Anthony Delgado 11/10/25 Anthony Delgado 11/10/25

The Tale of King Keret

To the ancients, kingship wasn’t merely a human institution; it was divine. We often note how the nations surrounding Israel believed their kings were appointed by the gods and even regarded as sons of the gods. The Tale of King Keret, an Ugaritic myth from the Canaanites, offers one of the clearest examples of that idea. It tells of a broken king whose dynasty has fallen, weeping until the high god El appears to him in a dream and promises to restore his line through divine favor. Keret’s authority, victories, and even his children are granted by the will of the gods, showing how the Canaanites equated royal power with divine appointment. This story illustrates the theology of kingship in the ancient Near East and illumines the cultural backdrop against which Israel’s own view of covenantal kingship emerged.

Anthony Delgado 10/28/25 Anthony Delgado 10/28/25

Becoming God's Family by Carmen Joy Imes [REVIEW]

Carmen Joy Imes’s Becoming God’s Family: Why the Church Still Matters (IVP Academic, October 28, 2025) addresses contemporary disillusionment with the church by presenting a biblical theology of God’s presence among His people. Completing a trilogy that began with Bearing God’s Name (covenant and law) and Being God’s Image (creation and identity), this volume explores the church as God’s chosen family, intergenerational and global, called to embody His mission despite scandals, polarization, and deconstruction. With endorsements from leading scholars and pastors, a foreword by Esau McCaulley, and resources like discussion questions and BibleProject links, Imes provides scholarly depth and pastoral care. Drawing from the full sweep of Scripture—from Abraham’s household to the church as the Spirit’s temple—she argues that God’s presence has always been tied to a gathered community, not isolated individuals, and that remaining in the church is central to Christian life and God’s redemptive plan.