In With the Old Testament

Trees are not just scenery in the Bible—they are one of its most powerful ways of talking about life, wisdom, kingship, judgment, and hope. Dr. William Rusty Osborne shows how this overlooked image ties Genesis to Revelation and changes the way you read the Old Testament. Host Tim Howe and Dr. Osborne trace the story from the garden’s two trees to the wisdom language of Proverbs and Psalms, then into the prophets, where kings and kingdoms are pictured as towering cedars, fragile stumps, and new shoots. Along the way, you’ll hear why the tree of life matters so much, how “shade” and “fruit” become loaded biblical symbols, and why Isaiah’s stump of Jesse and Jeremiah’s righteous branch point to a coming Messiah.You’ll discover:Why Adam and Eve’s choice was really about wisdom, life, and trustHow Psalm 1 turns a righteous person into a planted treeWhy prophets use trees to describe royal power, pride, and collapseWhat Ezekiel’s cedar imagery reveals about judgment and restorationHow the Bible’s final tree-of-life scene reframes healing, worship, and the presence of GodThis episode also explores the limits of metaphor without flattening the text, including careful discussion of the cross, the language of being “hanged on a tree,” and how New Testament writers continue the Bible’s tree imagery in Jesus’ teaching, John’s vine-and-branches language, Romans 11, and Revelation 22.If you want a deeper grasp of the Bible’s connected storyline, or you’ve ever wondered why trees show up everywhere from Eden to the New Jerusalem, this conversation will sharpen your reading and enrich your faith.Dr. William Rusty Osborneis a professor of biblical and theological studies at College of the Ozarks in Missouri. His research focuses on Old Testament hermeneutics, Ezekiel, divine blessing, and biblical metaphor theory, and he is author and co-editor of several books, including the forthcoming Biblical Tree Imagery in Natural and Human Contexts: A Planting of the Lord.Timestamps00:00 — Introduction to Dr. William Rusty Osborne and the theme of trees in Scripture01:31 — Why trees matter across the biblical storyline04:08 — Genesis, the garden, and humanity’s relation to creation05:49 — Why God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil07:09 — Wisdom, temptation, and the tree of life10:31 — The tree of life as sustaining life in God’s presence11:24 — Tree-of-life imagery in Proverbs and the Psalms13:32 — Trees as sources of life, resources, and royal garden imagery18:25 — Jotham’s fable in Judges 9 and trees as political metaphor21:06 — Psalm 1 and the righteous person as a planted tree24:48 — Psalm 52 and Psalm 92 on flourishing like a tree27:55 — Metaphor, wisdom, and royal tree imagery in the prophets29:44 — Ezekiel 31 and the downfall of Assyria as a towering cedar34:15 — Ezekiel 17 and the promise of a restored royal branch37:35 — Isaiah 11 and the shoot from the stump of Jesse41:50 — Jeremiah 33 and the righteous branch for David43:26 — Tree imagery in Jesus’ teaching and the New Testament46:34 — Romans 11, grafting, and Jew-Gentile unity47:03 — Why Peter’s “tree” language is difficult to connect directly to the Old Testament motif49:56 — The symbolic reversal of life imagery into curse and shame in the cross53:47 — Revelation 22 and the return of the tree of life57:05 — Dr. Osborne’s current projects on Ezekiel, biblical tree imagery, and Jeremiah

Was God punishing David for a sin God himself caused? 2 Samuel 24 is one of the strangest and most troubling stories in the Old Testament, and this episode pulls it apart piece by piece to show why it is actually a story about pride, mercy, and atonement. Tim Howe takes you into David’s military census, the devastating plague that follows, and the shocking reason this judgment lands so hard. You’ll see why David’s choice matters, why Joab’s warning is more important than it first appears, and how the law of Deuteronomy 17 and Exodus 30 reveals the real offense behind the census. You’ll discover:why the text says God was angry with Israel before David ever counted the troopshow to understand the language of God “stirring up” David without making God the author of sinwhy the parallel account in 1 Chronicles raises the question of Satan, and how that fits the bigger biblical picturehow David’s census echoes Pharaoh and violates the logic of covenant kingshipwhy the threshing floor of Araunah matters so much, and how David’s refusal to offer God something that “costs nothing” marks a turning point in his repentanceThis episode also shows why the plague is not random punishment, but a severe mercy that exposes hidden pride before it can do even greater damage. Rather than treating the story like a theological trap, Tim shows how it points to a King who never placed himself above the law, never exploited his people, and always carried their burden. If you have ever struggled with the hard sayings of the Old Testament, this is essential listening. It will give you a clearer view of David, a deeper appreciation for God’s justice, and a far greater awe for the One who truly lays down his life for his sheep. Perfect for anyone who wants to understand the Old Testament more deeply, wrestle honestly with difficult passages, and see how this bizarre story points forward to Christ.Timestamps00:00 - Why David’s census is such a bizarre story00:56 - Setting the context at the height of David’s reign01:23 - Reading 2 Samuel 24 06:02 - David’s mighty men and the end of the major threats06:51 - Why the text says God was angry with Israel08:26 - Did God cause David to sin?08:56 - Why 1 Chronicles says Satan incited David10:46 - What the Hebrew word “adversary” may mean12:13 - Could a foreign enemy have triggered David’s pride?13:40 - Why Israel’s king should live under a different standard15:57 - Deuteronomy 17 and the law for a true king17:55 - Why the census was such an egregious sin18:53 - Counting as an act that mimics God’s sovereignty19:49 - David’s sin compared to Pharaoh’s20:47 - The ignored ransom procedure in Exodus 3022:38 - Why David’s action put the whole nation at risk23:37 - Why God gave David three choices24:33 - The curses echo Deuteronomy 2825:30 - Why David chose the option that spared him personally26:27 - The plague spreads from Dan to Beersheba27:25 - David finally identifies with the suffering sheep28:23 - Why David insists on paying full price for the threshing floor29:52 - What David’s repentance now looks like30:21 - Why exposing sin was itself an act of mercy31:47 - How God guided David into full repentance32:18 - God’s atonement limits the damage33:14 - Lessons on humility, stewardship, and leadership34:15 - Sin’s consequences spill onto other people35:07 - The threshing floor and the future temple site35:36 - David’s failure contrasted with the Good Shepherd36:33 - The sacrifice points forward to Christ36:59 - Gratitude for God’s mercy toward David37:41 - Closing thoughts and next episode teaser

This episode examines one of the Old Testament’s most puzzling scenes from 2 Kings 2:23-25 and asks what really happened at Bethel. Tim Howe walks through the historical context, the Hebrew language, and the covenant background to show why this story is more than a simple tale of an angry prophet and a bear attack. The result is a sharper picture of Elisha’s role, Israel’s idolatry, and how God’s judgment and mercy work together. In this episode, Tim Howe explains why the phrase translated “small boys” likely refers to older youths or young men, not little children. He also connects the insult to Bethel’s idolatrous history, Elisha’s prophetic authority, and the covenant warnings in Leviticus 26.Key topicsTim frames 2 Kings 2:23-25 as part of a larger sequence proving that the spirit of Elijah now rests on Elisha.Bethel is identified as a center of pagan worship established under Jeroboam, which gives the confrontation a strong idolatry context.The phrase translated “small boys” is argued to be flexible Hebrew wording that can describe teens, young adults, or military-age men.Tim cites examples from to show the phrase does not necessarily mean little children.The group’s mockery is interpreted as intentional and organized, not a random insult from passing children.“Go up, baldy” is explored as a possible taunt about Elisha’s succession to Elijah, his legitimacy, and even a challenge to worship at Bethel’s false altar.The curse is presented as a covenant act, not a personal outburst, with Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 in the background.Tim emphasizes that prophetic curses in Scripture function as warnings meant to call people back to repentance.The bear attack is treated as a small covenant judgment that previews the greater discipline Israel would eventually face for persistent idolatry.The episode closes by applying the passage to Christians today, focusing on blessing rather than cursing, Christ bearing the curse for sin, and the call to reconciliation.(00:00) Why Elisha, boys, and bears is such a bizarre Bible story(00:30) Reading 2 Kings 2:23-25 and setting up the interpretive questions(01:25) Elijah’s departure and Elisha’s succession as the key backdrop(02:51) Why this passage belongs to a larger three-part confirmation of Elisha’s authority(04:16) Bethel as a center of idolatry and false worship in Israel(05:33) Why “small boys” may be a misleading translation(06:56) David, Absalom, and other examples showing the Hebrew can mean older youths(08:24) The importance of 1 Kings 20 for understanding the same Hebrew phrase(09:48) Solomon calling himself a “little child” despite being king(10:44) Why the group likely acted intentionally and not like random children(11:13) Why Elisha is probably not an elderly man in the scene(12:39) What “go up” might mean in the boys’ taunt(14:29) A stronger reading of the insult as a challenge to worship at Bethel(16:25) Why “baldy” may be a jab at Elisha’s legitimacy as Elijah’s successor(18:50) Why the curse is about covenant judgment, not personal irritation(20:16) How Leviticus 26 frames wild animals as covenant discipline(22:38) Whether the bears mauled, wounded, or killed(23:35) Why an undeserved curse does not stand apart from God’s judgment(24:42) How the story warns against mocking God’s representative and message(25:39) Why the New Testament does not authorize Christians to curse people(26:36) Jesus taking the curse of sin upon himself(27:34) The ministry of reconciliation and the hope of life instead of judgment(28:32) Final takeaway: this is about idolatry, covenant warning, and God’s protection of his servants

In this conversation with host Tim Howe, Dr. Gary Schnittjer unpacks his book Connected: How Scripture Guides the Study of Scripture and explains why many modern Bible study methods start in the wrong place. Instead of building artificial bridges to get to the text, he argues that the Bible itself gives us the pattern for reading it well, because the biblical writers were constantly reading, interpreting, and building on what came before. Discover how Jesus reads Scripture in Mark 12, Luke 4, and Matthew 28, and why those passages are not random proof texts but carefully woven connections that reveal the shape of the whole story. From the burning bush to Isaiah’s Jubilee language to the Great Commission’s echo of Emmanuel, Schnittjer shows how the Old Testament is alive in the New and how Jesus models a deeply connected way of reading.We also explore the Old Testament’s own use of earlier revelation, why progressive revelation is not a modern invention but an organic feature of the Bible itself. It’s a valuable listen for Bible readers, teachers, students, and anyone eager to rediscover the unity, beauty, and authority of God’s Word.Gary Schnittjer is Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Cairn Theological Seminary and the author of The Torah Story, The Old Testament Use of the Old Testament, and Connected: How Scripture Guides the Study of Scripture. You can find the book here.00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Gary Schnittjer and Connected 01:11 — Why study the Bible through the Bible’s own teaching? 05:41 — Scripture as an interconnected story, not isolated books 07:48 — Mark 12: Jesus, the Sadducees, and the resurrection 12:31 — Luke 4: Jesus’ reading of Isaiah and the meaning of Jubilee 18:33 — Jesus’ formation in Scripture and the Old Testament as his Bible 21:46 — Matthew 28: The Great Commission and Matthew’s literary bookends 28:24 — How the Old Testament interprets earlier Old Testament revelation 35:59 — Can readers today interpret Scripture as the biblical authors did? 38:09 — How to see Christ in the Old Testament without forcing him into every verse 43:20 — Reading and rereading Scripture: Jonah, Nineveh, and God’s grace 47:54 — Practical encouragement for new Bible readers 50:02 — Gary’s upcoming book, The Verses We Hate 52:14 — Closing thanks and farewell

In this episode of In with the Old, host Tim Howe talks with Dr. Patrick Schreiner, professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, about his book The Four Senses of Scripture: Learning from Ancient Ways of Reading the Bible. They explore why Scripture should be read differently from other books, how divine authorship shapes interpretation, and why the church has historically recognized multiple senses of meaning in the Bible. The conversation focuses on the relationship between the literal sense and spiritual interpretation, with attention to Old Testament examples, New Testament usage, and the risks of subjective readings. It is especially useful for readers who want a more canonical, Christ-centered way of reading Scripture without abandoning historical context.You can purchase the book at https://www.amazon.com/Four-Senses-Scripture-Learning-Ancient/dp/1540968790.Key topicsWhy the Bible is unlike any other book because it has both human authors and a divine authorInspiration, inerrancy, and why dual authorship matters for interpretationHow the grammatical-historical method compares with the older fourfold sense of ScriptureThe quadriga (four senses): literal (grammatical-historical), allegorical (Christological), tropological (moral), and anagogical (eschatological)Examples including John’s signs, Jesus turning water into wine, the feeding of the five thousand, and circumcision of the heartHow Scripture often teaches readers how to read ScriptureHow modern readers can recognize spiritual meaning without claiming inspiration themselvesCanon, rereading, and whether the Old Testament should be approached differently after Christ has been revealedThe dangers of spiritual readings that dismiss the literal or ethical force of the textGuardrails for spiritual interpretation: do not contradict the literal sense, look for correspondence, read for canonical volume, and trace escalationTimestamps 0:00 — Welcome and Introduction0:33 — Introducing The Four Senses of Scripture1:08 — Divine and Human Authorship of Scripture5:13 — What Is the Fourfold Sense?13:00 — Can We Read Scripture Spiritually Today?16:21 — The Old Testament’s Use of the Old Testament19:34 — Moving from Literal Meaning to Spiritual Meaning25:17 — Christ, Canon, and the Meaning of Words29:32 — First Readings, Rereadings, and Progressive Revelation35:50 — Why Spiritual Reading Must Not Dismiss the Literal Sense43:13 — When Symbols Help—and When a Tree Is Just a Tree46:30 — Holding Canonical Reading and Historical Development Together51:23 — John’s Gospel and the Depth of Biblical Symbolism53:46 — Four Guardrails for Reading the Spiritual Sense56:04 — Confidence, Certainty, and Canonical Interpretation61:05 — Final Reflections63:16 — Closing and Farewell