You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. James 5:6 Resist – Is James a pacifist? Does he really intend us to offer no opposition to those who seek to harm us? He’s quite clear about the immoral behavior of the wicked. They murder the righteous. But does…
And they say, “How could God know, and is there knowledge with the Most High?” Psalm 73:11 (Robert Alter translation) Know – Put this verse into the ancient near-Eastern world. Is there any doubt that God knows? Of course not. God knows everything that happens. But in the ancient near-East, God (and the gods) doesn’t…
But to the wicked God says, “What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.” Psalm 50:16-17 NASB Cast behind you – Who are the wicked? Who qualify as rasha? We can probably recount a number…
Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace. Psalm 37:37 End – “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” So says the Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession. In order to align this with David’s insight, we must recognize that glorifying God…
The wicked borrows and does not repay but the righteous is gracious and giving. Psalm 37:21 Wicked – Does this verse mean that those who do not repay are wicked or does it mean that one of the characteristics of the wicked is their intention not to repay? If we knew that a man never…
He lies in wait secretly, like a lion in his den; he lies in ambush to catch the poor, drawing him into his net; Psalm 10:9 Lies In Wait – The NASB does us no favors by translating this Hebrew verb “lurks.” “He lurks in a hiding place” certainly does not convey the connection to…
I have been young and am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25 Begging – Do you think David might have been blind when he made this statement? I don’t know about you, but I have seen God’s people suffering, begging for food for the day. …
