Public Opinion
“Fear not for you will not be put to shame; neither feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; but you will forget the shame of your youth, . .” Isaiah 54:4 NASB
Neither feel humiliated – The translation of ve-al-tikalmi as “neither feel humiliated” shifts the paradigm from a Hebrew point of view to our Greek understanding of emotions. The Hebrew root word, kalam, is not about how I feel. It is about actions that cause humiliation. True to Hebrew form, the emphasis of the word is about the outward, social, communal results, not about my inner feelings. Our Greek-based psychology places the emphasis on inner self-esteem and inner emotional experiences, but Hebrew looks at the world through the eyes of the community. To be humiliated is to lose respect with others, to be known as a failure, to be seen as undesirable. You might have nothing to do with bringing about this calamity, but it doesn’t matter. If your friends and acquaintances think you are guilty, then you experience kalam.
When we realize that our cultural view is psychological, not social, then the impact of God’s promise is magnified. We can go to the therapist in order to feel better about ourselves, but we can’t undo the damage of public opinion even if we are exonerated. As everyone knows, today you are guilty simply by being in the headlines. A rabbinic story of the defamation of character applies.
One day a man in the village claimed that the local rabbi was guilty of a moral infraction. He spread the rumor to his neighbors. After some time, he discovered that he was wrong. The rabbi was entirely innocent. He went to the rabbi to ask forgiveness and make amends. The rabbi told him to come back the next day with a feather pillow. When the man returned, the rabbi told him to cut open the pillow and pour its contents out the window. The feathers flew in the wind in every direction. Then the rabbi said, “You will restore my reputation when you have gathered all the feathers and put them back in the pillow.”
Humiliation is public. It is far more difficult to restore reputation than it is to lose it. That’s why this promise is so powerful and that’s why it does not begin with the unconditional prohibition for “not” (lo). This phrase begins with ve-al (“and not”) but the Hebrew word for “not” here is al. In Hebrew poetry, al is used to describe strong sentiment. It is used to express purpose, and in this case, that’s exactly what God intends. God purposes to restore us. God will gather all the feathers. When He is done with His work, you will be able to put your head on the pillow and forget all those wisps in the wind.
Topical Index: kalam, humiliation, al, not, Isaiah 54:4
–One day a man in the village claimed–
Ahh..- the fickle finger of blame. Such a useful tool. And how fast we are to fling it, far and wide. I am so quick on the draw also..- Why, I can accuse with such each and bravado.. – I don’t have to have any facts, any basis, just a thin, bony, pointing finger.. pointing in any direction except where (of course) it needs to be pointed and that is directly at the man in the mirror..
Okay.. when I say draw..- no, I won’t even wait..- I’ll just “accuse”. Now for some nice juicy gossip. I’ll make myself look bigger by making you look small..- works every time..- we see it’s slimy results plastered all over the box of lies (in HD!) known as our television. “Accusing (or excusing) one another” (according to the word(s) of G-d.)
And now let us go to the source..- Where do all these “lies” and accusations come from? We have already identified one source (known as self..) but wait..- there is yet another. One who has been given a title, a name. This one is our adversary, known as “the accuser of the brethren,” the father of lies. This one is capable of a highly-polished lie. He has been identified as an “angel of light”. Angel of light? (Wouldn’t that be a pretty sight?) A beauty indeed. Why look!- He has such a pretty smile, and such pretty hair! And he can dance and sing- Oh what talent! How we are drawn to him (and away from Another..)
Adam took a bite of this poisoned fruit and we have also, until we met Someone who offered us Truth. Someone who revealed Himself as the Truth- and then we were able to recognize the voice of the Accuser.
This Man offered unto us exactly what we needed and when we needed it. He does this, (how does He do it?), every time. He offers forgiveness and has promised never to “remember” our sins. As far as He is concerned our sins are as far as the east is from the west. We are (according to His life-giving words)- “forgiven.”
Now, who is he that condemneth? Woman, where are your accusers? Friends, listen. Listen again (for the first time) to the word(s) of G-d. What does He say? (not what I think…- not how I feel..- what does the word of the LORD our G-d have to say to those who belong to Him?
Straight from the Book of books, straight from the Lamb’s Book of life: “There is therefore now “no condemnation” to those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8.1) Read it. Know it. Show it. No condemnation. None. Zip. Nada. Totally, finally, fully free- in every form and fashion, for friends- “If the Son shall make you free (and it is the Son who sets us free!)- we shall be “free indeed..”- Now, who is who condemns you? lol! “No man, my LORD!” – Neither do I..- go..- and sin no more! Words of life and liberty! This is not licentiousness (sin all you want to)- this is liberty! Free, free, free indeed!- Is this “gospel?”
The joy of sins forgiven! (hold me down somebody!) I just feel (at zero-dark thirty in the morning) like shouting and waking up the neighbors, but instead I’ll just give a little meek, tired, and squeaky “amen” over here in my little quiet corner of the world.. -I’ll save my “celebrating” for the Super Bowl later today. (Now I feel like kicking and screaming!… NOOOO!) Once again.. (to save my sanity..)- What do the scriptures say? anyone?
~ Of David. A maskil. Blessed (how happy) is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. (Psalm 32.1) ~ lol!- Friends (and foes)- this is me!- I am (Hallelujah) this man. I am the one whose transgressions are forgiven.. I am the one whose sins are “covered.” Covered? How are they covered? Full atonement? , can it be? Yes! Hallelujah, – what a Savior!
Man of Sorrows! what a Name
For the Son of G-d, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew tHis song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
(Words & Music: Philip P. Bliss, 1875)
“True to Hebrew form”
Hmmm
I was just talking about the importance of distinguishing between “form and content” at work
About how our group receives content from engineers, but we don’t know if it is the right stuff
And that our job/responsibility is to take the technical content and put it into the proper “form”
For our customers
But that it is the engineer’s responsibility to validate the technical accuracy of the “content”
Or the process will never function correctly
When it comes to our relationship with Yahweh, we don’t have that issue
Because Yahweh always gives us the “right stuff”
And although I don’t want to be too “psychologistic”
I think we do need to play a part in “forming”
What Yahweh gives us 🙂
“I think we do need to play a part in “forming”
What Yahweh gives us”
I agree Michael…the “clay” needs to allow the Potter to shape and mold into His image. I tend to think that as we resist this molding/forming process, the pressure increases.
The give and take of the relationship is necessary to check the quality of the product.
“as we resist this molding/forming process, the pressure increases.”
Hi Mary,
Most definitely, IMO truer words were never spoken!
As something of an old non-conformist myself, the pressure aways seems to increase for some reason
No matter how hard I try to do the right thing
I’ve been on my best behavior for some time
But just this morning at Peet’s my dog Max and I
Saw some red lights 🙂