People have defined grace in different ways, most of them filled with previous religious thinking. One understanding that you probably will not find in your dictionary, concordance, or lexicon, is the one given originally by the One who created that word.
The word in the Creators language is חן (khen). A related word, containing the same root letters, and thus the same basic concrete meaning, is חנה (khanah). This word means 'encamp'. An example of this word is found in the Psalms:
(Psa 34:7 WEB (R)) The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
I would like to open this thread up to discuss what they have in common, and what understanding do you think comes from seeing that there is a relationship between what is commonly called grace, and this:
(http://www.jawaahir.org/images/EventDetails/Our%20Bedouin%20encampment%20in%20the%20Sahara%20sm.jpg)
Also, what happens in an encampment that, as Paul said, 'instructs us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world'.
Shalom,
Ronen
Grace is the very essence of what the Lord God established and put in man/adam/clay that would allow His Work(process) to be done.
Without grace there would be no faith, without grace man/adam/clay would never have needed coats of skin, without grace "missing the mark" would never have been identified.
It is Grace that keeps it all working. :dsunny: Glory!
Thank you micah. I am glad to see you trace this back to the beginning, as his khen can be found throughout history, and not, as some people think, only when Yeshua came on the scene.
Since you brought up the first man, I would like to know what are your thoughts on what we read in Genesis 2 and 3, and how it connects with the idea of encampment.
The first man and woman were placed in a garden called eden, to care for it. It was there that, as you mentioned, they were given coats of skin.
Do you (or anyone) see this garden and man in it as one of the first pictures of an encampment, of his khen (grace)? If so, what then are some of the things that an encampment provides that relates to the idea of favor (grace)?
Ronen
Quote from: gregoryfl on March 23, 2014, 01:19:43 PM
Do you (or anyone) see this garden and man in it as one of the first pictures of an encampment, of his khen (grace)? If so, what then are some of the things that an encampment provides that relates to the idea of favor (grace)?
I'm not entirely sure I understand you question but the garden was a pattern of the Temple. http://tentmaker.org/forum/christian-life/experiencing-the-tabernacle/msg98042/#msg98042
The pictograph spelling of life contains a fence.
:cloud9: I'll tell you what I see. I see the angel of the Lord as the High Priest's garments: enrobed in Him, He is there to deliver the people of their sins (Day of Atonement, removal of sins). And it's coming fast. :banana: Blessings.....
CANNNN'TTTT WAITTTTT!!!!! :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9:
In that day, Sing of it, a vineyard of wine,
I the Lord water it every moment.
So that none can damage it I guard it night and day (Isaiah 27)
Quote from: WhiteWings on March 23, 2014, 01:49:09 PM
Quote from: gregoryfl on March 23, 2014, 01:19:43 PM
Do you (or anyone) see this garden and man in it as one of the first pictures of an encampment, of his khen (grace)? If so, what then are some of the things that an encampment provides that relates to the idea of favor (grace)?
I'm not entirely sure I understand you question but the garden was a pattern of the Temple. http://tentmaker.org/forum/christian-life/experiencing-the-tabernacle/msg98042/#msg98042
The pictograph spelling of life contains a fence.
Based on your referring to the meaning of the pictographs, that is the beauty of the Creator's language. I do not have to go to a strong's concordance, or hebrew lexicon, or any human dictionary to find out what a word means, because the meaning of the letters given by the Creator tells us what a word means. And those meanings are often different than what an americanized dictionary meaning would be.
The understanding I have come to regarding this word is very similar to yours Whitewings. When two letters make up a complete word, they form a construct just as is done with the language itself. The chet pictures the action of something fencing around, while the nun pictures a sprouted seed. Together they form the construct action 'fencing a sprout'. The more concrete word encamp gives a very clear picture of this, for the whole purpose of an encampment is to surround the lives within it. In a hostile wilderness or desert, why would an encampment be a good place to be? To understand the concept of what is called grace, from the mindset of those who wrote of it in scripture, we need to understand the life of a nomad, such as Abraham, and how he lived.
Mention was made of the garden of Eden being the original physical temple, which I believe to be true. This garden was an encampment for the first couple, and what it provided for them, and what was expected of them, is all part and parcel of what any encampment is about, and also, what His grace is all about. The two go hand in hand.
Ronen
There are (I think) 3 different spellings of life.
Fence + seed + hand
Fence + seed
Fence
Job 1:10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
Sounds like Job's time of testing was God removing the fence/hedge.
The word garden (of eden) usually point to a cultivated and fenced area. And just like Job Adam and Eve had good life behind that fence.
Quote from: gregoryfl on March 21, 2014, 11:46:06 PM
Also, what happens in an encampment that, as Paul said, 'instructs us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world'.
Yes, because to encamp with someone means to share life.
:cloud9: Thanks, WW, I see it even more. The "fence" is as the mitre of the High Priest, the crown of the overcomer, that encircles the mind of Christ, a garden enclosed. Blessings....
Quote from: gregoryfl on March 24, 2014, 11:04:53 AM
Quote from: WhiteWings on March 23, 2014, 01:49:09 PM
Quote from: gregoryfl on March 23, 2014, 01:19:43 PM
Do you (or anyone) see this garden and man in it as one of the first pictures of an encampment, of his khen (grace)? If so, what then are some of the things that an encampment provides that relates to the idea of favor (grace)?
I'm not entirely sure I understand you question but the garden was a pattern of the Temple. http://tentmaker.org/forum/christian-life/experiencing-the-tabernacle/msg98042/#msg98042
The pictograph spelling of life contains a fence.
Based on your referring to the meaning of the pictographs, that is the beauty of the Creator's language. I do not have to go to a strong's concordance, or hebrew lexicon, or any human dictionary to find out what a word means, because the meaning of the letters given by the Creator tells us what a word means. And those meanings are often different than what an americanized dictionary meaning would be.
The understanding I have come to regarding this word is very similar to yours Whitewings. When two letters make up a complete word, they form a construct just as is done with the language itself. The chet pictures the action of something fencing around, while the nun pictures a sprouted seed. Together they form the construct action 'fencing a sprout'. The more concrete word encamp gives a very clear picture of this, for the whole purpose of an encampment is to surround the lives within it. In a hostile wilderness or desert, why would an encampment be a good place to be? To understand the concept of what is called grace, from the mindset of those who wrote of it in scripture, we need to understand the life of a nomad, such as Abraham, and how he lived.
Mention was made of the garden of Eden being the original physical temple, which I believe to be true. This garden was an encampment for the first couple, and what it provided for them, and what was expected of them, is all part and parcel of what any encampment is about, and also, what His grace is all about. The two go hand in hand.
Ronen
We hav this treasure in earthen vessels, the sprouting seed of the word watered by the spirit within the fence of the flesh.
You folks are fun to think with. You must be part of the grace of God.
I'm wondering if you can see the grace of God in most everything?
Grace is a constant reality in some respect all the time. The ability to see it's frame takes practice.
.
Grace is so beautiful.
That once I Found grace.
I was over whelmed with the idea of expressing my gratitude back to God .
As I walked I decided on the right way to express my gratitude.
I also decided which was the wrong way to express my gratitude.
Grace is so beautiful my decisions were irrelevant.
The Source of Grace just desires receivers'.
Grace is God's devotion to us.. it is the exercize of His Love for mankind.........LOVE IN MOTION :HeartThrob:.
Grace is a gift, given to work within the dust that is us, the living creature, to bring about His complete reconciliation. :dsunny:
I was walking down a new york city street last night, just marveling at God's grace towards me. It brought me to tears and laughter at the same time. :cloud9:
:cloud9: Being a mid-westerner who doesn't like and would feel really security compromised in big cities, I'd be marveling at His grace in letting me survive walking down a New York City street, roflol.... :banana:
:laughing7:
That is seriously, one of the things I am grateful for :o)