Yada, Yada, Yada (2)
YHWH is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7
Knows – Yada, the Hebrew verb for all kinds of knowing. From the intimacy of sexual intercourse to the exact count of coins in a bag, yada underscores our appreciation for the Hebrew unity of knowledge. Heart is not separated from head. What I know is what I do and how I feel – all at once. So when Nahum tells us that God knows those who take refuge in Him, does it mean that God keeps an address book of names? Hardly! In order to understand the deeper meaning of the prophet, we have to look at yada once more.
Expand the edges of your concept of knowing. How would a Hebrew read this verse? What is the appropriate relationship that expresses the action of someone offering shelter to a person in need? Certainly such a person feels emotional about the situation. What feelings might be involved? How about empathy? If I offer refuge, doesn’t that indicate I have empathy for the other person? How about concern? If you come to me in need of shelter, don’t I have to have concern for you in order to respond? How about pity? Doesn’t God have pity on His children in the day of trouble and, as a result of that pity, offer refuge? What we find on closer examination is that yada expresses God’s feelings, not His collection of information. We might translate this verse, “and He takes pity upon those who seek refuge in Him.”
The Greek philosophical abstract God of systematic theology often appears in transcendent splendor. Aloof, distant, removed from the world, He sits in His heaven as the Great Watchmaker, the One who wound up the universe and now lets us run it. In an effort to avoid pantheism, many past doctrinal positions portrayed God as separated from His creation. Many of us grew up with God as the moral policeman, the eternal observer. We did not enjoy the involved intimacy of a God who feels powerful emotions about us. But yada removes those artificial barriers of language. God feels deeply about His creation and His children. He is intimately involved in our lives. He wishes us to feel as deeply about Him. He seeks a unity that is much more than correct information. “That they may be one” is a statement of the full ramification of yada.
Perhaps this is a good day to consider just how God feels about you. Put aside for a moment all the lofty theology of God’s eternal attributes and listen to the prophet. God experiences an intense emotional involvement with you. He sympathizes. He pities. He is concerned. He has great affection. He agonizes. He rejoices. In other words, He loves you. Yada, yada, yada. We can take all we can get of Hebrew “knowing.”
Topical Index: yada, pity, Nahum 1:7
Yes indeed Skip … knowing is cool and we need to know that ELOHIM IS LOVE … and …
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
3:16 For Elohim so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For Elohim sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
In and through HIM … HE wants to gift us eternal life … to make us as HE IS … the Yovel is nigh … are we willing to grasp our inheritance?
YESHUA was and is not abstract … HE IS real … our love for HIM and others needs to be real also … LORD mold us … let us know and feel the world through YOUR blessed heart!
b/t/w … is the new book ready for order? Sorry if I missed news about its release … been traveling yet again! 🙁
I know this question takes us back to another subject, but I am puzzled. According to the post the other day, “Yom Kippur”, you observed that day on our day Saturday. However, if you count from the sighting of the moon over Israel, it should have been Monday. Can you explain this to me? I saw it on the calendar, but I also watched for the announcement of the sighting. I do not understand this discrepancy in the teaching. I need to see this for myself.
Skip and Drew, it seems from your posts that you both would be able to explain this to me.
Help, please?
Shalom Gayle,
Sadly the sighting of the “new moon” has been contentious for centuries … particularly in light of the scientific means to actually define a “new moon state” regardless if it be visible to the naked eye or not!
There are numerous calendars that are in use today … the following dates below emanate from http://www.hebcal.com/
Rosh Hashana- 9/9/2010
Rosh Hashana II – 9/10/2010
Erev Yom HaKippurim – 9/17/2010
Yom HaKippurim – 9/18/2010
Erev Sukkot – 9/22/2010
Sukkot I – 9/23/2010
I would think that we all strive to be as obedient as we can be and of course we certainly should all want to show up at the appointed time when it is the right time. As such, for numerous years many individuals and Jewish communities have been abiding by calculated dates.
I have questioned a number of Rabbis regarding this issue and frankly they seem more concerned about remaining in union while abiding by a dating method that most do not have a problem with.
Additionally it would seem that reckoning the dates in this manner certainly facilitate basic community and individual planning, etc.
So if one considers this mode to be not orthodox (and some certainly do) … so be it! The LORD knows the hearts of individuals … 🙂
Now if you really want to stir the pot … ask a similar question of timing respective to Shavu’ot and when the counting of the Omer should commence … LOL
Thanks for this, Drew. I can see the merit in unity among believers. Also, who wants to arrive late for the party, only to discover it has already occurred? At least, if we celebrate early, and then the trumpet sounds a day or two later, we would be in the proper frame of mind (and heart). As Beth Moore says, “The LORD just loves to pitch a party!”
There is one picture that comes to mind whenever I think of the terms ‘unity’ or ‘unison’ or variations of those words. It is that of a choir. They are all singing perfectly in tune, and in time. Their cues are not taken from a common agreement, but from the Choir Director. Each eye is on the Director, so they know precisely when to sing. I am kind of hung up on this, because it seems to be what Christianty has done in so many areas.
Guys – we’re so very, very occupied at the moment (hence the lack of posting) but this is short, so… the Sanhedrin have to confirm the sighting of the new moon. There has been no Sanhedrin for around 1900 years – until this year. But the new Sanhedrin (not recognised by all Jews) has not yet taken up all of its responsibilities – therefor Jews stick to the dates that have been calculated.
Maimonides, Moshe Ben Maimon, (Rambam), 12th century Spanish-North African Talmudist, philosopher, and law codifier
Hi Ian & Tara,
I read about the “new Sanhedrin” and came across Maimonides, whose name I came across so many times in unusual places over the years that I came to think of him as “Many Ds.” Very interesting!
Seems that Sukkot I (9/23/2010) coincides with the full moon and the number 23 makes me think of the 23rd Psalm.
aka The Good Shepherd.
Yeppers … Sanhedrin … back together but not fully recognized or empowered!
Interesting Sanhedrin story – News Wire 02/28/2007:
The present-day Sanhedrin Court decided Tuesday to purchase a herd of sheep for ritual sacrifice at the site of the Temple on the eve of Passover, conditions on the Temple Mount permitting.
The modern Sanhedrin was established several years ago and is headed by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. It claims to be renewing the ancient Jewish high court, which existed until roughly 1600 years ago, and meets once a week.
Professor Hillel Weiss, a member of the Sanhedrin, told Haaretz on Tuesday that the action, even if merely symbolic, is designed to demonstrate in a way that is obvious to all that the expectation of Temple rituals will resume is real, and not just talk.
Several years ago, a number of members of the various Temple movements performed a symbolic sacrifice on Givat Hananya, which overlooks the Temple Mount from Jerusalem’s Abu Tur neighborhood. During the ceremony, participants sacrificed a young goat that was donated by a resident of Tekoa. The participants also built a special two-meter tall oven, in accordance with halakha (Jewish law).
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As for Michael’s observation that Sukkot will coincide with a full moon … well being the 14th of the month in a lunar month … it will pretty much be a full moon for this Mo’ed always …. just like Pesach! 🙂
And as Sukkahs were going up last evening/night across the lands, I am sure that many noticed what a wonderful moon-glow was provided!
Barukh ELOHIM
I ‘stumbled’ upon this site. Interesting what is going on there.
http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php?title=Committee_concerning_the_fixing_of_the_Calendar
G-d SO loved He gave.. (John 3.16) – Why has this verse been a favorite of so many for so long? This is love: not that we loved G-d, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (I John 4.10) But G-d demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.8)
The greatest Gift. Love has been (accurately) defined as- “benevolence toward another at cost to myself.” What was “given” at Calvary? The most Generous Giver. Has there been given a greater gift to us than the very body and blood of Yeshua HaMashiach?
The Gift that keeps on giving. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8.32)
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine.
He “knows” me. I belong to Him. Top to bottom. Stem to stern. Within and without- every hair on my (now) balding head, He intricately and intimately knows me. But- now it’s my turn. How well do I know Him? “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true G-d and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17.3) We can pray-LORD, haste the day: “No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” (Hebrews 8:11) -What a grand and glorious day that will be!
Oh how awesome He is! He is the Creator and I am His creation. How beautiful and easy and difficult is this? Why do we take so long to realise Who He Is? I love Him so much. He is my Aleph and Tav. He loved me first. And it took me nearly 60 years to realise this. What a faithful G-d we serve? Full of patience, full of love, forgiveness, grace and mercy. My Rock of Salvation.
My Redeemer. My Almighty, All Knowing, Omni Present Father. The Master Planner of my salvation.
Thank You Father, Thank You Yeshua. Thank You Ruach HaKodesh.
Er, Skip? Patrick? The contact form doesn’t appear to be working…I’ve tried with Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer (just in case). The page is loading with the “If you contact me…” text etc. but the form fields aren’t appearing. Any chance you can look at it before you both go off-line?
Thanks,
Rodney.