Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? Psalm 88:12 NASB The darkness – “Little doubt surrounds the meaning of this denominative verb coming from the noun ḥōšek (darkness). It occurs eighteen times, seventeen times in poetical books. Exodus 10:15 is the only occurrence of ḥāšak in…
I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, Psalm 88:4 NASB Down to the pit – “Modern man’s greatest fault, Kierkegaard maintains, is his total self-reliance. It is his nineteenth-century delusion that he has progressed beyond his ancestors. This conceit derives from egotism. There is but…
Hear , O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken. Sons I have nurtured and raised but they rebelled against Me. Isaiah 1:2 Robert Alter Nurtured and raised – Let’s look at Isaiah. For centuries believers have turned to the prophecies of the son of Amoz for understanding and inspiration: understanding…
Drawn-out longing sickens the heart, but desire come true is a tree of life Proverbs 13:12 Robert Alter Drawn-out longing – By any account, Mother Teresa was a modern saint. For decades she poured out her life for India’s poor. Recognized worldwide for her uncompromised commitment to others, she appeared to be the perfect example…
If I but trust to see the LORD’s goodness, in the land of the living—Hope for the LORD! Let your heart be firm and bold, and hope for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 Robert Alter Hope for – “We live in an age of despair, and those who despair would seem justified, considering the compounding crises…
Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him for the help of His presence, my God. Psalm 42:11 NASB In despair – What a great verse! The perfect response to Psalm 88, that dark and deary account of life when God…
Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? Psalm 88:12 NASB The darkness – “Little doubt surrounds the meaning of this denominative verb coming from the noun ḥōšek (darkness). It occurs eighteen times, seventeen times in poetical books. Exodus 10:15 is the only occurrence of ḥāšak in…
I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, Psalm 88:4 NASB Down to the pit – “Modern man’s greatest fault, Kierkegaard maintains, is his total self-reliance. It is his nineteenth-century delusion that he has progressed beyond his ancestors. This conceit derives from egotism. There is but…
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 1:18 NIV Grief – Stay stupid! Is that the solution to the problem? If Qohelet is right, wisdom and knowledge are the last things we would seek. They only bring sorrow and grief. Despite our disclaimers to the contrary, I’m pretty…
I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, Psalm 88:4 NASB Down to the pit– “Modern man’s greatest fault, Kierkegaard maintains, is his total self-reliance. It is his nineteenth-century delusion that he has progressed beyond his ancestors. This conceit derives from egotism. There is but one…
