Paula Wiseman

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Home » Hebrew Words series

Read posts from the Hebrew Words series

Lovingkindness

By Paula

Lovingkindness title graphic

Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. Psalm 40:11

Hesed.
Lovingkindness, steadfast love.
Mercy, covenant love, unfailing love.
The most theologically significant word in the Old Testament
Is the hardest to define.

It is love without sentimentality.
It is mercy without weakness.
It is loyalty without obligation.

It is devotion.
It is protection.
It is blessing.

It is central to God’s character
His course of action
And His covenants.

We as His people are called to receive it,
To emulate it,
To offer it to others.

How would our world be different if we did?


Read more from the Hebrew Words series

Enjoy this hymn God of Mercy, God of Grace.

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Hebrew Words series, Psalms

Salvation

By Paula

Salvation title graphic

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. Exodus 14:13a

Israel was in a hopeless situation, it seemed.
The chariots of the Egyptian army were in pursuit and closing fast.
The Red Sea stood before them.

Moses said three things.
Fear not.
Stand firm.
See the salvation of the LORD.

Salvation.
Deliverance.
Rescue.
But hardly ever by a human deliverer.

It is the Hebrew word, yeshua.
You may have seen it before.
Or perhaps the Greek translation
Jesus.

He would accomplish an even greater deliverance.
Than from a hostile army,
But from an eternal death sentence we brought upon ourselves.

Follow Moses’s instruction.
Don’t be afraid.
Stand firm.
See the salvation of the LORD.
See Jesus Christ!


Read more of the Hebrew Words series.

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Hebrew Words series

Glory

By Paula

[A]nd while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Exodus 33:22

God is responding to a desperate heart cry from Moses.
Show me your glory.
Show me your kabod

Glory is a good translation,
But it’s one that doesn’t quite capture all that the Hebrew is.

It is honor.
It is splendor.
It is riches and reputation.

It is something we give great weight to.
It is presence and position.
It is fullness and significance.
And that kind of glory belongs to God alone.

The psalms tell us God’s glory is above the heavens.
And the heavens, in turn, declare it.
There is glory is His name.

But Isaiah tells us it will be revealed
And the earth will be full of the glory of the Lord.

Like Moses, Isaiah saw the glory.
So did Solomon.
So did John.
And it was too much.

But what if we all earnestly prayed,
“Lord, show me Your glory.”

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Exodus, Hebrew Words series

Mercy

By Paula

Mercy rehem title graphic

For the mountains shall depart
And the hills be removed,
But My kindness shall not depart from you,
Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,”
Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

Isaiah 54:10

Mercy. Compassion. Love.
Together the Hebrew is rehem.
The first time it is used in Scripture is in Genesis 20:18
Where it means womb.

So think of the tender love of a mother for her child.
It is gentle.
Sheltering.
Protecting.
Comforting.

But it’s more unshakeable than the mountains.
More unmovable than the hills.

Lovingkindness.
A promise of peace.
And His unending mercy.
Guaranteed by His name and reputation.

Why?
Well, this is Isaiah 54.
In Isaiah 53, He explains how it’s possible.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5


Read God of Mercy, God of Grace

Read more of the Hebrew Words series

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Hebrew Words series

Soul

By Paula

soul title graphic

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Psalm 103:1

O my soul.
We think soul, as opposed to body.
The intangible and the tangible.
We’re Greek that way.

The Hebrews had a different idea.
Soul is nephesh.
It is the essence of life.
But it is more.

Hebrews believed we have a self that others know–
This includes the body–
And a true self, an inner self
A nephesh.

It is David’s inner self, his true self
That he calls to worship.

We can be seen when we worship.
Other may believe that we worship based on their observations.
But the nephesh tells the truth about it.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!


Read all of the Hebrew Words series

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Hebrew Words series

Know

By Paula

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

Know yada title graphic

The Hebrew word is yada.
Vine’s dictionary says yada means
To know by observing and reflecting
And by experiencing.

We can read
And understand intellectually that God is good.
He is loving.
He is powerful.

We can observe and reflect
When God moves in history
Or in the lives of those around us.

But that’s not enough,
So God invites us to live with Him
To actively experience His presence and His hand.

The Israelites knew.
From the plagues, to the Exodus, to the Law.
The cloud, the fire, the manna, the water.

So did the armies of Israel.
On the battlefield against the Philistines, the Midianites, the Syrians, the Assyrians.
Outnumbered. Overwhelmed. Yet victorious.

The patriarchs.
The psalmists.
The prophets, too.

Hannah and Hagar
Sarah and Eve
Josheba and Esther knew.

Now the important question is
Do you know the Lord of hosts?
Have you observed and considered?
Do you know the Holy One of Israel?
Have you experienced His peace?

If not, the invitation stands.


Here’s another great Hebrew Words series post – Meditate

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: Hebrew Words series, Psalms

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