Tanakh 27 May 2005
Tanakh Study for the Week
This week I would like to start with the Decalogue, or 10 Commandments. I am sure that most of you are aware that the Decalogue used by the Roman Catholic Church is slightly different from that used by Protestants. Most people are not aware that the Jewish Decalogue is also slightly different. We will be looking at the Decalogue from a Jewish Christian perspective over the next several weeks.
The first commandment, according to the Jewish point of view is, “I am the Lord your God.” This is the key commandment. God is God and Lord, he is sovereign. This commandment is the base. After all, if He is not God, then all the other commandments are nought. The toughest thing that we have to do in this life is acknowledge Him as our Lord, our God and our sovereign. It is popular (or was a few years back) to say, if He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all. This is the ultimate reality. Adam and Havah (Eve) had to learn the hard way. The serpent told Havah that if they ate the fruit, they would be as Gods, knowing good from evil. In other words, she accepted the promise of sovereignty, and this began the process which destroyed Gan Eden. Blessedness began with a relationship with God. Part of that relationship was acknowledging YHWH’s sovereignty over all things. Havah and Adam decided to take that sovereignty for themselves which destroyed the relationship with YHWH and with nature. The Lord did give them an opportunity to restore that relationship, but instead Adam and Havah played the blame game, blaming God and Havah and the serpent, instead of acknowledging their guilt in order to establish a right relationship with God.
We must recognise that when we put I at the centre of our lives, then we are living in sIn. When God is at the centre of our lives then we live in JOY (Jesus first, others second, yourself last) All that is wrong with this world is because of sin. Before the sin of Adam and Havah, there was no death, and man lived in perfect relation with YHWH, each other and nature. The beginnings of that destroyed relationship are detailed in Genesis 1-11. God’s response to this problem and grace appears from Genesis 3, and finishes in the New Testament.
In our “democratic” societies of today, we have some problem understanding sovereignty. Especially in the United States of America, self made men are the idol of society. We often look to ourselves for our salvation, and forget that it is God who does it all.
Therefore, the question is, “Do you recognise Jesus as Lord?” Is He really Lord of ALL your life, or just those parts that are convenient? Do you acknowledge Him as true God of all your life, seeking Hs will in study of His word, prayer, and the assembly of the faithful, or do you just let Him run your life where it is convenient to you. Are each of us ready to allow him to be fully in control of our lives?
If so, then join with me in meditation each week. Seek that in our lives that denies his Lordship, and give it to him to transform. Don’t do it all at once, but one step at a time, and you will find yourself being truly transformed and acknowledging his Lordship with all your heart, mind and strength, and loving your neighbour as yourself.
For techniques or help in this matter, please feel free to contact me, or even to call 281-303-3671.
Shalom and blessings in the Name of Yeshua
+Mar Michael Abportus
mjthan@quik.com
This week I would like to start with the Decalogue, or 10 Commandments. I am sure that most of you are aware that the Decalogue used by the Roman Catholic Church is slightly different from that used by Protestants. Most people are not aware that the Jewish Decalogue is also slightly different. We will be looking at the Decalogue from a Jewish Christian perspective over the next several weeks.
The first commandment, according to the Jewish point of view is, “I am the Lord your God.” This is the key commandment. God is God and Lord, he is sovereign. This commandment is the base. After all, if He is not God, then all the other commandments are nought. The toughest thing that we have to do in this life is acknowledge Him as our Lord, our God and our sovereign. It is popular (or was a few years back) to say, if He is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all. This is the ultimate reality. Adam and Havah (Eve) had to learn the hard way. The serpent told Havah that if they ate the fruit, they would be as Gods, knowing good from evil. In other words, she accepted the promise of sovereignty, and this began the process which destroyed Gan Eden. Blessedness began with a relationship with God. Part of that relationship was acknowledging YHWH’s sovereignty over all things. Havah and Adam decided to take that sovereignty for themselves which destroyed the relationship with YHWH and with nature. The Lord did give them an opportunity to restore that relationship, but instead Adam and Havah played the blame game, blaming God and Havah and the serpent, instead of acknowledging their guilt in order to establish a right relationship with God.
We must recognise that when we put I at the centre of our lives, then we are living in sIn. When God is at the centre of our lives then we live in JOY (Jesus first, others second, yourself last) All that is wrong with this world is because of sin. Before the sin of Adam and Havah, there was no death, and man lived in perfect relation with YHWH, each other and nature. The beginnings of that destroyed relationship are detailed in Genesis 1-11. God’s response to this problem and grace appears from Genesis 3, and finishes in the New Testament.
In our “democratic” societies of today, we have some problem understanding sovereignty. Especially in the United States of America, self made men are the idol of society. We often look to ourselves for our salvation, and forget that it is God who does it all.
Therefore, the question is, “Do you recognise Jesus as Lord?” Is He really Lord of ALL your life, or just those parts that are convenient? Do you acknowledge Him as true God of all your life, seeking Hs will in study of His word, prayer, and the assembly of the faithful, or do you just let Him run your life where it is convenient to you. Are each of us ready to allow him to be fully in control of our lives?
If so, then join with me in meditation each week. Seek that in our lives that denies his Lordship, and give it to him to transform. Don’t do it all at once, but one step at a time, and you will find yourself being truly transformed and acknowledging his Lordship with all your heart, mind and strength, and loving your neighbour as yourself.
For techniques or help in this matter, please feel free to contact me, or even to call 281-303-3671.
Shalom and blessings in the Name of Yeshua
+Mar Michael Abportus
mjthan@quik.com
posted by The Synod of Saint Timothy at 22:07
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