Hebrew Word Study – Mind – Yetsar יצר Yod Samek Resh
Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trust in you.”
The other day I had Old Ben on my disability bus. Old Ben is well into his 80’s and when he got on I had my IPOD queued to my playlist entitled: “Old People Music.” I had that old World War II hit by Harry James playing You Made Me Love You on his cornet. For you young folk who never heard of a cornet let alone Harry James, the cornet, a trumpet type instrument, was a popular instrument in the late 30’s and 40’s and the greatest, most famous player in the world of the cornet and still is considered the greatest artist on a cornet was Harry James.
Anyway, I deliberately queue up this song when I drive the old WWII veterans to the VA Hospital as it gets them in the mood to start reflecting and telling me stories, which as a writer is my goal. I knew the song had touched Old Ben’s soul as he listened and then he started to talk.
He told me as a teenager he played the cornet in High School. Of course like any cornet player of that day he listened to Harry James on the radio and dreamed of being like him. One day he went for his music lesson and his teacher was not there. Instead was another man he had never seen before who said he was an old friend of his music teacher who was called away on an emergency and asked that he take his place. Well, Old Ben looked at the guy and said; “You are not my music teacher, I don’t know you nor do I know how well you can play. I will just come back when my teacher is here.”
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
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Once he got home and his mother inquired why he was home so early he said that his music teacher was not there and there was some substitute. His mother told him in no uncertain terms that if there was someone there to give him his music lesson then he had better make darn sure to take his lesson. Tail tucked behind him Old Ben returned and agreed to take his music lesson. When the teacher introduced himself he said his name was Harry James. Yes, that Harry James.
He then played a quick version of You Made me Love You to prove it and even gave Ben an autograph copy of the sheet music for You Made Me love You which Old Ben has to this day. You see they had no television in those days and all they had was radio and Old Ben had no idea until that day what Harry James looked like.
Perfect peace is something we all long for and we can have it so long as our minds are stayed on Him, according to Isaiah 26:3. The Hebrew word for mind caught me off guard. It is the word yetser which in its very Semitic origins is the word for imagination. Some time ago the engine on the disability bus I drove at that time died without warning. The town mechanic accused me of abusing the engine as the reason it went out and he called my boss and said I should be fired. I knew I did not abuse that engine, I checked the oil every day and reported every little problem but still my yetser, imagination went wild. I pictured myself fired, unable to find another job because I was an engine abuser and living on the streets with a paper cup from McDonalds asking for spare change with that other guy I always see on Western and Congress Ave who always had the extra large cup from McDonalds.
I had no peace, I mean I really needed and still need this job. I tried to pray, but could not, I tried to read Scripture but it was no use, I had no peace. I just sat in my living room staring off into space and realized I should at least be doing something. One thing I had been doing was that I recently began a podcast. After three weeks I am up to 25 listeners. Which is down by 30 when I first started. I noticed some people just say: “Praise the Lord” and they get over a hundred followers. I share the secrets of my heart and God’s heart as it is revealed to me and I pick up maybe one or two followers while I lose three. As far as I know, no one really listens to my little stories on the podcast, yet I kept doing them because it is an opportunity to just say: “I love Jesus” on a public forum even if no one is listening. As I write out little memes, videos and whatever other way I could think of to express my deep love for God I found I also start to feel His pleasure and entered into that perfect peace.
That is when Isaiah 26:3 came to my mind and I realized that the way we gain access to this peace is by having our minds stayed on him. God will keep us in perfect peace if our imaginations are stayed on him. The word stayed is samuk which is like a mattress covering, it is an overlay. When our imaginations cover God, His peace will become our peace. His imaginations will become our imaginations. In creating my podcasts and other social media stuff, I was putting my imaginations into full gear on my love for God, I was covering God with my imaginations.
I then began to clean out my dove’s cage. I held them as they gently cooed to me and suddenly my soul was filled the presence and pleasure of God. I realized this was one of God’s creations and I could see part of God’s gentle nature in them. I went outside for a walk and every tree, every blade of grass, the gentle breeze all reminded me of God. How do you keep your mind stayed on God. He is showing Himself all around you but like Old Ben you just don’t realize the Master is there to give you a lesson. He was always here, even in the busy city, the concrete jungle, there are still reminders of God from every sparrow to the mighty energy of the Sun and the vast array of stars. It is so easy to keep your mind stayed on God, if you just stop and let God, like Harry James, introduce Himself before you run off.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Hi there. I’ve been walking as Myself in God and I’ve learn something so profound every time I have learnt something from your teaching I literally spend all day reading the things you two have shared on the meanings of words and Scripture. I bless you both and be fruitful and come into the knowledge of yourselves in Me/God.
^^This is the mystery I wanted to share with you two, when you are in Christ you are One Spirit with Him so it’s not Chaim/Laura and Christ the Lord it’s just Chaim/Laura as Christ the Lord, in the flesh of course. You two are wonderful, thank you for all your hard work, it has certainly paid off for me. I haven’t even met you in person but it’s like I know you guys haha, well anyway stay blessed!
I recently purchased your book, Swimming in His presence and felt a passion that was very encouraging. I am thankful for your ministry in writing as it is uplifting. Keep up the good work as you are touching more lives than you know.
I am 67. I feel it every morning as my Sciatica and arthitis limit my moviement. I have been studying the bible since I was 19. I went to Moody and to Seminary. There is a lot of “stuff” out there to read and listen to. Most of it I find very much like worldly literature, very influenced by western thinking. My therapist recommended you, and in these studies I find depth and insight, set in humility. They free me.
I was born in Uruguay and lived there 10 years before coming to the US. I have gone back and I see the Old World thinking and actions. These give me insight to the bible. For example I worked a grape harvest with no technology, just human hands. When Jesus speaks of grapes or vineyards I understand more fully.
These studies do the same. Thank you. I am most grateful.
Mac
How nice of you to share, thank you. Laura
Simply beautiful. For me it points at the fundamental relationship with God and how he is always with us in every moment. Another teaching along this journey called it remember to remember. Basically the message is in all things we do to ask God if this is what we should do and pause to listen for His guidance
Thanks for the insight. May Elohim provide for your finances in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Thank you. God bless you
I wanted to know the Hebrew word for mind in Isaiah 26:3 because the foot notes in my Bible said it meant creative imagination. That intrigued me because I have a very creative imagination. The Lord has given me very creative ways to follow his instructions and plans. If I include him in my plans and ideas, I will reap all the benefits of shalom, shalom, health, peace, happiness, well-being, and protection. Thank you for this message.
Hi Nancy
I’ll leave the link to the ALl-Access Learning Channel here if you want to check it out. Chaim answers all questions within 24hrs and we demonstrate how to do Word Studies and much more, https://www.hebrewwordstudy.com
It’s very interesting that lately, when I tell God that I’m tired of living in my imagination and that I want to experience Him in real life, one of these studies will be about our imaginations. I still long to experience Him in real life, as I am a very lonely and sad person, due to a chronic illness, but I do like it that God actually answers me…and it is in real life! Thank you for being sensitive to God’s voice. And don’t feel like you aren’t reaching tons of people. My mom and I have a mother-daughter music ministry on youtube and only have 11 subscribers. And any time I send one of our music videos to people, no one shares them with anyone else. But God seems to let me know that He wants me to keep doing them, even when it “looks” like He doesn’t care about it. So hopefully, it will reach someone somewhere sometime.
I am blessed by this reading. Thank you!
You are amazing!!!!
Please do not stop!!!’
Morgan
this made me weep. I am moved, in my heart, because it has confirmed to me that how I ‘imagine’ constant conversation with Him is… more than my imagination. It is the expression of His spirit pulsating within me… and my daily ‘imaginings’ about Him have brought me closer than i could have, er,… imagined. Great word brother! thank you so much for sharing what you know. My heart is stirred with a noble theme.
Oh how quickly God answers my questions! I may be going through many transitions but He never ever leaves me. Thank you Chaim my brother for sharing your lo
ve for our LORD! And on a side note, my maiden name is cornet. :) the peace of Jesus to all.
This is simply beautiful. Please keep on sharing ! Your faithfulness and commitment to this priceless ministry never fails to inspire.
Your word studies are a blessing! I hungrily eat up every one. I’m a pastor, and they feed me like other things do not. Thank you for your faithfulness to God’s Word!
I can pay by check but not on the computer.
Hello Jo-Ann,
If you would please write to us at chaimbentorah@gmail.com, I can give you our mailing address where you may send a check donation.
Thank you so much!
Chaim & Laura
I did not realize you had a podcast. I will surely look it up. Your love for God amazes me.