El Aman, Amen / Faithful God of Truth

For July, each post examines an Old Testament name of God.

Friday Freelance: FAITHFULNESS



It seems to me that once they’ve decided to become followers of Jesus Christ, a good many Christians don’t have ongoing difficulty accepting God’s grace. Though grateful for grace, they don't question that God chose them for salvation.

I also encounter a good many others who continue struggling with acceptance of God’s "Amazing Grace." They seem to get stuck at the phrase "wretch like me" with ongoing doubt that God would really bless them. Dogged by the thought, "I don’t deserve to be blessed," they fail to experience His blessings as fully as they might.

My inclination is to fall into the latter category. I still look with amazement at God's favor and ask, "Why Me?" The words of "Amazing Grace" are difficult to sing because the first and last verses still brings me to tears.

Yet there is another verse I sing with calm confidence:
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures
He will my Shield and Portion be
As long as life endures.

I do not deserve to be blessed. I still wonder at the fact that I am. But I no longer question that the Lord fully intends to bless me in everything.

"YHWH your God has chosen you to be ...

a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
YHWH did not set His love upon you, nor choose you,
because you were greater than any other people
(for you were the least of all peoples),

but because YHWH loves you,
because He will keep the oath which He swore to your fathers...
Therefore know that YHWH your God, He is God,
the Faithful God Who keeps covenant and mercy."
Deuteronomy 7:6-9 (author)

El Aman / Faithful God
Elohim Amen / God of Truth

God is named three times in the Bible with the Hebrew words aman (the verb form) and amen (the noun form). All three contexts speak of YHWH choosing Israel as beneficiary of His covenant, and God's faithfulness to that covenant. If anything is testimony to the Lord's faithfulness, it is the inexplicable survival of Israel through the millenia.

Amen is familiar to us as the declaration "indeed" or "so be it." We end prayers with it. We affirm the words of others with it, particularly those of preachers. Each "Amen" is a way of establishing words as true.

Zodhiates' Hebrew Dictionary describes the verb aman with phrases such as "to be firm, to build up, to support, to nurture ... the primary meaning is that of providing stability and confidence, like a baby would find in the arms of a parent ... [and signifies] nurture and nourishment; cradling in one's arms ... permanence ... the word conveys the notion of faithfulness and trustworthiness, such that one could fully depend on ... of receiving something as true and sure." The confident dependence assured by aman renders it the same verb used for nursing a babe in arms.

If I chose a single word to describe the blessing of aman upon which its beneficiary may depend, the word would be Security.

The Faithful God assures Israel that while the nation is utterly undeserving of being chosen by God, He has nonetheless made her His Own. His covenant is firm. His intent to build her up—and thereby bless her—is certain. He does not intend to let go of her. She is secure in His arms.

Will He do any less for those who are His through the blood of His Son?

My chains are gone, I've been set free.
My God my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace.

Feedback appreciated! Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved. "My Chains are Gone" lyrics by Chris Tomlin, copyright 2006, Six Step Records.