Masada, the High Fortress

[Psalm 18:2-3] “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” Masada (Hebrew: מצדה‎), literally meaning […]

Foot-Kissing Ritua

In the ancient Middle East, the conquered would kiss the feet of their conquerors to express submission. “Foot-kissing” and “licking the dust off feet” were often part of a prostration ritual: “humbly bending the knee” or “kneeling before the ruler.” This custom originated from Eastern nations. Ancient Egyptians would prostrate themselves on the ground before […]

You Are My Son

[Psalm 2:7] “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’” The author of Psalm 2 is David. God accepted David and his descendants as His sons (2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm 89:26), granting them the right to inherit His portion. In ancient times, when […]

Historical Background of the Psalms

In the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh (תנ״ך), the Book of Psalms is the first book of the Writings section. The other two books in this section are Proverbs and Job. Psalms collects 150 prayers, many of which are works by King David. These prayers include heartfelt cries of sorrow and joy, as well as songs […]

Overview of the Sacred Scriptures

The Tanakh (Hebrew: תנ״ך‎) is the authoritative version of the Hebrew Bible for Judaism and is its primary sacred text. Later, Christianity referred to it as the “Hebrew Bible” or the “Old Testament.” The Hebrew “Writings” (or “Holy Writings”), literally meaning “writings” or “compositions,” constitute the third section of the Hebrew Bible. The Writings contain […]

True Freedom in Christ

Is “freedom in Christ” a license to do whatever you want, to follow your desires without restraint? Everyone seeks freedom. Especially in the West, freedom is considered the highest virtue. But “freedom in Christ” is different from political, economic, or personal freedom. In fact, some of the most severely oppressed people in history have experienced […]

Kidron Valley

The Kidron Valley is a dry riverbed located east of Jerusalem. It originates from a stream in the high mountains north of Jerusalem, primarily fed by varying amounts of water from the Gihon Spring and En Rogel Spring. It flows southward through the valley between the eastern wall of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives […]

Absalom, David’s Rebellious Son

Absalom was David’s third son, greatly beloved by David. His life and deeds are detailed in 2 Samuel chapters 13 to 18. He is also a “famous figure” in the Bible, not renowned for building the Temple for the LORD like Solomon, but rather for being a rebellious son in David’s household! He was handsome […]

King David and Bathsheba

The story of David’s seduction of Bathsheba is recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 11 and subsequent chapters. Bathsheba was initially the wife of Uriah the Hittite, but later married King David and became the mother of King Solomon. One day, King David was walking on the roof of his palace when he saw Bathsheba, the […]

After God’s Own Heart

When David was king of Judah, the Philistines did not trouble him, but waited for him and the eleven northern tribes to destroy each other. Now that the twelve tribes anointed David king of Israel, the Philistines could no longer sit idly by and decided to act to stop David. [2 Samuel 5:17-18] “When the […]