Simple
God is ready, willing, and able, to preserve the simple.
Last week, as I was reading the Bible, I came across a curious and wonderful concept that I discovered in Psalm 116. The more I thought about it, the more it intrigued me. Over the course of several days, I had fun and learned an important lesson as I took something simple, made it complicated, and in so doing realized the immense beauty that God gives to us in simplicity. Join me for a short journey into what I learned.
In the 1984 version of the New International Version of the Bible, or, NIV, Psalm 116: 6 states, “The Lord protects the simple hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.” At first, I was struck by the profound declaration that God protects the simple hearted. I then began to ponder how often I complicate my life, and was amazed by this concise, clear, and powerful affirmation of a ‘simple’ approach to God. I considered how much wiser and of greater advantage it is, to get rid of all pretense, and to admit that in comparison to God’s abilities, I have nothing to offer.
As I looked further, I noted that many translations simply say, “God protects the simple.” The original Hebrew, states, “Somer Peta yim Yahweh,” or, how I would translate it, “Yahweh preserves the simple.” It amazed me also, that in the original Hebrew, the writer didn’t use Elohim or Adonai, other words referencing God. However, Yahweh was used, the most powerful, personal, high and holy name of God, the name that was so sacred to the children of Israel that they would not even state or fully spell it.
What an incredible thing it is to be simple, and to live simply, and have the enormous advantage of having Yahweh, the God of all time, space, and eternity to protect, provide for, and preserve us. I also smiled as I noticed how in the 2011 version of the NIV, the translators changed simplehearted to unwary. I am not exactly sure why they did that, nor am I suggesting it was necessarily wrong that they did so, but perhaps keeping the word, simplehearted, simple, is the simplest approach. Especially since I now have a deeper appreciation of how I overcomplicate things, as perhaps also did the translators?
Dear brother or sister in Christ, or friend on the journey of life, no matter what troubles or blessings await you this new day and new week, join me in my new appreciation for the value of simplicity, knowing that God is ready, willing, and able, to preserve the simple.