But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14 NASB 1995 Trust – By now we should be quite familiar with bāṭaḥ (trust). TWOT’s reminder is important: in Hebrew, bāṭaḥ expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is significant that the LXX never…
My God, in You I trust. Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me. Psalm 25:2 Robert Alter translation Trust – While we’re on the subject of trust, two prior Today’s Word editions are worth reviewing (today and tomorrow): Trust in God is more than a motto on the back of…
In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, have me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 NASB Dwell in safety – Is God ruthless? We’re quite comfortable with the idea of God’s benevolence, but we probably bristle at the thought that God might be ruthless. Ruthlessness is such a negative concept. We want a God…
Then you would trust, because there is hope; and you would look around and rest securely. Job 11:18 NASB Hope – Do you trust God? Perhaps you’re surprised by the question. “Of course, I trust God,” would be the typical answer, as if the question itself is almost rhetorical. But notice what Zophar says about…
Do not trust in noblemen, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Psalm 146:3-4 NASB Nobleman – The world is continuously more and more interconnected. Two years of pandemic disruption could hardly be better evidence. Our lives are intertwined with many, many others, most of…
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” 2 Samuel 24:14 NASB Fall into the hand of the Lord – Are you in great distress? Oh, maybe not now, but have you…
For You are my hope; Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth. Psalm 71:5 NASB My confidence – The NASB translation of Hebrew 11:1 is “ Now faith is the certainty of things [a]hoped for, a [b]proof of things not seen” (online version), but in the 1995 edition, the verse reads “ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” You…
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Proverbs 31:11 NASB Trusts – What does it mean to “trust” your wife? How will that turn out to be prosperous for the husband? In the past we examined the Hebrew word bāṭaḥ in the context of the ‘ezer…
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, Psalm 146:5 NASB Hope – When is it necessary to hope? That’s an odd question, wouldn’t you say? We don’t think about a particular time to hope. Hope is almost like a constant companion. We hope the weather will be…
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. Philemon 1:21 NASB Confidence – If we pay attention of the use of this Greek term (pépoitha) in the LXX, we discover that it often translates the Hebrew root bṭḥ (baṭaḥ). Paul could…
