Guard the Commands
Several of the definitions listed in Noah Webster’s
Dictionary for the word ‘guard’ are as follows:
“To secure against injury, loss or attack; to
protect; to defend; to keep in safety; A state of caution or vigilance; or the
act of observing what passes in order to prevent surprise or attack; care;
attention; watch; heed.”[1] If we would apply
these words to ‘the commands of our Elohim’, we would do well to watch over
them, stand in observation while walking in obedience to them, lest we stray
from His ‘way’.
The Hebrew word translated as ‘guard’ is the word shâmar (Strong’s H8104) and is used more
than 450 times throughout the Tanakh
(the Old Testament). The meaning of this
word is similar to what our Daniel Webster has, yet there is much more. Quoting directly from the Ancient Hebrew
Dictionary, we find a more detailed picture:
“The image painted by the Hebrew word shâmar
is a sheepfold. When a shepherd was out
in the wilderness with his flock, he would gather thorn bushes to erect a
corral to place his flock in at night. The thorns would deter predators and
thereby protect and guard the sheep from harm. The word shamiyr, derived
from this root means a thorn. The word shâmar means to guard and protect
and can be seen in the Aaronic blessing, “May Yahweh respect you and guard
you”. One keeps the commands of Elohiym
by guarding and protecting them.”[2]
Our
Creator has given us promises of blessings, should we be diligent to guard and
obey His commands. We are promised rain
in its season (Lev 26:3; Deu 11:13-14), and prosperity on the work that we do
(Deu 28:1-8). Long life is promised to us
(Deu 6:2), and a life that will be “well” (Deu 4:40; 5:29). We are promised righteousness (Deu 6:25) when
we choose to be obedient, guarding the commands, and Elohim considers us
“blessed” (Ps 112:1). Guarding and
adhering to Yahweh’s command leads to life
(Deu 8:1; Pro 7:1-2); turning away from the commands is a sure death (Pro
19:16).
Why are
we so stubborn and stiff-necked about keeping the commands of our Elohim? I would venture to say that we have not
learned to sufficiently fear Him …
“He who despises the Word shall be destroyed, but he who fears the Commandment shall be rewarded.” (Pro 13:13 HRB)
©2020
[1] American Dictionary of the English
Language, Noah Webster, 1828
[2] Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible; ©2006
Ancient Hebrew Research Center; ISBN: 1589397762 Author: Jeff Benner
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