July 30, 2026
Ever feel like life is not exactly the way it is supposed to be, and you wanna’ say something? Psalm 39 is for you. Functioning like Job and Ecclesiastes, the Psalmist cannot keep silent. The fire in the Psalmist ‘s bones protests and groans over the brevity of life, its trouble and seemingly pointlessness. Nevertheless, […]
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Biblical Texts | Tagged: Death, Hebel, Lament, Meaning, Protest, Protest Theodicy, Psalm 39 | 
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Posted by John Mark Hicks
November 18, 2015
The first half of Jonah’s prayer (Jonah 2:2-6a) recalled Jonah’s plight in the sea—thrown into the water, engulfed in the waves, and sinking deep into Sheol—and his prayerful response, a cry for help. The second half of the prayer expresses thanksgiving for Yahweh’s deliverance (Jonah 2:6b-9). The two halves represent a typical Thanksgiving Psalm where […]
1 Comment | Biblical Texts | Tagged: Jonah, Jonah 2, Jonah 2:6-10, Prayer, Protest, Psalm 116, Repentance, Thanksgiving | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
May 21, 2009
May 21, 2001 and May 21, 2008 have something in common, and I remember that today, May 21, 2016. Those are the days on which our children died–my son Joshua and John & Maggy Dobbs’ son John Robert. The memories are painful and today we will each remember, commemorate, and reflect. I pray for peace […]
23 Comments | Personal, Theology | Tagged: Death, Evil, Lament, Problem of Evil, Protest, Providence, Suffering, Theodicy | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks