Haggai 2: 1-9 About three weeks passed between the day of Haggai’s first prophetic message and the work of rebuilding the temple began on September 24, 520 B.C. (Haggai 1:15). Given the deplorable conditions in the land and the scarcity of tools and materials, it is quite amazing that...

Haggai 1:1-15 In our previous Introduction, we noted that Haggai’s ministry spanned a period of 4 months. His writing is composed of four messages/ sermons which he received from God. In this segment, we will look at the first of these messages, which was delivered on September 1, 520...

Haggai 1:1 – 2:23 Among the writings of the Old Testament, there is a group of books we know as the Minor Prophets. This term likely applies, not to their insignificance nor lack of importance, but to the length of the writing and/or the short duration of the prophet’s...

Psalm 139 “God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food.” So begins the blessing many of us were taught in childhood and have passed on to our children. They are simple words – with a poetic rhyme – and flow easily from the lips...

Luke 15:11-40 Throughout most of the Christian world, the season preceding the great celebration of the Resurrection of Christ is known as Lent. The number of days/weeks comprising that season may vary. However, the general meaning is the same. It is a period of repentance for us so that...

Isaiah 7: 1-9 We live in troublesome times and the hearts of many people are shaking. The adversaries coming against us are numerous. They are both foreign and domestic, physical and mental, visible and invisible, secular and sacred. There is no need to list them here since you all...

Matthew 2: 1-12 It seems that throughout history, mankind has been fascinated and informed by the stars: Yes, people have always paid attention to the stars. So, it is little wonder that God chose to announce the birth of Jesus Christ by means of a star …. a very...

Matthew 1:1-25 On the Sunday before Christmas, we read the entire first chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. It contains two sections: the first is a listing of the human genealogy of Jesus Christ from Abraham to Christ.; the second is a specific event which occurred at the time of...

I Corinthians 13:4 In our previous segment, we noted that St. Paul turns to an apophatic approach to present the qualities of Christian love. You will recall that he utilizes the negative (what it is not) to describe what it is. So, he writes, “(Love) does not parade itself”....

Dear Friends, Greetings in Christ. Please accept my apology for not offering any posts on “Opening the Old Wells” for quite some time. I do not say this with any expectation that you have sorely missed them nor have felt somehow deprived. I have certainly appreciated the opportunities to...