Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, the one that remains faithful. Isaiah 26:2 NASB Remains faithful – What is the character of a people (a nation) that remains faithful? Isaiah’s word choice here (employing the verb šāmar and the derived adjective from ʾāman) tells us that this people, this gôy (nation), is a people…
“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” Genesis 12:13 NASB You are my sister – Justifying a paradigm usually means adjusting evidence to fit the assumptions. Scriptural defense of the doctrine of the Trinity is an…
And in their heart they put God to the test by asking for food [g]that suited their taste. Psalm 78:18 That suited their taste – The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue, most of it not very pleasant. The tongue is a source of disagreement, the power of life and death, the instrument of “binding…
For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. Luke 8:29 NASB Seized – What if the story of the demoniac isn’t about demon possession? What if it’s about an ancient…
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. Romans…
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB Dwell – You probably learned this verse in the King James version: “Think on these things.” That version…
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24 NASB Devoted – Yeshua spoke more about the practical realities of living than anything else. We try to turn his…
Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 NASB Where – As you know, Hebrew has two words for “where.” The first is a question about geographical location. ‘ephoh, that is, “Where is such and such place, person, thing?” If I’m lost in Jerusalem, I might use this…
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those…
For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 1 Kings 11:4 NASB Turned – Solomon was an addict. That’s pretty much the only explanation that makes any sense…
