The Unfamiliar Familiar
Only that shall happen which has happened, only that occur which has occurred; there is nothing new beneath the sun! Ecclesiastes 1:9 JPS
Nothing new – “Same old, same old,” we say. Or “What goes around comes around.” Life just repeats itself. But this often leads to cyclical amnesia. Because we are so familiar with the routine, we fail to examine it. Moses Luzatto notes, “I have not written this book to teach the reader anything new. Rather is it my aim to direct his attention to certain well known and generally accepted truths, for the very fact that they are well known and generally accepted is the cause of their being overlooked. Hence, this book, if it is to be of any benefit, has to be read more than once.”[1] We might say precisely the same thing about the Bible. When we reach the point where we are “familiar” with the Bible, we probably need to remember that familiarity leads to unconscious inattention. In my experience, I find myself coming back to familiar verses again and again discovering that I haven’t understood their complexity, their depth and their beauty.
Is it true that there is nothing new beneath the sun? The Hebrew we’en kol-hadash tahat hashamesh does not speak of new inventions, new events or new circumstances. The Teacher is reflecting on the weariness of life. In general, whatever occurs has already been part of the human experience. War, pestilence, prosperity, birth, death, obedience and disobedience recycle among human beings. Nothing is fundamentally new. The key word here is hadash, the Hebrew for “new” which is also, and more typically, “renew.” It’s not that life is an endless circle (Disney’s “Circle of Life” is not Hebraic). It’s that life is boring! Remove God from the equation and everything just comes and goes. Even religion.
Years ago my wife bought me a card that read “Bored in the U.S.A.” It captured my attitude precisely. Having achieved the American dream of independent wealth, I soon discovered that life offered little that really made a difference. Ferraris in the garage sat idly because the thrill of driving had passed. Vacation homes in the Caribbean were empty because “been there, done that” crept into my psyche. When I could do anything I wanted, there was nothing to do. I walked stride for stride with Koheleth. His words were my thoughts.
Then God overturned the apple cart. We lost everything – and in the process, we got back a life worth having. Funny how that works, isn’t it? We spend our lives in pursuit of what we think will give us satisfaction and comfort only to find that real growth occurs in what is painful. I no longer ride the wheel of endless meaninglessness. I’m going somewhere, to a place He will show me when I arrive. I just don’t know where that is but the ride is the best I’ve ever had. The once familiar Scriptures have become utter strangers that I must meet all over again because I am traveling in another world.
Topical Index: hadash, new, renew, Ecclesiastes 1:9, familiar
Maybe the song from Disney’s Aladdin might be more fitting? “A Whole New World,” which I often sang to my young children as “a whole new word” and they would take great delight in correcting me,”No, dad-it’s “world,” but “yes, it is”
That “word” is the word of God.~ (MEM.) O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day ~ (Psalm 119.98- KJV). Funny how “MEM”- (memorize?) got in there.
What exactly is meditation? Surprisingly, it involves thought. We must engage our minds (in Hebrew, -hearts) and mentally “regurgitate” that which we have “fed on,” similar to the cow who “enjoys” chewing the regurgitated cud from one of it’s four stomachs. As this may not be a pretty picture for some, (and I agree), I prefer the saying, “what’s down in the well” will come up in the bucket.
Let’s go for the jugular here. (vicious sort of man that I am!). What, (he inquired) do YOU think about “all the day long?” What, (he inquired again) have you been “feeding your mind” with?
Here are the simple(?) instructions of Elohim, found for “all” in Philippians 4.8: ~ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise ~
And as time has passed and our most excellent (yet very short) memories have already gone fishing somewhere, let us (all) review, with more time, (maybe this time we might pay attention!) ~ O how I love thy Law, (Your Instruction) it is my meditation all the day long. ~ (Psalm 119.98)
David, (years ago) came out of the gate with this most excellent Psalm/Song. It is the very first Psalm/Song and one that belongs within the mind and heart of every blood-bought believer: ~ Blessed is the man.. ~ (Blessed, dear reader is the Bible word for “happy.”) “Happy is the man..” Blessed/happy is the man (any man or woman- very generic term for human). Happy is the human who does what? Actually, (hate to be a “hair-splitter,” but..) the word here is “how happy!” “How happy” is the one who..
~ 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..
Yes, I have hung this “but” out in the open for all to see it. Look (real good) at this big “but!” Why? Amazingly, every Big Bible But is a word of transition and hope and change.. This, dear friend is a “turning” word. A word of repentance. Just reverse you mind and now we are about to take “all things” in a totally new direction, yes, totally in opposition to our previous direction! Congratulations! You have just “repented.” And now let us proceed onward and forward! – “Read On,” brothers!
But, His delight (delight?) Say what? His delight is where? His delight is in the Law of the LORD… (Say, “who’s Law is it anyway?” This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Law of the LORD, the very living-active-powerful-life giving-life-imparting-life-changing words of God.
The “results?” (oh, how we want to see the results, don’t we?) We are all “show me” people.. In desperate need of “hope and change..
~ they are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do ~
Prosperity? Fruit? – I’m in. What do I have to do?
(MEM.) O how love I Thy Law! it is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119.98)
Selah. – Think about it.
I hate to keep harping on this Carl (BIG) BUT Hebrew meditation occurs throughout the daily routine of life. Living according to the Torah of YHVH transforms common everyday living into a sacred worship experience. A mitzvah!
De. 6:4 Hear,(sh’ma is the word for obey) O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart (mental capacity), and with all thy soul (physical ability), and with all thy might/motivation (emotions, will, and everything else imaginable). It is no fluke that these things are mentioned in this order.
6 And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart; whoa whoa whoa WHAT!? written in their heart? In Deuteronomy? What things will be written in their heart? OMG You mean The same law that Jeremiah and Ezekiel say will be written on our heart??? In the New Covenant? To walk in???
7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.
We can’t intelligently do anything if our mind is not first engaged. But notice the commandment doesn’t stop with mental musing. We must put our nephash into it. Information is useless if it’s not put into practice in the community. When we Keep/DO His commandments we see the wisdom, reap the rewards, and our emotions are stirred which brings our will/driving force into alignment with our actions and the Holy Spirit steps in and adds the hesad of Elohim to the deed thus the WORD becomes entirely flesh.
Ro.5:3 And not only so, but let us have joy in our troubles: in the (1. heart)knowledge that trouble gives us the power of (2. action)waiting;
4 And waiting gives (3. emotion)experience; and experience, (4. will/motivation)hope:
5 And hope does not put to shame; because our hearts are full of the love of God through the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
Therefore, my beloved, as you all have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
You have children I bet you’ve experienced this once maybe twice in your life with them. Dad; I want you to do your homework. Later Dad; Did you do what I asked you to do? Daughter no but I cleaned my room. Later Dad; Did you do what I asked you to do? no but I fixed you a sandwich. Later Dad; Did you do what I asked you to do? No but I got the mail for you. Later Dad; Did you do what I asked you to do? No but I washed the dishes.
Matt.7:21 “Not every one that says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of My Father who is in Heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name have cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committs sin transgresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.
Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby ye have transgressed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why will ye die, O house of Israel?
De 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
This is what it truly is to be Blessed.
The favor of YHVH rests upon you. It can be seen by our works. Faith without works is dead.
Pr 8:35 For whoever gets me (Wisdom) gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him.
Carl, I always enjoy reading your selected script. 🙂
Hi Pam,
It is two separate sends, one does not include Carl before (BIG)
I fixed it.
thx
Carl… enjoyed your perspective. I have to admit.. I like big “buts”
Well put Skip.
That’s just abou the way I feel too. What an adventure!
Skip, that pretty much says it all. I believe I was on that “road to Boredom” when God redirected my steps to this current path I am on where He has made His word come alive again to me! Today’s Word is a big part of that! It was so nice to finally meet you here in sunny New Jersey! I’m still mulling over the things that you taught!
“Then God overturned the apple cart.”
Hmmm
I had the same experience 5 years and one week ago
At the time I thought my life had never been more full of God’s gifts
It has not been easy to lose that life, but I’ve learned certain things I always wanted to know
Boy, did you live my life? The only difference is I didn’t have the ferrari’s. But ‘spiritually’ I counted myself to be a rich man. And yet, there was this deep sense something was missing. Even religion became boring. This could not be it!
And when I started praying for the truth, the most awfull things happened in my life: I lost everything I thought was mine spiritually AND materially. And now, God has filled the emptyness and given me new riches, completely different from what I thought was spiritual richess. And life is so much better now!!!!!!!!!! In spite of all this terribel losses which still hurt.
Baruch ata, adonai elohenu!
I suspect that many if not most of us on this site have similar stories. You don’t have to be wealthy to be devastated by losing everything.