Couch Potato
Blessed is the man to whom YHWH does not charge iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Psalm 32:2
Guile – There are two important verbs for blessing in the Hebrew text. The first is barak. This is the verb used to bless God and it is the verb used by God to bless. The second verb for “bless” is ‘ashar. This verb means “to be called blessed or to be made happy.” In the phrase, “Blessed is the man,” the word is ‘esher. It is a noun, not a verb. It means a state of bliss. It is never applied to God. Why? Because this state of bliss is something that men bring about. To be blessed, we have to do something.
When God blesses, He is the actor, not us. When God blesses, it doesn’t matter if men deserve the favor. Often they do not. God never blesses with the verb ‘ashar because the state of bliss from ‘ashar depends on human action and implies an envious circumstance. If you really want to notice the difference between these two verbs, try re-reading the Beatitudes with the recognition that Yeshua is using ‘ashar, not barak. Every Beatitude is about something we do, not something God grants.
So, let’s try this translation of Psalm 32:2 again. “A state of bliss for the man to whom YHWH does not charge iniquity.” Why does this man experience bliss? Because he did something. ‘esher tells me that this man did not receive divine favor for no reason at all. He experienced redemption because he repented. Then God removed his guilt. Human action came before the declaration of bliss.
Since we know that Hebrew poetry rhymes ideas, we look to the second part of the verse to find an amplification of the first. What did this man do in his act of repentance? He purified his spirit of deceit. The word “guile” is the Hebrew term remiyyah. It means treachery, fault and deceit. It is about whatever is not true. It is also connected with laziness, negligence and sloth. In other words, remiyyah is a character flaw. It covers all forms of lying, all kinds of deception and all varieties of deliberate avoidance. “A state of bliss is experienced by the man who has removed these characteristics from his life.” The result is guilt-free living. Why? Because this man has nothing to hide.
Blessing in the Bible comes in two forms. Blessings from God fall upon us because God is good, merciful and compassionate. We don’t deserve them, but He loves to give them. All other blessings are the result of our diligence, obedience and alignment with His instructions. All other blessings are available to anyone who sets his heart on achieving them. God does not withhold the promised results because the promised results are up to us. Do you want a blessed life? Then just do what God says. You don’t have to wait for His favor to fall on you. My guess is that it will whenever He wishes it to do so. In the meanwhile, get to work on making bliss in your life. It’s there for the taking.
Topical Index: blessed, ‘ashar, barak, bliss, Psalm 32:2, Beatitudes
SO SO TRUE – in life we always have a part to play – conditions to meet – if you love me you will obey my commands – how more plain & simple can that be & seek ye the Kingdom & all these things shall be added unto you – obedience is better than sacrifice & it goes on I’m sure…
Ms. Jan Carver
Indeed brother Skip!
Blessings as a result of obedience are not to be viewed in legalistic terms at all. Blessings for the people who choose to obey and be distinctive “kadosh” are, as you declare, promises by ELOHIM to His children. YHVH wants to bless us … He has told us so!
Yes brother Skip … there is indeed bliss in walking the path … even when the road is quite rocky and tough on the feet! 🙂
Deuteronomy
V-haya im shamoa tish’mu el mitzvotai
asher anochi m’tzaveh etchem ha-yom, l-ahavah et Adonai Elohaychem,
u-l-avdo b-chol l’vavchem u-v-chol nafsh’chem.
V-natati m’tar artzchem b-ito, yoreh u-malkosh;
v-asafta d’ganecha, v-tirosh’cha v-yitzharecha.
V-natati aysev b-sad’cha li-b’hem’techa; v-achalta v-savata.
And it shall come to pass if you surely listen to the commandments
that I command you today, to love the Lord your God,
and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul,
That I will give rain to your land, the early and the late rains,
that you may gather in your grain, your wine and your oil.
And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle and you will eat and you will be satisfied.
Do we not also see this in the life of Abraham?
Abraham also teaches us that obedience comes after relationship is established. God blessed (barak) when He called him out of Ur and set him apart for His purposes. He made covenant with Abraham and promised him the land and descendants to inherit it.
Abraham was blessed (‘esher) when he believed (emunah) God and acted on God’s promises through obedience. He was not blessed when he took matters into his own hands and acted out of the flesh – witness the episodes with Pharoah, Abimelech and the birth of Ishmael (the consequences of which are still evident today).
Obedience brings blessing (‘esher), disobedience brings curses (what is the opposite of ‘esher?) – the natural consequences of not listening to God’s instructions for living.
How easy it is though to forget to listen and instead start living by what we see.
Very good point Rodney … when Abraham exercised “guile” to insure “his” safety … there were indeed very negative consequences …. consequences that will spiral down to the very last day!
Skip has done some very good pieces on these events that you refer to … as Skip likes to say …. we don’t need to go past Genesis to get the picture … do we?
Sure seems as if we should have learned some serious lessons by now … oh what stiffnecked people we remain!
On the positive side … the more we discuss and embrace these matters of importance … as seen in the lives of those before us, the more pliable our necks and, even more importantly, our hearts should become.
Always good to trade discussion about HIS business!
well-spoken brother Rodney, and an “amen!” is added from this corner of the world… 🙂