Two posts came across my Facebook last night.  One was from Douglas Green, one of my fellow students back in the 80s at Westminster Theological Seminary.  The other was from Tremper Longman, one of my Old Testament profs at WTS back in the 80s and 90s, as well as my doctoral advisor.  These two posts were written to remember Raymond B. Dillard on the anniversary of his death, October 1, 1993.  Ray was the very much beloved and highly respected chair of the Old Testament department at WTS until his way-too-early death from a heart attack at the age of 49.

Of course, students who have been in my Old Testament Introduction classes will remember the “Dillard and Longman” textbook.  Ray was a brilliant scholar, a master teacher, an excellent preacher, and truly had a pastor’s heart.  He had a tremendous impact on my life and teaching methodology.  For many years, I had his picture on the wall above my office desk, to remind me of the debt I owed him, as well as to remind me to strive for excellence in research and teaching.

So, on this the twentieth anniversary of his death, I thought it might be a good thing to direct my readers to a sermon of his, a sermon I heard for the first time over thirty years ago.  The sermon is entitled, “A Cup of Sour Wine.”  One of the reasons I do this here on the blog is that the sermon is a veritable model of biblical-theological preaching.  If you’re still having trouble figuring out what biblical theology is, this message will demonstrate for you what the homiletical results of biblical-theological study could look like. So, please, do yourself a big favor and listen to this sermon.  And please come back to this blog and leave a comment with regard to your reactions.

Jerry Shepherd
October 1, 2013