Teach me good [y]discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. Psalm 119:66 NASB Discernment – Do you like broccoli rabe? How about onion ice cream? Maybe something a bit more palatable like lambrusco? Everyone’s tastes differ. A lot of the time what we like is acquired through family recipes, traditions, cultural exposure, and just…
You have treated Your servant well, Lord, according to Your word. Psalm 119:65 NASB טוֹב עָשִׂ֣יתָ עִם־עַבְדְּךָ֑ יְ֜הֹוָ֗ה כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ ט֚וּב טַ֣עַם וָדַ֣עַת לַמְּדֵ֑נִי כִּ֖י בְמִצְוֹתֶ֣יךָ הֶֽאֱמָֽנְתִּי טֶ֣רֶם אֶֽ֖עֱנֶה אֲנִ֣י שֹׁגֵ֑ג וְ֜עַתָּ֗ה אִמְרָֽתְךָ֥ שָׁמָֽרְתִּי טוֹב אַתָּ֥ה וּמֵטִ֗יב לַמְּדֵ֥נִי חֻקֶּֽיךָ טָֽפְל֚וּ עָלַ֣י שֶׁ֣קֶר זֵדִ֑ים אֲ֜נִ֗י בְּכָל־לֵ֚ב | אֶצֹּ֬ר פִּקּוּדֶֽיךָ טָפַ֣שׁ כַּחֵ֣לֶב לִבָּ֑ם אֲ֜נִ֗י תּוֹרָֽתְךָ֥ שִֽׁעֲשָֽׁעְתִּי טֽוֹב־לִ֥י כִֽי־עֻנֵּ֑יתִי…
Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his [a]oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the Valley of [b]Achor. Joshua 7:24 NASB Achor – Perhaps you’ve noticed a…
The earth is full of Your goodness, Lord; teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:64 NASB Goodness – There’s hardly a more insipid translation of ḥesed than the crop of English expressions in Bible translations. We have “love, unfailing love, steadfast love, loving devotion, mercy, goodness, lovingkindness, faithful love, mercies, constant love, kindness.” None really capture the…
I am a companion to all those who [x]fear You, and to those who keep Your precepts. Psalm 119:63 N ASB Companion – One of the biggest challenges in this modern world is picking the right friends. Social media has lowered the bar considerably. “Friends” are now those who click on my link. I may not know…
At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:62 NASB Midnight – Maybe we should start this one with a little Eric C. CLICK HERE Does that put you in the mood? Despite this great tune, the psalmist has another midnight in mind. The Hebrew ḥēṣôt layĕlâ needs some…
The snares of the wicked have surrounded me, but I have not forgotten Your Law. Psalm 119:61 NASB Not forgotten – Do you want to experience God’s rescue when evil men seek to harm you? I’m guessing you would answer, “Yes.” Well then, the first thing to understand is this: What are the “snares” of the wicked? If…
I hurried and did not delay to keep Your commandments. Psalm 119:60 NASB Hurried/ delay – If you were offered personal advice from someone you absolutely trusted, someone you knew loved you completely, would you take your time getting to the meeting? The psalmist wouldn’t. He employs two verbs in order to emphasize the urgency…
I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. Psalm 119:59 NASB Considered/ turned – I know, I know. You’re getting tired of all these grammar lessons. I’d say the same thing if it weren’t for the interesting variety of translations. You have to wonder how both Jewish and Christian scholars can justify such…
I sought Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your word. Psalm 119:58 NASB Sought – The Hebrew verb here is ḥālâ. Fairly straightforward. Except – except that ḥālâ has two different semantic domains. ḥālâ I means “to become sick, weak, diseased,” while ḥālâ II means “to beseech, entreat, pray.” How can we tell the…
