On Thursday, March 24, the database of subscribers to Today’s Word will be cleaned. Everyone who has not made a contribution since December 31, 2014 will be removed, except those people who have deliberately asked to remain or those people whom I know cannot make contributions because of geography or circumstances. What this means is…
“There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2 NASB Besides – Our Western world is light years away from the world of Israel in the 10th century BCE. As a result of two millennia of Christian influence, we…
“My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.” 1 Samuel 2:1 NASB Exults – “Exults” isn’t a common expression for us. We might substitute “rejoices,” but neither of these really captures what Hannah feels. In Proverbs the…
Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. 1 Samuel 1:12-13 NASB Was drunk – Explanation by assumption. That’s the…
I saw the rain down in Africa
“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.” Ezekiel 16:49-50 NIV Arrogant/Overfed/Unconcerned – What was Sodom’s sin? Don’t run…
“For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit” (Luke 6:43 NASB). One of the chief differences between Hebrew and Greek paradigms is the idea of certainty. In the Greek world, truth assumes commitment to some specific correct answer. We might…
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 NASB Decrease – Walter Brueggeman once called God “wild, dangerous, unfettered and free.” We have a lot of trouble with that thought. We like predictability. We want uniformity. We look for certainty. That’s the point behind business plans and sales objectives. That’s why we keep accounting…
