“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2 (NKJV)

“The secret things belong to The LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29 (NKJV)

The ancient Hebrews believed that every Hebrew letter, word, and paragraph had at least 70 levels of revelation to be discovered for the one willing to spend the time to invest themselves in ‘searching out a matter.’

The vast majority of the Christian community however, is content with the most effortless approach of reading the word only. While this is valuable and necessary it is really only an entry level endeavor into a life of commitment to The LORD.

Over the years as I grew in my hunger and passion to know Him more, I began to see the value of a progressive study of scripture to better grasp the intent of the original authors as well as what The LORD was trying to communicate.

One of my favorite ways of study, was to look up the meaning of every person or place mentioned in scripture.

What a treasure trove of insight and revelation I began to glean! And with each study my hunger and joy only increased as I began to see a depth of insight if I would but spend a little bit of time digging deeper rather than settle for the nuggets on the surface.

From there I was challenged by The Holy Spirit to begin to do more ‘digging’ and research into the original languages and various cultural influences at the time of the writing of each book to discover what the words penned in that generation and culture meant to them.

One such study was a word found in Genesis 30:26,

“Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you and let me go; for you know my service which I have done for you.” Genesis 30:26.

The word ‘served’ is the Hebrew word Avad (עבד ‛âbad). It contains the meaning of ‘to work for someone, to do what they ask’.

If we recall the story of Jacob, we know that he worked or served Laban for 14 years for his wives and now he wanted to return to his family. He had done what was asked of him.

Another and perhaps deeper meaning of the word avad is ‘worship.’

“And The LORD spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says The LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” Exodus 8:1 (NKJV)

“Then The LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, and tell him, ‘This is what The LORD says: Let my people go to worship Me.” Exodus 8:1 (GWT)

Here the word avad is translated as both ‘serve’ and ‘worship.’ In the Hebrew mindset, serving The LORD and worshiping Him are the same thing!

In our western mindset, worshiping The LORD is a passive act in a room, singing songs and listening to a sermon. But to the Hebrew, worship involved action and service.

This single word avad (and there are many more we could list) may completely change the way you see Sundays, because for most Christians, we were brought up believing Sundays were a day of worship. We would work the rest of the week and worship Sunday.

But look at what the 4th Commandment actually says:

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of The LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days The LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, The LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:9-11 (NKJV)

In other words, six days out of our week should be avad; serving and worshiping our God, and on the 7th day we should rest!

We’ve had the whole concept backwards! Everything we set our hand to throughout the week so be with a heart of service and worship toward our LORD.

We’ve allowed the construct called “The Church” to become a formal set-apart portion of our lives on a certain day, not realizing we are to avad our Heavenly Father throughout the week.

This small study alone should spark in you a host of other scriptures that can paint an even fuller picture of what is being communicated in this one word alone.

The study of The Word of God is not only a privilege, but in this hour it is a must for those who desire to stand in these last days.

If we’ve failed to avail ourselves of the time, we have to more fully know Him through the word and prayer then the days ahead will be difficult at best.

 

For His glory,
~ Bruce Allen

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Dr. Bruce Allen, is the founder of Still Waters International Ministries, PO Box 1001 Chewelah WA, 99109 United States. It is Bruce’s passion to see the Body of Christ awaken to their destiny in this hour by equipping them to hear God’s voice and access the reality of the supernatural in every day life.

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