Peter J. Leithart

Isaiah 30:18 is arranged as a neat chiasm: A. Therefore waits Yahweh to be gracious B. and therefore He will be exalted with compassion B’. for a God of judgment is Yahweh A’. Blessed all who wait for Him. The repetition of “wait” ( chakah ) forms an obvious inclusio around . . . . Continue Reading »

Yahweh makes up an insulting nickname for Egypt, which the NASB translates as “Rahab who has been exterminated” (Isaiah 30:7). The Hebrew is rahab hem shavet , and each of the main terms of the phase is significant. Rahab means “fierce” but it is used mainly in contexts . . . . Continue Reading »

In a dense phrase, Isaiah captures the idolatry at the heart of Judah’s attempt at a political alliance with Egypt. He pronounces a woe against the rebellious sons who “make counsel but not of me” and who “pour a pouring but not My Spirit” (30:1). The last phrase is an . . . . Continue Reading »

The Hebrew word massa’ introduces a number of oracles in Isaiah’s prophecy (13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; etc.). It is often translated “oracle,” but it comes from a root ( nasa’ ) that means “carry” or “bear,” and is thus sometimes rendered as . . . . Continue Reading »

In his treatise on the Passions of the Soul , Descartes gave a fairly traditional description of gratitude ( reconnaissance ) and ingratitude. Gratitude is “a sort of love, excited in us by some action of him to whom we offer it, and whereby we believe he has done us some good, or at least . . . . Continue Reading »

INTRODUCTION As soon as Israel left Egypt, many wanted to return. Centuries later, they still want to go back because they hope Egypt can protect them from Assyria. It won’t work. Repentance, including repentance for trusting Egypt, is the only hope (Isaiah 30:15). THE TEXT “Woe to the . . . . Continue Reading »

When the Pharisees criticize Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands before eating, Jesus responds by quoting from Isaiah 29:13: “this people draws near with their words and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” He immediately goes on to teach His . . . . Continue Reading »

Philosophy cannot be philosophy without theology. Philosophy has to exceed itself to be itself. Gratitude is the lever for philosophy’s fulfilling transcendence of itself. Here’s a sketch of the argument: Philosophy, let us say, is the analysis of human existence as such. But we . . . . Continue Reading »

William Appleman Williams writes in his Tragedy of American Diplomacy (1962) that “in expanding its own economic system throughout much of the world, America has made it very difficult for other nations to retain any economic independence. This is particularly true in connection with raw . . . . Continue Reading »

I offer some reflections on what the allegory of the Song of Songs can teach us about sex at http://www.firstthings.com/ . . . . Continue Reading »