5.27.25 ~ Taking Responsibility
Good morning!
In last night's zoom call, we connected many dots in the opening verses of the book of Numbers/bamidbar, in the wilderness (Num. 1:1-3; Ex. 30:11-16; Matt. 17:24-27), how to function as an army of the Lord, in unity, and the necessity to depend on one another by lifting one another's heads/nasa and individually taking full responsibility for our own actions/paqad; which ties into the theme of the 50 days of counting the omer.
Welcome to day 45, the 7th week and 3rd day of counting the omer. 5 days left. I feel like the 'Heinz Ketchup commercial'
In yesterday's study I introduced some thoughts to challenge our traditional thinking, spurred on by the two sermons I heard on Sunday from two unrelated pastors, in two different parts of the country.
This morning, I want to do the same as we examine another traditional mindset that often causes us to cast blame, rather than take full responsibility. How do we do that? By meditating on His precepts/piqudim and contemplating His ways (Psa. 119:15).
You may have noticed the relationship between paqad and piqudim. Paqad is the root word of Piqudim. Outside of what I taught you last night, about Nasa and Paqad, Exodus 34:7. is the most famous use of this word Paqad; where we have the statement about the impact of the fathers’ sins to the third and fourth generation.
"Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving/nasa iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting/paqad the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."
(Ex. 34:7)
I need to get a little technical for a minute, so wipe the sleepy from your eyes and focus with me for a few more minutes :-)
The fundamental meaning of paqad is to exercise oversight over a subordinate, either in the form of inspecting or of taking action to cause a considerable change in the circumstances of the subordinate, either for the better or for the worse. Huh? In simplicity it's about exercising oversight from someone 'above' to someone 'below'. What it's not is a word that means transferring guilt or punishment.
If we take the modern 'deliverance' method of applying Exodus 34:7, then we would be suggesting that God conveys blame from father to son...I am the way I am because I inherited the sinful practice from my parent(s)...Rather, we should read it as: God oversees the consequences of a father’s actions as they impact future generations.
And this is exactly how God leads us in meditating on His precepts/piqudim. The psalmist verbally declares the righteousness of God’s supervision. He extols God’s management and governance. This isn't whimsical thinking. It’s joyful, oral confirmation. God does government very well indeed.
And this beautiful truth connects us to God's judgment/mishpat (Psa. 119:13), where we see the whole process of God's governance, which in the ancient world really amounted to the character and decisions of the king or the chief of the tribe.
I think we all know that it is God alone Who can exercise the true ultimate rulership for, he is ‘the one judging all the earth. He is the absolute rule and the only One capable of such power; God Himself and no other. When the psalmist wants to proclaim the righteous rule of the almighty God, he chooses pāqad, not only because God Himself chose this word in His declaration to Moses but also because there is no other overseer of men whose rule is continuously just.
Perhaps, on this 45th day of counting the omer, we need to hear this reminder too, especially when we are so caught up in the inherently flawed politics of human governance within our internal marriage (soul-body), physical marriage (honey bunny-honey bunny) and spiritual marriage (God-us). Let the true Ruler show Himself, King of all.
That's a large part of Pentecost!
Will I let Him Paqad? Will I?
Shalom,
Alan
We will be flying to Destin-Ft. Walton Beach, Florida Thursday evening. Staying for 10 days. Teaching. Sharing. Learning and encouraging the growing army of servants to scatter the enemy through unity and paqad; physically and spiritually (Lev. 26:7,8). Prayer appreciated
Welcome to day 45, the 7th week and 3rd day of counting the omer. 5 days left. I feel like the 'Heinz Ketchup commercial'
In yesterday's study I introduced some thoughts to challenge our traditional thinking, spurred on by the two sermons I heard on Sunday from two unrelated pastors, in two different parts of the country.
This morning, I want to do the same as we examine another traditional mindset that often causes us to cast blame, rather than take full responsibility. How do we do that? By meditating on His precepts/piqudim and contemplating His ways (Psa. 119:15).
You may have noticed the relationship between paqad and piqudim. Paqad is the root word of Piqudim. Outside of what I taught you last night, about Nasa and Paqad, Exodus 34:7. is the most famous use of this word Paqad; where we have the statement about the impact of the fathers’ sins to the third and fourth generation.
"Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving/nasa iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting/paqad the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."
(Ex. 34:7)
I need to get a little technical for a minute, so wipe the sleepy from your eyes and focus with me for a few more minutes :-)
The fundamental meaning of paqad is to exercise oversight over a subordinate, either in the form of inspecting or of taking action to cause a considerable change in the circumstances of the subordinate, either for the better or for the worse. Huh? In simplicity it's about exercising oversight from someone 'above' to someone 'below'. What it's not is a word that means transferring guilt or punishment.
If we take the modern 'deliverance' method of applying Exodus 34:7, then we would be suggesting that God conveys blame from father to son...I am the way I am because I inherited the sinful practice from my parent(s)...Rather, we should read it as: God oversees the consequences of a father’s actions as they impact future generations.
And this is exactly how God leads us in meditating on His precepts/piqudim. The psalmist verbally declares the righteousness of God’s supervision. He extols God’s management and governance. This isn't whimsical thinking. It’s joyful, oral confirmation. God does government very well indeed.
And this beautiful truth connects us to God's judgment/mishpat (Psa. 119:13), where we see the whole process of God's governance, which in the ancient world really amounted to the character and decisions of the king or the chief of the tribe.
I think we all know that it is God alone Who can exercise the true ultimate rulership for, he is ‘the one judging all the earth. He is the absolute rule and the only One capable of such power; God Himself and no other. When the psalmist wants to proclaim the righteous rule of the almighty God, he chooses pāqad, not only because God Himself chose this word in His declaration to Moses but also because there is no other overseer of men whose rule is continuously just.
Perhaps, on this 45th day of counting the omer, we need to hear this reminder too, especially when we are so caught up in the inherently flawed politics of human governance within our internal marriage (soul-body), physical marriage (honey bunny-honey bunny) and spiritual marriage (God-us). Let the true Ruler show Himself, King of all.
That's a large part of Pentecost!
Will I let Him Paqad? Will I?
Shalom,
Alan
We will be flying to Destin-Ft. Walton Beach, Florida Thursday evening. Staying for 10 days. Teaching. Sharing. Learning and encouraging the growing army of servants to scatter the enemy through unity and paqad; physically and spiritually (Lev. 26:7,8). Prayer appreciated
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