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Psalm 22 is a prayer of complaint that, perhaps more than any psalm, serves as a link between the Old Testament and the story of Jesus’ passion.1 Indeed, this psalm is an appropriate lectionary reading (...)

In the Gospel of Luke, the most common title used for Jesus is kyrios, “Lord.” This did not necessarily imply divinity at the time; slavemasters and heads of households were also called kyrios. Jesus’ lordship, (...)

Psalm 118 is the psalm of psalms for the Easter season.1 The early church found in Psalm 118 the words of Jesus who remembered his suffering and persecution during Holy Week and who gave thanks (...)

Psalm 31 is one of three psalms that appear prominently in the story of Jesus’ passion.1 For the Gospel writers this psalm, along with Psalms 22 and 69, seems to have expressed better than any (...)

First there is a blinding flash of light and then the thunderous sound of God speaking. It’s the story of the Transfiguration, right? Yes. But it is also the beginning of Psalm 50. A festival (...)

“Praise the Lord.” What more is there to say? “Praise the Lord.” Period.1 The psalmist has offered five ways to proclaim praise to the Lord with the five Hallelujah Psalms that conclude the Psalter. Even (...)

Like many psalms of praise, Psalm 98 begins with an imperative “call to praise” followed by a “reason to praise” introduced by the Hebrew word ki, “for.”1 Here is my translation of 98:1-3: Sing to (...)

If I were tasked with introducing God as our visiting lecturer, I would use this psalm.1 Psalm 111 summarizes God’s “position,” accomplishments, and attributes. It even identifies a personal connection between the one offering the (...)

This Psalm is for the asylum seeker, those who seek refuge from adversaries, those who yearn for security and stability.1 Dare I say that this Psalm is for us all especially now? The Psalmist’s experience (...)

The homiletical possibilities for Psalm 139 are numerous and varied, ranging from satisfying to complex to potentially problematic.1 Satisfying My nephew was born on the day I started working on this commentary. When the picture (...)