Season 1: Torah, History, and Wisdom

Season 2: The Prophets

The Lord Roars

The Lord Roars Bible Study

Join one of this generation's foremost Old Testament scholars, Dr. Daniel Carroll Rodas, in developing a deep understanding of biblical justice and mercy. In the following video series, Rodas unpacks the question of biblical ethics with a specific emphasis on two questions:

How are the people of God to engage society?

How does theology interact with social structures from a biblical perspective?

These videos can be used for personal Bible study or within a group setting for Sunday schools or parish small groups.

Dr. Carroll’s book, The Lord Roars, compliments the materials covered in this study. Learn more here.

Dr. Daniel Carroll Rodas

Daniel Carroll Rodas is the son of a Guatemalan mother and an American father, who himself was the son of Irish immigrants. Dr. Carroll was raised bilingual and bicultural in Houston, Texas, and he spent many summers of his youth in Guatemala. Before returning to the U.S. in the summer of 1996, he was an Old Testament professor for 13 years at an interdenominational seminary in Guatemala City. His primary research interests are in the prophetic literature and Old Testament social ethics, areas in which he has many publications.

Dr. Carroll has a B.A. in English Literature from Rice University, a Th.M. in Old Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Old Testament from the University of Sheffield in England. He is Scripture Press Ministries Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy in the Graduate School of Wheaton College.

Season One: Torah, History, and Wisdom

Beginning at the Beginning

In this introductory episode, Dr. Carroll presents the goal and format of the study, the assumptions made about scripture, what he is not addressing, and explores various Bible translations, followed by an initial exploration of Genesis.

  • Image of God: Examining its democratic, royal, and priestly dimensions, unique against cultural expectations

  • Democracy, Royalty, Priesthood: how the image of God in Genesis is a radical and powerful lens for all humans, no matter what

  • The Coming of Death: A pivotal point is the anticipation of “death," leading to an exploration of chapters 3–8 to understand its implications.

Relationship Across Boundaries

The core mission outlined in Genesis centers on God's people being an active blessing to all peoples, as elucidated in the call of Abram in Genesis 12:1–3.

  • Exploration of Abram's geographical movement and the significance and particularity of his choice.

  • Emphasis on the mission of God's people as relentless instruments of blessing, that has physical and spiritual dimensions.

  • Focus on the significance of words, where God creates a nation rather than choosing one. Mission is the very reason for the existence of God's people.

  • Highlighting the pilgrim–migrant identity of all of God’s people, ours as well.

Us vs. Them

Dr. Carroll discusses the real-life mission of navigating identity relationships between "us and them" and delves into themes such as hunger, thirst, self-preservation, finding a home, war, rivalries, death, and injustice. 

  • God's role in the world: Seeing and hearing really matters, faithfulness to individuals and promises, engagement with humanity, exercising judgment

  • What makes God’s people God’s people?

  • Key emphasis on God and hope: what to do in a very dark world?

The Relevance of the Law

In this Bible study, Dr. Carroll explores the relevance of Old Testament law, considering it as a cultural and sociological reality both in general and specifically in the context of Exodus. 

  • Emphasis on the double nature of the law as both contextual and enduring

  • What are the foundational passages that uncover the cultural and societal significance of Old Testament law?

  • The law, yes, the law reveals God’s character of unabated and pursuing love, mending the world.

  • The old ways are erased in the wilderness, and then God gives his people a fresh blueprint for what a society should look like. It is different than anything previously seen or since.

Governance in the Old Testament

In this Bible study, an introduction to governance is presented with a consideration of its variations across different historical periods, including nomadic families, tribes, independent monarchies, subjugated monarchies, and foreign rule. 

  • Parameters for good governance: Character and anti-ideology

  • Exploration of the rise of the monarchy, its perceived need, and primary roles in the ancient Near East

  • Discussion on the cooptation of religion by national ideology

  • Lessons for contemporary governance from the Old Testament examples

The Significance of the Law

In this Bible study, an introduction to the Law is provided with a focus on understanding the narrative context of its giving. 

  • The identity of God’s people is that they are ones who “cried out” and “God listened” and “while you were slaves, oppressed, outsiders, and poor, I rescued you, so don’t forget”.

  • The Quadrilateral of the Vulnerable: the poor, widows and orphans, and foreigners

  • Exploration of the cultural context, considering both the broader setting's similarities and differences and Israel's unique cultural aspects.

Ethics in Wisdom Literature

In this discussion, Dr. Carroll emphasizes the importance of understanding the Bible beyond seeking one-liners on ethics, justice, and oppression. He argues that true understanding comes from becoming the right kind of people and learning how to read the scriptures. 

  • The book of Job highlights Job's commitment to justice and righteousness 

  • In the Psalms, prayer is an expression of commitment to living a just life

  • Proverbs is discussed as a guide for character formation, emphasizing the importance of wisdom and discernment in making ethical choices, such as the responsibility to care for the poor and needy

  • Ecclesiastes claims that life is inexplicable in many ways, yet under God’s sovereign hand

Models of Government

Dr. Carroll provides an overview of various historical Christian political models. Same Bible, different interpretations by faithful Christians.

  • Contrasting human monarchy models with God's ideal for governance

  • Challenges of reconciling biblical mandates with modern government structures

  • Exploration of the Anabaptist perspective, emphasizing imitation of Jesus' daily life and the creation of a distinct virtuous community

  • Lutheran model viewing government as an emergency order to control human violence, encouraging individual Christian vocation

  • Reformed tradition based on the cultural mandate

  • Contributions of black theology and liberation theology to political theology

Season Two: The Prophets

Exploring Prophetic Ethics

In this insightful study, an introduction to ethics in the Prophets is presented, emphasizing the call to have a prophetic imagination and voice.

  • Comparisons with the ancient Near East and sociological reconstructions of Israel's society

  • Exploration of reading prophetic books as literature and the formative impact of literature on individuals. What is the purpose and method of the prophet’s message?

  • Discussion of different genres of literature and their distinct formative ways

  • Examination of the concept of the prophetic imagination

Ethical Themes in Isaiah

Dr. Carroll provides fundamental perspectives for exploring the book of Isaiah. The study emphasizes the interconnectedness between social ethics and worship, particularly examining passages that delve into the challenges and choices presented. 

  • Examination of the realities of human arrogance that spills into worship practices

  • Addressing social sins

True Worship

Dr. Carroll encourages participants to engage with the Old Testament prophets not just for historical knowledge, but to learn God’s character and social change in today's world.

  • The prophets' main concern is: “what is true worship?” They critique social inequalities, exploitation, and neglect of the vulnerable.

  • The prophets represent how intensely God sees injustice and present a realistic picture of society's ills. Their anger stems from their deep concern for justice and their commitment to truth.

  • Understanding the prophets requires considering the historical and social context in which they spoke. Their realities, such as frequent wars and diseases, differed significantly from ours.

Signs of the Times

In this Bible study, Dr. Carroll discusses setting the stage for prophetic hope in the book of Isaiah. The discussion emphasizes the contrast between the destructive forces of the world and the promised restoration and harmony.

  • Diverse perspectives on eschatology are discussed, as well as the relevance of the present in understanding the future.

  • The study delves into Isaiah's visions, contrasting corrupt rulers with the hope of a future divine king.

  • The envisioned king is described as embodying wisdom, justice, and peace, bringing about a transformative era.

  • People often mistake patterns in current events (like the Black Plague and World Wars) for signs of the end.

The Prophetic Critique

Dr. Carroll reviews the prophetic hope found in the book of Isaiah, focusing on the coming king and the servant of the Lord, and begins to discuss the book of Amos. 

  • The coming king is a spiritual king who is described as wise, just, and filled with the spirit of God. This king will bring justice to the needy and poor.

  • Justice is intertwined with judgment. True justice requires both, and it cannot be achieved by the current systems which are skewed by social status, politics, and racism.

  • The coming king will bring justice on every level and make things right in creation itself. The current state of the world, with issues like climate change and drought,  shows the need for such a king.

  • Amos critiques politics, ideology, economics, religion, and the social construction of reality.

Condemnation and Redemption

Dr. Carroll surveys the prophetic critiques found in Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Zechariah.

  • The prophets condemn the powerful who are cruel and the religious leaders who are corrupt.

  • The religious leaders have false views of God and worship, which lead to a thoroughly corrupt society.

  • All of these prophetic books condemn injustice, but all also announce a different reality: wholistic redemption for the people of God and the world.

Christians in Society

Dr. Carroll reviews the key takeaways from the series of lectures on the Old Testament.

  • The importance of understanding the beginning of the story in Genesis for comprehending God, the world, and humanity's place in it.

  • The need for ethics due to the human condition of sin, separation, and death.

  • Law serves the purpose of organizing society and controlling human behavior.

  • The law given to the Israelites by God was different from the laws of other ancient societies because it was based on God's ethics of compassion and justice.

  • The concept of a "quadrilateral of the vulnerable" refers to legislation protecting the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners.

  • Criticism of the tendency of churches to focus on worship without emphasizing social justice and ethics.