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.
Taw יהוה, You have heard the desire of the lowly ones; You prepare their heart; You incline Your ear,
“And Elohim shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying. And there shall be no more pain, for the former matters have passed away.”
Tsadi The righteous cried out, and יהוה heard, And delivered them out of all their distresses.
Qoph יהוה is near to the broken-hearted, And saves those whose spirit is crushed.
And it is יהוה who is going before you, He Himself is with you. He does not fail you nor forsake you. Do not fear nor be discouraged.
You who have shown me great and evil distresses, Revive me again and bring me up again From the depths of the earth.
You increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.
“For יהוה shall comfort Tsiyon, He shall comfort all her waste places. For He makes her wilderness like Ěḏen, and her desert like the garden of יהוה. Joy and gladness are found in it, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
For His displeasure is for a moment, His delight is for life; Weeping might last for the night, But joy comes in the morning.
Sing, O heavens, rejoice, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For יהוה shall comfort His people and have compassion on His afflicted ones.
When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of favour, in order to receive compassion, and find favour for timely help.
Blessed be the Elohim and Father of our Master יהושע Messiah, the Father of compassion and Elohim of all comfort,
who is comforting us in all our pressure, enabling us to comfort those who are in every pressure, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by Elohim.
And the peace of Elohim, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Messiah יהושע.
And in that day you shall say, “I thank You יהוה, though You were enraged with me, Your displeasure has turned back, and You have comforted me.
“These words I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have pressure, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
“Therefore take courage, men, for I believe Elohim that it shall be according to the way it was spoken to me.
I called on Your Name, O יהוה, from the lowest pit.
You have heard my voice, Do not hide Your ear from my groaning, From my outcry!
You drew near on the day I called on You; You said, “Do not fear!”
Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not look around, for I am your Elohim. I shall fortify you, I shall also help you, I shall also uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.’
“Return and say to Ḥizqiyahu the leader of My people, ‘Thus said יהוה, the Elohim of Dawiḏ your father, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. See, I am going to heal you. On the third day go up to the House of יהוה.
Hear my prayer, O יהוה, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.”
The loving-commitments of יהוה! For we have not been consumed, For His compassions have not ended.
They are new every morning, Great is Your trustworthiness.
יהוה opens the eyes of the blind, יהוה raises those who are bowed down, יהוה loves the righteous.
For sadness according to Elohim works repentance to deliverance, not to be regretted, but the sadness of the world works death.
And you shall trust, because there is expectancy. And when you have searched you shall lie down in safety.
“No man is going to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Mosheh, so I am with you. I do not fail you nor forsake you.
That I might delight myself in Your commands, Which I have loved;
That I might lift up my hands to Your commands, Which I have loved; While I meditate on Your laws.
Zayin Remember the word to Your servant, On which You have caused me to wait.
Oh, that my ways were established To guard Your laws!
This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
And the Elohim of expectation fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you overflow with expectation by the power of the Set-apart Spirit.
Do not worry at all, but in every matter, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to Elohim.
And the peace of Elohim, which surpasses all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Messiah יהושע.
“Come to Me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I shall give you rest.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your beings
and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
“For My yoke is gentle and My burden is light.”
For יהוה does not cast off forever.
For though He afflicted, Yet He shall show compassion According to the greatness of His loving-commitments.
For He has not afflicted from His heart, Nor does He grieve the children of men.
Hear my cry, O Elohim, Listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call unto You, When my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been my refuge, A strong tower in the face of the enemy.
For we do not have a High Priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who was tried in all respects as we are, apart from sin.
Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of favour, in order to receive compassion, and find favour for timely help.
“Peace I leave with you – My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
“When you pass through the waters, I am with you; and through rivers, they do not overflow you. When you walk through fire, you are not scorched, and a flame does not burn you.
Let your way of life be without the love of silver, and be satisfied with what you have. For He Himself has said, “I shall never leave you nor forsake you,”
For Elohim has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of self-control.
Hear my cry, O Elohim, Listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call unto You, When my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
And we know that all matters work together for good to those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to his purpose.
My flesh and my heart shall waste away, But Elohim is the rock of my heart And my portion forever.
I lift up my eyes to the hills; Where does my help come from?
My help comes from יהוה, Maker of the heavens and earth.
“The one steadfast of mind You guard in perfect peace, for he trusts in You.
“Trust in יהוה forever, for in Yah, יהוה, is a rock of ages.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed day by day.
For this slight momentary pressure is working for us a far more exceeding and everlasting weight of esteem.
We are not looking on what is seen, but on what is not seen. For what is seen passes away, but what is not seen is everlasting.
but those who wait on יהוה renew their strength, they raise up the wing like eagles, they run and are not weary, they walk and do not faint.
Elohim is our refuge and strength, A help in distress, soon found.
Be still, and know that I am Elohim; I am exalted among nations, I am exalted in the earth!
יהוה of hosts is with us; The Elohim of Ya‛aqoḇ is our refuge. Selah.
Therefore we do not fear, Though the earth reels And mountains topple into the heart of the seas.
Let its waters rage, foam; Let mountains shake with its swelling. Selah.
And let us be concerned for one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging, and so much more as you see the day coming near.
For You, יהוה, are good, and ready to forgive, And great in loving-commitment to all those who call upon You.
He gives power to the faint, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of יהוה; make straight in the desert a highway for our Elohim.
Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men stumble and fall,
but those who wait on יהוה renew their strength, they raise up the wing like eagles, they run and are not weary, they walk and do not faint.
יהוה is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
He does the desire of those who fear Him; And He hears their cry and saves them.
to appoint unto those who mourn in Tsiyon: to give them embellishment for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And they shall be called trees of righteousness, a planting of יהוה, to be adorned.
being persuaded of this, that He who has begun a good work in you shall perfect it until the day of יהושע Messiah.
And to Him who is able to do exceedingly above what we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us,