Maskil, Part 2

Blessed is the man to whom YHWH does not charge iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Psalm 32:2 Does Not Charge – David’s insight into the relationship between “blessing” and righteousness continues.  This verse is now a parallel to the first verse (the first occurrence of “blessed”).  It begins with the same…

A Contented Life

Of David, a contemplation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1 Transgression/Sin – What is the opposite of rebellion?  If you’re thinking in Greek, you might suggest “peace.”  The Greek thought of peace as the absence of war.  War was the natural state of existence, but once in awhile,…

The Sin Virus

Of David, a contemplation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1 Transgression/ Sin – Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas, not sounds.  One Hebrew technique is parallel construction.  In this technique, the first idea is matched with a second parallel idea and one idea elaborates the thought of the other.  In…

Not Quite

Of David, a contemplation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1 Blessed Is – So, now you know that this is a maskil.  That means it is an insight for action.  But immediately following the word maskil, we come to what appears to be a passive verb, blessed is. …

Haiti News

Many of you have asked about the people in Ranquitte, where we built the road.  Ranquitte is far in the mountains, so there was little damage.  But many of the children, parents and friends of those in Ranquitte were in Port-au-Prince and at this time none have been found.  This is a desperate time for…

Missing Context

Of David, a contemplation. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1 (here is the link to the Blue Letter Bible but you will notice that even it leaves out the Hebrew words) Of David.  A contemplation – Some translations don’t even include this opening indication.  Apparently, authorship and context…

VERY IMPORTANT

I believe this is so important that I am interrupting the daily word in order to send it. Distress Call It doesn’t happen often, but when one of my faithful readers and long-time supporters asks to be removed from the community, I want to know why.  Yesterday I heard from a friend and reader in…

Why Bother?

Again I said, “The thing which you are doing is not good; should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?” Nehemiah 5:9 Walk – Nehemiah’s question is a good one.  It gives us the right perspective about walking in the ways of YHWH.  But…

Open Graves

But He said to them, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:60 Allow – Does this statement seem a little harsh?  Does it smack of a lack of compassion for the dead and for those who mourn over the dead? …

Wedding Week

and He gave to Moses, when he finished talking with him upon Mount Sinai, two tablets of Testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God. Exodus 31:18 Finished – The rabbis noticed something special about the connection between this verse and Jeremiah 7:34.  They are both about a wedding.  But you don’t see…