The Simple Life
“If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 2 Kings 5:13 NIV
How much more – Are you waiting for God to appeal to your noble instincts? Do you withhold obedience because He hasn’t asked for some great accomplishment? That was Naaman’s issue. He wanted a big show of spiritual devotion, something equal to his own estimation of his worthiness. He was a leader of men, exalted before the Lord. He was a celebrity, a conqueror, a hero. Certainly such a man could not be expected to do humiliating things! Like wash in a muddy river (or wash the feet of his own followers).
Naaman’s problem was not leprosy. It was pride. Pride prevented him from availing himself of God’s cure. Pride blinded him to the simple life of obedience. Pride established a false estimation of his status. But at least Naaman listened. When his servants came to him with this very reasonable argument, he saw the error of his ways and did what Elisha commanded. He was the son who refused to do what the father asked but later realized his error and fulfilled the father’s request. Perhaps Yeshua had Naaman in mind when he provided the parable of the two sons. The Jordan River isn’t the mighty Tigris. It’s a common, polluted, muddy stream, not a rushing, powerful cascade. But it is just fine for washing away pride.
“How much more” is the Hebrew single word ve’af. Like most Hebrew particles, the word does multiple duty depending on the context. It can mean “also, yes, indeed” or “even.” Sometimes it’s used just to add emphasis. That’s the case here. The servants implore Naaman to look again at his situation. It’s almost as though they say, “What have you got to lose?” A word picture helps. Aleph-Pey is “the strength of the mouth.” Listen! Some words have real power. Some words communicate life. Pay attention. We have the comic expression, “Speak to the hand.” In Hebrew, the phrase might be “Listen to the speaking mouth.”
Naaman listened. That’s the point of the story. Naaman put his pride aside because he needed the touch of God. His sickness was visible. Sometimes ours isn’t. Perhaps if our sickness had the symptoms of a leper, we would deal with our pride and wash in the muddy waters of redemption. But since we don’t allow the world to see our sickness (and maybe we don’t allow ourselves to see it either), we wait for God to show up with a “big” deal assignment, something worthy of our inflated egos. We stand on the banks of the Tigris demanding God show Himself. He has waded into the water of the Jordan and wonders why we aren’t there with Him.
How much more? If we would jump to attain a transfiguration experience, why do we hold back when we’re asked to carry the cross?
Topical Index: ve-af, how much more, pride, Naaman, 2 Kings 5:13
“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to G-d, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living G-d!”
-The blood of bulls and of calves? How much more,-the blood of Christ!-
“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11.3)
I thought I had to see and feel
To prove that what I loved was really real
As passion turned to ashes, things I held to dust,
I found reality in simple trust.
My faith still holds on to the Christ of Calvary,
Oh blessed Rock of Ages cleft for me.
I gladly place my trust in things I can not see
-My faith still holds onto the Christ of Calvary.
I tried to find lives mysteries,
Just by the reason of my mind to see,
But void remain between me and where I longed to be
Till childlike faith there built a bridge for me.
And oh what joy to walk the way-
I follow nailed-pierced footprints all the way
Though the end of where I’m bound I may not see-
I choose to place my trust (consciously, continuously) in Calvary
My faith still holds onto the Christ of Calvary,
Oh blessed Rock of Ages cleft for me.
I gladly place my trust in things I can not see
My faith still holds onto the Christ of Calvary.
(-Ever, consciously,continuously) looking stedfastly to Yeshua, the Author and Completer of our faith: who, in view of the joy lying before Him, endured the cross, having despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of G-d. (Hebrews 12.2)
Thank you Skip, until now I never realized how important getting rid of pride was or what it looked like to be without pride ( And those readers who haven’t, please listen to your lecture on the Beatitudes on Skip’s Matthew recordings.)
According to Boaz Michael , some Rabbinic literature says:” Uncontrolled imagination( adultery) is more sinful than sin itself. ” It injures you and because no one knows your thoughts, no one knows that anything is wrong and you never have the opportunity to get help or repent. This also seems to be true of pride.
If pride destroys my obedience to God, don’t I then start to practice self- idolatry, listening to the yetser hara of my desire?
And don’t we rather go to the movies for a transfiguration experience, where we don’t have to jump of carry a cross?
If silence is a fence for wisdom, vows are a fence for self-restraint and tithing is a fence for wealth, what would be the fence for pride?
“According to Boaz Michael, some Rabbinic literature says: ” Uncontrolled imagination (adultery) is more sinful than sin itself.”
Hi Luzette,
I’m not sure who Boaz Michael is, but I would not put much stock in his advice
For this kind of information (on human nature), I would go online to Judaism 101
Boaz Michael’s logic above might lead us to believe that thinking about punching a fool
Is actually worse than punching a fool, which doesn’t make any sense
Judaism 101 seems to be very common sensical when is comes to evil and good desires
“the yetzer ra can lead to wrongdoing when it is not controlled by the yetzer tov”
Judaism 101
Human Nature
Level: Advanced
Luzette,
Do you think tithing is a fence for wealth or is that what Boaz Michael stated??? Also uncontrolled imagination – was it specifically directed toward adultery because you/we/us can have an uncontrolled imagination in regard to anything – not just adultery. These are strange opinions which I have never heard before – did both of these ideas come from Boaz Michael???
jan
“you/we/us can have an uncontrolled imagination in regard to anything”
Hi Jan,
Good point but if an adult had an “uncontrolled imagination” wouldn’t it suggest a form of lunacy?
And typically a lunatic is not considered morally responsible for their insane thoughts….
Michael,
You of all people – why would you ask such a question – the way you love movies & music – those are all created by imagination & who’s to say it was controlled or uncontrolled – i would say uncontrolled – a controlled imagination would be pretty boring i would guess…
Lunatics: Walt Disney, Dreamworks & the list can go on – poets: Pablo Neruda, Edgar Allan Poe; authors: Robert Louis Stevenson, Lewis Carol, J. M. Barrie, etc. – the Song of Songs/Solomon is a very vivid/wild imagination to come up with all that is in that poem in the Bible…
The uncontrolled imagination has created some beautiful works for sure…
Question is can you control the imagination – the Word of God speaks of casting down “vain” imaginations – are those the uncontrolled ones??? What is the difference in a dream(s) & imaginings??? Both can come true or be produced as in art, music, plays, books, poetry, movies – if we all had controlled imaginations how would anything ever be created???
Uncontrolled would be like murder, abuse, etc – guess the dark side of imaginations which can be evil but also controlled to some point – i guess adultery would fit into that category.
Like the old cliche – let your imagination run wild – never thought of it as controlled or evil because that is not what is in my heart/spirit but could be in my flesh – so walking in the spirit would control your imagination for sure – never thought about a controlled imagination but i suppose it should be controlled by the Spirit of God or the renewed heart/spirit/mind within us…
Maybe i am a lunatic for writing this!!! LOL
lunacy, lunatic, lunar, moon – faithful witness in the sky… 🙂
my conclusion is – that only the Holy Spirit can control the imagination by residing within us & allowing us to be creative with God’s power, God’s imagination, God’s man/woman – lunacy or not…
jan
“The uncontrolled imagination has created some beautiful works for sure”
Hi Jan,
I think we are talking about things differently; ie, probably defining our terms differently.
For example, in my view a work of art is by definition a work of controlled imagination.
There are mad men and women who have created great works of art or literature.
But in my view they did so by temporarily controlling their imaginations while creating art.
Creation is control when it comes to art/lit; the ramblings of a mad man are nonsense.
IMO your Lunatics :
“Walt Disney, Dreamworks & the list can go on – poets: Pablo Neruda, Edgar Allan Poe; authors: Robert Louis Stevenson, Lewis Carol, J. M. Barrie, etc. – the Song of Songs/Solomon”
were also creative geniuses who learned to control their imaginations.
In my view, a dream is typically an “uncontrolled” form of the imagination.
I agree with your: “let your imagination run wild.”
But we cannot let our aggressive or sexual fantasies become reality without serious consequences.
As the Rabbis point out, it is our sinful nature to have these fantasies IMO 🙂
Dear Jan and Michael
Yes, I think tithing is a fence for wealth. ( In Scripture:The woman with the one coin who gave her all, and the camel and needle) It is much easier for a rich person to give something or just enough, but never his all. Not that some does not, its just more difficult.
I only mentioned Boaz’s name to give him credit, for it was not something he or I thought of ourselves. It comes from rabbinic commentaries. Unfortunately I did not catch the name of the commentary, sorry. Please, it was not Boaz’s logic and yes it is a strange and very old comment.
The comment was given in the context of Matthew 5: 21,22 27,28 – the concept of just thinking about murder or adultery. And this time is comes straight from Yeshua. And to His audience at the time this was also very strange comments. Also have a look at TW – Friendly Reminder 1.
The positive side of controlling your thoughts, with the help of the Ruach haQodesh, is the way you build a fence around committing the act itself.
The negative side is that you and I cannot help a person if the thought never goes over into words, hopefully not action. For you cannot tell that person that what he is thinking is wrong( according to scripture) which can then lead to immediate repentance. If there is no repentance there can be no forgiveness and that person can spiritually die with or from his thoughts. Sin will eventually kill you. I did not want to make a big issue out of this, other to say that we can hide pride just as deeply. Its only when we are asked to “jump into the river” that pride shows up.
Back to the topic: Don’t you find it scary that in the most traumatized situations like floods, tornado’s, droughts, war crimes and closer to home, ethnic violence, rape, hardship and poverty you always here people the say:” they can take my stuff, but they will never be able to take my pride” or “yes, everything is gone but at least I still have my pride.”?
It seems that we don’t get rid of pride that easily.
“It comes from rabbinic commentaries.”
Hi Luzette,
I understand: “Who commits the sin of adultery only with the eyes is an adulterer” (Lev. R. xxiii. 12; comp. a similar statement in Matt. v. 28).
My guess is that the point of the Rabbis and Yeshua is that we are all sinners, so be humble.
Doesn’t make sense to me if the point is that the thought is as bad as the deed, because they don’t have the same consequences.
My 2 cents 🙂
hi Michael, we are all crossed wired here.
Firstly it was not about All thoughts I presume. And it actually suggests that the thought is even worse than the deed. Does that make you a hypocrate?
Does it make more sense that, if it is only a thought,only God can help that person? If it is more that a thought, you and the community can actually also help that person to show him what he does is wrong and get rid of the sin?
That is why it is so important to ask the Lord to show us the idols in our hearts Ezekiel 14:3-5
Blessings
Sorry, it is not easy for me to translate all my thoughts( good ones I hope – lol) into English.
I should have said that people still tend to ” THINK” about murder and adultery even if it is wrong. But when last did I “THINK” about pride? ” It does not even cross our minds. That is how deep it hides.
Personally I think this is very important, because the Sermon on the mount was firstly given to the disciples. These are some of the ” How to’s” for discipling. So the first issue at hand for being a disciple is to be “poor in spirit”- and that is to be without pride ( Matthew – Skip)
Off the subject, if I thought that I was far away from murder, here are some steps, please not to follow, but to repent:
Unforgiveness leads to having a grudge that leads to
retaliation which leads to rage or fury( this is when bitterness gets a voice)
which leads to hate,
hate leads to violence and that leads to murder. And all of these fall under the spirit of bitterness.
Luzette,
Regarding pride – supposedly it was the “thing” that made satan fall as the most beautiful & talented musical angel – he wanted to be like God – now that is what i have read & learned from the Bible & teachings – maybe Skip has a more/better Hebraic explanation of such…
I am still going to go back to what i said in the beginning – walking/being controlled by the Spirit of God restrains us: my conclusion is – that only the Holy Spirit can control the imagination by residing within us & allowing us to be creative with God’s power, God’s imagination, God’s man/woman – lunacy or not…
The Word of God also teaches us that He can be our Teacher – that we need not another when it comes right down to it – He reveals hearts – He reveals pride – He controls both by giving us the Holy Spirit to guide us & reveal us to ourselves. He has revealed my own pride to me & keeping in the scriptures/Torah daily as our living bread will also keep us humble & without pride – we must all remember this is a journey that we have not arrived at YET…
“That is why it is so important to ask the Lord to show us the idols in our hearts Ezekiel 14:3-5” HE WILL SHOW US – HE WILL TEACH US – HE IS GOD… ♥
Back to the topic: Don’t you find it scary that in the most traumatized situations like floods, tornado’s, droughts, war crimes and closer to home, ethnic violence, rape, hardship and poverty you always here people the say:” they can take my stuff, but they will never be able to take my pride” or “yes, everything is gone but at least I still have my pride.”?
It seems that we don’t get rid of pride that easily.
AND: Off the subject, if I thought that I was far away from murder, here are some steps, please not to follow, but to repent:
Unforgiveness leads to having a grudge that leads to
retaliation which leads to rage or fury( this is when bitterness gets a voice)
which leads to hate,
hate leads to violence and that leads to murder. And all of these fall under the spirit of bitterness.
I think in the above comments/posts you/Luzette have touched on something that i have wondered about or thought about or pondered about for quite some time in my 58 years – why do all these terrible things happen to third world countries & to some small extent here in the US but not to the degree they do elsewhere – are they truly Godless nations with no Holy Spirit covering – just why has the nation of United States of America been so blessed – is it truly because our founding fathers based the groundwork/foundation of this nation on God??? There is a difference in this nation/US & other nations that are starving/dying without the blessing of sustenance – just what is the difference. I don’t think i have ever heard anyone make the statements you referred to about take everything but you can’t take my pride – perhaps that is the only thing they know to hold on to – probably don’t “know” God.
Regarding tithing being a fence for wealth: do not believe this at all – there are too many billion trillion aires that do not even believe in God much less tithe & i do not tithe in the sense of what is taught in the scriptures (again in Greek or disguised for the benefit of others) & God has & does bless me greatly – all my needs are met according to His riches in
glory – i have been unemployed since 10-8-2010 & all my needs have been met & then some & i have not tithed for years. i do not seek wealth & never will – if God chose to give me wealth then i would deal with it (probably give it all away) – as Paul stated he was content with much & content with little (which was not about tithing but should have been).
AGAIN, i feel if we are walking in the Spirit/being guided by the Holy Spirit within us & abiding by Torah & the Vine – we will make the journey somewhat comfortably & He will be our plumb-line…
jan
HE LOVES US TO MUCH TO LET US IMPLODE UPON OURSELVES… ♥
Is humility the fence for pride? If humility is the same as meekness (which I understand to be “strength under control”), is pride kept in check through the fruit of self-control cultivated in our lives by submitting to the Master Gardener, the Holy Spirit?
“Show Me Your Way” by Brian Doerksen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_menziMLSs&feature=related 2:36 MINUTES
“Change Me on the Inside” by Brian Doerksen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuOX9W9C9XI&feature=related 4:42 MINUTES
Luzette, thank you for your contribution to this blog on a regular basis. I hadn’t realized that English wasn’t your native language!
CYndee – thank you so much for the links of music you share with us here – most of them i have never heard before & they are so beautiful – i turn around & share them on my facebook wall & twitter… ♥
jan
The antithesis of pride is humility. “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: (Proverbs 6.16) Let us review this list and notice number one on the list!- “haughty eyes,(arrogant eyes, a proud look) -a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,” (Proverbs 6.17)
Let us also review the “life-message” of Christ. From birth, through life and unto death- His life message to us was one of humility. G-d’s message to us? -“humble yourself in the sight of the LORD and He will lift you up” (James 4.10) Humility is a commandment. We “shema” His words- right?
Even in the posture of prayer- (bow the knee) we see the place of blessing as humility. “When I saw Him I fell at His feet”- (prostrated prayer- on our face before the HOLY ONE).
The way up is down. In G-d’s view, in His world- He looks unto the weak, the feeble, the dependent. “When I am weak, then He is strong.” We must come to the conclusion- we are (all) G-d dependent creatures. We look unto His hand, the Shepherd’s ever watchful Providence for our daily bread. “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145.16)
He knows our needs, our frailty, our “humaness”, our failures and our fears and supplies our every need out of His infinite riches in Jesus. He has yet to fail anyone, anytime, anywhere who will come unto Him in fear and submission, anyone who will say- “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” Who’s prayer was answered?- “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18.9-14)
This article by A.B.Simpson has been a great help to me and it is my delight to share this with “whosoever will.” http://www.scribd.com/doc/6591377/31-Kings-Victory-Over-Self-AB-Simpson
Andrew Murray- one of my favorite authors and a mighty man of G-d, wrote many books concerning Christ (there are quite a few written!) but from all his books (he wrote over 200!) his book “Humility” is what I consider to be his opus work. I highly recommend this to be in everyone’s library.
Abba’s blessings to all. -It was the servants who witnessed the water turned into wine. It was our Master who came not to be served, but to serve- and to give His life as a ransom for many.. He took a towel and girded Himself- and began to wash the feet of the disciples! (John 13.4)
Michael,
Let me address a few statements you make:
were also creative geniuses who learned to control their imaginations. I DON’T FEEL THEY WERE CONTROLLING THEIR IMAGINATIONS – I FEEL BY SEEING, READING, LISTENING TO THEIR WORKS – THEY LET THEIR IMAGINATIONS RUN WILD & UNCONTROLLED – THOSE WORKS ARE NOT COMING FROM AN IMAGINATION THAT HAS BEEN BOXED IN BUT LET FREE TO ROAM & CREATE THINGS NEVER THOUGHT/HEARD OF BEFORE…
In my view, a dream is typically an “uncontrolled” form of the imagination. HAVE TO DISAGREE DUE TO EXPERIENCE WITH DREAMS I HAVE CONTROLLED MYSELF WHILE DREAMING THEM – BAD DREAMS THAT TURNED OUT GOOD BECAUSE MY SUBCONSCIOUS ENTERED IN & TOOK “CONTROL” OF THE DREAM & THE OUTCOME WAS VICTORY. NOW DREAMS THAT PEOPLE HAVE OF A BETTER LIFE, OF INVENTION, OF MARRIAGE, OF CHILDREN – OF ALL GOOD THINGS IN LIFE THAT WE LOOK FORWARD/TOWARD – PASSIONS, EDUCATION, FREEDOM – HOW WE CAN ALLEVIATE DARKNESS IN THIS LIFE ARE DREAMS/GOALS/PASSIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE & THEY AREN’T AN UNCONTROLLED FORM OF IMAGINATION(S). SO PERHAPS I’M NOT SURE HOW YOU ARE THINKING OF DREAMS WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT???
I agree with your: “let your imagination run wild.” I DIDN’T MEAN TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT BUT THAT I HAVE HEARD IT MANY TIMES IN LIFE – IT IS NOT MY STATEMENT BUT ONE THAT I HAVE HEARD/CLICHE… LETTING ONE’S IMAGINATION RUN WILD WOULD INDICATE IT IS UNCONTROLLED PROBABLY BUT I DON’T FEEL THAT AN UNCONTROLLED IMAGINATION IS ENTIRELY BAD – LASTLY IF CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT – IT COULD STILL SEEM UNCONTROLLED BY MAN – HIS WAYS/THOUGHTS ARE NOT OUR WAYS/THOUGHTS – HIS ARE ALWAYS HIGHER…
But we cannot let our aggressive or sexual fantasies become reality without serious consequences. THIS IS TRUE & IF WE ARE CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT & TORAH/WORD OF GOD/DAILY BREAD TO KEEP US LIVING ON THE BRANCH/VINE – THESE UNCONTROLLED AGGRESSIVE OR SEXUAL FANTASIES WILL NOT MANIFEST – I FEEL THEY WOULD BE HARD TO COMPETE WITH THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT & THE SCRIPTURES (THE WORD MADE FLESH)…
Again, our “control” of anything comes from HIM through His Holy Spirit within us – if i understand it correctly that is how everything is controlled in this world & when the Holy Spirit is withdrawn in the end then more & more there will be no more control – utter chaos for sure…
IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM… ♥
IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM… ♥ lol!- It is! “For in Him we live and move and have our being..” (Acts 17.28) Please notice, the “origin” of these thoughts- “it is written”. How did the Son of Man, the LORD of lords and the King of kings, G-d incarnated into human flesh- Yeshua- our Example and Examplar, defeat HaSatan when the Ruach Hakodesh led Him into the wilderness? Not once, not twice, (verily,verily!), but three times “He said”- the very same thing we should say.. Not, (excuse me..for yelling) NOT, well I think this or I think that, but rather (is anyone listening?)- “What do the scriptures say?” -In KJV (for those who still read out of it)- “What saith the scripture?” This is NOT my opinion- this IS the word of the LORD! these are the words of G-d.. “It is written!” Look in the Book: “it’s in there!”
We (yes, I said we..) do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of G-d. Amen. This dear brothers and sisters is true- we don’t- We need Help, serious help.. to “remember”- what does the word of G-d have to say concerning this? What does the Bible say about pride? What does the Bible say about humility? When does the word of the LORD speak? – All the time, and to everyone- but we must have “ears to hear” and hearts to obey.. We MUST “shema” the scripture. “I will do Torah and then I will understand.” Does this help us to understand- “to him that hath it shall be given..” To him who hath what? –
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Are these words true? Is this more than a “book?” Who wrote these words and why do they still “speak” to us today- thousands of years later? According to G-d’s book: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:that the man (or woman) of G-d may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 3.16,17). This is NOT my opinion, neither yours or his or hers- this my friends is straight from the Lamb’s Book of Life, our Bible: -the living, active, powerful, dividing between soul and spirit -Word of the LORD. (Hebrews 4.12)
(Romans 10.17) “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by…” – going to a movie.. err.. -watching t.v… err..surfing Facebook.. *No*- we do err not knowing the scriptures, we have not spent time in reading and meditating on the Owner’s Manual. Too much time doing what? “Anything other than..” -maybe we’ve been busy in the kitchen preparing dinner – rather than spending time with Yeshua (does this story sound familiar?)
We are so busy..(read distracted..)- aren’t we? What happened to G-d’s instructions found in Psalm 46.10? – When is the last time we were “still?” “Peace and quiet”- ever notice how these two words are traveling companions?