Read Psalm 8 at Bible Gateway.
What is man, that You are mindful of him? And the son of man, that You think of him? Psa 8:4
“Mindful” is Strong’s H2142, זכר zakar, a primitive root meaning, “to remember.” The ancient pictographs are zayin + kaph + resh.
zayin ז = the mattock, thus tool, food, cut, nourish
kaph כ, ך = the open palm, thus bend, open, allow, tame
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
The story being told is of the covenant cut (zayin) wherein the open palm (kaph) of blessing was laid upon the head of the man (resh). The pictographs specifically identify that the remembrance is tied to the covenant. God keeps His children always in mind and does not forget about them.
“Think” is Strong’s H6485 פקד paqad, a primitive root meaning, “to visit, to reckon.” The pictographs are pey + quph + dalet.
pey פ, ף = the mouth, thus open, blow, scatter, edge
quph ק = sun on the horizon, thus condense, circle, time
dalet ד = the door, thus enter, move, hang
The various translations translate paqad as “remember,” “visit,” “take care of,” “come help,” “come to your aid,” “attend to.” Quite a variation! One of the derived nouns from this root is riverbank. To understand why this is so, we see that the river is edged (pey) by the bank which keeps the river condensed (quph) to its channel instead of flowing willy-nilly. Just as the river is compassed by the bank to keep it on its path, so God encompasses His children about wherever they go to and fro (dalet, as the door swings back and forth). Isn’t that beautiful? ♥
We find the theme of God’s watchful attention and care for His people throughout Scripture, even in Job!
Let that day [of Job’s birth] be darkness; {n} Let not God inquire after it from above, neither the light shine upon it. {s} Job 3:4
“To inquire” is Strong’s H1875 דרש darash, a primitive root meaning, “to seek, to frequent.” The 3-letter root is dalet + resh + shin.
dalet ד = the door, thus enter, move, hang
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
The story: To enter the door (dalet) of a man (resh) again and again (shin); that is, to frequently visit him, to often look for him. God is so watchful in His attention to His children, that Job must hope that God ceases from seeking after even the day of his birth, in his sorrowful lament.
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Mat 6:31-33
God is taking thought for us. He plans His provision years and decades in advance. We don’t need to pursue our needs, for He knows our needs. Just as He seeks after us (darash, Strong’s H1875) as we seek after Him first, the rest falls into place! But if you have a need, ask, as Yeshua taught us to pray in Mat 6:11. There is just no need to worry over it once it has been asked. ♥
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