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Revelation 21:17--12a |
Revelation 21, Page 22e-12a | ||
Significant Words and Comments: Commentary on Revelation 21:17 expansion (18 August 2008): Commandment or Structure #12: “Thou shalt not covet . . . anything that is thy neighbor’s.” Coveting is desiring something with an intensity which could motivate action, and such strong desire rightly directed can prove most beneficial. Yehuveh does not forbid us to covet, but sets a clear boundary in regard to specific things we must not covet. We are to intensely desire, indeed covet, Yehuveh’s righteous instructions: “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold.” Rather, the very nature of this commandment is focused on the mis-direction of these powerful desires. We are not to covet “anything that is thy neighbors,” which can include material things, ideas, technologies, connections, and so much more. Eve was the first Scriptural illustration of mis-directed desire and we live with the results: “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” There word translated desired, chamad [H2530], in both Psalms 19:10 and Genesis 3:6 above is the very same word translated covet and desire in the two presentations of this last commandment in Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21! Eve coveted unprofitable things and set this whole global confusion in motion. Solomon took a similar path, marrying many women of other nations so as to acquire the “national secrets” these nations had attained. By this course he discredited the very wisdom of Yehuveh which had forbidden such a course. Covetousness destroyed him, and quite unnecessarily, for Yehuveh had already promised him fabulous wisdom. No wonder Yehuveh places this boundary to protect us! Exodus 20:17; Psalms 19:10; Genesis 3:6. (18 August 2008) Detail #12:1: Yehuveh provides both needs and desires of our hearts. We have absolutely no reason to covet the possessions of others.“The blessing of Yehuveh, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” “For Yehuveh Elohim is a sun and shield: Yehuveh will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” “I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.”“Yehuveh maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up.” If we trust in Yehuveh completely, there is no reason for us to covet anything which He doesn’t provide for us. “Trust in Yehuveh, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in Yehuveh: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” “Yehuveh will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Co-operating with Yehuveh, trusting in Him, diligently working with Him within the talents and calling He has given us, we will have what we need and be satisfied with it. Covetousness will be exceedingly foreign to our thinking. Proverbs 10:22; Psalms 84:11; 132:15; 1 Samuel 2:7; Psalms 37:3-5. Also: Genesis 12:2; 13:2; 14:23; 24:35; 26:12; Deuteronomy 8:17, 18; 1 Samuel 2:7, 8; Job 1:21; 5:11; Psalms 37:22; 102:10; 107:38; 113:7,8; Proverbs 10:4; 13:4, 7; 21:5. Abram is a classic illustration of this truth. When called out to deliver Lot from the armies which had captured Sodom, he rescued not only the people, but all the material wealth which had been taken from the city. Thing rescued were the possession of that army. The king of Sodom, hopeful that that Abram was different from other military leaders, appealed: “Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.” Even this request was presumptuous under the circumstances, but he had to try to do right by his people. Abram, however, was not like anyone else on earth. His motives and His confidence in Yehuveh were distinctly elevated. “Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto Yehuveh, the most high Elohim, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” Covetousness was so foreign to Abram that rather than considering all the “things” he could acquire, he thought only of Yehuveh’s honor and the well- being of the people who rightfully deserved their portion of the goods. Here is a role model worthy of both our notice and our copying. Genesis 14:21-24. Gael Bataman Originally Written: 18 August 2008 Latest Update: 18 August 2008 Return to Zadok Home Page Continue . . . Return One Page Go to Revelation Intro |