From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength because of Your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease. Psalm 8:2 NASB Established strength – According to Rabbi Munk, this verse teaches “that Israel’s protection from harm depends on the Torah study of its innocent children.”[1] Don’t dismiss his comment too quickly. …
Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land, so as to cut off from the city of the Lord all those who do iniquity. Psalm 101:8 NASB Every morning – When you walk the streets of Jerusalem as the sun rises, you are likely to say, “Boqer tov” to those you meet. “Good…
He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me. Psalm 101:7 NASB Speaks falsehood – So David won’t let any deceitful practitioner in his house. Would that change your list of dinner guests? Just in case you were confused about David’s meaning, he clarifies. …
He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me. Psalm 101:7 NASB Practices deceit – Who practices deceit? Who’s on your list of liars? Let’s see. Maybe some politicians (or may be all of them?). Maybe your ex-spouse. Maybe your business competitor. Maybe that…
My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me. Psalm 101:6 NASB The faithful of the land – “The Torah is God’s wisdom, and Israel translates it into real life.” “. . . Israel…
A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. Psalm 101:4-5 ESV Arrogant – Does your praise and worship music include the words “high and lifted up”? If so,…
Every once in awhile I get an email that questions my commitment to the divinity of the Messiah, usually in the form of “if he believes such and such, then he must not believe that Jesus is God” or something like that. The last one was an accusation that I have adopted rabbinic Judaism and…
A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. Psalm 101:4-5 ESV Slanders – David declares that he will have nothing to do with evil. Lo ra eda says…
Hopefully, we saw into words. And into experiences. Here are some things I saw this year.
A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil. Psalm 101:4 NASB I will know – End of the Roman calendar year. Most people are making some sort of resolution. Usually these last but a short time and the ordinary routine returns. Most resolutions are statements of positive self-improvement. I have a few. …
