Posts by Layton Talbert
At a Glance: Pauline Paradigms for Prayer
Layton Talbert Prayer is a very personal spiritual exercise. Perhaps “exercise” sounds like something we do out of duty, whether we want to or not, because of perceived benefits. Prayer is conversation with God and, as such, is a vital dimension of our personal relationship to the Lord. Why, then, would the Bible record the…
Read MoreJehoshaphat: A Godly Compromiser
Layton Talbert Though Jehoshaphat receives marginal attention in the Book of Kings, his life and times dominate a significant four-chapter mass of material in 2 Chronicles 17–20 (101 verses, or 9.75 columns). In 2 Chronicles, his reign occupies significantly more space than any other king of the divided monarchy except for Hezekiah (116 verses, or…
Read MoreStraight Cuts: Good Principle, Wrong Text
Layton Talbert “But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Job 23:10 has traditionally been used to express a Scriptural truth that has comforted and encouraged countless believers: God knows all we are going through and intends it only to strengthen and…
Read MoreProphets, Priests, & Kings: The History of Israel’s Monarchy – Part 4
Layton Talbert Previously in this series: Part 1 – Transition to Monarchy (1 Sam 1-8) Part 2 – The United Monarchy (1 Samuel 9–1 Kings 11) Part 3-The Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17) This article is Part 4 – The Southern Kingdom In her 345-year history (931-586 B.C.), Judah saw 20 kings (well,…
Read MoreAt a Glance: Prophets, Priests, & Kings: The History Of Israel’s Monarchy – Part 3
Layton Talbert Part 1 – Transition to Monarchy (1 Sam 1-8) Part 2 – The United Monarchy (1 Samuel 9–1 Kings 11) This article is Part 3-The Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 12-2 Kings 17) In her 210-year history (931-722 B.C.), the northern kingdom of Israel went through 20 kings representing 9 different dynasties (ruling families).…
Read MoreProphets, Priests, & Kings: The History of Israel’s Monarchy – Part 2
Part 1 – Transition to Monarchy (1 Sam 1-8) Part 2 – The United Monarchy (1 Samuel 9–1 Kings 11) Layton Talbert SAUL: Birth of the Monarchy (1 Samuel 9–31) Clearly displeased with the timing, motive, and attitude of Israel’s demand to have a king so “that we also may be like all the nations”…
Read MoreProphets, Priests, & Kings: The History of Israel’s Monarchy (Part 1)
Transition to Monarchy, 1 Sam 1-8 Layton Talbert All Scripture,” Paul asserted (at a time when most of it was Old Testament), “is profitable” to instruct and equip the New Testament believer (2 Timothy 3:16–17). “For whatsoever things were written aforetime,” he elsewhere explained, “were written for our learning” (Rom. 15:4). “They are,” in fact,…
Read MoreIsaiah 7—The Historical Setting of a Christmas Passage
Layton Talbert Most Christians are familiar with the virgin birth prophecy contained in Isaiah 7. Wander out of 7:14 into the surrounding territory, however, and the textual terrain bristles with peculiar terminology and thorny questions. For instance, what is 7:16 talking about? In the length of time it would take the child to cultivate a…
Read MoreThe Enigma of Evangelicalism
Lessons from a Godly Compromiser Layton Talbert Biography is surely one of the most interesting and engaging forms of literature. It is also one of the most instructive forms of revelation folded into the larger genre of historical narrative. The biography of Jehoshaphat reveals a remarkably timeless and complex personality with a great deal to…
Read MoreWith Job in the School of Suffering
Layton Talbert God’s people can experience different kinds of suffering. First Peter focuses on a class of suffering that, humanly speaking, we do not deserve. We call it persecution — suffering for our faith in and faithfulness to Christ. Lamentations portrays another type of suffering that is deserved. We call it chastisement — suffering the…
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