Jeremy Thompson

Category: Lectionary Readings

  • Psalm 85.11 – Translation Comparison

    Psalm 85.11 (English verse 10) is the kind of verse in comparing parallel translations that could drive a sane man crazy.  Five different translations and three different renderings of the word hesed and three different renderings of the verb tenses. Parallel Comparison of Psalm 85.11 Here are the parallel translations in BibleWorks: Notice that the…

  • Isaiah 45 – A Litany of Montheistic Texts?

    Today’s Old Testament lectionary reading is a litany of monotheistic-sounding statements spliced together from Isaiah 45.  Or, at least in my seminary training I was taught to think in that manner.  However, Daniel McClellan has a helpful post on why this is likely not the case HERE (If it looks familiar, I’ve linked to it…

  • The Superscription of Psalm 34

    Abimelech in Psalm 34? There is an interesting anomaly in verse 1 of Psalm 34.  It reads: Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, who forced him to depart. The problem is that in the episode where David feigns madness the king is actually Achish (see 1 Samuel 21), not Abimelech.  So, how has…

  • Psalm 34 Listening

    Psalm 34 has inspired, in my opinion, some of the best Psalmody in modern times within my own church tradition.  Below I’ve posted a YouTube video of one of my favorite responses based on Psalm 34, “The Cry of the Poor,” though this is not the greatest rendition. The Cry of the Poor (Psalm 34)…

  • Some People Drink and Some People Don't …

    But regardless what you do, someone is going to find fault with you: For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’…

  • Psalm 1.1 – Translation Comparison

    The Responsorial Psalm for today is Psalm 1 as you might have gathered from my previous post.  In reading through Psalm 1 in the New American Bible (=NAB), I felt like it obscured the progression to be found in verse 1, so I took a look at the verse in parallels.  It turns out that…

  • Psalm 1.4 – A Video Illustration of Chaff

    Psalm 1.4 But not the wicked! They are like chaff driven by the wind. (NAB) Have you ever wondered what chaff being driven by the wind looks like?  Of course, modern Africa is not Ancient Israel, but I doubt chaff being driven by the wind has changed much.  Here is a video that shows chaff…

  • Isaiah 41 – An Interesting Translation Issue

    I was reading the lectionary passage this morning from Isaiah 41 and came across an interesting translation issue in verse 14.  The issue revolves around the translation of the word mªtey (sorry couldn’t find a superscript “e” in my special characters). So, I checked out the text in parallel versions. Isaiah 41.14 in Parallel Versions…

  • Psalm 103 & Prosperity Thought

    I was reading Psalm 103 from the lectionary and was particularly struck today by verse three.  It contains a pretty big, bold sounding statement that without looking I’m sure has probably been seized upon by prosperity preachers.  Now, I would be the first to tell you that I think health-wealth and prosperity preaching is a…

  • Psalm 98 and Assonance

    I glanced at the lectionary readings earlier in the day, but spent a little more time with them tonight, especially the response, which was Psalm 98.  I wanted to point out one feature of verse 1 in particular that struck me, and this is one of the types of things I think we miss in…