Stand!

“You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again and will bring me up from the depths of the earth.” Psalm 71:20 Stand! Will Bring Me Up – In general, the Hebrew word ‘alah means simply to ascend, to lift or to go up.  But there is one particular context where…

What God Promises

“You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again and will bring me up from the depths of the earth.”  Psalm 71:20 What God Promises Revive – Hayah!  That’s what God promises.  To keep me alive.  To rescue me from danger.  To preserve my life.  To revive me.  The same God…

O God, Who is like You?

“You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again and will bring me up from the depths of the earth.”  Psalm 71:20 O God, Who is like You? Shown – “But where is God in all this mess?”  Have you heard yourself utter that question?  You are struck down with calamity. …

Master and Commander

“and to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away;” Daniel 7:14 Master and Commander Dominion – The Aramaic word sholtana is found only in the book of Daniel.  It is…

Head vs. Heart

“Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Revelation 3:17 Head vs. Heart Do not know – You won’t see the difference in English, but Greek makes it clear.  This kind…

Blinding Knowledge

“Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Revelation 3:17 Blinding Knowledge Do Not Know – What you see it what you get.  So the saying goes.  In our world, we…

The Context of “Rest”

“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness – Israel, when it went to find its rest.”  Jeremiah 31:2 The Context of “Rest” Rest – Did Israel go into the wilderness to find rest?  Or did the people go into the wilderness to find fleeting endurance?  Unfortunately, the…

What Was I Looking For?

“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” Jeremiah 31:2 What Was I Looking For? Found – The Hebrew verb masha is used for finding just about anything.  The Israelites found grace, but that wasn’t what they were looking for.  They were looking for a way of escape. …

Who Is Stirring the Sand?

“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” Jeremiah 31:2 Who Is Stirring the Sand? Grace – At the edge of the Sahara, the sand moves as if it were alive.  It writhes, glittering scales of shifting silicon.  The serpent of the desert is there, slithering its way…

At Home in Waste Places

“Thus says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” Jeremiah 31:2 At Home in Waste Places Wilderness – Not everyone finds grace in the wilderness.  God says that His people, the ones who have survived the sword, the ones He calls Israel, find something unexpected in the desolate wasteland. …