Doing Business (Romans 11:4; Proverbs 31:1)

People that are scholars or those with a highly selective vocabulary, or especially those dealing in matters of law, or writing a legal document, are careful and precise in the selection of words that they use to convey the exact factual information they want to express. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet, with the potential of over a million words that can be composed, in a language that is constantly evolving and changing, with slang, and borrowed nuances from other countries and dialects.

Greek is a very precise, descriptive language, with no want of carefully crafted terms of use, which the Holy Spirit, through the writers, employed to convey exactly the intent of what the Father God wanted to impart in His specific communication. This knowledge bears heavily on the value of words chosen, especially when multiple words could have been selected, but weren't, in favor of those that were needed to portray the meaningful message required.

Romans 11:4 refers to the response of God to Elijah, when he thought he was the only one still faithful to God:

"But what saith the answer of God unto Him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men [not counting women and children], who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal"

The phrase 'answer of God', is one word in the Greek, (chrematismos), 5538, and is only used in Romans 11:4, and in the LXX [Septuagint], in Proverbs 31:1, where it says, "My words have been spoken by God; the divine answer by a king, whom his mother instructed" (Apostolic Bible).

The phrase 'divine answer' is the same Greek word that is translated 'answer of God' in Romans 11:4. Knox's translation seems to convey most succinctly the precise meaning:

Romans 11:4

"And what does the 'divine revelation' tell him?" (Knox).

Proverbs 31:1

"Here are words of king Lemuel, here is 'revelation' his mother made known to him for his instruction" (Knox).

The significance of this seemingly insignificant placement, of an otherwise obscure word, in a vast sea of potential choices, is that the word comes from the verb (chrematizo), 5537, of which, a prominent meaning is, 'to do business', or 'to have business dealings with'.

To speak to Elijah and to speak to kings [Proverbs 31:1], the Holy Spirit chose this word, in that our Father gets 'business' done, or does 'business' by communicating 'divine revelation', and once acted upon, that 'divine revelation' produces divine, or supernatural, results!

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours