Highway 60 from Be’er Sheva to Jerusalem
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Your highways are in their heart. Tehillim 84:5 ISR
Highways – In most translations, the grammar is altered to reflect proper English, but in Hebrew there are some significant oddities to be noticed. First, the Hebrew word translated “man” isn’t ish. It is adam but it is absent the definite article. Literally, the verse says, “At state of bliss man whose strength . . .” Of course, adam means “mankind, man and Adam” but the switch from the usual ish to adam may tell us more than we see in English. If you read this in Hebrew (ashre adom oz-lo) wouldn’t you find it unusual enough to recall when adam was blessed? And wouldn’t that remind you of the Garden where the adam and YHWH were in perfect harmony, where adam walked with YHWH because there was no disruption in obedience? Do you suppose that David is very subtly suggesting that real strength comes when the relationship is perfect?
And what about that very odd combination oz-lo? We get oz, the word for strength, might, fortified, but what about the two letters Lamed + Vav. “Toward, to, until, for, away, from, into, of and about” plus “he, it, this, that, this same, the same” covers the linguistic territory. Think of all the possible combinations of meaning. Try out a few. Does that amplify the connection between a state of bliss, the man and strength? Do you find it interesting that the Hebrew “whose” is build around a preposition of movement?
Then we come to mesilot, plural of mesilah. Yes, it’s about tracks firmed up with stones (not goat paths). But the root word is salal, a verb that means “to be cast up, to lift up, to exalt.” You see, highways were elevated above the rough terrain (have you been to Israel?) so that they could be traveled easily. They were “raised up” ways. Metaphorically, the raised up ways were associated with going to Jerusalem and the Temple. A highway for our God, says Isaiah. Since the Hebrew idiom for discipleship is the idea of walking (to walk in God’s paths), there is little doubt what the psalmist has in mind here. The man whose strength is the Lord is traveling the pathways of God toward Jerusalem. Zion and the house of YHWH are his goal.
Where do I find the map to tell me what elevated and exalted road to take? The psalmist points to the heart. Lev, the Hebrew word for intellect, emotion, volition and conscience all wrapped up in one concept captures the attributes we ascribe to “person.” In other words, this is not a “spiritual” path. It is a path that affects all of me, everything about how I live.
And now the oddest of them all. The man whose strength is in God walks the paths of their heart. Yes, a singular noun with a plural pronoun. This man who experiences a state of bliss is not a solitary individual. His heart is their heart. He is the community whose God is YHWH and he does not travel – or arrive – alone. There is no me, only us, on the way to Zion.
Topical Index: highways, mesilot, salal, to be lifted up, lev, oz, heart, Psalm 84:5
This is such a beautiful verse! Thank you, Skip.
In Yerusalem, we were told that we are either on high, elevated ground, or on low, that there is no ‘flat’ ground, as in a spiritual sense of staying in one place! I found that so inspiring.
There was also a beautiful rainbow across the sky, we captured that in our photograph, not that there was rain we know of, but simply ABBA reminding us of the Covenant He has with Yisrael! (BIG smile!)
How happy when mankind draws close to YHWH, as the first Adam did.
The man whose strength is in YHWH walks the paths of THEIR heart- בִּלְבָבָֽם
This is the unity we desire, to be of ONE heart to walk in His paths!!
“He is the community whose God is YHWH and he does not travel – or arrive – alone. There is no me, only us, on the way to Zion.” YES!!
This so excites me 🙂
A beautiful word on a beautiful Sabbath!
“This man who experiences a state of bliss is not a solitary individual. His heart is their heart. He is the community whose God is YHWH and he does not travel – or arrive – alone. There is no me, only us, on the way to Zion.” YES and AMEN!
Thank you Skip for going out of your way to spend time with our little community here in Centralia Washington. It meant a great deal for us to meet you in person for face to face dialog. Except for the fact that you did not have a yellow shirt on, you exceeded all our expectations, snicker, giggle, smile… Our prayer for you is that you will experience the bliss and blessing of the flesh and blood, face to face community Abba desires for you. Enjoy your time home for a few days.
Blessings, Tanya and Gary
Thank you. It was my honor to be with you and your group. I look forward to the next time.
Community is a very Hebrew term and sometimes I am community and sometimes I like my ‘me’ time. Hmm
Yesterday while doing gardening I was thinking about the phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ I saw my neighbors children and that came to mind. It literally is taking a village to raise her children because she just doesn’t have it herself. I have watched each neighbor speak into her kids lives as they bounce around the street visting throughout the day. It’s almost like we have all become their aunts and uncles. I know we conservatives tend to say that it’s up to my family to take care of my kid. I’m not so certain that is totally Hebraic. I find it very important that my kids have their special time throughout the week with their grandfather. I want certain individuals to spend time with them as well. I try to chose the environment of ‘people’ that will help direct them and walk along the path with them. I don’t think it is supposed to be just me and dad. We make the ultimate decision about who gets to be on the path with our kids but going alone …just with us. They’d be carbon copies of us and wierd. I know I don’t have all the answers and each of us has something so unique and inspirational to offer someone else. It’s definitely about ‘us’….alot of us.