The Consequences of Indecision
I hate those who are double-minded, but I love Your law. Psalm 119:113 NASB
Double-minded – Who is the double-minded man? You might think that it is the person who just can’t decide, the one who seems constantly torn between alternatives. Years ago a friend of mine called this person (referring to me, by the way) a man with a Messiah complex, that is, a man who thinks he should be able to do everything and as a result is unwilling to give up anything. That didn’t work out too well. But is this the kind of person David has in mind? I don’t think so.
In order to understand what David means, we must first notice that this entire section of his poem deals with the love of God’s instructions in contrast with the influence of the wicked. In his alphabet acrostic, this is the section where every Hebrew line begins with a samech. That alone is significant since the pictograph of samach is a coiled serpent, “what surrounds.” Both visually and phonetically, this section of David’s poem is about being surrounded by Torah. With this in mind, now we can examine “double-minded.”
The Hebrew is se’afim, from se’ef. The etymology is difficult. This word occurs nowhere else in Scripture. It is variously translated as “transgressors” (LXX), “wicked” (Vulgate), “hypocritical people,” “unstable waverers,” and “duplicity.” No matter what words we use to capture the meaning of se’afim, it is quite clear that these people stand in opposition to God’s Torah. David expresses hate or scorn for their stance but extols love of the Law.
Now we see that the translation “double-minded” may lead us toward a cultural misunderstanding. For us, “double-minded” means something like “indecisive.” The cure for this condition is purposeful choice. “Just make up your mind,” we are apt to say. But this is not what David suggests. In David’s view, any decision made in opposition to or ignorance of God’s instruction is se’ef. It is not indecisiveness that is the problem. It is disobedience. The “double-minded” man is the man who does not live according to the Law. He may be perfectly adept at decision-making. In fact, he may be a towering example of executed choices, a model of the self-made man, a hero in the culture. But if he does not conform his actions to the will of God expressed in the Law, he is nothing but waves tossed to and fro on the sea. Oh, that should help you understand James’ comment about the double-minded man. In Hebrew thought, there is no indecision. There is only obedience or disobedience. The only one who truly does not know what to do is the one who has not asked.
According to David, those who decide not to follow Torah are the worst examples of inhuman purposelessness. They have chosen death whether they know it or not. For them, life is evaporating at breakneck speed. And David wants no part of them.
Topical Index: double-minded, Psalm 119:113, law, Torah, se’afim, se’ef
This is good news, Skip. “Did I make the right decision? Was it the best I could do? What if I was wrong?” Indecision is painful. But disobedience is deadly. Realizing God knows the heart, and if my heart’s aim is to obey Him, I don’t have to wonder if I “made the right decision.” I can rest assured knowing God will make my obedience turn out okay.
Worth It All!!
I have decided to follow Jesus. Which one (you may ask?) The very One, the only One who died for me in agony and blood upon the tslav, the cross, the execution stake of Calvary. Was (this) Jesus Jewish? Better than that!-For this Perfect One remains Jewish-through and through (totally) Jewish and fully human. Jesus (who is the) Christ is “both” God and Man. His words from His own lips- “follow Me.”
First, He is my Savior. But it does not end here. No. Not at all. He is also my LORD. He is “both” LORD and Savior. Savior of the Jews AND (or but..- your choice) Savior of the Gentiles also. We have discussed for some time now two “classes” of people- The Jew and the Gentile. Which one am I? – Neither one of these is what matters. If you (or I) are Jewish by our first birth- then this is the “culture”- maybe even “religion” we will grow up in. If you (or I) are Catholic or Atheist (for that matter)-then this is the culture or “religion” we “grow up” in..
Oh, this is so good! And so true! “Christianity is NOT a religion- it is a relationship!”
Enter Christ. No one, no, not one listens anymore.. ~ whoever has ears, let him hear ~ If any man, (Jew or Gentile- male or female) be *in Christ* he (or she) is a new creature. There is not two “classes” of people (we are, it seems always attempting to classify each other!) but three! The Jew, the (oh so pagan) Gentile, and the (oh, don’t use the word “Christian”-little Christ, please!), but the more “correct(?)” Follower of the Way.. The disciples (His talmudim) were first called “Christians” in Antioch. Remember?
Yes, there is always the danger of the “cultural” Christ. Jesus (according to who?) Some are offended by even the name “Jesus”- preferring the title “Yeshua”- after all – He is (and remains) a Jew. But even this “more gooder” (more correct) Name is still not sufficient- for His Name, -tHis Name is the Name of salvation to (who?)- Friend,- it is the Name of salvation to.. (are you listening?) to “whosoever will.”
Do we (even) think this perfect God-Man, died on Calvary’s tree for the Jew only? or for the Gentile only? Mr. (or m’am) this Man died for sinners! Tell me (please, if you will)- Who is a sinner? I know the answer. It is the person staring back at me in the mirror. Isn’t it strange how we willingly ignore the scriptures (yes, the Torah of YHWH)- “ALL” have sinned? Are there any, any at all, who have NOT transgressed the Torah? ~ He who offends in (just) one point is guilty of all! ~ Even Nicodemus, a highly respected member of his community and a very moral and “religious” man was instructed by our Savior, the Son of Man, “you must be born from Above!”
Have we lost our (for lack of better vocabulary) our “sin-sensitivity?” What is sin? Sin is transgression of the Law (or Torah). BTW, ~ the Law (Torah) of the LORD is perfect, – but we are not! There is (just a reminder) ONLY One (fully) Torah obedient Person ever to have lived!
So as not to “offend” anyone, may we from this point forward, refer to Him as the Lamb of (or from) God? Is He (or is He not) the Sent One?- and yes, the question remains for us: ~Who is the (resurrected) LORD that I should obey Him? Is He (now) King of all kings? and.. LORD of all lords?
The Jews (so say the scriptures) require a sign.. A sign was placed above His thorn-crowned head written in three languages ( not Hebrew only)- This is ______ King of the Jews. Here’s your sign.
But a (much) greater sign than this was yet to be displayed. For not only was the Lamb from God nailed to the cross and then raised to hang between Heaven and Earth, and not only did He with His last breath utter these words: “it is finished,”- but three days later another sign was given.
The stone was rolled away. Is this all? No. Not at all. The veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. There are (at this moment) things “happening” which have never happened before! ~ Come, see the place where our LORD lay! ~
~ But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.…~ ( 1 Corinthians 15.20)
But, right here it is impossible for this Man who was “very” dead to be “alive again!” Oh?
(The bad news)
~ And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.…Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.…
(any good news?)
*But God,* (how I love these two words! *but God!* being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,…even when we were dead in our transgressions, has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),…(Ephesians 2.5)
From death to life!- Is there a Hallelujah in the house?
Here is Rabbi Sha’ul’s testimony to King Agrippa: …”And I said, ‘Who are You, LORD?’ And the LORD said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,… (??) Wow!! Everywhere Paul went, either a riot or a revival!
(2 Corinthians 11.24-26) …Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. (why?) Three times I was beaten with rods, (why?) once I was stoned, (why?) three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;…
Wow, Paul! -sounds wonderful!- Where do I join up? And what is Paul’s answer to “all this?” (All this, – and Heaven too?)
Treasures in Jars of Clay (This Old House)
(2 Corinthians 4.16-17) … ~ Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal ~
Yes, Paul. It will be. Worth it all!
“In David’s view, any decision made in opposition to or ignorance of God’s instruction is se’ef.”
So are you saying, in making decisions, being ignorant of God’s instruction is evil? Like, being ignorant of what God’s law says is the same as opposing God’s law?
What I am saying is that doing what is not in alignment with God is evil even if we don’t realize it at the time. Doing what IS in alignment with God is good because He says it is. Most people today are simply ignorant of God’s instructions in detail because they have been taught that those instructions do not apply and/or all they need is the Holy Spirit to guide them. Sometimes they actually do what is in alignment without realizing it, but when they don’t (thinking that their actions are OK), they sin without knowing it. And that is why there are sacrifices in Leviticus.
I agree. We are ignorant because we choose not to spend time in God’s Word.
Thank you for your ministry. It has given me a greater desire to seek God’s word and your articles help me to understand the importance of studying the original intent of the scriptures.
And so, the sacrifices are what kept the Israelites in constant awareness of their inability to keep God’s law. Now that Christ has redeemed us, sins forgiven, what keeps us in constant awareness of our need for a Savior? Isn’t it the Holy Spirit with in us reminding us that we are to sacrifice ourselves daily to Him? Sacrificing our desires to have what we want in order to please Him by obeying what He says in His Word?
Do we desire to walk, to comply to all His ways, that is the question!
Clearly, it is not indecision of choice, but disobedience of one who does not walk nor live according to Torah that is clearly set out, more so for a Bible believer. It’s setting our minds to pleasing ABBA.
It is-“not my will, but Yours be done”!
“..those who decide not to follow Torah are the worst examples of inhuman purposelessness.”
They would be as rolling stones that gathers no moss, ever learning but not coming to the knowledge of truth. They are without ‘law’, lawless, undisciplined in their lives, and that is risky, in the natural as in the spiritual, for that leads to death.
Choose death, or life. Can’t be sitting on the fence, as one choice leads to one, and the other leads to another; one cannot have both! That is double-mindedness. All, or none; hot or cold!
Thank you, Skip. A good TW!