Name that Place

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…

That Pride Thing

You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed, who wander from Your commandment. Psalm 119:21  NASB Arrogant – We have a contemporary proverb, based on an ancient one (Proverbs 16:18-19).  It goes something like this: pride comes before a fall.  If we wanted to say it in Hebrew, we’d most likely use the word zēd.  Here it is plural encompassing…

When Is a Curse Invalid?

At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: ‘At the cost of his firstborn son  he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest   he will set up its gates.’”  Joshua 6:26  NIV Solemn oath – Who is involved in this oath is…

The Middle of the Bridge (1)

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!  Galatians 1:8-9  NASB…

Forced Rest

However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:  Deuteronomy 28:15  NIV Curses – I’m writing this in April.  You’re reading it in July.  Hopefully what I have to say no longer applies,…

Outside the Fence

Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.  Jeremiah 17:5  NASB Cursed – What does it mean to be cursed?  Be careful.  The Hebrew word ʾārar might not be what you think about curses.  “A striking fact is that there is such…

The Cost

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”  Luke 6:27-28  NIV Do good/bless – So you want to follow the Messiah.  You want to live by his instructions, obey him as your master, incorporate his…

Covet Protection

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.  Job 1:5 NASB In their…

The First Cut is the Deepest

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job 2:9 NASB Curse – Job’s wife has only a few words to say, but, according to David Penchansky, what she says summarizes the entire story of this suffering, righteous man. She speaks sarcastically, telling Job, “Curse God…

Where It Belongs

Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Genesis 3:17b NASB The ground – Let’s clear up a common misunderstanding. God does not curse Adam and the woman. Human beings are not cursed because of Adam’s deliberate disobedience. Augustine’s idea that Adam’s disobedience resulted…