“David’s response to Sha’ul was, ‘Who am I, that I should become the king’s son-in-law? I don’t have any kind of a life, and my father’s family has no rank in Isra’el.'”-1 Samuel 18:18
Contrary to popular understanding, the Bible is NOT a Western book…
And the early Messianic faith which eventually became Christianity is NOT a Western religion.
Nowhere is this more apparent in the many oriental practices present throughout the Scriptures.
A perfect example is a custom I am well familiar with here in Japan.
It’s called HONNE (本音) and TATEMAE (建前).
“Honne” and “tatemae” are two concepts deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, particularly in social interactions and communication.
“Honne” refers to one’s true thoughts, feelings, and intentions.
It represents the inner, genuine self.
In Japanese society, expressing honne directly is often considered inappropriate or rude, especially in certain social contexts or hierarchical relationships.
Honne is typically reserved for close relationships where honesty and intimacy are valued, such as within family or among close friends.
On the other hand, “Tatemae” refers to the facade, the public face, or the socially acceptable front that a person presents to others.
It involves adhering to social norms, etiquette, and conventions, even if they may differ from one’s true feelings or opinions.
Tatemae is often employed to maintain harmony, avoid conflict, and preserve social order.
It’s prevalent in various aspects of Japanese society, including business interactions, formal settings, and public behavior.
Now we can see this principle on display in David’s response to Saul’s offer to receive his daughter’s hand in marriage.
David says, “Who am I that I should become the King’s son-in-law?”
This is a typical oriental or Middle Eastern response to a person of higher status when someone makes a generous offer.
Can you see how it’s just dripping in superficial and exaggerated humility?
This is the TATEMAE aspect or the socially acceptable facade David was showing to Saul.
So if David’s humble response to Saul was TATEMAE, what was the HONNE?
Well, David’s HONNE or true feelings and intentions can be easily discerned by examining his behavior.
Remember when David, as the young shepherd boy, was talking to the soldiers in the Valley of Elah?
He was running around asking everyone if it was really true that whoever defeated Goliath would get a big cash reward, be exempt from taxes, and get to marry the king’s daughter.
David wanted to make darn sure these rewards were real before he decided to fight Goliath.
So again, that’s why we shouldn’t accept David’s reaction to Saul’s offer at face value.
It was just your typical oriental response to a person of much higher status.
This is something that occurs all the time in various aspects of Asian society, including business interactions, formal settings, and public behavior.
So what’s the takeaway for today?
Simple, if you want to know someone’s true feelings, pay attention to what they DO, not what they say.
People will often say one thing but do another.
This is the perfect way to test if someone’s faith is legit.
A lot of so-called believers pay lip service to God and following the Lord.
But sweet talk means nothing unless it’s backed up by action.
Ya feel me?
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“What does it profit, my brethren,
if someone says he has faith
but does not have works?
Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister is naked
and destitute of daily food,
and one of you says to them,
‘Depart in peace, be warmed
and filled,’ but you do not give
them the things which are
needed for the body,
what does it profit?
Thus also faith by itself,
if it does not have works,
is dead.”
-James 2:14-17
One of my favorite lessons, which I have repeated many, many times:
“People don’t mean what they say, they mean what they do.”
I learned that when being trained in the art of Salesmanship, and it is a truism within all cultures and for all people.
Yup. As the old adage goes, “Talk is cheap”.