Vocabulary
Praise the Lord, my soul (Psalm 104)
This psalm praises the act of creation. It is composed as a prayer to God, celebrating what he has done in his creative power. The crucial aspect of this creation account is that the creation is habitable and liveable. It is Lord who guarantees that everything works toward prosperity and life,...
In My Distress I Cried Unto the Lord (Psalm 120)
Psalm 120 is the first of the fifteen Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134). It's a short psalm, expressing a cry for deliverance and peace in the midst of distress and falsehood. The psalm starts with the psalmist expressing his deep distress and how he turns to the Lord for deliverance. In his...
I lift up my eyes to the mountains (Psalm 121)
Psalm 121 is a song of ascents, part of a group of Psalms 120-134 traditionally sung by Jewish pilgrims as they ascended to Jerusalem for the three major festivals. This particular psalm encourages believers to trust in the Lord for protection and provision. The passage shifts the focus from human...
I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the Lord! (Psalm 122:1-9)
Psalm 122 is a part of the Songs of Ascents, which is a collection of psalms (Psalms 120-134) sung by pilgrims as they ascended to Jerusalem for the three major Jewish festivals. Psalm 122, attributed to David, expresses joy and reverence for Jerusalem as a place of worship and divine...
I Lift Up My Eyes to You (Psalm 123)
Psalm 123 is a short but profound passage within the Songs of Ascents, which were songs sung by pilgrims as they made their journey to Jerusalem for the major Jewish festivals. This psalm, specifically, is a prayer for mercy, expressing deep dependence on God. The text is a plea for God's mercy...
If the Lord Had Not Been on Our Side (Psalm 124)
Psalm 124 is a song of ascents, traditionally attributed to King David, that expresses profound gratitude and recognition of divine intervention and protection in the face of adversity. The psalm begins by inviting the Israelites to consider the hypothetical situation of the Lord not being on...
Those Who Trust in the Lord (Psalm 125)
Psalm 125 is a song of ascents, expressing trust in God's protection and justice. It uses vivid imagery and key Hebrew terms to convey its message of faith and divine justice. The Psalm begins by comparing those who trust in the Lord to Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but stands forever. This...
When the Lord Restored the Fortunes of Zion, We Were Like Those Who Dreamed (Psalm 126)
Psalm 126 is a powerful passage that belongs to the collection of Psalms known as the "Songs of Ascents," traditionally sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for religious festivals. This specific psalm reflects a communal memory of past deliverance and a prayer for future restoration,...
Unless the Lord builds the house (Psalm 127)
Psalm 127:1-5, attributed to Solomon, emphasizes the importance of divine providence and blessing in all human endeavors. The stress of the passege is clearly that without the Lord's involvement and blessing, human efforts are ultimately futile. The psalm begins in verse 1 with the assertion...
Blessed are All Who Fear the Lord (Psalm 128)
Psalm 128 is a song of ascents, part of a collection of psalms sung by Jewish pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem. It is a concise poem, rich in blessings and promises for those who fear Yahweh and walk in his ways. The theological message of the psalm emphasizes the importance of piety and the fear...
Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is Good (Psalm 136)
This is a responsive psalm where the community answers back to the deeds of praise on God. The first topic is the creation for which God receives the praise. The following topic is the Exodus and the way to the Promised land. These are the main events in the history of God's people, in which the...
Wisdom’s Call (Proverbs 8:1-9:18)
The proverb accounts the Wisdom as a direct witness to the creation. She was there and saw the act. Therefore the Wisdom also precedes the existence of the creation. The Wisdom is the one who mediates between God and humans. In the book of Proverbs, God is a somewhat distant deity. He does not...
Let not the Wise Boast (Jeremiah 9:22-23)
In this passage, the Lord warns against boasting in one's wisdom, strength, or wealth, as these worldly attributes are not what truly matter in the eyes of God. Instead, God desires that individuals take pride in their knowledge and understanding of Him, recognizing His just and righteous...
The Lord will Dwell in Zion (Zechariah 2:14-17)
The passage Zechariah 2:14-17 offers profound theological insights. It foregrounds the divine promise of God's immanent presence amongst His people, indicating an intimate and benevolent relationship between the Divine and His followers. This presence denotes more than mere proximity. It suggests...
Malachi
The book of Malachi, the last of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, begins with a divine proclamation of love for Israel. Yet, intertwined with this assurance is a deep-seated divine discontent. God addresses the spiritual apathy and negligence of both the priests and the people of Israel....
Gemstones in the New Testament
In the tapestry of biblical narratives, the New Testament unveils a fascinating array of precious stones. These gems, particularly highlighted in the Book of Revelation, are not just ornamental but are imbued with profound symbolic significance. They are emblematic of spiritual truths, divine...
Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
Key word of eight beatitudes is word μακάριος (makarios) which could by simply translated as "happy". But in this case, the text has a much broader meaning in mind. Every beatitude is ended followed by reasoning why it is good to be so. And this reason assures that being such is not in vain....
Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)
One of the most known texts of the Bible is the Lord's prayer. This portion of the Bible is an integral part of Western society. We can hear it in movies or from people who are not Christians. The importance is highlighted by two occurrences in the New Testament in Matthew 6:5-15 and Luke...
Teaching about Divorce (Matthew 19:1-12)
Matthew 19:1-12 recounts Jesus' teachings on marriage and divorce, emphasizing the sacredness of marital bonds and the importance of upholding the original intent of God's design for marriage. The passage begins with the Pharisees testing Jesus by asking whether it is lawful for a man to divorce...
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 19:23-20:16)
Everyone is naturally content when other people treat him in a fair way. Unfortunately this view is not shared by everyone. One is quite used to that. But what in the case when God acts this way? Jesus is telling a parable about how things works in his kingdom (Mt 20:1). He tells it in context...
Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King (Matthew 21:1-11)
The text describes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In this passage, Jesus fulfills an Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) by riding into the city on a donkey, accompanied by his disciples. A large crowd gathers to welcome him, laying their cloaks and palm branches on the road as a sign of...
Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
Matthew 25:1-13 is the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which is part of Jesus' teachings in the Olivet Discourse. In this parable, ten virgins are waiting for the bridegroom (symbolizing Jesus) to arrive for a wedding banquet. Five of them are wise and bring extra oil for their lamps, while the other...
Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
Matthew 25:14-30 communicates a significant theological message about the importance of utilizing one's gifts and resources to glorify God and serve others. In the parable, a master entrusts his servants with varying amounts of talents (an ancient unit of currency) before going on a journey. Upon...
Acts of Mercy (Matthew 25:34-40)
This passage emphasizes the importance of caring for others and serving them as a way of serving God aswell as Jesus served us. It teaches that our actions towards others reflect our relationship with God, and that we will be judged based on how we have treated the least among us. The passage...
The Plot Against Jesus (Matthew 26:1-5)
This is the last time when Jesus predicts his hand over to the authorities to be crucified. The prediction is paralleled with the look on the authorities taking the decision to do that.
Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30)
The Last Supper designates the final meal Jesus shares with his disciples before his crucifixion. The scene takes place during the Jewish festival of Passover, and Jesus gathers with his disciples to commemorate the event. The Last Supper is described in all four gospels (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark...