Where God Isn’t

If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.   Psalm 139:8 NASB Behold– We’ve looked at this verse several times.[1]Our previous investigations concentrated on the use of She’ol and its distinction from the contemporary idea of Hell.  But this time we’ll look at the tone of the verse,…

Gathered to His Kin

I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.  Psalm 31:12  NASB Forgotten– The screenwriters of the movieTroy brilliantly captured the great Greek question mark of life.  In a conversation between Achilles and his mother, she describes Greek angst perfectly.  Listen: What is the worst thing that can befall a…

What Name?

Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”  Exodus 3:13 NASB Name – According to the Book…

Birth Wright

  Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep…

The Rest of the Story

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. Micah 7:18 NASB Who – Yesterday I read a very disturbing verse in Micah. “They will lick the dust like a…

Who Am I?

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Ruth 2:8 NASB Ruth – When you read the story of Ruth, pay close attention to how many times anyone actually uses her name….

Naming My Pain

Then he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?” Genesis 27:36 NASB Rightly called – Esau is the one who gives Jacob…

Who’s the Audience?

The voice of the Lord will call to the city—And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name: “Hear, O tribe. Who has appointed its time?” Micah 6:9 NASB Hear – There is a lot of translator liberty in this verse. You have read the NASB. Here’s the NIV: Listen! The Lord is calling to…

Whom Do You Praise?

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven. Psalm 148:13 NASB His name – Names are quite important in Hebrew thought. They are rarely random choices. Names reveal essential aspects of the object named. That’s why we must pay close attention to…

His Name Is

As is Your name, O God,
 So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
 Your right hand is full of righteousness. Psalm 48:10 English NASB (Hebrew Bible 48:11) As is Your name – “The concept of personal names in the [Old Testament] often included existence, character, and reputation (I Sam 25:25). Often the…