דום
Let's break down the word דום (dom, "be still") using the meanings of its letters, considering ם as the completed work of Christ according to the law: Breakdown of דום (Dom - "Be still"):
- Dalet (ד):
- Dalet is associated with a command or instruction. In this case, it represents a directive or call to action — in this context, the command to "be still" or "rest". This can be understood as a call to submit or surrender to God's authority, especially in times of turmoil or uncertainty. It signifies obedience to God's will, as when Christ says to His disciples, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). It can also symbolize the command to rest in God’s provision and trust in His control.
- Vav (ו):
- Vav serves as a connector or distinction between the first and last letters in the word. It can represent a transition or linking element between the command to rest and the fulfillment of rest. Here, it could symbolize the connection between the directive (to be still or rest) and the result (which is found in the completed work of Christ). In the broader theological context, Vav can indicate that the rest commanded by God is not just passive, but it is based on the fulfillment of God’s plan — namely, the work of Christ that allows believers to find true rest and peace.
- Mem Sofit (ם):
- Mem Sofit signifies the completed work of Christ. It represents the finality and fulfillment of God's plan, particularly through Christ's obedience to the law and His accomplishment of the task of salvation. Mem symbolizes completion and the fullness of God's work. In this context, Mem Sofit signifies that rest or being still is only possible through the completed work of Christ. His fulfillment of the law and His atoning sacrifice bring rest to those who trust in Him. It is through Christ’s finished work that we are able to find true peace and stillness, as He has completed the task of reconciliation and salvation.
Theological Interpretation of דום:
- Dalet (ד): The command to "be still" is a call to rest and to trust in God. It is an invitation to cease striving and to surrender to God’s will and provision. This reflects the call to rest in God's completed work and sovereignty.
- Vav (ו): Vav acts as the link between the command (to be still) and the completion (of the work of Christ). It indicates that true rest is not just about stopping activity, but about entering into the rest that comes from the fulfillment of God’s plan through Christ. It marks the transition from the command to the realization that true rest has been achieved through Christ’s work.
- Mem Sofit (ם): Mem represents the completed work of Christ, which is the basis for the rest or stillness commanded in the previous letters. Christ's finished work — His fulfillment of the law and His atonement for sin — provides the foundation for believers to be still and find peace, knowing that the work of salvation is complete. This final rest comes through Christ's obedience and sacrifice, and it is in Him that believers find true peace and stillness.
Sensus Plenior Interpretation of דום:
- Dalet (ד): The command to rest, to be still, comes from God. It is a command that invites us to stop striving and to trust in His sovereignty. In the spiritual sense, this stillness represents a surrender to God’s plan, a trust in His power and wisdom.
- Vav (ו): Vav connects the command to rest with the reality of rest. The link between the command and the fulfillment of that command lies in the completed work of Christ. Christ's work on the cross provides the basis for true stillness — it’s not just about ceasing from activity, but about entering into the rest that comes from His victory over sin and death.
- Mem Sofit (ם): The completed work of Christ is the final act that brings rest. Through His obedience to the law and His atoning sacrifice, Christ accomplishes what we cannot do for ourselves. His finished work is the key to entering into the peace and rest God offers. The rest commanded by God in Dalet is made possible by the completed work of Christ, symbolized in Mem Sofit.
Summary:
דום (Dom, "be still") symbolizes rest that is both commanded and made possible through the completed work of Christ. The word can be understood theologically as:
- Dalet (ד): The command to be still and trust in God, surrendering to His will and provision.
- Vav (ו): The link between the command to rest and the fulfillment of rest through Christ's work.
- Mem Sofit (ם): The completed work of Christ, which provides the foundation for true rest — His fulfillment of the law and atonement for sin enable us to find peace and stillness.
In conclusion, the stillness commanded in דום is not simply an absence of activity; it is a resting in Christ’s finished work, knowing that His obedience to the law and atoning sacrifice have made peace possible. True stillness comes when we cease striving and rest in what Christ has already accomplished on our behalf.