Who’s Responsible?

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.  Job 1:1  NASB Blameless – The story of Job is a problem.  Yes, we can push the problem down into the human laundry basket while we rinse Job with theological softener.  But under the…

Honesty Is the Best Policy?

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 NASB Integrity – Are you considered a person of integrity? Ah, before you answer, you might want to know what tamam means. Most of us think of integrity as a synonym for honesty and by that…

The Self-Help Bible

For the LORD is a sun and a shield, the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 ESV Walk Uprightly – The Bible is the world’s only guaranteed self-help book. There are lots of competitors, of course. Just browse any bookstore online or in…

The Ghost of Luther

May uprightness, wholeness, preserve me, for in You do I hope.  Psalm 25:21  Robert Alter translation Uprightness – “Two problems of ot theology concern the verb tāmam: self-righteousness and perfectionism. Illustrating the former, David expresses the resolve, ‘I will walk within my house with a perfect (tōm) heart’ (Ps 101:2b KJV, ASV margin and RSV…

Flip Side

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger; nor is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38:3 Soundness – Modern life compartmentalizes.  A box for work, another for play, one for family, one for social relationships, one for church, one for other things.  The name of the…