Isaiah 8-39 Our second section from Isaiah, read during weeks three and four of Great Lent, is quite large. It contains a myriad historical and social circumstances, and various oracles of God directed towards different parties. Here, we can see the prophet speaking the word of God to His people—both the northern and southern kingdoms—asContinue reading “Light from Isaiah 2: Wrath and Mercy”
Author Archives: edithmhumphrey
Light from Isaiah 1: The Bad News and the Good News
Isaiah 1-7, Romans 1:21-31, Luke 2, Matthew 1:23 Passages from the beginning to the end of the book of the prophet Isaiah are prescribed for us in the lectionary all through Great Lent. This prophet is the most well-known among Christians, even more than the great prophet Jeremiah, who has two books associated with hisContinue reading “Light from Isaiah 1: The Bad News and the Good News”
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 8: “That the Scriptures Might be Fulfilled”
Matt 1:1-2:18 Gen 35:19-20; Jeremiah 31:15-16; Isaiah 7:14; Hosea 11:1; Micah 5:2 This series has mostly concentrated upon Luke’s account of the Nativity, which we have seen is intertwined with the birth of His cousin John the Baptist. Matthew, however, adds details to the story which are very important. Unlike Luke, who leaves Jesus’ genealogyContinue reading “Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 8: “That the Scriptures Might be Fulfilled””
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 7: The Growth of God’s Son
Luke 2:21-52; Isaiah 42-52, Hebrews 5. Some time ago, I remember reading the popular novel The Shack (more recently made very popular by the film). Though I found its representation of human suffering and growth sensitive and compelling, I was appalled by its presentation of the Trinity, in which the Father is not pictured asContinue reading “Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 7: The Growth of God’s Son”
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 6: When the Days were Fulfilled
Luke’s gospel comes finally to the moment we have been expecting—the birth of the one who will be named Jesus, “The Lord is our Savior.” We read the story so often, and see it represented in pageants so often, that perhaps we are no longer surprised by its emphasis upon time and space: dates, places,Continue reading “Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 6: When the Days were Fulfilled”
Believing More
(This testimony forms a chapter in the book mentioned in its first paragraph, which is itself a heartening compendium of faith-stories by Christian Biblical scholars. My short autobiography traces the formation and the influences on my life up to 2014. Since then, the Lord has continued to gently lead my husband and me, bestowing uponContinue reading “Believing More”
Light from the Old Testament upon the Nativity 5: Rejoice, O Barren Woman!
Luke 1:57-80, Isaiah 54:1, Isaiah 9:2, Psalm LXX 17/MT 18:1-3 Orthodox, when they remember the Annunciation of Gabriel to the virgin Mary, cry out in joy, “Today is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery!” A similar thing happens with the advent of the Forerunner, the one seated on the otherContinue reading “Light from the Old Testament upon the Nativity 5: Rejoice, O Barren Woman!”
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 4: The Blessed, the Humble, and the Mighty
Luke 1:39-56; 1 Samuel 2; 2 Samuel 6 We come to that intriguing vignette in Luke’s gospel where two women prophesy about the greatest divine action of all time, and when two unborn babies exemplify what happens when God meets with humanity. Luke 1:39-56 is well known, but let’s put the sights and sounds intoContinue reading “Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 4: The Blessed, the Humble, and the Mighty”
Light from the Old Testament on the Nativity 3: Our LORD and His Cousin, John
Luke 1:26-38; Gen 18; Ezekiel 8; Haggai 1, 2 Sam/2 Kingdoms 7, Isaiah 29:22 In our last episode we saw how the story of Jesus our Savior is set up in Luke by relating first the story of his cousin, John. I mentioned then that in Luke the links between the two children and theirContinue reading “Light from the Old Testament on the Nativity 3: Our LORD and His Cousin, John”
Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 2: The Promise of the Forerunner
Luke 1:13-25; Judges 13; 1 Kings/3 Kingdoms 17-18; 2 Kings/4 Kingdoms 2:81-15; Malachi 4:5-6/LXX 3:22-23 You may be wondering why, in a series dedicated to the Nativity of Christ, we begin with the Forerunner John. In doing so, we are following the lead of the evangelist Luke, who intertwines stories of their birth in suchContinue reading “Light from the Old Testament Upon the Nativity 2: The Promise of the Forerunner”
Edith M. Humphrey 