Time with Jesus - 18 Oct 2013
So, why do we use the word “Amen” at
all? Those of us who have been in the Charismatic movement for a few years,
have grown accustomed to it being used by preachers, as a means of getting a
quick response from the congregation. Perhaps audience would be a better word,
but let’s not go down that road. What happens is the preacher arrives at a point
in his sermon and wants to get the people to agree with what he has said. So he
makes his statement and then says, “Amen?”
For instance, “Jesus is the way, the
truth and the life!” He then says, “Amen?” The people are all expected to
answer, “Amen”. Better still would be “Amen brother!” or “Preach it brother!”
or something equally inane. It’s not so much a question of seeking approval, as
evoking a response from his listeners. Actually, it’s a bit annoying. Not because
the original statement was incorrect. It’s more a question of the preacher
trying to find if his listeners are awake! Sadly, this verbal routine has
almost reached the point where it has become part of customary Charismatic
ritual.
What then is the word “Amen” all
about? In English, the word amen has two primary
pronunciations, ah-men (/ɑːˈmɛn/) or ay-men (/eɪˈmɛn/), with minor additional
variation in emphasis (the two syllables may be equally stressed instead of
placing primary stress on the second). The Oxford English Dictionary gives
"eɪ'mεn, or ɑː'mɛn". (Courtesy Wikipedia)
In the New Testament it is often
used to imply that nothing further can be added. It’s the way Christians should
view the word. It’s a bit like saying, “God said it – that settles it”. When
God has spoken, that’s it. Nothing can be added or taken away. It’s guaranteed.
It cannot be changed. Of course that’s because He is God. In English the word
“FINIS” is sometimes appended to the end of a statement. It’s over and done.
Amen is the word we can write under what God has said. It’s a guaranteed
certainty!
The uses of “Amen”, “Verily-verily”
or "I tell you the truth", depending on the translation, fit into a
peculiar “class” of phrases. They are the words Jesus used to affirm his own
utterances, not those of another person. The use of the initial amen, single or
double in form, to introduce solemn statements of Jesus in the Gospels, appears
to have originated with Jesus. It would have been very difficult for Jesus to
convince His hearers that He was speaking the truth, particularly in the early
days of His ministry. It follows that the use of the words, “Amen” or “Verily-verily”,
or "I tell you the truth" would tend to add credence to what He was
saying. Later in His ministry, He would have used them, not so much to convince
people His words were true; but to emphasise the importance of His statements.
Today, the use of "amen"
has been generally adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word for
prayers and hymns that express strong agreement with what has been stated.
Overall, the word “Amen” appears in
the Hebrew Bible 30 times.
In the King James Bible, the word “Amen”
is preserved in a number of contexts. Notable ones include:
The word first occurs in the Hebrew
Bible in Numbers 5.22 when the Priest addresses a suspected adulteress and she
responds “Amen, Amen”. Numbers 5 is a fascinating chapter, in that it outlines
the procedure to follow, in the case of a wife suspected of committing adultery.
21 "At this point the priest must
put the woman under oath by saying, 'May the people know that the LORD's curse
is upon you when He makes you infertile, causing your womb to shrivel and your
abdomen to swell. 22 Now may this
water that brings the curse enter your body and cause your abdomen to swell and
your womb to shrivel. ' And the woman will be
required to say, (Amen) - Yes, let it
be so. Numbers 5:21-22 NLT
Deuteronomy 27:15-27 recounts the
curses of the Law that would come upon the people in the event of the various
laws of God being broken. The people were required to say, “Amen” as the
Levites “called out” the law to the listening Israelites.
The people were
required to say “Amen” after each portion was called out. An example is 19
'Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners,
orphans, or widows.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.' Deuteronomy 27:19 NLT
A double amen ("amen and
amen") occurs in Psalm 89, Psalm 41:13; 72:19; & 89:52 to confirm the
words and invoke the fulfilment of them.
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Psalm 89:52 NLT
Praise the LORD forever! Amen and amen! |
Psalm 41:13 NLT Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who
lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!
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Psalm 72:19 NLT Praise His glorious name
forever! Let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen!
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Psalm 89:52 NLT Praise the LORD forever!
Amen and amen! |
The custom of closing prayers with
amen originates in the Lord's Prayer at Matthew 6:13. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Mat 6:13 KJV
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| Jewish men praying at the Western (Wailing) Wall |
It concludes all of Paul's general
epistles.
In Revelation 3:14, Jesus is
referred to as, "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of
God's creation."
Amen concludes the New Testament at
Rev. 22:21.
The word has been used in sacred
music on a number of occasions. One of the best known is probably the “Amen
Chorus” which concludes Handel’s Messiah. Denominational choirs often make use
of a variety of “Amen” conclusions for Divine Worship services. As a result the
sung “Amen” has been used on so many occasions, that for me, repetition has
devalued the word.
If you couple this with the Charismatic use of “Amen”, being
used to obtain a response from congregants, the sacred meaning of “Let it be so”
or “Verily-verily” is no longer what it was once intended to be.
Shalom
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 18 Oct 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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AMEN
AND AMEN
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Words
seem to come and go. They appear to change meaning from time to time and from
place to place. One of the big surprises I found as reading school reports.
In my days, if I got a 5 on my report card, my parents would have been very
unimpressed. 1’s were wonderful, not that I ever got any. I seemed to be able
to hover at ±3. No more and no less with the accompanying statement, “Jim
could do better!
The
last time I looked at my grandchildren’s school reports, they were dotted
with 4’s and 5’s. Then I was told that to understand them, I should stand on
my head. They were upside down to what I knew.
Words
also have a habit of changing meaning. Perhaps the best known is the word
“gay”. It used to mean carefree, happy and enjoying things. Now it means
homosexual. I’m not sure I approve. But my opinion is not important.
The
word “Amen or So be it” doesn’t mean what it meant when the Bible was
translated into English. According to Nelson’s New Bible Dictionary it means: a solemn word by which a person confirms a statement, an oath, or a
covenant (Num. 5:22; Neh. 5:13). It
is also used in worship to affirm an address, psalm, or prayer. It
used to mean the truth. The Lord identified Himself with this word when He
said, I am Amen. I am the truth.
No longer. The word has been considerably
downgraded. Today it is used to answer a question. The preacher will say
something, followed by the word, “amen?” He expects the congregation to reply
“amen”. So the word has been downgraded from being one of the Names of our
great and glorious God. Now, all it seems to mean is, “I agree!”
So,
how do we change this? Do we need to change it? This is perhaps a better
question. I think we should do what we can to make people aware of the words
they use. In USA the people speak of an automobile. We understand that they
mean a motor car. We speak of a bonnet. They call it the hood. They say trunk
when we say boot. But we do understand each other. In South Africa we know
what is meant by the word “condom”. In USA it’s called a “rubber”. So if you
go for a brief visit, be careful you don’t ask your hostess if she’s got a
rubber. She will not be amused. Not even to rub out pencil. That’s an eraser.
Listening
to dialects on the TV or movies, it doesn’t take long to realise that the way
people speak English in USA, UK, RSA and Australia is different. Not so
different that we can’t understand each other. There may come a day when this
changes. In the UK, dialects are significantly different. A couple of years
ago I picked up a book called, “Laarn yersel Geordie!” Which being translated
means teach {learn (laarn)} yourself (Yersel) [to speak] Geordie! Geordie being the dialect spoken in and
around Newcastle on Tyne! I’ve also come across a book on “Strine” -
Australian. We also find that the style of speech in the North and South of
the USA is markedly different. Here in RSA we have a small sample of it in
the Afrikaans speaking community. Listen to the dialect in Malmsbury. It’s
different. Dear old Professor Higgins of My Fair Lady fame asked the question,
“Why can’t the English teach their children how to speak?” For me it would be
enough if we started understanding the language we use!
Jim
& Phyllida
Strickland
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13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For
Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'
Matthew
6:13 NASB
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Amen; It is all over; it’s finished;
it is done.
It seems to be a kind of verb that’s
seldom used for fun.
It means finalisation. That’s how it’s
going to be.
A thousand million years from now and
for eternity,
This truth is now established; the
earth may pass away.
But this will be unvarying as what it
is today.
A little illustration. One plus one is
two.
It will always be this way, no matter
what we do.
The Lord above won’t change it.
There’s really is no need.
It is the confirmation in thought and
word and deed.
In local courtroom jargon, it’s an
established fact.
It tells us the right way to go, when
we’re compelled to act.
It verifies a statement; it
establishes the truth.
Regardless of the circumstance,
maturity or youth.
At times you’ll find it’s also used,
as some sort of a noun.
Rather like the title of some rather
special town.
So we speak about it and say it is a
trust.
It’s firm and confidential; a
certainty; a must!
It also is an adjective, a specific piece
of law.
Although we find it’s seldom used in
this way anymore.
On the odd occasion a prayer begins
“Amen”
Confirming that what follows is
reliable again.
But the common usage is at the very
end.
“Yes, this is reliable. On this you
may depend.
A congregation uses it when they are
all agreed.
When they’ve heard a statement they believe
is truth indeed.
Written in Psalm eighty nine and in
verse fifty two,
We find Amen repeated; so everyone may
view;
The glory and the majesty of Him Who
reigns on High.
Who deals with every mocker and
informs them, “Do not try”.
God used the expression, when by
Himself He swore.
None can overrule Him. He is the
highest law!
We’re told that all God’s promises in
Jesus are AMEN.
They won’t be rescinded or issued once
again!
The book of Revelation, behold in
chapter three,
Recorded in the fourteenth verse quite
categorically,
He says He is the Amen. He’s faithful
and He’s true.
“Those in Laodicea, be careful what
you do;
If you are not careful, I’m going to
spit you out.
Turn from being lukewarm. Your future
is in doubt.
Only overcomers shall sit at my right
hand.
All the rest will go to Hell when I
give the command.
Indeed I am the Holy One, “I AM!” That
is My Name.
Amen! All this is certain. Amen!
Always the same.
Jim
Strickland
Written
18th Oct 2012
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36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king,
say.
1 Kings
1:36 NASB
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16 All who invoke a blessing or take an oath
will do so by the God of truth. (The Amen – Hebrew
aw-mane Amen, so be it, truth). For I will put aside My anger
and forget the evil of earlier days.
Isaiah
65:16 NLT
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13 For when God made a promise to Abraham,
since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, (The Amen – The truth)
Hebrews
6:13 ESV
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16 Now when people take an oath, they call
on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any
question that oath is binding. 17 God
also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could
be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. 18 So God has given both His promise and His oath. These
two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.
Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we
hold to the hope that lies before us.
Hebrews
6:16-18 NLT
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14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witne
Revelation
3:14 ESV
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20 For no matter how many promises God has
made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the
"Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2
Corinthians 1:20 TNIV
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18 Praise the LORD God, the God of Israel,
who alone does such wonderful things. 19 Praise His glorious name forever! Let the whole earth
be filled with His glory. Amen and amen!
Psalms
72:18-19 NLT
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