So who is Jeshurun? This name is most likely unfamiliar to most Christians, and understandably so, as it only appears a few times in the entire Bible (three times in Deuteronomy and the above reference in Isaiah). At first glance, it appears to be a synonym for the nation of Israel. This is a correct assumption, but we would rob ourselves if we chose not to go any deeper than that!
When "Jeshurun" appears in Deuteronomy, it always occurs in poetic form. The first time is in Deut. 32:15, when Moses teaches the rest of Israel a song written by God Himself (see 31:19-22). God told Moses that once He brought His people into the Promised Land, their prosperity and abundance will cause them to fall away from Him, so this song would serve as a reminder to turn back to Him. They were also to teach this song to their descendants for the same purpose. And indeed, the verse that mentions Jeshurun (verse 15) describes the nation of Israel growing "fat, thick, and sleek" and forsaking God. The other two references in Deuteronomy occur in the blessing Moses speaks over Israel before he dies; both describe God as the "king" or "God of Jeshurun" (see verses 5 and 26).
So what's the point here? All these instances of the name Jeshurun are poetic, occurring in songs, blessings, or prophecies. They don't occur in narratives or historical accounts. God uses the name Jeshurun almost as a nickname for His chosen people. When I googled the word "Jeshurun," here's what I found on its origins and meanings (and yes, this is mostly from Wikipedia; it was difficult to find reliable religious commentaries on this subject, believe it or not!). My sources came from here and here.
- Derived from a root word meaning "upright, just, or straight." You may have noticed that the song mentioned above came after a long list of rules and commandments. God set standards for His people to live by, and although He knew that they would fall away at times, His ultimate vision was for them to embrace His standards, realize they couldn't fulfill all of them by their own power, and therefore depend on Him for the help they needed to be "upright, just, and straight." He knew Jeshurun would forsake Him, but He used His nickname for them anyway because He also knew all they could be once they turned back to Him.
- Can mean "beloved one." We often give nicknames to the people we love. It suggests a closeness, or an intimacy with someone if we have a special name just for them. God called Israel "Jeshurun" for a reason...because He loved them. It's amazing to me that He would still use His nickname for them in the midst of sin and rebellion, but that just emphasizes the fact that His love is stronger than any sin. And the same is true for His children today. Our sin hurts Him, and it's not what He wants for us, but He will still call us His "beloved one" to draw us back to Him.
- A new name that brings a new chance at life. By the end of Deuteronomy, Moses is about to die, and a new generation of Israel will soon cross over to the Promised Land. If you're familiar with the events that happened prior to this, you'll remember that God waited until everyone from Moses' generation died before He would let Israel take possession of the land He had promised them. This came as a result of sin and rebellion. When God spoke through Moses and allowed him to impart His blessing on the younger generation, He used the name "Jeshurun" to drive home the fact that with the new land came a new life. A life that would be full of blessings as long as it included Him. The same goes for Israel in Isaiah's prophecy; although they have fallen away again and again, God offers to refresh them by "pouring out His Spirit" on their descendants. Once again, He highlights the younger generation and tells them they have a chance for a new life, and so uses a new name to reflect that.
No comments:
Post a Comment