The Desire

I was reading the footnote to 3 John 7 of the NIV.  It says that “Today, Orthodox Jews often address God by the title Ha-Shem (“The Name”).

Looking at it, “Ha” means “The” and “Shem” means name.  In a flash, it brought to my mind the three sons of Noah; Shem, Ham and Japheth [Genesis 9:18].  If Shem means “Name”, what about Ham and Japheth?

A check to Strong’s Concordance revealed the following:  Ham means hot; Japheth means open or expand (usually in a mental or moral sense).

Hebrew reads from right to left. Hence, reading the order of the names of Noah’s three sons in Genesis 9:18, it would be: Japheth (open or expand the mind),  Ham (hot),  Shem (name).

To me, it means open or expand my mind to be hot (desire) for the Name; the Name of Jesus; for God has given Jesus the Name that is above all names [Philippians 2:8-11]. It is also interesting to read the footnote to Haggai 2:7 of the Amplified Bible. Does it not relate to repentance, a change in thinking?

Then Revelation 3:15 came to mind,

“I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!”

It occurred to me that God has intended that we make Jesus, His only Beloved Son, THE Desire of ours. This is evident from Creation [Genesis 3:16] to Renewal [Genesis 9:18] and finally to the End Times [Revelation 3:15].

In Genesis 3:16, God said,

“Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Jesus the Christ is our Husband.  We are His bride.  He is our Desire and He will rule over us.

This has been God’s intention right from the beginning.

Then, when God renewed the world with Noah and his three sons, He repeated the intention in Genesis 9:18.

And in the Book of Revelation, it is mentioned yet once again [Revelation 3:15].

And what is the benefit of making Jesus (John 1:1) our Desire?

I believe it is found in Psalm 1:1-3. When our desire is for Jesus, Who is the Word of God [John 1:1], we shall become healthy and prosperous.

Yet our focus is not so much on the health and prosperity. Our focus is on the Person of Jesus. The benefits are the effects. The cause of them all, or the Source, is Jesus, the only Beloved Son of God Who came in the flesh.

The basis of our assurance and confidence is in our Lord Jesus, not material or physical things,

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].

God has made Jesus our Wisdom [1 Corinthians 1:30]. When we pursue that Wisdom as our Desire, length of days (long and satisfied life) as well as riches and honour pursue us [Proverbs 3:15-16].

The footnote to Proverbs 1:20 mentions that Wisdom means Wisdom of God. What or Who is the Wisdom of God? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 1:30,

“But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].”

Yet again, God sent His only Beloved Son in the flesh to reinforce the message He intended from Creation: “Do that one thing needful; making Jesus our Desire”.

Luke 10:39-42

39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.

40 But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!

41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;

42 There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.

And Jesus said that the cares and concerns of the world choked the Word. In other words, we have allowed worldly desires to distract us from THE Desire [Mark 4:19].

“Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.”

Looking away from all that distracts towards Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith [Hebrews 12:2].

At this juncture, God’s command to Adam came to mind [Genesis 2:17].

There was the desire for the forbidden tree. Then there was God’s Word. Adam made his choice.

Today, there is the desire for worldly things and God’s Word. What’s my choice?

  

Deuteronomy 30:14-15

14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it.

15 See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil.

Remember Luke 10:39-42.

Last but not least, remember that the Lord satisfies our mouths with His Word. And He is the Word.

1 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—

3 Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;

5 Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!

The Lord Jesus the Christ is our Desire!