Ancient Words, Modern Message

Each year in the springtime nearly every Jewish family in the world gathers in their homes to celebrate Passover which begins with the traditional evening meal called the Seder. Though there is great diversity within the Jewish community regarding their level of religious practice, Passover is one time when they are unified, moving together through the various components of the traditional Seder, as has generation after generation of their ancestors, with virtually no variation. Using a guidebook, a haggadah, Hebrew for “the telling,” written in whatever language they are most comfortable with, they move through “the telling” of the story of the first passover in Egypt 3500 years ago when their forefathers were released from centuries of slavery in Egypt through a series of plagues. But the Seder has an even deeper meaning and an even more important message for the Jewish people. It’s not just about family, friends, and remembering Egypt. In this episode of” Ancient Words, Modern Message,” in his fifth “Bagel-side Chat,” the Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship, Roger Wambold, shares some thoughts about the amazing symbolism of the broken matzo at the Seder table. So let’s settle in with a cup of coffee, and maybe a bagel, for this episode called, “It’s More Than Matzo.”

In 1956 a young senator from Massachusetts named John F. Kennedy and co-author Ted Sorenson published a book entitled Profiles in Courage featuring the biographies of eight U. S. senators who demonstrated remarkable courage in standing for what they believed was right at crucial periods in United States history. The book became an immediate bestseller and ultimately was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. In 760 B.C. a simple man who worked as a shepherd and a farmer in the Southern Kingdom of Israel was called by God to be a prophet to carry God’s message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Old Testament book which bears his name and records his message is indeed a profile in courage. We will read of the courage of this man, Amos, in today’s study of three sections of the book, the fourth study in this series entitled: “Amos: Simple Man, Profound Message,” an episode we call simply “Profile in Courage.” Before we turn to the study, allow me to mention that we would be happy to send a complete set of the printed notes for all six of the episodes in this study of the Book of Amos without charge upon request. If you would like to receive the set, contact us by e-mail at HCF1033@aol.com, by phoning our office at 215-256-4500, or drop us a line at: Hebrew Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 245, Harleysville, PA 19438. We would be delighted to hear from you. And now, let’s open the Bible to the book of Amos for this “Profile in Courage."

We don’t normally think of a farmer as one who writes poetry, which is why it is so surprising to learn that Amos, the 8th century B.C. shepherd and farmer from Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel, presented his entire prophetic announcement to the Northern Kingdom of Israel in poetic form. In this third study in the series, “Amos: Simple Man, Profound Message,” Roger Wambold discusses the uniqueness of Hebrew poetry and the prophet’s usage of it in an episode entitled, “The Power of Prophetic Poetry.” So. . .let’s open our Bible to Amos Chapter 3, roll up our sleeves, and dig into this challenging, but rewarding portion of God’s Inspired Word.

While a careful study of the Old Testament prophetic scriptures can sometimes appear to be a very daunting prospect, the richness of truth and relevance to us today make such a study well worth the time and effort. So it is with this series of studies in the Old Testament book of Amos. It has often been said that with privilege comes responsibility, and that is certainly evident in the Holy Spirit-inspired words of the eighth century B.C. prophet Amos. With an open Bible turned to Amos 2, verses 4 through 16, let’s dive into this second study in the series, “Amos: Simple Man, Profound Message,” an episode entitled, “Great Privilege, Great Responsibility.”

In 2014 the Wambolds, Roger and Phyllis, began an informational and teaching ministry called “Shmooze, News, and Views.” Over the years, “Shmooze” (as it is affectionately known) has grown numerically and in popularity, with over twenty churches represented in attendance. Each session of Shmooze includes a Bible study, with most of the studies drawn from the Old Testament, including little known and seldom taught sections of the Old Testament Prophets. Since 2014 Roger has taught each of the twelve Minor Prophets, from Hosea through Malachi. We invite you now to step into the sessions of “Shmooze, News, and Views” as we consider one of the least known books of the Old Testament, the prophet Amos, in a series we call: “Simple Man, Profound Message.” We’ve entitled this first study of the book, “Amos: The Man and His Message.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

In our vast collection of personal memories, each one of us has some which are particularly meaningful for a variety of reasons. In this Bagel-side Chat #4 Roger Wambold recalls two particularly meaningful memories of his many times spent in Israel, their relevance to the founding of the mission which he directs, and to the situation in which the Jewish people find themselves today. Join us as Roger reflects on the past, with an eye toward the present and the future in this episode of “Ancient Words, Modern Message,” an episode we call simply “Meaningful Memories.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

The Bible is full of accounts of dramatic events involving the people of God, events in which God has displayed His unique character and power. One of these events took place during the reign of the thirteenth king of the Southern Kingdom of Israel, King Hezekiah. When it appeared that defeat and destruction at the hands of the mighty Assyrian army was inevitable, in response to the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah the Prophet, God moved in a spectacular way. We will learn about this dramatic event in this sixth and final episode in the series, “Not Perfect, but Good: Studies in the Life and Reign of King Hezekiah,” along with the reminder that Hezekiah’s God is our God and that He specializes in doing that which only He can accomplish, for His honor and glory. He did it then, and He can do it now! So let’s get right into our study in an episode we have entitled, “Against All Odds!” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

In 1980 country singer Mac Davis recorded a song he had written with the whimsical lyric: “Oh, Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” That record quickly climbed to the top of the charts, probably because it was so outrageous for anyone to claim to be perfect! Nearly everyone is aware of his or her own flaws and imperfections, but the good news is that God delights in using people who are not at all perfect and in doing great things through them, in spite of their flaws. The history of the kings of the Southern Kingdom of Israel includes one king who is described as the best of the good and godly rulers. . .and yet, he was not perfect. We’ll learn of his major character flaw and what it means to us in this fifth in the series entitled appropriately, “Not Perfect, But Good: Studies in the Life and Reign of King Hezekiah,” an episode we call “Great Treasure in Not-So-Great Containers.” Thanks for joining us in this study designed to encourage all of us who are far less than perfect! --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

There are a number of time honored mottos which have been a great encouragement to Christians throughout the ages, among which is this one: “Prayer changes things!” While the Bible is full of instances in which “things” were “changed” by prayer, one of the most dramatic is found in the Old Testament record of the life and reign of King Hezekiah. In this early part of a new year, perhaps more than ever we need a reminder of the power of prayer and, in King Hezekiah’s own words recorded in Isaiah 38:19-20, a reminder that. . . “. . .the LORD was ready to save me; therefore, we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.” Let’s learn more about this as we consider the fourth in this series entitled, “Not Perfect, but Good (Studies in the Life and Reign of King Hezekiah,” an episode entitled simply, “The Power of Prayer.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

While there is no certain answer regarding where the expression, “It’s lonely at the top,” came from, we do know that the expression, “The buck stops here,” was a sign that President Harry S. Truman kept on his desk in the oval office. These are just two sayings having to do with leadership, but there are many, many more. It is sometimes said that in a certain nation at a certain time in history there was “a crisis in leadership.” In late eighth century B.C. Israel under King Ahaz, there was no crisis in leadership, but there was a desperate crisis in the right kind of leadership. It remained for his son, King Hezekiah, to begin his reign when the right kind of leadership would be displayed dramatically, along with its desirable results. We’ll learn about that in this third episode in a six-part series called, “Not Perfect, But Good” (Studies in the Life and Reign of King Hezekiah), an episode entitled, “Leading in the Right Direction.” Thanks for joining us and let’s get right into it. --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

Shalom, and thank you for tuning in to this podcast, “Ancient Words, Modern Message.” I’m your host, Roger Wambold. In facing the enormous challenges posed by the societal and spiritual decline of our day, it is natural to ask the question: “What can I do, I am only one person and the task is so great.” A man named Hanani was sent by God during a time of monumental crises of all types in the Southern Kingdom of Israel under the reign of King Ahaz when he spoke these words recorded in 2 Chronicles 16:9, AV: For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Though Ahaz did not respond to the challenge, his son Hezekiah did, and the result throughout the Southern Kingdom of Israel was nothing short of astounding. I invite you to consider the impact of one godly man as you listen to this second in the series, “Not Perfect, but Good: Studies in the Life and Reign of King Hezekiah,” an episode entitled, “The Power of One.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

Welcome to this edition of “Ancient Words, Modern Message.” I’m your host Roger Wambold and today I invite you to settle in for the third of our “Bagel-side Chats” entitled “The Light of the World in the Festival of Lights.” In the month of December nearly all of the 15.2 million Jewish people around the world will enjoy the festive holiday of Hanukkah, with all of its traditional features, but many people, including most of the Jewish people, are unaware of the spiritual lessons to be learned at this season, especially as they light the Hanukkah candle stand and place it in their window on each of the eight evenings of the holiday. Please join me as together we consider the significance of that candle stand and how God can use it to convey a powerful and life-changing message. --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

Shalom! I’m your host Roger Wambold. In a recent series of “Shmooze, News, and Views” sessions I presented six Bible studies on the life and reign of King Hezekiah as recorded in the Old Testament. In view of current events unfolding in Israel and the Middle East, beginning on October 7, I believe that now, more than ever, we need to be reminded to look to God and His Word for solutions to situations and circumstances so complex and challenging that they defy human capabilities. Hezekiah was king at a time when his nation was threatened by the king of Assyria and a seemingly invincible military machine, but God intervened in astounding ways. At the center of this drama was a young monarch with a heart for God. And now, join us as we consider lessons to be learned from the life and reign of King Hezekiah in this first in a series entitled, “Not Perfect, But Good.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

In this episode of “Ancient Words, Modern Message,” Roger Wambold shares thoughts from the heart and personal experience regarding the War in Israel. He directs attention to the quest for real and lasting peace and how it can be achieved. Join us and listen in to “Bagel-side Chat #2.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

In one of the more difficult passages of Old Testament prophetic scripture to understand, Zechariah uses an easily understood metaphor to describe Israel’s past history and future destiny. Within the passage are several very specific prophecies, one of which was precisely and amazingly fulfilled in the betrayal of Jesus by Judas five hundred years later, and others which remain to unfold. Join us as we carefully make sense of this challenging text in our study of “The Tale of the Sheep and the Shepherds,” sixth and last in this series entitled, “Promises Made, Promises Kept: Studies in Zechariah seven through eleven.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

The old Gospel song written by Civil War Veteran Daniel Webster Whittle includes the line, “Showers of blessing, showers of blessing we need: Mercy-drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.” Those lines express the idea that while we are experiencing God’s blessing now, there is an even greater blessing that could lie before us, that for which we plead. The Jewish people of Zechariah’s day who had returned from exile in Babylon to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem were experiencing God’s blessing, but the prophet challenges them to ask God for an even greater blessing as a nation, not just mercy-drops, but showers of blessing. Join us as we consider the prophet’s message in this fifth in the series of studies of Zechariah seven through eleven entitled, “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” a study we call “Mercy-drops and Showers.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

The Jews who returned home from exile in Babylon in the sixth century B.C. faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives and their temple in Jerusalem, dealing with opposition from hostile neighbors and their own frailties. Through His prophet God encouraged them with an amazing glimpse of what He would do for them in the future as a promise of His help in the present. Join us for a study entitled, “Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow,” fourth in this series from Zechariah seven through eleven which we call, “Promises Made, Promises Kept.” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

Have you ever noticed how easily we can be distracted from pursuing that which is most important by the allure of that which is of secondary importance? The Jewish people of the sixth century B.C. were released from exile in Babylon for the express purpose of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem, but they were soon sidetracked and neglected that most important work, resulting in a lack of real fulfillment and satisfaction. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah called them back to “first things” with the assurance of blessing which would follow as we will see in this third study in the series, “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” an episode we call, “You’ve Done It Your Way; Now Do It God’s Way!” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

In this second in a series of studies from Zechariah seven through eleven entitled, “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” the Old Testament prophet declares God’s message regarding the future of the land of Israel and its largest city, Jerusalem, a future radically different from its past, a future which can only be brought about by an almighty God. Join us in this study of “This Land is HIS Land!” --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

In this latest episode of “Ancient Words, Modern Message” Roger Wambold introduces a new series of studies from the book of Zechariah entitled, “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” focusing on chapters seven through eleven of this amazing piece of Old Testament Literature. Join us as we consider the prophet’s challenge to his fellow Jews and to us as, through him, God points to the serious results of spiritual amnesia. --- Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.