5 minute Bible » Humour

E100-49: Jonah 1:1 – 4:11: Jonah: a “Why’d he do it?” story

tim — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:41:23 +0000

These four chapters tell the story of God’s prophet Jonah (who attentive Bible students know from 2 kings 14:25:

He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.

This true prophet runs away from God, says a long prayer inside a fish, preaches a five word sermon and converts the capital of an unusually brutal empire, and then tells God off grumpily! The story of Jonah is told in ways that cause us to laugh, or at least smile. This book is funny from beginning to end – which is different from other Bible books even though many of them contain humour see the podcasts here.

What’s going on? and Why’d he do it?

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

There are a number of podasts if you want more on Jonah, or I have some study notes on the book of Jonah (not yet quite finished, or a longer lecture on Jonah.

God the exegete: 2 Sam 7: Part One

tim — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:13:00 +0000

This is the first part of a short series (it might only be two parts, who knows ;) on passages where God exegetes his own words.

In this part we’ll look at 2 Samuel 7, where David wants to build a ‘house’ = temple for God, since he already has a nice ‘house’ = palace for himself (‘house of cedar’ means a palace with expensive wood panelling). I’ll look at how God gives a four word speech and then explains in detail what it means. And in the process starts the punning and wordplay that lead to the superb promise to David, later in the chapter.

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

Sexual humour in Esther

tim — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:45:00 +0000

The book of Esther tells a terrible story, of attempted genocide averted. Too often Christian readers miss the humour in the story, of course some of it is sex related, and/or poking fun at gender expectations, so perhaps there are reasons for the blindness.

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

Jonah: Thoroughly fishy!

tim — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:12:00 +0000

Spotting the exaggerations and humour in the book can help us understand, but it also acts as a warning!

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

Humour in the Bible: Part 2: Still Introducing Saul

tim — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:30:00 +0000

Here’s a second instalment of Saul’s introduction… if when you are listening you have a Bible handy, open it to 1 Sam 9:11ff.

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio

Humour in the Bible: Part 1: Introducing Saul

tim — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:39:00 +0000

This is the first of what might need to be a long series! Just to do justice to the introduction of Saul in 1 Sam 9 I’ll need at least 2 posts…

Right-click here to save the podcast for this audio