One Verse Too Many
How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? Psalm 62:3 ESV
Attack – The Hebrew word tehotetu is a hapax legomenon, i.e., this is its only occurrence in the Tanakh. What does it mean? Take a guess. NIV – assault. NASB – assail. ESV and NKJV – attack. Wycliffe – fall on. Alter’s Psalms doesn’t even menntion the word. TWOT suggests “shout at.” Whatever the poet had in mind, it wasn’t pleasant. The parallel “batter” is softened considerably. The actual word is terots-tsehu from ratsah which means “to murder.”
This presents us with a significant translation problem. What is the referent for the pronoun “you”? The ESV places the word kul-lekem (all of you) before the verb to make sure that we don’t blame God for this action. Other translations attempt to make similar alterations. But the Hebrew text places kul-lekem after “murder.” That means the word could be attached to the final phrase describing the precarious position of men about to be crushed by a wall. And that implies that the “you” refers to God, not to all other men. Now you see why translators have so much difficulty with this. Does the poet suggest that God attacks and murders men? Does God smash us like a leaning wall or a tottering fence? The parallel to our hapax legomenon is a “purely Hebrew term. It has no cognate in any of the contemporary tongues. . . . The initial use of the root appears in the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:13).”[1] It’s pretty difficult to not acknowledge that this word is tied directly to murder. Perhaps David had the story of Exodus 4:24 in mind when he penned these words. That story has always been a thorn in the side of theologians.
But maybe theology isn’t the issue here. Maybe what David is doing is describing the way the world appears. That would be very Hebraic. Unlike Greek, Hebrew is phenomenological. It speaks about the way things look, not about the hidden spiritual reality. And any observer of the world, in David’s time or our own, certainly would draw the conclusion that God allows His children to go to the slaughter. In fact, an impartial observer might even conclude that God causes His children to be exterminated. Or did you think that the Holocaust was an accident?
David sees the tragic reality of life. The children of the Most High are crushed like ants beneath of boot of world power. Where is the rock God of salvation now? Why do His beloved ones find themselves in the ovens or the mass graves? What is wrong with this place? If God is truly sovereign, does He not bear some responsibility for such tragedies? Is He not murdering His own? No wonder David cries out, “ad-ana’,” “until where.” This is shocking! This is unexplainable! This is an insult to all we hold holy and just! And yet, it continues. If there were ever a time for God to demonstrate His truth and justice, now is that time.
Of course, this is only one verse of the song, but it is almost one verse too many. We don’t want to think of God like this. We reject this line of reasoning. And for good reason. God is good and what He does defines goodness. But sometimes it’s just so hard to see. How can God be good when the world is so bad? The psalmist does not sugarcoat his words. He doesn’t modify his translation of his feelings. Neither should we. Somewhere in this “how long” question we must find an answer about the goodness of God. If we don’t, we live an illusion.
Topical Index: attack, murder, ratsah, justice, goodness, Psalm 62:3
[1] TWOT, #2208a
Above and beyond anything and everything, God demands obedience.
The tragic reality of life David saw was a result of man’s dis-obedience.
It’s the same tragic reality of life we see.
The wall or fence about to crush man is the consequence of his
dis-obedience. It doesn’t happen haphazardly . . . it happens
by man’s free choice. A free gift from a good soverign God.
This good soverign God spells it out plain and simple In Deut 28.
So why would a good soverign God allow this reality of life?
One small quess is that the good of obedience so far outweighs
the bad, that a patient, longsuffering and lovinglykind God
wants everyone to experience the full depths and heights of
this world He created so that, just like the prodical son, they
each can know that they know that they know . . . who He is
and how good He is.
Remember the great all-inclusive plan He gave Abraham: “Go!”
The flesh desires immediate gratification. But to love is to suffer and to wait. Plowing, sowing, watering are back breaking work but the harvest is a long way off. You can foolishly spend your “self” on your self and live for the day to your later regret. Or you can spend your “self” on God and others. More of an investment in the future. Requires hope and faith. This is righteousness. It is love. Suffering also unifies. When you suffer a common experience, even if you have never met the other person, there is a way that you know them to their very core. How do you make a new loaf? take two different grains and grind them together. New wine? Take two different grapes and press them together. New metal? take two different metals and put them in a fiery furnace. New man? Give them a common tribulation. How to reconcile man and woman? Put them in the crucible of marriage. Of course God never asks us to anything he isn’t willing to do first. He never asks us to go it alone. This creation is a crucible, a fiery furnace. But there is one who is with us, one who is like unto the Son of God.
Nothing is recognizable without its opposite – is not goodness defined by badness? (or evil)
There was no tilling in the garden of Eden, only adding to the soil by God Himself. He set up a process by which man could live, yet forever we have chosen to do it our way. We could look at God as being responsible for the horrors of the extermination of His chosen, or we could look at how He has blessed them above any other group of people – More Jews are chosen for the Nobel prize than any other group of people, they account for much of the “wisdom” that exists in the world today, they have wealth, they have creativity beyond any other group of people.
Could we not say to whom much is given much is expected (or perhaps that is really “taken”)? Or maybe the by product of being part of the group that is blessed so much, is that you are also persecuted because you are the “favorite”. Joseph was loved above his brothers by his father, suffered greatly at the hands of his brothers, and yet, was blessed far beyond what they did to him and in the end he was the blessing to them – he saved them. Could we not look at his life as a glimpse of Israel in the world? Ultimately doesn’t God save the world through Israel?
Beautifully said, Jill. Thank you.
“Could we not say to whom much is given much is expected (or perhaps that is really “taken”)?”
Yes we can say this. Y-H’s own words give His chosen people a choice–choose life OR choose cursing. Everything is about choices and human beings have very thick heads at times!
“Nothing is recognizable without its opposite – is not goodness defined by badness? (or evil)”
These are very wise words in my opinion.
“And that implies that the “you” refers to God, not to all other men.”
Hmmm
I cannot judge translations, but I like the one below for the sake of clarity
And, emotionally speaking, it is quite powerful IMO
PSALM 62 – Hebrew Names Version
1 My soul rests in God alone. My yeshu`ah is from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my yeshu`ah, my fortress — I will never be greatly shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man, Would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
5 My soul, wait in silence for God alone, For my expectation is from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my yeshu`ah, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
7 With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are just a breath, And men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath.
10 Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, Don’t set your heart on them.
11 God has spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongs to God.
12 Also to you, Lord, belongs lovingkindness, For you reward every man according to his work.
This reminds me of what I see in Psalm 91.
How would you explain the most remarkable promises in that Psalm in light of the fact that more believers have been martyred in the 20th Century than all previous ones?
We could you look at our position in Christ in the eternal kingdom and say that what happens to this flesh will not be relevant or worthy of comparison. What would you say?
More believer have been martyred because more people are alive now than ever before. Half of the people who EVER lived are alive right now..I wonder if statistically speaking proportionally more people are martyred now or if it is just a greater number of people…Might be something to investigate.
Will it be the goodness of God to those believers who live through the great tribulation? I doubt those who live through those future days will see it as “good” — at least not the way we typically define good. But will it be the goodness of God? Absolutely. Because “God is good and what He does defines goodness.”
I don’t usually like the muck I sometimes have to walk through, but after going through it I can often see how it was “good”. Not that it felt good — I wail and complain in the midst of turmoil “Oh God, are you listening?” I feel as if I’m being beaten down while at my lowest point, like a tottering fence being blasted by a storm. But somewhere in the midst of that strife my soul waits and I breathe in His faithful goodness. “Don’t hold your breath” — breathe. He is my inspiration.
~ But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ ~ (2 Corinthians 11.3)
Talk about “simplification!”..
~ For all of The Written Law is fulfilled in one saying, by this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ~
Now to “flesh it out” a bit..
(v14) ..For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (v15) but if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Bite and devour one another? Backstabbing? Malicious gossip or slander? Among who? Brothers and sisters? What father or (mother for that matter) enjoys a family squabble? Not this dad.. ~ “how good and how pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters!) to live together in unity! ~
~ By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another ~ (John 13.35)
Christ, the GameChanger
~ You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
~ But the goal of our instruction (Torah- God’s instructions to us) is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith ~ (1 Timothy 1.5)
~ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus ~ (Philippians 2.5)
Wow, I appreciate all the inspiring comments.
Rich Pease-
I agree and like what you wrote!
Everything that happens is consequential, our actions and words will bring forth those events.
Brett R-
“Of course God never asks us to anything he isn’t willing to do first. He never asks us to go it alone. This creation is a crucible, a fiery furnace. But there is one who is with us, one who is like unto the Son of God.”
Amein!!! My spirit skipped with joy reading your comment.
Jill-
Absolutely!!! We see what Israel is, and has been, going through, YET, they are so united, maybe not as spiritually, but as a people. The Land itself is so different, you feel it the moment you land. I remember the first time I was there with my home group, the surprise and joy that filled the air was beyond our expectation, for as the plane landed, everyone clapped their hands! We broke out in big SMILES and laughter, clapping hard and loud! An Israeli (“Jewish”) lady asked if this was our first time here, and we answered in a big YES! She gave us her phone number to keep in touch! No where in any country would you find such life-lovingness. New word. 🙂
“….we must find an answer about the goodness of God. If we don’t, we live an illusion.”
We only need to look for the Light at the end of the tunnel. We go through these tunnels quite a bit, but always I remind myself, I will come to the end of that tunnel SOON! But, all the while seeking ABBA for forgiveness if I had done anything outside of His ways, or will.
Anyhow it is the fellowship of His suffering, Yahshua had no transgression, yet He bore the sufferings , but we have been lawless. Thank You, YHWH for Your chesed.
I think it is fairly obvious that God created this world and everyone on it, so that people could choose to believe in Him, and trust Him, or not.
For the choice to “choose this day whom we will serve”, individuals must be given the freedom to live their lives in context of their acceptance or rejection of God, — or better said, it is necessary to allow people to choose to do evil.
Therefore, the evil that happens is not the choice of God, but the choice of free-willed persons who decide to do bad things. It does not make God responsible. This is the cost of not being a robot.
Sometimes it is obvious that God does choose to intervene in a situation when bad things are happening, so we may wonder why He does not every time. But then, I think we’d do well to stop that train of thought else we enter into judgment of God’s decisions, His ways or His reasons/methods. Judging God by our own personal values is simply preposterous! and wicked.
God is the One who has created all things, and He will decide when –and if– He will intervene or not. We get to decide only IF we will TRUST Him in every decision He makes, that what He chooses to do is without doubt the right decision in every case, right down to when a sparrow falls out of the sky.
I used to chew my fingernails when I’d see who God gave a baby to!
Wow, God, You are really putting a small precious being into the hands of that person (or couple)????
But I accept He is right, and since He let me see and fear, now I had a duty to enter into, and He led my heart to frequent prayer for them, when other wise I might have remained cold and not prayed for that couple, but judgmentally let them ‘reap what they sowed’!
Instead then my plea became spare them, lead them into paths of righteousness for Your Name’s sake.
Ha! a baby for them, to melt my hard heart! His ways are beyond finding out!
AMEN, Dorothy! I saw a t-shirt with this writing on it and I think it sums everything up pretty well: “I know 2 things: 1) There is a God. 2) You’re not Him.
None of us can understand the mind of YHVH and it’s not our business to do that. Our work is to obey… to glorify Him.
BTW, you wrote: “I used to chew my fingernails when I’d see who God gave a baby to!”
While that situation drove you to prayer, a situation like that drove us to intervene while in prayer. Today, that “baby” is our 35 yoa daughter! Praise God.