You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3 NASB No other – “The vast majority of people are satisfied with compromises, or they remain unaware that they are worshipping a multitude of gods, that their actions constitute a maze of contradictions.”[1] Are you part of the “vast majority”? Living with compromises, contradictions and…
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 NASB Brokenhearted – How are you doing today? Things going “fine,” like we always say no matter what’s really happening? Today I am in South Africa (God willing), confronting my own life traumas. A history of a broken heart. And not just mine. There…
He shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting which abides with them in the midst of their impurities. Leviticus 16:16 NASB Which – How would…
“He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 22:16 NASB To know Me – Do you know God? Ah, before you answer, perhaps you might consider God’s reply to Jeremiah. Jeremiah is distraught over the condition of…
Thus says the Lord, “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. Jeremiah 22:3 NASB Do – The division of ideology…
“The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against His command; Hear now, all peoples, and behold my pain; my virgins and my young men have gone into captivity. Lamentations 1:18 NASB Rebelled – According to the Talmud, these are the words spoken by Josiah as he was dying (Ta’anit 22b). The Hebrew verb, mara,…
And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 1 Peter 2:4 NASB Rejected – We often wonder if we are really worthy of being followers of the Messiah. After all, we know our faults so well. We think…
It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. Genesis 35:18 NASB Benjamin – No surprise here. Jacob renames his last son Ben-jamin rather than Ben-oni. To understand why, let’s put it in Hebrew transliteration. Ya’aqov names the boy, Ben-yamin rather than…
“I have listened and heard, they have spoken what is not right; no man repented of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his course, like a horse charging into the battle. Jeremiah 8:6 NASB Charging – Have you ridden a horse? The first thing you notice is that this animal is…
When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. 2 Kings 22:11 NASB The book of the law – We certainly aren’t confused about which book King Josiah heard. The text reads sepher hat-torah. Josiah heard the revelation of YHVH to Moses and it was so distressing that…
