Old Testament

I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me (Psalm 119:19 NRSV). The first half of this verse could be translated as "Alien… — February 19, 2012

Judging by the comments to my last blog, some people felt like I behaved badly at Bucknell.  (And I thought the title was a joke.)  But people love controversy… — February 18, 2012

Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law (Psalm 119:18 NRSV). How would God feel about answering this prayer? The psalmist's chief concern… — February 12, 2012

Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word (Psalm 119:17 NRSV). In this verse, Psalm 119 moves into the Gimel section, where each of the eight verses begins… — February 5, 2012

I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word (Psa. 119:16 NRSV). More delighting in God's statutes.  In verse 14, the psalmist delighted  (but it uses a different… — January 22, 2012

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways (Psa. 119:15 NRSV). Focus.  With fixed eyes, the psalmist is focused on God's precepts and God's… — January 15, 2012

I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches (Psa. 119:14 NRSV). What do you delight in?  While I don't think it's going to happen,… — January 8, 2012

The Christmas holiday interrupted the 3-part series on Jeremiah 29.  I know you've been anxiously waiting for the final installment.  In the last post (to read what I… — January 4, 2012

With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth (Psa. 119:13 NRSV). The psalmist uses his lips to declare the ordinances of YHWH's mouth.  From God's mouth, to the psalmist's mouth. … — January 1, 2012

What do theologians, Bible teachers and Carrie Underwood all have in common?   They all love to rip a Bible verse out of context to support whatever they are trying… — December 22, 2011

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes (Psa. 119:12 NRSV). Why does the psalmist bless God?  Did God sneeze?  (If God sneezed would you say, "God bless… — December 18, 2011

We were watching Soul Surfer (2011) as a family recently.  We decided it would be good to watch a "Christian" movie occasionally.  It may be awhile before that happens again. … — December 17, 2011

I treasure your word in my heart,  so that I may not sin against you (Psa. 119:11 NRSV). The third verse in the Bet section is a familiar one,… — December 11, 2011

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word (Psa. 119:9 NRSV). Yeah, but do young people want to keep their way… — November 27, 2011

"I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me" (Psa. 119:8 NRSV). With this verse, we finish the first of 22 stanzas of Psalm 119 where each… — November 13, 2011

"I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances" (Psa. 119:7 NRSV). In verse 6, the psalmist spoke of shame-avoidance, in verse 7… — November 6, 2011

After Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt they went to Mount Sinai where Moses receives from YHWH the Fourteen Commandments.  I know what you're thinking: "Does… — November 2, 2011

"Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments" (Psa. 119:6 NRSV). Psalm 119 is the longest prayer in Scripture.  The… — October 30, 2011