The Hebrew word picture and life application.

The Hebrew word picture for brother (or sister)

says that they are the strong fence (the protector).

  Imagine what would happen if every time someone started to talk about you in your church or synagogue, a man or a woman would step in and protect you.  It would change both the relationship, and the community.

   What about whenever trouble started to pound away at you, someone would step in and take some of the blows with you?  How would that effect your ability to take risks or a stand, for what is right?

   We believe that when you go through a hard time and people are there (or are not there) for you, that there is a significant change in the relationship.  Until that time, you are not sure if you can trust the people; after that time, you have an absolute knowledge of how much and how far you can trust them.

   The saddest thing is when people who call themselves brothers or sisters are the ones who do the attacking.

   So powerful is the trust that follows when people have proven themselves to you, that often they have a new right to say things to you that no one else could ever say, and you can hear and receive them.  Not because they are true, but because of how much you trust the person saying them.  Maybe the verse that tells us to speak the truth in love has a double meaning.  First, that we need to be careful to not destroy with the truth, no matter how true, but also that often we are only able to really listen when the truth is spoken by someone that has proven their love.