Zechariah continues to bring a message about leaders and their people, using the common biblical metaphor of shepherds and sheep – and his words are a devastating critique, without a ray of hope.

In this new oracle, starting at chapter 12.1, Zechariah brings a message of hope and restoration to Judah and its capital city, promising to ‘destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem’ (verse 9).

Mary's song is called the 'Magnificat', after its first word in Latin. It is uncomfortably revolutionary in its scope, something we don't always appreciate when we read it. Zechariah's song is less well known but it's re...

Like Matthew, Luke includes the Lord’s Prayer in his Gospel but, unlike Matthew, he immediately adds a number of parables about God’s character.

In a rapidly shifting world, calls for strong leadership have been on the increase and, in some cases, they’re altering the political landscape beyond recognition. The issue is, what if the strong leader you called for begins to turn on you, and th...

Paul is in prison and has come into contact with Onesimus, a slave who has fled from his Christian master Philemon. Onesimus has become a Christian too; Paul sends him back to Philemon 'not just as a slave, but more than a slave: he is a dear br...

Hallowe'en has become big business over the last few years. Commercially it's taken over from Guy Fawkes Night, which is a scary thought.

This psalm was written for a feast day. There are musical instruments ready, voices raised, and probably food being prepared. It’s likely to be the feast of the Tabernacles mentioned in Leviticus 23.33–43 and Deuteronomy 16.13–17 because of the...

In today’s chapter Joel looks ahead from the disaster of the day, imagining it as a mere foretaste of the judgement to come. Israel’s relationship with God is not as it should be and it’s a serious business requiring urgent action.

John's ministry looks very like that of Elijah. Like him, he didn't do diplomacy and soft words; he told it like it was. He wasn't afraid of confronting kings (verse 9).

Amos 4 talks about the disasters and events that have come and gone and affected Israel while they have been turned away from God. The passage highlights some of the Israelites' sins: oppressing the poor and crushing the needy, combined with boa...

Mae Myfyrdodau Dyddiol Cymdeithas y Beibl yn dilyn cynllun darllen Beibl M'Cheyne, a ddyluniwyd ar gyfer y rhai sydd am ddarllen y Beibl cyfan mewn blwyddyn. Mae pob myfyrdod yn canolbwyntio ar un o'i bedair pennod ddyddiol.

Psalm 89 is a Royal Psalm, one of a selection of psalms which all feature content concerning the relationship between God and the king. For example, some relate to coronations, some appeal for aid before battle, and some are for royal weddings.

This well-known psalm beautifully describes the psalmist's longing to be in God’s house, the temple in Jerusalem. The pilgrim even sounds jealous of the sparrows and swallows that nest there.

From the biblical account, it looks as though Solomon lived a life marked by conspicuous consumption. There was nothing he denied himself; it was bling on a scale that would make a Russian oligarch look a little dowdy.

The writer of 1 Kings ascribes Solomon's spiritual downfall to the many foreign women he took as wives or concubines. No doubt many would have been acquired as status symbols or in the course of diplomacy, but there was still a strong element of...

From kings, battles and the sweep of history the narrative shifts to focus on a widow and her two sons. This is a wonderful reminder of the unique way the Bible tells the story of God’s action in the world and at the same time shows his love and co...

It's interesting to see what Paul commends the Thessalonian church for in his opening words. It isn't for their correctness of doctrine, but for the way they 'put their faith into practice', for the way they 'work so hard...

In these verses, Paul says some very significant things about the relationship between the leader of a church and his or her congregation. It wasn't quite like that, of course – this was a missionary situation, and he and Silas had formed a ne...

In this chapter Paul stresses the need for holy and quiet living that attracts the respect of those outside the Christian community. Towards the end, he begins to talk about what we call the Second Coming, an idea that Christians have argued over for...