Psalm 88 is a Messianic Psalm, but in indirect ways. Because the Psalm contains the words of the anointed King, it contains the words of Christ. The utter isolation and anguish of the Psalm is the utter isolation and anguish of Jesus. No matter how low we go, we’ll still find . . . . Continue Reading »
Israel, heaven and earth, the islands are to “rejoice and be glad” in Yahweh (Psalms 14:7; 16:9; 31:7; 32:11; 97:1, 8). The combination of terms is used in liturgical contexts; rejoicing and being glad is an act of worship. Then Proverbs 23:24-25: Father and mother rejoice and are . . . . Continue Reading »
In a 1985 article in Theology Today , James L. Mays notes how in Psalm 22 David is first surrounded by a demonic, bestial community to a community of friends, God-fearers, afflicted, and lowly, a group that is qualified as the “seed of Jacob”: “the group who celebrate his . . . . Continue Reading »
On the cross, Jesus is surrounded by “strong bulls of Bashan” with mouths that open like the jaws of lions (Psalm 22:12-13, 21). Why lions and bulls? Jesus on the cross is one like the Son of Man, triumphing over the beasts. Jesus on the cross is the temple, flanked by cherubim. . . . . Continue Reading »
1 Peter 3:10-12: He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His . . . . Continue Reading »
Idols have noses, but can’t smell (Psalm 115). That means, for starters, they can’t breathe in the aroma of sacrifice. So what’s the point of turning animals to smoke? It also means that they are not to be feared. If their noses don’t breathe in, they can’t . . . . Continue Reading »
Athanasius points out to Marcellinus that the Psalms cover every “eventuality.” They are a mirror of the soul because they are a mirror of human experience - of suffering, of desperation, of exultation, of thanksgiving, of prosperity, of adversity, of garden and wilderness, of . . . . Continue Reading »
No one would dare, Athanasius writes to Marcellinus, to take the words of the patriarchs, or Moses, or the prophets as his own. No one would dare imitate the prophets by saying “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand today.” The Psalms are different. When someone reads, . . . . Continue Reading »
The Aaronic blessing promises the “face” and “countenance” of Yahweh, and places the name of God on the people of God (Numbers 6:27). Psalm 44 explains these words of blessing. Yahweh’s hand drove out nations and planted Israel in the land (v. 2) because He shone the . . . . Continue Reading »
Psalm 105:28-36 lists the plagues. Some of them. But not in the order they happened. Instead of the ten plagues of exodus, there are only seven (darkness, water to blood, frogs, flies/gnats, hail, locusts, firstborn). Seven strikes a chord, as does the fact that the summary begins in darkness . . . . Continue Reading »
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