“Love is a Consuming Fire” – Part 3
“Love is a Consuming Fire” – Part 3
[Study Aired August 15, 2021]
As I sit writing these words, I find myself pressing the keys while pondering how it is I arrived at this moment. What I mean is that I had planned to only have a part 1 of “Love is a Consuming Fire”, but here I sit writing part 3 many more weeks later than I had planned. As with all things under the sun, there is nothing new, and this plan of mine in my head was nothing more than steps I would take if other things had fallen in place. The Lord had already worked it all out that I would indeed be typing the word, “word”, at that very moment. My next thought is, “Why?? Why plan? Why go about my day treating it as if it were going to be like all the rest of the preceding days?”
We all have today ONLY, and we aren’t even promised that the next breath will come. So, why plan?
Why do anything at all if God is in control and He is going to do whatever it is He is doing so that we can see what is being done?
Why?
I hope this study will help you to see what it is that answers this question for me, and maybe you can use the same Source for you and your “why’s”.
Our last few studies have used Psalms to illustrate various points, so I am going to keep the same form and start with Psalms 51 to help answer this simple one word question of “why”.
Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
In these first five verses of Psalms 51, and when coupling these verses with ‘the sum of thy word is Truth’, we learn two very important universal Truths in the word of God (among other things).
We see that David admits his trespass, and he also tells us that we are shaped in iniquity. That is a big and hard pill to swallow once you actually accept it for what it is.
No matter our planning, from the first breath we take we are already formed in iniquity. That’s right brothers and sisters, you are ‘shapened in iniquity’ by DESIGN so that you WILL SIN without the Lord ALSO STEPPING IN to show you it is He Who keeps you from trespassing against Him.
How is it that we expect to escape this judgment that happened before we were ever born? We cannot escape this. Jesus Christ Himself could not escape the judgment that comes to the very thing God created; flesh that is sin and a heart that permits and justifies it to trespass against the Lord.
Why?
Well, we first must learn hard lessons in order to teach them to others, though experience is always the best teacher. What a teacher does is help someone learn how to deal with something that will come along later, depending on the object of the teaching. If I teach math, it’s because you will use that math for a math problem later.
The Lord could just create these knowledgeable creatures to KNOW good and evil from jump street, so why doesn’t He do that?
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
It’s a hard thing to fall into the hands of a loving Father. Good parents will teach their children the lessons which need to be learned now so that they can be applied later when the lesson is turned into real life.
Our heavenly Father is no different, except that His lessons are always perfect in purpose, perfect in will and perfect in execution, whereas we earthly parents struggle mightily.
King David tells us that we are shapened in iniquity and in sin his MOTHER conceived him. Is David’s mom being picked on in scripture? Why isn’t the dad mentioned? The dad wasn’t involved in this sinful conception?
Obviously, aside from Jesus, physical dads are involved, so why is it recorded in scripture that the MOTHER conceives in SIN?
Let us seek the Truth to understand the answer.
God desires Truth in the inward parts. We know the Truth is Jesus. What then are the inward parts? I know I want Jesus there too! Also, what is the hidden part? I have sooooo mannnyyyyy questions!
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
The inward parts are NOT the same as the hidden part. We need to know the difference and how we use this to our spiritual benefit.
H2910 ṭûchâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 2
inward, 2 Job_38:36, Psa_51:6
The word used for “inward parts” is H2910, and it is found in only two parts of scripture, as you can see. Notice our connection to Job 38:36 and Psalms 51. Do you want answers to the question of “why”? Let the Lord start to answer us as He answers Job.
Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
Job 38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
Job 38:10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
Job 38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
Job 38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
Job 38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
Job 38:14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. And the common verse connecting these chapters together:Job 38:34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Job 38:35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
Job 38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
Job 38:37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
This line of questioning goes on for several chapters as the Lord has His own questions for Job. Several chapters later we see that the Lord gives pause for Job to attempt to answer some of the Lord’s questions, and Job gets a bit condemning sayeth the Lord:
Job 40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job 40:5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
After the Lord again reminds Job of his condemnation of the Lord by simply thinking He, Job, had a better way to do things, and then we finally get an honest reply out of Job:
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Oh, that spiritual insight and sight is something to contend with indeed; except, that spiritual sight did not just happen. It came when the Lord built up Job enough in life that Job thought it good and well to stay in his righteous attitude even though his life was falling apart all around him. Job had to be put through some stuff before he could be given this sight. Now that we see the connection of inward parts being connected to Job, we know it is only the Lord who controls access to the inward parts. What about the hidden part?
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
H5640 sâtham / śâtham
Total KJV Occurrences: 14
stopped, 6 Gen_26:15, Gen_26:18, 2Ki_3:25, 2Ch_32:4, 2Ch_32:30, Neh_4:7
shut, 2 Dan_8:26, Dan_12:4 stop, 2 2Ki_3:19, 2Ch_32:3
closed, 1 Dan_12:9
hidden, 1 Psa_51:6
secret, 1 Eze_28:3
shutteth, 1 Lam_3:8
Remember when I stated the inward parts are not the HIDDEN part? There are two times that H5640 “saw-tham” is used, but most of the time the word means “stopped” or “stop”. Here are a few examples:
Gen 26:15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
This is Isaac here wanting to “un-stop” the “stopped” wells that had been filled with dirt. They had been filled WITH EARTH.
Gen 26:15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
Gen 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
Gen 26:17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.
Gen 26:18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
Gen 26:19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
The Lord tells us that He can bring forth springs of living water, but the well from which it comes IS NOT ACTIVELY PRODUCING WATER if the Lord needs to bring forth water from it.
Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Jesus just wants back what is His. We have literally nothing to offer. What can we give to God? What sacrifice can we make? Can I sacrifice my own life for God? Can I dedicate myself to Him? I have NOTHING to offer God, yet when I meet Him at the “well of water”, He asks me FOR SOMETHING TO DRINK. He wants what comes forth from the WELL that was STOPPED but then filled with LIVING WATER as the EARTH is REMOVED. Low points are usually really good spots to dig for water. Valleys are pretty low. Isaac’s servants dug in a valley and found a well, but it wasn’t without strife.
Gen 26:20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.
Gen 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
Gen 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
Gen 26:23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba.
It took a process of three tries before they dug a well they did not have to strive for afterwards. It takes a long process for the digging to happen, the earth to be removed so that the Lord can make room in our hidden heart for water to fill it. It isn’t because the Lord can’t do it instantaneously, but just like with all of the creation He tells Job about, His will is manifest BY WAY OF looking around at His creation and marveling. The problem is, our EYES ARE BLINDED and we CANNOT SEE… just like Job. Until we do.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
We do not have a clean heart. We must have one created in us, but we think all we do is pure when we justify our actions. What strikes me is the free spirit with which David asks to be upheld. The only time this word is used in all of the bible is right here in verse 12.
H5082 nedı̂ybâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 1
soul, 1 Job_30:15
Strong’s concordance has the English word “free” listed in the actual verse, but when you use e-Sword you see that it is listed as “soul”. Huh? What? Okay, so when I look at the word in more depth it all makes sense.
H5082 nedı̂ybâh
ned-ee-baw’
Feminine of H5081; properly nobility, that is, reputation: – soul. Total KJV occurrences: 2
That’s a little better but still confusing.
H5082 is the feminine version of H5081. H5081 nâdı̂yb
BDB Definition: 1) inclined, willing, noble, generous (adjective) 1a) incited, inclined, willing 1b) noble, princely (in rank) 1c) noble (in mind and character) 2) noble one (noun masculine) Part of Speech: see above in Definition A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H5068
This is one of those times when you know that translating from one language to another can lose a little bit of the original intent of the word or phrase. This word means noble as in prince or also it infers WILL. In other words, a servant’s will does not supersede the will of the master. The “prince’s/noble’s will” is noble in mind and character.
H5081 nâdı̂yb
Total KJV Occurrences: 28
princes, 10 1Sa_2:8, Job_12:21, Job_34:18, Psa_47:9, Psa_107:40, Psa_118:8-9 (3), Psa_146:3, Pro_17:26
liberal, 4 Isa_32:5, Isa_32:8 (3)
nobles, 4 Num_21:18, Psa_83:11, Pro_8:16, Isa_13:2
prince, 4 Job_21:28, Pro_17:7, Pro_25:6-7 (2)
willing, 3 Exo_35:5, Exo_35:22, 1Ch_28:21
free, 2 2Ch_29:31, Psa_51:12
prince’s, 1 Son_7:1The root of the feminine and masculine of these words is H5068: H5068 nâdab naw-dab’ A primitive root; to impel; hence to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously: – offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing (-ly). Total KJV occurrences: 17
H5068 nâdab Total KJV Occurrences: 17
willingly, 13 Jdg_5:2 (2), Jdg_5:9, 1Ch_29:6, 1Ch_29:9 (2), 1Ch_29:14, 1Ch_29:17 (2), 2Ch_17:16, Ezr_1:6, Ezr_3:5, Ezr_7:16
willing, 3 Exo_35:21, Exo_35:29, 1Ch_29:5
offered, 1 Ezr_3:5 (2)
Therefore, the root of this word is “WILLING” and that is probably why the translators chose “free”.
To WILL something is to be FREE to DO SO.
That is why we always say, “Lord willing” or the “Lord’s WILL BE DONE”.
The answer to the questions of “why” are all the same. The Lord willed it. His will is ultimate and all knowing, whereas our collective human wills are ALL CONTROLLED. I understand how grating that is to our flesh. I know how it rubs like sand on the skin. Until the Lord re-digs the wells that were once open and filled with water, then the hidden part cannot be filled with water. What is the purpose of it all then? Well, since you have asked for drink, I will give you sup. When you have water, you can help others, for that is why they are at the well, too. Except, the well is LIFE and they HAVE NONE. They, and we alike, are DEAD MEN WALKING. I don’t care what you do with your life, your time, your wants and desires. Vanity of vanities, it is all vanity!
Ask anyone on their LITERAL death bed. They will tell you what’s up. That’s a funny thought considering we are the ones supposedly dying daily; therefore, we should have the “what’s up” to give to others like the person on their physical death bed.
Psa 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Psa 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
Psa 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Psa 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psa 51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Psa 51:19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Lips of thanksgiving. The sacrifice of thanksgiving. When you are found, as a lost sheep, and keep wandering away from the flock becoming lost, your Shepherd will find you. There will be a time when your salvation will be to break your legs to keep you from becoming lost again. You will ask why. The Lord will answer.
Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Next study, we will be doing Part 4 of this series, which I believe will be the last part of this series. It will be a summation of the things mentioned in the first three parts, coupled with knowing what it is to TEACH the WAY to all who come to the well as the noble princes we are all being raised up to be spiritually. Give unto us a princely heart, oh Lord!
Other related posts
- Who or What Must Be Destroyed? (January 27, 2012)
- The Book of Hebrews - Heb 12:18-29 - "Let us Have Grace, Whereby we may Serve God Acceptable With Reverence and Godly Fear" - Part 3 (April 22, 2021)
- Purpose For The Lake of Fire (July 9, 2004)
- Our Trial By Fire (October 20, 2004)
- Is Everything Just Spiritual? (May 13, 2011)
- Is Every Man Saved By Fire? (September 18, 2008)
- In The Face of Promotion (July 11, 2005)
- Awesome Hands - Part 117: "Strange Fire" (June 23, 2017)
- "Love is a Consuming Fire" - Part 3 (August 16, 2021)