Category Archives: bible

Psalm 121

Posted on March 4, 2017 by ehurst

No petition here, this is a responsive hymn celebrating the protection of Jehovah. Palestine is a hilly land, and any route toward Zion meant looking at ridges and mountains until you saw the Temple itself, visible from quite a distance … Continue reading →

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Psalm 120

Posted on February 25, 2017 by ehurst

We begin here a collection of 15 psalms, each referred to as a Song of Ascents. That term refers to any pilgrimage to the one and only high place for Israel, Zion. This brings the image of puring oneself, refreshing … Continue reading →

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Psalm 119: Tau 169-176

Posted on February 18, 2017 by ehurst

The final octet shows us the Path to God’s Favor. We note that the psalmist is wholly confident in his requests because the promise is written into the revelation. Unlike many human rulers, Jehovah doesn’t create hurdles to His attention, … Continue reading →

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The Humble Shepherd King

Posted on February 16, 2017 by ehurst

It was a high and festive day when King David brought up the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He set up a proper Tent of Meeting in the courtyard. Keep in mind that the city was still rather primitive … Continue reading →

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Psalm 119: Shin 161-168

Posted on February 11, 2017 by ehurst

This octet celebrates the Serenity of the Law, for obedience to God is its own reward. This isn’t just ordinary folks, but powerful nobles have brought pressure to bear on the psalmist. Worse, it’s for no good reason, but they … Continue reading →

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Psalm 119: Resh 153-160

Posted on February 4, 2017 by ehurst

This is the path of Divine Dependence. While an English translation of this octet sounds a little repetitious with the rest of the psalm, the emphasis and tone are quite different. The psalmist tells God he has no place else … Continue reading →

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Psalm 119: Qoph 145-152

Posted on January 28, 2017 by ehurst

Here we have the Song of Assurance. Prayer works. As the psalmist notes, genuine effective prayer requires a fully committed heart first, but the heart knows what to ask because the heart knows what God wants to do. And it … Continue reading →

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Psalm 119: Tzaddi 137-144

Posted on January 21, 2017 by ehurst

This octet delivers the Charge of Righteousness. The image is a feudal servant vested with a special trust, a mission that the servant must faithfully keep over a long period of time and through a long series of trials. He’s … Continue reading →

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The State and Violence

Posted on January 21, 2017 by ehurst

Our Brother Benjamin offers this: Hi Ed. Stumbled across this article and thought of you… Governance, Kin, and Romans 13. I note that I am familiar with the writing of Bionic Mosquito. His emphasis is libertarian theory, but he’s a … Continue reading →

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Psalm 119: Pe 129-136

Posted on January 14, 2017 by ehurst

We are treated to the Wonder of Moral Vision. It is as if someone came into his soul and turned on the light for the first time. Suddenly, everything was vivid and bright, and the world made sense. The psalmist … Continue reading →

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