They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region Psalm 107:4 NASB Desert Region – For most of us, the idea of wilderness recalls pictures of the Arizona desert or the Sahara or the Northern Territories. We think of wilderness as a place where men cannot live. But what we really mean is that men…
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 43:1b NASB Redeemed – gealtika. “I have redeemed you,” says God. The only reason that I am free of the “thou shalt fear” world is that God rescued me. I need this fact to sink deeply into my soul. Whenever my thoughts and behavior begin to…
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 43:1b NASB Redeemed – The world has no answer for fear. It has lots of suggestions, but none of them is sufficient. In fact, the world is actually based on fear. The world does not make sense without fear. And most of us buy into the…
My God, in You I trust. Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me. Psalm 25:2 Robert Alter translation I trust – When I read these words from the psalmist, I get discouraged. He trusted in God in everything. Why can’t I be like that? Growing up in Hellenism, I learned…
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God. Deuteronomy 6:13 KJV Fear – According to Rambam’s list of the 613 commandments, this is number four. “By this injunction we are commanded to believe in the fear and awe of God (exalted be He), and not to be at ease and self-confident but to expect His punishment…
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:11 ESV Steadfast love – Once again we discover David’s declaration that hesed is the fundamental description of what it means to have a relationship with YHWH. The ESV uses “steadfast love.” NASB attempts “lovingkindness.” NKJV…
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Psalm 57:11 ESV Over – As we know very well, in languages without punctuation, emphasis is indicated by word order. What matters most usually comes first. So when we translate Hebrew expressions into English, the word order is often rearranged…
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. …
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom Proverbs 9:10 NASB Fear – Do you fear God? That might seem like a strange question in an age where God is portrayed as the kindly grandfather ready to overlook all mistakes. But it would never have seemed so innocuous when this verse was written. …
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26 ESV Rodney Baker (Adelaide, Australia) has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Religious – threskos. What a loaded word! A word that occurs only once in the…
