tamam

  • Who’s Responsible?

    There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.  Job 1:1  NASB Blameless – The story of Job is a problem.  Yes, we can push the problem down into the human laundry basket while we rinse Job with theological softener.  But under the…

  • Honesty Is the Best Policy?

    He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 NASB Integrity – Are you considered a person of integrity? Ah, before you answer, you might want to know what tamam means. Most of us think of integrity as a synonym for honesty and by that…

  • The Self-Help Bible

    For the LORD is a sun and a shield, the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 ESV Walk Uprightly – The Bible is the world’s only guaranteed self-help book. There are lots of competitors, of course. Just browse any bookstore online or in…

  • The Ghost of Luther

    May uprightness, wholeness, preserve me, for in You do I hope.  Psalm 25:21  Robert Alter translation Uprightness – “Two problems of ot theology concern the verb tāmam: self-righteousness and perfectionism. Illustrating the former, David expresses the resolve, ‘I will walk within my house with a perfect (tōm) heart’ (Ps 101:2b KJV, ASV margin and RSV…

  • Flip Side

    There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger; nor is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38:3 Soundness – Modern life compartmentalizes.  A box for work, another for play, one for family, one for social relationships, one for church, one for other things.  The name of the…