The Declaration of Independence and the formation of the United States were a watershed in human history. Only two times have nations been established based on the word of God and the Bible - Israel and the United States. In both cases God's project has been to show the rest of the nations the superiority of His ways.

The love of the Father and the sacrifice of Messiah has allowed us to be children of God. In this we are, in a sense, estranged from the world because He was also.

The clergymen of Anathoth, a Levite city, are speaking religious bromides which give evil Judah false comfort. Jeremiah, by speaking the truth, has brought embarrassment to the men in his home town. Thus they plot to silence and perhaps kill him.

On His way to Jerusalem a number of people offer to become disciples. He turns them down, perhaps because He sees that they do not understand what will be required of them. Looking at the various figures in the Bible, it becomes clear that the dividing line between those who are approved and those who are rejected is their willingness to accept responsibility. So too with discipleship. Those who shun responsibility are cast out.

John speaks of the Torah as both an old commandment and a new commandment. In this view, the text has not changed but our understanding of it must be adjusted in light of the sacrifice of Y'shua. His light shines upon us and allows us to understand the spirit of the Torah as well as the letter.

In explaining how Judah has fallen so far, God says that they followed the way of the nations which lead them to fear other gods - which are no gods at all. He mocks the stupidity of those who make idols from wood and stone and then fall down to worship the work of their own hands.

According to an article by Rabbi Dunner, romantic love is unique to humans and defies explanation. His conclusion is that it helps us understand and relate to God. Consider a human family, the man typically works to sustain and support those he loves. He also does things like bring flowers to his wife on special occasions. Looking at all of the opportunities to give to God in the Torah, we can see how each of them can become an expression of our love for Him.

John is writing to address heretical confusion sown among believers as to the nature and person of the Messiah. He starts by stating that he has personally seen, heard and touched Y'shua.

Judah had fallen into idolatry and wickedness but still maintained some of the form of the worship of God. Their prophets and priests were encouraging the people with religious platitudes. Whereas those platitudes had been true when the nation walked with God, the same words were now false and misleading because God was not in them. This trust in what had become false kept the nation from seeing its need to repent.

In Numbers 13 Moses sent twelve men to look at the Promised Land and report back. Two of those men brought a good report and urged the nation to rise up and begin the invasion. Ten, however, did not believe it was possible for Israel to prevail and they spread panic among the people. Why did they bring a bad report? Why did God punish the entire nation for their failure?.