How to Find Your Purpose
August 30, 2026Pastor Patrick presented today's message, "How to Find Your Purpose" A video of today's message is here on YouTube. It may help to be familiar with the message but that is not required to enjoy the thoughts below.
As there was one Old Testament passage referenced in the message, I decided to see what meat might be in there. It was Psalm 40:2, "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Patrick was talking about God lifting you out of a place of feeling inferior.
Turns out the Hebrew verb for 'lifting' in this case is jam packed with meaning. The word is ah-LAH (עָלָה). The word occurs 888 times.
It can refer to "going up out of a land" as in Genesis 13:1, "So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him." Likewise, "Moses went up to God" in Exodus 19:3.
It can refer to delivering someone from something as in "I have come down to deliver them and bring them up..." in Exodus 3:8.A related word refers to ascending smoke or odors as from a burnt offering (ex. Genesis 22:2).
It can refer to pilgrimage as in "go up to appear to the Lord" in Exodus 24:24.
One can "go up" as into battle, often with divine assistance. See Judges 1:2.
One can ascend as toward a vision. See Ezekiel 8:3.
One can be lifted up as in transformed. See Psalm 25:1.
One can lift up praises.
Spiritual growth is an ascent.
For more detail, see my source: BibleHub - alah.
Bonus
Biblical Imagery in Dolly Parton's Music
This article, published by aish.com, discusses "some of the beloved performer's most moving songs containing timeless Jewish references." We Christians, of course, would call them Old Testament references. Either way, Dolly was outspokenly Christian and that was reflected in her music.
Here are specific references in some of Dolly's music:
Book of Life
"Parton's 1971 hit Book of Life is about her Christian faith, yet the song's title phrase, the 'Book of Life,' is borrowed from a key Jewish idea about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which falls ten days later. The Book of Life is an ancient Jewish phrase that's been associated with Jewish liturgy and learning for millennia." Hear the song.
Coat of Many Colors
"Parton wrote the beautiful song Coat of Many Colors in 1969 and described it as one of her favorites. It tells the true story of her mother making a coat for her out of small pieces of rags, which was all they could afford. Parton's song recalls the 'coat of many colors' described in the Torah," that is, Joseph's coat of many colors. Hear the song.
Raven Dove
"This 2003 song envisions an ideal world of peace. Many of its Biblical references are taken from the Torah, starting with its title and plaintive refrain: When the raven of darkness turns into a white dove of peace. This refers to two birds mentioned in the Book of Genesis." Hear the song.
The Master's Hand
"This 1971 song also refers to Torah's description of Noah and the flood, as well as another episode described in the Book of Daniel. The Master's Hand is about having faith in God, and Parton used a powerful image from the Torah to illustrate God's protection." Hear the song.
Hello God
"Dolly Parton wrote Hello God in 2002, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. She describes longing to connect with the Divine." Hear the song.
Read the full article: Biblical Imagery in Dolly Parton's Music.
Bonus2
Did the Bible Predict AI?
Did the Bible predict artificial intelligence — and are we creating a digital god?
In this episode of Theological, Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Rabbi Simon Jacobson, dean of the Meaningful Life Center and author of Toward a Meaningful Life, for a conversation about AI, the soul, human agency, the Tower of Babel, Shabbat, jobs, spiritual purpose, and what makes human beings different from machines.
Here's the 48-minute video: Did the Bible Predict AI?