Do you lean on the Word?

Many see the Word of God. . .few observe!

The Word of God is stable and trustworthy. Consider the thoughts of the Holy Spirit as given to the writer of Psalms.

Psalm 19:7b (NIV)

7 The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The Ten Commandments were written on tablets as a solemn and divine charge by God the Father. His testimony is the foundation of civil law adopted in many countries around the world. It provides the legal provisions, warning signs and reminders that are important to remember. The Hebrew word translated statutes in the New International Version of the Bible is edut. (see the Lexicon entry below)

†עֵדוּת S5715, 7802 TWOT1576f GK634319 and עֵדֻת27 n.f. testimony;—ע׳ abs. Ex 16:34 +, cstr. ψ 19:8 +; pl. sf.עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ 119:14 +, עֵדְוֹתָיו Je 44:23 + 4 times;— 1. testimony of the Ten Words on the tables as a solemn divine charge,לֻחֹת הע׳ Ex 31:18; 32:15; 34:29 (P), הע׳ 25:16, 21; 40:20 (P); ark as containing tables, אֲרוֹן הע׳ 25:22; 26:33, 34; 30:6, 26; 39:35; 40:3, 5, 21 Nu 4:5; 7:89 (all P), Jos 4:16 (JE; Kue הברית [ag. him Di], so Benn Steuernag), הארן לע׳ Ex 31:7 (P); abbrev. לִפְנֵי הע׳ 16:34; 30:36 Nu 17:19, 25 (P); עַל הע׳ Ex 27:21 ( = הע׳ Lv 24:3), 30:6 Lv 16:13 (P); tabernacle as containing ark of testimony, משׁכן הע׳ tabernacle of the testimony Ex 38:21 Nu 1:50, 53(×2); 10:11 (P); so אֹהֶל הע׳ 9:15; 17:22, 23; 18:2 (P) 2 Ch 24:6. 2. the code of law in gen. (late), as a testimony of God: ψ 19:8 119:88; 122:4; || תּוֹרָה 78:5; || חֹק 81:6. In titles, עַל־שׁוּשַׁן ע׳ ψ 60:1, אֶל־שֹׁשַׁנּ֑ים ע׳ 80:1 = melody whose first line cp. law as testimony to a choice flower. Special laws of the code are denoted by pl.; + חֻקּוֹת etc. 1 K 2:3 2 K 23:3 = 2 Ch 34:31 ( + חקים etc.), Je 44:23; חֻקִּים etc. 1 Ch 29:19; מִצְוֹת Ne 9:34; pl. of contents of covenant 2 K 17:15; pl. elsewhere ψ 119:14, 31, 36, 99, 111, 129, 144, 157. Vid. also iii.  [עֵדָה].—For הָעֵדוּת 2 K 11:12 = 2 Ch 23:11 read prob. הַצְּעָדוֹת (cf. 2 S 1:10 We al.).[1]

The reliable laws God provided are firm and permanent. They cannot be shaken by cultural shifting sands. They are true no matter how we twist them, color them and distort their principles. They provide key assumptions required in a system of thought. They are also a standard of moral and ethical decision-making. The Hebrew word translated trustworthy in the NIV is the following entry.

I. אָמַן—(1) prop. to prop, to stay, to sustain, to support, ftüßen, unterftüszlig;en, specially—(a) to support with the arm, to carry a child, Nu. 11:12; Lam. 4:5. Part. אֹמֵן παιδαγωγός, one who carries and cares for a child, Nu. loc. cit.; Isa. 49:23; also, one who guards and brings up, Est. 2:7. 2 Ki. 10:1, 5 (compare כִּלְכֵּל; Arab. مان to sustain, to nourish), f.אֹמֶנֶת nurse, Ruth 4:16; 2 Sa. 4:4.—(b) to found, to build up (kindred to כָּנָה, אֶבֶן). Hence אָמָן, אָמוֹן architect, workman, Baumeifter; אֹמְנָה column, Stüße.

(2) intrans. med. E. to be stayed up; hence to be firm, unshaken, such as one may safely lean on. Metaph. to be faithful. Part. pass. אֱמוּנִים faithful ones, πιστοί, Ps. 12:2; 31:24. Compare סָמוּךְ Isa. 26:3. Arab. أَمُنَ to be faithful; أَمَنَ is to lean and confide on any one; أَمِنَ to trust, to be secure.

Niphal—(1) to support, to bear in the arms, as children, Isa. 60:4. Compare Kal No. 1.

(2) to be founded, firm, stable, e.g. of a house, 1 Sa. 2:35; 25:28; 2 Sa. 7:16; 1 Ki. 11:38; of a firm place where a nail is driven in, Isa. 22:23, 25; of a firm and stable condition, Isa. 7:9.

(3) to be of long continuance, perennial, of water (opp. to אַכְזָב), Isa. 33:16; Jer. 15:18; of sickness, Deu. 28:59; of a covenant, Ps. 89:29.

(4) metaph. to be faithful, trustworthy, sure, such that anyone can lean upon (auf den man bauen kann); of a servant, 1 Sa. 22:14; Num. 12:7; a messenger, Prov. 25:13; a witness, Jer. 42:5; Isa. 8:2; of God, Deu. 7:9; Isa. 49:7; Hos. 12:1.—Ps. 78:8, לֹא נֶאֶמְנָה אֶת־אֵל רוּחוֹ “their spirit was not faithful with God.” Part. נֶאֱמָן upright. Pro. 11:13; 27:6,נֶאֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵי אֹהֵב “upright are the wounds of a friend,” i.e. proceeding from sincerity of mind,ehr=lich=gutgemeint. Wounds are here used for severe rebukes. Also, a man of approved wisdom, Job. 12:20.

(5) to be sure, certain, Hos. 5:9; of the word of God, Psa. 19:8; also, to be found true, confirmed, Gen. 42:20; 1 Ki. 8:26.

Hiphil הֶאֱמִין—(1) to lean upon, to build upon (auf etwas bauen), prop. Isa. 28:16, “he that leaneth thereon [believeth in him] shall not flee away.” Generally--

(2) figuratively to trust, to confide in (like the Arab. آمَنَ with ب). Job 4:18, הֵן בַּעֲבָדָיו לֹא יַאֲמין “behold he trusteth not in his servants;” Job 15:15; 39:12; Ps. 78:22, 32; 119:66. הֶאֱמִין בַּיהֹוָה “he trusted in the Lord,” Gen. 15:6; לֹא הבְּ֞חַיָּין “to have no confidence for one’s life,” i.e. to fear for one’s life, Deu. 28:66.

(3) to believe, absol. Isa. 7:9; commonly followed by לְ of person and thing, Gen. 45:26; Ex. 4:1, 8, 9; Pro. 14:15; Ps. 106:24; followed by בִּי Ex. 4:5; Job 9:16; also with an inf. Job 15:22, “he does not believe (hope) that he shall escape out of darkness (terrors).”

(4) perhaps intrans. to stand firm, still, Job 39:24, “she does not stand still where the sound of the trumpet is heard.” Comp. Virg. Georg. iii. 83. From the common use of language it might be rendered, “he so longs for the battle that he hardly believes his own ears for joy.” Compare Job 9:16; 29:24.[2]

God’s Word has a simplicity that reflects good judgment. Study of the Bible will give you a special quality of wisdom. Its simplicity will be nothing less than profound.

The Bible can be trusted because it is truth. Are you building on that wisdom today? It will guide your thoughts as you work and live in your home.

Cathy and Danny Sartin

Deeper Still Missions

Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved.

Bible Nuggets are written for pastors, youth leaders and missionaries who desire to go deeper still in God’s Word. 

Re-Prints
Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this email in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.

You can contact Deeper Still Missions at P.O. Box 343370 Bartlett, TN 38134.

† prefixed, or added, or both, indicates ‘All passages cited.’
S Strong’s Concordance
TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.
GK Goodrick/Kohlenberger numbering system of the NIV Exhaustive Condordance.
n. nomen, noun.
f. feminine, feminae.
abs. absolute.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worthwhile to cite.
cstr. construct.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worthwhile to cite.
pl. plural.
sf. suffix, or with suffix.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worthwhile to cite.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worth while to cite.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
J Jehovist.
E Elohist.
Kue A. Kuenen.
Di A. Dillmann.
Benn W. H. Bennett.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
= equivalent, equals.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
×2 two times.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
P Priests’ Code or Narrative.
|| parallel, of words (synonymous or contrasted); also of passages; sometimes = ‘see parallel,’ or ‘see also parallel.’
|| parallel, of words (synonymous or contrasted); also of passages; sometimes = ‘see parallel,’ or ‘see also parallel.’
= equivalent, equals.
cp. compare.
pl. plural.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worth while to cite.
= equivalent, equals.
+ plus, denotes often that other passages, etc., might be cited. So also where the forms of verbs, nouns, and adjectives are illustrated by citations, near the beginning of articles; while ‘etc.’ in such connexions commonly indicates that other forms of the word occur, which it has not been thought worth while to cite.
pl. plural.
pl. plural
Vid. vide, see.
= equivalent, equals.
cf. confer, compare.
We J. Wellhausen.
al. et aliter, and elsewhere; also et alii, and others.
[1] Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (2000). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
[2] Gesenius, W., & Tregelles, S. P. (2003). Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.