Video #5: High Performance Study

This lesson introduces you to PaRDeS, the four core dimension of Biblical Study. 

PaRDes is an acronym for the four dimensions of Biblical study. P stands for Pashut which means, “simple or literal.” It takes into account the context, the grammar, and the historical background of a scripture to render a literal meaning. The R stands for Remez which means, “hint.” These are scriptures that are hinting at greater truths, especially concerning the Messiah. D stands for Drash and it means, “to search.” This is a time when you search the scripture connecting it with other scriptures, insights, experiences, etc. to obtain understanding. This type of study is effective in both group and individual study. Finally, the S stands for Sod which means, “secret or mystery.” This dimension of study is often associated with prayer and revelation. We often read of Paul speaking forth the mysteries of God. In Hebraic study Sod also is equated to Gematria, the mathematical component of Hebrew letters. An example is the numerical value of the word Echad which equals 13 and the numerical value of the word Ahava that equals 13. These equivalents teach us that love and oneness are one and the same. If you have love, you will have unity, if you have unity, there will be love. The full explanation of PaRDeS is available in the course (www.the4ebi.com) The 4 Essentials of Biblical Interpretation.

A Real Bible Study

In the Yearly Bible, Date is July 14th

In I Chronicles 17, we read of the prophet Nathan’s prophecy to King David concerning his future and the building of God’s house. Our study will focus specifically on the prophecy given in I Chronicles 17:10-13.

I Chronicles 17:10, “And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover, I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee, that the LORD will build thee an house.” And 17:12-13, “He (the son of David) shall build Me an house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son.”

First observation is the Pashut, the literal interpretation of these passages. Notice that the LORD tells Nathan to tell David that, “He will build David a House.” Nathan continues to tell David that his son will build God a house. But David, as a man of war, will not build a house for the LORD.

Second observation is the Remez. Often, you will feel an unction in your spirit when God quickens your spirit while reading a passage. Stop and ask yourself questions about the quickened or the spiritually highlighted portion of scripture. What could the LORD be hinting at? Is it David’s eternal future? The Messiah who will be the Son of God? Or possibly that God wants to build David a spiritual house?

To unfold a hint, we need to do a Drash. We need to search for meaning. First, we examine the key words of a passage. In our case, the Key words are Build, David, House. Secondly, we go to our BLB app, or open our concordance and look up these words as they are found in our passage. Upon finding them, we look at the corresponding Hebrew numbers. Then after writing the numbers down for each word, we turn to the back of the concordance under the Hebrew section. If we are reading from the New Covenant we would look in the Greek section. When we find the corresponding numbers, we write down the definitions next to the numbers.

In the Strong’s concordance Build is #1129, David #1732, and House #1004. While looking up the word House, I also looked for other scriptures listed that contained either all three of these key words or just David and House, as we would like to see if there are more hints and even explanations of what the LORD is trying to reveal to us. These passages are: Isaiah 7:2, 13; 22:22; Jeremiah 21:12; Zechariah 12:7-8, 10-13, and 13:1-6; Luke 1:27, 69, and 2:4 and Acts 7:49, 15:16 & 20:32.

The key that we found in looking up definitions and the passages regarding God building David’s house was first in a Soncino commentary, “The house means Dynasty. David wanted to build for God a house of stone and wood; God will build him one of kings.” This is consistent with the definition of the word Build and House as they are interchangeable meaning, “to build a family - the term son also means, builder.” Take time to look up these scriptures and gain your own personal insight.

Finally, we look at the Sod - the secret or mystery. David’s name means, “beloved, giving, influencing.” He was a man after God’s own heart. The Hebrew letters indicated that David possessed a spiritual poverty of poorness (Ps. 24:7, 40:18, 70:6) that produced the Godly trait of humility. And humility is the trait of kingship. Through his lineage kings would rein and ultimately the king of kings—revealed as the “right hand of God or the power of God” would reign. This understanding is consistent with the numerical value of the David and the word Hand—14. Yeshua (Jesus), the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24), came as a “son of David.” He showed forth the Key of David—the Love of God and the influence of His kingdom. This is just one sampling of the mystery of David’s house.