09 - Transformers (Metamorphosis)

Text: “Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Sam. 30:6, NASB).

וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק דָּוִ֔ד בַּיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָֽיו

Theme: We are called to shape our environment rather than be shaped by it.

Intro: I find the story of David at Ziklag (Tseeq-lag) a great source of encouragement and hope. It’s not the first time I’ve shared about it, and I’m sure it won’t be my last. This week the Lord brought me to this passage when my spirit was weighed down and discouraged. Here’s the story in a nutshell: the situation for David was very bleak, but David transformed it. And he transformed it through the Lord. The Amalekites raided David’s Ziklag base, burning it with fire and stealing their wives, children and possessions. The people were so mad at David they were ready to stone him…‘But.’ The second sentence of 1 Samuel 30:6 reveals the pivoting point. It’s four simple words in Hebrew and a few more words in English. Literally, “And David strengthened [chazaq] himself in Yahweh his God.”

1) The first step to transforming your situation is finding your strength in God (1 Samuel 30:6; Ps 84:5-7).

The Kingdom works from the inside out.

At first, God saves us, even though there is nothing in us to merit salvation.

“There is no good thing within us” (Rom. 7:18).

But then, he planted his Kingdom within us.

Now you have to learn how to bring the Kingdom within you into your environment.

God’s salvation is not always going to come from the outside. Often, it comes from the inside of you and works out into the world.

You are called to be a transformer.

This is a difficult calling because people and environments don’t change easily––it takes a fighting spirit.

In science and science-fiction, there is something called terraforming.

Terraforming is changing the environment of a planet so that it’s inhabitable by human beings.

You take a desert-like, uninhabitable environment and transform it.

It’s like what Israel has done through its Kibbutzim, transforming the desert into fertile land.

Let’s say, for example, that we were to start a settlement on Mars.

We’d have to transform the environment so we could live on it.

We may erect a massive dome so that we can regulate the environment. Then we would try to put soil down and plant trees. This would help oxygenate the greenhouse-like dome.

The whole goal is to make a life-giving ecosystem.

We are called to do the same thing as believers: make a desert into a fertile, life-giving environment.

For us, the key to being transformers is finding our strength and encouragement in God.

It’s about renewing and restoring the life within so that we can minister out of God’s life.

2) The Psalms – especially Psalm 23 – show how David found strength in Yahweh (Psalm 23).

Recently, the Holy Spirit led me to meditate on Psalm 23 and write a fresh poetic translation.

I did this for myself to be grounded in the Shepherd’s care, but then the Holy Spirit moved me to make it into an infographic to share with others.

And I’m grateful today to have it printed out and be able to share it with you.

[Pass out and share about Psalm 23]

This week the Lord has been giving me visions, and one of them relates to Psalm 23. Here’s some of it from my journal on 22 OCT 2021:

“I see dancing and singing and joy up in the sky, in heaven. People dancing and rejoicing––and as I see it, I’m happy with tears. Then the Lord says, ‘People need my hope, Glen. Hope strengthens. Hope renews. Hope restores.

‘Hope is not merely about the future––it’s about now. Seeing who I am right now and what I am presently doing––that’s hope.

Then, in the vision, I said, ‘There are people, they’re dancing and happy. Why are they happy?

The Lord responded, “Because they have run their race and finished their course.” [There was more that he said, but I will save it for a later time.]

Then I saw the Lord in a valley. A very straight path was before us. The sun was shining, and the air was cool and pleasant.

Like a waiter, the Lord takes out a white table cloth. He rustles it out, waving it in the wind. Then, he drapes it over his table.

He invites us to sit down, saying, “Rest a little while, for the journey is too much on you.”

Then, he pulls out a bottle of new wine, pours it into silver chalices and serves us matzah bread.

Alongside us, in the rolling hills, are mockers and troublemakers. They are making fun of us and hurling rocks. But as we eat, he shields us like a supernatural dome. He shields our bodies and our souls.

He packs up his picnic, and then I see him in the distance, as well as at the same time, besides me. There he is at the end of the path, the straight path, cheering me on. He calls, “You can make it, Glen. I am with you. You have much to see and do. You can make it. We are waiting for you.”

He shines like a bright sun with radiant white garments. A smile is on his face, love in his eyes and warmth in his voice.

I’d encourage you to put your name in this vision. I believe it’s encouragement for all of us.

3) Entering into the Lord’s rest is the only way to usher in his transformation (Ps 84).

There are two ways we can try to bring transformation. One is to force it through our own strength, and the other is to minister transformation out of the Lord’s peace.

In the vision, I saw people making peace.

“I see people making peace. They are shaking hands, hugging, helping one another and washing one another’s feet.”

At this time, the Lord said to me, “Rest is the only way to usher in my transformation. For your inside must be still and quiet to minister my shalom on earth. A peacemaker is one who knows my peace and ministers out of my peace.”

He also said to me, “By not spending time with me, my people are missing out on so much of what I want to show them and give to them. Take a little time to be with me, to rest in my presence. Let me be your shepherd.”

Conclusion: This week practice encouraging and strengthening yourself in the Lord.

ENDNOTES

1 Samuel 30:6b

וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק דָּוִ֔ד בַּיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָֽיו

חזק

: MHb.2 be strong, MHb.1 hif. to possess, hold, JArm.g Syr. to bind on tightly, gird on, JArm.t etpa. and JArm.b af. to hold, Arb. ḫazaqa to tie up; ? Akk. ešqu solid (AHw. 257) JArm. Mnd. (MdD 153a) הרזק, Arb. h/ḥarzaqa (Ružička 192) fetter; orig. meaning to bind on tightly (→ Palache 29).

qal: pf. חָזַק/זָֽק, חָזָֽקָה, חָזַקְתָּ, חֲזַקְתֶּם, חֲזַקְתַּ֫נִי, impf. יֶחֱזַק (Or. יִחְזַק, Kahle Text 80), יֶחֶזְקוּ and יֶחְזְקוּ, תֶּחֱזַקְנָה, impv. חֲזַק/זָֽק, חִזְקוּ (Ps 31:25 Sec. εξακ(ου) = *חֲזַ֫קוּ, Arm., Brönno 53); inf. suffix לְחָזְקָהּ Ezk 30:21 (:: לְחָזְקָה 2K 12:13, inf. ? → BL 316d), inf. cs. חֶזְקַת Is 8:11 (BL 348i): —1. to be strong, grow strong a) Dt 11:8 Jos 17:13 Ju 1:28 1K 2:2 Is 28:22 Ezk 30:21 (prp. לְחַזְּקָהּ) Da 11:5 Ezr 9:12 2C 26:15; to lie firmly (kingdom) בְּיָדוֹ 2K 14:5 (= עָלָיו 2C 25:3, → BH); רָעָב to become large, considerable Gn 41:56f 2K 25:3 Jr 52:6; יָד is heavy upon Gn 47:20 Ezk 3:14, בְּחֶזְקַת הַיָּד (Bomberg and 1QIsa 811 Len. MSS Editions כְּחֶ׳) when the hand (of Y.) lay (upon me) or: seized me, → hif. 1; b) חָזַק מִן to be stronger than, to prevail over 1S 17:50 2S 10:11 13:14 1K 20:23, 25 1C 19:12, = ח׳ עַל 2C 8:3 27:5; ח׳ דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל the king’s word forces him 2S 24:4 1C 21:4; with acc., to overcome 1K 16:22 Jr 20:7; ח׳ מִן to be too strong for 2K 3:26 (rd. חֲזְקָה); c) to recover Is 39:1 (1QIsa ויחיה); d) abs. חָֽזְקוּ דִבְרֵיכֶם you use insolent words Mal 3:13; —2. to have courage: a) חָֽזְקוּ יָדֶיךָ to find the courage Ju 7:11 2S 2:7 16:21 Ezk 22:14 Zech 8:9, 13; ח׳ with לְ with inf.: to remain resolute to Jos 23:6 1C 28:7, with לְבִלְתִּי not to Dt 12:23; b) impv. חֲזַק take courage Is 41:6, חֲ׳ וַחֲזָֽק Da 10:19 (with MSS Vrs. rd. וֶאֱמָֽץ), with hitp. 1st. pl. 2S 10:12 1C 19:13; ח׳ וֶאֱמַץ to be strong and of good courage Dt 31:7, 23 Jos 1:6f, 9, 18 1C 22:13 (→ אמץ), with impf. Ps 27:14, חֲזַק וַעֲשֵׂה to act determinedly Ezr 10:4 1C 28:10 2C 25:8; so also in pl. חִזְקוּ Dt 31:6 Jos 10:25 2S 13:28 Is 35:4 Ps 31:25 2C 15:7 19:11 32:7; —3. חָזַק לֵב the heart is hardened (→ pi. and כבד hif., Hesse Verstockungsproblem) Ex 7:13, 22 8:15 9:35 Hg 2:4; —4. misc. a) חָזַק עַל with לְ with inf. to urge someone to Ex 12:33; b) חָזַק בְּ to be caught fast on 2S 18:9, to adhere to 2C 31:4; —2C 28:20 rd. חִזְּקוֹ. †

pi: pf. חִזַּק, חִזַּקְתִּי, חִזְּקוּ, חִזַּקְתָּֽנִי, impf. וַיְחַזֵּק, יְחַזְּקוּ, וַיְחַזְּקֵנִי, אֲחַזְּקֶנּו, וַיְחַזְּקוּם, impv. חַזֵּק, חַזְּקִי/זַּקִי, חַזְּקֵהוּ, inf. חַזֵּק, pt. מְחַזֵּק: —causative a) to make firm, strong: בְּרִיחַ Ps 147:13, מוֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ cj. Pr 8:29 (rd. בְּחַזְּקוֹ), יְתֵדוֹת Is 54:2, idol 41:7; b) to strengthen: זְרֹעוֹת Ezk 30:24 Hos 7:15, יָדַיִם רָפוֹת Is 35:3 Jb 4:3, to restore the strength of (diseased cattle) Ezk 34:4, 16; c) חִ׳ יְדֵי to strengthen someone’s hand = to encourage Ju 9:24 1S 23:16 Jr 23:14 Ezk 13:22; חִ׳ בִּידֵי to sustain vigorously Ezr 1:6, = חִ׳ יְדֵי Ezr 6:22 Neh 2:18; d) חִ׳ יָדַיִם to activate the hands, get busy Neh 2:18 6:9 (חַזֵּק inf. abs. for finite vb., GK §113z); e) to encourage, with acc. Dt 1:38 3:28 Ju 16:28 2S 11:25 Is 41:7 Jr 10:4 Da 10:18f 2C 35:2, with לְ 1C 29:12, with עַל against Ju 3:12; f) to harden, make obstinate (→ qal) Ex 4:21 9:12 10:20, 27 11:10 14:4, 8, 17 Jos 11:20; חִ׳ פָּנִים to show a hard face Jr 5:3; —2. technical expression a) with two acc. to bind something firmly about someone, to gird someone with (Arm., Driver VTSupp. 1:30) Is 22:21, חִ׳ מָתְנַיִם to gird oneself Nah 2:2; b) to repair (buildings) 2K 12:6-9, 13. cj.13b (rd. חַזְּקֹה), 15 22:5f Neh 3:19 2C 24:5, 12 29:3 34:8, 10; to fortify 2C 11:12 26:9 32:5 Sir 4817; to reinforce Nah 3:14 2C 11:11; c) to hold firm (a mast) Is 33:23; —3. to sustain: people 2C 29:34 cj. 28:20 (rd. חִזְּקוֹ), to maintain (temple) (alt.: to repair, 2b) 1C 26:27, מַלְכוּת to strengthen 2C 11:17; —Ps 64:6 rd. יִתְחַזְּקוּ לְדָבָר. †

hif: pf. הֶחֱזִיק, הֶחֱזִ֫יקָה, הֶחֱזַ֫קְתִּי, 1S 17:35 and וְהַחֲזַקְתִּ֫י Ezk 30:25 (BL 348k), הֶחֱזִיקַתְנוּ/קָֽתְנִי, הֶחֱזַקְתִּיךָ, impf. יַחֲזִיק, וַיַּחֲזֵק, יַחֲזֵק (Jb 18:9 rd. יַחֲזִק ?, or yiḥzaq qal, Kahle Text 80), וַיַּחֲזֶק(־), אַחְזֵק, יַחֲזִ(י)קוּ, impv. הַחֲזֵק, הַחֲזִ֫יקִי, inf. הַחֲזִיק, הֶחֱזִיקִי (BL 351), pt. מַחֲזִיק, מַחֲזִקָהּ, מַחֲזֶקֶת: —1. with בְּ to seize, grasp Ex 4:4 Dt 22:25 25:11 Ju 7:20 19:25, 29 1S 15:27 17:35 2S 1:11 2:16 3:29 13:11 1K 1:50 2:28 (to cling on to, Ehrlich) 2K 2:12 4:27 Is 4:1 27:5 41:9 (acc.) Jr 31:22 Zech 8:23 Pr 3:18 4:13 7:13 26:17; הח׳ בְּיָד to seize by the hand Gn 19:16 Ju 16:26 Is 42:6 45:1 51:18; הח׳ בְּ to keep hold of Ex 9:2 Ju 7:8 19:4 2S 15:5 (rd. בּוֹ) Is 56:2, 4, 6 64:6 Jr 8:5 Jb 2:3, 9 8:15 27:6 Neh 4:10f, 15, to sustain a person in debt Lv 25:35 :: Speiser Fschr. Kaufmann 36ff: to “seize” and employ as a domestic (Alalakh): to take care of someone 2C 28:15; to apply oneself Neh 5:16 to urge 2K 4:8; הח׳ בֵּאלֹהִים to lay hold of gods 1K 9:9 2C 7:22; —2. with acc. to seize, grasp Is 41:13 Jr 6:24 8:21 49:24 (rd. הֶחֱזִיקָהּ ?) 50:33, 43 Mi 4:9 Nah 3:14 Zech 14:13 Ps 35:2; to keep hold of Jr 6:23 50:42 cj. Ezk 7:13 (rd. יַחֲזִיק) Jb 18:9; הח׳ יָד to aid, sustain Ezk 16:49 Jb 8:20; מַחֲזִיק helper Da 11:1, 6 (alt. husband, → Comm.); הח׳ יָדוֹ בְ to protect someone Gn 21:18; —3. caus. הח׳ מִלְחָמָה to fight determinedly 2S 11:25; מַמְלָכָה to strengthen the royal power 2K 15:19 מַלְכוּת to seize the royal power Da 11:21; מִשְׁמָר to make the watch strong Jr 51:12, זְרֹעוֹת to strengthen a person Ezk 30:25, אַפּוֹ to retain one’s anger Mi 7:18; בֶּדֶק to repair breaches Ezk 27:9, 27 > הח׳ to repair Neh 3:4-32 (34 ×); —4. misc.: with עַל to join with Neh 10:30; abs. to be strong, prevail Da 11:7, 32 2C 26:8; to hold (vessel) 2C 4:5. †

hitp: pf. הִתְחַזַּק (Bergsträsser 2, §18e), impf. יִתְחַזֵּק, יִתְחַזָּֽקוּ, נִתְחַזַּק, impv. הִתְחַזֵּק, pt. מִתְחַזֵּק: —1. a) abs. to show oneself courageous Nu 13:20 2S 10:12 1K 20:22 Ezr 7:28 1C 19:13, to take courage cj. Ps 64:6 (rd. יִתְחַזְּקוּ); to pluck up courage Gn 48:2 Ju 20:22 1S 4:9 2C 15:8 21:4 23:1 25:11, to set to work resolutely 2C 32:5, to feel strong enough for cj. 2C 35:22 (rd. וַיִּתְחַזֵּק), to feel strengthened 1S 30:6 Da 10:19; b) to remain faithful to, with בְּ 2S 3:6 Sir 312, with עִם Da 10:21 1C 11:10 2C 16:9, to hold on Sir 4217; —2. a) to prove oneself strong 2C 1:1 17:1, with לִפְנֵי to assert oneself against 2C 13:7f; b) to become powerful 2C 12:13 13:21 27:6; —Ezk 7:13 rd. יַחֲזִיק. †

Der. חָזָק, חָזֵק, *חֵזֶק, חֹזֶק, *חֶזְקָה, חָזְקָה; n.m. חִזְקִי, חִזְקִיָּה, חִזְקִיָּהוּ, יְחִזְקִיָהוּ, יְחֶזְקֵאל.

חָזָק: חזק; DSS: חֲזָקָה (Sam.M29 ʾāzēqa) חֲזָקִים, חִזְקֵי: —1. firm, hard: rock Ezk 3:9, metal Jb 37:18, forehead Ezk 3:7, face 3:8, heart, mind 2:4; —2. strong a) God (Baudissin Kyrios 3, 120): בְּיָד חֲזָקָה with a mighty hand Ezk 20:33f Ps 136:12 Da 9:15, Ex 3:19 (rd. with Sept. Vulg. אִם לֹא for וְלֹא) 6:1 forced by (God’s) strong hand; Dt 3:24 7:19 11:2 34:12; with a strong hand Ex 13:9 32:11 Dt 4:34 5:15 6:21 7:8 9:26 26:8 Jr 32:21, Jos 4:24 1K 8:42 Neh 1:10 2C 6:32, בִּזְרוֹעַ חֲזָקָה Jr 21:5; God comes בְּחָ׳ as a strong man (→ בְּ 3, 1QIsa בחוזק, Kutscher Lang. Is. 284) Is 40:10, is called חָ׳ Jr 50:34 Pr 23:11; b) man חָ׳: people Nu 13:18, 31 Jos 17:18 Jr 31:11, man Jos 14:11 Is 28:2 Am 2:14 Ps 35:10 Jb 5:15, pl. Ju 18:26; animal Ezk 34:16, town Ezk 26:17; בְּיָד חֲ׳ Nu 20:20 (Edom), זְרוֹעַ (הַחֲ׳ :: הַנִּשְׁבֶּרֶת, text ?) Ezk 30:22; c) wind is חָ׳ Ex 10:19 1K 19:11, sound of trumpets Ex 19:16, sword Is 27:1; —3. heavy, severe: fight 1S 14:52 2S 11:15, illness 1K 17:17, famine 18:2; —4. powerful, with מִן Sir 321 (|| נפלא) 4332. †

חָזֵק, Sam.M29 *ʾāzaq: חזק; = חָזָק or pt. (BL 318p) strong: (blare of trumpets): הֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק grew stronger and stronger (→ הלךְ qal 5) Ex 19:19, 2S 3:1 David. †

Koehler, L., Baumgartner, W., Richardson, M. E. J., & Stamm, J. J. (1994–2000). The Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament (electronic ed., pp. 302–304). Leiden: E.J. Brill.

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