The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18 NASB Crushed in spirit – Gristmills. Coffee grinders. Rock crushers. When you read this verse, do you feel the pressure? Are you being ground to dust by the weight…
And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8 NASB Dismayed – Dismayed? Do you know precisely what that means? I’m guessing that most people don’t. We have a general idea. It’s something…
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NASB Mourn – Samuel Beckett’s play raises a critical question for humanity. It does so with a kind of dramatic insanity. “Vivian Mercier described Waiting for Godot as a play which ‘has achieved a theoretical impossibility—a play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued…
But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. Luke 18:23 NASB Very sad – Let’s talk about sad. Not the most comfortable topic, but I’m sure it’s one we have experienced. Grief might be a disease that cannot be seen, but sadness has a face. Unfortunately, those…
When you go out to battle against your enemies, and the Lord your God hands them over to you and you take them away captive, Deuteronomy 21:10 NASB When – The most important word in this verse is not “battle” or “enemies.” It’s not the claim that God will fight on your side. It’s the opening conjunction, the…
And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. Luke 8:14 NASB Worries – SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) first appeared in China in 2002. Its current strain…
If he takes to himself another woman, he may not reduce her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights. Exodus 21:10 NASB (first published in February 2014, with additions) Conjugal rights – If you were ever to doubt the upside-down nature of the Hebraic view of the role of women, this verse would surely seem to…
He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” Genesis 37:30 NASB Not there – In this verse, the words “not there” are not there. The translators have added an explanation to the text, implying that Reuben declares Joseph is no longer in the pit. …
And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; and one people will be stronger than the other; and the older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23 NASB Nations – Do you remember the remarks about messy Hebrew? Do you recall that translating the second part…
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are…
