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The Context and Color of the Bible
Episodes
313 episodes
#316 - Numbers: Knowing God in the In-Between
Numbers probably isn’t where you’ll go looking for a life verse, but it’s an important part of the Bible’s foundation. Israel has been redeemed from Egypt and experienced God’s presence, provision, and power—now we get to see what happens when ...
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#315 - Touring Psalms 29–41: Learning to Talk with God
How do we learn to pray? In Talking with God, Ryan Cook suggests that the Psalms help answer the disciples' request, "Teach us to pray." They give us words for talking with God through every part of life—praise, confession, fear, frust...
#314 - Touring Psalms 14–28: Words for Every Season
Can the Psalms help us when we're anxious, stressed, discouraged, or overwhelmed? There seems to be a psalm for nearly every season and emotion we experience. The Psalms don't ask us to ignore what we're feeling—they give us words to bring thos...
#313 - Touring Psalms 3–13: But God...
We're heading back to Book One of the Psalms! Earlier in this series, we studied Psalms 1 and 2 in depth, but we hadn't yet started our "tour guide" approach. So in this episode, we're going back to tour Psalms 3–13 and notice the landmarks, re...
#312 - Touring Psalms 135–150: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord.
We finish our journey through the Psalms by touring Psalms 135–150 and discovering how beautifully the final songs bring the entire book to a close.Psalms 135–136 look back once again at the Exodus and God's Torah, reminding Israel of Go...
#311 - Touring Psalms 118–134: The Journey into God's Presence.
We continue our tour through Book Five of the Psalms by returning briefly to Psalm 118 and then exploring Psalm 119 and the Songs of Ascents in Psalms 120–134. Throughout these psalms, we find God's people learning to delight in His instruction...
#310 - Touring Psalms 107–118: His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
We begin Book Five of the Psalms by touring Psalms 107–118 and discovering once again that God's chesed—His steadfast covenant love—runs throughout the story. Book Four ended with "Praise the Lord," and Book Five picks right up with a ...
#309 - Touring Psalms 96–106: Rejoicing in the Righteous King
In this episode, we finish Book Four of the Psalms by touring Psalms 96–106. These psalms are filled with joy and praise, but they also teach us why God's people have reason to rejoice: God is King, and He rules with righteousness, justice, ...
#308 - Touring Psalms 90–95: Trusting the Eternal King
In this episode, we begin Book Four of the Psalms by exploring Psalms 90–95. These songs remind us that the Psalms are more than ancient poetry—they are a prayer journal that gives voice to our deepest fears, joys, questions, and hopes. ...
#307 - Touring Psalms 81–89: The God Who Blesses and Stays Faithful
In this episode, we tour Psalms 81–89 and discover a powerful thread running through these songs: God desires to bless His people, draw near to them, and remain faithful even when they fail.Psalm 81 begins with joyful celebration of the ...
#306 - Touring Psalms 73–80: When the Wicked Prosper, God Still Reigns
In this episode, we continue our tour through Psalms 73–80, where the psalmists wrestle with one of life's hardest questions: Why do the wicked seem to prosper while God's people suffer? Again and again, these psalms remind us to shift o...
#305 - Touring Psalms 63–72: Reasons to Praise God
In this episode, we continue our tour through Psalms 63–72, discovering a recurring pattern that runs throughout these songs: life's circumstances may rise and fall, but God's people always have reasons to praise Him.David begins in Psal...
#304 - Touring Psalms 52–62: Finding Refuge in God
The Psalms often read like someone's personal prayer journal. They give us an honest look at what it means to follow God through seasons of fear, betrayal, discouragement, and hope. Again and again, the psalmists bring their deepest struggles b...
#303 - Touring Psalms 42–51: Meeting the Living God
In this episode, we continue our tour through the Psalms, stopping to notice the themes, connections, and biblical images that prepare us for deeper study later. Rather than diving into every detail, we're acting as tour guides, pointing out th...
#302 - The Rock, the King, and the Righteous
In this episode, we explore several psalms that deepen our understanding of God's character and the life of faith. We begin with Psalm 17 and the Hebrew idiom "the apple of Your eye," discovering the powerful image David uses to describe God's ...
#301 - Trusting God in a Broken World (Psalms 11, 12, 13 and 15)
In this episode, we continue our journey through the Psalms by exploring Psalms 11, 12, 13, and 15. Together, these psalms wrestle with a question that believers have asked throughout history: What do we do when wickedness seems to be winning?<...
#300 - The Gateway to the Psalms
Psalms 1 and 2 serve as the introduction to the entire book of Psalms, giving readers the lens through which the rest of the collection should be understood.In this episode, we explore the two paths presented in Psalm 1. The righteous de...
#299 - Before the Psalms: Learning to Read the Bible Like Its First Readers
If you want to have the story of the Old Testament that Erika presents in digital form, you can purchase a 10 page PDF for $1.99 at Understanding the Old Testa...
#298 - Setting the Stage for Psalms
This episode launches our summer of Psalms series. To set the stage we are taking you back to the original context as we look at the culture, language, land and mindset of the authors and audience. We also lay a foundation th...
#297 - Holy One of Israel and What it Means
In this episode Erika unpacks the title Holy One of Israel. Isaiah uses this title for God over and over in his book. From this prophet and other verses, we find this aspect of God as the God who is set apart from all other gods.&nb...
#296 - YHWH Rohi — The LORD Is My Shepherd
YHWH Rohi means “The LORD is my Shepherd,” a name that reveals God’s personal, attentive care for His people. First expressed in Psalm 23, this title draws on David’s lived experience as a shepherd to illustrate how God leads, provides, protect...
#295 - Adonai - Unpacking What it Means that God is Our Lord
In this episode Erika unpacks a name Adonai - Lord. Abraham first used it in Genesis 15:2 when Abraham reminds God he doesn't have an heir. From this story and other verses, we find this aspect of God as master and ruler. We a...
#294 - YHWH Nissi — The Lord Is My Banner: Who Are You Standing Under?
In this episode, Erika and Veronica explore the powerful Hebrew name YHWH Nissi — “The Lord is My Banner,” first declared by Moses in Book of Exodus 17 after Israel’s battle with Amalek. They unpack how a “banner” in the ancient world was more ...
#293 - Not a Name but an Important Title - God of Israel
In classic Erika style, she's back with another name of God that isn't a name. It's a title - God of Israel. She walks us through Scripture showing how this title is used as a way link God with Israel (the person and nation). ...
#292 - YHWH Tzva’ot — The Lord of Hosts: God’s Authority Over Heaven and Earth
In this episode, Erika and Veronica explore the Hebrew name YHWH Tzva’ot, often translated as “The Lord of Hosts” or “The Lord of Armies.” They unpack its meaning, showing how it refers not only to armies but also to angels, stars, and the forc...