mu''a'vo' mu' - A Klingon Word from the Word: May 2008

Sunday, May 25, 2008

chut - law!

joH'a' chut ghaH perfect, restoring the qa'. joH'a' testimony ghaH sure, making val the nap.

The LORD's law is perfect, restoring the soul. The LORD's testimony is sure, making wise the simple. Psalms 19:7

(click for podcast)

What do you think of when you hear the word "law?" Do you picture a courtroom, a judge, a politician or a police officer? Maybe you think of a scientist or engineer, defining the limits of the Universe, and learning how to extend our knowledge and ablility to use creation.

The problem is, of course, "law" is a small word that covers a tremendous amount of territory. From the details of life and personal relations, to the farthest limits of the cosmos, we use "law" to encompass rules of nature and commerce and politics and more. One dictionary I looked at had 26 different entries!

chut is the Klingon word for law. Like our English term, it's short - and doesn't give us much hint at how to apply it. I actually didn't come across any USES of the term in the online tools I have on hand - so we don't know too much about how flexibly Klingon's use "chut."

But what does the Bible mean when it speaks of Law? Barnes notes:

The word used here - torah - is that which is commonly employed in the Old Testament with reference to the law of God, and is usually rendered "law." The word properly means "instruction," "precept," from a verb signifying "to teach." It is then used with reference to instruction or teaching in regard to conduct, and is thus applied to all that God has communicated to guide mankind. It does not here, nor does it commonly, refer exclusively to the commands of God, but it includes all that God has revealed to teach and guide us.

We can tell a lot by context. Sometimes when you hear someone and you miss a word, you can infer the meaning or the missing word by the context - I think that works here. When the psalmist talks about the law what does he tell us about it? It "restores the soul" and it "makes wise the simple."

It's so easy to hear a word like "law" and conjure up oppressive images - judgment, conviction and punishment. But the aim, the intent of God's law is to bring us to life, to revive us, to guide us toward wisdom. The Life Application Bible observes:

When we think of the law, we often think of something that keeps us from having fun. But here we see the opposite: God’s laws revive us, make us wise, bring joy to the heart, give insight, warn us, and reward us. God’s laws are guidelines and lights for our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet. They point at danger to warn us, then point at success to guide us.

Certainly there is "law" in the sense of rules - the ten commandments is a key example of that - but that part of the law is only the beginning. Especially when we recognize that - however we define God's rules - we'll never measure up. The law in such a sense doesn't tell us "how to get on God's good side" - rather is shows us how much we fall short and need his mercy - as Paul says "For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23). Here's the wisdom we find in the law - when we try to measure up, we discover how short we fall.

But there's more - the part of this "law" that encompasses God's teaching can revive us - for Paul reminds us

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Eph. 2:8,9)

As the LAB notes

We become Christians through God’s unmerited favor, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves. While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service.

Call it Torah, Law, or chut - the Scriptures give us a testimony that is far more than a rule book. It gives us LIFE, pointing out not only how we are in need, but how freely God meets that need. To which I can only say HIja'! YES!

Thursday, May 01, 2008

juHHom - Tent

Daq chaH ghaH ghajtaH cher a juHHom vaD the pemHov... Daj ghoS vo' ghaH vo' the pItlh vo' the chal, Daj circuit Daq its ends

In them he has set a tent for the sun... His going forth is from the end of the heavens,
his circuit to its ends;
Psalm 19:4,6

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Tents move.

That is, no one thinks a tent - no matter how big or sturdy - is permanent. Tents are made to be temporary. They are homes for people ON THE MOVE.

I don't know if Klingons go camping - at least not the sort of recreational camping we humans partake of on earth. There is a word in Klingon (raQ) for 'camp,' but as it is considered a military term, so I suspect it refers to a military encampment. Likewise, I don't know of a term for "tent" so I've used juHHom - juH, house, plus the diminutive suffix -Hom. juHHom, little house, or cottage. That isn't entirely inconsistent with the Hebrew 'ohel used here, which is translated as home, tabernacle, AND tent.

This verse from Psalm 19 conjures up a picture: the sun in the sky bursts from its temporary home, its tent, and it runs its course like an eager bridegroom on his way to his wedding. The sun sweeps across the sky - the tent, the tabernacle containing the sun does not nail it down in one place, as it were.

This verse follows the Psalmist's exalting over how creation - the stars and heavens - tell us of God. I'd suggest that the imagery here continues to tell us that just as the sun explodes from out of its tent, God's Word, his message needs to not be shut up in any tent or tabernacle.

The "tent" is a familar part of the middle eastern culture from which we get the Bible. The Hebrew word here ('ohel) is used hundreds of times across Scripture - so of course the word juHHom that I've used in the KLV is seen over and over again. Usually it is fairly literal, describing homes, encampments and other dwelling places.

I'm familiar with these too, since, when I go camping, I use a tent. BUT - I don't stay in the tent. I move, I explore, I experience the wonder and I rejoice that God has shared his creation with us. I think we're being reminded that God's word is intended to MOVE, to be shared, to get on with things - and to MOVE us believers to make a difference. It doesn't stay still - we shouldn't expect it to. Likewise, we can make sure it doesn't stay "in the tent" when we share it with our actions and our words.

The sun doesn't stay "in the tent" - it moves out and gives light to the world. We who have the gift of faith need to see that we do the same.