For the body is not one member, but many. 1 Corinthians 12:14 NASB Not one member – Everyone is familiar with Paul’s analogy of the body. In his letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul goes to great lengths to impress upon this rowdy bunch that their lives must reflect the compassion, grace and obedience…
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:8 NASB Favor – It comes as no surprise that the Hebrew noun translated “favor” is hen. Usually understood as grace, the word is crucial for recognizing that God’s actions toward men are not motivated by Man’s essential goodness but rather by the nature…
Turn to me and grant me grace, for alone and afflicted am I. Psalm 25:16 Robert Alter translation Turn – We just want to see a smile. We want to look on the face of the Lord and see Him smiling. Growing up under the Roman idea of God as Judge, we have buried deep…
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. Psalm 57:1 ESV (57:2 in Hebrew text). Be merciful – David is in a hole in the ground (that context is…
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8 NASB Found favor – Now this is important, so pay close attention. We have examined the Hebrew word hesed, discovering that it isn’t accurately portrayed by the single idea of “lovingkindness” or “mercy.” That’s because hesed presupposes obligation established by mutual relationship. Hesed,…
But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer. Genesis 39:21 NASB Gave him favor – Did you know that the Old Testament also contains language about Law and Grace? We often think that this issue began with Paul. We think it…
And he said to the man, “One is the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom . .” Job 28:28 Rabbinic Midrash translation One is – What is yirat adonai? What does “the fear of the Lord” mean in your life? If the fear of the Lord is the foundation of all His instructions to…
Be gracious to me, O YHWH, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also. Psalm 31:9 Be Gracious – What does it mean to be gracious? If we approach this word from a Christian evangelical perspective, we are likely to think in terms of grace. …
