Today, God calls Abraham to do something that most of us would consider unthinkable, especially because we have the privilege of knowing God’s character through the whole counsel of Scripture: He asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as an offering to the Lord. Abraham trusts the Lord, and as the author of Hebrews later notes, “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” As you listen, consider the parallels betw...
Jan 13, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 6
In today’s episode, the Lord visits Abraham by sending three messengers to his home. He reveals that in a year’s time he will give Abraham a son through his wife, Sarah. He also reveals that he is sending his messengers to Sodom and Gomorrah, because the wickedness of the people has grown so severe that it calls for complete annihilation. Before they are sent out, Abraham pleads with the Lord to spare the righteous and the Lord finally agrees that if even ten righteous people are found there, he...
Jan 10, 2025•29 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Today we get to see the Lord’s faithfulness to a sinful man who doubts, who wavers, who makes poor decisions, but who ultimately responds to the Lord’s instruction. It would be hard to argue that the Lord chose Abram because of his upstanding moral qualities, however, as his flaws aren’t covered up or diminished. Instead, in God’s own kindness, He makes promises to Abram, promises that will last from one generation to the next, on and on through the ages. The Lord makes these promises, not becau...
Jan 09, 2025•22 min•Season 7Ep. 4
After we wade through genealogies of Noah’s sons, we encounter the tower of Babel, a monument to man’s rebellion against God. Being made in the image of God, these men imitate their creator by creating, which is all well and good, except that they defy God’s command to fill the earth and attempt to rob God of glory by making a name for themselves. God graciously uses language to scatter them so they can see the expansive majesty of His Creation rather than stare at the cute little tower they’ve ...
Jan 08, 2025•19 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Noah is often portrayed as a cartoonish old man surrounded by cute animals all smiling happily from their little boat; but the reality of the flood was far more grueling than the nursery murals suggest. Imagine what it would be like to survive an apocalyptic flood where almost everyone you know is destroyed and you’re stuck in a crowded, floating menagerie. Noah is rightly credited as brave and faithful to the Lord, but the Bible doesn’t allow us to think that the flood has solved the problem of...
Jan 07, 2025•25 min•Season 7Ep. 2
So much could be said about these first four chapters as Genesis 1-4 lays a foundation for the rest of Scripture. We learn about a God who creates all things out of His own volition in a way that is well-ordered and executed simply by proclamation. Special attention is given to the creation of mankind in God’s own image and God’s generous provision for man both before and after sin. Here, too, we see man’s relationship with God fall from one of peace, unity, and harmony into one of disorder and ...
Jan 06, 2025•25 min•Season 7Ep. 1
::: Christian Standard Bible translation. All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross. Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Bible facebook.com/commuterbible instagram.com/commuter_bible twitter.com/CommuterPod patreon.com/commuterbible admin@commuterbible.org
Dec 27, 2024•2 min
On today’s episode, there is celebration in heaven over the just destruction of Babylon, the great prostitute. By contrast, the marriage supper of the Lamb is announced, and His bride is dressed in fine linen, representing the righteous acts of the saints. The beast, the kings of the earth and their armies, and the false prophet are all thrown into the lake that burns with sulfur. Satan is bound in the abyss for a thousand years, then released in order to deceive the nations and gather them for ...
Dec 23, 2024•22 min•Season 6Ep. 242
As God’s wrath is poured out in seven phases, you’ll be reminded of the plagues poured out on Egypt when pharaoh refused to let God’s people leave and go to the Promised Land. Water turns to blood, the people are stricken with sores, demonic spirits appear like frogs, enormous hail stones fall, all under the direction of God Almighty and his angels. Following the seventh bowl of God’s wrath, we’ll read a post-script that section that tells us more about the great city named “Babylon,” her relati...
Dec 20, 2024•25 min•Season 6Ep. 241
Revelation is full of imagery and symbolism that continues to spark discussion and debate among believers, but the overall impression that we should get from these prophecies is that the end is under God’s full control; in his sovereignty and power He will execute his just wrath upon those who oppose Him, and those who trust Him are secured eternally, though not without temporary hardship. The beast will oppose God’s witnesses and deceive many. The dragon, Satan, will fight for glory and wage wa...
Dec 19, 2024•28 min•Season 6Ep. 240
In our last episode, Jesus appeared to the apostle John with instructions for seven churches. After this, John sees God seated on His throne, attended by four living creatures and 24 elders in white robes. One like a slaughtered lamb appears in the midst of the throne to open a scroll that has seven seals. In today’s episode, the lamb begins to open those seals. The first four seals release riders on horses, each with a different supernatural task. The fifth seal prompts the souls of those slain...
Dec 18, 2024•23 min•Season 6Ep. 239
Sometimes when you’re studying the Bible you can get so deep into study that you miss the forest for the trees. Such is often the case with the book of Revelation, as we try to peer deeply into symbolism and the order of events to decipher what the end of days will look like. One big takeaway that we ought not miss is this: Jesus is absolutely glorious and eternally victorious. Take notice of the sheer amount of text used to describe the glory that John sees and the ways that those in heaven ack...
Dec 17, 2024•30 min•Season 6Ep. 238
Not much is known about the prophet Malachi, (whose name means “my messenger”), but contextual clues suggest that this was written after the exile had ended. Enthusiasm for right worship of God had waned, and Malachi exhorts the priests to honor the Lord. Uniquely, Malachi presents his prophesy using a conversational pattern between the priests and the Lord God, wherein God makes a claim, the priests respond by asking questions, and subsequently the Lord answers. This book is a mixture of indict...
Dec 16, 2024•23 min•Season 6Ep. 237
In our final episode in the book of Zechariah, the prophet proclaims that Jerusalem will be secure from warring nations. They will be blessed further through spiritual reconciliation with God. He will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and on Jerusalem, and they will mourn for the one they pierced. On that day a fountain will be opened to wash away their sin and impurity. Living water from Jerusalem will flow in abundance, Like the prophet Isaiah, Zechariah predicts that...
Dec 13, 2024•24 min•Season 6Ep. 236
Zechariah prophesies that judgment is coming for Zion’s enemies, but in a surprising reversal after their punishment, God will call them to be a part of his people as a remnant. Later, Zion is called to rejoice, for their king is coming. He is described as being victorious, righteous and humble all at once, even riding a donkey instead of a mule as was customary for kings. The Lord promises to restore his people and defend them from their enemies. Finally, Zechariah takes on the role of a shephe...
Dec 12, 2024•23 min•Season 6Ep. 235
We’re picking up where we left off in the collection of visions that Zechariah saw, today looking at visions six, seven and eight. The vision of the flying scroll is an indication that God’s just law is about to be executed in the land. Wickedness is personified as a woman who is taken captive and sent away to Babylon to be worshiped. The eighth vision, like the first, includes four horses who patrol the earth, signifying God’s sovereignty over all creation. After this Zechariah addresses questi...
Dec 11, 2024•18 min•Season 6Ep. 234
The prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai; both prophesy to those exiles returning to Jerusalem, but while Haggai focuses mainly on rebuilding the temple, Zechariah sees visions of a future king. As such is the case, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John incorporate more passages from Zechariah than from any other prophet. In today’s reading, Zechariah prophesies through night visions; we’ll cover 5 out of 8 of them in this episode. One is of horsemen who patrol the w...
Dec 10, 2024•22 min•Season 6Ep. 233
In Peter’s second letter, the apostle writes to encourage the church to confirm their calling and election by exercising the divine power given to them for life and godliness. Peter warns them against false teachers who claim Christ but in reality are self-glorifying and treacherous, exploiting the church in their greed with made-up stories. Finally, Peter encourages the church to patiently await Christ’s second coming, for the judgment of the wicked is sure. Since this is a short epistle we’ll ...
Dec 09, 2024•21 min•Season 6Ep. 232
Like Jonah before him, the prophet Nahum preaches devastation and ruin for Ninevah, the capital of Assyria, a place of unparalleled power and wealth. Though they thought themselves to be secure from danger, their downfall came after nearby rivers flooded the city and destroyed part of the city wall, allowing Babylon to enter easily and set it ablaze. Later in Habakkuk, the prophet of the same name is recorded speaking to the Lord on behalf of his people. He openly and honestly struggles with und...
Dec 06, 2024•27 min•Season 6Ep. 231
The prophet Zephaniah extends an urgent invitation to seek the Lord and only the Lord. At the time of Zephaniah’s prophecy, even the priests in the house of the Lord were worshipping other gods. He predicts that a day of the Lord is approaching to eliminate those who rebel against Him, but in His grace, he will leave a meek and humble remnant. Later, in 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes to the church concerning how they should live in light of Christ’s impending return. Rather than live idle lives, t...
Dec 05, 2024•25 min•Season 6Ep. 230
As we finish out the second half of the book of Micah, we’ll immediately see another crystal clear prophecy; this one predicts that the coming Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, a small town that was unlikely to have anything significant take place within it. God promises that one day he will remove those earthly and idolatrous occupations which keep his people from worshipping him rightly, asserting that nations who have not obeyed him will receive his anger and wrath. Finally, Micah looks past...
Dec 04, 2024•23 min•Season 6Ep. 229
Given the time frame established by the prophet himself, Micah’s prophecies are astoundingly clear and accurate, as he clearly pronounces the fall of Samaria, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the coming captivity in Babylon. The people had grown comfortable in religious activity but they were excusing sin and denying the possibility of judgment. He urges God’s people to consider the nature and character of God Himself, and in so doing, they ought to repent in light of his justice and holiness. ...
Dec 03, 2024•27 min•Season 6Ep. 228
Joel is one of the shortest books of the Old Testament and is divided in two parts. The first half describes a plague of locusts that invade the land and destroy the land’s produce, threatening the survival of animals, people, and even grain offerings before the Lord. That section ends with a plea for God’s people to confess their sins, transitioning to the second half of the book, which contains promises of the Lord to restore and rebuild his people and the land. Interpreters debate about the r...
Dec 02, 2024•21 min•Season 6Ep. 227
On his second missionary journey recorded in Acts, Paul stopped in the port city of Thessalonica, preached in the synagogue, and a church formed in the city. In just a few short weeks, a riot began, and Paul was forced to leave the fledgling church body. Here in today’s passage, Paul attempts to answer some unresolved questions that they have covering an array of topics. Though they had some misunderstandings, overall, they appear to be a faithful, God-fearing church, laboring side-by-side while...
Nov 27, 2024•21 min•Season 6Ep. 226
Contrary to Victorian era illustrations and Michelangelo’s chubby cherubs in the Sistine Chapel, angels are always described as glorious and fear-inducing. Whenever someone sees a vision of an angel in Scripture, the person who sees them is dumbfounded and crippled by fear. In most instances, the angel has to tell the person not to fear and followed by supernatural help to recuperate. Such is the case with Daniel, who receives an interpretation of his vision from an angel. There’s far too much t...
Nov 26, 2024•25 min•Season 6Ep. 225
We are now in the second half of Daniel which focuses on the dreams and visions that Daniel himself received. These visions include imagery of beasts, animals, and horns, representing kingdoms and the kings who come from them. Some of what Daniel sees is explained within the text itself while some remains the topic of debate and speculation to this day. Some, however, has clearly been fulfilled, like the goat which tramples the ram. The goat is the Greek Empire and it’s conspicuous horn is Alexa...
Nov 25, 2024•29 min•Season 6Ep. 224
There are a few different ways to look at the structure of the book of Daniel, and one of them is to note that the first six chapters are comprised of narratives that contain prophecy, while the last six chapters are prophecies that contain history. These next three chapters each happen in successive time periods under successive kings whom Daniel served under, however, later chapters do not maintain chronological order. Each account shows God’s supreme authority over all kings and kingdoms. Tho...
Nov 22, 2024•30 min•Season 6Ep. 223
The book of Daniel is an extraordinary account of a young Judean exile who receives interpretation and prophecy from the Lord while serving foreign kings. Of particular significance in today’s passage is the statue that Nebuchadnezzar sees in a dream. The statue’s head of gold represented Babylon; its silver chest and arms: the Medo-Persian empire; the bronze stomach and thighs: the Greek empire; the legs of iron: the kingdom of Rome; and the mixed clay and iron feet: a continuation of Rome in l...
Nov 21, 2024•27 min•Season 6Ep. 222
The disciple Jesus loves, better known as John, continues to give us his account of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. As in the rest of his gospel, John points out the ways in which the death of Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures that preceded him. While all of the gospel accounts include the resurrection of Jesus, each one gives unique perspectives from the participants of what happened afterward. After Jesus reveals himself to Mary Magdelene, we read three accounts of Jesus appearing to t...
Nov 20, 2024•27 min•Season 6Ep. 221
As Jesus walks to the garden where he will spend his final moments with the disciples, he continues to divulge the relationship between the persons of the Trinity. The Spirit comes from the Father and submits to the Son. The Son commands the Spirit but submits to the Father. And the Father has authority over the Son and the Spirit while still honoring both as equal in divinity. Jesus prays for His present disciples as well as those who will believe in the future, asking that they might know the ...
Nov 19, 2024•27 min•Season 6Ep. 220
