The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. Job 42:12a NIV More than – We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the story of Job. Perhaps we’ve uncovered a few hidden things. But the real lesson is the meta-text, that is, the assumptions that inform any reading of this story. …
For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward. Job 5:7 NASB Born for trouble – Surprise, surprise! We often imagine that it is Job who utters these familiar words, but it isn’t. It’s Eliphaz. That makes a difference. Even if we resonate with his aphorism about the human condition, his comment is couched within…
“Why did I not die [f]at birth, come out of the womb and pass away? Job 3:11 NASB Pass away – We’ll have to add another verse in order to understand the implications of this one. That other verse is Job 3:13: “For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then,…
Be pleased to accept the voluntary offerings of my mouth, Lord, and teach me Your judgments. Psalm 119:107 NASB Voluntary offerings – Abraham Heschel formulated Man’s critical question: “What does God demand of me?” It’s amazing that we have turned this question upside-down. In our modern religious world, the question becomes “What do I demand of God?” Well,…
Deal generously with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Psalm 119:17 NASB Deal generously – Here’s the next section in Hebrew. Notice that each line begins with Gimel. גְּמֹ֖ל עַל־עַבְדְּךָ֥ אֶֽחְיֶ֗ה וְאֶשְׁמְרָ֥ה דְבָרֶֽךָ גַּל־עֵינַ֥י וְאַבִּ֑יטָה נִ֜פְלָא֗וֹת מִתּֽוֹרָתֶֽךָ גֵּ֣ר אָנֹכִ֣י בָאָ֑רֶץ אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֥ר מִ֜מֶּ֗נִּי מִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ גָּֽרְסָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֣י לְתַֽאֲבָ֑ה אֶל־מִשְׁפָּטֶ֥יךָ בְכָל־עֵֽת גָּעַרְתָּ זֵדִ֣ים אֲרוּרִ֑ים הַ֜שֹּׁגִ֗ים מִמִּצְוֹתֶֽיךָ…
Listen to instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Proverbs 8:33 NASB Listen – “The strength of the yetzer ha-ra is precisely in convincing us that we do not need these words or instruction because we are above believing in such simple notions as reward and punishment.”[1] How’s your spiritual IQ? Pretty good, right? …
One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who rescues you from the net of the trapper and from the deadly plague. Psalm 91:1-3 NASB Plague – The Black Plague killed between…
“May the Lord reward your work, and may your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12 NASB Reward – It’s such a shame that the translation of this Hebrew word into English leaves us without all the deep connections it should imply. Take a look…
A merciful person does himself good, but the cruel person does himself harm. Proverbs 11:17 NASB Does himself good – Arthur Branch, the District Attorney in the television series Law and Order, quipped, “Sometimes the good you do doesn’t do you any good.” Regretfully, he seems to be correct. Human experience suggests that doing good doesn’t always…
Righteous are You, O Lord. When I dispute with You, my brief will speak against You. Why does the way of the wickedprosper, all who deal treacherously rest tranquil? Jeremiah 12:1 Robert Alter The way of the wicked – Do you remember “The Twilight Zone”? If you do, you must remember the episode where a…
