God’s Grandchildren

But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, Psalm 103:17 NASB To children’s children – What’s the connection? Hesed operates between related parties. It isn’t like grace (hen). Hesed presupposes some already-existing connection. Once in place, hesed governs the continuing relationship…

Statute of Limitation

But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, Psalm 103:17 NASB From everlasting to everlasting – “How far is it?” The nine-year-old in the backseat asked this question about every ten minutes until we arrived at the butterfly garden. But as…

Fade Away

When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, and its place acknowledges it no longer. Psalm 103:16 NASB It is no more – Where will you be when it’s over? According to this psalm, you and I will be ‘ene—nowhere! The root is ‘ayin. “This word is basically a negative substantive used…

Who Are You?

As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. Psalm 103:15 NASB Like grass – David has just drawn a subtle but important link between “frame,” “dust” and the yetser ha’ra. We were made for struggle. Struggle is who we are. Life on earth is not heaven…

Why Does God Love Me?

For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:14 NASB Our frame – God may be the only person in the universe who loves dust. Of course, He shaped that dust into something that resembles Him, but David reminds us that He hasn’t forgotten what we are made…

The Other Parent

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…

The Departed

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12 NASB Removed – How far is sunrise from sunset? A day’s journey? Or is it more than that? Is it a distance that cannot be traversed? Does sunrise ever meet sunset to share a moment…

The Untranslatable Word

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11 NASB Lovingkindness – hesed, of course. What else could David enlist that would cause YHVH to remain faithfully connected to such a sinner? Hesed has been thoroughly investigated by scholars. In fact, hundreds…

Finished

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103:10 NASB Has not dealt – The first thing to notice is that the subject/verb is not in the primary position in the text. What comes first is “not” (lo). This is crucial. There are two words…

TWO for Africa

I have just received word that one couple will not be able to go on the safari in February 2016.  This means that there are TWO openings at the camp.  If you are interested, please email me directly (skipmoen@mac.com).   All the details are on the web site under the tag “safari”. There are TWO…