We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. אֱמֶת firmness, trustworthiness, constancy, duration, faithfulness, truth. It is used 127 times in the Old Testament. In our chapter, as we have looked at over the last couple of days, is the first time God gives us a list of characteristics about himself which includes our word for today. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love וֶאֱמֶֽתand faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” As in our chapter our word is used to describe God’s character most of the time. Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love וֶאֱמֶ֑ת and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 57:10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, אֲמִתֶּֽךָ your faithfulness to the clouds. Because our word is used to describe this character of God so much people would use it as a blessing. 2 Samuel 2:6; 15:20 Now may the Lord show steadfast love וֶאֱמֶ֑ת and faithfulness to you … Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love וֶאֱמֶֽת and faithfulness to you. We also see it referenced to people also having this quality. Good examples of this are Jacob and the spies during Joshua’s time. Jacob uses our word when giving instructions about his bones. Genesis 47:29-30 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly וֶאֱמֶ֔ת and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” When Joshua sends the spies into Jericho our word is also used by Rahab. Joshua 2:12-14 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a אֱמֶֽת sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly וֶאֱמֶֽת and faithfully with you.” Joshua challenges the people to respond to God’s faithfulness by also being faithful to God. Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑תand in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We also see a similar challenge from Samuel when the people sinned by asking for a king. 1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. I’ll close with Jesus quoting a psalm that has our word in it. He is literally putting his life in His father’s hands as he dies on the cross. Jesus trusts that God will raise him from the dead which as we know is exactly what he does. These are Jesus’ very last words before he dies for our sins. Words of trust in God’s faithfulness and love. Psalm 31:5, 7 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, אֱמֶֽת faithful God … I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love.
