Hebraic Musing
- I Will Not Be Silent
We’ve been told “If you
can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” And because of that, we are chastised if we do
not say the “Politically Correct” thing.
These modern day teachings are in direct conflict with Isaiah’s message:
For Zion’s sake I will
not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain
quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her
salvation like a blazing torch. — Isaiah 62:1
And
I just listened to Ezekiel 33 in my audio Bible where God holds the watchman responsible
if he does not warn the people. The
blood of the people will be on the watchman if he does not blow the trumpet.
Elie
Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, recalled asking his father in the midst of the
Holocaust; “Can this be true? This is the 20th century, not the Middle Ages.
Who would allow such crimes to be committed? How could the world remain
silent?” Wiesel later explained that “…
the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be
silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the
tormentor, never the tormented.”
And
yet today, victims are tormented around the world and the world remains silent.
Rabbi Eckstein bemoans the fact that “Nowhere is this more evident than in
Israel. When terror attacks occur anywhere else, social media is flooded with
sympathy, condolences pour in from nearly every country, and almost all condemn
the act of terror. However, Israel seems to be the exception. … The silence is deafening.”
Today,
in our nation we encounter Biblical truths and morality being ignored. The Judeo-Christian morality upon which our
nation was founded is being ignored and even scoffed at. (Do you need a list?) Are
we to be Politically Correct and not risk offending others? They are offending Our Almighty God!!!
As
I interpret Isaiah’s message, Zion seems to represent the government of God –
His Kingdom. And Jerusalem seems to refer
to home, now and forever. So it is for
the sake of Zion and Jerusalem that I need to speak up. For the sake of our nation and our home I
need to speak up. Why? Others around me need to hear the truth, the
only true truth that comes from Almighty God. They need it for their salvation and for the
salvation of their nation and for the world around them. And for our children and grandchildren and
greatgrandchildren and neighbors.
And
so I ask you, Christian friends, please do not be silent.
Points to ponder
Is my short-term friendship
with the deceived person(s) more important
than their long-term salvation?
If I don’t speak up, who
will? Is God counting on me?
Will you read the addendum
below?
Even though it is long and thorough?
And, as a watchman, will you share it?
Shalom
Yosef a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd September 6,
2016
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the
Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage” “Musings - A Victorious Life” “Musings - The Torah and New Testament”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings” www.InsightsByYosef.com
ADDENDUM. While drafting the above musing “I Will Not Be Silent”, this message arrived - “ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTION”. And
this is a Biblical issue since the coming election is promoting many blatantly
Progressive and Socialistic policies, which are contrary to the Theocracy which
we should be striving for. Here is a
pastor’s unedited article: ANSWERING THE BIG QUESTION
BY: Dr.
Jim Garlow who is pastor of Skyline Church in San Diego. He is also co-founder
of The Jefferson Gathering, a weekly worship service for members of Congress at
the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
I have been asked "the question" so
many times regarding Trump or Hillary. By way of background, I have followed
every national convention-Republican and Democrat-from the time I was age 9,
and have attended most of the GOP Conventions from 1984 to the present. I have
watched the news virtually every day from the age of 8. I have never seen
anything like what we are observing.
In spite of the unprecedented nature of this
election cycle, I will attempt to respond to "the question." I am not
demanding that anyone else share my view. But I was asked. Here is my best
attempt to answer as I am able to see things at this time:
1. The Democratic and Republican party
platforms are as different as night and day, in my opinion, as far apart as
evil vs. good. The 51-page Democratic platform is the most leftist ever. (I
don't care for the "right vs. left" nomenclature. I am far more
concerned with "right vs. wrong.") The Democratic platform contains
many points which are anti-biblical. (Time does not permit me here to identify
what is meant by "anti-biblical," which is covered in my new book
Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues.) It is thoroughly
socialistic (a socialist is a communist without a gun). The 54-page GOP
platform is one of the strongest GOP platforms ever. A biblically alert person
could be comfortable with almost all of it. Party platforms are a big issue to
me. Although some "blow off" party platforms, I do not. Nor do many
people up and down the ballot who are running for office. This is a serious and
very important item. I have a hard copy of both platforms in front of me now.
Most people have never checked out what the party platforms say. They should.
If a person is not drawn to the "top-of-the-ballot" candidate, they
ought to at least consider voting for the candidate attached to the best party
platform.
2. Analogy #1: Both candidates are
flawed. We all know that. But permit me an analogy: As a pastor, I would rather
deal with a church attendee who is blatant and brash in his sinning than one
who is devious, lying, cunning and deceptive. Both are problematic, but one is
easier to deal with than the other. If I were a pastor bringing correction to a
parishioner, I would prefer dealing with a "Trump-type" any day over
a "Hillary-type." The chances of making progress with the "Trump-type"
is many times greater than the "Hillary-type."
3. Analogy #2: When my (late) wife's
remarkable and much loved oncologist said, "Don't take Carol to that
alternative (non FDA approved) treatment." I asked, "Why not?"
He said, "The unknown." I said, "Doctor, your 'known' is much
worse than the alternative treatment's 'unknown.'" (I took her to that
alternative treatment. One year later that same oncologist went to the
alternative treatment doctor to see how it was that Carol had improved so much.
While this alternative treatment did not ultimately save her life, it likely
stretched two to three years of life to six years of life-by the admission of
another one of her brilliant young oncologists who later said, "Without
any medical training or scientific fact, you have put together a protocol of
treatment that has moved her into the top fraction of 1 percent of survival
rates of all patients with Carol's particular cancer). Application of the
analogy: Hillary's "known" is considerably worse-many times over-than
Trump's "unknown."
4. Trump has lots of sins in his past
(actually, we all do), and-in the present-says things he should not say. I make
no attempt to defend any of the things he has said. There is no need to
rehearse the wrong things he has said. We know what they are. He should not
have thought or said them. But there is no need to rehash them here. So we
won't. But let's turn to the other candidate. Although America has had some
scandal-ridden candidates in its history, we have never seen any one major
party candidate more constantly scandalous as Hillary (along with her husband).
She seems to exceed all previous boundaries for wrongdoing. The scandals just
don't stop. In the same way we did not take time to list all of Trump's
misstatements, neither will we here rehash the seemingly continuous string of
horrific scandals of the Clintons.
5. Trump is slowly being surrounded by
increasingly good people. From time to time, I receive encouraging calls
regarding this. Can these good people impact Trump? We will see. In contrast, I
see no reason for any encouragement regarding the people who surround Hillary.
6. Trump is right on approximately 75
percent of the issues. I wish it was 100 percent. It is not. I am in hopes that
those beginning to surround him can help him connect the dots on more issues.
Hillary is wrong on 100 percent of the issues.
7. This next issue might be one of the
most important, but I suspect few will understand its significance. Trump
opposes globalism. Hillary thrives on it. Globalism is far more than "geographical"
or "eliminating national borders and boundaries." It is spiritual,
that is, demonic at its core. Few-very few-understand this. This is quite
likely one of the main reasons why Trump is hated. Do your homework on this
one. Think "principalities and powers." Serious. Extremely serious.
8. Not voting is not a viable option,
contrary to what the "purists" claim. It is not my intention to begin
a war of the issue. I know that some radically disagree with this. My view?
They have the right to be wrong.
9. Voting for a third party candidate
is-regardless of what is said-a complete "throw-away." No third party
candidate will be elected, or even come remotely close to being elected. And
yes, that matters to me. And for the record, the Libertarian ticket-Johnson and
Weld-is nearly as bad on many issues as Hillary. When I listen to them, I am
stunned people of their ability have ever made it to elective office.
10. Trump has moved pro-life. Hillary is
pro-baby killing, and prides herself on that, and honors the
organization-Planned Parenthood-that actually traffics human parts from dead
babies whom they have killed. This is below anything we have seen since Nazi
Germany. The gall of Hillary! The Clintons have evaded justice for decades and
likely will continue to. But they will someday stand before the Great White
Throne. They will have to give account of their support of the ripping babies
to shreds in the womb. For the record, those who vote for those who support the
genocide of pre-borns will also have to give an account.
11. Trump wants to defend the nation
(which is the purpose of government). Hillary has a horrific track record as
Secretary of State, and due to hundreds of millions of dollars given to her and
her husband's foundation, she is beholden to those who want us dead.
12. Hillary claims "everything is
fine" in America. This defies every single fact, but facts have never been
an interest of Hillary's. Trump understands that it is 11:59 p.m. on the
"cultural clock." America is near the end-morally, economically,
militarily and, sadly, spiritually. There are very clear identifiable
indicators-measurable ones-that America is no longer the world's leading power.
That day is over. Hillary will hasten the final destruction. Trump could either
slow that down-or possibly, with God's help-reverse it. Maybe.
13. Trump will address the massive
government spending. Hillary will expand it above the existing unsustainable
debt the U.S. currently is carrying (almost $20 trillion plus unfunded
liabilities to Social Security, etc).
14. Trump will expose-and I pray, bring
down-"the systemic evil" (crony, deceitful, misuse of capitalism)
that reigns among many high-dollar lobbyists. Hillary thrives because of them.
15. Trump will stop the massive
overreach of government. Hillary will extend it.
16. Freedoms come in "threes."
Political freedom, economic freedom and religious liberty coexist together.
Take one away and the other two will eventually disappear. One cannot exist
without the other two. The genius of America is that it had all three, until
recently. Trump fully grasps the loss of religious liberty. I have heard him
speak on it in person on several occasions. He knows that economic and
political freedoms are evaporating. He will reverse that. Hillary will decimate
all three.
17. Every rational person knows the
Supreme Court appointments are paramount. Trump has listed 11 superb potential
nominees. Hillary's appointments would snuff out the tiny vestige of the three
freedoms that are left (mentioned in the statement above). Think Supreme Court
Justice Barak Obama………….
18. I make no excuse for wrongdoing or
wrongful, hurtful words from either candidate. Candidly, I want King Jesus. He
rules in my heart. And yours too, I suspect. And I want him to rule here-now.
But that day is not fully manifested-yet. In the meantime, we prayerfully,
carefully navigate this challenging election season, with great concern that
above all, we honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in every arena of our
lives, including the voting booth. That is my hope. It is yours as well.
Amen? A M E N !
The two fancy dowels, one on
each side of the Torah scroll, are called Eitz Chayim (Trees of Life). Opening
the scroll reveals the pages of parchment (the pages of a Torah Scroll are
referred to as leaves). God’s written word
is on those pages (leaves) and God’s written Word flowing between the trees is God’s
truth which in Hebrew is symbolized by water. The Hebrew letter < (MEM) is a
symbol of water and represents truth. God teaches truths to His people
and those truths are words of life. And
if those words are accepted, applied, and written on people’s hearts, then a
nation will be healed — Israel or Honduras or your nation. You may want to read Revelation 22:1-2 again
in light of this Hebraic Insight. 
