TOV #morethangood

Today we begin something new, exploring tov, the Hebrew word for good. You may have heard it in "Mazel tov" which means good luck. This little word is so much more than just good. To say that God is "good", is somewhat of an understatement. He is tov. #morethangood

This word appears many times in the first few chapters of Genesis. It is an explosive word that is the standard of good, the substance of good, from the source of good, and links to the idea that things that are tov have within them the seed - or potential - to multiply and make more tov.

[Genesis 1:11-13 Genesis 2:8-10]

Eden is full of tov. A garden planted on a mountain (Ezek 28:13-16) with a river flowing from it, full of plants and trees. Adam, (ha-adam - "the human” ) and Eve, (chavva - "mother of life") are placed in the garden to rule and reign, to increase and multiply, just like the plants and trees. In fact, there is a lot of imagery in the Bible that compares people to trees. (Ps 1:3, Ps 92:12-14)

CREATION IS TOV BECAUSE GOD IS TOV

In the garden, we are introduced to two trees, that represent a choice. (Genesis 2:15-17)

The first is the Tree of Life, which is in the middle of the garden and is a picture of God's presence. It is less about a magic apple to eat and live forever, and more about an ongoing sustaining presence - communion with God, the divine creator. Later, the tabernacle and temple link to this. In the middle, the Holy of Holies, where God's presence is. Around it, garden like wood carvings (1 Kings 6:18, 29, 32, 35; 7:18-20). The temple on a mountain facing east. Adam's role, to work and to keep the garden, is the same language used for the priestly function to keep the temple. (Num. 3:7-8; 8:25-26; 18:5-6; 1 Chron. 23:32; Ezek. 44:14). Skip to the last chapter of the Bible, (Revelation 22:1-2), the throne of God in the middle, the Tree of Life is there, the river is there, it's Eden all over again.