sdgriffin.com Podcast

After a solid year of podcasting the Scroll of Judges, we arrive at our capstone summary podcast. After a bit of an unrelated rant, I settle in to our content. Hope you enjoy it.

Our chapter-by-chapter of the account of Judges culminates with yet more societal dysfunction. Forced abductions, tribal infighting, and all the wrong actions for all the wrong reasons.

Did God "write" your Bible? Hmmm. Some brief questions (hopefully thought-provoking) to consider on how it is that your Bible came to be in your hands. Fresh from my hotel room near Toronto. If you listen close, you can hear me sipping a Brooklyn Brewery product and also the microfridge kick on halfway through. Hey, at least I wasn't driving while I recorded it.

Part 2 of the commentary on Judges Chapter 19. Deirdre and I continue our discussion and debate the fate of the Levite's wife. Hint: the wife doesn't fare so well.

We continue this week with the epilogue to the Book of Judges. Deirdre Brouer joins me this week to talk about her research on this chapter and to lend us her expert opinions on its interpretation.

Chapter 19 of the New American Standard translation. This will be a valuable supplement to Parts 1 and 2 of the Judges 19 commentary - you will either want to listen to this chapter here or else peruse your own preferred translation before listening to the commentary.

Today on the podcast...we begin the epilogue to the Book of Judges. Worship has degraded to ritual, and the great god of Israel is reduced to a genie in a bottle. And we find out what happened to Moses' grandson...

Samson. And all the sordid details. 'Nuff said.

Audio from our session on Jan 27, 2013, at my humble abode. We discuss the superb lecture by Dr. Garrett Fagan, Classics Department of Penn State University, on slavery in the Roman Empire. Jesus, Paul, Luke, and John lived in a culture thoroughly enmeshed in a culture of institutional slavery, and many illustrations which they give to illumine eternal truths are couched within this language.

Jephthah the judge makes a stupid promise to a powerful God. His daughter pays the price.

We focus today on the tale of Abimelech, Gideon's son. Abimelech takes it upon himself to rule Shechem, an Israelite city which has fully assimilated to the Canaanite way of life.

This week, we focus on Gideon in Judges 6-8.  A man who begins the story reluctant and doubting, but by the end has turned into a tyrant.  The downward spiral of Israelite society continues.

We take a brief respite from Judges in this edition of the podcast, and skip forward in time to the "temptation" of Jesus in the wilderness by the Devil in Matthew chapter 4.  How should we understand this scene, and how might the Presidential election tie in to this passage?

Translation of Matthew Chapter 4, verses 1-11

This week, two women come out ahead.  Deborah dispenses wisdom and challenges the commander of Israel's army.  Ja'el, meanwhile, lures the enemy into her tent and finds a different use for the tent peg than the manufacturer intended.

Translation of Judges Chapter 5.

Translation of Judges Chapter 4.

This week, we get into the real meat of the book of Judges.  A fat man is murdered, the Israelites kill 10,000 men, and things only go downhill from here.  It's Quentin Tarantino meets ancient Israelite writings from here on out.

NASB (New American Standard) translation of Judges Chapter 3.

Last week, Judges began with the military victories (and defeats) of the people of Israel after Joshua's death.  This week recaps the action, but lets us see the state of worship during this time.  We delve into the importance of covenant, and examine some possible implications for our lives today.

Translation of Judges Chapter 2.

This week, we officially begin our series on Judges with Chapter 1.

Translation of Judges Chapter 1.

This Fall, I am offering a full audio commentary on the book of Judges.  If you'd like, please subscribe via iTunes - you can find the link here.

this is the audio from our class over Jeremiah 29:1-14, given October 22, 2011. we discussed the plans of God and what Jeremiah ch. 29 says, and doesn't say, to us today about God's plans for our lives.