Obedience is a difficult word to swallow for wayward children. There seems to be something deep in our sinful nature that salivates to embrace rebellion.

The children of Israel were in ruins, of this we know. And God brings hope out of smouldering piles of nothingness.

To lament. Lamenting is the guttural cry of a soul in suffering. And the children of God knew it well.

Jerusalem has fallen. The temple has been destroyed; her king exiled as Judah's existence is no longer.

As we enter into the the writings of the Prophets, we first encounter the poetic heart of Isaiah.

Song of Solomon, the poetic journey of two lovers, is believed to have been authored by king Solomon though some biblical scholars deem it possible...

Vanity. How deep the roots can grow when our fertile soul finds itself a friend of this world. In the book of Ecclesiastes we find who we presume is king Solomon unravelling his roots in search of meaning.

The book of Proverbs is a collection of writings, a good portion written by king Solomon, that biblical scholars considered to be a manual for every day living during our human existence.

The Psalms, song lyrics composed by David, his son Solomon, music directors, and various others, are probably the most commonly known scriptures to man. They are the hearts cry and beautiful reflection of the human condition at work in worship.

The name Job is likened with the term suffering. It is almost as if we are unable to see beyond what Job went through in his human existence to witness the beauty within it.

Esther. An orphan, she had spent her life among the Jewish exiles in Persia where she lived under the protection of her cousin Mordecai.

As we turn the thin, silky page of the Scriptures, we encounter the name and memories of a man named Nehemiah. He was a cup-bearer to the rich foreign king of Persia.

King after king ruled. Young men took the throne, one after the other, their time of rule short and riddled with corruption.

Names. Lists and lists of names, all personal and carefully crafted within the pages of Chronicles- the word chronicles itself meaning a factual written...

As we enter into the books of first and second Kings, we encounter David in the frailty of old age with his remaining days numbered.

As we follow the scriptures into first and second Samuel, we see God's presence heavily at work within the hearts of some very complex souls...

In the book of Ruth we find nestled within the country of Moab a farm of simples means in a village off the beaten path. There was a time of great famine so a man named Elimelech from Bethlehem in Judah took his wife and two young sons and settled there.

Joshua has died, the people were left without a leader, and all matters of sin have begun to ripple through the hearts of the Israelites.

Land. Land flowing with milk and honey as described in the book of Joshua. It was the promised land to God's chosen people and with Moses passed, Joshua is called to lead them into battles of greatness declaring what is now rightfully theirs after five hundred years of being without land.

In the final chapter of the book of Deuteronomy Moses' death has finally come to pass. As foretold by the Lord, Moses climbed Mount Nebo, from the plains of Moab to the top of Mount Pisgah, and the Lord presented to Moses a most spectacular view of the lands promised to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

The book of Numbers is the account of the Israelites departure from slavery in Egypt and their laborious journey to take hold of the land God promised to their forefathers Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

It Takes A Village - Week 3 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out,

Written within the pages of the book of Exodus we find one of the most complex and deep characters of the bible. His name was Moses.

Community. The people, places, and presence of mind that shapes who we are in this world. Most often the search for community is a soul's cry for belonging.