Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE WOLF

THE WOLF*

In the Old Testament, Jeremiah talks about the godlessness of Jerusalem.

Run…through the streets of Jerusalem,

…If you can find a man, 

…who seeks the truth, 

…I will pardon her.

Though they say, 

‘As the Lord lives’, 

Surely they swear falsely. 

…You have stricken them, 

but they have not grieved;

You have consumed them, 

but they have refused to receive correction.

They have made their faces harder than rock;

 they have refused to return.

…they do not know the way of the Lord, 

the Judgement of their God.

Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them,

A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them;

…Because their transgressions are many;

Their backslidings have increased. 

(Jeremiah 5:1-4,6)

Wild animals such as lions and wolves have long been associated with evil and evil activities. This is why Peter compares Satan to a lion when he says:

Be sober, be vigilant; 

because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, 

seeking whom he may devour. 

(1 Peter 5:8)

And the same with regard to the wolf when John states:

But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, 

one who does not own the sheep, 

sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; 

and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 

(John 10:12)

John, of course, is referring to the Israelites as being as a flock of sheep, helpless without a shepherd, i.e. Christ, to lead and guide them. Without a true shepherd, they are, like all of us, prone to evil and to be scattered either by wolves or lions or whatever. It is interesting that perhaps the most dramatic instance of the near destruction and scattering of the Jewish people occurred during the Holocaust under the Nazi regime. And it is even more interesting to note that Hitler’s first name Adolf means “The wolf”.

In addition, Hitler apparently named one of his military headquarters ‘Wolfsschanze” which means “The wolf’s lair” and another “Wolfsschuct” which is “The wolf’s gorge” and even a further one was named “Werewolf”.

Even centuries earlier, John wrote about a wolf being the predator that will catch and scatter the Jewish flock. It is noteworthy to realize that in modern times it is still a wolf that has caused the greatest misery and grief to the Jewish nation. It is apparent that one should not ignore the warnings of old in the Bible.

And it is really something to think about. 

*Adapted from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn pg 252

Pastor Jasmine Trott Feb 22, 2026

 https://youtu.be/d0wSBB1X7fk

Pastor Matthew Trott Feb 15 2026

 

https://youtu.be/HPJme1Bl9Zc?si=Yqy9DWZ8bb6m9u7U

No "Something to Think About"

 

There will be no "Something to Think About" this week as Dr. Barclay takes a short winter break.

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 31

 

https://youtu.be/h7Es1RsTu8U

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PITCH

PITCH

There are many interesting details in Scripture which never seem to be pointed out in churches. One such is the use of the word “pitch” in the Old Testament. In Genesis 6, God tells Noah to:

 

Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; 

make rooms in the ark, 

and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 

(Genesis 6:14)

In the story of the flood in Genesis, Noah and his family are saved by God via means of an ark during the time when God decided to destroy mankind by means of a flood because of the great wickedness in the world. Noah was told to make the ark as above and seal it with pitch. Now the word used for pitch in this case is “kaphar” - a word used only in this instance.  In other instances, where a word for a coating substance is used, the word “zepheth” is employed.

So why is there a change in words when essentially the same meaning is to be implied in both cases? Is it because there is an allegorical meaning in the first instance? The rain and flooding in the story of Noah's ark is representative of the wrath of God being delivered on the earth with the destruction of all living. The ark was, of course, the means by which God provided for those who had found favour with Him due to their righteousness. But even that by itself was apparently not enough, for even a well-built boat can still leak if not sealed properly and that, of course, is what pitch is for, to seal the boat thoroughly inside and out.

But the word “Kaphar” used in Genesis also means “atonement” defined as the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind*. Atonement is used for the first time in Leviticus:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, 

and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; 

for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

(Leviticus 17:11)

As it was the pitch that kept the ark watertight and safe, so it is the blood of Christ that keeps us safe with God and the Holy Spirit. This may be why, in Ephesians, we are told:

…we have redemption through His blood [when]…

 In Him you also trusted, after you heard…

the gospel of your salvation; 

in whom also, having believed, 

you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise… 

(Ephesians 1:7,13)

The Bible has many small details such as this that makes the whole story in the Bible so much more interesting when we know about them.

Just one more thing to think about.

*Definition from Dictionary.com

Pastor Jasmine Trott - Feb. 8, 2026

 Click on the link for video.

Pastor Jasmine Trott - Feb. 8, 2026