Eye Sees

The lamp vo' the porgh ghaH the mIn. chugh vaj lIj mIn ghaH wab, lIj Hoch porgh DichDaq taH teblu'ta' vo' wov.

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. (Matthew 6:22)

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The word here for eye is the Greek word "opthalmos" - a root word that ought to be familiar from eye-related medical words like ophthalmology or ophthalmologist. The Klingon word is the simple "mIn," But of course there is more here in Jesus words than the literal eye, I like the way the Message translation recasts this verse from Matthew's gospel:

Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.

These words from Jesus give me pause, and make me ask what is it that opens my eyes in wonder? What is it that fills me with delight? Well, there are many things.

If you're like me, you perhaps collect pictures - you'd see that the walls of my workspace are littered with family photos and pictures from vacations - it is always great to see reminders of those I love, and good times.

Recently I've let my gaze turn further out, as I've been drinking in the sights across the solar system thanks to a program called WorldWind from NASA. It's a great program that collects the vast quantities of images from interplanetary explorations and lets you wander across Venus, Mars, Mercury, the Moon - even the Earth. Your computer becomes a virtual spaceship. And, since WorldWind actually taps into NASA databases online, it has a wealth of imagery. Short of a personal spacecraft, it is one of the best ways to play space traveling tourist.

More than just pretty pictures, this exploration fills me with awe and joy as I marvel at the rich creation God has spread out before us. This enjoyment is a wonderful gift, something that can and ought to make us cry out in thanks to our creator. In the same way the pictures of my loved ones, and treasured memories, reminds me of the ways God has blessed me.

For, we have a decision to make in how we respond to the world - if we are open to the joy God offers, we can be filled with light, and take hold of the inheritance he offers to all his children. Jesus continues though:

If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have! (Matt. 6:23 MSG).

What sort of life do you want? Filled with light, or a dank, dark cellar? We live in a world that presents us with a continuous barrage of bad news. This is, of course, no surprise - the Bible is clear that in a fallen world, there is much that needs to be set right - that is the message of Scriptures. Not just the bad news, but the power God has exerted to restore his creation.

The lamp vo' the porgh ghaH the mIn. chugh vaj lIj mIn ghaH wab, lIj Hoch porgh DichDaq taH teblu'ta' vo' wov.

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. (Matthew 6:22)

Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.

choDev!

legh chugh pa' ghaH vay' mIgh way Daq jIH,
je Dev jIH Daq the everlasting way.
See if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.Psalms 139:24

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Do Klingons ask for directions? We know they have words that would help. For example lugh, Quv, 'ev, tIng and chan.

• lurgh the word for direction (spatial)
  
• Quv coordinates
• 'ev northwestward, area to the northwest (320 degrees on terran 360 degree compass counted clockwise with 0 at north)
  
• tIng southwestward, area toward the southwest (approx 220 degrees on terran 360 degree compass counting clockwise with 0 at north)
  
• chan eastward, area toward the east (90 degrees on Terran 360 degree compass with north as 0 and degrees counted clockwise)
  

You'll notice that, instead of four directions, north, south, east and west, they have three. This isn't surprising if you picture the three pointed star associated with Klingons. It probably follows from the fact that their ancient mathematical systems are based on the number three. I've written programs to explore that kind of math, even constructed a primitive Klingon computer to work with such numbers - it's a fascinating subject if you have an interest in different number systems.

No matter - having the vocabulary for geography and directions isn't enough. After all, in English, we have quite a few words for directions - yet everyone knows someone who is resolute in refusing to "stop and ask for directions," even when hopelessly lost - why would Klingons be any different?

legh chugh pa' ghaH vay' mIgh way Daq jIH,
je Dev jIH Daq the everlasting way.
See if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.Psalms 139:24

We need to ask for directions.


Scripture is woven through with this message - we need to find our way.

As the Apostle John notes:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

The good news is that God wants to set us upon the right path! John makes that clear when he says,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

At the end of Psalm 139 we find the psalmist knows this too, as he says:

See if there is any wicked way in me (Psalms 139:24a)

We NEED directions. We need God to search out the migh, the evil that has stained our lives.

The Good news is that the story continues from there. We CAN be set on the right path, as this verse calls on God:

And lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalms 139:24b)

nachah, the Hebrew word for "lead" here in the KLV is translated by "Dev," to lead, the same root I've used for shepherd or leader, DevwI'. This same Hebrew word is found in the familiar Twenty-third Psalm:

"he leadeth <nachah> me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

Righteousness - the RIGHT way - is what God desires we follow. And it's this path for which we NEED to ask directions.

What a joy it is to realize that God is there to lead us, to guide us in that way. Don't be afraid to ask!

jIH muS chaH

joH'a', yImev jIH muS chaH 'Iv muS SoH? 'oH jIH ghobe' grieved tlhej chaH 'Iv Hu' Dung Daq SoH?
LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? Psalm 139:21

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Here we we come to an example of Psalms that make humans squirm - the imprecatory psalms. Imprecatory psalms are those which invoke curses upon enemies. (http://www.theopedia.com/Imprecatory_Psalms ) There are passages which may strike us, as CS Lewis said, as devilish, since they seem to revel in the great and horrible judgements they call down on their enemies.

On the other hand - these are words that certainly would catch the attention of a Klingon - after all, as far as we know, they DON'T have a word for to love, but they most certainly DO have a word, muS, for "to hate." (in fact that word has been pressed into services by Klingonists to make muSHa', to love. muS, to hate. plus the "undo" suffix, -Ha', gives muSHa'. so "I love you" becomes "qamuSHa'", literally I don't hate you.)

The Hebrew here is a very basic root, sawnay, and it appears over 130 times in the Bible, from Genesis to Malachai. And it's clear as you look at examples of it in use, that the Hebrew authors are expressing deep feelings, their hate, hate, HATE about the enemies of God:

• Psalms 97:10 You who love the LORD, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
• Psalms 101:3 I will set no vile thing before my eyes. I hate the deeds of faithless men. They will not cling to me.
• Psalms 119:104 Through your precepts, I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
• Psalms 139:21-22 O LORD, don't I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

Those are the tame ones - the Psalms don't skip over wishing great and detailed violence on those who oppose God.

There's a tension here - because those aren't the ONLY thing the Bible has to say about enemies, ours and God's.

• Exodus 23:4 "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
• Proverbs 25:21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; If he is thirsty, give him water to drink: For you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.
• Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

How do we reconcile these? One good piece of advice comes in the old adage, "hate the sin, love the sinner." That is, the Bible's message of redemption calls us to to always seek the redemption of the enemy, to trust the power God used to redeem US to be just as effective on those we count as enemies.

We're also reminded that seeking revenge is NOT our privilege or duty: Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord." Romans 12:19

But one thing is clear through the Bible - whether calling curses or love down on our enemies - there is an agreement in one fact: there ARE enemies in this world. For all the "Good News" the Bible brings (and make no mistake, it brings GREAT Good News!), we err if we forget there is also BAD News. Something is wrong in the cosmos. We live in a sin shrouded world, a wonderful and good creation of God where something HAS gone wrong. That means there ARE enemies. There are things that need to be set right.

When we reflect on that, we may come closer to understanding these psalms - and understand the spirit that recognizes that we have to take sides - not to wreak God's wrath on evildoers, but to share the good news that He can and will set things right. If that's so, doesn't it make sense to be on His side?

joH'a', yImev jIH muS chaH 'Iv muS SoH? 'oH jIH ghobe' grieved tlhej chaH 'Iv Hu' Dung Daq SoH?
LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? Psalm 139:21

Thinking

chay' precious Daq jIH 'oH lIj thoughts, joH'a'! chay' vast ghaH the sum vo' chaH!

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalms 139:17

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There is a challenge - and a delight to believers to realize that God does not hide.

That is, in his creation, and in his word, he has freely shared himself and his thoughts with us. That is why the study of Scripture can be so rewarding - and that is why the adventure of science can be so rich. I like the example of the early scientist, Johannes Kepler, who gave humans the foundation of the astrodynamics used today to chart the motion of the heavens, and plot the course of spacecraft. As noted in Christian History magazine:

Kepler believed that there was an art and orderliness in God's creation and that the more Christians recognized the greatness of creation, the deeper their worship would be. Didn't God himself encourage the heathen to look carefully at creation so that they might come to know God? God created man in His image, and He wants us to recognize and know His design for the universe: The chief aim of all investigations of the external world should be to discover the rational order and harmony which has been imposed on it by God and which He revealed to us in the language of mathematics. In his astronomical research, Kepler only wanted to, as he put it, "think God's thoughts after Him."

http://chi.gospelcom.net/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses/glmps067.shtml

chay' precious Daq jIH 'oH lIj thoughts, joH'a'! chay' vast ghaH the sum vo' chaH!

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalms 139:17

God doesn't hide. Whether we know or understand creation with mathematical rigor - we have the Scriptures, and in them we have the opportunity to learn of God's thoughts - his care for us, and the path he challenges believers to follow. Psalm 40 notes,

Many, LORD, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, And your thoughts which are toward us. They can't be set in order to you; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalms 40:5

This is one of the reasons I've found scripture memory to be so rewarding - I have often found that tracing the course of a treasured verse serves as a way to "think God's thoughts after him," to remind myself and refresh my spirit. So too, has been reading of the lives of the saints, believers in ages past who have provided an example, a model for me of the direction God wishes me to follow.

In the next week, I'd encourage you to seek out a single verse - one that has reassured you - or given you comfort - and commit it to memory. It might as well be a word of reproof - a verse that calls you to account. I don't know which verse you'll find - but memorize it as best you can. Read it in context. Find reference books (you'll be amazed at how many are online) and find some of the background of that one verse. Then, spend the next week rehearsing that - maybe writing it down to test yourself. With that start you'll have a connected yourself to God's word - you'll carry that thought wherever you go.

And then.... do it again! It's tremendously rewarding! Don't worry about whether you are word perfect (though it's a great goal) - the effort of the study and the memory will help you soak this deep into your heart. And you'll have taken another step in the journey of following God's thoughts.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end. Jeremiah 29:11

SovtaH

wIj qa' SovtaH vetlh very QaQ.
My soul knows that very well.

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What do you KNOW? Some might start with simple unencumbered facts -arithmetic, geometry and the like. Others might recite details of their personal narrative - the history they know first hand.

In law there is a measure "beyond a reasonable doubt," that ascribes reliability to conclusions. It is the kind of certainty we want when matters of life and death are under consideration. It is that SOLID assurance that this psalm brings us here. But about WHAT is the author so certain?

Here in the middle of Psalm 139 the psalmist brings us the miracle of life - the power of God's creativity at work.

For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to you, For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. My frame wasn't hidden from you, When I was made in secret, Woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
Psalms 139:13-17 WEB

In this description the author catches his breath to say My soul knows that very well. / wIj qa' SovtaH vetlh very QaQ.

My SOUL, or nephesh in Hebrew is rendered with qa', the Klingon word for "spirit." For a Klingon this spirit is that which battle nourishes (the saying is : qa' wIje'meH maSuv. - We fight to enrich the spirit.). The Biblical language is a bit different - in Hebrew the soul - life - is "that which breathes," since obviously when we cease to breath, we cease to live.

As we think about the relam of knowledge, we see that today science seems to tread on God's creative prerogative. From lifelike robots, to artificial life - it might seem that God's majesty is less significant - "we can do THAT ourselves."

Yet, to the person of faith it is quite the opposite. The more details we know of genetics or cosmology - the more we marvel at what God HAS DONE. In creation, in our lives he IS AT WORK - even when we don't see it.

What do you KNOW - REALLY know?

We know the details of our lives. We may master our jobs, the tasks that we do every day.

But what makes us say

wIj qa' SovtaH vetlh very QaQ.
My soul knows that very well?

As I reflect on my life and God's word, it's my prayer that what I really know is not some collection of facts, but that I know God.

As the prophet Jeremiah tells us:

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken! Jeremiah 9:23,24 NLT

HurghtaHghach

'ach the HurghtaHghach ta'be' So' vo' SoH, 'ach the ram shines as the jaj. The HurghtaHghach ghaH rur wov Daq SoH.

Even the darkness doesn't hide from you, But the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you. Psalms 139:12

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We can't see most of the Universe.

That is, as best we understand it today, the part of the cosmos we see - the people, planets, pulsars and stars - is only a fraction of all creation. The rest is referred to as "dark matter," as Wikipedia notes:

In astrophysics and cosmology, dark matter refers to hypothetical matter of unknown composition that does not emit or reflect enough electromagnetic radiation to be observed directly, but whose presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter )

It's a perplexing idea - that what we see and understand is only a bare fraction of all that is around us. But to a believer this mystery can be exciting - for with confident faith in the Creator, we can trust that this mystery is part of the beautiful complexity of his handiwork.

The words of the psalmist are worth reflecting on as we think about the pursuit of astronomy. That science is a study devoted to the observation of the light of the blazing stars in the heavens, but a study which takes part in darkness, often in remote places (even in space!) to avoid the light that can obscure our view of the sky. For the astronomer - as for God - the ram shines as the jaj / the night shines as the day.

I've constructed the Klingon word HurghtaHghach for "darkness." It's the word Hurgh (be dark), plus the suffix -taH (ongoing) with the nominalizer ghach: HurghtaHghach. Here it translates the Hebrew word choshek - first heard in Genesis 1:2, "darkness was upon the face of the deep."

What darkness confronts you? It is not surprising that we may face the darkness of the unknown with concern. It might be worries about ourselves and our loved ones. It could be fears for the future, or regrets over some past wrong. But Scripture reminds us that what is murky to our sight is clear and sunny to God:

'ach the HurghtaHghach ta'be' So' vo' SoH, 'ach the ram shines as the jaj. The HurghtaHghach ghaH rur wov Daq SoH.

Even the darkness doesn't hide from you, But the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you. Psalms 139:12

Remember the astronomers? In their study - often in the darkest of night - they have cataloged countless stars. With new technologies they are adding to a growing list of known planets throughout the Universe. And, as they chart the formation and influence of "dark matter," darkness is like light to them.

As we trust in a loving God who made it this universe - with its dark and light - we too, can be confident as we face the "darkness." For God promises to be with us.

For, behold, he who forms the mountains, And creates the wind, And declares to man what is his thought; Who makes the morning darkness, And treads on the high places of the Earth: the LORD, the God of Armies, is his name." (Amos 4:13)

Tactics

'ach joH'a' chose the foolish Dochmey vo' the qo' vetlh ghaH might lan Daq tuH chaH 'Iv 'oH val. joH'a' chose the weak Dochmey vo' the qo', vetlh ghaH might lan Daq tuH the Dochmey vetlh 'oH HoS;

but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong 1 Corinthians 1:27

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What does it take to succeed?

In battle, and in life, we expect that you would prosper if you have strength and intelligence on your side. A Klingon would say you need to be val (intelligent) and HoS (strong). It's probably what most humans would say as well. Without some measure of ability, and the brains to use it... how CAN you succeed?

And yet - we may be confounded to come across passages like this one from the apostle Paul. Words that suggest that victory depends not on our mustering superior resources.

This should not surprise us. God seems to favor a different tactic - one perhaps that reminds us of our dependance on HIS favor. Remember back to the era of the Judges, how God told Gideon to choose his army in such a way as to make his army far smaller than he had wanted to take into battle. And yet, he won.

Think of David - a youth - defeating a giant though he was a shepherd boy with no more than a sling and some stones. Hardly a reasonable force, nor what would look like a wise strategy. And, yet he won.

God's grace is able to use us - foolish as we might be, weak as we are. This is not to say we should not strive to be all that we can be. But measured against His wisdom, against His power - we know that we are weak. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Think of how the apostle Paul struggled with some unknown illness - and was never healed from it, despite long efforts of prayer. This failing, this puj, weakness did not stop him, for he realized how God could use him in his weakness:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.

To beings who seek to win at all costs, beings like Klingons, or we humans, no doubt this sounds foolish. But if we trust in God, we'll learn that indeed, despite our weakness, despite our foolishness, God can use us victoriously!

'ach joH'a' chose the foolish Dochmey vo' the qo' vetlh ghaH might lan Daq tuH chaH 'Iv 'oH val. joH'a' chose the weak Dochmey vo' the qo', vetlh ghaH might lan Daq tuH the Dochmey vetlh 'oH HoS;

but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong 1 Corinthians 1:27

Guidance System

'ach pa' lIj ghop DichDaq Dev jIH, je lIj nIH ghop DichDaq 'uch jIH.

Even there your hand will lead me, And your right hand will hold me. Psalms 139:10

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Missiles, rockets, and spacecraft come in endless varieties. Different missions, different propulsion systems, and different fuels (some don't even HAVE fuel). Some only travel the airless regions of space, others are aerodynamic and need to contend with atmospheric travel. Some carry passengers, other are completly automated.

BUT, one thing they all do have in common is: a guidance system. Whether a pilot, a computer, or even simple fins on a primitive missile - in order to reach their destination, they all need guidance.

AND, so do we.

In marvelling at God's presence, this psalmist asserts that he cannot escape from God's presence. No matter how far he goes:

'ach pa' lIj ghop DichDaq Dev jIH, je lIj nIH ghop DichDaq 'uch jIH.

Even there your hand will lead me, And your right hand will hold me. Psalms 139:10

The guidance in this psalm is God's leadership, his drawing us forward through life. In the KLV I've used Dev, the Klingon word for "to lead." I used a form of that verb in the KLV of Psalm 23, DevwI' for "shepherd" (to lead, Dev, plus the suffix -wI', indicating something which leads). The Hebrew word in this psalm for "lead" is nachah. A primitive root meaning to guide, it appears almost 40 times in the Bible. (And it also appears in Psalm 23, "he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.")

Now, sometimes our problem is not LACKING guidance - but having too much. Radio, TV, Internet, bringing us news, entertainment and more can batter my spirit with "look here," "see this," and "what's that?" It goes on and on till I don't know what I think or believe. The great thing is, while we can NEVER escape God, we CAN turn off the media, we can set aside this confusing chaos of "leaders."

Recently I read a touching book "I'm Proud of You" about one man's friendship with the late Fred Rogers. It's a wonderful book - and one thing that struck me was - what a man of prayer Mr. Rogers was. Every day he took significant time - out of a very busy life - to pray for many people. That need for prayer and time alone with God was crucial in his life.

It spurred me to make new effort to try to carve out a space at the beginning of each day, a time to listen to the Word, and note prayer concerns on an index card I carry with me through the day. The best thing is that when we retreat from the chaos and establish a little quiet time with prayer and the Bible, we can advance, renewed and rejoice with the psalmist:

'ach pa' lIj ghop DichDaq Dev jIH, je lIj nIH ghop DichDaq 'uch jIH.

Even there your hand will lead me, And your right hand will hold me. Psalms 139:10

There are lakes on Titan

chugh jIH tlhap the telDu' vo' the dawn, je settle Daq the uttermost parts vo' the bIQ'a

If I take the wings of the dawn, And settle in the uttermost parts of the sea... Psalm 139:9

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There are lakes on Titan, one of the moons orbiting Saturn. Something like 859 million miles away (more than a billion, 382 million kilometers), those seas (of methane, but seas just the same) are farther than the farthest ocean on earth. AND.

God. IS. there.

No doubt there are more distant seas.

We know of dozens of worlds circling distant stars already - mostly huge Jupiter-sized worlds, and there are certainly many more. As we refine our technologies we get better and better at discovering what seems like an endless supply of planets that God has made. There are shores out there as well. The farthest oceans are many tens, thousands, MILLIONS of light years out there. And should we travel "on the wings of the dawn" to those shores - we will find the same.

God. IS. there.

The Hebrew word used here for sea, yam, occurs more than 300 times in the Bible, and comes from a root meaning "to roar" (think of the sound of the surf). On some distant planet, if you needed to translate that word in conversation with a Klingon fellow traveler, you might use bIQ'a.' That Klingon word is a construction, taking the word for water (bIQ) and augmenting it with -'a'. Essentially it means "very big water" and it's a word that a Klingon might use mean lake, sea or ocean.

And whether we cross real oceans, or methane ones far away, there are always new shores in our lives, new frontiers as we journey through each day.

There is a prayer "O, God Thy Sea Is So Great And My Boat Is So Small." The good news is that on the waters of life - no matter where - in that boat, we will NOT be alone.

The comfort we find in the reflections of Psalm 139 is that, we can't go so far - Titan, Alpha Centauri or beyond - so far that we can ever get away from HIM.

Busy week!

Sorry, there'll be no new post this week - I've been busy. If you miss the sound of my voice, however, you can listen to my readings at verbumdomini.com, where I'm doing the readings for 4/6-4/12.

And here's a post about someone who has taken the Klingon Language Version and made it available for the Macintosh program Accordance.

Beyond Limits

chugh jIH ascend Dung Daq chal, SoH 'oH pa'. chugh jIH chenmoH wIj bed Daq the Daq vo' the Heghpu', yIlegh, SoH 'oH pa'!

If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in the place of the dead, behold, you are there! Ps 139:8

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Artificial intelligence developers speak of something called the "Horizon Effect" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horizon_effect). When programming a game - like chess or checkers - they discovered that as a program looked ahead and evaluated its choices, there was a limit - a horizon that was beyond the computers finite capacity to anticipate.

This meant simply that the machine would make decisions that turned out to be disastrous once the game advanced beyond that "horizon."

chugh jIH ascend Dung Daq chal, SoH 'oH pa'. chugh jIH chenmoH wIj bed Daq the Daq vo' the Heghpu', yIlegh, SoH 'oH pa'!

If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in the place of the dead, behold, you are there! Ps 139:8

This verse pictures the limits-beyond-the-limits of human experience. "Heaven" - shamayim in Hebrew appears nearly 400 times in the Bible, and carries the idea of something lofty - the sky, the realm of the stars. Poetically, as in English, it can convey the idea of a spiritual place. I've translated it as "chal" the Klingon word for "sky."

At the opposite extreme we have "the realm of the dead," in Hebrew "sheol" the invisible world of departed souls. What that means to the Psalmist isn't clear - but collectively - from the heavens to the grave, he is confident he cannot cross any border to escape the LORD.

God has no horizon. It's clear - there is no distance so far that we might escape God's notice.

Right now, the space probe New Horizons (http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/), the fastest human ship ever, has just passed Jupiter. This craft took 13 months to get there - an incredible speed - and it still has around 8 years to reach Pluto. It's thrilling to see the amazing pictures it has returned of the Jupiter systsem, and I'm looking forward to what it will find in the outer reaches of our solar system. This vessel, true to its name, extends our view, gives us new horizons. And yet - we know, and certainly the author of Psalm 139 would agree - even at this incomparable distance, we will not be beyond God's boundaries.

Of course, we generally are not moving at such speeds, or travelling such distances. But our lives can ascend to great joys and triumphs and just as quickly descend into deep moments of despair. The strength, the encouragement we have here is that - in those moments - WE AREN'T OUTSIDE GOD'S HORIZON. He's there, he's ready to hear. And he's ready to help.

chugh jIH ascend Dung Daq chal, SoH 'oH pa'. chugh jIH chenmoH wIj bed Daq the Daq vo' the Heghpu', yIlegh, SoH 'oH pa'!

If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in the place of the dead, behold, you are there! Ps 139:8

Presence

nuqDaq laH jIH jaH vo' lIj qa'? joq nuqDaq laH jIH Haw' vo' lIj Daq?

Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7

(click for podcast)

Without a transporter, shuttlecraft or starship - any one of us can extend our presence across the solar system right now. Thanks to what is called, telepresence

"...a set of technologies which allow a person to feel as if they were present, to give the appearance that they were present, or to have an effect, at a location other than their true location."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepresence

Today, from my desktop at home, I can tap into a web cam and look out at the view from my work. Or check on Old Faithful. Or, I can take up a position far above Earth and follow storms across the globe. Tapping into NASA and ESA I can get recent images from Mars and beyond.

Technology gives us a variety of ways to extend our presence. Parents use two-way intercom s and video monitors to watch over sleeping infants. Cellphones and instant messaging allow distant loved ones to stay in touch. Someday, perhaps holographic telepresence will allow us to participate in gatherings across the world or even the solar system.

Technologically extended presence - telepresence - has a chilling side as well. Recent news from Great Britain about batteries of cameras - along with a loudspeaker and microphone to inform people of their misbehaviour has alarmed many. Having the police watch, and command from a distance may be "efficient" but it is hardly comforting.

Here in Psalm 139, we are reflecting on God's presence - an inescapable presence that is truly everywhere.

In Klingon I've used a very simple word for presence, Daq. By itself it means "location." As a suffix, it can indicate a place/location for an activity - for example QongDaq (Qong, to sleep, plus Daq) means "bed." On the other hand, the Hebrew word translated "PRESENCE" here is paniym, used nearly 1900 times in the Bible is more complex. It's a plural form "faces" literally, from the verb for "to turn," that is "to face." When we think of being in God's presence - it is a personal thing, it is His FACE, his attention, his concern that we are before.

It's not surprising that just as teleprences can be threat and comfort, Scripture also reflects this regarding another kind of extended presence: God's omnipresence.

As Job said:

No wonder I am so terrified in his presence. When I think of it, terror grips me. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. (Job 23:15,16 NLT)

The good news is that when we have made peace with God, the awareness of his presence can be a joy.

One of my treasured Bible study tools is the Thompson Chain Reference Bible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_Chain-Reference_Bible). I especially enjoy the way it provides a topical cross-reference across the whole Bible for different themes and ideas - in particular it was very useful in considering how God's omnipresence means we can know that his nearness brings a multidimensional comfort to believers in the pilgrimage of life

(Genesis 28:15 WEB) Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken of to you."

As the Israelites fled Egypt, they were reminded how His presence will keep them going:

(Exodus 33:14 WEB) He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

So too, they were reminded that God gives courage in Life's battles :

(Deuteronomy 20:1 WEB) When you go forth to battle against your enemies, and see horses, and chariots, and a people more than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Through the prophet Isaiah we hear of comfort in trials:

(Isaiah 43:2 WEB) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle on you.

We also need to remember, as Jesus assures, God's presence is there even in the smallest assembly of believers

(Matthew 18:20 WEB) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

And best of all - it doesn't have a limit - it will last till the end of time, as we're reminded:

(Matthew 28:20 WEB) Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

nuqDaq laH jIH jaH vo' lIj qa'? joq nuqDaq laH jIH Haw' vo' lIj Daq?

Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7

Baby monitors, web cams, Police CCTV systems, cell phones and more are technological tools that extend our presence. For good or ill, they can be a comfort or threat.

But the presence of God, the presence that we can never escape, is one He wishes not to be a threat, but a real and powerful comfort. A comfort that will give us peace, courage and joy.


Rejoice!

Wow!

vam Sov ghaH beyond jIH. It's lofty. jIH ta'laHbe' attain 'oH.
This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it. Psalm 139:6

(click for podcast version)

The writer of Psalm 139 concludes the introduction to his ode to God's complete knowledge of our lives with this verse - one that can be summed up with one word-

WOW!

Wow.... what is there that makes you say that one-word explosion of wonder and amazement?

After describing how thoroughly God surrounds and knows him, rather than express fear or alarm, this verse exclaims in wonder:

vam Sov ghaH beyond jIH. / This knowledge is beyond me.

using a rare Hebrew word (only twice in the Bible) meaning secret, wonderful. It is actually a repeated Hebrew word: palee-palee, derived from a more common palaw, which means to be separated, removed, apart. This knowledge of God's overwatching care is - as the WEB puts it "beyond me" - we just can't grasp it. It's one of those things that might make us say "wow!"

Again, I'll ask, what makes you say "wow?" Or, however you might express amazement - if you were a Klingon you might say majQa'! A Mandalorian (like Boba Fett) would say kandosii'lar. Whatever word you use - what draws it out of you?

It may be the beauty of nature with stars wheeling overhead, the butterfly's wings, or it could be the majesty of the Grand Canyon. Then again, you might be struck by the marvels of human accomplishment, in works from the great Pyramids to the Space Shuttle.

Certainly all those marvels are "wow"-inspiring. They're a start, at least.

Often, I turn as well to the Scriptures, and delight and exclaim over God's mysteries: His truth as the Bible brings it to us.

What can compare to the detail in God's Word - the incredible coming together of prophecy and the description of creation? See Peter Stoner's classic book, Science Speaks for details of how intricately the Bible witnesses to these things (see http://www.geocities.com/stonerdon/science_speaks.html). Furthermore, modern cosmology as it considers concepts like the anthropic principle, point to our Universe being a place just MADE to be inhabited (see http://www.reasons.org/resources/apologetics/design.shtml). Wow.

vam Sov ghaH beyond jIH. It's lofty. jIH ta'laHbe' attain 'oH.
This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it. Psalm 139:6

Of course - it isn't enough to say "wow."

It is a start, of course. It is a way God arrests our attention, that is makes us ATTEND to him - to give heed to his plans, his hopes, his deep and abiding love for us.

Paul says it well in his letter to the Ephesians:

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. (Eph 3:14,15 NLT)

I pray that we all are struck by those "wow" moments - and go beyond them in prayer to the living, loving God who will never cease to amaze us.

Behind and Before

SoH hem jIH Daq behind je qaSpa'. SoH laid lIj ghop Daq jIH.

You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me. Psalm 139:5

(click for podcast)

Perspective is everything.

Imagine walking down an ill-lit corridor on DS9, only to realize that in front of you - AND behind - you are being shadowed by Klingons. At the moment you realize this, out of the gloom, a hand comes down on your shoulder. No doubt this is terrifying - UNLESS you happen to BE a Klingon and this is not a siege, but your comrades, come to your aid.

This psalm continues to confront us with how thoroughly we are surrounded by the Almighty. "Hem"med in the WEB translation says translating a Hebrew word that occurs fewer than 40 times in the Bible - tzur, a primitive root meaning "to cramp," used in a variety of meanings with the notion "to confine," we can once again ponder whether this is good news or not.

It comes down to a matter of relationship. It is terrifying, if you are surrounded by an enemy. BUT - this is wonderful news - if you've made peace with God. This is the reminder, the reassurance that you are not alone, no matter where you are:

SoH hem jIH Daq behind je qaSpa'. SoH laid lIj ghop Daq jIH.

You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me. Psalm 139:5

The support of God's hand is a delightful reminder of his power to act in our lives. The Bible never guarantees we will skate through life without trouble, but in the midst of it, we are reassured to hear His Hand is there, as in the promise given through Isaiah:

Don't you be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed,
for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help
you. Yes,
I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)

Interesting also is the description of how we are surrounded: You hem me in behind and before. The words behind and before are achor and qedem, and besides having the idea of location, they also can express the idea of time, achor meaning hereafter, and qedem the time before. Considered this way, we can see that God's surrounding care doesn't just encompass us at-this-moment but always.

Think about this: there is no time BEFORE God loved you. It is not something you had to earn, there is not something you had to do to deserve it.

AND - there is no time AFTER the time God loved you. He isn't going to stop - through ALL time, he surrounds you with his love, before AND after your life.

Better yet - God is no spectator. He doesn't watch from a distance - he hasn't isolated himself from you, for by faith we can join the psalmist and say You laid your hand on me.

SoH hem jIH Daq behind je qaSpa'. SoH laid lIj ghop Daq jIH.

You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me. Psalm 139:5

Today, you are walking down the path that is your life. The way may seem bright or shrouded - but rejoice you are not facing it alone.

Rerun: Life Signs!

(nuqneH juppu'wI' - hello, my friends: This is a very busy time of year, and I don't have time to prepare a new Klingon Word. Please accept this Classic Klingon Word and my best wishes for the Easter season.)

SoH DichDaq cha' jIH the path vo' yIn. Daq lIj Daq ghaH fullness vo' Quch. Daq lIj nIH ghop pa' 'oH pleasures forevermore.

You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

(click for podcast version)

Because most humans don't have starships, we find other ways to explore distant solar systems. Astronomers have come up with many creative ways to study and evaluate impossibly remote locations - we've used their techniques, for example, to discover planets - before we can even see them! And today we use their methods to hunt for what Klingons would call yInroH - life signs. Signs the psalmist sees as well.

David delares that the Lord shows him the path of "yIn" - life. In Hebrew, the word is chayim, a familiar word from the toast "L'Chaiim" and the jewelry that uses the shorter form "chai" made up of the two letters het and yod. This word for "life" occurs over 450 times in the Bible.

The New Bible Dictionary says that, in scripture

"life ... is associated with light, gladness, fullness, order and active being... and contrasted with the darkness, sorrow, emptiness, chaos, and silence which are charecteristic of death..."

Indeed, David, by speaking of a path of life, suggests that there are some other path, perhaps like the book of Proverbs describes: "There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)

The astronomers who hunt for yInroH, life signs, in the universe talk of something I think of that is like the path of life: "the habitable zone." You see, depending on how powerful a star is, you can easily identify the orbital region that is "just right" for life as we know it. Too close or too far from the sun and life has no chance. If a planet's orbit is like Goldilock's porridge - neither too hot or too cold - then that world is in the "path of life" for that star.

We're not planets. The path we find for ourselves is not an orbit. It's the result of choices made - by us, by family, by friends.

And David tells us - the path we choose can be one that the LORD shows us - a path that leads to life - not just in the here and now, but a path into life, forever.

As it says in Proverbs:

But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day. (4:18)

Looking for yInroH - signs of life? There's someone ready, right now - to show you where to find it! Ask him today!

Not a Word

vaD pa' ghaH ghobe' a mu' Daq wIj jat, 'ach, yIlegh, joH'a', SoH Sov 'oH altogether.
For there is not a word on my tongue, But, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. Psalm 139:4

(click for podcast version)

This verse is, to me, very good news, for it assures me that I can be completely honest with God. We should not fear to express our inmost feelings in our prayers. Our calling on Him need not be restrained - for he KNOWS, as the NLT puts it:

You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.

What does this have to do with prayer? It reflects what Jesus had to say, as he was about to present what we call "the Lord's prayer"

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (Matthew 6:7,8 NLT).

Now, note - this didn't mean "don't pray," but rather pray meaningfully - and the example is, of course, "the Lord's prayer," perhaps the perfect model for our prayers. We pray, because we must - we can't help ourselves. And we can be confident to be heard - as Jesus says "Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs" (Matt. 6:32 NLT)

And, I was happy to see that it wasn't too hard to reuse the vocabularly of the KLV to make a more proper Klingon translation - here's an attempt anyway:

"vaj jatwIjDaq mu' pawbe' 'ej yIlegh! joH'a', Hoch DaSovqu'neS"

A: vaj: so/then/thus/in that case

N: jatwIjDaq: in my tongue

N: mu': word

V: pawbe': not arrive

&: 'ej: and

V: yIlegh: you(imp:sg/pl) see (no.object)/him/her/it

N: joH'a': God

N: Hoch: everyone, all, everything

V: DaSovqu'neS: you honorific really know him/her/it/them

"vaj jatwIjDaq mu' pawbe' 'ej yIlegh! joH'a', Hoch DaSovqu'neS"


Do you hesitate to call on God in prayer - don't. He won't be surprised - he can't be shocked. And he's ready to answer.

Surrounded!

SoH search pa' wIj path je wIj lying bIng, je 'oH acquainted tlhej Hoch wIj Hemey.

You search out my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.

(click for podcast version)



You don't need to be a Klingon to be alarmed by the cry "you're surrounded!" Of course, at such a time a warrior WILL prepare for a siege and a noble, last stand.

But the words CAN be good news - for to be surrounded - by your own support troops, or by one's own sturdy fortress is GOOD thing, a cause for hope, and not fear. And that is what the psalmist brings us in this verse, the third of Psalm 139.

This verse continues the explorations of how God watches over and knows all about us. It begins with the declaration that "you search out my path and my lying down."

You'll note that I didn't translate "search" into Klingon. Not because there isn't a word (it's "nej") but because "search" is not common in the WEB translation (when I wrote my simple re-lexifying translator I only did words that were used 100 times or more). I may add it soon - but it's worth noting here, because there are more ways to translate word here, the Hebrew zarah. The KJV uses words like cast away, compass, disperse, fan, scatter (away), spread, strew, and winnow. That translation uses the term "compass" as in en-compass, or surround, which is what prompted me to consider the plight of being surrounded.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Considering zarah, I find of interest the meaning "to winnow" - to separate the good from the bad. God, we hear, does just that. Whether still or in motion, he searches us out, he surrounds us, and draws forth - just as the farmer does with grain - the good from the useless.

Reflecting on the notion of "being surrounded," the 19th century preacher Spurgeon gives us some interesting reflections. Quoting Matthew Pool he notes:

Thou compassest my path. This is a metaphor either from huntsmen watching all the motions and lurking places of wild beasts, that they may catch them; or from soldiers besieging their enemies in a city, and setting round about them. --Matthew Pool.

This does not precede an attack, but a care that purifies us, as Spurgeon notes elsewhere:

I am shut up within the wall of thy being; I am encircled within the bounds of thy knowledge. Waking or sleeping I am still observed of thee. I may leave thy path, but you never leave mine. I may sleep and forget thee, but thou dost never slumber, nor fall into oblivion concerning thy creature. The original (Hebrew zarah) signifies not only surrounding, but winnowing and sifting. The Lord judges our active life and our quiet life; he discriminates our action and our repose, and marks that in them which is good and also that which is evil. There is chaff in all our wheat, and the Lord divides them with unerring precision.

For many Christians, this season, the season of Lent is a time to search, and seek for God. A time to reflect and find reconciliation. What a gift to know that we do not face such a time in isolation - We are Surrounded!

Surrounded by watchful care,
Surrounded by a discerning God,
Surrounded by love.

Flight Plan

SoH Sov wIj sitting bIng je wIj rising Dung. SoH perceive wIj thoughts vo' afar.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2

(click for podcast)

It's easier than you may think to get into space. True, missions to the planets and beyond are pretty costly. Still, there are ways to hitch a ride - and you don't even need Ford Prefect's electonic thumb. For years, I've managed to join missions to Mars, to a comet - even to Pluto, thanks to NASA and others who have been including micro chips and DVDs that take your name along for the ride (you just have to submit your name to their website when the mission is being prepared!).

Closer to home, there is a form of citizen space exploration that is avalilable at a surprisingly low cost: Near Space Exploration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_space) - mounting payloads by weather balloon to the very edges of space. Right now the magazine Make is working on their project to do just this. Another group, the Treasure Valley Near Space Program, has done this as well with a number of successful launches. At a fraction of the cost of a rocket, it is a tangible way to explore the shores of this new ocean.

Yet - there is a cost. Multi-millions of dollars, or hundreds - missions to space cost more than money and resources. They cost the care and planning that it takes to accomplish them. Take a look at the NASA, ESA - or the MAKE websites to get an idea of the care and planning that go into every successful space flight.

SoH Sov wIj sitting bIng je wIj rising Dung. SoH perceive wIj thoughts vo' afar.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2

Now, I know the psalmist was not really considering space flight - but this verse parallels what must happen for every expedition to space. Whether to Mars, the ISS or to the fringes of space - these words describe the phases of a meaningful flight.

You know my sitting down and my rising up - there has to be a plan. A launch - and a landing - mark the endpoints of the journey, the "sitting down," since that is what you do, before and after your trip. And the rising up, the flight is planned as well - whether by rocket or lighter-than-air vehicle, every journey includes knowing the "rising up," where you intend to go. Every detail matters - delay in launch may mean a postponement of weeks (or more) to have success in a mission.

You perceive my thoughts from afar. For the journey to mean something you need reports - telemetry, radio transmissions - that give value to the whole enterprise. When you - or your spacecraft travel into space - you want to know what happens.

As far fetched as it sounds - describing a LIFE as a space mission - consider this:

God's investment, his concern for you are described in this verse - and in a sense describes our mission - our journey, through life. It is a journey that God cares about a great deal. We are not disposable, like a missle launched only for its destruction. No, God has for us a complete flight plan in mind, from launch to landing. And He's watching - not like some nosey snoop, but because he loves you, he wants you to reach the goal safely. When we hear You perceive my thoughts from afar - we realize that our worries, our fears - our PRAYERS - have his complete attention, they do not waft away to nowhere - he hears them all.


Whether or not you are much of a traveler - right now you are on a journey. The good news, the great and VERY good news is - you aren't going solo. God indeed is with you every moment.

SoH Sov wIj sitting bIng je wIj rising Dung. SoH perceive wIj thoughts vo' afar.
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:2

KNOWN!

joH'a', SoH ghaj searched jIH, je SoH Sov jIH.
O LORD, you have searched me, And you know me. Psalm 139.1

(click for podcast version)

As we've considered in earlier studies - Klingons are known to treasure secrecy. Their "secrecy proverbs" enshrine this caution with lines like this:

jIjatlhpa' jatlh Hovmey.
"The stars will talk before I will."

So, it may not be a word of comfort for them to hear the beginning of Psalm 139, translated in the NLT as

O LORD, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. (NLT)

What Klingon would want to be under such thorough surveillance?

The Hebrew word for knowledge - to know - here is yada, one we've seen before. It's easy to translate into Klingon - the word is Sov, both a verb, to know and the noun "knowledge." Appearing over 800 times in the Bible, yada can express a great deal more than mere factual knowledge. For God to KNOW us implies an intimate relationship - a knowledge so deep that we indeed have no secrets whatsoever! Who would want that?

The Life Application Bible notes:

Sometimes we don’t let people get to know us completely because we are afraid they will discover something about us that they won’t like. But God already knows everything about us, even to the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30), and still he accepts and loves us. God is with us through every situation, in every trial—protecting, loving, guiding. He knows and loves us completely.

On our planet we also value secrecy, at least, privacy. Driven by fears of fraud and identity theft we don't wish our personal information to be known. For example, complex rules and laws are established to secure the confidentiality of our personal medical details. And yet... At that moment you find yourself in the Emergency Room - you want that doctor who sees you to KNOW everything. At that instant you want there to be no secrets - for, in order to help you the doctor and nurses need to know you and your needs.

That is why this verse is such a comfort. As Charles Spurgeon observes:

[This is ] A cheering thought for sinners. If God knew them not perfectly, how could he have prepared a perfect salvation for them? A comfortable truth for saints. "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

joH'a', SoH ghaj searched jIH, je SoH Sov jIH.
O LORD, you have searched me, And you know me. Psalm 139.1

Give thanks! God knows you. Better than your best friend, better than yout closest relative - he REALLY knows you - and no matter what - he loves you.

Have Mercy!

yImev lon the vum vo' lIj ghaj ghopmey
Don’t forsake the works of your own hands Psalm 138:8c

(click for podcast)

With these words we draw to the end of Psalm 138 - and are given a prayer - one that echoes the cry of believers throughout the centuries. It may sound desperate - prayer often is - but at heart it is a cry for help, and a pledge of faith - we are indeed the work of God's hands, and it is because of that we can come with confidence to ask his help.

Across the years, the language of prayer unites believers - for believers cannot help but pray. It is their duty, their privilege and their lifeline - an intimate connection to God. This, the mystery of prayer, is at the core of the life of faith. It is a mystery, because we can find wonderful promises, interwoven through the testimony of scripture which has great examples of prayers - answered and not. Believers know - from personal experience and the lives of saints through the ages - that we cannot treat prayer as magic, or mechanical. Yet we still pray.

I've noted before how Biblical language has transcended time and culture - the words Amen and Hallelujah, of Hebrew origin, are examples of words that have become part of languages and cultures far from their origin - words that are integral to the faith of believers. In addition to those words, we can find others. This cry from David "Don’t forsake the works of your own hands" brings to mind the cry of the blind men who called out to Jesus: ghaj pung Daq maH, puqloD vo' David! - Son of David, have mercy on us. (Matthew 9:27)

That cry mercy - eleison in Greek - is the heart of the Kyrie Eleison - Lord have mercy, a simple prayer in which again we have Biblical words - the Greek for Lord have Mercy - that have moved out and been included transliterated into more languages, beginning with the Latin liturgy (so much so that many think they are Latin words). And that cry for mercy, that tiny kernel of prayer, give us a wonderful starting place to join in prayer.

For many, this simple prayer has crystalized in the devotion called "The Jesus Prayer", as Wikipedia notes:

The Jesus Prayer, also called the Prayer of the Heart by some Church Fathers, is a short, formulaic prayer often uttered repeatedly. It has been widely used, taught and discussed throughout the history of Eastern Christianity. The exact words of the prayer have varied from the most simple possible involving the name "Jesus," such as "Lord have mercy," to the more common extended form: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Prayer

Another writer adds:

The history of the Jesus Prayer goes back, as far as we know, to the early sixth century, with Diadochos, who taught that repetition of the prayer leads to inner stillness. Even earlier John Cassian recommended this type of prayer. In the fourth century Egypt, in Nitria, short "arrow" prayers were practiced.
Abba Macarius of Egypt said there is no need to waste time with words. It is enough to hold out your hands and say, "Lord, according to your desire and your wisdom, have mercy." If pressed in the struggle, say, "Lord, save me!" or say, "Lord." He knows what is best for us, and will have mercy upon us.

http://www.svots.edu/Faculty/Albert-Rossi/Articles/Saying-the-Jesus-Prayer.html/

At this time of year Christians are in a season called Lent. The name comes from the same root as lengthen - for at this time the days are lengthening. In this time we join together to contemplate Jesus and his death on the cross. Many seek to reinvigorate their life of prayer - calling to mind Paul's command to "pray without ceasing!" IF you're looking for a way to do that, I'd commend this practice - the simple beginning "Lord have mercy," and encourage you to mine the rich treasures of scripture for your vocabulary - I can't count the number of times that I've come back again and again to the words of the Bible for my prayer language. I encourage you to give it a try!

yImev lon the vum vo' lIj ghaj ghopmey
Don’t forsake the works of your own hands Psalm 138:8c

Kyrie eleison,
Lord, have mercy.

reH - room to play!

lIj muSHa'taH pung, joH'a', SIQtaH reH.

Your loving kindness, O LORD, endures forever.

(click for podcast)


There is a joyful collision in languages - the sort of puns that - by accident or not - give us a pause to think about meaning. One I've noted before is worth thinking of again here - two Klingon words - the adverbial "reH", and the verb "reH."

Both are spelled exactly the same - and we don't know of any connection between their meanings, but... it is worth thinking about what kind of intersection they might have. reH means either "always" (and I've used it as such to mean "forever" in the KLV, as in this passage) OR it means "play," as in "to play a game."

While it's hard to defend this as meaningful overlap, it is worth considering - for the joy we find in "play," that delight that lets us forget the pressures of our day to day concerns is an echo of eternity, the joy that God intends for his people.

I like to think of the confidence that David expresses in this verse "the LORD will fulfill that which concerns me" - despite fears or worries, David looks forward to God's care, and then he goes on to say on what he bases that confidence

lIj muSHa'taH pung, joH'a', SIQtaH reH.

Your loving kindness, O LORD, endures forever.

Spurgeon comments on this portion of the verse:

Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever. ... The first clause of the verse is the assurance of faith, and this second one reaches to the full assurance of understanding. God's work in us will abide unto perfection because God's mercy towards us thus abideth.

So many of our resources -whether personal, or national or global, are limited. Yet God's resources have NO limit. And the greatest of these is his hesed - his loving kindness - his faithfulness. It means that God will see our needs through to the end. The Hebrew term "olam" that is here translated forever, or reH, means something like "the vanishing point" - that distance that is beyond all distance - beyond the farthest horizon.

My family plays an odd game called Kubb - hard to describe, it consists of throwing batons of wood at blocks of wood to knock them down. (It's Swedish - though you could picture it as a sort of Klingon enterprise). As you might imagine you can't play it just anywhere - you need enough room, enough space. When you want to play, you are happy to find a park or field with enough room.

I rejoice with David in God's loving kindness - which unlike our human love it has no boundaries - it lasts FOREVER. In such a roomy love, a love that can take me in, even at my most unlovable - there is space to play, to live, to love in God's company - forever!

lIj muSHa'taH pung, joH'a', SIQtaH reH.

Your loving kindness, O LORD, endures forever.

Horizons!

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joH'a' DichDaq rIn vetlh nuq SaHta' jIH
The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me Psalm 138:a

Have you ever experienced "pre-nostalgia?" That's what I call it when you longingly remember a future... that never happened. It's summed up in the forthcoming book "Where's My Jetpack?" 'A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future that Never Arrived.'

I think such wistful thoughts when I remember the (now-demolished) exhibit at Disney's Epcot, Horizons - that took you on a tour of the future, replete with space colonies, desert farming and under-sea cities. You can experience this feeling too - choose the right SF book from the fifties, and you'll be disappointed that you didn't graduate from a high school on the moon or Mars.

Yet - if you look at things again, you have plenty of things in this world - routine images (near live) from Mars and the outer planets - not to mention satellite communications - things that would have astounded and delighted space cadets of yesterday. We haven't got robots everywhere, but we have computers embedded in just about every kind of appliance possible. Home access to massive libraries of text and video. Our disappointment over lost tomorrows ought not to dilute our gratitude for the today we have.

joH'a' DichDaq rIn vetlh nuq SaHta' jIH
The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me Psalm 138:a

This verse brings us back to our future with confidence. Not a confidence in fictional tomorrows that may or may not come to pass, but a confidence in the future God will faithfully bring us to.

The LORD will fulfill....

The word "fulfill" here is rare - it only occurs about 5 times in the Bible. "gamar" is a primitive root meaning to end (in the sense of completion or failure): and is translated in the KJV as cease, come to an end, fail, perfect, perform. The sense understood here is "to perfect," to complete. I've used the Klingon word "rIn" be accomplished, finished.

There are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic. In a world wracked with war, disease, poverty or any number of problems, it is difficult to look forward with confidence. But this isn't new. David too, struggled with problems, with war, with family strife - but he could still have confidence in the outcome, that "The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me." This is a faith in the future, not of false optimism, but knowledge that God can be trusted. This is the kind of faith that made Job - in the midst of crushing loss -cry out

But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:25)

It's a mistake to bank on the glossy optimism of dated science fiction stories, but it is equally a mistake to let pessimism take over - to despair, to give up. We can still plan, we can still hope - not depending on our success, but committing ourselves to continue on with the work we've been given.

There is a story ascribed to different people, from ancient Rabbis to Martin Luther. I found a version on the jcdisciples.org website that goes something like this:

When asked what he would do if he knew the world would end tomorrow, Martin Luther replied, "I would plant a tree." What kind of an answer is that? Why plant a tree when the world is ending tomorrow? It sounds so futile, a total waste of time and energy. Isn't there something more important he could find to do? ... But with his answer, Luther demonstrates a better understanding of the words of Jesus and of Paul than many of us have today. Our knowledge of Christ's promised return ought not spur us to play waiting or guessing games with times and dates. Our job is not to look for signs; our job is to be about the work of the kingdom. Luther's answer, "I'd plant a tree", is in effect "I would continue on with my business just as I do today." (http://www.jcdisciples.org/sermons/trudytannen2.html)

No - I won't hold my breath waiting for the jet pack - or a vacation on Mars. On the other hand, it doesn't mean I won't work with the tools and gifts I have at hand to - if not accomplish those goals, to help find ways where the future can be a brighter place. I may not succeed - but that isn't my job - after all,

joH'a' DichDaq rIn vetlh nuq SaHta' jIH
The LORD will fulfill that which concerns me Psalm 138:a

In Hand!

SoH DichDaq stretch vo' lIj ghop Daq the QeHpu' vo' wIj jaghpu'. lIj nIH ghop DichDaq toD jIH.

You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7b

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It is fortunate that Klingons are so good looking. That is, the remarkable similarities between humans and Klingons help a great deal in translating from human idioms to Klingon. At least, although we are ignorant of much of Klingon culture, we can assume that at least some of our idioms can be mapped across cultures.

In particular, thanks to the similarity between human and Klingon forms, we can hope that a passage like this one - that depends on idioms regarding "the hand" are not too difficult to render in tlhIngan Hol. It seems reasonable that Klingons would understand how "the hand" carries a variety of ideas: for example "in good hands," "right hand man," "laying on of hands," "short handed," or "even-handed."

Imagine instead a non-corporeal energy creature, or a changeling with malleable shape and features - what would they make of this confident assertion about God's care?

SoH DichDaq stretch vo' lIj ghop Daq the QeHpu' vo' wIj jaghpu'. lIj nIH ghop DichDaq toD jIH.

You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7b

ghop - hand, is a word that can very directly, and literally translate the Hebrew "yad," what Webster calls: the extremity of the arm, consisting of the palm and fingers, connected with the arm at the wrist; the part with which we hold and use any instrument.

Now the word used in the beginning of this clause, "yad," occurs over 1400 times in the Bible (and is translated as hand over a 1000) is not the only noun used. The second part of the verse translates as "right hand" "yamiyn" - and means the right hand or side of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous). The idea is to strengthen the promised power of God's hand - not just his hand, but his RIGHT hand, the strongest one.

We don't have details on the Klingons regarding right versus left - the strength and preference of one over another, so an emphasis on strength makes more sense in explaining this - in fact, I think a Klingon would like how the NLT version does just that:

you will preserve me against the anger of my enemies.
You will clench your fist against my angry enemies!
Your power will save me. Psalm 138:7b NLT

While the hand suggests power and ability - it also holds the promise of care, of connection, of intimacy. If you've ever joined a prayer circle - holding hands with other believers, you may have experienced that intimacy, the way fellowship unites believers. Not every hand is strong - but linked together we can, as the writer of Hebrews said:

Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. Heb 10:24,25 NLT

And God's hand reaches out to hold us, and strengthen us, and it's a hand that is permanently linked to us. I treasure the promise from Isaiah, to the those in Jerusalem who faced exile and were afraid of being forgotten:

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand. Isaiah 49:16 NLT

If you're like me, that strikes a chord. I can't count the number of times I've used my ghop, my hand as an impromptu notepad. Jotting a quick word or letter to jog my memory in the one memo pad that will always be "at hand." God's like that too. Except it isn't picking up a gallon of milk on the way home that he is recording - it's YOU. The word for "written" is more like "carve" - think of a tattoo - a mark that won't EVER wash off. God has no intention of abandoning or forgetting his people.

SoH DichDaq stretch vo' lIj ghop Daq the QeHpu' vo' wIj jaghpu'. lIj nIH ghop DichDaq toD jIH.

You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me. Psalm 138:7b

Rejoice - you are in good hands.