Gen 50:20, “…you *meant* evil against me, but God *meant* it for good…” Don’t miss the parallelism in this statement. It is not that Joseph’s brothers *meant* evil, and that God *used* their actions for good, it is that—in the very same action—the brothers meant evil and God meant good. There are at […]
This animation draws especially on Isaiah 25:6-9. In that passage, Isaiah envisions the day of YHWH’s eschatological salvation of His people as a great feast prepared by the Lord on the mountain of Zion (Is. 25:6). On the day of the feast–which implies table fellowship between man and man, and God and humanity–on the day
What Child Is This? – An Animation Read More »
Isaiah 40:11, “He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” The One who mercifully shepherds His people is also the One who humbles the world by His might (v.10), and the hands
Psalm 61:6-8, “Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before God…So will I ever sing praises to your name…” Notice that God’s prolonging of the king’s life and His enthronement of the king in His presence *results in* or *forms the ground of* the
Psalm 65:3-4, “When iniquities prevail against me, you atone [ἱλάσκομαι/כָּפַר] for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!” Notice the transition into verse 4, “Blessed is the one…” We move almost
Is 12:5-6, “Sing praises to YHWH, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah envisions a day when the joyful praises of YHWH’s redeemed people will fill
Gen 32:11, “Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me…” Gen 33:4, “But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” In 32:11, Jacob has every reason
Genesis 32:11, 33:4 Read More »
Jeremiah 33:10-11, “Thus says YHWH: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’…there shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride…” Joy will sing in the *very place* where sorrow now holds
Ps. 52:8-9, “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever…I will wait for your name, for it is good…” David as a tree in God’s house is an image for his trusting in the Lord. As in Ps. 1:3—and
Psalm 45:13, “All glorious is the Princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. In many-colored robes she is led to the King…” Revelation 22:9-11, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb…the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God…” The Bridal
Psalm 45:13, Revelation 22:9-11 Read More »
Mark 13:31, “The heavens and the earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Jesus words are more enduring, and in that sense we may say “more real,” than the heavens and the earth. And when the heavens and the earth pass away, when the mountains are overthrown and turned to dust,
This picture was created at the request of one of FOE’s monthly supporters. In this image I tried to bring together two uses of “צְרוֹר” or “bundle / parcel” from 1 Samuel 25:29 and Job 14:17. In 1 Samuel, Abigail blesses David, saying that YHWH will keep the life of David “in the bundle
1 Samuel 25:29 + Job 14:17 Read More »
Psalm 2:2,5-6 “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed…Then He will speak to them in His wrath…”As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” It’s voting day in the US, and let me start by saying
Jer. 30:12-13,15,17 — “Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous…[there is] no medicine for your wound, no healing for you…Your pain is incurable.” /// “…*I will* restore health to you, and your wounds *I will* heal.” The wound referenced here the wound of and the wound dealt by YHWH’s people’s turning from Him
Jeremiah 30:12-13, 15, 17 Read More »
This picture is based on John 6:35-40 and was created for a pastor friend in Minneapolis. The specific focus my friend was eager to see expressed was Jesus’ call to “come to,” “look to,” and “believe in” Him, and so these became the center of the image. Jesus’ invitation for any and all to
Genesis 5:29, “Out of the ground YHWH has cursed, this one shall bring us relief…” These are the words spoken over Noah at his birth, and Noah in some sense fulfills them in that he goes on to grow vineyards, tangibly bringing a source of relief up from the cursed earth (Gen. 9:20). However,
Mark 10:49, “Take heart, rise, He is calling you.” A quick study shows that the Greek words translated “take heart,” appear in the NT only in relation to Jesus, specifically in instances where Jesus enters in to and meets someone in the midst of their darkness, fear, or suffering (Matt.9:2,22; 14:27, Mk.10:49, Acts 23:11).
Music by The Lockwoods Lyrics by Christopher Powers I heard the voice of Jesus say “My child, do not fear.” // “But Lord,” replied my trembling heart, “The darkness is so near.” // “It rises up before my eyes, it quenches every light. // With cruel and hopeless words it weaves a world that
The End of Night – An Animation Read More »
Jeremiah 17:12, “A glorious throne set on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” In the context, the glorious throne of YHWH set on high from the beginning is set over against the fitful and uncertain securities of the flesh (17:5-6, 11). The Divine King Himself, enthroned in glory from
Genesis 11:4, “…let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Here are the roots of Babylon—the “world-spirit” that will oppose YHWH and His people until the end of history. Notice what is at the heart of the spirit of Babel: a desire to put
