It’s another special episode of Curious Psalms where the hosting duties are turned over to the students in Dr. Libby Backfish’s Psalms and Wisdom Literature class at William Jessup University. Enjoy this peak into how our college-age friends listen and are shaped by the Psalms ..read more

Rick Hodkin joins Matt to discuss Psalm 90, as we enter Book IV of the Psalms. This Psalm takes seriously the challenges of life and Matt and Rick discuss what it means that God is bigger than us, how we pray in light of our own mortality and the ways the psalm helps lead us further into praying with our whole selves.  ..read more

Zach Tedrow and Matt continue their conversation about Psalm 89. In this part they reflect on the messianic significance of the Psalm, the ways it brings together God’s power and character and the invitation to a prayer life that is complex, even praying two different things at once. Enjoy this conversation ..read more

Zach Tedrow returns for an extended conversation about Psalm 89. In this first part, Matt and Zach discuss a wide range of elements in this Psalm, focusing on the covenant promises of God and the contrast with the Psalmist’s wrestling with this at the Psalm’s conclusion. They also discuss the complexity of the Bible, how authenticity fits with prayer and much more. Look for part 2 of the conversation coming in a couple of weeks ..read more

Psalm 88 ends with darkness, so Matt knew he needed help and the Reverend Dr. Kevin Adams helped in a big way. In this conversation, they explore how darkness is for insiders, the way this Psalm gifts us words and a prayer in the midst of darkness and how the ambiguity of the circumstances makes this a universal prayer, one that Jesus himself prayed. We hope this is conversation is an encouragement and gift to you ..read more

Amy Langle is back for this conversation about a shorter Psalm in Psalm 87. She and Matt discuss the ways God can bring beauty out of the ruin and his endlessly reaching out not only to his people but to all the nations as he seeks to bring them in.  ..read more

For Psalm 86, Matt gets to have a conversation with David Narita as they explore this “Wednesday afternoon Psalm.” Together they talk about joy, the gift of God revealing himself to us as compassionate and the idea of an ongoing life of prayer.  ..read more

For this episode, Stirling Marcum is our guest as she joins Matt for a conversation about Psalm 53. Together they explore the connections of this Psalm with the story of Nabal and Abigail, the ways the psalm forces us to look at our own foolishness as well as the grace in the Psalm of having eyes open to God’s ongoing work ..read more

Dr. Libby Backfish is back for a new experiment in Curious Psalms - having an extended conversation in two parts. In this, Part 1, of her conversation with Matt about Psalm 78, they discuss the movements between faithfulness and unfaithfulness, the relationship between knowing and obeying God, some details about the timing of the end of the Psalm and much more. Enjoy Part 1, and look for Part 2 of this conversation coming out in a couple of weeks ..read more

Rachel Timms returns to Curious Psalms to talk about Psalm 49. This unique wisdom Psalm talks extensively about wealth and little about God, so Matt and Rachel discuss both the ways it has helped them reflect on their resources as well as the ways it points to God as the one who brings life and redemption. Plus, they discuss some interesting punctuation choices ..read more