Invisible Grace

I am exhausted from my calling out.  My throat is hoarse.  My eyes fail from hoping for my God.  Psalm 69:4 [Hebrew Bible]  Robert Alter Eyes fail – In Hebrew the expression is כָּל֥וּ עֵינָ֑י (kalu enay).  From our perspective, it seems a bit odd.  We don’t hope with our eyes.  For us, hope is…

The Solid Rock – Rewind

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. Psalm 130:5 ESV Hope – Psalm 130 is a cry to the Lord from the depths of despair. It’s not despair over the external circumstances of life. It’s despair over the chaos of disobedience, of sin at the center of who…

More Than Me

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NASB Hope – What does Paul mean by the term “God of hope?” Does God hope? Does He wish things would turn out better?…

Take Two

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, Psalm 33:18 NASB Hope – “Take two aspirin and go to bed. Things will be better in the morning.” Have you ever heard that advice? It might be the most common home remedy ever offered. But…

Hidden Hope

You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.  Psalm 119:114  NASB Wait for – Once more David opens the line with a samech.  Here the first word of the verse is sitri’ – “hiding place, covering, protection.”  The verb in translation (“are”) is implied, not expressed.  The idea that God…

THE Word

but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.  Psalm 147:11  ESV Steadfast love – Once again we discover David’s declaration that hesed is the fundamental description of what it means to have a relationship with YHWH.  The ESV uses “steadfast love.”  NASB attempts “lovingkindness.”  NKJV…

Hope-Full

O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption.  Psalm 130:7  NASB Hope – How long will you hope?  How long before you run out of patience with the Lord?  How long before your once-exuberant expectation turns to disappointment, then discouragement, then anger?  How long…

The Solid Rock

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.  Psalm 130:5  ESV Hope – Psalm 130 is a cry to the Lord from the depths of despair.  It’s not despair over the external circumstances of life.  It’s despair over the chaos of disobedience, of sin at the center of who…