The Hiding Place
“How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust” Psalm 40:4 NASB
Trust – The word batach means the sense of well-being and security that results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is translated in the Greek Old Testament as “hope”, not “belief.” It stresses the feeling of being safe and secure rather than an intellectual and volitional act in response to revelation. It means to live at ease because of confidence in God.
Those who trust in God alone will be delivered from their enemies (Ps. 22:4); their prayers will be answered (I Chr. 5:20); they will walk in straight paths (Prov. 3:5); they will be given joy and gladness (Ps. 16:9 and 33:21); they will know inner peace and absence of fear (Ps. 4:8 and Isa. 26:3). The cause for our trust in God’s promises is not based on what we have done or can do. Trusting in God’s promises does not depend on how worthy I am to receive anything from Him. It is based solely on the unswerving loyalty of God’s gracious kindness. (see Oswalt, TWOT, 255)
In English, the opposite of trust is mistrust or doubt. But not so in Hebrew. The opposite of batach is sātar, the act of hiding. In other words, the antonym of trust is keeping secrets. In biblical terms, the man with a secret sin has no hope. Why? First, because his secret is a delusion. There are no secrets from God. Therefore, his life stands on something that is not openly shared with God and that means he is not trusting in God alone. His secret is a personal form of idolatry. Secondly, the man with a secret knows that he is out of alignment with God’s directive. His secret robs him of hope in the Lord because it demonstrates his unfaithfulness. Secrets break hesed obligation, the very obligation that maintains an open relationship with God.
Hope in God is not wish fulfillment but rather confident expectation. God’s chief characteristic is His faithfulness and trustworthiness (Deut. 33:28, Ps. 27:3). These characteristics show themselves most clearly to a believer who recognizes that he is utterly without personal resources. The believer must trust completely in a gracious and dependable God. Putting one’s confidence in anything but the sovereign God is complete foolishness. In the Bible, there is a long list of false grounds for security. In particular, the Bible heaps scorn upon those who live in complacency, never having evaluated the flimsy basis of their lives (Isa. 32:9-11, Ezek. 30:9, Amos 6:1).
Batach is a very serious word. We say that we trust God, but too often our actions deny these claims. Recovery begins when we honestly examine our lives and commit ourselves to do something about what we find. A fearless inventory of our behavior usually reveals that we are still trying to take care of things by ourselves. An examination of our personal secrets reveals how little we trust our emotional well-being to God. We really don’t think God is reliable in every area of life. That isn’t trust. Trust says, “God, You are able. I put all my eggs in Your basket. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, but unless You come through for me, I’m finished”. Start today. Pick the one thing that you have tried over and over to fix in your life but nothing has changed. Decide to trust.
Do your actions show that you trust God, or is “trust” just another word in your religious vocabulary?
Topical Index: trust, batach, Psalm 40:4
Isn’t it amazing how easily we deceive ourselves?! We seem to be able to trust Him with the eternal destiny of our souls but we can’t (or don’t) trust Him to meet our daily needs. Maybe it is because we want something other than what He wants for us. How foolish of us! Do we dare to think that we know better what we need than He does? May God have mercy on us!
Skip, you have smacked the nail- dead center. Trust in the LORD. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding- in all your ways (even at the grocery store?) in all your ways (even when I mow the lawn?) in all your ways (even when I am driving to the store?) in all your ways (even on a Thursday afternoon at the park?) in all your ways acknowledge Him (your Father- your ABBA- the ONE who loves you, Carl, you Skip, you Jan, you Michael, you my blood-bought covenant friend-are loved with an everlasting love) and He (the G-d who now is- the eternal “I AM”) will direct your paths.
He is intricately and intimately involved with the very hairs on each of our frail, human heads, and He is able (always) to deliver us from (every form or fashion of) evil. Friends- Hallelujah!!- What a Savior!!
“Man of Sorrows!” what a Name
For the Son of G-d, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of G-d was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
and what do the scriptures say? (lol!)- ~ Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture ~ (Psalm 37:3)
Should we listen to what G-d has to say? Should we listen (shema, y’all) and obey? the word(s) of G-d?
Hello? Faith (pleasing unto our Father) comes by hearing.. now hear the word(s) of the LORD- Shema, O Israel- Hear and obey.
This “choice” to batach ADONAI- what are the consequences? Yes, – what’s “in it” for me?
For….
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we will walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Batach! – Whatever He says unto you..— “do it!” Serve (avad) the LORD (ADONAI) with gladness- come before His Presence with singing.. make a joyful noise unto the LORD- all ye lands-
I about to get “happy”.. better stop before I go to shoutin’. Trust in the LORD! Selah, AMEIN.
Yes. ~ Selah ~ (the pause that refreshes!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dR0H0tAYT8&feature=related
“…The man with a secret sin has no hope.”
In the light of Proverbs 31:11 today’s lesson has great significance for marriage; specifically how a husband views his wife. Secrets are like bullets in the enemy’s gun. Once you appropriately disclose the adversary is disarmed; otherwise his threats continue to haunt and paralyze. Many husbands have yet to learn this biblical principle.
As a couple the issue of transparency versus disclosure was central to the story at the close of Genesis 2 and the opening of Genesis 3. The result was a vain attempt to hide, mask, label, and cover up. Not only do they feel shame in front of the Creator, but with each other as well. For Adam his unchecked shame leads him to prolonged unforgiveness, and for Havah she finds herself bargaing with the Creator for another man. Each continues in their own sense of desperation until they come to hide in the One who created and designed them with purpose and intention. Baruch HaShem for repentance.
Amein!
Trust is betrayed when secrets are kept in any relationship, especially so in covenant marriages.
Skip – you said ” That isn’t trust. Trust says, “God, You are able. I put all my eggs in Your basket. I’ll do whatever you want me to do, but unless You come through for me, I’m finished”. ”
When I first read that – I thought you meant that unless Yah would come through for me – I would be finished with HIM….but after contemplating on that – surely you meant – if Yah does not come through for me – I have no hope … I am finished… yes?
right. unless He comes through, I have no hope
I got it because I’ve been there so many times. Another way I’ve put it is “no matter what happens you are still G-d in my life.”
Ah but Yeshua has said- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”
Matthew 11.28 (I qualify for this..)
~ As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” ~ (Romans 10.11)
“Hope in God is not wish fulfillment but rather confident expectation.”
To rest in YHWH for whatever the outcome to a confounding issue is to experience Shalom
and comfort one cannot find anywhere else. I am going through such a phase personally,
and have confidence in ABBA that HE will work things out, in HIS time.
Betrayals and accusations are never easy to swallow! But we seek YHWH’s authority over
our decisions and emotions.
Once again, Skip, thank you for these beautiful insights you share with us.
THERE ARE SOME SECRETS THAT ARE KEPT IN GOD FOR HIS PURPOSES & HIS TIMING – THE BEST ONE THAT HE BROUGHT TO MIND THIS MORNING WAS THE SECRETS OF ESTHER – SHE KEPT A SECRET FOR A LONG TIME FOR SUCH A TIME AS HERS/THIS & GOD ALLOWED THAT SECRET TO PROTECT THE APPLE OF HIS EYE – THE JEWISH/ISRAELITE NATION. GOD EVEN KEEPS SOME SECRETS HIMSELF – THINGS WE MAY NEVER KNOW OR UNTIL HE DEEMS IT NECESSARY OR TIME WE KNOW.
BUT WE CAN ALL REST ASSURED THAT ALL THINGS WILL BE EXPOSED EVENTUALLY IF HE CHOOSES TO DO SO & FROM WHAT I READ IN HIS WORD THAT IS A GIVEN AT SOME POINT IN TIME…
LUKE 8:18
http://bible.cc/luke/8-17.htm
LUKE 12:2
http://bible.cc/luke/12-2.htm
MATTHEW 10:26
http://bible.cc/matthew/10-26.htm
MARK 4:22
http://bible.cc/mark/4-22.htm
Very Enlightening Skip!
Especially, the opposite of batach being “hiding” or secrets.
Bless You!,
Mike