Zechariah was an important prophet in the Old Testament of the Bible. There are several men named Zechariah mentioned in Scripture, but the most prominent one was the son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo the prophet (Zechariah 1:1). This Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet who prophesied to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. He was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai and began his ministry around 520 B.C. during the reign of King Darius I of Persia. Zechariah’s ministry lasted around 2 years and his prophecies can be found in the biblical book that…
Author: Mike Solis
The question of whether God is a delusion or not is one that has been debated for centuries. Those who do not believe in God’s existence claim that the idea of an all-powerful deity is simply a figment of human imagination and wishful thinking. However, the Bible presents a very different perspective on this important issue. According to the Bible, the existence of God is self-evident from creation. Romans 1:20 states, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.…
Fatigue is a common human experience that can have physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components. The Bible has much to say about rest, renewal, weariness, and finding strength in God. Here is an overview of some key biblical themes related to fatigue: The importance of rest Rest is portrayed in the Bible as a gift from God that should be embraced. God himself rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth (Genesis 2:2). The Sabbath commandment requires setting aside the seventh day for rest and refreshment (Exodus 20:8-11). Jesus frequently withdrew to rest and pray, modeling…
This is a common question for many Christian married couples. On one hand, sex within marriage is blessed by God and intended for pleasure as well as procreation (Genesis 1:28, Song of Songs). However, some wonder if pursuing sexual pleasure in and of itself, apart from procreation, is improper. What does the Bible teach on this issue? Sex Is a Gift from God Meant for Pleasure The Bible makes clear that sex within marriage is a gift from God, meant to be enjoyed. The entire book of Song of Songs glorifies physical intimacy between husband and wife, with no mention…
The book of Psalms contains numerous references to music and musical instruments. This reflects the importance of music in ancient Israelite worship. The Psalms were meant to be sung during temple worship and private devotion. Understanding the musical terminology used in the Psalms gives us a window into the rich musical culture of ancient Israel. Instruments Mentioned in the Psalms Several instruments are mentioned by name in the Psalms: – Harp – This is the most commonly mentioned instrument in the Psalms. The Hebrew word is kinnor, referring to a plucked string instrument resembling a lyre. Harps were portable and…
The Bible does not explicitly state why Jesus never married. However, by examining Scripture, we can gain some insight into possible reasons. Here are a few factors that may have contributed to Jesus’ singleness: His messianic mission Jesus’ ultimate purpose on earth was to serve as the Messiah and fulfill God’s plan of salvation for humanity. This divine mission likely required Jesus’ complete devotion and focus. Being married may have distracted or detracted from his ministry objectives (Luke 2:49, John 4:34). As the Son of God, Jesus knew the importance of prioritizing kingdom work above earthly relationships. His itinerant lifestyle…
Besetting sins are habitual sins that individuals and groups are prone to commit repeatedly and have difficulty overcoming. The Bible warns believers against allowing certain sins to easily entangle and prevail in their lives. Besetting sins originate from the corrupt nature inherent in all people and manifest in addictions, passions and temporal desires that war against the soul. Through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and intentionally pursuing holiness, believers can gain victory over besetting sins. The Sinful Nature The Bible teaches that all people are born with a sinful nature due to the fall of Adam and Eve…
The Masoretes were a group of Jewish scribes and scholars who worked between the 7th and 11th centuries CE to preserve and transmit the traditional Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible, known as the Tanakh. The name “Masorete” comes from the Hebrew word masorah, meaning “tradition.” The Masoretes did not actually write or edit the biblical text itself. Rather, their work focused on standardizing how the text was vocalized and accentuated when read aloud. They also developed an intricate system of annotations and marginal notes that helped specify details like unusual spellings, proper pronunciations, and textual variants. This body of…
Spiritualism is the belief that the spirits of the dead can communicate with the living, usually through a medium. The Bible does not endorse this belief but rather warns against it. Here is an overview of what the Bible says about spiritualism: Attempting to contact the dead is forbidden The Bible prohibits trying to contact the spirits of dead people. Passages like Deuteronomy 18:10-12 forbid many of the practices associated with spiritualism, such as sorcery, witchcraft, spell-casting, mediumship, and consulting the dead. 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 indicates that King Saul died because he disobeyed God by consulting a medium. The book…
The “keys of the kingdom” is a phrase that Jesus uses in Matthew 16:19 when he says to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” This statement has generated much discussion over what exactly Jesus meant when he spoke of giving Peter the “keys of the kingdom.” Here is an overview of the main interpretations and understanding of this important phrase. The Authority to Bind and Loose The most common understanding is that…