Eternal Revelation
29 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Book of Deuteronomy, God, Judaism, Mount Sinai, Pentecost, Shavuot, Torah
“Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.”— Deuteronomy 16:9–10
Isn’t it strange that the Bible gives us the date of every single holiday on the calendar except for one? And it’s the holiday that celebrates one of the most important events in human history! The Festival of Weeks, Shavuot or Pentecost, is associated with the giving of the Torah and the revelation of God at Mount Sinai, and yet neither the date of revelation, nor the precise date of the holiday is written in the Scriptures.
All we are told is that the festival occurs seven weeks from the time that we “put the sickle to the standing grain.” In addition, no one knows for sure where this momentous event occurred. Different theories abound, but God has made it so that no one can point to the precise location of Mount Sinai with complete certainty. All we know is that this great event happened somewhere, in the middle of nowhere, sometime in spring.
Why all the vagueness?
What we don’t know tells us a lot. The details that are absent from the story of the revelation point to a profound truth about the Torah: it is absolutely and unequivocally eternal. There is no date given because the Word of God is beyond time. It was, is, and always will be true. There is no time period, no season, and not even a single day during which the words of the Bible are not binding.
The location of the revelation is unknown because God’s Word is also beyond space. It is not confined to any single location. It holds true in every corner of the earth and is accessible no matter where you may be on the planet. By deliberately leaving us without the exact knowledge of where and when revelation took place, God is telling us that exactly where and when are irrelevant.
We can also learn from the only piece of information that we are given. What we do know is that the Torah was given in the desert. Had the Torah been given in a lush, bountiful land, we could have argued that keeping it was dependent upon easy circumstances. The Torah was given in a desert, a place known for harsh conditions and scarcity, in order to teach us that there are no conditions under which God’s Word does not apply.
No matter where you are or what your circumstances may be, God has a message for you right now. Pick up the Scriptures and study them daily. You will find that in some small way, the great revelation of long ago is still occurring today.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/eternal-revelation
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A Celebration of Unity
28 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Israelites, Jews, Judaism, Shavuot, Sinai, Ten Commandments, Torah, United States
“And they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the desert. Israel camped there opposite the mountain” – Exodus 19:2
In the coming days, the Jewish people will celebrate the festival of Shavuot which commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai exactly 50 days after the exodus from Egypt. Jews around the world will spend all night in study sessions after which, at morning prayers, we will read the climactic story of the giving of the Ten Commandments.
We’re always excited to hear the Ten Commandments, but it’s important not to overlook the verses that immediately precede them. Often times, the deepest parts of Scripture are found in the places we don’t immediately look. We’re taught to look for little clues – and we find one at the very beginning of chapter 19 of Exodus.
Why does the Torah repeat that seemingly meaningless detail about the encampment at Sinai? The very same verse tells us twice that the people camped. Well, of course they camped! Is the Torah concerned that we might think they hung out poolside at a four-star resort waiting for Moses to hand out copies of the Law? Of course not. So why the repetition?
The great 11th-century Jewish sage, Rashi, notices a telling bit of grammar in the text. When the sentence first uses the word “camped” (vayachanu), the Hebrew is plural – they camped. In the second part of the verse, “camped” (vayichan) is singular – he camped. The Jews arrived at Sinai as many – individuals, families, and tribes. But the experience at Sinai made them one – a single people with a single heart worshiping the One God.
This concept is hardly new for Americans – our nation’s motto is the Latin phrase e pluribus unum (“from many, one”). But, too often, we wait for danger or outrage to unify us. This has certainly been true throughout Jewish history and is true for most societies today. We are never more united than when we are threatened.
In this simple, easily-overlooked verse, the Torah is reminding us to find unity in joy and gratitude. Don’t wait for a negative reason to come together! Be like the Israelites at Sinai – gather together around the fountain of faith and learning and come away with a single heart for a single purpose: to do His will in the world.
In this season of receiving the Gift of the Law, may our gift be one of joyous unity. And may we share that gift with others.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/a-celebration-of-unity
Hot & Cold
27 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: God, Good News, Halakha, Hebrew, Hebrew language, Jewish thought, Psalm, Talmud
“The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.” — Psalm 74:16-17
It’s almost instinctive to create a theology of “good news.” In other words, when we experience good times, we can imagine without great difficulty that God is responsible for them. Indeed, in popular culture, the phenomenon of the victorious athlete thanking God for his success has become commonplace.
But how often do we attribute our failures to the Divine Will? Of course, one hopes that most people in such circumstances would turn to God for assistance. But to what extent – if at all – do we internalize God’s presence in all areas of our lives, even the unpleasant ones?
It is with this question in mind that the psalmist teaches us the crucial lesson that God’s Will permeates our entire lives. To God belongs the day – the sunny, positive side of life – as well as the night – the dreary, downcast moments of existence. In the words of the biblical poet: “You made both summer and winter.”
The notion that God’s Will governs the very direction of human existence is so central to Jewish thought, that the rabbis of the Talmud enshrined it within Jewish law. Thus, while the rabbis record the text of a blessing on good tidings – “Blessed is the One Who is Good and Does Good” (in Hebrew, barukh ha-tov ve-ha-meitiv) – they also formulated a blessing to be recited upon reception of ill tidings – “Blessed is the True Judge” (in Hebrew, barukh dayyan ha-emet).
In fact, it is Jewish practice down to this very day to recite the blessing of the True Judge even upon hearing news that another person has died. In the words of the contemporary scholar, Rabbi Maurice Lamm, “The blessing over evil . . . is a sharp, eloquent statement by mourners that affirms that though death is life’s most evil aspect, it is the work of God’s judgment, and as such, it is ‘true,’ perfect, and unassailable.”
What a powerful, comforting message for all of us. Although we frequently feel alone in times of turmoil, we may draw strength from the truth articulated by the psalmist: Our God – our Creator who fashioned us lovingly in His image – made both our summers and our winters.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/hot-cold
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The Right Delight
24 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Book of Esther, Esther, Ezra, God, Haman, Jew, Nehemiah
“Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.” — Nehemiah 8:12
Rebecca just got promoted at work. As soon as she leaves the office with her new paycheck, her first stop is the car dealership down the block. She drives away with a brand new car.
Tom just celebrated a milestone birthday. In honor of the occasion he drives over to the jewelry store and buys himself a snazzy, new watch.
These stories sound familiar to most of us, and chances are that most of us either have done something like this, or know others who have. And in fact, there’s nothing wrong with these actions. People certainly are entitled to mark happy occasions with personal celebrations. Turning to the Bible, however, we see that perhaps there is an additional component to celebration that we might have overlooked.
In the wake of Ezra the Scribe’s success in reviewing the Bible’s teachings with the large crowds that had gathered, the people declared a holiday marking their spiritual achievements. Strikingly, the resultant revelry was marked by people sending to others less fortunate “portions of food” (in Hebrew, manot) as gifts.
This recalls a similar mass act of giving recorded in the Book of Esther, where we are told that in commemoration of God’s salvation of the Jewish people from the hands of the evil Haman, the Jews of Persia sent “presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor” (Esther 9:22).
In both of these examples, we find a celebration of thanksgiving marked not just by self-indulgence, but also by a desire to ensure that one’s neighbors and friends – as well as those in need – are included in the joyous occasion. Indeed, what more appropriate reaction to God’s abundant kindnesses could there be than to share the bounty of His goodness with others who have less than we do?
Over the course of our lives we all hopefully have the chance to experience success or joy, even if only small or fleeting. When we do, let us remember these biblical examples and share our happiness with others. And in turn – and perhaps more importantly – let us commit to rejoicing with our fellows – our coworkers, spouses, children, next-door-neighbors – when they succeed.
For after all, as we learn from the books of Nehemiah and Esther, when we spread happiness and good tidings with others, we are engaged in the truest form of gratitude to and worship of the Almighty.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/the-right-delight
Teach Your Children
23 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Ezra, Israel, Jerusalem, Levite, Moses, Nehemiah, Torah
“The Levites . . . instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” — Nehemiah 8:7-8
With the success of Nehemiah’s persistent campaign to rebuild Jerusalem and return the exiled Jews to their ancestral towns and villages in Israel, Ezra the Scribe – along with his fellow priests, Levites, and Nehemiah himself – embarked on a companion project: the renewal of Israel’s spiritual health through studying Scripture.
This national revival commenced with the public reading of the Books of Moses. In order to facilitate understanding of the Biblical text, Ezra arranged for the Levites to clarify the words’ meaning, thereby allowing each person present at the public reading to understand what was being read.
An ancient Talmudic interpretation explains the various clauses in Nehemiah 8:8 – which describes the Levites’ efforts to explain the Biblical text – as referring to the way in which the Torah is studied and read even today.
In other words, Ezra and his companions did not aid the Jewish people in understanding the Bible merely on a one-time basis. Instead, they took the opportunity of widespread interest in the Holy Scripture to develop a method for understanding and studying the Bible that would stand the test of time. For they knew that the divine values inherent in every word, every syllable, every letter of the biblical text are crucial for the existence of a moral society in any age, not just their own.
Our own generation has borne witness to an increase in accessibility to the text of the Bible the likes of which our ancestors could only have dreamed. The Bible has been translated into over two thousand languages; commentaries and other resources for understanding and discussing the Bible can be accessed on the Internet at the click of a button, or else in public libraries, or bookstores across the world. Never before in world history has it been easier for the average person to engage seriously with the Living Word of God.
We therefore have before us a mission – a momentous responsibility. If we wish to see the ethical heritage of the Bible preserved in the modern world – a world that so desperately needs it – we must renew our own commitment to reading, studying and living Scripture. We must resolve to be students, and perhaps even teachers of the Almighty’s Word.
As we do so, we become part of the ancient project that began with Ezra and Nehemiah themselves.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/teach-your-children
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Shake it Out, Baby!
22 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Bible, Christianity, God, Hebrew language, Israelites, Jerusalem, Nehemiah, Religion and Spirituality
“I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, ‘In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!’ At this the whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.” —Nehemiah 5:13
“It was an act of God . . .”
Often uttered in hushed, apologetic tones, these words evoke images of destruction wrought by the forces of nature – a tornado, or a wildfire. Indeed, the modern mind conceives of divine punishment in almost entirely catastrophic terms. One imagines the fiery fate of Sodom and Gomorrah – an exclamation point at the end of a harsh, divine admonishment.
In light of such preconceived notions, Nehemiah’s metaphorical illustration of the threat of God’s wrath seems inaccurate, even clumsy. In exhorting his countrymen to cease oppressing the destitute among them, Nehemiah characterizes the act of divine retribution as akin to shaking out a dirty garment. Of all the analogies Nehemiah might have selected, why on earth did he opt for this one? If Nehemiah had at his disposal fire, brimstone, plague or famine, why choose the rather mundane act of shaking out one’s clothing of dust or crumbs?
Perhaps the answer lies in a closer look at Nehemiah’s metaphor. When, generally, do we shake out a piece of clothing? Just prior to throwing it away? Of course not! The only reason we shake out the dirt and dust is to clear our clothing of clutter that has built up over time, so that we can wear it and use it again. In other words, the act of shaking out an item – in Hebrew, “ni’ur” – represents the initial step of preparation to make use of it once more.
Likewise, when God chastises His people, His wrath may be terrible to behold, but it is hardly final. On the contrary, when we misbehave, God wishes to help us repent, to help erase our sins and begin from scratch. The ills we suffer grant us an opportunity to start fresh – to serve God once again. Just as a tablecloth at the end of a meal – soiled and spent – may be rendered good as new through the process of ni’ur, so too, Nehemiah reminds us, does mankind benefit even from divine punishment.
Our task then is to examine any ill fortune that befalls us and ask ourselves: Has God deemed it necessary to “shake us out”? And if He has, how might we ensure that we make the most of our being good as new?
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/shake-it-out-baby
A Stranger to Danger
21 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Book of Nehemiah, God, Israel, Jerusalem, Middle East, Nehemiah, Religion and Spirituality, Second Temple
“They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been singed with fire’.” — Nehemiah 1:3
Known primarily as one of the major players spearheading the Jewish return to Zion at the outset of the Second Temple period, Nehemiah’s story begins in the imperial court of Persian Babylonia. It is there that Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer, received the bad news that those brave Jewish settlers in Israel – those who had taken the first steps in returning from the Babylonian Exile to their ancestral homeland – were in peril. Impoverished, and beset by hostile neighbors, the fledgling community cried out for a leader who would help them achieve their goal of rebuilding Jerusalem and re-cultivating the land.
However heartbreaking this news was, we must remember that Nehemiah was an exalted servant of the Persian emperor. He had a comfortable position at the court; the king liked him. What could have induced him to leave and make the arduous journey to the land of his ancestors? In the verse cited above, we read that Nehemiah was ultimately moved to action when he heard the plight of the city of Jerusalem, particularly the sorry state of Jerusalem’s once impregnable city wall.
The 16th century Jewish sage, Rabbi Samuel Eidels, noted that the word employed by our verse to describe the wall’s disrepair possesses the Hebrew root “Y-Z-T,” meaning, “singe.” The sense conveyed by this root stands in stark contrast to the more dire tone conveyed by an alternative root, utilized several verses later, “A-K-L,” meaning, “consume [by fire].”
In other words, according to Rabbi Eidels, Nehemiah was not informed of Jerusalem’s impending doom – of the complete and utter destruction of its city wall. Rather, Nehemiah was told simply of some damage the wall had taken. And while this news was certainly cause for concern, we would have expected Nehemiah merely to offer his sympathies, or some words of encouragement, and then move on to some other issue.
Instead, Nehemiah turned his entire life upside down, arranging to assume personal responsibility for the safety and upkeep of the community of Jerusalem – and in the process demonstrated to us the proper commitment to Israel’s welfare. After all, Israel is the land in which God Himself has chosen to rest his Name. Nehemiah knew that if we are to be true servants of God, we must be prepared to defend His Land, and His people from even the slightest threat.
Consider what you might do today to show your support for God’s people and His land..
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/a-stranger-to-danger
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Total Devotion
18 May 2012 1 Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Ezra, God, Holy Land, Israel, Jew, Judaism, Second Temple, Temple
“For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.” — Ezra 7:10
Ezra, a great priest and teacher of Israel, was extremely blessed. When he began his journey to the Land of Israel he was given many gifts by the king of Persia who supported his initiative and even encouraged Jews to join him.
The king furnished Ezra with gold, silver, cattle for offerings, and as much food as he needed for the way. He gave Ezra power to govern in the Holy Land and waived taxes for anyone working in the Temple. This was a far cry from the previous kings who had outlawed building the Temple altogether!
In addition, Ezra and his followers journeyed safely and securely over the four month period that it took them to reach Israel. Nothing that they had brought with them was stolen or damaged along the way. A highly unlikely scenario in the ancient world!
What did Ezra do that allowed him such wonderful and unusual divine providence? It seems that he got a huge dose of help from above. Something that we could all stand to receive!
Judaism has an oral tradition that says “Align your will with My Will, in order that I will align My Will to your will” (Ethics of our Fathers 2:4). In other words, when we want what God wants, then God wants what we want. When we dedicate our lives to doing God’s work and His will, we become partners with Him. We play for the same team – and who wouldn’t want the Master of the Universe as their teammate?
The Scripture teaches us that Ezra wholly devoted his life to study, observance, and teaching the word of God. So it’s not surprising that God took extra special care of him. Ezra’s world revolved around God, and so God made the world revolve around him.
Now, this doesn’t mean that everyone needs to quit their jobs and become a teacher or scholar of the Scriptures! You can be fully committed to God’s will and still be a doctor, a business owner, a teacher, or a mother. There are always opportunities to pass along God’s word and God’s love. And of course we teach best by example – by living the words that we teach.
Without a doubt, there is always room to grow in our devotion to God. For the most part we are on the same page. “Don’t murder,” check. “Don’t steal,” got it. But then it can get a little more difficult: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone” (Leviticus 19:18). “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8). Not always so easy! But as we make it our will to do His will, God’s will becomes our priority, and we become His.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/total-devotion
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Embracing Resistance
17 May 2012 Leave a Comment
in Holy Land Moments Tags: Ezra, God, Jew, Judah, Persia, Samaritan, Second Temple, Temple
“Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.” — Ezra 4:4–5
As the Jewish people progressed in the building of the Second Temple, they encountered resistance. Everything was going smoothly until a group of people, the Samaritans, decided to rock the boat. They came under the guise of peace and expressed interest in helping to build the Temple, but what they really wanted to do was sabotage the construction.
The Jews politely declined and basically said “thanks for the offer guys, but this is something that we’ve got to do on our own.” This didn’t sit well with the Samaritans and they showed their true colors by making all kinds of trouble for the Jews.
They used every trick in the book to dissuade the people from completing the project. They frightened the Jews, sabotaged their work, and told lies about them to the ruling government. And they succeeded.
Construction of the Temple was stopped. All the momentum and all the joy that had accompanied the Jews thus far came to a screeching halt as they encountered one obstacle after the next until they could overcome them no more.
And so it goes with life. One moment we are flying high with our newest idea or our latest plans; the next moment we collide head on with a wall in our way. What do we do then? How do we respond? Do we turn around and go back the way we came, or do we stick around until we can find a way around the barrier?
The Jewish people stuck it out for eighteen years until they were able to continue building the Temple. They persevered and eventually reached their goal. We can do the same. With perseverance, we can overcome almost any obstacle. But why does God put them there in the first place? Why did the Master of the World allow the Samaritans to stand in the way?
When a person wants to strengthen their muscles, there is only one way: resistance. Go to any gym and the strongest individuals are working the hardest. They load on the weights and push themselves to their limit. The more they sweat, the stronger they get.
And so God helps us out when we want something by making us work hard for it. When we work hard for something, it strengthens our commitment to that goal. The more we are committed to a goal the more likely we are to achieve and sustain it in the long term.
So it was for the Jews who built the Temple, and so it is for any goal that we pursue today.
Next time you find yourself up against a wall, don’t dismay. Embrace the resistance. It’s that very resistance that gives way to your goals.
http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/embracing-resistance
