Next of Kin
Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. Psalm 119:154 NASB Redeem – The close-by-ness God listens. In fact, He listens even when we argue. That’s the sense of “plead my cause” (rîbā(h)’ rîbî). You might understand it better if we didn’t use synonyms: “Argue my argument.” The word is used twice. The…
Resh
Look at my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your Law. Psalm 119:153 NASB רְאֵה־עָנְיִ֥י וְחַלְּצֵ֑נִי כִּֽי־ת֜וֹרָֽתְךָ֗ לֹ֣א שָׁכָֽחְתִּי Look at my affliction and rescue me, for I have not forgotten Your Law. רִיבָ֣ה רִ֖יבִֽי וּגְאָלֵ֑נִי לְאִמְרָֽתְךָ֥ חַיֵּֽנִי Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word. רָח֣וֹק מֵֽרְשָׁעִ֣ים יְשׁוּעָ֑ה כִּֽי־חֻ֜קֶּ֗יךָ לֹ֣א דָרָֽשׁוּ Salvation is far…
Too Close for Comfort (2)
You are near, Lord, and all Your commandments are truth. Psalm 119:151 NASB Near – Yesterday we looked at qārab., the “wicked,” who are close at hand. You’ll remember the verb for “approach” or “draw near” was qārab. The wicked are in proximity. Would you be surprised to discover that the same verb is used here? It’s not…
The Good Old Days
From long ago I have known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever. Psalm 119:152 NASB Long ago – The Hebrew perspective on time isn’t concerned with uniformity, event progression, or exactness. We, on the other hand, are time possessed. Since the industrial revolution, our days are consumed with the exact hour, minute, and second,…
Too Close for Comfort (1)
Those who follow after wickedness approach; they are far from Your Law. Psalm 119:150 NASB Approach – The NIV probably renders this verse with less ambiguity: “Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.” The verb is qārab, “to come near, to approach, to enter into.” The idea is proximity. …
