Job 11–14

Introduction We come today to Zophar's first speech and to Job's reply to him. And today's passage is the last part of the first cycle of speeches. I've explained before that there are three cycles of speeches from chapter 4 to chapter 28. In the first cycle, the three friends take it in turns to … Continue reading Job 11–14 →

Job 08–10

Introduction We come today to the first speech by Bildad and Job's response to it. Bildad was one of Job's three friends who came to sympathise with him and to comfort him in his suffering after he lost his family and his possessions and his health. For seven days and nights they sat with Job … Continue reading Job 08–10 →

Psalm 055

Introduction Today's psalm is a psalm of lament in which the psalmist cries to the Lord because he's in trouble. And he's in trouble because of the wicked and the wicked things they're doing. But he's also in trouble, because a friend has betrayed him. Verses 1 to 3 In verses 1 to 3 the … Continue reading Psalm 055 →

Psalm 054

Introduction Today's psalm begins with the psalmist crying to God to save him, because ruthless strangers are attacking the psalmist. Then, in the middle of the psalm, the psalmist expresses his confidence in the Lord. And at the end, the psalmist makes a vow to give thanks to the Lord for delivering him from his … Continue reading Psalm 054 →

Psalm 053

Introduction This psalm may be familiar to us because it's almost identical to Psalm 14 which we studied together last November; and Paul the Apostle quotes lines from these two psalms in Romans 3 to make the point that Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners in the sight of God. And while it's true that … Continue reading Psalm 053 →

Psalm 052

Introduction The title to today's psalm refers to that time in David's life when he had to flee for his life because Saul wanted to kill him. And we read in 1 Samuel 21 that Samuel went to a place called Nob, where he asked the priest for food. The priest replied that the only … Continue reading Psalm 052 →