Read Psalm 37 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
37:1-40 {p} The righteous do good in the face of the wickedness of the wicked; and wait eagerly for YHVH to act, for the wicked shall be cut off
Psa 37:1-40 Chiastic Structure:
Be silent before YHVH, and wait eagerly for Him; fret not because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who does wicked schemes. Psa 37:7
The verse, and the structure sets up a Contrast between waiting silently and eagerly before YHVH, and fretting because of the wicked who prospers in his way.
To wait is in Hebrew, Strong’s H2342, חול chuwl, a primitive verb meaning, “to twist or writhe” (its negative spin); or “to be strong or firm” (the opposite, positive spin). The ancient pictographs are chet + vav + lamed.
chet ח = wall, thus outside, divide, half
vav ו = tent peg, thus add, secure, hook
lamed ל = shepherd’s staff, thus teach, yoke, to, bind
The parable being told by the Hebrew Root Word is of a wall (chet) which secures (vav) authority (lamed). The authority and the ability of YHVH to act creates firmness as a wall which secures the expectation of the righteous, thus he is able to wait. But why wait eagerly instead of wait patiently?
In the Hebraic worldview, when YHVH has promised something, His faithfulness to His word means the thing is as good as done. We become as watchmen in the watchtower, expectantly and eagerly scanning the horizon for that which is coming. It’s not a passive waiting, but an active waiting.
To fret is in Hebrew, Strong’s H2734, חרה charah, a primitive verb meaning, “to be kindled,” always used of anger. The ancient pictographs are chet + resh + hey.
chet ח = wall, thus outside, divide, half
resh ר = head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
hey ה = man w/ raised arms, thus look, reveal, wonder, worship, breath
The parable is that outside (chet), the man (resh) becomes (hey) burnt if left in the sun. We are led to this story, according to the Ancient Hebrew Lexicon, by the cognate words of “to burn,” and also, interestingly enough, “to delay,” as outside work was delayed to avoid the sun. The idea of fretting is of burning with anger or impatience.
But, burning with anger or impatience always bears evil fruit (vs. 37:8). How much better to settle the heart and mind on the inevitibility of YHVH’s action (vs. 37:5)!
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