The arrogant have dug pits for me, people who are not in accord with Your Law. Psalm 119:85 NASB Arrogant – Do you recognize arrogance when you encounter it? You will probably answer, “Yes.” But notice the connection that the psalmist makes in his poetic construction. You know, of course, that Hebrew poetry does not rhyme sounds. …
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:3-5 NASB Humility of mind –…
They do not plead the cause, the cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; and they do not defend the rights of the poor. Jeremiah 5:28b NASB Poor – Hebrew makes several distinctions when it comes to the poor. “ʾebyôn emphasizes ‘need’ and thus is to be distinguished from ʿonî ‘afflicted,’ dal ‘poor,’ and rāš…
A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out. Proverbs 20:5 NASB Plan – The Jewish Learning Institute workbook, How Happiness Thinks, is a treasure of rabbinic and modern mental health collaboration. It’s designed to take the reader through exercises that uncover roadblocks to…
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB Weakness – We live in a world of power. Anyone who demonstrates weakness…
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears. Psalm 18:6 NASB In my distress – batstsarli – “in my distress” – is the place of confinement. The narrow place. The…
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:3-5 NASB Humility of mind –…
But for me, the nearness of God is good to me; I have made the Lord YHWH my refuge that I may declare Your works. Psalm 73:28 (my translation) God/ Lord/ YHWH – In the movie, Man on Fire, Denzel Washington plays a has-been black-ops expert who struggles with suicide over his past actions. He…
So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:7 NASB Is anything – Paul is pretty important. In fact, without Paul the present version of the Christian church would probably not exist. Oh, I know. Paul is misrepresented and misread by…
Be humbled, then, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the opportune time 1 Peter 5:6 NASB Be Humbled – There is no better person to pen these words than Peter. The man who believed in personal power learned a life-altering lesson after the death and resurrection of Yeshua. Power brings defeat. …
