What Time Is It?
O give thanks to YHWH, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 107:1
Is Everlasting – How long will God’s hesed last? The psalmist answers, ki le-olam hasdo (for the very long time his lovingkindness). But olam is quite an unusual word. It doesn’t always mean a long time in the future. Sometimes it means a long time in the past. The orientation of “future” or “past” must be provided by the interpreter of the text. Allan MacRae suggests the word comes from ‘alam (to hide), pointing toward what is unknown in the past and the future.
Did you notice that olam is connected to the preposition le in this verse? In fact, olam is always connected with some preposition. In this case, it literally says, “up to a long continuance.” That doesn’t necessarily mean that God’s hesed will only last up to a certain time. After all, the same word, olam, is used in Genesis 21:33 to describe God’s existence. But other than descriptions of God’s eternity, olam always seems to imply some kind of terminating period, even if the termination is a long way off. English translations really struggle with olam, opting for “forever,” “everlasting,” “forever and ever,” “eternally,” or some other similar expression, but as you can see, none of these English equivalents contain the temporal limits associated with most uses of olam. That means our English translations don’t capture the ambiguity built into this word. As a result, we tend to think of an endless, linear, temporal progression – a very Greek idea based in mathematical theory, while the Hebrew word itself may not portray endless temporal extension. If MacRae is right about the word’s origin, Hebrew thinking about temporal extension is much more about mystery than it is about events.
Of course, we can also see something else in this verse. The Hebrew sentence contains no copulas (“is”). It just isn’t the case that God exists independently of hesed, as though lovingkindness is simply an added characteristic. In Hebrew, God and lovingkindness are completely united. One without the other is impossible. It is exactly the same as God and good (YHWH ki-tov). God, good and lovingkindness are the same thing. This implies that we can be pretty certain hesed is not a temporary condition of God’s relationship toward His creation.
Does this allow us to relax our obedience, knowing that God’s hesed is completely identical with His being? As Paul would say, “May it never be!” hesed is not the same as unlimited lack of accountability. God’s lovingkindness includes His wrath toward evil and His punishment of the wicked. There is no time to lose even if olam expresses His mercy. Now is the time of salvation. Now is the time of commitment for only God really knows what time it is.
Topical Index: time, olam, forever, everlasting, Psalm 107:1
I would like to start my comments by answering the question heading “today’s word.” What time is it?- —The “time” is now. Let us consider II Corinthians 6.2: “(for he says, I have listened to thee in an accepted time, and I have helped thee in a day of salvation: behold, now is the well-accepted time; behold, now the day of salvation:)”
Ben Franklin said- (oh- they’re listening now.. just mention “Ben Franklin”- he’s got “creds!”-LOL!- or how about Martha Stewart? -when she says “it’s a good thing”- we’ll believe her..). Anyway.. attributable to BF is the quote: “do not squander time” -for it is the stuff life is made from.” And do we ever squander time.
Psalm 46:1 says – “For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” If it is possible (and it is possible!) to allow the “fact” or reality of the word of G-d (there is no “is!”) to penetrate the layers of hard-headedness and hard-heartedness, we may know (experientially) the G-d who “NoW Is”. He is “with us”- right here. Right now. Say hello. “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17.28)
Breath in. Breath out. Now thank Him for the breath He gives. Praise Him for your next heartbeat. Praise Him because you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Give unto the LORD- the glory due His name.
The time is always -“now.” And then.. it is – the next- “now.” Psalm 46 is a song. (the Psalms are our Hebrew hymnal!) Today, we each (and all) have been given a gift. Some call it “the present.” “Today” if you will hear His voice- harden not your heart. (Hebrews 3.15)
Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Moment by moment I’m kept in His love;
Moment by moment I’ve life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear,
Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
Moment by moment, I’m under His care.
Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a teardrop and never a moan;
Never a danger but there on the throne,
Moment by moment He thinks of His own.
Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus my Savior, abides with me still.
Shalom,
A great start to the day … הֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-טוֹב: כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ
This of course is a prayer that one will find in virtually any Siddur … this prayer never gets old!
Now … on to the text. I think we can agree that Strong’s (even for the casual seeker) provides significant insights respective to the variability of “olam”. And I believe it is clearly justified. For instance … let us look at the promise to Abraham and his seed; you will have the land of inheritance up to “olam” (Genesis 13)
Clearly the time frame used herein is subject to temporal change. Why? Because we know that at some point the Heavens and Earth will be made “a-new”. So is the promise for another time …. or meant for our temporal existence … or both?
When we look at the land of inheritance it is clear that the Israelites have not enjoyed perpetual/continuous occupation. Even now we can see that the Israelites have never enjoyed the land with “as promised borders”. And of course we are not even accounting for the full seed of Avraham (the grafted in Gentiles) … yes we could discuss this for quite some time.
So … to Skip’s point and keeping in mind that “olam” is used hundreds of times in The Word … it is clear that “mysterious” is a most accurate observation.
Once again … we should see without much argument, that our typical translations really to not go deep enough. Worse yet … what can we say about all of the theology crafted upon (at times) poor rendering of the text?