It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:13 Den – Jesus quotes Jeremiah. No doubt about it. “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers?” (Jeremiah 7:11) The metaphor underlines the fact that the…
It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:13 Prayer – David danced naked before the ark. Although Scripture doesn’t comment on it, I am quite sure that David also prayed naked. I don’t mean that he fell to his face…
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1 Prayer – Why do we pray? If God knows our needs before we ask, what’s the point? If God has sovereignly arranged the circumstances to accomplish His purposes,…
The Talmud suggests that the definition of Man is “the creature who prays”. This idea sets the stage for understanding what prayer really is. Prayer is the defining characteristic of what it means to be human. In other words, to be truly human is to be in communication with the Creator. Men and women who…
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and before Yahweh pours out his complaint. Psalm 102:1 (in the Hebrew text) Prayer – What is prayer? There is no doubt that the Hebrew word tephilla means “prayer”, but what does “prayer” mean? What does it look like? Hebrew has more than a dozen words…
A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and before Yahweh pours out his complaint. Psalm 102:1 (in the Hebrew text) Afflicted – Oh the history in this word! It knows no ethnic borders. Hagar, the Egyptian, is afflicted by Sarah. It knows no relational privilege. Leah was afflicted (not loved) by Jacob. It…
“that you may prove what God’s will is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 Prove – The New International Version translates this word with “you may be able to prove”. What a shame! By introducing the extra words “be able to”, the NIV removes the guarantee. You may be able implies…
