Category Archives: Psalms

Covid-19, corona virus, aka bat flu and the presence of God in Psalm 91

Posted on April 3, 2020 by theoutwardquest

In November, with my mother’s death impending, we decided not to take our usual mid-winter vacation to Florida. Instead, we booked and paid for a resort week at the end of March. We had no idea. The drive along Interstate … Continue reading →

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Omnipresence in Egypt and Israel

Posted on June 17, 2019 by theoutwardquest

One of the ways people have tried to grasp the theology of ancient Israel is to link it with the faith of the Egyptian king, Akhenaten. Akhenaten, in my opinion, has been misread as one who believed in only one … Continue reading →

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Psalm 78 and the plagues of Egypt

Posted on April 14, 2017 by theoutwardquest

The Passover/Exodus story in Exodus 7-11 tells of ten plagues that befell Egypt.  But there are shorter, poetic accounts of the plagues in Psalm 78:41 ff. and Psalm 105:27 ff.  Actually, since the word plague has come to mean a … Continue reading →

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Baden-Goliath’s sword and David’s lyre

Posted on November 10, 2016 by theoutwardquest

2 Samuel. 21:19 (NRSV) Then there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. From this verse we get … Continue reading →

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Fishbane-prayer and study

Posted on September 17, 2015 by theoutwardquest

Micheal Fishbane in his Sacred Attunement writes about theology as integral to Jewish life and piety. Prayer and study are central to Jewish life and are acts of theology. Prayer begins with the human body and senses receiving the gift … Continue reading →

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Barr-some Psalms and Qoheleth

Posted on June 15, 2015 by theoutwardquest

James Barr, in Biblical Faith and Natural Theology, took on the claims of those who did not find natural theology in the Hebrew Bible. He talked first about three particular Psalm and then, more broadly about Wisdom, Prophets, and Law. … Continue reading →

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Girard-basics

Posted on May 26, 2015 by theoutwardquest

In summarizing The One by Whom Scandal Comes  I feel like I am repeating phrases from Rene Girard, like “mimetic violence” and “scapegoat” that a lot of people just won’t understand. So now I am going to try to briefly … Continue reading →

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Easter-Psalm 118

Posted on April 14, 2014 by theoutwardquest

I live near Kansas City.  If you have been paying attention to the news at all, you know that an antisemite shot people in the parking lots at a Jewish complex in Overland Park, Kansas yesterday.  I am familiar with … Continue reading →

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Lent-Psalm 31

Posted on April 8, 2014 by theoutwardquest

On the Sunday before Easter there are options for the readings. You can treat the day as Palm Sunday and stress Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is a parade. People shout, “Hosanna”. In many churches there is a procession … Continue reading →

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Lent-Psalm 130

Posted on April 1, 2014 by theoutwardquest

Psalm 130 is the psalm  reading in the Revised Common Lectionary for the 5th Sunday in Lent this Psalm 130 is actually a very optimistic psalm. But it starts out with a cry from the depths. We have the phrase, … Continue reading →

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