6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
merimnaó: To be anxious, to worry, to care for (Strong's from Biblehub.com). To be anxious is to worry about what might happen. It is an emotion that is most uncomfortable and without peace. It can take over your mind and emotions and make it hard to do anything sometimes.
I did some brainstorming this morning on what it is like to be anxious. Here are some thoughts from that session.
Anxious
Comes and goes
Sometimes comes out of nowhere
Very hard to get rid of
Has its own timeline and schedule
Is very hard to stop
Can affect you physically
Can affect sleep
Often has fear mixed in
Sometimes it is hard to define why it is there
Can cause a racing mind and thoughts
Can create fear of the unknown
Can cause fatigue
Can stop creativity
Comes on when you least want it to
Is hard to explain to others
Can affect relationships
Is very uncomfortable
Our two verses today say, “Do not be anxious about anything.” But this one word, but, is critical to understanding these two verses in Epistle to the Philippians.
Bible Study in Matthew
Barb and I attend a weekly Bible Study on Wednesday nights at our church. We normally have about 8 or 10 people but last night we had 14! We have a couple that leads the Bible study and they do a great job. We are starting in the book of Matthew now. I thought it might be nice if I study Matthew here in my Bible Study here in parallel.
The group has already studied the first chapter of Matthew. So I will pick up in chapter 2 now.
The Magi Visit the Messiah - Matthew 2 From Bible gateway.com NIV
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Discussion starting at verse 1 of chapter 2
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea” - Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Let's take a look at this town or city and it's history.
Bethlehem to Jerusalem is 6 miles. Walking time 2 hours but driving about 30 minutes. There were about 300 to 500 people living in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus birth but some people think 300 to 1000. Bethlehem was a very small town at the time of Jesus birth.
We are in the biblical end times - what does go want us to be doing now?
Stay Spiritually Awake and Ready — Matthew 24:42–44; Matthew 25
Be Faithful in What God Has Given You — Luke 19:13; Matthew 25:14–30
Love People Deeply — Matthew 24:12; John 13:35
Share the Gospel — Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19–20
Live Holy and Set Apart — 2 Peter 3:11–12
Encourage Other Believers — Hebrews 10:24–25
Don’t Be Driven by Fear—Trust God — Luke 21:28
Be Watchful About Deception — Matthew 24:4–5
This list of items was created with the help of Chatgpt. The Analysis and writing of each item going forward now does not include using Chat Gpt.
Stay Spiritually Awake and Ready — Matthew 24:42–44; Matthew 25
The Bible clearly describes what we are to be doing here in the end times. One of the clearest passages on this subject is Matthew 24 and 25.
Matthew 24:42 - 44
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
I have been a Christian since I was about 16 years old when I fully accepted Jesus into my life. I am 71 now so that is a lot of years like 55 total years as a Christian. In all that time though I have never been 100% sure what Matthew 24:42 means on a real and practical level. So how does one truly know they are correctly watching for the Lord's return? How do I know if I am truly ready for Jesus's return?
Let's dig into the Greek a bit and see what we come up with. The first word we come across in verse 42 is therefore which is oun in Greek which means therefore , so consequently. It is important that we look at the previous verses to see why therefore is there.
It is important to see what Jesus was saying right before our “therefore in verse 42.” So lets review Matthew 24:36-41 to get that important background information.
Matthew 24:36-41
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father.37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
Why does Jesus say “therefore”? My post college studies in Greek helps here. My Greek teacher used to say when you see the word therefore you must always ask - “what is therefore there for?”. Jesus has established in verse 36 of Matthew that no one knows the hour of Jesus's return - not even the angels or even the Son, but just the Father.
No one knows the hour of Jesus's return therefore we are to keep watch.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
What does keeping watch look like and how does one know he or she is keeping watch correctly?
Keep watch in the Greek here is gregoreo and per Strong's at biblehub.com - grégoreó: To watch, to be vigilant, to stay awake.
Let's take each of these defined words for greoreo and write about them one at a time. What does it mean to watch? A way of defining this might help with a small story or event. When I was a child about 10 or so my father would be gone for weeks at a time for work. Many times we did not know exactly when he would return. That seems odd today because of our many communication tools like texting and email and such. But back then in the late 60's all we had was one land line phone.
I would often do a project for my father to surprise him upon his return. So I was vigilant and very aware of his soon appearing back home, like all the time. It was front and center in my mind each day and each hour.
I believe that is what watching might look like. It has excitement, anticipation feelings but also fear of the unknown. This is a bit how I watch now for Jesus's return, again with excitement, anticipation but a bit of fear too. It really is a concoction of mixed emotions but primarily being very focused on His return.
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
ginomai: to become, to come into being, to happen, to be made, to be done. The Greek word for be is ginomai. It is not just be , like be nice or be mine or be good. The Greek word is more like become or to come into being. V-PMM/P-2P is the Greek morphology for the word ginomai or “be”.
(this morphology below here is from chatgpt 5.2
γίνεσθε
Lexical (dictionary) form: γίνομαι (ginomai) — “to become,” “to be,” “to come into being”
Part of speech: Verb
Tense: Present
Voice: Middle (deponent — active meaning, middle/passive form)
Mood: Imperative
Person: 2nd person
Number: Plural
Meaning
“Become!” or “Be!” (addressed to a group)
Summary
It’s a present middle imperative, 2nd person plural — a command telling multiple people to “be” or “become” something, often implying a continuing or ongoing state.
Jesus gives us a command to be ready for His return. Let's dig into that more.
What are some words that are opposite of ready?
distracted
focused on other things , even good things
focused on making money
focused on making a name for your self here on earth
busy and running around getting too much done
not thinking about Jesus all the time and His return
Be Faithful in What God Has Given You — Luke 19:12 - (biblehub.com New Living Translation)
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
What has God called you to do in these last days?
Looking at this parable - what has God asked you to do for His kingdom in these last days?
The first thing is to take time in prayer and ask the Lord what it is that He wants you to do.
Right now I think God is asking me to do the following: (I did lead a small group at church for 6 years but retired from that recently)
Write daily in this Bible Study blog on this website.
Continue to arrange and record Hymns for Pandora ( I am on number 59 I think now or 58)
Help my lovely wife with her business
Pray daily for others
A new one now - record and produce for Steve W. some of his wonderful songs and help get copyrighted and sent to possible uses including Taxi , Nashville, and contests on Facebook.
Take care of our home and car and finances and all that.
Attend our weekly Bible study at church that I don't lead.
Lose weight and stay active
Giving funds to help another small church .
Be ready to share Jesus with others (I am very shy and this does not happen much)
How do I know that these are God's will? I don't really , but I have a sense of peace about each right now.
Love People Deeply — Matthew 24:9-14
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus is still talking with His disciples about what is to come for the church in the last days. Because of the great wickedness that is coming in the last days (and is already here!) the love of most will grow cold. I find this verse to be chilling. Ok that was a meant to be pun, but seriously in the last days because of the great wickedness the love of most will grow cold. I find this to be both scarey and very interesting. Why would great wickedness even cause love to grow cold. ? How might this happen? Do we see this happening today?.
Let's unpack this warning from Jesus about our current days now.
Quick thought for the day - just because the love of most will grow cold does not mean my love will grow cold.
The following is from biblehub.com
anomia: Lawlessness, iniquity, transgression - The definition of lawlessness which is anomia in greek in verse 12. Lawlessness is living in sin, not living according to God's plan but living by your own plan or worse by the enemy's plan.
pléthunó: To multiply, increase, abound - Thedefinition of increase is plethuno in Greek which means to multiply or increase or abound. In the last days which we find ourselves in now , there will be an increase or multiplication of wickedness and lawlessness. We could study carefully why in the last days lawlessness will increase, but I think it is more helpful just to be aware that this is the case and the old adage of a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other fits well now with this. Let's be aware that this is happening and see and recognize this in the news. I think this is part of being a good watchmen on the wall.
13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24: 13) biblehub.com NIV
hupomenó: To endure, to persevere, to remain steadfast (biblehub.com)
One of our jobs to do at the end times now before Jesus returns is to endure or persevere or remain steadfast. Things on earth will grow increasingly dark and confusing with deception and lawlessness will increase and one of our jobs is to persevere or simply put - to not give up.
sózó: To save, to rescue, to deliver, to heal, to preserve.
Our job is to persevere and remain steadfast. God's job is then to save or rescue us. I don't have all the answers on this. There is the pre-trib and post-trib rapture doctrines and others as well and I do hold to the pre-trib but having said that it is important to note that some Christians , either those who came to faith during the tribulation period or all Christians , not sure which group, but one of these groups I am 100% sure will have to persevere and remain steadfast before Jesus returns.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
kérussó: To proclaim, to preach, to herald
How do i know if i am doing god's will?
Have you ever pondered the question - I am really doing exactly what God wants me to do right now? I have pondered this question many times. What I was younger ( I am into my 70's now) it was much simpler to know if I was doing what God wanted, i simply had almost unending energy and could physically do tons of great things. I made I think 3 or 4 Mexico mission trips, one of which was singing with a college group Christian songs we all learned in spanish and performed for small communities there. The list goes on but you can see that I more than likely did not ponder if I was in God's will at the time since I was “doing” things directly for Christ.
It's not to easy now in my early 70's. I have been struggling with some lower back issues and recovering now for almost 5 months from back surgery and have not been able to go to church even for almost ½ of a year and tried only once to go to our small group Bible Study but had to leave ½ way through due to back pain.
My point is not to , first impress you with great ministry I was able to do in my earlier life, nor am I trying to get you to feel sorry for me because of my back issues. No. My point is pretty simple - it is not so easy to know if I am doing what God wants me to do now that I cant really leave home as much.
Before we get too far down this rabbit hole though, I am thankful I am able to record hymns on guitar for Pandora and am so blessed to have over 6.2 million streams. Also I do write this Blog Bible study too. But again that totally is not the point of this blog. My point is that I struggle to know sometimes if what I am doing now is really God's direct will.
There are some great passages in the Bible that deal with God's will. We will look at a few in more detail, again bringing out the Greek lexicon and doing my rabbit hole detailed word study.
Here is a list of passages and one book review we will take on.
1. Micah 6:8 — The Old Testament’s shockingly simple compass
2. Romans 12:1–2 — The New Testament “alignment test”
3. Galatians 5:22–23 — The fruit test
This will be a fun and interesting journey. Hope you can join me over the next number of weeks.
Micah 6:8 — The Old Testament’s shockingly simple compass
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God. biblegateway.com
The Hebrew word for O mortal is - adam. BDB defines adam as man or mankind. God has shown man in just a few verses exactly what God's will is. This is such a powerful and practical passage to study. The Hebrew word for good is towb used in this verse. Per BDB towb means pleasant, agreeable, good. This is a direct statement from God Himself on what is good for us as Christians to be doing.
nagad: To tell, declare, make known, report, announce - the definition of towb per Strongs at Biblehub.com. God Himself is telling us directly , is announcing to us what is good and agreeable and even pleasant for us to be doing. Lete's unpack this more.
And what does the Lord require of you?–Biblegateway.com Micah 6:8
This is one of the clearest mentions of what God wants us to be doing that I have found in the BIble. Lets unpack this now. Per Biblehub.com the Hebrew word for require is darash - per Strong's darash means To seek, inquire, require, investigate, demand. What does the Lord require from us?
God requires these three things:
To act justly - To act is the Hebrew verb asah - which means per BDB at biblehub.com - do, make. What exactly then are we to do to act justly? This is not as easy to define as it might sound. In a situation how does a person know if they are acting justly? Perhaps some real world examples might help with this. Here is just a small list of Christians over history that acted justly.
George Mueller (1805-1898): Frequently featured in Moody Classics, Mueller is a key example of someone who acted justly by caring for thousands of orphans in Bristol, England, relying on faith rather than public solicitation.
William Wilberforce (1759-1833): Recognized in Heroes of the Faith biographies, he acted justly by leading the parliamentary campaign to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire.
Dr. Howard Moody (1910s-1940s): Highlighted for acting justly by combating racism in the UK, founding the League of Coloured Peoples, and challenging discriminatory practices, as noted in historical profiles.
Eric Liddell (1902-1945): Known from Heroes of the Faith, he demonstrated justice through his integrity and service as a missionary in China, refusing to compromise his faith for personal gain.
Hudson Taylor (1832-1905): Featured in Stories of Great Christians for his just treatment of Chinese people and his commitment to bringing the Gospel to the interior of China.
Perpetua and Felicity (d. 203 AD): Highlighted in Victorious Christians and Early Christian Martyr Stories for their brave, just witness to their faith, choosing martyrdom over denying their beliefs in the face of Roman persecution.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945): Included in Heroes of the Faith, he acted justly by resisting the Nazi regime and defending persecuted individuals.. Thanks to Chatgpt 5 for help coming up with this list and thanks to Moody Press for use of this list.
Micah 6:8 — We no will look at “and to love mercy”
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God. biblegateway.com
“And to love” is the Hebrew word ahabah here in verse 8. Ahabah per BDB at Biblehub.com means love. The Hebrew word for mercy here is mishpat and Strongs defines mishpat as Judgment, justice, ordinance, law, decision, right. We are then required to act justly towards others and to love justice and the law and what is right.
The final line in verse 8 asks us to walk humbly with our God. The Hebrew word for walk is halak which per BDB means go, come, walk. We are not just to walk with God but to walk humbly with God.
The question first before we dive into more Hebrew words is - what does it mean first of all to walk with God or walk with our God?
“Modern theologians often emphasize relationship over ritual. Walking implies movement, direction, and companionship.” chatgpt quote.
24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. NIV Biblegateway Genesis 5:24. In Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God. The Hebrew word for walk here in Genesis is halak the same Hebrew word used in Micah 6:8.
I would agree with the modern theolgians that walking with God does emphasize a relationship over ritual. Walking implies spending a fair amount of time with someone and to be traveling together towards the same destination. Walking also implies you are with someone on a journey. I think walking also implies not a quick 5 minute time with God in the morning and then off doing your own thing the rest of the day , but walking implies being with God every step of the day and checking in and praying and aware of God's presence. It is pretty hard to ignore someone when you are walking with them.
But Micah 6:8 does not just say to walk and stop there. Micah 6:8 tells us how we walk with God. There is a way that we walk with God, not just walking but walking humbly.
tsana: To be humble, to be modest - This is the definition of the Hebrew word for humbly used in Micah 6:8. How does one walk humbly with God? What might that look like in a practical way?
To walk humbly with our God I believe is to first walk with Him and have God in constant prayer throughout the day as you walk along your way. Then walking humbly would be to recongnize we dont have all the answers and that we are not really in total control of life or much really. God is there to help us with the most detailed things in life. So, the first aspect of walking humbly with God is to realize we are no God but He is and that we can walk miniute by minute in our life with Him.
I have been trying to do this very thing recently and being aware all day that I am not God and I dont have to be perfect and make everything work correctly and answer all my needs is both challenging and freeing . And on top of that I have the Lord there with me at all times ready to help and guide me. This is not a small thing but a full transformation of how I might live day by day.
Romans 12:1–2 — The New Testament “alignment test”
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. biblegateway.com
We are still working on possible answers to the question - How do I know if I am doing God's will. We have looked at Micah 6:8 and now we will dive into Romans 12:1-2.
Romans 1–11 is Paul’s grand argument that all humans—both Jews and Gentiles—are trapped in sin, cannot rescue themselves by law or effort, and are made right with God only through grace received by faith in Jesus, revealing God’s plan to show mercy to the whole world (summary by chatgpt 5.2)
The Greek word for mercy is oiktirmos which translates to Compassion, mercy, pity per Strongs at Biblehub.com. Paul writes In view of God's mercy - then he will provide us with a command or challange to do something. That “something” he is writting about will be defined carefully now in the remaining verses.
Because of God's great mercy in freeing us from sin and rescuing us we are urged by Paul to do something now. The first thing we are encouraged to do is to to "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." Let's unpack what it means to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. How might that look? What does it mean to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice?
The greek word for offer is paristémi which is defined in Strong's at BIblehub.com as :To present, to stand by, to provide, to offer.
How does a person know if they have truly offered their own body as a living sacrifice as noted in Romans 12:1?
I think through prayer daily perhaps early in the day. One does not know if they have properly offered their own body as a living sacrifice but through prayer I believe there is a sense of peace having done this.
Is this a one time offering or is it daily?
I think it is safe to say it is daily.
Per Strong's at biblehub.com - thusia: Sacrifice, offering. zaó: To live, to be alive. It is interesting because a sacrifice normally ends up with something that has died in the process. But we are offering up our body's to the Lord as a living sacrifice. Chat GPT gave this term for this kind of statement- intentionally paradoxical.
Per Chatgpt here is a list of common intenional paradoxical statmenets.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Let's look at the next phrase now - holy and pleasing to God. Holy is defined in Strong's as hagios: Holy, sacred, set apart. What does it mean that we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God?
In the old Testament how were sacrifices in general pleasing to God? There are more than 600 mentions of animal sacrifice in the Old Testament (per chatgpt).
Chuck Swindoll often highlights that the sacrifices covered sin but did not remove it permanently. (chatgpt). Animal sacrifices were for temporary forgiveness of sin in the old testament. Now in Romans we are asked to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. The only way we could do this is because of being totally and permanently forgiven through Jesus's death and resurrection. Paul then says “this is your true and proper worship”.
If I were to go to almost any contemporary church today and ask almost anyone there what worship means to them I might get an answer like - singing fully to the Lord with our church band cranked up with a high volume. Perhaps I might hear other answers. But per Paul here in Romans what is our true and proper worship? It is to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Today I am going to try and practice this through out the day and I will report back tomorrow how it went.
The Greek word for true and proper is logikos and per Strongs at biblehub.com means rational, reasonable or spiritual. The word for worship in Greek is latreia which means service or worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (biblegateway.com)
We will now move to the next verse in Romans 12 - verse 2. Notice that last line in verse 2 - “Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is….”. Romans 12:2 is about a clear statement in the BIble of how to find God's will as I can find. Let's dig deeply into this verse now.
All these verses in Romans 12 are important but verse 2 of chapter 12 is just one of those rock star Bible verses. There is so much in this verse, i really think I could write an entire book just on this one verse. But for now let's dive in with good detail and unpack what Paul is saying here .
The first statement Paul makes in verse 2 is “Do not conform to the pattern of this world”. Paul has already been talking in verse 1 about presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and we also discussed what true worship is. As usual we are looking at biblehub.com for the Greek here.
The first greek word in verse 2 is kai. Per Strong's at Biblehub.com Kai means and, also, even, indeed, but. I believe the translation of “and” is correct here. Paul has told us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice and is now adding to that concept with this conjunction kai - and. Do not conform in the Greek is μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε which means not be conformed. Let's dig deeper into this important phrase Paul uses here. suschématizó: To conform, to fashion oneself according to (biblehub.com)
From sun and a derivative of schema; to fashion alike, i.e. Conform to the same pattern (figuratively) -- conform to, fashion self according to. It is interesting that we get our English word schema or schematic from one of the derivatives of suschematizo. Schematics are detailed diagrams or drawings that show how something works or is put together.
So Paul is saying do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, or don't build your life from the schematic given out by the world on what you should live like.
If the pattern of the world was an electronics schematic then Paul in Romans 12 is telling us not to match this schema of the world and to live exactly as it is laid out.
aión: Age, eternity, world, forever, everlasting per Strong's at bible hub.com. Don' match your life to this world or age. If someone was to match their life to this age or world what might that look like right now? Here is a brain storm of some ideas that someone would be pursuing in this age now if matching to the schematic of this world's system.
Disliking Isreal.
Relying on drugs and alcohol to get through each day.
Being anxious about what is happening in the world.
Not pleasing God but partying all the time
Living for money
Living for fame
Living for career notariaity
Not caring about the poor and needy
Being self sufficient and not needing others.
Trying to make a name for yourself.
The Greek word “but ” is alla: but, rather, on the contrary.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
We are not to be conformed to the scheme or pattern of this world but we are to be transformed. Lets unpack that word transformed in verse 2.
Transformed in the Greek is - metamorphoó: To transform, to change form.
We get our English word metamorphosis from this greek word - change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means.
This is called complete metamorphosis because the animal changes entire body form — it’s not just growing bigger, it becomes something totally different. - metamorphosis defined by chatgpt.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (biblegateway.com)
metamorphoó: To transform, to change form. This Greek word is a verb and is in the present tense and is middle passive voice - something is done to you, second person plural you all,
So the Greek parscing is V-PMM/P-2P which translates to something like - you all keep on being transformed. So how are we transformed? By the renewing of your mind. anakainósis This Greek word means renewel .
So we are not to be conformed to this world , be following the schema of this world, trying to be like this world. We are to be transformed , but we dont do the transforming, God does. God renews our mind and even creates new ways of thinking and knowing Him but transforming our minds. This is for sure God's will. As we think and medidate on God's word and pray and let God change our mind we have our minds transformed by Him.
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV Biblegateway.com
As we do not confirm to the schema of this world and as we let God transform our mind we are then able to test and approve what God's will is. I dont know if there is a more clear passage in scripture on how to finds God's will than this one.
Today's prayer - Lord help me to not conform to this world but to be transformed today by renewing my mind.
Galatians 5:22–23 — The fruit test
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. biblehub.com
The fruit test is a great way to know if you are walking currently in God's will. The fruit of the Spirit is a pretty long list of great attributes a person has that is in God's will. We find right away that
Fruit of the Spirit (biblehub.com passages)
love - agapé: Love. Agape love is that love that is like Jesus that cares and loves someone without expectation of return and never fails.
Prayer - Lord, give me agape love for others today that I am in contact with.
Joy - chara: Joy, gladness, delight. Joy is that deep feeling of peace and wellness and gladness that only the Lord can provide.
Prayer - Lord, today show me more about joy.
Peace - eiréné: Peace. Peace is a lack of war or conflict. Peace is a feeling of wholeness and completeness.
Prayer - Lord today let me feel your peace but let me be a person of peace with others.
Restraint, especially when you’re upset, provoked, or could react strongly
Choosing to hold back from anger, punishment, or action
Kindness - chréstotés: Kindness, goodness, gentleness.From chrestos; usefulness, i.e. Morally, excellence (in character or demeanor) -- gentleness, good(-ness), kindness.
Prayer - Lord help be to be patient and restraint and be a good listener today and help me to be kind with goodness and gentleness.
Goodness - agathosune: Goodness From agathos; goodness, i.e. Virtue or beneficence -- goodness. Thayer's Greek Lexicon defines agathosune as uprightness of heart and life. unless here it denote kindness, beneficence biblehub.com.
Romans 15:14 has agathosune - “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”
Prayer - Lord help me focus on goodness today. I cant really self manufacture goodness at all, but You Lord can work in and through me to show goodness to Barb and others. Help me today to be full of goodness.
Prayer - Lord help me to live by faith today and not by sight or by emptions. Help me to think of you often today and pray.
gentleness - prautés: Gentleness, meekness. From praus; mildness, i.e. (by implication) humility -- meekness. biblehub.com
It is interesting that Ryan our lead pastor gave us a challenge that I never forgot. If we are observing someone like in the news or even our president or leaders run this list by what he is doing and see how he matches up. Just kind of an indicator..
Self-control - egkrateia: Self-control, temperance. The Webster dictionary online defines self-control as Restraint: Control over emotions, actions, or desires.
Prayer - Lord give me complete egkrateia today or self control over my emotions and actions and desires. It is interesting that Paul would say - Against such things there is no law. I go back to the logic of why Paul would say this. If someone would say perhaps there are no pink elephants in the living room are they saying this because there might be a hit of the elephant somewhere? Otherwise why mention it.
A QUICK LOOK AT THOMAS IN john 20:24-29
Barb and I attend a weekly Bible study at church. Last night we studied the Thomas and Jesus account in John 20:26. It was a very interesting discussion so I wanted just to review it a bit just today
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In verse 26 stop doubting in the Greek is apistos which per Strongs at Biblehub.com means unbelieving, faithless or unfaithful. Then the Greek word for believe is postos pistos: Faithful, trustworthy, reliable, believing.
I am pretty wired as a person to be constantly productive. This is not really a bad thing and I very much enjoy being productive. For example I am producing and recording an artist now in my studio and still producing my own Pandora songs. I get very bored just traveling and seeing things. I am like a shark that always has to swim to stay alive, I always have to produce to stay alive, but I really love it and its what I love doing.
I am wired for productivity and always have been since very young age. Barb my wonderful wife is very much like me on this.
So sometimes when I study the Bible and God tells me just believe. I say, great I love believing but what is it that you want me to do now? Jesus says then, just believe. I say that cant be all. Jesus says right now that is all.
This confuses my brain. But it calls me to a deeper understanding of what it is to believe in Jesus. Notice what Jesus did not ask Thomas - have you been witnessing ? Or perhaps - have you been doing your daily Bible study? No - Jesus knew right away that Thomas was having trouble with pistos or faith. So Jesus had Thomas put his finger here and see Jesus's hands.
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus says we are blessed because we have believed in Jesus even without seeing Him. That is a large group of Christians which would include you and me and many others.
Prayer - Lord thank-you that you see me as blessed today because even though I have not seen Jesus I still believe.
--daniel 9
9 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes[a] (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian[b] kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. (biblehub.com)NIV
The Babylonian captivity is ending at this point in history. 539 BC Babylon falls to Cyrus the Great of Medo-Persian empire. But then Darius starts his governing. Alot is happening now in chapter 9 of Daniel. Darius was about 62 years old when he began his reign over Babylon. Xerxes, the father of Darius the Mede was a Midian noble or king. Xerxes lived in the eneration just before Babylon fell in 539 BC. The Daniel in the lions den happened during Darius's reign. Scholars think that Darius reign was only 1 to 2 years in length.
It is very interesting because Daniel talks about a prophecy in Jeremiah about the desolation of Jerusalem that would last 70 years. There is some debate among scholars as to when the 70 years starts. But the main observation I make is that at this point in history Daniel prayed a prayer of repentance for all of Israel.
Per ChatGpt lookup I found the following two Jeremiah passages about 70 year Babylonia domination
The most well known and accepted view is the Babylonian captivity started 605 BC and ended 536 BC. So in 605 BC King Nebuchadnezzar II invaded Judah and took captives including Daniel. Then in 536 BC Babylon fell to Cyrus the Great who issued a decree allowing the Jews to return and rebuild the temple.
So Daniel comes first on the time line and the prayer in chapter 9 was 539 BC to 538 BC. (Remember to count backwards before AD)
Nehemiah comes later at 445 BC and only rebuilds Jerusulm walls not the temple.
Jeremiah 29:10
Let's break down this prayer into sections.
Verses 4 - 6 is the introduction to the prayer of Daniel.
4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:
“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. biblehub.com niv
Verses 7 - 11 is Judah's shame and rebellion against God confessed
7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
Verses 11 - 14 Resulting judgment from sin
“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth.14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
Verses 15 - 16 Request to turn way God's anger and further repentance
15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
Verses 17 - 19 Request to have the Lord Listen
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
In our current Christian culture of making sure we feel good all the time, we forget and lose the ability to repent. Daniel did not have this problem and repented for all of Judah. We are told in this day and age to not feel shame and that you are ok and I am ok but we must return to repentance and feeling shame for our sin. This is the heart of the Gospel. that something is wrong with us and God can fix it. We can confess our sins and He will forgive us.
I am reminded of I John 1:9 (NIV biblehub.com)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Let's look at verse 18 now in more detail.
18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
I am reminded of the Psalms when I read “Give ear our God and hear ---” The Hebrew word used for ear in this verse is ozen. BDB defines ozen as ear , as part of the body, of a human being. BDB in biblehub.com goes on to talk about the ear of God used as open ears of or reveal to.
The Hebrew word for hear is shama. BDB defines shama as the verb to hear. The Hebrew word for open is paqach. BDB defines paqach as open eyes . It has been used as a verb to mean open and remove rubbish heap. Interesting color of that word meaning.
Daniel is praying that God Himself will hear Daniels prayer and that God would open His eyes to see the desloation of the city that bears His name. The city is Jerusalem and is God's city.
We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
This is such a great overall verse for prayer in general as well as for Daniel's prayer for repentance of Israel. The older I get , now in my 70's the more I am aware that I don't have a relationship with God because I am righteous but because of His great mercy. There are a few things that stick out with this concept. First of all this takes the pressure off that I feel a lot in my life that i have to be rightous on my own so God will like me. That is not true at all. I have a relationship with God only because of His great mercy.
Let's take a look at the Hebrew word used here for mercy - acham. Strongs at Biblehub.com defines acham as Mercy, compassion, tender love. It is very interesting because BDB at biblehub.com defines acham as womb or compassion.
There is a kind of love that a mother has because of having a baby in her womb. The word acham translates compassion or tender love. This is the kind of mercy and love that God has and we can picture His tender love when we make requests in prayer much like Daniel in this chapter.
Daniel 9: 24
24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.[e] Biblehub.com
There are so many questions on the timeline for this prophecy in verse 24. We will follow what many Bible scholars calculate the following:
70 times 7 years = 490 years. The following six purposes outline is from ChatGpt.
The Six Purposes in Verse 24
Let’s look at what this 490-year period is meant to accomplish:
Finish transgression
Put an end to sin
Atone for wickedness
Bring in everlasting righteousness
Seal up vision and prophecy
Anoint the Most Holy
It can get a bit complex and tricky figuring out when the 490 years starts and ends, and we must remember this is all on the Jewish calendar as well. Just to add some complexity to an already challenging timeline.
Many scholars agree that the 490 years actually began in 445 BC with Nehemiah's rebuilding the city structure and walls. This might be because Daniel says restore and rebuild Jerusalem, not just the temple but Jerusalem as a whole also.
Digging a bit deeper on time line now lets see what happens: So at first I might understand that start of return from Babylon to Christ's death on the cross was 490 years. But there are several calendars involved and this is too easy of an analysis. We have to dig a bit deeper taking into account the calendars and exact dates.
Per Chatgpt 5.2 -
A well-known example: Sir Robert Anderson (The Coming Prince)
Anderson treats the 483 years as “prophetic years” of 360 days, making:
483 × 360 = 173,880 days
From March 14, 445 BC to April 6, AD 32 = 173,880 days (his calculation lands on Jesus’ triumphal entry, not directly “+490 to crucifixion”).
So it can be a bit tricky with dates as you can see.
25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[f] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ Daniel 9:25 biblebub.com
This is a most interesting verse. Per Chatgpt 5.2 there are two camps on this 1) 457 BC Ezra degree and 2) 445 BC Hehemiah decree.
📌 Camp 2: 445 BC (Nehemiah decree)
Popular in many evangelical circles
Focuses on literal rebuilding of walls
Fits the “street and moat/wall in troubled times” phrase very closely
Sir Robert Anderson famously calculated 483 prophetic years from 445 BC and landed near the time of Christ’s presentation in Jerusalem.
End of ChatGpt Notes
I find myself leaning towards Camp or option 2 and Sir Robert Anderson's calculation of 483 years from Nehemiah degree starting 445 BC does land near time of Christ's. Christ's presentation in Jerusalem was when Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.
I have to stop here and say that I am amazed how accurate Bible prophecy. It is mind blowing that God would communicate to Daniel 500 or so years before it happened - Jesus being here on earth and being the messiah. Few things in my life have been this clear and accurate.
26 a After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.[g]
Again I am just astounded at a Bible prophecy 450 - 500 or so years after it was made, that in history that exact thing came to pass. Jesus is the Anointed One and was put to death on the cross (for our sins). There is simply nothing more important that has happened or will happen.
26 b The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.
David Jeremiah interprets Daniel 9:26 as a pivotal prophecy detailing the "cutting off" (crucifixion) of the Messiah after 69 weeks, followed by the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD by the "people of the prince who is to come" (Roman troops). This verse marks the end of the initial 483-year period and introduces the Roman connection to the future Antichrist.
The Previous paragraph is from David Jeremiah summary by AI. Note the phrase “the people of the ruler”. This refers to the Romans and I believe it is saying the future anti Christ will be from Rome, but we will take that up later.
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’[h] In the middle of the ‘seven’[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.[k]”[l]. biblehub.com
Clearly Daniel is talking about the anti-christ in verse 27. The anti-christ will confirm a covenant with may for one seven which is 7 years. Garar in Hebrew is a verb to make strong or mighty (BDB from biblehub.com) So the anti-christ will make strong a covenant with many. Notice that this implies that there is already a covenant of sorts in progress and the anti-christ is making that covenant strong.
Sometimes I think it might be challenging to know exactly when the anti-christ will confirm a covenant with the many and when the 7 years start (the tribulation period). But one thing we can hang our hat is we (if church still here) will see the antichrist clearly stopping all sacrifices and offerings half way through.
Looking at Biblegateway.com at 2 Thessalonians 2 : 1 -4
2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
We find that the day of the Lord is mentioned in these verses. The Day of the Lord would be the start of the tribulation. The Thessalonians church were afraid the tribulation had already started. But Paul outlines two things that must happen before the day ot the Lord or start of the tribulation.
Rebeliion Occures
The man of lawlessness is revealed
Paul then writes in 2 Thessalonians here that we should know what is holding him back. That is because Paul had already talked to them about all this. Whatever is holding back the antichrist right now will continue to hold him back until this person is taken out of the way. I hold to the teaching that what is holding back the antichrist is in fact the Holy Spirit which lives in the millions of Christians world wide right now. I believe the taking out of the way is the rapture of the church.
11Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.12The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’20So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.27‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.29But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”
ANALYSIS OF VERSE 11 OF LUKE 15
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
The parable of the prodigal son, taught by Jesus, opens in verse 11 with some information about the family and some very interesting moves made by the prodigal son himself. The Greek says Ἄνθρωπός τις, which translates into English as “a certain man.” This is a sign that Jesus will be using a parable. It is useful to remember that parables are used to teach one big idea, not many small ideas. We will be looking for the big idea of this Prodigal Son parable now.
This certain man in our parable in Luke 15 had two sons. It is possible, perhaps, that he also had some daughters too, but for the argument of the parable here, the two sons are key.
A direct quote from ChatGpt 5.2 - A parable is a simple story from everyday life that Jesus used to reveal deep truths about God’s Kingdom and the condition of the human heart.
Let's take a step back and look at the big picture of this important parable Jesus used. I think overall the parable shows God's pure joy when someone who was dead in sins repents and begins a relationship with God through Jesus.
Dr. Helmut Thielicke's title for his commentary on this parable is not "The Prodigal Son," as we call it, but "The Waiting Father." Many of the commentaries point out that what Jesus is after is not to show us the boy's heart, but the father's. It is a picture of the heart of God. (quote from Ray Steadmon Sermon - PBC)
Those of us that perhaps had challenging times with their father growing up might picture God the Father as angry all the time and never happy with anything we do here on earth. But this short parable tucked away in the book of Luke shows the Father as so loving and so longing for His son to return He was even out looking down the road for Him. This is a picture of our heavenly Father that we must keep in our minds at all times. We are very loved and when we return to God through accepting Jesus into our lives God the Father is so happy!
The prodigal son had rehearsed his line for his father as follows “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ”
There are the only words of that reherrswsed line the son was able to get out before the Father broke in and was so happy. ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
The son did not even have time to say the entire line he has well memorized, because the Father was so overwhelemed with joiy that his son had returned. this is very powerful
--
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
This is not the picture of God the Father I keep daily in my mind. My picture of the Father is more angry I am not doing it right or not doing enough. Sounds like I need to upgrade my brain on who the Father really is .
I have been pondering this parable on and off for a few days. One thing that hit me is that we are all the prodigal son. We all try to go our own way but then when we return to the Father through faith in Jesus we are welcomed back by the father in a similar way.
All have sinned
Introduction – What Is Next
I just finished the Hebrews 11:1–3 study below. That study focuses on how we approach God by faith. This new Bible study section will try to answer, using Scripture, “How does God accept us now as Christians?” Put more simply: faith is how we approach God, but how does God approach and accept us?
Before we can study how it is that God accepts us, and what transaction has taken place to make this possible, we might first want to take a look at the big picture and the big problem. Let’s look at Romans chapter 3 for this.
The Big Picture – The Big Problem (A Huge Problem!)
No One Is Righteous — Romans 3:9–18 (NIV, BibleHub)
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Paul, in Romans 3:9, establishes that both Jews and Gentiles are all under the power of sin. Paul is quoting Psalm 53:1–3 here. Let’s unpack that passage using the Hebrew text in the Old Testament.
There is an estimate that between 100 to 117 billion people have lived in the past and live now in total human history (something like 8 billion people now, and the remaining in the past). That is a lot of people. That is 117 thousand million souls.
Intuitively, I would want to say there must be a few—perhaps a handful—of people who got it right with God and are righteous before Him. There just has to be. But there is not. Not one. This is profound on a massive level.
Let’s take a playful example. If we learned that out of 117 billion births in all of human history, not one person was ever born with naturally pink hair, then the probability of such a thing would be zero. It simply wouldn’t happen.
If we take our example and apply it to our passage in Psalms, the probability of someone getting it totally right and being righteous before God on their own is zero. Empty set. Nothing. This is profound.
To me, this is actually comforting. Not one person gets it right on their own before God. There is no secret group somewhere in Europe—or anywhere else—who quietly figured it out and achieved righteousness independently. There is zero probability of this happening. That realization is staggering.
Today I asked ChatGPT to create an AI-generated group photo of what 117 billion people might look like posing for a photo. Here it is.
Not even one of these people could get it right on their own before God. Not one. Again, this is beyond profound.
Certainly Job or David got it right, right? They are in the photo somewhere. Didn’t they get close to getting it right on their own before God? Simple answer—no.
No one is righteous on their own. This is profound indeed.
In Psalm 53, per BDB, the word for no one in the phrase “There is no one righteous, not even one,” uses the Hebrew word Ayin, which means nothing or naught.
All humans are born spiritually dead and separated from Christ. This well defines the big problem.
The Solution
I am titling this section The Solution. Being born in sin and separated from God forever is the real problem. This problem is not easily fixed and is impossible for man to fix on his own.
There simply is no easy fix to this terrible dilemma all humans are in. We are born in sin and separated from God, and on our own there is nothing that can be done to fix this.
Let’s take a look at Romans 3:19 in the NIV at BibleHub.com now:
Romans 3:19 (NIV) 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
Notice the dilemma we find ourselves in simply by being human. Every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world held accountable to God. No one can escape this dilemma on their own.
Let’s examine verse 20 now:
Romans 3:20 (NIV) 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
People simply cannot please God or find righteousness with Him by keeping the law and trying on their own. Simply put, this is impossible to do. But the law has a purpose. It’s through the law that we become conscious of our own sin.
I like to look at the law in a creative way—like ground-penetrating radar. Here is a ChatGPT-generated description of GPR:
A GPR (Ground-Penetrating Radar) system sends very fast radio-wave pulses—microwave-frequency energy—down into the ground. Different underground materials (soil, rock, metal, voids, pipes, tree roots, buried treasure chests—why not dream) all have different “dielectric constants,” which is physics-speak for how much they slow or bend an electric field. When a pulse hits a boundary—say, dirt to pipe, or clay to gravel—a little part of the energy reflects upward.
An antenna on the surface listens for those returning echoes. Because radio waves travel at a known speed through each material, the system can convert the echo-delay times into depth estimates. As you move the antenna across the ground, all those time-shifted reflections stitch together into a sort of subsurface sonogram. Not a literal picture—more like a coded whisper rendered into a radargram that trained eyes can decode.
Depth and clarity depend on the frequency: higher frequencies give crisp detail but shallow penetration; lower frequencies reach deeper but blur fine features. Moist soils and clays can absorb the signal, while dry sand lets it roam freely.
A GPR system is very effective at showing a person what is really down in the earth—what is invisible to that person. The law is similar to this. It shows us our sin. It shows us, without any doubt, the dilemma we find ourselves in as humans.
Righteousness Through Faith — Romans 3:21–26 (NIV, BibleHub.com)
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Let’s return to verse 21:
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
We are not left with the demise of being born in sin and with no hope of a relationship with God. Apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known. Let’s unpack this a bit.
Strong’s shows us the Greek word for apart is choris. Choris means without, apart from, separate from. So, separate from the Law, the righteousness of God has been made known. The Greek word for made known is phaneroó. This word means to make manifest, to reveal, to make known, to show openly.
There is another way outside of the law to experience God’s righteousness. This is beyond hopeful. This is amazing and transformative. Separate from the law, we can be reconciled to God. This is huge news. Let’s dig further. I think this should be the most important news bulletin in today’s media. There is a way to be reconciled to the God of heaven, and it is not by works, keeping the law, or following rules.
22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
The righteousness we long for and need is not provided by anything we can do, but through faith in Jesus Christ and believing in Him. This is the heart of the Bible and the Gospel. There is no other hope, and there is no other way of salvation.
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile. This good news—that the righteousness we so desperately need is not provided because of anything we do, but through faith in Jesus Christ—transcends whether someone is a Jew or a Gentile.
We are now going to look at Romans 3:23, which is perhaps one of the most quoted verses in the Bible.
Here is what ChatGPT says about this verse:
“Romans 3:23 would almost certainly rank in the top 5–10 most-memorized Bible verses of all time, and very plausibly top 3.”
Romans 3:23 (NIV) 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We have been studying the preceding verses in Romans 3 for some days now. The logic has been that the law—and keeping the law—is not going to give us a right standing before God. But faith will. We learned in verse 22 that righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ.
Let’s dig into Romans 3:23 in the Greek now.
The Greek word for all in verse 23 is pas, and per Strong’s, pas means all, every, whole, entire.
I am going to include that photo of the 117 billion people who have lived or are living on the earth.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. — Romans 3:23, NIV (BibleHub)
As noted earlier, this “photo” would include everyone who has ever lived on planet Earth. Every one of these people has sinned and falls short of the glory of God. That includes the following individuals, who would all be somewhere in this photo (hypothetically, of course):
Billy Graham John Stott C.S. Lewis A.W. Tozer R.C. Sproul Timothy Keller John Piper J.I. Packer Francis Schaeffer
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Again, all in Greek is pas, meaning all, every, whole, or entire.
The Greek word for sinned is hamartano, which means to sin, to miss the mark, or to err.
I have been thinking about this verse and the concept of Romans 3:23 for a few days now. I have made a few observations as I reflect on it.
First, it is strangely reassuring to me that I am indeed part of this group of people who have sinned and missed the mark before God—but that this group is incredibly large. In fact, it includes every person who has ever lived (other than Jesus our Lord).
Second, I am struck by just how many people either live or have lived on the earth. It is an astonishing number.
Finally, I am impressed by the reality that not even one person has ever gotten it right before God on their own. Not one. That is truly amazing.
So, we have established that all people have sinned. Now let us look at the outcome of this sin. What has happened to each and every one of these people now that they have missed the mark and sinned?
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
In the years 1978 to about 1982, I studied full time at Scribe School at PBC in the Bay Area. I did not get a degree but received some amazing training in Bible languages and related studies. One of the questions we were taught during this study was that when you see the genitive case in Greek, you have to ask whether it is a subjective or objective genitive—for example, with the glory of God. In other words, is this our glory that comes from God, or is it simply God’s glory? This is an interpretive question and not so easy to answer.
I would agree with a number of interpretations that it is simply God’s glory. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory that belongs to God.
I always like watching the high jump at the Olympics every four years. There is something magical, I think, about someone being able to clear such a high bar. I picture this with our verse today. Some perhaps get closer to the bar of God’s glory than others, but out of our huge group of 117 billion people, no one was able to clear that bar and meet the glory of God. All missed.
This is a huge group of people, but also a huge and urgent issue—not being able to meet the glory of God. All have missed this. So let’s dig into the remaining verses and see what the good news really is about.
I Have Good News and Bad News
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Let’s look at Romans 3:23 and now verse 24 together. We might title this section: I have good news and bad news— which do you want to hear first?
We have already established the bad news, which is the fact that all 117 billion people who have ever lived, or are living now, have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Now for the good news:
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
This could not be any better news. As a Christian who has accepted Christ into his or her life, all are now justified freely. Let’s examine what justified freely means, and then we will look at how this all took place. I have a bit of an engineer’s mind and a bit of a creative mind, but my engineer mind likes to look into how things work—for example, how a watch works, or how a computer works, or even how a quantum computer works.
It will be fun and meaningful in a bit to look at just how this being justified freely works—the inner workings as described in the “b” section of verse 24.
But first, let’s look into the Greek of verse 24 of Romans 3: all are justified freely. The word justified in the Greek is dikaioō, and per Strong’s at BibleHub.com, dikaioō means to justify, to declare righteous, to acquit. There are many examples out there for being justified. I will use a well-known—and perhaps even overused—example of justification, but I think it helps to picture what is happening with this important word.
The following short story, created by ChatGPT, shows what dikaioō might look like.
A Short Story: The Last Gavel
The courtroom was silent as the judge read the verdict.
“Guilty.”
The man did not protest. He knew it was true. The evidence was overwhelming. He had broken the law knowingly, repeatedly, and without excuse. When the sentence was announced—death—his knees weakened, but he did not argue. Justice had spoken.
Days later, as the execution hour approached, the guards returned. But this time, they were not alone.
A stranger entered the chamber carrying official papers. He stepped forward and spoke calmly.
“I will take his place.”
The room erupted in confusion. The judge examined the documents, then looked up in disbelief. The stranger was legally eligible. The law allowed substitution—but only if the substitute was innocent and willing.
The man in chains stared at him. “You don’t know what I’ve done,” he whispered.
“I know,” the stranger replied. “And that is why I’m here.”
The judge raised the gavel.
“The sentence has been carried out,” he declared.
The chains were removed.
The guilty man walked out a free man—not because he was innocent, but because justice had been fully satisfied by another.
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
We are now justified freely. The Greek word for freely here in verse 24 is dōrean. Per Strong’s at BibleHub.com, dōrean means freely, without cost, as a gift. There is no effort here on our part; this justification is freely given as a gift.
The Greek word for grace used here is charis. Charis is defined as grace, favor, kindness, or blessing per Strong’s. We are justified freely, and the way this happens is through grace.
As mentioned earlier, the engineer part of my brain likes to know how things work.
We are justified freely by His grace, and the way this works is through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The Greek word for redemption is apolutrōsis, which, not surprisingly, means redemption.
I like the Oxford Languages dictionary definition of redemption as the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment or clearing a debt.
I asked ChatGPT to write a short story about the redemption of a guitar from a pawnshop.
He stood at the pawnshop counter holding a small paper ticket, creased from years in a wallet.
The clerk disappeared into the back and returned with an old guitar, its wood worn smooth by time. When he wrapped his fingers around the neck, memories flooded back—his father’s hands guiding his own, the first hymn he ever learned, the night hardship forced him to let it go.
He paid the fee, far less than what the guitar meant, and stepped outside.
As he walked home, the case in his hand felt lighter than it should have been—because some things, once redeemed, carry more hope than weight.
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Let’s look at the phrase by his grace. This is again part of how things work—how we are justified freely. Grace is a word we have seen before a number of times in our Bible study. Strong’s at BibleHub.com defines charis, the Greek word for grace, as grace, favor, kindness, or blessing. It is interesting because the Greek word tē means the. So it almost translates as being justified freely—the grace of Him.
Romans 3:25 (NIV) God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
As I have mentioned a number of times in this Bible study journal, I love learning how things work. I love watching YouTube videos on quantum physics and quantum computers, and at one point I even took a class on how to code a quantum computer—which was crazy hard.
Anyway, we know from Romans 3:23 that all have sinned. We know from Romans 3:24 that as Christians we are justified freely by His grace through Jesus. Now in Romans 3:25, Paul goes on even further into how things work—primarily how it is that we are redeemed and justified freely. How exactly does this work?
We go back to the original problem all people have: we are all born in sin and separated from God. There is no greater problem in the world than this. But there is no greater solution to this dilemma than Christ justifying us freely by His grace.
God could not just look the other way at our sin. Something had to happen, and God used the nuclear option. Let’s look at verse 25 carefully now.
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement
The Greek word for set forth is protithēmi, which means to set forth, to propose, to purpose, or to plan. In the NIV here, we see the English word presented. God presented Christ as a sacrifice. I have to stop here and say that this is beyond understanding—and just as interesting, powerful, and eventful as anything that has ever happened on earth. God took His own Son and presented, or purposed, Him as a sacrifice for us. This is monumental.
Let’s examine the Greek word for sacrifice—hilastērion. Per Strong’s at BibleHub.com, hilastērion means propitiation, atonement cover, or mercy seat.
From Strong’s at BibleHub.com:
[as an] atoning sacrifice ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion) Noun – Accusative Neuter Singular Strong’s Greek 2435: Neuter of a derivative of hilaskomai; an expiatory, i.e., an atoning victim, or the lid of the Ark.
Watch out that no one deceives you… Matthew 24:4
Today is Jan 2, 2026. I am taking a short few-days break from my Romans 3 study above to take a look at one key verse in Matthew 24, which is verse 4, in detail. Then I will return back to the Romans 3 study after this short break.
Let’s look at the verses surrounding verse 4 of Matthew to make sure we are staying in context. Thanks to BibleGateway.com (NIV) for the following.
Matthew 24
New International Version
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
24 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Jesus has just left the temple and was walking away. The disciples asked Him about the temple buildings. Jesus gives an incredibly accurate prophecy about the temple being destroyed. The entire temple was, in fact, destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans.
I like what one of my prophecy YouTube people said about what happens next. They said that Jesus then, on the Mount of Olives, provides a high-level top-secret disclosure—like a special access program. Very interesting stuff.
The Greek word for answered is apokrinomai. Strong’s at BibleHub.com defines this word as to answer, to reply, or to respond.
Jesus is responding to the disciples’ questions in verse 3:
“Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
So the disciples were really asking two questions:
• When will the destruction of the temple actually take place that Jesus mentioned earlier? • What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
Jesus will answer all their questions, but first He makes a very important statement: “Watch out that no one deceives you.”
Now I have a question: Why did Jesus not answer their questions right away? What would have been His motivation for making this important statement first?
The answer to that question might be found in the fact that Jesus mentions the concept and word for deceived four times in just chapter 24. There is an implied urgency here. Jesus is feeling the urgency to say these things.
It is interesting that I believe Jesus was speaking to the disciples here, but through the disciples to all people in the end times. It is a warning given by Jesus Himself to all Christians living in 2026—now. That is for us! It is critical to unpack this carefully.
The NIV translates watch out from the Greek word blepō. Per Strong’s at BibleHub.com, blepō means to see, to look at, to behold, or to perceive. I think a modern way of saying this might be: “Hey, keep an eye out for…” Keep watchful. Be careful to perceive.
So Jesus is saying, keep an eye out and stay watchful that no one misleads you. The Greek word for mislead is planaō, which means to lead astray, to deceive, or to cause to wander. I picture a group of sheep with their shepherd in a green, hilly area, and one of the sheep gets distracted by a shiny object on the ground and leaves the group and the safety of the shepherd to check it out. He wanders off and is deceived by this object.
I don’t think Jesus would have said this unless it was super important—and possible—for someone to actually be deceived.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many.
Now let’s examine verse 5 of Matthew 24. This is so interesting. The Greek word for many is polloi. Strong’s defines this word as many, much, or great. Will come in Greek is the word erchomai, which means to come or to go.
Okay, this is where it starts getting super interesting. Many will come in the name of Me (speaking of Jesus). The Greek is interesting—it is (thanks to BibleHub.com for the following…
Let's unpack this. Many will come. What is the significance of the the Greek word erchomai meaning to come or to go. Here are some questions I have:
Why did Jesus use the term many will come?
Who is coming and where did they come from?
Is this happening now? I have found over the years in studying BIble prophecy that people can have the tendency to try to read too much into what is happening at the present time to try and make a specific prophecy fit. So is this happening right now in Jan 2026?
This Greek word erchomai is the middle voice of a primary verb. To come or go can be used literally or figuratively.
Chatgpt analysis if erchomai
What major Greek lexicons say ἔρχομαι can mean
Well-known NT Greek lexicons explicitly include a non-literal / “appearance” sense for erchomai:
Thayer lists, besides ordinary movement, the meaning “to appear, make one’s appearance, come before the public” for ἔρχομαι. La Parola
Thayer also lists a broader metaphorical range (e.g., “come into being, arise…”), showing the verb is often used beyond physical travel. La Parola
Strong’s / Blue Letter Bible likewise includes “to appear, make one’s appearance, come before the public” as a standard sense option for ἔρχομαι. Blue Letter Bible+1
Bill Mounce’s Greek dictionary gives the basic “come/go” sense and notes how meaning often depends heavily on the attached phrases/context. billmounc
It is pretty clear that this word is used for make an appearance or come before the public. This is not travel, this is used more metaphorical.
Many will come in My Name. The Greek here for this phrase is -
In Matthew 24:5, “in my name” (ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου) means claiming authority, legitimacy, and identity derived from Jesus, not merely invoking His name verbally — a warning against false messiahs and authoritative impostors. Summary from Chatgpt.
So many will come and appear in public saying either they are the messiah themselves or that Jesus in the Messiah but in both options, they will deceive many.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
There is no doubt in our minds that we are seeing wars and rumors of wars right now. in 1970's there were about 30 wars going on and in 2024 61 so about double the amount.
But Jesus gives us a command and some key information about these wars and rumors of wars.
Jesus's command - see to it that you are not alarmed.
Jesus's key information 1 - Such things must happen
Jesus's key information 2 - but the end is still to come.
Let's unpack these three key items. The first is a command from jesus to see to it that you are not alarmed. From first observation I would say that seeing both wars and even intense rumors of wars right now might on the surface cause us to be alarmed. There is the fight or flight syndrome with big stressors like wars and even rumors of wars.
Thanks to ChatGPT 5.2 for the following lists of world conflicts. 2026
Major ongoing wars (largest-scale, high-death conflicts)
Russia–Ukraine War (Ukraine / Russia)
Israel–Hamas / Gaza War + wider Israel–Palestinian conflict (Gaza / Israel / West Bank)
Sudan Civil War (SAF vs RSF) (Sudan)
Myanmar Civil War (Myanmar)
DR Congo conflicts / Eastern DRC war (especially Kivu / Ituri / M23) (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
“see to it that you are not alarmed” seems on the surface to be anti intuitive. It is a pretty amazing statement and command that Jesus gives us and I believe when we read Matt 24 we can most times kind of quickly gloss this statement and just keep reading. But as we pause and realize that Jesus is saying even though in the end times there will be wars and rumors of wars we are commanded to not be alarmed.
I think this is kind of opposite of a normal human reaction to wars and even rumors of wars. Normally I think I would feel like a warning of - watch out and be alarmed for your safety because of all the wars. This would be kind of a common sense statement. But Jesus says the opposite. He says watch out and take care you are NOT alarmed. Let's dwell on this some more in detail because it is so anti intuitive at first glance.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Biblehub.com
We can remember that when we see news of wars and rumors of wars to not be alarmed. Jesus knows these thnigs must happen. This will not come as a surprise to Jesus at all, He sees clearly what is going to happen with wars in the world. I believe this can be of comfort knowing that things seems very chaotic now but it is all known by God with no surprises.
We can also know that the end is yet to come. It may feel like the end is happening with all the war chaosis in the world, but Jesus has told us ahead of time that the end is yet to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. Biblehub.com
Jesus then expands how wars and rumors of wars will take place. Nation will rise against nation. The Greek word for rise up is egeiró which per Strongs's means To raise, to awaken, to arouse. I think for pretty much most of my 71 years of life I have seen wars and tension in the world, but what is happening now in early 2026 is on a new level. I like the Strong's definition of egeiro meaning to awaken or arouse. That seems to be what is happing right now with even the USA all of a sudden taking on Venezuela and the drug issues there. This seems to be happening also with Russia taking on Ukraine. There are also strong rumors gong on that China might even try and take over Taiwan. The list is growing of countries that seem to be awakening and aroused and rising up against other nations.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. Biblehub.com
The Greek word for earthquake here in verse 7 is seismos. Per biblehub.com seismos means earthquake, shaking or tempest. We get our english word seismology from this Greek word. seismos comes from the Greek word selo which means a commotion of air as in a gale or the ground as an earthquake.
Thanks to ChatGpt for the earthquake data. There is little doubt that earthquakes are on the rise in 2025 - 2026.
---Hebrews 11: 1 - 3 Faith for the Final Hours of History
Hebrews 11:1 – Faith Defined
11 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old received divine approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.” RSV – Biblehub.com
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.” NIV – Biblehub.com
I’ve been asking myself lately: What is one of the most important aspects of living near the end of times (end of church age) and the beginning of the tribulation seven years? What might be the best study to focus on for this strange, exciting, and sometimes frightening period of history we find ourselves in now?
I am reminded of a verse tucked somewhere in the New Testament where Jesus asks something along the lines of, “Will I find faith when I return?”
I found the verse. Let’s look at Luke 18:8:
“8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” NIV
When Jesus returns, He isn’t asking whether He will find people doing ministry, attending church, or preaching. No—He asks only one thing: Will He find faith? While doing God's work in ministry is very important, it is interesting that the one thing Jesus would be looking for at His return is faith.
This tells me that the most important thing to cultivate—and to be living out—when Jesus returns is faith. It may very well be the central requirement of the final generation.
In Matthew 24 we see that deception is a very big issue at the end of days. Faith surely is an antidote to deception in that no matter what is being shown in media and on the news is not the bottom line for Christians. Faith in Jesus and in the Word of God is such a big player in the end times and should be focused on more than ever.
So let’s dig deeper into what faith actually is, how we possess it, and what it looks like. The Greek tense of both te and grace here is Dative singular feminine. Nouns dont have tense. The Dative here can be translated by, through or by means of.
God's amazing grace is how we are freely justified. It does not depend on us trying to get it right or be perfect, it depends fully on God's grace.
Pistis (Faith) in Scripture
The Greek noun πίστις (pistis), usually translated “faith,” appears 244 times in the New Testament. This alone reveals how essential faith is.
Let’s unpack pistis—faith—in Hebrews 11:1:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.” NIV – Biblehub.com
The Greek word translated “confidence” is hupostasis, which carries meanings such as substance, assurance, confidence, essence, or reality (Strong’s).
Hupostasis comes from two Greek word roots:
hupo: by, under, beneath, or through
histēmi: to stand, establish, or set
Putting it together, we see that faith is the under-support, the foundation, the substance of what we hope for.
I picture the concrete foundation of a new home being poured. Around here, I see a lot of new construction—the cement base with rebar rising up. It gives an impression of immovable strength. In the same way, faith is that solid understructure of expectation. Faith is very concrete — pun intended. Faith is the foundation of what we hope for.
The Greek word for “hope” here is elpizō, meaning: to expect, to anticipate, or to trust.
In Paul’s usage, hope carried a firm expectation. In modern English, “hope” is flimsier. I might say “I hope it doesn’t rain today,” or perhaps “I hope i win the lottery today”but there’s still uncertainty with this kind of hope. In contrast, elpizō is expectant hope—it leans forward with confidence.
Putting this together:
Faith is the underlying support of what we confidently expect will happen.
Faith Reaches Forward; Hope Is What It Reaches Toward
Pistis (faith) comes from peithō — to persuade, trust, rely on, per Strong’s at Biblehub.com. Elpis / elpizō (hope) comes from a root meaning to anticipate or look forward to. So, Pistis and Elpis are not related linguistically — they are related functionally: Faith (Pistis) reaches forward. Hope (Elpis) is the object toward which faith reaches.
Both carry the movement of expectation toward something not yet seen. Faith, therefore, is an action that looks forward to something. Faith is the foundation of what we hope for, but we don’t have a dry, dead hope like hoping it does not rain, for example, but a strong hope that has the bedrock in something that is for sure there.
I think this is one of the insights of this Hebrews 11 study so far that has hit me the hardest. Faith sometimes, to me, can feel like strong hopeful thinking only. But faith is a rock; it is a foundation of something, yes, we hope for, but we hope for something we know without a doubt is true. This is all wrapped up in the concept that we do not see at all, but have faith, again, though, a faith that has substance and is future-oriented with great confidence even though unseen. We therefore never stop having faith and believing with confidence, but we live in an unseen reality still, thus requiring the faith (and not sight).
Our Modern English Use of “Hope” vs Biblical Hope
We can say casually, “I hope the Oregon Ducks win the game today.” There's not much weight behind it, especially with team injuries or staff issues. It’s merely wanting a desired outcome. Or we might say, “I sure hope the stock market increases today.” These are simple examples of hope that, in Western thought, is more of hopeful thinking or a longing for something to happen which may or may not happen. There is hope, but much risk and perhaps even probability that the desired outcome may not even take place.
But biblical hope (elpizō) is different: It expects. It anticipates. It is grounded. It somehow knows even when it cannot see.
Faith then becomes the solid support of that expectation.
But wait—you may say—there is still risk involved with hope. Indeed, there is. We do not see clearly yet, but:
“1 Corinthians 13:12 (KJV): For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
We live with this tension—faith and hope intertwined—knowing God rewards those who seek Him, yet not seeing with our natural eyes.
We are still on the journey. We have not reached the destination. We live by faith in a God we cannot physically see.
We have hope, but our hope has substance and there is great confidence in our hope. We don’t see fully yet, but we can have certainty with faith. I think we learn as Christians to live in this tension between having a solid faith in what God says, but still living in that unseen reality. I think daily we can feel that tension and even that longing for a time that is to come when we will see clearly everything God has promised to us in His Word.
“The Conviction of Things Not Seen”
Let’s examine the second phrase of Hebrews 11:1 more closely. Now switching to the RSV wording:
The Greek word for “conviction” is elegchos, which can be translated: reproof, conviction, evidence, proof.
Imagine a huge storm hitting a region. Afterward, news crews film fallen trees, damaged buildings, and broken structures. That destruction is evidence—the proof of what passed through. The Greek word elegchos in the RSV is defined as conviction. Strong's at Biblehub.com does show evidence and proof also as definitions for elegchos.
Likewise, faith becomes the evidence, proof, or conviction of unseen reality.
The Desire to “See More”
There seems to be a modern trend among Christians to seek dramatic experiences—visions, dreams, audible words, angelic encounters. While fascinating, this is not the common path of faith.
For most believers — the “normal” Christians, so to speak — we walk by faith without seeing or hearing anything extraordinary. We encounter God’s quiet voice in our hearts as we walk with Him and study His Word.
Examples From Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11 is filled with examples—witnesses—who trusted God without visible proof.
Looking ahead briefly to Hebrews 12:1 (RSV):
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…”
Back to Hebrews 11:2 (RSV):
“2 For by it men of old received divine approval.”
What is “it”? “It” refers to faith.
The ancients received divine approval because of their faith.
Some had spectacular encounters—Moses and the burning bush, Samuel hearing God’s audible voice, Elijah calling down fire. But the vast majority trusted God without any dramatic sign, voice, angelic visitation, or vision.
Many of us tend to imagine Old Testament believers constantly receiving direct instructions from God—when in reality, most walked in faith with no visible evidence at all, but their faith was strong and they believed God.
Hebrews 11:2 — What “This” Refers To
NIV reads: “2 This is what the ancients were commended for.”
The Greek word for “this” is houtos / haute / touto — a pronoun referring back to a previous noun.
So “this” refers to faith — meaning the verse can be understood as: “Faith is what the ancients were commended for.”
The Greek word presbuteros means “elders” — from which we get the word Presbyterian. Strong’s defines it as “elder, older, presbyter.”
Soon we will see a long list of these elders in Hebrews 11 — those who have gone before us, whose lives testify that faith is enough.
There is great encouragement in looking back at these spiritual ancestors — something the modern church often neglects in its rush to stay “relevant” and contemporary. The old saints have much to teach us about perseverance, trust, and steadfast faith.
Another thing that struck me while I was taking a walk yesterday is that we, as Christians here in 2025, are part of a much larger community of believers stretching across the centuries. We are part of something immense
“2 For by it the men of old received divine approval.”
Let’s take a look at the Greek word for “divine approval.” The word used here is martureó. Strong’s (via BibleHub) defines it as:
“To bear witness, testify, give evidence, affirm that one has seen, heard, or experienced something.”
This can be a tricky Greek term to translate. I notice that the RSV uses “divine approval.” The NIV uses “commended.” When comparing these, it seems that “commended” is actually very accurate and fits the list of Strong’s definitions very well.
It is so interesting that of all the spiritual qualities the Old Testament saints might have been known for — wisdom, obedience, sacrifice, devotion — faith is the one thing they were commended for.
“3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.”
Let’s move to verse 3. The key opening phrase is: “By faith we understand…”
This verse assumes first that we do, in fact, have faith. Then, by this faith, we understand something. Before considering what we understand, let’s look at the Greek word translated “understand.”
The word is noeó, which Strong’s defines as: “To perceive, to understand, to think, to consider.”
Notice that we don’t perceive or understand the nature of creation because we are clever, or well-read, or highly intelligent. We understand because of faith.
Now that we’ve established that this understanding arises from faith, we can dig into what it is we actually understand.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Let's dive into Hebrews 11:3 some more. It is by faith that we understand something. The Greek word for understand is noeo as mentioned earlier. Per Strong's at biblehub.com noeo is defined as to perceive, to understand, to think or to consider. We are using our faith and then using our minds to understand or think about something. In this case we are understanding with our minds and I am surer with our hearts too, that the universe was formed at God's command.
We believe and know the universe was formed and created right at God's command. By faith we know that what we see was not made from anything visible.
PSALM 46 – OCT 2025
Psalm 46:1 – God Our Refuge
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
In Psalm 46, God is described as our refuge. The Hebrew word machaseh (or machseh) means “refuge” or “shelter.” According to Brown-Driver-Briggs, it can refer to protection from a storm or from danger itself. Strong’s adds that it also carries the sense of “hope” or “trust.”
This is striking. We often hear about the “fear of God” and sometimes imagine Him as harsh or distant. Yet here, God reveals Himself not as one to run from, but as the very One we run to. He is our safe shelter.
I’m reminded of a camping trip years ago with my wife and daughter on the Oregon coast. We stayed in a small yurt when a fierce storm rolled in—lightning, thunder, and pounding rain that lasted all night. Outside, the storm raged; inside, we were warm, dry, and secure. That yurt became a perfect picture of refuge.
That’s the image Psalm 46 gives us: God doesn’t always remove the storm, but He provides a shelter where we are safe in the midst of it.
God Our Strength – Psalm 46:1
The psalm also declares that God is our strength (oz in Hebrew). He is not only our refuge when we are weak but the very power that sustains us.
This truth means more to me as I’ve grown older. I once carried a 40-pound backpack for 14 miles in a day on a trip in California; now I sometimes struggle just to open a jar of peanut butter! My own strength fades—but Scripture reminds me that God Himself is my strength.
So let me ask: what storm are you walking through today? For me, one of my greatest challenges at seventy is learning to slow down. Yet even in that, God is my refuge and my strength.
Whatever storm you face—physical, emotional, or spiritual—you do not face it alone. God Himself is your shelter and your strength.
Psalm 46:1(b) – An Ever-Present Help
“An ever-present help in trouble.”
Yesterday we reflected on God as our refuge and strength. Today we see another layer: God is an ever-present help.
The Hebrew word translated ever (meod) means “abundance, muchness, exceedingly.” This isn’t limited help—it’s abundant, overflowing help. I’m reminded again of that stormy night in our Oregon yurt when the weather report spoke of “an abundance of lightning.” That phrase captures meod—help that comes in abundance, not scarcity.
The word for help (ezrah) means aid or assistance. Trouble (tsarah) means distress or adversity. Put together, this verse tells us that God is not reluctant or far away; He is near, eager, and abundantly able to help when we face distress.
Too often I imagine God doling out small bits of help as though reluctant. Psalm 46 corrects that picture: God’s help is plentiful, overflowing, and immediate.
Psalm 46:2–3 – Why We Don’t Fear
“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Many scholars see these verses as prophetic, echoing Jesus’ words in Luke 21:25 about the roaring and tossing of the sea.
A wise Bible teacher once told me, “Whenever you see the word therefore, ask, ‘What is it there for?’” Here, the Hebrew word ken means “thus, surely, rightly.” It points us back to verse 1: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
These verses describe scenes that would naturally bring fear—mountains falling, seas raging. Even today, earthquakes, volcanoes, and global instability remind us how fragile life is. Yet the psalmist insists, “We will not fear.” Why? Because our confidence isn’t in stable ground or calm seas—it’s in God Himself.
Psalm 46:4 – The River of God
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.”
After describing raging seas, the psalmist now introduces a peaceful river—a symbol of life and joy. The Hebrew word nahar simply means “a flowing stream.” It appears in Genesis 2:10–14 to describe the river that watered Eden.
The contrast is beautiful:
The mountains shake.
The seas roar.
Nations rage.
But in the midst of it all, a calm river flows from the presence of God.
This same image reappears in Revelation 22:1–2—a pure river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb. It represents His unending presence and peace.
Whenever I walk along the Rogue River to pray or fish, I sense something of that peace—the steady, unhurried flow of God’s presence. That is the river that “makes glad the city of God.”
Psalm 46:5 – God Within Her
“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Who is “her”? In context, the “city of God” refers to Jerusalem—the place of God’s dwelling. The Hebrew word for “within” (qereb) means “in the midst” or “inner part.” God is not distant; He is right in the center.
And He helps “at break of day.” The Hebrew suggests early intervention—God’s help arrives right on time. The enemy whispers that God is busy elsewhere, but this verse says otherwise: He is present and active from the very start of each new day.
Psalm 46:6–7 – Nations in Uproar
“Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
How prophetic these words sound today! Nations are indeed in uproar across the world. Yet even amid chaos, this psalm declares a greater truth: the Lord Almighty is with us.
The Hebrew title here—Yahweh Sabaoth (“the Lord of Hosts”)—means the Commander of heavenly armies. And the word immanu (“with us”) gives us the root of Emmanuel: God with us.
Even as kingdoms crumble and leaders seek bunkers for safety, our security isn’t underground—it’s in the fortress of God Himself. He is not a distant commander but a present companion.
Psalm 46:8 – See What the Lord Has Done
“Come and see” uses the Hebrew word chazah, which means “to see” or “behold.” The word for “works” in Hebrew is miphal, meaning “work” or “thing made.” So there is a request to come and see the things the Lord has made and done.
The Hebrew word for “made” is sum (or sim) and means “to put, place, or set.” The Hebrew word for “desolations” is shammah, which means a waste of land or city, or desolation, or horror.
This verse will make more sense, I think, when we look at the next verse (9). But for now, we see the work God has done and how physically involved He is in the world.
Psalm 46:9 – More of What the Lord Has Done
Verse 9a – He makes wars cease
If we look at our newspapers today, or the news feeds on our iPhones and computers, we see many wars going on in our world. I think it’s safe to say that these verses in Psalm 46 are prophetic in nature and talk about what will happen later, at the end of the end times.
We are certainly in the end times and at the end of the church age now, but following Jesus’s second coming, as written in Revelation, Jesus will make wars stop. Let’s take a look at that passage in Revelation.
Revelation 19:11–21 Describes Christ returning as King of Kings to defeat evil in the final battle (often called Armageddon). After this victory, there are no more wars, because all rebellion is destroyed.
The answer to all the current wars we see is Jesus Himself, when He returns and defeats all evil.
The “b” section of Psalm 46:9 tells us the scope of the wars stopping. The NIV reads: “to the ends of the earth.” All wars will be stopped and completed, even to the very ends of the earth. This is a great promise. Our hope doesn’t come from thinking wars may calm down now—it comes from Jesus Himself. Only He has the power to stop all wars.
Jesus will make everything right when He returns. Our hope is completely in Jesus.
Verse 9b – Breaks the Bow
The “b” section of Psalm 46:9 says, “He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.” This is one of several ways God will make wars stop at the end of time.
Isaiah 2:4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
This verse refers to the 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom on earth after Jesus’s second coming. Again, Psalm 46 has some very prophetic parts to it. We all want wars to cease, yet wars continue and even intensify until Jesus comes back and makes everything right.
This is a great reminder to Christians not to put too much hope in the present times for wars to stop. It is when Jesus returns that this happens. Our focus now should be on doing God’s will—leading others to Christ and ministering to the body. We can, however, look forward to the time when Christ sets up His kingdom on earth following His second coming.
The Hebrew word for breaks is shabar. According to BDB, shabar means “to break” or “break into pieces.” Jesus will destroy all tools of war and make them unusable. There is great comfort in this verse with the promise that Jesus Himself will destroy all war and every weapon of battle.
Psalm 46:10 – Be Still
Psalm 46:10 says, “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”
In the middle of all that God is doing, as we’ve previously studied, God says to be still and know that I am God.
Right away we can apply this verse to our everyday lives, because many times we are in the middle of a lot of chaos and confusion. God’s message to us is simple: be still and know that I am God.
Let’s unpack this a bit. Be still in Hebrew is the word raphah. Per BDB, raphah means “to sink” or “relax.” In Isaiah 5:14 it talks about sinking down “as hay in a flame.” That’s a great image. Strong’s defines raphah with several options, but the one that stands out to me is “to relax, to let go, to cease, to be weak, or to hang limp.”
This is a powerful word to us. When things get crazy around us and in our lives, we can go limp and let go—knowing that God is there. I like the idea of “go limp and know that I am God.” Just relax; just totally know God is in charge and is there.
Verse 10 then says, “I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:11 — “The Lord Almighty is with us!”
We are at the final verse of our Psalm 46 study. Here is that verse in the NIV from BibleGateway:
11The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
We’ve found in our previous study that even when crazy things are happening around us, we can be still and know that God is there and helping us.
Verse 11 now says, “The Lord Almighty is with us.” The Hebrew says the Lord of hosts, the God is with us. The Hebrew word for the Lord is YHVH, and per Strong’s at BibleHub this can be translated as “the Lord God.” BDB defines tsaba as host, army, or warfare.
The phrase “is with us” uses a Hebrew word we’ve already seen in this psalm. The word translates immanu, which Strong’s at BibleHub defines as with, together with, or among.
Because of this, we can have full confidence even when the earth is changing, mountains are falling into the sea, there is warfare, and just crazy things happening. God is there with us at all times. He is not there off and on, or only at key or milestone points—He is there 24×7.
The second line says, “the God of Jacob is our fortress.” This is the final “b-section” of the final verse of Psalm 46. The word “fortress” in Hebrew here is misgab. BDB (https://biblehub.com/bdb/4869.htm) defines misgab as a secure height, retreat, or refuge. Strong’s (https://biblehub.com/strongs/hebrew/4869.htm) defines misgab as refuge, stronghold, or high tower.
Per ChatGPT, archaeologists in Israel have uncovered tower bases in places like Megiddo, Hazor, and Jericho that are 20–30 feet thick—structures built to withstand siege after siege.
TThese towers provided a safe place for people to go during any attack or dangerous situation.
This is a good place for Psalm 46 to end—with God being our refuge and our tower away from trouble. God is the One we turn to for refuge and safety at all times. I’m reminded of 2 Corinthians 4 and 5, and how we don’t look to ourselves for safety, as the world may want us to, but we look to Jesus our Lord for safety no matter how crazy it gets.
Here is an example of what a full tower in Old Testament times might have looked like.
PSALM 23
I will be using the Interlinear Bible quotes from time to time from Bible Hub. I will use https://biblehub.com/interlinear/ reference when using a verse from Bible Hub
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Before I start my verse by verse study using Hebrew from Biblehub.com I wanted to mention that, though obvious to some, I see myself as a sheep in this Psalm. Sheep always need community. Sheep need a leader or shepherd at all times. I will expound on this more later. But Psalm 23 came alive to me when I read it as if I am a sheep.
I have a tendency most of the time as thinking myself as a shepard trying to keep my life and others together. It has been spiritually helpful to view myself more as a sheep with the Lord as my shepherd. This study will bear this out in more detail.
The Hebrew word for Lord in verse 1 is Yahweh. The Hebrew word for shepard is ra'ah. The primitive root of ra'ah is defined as - to tend a flock, pasture it in. This is the shepards job description to tend a flock , to keep it safe and to fully manage all aspects of the flocks needs. Here below is a photo of a shepherd in Israel tending a flock of sheep in modern times.
As mentioned earlier I picture myself spiritually as a sheep. Sheep were never supposed to protect themselves. They were created by God to require someone to look over them. Also mentioned earlier - I picture myself too many times as a shepherd or someone that is spiritually in charge of what is around me. This actually is not correct. I am more like a sheep and sheep require a shepherd at all times.
I read this online somewhere about sheep. I apologize for not having the URL reference.
“Sheep will readily follow one another; will move away from things that frighten them; will move better around slight corners or curves; will move away from buildings; prefer to move uphill; prefer lighted areas and resist dark barns, alleys, and chutes; and will respond to well-trained herding dogs.”
Clearly sheep need their shepard at all times. Sheep are vulnerable to attack and many other dangers without the shepard always watching over them.
There is no one better to be my shepherd then the Lord Himself. Today I will focus on being a good sheep and following our Lord who is our shepherd. This takes some mental energy to re-think what I am doing and how I am doing it each day. To change my view of myself from a shepherd to more of a sheep with the Lord in charge. This could in fact affect every moment of my day today.
Day 2 - Verse 2
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Again I will provide a reminder to think of ourselves as the sheep in Psalm 23 study here. Our Lord is our shepherd.
He makes me to lie down is all in one Hebrew word. There is a lot of information in just that one word. The Hebrew for lie down is RABATS. In BDB the definition of RABATS is stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out.
A primitive root; to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed -- crouch (down), fall down, make a fold, lay, (cause to, make to) lie (down), make to rest, sit.
We get a picture here of the sheep stretching out and lying down in full rest and without much worry. The shepard is no doubt near by and watching over the sheep with complete protection on his mind.
Question - What does this picture in your mind of a sheep fully protected and resting stretched out on a very green area like this make you feel or imagine?
My answer - I imagine a very rested sheep feeling protected and loved and watched over having been taken here by the Shepherd for that very purpose.
With all the rushing around in our lives to get to point A and then point B and get all our daily to-do items completed on time and within budget we can all get pretty stressed at times. This verse of the sheep relaxing in safety is a good goal of us to remember during these times. Take time daily to reflect on being a sheep with our Lord as our shepherd and being safe and protected and unrushed and fully watched over by Jesus. Tomorrow we will look closely at the next line in verse 2 - he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Let's look at the first phrase here in verse 3. - He refreshes my soul. This is an interesting phrase in this Psalm because it is an internal attribute being mentioned while most of the other attributes of the Psalm 23 are external in nature. It is almost kind of a surprise to see it. It is something like having a list of food items for example that might include watermelon, hamberger, cheese, milk, a metric wrench and soup. It is like one of those Sesame Street skits that asks the children which one of these are not the same? Most of the items on the list of this Psalm are external in nature, but this one is very different - He refreshes my soul.
Let's look at the Hebrew word for refreshes more closely now. The Hebrew word for refresh is SHUB and per the BDB English, German dictionary it means turn back or return. In Strongs we see SHUB as a primitive root to turn back and has the idea of return to a starting point. So David in this Psalm in verse 3 is saying the Lord restores, or turns back his own soul back to its original state. In trying to come up with an analogy of sorts I came up with this idea. It is like having your iPhone with many apps and many things stored on the phone. This would be more or less a factory reset. Then you decide one day to restore the iPhone back to its original state. That might be a good way of looking at this.
So David is mentioning here that the Lord restores his own soul, or as we have been discussing, the Lord sets David's soul back to its original state. I think this is a very interesting and powerful concept that in this Psalm David is asking the Lord to restore his own soul back to what it was when he got it, rested, trusting, not afraid. The list can go on for some time.
Question of the day: If you ask the Lord today to restore or return your soul back to its original state of rest and trust and peace and so on - what might that look like to you today?
Prayer for today: Lord please do a factory reset on my soul today back to the creator and authors original intent and state of trust and rest and being close to you. Thank-you.
Day 4 - verse 3.
He guides me along the right paths
He guides or leads me Hebrew is NATCHAH. This word means to lead or guide. Strongs says - A primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists) -- bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten.
Sheep need to be guided to water and safety and the Lord Himself guides us and leads us.
Question: How has the Lord guided you this week? Also, what are some practical ways we can daily listen to the Lord to know how He is guiding us?
3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Note that verse 3 says “for His name's sake”. That is an attribute of the phrase “He guides me along the right paths”. The right paths would refer to how the Lord as our shepherd leads us daily. There is movement of the sheep to no doubt find new areas for feeding and for water.
It is for our Lord's sake that He leads us as sheep. Everything focuses us back to our shepherd and He leads us but for His purpose and His will.
May 18, 2024
Day 5 - Verse a.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a]
Yea, even though. The Hebrew word is gam and it means something like Yea. In BDB it states gam is again, also and so forth so it is connective in nature.
The Hebrew word for though is ki and is a conjunction which can mean that, for, when. Strong's notes it's meaning as foreasmuch, inasmuch, whereas, but, certainly and so on. I believe the use of this word shows a near certainty that the sheep reading this Psalm (us) will in fact find themselves at times in the darkest valley. Sort of a given I think. It should be noted that it is more then likely the shepard here has led the sheep into the valley. This might be because the shepard needed to move from one area to another and the shortest way to get there would be through a valley.
Sometimes we hear teaching that God always wants us to be wealthy and comfortable, but I don't see that in the Bible. What i see is a loving shepherd that sometimes has to lead us as sheep through some pretty scary locations to get us to another place.
Valley in Hebrew is gay. In BDB this word is translated valley. In Strong's says the root word is the same root used as a gorge with lofty sides and narrow. That root in Hebrew is gevah.
“of the shadow of death” is the description of this valley. The Hebrew here is tsalmaveth which means death-shadow or deep shadow. Strong's notes tasalmaveth as shadow of death.
There are a few observations we can make here. I would like to first point out that the Shepherd is in charge and for some important reason had to take the sheep through a very narrow and scary valley to get to some desired location. I think sometimes I am tempted to say that if something bad happens to me , it is for sure because of a wrong decision I have made or something I did wrong. But that might not always be the case. The Lord Himself might have to lead us , as sheep, through some pretty rough valleys.
Note also that it is only a shadow of death. Sure it is scary and terrible to go through a valley of a shadow of death, but it is only a shadow. And as we will soon find the Shepherd is with us all the way and even leading us. I am reminded of a verse in James that says something like Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Note that the author did not say “IF” you face trials, but when. I think the same is true with our Psalm 23 here that the shepherd at times will lead the sheep into some pretty dark and scary places, but as we will see the shepherd is always with the sheep and leading and protecting.
May 21, 2024
We are still in Psalm 23 and in verse 4 still.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Let's look more closely at the phrase “I will fear no evil for you are with me”. The Hebrew word for fear used in this verse is YARE. In Strongs this is defined as be make afraid, dreadful, put in fearful reverence or terrible act.
I will fear no evil. The verb I will fear no is the V-Qal-imperf-1cs
The word for in Hebrew is ki. It is a conjunction meaning that, for when. In Strongs it is forasmuch, inasmuch, whereas, assuredly, but, certainly or doubless.
So David in this Psalm is saying he will fear no evil even when in the darkest valley. There is a reason though why David fears no evil. It is this conjunction meaning for or but. The reason David as a sheep following the shepherd in a scary dark valley is because “you are with me”. It is because the shepherd is there, with him.
Many times for me when I am in a dark valley in life and am tempted to fear I am reminded that the Lord is right there always. The reason I don't fear is the Lord is with me. So often times it feels like we are totally alone when in a dark place or valley. But that simply is never true. The Lord is always with us during these times even when it does not feel like it.
Again the reason I don't fear even in a dark valley is simply because the Lord is with me. We will take a look next at more detail of how the Lord is with us in a dark place.
May 22, 2024
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Today we will look at the final phrase in Psalm 24 verse 4 - “your rod and your staff they comfort me. ”
Remember that we are looking at the entire verse 4 which says that when we find ourselves in a dark valley in life we can actually not feel fear and the reason for this is the Lord as our shepherd is always with us.
The next phrase - your rod and your staff they comfort me is yet more information on why we don't fear even when in a dark valley. The Hebrew word for rod here is shebet. Shebet means rod or staff or club or sceptre in BDB. BDB also notes that shebet can mean a shepherd's implement used to muster and count sheep. So we get kind of an idea of counting sheep and mustering them. Muster is not a word we use too much these days but it means to gather or assemble. So we get the idea of the rod as being a very important part of the shepherds tool kit used to both count and account for all the sheep but also to gather them together in an assembly. I have seen the rod as defined as a tool to fight of wild animals. I have not confirmed this yet, but it does make sence to me.
The next Hebrew word we will look at in this section is the staff. The Hebrew word for staff is mishenah. This word means staff or walking stick.
Here is an illustration from the Reasons for Hope Jesus.com of what a rod and a staff might look like. I have, again, not confirmed this but it is an interesting possibility. Note that the rod again is used to club unwanted enemy animals to keep the sheep safe. I will do some more research soon and try to confirm from perhaps ancient archaeology if this is in fact what the rod looked like at that time.
I think we are safe to conclude the staff is in fact like the photo above with a hook at the end. I looked up gotquestions.org and found the staff is a symbol of the Lord's guidance and loving kindness. Sheep are very good and wandering off and even getting into dangerous tight situations. The shepherds staff is a great tool used to put it around the head of the sheep and carefully remove the sheep from the danger and provide a safe place for him or her again
Question: Why and how do the shepherds rod and staff actually comfort the sheep? And how can we apply this in our own lives as the Lord Himself is our shepherd and uses these types of tools for our comfort. Not such an easy answer. Tomorrow we will dig deeper into this.
May 24 2024
Sometimes it is good not to over think a verse. I think the comfort the shepherd provides the sheep here is in safety both from the sheep itself and from outside predators.
The rod is more than likely used to fight off predators. The staff more than likely is to rescue the sheep when stuck somewhere.
This is what the Lord, our shepherd does for us. He is always watching out for us and rescues us when we get stuck and even fights off spiritual predators. I believe there is great comfort knowing that we have a shepherd in the Lord who protects us from both inside and outside enemies.
May 28, 2024
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
We are now in verse 5 of Psalm 23. It seems this Psalm takes a bit of a turn here in verse 5 and talks I think about the future and now God is preparing a table with Him, somehow with enemies looking on. God takes care of us now as the good Shepherd but He also has great things planned for us in the future with Him. God plans ahead well and has a plan for us now and in the future.
The next part of the verse talks about the fact God anoints my head with oil. This might mean a setting apart and might be like when David was anointed as King. But I am not sure about that. I think it is a setting apart for God's work.
My cup overflows seems to be a statement of how God provides so much goodness and blessing in our lives that it even overflows. When something overflows it means there is so much of it that it cannot even be kept in the cup. The Hebrew word for overflows is revahah. In BDB revahah means saturation. In Strong's is defines revahah as runneth over or wealthy. From the Hebrew root word rahah which means satisfaction, runneth over or wealthy.
So David's cup runneth over with so much goodness and blessing from God both in the present and also in the future.
Tomorrow we will look at the final verse in Psalm 23.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Hebrew word for will follow me is radaph which BDB mentions as pursue or chase and sometimes even persecute. But I like the pursue and chase because goodness and mercy both with chase after me. That is a very good image to keep today in this fast deteriorating world we live in! More on that tomorrow.
June 1, 2024
In verse 6 we find the word “surely”. Surely in Hebrew is ak which means surely or with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows and can show contrast to what precedes or what follows. It can introduce something with emphasis of the expression of truth.
The word “goodness” in Hebrew is towb. This word according to BDB means pleasant, agreeable or good. Strong's mentions this word can be beautiful or be in favor. I do not think this means that we will have a life without stress and hardship. Notice that goodness and love will follow David all the days of his life. That brings to mind an image of sheep following their shepherd. But before we unpack that let's look at the word love here in Hebrew.
Love here in Hebrew is checed which per BDB can mean goodness or kindness. Strong's defines checed as favor or mercy or loving-kindness.
So goodness and mercy will follow David all the days of his life. Again this brings up a picture of sheep following their Shepherd.
Follow in Hebrew is radaph which can mean pursue or chase or hunt.
What does it mean then that goodness and mercy will follow after David all the years of his life. I think it is a promise and is very encouraging that God allows goodness and mercy to follow after us like sheep all our days. Again I don't think this means a stress free life but that God's goodness is always chasing us down all our days. I think this is a great image to keep in mind that God is a good and loving God and His goodness is chasing after us always. For sure it does not always feel that is the case, but nevertheless it is always true.
June 4, 2024
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
We will now look at the b section of verse 6 of our Psalm 23. This is the last phrase and promise of Psalm23. The Hebrew word for dwell is yashab. Yashab per BDB means to sit, remain or dwell. Strong's adds that yashab means to abide, continue, make to dwelling. The primitive root is to sit down (specifically as a judge or in ambush or in quiet.
The Hebrew word for house is bayith. This word translates as house in BDB, a house being as a dwelling of habitation. If I were to be somewhat creative in my translation so far I would say something like and I will hang out with the Lord in His house forever. There is a feeling of rest, security and permanency here.
The Psalmist also tells us how long we will get to dwell with the Lord and that is forever. The Hebrew word is orek which means forever, length, long and then there is the Hebrew word yom which is age, always, continually per Strongs.
Tomorrow we will do a full review of Psalm 23 based on our word study so far. This Psalm is very calming and peaceful and hopeful. There is a lot here packed into just a few verses.
June 5, 2024
Today is our final day in the study of Psalm 23. It has been a great journey together through this amazing Psalm. My prayer is that it will encourage you as much as it has encouraged me.
Let’s review Psalm 23 a bit.We learned that the Lord is in fact our shepherd, thus making us sheep who need always to follow closely. The shepherd tends the flock and keeps it safe and manages all movement for water and food and safety.Sheep get lost easily and don’t fare well on their own.
The Lord as our shepherd makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us beside quiet waters. The sheep are well rested and feel safe in these locations.
We also remember that the Lord as our shepherd refreshes our soul which is to reboot us back to our original state much like a computer at times. I think we called it a factory reset in a way.Only the Lord Himself and restore us back to where we need to be.
The Lord also leads us on the right paths.When we walk through the darkest valley which is something like a gorge with lofty sides and narrow, we fear no evil and that is because the Lord our shepherd Himself is always with us with both His rod and staff to protect us
And finally, the Lord prepares a table in the presence of our enemies, and we find ourselves with goodness and love following us around every day of our lives.And then we get to dwell with the Lord Himself forever.
While we find ourselves in dangerous and scary times now, we can remember Psalm 23 and the amazing way the Lord protects and takes care of us through all circumstances. We serve a wonderful shepherd the Lord Himself.
June 6, 2024
I finished our study of Psalm 23. Today I will start a Hebrew study in Psalm 1. There are only 6 verses in Psalm 1. Keep in mind that verse numbers and such were added later and the original Hebrew text did not in fact have verse numbers.
I will now show the entire Psalm 1 in the King James version.
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
The Hebrew word for blessed is esher. BDB defines esher as happiness. Strong's defines esher as blessed or happy. So our Psalmist starts this important Psalm with how a person can be happy or blessed. Our next Hebrew word in verse 1 is walketh. The Hebrew word here is halak and BDB defines this as walk or go or come. Strong's defines the primitive root of halak as yalak which means to walk, along and apace.
But our Psalm has a negative here of “not” which is Hebrew is lo. This is a primitive particle. So our Psalm is so far saying blessed or happy is the man that does not walk….. And now the Psalmist will give three things the person is happy if they in fact don't do (these things).
The first is blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. The Hebrew word for counsel is etsah which means counsel or advice. Strong's defines etsah as advice, advisement, counselor or purpose. The root word is yaats which means advice by implication or plan.
So the first thing we are not to walk in is the counsel or advise of a certain group of people. That group of people is translated in the King James as the ungodly. The Hebrew word is rasha which, per BDB, means wicked or criminal. Strong's adds to this definition of ungodly as condemned or guilty or one that did wrong.
So our Psalmist is making an important statement that blessed or happy is the person that does not walk in the counsel or advise of the ungodly or condemned or guilty person.
It is important to take advice for life from the right person. So I am off and running now on verse 1 of Psalm 1. This will be an interesting journey. Tomorrow I will pick up where we left off here.
June 8, 2024
Thanks to biblegateway for allowing me to show Psalm 1 in the King James Version above.
I have already written about the first of the three items in verse 1 that a person is blessed if they do NOT do.
Let's look at number two now. “nor standeth in the way of sinners”
I have to point out first that this Psalms starts off with Walk, stand and sit. We will discuss the importance of this later.
The Hebrew word for stand is amad. BDB defines amad as take one's stand or stand. Strongs further defines amad as abide behind, arise, continue or dwell. The primitive Hebrew root means to stand.
The Hebrew word for “in the way of sinners” is derek which means way, road or distance or journey. I believe there is significance to the idea of walking then standing and then sitting. This shows kind of a progression. Walking and then standing and then sitting shows a progression of movement , then stopping that movement and then finally giving in and sitting.
This might show a progression of how we are walking but begin to take bad council and then we stop that walking and we begin to just stand and take in more bad information. Finally we give in and just sit with our full attention on the bad and evil that we were only walking near when we started. I dont want to read too much into this walk, stand and sit but it is an interesting progression to say the least.
June 12, 2024
Let's look at sitteth in the seat of the scornful. The Hebrew word for sit is yasab. This word means to sit or remain or dwell. Looking again at the three we discussed earlier we see that there is s progression of walking, then standing and then sitting. Notice too that it is not just sitting but dwelling and staying there for awhile in the seat of the scornful.
The Hebrew word for seat is moshab. Moshab means a seat or assembly or dwelling place.
The Hebrew word for scorn is luts. Luts is scorn or hav in derision and can mean mock or mocker also.
Scorn is not a word in English we use alot. it means to dislike or disrespect. This sitting is the final item in the progression.
Looking at our verse now we see that the person is happy and blessed that does not spend time walking in the advice of ungodly or standing in the way of sinners or finally sitting and mocking with the scornful. It is both a promise and and a warning. It really matters how we spend our time.
Tomorrow we will examine verse 2. There is a contrast of verse 2 to verse 1 and it is most interesting and helpful.
June 13, 2024
We are now now going to look at verse 2 of Psalm 1. We already know the man or woman is happy and blessed that does not work in bad counsel of ungodly or stand around in the way of sinners or spend time and dwell and sit with the scornful. That is all great to know but now we will look at the contrast of those things. What does this happy blessed person do then? We find out in verse 2 that he or she delights in the law of the Lord. Later we will find out how he delights in the the Lord's law but for now let's examine what it means to delight in the law of the Lord.
Let's not forget to mention the conjunction in english of “but”. This word in Hebrew is im and means but to compare two things. It is a hebrew primitive particle used widely as demonstrative. Kind of like start the comparison of verse 1 and two but with attitude - Hey check this out.
The next Hebrew word we will examine in verse 2 is chephets which means delight or pleasure. Some things a person might delight in (using chephets) is to delight in delightful stones or beautiful land or fine garments or something of beauty and luxury. Strong's mentions this word comes from chaphets which is pleasure, desire, a valuable thing.
So instead of a person spending much time with the ungodly and sinners he or she delights and highly values the law of the Lord. The law of the Lord to this person is like a fine gem or costly garment then think about it and find joy and pleasure in owning it and are thankful to have it. So it is with the Law of the Lord. This person thinks about the law and finds great pleasure and delight in it.
So what exactly is the Law of the Lord? Let's examine this now. The Hebrew word used here is torah. The torah means direction or instruction or law. Strong's mentions that the word torah comes from the Hebrew word yarah which means a precept or statue, especially the Pentateuch or law.
The first 5 books of the Bible make up the Pentateuch. This includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and finally Deuteronomy.
So our Psalmist is noting that the blessed and happy man or woman is not one that dwells around with evil things and people but delights and loves and highly values and is excited about the torah or first 5 books of the Old Testament. We can safely conclude that for us now in modern times we can include the entire old and new Testament as something we can delight in and value and love. But for the original readers of this Psalm it was in fact only those 5 books mentioned.
Tomorrow we will dig deeper on this and examine what is it about the Torah or God's word that we delight in. How do we do that? How does this happen.
June 20, 2024
It has been a few days since writing about Psalm 1. It is nice to be back. I had a few medical tests and great to have that all done and in the rear view mirror now.
We are picking up where we left off last time with Psalm 1 and verse 2 with the phrase “But his delight is in the law of the Lord”. As noted earlier, at the time of the writing of Psalm 1 the law referred to here was the first 5 books of the Bible make up the Pentateuch. This includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and finally Deuteronomy.
The Psalmist here is excited and delighted with these first 5 books of the Bible - the Torah. As we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
We find the Torah as God-breathed and the Psalmist knows this and delights in it.
I believe the take away for us today is to delight in God's word and take time in study and reading daily. There is truly a delight in doing this. The Holy Spirit works in our heart and mind and as mentioned above in 2 Timothy the word is useful for teaching and rebuking and so on. The Word or the Bible is God's way of training us in righteousness. There is a delight in returning to the original user manual for being a Christian and follower of Jesus.
Now the Psalmist in verse 2 tells how this delighted and happy Christian actually uses the Word of God or the Law as it is referred to.
The second part of verse 2 says “and in His Law doth he meditate day and night. ” We are told what the happy man does with the Word and when he does it. We are given scope and schedule here. Let's first start with what the happy man does with the Law and how he uses it.
First we are told what the happy man does and that is to meditate. Then we are told how often and when the happy man does this meditation - day and night. Lets dissect this a bit.
The Hebrew word for meditates is hagah which means to moan, utter, speak or muse per BDB. Strong's defines hagah as imagine, meditate, mourn, mutter, roar, sore speak or study.
The Hebrew primitive root hagiyg is to murmur in pleasure or anger or to ponder, imagine or meditate. I get the picture in my mind of someone who is kind of talking to themself and musing over something. This person seems to be fully engaged in the process and both the imagination and the fully focus of his brain in engaged.
I am trying to come up with an example of this and here is a simple one. I am a guitarist and have been since I was 7 years old and now I am almost 70 so if I do the math that is kind of a long time. I have found that most of my life I have mused or mulled over or engaged my full brain even with imagination of what a good guitar tone is and why it is so. I ponder if it is the type of strings or perhaps the top wood of the guitar, or the weather that day. Just kind of going over and over ideas and musing on guitar sounds. That is all I know because I have been doing this for decades.
I think this is what hagah is here in this Psalm. Because the Psalmist delights fully in the Word he tends to mull it over and meditate on all aspects of it. Questions come to mind like “what did the author intend by this verse” or “why did he say that” or “what might that mean today right now in my life.” The list of what the Psalmist does in his focus and meditation of the word is almost endless. There is a delight in the process as he meditates and mulls over the Law.
Now, as promised, we will look at how often the Psalmist in fact meditates and mulls over the Law in his mind.
Day here in Hebrew is yomam and means daytime, by day and night in Hebrew is layil or lel or layelah. It simply means night as opposed to day.
So this happy person delights in the law and mulls over it and thinks about it but not just during his daily devotions. He does this day and night. Now that is a person that is truly into something! He both takes delight in the Word and is into it mentally day and night. Not out of compulsion but out of delight and love of the Law.
It might be said that happy man here is totally into the Word!
The challenge to me here is to have my focus more and more be on the Word of God and what He is saying to me and not what the TV is saying, or books or all those creative good things. The Word of God is the source of this happiness and delight. It is the delight of hearing from God our creator and the one who knows us better then we could ever know ourselves.
June 22, 2024
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Let's look at verse 3 now of Psalm 1. The author continues with what happens to a person when they delight in the law of the Lord. The verse says “and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water….”
He shall be in Hebrew is hayah which , according to BDB, means fall out, come to pass, become or be. Strong's mentions that hayah has a primitive root hava which means to exist. So some to pass or “be” or shall be is a good translation. This verb is V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms. I believe this reads like a promise. The person that delights in God's word and meditates day and night will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.
Note that this is a metaphor. A person will not necessarily be a literal tree planted , but will be like a tree planted.
The Hebrew word for tree is ets. BDB defines ets as tree, trees or wood.
The Hebrew word for planted is shathal. Shathal per BDB means transplant. It is from the primitive root to transplant or plant. Shathal is a very interesting word because it has the mean of transplant as well as plant. My lovely wife is a very good gardener. I watch sometimes as she transplants or moves certain plants from one location to another. It is interesting that the author uses the verb shathal or transplant. It shows intentionality and it shows the movement or planting of this tree so that it is by a river. We get the picture of a river as a strong source of life and growth of this tree. So we might interpret this tree as flurashling because it was transplanted by a river.
Tomorrow we will examine the Hebrew word used here for rivers. The Hebrew word is peleg and BDB defines peleg as channel or canal. Strong's mentions this word as coming from palag - a rill or small channel of water as in irrigation.
So when someone delights in God's word and meditates day and night the effect of this in their life is like being transplanted near an irrigation stream. That stream might be the Word of God or might be the work of the Holy Spirit in that persons life. We will have to examine this further.
June 24.2024
We have established the fact that in Psalm 1 verse 3 that a person who does not hang out with ungodly and way of sinners but instead delights in the Law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night will be blessed and happy. Also that person will be like a tree plant transplanted to like irrigation canals or narrow streams.
Let's look at at verse 3 again and examine “that bringeth forth fruit in his season.” Now that the tree has in fact been transplanted to a very well irrigated location there is a blessing and outcome with that tree. It will in fact bring forth fruit. Let's look at the Hebrew word here for bringeth. The Hebrew word for bring forth is nathan which per BDB means give , put or set.
Fruit in Hebrew is fruit (what a shock!). In it's season is eth in Hebrew which means time. So the fruit of this transplanted tree actually gives fruit but only in it's time.
I am thinking of the fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in the New Testament in Galatians 5:22-23.
This is a good reminder that goodness and joy and love and peace and gentleness and such dont come from ourselves but from the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Also we find in this verse that the tree's leaf will not wither. The Hebrew word for wither here is nabel and it means to disgrace , dishonor, come to nothing, make vile or wither per Strong's. I am curious why the author did not in fact use the Hebrew word aleh for leaf. Aleh means leaf or leafage. Instead of perhaps the more obvious Hebrew word for leaf the author uses nabel which means to wither or disgrace or dishonor. Very interesting insight that the author intended to show the fruit as pure and undefiled and not evil or bad.
The fruit that the Lord helps us produce comes from the Spirit in our lives and it is always good, loving and helpful. Let's not forget the source too of this true which has been transplanted to live by an irrigation canal so as to flourish and do well.
It is the Lord Himself that gives us exactly what we need for fruit in our lives. And it comes from a life that is daily and hourly focused on God's word.
June 29, 2024
We will now look at the final phrase of verse 3 of Psalm 1. “and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” KJV
The Hebrew word for doeth or do is asah. BDB defines do asah as do or make. Strong's defines asah as accomplish, advance, appoint, become or bear.
This is a very interesting part of Psalm 1. The person that is not hanging out or walking or standing with sinners but delights in the Lords word will first be like a transplanted tree near irrigation canals of water and will flourish, but also whatever this person does or accomplish will prosper.
I don't think this is saying that a person will be successful in everything he tries. Before we interpret this more let's look at the word prosper. The Hebrew word for prosper is tsalach and BDB defines this as rush or advance or prosper. I like Strong's definition as break out, be profitable or effect.
I don't think this is talking about the prosperity gospel. I do think this verse is providing us another benefit of meditating on the Lord's word all the time and bringing forth fruit in their lives. This is a further expansion of the tree bearing fruit and what this person does will in fact be fruitful and prosper. God's Word and being involved with it daily and hourly is such a key to a fruitful life. I know from personal experience over the years that I have much more peace and am more grounded when I focus on God's word. This is true even down to a dailly level. When I start off the day focused on God's word I then seem to have a much better day with more peace.
Lord - help me today to stay focused on your Word and what you are telling me, not what the news or the world is trying to tell me. Help me to be, today, focused on your Word.
July 15, 2024
Verse 3 of Psalm 1 in KJV says “The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away”. Here we see a contrast between the person who delights in the law or the word versus the ungodly person. The godly person is like a tree planted and brings forth fruit but we find the ungodly in a different place.
The Hebrew word for ungodly is rasha. BDB defines rasha as wicked or criminal. Strong's further defines rasha as condemned, guilty or wicked man. The author uses the metaphor of being like chaff driven in the wind. Chaf in Hebrew is mots. Mots per BDB is chaff. According to Got Questions.org chaff is the loose outer covering on wheat and other grains that must be separated in the threshing and winnowing process of harvesting grain. Chaff is very light weight and will easily blow away in the wind.
The Psalmist here draws a picture in our mind of, first, a tree planted by an irrigation canal that is providing fruit and very stable and productive. The comparison here is of chaff that is very light weight and blows away easily in a small breeze or wind. Note that there is stability and thriving for the planted tree who is following the Lord's word and there is instability with the ungodly.
The word wind in this verse in Hebrew is ruach which per BDB means breath, wind or spirit. Strong's states that ruach is air, anger , blast or breath.
Prayer for today based on our study here. “Lord help me today to delight in your word and to think about it during the day and ponder it. Show me today what you want to show me in the word. Help me be that person that is intentionally planted by irrigation canals with a plan for fruitfulness. Help me to know that it is only thru you today that this can happen. Help me today to live and breathe your word”
July 23, 2024
Now moving to verse 5 we read “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”
The psalmist here is contrasting again the righteous with the ungodly.
July 27, 2024
We gave made it to the final verse 6 of 6 in Psalm 1. Let's break this apart a bit looking at the Hebrew text.
The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous. The Hebrew word for know is yada. BDB defines yada as know. Strong talks about the primitive root of yada as to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing). Yada uses a variety of our senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially. I like the defined term of root as being aware.
The Hebrew word for way is derek. BDB defines derek as way, road, distance, journey or manner. I like Strong's explanation of derek as from the root darak, which is a road trodden or a journey.
The word righteous here in Hebrew is tsaddiq. BDB defines righteous as just or righteous. tsaddiq is the same word used in Genesis 6:9 “and Noah was a righteous man”.
It is interesting that the Psalmist has already laid out what the righteous person looks like in this Psalm 1.
The righteous person is:
Blessed
Does not walk in step with the wicked
Delights in the law of the Lord
Meditates on the word day and night
Is like a tree planted by streams of water
Yields fruit in season
Prospers
It is important to remember also that God is the one that makes us righteous. It is through faith in Jesus that this even happens. We are remembering also Psalm 51:9-10 which says the righteous are not sinless but when they do sin they seek God's forgiveness and God cleanses them of unrighteousness.
Our righteousness comes directly from faith in Jesus and never from our own work. But having said that there are ways a person can be happy and blessed and again I refer you to the list I made previously of ingredients of a righteous person.
Blessed
Does not walk in step with the wicked
Delights in the law of the Lord
Meditates on the word day and night
Is like a tree planted by streams of water
Yields fruit in season
Prospers
While it is true that our righteousness comes directly from God through faith in Jesus, there are things we can do that help us have a happy and blessed life. Staying close to God by being reminded of His word hour by hour is a great way to be blessed and delighting in the Word of God. I find my days are so much better when I begin the day in the Word and am reminded throughout that day of what God was showing me that morning.
So we close our study now of Psalm 1 and will begin Psalm 2 in a few days. Our way or journey through Psalm 1 has been super rewarding to me and I hope it has helped you also.
One thing just came to mind. In my early Christian life I felt that if I just went up to the alter and prayed in church that one time , that one thing would fix my life totally. While this is a great thing to do, to pray and give everything to our Lord, I see the Christian life more as a journey now after my study of Psalm 1. It is a road and journey that I am on with lots of ups and downs and challenges. The trick I think for me is to stay close the the Lord by meditation on His word every hour of the day. I very lofty goal but one that produces alot of peace in my life.
One thing I am allowing myself to do in this Bible Study journal here in 2024 is to jump around to different passages from time to time. Here is a perfect example of this move tpday Aug 27, 2024. I was working on Psalm 41 but was moved inside to move our study over to II Thessalonians. While there may be a number of reasons for this , my primary reason is that we are in the last of the end days before our Lord returns. So lets dig into II Thessalonians now! Thessalonica today the port city of Thessaloniki or Salonica
I am using the NIV with the Fair Use Doctrine here. The book of II Thessalonians was written by Paul.
Note that CE is really the same as AD. Paul, while in Corinth wrote this letter to the Thessalonians. Thessolonica is now modern day Greece. This letter was written to the church in Thessolonica. Thessolonica is 300 or so miles from Corinth. Today one could drive that route in less then 6 hours. Walking back then could take 15 days or so!
Wednesday Sept 4, 2024 at 8:00 AM PDT
As noted in my introduction above, I will from time to time move to another passage for that day's Bible study based on some life circumstance changes. Thanks for your flexibility on this. Today is one of those days to leave our Thessalonians study and move to an important passage.
I will borrow a verse from our Romans study below. Romans 8:38-39 in the NIV says
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yesterday I had the privilege of talking for awhile with a guy on a very old motorcycle with was traveling with his Pom dog to 47 states and 100 countries. He was on his way with his dog to Alaska and was right here in our Medford neighborhood yesterday getting ready for the trip. An amazing story. What I was also impressed with is the strong and obvious connection he had with his small dog Sasha. I was reminded this morning that my connection with Jesus is very strong and obvious according to the Word but that sometimes I feel it is a weak connection because I feel I am not doing stuff right or well enough or not doing just enough.
So it is time first before I write this to put on my morning full armor of God from Ephesians 6. I always do that first. So hold on just one minute while I do that!
Ok thanks for letting me do that! Let's continue now. Sometimes, perhaps too many times, I know in my head that Jesus has hold on me and that I am secure with Him even when getting near end times as we are in now. But I start to feel that I am not as secure. If I based my safety and relationship with Jesus on how I felt from day to day I would be a bit like a small twig floating on the top of a river with no aim or safety.
So instead I use one of the armor of God parts from Ephesians 6 which is the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. so here is the verse of the day for me now based on all this.
Romans 8:38-39 in the NIV says
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is not alot that can keep Jesus from me. I will translate Greek tomorrow. Below is a photo of that guy and Sasha the motorcycle dog. Notice the secure attachment they have. That is what Jesus looks like in my mind today if I was the dog. Jesus has a hold on me.
Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
I will be looking at Ephesians 6:10 briefly this morning on the full armour of God. We are in the last of the last days now. I am noticing two things I am experiencing now as a Christian of many years. Today's armour to look at is the sword of the Spirit.
I am getting every day a stronger and stronger need for God in new ways, to be closer to Jesus on a totally different level and the feeling that I am not yet home.
I am getting hit with spiritual warfare like never before. There is a constant voice in my head saying the following: It is very consistent and somewhat new to me.
The voice is saying “you are not good enough for Jesus when He returns”
The voice is saying “Jesus will not take you when you return because you are not a REAL Christian”
The voice is saying “You will be left behind to go through the tribulation”
As you can see this is very intense and not fun.
Let's look at each piece of God's armour He gave to us for spiritual warfare attacks. I won't look at each piece of amour in order. I will take the Sword of the Spirit today which is the word of God.
Ephisians 6:17 says in the Greek
Thanks to Biblehub.com for this screen print. Also thanks to NIV for this verse.
7 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. NIV
The sword in Greek here is machaira. Machaira means sword. This word was taken from the word mache which is a knife. Notice that we get our word machete from this word!
This is a key piece of armour for the Christian for Spiritual Warfare. We are told what this sword is also in this same verse. It is the word of God. So how does one use the sword of the Spirit?
Let's make some observations of this sword.
The sword is the only piece of the full armour of God that is offensive in nation. As we will observe with all the other armour pieces the other's are for defense.
So how does one use this one offensive tool? Well it is the Word of God so I believe when we get attacked with voices saying “you are worthless as a Christian” or “You wont make it to heaven” we use our only offensive weapon which is the Word of God.
In a practical way when we are under spiritual attack we can quote the Word of God to that voice. I have my favorite verses from the Bible like :
This is a great offensive move to quote the Word back to the enemy when you are under attack. Later we will examine how Jesus used the Word of God when He was under attack from the enemy.
Sep 28, 2024
I am going to again kind of jump around on topics in the Bible and related items. Today I want to look at something some Christians struggle with , including myself at times. This is the fear of the rapture happening any minute and even greater fear of being left behind.
I am a strong believer in Jesus as Lord so that is not the issue at all. It is the issue of fear and anxiety which. have always struggled with my whole life. So I am going to break this study down into two days. The first day will be dealing with fear and anxiety in general. And the second day will deal with why there should be not fear of Jesus abandoning us at such a pivotal point in history based on some verses in the New Testament. So let's get started!
For fear in general I like to refer to the New Testament and the book of 2 Timothy and chapter 1 and verse 7. Here it is
The NIV version:
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
The Greek word for timid is deilia. Delilia means fear and is from the root word deilos which means timidity or fear. Digging deeper into that word we see deos as dread or timid or fearful.
I like the internet's definition of despair and uncertainty :
I like the King James Version of 2 Timothy 1:7
So basically this is saying that God gave us His Spirit. That is a given if you are a believer in Jesus and a Christian and have asked Jesus into your heart. This Spirit is one thing and not another. What the Spirit of God gave us is His Holy Spirit and then describes the Holy Spirit. As Spirit of power, love and self control.
There seems to be an interesting challenge for us here in this verse. If in fact we have the Spirit of God in our hearts as for sure we do as a true Christian why then would Paul then even bring up that someone might be feeling or experiencing a spirit of fear?
I used to like logic classes in High School and College. I think we can safely say that if Paul brought up the possibility of feeling fear even with the Holy Spirit in our lives that lends itself logically to the point that we can in fact at some point have fear even as a Spirit filled Christian. It does not mean that fear needs to control things in our lives though. I think Paul goes into more detail in verse 8 on all this.
It might be a good observation now that if we are feeling at times fear as a Christian it is pretty normal and even mentioned as a possibility in the Bible. I think inside of fear and anxiety sometimes we can feel alone and that we are the only ones that struggle with fear and anxiety in the world, but that is not true.
The other observation that must be made is that although we feel and experience fear and anxiety at times that in fact we have the Spirit of the Holy God living right inside us as a Christian. That Spirit is one of power and love and self control.
Tomorrow we will look at each of these Greek words in detail.
Sep 30, 2024
The word for power in 2 Tim 1:7 is dunamis which we get our word in English dynomite. Strong's defines dunamis as ability, power or strength in Greek. The Greek root for dunamis is dunamai which means force or miraculous power.
So the Spirit of God lives inside each Christian and one of the attributes of dunamis is power. Notice that this power is not anything from us. We have not power on our own. It is the Spirit of God that lives in us that provides this power.
“Lord help me today to live in your power and not my own and help me to trust You for this alone.”
Oct 7, 2024
We are still in the same 2 Tim 1:7. In review so far we see that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power. The next item God gives us with His Spirit that lives inside of us as Christians, is a spirt of love. The Greek word for love here is agape which means love or charity. It is the strongest of Greek words for love, that type of love that God gives us.
So far we know that God has given us a Spirit of power like dynamite! Also God has given us a Spirit of Love that comes directly from God in His Holy Spirit that lives in us.
The final item God gives us in His Spirit is a spirit of sound mind. The Greek word for sound mind is sophronismos. This is an interesting word and the root is sophronizo which means discipline or self control or sound mind.
So today as I go along my long list of to do items and try to get things done I can remember that God today for me has not given me a spirit of fear at all even with all that is happening on the earth during these end times right now. But God did give me a Spirit of power and love and a sound mind. This is very encouraging even when things are getting a bit crazy now during the end of the end times.
Oct 10, 2024
As you can see I am starting to jump around to different Bible topics now. Hope that is not too confusing. It is kind of nice for me.
I have been attending a class on Bible Prophecy at church that meets mid week for 1.5 hours. One big question that came to mind in the class was how do we know when the Tribulation starts? There are a few YouTube Prophecy guys I follow on YouTube and believe it or not they believe the tribulation just started here in Oct 2024.
My question is specifically what Bible prophecy event starts the Tribulation?
Let's look at Daniel 9:24-27. Also lets look at Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 4 and Thessalonians 2
Oct 17, 2024
Hard to tell I think exactly when the tribulation starts. But as a dispensationalist I agree with those that teach the rapture then the 7 years of tribulation. But it is tricky and not that clear sometimes in the Word for me.
There seems to first be a falling away and then the antichrist is revealed. Here is where it begins to get tricky in timing of things. lets dig deeper now.
Oct 22, 2024
According to one trusted YouTube Site prophecy teacher the thing that triggers the 7 year tribulation is the signing of a covenant between Antichrist and Israel.
thanks to CHATGPT for the following :According to some interpretations of Christian eschatology, particularly within certain dispensationalist and premillennialist views, the tribulation is believed to begin when Israel signs a covenant or peace agreement with the Antichrist. This concept is primarily derived from the prophecy in Daniel 9:27, which mentions a "prince" (interpreted by some as the Antichrist) who will confirm a covenant with many for one week (often understood as seven years). In this view, the signing of the covenant marks the beginning of a seven-year tribulation period, which is divided into two halves: the first 3.5 years of relative peace and the second 3.5 years of great suffering, often referred to as the "Great Tribulation."
Thanks for NIV on Bible Gateway for the following quote for Daniel 9:27
Note that this verse assumes the third Temple has been rebuilt. Keep an eye on that!
Oct 26, 2024
I mentioned at the top of this blog that I might have a bit of ADHD. Thus I kind of jump around alot on topics as you can see from day to day. Today I would like to discuss Matthew 24 a bit. Jesus and just a few of the disciples are together on the Mount of Olives and the disciples have just asked Jesus the following:
Matthew 24:3 NIV (see copyright note on top of blog)
The very first thing Jesus mentions about the end of the age is in verse 4 so since it is first it must be most important
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
The Greek word for deceives is planao (See biblehub.com https://biblehub.com/strongs/greek/4105.htm)
This word in Greek means to deceive, err, seduce, wander. It comes from the Greek root plane which means to roam from safety or truth or go astray or wander.
I believe that is what is happening now here in Oct 2024. Many are being deceived now or are wandering from the truth.
Then in verse 5 it reads
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
This verses has been a bit challenging because though many are being deceived and are wandering from the truth these days, I am not 100% sure who are all the people that claim to be the Messiah right now. Let's dig a bit deeper and try to unfold this mystery a bit.
The Greek word for many (many will come…) is polus. I am wondering if our English word plus comes from this! Anyway, plus means abundant, many, much.
The Greek word for come (many will come….) is erchomai. Erchomai means accompany, appear, come, grow. I believe “come ” as in NIV is best.
The Greek word onoma means called, surnamed (For many will come in my name….)
I will refer you to this link - deep dive on the Greek word onoma. This is a fascinating discussion on this word and concept. I found it to be most helpful. As you read this important analysis (it is StackExchange) you will begin to see there are two primary interpretations of this passage. Some of the best analysis I have come by.
What has always kind of bothered me about the interpretation of this verse as “many people will come and be claiming themselves as the Messiah” - is that this is not what I am currently seeing acted out in these last days now. All the other things Jesus brings up as going to happen in the last days are exactly , and I mean exactly, as He said. BUT this one verse, this one interpretation has always bothered me that many will come saying “hey I am the actual Messiah”.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
The analysis noted above in StackExchange is fantastic. I cannot recommend it enough. It does a very good job discussing if Jesus meant “claiming I am the Messiah” means they were actually saying “hey I am the actual Messiah” even though they are not and an imposter. Or it might mean to come in Jesus' authority. (see Acts 2:38)
Though this discussion in StackExchange is excellent and even discusses options from church history writers, both interpretive options come to the same conclusion in my opinion and that is as follows:
Many will come claiming….
Whoever these people are - they are coming in Jesus' authority and name.
Those many who come will in fact deceive many.
Those are the facts we can hang our hats on. The fact that many will come might be an indication that we might be early in the end times activities thus more and more of these false people will be coming.
Both options for interpretation are clear that these false people will be coming in Jesus' authority.
And finally, those many who come in Jesus' authority will in fact deceive many people. I believe this is an ominous warning and we should be on the lookout always for such people since we are in fact in the last of the last days.
What is our best defence against such deceiving people? I believe staying close to Jesus with prayer but also study in the Word of God to make sure we are on the right track at all times.
I think Frank does an outstanding job of talking about the Greek in Matthew 24:5 and those that will come and deceive.
I will quote Frank's article a bit now. “First of all, all the Greek texts (i.e. the Majority Text, the Byzantine Text and the Minority Text) agree 100% on the wording for this verse. So we don't have to worry about "alternate readings" somehow saying something else”. by Frank W Nelte An Examination of Matthew 24:5 - January 2001. https://www.franknelte.net/article.php?article_id=194
This is a screen print from Bible Hub at https://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/24-5.htm used correctly per copyright guidelines. Frank Ntelte at https://www.franknelte.net/article.php?article_id=194 says something like the following: The Greek verb eimi which automatically implies the pronoun I as for example in I AM. I think Frank makes a very important point here that it was not required that Jesus here use the pronoun ego. Frank noted that Jesus here did in fact use the pronoun ego with eimi as shown above. This tells us that Jesus was emphasizing that the deceivers would appeal to Jesus as their authority. Frank Nelte notes that Mr. Armstrong in the noted article online was correct when he explained that the deceivers Jesus was speaking about would NOT claim at all that they themselves were the Christ or the Messiah. The deceivers would in fact be pointing to the historical Jesus and saying He was and is the Christ.
This is a very important point that Mr. Armstrong and Frank Nelte make and begs for us to dig even deeper on this issue.
Please refer now to Biblehub.com https://biblehub.com/greek/1510.htm to the Greek word eimi that is used here in Matthew 24:5. The Greek verb eimi is a fundamental Greek verb equivalent to the verb to be. Note again in biblehub.com that eimi means to be, to exist to happen to be present.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. (NIV - see copyright use at top of this discussion)
The next thing Jesus talks about in Matthew 24 about what the sign of His coming and the end of the age will look like is hearing of wars and rumors of wars.
Let's break this down some in the Greek. The Greek says you will begin to hear of…. The Greek word mello is used which in Strong's means “to be about to” .
The word “then” is used which I think shows the passage of time. Like something happens, then something else happens. The Greek word for then is de. In greek this is a primary particle which can be adversative or continuative. It can mean but, or also, and, moreover, now.
The Greek word for hear is akouo. Akouo is defined (In Strongs) as give audience, come to the ears, be reported.
Question - Where do we “hear” about wars and rumors of War mostly right now here in 2024?
Answer is - TV, internet, radio. There are many ways that wars and rumors of wars news hits our ears. There is an almost endless noise and chatter from all the current types of media about Wars. CNN and Fox News , NBC and a host of other media outlets report in extreme detail sometimes about the world's wars and rumors of wars 24 - 7. It is hard to ignore such things these days!
It is interesting that Jesus gives us His desired response we should have to hearing such things. First he gives us His preferred response that we should have then He gives more or less a reason for such rumors.
Let's dig into the Greek a bit on what His desired response to rumors of wars is. But first a quick question!
Question - Are we hearing of wars and rumors of wars right now? The answer is a strong yes! Right now I can turn on the news, at almost any time of the day and hear of wars going on right now and strong rumors of wars.
Right now am leaning towards the interpretation of this verse meaning many will come saying they are in fact the Messiah. I will dig more into this but so far that is where I am landing on my interpretation.
One thing I might be getting hung up on in my interpretation of Matthew 24:5 is thinking this prophecy by Jesus has to happen now, right now in Nov 2024. But I think in reading Josephus and other Bible scholars in church history Jesus might not just be referring to right now near the end of the church age but also be speaking of other years that would have been future at the time Jesus spoke these words to the disciples on the Mount of Olives. One analysis of church history mentioned there were no less than 24 people who in church history claimed to actually being the Messiah themselves.
Also I have been getting un uncomfortable feeling even in our Nov 2024 time period right now that Trump himself , just elected the USA's new president, might in fact subtly be claiming to be some kind of a Messiah that will fix every thing for Christians now. So there is no lack of candidates for people claiming to be the Messiah themselves these days and in church history.
Nov 15, 2014
As noted above, I like to jump around on passages and subjects from time to time. I have really enjoyed Psalm 27 recently and that last few verses are just great. So let's do some Hebrew digging on some words now on that.
I am using NIV from biblegateway.com but just a few verses. Actually just verse 14 of Psalm 27.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Wait in Hebrew is qavah.
Qavah means wait for. In Strong's qavah is defined as tarry, wait for or wait on or wait upon.
BDB says this about Qavah. Probably originally twist, stretch, then of tension of enduring , waiting. https://biblehub.com/bdb/6960.htm
So the Psalmist here is saying wait for the Lord which can mean to wait with tension, with expectation and with enduring. Perhaps wait expectantly might be a good way of looking at this word in verse 14.
The Hebrew word for on here is el. El is a Hebrew preposition denoting motion to or direction towards.
We are encouraged to wait but specifically to wait on the Lord Himself.
So again let's look at Psalm 27:14 in the Hebrew more. The Hebrew word for be of good courage is chazaq. BDB notes that chazaq is a verb meaning be or grow firm, strong, strengthen. Strong's is interesting too because it defines chazaq as aid, amend, catch, cleave or confirm. The primitive root means to fasten upon hence to seize or be strong
As we wait for the Lord we also are encouraged to be strong.
Now in the NIV verse 14 translates something like
And take heart in the Hebrew is the word amets which BDB defines as confirm, be courageous of good courage….
But what is interesting is this verb in Hebrew is amets. I will screen print a very good analysis of amets from Bible Hub.com here is the URL directly. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/553.htm.
According to the Google AI Overview AMETS is not really a command but an encouragement to be strong and is not typically used as a direct instruction or command.
So as we are waiting for the Lord we are not passive and sitting around being afraid, we wait for the Lord but we wait being strong. Sometimes I have the feeling that waiting on the Lord is a passive thing that means just sit and don't do anything wrong as you wait on the Lord, perhaps something like, sit quietly and wait for the school bus but don't do anything wrong but sit quietly.
I don't that that is what the Psalmist had in mind though. I think he is encouraging us to wait on the Lord but do so with strength and confidence.
Nov 21, 2024
Today we will look at Psalm 33:1-3. Again kind of jumping around alot on passages and such but this is a good one to land on today.
Praise in Hebrew here in this verse is yadah. BDB defines yada as throw or cast. It also is used as give thanks, laud or praise. Strong's defines yada as cast out, make confession, praise, shoot, give thankful.
The term “with the harp” is from the Hebrew word bekinnowr. ( or kinnor). BDB defines kinnor as lyre. Strong's defines kinnor as a harp. It comes from the unused root meaning to twang; a harp. Thanks to Google AI Overview for the following:
It appears to be David's go to instrument! The Lyre at that time had 3 to 12 gut strings. It resembled the Greek Kithara which is boxlike in the neck. (sounds similar to a guitar!)
The Lyre in Old Testament times had divisive tuning, where strings were divided into precise mathematical ratios to create intervals like perfect fifths or even octaves. Some scholars believe that the tuning used a Pythagorean approach with stacking perfect 5ths.
This Psalm, like many uses Hebrew parallelism. This verse 2 of Psalm 33 is a great example. The second half of the parallel structure says “Make melody with an instrument of ten strings.” Let's break this down more in Hebrew now. The first occurance of harp is the word kinnor which means harp as we have seen already. The second occurance now is nebel which is bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel or viol according to Strong's. BDB defines nebel as skin-bottle or jar or pitcher. It is also used for a musical instrument either a harp or lute or guitar with a bulging resonance-body at lower end.
In other Bible locations the Hebrew word shminit is used of an 8 string harp. For a deep dive on the types of kinnor's used in the Bible see the Armstrong institute of Archaeology website at
Now let's study the Hebrew word for make melody. The word used is zamar. BDB defines zamar as make music - in praise of God. It's used for making music or singing or playing a musical instrument.
Zamar per Strong's means to give praise, sing forth praises or psalms.
The primitive root for zamar has the idea of striking with the fingers, properly to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument.
These verses are very exciting to a fingerstyle guitarist such as myself. I can use the modern day guitar to make melody and praise to God directly. I have been using steel string guitars since about 1961 when I got my first guitar. Just recently I sold my Collings OM1A steel string and purchased a 2006 David La Plante classical. I find nylon strings to be easier to play now that I am over 70 years old! But the principal is still the same, praising God with a stringed instrument!
Nov 26, 2024
I was recently diagnosed with PTSD. One of the great Psalms for someone who has PTSD it Psalm 91:4-6.
Let's take a bit of a deep dive on these verses in Hebrew now!
He will cover…. In Hebrew the word for He will cover is cakak. BDB defines cakak as a verb meaning headge or fence about or shut it. Strong's defines cakak as cover, defend, hedge in…
The Hebrew verb here is a verb-Hifil-Imperf.jus-3ms.
To hedge in or fence something in is basically to create a fence or boundary formed by closely growing bushes or shrubs. He will hedge you in …
This describes God protecting us much like an eagle would cover or hedge in their young. The phrase -cover you with feathers does not in any way mean God Himself has feathers. This is a Hebrew picture for us of God's amazing protection much like a parent eagle covering and protecting their young.
Nov 29, 2024. Word Study on Faith (Jan 11 2025 added)
I would like to start today a study on the word Faith in the Bible. This will be ongoing and I will do other studies also but I can always come back to this one.
Hal Lindsey passed away 2 days ago. He was a huge influence on me and my study of end times Bible prophecy. One book (Ebook) I want to start reading is Faith for Earths Final Hour that Hal wrote.
The word faith appears 200 times in the New Testament and 247 times in the KJV. It must be an important concept!
Luke 18:8 says “Yes, Jesus asked, When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” I am always impressed but this verse because Jesus does not say something like When the Son of Man comes will He find Christians busy doing His work. No He talks about faith.
The New Testament Greek word per Strong's for faith in is pistis. Strong's defines pistis as assurance, belief, faith or fidelity.
I have studied Faith before in Hebrews but let's review a bit.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV
Without faith it is impossible…. The Greek word for impossible per Strong's is adunatos. Adunatos means impossible, impotent, weak, from a as a negative particle and dunatos which means unable, weak or impossible.
I think I have mentioned this before but it bares repeating. It is simply impossible to please God without faith. It just cannot be done. It think many people these days , and myself included, want to “see” God working and to “see” the effect of believing in God. I am reminded of Thomas the Apostle mentioned in four of the gospels - Matthew, Mark,Luke and John. If you remember Thomas said the following in John 20:25:
Jesus does appear to Thomas later and Thomas says to Jesus in John 20:28 “Thomas said to Him”"My Lord and my God"". Then in verse 29 Jesus told him (Thomas) "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed"
When Jesus says “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. The “those” here is us, you and I as Christians here in 2025! It is not by sight but through faith that we believe Jesus is our Lord and God. Jesus uses the word blessed here and in the Greek blessed is (in John 20:29) makapioi. Per Strong's (3107) makarios means blessed or happy. A prolonged form of the poetical makar (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off -- blessed, happy(X -ier). Strong's
Today is a normal Saturday just another day, but I will go around knowing that I am blessed and even extremely blessed because I believe Jesus is my Lord and saviour. I am pretty sure it does not get much better than this in life! We are extremely blessed because of believing Jesus and knowing this by faith and not by sight.
Let's take each of these New Testament occurrences of adunatos and examine how this word “impossible” is used. (classic word study)
Matthew 19:26
It is interesting that the greek for possible is the same greek word adunatos but without the negative particle.
Mark 10:27
Luke 18:27
Acts 14:8
It is interested because in Acts 14:8 the word for impossible was translated as crippled in his feet.
It was therefore impossible for this man to walk.
So far we have seen impossible in Greek as adunatos which means literally impossible. What does it mean that it is impossible to please God without faith.
Let's explore the logic a bit.
Let's create some metaphor like examples of impossible. Without water it is impossible to live much beyond three days without water. Without food it is impossible to stay alive after 43-70 days. Without oxygen it is impossible to live much past 4 - 5 minutes.
The word “impossible” does not leave many open doors for interpretation at all. If something is impossible, there is no chance it will work out.
So without faith it is impossible to please God. It seems people try to please God without faith, but it never works out. Faith is a fundamental and critical part of the Christians walk with God and without Faith there is no chance of relationship with God.
The logic concept per ChatGPT for if if not A then no B is called necessity or logical implication. Another way to word this is without A then B could never happen. That is the exact logic here in our verse.
A way to write this would be without Faith there will never be pleasing God.
In logic this is called a conditional relationship meaning. This does not necessarliy imply the converse which would be if B happens then A is always possible. A is a necessary condition for B to occur. Here is a logic statement for clarity. If not A then not B. THis means B cannot happen unless A is true.
Thanks to ChatGPT for this information on logic of A and B.
It is amazing to me just how critical Faith is in the Bible. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is what glues us to God in our relationship.
Now that we have established the importance and criticalness of faith, let's define exactly what faith is according to the Bible. I think one of the best passages for defining faith is Hebrews 11:1. I like the older NASB 1995 translation the best for this verse. Thanks to biblegateway.com for use of this verse here.
I realize I have written about this verse before, but it is so important for our understanding of faith and what it is I am going to re-do that section now.
Dec 19, 2024
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast".
Along with faith there is grace. How exactly are we saved? Well Ephesians 2:8-9 for by grace you have been saved through faith. There it is again - the word faith. There is a lot in this verse. A ton actually.
The word for in greek per Biblehub at https://biblehub.com/strongs/greek/1063.htm, is gar. It means and, as, because, for and is a primary particle properly assigning a reason in an argument or explanation.
Grace in verse 8 in greek is charis and means grace or favor. (All greek information is from biblehub.com here.
Unmerited divine assistance - Webster has a great definition of grace.
“Have been” in greek is eimi which can mean am, have been, it is I or was.
We then were saved at a past point in time, when we accepted Christ into our hearts. This without a doubt is the most important few minutes of our entire life.
The word “saved” in greek is sozo. Strong's at Biblehub.com defines sozo as heal, be made whole. It is from the primary greek word sos which is a contraction for obsolete saos which means to save.
Through in greek is the primary preposition denoting the channel of an act. The Greek word is dia.
Let's come up with an English word example for dia or through. “Through a sales person I was able to by my Honda CRV”. Or “Through Amazon I was able to receive my tee shirts I purchased”.
It's through faith we are saved. It is the method or the way we got saved, it was the taxi driver that delivered us to 32 and 178th street in New York. The method of how we got there.
Dec 30 2024
Eph 5:15-17
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jan 7, 2025
I can't believe it is January 2025 already. Amazing how time if flying as we near the end of the last days.
A sermon I recently heard on KDOV here in Medford, Oregon gave the challenge to read or listen to a book in the Bible every day for several weeks. I have been doing this with II Thessalonians chapters 1 - 3. It really is a great way to get the flow of the letter by Paul which was really meant I think to be a letter read aloud or personally all at once as one letter. It has been a really great thing.
Verses 11 and 12 in chapter one are very key to understanding the entire book. In these verses Paul writes the purpose and goal of the letter. How does God actually make us worthy of His calling? This is such an interesting statement.
Notice that it is first our desire for goodness and having every deed prompted by faith, but then it is the Lord Himself that brings to fruition our every desire for goodness and these deeds prompted by faith. It is the Lord's work in us, not anything we do on our own strength to impress God. Let's dig now a bit deeper on these two verses keeping in mind the entire letter as a whole.
Jan 14, 2025
“The Real Thing”
To continue the challenge from KDOV radio about listening to a book of the Bible every day for a few weeks, I am moving now over to II Timothy. II Timothy was written by Paul to Timothy. Paul starts off in verse 3 by thanking God and how Paul remembers Timothy day and night and prays for him.
This is a great verse to remember to pray constantly for others. It is also interesting the TImothy had a sincere faith. The word in Greek for sincere is anupokritos. In Strong's anupokritos means without hypocrisy or unfeigned. I had to look up the English meaning of unfeigned. That word means genuine or sincere. Sincere in english means sincere, wholehearted, heartfelt, unfeigned. Also it means absence of hypocrisy.
There was a Coke commercial on TV in the 1970's that said “Coke - it's the real thing”. That is what Timothy's faith is, the real thing. As real as it gets you might say.
Sometimes I struggle with feeling like I am an imposter as a Christian. I don't believe that I am an imposter, but I feel that way nevertheless. But this section of II Timothy is a great reminder to me daily that my faith in Jesus is the real thing. Its not made up or pretending or any of that. It is the real thing. That is a great reminder for me today.
Let's look at 2 Timothy 1:5 now again in more detail. Paul says this to Timothy “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded now lives in you also”
There are a few things that jump out at me in observation of this verse 5. The first thing I notice is this time frame of this letter is not early in the church's life span. The reason that I observe this is because you see several generations of a Christian family here, particularly the mother and grandmother of Timothy.
Thanks for Google providing me the following information on the timing of the writing of 2 Timothy. Here is a quote from Google on this timing:
We can confirm that this was a bit later in Paul's ministry and even towards the end of his life.
Another observation I can make about this verse 5 is the concept of phases of time. I have always been keenly aware in my life that there were certain phases in life and it was very clear to me when one phase would end and another phase would begin. I won't bore you with too many examples of this, but one that comes to mind is my time frame of going to Azusa Pacific University for four years. Those four years were wonderful for me, but I was keenly aware when those 4 years of college ended. As a side note, I was never very happy with the end of a time phase , like the time when college ended. I did not want it to end. I am wondering if Paul himself was feeling a bit nostalgic or sad by the end of his time on earth and his ministry.
It is hard to say. Though we do kind of hear a bit of Reminiscence here when Paul was thinking back on the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother. That was a significant amount of time.
The next observation I will make is the fact that I personally relate to Timothy a bit. My grandmother was a very strong Christian (as well as my grandfather who was even a pastor for many years). And my own mother, now gone to be with Jesus, was a strong Christian as well. So I can related to TImothy's spiritual past.
A third observation I make on this verse 5 of 2 Timothy chapter 1 is the greek word for persuaded that Paul used when discussing Timothy's spiritual history with his mother and grandmother. Paul said and I am persuaded now … The greek word for persuaded is peitho which in Strong's means to persuade. Here is the discussion of peitho in Strongs on the primary verb:
Paul was persuaded that this sincere faith was in fact living in Timothy too now.
Ok, here is my final observation now before moving on to the next verse. If Paul was saying something like, and I am persuaded also …. there must be a reason for being persuaded. For example, let's say all Bichon dogs are white. At least that is was you think. Then someone might be persuaded that a new dog being brought home that is in fact a Bichon might in fact be the color white. You might say you were persuaded and this by definition means that there was some risk or some kind of logic that this might not in fact be true.
I like the way the Google AI Overview states this more clearly:
So what would be Paul's risk of a different point of view on Timothy?
We have established that the Greek word for persuaded here in II Timothy 1:5 is peitho. I am reminded that this Greek work peitho for persuaded is the exact same word used by Paul in Romans 8:38 when he said “For I am convinced that neither death nor….”
Low let's look at 2 Timothy 1:6
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
In our observation of this verse 6 the first glaring question that comes to mind is when Paul says “for this reason I remind….”
The question is simply for what reason? What is Paul talking about here. One of the safest places to look for “for this reason”
If we look back up to 2 Timothy 1:5 we will see what the reason is: Paul had said …. and I am persuaded , no lives in you also. Since Paul is convinced that Timothy has a sincere faith - that is the reason in verse 6 of why Paul is going to say now what he wants to say.
In verse 6 Paul says “For this reason (because of your sincere faith (and his mother and grandmothers faith too!”) Paul then says “I remind you to….” We can infer from this statement that Paul has in fact in the past reminded Timothy of what he is about to say.
So what is the content now in verse 6 that Paul wants to remind Timothy of? The first item is to fan into flame the gift of God.
We can infer from this statement by Paul that it is in fact possible to have the gift of God but to have sort of a small fire that needs to be fanned into a larger flame. This is most interesting and we will look a bit at the science of this before we look into the Greek words.
I can provide a response to the question of why blowing on a fire may make it burn better. The phenomenon of fanning the flames is based on the principles of fluid dynamics and heat transfer. When we blow on a fire, we are essentially increasing the flow of air towards the fire. This causes the fire to receive a greater supply of oxygen, which is necessary for combustion to occur. Oxygen is one of the reactants in the fire triangle, along with heat and fuel. By increasing the supply of oxygen, we are essentially increasing the reaction rate of the fire. In addition to increasing the supply of oxygen, blowing on a fire also helps to remove the products of combustion, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor. These products can form a layer around the fire, hindering the supply of oxygen and slowing down the reaction rate. By blowing on the fire, we are removing this layer and allowing fresh oxygen to reach the fire, promoting a more efficient and intense burn. Furthermore, blowing on a fire also helps to increase the transfer of heat from the fire to its surroundings. When we blow on a fire, we are essentially increasing the velocity of the air around the fire. This causes the fire to release more heat into the surrounding air, creating a feedback loop where the fire receives more oxygen and fuel, leading to a more intense burn. In conclusion, the physics behind fanning the flames can be explained by the principles of fluid dynamics and heat transfer. By increasing the supply of oxygen, removing the products of combustion, and promoting heat transfer, blowing on a fire can make it burn better.
I am taking a break from II Timothy just today to look at Mathew 24 and where Jesus says something like “For many will come in my name saying I am the Messiah …..”
My Question: Just who are these “many”.
Matthew 24:5
This verse has always been a challenge for me! The Bible is incredibly accurate. But I simply dont see “many” yet coming saying they are the messiah. I must be missing something.
Lets take a peek under the hood now looking at the Greek for this important verse in Bible End Times Prophecy!
I believe we can safely establish that Jesus knows for sure that in the end times Polloi or many will come in His name saying something! Just who are these many?
I believe I have already dealt with Ego eimi from this verse before. This is the Greek that says I am the Christ.
This, I believe, is the encryption key to understanding this verse - Ego eimi.. Please refer back to my study here for Oct 26, 2024 - For a very detailed discussion on Ego Eimi here.
This is from Google AI! Thanks to Google AI for use of this.
Thanks to Michaels blog for this interesting discussion.
In my final conclusion, I am leaning on the idea that Jesus was not saying many will come and say “hey there I am the actual Christ” BUT what many will say is yes Jesus is in fact the true Messiah BUT will end up decieving people.
Wild stuff this verse! I will continue I am sure soon on this.
Jan 23, 2025
Ok, today we are back to II Timothy!
Let's take a look again at II Timothy 1: 6
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Time for some good old Bible Study Observation!
Paul says “For this reason”. The question comes to mind - for what reason? We will look back a verse to see what reason Paul says what he is going to say. Paul in verse 5 said he was reminded of Timothy's sincere faith. The reason Paul is giving the following encouragement to Timothy is because of his sincere faith. I am reminded of the verse on faith located at Hebrew 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him…. Paul establishes though in our verse 6 here that Timothy does in fact have a sincere faith.
Paul says next in verse 6 because of Timothy's faith Paul reminds Timothy. Before we study what Paul reminds , let's look at the word remind in Greek. According to Strong's remind in the Greek is anamimnesko which means call to mind or remember.
It is clear from this verse that Paul had already mentioned the following to Timothy before. To remind is to bring back into mind something said previously. This kind of gives us a bit of a glimpse into Timothy's life, he kind of need a bit of encouragement from time to time. I think this is true with me and all of us really. It is good to be reminded of something God has said to us in the past.
3. So what is it that Paul is reminding Timothy of? Paul reminds Timothy “to fan into the flame the gift of God”. Let's break this down some. First, this presupposes that there is in fact a flame in Timothy already. It would be impossible to fan into flame something that was not first there. We can also observe here that Timothy appears at times to need to be reminded to fan into flame the gift of God. I think we all need to be reminded also to fan into flame the gift of God in our own lives. Perhaps even daily, or weekly.
I very much agree with this statement, it is hard to really say for sure what the gift is , but it is a good possibility that it is in fact the Holy Spirit. Notice too that Paul uses the phrase “which is in you”. The Holy Spirit is a pretty good choice for what Paul is talking about.
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
We are ready to do observation now on verse 7.
Let's first look at the word “For” in Greek. The Greek word here is gar. Gar means and, as, because or for. Thanks to Strongs for this detailed on gar. https://biblehub.com/strongs/greek/1063.htm
We just simply look at the previous verse to see what this “for” is referring to. Paul has just told Timothy in verse 6
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Then we see our participle gar which means for. So Paul wants Timothy to fan into flames the gift of God which is the Holy Spirit. For the Spirit of God gave us does something. Actually there are two things Paul says the Spirit of God does in us:
Does not make us timid.
Gives us power , love and self-discipline.
Let's dig into these items now in more detail looking at the Greek some.
The Greek for a spirit of cowardice is ou pneuma deilas.
The Greek word for ou in Strong's means nay, meither, never or no.
I like this detailed Strong's definition of pneo. Pneo or a current of air, breath, spirit. The Holy Spirit given to Timothy and also to us is a true spirit and Paul goes on to describe this Spirit given to us in more detail.
Lets look at deilia which in Greek translates to fear. from Deilos which means timidity or fear. This word comes from the Greek deilos which means fearful, from deos which means dread or timid or even faithless but primarily fearful.
So Paul is saying to Timothy that he is reminded of Timothy's sincere faith and for this reason Paul reminds Timothy to fan into flame the Holy Spirit in his life. This spirit God gives us does not make us timid….. We will stop right there for now. The Holy Spirit given to us as followers of Christ does in no way make us timid or afraid. But Timothy has been feeling afraid and timid. We know this from the context so far.
At this point I want to say that I myself struggle with being timid and afraid. I totally relate to Timothy here. This is in fact one of the core concepts in II Timothy that made me want to study these verses carefully.
Let's look at a bit of logic now. If Paul is saying to Timothy the Spirit given to Timothy and all of us as Christians does in no way make us afraid or timid then how come Timothy is no doubt feeling timid and afraid right now? How can this be? Well logic will tell us that it is possible to have the Spirit of God living inside of us but we can also have our own flesh too which is fearful and afraid. I totally relate to this. I can live alot of my life afraid of people and what they might do or afraid of something bad happening or afraid if I speak up for Christ I will be hurt or even killed. I totally relate to Timothy here.
So the words from Paul that follow are not only important for me and others who, as Christians, struggle with fear but is critical to our understanding. We will dig into this more tomorrow!
Timothy in my no doubt had spirit tear and Spirit of God. How can this be?
Observation one. It is possible be valid Christian and still struggle with fear
Principal 2. Having gear does not negate your being valid believer
Principal 3 Paul did not negate Timothy as valid minister gospel but encouraged him not live in fear
I like what the Google AI says about fear in the BIble generally.
JAN 27 2025
As you well know by now I do change my Bible Study items from time to time as things get kind of crazy.
Right now we are looking to maybe moving to Hillsboro to be near our Ro there! Fear plays into this senerio for sure, but so does wanting to know the Lord's will on this.
Let's dig a bit into this amazing set of verses!
The Hebrew word for trust here in verse 5 is batach. This word means to trust according to BDB.
Lets look a bit at Strongs now for batach. Strong's be bold and confident, secure, sure, put confidence make to hope
I like the powerful word of batach which is trust but with a strong twist of confidence and hope. To totally trust in the Lord with all my heart about this move to Hillsboro is to trush in the LORD fully.
When I was in my 20's I did some serious and may I say dangerous rock climbing and repelling off huge rocks with ropes. I would never do that today in my 70's though I did climb some rocks at the coast last weekend and fell and wow still hurt from that. BUT i digress here. When you repell off a 100 foot rock like I did you know and I mean you really know what trust means when only a rope or set of ropes is holding you. That my friend is trust.
Just a fun fact - a week ago or so I tried free climbing at coast and fell on the rocks. I came up with a quote that my brother likes!
“I love rocks but they hurt when you fall on them” - Steve Massey 2025
It is that kind of trust I need right now in the Lord for this move.
The Proverbs 3:5 says Trust in the Lord…. The word for Lord here is Yhvh which is a proper name of deity Yahweh. Strong's uses Jehovah, the Lord.Jehovah√Jehovahv
The Hebrew for with all (with all your heart) is kol. BDB defines kol as the whole or all.
The word kol means the entire thing, whole, all of it.
So how do we actually trust the Lord with all of our heart?
Is it possible to trust the Lord with part of your heart?
What would trusting the Lord with all of your heart look like?
There is really almost no feeling of vulnerably and trust like that of rappelling on a large rock 100 feet or more from the ground. As I noted earlier I had the amazing opportunity to do just that a number of times in the early 1980's. The idea of trusting the Lord with all your heart is never clearer then when rappelling a large rock. You are putting your whole trust in two things. One you trust the people managing the rappel. Second you trust fully the ropes.
I believe God is asking me right now in my life to do just that. To trust the Lord fully and with all my heart. A very focused but peaceful rest knowing the Lord is in charge. He has the ropes and He is in fact the ropes.
I like Chuck Swindoll's discussion on trusting in the Lord with all your heart.
There are some questions that come to mind on trusting in the Lord with all your heart.
Again, we look now at the Hebrew word for “all” ….. your heart. You might remember the Hebrew word here in Proverbs for all is kol. BDB talks about kol as the whole, or all.
The word KOL is used 5345 times in the old Testament.
Ok, back to the questions about KOL or all.
How does one know if he or she is trusting the Lord with all his or her heart?
What does it feel like when you trust in the Lord with all your heart?
If you are trusting in the Lord with all your heart does that leave any room to worry about anything?
Can you practice trusting the Lord with all your heart every day? If so how?
Can you name a few people you know or know of that trust the Lord with all their heart?
Can you name a few people in the OT or NT that trusted the Lord with all their heart?
How can you tell if you are in fact not trusting the Lord with all your heart?
What are some things in life that I trust instead of the Lord with all my heart.
Quit trying to fit all the pieces together—you can't - Chuck Swindoll.
Prayer for today: Lord help me to trust you with all my heart today.
Our study continues now in Proverbs 3:5-6. We have looked carefully at Trusting the Lord with ALL of our heart. But that is only half of the story! Verse 5 says and………. So yes we trust in the Lord with all of our heart and we do something else. Kind of a hand in hand thing. Like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs or salt and pepper.
So we trust in the Lord with all of our heart and… Let's dig into what the and item is now.
“And lean not on your own understanding”
This is nothing but revolutionary. We are to trust the Lord with all of our heart which is our soul , will and emotions and we are not to lean on our own understanding. I dont know bout you but I am always trying to figure things out.
In reality, it is more natural for me to do the opposite, that is to not trust the Lord but to really trust in my own understanding of things.
Was the author (David?) of this Psalm trying to be just creative by saying lean on your understanding or is there more to this?
Why did the author use the word “lean”. First, let's look at the Hebrew BDB dictionary for the meaning of the word lean.
A primitive root; to support one's self -- lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay. again from Strongs link
In looking at other passages in the Old Testament that use shaan or lean we find shaan or rest or lean under a tree, and lean against some people and lean on a sword or rest on sword and lean on horses and finally leaning or trust in God. There are many other examples.
So we are supposed to trust in the Lord with all of our heart, every small part of it, and at the same time we are not to lean on our own understanding.
I think it can be more comfortable or feel safe to rely or lean on your own understanding of something rather then putting all your trust in God. But the outcome is always always better when we rely and trust in the Lord fully and dont rely on how we understand or perceive a situation.
I can think of many situations in my life earlier where I was 100% sure in my mind that a certain course of action was the right one. I had No doubt at all in my mind. But I spent lots of time praying and the Lord clearly lead me away from that choice and to another better option for me. I was confused because I thought my way was 100% correct in my understanding. But God had another plan for me. I have many examples of this in my life.
Thanks to the Lord for not leaving me to my own understanding on a situation and helping guide me to the correct place.
I think as we focus on both parts of verse 5 we see clearly now that we are to trust in the Lord with every bit of our heart and not rely or lean on our own understanding that we may have at that time.
My lovely wife and I are actually in the middle of a very good decision point about retirement sorts of things and I am tempted to rely on analysis and numbers and calculations, but the Lord is telling us to trust Him fully now for the outcome.
We are still in the study of Proverbs 3:5-6. So far we have learned that we are to trust the Lord with every inch of our heart and not to lean or rely on any of our own understanding. Nevery has this been so important as these last days with all the crazy stuff happening in the world!
My advice to myself and others now that we are in the end of the end days!
Trust in the Lord with every inch of your heart.
Dont try to figure things out too much and understand what is happening. But with a caveat that we are to be able to read the end time seasons , but rely on the Lord fully.
Pray like you have never prayed before.
Let's take a look at Proverbs 3:6 now!
“in all your ways submit to Him”
The Hebrew word for ways is derek. BDB defines derek as way or road or path. Notice to the word “all”. This is the Hebrew word kol that we have seen before and BDB defines kol as whole or all. So we are to submit all our ways and paths to the Lord. I am noticing that it is not saying we are to submit the big milestone ways to the Lord only , like career choices or moving choices, that sort of thing. No, it is saying to submit all our ways to the Lord. I believe that would include things like career choices, retirement and big life decisions like that, but also when we get into our car (which I hope to do today since we have been snowed in without a car for almost a week now!) So when we go run a simple errand, submit that to the Lord. I believe with all my heart the Lord is super interested in every small action that we take and wants us to trust Him fully.
We will now look at “in all your ways submit to him”. The Hebrew word that translates to submit here is actually yada which BDB says is to know. Strong's does use acknowledge.
So we are to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways. Note that this does not mean just Sunday morning and Wednesday nights. This is kind of a 24 X 7 situation. I have found late in my life now that this is really the way to go. God provides so much provision but also peace when acknowledge Him for all things. Some years ago I started a routine where I give God every thought and every hour and every thing I do for the next 3 days. This has been life changing. I dont ever want to stop. I feel God's hand in many parts of my life. This might be one of many examples of how we can acknowledge the Lord in all things.
Tomorrow we will look at the B section of verse 6 which says “and He will make your paths straight”
I think I am the type of person that analyzing everything and always watching myself to make sure I am on track and if I am truly on God's right track and way. I have lots of self doubt and use my analytical skills alot to verify each situation to make sure it is in line with God's way.
While many would say this is somewhat admiral I think it is a bit obsessive compulsive.
But according to these verses in Proverbs I am actually supposed to be trusting in the Lord with all my heart and not even lean on my own understanding of myself or events around me. This is a paradigm shift from the mind to the heart. And submitting all my ways to the Lord.
Next we will take a look at the final B section of verses 5.6 which is and He will make your paths straight.
Today is a good day to practice trusting the Lord with all my heart. How might that look? What would be different about my day today if I do this more then analyze myself and surroundings?
I had a strong Christian mom who would often tell me when I was young that God was going to use me greatly. So I kind of check in with myself daily to see what great things I might be doing for God today.
While this is again somewhat admiral, I think it can be my personal nemesis too. Practicing trusting the Lord with all my heart, what might that look like? I will report by tomorrow. SHould be an interesting day.
I am reminded of that verse in 2 Timothy 1:12
I can see Paul evaluating himself just a bit but you can see Paul's trust in the Lord with his own soul because he knows whom he has believed and he is persuaded that He is able to keep what I have commetted to Him until that Day. Notice the strong trust from Paul's heart.
Today we are going to look at the final B section of Proverbs 3:6 B
The logic of these verses is that we should trust fully the Lord with our heart and not try to lean so much on figuring things out and understanding whats going on. (to a point). We are to submit all our ways, even the small stuff!, to the Lord. Then something will happen. In Verse 6b we see now what happens when we do these very things.
The first phrase is “and He”. It is the Lord Himself that will be this happen. Not our own efforts. Not our careful planning. Not our amazing talents. Not our good looks. Not our being in shape. Not our wealth. No. God Himself will make the following happen.
So what happens then? God will direct your paths. Lets dig into this. It is so important.
Shall direct in Hebrew is yashar. BDB defines yashar as be smooth, straight, right. Strong's adds that yashar means direct, fit, make.
So I think we have cause and effect happening here. Thanks to Google AI for the following definition of cause and effect.
So if you do something, the following will happen. For example (a silly example ) if you get in the shower, you will get wet. If you dont eat, you will get hungry. If you spend all your money on Amazon (one of my weaknesses) then you will be out of money.
If we trust in the Lord with every inch of our heart and dont lean on our understanding of what is happening to us in this world and we fully trust the Lord, He has promised to direct your paths.
Feb 13, 2025
In keeping with the theme of trusting God fullly let's look next at Psalm 37:3-5 in detail.
The Hebrew word for trust here in verse 3 is batach. BDB (https://biblehub.com/bdb/982.htm) defines batach as trust. This is the same Hebrew word used for trust in Proverbs 3:5-6 that we just studied. I like Strong's definition also of batach as
A primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as chacah); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure -- be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.
I think trust it putting my confidence fully in something with secure attachment to the outcome. Daily I am learning to put my trust fully in the Lord and not in circumstances. this takes a lifetime to learn I think.
The Hebrew word for do is asah. BDB defines asah as do, make. Strong's defines asah as accomplish, be at, become. The primitive Root word is to do or make.
Good in Hebrew here in this verse is towb. BDB defines towb as pleasant, agreeable, good. It is interesting because Strong';s defines towb as beautiful, better cheerful or at ease.
So lets discuss what doing something good or beautiful looks like based on these verses.
What would be some good examples of doing good or beautiful things?
Doing something kind for someone else but not being noticed or seen.
Putting another ahead of yourself.
Serving somone.
Doing acts of kindness.
Showing love by doing details the other person needs but not getting instant rewards.
I could actually write and entire book just on the concept of living for God doing good with His strength. So many ideas.
Thanks again to Biblehub.com for use of verse in NIV.
We have looked at Trust in the Lord and do good in verse 3. Lets move to the B section of verse 3.
Delight in verse 4 in Hebrew is anog. BDB defines anog as a verb to be soft, delicate or dainty. BDB also says it can mean take exquisite delight.
Strongs defines anog as delicateness, have delight self, sport self. The primitive root is to be soft or pliable.
What did the Psalmist have in mind using this word? This Hebrew word anog is used 10 times in the Old Testament Hebrew.
What anog means is not begrudgingly enjoy the Lord because you have to or because the Bible says we are supposed to or its just the right thing to do. Those things are no doubt true but this word means delight in the Lord like you would delight in something delicate or exquisite.
According to Google the word exquisite means extremely beautiful and typically, delicate.
What are some examples of something that is delicate and beautiful?
Jewelry can be exquisite.
Artwork like a very delicate and detailed painting of something
A wild flower pedal.
A small sea shell
rain drops on a spiderweb.
A very detailed sculpture
A sunset over the ocean
A singing voice
I get the sense that anog or delight is enjoying something very detailed and beautiful and artful.
So how do we anog or delight in the Lord? It is not something we just do and cross off our list as something completed. It is not a technique or a way to live. It is simply , I think, a response to seeing something beautiful and exquisite and small and delicate. This does not of course mean that God is in any way small or delicate, but the feeling of seeing something made by God or even by man that is beautiful and enjoyed as art and touches the soul is to experience anog.
Many times we approach God as a mean or even a loving father or even as a bit of a Santa Clause or genie that will grant all our wishes. But this verb anog makes us think of delighting in God as something beautiful, artful and worthy of our attention. It is a response to beauty like a sunset or sculpture. We are to delight in the Lord that way.
Lord help me today to see you as amazing and help me to delight in You fully as I would something very artful and beautiful. You are an amazing God and we love you today.
As we take delight in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our heart. This is a very interesting part of this Psalm
The Hebrew word for desires is mishalah which according to BDB means request or petition. Strong's translates mishalah desire or petition.
I have never really noticed that this verse uses that noun. I always thought, though incorrectly, if we delight in the Lord He will give us what our heart desires, perhaps a new car or house? I dont think it is saying this. I do think that as we delight in the Lord and have a close relationship with Him he will hear our petitions, prayers and desires and will provide those. God is a loving God and wants so much what is best for us. And when we are delighting in Him fully we get the best God can provide for us.
The greek for look or fixing our eyes is aphorao. Strongs defines aphorao as look from apo and horao to consider attentively - look.
this is what I will practice today. There are some anxious things going on for me right now, like a CT Scan today and as you know I have a studio for recording Hymns on guitar, I have a new recording unit that is not living up to its potential so I might return it. These things are distracting me and making me look at them instead of Christ. So here is my prayer today
“Lord I feel very distracted today by many things. Please help me today to fix my eyes on you alone”
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
Let's take a quick look today at Romans 6.
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (NIV at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206&version=NIV)
6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
This is Paul's discussion following Romans 5 where Paul has defined for us what happens then after we have been justified by faith in Christ.
The Greek uses the verb epimeno which means shall we continue. Strong's at https://biblehub.com/strongs/greek/1961.htm defines epimeno as abide in, continue in or tarry. From epi and meno to stay over or remain. Paul is asking - shall we continue in or abide in sin. It has the idea of tarry or remaining there stuck in sin.
Sin in the greek is hamartia which means offense, sin or sinful per Strongs.
“That” in the Greek is hina. It means albeit, because or in order that.
So the argument here is shall we sin in order that grace may abound.
Abound in the Greek is pleonazo which means per Strongs abound or abundant, make to increase.
So Paul is asking shall we linger in or dwell in sin in order that grace will abound or increase.
In verse 2 Paul says 2 By no means! The Greek here is never may it be so. Never in Greek is me which means not, lest neither or never.
May it be so in Greek per Strongs is the word ginomai which means be brought to pass or happen.
Thursday Feb 27, 2025
I follow end times Bible prophecy a lot on YouTube. It is very interesting and can be complex at times. I do like the challenge. One of the passages that comes up a fair amount of times is 1 Timothy 4:1-5. Let's take a look at that this morning.
One thing to keep watch on when watching YouTube's as I do is making sure that people are staying in the Word of God and not relying on people's own dreams and visions of end time events. While listening to people's experiences of “what God told them directly" is pretty fascinating at times I think keeping to directly interpretation of the Word is the best approach most of the time.
Which brings us to 1 Timothy 4:1
4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Notice the first 4 words Paul says here - “The Spirit clearly says..”. Paul could have easily written something like the Spirit says… but he used the word clearly. Also notice that it is God Himself that says this, not someone's dream or vision.
The greek word for clearly here in the NIV is rhetos which according to Strong's means expressly. It is an adverb from rheo outspokenly i.e. distinctly – expressly. Google says expressly means in a clear way so that there cannot be any doubt.
The greek word for says is lego which per Strong's means put forth, say, speak or utter.
So the Spirit of God Himself is the one saying this and He is saying it clearly with no doubt. You can hang your hat on this one, it is directly from God.
So what does does the Spirit of God say clearly then?
“that is later times…”
Let's pause here and discuss what later times means. The Greek word for later is husteros and per Strong's this means later or afterwards. It comes form the word hopo in the sense of behind or later.
“Times” in Greek is kairos which means the appointed time and notice that Paul did not use the Greek word for time chronos which means more of a season of time. This is more of an appointed time. This is very specific.
"some will abandon the faith" is our next phrase in I Timothy 4:1.
The Greek word for some is tis and can mean any, anything, whomsoever or some. The NIV uses “some” which I like. Note that some means a subset of all.
The word "some" refers to an unspecified quantity or number, meaning it doesn't represent a specific numerical total; it simply indicates a portion of something without defining the exact amount
This above is the AI definition of some.
Note that the entire group is one that appears to be following Christ and are Christians. Some of these in the later times will depart from the faith.
Let's unpack this some. Will depart from in Greek is aphistemi which means to depart, fall away, refrain or withdraw self. From the Greek word Apo and histemi which means to remove or desert or depart or withdraw self.
Note that this subgroup of Christians in the later times will remove themselves or withdraw from the faith. The Greek here says the faith, not just faith.
The next part of verse 1 we will look at next is a V-PPA-NMP verb. This is super interesting and important stuff!
The Greek work for abandoned the faith is aphistemi which per Strong's means depart, fall away, refrain, withdraw self.
So some in the later times as we find ourselves in now as the church will abandon the faith, or withdraw themselves from the faith or fall away from the faith or depart from the faith.
The word aphistemi comes from apo and histemi to remove or desert or depart from.
4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Notice in the Greek is says “and will depart from THE faith”. The Greek for the is ho or he or to and per Strong's meast the or this.
It's not just a falling away from faith in general but an abandoment of THE faith.
Here is a sad photo of a once loved and charished celeberties home that is now fully abandonded. This happens, it appears, more than we think usually.
This is a great image of what it is like for a Christian in the last days to abandoned their faith. It once was vibrant and full of joy and not falling apart.
Monday Mar 10, 2025
We have some major changes in our life coming up now. It is good and helpful I think to look at some of God's promises in the Bible during this challenging time. Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite verses.
The Hebrew word for know in verse 11 is yada. The Strong's at Bible Hub defines yada as acknowledge, acquainted with, advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware. https://biblehub.com/strongs/hebrew/3045.htm
A primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) (a
The Hebrew word for plans is machashebeth which according to BDB at Bible Hub means thought or device or plan or purpose. https://biblehub.com/bdb/4284.htm
Strong's defines this word as cunning work, curious work, imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought
Or machashebeth {makh-ash-eh'-beth}; from chashab; a contrivance, i.e. (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice) -- cunning (work), curious work, device(-sed), imagination, invented, means, purpose, thought. https://biblehub.com/strongs/hebrew/4284.htm
April 2 2025
It has been some time since I have had a chance to write in my Bible Study journal here that I keep. I do jump around on various topics as you can see.
Listen in Hebrew is azan which per BDB at https://biblehub.com/bdb/238.htm says azan means give ear, listen , hear almost wholly poet. Hear or perceive by the year. This word appears about 46 times. Strong's says azan is give perceive by the ear or harken. https://biblehub.com/strongs/hebrew/238.htm
Strong's mentions this - A primitive root; probably to expand; but used only as a denominative from 'ozen; to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen -- give (perceive by the) ear, hear(-ken). See 'azan.
David in this Psalm surely wants God to hear him, but there is a poetic use of this word azan and Strong's has mentioned that it is hey really list to this please, broaden the ear to hear, this is important.
I like the way David approaches God as a realy being and person, not just an idea or image, but a real person that needs to listen to what David has to say. This shows, I believe, a real and strong relationship between God and David.
“To my words” in Hebrew is emer. BDB defines emer as utterance, speech or word. Sometimes in Bible Study I like to ask the question something like - why did David just use the word like thoughts or perhaps feelings or even quiet prayer. Why the use of words as spoken?
Then the Hebrew word for God is used Yahweh which again shows relationship and conversation between two individuals.
The next word in Hebrew we will look at is consider which in Hebrew is bin. BDB defines bin as discern, become separated, be destinct or speak perspicuously. I had to look up perspicuously and it means speak clearly with understanding. Another definition would be consider.
David wants God's ear now with total focus on listening , this is important to David what he is going to say. Not only listen and hear but discern and consider or seperate mentally. This is a request for another level of listening. David wants God to carefully hear what Davis has to say and really hear and discern where David is coming from.
I believe the tone here is one of urgency on David's part but also poetic in nature.
The next word we will look at is my meditation. The Hebrew here is hagig which, per BDB, means murmuring or whisper or musing. David is really thinking and medicating and trying to figure something out here I think.
April 19, 2025
God is working on me about my pride. I have way too much pride and it affects every single area of my life.
James 4:6 says “But He gives more grace. Therefore it says ‘God apposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’”
I love Psalm 75:4
I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast’, and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up our horn;’
These following verses are stunning.
Jeremiah 9:23–24
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Wed April 23 2025
I am a bit embarrassed to admit this but sometimes I feel fear inside since we are in the Biblical end times now and Jesus will be returning soon and fear if I am good enough to go with Him. Ok, this is just a feeling thing, a fear that I have all the time, it is by faith that we are saved…
But nevertheless it might be time to look at a verse of scription or section that deals with our confidence in Christ's love and acceptance for us as believers.
Thanks to biblegateway.com for the following:
The Greek word for fear used in this verse is phobos. We get our english word phobia from this. Strong's defines phobos as fear or terror.
I am reminded of Romans 5 - Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God….
Jesus died for all who are believers and are true Christians. Jesus loves His church so much that He gave His life already for it. That means His love is amazing and part of my life.
It is interesting that there is no fear at all in love. So my engineering and mathematical mind comes up with the algorithm that would say if there is no fear at all in love and if Jesus gave His life already and lives inside of me - that fear MUST be coming from another source other then the Lord Himself. Perhaps this fear comes from spiritual warfare or just from my abusive past but one thing I can hang my hat on with all this is there simply is no fear at all in love.
April 24, 2025
Yesterday we established that there is no fear in love. Today let's review again Hebrews 11:1.
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." This verse defines faith as a firm belief in what is yet to be and a certainty about the unseen reality of God.
This is a very interesting word in Greek. It means substance or essance or foundation.
I like the picture in my mind of a building's foundation.
May 1 2025
I have been sick for 4 weeks now with this respiratory virus. And have not been able slow down too much because of some changes going on that are good but challenging. So I find I get discouraged and relate to David's Psalm 13. Thanks to Bible Gateway for use of this NIV Psalm.
David asks the question to the Lord - “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?”. For me it is easy to get discouraged when I get these respiratory viruses and life still demands full attention. Sometimes for me God feels far away during these times, but I know that God is close even when He does not feel so. I like verse 5 in this Psalm where David says “But I trust in your unfailing love” The Hebrew word here for But I is from ani which per Strong's means I, as for me, mine, myself, we, which, who. It is translated But I. But I kind of like the translation from Strong's of “As for me”
David turns a corner here and says hey here is what I am going to do now though. It shows strong intentionality and trust in the Lord even when He feels far away during trials and struggles.
In verse 2 it says “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts”. David is feeling forgotten by God at this point and is wrestling with his thoughts. I am thinking many of us wrestle with our thoughts from time to time. The Hebrew word for shall I take is shith which can mean to consider.
The Hebrew word used for in my soul is nephesh which per BDB means living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite emotion or passion. It is considered to be the center or soul.
I think David is in mental and emotional anguish right now writing this Psalm. There are simply times in our lives as Christians that we really struggle and feel alone and disconnected to God. It is great to know God is still there though. Struggles like this are not the end of the story either.
Look on me and answer is the first part of verse 3 of this Psalm. Look in Hebrew here is nabat which per BDB means look and usually has a subject to look at or even a human subject to look at.
And answer is anah in Hebrew which means dwell or answer or respond. David is asking the Lord first to look at him and then after that to answer. Notice how specific David is here.
But I in the Hebrew is ani and per BDB means I. Strong's defines ani as I , as for me, mine, myself , we , which , who.
Have trusted in Hebrew is batach. Per BDB at click here - says batach is the verb trust. (In Arabic batach means to throw one down upon his face or lie extended on the ground. This is a very interesting image for batach. It is interesting because Strong's defines batach as put confidence in and the primitive root is hie for refuge thus lying quietly in refuge. This is very interesting.
I will sing in Hebrew is shir which per BDB means behold but the primitive root has the idea of to sing.
The Hebrew literally says “I will sing to Yahweh”. For He has been good …. the Hebrew word for for is ki which per BDB means that, for , when. Then the B section of verse 6 says - He has been good to me. The Hebrew word for He as been good is gamal and BDB defines gamal as deal fully or adequately with or deal out to. It is interesting because that word in other verses can mean wean or ripen.
Strong's defines gamal as bestow on or deal bountifully or reward or ripen.
So David has been feeling abandoned by God which according to a friend of mine who is a PHD psychologist abandonment is the hardest of all emotions to feel or deal with. So David in this Psalm has gone from feeling full abandonment to saying that the Lord is dealt bountifully with Him.
I have mentioned this many times I think, but spiritual warfare right now here at the end of the church age and start of the tribulation 7 year period any time now has been more intense than any time in my life. There is a constant voice condemning me in my head all the time saying things like “you are not a real Christian” or “You are a fraud” or “Jesus will return and not take you because you simply are not good enough or real enough”. But David felt abandonment that was intense in this Psalm and yet he ends up singing directly to the Lord because the Lord has dealt bountifully with him and ripen with good things.
Bottom line - in these end times I can listen to my head condemning me all the time or I can listen to the Lord who even though I can feel abandonment He is both with me and dealing bountifully with me.
May 13 2025
I would like to start a deep dive study now on what makes a good relationship with Jesus now that we are super close to the rapture and end of the church age. This will be a Bible study format focusing more on thematic rather than book by book.
See Ray Stedman's website showing Chapter 11 of Body Life book and the chapter title of “The Goal Is Maturity”. I had the privilege of studying at PBC with Ray Steadmon and attended Scribe School for 4 years in the late 70's and early 80's. I was able to learn Greek and Hebrew from an amazing staff of teachers there at PBC. I am so thankful for those important years!
Ray Stedman looks atEphesians 4:13-16. I will start just a few verses before this section. Thanks to Bible Hub for NIV use for the following .
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Paul talks about Christ giving gifts to the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists and the pastors and teachers. Ray notes that twice in this passage Paul gives us the ultimate goal of the life of faith. I think this will be a fantastic scripture section for answering our question of what do we do now that we are late in the church age, what is our goal now?
In verse 13 Paul says “it is the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. Now I need to take just a quick diversion from our study here to mention a very important element here. There is much deception in the world and even in the church now that we are living in the end of the end times and church age. Notice Paul's focus on Christ here. Jesus is everything to we as believers in these crazy end times. Good theology is very important as well as Christian fellowship and service, we will look at all these important things shortly. But let's start the discussion with the importance of Jesus Himself. He is why we live and He is why there really is anything at all, He holds all things together.
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
We reach unity in Greek is katantao which means attain or come. Per Biblehub katantao comes from kata and a derivative of anti to meet against or arrive at.
The Greek word for unity is henotes which means unity and is from heis or oneness and unanimity or unity.
So one thing we can for sure know is that before Jesus returns we are to be using our gifts in the church. I was a small group leader for about 6 years at our church and then for one year we were small group coaches also. But now we are at a very small church and I have been pretty sick with a respiratory virus for about 6 weeks that only allowed me to go to church one time in 6 weeks.
One thing I was able to do during these 6 weeks of rest and recovery though was continue arrangement of hymns for guitar for Pandora. I have about 44 hymns on Pandora now. This has been such a wonderful thing that I can do this and I love every minute of doing this.
I love using AI to research things as well. Here is what AI Overview in Google says about all this
Yes, using your gift to arrange hymns for Pandora can be a form of ministry to the greater church. While it may not be a traditional church service or ministry within a specific local church, it still aligns with the concept of using your talents to share the gospel message and build up the Body of Christ. By making these hymns accessible to a wider audience through a popular platform like Pandora, you are essentially expanding the reach of the gospel message and allowing others to connect with it.
I find this encouraging to read this.
This brings up a whole new topic for discussion and that is it ok to use AI for ministry and for Bible study? I think I might have the gift of knowledge and have also enjoyed every minute of doing Bible study for this blog which is read by a number of people.
So you might see that I have just a bit of ADHD and jump around topics alot!
So the bottom line is I think God is very creative and I have been able to minister to the church at large these past 6 weeks even though I was sick and laying around alot! By the way I know this sounds like boasting , because it really is, but I am so thankful and blown away that I have 5.8 million Pandora streams for my 44 hymns. This has been such a blessing to me and I really think I am using my spiritual gifts for this. And I just love doing it too! I do play live hymns sometimes at church but health has kept me more at home now so this is so great I can do this from home.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Let's take a look at verse 14 now. Now that we reached unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ in verse 13 we can see that we would then no longer be infants.
What does Paul mean but no longer being infants? Per Strong's https://biblehub.com/strongs/greek/3516.htm nepios means an infant or child. From this verse we can infer that as a Christian we can be like an infant or a more mature Christian. So what make the difference between the two groups?
Paul answers this question by first describing what an infant Christian might look like. Let's break this down now:
tossed back and forth by the waves - What does it mean when a Christian as an infant would be tossed back and forth by the waves. Thanks to AI Overview for the following:
A small boat is tossed by waves because of the waves' force and the boat's relatively small size and weight. Waves exert a force on the boat, causing it to move up and down, and from side to side, depending on the wave's direction and the boat's orientation. The boat's smaller size and weight make it more susceptible to these forces than a larger, heavier vessel.
The fact that the boat is so much lighter then the power and force of the waves makes it tossed about. There is a force out there that can be greater than this baby Christian. Very interesting I must say
2. and blown here and there by every wind of teaching - We can get a good picture in our mind of a very light weight boat being blown here and there. The Greek word for blown here and there is an interesting word. The Greek word is kludonizomai which per Strongs means toss to and fro. This word comes from the Greek middle voice from kludon to surge or to fluctuate thus toss to and fro.
A wave is a disturbance that propagates, or moves from the place it was created. The simplest waves repeat themselves for several cycles and are associated with simple harmonic motion. Let us start by considering the simplified water wave in Figure 2. The wave is an up and down disturbance of the water surface. It causes a sea gull to move up and down in simple harmonic motion as the wave crests and troughs (peaks and valleys) pass under the bird. The time for one complete up and down motion is the wave’s period T. The wave’s frequency isf=1T. thanks to Google for this write up on waves of the ocean. Notice the peaks and valleys. It sounds to me very chaotic in nature. Just when you think you can rest and look out and see maybe where you are going then another wave comes along and tosses you to and fro. There is little stability here.
Notice that we are tossed to and fro as a baby Christian because of the wind. But what exactly is this wind? Wind is every wind of teaching ! So we get a picture of this baby Christian trying to navigate the crazy and out of control tossing back and forth from the strong waves and the wind causing all this is bad teaching. May I just say one thing right now? Doctrine matters. It matters alot.
I am starting a new Bible study in the book of Romans. To avoid copyright infringement, I'll be using the King James version of the Bible. I will also use quotes from Biblehub.com. Here is a short quote from Biblehub.com on using quotes on websites. “You will not need to write us for permission to quote from the site”.
Romans 1: 1 - 2 (KJV)
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans, traditionally known as the author of 14 of the 27 New Testament books.
This introductory section mentions an important attribute of Paul, namely that Paul served Jesus Christ. What does it mean that Paul was a servant of Jesus?
The New Testament Koine Greek word for servant is doulos. Strong’s Exaustive Concordance (Cite) defines doulos as bondman or servant or slave. A slave is one who is the property of another. In the New Testament, they use another Greek word for servant - diakonos.
What does it mean that Paul then is a servant of Jesus Christ? It means primarily that he is not living for himself, but is completely taking direction and instruction from Jesus. His goal and aim is to please Jesus and not just live for his own interests. Paul’s whole life was to live for Jesus.
Here is a question for today from this passage: How can I today be a better servant of Jesus in all that I do? What practical ways can serve Jesus better today?
We will tomorrow look at verse 4. The Psalmist will begin to compare the godly person that is following the Lord and His word daily to the person that is ungodly and off doing their own thing.
One thing just came to mind. In my early Christian life I felt that if I just went up to the alter and prayed in church that one time , that one thing would fix my life totally. While this is a great thing to do, to pray and give everything to our Lord, I see the Christian life more as a journey now after my study of Psalm 1. It is a road and journey that I am on with lots of ups and downs and challenges. The trick I think for me is to stay close the the Lord by meditation on His word every hour of the day. I very lofty goal but one that produces alot of peace in my life.
3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
We just moved after 25 years in our larger home. Now we are in a somewhat smaller place. I know that we are in the end times and Jesus is coming back very soon. I have been feeling the pressure to do ministry even though we just moved and there is so much to do and so many boxes to unpack still! And I am very tired from the move also. I find Ecclesiastes 3 to be helpful because there are really seasons in life and in my current life situation this is a season of re- settling and of much needed recovery and rest.
Prayer for today:
Lord I know You are coming back soon and I want to be found doing Your work when you return. But it is a tricky time right now because we just moved and I am very tired.
Thanks to Bible Gateway for my using these verses today.
Overflow of some items from Bible study page 1 of website
Daily Devotional about hymns and bible verses
April 8, 2025
Discussion of the Hymn Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.
Special thank-you to hymnary.org for some of the following information. Also, a special thanks to biblegateway.com for use of the Matt. 28 passage below.
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is a hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1739. Hymnary.org noted that a possible scripture reference was used to write this hymn - Matt. 28-1-10
Let's take a look at the lyrics of our hymn first.
1 Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
2 Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!
3 Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
4 Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
5 Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!
6 King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!
Per https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028&version=NIV Matthew 28 shows that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary wen to look at Jesus's tomb. Then there was a violent earthquake. The NT Greek word for great is megas. Per Strong's at https://biblehub.com/strongs/greek/3173.htm . Strong's defines megas as exceeding, great or large. Refer to https://biblereadingarcheology.com/2018/02/05/earthquakes-in-the-bible/ for information on earth quakes in the Bible. It is difficult to say what the size of this earth quake was but since the Greek word megas was used it was large.
Our hymn - Christ The Lord Is Risen Today on the second lines says Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!. This was a huge and important moment in the history of the church but also in the history of the world. Our entire hope as Christians is based on Jesus' resurrection.
In 1 Corinthians 15:14 Paul says “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain”
The second line in the Hymn says “Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!”. Let's look at Psalm 96:11 and the phrase there “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad.” The Hebrew word for heavens is shamayim. BDB defines shamayim as heavens or sky. Strong's defines shamayim as air, astrologer or heavens. Nature itself and specifically the sky is in fact praising God. The Hebrew word for earth is erets which per BDB means earth or land. Strong's includes common, country, earth, field, ground , land nations or way. So both the sky and the earth itself are involved. The Hebrew word for rejoice is samach which means rejoice or be glad. All the sky and all the earth are involved in this rejoicing. This may be one of the verses that the Hymn writer used to write this amazing hymn. All nature both the sky and the earth rejoice in the Lord.
I really like verse 2 of this Hymn with the line “Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!” I am reminded of that verse in John 19:30.
Strong's defines the word finished as teleo in Greek which means finish or accomplished. It is from the Greek root word telos which means to end or complete or execute or conclude or accomplished or pay. I have heard sermons that mention the term paid in full. What Jesus did was so amazing that it is hard to even grasp sometimes. The Lord Himself came and died for all of our sins and paid them in full. This is such a great line in the Hymn and such an important part of our faith!
Let's take a look at verse two line two - “Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!”. I think even in today's crazy times it is easy for Christians to forget we are in fact in a spiritual battle every moment of every day. Not only that but we often forget that this spiritual battle we are in will some day be completed!
1 Timothy 6:12:"Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you openly confessed your faith before many witnesses."
It is in fact the Lord's battle and then end is in sight now! We will tomorrow look at the spiritual warfare tools we have as noted in Ephesians 6.
In the meantime let's keep up our prayer life and pray constantly now! Remember too the battle belongs to the Lord.
April 21, 2025
Today we will look at a few of the lyrics for the Hymn “Immortal Invisible God Only Wise”. Again special thanks to hymnary.org for use of the lyrics.
This Hymn was written by Walter C. Smith in 1867.
1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; thy justice like mountains high soaring above thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
3 To all life thou givest, to both great and small; in all life thou livest, the true life of all; we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, and wither and perish but naught changeth thee.
4 Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; all praise we would render, O help us to see 'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.
Let's look at the first line of verse 1. - 1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,…
Per AI Overview in Google -
The hymn "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" draws its core message from 1 Timothy 1:17: "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen". The hymn expands on these attributes, emphasizing God's transcendence, wisdom, and eternal nature.
The New Testament Greek word for King is basileus. Per Strong's basileus means king. This Greek word is used 6 times in the New Testament. Immortal in Greek is aphthartos which means incorruptible or immortal. It is derived from the negative Greek particle a meaning not and then phtherio which means undecaying or not corruptible.
It is good to look at God's attributes from time to time as this Hymn reminds us of God being immortal and incorruptible. We are reminded of this in Psalm 90:2 which says:
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting You are God.
July 27 2025
Finally we got moved and re-settled a bit. Moving is hard work.
Let's take a look at 2 Thessalonians 1:11 in terms of end times Bible Prophecy.
The following is taken from biblegateway (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%201&version=NIV)
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.[c]
The first question to answer is what what in mind? Context tells us to read verses just before this. Jesus will be coming to be glorified and to be marveled at among those who have believed.
With that in mind Paul says a few things to the church at Thessalonica.
Paul constantly is praying for them.
Paul is praying specifically that God may make you worthy of His calling
Notice what this does NOT say. It does not say you work hard so you can impress Jesus upon His return. Good luck with that. On our own we cannot really impress God. We are too dependant and needy to impress anyone.
Note what it is saying - that our God may make you worthy of His calling. It is God that does the work.
I am reminded of the verse Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV Bible Hub again)
Note that it is by faith and not anything from ourselves. It is the gift of God. Not by works
July 29 2025 - thanks to Open AI ChatGpt for helping me put this list together.
I believe Jesus may be returning for the rapture this year 2025 before end of the year. This is a bold statement, but let's look at some Bible prophecies now.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (ESV)
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."
This is the clearest description of the rapture event.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV)
"Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."
This speaks of the transformation of believers at Jesus’ coming.
🔔 Jesus’ Own Words About His Return
John 14:2–3 (ESV)
"In my Father’s house are many rooms... I go to prepare a place for you... I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."
A promise of return to receive believers to Himself.
Matthew 24:40–42 (ESV)
"Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."
Often interpreted by many as a reference to the rapture, though others see it as a warning of coming judgment.
🔄 Other Relevant Passages
Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV)
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body..."
Titus 2:13 (ESV)
"...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
This “blessed hope” is commonly seen as a reference to the rapture.
Revelation 3:10 (ESV)
"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world..."
Many pre-tribulation scholars view this as a promise of being kept from the tribulation via the rapture.
Let's take a look at Luke 21 and all verses before this.
“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.13 And so you will bear testimony to me.14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.17 Everyone will hate you because of me.18 But not a hair of your head will perish.19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable,5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
How to we live to please God in these last of the last days? A question like this comes to my mind almost daily. Let's take a look here. More specifically I ask myself alot what is God's will for me today.
I Thess. 4:3 says = It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; This is the first item listed by Paul that is God's will for me today. The first word Paul uses is sanctified. This is a very religious and technical sounding word perhaps. Let's dig into the Greek some on this. The Greek word for sanctified is hagiasmos. Per the Greek Interlinear Bible at BIblehub.com. and Strong's is - Sanctification, holiness or consecration. The root Greek word is hagiazo which meansproperly, purification, i.e. (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier -- holiness, sanctification.. Then Paul get's more specific on what this purity and holiness looks like. That brings us to the second item Paul writes about that is ow to please God and what God's will is.
that you should avoid sexual immorality. Why would Paul say out of all the things he could have said about being sanctified and purified say something about avoiding sexual immorality? He could have said something like make sure you avoid telling lies or murder or all kinds of bad things. Why list sexual immorality? Was this the first thing Paul thought of (remembering all of scripture is God breathed).
There seems to be a feeling that sexual things are really up to each person in our society and that we all kind of do our own thing. But this is incorrect. It is spelled out clearly in the Bible here that it is God's will that you should avoid sexual immorality.
The Greek word for avoid is apecho. This word means to have in full, to receive to be distant or to abstain.
