PURSUIT


 

PURSUIT

 

Like many other words in the English language the meaning of PURSUIT has changed significantly, actually softening from its origins.

·         The original 14th-Century Meaning: "persecution" or a hostile hunt to do harm.

·         By the 16th century, the definition softened into "a legal prosecution or petition".

·         Today, it simply relates to a chase or a deliberate effort/striving toward a goal, hobby, or career.

 

 

The main Hebrew word used for PURSUIT throughout the Old Testament is רָדַף – radaph.

Since Hebrew is a very pictorial language, רָדַף – radaph, always illustrates the vigorous act of chasing or hunting down to overtake with hostile intent.

The earliest scriptural references use רָדַף – radaph to depict armed military forces in hot tactical pursuit

·         Gen14:14 - Abram “pursued them as far as Dan.” 

·         Lev26:7BSB “You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you.”

·         Josh8:16 – “All the men of Ai were called to pursue Joshua.” 

·         1Sam30:8 – David receives directive: “Pursue them, for you will surely overtake them.” 

 

Scripture often paints “PURSUIT” to be an absolute and utter vanquishing of the enemy, displaying God’s sovereignty.

Josh23:10NASB95 “One of your men PUTS TO FLIGHT a thousand,

for the LORD your God is He who fights for you,

just as He promised you.”

 

The Greek equivalent, διώκω diókó, carries the same definitive understanding, which you find in Acts22:4 where Saul (soon to be Paul) is ferreting out, chasing down, and PERSECUTING believers in Christ as a focused mission.  

Paul even later uses διώκω diókó to show his PURSUIT has changed:

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected;

but I PRESS ON,

that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me…

 I PRESS TOWARD

the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Ph3:12,14NKJV)

 

In every instance, whether רָדַף – radaph or διώκω diókó, the word signifies

an active chase…

…or hot, active, relentless PURSUIT

…rather than passive following.

 

That is why when I noticed in Ps23:6 “goodness and mercy SHALL FOLLOW me ALL the days of my life”…

                …that “SHALL FOLLOW” is רָדַף – radaph!

…I realized goodness and mercy are not just going to

follow along behind me like a puppy dog all the days of my life.

INSTEAD… The Lord, my shepherd will make sure that these… and all His blessings…

will vigorously chase… hunt me down…

…and with tactical military force, strategically overtake me

…all the days of my life.

 

I AM HIS PURSUIT!


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