Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than to the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 Heed – Some words in the Hebrew Scriptures are particularly unusual. They seem to have no cognates in other ancient languages. They are not borrowed or formed from the languages that were spoken in the cultures…
Thy kingdom come Matthew 6:10 Kingdom – If you have ever prayed the prayer, you have petitioned the Father to bring about His kingdom on this earth. You have given your assent to the desire to have God’s kingdom and God’s will become the reality of your experience here and now. But have you ever…
A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. Proverbs 19:3 Folly – As you read this phrase, you’re probably nodding your head in agreement. We all know someone whose life has been destroyed by personal foolishness. It seems so obvious. In our more somber moments, we might even recognize…
Fools mock at making amends for sin Proverbs 14:9 Amends for Sin – There is an important difference between forgiveness and amends. The difference is recognized by God, but often ignored by us. Too bad! By ignoring amends, we tread a pathway that can easily lead toward mocking God Himself. Why do we make such…
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 Beginning – Proverbs 9:10 looks like a exact repetition of Proverbs 1:7. Do you suppose Solomon just forgot that he already said this? If we relied on English, we would have…
Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will uncover your skirts over your face; and I will cause the nations to see your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame. Nahum 3:5 Shame – The prophet Nahum proclaims God’s judgment against Nineveh. He uses language more akin to the brothel than…
Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:2 In Full – Is this what you want? Full paid. Getting all that is due. Don’t be so quick to say, “Oh, no. I’m willing to wait.” That response misunderstands Jesus’ comment. Jesus is not saying that we should work without the…
A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; wherever he turns, he prospers. Proverbs 17:8 Charm – Why offer a bribe? Solomon observes that the one who offers a bribe (the word means a gift that carries selfish intention) absolutely believes that he will achieve his purposes with its use. It is…
For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord Zephaniah 3:9 Give – Zephaniah is a tiny book squeezed into the general category called the Minor Prophets. Most people can’t even find it in the Old Testament without flipping through all the…
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead. Psalm 143:3 Crushed – This is not the most famous verse that uses daka, but it gives us a clear picture of the kind of…
