{"id":6823,"date":"2017-09-21T21:33:39","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T21:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=6823"},"modified":"2018-09-27T00:12:13","modified_gmt":"2018-09-27T00:12:13","slug":"tehillim-psalms-124-part-2-the-god-of-life-not-the-god-of-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/tehillim-psalms-124-part-2-the-god-of-life-not-the-god-of-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Tehillim \/ Psalms 124, \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e7\u05db\u05d3, Part 2, The God of Life, not the God of Death"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"OlirTIhYIIQ\"><iframe title=\"Tehillim \/ Psalms 124, \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e7\u05db\u05d3, Part 2, The God of Life, not the God of Death\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OlirTIhYIIQ?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">In this week\u2019s study from <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 124:1-8<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, the psalm opens saying <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05dc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05d5\u05b4\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8-\u05e0\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc: <\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">A song of ascents. Of David 124:1 \u2018Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,\u2019 Let Israel now say, (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The psalmist asks the question, had the Lord not been on our side, to get us thinking about what life would be without the Lord. The Psalm continues saying, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d1 \u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd: \u05d2 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: <\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">124:2 \u2018Had it not been the Lord who was on our side When men rose up against us, 124:3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their anger was kindled against us; (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The concept being put forward here is that Evil men do not understand justice, and for such persons, the fellow man is in danger of being consumed in the flames of one\u2019s sin. The Psalm describes this in the following way, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d8\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: \u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: <\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">124:4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul; 124:5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Water is one of the most common and powerful concepts of being overwhelmed by a force that is not controllable but powerful even to the moving of mountains. The raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very life of David and his people. The Lord however is in the midst of His people, and they are able to say, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d8\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e3 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: \u05d6 \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e6\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b0\u05d8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05e7\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: \u05d7 \u05e2\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b9\u05e9\u05b5\u05b9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> 124:6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. 124:7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Paul wrote in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">2 Timothy 2: 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 2:26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The idea is the Lord grants us mercy for the purpose of leading us back into repentance.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"_idContainer000\" class=\"Basic-Text-Frame\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-6\"> \u05e2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea Hebrew<\/span> <span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-6\">\u05d0\u05e8\u05de\u05d9 Aramaic \u03b5\u03bb\u03bb\u03b7\u03bd\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc\u03c2 Greek<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"table001\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-1\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-2\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-3\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-4\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-1\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\">\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05db\u05d3<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\">\u05d0 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05dc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05d5\u05b4\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8-\u05e0\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc: \u05d1 \u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd: \u05d2 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: \u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d8\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: \u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: \u05d5 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d8\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e3 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: \u05d6 \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e6\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b0\u05d8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05e7\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: \u05d7 \u05e2\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b9\u05e9\u05b5\u05b9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5: <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-2\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-2\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"CharOverride-6\">\u05e1\u05dd\u05e8 \u05d8\u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05db\u05d3<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-8\">\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc \u05de\u05e1\u05e7\u05d9\u05d9\u05df \u05de\u05e1\u05d5\u05e7\u05d9\u05df \u05d3\u05ea\u05d4\u05d5\u05de\u05d0 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05d3 \u05d3\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d0\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e1\u05e2\u05d3\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d9\u05de\u05e8\u05d5\u05df \u05db\u05d3\u05d5\u05df \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc\u05c3 \u05d1 \u05d0\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9 \u05de\u05d9\u05de\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e1\u05e2\u05d3\u05e0\u05d0 \u05db\u05d3 \u05e7\u05dd \u05e2\u05dc\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d1\u05e8 \u05e0\u05e9 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05d1\u05d0\u05c3 \u05d2 \u05d4\u05d0 \u05d1\u05db\u05df \u05db\u05d3 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05df \u05d1\u05dc\u05e2\u05d5 \u05e1\u05dc\u05e2\u05de\u05d5 \u05d9\u05ea\u05e0\u05d0 \u05db\u05d3 \u05ea\u05e7\u05d9\u05e3 \u05e8\u05d5\u05d2\u05d6\u05d4\u05d5\u05df \u05d1\u05e0\u05d0\u05c3 \u05d3 \u05d4\u05d0 \u05d1\u05db\u05df \u05de\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d9\u05de\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d8\u05e4\u05d5 \u05d9\u05ea\u05e0\u05d0 \u05de\u05e8\u05e2\u05d9\u05ea \u05e2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e2\u05dc \u05e0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05c3 \u05d4 \u05d4\u05d0 \u05d1\u05db\u05df \u05e2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05dc \u05e0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e0\u05d0 \u05de\u05dc\u05db\u05d0 \u05d3\u05de\u05ea\u05d9\u05dc \u05dc\u05de\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d3\u05d9\u05de\u05d0 \u05d6\u05d9\u05d3\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9\u05d0\u05c3 \u05d5 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05da \u05e9\u05de\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d3\u05dc\u05d0 \u05de\u05e1\u05e8\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d9\u05da \u05ea\u05d1\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0 \u05dc\u05e9\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05df \u05de\u05d6\u05d5\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d6 \u05dc\u05db\u05db\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05df \u05e0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d9\u05da \u05db\u05e6\u05d9\u05e4\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9\u05ea\u05d9\u05d6\u05d1\u05ea \u05de\u05e4\u05d7\u05d9 \u05e7\u05d5\u05dc\u05d0 \u05ea\u05e7\u05dc\u05d9\u05d0 \u05e4\u05d7\u05d0 \u05e7\u05d5\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d9\u05ea\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d0\u05e0\u05df \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9\u05ea\u05d6\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05df\u05c3 \u05d7 \u05e1\u05e2\u05d3\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d1\u05e9\u05d5\u05dd \u05de\u05d9\u05de\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d3\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3 \u05e9\u05de\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d5\u05d0\u05e8\u05e2\u05d0\u05c3 <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-3\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-9\" lang=\"en-US\">\u03a8\u0391\u039b\u039c\u039f\u0399<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-10\" lang=\"en-US\"> 124<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-11\" lang=\"en-US\">124:1 \u1fa0\u03b4\u1f74 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03b2\u03b1\u03b8\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30 \u03bc\u1f74 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u1f7b\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f26\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c0\u1f71\u03c4\u03c9 \u03b4\u1f74 \u0399\u03c3\u03c1\u03b1\u03b7\u03bb 124:2 \u03b5\u1f30 \u03bc\u1f74 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u1f7b\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f26\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u1fc6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f00\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u1f7d\u03c0\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c6\u1fbd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 124:3 \u1f04\u03c1\u03b1 \u03b6\u1ff6\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u1f02\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f73\u03c0\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f40\u03c1\u03b3\u03b9\u03c3\u03b8\u1fc6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b8\u03c5\u03bc\u1f78\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f10\u03c6\u1fbd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 124:4 \u1f04\u03c1\u03b1 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f55\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03c0\u1f79\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 \u03c7\u03b5\u1f77\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u03b4\u03b9\u1fc6\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u1f21 \u03c8\u03c5\u03c7\u1f74 \u1f21\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd 124:5 \u1f04\u03c1\u03b1 \u03b4\u03b9\u1fc6\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u1f21 \u03c8\u03c5\u03c7\u1f74 \u1f21\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f55\u03b4\u03c9\u03c1 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f00\u03bd\u03c5\u03c0\u1f79\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd 124:6 \u03b5\u1f50\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b7\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03ba\u1f7b\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f43\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f14\u03b4\u03c9\u03ba\u03b5\u03bd \u1f21\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03b8\u1f75\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f40\u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd 124:7 \u1f21 \u03c8\u03c5\u03c7\u1f74 \u1f21\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f61\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03b8\u1f77\u03bf\u03bd \u1f10\u03c1\u03c1\u1f7b\u03c3\u03b8\u03b7 \u1f10\u03ba \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u1f77\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b8\u03b7\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u1f79\u03bd\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u1f21 \u03c0\u03b1\u03b3\u1f76\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03c1\u1f77\u03b2\u03b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f21\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c1\u03c1\u1f7b\u03c3\u03b8\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd 124:8 \u1f21 \u03b2\u03bf\u1f75\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u1f21\u03bc\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd \u1f40\u03bd\u1f79\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1f75\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bf\u1f50\u03c1\u03b1\u03bd\u1f78\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u1fc6\u03bd <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table id=\"table002\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-5\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-6\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-7\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-8\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-4\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\">Tehillim Psalms 124<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\" lang=\"en-US\">A song of ascents. Of David 124:1 \u2018Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,\u2019 Let Israel now say, 124:2 \u2018Had it not been the Lord who was on our side When men rose up against us, 124:3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their anger was kindled against us; 124:4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul; 124:5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.\u2019 124:6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. 124:7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-5\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\" lang=\"en-US\">Toviyah Psalms 124<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\" lang=\"en-US\">124:1 A song that was uttered on the ascents of the abyss, composed by David. Had it not been for the Lord who was our help \u2013 let Israel say now 124:2 Had it not been for the word of the Lord who was our help, when a son of man rose against us 124:3 Then they would have swallowed us while alive, when their anger grew strong against us. 124:4 Then the waters would have washed us away, sickness would have passed over our soul. 124:5 Then the king would have passed over our soul, he who is likened to the malicious waters of the sea. 124:6 Blessed is the name of the Lord, who has not handed us over as dead meat to their teeth. 124:7 Our soul is like a bird saved from the traps of the fowlers; the trap broke, and we have been saved. 124:8 Our help is in the name of the word of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (EMC)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-6\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\" lang=\"en-US\">Psalmoi Psalms 124<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left- ParaOverride-3\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\" lang=\"en-US\">A Song of Degrees. 124:1 If it had not been that the Lord was among us, let Israel now say; 124:2 if it had not been that the Lord was among us, when men rose up against us; 124:3 verily they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us: 124:4 verily the water would have drowned us, our soul would have gone under the torrent. 124:5 Yea, our soul would have gone under the overwhelming water. 124:6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us for a prey to their teeth. 124:7 Our soul has been delivered as a sparrow from the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are delivered. 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (LXX)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> In this week\u2019s study from <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 124:1-8<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, the psalm opens saying <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05dc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05d5\u05b4\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8-\u05e0\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc: <\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">A song of ascents. Of David 124:1 \u2018Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,\u2019 Let Israel now say, (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The psalmist asks the question, had the Lord not been on our side, to get us thinking about what life would be without the Lord. The psalmist is reflecting on the protections that were afforded Israel because they had the Lord on their side. The Hebrew name of God, YHVH (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">), is rendered with the circumlocution Lord in this verse. YHVH means <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cthe existing One\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> and is the proper name of the one true God. At this time, Israel was surrounded by nations who worshiped many gods, yet the psalmist reminds the people that it is because they had the One True God, the One who had always existed, on their side that they were saved from their enemies. Note today the nation of Israel still is surrounded by nations that worship other gods. The Muslim god is not the God of Israel. Here in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 124:1<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, the psalmist opens by proclaiming the invitation, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cThis is Israel\u2019s song\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> encouraging all the people to raise up and give sincere thanks to the Lord God their Saviour. If the Lord had not taken their side, with their limited strength they would have been powerless to free themselves; their adversaries, would have torn and scattered them. The psalm opens calling God\u2019s people to celebrate the things that could have gone so differently had the Lord God not been on our side. If we are not careful, some things in our lives may be taken for granted with very little thought of mind about how the Lord God has intervened so much in all our lives. There are times however when it does not appear as if the Lord has intervened. An example when it appeared as if the Lord did not intervene, was when Joseph\u2019s brothers intended to kill him, God didn\u2019t appear to intervene (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 37:18-20<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). When his brothers threw him into a pit, God didn\u2019t appear to intervene. When Joseph was sold into slavery and sent to Egypt, God didn\u2019t appear to intervene. Why did the Lord God seem to work in the background and not intervene for Joseph? What we learn from the Scriptures was that the Lord may have actually intervened through his brother Reuben so the other brothers did not kill Joseph (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 37:22<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). Later, when Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison for living a righteous life, we again do not see the Lord God intervening. Why? The reason may be a matter of faith, to continue in the faith in the midst of our perception and our impatience. Later we read when Joseph tells his brother <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAs for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 50:20<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). The lesson here is the Lord God may not appear to intervene for a time in our lives because He has something very special in mind. He also may answer the request for His intervention in a far superior way than what we are seeking. Either way, we can know this for sure, something Paul taught to the Romans saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cfor those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Romans 8:28<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The reason for the appearance of the lack of intervention of the Lord is due to the conviction of the Spirit of God in our lives that is meant to bring us to repentance. The Lord grants us His forgiveness when we trust in Him and His Messiah Yeshua. Without the Lord\u2019s mercy (Chesed) and His Spirit, we would carry out the desires of the body and be by nature the children of wrath (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Ephesians 2:3<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). The Lord however is abounding in mercy because of the Love that He has for us (in our unique creation, the Lord forming us by His hands and breathing life into us, and <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Ephesians 2:4-5<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). We know, based upon what the Scriptures say, the Lord does intervene on our behalf, in our lives, even though he appears to be silent. The Scriptures are full of those who prayed for the Lord to intervene and He did. Intercessory prayer is made available for every believer. Many times Israel cried out to the Lord to save them, and He supernaturally intervened. This provides us with the expectation of the Lord doing the same for us, of Him working miracles on our behalf, even to the working in the hearts of the wicked (unrighteous). One of the most important reasons the Lord intervenes is so that He is glorified. If we pray in Yeshua\u2019s name and it is answered, Yeshua\u2019s name is glorified. If the Lord intervenes for us, perhaps even in ways that exceeded our prayers, He is praised. We are told in the Apostolic Writings, that He loves to glorify His Son (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">John 17<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) and so we find in the Apostolic writings the name of the Messiah Yeshua as being the fulcrum, the central point through which we are to ask for the Lord God of Israel to intervene on our behalf. When the Lord seems to be distant or not answering prayer, or not intervening on our behalf, this may be a sign for us to shift our focus not just away from the reasons why, but toward the divine relationship with the Lord in heaven, to draw near in His Word, in prayer, and in deed (obeying His Torah). <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Psalm continues saying, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d1 \u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd: \u05d2 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: <\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">124:2 \u2018Had it not been the Lord who was on our side When men rose up against us, 124:3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their anger was kindled against us; (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The concept being put forward here is that Evil men do not understand justice, and for such persons, the fellow man is in danger of being consumed in the flames of one\u2019s sin. It is important also to understand, the Lord, not man, is in control of the destiny of men and nations. The Lord God of Israel rules in the kingdoms of men and disposes of them according to his divine standard (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalm 22:28, Mishley \/ Proverbs 14:34, Daniel 2:21 and 4:17<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). The idea is each man has in his own life his own kingdom, where he is the ruler and king. This is why we are called to give to the Lord sovereign authority over our lives to humble our hearts and to walk in His ways. The Lord God is able to work in the lives of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Those who think that nations stand or fall because of a <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cstrong national defense\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> are woefully ignorant of biblical principles. It is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Zechariah 4:6<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) When we consider the idea that the Lord is able to work in the lives of all men, we understand that mankind is accountable before the Lord regardless of who you are. The book of Jonah demonstrates that ancient peoples who were outside of that Mosaic covenant relationship with the Lord were nonetheless accountable to the moral code that is laid out in the Torah. In the book of Jonah, the Lord looked down upon Nineveh and observed the wickedness of this people (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Jonah 1:2<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). The definition of sin is the transgression of God\u2019s law (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">1 John 3:4, Romans 4:15<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">), the Ninevites were obviously subject to God\u2019s requirements. Note how this powerful truth is in direct conflict with the modern theology which contends that those who are <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201coutside of the church\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> are not subject to the Law of God (morality, marriage, etc.). Note also that the Torah of God is designed to regulate human morality, i.e. <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">1 Corinthians 7:1, Hebrews 13:4<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">1 Corinthians 6:13-7:1<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">6:13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 6:14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 6:16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her For He says, \u2018The two shall become one flesh.\u2019 6:17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 6:18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 7:1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Hebrews 13:4<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The Torah was designed to provide a way to understand what an adulterous relationship is, and the limits of sexual sin as it is related to the family of God! Understand, the nature of wicked men is contentious and is bent on not obeying the truth. The wicked have aligned themselves in obedience to unrighteousness. Their being contentious is against the truth, to quarreling with the Lord against His word, finding fault in everything. Disobedience is synonymous to not yielding one\u2019s self to the truth of God. The truth becomes a stumbling block, this is why we are told the Messiah Yeshua is a stumbling block and a rock of offense because He is truth! Faith is elusive to such persons just as Paul wrote, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Romans 6:17<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cBut God be thanked that you were the servants of sin; but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The unrighteous however obey unrighteousness instead of yielding to God\u2019s truth of the Torah which is coupled as a part of the gospel message. They are under the power and dominion of sin, and are slaves to their lusts and corruptions. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Psalm continues saying, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d8\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: \u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d6\u05b7\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: <\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">124:4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul; 124:5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Water is one of the most common and powerful concepts of being overwhelmed by a force that is not controllable but powerful even to the moving of mountains. The raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very life of David and his people. The wicked are described as the raging waters. Their unbelief and opposition to the truth, and their slavish subjection to lust, are the foundation of all wickedness. Note how the deeds of the unrighteous are connected to the punishment of wicked men which are indignation and wrath. For example, the indignation and wrath of God. It is the anger of God that will render wicked men miserable. They will be the subjects of divine punishment and wrath. This may be paralleled to the story of Jonah and the Ninevites. Yeshua warns the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. The men of Nineveh repented while the Jewish people of that generation remained hardened toward the Lord God of Israel. Another example may be taken from the evil eye, whether the eye is good or evil. If the eye blocks the light (righteousness) where no light (righteousness) enters into the body, the body then is full of darkness resulting in stumbling around and not knowing the way or path to take. In addition, if the eye is unclear so that it distorts the light, then the perception given is false. Unrighteousness and sin has the capacity to distort the truth that will lend to a worse problem of believing the distortion to be the true reality. This is a greater blindness because it is a more dangerous darkness than blindness. Yeshua was providing us with a moral lesson where the eye was used as a moral reference which is common in Jewish writings starting with <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:7<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:7<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The usage here is in that sense giving reference to the spiritual eye through which spiritual light enters and illuminates the whole person. Yeshua is contrasting the person who sees things from a clear, godly perspective as opposed to the person who sees things from an evil perspective. A similar analogy to this is found in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">2 Corinthians 4:3-4<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> when Paul says that the gospel is <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cveiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.\u201d <\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Such a person does not understand because they cannot see moral truth. Those who are involved in immorality are involved in a greater danger to be deceived. Those who are spiritually blind revel in that darkness and give themselves over to the pursuit of evil. This type of person is easy to recognize, but there is little hope for them until they recognize their own evil. Others who are spiritually blind recognize they have a problem and realize they need like to see more freely, to be set free from their bondage. The psalmist realizes we are in the hand of the King (Yeshua the Messiah) who sits enthroned in the unapproachable glory of the heavens and rules over all things, and is the Judge who decides all things. The psalmist states the wicked are like the waters that has swept over the soul, raging to overcome and sweep us away. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> In <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:7<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> the Scriptures state, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b7\u0599\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4\u0599 \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b5\u05a3\u05d9 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u0594\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a3\u05d3\u05b0\u05e2\u0594\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05a5\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b5\u05bd\u05d9\u05e8\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u0596\u05dd \u05d4\u05b5\u0591\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05bd\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u0599 \u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05b5\u05a3\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05e0\u05b8\u0594\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05c2\u05a5\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u0596\u05dd \u05d7\u05b2\u05d2\u05b9\u05e8\u05b9\u05bd\u05ea\u05c3<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> 3.7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths. (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Rashi has the following to say concerning what took place in Masoretic Text.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Rashi on Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:7 Part 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-5\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5\u05ea\u05e4\u05e7\u05d7\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d2\u05d5\u2019 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05e0\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05df \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b8\u05db\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d3\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05ea\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1, \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05e0\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05df \u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1, \u05d5\u05b0\u05e1\u05d5\u05b9\u05e3 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b4\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05d7\u05b7:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u2018\u05d5\u05ea\u05e4\u05e7\u05d7\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d2\u05d5<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> [AND THE EYES OF BOTH OF THEM] WERE UNCLOSED \u2014 Scripture speaks here with reference to intelligence (the mind\u2019s eye) and not with reference to actual seeing; the end of the verse proves this for it states,<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Part 2<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-5\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5\u05d9\u05d3\u05e2\u05d5 \u05db\u05d9 \u05e2\u05d9\u05e8\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05e3 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e1\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd! \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05b8\u05bc\u05d0 \u05de\u05b7\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b5\u05d3\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e8\u05bb\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b5\u05dd? \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d8\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05de\u05b6\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4):<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5\u05d9\u05d3\u05e2\u05d5 \u05db\u05d9 \u05e2\u05e8\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05dd<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED \u2014 Even a blind person knows when he is naked! What then does \u201cand they knew that they were naked\u201d signify? One charge had been entrusted to them and they now knew they had stripped themselves of it (Genesis Rabbah 19:6).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Part 3<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-5\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05ea\u05d0\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05e5 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05b6\u05bc\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc, \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8 \u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e0\u05bc\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05e7\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05e7\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e0\u05b4\u05ea\u05b7\u05bc\u05e7\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc (\u05e1\u05e0\u05d4\u05d3\u05e8\u05d9\u05df \u05e2\u2019), \u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b7\u05dc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05e6\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05b4\u05bc\u05d8\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b7\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e0\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e1\u05b5\u05dd \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05e5? \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d0\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05b7\u05e7\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u201d\u05d4 \u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b5\u05e5 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4, \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b7\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05de\u05d5\u05bc\u05d4\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d6\u05b6\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc\u05b8\u05bc\u05e7\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9 \u05de\u05b4\u05d3\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e8\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05ea\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05d0:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05ea\u05d0\u05e0\u05d4<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> FIG LEAVES \u2014 This was the tree of which they had eaten; by the very thing through which their ruin had been caused was some improvement effected in their condition (Sanhedrin 70b). The other trees however prevented them from taking of their leaves. And why is not the name of the tree clearly mentioned? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, never wishes to grieve anything He has created: hence its name is not mentioned in order that it might not be put to shame by people saying, \u201cThis is the tree through which the world suffered\u201d (Midrash R. Tanchuma 1:4:14).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">Rashi states that their eyes were unclosed, this is a reference to the mind\u2019s eye and not to actually seeing the state of their bodies. Everyone knows they are naked, but here they had the realization of their nakedness which is related to sin and shame. Eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil resulted not in their ability to see more clearly, but that of having been awakened to sin and shame? The wicked, the unrighteous do not understand their deception, but are fully given to their sins and their own deception. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The concept here in the psalm is whether we have been given over to be devoured by our enemies? The psalmist states, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05dc\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d8\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e3 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: <\/span> <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">124:6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Lord God of Israel does not deliver us over to be devoured or torn by the enemy. Sin however does deliver us over to be both devoured and destroyed. The Lord however is in the midst of a people who are called to repentance, and they are able to say, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d6 \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e6\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b0\u05d8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05e7\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: \u05d7 \u05e2\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b9\u05e9\u05b5\u05b9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> 124:7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Paul wrote in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">2 Timothy 2: 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 2:26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The idea is the Lord grants us mercy for the purpose of leading us back into repentance. Midrash Mekhilta d\u2019Rabbi Yishmael 14:30 Part 1 states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Mekhilta d\u2019Rabbi Yishmael 14:30 Part 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">(Exodus 14:30) \u201cand the L rd saved Israel on that day\u201d: As a bird held in a man\u2019s hand, so that if he pressed its hand but a little he would choke it, as it is written (Psalms 124:6-8) \u201cOur soul (at the splitting of the sea) escaped as from the hunter\u2019s snare. The snare broke and we escaped. Our help is in the name of the L rd, Maker of heaven and earth.\u201d Or: As a man releasing a fetus from a cow\u2019s womb, as it is written (Devarim 4:34) \u201cOr has a G d ever done miracles to come and take for Himself a nation from the midst of a nation, etc.\u201d? Why \u201ca nation from the midst of a nation\u201d? __ As a man releasing a fetus from a cow\u2019s womb, viz. (Ibid. 20) \u201cand you did the L rd take, and He brought you forth from the iron furnace, etc.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The concepts of being delivered, being set free, and escaping from the enemy are paralleled to God\u2019s mercy where He delivered His people from the enemy. The enemy here is described as a melting pot, an iron furnace which has the capability to mold and shape metal. Note how the midrash speaks of the Lord pulling His people from the furnace, which lends to the interpretation that the Lord is molding his people into the shape that He chooses. The deliverance from the enemy is also paralleled to giving birth, delivering a baby following pregnancy. Pregnancy is a miracle of God, just as what happened in the splitting of the red sea to save His people, so it is said <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cOur help is in the name of the L rd, Maker of heaven and earth,\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> the creator is our help. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayetzei 23:2 states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayetzei 23:2<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Another interpretation (of Ps. 142:6 [5]): I CRIED UNTO YOU, O LORD. &lt; The verse &gt; speaks about Jacob. When he set out from his father\u2019s house, what does it say (in Gen. 28:20)? IF GOD IS WITH ME\u2026. He raised his eyes to the Holy One &lt; and &gt; said (in Ps. 142:6 [5], cont.): YOU ARE MY REFUGE. He said to him (in Gen. 28:15): SEE, I AM WITH YOU\u2026. (Ps. 124:6 [5], cont.:) MY PORTION IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING. Now Jacob was hoping to return to the land of Israel. Jacob said: With permission I went out. If I do not get permission, I am not returning. The Holy One said: Do you want permission? Permission you have. (Gen. 31:3, cont.:) RETURN UNTO THE LAND OF YOUR PARENTS. Did you come for anything but the tribes? See, you have them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">Notice how the midrash interprets Jacob seeking the Lord for direction, whether to return to the Land of Israel, or remain where he is in Haran? The midrash speaks of the Lord being with us because our portion is in the land of the living. This is an important concept here because what we are taught in Christian theology that to die is somehow better than life, because we are going to a better place. Note that this idea of death being better or leading to something better is not a biblical concept. The Passover is the quintessential example of the Lord blessing in this life, holding onto the God of Israel for life in this world, as opposed to seeking death and the world to come. Jewish Liturgy Pesach Haggadah Hallel, Second Half of Hallel Composed in (c.280 &#8211; c.360 CE) by Mendes, London, 1862, states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Liturgy Pesach Haggadah Hallel, Second Half of Hallel<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-6\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc, \u05d4\u2019, \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc, \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b4\u05c1\u05de\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05ea\u05b5\u05bc\u05df \u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3, \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d7\u05b7\u05e1\u05b0\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05da\u05b8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05da\u05b8. \u05dc\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05d9\u05b5\u05bc\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd. \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd, \u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b5\u05e5 \u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05c2\u05d4. \u05e2\u05b2\u05e6\u05b7\u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05db\u05b6\u05bc\u05e1\u05b6\u05e3 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d6\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05d1 \u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b5\u05c2\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd. \u05e4\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc, \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc. \u05d0\u05b8\u05d6\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc, \u05d0\u05b7\u05e3 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc\u05df. \u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05df, \u05e8\u05b7\u05d2\u05b0\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b5\u05bc\u05db\u05d5\u05bc, \u05dc\u05c1\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b6\u05d4\u05b0\u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b4\u05bc\u05d2\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u05dd. \u05db\u05b0\u05bc\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05d5\u05bc \u05e2\u05b9\u05e9\u05b5\u05c2\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd, \u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b9\u05d8\u05b5\u05d7\u05b7 \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd. \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d8\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05d9\u05d9, \u05e2\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05d2\u05b4\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05dd \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0. \u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05d1\u05b4\u05bc\u05d8\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b7\u05d9\u05d9, \u05e2\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05d2\u05b4\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05dd \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0. \u05d9\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u2019 \u05d1\u05b4\u05bc\u05d8\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b7\u05d9\u05d9, \u05e2\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05d2\u05b4\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05dd \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0. \u05d9\u05d9 \u05d6\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05da\u05b0. \u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05da\u05b0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc, \u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05da\u05b0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df, \u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u2019, \u05d4\u05b7\u05e7\u05b0\u05bc\u05d8\u05b7\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e2\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05b0\u05bc\u05d3\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd. \u05d9\u05b9\u05e1\u05b5\u05e3 \u05d4\u2019 \u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd, \u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd. \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05dd \u05dc\u05b7\u05d9\u05d9, \u05e2\u05b9\u05e9\u05b5\u05c2\u05d4 \u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5. \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05dc\u05b7\u05d9\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05df \u05dc\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd. \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b5\u05bc\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc \u05d9\u05b9\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d3\u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05d4. \u05d5\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05e0\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05d3 \u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd. \u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Ps. cxv. \u2014 Not unto us, O Eternal! not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for the sake of thy mercy and thy truth. Wherefore should the nations say, Where now is their God? Our God is in the heavens; He hath made whatsoever he pleased. But their idols of silver and gold are the work of human hands. They have mouths, but speak not: they have eyes, but see not. They have ears, but hear not: they have nostrils, but smell not. They have hands, but feel not: they have feet, but walk not; neither is there any utterance in their throat. May those who make them and every one who trusteth in them become like them. Israel, trust thou in the Eternal, he is thy help and shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Eternal, he is your help and shield. Ye who venerate the Eternal, trust in the Eternal, he is your help and shield. The Eternal who hath ever been mindful of us, will bless us, he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who venerate the Eternal, both small and great. May the Eternal increase you more and more, you and your children. Blessed are ye of the Eternal, who made heaven and earth. The heavens are the heavens of the Eternal: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. The dead praise not the Eternal, nor they who descend into the silent grave. But we will bless the Eternal henceforth, and for ever. Halleluyah.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-6\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d4\u2019 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05ea\u05b7\u05bc\u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9. \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b4\u05d8\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d6\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0. \u05d0\u05b2\u05e4\u05b8\u05e4\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b6\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b8\u05d5\u05b6\u05ea \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc \u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9, \u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05d2\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d0\u05b6\u05de\u05b0\u05e6\u05b8\u05d0. \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05e9\u05b5\u05c1\u05dd \u05d4\u2019 \u05d0\u05b6\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0: \u05d0\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d4\u2019 \u05de\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05bc\u05d8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b4\u05c1\u05d9. \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u05df \u05d4\u2019 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e6\u05b7\u05d3\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05e7, \u05d5\u05b5\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d7\u05b5\u05dd. \u05e9\u05c1\u05b9\u05de\u05b5\u05e8 \u05e4\u05b0\u05bc\u05ea\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u2019, \u05d3\u05b7\u05bc\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05e9\u05b4\u05c1\u05d9\u05e2\u05b7. \u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b4\u05c1\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b8\u05d9\u05b0\u05db\u05b4\u05d9, \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d4\u2019 \u05d2\u05b8\u05bc\u05de\u05b7\u05dc \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05b0\u05db\u05b4\u05d9. \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b4\u05dc\u05b7\u05bc\u05e6\u05b0\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05b4\u05c1\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05d5\u05b6\u05ea, \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05df \u05d3\u05b4\u05bc\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05d4, \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05e8\u05b7\u05d2\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05d3\u05b6\u05bc\u05d7\u05b4\u05d9. \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b5\u05da\u05b0 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u2019 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05dd. \u05d4\u05b6\u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05e8, \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3. \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b0\u05d6\u05b4\u05d9 \u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05d6\u05b5\u05b9\u05d1.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Ps. cxvi. \u2014 It is pleasing unto me that the Eternal hath graciously heard my voice, and my supplications. For he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I invoke him whilst I live. Should the struggles of death compass me, the pangs of the grave seize me, were trouble and sorrow to overtake me, I would then call upon the name of the Eternal; saying, O Eternal! I beseech thee, deliver my soul! The Eternal is gracious and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The Eternal preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me. Return my soul to thy serenity, for the Eternal hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I yet will walk before the Eternal in the land of the living. I firmly believed, and therefore will I declare that when greatly afflicted, I rashly said, All men are liars.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">Yeshua said that he had come to give us life and life more abundantly. (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">John 10:10<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) Yeshua did not say that he come so that we could have a better life in the world to come. The liturgy for the Pesach haggadah hallel speaks of giving praises and glory unto the king of the universe for the sake of His mercy and truth. The rabbis declare the power of God as the creator of life who is in the heavens, and compares the Lord to the idols of men who are blind, deaf, dumb, and unable to move, those who seek idols will be like them, whereas those who seek the Lord God Almighty will be like Him. The Lord God of Israel is the creator of life, he is the living God! He is not the God in whom we look forward to death and the world to come. He is the God in whom we look forward for life and prosperity, for righteousness and justice, holiness and truth. The Lord is our help and shield, and He wants to bless us, those who seek Him and His ways. The hallel quotes the psalm and then of the Eternal One who is the God of the living and not the dead, the one who sustains us in the land of the living, in this life. The Scriptures speak of looking forward to being with the Lord in the sense that He dwells in our midst right here and right now! If you are living in sin, this expectation will never come to pass. The Scriptures speak of our having the expectation of His presence in the here and now, in this world, and we are called to speak of Him and his Messiah Yeshua to all the nations in this world. This is the joy that we have, and the reason we care called to preserver in this life for the glory of God! Let\u2019s Pray!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-7\">Rabbinic Commentary<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"CharOverride-13\"> The Rabbinic Commentary (Midrash) on <\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-14\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 124 <\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-13\">has 1 part. Reading through the Midrash we will be looking at Part 1. Let\u2019s begin by outlining <\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-14\">Midrash Tehillim Chapter 124, Part 1.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-1\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font CharOverride-6\">Outline of Midrash Tehillim \/ Psalms, Chapter 124, Part 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"CharOverride-15\">Part 1<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-7\">The Midrash introduces the Psalm with the <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span> (Dibur Hamathil) saying, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cA song of ascents; of David. If it had not been the Lord who was for us, Israel would say (Tehillim \/ Psalms 124).\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-7\">The <span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta) the homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <span class=\"CharOverride-17\">\u201cRead these words in the light of the verse, And Jacob lay down In That Place to sleep (Bereshit \/ Genesis 28:11).<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-8\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal) <span class=\"CharOverride-17\">\u201cthe parable,\u201d<\/span> goes on to explain the <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span> (Petihta), the rabbis speak of the Lord being with His people Israel and the proof when Jacob lay down and saw the angels ascending and descending at Bethel.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-8\">The <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u05e0\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (Nimshal) <span class=\"CharOverride-17\">\u201cexpansion on the parable\u201d <\/span>expands upon the <span class=\"CharOverride-16\">\u05de\u05e9\u05dc<\/span> (mashal), paralleling when Israel sleeps the Lord protects saying while Jacob was in Haran, he never slept.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-8\">The Concluding phrase says, <span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cIt is the verse, Yet You are holy, O You that are enthroned upon the praises of Israel (Tehillim \/ Psalms 22:4) that is, upon the praises of the Patriarch Israel.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 124 Part 1 opens with the Dibur Hamathil (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc<\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-13\">) saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cA song of ascents; of David. If it had not been the Lord who was for us, Israel would say (Tehillim \/ Psalms 124).\u201d<\/span> <span class=\"CharOverride-13\"> The <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e4\u05ea\u05d9\u05d7\u05ea\u05d0<\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-13\"> (Petihta) the homiletic introduction to the midrash states, <\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-14\">\u201cRead these words in the light of the verse, And Jacob lay down In That Place to sleep (Bereshit \/ Genesis 28:11).<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201d<\/span><span class=\"CharOverride-13\"> The Rabbis speak of ascending within the context of Jacob laying down in Bethel fleeing his brother Esau. The idea of ascension may be connected to the dream Jacob had of the ladder from heaven and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the ladder. The entire midrash states the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<table id=\"table003\" class=\"Basic-Table\">\n<colgroup>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-9\" \/>\n<col class=\"_idGenTableRowColumn-10\" \/> <\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"Basic-Table _idGenTableRowColumn-11\">\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\">\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e7\u05db\u05d3<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Hebrew-Paragraph-Style--Right-to-Left-\" lang=\"he-IL\"><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\">\u05d0 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05d3\u05d5\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e0\u05d0 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc. (\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05e1\u05d1\u05d0) \u05db\u05ea\u05d9\u05d1 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05db\u05d1 \u05d1\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05d4\u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 (\u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05db\u05d7 \u05d9\u05d0), (\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e8\u05d9\u05d1\u05f4\u05dc) [\u05e8\u05f3 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d3\u05d4 \u05d5\u05e8\u05f3 \u05e0\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05d4, \u05e8\u05f3 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d3\u05d4 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05db\u05d0\u05df \u05e9\u05db\u05d1, \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05db\u05dc \u05d9\u05f4\u05d3 \u05e9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d8\u05de\u05d5\u05df \u05d1\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05e2\u05d1\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e9\u05db\u05d1, \u05d5\u05e8\u05f3 \u05e0\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8] \u05db\u05d0\u05df \u05e9\u05db\u05d1 \u05d0\u05d1\u05dc \u05db\u05dc \u05e2\u05e9\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05dc\u05d1\u05df \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e9\u05db\u05d1, \u05d5\u05de\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8, [\u05e8\u05f3 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05e9\u05e2 \u05d1\u05df \u05dc\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8] \u05d8\u05f4\u05d5 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05d1\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd, [\u05de\u05d0\u05d9 \u05d8\u05e2\u05de\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05de\u05e2\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05dc\u05d3\u05d5\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d5\u05dc\u05d9 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05e9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e0\u05d0 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc, \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05e1\u05d1\u05d0], (\u05e8\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05de\u05e2\u05d0\u05dc) [\u05e8\u05f3 \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05d0\u05dc] \u05d1\u05e8 \u05e0\u05d7\u05de\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05db\u05dc \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8, \u05de\u05d4 \u05d8\u05e2\u05dd, \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05e7\u05d3\u05d5\u05e9 \u05d9\u05d5\u05e9\u05d1 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc (\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05d1 \u05d3), \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05e1\u05d1\u05d0.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"Basic-Table CellOverride-7\">\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Midrash Tehillim 124, Part 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">1. A song of ascents; of David. If it had not been the Lord who was for us, Israel would say (Tehillim \/ Psalms 124). Read these words in the light of the verse, And Jacob lay down In That Place to sleep (Bereshit \/ Genesis 28:11). On the implications of this verse, Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah differed. Rabbi Judah said, There, at long last, he lay down, but during all the fourteen years Jacob had hidden in the house of Eber, not once had he lain down to sleep, Rabbi Nehemiah said, There he lay down for the last sleep he would have in a long time, for during all the twenty years Jacob was to spend in the house of Laban not once was he to lie down to sleep. And what would Jacob recite? According to Rabbi Joshua son of Levi, Jacob would recite the fifteen songs of ascents in the Book of Psalms. And Rabbi Joshua\u2019s proof? It is the verse, If it had not been the Lord who was for us, Israel would say, that is, the Patriarch Israel would say. According to Rabbi Samuel son of Hakhmani, Jacob would recite the entire Book of Psalms. And the proof? It is the verse, Yet You are holy, O You that are enthroned upon the praises of Israel (Tehillim \/ Psalms 22:4) that is, upon the praises of the Patriarch Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> According to Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah, Jacob lay down for the last time before making his travel to Haran and to stay in the house of Laban. Why do you think the rabbis parallel the idea that in all the time Jacob was with Laban that he did not sleep? How does this relate to the Midrash? Consider how Laban treated Jacob. Jacob had heard that Laban\u2019s sons were saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cJacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 31:1<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) After Jacob grew exceedingly wealthy in cattle, some of Laban\u2019s sons become jealous and accuse him of stealing their inheritance. But despite Laban\u2019s harsh work environment, the Lord God had proven Himself faithful to Jacob (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 31:4-13<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). As Jacob moved eastward (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Bereshit \/ Genesis 29.1<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">), he was under the providential hand of God. Moreover, as he was away from home and in conditions that were not hospitable, Laban had lied about Jacob\u2019s first wife substituting his older daughter for the younger, and changing his wages over and over again. What we see from these Scriptures is the spiritual position of all believers today as they live in this world, but do not behave as this world does (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">John 17:6-11<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). As Jacob was, we too live in dangerous territory who are called to live for the Lord and to serve Him each day. (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">1 Peter 2:11<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) King Solomon spoke of not sleeping having fallen into the hands of one\u2019s neighbor in the following way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Mishley \/ Proverbs 6:1-19<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">6:1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger, 6:2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth, 6:3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. 6:4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids; 6:5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter\u2019s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6:6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, 6:7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, 6:8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest. 6:9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 6:10 \u2018A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest\u2019 6:11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man. 6:12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, 6:13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers; 6:14 Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife. 6:15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing. 6:16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 6:17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 6:18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 6:19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">King Solomon said having given a pledge for a neighbor we are bound to do according to what we have said we would do. There is a form of bondage of becoming a surety for another person, and so Solomon said <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">6:3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. 6:4 Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids; (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> There will be no peace, which is described as <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cno sleep to the eyes.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Solomon\u2019s recommendation is to work really hard to pay off your debts. The one who will not work, or who lays down as a sluggard will remain in poverty. This one who is the sluggard is as one who is wicked, worthless, walks with a perverse mouth, and has perversity in his heart. Notice something concerning what we see today in relation to those who feel they are owed something known as entitlements. Have you noticed how most discussions around <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201centitlements\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> is political, highly charged, and nasty. The minute lawmakers try to reduce any specific <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201centitlement program,\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> they are accused of being nothing short of evil. Falling into the <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cI deserve!\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> trap, results in what Solomon is speaking of, working less, contributing less, all under the idea of <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cWhere\u2019s the value in all of that?\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> type of attitude. This is the self-centered, narcissistic world that we live in which encourages this attitude of entitlement. This attitude is doing great harm to the testimony of Christians in addition to creating a proud, lazy people who expect to be served instead of to serve. The Apostle Paul wrote about this saying the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Philippians 2:1-8<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 2:4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 2:8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">Paul speaks of being selfless and filled with love, united in spirit with humility of mind in regards to ourselves. This speaks contrary to the entitlement attitude. Attitudes of entitlement have overwhelmed so many and it is actually a clear manifestation of the enemy. The entitled person, his character is defined by selfish ambition and pride with the attitude that I am to be exalted and respected, without showing respect himself for others in a servant like attitude. Entitlement is usually a simple, subtle desire or expectation that we don\u2019t give much thought to. This is why it\u2019s so important to allow God to search our hearts and to reveal selfish motives, attitudes and issues that bring forth death instead of life. This is why Paul wrote, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">2:4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, (NASB)<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The entitlement attitude puts a person on the throne of superiority as others are scrutinized and ridiculed if they don\u2019t measure up. This is the spirit of the evil one and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal that deadly heart issue in the heart. We must seek daily to consider others more important than ourselves. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The midrash speaks of Jacob being <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201chidden in the house of Eber for fourteen years\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> and only afterwards he went to Haran. It is interesting how the midrash states that he was hidden as opposed to studying Torah with Eber. The rabbis consider Jacob as representing \u201cda\u2019at\u201d (knowledge). Da\u2019at Torah (<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d3\u05e2\u05ea \u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) meaning <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cKnowledge of Torah,\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> is a concept in Haredi Judaism according to which Jews should seek the input of rabbinic scholars not just on matters of Jewish law, but on all important life matters, on the grounds that knowledge of the Torah aids everything in life. The idea is there is a more hidden away in the Torah that is applicable for our lives than we think. The parallel here in the Midrash is that Jacob went to Laban but was not revealed anything of the things of Torah, these were still hidden. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Torah provides for us reasons to obey God\u2019s commands and the significance of listening to God\u2019s Word and applying it to our lives. <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 11 and 28<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> are devoted to describing the rewards and punishments the Lord will bring upon those who obey or disobey Him. In the rabbinic literature, the rabbis made the theme central by choosing the following text as part of the second paragraph of the Shema to be said each morning and evening:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 11:13-21<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">11:13 \u2018It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, 11:14 that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. 11:15 \u2018He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. 11:16 \u2018Beware that your hearts are not deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods and worship them. 11:17 \u2018Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you. 11:18 \u2018You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 11:19 \u2018You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. 11:20 \u2018You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 11:21 so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The blessing of God comes when we choose to serve the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, and soul. When we strive to seek the Lord all the days of our lives, He abundantly blesses us. These passages clearly demonstrate the abundant reward is a product of obedience to God\u2019s mitzvot. There are some people who have great difficulty with this section of the Bible (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 11<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">), since there are many cases of people who do good and fulfill commandments and yet who suffer, and of bad people who have been known to prosper in their wickedness. Nevertheless, we do not have to doubt what the Torah says, with certainty we know God\u2019s response to obedience and disobedience regarding His commandments. The Scriptures state that we should obey God\u2019s commandments because it would be unwise not to. As a result, Moshes says this to the Israelites:<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 4:5-8<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cSee, I have imparted to you laws and rules, as God has commanded me, or you to abide by in the land which you are about to invade and occupy. Observe them faithfully, for that will be proof of your wisdom and discernment to other peoples, who on hearing of all these laws will say, \u2018Surely, that great nation is a wise and discerning people.\u2019 For what great nation is there that has a god so close at hand as is the Lord our God whenever we call upon Him? Or what great nation has laws and rules as perfect as all this Teaching that I set before you this day?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">Notice how obeying the Lord God in heaven is the proof of our wisdom and discernment as God\u2019s people. The way we live our lives demonstrates the teachings of God in our lives (to bear His testimonies) and this is an indicator the Lord dwells in our midst. This is why the commands define the ethical life, the Torah affirms that God\u2019s commandments are ethical and moral because the Lord God of Israel is a moral God. The reason being, the commandments establish for people the true standard of morality. For example, it states in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Tehillim \/ Psalms19:8-10, \u201cThe teaching of God is perfect, renewing life; the decrees of God are enduring, making the simple wise. The commandments of the Lord are just, rejoicing the heart; the instruction of God is lucid, making the eyes light up. The fear of God is pure, abiding forever; the judgments of God are true, righteous altogether\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Commandments are also part of our Covenant Relationship with God. The promise to obey God is expressed in the covenant (brit) that our ancestors made with the Lord at Mount Sinai. In the Torah the Lord promised to enter into a long-term relationship with the children of Israel. This relationship included giving them a homeland and rewarding them with physical pros\u00adperity that is contingent upon the commands and the heart that is established to seek the Lord. Ancient Israel said, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201call that God has commanded, we will do and we will hear\/obey\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Shemot \/ Exodus 24:7<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">). Today we ask, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cIf our ancestors voluntarily agreed to enter into God\u2019s covenant, why are we obligated by it as well?\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Moshe had already anticipated this objection when he spoke to the second generation of Israelites who had not been a part of the Sinai experience saying in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 5:2-4, \u201cGod made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that God made this covenant, but with us, the living, every one of us who is here today. Face to face God spoke to you on the mountain out of the fire.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The Israelites and their descendants for all generations were expected to see themselves as if they themselves had stood at the mountain and obligated themselves to fulfill the covenant of God. This is the point of believing by faith and applying God\u2019s Word by faith for His glory! The fact of the matter is these who were about to enter into the Promised Land were standing at the mountain of Sinai as children, they did hear the covenant God made with His people and the response of their parents to God\u2019s promises and His commands. Today, by faith we are able to have virtually stood at the foot of the mountain just as these people have and agree with the covenant the Lord has made with our fathers and with us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> In addition to these things, the commandments also serve as a way to sanctify God\u2019s Name, meaning that we are sanctifying His reputation to make it holy and unique. According to the Torah, the Lord gave Israel His mitzvot as part of the covenant agreement, therefore the commitment to follow and obey them is reflected not only upon the child of God, but upon the Lord God Himself as well. Good behavior, according to the Scriptures, brought honor upon God, whereas bad behavior profaned God\u2019s Name and reputation. Note what it says here in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 22:31-33.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 22:31-33<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cYou shall faithfully observe My commandments: I am God. You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people\u2014I the Lord who sanctify you, I who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God, I am the Lord\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The Lord describes having sanctified the people by bringing them out of Egypt. Egypt is typified as the land of sin, the occult, bondage, slavery, etc. This separation from these evil things is coupled to the Lord providing a way for atonement, for forgiveness, for life, and freedom, to be set free from the bondage of sin and the occult. This sanctification process is the Lord God bringing us into holiness and righteousness. The Scriptures commends all of God\u2019s people to do what is right, to perform the commandments, because God\u2019s reputation is at stake. Sanctifying God\u2019s name is a powerful motivation to do what is right. The Hebrew word for <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201choly\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> (kadosh, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e7\u05d3\u05d5\u05e9<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) literally means, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cset apart\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> or <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201clike no other.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> This is why the Torah states obeying the mitzvot, God\u2019s people become a nation that is unique and set apart from all the other nations in the world. Since we have agree to obey God\u2019s com\u00admands, we are called God\u2019s treasured people. This theme permeates the Bible, which is emphasized at the Mountain of Sinai<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Shemot \/ Exodus 19:3-6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cMoses went up to God, and God called to him from the mountain saying, \u2018Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles\u2019 wings and brought you to Me. Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My most treasured possession among all the nations. Indeed all of the earth is Mine, but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The Torah defines the meaning of <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201choly\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> as special and unique from among all others. It is important to note how God\u2019s people are holy, the Lord has sanctified us, and so we are called to a life of holiness, to seek His righteousness and holiness. If we are not doing this, if we do not have this desire, are we truly His people? Obeying the commandments are the way we show our adoration of our Father in heaven. The Torah describes the Lord God of Israel as the lover of the Jewish people, and His having given them His Torah was a sign of that love. This is illustrated in <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 7:6-11<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1 CharOverride-12\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 7:6-14<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph ParaOverride-4\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">7:6 \u2018For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7:7 \u2018The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 7:8 but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 7:9 \u2018Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; 7:10 but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. 7:11 \u2018Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them. 7:12 \u2018Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you His covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers. 7:13 \u2018He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. 7:14 \u2018You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. (NASB)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">These Scriptures describe the people as a great treasure, as consecrated (set apart), as few whom the Lord chooses and a multitude in whom he will cause them to become because of their faithfulness. The Love of God is so great, He keeps his <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cgracious\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> covenant (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">covenant of grace<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) to the thousandth generation of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Note the common theme here, our love is connected to our keeping His commandments. The Hebrew language contains the verb mitzvah (to command) and the word shomer (to keep) which is connected to the word shema (to listen). The implications of these words throughout the Torah are astonishing, things of which not everyone are aware of. These words have led many Christians to misunderstand the nature of Judaism, where very few Christian thinkers today fully appreciate the concept of the mitzvah and the idea that the Lord God of Israel chose to reveal Himself in the form of the mitzvot (commandments, Laws). The most appropriate word that is a counterpart of mitzvah, is the word shema meaning <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cto listen.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> This word occurs in the book of Deuteronomy along 92 times (its root word). This word shema (to hear\/listen) is what the Lord wants from us as a response to His Words. For example, in the book of Bereshit \/ Genesis, we find the meaning of Shema in the following way:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-9\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cTo hear\u201d as in \u201cAbram heard that his relative [Lot] had been taken captive\u201d (Bereshit \/ Genesis 14:14, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d9\u05d3 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\"> \u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d7\u05b4\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05db\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05d3\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b5\u05d9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b9\u05e3 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d3-\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05df:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-9\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cTo listen, pay attention, heed\u201d as in \u201cBecause you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree\u201d (Bereshit \/ Genesis 3:17, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d9\u05d6 \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\"> \u05dc\u05b0\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b7\u05dc \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e6\u05b4\u05d5\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b7\u05dc \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05e6\u05bc\u05b8\u05d1\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05ea\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b2\u05dc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d9\u05b0\u05de\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">) and \u201cThen Rachel said: God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son\u201d (Bereshit \/ Genesis 30:7).<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-9\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cTo understand\u201d as in \u201cCome, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other\u201d (Bereshit \/ Genesis 11:7, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d6 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b5\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05dd \u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e4\u05b8\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\"> \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e4\u05b7\u05ea \u05e8\u05b5\u05e2\u05b5\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">). This is how tradition understood the later phrase Naaseh ve-nishma (Shemot \/ Exodus 24:7) to mean, \u201cfirst we will do, then understand.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-9\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cTo be willing to obey\u201d as the angel\u2019s words to Abraham after the binding of Isaac: \u201cThrough your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you were willing to obey me\u201d (Bereshit \/ Genesis 22:18, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b2\u05db\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b0\u05d6\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d2\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d9\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05e2\u05b5\u05e7\u05b6\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\"> \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">). Abraham was about to obey God\u2019s command but at the last moment an angel said Stop.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"Bulleted-List ParaOverride-9\"><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cTo respond in deed, to do what someone else wants\u201d as in \u201cDo whatever Sarah tells you\u201d (sh\u2019ma bekolah, Bereshit \/ Genesis 21:12, <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05d9\u05d1 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b5\u05e8\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b2\u05de\u05b8\u05ea\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 <\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text CharOverride-7\" lang=\"he-IL\">\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2<\/span><span class=\"Hebrew-verse-text\" lang=\"he-IL\"> \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e7\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b7\u05e2:<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">). It is in this last sense that it comes closest in meaning to \u201cobey.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">Based upon what is written in Bereshit \/ Genesis, the word Shema means <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cto hear,\u201d \u201cto listen to or pay attention (heed),\u201d \u201cto understand,\u201d \u201cto be willing to obey,\u201d <\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">and<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\"> \u201cto respond in deed to what someone else wants.\u201d <\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">The shema has all of these meanings which suggest in the Torah there is no such thing as blind obedience. The connection between the word of the commander and the deed of the soldier is not that of command-and-reaction without thought or understanding. The Torah based relationship between God and us is the Lord created us in His image, giving us freedom and the power to think. He wants us to understand His commands and the reason being, the command of God brings life to His people. Note, Paul wrote the command was intended to bring life, but in the end it brought death due to sin. This was why Yeshua the Messiah had to come, to lay his life down on our behalf, and the infilling of God\u2019s Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome sin and to live in the fullness of life according to the command.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Basic-Paragraph\"><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> Midrash Tehillim 124 Part 1 concludes saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cAccording to Rabbi Joshua son of Levi, Jacob would recite the fifteen songs of ascents in the Book of Psalms. And Rabbi Joshua\u2019s proof? It is the verse, If it had not been the Lord who was for us, Israel would say, that is, the Patriarch Israel would say. According to Rabbi Samuel son of Hakhmani, Jacob would recite the entire Book of Psalms. And the proof? It is the verse, Yet You are holy, O You that are enthroned upon the praises of Israel (Tehillim \/ Psalms 22:4) that is, upon the praises of the Patriarch Israel.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> The idea here is in the rational of the Lord being with His people where none may stand against us if the Lord is with His people. Jacob is said to have recited the entire book of the Psalms if the Lord God was not with us, where the Psalms represents the praises of Israel. The Lord God in heaven is said to be enthroned upon the praises of His people. The Lord God is the Holy One of Israel, and is therefore praised by Israel, He is enthroned because of the content, the work, and the character of God. The Apostle Paul wrote of the Torah saying, <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cI delight in God\u2019s Torah&#8230; I myself in my mind am a slave to God\u2019s Torah.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">Romans 7:22,25<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) Our Love for God and the Torah are inseparable. If one keeps and obeys the Torah, he is showing his adoration and love to our Father in heaven. If one loves God he will keep and obey His Torah. This is why Yeshua said <\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">\u201cIf you love me, obey my commands.\u201d<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\"> (<\/span><span class=\"Character-Style-1\">John 14:15, 23<\/span><span class=\"Std-Hebrew-English-Greek-Font\">) We can see this concept in many passages if we understand the Hebrew parallelisms that are based from a Torah perspective! Let\u2019s Pray! <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Tehillim-124-Part1-and-2.pdf\">Tehillim 124-Part1-and-2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this week\u2019s study from Tehillim \/ Psalms 124:1-8, the psalm opens saying \u05d0 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05dc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05d5\u05b4\u05d3 \u05dc\u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8-\u05e0\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc: A song of ascents. Of David 124:1 \u2018Had it not been the Lord who was on our side,\u2019 Let Israel now say, (NASB) The psalmist asks the question, had the Lord not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6826,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6823","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tehillim"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}