Idolatrous Marriage

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 NASB Not – What is the connection between Genesis 2:18, Zechariah 4:6, Ephesians 5:23 and John Piper’s view of marriage? More than you…

Gods of Power

“It will come about in that day,” declares the Lord, “That you will call Me Ishi and will no longer call Me Baali.” Hosea 2:16 NASB Ishi – “For Hosea, at the core of Baal worship is the primitive idea that God rules the world by force, as husbands rule families in societies where power…

Not Gibraltar

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 NASB Rock – If you’re like most English readers, you will think that this is the translation of the Hebrew tsur, the usual…

An Army of One

“I love You, O Lord, my strength.” Psalm 18:1 (English version) NASB  Strength – The Hebrew word, hezqa, means “strength.” There is no argument about this nor is it unusual. But David often does something with words that make them different, and in this verse, he uses the root hezeq, the only place in Scripture…

Power Play

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NASB Impossible – adynatos is the Greek word translated “impossible.” If you look closely, you will see that it is the negation…

Justice as Antidote (Rewind)

Who understands the power of Your anger and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? Psalm 90:11  NASB Power – Read the first verse of this psalm.  No, not the first English verse.  Read the first verse in the Hebrew text.  Let me help you:  tefillah le-Moshe ish ha-Elohim (A prayer of…

Warrior Woman

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. Proverbs 31:10 ESV Excellent – Perhaps a bit better than “virtuous,” the ESV translation makes an attempt to teach that this particular wife is not measured simply on the basis of her morals. But the Hebrew word is far more than our…

A Few Clues

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.  Genesis 2:25 ESV Both – Back to the Garden!  We seem to end up here over and over when we look for the biblical models of relationships and interdependency.  Each verse is pregnant with powerful imagery that restores our broken and fractured…

Master and Commander

“ . . . and let them have dominion over . . .”  Genesis 1:26  ESV Dominion – “There is no dignity without responsibility.”[1]  Apparently the modern world doesn’t agree with Soloveitchik.  It seems as if the governments of the West think that all that is necessary for men to live is to be provided…

The War on Poverty

“For the poor are with you at all times, but I am not with you at all times.”  Matthew 26:11  Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels Poor – Did Yeshua speak the truth?  We will always have the poor.  If you answer “Yes,” then why work to eliminate poverty?  If you answer “No,” then is Yeshua a liar? …