For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 1 Kings 11:4 NASB Turned – Solomon was an addict. That’s pretty much the only explanation that makes any sense…
“and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved. Matthew 17:23 NASB Deeply grieved – Yeshua foretells his crucifixion and resurrection. Yes, death is coming, but there is wonderful news. On the third day he will rise from the dead. You might think this would…
“I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine and with pestilence,” declares the LORD, “until I have destroyed it by his hand.” Jeremiah 27:8 NASB By his hand – God uses people outside the fellowship to bring about correction, chastisement and punishment for the faithful. That’s right, God uses pagan, nonbelievers to accomplish…
“You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” Amos 3:2 NASB Punish – Consider the difficulties created by translating paqad with the word “punish” in this verse. The translation makes you think either 1) God has decided to punish Israel because He…
Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 NASB Serpent – “No language is used in 3:1 to suggest that the snake is…
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” Genesis 3:11 NASB Have you eaten – God asks Adam two questions. Neither one of them makes any sense. “Who told you that you were naked?” But no one told him…
A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly. Proverbs 12:23 NASB Proclaims – Proverbs suggests that the fool doesn’t think before he speaks. He just blurts out whatever words happen to come across his lips. We read this verse and imagine that it can’t possibly have anything to do with us…
And you shall rejoice in all the good that God your God has given you and your family. Deuteronomy 26:11 (JLI) Given – “No one leaves this world with even half of his desires fulfilled.”[1] Why? Because we are happiness addicts and like all addictions, tolerance increases our desire in proportion to its fulfillment. No…
Whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and obtains favor from YHWH; but whoever misses me does violence to his very being [nephesh]; all who hate me love death. Proverbs 8:35-36 NASB with revisions Love death – “Since the culture of ancient times tended to value a person in light of the role performance, personal values…
“and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the [a]air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:32 NASB Smaller – Life can be cataloged according to two scales: Important to Trivial and…
