" A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn." - Proverb 12:2
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We are still working our way through the wonderful book of Proverbs, and this weeks text has a wealth of nutrition for us, as always! In the original language, it is expressed as :
"A good man [Tob] obtaineth [pook] favour [ratson] of the LORD [min Yehovah]: but a man [ish] of wicked devices [mezimmah] will he condemn [rasha]."
Good people obtain the Lord's favor.... people who even ---PLAN wickedness --- do NOT!
Please note, that the LORD does not further qualify good ... "good and jewish, or good and Christian, or good and Baptized, or good and obedient. A good man period!! Hmmm.... interesting... so lets dig a little deeper...
Tob === good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, ---a good man or woman-----; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well): - beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), ----(be in) favour-----, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ([-favoured]).
People that have all these adjectives (loving, merry, pleasant, cheerful, gracious, joyful, kindly, .....) apply to them, are people you and I would like to hang out with, and we would definitely call them GOOD ... so does the LORD, who epitomizes GOOD, and they obtain His Favour.
What Favour?
The word there is an interesting one.... "Ratson". It is found only in the Old Testament (its old Hebrew) , and is one of many words that are also translated as Favour in the KJV. ( e.g. Khanan (stooping to bless an inferior), Khane, Chafets, Chesed (loving kindness), Tob (good), Yatab (make good/beautiful) , ayin (eye), paniym (Face), and finally two familiar words, "Shalom" and "Charis (greek)".
The root word for "Ratson" is "Ratsah" -- Strongs Dictionary tells us it is a primitive root; --- to be pleased with; -------specifically to satisfy a debt--------: - (be) accept (-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be, have a) favour (-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take) please (-ure), reconcile self.
"Ratsah" in the ancient Hebrew, is grounded in the concept of - Pieces of pottery, on which messages were written, which were carried by runners to convey the will/desire of the person writing them to others.
So a good person is marked by being in-line with the will and desire of God, and therefore, a beneficiary of His Favor!!
It was a revelation to us, that pleasing God, does not consist of man deciding what --he/she-- should do to please Him, but should be focused on figuring out what --God-- wants, and doing --THAT-- as a first priority!!!
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33
Digging into "ratson" brought us into a very interesting place. Let's play a game now, and see if you can tell us, what the following passage enumerates or signifies....
"Behold a son! The Lord has heard and responded correctly to my pleas. I shall be joined to my husband and be acceptable to Him. May He be praised! A judge, a giver of life. Great wrestling and conflict. A band of men. A happy one whose life is as straight as a stretched rope. A payment of wages or reward for service. A dwelling and cohabitation between a man and a woman. Justice. Additions and surplus. Son of sorrow, son of consolation."
Confused?
Let us type out some names for you.
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah (Leahs first 4 sons). Dan, Naphtali (Rachels maid Bilhahs sons ). Gad, Asher (Leahs maid Zilpahs sons) Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah (Leah again). Joseph, Benjamin (the sons of Rachel).
Get it now? The passage we wrote is literally what the names of the 12 sons (and daughter) of Jacob mean, listed in order. What a wonderful foreshadowing of Christs work!!
The reason we wrote it, is that the word "Ratson" is FIRST mentioned in the Bible as applying to Naphtali --- a name associated with wrestling and conflict! (Its interesting to dig into the other names as well... the fact that the symbolism is intentional is even reflected in the original naming of the sons by their mothers.)
"And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with ----favour----(Ratson!!) , and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south. " - Deut 33:23
We find Naphtali blessed with Light of the Lord Jesus in Isaiah....
("The people that dwelt in darkness have seen a great light...( Isa: 9:1-2 ) ....
....and in the Book of Revelation ( Rev 7:6 ). The LORD has not forgotten His favor to them!
Following the GOOD WILL of the Lord involves much wrestling... with our basest desires, our vilest emotions, the wicked thoughts and intentions of our heart .... making the right choices in the face of such, is pleasing to God, and draws down HIS WILL to bless and prosper on our lives!
Hallelujah!!!