Focus on the Word What the Body Said


by Paul Boeker Note: Harvey Schultz is taking a break but will be back for the next issue.


You’ve probably noticed that your Bible doesn’t have many pictures in it — at least not the kind of photos or paintings that permeate our culture. However, a literal translation of Scripture is filled with pictures. Te canvas is our brain; the brush is our imagination; the paint is our experience. One of the most effective categories of word pictures uses the


human body. Attitudes, emotions and opinions are expressed through bodily movements, organs and poses. Semitic people oſten express abstract ideas through concrete descriptions of body movements or organs without mentioning the attitude, emotion or opinion represented by the physical element. For example, Job laments, “I am one before whom men spit”


( Job 17:6 ESV). Hopefully, you have never been spit on. But your experience in seeing one person spit on or near another person helps you translate this picture and understand that Job is com- plaining about total disrespect. Jesus described two men who went into the temple to pray. But


he did not list their qualities; he painted a picture. At the end of his story, Jesus said “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” He never directly said which of the two in the temple humbled himself and which ex- alted himself. But from the posture, the stance, the arm movements, we understand which was which. “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even liſt up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13 ESV).


Te prophet Isaiah was a master of communicating through


body language. His classic description of a proud, arrogant nation uses our experience with a spoiled, sensual, self-absorbed young woman to get the point across. “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, …” (Isaiah 3:16 ESV). Hundreds of examples of body language permeate Scripture.


• “His heart went out to her” (compassion) • “Why do your eyes flash” (anger) • “A wicked man … winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger” (deception)


• “Do not let her capture you with her eyelashes” (seduction) • “make his face to shine upon you” (smile of approval) • “Sits on the throne” (sovereign authority) As you read Scripture, watch for the unspoken, but pictured


truth found in body language. Don’t simply see the picture, but contemplate the truth it communicates, whether an attitude, an emotion, a virtue, or a behavior. At the same time, recognize that your stance, your ges-


tures, your facial expressions are communicating many things to others without you having to say a word. Be sure that your heart is right with God so your body language can show that you practice justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.


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Fellowship Focus, January/February 2017


FellowshipForward.org


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