Post by Mark on Mar 2, 2008 7:06:05 GMT -8
One of the things that I'm working on in our community is trying to help those coming from the gentile Church see the beauty and value of the Messianic Liturgy, as taken out of the Jewish Synagogue. I've been writing a paper each week on different prayers and thought some of you might be interested in what I've shared thus far. I'll start posting them in this area, as I go along, hoping that these generate some response of praise to Adonai our God, or stimulate questions on the Judaic perspective of our faith.
Shelikha
"Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have rebelled; for You are a pardoner and a forgiver. Blessed are You, Adonai, the gracious One who abundantly forgives."
All my life I was taught Jews believed that they were saved from the wrath of God by keeping
. If this were so, then the Shelikha would not be a Jewish prayer: particularly not a daily prayer in Jewish tradition. I was taught that the Jew must spend twenty-four hours in fasting and self-neglect on Yom Kippur so as to appease the wrath of the Almighty so as not to be condemned to Hell each and every year.
There may possibly be some sects within Judaism that believe such things. There are a lot of different sects within Judaism that believe a lot of different things; but to understand repentance and forgiveness; one should have an understanding of Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. The two holidays book-end what are known as the Ten Days of Awe. On Rosh Hashanna, the Book of Life and the Book of Deeds are opened (Revelation 20:12) and each person is evaluated as their worthiness to be written in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur, these books are closed and the fate of man is sealed. It cannot be presumed that these actual dates correspond with Adonai’s appointment with our justice. His measurement and handling of time is not limited by our understanding. Yet, the annual event represents a definite reality that is confirmed in the New Testament Scriptures.
On Rosh Hashanna, the Day of Trumpets, the Book of Deeds is opened and we begin to search our lives and evaluate our relationship with Adonai, the King of all the earth. With specific detail and prayerful meditation we recognize our short-comings. It is on Rosh Hashanna that the accusation is made that we are sinful and unworthy of the life that we have been given. Court will convene in ten days, on Yom Kippur. We use this time as wisely as possible, we settle accounts, we make reconciliation, we repent, or turn from behaviors that we know do not please the Holy One. (See Luke 16:1-8).
The evening before Yom Kippur is a service known as Kole Nidre, meaning "All Vows." On this night, we stand before Him, knowing that we full well deserve His wrath; but what we find is not the Righteous Judge but the Merciful Father. Though we deserve His judgment, He extends to us His grace. We fast on Yom Kippur, not in fear but in holiness and worship.
Yet, sinfulness and rebellion is not something we would be wise to consider only once a year. It is a daily part of our human existence. The High Holy Days are not lessened by a daily keeping of accounts. They become more precious. Our awareness of how sinful we really are in God’s eyes is more clear, and His holiness and grace is more acute.
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
(1Co 4:1-2 KJV)
Shelikha
"Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have rebelled; for You are a pardoner and a forgiver. Blessed are You, Adonai, the gracious One who abundantly forgives."
All my life I was taught Jews believed that they were saved from the wrath of God by keeping
. If this were so, then the Shelikha would not be a Jewish prayer: particularly not a daily prayer in Jewish tradition. I was taught that the Jew must spend twenty-four hours in fasting and self-neglect on Yom Kippur so as to appease the wrath of the Almighty so as not to be condemned to Hell each and every year. There may possibly be some sects within Judaism that believe such things. There are a lot of different sects within Judaism that believe a lot of different things; but to understand repentance and forgiveness; one should have an understanding of Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. The two holidays book-end what are known as the Ten Days of Awe. On Rosh Hashanna, the Book of Life and the Book of Deeds are opened (Revelation 20:12) and each person is evaluated as their worthiness to be written in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur, these books are closed and the fate of man is sealed. It cannot be presumed that these actual dates correspond with Adonai’s appointment with our justice. His measurement and handling of time is not limited by our understanding. Yet, the annual event represents a definite reality that is confirmed in the New Testament Scriptures.
On Rosh Hashanna, the Day of Trumpets, the Book of Deeds is opened and we begin to search our lives and evaluate our relationship with Adonai, the King of all the earth. With specific detail and prayerful meditation we recognize our short-comings. It is on Rosh Hashanna that the accusation is made that we are sinful and unworthy of the life that we have been given. Court will convene in ten days, on Yom Kippur. We use this time as wisely as possible, we settle accounts, we make reconciliation, we repent, or turn from behaviors that we know do not please the Holy One. (See Luke 16:1-8).
The evening before Yom Kippur is a service known as Kole Nidre, meaning "All Vows." On this night, we stand before Him, knowing that we full well deserve His wrath; but what we find is not the Righteous Judge but the Merciful Father. Though we deserve His judgment, He extends to us His grace. We fast on Yom Kippur, not in fear but in holiness and worship.
Yet, sinfulness and rebellion is not something we would be wise to consider only once a year. It is a daily part of our human existence. The High Holy Days are not lessened by a daily keeping of accounts. They become more precious. Our awareness of how sinful we really are in God’s eyes is more clear, and His holiness and grace is more acute.
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
(1Co 4:1-2 KJV)
