Text Talk

Psalm 46 The sons of Korah never saw "2012," but you might have thought they did based on Psalm 46. It pictures the world caving in. Andrew and Edwin connect the psalm back to Creation and back to the Flood. They also talk about when my own personal world is caving in. What can I do? Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learni...

Psalm 45 Andrew and Edwin question who the "I" is in the first and final verses of this psalm. Is it God? Is it the poet? Is it a bit of both? Perhaps a bit of both. In any event, because this I has composed this song, the king's name will be known forever. Which is ironic, because the king's name isn't mentioned. That is, until we realize that ultimately, this psalm is ab...

Psalm 45 If this song is about a wedding, what's  wedding without a bride. This song doesn't just praise the King, the groom. It praises the bride as well. Andrew and Edwin discuss the role of the bride in this psalm, plus the wisdom of instruction given to the bride. Then they discuss the role of the church as the bride and what this instruction means for us as part of that bride or Chr...

Psalm 45 Andrew rejoins the podcast today and helps us see an oft overlooked aspect of Jesus our King. He isn't a Caspar Milquetoast weakling. He is an armor clad warrior. This is not just martial array for His marriage day. This is prepping for battle not with His bride, but on behalf of His bride. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you...

Psalm 45 Introducing, Jesse Martin. Jesse is working with Andrew Roberts and the Livingston congregation this summer to consider making preaching his life's work. We are super excited he gets to join us for the podcast today. Normally, we find Jesus in the psalms on Friday. But this is a royal psalm. And these psalms just can't help themselves for bringing Jesus into the conversation ear...

Psalm 45 This psalm is one of the most unique. It is a love song. It is a wedding song. It is not a praise of God, but of a king at his wedding. It isn't a prayer, but a declaration of blessing. If there is anything we learn from this song, it is that God thinks marriage is great. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or an...

Psalm 44 Andrew and Edwin find Jesus in Psalm 44. Jesus is the representative who truly fulfills this psalm. We find it hard to place this psalm in Israel's history. When could Israel truly claim to have been completely submissive to the covenant. However, Jesus did fulfill that. He, as the representative head of Israel, is able to make that claim. And, in fact, He was like a sheep, a lamb, l...

Psalm 44 Andrew and Edwin come to the final segment of Psalm 44 (vss. 23-26). The tone doesn't get any better. However, the psalm moves from strict lament to absolute begging and pleading. And in its final words, we find a subtle explanation of the Psalmist's motivation. His motivation is not merely his comfort and ease. Once again, we find the reason for the prayer is God's glory....

Psalm 44 Andrew and Edwin continue into the third segment of Psalm 44 (vss. 17-22). The tone doesn't improve. If anything, it gets even darker. Now, the psalmist is explaining why God's treatment is completely unfair. Israel has kept her covenant with God. God is the one defaulting. Yet, the psalmist keeps praying. However, as this segment ends, we learn a profound reason for their suffe...

Psalm 44 Andrew and Edwin move into the second segment of Psalm 44 (vs. 9-16). Boy, does it get dark. In fact, the tone of this psalm turns on a dime. They uncover the most shocking part of the psalm. The enemy seems to be God. God is the one causing the psalmist's pain. Great lessons to learn from this psalm. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us kn...

Psalm 44 This psalm has four distinct sections. The first one provides a magnificent picture of God's grace, removing our ability to boast. Andrew and Edwin look back to Joshua and ahead to Paul to discuss God's grace and how it is illustrated by the first eight verse of Psalm 44. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning...

Psalm 43 Yesterday, Andrew and Edwin discussed how to maintain faithfulness when we aren't hearing the answers to our praying. However, today they notice that God did in fact answer this son of Korah's prayer. It just came much later than perhaps the psalmist was expecting. It's a good Friday on Text Talk, and the title of this episode is "Truth and Light." Can you guess w...

Psalm 43 Many people struggle when it seems their prayers aren't being answered. Andrew and Edwin notice that is exactly the situation Korah's son is in in Psalms 42 and 43. He keeps praying, but he isn't hearing an answer. He expects one. But he hasn't heard one yet. Edwin and Andrew recognize two powerful actions taken by Korah's son that allows him to continue serving t...

Psalm 43 Andrew and Edwin see the request Korah's son makes in Psalm 43, but what intrigues and impresses them more is why. The psalmist isn't looking for mere relief, mere happiness, mere comfort. The psalmist wants to get to worship God. Wow! Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us a...

Psalm 43 Yesterday, Andrew and Edwin recognized the connection between Psalm 43 and Psalm 42. When we read them together, we see the Psalmist's past, present, and expected future. We see how that particular son of Korah viewed his life. It was a series of highs and lows. Sometimes, he was leading folks around to praise God. Other times, he was being led around in oppression and mourning. Edwi...

Psalm 43 Andrew and Edwin discuss the connections between Psalm 42 and Psalm 43. They clearly go together. Were they originally one psalm? Possibly. But then again, maybe we learn something even more profound if we see Psalm 43 as a later addition to 42. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us a...

Psalm 42 The son of Korah is asked twice where his God is. Essentially, "If you and God are so tight, why is this happening to you? Why isn't He doing something about it?" Does that sound like something anyone else you know faced? Of course, this is a Friday episode, so you already know who Andrew and Edwin will be talking about today. Jesus Himself faced this exact same kind of que...

Psalm 42 Andrew and Edwin consider the turmoil the son of Korah is in because he can't get to the temple. Then, they recognize what an amazing blessing we have because we in the New Covenant will never, ever have this problem because we are the temple. Thank God for the New Covenant. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or...

Psalm 42 Edwin highlights a common saying he's heard everywhere he lives from people who act like where they live is the only place it happens. Perhaps you've heard it. "If you don't like the weather here, just wait five minutes, it'll change." Ever heard that? Andrew and Edwin discuss how it sums up Psalm 42. The first half of the psalm is in the middle of a drought....

Psalm 42 Andrew and Edwin take a look at the contrast between how Book I and Book II of the Psalms start. Book I starts with trees by streams of water. Book II starts with deer panting because there are not streams. What's that about? Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@Chri...

Psalm 42 We are now moving into Book II of the Psalms. This first psalm has a new author. Almost all the psalms in Book I were written by David. This one is attributed to the sons of Korah. But do you know anything about Korah? Andrew and Edwin talk about how amazing it is that Korah's descendants get to write psalms. They even reveal the most famous of Korah's descendants. If you don&ap...

Psalm 41 Jesus Himself said this psalm was about him and about Judas. Judas is the close friend who ate bread with Him and lifted his heel against Him. Judas was a heel. Andrew and Edwin talk about the connections between the psalm and Jesus. They also discuss what this means for us. We must not be like Judas, we need to be like Peter. Don't be a heel. Read the written devo that goes along wi...

Psalm 41 When David's enemies claim a deadly thing has come upon him, their choice of words may actually tell more than we see. Their word is connected to "Belial." They may be suggesting David is being attacked by an unclean spirit. Andrew and Edwin discuss the details of that possibility, the options to consider, the overall point that despite what the enemies say, actually, Yahwe...

Psalm 41 David had many enemies. Sometimes his enemies came from shocking places. Sometimes his close friends turned into enemies. That hurts. But when our friends betray us, we learn who our real friend is. Andrew and Edwin talk about God, our best friend. What it means for us to be God's friend. What it means for God to be our friend. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode...

Psalm 41 Because God considers the poor, the weak, the helpless, the powerless, the needy, David knows where he can turn during his time of weakness. He has sinned. He is sick. His enemies are against him. He turns to the Lord. He seeks grace and mercy. Andrew and Edwin discuss how it is difficult to seek grace and mercy, but why we can and should seek it. They wrap up with a look at the fact that...