By Dr. Mark Scott It would seem that when God wants to make a prophet, he first takes him to the desert and crushes him. Tears make a prophet better than laughter does. The crucible of suffering is the best birthing room of a prophet. Jeremiah would have been glad to continue the family business […]
By Mark Scott In the first religious awakening of America, Jonathan Edwards preached a now famous sermon entitled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” He took his text from Deuteronomy, and he pled for the people of New England to turn back to God. Centuries later the New Testament scholar, D.A. Carson, preached […]
By Mark Scott One of the great characteristics of God is his interpersonal capacity. He communicates. He called judges to rescue his people (last month’s lessons). He also called prophets to prosecute his people (this month’s lessons). “Prophets don’t prepare messages. Prophets are messages” (Spirit, Word, and Story by Calvin Miller). Moses is often viewed […]
By Dr. Mark Scott I do not like Samson. Like Esau, he was a sensualist (Hebrews 12:16, 17). He lived by his glands instead of his God. He was a playboy. The Samson narrative in Judges (chapters 13-16) is filled with rebellion, sexual immorality, anger, revenge, disappointment, heartache, and a glimmer of hope. That being […]
By Dr. Mark Scott In the book of Judges, the judges get progressively worse as we go along. We’ve gone from Deborah and Barak (good) to Gideon (all right) to Jephthah (not stunning) and next week to Samson (terrible). The enemies of Israel in our lessons also get progressively worse, from the Canaanites to the […]
