Hebrew Accounting
Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully. 2 Kings 12:15 NASB
Dealt faithfully – Perhaps you’ve noticed some very odd things about the Hebrew community of Torah; things that seem unimaginable in our culture. For example, we never read about jails or policemen or family courts. We don’t read about kosher groceries as opposed to other choices. And in this verse, we discover something else that seems unimaginable to us. There is no ledger accounting for donations. Why? The answer is the same for all these odd circumstances. ‘Emunah. “’emunah coveys the idea of inner stability, integrity, conscientiousness, cleanliness, which is essential for any responsible service.”[1] We recognize this in the word derivatives like ‘amen and ‘emet, but we might not associate the concept with cleanliness and accounting. In Hebrew, faith is seen in action and that action is based on the certainty of God’s words. In other words, if God says it, I do it. That is the Hebrew idea of faith. It is not cognitive rational explanation, a sequence of creedal affirmations or the arrangement of theological categories. Faith is doing what God asks and expects. When I do what God asks, I have faith (I am faithful). When I do not do what God asks, I do not have faith (I am unfaithful). Therefore, it is fairly easy to determine if a man or woman has faith in God. What do they do? Do they act according to God’s instructions or not? If they do, they are faithful. If they don’t, they aren’t.
And it doesn’t much matter what they say about it.
This statement in 2 Kings helps us see the practical outworking of ‘emunah. It wasn’t necessary to ask for an accounting of the donations because these men were known for their faithfulness. They had acted according to God’s instructions in the past and their reputations made further calculations unnecessary. God was their accountant. Other men simply recognized this.
Do you think we could say the same thing about ourselves? Is God our chef? Is He our housecleaner? Is He our landlord, our investment broker, our teacher? All of these roles display ‘emunah if they are in alignment with His words. When others observe our lives, do they see faithfulness in us – a faithfulness that is easily recognizable as God’s hands and feet in the world? Are our actions distinctively different from the culture that cares nothing about God’s purposes? Or do we look the same with a few religious stickers over our lives?
Topical Index: ‘emunah, faith, certainty, 2 Kings 12:15, ‘aman
[1] Jepsen, ‘aman, TDOT, Vol. 1, p. 317.
Thanks for dragging out the old spiritual mirror!
If we’re honest, we each know we could look better.
And we will! . . . as we abide in Him and His Word abides in us.
That’s why He encourages us “to put on the new self, which is
being renewed in the knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
We “put on” in faith. He renews by grace.
Daily, the Vinedresser prunes our fruitless branches. And we die
just a little more.
Together we work as One.
And the world takes a look at us and says:
“I’ll have what he’s/she’s having!”
The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. The Heavens are my Throne and the Earth is my Footstool. Where is the House you build for me? I believe this Vision of The Lord having seen the Truth in it.
I have been ripped off and I don’t like it. I don’t need God, a Court or the Police to tell me it is bad being ripped off. I will suffer it and not take it up and spread it around. That kind of behaviour does not create or add to a more Peaceful, Trusting Society Today or in the Future but breaks it down to destruction.
Even though I take that individual resolve upon myself, it portends bad Times for our Common Future Well Being in this CE world when the prevailing attitude seems to be everybody is doing it, so why not get some?
Thou shalt not steal is good, common sense advice. In my view since the Earth is the Lord’s, if I steal from others, I steal from myself. Coveting a neighbour’s ass also leaves one discontent and short on experiencing the Fulness of The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want…..my cup runs over…… Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the Days of my Life and I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever.
For the Faithful, they will know this experience of the Promises of God Today, in This Life, in This World, and even more and better in the World to come.
How wonderful and glorious a picture TW paints!
Thank You, ABBA for restoring such attributes in us, the Torah followers, then truly what a beautiful world that would be, as it/we were meant to be, a pleasure to You!
I/we look forward to such a day, and that restoration has started, beginning with each one of us who desires to be renewed day by day by YHWH’s emunah, breaking away that which is displeasing to Him,
and that which is not of Him.
Meawhile, Give us the strength to go through trimmings and tribulations while we walk in obedience to Your Torah ways ABBA, Amein!
May ABBA YHWH convict us of what we are to give up and what we are to cherish that we may give a right account to Him, or that we might not have to give account to Him! Wow!
How excellent is Your Name YHWH in all the earth!
To be honost, it isn’t a nice picture I see in this mirror… There is still so much imperfection. But I strive to align my life with Gods instructions. Life’s a school, I have to learn each and every day. The intention is there, but so is the failure. Nevertheless I am His and He has accepted me.