A Public Faith

One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart.  Psalm 15:2 NASB Integrity – Robert Alter’s translation uses English expressions that are a bit closer to the Hebrew originals. In this NASB translation, “integrity” is the Hebrew word tāmîm, derived from the root tāmam.  It actually means “complete.”  Payne notes, “the verb’s fundamental…

Entry Pass

Lord, who will sojourn in Your tent, who will dwell on Your holy mountain?  Psalm 15:1  Robert Alter Sojourn/ dwell – Who do you suppose the psalmist has in mind?  You have all the clues you need: a tent, a mountain, a temporary encampment, a permanent residence.  Who else could it be but Moses?  The…

True Confession

For my life is exhausted in sorrow and my years in sighing.  Through my crime my strength stumbles and my limbs are worn out.  Psalm 31:11 (Hebrew Bible)  Robert Alter Crime – Note Robert Alter’s remark: “The translation follows the Masoretic Text, which has ba’awoni here.  But the Septuagint and the Peshitta read be’onyi, ‘in…

Cease and Desist Orders

For my life is exhausted in sorrow and my years in sighing.  Through my crime my strength stumbles and my limbs are worn out.  Psalm 31:11 (Hebrew Bible)  Robert Alter Exhausted in sorrow – an excerpt. When he looked up, Nathan was gone. “Call him back.  Call him back.”  He almost shouted, but in the…

Safe Haven (Rewind)

In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; in Your righteousness deliver me.  Psalm 31:1  NASB 1995 Never be ashamed – It’s been almost four years since I wrote this study of Psalm 31.  We covered every verse in that month.  Four years later I wonder if anything has really changed.  Maybe…

Get Thee Behind Me (Rewind)

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  2 Corinthians 12:7-8  NASB…