For the end with psalms — a song of David When I called, the God of my justice heard me. When hard-pressed, you made space for me. Have compassion and hear my prayer. Sons of men, how long will you be thick-headed? Why do you love ridiculousness and chase a lie? ※ And know well…
A psalm of David when he was running from Absolom his son Lord, why have those who persecute me become so many? Many stand against me. Many say about me, “There is no safety for him in his God.” ※ But you, Lord, are the one who protects me, my glory and the one who…
Why have nations proudly postured and people let their minds wander over ridiculous things? The kings of the earth stood by, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and his annointed one. “Let’s break their bonds and throw off their yokes!” ※ The one who lives in heaven laughs at them, and the…
Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly. In the way of sinners he didn’t stand, and in the seat of thugs he didn’t sit. Instead, in the law of the Lord is where his desire is found, and in the law of the Lord his thoughts wander day…
A prayer of David Bend your ear, Lord, and hear me because I am poor and have to work so hard. Protect my life because I am holy. Save your servant, my God, the one who hopes in you. Have mercy on me, Lord, because to you I will call out all day long. You…
You either hear him as a smart alec or as a guy with a sense of humor. As Jesus and his mother interact, he’s either being sharp and dismissive or he’s being playful. Here’s John 2:4–5: καὶ ὑστερήσαντος οἴνου λέγει ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ πρὸς αὐτόν· οἶνον οὐκ ἔχουσιν. 4 λέγει αὐτῇ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τί…
Luke 23:40–43 Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ἕτερος ἐπιτιμῶν αὐτῷ ἔφη· οὐδὲ φοβῇ σὺ τὸν θεὸν ὅτι ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ κρίματι εἶ; 41 καὶ ἡμεῖς μὲν δικαίως, ἄξια γὰρ ὧν ἐπράξαμεν ἀπολαμβάνομεν· οὗτος δὲ οὐδὲν ἄτοπον ἔπραξεν. 42 καὶ ἔλεγεν· Ἰησοῦ, μνήσθητί μου ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου. 43 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀμήν σοι λέγω· σήμερον…
I like it when either story comes up in class. Whether it is Jonah or the Prodigal Son, we end in the same place talking about how both stories make the same points. God delights to forgive repentant sinners, so we should be the type of people who share that delight and not those who…
Two thoughts from Luke 11: (1) It is striking to me how, in this Gospel, Jesus’ teaching on prayer immediately follows a scene where he himself is praying. (2) If you visualize when you read, verse 14 is quite the jolt. Is there a discernable flow to these passages, or is verse 14 supposed to…
Here is a collection of recent, more devotional posts on Mark. I put them in order according to the passages they discuss. When Jesus Gets Mad (Mark 3:1–6) Jesus and Disappointment (Mark 3:12; 6:48; 7:18, 24) Imagining the Dead Passages (Mark 10:32; 11:11–12) Fire in His Eyes (Mark 12:1–12) Jesus and Sadness (Mark 14:17–25) Morning…
