All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. Psalm 22:27 ESV Worship – “The philosophy of Jewish living is essentially a philosophy of worship. For what is observance, if not a form of worshipping God?”[1] Once you grasp the…
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 ESV Did not honor – Paul delineates two critical failures of those whom God consigns to futility. The first is that even though…
That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 1 Corinthians 11:10 ESV Because of the angels – Sometimes when you have half a conversation in a letter from another culture and another time, you can barely figure out what the argument was all about. …
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:2 NASB Right – “What is truth?” asked Pilate. He might as well have asked, “What is correct?” In his eyes, the truth and the cultural norms were relative. He only echoed what Solomon said centuries before. Everyone thinks…
I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 2 Timothy 1:3 ESV As did my ancestors – Sometimes the smallest phrases require the greatest attention. In this introduction to his letter to Timothy, Paul makes an almost parenthetical…
“And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner” 1 Peter 4:18 NASB Godless man – Peter calls these people “godless” and “sinners.” “Godless man” is the Greek word asebes. It literally means, “without worship.” This is a person who does not honor…
“But let the man who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me. For I am Yahweh who acts in steadfast loyalty, justice, and righteousness upon the earth; for in these things I delight – Yahweh’s word.” Jeremiah 9:24 J. A. Thompson translation. Delight – How would you answer this question: What are…
For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Parazim, He will be stirred up as in the valley of Gibeon, to do His task, His unusual task, and to work His work, His extraordinary work. Isaiah 28:21 NASB To work His work – “As for me and my house.” Joshua’s often-quoted declaration makes his…
and there was not a man to till the ground Genesis 2:5 (Hebrew World translation) To till – There is no difference between sacred and secular. Better read that again since nearly everything about our culture is based on separating sacred and secular. We have church and state, spiritual and carnal, righteous and wicked and…
But wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17 Pure – Want peace in your life? Want gentleness, mercy and integrity? Want clear reason and satisfying production? Then start with hagnos (Greek for pure). Of course, it’s important to know what “pure”…
