for God Who protects and rescues us are You; for God, the gracious and compassionate King, are You. Siddur, Maariv for Weekdays, Shema and Its Blessings, p. 291. Protects and Rescues – “Being obedient does not require understanding God’s reasoning.”[1] Yes, that’s so true. Frankly, I don’t understand God at all. I don’t understand how…
So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth 1:22 NASB Who returned – What are we to make of the unusual Hebrew construction in this verse? What usually happens in translation is a…
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! Psalm 1:1 NASB How blessed – What should we do now while we are waiting for the return or an exit? Do we just continue with…
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12 NASB Restore – Life is about direction, not destination. Of course, motivational speakers, generals and politicians, men and women of influence may attempt to teach you that what you need are goals. They will point to past successes…
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 NASB Restore – The king gives…
“Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My Great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25 NASB Make up – Have you faced the great army of God? It is an army that eats away…
“And he shall be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age.” Ruth 4:15 Restorer – Let’s do a little rabbinic exegesis. The women in Naomi’s circle told her, “Blessed be YHWH. He has not left you without a redeemer (go’el) that his name may be famous in Israel. And…
