Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar;
Jeremiah 17:5: “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”
The word “curse” is “’arur.” This has the idea of being removed or being without God, without His protection, presence or covering. When someone curses another person he is literally telling a person to be without God.
“Curse” is the man. What catches my attention is the word used for “man.” It is the word “gavar.” This is a strong man, a powerful man, a hero. Such a man is without God if he trust in “man.” The word “trust” is “batak” which means to cling or adhere to. The next word for man is “adam.” This is a man of the flesh, a natural man. Curse is the man who trust in natural man.
“Curse is the man who makes flesh his arm.” The word “make” is “sum.” This has the idea of setting your heart upon. Curse is the strong man who sets his heart upon the flesh of his arm. The word “flesh” has the idea of the natural, physical as well as the secret parts of the physical. This takes in your understanding of the physical knowledge, natural understanding. The word “arm” is “zara.’” This is a physical arm but also is used to express physical strength.
“Whose heart (Hebrew – lev, your passions) has departed (Hebrew – yasur, to turn away, put away, remove oneself) from Jehovah.
I look at this verse and I tell myself that this sure does not apply to me. Yet, there are many times I face a difficult situation and I begin to fret about the problem. Right there I am “’arur” (cursed). I am looking at my problem without God. So I take hold of myself and I tell myself: “Come now, we shant worry. I have many resources to draw from, I have certain abilities, I am strong, I am capable. I start setting my heart upon my own strength. Then I look at the circumstances and I think of all the positive things in the natural strength and understandings that will resolve the problem. So I start using my natural understanding, my own strength to confront the problem. I find some relief, but it is only temporary and not entirely satisfying. I had been approaching this problem without God, approaching it under a curse.
Yes, maybe I have the strength to work through the problem, maybe there are natural resources out there that will get me through the problem. Perhaps God will use this to get me through. But, I am not looking to God. My strength could fail, the resources are not dependable and that uncertainty creates a growing fear and terror.
However, when I look to God and I tell Him, “It’s ok, if the worse happens, even if the problems does not resolve, so long as I am in the center of Your will, I am ok with that.” Then, for the first time I stop fretting, the curse has been lifted and God is now involved in my problem. This is where I find true peace in that problem.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not (Piel, intensive – do not even begin to lean) to your own understandings. In all ( In Hebrew it means “all”) your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
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