Adar 8
Worthless
“But
the way of the wrong comes to naught.” (Ps 1:6 ISR)
This section of verse is,
to me, not only very sad, but equally terrifying. We learned that “the way” is the manner of
life we live. We also understand that
the “wrong” are those who are wicked, ungodly and criminal. But stop and think: these people were
originally created in the image of Elohim, just as we are. They have had the same opportunities to serve
our Creator as we have had. Yet they
ultimately choose a path that will lead to their extermination. Sad, and a terrifying reminder of what could have
been us, had we made the same wrong choices.
The Hebrew word that has been translated as “naught”
(some versions read perish) is the word 'âbad (Strong’s H6), and means to perish, be destroyed or exterminated. Jeff Benner defines this word as “To be separated from the whole, life or functionality.”[1] It
appears to be a very final and serious word.
Mr. Webster defines “naught” as “nothing, worthless, of no value or
account.”[2] It
is hard for me to imagine someone’s walk, or way of life, as being totally
worthless. Again, something to ponder.
One thing I found of note, as I was researching this word 'âbad, is its
connection to another word found in Rev 9:11:
“And
they have over them a sovereign, the messenger of the pit of the deep, whose
name in Heḇrew is
Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name
Apolluon.” The
name Abaddon means much the same as 'âbad, complete ruin and destruction. An appropriate name for such a being, don’t
you think? And yet, the connection
between Ps 1:6 and this verse in Revelation is startling when we think about
it; do you suppose those who are considered “wrong”, whose lives amount to
nothing, will find themselves citizens of “the pit of the deep”?
As we finish up Psalm 1, let us make the decision to be that one planted by the rivers of
water, delighting and meditating in the Torah of our Elohim, bearing good fruit, and giving all honor and
glory to Him. Amein.
©2018
[1] Ancient Hebrew Dictionary, ©2007
Jeff Benner
[2] American Dictionary of the English
Language, Noah Webster, 1828
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