“Sum” vs. “Some”

  The words “sum” and “some” are homophones (i.e. words that sound the same but do not have the same spelling or definition).  “Sum” is a noun used in mathematics to mean the answer to an addition problem.  “Some” is an adjective used to describe…

The Value of God’s Word in Trials

       Over twenty verses in Psalm 119’s tribute to God’s Word refer to diverse trials faced by the author.  He was reproached (vv. 22-23, 51, 69), mistreated (vv. 61, 78), plotted against (vv. 95, 110), and had continuous opposition from his enemies (vv. 98,…

The Blessings of Affliction

       Physical and emotional hedonism are wildly popular philosophies in our world.  Anything that feels good or that gives me pleasure is believed to be desirable; everything that does not ought to be avoided.  Psalm 119:67 clearly contradicts this mindset.  “Before I was afflicted,…

The Entirety of God’s Word

       A popular mistake made with the Scriptures is found in the question—“Where does the Bible say, ‘Thou shalt not ________’?”  Implicit in this question is the premise that the only way the Bible authorizes is through explicit prohibitive commands; this premise is false. …