A Pesher for Your Thoughts

A pesher in Hebrew is a prophetic commentary in which the interpretation contained therein is considered equal with the original and actual prophecy by those who are adherents to the sect or group subscribing to the pesher. The Essenes were noted for their peshers.

Pesherism can extend to commentaries that are not on prophetic subjects as well, though they usually surround prophecy. Pesherism in its extremes is something that we must guard against, because it is often dangerous to equate an interpretation with the actual words of the LORD.

   God gave clear warnings to Jezekiel 14:

6 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God, Be converted, and turn from your evil practices, and from all your sins, and turn your faces back again. 7 For any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, who shall separate himself from me, and conceive his imaginations in his heart, and set before his face the punishment of his iniquity, and come to the prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him, according to the things wherein he is entangled. 8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him desolate and ruined, and will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Sobering words. Never set before your face— in other words, conceive your own discipline for your acts, or approach God’s words with your own preconceived ideas, else God will answer you according to your preconceived errors. Never go astray and then try and find justification for it before the LORD in his word.

Let  us not consider this only in the above context but in regards to any preconceived ideas or interpretations we might have. If you approach the Scripture that way, the LORD will let you find your own self-deceived answer. Rather, do what the Scripture says, love God more than all, believe he has come in Christ, and act justly with all men. Actions are the best commentary on Scripture.