Daily Bible Verse - 8/19/2007 - Hosea 6:3

Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.

Hosea 6:3

Commentary
God's restored presence and blessings would be like the rain that waters and renews the earth.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Ho 6:3). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

"former rains" and "latter rains" (KJV)
Farmers in Palestine counted on the "former rains" of fall, which permitted seeds to germinate and seedlings to develop into strong plants. Equally essential were the "latter rains" of February and March, which enabled plants to mature in the following months.

Packer, J., Tenney, M. C., & White, W. (1997, c1995). Nelson's illustrated manners and customs of the Bible (184). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Daily Bible Verse - 8/18/2007 - Proverbs 8:13

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.

Proverbs 8:13

Commentary
Wisdom hates what God hates (cf. 6:16-19; Ps. 5:5). The highest virtue is humility (submission to God), and thus wisdom hates pride and self-exaltation above all.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Pr 8:13). Nashville: Word Pub.

"The Fear of the Lord"
The phrase takes into account a lifestyle in which people take seriously an all-wise, all-powerful, and all-righteous God who holds them responsible for their behavior.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Ge 20:4-5). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.