Most Christians think “taking the Lord’s name in vain” means saying “Oh my God” casually. But in Exodus 20:7, this commandment goes far deeper—it’s about misrepresenting God’s character while claiming His authority. In this episode of Wise Counsel, Robert Smith explores the original Hebrew meaning of this command through insights from Michael S. Heiser and Tremper Longman III, uncovering how this ancient truth still challenges modern speech, behavior, and integrity. We’ll learn that honoring God’s name means living in a way that reflects His reputation in truth, humility, and justice.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, Robert Smith explores Leviticus 12, which addresses ritual uncleanness after childbirth. While it may sound strange—or even unfair—to modern readers, this passage reveals a profound truth: new life touches the boundary between heaven and earth. Drawing on the insights of Michael S. Heiser, Carol Meyers, and Tremper Longman III, Robert shows how these laws weren’t about shame, but about reverence and the recognition of God’s presence in the midst of human life. We’ll also see how this ancient understanding resonates in modern moments of birth, baptism, and new beginnings.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, Robert Smith explores Deuteronomy 25:5–10, the commandment about Levirate marriage—when a man was asked to marry his deceased brother’s widow. While it may sound unusual to modern ears, this law demonstrates God’s covenant compassion, protecting widows and preserving family legacy. Drawing on the scholarship of Carol Meyers and Michael S. Heiser, we’ll see how God built redemption into Israel’s social fabric, and how that same pattern continues in modern acts of love—through adoption, fostering, and community care.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, Robert Smith explores Deuteronomy 17:16–17, where God instructs Israel’s kings not to multiply horses, wives, or gold. At first glance, it seems like a strange, even arbitrary, rule—but scholars like Tremper Longman III and Michael S. Heiser show that these limits reveal profound truths about leadership, humility, and dependence on God. Today, we’ll uncover how these ancient warnings speak to modern ambition, status, and success, helping us ask: Can we achieve without surrendering, or build without being consumed?

In this episode of Wise Counsel, Robert Smith explores what Scripture truly teaches about tithing and generosity, reading from 2 Corinthians 9:6–11 (ESV). Many Christians have been taught to give out of obligation or fear, but the Bible presents a radically different vision: cheerful, Spirit-led generosity that reflects the heart of God. Drawing on insights from biblical scholars like N.T. Wright (Paul and the Faithfulness of God) and Gordon Fee (Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians), this episode uncovers how giving under the New Covenant is no longer about a percentage — it’s about participation in God’s grace. We’ll also consider how cultural assumptions can distort generosity and what it means to give as Christ gave Himself for us.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, host Robert Smith explores the often-quoted command in Leviticus 19:28 about tattoos. Is this a timeless ban on body art—or was something else happening in the ancient world? Drawing on insights from Dr. Michael S. Heiser and Dr. Carol Meyers, Robert explains how this command addressed pagan mourning rituals and covenant loyalty—not modern self-expression. Along the way, he connects this passage to the Bible’s larger story of worship, identity, and belonging.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, host Robert Smith explores Leviticus 19:19, where God commands Israel not to wear garments made of mixed fabrics. To modern ears, it sounds trivial or arbitrary—but scholars like Dr. Michael S. Heiser and Carol Meyers show that this law was about sacred order, holiness, and boundaries. Robert unpacks how even the threads of daily life pointed ancient Israel toward a deeper truth: God’s people were to remain distinct, woven together in purity, not blended with the patterns of the nations. From linen and wool to faith and culture, we’ll discover how holiness still speaks through the ordinary.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, host Robert Smith explores the strange-sounding command in Exodus 23:19—“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” To modern readers, it feels arbitrary, even odd. But as scholars like Dr. Michael S. Heiser and Tremper Longman III explain, this law confronts ancient Canaanite fertility rituals and points to a deeper truth about life, holiness, and gratitude. Robert unpacks how God taught Israel to reject pagan symbolism that blended life and death—and how we too must guard against worshiping the gifts of creation instead of the Giver.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, host Robert Smith unpacks one of the Old Testament’s most puzzling commands: Leviticus 19:27 — “You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.” Was God really regulating hairstyles? Scholars like Dr. Michael S. Heiser and Dr. Carol Meyers show that this law wasn’t about grooming—it was about grief, identity, and loyalty. Robert explores how this rule separated Israel from pagan mourning rituals and declared that God’s people were to find life, not identity, in their covenant with Him.

In this episode of Wise Counsel, host Robert Smith examines one of the most quoted — and most misunderstood — passages on giving: Malachi 3:8–10. Often used to pressure Christians into tithing, this text was originally spoken to Israel’s covenant community, not to the New Testament Church. Drawing on the insights of Dr. Michael S. Heiser and Dr. John Walton, we’ll uncover how this passage fits into the story of covenant faithfulness, not church fundraising. Along the way, we’ll reflect on what it truly means to honor God with our resources — not out of fear, but from freedom and faith.