Among His Verses

2 Samuel 20 Explained: Sheba's Rebellion, a Wise Woman, and the King Who Brings Peace The kingdom of Israel had just survived Absalom's rebellion, but peace did not last long. In 2 Samuel 20 , another man named Sheba son of Bichri rises up and declares: "We have no share in David." Those words ignite another national rebellion. Israel abandons David while the tribe of Judah remains loyal. David immediately begins taking action to restore order. He commissions Amasa to gather troops, but delays force Joab to step in. Along the way, Joab murders Amasa and takes command of the army once again. Meanwhile, Sheba flees north and hides within the fortified city of Abel Beth Maakah. As Joab prepares to destroy the city, a wise woman negotiates peace. She convinces the citizens to hand over Sheba, ending the rebellion and saving countless lives. The chapter closes with David's government restored and the kingdom reunited. On the surface, this chapter is about po...

Exodus 38 Explained: The Bronze Altar, The Basin, and How They Reveal Jesus Christ and the Cross This chapter describes the bronze altar , the bronze basin , and the courtyard of the tabernacle . If Exodus 37 revealed the glory inside the sanctuary, Exodus 38 reveals the price paid outside it. And that price is Jesus. The Bronze Altar — The Cross Before the Cross The chapter opens with the making of the altar of burnt offering. This was the place of sacrifice. Blood was shed here daily. Before anyone entered God's presence, something had to die. That altar points directly to the cross of Jesus Christ. Just as the altar stood at the entrance, the cross stands at the entrance of salvation. No one enters the presence of the Father except through sacrifice — and Jesus became that sacrifice once and for all. Bronze in Scripture often symbolizes judgment. The altar was bronze because sin must be judged. At the cross, God’s judgment fell not on us — but on Christ. Exodus 38 whis...