M for D

I have set YHWH always before me, for He is at my right hand. I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Always – If you read this word in Hebrew you’ll notice something right away. Because Hebrew is written only in consonants, many times a small change makes a very big difference. The rabbis noticed, for example, that rearranging the consonants often reveals another facet of the message (remember the bricks?). Sometimes all it takes is a different vowel (remember engraved?). Here we notice that a change in the last letter produces a significant enhancement to our understanding. You see, in Hebrew the word for always is tamiyd (the consonants are Tav-Mem-Yod-Daleth). Only two other words have the same series of beginning consonants. They are tamiym and tummiym. The first word means blameless or complete. Half of its occurrences are about sacrifice (a blameless offering). With respect to time, it refers to a complete period like a day or a year or Sabbath weeks. Of course, it also describes God’s ways which are blameless and perfect. The second word describes a very unusual vehicle for determining God’s will. We usually translated this into English as Thummin. It had something to do with casting lots but after the exile, it disappeared from Hebrew ritual.

Only three words. Now, how does each one help us understand the others? “I have set YHWH always before me. I have set His blameless ways before me. I have asked for His guidance in order to do His will. I am complete in His ways. At my right hand, He provides my direction. I have made myself a sacrifice before Him. He will complete me.”

David is a Hebrew poet par excellence.His facility with the language is powerful.Don’t you suppose that he might have recognized all these interesting connections with a word that has only two other combinations in the entire language?If he did, isn’t it nice to know that setting God before us involves perfection, blamelessness, completion, direction, sacrifice and holiness?Simply by changing a D to an M, another layer of meaning is revealed.What an exquisite way for David to include so many other concepts!But what would you expect from an inspired poet?

Set YHWH always before you. All the rest follows.

Topical Index: always, tamiyd, tamiym, tummiym, blameless, complete, lot, Psalm 16:8