you will be covered with shame, and you will be cut off forever Obadiah 10 NASB Shame – The Hebrew word bushah is used only four times in the Old Testament. It describes King David’s personal shame and distress and it describes the shame associated with the destruction under God’s judgment. In Obadiah, the nation…
For the day of the Lord draws near on all nations, as you have done it will be done to you. Obadiah 15 NASB Draws near – The word here is not a verb but an adjective. The word is qarob. It is used to indicate something that is close at hand or about to…
Abraham came near and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” Genesis 18:23 NASB Sweep away – The Hebrew word translated “sweep away” is tispeh. It comes from the root safah, a verb that means “to sweep away, to destroy, to consume.” The consonants are Samech-Pey-Hey (to twist or turn, the…
But in vain I kept my heart pure and in innocence washed my palms. For I was afflicted all day long, and my chastisement, each new morning. Psalm 73:13-14 (translation – Robert Alter) Afflicted – There are two kinds of purity in Scripture: ritual and moral. Some prescriptions address ritual impurity without any suggestion of…
And they say, “How could God know, and is there knowledge with the Most High?” Psalm 73:11 (Robert Alter translation) Know – Put this verse into the ancient near-Eastern world. Is there any doubt that God knows? Of course not. God knows everything that happens. But in the ancient near-East, God (and the gods) doesn’t…
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations; knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint . . . Romans 5:3-5 NASB Proven character – You’ve known your share of afflictions. You have lived the experience of standing firm in the…
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with all that is hidden, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14 Jay Green Judgment – “The strength of the yetzer ha’ra is precisely in convincing us that we do not need these words of instruction because we are above believing in such…
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with all that is hidden, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14 Jay Green Every work – Scrupulous! Rigorous! Meticulous! Do those adjectives describe your life before the Lord – or are you one of the many who seem to think that God’s…
who executes judgment for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Psalm 146:7 Executes – Do we really believe God takes care of things for the oppressed? If we knew the Hebrew verb here (‘asah) is a verb that usually means a deliberate action with distinct purpose, would that change our expectations about God’s…
“Let YHWH judge between me and you.” Genesis 16:5 Judge – “What consumes the word of covenant.” How can this imagery be true of the Hebrew word shaphat (Shin-Pey-Tau)? This word picture must be wrong. Isn’t judging about restoration? Didn’t we just learn that mishpat (from shaphat) is intended to bring reconciliation? Stop. Think about…
