“Behold, as for the impudent one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous one will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 NASB Impudent – We’ve looked at the second part of the famous verse quite a few times because it is the foundation verse of Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 1:17): For in…
Your people will volunteer freely on the day of Your power; in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. Psalm 110:3 NASB Womb of dawn – Not to belabor the point, but if you read this verse in the NASB you will discover that it contains four footnotes, all indicating alternatives or…
And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. So his hands were steady until the sun set. Exodus 17:12 NASB Steady – You might not see the important…
O Lord, You have deceived me and I was deceived; You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. Jeremiah 20:7 NASB Deceived – I am sure you remember our investigation of Jeremiah’s use of the words pātâ and ḥāzaq. We recounted Heschel’s analysis: “This standard rendition…
Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, and do not punish me in Your burning anger. Psalm 38:1 NASB Do not rebuke – Have you ever prayed a prayer like this? Have you reached the point, long after the Lord has redeemed you, long after you recognize your sinful condition and your desperate need for…
He shall surely dispute with you if in secret you are partial. Job 12:10 Robert Alter Partial – The story of Job can be quite personal. Yes, there are academic issues involved. Who was the author? When was it written? What is the theological implication? Those are all important questions, but if they become the…
“Oh, that my request might come to pass, and that God would grant my hope! Oh, that God would decide to crush me, that He would let loose His hand and cut me off! But it is still my comfort, and I rejoice in unsparing pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” Job 6:8-10 …
So that He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the schemes of the shrewd, so that their hands cannot attain success. Job 5:11-12 NASB Safety/ Success – Eliphaz articulates the Hebraic idea of divine justice. It’s “measure for measure.” You get what you give. Centuries later…
Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have helped the stumbling to stand, and you have strengthened [b]feeble knees. But now it comes to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are horrified. Is your [c]fear of God not your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? Job 4:3-6 NASB Horrified –…
“But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” Job 1:11 NASB Certainly – The story of Job is the story of expectations. God expects Job to survive the test. haśśāṭān expects him to fail. Job, caught in the middle, expects God to treat…
