Beautiful Psalm 54:1-4

 

Psa. 54:1‏ לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִֽד׃

‎Psa. 54:2‏ בְּב֣וֹא הַ֭זִּיפִים וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לְשָׁא֑וּל הֲלֹ֥א דָ֝וִ֗ד מִסְתַּתֵּ֥ר עִמָּֽנוּ׃

‎Psa. 54:3‏ אֱ֭לֹהִים בְּשִׁמְךָ֣ הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ֥ תְדִינֵֽנִי׃

‎Psa. 54:4‏ אֱ֭לֹהִים שְׁמַ֣ע תְּפִלָּתִ֑י הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינָה לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃

‎Psa. 54:5‏ כִּ֤י זָרִ֨ים ׀ קָ֤מוּ עָלַ֗י וְֽ֭עָרִיצִים בִּקְשׁ֣וּ נַפְשִׁ֑י לֹ֤א שָׂ֨מוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְנֶגְדָּ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃

‎Psa. 54:6‏ הִנֵּ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים עֹזֵ֣ר לִ֑י אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י בְּֽסֹמְכֵ֥י נַפְשִֽׁי׃

‎Psa. 54:7‏ יָשׁוֹב [יָשִׁ֣יב] הָ֭רַע לְשֹׁרְרָ֑י בַּ֝אֲמִתְּךָ֗ הַצְמִיתֵֽם׃

‎Psa. 54:8‏ בִּנְדָבָ֥ה אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֑ךְ א֤וֹדֶה שִּׁמְךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה כִּי־טֽוֹב׃

‎Psa. 54:9‏ כִּ֣י מִכָּל־צָ֭רָה הִצִּילָ֑נִי וּ֝בְאֹיְבַ֗י רָאֲתָ֥ה עֵינִֽי׃

        

        Like Psalm 23, this psalm is short and very meaningful when we are faced with adversity. I believe the way this psalm was written is to help people to reflect over David's personal thoughts when he was betrayed by the Ziphites. In very much the same way, we see this in the lectio divina (Latin: divine reading of the Scriptures). An example is provided here. 

        It begins with the introduction, לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ בִּנְגִינֹ֗ת , which tells us who the psalm is prepared for. It is for the 'chief musician' or some call it 'choir director' and it appears that he was in charge of the players of stringed instruments. 

        The word  מַשְׂכִּ֥יל  is not translated, but I believe this is something like a rendition or an attribute to David. The psalm is therefore an attribute to David (לְדָוִֽד). The context is also given so that people could understand the circumstances involved. 

        If this psalm is written by a third party, it is probably attributed to David. Perhaps, David had shared his own thoughts about that incident and the psalter helped to put it in words. Or, David could have also written it, but the story is based on the narrative we read in 1 Samuel 23 where the Ziphites (זִּיפִים) told King Saul that David (and his men) were hiding in their land. There was an agreement between King Saul and the Ziphites to spy on David's whereabouts, and all his hideouts so that King Saul could pursue him to the last hideout to finish him off. 

        If we understand how lectio divina is written, we will see how Psalm 54 was put together to enable us to experience a closer relationship with God by putting ourselves in David's shoes. Hence, the entire chapter gives us the first person perspective which is different from the third person narrative in 1 Samuel 23. 

        In verses 3 & 4, we see David turning to One and Only One who could save him. He is none other than God (אֱ֭לֹהִים) Himself. Who do we turn to when we are in distress? 

        Four verbs are used in these two verses, which the psalmist linked David and God, 

•         הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי  which means 'save me.' This same root word  ישׁע is how we get two names, Joshua and Jesus. 
•        תְדִינֵֽנִי  means 'vindicate'. The Hebrew root word is דין which is translated as 'judge.' This tells us how David turned to God as the One who could see from Heaven and knew what was on the mind (motive) of Saul. God is the best judge, and David turns to Him for vindication. Bear in mind that the word we see in the word וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ֥, the root word is גבר which means 'might', 'strength' or 'power.' Just as he did, David once again looked up to God as the One who has the power to save him from King Saul and his army. 
•  שְׁמַ֣ע Here is a word that we have come across time and again. "Hear , O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one!" (see footnote 1) The word is in the Imperative, and this is like David demanding God to hear his cry.          

• הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינָה is a hifil imperative. The English translation 'Give ear' does not bring out the nuances that we see when we understand the Hebrew grammar. Hifil is a 'causative active' and 'imperative' means a strong urging from the person who speaks this word. It is like David telling God, "You have ears, O Lord. Cause Your ears to hear me!" This is a sound of desperation on the part of David.  How often do we call to God with such strong impulsion as David did! He did it to show God that he had no one else to turn to but God alone!

 I will leave the rest of the verses to another day. 

 FOOTNOTES:

1. Deut 6:4 is an imperative given to Israel to listen or hear this declaration that is God and He is only One God. 

”שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה ׀ אֶחָֽד׃“

(Deuteronomy 6:4 HMT-W4) 

        

        

        

My Personal Encounter with Jesus in John 5:1-14

This is a Lectio Divina written by a fellow mature student from the seminary that I was in. This is his assignment as a partial fulfilment for a module on Spiritual Formation which he did. I have his permission to share his assignment, in view of my reading of Psalm 54 (see my blog post): 

My Personal Encounter with Jesus in John 5:1-14

By an Anonymous Author

        As usual, today I made my way to whatever available spot was left at the side of the pool of the Sheep Gate, where multitudes of invalids like the lame, blind or paralysed gathered around the pool side. I always seem to be one of the last ones to make it there, because I had met with an accident some 38 years ago, which left my feet mangled. I lost my ability to walk again. Each time, I have to drag myself on the ground just using my bare hands, all calloused and bruised from the much exerted effort to move, with my bed slung behind me. All of us invalids try to be the first to enter the pool when the waters are stirred, as we have seen for ourselves, that the first person who enters the pool is miraculously healed, for some reason or another. Today, it is exceptionally crowded, as there is a feast going on in Jerusalem. So it was very difficult for me to make my way through the crowd. Finally, I find a spot in a corner. I open up my bed to lay on it, facing the pool. It was extra difficult to see the pool water, with the walking crowd constantly blocking my view. The atmosphere was noisy, with shuffling feet, and people talking loudly, to be heard. While I kept intently looking at the pool, I was not hopeful today because of all the obstacles. I was extremely forlorn, dejected, thinking that coming here today was a waste of time.

        Suddenly, I heard a distinct voice, “Hello!” I took my focus from the pool and directed it at this man who was standing over me. He was looking directly at me. Undeniably, that voice and the eye contact stirred my spirit within me. I felt a warmth I had never felt for a long time. No one paid me any attention over the years. Before I could collect myself to respond to him, he shot me a rhetoric question, “Do you want to be healed?” I could have easily answered an emphatic “YES!” but instead I found myself unnecessarily explaining why I couldn’t make in the pool before anyone else. I would have continued, but he interjected with a ridiculous order, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” Immediately, I felt life in my feet and I straightened them, and, with amazement and exuberance, I shouted out, “My feet! My feet! I can feel them!” I could not do this for 38 long years. I stood up and took my ‘baby steps.’ I quickly grabbed my bed to rush home to tell my family, relatives and friends. I felt so tall. I could see far. I was making my way through the crowd with great excitement.

        “Today’s the Sabbath! How dare you carry your bed on the Sabbath!” rang aloud behind me. I turned to see an angry mob with daggered eyes eye-balling me. I panicked, realising they were the ‘holy joes.’ I explained that that man who healed me told me to do so. In all of my earlier excitement, I forgot about him, not realising he left me immediately after healing me. I really did not know who he was. All I could tell them was, “That Man told me to.” They let me go. On the way home, I thought I should go to the temple to show myself to the priest and perhaps, give thanks to God for healing me.

Mechanical? Try meditating on God's Word in Hebrew, especially the Psalms.

 

Having done this, especially with the Psalms after completing the entire syllabus outlined in Weingreen, I have to say it really makes learning Hebrew more meaningful. Try this! 

        The Psalms is a great book to start with, especially since most of us already know the contents in English. Psalms are poetry in nature; therefore, they are short verses and packed with meaning. 

        You should go through the Psalms verse by verse. There are verses in it that you are familiar with that you can mediate on throughout the day. I do this all the time. Whether driving or cooking, or while having my shower, I occupy my idle mind with the Psalms in Hebrew. 

        My initial plan was to memorise some of the favourite Psalms in Hebrew. However, I think the more important step is to first meditate on the meaning first. While meditating on the Psalms, I realise that I was able to review my Hebrew grammar, something which I agree can be too "mechanical" while going through Level 1 and 2 Biblical Hebrew. 

        While the grammar and vocabulary are necessary in the learning of any language, we have to supplement it with the syntax and the way words are used to produce a specific effect. 

        This will not only help you review your understanding of concepts such as cohortative, imperative and jussive (which you learnt in Hebrew Level 1), when you see how these words function within the context of a given situation; meditating on God's Word in Hebrew will also help unleash a new zest in learning the language. 

        You will also how beautiful and precise the language is because the Psalms are poetic in nature. Those of you who did English literature (I did not) will be able to understand this better why you were told to read William Shakespeare. What a feeling when you begin to build your confidence in handling the language the way it is used! 

        If you follow this piece of advice, your feeling that Hebrew Grammar (same with English Grammar) is too 'mechanical' and 'dry' will be gone. The new insights that you have gained through the learning of Biblical Hebrew at Levels 1 and 2 seminary level will give new meanings to the text that you are reading. 

        For those who know how to sing, it is a also good to sing some songs in Hebrew after going through the lyrics in Hebrew. Go back to those days when you were in nursery school where you learnt the nursery rhyme by hard and sing along with your teachers. 

        Those of you who are able to download "Daily Dose of Hebrew" on your mobile phone will find the grammar being explained as the verses are parsed, glossed and given the English translation. For example, this morning (Oct 1), the gentleman parsed the Pe-Yod (I-Yod) in Psalm 119: 94. 

”לְֽךָ־אֲ֭נִי הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי כִּ֖י פִקּוּדֶ֣יךָ דָרָֽשְׁתִּי׃“

(Psalm 119:94 HMT-W4)

https://accordance.bible/link/read/HMT-W4#Psa._119:94

        After all, we should realise that when we first started learning English in school, we may begin with the dry bones of grammar, but we are not stuck there. Like the Spirit of God breathing on the dry bones life in Ezekiel's Valley of Dry Bones, those of us who are able to take English further will find a new lease of life, power and freedom in the way we are able use the language to communicate. 

        

Like the green olive tree forever

 

While doing my devotion this morning, I found an interesting description of the olive in Psalm 52:10. 

”וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ כְּזַ֣יִת רַ֭עֲנָן בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים בָּטַ֥חְתִּי בְחֶֽסֶד־אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃“

(Psalm 52:10 HMT-W4)

https://accordance.bible/link/read/HMT-W4#Psa._52:10

        Here, the Hebrew seems to emphasize the COLOUR of the olive, whereas the Septuagint translation into Greek uses the word κατάκαρπος (meaning, being fruitful) is used instead. 

        On one hand, this appears to be a mistranslation by the Septuagint scholars. However, we have to understand the difference in the demographics of the Old Testament Jews and those living in other areas. 

        In the Tropics, an evergreen tree is very common. We look at beauty from a different perspective. If there colourful flowers on the tree, we say it is beautiful. But, for a country like Israel, where trees do not always grow or remain green all year round, the olive is "beautiful" because its green leaves symbolises its fruitfulness. Abundance of fruits means wealth and prosperity. The olive tree can grow even on land that has little soil.         

        For that reason, the psalmist describes himself like an olive (tree) that is green and fruitful. In some Mediterranean countries like Spain, if given enough nutrition, the olive tree can live for over a thousand years and still remain fruitful. Hence, we now understand that the psalmist knows that he will only be fruitful (or green) for as long as he remains in the house of God. 

        This brings to mind two texts of the Scriptures: 

(1) When the Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples: 

““Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”

(John 15:4 NAS95)

https://accordance.bible/link/read/NAS95S#John_15:4

(2) When Paul described Israel as a cultivated olive tree: 

Rom. 11:17 ¶ But if some of the branches (referring to Israel) were broken off, and you, being a wild olive (referring to the non-Jews), were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

        The Gentiles are referred to as the wild olive tree: 

Rom. 11:24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

        This text does not speak about grafting as us, Gentiles becoming Jews or trying to live like the Jews; rather, in the same light of what the Lord Jesus said in John 15, and what the psalmist in Psalm 52 mentioned, we are to be fruitful. 

        To be fruitful, we are to abide in Christ (John 15: 4, 5).

What is Rosh Hashanah?

 

We say, שָׁנָה  טוֹבָה (Shanah Tovah, literally translated as Good Year) or Happy New Year (to our Jewish friends on Rosh Hashanah (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה). It is the beginning of their calendar year. 

        It is like us Chinese celebrating the first day of the new calendar year. The Jewish year of 5782 starts on September 7, 2021 being the first month of the Jewish month, Tishrei. 

        The word 'rosh' (רֹאשׁ) means the 'head' or the 'chief' and 'shanah' (שָׁנשָה) means year.' 

        Biblically, this is also known as the Yom Teruah (יוֹם תְּרוּעַה) which can be translated as 'Day of Shouting.' 

        Although the Jews celebrate this day as one of their High Holy Days, being Gentile believers in Christ, Paul warned us against the influence of the Judaizers during his time.  

“Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." (Colossians 2:16–17)

  

Christ is Our Focus 

        Our focus should always be on Christ alone, who Alone is the culmination of all prophecies regarding Him and the fulfilment of all the requirements under the Law of Moses. The Law was given to the Israelites so that they could be goaded to the Messiah who was to come.

        Throughout His ministry, Jesus never instructed the disciples (who were Jews themselves) to teach others to follow the Jewish traditions; otherwise, the worldwide church would have been celebrating the Jewish feasts like our brethren of faith from the Jewish tradition. 

        Instead, Christ instituted only one -- the Lord's Supper, -- which is a culmination of all that He came for. This has been the tradition for both the Jewish and Gentile believers. 

        The dispute with the Judaisers became so intensive that the apostles had to call for the Council of Jerusalem, where all the instructions to the Gentile believers were summed up in these words with only four necessities spelt out clearly for the Gentile believers:

"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

(Acts 15:28–29 NAS95)  

 

        Because Christ is the fulfilment of all the prophecies and feasts of the Old Testament, we are therefore, no longer required to celebrate the feasts as Gentile believers. 

        Those who quote scriptures in the Old Testament to support their idea that these feasts are meant to be celebrated by the Church, have failed to see that Christ is the substance and fulfilment of all the requirements and feasts under the Mosaic Law.  They bring others into bondage once again to the Law, when Christ's work on the Cross was supposed to set us free!

It is Finished!

        When Christ came, He lived a perfect life, free from sins. He was the perfect pascal lamb who was sacrificed as an atonement for our sins. Unlike the Jewish priestly traditions, our Lord only had to do it once and He did it for all. There was no need for Him to lay down His life every year like what the High Priest had to do with the pascal lamb once a year on Yom Kippur.

        On the cross, our Lord cried out, Τετέλεσται, which meant, 'It is finished!'  (John 19:30). Paraphrased, this means, "It's a done deal!" or "All debts paid!" 

        Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfil it (Matt 5:17):

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

        He has delivered us from the bondage of the Law that could not save us, so why, if we have been saved by God's grace, do we now go back to the Law? 

“Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." (Colossians 2:16–17)

Do Not Believe Everything You Hear

        On the Internet these days, there are many of this kind of teachings out there. 

        It is unfortunate that we continue to feed on this kind of junk food instead of the solid meat from the Word of God. 

        One can read so many meanings into the Word of God. This is called 'eisegesis' (meaning, reading meanings into the text). It's not necessarily only the Hebrew text, but even the English text, you can find so many so-called "hidden" or "secrets" messages. I call this 'theological rubbish.'

        God's Word, for one, will make it very clear if God wants us to know. Even when Jesus told the parables, He made sure the disciples understood the lessons from these parables. 

        The tragedy is that people speculate too much about the Bible. As Dr Koh Siang Kiang of Singapore Bible Seminary puts it: "The less the Lord speaks about the subject, the more is written or speculated about!"

        Do not believe everything that you hear. Instead, search the Scriptures to see if it is true.

YOU CAN'T READ HEBREW? NOW AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR FREE

July 3, 2021 

        After prayerful consideration, I have decided to bless you with this book by making it available to you for free in PDF format. 

        Thank God, I have managed to recover the cost of printing a limited edition of the book. This book is intended to help you learn Biblical Hebrew. God willing, I may try to write another book on koine Greek.

        You may download the PDF by clicking on either the book cover above or the link below: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SnmCc2q99KCOn8cOT7VN-w6wLX5LW96P?usp=sharing

        If you would like to bless me, you may just make some transfer using Touch'n'Go. Please scan the QR code. 

        Alternatively, you may want to purchase the other leftover stock of books that I have written. You can purchase copies of these testimony books to give away as Christmas gifts:

• Ang Tang Loong: From Pest to Pest Controller. This book is about how a former gangster and drug addict has turned to Christ. He is today the founder of Stopest. 
• Sam Kian Seng: Kajang Redemption. In this book, Sam tells the story how he spent 27 years in Kajang prison.  

       You may want to purchase other books: 

https://booksbymalaysians.blogspot.com/2020/11/books-by-local-author-stephen-ng.html

        Please return to this page in about a week or two's time as I am still trying to sort out a software which I purchased tonight. It is supposed to convert the PDF into a flippable e-book but for some reason I am unable to do it.