I’m reading a book called, What You Say is What You Get by Don Gossett.  And no, it’s not a “pray for a fast car or lots of money and get it” kind of book.  It’s about the words we say and the impact that they have on our life.  Do I speak words of life?  Or do I speak death?  Do my words line up with God’s truth?

I find that often my words lack faith.  I know that when I speak in the name of Yeshua I carry the weight and authority of Yeshua to enforce His rule and reign, but I struggle to really believe that I have that authority.  And the one who doubts is like a leaf blown and tossed by the wind.  How do I finally believe what I know to be true?  I desire a revelation of understanding that penetrates deep into my heart and doesn’t just sit on the surface.

Oh, for childlike faith where nothing is impossible and everything brings delight and wonder.

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

Words lay heavy on my heart this morning.  I made an off-hand comment, not even dreaming that it could be taken in a way that was hurtful, but unfortunately the one to whom I was speaking was deeply wounded by what I said.  Even though what I said was meant to be funny, and even though in my mind it was about something that was sweet, it was taken completely differently.  I had absolutely no idea about the effect these words had until hours later when I finally dragged it out into the open.   Unfortunately, they had rubbed against old wounds from years ago that have been festering all this time (made even worse because of some recent events in the job arena).

I suspect God is answering a prayer that I prayed several weeks ago about bringing to light the darkest parts that are most often avoided out of fear, pain, and anger.  I just didn’t think it would be so dramatic.  The events recently have pulled up some deeply-rooted insecurities and lies that have been believed for years and years (for longer than I’ve been in the picture, even).  When those kinds of things are disturbed, it’s pain and chaos and panic and frantic scrambling to “fix it” all at once.  But, lies must be dealt with.  Especially these lies.  They are malicious.  They are cold.  They are like a slow rot, eating its way through the heart and mind.  There’s a lot of this in the family.  And a lot of it is just now coming to the surface.  Perhaps this will be a year of freedom!  YHWH free Your children from the lies they have believed and the darkness they have allowed to control their minds!

The Law of Shimirat Ha-Lashon. Any time we communicate any information for anything other than a positive, constructive, and beneficial purpose [to’elet], or an important (e.g. life-saving) purpose, it is lashon ha’ra. And that includes whether it is spoken, written or implied. Specifically:

Motzi Shem Ra (spreading a bad name) covers what might be called ’slander’, or malicious tale-telling. Jews would include the spreading of rumour in this category. Also, we should not tell people anything about anyone else (even if it is true and positive) if it might make life difficult for that person. For instance, if we told everyone that we met that we had experienced good hospitality at someone’s house on Shabbat, they might be inundated with visitors at the next Shabbat and the extra pressure on the host may ruin Shabbat for them. Also, the rabbis say that our good comment may cause someone to want to ‘correct’ our opinion/experience.

Lashon ha’ra (evil tongue) itself is any story or information – which may be true – that would cause a person to be held in a lower opinion by others. It would also include the communication of snippets of information that would make people suspicious of another person’s motives. And, by the way, lashon ha’ra can even be committed by actions that cause people to doubt another’s character – pulling a face behind a person’s back, for instance.

Speaking about such things, Leviticus Ch19 v17 says: “You shall rebuke your neighbour and you shall not bear sin because of him.”

So, to get you thinking this morning, Skip challenges us to think about the words that come out of our mouths.  I know that I am sometimes careless with my words, especially when I’m angry or upset.  I think my mouth is the hardest thing to control.  I especially struggle with saying unkind things about people or venting to other people when I’m hurt or mad or frustrated or when I feel something is unfair.  I don’t like to be so judgmental about people, and that’s something I’ve been really challenged to work on.   Anyway, read Skip’s article here. >>

Modern Mikvah

Leviticus 13:24  Or if the body receives a burn on its skin by fire, and the raw [flesh] of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white or white,

This is kind of weird, but I wanted to write it down before I lost it.  The Hebrew word for burn (technically burn spot/scar) is mikvah, from the root word kavah meaning to burn/scorch/brand.

Interestingly the Hebrew term used for the baptism ritual is also mikvah and is defined:

a) (lit. “collection or gathering [of water]“); ritual bathing pool in which a person immerses himself as part of the transition to ritual purity

b) (lit. “collections or gatherings [of water]“); ritual bathing pools in which a person immerses himself as part of the transition to ritual purity. [1]

The water must always be moving (even thought it’s a bathing pool – there’s a specific way this is done) and there is a long history of its use:

Ancient Mikvah

Before the revelation at Sinai, all Jews were commanded to immerse themselves in preparation for coming face to face with G-d.

Immersion in the mikvah has offered a gateway to purity ever since the creation of man

In the desert, the famed “well of Miriam” served as a mikvah. And Aaron and his sons’ induction into the priesthood was marked by immersion in the mikvah.

In Temple times, the priests as well as each Jew who wished entry into the House of G-d had first to immerse in a mikvah.

On Yom Kippur, the holiest of all days, the High Priest was allowed entrance into the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of the Temple, into which no other mortal could enter. This was the zenith of a day that involved an ascending order of services, each of which was preceded by immersion in the mikvah. [1]

The mikvah is used by men prior to Yom Kippur, as a place of ritual purification for various reasons (including prior to a wedding), and as a place of purification for women after menstruation. There are a series of rules that had to be followed prior to mikvah (such as washing oneself prior to entering it).

Why does this matter?  I think it’s interesting that the word for to burn/scar is the same as the term for baptism.  Burning purifies an object by removing from it anything that is of little worth and separating out “the good stuff.”  It is something that moves and consumes.  Similarly water is used ritualistically to purify.  The Hebrew view of this baptism (mikvah) requires moving water that must completely cover every bit of the person (who, by the way, submerges themselves – no pastor/priest/rabbi needed).

Burning and baptizing are different in that burning is done to a person (it’s not usually something we voluntarily choose).  G-d uses this metaphorical concept to purify people, to remove the junk from our lives by using the “fire” (difficult situations) to burn and purify.  Baptism is a choice.  In Hebrew culture, baptism isn’t a one time event.  It happens ceremonially and whenever there’s a major event that a person needs to commemorate and be purified as symbolism that there has been change or a turning, etc.  It’s voluntary in that no one is going to shove you into the water.  A person chooses to enter the pool and chooses to be submerged.  It’s an outward symbol voluntarily used to show purification.

Mikvah in both forms, if they are indeed from the same word, show an interesting relationship, almost like two sides of a coin.  One is used by G-d to purify man to bring him into relationship with Him, the other is used by man to enter into the presence of G-d with ritual purity.  If they’re not from the same word, this exercise was a bit moot… except for the fact that in our translation attempts they are the same… which I find rather interesting.

[1] Slonim, Rivkah. “The Mikvah – Mikvah.” Chabad Lubavitch. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2010. <http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/1541/jewish/The-Mikvah.htm>.

Psalm 1:3 (NASB)

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams [fn] of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf [fn] does not wither; And in [fn] whatever he does, he prospers.

See that word in italics?  Do you know why it’s in italics?  I didn’t.  I figured it was an emphasis or something.  It really means that the word isn’t actually in the Hebrew Bible…. that the word was added later during translation.  What the heck?!  That’s what I learned yesterday.  Apparently this isn’t all that uncommon.  In fact, it happens all over the place.  In the NIV, in the book of Romans, there’s a word that’s in the Hebrew Bible that is completely left out of our Bible!  A word “submit” is also added to that verse where it talks about wives submitting to husbands (that’s a whole other topic, but if you get a chance, and you  haven’t already listened to Living the Biblical Worldview, listen to Skip Moen’s talk on the Role of the Ezer).

I didn’t know that?!  I always assumed that what I read was what was written… but when I looked at the Hebrew translation that the website provides, sure enough, there was no “firmly” anywhere in Hebrew.  To be honest, I’m a little skeptical about how they get these long phrases out of one word.  For example, from the Hebrew word for “tree” they get “He shall be like a tree.”  Um, maybe there’s something that they don’t explain about the words when you look up the definition.

Okay, before you start freaking out about the inerrancy of the Bible and all that (kind of like I did), I should probably note that most scholars, including Skip Moen, agree that most of the Bible is relatively accurate in its translation.  But there are some places, for one reason or another (some political, some unknown), that words have been added because “that’s what Paul meant” (Really?  How do you know?), or removed.  I didn’t know that!  I’ve also found that you’ll only find these italicized markers in the New American Standard Bible (at least that I’ve noticed so far).  In the NIV you get no indication that anything is other than what is written.

So, while I firmly believe that God’s word is perfect and is “breathed” by Him into the hearts and minds of the writers, I will read a little more carefully to avoid the bias and politicism of the translators.  Man!  More and more, I wish I knew Hebrew!  How cool would it be to read the Bible in its original language (at least the Old Testament)!  And, even if there are little bits and pieces that have been conveniently inserted or removed, God can still use it.  He does still use it, and He still accomplishes His purposes despite the many areas of our beliefs that have been twisted by people like Constantine.  Our God is still bigger than all that!

Psalm 39:3

My thoughts grew hot within me and began to burn, igniting a fire of words…

How long does something burn within me before I finally speak?  Usually, too long.  It smolders until I am so frustrated that it comes out as an explosion and I say things that may hurt, even if they’re true.  I struggle with this a lot.  It’s hard for me to say things that are uncomfortable, even though they probably do need to be said.  But when I wait, stewing and going over and over the situation, sometimes my thoughts are clarified and sometimes they are  amplified and I get angry.  God, help me to know the words to say and when to say them and to have the courage to speak out when I know it’s time.