Dalet – Hebrew Letter

So What’s a Dalet Anyway?

Dalet is a Hebrew letter and symbolizes a door, It suggests a gateway or the energy or force which transfers us from one state of being to another. Dalet, like the other Hebrew letters, has a shadow side. According to Hebrew tradition it is believed that the Hebrew letters contain the light (revelatory insight) of God, each letter having a spiritual dimension and symbolic meaning.John

These meanings can relay concrete images like a door, at the same time possess a deeper spiritual meaning. That deeper spiritual meaning gives us insight into God. For instance, the Hebrew letter dalet is a door but it also conveys the concept of the force or energy which transports us from one state of being to another. That force is God. The qualities of God are good and full of His everlasting mercy; (Psalm 136) and full of light and life (1 John 1:5; John12:46; John 8:12). The revelation we gain through these letters gives us insight into the nature  of God. When we view the Hebrew Scriptures through this lens we have the potential discover another aspect of revelation and insight contained within the Scriptures.

For instance: The word Dalet is made up of three Hebrew letter – dalet, lamed and tav. (see image above) The dalet represents a doorway and the force which transfers from one state of being to another. The lamed can represents guiding, learning and teaching but could also represent the Kingship of God. And the tav can represent God’s seal or mark as well as God’s truth. Tav can also be representative of the kingdom of God.

When we apply these attributes gained from the symbolism of the Hebrew letters we end up with a King who not only teaches us about the kingdom of God but Who also guides through Christ into truth. We can see how this describes Christ as the door in (John 10:9) when Jesus said: “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Jesus (God and King) is the doorway by which we enter the kingdom of God.

Another way the symbolism can be applied gives the picture of the Holy Spirit which is a  transforming energy/force (power of the Holy Spirit) who guides us into truth. In John 16:13, speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 

When we look at the light or revelation contained within the Hebrew letters we get a picture of the attributes and power of God. This energy or force, the illuminating light inherent in the dalet is the power of the Holy Spirit. There is however also a dark light which reveals what is resident within our carnal human nature (mind, will and emotions)

Matthew 6:22-23 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”

Our soul, which scripture often refers to as our carnal/fleshly nature is easily influence by the enemy of our soul, the god of this world, Satan. (2 Cor. 4:4 see below) Our spirits are made a new creation in Christ by faith. Our soul/carnal nature is not the same as our spirit. It doesn’t go through instantaneous regeneration upon salvation. The soul must be transformed and that is an ongoing work in process. The soul must be transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of the Holy Spirit which transforms us from being conformed to this world and realigned with the Kingdom of God. This ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the transformation of our soul is subject to our willingness to submit to the process.

Galatians 5:17 NLT – The sinful [carnal] nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

2 Corinthians 4:4 CEV – The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like.

Jesus said in John 10:1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.” Following the leading of our own carnal soul rather than the Spirit of God will rob us of the blessing and truth of what Christ accomplished through the finished work of the cross.

 

The darkness or dark light of the Hebrew letter dalet is: feeling condemned, toxic shame, weighted down by circumstances. The shadow of lamed: is narrow thinking which hinders receiving truth from God, unteachable, self-righteousness and/or prayer with wrong motive, setting oneself up as teacher. The shadow of Tav: is a skewed perspective of truth, self-deception, clinging to a relationship which hinders our relationship with God.

As we apply the dark meanings we end up with a skewed perception of the truth in which shame has narrowed our thinking and hindered our ability to receive the light of God’s truth. When the our internal lens (our eye) is one of condemnation and toxic shame we often end up with perception of God as always ready to punish us for our sin instead of the God who sent His Son to be the eternal sacrifice for sin. God punished sin at cross. He placed all the punishment for sin on Christ when He died on the cross. There is no more punishment for sin. God isn’t sin conscious. But because of what shame imposes upon us we often have a hard time receiving the truth of God’s incredible unconditional love for us. This shame based perspective often prevents us from having an intimate relationship with God. It is God’s desire to lead us by His Holy Spirit into all truth, into the Kingdom of God. That truth includes His incredible love and forgiveness.

Colossians 1: 12b-14 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

We are all a work in process. God, by His Spirit is leading us into all Truth. As we allow the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives we experience the transformation of our soul. When God shines His Light on something in our lives we have the opportunity to see things through a different lens, through God’s lens.

Ephesians 5:13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

We don’t have to remain in the darkness of our carnal nature. Christ came that we might be brought into the kingdom of God through the work of the cross. Through these blogs I hope to bring the light of Christ’s love to shine into the dark places of our soul. May His light and life penetrate your darkness revealing His great love for you.