June 24, 2012

A Time for Thanksgiving

This week, we go back 3,000 years to a day when a national leader used symbolism that his people clearly understood to express gratitude to God for blessings bestowed and deliverance given. The leader's name was Samuel. The place was a little-known town in Israel called Mizpah. And the people were Hebrews.

Justice in Israel

What picture comes to mind at mention of the word "judge"? A stern, black-robed individual? A TV personality settling the differences of two disgruntled neighbors? While related in purpose, this contemporary image is a far cry from the judges we meet in the Old Testament book of Judges. Let's enter the "courts" of the ancient Israelites and learn more about these individuals in this week's article.