Today’s Word
The Straight and Narrow
I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119:7 NASB Uprightness – It’s not a familiar English word although we have no trouble reading it. But what exactly does “uprightness” mean? Alter translates yōšer as “honest.” That’s better if we understand the literal meaning of the term….
Public Persona
Then I will not be ashamed when I look at all Your commandments. Psalm 119:6 NASB Not be ashamed – It’s worth reiterating the difference between our contemporary, psychological idea of “shame” and the ancient Hebrew idea. As we’ve discovered before: The primary meaning of this root is “to fall into disgrace, normally through failure, either…
Conflict Resolution
Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes! Psalm 119:5 NASB 1995 Oh that – Pay attention to the first word in this aleph sequence: ʾaḥlâ אַחלָה It’s an emotional outburst. “Ah that!” is the TWOT rendering. Alter renders the verse: “Would that my ways be firm to observe Your statutes!” But notice the…
Lucky 7
Where Were You? Today is 07/07. On my birthday this year I turned 77. I was in Mumbai, India. I never expected to have a birthday in Mumbai, and certainly not my 77th. So, on 07/07, now that I am 77, I just wanted to show you a few photos from that day. Who knows…
Laying Down the Law
You have [c]ordained Your precepts, [d]that we are to keep them diligently. Psalm 119:4 NASB Precepts – Perhaps “ordained” isn’t quite the word we want. We’re more familiar with this term in regard to priests and ministers, but it has a second, and perhaps original, meaning as well. It means “to decree,” for example, when a king officially…
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