Text Talk

Psalm 26 This psalm is all about what David loves. Andrew and Edwin start with David's love for God's house and what that means for us. But first, they discuss whether David is asking for vindication or judgment in that first verse. This leads to a whole discussion on when the psalm was written and what is was used for. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking...

Psalm 25 As Andrew and Edwin wrap up this week's conversations on Psalm 25, Edwin reveals the second most important lesson he has ever learned about prayer. It is demonstrated by the meditations of this psalm. He encourages each of us to walk through the very habit demonstrated by David here of thinking through and finding a reason anchored in God's character, nature, will, word, promise...

Psalm 25 Andrew and Edwin are moved by the main request of Psalm 25. The psalmist isn't focused on health or wealth. Rather, the psalmist wants knowledge. Specifically, the psalmist wants God to teach him His way. That leads them to ask what we are praying for? What are our biggest requests? In this episode, they read from a unique translation of the psalms. It was designed to be used as a ps...

Psalm 25 Edwin reads from the New Jerusalem Bible to convey something that often gets lost in translation. This psalm is an acrostic. Each verse starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet (though it is not perfect). This causes Andrew and Edwin to jump off into a discussion about mnemonic devices, learning tricks and tools. And further they discuss why an author would write a poem with...

Psalm 25 It is almost as if Psalm 25 is answering the anticipated objection to Psalm 24. In that psalm, we are told only those with clean hands and pure hearts will ascend the Lord's holy hill. This leaves us with a real quandary. I'm a sinner? What hope do I have? Andrew and Edwin examine the powerful nature of God, His mercy, love, and forgiveness, which makes Him willing to teach sinn...

Psalm 25 A well-known song comes from this week's psalm. "Unto Thee, O Lord!" What a great song. Andrew and Edwin delve into lifting up our souls to God showing how this connects to the previous psalm that said those who lift their soul up to what is false will not climb God's holy hill. But this psalm is about the person who lifts up his soul to Yahweh. Read the written devo t...

Psalm 24 Israel made a tremendous mistake when they did not treat Jesus as King, but rather ultimately crucified Him. We must not make the same mistake. Andrew and Edwin talk about the New Testament temple and how we, as that temple, are to open wide and let Jesus in as King of our lives, our families, our churches, and the universal church. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode...

Psalm 24 Andrew and Edwin examine how Psalm 24 demonstrates Israel's greatest failure. Psalm 24 explains how Israel should have acted when Jesus came on the scene. But they didn't. They didn't open wide the gates and march Jesus into the temple, crowning Him in God's throne room. They should have. But they didn't. They failed. Read the written devo that goes along with thi...

Psalm 24 Andrew and Edwin talk about the qualifications for climbing God's holy hill. They are able to trek through the Scriptures and find the same principles in multiple passages to discover that you, yes you, are able to climb God's holy hill. 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...

Psalm 24 From ancient times, the human concept has been that the gods live "up there." So, high places, mountains, and towers have always been important in religion. We see it in the tower of Babel. But, shockingly, we even see it in the Mountain of the Lord. Andrew and Edwin discuss this idea of hills and towers in worshiping God or sometimes even trying to supplant God. This leads to a...

Psalm 24 It doesn't show up as much in English, but the emphasis in Psalm 24 is not on the world, it's places and it's people. Rather, the emphasis on Yahweh who conquered and created. To Yahweh, the Lord, the world belongs. Andrew and Edwin discuss the Lord and His ownership of all things. This tells us a bit about God's nature. He isn't our personal God or our tribal God...

Psalm 23 Throughout the week, we've picked up on a pattern. Whether it was David or Israel, God takes His chosen from the pasture to the palace. Andrew and Edwin talk about that pattern for the modern saint as well. We may be wandering in the wilderness now, roaming about the pasture. But our Shepherd is taking us to be the guests at His wedding feast and our enemies can't do a single th...

Psalm 23 This week's psalm not only tells the life-story of David, it also tells the nation-story of Israel. They also went from the pasture to the palace. That is, according to 2 Samuel 7, they went from wandering in the wilderness to being planted in the Promised Land. Andrew and Edwin discuss how Psalm 23 mirrors Israel's history. Read the written devo that goes along with this episod...

Psalm 23 In past conversations, we recognized two potential metaphors in Psalm 23: Shepherd and Host. Andrew and Edwin springboard off of these shifts, then connect Psalm 23 back to 2 Samuel 7 to see how Psalm 23 presents the life story of David as God took him from the pasture to the palace. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learnin...

Psalm 23 Some see the sheep/Shepherd metaphor running through all of Psalm 23. Most see a shift to a guest/Host metaphor. Either way, the second half of the psalm is just as comforting as the first. Andrew and Edwin discuss sitting at a table in the presence of enemies, overflowing cups, anointed heads, and the pursuit of goodness and mercy. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode...

Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd! How comforting. Andrew and Edwin walk us through the sheep and shepherd relationship we have with God as described in Psalm 23. In this episode, Edwin and Andrew briefly discuss the meaning of the "valley of the shadow of death." If you are interested in digging deeper into that study, you may want to check out Edwin's sermon entitled "The Dark...

Psalm 22 The celebration at the end of Psalm 22 points back to the Law regarding thanksgiving offerings. But it also points forward to the celebration meal in which we participate today. Andrew and Edwin discuss the Lord's Supper. We know, you can't imagine how we get there. But it really does. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you...

Psalm 22 Edwin and Andrew share a poem they found while studying Psalm 22 and preparing for these conversations. In this conversation they ask, if Jesus is ultimately the victim in this psalm, who is ultimately the oppressor? The answer isn't pretty. But we need to face it. Enjoy the poem by Sue Fife [Found in Eddie Cloer, Psalm 1-50 , "Truth for Today Commentary," Resource Publicat...

Psalm 22 The connection to Jesus is much stronger in this psalm than in many of the others. After all, Jesus Himself makes the connection while on the cross. When He wants to express what He is going through while on the cross, He uses this psalm to do so. Andrew and Edwin jump off from there to talk about Jesus in this psalm. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking her...

Psalm 22 Yesterday, we talked about the first half of Psalm 22 and the shocking statement of forsakenness. However, right in the middle of the psalm, everything changes. How? The one who in the first half felt as though he was receiving no answers gets an answer. Andrew and Edwin talk about the storm and the rainbow. We'll experience both. In fact, to get the latter, we have to go through the...

Psalm 22 This psalm is, perhaps, the second most well known psalm. Surely, Psalm 23 tops the list. But Jesus quoted this psalm on the cross. Almost everyone knows about it and its very shocking beginning. Forsaken! Have you ever felt that way? This psalm provides the words for us when we do as evidenced by Jesus's use of it when He did. Andrew and Edwin talk about this psalm not only in its o...

Psalm 21 This week's psalm ends on a high note of praise. We needed that after some of the hard conversations from earlier in the psalm. Andrew and Edwin take these last verses of the psalm and springboard into a discussion of singing and praise. 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 T...

Psalm 21 In yesterday's conversation, we talked about the judgment coming on the enemies of God and His anointed King. It was shocking, brutal, and, frankly, a little uncomfortable. And it leaves us thinking of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and so many others that we love. We don't want them to face this judgment. Andrew and Edwin point out God hates the idea of these folks fac...

Psalm 21 This prayer of thanksgiving looks back to the victory God had recently given the king. But it also looks forward to the ongoing victories that would come to God's faithful king. And it is not at all pretty for the king's enemies. In fact, this is one of those imprecatory type prayers that really bothers our modern ears. Andrew and Edwin discuss the true notion that judgment is c...

Psalm 21 We prayed for the King to receive victory (remember Psalm 20?). And he had victory. But why? Because the king was so awesome? Not at all. But because the King serves and trusts and awesome God. Why give thanks when the battle is over? Because we realize God won the battle, not us. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here . Let us know what you are learning...