Jeshurun... (part 1)
A while ago we looked at Deuteronomy 31 where Moses started handing over the leadership of Israel to Joshua and preparing the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. Now in ch.33 Moses has pronounced a blessing over each of the twelve tribes and it culminates in a combined blessing over the whole nation who he describes as "Jeshurun".
This word is interesting. It's derived from a word that means "upright." It's used only four times in the Old Testament (3 times in Deuteronomy and once in Isaiah) What is very interesting is that when the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek (the Septuagint) those early translators used a derivative of the word "agape" which implied that this was a term of endearment or pet name for Israel
One of the occurrences of "Jeshurun" is not so flattering:
Jeshurun grew fat and kicked;
filled with food, he became heavy and sleek.
He abandoned the God who made him
and rejected the Rock his Saviour. (Deut.32:15)
And herein lies the beauty of our passage. God calls Israel and us to be "upright", but even when "Jeshurun" is not "upright", God remains faithful and maintains his promise to us.
We see the same in Isaiah 44:2:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
In these parallel poetry lines Jacob and Jeshurun are equivalent. "Jacob" means "deceiver" or "supplanter" but God chooses Jacob's nation to be "Jeshurun" (upright). This forshadows what Jesus did for us:
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2Cor5:21)
"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2Cor5:21)
Not only are we living in trying times, but in my tiredness and humanity, I sometimes feel like I am not enough and not doing enough. The good news is that God, in spite of my failures and mistakes, calls me "Jeshurun".
| "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!' So Israel will live in safety alone; Jacob's spring is secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew. Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places. " (Deuteronomy33:26-29) |
