To Learn
And they cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil. 1 Chronicles 25:8
Pupil – What does it mean to learn the Scriptures? Just stop a minute and think about your definition of learning. What characteristics describe a learner – a pupil? Did you include attentive study, memorization, understanding and apprehension? Is the focus of your idea of learning cognitive or experiential? Most of us in this Greek-based worldview think of learning in cognitive terms. We think about gathering facts, understanding problems, drawing conclusions and developing a storehouse of information. In other words, in our world it’s possible to learn without ever actually doing anything with the information.
But this is impossible in Hebrew. The word “pupil” is talmiyd (singular). You will recognize the similarity with the word Talmud, the collection of oral instruction in Judaism. The word for pupil comes from the verb lamad. This verb appears sixteen times in Deuteronomy, usually translated at “teach” or “learn.” Are the instructions in Deuteronomy intended to be cognitive collections of facts? Are we supposed to learn God’s commandments (Torah) so that we can recite them during a scholarship contest? The same verb shows up in Proverbs 5:13, a verse that gives us a very good picture of the opposite of lamad. You’ll notice that the emphasis of the verse is about obedience, not information. In fact, the etymological background of lamad is to chastise, to discipline even with the rod. Believe me, this is not about beating the facts into you.
A pupil of Scripture is one who bends his will toward God’s instruction. Without obedience, nothing is learned. No matter how many times I tell my horse to move to the left when I pull on the reins, if the horse does not obey, no instruction has occurred. This is why it isn’t possible to deepen my relationship with God until I learn – and obey – the lesson He has for me today.
One more Scripture example cements the concept (a mental activity). Jeremiah 12:16 says, “And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people.” The phrase “diligently learn” is really the verb lamad repeated twice (eemlamod yilmedoo). It is to “learn learn.” The Hebrew motto for learning is “Just do it!”
Are you a talmiyd? Yeshua called twelve men to be his talmiydim. They could not be pupils without being disciples and they could not be disciples without copying his life. “By this they will know that you are my disciples; that you love one another as I have loved you.” Making it real, that’s what it means to learn.
Topical Index: learn, pupil, talmiyd, disciple, 1 Chronicles 25:8, Jeremiah 12:16, Proverbs 5:13
What a great start for 2010 ‘Sensei’ Skip! This is exactly what this ‘talmiyd’ needed today. With a grateful heart I bless G-d for you. I thank you with tears included. All, who are followers of the Way are the talmiydim. This is a word everyone who will follow Him needs to know. Today, and everyday in 2010, this is my ‘heart’s desire’.
I freely confess..I want more. More about Jesus would I know, more of His grace to others show. More of His saving fullness see. More of His love..who died for me.
I am starting to connect the dots. The cloud of confusion is lifting and the light of the Daystar is shining brighter every day. I can say with those who have travelled this same ‘Aliyah’- the LORD- He is G-d!
O Skip, this is a “keeper!” This one, I may print and hang in a prominent place in my home. Hallelujah!
There is an inner affirmation and confirmation of the ‘teaching’, “we learn by doing”. I did not learn to ride a bicycle by reading a book about it. I did not learn to swim until I “jumped in.” We learn by doing, no doubt!
Lamad- to teach/learn. This, I hope was a blessing to you, “sensei.” As you give out G-d’s word, and follow His command to “feed my sheep”, some of what passes through your mind and fingers will ‘channel off’ to the inner recesses of your heart and our Master/Teacher is ‘teaching the teacher!” (lol!)
My allergist, four years ago, said these very words.. “if you do as I say, I can help you.” (I found out later on, he is the number one ranked allergist in the nation!). But, as he said those words to me, (and yes, I was “listening intently with the intent to obey”, I was reminded of another Healer whose words were echoing in my head., and surrendering to His words, I willingly said, I will do as you instruct me to do! In two years time, I graduated from this program, and today I am able to receive a marvelously full breath of air.
I would like to give away, what has been given to me from another. “When the student is ready, the Teacher (John 14.26) will show up.” “Today”, if you will hear His voice, ‘harden not your heart.” Is this one of HIs “commandments?” Every word of G-d is pure. Today, what is the focused desire of my heart? Am I hungry? Am I thirsty? We, the ‘talmiydim’, have been instructed.. “eat that which is good”.
1 Corinthians 11.23-For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
“But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.” (Psalm 81.16) Is this one of G-d’s ‘commands’?
“Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? listen diligently to me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isaiah 55.2)
Now what kind of G-d is this?..(lol!) – (-I’m listening…)
I’m listening too. Thanks Carl. Spread the word.
Skip, you have made into my Doctoral Theological project when I explore Jesus’ saying that his disciples were His brothers instead of those outside calling for Him. He is my brother, but oh so much more. He is my Model, the Shower of the Way and on and on. Thanks Skip.
“It is to learn learn.”
Don’t much like making things more complicated than they are, but I like to think of learning as a four step process:
1. Stop
2. Look
3. Listen
4. Act
Sounds good to me. Where did you get that 🙂
“What does it mean to learn the Scriptures? Just stop a minute and think”
Hi Skip,
Well, I was actually describing my experience of learning the Scriptures.
For example, this morning I had a lot of thoughts flow though my mind when I read the following passage:
“And they cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.”
So I “stopped”, got into the present, and focused on “cast lots for their duties”
Then I tried to “see” what was being said.
I waited until I heard “that is the will of God; they are casting lots, so they can see the will of God. They are all in the same boat in relation to God, but some, probably the teachers, can see the signs and help implement the will of God.”
How I would “act” in this process of learning varies, but in this particular case, I said to myself “everything that happens to me is a sign from God and so I should act accordingly 🙂
Michael, I do believe you have distilled it down to a 4-step proces what is discussed here: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV).
And being the simple man that I am (yes, I am), I love simplicity.
“The main thing about being a Christian is to see that the main thing remains the main thing.”
Now let me see if I could reduce these four into one!– How about “shema!” (any surprises?)
“Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad – Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One”
Hi Carl,
That is certainly the most important point and it is pretty simple 🙂