John Mark Hicks

Texts to Know Deuteronomy 4.32-40Deuteronomy 7.7-9, 12 (NIV)Psalm 67Isaiah 61.1-6Hebrews 12.18-241 Peter 2.9-10 (Structural Note: We need to remember that the Book of Exodus is itself part of a larger Story of the Torah: Genesis to Deuteronomy.  When the freed slaves arrive at Mt. Sinai the narrative slows down. Israel will remain camped at the […]

Texts to Know Deuteronomy 16.1-8Deuteronomy 26.1-15Joshua 5.1-12Psalms 113-1182 Chronicles 301 Corinthians 5.7-8Matthew 26.17-39                                                       Outline of Section 12.1-27            12.29-39    12.43-49       13.1-16         13.17-14.29         15.1-21Passover/            Story       Passover        Firstborn/       Story                 Worship/Unleavened                                              Unleavened                     Moses & Miriam(Learning to Worship)                                                                              (Ike & Tina)                     Liturgy Encloses the Event of the Exodus in the Book of Exodus               (Outline adapted and modified from […]

START AT 3:00 MINUTE MARK Exodus 3: The NuminousWoodmont Hills ChurchSeptember 9, 2026 “Numinous, arousing spiritual or religious emotion; mysterious or awe-inspiring” I. Exodus 1-2, the Crises of Refugees & Aliens (The Egypt First Policy) – Irrational fear (1.12)– Shiphrah & Puah (1.15) break the law but “feared God” (v.21)– State Sponsored terror (1.21) II. […]

An Outline  The Abrahamic Promise (Genesis 12:1-7; 13:14-15; 15:5-21; 17:1-8) The Land Promise Israel In the Land What does the Land Promise Mean in the Messianic Kingdom? See my blog, “The Land as Our Inheritance,” https://johnmarkhicks.com/2009/10/21/the-land-as-our-inheritance/

In Micah 6, the prophet served as Yahweh’s prosecutor calling for witnesses, listening to the accused, and charging the defendants. They are not a people who pursue justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Through economic injustice and violence, the people have now received God’s verdict: invasion and exile. But hope is not lost. Who is like Yahweh? […]

Micah envisions the coming of a Davidic ruler who is peace. That reign will extend to the ends of the earth and mean that everyone will live in security and prosperity. Yet, before that time arrives, a period of purgation–like labor pains–is necessary so that the descendants of Jacob learn to depend on Yahweh rather […]

Just as the first section of Hosea concluded with God’s love for Israel and the promise of their return under a Davidic king (3:1-5) and the second section of Hosea closed with God’s compassion and love for Israel and their return to their homes (11:1-11), so the third and final section of Hosea ends with […]

This section in Hosea’s last oracle begins and ends with the language of “guilt” (Hosea 13:1, 16). This functions like an inclusio or two bookends that characterize the content. Israel is guilty because they worshipped Baal and because Samaria rebelled against God. Hosea brings this message home by retelling the story of Ephraim’s demise. They […]

This begins a new section in Hosea, the last of three. The sentence, “The LORD has an indictment” in Hosea 12:1 parallels the one in Hosea 4:1 that opened the second section of the book as well as the indictment in the first section (Hosea 2:2).  The first two sections are (1) chapters 1-3 focused […]

Since the beginning of Hosea 4, the prophet’s oracles have alerted and warned the northern kingdom of Israel of their approaching devastation and exile. The Assyrian empire is predatorial and expansionistic. They will occupy and annex the territory of Israel, and God will permit this due to Israel’s sin. While Hosea 4-10 has identified the […]