The revchristruelsen’s Podcast

The Vows of Men and Women

Text for discussion: Numbers 30.  

 

What's in a vow?  What makes it significant?  Both males and females had responsibilities regarding vows.  Where we are not so faithful in our vows, we know that God is.  

 

They hymn: Battle Hymn of the Republic (public domain)

Holiday

Text for discussion: Numbers 29.

In the world as it is currently configured there seems barely time for rest as mind, body, and spirit are pulled in too many different directions.  Too many irons in the fire.  

How do we handle the pressure?  How do we escape the rat race?  When is our holiday?  Or more precisely . . . who gives and is our holiday?  

 

The hymn: What Wondrous Love is This?  (public domain).  

Luke 7 Revisited: At Nain, Capernaum, and the House of a Pharisee

Luke 7.  

Jesus heals a centurion's servant in Capernaum, raises a young man at Nain, and makes waves felt in Judea.  

His mercy and forgiveness abounds.  

The hymn: We Praise you O God.  Public domain.

The image: Palma il Giovane, "Penitent Woman Anointing the Feet of Christ at the Table of Simon the Pharisee."  Late Renaissance.  Public domain.  

Offerings and Sacrifices: What do These Things Mean?

Text for discussion: Numbers 28.  

Here we have a summary of offerings to be made on special feasts, as well as the everyday offering.  From the Old Testament to the New Testament church and beyond there were changes in offerings, rites, and customs.  Today we talk about some of those changes and their significance.  

 

The painting: (public domain).

The hymn: I Bind Unto Myself Today (Public domain).  

Paying the Full Price

Text for discussion: Numbers 27.  

Who wants to pay the full price, especially when you get a great discount?  
The price for salvation was steep, impossibly high.  Keeping the Law with the goal of salvation in mind is an errand of despair.  
Isn’t there another way?  It’s on full display, wrapped up in Jesus’ very name.  

The hymn: Savior Again, to Thy Dear Name We Raise (public domain).  

The painting: Ecce Homo!, by Mihály Munkácsy, 1896. (public domain).  

You Were Meant for More

You Were Meant for More

June 13, 2025 podcast

Text for discussion: Numbers 26.

This chapter is about the generations that would be going into the Promised Land after their captivity in Egypt.  

The generation that started in Egypt did not get to go in.  We have a source and a destiny.  Our life is not meaningless, but God intended that we should seek Him and find Him.  Indeed, you were meant for more in this life and beyond . . . . 

The hymns: Eternal Father Strong to Save
My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker
I Bind Unto Myself Today

 

The artwork: Study for Jacob's Dream, by Gustave Doré. (1865). Public domain.  

The Great Temptation

Text for discussion: Numbers 25.  

Who we decide to pair ourselves with in life is serious business.  Marrying among the other nations for Israel was not just about genetics or genetic traits, it was about whether people would belong to God or belong to the world and its gods.  Some among Israel paired themselves with Midianites and then followed after their gods.  

 

the hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy (public domain).  

the painting: Jesus Stilling the Tempest by James Tissot (public domain).  

 

A Ladder to Heaven, Revisited

 

Jacob dreamed of a ladder to heaven, and God's promise to Abraham was reaffirmed to Jacob . . . .  What is the Jesus connection?  What is our connection?  This discussion deals with Part II of Genesis 28.  

 

All passages come from the ESV translation of Scripture.  

The Hymn is Glory Be to Jesus #433, a Lenten Hymn in the public domain.  

This episode was originally published March 12, 2021.

Blessings and Curses on the Way to the Promised Land

Text for discussion: Numbers 24.  

Balaam could do no other than speak the blessings of God upon Israel.  That they were favored by God went back to Genesis 12.  Yet, Balaam also speaks of destruction to come for those who were set against Israel and against God.  

The hymn: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Public domain).

 the painting: Balaam's Ass, 1626.  Rembrandt.  Public domain.  

Of Blessing and Forgiveness

Main text: Acts 20:17-35

A sermon 

[This is a special podcast]

One of the (I think) little quoted sayings of Jesus is, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  In our day and age, people may use the word "blessing" lightly.  What does this word really say?  How do we understand the fullness of a thing like forgiveness?  These things are covered in this message.  

The hymn: Savior Again, to Thy Dear Name We Raise

The photo: Pillars at the Ruins of Ephesus. (from March 2011, by Slyronit.)