Oct 15

  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Romans 9:20-21
    Some of Paul's readers might expect him to appeal to human free will to resolve the problem posed in v. 19. Instead, he insists that finite human beings may not rebelliously question God's ways, that God as a potter (cf. Jer. 18:1–6) has the right to do what he wishes with his creation. The honorable and dishonorable vessels in this context represent those who are saved and unsaved. Paul affirms that humans are guilty for their sin, and he offers no philosophical resolution as to how t… Read more »

Oct 9

  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Jonah 1:7
    "cast lots." Casting lots was used in the ancient world to discern the divine will (e.g., Num. 26:55; Josh. 18:6). Israelites believed that God controlled the outcome (Prov. 16:33). "Evil" (Hb. ra‘ah) may here suggest “disaster” (see chart to the left). Read more »
  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Jonah 1:6
    "Arise," call out echoes God’s commission in v. 2. Ironically, the Israelite prophet has to be summoned to prayer by a pagan sailor. "not perish." “Perish” is repeated in v. 14; 3:9; 4:10. Ironically, a pagan, not Jonah, is concerned that people not perish. Read more »
  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Jonah 1:4-5
    "Hurled" is used four times in this episode (vv. 4, 5, 12, 15). Just as God hurled the great wind, the sailors hurled the cargo. "cried out." The sailors pray, evidently believing that a divine being could come to their aid. had gone down. In contrast to the sailors, Jonah goes down below deck, taking yet another step closer to death (see note on v. 3). Read more »
  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Jonah 1:4-16
    Jonah and the Pagan Sailors. This episode highlights Jonah’s encounter with pagan sailors and raises the question, "Who fears the Lord—Jonah or the pagans?" The key repeated word is “fear”: at the beginning and end the sailors “fear” (vv. 5, 16); in the middle Jonah claims to “fear” the Lord (v. 9) while the sailors actually fear (v. 10a). Read more »
  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Jonah 1:3
    "To Tarshish" is repeated three times in this verse to underscore that Jonah is not going to Nineveh. Tarshish, an unknown locale associated with distant coastlands, was somewhere in the western Mediterranean—the opposite direction from Nineveh. "From the presence of the LORD" is repeated at the end of this verse to underscore Jonah’s purpose in going to Tarshish. "Went down" (see also v. 5; 2:6; the same verb is used for "went on board") is also a euphemi… Read more »
  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Jonah 1:2
    Nineveh sat on the east bank of the Tigris River about 220 miles (354 km) north of present-day Baghdad and over 500 miles (805 km) northeast of Israel. Great (Hb. gadol ) is used 14 times in Jonah. Nineveh was an important (“great”) city (see 3:3). evil. The same Hebrew term (Hb. ra‘ah; used 9 times in Jonah) can mean “evil” or “disaster.” The Ninevites were evil, and they were in line for disaster. Read more »
  • dspratlin
    dspratlin added a text contribution Study Notes on Jonah 1:1
    Jonah prophesied prosperity for Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23–28). Jonah means “dove,” a symbol for Israel as silly and senseless (Hos. 7:11); Jonah will be true to his name. Son of Amittai means “son of my faithfulness”; Jonah will remain the object of God’s faithful love. Read more »