In Psalm 83 – do not be deaf, the psalmist is asking why God is silent, unresponsive to his pleas, like someone who doesn’t hear. But is it that God doesn’t hear and is silent, or is it the psalmist who doesn’t hear what God might be saying? Psalm 83 Psalm 83 begins with Asaph […]
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Do all dogs go to heaven? Some say yes, others no, and any variation in between. But why wouldn’t our beloved pets who shower us with unconditional love deserve a place in the next life? Our Love Affair with our Pets We Americans love our pets. And we put our money where our hearts are. […]
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Who are the “gods” in Psalm 82 – “gods”? Are they spiritual beings? Foreign gods? Or false leaders? Psalm 82 Another psalm attributed to Asaph, Psalm 82 – “gods”, begins with God in the assembly, delivering judgment. “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods.” (1) The word “gods” is from the Hebrew […]
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How do you announce the beginning of a party or festival? You start the music, or, as in Psalm 81 – begin the music, you blow the ram’s horn. Let the party begin! However, in this case, what follows is more a lesson in how not to have a great party. Psalm 81 In Psalm […]
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The image of God, the good shepherd, is highlighted in Psalm 23 and Psalm 80. What can we learn about God from this image? Particularly as found in Psalm 80 – Shepherd of Israel? Psalm 80 Another psalm attributed to Asaph, Psalm 80 – Shepherd of Israel, begins with a call to God, the shepherd […]
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In psalm 79 – nations, who are the nations the psalmist is referring to? What is the significance of nations? Psalm 79 A lament attributed to Asaph, but not Asaph of David’s time, Psalm 79 was written either by a later Asaph or someone writing in the school of Asaph. It is a psalm of […]
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Who are your “peeps,” your people? Friends? Family? Co-workers? Who are the people the psalmist refers to in Psalm 78 – my people? And why do they matter? Psalm 78 Another psalm by Asaph, Psalm 78 – my people “is the longest of the historical psalms. Its lesson is that history must not repeat itself. […]
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Living with COPD is challenging as I have been learning since my husband’s diagnosis. The first challenge is getting the diagnosis. Many people have mild forms of COPD. Because they are mild, they are often misdiagnosed as something else with similar symptoms. In my husband’s case, it took a trip to the Emergency room and […]
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Crying is one of the first forms of communication. Babies, in need of a bottle or a diaper change, will cry to alert their caregiver that something is amiss. They are not able to say exactly what is bothering them, but their cry is a signal that something is wrong. Sometimes we need to cry […]
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Is it possible to completely know ourselves or others? Much less God? In Psalm 76 – known, we hear how God is great, known throughout Judah. But what does that mean? Psalm 76 Another psalm of Asaph, Psalm 76 (NIV) begins by saying God is renowned in Judah. Other translations, including the King James, the […]
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