Blog 209. Soft and Hard

This Blog was born from a discussion I had with someone close to me, a discussion about “hard and soft.” Perhaps, as Forrest Gump says, “Maybe it’s both. Maybe it’s both.”

Impression קר/רך cognate permutations (covering/uncovering having impact)

Impression עשׂק Esek חשך darkness איש man קצה extremity; border; portion חצי half יצא goes out ישע savior חזק strengthen; strong cognate permutations(resist/endure)

⦁ ▸ Tanakh (20 results)

1. Shofetim 18:26 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַיֵּלְכוּ בְנֵי דָן לְדַרְכָּם וַיַּרְא מִיכָה כִּי חֲזָקִים הֵמָּה מִמֶּנּוּ וַיִּפֶן וַיָּשׇׁב אֶל בֵּיתוֹ.

⦁ Judges 18:26

26 Then the people of Dan went their way (h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ). And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.

▸ h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ; from 1869; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb: — along, away, because of, + by, conversation, custom, (east-)ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-)way(-side), whither(-soever).

AV (705) – way 590, toward 31, journey 23, manner 8, misc 53;

1. way, road, distance, journey, manner
   1. road, way, path
   2. journey
   3. direction
   4. manner, habit, way
   5. of course of life (fig.)
   6. of moral character (fig.)

▸ h1869. דָּרַךְ ḏâraḵ; a primitive root; to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending): — archer, bend, come, draw, go (over), guide, lead (forth), thresh, tread (down), walk.

AV (62) – tread 23, bend 8, bent 7, lead 4, archer 2, tread down 2, come 1, go 2, treader 2, tread upon 2, walk 2, drew 1, lead forth 1, guide 1, tread out 1, go over 1, shoot 1, thresh 1;

1. to tread, bend, lead, march
   1. (Qal)
      1. to tread, march, march forth
      2. to tread on, tread upon
      3. to tread (a press)
      4. to tread (bend) a bow
      5. archer, bow-benders (participle)
   2. (Hiphil)
      1. to tread, tread down
      2. to tread (bend with the foot) a bow
      3. to cause to go, lead, march, tread

2. Shemuel II 3:1 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַתְּהִי הַמִּלְחָמָה אֲרֻכָּה בֵּין בֵּית שָׁאוּל וּבֵין בֵּית דָּוִד וְדָוִד הֹלֵךְ וְחָזֵק וּבֵית שָׁאוּל הֹלְכִים וְדַלִּים.

⦁ 2 Samuel 3:1

1 There was a long (h0752. אָרֹךְ ’ârôḵ) war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker (h1980. הָלַךְ hâlaḵ) and weaker (h1800. דַּל ḏal). 

▸ h0752. אָרֹךְ ’ârôḵ; from 748; long: — long.

AV (3) – long 2, longer 1;

1. long
   1. of time
   2. of God’s wisdom (fig.)

▸ h0748. אָרַךְ ’âraḵ; a primitive root; to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively): — defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-)long, + (out-, over-)live, tarry (long).

AV (34) – prolong 18, long 5, lengthen 3, draw out 3, defer 2, tarried 1, …lived + h3117 h0310 2;

1. to be long, prolong
   1. (Qal) to be long
   2. (Hiphil)
      1. to prolong (days)
      2. to make long (tent cords)
      3. to grow long, continue long

• (more literally, instead of “weaker and weaker,” it is “walking and helpless/poor.” And this leads one to remember what Amalek did to the Israelites AND YHWH’scomment about Amalek.
• ⦁ Deuteronomy 25:17-19
• 17 “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, 18 how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.
• ⦁ Exodus 17:15-16
• 15 And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, 16 saying, “A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”
• Is it “coincidence” that Saul’s failure had to do with how he dealt with Amalek? AND was this a part of why David spared Saul, on multiple occasions, that David recognizes Saul’s “walking and helpless,” and David did not want to be seen like Amalek? “Don’t kick a man while he is down.” – REMEMBER THIS QUOTE – “Don’t kick a man while he is down.” because it explains SO MUCH of who YHWH is, from my perspective. I have written many times before, but I cannot see that I have uploaded it into LogandSpeck, that the understanding of “no double jeopardy.” It is a guiding principle of YHWH.
• ⦁ Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
• The idea of “no double jeopardy” is explained by Paul in Romans 8. If we are “in the Spirit,” we carry within us the consequences of our actions (remember the post 14. Synthetic Grasp of Life), with each of the shortcomings of mankind, the Hebrew word includes the action and the consequences of the action. Thus if we carry within us guilt and shame, these in themselves are our consequences, and it would be “double jeopardy to impose additional punishment on top of that. YHWH and only YHWH knows our hearts. YHWH knows whether we have true remorse. 
• ● Jeremiah 44:10
• 10 They have not {humbled themselves} (h1792. דָּכָא ḏâḵâ’) even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers.
• h1792. דָּכָא ḏâḵâ’; a primitive root (compare 1794); to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively): — beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress, smite.
• AV (18) – break 3, break in pieces 3, crush 3, bruise 2, destroy 2, contrite 1, smite 1, oppress 1, beat to pieces 1, humble 1;
• to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken
  1. (Niphal)
     1. to be crushed
     2. to be contrite (fig.)
  2. (Piel) to crush
  3. (Pual)
     1. to be crushed, be shattered
     2. to be made contrite
  4. (Hithpael) to allow oneself to be crushed
• ⦁ Psalms 51:17
• 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
• a broken and contrite (h1794. דָּכָה ḏâḵâ) heart, O God, you will not despise.

• ⦁ Isaiah 57:14-21   (ESV – Comfort for the Contrite)
• 14 And it shall be said,
• “Build up, build up, prepare the way,
• remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
• 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
• who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
• “I dwell in the high and holy place,
• and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
• to revive the spirit of the lowly,
• and to revive the heart of the contrite.
• 16 For I will not contend forever,
• nor will I always be angry;
• for the spirit would grow faint before me,
• and the breath of life that I made.
• 17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
• I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
• but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
• 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
• I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
• 19 creating the fruit of the lips.
• Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,
• “and I will heal him.
• 20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
• for it cannot be quiet,
• and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
• 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Impression ידה cast עקד bind ידע know אתי with me דכה/דכא humble; crush cognate permutations (permit/withhold)

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3. Melakhim I 2:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)

אָנֹכִי הֹלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ כׇּל הָאָרֶץ וְחָזַקְתָּ וְהָיִיתָ לְאִישׁ.

⦁ 1 Kings 2:1-4

1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way (h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ) of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the LORD may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

4. Melakhim II 18:17 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַיִּשְׁלַח מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר אֶת תַּרְתָּן וְאֶת רַב סָרִיס וְאֶת רַבְשָׁקֵה מִן לָכִישׁ אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ חִזְקִיָּהוּ בְּחֵיל כָּבֵד יְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם וַיַּעֲלוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם וַיַּעֲלוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ וַיַּעַמְדוּ בִּתְעָלַת הַבְּרֵכָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה אֲשֶׁר בִּמְסִלַּת שְׂדֵה כֹבֵס.

⦁ 2 Kings 18:17

17 And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rab-saris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool (h1295. בְּרֵכָה ḇerêḵâ), which is on the highway to the Washer’s Field.

▸ h1295. בְּרֵכָה ḇerêḵâ; from 1288; a reservoir (at which camels kneel as a resting-place): — (fish-)pool.

AV (17) – pool 16, fishpools 1;

pool, pond

▸ h1288. בָּרַךְ ḇâraḵ; a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason): — x abundantly, x altogether, x at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, x greatly, x indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, x still, thank.

AV (330) – bless 302, salute 5, curse 4, blaspheme 2, blessing 2, praised 2, kneel down 2, congratulate 1, kneel 1, make to kneel 1, misc 8;

1. to bless, kneel
   1. (Qal)
      1. to kneel
      2. to bless
   2. (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
   3. (Piel) to bless
   4. (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
   5. (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
   6. (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2. (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse

5. Melakhim II 18:31 (Mikraot Gedolot)

אַל תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּ כִּי כֹה אָמַר מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר עֲשׂוּ אִתִּי בְרָכָה וּצְאוּ אֵלַי וְאִכְלוּ אִישׁ גַּפְנוֹ וְאִישׁ תְּאֵנָתוֹ וּשְׁתוּ אִישׁ מֵי בֹרוֹ.

⦁ 2 Kings 18:31-32

31 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make your peace(h1293. בְּרָכָה ḇerâḵâ) with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, 32 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, that you may live, and not die. And do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, “The LORD will deliver us.”

▸ h1293. בְּרָכָה ḇerâḵâ; from 1288; benediction; by implication prosperity: — blessing, liberal, pool, present.

AV (69) – blessing 61, blessed 3, present 3, liberal 1, pools 1;

1. blessing
2. (source of) blessing
3. blessing, prosperity
4. blessing, praise of God
5. a gift, present
6. treaty of peace

• Just a reminder that two healings in the Gospel of John are done at pools (Bethesda and Siloam) and that the mikveh is a pool in Hebrew culture used for ritual cleansing.

6. Melakhim II 20:20 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי חִזְקִיָּהוּ וְכׇל גְּבוּרָתוֹ וַאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֶת הַבְּרֵכָה וְאֶת הַתְּעָלָה וַיָּבֵא אֶת הַמַּיִם הָעִירָה הֲלֹא הֵם כְּתוּבִים עַל סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה.

⦁ 2 Kings 20:20

20 The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made the pool(h1295. בְּרֵכָה ḇerêḵâ) and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

7. Yeshayahu 8:11 (Mikraot Gedolot)

כִּי כֹה אָמַר י־ְהֹוָה אֵלַי כְּחֶזְקַת הַיָּד וְיִסְּרֵנִי מִלֶּכֶת בְּדֶרֶךְ הָעָם הַזֶּה לֵאמֹר.

⦁ Isaiah 8:11-12

11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way (h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ) of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.

8. Yeshayahu 35:3 (Mikraot Gedolot)

חַזְּקוּ יָדַיִם רָפוֹת וּבִרְכַּיִם כֹּשְׁלוֹת אַמֵּצוּ.

⦁ Isaiah 35:3

3 Strengthen the weak hands,

and make firm the feeble knees (h1290. בֶּרֶךְ ḇereḵ).

▸ h1290. בֶּרֶךְ ḇereḵ; from 1288; a knee: — knee.

AV (25) – knee 25;

1. knee
2. weak from fear (fig.)

▸ h1288. בָּרַךְ ḇâraḵ; a primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the king, as treason): — x abundantly, x altogether, x at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, x greatly, x indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, x still, thank.

AV (330) – bless 302, salute 5, curse 4, blaspheme 2, blessing 2, praised 2, kneel down 2, congratulate 1, kneel 1, make to kneel 1, misc 8;

1. to bless, kneel
   1. (Qal)
      1. to kneel
      2. to bless
   2. (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself
   3. (Piel) to bless
   4. (Pual) to be blessed, be adored
   5. (Hiphil) to cause to kneel
   6. (Hithpael) to bless oneself
2. (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse

9. Yeshayahu 36:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַיִּשְׁלַח מֶלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר אֶת רַבְשָׁקֵה מִלָּכִישׁ יְרוּשָׁלְַמָה אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ חִזְקִיָּהוּ בְּחֵיל כָּבֵד וַיַּעֲמֹד בִּתְעָלַת הַבְּרֵכָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה בִּמְסִלַּת שְׂדֵה כוֹבֵס.

⦁ Isaiah 36:2

2 And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool (h1295. בְּרֵכָה ḇerêḵâ) on the highway to the Washer’s Field.

10. Yeshayahu 36:16 (Mikraot Gedolot)

אַל תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל חִזְקִיָּהוּ כִּי כֹה אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אַשּׁוּר עֲשׂוּ אִתִּי בְרָכָה וּצְאוּ אֵלַי וְאִכְלוּ אִישׁ גַּפְנוֹ וְאִישׁ תְּאֵנָתוֹ וּשְׁתוּ אִישׁ מֵי בוֹרוֹ.

⦁ Isaiah 36:16

16 Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace(h1293. בְּרָכָה ḇerâḵâ) with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern,

11. Yechezkel 13:22 (Mikraot Gedolot)

יַעַן הַכְאוֹת לֵב צַדִּיק שֶׁקֶר וַאֲנִי לֹא הִכְאַבְתִּיו וּלְחַזֵּק יְדֵי רָשָׁע לְבִלְתִּי שׁוּב מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָע לְהַחֲיֹתוֹ.

⦁ Ezekiel 13:22

22 Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way(h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ) to save his life,

12. Yonah 3:8 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וְיִתְכַּסּוּ שַׂקִּים הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה וְיִקְרְאוּ אֶל אֱלֹהִים בְּחׇזְקָה וְיָשֻׁבוּ אִישׁ מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה וּמִן הֶחָמָס אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם.

⦁ Jonah 3:7-8

7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way (h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ) and from the violence that is in his hands.

13. Nachum 2:2 (Mikraot Gedolot)

עָלָה מֵפִיץ עַל פָּנַיִךְ נָצוֹר מְצוּרָה צַפֵּה דֶרֶךְ חַזֵּק מׇתְנַיִם אַמֵּץ כֹּחַ מְאֹד.

⦁ Nahum 2:1

1 The scatterer has come up against you.

Man the ramparts;

watch the road (h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ);

dress for battle (literally strengthen/gird your loins);

collect all your strength.

14. Zekharyah 8:13 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר הֱיִיתֶם קְלָלָה בַּגּוֹיִם בֵּית יְהוּדָה וּבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֵּן אוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם וִהְיִיתֶם בְּרָכָה אַל תִּירָאוּ תֶּחֱזַקְנָה יְדֵיכֶם.

⦁ Zechariah 8:13

13 And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

15. Tehillim 147:13 (Mikraot Gedolot)

כִּי חִזַּק בְּרִיחֵי שְׁעָרָיִךְ בֵּרַךְ בָּנַיִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּךְ.

⦁ Psalms 147:13

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses (h1288. בָּרַךְ ḇâraḵ) your children within you.

16. Daniel 10:21 (Mikraot Gedolot)

אֲבָל אַגִּיד לְךָ אֶת הָרָשׁוּם בִּכְתָב אֱמֶת וְאֵין אֶחָד מִתְחַזֵּק עִמִּי עַל אֵלֶּה כִּי אִם מִיכָאֵל שַׂרְכֶם.

⦁ Daniel 10:21

21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contendsby my side against these except Michael, your prince (your(pl.) h8269. שַׂר śar שַׂרְכֶֽם).

17. Divrei HaYamim II 13:7 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַיִּקָּבְצוּ עָלָיו אֲנָשִׁים רֵקִים בְּנֵי בְלִיַּעַל וַיִּתְאַמְּצוּ עַל רְחַבְעָם בֶּן שְׁלֹמֹה וּרְחַבְעָם הָיָה נַעַר וְרַךְ לֵבָב וְלֹא הִתְחַזַּק לִפְנֵיהֶם.

⦁ 2 Chronicles 13:6-7

6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord, 7 and certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute (tender (h7390. רַךְ raḵ)-hearted) and could not withstand them.

18. Divrei HaYamim II 27:6 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַיִּתְחַזֵּק יוֹתָם כִּי הֵכִין דְּרָכָיו לִפְנֵי י־ְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו.

⦁ 2 Chronicles 27:6

6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.

19. Divrei HaYamim II 28:12 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַיָּקֻמוּ אֲנָשִׁים מֵרָאשֵׁי בְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם עֲזַרְיָהוּ בֶן יְהוֹחָנָן בֶּרֶכְיָהוּ בֶן מְשִׁלֵּמוֹת וִיחִזְקִיָּהוּ בֶּן שַׁלֻּם וַעֲמָשָׂא בֶּן חַדְלָי עַל הַבָּאִים מִן הַצָּבָא.

⦁ 2 Chronicles 28:12

12 Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiahthe son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war

20. Divrei HaYamim II 31:8 (Mikraot Gedolot)

וַיָּבֹאוּ יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ וְהַשָּׂרִים וַיִּרְאוּ אֶת הָעֲרֵמוֹת וַיְבָרְכוּ אֶת י־ְהֹוָה וְאֵת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל.

⦁ 2 Chronicles 31:8

8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.

• It is important to realize that the way דרך in Scripture is the way of walking… not the horse… Horses are symbolic of power and speed. The Way of YHWH  is slow and more gentle (don’t forget 1 Kings 19:11-12.)

⦁ Genesis 49:17

17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,

a viper by the path,

that bites the horse’s heels

so that his rider falls backward.

• Recall that Dan is “the judge.”(see Genesis 30:6)

⦁ Deuteronomy 17:16

16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’

⦁ 2 Kings 11:14-16

14 And when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she entered the way of entrance of the horses’ to the king’s house, and there she was put to death.

⦁ Isaiah 5:27-28

27 None is weary, none stumbles,

none slumbers or sleeps,

not a waistband is loose,

not a sandal strap broken;

28 their arrows are sharp,

all their bows bent (h1869. דָּרַךְ ḏâraḵ),

their horses’ hoofs seem like flint,

and their wheels like the whirlwind.

⦁ Jeremiah 46:9

9 Advance, O horses,

and rage, O chariots!

Let the warriors go out:

men of Cush and Put who handle the shield,

men of Lud, skilled in handling (h1869. דָּרַךְ ḏâraḵ) the bow.

⦁ Amos 4:10

10 “I sent among you a pestilence after the manner (h1870. דֶּרֶךְ ḏereḵ) of Egypt;

I killed your young men with the sword,

and carried away your horses,

and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils;

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the LORD.

⦁ Habakkuk 3:15

15 You trampled (h1869. דָּרַךְ ḏâraḵ) the sea with your horses,

the surging of mighty waters.

• One of many messages from the life of Yeshua/Jesus was to demonstrate that being tender of heart is not an indication of being weak. One can truly care for those less-well-off and choose to love and serve, yet still choose the sacrificial way that brings pain or even death. His “Way” was soft in a manner of speaking, tender, but hard in another manner. His Way was indeed the one of the Narrow Gate.

⦁ Matthew 7:12-13

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

⦁ Luke 13:23-27

23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

• The direction that the Way leads is upside-down from the world’s way of thinking. It is the way of the contrite heart, the way of walking, not of power and speed. The powerful must not oppress the tender. Instead, leaders are to wash feet; be servant-leaders.

⦁ 1 Samuel 8:4-22

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”

Samuel’s Warning Against Kings

10 So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

The LORD Grants Israel’s Request

19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD. 22 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

He allows us our choices. And we live out our consequences.

Ⓒ Copyright Philip E. Gates; LogAndSpeck.com, April 2026. Please cite if you use this material.