2 Samuel
Surely God is good to Israel (Psalm 73)
Psalm 73 is one of the Psalms of Asaph (see 50 and 74-83). It is numbered as 73 in Masoretic numbering while in Septuagint and Vulgate the numbering it is 72. This psalm is raising a topic of prosperity of righteous and wicked people. For the author, as he observes, it seems like those who are...
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever (Psalm 89)
The Psalm looks to the Lord as a creator. The scientific question of how creation took place goes away, and the main theme is the nature of the Lord, which reveals in creation. King David and his descendants are also a significant theme in the text. They are the object of the Lord's grace....
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Prayer in the Gethsemane Garden (Matthew 26:36-46)
Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane is one of the most painfull prayer in the whole New Testament. This is a very difficult time in the ministry of Jesus. He is struggling in the final moments to take the final sacrificial step in his incarnation.
Crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:32-56)
Matthew 27:32-56 narrates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The passage describes Jesus being led to Golgotha, the place of crucifixion, where he is nailed to the cross alongside two criminals. The soldiers mock Jesus, and onlookers insult him, challenging him to save himself if he is truly the Son...
Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10)
The passage describes the miraculous event of Jesus' resurrection. It highlights the emotions of fear, wonder, and joy experienced by the women who discover the empty tomb and encounter both an angel and Jesus himself. The text emphasizes the divine intervention in the form of an earthquake and the...
The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1-3)
This passage is the opening of the Gospel of Mark, and it introduces the narrative about John the Baptist that follows. Even though it is short, it offers significant theological themes. The first is Jesus' identity. Mark identifies Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah) and the Son of God, unveiling...
Preaching and Baptism of John the Baptist (Mark 1:4-8)
John the Baptist is described as a prophet who prepares the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. His depiction as ascetic and excentric person is a reminisence of a prophetic archetype of Eliah. John preaches a baptism of repentance and forgiveness, calling people to confess their sins and turn...
The First Disciples of Jesus (Mark 1:14-20)
Jesus begins his ministry by proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God which is based on repentance and faith. The story, at this point, focuses on Jesus calling his first disciples, Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John, to follow him and become "fishers of men."
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ (Mark 8:27-30)
In the passage, Jesus and his disciples are in the region of Caesarea Philippi, and Jesus asks them, "Who do people say that I am?" The disciples respond, saying that some people think he is John the Baptist, others think he is Elijah, and still others think he is one of the prophets. Then Jesus...