Re: [Worship] Hebrew praise and worship

[ForteRRT@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/3/99 2:35:10 PM, bjohnson@worshipmap.com writes:

<< Can I advise you to be very careful about the popular "word studies" on
Hebrew worship words?     I know they are meant sincerely, but unfortunately
in this case most are based on misunderstandings of the sources.

	Our KJV Bible was not written from the original languages, but I 
believe that God has watched over His word and kept it pure when it was 
written.  Where did they get their information?  How do we know which sources 
are right?  And if God can keep His word pure can He not also watch over the 
usage of words in it?


If the word  HALLELU(jah), for instance, actually DOES have something to do 
with being '(clamoroulsy) foolish'**  then WHY is that not at all hinted at 
in ANY of our English translations?  The reason, I submit, is that the 
translations are correct and trustworthy, and the word simply does NOT mean 
what the popular "word studies" claim.

	The usage of the word Hallelujah does sound like a joyful celebration 
in the last few psalms.  149 says Praise the Lord!  Sing to the Lord a new 
song..... Let Israel be glad in his Maker.... 150 says Praise him with the 
timbrel and dance (this was used in celebration of a victory), praise him 
with stringed instruments and pipe, praise him with the loud cymbols....  
This doesn't sound to me like someone just quietly bowing their head and 
folding their hands as they mutter something about an attribute of God.  We 
are to praise him according to his excellent greatness.  How can we do that 
without celebration?  In the same proportion as He is excellently great we 
are to praise Him.  David looked pretty foolish when he danced before the 
ark.  Mariam probably looked pretty foolish leading in a victory dance.  God 
takes the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

(One of my major concerns in this is that I find people beginning to think
that their English translations are not to be trusted --though they are
actually very solid, and the debatable points are on the whole quite minor.
Scholarly work is necessary and helpful,  yet people who read ONLY English
and are devoted to the Word can still gain a firm understanding of its
teaching.)

	I have been using study helps for years and have never doubted the 
Word of God because of that.  I find it helps inhance the word, not deny it.  
I do have the advantage of being raised by godly parents who laid a good 
foundation in me so that I don't just swallow anything that comes by.

So, where does that leave us?       I would suggest that the best way to
understand what the Bible teaches about "praise" or any other subject is NOT
to track down the "word studies"  but to read and study the Scriptures
themselves  in the form we have them  --read the paragraphs, chapters and
books of the Bible, and see how they explain what the people do in
worshiping, and why they do it.

	Which version?  Do you believe the only translation is the KJV?  If 
so, what do you do with the archaic expressions involved?  If not, how do you 
know which version to use if you can't go by word studies?  Why would God use 
7 different words for praise if they all just meant the same thing?  If the 
only thing we can base it on is the KJV do we need a dictionary of archaic 
words, and if so how do we know they are correct?  I'm not trying to be 
closed on this, just understand both sides.

I hope this is of some help.    Please feel free to raise questions.

	I think I just did.

Rebecca
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