Zion's Voice

Brit Hadashah Reflections   02

Torah portion           Genesis 6 : 9  – 11 : 32

Haftarah portion     Isaiah 54 : 1 – 55 : 5

Brit Hadashah           Matthew 3:1  - 4:25

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

John the Baptiser, was only six months older than Yeshua. The priests (John was the son of Zechariah, a ‘cohen’) undertook many years of study before beginning to perform their Temple duties. And that was generally at the age of 30. This would indicate that there is a significant time gap between the end of Chapter 2 of our text and chapter 3. However, John did not take up his Temple duties, instead we find him living very simply in a desert place, where people came to him for ministry.

We also see, verse 3, that Matthew recognized the authority of John by reference to the Isaiah Scroll (an almost complete copy of which is today carefully preserved and exhibited in “The Shrine of the Book” museum in Jerusalem”).  John had a clear and singular message. “Repent and be baptized”. Why? “Because the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

John did not invent Baptism. It was a very familiar practice amongst Jews. It was the ritual of immersion for the purpose of cleansing oneself in order to appear before a holy God. Religious men would immerse themselves before prayers three times a day. (In Jerusalem today, men visiting the “Kotel” will wash their hands before entering the compound adjacent to the wall in symbolic cleansing). All over Israel, in many excavation sites, there is much evidence of numerous “Mikvah”. The Hebrew word for the open baths where this ritual cleansing took place. Both in homes and in public places.

Repentance is evidenced by a ‘turning around’. A change of lifestyle. A commitment to act differently in this case. So what was the ‘sin’ that was being repented of? Why was John so vehement in his condemnation of the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to him to receive his baptism? It was because the sin (the ‘chata’ in Hebrew) was their neglect of living according to the Torah lifestyle which God required of them. And what was the lifestyle from which repentance was required? It was that preached, practised and taught by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Otherwise known in the Scriptures as “the traditions of men”. John went further with these Pharisees and Sadducees. He told them that they should ‘bear fruits worthy of repentance’. In other words, don’t just talk about it, DO it.

How do we know this? We will discover later in Matthew’s gospel that Yeshua clearly taught that His mission on earth was ONLY to the ‘lost sheep of the House of Israel’. They became ‘lost’ through their disobedience. Replacing the Torah of God with the ‘traditions of men’.

Chapter 3 of our text concludes with the dialogue about baptism between Yeshua and John. Why was it necessary that Yeshua, the very Son of God, indeed, God incarnate in human form, be baptised with water at all? The answer is in the example that was set by such action. Yeshua is the living Torah. Practicing God’s instructions for righteous living, perfect in every way according to the Torah given to Moses. He complied with every condition of the Torah, as Prophet when He walked this earth, as Priest, now interceding before His father on our behalf, and eventually when He returns to rule and reign as King.

When He submitted to the Baptism in water by John, Matthew records that a voice was heard, coming from Heaven and saying “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Are they not words every son would like to hear from his father’s lips? To the extent then, that we are ‘joint heirs’ with Messiah in the Father’s eyes, and therefor sons of the Father, should we not act in a manner which draws such words from our Heavenly Father ourselves?  Yeshua drew such words by His obedience to God’s commands. A timely lesson for us today perhaps as we contemplate our present lifestyle, and ponder whether or not John’s call to repentance is appropriate for us too.

Chapter 4 of our text deals with Satan’s temptations of Messiah. The noteworthy element of that account is the way in which Yeshua dealt with every statement of promise made by Satan. Yeshua accurately quoted from the Scriptures, correcting the quotation errors made by Satan, and standing firmly on the authority of the true Word of God.

Then, following that, Yeshua Himself commenced His ministry of teaching. What was His message? “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. And so He gathered to Himself, men, ordinary men, who could be trained in the ways of life and obedience. Men, not from a religious background with ‘baggage’ to carry, but men who had a simple faith in Yeshua as the Messiah of God. He still seeks those who will follow Him in simple faith and obedience.     

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Brit Hadashah Reflections   01

Torah portion           Genesis 1 : 1  – 6 : 8 

Haftarah portion     Isaiah 42 : 5 – 43 : 10

Brit Hadashah           Matthew 1:1  - 2:23

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

As we begin our third series of ‘reflections’, we look at the Gospels and Acts, seeking to see those writings in the context of first century life. At the same time to discover truths for our generation. The plan is to work sequentially through the Gospels and Acts, so there is no specific relevance of the weekly ‘reflection’ to the assigned Torah and Haftarah reading for a particular week.

It is quite natural for us to interpret the words of Scripture with contemporary familiarity, often without regard for original context.  Most of us have been trained by our upbringing to see our world with a distinctively “greek” mindset. Jesma O’Hara, in her book “In Our Image” (page 50) gives an excellent appraisal of the differences between “Greek thought” and “Hebraic thought”. I commend it to you. In simplistic essence, she describes Greek thought as being quite subjective in nature, concerning itself with a knowledge of truth. Hebraic thought is concerned more with function. The actual doing and living of truth.

We seem to have been ‘trained’ to see Yeshua, sanitized from his Jewish upbringing and Judaic practises, with a distinctly ‘gentilized’, anti-semitic bias. But a more accurate understanding is gained by taking account of the original Hebraic context in which His words and actions transpired.

Our reading opens with a ‘bang’. This is about Yeshua, who was the Son of David, who was the Son of Abraham. His Messianic credentials specified immediately. King David was crowned king in Hebron, Judea. He reigned there for seven years before moving to Jerusalem, eventually becoming King over ALL Israel. That David was a descendant of Abraham is unquestioned.

An early lesson for us here is in relation to His actual name, which most English language Bibles tell us is JESUS. He was obviously born into a Jewish family, and His Hebrew name is YESHUA. It was transliterated into English, through the Greek, as JESUS. Why is this significant? Because the word, and hence the name, YESHUA in Hebrew, means SALVATION in English. It is a word still in use in the Hebrew language today, and there are many references to that translation in our Scriptures. A good concordance will give you all the evidence you need for this.

Read again Matthew 1:21, using the Hebrew name for our Saviour. “And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name YESHUA, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Now doesn’t that make good sense?

Chapter 2 of our reading confirms the place of birth of Yeshua. There were people, referred to as “wise men”, who came to Jerusalem seeking the Messiah of God. Naturally, they expected “the King” would be born in the capital city. It is evident that God had miraculously conveyed to them the news of His birth. Upon their enquiry, Herod called together learned men, priests and scribes, in order to discover the place of Messiah’s birth.

Bethlehem was prophesied by Micah to be that place (Micah 5:2). And a little later in the text, another prophetic fulfilment, from Hosea 11:1. Whoever would have expected the Jewish Messiah would be called out of Egypt? These prophecies are remarkable in that they were made some 500 years earlier. But, of course, Satan also had knowledge of Messiah’s arrival, and pulled out all the stops to bring His life to an early end. But to no avail.

There is an interesting comment in Matthew 2:23 regarding Nazareth being the place where Yeshua would live and be brought up. But there is no written account in the Scriptures about this prophetic statement. Jews of the first century would know, (as Daniel Lancaster of FFOZ points out) that ‘Netzeret’ (Nazareth) in Hebrew from the root word ‘netzer’ which means branch or sprout, had a connection with the prophetic announcement in Isaiah 11:1,2 regarding ‘the shoot which will come from the stump of Jesse’, which accurately describes the person of Messiah.

Furthermore, the early followers of Yeshua were called “Notzrim” (branches), because they were followers of “the Netzer”, the Branch. Now isn’t that interesting?                  

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah reflections 53

Torah portion           Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12

Haftarah portion      Joshua 1: 1 - 18

 Listen to the Prophets

This week sees then end of the annual reading cycle. Our final parashah for the year. In it, Moses had just died. The faithful Joshua, son of Nun, colleague of Caleb, is appointed by God to lead the new nation of Israel into the land of Promise. It seems symbolic of the fact that next week we begin again, entering a new year of readings, and a new year of discovery of what God has in store for us.

God showed immense faith in Joshua. The promises of God, given at this inauguration were unequivocal, unconditional, and plain. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you (not will give you, but have given you) as I said to Moses.” It was a done deal. ‘From the Euphrates River, all the land of the Hittites, to the Mediterranean.’ The Hittites were descendants of Heth, they were an important Canaanite group, and their land was extensive. It was a Hittite, Ephron, who sold the ‘cave at Machpelah’ to Abraham as a burial place!

Now it is interesting that the Land of Promise is specified in a number of places in Scripture, (students among us, look at Genesis 15, Exodus 23, Numbers 34, Deuteronomy 11 and Ezekiel 47), so here in Joshua 1 it seems that the Lord instructs Joshua that in order to possess the land all he has to do is to set foot in it. He cannot, (i.e. will not be able to), take more than is promised.

However, from other Scriptures we know that the Canaanites don’t simply walk off the land, they have to be driven out, sometimes with significant loss of life. But God has not finished with His proclamation to Joshua. He goes on to bolster him with many encouraging statements. They are words which are often appropriated to ourselves as a timely encouragement for the fulfilment of some perceived God given task. Perhaps we should take careful note of the relationship God had with Joshua before making overly presumptive claims for ourselves! But they are very encouraging words anyway. Just look at them.

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life” “As I was with Moses, so shall I be to you” “I will not leave you nor forsake you”

These are immensely reassuring words from Almighty God. They are words, which, to a lesser person, might engender pride and even arrogance. But not to Joshua. Because there is an over-riding clause in this encouragement. When we presumptuously appropriate these promises to ourselves, we should, but often do not, look at the condition God made for the success which Joshua was to enjoy.

“Be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do all the Torah which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go”. And if that was not enough, the Lord continues .. “This Book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.”

Dear friends, God is not encouraging Joshua to fight battles, to do exploits, to clear the Land of the Canaanites, to lead a great army in warfare, or even to stand before the people in judgement. This is an encouragement to Joshua to be strong and faithful to God’s Word. To have the courage to stand up to the dissenters in his midst. To put scoffers in their place, so to speak. To be strong in upholding the Torah of Moses before the people. Inevitably, that would require Joshua to be an example. Unwavering. Steadfast. Consistent.

When we see such a record of God’s promises to His servants, like Joshua, are we ready to also take on board the conditions under which such promises are given?

If you doubt God’s righteous judgement in His promises, move on a few chapters and read how and why God chastised the people by defeat in the battle for Ai.

As we enter a new year of study in God’s Word, let us covenant with Him to learn the lessons which are contained therein. Let us ask God to prompt us by His Holy Spirit, to be the kind of believers, doers of His Word, that He has called us to be.

Shalom

RS

Haftarah reflections 52

Torah portion           Deuteronomy 32:1 - 52

Haftarah portion      2 Samuel 22: 1 - 51                   

Listen to the Prophets

King David had reigned in Israel for 40 years. Under his leadership, Israel had prospered and had largely subdued their enemies. In our parashah today, we find the ageing David in a reflective mood. There had been some recent fierce battles with the descendants of Goliath the Gittite. David had been successful in battle, but, the Scriptures tell us that during these altercations, “David grew faint”. His close friends and associates told him that he was no longer to lead them in battles. It was time for him to step back from the fray.

We are privileged to have, in our parashah today, this appreciation, in words that perhaps only David could express, so that we may ponder and wonder at the amazing relationship which David had with the Lord.

Because of his ageing frailty, he has been kept away from the stresses of the battleground. Yet he writes “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer: the God of my strength, in whom I will trust.”  He had seen many battle victories. Many might have taken pride in those achievements, in their own tactical prowess, in their own leadership skills. Not David. He knew very well that when he was anointed to be king (1Samuel 16:13), that the spirit of the LORD was upon him from that time forward. He never forgot it. It was the abiding presence of God, in his life, that sustained him. When he stumbled, and he sometimes did, he was quick to confess his error and to put things right with God. What an example.

This song, for that is what we are ‘reflecting’ upon this week, provides many lessons for us today. “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies”.  We do not have the kind of enemies, who are plotting to take our lives such as David had. But we do have difficulties to overcome. Enemies of our soul, enemies of our body and mind. Enemies who are intent on dragging us down. Is “calling on the LORD” our first option? Or is it when all else fails? Where is our trust? It is clear where David put his trust isn’t it? A good lesson.

David’s reflective memory caused him to recall the many times when God had rescued him. He sees his enemies pursuing him and God hunting them down. He sees God as a consuming fire. One against whom no-one can stand. And it is Almighty God who is at David’s side.

“The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness” he said. That’s a bit of a shock isn’t it? Can it be? God is not a respecter of persons. (Peter in Acts 10 and Paul in Romans 2) He does not play favourites. So if it is right for David, it’s right for others too. Even us! It is clear from what follows that David is referring to his obedience to the commands of God. It certainly does not mean his own righteousness, self-righteousness, because we are also told in Scripture (Isaiah 64) that that kind of righteousness God sees as ‘filthy rags’.

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him”. David is unable to see any fault in God. In all his experience he has found God faithful and true. And remember, David had been in some perilous scrapes in his life. There were times when, without God’s protection, he would surely have lost his life. Of all people, David might be the most trustworthy advocate of God’s perfect protection, His provision, His counsel. The Word of the Lord of which David writes is found in the Torah of Moses. It is found in the counsel of the Priests. Zadok in particular. For a more exhaustive appreciation of David’s view of the Word of the Lord, read Psalm 119.

“He makes my feet like the feet of deer”. Deer are sure-footed. They are fast runners. But it is also possible that David also had in mind the sure-footed animals (Ibex) which today may be seen in the slopes of the Ein Gedi valley at the Dead Sea, which was once a hiding place for David. He sees God’s protection in the special skills attributed to these wild animals which allowed his to escape from his enemies many times. That is also a picture of God’s protection, as they are able to safely navigate terrain which to most would be exceptionally hazardous.

“Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation”. Perhaps the finest lesson of all for us this week. Here, as in many of his other songs, the Psalms, David is ever ready to give God Praise for just who He is. Not for what He has done, but for who He is.

“O Lord our God, how excellent is Your Name in all the Earth.”

Shalom

RS

Haftarah reflections 51

Torah portion           Deuteronomy 31:1 - 30

Haftarah portion  Hosea 14:1–9 Micah 7:18-20 Joel 2: 15-27                       

Listen to the Prophets

This week we look at the words of three prophets, called by God to take a specific message to different groups of people at different times. Yet in God’s wisdom and grace, they each have a message which was not only for their time, but resonates strongly with us today. It is a timely message. Be blessed as you study these Scriptures with me.

Hosea was given the task of warning the Northern Kingdom of Israel about their wanton disregard of, and unfaithfulness to, their covenantal promises. It was likened to the harlotry of an unfaithful wife, and to show Hosea the depth of His feeling about this situation, God caused Hosea to take the unfaithful Gomer, a prostitute, as a wife. What a painful experience that must have been for Hosea. But he understood exactly what God felt for Israel, His beloved. Hosea eventually witnessed the judgement of God on the unrepentant Israel when, in 722 b.c.e. the nation was taken captive by the Assyrians under the leadership of king Shalamanezer V.

Micah, a contemporary of Hosea, (as well as Amos, Isaiah and Jonah) also witnessed the downfall of Israel, but his message was principally to the Southern Kingdom of Judea. His concern was that Judea was treading the same perilous idolatrous path that Israel had walked.  Like Amos, he was a ‘man from the country’, and he could plainly see the way the ‘city people’ (Jerusalemites) were uncaring of the poor in their community. His prophetic writings (because we have the convenience of chapter delineations), may be viewed in three sections. The prediction of judgement Chapters 1-3, the prediction of restoration Chapters 4,5 and the plea for repentance Chapters 6,7. Our parashah today is covered in the last mentioned.

Joel is more difficult to date. Scholars believe he pre-dated the other two by about 100 years, in which case he would have been a contemporary of Elisha. His detailed knowledge of Zion, and references to the priesthood cause some to think that he might well have been a priest himself. But his message, mostly remembered because of his references to the coming “day of the Lord” is consistent with both Hosea and Micah in that he pronounced judgement. His descriptions of locust plagues, famine, raging fires and invading armies is interspersed with hope for the future.

So what is our lesson from these three men of God for today?

Obviously, the times, in terms of lifestyle and environment have changed markedly. But attitudes and lifestyle practises seem to be unchanged. Men are still dismissive, or indifferent, to the claims of God on their lives. Idolatry, in its many forms, is rife in our society. There are many prophetic voices today proclaiming the coming day of the Lord. There are also some ominous signs, available to any who care to look, that we are in a period which the Bible describes as ‘last days’. But in arrogant disregard, the world is not listening. Just as the Israelites and Judeans in our parashah did not listen.

The good news is that God has not given up. Our three prophetic voices this week all tell of the fact that God has the last word. That does not mean that His righteous judgement is withheld, but His covenantal promises are assured. Plan A, if you like, is in the true, heart rending repentance of the people. It involves an act of will for sure, but it is more than just in the mind. It is a repentance that brings about a necessary, willing, change of lifestyle. That is the message of God which is conveyed in our parashah this week. But in the absence of that repentance, God’s righteous judgment precedes His restoration, and in a way that is both assured and costly. God alone is the Judge of our righteousness before Him, and how that is acquired and maintained. There are many words in our Bibles to guide us in the right direction. There are also many words of warning to those who choose to ignore His direction. God’s patterns are set out for us in our weekly reflections on His word.

Our study this week is sad, in the fact that we know that the audience addressed by the prophets ignored the warnings. That record alone leaves us without excuse, because we clearly see God acting in righteous judgement according to His word to them.

The message of hope, God’s restoration, was not seen by those who heard the message at first hand from the prophets. Israel’s restoration, the New Covenant, is assured, in God’s time, in God’s way. We, Gentiles, are privileged to participate in that restoration, by our faith in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. That faith is born of repentance, just like the prophets told the Israelites in our parashah.                   

Shabbat Shalom

RS

Haftarah reflections 50

Torah portion           Deuteronomy 29:10 to 30:20

Haftarah portion            Isaiah 61: 10 –63: 9

Listen to the Prophets

Isaiah proclaims the clear message of Messiah Yeshua in this parashah. It contains some of the most often quoted prophetic Scriptures in our Bible. It is worthy of our attention because it speaks of events which have captivated the thoughts of believers in Yeshua for 2,000 years. His triumphant return. We rejoice in that together.

But the very last verse of this reading says so much more. “In all their (Israel’s) affliction, He (Yeshua) was afflicted”. Sense the pain here. Turn your thoughts for a moment to the anti-Semitic pogroms, the holocaust, the reviling taunts, the dismissive attitudes, the arrogant humiliation, to which these beloved of God have been subjected throughout their history. That is “their affliction”. And Isaiah tells us that every hurtful act was experienced and felt personally by Yeshua. What shame we bear.

This prophetic writing has to be read with care in order to discern the person or people being addressed by Isaiah, so as to get the full understanding of the sequence. It opens with the statement about Yeshua’s time on this earth, and the purpose for which He came. It is Yeshua who was anointed by God to preach the ‘good tidings’, to ‘heal the broken-hearted’, to ‘proclaim liberty to the captives’. It is Yeshua who ‘gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness’. It is Yeshua who declares them (Israel) to be ‘the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified”.

Sense the love which is embodied in those words. God sent Yeshua, His only Son, to make these changes in the lives of His chosen ones. It was God’s declared intention to heap His love upon them. It remains His intention. But there is a God ordained interval in His programme. The gospel of John, chapter 12, quoting Isaiah 6:9,10, spoke of the ‘blindness’ of Israel. The Apostle Paul, writing to the believers in Rome captured it with these words. “.. have they (Israel) stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not. But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.”  He goes on “ … if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!”

And it is in glorious anticipation of this “fullness”, their restoration, and the “blindness” removed, that Isaiah’s prophetic words continue.

The Messianic Kingdom, where Yeshua will reign, (and rule with a rod of iron) comes clearly into focus. But in case we think that God is slow to bring this about, the prophet exhorts the hearer “you who make mention of the Lord, (that’s US isn’t it?) do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth”.

Look what happens to Israel. “The Gentiles shall see your righteousness (all iniquity forgiven), and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord”

Is it any wonder that the prophet Zechariah, speaking of the same era, said: “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”

Earlier in our study, we saw the pain of affliction felt by Messiah Yeshua for the agonies of rejection endured by His chosen ones. Our parashah ends on a note of righteous judgement on those who were the enemies of these chosen people. “Who is this who comes from Edom?” is the question. The description is of One whose garments are stained with blood. The blood of battle. Of One who is victorious in that battle. “For the day of vengeance is in My heart and the year of My redeemed has come” He says.

Then He said: “Surely they are My people, children who will not lie” So He became their Saviour.

There was a time, some 4,000 years ago, when God said to the righteous Abram “I will bless those who bless you, and I will “a’rar” (bitterly curse) those who “qalal” (treat with contempt) you.” The descendants of Abram, through the line of his son of promise, Isaac, were included in that promise.

Let’s take God at His word. Listen to the voice of the Prophets.

Shabbat Shalom

RS