Y Not I

L’shana tova 5770. May everyone have a happy and healthy new year.

Enjoy a song to celebrate including yours truly on bass (actually not in the recording, but I play the part of bass player in the video.

B”H

I have been reading through Psalm 119 lately and reflecting on it. It is an awesome piece of literature, but I do not want to focus on the style of the writing nor the time frame or the author. As I read through it I am taken at how much this Psalm seems at odds with some interpretations of the Law that can be easily found and heard around. However to me it all rings so true. G-d’s Law is good and even though I fail at keeping it, that is not reason to reject it. As a matter of fact, I pray G-d give me the grace to walk in the ways of the Law (v.29). I find it odd to see as� the Amplified Bible translates it to, “graciously impart Your law to me,” for so often it seems that Law and grace are at odds. I find that grace is the Godly influence in me to equip me to keep the commandments not an argument against them.

See if you did not know these verses if you would think they are from legalistic person wishing to put one under bondage.

• Respect for the commandments, seeking them and telling others about them (verses 6, 46, 117)
• A desire and commitment to learn, know and keep the Law (verses 8, 12, 40, 45, 55-57, 124)
• To keep them forever and never forget them� (verses 44, 93, 109, 112, 141, 153, 176)
• A pray to keep one focused on the commandments (verses 10, 78)
• And to hide these commandments in one heart to keep me from breaking them (verses 11, 83)
• Rejoicing, delighting and loving the Law (verses 14, 16, 47-48, 77, 92, 113, 119, 143, 159, 163, 165, 167, 174)
• The Law can actually counsel and is good to learn (verses 24, 33-34, 64, 68, 71, 73, 135)
• Wanting power from G-d to be able to keep the Law (verse 29)
• A commitment to keep the Law (verses 32, 115)
• The ways of Torah are better than prosperity (verse 72)
• The Torah is sweeter than honey (verse 103)
• The Law is good and truth (verses 138, 142)

What would be the react if you walked up to many believers and exclaimed “I love the Law!”? I would guess that there would be some that would want to sit with you, talk to you and pray for you. I guess they would try and explain to you how you have been freed from this prison and that you should escape from the Law. Some might tell you that the Law is dead and gone, a hopeless relic that has passed away. They might also tell you that these words were great and true for when they were written but now Yeshua has come so that we can have freedom and not have to walk in those commandments (or even desire to). They might say that Yeshua came, walked in them perfectly and did so for the express purpose so you would not need to. They might even have WWJD somewhere his person while they tell you this. Most likely though, they would not quote this Scripture:

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:4-6)

So how did Yeshua walk? Would one consider the things of Psalm 119 the things that He did? If so, maybe might it merit more attention than one has given it lately?

Now why did I title this post with the line from a well know (and often covered song)?

There are some other things that stood out to me about this Psalm. Reading through I did not see one that was confident in themself and their ability to keep the commandments. Far from it. I did not see someone who saw their salvation coming from a keeping of Torah. Far from it. I saw:

• A whole heart desire for these things, not just a simple keeping them by effort (verses 10, 58, 80)
• Knowledge that keeping them would not bring salvation, that salvation only comes from G-d (verses 17, 41, 124)
• That one is fleshly and that the Law of G-d can be difficult, especially in one’s own strength (verses 36-37)

and the final verse:

Verse 176 – I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Look at that final verse once again. It is not like a legal system of I keep the Law, I will not get into trouble; it is even though I keep the Law I still go astray of it and need G-d and His mercy. Wow! That is not self righteousness or legalism or anything else but a humble heart. Sounds like someone who fought the Law and G-d won. A humble hearted Law keeper, now that is a goal worthy of attainment.

B”H

I saw this post the other day and I always find it odd when Sunday is referred to as the commanded Sabbath rest day. The post never really calls Sunday the Sabbath, but it does imply it.

Over the years the subject of the Sabbath is a very charged subject, so much so that certain faiths are named because of it (Seventh Day Adventists, etc.). Some hold hard and fast to the Scriptural-based seventh day, while others claim the day has been moved. There are lots of reasons why some put forth the opinion that the Sabbath was moved from the seventh day to the first day. None of those reasons includes a Biblical command. Some say that because the believers met on the first day of the week, that tradition is the reason Sunday has become the day of worship/rest. Some might say it is because the Church has the authority to make the change even if it supersedes Scripture.

Regardless of ones opinion on the subject, to me as a Jewish believer I always find it a bit jarring to see Sunday being inferred as the Sabbath. The post even argues that having Friday and Saturday, encompassing the entire Sabbath time frame, is better used as a time of doing chores, errants and other non-employment based activities so that there would be more time for Sunday to be a day of rest.

To me, I am not arguing against the post of Think Christian, just stating that for me it (and the terminology used) really stood out. I think it is for each to make their own decision about the Sabbath based upon their reflection on Scripture and their personal relationship with G-d. For me, I as a Jew, believe that the Sabbath is part of a covenant that I belong to. I do my best to make the Sabbath a time away from work, chores and errants.I actually find Sunday is my day to do laundry, to do some honey-do item or go run some errants.

I do not have the animosity against those that hold Sunday as special that some do. To me, the seventh day is the Sabbath and if some choose to worship on Sunday that is their choice and I am OK with that. They can even consider it the Sabbath if they like, although calling it that sounds odd and forced to me.

So where do you stand on the issue of the Sabbath – has it been moved to Sunday, kept for the seventh day and if so, is it something to be mindful of? Does a Sunday Sabbath equal the Mark of the Beast? Sin? Just a personal choice? Let me know what you think in the comments and the poll below.

B”H