Keep — Guard — Being responsible — Shamar

On February 22, 2013 3:12 PM, "Stephen Williamson" wrote:
Subject: Mulling over that word keep, no, not deep, keep :-)

Hi all

Being responsible, protecting what God has given us to look after.

Adam was commanded not only to dress i.e. look after/serve the needs of the garden, but also to keep it, i.e. to be its watchman and protector. Genesis 2:15

After he (and Eve) blew it, we are told a cherub got the job to keep (guard) the way to the tree of life, and why, because man had become like God, now knowing good and evil. He was still young, and thus the knowlege came with an inevitable pride that puffed up his spirit (unless he was labouring in the flesh), and so there was no way, at this point of time, that God wanted him being able to live forever. Genesis 3:22-24

And thus, when it comes to keeping, to providing protection like a sentry or a watchman, we don’t read of it happening again until we get to Abraham.

Cain, though he is an older brother, does not accept the role “Am I my brother’s keeper (protector)” – no, he goes the opposite way.

But in Abraham, yes, see God’s famous words to his son Isaac in Genesis 26:5

2

And the LORD appeared to him (i.e. Isaac), and said, Do not go down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell you of:

3

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you, and to your seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father;

4

And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give to your seed all these countries; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5

Because that Abraham obeyed (heeded) my voice, and kept (guarded) my charge (i.e. on God’s watch, like a sentry), my commandments, mitsvah (what God had appointed), my statutes, (i.e. what God had caused to be engraved) and my laws (i.e. the torah, what God had directed/shot like an arrow).

Hallelujah Steve

Stephen Williamson Computing Services Pty Ltd
www.swcs.com.au/aboutus.asp

2	And the LORD appeared to him (i.e. Isaac), and said, Do not go down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell you of:
3	Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you, and to your seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father;
4	And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give to your seed all these countries; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5	Because that Abraham obeyed (heeded) my voice, and kept (guarded) my charge (i.e. on God’s watch, like a sentry), my commandments, mitsvah (what God had appointed), my statutes, (i.e. what God had caused to be engraved) and my laws (i.e. the torah, what God had directed/shot like an arrow).