A few years ago I met John Saloman, an Indian serving his countrymen in one of the poorest part of India. He asked for our help with blankets for the street people over the winter season. You and I provided. Here are some photos of the delivery to these people who have nothing.
Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight. Psalm 119:143 NASB Trouble and anguish – Sometimes English has difficulty capturing the full range of Hebrew even if multiple words are used. ḥesed is an example. But sometimes that fact that Hebrew uses one word when English requires more than one is just as…
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth. Psalm 119:142 NASB Everlasting – How long is everlasting? Wait, don’t give me a naïve answer, “Well, forever, of course.” Think deeper. The word is ʿôlām. Macrae makes the following remark about this Hebrew word: Probably derived from ʿālam I, “to hide,” thus pointing to what…
I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts. Psalm 119:141 NASB Yet – The translators have added this adverb. The text just says, “small I and despised Your precepts not do I forget.” While the NASB treats ṣāʿîr as “small,” Chabad renders is as “young.” I am young and despised; I have not forgotten…
Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, . . Joshua 8:30-31 NASB Then – The Torah is not a chronological account of Israel’s exploits. In fact,…
Your word is very pure, therefore Your servant loves it. Psalm 119:140 NASB Pure – Think of the ways we use the word “pure.” “Pure as the driven snow.” “Pure white.” “Guaranteed pure.” “Pure breed.” Then there’s the jeweler’s view. When is something “pure gold”? 24 karat and 999.9 fineness are considered pure gold, but in fact…
We’ve been investigating the 119th Psalm since the 30th of June. Nearly half a year now, and we still have 37 verses to go. But this is the end of the year, so I’m taking a break and providing something else to think about at this moment. I want to share some citations from Avivah…
I was in Puerto Limon on Saturday and had a chance to visit a preserve. Here are a few things I encountered.
My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words. Psalm 119:139 NASB Because – ṣāmat – put an end to, cut off, destroy.[1] The opening verb in the verse. “The verb is a very strong word for destruction or for completely silencing someone.”[2] What has been cut off, completely destroyed? “Zeal– qinʾâ.” The Hebrew…
