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 Darkness – So you claim to walk in the light? You know the witness of the Spirit, the testimony of the Word, the truth of the…
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philippians 2:1 NASB Compassion – Sympathy comes last. Oiktirmoi is the Greek term for “sympathy.” Translating it “compassion” might be stylistically acceptable, but it obscures the fact…
And the Lord said, “The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.” Genesis 18:20 NASB Sin – What is sin? According to the Hebrew word, hatta’h, sin means “to commit an offense against someone with whom one stands in an institutionalized community relationship.”[1] Notice that sin assumes a set…
“but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:24 NASB Knows – yada’, yada’, yada’. Did you ever think that this colloquialism is the equivalent of…
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You. Psalm 89:14 NASB Lovingkindness and Truth – Imagine God riding on the clouds, the Ancient of Days approaching. Are you transfixed? Awestruck? Afraid? Ready? What precedes Him? According to David’s hymn of praise, we see hesed ve’emet. The NASB translates…
Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 1:5 NASB Did not believe – Most of the time we just skip over this one page letter in the…
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3 NASB Kindness and truth – The Hebrew phrase hesed ve’emet is critically important. It describes the connection between the covenant relationship of God and community with the faithfulness and reliability of the…
All the LORD’s paths are kindness and truth for the keepers of His pact and His precepts. Psalm 25:10 Robert Alter translation All – Do you really believe that all of YHWH’s ways are kindness and truth? Are you just as likely to proclaim this with David when the plane crashes and everyone is killed,…
My youth’s offenses and my crimes recall not. In your kindness, recall me—You; for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD. Psalm 25:7 Robert Alter translation Recall me—You – Offenses of our younger days. Crimes we committed but did not get caught. At the heart of every man is the ability to become a despot,…
Recall Your mercies, O LORD, and Your kindnesses—they are forever. Psalm 25:6 Robert Alter translation Mercies/kindnesses – Why should God care about you? You’re not exactly the best of the breed. You’re not holy. You have a smudged past. You still wander off the path on occasion. You are not absolutely devoted. Why should He…
