and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12 ESV (and others) That it was – Familiarity is the enemy of investigation. How many times have you read this phrase? How many times have you recalled the Genesis story and considered the goodness of God’s actions? And how many of those times have you noticed…
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. 1 Chronicles 16:34 NASB Good – Let’s read this verse in its literal Hebrew order. Hodu laYHVH ki tov ki leolam hasdo. Literally, “Thanks to YHVH for good for forever hesed his” (the pronoun is attached to the word). You…
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. John 3:19 NASB Evil – When you read this verse in John’s account, what comes to mind? Do you see a great cosmic battle between good and evil? Do…
One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4 NASB One thing – Asaph makes it clear that being in the…
unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 2 Timothy 3:3 NASB Haters of good – What is the good news? Oh, did you think it was, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life?” Or perhaps you thought it was, “Jesus died to forgive my sins.” Think again. The…
I will sing to the LORD because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6 NASB Dealt bountifully – In Hebrew the entire thought in the conjunctive phrase (beginning with “because”) is merely three words, ki gamal alay. ki is translated “because” although it could just as easily be translated “surely,” or “when,” or “if.”…
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. Mark 10:18 NASB Before we look at this verse today, let me ask you this: Does your relationship with God depend on the doctrine we are investigating, or does it continue with or without the doctrinal conclusions?…
Good and upright is the LORD. Therefore He guides offenders on the way. Psalm 25:8 Robert Alter translation Therefore – When you think of God as good, what comes to mind? Do you think of His moral character—blameless, holy, perfect? Do you think of His blessings—prosperity, happiness, health? How is God’s goodness connected to the…
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 31:20 NASB Good/ right/ true – Hezekiah was one of Israel’s faithful kings. The narrative tells us that he did everything he could to seek God with all his heart. Hezekiah had but…
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Psalm 119:115 ESV Keep – The company you keep has a direct effect on your ability to delight the Lord. Old places and old faces, as every Twelve-Stepper knows, will certainly drag you back down the addictive path. Anyone who thinks…
