Meditations

The Old Testament writers were masters of wordplay—something we often miss out on because we cannot read the original Hebrew. Fortunately, we can still appreciate their creativity. Take Isaiah, for instance, who says to God’s people:“You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay… Does the clay say to the potter, ‘He knows nothing’?” (Isaiah 29:16). Isaiah is also the prophet who frequently uses the word “foundation.” Although

Depending on the translation you use, there are between 80 and 100 references to foundations in the Bible, most of which are in the Old Testament. Many refer to the foundation of the temple, but at times the word is used metaphorically to signify spiritual steadfastness. Long before the temple’s foundation was laid, God had already established the earth’s foundation. When Job began questioning God, God replied with a counterquestion:“Where were you when I laid

On 8 December 1976, a massive earthquake struck Welkom (in the Free State). We schoolchildren were rushed out of classrooms onto the rugby field. Everyone was pale with fear. Not far away, a six-story apartment building, Tempest Hof, collapsed. At 12 years old, my fear was immense: if it could happen there, why not to our house too? For the first time, I learned about solid foundations, quality building materials, and construction regulations. I wonder

For more than a week since I wrote the meditation for 1 January, my computer has simply stood on the table. A dark curtain has descended over my soul. The life of someone very close to me has changed in an instant from light to darkness. What has arrived for him is what the priest John of the Cross (16th century) would call: “The Dark Night of the Soul.” And I grieve alongside him. Early

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are anxious of heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God'” (Isaiah 35:3-4a; 2020 Translation). I wonder if you can recall the answer to this question: “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” Perhaps you last heard it in your catechism classes. However, the answer from the Heidelberg Catechism (HC) is surely the only assurance we need for