Ba char - Chay

The two Hebrew words ... "ba char" and "chay" ... are two very important words.

The Hebrew word "ba char" ... pronounced (baw-khar') means, choose; while the word "chay" ... pronounced (khah'ee) means, life. 

I have chosen these two words to look at today from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ...

"I have set before you life and death ... choose life ... that thou mayest love the Lord thy God ... and that thou mayest cleave unto Him ..."

In the fortieth year of the wandering of Israel in the wilderness, God instructed Moses to tell the people He was giving them two choices, and that it is a commandment ... they must choose one of them.  God put it this way in Deuteronomy 30:11-15 ...

"This commandment is not hidden from you; it's not in heaven, nor is it beyond the sea.  But the word is in thy mouth, and in thy heart.  See, I have set before thee this day, life and good, and death and evil ..."  (edited)

Which brings me back to verses 19-20 ... "choose life."

It sounds like the choice left up to God's people back then is still the same choice we have today.  But is it still a commandment today?  Yes, it is.  And if you decide not to choose ... you are choosing ... but you will find out it's the wrong choice.

Proverbs 18:21 ... "Death and life are in the power of the tongue ..."

Look again at what Moses told his people ... "the word (the choice you make) is in thy mouth, and in thy heart."

What's in your mouth?  Words that come from the thoughts and intents of the heart.  They just keep coming out because most of us find it hard to keep our mouth shut.

Most people, including me, say things that are negative which can breed the opposite of the truth of God's Word and His plan for your life ... like walking by faith and walking in love.  What's in your heart?  What comes out of your mouth if you accidentally hit your finger with a hammer?  

In Matthew 12:34 Jesus said ... "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

Albert Barnes, the old 19th century American Presbyterian biblical scholar and theologian made this comment ... "Thy words are the indication of the true principles of the heart.  By thy words the heart shall be known, as the tree is by it's fruit."

Here are some words out of the mouth of Jesus that just maybe we should pay attention to.  Matthew 12:35-37 ...  

"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shall be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Vincent's Word Studies states that the term ... "every idle word" ... is a good rendering.  An idle word is a non-working word ... an inoperative word.  It has no legitimate work, or business, but is instead, morally useless and unprofitable.

As far as giving an account for idle words spoken if you stand in judgment before God ... remember Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees who were well known for making judgmental speeches full of useless and unprofitable idle words.

The Apostle Paul once said ... "Let a man examine himself" ... and it should be done occasionally.  This examination should be not only of the heart, but also of the soul, the thoughts and feelings, as well as our conduct and speech.  Are your words always uplifting and kind?  Are they profitable?  Are they useful and beneficial to those who hear them?

My 19 year old grand-daughter Morgan spent 10 weeks of her college summer vacation this year in a Christian Ministry project witnessing about Jesus on the beaches of Tampa, Florida where she learned this excellent ... life rule.

"Build up or shut up."

So, if you aren't edifying, encouraging, building up or loving people ... keep your mouth shut.  But I must confess, for me, it's easier said then done.

Words are powerful ... and once spoken ... they can't be recalled.  Let's make sure that the words we choose to speak ... come out of a heart ... filled with the love of God.

Life and death ... the two choices God has set before us.   

"Ba char - Chay" ... Choose life.