He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. Psalm 103:7 NASB Ways – If there were any doubt about David’s opinion on Torah observance, this settles the question. David declares that YHVH made His ways known to Moses. That can only mean the Torah given at Sinai and its…
The Lord performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6 NASB Righteous deeds and judgments – When you read the NASB translation of this verse, do you picture God doing righteous things? “Performs righteous deeds” might lead you to imagine God, calmly sitting on Heaven’s throne, issuing orders to His angels…
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having…
Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:5 NASB Satisfies – “All I really want in life is to be satisfied.” Have you ever thought something like this? What did you mean? For most people in the Western world today, the idea of satisfaction is…
Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Psalm 103:4 NASB Redeems – Who redeems your life from the pit? David frames it as a statement, but perhaps we should begin with a question. Who does this? According to David’s psalm, YHVH is the redeemer. Of course, Trinitarians will…
Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Psalm 103:3 NASB Iniquities – Bent over! That’s what we were before pardon and healing. In fact, Yeshua recognizes the connection in his encounter with the woman suffering from scoliosis. He responds to those who raised objections to his act of healing by trying the…
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; Psalm 103:2 NASB Forget none – David repeats the opening (and unusual) rhetorical phrase. We have explored its importance. Now David adds an additional, explanatory thought. Ve’al-tishkehi kol-gemoolav. When we explore this addition, we must remember that Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas, not phonemes….
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1 NASB Within me – What is within? The immediate temptation is to answer with a Greek worldview. What is within in my spirit. But how would we answer this question as a Hebrew? First, we would look…
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1 NASB O my soul – The first thing we notice about this poem of praise is that half of the English translations simply leave out of the opening word, l’david. The other half attempt translations like, “of…
And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. Matthew 12:10 NASB Is it lawful – Sometimes you can’t understand the text of the gospels without first understanding the context of the rabbis. This is one of…
