John Mark Hicks

When the wicked prosper, what do the righteous do? When people oppress the poor and needy to enrich themselves, what does wisdom say to community of God when they gather to praise God? “Depart from evil, trust God, and do good.” The way of the wicked leads to destruction, but the meek shall inherit the […]

May one lament and trust at the same time, even in the same moment? Psalm 31 does, and Jesus quotes this Psalm as his last words on the cross. What does trust look like when surrounded by mockers, predators, and living on the verge of death? How does one trust in such circumstances? This is […]

Whom shall I fear? There is only one thing that I want and that is to sit in the house of the Lord, inquire of the Lord, and wait to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27 is a confidence song, a song of trust. Though surrounded by […]

“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7. Israel prays for their king but trusts Yahweh to provide rather than military might. Israel does not boast about its military, but boasts about their covenant God who saves the Messiah, and through the […]

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 […]

What are the righteous to do when the world is falling about? When the lovers of violence and injustice are shooting arrows at the followers of the way? Psalm 11 responds to these questions, and the answer is rooted in Yahweh’s identity, faithfulness, and love. Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks discuss the meaning of […]

Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks explore the reality Psalm 46 envisions. This Psalm of trust or confidence reminds us that God is with us despite all the chaos that surrounds us. God will help. God cause wars to cease. God is our protection, our refuge. The Psalm invites us to enter the sanctuary of […]

Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks discuss Psalm 62, a classic psalm of trust and confidence. Though vulnerable to the assaults of secret enemies, the Psalmist trusts God because of Israel’s history with God’s power and steadfast love. The Psalmist finds a safe, stable, and peaceful place in God as a refuge until the storm […]

Bobby Valentine and John Mark Hicks discuss the meaning and significance of Psalm 13, which functions as a model lament. It begins with questions and disillusionment (13:1-2), petitions God in the middle (13:3-4), and expresses trust in God in the final verses (13:5-6).

Texts: Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:52-53; Luke 23:32-47 Days 47-49 in Around the Bible in Eighty Days. Video available here If we had not been sufficiently convinced of the humanity of Jesus, perhaps because he also God in the flesh, the movement from the Garden to the Cross might just seal the deal. Jesus suffers. Jesus […]