The Heart Fears--Part 3

[continued from previous blog]

12. The Hebrew noun donag, "wax," appears once with heart in Psalm 22:14 [Heb. 22:15]:
       "I am poured out like water,
              all my bones are out of joint;
         MY HEART IS LIKE WAX;
              IT IS MELTED WITHIN MY BREAST."
Obviously, this is a simile indicating fear.

13. The Hebrew verb yare', "to fear," occurs once with heart in Psalm 27:3:
       "Though an army encamp against me,
               MY HEART SHALL NOT FEAR;
         though war rise up against me,
               yet I will be confident."
This context show that "my heart" means "I."

14. The Hebrew verb nua`, "to shake, move, be tender," appears once with heart in Isaiah 7:2:
       "When the house [dynasty] of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim
                                                                              [North Israel],   
         THE HEART OF AHAZ AND THE HEART OF HIS PEOPLE SHOOK
          AS THE TREES OF FOREST SHAKE BEFORE THE WIND."
For the heart to shake means that the heart fears.

15. The Hebrew verb ta`ah, "to flutter, reel," occurs with heart once in Isaiah 21:4. The prophet says:
      "MY HEART REELS, horror has appalled me;
           the twilight I longed for
           has been turned for me into trembling."

16. The Hebrew verb mug, "to melt, faint," appears once in Ezekiel 21:15:
      "Therefore HEARTS MELT and many stumble.
            At all their gates I have set the point of the sword.
        Ah! It is made for flashing,
             it is polished for slaughter."

17. The concept of standing in awe of Yahweh, reverential fear occurs with heart connected with two Hebrew words.
      a. The Hebrew verb pachadh, "to fear, breathe, pant," appears twice with heart.
           1. Psalm 119:161 says:
               "Princes persecute me without cause,
                    BUT MY HEART STANDS IN AWE OF YOUR WORDS."
In this context, "my heart" is equivalent to "I."
           2. Assuring Yahweh's people when they are in Babylonian exile, the prophet says:
               "Then you [Yahweh's people] shall see and be radiant;
                     YOUR HEART SHALL THRILL AND REJOICE,
                  because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
                      the wealth of the nations shall come to you." Isaiah 60:5.
      b. The Hebrew noun yir'ah, "fear," appears twice with heart.
           1. The  prophet says in Isaiah 63:17:
                "Why, O Lord, do you make us stray from your ways
                       AND HARDEN OUR HEART, SO THAT WE DO NOT FEAR YOU?
                   Turn back for the sake of your servants,
                        for the sake of the tribes that are your heritage?"
           2. Yahweh contains this promise to his people through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 32:40:
                "I will make an everlasting covenant with them,
                  never to draw back from doing good to them;
                  AND I WILL PUT THE FEAR OF ME IN THEIR HEARTS,
                  so that they may not turn from me."

Cowardice is that fear which comes from a lack of courage and determination, and suggests an improper mental exercise of evaluation and consideration. On the other hand, reverence  is fear that is motivated by an appreciation for that which is superior to the individual, and suggests contemplation, meditation, and submission. In all these texts the "heart" is the seat of intelligence and sensitive emotions.

Share YOUR fears and thoughts and reversals and concerns and ideas with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis