He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. Proverbs 13:24 NASB Rod – God’s idea of training involves correction, sometimes correction that stings. We, of course, are more civilized. Who would ever consider punishing a child with a rod these days? Probably only those who risk being taken…
Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. Psalm 48:3 ESV Citadels/fortress – God has made Himself known as a fortress? What in the world does that mean? According to the psalmist, God is already within the citadels of the city. So why does He need to make Himself known as a…
beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Psalm 48:2 ESV Great – OK, God is great. But so is the king, right? In fact, in our inverted world, kings often get more praise than God (as John Lennon once quipped)….
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8: ESV The Sabbath day – And what does this mean? Does it mean we spend the day meditating on God? Does it mean we sit around wondering if doing the next thing will violate the commandment about rest? Perhaps we need to look at the original…
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain. Psalm 48:1 (English Bible) NASB To be praised – You’re probably quite familiar with this Hebrew word. It is found in the expression “Hallelujah!” Literally, this expression means, “Praise for Yah.” The verb is halal, used more than…
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain. Psalm 48:1 (English Bible) NASB Great – Sometimes we just absolutely must know the subtle differences in Hebrew in order to comprehend the deeper message of the text. That is the case here. If I asked you what…
So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.Acts 19:32 NASB Assembly – What is the Greek word for “church”? Ah, ekklesia, you say. Everyone knows that. The church is the ekklesia of God. Does…
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15 KJV Testament – Of course, when you read this verse in the modern…
And showing mercy to thousands of those who love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:6 Jewish World translation Love Me, and keep – Back to the pictographs. Here is the phrase “of those who love Me” in pictographic Hebrew. Once again the word begins with the preposition le signifying “control” or “authority.” It…
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7 NASB In vain – In Paleo-Hebrew the expression lashshawe’ is: The Paleo-Hebrew pictograph combines the prefixed Hebrew root sh-w with the preposition le and the definite article…
