Merit Badge
And because he put his trust in YHWH, He reckoned it to his merit. Genesis 15:6 (JPS translation)
To – Yesterday we looked at the passage in Deuteronomy that suggests our meritorious deeds matter. We discovered that tsedaqah (righteousness) is a very old expression of God’s accounting. But one further point must be made. In Genesis 15:6, the paradigm example of righteousness, the Hebrew text actually says, “He (YHWH) counted it to him for (or as) righteousness” (lo tsedaqah).[1] What else can we say about this Hebrew construction?
First, we must note that this verse may be a narrative explanation within the text of the story. In other words, it’s like an aside, a comment that Moses, the author, puts into the story in order to explain to his readers what is happening.
Second, the verbal form of ‘aman (to trust) indicates that this is not a one-time act. It is rather a summary of Abraham’s continual lifestyle. It is an action that is repeated over and over again. Abraham faithfully demonstrates a life of trust (compare Genesis 12:1-4, 7; 13:14-18).
Third, the text indicates that God assessed Abraham’s continual trust as righteousness. Nahum Sarna says, “Abram’s act of faith made him worthy of God’s reward, which is secured through the covenant.” [2] Sarna cites other verses that confirm this interpretation.[3]
How does Moses recall the faithfulness of Abraham in this context? Read verses 1-5. The entire event surrounds the lack of an heir. God asks Abraham to please (the particle na) look up at the heavens and rely on God’s promise. Abraham does. It is Abraham’s demonstration of trust that God considers the equivalent of tsedaqah. God’s counts it for righteousness. God credits this as merit. Abraham wasn’t a Boy Scout. He didn’t have a list of tasks to perform in order to achieve the merit badge of faith, but God have it to him anyway, on the basis of Abraham’s trust in God’s promise. At those moments when Abraham was asked to fix his life on God’s words, Abraham responded. God considered this worthy and called it tsedaqah.
All of us can follow Abraham. We can choose to trust God’s promise. In fact, He asks us to do so. We can determine to live our lives on the basis of His words. When we do, we merit tsedaqah. It’s not that we have the list of tasks to accomplish so that we can say, “Look, God. I did everything You told me to do. Now I deserve tsedaqah.” No, it’s more like the case of a continual and repeated behavior to put our lives under His care, according to His purposes and timing. When we do this, we are like Abraham. God sees our efforts as worthy and counts us righteous.
Does that mean we don’t need forgiveness? Does that mean we don’t need to rely on a savior, a rescuer? Of course not! Do you suppose that your decisions to trust God compel Him to give you righteous status? The merit credited to you is merit that comes from God, not from you. Paul saw the difference. That’s why he loved this verse. Do you see it too?
John Stott said something critically important for those of us who are trying to understand. “The hallmark of an authentic evangelicalism is not the uncritical repetition of old traditions but the willingness to submit every tradition, however ancient, to fresh biblical scrutiny and, if necessary, reform.”
Topical Index: Genesis 15:6, lo, righteousness, merit, tsedaqah, Nehemiah 9:7-8, Psalm 106:30, Numbers 25:6-13
[1] For a technical discussion of the Hebrew preposition lo, see this.
[2] Nahum Sarna, The JPS Torah Commentary: Genesis, p. 113.
[3] Cf. Nehemiah 9:7-8, Psalm 196:30f. Numbers 25:6-13.
We who are living today found out, centuries later, G-d did provide Himself a lamb. G-d is indeed faithful as our Provision and Provider. There was a Sacrificial Lamb both then and now, but for today we will focus on Abraham.
The master theme, the hub, the center, the pivot point, of the entire sweep of the revelation of YHWH was seen on this (another) mountaintop experience. Abraham knew his G-d. He knew Him intimately, having developed a long term relationship with Him. G-d did not just choose “anybody” and say – “Hey you- go kill your firstborn son.” Neither did He say to David- “hey kid- go and kill that giant over there.”
Both Abraham and David knew (yada) G-d. They both had a “history” with G-d. Both knew (through a long-term relationship) G-d could be trusted at all times and in every circumstance. They knew (yada) G-d was able (and would) “come through” or make a way for them. Was “fear” part of the process? Absolutely.
But their confidence was “all things are possible with G-d.” Abraham, Moses, David,- each were “developed”, tested, tried, refined. Jacob had to be “busted”, but ended up leaning upon his staff- worshipping the G-d who is.
Abraham was willing to give unto the LORD- his “everything”. Isaac was the son of promise. We often read this picture of redemption’s story and miss the utter sacrifice of the Father and the willing surrender of the son.
But- my favorite part of the story is the ram. The provided sacrifice. G-d was pleased with Abraham. He was willing to give everything. What a picture of our redemption. These wonderful words spoken by Abraham to Isaac: “My son,G-d will provide Himself a Lamb.” (Genesis 22.8)
I read this story in deep admiration and wonder. Abraham trusted his G-d, even to the point of raising the knife and this “willingness” and demonstrated trust is truly astounding and commendable, but what about that provided sacrificial ram? What about the willingness of Isaac, submitting himself to the authority of his father? I love,love this story. – Did it actually happen? or is this just a story? (lol!) hello? -Praise G-d -yes!! It happened.
Can we “fast-forward” two thousand years to a cross- or do we want to hang around and stay here at this sacred place for awhile and ask ourselves- would I trust G-d like this? Am I willing also- to give “everything” to YHWH? Can G-d be trusted? Will He deliver this man also? Abraham was called “the friend of G-d”. Wow!- I hope one day we will be able to discover,develop and deploy this very ancient blood-covenant word “friend.”
Shalom,
1) “Abram’s act of faith made him worthy of God’s reward, which is secured through the covenant.”
2) “Does that mean we don’t need forgiveness … that we don’t need to rely on a savior, a rescuer? Of course not!”
3) “It’s not that we have the list of tasks to accomplish so that we can say, “Look, God. I did everything You told me to do. Now I deserve tsedaqah.” …
4) “No, it’s more like the case of a continual and repeated behavior to put our lives under His care, according to His purposes and timing … God sees our efforts as worthy and counts us righteous.”
Let’s face it … at times …. even often …. we seem to be left with what appears to be a great paradox!
In excerpting these four comments it may seem fairly straight forward to many but the manner in which we approach and decide what #4 really means is the crux of the “people issue” … is it not?
So a few questions for Skip and the community at large:
What does #4 look like in the life of a believer? ….
What does #4 look like respective to the mitzvot and mo’adim? ….
How does #4 relate to Israel … the people of the covenant” ….
Does #4 result in every individual determining “purpose and timing?
It seems quite odd that millions upon millions of purported believers in Yeshua seem to grasp the idea of “covenant” yet at the end of the day it seems impossible to see the Biblical traits of the chosen people within the church! It would seem by way of doctrine and non-halakha, that the line of the past … the connection (le’dor ve’dor) between the Nations and Israel is being slowly and surely erased … at least for the masses! How can the purposes and timing of YHVH be engaged when one removes the road-map … the treasure map … that shows us how to travel and be prepared … while YHVH handles the when and where of the journey!
In conclusion … do our traditions look faithful when stacked up against the characteristics of the eternal covenant? … Do we look like the people of the book or do we just play church?
Hi Drew,
These are good questions, but very complicated and difficult to answer in my view.
For starters I would say that I don’t tend to worry about whether “God sees our efforts as worthy and counts us righteous.”
Seems unlikely for most of us.
I tend to worry more about whether I’m being a good father or going to get a job to help raise my children.
And I know He is there to help support my project 🙂
You may be closer to merit badges than you think. Acts of righteousness generally follow the simple things of doing life under God’s direction. So, be a good father and get a job – and know that this is also counted worthy.
As for the questions, we will need quite a bit of space and time to engage them adequately.
The answer is found in Y’shua. He (himself) is the fulfillment or perfection of the Torah. The only perfect person (male or female) ever to have lived. He is the “gold standard”-male or female. Everything good, perfect, just, holy, righteous is found “in Him.” In addition He said to his disciples in John 15:5- “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me (apart from me out outside of me)- you can do nothing.”
If then we wish to please Him (and we do) then we must learn what it means to “abide in the Vine.” John chapter 15 contains quite a bit of meat. These are the words of a man who knows he is about to die.
“we must learn what it means to abide in the Vine.”
Hi Carl,
Good point; John 15 “The True Vine” is very interesting.
In 15:2 Jesus tells his followers if a branch bears no fruit (doesn’t obey the commandments), his
Father cuts the branch away.
On the other hand, every branch that does bear fruit will be “pruned by his Father,” so that the branch can bear even more fruit (obey more commandments.)
In 15:10 Jesus tells his followers even more about obeying commandments:
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
Just as I have kept my father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
Then almost as a reward (think merit badge), Jesus gives them another commandment to obey:
“this is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.”
Drew asks, “What does #4 look like in the life of a believer?”
Drew, I believe that it is a life in total surrender to Adonai. In his first letter to the church in Corinth, emissary Sha’ul says, “…I die every day” (1 Cor. 15:31); in his letter to the Galatians he says pretty much the same thing: “When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved me and gave himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20). In his letter to the church in Rome, in a slightly different argument Sha’ul quotes Psalm 44. In this psalm, the psalmist acknowledges the futility of self-effort, and gives God all the glory for any and all victories: “…Through you we pushed away our foes, through your name we trampled down our assailants. For I don’t rely on my bow, nor can my sword give me victory. No, you saved us from our adversaries…”
By dying to self and understanding that my efforts “are like filthy rags,” it is only after this becomes evident in my life can there be any possibility of reckoning by Adonai for this dude ;-).
Sha’ul quotes Psalm 44
Hi Fred,
I envy your understanding of Paul 🙂
Shalom Fred,
What you describe is a state … a condition … and regarding this condition we are in agreement! The question however is what does this look like … to someone looking in?
As in … what does this believer look like …. what does this believer’s community look like. Do they look just like everyone else … but happen to be kind? Do they look different … do they look set apart … do they have communal and personal character traits that we can visibly associate with the chosen people Israel. Are we people that can be associated with the eternal covenant? When people see us can they associate us with YHVH … The G_D of Israel … or by some chance does serving Yeshua/Jesus mean that we won’t be associated with YHVH?
Michael was correct …. the questions are difficult (from a Greek perspective) and frankly I was not expecting any answers … just hoping that everyone views the pieces within the broader framework of HIS plan for us!
b/t/w … as far as the filthy rags …. I agree our works are useless from a perspective of self justification … we must have grace! Yet at the same time the term is far too often used to promote a “belief only mantra” … when we know that the works of faith which bring glory to YHVH can not assuredly be filthy … but instead they be glorious! And if the works be glorious then most certainly our walk in the way is neither filthy nor in vain.
Skip’s assessment is ultimately on the mark … the necessary response to The Lord from a definition of faith, (Hebraic perspective), is active and obedient and transformational … I was just pushing the point where hopefully folks begin to understand that this personal change is not unique … it is common and should depict attributes of the people of the covenant. If we are citizens of the Kingdom we should be mutually identifiable … yes?
Hi Drew, you wrote, “What does this believer look like…what does this believer’s community look like.”
“…Adonai doesn’t see the way humans see – humans look at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
And while the prophet is stating that for him and the people “…our righteous deeds are like menstrual rags,” I believe that the only thing he is trying to justify within the context of that passage is the mercy of God. Yes, it is indeed unfortunate that there are some who may take this as a “belief only mantra.” Nevertheless, if I do a truly righteous act, it is not me, it is the One who is living His life in and through me!
“the questions are difficult (from a Greek perspective)”
“If we are citizens of the Kingdom we should be mutually identifiable … yes?”
Hi Drew,
Well I kind of like to see myself as a cross between Socrates and Odysseus, but most people don’t seem to see the similarity 🙂
All kidding aside, I think the question is difficult for several reasons, but primarily because it involves judging other people based upon appearances (“look like”).
And remember Matthew 7:1 Judge not, lest ye be judged.
We serve other people.
See my previous comment about Hebrew verbs. Then take the imagery of Greek heros and translate that into Hebrew. There is no “judgment” here. There is discernment. Judgment suggests that I determine the actual relationship between an individual and YHWH. That is YHWH’s prerogative. Discernment means that I must observe behavior in order to know how to respond to someone. We do this all the time, and legitimately so. Why should it be any different with claims of faith? Without the actions, faith just isn’t there.
Hi Skip,
I’m confused by your comment and there seems to be a disconnect; let’s see if we can locate it.
Let’s start here.
Skip: Discernment means that I must observe behavior in order to know how to respond to someone. We do this all the time, and legitimately so. Why should it be any different with claims of faith? Without the actions, faith just isn’t there.
Mike: On the surface this seems very straightforward. I agree.
Skip: Then take the imagery of Greek heroes and translate that into Hebrew. There is no “judgment” here.
Mike: I was trying to make a joke about Drew’s reference to the “Greek perspective” but it obviously didn’t work 🙂 Don’t know what you are referring to. That’s OK 🙂
To give you and example about judging, let’s take my mother-in-law, who lived with us when my children were born and until they were old enough for us to function and work without her (which didn’t work out very well).
Her husband came from a well to do Chinese family but he squandered their money on gambling and women and left her to raise the four children. My wife was trhe oldest child and favorite of the wealthy grandparents, so she was taken and put in private, English speaking, Christian schools in Kuala Lumpur.
When I met the mother, she was living in what I would consider abject poverty working as a maid with her three children who seemed to me to be fairly normal working class kids.
In any case, Ma is a Buddhist of sorts and very devout; when she is not helping take care of her now rather large families here in the states, she is at the temple worshipping her God.
Frankly, I don’t know enough Chinese (abou ten words) to begin to know what she thinks or believes, but her behavior is a model of decency and service, so I would not want to “judge” her.
RIGHT, you don’t “judge” her. That’s not your job. That’s God’s job. He knows her heart. But, you can tell from her actions that she isn’t worshipping Him in spite of her devout life and dedication to serving others. So, there is a common element here. She is already doing what so many “Christians” say but never do – serving without gain. You could begin to understand her by exploring with her the motivation for her yielded life, and then show her someone else who did the same things – to the point of death – for others. Or maybe there’s another avenue. Or many there’s not. But there is always prayer that the God you know who is sovereign over every life will bring her to see Him in her dedication.
To all in this conversation: On May 2 you will read another entry about Hebrew verbs. It is critically important because it reveals a Hebrew thought pattern that simply does not exist in Greek. That pattern is relevant to our discussion here. Faith isn’t a noun in Hebrew. Neither is justification, salvation, redemption or righteousness. That means when we describe these as “states of being” or as “conditions of belief” we are being entirely Greek – perhaps accidentally so because we are saturated with Greek metaphysics, but nevertheless, we have removed the essential element of the Hebrew view – action! So, faith is action in righteousness. What does that mean? Well, since righteousness is also a verb, faith is the activity of standing rightly before God. It is what I do! It has outward demonstration. If faith is only an inward state of being, it does not exist from a Hebrew perspective. Therefore, it is dead (sounds like James, doesn’t it?). Faith MUST result in actions because those actions are not the result of faith; they are what faith is.
More later.
I may not be understanding completely what you meant here but I do know we are righteous only because the Spirit of God lives in us . Abraham was declared righteous because he was believing in the promise of the Saviour to come while we have Him within us as our righteousness.
Kay