Content related to Old Testament

Home » Old Testament » Page 79

Psalm 133

Proper 15A

This tiny, jewel-like Psalm is perfectly suited to our times.  Its wise words about the blessings of unity need to be heard and believed and practiced.  But even the best preacher will struggle with this little nugget, for two reasons.  First, our world is so divided that even the most eloquent sermon will sound like…

Read More

Genesis 45:1-15

Proper 15A

God always makes the dreams God gives God’s adopted sons and daughters come true.  Sometimes, however, it takes so long for that to happen that it seems that the dream, if not the dreamers, dies. As Genesis 45 opens, God has partially fulfilled Joseph’s dreams by putting him in charge of both Egypt and his…

Read More

Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b

Proper 14A

Psalm 105 is a history psalm.  To be more specific, it is what German biblical scholars once called Heilsgeshichte, salvation history.  It recalls the five stages at the beginning of the story of God’s redemption of Israel, from the promise of the Land to the possession of the Land.  Of course, as the long and…

Read More

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Proper 14A

Almost all people walk the wide roads that are dreams for their children, work, future, and themselves.  And while some of those dreams don’t come true, as long as they don’t disrupt current arrangements, they’re pretty harmless. However, where dreams about the future conflict with current realities, they can be very disruptive.  In fact, they…

Read More

Psalm 17:1-7, 15

Proper 13A

Psalm 17 deals with the age old problem of oppression and wickedness.  It’s a popular topic in many of the ancient Psalms, and it is a constant feature of news reports today.  All through history and all over the world, the wicked oppress the innocent.  How should the innocent respond?  Well, there are two basic,…

Read More

Genesis 32:22-31

Proper 13A

God graciously meets and accepts God’s adopted sons and daughters wherever and whoever we are.  But God never just leaves us where we are. That’s no less true of God’s 21st century adopted daughters and sons than it is of Jacob.  The first time God meets Jacob, he’s fleeing both his homeland and his twin’s…

Read More

Psalm 119:129-136

Proper 12A

Given a choice, what busy preacher would preach on this reading from Psalm 119?  I mean, it is stanza #17 in an endlessly long, apparently meandering, often boring meditation on a subject that most of your listeners won’t care about at all, namely, the importance and beauty of God’s law. Some brands of Christianity don’t…

Read More

Genesis 29:15-28

Proper 12A

Genesis 29 features one of the oddest, often slimiest groups of characters ever assembled outside a North American reality television show studio.  Thankfully, then, it’s not oily enough to escape the grasp of God’s strong, gracious hand.  In fact, God somehow graciously transforms all of their cheating and resentment into a vehicle for God’s amazing…

Read More

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

Proper 11A

Psalm 139 is a doctrinal and devotional classic. It bristles with theologically rich ideas and it hums a lullaby of divine care.  Oh yes, it also shocks with its infamous ending; “if only you would slay the wicked, O God!”  But for all its familiarity, Psalm 139 is hard to describe.  Is it a hymn…

Read More

Genesis 28:10-19a

Proper 11A

While Christians profess that God is graciously present to everything everywhere, we also have to admit that it’s sometimes hard to recognize that presence.  Especially when God’s adopted sons and daughters are busy running from some kind of pursuer. Genesis 28’s Jacob is at least figuratively on the dead run.  He has, after all, swindled…

Read More