Navigating the Intersections of Faith, Knowledge, and Reason.
Reading Psalms Ethically This five-week course recently met in person, but it will soon be offered virtually. This course covers the following topics: Present an overview of the psalms Look at justice in the Psalter Deep dive into some specific psalms to learn about Hebrew Bible poetry, translation & interpretation of scripture, and discover the…
Advent Psalm reading for December 21, 22, 23, & 24: Psalm 89. A Canticle of Praise Today, on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we light the candle for Love. The gospel reading that goes alongside Psalm 89 is from Luke 1, the Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise. Mary’s song recalls themes from Exodus 15, the song…
Advent Psalm reading for December 21, 22, 23, & 24: Psalm 89. The Rule of Equity in Psalm 45 Having explored the themes of divine justice in Psalm 89, let’s turn to the New Testament liturgy in Hebrews 1, which references Psalm 45, offering a complementary perspective on God’s equitable rule. God’s divine justice brings joy…
Advent Psalm reading for December 21, 22, 23, & 24: Psalm 89. Proclaiming the Wonders of God In the first post, I looked at verses 1-4 (1-5, Hebrew). This post will explore the next several verses. Psalm 89:5-14 (6-15, Hebrew) reads like a prophetic psalm—God writ large. This description of God bridges us from the reflection…
Advent Psalm reading for December 21, 22, 23, & 24: Psalm 89. Introduction to Psalm 89 Today’s reflection begins with a new psalm, Psalm 89. This psalm is attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite, who is thought to have been one of the musicians and psalmists noted by the Chronicler. The liturgy includes the first four…
Advent Psalm reading for December 18, 19, & 20: Psalm 125. In the previous post, Part 1, I reflected on the significance of leaders being accountable to righteousness in Psalm 125. In the Part II, I explored this message in light of the Old Testament liturgy in Malachi 3. Today, I want to look at Ephesians…
Advent Psalm reading for December 18, 19, & 20: Psalm 125. Righteous Paths and Divine Justice In the previous post, Part 1, I reflected on the significance of leaders being accountable to righteousness in Psalm 125. This post will look at this message in light of the Old Testament liturgy in Malachi. As we transition from…
Advent Psalm reading for December 18, 19, & 20: Psalm 125. The Power of Trust in Psalm 125 Psalm 125 is another psalm of ascent. These psalms are thought to have been sung as liturgy during pilgrimage toward the temple. It is an uplifting psalm that contains a prayer for peace over the land in…
Advent Psalm reading for December 14, 15, 16, & 17: Psalm 126. The first reflection on Psalm 126 looked at the psalm’s context as a song of ascent. The second reflection examined similar themes in the liturgical reading from the first half of Habakkuk 3, and the third reflection further explored connections in the prophetic psalm. As we light…
Advent Psalm reading for December 14, 15, 16, & 17: Psalm 126. Continuing with Habakkuk 3: The Second Half The first reflection on Psalm 126 looked at the psalm’s context as a song of ascent. The second reflection examined similar themes in the liturgical reading from the first half of Habakkuk 3. Building upon previous reflections, let’s explore…