The Path of the Saints

Pro_2:8  He keeps the paths of judgment, and guards the way of His saints.  

YHVH keeps the paths of judgment and preserves the way of His saints. We have all heard the term 'Saint' before and is normally associated with a holy person, but what does Saint really mean?

Saint is the word "chaseed"  that means; kind, godly person, good person, merciful.

"Chaseed" is first used in Scripture in Deut 33:8 where it describes the 'holy one who is worthy of carrying and using the Thummim and Urim, the stones they used to get answers from YHVH, back in the day when there was a Priesthood. According to Deut 3:8, this holy person was tested and trailed at Massah as well as Meribah and found to be worthy.

Massah  means; temptation and trial and is a physical place in the desert.  Meribah

 means; provocation (excited to anger) and strive (to labour hard, efforts).

These two words are first used in Scripture in Exo 17:7 where YHVH commanded Moses to strike the rock to provide water to the people in the Desert. The place where this happened was named Massah and Meribah because the people tempted and provoked YHVH to anger with their unbelief, saying: "...is YHVH among us or not..."

Thummim means; perfections (plural), complete Truth and Urim means; lights (plural), fires, lights.

Putting all of this together shows us that a Saint is someone who is tested through a difficult situation, someone of character and faith who believe YHVH will make a way in that bad situation, not provoking YHVH to anger. This person's holiness and faithfulness is tested and proven to be worthy of "carrying the stones" (Thummim and Urim). All of this gives us the understanding that a Saint is someone who has build character through difficult situations as has proven their faith and holiness, having a burning passion and desire to carry YHVH's Truth into the dark world.

Now that we know what a Saint is, what does "keeps the paths of judgement" mean?

Keep is the word "natsar"  that means; to guard, to protect, to maintain, to obey, observe, preserve, watcher [Negative] to conceal, hidden thing, besieged.

First used in Scripture in Exo 34:7 where Moses asked to see YHVH's Glory and was hidden in the rock while YHVH walked passed him, revealing Him character and His attributes. YHVH's attributes are:

·         He keeps (natsar) mercy for thousands,

·         He forgives iniquity, transgression and sin for the righteous,

·         He will not clear the sin of the guilty, visiting their iniquity upon them, their children and children's children, unto the third generation.

We see both Blessing and Curse in YHVH's Attributes/Glory and those who encounter Him, both righteous and the  wicked, will experience Him in different ways. The word "natsar", has positive and negative meanings as well, just like YHVH's Glory; if you are righteous and obedient, YHVH will guard, protect and maintain you, but if you are unrighteous, then He will conceal and hide Himself from you, and will bring your iniquity upon you and upon your children's children. So it is not only you that will bear the consequences of your sin, it will pass onto your great grand children as well, if you do not adhere to His word and classed as one who is rebellious and wicked.

Paths is the word "orach"  that means; trodden road, path, rank, traveller, troop, highway. "orach" is made up from two parts "ore" (light) and "chet" (life).

The paths of YHVH are "lit up" and "brings life". We see the same in Prov 4:18 and  Psa 119:105 where it says that YHVH's Word is a lamp upon my feet and a light ("ore") upon my path ("orach"). If we now look at  Prov 2:8, we see that YHVH keeps/preserves/protects the path (light giving way that brings life) of judgment (verdict, sentence, penalty) for the Saints (someone who is holy and faithful, who has a passion to shine His Truth in this dark world).

What does it mean to "preserve the path of judgment" in context with all we have learned so far? Judgement is negative if you are the one who are being judged/convicted, but it is positive if you are the judge giving the verdict in righteousness, or the one being set free because you are guiltless. We saw this in Exo 34:7 in YHVH's Glory and His Attributes which can lead to a positive or negative encounter with Him. We all know that YHVH is the final Judge and He preserve/guard final judgement through Messiah Y'shua, our Judge and King. He will Judge people according to their paths they have travelled; they have traveled "in light and life" or "in darkness and death". YHVH will judge people according to their "walk" (halechah) by which He will differentiate between the Saints and the Wicked. Life to those who travelled on "paths that were enlightened by His Word". Death to those who travelled on the "paths of darkness". Light/Truth brings Life and Darkness/Sin & Lies brings death. The Saint will have all these life giving attributes imbedded in them as they travel, and their life will eventually give of light just like the Path they travel on. Stay in the Word, stay on the path of light so that you can attain the attributes of a true Saint being passionate about the Truth and shining the Light in this dark world and that you may encounter YHVH's positive attributes when you see Him face to face on the Day of Judgment.