Biblical Shadows: In the Valley of the Shadow. “Yes, even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (“tzalmavel”), I will fear no evil (“ra”). For You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4). “Tzalmavel” = the Hebrew word that refers to the deepest of dark shadows; a total blackout; lightless gloom; a profound …
Biblical Shadows: Meditations on the Lord as a Shelter. “Tsel” = The Hebrew word for shadow or shade; the root word means to be in the dark or to grow dark. In Scripture it is used literally to mean the physical shadows cast by an object like a tree, a mountain, a building, a cloud; …
Biblical Shadows Created in God’s Image. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make humanity in Our image (“tselem”) and likeness to resemble Us…’ So God created mankind in His own image (“tselem”), in the image (“tselem”) of God He created them; male and female He created them.“ (Genesis 1:26-27). “Tselem” = a resemblance in shape; a …
Our Wondrous God: Sarah Laughs. “Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure? Then Yahweh said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying ‘Shall I in truth bear …
Our Wondrous God According to Jeremiah. “Behold I am Lord Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is anything too wondrous (“pala”) for me? Is there anything that is impossible for Me to accomplish?”(Jeremiah 32:27). “Pili,” “Pala” and “Pele” are the related Hebrew words most often used to mean wondrous; miraculous; unsurpassed; something so wonderful that it is beyond …
Our Wondrous God According to Zechariah. “Thus said the Lord of the Angel Armies: ‘I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Faithfulness, and the mount of the Lord of Hosts will be called the Holy Mount. Old men and old women shall again sit …
Our Wondrous God in the Psalms of David. “The single most characteristic thing about David is God. David believed in God, thought about God, imagined God, addressed God, prayed to God. The largest part of David’s existence wasn’t David but God.” (Eugene Peterson, Leap Over A Wall.) The Overture. David’s life was the God-song that anticipated the …
Our Wondrous God According to Job. “O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! What a deep wealth of wisdom and knowledge He has! How incomprehensible are His decisions, how unsearchable His judgments! How undiscoverable are His paths, how mysterious His ways, beyond finding out! Who has understood the mind of Yahweh? Who knows …
Our Wondrous God: The Wonderful Counselor in Isaiah. “O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! What a deep wealth of wisdom and knowledge He has! How incomprehensible are His decisions, how unsearchable His judgments! How undiscoverable are His paths, how mysterious His ways, beyond finding out! Who has understood the mind of Yahweh? …
Our Wondrous God: The Rejected Cornerstone. “I praise You, for You have answered me and have become my deliverance. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is wondrous (“pala”) in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has brought about; let us greatly rejoice …
Our Wondrous God: His Miraculous Mercy in Nehemiah. “O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! What a deep wealth of wisdom and knowledge He has! How incomprehensible are His decisions, how unsearchable His judgments! How undiscoverable are His paths, how mysterious His ways, beyond finding out! Who has understood the mind of Yahweh? …
Our Wondrous God: Marvelous Beyond Understanding in Psalm 139. “O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! What a deep wealth of wisdom and knowledge He has! How incomprehensible are His decisions, how unsearchable His judgments! How undiscoverable are His paths, how mysterious His ways, beyond finding out! Who has understood the mind …