The Structure of Psalm 18

September 24, 2024Posted inPsalms Commentary
This psalm is a close copy of the song of David found in 2 Samuel 22. It's clear from both 2 Samuel and from the title of the psalm that David wrote it near the end of his life. He had defeated his enemies, consolidated his kingdom after the long and bitter struggle with Saul,…

The Unique Features of Psalm 145

September 21, 2024Posted inPsalm Translations, Psalms Commentary
A Praise of David1. I will exalt you, My God the king, And I will praise your name to forever and perpetuity.2. Every day I will bless you, And I will praise your name to forever and perpetuity,3. Great (is) Yahweh and much praised, And his greatness is not searchable.4. Generation to generation will laud…

Psalm 138: Confessing the Lord’s Name before Kings

September 9, 2024Posted inPsalm Translations
This psalm has three clearly marked stanzas. In the first three verses (8 lines) David speaks in the first person singular. In vv. 4–6 (7 lines) he speaks in the third person, about the kings of the earth. In the last two verses (7-8, 7 lines) he speaks again in the first person singular. The…

Proverbs 30 – A Chiasm?

September 5, 2024Posted inBook of Proverbs
The title ends with a question mark because there are some parts of the "chiasm" that do not seem to have much in common. But other features point to the familiar symmetrical pairing of passages around a central point. I've shown the structure of the chiasm below, but some comments are in order. The number…

Proverbs 16:28 to 17:9: Another Chiasm

August 13, 2024Posted inBook of Proverbs, Chiasms
In their commentary on Proverbs, Bruce K. Waltke and Ivan D. V. De Silva, note that Proverbs 16:31–17:6 form an inclusio (or envelope structure) beginning and ending with descriptions of the glories of old age. I think we may extend that inclusio into a chiasm by including all of 16:28–17:9. A 16:28 A man of…

Studies in the Covenants of Grace

August 9, 2024Posted inCovenants
Last year I completed a series of studies about the covenants of grace in the history of the Old Testament and about the new covenant in Christ as described in various Old Testament prophecies and New Testament books. This series can be found on sermonaudio.com by clicking this link.

Ephesians: Three Descriptions of Man’s Fallen Condition

July 26, 2024Posted inEphesians
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the saints and faithful in Ephesus there are three descriptions of the fallen condition of humanity. The first is in chapter 2:1–3 and describes the internal spiritual condition of those who are without Christ. The second, in 2:11–13, describes the external circumstances of the Gentiles prior to the revelation…

The Trinitarian Foundation of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians

July 17, 2024Posted inEphesians, Trinity
The Scriptures teach us certain doctrines by explicit development in specific passages—justification by faith (Rom. 3 and 4, Gal. 2 and 3), salvation by grace alone (Eph. 2:1–10), the power of the preaching of the gospel (1 Cor. 1). Other doctrines we learn only by gathering up Scriptural teaching in many places and putting it…