All the counting in Scripture. On its first page, the words, “In the beginning” ring out, commencing the count. So tabulate the days as they unfold. “The evening came and morning followed—the first day” all the way to “the seventh day” when the Creator “finished his work” (Genesis 1:5, 2:2). Much later, after recounting so […]
All Saints: Tobit 3:7-8, 7:10-12; Revelation 7:9-17; Matthew 22:23-29: Who’s Doing the Counting?
November 4, 2018 by
The Apocrypha, Lesson 10: Tobit, Pt. 3
July 17, 2017 by
We finished with Tobias sending Azariah (the angel Raphael) to retrieve the 30 years’ worth of wages. After the 14-day wedding celebration, Tobias and Azariah plan to head home. We now get a snapshot of what is taking place Tobit and Anna. Tobias and Azariah Return Home 10:1 Meanwhile, day by day, Tobit kept […]
The Apocrypha, Lesson 9: Tobit, Pt. 2
July 17, 2017 by
Last week, we learned of Tobit, who became blind from bird droppings. After remembering he had saved about 30 years’ worth of wages, he sends his son, Tobias, to retrieve his wealth. So Tobias readies himself for the journey. The Introduction to Some New Characters Today, some new characters will come our way. Gabael: […]
The Apocrypha, Lesson 8: Tobit, Pt. 1
July 17, 2017 by
Introduction Though Tobit includes historical reality in its background setting, it is not history but a religious novel to teach the faithful. Like Judith, this book contains information known not to be true, drawing the hearer to focus on the religious content, not the historical facts. For example, the sequence of Assyrian kings is incomplete […]
2 Corinthians, Lesson 7: The Resurrection Encourages Us, even in Our Suffering
October 19, 2015 by
Paul and Timothy said that what was happening to them, their suffering and being brought closer to death, made them outwardly seem fragile, like jars of clay. People considered such earthen containers of little value because they held garbage or excrement. Although Paul and Timothy looked like they were of little value, what they brought […]
Tobit Who?
June 21, 2011 by
Many of you know I’m an enthusiast of hymns. Here’s an old hymn that you’ve probably never heard of, which isn’t in Lutheran Service Book. The hymn is O Starker Gott, Herre Zebaoth, which would be “Almighty God, Father, Lord of Armies.” This hymn is intriguing. It has 35 stanzas! But that’s all right, because […]
