Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5 NASB Every intent – Was the world so profligate that God had to destroy it? Was every person filled with corruption, power-hungry, exploitative? Or was there something else that brought about the end…
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. Genesis 17:20 NIV Great nation – I don’t know if you think Ishmael is the father…
For if you are careful to keep all of this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and cling to Him, Deuteronomy 11:22 NASB To keep all – Are you careful to keep all the commandments? Are you meticulous, diligent, dutiful, missing nothing? Great! Ah, but there’s a difference between the “letter” and the “spirit,” isn’t…
Why do You make me see disaster, and make me look at destitution? Yes, devastation and violence are before me; strife exists and contention arises. Habakkuk 1:3 NASB Devastation and violence – Maybe you just need to turn off the news. It seems that all the news is bad news. Violence. Destruction. Animosity. Hatred. A constant stream of human contention. Is there no relief? Do we just have to pretend not…
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; Genesis 12:1 NASB Go – lĕk-lekā’. As you can clearly see in the highlighted text below, this imperative is made up of several combined words. It’s not simply “Go.” The grammar…
Delicate by design Topical Index: photo, flower, Cairns
Then afterward he read all the words of the Law, the blessing and the curse, according to everything that is written in the Book of the Law. Joshua 8:34 NASB All the words – According to the text, following the successful conquest of Ai, all Israel gathers between two mountains and a series of religious rituals are performed. One of these,…
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offering. Psalm 51:16 NASB Do not delight – How often we’ve heard the claim that the sacrificial system no longer applies. After all, David himself tells us that God doesn’t take any pleasure is the religious ritual of slaughtering animals for…
Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 51:14 NASB Guilt of Bloodshed – Notice how Chabad translates this Hebrew verse: Save me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation; let my tongue sing praises of Your charity. Chabad There is a…
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12 NASB Willing – If I asked you, “What kind of spirit would you like to keep you going?” would you answer, “Oh, one that is under obligation, restricted, limited.” No, of course not. You’d want an animating force that was…
