Musing – How to appreciate the Sabbath Experience?

Hebraic Musing – How to appreciate the Sabbath Experience?

Have you ever been on a spiritual retreat, or even an all-day program, and at the conclusion you suffered the reality that it is time to “re-enter” the daily routine?  It is a bittersweet time as you savor the fellowship time you have spent with God and with others, coupled with the knowledge that soon it will be over.  In many respects, that parallels, or should parallel, our experience as the Sabbath comes to a close.

The Sabbath is truly a holy and blessed time. Our loving Father God wants us to have a good life. So He advised us –  "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, …. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth…, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”  Exod. 20:8-11

Ideally, the Sabbath experience should be a time slot, a day, in which we are to live fully in that moment as we find the pleasure and holiness that comes from relaxing, studying the Torah or Bible, and having fellowship with family and friends. If we fully honor the Sabbath -- experiencing rest, study and fellowship — then we have achieved our spiritual goal to follow God’s plan for holy living.

Whether you are accustomed to a Sunday worship or the Saturday worship as is directed in the Torah, there is a lot to learn from the Jewish customs for Sabbath worship.  Let’s look at a way of appreciating the concluding hours of the Sabbath experience. 

The Jewish custom is to conclude the Sabbath formally with a time of evening prayer and a rich Havdalah, or ‘separation ceremony’.   During that time, Jews reaffirm their belief in the coming of Messiah and the redemption of the world. They acknowledge their duty to sanctify life with holy living.  Then, they light a long braided candle, drink from an overflowing cup of wine, and deeply inhale the fragrance of spices as they recite “Be not afraid, my servant Jacob, for I, the LORD, am with you” from Jeremiah 30:10.

According to Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein:

·      “The light of the braided candle symbolizes the intertwining of the Eternal One and the divine spirit in man; for as the Bible says, “the LORD is our light and our redeemer.”  

·      The overflowing cup of wine symbolizes our uncontainable optimism and hope for the coming week.

·      The aromatic spices refresh our soul and dispel the emptiness we feel at the conclusion of Shabbat.”

In what ways can we involve more of your senses to help us focus more on God?

When I’ve experienced an Havdalah ceremony, the verse that comes to mind is “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” from Psalm 34:8.  And if the day had been truly devoted to God – resting, studying and fellowshipping, then the Havdalah ceremony is especially encouraging.  Then I’m ready and prepared to walk in holiness for six more days until I can once again ‘rest in Him.’

Point to Ponder

What can you do to receive the intended benefits of honoring God’s Sabbath?

What might you add – or subtract – to make your experience more meaningful?

P.S. It has been said “The Jews keep the Sabbath; but actually, the Sabbath has kept the Jews.”

Shabbat Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             October 29, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing – Are deceptions, lies or half-truths ever justified?

Hebraic Musing – Are deceptions, lies or half-truths ever justified?

Was Moses right to deceive Pharaoh when asking to take the Israelites on a three day desert trip? Does the end justify the means?  God instructed Moses in Ex. 3:18-19  Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.'  God had also revealed Pharaoh’s heart in Ex. 3:19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him.  Why was this deception sanctioned by God Himself? 

God told Moses to deceive or trick Pharaoh because Pharaoh was evil and an enemy. 

Here are a few examples of men of God using lies and deception, sometimes instructed by God:

·      Abraham and Isaac both lied to rulers about their wives being sisters. How was that okay?

·      In Joshua chapter 2, Rahab lied to the King of Jericho about the presence of the two spies. Justified?

·      In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel was told by God how to deceive Jesse when he was actually coming to anoint the next king.

·      Starting in 1 Kings 22:20 …the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours… in order to deceive wicked Ahab.

·      When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, Elisha (a renowned prophet of God) deceived the army by saying "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria. 2 Kings 6:19

How can these lies, deceptions and half-truths be justified?  Is the other party who is asking the question entitled to the truth?  What will they do with the truth?

There is a big difference between telling a lie and concealing information that others have forfeited the right to know. How does someone forfeit the right to know the truth?  Could it be they have a hostile attitude?  Maybe they have a hostile attitude toward God and/or His moral standards.  Is a POW under obligation to spill the whole truth?

So as Torah respecting believers, we do not have an obligation to always tell everything we know or believe just because we are asked.  Has the ‘asker’ forfeited his right to know the truth because he has abused, or is flaunting, the truth he already possesses.

If someone is already flaunting his ‘superior’ knowledge, shouldn’t we question the basis for his belief before dumping ‘truth’s on him? (Do truths become ‘Pearls before swine’?)

Point to Ponder

Are you obliged to tell the whole truth to an enemy who is willing to inflict harm?

Will it do any good to dump the truth of the whole salvation message…
 to an avowed atheist?

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             October 22, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing – Is Biblical Marriage a Triune Relationship?

Hebraic Musing – Is Biblical Marriage a Triune Relationship?

Adam and Eve walked and talked daily in the garden with God.  They were naked and the threesome was in perfect relationship. This need for a triune marital relationship dawned on me recently.

My first 18 years of marriage were all about Peggy and me and the challenges of raising six children; and it was rough. But my priorities were clear in my mind – Family first, Profession/Job second, and Community Service third.  Good theory – but in reality I was working for the community until 3:00AM all too often. There was little time left for the family since I got up at 6:00 AM for a two hour commute to work.  That life style had community first, work second and family was dead last.  Priorities were messed up and frustrating.

At the age of 38 Peggy and I attended a Marriage Encounter and I heard of the strength of a ‘three braided cord’.  Shortly after that I fell to my knees and said “Jesus, you are real and I need to learn more about you.”  Peggy and the family had already accepted Jesus and were steadfast in their faith; I had to catch up. From that day forward, our marriage steadily improved as God became the third braid in our relationship. We served our Lord by ministering together. Our dependence on Our Third Partner climaxed as Peggy’s health issues required more love and attention than I realized I was capable of.  We became exceptionally close as she made her decision to leave me for The Perfect Husband – the ultimate intimacy. I learned that true marital love has to be a three braided cord.

Father God sent His only Son to earth to seek a bride. My Biblical Marriage book builds on this theme. If Jesus is the Groom and we are the bride, who is the third braid in our relationship?  May I suggest that it is the Holy Spirit holding us together while bringing meaning and joy to our relationship? 

After Peggy left me for the Perfect Husband I grieved.  Then a search for a wife began. My marriage had been so fulfilling I knew I could not stay single without the suitable help-mate that is so much a part of God’s plan. Along came my high school sweetheart, Irene.  God, in His infinite wisdom, kept us apart for 57 years!  Sounds great, but whoa!  Let’s be rational. “Stop, Drop and Roll” Does she fit the criteria? She has to be…

·         a widow as scripturally prescribed in Romans 7?

·         a Christian and much more than just a ‘Sunday-go-to-meeting’ Christian? 

·         willing to evangelize and support missions with me.

God had apparently planned for all this.  Irene met all the criteria and then some. She was a widow; had been active in ‘Evangelism Explosion’; and had been on the mission field in Europe and South America. As we celebrate our first wedding anniversary last Sunday, we find a refreshing level of both formal and informal spontaneous prayer time and ministry together.  We both grew in the Lord in our previous marriages, so our priorities were made straight, or at least straighter.  We now enjoy God’s presence in our lives every day.

I hope and trust that all of you will search for the perfecting of that relationship in your lives. I learned the value of a Triune marital relationship the hard way; but now we allow God to be the third person.

Point to Ponder

How can one possibly deal with the daily issues of married life
                             without Him at our side?

Remember, some day we will all be walking and talking together with God
                   in perfect relationship with total openness.

 ♫ Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             October 15, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing – Can Diversity and Unity Co-exist?

Hebraic Musing – Can Diversity and Unity Co-exist?

Twice a month, Irene and I minister to a group of seniors at an Assisted Living facility. The first time I ministered there folks were gathering and I heard someone down the hall shout “What denomination is it?” So I shouted back down the hall “Multi”. Recently I congratulated the group for being a ‘Multi’-denominational group serving a ‘Multi’-denominational God. Then we each shared our own denominational backgrounds and we recognized and appreciated the unique strengths that each of our denominations contributes to the Kingdom of God.

At my father’s funeral, my siblings each shared their concerns and grief with me as I became the patriarch, being the oldest of the eight. And each had differing denominational attachments. While flying home at 35,000 feet I prayed “Thank you Lord for giving me all the different denominational ways to bless you.” And I heard God reply almost audibly “Joe, those are all the different ways I have to bless you.”

My favorite song is from Psalm 133 -- How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!...

Today I am studying Ephesians 4. Verses 3 to 6 say Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, ….. NIV   So why does Paul, or God, follow up immediately by introducing diversity in vs.11-12?  It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (Why?) to prepare God's people…  God wanted unity but He also created diversity. Each of us are different, uniquely.

Why was America so strong?  We were known as the melting pot of diverse nationalities.  Each brought something different to America; like trades, ethics, foods, etc.  And we worked in unity to be successful, prosperous and victorious as a nation.

When our American armed forces wanted to take a Pacific Island in WWII, the Air Force would bomb the island; then the Navy would shell it from afar; then the Marines would land and establish a beachhead and take out key enemy installations; finally the Army would land and complete the conquering task. Multiple forces, each uniquely equipped would work together to defeat the enemy.

Our Tuesday Bible/Torah study group exemplifies diversity and unity. We blend the inputs from a Jew, a Mormon, a Christian specializing in Prophecy, another who follows Messianic teachings, home-schooled youths who ask questions, the host family who are Christians attending a Jewish synagogue, my Irene is a 52 year Baptist and I have a multi-denominational background. Yet we all love each other and enjoy the differing perspectives and depth of understanding.  Oreos keep us in unity and coming back each week.

God built diversity into our Hebrew roots. Each tribe of Israel had its own flag and symbol and diverse individual blessings from Abraham and Moses. The unique flags and roles of each tribe symbolized their place among the children of Israel and their contribution to the nation. By raising these flags, each tribe celebrated their own diverse strengths and also appreciated the roles of the other tribes.

Finally, God provided us with a diverse variety of gifts. In Romans 12:6-8 by His grace He gave us diverse gifts of prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, generosity, leadership and mercy.  Also in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 God’s Spirit gives us diverse manifestations of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation.  Let’s celebrate diversity!

Abe Lincoln said “If we were all rich we we’d all be poor; and if we were all poor we’d all be rich”.

Point to Ponder

How dull would life be without diversity?

What will it take to achieve the unity God calls us to?

May they know we are Christians by our love (and not “…by the things that we don’t do.”)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             October 8, 2013