King Shallum was the 15th king of Israel and ruled for only one month in 742 BC. He is mentioned briefly in 2 Kings 15:10-15 as the son of Jabesh who conspired against King Zechariah, killed him, and took over the throne. However, Shallum’s reign was very short-lived as he was assassinated by Menahem after being king for only one month. The Bible first introduces Shallum in 2 Kings 15:10 – “Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, attacked him in front of the people, assassinated him, and succeeded him as king.” This tells us that Shallum killed King Zechariah…
Author: Emma Price
Determining which parts of the Bible apply to Christians today is an important question. With 66 books written over thousands of years by dozens of authors in several languages and cultures, the Bible can seem daunting to navigate. Thankfully, God has not left us without guidance on this matter. Here are several principles to keep in mind when seeking to understand and apply the Bible: 1. Recognize the difference between descriptive and prescriptive passages Some passages in the Bible simply describe what happened without necessarily prescribing how we should live today. For example, Genesis contains genealogies and stories describing people’s…
Usury, also known as interest, is the practice of lending money and charging interest on the loan. It is discussed numerous times throughout the Bible, primarily in the Old Testament. The general teaching is that usury should be avoided, especially when lending to the poor. However, there are some instances where interest appears to be permitted. Here is an in-depth look at what the Bible says about usury. Old Testament Teachings on Usury The Old Testament contains several condemnations of usury, especially in relation to lending to the poor. Exodus 22:25 states “If you lend money to any of my…
Proverbs 26:4-5 states: Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. At first glance, these two verses appear to contradict each other. One verse tells us not to answer a fool according to his folly, while the very next verse tells us to answer a fool according to his folly. So which is it? Should we answer fools or not? To properly understand these verses, we need to look at the context and dig deeper…
Change is a constant in life. As humans, we experience change in many forms – physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, environmental, and more. Though change can be exciting and lead to growth, it can also be challenging and uncomfortable. When facing seasons of transition and uncertainty, many seek wisdom and perspective from biblical texts. The Bible speaks about change in a variety of contexts. From stories about God ushering in new eras and periods in human history, to verses advising believers on how to approach change wisely, Scripture provides insights applicable to many of life’s changes. God brings about change for…
Christians believe in sharing the good news of the gospel and making disciples of all nations because Jesus Christ commanded it before his ascension. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus tells his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This command from Jesus is known as the Great Commission, and it encourages Christians to spread the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ throughout the world. There are several key reasons why…
This is a difficult situation for any Christian to face. When a spouse announces they now identify as transgender, it can turn a marriage upside down and leave the believing spouse wondering what to do next. While there are no easy answers, God’s Word does provide wisdom and guidance for believers navigating this challenge. Seek God First In any trial, our first response should be to draw near to God. We can pour out our hearts to Him, praying for wisdom and direction (James 1:5). We can seek His comfort and peace in the midst of confusion and pain (Philippians…
The question of whether it is wrong to pray written prayers is an important one for Christians who want to have meaningful communication with God. The Bible does not explicitly prohibit or condemn using pre-written prayers, but it does offer some principles that can guide our approach to prayer. When evaluating written prayers, the key considerations are whether they promote mindless repetition, hinder intimacy with God, or fail to come from the heart. Used wisely, written prayers can be helpful tools that enhance our prayer life. The purpose of prayer In order to evaluate written prayers rightly, we must first…
The issue of eating food or meat sacrificed to idols is directly addressed in the New Testament, particularly in 1 Corinthians 8-10 and Romans 14. The overall teaching is that while idols have no real existence and there is nothing inherently wrong with the food itself, Christians must be careful not to use their freedom to eat such food in ways that could stumble other believers with a weaker conscience. 1 Corinthians 8 – Knowledge vs. Love In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul responds to questions from the Corinthian church about eating food sacrificed to idols. Some Corinthian believers, knowing that…
We’ve all been there – something goes wrong in life and it’s just so easy to point the finger at someone else. A relationship breaks down and we blame our partner. We lose a job and fault our boss or colleagues. Plans fall through and we hold our friends responsible. But what does the Bible have to say about this tendency to play the blame game? The truth is, constantly blaming others will only lead to more pain and bitterness. As Proverbs 19:3 reminds us, “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.”…