Beautiful!

He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also, he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end; Ecc. 3:11 (KJV). Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.; Ecc. 3:11 (NLT).

In Hebrew, beautiful is called, yapheh:  יָפֶה. In semitic root word, the word is used by craftsmen who design, precisely, in right settings, build something, which stands out in appearance, which could bring intense pleasure and deep satisfaction to one’s mind. (Hebrew word study). 

Recently, my late-night flight from Washington D.C to my home, I was at the window seat gazing at the aircraft, descending. Just around 30 minutes to landing I was blessed to see the heavenly displayed ray of colours with much excitement: arura, shooting stars, enormous number of brightly shone stars and couple of planets, visible in size at least 6 times bigger than what we normally view with our naked eye standing on earth. I was reminded with awe and excitement of “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork;” Psa: 19:1 (KJV).

         There are two times in God’s Word, where we notice the heavens heralded with songs, at the grandeur of moments! The first time was at the moment of creation; “Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job: 38: 4-7.

          The second time was when the angels heralded singing at the coming of the New Creation in Christ, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men;” Luk: 2:13-14. “The first preacher of the gospel was an angel. God hath now taken this honour from the angels, and put it upon the ministers, who in Scripture are called angels, Rev: 2:1.” (Trapp)

The Divine Maestro: Hebrew word is, מאסטרו אלוהי (maestra alohi), which means, heavenly master, organizer, the eminent composer, conductor, usually of art and music. (Hebrew word study). Maestro (/ˈmaɪstroʊ/; from the Italian maestro [maˈestro; maˈɛstro], meaning "master" or "teacher")^[1] is an honorific title of respect (plural: maestros or maestri). The term is most commonly used in the context of Western classical music and opera, in line with the ubiquitous use of Italian musical terms. (Wikipedia)

Enigma of Love

 

The word love can be ambiguous, enigmatic, opaque, puzzling, and obscure without much clarity, when the meaning of love is only partly understood!  Humanity, searches for love, and is an ongoing search in their hearts, and often it is searched in the wrong places.

Ahava (אהבה) – is a Hebrew word meaning “love”. It is often used to refer to the love between two people but can also be used to refer to love for God, family, friends, and humanity in general.(Hebrew word study)

Heart is the seat of all emotions, and we make choices, based on our emotional intelligence. The words heart and mind are interchangeably used throughout Scriptures.  So, the concept of the “heart” can be better understood as our inner person. The inner person: becomes the seat of our mind (thought), emotions (feelings), and will (intentions); Prov. 4:23. Now, “soul” consists of mind, will, intellect and emotions. When we remember these concepts, it helps further in our understanding of what Scripture says about love below:

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres; 1 Coir. 13:4-7 (NIV).

 “The love on which a beautiful love is built is a persevering flame burning as brightly at the beginning as it does later on.” (Glickman)

Love is the attribute of God, 1 Jn. 4:8.  In a “nutshell” as fallen human beings we are unable to love someone as they longed to be loved. This is because, no other human being is able to fill the void/ vacuum/ the spiritual ache/ longing to be loved, and longing for eternity which God has placed within us. We love because He loved us; 1 Jn. 4:19. Show us how to love like You have loved us, break our heart for what breaks Your heart, and open the eyes of our heart to the things unseen, for Your Kingdom’s sake, as we walk from earth to eternity!    

Love that never fails!

 Love is the word we hear around the globe, and has a very intoxicating effect, and a common denominator in every kind of relationship, despite different cultures, races, ethnicity, and religious beliefs. Sometimes, it is very unfortunate, when someone claims they love someone else, that saying is ambiguous, enigmatic, opaque, puzzling, and obscure without much clarity. This is because understanding the meaning of love is hard!  Humanity, searches for love, and is an ongoing search in their hearts, and often it is searched in the wrong places. Let us search couple of Hebrew words for further understanding.

The Hebrew verb אהב (ahav, pronounced ah-HAV, with the final bet pronounced as a "v") is a Biblical Hebrew word meaning "to love." The noun form of this word is אהבה (ahavah, pronounced ah-ha-VAH) meaning "love." Ahav and ahavah cover a broad spectrum of concepts of love.[1]

The Hebrew word often translated “heart” is the word lev, לב. Although lev is frequently translated as “heart,” it should be rendered “mind.” This information is actually very important for accurate reading of many Biblical texts.[2]

"Heart" (Hebrew lebab/leb [b'bel], Gk. kardia [kardiva]) occurs over one thousand times in the Bible, making it the most common anthropological term in the Scripture. It denotes a person's centre for both physical and emotional-intellectual-moral activities; sometimes it is used figuratively for any inaccessible thing.[3]

Heart is the seat of all emotions, and we make choices, based on emotional intelligence. So the concept of the “heart” can be better understood as our inner person. The inner person: becomes the seat of  our mind (thought), emotions (feelings), and will (intentions); Prov. 4:23. Now, “soul” consists of mind, will, intellect and emotions. When we remember these concepts, it helps further in our understanding of what Scripture says about love below:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres; 1 Coir. 13:4-7 (NIV).

These verses are self-explanatory: Love in otherwards goes beyond politeness, it is kind and is acting for the good of others even when it does not benefit ourselves. When apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthian church, it looks like envy was very active in the church. When we stop comparing ourselves with Christ (in which all of us fall short), and compare ourselves with others, it  becomes a fertile ground for envy to breed. One can envy on spiritual gifts, and also on financial and educational successes. Love is the greatest, because it is the attribute of God, 1 Jn. 4:8.  So, it is clear that love for one another must take precedent over getting our own way with regards to any gifts God has given for His children.

In the earthly ministry Jesus, moved with compassion, with all kinds of people, loved them unconditionally, taught them to love and honour others. He loved, Judas the betrayer, the sexual libertine the woman at the well, the conniving financial cheat Zacchaeus, the disciple Peter who denied him three times, and many more who were caught up in the downward spiral of bitterness, hatred, remorse, regrets, and caught up in sin. The perfect, sinless Saviour taught us to love others  despite their dire circumstances and taught us to love and honour our neighbours.

Place me as a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned; Song of Sol: 8:6-7. (Song of Solomon is also called Canticle of Canticles and Songs of Songs).

The picture of love painted in Song of Sol. 8:6-7; is: love is set as seal on the heart and arm. This belong to those who are willing to give up something for themselves (their wants) to another person who is also willing to give up something they want in return. The bond of love needs to be continuously nourished, cherished and regarded as permanent. It is permanent like death, so one must take care, how, where, and with whom this spark is ignited. Love is not a piece of merchandize and must be appreciated and not taken for granted.   

“Your love to Christ especially lacks the genuine stamp if it is never roused to jealousy by the malice of foes and the faithlessness of professed friends of our Lord. (Spurgeon)

 “The love on which a beautiful love is built is a persevering flame burning as brightly at the beginning as it does later on.” (Glickman)

In a “nutshell” as fallen human beings we are unable to love someone as they longed to be loved. This is because, no other human being is able to fill the void/ vacuum/ the spiritual ache/ longing to be loved, and longing for eternity which God has placed within us. We love because He loved us; 1 Jn. 4:19.

 

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[1] Hebrew word for love: https://www.google.com/search?q=hebrew+word+for+love&rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA896CA910&oq=Hebrew+

[2] Is it heart or lev in Hebrew? Hebrew?https://www.google.com/search?q=heart+hebrew+word&rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA896CA910&oq=Heart+Hebrew+word&aqs

[3] What is the Bible term for the heart? https://www.google.com/search?q=heart+hebrew+word&rlz=1C1CHBD_enCA896CA910&oq=Heart+Hebrew+word&aq

 

More than Conquerors

 

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; Rom.8: 33-39 (KJV).

 

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?  When one is declared not guilty, by the highest judge, that person is secure from every charge, and no one else can add additional charge. Who is he who condemns?  As a result, one is free and secure from all other condemnation. The reason being Jesus Christ being our advocate is promoting our benefits, because of what He did on the cross, purging our sins, and this nullifies all other condemnation! More than conquerors through Him who loved us, means no matter what our circumstances, or our sufferings of our present time can separate us from the love of God, because of Christ.

 

What does More than conquerors mean? In weaknesses, God’s power, exceeds, and every believer with a greater love provided from above, can conquer the enemies with Christ’s love and converting persecutors with patience.

Our thoughts may sink, our hopes may run out, the day may groan, our hearts’ string may snap, our soul may be in anguish, sin- burdened souls may writhe in pain and despair, may be reaping tares despite sowing wheat, struggling to rise up in the morning one may stumble and fall, as clouds of regrets of life assail, loss of direction for life, left us without peace, the toil of years, struggles and fears and anxiety encircles, and scenes of distress continues: remember the fullness of His blessing encompasses one’s way according to the riches of His glory.

Security of a believer in God’s love, Rom 8:39, meant, absolutely, nothing, which appears to be good, or appear to be evil shall be able to separate a genuine believer from the love of God, because His love is vast, wide, high, and deep, broader than the broadest sea, beyond any human expression with our limited eloquence!

Times and seasons changes, everything we see around us changes but God’s love in Christ endures for ever, and tides of joy in softest murmurs continue to roll and brings ray of bright hope!   

To a Height above the Storm!

Distinctly I remember a time on my long-distance travel, the aircraft was buffeted by strong turbulence, when passing through the storm. The pilot took the plane around 300 feet high, and peace and calmness were restored since we were flying above the storm. The storm and lightning were raging below us, but the aircraft was in a different height and so does all the people in it. That height was the safest place we could be. Storm could not touch us, when we rose to such an altitude!

The metaphor above, not only does bring a picture of God surrounding us and protecting us, but also of Him lifting us up and carrying us away from all the problems and stresses that have been bound. (Chaim Bentorah, Revealing the Heart of God, Hebrew Word Study, 2016). This is what the Hebrew word Sagav ( שָׂגָה) or “refuge,” refer to. 

The term “ oppressed is from the Hebrew word adah ( אדה), which means “to be crushed under affliction” or “to have a heavy weight on top of something.” The word for “trouble” is tsarar ( צָרַר), which means “to be bound up”; it could also come from the root word batsar (בָּצַר), meaning “a pruning” (Chaim Bentorah). 

God is a refuge for us from those who seek to crush us or to hold us down, or from those who have us bound up in fear. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble, Ps. 9:9 (KJV). Time and time again, when the storm of life threatens us, we may think our shelter will be found in the arm of flesh, by our ingenuity, brilliance, inventiveness, creativity, imagination, resourcefulness, cleverness or by our insight. Our raging creative thoughts in our fallenness were often humbled by God’s protection and He is able to make us inaccessible to the storms. 

When we are lifted to the height above the storms, we can look down in peace and know we are in God’s protection, to a place of ultimate safety. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, Ps. 91:1(KJV).

The word is “sagav” which means to be high. The picture is a refuge in the heavens or outer space, a place that is inaccessible. More Hebrew words for refuge. noun מִקְלָט. shelter, asylum, haven, sanctuary. noun מִפלָט. escape, retreat, haven, shelter, asylum.[1]

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[1] How to say refuge in Hebrew - Thesaurus and Word Toolshttps://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the/hebrew-word-for-cdc93d65384e9644...

 

Wrestle: ‘Aveq (אָבַק)

 Hebrew Base Word: אָבַק Part of speech: Verb Usage: Wrestle Definition: To bedust, i.e., grapple. Detailed definition: (Niphal) to wrestle, grapple (get dusty), bedust. 

       And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him; Gen 32: 24-25 KJV. 

 “It does not say that he wrestled with the man, but ‘there wrestled a man with him.’ We call him ‘wrestling Jacob,’ and so he was; but we must not forget the wrestling man, — or, rather, the wrestling Christ, — the wrestling Angel of the covenant, who had come to wrestle out of him much of his own strength and wisdom.” (Spurgeon)

“I suppose our Lord Jesus Christ did here, as on many other occasions preparatory to his full incarnation, assume a human form, and came thus to wrestle with the patriarch.” (Spurgeon)

i. Sometimes we feel man really can contend with God. A man or woman in rebellion against God might seem to do pretty well. The match seems even in appearance only. God can turn the tide at any moment, and He allows the match to go on for His own purposes.

ii. It isn’t hard to imagine Jacob working so hard and feeling he is getting the best of his opponent, until finally the Man changed the nature of the struggle in a moment. Jacob must have felt very defeated. (Enduring Word, David Guzik).

I believe that this wrestling match is more of a mind and heart battle than the physical one. This can be related to what we as humans would do when facing an extremely difficult situation! The metaphysical aspects of man, the intellectual property endowed to man by God is very complex, intricate, compounded, complicate, unfathomable, and not easy to analyze or understand fully by humans. 

Agonizing over the decision we would make, while thinking about the pros and cons seems to be very norm! This could be related to rolling in a dust, while most of the battle is in determining God’s will. Possible Jacob was rolling in the dust, wrestling with many things (such as thought, reasoning, judgement, will, design, affection, love, anger, hatred, courage, fear, worry, anxiety, joy, sorrow, and life itself- the issues of the human heart and mind), trying to absorb a little of God’s wisdom, and to know God’s will for his life, as he was running away from his brother Esau! Most likely Jacob knew what was God’s will, or he knew God’s heart, but has difficulty accepting God’s will and decision, and hence wrestling through the night, with the struggles of submitting to God’s will.

As the fight progressed, it seemed Jacob was somewhat evenly matched against the Man, but the match was only evenly matched in appearance. The Man could have won easily at any time, using supernatural power, (Enduring Word, David Guzik). As Jacob, fully spread his fears before the Lord, (the angel) suffered himself to be conquered, to encourage Jacob’s faith and hope against the approaching danger, and in truth, he even imparted strength to him to maintain the conflict. I am confident that there is sizeable element of truth in this understanding.

Complicated Grief: Heart- rending

 

Rending means  tearing, so when something makes you feel deeply saddened.

Hebrew word study:

lev – לב means, heart-  which is defined as the seat of all passions.

ayakah/ AYEKAH – איכה means  “where are you?”

“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” - Genesis 3:9-10, (KJV).

Ayekah is an ancient Hebrew word that is still used in daily life today. It means, “Where are you?” It is used today when a person, parent, friend, compatriot wants to know about your inner world, the heart experience of you. 

Can you picture God wandering through the garden, weeping, and saying, “O woe is Me!”?..... If we believe we are created in the image of God, then we have a heart like His- a heart that can be broken. Haven’t you ever lamented over a broken relationship? Most Christians seem to have a hard time picturing God as weeping over His lost children. Hence, we use the more appropriate rendering  of “where are you?” But while ayakah is an interrogative,* it is also an expression of grief. So, what is causing this grief? Adam and Eve were not hiding from God; they were hiding from the presence of God. They had willfully separated themselves from His presence. God is grief- stricken because the sin has caused to hide one from His presence- the presence He longs to share with us. After searching for the heart of God and capturing a few glimpses of His heart, you may no longer see Him as a task master ready to whip you into submission to His will, but as a lover who has His arms open, ready to embrace you, to forgive you, and win you over to submission to His perfect will through His passionate love for you. - Chaim Bentorah, Hebrew Word Study- Revealing the Heart of God, (2016). 

If God had problems locating where Adam was hiding in some bushes, this does not inspire in me much confidence that God is watching over me all the time and protects me and knows my going out and my coming in! So, what is the literal rendering of the verse, Genesis 3: 9-10? The complicated grief which came out of original sin (peccatum Originale- Latin) is heartrending, and this is something that  rends God’s heart, rips it apart, like a tale of a terrible tragedy! Looking at the effects of Fall, ayakah- this rendering makes more sense, to me in my search for God’s heart!