WORD STUDY – “DELIGHT” CHAPHETS
‫חפצ‬
Psalms 37:23, “The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the
LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”
There is considerable disagreement over the syntax of this
passage.
Does man delight in God’s way or does God delight
in man’s way?
Go ahead and read your modern English
translations. You will find many stay with the ambiguity of
the KJV were it could read one way or the other. Some will
boldly declare, as the NIV that it is man delighting in God or
the ISV that the Lord delights in man’s way.
This is where I get very frustrated with commentaries. You
get to a difficult passage as this and many just tend to
ignore the obvious question which in this case is man
delighting in his way or is God delighting in man’s way. Even
Keil and Delitzsch, the go to commentary for understanding the
depths of the Hebrew tends to side step a Hebraic explanation
and simply say that it is God delighting in man’s way. Some
commentaries indicate that it means both God and man
delighting in his way. In other words when man’s way is God’s
way both delight in the way.
The fact is, in the Hebrew it could mean either or, or it
could mean both. The syntax is just too ambiguous to be sure.
I believe God intended it to be this way. Jewish tradition
takes the position that it is a reference to God delighting in
the way of man.
I believe it is safe to say and most
commentators would agree that this passage does teach that God
delights in the way of man when he follows the steps that God
has ordered. That is what I want to focus on.
Let’s really break this down. The literal reading of the first
part of this verse is “From the Lord a great man’s steps are
established. The word step in the Hebrew is mits’ad. It is
used in the Akkadian language for soldiers marching into
battle or conflict. An Assyrian general would lead his army
into battle. When he did all the soldiers following him would
march in perfect step with him, they would follow the steps of
the general in perfect time showing their solidarity with
their general. Marching soldiers, soldiers who march in a
cadence with each step in perfect time with their leader
creates a sense of unity and oneness. Marching in perfect
step creates fear in the enemy for they know that their
opposition is of one mind and one purpose. They are together,
watching each other’s backs. They are disciplined and
determined to follow the orders given to them. They are not an
unruly mob set to do whatever they want, they are a
disciplined force all with the same goal and purpose in mind.
The word ordered may not be the best English word to use
here. In our modern understanding of ordered we get the idea
that God winds us up and sends us on our way. In other words
to use the English word ordered creates in our minds the idea
of having no free will. This is not at all what the Hebrew
word is kun is suggesting. Kun really has the idea of being
stable, firm or established.
We have basically three Hebrew words that are rendered as
man. You have adam which is a fleshly natural man. You have
ish which is both a spiritual and fleshly man expressing one
or the other or both. Then you have the word that is used in
this passage which is gavar. A gavar is simply a mighty or
great man. It is used for a man who excels in some area,
either physically, emotionally, intellectually or in
achievements. This is why some translations render this as a
good man or a righteous man.
A translation that does that is
paraphrasing as they are offering their opinion as to what
attribute of this man warrants the use of gavar. The context
clearly suggests that this is a righteous or good man as God
would not delight in the steps of an unrighteous man.
Thus this first part of the passage, the steps of a (good) man
ordered of the Lord would be better understood in modern
English as a man who is marching in perfect step with God is a
righteous person and the Lord will make his marching stable
and firm. In other words when you are marching in God’s army
and you are in perfect step with God, one with God in purpose
and mission you need never fear for whatever happens to God
will happen to you and no one will defeat God, thus you will
never be defeated.
The verse then goes on to say that God’s delights in our way.
If we are of one mind and purpose we are doing what we want
and what God wants. But say, look at this word delight. It is
chaphets in the Hebrew. It does mean to delight and take
pleasure in something or someone. Yet, this is rooted in an
ancient Persian word where a man admires the beauty of woman
that he is making his wife. Embodied in this word is the idea
of being caring, attentive, and protective.
I remember reading a book where some high ranking military
officers were observing the training of young officers. They
were looking for the cadets who showed the most promise as a
leader. They observed one officer leading his men and at the
end of the march he ordered them all to take off their boots
and he examined their feet and personally cared for any whose
feet show signs of any injury or sores. The observers noted
that this was a man who would become a great leader, for he
was not afraid to minister to the feet of his men. This
officer delighted in the achievements of each one of his men
and concentrated on doing what he had to do to make them
succeed. He was chaphets, caring, attentive and protective of
his men. He was also proud of his men and delighted in their
successes.
When we march in step with God, He chaphets us.
He cares for
us, He ministers to us and our needs, even to examine our feet
to make sure there are no sores and if they are He ministers
to those sores. He is attentive to us and protective of us.
He delights in our successes and he delights in our way. The
word way in Hebrew is derek which has multiple meanings, I
like how derek is used to express the idea of a journey. God
is delighting in our journey here on earth. We are people of
His personal platoon, people that he trains, and chaphets that
He is attentive to, cares for us, and protects us and then
when we achieve some great victory he takes great pleasure in
seeing how all his chaphets, caring attentiveness, and
protection has paid off.
March in step with God and He will lead you to great
adventures in your journey through life.