John Mark Hicks

Post #2. Carthage, North Africa, in 197 CE. Tertullian describes a gathering of believers in Jesus for his Roman audience. “We meet together as a gathering and congregation, marshalling our troops to surround God with prayerful supplications. This force is pleasing to God” (Coimus in coetum et congregationem, ut ad deum quasi manu facta precationibus […]

Carthage, North Africa, in 197 CE. Tertullian describes a gathering of believers in Jesus for his Roman audience. “We are a body knit together as such by a common religious profession, by unity of discipline, and by the bond of a common hope” (Corpus sumus de conscientia religionis et disciplinae unitate et spei foedere). From […]

What do you say to God when you are in a cave? Psalm 142 is a classic lament that pours out a believer’s complaint to the Lord, petitions God for deliverance, and affirms a fundamental trust in the God of Israel. Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks discuss the meaning and significance of this Psalm […]

Though Israel walks through troubles threatened by gods, kings of the earth, and enemies, Yahweh is loving and faithful. Consequently, Israel confesses the name of Yahweh before the gods, gives thanks for Yahweh’s grace and deliverance, and walks confidently in the way of the Lord despite its troubles. One day all the kings of the […]

Psalm 100 invites all the earth to make a joyful noise and come into God’s presence in order to acknowledge that God is the creator and all peoples belong to him, give thanks, and bless God’s holy name. This invitation is grounded in the goodness of Yahweh whose steadfast love endures forever and faithfulness shapes […]

[An English version is available here.] Este Salmo utiliza el lenguaje de la poesía amorosa; tiene una “intensidad erótica” (Robert Atler, The Book of Psalms, 297). “Cuán hermosas son tus moradas”, exclama el salmista. El término “hermoso” está relacionado con los términos hebreos para “amante” y “hacer el amor”. Describe el “cántico de amor” entre […]

[An English version is available here.] Algunas personas disfrutan escuchando testimonios. Otros no. En cuanto a estos últimos, sus razones varían.  Algunos testimonios parecen superficiales o carecen de discernimiento. Algunos creen que los testimonios son demasiado subjetivos e individualistas. Algunos consideran que los testimonios son privados, una cuestión de interpretación personal más que de proclamación […]

[An English version is available here.] La antigua compilación de las Constituciones Apostólicas (2.59) aconseja a los creyentes reunirse para el culto diario y abrir su servicio con el Salmo 63. Reflejando el mismo período de tiempo (ca. 400 EC), Crisóstomo informa que los creyentes cantaban este Salmo al comienzo de sus asambleas matutinas. (Comentario […]

Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks reflect on the meaning of Psalm 26 as an entrance liturgy for assembling with the people of God. Does the claim of blamelessness reflect a Jewish legalism? Should we enter the assembly to dwell in God’s glory with a kind of sinlessness? How might we appropriate this Psalm for […]

Psalm 24 was used in Second Temple Judaism every first day of the week. It began the week in temple assembly, and it recalls the first day of creation as well as the day of resurrection in the life of Jesus. It welcomes those who seek the face of God and who come with clean […]