Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. Psalm 73:7 ESV Fatness – Asaph’s description of the physical qualities of the wicked is certainly metaphorical. Asaph is not writing about corneal edema. He is poetically describing the results of a life of opulence; a life that pursues luxury. But his use of…
Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son Genesis 22:10 NASB Knife – The ma’akelet is a special kind of knife – a knife used to slaughter sacrifices. In the Old Testament, it describes the instrument used to cut a person into pieces (Judges 19:29) and to prepare animals for…
Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23 NASB…
and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2 NASB Offering/ Sacrifice – Paul does tend to be verbose at times. His Greek is complicated and filled with allusions (typical of a rabbinic midrash). But…
When a person presents an offering of meal to the LORD, his offering shall be of choice flour; . . . Leviticus 2:1 JPS When – God never commanded sacrifices. Let’s say that again. God never commanded sacrifices. Even when Abraham was asked to take Isaac to the altar, it was not a command. The…
This is the ritual of the sacrifice of well-being that one may offer to the LORD: Leviticus 7:11 (JPS Torah) Sacrifice of well-being – In Hebrew, this is the zevah ha-shelamim. There are several ways of interpreting this particular word combination. Most English translations don’t follow the Hebrew text but rather take their clues from…
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB Who knew no sin – Once upon a time Adam knew no sin. That doesn’t mean Adam didn’t know the difference between right and wrong. Adam knew true…
And he turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and cooked their flesh, using the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he rose up and followed Eliyahu, and became his servant. 1 Malakim 19:21 (1 Kings 19:21 – Institute for Scripture…
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34 Sword – If you’re serious about Yeshua’s declarations, this one must upset you. Don’t the angels sing, “Peace on earth”? Isn’t the gospel a message of peace with God? Then how…
But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for YHWH, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.” 1 Chronicles 21:24 Costs Me Nothing – Nancy Pearcey makes an astounding application of David’s principle. She says, “The…
