Fairytale Faith

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  Matthew 7:25  ESV Did not fall – You want your faith to stand, right?  You want it built on the solid rock, able to weather…

Injuring God

The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Genesis 6:6  NASB Was sorry – This verse is a problem for most theologians.  It’s not a problem because we can’t understand the words.  It’s a problem because theology doesn’t think of God in biblical terms.  Theology is the victim…

Fool’s Day

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB Acknowledge – Let’s have some fun today.  We want to think about the Hebrew idea of knowing.  It’s not the same as our Western idea.  To get the…

It’s What You Know That Counts

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB Acknowledge– I’m not sure this particular rendition of yādaʿ really captures what we need to know (ah, a pun).  yādaʿ is the verb translated “acknowledge,” but “acknowledge” seems too weak.  After all,…

Watertight

My God, in You I trust.  Let me be not shamed, let my enemies not gloat over me.  Psalm 25:2  Robert Alter translation [First, an apology.  Since the death of Rosanne’s mother, our lives have been in continuing chaos.  We have been staying in Rosanne’s mother’s condo in Florida.  That is part of a trust…

The Vocabulary of Trust

But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.”  Psalm 31:14  NASB Trust– By now we should be quite familiar with bāṭaḥ (trust).  TWOT’s reminder is important: in Hebrew, bāṭaḥ expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is significant…

Some Clarity

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 kenegdo, God’s design for…

Fear of Another

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. Psalm 56:3 NASB Afraid – We know this Hebrew word. yārēʾ, “to fear, be afraid, revere.” Yes, it’s the same word used in the verse about the “fear of the Lord.” But yārēʾ has five different nuances, and one of them is simply the psychological experience…

A Meditation

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Luke 12:27 NASB Consider – Today I was reading a great passage in the Oswald Chambers devotional. I have read his work on a regular basis for many…

The Perfection Syndrome

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 NASB Life – Life is a paradox. In this verse, Paul presents us with one of the most paradoxical truths of existence. What seems like “life” to those whose worldview is determined by…