… People referred to as children of, or descendents of JacobAnother point back to Genesis; Jacob as deceiver, cheater, robber.An unanswered question of the people? Vs 7Consider God’s question to Adam “Where are you?” Gen 3:9To Cain “Where is Abel?” Gen 4:9Is it unanswered? God goes on to argue that the people have cheated (NLT) robbed (ESV, MSG) “Should people קָבַע (kaw-bah') cheat, robA word used only here in vss 8 & 9, and in Prov.See Prov 22:22-23 (used 2x in v 23) - context Vs 10 - Bring the full tithe… An answer to the peoples’ question in vs 7? Abraham - Gen 14:18-20Jacob - Gen 28:20-22Torah - Lev 27:30Nehemiah - Neh 13:10-12Putting God to the testDeut 6:16 - do NOTMat 4:7 - do NOTMal 3:10 - “Put me to the test!”Can we make sense of all this?

    34 min
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Helping ordinary people read the Bible for the sake of life application and a godly transformation. In other words, for the sake of becoming more like Jesus.

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  • Creator
    John
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © 2026 May I have a WORD with you?
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    May I have a WORD with you?

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