Prosperity Terrorism
Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Psalm 73:6 ESV
Violence – Do you connect prosperity to pride? Yes, you might think of that connection. But what about connecting prosperity to violence? For those who share the Greek idea of individualism, this seems like a real stretch. Why would Asaph suggest that being prosperous is connected to hamas, a strong Hebrew word for violence, cruelty and corruption? This is a word that is most often connected with the consequences of sin. It is not about natural disasters or court judgments. It doesn’t connect sinfulness with hurricanes or war. Hamas expresses the idea of extreme wickedness. But in what way can Asaph claim that arrogance and prosperity are signs of extreme wickedness?
Of course, there are plenty of examples in human history of the cruelty of the successful. From kings to brokers, we all know stories of men who used wealth and influence to bring misery upon others. But we would object to Asaph’s characterization that all who are prosperous are wicked. We could point to example after example of rich men and women whose lives were pillars of righteousness. Does Asaph ignore these? I don’t think so. I think Asaph has something else in mind.
Notice that Asaph’s comment begins with the Hebrew laken (therefore). Asaph’s conclusion is based on a prior argument. In the preceding verses, Asaph writes that the wicked he has in mind are the ones who display no serious regard for death, who live for luxury and who use their wealth and power to avoid the common troubles of life. Perhaps they model the statement of Abraham Heschel, “Judaism is spiritual effrontery. The tragedy is that there is disease and starvation all over the world, and we are building more luxurious hotels in Las Vegas. Social dynamics are no substitute for moral responsibility. The most urgent task is to destroy the myth that accumulation of wealth and the achievement of comfort are the chief vocations of man.”[1] Asaph can draw his conclusion because he recognizes that prosperity demands social responsibility. In the Hebrew paradigm, prosperity is not a gift given in order to be indulged. It is a trust given in order to be used for others. In the Hebrew paradigm, distribution is the watchword of the wealthy. God gives in order that we may give. Asaph’s concern is not with prosperity itself. It is with those who do not take seriously the weight of their prosperity. For Asaph, those who accumulate in order to avoid human issues and concerns are prosperity terrorists. They are hamas. They have turned the purpose of prosperity on its head and made it their servant instead of becoming servants of the gift. Just as violence is the misuse of power and arrogance is the misuse of praise, so accumulation is the misuse of prosperity. When God blesses us with more than we need, He entrusts us with what others need. We are expected to do what He does – give it without regret.
Topical Index: prosperity, terrorism, hamas, Psalm 73:6
Wow, what a good word!
“Judaism is spiritual effrontery.”
Is Mr. Herschel referring to what he believes is the prevalent paradigm in Rabbinical Judiasim?
Robin,
At the end of Today’s Word, I just sat there and said out loud to myself, “WOW…what a good word!”
Then, I clicked on the comments and saw your first words of confirmation…”Wow, what a good word!”
O.K…do I hear a third? 🙂
Abraham Heschel was a pillar of the Hasidic community
“Judaism is spiritual effrontery.”. Would you please explain what you meant by that statement?
Wasn’t my statement. It was Heschel. In context, I am pretty sure that he means that Judaism calls into question everything we suppose to be true about success in the world and the way the world works.
Really, I wasn’t aware that “Judaism calls into question everything we suppose to be true about success in the world and the way the world works.”
“When God blesses us with more than we need, He entrusts us with what others need.”
What a beautiful picture this brings! We serve as “trust accounts” and will be accountable for the “funds” deposited – were they withdrawn for legitimate purposes?
Thank you Skip! I was so looking forward to meeting you face-to-face in Seattle but the grand-babies passes off the “crud” and I did not wish to pass it on to you or others. Maybe next time!
Hamas? Really? – talk about “name recognition..” Hamas indeed. The kingdom of G-d suffers violence and the violent take it by force. Plunder and pillage, all “in the name” of what? A false prophet and a religion of force and of fear. Love me, or I will kill you is the constant threat of Islam. Do what I say or else- is the answer of the Muslim man to his property, er.. bride. This is extremely anti-Christ, for ours is a religion of love and of voluntary surrender. Love, dear friends, is a choice. Love may never be forced for then it is not love at all. We, praise G-d, are free to choose this day, “who” we will serve. My choice? and the choice of my house?- “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD..” (Joshua 24.15)
Violence is an extreme form of selfishness. Self again, raises its ugly head! -What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine as well! Yeshua said, “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” (Mark 3.27)
There is so much “gospel” (good news) in this verse, so much promise,- for the “strong man”, the bully, has been bound, for Christ pulled the lion’s teeth at Calvary. Oh, he will still roar as a mighty lion, but he is all bark and no bite. Lucifer is a (very sore) looser, and friends, we (now) serve a Living, completely Victorious Savior!
“What do the scriptures say?” should ever be our battle cry. The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!- Hey you! Remember these three words? “IT IS WRITTEN!” ~For the word of G-d is sharper than a two edged-sword- ~ May the high praised of G-d be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands! ~
My brother, my sister, what is this two-edged sword? Our battle is not with flesh and blood,- no, not at all. The only way possible to kill and idea is with a better idea! The weapons of our warfare (yes, we have weapons and yes, we are at war!) are not carnal, but mighty through YHWH! What do the scriptures say? (Where have we heard this before and how many times to we need to repeatedly hear this before it sinks in?- Maybe those bunker-buster bombs aren’t such a bad idea!- or at least order some titanium drill bits to penetrate layers and layers of thick-headedness and hard-heartedness!)
How are we to deal with our enemies? – the same way Christ did.. – we are to love them! (Matthew 5.44) For we also were like sheep going astray, but now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls! Remember the time we (also) were without Christ, being ALIENS from the COMMONWEALTH of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without G-d in the world? ~ And you, that were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight ~ (Colossians 1.21,22)
~ And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again ~ (2 Corinthians 5.15)
What will our answer be to this violence? Ask Daniel as he was thrown to the lions. Ask the three Hebrew men who were thrown into the perfectly heated furnace of Nebuchadnezzar, ask David as he stood before Goliath, ask the martyrs who were burned at the stake. Ask the millions who have gone before us, – the saints, servants and sons, of all the ages (sinners all!)..- Is He worthy? Is He?
What was Rabbi Sha’uls vision? What did he see? What prompted him to say these words? ~ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us ~ (Colossians 1.22) Glory!- have you experienced a glimpse of this? lol!
~You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings! ~ (Psalm 23.5) Glory! Grace and glory, – it is the goodness of G-d that leads us (all) to repentance! Blessed be Hashem! – and LORD, teach us to pray for and because of our enemies! Cause us all to become more fully dependent upon our Sovereign Shepherd! Amen.
Amen, teacher, it is so fun to see you explain a text just as “I always knew it” from the first reading of Scripture — without knowing the translations you know, nor having the tools to dig deep and uncover like you do. We have the Author present to explain it to us!
The devil’s thinking is so backwards, he still thinks force wins when God clearly says its Love that never fails. That spells victory to me!
The shock today was the word “hamas”. Wow, they really go around self labeled as violence, cruelty and corruption??? Bragging on it?
Something that goes ‘zip’ right over my head is “Judaism is spiritual effrontery”. Is there an article you can point to so I may read and try to grasp this?
“The most urgent task is to destroy the myth that accumulation of wealth and the achievement of comfort are the chief vocations of man.” (the “will” of Solomon)
Follow Solomon and see the end of the one who follows the pathway of “self”.. Remember Solomon’s words? “I” will get me this and “I” will get me that and “I” will do this and “I” will do that.. poor Solomon, definitely had an “I” problem.. Tho’ very wise by the world’s standards: “Get all you can, can all you get, sit on the lid and poison the rest,” -but what about doing what is pleasing to the LORD, -Solomon? for this is wisdom.. -Yes, what can be more wise than to obey the ONE who “both” created and then redeemed us?
And now let us consider our Savior- who demonstrated for us (in the flesh) how to live, to be pleasing unto our Father..
According to the word of G-d: ~He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-d? ~ (Micah 6.8)
Pride and violence also relates to the sins of Sodom…while most today would put homosexual violence at the top God put pride, excessive food, idleness and forgetting the poor:
Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, overabundance of food, prosperous ease, and idleness were hers and her daughters’; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49 AMP)
Our work is to believe, all our sacrifice is in response to His supply for us and those around us, our ‘violence’ is pressing to see, enter and grow in the Kingdom of His dear Son where the greatest are all marked by what they gave not what they kept, and their childlike trust, obedient service and joyful selfless and generous love.
Jesus’ movement has done more for the poor than any government, I believe.
Jesus encouraged giving without force or compulsion.
This is the difference between real Christianity – which depends on converted hearts, and the ‘social gospel’ that is often enacted via political and governmental means.
I’ve heard almost every version of – “Jesus was a Democrat/Republican/Communist/Socialist!”. Really?! I am politically conservative, and I vote — but I know that Jesus changed the world with a few converted hearts – and NOT by starting a university, political party, or charitable foundation.
Organizations can be the mechanism, but not the genesis of The Kingdom.
Can we also apply Yeshua’s comment in Matt. 15:11, that just as what goes into a man does not make him unclean, but rather what comes out of his heart..so what goes into his pocket is not as important as what he does with it…(a good eye, a good heart). If his heart is fixed on G_d’s desires, he gives it away…
Hi Skip, please explain”From kings to brokers, ” unsure why the reference to brokers.
Is there a specific meaning to that? maybe a Hebrew meaning? could it be a current reference?
Enjoy the Eastern side of the globe
regards