Category Archives: bible

Psalm 56

Posted on June 27, 2015 by ehurst

This psalm refers to events in 1 Samuel 21:10-15, and precedes the moment celebrated in Psalm 34. This is very much a Covenant song. The Law of God promises divine protection among other blessings to those who obey. On the … Continue reading →

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Psalm 55

Posted on June 20, 2015 by ehurst

Echoing similar thoughts to Psalm 41 and regardless of the specific context in David’s mind, this psalm best fits the betrayal of Ahitophel, David’s trusted adviser, during Absalom’s Revolt. Even in this, we should not read Western cultural meaning back … Continue reading →

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Serene to the End: Apostle John

Posted on June 18, 2015 by ehurst

Mainstream scholars are pretty sure John published the Apocalypse around 95 AD. Given what we know of the man, it’s a fair bet most of it was already burned into his awareness at least two decades before. Keep in mind, … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 14

Posted on June 15, 2015 by ehurst

Solomon’s theme here seems a matter of building a just and holy life. 1. A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands. Back when Israel lived in tents, it was an ancient custom … Continue reading →

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Psalm 54

Posted on June 13, 2015 by ehurst

David wrote several psalms while fleeing Saul’s hand. This refers to the narrative in 1 Samuel 23. In this case, David with his private army was hiding somewhere south of Hebron, in the open country near the village of Ziph … Continue reading →

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Psalm 53

Posted on June 6, 2015 by ehurst

This is quite similar to Psalm 14. While we can only guess, perhaps it’s appearance here in Book 2 simply means it was used in a different context, which would give it a different emphasis. We see it has a … Continue reading →

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Psalm 52

Posted on May 30, 2015 by ehurst

This psalm references the narrative in 1 Samuel 21-22. The story is filled with violations against the Covenant. Doeg was an Edomite, a foreigner from a tribe notorious for treachery and shocking immorality at times, though obviously he was a … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 13

Posted on May 27, 2015 by ehurst

1. A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scorner does not hear rebuke. The Western approach makes this a matter of inflated reverence, even fearfulness, for the social system. Hebrew folks were not like that; there is no … Continue reading →

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Psalm 51

Posted on May 23, 2015 by ehurst

A psalm by David, this refers to events narrated in 2 Samuel 11-12. That story has it all: adultery, murder and scandal. We struggle to understand a biblical morality that is so foreign to Western instincts. Because of our longstanding … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 12

Posted on May 23, 2015 by ehurst

We start to see a number of proverbs that appear little more than statements of obvious fact. These are most likely figures of speech meant to apply quite broadly as parables of something deeper. 1. Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge; … Continue reading →

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