Unraveling the Confusion

God is the Master of war, God is His name.  Exodus 15:3 Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (The Living Torah) God – Kaplan’s translation retains the Jewish practice of not speaking the letters Yod Hey Vav Hey as God’s personal name.  But English translations fare no better, simply substituting “the LORD” for the Hebrew יְהוָה, out of respect…

Qere Ketiv

And it came about, as soon as Moses approached the camp, that he saw the calf and the people dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.  Exodus 32:19  NASB Hands – Exodus 32:15,  a few verses earlier, reads, “Then Moses turned and…

A Useful Fiction

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.  Ecclesiastes 12:11  NIV One shepherd – This phrase, “given by one shepherd,” is almost the same no matter what English translation you choose.  It is also the typical treatment in Jewish context.  On this basis, rabbinic tradition…

Neighbor or Stranger

And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.  Joshua 3:17  NASB Nation – Gringo.  WASP.  Chink.  Gook.  Cracker.  Dego.  There’s a long list of racial slurs…

The Sleeper Awakens

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB My – Do you think we’ve plumbed this verse?  Is there nothing more to mine here?  Well, maybe we…

Visions of Grandeur

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB Show – How will God “show” His salvation to the man who calls on Him?  If you read this…

I Can’t Get No

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfyhim with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB Satisfy – God promises to satisfy us.  That’s a fact!  But far too often it seems as if His answer…

Poetic License

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB Rescue/ Honor – “The poet is a mortal, claimed by the gods to reveal them in words; poetry is…

Empathy?

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB With him – “He will call.  I will answer.”  What more could we ask from God?  Well, in fact,…

What I Want

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB Call upon – “Even personal prayers for our own needs are not necessarily selfish in nature.  God feels the…