The Lord is Good (Part 2)
The Lord proclaims His goodness in Exodus 34:6-7. Note that His goodness summarizes all other qualities listed in the passage. It is not an abstract idea, but that which is seen in His action toward man. In a more specific sense, the goodness God is most clearly seen in His generosity. “When the biblical writers call God ‘good,’ they are thinking in general of all those moral qualities which prompt His people to call Him ‘perfect,’ and in particular of…
From the Director’s Desk (July 2024) – Trent Kennedy
And they’re off! The Bible program trains men and women to work in the Kingdom; we equip them to be effective preachers, teachers, missionaries, and servants. The course takes nearly two full years, but SWSBS graduates have a solid foundation after they finish. SWSBS has been training Christians “to know Jesus and make Him known” since 1978. This year marked our 46th commencement exercise. Among the nine graduates, three of our ladies will marry SWSBS alumni and help with their…
Elisha, the Son of Shaphat – Kevin Cauley
God told Elijah to anoint Elisha “as prophet in your place” (1 Kings 19:16). He was a prophet of war who would “sweep up” after Jehu by killing those who opposed God (1 Kings 19:17; 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 9:22). When Elijah called Elisha, he slaughtered his own oxen, burned the yokes to cook the meat, and fed the people (1 Kings 19:21). He would not return to the farm. Elisha’s persistence resulted in his being given a double…
Elijah, the Tishbite – Bill Burk
Elijah enters the stage of history mysteriously, with little introduction and no fanfare. Immediately, the text presents him as a man of prayer. James, the half-brother of the Lord, explains that Elijah, despite being a man like the rest of us, was able to use his powerful prayers to start and end a drought (1 Kings 171; Jas. 5:17-18). In the same chapter, he fervently petitioned the Lord to resurrect a widow’s son from the dead, and God granted his…
Micaiah, The Master’s Mouthpiece – Cody Kilgore
The Lord will de-mask the disguised, so we learn in Ahab’s attempted conquest for Ramoth-Gilead. In 1 Kings 22, Ahab, King of Israel, had orchestrated an attempt to regain the land he deemed as his own. With the aid of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, and about 400 prophets, Ahab became emboldened. While the voice of Jehoshaphat declared that they inquire from the Lord (v. 5), Ahab’s preference remained upon his men. In fact, unsatisfied with the prophecy of the near…
Nathan, the Courageous Prophet – Chase Green
“Moral courage is higher and a rarer virtue than physical courage” (William Joseph Slim). The Bible contains many examples of people who acted courageously. I think of examples such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Daniel and his three friends in Babylon, and many others, including the prophets of the Lord. One of the prophets that exuded courage was Nathan. This prophet may not have written a book of the Bible, but we might say he “wrote the book on courage,”…
The Life and Work of Samuel – John Haffner
One of the most well-known among the non-writing prophets, Samuel was a judge over God’s people, the last leader of this sort for Israel. His mother, Hannah, prayed earnestly for a child and she dedicated him to the service of God at a very young age. Samuel trained under the high priest, and eventually grew to serve and to lead God’s people through pivotal times of conflict and transition. He consistently showed a dedication to the Lord and His truth.…
The Unnamed Prophets
When we think of the prophets we tend to think of men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah, and for good reason. Their work in the service of God is renown to us, as it was during the time of the first century (cf. Matt. 16:14). But Scripture describes the work of many prophets of old. Some worked in palaces and some among the people. Some wrote, some did not. Some worked for many years, some for just a short time.…
What Shall I Do With Jesus?
A judge’s responsibility is heavy, indeed. The ability to administer justice with a word and affect countless lives in mere moments necessitates careful consideration and impartial decisiveness. A failure to do so could prove disastrous. Could a better example be found than that of Pilate in Matthew 27:15-25? As the Roman Procurator heard the case against the Christ, he asked “What shall I do with Jesus?” It is a question we all must ask. It implies a decision to be…
To the Work!
As the Southwesterner is being published preceding the graduation of SWSBS class of 2024, the congregation is busy getting ready for the banquet and for graduation Sunday. Of course, we are reflecting on the relationships that have been made and rejoice in the spiritual growth of the student body. Having been immersed in the scriptures and introduced to the work of evangelists, there have been valuable lessons learned in time management. Who knew that even sleep would be a matter…
Abstain from Fleshly Lusts
Peter said, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Pet. 2:11). The “fleshly lusts” which Peter spoke of are sinful passions and desires that direct our attention away from obeying the Lord’s will. Peter said that these lusts are continually waging war against us and, therefore, we must fight back. But how? 1. Be spiritually minded. Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to…
Make Me a Servant!
We have just completed our annual Servants Academy. The week was well attended and encouraging. Giving young people a glimpse into the life of a SWSBS student while also emphasizing the need to serve is a good work, and we are thankful to the Lord for the privilege of doing it. Consider for a moment the term servant. What is a servant? What does it mean to serve? Notice 5 qualities set forth in God’s Word. 1. A servant surrenders…