Saturday, June 25, 2011

AMEN!

Since I decided to name my blog AMEN!, I thought it would be fitting to start my first blog by talking about the word AMEN. We say it a lot in church but a lot of people do not understand the full true meaning of the word. I will say that I am not an eloquent speaker or writer so I got some help on explaining this word.  


This Hebrew Amen is derived from the root [aman], which means to be firm or solid in the sense of permanency. Thus by implication, it means to be sure, true or faithful. So whenever we see this word Amen used in scripture, it is affirming truth, or illustrating something is said that is of absolute certainty. We can get a better understanding of the word in looking at the way God uses it in a slightly different context than we normally would see it. Here [amen] is used as a title for God, illustrating His faithfulness to His promises. 



Isaiah 65:16
  • "That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes."
Both these words that are translated truth are the Hebrew word [amen]. Thus it is declaring by the God of Amen, Jehovah God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). In this context this word is expressing God's faithfulness. That He alone is the Amen, the God of truth. Indeed, the Lord is the very essence of truth. So by comparing scripture with scripture and allowing it to be it's own dictionary and interpreter, we can come to sound conclusions about what words really mean in scripture. Amen is thereby defined as truth. And not only in the Old Testament, this understanding of the word continues to be made manifest in the New Testament.


That is one example that I wanted to use in explaining AMEN. The God we serve is the God of AMEN. The absolute truth.

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