Jephthah sends messengers to the king of Ammonites, who it turns out is not interested in peace or a history lesson. Jephthah makes an ill-advised vow to God before going into battle and then tragically fulfills it. Does God approve of this vow? Does Jephthah actually do what it seems to say he does? Where is Christ in all of this? Chad and Daniel spend eight extra minutes discussing all of this. Have a listen!
Once again Israel ramps up its idolatry and God is not pleased and says He will not save them again and then does. How does law and gospel help us understand texts like this? When is God’s impatience a comfort to us? And we meet a warrior son of a prostitute named Jephthah. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Abimelech gets word of the drunken threats issued against him and plans an ambush. Zebul’s eyesight isn’t any better than his judgment. The wrath of Abimelech is thorough and includes a whole lot of salt. Jotham’s fable/prophecy comes full circle and Abimelech unsuccessfully tries to avoid what he sees as an embarrassing death legacy. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Gideon takes many wives and has a ton of children and one son named Abimelech from a woman who was not his wife. Gideon dies, and the people take their idolatry to the next level. Abimelech puts together a plan to seize power that involves killing all his brothers. And Gideon’s youngest son delivers a fable/prophecy to the leaders of Shechem. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Gideon makes a 2nd threatening promise and then follows through on both of them. We learn more about his family and what may be some additional motivation in these conflicts. The people start wanting a ruler and Gideon slips into compromise. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
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Gideon gets some reassurance from an interpretation of a very strange dream. He and his reduced force go into battle with trumpets and jars. Why are all these victories so lopsided and how does Isaiah talk about this battle when speaking of the coming Christ? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
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Gideon takes a group of men and destroys the altar of Baal. People want him to die but he gets a nickname instead. God has more for him to do but Gideon has some doubts and tests God with a fleece. When Gideon agrees to go to battle, God thinks he has too many men with him and comes up with a strange way of reducing the forces. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
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To the surprise of no one, Israel engages in idolatry again and finds themselves oppressed by their enemies. Jesus calls Gideon to deliver the people but Gideon is hesitant and wants a sign. Bad things happen when you refuse to listen to God. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
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A song is sung by Deborah to cement what God has done in the history of Israel. Why does this song and others have an address to the enemies? Why is God’s interaction with creation so personal? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
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Israel is in trouble again, so we are introduced to a prophetess judge named Deborah. A man named Barak is unwilling to go fight without her and so God will deliverer the people’s enemy into the hand of a woman, but which woman? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
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Israel is becoming more and more pagan and God sells them to their enemies. A left-handed man has a short sword and a message from God for a fat king. And rest seems to be the thing everyone is after. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
The children of Israel are on the fast-track to bondage. What is so tempting about foreign gods and why do the people turn to them so quickly? The cycle of idolatry, slavery, and deliverance is laid out and God shows Himself to be a good repenter. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Chad and Daniel start the book of Judges in this episode. What is behind the name of the book? How do the tribes of Isreal begin to set themselves up for failure? And a king has his thumbs and big toes cut off. Have a listen!
Chad and Daniel wrap up the book of Joshua. There is a lot of talk about idolatry and the “good words” of God. Joshua dies but before he does he says his most famous words. Does “choose this day who you will serve” mean what we have come to think it means? Have a listen!
The cities of refuge are set up and land is allotted to the tribe of Levi. God doesn’t let His promises “fall” but fulfills them all for everyone. How does God having one plan for both Jews and Gentiles shape our eschatology? And why does the building of an altar almost start a civil war? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Daniel Emery Price and Erick Sorensen talk with Chad Bird about his Christmas/Communion hymn, The Infant Priest Was Holy Born. It's a conversation filled with rich theology and laughter. Merry Christmas!
People remain in the land and Israel uses them as forced labor. How did it happen and is this what God wanted? Certain tribes want more land and Joshua recommends a solution they are not completely comfortable with. We are introduced to a place called Shiloh and the word “subdue” reappears. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
There is a lot about Caleb in this episode. He is older but no less ready to take the land God has promised them. A strange promise is made involving marriage. Why does Caleb use the word “perhaps”? In God what has become of death? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Chad and Daniel get from Joshua to Revelation and spend a lot of this episode talking about Armageddon and the return of Christ. Why does God leave things for Israel (and the church) to struggle against? The Promised Land is no new Eden, but a second Adam will come from it. All this is discussed. Have a listen!
As kingdoms rise up against Joshua, we hear some language we’ve heard before concerning horses, chariots, and sand on the seashore. Why is God always stacking the odds against Israel? Were any of the cities in Canaan wanting to make peace? Is Israel the “good guys” and everyone else the “bad guys” in these accounts? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
We find out what happens to the five kings trapped in a cave and Chad and Daniel spend quite a bit of time discussing violence and death in the Bible. Israel continues the campaign in Canaan and wins battle after battle. But a group of cities joins with an enormous city to fight against Joshua. All this is discussed. Have a listen!
Five kings rise up against Gibeon and Israel rises to their defense. God gets all the credit for what happens in the battle and we are pointed back to the plagues of Egypt. Joshua asks the sun to stand still and it remains day until the battle is won. How are we to understand Joshua’s request and what does it mean that “no man moved his tongue against Israel.”? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Joshua writes the law on tablets of stone and reads it to the people. Israel’s neighbors trick them into making a covenant with them in a strange way. How will Joshua deal with his promise when he discovers they have been deceived? What do we learn about God and how He keeps his promises? Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
Israel makes another attempt to overthrow the city of Ai and this time is successful. God confirms again that Joshua is His appointed leader. Everything is destroyed and something very unpleasant is done to the king of Ai that ends up pointing us to Jesus. Chad and Daniel discuss all of this. Have a listen!
This episode was recorded live at the Here We Still Stand conference. Chad and Daniel are joined by Erick Sorensen to discuss Psalms 135 and 136 and then take a look at 1 Corinthians 10. Have a listen!