“[The document was ratified and sealed with…the leaders of the people:]
…Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek…”
Nehemiah 10:24
Last time we let three leaders’ names point us to God’s salvation, His graciousness, and His just reckoning. Today we see our next three names.
To begin we have Hallohesh whose name appeared in Nehemiah 3:12. It means “whisperer,” “enchanter,” from lachash – to whisper, charm, to mumble a spell as a magician.
It’s interesting I’m typing this after the 2020 Super Bowl, with the variety of responses to the Halftime Show. I can easily see women being put into the above category in a negative sense. Women deceitfully charming others or bewitching people for their personal gain.
I personally had multiple reactions – including gratitude that my 12-year-old son was mostly focused on a phone during it. But I also thought of women I know who make their living in the way that was being portrayed. I thought of the incredible choreography and – based on what I’m learning from others online – intentional use of multiple cultures. I’ve since thought how heartbroken I am when my 8-year-old students dance provocatively, suggesting their thrilling years of delightful innocence have somehow been compromised by this broken world. But I’ve also thought of how terrified we are of our own God-given bodies and sexuality and desires. And how we can cheapen those beautiful gifts without meaning to. Or meaning to.
I feel like the bottom line in this conversation is how influential women are. We hold tremendous power because that is how God designed us. This is true whether we look like J.Lo and Shakira or not. We are all born of a woman. Women hold excruciating influence over those in their lives. And when things go awry and we adjust the focus of our gaze? Things can shift dramatically. We are that influential.
But I think we are terrified of it. We as women and the world at large. It feels like all wild and powerful things: something best controlled. And I don’t just mean dressing modestly. I mean the leader of all forces of darkness hates us. He whispers to us all, “If you don’t want to be influenced – like a snake being charmed – you must monitor the magnetism.”
Step one is usually shame. Shame for how women are created and all the reasons it must be monitored. The problem is, even if we women are walking in step with our faithful God, He still makes us charmers, enchanters, whisperers like magicians. Our influence is still boundless – now only more so because it is ignited by the Spirit’s fire, luxuriant beauty no law can harness.
And this enchanting lasts to old age. Which is why, indeed, “charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,” a woman taught her son, a king, “but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Such charming has nothing to do with age or skin tightness. It has everything to do with a God of fire within. May we be enchanters for His kingdom all the days of our lives.
Up next is Pilcha whose post-exilic name only occurs here. It is from palach – slicing, to cleave, bring forth, pierce through, plow, cut, shred, break open and pelach – cleavage, millstone, a slice.
As seems to be common, a theme of both positive and negative connotations emerge for me based on these definitions. Slicing, cleaving, shredding, millstone all seem to be negative, tearing apart.
In searching millstone I came across some fascinating images. Ones that put in perspective what Jesus meant when He said, “It would be better to have a millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea” than cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Look at that thing! The size and density, requiring an animal to do the work of rolling it. I do believe Jesus protects the young and pure.
But back to today’s usage of the word: to break apart or slice. If indeed negative associations are meant, in what ways do we tear ourselves and others apart? How do we slice up dignity, pierce through personhood, and shred the reputation of others?
The thing is, there are often situations which require surgery or a painful sifting in our lives and others’. But in His hands, we can trust a sifter, a millstone, a fiery furnace, a cleaver. Whatever He desires to separate from us, our collective, broken systems, will only yield growth.
Which is where what I consider the more positive aspects of this definition come into play. To plow, pierce through, bring forth, break open all imply new life, fresh growth. It’s the idea of a seed being crucified in the soil only to save its life and spring forth shoots and branches and flowers. It’s the plowing of ground which, unless broken up, softened, cannot receive the seed in the first place. And unless a woman surrenders to the piercing labor pains, no new breath is brought forth.
The same is true for us collectively, spiritually, civically. Some things have to go for fresh wind to revitalize systems. Ground hardened with generational sin must be broken up, repented of. Seeds of vision, genuine faith must be planted, nurtured, allowed to pierce through the darkness of earth.
Are we allowing it? It is, admittedly, so much easier to sit on the couch and complain. Or blame another group but do no work. To become cynical and quit. But I think it’s more likely we want to look back and realize we were part of sowing and reaping in a harvest of the Spirit. Hands to the plow, friends.
Finally in today’s verse we have Shobek whose name also only occurs here. It is from the root word shebaq – to leave, forsaking, let alone, to quit.
Quite a lovely continuation of our above discussion, yes? We know there are things we need to let alone, habits and laws, systems and routines which require forsaking. Things which if we do not give up for the sake of the Kingdom, our entire lives will be enveloped by them.
The reason we can have courage and breathe through such disorienting departure is we have a God Who holds us tightly. He refuses to quit on us, no matter how many times we shoot up or drink, devour another or give in to apathy. He will not forsake us, give us to another, even when, especially when, we deserve it. He’s never leaving, never throwing up His hands, not recalculating the Cross. It is finished.
And we can be done with what He’s asking us to surrender individually and corporately. Our future hangs in the balance.