The Genesis of David

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NASB Create – First let’s correct the syntax. The emphasis of this verse is not “create.” It is leb tahor, a “heart clean.” But even this needs a bit of explanation. The root taher is not about “spiritual”…

Nearing the End (1)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 NASB Heart – In Hebrew the…

Not Exactly

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Genesis 1:27  NASB Created – Have you ever wondered about the construction of this verse?  Why does it seem to repeat itself?  Did you think it was just for emphasis?  But then why would…

Back to bara

o God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds  . . .  Genesis 1:21 ESV Created – There are demarcations in the Hebrew text that provide important insights about our relationship to God and to the rest of His cosmos.  Unfortunately, some…

The Lesson of Nebuchadnezzar

I was foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before you.  Psalm 73:22  Hebrew World translation Beast – In Hebrew Man is never classified with the animals.  Let’s say that again.  No place in Scripture can you find any reference at all that justifies calling Man one of the animals.  Hebrew makes a clear…

The Problem Of Evil

I YHWH and none else, forming light and creating darkness; making peace and creating evil – I YHWH do all these things. Isaiah 45:6-7 (translation: M. Buber) Creating – Where did evil come from?  Such a simple question.  Such an enormously difficult answer, if there even is an answer.  One of the greatest impediments to…