A number of years ago I developed a simple rhyme for the book of Habakkuk.It was Q – A, Q – A, OK. The "Q" relates to the questions of the prophet and the "A" to God's answers. The "OK" relates to the psalm that closes the book, especially 3:16-19. I have found that this rhyme helps people remember the book. Here is a simple synthetic chart that I have used as well.
I have been working on a commentary on the Psalms. I have decided to compile some helpful links that I discovered during my research. It includes a mix of exegetical and sermonic links. Here is what I have for Psalm 33 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section.
Literary analysis of Psalm 33: http://psalmsstudy.com/psalms-literary-analysis-by-chapter/literary-analysis-psalm-33
Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps033.pdf
William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_033.pdf
John Piper, The Counsel of the Lord Stands Forever: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-counsel-of-the-lord-stands-forever
Commentary by James Limburg: https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=653
Psalm 33: The Key to a Thankful Heart by Steven Cole: https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-33-key-thankful-heart
The latest issue of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament is out. Here is a list of the articles and links to abstracts.
The Varieties of Pain: Re-examining the Setting and Purpose of 2 Corinthians with Paul’s λυπ- Words
B.G. White
A Shared (Graeco-Roman) Model of Mimesis in John and Paul?
Cornelis Bennema
Internarrativity and ecce homo: A Masterplot Underlying Zechariah 6.9-15 and 1 Samuel 9.1–11.15 and its Function in John 19.1-16
W. Gil Shin
Judaism/Hellenism in Early Christology: Prepositional Metaphysics and Middle Platonic Intermediary Doctrine
Chris Kugler
An Early Reader of James? Ethical Parallels between the Epistle and 2 Enoch
Timothy A. Gabrielson
The Concept of διαθήκη in Hebrews 9.16-17
Kyu Seop Kim
Exposing Textual Corruption: Community as a Stabilizing Aspect in the Circulation of the New Testament Writings during the Greco-Roman Era
Timothy Mitchell
This article discusses that question by interacting primarily with Jewish rabbinic tradition. The biblical text gives no indication that he is and I think there are good theological reasons to suggest that he is not. But it is interesting to see how fanciful some of these traditions can be.
James Bejon has a very interesting article here on the use of numbers in Judges. Bejon does not focus on numerology or gematria but rather on repetitions and patterns. There is quite a bit to process but the article is well done.
HT: Todd Bolen
Steve Walton has made two sets of slides from a recent presentation on the Gospel of Mark available as pdfs here.
Jeffrey Arthurs provides eight best practices here. I am not where I want to be on this but at least I try and pay more attention to doing this well. Sometimes preachers and teachers see Scripture reading as a means to get to the sermon/lesson rather than seeing our sermon/lesson as a means to get to Scripture.
Tzvee Zahavy looks here at Ecclesiastes (Qohelet) from a Jewish perspective. Zahavy posits that "Kohelet is a collection of meditative chants on the futility of life, cast in a decidedly Israelite key." And he notes that, "Kohelet’s message is not entirely an expression of futility, for meditating on futility may be the one endeavor the book does not believe to be entirely futile." Some interesting thoughts on a challenging book.
Interesting post here from Christianity Today.
I was recently listening to a podcast on teaching Lamentations where the point was being made that the book teaches about grieving generally. While there is much grief in Lamentations, is it really about grieving in the general sense? Aren't the poetic expressions about the devastating consequences of sin against God (historically of the devastation of Jerusalem in 586 BC by the Babylonians). While the podcast mentioned sin and judgment it was almost an aside. Lamentations is not really designed primarily as a book of comfort for those who have experienced tragic and unimaginable losses but a warning that rejecting God has tragic and unimaginable consequences. Sin and judgment frame the grief so powerfully expressed in the text.We should preach and teach it accordingly.
The free Logos Book for the Month for October is Interpreting the Pentateuch by Peter Vogt. You can also purchase Interpreting the Historical Books by David Howard, and A Commentary on 1-2 Chronicles by Eugene Merrill, Exodus by Duane Garrett, and What the Old Testament Authors Cared About edited by Jason DeRouchie for $1.99, $3.99, $5.99, and $7.99 respectively. While you are at it, you can register for a chance to win Kregel's 40 Questions Series Collection. For all these offers, go to the Logos' Free Book of Month page here.
Ryan Martin lays out four benefits here of studying Hebrew and Greek for any serious student of the Bible. The benefits are spot on but I rarely find folks that are devoted enough to really move on from "they know enough to be dangerous" mode. If I could go back and speak to the younger version of myself, I would say that learning the languages is more of a journey than a destination.
David's unfortunate census is recorded in 2 Samuel 24:1-17 and 1 Chronicles 21:1-30. There are a number of interpretive challenges related to this event, but perhaps one of the stickiest is whether David's numbering was prompted by God (2 Sam 24:1) or Satan (1 Chr 21:1). Sinclair Ferguson attempts to address this conundrum here. While I tend to agree with the principles behind his proposed theological solution, I do wish he would have spent more time in the actual texts of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles and looking first at the possible textual reasons behind the different approaches taken by the authors of the respective books.
