But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. Matthew 26:56 NASB Left Him and fled – Why say it twice? Isn’t it enough to say the disciples left? Or the disciples fled? Why use both verbs? The answer is not so simple….
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. Psalm 130:5 ESV Hope – Psalm 130 is a cry to the Lord from the depths of despair. It’s not despair over the external circumstances of life. It’s despair over the chaos of disobedience, of sin at the center of who…
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB Hope – What does Paul mean by the term “God of hope?” Does God hope? Does He wish things would turn out better?…
Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, Psalm 3:2-3a NIV Many – “Many are saying.” But who? Whose voices are telling us that God will not deliver us? If I listen very carefully, I know those voices. I have heard them before—many times. It…
The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. Psalm 18:20 NASB My righteousness – Want joy? Be obedient! Ah, sounds so easy, doesn’t it? But that’s not usually the way it works. The yetzer ha’ra has deep hooks in us and often manipulates…
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, Psalm 33:18 NASB Hope – “Take two aspirin and go to bed. Things will be better in the morning.” Have you ever heard that advice? It might be the most common home remedy ever offered. But…
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 NASB In his own eyes – “Do the right thing!” That’s our usual ethical position. But the problem is obvious. What is the right thing? We often decry Israel’s decision to demand a king. We…
Yes, let all who hope in You be not shamed. Let the treacherous be shamed, empty-handed. Psalm 25:3 Robert Alter translation Hope – After our recent discussion of batah, you might expect to find that word behind the English “hope.” To trust is to hope. The result is a public display. But that’s not what…
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…
My God, in You I trust. Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me. Psalm 25:2 Robert Alter translation Trust – Trust in God is more than a motto on the back of a coin. In fact, we might wonder if biblical “trust” can even be understood apart from Hebrew thought. …
