Posts by Jim Oesterwind
A Horrible Kind of Happiness
One of the key events in the history of Israel is the Babylonian exile. The Jewish people taken into captivity longed to return to Judah. Psalm 137 presents this longing in a heart-rending retrospect (vv. 1-3) that quickly turns defiant (vv. 4-6) and vengeful (vv. 7-9). The final lines of the psalm depict what one…
Read MoreThe Subtlety of Self-Deception
“Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, ‘Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord.’ But Samuel said, ‘What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?’ And Saul said, ‘They have brought them from the…
Read MoreContention in the Church
One issue dominates the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians. It’s contention in the church. The Reformer, Ulrich Zwingli wrote: How does it happen that we Christians who are united by such powerful agencies have much greater quarrels than unbelievers? And how does it happen that in a Confederacy in which until now a fraternal…
Read MoreMercy Triumphs Over Judgment
“Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as…
Read MoreWaking Up This Morning in Meshech and Kedar
Psalm 120 is first among 15 consecutive psalms titled, A Song of Ascents. Psalm 127 is in the middle of these psalms and is attributed to Solomon. There are seven psalms on either side of Psalm 127. The first side consists of Psalm 120 – Psalm 126. Five of these are written by unknown authors.…
Read MoreOpportunities for the Overwhelmed
Author’s Note: I published this on my blog about seven years ago. It seems timely for us to revisit this psalm. – JO Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is…
Read MoreHappily Ever After?
Psalm 88 is a lament. The psalmist is greatly distressed and emotional. Most interpreters of the psalm believe the reason for the distress lies in some type of terminal illness. Loneliness and spiritual distress accompany physical illness. The psalm reflects this as well. Many psalms have a theme which connects judgment from God with the…
Read MoreKnow Your Bible … Know Your God
Jim Oesterwind Psalm 119.17-24 Our friend Jim Oesterwind has contributed a number of articles to our site. Today we’d like to feature one of his sermons from Psalm 119. He sent us his manuscript which we publish below. You can find the audio here. All of Psalm 119 communicates a desire for the Word of…
Read MoreEradicating the Evil of Envy
Jim Oesterwind Genesis 37 begins the story of the fourth significant person in the second half of the book. His name is Joseph, the eleventh of Jacob’s twelve sons. He along with Benjamin are the two sons of Rachel, Jacob’s favored wife. By my rough estimation Jacob takes up roughly 20% of the content in…
Read MoreA Worthy Walk – Part 4
Jim Oesterwind “You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own…
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