Post by Mark on Sept 6, 2007 3:32:15 GMT -8
If you've been following the Parashah, with or probably without our help, you know that we've just come through the blessings and cursings for obedience. This is often given a misapplication by the Christian perspective: that obedience the condition of covenant. Not so: Adonai says, "You will be My people. I will be your God... we can either do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way."
Now he puts the relationship before them, offering them choice.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live...(Deu 30:19 KJV)
This same choice is later given by Joshua in his declaration that I see often displayed as though it were a Christian mezuzah:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Jos 24:15 KJV)
Our faith, our lifestyle of obedience, is not something that we have been coerced into, nor do we put pressure on people to adhere to our standards of living. In my fellowship there is a range of
observance, not everyone is near the same place in obedience and we put no pressure on anyone to change the way they live. This is common in Judaism and a necessary fundamental based upon this verse in Deuteronomy 31. Your obedience is a matter of your personal choice.
It can be said, that since Adonai has fashioned and created us to the infinite detail, uniquely and purposefully knitted together the fabric of our being, He has designed some of us to make good choices and soe of us to make not so good choices. It is also a valid position that He has left in each of us a void which He allows us to fill with our own unique humanity and free-will. There are armies the PhD carrying theologians on either side of the camp. Yet, neither position ought to alleviate us from our ow personal responsibility to decide how we will choose to live. He has given us the consequences of either decision. And while the rewards and punishments seem to be spoken to the nation and land of Israel, if we have alleigned ourselves with the God pd Israel, we have stepped into the line of fire.
This Parashah is always given the Sabbath before Rosh Hashannah, when Adonai opens the Book of Life, the Book of Death and the Book of Deeds. The question must come upon all of us for this year, "How shall we choose?"
Lashana Tova Tikva Teh,
Happy New Year and may your name be inscribed in the Book of Life,
Mark Staneart
Now he puts the relationship before them, offering them choice.
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live...(Deu 30:19 KJV)
This same choice is later given by Joshua in his declaration that I see often displayed as though it were a Christian mezuzah:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Jos 24:15 KJV)
Our faith, our lifestyle of obedience, is not something that we have been coerced into, nor do we put pressure on people to adhere to our standards of living. In my fellowship there is a range of
observance, not everyone is near the same place in obedience and we put no pressure on anyone to change the way they live. This is common in Judaism and a necessary fundamental based upon this verse in Deuteronomy 31. Your obedience is a matter of your personal choice.It can be said, that since Adonai has fashioned and created us to the infinite detail, uniquely and purposefully knitted together the fabric of our being, He has designed some of us to make good choices and soe of us to make not so good choices. It is also a valid position that He has left in each of us a void which He allows us to fill with our own unique humanity and free-will. There are armies the PhD carrying theologians on either side of the camp. Yet, neither position ought to alleviate us from our ow personal responsibility to decide how we will choose to live. He has given us the consequences of either decision. And while the rewards and punishments seem to be spoken to the nation and land of Israel, if we have alleigned ourselves with the God pd Israel, we have stepped into the line of fire.
This Parashah is always given the Sabbath before Rosh Hashannah, when Adonai opens the Book of Life, the Book of Death and the Book of Deeds. The question must come upon all of us for this year, "How shall we choose?"
Lashana Tova Tikva Teh,
Happy New Year and may your name be inscribed in the Book of Life,
Mark Staneart
