TEVET 5
Without Blemish
“Who may live on your
holy mountain? The one who walks with
integrity …” (Ps 15:1-2 TLV)
Tâmı̂ym
(Strong’s H8549) is the Hebrew word that has been translated here as
‘integrity’ – other translations read uprightly or blamelessly. The word tâmı̂ym is used, for the most part, in connection with the sacrificial system,
in describing the requirements of each offering as perfect, without defect or
blemish (see Ex 12:5; Lev 3:1; Num 6:14).
Other words attributed to the meaning of tâmı̂ym are complete, sound, mature and without blame.
How does this relate to us, those of us who cling to the Elohim of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob? To ‘walk’ has to do
with our everyday lifestyle, how we live our lives. Someone who walks blamelessly is one who
walks in integrity, and the one who is mature is the one who is complete. Bear in mind, please, that it is most generally
throughout the course of any given day that we interact with other people, and
it is in how we interact with these
people that “walking with tâmı̂ym” is critical.
One of the definitions listed by Noah Webster for the word ‘integrity’
is “The entire,
unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or
purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in
mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others”[1]
(emphasis mine). All of this has to do
with living the Torah lifestyle, first and foremost, and with the commitment to
always bringing honor to the One who
created us.
Further
instructions for interpersonal activity are found in a verse that most of us
know well: “You are not to
take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but
love your neighbor as yourself. I am Adonai” (Lev 19:18). When we choose to
love our neighbor, we typically do not steal, cheat, defraud, or slander each
other. And let us also remember the
admonition of “through love
serve one another” (Gal 5:13). This is
the formula for the one who would “walk
with tâmı̂ym”.
©2021
[1] American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828
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