Pilate’s Problem
He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth. Psalm 57:3 NASB
Truth – “What is truth?” the man asked. Pilate’s question is still with us. He was a conventionalist. Truth is what he decided was truth. It was relative. Today we live in the global expanse of Pilate’s view. What is true is what’s true for me.
But that isn’t how God sees it. The Hebrew root, ‘aman, is not about correct thinking but rather about what is reliable, what is firmly established or what is certain in the sense that it is utterly faithful. We should think of the Hebrew idea in its practical application, not in its typical Greek cognitive sense. In other words, truth is what I do, not what I think. The Hebrew idea is summarized in the following: People say what they believe but they do what they value. Hebrew “truth” is about the latter – what I value.
It is important to recognize the connection between hesed and ‘emet. The common construction, hesed y’emet, is considered a hendiadys (which means, “an expression of a single idea by two words connected with ‘and’”). In other words, the idea of hesed is reinforced and repeated in the idea of ‘emet. In Hebrew, hesed is not something separate from or distinguished from ‘emet. Hesed and ‘emet are the same idea expressed in different ways. This is critical. When I say that I am a follower of the way, the truth and the life, I am not expressing three separate things. I am expressing one thing in three words. Just so, my obligation to hesed is not independent of or separated from truth. Truth is hesed because truth not embodied is not truth at all. To be true is to be permanent, reliable and steadfast. God’s hesed is ‘emet, and unless our expression of His covenantal character has the same characteristics, it is not true at all.
OK, so what does this mean for you and me? It means that I show myself to be a child of the King insofar as hesed rules my life. And that means that I must act according to two overwhelming and overarching passions. The first is the infinite debt that I owe to God. This is not merely the debt I accept for the forgiveness and grace He has shown. This is the debt of being! I am not my own creator and therefore I owe my existence to the One who brought me into existence. I owe God my life! It is a debt that everyone carries whether they realize it or not. And it is a debt that can never be repaid, for how would you ever pay back your very existence. The second overwhelming experience is by debt I owe to others. It is “the experience of overwhelming trepidation at the infinite nature of our responsibility for the other.”[1] Hesed is the Hebrew word for both of these debts, and ‘emet is the confirmation that hesed is inescapable. If I am to pay these debts (and that is my obligation as a human being), then I must live my life for others under the covenant of God. Whenever I make choices that exclude the repayment of debt to God or Man, I remove myself from the truth.
Topical Index: truth, ‘emet, hesed, debt, Psalm 57:3
Wow Skip. That is really good. I heard you mention the connection between the two words when I listened to the radio show you did on the station in Oregon. I have a couple questions after listing to that program and also from the TW you did “Clear – So Far” on May 14. When people ask you about your faith, do you tell them you are a Christian, Messianic, or what? That seems to be a problem a lot of us have when we learn that Scripture doesn’t really support some of the Christian doctrines that were developed in opposition to Judaism. I’m just wondering how you handle that question hoping it will help me explain it to other people. Thanks and Shabbat Shalom.
“- then YHVH Elohim formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became A LIVING BEING.” (Gen.2:7)
What a huge point of theology you remind us of today, Skip! As Creator of everything, God has the freedom to do as He wishes, and we have no right to challenge Him – call Him “unfair” or “severe in His Judgments” etc,.
The now widely accepted insidious theory of evolution is so pernicious inasmuch as it inhibits people from realizing the grandeur of accepting God as our Maker and also our Redeemer, or coming to hesed. That is their loss and the believer’s gain!
It is interesting that God gives humanity a second reminder of His ownership of us all. It is found in the Law of Redemption documented in Leviticus 25:47-55> Here we find God giving the right of redemption to a “near kinsman”. The Word considers sin a debt we owe to God. Yahshua is the near kinsman pictured here. This is why we find Paul, James, Peter and others calling themselves bondslaves of Yahshua Messiah. Indeed, we find Paul writing the Corinthians, with a double witness no less!:
“You were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body.” (1Cor.6:20)
“You were bought with a price, do not become slaves of men.” (1Cor 7:23)
My husband and I choose not call ourselves christians, messianics, nor jews. Each label defines a person in the context of false institutions and traditions of men. YHVH called us out of religious doctrine and identity fifteen years ago. In that time we have hosted home groups, yeshiva, and conferences in our area. We’ve learned that people’s need for a label or defined identity comes from greek thinking and tends to stall their ability to walk in Spirit and truth. Seeking an identity stalls the process of seeking first the Kingdom of Yah. The folks that we have met over the years who have sought to identify themselves as messianics usually either lean to chrisitianizing or judiazing their doctrine. Either doctrine has stalled them in the process of becoming new men which is the Bilical example we see in our father Abraham. Abraham’s status, label, and name changed as he walked by faith away from the religious system in Ur of Chaldea toward a place of promise. That place of promise is the example of G-d’s Kingdom on the planet where He desires to dwell with man forever. Fifteen years ago, my husband and I heard G-d’s call for us to leave our religious system to walk by faith toward His Kingdom. As we have sought Kingdom living we are being transformed in truth, and that transformation is salt and light to others. If people are really watching they see our faith in the Way we live, and they no longer need to label us, but rather they seek to know the power which leads us in our everyday challenges. We have experienced this relationship with people from every religious background. Jews consider us brothers and are provoked to know how and why we do what we do. Messianics appreciate our clarity , and Christians are challenged to reconsider their doctrines. We humbly pray that we live as a reflection of Him rather than as a image of man’s need for personal identity. People who observe us see our struggle with choosing to obey what is written in Torah, and at the same time they see the wisdom in our obedience. Walking in His way versus the status of man has not been easy, but we have found great freedom to walk out our sanctification in fear and trembling. Not having an identity label has allowed us to be in the midst of His transforming power to make us new man rather than leaving us in a stagnant condition. People who observe our lives see the freedom and power of the Spirit we live in and that lives in us. We are people of His way, ie: Yah’s Way. I hope my comment is helpful because it is dificult to express being. We pray that we are like Him in His attributes. When we are like Him, no one needs to label us.
If someone needs to define you by labeling you, they don’t really want a relationship with you that will allow for transformation, but rather they want to limit your influence by categorizing you. If you need to label yourself, please surrender yourself to His Ruach h’Kodesh. His truth will set you free from needing a label and so many other things. His truth will guide you in the everlasting way.
Thanks Renee for testifying to making the change from labelling to BEING as our Father originally intended. We can only be if we know and understand who and whose we are. My take in this is that not knowing ones identity and from whom it is sourced could be a contributing factor to finding a label to define ones relationship with Yeshua. So if one is a child of the Almighty all one needs is to BE. For me there is the need to constantly remind myself that I am owned, and that it is a borrowed life. This helps me to know that I have to live it the way the owner wants it to be lived. Has this been easy, not at all. I stumble and fail all the time, but I pick myself up and keep trying to live the kingdom life.
Thanks Skip for this reminder.
Blessings to all
“This is the debt of being! I am not my own creator and therefore I owe my existence to the One who brought me into existence. I owe God my life! It is a debt that everyone carries whether they realize it or not.”
The Hebrews have a better understanding of this as life is precious and cherished in their culture.
It is not “Cheers!” but “l’chaim!” (to life) at celebrations.
It is also the reason for the Fourth Commandment- honour your parents-as our existence comes from them, i.e. if we appreciate our existence, in spite of poverty, neglect, or abuse?
“Whenever I make choices that exclude the repayment of debt to God or Man, I remove myself from the truth.” This emet should shake us, as it struck me. Often times I get rebuked for wasting time doing good to folks who seemingly do not appreciate the act, but we don’t know, do we, if down the road that act would do something to the receiver, when ABBA brings it to mind?
And indeed, those acts did reap such rewards down the years as I am reminded of the help/counsel/time I had given them.
chesed v’emet works together!
To identity issue-I need to identify myself as a Bible Believer, so honour will be given to ABBA YHWH.
Shalom!
What is truth? No, – not at all. Truth, absolute truth is not a what, but a “who!” Who has said, “I AM the Way-the Truth and the Life?” Verily-verily, amen-amen I say unto you, The Truth, the utterly faithful and reliable ‘aman, was a man. (amen!), and there He was “Truth Incarnate” standing right before the blind eyes and deaf ears of Pilate.
No Pilate, in order to get the right answer to any question, the right question must first be asked, and Truth is not a “what,”- but a “Who!”
~ The Word became flesh and made His dwelling (tabernacled) among us.~ (John 1.14)
Names (in Hebrew) have meaning? Wonderful!
~ And He wore a garment soaked with blood, and His Name is called The Word of God ~
(Revelation 19.13)
~ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body ~ (Colossians 2.9)
~ Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him ~ (Proverbs 30.5)
~ For You have magnified Your word above all Your Name ~ (Psalm 138:2)
~ Father, sanctify them by Your truth, because Your Word is truth ~ (John 17.17)
To the Greeks, “truth” is an abstract concept.
In contrast, Yeshua makes Truth personal when he declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Which is why Paul could declare to the Greeks on Mars Hill, that their “unknown” God was the one who created all things, and therefore in him they lived, and moved, and had their being.