Save me from the mire, that I not drown. Let me be saved from my foes and from the watery depths. Let the waters’ current not sweep me away and let not the deep swallow me. Psalm 69:15-16a [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Save me – Back to the beginning. The metaphor of drowning is still…
Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:9-10 NASB Seas – The ancient fear of chaos. The…
Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also mounted against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation. Psalm 78:21-22 NASB Did not believe in God – I believe in God. But that’s a mistake. Why? Because when I say, “I believe…
“He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of a wilderness; He encircled him, He cared for him, He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.” Deuteronomy 32:10 NASB Howling waste– Have you ever been in the wilderness at night? Far from the man-made delusions of protective cities, scary things move in…
Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. Psalm 139:12 NASB Alike to You– Well, not exactly. You see, the Hebrew construction doesn’t actually contain the words “alike to You.” They have been added in order to parallel the opening phrase. The…
Make glad the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 86:4 NASB Make glad – How do you interpret this request? If you’re encumbered by the typical Western paradigm, you might think the psalmist is asking God to gladden his inner, spiritual self. If you view man…
Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 NASB Waters – The Teacher, Qohelet, might be somewhat of a skeptic, but that doesn’t mean his advice isn’t practical. “Spend your efforts on the one you love in your youth,” is great advice. “Don’t worry…
The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:2 NASB Formless and void – “So, how’s that working out for you?” The fundamental question about our assumptions concerning life. The most important question of…
I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 NASB Faith – What will the Messiah be looking for when he returns? Faith. But what is faith? Is it having the trusting assurance of salvation? Is…
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8: ESV The Sabbath day – And what does this mean? Does it mean we spend the day meditating on God? Does it mean we sit around wondering if doing the next thing will violate the commandment about rest? Perhaps we need to look at the original…
