Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Exodus 24:7 ESV Be Obedient – The translation “be obedient” makes sense. It’s pretty much repeated in the other English translations. But it…
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, he who rejects unjust gain and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; he who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; Isaiah 33:15 NASB Speaks with sincerity – Sometimes a translation, even if correct, is so loaded with…
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck. Proverbs 1:8-9 NASB Hear– “Over time, early and necessary (and sometimes life-saving) defensive maneuvers and coping strategies evolve into ‘patterns’ of thinking, feeling, and behaving. These patterns come to operate like ‘organizing…
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 NASB Hearing – When we first examined this verse (August 17, 2011), we noted that this is Paul’s shema. Although written in Greek, Paul clearly has the Hebrew verb shama in mind. And as we know, shama means both “to hear”…
Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Exodus 24:7 NASB Will be obedient – What is the relationship between hearing and obeying? What steps do you take in…
“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My commandments, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine.” Exodus 19:5 NASB Indeed Obey – How loud does God need to speak for you to hear him? If you are like those Israelites who…
“If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Isaiah 1:19 NASB Consent and obey – We love Isaiah 1:18, especially when we think it endorses rational debate. But I doubt many of us realize that this next…
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (J. Green) Truth – God does what He says He will do. He is the ultimate promise-keeper. That’s why Moses can call God emunah – faithful. But emunah is also…
Hear, Israel, YHWH is our God, YHWH is one. Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear – The Hebrew verb shama means both “to hear” and “to obey, respond.” Moses does not call the people to listen to his words. He calls the people to do what the words say. In Hebrew, I do not hear unless I respond. …
And it shall come to pass, if you carefully listen to my commandments which I command you today, . . . Deuteronomy 11:13 Carefully Listen To – We have discovered that even Jewish rabbis recognized the priority of grace. The false dichotomy between law and grace was an invention of Augustine. His influence spread through…
