Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar and Nevim Arith Hayomin:
Psalms 37:28: “The Lord loves judgment and forsakes not his saints, they are preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”
The above verse is quoted from the KJV. The word “judgment” carries much more of a negative tone today than it did 400 years ago when the KJV was translated. To us today, the word judgment carries an idea of vengeance and gaining satisfaction over seeing someone get their just desserts. ‘For me the idea of the Lord “loving judgment” creates a picture of a God who is wearing a black coat, and top hat with a long mustache rubbing his hands together gleefully when a major earthquake hits and saying: “Serves you right, I warned you what would happen if you didn’t shape up.”
Many modern translations will render the word for judgment “shaphat” as “justice.” This word tends to move in a more positive direction. Still, the word justice invokes the idea of someone paying for their crimes. A mass murderer being executed brings satisfaction or closure to the relatives of the victims. Yet, even to use the word “justice” creates the idea that just before the switch is pulled and justice is administered the one being executed cries out “God forgive me” and then you have a picture of a disappointed God saying: “Rats, almost had him, well, I guess I’m gonna have to forgive him so no one calls me a liar.”
We have to face the fact that to render this word “shaphat” as judgment or even justice, will create a major contradiction to Matthew 5:44 where Jesus commands us to love our enemies and bless those that curse us. To say that God loves judgment sets a pretty poor example of Matthew 5:44. The word for “love” (ahav) means just that. He doesn’t just like judgment he loves it, enjoys it and delights in it.
The BBE translation seems to be the only translation that addresses this contradiction and renders the word “shaphat” as righteousness. Thus, “the Lord loves righteousness.” If that was intent of the passage then the writer should have used the word “tsadaq.”
This brings us to a basic problem in translation and that is to find an appropriate word in modern English to fit the ancient Hebrew word. Actually, this would be a problem for a linguist rather than a translator. Some time ago there was a Bible teacher who had a large audience but a very small understanding of languages who was sitting in a restaurant being served by a waiter. He began to reason that the word “waiter” comes from word “wait” and therefore waiting means to serve. He then announced over the airwaves his newest revelation that those who “wait upon the Lord will renew their strength” as rendered in Isaiah 40:31 really means that those who serve the Lord will renew their strength. For a while this became a very popular teaching. The old boy just forgot one thing and that is that that word for “wait” comes from an ancient Hebrew word which does not really mean “wait” as our modern understanding considers the word “wait.” It was actually a word used for making rope and the binding process in making rope. It had nothing to do with serving.
We face a similar problem with the word “judgment.” Our modern English words just do not properly address the word “shaphat” as used in this passage. We have to take all the negative out of the word. The word “shaphat” basically means to do the right thing. The use of the letters “shin, pe, teth” suggest that this right thing will bring joy, peace, holiness and harmony with God. So God loves that which is right, that which brings joy, peace, holiness and harmony with Him.
It is for this reason that he forsakes not or abandons the saints. The word “saints” is “chassid.” Today the Jews have what is called the “Chassidic” Jews. These are Jews which devote themselves to living a holy and righteous life. They are the ultra-orthodox. They are the ones who wear the black coats and hats to remind themselves of their sinful state. God will not forsake those who seek to live a life that is set apart from this world and seeks to follow that which pleases only God.
God loves joy, peace, holiness and that which is in harmony with Him so much that will not forsake those seeking the same thing. In fact he will preserve them forever. The word “preserve” is “samar” which means to watch and/or protect. This is in a niphal form which would indicate that God can not help but protect those who seek a life of joy, peace, holiness and all things which are in harmony with Him. The promise is more than just God protecting, it is something that He can not help but do. There are some students of Hebrew who see this particular verbal form to indicate past, present and future. In other words, God has been, is and will continue to protect and watch over such people forever, for they bring him joy, peace, holiness and are in harmony with Him.
On the other hand, the wicked will be cut off from Him. The word for wicked is “rasha’” which means those who are unjust, those who do not seek joy, peace, holiness and harmony with God. Those will be “cut off.,’ Here again the word “carath” which means to be separated or cut off is in a niphal form similar to the word “samar” and mean that God can not help but be separated from those who do not seek joy, peace, holiness or harmony with Him. He has been, is and always will be separated from them.
Revelations 20:15 tells us that whose name was not found in the Book of Life were cast into the lake of fire. If the Book of Life is Jesus then what name is found with Jesus? It is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness , faith etc. The book of life will not bear your earthly name, George, Sam, Suzie, etc. It will contain your spiritual name. Is your name Joy, Peace, Longsuffering? Such names are compatible with God so you would be in harmony with him and he will preserve you forever. But if you name is Hateful, Selfish, Lustful etc. These names are not in harmony with God and you will be “cut off” from Him.
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