Psalm 190 from Beyond Psalm 150 This psalm takes us on a roller coaster of emotions. It opens with an inspiring promise to tell others about Yahweh, praising him in the process. The second portion delves into the people’s past rebellion and God’s subsequent rescue. This seems like an ideal place to end this psalm, […]
Psalm 189 from Beyond Psalm 150 This is another passage of mixed genres. It reads very much as a psalm, but it also contains prophecy, as well as direct quotes from God. Awake, awake! Put on your strength, Zion. Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city: for from now on the uncircumcised and […]
The Right Way to Fast To fast means to go without food. Though I’m still looking, I haven’t found any place in the Bible that commands us to fast. I was sure I’d find a reference to it in the Law of Moses, but it’s not there. In fact, the first time the Bible mentions […]
Psalm 188 from Beyond Psalm 150 Though some Psalms quote God, such as Psalms 12, 68, 91, and 110, his direct words are few and fit into the author’s overall poetic arc. Isaiah 42 is the opposite, with Isaiah’s few words connecting many verses from God. In this case, we’ll consider only Isaiah’s own words. […]
Psalm 187 from Beyond Psalm 150 Several of the Psalms have prophetic elements. This passage is an example of prophecy that reads like a psalm. Here is Isaiah’s prophetic psalm: The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God.Every […]
Psalm 186 from Beyond Psalm 150 Three books in the Bible record the life of King Hezekiah. We can read his story in 2 Kings 18–20, 2 Chronicles 29–32, and Isaiah 36–38. Each passage covers similar information, yet each also provides unique content. All three talk about an illness that brings Hezekiah close to death. The passages […]
Prophesies Destruction Against Nineveh Following closely after Micah and Isaiah is Nahum (1). Nahum is an Elkoshite. He only appears once in the Bible, so we know nothing else about him from Scripture. We do, however, know his message. He prophesies destruction against the city of Nineveh and the nation of Assyria, just like Jonah […]
Psalm 185 from Beyond Psalm 150 Isaiah follows one psalm with another, this one also a song of praise. Just like the passage that precedes it, he thanks God for his redemption. We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which […]
Tell God “Yes” and Don’t Hesitate God speaks to us through the Bible, through his Holy Spirit, and through others—be it people or angels or even circumstances. When God tells you to do something, what’s your first response? Do you give him an immediate “yes” or an excuse? An excuse could be telling him you’re […]
The People Don’t Want to Hear His Message The prophet Micah (5) is a contemporary of Isaiah. Micah’s ministry overlaps and follows Hosea’s. We know little else about Micah from the Bible except that he comes from Moresheth, but Scripture doesn’t reveal where it is. Micah prophesies to the nations of Israel and Judah during […]