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Psalm 31, along with Psalms 22 and 69, is among the longest and most impressive of the genre known variously as lament, complaint, protest, and/or prayer for help.1 Not coincidentally, these three psalms figure prominently (...)

Psalm 116 is fourth in a group of psalms known as the “Egyptian Hallel” psalms (Psalms 113–118), the psalms recited at the Passover meal on the eighth day of Passover.1 Psalms 113 and 114 are (...)

Psalm 118 is the concluding psalm in the collection known as the “Egyptian Hallel” (Psalms 113–118).1 Hallel is the Hebrew word for “praise,” and this collection’s name reflects the emphasis in these psalms on praising (...)

The Psalms enrich preaching during Holy Week and Easter, even if few preachers base an entire sermon on a psalm.1 Jesus prayed the Psalms from the cross, and the Gospels quote the Psalms to tell (...)

How odd it is to be hearing and singing Psalm 95 in the middle of Lent!1 The “preacher” who composed the book of Ecclesiastes famously wrote that “for everything there is a season, a time (...)

Psalm 121 is one of the Songs of Ascent, Psalms 120–134, as indicated by its opening words.1 In general, these psalms focus on Jerusalem, the journey to Jerusalem—always categorized as “going up”—and worship in the (...)

This psalm is a prayer of penitence, confession, remorse, owning mistakes made, and seeking a fresh start of new life with a restored soul upon receiving God’s forgiveness.1  Psalm 51 is traditionally attributed to David, (...)

After the birth narrative, Matthew’s story of Jesus skips to the adult Jesus coming to the Judean desert to be baptized by John the Baptizer. When John the Baptizer is handed over and eventually executed, (...)

The lectionary selection from Psalm 40 includes 10 verses that express thanksgiving (verses 1–10) and one verse of petition for help (verse 11).1 The shift from thanks to plea represents a major problem of interpretation (...)

God has seemingly turned God’s face away.1 So distant, so imperceptible is God’s presence in Psalm 80 that the psalmist concludes that God must be angry with Israel. Why else would God allow the fruit (...)