Journal for Christ: March 2021

February 11, 2021

Worship in WORD

Ps 31:5

Into your hands I commit my spirit;

redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.

NIV

Ps 31:5

I entrust my spirit into your hand. Rescue me, LORD, for you are a faithful God.

Ps 31:5

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

KJV

Ps 31:5

Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

ESV

I. Hope – vv. 1-8

A. Verse 1: Action

B. Verse 2: Appeal

C. Verses 3 & 4: Acknowledge

D. Verse 5: Abandon

II. Help! – vv. 9-20

III. Hail – vv. 21-22

IV. Heart – vv. 23-24

D. Abandon

If you are about to drown, you would not want someone who could not swim to attempt to rescue you, would you? You would like someone who was an experienced swimmer. Even better, you would rather have someone you knew and trusted to save you and not a stranger. And certainly not an enemy of yours.

David was in trouble. In his desperate circumstance, he sought refuge and rescue in the LORD. Why? Because the One in whom he has yielded his spirit to is "the God of truth (NIV)." Why is that significant? Why not say, "the Almighty God," or even "the all-wise God?" After all, when in danger, you want someone powerful and knowledgeable enough to save you. Going back to the drowning analogy, you would not want a small child to rescue you. And you probably would prefer someone who knows what they are doing.

So why didn’t David refer to these attributes or perfections? "Truth" seems like the wrong characteristic to reference in his situation. However, in its context, the appellation is very apt.

In verse 3, David prays that the LORD would "lead and guide" him. David needed someone he could trust to guide him. One who is characterized as truth can be trusted.

In verse 4, he asks the LORD to "free" him from "the trap that is set before him." One who is characterized as truth can be relied on to do this.

And verse 5 anticipates verse 6, where David declares, "I hate those who cling to worthless idols (NIV)." When one digs down into the meaning of the words that translate "worthless idols," they will discover something intensely germane to the truth. The two terms used here are: "hebel"¹ and "shav."² We find the word “shav” used in Jer. 18:15 and translated as “worthless idols.”. However, in Ps. 31:6, the phrase is intensified by the added word "hebel."

Those familiar with the Hebrew word hebel remember its repeated use in Ecclesiastes:

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Eccl 1:2 KJV

"Meaningless! Meaningless!"

says the Teacher.

"Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless."

Eccl 1:2 NIV

Most modern translations have "worthless idols" (see NIV, ESV, NLT, CSB, NRSV) in verse six. A few have "useless idols" ( see LEB, NKJV). The NASB has "vain idols."

That verse 6 concerns David's attitude toward idols, I believe, is without question. However, I think the KJV brings out a nuance that the other translations do not. The KJV translates these two words as "lying vanities" (see also ASV and YLT). This brings out a shade of meaning that fits well with the contrast between the "God of truth" and the false and lying deities worshiped by the pagan nations and unfaithful Israelites.

If you compare the four translations above, you will also notice a difference in translating the Hebrew phrase °¢l °§me¾. The NIV ('84) and KJV have "God of truth." The NLT and ESV have "faithful God," as does the NIV (2011). In Hebrew, the word °§me¾ is a noun. One resource defines it this way:

°§met. Truth, faithfulness, verity. (ASV and RSV usually the same.) This word carries underlying sense of certainty, dependability.

(from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Copyright © 1980 by The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)

The literal translation then would be “God of truth” or “God of faithfulness.” The ESV and NLT translate it as an adjective (faithful). In English, this would be acceptable if “faithfulness” is what David had in mind here.

Perhaps he had the same idea as the servant of Abraham had when he used this word.

26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, 27 saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness [°§met] to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me [Note: “led me” is the same word as used in verse 3 of this Psalm] on the journey to the house of my master's relatives."

Gen 24:26-27 NIV ‘84

But maybe, he meant it as Jeremiah used it:

But the Lord is the true [°§met] God;

he is the living God, the eternal King.

When he is angry, the earth trembles;

the nations cannot endure his wrath.

Jer 10:10 NIV ‘84

Jeremiah declared this in the context of the idolatry of the nations. Look what he said and note especially verse 8.

Jer 10:6-8

6 No one is like you, O Lord;

you are great,

and your name is mighty in power.

7 Who should not revere you,

O King of the nations?

This is your due.

Among all the wise men of the nations

and in all their kingdoms,

there is no one like you.

8 They are all senseless and foolish;

they are taught by worthless [hebel – the same word David uses in v. 6 of Psalm 31 concerning idols] wooden idols.

NIV ‘84

Or perhaps he meant it as a term of security as Jeremiah seems to use it in Jeremiah 33:6.

"'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security [°§met].’”

Jer 33:6 NIV ‘84

Then there is Psalm 25:4-5, where David prays:

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth [°§met] and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

ESV

God’s ways are “truth.” David Prays that he would be led on this path of truth. A path that leads to “salvation.” The Hebrew word used here for “salvation” is from the same root as the word used in Psalm 31:2 where David prays:

Turn your ear to me,

come quickly to my rescue;

be my rock of refuge,

a strong fortress to save me.

NIV

The former being a noun and the latter a verb.

I believe that David might have all these meanings in mind and perhaps even more. So I will leave this phrase at the end of 31:5 in its literal form: “The God of truth.” And I will fill it with all the above meanings.

Into Your hands, I abandon my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth – the true and faithful God, full of truth, the One I can depend on, the one Who is my security!

Worship in Witness:

https://img.heartlight.org/overlazy/creations/4086.jpg

Here are some questions I must ask myself. Do I worship “the God of truth,” as He reveals Himself in His word? Or do I get my facts from the false and sometimes romantic views expressed by the world (and even some believers)? For most of us, it probably would be a mixture of both. I must continually evaluate whether I am getting my truth from “rumors” (Job 42:5) or from revelation (i.e., the Bible). The world worships “lying vanities.” If I treasure the “God of truth.” I must be careful that my notions about God are in line with the truth He reveals about Himself in Scripture. If I am not – If I am eclectic in my approach to determining the truth about God – it will undoubtedly lead to error. I must remember the servant who received the one talent in our Lord’s parable found in Matthew 25:14-28. Though not the parable's main point, the truth still can be said that the servant acted unwisely because he had a false view of his master. And that false view led to failure.

I realize that in this life, and at this time, I will only “see in a mirror dimly” (1 Cor. 13:12 ESV). But that does not relieve me from striving to know and understand what God has revealed about Himself in His Word. To cease striving would be like that “wicked, lazy servant ” that I mentioned in the previous paragraph (see Matthew 25:26). My desire is to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV). A desire that can sometimes be characterized by “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt. 26:41b NASB). Therefore, I must take heed of the Lord’s exhortation that precedes these words “watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation” (Mt. 26:41a NASB).

And what shall I pray for? Not only that I may be alert to the devil's temptations, but also for the things that Paul prayed for the believers at Colossae.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Col 1:9-12 NIV

I know this passage speaks of being “filled with the knowledge of His will.” However, by knowing His will (and doing it), I believe we also gain knowledge of God, as verse 10 indicates. Not merely a fact-filled knowledge, but a relational knowledge that bears fruit that brings praise and pleasure to Him (Col. 1:10).

Those who do these things are the ones who can pray as David does in Psalm 31:1-5!

And I find encouragement also in these God-breathed words of the Apostle Paul:

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Cor 13:12 NIV

Lord, now by works prepared for me and empowered by Spirit-inspired “faith, hope, and love” (v. 13), may I strive to know You more. Works guided by and knowledge resulting from being “a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15-16 NIV). May I be “filled with the knowledge of [Your] will with all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” And by these, grow “in the knowledge of [You] God,” Amen

Worship in Promise, Poetry, Prayer, and Praise:

Do I?

Do I? Do I, Lord? Do I?

To Thee, do I fly?

When evil assails,

Is it to Thee, I cry?

Do I? Do I, Lord? Do I?

On Thee, do I rely?

When want prevails,

Are You Lord, my supply?

Do I? Do I, Lord, Do I?

By Thee, do I defy?

When the evil one rails,

And trust Your truth, not a lie?

ttps://ontariogospel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/John_17_3_Bible_poster-1024x673.png

O God of Truth, Whose Living Word by Thomas Hughes, 1859

O God of truth, Whose living Word

Upholds whate'er hath breath,

Look down on Thy creation, Lord,

Enslaved by sin and death.

Set up Thy standard, Lord, that we,

Who claim a heavenly birth,

May march with Thee to smite the lies

That vex Thy groaning earth.

Ah! would we join that blest array,

And follow in the might

Of Him, the Faithful and the True,

In raiment clean and white!

We fight for truth; we fight for God,

Poor slaves of lies and sin!

He who would fight for Thee on earth

Must first be true within.

Then, God of truth for Whom we long,

Thou Who wilt hear our prayer,

Do Thine own battle in our hearts,

And slay the falsehood there.

Still smite; still burn; till naught is left

But God's own truth and love;

Then, Lord, as morning dew come down,

Rest on us from above.

Yes, come: then, tried as in the fire,

From every lie set free,

Thy perfect truth shall dwell in us,

And we shall live in Thee.

Lyrics: https://www.blueletterbible.org/hymns/o/O_God_Of_Truth.cfm

Video: https://youtu.be/9_5t2K6T2PQ

Or https://youtu.be/KQWphno6MSs

These are not high-quality videos and play only two different piano versions of the song. They do not play long enough to cover all the stanzas. I’ve included them so one might learn the tune so they can sing the song. However, the tune is not essential. What is important are the lyrics.

Some Further Notes & Quotes:

¹1892. lb#h he»el: A common noun referring to vanity, emptiness, meaninglessness; idols.

2 OT:7723 aw=v* shav' (shawv); or shav (shav); from the same as OT:7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain):

KJV - false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, vanity.

OT:7723 A masculine noun meaning emptiness, vanity, evil, ruin, uselessness, deception, worthless, without result, fraud, deceit. The primary meaning of the word is deceit, lie, or falsehood...

...That the primary meaning of š¹w° is "emptiness, vanity" no one can challenge. It designates anything that is unsubstantial, unreal, worthless, either materially or morally. Hence, it is a word for idols (in the same way that hebel "vanity" is also a designation for (worthless) idols, for example). Ps 24:4 may then be rendered, "He who has not lifted up his mind to an 'idol'." Dahood (Psalms, 1, AB, p. 151) lists the following passages: Ps 26:4; Ps 31:7 ; Ps 119:37; Isa 1:13; Jer 18:15; Job 31:5 with this implication, although some are dubious, the last one and Isa 1:13 especially.

Journal for Christ

Friday, March 5, 2021

Do I Trust the God of Truth?

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