The Summons

My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest.  Psalm 22:2  NASB Cry out – Anthony Bloom’s comment is frightening: “ . . . it is very important to remember that prayer is an encounter and a relationship, a relationship which is deep, and this…

What I Want

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16  NASB Call upon – “Even personal prayers for our own needs are not necessarily selfish in nature.  God feels the…

For and Against

My eye grows dim from misery; I have called upon You every day, Lord; I have spread out my hands to You.  Psalm 88:9  NASB Called upon – Internal contradiction!  Yes, Hebrew has a few words that mean exactly the opposite depending on the circumstances.  When an author takes advantage of this, his choice can mean either one—or both.  Perhaps…

Plural Problems (1)

Now the man named his wife [a]Eve, because she was the mother of all the living  Genesis 3:20 NASB Eve – But of course he did not name her “Eve.”  I’m sorry, but the footnote in the NASB (“Genesis 3:20 I.e., living; or life”) is absolutely no help whatsoever.  “Eve” is not her name.  That word comes from the…

RSVP

Do not hide Your face from me on the day of my distress; Incline Your ear to me; On the day when I call answer me quickly.  Psalm 102:2  NASB I call – Do you remember the introduction of this psalm?  “The afflicted man when he pours out. . .”  šāpak.  Then there’s the first verse…