Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am wretched. Heal me, for my limbs are stricken. Psalm 6:3 Robert Alter My limbs – Now you will read a reflection that I wrote more than a month ago. My left knee still hurts, every day, all the time. But it isn’t excruciating. No wheelchair. Nevertheless, it’s…
“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8 NASB Shall see – Now that we have some appreciation for the meaning behind these words (see yesterday’s edition of Today’s Word), let’s ask another question. If purity of heart is a gift, why do we struggle so much to see God…
Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. Psalm 112:4 NASB Compassionate – The consonant structure of raḥûm, the Hebrew word for “compassionate,” offers an interesting linguistic insight into its meaning and application. You see, raḥûm, can be slightly altered by changing the vowels. Then it becomes raḥam, the word…
“I love You, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 (English version) NASB Love – You would never notice in English, but in Hebrew, this certainly appears to be the wrong word. We would expect ‘ahav, used in Deuteronomy 6:5 and throughout the Tanakh in both commands and descriptions. In fact, ‘ahav is used in all…
Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:13 NASB Compassion – It goes without saying (but it is worth saying anyway) that David knew the connection between raham and rehem (or the other meaning of raham, with the vowel patach rather than…
Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah saying, “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ Zechariah…
Recall Your mercies, O LORD, and Your kindnesses—they are forever. Psalm 25:6 Robert Alter translation Mercies/kindnesses – Why should God care about you? You’re not exactly the best of the breed. You’re not holy. You have a smudged past. You still wander off the path on occasion. You are not absolutely devoted. Why should He…
July 29 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them. Hosea 1:6 NASB Compassion – There is no doubt that Israel deserved God’s anger. Israel sinned…
“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the LORD.” Hosea 2:19-20 Betroth – God offers hope, even for the most miserable, most rebellious, most immoral…
“But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion.” Luke 10:33 Felt Compassion – We have often mentioned that Hebrew thought development moves like the lines of a pyramid. The story develops from the foundation up to the pinnacle and then concludes by returning…
