Role Play
“How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth—a woman will encompass a man.” Jeremiah 31:22 NASB
Encompass – I don’t like this choice of translation for the Hebrew tesovav (from the root sabab). “Encompass” makes it sound like a woman “covers” a man, or “incorporates” him, or “dominates” him. No, tesovav means turning or going around, encircling or giving thorough attention to. It does not mean absorbing into or dominating. According to Jeremiah, the “new” covenant environment will be marked by a return of women to the original role of ‘ezer kenegdo, a role where women act as the guardians of their men by encircling them with an active demonstration of God’s will. This is a tough job. It means knowing what God wants for the husband, and communicating that purpose in a way that encourages and nourishes fulfillment. It does not mean badgering him into compliance and it certainly does not mean asserting personal desires as if they were God’s plan.
“Great!,” you say. “All I have to do is wait for the return of the Messiah and things will be put back in proper order.” No, not quite. You see, the ‘olam ha’ba is the world coming, and it arrives each time you or I act according to the purposes of God right now! So if you are a woman and you are in the role of ‘ezer kenegdo, then you should be actively demonstrating circling your man now. What does this mean? Well, let’s try a few questions to see how you’re doing? These are questions a husband might ask. Oh, and by the way, men need to provide plenty of encouragement for the fulfillment of these actions. So, husbands, ask—and then step out of the way to let her do what she needs to.
- Did you pray for me today?
- Did you ask God to show you what He wants me to do?
- Are you willing and ready to act on what God showed you regardless of your own desires?
- Did you decide to take responsibility for my welfare within God’s purposes for this day?
- Would you tell me what you think God is asking of me today?
- Would you help me commit to this?
- Will to stand by me today to make this happen?
- Will you encourage me with regard to my efforts to fulfill His will for me today?
- Will you correct me, gently please, when you see that I am getting detoured?
- Will you love me today no matter what today might bring?
A woman will surround a man. Yes, won’t that be a glorious day!
Topical Index: tesovav, sabab, encircle, surround, ‘ezer kenegdo, Jeremiah 31:22
TAX NOTE: To Jerry Park. If you are reading this, your tax donation letter was returned to me. Incorrect address. And I have no email for you. Please send me the correct information. Thanks.
Recently I shared and a men’s group how Isaiah 11 one through 5 could possibly be the unity of a husband and wife accomplishing the same goal many said they would think about it and some disagreed. Could it also be possible that when churches come together putting down their differences and living in faith this concept could be reality. I know it has some flaws but the concept is really good.
By the way responding to Skip’s request my wife thought it was totally possible also.? that’s my angel!
Skip, Loved the Unplugged! Thanks for bringing us into your world! And what a challenge this is. I do pray for my husband and when God tells me something, I also have to pray and ask the Lord to prepare his heart to receive it. I admit I sometimes back off when I know it isn’t something he is going to want to hear, but I can tell you that when God graces me with the words to deliver whatever He is giving me, my husband certainly receives it (if not right away, eventually). I see how God uses me because I am the closest one to my husband. That’s the good and the bad of it! It is sometimes a very hard position to be in!
Skip, thanks for today’s message. I commit to praying regularly for you and Rosanne…that she would encircle you with thorough attention (guided from above) and that you would feel blessed as residual fears and resistance dissolve.
Oh, that I could continue striving at this with John. I would work so much more diligently at it, but G-d wanted him more than I did.
So cherish each day you have together to pursue this ideal relationship that HaShem has designed for husband and wife. Yes, it’s a challenge, but also a gift.
I wrote down those questions and will keep them in front of me so that I can double-check that I’m doing them daily/sometimes hourly for my husband. As I take a closer look at each of them, I realize that this is what I do, to a degree, for anybody who is willing to take the risk of a deeper, more substantial friendship (obviously, not with the intensity and involvement that I would my husband.) To do this for/with people requires that the other person have a humbleness and a desire for a transparent relationship of accountability with the goal of becoming a better follower of Yeshua. Sadly, I find that those brave ones are extremely rare gems, but those who are willing become much more useful “clay pots” for The Potter. Praise YHVH.
Daria, what you have said today really reminds me back in the day when my wife and I went to a Christian Conference called love and respect men see differently than women and women see differently than men different colored glasses they used as a visual. It’s love and respect for each other no matter their faults whatever they may be, when it really is about how God sees us forgiving us loving us seeing what we are really made of, and most of all how Yahweh really what’s us to come to him no matter what our difficulty is. Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength and love you spouse as yourself. Would our spouse really be our closest neighbor? One who will never go away no matter what? Our spouse is really there to help us through our deepest difficulties and strengthen us when we don’t feel strong and to guide us in every situation. A Hardy shalom
Maybe this is why Brad Young says that Hebraic faith is simply PERSEVERANCE!
I don’t see any real revelation here, tell me what is “new”?
may be you already do all those things for your husband. Why not ask him how he feels about it?
This scripture is one of the most intriguing, and I have wondered when I would here someone give their take on it. So brave of you but no cigar. (from me anyway)
Typo:hear
Thank you for the insight, Skip! I have looked up the verse in the Russian Bible and it translates the verb as “will save”. Isn’t it what Paul said in his letter to Corinthians (1 Cor): “For how do you know, wife, whether you will save (sōzō) your husband?” (7:16) I used to think it means “witness about Christ”… Now I see it differently. This Greek word is translated into English as “make whole”. One if the meanings of the Hebrew verb cabab is “turn about, change, transform”. Jeremiah does seem to be saying that the “new thing” is a transformative role of the woman.
This is great. Thanks.
It would be like asking the angel what his name is -seeing how wonderful he is
This could fit in a number of posts here is as good as any.
One aspect Skips insights brought forward was a connection between Shabbat and YHVH as the Ezer Kenegdo of Israel. About a year ago one Shabbat morning I went to make coffee, the only electric use I engaged in and experienced the pain and confronted by not creating a spark. I had practiced no work and working at no creating but this was deeper. It wasn’t about the coffee it was about the spark, the spark of desire. In the ensuing months there were times I thought I was becoming a bit schizophrenic. I experienced great joy and closeness Friday night and Saturday day followed by feeling like I failed and perhaps back sliden by Sunday morning.
Without the insights of learning to live in and honor a desire outside of myself and that desire confronts what is not of YHVH I would not have the greater relationship of Shabbat.
Again thank you Skip and to all who support you.
Thanks for the “Unplugged” vids. It’s great to SEE you regularly! And this Eder stuff is great.
Ezer, sorry – auto correct incorrection!
Yes Amen and love it. Woman is a strong helper who never wants to make her man less, but more. She does not want to tame Him but to lift him up