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Welcome to Day 2675 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2675 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 77:1-12 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2675 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2675 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 Wrestling with Doubt, Anchored in Ancient Wonders - A Trek Through Psalm 77:1-12 Today, we begin a deeply personal and emotionally charged trek through Psalm 77 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 12. Psalm 77, like many we’ve explored recently, is attributed to Asaph. But after the triumphant declarations of God’s ultimate judgment in Psalm 75, and the awe-inspiring celebration of God’s protective power in Psalm 76—where Jerusalem was defended and enemies shattered—Psalm 77 takes a sharp turn. It brings us back to the raw, intimate struggle of an individual soul wrestling with profound spiritual distress. This is not a national lament over a devastated Temple, but a personal cry from the depths of a troubled spirit, plagued by sleeplessness and agonizing questions about God's faithfulness. This psalm vividly captures the experience of spiritual darkness, where past blessings seem distant, and doubt whispers insidious questions about God's unchanging nature. Yet, it also provides a powerful pathway out of that darkness: by intentionally remembering and meditating on God's mighty acts and wonders from ancient times. It is a profound lesson in how to fight for our faith when our feelings betray us. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this raw, honest, and ultimately redemptive journey of faith. (Reads Psalm 77:1-6 NLT) I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in trouble, I sought the Lord. All night long I prayed with hands uplifted, but my soul refused to be comforted. I recall the days of my prosperity— but then I groan. I think of God, and I am troubled; I grow faint as I think about it. Interlude You have held my eyelids open; I am too distressed to speak. I keep thinking of the good old days, the long years of the past. I ponder my sad songs in the night. My heart questions in the darkness: Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist opens with an immediate and intense expression of distress, leaving no doubt about the depth of his anguish: "I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me!" This isn't a polite prayer; it's a desperate, almost violent, cry. He is "shouting" to God, indicating extreme urgency and pain. The plea "Oh, that God would listen to me!" (literally, "My voice to God and He will give ear to me") highlights his desperate longing for divine attention, implying that he feels unheard or ignored. His distress drives him to seek the Lord, even through sleepless...

Welcome to Day 2674 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2674 – New Testament Orientation – “The General Letters of the New Testament” Putnam Church Message – 07/13/2025 Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 11: “The General Letters of the New Testament”   Last week, we explored the "Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law" Core Verse: Galatians 2:16 (NLT)  "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God by faith in Christ and not by obeying the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." This week is the eleventh of 12 messages in our New Testament Orientation Series, and we will learn: "The General Letters of the New Testament:” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT)  9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[a] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”[b] Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, we approach Your presence today with hearts full of anticipation. As we open the “General Letters” of the New Testament, we pray that Your Spirit would illuminate these precious words. May we, like the early believers, grasp our true identity as Your chosen people, a holy nation, called out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Grant us wisdom to understand these messages forged in the crucible of early Christian life, and empower us to live out the living hope that is ours in Jesus Christ. Amen. Introduction: Voices from the Scattered Flock This is our eleventh lesson in this New Testament Orientation series! We’re nearing the completion of our journey, and today we turn our attention to a collection of profound letters often called the "General Letters" or "Catholic Epistles." Unlike Paul's letters, which were typically addressed to specific churches or individuals, these are often broader in their intended audience, offering vital guidance to scattered communities of believers—both Jews and Gentiles—living throughout the Roman world. Our core verses from 1 Peter 2:9-10 beautifully capture the essence of what these letters emphasize: "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 'Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy;...

Welcome to Day 2673 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2673 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 76:1-12 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2673 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2673 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: God's Triumphant Vindication – A Fortress Unconquerable: A Trek Through Psalm 76:1-12. Today, we embark on a truly triumphant trek through Psalm 76 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 12. Psalm 76, another psalm attributed to Asaph, bursts forth with a powerful declaration of God’s awesome glory and His decisive victory over His enemies. Unlike the agonizing communal lament of Psalm 74, where the Temple lay in ruins and God seemed absent, or even Psalm 75, which proclaimed God's future judgment, Psalm 76 celebrates a past divine intervention, a resounding triumph where God Himself defended Jerusalem and shattered the might of those who defied Him. While the specific historical event is not named, many scholars believe this psalm likely celebrates a victory like God's miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army under Sennacherib (as recounted in 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37). In that astounding event, 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were struck down by the angel of the Lord in a single night, without a single battle fought by human hands. This psalm captures the awe and gratitude of a people who witnessed God’s supernatural power turn the tide of war. It contrasts the fleeting glory and might of human kings with the enduring, terrifying power of the Almighty, who acts decisively to defend the humble and silence the proud. This psalm reminds us that our God is not only the ultimate Judge but also the invincible Defender of His people. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this hymn of triumph, recognizing the God who makes His dwelling a fortress and crushes all who oppose Him. (Reads Psalm 76:1-3 NLT) God is known in Judah; he is great in Israel. His Tabernacle is in Salem; he lives on Mount Zion. There he broke the flaming arrows, the shields, swords, and weapons of war. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens with a declaration of God's renown and His chosen dwelling place: "God is known in Judah; he is great in Israel." This isn't a speculative statement; it's a confident affirmation. God's character and power are not hidden; they are clearly "known" and "great" throughout the lands of Judah and Israel. His deeds have made Him famous, undeniable. This sets a tone of certainty and assurance, immediately establishing God’s active presence and influence among His people. The reason for His renown is then specified: His presence in His sanctuary. "His Tabernacle is in Salem; he lives on Mount Zion." "Salem" is an ancient name for Jerusalem, and "Mount Zion" is the hill on which Jerusalem, and later the Temple, stood. The "Tabernacle" here refers to God's dwelling place, later formalized as the Temple. This emphasizes that God's presence is localized in...

Welcome to Day 2672 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2672 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 75:1-10– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2672 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2672 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: God, The Ultimate Judge – No Boasting Before Him - A Trek Through Psalm 75:1-10. Today, we embark on a powerful new trek through Psalm 75 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 10. Psalm 75, like the last two psalms we explored, is also penned by Asaph, one of King David’s chief musicians. However, after the raw, desperate cries of Psalm 74—a communal lament over the utter devastation and desecration of the Temple, and a fervent plea for God to remember His covenant and His honor—Psalm 75 strikes a decidedly different and triumphant note. It’s a psalm of thanksgiving, yes, but also a bold proclamation of God's righteous judgment and absolute sovereignty. It addresses one of the most agonizing questions we face: why do the wicked often seem to get away with their wickedness, even prospering, while the righteous suffer? Asaph wrestled with this very question in Psalm 73, nearly losing his spiritual footing. Psalm 75 now provides God's definitive answer: He is the ultimate Judge. He sets the time, He determines who rises and who falls, and He will ensure that justice is served. This psalm is a direct, authoritative word from God that brings order and reassurance after the chaos and despair of the previous psalm. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this powerful declaration of God’s ultimate control, allowing its truth to anchor our trust in His perfect justice. (Reads Psalm 75:1-3 NLT) We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. "For at the time I appoint," says the Lord, "I will judge everyone fairly. The earth and its people tremble, but I keep its foundations firm." Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with an outpouring of thanksgiving, immediately countering the despair we felt in Psalm 74: "We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near." The repetition of "We give thanks" emphasizes the depth and sincerity of their gratitude. This isn't a forced thanks; it's a genuine outpouring from a community that has experienced God’s presence despite deep suffering. The reason for their thanks is profound: "for you are near." This stands in stark contrast to the agonizing question in Psalm 74:1, "Why have you abandoned us forever?" The answer here is a resounding affirmation: God has not abandoned them; He is near, even in the midst of their trials. Because God is near and active, "People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds." This refers to God's miraculous acts of deliverance and His interventions in history. The community is now proclaiming God’s mighty works, indicating a renewed sense of His power and...

Welcome to Day 2671 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “The Word, the Name and the Angel.” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2671 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2671 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 6th 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 six: “The Word, the Name and the Angel.” In the last chapter, we learned about the cosmic geography of the Bible. In response to human rebellion at the Tower of Babel, God forsook the nations. He assigned them to members of his heavenly council, the sons of God (Deut. 32:8-9). To replace the now-forsaken nations, he would create a new people, a nation of his own. They would be his agents to renew his kingdom on earth. But that task would prove to be an awful struggle, as the other gods and the people of their domains would become fierce enemies of Israel and God. God’s new people would begin with a man named Abram, whose name he would later change to Abraham. Soon after the judgment at Babel, God paid him a visit.    Abraham Meets the Word. Most Christians are familiar with God’s visit to Abraham in Genesis 12. God tells Abraham to leave his home and go to a place he’s never seen. God promises to guide him. He tells Abraham he will be his God and gives him special covenant promises. He’ll enable Abraham and Sarah to have a son, though they are both elderly. From that son will come multitudes of people—people who will form the new earthly family of God. Through them, the nations will be blessed. We tend to think Abraham’s encounters with God were a voice from heaven or in Abraham’s head. Or perhaps God came in a dream. The Bible is clear that God did that sort of thing with the prophets and other people. But that isn’t what happened with Abraham. God did something more dramatic. He came as a man. He and Abraham talked face-to-face. We get a hint of this in Genesis 12:6-7. The Bible says God appeared to Abraham. Three chapters later, God appears again (Gen. 15:16). This time, God comes to Abraham as “the word of the Lord” in a vision. This wasn’t a voice in the head, since the “word” brought Abraham outside and showed him the stars to make the point that his offspring would be uncountable (Gen. 15:5). God appeared to Abraham as a man on other occasions (Gen. 18). He did the same to Isaac (Gen. 26:1–5), the son God had promised, and Jacob, the son of Isaac (Gen. 28:10–22; 31:11–12; 32:24–30). The “word” or voice of God as a way of expressing God in human form shows up in unexpected places. One of my favorite instances is found in 1 Samuel 3. The boy Samuel kept hearing a voice calling him at night while he was trying to sleep. Eventually, Eli, the priest with whom Samuel lived and for whom he worked, figured out it was God. In verse 10, God came back to Samuel: “The Lord came and stood there, and...

Welcome to Day 2670 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2670 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 74:18-23– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2670 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2670 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: God's Honor at Stake – A Final Plea for Justice - Concluding Our Trek Through Psalm 74:18-23 Guthrie 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 powerful, urgent conclusion of our trek through Psalm 74 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its final verses, 18 through 23. In our journey through Psalm 74, we have plunged deep into the raw agony of a communal lament. In verses 1-8, we witnessed a people devastated by the destruction and desecration of their beloved Temple, crying out, "O God, why have you abandoned us forever?" We saw the enemy's brutal rampage, their triumphant shouts echoing in the very sanctuary where God's praise once resonated, leaving behind only "perpetual ruins." Then, in verses 9-17, Asaph, the psalmist, voiced their spiritual desolation – the absence of prophetic signs, the agonizing uncertainty of "how long?" But he then masterfully pivoted, grounding his plea in God's unparalleled past acts of cosmic power. He reminded God of His eternal kingship, His splitting of the sea, His crushing of sea monsters, and His establishment of the very order of creation. The argument was clear: if God could do that in ancient times, He could surely intervene in this present crisis. Now, in these concluding verses, Asaph brings the full weight of their suffering and the enemy’s continued blasphemy to God’s attention, making a final, desperate appeal for God to rise up and contend for His own honor, His own cause, and His own downtrodden people. It's a prayer that implicitly asks: "If You don't act now, Lord, what will become of Your name and Your covenant?" Let’s immerse ourselves in this final, impassioned plea for divine intervention and ultimate vindication. (Reads Psalm 74:18-23 NLT) See how these fools insult you, Lord. How they blaspheme your name. Don’t let your dove be hunted by hawks. Don’t forget your downtrodden people forever. Remember your covenant, O Lord, for the dark places of the earth are full of violence. Don’t let the oppressed be humiliated; instead, let them praise your name. Arise, O God, and plead your cause! Remember how these fools insult you all day long. Don’t overlook the shouts of your enemies, which grow louder and louder. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalmist returns with searing intensity to the core offense that demands God’s attention: the enemy’s direct affront to God Himself. He pleads: "See how these fools insult you, Lord. How...

Welcome to Day 2664 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2669 – New Testament Orientation – “Christ, The Fulfillment of the Law” Putnam Church Message – 07/06/2025 Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation Message 10: “Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law”   Last week we explored “The Letters of Paul: God’s Design for a New Humanity.” Core Verses: Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ, for it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is by faith that a righteous person will live.’” This week is the tenth of 12 messages in our New Testament Orientation Series, and we will learn: "Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law" Core Verse: Galatians 2:16 (NLT) "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God by faith in Christ and not by obeying the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law."   Opening Prayer Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we stand before You today, humbled by the depth of Your wisdom and the mystery of Your ways. As we delve into the intricate relationship between Your holy Law and the glorious Person of Jesus Christ, we pray for clarity of mind and open hearts. May Your Holy Spirit guide us to understand how Christ perfectly fulfilled Your purposes, shattering the barriers that separated humanity from Your presence and from one another. Transform our understanding, deepen our devotion, and empower us to live in the freedom and righteousness He secured. In the mighty name of Jesus, our Living Torah, we pray. Amen. Introduction: The Enduring Question of the Law We’ve navigated the Gospels, explored the explosive growth of the early church in Acts, and journeyed through Paul’s foundational letters. Today, we confront a topic that has puzzled, divided, and sometimes even hurt believers throughout history: the Law. For ancient Israelites, the Torah was a gift, a privilege, a source of joy and identity. As the psalmist declared, "Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long." (Psalm 119:97, NLT). So, if the Law was so good, what changed with the coming of Christ? Our core verse from Galatians 2:16 boldly states: "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God by faith in Christ and not by obeying the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law." This statement, from a Jew who once fiercely kept the Law, demands our careful attention. How can something so celebrated in the Old Testament suddenly be portrayed in a way that suggests it cannot make one "right with God"? Today, we will explore three interconnected concepts that help us understand this profound shift: the "curse of the Law," the...

Welcome to Day 2668 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2668 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 74:9-17– Daily Wisdom   Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2668 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2668 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: Remembering Ancient Wonders – A Plea for Present Deliverance - A Trek Through Psalm 74:9-17 Today, we continue our poignant trek through Psalm 74 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 9 through 17. In our last conversation, we plunged into the raw agony of communal lament found in Psalm 74:1-8. We experienced the profound despair of a people whose sacred Temple, the very dwelling place of God, lay in "perpetual ruins," desecrated by enemies who "shouted their victorious battle cries" where God's praise once resonated. We heard their desperate plea: "O God, why have you abandoned us forever?" as they wrestled with the unimaginable horror of God's apparent absence and the systematic destruction of their places of worship. The weight of their loss and the depth of the sacrilege were palpable. Now, as we move into this next section, the psalmist, Asaph, continues to voice their anguish, lamenting the continued mockery of the enemy and, crucially, the disheartening silence from heaven itself. But then, in a dramatic shift, he pivots to a powerful rhetorical strategy: he reminds God – and himself – of God’s awesome, unparalleled acts of cosmic power and historical deliverance in the ancient past. This becomes the foundation for his desperate plea for present intervention. It's a profound lesson in how to appeal to God's character and past faithfulness when facing seemingly insurmountable present crises. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this cry for divine memory and a demonstration of power. (Reads Psalm 74:9-11 NLT) We see no miraculous signs. There are no prophets among us. And who can tell us how long this will last? How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to mock you? Will they insult your name forever? Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your power and destroy them. Guthrie Chamberlain: The lament continues, but now it highlights a particularly agonizing aspect of their suffering: the spiritual silence and uncertainty. The psalmist cries: "We see no miraculous signs. There are no prophets among us. And who can tell us how long this will last?" In ancient Israel, God often communicated His will and demonstrated His presence through "miraculous signs" (Hebrew: otot), powerful demonstrations of His intervention, like those at the Exodus. He also spoke through "prophets," individuals who delivered direct messages from Him, offering guidance, warning, and comfort. To have no miraculous signs and no prophets was a profound crisis of spiritual guidance. It meant God seemed utterly silent, His presence hidden, and His will unknown. The most agonizing part was the unknown duration: "And...

Welcome to Day 2667 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2667 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 74:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2667 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2667 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 Cry from the Ashes – When God Seems Absent - A Trek Through Psalm 74:1-8 Guthrie Chamberlain: Welcome to Wisdom-Trek, your compass for navigating the profound landscapes of faith and life. I’m your guide, Guthrie Chamberlain, and today, we shift our focus from a personal spiritual crisis to a national tragedy, as we begin our trek through Psalm 74 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its opening verses, 1 through 8. Psalm 74, like the Psalm 73 we just concluded, is attributed to Asaph, one of the chief musicians. However, the tone and context are dramatically different. While Psalm 73 wrestled with individual suffering and the prosperity of the wicked, Psalm 74 is a raw, agonizing communal lament, born from a devastating national catastrophe. Scholars generally believe this psalm was written in the aftermath of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, most likely by the Babylonians in 586 BC. For the ancient Israelites, the Temple was more than just a building. It was the physical dwelling place of God's presence, the center of their worship, their national identity, and the very symbol of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Its destruction was an unimaginable horror, a theological crisis of monumental proportions. It wasn't just a military defeat; it felt like God Himself had abandoned them, allowing His sacred dwelling to be utterly desecrated. This psalm gives voice to the profound anguish, confusion, and desperate pleading of a people reeling from unspeakable loss and wondering if God has truly turned His back on them forever. It offers a powerful model for how to lament when tragedy strikes, and when God’s apparent silence is deafening. So, let’s immerse ourselves in this cry from the ashes, feeling the weight of their despair and the desperate longing for God to remember. (Reads Psalm 74:1-3 NLT) O God, why have you abandoned us forever? Why does your anger burn against your own sheep? Remember your people, whom you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession. Remember Mount Zion, where you live. Walk through these perpetual ruins, see the appalling destruction the enemy has done to your sanctuary. Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm opens with an immediate, piercing cry of abandonment: "O God, why have you abandoned us forever? Why does your anger burn against your own sheep?" This isn't a gentle query; it's a desperate, almost accusatory question hurled at God. The phrase "abandoned us forever" expresses profound despair and a fear of permanent divine rejection. This feeling of being utterly forsaken by God, especially after such a catastrophe, was a terrifying reality for them. The psalmist uses the intimate metaphor of "your own sheep" –

Welcome to Day 2666 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Cosmic Geography” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2666 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2666 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 begin a new focus on the 5th 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 five: “Cosmic Geography.” The divine transgressions we looked at in the previous podcast had something in common. They were both supernatural rebellions aimed at co-opting God’s plan for humanity and the restoration of his rule. In this podcast we’ll look at another rebellion, one that originated with people. This rebellion produced a predicament that we’re all still part of, and that predicament involves supernatural beings. The titanic struggle for God’s restoration strategy took a turn for the worse that only the return of Jesus will finally resolve. The Tower of Babel The story of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1–9) is simultaneously one of the best-known and least-understood accounts in the Bible. Children learn about it in Sunday school as the time when God confused earth’s human languages. After the flood, God repeated the command he’d given to Adam and Eve to cover the earth. He was trying to kick-start the spread of his ruling influence through humanity. Once again, it didn’t work. People refused. Rebellion in their hearts, they had a better idea, or so they thought. They decided to build a tower to avoid being scattered (Gen. 11:4). The logic seems odd. Sure, an amazing tower would make them famous (Gen. 11:4), but how would that prevent scattering across the earth? The answer lies in the tower. Bible scholars and archaeologists know ancient Babylon and cities around it built towers called ziggurats. The purpose of the ziggurats was to provide places where people could meet the gods. They were part of temple zones. Rather than make the world like Eden—to spread the knowledge and rule of God everywhere—the people wanted to bring God down at one spot. That wasn’t God’s plan, and he wasn’t pleased. Hence his statement—again to the members of his council—“Let us go down and mix up their language” (Gen. 11:7 gnt, emphasis added). God did so, and humanity was separated and scattered. The incident explains how the nations listed a chapter earlier in Genesis 10 came to be. That’s the story most Christians know. Now for the one they don’t. The Gods and Their Nations Genesis 11 isn’t the only passage that describes what happened at the Tower of Babel. Deuteronomy 32:8–9 describes it this way: When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. Some Bible translations have “sons of Israel” instead of “sons of God” in that first sentence. But Israel didn’t exist at the time of the Tower of Babel. God only called Abraham after Babel...