Clifford Denton addresses common misunderstandings about Torah.

In the last article we considered the subject of halakhah. Now let us consider Torah, on which halakhah is founded. These are Hebrew words, which will need some fresh investigation by many Christians, especially since some confusion has entered our Christian experience because of translation of these key words into other languages.

Our English Bible translations use the word ‘law’ where the Hebrew reads ‘Torah’ in the Old Testament. The New Testament manuscripts came to us in Greek rather than the Hebrew language. The word nomos is used rather than Torah or halakhah, again resulting in the word ‘law’ in English translations. This adds to our difficulty in re-thinking the relationship between Torah and halakhah because of the connotations of the word law in our lives and culture today.

This problem is increased because of the way Judaism has put the concept of halakhah into legalistic terms, further leading to many Christians rejecting serious studies of both Torah and halakhah, seeing law and grace as mutually exclusive.

We must look into the heart of God’s intent, and beyond legalism of either a Jewish or a Christian kind, to discover God’s purpose for all the family of faith. That is why we first of all, in our previous article, established that the Hebraic lifestyle was always intended to be a walk with God – the true interpretation of halakhah.

So now let’s put Torah into right relationship with this walk with God.

We must look beyond both Jewish and Christian legalism, to the heart of God’s intent for Torah and halakhah.

Compiling the Torah

It is instructive to consider the historical development of the Bible. The first five books of the Bible are called the Books of Moses. Before Moses’ time, oral tradition was the means of transmitting what was later to become the written word, recorded by Moses.

Enoch, Noah, Abraham and others learned to listen to God and walk with him. Then, when Israel was to become a nation within their own land, God caused Moses to record what is now the first five books of the Bible. This contains relevant earlier history, an account of the wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land (itself a walk with God) and also the instruction that God gave by which Israel was to live. This included the Ten Commandments and a wide variety of requirements by which God’s chosen people should live as a nation, incorporating also the yearly cycle of Feasts of the Lord and the Sabbath Day.

The record of Moses came to be known as Torah. This word does not mean ‘law’. It means ‘teaching’ or ‘instruction’, drawing on the entire content of the first five Books of the Bible. God’s purpose was not to cause law to replace the foundational principle of walking with him in personal and corporate relationship.

Considered as God’s teaching programme, Torah was to be in balance with halakhah. This was the approach to be made in families, where children were to be taught by example and through parental guidance (Deut 6) and for the entire nation, for whom elders were appointed to interpret Torah on the walk of faith (Ex 18).

The Writings and the Prophets

Torah became Israel’s Bible, as it were. Other written records were compiled later, including the history of the nation, the Psalms and the Proverbs, which together were grouped as Ketuvim, the Writings. The Writings came out of a nation that was seeking to live in relation to God and to interpret his teaching as the foundation of that relationship.

When Israel fell away from God, their fall could be assessed by how far they had departed from Torah. The Prophets came along to point Israel back to God through reference to Torah. The third set of written material thus emerged which was called Neveeim, the Hebrew for ‘Prophets’.

The record of Moses came to be known as ‘Torah’, but this does not mean ‘law’.

Thus emerged the priority for the Hebrew Bible. With Torah (the five Books of Moses) at the foundation, Neveeim and Ketuvim were compiled with it, to make what comes to us as TaNaK, or the Tanakh (Old Testament).

Torah: Lost in Translation?

The true meaning and significance of Torah must be untangled from the concepts of English ‘law’ and Greek nomos if we are to re-connect with our Hebraic heritage. The key is in the Hebraic background of teaching, expressed as well as translators could in Greek, English and other languages.

The Greek nomos has shades of meaning that fit this original Hebraic background, but the English ‘law’ can easily be misinterpreted in our day, when it is connected with crime and punishment so readily. Yet, ‘law’ does also imply rules to bring safety and structure to the life of a community, and if we re-connect the concept with education we are not completely divorced from the original intent of the scriptures.

With Torah, interpretation was always necessary. Generation after generation of Israel’s elders and teachers, including rabbis in the Jewish tradition, helped the community of Israel to interpret Torah into a way of life. The call was not to make individual believers dependent on them, but to help them to be dependent on God. It is this link between Torah and halakhah that is so important.

This applies to the Christian world as much as it does to the Jewish world. Indeed, if we re-connect more firmly to the continuity from Old to New Covenant days, both Jews and Christians have the same objective – a walk with God as disciples, learning all that God wants to teach us.

Torah must be untangled from the concepts of English ‘law’ and Greek nomos and re-connected to our Hebraic heritage.

Yeshua Upholds Torah

During his Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua (Jesus) said that he had come to rightly interpret Torah (Matt 5:17). He confronted the religious teachers of the day for their controlling traditions and wrong interpretations (Matt 23). Moses’ seat, referenced in Matthew 23:2, was the seat in the synagogue set aside for a teacher to bring interpretations of the Torah.

Seen through these eyes, we see that much of the ministry of Yeshua was concerned with establishing the true foundations of halakhah through correctly interpreting Torah. He attacked dry ritual and challenged the attitude towards the Feasts and Sabbath (e.g. Mark 2:27-28). He showed that Torah was given by God to strengthen relationships between mankind and God and between men, women and children within Israel’s community (Matt 22:37-40) – the priority being for how we walk out our life in this world whilst also walking with God – halakhah.

Ritual Halakhah

By contrast to the true purpose of Torah, Jewish halakhah has become a form of legal interpretation of 613 dos and don’ts that have been identified in the written Torah.

Many of these commands, taken in a literal sense, are strengthened to give a margin of error so that the actual law will not be broken. This is called a fence around the Torah. However righteous the fence around Torah might seem, it carries with it the potential of robbing a person of their walk with God. Torah is deeper than this and more spiritual in application.

Further, if Torah is separated from the life and sacrificial death of Yeshua it will also lose its true purpose, because only through faith in Yeshua can one achieve the relationship with God that was always the goal of Torah.

Jesus’ ministry was concerned with establishing the true foundations of halakhah through correctly interpreting Torah.

Christians can also be found guilty of falling short of the purpose of what the Bible teaches, as Paul’s letter to the Galatians pointed out. On the one hand there is the possibility of misunderstanding Torah as law in the legal sense and so missing the true purpose of God’s teaching. Many Christians have thereby detached themselves from serious study of the heart intent of Torah foundations, misinterpreting Galatians 3:13. Yeshua (Jesus) took away the curse of Torah (the ‘law’) in that he took the punishment for sin away on the Cross for those who believe. He did not take away Torah itself.

On the other hand, in seeking to restore Torah observance, some Christians have taken a legalistic route, similar to that found in Jewish halakhah.

In Light of the New Covenant

Our challenge, therefore, in re-connecting with the Hebraic background to the Christian faith, is to be serious students of the entire Bible, re-establishing Torah foundations in New Covenant terms, helping one another secure a walk of faith in relationship with one another and with God and not being so legalistic as to spoil that walk, whilst learning together how to let our freedom in Messiah be submitted to the will of the Holy Spirit.

It must be said that the evidence is that it is far easier to slip into legalistic interpretations of Torah, leading to bondage to ritual more than freedom to walk with the Lord – something that takes a lifetime to learn in reality.

Take Psalm 119 as an illustration of where to start. Picture the author carefully constructing his psalm to express his delight in Torah. The psalm has 22 sections, each linked to one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses of a section commences with a word beginning with that letter, aleph, beit, gimmel and so on.

The number eight in Scripture represents new beginnings, possibly new life, so this symbolism is wound into the construction of the psalm. Perhaps there are other symbols too, along with the emphasis on the alphabet.

Our challenge is to re-establish Torah foundations in New Covenant terms, helping one another secure a walk of faith in relationship with God, while not slipping into legalism.

Considering all this, we realise that the psalmist took great care in expressing his love of Torah. Every letter of every word was to express his love of God and recognition of the power of Torah to transform, protect and guide a person.

This same inspiration can be carried over to New Covenant love of God’s teaching. Do we love God’s teaching through his Holy Spirit in such a way that we respond to it with the same heart as the psalmist? How many Christians have seen it that way? Torah was always spiritual and with the gift of the Holy Spirit to write it on our hearts, we are in a privileged position to live a Torah lifestyle - free of bondage, free to learn, discovering how heart manifestations of Torah principles are intended to guide and strengthen our individual and corporate walks with God.

Next time: Some illustrations from Torah

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘The Feasts of the Lord’ by Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal (Thomas Nelson, 1997).

Kicking off our coverage of recommended resources for Passover season, Paul Luckraft reviews an older classic on the Jewish Feasts.

There are many excellent books to choose from that teach us about the Feasts but this one stands out in so many ways. When a friend first showed me this book it immediately grabbed my attention. I gratefully accepted the offer to borrow it and within a couple of days I had bought a copy for myself. It is brilliantly and beautifully produced, and is not only a great read but a perfect reference book to return to time and again.

The book is written jointly by a Messianic believer (Marvin Rosenthal) and an ordained minister (Kevin Howard) whose insight into Jewish culture and the Hebrew language is the result of his involvement in the Jewish community and his frequent trips to Israel.

The book aims to keep both Jewish and Christian readers in mind, and is greatly enhanced by over 150 full-colour charts and photographs, which is one reason it stands apart from many other books on this topic. For instance, there is a double page spread of a Passover table, with all the items annotated and described. A separate page gives a close-up of a magnificent Seder plate.

Fascinating Material

The opening section of the book acts as an introduction, containing an overview firstly of the Spring Feasts and then of the Fall Feasts, both written by Marvin Rosenthal. The introduction concludes with information about Jewish time, the year and the calendar, written by Kevin Howard who is also the author of the rest of the book.

The book is written jointly by a Messianic believer and an ordained minister.

In the second section each of the seven Feasts of Leviticus 23 is taken in turn and in each case the format is the same – description, fulfilment, application. Here the book scores highly again. As well as learning about the ancient biblical observance we come to understand how each Feast is observed in more modern times and also, most importantly, its fulfilment in Jesus and what it can mean for Christians today.

The final section is taken up with additional observances, something that other books often omit. The four chapters are on Tisha B’Av (the fast of the fifth month), Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication), Purim (Feast of Lots) and the Jubilee Year. Here there is plenty of fascinating material which is likely to provide something new for every reader.

A Book to Enjoy and Treasure!

Overall, the explanations are clear and very full. Each page is a delight. There is plenty of background information of historical and cultural interest as well as all the necessary scriptural details. This is book to enjoy and to treasure.

To cap it off there is an excellent index with hundreds of entries spreading over 14 pages, enabling you to find all you need quickly and easily as well as realising that hidden in the book are things you didn’t know about. The index itself becomes a starting point for exploration!

Each page is a delight.

There is also a five-page index of Scripture references, a single page bibliography and a chart showing the dates of the Jewish feasts until 2020.

Although I also greatly value other books on the feasts this is one I would recommend wholeheartedly, both to newcomers to the topic and to those with existing knowledge and experience of what the feasts can mean to us all.

The Feasts of the Lord (224 pages) is available from ICM Books Direct for £14.49 or on Amazon.

A timebomb of corruption is set to explode across the nation.

This was the warning given at a meeting of the Family and Child Protection Group in the House of Commons on Wednesday this week. The Group was considering the Digital Economy Bill which is at present at the Committee Stage in the House of Lords.

The Digital Economy Bill covers a complex set of regulations surrounding the provision and use of the internet. One of its objectives is to increase the protection of children from exposure to scenes of extreme violence and sexual activity on pornographic sites, but this may be the very thing that is not achieved!

Proposed Derestriction of Prohibited Material

These regulations providing protection are being opposed by a group of Lib Dem and Labour peers who are against all restrictions on public liberty.

The Government has intimated to Peers this week that because of pressure from the Labour and Lib Dem front benches, it will table an amendment next week which means that ‘prohibited material’ (i.e. pornography that is currently beyond age classification, such as violent or child pornography) will no longer be blocked forcibly by the age verification regulator, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

The amendment will mean that so long as prohibited material is behind age verification checks so that children theoretically cannot see it, it will become available legally to adults, unless it meets the much tighter definition of ‘Extreme Pornography’.

The Digital Economy Bill should increase the protection of children online – but this may be the very thing it fails to achieve!

If the amendment is approved in the Lords, the Bill will go back to the Commons where there will be further pressure from MPs who share the desire for full freedom of public access to explicit material. If passed, it will remove regulations that were set in the Video Recordings Act of 1985 that forced all films to be classified according to their content (i.e. for family viewing, age 15, or 18+). Films containing scenes of an explicit sexual nature and extreme violence were banned from public display and could only be viewed in clubs or licensed premises.

Currently, prohibited pornographic material is subject to this same law – but the proposed amendment would change that in the domain of the internet, liberalising the law and increasing the likelihood of children gaining access to such material.

The Impacts of Pornography on Children

I was involved with the Parliamentary Group that campaigned for the 1985 Act that produced evidence showing that anything that is available for the public will be seen by children of all ages. In those days there was no internet, but video films could be purchased or hired and were freely available in most homes. The evidence we produced showed that if these films were available in the home they would likely be seen by children.

Secondly, we produced evidence showing the harm done to children by watching scenes of extreme violence and explicit sex. We showed that anything seen on the small screen affects behaviour which, of course, is the whole basis of advertising. Advertisers would not spend millions of pounds promoting their goods if what is seen on the screen does not affect human behaviour.

One example we presented to Parliament was the witness of a police officer who said that a six-year-old girl had been gang-raped by a group of 10-year-old boys who had been going to the home of one boy at lunchtime to watch pornographic films.

Explicit films available in the home are likely to be seen by children – and watching that kind of material does affect them adversely.

Despite all the evidence, we faced massive opposition from the film industry which, since the dawn of the internet, has grown even bigger and more powerful. Billions of dollars are made in the pornographic industry, which has its supporters in both Houses of Parliament.

Today, research has shown that 47% of 11-16 year olds have accessed some kind of pornographic site, and that one in five 11-17 year olds have seen pornographic images that have upset them.¹

Towards Social Disintegration

If the Digital Economy Bill is changed in accordance with the Government’s proposed amendment, important regulations protecting children from harmful scenes will be removed. A timebomb of pornography and violence would be set to explode which will do untold harm among young people. It will make Sodom and Gomorrah seem like a Sunday School party!

Age verification checks are not enough to protect children from accessing pornographic material. Even if parents install protections on their children’s computers, young people soon find ways of circumventing them. It will mean that even the youngest of children could have access – not only on their computers but also on their phones.

Age verification checks are not enough to protect children from accessing pornographic material.

The ultra-libertarians among our lawmakers in both Houses of Parliament seek to remove all regulations out of a misplaced desire for full individual freedom. They have already succeeded in breaking down traditional family life to an extent that endangers the health and well-being of millions of children living in re-constituted families. Unless there is a reversal of current trends that are undermining the value system of the nation, we will experience social disintegration on a scale that is impossible to contain.

Lynda Rose, CEO of Voice for Justice UK, responds: “The adverse effects of pornography are so clearly established by research, that it is difficult even to conceive anyone today calling for liberalisation of current provisions and easier access."

“That a Labour/Lib Dem coalition in the House of Lords should, therefore, be pushing for amendments to restrict application of the proposed age verification provisions contained in the Digital Economy Bill seems recklessly perverse. Children will inevitably be put at increased risk - and inevitably they will suffer.”

Reaping the Whirlwind

Sadly, already we are beginning to see the harmful effects of these trends. We have children as young as 6 and 7 self-harming and becoming suicidal, with social media and other online content playing a central role in worsening this trend.

We have mental health problems at epidemic levels among adults. We have teachers on long-term sickness with mental health problems generated by the misbehaviour they have to contend with daily in the classroom and the playground.

All this stems from the deliberate abandonment of our Judaeo-Christian heritage and the biblical values that historically kept society stable and healthy.

The current trends are undermining our national value system, and if left unchecked will lead to untold social disintegration.

It is surely time for Christians who love this nation to speak fearlessly about the problems facing us. We have to speak about the ‘justice’ of God as well as his love. God is calling his Church to be a prophet to the nation. That means warning of impending judgment in the same way as the biblical prophets did when they saw danger. The Prophet Joel was told to “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming” (Joel 2:1).

Jeremiah was told to stand at the crossroads and declare the word of the Lord, “I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law” (Jer 5:19). The same could be said of Britain and other nations in the Western world. We have had the truth for centuries and we have turned our backs upon it. We have sown the wind and now we are reaping the whirlwind!

What You Can Do

There are two things Christians can do right now. First, tell other Christians and mobilise prayer. Pray that the Government’s amendment will not succeed; pray anyway the Lord tells you – even if it’s to pray confusion into the House of Lords. Secondly, on a practical note, send an email to any member of the House of Lords you know (or even pick some from the list on the internet) asking them to vote against the amendment.

Above all – pray! Pray for the Lord to protect the nation from the clouds of darkness that are gathering to overwhelm us, even if you believe that the nation does not deserve God’s protection. Pray that he does not ‘hand us over’ to the forces of evil, as Paul foresaw the consequences of “the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Rom 1:18-32).

References

1 New blocking powers to protect children online. Department for Culture, Media & Sport.

What it is, how it's celebrated and what it can mean for Christians.

Tomorrow at sundown (11 March 2017) marks the beginning of Purim, one of the most joyous and fun-filled celebrations on the Jewish calendar. Though not an ‘official’ feast of the Lord as laid out in the Torah, being based instead on the story of Esther, it is used annually by Jews worldwide as an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness and deliverance.

For Christians, it can be an opportunity to show love to Jewish people and to the nation of Israel and to thank God for his unrelenting faithfulness toward them, as well as an occasion to celebrate God’s character and his victory over sin and evil through the death and resurrection of our Messiah, Jesus (Yeshua).

We’ve taken the opportunity to round up some good resources in case you would like to learn more about the festival from a Hebraic and a Messianic perspective.

Understanding Purim: biblical teaching on what it is and how it’s celebrated

• Purim – Feast of Lots. John J Parsons (Hebrew4Christians) looks at the story of Esther and the celebration of Purim, including Hebrew blessings and customs for the occasion, as well as its prophetic significance.
  
• Such a Curse: A Messianic Look at Purim. Mark Stover of Jews for Jesus discusses the curse of Amalek and the blotting out of Haman’s name.
  
• A Mystery in the Megillah. Why is the name of God nowhere to be found – seemingly – in the Book of Esther?
  
• Tribute to the Real Hero: Stephen Katz (Jews for Jesus) discusses the heroic characters of Esther and Mordecai.
  
• The Secrets of Esther the Intercessor: One for Israel looks at the Messianic overtones of the well-known story.
  

Joining in: what Purim means for Christians and how we can celebrate it

• The Scandal of Esther: John J Parsons (Hebrew4Christians) looks at Christian neglect of Esther, anti-Semitism in the Church and what Purim should mean to us.
  
• Chabad ideas: Purim stories, study resources and recipes, all from a Jewish perspective, from Chabad. Also see their resources for kids here.
  
• Purim devotional resources: Use the Messianic Jewish Bible Institution’s resources for your own Purim devotional here and here.
  
• Join a Purim party or event near you – such as Vision for Israel’s Purim celebration (11 March) at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster. Find out more and book tickets here.
  

Our pick of the week's happenings to inform your prayers.

Society & Politics

• Ask your MP to oppose abortion up to full term: a new motion from MP Diana Johnson aiming to legalise abortion up to birth, for any reason, will have its first reading on 13 March. Read more here. Click here to email your MP, and click here to sign CitizenGo’s petition.
• Jewish Museum in London evacuated due to bomb threat: Whilst the US enters its third continuous month of hoax bomb threats to Jewish community centres and schools, the unexplained practice may be spreading abroad, with threats in both London and Australia. Read more here, also read a summary of the waves of bomb threats in the US here.
• British royal family officially invited to Israel: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin gave the invitation to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on his recent diplomatic visit to Israel and the PA. The suggested visit would mark the Balfour centenary. Read more here.

World Scene

• Pro-life defence to come before European Court of Justice: In an historic case, Christian Concern’s Roger Kiska will present arguments on behalf of 1.9 million European citizens who signed a pro-life petition calling on the EU to stop funding abortion abroad. Read more here.
• Women’s march collides with anti-Semitism: The international feminist march and strike organised this week is drawing criticism for its unnecessary and notable anti-Israel feeling. Read more here.
• Anti-BDS motions passed in Switzerland and New York: In two separate incidents, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has been dealt a blow this week, in a push-back against anti-Semitism. Switzerland: click here to read more. New York: click here to read more.
  

Israel & Middle East

• Congressional delegation arrives in Israel to discuss embassy move: an official US delegation landed in Israel at the weekend to consider the practical and political implications of Trump’s promised move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Read more here.
• Israeli Parliament passes anti-BDS entry law: As of Monday, Israel now reserves the right to bar entry to non-Israeli citizens if they are actively aligned with the BDS movement. The law is already proving controversial. Read more here.
• Obama’s $221 million gift to the PA received: Despite being frozen initially by the Trump administration, the cash gifted by Obama in his last hours of presidency has now been transferred. Read more here.
• Banksy opens anti-Israel hotel…in Israel: the famed British artist’s latest project features artwork depicting Israel as a failed British colonial project. Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• UK Purim Celebration 2017 (11 March): London event. Special guest speakers, live worship, Jewish music and dancing. The Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. Book your ticket by calling (01793) 279111, or click here.
• ‘As One’ National Prayer Conference (13-15 March): Swanwick, World Prayer Centre. “Listen to God and pray in the new season.” Click here to find out more.
  
• Hope for Our Nation (18 March): Christian Concern host a day event at the Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. “Do you want to see society changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ? Come and understand today's challenges, and be equipped to bring hope to our nation.” Find out more and buy tickets here.
  
• ‘What are we teaching the Children?’ Conference (25 March): Find out how current education policy is influencing children in Britain and how Christians can respond, with Voice for Justice. Emmanuel Centre, Westminster. Click here for information and tickets.

Recommended Sources

At Prophecy Today UK we are aware that the world is moving very quickly and it is difficult to keep up with all the latest developments – especially when the material circulated by our mainstream media is increasingly far from reality and definitely not devoted to a biblical perspective!

Though we are not a news service, we want to help keep you informed by passing on updates and reports as we are led. This will be a selective, not an exhaustive, round-up, which we hope will be helpful for your prayers. Click here to browse our News archive.

We also recommend the following news services for regular updates from a Christian perspective:

• Christian Concern (UK)
  
• Christian Institute (UK)
  
• JNN News (Barry and Batya Segal, Israel)
• Family Watch International
• Barnabas Fund
  
• Kehila News (Israel)

Opponents of Israel are building their own gallows.

As Iran’s supreme leader calls for a ‘holy intifada’ to eradicate Israel, Jews everywhere can be encouraged that the tables were turned on a man from the same part of the world when he made a similar threat.

As we approach the annual Jewish feast of Purim, we recall the plot to destroy all Jews living in the ancient and far-reaching Persian Empire. The man behind it was Haman, political aide to King Xerxes, but thanks to the intervention of Queen Esther, his plan was ultimately foiled and the gallows he had constructed for his Jewish enemy Mordecai (cousin and guardian of the beautiful young Queen) was used for him instead.

In the same way today, those who side with the Islamic world in opposition to Israel are building their own gallows.

Heading for Confrontation

Describing Israel as a “cancerous tumour”, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei said the international community was heading toward confrontation with the “Zionist regime”.¹

But as Barry Segal of the Jerusalem News Network put it: “Actually, it is Iran that is heading towards a confrontation with the international community with its support of global terrorism, its nuclear ambitions, and its unrelenting hateful tirades against Israel and the USA.”²

Those who side with the Islamic world in opposition to Israel are building their own gallows.

Mordecai had learned of the 500 BC plot to destroy the Jews and managed to persuade Esther to approach the King on behalf of her people, even though it was against protocol to do so without being summoned.

'Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape,' Mordecai warned. 'For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?' (Est 4:13f)

So Esther resolved to risk her life for her fellow Jews, saying: “If I perish, I perish” (v16).

Modern Hamans, Modern Esthers

Modern-day Iran is part of ancient Persia and its threat against Israel bears all the hallmarks of the Haman spirit, with successive leaders promising to wipe the Jewish state off the map and underscoring their sabre-rattling by boasting of missiles capable of reaching Tel Aviv in seven minutes. And all the time they continue to work towards nuclear capability.

But, as with Haman, their plans will ultimately be brought back on their own heads as the Bible makes clear that, in the last days, many nations will attack Israel and come under God’s judgment as a result (see Joel 3:2; Zech 14:2f).

Thankfully, some modern-day Esthers are standing up to the bully-boys. America’s new Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, speaking of that body’s Security Council, says its “double standards are breathtaking”. Declaring that the US was determined to stand up to the UN’s anti-Israel bias, she said the prejudiced approach to Israeli-Palestinian issues “bears no relationship to the reality of the world around us”³ (the Trump administration has indicated that it may pull America out of the UN Human Rights Council due to its Israel bias⁴, which even outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has admitted to have been the case⁵).

Watching an old Hollywood movie on the subject, One Night with the King, reminded me of how, just after retiring from full-time work in the newspaper industry, I felt the Lord say that I had been called to the Kingdom “for such a time as this”, confirming an earlier call to be a “helper of Israel” in these last days by writing the truth about Middle Eastern affairs.

Modern-day Iran is part of ancient Persia and its threat against Israel bears all the hallmarks of the Haman spirit.

In a different vein, England’s own Esther has emerged in the form of a beautiful young lady called Aisling Hubert, who is having to pay a heavy price for standing up for the unborn, eight million of whom have been killed since the UK Abortion Act was passed 50 years ago. Aisling launched a private prosecution against two doctors who had been secretly filmed offering gender abortion. But the Crown Prosecution Service ruled that pursuance of the case was not in the public interest, and the doctors were awarded costs. An undisclosed settlement has been reached, and it is “a large sum”.

Aisling has been supported throughout her ordeal by the Christian Legal Centre. Do get in touch with them if you wish to help by clicking here.

Jesus Our Rescue

Mary, the mother of Jesus, performed an Esther role in carrying the Messiah, whom the devil tried to destroy at birth as Herod ordered the killing of Bethlehem’s infant boys in a desperate bid to prevent his crown from passing to the new king (Rev 12:4; Matt 2:16).

In the end, her soul was pierced by a sword, in fulfilment of Simeon’s prophecy (Luke 2:35), as she watched her innocent young son being crucified, aged just 33.

Yet in the fulness of God’s perfect time, and just a generation before the Jews would be scattered abroad by Roman brutality, Jesus himself stepped forward to die on behalf of his people, and of all who would, metaphorically speaking, mark the doorposts of their hearts with the blood of the Lamb.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53:5)

Truly, Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) is the Jewish Messiah who has come to the rescue of his people in these last days. Welcome him in advance of that great day when his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem (Zech 14:4).

Notes

1 Ahren, R. Iran’s supreme leader backs ‘holy intifada’ to destroy ‘cancer’ Israel. Times of Israel, 21 February 2017.

2 Jerusalem News Network (JNN), 23 February 2017.

3 David Soakell’s Christian Friends of Israel newsletter Watching over Zion, 23 February 2017.

4 JNN, quoting the Jerusalem Post, 27 February 2017.

5 Ban Ki-moon admits UN’s Israel bias. Ynetnews.com, 17 December 2016.

Clifford Denton continues his series on Hebraic living.

Walking with Friends

If we each look back over our lives, we will find that many of our friendships have been strengthened because we went on long walks together. The times when we were walking together, talking, enjoying the same fresh air, the same food and the same experiences are the times we remember as best. These shared experiences were foundations on which friendship was built.

Walking together can be metaphorical as well as a physical reality. Life shared in all its ways with one’s family and friends is also a ‘walk’. It seems that God has made us to enjoy walking life out! If we share an experience, whatever it is, we enjoy it more.

The times when we walk and talk together are often the times we remember as best.

The Hebrew Language Encourages Mobility

The Hebrew language is not complicated. The verb structures train the Hebraic mindset more for action than for academic discourse. They are simple and not designed for philosophical thought (such as is the Greek language, or even the English language).

Simply put, Hebrew verbs describe action - whether completed action, present action or ongoing action. The Hebrew language trains a person to be a doer, strengthening the idea of mobility in life.

Walking with God

Is it any wonder, then, that walking out one’s faith is such a central issue for God’s covenant people? God asks us to trust him and to walk with him on a journey of relationship, during which our faith is built. This is the Hebraic lifestyle, and it is evidenced throughout Scripture.

Enoch “walked with God” for 365 years and one day just disappeared from this world (Gen 5:22-23). We are left to imagine what such a walk might have been like, even before the days of Noah, before Abraham and before Moses. Enoch’s walk was not one of ritual from the Law, which was not yet given.

The lives of all the ‘heroes of faith’ in Hebrews 11 are described in our Bibles in such a way that we can deduce that it was through relationship, not ritual, that their faith grew. Just as with our friends on earth, friendship with God is cultivated through a lifelong walk.

Just as with our friends on earth, friendship with God is cultivated through a lifelong walk.

Abraham trusted God and began his walk in a physical sense when he left Ur. This physical walk took on spiritual dimensions through the experiences of life through which God led him. Down through the ages, others have taken confidence from his example to seek God for their own personal walk.

Torah and Halakhah

The subjects of Torah and halakhah are related. Torah, the teaching of God, is usually seen as the foundation of halakhah, which means walking out. With a Hebraic mindset one should not turn Torah into philosophy, as a Greek mindset is prone to doing through establishing a range of intellectual theologies on what the Bible says. A Hebraic mindset of doing (see Ezra 7:10) seeks to find what pleases God and put it into action.

This was what was in the mind of the author of Psalm 119 when he wrote:

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Torah of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways. (Psa 119:1-3)

Walking was established as the way Torah should be made manifest:

You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you… (Deut 5:33)

Micah understood this as the purpose of God for all mankind:

He has shown you, O Man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8)

Jewish rabbis adopted the practice of walking with their disciples as they taught them, outworking a principle whereby parents should teach children:

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deut 6:7)

What a walk with God it was when Yeshua (Jesus) walked along the way with his disciples!

God asks us to trust him and to walk with him on a journey of relationship, during which our faith is built.

Every genuine, healthy walk with God is founded on Torah. Torah and halakhah are inseparable on this walk of growing faith through life. Nevertheless, I suggest that, with Enoch as my example, we should prioritise halakhah before Torah in our purposes. First, we seek to walk with God to attain the friendship that Abraham gained, and along the way we discover what pleases God.

Halakhah in Judaism

Since the time when Moses first appointed elders to interpret the principles of Torah into every aspect of life (Ex 18:17-27), the teachers of Israel have sought to continue this tradition.

However, halakhah has now become a code of binding rules. This was the origin of Yeshua’s criticism concerning many of the rules which were more man-made than God-intended (Matt 23). Rabbis were making their disciples dependent on them and not on a personal relationship with God. By contrast, Yeshua’s interpretation of Torah (such as in the Sermon on the Mount) was full of life and carried authority.

Halakhah in Christianity

The true Hebraic lifestyle is spoiled when halakhah is reduced to a set of rules. This is not only found in Judaism. It can also be found in sections of the Christian Church, though not necessarily under that heading. This must not be allowed. It will disconnect us from our true Hebraic heritage. True halakhah is in continuity from Enoch, through Abraham, Moses and right through to Yeshua and the freedom to learn that the New Covenant gives us.

God has always called his people to walk with him – personally. The role of any Bible teacher is to encourage that walk.

The true Hebraic lifestyle is spoiled when halakhah is reduced to a set of rules.

Our New Covenant freedom comes from having our sins forgiven through the shed blood of Yeshua, so that fellowship with our Father in Heaven in and through his Son can be made real. The Holy Spirit is given to us to strengthen that walk – a walk that takes us through all the seasons of life and maturing faith. Paul summed this up when he said:

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit…

That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit…

As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…you received adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. (Rom 8)

In restoring the continuity of a biblically Hebraic lifestyle, Christians can re-balance the principle of halakhah – walking with God. It is our privilege and our duty as God’s witnesses in this world.

Do Not Be Robbed

None of us must allow ourselves to be robbed of this walk of faith. It is the most wonderful thing to be invited by Yeshua to enter into this relationship, but many settle for far less. It is not only ritual Judaism that falls short of the true halakhah. Even in Christianity, if one follows a human being, however wonderful their biblical interpretation, more than responding directly to God, then one falls short.

If one turns the teaching of the Bible into theology which, though perhaps water-tight, is academic rather than Spirit-inspired, one falls short. If one values the social aspect of Christian interaction (even through regular and dutiful attendance at Church) above relationship with the Father, one can still fall short. And if one is locked into doctrinal and denominational teaching, defending it zealously, one may still miss out on the relationship to which our Father calls us.

It is the most wonderful thing to be invited by Yeshua to enter into this relationship, but many settle for far less.

Our walk with God will not be entirely alone. It will be a personal response to God, but also in step with family and fellowship around us. We walk in personal relationship with God, but also together.

All this is a priority of restoring our Hebraic foundations and something we must all check out afresh, daily.

Next time: Torah - the teaching of God.

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘What Are They Teaching the Children?’, edited by Lynda Rose (Wilberforce Publications, 2016).

This very pertinent and important question for our age is thoroughly explored in this collection of 12 essays written by a wide-ranging group of well-qualified contributors and skilfully put together by Lynda Rose, CEO of Voice for Justice UK, who have published this volume in conjunction with Wilberforce Publications.

Much Food for Thought

Lynda herself has written a key chapter, entitled Battle for the Soul of our Nation. Other topics covered include the role of parents as primary educators, the relevance of Christian assemblies and the issue of indoctrination, especially in the areas of sexual morality and scientism (the way in which scientific investigation has been turned into a belief system). The collection concludes with a personal reflection by Baroness Cox, called Holding the Line.

If you are concerned about the ways in which state education has become a vehicle for promoting secular and liberal beliefs about religion, morality and the family, often overriding the wishes and values of parents, then this is a book that will give you much food for thought.

Vital Resource

It is not a book to be dipped into lightly. Every chapter has been thoroughly researched and is well-documented with many endnotes. The overall contention of the book is that education today has become an ideological battleground.

There has been a revolution, a bloodless coup that has been consciously planned and instigated by secular activists committed to the overthrow of the Judeo-Christian foundations on which our educational system was built. Given this scenario, this book is a vital resource for teachers, parents and all those concerned with the wellbeing of our nation’s children.

What Are They Teaching the Children? (352 pages) is available from Amazon for £12.

In Jesus' response to the disciple who asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray”, the first specific request to His Father that He shared was “Thy Kingdom come”. This probably came as no surprise, as the 12 would have known from their scriptures the many references to God's Kingdom (Ps 45:6; 145:13; Dan 2:44, etc).

In the context of the Roman occupation of their land, the desire for God's rule of justice and righteousness would have been first on their lips. But they would also have remembered the kingdoms of Israel, especially that of King David, and maybe longed for a return of those times of peace and glory. But was this the Kingdom that Jesus referred to?

Man's Kingdoms

While His Father's Kingdom was clearly Jesus' intention, Man very early had intentions to establish his own kingdom, in seeking power and independence from his Creator. Nimrod was the first to claim a kingdom, named Babel (meaning confusion of tongues) in Mesopotamia. In his arrogance he tried to build a tower that would reach to heaven (Gen 10:10), though satan had seduced Adam in Eden long before this to disobey God, and to desire to be like Him, knowing good and evil.

Other Gentile kings also established kingdoms for their own power and glory, and even God's chosen nation Israel, when their judges turned from God's way, rejected Samuel (and God) in asking for a king “such as all the other nations have” (1 Sam 8:5-7).

Modern man still seeks independence from God and His Kingdom in order to dominate and rule the earth. Secular humanist powers are engaging in social engineering in many Western nations, notably in Europe¹ and America², encouraging people to reject God as their King.

God's Kingdom

So what is special about God's Kingdom, that we should ask for it to come? It has to do with authority – and rebellion, because God's Kingdom is the domain of the King, the King of kings. For all authority has been given to the Lord Jesus (Matt 28:18). When God chose a people to witness to His way, He called them to be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests (not a priestly kingdom but a royal priesthood to Him (KJV, see 1 Peter 2:9 and Rev.1:6 for believers in Yeshua)) and a holy nation - to be a priest before God with respect to other nations (as the tribe of Levi was for Israel).

This was not to rule, however, but to serve (the Hebrew word avad also means to worship), and Israel responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said” (Ex 19:6-8). When Moses and Aaron went into Pharaoh to demand that he let the Israelites go to serve (worship) their God, Aaron obeyed God's command to throw his rod (of authority) down before Pharaoh and it turned into a snake (19:10). Pharoah's magicians did the same. But then Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods (7:8-12), a clear demonstration of the authority of the God of Israel over all the Egyptian gods (12:12).

Jesus delegates His authority to believers in His Kingdom today also, if we obey the King and submit to His authority. His promise, if we will hear and obey His voice (19:5) and His Word (our shema), is that we too will be chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Pet 2:9). What blessings follow that – for others too!

This first prayer request of Jesus' disciples to their Father indicates its importance, its primacy. It is a cry to God to establish His Kingdom among disciples and then out to the world. Both John the Baptist and Jesus started their ministry with this call: “The Kingdom of God has come near!” (is 'at hand' - KJV, near enough to touch; even 'within you' - Luke 17:21), and both of them prefaced this call with, “Repent!” indicating the need for cleansing in the Presence of the Holy One.

This is the doorway into God's Kingdom - acknowledging our sin and receiving forgiveness in recognition of what God has done through Jesus on the Cross to bring people into His Kingdom of light and truth.

How Do We Respond?

“Thy Kingdom come” thus expresses a desire for relationship with the King, and to be part of the domain of the King, under His authority. God's Kingdom is a Kingdom of love. Keeping His commandments, His direction, instructions and guidance (His Torah – as Jesus correctly interpreted it for believers), is our way of showing that we love Him. They are our guide to a healthy, fulfilled, productive life in relationship with Him and with other people.

His laws guard our life and relationships, and this God alone is worthy of our love and worship (worth-ship). Anything we place as our security, as first in our life apart from Him, is an idol (wealth, power, fame, work, sport etc). For His Name is 'Jealous' (Ex 20:5, 34:14, Heb. kanna – with the just indignation of one injured). Here, 'Jealous' is part of the vocabulary of love, of One who is utterly faithful, and will not countenance idolatry, unfaithfulness or rebellion in His people.

I am reminded of a children's story ('William and Cherry') which some parents may remember. William's poor father had just one cow, Cherry, whom William loved and which provided dairy products for the family. William discovered that the local butcher, Mr McCracklebone, had persuaded his father to sell Cherry for meat, and William could not accept that. So the night before the butcher came, William released Cherry from her stall and walked all the way to London to Buckingham Palace, and asked the king for help to save Cherry from the abattoir.

The king investigated, and decided to save Cherry, and pay Mr McCracklebone the value of the cow out of the Royal Funds. William returned home with Cherry rejoicing, knowing the king's compassionate heart of love for the poor people of his kingdom. This is our Father God, our Abba, who has already demonstrated the saving features of His Kingdom – a hidden treasure, a pearl beyond price, a net full of fish, and seed or leaven that produces amazing growth, with fairness and goodness (Matt 13, 18, 20, 20 and 25) so that we might be faithful, prepared, wise and worthy for the fulfilment of our prayer – O Lord our King, Thy Kingdom Come. Amen and Amen.

References

1 E.g. The Gotthard Base Tunnel opening ceremony on 1 June 2016.

2 Waggoner, RL. Organised Humanism produces a growing anti-Christian Society. 28 February 2017.

Author: Greg Stevenson

The Complete Jewish Bible that I have been using lately puts it “May your kingdom come”. This short phrase takes my mind to Nehemiah’s prayer – but I will explain why later.

Let’s start by considering what Jesus’ contemporaries would likely have understood by this prayer. The Tanakh (Old Testament) contains many references to a Messiah / Anointed One for the Israelites, together with His Kingdom. They would have been familiar with such scriptures as:

• “There is a coming king who will reign justly” (Isa 32:1-2). Rabbi Barry Rubin in his commentary about this passage notes that Isaiah was speaking at the time when the righteous King Hezekiah was already on the throne. Therefore, Isaiah must have been speaking of the future, eternal reign of the King Messiah.
  
• “Afterwards, the people of Israel will repent and seek Adonai their God and David their king…in the acharit-hayamim [literally, ‘the end of the days’]” (Hos 3:5).
  
• “Look! Your king is coming to you” (Zech 9:9).
  
• And “You will have sons to succeed your ancestors” (Ps 45:17) points to God’s guarantee that the royal line of David will continue.

The question that Jesus’ disciples were asking regarding this future Messianic Kingdom was not its chances of happening, but when and how it would come about.

Local and Global, Now and Not Yet

In the light of this, what was Jesus intent upon explaining about the coming Kingdom?

• “The kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21).
  
• “The kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field…is like a mustard seed which a man takes and sows in his field…is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with a bushel of flour” (Matt 13).

With these parables Jesus turned the expectations of the Kingdom from a local battle to regain the land of Israel into a worldwide battle between the people of God’s Kingdom and the forces and followers of the Adversary.

In John 18:36, Jesus makes it clear in his conversation with Pilate that “My kingship does not derive its authority from the world’s order of things. If it did, my men would have fought to keep me from being arrested by the Judeans. But my kingship does not come from here.”

So what is Jesus actually telling us to pray for in this short phrase “May your kingdom come”? My own understanding is that He wants us to pray both in accordance with the Old Testament for the coming Messianic Kingdom, when Jesus will rule the world from Jerusalem, and also as the New Testament guides, that His Kingdom will grow here and now as we take the Good News to the world.

Nehemiah’s Prayer

But why does this short phrase lead my thoughts to Nehemiah’s prayer? I believe that The Lord’s Prayer should be taken as a simple memorandum for the subject matter of our prayers. It is for each of us, through growing understanding of our God, to add the flesh of understanding to our prayers.

So consider here with me, from Nehemiah 1, part of the heart-rending prayer of a man as he longed for the revival of the kingdom of Israel. I hear in Nehemiah’s prayer a humble passion mixed with a determination that this prayer should be both heard and answered by Adonai. This is what I mean by adding the flesh of understanding to the simple phrase “Thy kingdom come”:

…I sat down and wept; I mourned for several days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. I said, “Please Adonai! God of heaven! You great and fearsome God, who keeps his covenant and extends grace to those who love him and observe his mitzvot! Let your ear now be attentive and your eyes be open, so that you will listen to the prayer of your servant, which I am praying before you these days, day and night, for the people of Israel your servants – even as I confess the sins of the people of Israel that we have committed against you.

Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned. We have deeply offended you. We haven’t observed your mitzvot, laws or rulings you ordered your servant Moshe, “If you break faith, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to me, observe my mitzvot and obey them, then, even if your scattered ones are in the most distant part of heaven, nevertheless, I will collect them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for bearing my name.”

Now these are your servants, your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and strong hand. Adonai, please, let your ear now be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take joy in fearing your name…

At this point in the prayer may I take liberty (as someone grafted into the olive tree of Israel) and add, knowing from the continued fulfilment of prophecy that the time of Jesus’ return is drawing close, “Heavenly Father, may your kingdom come!” My personal experiences show me that such a prayer, uttered with heartfelt determination and sincerity, will be both heard and acted upon by our Father God!

Author: John Quinlan