Psalm 1 : Torah Does Not Mean Law
Posted By Jacque on January 2, 2010
Psalm 1
1 How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit! 2 Their delight is in ADONAI’s Torah; on his Torah they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams -they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds. 4 Not so the wicked, who are like chaff driven by the wind. 5 For this reason the wicked won’t stand up to the judgment, nor will sinners at the gathering of the righteous. 6 For ADONAI watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed.
This is a fave Psalm of mine. In many versions the word Torah is changed to the word ‘Law”. ‘Law’ is not a correct interpretation of the word Torah. The meaning of the Hebrew word Torah is more like the word ‘teaching’ or ‘instruction’ than ‘a law’. It also is like an ‘aim’ or ‘direction’, as in shooting an arrow at a target with aim.
In a search of “Torah instruction aim”, I came to this article: Torah Does Not Mean Law.
~from the article:
“But isn’t the Torah weak and imperfect? It isn’t the Torah that is weak and imperfect, rather it is human beings that are weak and imperfect. “The Torah is God’s instruction in righteousness. Its place in Christian growth is vital, but like any support structure it has strengths and weaknesses … in the use and abuse humans make of it.”4 The problem lies not with God’s Torah, but with human beings. We don’t measure up to God’s standard, and so the standard is often abused in our hands.”
“The Torah is God’s instruction in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living;
This is a well-known Scripture. Do we also know that the reference to “Scriptures” in this verse is a reference to the Writings of Torah, the Wisdom Books and the Books of the Prophets, which the Torah teachers – Rabbis – read from and taught from? There was NO New Testament when this was written. He is exalting the Old Testament – the Old Covenant as the Scriptures that are God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living.
I sometimes wonder if Paul had any idea his simple letters of exhortation to the groups of New Believers would be kept and documented and included in a Holy book with all the rest of the Holy Scriptures he grew up learning as Torah.
So, wherever you read the word Law in the Old Testament (not necessarily the New – that’s another misunderstanding!), replace that with the proper word, Torah, and insert the true meaning also.
Shabbat Shalom!
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All Scriptures taken from The Complete Jewish Bible by David Stern.
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8 Responses to “Psalm 1 : Torah Does Not Mean Law”
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Jacque,
Thank youfor sharing and I look forward to sharing another Psalm and Praise someday soon….
AMEN! I have often wondered the same thing, about Paul/Shaul….
Many Blessings!
Andi´s last blog ..~ Something To Consider ~
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yep, that Psalms is definitely one to ponder on. I wish it was apparent to people that its not Law, but Teachings, loving teachings and instructions from a loving Father who cares for us. What we are missing out because we don’t realize this!
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I, too, love Psalm 1. It’s such a beautiful Psalm. Great post, Jacque.
Dianne´s last blog ..Doctor’s Advice
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wow! you really shed some light on this subject! i have always felt the Torah was for guidance but i come up against others saying no that is Law and doesn’t need to be followed! even tho it still made perfect sense!!! thanks:)
Tami Lewis´s last blog ..an apron giveaway- whoo hoo!
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I often wondered the same thing about Paul. Did YHWH tell him in some way that he would be such an inspiration and teacher?
Thank you for a wonderful post, as usual, to help me learn even more in this amazing walk with YHWH.
Stephanie Bateman´s last blog ..You’re Really Fine?
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I love your article and the one you referenced(”Torah Does Not Mean Law”). But I have never disparaged the law or the use of that word. I appreciate this love of the Torah. Law, however, to me , has always been a comfort. I mean H2O will always be water. Isn,t that a wonderful law! Then,too,along with the idea of law comes the idea of crime. If you break the law it is a crime and punishment ensues. So my reasoning is might not law be a good translation after all? But I will keep reading to form a conviction. To Yahweh be the glory,Sandra Bina
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January 12th, 2010 at 12:33 am
You know, Sandra, I have thought the same thing about using the word “Law” instead of Teaching. The word Law makes it almost seem like a bad thing – like Yahveh is going to reach down and pound you if you mess up or break a law of his. We have such a backward understanding of this. It is a loving thing. A loving teaching. A husband teaching and showing a bride, protecting her and keeping her in his peace and household.
I agree that the punishment ensues, and it will, for sure, but the process is not as hard a meaning as just the word “law”. It is protective, but it is like that of a spouse or parent, not a police officer or judge. THAT does come later tho….
:/
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Thank you ,Jacque. I am comfortable with this now(having read and researched this for two days–BTW I found the internet very Torah-friendly) At first I felt we were not authorized to change this. I questioned would there be unforseen ramifications,would it be easier to obey law than to obey teaching,would law carry more weight than teaching and are there not different definitions of Torah? But with the understanding of Torah in the referenced article the answer to all these is no. So I agree with you on points. Much like exchanging the word behavior for the word conversation in Scripture. That I do. I had always supposed that it would be rebellious to ask why before obeying and that one should be quick to obey. If my Heavenly Abba said to do it then I knew it is for my good and His glory. But Torah on the other hand is more life-giving I am now supposing. So many thanks for introducing me to Torah. You are wonderful. To Yahweh be the glory, Sandra (Bina)
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