Post by Mark on Sept 29, 2008 4:44:37 GMT -8
There are lots of fascinating stories in Jewish antiquity which are used to further explain our relationship with our great, mighty and loving God. One of those, it is said, that on Rosh Hashanah, at the blowing of trumpets, Adonai our King, opens the Book of Life and the Book of Deeds. He evaluates each of our hearts and our actions and our relationship to Him. Everyone and everything we have done is written in the Book of Deeds. It is according to the record of the Book of Deeds that we will be judged, that we will be found inevitably unworthy regardless of our attempts to justify ourselves.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
(Psalms 53:2-3)
Yet, according to His mercy, by the work of the Messiah who saves us, our names may be written in the Book of Life. It is by His merit that we are saved, not our own.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
(Zechariah 12:10)
The problem with this traditional story of the Book of Life and the Book of Deeds is that it is nowhere recorded in the Old Testament, the Bible of the Jewish people. It is only tradition, handed down by the sages to teach their children of concepts that are difficult to understand. Yet, we find this very Jewish idea taught in the New Testament.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(Revelation 20:11-13)
If we reject the Jewish culture and teaching that our New Testament writers presumed in their expositions, that Adonai called upon us to enjoy, then we completely miss great gifts that He is offering to us in the wisdom and history of His Holy People.
Enjoy the these festivals of the Jewish faith… our faith, and may we learn of Him.
Lashana Tova!