Why were Adam and Eve evicted from Eden? Common theology holds that they surrendered the virtue upon partaking of the "fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God could no longer tolerate their presence. In the mournful, "Adam? Where are you?" I hear not judgment, but parental heartbreak. An ill child … Continue reading Eviction
Category: Old Testament
As a warrior king, David depended on the ability of his commanders to channel violence, who were rewarded for that capacity. But would that control be perfect? What if David learned that one among them was beating his wife? Would David have felt responsible for creating the circumstances of her suffering? What if that had … Continue reading The Burden of Military Command
How profound is God's forbearance? Of Samuel, the leading men of Israel demanded a king, claiming "A king will fight our battles for us." The Goliath arrives, and Saul promises his title to any man that will go out and defeat the enemy. Finally, David arrives out of nowhere - just as did the preceding … Continue reading The Folly of Kings
We obsess over royalty. Where they exist as a political heritage, our public spaces bear their names, and their weddings and deaths are attended by millions. Where monarchy was been expunged, royalty survives as dynasties in our political parties, and are memorialized as colleges and transit routes. As Christians, we should feel tension in that … Continue reading Esther’s Mystery
We think of David and Solomon as great kings, but in God's eyes they are tragic figures. The burden of royalty is to live as the focus for your peoples' ambitions. God knows that leads to corruption. Saul was the first of His people to bear that burden. The people wanted someone to "lead us … Continue reading The Folly of Kings
Love Returns 