Observations from the Word by The Barking Fox

The Garment of A Jew: A Special Presentation for Purim

Did you ever consider that human beings are simultaneously the oppressed and the oppressors, the beloved and the reprobate, the Creator's handiwork and the Adversary's tools? This paradox of our existence has inserted a tension in the universe that our Creator is resolving through a massive role reversal story called redemption.
Zechariah 8:18-23; Esther 8:15-17; Isaiah 61:1-3; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Matthew 20:16, 27:35-54; Romans 3:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The Garments Divided by Cast Lots, James Tissot, 1886-1894, The Brooklyn Museum.
Music: "Garments of Praise,” Robin Mark, Revival In Belfast, Columbia 2002.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: The Garment of A Jew.pdf

Burned Up or Burned Out?

Does our Creator delight in the fact that the pace of this modern world leaves us overstretched and exhausted? Of course not. He does expect us to be overstretched and exhausted, but His delight is in seeing us pour ourselves out to Him so He can fill us anew day by day. 
Leviticus 1:1-6:7; Isaiah 43:21-44:23; Jeremiah 6:16; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:28-29
Burnout! Photo by Dennis Skley, August 10, 2014, via Flickr.
Music: "Overture,” Solomon O. Lopez, The Born At Home Collections, The Hebraism Project 2014. To hear more of Solomon’s music, visit The Hebraism Project on YouTube.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Burned Up or Burned Out.pdf

The Reconstruction of Ourselves

God knew what He was doing when He established a single standard for good and instructed our first ancestors to abide by it. All the world's problems originated in their decision to ignore those instructions and set up their own standards. That's why we really don't have a unified understanding of what good means. All we have is hope that our Creator will fix the problem in us as He fixes the problems we have caused. 
Exodus 38:21-40:38; 1 Kings 7:51-8:21; Genesis 1:1-31; John 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 3:9-16, 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 21:1-3, 22
Construction of the Tabernacle under direction of Moses. Jan Luyken, 1705, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.
Music: "Rebuild,” Solomon O. Lopez, The Born At Home Collections, The Hebraism Project 2014. To hear more of Solomon’s music, visit The Hebraism Project on YouTube..
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: The Reconstruction of Ourselves.pdf

A Heart Prepared

It's difficult enough to comprehend the transformative process our Redeemer works within us as individuals. It's even more difficult to comprehend this process in a nation - particularly if it is the kingdom of priests our Redeemer has been assembling for millennia, and into which He calls all the Redeemed. The preparation of individual hearts is what, over time, brings about the transformation of the national heart that will glorify our King and Bridegroom for all eternity.
Exodus 35:1-38:20; Deuteronomy 29:4, 30:6; 2 Kings 12:1-17; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:17-21; Joel 2:32; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 10:9
Assertion of Liberty of Conscience by the Independents of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, 1644. John Rogers Herbert, 1847. (Heritage Collection at UK Parliament, Palace of Westminster, London, via Wikimedia Commons.)
Music: "Old 100th,” Celtic Worship, Morningtide, Integrity Music 2021.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: A Heart Prepared.pdf

Never Disowned

God makes a promise never to leave us or forsake us. That's stunning since we humans have always had a tendency to leave and forsake Him. The Bible says God does this because He loves the world. So how does that work when no person and no nation consistently loves Him back?
Exodus 30:11-34:35; 1 Kings 18:1-39; Isaiah 49:14-16; Jeremiah 30:10-11; Zechariah 8:23; Romans 8:38-39
Stephen Lungu's mother abandoned him when he was a young child, but his Heavenly Father intervened to give a new, unshakeable identity in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ). That's why he  become one of Africa's most gifted evangelists. (Photo via African Enterprise Australia.)
Music: "Amazing Grace, " John Newton, performed by the African Children’s Choir, Devotion, African Children’s Choir, 2004. To learn the story of the African Children’s Choir, visit https://africanchildrenschoir.com/.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Never Disowned.pdf

Growing Into The Robes

Do we really get to wear robes in the Kingdom of Heaven? How do we get them? What do we do in those robes? And is there anything we should be doing now to make sure our robes get to that heavenly standard of cleanliness?
Exodus 27:20-30:10; Ezekiel 43:10-27; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 1:4-6, 13, 3:4-5, 6:9-11, 7:9-17, 19:6-8
Gerhard Fugel, "Apocalypse, chapter 6, Souls at the Altar," 1933, via Wikimedia Commons.
Music: "Going to Shout All Over God’s Heaven," Traditional, performed by Louis Armstrong, Louis Armstrong’s Gospel Book, Warner, 2010.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Growing Into The Robes.pdf

Holy Dogs

"Holy" is a word we throw around in spiritual talk, but do we know what it means? If we don't know what it means, then how can we expect to live holy lives, or explain to anyone why such a thing might be something they would want to do?
Exodus 25:1-27:19; 1 Kings 5:12-6:13; Ezekiel 11:14-16; John 2:18-22, 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 3:9-16, 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Revelation 21:1-3
Blue has been my special friend ever since she came to live with us as a pup.
Music: "The Puppy Song," Harry Nilsson, Harry, RCA Victor 1969.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Holy Dogs.pdf

Half-Cocked Spirituality

A person may become an adult in the eyes of the law by reaching a certain age, but that doesn't mean he or she is an adult in fact. We could make the case that adult-aged people who continue to act irresponsibly and immaturely are still children in many respects. We can see how that works out in a person's emotions, financial management, employment, and social interaction, but do we see it also in the spiritual realm?   
Exodus 21:1-24:18; Jeremiah 33:25-26, 34:8-22; Genesis 2:16-17, 3:2-3; Psalm 58; Matthew 19:1-9; 1 Corinthians 13
Boy Scout Troop 102, Birmingham, Alabama, April 4, 1976. Standing at the ends of the middle row are Scoutmasters Bill Hard (R) and Bob Taylor (L). Al McCarn is next to Mr. Hard, second from right in the middle row.
Music: "Ralph’s Banjo Special," The Stanley Brothers, The Collection 1958-1960, Marmot Music 2013.
Click here to download a transcript of this podcast: Half-Cocked Spirituality.pdf