The Vocabulary of Trust
But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14 NASB
Trust– By now we should be quite familiar with bāṭaḥ (trust). TWOT’s reminder is important:
in Hebrew, bāṭaḥ expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence. It is significant that the LXX never translates this word with πιστευω“believe in” but with ελπιζω“to hope,” in the positive sense “to rely on God” or πειφομαι“to be persuaded,” [1]
Perhaps the following comment is just as crucial:
In general, the ot contrasts the validity of that sense of confidence which comes from reliance upon God with the folly of any other kind of security. It is made plain that all such trust will end in disgrace and shame (Ps 31:14 [H 15], see bôš), whereas those whose hope is in God alone will be delivered from their enemies (Ps 22:4 [H 5])[2]
Notice how David expresses the sense of security and confidence. “You are my God.” There is a lot packed into this declaration. First, it declares the YHVH is David’s only God. In a polytheistic world, this declaration matters. David is restricting any help from the divine to this God, and this God alone. David is no Laban, keeping a few household gods on the side in case one or the other failed to perform. If YHVH doesn’t come through, David is SOL.
Second, David asserts that he totally relies on YHVH. His well-being and security, top priority issues in this poem, are going to be resolved only by YHVH’s hand. He is placing no confidence in any other solution. As TWOT notes, this is not a matter of believing some creed or dogma. This is hope, David’s only hope. While trusting in men may be expected to fail, with God everything is at stake.
Clearly David’s declaration of God’s absolute reliability isn’t always converted into human behavior. David made decisions that are just as suspect as any other human being. But those choices didn’t diminish God’s constancy. What they did is cause public distrust in God. David’s life was supposed to be a reflection of God’s character, and when he did not act as a manifestation of that character, other people considered David’s God suspect. The general tone of this Psalm is not maintaining God’s reputation among the people. Yes, there are personal consequences, but the point is this: if a faithful follower of YHVH cannot find vindication, then no one will believe God really cares. Our actions and reactions are the most powerful presentation of God. “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”
Topical Index: bāṭaḥ, trust, hope, character, Psalm 31:14
[1]Oswalt, J. N. (1999). 233 בָּטַח. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament(R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (101). Chicago: Moody Press.
And what is the surest evidence that I am one who truly trusts in “the Lord”, that YHVH is “my God”, and that my vindication has finally come from Him?
Is it that my enemies cease to be, or have been put to shame, or a least cease to accuse or assail against me?
Is it that all the circumstances of my life are the envy of all my onlookers? That I would be healed and of good health? That I would be financially well off for not only my needs but also for my desires? That I would be esteemed by all who know me?
Wouldn’t all that be a crown of glory? I suppose it would, at least in part, maybe!
Surely, all things would be working together for my good. After all, isn’t that His promise for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes?
Well, all of this would surely be my desire, but it is not my hope.
My hope is that, despite my lot in this life, whether accused or assailed against by my enemies or in want of good health, money, or the esteem of all who know me, it would be well with my soul, that I would have shalom that passes all understanding, perfect love that casts out all fear, joy inexpressible and full of glory, that all my ways are pleasing to Him and above reproach, and that I have a clear conscience before Him, YHVH being my judge.
If I am the envy of my onlookers, so be it, but that is not my longing and that is not my hope. My life may turn others to Him, and that would be good, indeed, but may my only hope be that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the Day of Messiah Yeshua, that He will continually be at work in me both for the willing and the working for His good pleasure, that I would persevere in this faith until the end and be more than an over-comer through Messiah, who loves me so, and that when I stand before Him in that day, He will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant”. That would be enough for me. And that is His promise to me. So may that alone be my hope!
I have noticed that in those who have been returned to life – to community – their focus changes from self to the larger picture. No longer believing that well being consists of what is good for just us, we want well being for all, for the greatest fact of love is that my life IS your life, and that my well being IS the well being of all around me.
As the top of the heap, so to speak, David was now incomplete if all who were connected to him were incomplete, and he also had the responsibility of the corollary, for when he stumbled or hurt, those around him suffered, too. Love is never a private affair: in fact, love returns us to the web of everything.
I think, as Robert Lafoy brought out yesterday, that YHVH took a huge risk when He painted Himself into our picture: when He made it possible for our choices to affect His choices. Now, His heart can hurt because of us, but He also depends upon us to be His heart in this world. He apparently has chosen to depend on us to be His reflection and His hands, too. I echo Robert: a huge risk indeed!
Now, if the world is ever going to be convinced that God cares, we are the ones who are going to have to be that caring. This is our Great Commission. When I walk down the street, do those who I pass by say “there goes love – there goes salvation!”? Do those around me know the love of God today? That is the load I was handed when I returned to life. Now I get to live when all around me do. May I act like that today, is my prayer.
If God opens you to know Him, then you have been lifted
above the worldly realm in no uncertain terms. And in that knowing
is a trust that’s also above the worldly realm.
“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory
that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 Jn 5:4
Our trust in this overcoming victory is aided by His seed that remains in us.
And the world gets to see this as they see us loving God and carrying out His
commands of loving others like ourselves. It’s kingdom behavior trusting purely by faith.
And there’s nothing worldly about it.