Post by Mark on May 7, 2009 3:54:31 GMT -8
Today is an annual event when Christian folk of many denominations set aside their differences to join together in harmoneous prayer. It has become a tradition for many years. Several cities will hold community vigils in parks or public meeting places. Several ideas have been suggested in the preceding days as to how people might be involved. I applaid the effort and encourage everyone's participation; but once again, as in so many other venues we are trying to make up on our own something that Adonai our God has commanded from Scripture and that the Jewish people have been practicing for thousands of years.
First, the National Day of Prayer that God prescribes is not in May. Of course, getting together in May is not sinful by any means; but the dismissal of God's commands and making up something different on our own is, at best impetuous. The National Day of Prayer that God prescribed for us is on the opposite side of the calendar: on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Here we are commanded to gather together as one people, "afflict our souls" and remember the holiness of our God. We repent of our sins at kole nidre (all vows) and collectively acknowledge our need for His mercy. We then stand before Him and declare His goodness to us and become clean before Him. The Christian National Day of Prayer is a great idea; but is a characature of what Adonai has described for us and offers us in community worship.
Second, the idea of putting our sides for worship and standing as one before God is not a new idea nor even an annual event. The Hebrew practice is to do this daily as the sun rises. We stand before God, as His people and recite the Amidah, inserting our own concerns and praises as we go; but praying as one before the Lord. Recognizing that the sun is always rising. This practice results in continuous prayer all around the world, never ceasing. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that.
Again, I don't want to at all be interpretted as dissuading participation in this day's events. In fact, rather, I would encourage greater participation from the Messianic community. How beautiful it could be, though, if it were an act of experienced, knowledgeable obedience as opposed to the attempts of man in his own wisdom attempting to reach toward God.
First, the National Day of Prayer that God prescribes is not in May. Of course, getting together in May is not sinful by any means; but the dismissal of God's commands and making up something different on our own is, at best impetuous. The National Day of Prayer that God prescribed for us is on the opposite side of the calendar: on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Here we are commanded to gather together as one people, "afflict our souls" and remember the holiness of our God. We repent of our sins at kole nidre (all vows) and collectively acknowledge our need for His mercy. We then stand before Him and declare His goodness to us and become clean before Him. The Christian National Day of Prayer is a great idea; but is a characature of what Adonai has described for us and offers us in community worship.
Second, the idea of putting our sides for worship and standing as one before God is not a new idea nor even an annual event. The Hebrew practice is to do this daily as the sun rises. We stand before God, as His people and recite the Amidah, inserting our own concerns and praises as we go; but praying as one before the Lord. Recognizing that the sun is always rising. This practice results in continuous prayer all around the world, never ceasing. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that.
Again, I don't want to at all be interpretted as dissuading participation in this day's events. In fact, rather, I would encourage greater participation from the Messianic community. How beautiful it could be, though, if it were an act of experienced, knowledgeable obedience as opposed to the attempts of man in his own wisdom attempting to reach toward God.
