Back to the Garden

BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

My flesh trembles from the fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments.  Psalm 119:120  NASB I am afraid – Something is wrong here.  If we follow the NASB, we think that in his current condition the psalmist is terrified of God’s judgments.  That’s what the present tense of these two verbs sāmar (to tremble)…

You Need All You Can Get

BySkip Moen, Ph.D.

The lowly have seen and rejoiced, those who seek God, let their hearts be strong.  Psalm 69:33 [Hebrew Bible]  Robert Alter Let – There are at least two ways to read this verse.  It depends on which meaning you attach to the wide umbrella Hebrew word ḥāyâ.  Here are some choices: “live, have life, remain…