God and Israel
My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me. Psalm 101:6 NASB
The faithful of the land – “The Torah is God’s wisdom, and Israel translates it into real life.” “. . . Israel is not merely a nation like the others, but it is unique in its readiness to manifest God in this world by adhering to His Torah.” “As bearer of the Shechinah [Divine Presence] on earth, Israel proclaims God’s sovereignty until all the nations recognize His Oneness.”[1]
Read Rabbi Munk’s remarks again. Do you feel joy or insult? Are you rejoicing that God chose Israel or are you asking yourself, “What makes them so special that I wasn’t included in God’s selection? Why should they think of themselves as the unique bearers of the Divine Presence?” You see, how you feel about Monk’s statements reflects your paradigm about God, Israel and the nations.
For twenty centuries the Church has felt affronted by these claims. For twenty centuries the Church has shouted, “Who gave you the right to be God’s message bearers to us?” For twenty centuries the Church has attempted to wrest from the hands of Israel its God and the choice of its God. Why else would the Church proclaim that it has usurped the role God Himself gave Israel at Sinai? Why else would the Church reject Torah, the single most important sign of God’s particular favor on this particular people? Why else if not to shout, “NO! We are the chosen. We are the privileged. We are the elect. God changed His mind. Israel is nothing more than a disobedient nation.”
In the end it’s not a matter of proof texts. It’s not even a matter concerning the obvious fact that 85% of the Bible is about Israel (95% if you read the New Testament as a Jewish document). In the end it’s about paradigms. Your interpretive scheme will dictate what you read. Not the words, of course, but the meaning you attach to the words. If you think Israel failed when it rejected the Messiah (of course, not all of Israel rejected Him, but that’s just an annoying difficulty), then you will be offended by Monk’s claim. Your theological backbone will tighten and you will refuse to be incorporated into the way of life dictated by Torah because you serve a God who no longer choses Israel. Your paradigm is showing, but it won’t do any good to try to convince you that it’s your approach that needs re-evaluation. In fact, no one from the Jewish side will even try to convince you. Why should they? You show no interest in their way of life—and in the end it’s all about just that: the way of life.
If you want to understand why Monk says what he does, you must come over to the other side and walk around in the shoes of a rabbi for a few years. Then you might see the difference.
When David delights in the “faithful of the land,” he is not addressing modern Christian believers. He is addressing Torah-observant, life long followers of the Way, those who live in Israel no matter where they happen to reside because they follow the ways of the God of Israel. What else could David possibly mean when he adds, “walks in a blameless way”? The faithful are those of emuna, those who consider God’s mitzvot (commandments) the absolutely certain path of life. They walk tamim (blamelessly), that is, completely. They do not pick and choose among the instructions of YHWH. For them it is all or nothing.
Do you want to know what that feels like? Give up your alternative paradigm for awhile and try it. Let action become your entry into a new way of seeing. Let me know how you’re doing in a year.
Topical Index: faithful, emuna, blameless, tamim, paradigm, Psalm 101:6
What most christians don’t understand is we are Israel, also, IF we keep Torah and abandon the pagan ways of christianity. He scattered His people into all nations. Most people believe Israel is only the people who live in Israel. Anyone can be grafted in, IF they obey Almighty YHWH, HalleluYah!
But just because we can be grafted in does not mean we become Israel. We (Gentiles) do not in any way replace God’s chosen people. We can be grafted in but we are just that-grafted in.
Chosen by Him yes but that still does not mean we become Israel. If we chose to be grafted in then it is expected that we will not remain as we were but learn of God and His Torah and become obedient to those things that apply to us. Not all of Torah applies to a Gentile (or all to every individual) right?
The scattering is really an unknown for the most part today. I would love to find out that I have Jewish bloodlines but even if I don’t, that’s okay with me. I still have a part to play and the journey is amazing!
Please correct me if I am thinking wrongly here.
I think saying we are “Israelites” is a little more accurate. We don’t replace them but become one of them when we devote ourselves to worshiping through obedience, the I AM of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the same way Rahab, Ruth, Uriah and Cornelius were Israelites (two of them in the very line of Messiah), we too become Israelites when we say with Ruth, “Your people will be my people and your God, my God.”
Well put.
David’s delight, his real delight, was no doubt that
“the Lord was with him.” 1 Sam 16:18
Isn’t that our real delight, too, low these many 3000
years later?
David lived unassumedly with the sheep as a young man.
But God had His eyes on him right from the start. God had
a plan for David.
Jesus tells us the same about who we are!
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should
remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may
give you. These things I command you, that you love one
another.” Jn 15: 16-17
God , likewise, has a plan for each of us. And our real delight, too,
is that He is with us.
“For you are a holy people in the Lord your God, and the Lord has
chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the
peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deut 14:2
Today, thousands of years later, WE are His chosen people!
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Mat 16:24
It is not enough for the church to be grafted in,they feel they have to replace Israel. This is arrogance to a very high level. this verse has nothing to do with geography.You mentioned that to Isreal it is all or nothing,these words ring loudly in my ears. A lady I was teaching about torah once commented to me that if she was suppose to accept this teaching that it had to be all or nothing, she was commenting on the topic of circumcision. She said it cant be any different for us who are living today then it was for the people living in the old testament times (of coarse i’m talking about doctrine) if it is different she could not accept it. your book crossword puzzles has shown me that there is no difference from the people living back then,opposed to the people living today. It is all or nothing.
I am glad you found the book useful. It just scratched the surface, I’m afraid, but that scratch caused a lot of wounds in assumptions.
Hi Rich.
I am curious when you make this statement “Today, thousands of years later, WE are His chosen people!” to whom are you referring?
Let me share some thoughts with you so you can see why I am curious (not accusing).
I find myself not angry because I am not an Israelite (that I know of) but rather sad about it. Okay with it because I can be and am grafted into that tree but still a Gentile as far as I know. What I am thinking in regards to your statement is that I am chosen but I am still not an Israelite even so.
I have never held anything against the Jews (didn’t understand a lot of things about them) but at the same time, never had much interest in learning about them or their customs. I never heard anything about them in any of the churches I ever went to. I just got a lot of lessons on making the outside look good and getting my butt to church anytime those doors were open!
Understanding that they were and STILL are God’s chosen people is a really big deal! What is amazing to me is that God made another way for all the rest of us (Gentiles) to be a part of His people. Grafting in. Pretty neat when you really think about it because we are given the same roots to draw from and to learn. In being a part of God’s way there is no room for envy or jealousy, only serving the One True God. This kinda cuts thru a lot of the fluff for me!
I still enjoy reading the Pilgrims Progress just because it reminds me of my journey and all of the issues that must be dealt with along the way. It is a journey and as such we are always being changed into something far better if the goal is obedience. (Keep my commandments)
Okay, I think I have headed down this rabbit trail far enough.
Thanks for your post Rich. I just wondered at that one statement.
On this subject (grafted in), Bob Gorelik and I gave a conference in Phoenix last year. The videos of the presentations are on my computer, still waiting to be properly edited and posted. When I get that done I think you will find them quite illuminating.
oh I hope they get posted soon 🙂
Waiting… waiting… waiting. I’m finding this entire discussion today very fascinating!
I second that! I think we have some rather bizarre attitudes about “grafting in” and “adoption” from both Gentile and Jewish perspectives. I think both are missing it. I look forward to the videos.
Hi Dawn,
I appreciate the sincerity of your comments today as well as those of others! Again, you all reveal that there is much confusion among readers of TW about who is Israel and what is Israel and how “Jewish” we all should be. Indeed, the Messianic community at large is rife with such confusion, so we all have lots of company.
I pray, as I write, that we all will understand that eternal salvation IS NOT ABOUT BLOOD LINES. Never was and never will be, though there are some rabbis and some Messianic teachers who would like us all to believe that such is the case!
Our blood line and our heritage DOES NOTHING to help us in God’s judgment of us. Do you think that the Jew can play the race card as he pleads his case in the heavenly court? Silly thought, isn’t it! Is God a “respecter of persons or of tribes? Of course not? We are ALL judged by God according to Torah, nothing more, nothing less! We will be rewarded for our good works – a seperate issue.
We all know that Paul had lots to say about Israel, the Jew, the Greek, the Gentile. Lets briefly look at a few Scriptures. Romans chapter 2 and 3 are superb:
“There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO THE GREEK 10 but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO THE GREEK, FOR GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY.
12 All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the law and boast of your relation to God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed in the law, 19 and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
(As Skip points out almost daily – its behavior that counts with God – whether you are Jew or Gentile!)
So then what about circumcision? Paul continues in Romans 2:
25 Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, YOUR CIRCUMCISION BECOMES UNCIRCUMCISION. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29 HE IS A JEW WHO IS ONE INWARDLY, AND REAL CIRCUMCISION IS A MATTER OF THE HEART, SPIRITUAL AND NOT LITERAL. His praise is not from men but from God.” (Romans 2:9-29) RSV
We can be grateful that the Holy Spirit had Paul record these words for our clarification. Paul continues with this theme in chapter 3> I will pick just a few verses for brevity to make the point again that our great God does not play favourites with a few of His children to the exclusion of others:
“Or is our God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also since God is one;” (Rom.3:29-30) RSV
Let me end with a favourite section of scripture of mine. Anyone worried about this nonsense about blood lines or being “grafted in” ,yet still remaining outside the family of God should find solace from Paul’s letter to Galatians> so Dawn, I want you to know that you are in great shape with your Father no matter your DNA!!!
Quoting Paul:
23 Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. 24 So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; 26 for IN CHRIST JESUS YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD, THROUGH FAITH. ( Comment: make me want to scream “Hallelujah”! )27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER SLAVE NOR FREE, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOT FEMALE ; for YOU ARE ALL ONE in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” ( Gal.3:23-29)
Friends, Our Father has His rules, His requirements and His Protocols, but rest assured they do not include – being of Israelite or of Jewish stock to be a king priest and rule with Messiah in His glorious Kingdom. Rather, ironically, we find Skip telling us what is required in the second part of the verse he used for his blog today. Did you notice it?
“He who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me? (Psalm 101:6)
For additional bonus on who will be there to minister to YHVH in His Kingdom – read Psalm 15
Skip, I will be looking forward to the insights from the Phoenix conference with Bob Gorelik!
Hi John,
I surely appreciate the time you took to write a response to me.
I honestly never gave the whole idea of pulling out the race card to God on judgement day! That is pretty funny really. I like the humor there although maybe you weren’t laughing.
This is one more area that I have some wrong thought in that needs to be righted. Your response goes a long way towards giving me some text to examine on this issue.
You are right in that Romans is pretty clear.
So why the big deal with replacement theology when it seems clear that on that Day it will not matter whether Greek or Jew? Is there just so much hatred and envy towards God’s people? It is sure easier to not look into these things and simply follow men. We are farmers (not big ones either) so think lots of hard work. I am no stranger to working hard and sweating just to put food on the table and gather harvest to feed animals too. I guess what I am thinking is that the food tastes better when I have grown and harvested it myself than the junk you can easily buy at the supermarket. Small rabbit trail-sorry!
I get that it is behavior that matters. I have found so much release from the burden of religion as I grow in the knowledge of my Father. The truth and resources I find here are so helpful in this journey. I am so not who I was. I know how selfish my thoughts used to be and how much I kept score of who owed me what! Pretty stressful life and I suspect I was not real nice company then. LOL
God has done wonders in changing my life and even the way I think. I am so filled with gratefulness for this. I didn’t like who I was much at all. I really enjoying serving. This is my heart in this post. I do that a lot because I have nothing to hide anymore. The one from whom I would hide sees everything anyways so hiding is kinda pointless now. 🙂
Thank you again for you response. You can bet I will be thinking and studying one this more.
I have yet to watch a video of Skip’s teachings. Guess I am gonna have to turn over another new leaf!
Shalom
Hi Dawn,
I am happy that you find Skip’s community meaningful to your walk. I find it meaningful too. I think I found this blog just about a year ago now.
You know, Paul asked the queation in Romans: What advantage has the Jew? And then responds: Much in every way! Paul says that the Jew is fortunate – because God entrusted them with “the oracles of God”. ….In a little bit similar fashion, all those of us who have found Skip’s blog have an advantage too! Here we find provocative blogs and discussions on the deeper things of life, without denomintional bias – all for free!
Lucky us!
Shalom
Thanks for the kind words about the blog. But just a small correction. It actually isn’t free. All of this continues because people make donations. I couldn’t do what I do without them. So if you are enjoying what happens here and it is useful to you, please become one of the supporters, not just the receivers.
skipmoen.com/donate
Skip,
A follow up comment on taking me to task for my over zealous “free” blog remark to Dawn! I will tone it down in future and perhaps urge all the freeloaders to pull their weight……
To be serious though, and I am not trying to brag or anything, but for what it is worth my wife and I are regular monthly donors on auto pilot!!!
My wife’s name is Pierann Walsh and she makes the contribution to your organisation. We split up the monthly bills and our giving between us.
On my side of the family finances, this year I plan to purchase the rest of your books I have not already bought plus most of your media materials.
Shalom
AH, John. I never meant to suggest that YOU were not a supporter. I know that you are. It’s just that at this time of the year it becomes obvious that the few support the many with more than 50% of the daily readers contributing nothing. For them it is free – at the expense of people like you. Thanks.
Sorry Dawn for leading you astray or down a rabbit trail -as you might say regarding Skip’s blog being “free”! On a post from Skip, you can see that he sets the matter straight.
Any rumors you might hear that Today’s Word is secretly supported by the Illuminati, secret Jewish bankers, or Jeff Bezos – owner of Amazon are not true. It’s oviously a joint effort of lots of little people putting their shoulder to the wheel to do something beautiful – raise the consciousness of Biblical truth in a world starving for it.
Finally, I hope we all will talk up a storm in 2014 and encourage more people to suscribe to Today’s Word.!
🙂
I would suggest reading The Ruth-less Church vs. The Role of Christians in Israel’s Redemption as Prophesied in The Book of Ruth by Mathew T. Wilson to anyone who wants to more completely understand God’s plan and mercy involving both Jew/Israel and gentile. He never excluded one or the other but locked both up under disobedience so that none should boast. Both are necessary in God’s plan of redemption and always have been. This is a most beautiful and compatible relationship. Available at Yeshua’s Endtime Harvest/Living Stones TV Web site. You will be blessed. Shalom.
“Either/or” or both? (or neither?) ~ Who is on the LORD’s side? ~ Friends, “if any man (or woman, or Jew or “Gentile”) be *in Christ*..(2 Corinthians 5.17) – This is, (as the young among us might say) “where it’s at!” (location,location,location!) Are you a Jew (by first birth?) Wonderful! You (who are of the seed of Abraham) are blessed! Yes! God’s chosen people- Israel! Yes, David was Jew and Yes, Yeshua (Jesus to us Gentiles) is (not was!) a Jew, and yes it was Rabbi Sha’ul’s “heart’s desire” and prayer to God for all Israel to be saved. (Romans 10.10) Will Hebrew be the “official” language of Heaven? – I dunno, I’m not there yet! Bottom line? (for me..)- ~ the LORD knows those who are His! ~ (I don’t.)
And further still.. He has said, (is anyone listening?) ~ I will build my church~ This “church” (I would hope we know by now) is not a building, but a bride- and.. we are (are you still listening?) “Ruth!” (honestly!) Not a Jew, not a Gentile.. (poor girl) but (her “claim to fame?”)- She was the bride of Boaz. -Our “Heavenly Boaz” (the One sent from God) is the One who has purchased us (we are His purchased possession) with His own blood on Calvary’s tree.
Boaz and Ruth (the second greatest love story ever told) are the shadow or foreshadowing. Christ and His bride-to-be (His betrothed) is the substance and the fulfillment.
Let me again quote the greatest Rabbi who ever lived.. ~ I will build My bride ~ And…? We will live “happily, ever after!” ~ And I give unto them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand! ~ (John 10.28)
How would a first century Jew view the words ~ This is the new covenant in My blood? ~
~ Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”… ~
Why? What evil has He done?
~ And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” ~
His invitation? ~ Whosoever will may come! ~ (Revelation 22.17)
And your response is?
Munk’s book is very interesting. A lot of insights contained therein.
I was reading The Didache (The Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles by the Twelve Apostles.)
It starts like this:
“There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways.
The way of life is this. First of all, thou shalt love the God that made thee; secondly, Thy neighbor as thyself. And all things whatsoever thou wouldst not have befall thyself, neither do thou unto another.”
It follows with various things to DO that demonstrate the way of LIFE. Many and most follow with the Ten Words as well as many other ways alluded to throughout the apostolic writings and gospels.
Almost a third of the way through a description of the way of DEATH is given and elaborated on. It describes ACTIONS, things to NOT DO.
It reflects instructions of living such that DOING these things results in one residing in LIFE. It continues with instructions that DOING certain things will result in one residing in DEATH. So life is contained in DOING the things of LIFE and NOT DOING the things of DEATH. Both actions of activity or refrain, but nonetheless, ACTION.
It also contains many instructions on dealing with various situations and activities of life.
Bottom line seems to indicate that life requires following a certain, specific set of instructions that can be observed. Obviously, in a major way, contrary to modern rules of belief that are contained and dictated by an invisible and privatized containment of intellectualized protocols. In comparison to Torah, todays requirements may or may not conform. Apparently, no big deal.
While the Didache was revered by some and respected by others at the time of its origin, ultimately, it didn’t make its way in to the recognized Canon. Nonetheless, it contains some worthy reading and acknowledgment. It isn’t so foreign to what we read in the Brit Hadasha.
Even the Didache recognizes the mitzvos as the path of living and reflecting life and the opposite or neglect of them result in death. Atonement is the beginning of learning to discover and then demonstrate life. How? By DOING the things YHWH tells us that define and demonstrate true living.
Sure makes sense to me when I go back and read Genesis. DO and DO NOT. In the day you eat of death, you will die. And what follows later in Torah – that is, each day you have two choices, two ways. Life and Death. YHWH implores us to choose life and every point of choice. You just gotta learn the ways of life in order to know to do and follow them.
Really kinda simple.
Now, Michael, simple go and DO it. 🙂
Thanks, Michael, for the insight of the Didache! ASTOUNDINGLY simple!