So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NASB Hearing – If you were Paul, the Jewish rabbi named Sha’ul, what Hebrew word would you have in mind when you wrote the Greek verb akoe (to hear)? There can only be one obvious answer – shema. But as soon…
but they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, Psalm 106:35 NASB Learned – In this verse, David described Israel in the 10th Century BC. He might as well have penned this line 3000 years later. Haven’t we mingled with the nations and learned their practices? Aren’t we in the same place as Israel…
“It will come about at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are stagnant in spirit, who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good or evil!’” Zephaniah 1:12 NASB Stagnant in spirit – Do you suppose this is a verse for alcoholics? The…
From Tim, a long time reader and supporter: Since I have few words to speak but many tears, I need you to petition our brothers and sisters for prayer to The Almighty. The petition is for grace and mercy of a miracle healing. My wife Brenda and Me learned Friday morning that she has a…
“And those who bow down on the housetops to the host of heaven, and those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom, and those who have turned back from following the Lord, and those who have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him.” Zephaniah 1:5-6 NASB Turned back…
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Genesis 2:23 NASB This is now – No matter how many times we read these fundamental verses about the first human relationship, we never quite finish mining their…
The Lord will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place. Zephaniah 2:11 NASB Starve – The God of heaven will waste away all the gods of the earth. YHVH will cause…
In the beginning . . . Genesis 1:1 (virtually all translations) Beginning – If you have been paying attention for the last few years, you know that the opening word of Scripture is bere’shit. It does not mean “in the beginning.” If it did, it would require a definite article (“the”) incorporated into the word…
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Psalm 100:2 NASB Gladness – Is David making a suggestion or issuing a royal decree? The verb is an imperative, so we may assume that David expects his subjects (and all his readers?) to comply. But how? How is it possible to command a…
His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power. Habakkuk 3:4 NASB Hiding – Now pay attention. Think carefully about the simile in this verse. “His radiance is like sunlight.” What does that mean? What is sunlight like? Well, first, it is a…
