How to Build a Tabernacle: Part 8

Today's Reading: Exodus 35

Comments:

Today I have posted an answer to question number 7 in the Exodus 35 chapter study.  See part 1 for a description of this study.

7. Is there a difference between what the heart does and what the spirit does? (vs. 21-29)

Jeff- You need to see that while there is no distinction between the heart and the spirit in its essence there can be different levels of revelation or subsequent action by this inner man. See how I use various words to describe this inner man in order to discern the difference in the action that is occuring…

Exodus 35:21 (ESV)²¹ And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.

See the different Hebrew words that Moses used here in this passage Jeff and how they explain what is happening without actually determining that the heart and spirit are two different things...

"Heart"

לֵב lêb, labe; a form of 3824; the heart; also used (fig.) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything:
Strong, J., S.T.D., LL.D. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 

1071 לָבַב (lābab) ravish (Piel), become intelligent (Niphal). Denominative verb
1071a לֵב (lēb), לֵבָב (lēbāb) heart, understanding.
Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (466). Chicago: Moody Press.

"Spirit"

רוַּח (rûaḥ). Wind, breath, mind, spirit. This noun occurs 387 times in the ot, usually feminine. Although some derive it from rāwaḥ, “be spacious, be refreshed” (I Sam 16:23; Job 32:20; Hiphil, hērîaḥ “perceive by breathing an aeriform thing,” KB, p. 877, see below), it is best considered a primitive noun, related to an ayin-vowel root rûḥ, “to breathe” (BDB, p. 924); cf. rêaḥ “odor”; Ugaritic rḥ.
Harris, R. L., Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., & Waltke, B. K. (1999). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed.) (836). Chicago: Moody Press. 

 רוּחַ (rû^aḥ): n.fem.; ≡ Str 7307; TWOT 2131a— 2. LN 26 spirit, mind, heart, i.e., the psychological faculty which can respond to God
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Heart is "Stirred"

 נָשָׂא (nā∙śā(ʾ)): v.; ≡ Str 4984, 5375, 5379, 7721; TWOT 1421—1. LN 15.101–15.106 (qal) lift up, i.e., cause to move up or lift up an object to a higher elevation of any amount (Ge 7:7; Jer 4:6); (qal pass.) be lifted up; (nif) be lifted up, raised, lofty
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

 נָשָׂא nasa or
נָסָה nasah (669d); a prim. root; to lift, carry, take:
Thomas, R. L. (1998). New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : Updated edition. Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc.

Here is an example of this word for Stirred being used elsewhere translated "lift up"...

Psalm 86:3–5 (ESV) ³  Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
 ⁴  Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
 ⁵  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

See Jeff how the psalmist is talking about a dwelling upon or a thinking upon or some sort of action where he is asking, then giving the reason - he is lifting his soul because he knows I am good and forgiving.  He is asking me to gladden him as he dwells on me.

Spirit is "Moved"

 נָדַב nâdab, naw-dab´; a prim. root; to impel; hence to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously:—offer freely, be (give, make, offer self) willing (-ly).
Strong, J., S.T.D., LL.D. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Here is an example of this word for Moved being used elsewhere translated "freely"...

1 Chronicles 29:17 (ESV)¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

So now Jeff- all of this to provide you with the following understanding:

Step 1- I opened your eyes by giving you adequate revelation (less than would have taken choice away from you and ruined the beauty of our relationship- clarified below) of myself such that your understanding (heart stirred) was lifted to take hold of the message and then...

Step 2- You willingly responded (spirit moved) in faith (due to your new understanding that I gave you) and placed trust in my Son.  This process can occur not only at salvation but throughout your walk where I reveal truth to you and it is how you proceed through the walk of sanctification where I am changing your character to me like my Son's.  

Here Jeff is some wisdom from Charles Hodge on this topic of the nature of man having but two parts- body and soul.  Soul also being described as "heart" or "mind" or "spirit"...

Realistic Dualism. 

The Scriptural doctrine of the nature of man as a created spirit in vital union with an organized body, consisting, therefore, of two, and only two, distinct elements or substances, matter and mind, is one of great importance. It is intimately connected with some of the most important doctrines of the Bible; with the constitution of the person of Christ, and consequently with the nature of his redeeming work and of his relation to the children of men; with the doctrine of the fall, original sin, and of regeneration; and with the doctrines of a future state and of the resurrection. It is because of this connection, and not because of its interest as a question in psychology, that the true idea of man demands the careful investigation of the theologian.
Hodge, C. (1997). Vol. 2: Systematic theology (46). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 

All Protestants, Lutheran and Reformed, were, therefore, the more zealous in maintaining that the soul and spirit, ψυχή and πνευ̂μα are one and the same substance and essence. And this, as before remarked, has been the common doctrine of the Church.
Hodge, C. (1997). Vol. 2: Systematic theology (51). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

So see Jeff that you can intellectually "understand" a truth or you hear a general call that I give and yet not respond.  Understand that not all have eyes to see or ears to hear…

Deuteronomy 29:4 (ESV)⁴ But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 

Luke 8:9–10 (ESV)⁹ And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, ¹⁰ he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

When I grant this careful vision of truth it impells free will submission without removing the free will.  This is the beauty and mystery of how I only partially reveal myself so as to not annihalate free will and bring instant uncontrollable and absolute surrender like an object that were to appear in a moment before the sun and is annihalated without any option or choice in the matter right at the point that it appears in the sun's full presence (full revelation).  See that I open the eyes and then the second step is somehow still the part of the believer, although it is I who have enabled them to have the faith they now exercise…this is the mystery of my sovereign and your free will.  But this is individual and subjective Jeff.  See that not every individual would be tipped to the point of no return (annihilation of free will) at the same point. So my revelation, my opening of the eyes, for one individual looks different than another individual such that I balance against their free will for the sake of my love.  For the sake or relationship.  For the sake of presenting a bride who chooses by her free will that which she is somehow compelled to embrace but not beyond a sense of choice.  This is it Jeff. This is where my Spirit works as the helper. 

So yes, I call each person that I choose (I open their eyes just enough) as the potter but they also respond willingly and live a process of revelation and surrender that is our love relationship. See that there is no boasting here as they are nowhere without my opening of their eyes- purely by my grace for my good pleasure (my purpose).  Remember that all are guilty and doomed by their own choice and it is pure grace that saves even one person.  This is why my annihalaion of everyone on earth at the time of Noah was just and righteous and not to be questioned by a piece of clay.  Also remember that my wrath and hatred of sin only serves to paint an even more beautiful picture of my love since I poured this wrath on my own Son in order to reconcile you to myself.  I killed my Son that you might live Jeff. Yes wrath, yes justice, yes love, yes grace. I am the alpha and the omega. There is none like me.

Application and Prayer:

• Today I will pray that God would open my eyes wider and that I might see the areas in my life where I am still not surrendered to Him.
• Today I will listen for His answer and I will pray for wisdom and discernment as I consider how to act upon what I hear.
• Today I will be certain to be a doer of the Word when I hear His call so that I do not deceive myself and harden my heart against Him.
• Today I will do more praying that God would reveal Himself to those I care for and less pounding on their heads because I have not the power to open their eyes.

Thank you Lord for your sovereingty.  Thank you for allowing me free will but also calling me to yourself in a beautiful courtship of the groom pursuing the bride. Let me never question or put myself in a place of judging you Lord but please soften my heart and give me understanding in those areas where I am prideful or where I think too much of my own understanding.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

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