“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, Isaiah 1:18a NJKV Come now – You probably remember this verse in its King James version suggesting that God wants you to enter into a rational discussion with Him (“reason together”). I’ve often heard this phrase cited in classical apologetics, and, of course, the rest of the…
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16 NASB With him – “He will call. I will answer.” What more could we ask from God? Well, in fact,…
Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress; Incline Your ear to me; On the day when I call answer me quickly. Psalm 102:2 NASB My distress – Why do earthquakes occur? The simple answer is that geological plates move under stress. The shift in the land is what we call…
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also. Psalm 31:9 NASB Distress– Now comes the plea. David’s psalm begins with acknowledgement of God’s character. He praises the Lord for constancy, faithfulness, and a genuine desire to rescue. He alludes to God’s covenant relationship with…
I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul, Psalm 31:7 NASB Have known– It’s an unfortunate unexamined assumption of many believers that Yeshua is our savior because he truly understands our human frailties. After all, he was one of us. And since God…
In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Psalm 120:1 ESV Distress – Did you really seek emotional anguish? Probably not, but it showed up anyway. You thought your life was under control. You thought you were doing the right things. Suddenly something happened. News you didn’t expect or want to…
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears. Psalm 18:6 NASB In my distress – batstsarli – “in my distress” – is the place of confinement. The narrow place. The…
The distress of my heart has grown great. From my straits bring me out. Psalm 25:17 Robert Alter translation Distress – What binds you? What hems you in? What makes you feel as if you have no options, no choices? What propels you into the narrow straits? All of these things are tsarot, the plural…
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” 2 Samuel 24:14 ESV The hand of man – Life often produces great distress. It’s usually not accidental. In fact, from…
Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; Answer me speedily in the day when I call! Psalm 102:2 ESV My distress – How often have you cried out to YHWH in this way? You and I speak the same words that David spoke. Life…
