In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch of David sprout; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth. Jeremiah 33:15 NASB In those days – We’ll take a break from Luzzatto and Mesillat Yesharim for a moment. This message came to me by email. I want to comment on…
Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be established. Proverbs 4:26 NASB Your feet – “Look where you’re going!” The warning isn’t just about physical danger. “Watch where you’re stepping” is good spiritual advice too. Close examination of the path (maʿgāl—cow path) will keep you from stepping on something unpleasant whether it’s…
The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 NASB Steadfast of – סָמַך (sāmak) lean upon, lay, put, uphold, support[1] “Steadfast.” The mind that leans upon God. But let’s be clear. That’s not quite the same as believing in God. In this verse, “steadfast of” is a…
God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28 NASB Rule over – One of the reasons Christianity…
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB Shall love – How are we supposed to express our love toward God? You will notice that I did not ask, “How are we supposed to express our love for God?” That is the…
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB You shall love – Love God—or else! Is that what it sounds like? Is that how it makes you feel? How can you be forced to love someone? You can’t! Impossible! So, if that’s what…
He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NASB What is good – The simple truth. Three things God asks of us. Do justice, love kindness, walk in His ways. That’s it. No lofty theoretical propositions….
For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15 NASB What I am doing – The seventh chapter of the letters to the Romans has been one of the most gnarled sections of Scripture to unravel. From Augustine…
And He said to man, Look, fear the Master, that is wisdom, and the shunning of evil is insight. Job 28:28 Robert Alter Look – Don’t overlook “Look”! If you do, you’ll miss something quite unusual. The NASB translates this verse, “And to mankind He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And…
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, Deuteronomy 30:19 NASB Choose life – “What shall we answer for ourselves on that Judgment Day, if we are…
