May those who [ab]fear You see me and be glad, because I [ac]wait for Your word. Psalm 119:74 NASB See me – Doctrinal discussions. Statements of faith. Creeds. Tracts. Testimonies. You’ve heard them all. Perhaps too many times. Lots and lots of words. Did they really make a difference? Were you compelled to pursue God because of any…
Do not trust in noblemen, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Psalm 146:3-4 NASB Nobleman – The world is continuously more and more interconnected. Two years of pandemic disruption could hardly be better evidence. Our lives are intertwined with many, many others, most of…
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” 2 Samuel 24:14 NASB Fall into the hand of the Lord – Are you in great distress? Oh, maybe not now, but have you…
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Proverbs 31:11 NASB Trusts – What does it mean to “trust” your wife? How will that turn out to be prosperous for the husband? In the past we examined the Hebrew word bāṭaḥ in the context of the ‘ezer…
saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42 NASB But – Sitting in the restaurant bar waiting for a table. Enjoying the conversation with another couple. Suddenly the man gets up, goes to the wall and adjusts a picture that isn’t perfectly…
Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. Philemon 1:21 NASB Confidence – If we pay attention of the use of this Greek term (pépoitha) in the LXX, we discover that it often translates the Hebrew root bṭḥ (baṭaḥ). Paul could…
If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. Philemon 1:17 NASB Partner – Perhaps we need to add some additional synonyms to the English translation “partner.” The Greek term is koinōnós, obviously connected to the familiar koinōnía, also from the root koinós. This group of Greek words is all about sharing. Whether it is…
Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also mounted against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation. Psalm 78:21-22 NASB Did not believe in God – I believe in God. But that’s a mistake. Why? Because when I say, “I believe…
Blessed be the man who trusts in the Lord, and the Lord becomes his trust. Jeremiah 17:7 Robert Alter Trusts/ trust – The NASB translates Jeremiah’s words from YHVH with pretty much the same idea, but notice that the syntax (the word order) changes. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is…
We lost! I don’t mean Biden won or Trump won. It doesn’t really matter because the real loss is far greater than who will be President for the next four years. What we lost is bāṭaḥ. You know the word (I hope). It is translated “trust,” and in every circumstance except Proverbs 31:11, whenever it describes human…
