Dark Sayings
Then Samson said to them, “Let me now propound a riddle to you; if you will indeed tell it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes.” Judges 14:12 NASB
Riddle – Not everything in the Scripture is crystal clear. In fact, ḥîdôt (dark sayings) are more common than we might imagine. Not only do they appear in the Tanakh, both Yeshua and Paul also use them. ḥîdâ is a synonym for some familiar translated words. “Hence, it is that ‘proverb’ and ‘figure,’ or ‘proverb’ and ‘dark saying’ are interchangeable terms. The ‘dark saying’ is the popular ‘riddle’ raised to the dignity of elaborate production. It is in short an allegorical sentence requiring interpretation.”[1]
But not all “dark sayings” are riddles. Some are statements that require serious contemplation and examination. Their truth is hidden in the same way that the ‘olam ha’ba is hidden. Its presence can be felt but not yet seen. With this in mind, here are some additional dark sayings for your meditation.
“Moral truths are absolute but not universal.”[2]
“To tell how things came into existence is to explain them and at the same time indirectly to answer another question: Why did they come into existence?”[3]
What does it mean to be pure yetzer ha’tov? Can I be a man and have no sense of personal desire? That would be the escape of Nirvana.
“Suicide is escape from evil and surrender to absurdity.”[4]
“Needs are spiritual opportunities.”[5]
Money is the weakest form of power.
“If God is unable to listen to me, then I am insane in talking to Him.”[6]
I know the pen is mightier than the sword. Help me discover that prayer is mightier than the pen.
Philosophy is too often a lullaby sung to the dead.
Creativity is the essence of being.
Topical Index: dark sayings, ḥîdôt, Judges 17:14, riddle, proverb
[1] http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/dark-sayings/
[2] Jonathan Sacks, Radical Then, Radical Now, p. 94
[3] Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane, p. 97.
[4] Abraham Heschel, I Asked for Wonder, p. 69.
[5] Ibid., p. 82.
[6] Abraham Heschel, Man’s Quest for God, p. 89
I so agree suicide is an escape from evil , and a surrender to foolishness , YAHWEH is our escape from evil through prayer and walking in his footsteps, through faith .
Very philosophical, Skip.
The parables spoken by Jesus what would they be called as they were not understood by the audience and He even had to explain their meaning later to His followers…
And then the nail in any mother’s heart, these are my mother brother and sister that do the will of the father. That after his mother was seeking his presence earnestly…
Would Paul claiming that a mystery was kept from the chosen people also be such a statement…
And what would Paul imply when he said that no one had received salvation or eternal life till now, as God had something better in mind for his followers…
And how would we know when we understand such comments correct… Or does it really not matter as every one is saved by their own faith… And each Rabi of old hand his own followers based on his own understanding of the Torah… Just as indoctrination gospels manifest today.
My view versus your view, etc.
Or is there truly only on view… God’s intent which we are all trying to understand.
The comment about suicide is not very helpful for suicidal people.
Dark sayings interesting but dark people are scary as in evil. And these can include fake or deceptive people. Most evil people I have run across talk a good game and sadly most of them have professed great faith in God. Eviv2