Do not be dismayed, do not bow down
The Bible is filled with exhortations of God to his people to not be afraid.
Joshua 1:9: "Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
The Bible is filled with exhortations of God to his people to not be afraid. Often these are combined with a command to “not be dismayed.”
I recently started a new study of the book of Joshua. And I was curious to look into the Hebrew meaning of the word dismayed. Often these dictionary definitions of ancient Hebrew are revealing. It’s like seeing a word in 3D.
Thanks to Logos software, a definition, is available at a click.
The Ancient Hebrew Word Translated as “Dismayed”
Here’s the definition.
2865. חָתַת châthath, khaw-thath’; a prim. root; prop. to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (lit.) by violence, or (fig.) by confusion and fear:— abolish, affright, be (make) afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage, (cause to) dismay, go down, scare, terrify.
The translation "to prostrate" amazed me when I first discovered it. I could now see that when I was "dismayed" that I was prostrating myself before circumstances, or people, as though they were God.
Some people may try to get you in a state of feeling dismayed.
Look at that definition again: it includes to to break down by violence, confusion, and fear. To beat down or discourage. To scare or terrify.
Small wonder that another definition of “dismayed” is cast down.
2866. חֲתַת chăthath, khath-ath’; from 2865; dismay:— casting down.
Get Moving
The opposite of lying prostrate is to get up, stand, and get moving. When you move you do so because you believe something better is possible. If you believe in God you become an action-taker.
To further illuminate this concept, I looked up the English definition of "prostrate."
It is used with the very specific meaning of "stretched out with face on the ground in adoration or submission.”
It can even mean to flatten or overpower.
And someone who becomes prostrate may “feel weak, shocked, and unable to do anything.”
So God advises us to avoid behaving in a way that would flatten or overpower others. And he reaches out His hand to lift us up from a defeated, prostrate position.
With His help we can indeed throw off dismay and proceed to put on His strength.
Notes:
Here’s an interesting resource on biblical reference to worship including prostrating oneself.