The Value of Using Multiple Translations

Translated Scripture is Scripture. That is a beautiful Christian doctrine that we do not meditate on enough. The Bible, of course, was originally written in Hebrew and a bit of Aramaic for the Old Testament and in Greek for the New Testament. Even though we acknowledge that no translation can perfectly capture the original languages, …

Continue reading The Value of Using Multiple Translations

O How I Love Your Law!

Let Those Who Fear You Turn to Me | Psalm 119:79

Let those who fear you turn to me,that they may know your testimonies. Psalm 119:79 ESV In the preceding verses, the psalmist has made a series of appeals to God. In verse 76, he asked for God's steadfast love to comfort him. In verse 77, he pleaded for God's mercy, that he might live. And …

Continue reading Let Those Who Fear You Turn to Me | Psalm 119:79

Background on Numbers

Author Moses is traditionally understood to be the author of Numbers, since it belongs to the Torah or the Pentateuch, which are also called the Five Books of Moses. I say "traditionally" because some scholars argue that Moses was only one source among several and that the Pentateuch was compiled much later than Moses' lifetime. …

Continue reading Background on Numbers

O How I Love Your Law!

Let the Insolent Be Put to Shame | Psalm 119:78

Let the insolent be put to shame,because they have wronged me with falsehood;as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Psalm 119:78 ESV Having just appealed to the LORD in the previous two verses for steadfast love to comfort him and mercy to give him life, the psalmist now turns his attention on the …

Continue reading Let the Insolent Be Put to Shame | Psalm 119:78

The Voice of My Beloved | Song of Songs 2:8-17

The voice of my beloved!Behold, he comes,leaping over the mountains,            bounding over the hills.My beloved is like a gazelleor a young stag.Behold, there he standsbehind our wall,gazing through the windows,            looking through the lattice.My beloved speaks and says to me:“Arise, my love, my beautiful one,and come away,for behold, the winter is past;           the rain is …

Continue reading The Voice of My Beloved | Song of Songs 2:8-17

O How I Love Your Law!

Let Your Mercy Come to Me | Psalm 119:77

Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;for your law is my delight. Psalm 119:77 ESV In the previous verse, the psalmist made a similar request: "Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant." Just as he appealed for God's steadfast love there, he now petitions for God's …

Continue reading Let Your Mercy Come to Me | Psalm 119:77

Why Did God Write Poetry?

For most of history, poetry held a primary place in people's lives. In largely pre-literate cultures, bards functioned as the great entertainers and keepers of knowledge and story. Their performances at feasts were something like the first blockbusters, as they performed epic poems about heroic deeds that captured the history and identity of their people. …

Continue reading Why Did God Write Poetry?

Question 42: How Is the Word of God to Be Read and Heard?

After addressing how we are to speak to God in prayer over the past four questions, the catechism now turns to the other chief spiritual disciplines: the intake of Scripture, hearing and reading the Word of God. Don Whitney rightly calls it Scripture intake because, while we often only think of reading the Bible, hearing …

Continue reading Question 42: How Is the Word of God to Be Read and Heard?

Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Now that we have learned how to pray with reverence and confidence. Now comes the question: What should we pray? The answer rightly sets our sights upon the Scriptures: The whole Word of God directs and inspires us in what we should pray. Praying in accordance with God's will ought to be our supreme desire, …

Continue reading Question 40: What Should We Pray?

Question 30: What Is Faith in Jesus Christ?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VywrflKYJkopyZ6oqhhLY?si=aF-rVwRFQpahy1JjfVfOBw This question (and answer) is an explanation of the answer to Question 29, which you may recall is the most personally significant question that anyone can ever ask: How can we be saved? That answer began with these words: “only by faith in Jesus Christ.” The meaning of those words is now the subject …

Continue reading Question 30: What Is Faith in Jesus Christ?