Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 53

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Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - LOT'S WIFE

LOT’S WIFE

Through the pages of the Bible we are told to remember many things; particularly as they relate to God’s love, His mercy, and the way in which He rescued the Hebrews from the land of Egypt. We are also told to remember His ordinances, rules, and commandments so that our lives may be full and pleasant. Christ also said to remember Him at the table of communion when He said:

“Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you;

do this in remembrance of Me.” 

(1 Corinthians 11:24)

But really nowhere else in Scripture does it state that we are to remember anyone else except in one place. In one of the shortest verses in the Bible we are told to:

Remember Lot’s wife. 

(Luke 17:32) 

Lot’s wife was the one who was turned into a pillar of salt after looking back during the flight from Sodom and Gomorrah.

But [Lot’s] wife looked back behind him, 

and she became a pillar of salt. 

(Genesis 19:26)

This event, however, was not the reason we are to remember her, for she did what many of us do each day. She had been told, along with Lot and his family, to flee the city; the culture that was enveloping it along with the punishment that would soon befall it.

Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain.

…lest you be destroyed. 

(Genesis 19:17)

But Abraham, who had not been told to avoid looking back, did so…

…and he saw…the smoke of the land which went up 

like the smoke of a furnace. 

(Genesis 19:28)

So why was Lot and his family given the instruction to avoid looking back?

There is some evidence that Lot and his family were reluctant to leave behind the life they had been leading. 

…the angels urged Lot to hurry…

And while he lingered, the [angels] took hold of his hand, 

his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, 

…and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 

(Genesis 19:15-16)

Lot saying: 

"Please, no, my lords!" 

(Genesis 19:18)

Examining Lot’s wife and her subsequent fate, was it just because she looked back that God punished her or was it because she was reluctant to leave her old life behind? The Hebrews, during their travels in the desert, often bemoaned the fate that had befallen them and stated on many occasions that they wished to be back in their old life in Egypt. Being thus ungrateful to God for what He had done for them, He prevented most of them from going into the Promised Land and they perished in the desert. Like wise with Lot’s wife, it seemed to be her reluctance to leave behind her old life that really was the cause of her demise.

And it seems to be no different with ourselves. When we are saved through grace we are to become…

…a new creation. 

…if anyone is in Christ…old things have passed away; 

behold, all things have become new. 

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Therefore, one is not supposed to continue to look back with regret at their old life as the Hebrews did, but to constantly remember what God has done for them and look forward to their new existence, both here on earth and in eternity with Christ.

And that, in turn, is certainly something to think about. 

Pastor Matthew Trott - Aug. 2, 2026 Part 1 and 2

 

Pastor Matthew Trott - Aug. 2, 2026 Part 1

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Pastor Matthew Trott - Aug. 2, 2026 Part 2

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Blake Storey July 26, 2026

 

Blake Storey July 26, 2026

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Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Parts 51 and 52

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Parts 51 and 52

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For Part 52 click here

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - LULAV

                                                         LULAV*

It is interesting just how much of Jewish tradition, and therefore our tradition, is based on the story of the Exodus and the journey through the wilderness. In the book of Leviticus we read:

…on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, 

…you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days…

And you shall take for yourselves on the first day 

the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, 

the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook… 

(Leviticus 23:39-40)

There seemed to be specific instructions in this passage regarding the types of trees to be represented during the feast in question; the query then is to why? According to Wikipedia, a lulav is a closed frond of the date palm tree. When bound together with branches of the myrtle, and branches of the willow along with the etrog, a fruit of the citron, the whole was known as the lulav and was symbolic of the travel of the Jewish people through the wilderness.

The palm tree, which tends to grow in the valley areas, symbolized the sojourns through the valleys of life and that God never left them. As it says in Psalm 23:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; 

For you are with me…

(Psalm 23:4)

The myrtle tree, which grew more on the hillsides, tended to remind the people of the mountains they had to climb during their travels and again that God never left them and remained with them no matter how difficult the road became.

And the willow which grew near water or in more moist areas symbolized the life-giving waters that God provided for them in the wilderness. As the psalm also says:

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside still waters. 

(Psalm 23:2)

The other mentioned, of course, was the fruit of beautiful trees; the fruit being a reminder of the bounty and provision that awaited them in the Promised Land. As it says in Isaiah:

…thus says the Lord…

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; 

You are Mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned…”

(Isaiah 43:1-2)

The Lord was saying to the Jewish people that He would be with them in the valleys of life as well as when they were going through whatever mountain lay before them and that provision would always be there for them. And if they remained faithful, the fruit and promises of the Promised Land would eventually await them. Referenced again in Psalm 96 and in Isaiah 55:

 

Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. 

(Psalm 96:12)

…And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

(Isaiah 55:12)

The same promise is echoed in the New Testament when Jesus says:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(Hebrews 13:5)

What has been stated in the Old Testament is just said again in the New, just in different ways and format. The meaning, however, remains unchanged. And that is: God is always with us.

And that is something we should always be thinking about.

*Adapted from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Chan, p.g. 165

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TZEMACH

 TZEMACH

The word “Tzemach” is apparently the Hebrew word meaning to sprout, blossom, prosper, spring forth, etc. It evidently refers primarily to organic material coming forth from the ground. 

In the book of Zechariah, a branch is considered to be the tzemach because it is that which comes forth and starts in a small way before it enlarges, spreads, and encompasses a much larger space. In fact, Zechariah used this concept in a message of prophecy to Jehozadek, the high priest.

 

…speak to him saying…

‘Behold, the Man whose name is the Branch!

From His place He shall branch out, 

And He shall build the temple of the Lord;

…He shall bear the glory, 

And shall sit and rule on His throne… 

(Zechariah 6:12-13) 

This was not the first time the concept was used. In chapter 3 of the same book we read Zechariah saying:

…For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch. 

(Zechariah 3:8)

In addition, Isaiah used similar language when he said:

In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious… 

(Isaiah 4:2)

…when he referred to the time of the renewal of Zion. Also,

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 

(Isaiah 11:1)

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. 

(Jeremiah 23:5)

In those days and at that time

I will cause to grow up to David

A Branch of righteousness;

He shall execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. 

(Jeremiah 33:15)

And as John says in chapter 15:

I am the vine, you are the Branches. 

He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; 

for without Me you can do nothing. 

(John 15:5)

In a number of books then, prophecy refers to Jesus as being the Branch or the Tzemach; that which starts small and continues to grow until it encompasses much more than initially thought, eventually the entire world. And as it enlarges, the Branch eventually becomes the vine and we, in turn, become the branches to hopefully keep spreading what the vine has to offer: the Good News for all of us.

Something further to keep thinking about.

Adapted from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Chan pg 143