Talking Scripture

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(00:00) A brief overview of these psalms.
(01:32) Psalm 89 portrays God’s power of creation and his justice. Assurances are made to the anointed king that the seed of David will continue with a promise of victory. The last 14 verses are a lament that the king has been forsaken.
(07:15) Psalm 93 teaches that the Lord is mightier than the waters, with a description of him overcoming chaos in his acts of creation.
(09:14) In Psalm 102 the righteous pray for deliverance. Psalm 115 helps us understand Psalm 102, as they both relate to death and resurrection.
(17:23) In Psalm 116 we are assured that God will redeem mankind from death and sorrow and will one day wipe away our tears.
(24:10) Psalm 103 describes how the Lord’s people rejected him, yet the Lord showed them pity. Much of the Old Testament reflects a post exilic view of God that can be negative. This Psalm shows the lovingkindness of God. Lehi describes the essence of the original Hebrew of this psalm when he says “I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.” Knowing God’s true character, nature, and perfections lead us unto salvation.
(31:51) Psalm 105 portrays God’s redemptive work with the children of Israel and the story of the Exodus.
(34:13) Psalm 110, “Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Different ways to read Psalm 110 in its historical context and in connection with King Benjamin’s sermon. Psalm 110 and Psalm 2 both teach about becoming sons and daughters of Christ.
(45:37) Psalm 118.22, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” In the Book of Mormon we are warned against rejecting the Messiah, who sits on the right hand of God. Sometimes the Savior does not meet our preconceived expectations.
(55:07) Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, a prayer to God, and one the longest of the psalms.
(1:02:35) Psalms 120-134 are 15 “psalms of ascent,” relating to the Water-Drawing Ceremony at the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus used this imagery to teach about his power to save.
(1:08:21) In Psalm 127 we are reminded that children are an heritage of the Lord.
(1:12:52) Psalm 135 elaborates upon Israel’s history from the pre-earth Council in Heaven to King David.
(1:16:16) Psalm 136 begins in the premortal Council, reiterates the creation, and then Israel’s Exodus. God’s mercy endures forever.
(1:17:39) Psalm 137 is an emotionally moving exilic psalm lamenting the destruction of the temple.
(1:23:34) Psalm 138 is a thanksgiving prayer of praise. Psalm 139 expresses the king’s worthiness to approach God at the veil of the temple.
(1:24:30) Psalm 146 expresses the message of the work Jehovah would do. This was also the message of the angel to King Benjamin. Psalm 148 shows God’s power in his creative works.
(1:27:21) Psalms 149 and 150 emphasize the participatory nature of the First Israelite Temple Drama. Israel is to sing a new song praising God.

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The post Ep 387 | Psalms 102-150, Come Follow Me 2026 (Aug 31-Sept 6) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

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(00:00) A brief summary of the psalms.
(02:51) Psalm 49 can be read as a resurrection text. “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave.”
(09:20) Psalm 50 teaches that God will come and establish order and peace.
(11:53) Psalm 51 is a prayer asking for forgiveness and a new heart. Hesed is a word used to describe God’s lovingkindness, or his everlasting love. Repentance is rebuilding our relationship with the Savior.
(28:59) Psalm 61 can be read as a plea of the king before he goes out to battle and can be seen in the setting of the temple drama. Compared to God, we are nothing. The teaching of works is found here, but is often lost.
(33:32) To be built upon the Rock is emphasized in the Psalms and also in the Book of Mormon.
(41:43) Psalm 63 is a veil type-scene, as the king approaches the presence of God. “In the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice…thy right hand upholdeth me.” This psalm is connected to Malachi 4.
(52:10) Psalm 64 is a prayer for help. Psalm 65 is an expression of thanks for the abundant harvest feast and the blessing of water in the land.
(59:02) Psalm 66 is an example of how the sacred temple drama was participatory.
(1:03:31) Psalm 68 depicts God as one who loves the widows and the fatherless. It also portrays the battle between light and darkness.
(1:06:12) Psalm 69 teaches that God will bless and help us, but we are also here to be tested. “Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink.” Psalm 70 is a prayer to God for deliverance.
(1:09:35) Psalm 72 portrays the coronation of the king. Isaiah 61 contains all five essential parts of the ancient coronation ceremony.
(1:14:31) Psalm 74 shows God’s conflict with the dragon and the sea. Creation and order come out of chaos.
(1:15:32) Psalm 77 and 78 retell the story of Moses, a mighty king who carried Israel out of Egypt. This establishes his legitimacy and is tied to the temple drama and God’s sovereignty on earth. We must teach our children.
(1:21:03) Psalm 82 portrays the Council of the Gods, or the council before the world was. Jesus quotes this passage, “Ye are gods and children of the Most High.”
(1:27:13) Psalm 85 teaches that truth will spring out of the earth and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
(1:30:56) Psalm 86 highlights King David as he begs for forgiveness. David works to repent by reconnecting with God.

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The post Ep 386 | Psalms 49-86, Come Follow Me 2026 (August 24-30) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

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(00:00) The historical background and purpose of the Psalms.
(02:14) Many scholars assert that several of the Psalms were used in Israel’s temple worship, especially during the first temple period. They can be divided into hymns of praise, pleas for help or laments, and thanksgiving songs.
(08:44) Some LDS scholars see the setting of the Psalms directly connected to the temple.
(15:13) In Psalm 1 the Tree of Life is seen, similar to Nephi’s dream in 1 Nephi 8-11.
(17:14) Psalm 2 is an enthronement Psalm. The king is set on a holy hill in Zion and is adopted as a Son of God.
(20:36) By making a covenant with God, the king is given the promise of invulnerability. This is both literal and symbolic.
(23:35) Psalm 8 depicts God’s glorious creations. We are central in his creations.
(26:21) “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels”. The original Hebrew text states that man is “a little lower than the Elohim.”
(29:28) Psalm 19 emphasizes the laws of the Lord, portraying the law as “sweeter than honeycomb.”
(31:37) Psalm 20 is a plea for help. We receive increased divine attention when we go to the temple.
(33:02) Psalm 21 portrays the king receiving the requested blessing, as he comes before the Lord and receives a crown in his presence.
(36:29) Psalm 22 describes the Messiah’s battle with evil. We are given a glimpse into the Savior’s struggle in Gethsemane and Golgotha as he cries out during the day and the night. Justin, in his dialogue with Trypho, connects the sufferer’s cry in Psalm 22 with Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.
(42:28) Jesus, though mocked while on the cross, did not revile against those who ridiculed him.
(45:31) The Bulls of Bashan compass the Messiah. His bones are out of joint, he is poured out like water, and his hands and feet are pierced.
(51:36) The Savior’s post-mortal ministry in the spirit world.
(56:50) Psalm 23 shows the plan of salvation in the pattern of a three-act play. The rod or staff is an extension of God.
(1:01:22) Changing the tenses of the verbs in Psalm 23 can provide additional application.
(1:05:03) Psalm 24, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” As we demonstrate our trust in Jesus and are cleansed, we are promised we will one day come into the Father’s presence.
(1:07:45) Psalm 24 as a depiction of the ascent of the king coming into the hill of the Lord, with the priests and the Ark of the Covenant.
(1:08:58) Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm. Psalm 29 portrays God’s victory over chaos as his “voice is upon the waters.”
(1:12:00) Psalm 40 describes how the king’s feet are established on the rock, a symbol of sacred kingship. The king prays for the tender mercies and the lovingkindness of the Lord.
(1:15:48) The song of redeeming love.
(1:20:14) Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God.”

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The post Ep 385 | Psalms 1-46, Come Follow Me 2026 (August 17-23) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

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(00:00) An overview of the two parts of Job: the frame and the poem.
(07:31) In the frame, Job is described as a just and perfect man whose property and children are destroyed, yet he praises and blesses the Lord. In the end, he receives back more than he lost.
(16:53) The poem describes Job’s complaints. He even curses being born.
(22:42) Three friends come to “comfort” Job. How to properly engage with someone who is suffering. Rigid orthodoxies and a lack of true empathy can destroy relationships.
(34:52) Our capacity for joy is connected to pain.
(40:20) When we can’t see the purpose of pain, we can still trust in God’s wisdom. It is not possible for mortals to entirely understand his plan. After Job’s revelatory experience with God, his perspective changes.
(46:39) The ideology of the Deuteronomist is challenged in the poem. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? The answers may not come in this life, but pain will ultimately be resolved in “the third act.”
(53:19) Jesus, our Redeemer, will overcome all the injustices of mortality.
(1:00:25) Another way to see Job 19.25. The redeemer in this alternate reading is Job’s defender who will one day come and vindicate him, and will defend his statements regarding the injustice of God.
(1:03:29) A hymn to wisdom and then Job’s final speech. The Lord speaks to Job about his mighty works. God’s creative power and wisdom far exceed the Behemoth and the Leviathan.
(1:09:22) The book of Job can also be read as a temple text, a journey that returns Job back into God’s presence.

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The post Ep 384 | Job, Come Follow Me 2026 (August 10-16) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

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(00:00) A brief overview of these chapters.
(07:23) King Ahasuerus seeks a new queen and Esther is put forth by her uncle Mordecai. He compels Esther to not reveal her Jewish heritage to the king. She is chosen as the new queen.
(14:42) The villainous Haman arranges to get the king to sign a decree to kill all the Jews in the kingdom.
(16:28) Xerxes is depicted as an unwitting king, as are other kings in the Bible.
(19:07) Esther is determined to approach the king for his help, even at the risk of her life. Mordecai tells Esther that she is born for this time and in this kingdom to save her people. The Jews fast to be saved from Haman’s decree.
(25:17) Esther tells the king her true identity as a Jew and also Haman’s evil plot to destroy them. Haman is hanged on his own gallows by order of the king.
(27:12) Mordecai is honored, Queen Esther gets the house of Haman, and a decree is made to preserve the Jews.
(28:38) The Jews have rest from their enemies. The house of Haman is destroyed as collective punishment for his crimes. The Feast of Purim is instituted to commemorate their deliverance.
(32:44) Mordecai, the Jew, stands next to the king in power and might.

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The post Ep 383 | Esther, Come Follow Me 2026 (August 3-9) appeared first on Talking Scripture.