{"podcast":{"title":"Wise Counsel","slug":"wise-counsel-7060777","podcast_index_feed_id":7060777,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/fc29aa48/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robertsmithsound3","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/42205890/42205890-1781806866102-0ea09eea8170a.jpg","author":"RM Smith","episode_count":78,"summary":"Welcome to Wise Counsel, a daily five-minute devotional hosted by RM Smith. Each episode dives deep into biblical scholarship and Ancient Near Eastern context, offering concise insights into Scripture to illuminate its timeless truths and practical applications. Join RM Smith as he explores the cultural and historical backgrounds that enrich our understanding of God's Word, equipping you to navigate life's challenges with wisdom and discernment. Tune in for your daily dose of spiritual nourishment!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T02:17:37.888317+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/wise-counsel-7060777"},"episode":{"title":"203. The Edge of Holiness: Why Leviticus Forbids Trimming Beards","slug":"203-the-edge-of-holiness-why-leviticus-forbids-trimming-beards","published_at":"2026-01-12T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/wise-counsel-7060777/203-the-edge-of-holiness-why-leviticus-forbids-trimming-beards","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/wise-counsel-7060777","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robertsmithsound3/episodes/203--The-Edge-of-Holiness-Why-Leviticus-Forbids-Trimming-Beards-e3d7itk","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/fc29aa48/podcast/play/113543540/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-0-5%2F415543084-44100-2-883764c09851b.m4a","summary":"In this episode of Wise Counsel, host Robert Smith unpacks one of the Old Testament’s most puzzling commands: Leviticus 19:27 — “You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.” Was God really regulating hairstyles? Scholars like Dr. Michael S. Heiser and Dr. Carol Meyers show that this law wasn’t about grooming—it was about grief, identity, and loyalty. Robert explores how this rule separated Israel from pagan mourning rituals and declared that God’s people were to find life, not identity, in their covenant with Him.","meta_description":"In this episode of Wise Counsel, host Robert Smith unpacks one of the Old Testament’s most puzzling commands: Leviticus 19:27 — “You shall not round off t…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":376,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/wise-counsel-7060777/episodes/203-the-edge-of-holiness-why-leviticus-forbids-trimming-beards/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/wise-counsel-7060777/203-the-edge-of-holiness-why-leviticus-forbids-trimming-beards.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}