The Gospel According to Yeeks

And the LORD said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. - Hosea 1:4 Jezreel was the scene of execution of Ahab’s sons by Jehu in 2 Kings 10:7.  God told Jehu that his sons up to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel in 2 Kings 10:30. While the execution of Ahab’s sons in 2 Kings 10:7 was “right in my eyes” (10:30), God also punishes Jehu for the blood of Jezreel in Hosea 1:4.  The house of Jehu indeed lasted only four generations after Jehu: (1) Jehu (2) Jehoahaz (3) Joash/Jehoash (4) Jeroboam II (5) Zechariah. Hosea begins his ministry in the days of Jeroboam. Thus the book of Hosea anticipates the end of the house of Jehu as told my God. The end of his house is near because of the blood of Jezreel. 

Realized today that the ESV's translation of Romans 4:19 does not really do justice to Paul's emphasis. (It is however captured in the footnotes) The Greek word reflecting death is actually used twice.  "He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( nenekromenon ) (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness ( nekrosin ) of Sarah's womb." (Romans 4:19) God, out of this lifeless womb has given us a great salvation. The dead womb leads to the life-giving Christ.

"Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control." (1 Tim 2:15, ESV) I learned today that the NLT's footnote c, translates the passage this way:  "But women will be saved by the birth of the Child, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty." (1 Tim 2:15, NLT footnote c) Which would make a world of difference in interpretation. 

"Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying, ‘Is there any man who has built a new house and has not dedicated it ? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. And is there any man who has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit ? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man enjoy its fruit. And is there any man who has betrothed a wife and has not taken her ? Let him go back to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her.’ And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’ And when the officers have finished speaking to the people, then commanders shall be appointed at the head of the people." (Deut 20:5-9) When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will e...

 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever .’ (Daniel 7:17-18) “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom ." (Luke 12:32) -- The four beasts represent Babylon, Medo-Persians, Greece, Rome. Amidst all these powerful empires it is the saints who receive the kingdom.

A great excerpt from Chloe Sun in " Devotions in the Hebrew Bible ":

Reflecting on the recently concluded DS series on Chronicles: http://english.gracebaptistchurch.sg/blog/post/chronicles-for-the-church