Variations on a Theme
The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. Psalm 145:17 ESV
Kind – David’s declaration answers several questions. First, it answers the question, “Why does God let these terrible things happen?” David declares that the question itself is misinformed. YHWH is righteous in all His ways. Tsaddiq entails that every act of God is just, lawful and righteous. The question misunderstands who God is. The question assumes that we can measure what God does according to a standard apart from God. “These terrible things” assumes that such things fall outside of the purposes of God. David reminds us that nothing falls outside of God’s purposes. The answer to the first question is: “God’s purposes are served in whatever happens even if we cannot understand how this is true.”
The second question arises from noticing that David distinguished between God’s ways and God’s works. “Does God actually cause all these bad things to happen?” David asserts that all that happens can be bent to serve God’s purposes but that is not the same as saying that God causes or wills all that happens. Nothing happens that God cannot use, but God’s direct actions are characterized by a different Hebrew term. That term is hasid. YHWH is hasid in all His works (ma’aseh). From the verb ‘asa, the term for works covers everything that God Himself fashions, accomplishes or does. God can use anything, even those choices that violate His intentions. But when it comes to what God Himself does, all His actions demonstrate hasid.
And where does hasid come from? The root is a familiar idea – hesed. Everything that God does is characterized by hesed. What does this mean? The idea of hesed answers the third question: “What are the kinds of things that God directly does?” What we discover is that everything God directly does involves relationship, reciprocity, transitivity and deliberate performative intention. What God does always involves some relationship connection, even if it as minimal as the connection between Creator and creation. What God does always entails reciprocal obligation. Everything God creates is expected to fulfill its intended purpose. What God does always produces a chain reaction (transitivity). Nothing exists independently of the rest of God’s handiwork. All purposes are intertwined. And finally what God does is always deliberate and intentional. There are no accidents with God, no unanticipated surprises, no serendipitous occurrences. Hesed operates within the framework of sovereignty.
Perhaps you have succumbed to the false idea that fate or luck or simply bad karma has caused you turmoil. Not so, says David. Even your disobedience can be worked into God’s purposes. And God’s deliberate actions always fulfill His purposes. That’s what it means to be sovereign. Nothing happens that cannot move us toward Him and nothing He does will ever violate who He is. This leaves us with just one more question: “Why do I have so much trouble just resting in His care for me?”
Topical Index: kind, hasid, hesed, ma’aseh, work, Psalm 145:17
Because I am so wrapped up in my own ability and thinking somehow I am ultimately the one who will carry things out. I have the mentality of the children of Isreal when they got the report from the ten spies who went into the promised land. Oh Yaweh deliver me from grasshopper mentality.
Wonderful teaching, Skip.
In my early years as a saved believer,
I was always trying to imagine how I was to become less,
and He was to become more.
How does this happen?
How would I ever learn to depend on His care when I
was doing such an adequate job myself?
But let’s hear it for time and wisdom.
Not to mention a lot of patient work by His indwelling
Holy Spirit who guided me incessantly into His Word.
Now, a mere 35 years later, along with 35 years of willing
and sometimes sputtering obedience, His ways are indeed
starting to find their way into my ways!
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Mat 6:10
Just give it time.
And, believe me, there’s nothing quite like lying down in green pastures
beside those still waters!!!
Why do I have so much trouble just resting in his care?I have found that following torah comes at a cost.When I discover a command that I should have been following all along,and I start doing it,the cost to my comfort can be high.(Hashem never promised us a rose garden)When we pay a price for our obedience,we are allowed to show our love to Hashem.We are allowed to demonstrate Hessed.
What an amazing definition of life: relationship, reciprocity, transitivity, and deliberate performative intention. A life drenched in the goodness and purposes of God. Just beautiful! Thanks Skip.
“David asserts that all that happens can be bent to serve God’s purposes but that is not the same as saying that God causes or wills all that happens. ”
This is very inspiring, knowing full well that YHWH is in control over every difficult situation, turning them to fulfill His purposes, assuring us not to be anxious in the face of the darkness ahead, and in the circumstances we may be presently encountering.
We learn to rest in, and wait upon Him, relying on Him! YHWH is our help and strength!
Greetings Skip –
Long time no posting here, but as usual, you have done an outstanding job of making scripture come to life. Thank you.
Yes, although I have not posted in a long while, I do not ignore your contributions to my in-box. So, this note is to let you know: Please keep up the good work God has called you to.