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Psalm 90 has often been categorized as a wisdom psalm, which, like the book of Ecclesiastes (see 3:19-20; 7:2), is very much in touch with human finitude and the brevity of human life (see also (...)

Last week we looked at the larger canonical context of the book of Job and the larger literary context for Job 1-2. The larger canonical context was Job’s dispute with Deuteronomic orthodoxy and its simplistic theology (...)

Editor’s Note: Working Preacher published commentaries that correspond with the readings for Season of Creation 2021: Series B (The Word Series). A full listing of worship resources (including liturgies to accompany the readings) can be (...)

Does God pick favorites? Most of us would like to say, “no.” Such an idea would seem to go against foundational democratic values like equality and fairness and we have come to associate these principles (...)

Did God’s spirit play a role in creation? As it is with so many questions we have for scripture, it depends on whom you ask. For many Christians around the world and throughout the millennia, (...)

The “letter” to the Hebrews is best heard as an early Christian sermon. While the author wraps up his sermon with the usual elements of a letter’s closing, he begins not with the more banal (...)

For this and the next three Sundays, the Revised Common Lectionary offers four readings from what may be the most mysterious book in the Hebrew Bible: the book of Job. Its language is full of difficult-to-understand (...)

The story of Esther is a tale about the survival of diaspora Jews in the context of the empire of Persia, and one of its narrative functions is to give an etiology of the Jewish (...)

Murmuring has consequences. COVID complaints and challenges in our context may bring out a sense of judgement. The generous God in the early murmuring stories of the Pentateuch gives way to a God who provides (...)

Last week’s Gospel lection, Mark 8:27-38, jabbed three sharp barbs: Jesus’ prediction of his suffering, murder, and resurrection (8:31) Peter’s repudiation of Jesus’ destiny (8:32) Jesus’ rebuttal of Peter and command that his followers take (...)