Archive for April 2022

Joshua 13-14, Psalm 77, Mark 2:13-17, 1 Corinthians 5 Psalm 77: In this psalm is a great principle that any disciple of God can use for their own suffering or perplexing situation still today. The psalmist is in difficulties. It is “the day of my trouble” (77:2). We are not told exactly what this “trouble” was, but that…

Joshua 10-12, Psalm 76, Mark 2:1-12, 1 Corinthians 4 Psalm 76:   What is the least mentioned characteristic of God in the contemporary church? I suppose different answers could be given to that question, but to my mind the answer is given in this psalm: fear. We are quick to exult in God’s love (as we should), but…

Joshua 8-9, Psalm 75, Mark 1:35-45, 1 Corinthians 3 Psalm 75: Why give thanks to God? There are many answers to that question, not least because of his saving grace wrought at the cross. But here the psalm has a particular and perhaps slightly enigmatic reason in its focus: “for your name is near” (75:1). The reason why,…

Joshua 6-7, Psalm 74, Mark 1:21-34, 1 Corinthians 2 Psalm 74: Why do bad things happen to good people? Most of us have asked that question from time to time, and a species of that sort of question frames this psalm. “O God, why do you cast us off forever?” (74:1). The question of this psalm is not…

Joshua 3-5, Psalm 73, Mark 1:9-20, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Psalm 73: Have you ever felt as if the people who really have all the fun are those who are not following God? That is the feeling that this psalmist was wrestling with. He starts out by stating the pious truth that he knows he should believe: “Truly God…

Joshua 1-2, Psalm 72, Mark 1:1-8, 1 Corinthians 1:1-17 Psalm 72: This is apparently a prayer “of David” (72:20) about his Solomon (“the royal son,” 72:1). There are three themes of this prayer: justice, blessing, and kingdom expansion globally. The first central theme of this prayer is “justice”: “Give the king your justice, O God” (72:1) “May he judge your people with righteousness, and…