Bible Notes: Unreality

Originally appeared on spirituality.com

Psalm 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 33 is well worth reading because the LORD creates, (vss. 6, 9, 11, 15,) and saves from death (vs. 19) and is worthy of happy trust in God’s goodness. In vs. 6, dabar is translated word, but because words are deeds with God, dabar is more than just talk. It is meant to recall the creative words, “Let there be light; and there was light” in the creation of the cosmos (Genesis 1:3 and similarly 6-7, 14-15, 29-30.) The breath of the LORD is a literal translation of Hebrew ru-ach which is also the wind of God that moved upon the face of the waters in Gen. 1:1, and has the abstract sense of spirit. We have several precedents, therefor, for reading the Spirit of his mouth. In this reading, mouth becomes a metaphor for the metaphysical command that brings forth creation, or perhaps for the mind of God.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

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