The Inner Form of Poetry
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2 Hebrew World
He leads me – Such a familiar verse requires much more careful examination. It’s just too easy to breeze past these still waters, imagining that there isn’t much more to the sentence than its obvious imagery of shepherding. But then we remember that David wrote in Paleo-Hebrew, and even though we might have to interpret a bit, it’s worth looking at this sentence in that form to see if there is something we might have missed. Low and behold, we find at least one very interesting artifact. Here’s the verse in Paleo-Hebrew:
Reading from right to left, we find the word yenahaleni in the last position. This is the Hebrew combination conjugation and suffix with the root verb nahal, a verb that means, “to lead with care.” In Paleo-Hebrew you would see the sequence of pictures for the consonants Yod-Nun-Hey-Lamed-Nun-Yod. Do you notice something about this sequence? It looks like a tiny pyramid. Up one side goes Yod-Nun. Down the other side goes Nun-Yod. At the top is the combination Hey-Lamed. If we were to interpret these consonants in images we might see the word as something like this:
Deeds + Life [on the up side] Reveals- Control [the top] Life + Deeds [on the down side].
This could be a form of Hebrew poetry found in sentence structure called chiasm. It is recognized as A-B-C-B’-A’. Could it be that David used the same structure, well-known in his poetic sentences, inside words? If he did (and, of course, it is speculation now), then he may have given us an additional insight into what it means to lead with care.
What does it mean, “to lead with care”? Could it be something like “the deeds (work) of life reveal control of a life of deeds”? Let’s elaborate using the background of David’s view in the rest of the poem and the rest of his poetry of praise. Remember that this verb is about God leading me (David). What if “lead with care” means the deeds that God performs which bring life (that is, all those events where God shows Himself as the ‘ezer of Israel) reveal (to me and the world) His control of the life of my deeds? Up the pyramid, down the pyramid. I discover God’s work on the way up, realizing that His control (what is absolutely essential if the world is not going to collapse into chaos) is the basis of my life’s work. His work comes first. Mine follows. Without His control, my life spins into chaos. But I don’t have to fear because “he leads me.”
The imagery is like a picture frame. The frame surrounds the idea of control. On both sides are life and work. But on His side, I see work producing life. His deeds bring about life. On my side I see life producing work. My life is to bring about deeds that fit the pattern. He doesn’t lead me without purpose. The purpose of leading is so that I may follow in what He has already done.
Topical Index: Psalm 23:2, lead with care, nahal, Paleo-Hebrew
Skip, for some time I have been thinking about asking you to tackle the next sentence: He restoreth my soul.
This simple layperson leans heavily on these words, knowing full well that I don’t really perceive its depth. Your thoughts please, some day. Tom
I have developed a full lecture on the 23rd psalm in Paleo-Hebrew plus the Masoretic text. I will be giving that lecture in Virginia Beach next weekend. It may be recorded.
This passage has always gone hand in hand for me with Ephesians 2:10, “For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.” In turn, my brain jumps to John 5: 19, “I tell you that the Son cannot do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does, the Son does too.” He’s made the paths now we make the choice. If only we would love Him more than we love ourselves so that we would see the paths so much more easily and walk His purposes into the earth.
Thank you, Martha. I needed that today.
Because I’m not completely certain if that was a positive for you I want to be sure there was no condemnation in what I said earlier. I can only speak for myself and I readily acknowledge…sometimes I love my frustration or bad attitude more and follow it-definitely not still waters….wish I didn’t but I do…..gratefully, when I “let it go” I can repent and begin again. Hope your day really is a blessing.
This is not relevant to today’s discussion, but I ran across it today and thought some might want to read the articles. Skip has covered much of what is said here, but I thought is was interesting to read other opinions.
Bible History Daily is a publication of the Biblical Archaeology Society.
Featured in this issue: Paul: Jewish Law and Early Christianity
November 18, 2014
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Paul: Jewish Law and Early Christianity
This free eBook provides the cultural contexts for the theology of Paul
In the FREE eBook Paul: Jewish Law and Early Christianity, top Biblical scholars examine the controversial role of Jewish law and tradition in early Christianity. While Christianity was open to both Jews and Gentiles, some contended that converts had to first become Jews in order to become Christians. Others considered the outward signs of Judaism to be unnecessary for Christian life.
Paul, the apostle who wrote much of the New Testament, discussed the role of Judaism among Jesus’ followers in a number of his letters. Although Paul preached justification on the basis of faith in Christ, he was himself a Pharisee and addressed the role of Jewish traditions and the status of Israel in the new covenant.
In “Paul’s Contradictions: Can They Be Resolved?” Princeton Professor John Gager looks at how Paul seems to be at war with himself on the subject of Israel. Is there a way out of his contradictions? Yes, the author argues, but only if we first get past misconceptions about Paul that date to the earliest stages of Christianity—even to Paul’s own times.
Biblical scholar Ben Witherington III counters the contradiction in “Laying Down the Law: A response to John Gager.” He questions Gager’s idea that Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ for Christians alone by asking whether his message was intended for both Jews and Christians.
Read these articles and more in our FREE eBook Paul: Jewish Law and Early Christianity. Featuring articles taken from Bible Review and Biblical Archaeology Review, this eBook considers the relevant writings of Paul and brings to light some of the difficult theological issues for Jews and Christians that persist to this day.
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Acts presents the evangelizing apostle and church leader Barnabas as a model of integrity and character. Calling him a good man (Acts 11:24), a prophet and teacher (13:1), an apostle (14:14) and one through whom God worked miracles (15:12), Acts loads him with accolades. Yet despite the many times Barnabas appears in the Biblical text, he lacks the scholarly attention accorded to his evangelist and writing colleague, Saul/Paul. In a two-part character study, Dr. Robin Gallaher Branch examines select stories about Barnabas that showcase his contributions to the Early Church and establish his significant leadership role.
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Thank you for sharing that resource John.
Me too, but I am still trying to figure out how to get there. Please help!
Laurita, I’ll be praying for you. He got me through an incredibly painful life for the past 66 years-I know He’ll guide you through too. I do know I have learned even through the hardest times…I do know He loves you more than His Life.
I really will pray.
Thank you, Marsha! I need all the prayer I can get! I pray for everyone here, too.
May YHVH keep us and bless us all. Amen