THE PATHFINDER

PUBLICATION #36

(Feb/Mar 1989)

WHO IS THIS?...ANSWER THOU ME!

(Part II)

DARK COUNSEL

THERE IS ONE H-O-L-Y GOD

JEHOVAH ELOHIM

"WHO IS THIS THAT DARKENETH COUNSEL BY WORDS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE?...ANSWER THOU ME." (Job 38:2-3).

DARK COUNSEL

            We might wonder why God had spoken such words to a man who He Himself had stricken so severely -- one who had been perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1). We might think it was because of Job's constant grumbling and complaining, but that evidently was not the issue, for this was not part of the question that was posed to him. The question was, "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?"

            Job was only doing what was natural and speaking of things which seemed to be right at the time, as we sometimes do. Nonetheless, as good as his rationale was, it was not God and this was why he was addressed so sternly. In the tribunal of God, when he was being tried and his worth proven, his reaction to the adversities were from the NATURAL man rather than the Spirit. His thoughts and words came from the realm of earth rather than the heavens. He judged by what he had learned from his own intellect, be it ever so good, and not from the understanding of God. He responded out of the pain and discomfort of his throbbing body rather than from the perfect man he was. Therefore, he could not see what great thing was being worked in his life. Indeed, He had DARKENED THE COUNSEL OF GOD with MANY WORDS OF HIS OWN NATURAL LOGIC...not at all unlike ourselves. But in all this, although his flesh may have failed, the true man of Job passed the test. He never gave up nor cursed God.

           We are seeing quite a bit of this natural thinking today, and it is not just because of the various sufferings that befall those in the body of Christ, but it is in a more serious region of the Christians' walk. Namely, it lays in the realm of teaching and hearing the mysteries of God from the realm of natural logic and reason rather than from the Spirit of truth.

            I believe the following proverb explains what is taking place across the country today, and it is not with just a few. It says, "The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet." (Prv 27:7). There are some who are completely full of the "deep things of God," and they can't be excited with anything, not even when it is ministered by the anointing of Christ. They have become drowsy and no longer even care about having their ears tickled. In their lethargy, they seem to only be mildly appeased by a back-scratching message that sounds familiar and safe. On the other hand, many are so starved from not hearing the word of the Lord, they devour almost everything that comes along, the good as well as the bad. (I believe most of us have been here at one time or another). It has been so long since eating a descent meal, they have forgotten what good meat tastes like and are enthusiastically consuming even the bitter teachings. And of course, we've always had those who are fortune hunters, i.e. revelation seekers.

            Unfortunately, however, there is more than a few who appear to be just willingly ignorant, as Peter mentioned in one of his letters. (II Pt 3:5). Nonetheless, regardless of whether they have accidentally been beguiled by the adverse serpent, or they are willing ignorant, such thinking is from the realm of the unregenerated mind and must be dealt with. And it probably won't be much different than it was with Job. God turned him over to Satan so he could be thoroughly sifted. Afterwards, the LORD became a reality to him and his eyes beheld Him. It was extremely hard on Job, but the end results made it all worth it.

THERE IS ONE H-O-L-Y GOD

            One area of dark counsel, or teaching, that some have been giving is concerning there being only ONE GOD, ONE BODY, and ONE SPIRIT, and I have not been totally guiltless myself. We won't discuss much on the thought of "One Body" "One Spirit" in this study, for we covered it to a degree in Publication #35 (free upon request), but we do want to look a little more closely into the aspect of there being only ONE GOD.

            One primary passage of scripture that is used on behalf of this teaching is recorded in Ephesians: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph 4:4-6).

            We might want to notice, it was the EPHESIANS who Paul was writing this letter to. And let us be reminded, the Ephesians were Greeks, and the Greeks worshiped many gods. History tells us that some of their deities were considered to be diabolical and were greatly feared, while others were viewed as being holy gods of compassion. But since these pagans had become Christians, it was time for them to know that there was only ONE  H-O-L-Y SPIRIT which was reserved for those of the ONE  H-O-L-Y  FAITH who had been BORN OF THE ONE  H-O-L-Y GOD, and had partaken of the ONE  H-O-L-Y  BAPTISM into the ONE  H-O-L-Y  BODY.

            This thing about there being only "ONE God" and "ONE Spirit" has really been a stumbling block for teachers and students alike. They have joined the statement of there being only ONE God with YE ARE GODS of Psalm 82:6 and are assuming they are that one God. In their thinking they have wavered by believing everything is of God and sanctioned by Him, or else it could not happen, especially when II Cor. 5:18 is read without understanding (see Pub. #34, pg 4). Therefore, quite a few are tipping the balance of the scales in the downward direction of the earthy, natural intellect. The adamic mind continually tugs upon men's thoughts by its gravitational pull until there is no true counsel of the heavens left. All that remains is the dark counsel of man. The counsel of the "gods" is so dark that everything they touch is out of course. "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course." (Psa. 82:5). Ye are gods and children of the most high, SO WHAT? To what honor is that to you? It would do us all a great service in knowing a little more about the gods before we go about claiming with pride that we are such.

           Of course, those who are born of God are definitely part of His corporate body. And everything in existence is composed of God to some degree or another, or else it could not exist. The error, however, is a result of not seeing the things concerning God in Ephesians 4:4-6 are not speaking in general terms but in specifics, and one primary specific is H-O-L-I-N-E-S-S. Another error is failing to realize the vast difference in being a FORMED god and a BORN son, of which, there is a much greater honor with the latter. Therefore, brethren, let us not despair in finding out we are not the "gods" we might had thought we were, for in Christ, as a son, we are something far greater and should be infinitely more desirable.

            You see, the spirit of an adamic god is carnal and of the earth. It is proud, egotistical, sectarian, and lustful; which in its covetousness draws things and people to itself for power, for security, to be admired, for personal gratifications. On the other hand, the Spirit of a son is Christ and comes from the heavens. It is humble, not thinking of self, and thankful to be joined to God's Holy body. It is a sacrificing Spirit, even unto death, that others might live. Those of the Lord from heaven are very unlike the spirit we see in the gods of the earth.

            Let us all be quick to open our eyes and begin to discern what spirit people are manifesting and notice the fruit they are bearing. It's really not such a hard thing to do. The people of the world who don't even have the Spirit of Christ are able to distinguish the counterfeits from the real, so why can't we?

            Although there has been a falling from the heavens for many, this is not the end. For after much religious rhetoric is poured forth from that well of dark counsel and natural assumptions, most everyone is likely to hear, as did Job, the voice of God resounding sharply: "Who is this that has been darkening My counsel of advice concerning yourself and the rest of humanity with many words of your own ignorance? Answer thou Me! Just who do you think you are?" This is when there will be a shaking to the very core, and those people will come to their real senses to never teach another word unless it is heard coming first from our Father. This is when the great man of antiquity's words will be reverently echoed in reply, "...[I now see] I have [rashly] uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (Job 42:3, Amplified). But we should not leave this admonition isolated with those who are out of balance in who we are, for I am persuaded, at various times WE ALL have been guilty of spilling out our own dark counsel of natural reasoning to some degree or another.

JEHOVAH ELOHIM

            The Hebrew name and title of our Father and creator, JEHOVAH and EL or ELOHIM, lost most of their meanings when they were translated from the Hebrew. Hence, the name and title "Jehovah" (The One Who Is) and "El" (Mighty One) became Kurios/Lord and Theos/God (Grk/Eng)," which are general terms that merely speak of a higher entity. By generalizing it, the words fail to adequately portray our Father as the Living God. Nonetheless, Ephesians 4:6 associates the word God directly with being the Father. With this union the title no longer just speaks of a greater being in a general sense, but it takes on a specific character. We could also note that this title (El) in the Hebrew is very often coupled with His personal name, YHWH, Yahweh, or Jehovah in the Old Testament Hebrew. (Gen 2:4-5; Ex 34:23; Ps 68:18; etc. To be discussed later in this issue.)

            Therefore, with this we see there is only ONE MIGHTY JEHOVAH who is the Father of all. It is not saying that everyone He calls gods is the One Mighty Jehovah, for there is no other who is the Father from whom all creation is a product, even the gods! One thing for sure, we cannot be the father of ourselves.

            Moreover, not only do we see God revealed as a Father in this passage of scripture, but Jesus also revealed Him as such by manifesting Him in His life and when speaking of Him -- He always called Him Father. (Jn 1:18, 17:4). Indeed, His words and His life were open declarations that God was His Father, but to add to this fact, God placed an inaugurating seal upon His Son -- His Father gave Him His own name -- JESUS. (A good name is the most precious thing one can possess, especially when it is the name above all names.) You see, Jesus is the Greek name for Joshua, and Joshua means Jehovah Saviour. Therefore, since Jesus took the name of His Father by birth, He in-turn took His nature (Jehovah) and high calling (Saviour) by birth and became the sacrificial Saviour of the world.

            In all this, what we have is God who is a Father and whose name is Jehovah, and this God is not the gods (elohim) it speaks of in Ps. 82-6. There appears to be good argument to the contrary, however; that is, when we look at scriptures like (Deut 4:23-24 & 6:4), for they contain the same word, ELOHIM, that is used for MEN in other places: "For the LORD (Jehovah) thy God (Elohim) is a jealous God (EL)," and "The LORD (Jehovah) thy God (Elohim) is one LORD (Jehovah)." Hopefully, the remainder of this study will enlighten us about the name JEHOVAH and clarify some things surrounding this mysterious title ELOHIM, the PLURAL of EL.

             Although there is one name but many titles ascribed to God, for the sake of time and space, we will only focus our attention on the two principal words in this study, JEHOVAH and ELOHIM. All of the italicized, off-set paragraphs are taken from the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Harris, Archer Waltke, MOODY PRESS. I have taken the liberty of using my own wording in order for easier reading and clarity, keeping in mind to retain the essence of the authors' thoughts:

   JEHOVAH. In the ancient Hebrew's written language there were FOUR letters (called a etragrammaton) to God's personal name, YHWH. These four letters were the most frequently used in scripture in reference to Him, occurring 5321 times. Seven passages where the name is particularly stressed is found in Ex 6:3; Ps 83:18; Isa 12:2; 26:4 or combined with other elements, such as Jehovah Jireh Gen 22:14; cf. Ex 17:15; Jdg 6:24. The American Standard Version consistently translated it "Jehovah" in those verses. Psalm 68:4 has the shortened form of His name, JAH, occurring fifty times. (Vol. I, pg 210).

MEDIEVAL JEWISH SCHOLARS began to insert vowels to their written language. Before this it consisted of consonants only. To God's name, YHWH, they added the *Masoretic vowel points for adonay; and the actual writing became an impossible YaHoWaH, or the ASV "Jehovah." (Vol. I, pg 211). *(Masora. The tradition, compiled by Jewish critics and scholars in the 900's A.D., regarding the correct text of the Hebrew Bible.)

 God's name identifies His nature, so that a request for His "name" is equivalent to asking about His character (Ex 3:13; Hos 12:5). Critical speculation about the origin and meaning of "Yahweh" seems endless; but the Bible's own explanation in Ex 3:14 is that it represents the simple imperfect of hawa "to be," I am [is] what I am. The precise name Yahweh results when others speak of Him in the third person, Yahweh "He is." (Vol. I, pg 210).

 It was sometime prior to New Testament times that God's personal name was replaced with the less intimate title adonay (Grk., kurios) "Lord." The general term elohim, which refers to power, deity, authority, etc., is a very appropriate title for God. However, it is Yahweh who reveals Himself to individuals in a personal way, such as to Job in the last four chapters of the book written about him. Therefore, much of the meaning and impact of God's name is removed when it is translated as Lord. (Vol. I, pg 212).

ELOHIM. This word has been translated as God, gods, goddess, judges, and angels. The plural ending is usually described as a PLURAL of MAJESTY and not intended as a true plural when used of God. This is seen in the fact that the PLURAL noun Elohim is consistently used with SINGULAR verb forms as well as with adjectives and pronouns in the singular.

Albright has suggested that the use of this majestic plural comes from the tendency in the ancient near east toward a universalism: He says we find in Canaanite an increasing tendency to employ the plural Ashtorôt in an attempt to magnify their goddess "Astarte." The same was done when referring to their singular god "Anath," they very often used the plural Anatôt. This was clearly in the sense of the totality of manifestations of a deity. This is further borne out by the fact that the plural form Elohim for God occurs only in Hebrew and in no other Semitic language, not even in Biblical Aramaic.

 When indicating the true God, Elohim functions as the subject of all divine activity revealed to man and as the object of all true reverence and fear from men. There are other descriptive words which serve as various titles of God and indicate how God's people came to know Him. The term Elohim, however, was their favorite term in titles.

 There are several categories which can be listed with the title, Elohim. The first one pertains to Him as the CREATOR: "God, Former of the Earth (Isa 45:18); "God of Heaven Who Made the Sea and the Dry Land." (Jn 1:19).

 A second category of titles expresses God's SOVEREIGNTY: "God of All the Earth" (Isa 54:5); "God of all flesh" (Jer 32:27); "Yahweh God of the heaven" Neh 2:4); "God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and terrible who does not regard favorites and does not take bribes." (Deut 10:17). All of these titles may be subsumed under the rather brief title, "God Most High."

 As sovereign God, elohim is often described as JUDGE: Simply "God is Judge" (Ps 50:6; 75:7), and "He is a God that Judgeth in the Earth' (Ps 58:11).

 Another category of titles focuses around God's MAJESTY or GLORY: Among these we find "God of the Ages" (Isa 40:28); "God of Justice" (Isa 30:18); "God of Certainty" (Isa 65:16); "Living God" (Jer 10:10); and "This Holy God" (I Sam 6:20).

 By far the most frequent category of titles are those pertaining to God as SAVIOR: "Save us, O God of our salvation, and deliver us from the heathen." (I Chrn 16:35); "Let the God of my salvation be exalted." (Ps 18:46). "O LORD God of my salvation." (Ps 88:1). etc.

 And finally, we find titles expressing the INTIMACY of God with His people: "The God of Nearness" (Jer 23:23); "Your God in Whom you Trust" (II Kgs 19:10); "God your Chastiser" (Deut 8:5); "God of My Mercy" (Ps 59:17), and so on. (Vol. I, pg 44).

            We could do much more research in this area and we could delve into a multitude of scriptures that speak of Jehovah and Elohim, but it would probably serve no purpose other than to weary the reader. Should anyone have the desire and time to seek it out further, however, they will find many confirmations. They will frequently find both God and men were called elohim in the Old Testament Hebrew, and in the light of understanding they will see why this is so. Primarily, the Jewish scribes often used the plural when referring to God as Elohim, which to them spoke of His many attributes. This, of course, was an attempt to express God's infinite greatness the best way they knew how. When men were the subject, this same plural was used because it was referring to more than one man. Elohim was also used to describe them as a result of being made in their creator's image and possessing many of His attributes; such as, having authority over other nations, being a sovereign nation, reflecting the glory of God, being judges, and being able to create the world to a degree they desired to live in.

            In this additional research, one would also be reminded that the more ancient manuscripts of the Old Testament, which were written in the Aramaic did not use the plural when speaking of God. Therefore, should one take the liberty to translate Elohim as El in every instance it relates to Jehovah, the Most High God, it would soon be concluded that men who were called elohim are not the same ONE GOD Paul spoke of in his various letters.

            The following example illustrates how the plural ELOHIM may not have been the proper word to use in regards to God: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD (YAHWEH) our God (Elohim) is ONE LORD (YAHWEH): And thou shalt love the LORD (YAHWEH) thy God (Elohim) with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Deut 6:4-5). You see, when Jesus quoted this verse in Lk 10:27 He used the SINGULAR THEON for the word God, instead of the plural; however, He used the PLURAL THEOI when He quoted Ps 82:6, "...Ye are GODS...." This same thing was done throughout the New Testament when an Old Testament verse was used which contained the word Elohim -- the singular was used when speaking of God but the plural for man. The Septuagint translators followed this same standard.

            With honest diligence, if the researcher continues on, he will establish a firmer foundation in present truths. He will no longer be shaken and tossed by every wind of doctrine. Hopefully, he will then see the balance of who we are and discard these age-old, metaphysical, Christian Science teachings. And should anyone wonder if this is what they have been taught, please consider this. Go to the public library and check out the book of Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science founder) entitled Science and Health with Key to The Scriptures. And then, if what you read is primarily what you have been hearing and embracing, you might want to prayerfully examine these things. On the other hand, if you agree with her doctrine, then why not join the Christian Science organization in order to be with many others who see things the same way? I am not being facetious, but I do want to stir your pure minds, and give you something to think about. Also, before you consider the suggestion too seriously, you might want to check and see who was the influence behind Mary Baker Eddy's theology. Namely, the late Dr. Phineas P. Quimby (1802-1866), who was very instrumental in today's New Age, Metaphysical movement (A Different Gospel, pg 39, D.R. McDonnell). (Until a few years ago, Alamogordo was the international headquarters for the Quimby movement. It is now located in Santa Fe.)

            In closing, let us reflect upon some things. (1) Everything that makes us feel good is not necessarily of God. (2) Many are slipping away into the excitement of self-grandeur as a result of hearing the teaching that they are gods. This, in part, is due to not realizing the difference in the adamic gods and the Sons of God nor being able to distinguish between the two spirits. (3) The One Body, One Spirit, and One God is speaking of that which is Holy and is not referring to the whole world as being this One Holy God. And (4), Although much of the "Ye Are Gods" thinking is natural and metaphysical (dark counsel), we want to note that the many sees the pure reality of what the Spirit of the word is in this matter and are not affected by the psychological, natural aspects of it

Elwin R. Roach

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