Category: Prophets and Writings

These studies cover the ancient grouping of Hebrew Bible writings called Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). These books include from Joshua through Malachi in the conventional Christian canon.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Fearing the Almighty: Balancing reverence and love in our walk with Messiah (Deuteronomy 3–4; Isaiah 40)

"Fearing the Almighty: Balancing reverence and love in our walk with Messiah (Deuteronomy 3-4; Isaiah 40)." Adobe Firefly AI image of a man standing on a mountain overlooking a valley and mountains while holding a large balance in each hand from an outstretched arms.

This study on the Torah portion Vaetchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11) challenges our understanding of God’s glory and how we approach Him in prayer. It reveals that God’s glory is not found in miracles or creation, but in His very words. Altering or disregarding these words is akin to idolatry.

The discussion explores the delicate balance of fearing and loving God, and the sobering reality that even Moses’ prayers were rejected. Referencing Isaiah 40, Matthew 23 and other passages, this study urges us to humbly submit to God’s instructions, lest our prayers become an abomination. The way we handle God’s word has eternal consequences.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Path to spiritual maturity: How to align our thoughts, emotions, actions with God’s words (Numbers 9 and 27)

"Path to spiritual maturity: How to align our thoughts, emotions, actions with God's words." Adobe Firefly AI artwork showing five Ancient Near East women, representing the daughters of Zelophehad looking at a high desert mountain in the background, representing Sinai. A Paleo-Hebrew alef is shown over one woman's head.

Yosef (Joseph), Moshe (Moses), Eliyahu (Elijah), Kefa (Peter), Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ), the five daughters of Zelophehad. This study of the Torah reading פִּינְחָס Pinchas (“Phinehas,” Numbers 25:10–30:1) and parallel passages explores some of the many examples on how to answer the call the biblical call to be “alefs”/”alphas” — leaders who wield power with humility and obedience to God, not domineering self-interest. We’ll see patterns of God’s sovereignty over earthly powers, the importance of aligning our hearts (thoughts and emotions) and actions with His Word, and the dangers of deception and self-serving motives, even in religious giving.

We’ll discover a Bible challenge to cultivate emotional intelligence by storing God’s wisdom in our hearts, and prioritize transparency and integrity over outward displays of authority. Ultimately, we learn to turn toward and depend on the true Source of power — the Creator Who commissions and sustains those who faithfully serve Him.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Spiritual secrets of the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6; Judges 13–16; 1Samuel 1; Revelation 14)

Spiritual secrets of the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6; Judges 13-16; 1Samuel 1; Revelation 14). Adobe Firefly AI drawing of a long-haired ancient Middle Eastern man walking away from a cluster of grapes and a glass of wine on the ground, with stone walls of a city in the background.

This study on the Torah reading נָשֹׂא Nasso (“take up” or “carry,” Num. 4:21–7:89) focuses on the Nazarite/Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:2-21), which calls one to dedicate body and soul to God’s service. Samson (Judges 13-16) and Samuel (1Samuel 1:11) exemplified this, though imperfectly. Symbolically avoiding grapes (Revelation 14:19-20), corpses, and cutting hair (Numbers 6:5), Nazarites shunned death from sin (1Corinthians 15:56). Their supernatural strength came through God’s spirit (Judges 14:6), not fleshly power. Ultimately, Yeshua (Jesus) could be seen as the perfect Nazarite (Matthew 2:23), filling up the vow’s purpose perfectly through His death and resurrection (1Corinthians 15:3-4), calling us to die to sin and live for God.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Pentecost/Shavuot Prophets and Writings Torah

Loyalty over ancestry: What really matters to God (Ruth 1–4; Exodus 20; John 4)

Loyalty versus ancestry: What really matters to God (Ruth 1-4; Exodus 20; John 4). Adobe Firefly AI image of an young ancient Middle East woman walks along a path holding hands with an older woman, walking past cactus and olive trees.

In this study on Shavuot (Pentecost), we see how we’re reminded annually of Heaven’s mission to call all nations and a promise to do that through His Son as King of Kings over Jew and goy (Gentile) alike. The Book of Ruth depicts a woman of Moab embraced by Israel through her faith: “Your people will be my people; your God my God.”

The Holy One’s promise to bless the world through Abraham was a legacy that stretched through Ruth’s lineage to King David to Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).

Yeshua’s visit to Samaria (John 4) ignored long-held social barriers and showed that the good news of the Kingdom includes Gentiles. The Ten Commandments given at Sinai points all those called people to righteousness, starting with Israel.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Jubilee Prophets and Writings Sabbatical Year Torah

Cancel debts, free slaves: Radical teachings of Jubilee and Sabbatical Year for modern life (Leviticus 25; Isaiah 58; Matthew 6 and 18)

"Cancel debts, free slaves: Radical teachings of Jubilee and Sabbatical Year for modern life (Leviticus 25; Isaiah 58; Matthew 6 and 18). Adobe Firefly AI artwork of a hand reaching up toward a sunset-toned cloudy sky while a chain extends from each side of the scene and wraps around the wrist.

The Torah reading בְּהַר Behar (“on mount [Sinai],” Leviticus 25:1–26:2) teaches that debts are released after seven-year cycles (Shemitah, sabbatical year) and 49-year cycles (Yobel/Jubilee) to memorialize God’s forgiveness. This pattern is seen in Messiah Yeshua’s (Christ Jesus) teachings on forgiveness in Matthew 18 and manifest in his role as suffering servant who takes our debts (Isaiah 53). By forgiving others as we’ve been forgiven (Matthew 6:12), we reflect the Heavenly economy of releasing debts, underscored via receiving God’s mercy on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement; Leviticus 16; Isaiah 58:1–12).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Clearing the ‘sins of the fathers’: How repentance breaks generational curses (Leviticus 22; 1Kings 2; 1Samuel 21–22; Matthew 12)

"Clearing the 'sins of the fathers': How repentance breaks generational curses." Brass balance scale has one round stone on one side but nothing on the other side. Two stacks of flat round stones are behind the scale.

God has a grand design unfolding over eons and generations, using even flawed individuals to fulfill prophecy. This study explores how through King Saul’s massacre of the priests who gave fugitive David some of the retired Bread of the Presence, God removed Eli’s sinful priestly line as foretold years earlier. Though Saul faced due punishment, God first used his wickedness to kill Eli’s descendants as promised.

Generations after that promise and hundreds of years after the instructions given in Torah reading אָמַר Emor (“say,” Leviticus 21–24), David felt convicted for the priests’ and neighboring villagers’ death but not for what might be considered a minor Torah breach. Yet Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) affirmed that God held David guiltless. God’s plan surpassed surface events, working through personalities with long-term consequences.

Categories
Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Born separated from God, made pure: How Israel’s offerings for childbirth and ‘leprosy’ teach us about Messiah’s cleansing of humanity (Leviticus 12–13)

Born separated, made pure: How Israel's offerings for childbirth and leprosy' teach us about Messiah's cleansing of humanity (Leviticus 12-13). Adobe Firefly-generated artwork shows an ancient Israeli woman holding a newborn girl.

People are often repulsed by the Torah descriptions of “leprosy” and skin diseases in Torah readings Tazria (Leviticus 12–13) and Metzorah (Leviticus 14–15) because they focus only on the physical aspects and miss the weightier spiritual lessons. This study explores how “leprosy” here represented a condition of spiritual rot from separation from God.

While unpleasant to consider physically, examining it spiritually reveals how humanity is born in a state of separation since Eden — also taught via the sin offering for childbirth in Tazria — and God’s gracious provision to redeem and purify people through faith in him. Messiah (Christ) takes this spiritual rot and separation upon Himself to cleanse all who trust in Him as Heaven’s lifeline to the world.