Author: John Thomson
-
isaiah… some introductory observations
This is a slightly developed version of a summary of Isaiah I wrote for our Fellowship group. We were looking at some of the ‘salvation’ pictures in Isaiah. The OT Prophets The OT prophets prophesied from around 800 BC until around 430 BC. They span about 4 centuries. Their message is largely one of judgement…
-
israel in the bible
Israel in recent history Israel is the focus of much of the world at the moment. The atrocities inflicted by Hamas and Israel’s response have captured the world’s attention. For some, Israel’s response in Gaza is disproportionate, while for others it is necessary despite the loss of innocent lives caught up in the war. At…
-
john 6… the fourth sign of five thousand fed
The feeding of the five thousand is Jesus’ fourth miraculous sign in John’s gospel. It is recorded in all four gospels perhaps because it is so public. John’s first sign of Jesus turning water into wine at Cana for those with eyes to see reveals that in Jesus the messianic age with its abundant joy…
-
john 5… the third sign of the paralysed man
The lame man healed at the pool of Bethesda. This is the third sign John records. We should remember these are miracles revealing who Jesus is. We are told the signs reveal the glory of Jesus and of the Father (1:14,17, 2:11; 11:4, 40). The divine identity of Father and Son is revealed in them.…
-
john… the first two signs
John writes his gospel that ‘we may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that in believing we may have life in his name’ (Jn 20:31). His aim is evangelistic. He writes to create faith in Jesus. For John, an important means of creating faith in Jesus is by documenting some…
-
john… signs
John writes his gospel that ‘we may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that in believing we may have life in his name’ (Jn 20:31). His aim is evangelistic. He writes to create faith in Jesus. Sometimes John is divided into the book of signs (1-12) and the book of…
-
we beheld his glory… john 1:14-18
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because he…
-
psalm 110… david’s son and david’s lord
I believe I have blogged on Ps 110 in the past. However, reading it recently has prompted me to write a short summary of the psalm. It is clearly a significant psalm as it is the psalm most quoted in the NT. Jesus regards it as messianic (Matt 22:45-47). 1 The LORD says to my…
-
john (3) …that all might believe.
The first two parts of this trilogy of posts were written some time ago. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been…
-
god is good
God is Good I struggle with a depressive illness and find it difficult at times to think. At such times, I often repeat to myself ‘God is good… God is good’. To repeat this gently inside my mind can be a real balm for my soul. Metaphorically, it lifts up my head. In this simple…
-
the righteousness of god
The Saving Righteousness of God The righteousness of God is God’s activity consistent with who he is. God is righteous because he always acts according to his own being. Alll he thinks and does is right and correct (Zeph 3:5). He never acts contrary to his own self which is the measure of all things.…
-
psalm 85… revive us again.
Psalm 85 ‘Will you not revive us again’ To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. LORD, you were favourable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah. 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your…
-
psalm 29… the thunderous voice of the lord
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness. 3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. 4 The…
-
israel past, present and future
This is a rather long post. I hope it rewards those who read it. Psalm 83 1 O God, do not keep silence;do not hold your peace or be still, O God!2 For behold, your enemies make an uproar;those who hate you have raised their heads.3 They lay crafty plans against your people;they consult together…
-
psalm 150… let everything that has breath praise the lord
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5…
-
creation and evolution
Intro This post as a short and tentative interaction with the creation vs evolution debate. It is a debate I have generally avoided and in truth, not having a scientific bent of mind, it is not an abate that greatly attracts me. However, reading Genesis 1-11 has inclined me to engage a little with the…
-
psalm 129… caring for zion
Psalm 129 1 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—let Israel now say—2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,yet they have not prevailed against me.3 The plowers plowed upon my back;they made long their furrows.”4 The LORD is righteous;he has cut the cords of the wicked.5 May all who hate Zionbe put…
-
patriarchy and christ
Patriarchy Patriarchy or male leadership has fallen on bad times. Across the political divide egalitarian views preside., at least ostensibly. Arguably, both misogyny and misandry both exist. Feminism, which has laudable intentions inevitably becomes divisive as partisan movements inevitably do. In fact, the rise of feminism has arguably created a society where men often feel…
-
lucy letby and the banality of evil.
A recent murder trial in the UK shocked the nation. Lucy Letby, a young personable nurse in her early thirties was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others. The nation’s shock is two-fold. Firstly, the murder of helpless babies, actually, premature babies, is unspeakable. Secondly, Lucy Letby does not fit our…
-
interpreting prophecy
Interpreting OT prophecy…. In our schooling we learned that different kinds of literature employ different conventions. Only by recognising the form of literature, knowing its conventions and applying them as we read can we grasp the author’s intended meaning. If we are unfamiliar with the genre (kind of literature) and its conventions we will misunderstand…
-
isaiah 2… the mountain of the lord
The Mountain of the Lord. 1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days. that the mountain of the house of the LORD. shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills;…
-
glory at the cross
Glory at the Cross God’s glory is his greatest concern. It is his pleasure to reveal his glory (splendour) God and our delight to give him glory (honour and magnify him). It is the revealing of his glory that stirs worship and produces in us our greatest happiness in the contemplation of his majesty. The…
-
psalm 48… protection from the god of zion
Psalm 48 1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God! His holy mountain, 2 beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. 3 Within her citadels God. has made himself known as a…
-
the city of God
A definition How can something meaningful be said about ‘Jerusalem’ or ‘Zion’ in a short blog post? It is difficult. Jerusalem is essentially the story of God dwelling among his people and all that this implies. It is the society of the redeemed , a human culture, under the rule of God, enjoying the blessings…
-
Moffitt… atonement in heaven
Recently, David Moffitt, formerly of Duke and Campbell university divinity schools in the States and now a Senior Lecturer at St Andrews university Scotland, published a book entitled ‘Rethinking the Atonement: ‘New perspectives on the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ’. It expands a previous book he published , ‘Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection…
-
hebs 12… a tale of two mountains
A tale of two mountains Two mountains dominate Israel’s spiritual journey and theological. landscape – Sinai and Zion. Sinai lay at the beginning of the nation’s journey and Zion at the end. Sinai was never the destination; the destination was Zion. It was Zion that God planned to make his home long before it entered…
-
psalm 22 (4)… glory
I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred. the affliction…
-
psalm 22 (3)… suffering physical and social
12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is…
-
psalm 22 (2)… spiritual suffering
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of…
-
psalm 22 (1)… introduction
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of…
-
ot believers… regenerate… roms 7
One of the difficult questions to answer is the status and experience of OT believers. This post does not pretend to answer this question but I hope it points to fruitful fields of inquiry. Old Testament believers were justified by faith (Roms 4: Gen 15:6). Abraham’s faith=justification serves as the template for all future justification…
-
roms 7 … life under law (1)
Romans 7 In Ch 5, Paul has demonstrated that humanity is divided into two different peoples united to two humanity heads. One group belongs to Adam and is dominated by sin and death. By natural birth everyone belongs to Adamic humanity. The second group is in Christ where, by contrast, grace, righteousness and life reign.…
-
joel… eschatological salvation (3)
Salvation It seems Israel responds to the voice of the prophet. When genuine tears, whole-hearted repentance, mourning over sin and renewed consecration are heard by the Lord he responds in mercy. The day of the Lord in judgement is transformed into a salvation event. Then the LORD became jealous for his land. and had pity…
-
joel… the day of the lord (2)
The day of the Lord Interpretations of Ch 1,2 differ. Some think both chapters refer to the plague of the locusts. In this view, the locusts off Ch 1 are the invading army of Ch 2 (2:2,7). It seems unlikely that the same locust attack is in view in both chapters; in Ch 1 the…
-
joel… a plague of locusts (1)
Intro Little is known about Joel. He appears to be a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem (3:20). The occasion of his letter is a plague of locusts that attack Judah (1:2-10). The plague of locusts augurs further judgement to come – the judgement of the eschatological Day of the Lord. The imminent Day of the…
-
we have come to mount zion… hebs 12
Hebs 12:18-24 Citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could…
-
the day of the lord
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Pet 3:10 The expression, ‘day of the Lord’ is…
-
revelation 20 the final judgement
Revelation 20. The Final Judgement 11:8… time for the dead to be judged. We come now to description of the day of judgement. A separate section is indicated by ‘then I saw’ (v11). We should remember once again we are reading symbolism. God (in Christ) does not really sit on a throne with books to…
-
a new interface
I thought I’d have a look at different styles. I opened one thinking I would have a look. It seemed in so doing I deleted my previous theme hence the new page style. It is very plain but hopefully the font is clearer for reading. There is presently a glitch – a photo that I…
-
slaughter of the canaanites
Faith, particularly the Christian faith, which has provided the dominant narrative of the western world, has come under sustained attack in recent years. A few years ago, those dubbed ‘the new atheists’ (increasingly the old atheists) who view Christianity (and other religions) as no more than myths invented to give meaning to life have made…
-
if the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?
Psalm 11 1 In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain, 2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string. to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart; 3 if the foundations are destroyed,…
-
matt 24 (2)… the course of the age and the coming of the son of man
Vv 1-3 the disciples questions To recap. Jesus, seeing his disciples dazzled by the beauty of the temple, punctures their infatuation by telling them that soon the temple will be a ruin – a scattering of stones. Later this prompts a three-sided question; when will the temple be destroyed, when will the age end and…
-
matt 24 (1)… introduction
Introduction Matthew 24 and 25 record what is often called the Olivet discourse because it is delivered from the Mt of Olives (v3). It is the last of five discourses in Mathew and appropriately describes last things – it spans the interadvent period and beyond. Jesus’ eschatological teaching informs NT books like Thessalonians and Revelation.…
-
psalm 2… the king reigns
I am attempting to give a précis of the psalm rather than a full exposition. You can judge how successful I’ve been.I find being short difficult. Psalm 2 1 Why do the nations rageand the peoples plot in vain?2 The kings of the earth set themselves,and the rulers take counsel together,against the LORD and against…
-
god is good
God is Good I struggle with depression. One of its symptoms is mental fatigue. There are times when I am beyond thought yet negative thoughts crowd in. Often in these situations and others less intense I’ll rehearse in my mind, ‘God is good’. It is an affirmation of faith that can help lift my spirits…
-
isaiah 7… the virgin birth…immanuel and the assyrian
Isaiah 7 Isaiah, son of Amoz, is a towering figure in biblical history. His prophetic voice spans four Davidic kings (1:1). His prophecies, marked by great rhetorical power, command a book of 66 chapters. The prophecies, while grounded on the period C8-C6 BC, span from creation to a new heavens and new earth. Isaiah is…
-
psalm 148… universal hallelujahs
Psalm 148 1 Praise the LORD!Praise the LORD from the sky!Praise him in the heavens!2 Praise him, all his angels!Praise him, all his heavenly assembly!3 Praise him, O sun and moon!Praise him, all you shiny stars!4 Praise him, O highest heaven,and you waters above the sky!5 Let them praise the name of the LORD,for he…
-
revelation 21:1-22:5… the new jerusalem , a garden-city (6)
Jerusalem… a garden-city It is unfortunate that Ch 22 begins where it does. It would have been more fitting to begin it at v6 which is the beginning of the epilogue for in these first five verses John is still describing the new Jerusalem. Indeed these verses bring his description of the city of God…
-
revelation 21:1-22:5… the new jerusalem, a secure world-city (5)
Jerusalem a secure city In the OT, prayer for Jerusalem’s peace, her ‘shalom’ was urged (Ps 122:6). Earthly Jerusalem, however, knew little of this peace. In fact, finally she rejected her peace completely (Lk 19:41,42) and even yet does not know peace. Jerusalem’s peace does not belong to earthly Jerusalem but to the heavenly Jerusalem.…
-
revelation 21:1-22:5… the new jerusalem, a temple-city (4)
Jerusalem a temple-city If the centre of the new creation is a city of splendour then the source of its splendour is the glory of God. If the holy city is the people of God living in community and culture then what dominates is this community or culture is the beneficent and glorious reign of…
Cave Adullam 