Category Archives: Jewish History/Culture

Into Your Hand: A safe deposit

Into Your Hand: A safe deposit
Into Your hand I commit my spirit.   Psalm 31:5 David, in a time of peril and distress, made this declaration to God. The word commit is translated from afkid, which has a connotation of a deposit, like a bank deposit. It is voluntary and can be temporary. It is this passage from the Psalms that…
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Zamar: Plucky Praise

Zamar: Plucky Praise
There are many words for singing and also for praise. Zamar combines them both and refers specifically to singing that praises God. Zamar can also be translated as plucking so is associated with music on stringed instruments. David plucked his harp (zamar) and it soothed Saul. Whenever the evil spirit from God bothered Saul, David…
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Life or Death

Life or Death
…  I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, … Deuteronomy 30:19 My first response to this is, “who would choose death?” Of course I choose life! But do I really? All the time? The word, chi, and its roots, are what gets translated as life here. But it comes…
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Patience in Prayer: The graciousness of God

Patience in Prayer: The graciousness of God
Do you have prayers that have been on your lips and heart for a long time? You are in good company. The Bible is full of people who experienced the same thing. It is easy to become discouraged or give in to doubt. I can wonder if there is something wrong with me that God…
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