He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Genesis 9:21-22 NASB Uncovered himself – A story within a story. What’s really happening in this cryptic account? First, the obvious. Noah naked in…
“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker– An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’”? Isaiah 45:9 NASB Quarrels – Have you argued with God lately? Watch out! According to some…
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6 NASB That Blessed Curse When did I discover I was falsely made? The day I first noticed no one knew That underneath my skin I grew Some other way When did I uncover my…
The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. Genesis 8:21 NASB Curse – Time to put…
Be gracious to me, O God, according to your loving kindness; according to the multitude of your mercies blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:3 Hebrew World Blot out – Technology has changed our conception of forgiveness. In a world where we can simply backspace or press the spell-check button, we don’t think of any word…
He that oppresses the poor blasphemes his maker, but he who is gracious unto the needy honors Him. Proverbs 14:31 (translation A. Heschel) Blasphemes – What would you think of someone who curses God? You might be shocked, dismayed or disturbed. Who would do such a thing? You might understand the circumstances that would lead…
To the woman He said, “I will greatly increase your sorrow and your conception – bring forth children in pain. And your desire is for your husband, and he does rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 (SRI) Greatly Increase – Perhaps we have become so numb to this story that we just don’t ask any questions…
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, [which is] the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, that in Himself he might make the two into one new man, [thus] establishing peace. Ephesians 2:15 Two Into One – There are a host of issues with this verse, none of which are easily resolved without understanding principle…
“Indeed, I gave them no-good decrees, and laws that did not offer them life.” Ezekiel 20:25 No-Good Decrees – Brevard Childs, professor of Biblical theology at Harvard, says that this verse is an example of “the clearest sign of the brokenness of the Old Testament covenant . . . once given as a source of…
There you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, that cannot see or hear or eat or smell. Deuteronomy 4:28 You Will Serve – Israel’s occupation of the Promised Land is completely conditional. Their election as God’s people is completely unconditional. God chooses and obligates Himself in the election of Israel, but Israel must…
