David’s Twelve-Step Group
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You. Psalm 51:13 NASB
I will teach – Are you saved? Have you been restored to relationship with the Most High? Then you are obligated! Your rescue did not come without a personal price tag. You didn’t pay for the action that returned you to His company, but the very fact that you have been returned means that you owe. “Make disciples of all nations,” said Yeshua (or something like that). It isn’t optional. David says the same thing. “I will teach” is the Hebrew ‘alam-meda’ from the verb lamad. By the way, there is no “Then” in the Hebrew text. Furthermore, the verb is imperfect. That means it is an incomplete act, i.e., it continues. No retirement here. TWOT notes that this word includes training as well as educating. It is not simply passing on information. Hebrew teaching involves dirty-hands work. “Watch how I do this. Now copy me.” No lecturing from the podium, detached from the audience. This is digging the ditch alongside others.
With that in mind, David’s declaration is quite amazing. The king is going to get to work alongside his subjects. The throne will be empty because the king is where he is supposed to be (and not where he was on that fateful day when he strolled along the rooftop). But that’s not the end of his commitment. He will teach transgressors. The king will spend time with the rebellious ones, with those who have broken relationships, with those who have gone beyond the limits set by the Lord. He will share his life with those who are just like him. “I have to go to a meeting,” says David as he exits the throne room.
David does not say that he will convert sinners. He knows enough about the workings of the Lord not to make that mistake. All he will do is share his experience. “Hello, my name is David and I am an addict. Power and desire led me to violate everything I held as valuable in my life. But YHVH rescued me, and He can do that same for you.” By the way, the translation “will be converted” is once again the Hebrew verb shuv. “Converted” is the NASB’s evangelical rendering of a verb that means “to return, to turn around.” David is not sharing his story so that others will be “converted.” That implies they change from one religion to another. No, all these people are just like him. They need to return to the ways of the Lord, not become new believers.
And what are the ways that David will teach? What else? The holiness code of Moses. There is nothing else for David to teach or to live as a teaching example. Shuv is not a word connected to transition from one religious system to another. Jews do not convert. Pagans convert. Jews return.
Psalm 51 is often used devotionally to help us experience the power of forgiveness and the need for a broken heart. But what is usually overlooked is the implication that the result of this experience is not conversion but rather a renewed commitment to the revelation given to Moses. The NASB’s translation obscures this fact, a fact that is vital to understanding that David is not a Christian, and neither is anyone else who follows his pathway. David’s faith is grounded in Moses and nowhere else. Rescue brings return and return brings the obligation to instruct others along the same trajectory.
So, have you been rescued? Good. Now what are you going to do about it? Where is that next meeting of rebels that you will attend?
Topical Index: teach, lamad, conversion, shuv, Psalm 51:13
Where can we get a TWOT for our personal use?
http://smile.amazon.com/Theological-Wordbook-Testament-Laird-Harris/dp/0802486495/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443356524&sr=8-1&keywords=theological+wordbook+of+the+old+testament
TWOT also shows derivatives of “lamad:” – “limmud” – taught; talmid – scholar; and malmed – Oxgoad,
all having to do with teaching/learning and the relationship and influence of the teacher/instructor regarding the pupil/student.
It’s very interesting to see how all the Hebrew words are so connected and related in meaning in ways that we just don’t normally see in the English. They are much more concrete and tangible in giving meaning. You can pretty much “see” the meaning in the words once one understands how the word is used.
TWOT says the word “talmid” (Scholar) is used in only one TaNaK passage: 1Chronicles 25:8. Out of that one place the use of the word “talmid” came to be used to identify the teachers of the law and their pupils were thus called talmidim who were apprenticed to the torah of YHVH. Also, the Jewish Talmud gets it’s name fro this root, as well. Veeeeeeeery iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting, as Sgt Schultz would say.
I know Skip has gone over all this in his TW’s, but it’s just cool to see it and read it for oneself. There is such a lot of info in this one book that has really been opened up just by reading it outside the paradigm of my evangelical doctrinal teaching of days gone by! Of course to find specific words one must know how to navigate the Hebrew words somewhat, requiring the beginner to at least use something like Strong’s concordance to reference a number to find the word in the TWOT. BUT, once you get the method’s down it is so exhilarating to hunt and find the nuggets that await.
Thanks for the crumbs you leave, Skip. The treasure hunting has become funner and funner and funner.
Um, I believe the word “funner” is from the Hebrew word for “addictive!” :-O
Who is this Man?
~ A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”…~ (Psalm 110.1,2)
May I inquire? Who is David [prophetically?] speaking of? If we “fast-forward” a few millennia to Paul’s letter to the Philippians the answer is revealed. Much has been revealed ever since the Messiah was born. Would you agree? Is He the One? -Or should we look for another?
Paul prophecies: ~ at the Name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, .. every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father ~ (Philippians 2.10,11)
John has written this:
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘LORD,’ and rightly so, for that is what I AM.” (John 13:13)
Paul proclaims: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is LORD,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The words of our LORD are these: “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10.32,33)
But who do YOU say that I AM?
What shall I DO with Jesus who is called ‘Christ?’
Shall I crucify Him? -or crown Him?
Who is John speaking of? “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.” (Revelation 19.12)
As for me and my house? We shall
Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
Crown Him the virgin’s Son, the God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now His brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic rose, as of that rose the stem;
The root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.
Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began,
And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of Man;
Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest.
Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end, and round His pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous Name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.
Crown Him the Lord of lords, who over ALL doth reign,
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word, for ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light, where saints with angels sing
Their songs before Him day and night, their God-Redeemer-King.
Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me!
Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
Amen and amen!!
We have been promised so much, but when do those promises come true? We have been promised daily bread, but when does the bread truck arrive? There are thousands to feed the Bread of Life, but what do we have to feed them? The loaves and fishes multiply in exact proportion to the ones who are hungry, and not until they are. The waters do not part until the foot has been lifted, and I am not going to have what others need until I open my mouth, and stir to action. The desire to feed, and the gratitude for that food, too, comes before the food. There is no use trying to break the bread until it has been properly asked for, and appreciated too. Most importantly, I get fed when everybody else does. The little boy with the lunch got fed only when he handed EVERYTHING over for the benefit of others, too. When I give from the top of my barrel, instead of the bottom, then, the correct room has been created for the riches of heaven. The space for the BEST has to be cleared before the best can show up!
What is the only thing that has ever been in the way of the free flow of the Spirit of conviction? Me. What clears me back out of His Way in every encounter? Why, to abase myself, and thus clear the way for the King. If I can learn to approach every encounter with the understanding that “I must decrease, and He must increase” then I am going to get to work. Twelve step groups work because everybody is there, not so that they can advance a social agenda, or so that they can measure themselves against others, but so they can get themselves back out of the way. That involves the honesty of confession, and the directness of witness. When I was called to participate in the Great Commission, I was given only one tool to do it with, and that was the tool of my witness. Why? Because He does the rest. When I clear the way, then He can appear; “lowly, and riding on an ass”. Well, I have to get lowly first! No problem! All I have to do is get real about my shortcomings and fractured past (which instantly draws others in, for they have one, too!), and then, what HE has done in MY life is the witness. That’s it. I had to go to a twelve step group to learn it, though, for I had never been shown HOW to witness. I learned all the rules there. Keep the focus on me; I don’t talk about others; that is their story. Keep it simple. Think. It only works if you work it. Get it straight with God, before you go getting it straight with others. Share what you get. This was what I needed to experience, to see done right, and then I could learn. The only thing I need to do with others is demonstrate, then. Demonstrate what? What He has done for me. No punch lists or goals or mission statements required. Go out in the highways and byways and issue the invitation to the feast. How do I do that? Carry a big piece of cake out and eat it in front of someone else, and then say “I know where you can get some, too. Follow me.” Well, that’s what my Lord and King did to get me!
When I read today’s word one of two things happens. I agree with you or I learn something new from you and am persuaded to agree with you. Same happened today. But then I got to the line that reads “David’s faith is grounded in Moses and nowhere else.” I was conflicted. Maybe I’m not sure what you mean by “grounded”. Would you say that your faith is grounded in Moses?
Yes, my faith is grounded in Moses because Moses revealed Torah and Torah is the basis of the work of the Messiah. It’s all connected. Take away Moses and you don’t have Messiah. You have the syncretization of Greek and Roman religion with a heavily expurgated version of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Thank you Skip!
I used to say when I pastored that people came to Jesus because they were dirty rotten sinners then spent the rest of their lives trying to prove/pretend they were not. We seemed to have developed spiritual amnesia. After much thought and worse failure I realized that no one ever taught me that I was not only the initial problem but that I would continue to be my greatest problem. Not others. Its me. And wherever I go I am taking my greatest enemy with me. Me.
I need a daily reprieve. Not some once saved, always saved/fixed pablum. I need constant, continual fellowship not with other saints but with other broken, desperate wanderers…beggars who known where the Bread is….
Real fellowship begins when we sit at the table elbow to elbow and admit around the room “i am _______. I’m a sinner.”