HEBREW WORD STUDY – IN THE HEART OF GOD – BABYITH YHWH בבית יהוה
Psalms 23:2,6: “ He makes me lie down in green pastures…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Practically every English translation will translate that last phrase as I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Yet, this is not the standard Hebrew word for forever. We are automatically assuming that the house of the Lord is referring to heaven where we will live forever. It was this verse that I was discussing with an orthodox rabbi who simply shook his head and said: “You Christians do not understand the heart of David.”
It was then I realized why the word le’orek rather than olam is used in this passage for the word forever. Both can mean forever, but le’orek simply means a length and is followed by yomim which means days. That yomin never makes it into our translations. Thus it literally means a length of days. There are no days in heaven. Heaven has not night, no sleep, no calendar, no seven days to a week. David is really talking about the remaining days of his life on earth not in heaven. We assume the house of the Lord means heaven and therefore David is speaking of the afterlife. Yet to use the word yom – days strongly suggest he is talking about the here and now.
Before this David says that goodness which is tov or harmony with God, and mercy will follow him all the days of his life. The word mercy is chasad. Jewish literature teaches that in a spiritual context this word chasad (mercy) pictures one being sheltered in the heart of God. The word follow is radapa which is used in a Piel form and means to be pursued, chased or sought after. In other words, God is chasing after us to be in harmony with Him and to shelter us in His heart. He is longing to share His heart with David as a wife is longing to share her heart with her husband and he with her. We don’t have to beg and plead with God to be sheltered in His heart, we just have to stop running away from Him in pursuit of our own ways and simply trust Him enough to share our hearts with Him.
When David says that surely goodness and mercy will chase after me all my days, he is admitting that he is running away from God. What happens when we let the lovingkindness of God catch up with us? He will lead us to green pastures which some consider as a metaphor for opening his heart to us to rest.
Until the rabbi challenged me to understand the heart of David, I just assume that when David referenced the house of Jehovah, he meant the temple where the presence of God dwelled or heaven. But the word house or byith in Hebrew has a broad range of meanings and could also mean the heart as a dwelling place. To fit the poetic flow of this Psalm it would be appropriate to render this as I will dwell in the heart of Jehovah for all my days. To David, it was not enough to dwell in the presence of God, he wanted to dwell in the heart of God.
If we can trust God enough to share our heart with Him, can He trust us enough to share His heart with us? Can He trust us to not seek other gods for comfort and security? Can He trust us to open His heart to us, to share His longings, desires, and pain with us? Can He find rest in us? For only when two hearts make themselves vulnerable to each other do they find that rest and security? Only when we share our hearts with God and He shares His heart with us do we lay down in those green pastures.
Thank you Chaim, for sharing your heart and experiences through these posts.
I find also that it is very interesting to consider other peoples’ way of “reading” the scriptures…. fascinating that Jesus asks Nicodemus ‘how he reads it’ …. out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks … So thankful for the riches hidden in Christ ! All of them …. grace and peace to you …
Very interesting and truly a blessing. Lovely to contemplate that our hearts are united with our God and the mind of Christ is available for those who seek that deeper fellowship.
In the gospel of John, Jesus speaks of how He would come to dwell with His people after His death, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (see John 14; 17). John 1:14 even describes Jesus’ entire life as a “tabernacling,” or dwelling, among God’s people. Jesus, as the true temple of God, brings God’s people into God’s presence.
Before I even read the door word, the question I had in my heart this morning-was why do surely, goodness and mercy follow us. This explanation has answered my question. But the answer only makes me hungry to understand more about David’s relationship with God and God’s heart. Thank you!
Judy C. White, your reply is so divisive, unloving, critical and mean-spirited, and so unlike the heart of God. What Chaim shared was so beautiful and inclusive, like the unconditional loving heart of God.
Thank you. needed this on monday morning.
This beautiful intimate relationship with God transforms how we see life, circumstances and increases our trust in him. I like to meditate on my heart and God’s heart in harmony then His love becomes real.
Thank You, I needed this one today.
The Bible tells us that David was a man after God’s own heart. I am not sure that it is important to know, as the Rabbi stated to:’ know the heart of David’ more than knowing the heart of God. I disagree with the translation you choose for the Hebrew is translated as anything other than forever= לנצח. The other words that עוֹלָם=olam: noun, masculine long duration, antiquity, futurity… To me, why split hairs??? Forever is a better description of a word that is really beyond the understanding of mankind as to how long that is! “Dittos as meaning from this point as in now and forever. David always had that relationship with God. As is so eloquently stated in the Psalms. In fact from1 Samuel 16 through 1 Kings 2. David wrote much of the book of Psalms and is also mentioned in Matthew 1:1, 6, 22, 43-45; Luke 1:32; Acts 13:22; Romans 1:3; and Hebrews 11:32. David never ran away from God!! Even at his lowest point of killing a man because he wanted to have his wife. He did run from King Saul, but not God. He was single-mindedly devoted to God. In closing, It’s not scriptural for God to” resting in us” we are to rest in him. Lay our burdens upon him. To rest on his day, the Sabbath, that he made for mankind! I can find no verses where God of the universe rest in us. For he sustains us not the other way around. I’ am not trying not to be accusing here. Just trying to understand where you are coming from?
Zephaniah 3:17
Exodus 15:2
Ephesians 2:22
I don’t ask anyone to agree with me. I only offer ideas for everyone consideration. I have always said that if I write anything that you do not feel right or a peace in your spirit, then just reject it. At least I got you to think and meditate on God’s Word and that is my goal whether one agrees with my conclusions or not.
I love you Chaim. Please keep up your work, it’s always a blessing to me. I can’t wait till we’re in heaven and he’s gonna teach us all this stuff, in fullness, not through dim glass.
Who knows he might sit us all down in a class room type setting, maybe even call your name in the classroom and tell you to stand up and say something like “Chaim, do you remember when you touched on so and so subject on such and such date?, Well today I’m going to show you in the fullness another side, then he’ll call on David and have him tell his testimony and then Jesus will lecture on the content David spoke.
I don’t know, but I like to imagine. I look forward to maybe meeting you up there. Bless you sir
Love this Chaim!
Wonderful, a True Word in its due season.
May God bless you with whatever you need and seek in this life.
Thank you for this instruction.
Wow! Thank you for this.
It is amazing how God knows every thought, Every motive ( Good or Bad ) every plan and sometimes I didn’t want to mention it in prayer. Or share it with him when he already knows. So sometime ago I pour it all out on the table before him good and bad. And feel so much better.