Let It Be

Let my soul live that it may praise You, and let Your ordinances help me.  Psalm 119:175  NASB Live/ help – We don’t need to mention the mistaken translation “soul.”  You certainly know that nepeš isn’t “soul,” which is the Greek term psyche.  But we should note the idea that praise can only happen while we…

God’s Loan

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  Matthew 6:12 NIV Debts – The Greek term translated “debts” in Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is not a word that means “sins.”  It’s opheílēmata, from the root opheílō.  “Etymologically obscure, this word means ‘to owe someone something,’ e.g. loans, debts, sums,…

The IOU

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Philemon 1:19  NASB You owe to me – “I really don’t want to bring this up.  It’s not something that needs to be mentioned among friends.  But—just…

Insights from Africa

Yes, I know someone will say, “But this is a religious web site.  You shouldn’t be talking about politics.”  Maybe, but when I recently went to Zimbabwe and saw the portrait of “His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Robert Gabriel Mugabe,” while holding the money pictured below, it reminded me of President Obama’s…

Pilate’s Problem

 He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me.  Selah.  God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.  Psalm 57:3 NASB Truth – “What is truth?” the man asked.  Pilate’s question is still with us.  He was a conventionalist.  Truth is what he decided was truth.  It was…

God’s Investment Strategy

If you buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.  Exodus 21:2  Hebrew World Six years – Apparently God is not interested in profit; at least not in the same way that we are.  Imagine the ridiculous consequences of this Torah commandment.  Someone…

An Extra Beatitude

Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.  Matthew 24:46  NASB So doing – While I was washing the car, I suddenly thought about asset management.  I don’t know why, except that the Spirit was prompting me in moments of unaware routines.  I thought about what really matters to God…

The Four Words (2)

But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.  Psalm 130:4  ESV May be feared – YHWH pardons!  Rejoice!  YHWH is salah.  I can be straightened. But this is no surprise to the serpent, and he is prepared to manipulate YHWH’s pardon for his purposes.  Never underestimate the craftiness of the yetzer ha’ra. …

Arriving On Time

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those who are without strength and not just please ourselves. Romans 15:1 Ought – First in the verse.  Yes, Sha’ul wants us to recognize the emphatic position of the word opheilo, so he puts it first.  “Ought and we the strong the weaknesses of…