Author Archives: vpslondon

Ruth – Chapter 2: It’s About The Journey We ended last week’s lesson with a word of hope – They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. It is the barley harvest and, as such, it is the beginning of Passover. The Israelites are beginning preparations to celebrate this festival in theContinue reading “Ruth Part 3”

Ruth – From Bitterness to Hope The two of them traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole town was excited about their arrival and the local women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter. I went away full,Continue reading “Ruth Part 2”

Ruth – Returning Home Last week we discovered that the book of Ruth is set in the time of the judges, a time when Israel was going from obedience to disobedience pretty regularly. During one of their times of disobedience, a famine devastates the land of Israel and Elimelech takes his family away from hisContinue reading “Ruth Part 1”

Ruth 1:1-7 I have to start off by saying, the book of Ruth is one of my favorite books in the Bible. I have done a lot of study of this book over the years, as well as written a short book and a musical production about this amazing book. For the person of RuthContinue reading “Ruth: An Introduction”

Psalm 1 – Two Paths How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bearsContinue reading “Psalm 1”

Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights The second non-biblical feast we will explore is Hanukkah. Most of what we may know about Hanukkah is in current popular culture. Eight days of gifts, something about lighting candles, a dreidel and chocolate coins and a song by Adam Sandler (actually two songs). But Hanukkah is much more thanContinue reading “Hanukkah and the Feast of Dedication”

For Such A Time As This We have finished the festivals of the Lord, concluding with the celebration of Sukkot. But there are a couple of other festivals not appointed by the Lord, that I would like to address. The first is Purim (which means lots) and the second is Hanukkah. Because Purim is comingContinue reading “Purim and the Book of Esther”

Feasts of the Lord – Sukkot and Simkat Torah The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: The Festival of Booths to the Lord begins on the fifteenth day of this seventh month and continues for seven days. There is to be a sacred assembly on the first day; you are not to do any daily work. You are to present a fireContinue reading “Christ in the Festivals: Sukkot”

Feasts of the Lord – Yom Kippur “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly and practice self-denial; you are to present a fire offering to the Lord. On this particular day you are not to do any work, for it is a Day of Atonement toContinue reading “Christ in the Festivals: Yom Kippur”

Feasts of the Lord – Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah and the Days of Awe The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of complete rest, commemoration, and joyful shouting]—a sacred assembly. You must not do any daily work, but you must present aContinue reading “Christ in the Festivals: Rosh Hashana/Yom Teruah and the Days of Awe”