I can’t recommend Scott Swain’s book Trinity, Revelation, and Reading enough. It’s excellent and introduces readers to the Theological Interpretation of Scripture movement.
Theological Interpretation of Scripture
Writing Update Sept 2021
It’s been a while since I posted because I was having some issues with my website (not my expertise!). Thankfully, here are some articles that I’ve been able to write for various publications:
- “Christ Our Salvation: A First Engagement with John Webster,” Modern Reformation, August 30, 2021.
- Book Review of Theology is for Preaching in Modern Reformation (Oct/Nov 2021).
- Book Review of Vital Churches, on Modern Reformation, July 20, 2021.
- “Lessons from Sickness in Isaiah 38,” The Banner of Truth Magazine 694 (July 2021).
Publication Updates!
Good News! While this blog has been quiet, lots of activity has been going on behind the scenes.
Here are some recent publications:
https://modernreformation.org/resource-library/web-exclusive-articles/yesterday-i-was-dead/
“Joy Unspeakable: Finding Joy in Christ-like Suffering.” Puritan Reformed Journal 13, no. 1 (January 2021): 202–4.
“Singing for Our Supper” – in the 2020 Mid-America Journal of the Theology
A Prayer to the Lord of Glory
Heavenly Father, you proclaim to us that Jesus is the Lord of glory, yet we often view glory according to the flesh. We regard princes and princesses, seeking to be among those who are rich, beautiful, and popular, and despairing when we are not. This affects how we treat our neighbors, whom we are called to love without favoritism. Forgive us for dishonoring the poor, those weak in the eyes of the world, and forgetting that you have not disdained us, but welcomed us in mercy. Forgive us and give us a biblical perspective on glory. Help us to see that if anyone is in Christ – new creation – and we are to regard them not by the flesh, that is, by worldly standards. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen. (Based on James 2:1-8 and 2 Cor. 5)
Chess: Increasing Small Advantages
Given that in-person chess has effectively ceased this year due to COVID-19, my “fire” for chess has waned. Still, notice how the amazing chess artist Mikhail Tal turns a small advantage into a great attack. Observe this position. What do you notice about it?
Notice that black has a tremendous space advantage. Look at white’s pieces–most of them on the back rank! As a result, they are uncoordinated. They can’t help each other. How does Tal press his advantage? If he waits too long, white will slowly uncoil his pieces.
13…e4 He pushes his pawn! At first glance, many chessplayers would discount this move because you notice that you lose this pawn. But Tal gets compensation through pressure on the e2 square. 14.dxe4 d3 15.Ne3 Bxe2 16.Qa4 Ng4 17.Ndf1 Bf6 18.Ra2 Bc3 19.Bd2 Qd4
Notice how black has pushed white’s best piece, his queen, away from the action, and crammed his pieces down white’s center. 20.axb4 Bxd2 21.Rxd2 axb4 22.Qb3 Ra1 23.Rxa1 Qxa1 24.Nxg4 Nd4 25.Qb2 Nf3+ 26.Kh1 Qe1 27.Ne3 Qxf2 0-1 White gave up here. His rook is under attack by black’s knight, and he has no safe squares. If Bxf3, black plays Bxf3, checkmate.
This is how many chessplayers win games: they slowly and steadily pinpoint a small advantage and press that advantage until it yields a great advantage!
Confession at Thanksgiving
Heavenly Father, with grief and hatred of our sin we come before you now. We confess that we have sinned against you. We have broken your law and deserve your full wrath against our sin, except for our Savior, Jesus Christ. Specifically, we confess our forgetfulness of your many blessings. You have made us, sent Christ to die for our sin, covered over our sin, adopted us into your family, given us your Spirit, yet we have been ungrateful for these blessings. Because our sights have been set on earthly blessings, we have taken for granted your abundant provision for us of eternal life and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Forgive us and turn the eyes of our hearts upon you instead of idols. Recreate us increasingly to be like Jesus, in whose name we pray, amen. (Based on Isaiah 17-18 and Ephesians 1:1-10)
More than Conquerors
Yesterday as I reflected on Isaiah’s amazing words, it struck me that God’s promise to be with us in the fire and waters changes the way we look at the fire and water – the trials of life. We don’t fear them.
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:1-2
This seems to me much the same sentiment as Romans 8’s glorious statements that we are more than conquerors:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
A conqueror has victory. Being more than a conqueror means triumphing through victory and defeat. It means you aren’t dependent on traditional victory.
This is why James can call Christians to actually rejoice in the midst of trials.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:2-5
This gives us insight into how believers hold up under fierce trials. We deeply need this perspective. Note that James tells us to ask for wisdom, not for steadfastness. Steadfastness is the result of wisdom—it comes as we view our sufferings in light of God’s goodness. So when you feel like giving up, ask that God would transform your view of your trials!
This truth deeply impacted me as a teenager watching the movie The Matrix. The main character, Neo, was living in a false reality, a computer program. He became unconquerable when he started seeing the false reality for what it truly was. This was epitomized in the dialogue: “Are you telling me I can dodge bullets?” and the response: “I’m telling you that when you’re ready, you won’t have to.” When he starts seeing the bullets for what they truly are—computer code—they are no longer a danger to him. It is an imperfect illustration. While we don’t want to downplay the real pain of suffering, when we realize that God works through suffering, it is not something we have to “dodge” with every fiber of our being, as unbelievers do. We don’t play by the “rules” the world does (Col. 2:21).
This is a specifically Christian wisdom. Unbelievers cannot have the same perspective, they cannot see trials as anything but destructive (true, there is the “whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger” mentality, but that minimizes suffering–and the fear is always what does kill you). In contrast, Christians can rejoice even in trials as God gives them a wisdom that knows nothing can separate them from the love of God. He is with us even in the waters and fire.
Brief Review: A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible: Second Edition
For years, I have longed to have the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament in one volume. Biblia Sacra is the common gold standard, but it is expensive. After looking at various options, I finally on A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible: Second Edition by A. Philip Brown II and Bryan W. Smith (Zondervan Academic; Hardcover, 2020).
A reader’s Bible with the Greek and Hebrew includes footnotes that give definitions (glosses) of uncommon vocabulary, to allow readers to make their way through the text without constantly looking up words in their dictionaries/lexicons.
So far, I love this! I was skeptical that this volume would deliver after purchasing A Reader’s Hebrew Bible back in seminary and being disappointed. Not only did that volume feel cheap and flimsy compared to my hardback compact BHS, I found the font lacking and the pages confusing. However, A Reader’s Hebrew and Greek Bible: Second Edition has improved upon previous iterations. The volume is sturdy and the pages feel of higher quality.
My only two critiques after a week’s usage is that the Greek font seems smaller and more condensed than the Hebrew and, in the Hebrew, the names are faded. The proper nouns are faded intentionally–to be a signal to help readers–yet it seems to me that anyone who knows enough Hebrew to use a reader’s Bible is going to be able to sense when dealing with a name. Of course, I can also see the point and I suppose I’m more disappointed by the execution than the concept. The words are just too faint.
These weaknesses aside, this book feels great and I am picking it up daily, as a supplement to my other studies, to keep fresh in my reading of God’s Word in the original languages. I highly recommend it to those who know the biblical languages and want practice reading without helps, or something to take into the pews with them.
A Higher Power at Work
My children and I are enjoying listening to Where the Red Fern Grows together. After the boy gets his puppies, he reflects on God’s providence:
Still mumbling names over and over, I glanced up. There, carved in the white bark of a sycamore tree, was a large heart. In the center of the heart were two names, “Dan” and “Ann.” The name Dan was a little larger than Ann. It was wide and bold. The scar stood out more. The name Ann was small, neat, and even. I stared unbelieving—for there were my names. They were perfect.
I walked over and picked up my pups. Looking at him, I said, “Your name is Dan. I’ll call you Old Dan.” Looking at her, I said, “Your name, little girl, is Ann. I’ll call you Little Ann.”
It was then I realized it was all too perfect. Here in this fishermen’s camp, I had found the magazine and the ad. I looked over at the old sycamore log. There I had asked God to help me get two hound pups. There were the pups, rolling and playing in the warm sand. I thought of the old K. C. Baking Powder can, and the fishermen. How freely they had given their nickels and dimes.
I looked up again to the names carved in the tree. Yes, it was all there like a large puzzle. Piece by piece, each fit perfectly until the puzzle was complete. It could not have happened without the help of an unseen power.
Another Prayer Based on Jonah 1
Gracious God and Father, we humble ourselves before you and plead for forgiveness today. Isaiah tells us that sin separates us from you, and we know it all too well. Sin also separates us from the neighbors we are called to love. You care for everything and everyone you created, but we are focused only on ourselves. When we run away from you and your paths of righteousness, we go downward and inward, like Jonah asleep in the ship’s cabin. Forgive our many sins and turn our souls towards you and others. Instill compassion in us that we may be like you, full of mercy, abounding in steadfast love. Make us steadfast in our confession of faith and enable us to live in accord with our confession. Thank you for our Savior, who seeks and saves the lost, stills the storms, and purchases our forgiveness with his life, amen.
Based on Jonah 1