Batach in Greek
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Philippians 4:11-12 NASB
To be content – Satisfaction comes from trust. Sab’a is the result of batach. Yes, satisfaction is a gift, but that does not mean the recipient has nothing to do. In order to receive the gift, one must be prepared to accept it. The gift may not be the goal. After all, the best gifts are surprises. But someone who is too busy (or too preoccupied) may never receive the gift even if it is offered. Preparation entails welcome.
What we discover in the Tanakh is that batach, trust in the Lord, is the prerequisite of sab’a. We don’t actually seek sab’a. We seek the Lord. We put our trust in Him—and as a surprise consequence, we find we are satisfied. Contentment is the grandchild of batach. Batach produces sab’a. Sab’a produces rab lak.[1] This rabbinic expression is as close as we can get to Paul’s Greek verb, arkeo.[2] Rab lak is the assertion that YHVH Himself is the only truly necessary Being and any relationship with Him is the only truly necessary component of life.
Paul expands this connection with the linguistic heritage of the Greek arkeo. In 1 Timothy 6:6 he writes the autarkeia (arkeo plus autos, i.e., “self”) is essential for eusebeia (“godliness”). In 2 Corinthians 9:8 he connects autarkeia with care for the community. For Paul, self-sufficiency does not mean selfishness. Self-sufficiency is a state in which I am able to share what I have with my brothers. Batach produces sab’a; sab’a produces rab lak, and rab lak is the activity of brotherly concern. To be content is to be engaged in the lives of others, to be one who can be relied upon, who is able, who is trustworthy. Ah, the circle is complete. Trust in the Lord produces trustworthiness in me and I become the true representative of Him.
Now we have another way of looking at some familiar verses. Psalm 37:3-4 suggests that when we trust in the Lord then He will give us the desires of our hearts. Paul’s Greek batach suggests that this means we will become the faithful transmitters of God’s design for others. We will discover (surprise, surprise) that contentment means caring for someone else.
Isaiah 26:3 tells us that perfect peace belongs to those who trust in YHVH. But now we recognize the shalom shalom (“perfect peace”) is a function of our willingness to embrace the infinite weight of our obligation to others. We find ourselves in peace, not when we seek peace for ourselves but rather when we seek the peace of another.
Finally, Proverbs 19:23 informs us that the fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied. Yirat YHVH is intimately tied to autarkeia. The fear of YHVH is the ground of batach and batach is the beginning of a chain of acts and commitments that lead us to practice compassion, care and comfort. Once more we discover that yirat YHVH is most eloquently expressed in our communal lives. To fear God is to serve others.
The source of contentment is the answer to this question: “How may I serve you today?”
Topical Index: contentment, arkeo, autarkeia, batach, sab’a, rab lak, Philippians 4:11
[1] We looked at this Hebrew expression once before. https://skipmoen.com/2011/05/23/not-quite-enough/
[2] We examined this in https://skipmoen.com/2011/05/03/the-road-to-recovery/ and https://skipmoen.com/2010/04/15/contextual-issues/
When Jacob approached Egypt and Joseph rode out to meet him, the first words out of his mouth were “and now let me die, since I have seen your face, and you are still alive”. Jacob was content, and because he was content, he no longer felt he had to hang on to life; he no longer had discontent. His mission was fulfilled: everybody was now all right. How many times I have seen that someone will only die after everyone has gotten there to say goodbye, or after they have ascertained for themselves that everybody is all right. We can die when we are content, and content is when we know no one has need of us, and that they are all present and accounted for. When you are fixing to die, and your life re-runs its reel, what people find is that what matters is that everybody else is ok. Some people only discover that at death’s door.
I had the same essential nightmare continuously for 40 years, and in it I was trying frantically to get all the children in my life, whether they were my siblings, or, later, my own children, too, to safety; usually inside my childhood home, and get all the doors and windows shut before the monsters got them. I used to think I wanted to be inside that house, but at some point began to dimly realize that that was just never going to work; somebody had to keep the monsters out of the house, so I would try to get everybody to go in the house on one hand, and fight all the monsters on the other. This went on for decades, and was the only dream I had other than the one later, where I was away at boarding high school, still trying to finish my education, but would find that it was rather difficult because I had to keep all the children (both sets) stashed away under bushes and the like, while I did. I never did get that education, and both dreams would always tend to wake me in a sweat; mission unfulfilled.
Well, a few years ago, when I had started to trust YHVH, and thought I was looking at a real change of fortune, there came a night where I got ALL the children, and everybody else, too, in the house, and was finally able to fight all the monsters to a bloody standstill. I mean, it was gore to the eyeballs; I was tearing the heads off things with my teeth! I cleared the entire landscape for good. I mean, I had never had so much fun being angry! When I woke up, I had busted a blood vessel in my eye, and it stayed red for 5 months, but the dream did not return. For the first time, I was able to start dreaming in the present, and my anxiety started to recede. Yes, I learned early that my contentment was directly tied to whether or not everyone I was responsible for was all right. Good to know!
Excellent job, Skip, in stringing together the entire chain of sequence; from fear of YHVH to contentment; and in order, too!
P.S. My anxiety levels these days for others tends to get handled a little differently (as in I don’t tolerate it at all). Whereas I used to believe it was all up to me (idolatry of self), I now know that concern for others is a partnership affair, where I turn everything over to Him (there’s that trust), and He gives me back a little slice of the action. I wake up giving all my folks to Him, and then ask what He wants out of me today to do for them. It works a whole lot better!
Yessss! Difficult lesson to learn made more complicated by the fact you hit upon …..”Whereas I used to believe it was all up to me (idolatry of self)”
How I can relate to this and how crazy this notion used to make me! I literally called it the “crazies.” Drove me nutz (pun definitely intended) 🙂
So much peace to be found when you chose to turn others over to Him and so much delight in whatever part you are blessed to play.
Changing ones focus to “how may I serve you?” is a life changer for sure!
Laurita, it comes as NO surprise that Skip would join forces with you in combining his TWs with your rich life experiences in your comments!
You write/express yourself so fluently! I have thought that you could have written a sort of ‘diary’ with Skip’s TWs, but Skip has a sharp eye and ear as always, and there he goes, with a book with you. Yeay!
I have also sensed a release and relief in your most recent comments! HalleluYAH. Love, hugs and blessings to you. Shalom!
Laurita,
I must say, you are a fascinating person, with a gift of expressing yourself in a very open, honest, vulnerable (and colorful) way. I love the insight you have into your life’s journey and I appreciate that you are so willing to share yourself with us. I have no doubt that you’ve worked very hard to get to the place you are today and that G-d’s purposes are playing out in your life.
Skip ended his Today’s Word today with a question for us to ponder, “How may I serve you today?”
I believe you are serving this community by sharing so much of your self and your journey with us, resulting in multiple benefits…teaching/learning/growing/smiling/identifying/pushing through fears etc etc. Thank you and blessings to you.
Agree!
Ester, you are a shining star to me, as always. I love all the rest of you, too. You know, we all need each other’s voices. Just to know where everyone is at is a blessing, because our identity is to be found in each other. So, speak up! We need to encourage each other, and your rough spots are my inspiration. I suspect my life is no different than anybody else’s, either. The whole point is that we move forward together, so it behooves us to figure out what that looks like; I know Skip keeps saying that, but to learn to act like it is the key. We are protected when we are going in the right direction, but sitting still, YHVH cannot do a whole lot with, so, just start moving! I get really happy when people around me speak up – doesn’t matter what you have to say, its all good. Its up to us to figure it out! I love all y’all!
Laurita, thank you so much for your insights this a.m. They were real blessings to me…actually salve to my heart. Am looking forward to reading the new book, “31 Days of Transformation” that you and Skip have published. Received it yesterday.
Sometimes I wonder whether the star spangled banner waves o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. I believe there is a remnant who still inspires the question. I see the value of quilts. For those who find themselves poor and naked, (blind?), the pieces being shared here are wonderful, costly fabric. I, too, appreciate those who share the fabric of their lives for the sake of restoration and redemption for the glory of the King. Time to learn to sew. I don’t think I want to know if I’m blind until I’m covered. Yesterday’s piece was incredibly beautiful in the hues of “brave.” Thank you Michael. Laurita, you are a rock star! You have wrestled the Rock of our salvation and still managed to hold on and limp away. I often feel so comforted by what you write. I have even had the broken blood vessels in the eyes from nightmares. Skip, I am amazed at your teaching. I haven’t heard anyone teach quite like you before. I admittedly have trouble with authority based on experience. I have many scars from the scribes. The fact that I weigh the probability that you are genuine is huge for me. Those who have commented and shared their hearts have been a blessing to me. Thank you to all who seek YHVH.
Could we say Trust is an experiential as well over time in trial and courage just to do as also as Job 42 at the end of his life now experienced as saw G-d actually working and was real in his heart . Trust | Bitachon Cheshbon Nefesh “If worry comes to your heart, take it as a warning from God who loves you. Examine your deeds and take counsel with those whose advice you seek. When you have fulfilled His will, trust Him and your serenity will return” Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Satanov, Cheshbon ha-Nefesh.. Difficult experiences will always be a part of life; it is the nature of our existence. In fact, often burdens in our lives are the very things that give our life meaning and satisfaction. Part of the story of our lives is about how we surmount our difficulties in a way that maintains the focus on the others in our life. Learning to bear these burdens in a way that takes into account the others in our lives is one of the reasons we are here. Mussar and character building, examining from prideful aggrognat youth to maturity of my growth of every breath every moment ..
This post really resonates with me, Skip.
I have contemplated Paul’s statement in Phil 4:12: “I have learned the SECRET of being content in any and every situation” and have considered that he answers what the “secret” is in his passages prior, same chapter, verses 4-7: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Thanksgiving to God (acknowledgement of God’s goodness regardless our circumstances) is the key to finding contentment in all circumstances.