Monday, January 26, 2009

Old Testament Discoveries

Often the Psalms are written as call and response. If you read to a semicolon, the words that follow often restate the first verse in different words. Finally, I understand why we often read the Psalms responsively in liturgy.

The story of Jonah isn't simply a miracle story (Jonah fell into the sea and God rescued him by giving him refuge in the belly of the big fish). When Nineveh repents and God forgives them, Jonah reacts to God changing God's mind like a petulant teenager. He goes out and pouts.