In Psalm 72 – the king’s son, the writer praises the king’s son. Who is this son? And why is he deserving of praise? Psalm 72 Psalm 72 is a prayer for the king’s son. The psalm’s superscript says, “Of Solomon”, referencing David’s son and successor, Solomon. Was it a prayer by Solomon, for himself, […]
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The first line of psalm 45 speaks of a noble theme. What is this theme and what makes it noble? Let’s look at Psalm 45 – a noble theme, to find out. Psalm 45 – The Groom Another maskil by the sons of Korah, Psalm 45 is a wedding song. Other superscriptions refer to it […]
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A common device in crime shows and dramas is to allow your opponent to fall by their own devices. It’s a form of poetic justice. Or to use a phrase from Shakespeare, they are hoisted by their own petard. But did you know that this concept was around thousands of years ago in the shape […]
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During the second week of Advent we light the candle of Peace. I offer you a cup of peace – my reflections on peace through the words of the prophet Isaiah. Beating Swords into Plowshares In the 1980’s, members of the peace community decided to take the words of Isaiah 2:4 literally in what was […]
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I’m looking for a few good women or men, people who are more concerned with helping others than promoting themselves. No sense in looking in congress for such persons. If they are there, they are pretty much invisible. These public servants are too busy trying to ensure they are re-elected, doing insider trading, and protecting […]
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During the summer of 1980, I spent two months in the Dominican Republic, living in the mountains with two religious sisters in the small town of San Jose de Ocoa. At night I would sit in a rocking chair on the porch and enjoy the sight of the mountains. Much like the early Hebrews and […]
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“O Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!” (94:1) So begins Psalm 94, but what is this vengeance? Is God’s vengeance the same as human vengeance? Psalm 94 Psalm 94 is a lament in two parts. The first fifteen verses comprise a lament of the community against evildoers who oppress the most vulnerable […]
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There is a new sense of time that can come with age: gero-transcendence, or climbing over, transcending, age. Memories of past events from childhood seem like only yesterday. They are as real now as when they first happened. You can hold the past and present together in a new way you couldn’t before. The veil […]
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If it can be celebrated, it must be celebrated! At least that’s my thinking. I’m halfway through the book of Psalms. Once Psalm 75 is done I’ll have only seventy-five to go! That’s a reason for celebrating. A Cup of Spiced Wine Time to raise a glass of wine. “For in the hand of the […]
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There are an abundance of legal dramas on TV. The newest one, “Bull.” is about a trial consulting firm that uses psychology to get the optimal jury and persuade jurors to find their client not guilty. This is a far cry from the legal system of the Old Testament where judges reign supreme and God, […]
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