Post by Mark on Dec 30, 2007 6:59:22 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.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul, He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of me enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and grace will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death is always spoken of in allegorical terms; yet, to the Hebrew of Messiah’s day, it was an idiom for a specific place, also known as the Kidron Valley. It is located on the East side of Jerusalem, and is so named because it is narrow and deep so that as the sun rises, its rays never touch the valley bottom. This makes the valley of little value for agricultural use; yet, since it is set with rocky clefts on either side, it is an ideal burying ground.
The valley is surrounded by groves of olive trees. In the foothills, crevices are used to store olives during the late summer months of harvest; but would also be ideal for bandits to lie in wait for merchants leaving the city. There was a tangible significance to the words of David, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…" There was good reason to be afraid.
There are few reasons for a shepherd to be leading his flocks through the Kidron valley. It will only take him to the Eastern Gate of the City. One reason may be to get to the market; but it would be easier and much safer to go North around the city to enter the Western Gate (the Sheep Gate). The only place that the course through the Valley of the Shadow will take you is to the Temple grounds.
When the Shepherd "restores" the soul (the neh-fesh or the life) of His sheep, we assume that the word is shah-lam (to make safe). The word that David chose, however, was shoob (to turn back). The answer is found in the proceeding line, that "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." The course that is being followed is not one of the lamb’s own choosing, nor even in its own personal best interest; but according to the agenda of the Shepherd.
We rightly understand this imagery to be speaking of the course laid out for our Messiah, "the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world;" but it is also a course which we must also choose whether or not we will follow. There are steps toward obedience that often do not seem will result in our personal comfort or well-being. David’s conclusion is very similar what Job declared, "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." Yet, the course of our little lamb is not a course of possibilities. The end of the road is unquestionably sacrifice. He says, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever," the word "forever" is not "ow-lam" but rather "l’oh-rech yameem": to the end of my days. Are we willing to follow Messiah, our Shepherd, through the Valley of the Shadow of Death… really? I honestly cannot say for myself. I’ve never been there. May He give me strength and lead me safely in the way.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul, He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of me enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and grace will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death is always spoken of in allegorical terms; yet, to the Hebrew of Messiah’s day, it was an idiom for a specific place, also known as the Kidron Valley. It is located on the East side of Jerusalem, and is so named because it is narrow and deep so that as the sun rises, its rays never touch the valley bottom. This makes the valley of little value for agricultural use; yet, since it is set with rocky clefts on either side, it is an ideal burying ground.
The valley is surrounded by groves of olive trees. In the foothills, crevices are used to store olives during the late summer months of harvest; but would also be ideal for bandits to lie in wait for merchants leaving the city. There was a tangible significance to the words of David, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…" There was good reason to be afraid.
There are few reasons for a shepherd to be leading his flocks through the Kidron valley. It will only take him to the Eastern Gate of the City. One reason may be to get to the market; but it would be easier and much safer to go North around the city to enter the Western Gate (the Sheep Gate). The only place that the course through the Valley of the Shadow will take you is to the Temple grounds.
When the Shepherd "restores" the soul (the neh-fesh or the life) of His sheep, we assume that the word is shah-lam (to make safe). The word that David chose, however, was shoob (to turn back). The answer is found in the proceeding line, that "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." The course that is being followed is not one of the lamb’s own choosing, nor even in its own personal best interest; but according to the agenda of the Shepherd.
We rightly understand this imagery to be speaking of the course laid out for our Messiah, "the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world;" but it is also a course which we must also choose whether or not we will follow. There are steps toward obedience that often do not seem will result in our personal comfort or well-being. David’s conclusion is very similar what Job declared, "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." Yet, the course of our little lamb is not a course of possibilities. The end of the road is unquestionably sacrifice. He says, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever," the word "forever" is not "ow-lam" but rather "l’oh-rech yameem": to the end of my days. Are we willing to follow Messiah, our Shepherd, through the Valley of the Shadow of Death… really? I honestly cannot say for myself. I’ve never been there. May He give me strength and lead me safely in the way.
