This is the day that the Lord has made Psalm 118:24 Day – Yom, the Hebrew word for “day”, is the most common word for time in the Old Testament. You might think that this is to be expected. After all, the common experience of life is day by day. The regular occurrence of day…
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and before Yahweh pours out his complaint. Psalm 102:1 (in the Hebrew text) Pours Out – “Then you will take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water . . will become blood.” So begins the story of the…
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and before Yahweh pours out his complaint. Psalm 102:1 (in the Hebrew text) Complaint – No one likes a whiner. Constant complaining is wearisome to all. Complaint is an irksome word, a word that brings annoyance, avoidance and anger. Why does the afflicted man tread on…
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and before Yahweh pours out his complaint. Psalm 102:1 (in the Hebrew text) Faint – Jacob knew about ‘ataph. Genesis 30:42 uses the word to describe lambs and goats born feeble, weak and unhealthy. Affliction does that to living creatures, especially to us. Affliction births defects….
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and before Yahweh pours out his complaint. Psalm 102:1 (in the Hebrew text) Prayer – What is prayer? There is no doubt that the Hebrew word tephilla means “prayer”, but what does “prayer” mean? What does it look like? Hebrew has more than a dozen words…
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and before Yahweh pours out his complaint. Psalm 102:1 (in the Hebrew text) Afflicted – Oh the history in this word! It knows no ethnic borders. Hagar, the Egyptian, is afflicted by Sarah. It knows no relational privilege. Leah was afflicted (not loved) by Jacob. It…
Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2:11 Trembling – What a strange combination? Joy is supposed to be accompanied by contentment and peace, not a protective adrenaline rush. We tremble when fear grips us. But the Biblical accounts paint a different picture. “Woe is me” says Isaiah. He trembles before the…
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced. 2 Corinthians 12:21 Repent – Too often we become “Max Factor” Christians. We…
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Luke 5:13 I Am Willing – Thelo. Greek for “I choose”. Certainly the most important words we could ever hope to hear. Without them, we are lost. It makes no difference that God is able to save. It matters…
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean! ” Luke 5:13 Touched – Jesus does not tackle sin like we do. He grips it by the throat and casts it aside. He seizes it and deals with it. He exerts pressure on the problem and forces it…
