That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is YHWH?” or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:9 Who Is YHWH? – The LXX (Septuagint) is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Finished some 200 years before the birth of Yeshua,…
When YHWH first spoke through Hosea, YHWH said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry; . . .” Hosea 1:2 Wife of Harlotry – Did God really tell Hosea to go find a prostitute to marry? That’s what the translation suggests and that is what most of…
YHWH is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7 Knows – Yada, the Hebrew verb for all kinds of knowing. From the intimacy of sexual intercourse to the exact count of coins in a bag, yada underscores our appreciation for the Hebrew unity…
For I desired loyal love, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 Knowledge of God – Heschel points out that Hosea coins this expression, daath Elohim. The translation, “knowledge of God,” doesn’t do justice to the prophetic sense Hosea desires his audience to feel. That’s because yada (to…
Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice. Proverbs 16:8 Injustice – Some things we can do without. This proverb tells us that one of those things is belo mishpat. We can do without “without justice.” While our translation provides us with the correct English equivalent, the Hebrew thought is made up…
But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for YHWH, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.” 1 Chronicles 21:24 Costs Me Nothing – Nancy Pearcey makes an astounding application of David’s principle. She says, “The…
“Some remove the landmarks, . . .” Job 24:2 Landmarks – There is a great economic battle raging in the world. It is not the battle between capitalism and socialism, although the media would like you to believe it is. It is not the battle between personal liberty and state control. That is simply another…
“O house of Israel, am I not able to do to you as did this potter?” declares YHWH.” Jeremiah 18:6 Potter – God sends Jeremiah to the potter’s house. Jeremiah witnesses the potter making a vessel from clay. But something happens. The vessel is ruined. What does the potter do? He starts again with the…
And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and give Your slaves to speak Your word with all boldness Acts 4:29 Boldness – “It that a threat?” Of course it is. The disciples could hardly have mistaken the potential harm promised them. But notice they do not ask to have the threat removed. They don’t back…
But when the multitudes saw this, they were filled with awe, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matthew 9:8 Filled With Awe – Matthew is fond of expressions of amazement, but his fondness is not simply a literary device. Long before Abraham Heschel mentioned it, Matthew recognized that the first step…
