The Bible as Encounter
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 NASB
Word – Yesterday we considered the possibility that the Bible is not like books written from a Western point of view. Yesterday we suggested that the Bible is a book about experiences with the holy God of Israel, not a theological textbook or a guide to better spiritual living. Abraham Heschel clearly saw this distinction. Perhaps some of his words will help us understand how radically different biblical encounter really is.
“Israel is not a people of definers of religion but a people of witnesses to His concern for man.”[1]
“It may be difficult to convey to others what we think, but it is not difficult to convey to others what we live.”[2]
“Kavanah, then, is more than paying attention to the literal meaning of a text. It is attentiveness to God, and act of appreciation of being able to stand in the presence of God. Appreciation is not the same as reflection. It is one’s being drawn to the preciousness of something he is faced with. To sense the preciousness of being about to pray, to be perceptive of the supreme significance of worshipping God is the beginning of higher kavanah.”[3]
“We do not confess our belief in God; we adore Him. We do not proclaim our belief in revelation; we utter our gratitude for it. We do not formulate the election of Israel; we sing it. Thus our liturgy is no mere memorial to the past; it is an act of participating in Israel’s bearing witness to the unity, uniqueness, love and judgment of God. It is an act of joy.”[4]
“The dignity of man consists not in his ability to make tools, machines, guns, but primarily in his being endowed with the gift of addressing God. It is this gift which should be a part of the definition of man.”[5]
“It is not enough to have met a word in the dictionary and to have experienced unpleasant adventures with it in the study of grammar. A word has a soul, and we must learn how to attain insight into its life.”[6]
Topical Index: Heschel, Bible, encounter, Isaiah 40:8
[1] Abraham Heschel, Man’s Quest for God, p.88
[2] Ibid., p. 86
[3] Ibid., p. 84
[4] Ibid., pp. 82-83
[5] Ibid., p. 78
[6] Ibid.
Amen. My soul does not need perfect grammar. My soul needs a Lover. The Greeks out there can have the whole dictionary in all its ‘perfection’. I will take what it describes! Halleluah!
The Beatles had it right, “all you need is love, Love, all you need is love.”
Heschel certainly had a way with words.
God certainly had a way with His Word.
He became flesh and dwelt among us.
I like the last line of today’s reading, A WORD HAS A SOUL, AND WE MUST LEARN HOW TO ATTAIN
INSIGHT INTO IT’S LIFE, we should be doing the same when it comes to ours,do a daily search, so that we can attain our connection through prayer.
The God of All Comfort
“It is written,”—the God who spoke, still speaks.
~ Blessed be.. the God of all comfort.. ~ (2 Corintihians 1.3)
“Comfort [encourage, strengthen] one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4.18)
Not once, not twice, but three times, our LORD Jesus spoke these words to the Tempter: [in simplest form] — “it is written.” In effect, this “Preacher” or “Messenger” sent from God said unto Satan, “But contrary or in opposition to what you have to offer, (vanity and lies!) – God says “this.”
~ For the word of God is quick,[alive and active,] and powerful,[efficient and effectual] and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart ~ (Hebrews 4.12)
Friends, we must know — The Son of Man defeated our Adversary as the Second Adam. Christ (the second Adam) did what the first Adamah (man) should have done.. He remembered, and then he spoke. But God said, – “Don’t EAT THE FRUIT!”
We, as “adamahs” (humans) may do the very same thing when we (also) are tempted, tested or tried.. – We remember what God said and then we speak. (Carl) – “you shall not steal.” (Carl) – “pray without ceasing.” (Carl) -“rejoice in the LORD —ALWAYS, – and again, I say, “rejoice!”
(Carl) – do these things, and you will live.
Faith is active. So is Love. Obedience requires first, thought – (I must remember what God said) and then “action!” — I must obey and DO! As His mother (who knew Him intimately) said unto the servants, – DO whatever He tells you!”
“You search the Scriptures (diligently) because you think that in them you have eternal life..
[but] — it is these that testify about Me!!” (John 5.39)
and yet??
— yet you refuse to come to Me to have life!.. (John 5.40)
Shim‘on Kefa (Simon Peter) answered Him, “ADONAI, to whom would we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life.
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. (Jeremiah 31:25)
~ Come to Me, — all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS..
[these are the ones] to whom He said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”– but [amazingly] — they would not listen. (Isaiah 28:12)
You have spoken a critically important -and foundational understanding “the church” has missed-in both your own words and the following quote, Skip.
“It is not enough to have met a word in the dictionary and to have experienced unpleasant adventures with it in the study of grammar. A word has a soul, and we must learn how to attain insight into its life.” Wonderful, a word/THE Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning, all things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing made had being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not suppressed it.”
The same spirit of religion that diluted the words and tripped the men who wrote to explain God and honestly desired to further man’s acquaintance with Him in days long past-is the same spirit of religion that wars to advance a life of religion today, in place of a living, breathing relationship with Him. As John explained so beautifully…all of those-previously diluted words cannot hold a candle to THE WORD-who embodied within Himself everything our Holy/Set Apart, Totally Giving with Understanding in Righteousness God/Eternal Creator gave us – to know Him fully and walk in His Life on earth, just as He desired in the beginning. If the enemy on this battlefield can keep man arguing little “words”- he will be forever entertained at the lines of separation he is able to maintain as he watches the anger and self-righteousness of importance build his strong resolve to make earth his own. Can’t you hear him laughing? It is long past time to “cross over” and to ask for Him to come and so fill us with Himself-which is Love Unsurpassable – that the darkness will no longer hold sway over God’s earth and what He created – when Light extinguishes the power of darkness so completely that fears, confusions, hatred, strife, chains of bondage, and self hatred melt in an instant – dissolving into nothing as though they had never existed. Come! Come – Holy, Precious Father – show us Yourself, fill us with Yourself..we need You, we need You so much – show us, fill us and use us – that we can extend Your Joy, Your Love and Your Freedom in the earth as it is in heaven!!! Tabernacle in us as Your Word becomes our Life!!! Praise Your Holy Name!!!
“but primarily in his being endowed with the gift of addressing God. It is this gift which should be a part of the definition of man.”[5] ” YES!
That should be a part of the definition of man/mankind- being endowed with the gift/spirit of addressing, communicating, relating intimately with YHWH. Have we lost that?
“Thus our liturgy is no mere memorial to the past; it is an act of participating in Israel’s bearing witness to the unity, uniqueness, love and judgment of God. ”
We bear witness of YHWH’s chesed and rachamim towards Israel, and all who seek and hunger for justice and mercy, as we personally experience/encounter His hand upon our daily lives and all around us.
When we are receptive in our spirits, the Bible definitely is not a mere history/His story, but will point us to have close encounters of the real kind with YHWH.
Shalom.