to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. Titus 3:2 NASB Consideration – You know, sometimes trying to get Paul’s ideas into English is just such a mess. Here we have a translation that first says “gentle” (epieikḗs) which really should be something like “upright” (doing what is the right…
They did not remember His [w]power, the day when He redeemed them from the enemy, Psalm 78:42 NASB Not remember – In the next ten verses Asaph lists all the mighty works that God did to redeem His people from Egypt. You might notice that his list isn’t quite the same as the sequence of events in Exodus. For…
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah Psalm 49:15 NASB Receive – If the Tanakh really doesn’t have a clear concept of Heaven, then what can this verse mean? Doesn’t it imply that there is redemption from Sheol? Doesn’t it suggest that God “saves” us from the eternity…
Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Daniel 4:29-30 NIV By my mighty power – “Life is not as fate designs,…
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB Time – Recognize this? This is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, perhaps better known as “The Duomo” in Florence, Italy. As you travel all over Europe, you will find many…
And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12b NIV Gentle whisper – You know the story. Elijah calls down fire from heaven. He proves YHVH is the only God. He slaughters Jezebel’s four hundred false prophets. Victory is his. Then a single, wicked woman sends him a threat and Elijah, “ran for his…
“Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?” Exodus 15:11 NASB Who is like You – I’m sure you noticed that Moses’ question implies multiple gods. “Who is like You among the gods?” isn’t the way we would ask. We live in a “one God” universe. …
When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Genesis 32:25 NASB Socket of his thigh – The enigmatic Hebrew phrase bekaph yereko raises some interesting technical questions. If we try to figure out…
He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations; Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah. Psalm 66:7 NASB Might – Okay, this is a victory poem. God will prevail over all His enemies. No one and nothing can stand against Him. Don’t be deceived, the wicked will perish. We get that, but after all…
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 NASB Who made – Yesterday we discovered that God’s sovereign choice to create anything at all implies His ultimate concern and involvement with creation, and as such, creation is the continual unfolding of the purposes…
