Asaph Doubles Down
Surely you set them in slippery places; you cast them down into ruin. How they are brought into desolation in a moment, utterly consumed with terrors! Psalm 73:18-19 Hebrew World translation
Terrors – What does Asaph have to do with the prayer of Jabez? You will have to read both in Hebrew to know the answer. Maybe it’s coincidence. Maybe not. But what Asaph says about the end of the wicked can be illuminated by paying attention to something in the prayer of Jabez. Let’s look.
The prayer of Jabez includes this sentence, “so that it might not bring me pain.” We noticed that the negation is unusual, employing the Hebrew word belet. That word for “not” comes from a root word (bala) that means “to become old, worn out.” Jabez asks God to not let his efforts wear away, to protect him from the decay of this life.
Asaph doesn’t use this same word, but he uses a word that is very similar. He chooses the word balah. The only difference between the two is the sound of the final consonant. Both words are spelled exactly the same way. While Jabez uses a derivative of bala, Asaph uses a derivative of balah. Asaph’s word is ballahot. This is the plural of ballaha, and ballaha is a word that merely doubles the second and third consonants. Instead of B-L-H, it reads B-L-L-H-H.
So you say, “Interesting, but so what?” Perhaps the significance of this doubled structure is Asaph’s insight into the double whammy of the wicked. The first terror is that everything they have can be lost in an instant. In fact, the longer they live, the more likely something bad will happen. That’s the actuarial table of the world. The second terror is that even if I am lucky enough to avoid all the bad stuff, I still die! In fact, the only guarantee of the wicked is death. Everything else is a roll of the dice. Maybe, just maybe, Asaph communicates this double terror by choosing a word that means “worn out” and doubling it up.
Bala is the consonants Bet-Lamed-Hey. The picture is, “Behold, control of the house.” What controls the house? Well, certainly wearing away takes control of every household of Man. His body, his family, his possessions, his community, even his legacy – all wear away. Now look at ballaha. We have a single house but twice the control and twice the “Behold.” Do you think that Asaph is pointing us toward the realization that the wicked live in a single house with two masters? They fight divine control built into the fabric of the universe by asserting their own control. While the righteous let God lead, the wicked attempt to lead themselves. No man can serve two masters, but he can try!
Asaph’s poetry is linguistic genius. I expect him to incorporate another layer of meaning in the structure of the poem. Meaning within meaning. Asaph teaches us something about the wicked. Self-control is a beast with two heads – and it cannot be tamed.
Topical Index: terrors, ballahot, balah, bala, worn out, Jabez, Psalm 73:18-19
There is a third enemy I encounter daily..- This enemy is “me.” Me, myself and I. It is the enemy within. The yetser hara, the self-made man. For you see,- the world revolves around me!, (and all this time you thought it revolved around you!).
This is the “spirit” of the self-made man. Narcissism to the extreme.- But what do the scriptures say? Four words that are the cornerstone of Christianity: ~ not “I” but (the Living Word)- Christ~- He must increase, but “I” must decrease. EGO: Edge G-d Out. “I” have been crucified with Christ..- nevertheless “I” live, yet not “I” but Christ. – We have met the enemy..- and he is “us!”
~ “Only” by pride comes contention..~ (Proverbs 13.10)- ~ Six things does the LORD hate ~ and number one on His “hate” list is what? (Proverbs 6.16,17)
What was the downfall of Lucifer- who was then cast out of heaven, taking one third of heaven’s angels with him? (Isaiah 14.12) And what (besides “McDonald’s) are one of our seemingly sweet and innocent little children’s first words as they play together? “Mine.” The spirit of me-ism, left untouched will blossom into rotten fruit, and ‘me-ism’ (my favorite religion!) is running rampant in our world today. “It’s all about me!”- isn’t it? – Or is it? What happened to -“not my will, but Thine be done?”
Friends, is this true?, “a man wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package..” Have we forgotten? Jesus-Others-(then) You is a wonderful way to spell joy?
And please, let us “behold” the birth, life, and death of the Captain of our common salvation: the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ.. I will attempt to encapsulate His life in one word: (I know this is impossible!). That one word is “humility.” For holiness and humility are inextricably linked together. And (once again) – what do the scriptures say?- ~ G-d resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.~ (James 4.6)
~ Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD and He will lift you up ~ (James 4.10)
And (practically speaking) how do we “humble ourselves?” What are the instructions of YHWH? ~ if my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land ~ (2 Chronicles 7.14) It’s “bent-knee” time.. Baruch atah ADONAI.
As I searched the archives for baruch, I came across this- and (praise G-d) felt my own toes being “stepped on..”
A Word for Baruch
READ Jeremiah 45:1-5
“Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!” [Jeremiah 45:5]
Jeremiah 45 contains a word of the Lord for Baruch, an assistant to Jeremiah. In chapter 36, for example, Baruch wrote down Jeremiah’s prophecies on a scroll and then read what he had written to the people of Judah (36:4-8). Chapter 45 fits chronologically after chapter 36, prior to the fall of Jerusalem.
We know from Jeremiah 45 that Baruch was unhappy with his lot. It seems that the discouraging prophecies of Jeremiah had dragged down his spirit. Moreover, Baruch had been “seeking great things for himself” (45:5). We don’t know exactly what those great things were. Perhaps he had hoped to become a full-fledged prophet like Jeremiah, rather than an assistant and messenger. At any rate, the Lord rebukes Baruch for his seeking after great things for himself. At the same time, the Lord reassures Baruch that his life will be spared even through Judah’s war with Babylon.
The example of Baruch challenges me to examine my motivations for all I do in service to the Lord. (This should include, by the way, all I do!) Am I seeking God’s glory, or my own? Do I want to raise my children to be disciples of Jesus first and foremost, or do I want their successes to reflect well on me? Do I desire to communicate God’s truth through my writing and speaking, or am I most interested in being liked?
Surely it’s not necessarily wrong to have a good reputation, to be thought of as a decent parent, or to be liked by people. But I find it easy to step into the trap that apparently snared Baruch, seeking great things for myself rather than seeking the greatness of God. I am reminded today to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).
My advice to Asaph? (and to my “self”)- “I” have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless “I” live, yet not “I” but Christ.. Four words are to be our foundation for living this day,- “not I, but Christ..” For He must increase, but “I” must decrease.
The choice is ours, but remember,- every choice is followed by a consequence. So what will it be (for me) today? “self” or the Savior? No contest.. – “I” surrender all.. for He is LORD.
LORD of every thought and action,
LORD to send and Lord to stay;
LORD in speaking, writing, giving,
LORD in all things to obey;
-Now and evermore to be.
Amen.
Hi Carl,
I always appreciate what you write, and you write it with such passion! 😀
Here is what Senior Pastor James MacDonald wrote today (4/27/12) at his website, Walk in the Word, about PRACTICING HUMILITY:
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” —Philippians 2:1-3
This comes as a surprise to a lot of people: being humble is not something that you are; it’s something you do! So, you don’t expect someday to say, “Wow, it’s finally happened, I am so humble right now. I wish my friends could see me.” Because as soon as you’re thinking that, humility is not happening. Humble is not something you are, it is something you do.
The Bible says, “Humble yourself” (See James 4:10) or “. . . with all humility . . .” (Ephesians 4:2) In Luke 18:14b, Jesus said, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Everyone will eventually discover humility, but only those who have humbled themselves will pass on to exaltation.
Now humbling yourself does not mean demean yourself or put yourself down. Humility is not like,“Wow, do I ever stink.” Often that’s false humility, a focus on self. Humility is not making the least of yourself; humility is making the most of others. Humility is very much an others-focused thing.
That’s why it says in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” I’ll tell you, we will get a long way down the road of humility with that single focus, esteeming others as more important than ourselves.
This will help with humbling yourself: embrace slights and misunderstandings, when you’ve been overlooked—just embrace it and say, Well, that’s the way it should be and the only reason that’s bothering me is because I think I’m more important than I am. And if I would just realize that I’m not as important as I thought I was, it wouldn’t be so hard for me to handle this. That’s called humbling yourself. Your flesh is rising up and you’re pushing it down and humbling yourself. When you feel that the people in your family don’t appreciate you, you say, Well, but I’m a servant and I’m here to serve and I don’t need to be recognized or appreciated. It’d be nice if that would happen and I can pray about that but now, I’m gonna humble myself. Sound impossible? It is, without God’s help. Ask Him to teach you, by His Spirit, the discipline of humility.
Awesome is the word, Cyndee.. (and much appreciated!) This will be printed, kept, reviewed and remembered..
Brother Skip has helped me considerably now “knowing” the love of G-d is not “zero-sum.” In other words G-d loves each of us with all of His heart. I must value every person I encounter “knowing” my Father loves that person every bit as much as He loves me! G-d loves people, and even more than that He loves what I would consider to be “unlovable!” Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan..- oh, the grace that brought it down to man.. Oh,- the mighty gulf that G-d did span -at Calvary!
Our Bible states – but we now have the mind of Christ- and that mind (or heart!) is the heart of a servant. I don’t even wan’t to “taint” this with the idea of “servant hearted leadership” and actually am afraid to even “go there..”. No, “wisdom is with the lowly..” Christ said of Himself- “for I am meek and lowly in heart and you will find rest unto your souls..”- And the good news is this:- anyone can be a servant! Anyone, including me. I’ve made up my mind to live this way- to love/serve G-d by loving/serving others.
And Who, btw, was more “other-minded” than Christ Himself? It is true indeed..- He saved others, Himself He cannot save.. – actually more like “would not save..” A slight twist on Oswald Chambers- His Utmost For My Highest!, for He gave all! And is this all? No..- For He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all- how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8.32) – It’s the Gift that keeps on giving!