Ephesians #9 "Be Filled!"
November 5, 2023Pastor Patrick presented this morning's message, "Be Filled!" It was the 9th message in a series studying the book of Ephesians. A video of the message is here. Our Conversation Starter for this week is here.
Often getting caught up in "word play," I was taken by Patrick's explanation of the Greek word pleroma meaning fullness or permeating. So of course I go right to "what's the Hebrew equivalent?" Turns out that pleroma is the Greek translation in the Septuagint of the Hebrew word melo (מְלא). Both are nouns. The verb forms are pleroo and male (מָלֵא), respectively. Both carry similar meaning: fullness, that which fills, all, and the like.
Here are some Hebrew uses of the Hebrew melo. Genesis 48:19, a multitude (of nations, down the line of the patriarchs). Exodus 9:8, handfuls (of soot, related to one of the plagues). Leviticus 16:12, full (of coals in a censer for a sacrifice) and Numbers 22:18, all (the silver and gold, in the story of Balaam's donkey).
You may recognize this usage: "of the earth and the fullness thereof" (Deuteronomy 33:16, Moses blessings for the tribes). How about "the Lord's and the fullness thereof" (Psalm 24:1, a psalm by King David describing God and who will receive His blessing) and "The whole earth is full of His glory" (Isaiah 6:3, Isaiah describing a vision of God and His surroundings).
There are about 38 occurences of melo throughout the Old Testament and about 18 occurences of pleroma in the NT. I should note now and then that most of the information I use for these word studies comes from the Bible Hub's Interlinear Bible which in turn relies upon Strong's Concordance.
Interestingly, the familiar phrase "Here I am, send me" is just a few verses later in the aforementioned Isaiah passage following God's voice asking "Whom shall I send?" Together the phrases make up a favorite hymn, "Here I am, Lord" (YouTube version), #593 in the Methodist Hymnal. In both testaments, saying yes to God brings strengths.
Other meanings for the two words include: filled, full, fullness, filling up, that which fills, full complement, supplied, completion, all it contains (everything), handfuls, abundance, completed (as in fullness of time), and multitudes.
It's also interesting to note that the Greek word for spirit, e.g. "by the (Holy) Spirit," is Pneumati, as in pneumatic. This connects well with Patrick's "sail full of wind" imagery. By the way, the use of pleroma in the nautical world can also mean the ship is ready to go in the sense of fully manned and/or fully loaded. Are you fully ready to help build the Kingdom?
Bonus
Godfearing
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10.
There was a time when being a godfearing person was a great compliment. I remember hearing the term used back when I was a kid. When was the last time you heard it used? It's hard to argue against the observation that our society is drifting away from God and has been doing so for decades. Such a shame for the best society ever devised built by godfearing men and women.
The term doesn't refer to fear as in "quaking in your boots." It's more of a respect or awe attitude. In the same way, children should fear their parents. In both cases, to fear means to recognize a higher authority that cares and the consequences of disobedience.
Another point to be made... If you fear God, you will not fear anyone else. If the people of Germany had feared God more than they feared Hitler, the Holocaust would have been avoided. (A Prager-ism.)
The Egyptian midwives feared God more than they feared the Pharoah, and thus many Hebrew babies were saved. Exodus 1:17.
The God of the Torah wants us to fear Him. He also wants us to love Him. He actually commands us to love Him (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the Shema). This is a remarkable admission that God understands He's not easy to love, but that He wants us to love Him. And I would add "as much as He loves us."
In the Torah, the use of the word fear is often hidden by the translation. For instance, in Deuteronomy 6:2 (just before the start of the Shema), a phrase is often translated as "revere the Lord" or the like. The actual verb is tirah (תִּירָ֜א), fear.