Poetic License
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. I will satisfy him with a long life, and show him My salvation. Psalm 91:15-16 NASB
Rescue/ Honor – “The poet is a mortal, claimed by the gods to reveal them in words; poetry is at once his response to that claim and, at the same time, it is the speaking of Being (holy) coming into language. The poet is claimed specifically for the naming of what is holy, for putting into words the sign of the divine.”[1] Because the poet occupies a special place in the communication between God and men, he is able to bend ordinary language to fit divine purposes. His words push us to the edge of our common understanding in order that we may perceive the divine horizon. David is such a poet, and his use of Hebrew forces us to confront a less comfortable God.
In this verse, the poet employs a rare Hebrew word, ḥālaṣ. The meaning, “rescue,” is found only in Job, Proverbs, and the Psalms. What makes it so unusual is that it appears to be related to older Phoenician, in particular with Phoenician theophoric names (that is, a name that incorporates a Phoenician deity). Smick notices that this word is employed by both God and men; that rescue can originate with either. He suggests that Yeshua’s comment about loving one’s enemies isn’t a new idea. It has roots in ḥālaṣ.[2]
Then the poet David combines this rare word with something very familiar, kāḇôḏ, “honor.” We might ask how divine rescue results in human honor. If God does the rescuing, how does that action attribute worth or status to the person rescued. Isn’t it all God’s initiative? The answer is found in the ancient world’s culture. In that world, social status and reputation are of utmost importance. God’s rescue validates the importance of the person. God’s rescue is a visible sign of merit or worth. David’s poetic claim must be culturally understood.
With this in mind, we should recognize the application to our lives. We pray. We ask according to our personal needs, not because we are driven by selfish desire but because we want to provide God with the opportunity to display His grace. When He responds, as He promised to do so, His rescue does more than lift us out of our distress. It relieves God of the burden of care and it vouches for our worth before Him. An answer to prayer is a statement of our value. Treasure it!
Topical Index: ḥālaṣ, rescue, kāḇôḏ, honor, reputation, worth, Psalm 91:15-16
[1] James L. Perotti, Heidegger on the Divine: The Thinker, The Poet and God (Ohio University Press, 1974), p. 106.
[2] Elmer B,. Smick, (1999). 667 חָלַץ. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 292). Chicago: Moody Press.
