Universal Language
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. Psalm 57:9 ESV
Peoples/ nations – What’s the difference? People or nation? Why make this distinction, especially when we realize in Hebrew it is only the difference between Ayin and Aleph (Ayin-Mem = people, Aleph-Mem = nations)? ‘am (ayin-mem) means a group of people viewed by one of themselves. In other words, this is an “inside” description. David will sing praises to his own people. He is one of them. In Hebrew, this term does not describe a race. It is about a tribe, a clan – something much smaller than the whole ethnic assembly. “ʿam is predominantly used to express two basic characteristics of men considered as a grouping: 1) relationships sustained within or to the group and 2) the unity of the group.”[1]
On the other hand, Aleph-Mem (‘em) is the word for “mother.” Its plural, as we find it here, means tribe, but notice that the connection is associated with the female. We have something similar when we speak about the “Motherland.” The translation “nations” might lead us to assume the Hebrew word is connected to goyim, but we see this is not the case. David sings to his clan, the group he is immediately and intimately connected to, and he sings to the sons and daughters of the Mother, the common lineage of them all. The goyim are not in the picture. Why not? Because the goyim do not know the God of Israel and praises to the God of Israel are of no value to them. David’s praises are exclusively the property of the people of God; those closest to David by natural descent and those associated with David by common community.
This brings up an interesting question. Are our praises, our songs of glory to God, falling on the ears of the ‘ammim and the ‘ummin, or have we slipped into the unfortunate place of offering praise in the midst of the goyim? When we worship, are we a mixed group of pagans, outsiders to the family and believers, adopted children of the King? What is the point of praises to the One true God of Israel if the words fall on deaf ears? Or maybe we just don’t care that praise without discipleship is vapid and idolatrous. Maybe we think “the more the merrier” rather than asking how God feels about worship without commitment.
By translating ‘ummim as “nations” rather than “tribe,” we universalize David’s thought. We remove the exclusive nature of David’s praise and make it seem as if he is proclaiming God’s glory to everyone. Where did that idea come from? From the text? I don’t think so.
Topical Index: ‘am, ‘em, people, nations, tribe, praise, Psalm 57:9
[1] #1640, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. 1999 (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (676). Chicago: Moody Press.
I have often wondered why churches believe that getting people into the pews is the first step to getting them ‘saved’. I’ve heard people say, “If I could just get them to ‘church’ I know they would want to come back.” It seems to me that introducing the unbeliever first to the Creator of Everything would be better.
How do we, we who belong to Him, accomplish this “introduction of the unbeliever to the Creator of Everything?”
~ How can anyone call on Him if they have not believed in Him? How can they believe in Him if they have not heard His message? How can they hear if no one tells [the Good News]? ~
What is the message we (all) have to share with one another? Is it the “gospel”- the good news of ONE who redeems-delivers-saves-renews-restores? Is Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus (who is the) Christ the long-promised Messiah? – Or shall we (as many do).. ~look for another ~?
This type of thought is exactly what will bring the “Jews” to jealousy. Because the Church of the Firstborn will rise up from every tribe and tongue and usher in their Lover and friend King Jesus!!
The restrictions and words of caution will be what falls on the ground along with the other religious spirits that want to choose His Bride.
Judaism maintains that the righteous of all nations have a place in the world to come. This has been the majority rule since the days of the Talmud. Judaism generally recognizes that Christians and Moslems worship the same G-d that we do and those who follow the tenets of their religions can be considered righteous in the eyes of G-d.
The position above can be found in Judaism 101
IMO anything less open minded has very little practical value outside one’s own “familiy”
The spiritual beliefs expressed in AA are more general and of even more value to all IMO
Michael,
You raise some thoughts here re Judaism that I have difficulty with but it all depends on what you mean!
Let’s take “righteous of all nations”. “Righteous” means a lot of different things to a lot of people and a lot of different religious groups. By the “world to come” I will assume the Rabbis mean – reigning with Messiah during His glorious 1000 reign. So now, I will tell you who My Rabbi says will make it into His Kingdom. He said: “He that would enter into life, let him keep the Commandments” (Torah) Of course, none of us keeps Torah perfectly, BUT those of us who acknowledge Yahshua as Messiah have a distinct advantage for as the Lamb of God, Yahshua has our sins covered! Best I can tell, Judaism has not yet recognized Yahshua as Messiah!! There hope is in Yom Kippur – yet in the Book of Hebrews (and elsewhere in Scripture) it teaches us that “it is impossible that the blood of goats and bulls take away sin”. So Judaism has a major problem they have to overcome before taking their rightful place “in the world to come”! But the Good News is – they will come to acknowledge their Savior and indeed “all Israel will be saved” as Paul taught in Romans 11. That will come – not through classical Judaism but through the revelation of God’s Holy Spirit when it is time for God to lift the veil that Paul talked about in Romans.
Re lumping Islam into the same “family” without coming to Torah and also acknowledging Yahshua as Messiah, they have a steeper mountain to climb than Jews and nominal chrisitans. God made the rules, not me! There are NO exceptions to the rule that to HIM: “every knee shall bow.”
Gotta end here – I am on camping trip and they are about to kick me outa Starbucks!!
Shalom
“You raise some thoughts here re Judaism that I have difficulty with but it all depends on what you mean!”
Hi John,
Well I didn’t have any specific beliefs or religious practices in mind
I have worked with many devout Hindus, Muslims, Jews. and Christians
And what they believe doesn’t really matter to me
If they are kind, loving, and trustworthy
Personally, I rarely think about the world to come
But I value open communication, teamwork, and a focus on quality
Brothers And Sisters In Messiah,
I asked for prayers several months back concerning my missing sister and brother-in-law, Crystal and Ovid. My mom has recently talked to my little sister over the phone! Crystal and Ovid are living in South Carolina and are doing okay. Thank you all who have offered up prayers on their behalf. Praise the good and holy King!
Brian- Amein!
Thank You, ABBA YHWH for protecting them and watching over them. Amein!
“What is the point of praises to the One true God of Israel if the words fall on deaf ears? Or maybe we just don’t care that praise without discipleship is vapid and idolatrous.”
If we do not guard His ways and His Words, our prayers/communications with Him will be in vain, an abomination, as YHWH will turn His Face away.
A testimony-a beautiful full choir was singing praises in worship in a big church, one of the singers was led into the spirit and looking down, he could only hear ONE voice that was praising YHWH.
That shook him, and realized what YHWH was revealing to him.
“We remove the exclusive nature of David’s praise and make it seem as if he is proclaiming God’s glory to everyone.”
David is praising His Elohim YHWH to his clans and tribes, his family, his community, and unless the nations has ears to hear, they are unable to appreciate the praises David was singing, nor his actions, like his dancing in delighting his Almighty Elohim. It will fall on deaf ears.
It is not a universal language, it is meant only for the precious Remnant.
By definition,”praises to the One true God” are just that, so show me where God did not receive praises to Himself in Torah? Show me one time where someone “not worthy” spoke, sang, or shouted praises to the one true God of Israel and Got rebuked by the One true God. If there is no example of it in scripture, why are you concerned that it is a problem today? To try to discuss weather someone is worthy to praise the one true God of Israel is a great way to stir up strife in the hearts of people. None of the Apostles warned us about the dangers of worshipping God.
These disputes are from sibling rivalry and rooted in insecurity with their Father’s Love.
We should be more concerned about RECEIVING praise from people, because even the angels refused to be worshipped and said to worship God only-no restrictions.
If you want to come into the chambers of the King, you must bow down in worship, we do not need permission from the Rabbis. What we should be talking about is who has seen the Lord? I am speaking of Jesus, the risen Lord, The Messiah, the only Messiah that will ever come. I guess Rabbis don’t talk about that? Who has touched Him lately? If I remember right, it is the Devils job to tell us we are not worthy to pass through the veil. So if you ever hear that silky little whisper ” “you are not clean, you have issues, your house is a mess” that is the voice of the accuser- ignore him and boldly come on through to meet your King He is waiting with open arms. You have overcome!!