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 you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;…
Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him for the help of His presence, my God. Psalm 42:11 NASB Despair – Hebrew is earthy. It doesn’t portray the complexity of our Greek-based psychological vocabulary. It describes internal psychic states with tactile…
I am exhausted from my calling out. My throat is hoarse. My eyes fail from hoping for my God. Psalm 69:4 [Hebrew Bible] Robert Alter Eyes fail – In Hebrew the expression is כָּל֥וּ עֵינָ֑י (kalu enay). From our perspective, it seems a bit odd. We don’t hope with our eyes. For us, hope is…
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. Psalm 130:5 ESV Hope – Psalm 130 is a cry to the Lord from the depths of despair. It’s not despair over the external circumstances of life. It’s despair over the chaos of disobedience, of sin at the center of who…
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB Hope – What does Paul mean by the term “God of hope?” Does God hope? Does He wish things would turn out better?…
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, Psalm 33:18 NASB Hope – “Take two aspirin and go to bed. Things will be better in the morning.” Have you ever heard that advice? It might be the most common home remedy ever offered. But…
You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word. Psalm 119:114 NASB Wait for – Once more David opens the line with a samech. Here the first word of the verse is sitri’ – “hiding place, covering, protection.” The verb in translation (“are”) is implied, not expressed. The idea that God…
but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 147:11 ESV Steadfast love – Once again we discover David’s declaration that hesed is the fundamental description of what it means to have a relationship with YHWH. The ESV uses “steadfast love.” NASB attempts “lovingkindness.” NKJV…
O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. Psalm 130:7 NASB Hope – How long will you hope? How long before you run out of patience with the Lord? How long before your once-exuberant expectation turns to disappointment, then discouragement, then anger? How long…
