february 09 bible reading

Today’s Old Testament chronological reading is in Genesis 37 and 38.

The Psalms/ Proverbs reading is in Psalm 40.

No New Testament reading today.

Hebrew root words.

I waited patiently for YHVH; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. Psa 40:1

40:1 to wait patiently Strong’s H6960 קוה qavah, “to wait;” that is, to measure time, secure in Him to whom we look.

40:1 to incline Strong’s H5186 נטה natah, a primitive root meaning, “to stretch out, to extend.” The 3-letter root is nun + tet + hey.

nun נ, ן = the seed, thus continue, heir, son
tet ט = the basket, thus surround, contain, hold, mud
hey ה = man w/ raised arms, thus look, reveal, wonder, worship, breath

The story: The concrete noun derived from this verb is a squash, because of the squash plant’s spreading growth habit. The squash gourd, when dried, forms a hard shell, and the seeds (nun) contained within (tet) rattle when shaken. As the squash (nun + tet) extends its vines outward, so the man extends outward (hey, in the sense of the man’s arms extended outward) to spread abroad.

When YHVH inclines to us, He extends Himself, His ear, to us. The idiom is to better hear what we are saying, or to see our situation. Of course, YHVH hears and sees without needing to incline His ear or eyes; it is an idiom to communicate the concept of His concentrated attention.

*****

Many things You have done, O YHVH my God, {n} even Your wonderful works, and Your thoughts toward us: {n} There is none to be compared to You! If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be told. Psa 40:5

40:5 thoughts Strong ’s H4284 machashabah, a concrete noun meaning, “thought, plan, purpose;” from Strong’s H2803 חשב chashab, a primitive root meaning, “to think, meditate, to purpose, to plot.” The 3-letter root is chet + shin + bet.

chet ח = the wall, thus outside, divide, half
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
bet ב = the house, thus house, household, family, in, within

The story: When a problem or concept is weighed, considered, analyzed, reckoned, worked out, it is first, divided (chet) into its components, and then chewed on (shin) within (bet) the heart and mind.

*****

But as for me, who am poor and needy, the Lord (Adonai) takes account of me: {n} You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, tarry not. Psa 40:17

40:17 to take account Strong’s H2803 חשב chashab, a primitive root, meaning “to think, meditate, reckon, purpose, plot.” The exact same as above!

This psalm paints a beautiful picture of the care YHVH takes toward His children. He dwells on their circumstances and situation; He has prepared His plan and purpose for them in advance; He has devised help and rescue; His ear is attentive to their cry, and His eye is always upon them.

Moreover, as we wait patiently for Him (vs.1), He does not delay His help to us (vs. 17). This is the true picture of reality, not the impatience and frustration the enemy suggests to us in order to derail us and cause us to fear.