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Deuteronomy 15 = The Sabbath’s Far Reach! Bible Background: Commands related to the Sabbath come up frequently. Maybe you thought that resting 1 day a week covered it. Guess again! Every 7th year becomes a sabbatical year when debts were to be erased and slaves were to be... Read More →

Sabbath as Delight Bible Background: The first creation story ends (Genesis 2:2-3) with God resting on the 7th day. God as Creator responds all through that account declaring “it was good!” Psalm 104 celebrates God as Creator and gives the sense that God, nature, and... Read More →

Psalm 139 = God Knows Me?! Bible Background-Psalm 139 fits in the category of a Psalm of Personal Thanksgiving. The writer seems to experience God’s closeness as almost ‘too close’ at first; but then welcomes God’s closeness! Digging Deeper: 1. The Hebrew... Read More →

Psalm 103=Bless the Lord! Bible Background: Psalm 103 is classified as a “Thanksgiving” psalm. Gratitude for God’s many blessings well up from the heart of the writer, who may have experienced a serious illness and a good recovery (v.3-4), but the praise goes so... Read More →

PSALM 146 “PRAISE THE LORD!” Bible Background: Psalm 146 leads off the final 5 psalms, which all begin and end with “Praise the Lord!” This one is more of an ‘individual hymn of thanksgiving’. By the closing line of Psalm 150 “everything... Read More →

Mary & Martha Luke 10:38-42 Bible Background: This is in the same chapter as the “Mission of the 70”, and the “Good Samaritan”, where Jesus has emphasized some pretty important things! The challenge of this short reading is the challenge between... Read More →

Psalm 40 = The “Mud” Psalm Bible Background: Psalm 40 starts out more as a testimony than a prayer, as in: “I waited patiently for the Lord” and he helped me! The writer wants what God desires for him/her. And, this person who feels like God has answered... Read More →

PSALM 27 – A PSALM OF TRUST Bible Background: While most of the Psalms are attributed to King David (as the Proverbs are attributed to Solomon) it is likely that multiple writers wrote the psalms, especially for worship in the temple. Psalm 27, is a psalm of trust in God.... Read More →

Luke 9=Jesus on a Mission Bible Background: In Luke’s Gospel, this is a pivotal point. After his transfiguration, Jesus has his “face set” to go to Jerusalem (which will mean facing arrest and death). Nothing will deter him. So there is a sense of urgency, that... Read More →

REFLECTIONS ON PSALM 69 Bible Background: Psalm 69 fits in the category of a “personal lament” psalm, as when a troubled individual cries out to God for help. (The other kind of lament psalm is the “communal lament”, where the whole community or nation... Read More →