The boastful will not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do injustice. Psalm 5:5 NASB Injustice – The God of love hates something—ʾāwen. Maybe we don’t think about the “loving” God as a God who hates, but we need to. Why? Because the ethical foundation of the creation isn’t the work of a “Santa Claus” God. …
If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear; Psalm 66:18 NASB Regard – The Bible is a very scary book. Yes, of course, it speaks about God’s care and concern for His creation, including, fortunately, us. But laced throughout the glowing promises of forgiveness and shalom are verses like this one, verses…
For they speak against You wickedly, and Your enemies take Your name in vain. Psalm 139:20 NASB Wickedly– What does it mean to speak against God wickedly? Hebrew poetry often employs parallelism in order to provide elaboration of one idea with another. In this verse, mezimmâ (from zāmam, “to plan, devise, consider”) is equated to taking YHVH’s name in vain. …
For you trusted in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me.” Your wisdom and your knowledge, it leads you away, and you said in your heart, “I am and none else is.” Isaiah 47:10 Wickedness – How could anyone trust in wickedness? Does that make any sense at all? No one actually puts their…
