Archive for "December, 2011"

CURRENT EVENT – JANUARY 8, 2012

Since the 1950s, the people of North Korea have been tightly controlled as a communist country. North Korea functions as a very secretive society, although bits of information come out at times through defectors and other sources.

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR – JANUARY 8, 2012

If the scholars are right, Psalm 29 could be an early example of what we might call “contemporary Christian music.” It praises God using elements borrowed from the music of the surrounding culture.

REFERENCE SHELF – JANUARY 8, 2012

Psalm 29 is a hymn that glorifies Yahweh’s power and majesty. There are significant parallels between this psalm and Ugaritic poetry (which incorporates much of Canaanite religious understanding).

RESOURCES – JANUARY 8, 2012

The OT starts with God, a supreme God, as the presupposition of all existence. There are no arguments of proof for the existence of God, as in later Western philosophical discussions.

CURRENT EVENT – JANUARY 1, 2012

This month marks the second anniversary of the earthquake that occurred in Haiti in 2010. The earthquake had horrific effects on an already poor country.

A WORD FROM THE EDITOR – JANUARY 1, 2012

Psalm 62 describes God as an unshakable rock and fortress, a refuge in whom we can put our trust. Psalm 114 echoes this imagery and adds the idea that, compared to fleeting human existence, God is steady and enduring.

REFERENCE SHELF – JANUARY 1, 2012

This psalm is usually treated as a song of trust, and an affirmation of faith in God. It may be more properly classified as testimony and instruction.

RESOURCES – JANUARY 1, 2012

As we read the psalms we can readily see that they express different moods. On this basis they have been placed in groups: hymns, laments, thanksgiving psalms, wisdom songs, et al.