A Bible A Day

Nineveh, Part II

Peter DeHaan — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:48:00 GMT

The prophetic book of Nahum is essentially a sequel to the book of Jonah. Both focus on the people of Nineveh. Jonas proclaims doom and destruction on them; they have a change of heart (repent); and God relents.

A century or so later, they have forgotten all about that. This time Nahum proclaims doom and destruction; this time there is no change of heart; and history records that they are soon destroyed.

What did they do? Nahum simply pronounces that they are guilty (Nahum 1:3 ) and later shares some details:

They plot evil against God (Nahum 1:11 )
They are vile (Nahum 1:14 )
They lie and steal (Nahum 3:1 )
They enslave nations (Nahum 3:4 )

The city of Nineveh is given a second chance, but they miss it -- and they pay a heavy price.

God is patient (Nahum 1:3 ), but not patient forever. If he gives us a second change, we'd better take it.

Micah's Personal Prescription

Peter DeHaan — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:55:00 GMT

As the prophet Micah gives a series of stinging rebukes against the nations of Israel and Judah, he takes pause for some personal reflection.

As if keeping a journal, he wonders how he should approach God. With reverence, with offerings, with sacrifices? No. That is not what God wants. God requires something much different, for him to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.

Then Micah returns to his God-promoted discourse of doom. After a bit more invective, he becomes filled with remorse, saying, "What misery is mine?"

Micah then reflects some more, delving into a depressing bit of introspection, before confidently affirming that his hope is in God; Micah will wait and God will hear him.

So Micah's personal prescription then becomes to:

Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly, and hope in and wait on God.

Works for me.

[Micah 6:6-8, Micah 7:1, Micah 7:7]

Stop it, Micah!

Peter DeHaan — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:17:00 GMT

The prophet Micah gives some strong words from God to the people. Although his proclamation (prophecy) should convict them, they instead take offense.

At one point they even tell Micah to stop talking -- as if his silence would keep God's plans from happening.

Micah's sarcastic retort is that if a prophet proclaimed plenty of wine and beer for everyone, the people would flock to him. Apparently, rather than face the truth, the people prefer to anesthetize themselves from it.

Telling the people what they want to hear -- as opposed to the truth -- is making a false prophecy. Regarding these false prophets, Micah further notes that when the prophets are fed, they pronounce that peace will occur, but if they don't say what the people want, the people turn against them.

Our reaction to things we don't want to hear is much the same today. We respond as consumers, leaving the teacher of an unpalatable message and seeking someone who will tell us what we want to hear.

That's approaching faith with a consumerism mindset: looking for what is pleasant and nice -- even if it's wrong. It happened to Micah and it's still happening today.

[Micah 2:6 , Micah 2:11 , and Micah 3:5]

Movie Review: Chocolat

Peter DeHaan — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:58:00 GMT

Nomadic traveler, Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche), shows up unexpectedly at a rural French village and creates quite a stir. A non-catholic, unmarried mom, and free spirit, she is not like the intransigent townsfolk. To make matters worse, she has the audacity to open up a chocolate shop across from the church -- during the season of lent. Initially opposed by all, she responds to their opposition with non-conditional acceptance, to their indifference with open compassion, and to their snubs with kind generosity.

Possessing a demeanor more like Jesus than the locals who attend church every Sunday, she gradually wins over some with her uncompromising love -- and delectable chocolate. But will it be enough to be welcomed into their tiny town or will its leaders prevail in running her out? Her open acceptance of the disdained river drifters, along with winsome Roux (Johnny Depp), threatens to drive the wedge even deeper. Perhaps it's time to move on anyway, yet there is an allure to stay and settle down.

(While this is not a faith-friendly movie per se, it is faith confronting -- and highly recommended.)

[Read more reviews of other faith-friendly videos and movies.]

God's Sovereignty At Work

Peter DeHaan — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 10:53:00 GMT

In the story of Jonah , we see God's sovereignty at work, with God exercising control over nature. Here's what God does:

He sends a wind [Jonah 1:4]
He calms the sea [Jonah 1:15]
He provides a fish to shallow Jonah [Jonah 1:17]
He commands the fish to deposit Jonah on dry land [Jonah 2:10]
He makes a vine grow to give shade to Jonah [Jonah 4:6]
He causes a worm to chew the vine and kill it [Jonah 4:7]

Furthermore, God's sovereignty allows him to show mercy towards the people of Nineveh and not destroy them as he had originally planned.

However, God does not exercise control over Jonah, allowing him to do what he wants, when he chooses,and how pleases. Jonah has free will -- and God does not interfere with that even though Jonah's choices cause him a lot of grief.

God gives Jonah the freedom to mess up -- or to do what is right. That's how God rolls.

The One That Got Away

Peter DeHaan — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:36:00 GMT

You likely know the story of Jonah:

He tries to run from God
Spends a 3-day "time out" in a fish
Is given a second chance
Then does what God commands, albeit with a bad attitude

He proclaims, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."

Eight concise and direct words. He doesn't use persuasive language, doesn't implore the people to act, and doesn't show any compassion or concern. He is blunt and to the point. Technically, he does what God tells him to do, but his heart isn't in it.

Amazingly, the people get his message, are convicted, and repent. So God lovingly relents and calls the whole thing off -- and Jonah gets pissed.

Jonah even picks a good seat to watch the destruction take place -- and then pouts when God gives Nineveh a reprieve.

Essentially, Jonah reluctantly preaches a bad sermon and then gets mad because it's successful.

Despite all that, God is able to use him anyway. How encouraging!

What is Really Important?

Peter DeHaan — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 11:32:00 GMT

Do you ever ask yourself, "What is really important?"

If we're not careful, it's all too easy to end up doing things that, at best, are secondary, and at worst, don't matter at all. Such was the case of the people of Israel a few millennia ago.

The prophet Amos states that God is critical of their religious gatherings, their offerings, and their music. He uses phrases like "I hate...," "I despise...," "I will not accept...," "I have no regard for...", and "I will not listen...".

What did God want instead? Righteousness and justice.

Although it would be an incorrect conclusion to completely jettison our gatherings, our offerings, and our worship music, it might not be a bad idea to give them a bit lower priority. Certainly, the admirable traits of righteousness ("right living") and justice need to be elevated.

If that's what God wanted all those years ago, it might just be want he wants now.

[Amos 5:21-24]

Obadiah on Justice

Peter DeHaan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:02:00 GMT

The book of Obadiah in the Bible contains a prophecy about the nation of Edom.

Among other things, Edom is criticized for their pride. The primary issue, however, is not what they did, but what they didn't do. Theirs is not an act of commission, but of omission.

Specially, the gripe that God has for them is for violence afflicted on the nation of Judah. Not that Edom actually committed the violence, but that they merely stood by and watched as other nations did it.

For this they are destined to be "covered with shame" and "destroyed forever." That is a harsh judgment for doing nothing. There is no forgiveness offered to Edom and no restoration recorded; just punishment.

This shows us God's heart for us to act justly and his displeasure for those who stand idly by and not helping those in trouble.

When we see someone in need, someone being taken advantage of or being treated unfairly, do we take action to assist or stand aloof like Edom?

[Obadiah 10-11]

Amos Protests and God Relents

Peter DeHaan — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:40:00 GMT

Amos was a shepherd, called by God to be a prophet. His story is found in the book of Amos in the Bible.

Amos says what God tells him, but after a while, the people of Israel -- the primary target of his God-given proclamations -- get tired of him and what he says, telling him to be quiet and go back home. Interestingly, Peter, the disciple of Jesus, is given a similar warning by the authorities. Both decline, insisting that they must do what God tells them to do.

At first Amos has no qualms about sharing God's judgments regarding other nations, but he does eventually object. God shows Amos what will happen and Amos protests -- and God relents. (Similar things happen when both Moses and Abraham plead with God.)

God then gives Amos another stinging word. Amos protests and God again relents.

Then God gives Amos a third oracle. This time Amos says nothing.

I wonder if Amos gave up too soon. I wonder if we sometimes make the same mistake.

[Amos 1:1, Amos 7:10-15, Acts 4:18-20, Numbers 14:11-20, Genesis 18:16-33, Amos 7:1-9]

Joel and the Locust

Peter DeHaan — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:07:00 GMT

The book of Joel is classified as one of the Bible's prophetic books, as it contains a foretelling of the future. After multiple reads, however, this short, 3-chapter book begins to emerge more as poetry than prophecy, revealing multiple levels of meaning awaiting the patient reader to unveil and discover.

The name of the book is the same as the prophet who received God's oracle -- Joel. The nemesis of Joel's story is a swarm of locust.

Joel's message is one of unprecedented destruction via this army of locust, which eats everything in sight, devastating all plants -- and the sustenance they produce. Both man and animal suffer as a result. However, there is also a grand and glorious redemption that follows, with God promising to restore the years that the locust ate.

Perhaps the most notable mention of locusts in the Bible is as one of the plagues that befall Egypt during Moses' day. Another is that of locust -- along with honey -- comprising the unique dietary stylings of John the Baptist.

Aside from the life-nourishment that the locust provide to John, all the other Biblical references of locust relate to plague and destruction -- and death -- be it literal or figurative.

Regardless, I wouldn't what them to eat my food or to eat them as food -- I'm happy to take my locust as a metaphor.

[See Joel 1:2, Joel 1:4, Joel 2:1, Joel 2:25, Exodus 10:1-20, Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6]

Hosea Shows Us God's Unconditional Love

Peter DeHaan — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:26:00 GMT

In the Bible, many of the prophets are instructed by God to do some strange and bizarre things. Isaiah is a case in point. Perhaps the most extreme, however, is Hosea. In short, God tells him to marry a prostitute so that his life can become an object lesson.

Imagine young Hosea coming home one day and telling his parents: "Guess what? God called me to go into the ministry!" His parents beam with pride, until a bombshell is dropped on them, "...and he told me to hook up with a whore."

That seems so inappropriate, ill-advised, and ungodly, yet that is what God says to do -- and Hosea obeys.

The strangeness doesn't stop there, however. When his hooker-wife gets pregnant, God tells Hosea to give the kids some unbecoming names. His daughter is given a name that means "not loved" and his second son, a name that means "not my people." This suggests that Hosea has reason to question who actually fathered his wife's children.

Next, his wayward spouse splits, returning to her former way of life. So, God tells Hosea to go find her and take her back!

Although this chain of events was a horrific ordeal for Hosea, it is a profound object lesson for us: regardless of what we do, how badly we act, or how far we stray, God loves us unconditionally and pursues us relentlessly.

How Do You Read the Bible?

Peter DeHaan — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:21:00 GMT

How do you read the Bible?

Some people read the Bible like a text book -- to amass knowledge.
Other people read the Bible like a book of law -- looking for precedent and loopholes to justify themselves, ideas, and behavior.
Still others read the Bible like a "how to" book -- noting the things that they should do and the things that they shouldn't.

However, all of these approaches miss the point. The people in Bible-times understood and appreciated it as narrative. That has how it was written and is its best use -- for them, and for us.

Not only should we pursue the Bible as narrative, but also with the knowledge that the narrative is best comprehended when it is experienced in community.

Although personal Bible study and reflection is helpful and enlightening, it is also ego-centric and intellectually narcissistic. It is through the lens of community dialogue that a deeper and fuller understanding can best be discovered.

So, the Bible is best read as narrative and -- whenever possible -- in a group environment.

What's the Deal with Evil Spirits?

Peter DeHaan — Sat, 01 May 2010 18:02:00 GMT

When reading the gospels (the stories about Jesus) in the Bible, it doesn't take long to run across the phrase "evil spirit." (Some translations use "unclean spirit" or a "corrupting spirit.")

What is an "evil spirit" anyway?

As a teenager, I thought that an evil spirit was merely ancient man's way of understanding mental illness.
As a young adult, my perspective flipped and I thought that mental illness was merely modern man's way of explaining evil spirits.
Later on, I began to consider that both mental illness and evil spirits existed, but as separate, disparate phenomenons.
More recently, I've been thinking that they may just be two different ways of looking at the same thing, two sides of the same coin.

Although contemplating the meaning of an evil spirit may be intellectually inviting, the central point is to remember that regardless of what it was, Jesus healed people who had evil spirits -- and he gave his followers the authority to do the same!

Now, that's something to think about.

[Matthew 10:1]

God's Sovereignty Allows Him to be Benevolent

Peter DeHaan — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:34:00 GMT

God is sovereign; it is one of his characteristics. To be sovereign means to have supreme rank, power, and authority.

The word sovereign appears hundreds of times in the Bible (mostly in the Old Testament) and is usually used as a title for God or in addressing him, as in "Sovereign Lord."

Many people object to the idea that God is sovereign; it offends them or causes fear. That may be because of a tendency to see sovereignty from a human perspective. They assume that God's sovereignty allows him to be malevolent; that is, he is just waiting for us to mess up and then he will do us harm -- or give us grief just because he can. But that is not his nature.

God is good and just. His sovereignty actually allows him to be benevolent. He wants to do good to us, to offer us good things we don't deserve (grace) and to withhold punishment that we do deserve (mercy).

God's sovereignty allows for benevolence; his love prohibits malevolence.

The Implications of Omniscience

Peter DeHaan — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:55:00 GMT

The entry "Omni God" mentioned that God is "omniscient." This means that he has total knowledge, knowing everything.

This is a huge and all-encompassing thought that God knows everything about everything everywhere. It is grand and a bit overwhelming.

Embedded in this idea that God knows all things, is the reality that he also knows me -- and he knows you. He knows all there is to know about us, including the things we keep to ourselves and even the things about us that we are unaware of. He knows us individually, in every detail, totally and completely.

It is true that God's omniscience is huge and all-encompassing, but it also means that he knows us fully and intimately.

God may know all, but he also knows me -- and you!

[Also see "The Implications of Omnipresence" for another similar consideration.]

Do You Wear Glasses When You Read the Bible?

Peter DeHaan — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:00:00 GMT

When you read the Bible, do you wear glasses? I mean metaphorically. Seriously, do you?

Communication experts tell us that we take in and process information through filters -- or lenses. Often this selective process is helpful, removing the minutia of life so that important and relevant information can be observed, remembered, and contemplated.

Sometimes, however, this filtering process blocks us from seeing -- and knowing -- what is really significant and meaningful. Such is often the case as we read and study the Bible.

As we contemplate what the Bible says, our filters cause us to see and understand it through the perspective of our childhood upbringing, our education, and our formed beliefs. If we are socialists, we see socialism in the Bible; if we are capitalists, we see capitalism in the Bible. Similarly, we see democracy or theocracy or even monarchy as possessing Biblical support. Be we Democrats or Republicans, our political views are also mandated by the Bible, with the opposing party's views squarely nullified. Never mind that both sides are able to do so with equal vigor and aplomb.

This all happens because we tend to filter out those things that mess with our preconceived ideas and the status quo of our lives,

To garner a fuller, more holistic understanding of the Bible, we need to endeavor to remove our "reading" glasses, considering the full text and embracing the complete narrative -- not to support our point-of-view, but to confront it and challenge it.

Responding to Temptation

Peter DeHaan — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:32:00 GMT

The Bible says that when we are tempted to do wrong, God will provide a way out so that we can avoid it. That is an encouraging promise, but does that really mean that every time -- or just some of the time?

I think it is every time -- really, I do.

The challenge is to be able to recognize the alternative and then to go down that path as soon as we see it. So, in anticipation of this, I ask God to give me the eyes to see the way out that he will provide -- and then to have the will to take it.

In that way, with his help, we can stand up under the temptation -- just as the Bible promises.

[1 Corinthians 12:13]

Happy Easter!

Peter DeHaan — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 11:46:00 GMT

Happy Easter! Today is the time when we remember -- and celebrate -- Jesus overcoming death and rising from the dead.

Each account of Jesus in the Bible records this:

Matthew: The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him'." [Matthew 28:5-7]

Mark: "Don't be alarmed," [the angle] said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." [Mark 16:6]

Luke: "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again'." [Luke 24:5-6]

John: simply confirms that the tomb where Jesus' body lay was found to be empty; recording that he then appeared to Mary Magdalene, ten of the disciples, and lastly to Thomas. [John 20]

Have a Happy Easter!

Spirit, Soul, and Body

Peter DeHaan — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 09:48:00 GMT

The Bible says that our being -- our entity -- is comprised of spirit, soul, and body. That is something to contemplate.

At first glance, I'd be inclined to reverse the order, from the most tangible (body) to the least (spirit).

However, considering that God -- who is spirit -- made us in his image, it is appropriate to list spirit first, thereby making it foremost. Seemingly, it is our spirit -- not our body -- where our primary essence exists.

My friend Nate explains it this way: We are a spirit, we have a soul (comprising of mind, will, and emotion), and we live in a body.

Our body, where our spirit and soul currently resides, is both temporal and temporary; it is finite and will one day end.

Our spirit, however, is not likewise restricted. That is another thing to contemplate.

Could there be a spiritual realm that is more real than the physical realm in which we live? I hope so; I think so.

[1 Thessalonians 5:23]

Movie Review: The Other Side of Heaven

Peter DeHaan — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:00:00 GMT

The Other Side of Heaven is a wonderfully inspiring real-life saga that is part love story (on two levels) and part adventure, with a touch of spirituality mixed in for a pleasing result.

In the 1950s, fresh out of college, young John Groberg (Christopher Gorham) agrees to a three-year missionary stint and is assigned to the faraway island of Tonga. Though he is willing, he is quite unprepared for the culture shock and the many dangers that await him.

In going, he leaves behind a budding relationship with Jean Sabin (Anne Hathaway). With letters being their only source of communication, their relationship blooms as they are passionately and steadfastly drawn to each other. At the same time, John's love for the Tongan people also emerges, forming deep and significant relationships in the process.

Although John does not escape his share of humorous -- and at times life-threatening -- blunders, his hard work is ultimately rewarded as he lovingly and patiently wins over the hearts and minds of the native peoples.

[Read more reviews of other faith-friendly videos and movies.]