Leadership Quality
David went out to meet them, and said to them, “If you come peacefully to me to help me, my heart shall be united with you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look on it and decide.” 1 Chronicles 12:17 NASB
No wrong – What do you look for in a leader? How do you measure the quality of your own leadership? Before you answer, you might want to consider David’s statement. In Hebrew, he says that he has lo hamas bekappay – literally, “no violence on his hands.” That seems an incredible statement from a man who led Israel to war. David claims that his actions have not been “wrong.” But in what sense is this possible? TWOT offers the needed explanation. “It may be noted, however, that the word ḥāmās in the ot is used almost always in connection with sinful violence. It does not refer to the violence of natural catastrophes or to violence as pictured in a police chase on modern television. It is often a name for extreme wickedness. [1] Violence directed by God is not sin. Why is that the case? Because good is defined by what God does, and if God directs men to take violent action, then that action is not evil but good.
This Middle-Eastern Semitic understanding of hamas is critical to comprehending what David said in the 10th century BC and what Islam believes in the 21st century CE. If actions are directed by God, they are not evil or sinful no matter what they may be.
Most Westerners cannot imagine such a definition. That’s because Western culture has a completely different view of good and evil. In the West, good is determined by the rational assessment of the balance of benefits between the state (the society) and the individual. Good is a function of the legal mind. It is more or less determined by majority opinion tempered by the general needs of the populace. The idea that violence solely based on the will of God can be considered good even if it involves the wholesale extermination of entire populations is abhorrent to Western thought. But it is central to Middle-Eastern thought. Now you know why a peace settlement of compromise by both parties is unthinkable in the Middle-East. To compromise is to sin!
David’s statement not only sheds light on the motivation behind modern terrorism, it also helps us recognize the qualifications of leadership. A person who does not embrace the direct will of God is not a biblical leader. When David says that there is no hamas on his hands, he is not saying that he has never done a violent act. He is saying that his actions have all been directed by the Lord. He has lived in compliance with the will of God. That, and only that, is what qualifies him as a worthy leader. You might ask yourself if you are following such a person. Can a man or woman qualify as a “godly” leader if that person rejects, ignores, refuses or rewrites what God has revealed?
Topical Index: lo hamas, no wrong, violence, good, leadership, 1 Chronicles 12:17
[1] Harris, R. L. (1999). 678 חָמַס. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (297). Chicago: Moody Press.
What a coincidence, Walid Shoebat’s great article today also discusses this important subject! http://shoebat.com/2013/06/14/is-jesus-anti-war-rand-pauls-schizophrenic-god/
Thanks for the link!
King David claims “no violence on his hands.” Is this an absolute statement?
Was King David’s order Uriah the Hittite be put at the front of the battle line with the probable certainty he would be killed so David could have his wife not a violent act or at least a conspiracy?
2 Samuel 11
2 Samuel 11-12
You bring up good questions about King David, questions that we all should be asking and seeking answers.
1. If King David committed adultery, why did God call him righteous?
2. King David and Beersheba both should have been stoned to death according to Torah law.
3. Solomon would have never been King of Jerusalem because he was a product of adulterous relationship.
4. King David would have lost his leadership and trust of the people that he demanded to keep Torah law that he seemed to have broken.
I heard a teaching of Rena Richman, wife of Rabbi Chaim Richman, on this subject from the Oral Torah and other Jewish writings that gave great insight to these questions about King David. There is strict copyrights to this material and so I am very careful with this info but will give you the link to this teaching which I think you and others might find interesting.
According to Oral Torah, King David set a decree to the city, that all men going into battle would be given a divorce from their wives because the law stated that if a man left his wife and could not be found, she could not remarry because she would still be his wife forever and could not remarry. Now, if her husband was dead, without proof of a body she still could not remarry. So, technically, King David was not committing adultery with Beersheba. He morally sinned as the prophet Nathan later showed him through God, and he paid dearly all of his life for his mistakes, but nevertheless, he was a man after God’s own heart and this is what God calls righteous.
This is why I study Torah and the writings to the best of my ability. This is the blueprint of life and all of the practical, common sense daily living instructions that we need to know, like King David, to understand what is right and good before God’s eyes, not mans.
http://www.templeinstitute.org/multimedia.ht
Robin,
Twice I’ve heard Rena Richman speak in person. I’m glad to know that someone else on this blog knows of her. Her teaching is excellent. Thanks for including the link.
Shalom
Jesus’ genealogy, revealed in Matthew, –long years afterwards–, God, the Author, makes it a point that Solomon is “the son of Bathsheba, who had been Uriah’s wife”
“… technically, King David was not committing adultery with Beersheba”
What does 2 Sam. 11: 3 say? “And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
Then how about the Psalm of repentance (51), written shortly after his affair with Bathsheba?
You are not being taught truth.
“You are not being taught truth.”
You mean ‘your’ truth, or ‘the’ truth?
Read the Scriptures you trust in all the languages you know and decide for yourself, and live your life accordingly.
You said she was not being taught truth. What was not true?
Dorothy,
The solders would give their wives a decree of divorcement before a battle and as soon as they returned home they would be married again. That way, the wives could re-marry and produce children instead of being alone and barren for the rest of their lives in case their husbands were killed in battle without evidence of a dead body according to the law. (Common sense) The whole population of Jerusalem would have been wiped out if no children were produced because of the young married women left childless and without a chance of ever becoming married again)
What does 2 Sam. 11: 3 say? “And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
In the above scripture that you quoted, did you ever ask yourself who was Uriah the Hittite and what was he doing living in the City of David married to a daughter of Jerusalem? It all ties together when you start digging for the answers. (by the Way, you should never ask yourself a question, you will get the wrong answer every time)
Thanks.
Okay, I’ll take you up on your suggestion — I am asking you to straighten this mess out.
After David did his deed, and then called Uriah from battle and was hoping he would go home sleep with his wife, …I must mean, “go sleep with his ex-wife”… , what Scripture says Uriah re-married his wife? (Well, okay, for the sake of working thru this, we will continue to assume he did remarry her.)
Then, I guess Uriah and Bathsheba would have ‘re-divorced’ again prior to David sending Uriah back to battle (because, after all, if that was the custom or rule……they must have.)
All this divorce and remarriage was sort of thumbing their noses in God’s face in a heathen way, since we know God hates divorce.
Its making even LESS sense now, for here is a Scripture that clearly says,
“When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased The Lord.”
(Looks like a fairly messy-mess, — this trying to weave fables into Scripture.)
What punishment did the Lord God inflict upon David for his lying, adultery, and murder?
2 Samuel 12
Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and has taken his wife to be your wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house; because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them unto your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For you did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
The marriage commitment is to last as long as they both shall live (1 Cor. 7:39).
Robin, I do know that you sincerely believe that story, but I don’t see support for it anywhere.
* * *
Your question: I don’t know. Probably Uriah the Hittite either joined himself to the nation through conversion or his family had at some point in order for him to be allowed to marry a Jewess and be a high officer in the military.
I don’t go chasing after the point where Scripture stops recording. If the ‘why’ of is in my Bible, give me chapter and vs. I don’t recall.
— goodnight, Dorothy
1Cr 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. If joining your body to a harlot creates one flesh, how much more the King and a daughter of Israel?
David’s first child with Bathsheba died. Maybe that was because he could not sit the throne of Israel. But the two became one flesh at that time, as the above scripture says, and when David went in to comfort her after the death of the child, Solomon was conceived.
2 Sa 12:24-25 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.
This says Bathsheba is his wife and the LORD loved Solomon and sent word by His prophet to call his name Jedidiah which means beloved of the LORD.
Do we need to revise our ideas of what God calls husband and wife? No manmade ceremony. Just God’s joining as one flesh.
I would really like to see an engaged discussion of this;
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
(false, hypocritical religion of the devil in Judaism, Christianity & Islam)
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth (Pope, Presidents, Prime Ministers, CEOs, Super Rich, popular IDOLS of the people and others) and of the whole world, (the rest of us) to gather them to the Battle of that great day of God Almighty.
(Middle East-World War III-Armageddon)
Behold, I come as a thief.
(when you least expect it while texting and playing games)
Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
(derived from Har Mediggo, located in Roman occupied Palestine when the term was revealed 2000 years ago, but now located in Israel re-created from the Bible)
“For they are the spirits of devils”
Some Christians think they will be physically removed from the earth just before all hell breaks loose on earth for the ‘unsaved sinners’ in Christian terminology or ‘infidels’ in Muslim terminology.
To me that is such an illogical belief. Christians are supposed to be illuminating the world and preventing the devil driven Armageddon from happening.
And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth
Revelation 11:18
Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.
Revelation 12:12
How does one differentiate between the wrath of God and the wrath of the devil?
Will God answer this prayer of Jesus?
I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil.
John 17:15
Ray J — one small part I’d like to speak on.
John 17: 15 is not connected with the rapture.
YES, He does and HAS answered this prayer to keep us from evil, enticement, and being overcome by the evil in the world and the plots against us from evil men and evil spirits alike. He wants His presence here to be a holding back the power of full-fledged evil. Those who belong to Him pray and thus resist the evil that would flood the world rapidly except for the Blessed Influence residing in the believer.
What a glorious announcement: “I pray for them”
Up to then Christ had shielded His disciples, but now, like a dying parent, or one who must make a long journey and will be some time before He returns, He commends them to His Heavenly Father’s care.
He was soon to go, but He didn’t wish His disciples removed then, or now. That is the reason God doesn’t immediately remove us and take us to be with Him as soon as we are saved and secure in His arms of love.
The purpose for His leaving them on earth instead of taking them with Him to glory at that time is the same as the reason we are here.
They had far to go in spreading Christ’s glory and the knowledge of Him, far to go in sanctification, and miles to travel to tell of the hope of Resurrection and eternal life.
He wants these things spread throughout the world, He does not pray this for the world, but for those who belong to Him and to the Father. He does love the world John 3: 16, but the world is filled with much evil, and we need His protection to live, and be, and remain in Him. We are far too weak to be left without this help.
Thank You, Jesus, for Your intercession taking place even at this moment.
*like!*
Dorothy, the thing that impresses me about the Scripture is the words and imagery fit situations Today as much as they did when they were written so long ago.
Obviously we do not see eye to eye on this on this one issue, and I am still persuaded John 17:15 discounts any possibility of a “Rapture” The words are explicit in my understanding of words.
Some people look at the 10 commandments as “Commandments” when in fact, with the indwelling Spirit of Christ, they become fulfilled “Promises,” differentiating the Believer from the People of this world. We are in the world, but not of the world.
We are on a mission, as co-heirs with Christ, to help save this world even the Atheists can see may be on the Road to Destruction. I can see this in this world. Can’t you?
Again, we need to check Skip’s articles on “the rapture” and also go online and do a search on “rapture 1830’s”. This and the “Left Behind” culture is a very late development in Christianity, that seems to have started when some teenage Catholic mystic, sometimes reported to levitate a few feet above the ground, described this rapture theory from her vision somewhere around 1830. It continued to grow got picked up by many churches and some theologians, and the recent Left Behind mania further endorsed it. Biblical? Don’t think so.
You have been fooled if you think talk of rapture started only in the 1830s.
Besides, I’m NOT discussing the rapture here in this post, — nor have I said what I think about it, for or against, so “No, –don’t know who you are debating with or about what exactly” since I already clearly said John 17: 15 is NOT about the rapture.
For instance, what if someone thought John 17: 15 was about giant killer tomatoes from Mars, and I posted “its not about killer tomatoes from Mars.” Would you need to engage to deny them?
If you wish to discuss the rapture, I can.
Sorry, Dorothy. I only responded to your remark on “the rapture” because you stated it as if it was an established Biblical fact, not a theological error produced from a much later time period. Here is a link to a brief synopsis of “rapture theology” that could be a good place to start research on your own: http://preachersinstitute.com/2011/05/20/rapture-theologys-ominous-origins/ You will see from this article and thousands of others like it, that theories of similar style were advanced in the 1500’s; Luther contributed; then the 1830’s “trance” actually picked up the name of the “rapture theology.”
I too grew up in evangelical churches, using King James Bibles (with all of the bias, glosses, mistranslations and errors) and was very frustrated to learn that I had adopted many flawed doctrines of men, mostly because neither the theologians or the congregations understood the Hebrew language and worldview that formed the first century sect of Judaism called “the Way” — the one which Yeshua taught and walked out, the faith that was delivered to the Saints. We are all still in the process of learning, and if we are not willing to question the doctrines of men that we have been taught from our pulpits, don’t we risk falling into the category that Skip mentioned in the last line of the above article, a person who “rejects, ignores, refuses or rewrites what God has revealed?”
Thank you, Donna. I really do respect you as a fellow pilgrim in this journey below, I even find it very easy to like you. I wish we could have a cup of tea together.
I know you are trying to show me the way, and to guide me, and with pure intentions.
But the Holy Spirit has been given to me for that.
It is you directing me to the words of man, while I lean on the eternal Words of Life in Scripture. God is able to watch over His Words and His sheep. I am very well acquainted with His Voice.
Disprove the catching away in Scripture, then we will have a point to talk from, but don’t use men’s words to try to do it.
Whether the catching away is true or not, the fact is, I am quite content with whatever befalls
me. I have no worries, He loves me, He is in control and in charge of my life and I don’t want the reigns. God has provided many ways of escape for me in many situations.
He “saves the day” as the Mighty mouse cartoon used to sing. Jesus saves always. Jesus saves. No, you will not be ashamed, no, you need not fear, tho He delay, He’s never late, Jesus cares for me and for you.
ALWAYS
My foes are many, they rise against me
But I will hold my ground
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
Troubles surround me, chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
I’ll take a stab at this brother Ray. (what will this babbler say?)
Armegeddon is going to happen. There will be ~a gathering of nations against the LORD and His anointed ~ This is prophecy or things that are yet to be or to come into being. Christ will return again (I’ll be back!) to this very planet where He was born in a barn in Bethlehem. He came the first time as a Lamb, but this next time is going to be (searching for the correct Hebrew term…) WoW!- the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
First the Lamb- next the Lion. Armies will assemble together- it will be the “us vs them” event of all the ages- for this is the beginning of the end! This, is as good a place as any to ask- “Which side are you (Carl E.) going to be on?” I will be there and I will be lined up behind our LORD and ready also to be an eye-witness what comes next..
He will (utterly) destroy them with a sword that comes out of His mouth! (I’m starting to palpitate!) Who will be destroyed and why? All who line up against Him.. Utter nonsense and futility- wouldn’t you say? ~ For who can stand before the LORD? ~ None that I know of,- this is why I quickly bow the knee!
Let us review a tiny “glimpse of glory” when Judas betrayed Him with a kiss and the soldiers came against Him to carry Him off- they asked.. Are you the Christ? His answer? (don’t miss this kids!) “I AM.”
I love John 18.6 – it is one of my (many) favorite verses in our Bible.
~ When Jesus said to them, “I Am (He),” they drew back and fell to the ground ~
What happened when our Savior spoke? Yes?
and what happened when our Savior spoke His Name? ” I AM ? ”
There is such strength in the Name of the LORD!! (what is that Hebrew word?) – wOw!
Do you know tHis Name?
I love these words from the Aramaic Bible: ~ And when Yeshua said to them, “I AM THE LIVING GOD”, they went backward and fell to the ground ~ What were the words Peter confessed to Christ? ~ “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God!” Was our LORD Jesus pleased with Peter’s confession? Yes?- No?
I know our Savior never makes mistakes, but I can’t help but feel our Master maybe muttered.. (oops!)
Oh, if only He would have told them “I AM He”- but then again- He did! He tried so hard to tell them, but they would not listen. How could they possibly have missed the message, when the God’s own Messenger (the Messiah) Himself was speaking? I just don’t know.. Many today still refuse to hear Him..
“talk to the hand,”- “no God,” they say. There is a Biblical name for these people found in Psalm 14.1
But on that day, when the armies are assembled- He will destroy them with a sharp sword that proceeds out of His mouth- and He will destroy them – the very same way He created them- by speaking. He speaks and it is a “done deal.” ~ Just speak the word and my servant will be healed. ~
And friends- you tell me- what happened when Jesus spoke the word? Oh, -when the Living Word speaks the written word- mighty miracles are manifest! Go and tell John.. remind John of what he has “both” seen and heard and witnessed- up close and personal- and perhaps then John will remember and rejoice and be renewed and refreshed- even in a this (less than stellar) prison cell. I just gotta wonder- was John smiling as he laid down his life? Did He know? Did John die peacefully? Send word unto John the Baptist and the beloved.
In the beginning.. God spoke. He spoke, and this world came into being. Step by step and in orderly fashion- YHWH created this green planet by speaking. Such mighty- awesome power- (we are all clueless) but when God speaks. Yes? No? Remember the One who spoke to the storm? “Shalom!- be still..”
But on that day One who is mounted upon a white horse will speak and it will not be speaking to create life, but to destroy. One Man- one word- done. Instantaneous and widespread destruction by One Man speaking. Life- amen. Death- amen. Spoken by the Amen of YHWH, son of man AND Son of God.
~ For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us ~ (2 Corinthians 1.20)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHtZftj3K9E
Carl, the interesting thing about Revelation 19/11 is contrary to the propagated imagery of Heaven being such a peaceful perfect place, as soon as a Believer gets there, you have to saddle up and go to war against the kings of the earth. Who are they Today? The Pope, Presidents, Prime Ministers, CEOs, the Rich and other Idols of the people?
Looking into Today’s world, I believe a Spiritual war is already underway in the Middle East between Shia and Sunni Islam and Judaism. It sometimes appears to me Western materialistic Christianity is dithering, giving the Lord lip service, but the hearts not into facing the difficult struggles ahead.
Perhaps I have an unrealistic Faith in Christ as Savior of the individuals, Jew and Gentile, Male or Female, Free or Bond, who make up this world Today.
I believe the following Scripture and it gives me hope Armageddon will not happen even though the Book clearly and unequivocally says Armageddon is the work of the devil and his agents. It looks like its shaping up on this material world’s horizon after 2000 years.
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but you can not discern the signs of the times?
A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
Matthew 16
Nineveh was considered the world City, symbolizing the earth as we have in fact and reality evolved into a Global Village with instantaneous communication. WE know what is happening all over this world as it happens live. There is no excuse to be ignorant of the world we live in any longer. Unfortunately to many, the earth is still without form and void with darkness still upon the face of the deep things of God and Life.
Jonah was given a mission. God said, paraphrasing, Nineveh is getting corrupt and messed up, and if they don’t repent, reform or change their ways, they will self-destruct. Go and tell them that!
WE know the story. Jonah didn’t want to do that just like most of the people prefer to be remain oblivious to the sorry state of the world Today. He tried to get away until he was cornered with no escape. He had no choice anymore.
We know Jonah was angry. He warned the people of Nineveh as he was instructed to but Jonah was still angry. He wanted to see Armageddon come and the world City destroyed. There are more Jonah like characters in this world than ever before.
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
And God said to Jonah, Do you well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
Then said the LORD, You had had pity on the gourd, for the which you had not laboured, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
Let all those that seek You Rejoice and be Glad in You: let such as Love Your Salvation say continually, The LORD be Magnified.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: From 19/11 to 9/11
August 28, 2011
http://ray032.com/2011/08/28/the-revelation-of-jesus-christ-from-1911-to-911/
wow!!! This completely puts me in a new frame of mind..David was a true leader, am I?
Psa 149:6 [Let] the high [praises] of God [be] in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
Psa 149:7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, [and] punishments upon the people;
Psa 149:8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Psa 149:9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all His saints.
Praise YHWH.
Violence directed by YAH is not sin. Why is that the case? Because good is defined by what YAH does, and if YAH directs men to take violent action, then that action is not evil but good. Amein!
We have got to remind ourselves YAH is greater than we are (Brad Scott), and He knows better, would we dare to challenge Him? His ways are higher than ours, His thoughts are not our thoughts.
Like when we discipline our kids, they have no comprehension of what we do, we place them in a safe surrounding fenced in for their own good, it is not to punish them, when we say do not run onto the road.
ABBA YHWH sees way ahead of us. I feel safe in that assurance.
“If actions are directed by God, they are not evil or sinful no matter what they may be.”
This can be abused in the wrong minds too, for their “god” is not one of justice and righteousness, nor cherish life.
“What we end up with is exactly what the Prophet Yishaiyahu 5:20 says… namely, Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Hi Robin-
that is good, thank you! We do not understand what the cultural context was, and how that could happen. But if YHWH says he is a man after His heart, Amein! We do know he was punished severely losing their first born, and he cried out to ABBA in deep repentence -Ps 51
You are so right Ester! If we could only have longing to follow after God’s heart as King David.
Psalms 119
Dalet) CJB
25 I lie prostrate in the dust;
revive me, in keeping with your word.
26 I told you of my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your laws.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wonders.
28 I am melting away from anxiety and grief;
renew my strength, in keeping with your word.
29 Keep deceitful ways far from me,
and favor me with your Torah.
30 I choose the way of trust;
I set your rulings [before me].
31 I cling to your instruction;
Adonai, don’t let me be put to shame!
32 I will run the way of your mitzvot,
for you have broadened my understanding.
Hi Robin,
That is beautifully!
How about these verses from the Jerusalem Bible :- ) :
My soul cleaves to the dust
revive me according to Your word,
I have declared my ways and You did hear me
teach me Your statutes.
Make me to understand the way of Your precepts
so I will talk of Your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for heaviness
strengthen me according to Your Word.
Remove from me the way of falsehood
and graciously bestow Your Torah upon me.
I have chosen the way of truth
Your judgements have I laid before me
I have held fast to Your testimonies
O YHWH put me not to shame.
I will run the way of Your commandments
For therein You do enlarge my beart.
Shalom and blessings.
Apologies for typo errors. 😉
ought to be ‘heart’.