August 14, 2013
Psalm 1 counseled wisdom. Worshippers, as they pray, mediate and sing the Psalms, align themselves with the way of righteousness. Psalm 2 assures these worshippers that Yahweh reigns and even the nations must ultimately submit to the God of Israel. Psalm 2, then, as a further introduction to the Psalter, grounds the worship of and […]
No Comments » | Biblical Texts | Tagged: Assembly, Christology, Kingdom of God, Messiah, Psalm 2, Psalms, Psalter, Worship | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
August 13, 2013
The opening Psalm functions as a kind of preface or introduction to the whole collection. It orients the worshipper to a particular path and the value of pursuing the life the Psalter envisions. Indeed, it offers us a choice. There is the way of the wicked (sinners, scoffers) and the way of the righteous. There […]
2 Comments | Biblical Texts | Tagged: Choices, Ethics, Freedom, Psalm 1, Psalms, Psalter, Two Ways, Wisdom | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
September 22, 2008
It is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to trust in flesh. It is better to take refuge in Yahweh than to trust in rulers. Psalm 118:8-9 Middle class Americans are worried about their stock portfolios, retirements, and home mortages. Others are worried about what they will eat today, what they will wear as […]
14 Comments | Society, Spirituality | Tagged: Bible-Psalms, Fear, Meditation, Politics, Poor, Poverty, Prayer, Psalms, Sovereignty | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
April 30, 2008
Twenty-eight years ago this morning–at about 3:00am–I was awoken to the news that my wife of two years, eleven months and eight days had died during the night. Sheila and I agreed that she would undergo corrective back surgery so that she could carry a child full term. We had already experienced one miscarriage and would like to […]
7 Comments | Biblical Texts, Pastoral Care, Personal, Spirituality | Tagged: Bible-Psalms, Death, Grief, Lament, Psalms, Sheila Pettit Hicks, Suffering | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks
April 28, 2008
I tend to think of the Psalms in the broad category of “calling upon God”–they are situated responses to God’s own call toward us in creation and redemption. In dialogue believers call upon the creator and redeemer God in profession, prayer and praise; they respond to God’s divine acts in the world in confession, lament and thanksgiving […]
No Comments » | Biblical Texts, Spirituality | Tagged: Assembly, Bible-Psalms, Curse, Genre, Imprecatory, Lament, Praise, Prayer, Psalms, Sanctification, Spirituality | Permalink
Posted by John Mark Hicks