Musing – What are the Ten Commandments Really About?

 Hebraic Musing – What are the Ten Commandments Really About?

Back when I was in school, the Ten Commandments were displayed on the schoolroom wall; we memorized them to the point we told jokes based on the commandment numbers.  Now they are not even in most Christian Bookstores!  What’s this generation missing?  Let’s look at each Commandment from our Loving Father God:

1.   “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” (Exod.20:2)    The word “LORD” is from Yehovah, a relationship name – “I am” in past, present and future tenses.  And He loves His covenant people so much, that He brought Israel out of bondage.  Who else does He want to bring out of slavery?

2.   “You shall have no other gods before Me.  You shall not make for yourself...” (20:3-4)  A little later He says “I am a jealous God...”  Does He think we might make gods ourselves?  Sports figures, statues, media, possessions, entertainment personalities, etc.  Ouch!

3.   “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain,” (20:7)  This is not just about bad language.   We should not to use the LORD’s name in a negative context.  The Lord will “not hold him guiltless”!

4.   “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (20:8-11)  The seventh day is Saturday, but Sunday worship began when Constantine in 321 AD declared all worship to be held on the “venerable day of the sun”.  He was a sun worshipper.  Some confusion regarding Sabbath is due to the Biblical day starting at sunset. In Acts 20 the believers gathered on the first day of the week; that would be Saturday evening after sunset. They were celebrating Havdalah, the end of sabbath, a time when they could prepare food and handle money.  Their first day, our Sunday, began their work week.  A solution for today – Psalm 34:1 and many other references say “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

5.   “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” (20:12)   (I advise children to respect their parents so they won’t get whooped!) How long do we want to have the life God has for us?  How long will we be in Heaven?  Also, does this also mean to respect/honor your elders and authorities?  Note – this is a hinge between four commandments about how to honor/worship God and the last five commandments dealing with how to live in this world; Jesus referred to it as “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matt.22:39 

6.   “You shall not murder.” (20:13)  We can defend ourselves, and our country, but we are not to get so angry with someone that we wish them dead, or hurting.  We are to forgive, no matter what they do to us.

7.   “You shall not commit adultery.” (20:14)  Committing adultery is breaking the permanent covenant of marriage; both your own marriage and/or that of another couple.  Be faithful in marriage and respect the marriages and virginities of others.

8.   “You shall not steal.” (20:15)  If we love our neighbor, we’ll respect his/her possessions including  reputation, life, mate, etc.  And don’t steal your own blessings by failure to obey and thus miss your own blessings.

9.   “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (20:16)  This refers to an intentional lie, being intentionally deceitful and committing fraud.  But where does “gossip” apply here, or is that a verse 15 topic?

10.  “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.” (20:17)  This may be both the hardest and the most important commandment because it leads to the violation of the others; coveting is where the sin problems begin.

Points to Ponder

Has Our Loving God provided us with the warnings we need to make responsible choices?
Do these sound like advice a loving parent would try to instill in their child?

Do you have the Ten Commandments displayed in your home?

Do we “Want To” or do we “Have To” obey the Ten Commandments?

“The LORD is my shepherd...”

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          March 28, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Note – Inspired by Johanna Hocker’s email March 13, 2023; All references are from the NKJV

Musing – What does it take to be an Evangelist?

 Hebraic Musing – What does it take to be an Evangelist?

Some Christians think being an Evangelist requires expensive airfare and travel costs, or specialized training, or a Bible College course study.  Let’s explore this topic and ask ourselves a few questions.

Are we called to be Evangelists?   What does the Bible tell us to be doing?   

·      Jesus gave us His final command - “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 NKJV   Sound to me like Jesus expected us to preach the gospel, the Good News, wherever we go. 

·      I wonder what Jesus meant in Matthew 22:9 when He told the servants – “Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.”  

·      Interesting, the Bible says “go” over 1,300 times!  Apparently the Bible is an action driven message!

·      “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...” Matthew 28:19-20

·      Why were we promised the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8?  “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem... and to the end of the earth.” 

·      In Acts 8:4 the believers were scattered; so what did they do?  “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”

·      And James 1:22 tells us ‘Don’t just listen to the word, do it!’

Why are these Evangelistic songs among our favorites?  

·      Remember singing this at the top of your lungs?  ♫ Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere, Go, tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born.  ♫  
That song tells us to go tell it, and as we sing it, we are reminding ourselves to tell it everywhere! 

·      ♫ I love to tell the story    Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory,   Of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story,   Because I know ’tis true; It satisfies my longings  As nothing else can do. ♫

·      ♫  Turn your eyes upon Jesus,  Look full in his wonderful face,  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim  In the light of his glory and grace.  ♫

Does your church need an Evangelist to come in order to have an “Altar Call”?  

·      If that’s the only Evangelism effort, then who is reaching all those who do not attend church?

·      On the other hand, there is nothing like reaching new Brothers & Sisters to inspire an Evangelistic Spirit.

·      Each of us Born Again Believers has a Salvation Testimony – a powerful tool to witness and win someone to the Lord.  My experience?  People argue with my teachings!  And they also argue with my preaching!  But, no one can argue with my testimony.  It’s the truth, and it’s real!

·      Did Peter call all of us believers to share our faith?  “...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,...” 1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

Evangelistic openers: 

·      “Let me tell you what happened to me!”  And then share your 2 to 3 minute salvation testimony.

·      To servers in restaurants – “We are going to pray for our meal, would you join us?” (With hands extended).

·      When someone says “God bless you” after you sneeze; reply with “Oh you know God too?!?!”

·      No one feels threatened if you ask “Where are you in your spiritual walk?”  Everyone has one.

·      “Let me tell you about my best friend!”    and  “How we met...”

·      (How may ‘openers’ have you used?)

Points to Ponder

How was the Gospel able to go to all the known world in one generation by word-of-mouth?

Are you ready to deliver a 2-3 minute version of your salvation testimony?

What a thrill it is to introduce someone to your “Best Friend”!

What’s the best gift you can give somebody?

♫ Go, tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere. .... That Jesus Christ is born!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      March 21, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Musing – How Powerful is Your Testimony?

 Hebraic Musing – How Powerful is Your Testimony?

We all battle with Satan’s daily attempts to lead us astray, so what’s a person to do?  The Bible’s answer - “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Rev.12:11 NKJV  God’s Word reminds us of the power of our testimony!  Maybe that’s why “testimony” appears 92 times in the Bible!  And I believe it after all the opportunities I’ve had in my life to lead people to accept Jesus as their Lord by sharing my testimony.  Is mine unique? Yes!  And so is yours!  Exactly how and when did Christ call you? 

Here’s my short three part testimony with “What happened” as the filling in the middle of the cookie.

Life Before – I grew up as the oldest of eight children, and we had five children (& one on the way) when I realized I had a limited understanding of God.  I had never really tried to figure out God’s purpose for my life despite these three questions being stuck in my head ever since my first-grade catechism class:
1.  Q. – Who made me?                      A. – God made me.
2.  Q. – Who is God?                          A. – God is the Supreme Being who created all things.
3.  Q. – Why did God make me?        A. – God made me to worship and praise Him forever.
At 39 years of age I found myself plagued by selfish ways, anger, unclean thoughts, etc.  So I decided to attend a Catholic Cursillo week-end retreat where I heard a priest with presentation skills I really respected and coveted.  Next, we went into a prayer room and I saw that priest on his knees, praying and thanking Jesus for the words Jesus gave him for the men out there (for me).

What Happened – When I saw that priest I really admired praying to Jesus, I fell to my knees, cried a pool of tears on the terrazzo floor and said to myself, almost out load, “Jesus Christ, you are real.  I need to learn more about you.”  I knew at that moment I would never be the same!

Life After – When I came home from the week-end my wife asked “What happened”; I said “I talked to Jesus”; so she asked “Does that mean you are Born Again”; and I answered “I don’t know what you call it, but I talked to Jesus... ... and I want you and all the kids to experience what I experienced!”  Then she informed me “Joe, we already have; we’ve all been praying for you!”  She could have added “...for 10 years”!

There is a pivotal moment in the middle of a testimony that is awesome and memorable.  In fact, if a person claims to be a Christian but cannot describe that life-changing “Moment”, I pray with them to experience that “Moment” when the Holy Spirit infills us!  Sometimes we just need to ASK Jesus.  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13

Can sharing your testimony be an effective tool in fulfilling Jesus’s final command to us?  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,...” Matt.28:19

I’ve often confessed that people argue with my teachings!  And yes, they also argue with my preaching!  But, no one can argue with my testimony.  It is the truth!  It is real!  Apparently, the Apostle John felt the same way when he concluded his Gospel message with - “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” John 21:24 NKJV

Points to Ponder

Do you remember your precious moment?  Can you tell others about it?

Can you deliver a three-minute version of your salvation testimony?

Who needs to hear your testimony?  ...besides yourself?!?!

If you need practice telling your testimony, write it out and email it to me.

Don’t underestimate the power of prayer.

“And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.” John 19:35

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      March 14, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Musing - Is ‘sex’ good or bad?

 Hebraic Musing - Is ‘sex’ good or bad?

We have been raised with a ‘puritanical’ attitude toward anything to do with the topic of ‘sex’.  Within Christianity, the ‘Holiness’ movement has been so protective of dress codes that might stir the imagination that ‘sex’ has been driven out of our education system, and out of church teaching.  So when the schools or the ‘guys at the firehouse’ teach sex it is in a red-faced and embarrassing mode.  Maybe I am overstating somewhat; but on the other hand…   

When we treat the topic as ‘forbidden’ or ‘bad’ or ‘something you should not do or even think about’ are we causing curiosity, experimentation and ‘boundary challenging’?

A 13 year old young lady in our Torah Study shared an experience she had while visiting with cousins who are being raised in the big city in a very Christian ‘community’.  She and her cousin were arguing as to whether the horse in a picture was male or female.  Out of frustration and to clearly settle the argument she pointed to the external organ and said “See, it’s a male”.  The cousin snickered; and the cousin’s parents faces turned red, embarrassed and upset at this blatant pointing out of the genitals of an animal.

Question -- How else do you determine the sex of an animal, like a cat; but to tip it upside down and look at the organs?  (Okay, you don’t have to tip a horse.)

In our study, we proceeded to recognize that the Israelites were agrarians and raised animals.  Thus the family would naturally discuss procreation of the herd, flock, etc.   Even Jacob’s genetic engineering was disclosed!  It was probably a dinner-time topic as needed.  And the Bible clearly distinguishes male and female in many ways and many purposes.  Biblically – God created sex, so it must be for good.  We would not be here if it were not for sex.  God’s first commandment was in Gen 1:27-28 … male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it….” NIV

Back to the key question - “Is ‘sex’ good or bad?” in the Torah study group I answered the question with a question.  “Is the fire in the fireplace (place for fire) good?”  Naturally the answer is ‘yes’.   Next question; “When there is a fire outside of the fireplace is that good or bad?”  Everyone cringed as each one visualized the damage and devastation caused by fire out of control and in the wrong or unintended place.   Same with ‘sex’.  When it is where it belongs and for the right purpose, it is great and we can thank God for giving us this gift.  However, when ‘sex’ is not where God intended it to be we can all visualize the damage and consequences we have seen and heard of caused by infidelity, fornication and adultery and the desolation of marriages, families and relationships.  Notice that each of these damaged items were top concerns to God.

Let us get back to the issues in the first paragraph.  Why can’t sex education be taught in homes by parents; or in churches with the goodness and Godly principles stressed?  As an aid, there is a book written by Kenneth Taylor (author of The Living Bible) titled “ALMOST 12 – The story of Sex”.  It is a short book, you can read it in about 20 minutes; but as you read aloud, shoulder to shoulder, to a 10, 11 or 12 year old it can seem like 2 hours; especially if you need to read it in remedial mode to a 13 to 18 year old.  When the parent reads it this way to the child/young adult, the child recognizes not only that this is the view of God, our creator; but more importantly, this is his/her parent’s view.  I’ve bought, read and given away many copies (and only have one copy left on my shelf now!).

Points to Ponder

If you buy the book, get more than one copy; you will think of someone who also needs a copy.

Sex must be good, otherwise none of us would be here.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinth.10:31 NIV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      March 7, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Note – This is a reprint of Hebraic Insight #58 - Is ‘sex’ good or bad? published March 17, 2010