In the book of Psalms, the Hebrew words for “redemption” are often used to mean save, rescue, or release from physical circumstances or enemies. However, the idea of spiritual redemption or forgiveness is also found in the book. This forgiveness is described with vivid imagery such as sins being "blotted out," "covered," "hidden," or cast away. Redemption comes after confession of sins to God. While not stated in the text, Jewish tradition associates Psalm 32 with David's sin

Job exclaimed, “Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I will see God, Whom I, on my part, shall behold for myself, and Whom my eyes will see, and not another. My heart faints within me!” (Job 25:25-27 NASB). Job states that he is looking for his Redeemer to come in the future. It is not exactly clear in the Hebrew of the passage what Job means and how much he unde

The book of Esther does not mention God. However, God is very much at work in the events described in the book. In these events, God redeems His people through the courage and faith of Esther and her cousin Mordecai. The book is set in the Persian capitol of Susa. The Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and allowed the first group of Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple. A later Persian king, Darius I the Great, reaffirmed the decree

Nehemiah chapter 9 contains exhortation from the Levites to the people to praise the Lord. They said, “Arise, bless the Lord your God forever and ever! May Your glorious name be blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise!” (Neh. 9:5). God is to be praised as Creator (v. 6) and Redeemer of Israel (vv. 7-15). Specific acts of the Lord's redemption are listed: redeeming them from Egyptian slavery and leading them through the Red Sea (vv. 9-11); judging the Egyptians in th

Though not one of the last books of the Hebrew Scriptures canonically, the book of Ezra records some of the latest history of the Israelites during Old Testament times. The nation of Judah had spent about seventy years in Babylonian slavery because of their sin and rebellion against God. Yet there was hope. God kept His promises and brought the people back to the land of Israel. The struggling remnant under Ezra and Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and faced the difficult work

2 Chronicles chapter 36 shows the end of God's patience with the nation of Judah. Despite God's mercy and pleading, Judah mocked and despised Him and His instruction. Therefore, God brought judgment in the form of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and his army. “So He [God] brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or frail; He [God] hande

Some people start a new year with resolve to read through the Bible. Things usually go well until they reach Leviticus and Numbers. They may persevere through those books only to lose momentum again at 1 and 2 Chronicles. One writer humorously called 1 Chronicles the “Sahara Desert” of the Hebrew scriptures. One problem is that we are immediately met with nine chapters of genealogies at the beginning of 1 Chronicles. If we get through those, then we read narratives, often ide