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I don't know how many of you actually notice the titles on these posts, but if you did, you might well know there was something from the "Judgment" post last week that I want to revisit. Last week, you may have seen me add a couple prayers during the "my responsibilities" part- and it got me to thinking. I Kept thinking about a song we used to sing in Catholic Church based on the beatitudes. Some sloppy theology went into it IMHO, because where Jesus said, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness; the will be satisfied", the hymn changed 'righteousness' to 'justice'- which, while being patently incorrect, it made me connect it to this secton.
Hunger and thirst. And knowing inside I needed to go deeper here, I began to look up the words used for "my duties". What I learned, astounded and widened my hunger to revisit this set.
1- To Learn What I learned about this word made perfect sense: A primitive root; properly to goad, that is, (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive). The judgments are rules meant to 'goad you' onto the right path- the rule and consequence, the "2X4 to the head" I mentioned last time. Just now, it makes me think of Paul on the Damascus road- "It is hard for you to kick against the goads". All his life, he thought his learning made him superior; now, he finds that learning was going against what God WANTED him to learn. Learning involves one thing I often push to the side: the SERIOUSNESS of God's hatred of sin, which we'll hit in 'living color' real soon.
2- To Declare This one brought up a bevy of different ways to look at the idea. As in, almost anyway you can think of speaking declaratively. In the Bible, this same word in the KJV is used for: to tell (as like news); to ennumerate, keepng a score or a count of things; to show; to speak; to account; to write; to commune; in fact it is the very OT word for the Scribes who wrote out the Law. So this isn't preaching- it's any way you use to communicate for any reason and at every level.
3- To Choose Yes, it is to make a selection; but more than that, it is to make the best, the most excellent, selection. The preferred way, to the point of joining yourself to these judgments. You're not buying something at the store, you're BECOMING something you weren't.
4- To Dread This one really wallopped me, because it is seeing your sinful self as God sees your sin. The description used two words I have never seen before to 'flesh' out the shame hat causes dread of judgment- and they are NOT pretty. One was actively being insulting or speaking insults to God; the other technically denotes a woman's private parts being exposed publically. If we truly saw sin as God does, we would react with dread to any sin that comes to mind. But the flesh keeps saying, "It's not that big of a deal."
5- To Remember The technical definition is taking you back to the days of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, pioneers of the forest who would use their axes to mark a tree so to remember where they were, where they came from, where they were going. They would use these marks over and over again, so that they wouldn't get lost. It's not remembering the Pythagorian theory for a test; it's a mar of identification to guide you through life.
6- To Thank This one took me by surprise because its attributes included not just praise, but also thanksgiving- and confession. The entire Lord's Prayer in one concept. The word at its simplest bring up the raising of one's hands in praise. It's more than just thanking- it is PRAYING in all its facets.
7- To Keep The definitions brought up three aspects. First, to 'hedge around', to make a wall of separation that puts you with the judgments and away from the world. Second, to guard- making sure the world doesn't sneak in, and you don't sneak OUT. Third, to take heed to yourself- are you working to stay in, or working to sneak out?
8- To Do The one part of this translation says it all: A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application. Any definition you find for "verb" active or passive, goes here. Everything is to be for the Lord.
9- To Praise This one is best drawn together with the story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem:
2Sa 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.
2Sa 6:16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart...
2Sa 6:20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
2Sa 6:21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD.
2Sa 6:22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”
Why this passage? Because this was also a very surprising word. To make God clear, yes; to make God shine, yes; to make a show of God, yes; but even to the point of foolishness! Of course, it is only foolish to the bitter and unbelieving. If you ever heard an in-depth on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Father showed joy for the repentance of his son by casting aside everything the people considered "dignity". God is so pleased when we can emulate Him in this!
So you see, this has become more than just a list to me. And I hope I will use it to change my life. Hopefully, I will continue to learn from it, and share that with you.
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