Who Are You?
Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” Ruth 2:5 NASB
Whose – Did you recognize the underlying cultural assumption in Boaz’s question? It is a perfect statement of the difference between the Western Greek world and the Eastern Hebrew world. In our Greek-based society, identity is a matter of individual uniqueness. I am the summation of the individual attributes, achievements and assumptions that describe me apart from everyone else. Yes, of course, we each have a genealogy but in our culture family history is simply the cause and effect pathway that leads to our individuality. In fact, we may even bristle if we are introduced as someone’s wife or son or daughter. We believe that our identity is strictly about us as individuals.
But not so in Hebrew. Boaz’s question reveals that identity is directly tied to someone else’s involvement. Ruth is not the unique, Moabite individual. Her identity is expected to be derived from the possession and protection of someone else. She is who she belongs to. She is the extension of the one who has responsibility for her.
This question reveals the need for a significant reorientation. Saturated as we are with the Greek paradigm, we probably wouldn’t consider identifying ourselves in terms of external ownership. We think of ourselves as standing separate from the masses. We think of ourselves as distinct from others, as singular beings with unique character. But Hebrew thought reveals that ownership is the basis of identity. This does not mean slavery. It means the protective umbrella of communal responsibility. Left alone (as Greek thought would suggest), we are vulnerable, isolated and outside the covenant community. In this state, from a Hebrew perspective, it is as if we do not exist. I am who I am because I am connected, because I belong to someone else, because I am a member of something bigger than myself. In Hebrew thinking, identity is always communal. To be is to be part of the tribe.
The implications of this shift in understanding identity are earth-shattering. What does it mean to have a personal Savior if identity is found in community? What does Christian character mean if it is divorced from the legacy of God’s chosen people? Who am I if I am not tied to the children of Abraham in word and deed? What is the “good news” of salvation if it is presented as individual rescue?
“No man is an island” says the well-known aphorism. In Hebrew this reads, “No man has any identity apart from community and ownership.” We think that community is an extension of us. We think that our individualism adds to the community. We never consider that our very being is a function of the community. We have the equation backwards. “What must I do to be saved?” is followed by a statement “and all of his household.” One does not exist apart from many. Is that how you think of yourself? Does community describe your very being in the world?
Rosanne often objects that she is identified as “Skip’s wife,” thinking that this somehow diminishes her individual identity. But from an Hebraic perspective, we belong to each other. She is the ‘ezer. Her identity is tied to me. To be introduced as “Skip’s wife” is a great complement. No one else can fulfill the role or claim the ownership associated with those words. I wonder if we truly appreciate what it means to be identified in this way or in any way that directly connects who we are with those we are given by God.
Topical Index: identity, whose, Ruth 2:5, community
It is so hard to switch gears. I do know one thing, keeping Torah would be “easier” and I believe very rewarding in community with others. My husband is not even on board, so I struggle. I feel like I use it as an excuse, but truth be known, community is very important. “Two are better than one.”
This also brings to mind our kinsman redeemer, Yeshua ha Mashiac. We are not our own but have been bought with a price. We belong to Someone. We are not alone.
I will never forget when i was about 5 years old a new friend came to our screen door one sunny afternoon and called out to my mom “Pamella’s Mooooootherrrrrr”
I couldn’t agree more or be happier than with this assessment, “Whose are you?”
I am a child of El Elyon. I belong to Him and along with His chosen ones, my brothers and sisters,for I too, have been “bought with a price.”
Thank you for this opportunity to testify; my heart, all that I have, all that I am, all that I hope to be, belongs to the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ. I am one of His own. One of many, and also one of the few. The few who know Him as Savior and LORD, the ones who have been twice-born, those who are part of His called-out assembly.
Yes, identity is critical. “Whose are you?” This is about the biggest question, to ask of anyone. It is not what I say, what I do, or where I live or where I have come from or where I am going, but rather “whose am I?” Big. Monstrously so,- amen!
May I? I feel a praise-song rising..
Jesus, my LORD will love me forever,
From Him no pow’r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.
Once I was lost in sin’s degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,
Now I belong to Him;
Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.
And one last thing.. (just one?) Another huge question and one of the best! Any answers to this one? Inquiring minds (like me) would love to know.~ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8.35) Here am I, and I’m listening.. Your reply? or better yet, what do the scriptures say? It’s always a good thing to allow the scriptures to speak- they usually speak for themselves!.. Never have these (or any others) proved anything but true.. ~ Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ~ (I’m still listening..) As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
I love this answer. Even though is it a negative answer, it is one of the best “no’s” in our Bible, *NO,*- in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8.37)
Maybe it takes some time for us to come to this, some are slower learner (such as myself) than others.. but God will (I’m convinced) bring us to this marvelous realization, recognition and revelation: ~ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD ~ (Romans 8.39)
This about covers it all, doesn’t it? I can’t come up with anything here that isn’t listed or covered. Why would this be? Because He ever lives to make intercession for us and because we are His, because the LORD is our Sovereign (always good) Shepherd we not only have His pardon, but His protection, provision, peace and (constant) Presence surrounding our every step. Yes, it is more than song, “Jesus led me all the way!”
This, from one who was blind from birth, yet “sees” better than any of us with eyes..
All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.
~ I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them ~ (Isaiah 42.16)
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, LORD, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.
All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, Almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.
I’ve heard it described as a distinction between “warm” cultures and “cold” cultures. In cold cultures, people tend to be more isolated, more possessive of personal space; in warm cultures, doors are open, and people freely enter upon each others’ lives. I grew up in a warm culture, and now we try to make our home a place where people are welcome any time. Interestingly, when we moved to the South, we found many people surprised at that concept. To open your home to “strangers” seems odd, but some of the dearest people in my life have been brought into our home by others. My kids laugh about how they would come home from college and be welcomed into a gathering at our home: “Hi! Welcome! How do you know the Durrs?”
The resurgence of fascination with the writings of Ayn Rand shows how far our American culture has gone toward a selfish individualism.
I used to laughingly say that, as a child, I was known as “Rose’s daughter,” and when I had kids, as their mother. Where was I in all of that? Firmly in the middle of a very loving and connected community!
Amen. Isolation needs to be spoken of and warned of. It is not how God wants us to live.
It stunts spiritual growth and leaves us open for attack by the enemy that prowls about seeking whom he may devour. Scripture teaches us we are to be accountable to one another, submit to one another, look out for one another, seek counsel of elders who walk with us. A cord of 3 strands is not easily broken.
Loneliess is an epidemic these days. Isolation weaks defenses, –we forget we are in a spiritual battle everyday. Isolation involves hiding problems and worrying, pushes everyone away — including God. We forget to cast our cares upon Him and have no one to remind us when we avoid the brethern.
In isolation we seek to solve problems, but it is always on our own terms.
The story of the maniac of Gadara, who was far down the path of isolation and insanity, and deep in the suffering all that brings, testifies of the power of Jesus and the compassion of Jesus and the ability of Jesus to help all of us, even the most troubled. There is no case too hard for God. There is none that He does not see. How marvelous He is!
Jesus had lots of idenity. He was/is the son of man, the Son of God, some one hundred other titles -or more- and our peace – Eph. 2: 14
“No man is an island”
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
John Donne
“No one should be alone in their old age, he thought.”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
“Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio.”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
Many years ago my wife and I were travelling around the south of France
In Aix-En-Provence I came across this lovely print in blues of a table with a vase and plate of fruit
Now I have that print on the wall of my daughter’s very small bedroom
In bold letters underneath the picture is the name of the painter
Pierre – Dominic – Laffitte
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffit_Pincay,_Jr.
My closest friends are Michelle and David; and Pierre is the name of Michelle’s brother
Pierre is a friend of mine who lives in Paris with his family
Dominic is the name of Pierre’s best friend and a very good friend of Michelle and David
I first met Dominic the year before I was married, in Prague of all places
Prague was a communist country in those days, so David and I were staying in a 1st class hotel
For about $40 a night in greenbacks. Now David and are about as different as Laurel and Hardy
**** oops, didn’t mean to send the response above, but my dog Max was bugging me for more food, a walk, and a swim up in the mountains****
As I was saying, I met Dominic in Prague and he certainly did not meet my expectations
I was walking down this rather aristocratic spiral staircase into the lobby of the hotel
And was shocked to see the man standing at bottom of the staircase with David
And Dominic was clearly as shocked as I was to see me
I think we both expected to meet someone like David who is somewhat unusual himself
But the connection between me and Dominic was so strong that I knew what he was thinking
The same thing I was: “you are not like David at all, you are just like me”
To come back to the French painting that I mentioned above by Pierre – Dominic – Laffitte
Ruth Irish owned two houses on the alley between 22nd and 23rd street in Del Mar
And she had two daughters named Mary and Ann who inherited these houses when she died
Ann was married to an old horse trainer who in the summer raced horses across the highway
At the Del Mar race track
For a number of years in the summer we would surf and play on the beach in the morning
Then walk over to the track in the afternoon to watch the horses bet on the feature race
Old Willy Shoemaker was probably the best jockey in the country at that time
But my favorite jockey was the muscular young Panamanian, name Laffitte Pincay
And my favorite trainer was the brash young New Yorker named Bobby Frankel
“Bobby possessed a gift for coaxing top performances out of ornery, high-strung thoroughbreds, a gruff Hall of Fame trainer who was hard in his dealings with humans, but gentle with the animals in his barn.”
When Bobby Frankel prepared a horse for a feature race and put Laffitte in the saddle
Laffitte would put on quite a show and usually cross the finish line first for some “easy money”
And one more thing about the Dominic I met in Prague is that he is a Corsican farmer
Who lives in Corsica where most folks have black hair and brown eyes
But Dominic has sun-bleached brown hair, like a surfer, and blue eyes
In fact on a plane from Corsica to Italy, I was sitting next to this French psychiatrist
Who was amused that an American who looked like me could discuss the psychoanalytic theory of Jacques Lacan
And when I told him that one of my blondish blue eyed friends across the aisle
Was a Corsican named Dom, he argued with me, saying there is no way he is a Corsican
One last point about the name Dominic
It is also the name of Michelle’s/David’s sister who lives in Paris