This week we’ve studied the parallel structure of Psalm 30. We’ve found matching points here, here, and here, and now we are left with verse 6, for which there is no match. It is the center of the structure. Because it doesn’t have a match, that means it is David’s most important point. What does heContinue reading “Confidence in the middle of pain – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 5”
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This too shall pass – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 4
As we study Psalm 30 this week, we’re discovering it’s parallel structure. We found its first matching pair of lines here, and we found its second pair here. To search for its third coupling, we first look at verses 4-5. These two verses are loaded with praise to God because, David says, God’s favor that lastsContinue reading “This too shall pass – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 4”
Prayer matters – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 3
As we learned in the previous post, when King David was in The Depths, his life, emotions and faith felt very dark. The reality of life in The Depths brings us to the next matching pair in Psalm 30. Look at verses 2-3. David remembers when he called to God for help. He remembers howContinue reading “Prayer matters – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 3”
How to pray when you’re down – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 2
The ancient Hebrews often uses parallel structures in their writing, and we see it throughout the Hebrew Bible, which we call the Old Testament. It seems that Psalm 30 was written with one of those structures. Here’s the way they work. The opening matches the closing. The second main point matches the second to lastContinue reading “How to pray when you’re down – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Part 2”
Can you feel others’ pain? – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving
The Netflix show Black Mirror is about the future. Each episode is a standalone, with no connection to the rest of the episodes, so they’re like mini-movies. The theme of Black Mirror is to imagine what the future will be like if medicine, artificial intelligence, social media and electronics continue to advance. In particular, BlackContinue reading “Can you feel others’ pain? – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving”
When pain is like a house guest that wears out their welcome – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Preview
The holiday season is in full swing, having started a few weeks ago with Thanksgiving and lasting until after New Year’s Day. During the holidays, many people will spend time with family. On Thanksgiving my family had lunch at my parents and dinner at my in-laws. Thankfully, they live only 5 minutes apart. Over theContinue reading “When pain is like a house guest that wears out their welcome – Advent Psalm of Thanksgiving, Preview”
Why humility, teachability and the Korean concept of Han are vital to confession – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 5
As we learned in the previous post, when we confess our sins, we are trusting in God. But there’s more. When we confess our sins, here is what we are to do next, as David writes in Psalm 32, verses 8-9, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; IContinue reading “Why humility, teachability and the Korean concept of Han are vital to confession – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 5”
Your mistakes do not define you – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 4
Confession is not easy. We can rebel at the thought of admitting even the smallest mistakes. So to help us learn how to confess, David concludes with some instruction in Psalm 32. Here is what we should do. First, in verse 6. “Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;Continue reading “Your mistakes do not define you – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 4”
What to do when our hearts feel stone cold – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 3
Israel’s great king, David, has sinned greatly, as we’ve seen in the previous two posts in this series here and here. But with some creatively devious evil thinking, he has covered his sin, and has just one more detail to care for. This is how the story continues in 2 Samuel 11, verses 26-27, “WhenContinue reading “What to do when our hearts feel stone cold – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 3”
The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2
David is in a terrible spot of his own making. He has slept with one of his soldier’s wives, and now she is pregnant. How will this king who is known as “the man after God’s own heart” react? In 2 Samuel 11, verses 6-9, David concocts a plan: “So David sent this word toContinue reading “The perfect cover-up for sin? – Advent Psalm of Confession, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 