Isaiah 7:9b If you will not believe, surely you will not be
established.
This passage in Isaiah contains a poetic play on words which is
lost to any reader but one who understands Hebrew. A word for word
translation runs something like this: “If not you will believe (lo
ta-aminoo), surely not you will be established (lo te-amenoo).” The three
letter Hebrew root – "aleph"- "mem"- "nun", is the same in both words,
and the Holy Spirit through the prophet Isaiah is clearly playing on this
root to emphasize His point. The same root letters are also used in the
spelling for the familiar word "Amen" which literally means
"truthfully".
A study of the root of the Hebrew word for "Amen" reveals numerous
related meanings: "le-heet-amen", "to practice or exercise" and
"le-ha-amin", "to believe". And finally the same root is found in the
Hebrew word for "faith", "emunah". Simply through the inter-relationships
of these similarly rooted words it's not hard to see that real faith is
intimately connected to real practice or exercise. James put it simply,
"Faith without works is dead". True faith is active faith, practicing
faith, faith that is exercised-- and finally, faith that is truthful.
This passage speaks of being
established. How are you established in your walk? By practicing and
exercising your faith truthfully...simple as that. Can you say "Amen" to
that? (George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah)
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