We are all called to fill multiple roles during our life. In chapters 5-8 of God at Work, Veith (2002) explains the importance of each of these vocations and how they intermix with each other. In looking at each of these, it is important to note that one vocation does not carry more power than another. Veith explains how God works through us in each of the vocations of worker, family member, citizen, and church member to love and serve our neighbor.…
The overall significance of the parallelism of Psalm 1 is the manner in which the godly are continually blessed while the ungodly are condemned. Circumstances of the godly are described positively while the ungodly are described negatively. The choice to live godly brings forth fruit while the choice of ungodly brings…
In James 5:14-15 it states, “14) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15) And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”…
Psalm 139 is written after the author has a divine encounter about God’s character and the intimate knowledge he has of them. The author’s word choice can be further understood by studying in the original Greek/Hebrew words within the text that carry deeper meanings. Psalm 139:1 English standard version translation says.…
God declares all the glory and wants us to praise Him. We sing songs to worship His name. Psalms contains the hymns of the Bible. Christians are commanded by God to sing praises unto Him. This book has broadened my worldview and has given me clearer understanding of music philosophy in the Bible and Psalms.…
In the passage Matthew 14:22 – 33, Matthew describes the scene in which the boat housing the disciples is being fiercely beaten by the waves in the ocean. The disciples have been alone, straining at the oars and struggling against the wind and the water for hours to keep afloat and they are tired. It isn’t until the fourth watch of the night that Jesus appears to them in the middle of the sea, walking on water. The disciples are fearful and Jesus dispels any doubts they may have had by using words of reassurance. Jesus says, “It is I. Don’t be afraid”.…
Biblical Literary Analysis: Daniel The book of Daniel has been interpreted to have many different themes throughout history. Themes such as power, pride, principles, and convictions have been drawn from the text. However, two themes accurately portray Daniel’s life and his circumstances: God’s faithfulness to His followers through their captivity, and the revelation of His glory.…
Psalm 68 is an amazing poem written by David that gives insight into the character and qualities of God as sovereign king of both Israel and the world. What is more, the psalm bounces back and forth from speaking to God; using personal pronouns such as ‘you,’ and at the same time David is telling the reader about God. Both of these methods lend well for worship. In addition, David was a king, so his perspective of God as king and the role of the king for his people threads all the way through the entire psalm. Psalm 68 lists specific qualities of God as king, shows his primary activities on behalf of his people and parallels to how King Jesus lived while on earth.…
There is a prevailing belief that to be religious is to be content with the truth of the Word of God. While I do not contest this, what I would suggest it that the prevalent understanding of the Word of God has been severely limited. The Word is not simply the text itself, but the context surrounding it--the context of its writing, the purpose being addressed, and the relevance of it. All these would require an understanding of the world to be able to situate it properly. In fact, this is something the Scripture itself encourages.…
There is a belief within the Church, that in the face of injustices, God’s punishment has increased and at the same time is unfair. This is due to not seeing punishment to those who act wrongfully, and what’s worse, it would seem that they are better off, compared to those who struggle to be better by the means of the Word (Malachi 3:14-15). In Psalm 73:1-4, Asaph expresses something related to the former, noticing that the unjust are prosperous and well off on their evil doings. That thinking is triggered by the forgetfulness that everything revolves around the will of God and the good of His children.…
The psalm states that the strength of the wicked, or those who receive their strength from places that are not of God, will be cut off or punished, but the righteous who find their strength in God will be honored (NASB Ps. 75:6-7). From a wider perspective, the psalm travels in a circle starting with a call to praise and ending with a vow of everlasting…
1. Introduction The origin of the name “Psalms” comes from the Hebrew language. In Hebrew the word “Psalms” means "praises" and in Greek it means "songs." Historically, the book of Psalms covers the time from Moses until the end of the exile of Israel.…
The old testament of the bible is notoriously marked by the number of deaths it contains. Outside of those who are struck down by God, or who die as a result of various conflicts, there’s a unique description of life and death in Genesis. The long, and rather dry, lineages that are present in Genesis are put in between longer biblical stories and serve as a tool for relating stories together, as well as providing a timeline for the events in Genesis. These lineages are rarely addressed in illuminated manuscripts of the old testament, except in the Old English Hexateuch, also known as Claudius B.iv. While this text is mostly famous for its unfinished miniatures in both the Winchester School style and the Rheims style, Claudius B.iv is also notable…
After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped” (2 Samuel 12:20, New International Version). I imagine Psalm 51 was David’s prayer when he went to the Lord. I wonder where we would be if in our times of tragedy, we went to the Lord in praise instead of complaint? Kidner describes the revelations behind Psalm 51, “It comes from David’s blackest moment of self-knowledge, yet it explores not only the depths of his guilt but some of the farthest reaches of salvation” (Kidner, 2008, p 206).…
Biblical Poetic Readers: Learning How To Know God Can you live in the world, partake of the ways of the world, and yet please God? Psalm 1 is written by an anonymous psalmist, however, the reader can see the psalmist knows God, as well as understands that life without him is bleak. The Wisdom of the psalmist has shined through this Psalm to create this illustration of a wonderful wisdom psalm, perhaps through personal experience or sometime in his life, God revealed to him the importance of the godly life, how life is without Him, and how He rewards us for having a relationship with Him. This psalm also includes the warnings and what precautions the reader should heed to, so the warning will not come to fruition.…