HEBREW WORD STUDY – GOD’S WEALTH – SEGULLAH – סגלה
Malachi 3:17“They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” EVS
Most translations translate the word segullah as treasure, jewels, possession, property, treasured possession and precious ones. I found one other word that is used for segullah and I wondered why it was not in any of the translations I found. To me, this English word embodies all these words but puts the whole verse into a proper perspective. It is the modern English word wealth.
In the 21st Century, what do you think of when you hear, treasure, jewels, possession and/or property? You consider that wealth. The more you have of these things the wealthier you are. So if the modern English word wealth give us the best understanding of segullah and what was most likely an ancient man’s thought when he hears segullah, why do translators shy away from using it? I will tell you why. The word wealth goes just a little bit too far for Western theology. In our theology man is just a lowly sinner and good gracious what would we do if not for the mercy of God. It is almost like we are a charity case, a foster child that God mercifully gives us the time of day.
Do I need to remind you of Galatians 4:5: “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Do you get it? We are adopted, we are not foster children. We are as precious to Him as any natural born child. He takes pride in us as any parent would with their child. He is concerned for our welfare, He has great plans for us, He delights in us, He loves to spend time with. He loves family activities when we get together and worship Him with joy, dancing, and celebration. He doesn’t sit on some throne like some worn out great grandpa who might suffer a heart attacked or stroke any moment if He gets too active. He is right there dancing with us, He loves to be a part of our life.
Wealth for us in the Western world is measured in possession, things that belong to us and us alone – debt free. The more we have of it the more people would look upon us as wealthy. So how does God measure His wealth? He owns the cattle on a thousand hills? The wealth in every mine? He owes all the gold and precious jewels, is that how He measures His wealth? I think if we use a little courage to choose a word for segullah which encompasses every word used by the translators we will understand how God measures His wealth. He measures it in us. The more people who submit to Him, the more who accept His offer of salvation and cleanse through the blood of His Son, the wealthier He becomes.
So what say you? How about we commit ourselves to finding the lost sheep and making God wealthier and wealthier.
Love the thought of this..that it is His wealth in us making us His treasure. Just as I love my sons and the reminder that they are a part of me! When I looked at their precious faces as newborns I could see some of me! It seems to me that His wealth in others draws my attention, even in new acquaintances and longtime friends. Thai is how we are wealthy in His Kingdom and not so much in the Kingdoms of this world.
That is our hope and prayer that maybe some people will see a little bit of God in us. I remember a little chorus we sung as kids in Sunday School, “To be like Jesus, To be like Jesus, all I ask is to be like Him. His Spirit fills us, His love overwhelms us, to be like Jesus all day long.