The Problem (3)
When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” Genesis 19:15 NASB
Punishment – Something happened about the time of the Babylonia captivity. The principal word for “sin” changed. Hatta’t was replaced by ‘awon. In the writings of this period, ‘awon is used 231 times for sin, guilt and fate. TDOT notes, “Roughly speaking, the semantic scope extends from ‘transgress incur guilt, sin’ toward human beings or God to ‘be distraught, destroyed.’”[1]
Koch notes the change as follows:
It represents the expansion of the simpler form of the individual or collective admission of guilt before either human or divine authority which can be expressed only with the verb hata’. This expansion of the formula can be explained such that hata’ refers to the sinful acts, with he’ewa meaning “(thereby) incurring guilt” . . . and hirshia’, “make oneself evil = incur an evil occurrence.”[2]
Accordingly, ‘awon represents the dynamic envelope that contains the entire misdeed-consequence process and captures the inner experience as well as the outward behavior. ‘awon does not lose the intrinsic connection to a violation of expected relational norms. Its opposite is still hesed. But now “sin” is described as an almost alien power that combats the desire to fulfill the commandments. It is a power that resides with Man, attempting to bring about the death of the subject. ‘awon is a “fateful guilt caused by a person’s iniquitous transgressions; neither ‘guilt’ nor ‘sin’ nor ‘punishment’ provides an adequate translation in such cases.”[3] Paul speaks directly about this alien force in his discussion in Romans 7.
Koch makes it clear that:
- “The cause of ‘awon is found not only in false behavior toward God, but also in misdeeds against one’s fellows.”[4]
- ‘awon is seen as an existing, invisible, substantive, personal power, not as an abstract, cognitive idea.
- ‘awon is the driving force of the behavior of the wicked.
- ‘awon inevitably destroys its victim.
- God “brings to fruition the fate of the wicked commensurate with the ‘awon.”[5]
Paul’s description of sin and its power is completely aligned with the post-exilic use of ‘awon. Romans 7 is not a Christian idea. It is thoroughly Jewish. Furthermore, the rabbinic explanation of the combative nature of the yetzer ha’ra and the yetzer ha’tov is influenced by the prophets’ use of ‘awon.
Sin—hatta’t—is violence to expected personal norms within a community. It carries inevitable consequences, spilling over into other lives within the community. It is by nature dependent on subscription to the covenant of the community. It is bad behavior. But ‘awon goes further. ‘awon gathers up the internal war between this alien power and the duty toward the Lord of the community. ‘awon brings the inner experience into the fold. Now it is no longer simply what I do, what my social behavior is like. Now it is all of me, wrapped up into forces that seem as if they have lives of their own, resident within me, victimizing me—and yet, at the same time, I am the enemy displaying in outward actions my refusal to submit to the demands of the relationship.
Sin is a big deal. The concept of sin grows in the progress through Scripture. Perhaps once it was cultic misbehavior, but by the end of the prophets, it is a living force intent on destroying me. Nothing is lost of the personal obligation to kingdom expectations, but a lot is added. The struggle is not a list of outward actions. It now comes with an inspection of the heart.
Sin is a big deal. What we have learned is that ignoring the clear communal expectations of the lord of the kingdom is sin. It is not possible to claim that the rules have changed if the Lord of the Kingdom hasn’t changed and the constitution of the Kingdom hasn’t changed. But sin is defined within the community. So the Christian community, which is not the same community as the one established by YHVH at Sinai, has simply redefined the word. The issue is not a change in morality. The issue is about what kingdom am I a part of. Sabbath is a requirement of one. It is not a requirement of the other.
We have also learned that sin is more than misbehaving. It is capitulation to the inner driving force that seeks my death as its victory. Sin involves my volitional processing even before the action is executed. The battle begins at home.
There is some good news here too. Guilt is not intrinsic to being human. Guilt comes by actions. Guilt is determined by cultic expectations. Guilt, like sin, is a function of the kingdom I choose.
“I set before you this day, life and death. Choose life.”
Topical Index: sin, guilt, ‘awon, Romans 7, Genesis 19:15, kingdom
[1] Koch, TDOT, Vol. X, p. 546.
[2] Ibid., p. 548.
[3] Ibid., p. 551.
[4] Ibid., p. 553
[5] Ibid.
So, in answer to Derek’s question yesterday — about thinking the PG-13 words that you want to say, but not saying them — those unbidden thoughts that come into our heads are the temptation (not sin), but giving way to them and speaking those thoughts (action) is giving the yetzer hara control and releasing the evil upon the community? Is this what James was talking about in bridling the tongue in Jam 1:26 and David in Ps39:1? And even if we don’t speak the words, but then if we don’t deal with the latent bitterness in our heart — which has its own consequence — it is ‘awon?
Just curious, I understand the context of sin as applying to those “under covenant”, however, I’d like some thoughts on the repercussions of sin on those who hold no claim (nations or people) of any such responsibility. (i.e. presumably, Sodom) All the earth is in some way responsible to those in near and far proximity of their activity, especially in this day and age. (although I don’t believe it’s ever been different, now it’s just more obvious) The earth and the fullness thereof is YHWH’s.
We’ve had three rounds now of “the problem,” – are we near to round ! of “the Solution?”
if you don’t know the problem, the solution will mean nothing. Wait until tomorrow.
“sin is more than misbehaving. It is capitulation to the inner driving force that seeks my death as its victory.” Yes-THAT is the ultimate desire of our enemy. This battlefield we live on is NOT a theoretical paradigm or a philosophical background for our musings. It is a reality. God created the earth and man to commune with and have a life with…but someone else wants total control of it along with our worship and servitude. In the all out war going on around us he will use our weaknesses to hurt others and the weaknesses of others to hurt us. Circumstances will be arranged, lies whispered into our already hurting hearts and we have a choice to make. I know all about giving in to the fear, hurt and insecurity..but I am spurred on when the realization hits me that if I don’t get smarter than the attacks leveled against me-see them for what they truly are – I’ll continue to be the victim instead of the victor. I’ve read the end of the story.
“Now have come God’s victory, power and kingship, and the authority of His Messiah; because the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them day and night before God, has been thrown out! They defeated him because of the Lamb’s Blood and because of the message of their witness. Even when facing death they did not cling to life.” Rev. 12:11 I trust in the covering of the Lamb’s Blood but what is the message of my witness? “Oh gosh…I just can’t resist this it’s too much to resist!” Or – “By the Blood of the Lamb – get the freak out of here! I’m covered with God’s Blood!” Do I choose death to my own fears, insecurities and weaknesses or do I listen to their voices? Like you said Skip, the ongoing, daily choice is ours.