RR Psalm 31:7 Part 6
Rabbi’s Reflections - Friday, June 13, 2025
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 31:7(6) – Part 6
Psalm 31:7 I detest those who continue to watch worthless idols, but I trust in Adonai.
What’s that word, “Shom’rim?” It is translated here as “watch.” We use it in a good sense, as “watchmen” who stand guard over righteousness. Here, in our subject verse, the connotation is the negative vanity of watching over “worthless idols.” The word for “idols” is “Hav’lei” (a plural form of “Hevel”) meaning “vanity, and worthless idols.” It is even translated as “breath” in Job 7:16.
This word is attached in our subject verse to another word, “Shav,” meaning “worthless, false, deceptively useless (appearing useful, but being useless in reality). The word is used twice (That’s a form of superlative in Hebrew. In English we would say “more worthless.”) in Ecclesiastes 1:2 Futile! Futile! says Kohelet. Completely meaningless! Everything is futile! Note: a “Kohelet” is a leader of a Kahal (congregation).
Let’s think about this for a moment. How are idols spiritualized into vanities? Everything in the physical world has a greater spiritual equivalent (or reality). You become what you behold. 2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit. You behold God, you are transformed into His image. You behold idols, you become like them.
Let’s understand the word “beholding.” We “behold” what we seek out with desire. What you “behold” is where your eyes rest. This is more than a glance, it describes a focus of your attention that results in you becoming what you love to behold. Even so, our subject verse describes those who defend their worthless idols. This is further described in Psalm 115.
Psalm 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak; eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear; noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel; feet, but cannot walk, nor utter a sound with their throat. 8 Those making them will become like them—everyone trusting in them.
Thus, our subject verse ends with this declaration, “As for me, I have trusted in Yehovah.” That seems to settle the issue for King David. To quote the title of Eitan Shishkoff’s first book, “What About Us?”… What about you?
And while were on the subject of Eitan, he will be with us to minister at Shomair for the second Shabbat in July (on the 12th). Feel free to invite your friends and family to attend that Shabbat service. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri13-June-2025 17th of Sivan, 5785
Nu 10:35-11:29 Jer 29Dan 51 Co 11 (Mk 12)
(Early) Shabbat Shalom,
Psalms
Psalm 31:7(6) – Part 6
Psalm 31:7 I detest those who continue to watch worthless idols, but I trust in Adonai.
What’s that word, “Shom’rim?” It is translated here as “watch.” We use it in a good sense, as “watchmen” who stand guard over righteousness. Here, in our subject verse, the connotation is the negative vanity of watching over “worthless idols.” The word for “idols” is “Hav’lei” (a plural form of “Hevel”) meaning “vanity, and worthless idols.” It is even translated as “breath” in Job 7:16.
This word is attached in our subject verse to another word, “Shav,” meaning “worthless, false, deceptively useless (appearing useful, but being useless in reality). The word is used twice (That’s a form of superlative in Hebrew. In English we would say “more worthless.”) in Ecclesiastes 1:2 Futile! Futile! says Kohelet. Completely meaningless! Everything is futile! Note: a “Kohelet” is a leader of a Kahal (congregation).
Let’s think about this for a moment. How are idols spiritualized into vanities? Everything in the physical world has a greater spiritual equivalent (or reality). You become what you behold. 2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory—just as from the Lord, who is the Spirit. You behold God, you are transformed into His image. You behold idols, you become like them.
Let’s understand the word “beholding.” We “behold” what we seek out with desire. What you “behold” is where your eyes rest. This is more than a glance, it describes a focus of your attention that results in you becoming what you love to behold. Even so, our subject verse describes those who defend their worthless idols. This is further described in Psalm 115.
Psalm 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak; eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear; noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel; feet, but cannot walk, nor utter a sound with their throat. 8 Those making them will become like them—everyone trusting in them.
Thus, our subject verse ends with this declaration, “As for me, I have trusted in Yehovah.” That seems to settle the issue for King David. To quote the title of Eitan Shishkoff’s first book, “What About Us?”… What about you?
And while were on the subject of Eitan, he will be with us to minister at Shomair for the second Shabbat in July (on the 12th). Feel free to invite your friends and family to attend that Shabbat service. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri13-June-2025 17th of Sivan, 5785
Nu 10:35-11:29 Jer 29Dan 51 Co 11 (Mk 12)
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