June 17, 2009
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Follow vs. Pursue
On Sunday, we sang a worship song with lyrics made up of the words to Psalm 23. Because I spent hours and hours translating this psalm and exegeting it for my final paper in Hebrew, I was ‘slightly’ bowled over by the depth of meaning I experienced as I sang the words. To blog all the different nuances I learned would be tedious, but today I wanted to share one thing that continues to make ripples in my heart.
At the end of the psalm in verse 6, most Bible versions render the verse, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Interestingly, the word that is translated “follow” from the Hebrew is more accurately (in my opinion) translated “to attend closely to” or “pursue.” In the Old Testament, this word is most often used to describe enemies who hotly pursue their adversaries. However, because of God’s protection, it is not enemies who hotly pursue the psalmist (nor us) but God’s goodness and faithfulness. What an incredible, vivid image it is to see God’s goodness and faithfulness personified here as being in hot pursuit of me! I have no fear of enemies chasing me, being hot on my trail, breathing down my neck. Instead, I have the shalom-giving assurance that God is hot on my heels, actively chasing me down with his goodness and faithfulness. His love for me is ACTIVE, not passive or stationary…
Something about this truth just causes me to bow and worship.
Comments (5)
wish i felt that way, but thanks for sharing!
@ihtc - Meaning…you wish that you felt like God was pursuing you? or that the truth causes you to bow & worship?
meaning that i don’t feel that “God’s goodness and faithfulness personified here as being in hot pursuit of me”.
@ihtc - I often feel that way too. This psalm reminds me though that it’s God’s heart to be ‘in hot pursuit’ of us. It’s his passion that we be his. So if I’m not seeing or experiencing God’s pursuit of me, then I 1. pray for Him to reveal His passion for me and 2. examine to see if I’ve been ignoring, pushing off or shutting Him out and maybe that’s why I’m not experiencing it. Of course, there’s no easy answer and I don’t know your situation, but that’s where I’d start…
This is Awesome MA. I am currently in Portland, on my way to Minneapolis. I just got in from Beijing, where Xanga is still blocked. However, I have been able to read your updates via my email. Again, many of your entries have been a HUGE blessing. I was just sharing your recent entry to encourage two brothers before departing Beijing yesterday. Are you on facebook? I would like to find another way to keep in touch. Congrats on the pregnancy as well. I have wanted to say that for months, but couldn’t. Best wishes to Sam as well! Your brother in Christ, Abdul