Has He?
I will sing to the LORD because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6 NASB
Dealt bountifully – In Hebrew the entire thought in the conjunctive phrase (beginning with “because”) is merely three words, ki gamal alay. ki is translated “because” although it could just as easily be translated “surely,” or “when,” or “if.” Try these alternatives and notice the difference in the meaning of David’s statement. alay is the combination of al (“with”) and ani (“I” or “me”). That leaves us with the verb, gamal. It usually means, “to deal with, to recompense.” Interestingly, a slight shift in vowels makes the same word mean “camel.” Perhaps this animal represents great benefit in the desert. In this verse, the verb is a Qal perfect. That means it is an action that is complete at the point of recounting. YHVH has dealt bountifully. David looks at past actions. There is perhaps an expectation that these good acts will continue, but the text does not say so. It merely recalls what God has already done. The verb, by the way, does not always imply good. It is also used to speak about the evil done to others (cf. Genesis 50:15). This is a “reward and punishment” verb. The reason it is translated “dealt bountifully” is because the translators correctly perceive David’s recalling good actions in the past, but the same verb might be found in a phrase like “dealt harshly.”
What might we learn from this Hebrew verb? Perhaps the first thing we should notice is that the verb can be used for good or bad. The action is the same. The outcome is different. Intention and motivation determine the result. That means the true character of the act is not determined by the performance but rather by the person performing. Suppose someone sends you a gift. Is it a good thing or an evil thing? It depends. What is the purpose of the gift? Who is sending it? What outcome is expected? Is it a bribe or a genuine expression of care? When God acts in your life, what is His purpose? If we perceive His action as evil, is it because we have forgotten His character? Does His action seem evil to us because we evaluate the outcome now, or do we remember that the One causing this action is defined as Good without qualification? Why does God do what He does? And who determines the moral character of His acts?
This brings us to the second lesson. It seems that far too often the moral evaluation we place on God’s actions is determined by our yetzer ha’ra / yetzer ha’tov interaction rather than by the character of the Lord. Perhaps evaluating God’s gemul says more about me than it does about God.
Have bad things happened to you? Who determined that they were bad? Will they still be bad after you sing a song of praise?
Topical Index: gamal, recompense, deal with, good, bad, Psalm 13:6
David complains initially. Might he not be praising God for both his bounty and his chastisement, his “recompense”? A more mature understanding(?)
Reminds me of this Talmudic Tale:
“Rabbi Akiva was traveling with a donkey, a rooster and a lamp. When he arrived at his destination he was told the inn was full – to this disappointment he said “this too is good.” He decided to sleep in the woods. Shortly thereafter a wind came and blew out his lamp to which he said “this too is good.” Since there was no light the wild animals were unafraid to approach. One ate his rooster and another, his donkey. Left with nothing he once again said “this too is good!” The next morning he walked back to town only to discover the Romans had ransacked the entire town during the night. (Had his lamp been lit, they may have seen it and had his animals lived, their noises may have given away his position).”
I am mature enough to really love this. I went back and read it again as “because he has dealt with me”.
I sometimes ask myself how a child would perceive something, because we are told that we must become as little children if we want to access the kingdom. From a child’s perspective, attention- any attention- is good. To be ignored is the worst abuse, according to experts. I don’t have to ask them though. I know that from experience. A child knows that interaction at all is where it is at. Because, if someone is willing to interact with you, you have a chance to influence the outcome, and a child has a faith that adults have often lost that he or she will have the ability to sway the other person. A child will therefore do anything to get attention, because in that moment, they know they stand the greatest chance of influencing, or even changing, the outcome. If only I could always remember that the Kingdom suffers violence and that the persistent widow got what she wanted from the unrighteous judge. Children already know this one…
In paleo Hebrew the camel represents exultation or being lifted up.
My Hertz siddur pg 421 Nishmos 4. Says “among the holy you are hallowed.
Fitting alternative to dealt bountiful with me.
Michael that is a good story.When I get held up at docks, when driving truck I try not to grumble,it might be that I was held back from an accident on the road.The spies that entered cannan said this land devours its people.Not realizing that all the funerals were so that no one paid attention to the spies.Gods protection was interpreted as a bad thing by the 10 spies.So be like the 2 and see the big picture!
A wise and excellent reminder! He IS Good, He IS Love….and as I said yesterday….we do live on a battlefield-and much of what happens we don’t actually see with our eyes. I am certain beyond any doubt that when all is said and done-we will be shocked and amazed at how Good He really was to us…even in the biggest disappointments on earth. Rabbi Akiva was a wise man!
“Will they still be bad if you sing a song of praise”, what a phrase and my answer to it is not really. why? because it becomes clearer that it is part of the journey though I may not fully understand it. A song of praise to HIM is healing and helps me to refocus on what is essential for journeying along with HIM. Those things we classify as bad could lead us to the goodness of the LORD hitherto unknown. As long as He is the One working all things after the counsel of His will, and at the same time, upholding all things with the word of His power—– all I have to say is ‘it is well’
This might seem like blasphemy to say out loud, but since God clearly states that he does look at our behavior and will even judge us by it, would he not then expect us to treat him the same way? No, not unjustly (of course). But, would he not think we are right to expect his actions will inspire our trust? His love in action and truth is obvious. His Son. His provision. His daily breath and heartbeat and even brain sparks…all HIM.
I have found that in my despair I often find God delight in my asking him to do right on the Earth and make things like they are in Heaven. So…am I wrong?
“Even a child is known by his actions, whether they be good or bad.”
Oh, yeah…and the joy set before him – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
גָּמַל gamal
(Qal) to wean a child (Niphal) to be weaned
My preference is to the above-to be weaned, and being able to digest sound Biblical doctrine that is so beneficial as we have been led down a path of ‘smooth things’ not having a better knowledge and understanding through the Hebraic context
Heb 5:14
But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. KJV
γάλα gala milk
a metaph. for the less difficult Christian truths
As we mature in physical years we have learnt to ‘take things with a pinch of salt’.
Spiritually, it is the same- learning through experiences, both bitter and sweet but, knowing better that YHWH is in charge, makes a whole heap of difference.
:-).