Two Questions to Live by in the Hebrew Bible

All of the questions in the Hebrew Bible are formulated in medias res: in the middle of a story yet unfolding.

Given that the universe is this enormous thing that has no need of humankind, what is man, here one day and gone the next, that he has a place of honor in it? It is widely acknowledged that we live in a fine-tuned universe, and in our environment, conditions for life and human life in particular are ideal. This is cause for praise and grounds for seeking the Creator’s continued intervention. So Ps 144:3-5. 

Given that that the God of Israel bound himself to bless the nation through promises made to the nation’s forbears, given that he brought them out of Egypt, the house of bondage, given that he gave them knowledge of his ways by way of Moses on Sinai, now, what does the Lord your God ask but reverence, synchronization with his redemptive purposes, loyalty, and service? So Dt 10:12.

In medias res, in the middle of a story yet unfolding, a congruent response to the divine initiatives occasions a promise. So Ps 147:11. The God of Israel favors those who reverence him and wait for the manifestation of his unbreakable love. 

Is it possible to be a recipient of divine benevolence even if one expects nothing at all, good or bad, from a future we cannot control? By all means. But how wonderful it is to be expectant of divine providence. The language of expectation is primal language.

Series introduction here.

תפלה

מָה־אָדָם וַתֵּדָעֵהוּ               בֶּן־אֱנוֹשׁ וַתְּחַשְּׁבֵהוּ . . .

יְהוָה הַט־שָׁמֶיךָ וְתֵרֵד          גַּע בֶּהָרִים וְיֶעֱשָׁנוּ . . .

שְׁלַח יָדֶיךָ                         מִמָּרוֹם פְּצֵנִי

וְהַצִּילֵנִי מִמַּיִם רַבִּים             מִיַּד בְּנֵי נֵכָר

What is man, that you took note of him,
the son of man, that you took him into account? . . .

יהוה, bend your sky and come down,
touch the mountains, let them smoke! . . .

Extend your hands,                                   rescue me from on high,
pluck me from the mighty waters,            from the grip of foreigners. (Ps 144:3.5.7)

תורה

וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל מָה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ

כִּי אִם־לְיִרְאָה אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ

לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו   וּלְאַהֲבָה אֹתוֹ

וְלַעֲבֹד אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשֶׁךָ׃

Now, O Israel, what does יהוה your God ask of you,  
but to fear יהוה your God,
walk in his ways, and love him;

to serve יהוה your God with all your heart and with all your soul? (Deut 10:12)

דברים נחמים

רוֹצֶה יְהוָה אֶת־יְרֵאָיו

אֶת־הַמְיַחֲלִים לְחַסְדּוֹ

יהוה favors those who fear him,
those who wait for his steadfast love. (Ps 147:11)

Comments

[Gary Simmons]

I'm really enjoying this series -- and I appreciate a free chance to work on Hebrew.