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Psalm 82
Proper 15C
Some translations of Psalm 82, including the New International Version I typically look at, put scare quotes around the three instances of the word “gods” in this short psalm. Sometimes such scare quotes get called air quotes if invoked by a preacher or other public speaker. If you say, “Well, according to certain ‘experts’ ….
Jeremiah 23:23-29
Proper 15C
Dreams and Discernment Taken on its own, this text would leave us thinking dreams are a terrible way of knowing the truth. But then consider a couple experiences in the book of Genesis — I’m thinking of both Jacob and Joseph — and the prophet Joel who promises that one day God’s people will “see…
Genesis 15:1-6
Proper 14C
Illustration I suppose it’s fair to say that Hebrew Scripture has been in the cultural zeitgeist long enough that its contents are public domain. I mean, I don’t even know who would be qualified to bring a lawsuit on behalf of … Moses? At the same time, I do think you could make a plausible…
Psalm 33:12-22
Proper 14C
When I was somewhere around the age of 9 years old and my brother was 5 years old, my Dad bought us a Shetland-Welsh Pony. We had moved out to the country the year before and so had our own barn and fenced-in pasture. I had said I was interested in having a horse or…
Hosea 11:1-11
Proper 13C
In Context The book of Hosea levels charges of infidelity against God’s people through an allegory in which Hosea is married to an unfaithful woman. This is compared to Israel’s idolatry, folly, foolishness and unfaithfulness and the bulk of the book is taking up with God’s judgment, punishment and condemnation. Hosea 11 stands out within…
Psalm 49:1-12
Proper 13C
There are a number of psalms in the Hebrew Psalter that stray a bit into the biblical genre of Wisdom Literature. And a couple of those psalms in particular work the same Wisdom territory you can find in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Psalm 39 most closely resembles Qoheleth right down to that most-oft used word…
Psalm 138
Proper 12C
The 138th psalm covers a lot of ground. It also reflects both high aspirations and hopes and also notes of utter realism from the hardscrabble reality of life in a broken world. On the one hand we encounter here the opening sentiments of full-throated, full-hearted praise of Israel’s wonderful and faithful and gracious God. God…
Genesis 18:20-32
Proper 12C
Lectionary Connection: This week’s Hebrew Scripture text pairs well as an example of Jesus’ teaching about prayer in Luke 11. Abraham’s brash intervention on behalf of Lot and, by extension, to Sodom is the personification of Jesus’ teaching: “Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened…
Psalm 15
Proper 11C
It’s quite the list. Is blameless (so commits no sin presumably) Does what is righteous Speaks the truth and so never lies Never slanders a neighbor or utters any kind of slur against anyone Despises the vile but honors the good Keeps promises no matter what it costs Gives interest-free money to the poor and…
Genesis 18:1-10
Proper 11C
Divine Revelation Genesis 18:1-10 is a duplicate telling of the same information—a technique quite familiar to the reader of Genesis. Note, for example, the double telling of creation. Biblical criticism accounts for this through the naming of various narrative voices in Hebrew Scripture. Leaving that intensive evaluative technique aside for the moment, what we read…
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