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VERSES DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND
I've found that there's a lot of truth in saying that the Bible is generally easy to understand. Most of it is pretty straightforward, you know? But, yeah, every now and then you stumble across a passage that really makes you scratch your head. Figuring out what those tricky parts mean can be a real challenge.
Thankfully, I'd say 99% of Scripture is clear as a bell. And that's the stuff we really need to focus on living out. The Bible itself talks about how God's word is meant to be understandable, accessible to everyone.
But let's be real, sometimes we run into those verses that feel a bit murky. Even with all the great commentaries and resources we have available today, including stuff online, even theologians will tell you some passages are just tough nuts to crack.
But I believe that with God's help, and by digging a little deeper with the tools available to us, we can gain a better understanding of even those difficult verses. He'll give us the wisdom we need if we seek it.
The longing of the afflicted you have heard, O Yahweh. You will make their heart secure. You will listen attentively
And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any longer, and mourning or wailing or pain will not exist any longer. The former things have passed away.”
They cry out and Yahweh hears and delivers them from all of their troubles.
Yahweh is near to those who are heartbroken and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Yahweh is the one going before you; he will be with you, and he will not leave you alone, and he will not forsake you; you shall not be afraid, and you shall not be discouraged.”
You who have caused me to see many troubles and evils, you will again revive me. And from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.
You will increase my greatness, and you will comfort me all around.
For Yahweh will comfort Zion; he will comfort all its sites of ruins. And he will make its wilderness like Eden, and its desert like the garden of Yahweh. Joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving and the sound of song.
For there is a moment in his anger; there is a lifetime in his favor. Weeping lodges for the evening, but in the morning comes rejoicing.
Sing for joy, heavens, and rejoice, earth! Mountains must break forth in rejoicing! For Yahweh has comforted his people, and he will take pity on his afflicted ones.
Even when I walk in a dark valley, I fear no evil because you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in all affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And you will say on that day, “I will give you thanks, Yahweh, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me.
I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.”
Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will be like this—according to the way it was told to me.
I have called your name, O Yahweh, from the depths of the pit.
You have heard my cry, “Do not shut your ear to my cry for help, for my relief!”
You came near on a day when I called you, you said, “Do not fear!”
You must not fear, for I am with you; you must not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, indeed I will help you, indeed I will take hold of you with the right hand of my salvation.
“Return; you must say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘Thus says Yahweh the God of David your ancestor, “I have heard your prayer and I have seen your tears. Look, I am about to heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the temple of Yahweh.
Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my tears. For I am an alien with you, a sojourner like all my ancestors.
The loyal love of Yahweh does not cease; his compassions do not come to an end.
They are new in the morning, great is your faithfulness.
Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind; Yahweh raises up those bowed down; Yahweh loves the righteous;
For grief according to the will of God brings about a repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but worldly grief brings about death.
And you will have confidence because there is hope; and you will be well protected—you will sleep in safety.
No one will stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you, and I will not forsake you.
And I will take delight in your commands, which I love.
And I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
Remember your word to your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope.
Oh that my ways were steadfast, to keep your statutes!
This is my comfort in my misery: that your word preserves my life.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”
For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.”
For the Lord will not reject forever.
For even though he causes grief he has compassion according to the greatness of his royal love.
He does not afflict willingly, or grieve anyone.
Hear, O God, my cry; attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart grows faint. You will lead me to a rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge, a strong tower from the enemy.
For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all things in the same way, without sin.
Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you—not as the world gives, I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not flow over you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not scorch you.
Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For he himself has said, “I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you.”
For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-discipline.
Hear, O God, my cry; attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart grows faint. You will lead me to a rock that is higher than I.
And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose,
I lift up my eyes to the mountains; whence will my help come?
My help is from Yahweh, maker of heaven and earth.
You will protect a firm inclination in peace, in peace because he trusts in you.
Trust in Yahweh forever, for in Yah, Yahweh you have an everlasting rock.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day.
For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion,
because we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal.
But those who wait for Yahweh shall renew their strength. They shall go up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not be faint.
A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.
He will turn his attention to the prayer of the destitute and will not despise their prayer.
God is our refuge and strength, a very sufficient help in troubles.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.
Yahweh of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our high stronghold.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth change, and though the mountains totter into the midst of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam, though mountains shake with its surging water. Selah
And let us think about how to stir one another up to love and good works,
not abandoning our meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging each other, and by so much more as you see the day drawing near.
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as indeed you are doing.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, and abundant in loyal love for all who call to you.
He gives power to the weary, and he increases power for the powerless.
A voice is calling in the wilderness, “Clear the way of Yahweh! Make a highway smooth in the desert for our God!
Even young people will be faint and grow weary, and the young will stumble, exhausted.
But those who wait for Yahweh shall renew their strength. They shall go up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not be faint.
Yahweh is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry for help, and saves them.
to give for those in mourning in Zion, to give them a head wrap instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. And they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, to show his glory.
convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus,
Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us,