WORSHIP NOTES Volume 21, No. 3 (March 2026) The Hebrew word hesed is used 248 times in the Old Testament; about half of those occurrences are in Psalms, and 26 times in Ps 136 alone (as part of a repeated refrain). Obviously a very important word, it is usually rendered (depending on the translation) as “steadfast love” or “lovingkindness” or “mercy.” hesed combines the idea of love and loyalty. It […]
HESED: A CRUCIAL OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPT Read More »
Last month we began to consider several authors’ fascinating insights into Jesus’ familiarity with, usage of, and fulfillment of the Psalms. Here are some more. WORSHIP NOTES Volume 19, No. 2 (February 2024) The Psalms are the prayers Jesus holds in common with us as He, in His manhood, takes His place within the covenant people of God. And they are Christ’s distinctive prayer book as he takes up His
Christ and the Psalms (part 2) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 14, No. 10 (October 2019) WHAT WE HAD God’s own assessment of His creative work was that it was “good” (9 times in Genesis 1:4–2:12), and that after man was added it was all “very good” (1:31). God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, where they had direct, unfettered access to God— unmediated worship: Although the Scriptures do not specifically say so, worship of God
WORSHIP IN EDEN: What We Had, What We Lost, What Was Restored Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 9 (September 2015) Psalms are the language we use when we need a voice other than our own.(Cornelius Plantinga & Sue A. Rozeboom, Discerning the Spirits:A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, 160) The Psalms hold a unique place in both Jewish and Christian piety. As has often been pointed out, the full range of human emotions can be found in these 150 songs,
THE PSALMS: Israel’s Hymnbook . . . and Ours (Part 1) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 4 (April 2015) “I want to stress what I think that we (or at least I) need more [than instruction they about sacrifice]; the joy and delight in God which meet us in the Psalms. . . . These poets knew far less reason than we for loving God. They did not know that He offered them eternal joy; still less that He would die to
WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 5: Psalms 121-150) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 2 (February 2015) “Psalms are the language we use when we need a voice other than our own.” (C. Plantinga and S. Roseboom, Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, 160). Many facets of worship are seen in the expressions of faith of the Psalmists, which can then in turn guide our thinking and feeling and praising. We continue to survey the diverse perspectives on
WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 4: Psalms 91-120) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 1 (January 2015) The Psalms, Israel’s hymnal, is a special gift to the New Testament people of God as well, as a source of comfort, inspiration, and texts for prayer and singing. It is reported that Athanasius, an outstanding Christian leader of the fourth century, declared that the Psalms have a unique place in the Bible because most of Scripture speaks to us, while the Psalms
WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 3: Psalms 61-90) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 9, No. 12 (December 2014) We continue from October our look at facets of worship that are displayed in Israel’s hymnbook, the Psalms. The intent is not to expound exhaustively each Psalm, of course, but simply to highlight one major perspective on worship that can be seen in each. WORSHIP IS . . . (Psalm 31) . . . trustfully waiting on the Lord to deliver and bless.(Psalm 32) . .
WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 2: Psalms 31–60) Read More »
WORSHIP NOTES Volume 9, No. 10 (October 2014) In this new series we will look at facets of worship that are displayed in Israel’s hymnbook, the Psalms. While not exhaustive studies of each Psalm, of course, we will highlight one perspective on worship that can be seen in each. WORSHIP IS . . . (Psalm 1) . . . the blessing of relating rightly to the Lord.(Psalm 2)
WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 1: Pss. 1–30) Read More »
Worship in the Old Testament, 18th and last in the series WORSHIP NOTES Volume 8, No. 4 (April 2013) You have exalted above all thingsYour name and Your word. (Psalm 138:2) “I am the LORD; that is My name;I will not give my glory to another.” (Isaiah 42:8) 1. THE NATURE OF GOD’S NAME As is well known, names in Scripture carry much more weight than mere appellation or identification: they
The Supremacy of God’s Name in the Old Testament Read More »
