In this powerful episode of The Dig In Podcast, Pastor Johnny Ova sits down with Prof. Juliana Claassens, Old Testament scholar and author of Mourner, Mother, Midwife, to explore the rich and often overlooked feminine metaphors for God found in the Hebrew Bible.

Together, they discuss:

• God as mourner, mother, and midwife
• How Scripture speaks to trauma, injustice, and healing
• The impact of patriarchal theology and how to expand our image of God
• Why reframing divine metaphors matters for faith, justice, and human dignity
• What female resistance in the Old Testament reveals about liberation and divine presence

This episode is a deeply moving conversation about lament, hope, and the liberating face of God that has the power to comfort, challenge, and transform.

📘 Learn more about Prof. Claassens and her work:

• Mourner, Mother, Midwife
• Claiming Her Dignity (Liturgical Press)
• Commentary on Jonah (Old Testament Library Series, 2024)

🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations around the Bible, history, and theology. https://linktr.ee/johnnyova

#JulianaClaassens #FeminineDivine #Theology #HebrewBible #MournerMotherMidwife #DigInPodcast #GodAsMother #TraumaHealing #BiblicalJustice #ChristianFeminism #OldTestament #PropheticLament #WomenInTheBible

Support the show

What does it really mean to fear God?

In this powerful episode, Johnny Ova sits down with Old Testament scholar Prof. Bradley Cameron to unpack one of the most misunderstood biblical themes, the fear of God. Far from being a message of fear-based control, the Bible presents fear as something emotionally rich, theologically grounded, and deeply transformational.

Together they explore:

• Why the fear of God is more than just respect
• How the Hebrew Bible defines fear across Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Leviticus
• What the tabernacle teaches us about awe, ritual, and reverence
• Why the fear of God can draw us closer, not push us away
• How modern Christians can cultivate a healthy fear that leads to wisdom, joy, and relationship, not shame

Whether you've struggled with fear-based teaching or you're hungry for a deeper understanding of God’s character, this conversation brings clarity, compassion, and context to a vital biblical idea.

📨 Connect with Professor Bradley Cameron:
📧 bradley.cameron@wheaton.edu

🎙 Subscribe to The Dig In Podcast:
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnnyova
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vWGCsITnb4h5ZMSUCY4T7
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dig-in-podcast-w-johnny-ova/id1173741212

Support the show

Can you be faithful to God and still cry out in protest? Can you worship while you’re wounded?

In this episode of The Dig In Podcast, Johnny Ova is joined by Dr. William Morrow, Professor Emeritus at Queen’s University and author of Protest Against God, to explore the deep emotional and theological world of the lament Psalms. Together, they unpack how ancient Israel responded to suffering, why protest was once considered a holy act, and what it means for people of faith today who are walking through grief, trauma, or silence from God.

This conversation is honest, pastoral, and theologically rich. If you’ve ever wrestled with divine justice, questioned suffering, or wondered how the Old Testament speaks to modern pain, this episode will offer both clarity and compassion.

The Dig In Podcast is a long-form series that dives deep into Scripture, history, and theology, not to debate, but to discover. Every episode is built around curiosity, context, and the goal of helping listeners see the Bible with fresh eyes and open hearts.

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Protest Against God by William Morrow
• Dr. Morrow’s faculty page
• Learn more about Sound of Heaven: https://soh.church
• The Dig In Podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@johnnyova

👍 Like what you hear?
Subscribe, share this episode, and leave us a review. New episodes drop every two weeks.

Support the show

In this episode of The Dig In Podcast, Johnny Ova sits down with Dr. Iain Provan, respected Old Testament scholar and author of Seriously Dangerous Religion, to explore how the ethical vision of the Old Testament still speaks into the moral confusion of today.

They unpack the difference between biblical law and ethics, the prophetic message of Isaiah, and how to faithfully wrestle with some of the harder or more disturbing Old Testament texts. Dr. Provan also shares insight into his newest work Cuckoos in Our Nest and explains why understanding what it means to be human is one of the most urgent issues facing the Church.

If you’ve ever wondered how to read the Old Testament with wisdom and relevance, this conversation will open your eyes.

📚 Learn more about Dr. Iain Provan:
Website: https://iainprovan.ca
Seriously Dangerous Religion
Cuckoos in Our Nest

🎙️ Connect with Johnny Ova:
Website: https://soh.church
Podcast Hub: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dig-in-podcast-w-johnny-ova/id1173741212
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnnyova

Support the show

If God has always looked like Jesus, what does that mean for how we understand wrath, judgment, and justice? What do we do with the violence in the Old Testament, or the warnings of hell in the New?

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Dr. Brad Jersak joins Johnny Ova for a deeply theological yet pastoral conversation on one of the most urgent questions of our time: What is God really like?

Together, they explore:

• Why Brad believes Jesus (especially crucified) is the full and final revelation of God’s nature
• How this reshapes the way we interpret divine wrath, judgment, and Old Testament violence
• Whether the doctrine of eternal conscious torment fits the character of a Christlike God
• How to read Scripture through the lens of Jesus, rather than flattening all parts of the Bible equally
• Why many traditional views of justice fail to reflect the restoration, mercy, and nonviolence revealed in Christ

Johnny and Brad dig in with honesty, humility, and a shared passion for helping believers rediscover the God who is love, not abstractly, but as revealed in Jesus crucified and risen.

If you've ever wrestled with difficult portrayals of God in Scripture or longed to reconcile the Bible’s harshest passages with the kindness of Christ… this episode is for you.

🔗 Explore Brad Jersak’s Work:

• 📚 A More Christlike God
• 📚 Her Gates Will Never Be Shut
• 📚 A More Christlike Word
• 📚 Can You Hear Me?
• 🎓 Brad’s University (SSU)

🎧 Listen + Subscribe to The Dig In Podcast:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

#BradJersak #DigInPodcast #ChristlikeGod #JesusIsTheLens #Deconstruction #Wrath #Hell #Judgment #TheologyPodcast #Christianity #BibleStudy #OldTestamentViolence

Support the show

How can ancient Hebrew manuscripts help us understand the Bible more clearly, and what do they reveal about the Messiah?

In this episode of The Dig In Podcast, Pastor Johnny Ova is joined by Old Testament scholar and author Dr. Kevin Chen to explore the powerful story that unfolds through preserved Hebrew texts. From the Dead Sea Scrolls to the Messianic vision in Genesis, they unpack how the literary structure, repetition, and narrative design of the Old Testament all point to Jesus Christ.

Together, they discuss:

• Why Hebrew manuscripts still matter today
• How they confirm the reliability of Scripture
• The meaning of Genesis 3:15 and the promised seed
• What “nexus passages” are and why they matter
• How the Old Testament builds a redemptive arc toward Jesus

This conversation is rich, eye-opening, and deeply encouraging for anyone who wants to engage Scripture with context, clarity, and curiosity.

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Kevin Chen's work at Gateway Seminary (gs.edu)

📚 The Messianic Vision of the Pentateuch is available on Logos, Amazon, and other platforms.

Be sure to follow, rate, and share if this episode speaks to you. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a conversation.

Support the show

Dr. James Nogalski joins Pastor Johnny Ova on The Dig In Podcast to walk us through the Book of the Twelve, not as twelve random prophetic books, but as one unified scroll with a powerful message. From Hosea to Malachi, this conversation uncovers how themes of justice, restoration, and covenant all come together across time, space, and scribal design.

We explore:

• Why the prophets were compiled into one scroll
• How recurring themes create literary and theological unity
• The role of the Day of Yahweh and its misunderstood meaning
• What we miss when we read these books in isolation
• And why Jonah might be the most surprising book in the Bible

Dr. Nogalski is the Craig Professor of Hebrew Bible at Baylor University and has spent four decades researching this topic.

📚 Explore his books HERE

🎙 Hosted by Pastor Johnny Ova of The Sound of Heaven Church

💬 The Dig In Podcast explores Scripture with context, compassion, and curiosity.

Support the show

What really happened in Sodom and Gomorrah? Was it about immorality, or something deeper?

Dr. Dylan Johnson, expert in ancient Near Eastern law and the Hebrew Bible, joins Pastor Johnny Ova of Sound of Heaven Church to explore the historical, literary, and cultural context of this iconic story. From Mesopotamian parallels to the evolving biblical traditions, this conversation will challenge what you thought you knew.

It's now time to Dig In!

Support the show