HEBREW WORD STUDY – IN THE WILDERNESS ALONE – BIMABAR BISHIMON במדבר בישימון Beth Mem Daleth Beth Resh Beth Yod Shin Yod Mem Vav Nun
Psalms 107:4-5: “They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.(5) Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.”
Deuteronomy 8:3: “That he might make thee know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceed out of the mouth of the LORD does man live.”
Our first impression in reading this verse is that it is referring to the children of Israel and their wanderings in the wilderness. You that can not be as this verse says they found no city to dwell in. They were not seeking a city. A city meant a permanent dwelling the children of Israel could only build their cities in the Promised Land. It also says these people wander in a solitary way. Definitely, they were not solitary. The word solitary is bishimon which is another word for wilderness or desert but it carries the idea of a wasteland or a wasting away. It comes from the root word yashim which means to a feeling of desolation. Yet, the word for wilderness is midabar which is built on the word dabar, speaking from the heart. Prophets and people of God would go into the wilderness, like Paul, Abraham, John the Baptist to be alone and hear from God. Even Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness to commune with the Father and he repeated Deuteronomy 8:3 man shall not live by bread alone. So these people are people who long to hear from God but are yet alone, seeking some excitement and activity.
If we examine the context we find the writer is speaking of the redeemed. The Jewish sages related this verse to Deuteronomy 8:3 which teaches that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. They make this relationship because Psalms 107:5 does not say the redeemed were hungry and thirsty such that the bodies became weak, but that their soul fainted. The word soul is nephesh which speaks of the immaterial part of you, possibly your mind, or that part of you that makes you, you. Your personality, your character or your thought process. Our immediate thought is that the verse is saying when they became hungry and thirsty they lose heart, they just want to give up, they bishimon waste away. The word city is ‘ir which really means excitement or an awakening. It takes on the meaning of a city as a city was considered a place of activity, encounters and pleasures.
The word hunger is re’evim which comes from the root word ra’av which means starvation not only physical starvation but spiritual starvation. The same with the word thirsty is tsame which is commonly used as a figure like thirsty for a favor, love or friendship. In other words these are people who are redeemed, yet they long are hungry and thirsty for deeper understanding of God, they reel like they are the only ones and they feel as if they are wasting away. They long for a city or a place of activity, entertainment or excitement, but because of their walk with God they cannot become a part of just any city.
The sages teach that this passage in Psalms 107 is not referring to an actual wandering in the wilderness alone but to the spiritual condition of one who has been redeemed, who has turned their life over to God and yet, they still hunger and thirst for a deeper relationship with God, a deeper knowledge of God and they feel so alone. The context speaks of the Jews who are on different spiritual level than others and feel so alone. They cannot stop being Jews, they cannot go to another land or culture and yet within their own community they feel like they are bishimon, alone.
Let’s put this into a modern Christian context. You like your church, you have friends there but somehow the sermons do not speak to you, it is the same old same old. You feel people are taking advantage of you, you just do not feel real joy in attending church anymore and you feel like you are wandering in a wilderness, alone. You hunger for deeper understanding of God’s Word, being around those who love God like you do. So you start looking for another church or ‘ir city where you can find the excitement, pleasures, activities and encounters like you once knew. But there is no other ‘ir -church. They all seem to cater to families and new Christians and you just don’t find that depth you are looking for. I believe the Psalmist is speaking of someone like you.
The answer is not to find a new church but to pray, call upon God to lead you to those in your church who feel like you do and start a home fellowship or get together with them maybe with just three or four of you, study the Word together, worship together. That is the reason for our All Access, not to compete with the church but to give these mature believers tools to study the Word of God in depth so they do not hunger and thirst and thus can stay in their home churches, enjoy their friends and being a part of a home church body.
My study partner and I are feeling like we are in a wilderness, alone. I have attended many churches. The sermons are great, they are filled with Scripture and God’s love, but they do not go to the depth that I long for. I don’t blame the pastor, he must feed his people on their level. I am not into the new contemporary Gospel music so I do not enjoy their worship as I feel very much alone in worshipping God. I do worship God there and these people do love God, but it would be nice to have some who love God like I do and we can worship in anyway we please. Yet, I am an Aspie, I have Asperger’s Syndrome and I just cannot feel a part of any fellowship.
Still, I can fellowship with like minded believers on our All Access. We are opening up a prayer line on our All Access so members can offer prayer request. I pray for all our members but it will be nice to have specifics to pray for. I open each class fifteen to twenty minutes early to just fellowship with those who come online early. Unfortunately, being autistic, I tend to focus on talking about God’s Word rather than general chit chat. Still, I feel I am coming out of that wilderness.
Our next move is to find two or three people in the Chicago area who also hunger and thirst like we do invite them over for dinner or coffee, turn on our Zoom and have a time of fellowship both live and online. So, if you are also hungry and thirsty, don’t leave your church, join our All Access and maybe together we can come out of that wilderness without you searching for a new church.
Thank you for this word! I hate chit chat. I care about people but don’t want to have to put on the fake smile. I did that for too many years, just so I could feel like I fit in. And I can see that I’m not alone, which makes me feel normal 😊
I moved to AZ from KS 8 years ago. Full of the spirit upon arrival. I immediately found my new church. However, as the weeks went by God seemed not there. It was absolutely confusing and heartbreaking. My husband is not saved so I felt very alone. I walked in this wilderness for FOUR years! We moved back to KS, I told God if He didn’t meet me back in KS I didn’t know what would become of me! He did meet me there thank goodness! But I have not felt connected to my new church. I have one solid friend there and she started a home group with your material. I can relate to the other comments above. Sometimes I even wonder about attending at all. I get plenty from other sources. And it fills my deeper longings for more. I’m thankful for your ministry and honestly in your delivery. I don’t feel like I’m being “sold” something which is so refreshing! I’m an all access member and look forward to spending time with you in various ways! Shalom.
My wilderness has been long and I have wondered, will I wander away from God? I have been so afraid of that. Perhaps God has allowed me this wilderness to draw closer to Him. I have questioned Him many times on whether I should leave my church and a very painful history I have with someone there but God has been silent. Today, He spoke to me through your study. I love diving into God’s word with your help and can’t wait for the day I can join your all access. Thank you so much for the wealth you are giving us in sharing your knowledge and heart.
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 During this dry silent season, it is the best time to worship Jesus! You’ll never have another opportunity like this to love Him and remain faithful. Seems like God is drawing like minded and hearted people with similiar expiriences together here. We have live interactive classes nd Bible studies in our All Access group incase you’re ever interested in getting envolved. Blessings, Laura
Blessings to my fellow sojourners! May our LORD,an SAVIOR fill us to beyond over flowing.
JESUS,Elijah, Abraham, Moses, KING David, an
others were lead into the wilderness to replenish
be filled .JESUS went to the wilderness often coming out covered with the anointing of GOD.
Our wilderness should be joyous an enjoy the mary time at the feet of JESUS being filled an going out sharing His love,direction to a world lost an needing to hear, an feel the hunger an desire we have for GOD
Be strengthened in CHRIST our LORD.
Shalom.
Amongst so many,
yet searching for the One.
Sharing with brothers and sisters,
but yearning for the Son.
Hollow and fragile,
though firmly held,
wandering, bleating,
outside the fold.
He is coming,
striding and leaping,
Jesus, now listening,
as we are weeping.
now He is running,
along difficult hills.
Placing feet firm,
guiding our will.
He has now seen us,
look up and you’ll see,
His strength is yours,
His words make free.
I thank you, Father,
for Laura and Chaim,
for their proclaimation,
of Your beauty, and name.
May we perceive more,
of You and Your son,
our precious Jesus,
that we all may be one.
Amen
Hi Ozzy, I appologize for being late to aprove your comment. It seems i missed a few from this day that are now all posted. Did you write this poem? It’s very beautiful. Thank you for sharing and I hope you post more. Blessings, Laura
Hi Chaim, you are describing me here as well. Nothing wrong with my church but I feel alone in it. I know there are places and depths in God and somewhere I think subconsciously my spirit is looking for those places in God. This weekend I made myself go to a conference 1000 miles away and I came home from one morning meeting and just wept and wept. I knew i was in a very special place in God which my heart yearns for but in normal daily life I can’t put my finger on what I am looking for. I had this experience before when an not famous man but who loved God preached in our church I just wept and wept. I just could sense a certain presence of God.
I was going to ask God what church I should go to to satisfy that desire but as you suggest I may ask God to connect me with the right people and right places so I can experience Him
(and not just receive information)
I used to get these experiences profoundly ten years ago and often wonder why would I experience His presence so much and so profoundly only for them to stop? Well maybe it is not God’s will the experiencing His presence stops.
Several years ago I ‘found’ your book For Whom My Soul Loves, and A Hebrew Teacher Explores the Heart of God……..now I am reading Revealing the Heart of God. I am touched to know I’m not alone, maybe it was today’s word study or maybe just a longing to reach out to you and let you know I appreciate you for sharing your heart, for putting into words what my heart says and hears. To share my dear love for God, His pure word , and most of all His sweet heart. It’s simple and deep at the same time. My love for everything Jewish, Israel, the Hebrew language and the pure word of God took me in many directions…..even a Hebrew word/alphabet class at our local university. Learning the Hebrew as well as Greek and Aramaic words that bring depth to the word that you share is wonderful and I enjoy the daily Hebrew word study. Thanks for for being humble and honest and , like the”us out there”, live in this world but share a deep love, respect , and longing to know,see and understand. I can’t figure out how the All Access works, but than again have not spent enough time with it.
I’ve had very scattered thoughts and my time is taken up with grief and paperwork….we lost our precious oldest son in March and are raising our 2 teen granddaughters. Their mother passed 4 years ago. My husband and I are in our late 60’s and early 70’s. God’s soft covering, His gentle reminders to remember the things He has told me…..like I’m a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path……..and His sweet way of bringing me back to solid ground when I go off into the “what if I mess this up” “what if I don’t understand how this investment works” ….He is so beautiful, and the joy I feel as I see his hand at every turn is truly unexplainable!
Thank you again for your love and knowledge, and prayers!
Marsha
You have articulated so very well what I have been feeling for some time. Thank you for your insights on what to do to help with the unease I am experiencing. I hope to be able to join in with you as you form your online group. God bless you Chaim, Laura, and your ministry.
A few years ago I had this experience that you’re speaking about when I was on staff at the Cincinnati House Of Prayer. Church no longer seem relevant and they became my fellowship. It was so much so they started having worship and teaching on Saturdays because it was so needed. We continued to go to our local churches but it just wasn’t the same.
Even today when I try to explain to some my experience with biblical translation I don’t get a very welcome response. Their reply is “God has protected His Word the way it is and there’s no need to search and change what he has protected.” They don’t seem to understand there are alternatives and some English word choices just are wrong. I don’t even try to explain what your brother has gone through trying to translate the English word sheep to people who don’t know what a sheep is. Your ministry is truly amazing and if I lived in Chicago you probably couldn’t get me off of your front doorstep.
You have articulated so very well what I have been feeling for some time. Thank you for your insights on what to do to help with the unease I am experiencing. I hope to be able to join in with you as you form your online group. God bless you Chaim, Laura, and your ministry.
Thank you for the word of encouragement. I am in a wilderness lately
Thought about looking for another church. But I read your article and I realize this is a word for me at this time. I know there are others in this same wilderness. I pray Holy Spirit will minister this word to them, in Jesus name .Amen
Dear Friend,
Thank you for your tender reminder. As I spoke with you years ago, my husband and I were and still are in this situation. While we lived in NJ, we had a small group of similars, but living in Tenn, there is a drought and we deeply feel alone.
We are unable to connect to your Access site, but we are encouraged with small bits of bread here and there. We suffer many trials, yet we rejoice. Blessings.
Gail
I and my wife were placed by God in Tennessee near Chattanooga. The drought of similars is noted. I know that it would harder if not for Chaim Bentorah ministries devotions and the All Access. The books expanded my search for the Heart of God. Journey well….