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Welcome to Day 2695 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2695 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 80:7-13 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2695 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2695 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Vine from Egypt – A Garden Left to Ruin - A Trek Through Psalm 80:7-13 Today, we continue our deeply moving trek through Psalm 80 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 7 through 13. In our last conversation, we heard a desperate communal lament from the psalmist, Asaph. We felt the anguish of a people crying out to God as their Shepherd, questioning, "How long, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, will you be angry with our prayers?" (Psalm 80:4). We saw the bitter reality of their lives: feeding on sorrow and drinking tears by the cupful, becoming the public "scorn of our neighbors." Their primary plea was for God to "restore us" and to "smile on us and save us" (Psalm 80:3). Now, as we move into this next section, the psalmist continues this prayer for restoration, but he does so through a magnificent and poignant agricultural metaphor. He portrays Israel as a vine, one that God Himself rescued, planted, and tenderly cared for, a vine that once flourished and covered the earth. He then contrasts that glorious past with the vine’s present state of ruin and desecration, all to intensify his plea for God, the divine Gardener, to return and care for His vineyard once again. This metaphor would have resonated deeply with the ancient Israelites, a people whose identity and heritage were intrinsically linked to the land and its fruitfulness. It's a powerful picture of a relationship that has fallen into disrepair, and the desperate hope for its renewal. So, let's immerse ourselves in this beautiful and heartbreaking metaphor of a vine planted by God.

• A Glorious Vine Planted by God

(Reads Psalm 80:7-11 NLT) Restore us, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Smile on us and save us. You brought a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it here. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade; the mighty cedars with its branches. The vine spread its branches west to the Mediterranean Sea and east to the Euphrates River. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist begins this section by reiterating the central plea, a refrain that will run throughout the psalm: "Restore us, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Smile on us and save us." This repetition serves to reinforce the gravity and single-mindedness of their desire for a complete reversal of their fortunes. They are begging for God’s favor to return, for Him to turn His face back to them, for they know that in His smile is their salvation. The psalmist then introduces the magnificent vine metaphor, recounting...

Welcome to Day 2694 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2694 – A Joyful Life - God is Light and Our Blight - 1 John 1:5-10
Putnam Church Message – 08/10/2025
Sermon Series: 1, 2, & 3 John“A Joyful Life – God’s Light and Our Blight.” 
Last week, we explored “A Joyful Life - God is Life,” from 1 John 1:1-4, and we focused on Communion and Joy with God and each other.
This week, we continue through the letter of 1 John, and we will cover 1 John 1:5-10 as we explore “God’s Light and Our Blight.” Let’s read 1 John 1:5-10 from the NIV, which is found on page 1899 of your Pew Bibles.
Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.Opening Prayer
At some point in each of our lives, we transition from childhood to adulthood, from student to teacher, from mentee to mentor. Wisely, my parents had me wait a year after high school before entering college. I needed that extra year to mature and earn additional money. By God’s grace and planning, it also allowed me to meet Paula in her first year; otherwise, God would have had to work out our meeting in another way. I remember when I was on my way out, heading to college for the first time, I knew that I would be on my own for the rest of my life. My parents did all they could to raise me right, to instill in me solid values, words of wisdom, and examples to follow. When I had to cross the threshold of the house that marked the moment of my transition from dependent child to independent adult, my parents knew that they had taught me the best they knew how, and now the decisions to continue walking in that knowledge were up to me.
I may have been on my own physically, at least for a season—until I began to build my own family and emulate the wisdom and lessons my parents had taught me. But I wasn’t on my own spiritually. The words and examples of my parents were always there, becoming increasingly relevant and meaningful as I faced my own real-life situations. As I continued to mature as an adult, I can’t remember how many times the words of my mom or dad came back to me, and I thought, “That’s what they meant!” They also left me a priceless spiritual legacy, introducing me to the Lord Jesus, a respect for God’s Word, and a love for others, especially fellow believers.
I imagine something similar happened with Jesus’ original disciples. They continued to mature in their understanding of the faith after the Lord Jesus pushed His disciples out of the nest and sent...

Welcome to Day 2693 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2693 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 780:1-6 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2693 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2693 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Shepherd's Hidden Face – A Cry for Restoration - A Trek Through Psalm 80:1-6 Today, we begin a powerful and deeply moving trek through Psalm 80 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 6. Psalm 80 is a communal lament, a desperate and repeated cry for God to restore His people. Like the lament psalms we've recently explored, such as Psalms 74 and 79, it is steeped in national tragedy and the anguish of God's apparent absence. However, this psalm is unique in its focus on God's identity as a Shepherd and its use of agricultural and shepherding metaphors to articulate the nation's pain and their fervent desire for revival. The psalmist pleads for God, the Shepherd of Israel, to remember His flock, to turn His face back to them, and to act with His saving power. This psalm gives voice to that difficult, often-long season of suffering when God's anger feels prolonged, and our pleas seem to go unanswered. It’s a prayer for a fresh start, a powerful yearning for divine intervention to reverse a season of national turmoil and public disgrace. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this desperate plea for divine restoration, feeling the weight of a people crying out from the wilderness of God’s silence.

• The Shepherd’s Call to Action

(Reads Psalm 80:1-3 NLT) Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead the descendants of Joseph like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your glory and power! Stir up your mighty power! Come to our rescue and save us. Restore us, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Smile on us and save us. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with a tender and intimate plea to God as the Shepherd: "Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead the descendants of Joseph like a flock." This imagery is both ancient and deeply personal to the Israelite people. God is not just a distant king; He is a caring Shepherd, and Israel is His flock. This echoes the portrayal of God’s leadership in Psalm 78, where "he led his own people like sheep through the wilderness." It’s an appeal to God’s paternal, protective, and nurturing nature. The psalmist specifically mentions "the descendants of Joseph," which refers to the prominent tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Given their significance, this might suggest the lament comes from the Northern Kingdom, or it could be a general plea for the entire nation, with Joseph representing all of Israel. Regardless, the appeal is to God’s faithfulness as their leader, a plea for Him to remember His flock and return to His shepherding duties. The plea for God to act is filled with anticipation and

Welcome to Day 2692 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2692 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 79:9-13 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2692 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2692 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: For Your Name's Sake – The Ultimate Appeal - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 79:9-13 Today, we reach the powerful and ultimately hopeful conclusion of our poignant trek through Psalm 79 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 9 through 13. In our journey through Psalm 79, we’ve plunged deep into the raw agony of a communal lament. In verses 1-4, we witnessed the utter devastation of Jerusalem and the desecration of God’s holy Temple, hearing the cries over unburied dead and crushing national shame. Then, in verses 5-8, Asaph, the psalmist, questioned God about the duration of His anger, pleading "How long, O Lord?" while simultaneously redirecting God’s wrath toward the pagan nations who did not know Him. He also humbly acknowledged Israel's own past sins, appealing for God's swift mercy despite their unworthiness. Now, in these concluding verses, the lament reaches its climax and finds its resolution in a powerful appeal to God's own glory. The psalmist shifts the primary argument for divine intervention from Israel’s suffering or even their partial repentance to the ultimate stakes: God’s own glorious name and reputation among the nations. It’s a fervent prayer for vindication, not just for Israel, but for the very character of God. The psalm culminates in a profound promise of perpetual praise, even from a people still reeling from catastrophe. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this final, desperate, and ultimately hope-filled plea for God to act for His name’s sake. (Reads Psalm 79:9-10 NLT) Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Rescue us and purge away our sins for the honor of your name. Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” Show us your mighty power, and take revenge for the spilled blood of your servants. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens this final section with an urgent, desperate plea, grounded in God’s redemptive character: "Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name." The psalmist appeals to God as the "God of our salvation," emphasizing His proven track record as a deliverer. The repetition of "Help us!" underscores the extremity of their need. But the key argument here, repeated twice, is "for the glory of your name." This is the ultimate appeal in a lament of national catastrophe. It's not primarily for Israel's comfort, or even just for their justice, but for the sake of God's own reputation and honor among the nations. If Israel, God's chosen people, remains in such utter ruin, humiliated and without recourse, God's glory is diminished in the eyes of the world. This appeal is far broader than mere self-interest; it's a profound concern for the worldwide recognition of God's power and...

Welcome to Day 2691 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Hidden In Plain Site” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2691 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2686 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 10th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.’ If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.’ Today, we will read through chapter ten: “Hidden in Plain Sight.” Since the fall, God had been trying to revive his original goal for Eden: to live with both his divine and human family on earth. God had told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply, thereby spreading God’s good rule over the rest of the planet. God wanted the whole earth to be a place where heaven and earth met, where humanity could enjoy the divine, and where the divine could enjoy earth and humanity. We know how that went. A History of Failure Humanity sinned and was expelled from God’s presence. Eden was shut down. The divine enemy, the Serpent, was banished—cast or cut down—from God’s presence to earth, the place where death reigns, where life is not everlasting. He became lord of the dead, and therefore had claim to every human being who would ever live—because they sin, and sin’s wages is death (Rom. 6:23). After the flood, God had repeated the goal of Eden to Noah and his family: be fruitful and multiply. It was a do-over. Instead, humanity rebelled. Rather than obey God and spread the knowledge and rule of God everywhere, they would build a tower where God could come to them. Failure again. God wouldn’t go for it. He mixed up the nations’ languages and turned the nations over to his divine council to rule. Then he decided to start over with a new human family—through Abraham and Sarah. He would get back to the other nations—through Abraham’s descendants—once his kingdom rule was revived (Gen. 12:3). This, too, was a failure. So was the next attempt, bringing Israel out of Egypt, then to Sinai, and then finally to the Promised Land. Israel failed. Eventually God raised up David, and then Solomon. But after Solomon died, Israel followed other gods and the Israelites turned on each other. God had to expel them from the Promised Land in exile. The human story, apart from God’s presence, is the story of failure. This is because humanity is lost since the fall. All humans are imperfect and estranged from God. No human leader could be trusted with starting and maintaining God’s kingdom. They would resist loyalty to God alone. They would go their own way. Humans would sin, fail, and join the lord of the dead, God’s great enemy. But God’s vision of sharing the blessing of being steward-kings over a new Eden couldn’t happen without humans. And the only way humans would ever be able to hold up their end of God’s plan would be for them to be made new again. The curse of the fall must be lifted. And for that, God had a plan. The Solution—and a Problem God needed a man who was more than

Welcome to Day 2690 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2690 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 79:5-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2690 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2690 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: How Long, O Lord? – A Plea for Mercy, A Cry for Justice - A Trek Through Psalm 79:5-8 Today, we continue our poignant and urgent trek through Psalm 79 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 5 through 8. In our last conversation, we plunged into the raw, unspeakable anguish of Psalm 79:1-4. We witnessed the utter devastation of Jerusalem and the desecration of God’s holy Temple by invading pagan armies. We felt the horror of the unburied dead, left as food for wild animals, and the crushing burden of being mocked by surrounding nations, all of which amounted to a direct insult to God Himself. It was a cry born from unprecedented sacrilege and profound national dishonor. Now, as we move into this next section, Asaph, the psalmist, shifts from describing the catastrophe to directly questioning God about the duration of His anger. He then transitions to fervent imprecations—prayers for God’s judgment—against the pagan nations who do not know God, acknowledging Israel’s own past sins as a contributing factor, yet appealing desperately for God’s mercy rather than His continued wrath. This tension between recognizing their own culpability and pleading for justice against their oppressors is a hallmark of communal laments. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this anguished yet hopeful appeal, feeling the weight of their desperate longing for an end to suffering and a demonstration of God's righteous power. (Reads Psalm 79:5-6 NLT) How long, O Lord? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t acknowledge you— on kingdoms that don’t call on your name. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins this section with an agonizing, direct question to God about the duration of their suffering: "How long, O Lord? Will you be angry with us forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?" This "How long?" is a quintessential lament cry in the Psalms (Psalm 13, 74, 89). It signifies an unbearable continuation of distress and a desperate longing for an end to divine wrath. The psalmist acknowledges that their suffering is perceived as stemming from God's anger, fueled by His "jealousy"—His righteous intolerance of idolatry and unfaithfulness, which burns intensely like consuming fire. This is a theological wrestling match. If God's anger is indeed burning, how long will it last? Will it be "forever"? This expresses the profound fear of a permanent, unending state of divine displeasure and abandonment, a terrifying thought for a people whose very existence depended on God’s favor. This very fear echoes the question in Psalm 74:1: "Why have you abandoned us forever?" Here, the focus is on the anger that underpins that perceived abandonment. The psalmist then immediately redirects...

Welcome to Day 2689 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2689 – A Joyful Life Because God Is Life Putnam Church Message – 08/03/2025 Sermon Series: 1, 2, & 3 John “A Joyful Life - God is Life.”   Last week, we began a new systematic verse-by-verse study of the letters 1, 2, & 3 John, followed by Jude with insights and introduction to 1, 2, & 3 John., This week, we will begin going through these letters, and today, we will cover 1 John 1:1-4 as we explore “A Joyful Life - God is Life.” Let’s read 1 John 1:1-4 from the NIV, which is found on page 1898 of your Pew Bibles. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared;/ we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father/ and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete. Opening Prayer The Old Elder's Sacred Hymnal Imagine, if you will, a community nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains, where generations had always found their deepest solace and strongest unity in the act of worship. At the very heart of their gatherings was a sacred treasure: the Sacred Hymnal. It was an ancient, hand-bound volume, filled not just with words and notes, but with the very deep and rich hymns of the faith that had been the core of their Christian community for centuries. This Hymnal held the essence of their spiritual identity,> their history with the Lord, their enduring promises, and their profound, unshakeable joy. Its melodies and truths had been intimately given and taught by the Divine Composer Himself, who had shared His very heart in song through His Beloved Son. Now, only a few, very old members of this community, the Original Witness Bearers, had actually walked and sung with the Beloved Son. They had seen Him teach the very first hymns, had heard His voice ring out with divine authority, and had even felt the tangible presence of His Spirit as their hands held the first copies of the Hymnal's truths. Their lives were utterly intertwined with these living songs. But as years turned into decades, and the younger generations grew up, many had begun to rely on distant echoes of the hymns. Some knew the words on the page, but the melody had faded in their hearts. Others listened to flimsy, modern tunes, catchy but shallow, that lacked the profound depth and spiritual weight of the originals. A subtle, lethargic boredom, a kind of spiritual apathy, crept into the community. The initial thrill of shared worship

Welcome to Day 2688 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2688 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 79:1-4 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2688 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2688 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: A City Desecrated, A People Dishonored – A Cry from the Rubble - A Trek Through Psalm 79:1-4 Guthrie Chamberlain: Today, we begin another poignant and heart-wrenching trek, as we open Psalm 79 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 4. Psalm 79, like so many we’ve explored recently, is attributed to Asaph. But after the sweeping historical narrative of Psalm 78, which culminated in God’s faithful establishment of David as shepherd-king despite Israel’s constant rebellion, Psalm 79 thrusts us abruptly back into the darkest depths of national tragedy. This psalm serves as a powerful communal lament, echoing the anguish we felt in Psalm 74, specifically crying out in the immediate aftermath of the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and its holy Temple, most likely by the Babylonians in 586 BC. While Psalm 74 expressed the shock and confusion of the Temple's ruin and God's apparent abandonment, Psalm 79 focuses with a horrifying intensity on the desecration of the sacred city itself, the brutal slaughter of its inhabitants, and the profound, unspeakable shame caused by the unburied dead. It’s a desperate, visceral cry for God’s immediate attention and vengeance in the face of unprecedented sacrilege and dishonor. For the ancient Israelites, this was not just a military defeat; it was a cosmic catastrophe, an assault on God's very dwelling place and His chosen people, whose identity was inextricably linked to their land, their city, and their Temple. The horror described here was the ultimate nightmare, a complete reversal of all covenant blessings. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this raw, agonizing lament, feeling the weight of their despair and the profound pain of utter desecration and dishonor. (Reads Psalm 79:1-4 NLT) O God, your inheritance has been invaded! Your holy Temple has been defiled, and Jerusalem is a heap of ruins. The bodies of your servants and your godly people have been left as food for the vultures and wild animals. The blood of your people has been poured out like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one left to bury them. We are mocked by our neighbors, scoffed at by those around us. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with a cry of profound violation and outrage directed straight to God: "O God, your inheritance has been invaded! Your holy Temple has been defiled, and Jerusalem is a heap of ruins." This is an immediate, gut-wrenching appeal. The psalmist doesn't just say their land has been invaded; he says "your inheritance." This implies God's...

Welcome to Day 2687 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to WisdomDay 2687 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 78:56-72 – Daily WisdomWisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2687Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2687 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: The Heart’s Persistent Wanderings – From Abandonment to the Shepherd-King - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 78:56-72Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome back to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I’m your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we reach the poignant and pivotal conclusion of our extensive trek through Psalm 78 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 56 through 72.
In our journey through this monumental didactic psalm, Asaph, the psalmist, has meticulously recounted Israel’s history. We’ve seen their early failures, their ungrateful rebellion in the wilderness despite God’s astounding miracles—from the splitting of the Red Sea to the daily manna and water from rocks. We also explored God’s righteous judgment for their persistent unbelief, even as His enduring compassion spared them from complete annihilation. We watched as God faithfully led them into the Promised Land, driving out nations and settling them securely in their inheritance.
Now, as we delve into this final segment, the story unfolds into a new phase of Israel’s unfaithfulness, occurring after they had entered and settled the Promised Land. This leads to profound divine judgment: God’s abandonment of His dwelling place at Shiloh and His subsequent, sovereign choice of Mount Zion and the Davidic dynasty. This narrative culminates in the powerful affirmation of David as the shepherd-king, foreshadowing the ultimate Shepherd-King, Jesus Christ.
This section explains a critical shift in God’s dealings with Israel, shedding light on the reasons behind the establishment of Jerusalem as the spiritual center and the unique covenant with David. It's a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent unfaithfulness, but also a beautiful testament to God's ultimate plan and His ability to choose and raise up faithful leaders.
So, let’s lean in and absorb the final, crucial lessons from Israel’s history of wandering hearts and God’s sovereign direction.
(Reads Psalm 78:56-64 NLT)But they continued to test and rebel against God Most High,refusing to obey his decrees.They turned away and were disloyal like their ancestors;they were as unreliable as a crooked bow.They angered him by building pagan shrines;they made him furious with their idols.When God heard them, he was furiousand completely rejected Israel.He abandoned his Tabernacle at Shiloh,the tent where he had lived among them.He allowed their Ark of the Covenant—his glory—to be captured;he surrendered his people to their enemies.He sent fire to consume their young menand caused their young women to die in battle.Their priests were slaughtered by the sword,and their widows could not mourn.Guthrie Chamberlain: Asaph brings the historical lesson into the period after the conquest of Canaan, demonstrating that entering the Promised Land did not end Israel’s cycle of rebellion: "But they continued to test and rebel against God Most High, refusing to obey his decrees." The persistent nature of their sin, already...

Welcome to Day 2686 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Holy War” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2686 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2686 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 9th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.’ If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.’ Today, we will read through chapter nine: “Holy War.” The Bible is a controversial book. People who don’t see it as the Word of God often object to what it says. But some parts of the Bible make even Christians uncomfortable. Israel’s war to conquer the Promised Land is a case in point. Why? Mostly because of the killing. It seems indiscriminate and far too thorough. Why was it necessary to kill entire populations in some cities—men, women, children, and even livestock? Why not let the inhabitants surrender? Wouldn’t it be better to exile them than to slaughter them? There’s an answer to those objections—but I’ve discovered that the answer seems to make Christians as uncomfortable as the problem. You can only understand the rationale and motive of the conquest accounts when you see them through the supernatural worldview of an Israelite. Israel’s Supernatural Logic The battles for the Promised Land were framed by two factors, both deeply rooted in Israel’s understanding of their world as not only the abode of humankind but also the prize in an unseen spiritual war. We’ve talked about both of them already, but let’s review. One factor is the fallout from the events at the Tower of Babel, when God decided, after the nations rebelled against him, that he no longer wanted a direct relationship with the people of those nations. Instead, he assigned members of his divine council, the sons of God, to govern them (Deut. 4:19–20; 32:8–9). Afterward, he called Abraham and enabled him and his wife Sarah to have a child (Isaac), from whom the people of Israel would come. We learned in Psalm 82 that these lesser gods became corrupt. They allowed injustice. People came to worship them instead of the Most High God. Thus, they became enemies of God and his people, Israel. Since some of those nations were within the land of Canaan, which God purposed to give to his nation Israel after the exodus, Moses and the Israelites believed the people who occupied those lands were their mortal enemies and their gods would do all they could to destroy Israel. The second factor was even more frightening for the Israelites. It’s best explained by what happened when the Israelites arrived at the border of Canaan, the Promised Land. Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to report on the land and its inhabitants. The spies came back with evidence that the land itself was wonderful—it flows “with milk and honey”—just as God had told them (Num. 13:27). But then they dropped a bombshell: “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it...