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June, 1999 |
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Myhil5)vhf Ecclesiastes 5:7
I was doing some research this week in Ecclesiastes for a topic on a Biblical Hebrew discussion list in which I participate. As I was researching the passage in the fifth chapter of Ecclesiastes, I noticed the interesting way that the author referred to God. In Ecclesiastes the word used for God almost always takes the definite article the. This word is the Hebrew word on the top of this page <Myhil5)vhf> ha’elohiym "the God" (which is the definite form) instead of the more common form ‘elohiym "God" (which is the indefinite form).Throughout the Old Testament, out of the 2603 times that one of the various forms is used, the much more common form is the indefinite ‘elohiym, and by a wide margin. The definite form is used, but it is certainly less common. But here in this short book, we find that the author uses ha’elohiym 28 times compared to only 7 times that he uses the normal form. Perhaps it is because he is writing the philosophy book of the Bible - a book to guide people in discovering the true meaning of life, a book which points out the emptiness of all our human endeavors apart from God. It seems he is saying that in spite of doubts, confusion, and questions, we can rely on the God, the one who is the Creator. Solomon’s God is not just any pagan god. His God is not just a supreme, invisible force. His God is the God, the one and only God, the unique and distinct God, the almighty God, the all-powerful God, the God who cares for us, the God who loves us, the God who forgives us, the God who comforts us. What kind of God do you serve? Is your God a distant God who seems far removed from your everyday life? Or is your God the God, the one who created you, the one who redeemed you, and the one who lives in your heart ?Dave |
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