LESSON #17

LESSON OBJECTIVES

• Study "The Ways of God" to give a sample teaching concerning how you can take a Biblical topic or any given word in the Bible and study the given topic or word using Hebraic study practices

• Understand that the Hebrew language was given by God to communicate spiritual truths.

  These spiritual truths can be understood by:

  1. Looking up the particular word of study in a Strong's Concordance

  2. Determine the Hebrew word for the given word or topic of study

  3. Examine every scripture in the Bible where this word is found

  4. Determine the family of words which the given word of study is associated in order to help tie together deeper spiritual truths and understandings

  5. Look up scripture references in the family of words which are related in spiritual thought and understanding to the given word of study

  6. With a good Hebrew/Greek key study Bible, cross-reference different phrases from different scripture which contain the word or topic of study to glean spiritual insights on the subject

  7. Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you in revelation of spiritual truths which may be gleaned from your studies

• Give examples how various words, themes and Biblical truths are interconnected and interrelated to each other. By understanding that various words, themes, and Biblical truths are interconnected and interrelated to each other and how they are interconnected and interrelated, you can begin to greatly expand your understanding of the scriptures.

• This method of study to understand the scriptures is a Hebraic study approach. This is contrast to a Greek study approach which examines the Bible on a verse by verse, chapter by chapter method.

• Learn the difference between knowing the ACTS of God and the WAYS of God

• Learn that the word 'Know' is the Hebrew word, "Yadah," which means 'to know intimately'

• Learn the spiritual principal that we begin to know God intimately through praise

• Learn that the word 'Way' is the Hebrew word, "Derek," which means "a course of life or mode of action, a lifestyle"

• Learn the various spiritual truths associated with walking in 'the ways of God'

THE WAY(S) OF GOD - Part I

===>  Yeshua/Jesus is the WAY of God (John 14:6)

===>  The believers are called by God to know His WAYS and to WALK in His WAYS. Religion emphasizes the ACTS of God but God in the Bible emphasizes knowing and walking in His WAYS.

===>  The children of Israel (a type of carnal believer and a type of religion) knew the ACTS of God but Moses (a type of mature believer who knows God) knew His WAYS (Psalm 103:7, Psalm 95:7-11, Hebrews 3:7-11, 4:3,4,12).

            --->  Psalm 95:10-11, Hebrews 3:10,11 ... If you do not know the ways of God (His Word) you will not enter into the rest of God.

           Psalm 103:7, 95:10 ... known = Strong's word #3045 = Hebrew word "Yadah"

           #3045 = Yadah = "To know, to become acquainted with (intimately)" (Genesis 4:1, Genesis 19:8, Judges 11:39)

           Psalm 103:7, 95:10 ... way(s) = Strong's word #1870 = Hebrew word "Derek"
           #1870 = Derek = "A course of life or mode of action, a road trodden, to walk, to string a bow by bending"

HOW DO WE KNOW THE WAYS OF GOD?

     A.  Psalm 76:1, "In Judah is God known (#3045) ..."

           Judah = Strong's word #3063 = Yehudah. From Strong's word #3034 = Yadah. #3034 = Yadah = "To revere or worship with an extended hand or to hold out the hand, to confess, to praise, to give thanks"

     B.  Psalm 25:4 -- God shows and teaches His ways (#1870)

     C.  Psalm 81:10-16, Jeremiah 7:23-24, 16:10-13 -- To not walk in the ways of God is to walk after your own counsel (understanding)

           You will walk backward not forward, follow your own lusts and imaginations of your own evil heart, follow other gods

     D.  Psalm 119:15-16, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-2 -- To walk in the ways of God requires meditating on His Word

     E.  Psalm 84:5 --- The way of God is in our hearts (Psalm 57:7, 108:1-3, 112:1-2, 7-8)

     F.  Psalm 91:11 -- If you walk in the ways of God, God's angels will be protecting you

     G.  Psalm 128:1, 112:1-10 --- God blesses us when we walk in His ways

     H.  Psalm 50:23 -- If we praise God while walking in His ways, He will show us His salvation

           Psalm 50:23 - "Who offers praise (#8426) orders his conversation (#1870)"

           Praise = Strong's word #8426 = "adoration, a choir of worshipers, to confess, give thanks or praise"

     I.  Psalm 138:5 -- Walking in the ways of God results in singing

           Sing = Strong's word #7891 = sheer. In the scriptures, singing brings the connotation of victory, joy, celebration and abundant praise to God.

           1.  Exodus 15:1-2, 18-21 -- "Then sang (#7891) ... for he has triumphed ... Miriam took a timbrel (#8596) and all the women with timbrel and dances (#4246)"

                Exodus 15:20 -->   Dances = Strong's word #4246 = Meholah (feminine)

                Dances = #4246 from #4234 = Mahowl = from #2342 = hool
                #2342 = "To twist or twirl in a circular manner" (Exodus 15:20, Judges 11:34, 21:21,
                I Samuel 21:11, Psalm 149:3)

                II Samuel 6:14 -- "David danced (#3769) before the Lord ..."

                Danced = Strong's word #3769 = Karar = "to whirl"

           2.  Singing is associated with God's goodness and blessings (Psalm 13:6, 27:5-6, 96:2)

===>  Eschatologically speaking, "SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG" refers to he days of the Messiah (Yemot Mashiach --- Years 4000-7000). More specifically, it refers to the Messianic age (1000 year millennium -- years 6000-7000) when the Messiah will rule and reign on earth.

            ***************************************************
            *                                                 *
            *   Messianic age = Millennium = The Sabbath =    * 
            *   The day of the Lord = Rest = Joy =  Peace =   * 
            *   A time of rejoicing, singing, and dancing =   * 
            *   Marriage = Sanctification = Holiness          *
            *                                                 *
            ***************************************************

===>  Psalm 33:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1,3, Isaiah 42:10-16

           Isaiah 42:10-16 = A time when the Jewish people will flee into the wilderness in Jordan at a place called Petra (Petra = Rock) where God would protect them during the tribulation (Isaiah 42:10-16 = Isaiah 16:1-5).

===>  Singing and dancing was done with the timbrel and harp (Psalm 33:2-4, 92:1-4, 98:4-5, Psalm 147:7, 149:1,3 [Dance = #4234], 150:3-4).

===>  Singing and dancing was associated with marriage. Marriage was seen as a time of joy (Jeremiah 31:3-4, 33:7-11).

===>  The message given by the absence of singing and dancing was judgment
           (Jeremiah 7:23-24,34, Jeremiah 16:9-13, 25:8-10, Psalm 137:1-4).

LESSON REVIEW/QUESTIONS

      1.  WHO is THE WAY of God?

      2.  What is the significance in God making a distinction that the children of Israel knew the ACTS of God but Moses knew His WAYS?

      3.  What is the best way to describe the Hebrew word for "way" which is the Strong's word #1870?

      4.  What does the word "Know", Strong's word #3045, which is the Hebrew word 'Yadah,' mean? Give some scriptural examples.

      5.  In Psalm 76:1, how is God known? What is the spiritual meaning of this?

      6.  In Psalm 81:10-16, Jeremiah 7:23-24, 16:10-13, what is the result of walking in our own understanding?

      7.  In Psalm 119:15-16, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-2, walking in the ways of God requires what?

      8.  Specify the benefits of walking in the ways of God in the following passages:

           a)  Psalm 91:11
           b)  Psalm 128:1, 112:1-10
           c)  Psalm 50:23

      9.  In Psalm 138:5, walking in the ways of God results in singing. What is the spiritual meaning of this?

     10.  In Exodus 15:20, the word 'Dances' is the Strong's word #4246, which is the Hebrew word, "Meholah." In II Samuel 6:14, another word for 'Dance' is found. It is the Strong's word #3769 and is the Hebrew word "Karar." The Hebrew word, "hool," Strong's word #2342 is related to the Hebrew word "Meholah" (Strong's word #3769). Based upon the meaning of the Hebrew words for dance, "Karar" and "Hool," what does it mean to Biblically dance?

     11.  What is the eschatological meaning of "Sing unto the Lord a new song"?

     12.  Name two of the Biblical instruments used in singing and dancing?

     13.  In Jeremiah 31:3-4, 33:7-11, singing and dancing is associated with what?

     14.  What was the spiritual meaning of the absence of singing and dancing?
           (Jeremiah 7:23-24,34, 16:9-13, 25:8-10, Psalm 137:1-4)