Chapter 10 - King For God is King over all the earth
Psalms 47:7 In this chapter we will look at the Hebrew word “$lm” (melek), an adopted root word. The original parent root is “$l” (lak) which we previously discussed as the root for “$alm” (mela’ak - messenger), one who “walks for another.” At some point the “m” (m) was attached to the original root, forming the adopted root “$lm” (melek). The ancient pictographic form of the letter “m” is “m,” a picture of water meaning mighty, due to the immense size of the sea. The Hebraic understanding of the word “$lm” (melek) according to the ancient script is “a mighty one who carries a staff in the palm.” The king was a mighty man who carried a scepter, or staff, as a sign of his authority. The pictographs for the word also mean, “a mighty one that walks.” The ancient kings did not rule by sitting on a throne his entire life, distancing himself from the people, rather he ruled among them, he walked with them. The king also lead the army into battle as King Josiah did when he was killed. God is not a king who merely sits on his throne, but one who walks among his people.
“For Yahweh himself walks among your camp.”
Deuteronomy 23:15
Covenant
We have previously looked at the word “hla” (alah) meaning an oath or covenant. The more common Hebrew word for a “covenant” is “tyrb” (beriyt) from the parent root “rb” (bar) meaning grain. The grain is fed to the livestock for fattening. These fat animas were then used for sacrifices. Whenever a covenant was entered into, such as between a king and his people, a fatted animal was cut into two pieces. The blood was then sprinkled on the parties of the covenant. Where the English phrase “made a covenant” appears, we find the Hebrew phrase “tyrb trk” (karat beriyt) behind it. This phrase is literally translated as “cut the fatted meat.” Essentially the two members of the covenant are saying by this cutting “if I break this covenant you may do the same to me,” as can be seen in the following passage.
“The men who violated my covenant, who did not lift up my words of the covenant which they cut before me, I will make them like the calf that they cut into two and passed between.”
Jeremiah 34:18
Throughout the Bible we see God as the king, making covenant with his people. In these covenants both parties agree to the terms of the covenant. In the case of the covenant God makes with Israel at Mount Sinai, God promises to provide for them as a good king, while the people agree to obey the laws of the king.
Keeping Covenant The Bible often refers to the keeping and breaking of a covenant and it is usually interpreted as obedience or disobedience to the covenant. If disobedience were the meaning of “breaking,” Israel would never have been able to remain in covenant relationship so long as they did because of their continual disobedience to the terms of the covenant. Let us examine these two words within their Hebraic context beginning with the word for “keep”:
“Now, if you will intently listen to my voice and keep my covenant, they will be for me a treasured possession from all the people, for all the land is mine.”
Exodus 19:5 In the above passage, the Hebrew word behind the English word “keep” is “rmX” (shamar). If we interpret this word as obedience, we can easily interpret this passage to mean, “obey the covenant.” As we shall see, this translation is not always suitable to the context of the passage.
“The LORD bless you and keep you.”
Numbers 6:24 (NIV)
Obviously the word “rmX” (shamar), also translated as “keep” in this verse, cannot be interpreted as “obey,” otherwise it would read, “The LORD bless you and obey you.” We can clearly see that the word “obey” is a poor interpretation for the Hebrew word “rmX” (shamar). The original use of this word is a corral constructed out of thorn bushes by the shepherd to protect his flock from predators during the night. The “rmX” (shamar) was built to “guard” the flock and we can see this same imagery in the passage above by interpreting it as “The LORD bless you and guard you.” We now see that “keeping the covenant” is not strictly about obedience, but “guarding the covenant.” The individual’s attitude toward the covenant is the issue, does he guard it as a shepherd does his flock, or does he “break” the covenant.
Breaking Covenant
Just as the word “keep” has been misunderstood in the context of the original Hebraic meaning, the word “break” has also been misunderstood, as the word does not mean “disobedience.”
“If you reject my decrees and if you cast away my judgments and you do not do all my commands, breaking my covenant, then, I will do this to you;
I will bring upon you sudden terror, disease and fever.”
Leviticus 26:15-16 The Hebrew translated as “break” in the above passage is “rrp” (parar). The original use of this word was the “treading” over grain. The harvested grain was thrown onto the threshing floor where oxen would trample over the grain breaking the hull open, releasing the edible seeds inside. The “breaking” of a covenant is the total disrespect for the covenant where one literally throws it to the ground and tramples on it. As we can see, the keeping and breaking of a covenant is the respect, or lack of, that one has for the covenant.
Servants
Within a kingdom there are two types of people, subjects and servants. The subjects, usually called “the people,” confine their activities and passions to their family and for the most part are oblivious to the needs and desires of the king. The servant on the other hand is continually occupied with the needs and wishes of the king. His sole purpose in life, his passion, is to recognize and fulfill the needs, desires, wishes and will of the King. A good servant will learn from and study the king so that he knows the king so well that he can anticipate the needs and wishes of the king. A servant knows what the king wants because the will of the master is in him; the servant becomes “dxa” (ehhad - one) with the king. The Hebrew word for a “servant” is “db[“ (ebhed) from the root “db[“ (abhad) meaning to “serve.” Note the two different translations of this one Hebrew word.
“We will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings sacrifices and fellowship offerings.”
Joshua 22:27 (NIV) “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”
Genesis 2:15 (NIV) The Western mind has separated our lives into two parts; secular “work” and holy “worship” and each are approached in different ways. The Eastern mind does not make this distinction and sees both “work” and “worship” as “db[“ (abhad). The cleaning of a restroom is just as much a service to the king as singing praises to the King from a choir. Our service to the king should include all aspects of life.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God..”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”
Matthew 4:10 quoting Deuteronomy 6:13
(NIV)
