Musing - Why do we bid each other 'Shalom', or ‘Peace'?

          

Hebraic Musing - Why do we bid each other 'Shalom', or ‘Peace'?

The Bible provides a very detailed description of Solomon’s building of the temple starting in 1 Kings 5:13.  Notably just before the plan to build a home for the LORD, in v12 we are told “The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.” NIV  The Temple Mount in Jerusalem was to be the permanent home for the LORD.

Could it be that to build a dwelling for worshipping, respecting, giving honor and glorification to the LORD in our lives we need to have peace in our lives?  Sages teach that for the LORD to have a home, there must be peace; peace is a pre-requisite for building the House of God.  And in the NT we learn that our body is to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. So how important is peace in our body, soul and spirit?  Solomon in all his wisdom knew that he had to have peace with his neighbor Hiram if he was to build a home for the LORD.

Rabbi Eckstein[1] points out that “God’s essence is peace, so the more we have peace, the more we will be able to encounter God. A war-torn, strife-ridden environment isn’t conducive to godliness. If we want to have a deep and meaningful relationship with God, we will have to sort out our relationships with each other.”  And he concluded that “If we want to experience the peace of God, we have to make peace with each other. And if we want to be able to build His Temple, we must start by building better relationships with all His children.” After all, one of God’s names is “Jehovah Shalom”!  

Have you noticed the spirit of mature Christians and practicing Jews is one of peace and reconciliation with neighbors; whereas non-believers are typically more prone to be struggling with their relationships.  In fact, some Christians find themselves in a struggle with interpersonal relationships; and it seems those same Christians tend to be struggling in their efforts to become “close to God.” And this is often despite their time in prayer, Bible study and church attendance. 

What better way to be at peace with your neighbors than to be a giver – missions, Tzedakah, community service, ministering, interceding, visiting, evangelizing, etc.?  And also to be a forgiver of those who have wronged you.

May He enjoy His dwelling place, His tabernacle, in you.

Point to ponder

Why do the last five or six of the ten ‘commandments’
deal with relationships with neighbors?

Have you ever seen an angry, selfish, unsociable person
 who is also close to God?

So, I close by bidding you Shalom, and a closer walk with Adonai             February 26, 2013

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd

Author “Hebraic Insights – 95 messages exploring the Hebrew Roots of Christian faith”

Author “Biblical Marriage” (to be published in June 2012)

Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  to be added to distribution -- Yosef1@cox.net
Web-site   www.InsightsByYosef.com

---

[1] ^{Holy Land Moments by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein – Feb. 15, 2013}

Musing - "Whatever is Fair"

Hebraic Musing - "Whatever is Fair"

Many times in my life a set price or value could not be ascertained up front for a business transaction, in which case I would typically say to the other party "Whatever is fair."  Why has that expression worked so well for me? The onus is on the other party to be fair; or to know in his heart that he is not being fair. The choice is his to live with.

Fair dealings were both defined and advocated by God in Dt. 25:13-16 – “You are not to have in your pack two sets of weights, one heavy, the other light. You are not to have in your house two sets of measures, one big, the other small. You are to have a correct and fair weight, and you are to have a correct and fair measure, so that you will prolong your days in the land ADONAI  your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who deal dishonestly, are detestable to ADONAI your God."  CJB

Paul brought the issue of 'fairness' to us in Colossians 4:1 - Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.   This sounds like the Golden Rule!   Once, a man approached Hillel the elder and asked, “Tell me the entire Bible while I stand on one foot.” Hillel replied, “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else.”

A good friend and business colleague of mine shared an incident at what was to be the concluding prayer at a men's prayer breakfast. One of the men sat in the prayer chair and asked the fellows to lay hands on the contract he was presenting later that day. My friend, who always asks good questions, asked "Is this contract fair to both parties?"  The meeting lasted another hour as the men had to process the question and the answer.

Point to ponder

Can a business succeed by being fair in all transactions?

Will we sleep better at night knowing we have been fair in all our dealings?

Be fair.  
            Sleep well.  
                        Good night.  
                                    Shalom                                                February 19, 2013

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd

Author “Hebraic Insights – 95 messages exploring the Hebrew Roots of Christian faith”

Author “Biblical Marriage” (to be published in June 2012)

Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  to be added to distribution -- Yosef1@cox.net
www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing - Are we over or under God?

Hebraic Musing - Are we over or under God?

Contrast Jacob's famous dream with another famous dream in the Bible. When Jacob had his dream about a ladder reaching to heaven, Scripture tells us, “There above it stood the LORD”  Genesis 28:13.  In Hebrew, the 'above' is  על.   In Jacob’s dream, the Lord was above him. In Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh was above his god.  “When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by (in Hebrew, the ‘by’ is actually על or above ) the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.” Genesis 41:1–2 

Israel has a lot of respect for water; the country is mostly desert climate and conservation is a must in order to "make the desert bloom".  Note that the river Nile was one of the important gods of the Egyptians.  It is not surprising that Egypt has a lot of respect for water since the Nile supplies them with water for drinking, bathing, transportation and annual floods replenishing soil for farming. The Egyptians cherished the Nile; but took it a little too far. They worshiped it – literally. In Egypt, the Nile became their god.

Genesis 41 tells us that Pharaoh had a dream about cows as “he was standing above (or over) the Nile.”  And Genesis 28 tells us that Jacob recognized the Lord God as being above him on the ladder.  The difference?  While Jacob and his sons served God, Pharaoh believed that his god served him.

We can have two very different relationships with God – either we can serve Him; or we can expect Him to serve us. We all ask God for our wants and needs, but the question is - what do we want those things for?  Do we desire health, abundance, and peace so that we can best serve God?  Or are the things we ask for completely self-serving? We can be like Pharaoh and use this world and all of God’s gifts in order to give ourselves pleasure and honor. Or, we can be like Jacob and use it all to bring pleasure and honor to Him.[1]

More simply put, we sing Isa 40:31 “…those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”  What is the difference between waiting on the Lord vs. expecting the Lord to wait on us?

Points to ponder

How many of our prayers are asking the Lord to wait on us?

Do our prayers put us above the Lord?  Or are we looking up to Him?

Shalom                                                                                    February 12 , 2013

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd            

Author “Hebraic Insights – 95 messages exploring the Hebrew Roots of Christian faith”

Author “Biblical Marriage” (to be published in June 2012)

Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  to be added to distribution -- Yosef1@cox.net
www.InsightsByYosef.com

---

[1] Inspired by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. Under God. December 11, 2012

Musing - Should we be Praying or Singing?

Hebraic Musing - Should we be Praying or Singing?

Why are we constantly admonished by church teachings to pray?  I have yet to hear a church leader say “Go home and sing”?  Singing “Oldies but Goodies” to one another is drawing my wife, Irene, and I ever closer as we use songs to express our love, admiration, honor, respect, praise and thanks to one another. God used the OT Bible to write songs to us (many more than just the Psalms). Why not sing songs back to Him? What might that do to our relationship with Almighty God?

·      In the Exodus, after the people of Israel escaped to the opposite shore of the Red Sea, they sang a victory song.  Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”  NKJV  Exodus 15:1   Imagine how Adonai felt hearing the voices of thousands, or millions, singing this song of praise and thanksgiving giving Him glory.

·      At Beer, God gave the people water and the people of Israel sang this song of thanksgiving – Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!  All of you sing to it”  NKJV   Numbers 21:17

·      Deborah and Barak celebrated their victory in war by song – Judges 5:1-3 Then Deborah and Barak … sang…:  "When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!  Hear,… even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel”. Judges 5:1-3.

·      David often played his harp to comfort King Saul.  I Samuel 16:23, "And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." – a tool of Spiritual warfare!

·      Samuel encouraged music when he told Saul  "After that you will go to Gibeah of God, … you will meet a procession of prophets … with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.  The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.  Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.”  NIV  1 Sam 10:5-7 –  preparation for ministry!

·      Before Elisha prophesied, he said   “But now bring me a harpist."  While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he said, "This is what the Lord says:…”  NIV 2 Kings 3:15-16 – as preparation for prophesying!

Song was used in the home, the temple, and the field of service. Israel was no stranger to singing; music played an important part in her history. Much of the Old Testament was recited as a song.  Expressing gratitude to God in words of prayer is much more emotional when sung to music. If you are like me, songs have a way of sticking in my brain and then I find myself worshipping continuously.

Music is not just emotional preparation or entertainment. It’s been said that “Music takes us where words cannot go”.  God enjoys hearing you sing; but choose your music wisely. Song and music have a way of leaving an indelible impact on your brain and then your heart.  That’s the good and the bad news.

Points to ponder

Should we sing before, after or instead of praying?

What, when, where and to whom should we sing?

“Sing to the LORD a new song” Isaiah 42:10                                                February 5, 2013

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd