The Problem with Blood

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 51:14 NASB Bloodguiltiness – Unfortunately this text doesn’t actually say “bloodguiltiness.” That is an interpolation of the actual word, dam. The text literally says, “Rescue me from blood.”   It could also be read, “Deliver…

The God of War (Rewind)

but deliver us from evil   Matthew 6:13  NASB Deliver – But do we really want to be delivered?  Delivered means facing reality as it is, no fantasies, no Band-Aids, no idol protection.  Maybe we aren’t so quick to be delivered because it’s so frightening.  Isn’t that exactly what happens when we turn back to the…

Public Relations Management

Guard my life and save me.  Let me be not ashamed, for I shelter in You.  Psalm 25:20  Robert Alter translation Ashamed – You know it must be a big deal if David brings it up twice, once at the beginning and now at the end of his song.  The word is bosh, and it…

The Four Spiritual Stages (2)

Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage.  I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.  Then I will take you for My people, and I…

Beating a Dead Horse?

The LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.  So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians,”  Exodus 3:7-8a  NASB Deliver – Did God…

Reductio Ad Absurdum

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Ba’al, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, “We are delivered!” – only to go on doing all these abominations? Jeremiah 7:9-10 We…

The God Of War

but deliver us from evil   Matthew 6:13 Deliver – But do we really want to be delivered?  Delivered means facing reality as it is, no fantasies, no band-aids, no idol protection.  Maybe we aren’t so quick to be delivered because it’s so frightening.  Isn’t that exactly what happens when we turn back to the idols…