Shalom chaverim. When King David cried out to the Lord, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” he did not use the Hebrew word yatzar (יָצַר), which means to “fashion” or “form” something from pre-existing material (Gen. 2:7), but he instead used the word bara (בָּרָא), a verb exclusively used in the Torah to refer to God’s direct creation of the cosmos (Gen. 1:1). In other words, King David understood that no amount of reformation of his character would be enough, and therefore he appealed to that very power of God that alone could create yesh me’ayin, or “out of nothing.” Such was the nature of the remedy required that was fulfilled in the cross of Messiah… In this “Daily Dvar” audio broadcast I discuss the need for salvation and God’s gift of a new heart and spirit. I hope you find it helpful…
Withstanding Evil Days
As people of faith in the LORD, we profoundly feel the tension between affirming both that our loving Creator sustains all things by the word of his power (Deut. 32:4; Psalm 33:4; Col. 1:16-17, Heb. 1:3, etc.) and yet acknowledging that the ongoing depravity of human beings yields untold suffering, heartache, and pain in this world. In this “Daily Dvar” broadcast I range over a number of issues regarding trusting God in times of darkness and ambiguity. I hope you find it helpful, friends.
Surrender and Faith
In today’s “Daily D’var” broadcast I discuss the need for surrender and the cost of discipleship for a follower of Yeshua. I also discuss the relationship between Torah and Grace, the role of obedience to the truth, and demand for the full passion of our heart. I hope you will find it encouraging.
Called by Name…
In this “Daily Dvar” broadcast I hope to encourage you to live without fear because of the great love and grace the Lord has for you. The Lord has personally redeemed you, friend; he calls you by name, and you belong to him. Indeed the Lord loves you “b’ahavat olam” – with everlasting love – and therefore he draws you close to him (Jer. 31:3). Shalom chaverim.
Choosing to Believe…
The Spirit of God cries out, “choose life that you may live!” (Deut. 30:19), which implies that is our responsibility to believe in the Reality of God, to trust in his providential care, to affirm that “all is well and all manner of thing shall be well,” and to understand that our present struggle is designed by heaven to help us grow in grace and the knowledge of the truth (1 Pet. 3:16).
In this Daily Dvar, I discuss the challenge of faith and how we can draw closer to the Lord despite the ambiguity and challenges we regularly face.
…
Shadows and Substance…
Shalom chaverim. Our faith separates us from the visible and temporal realm to reveal the invisible and eternal realm — faith hears (shema) the “yes” of the LORD in the midst of worldly dissipation and despair. Today’s “Daily Dvar” broadcast discusses the walk of faith and how we need to remain focused on what is real in the midst of the ups and downs of our daily lives. I hope you find it helpful…
…
Surrounding Presence…
The Name of God, YHVH (יהוה), means “Presence” (Exod. 3:13-14), “Breath” (Gen. 2:7; Num. 16:22), “Life” (Deut. 30:20), and “Love” (Exod. 34:6-7), but it also means “I-AM-WITH-YOU-ALWAYS” (אני תמיד איתך), teaching us that God is an ever-present help for us (Psalm 46:1). The Name YHVH means that “God was (i.e., hayah: היה), God is (i.e., hoveh: הוֶה), and God always will be (i.e., veyihyeh: וְיִהְיֶה),” which implies that He is ever present and not restricted by time or space. Moreover, God is called havayah (הֲוָיָה), which means He is continually sustaining creation by the Word of His power: “In Him we live, move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28; Heb. 1:3). As it is poetically expressed in the Psalms, “Behind and before you cover me; You lay your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5).
..
“Behind and before you cover me.” The word “behind” translates the adjective achor (אָחוֹר), a word related to the word acharon (אַחֲרוֹן), “west,” though it also refers to something later (אַחֲרֵי), such as a later place or time (אַחֲרִית). In Hebrew, the word generally means “backward” (לאחור) or “behind” (מאחור). God’s got your back, friend… Note further that the word translated “before” is kedem (קֶדֶם), a preposition that means “east” but also refers to the primordial beginning, the dawn. The root verb kadam (קָדַם) means to “meet” in initial contact. God is always present for you, friend, and that includes times and days that lie ahead, in the distant future… “As far as the east is from the west,” so far does God’s compassion and love cover you, surround you, and sustain you (Psalm 103:12).
“You cover me.” The verb tzartani (צַרְתָּנִי) comes from the root tzur (צור) that means to encircle, to press upon, to “pressurize,” as by relentlessly attacking a stronghold. The image is that God “hems us in,” that is, He surrounds us and shelters us with His Presence – so that we cannot escape: You are under God’s supervision and protection, friend… And while the root tzur can imply tzuris (trouble, affliction), in this context it is used to picture the Lord securing our station, preserving, protecting, and defending our way. “You lay your hand upon me.” God’s personal and providential hand is at work in your life – He is HaMashgiach hagadol (הַמָּשְׁגִיחַ הַגָּדוֹל) – the Great Overseer of the universe, and that means your way is as sure and secure as the very power that God’s own will affords. Amen.
