Wrapping It Up
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Ecclesiastes 12:13 NASB
Conclusion – Will you allow me to conclude? Tomorrow is Shabbat, so this is the last day I will write this year. It seems fitting that we follow Koheleth’s summary today. Soph dabar, “the end of words/things.” What has been the end of the matter for this year? Let me offer some personal reflection.
- Stepping on sacred cows has been painful but necessary. As soon as we relegate some faith statements to the category of unquestionable, we have stepped off the pathway of the pursuit of truth. Yes, it’s scary, but it seems to me that it is unavoidable. The truth cannot harm us. The truth is the only reliable, steadfast way of living. In fact, Scripture tells me that YHVH Himself is truth, so I am quite sure that pursuing the truth will not lead me away from Him. But it certainly seems to lead me away from religion.
- Relationship is the foundation of all Hebraic thinking. I have found that Brené Brown’s idea of connection is essentially Hebraic. We are hardwired for connection, with others and with God. Wherever that becomes the most important element in life, we grow. When it takes anything less than first place, life diminishes. I must constantly assess my connectedness in order to insure that I am not drifting into a fascinating isolation.
- I have discovered that the Bible is a story, not a theology. I am learning to read the Bible as a long, lost history of my own ancestors, of their lives, loves and losses, so that I can understand who I am. Theology is interesting, but secondary. Just as life is about present relationships, the Bible is about past relationships. How they formed the worldview of those men and women who came before me. How their lives shape mine. What I am to learn from them. What I know today is that doctrine is not the essence of Scripture. People are. Real people just like me, with real problems, real faults, real struggles and real victories—in connection with a real God.
- You matter to me. More than I will ever be able to put into words. In fact, Koheleth’s reminder that words are insufferably inadequate helps me appreciate Heschel’s comment, “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.”[1] Each of you has a name, and it is my task to discover the soul behind it, and perhaps help you to discover that soul as well.
- Finally, I will leave this year, and the day before the last Shabbat of this year, with this, again from Rabbi Heschel. “The Bible is not a system of abstract ideas but a record of happenings in history. . . . Events rather than abstractions of the mind are the basic categories by which the biblical man lives. . . . The God of the philosopher is a concept derived from abstract ideas; the God of the prophets is derived from acts and events. The root of Jewish faith is, therefore, not a comprehension of abstract principles but an inner attachment to those events; to believe is to remember, not merely to accept the truth of a set of dogmas.”[2]
Topical Index: conclusion, soph dabar, Ecclesiastes 12:13
[1] Abraham Heschel, Man’s Quest for God, p. 78
[2] Abraham Heschel, Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity, pp. 12-13.
Thank you Skip I have forward this to many who don’t understand my walk….. succinct and so powerful thank you for ALL you do and are. I have been so blessed by TW.
You have much unknown fruit believe me!
May 2017 be an even greater restoration to the Ancient paths! Every blessing on you and your family and all who read, support and endeavor to live out TW and every word that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH.
Christine
Thank you Skip for bringing focus, meaning and wisdom to each and every day that I wake up to as well as an understanding of what the Bible truly is all about. This sort of preamble in the foreword of all religious bibles of various faiths and religions would make a statement that should be recalled every time they are read.
Long may you write and be appreciated for what you do. Thanks again, Shabbat shalom.
Should have added “George” too!
” It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
God grant that the ‘flesh’ of this earth sees the connected beauty of your plan in this coming year as it hovers over us just as you described in the first words you gave.
Thank all of you for letting me know you are there through Skips forum.
Rick Gambino
Hi Rick, you wouldn’t by any chance have been a teacher in Lakewood would you?
Oh to have reached that glorious height Dana 🙂
No, San Diego all of my life and I made life hard on more teachers than one though…
Building Contractor by trade.
Thanks, I had a great gym teacher years ago. Have a great day.
Skip shalom I am sure that you are aware that when one does God’s work get God Rewards and trials along the way this preserves our relationship with him. May you always see the fruit that God supplies around you the fruit of your lips being the fruit of his words mixed with faith what she looks for. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
Thank you, again, Skip, for being obedient to the truth that is being revealed in you. It is encouraging to watch another who is hearing the voice of God and obeying! You are a great inspiration as you walk faithfully with God! Narrow is the path that leads to life and few there be that find it. Thank you for taking the risks and facing the pain. May the LORD bless you and keep you!
4. You matter to me, too!
You are an insightful soul to say the least.
It was good to finally stand face to face with you
last month. Most enjoyable. Very much enjoyed
“Cross Word Puzzles”, too.
Have a happy and blessed New Year!
Shalom Skip! A restful Shabbat to you.
Life’s wanderings take me here and there. Sometimes that means I am not diligent to read your daily postings. I have wandered back lately and have found much to ponder! I so appreciate these things that pour from your mind to all of us.
Life’s journey is an amazing thing. There is much to appreciate along the way. Much to gaze at in the wonder of it all! Your pictures are awesome!
I have long thought of the people throughout the Bible as “real” people and always thought of the practical side of their lives as written. It has brought forth some real emotions as I consider what certain things/events might have contained for each person.
Davids entire life, Rahab hiding those men and then being blessed even though her life’s occupation was not good, Ruth and her redeemer, Esther-her people and her king, Mary bearing the Messiah etc.
Not that my opinion amounts to a hill of beans but I concur with the statement that the bible is a story of real people (just like me) and real history. NOT theology that is too high for me to understand 🙂
It’s Personal
[because] this applies to every person. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NASB)
Are You talking to me? Shema, O Israel: “The words that I speak unto you, – they are spirit and they are life.”
Your Savior, (your personal Savior) has spoken. Yes, Max Lucado is right: “The One who spoke, still speaks.” for you see, the word of the LORD endures forever.. – to each generation! The generation before me, my generation and the generation following. “The grass withers and the flowers fade..” [the bad news] BUT.. (I do love those Bible “buts!”] —[the “good news” is] the word of the LORD endures forever!! These words written under the inspiration of the Ruach HaKodesh [the Holy Spirit or Holy Breath] by the prophet Isaiah still speak to us (personally) today! Forever, O LORD [David writes] Your word is settled in heaven! (Psalm 119.89) Yes, “the One who spoke — still speaks.”
He speaks “if.” If we are still enough.. receptive enough to listen. “Today” if you will hear His voice! Today? As in “today?” lol. Yes. (and amen!) Today – “if!” We must [each and personally] receive or welcome His words.
“Your word(s) have I hid in my heart – that I might not sin against You” “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Listen to the testimony, the witness of the prophet Jeremiah: “When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your Name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.” (Jeremiah 15.16) Amen, Jeremiah. Look. Find. Feast!
One more thing. “The word became flesh and lived among us.. ” The One whom Isaiah prophesied long ago has come! Yes, it’s personal. A personal Savior! “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor-Mighty God-Everlasting Father-Prince of Peace.” And? “As many as received HIm [as many as received or welcomed the Incarnate Word] to them gave He the power to become the sons and daughters of God!” — and (?) “if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ!”
May I? *Hallelujah!!*
Skip, I affirm you for you scholarly diligence, thoroughness and insights. I affirm you for your tireless pursuit of truth in understanding and knowing YHWH and His Messiah. I affirm you for teaching us the importance of cultural context and understanding the Scriptures as those who it was written to. I affirm you for showing us the absolute importance of having, at least some understanding, where and how ideas get started and why. I affirm you for questioning sacred cow traditions that have developed over the last two thousand years in the Christian faith. I affirm you for your love of Jewish roots and the implication of those roots to our understanding God’s scriptures. I affirm you for your hard work for His Kingdom and your clear understanding of what God is doing in His redemption of His good creation. I affirm you for your understanding of God’s dimension (Heaven), where it is and where it will be when the Kingdom is established on this Earth as it is in Heaven. I affirm you for your skills in communication and your patience. I affirm you for continuing to dig and ask questions, in spite of being pushed away and shunned, as you challenge some Christian traditions. And finally, I affirm you for your love of God, His Messiah and God’s Truths He has chosen to reveal to us. Oh, and just one more, I affirm you for “not having it all nailed”, for realizing that truth and for trying to get all your readers to embrace the truism that, “none of us have it all nailed”. May God’s shalom always rest upon you, your family and your ministry.
My gosh, all of this is embarrassing. I’m glad to be of some help, but I’m just struggling my way through it and finding that a few others are on the same journey. I appreciate your kind words.
Skip, I affirm you! As I read this, my heart’s eye could see each of us at this table rising from our seat in agreement, like a wave, like a flood, so you could see the fruit of the seeds you continually plant and tend.
Agree – Skip you have been and continuous to be a tremendous gift to David, myself and many others in Southwest Florida. We are looking forward to February and having you back here. Much blessings to you Rosanne and your family.
To the many others in this forum you have also blessed us.
Skip and all
Just to add to the complete story of redemption…
A lesson from the earliest records of God’s redeeming intervention.
Job 38:21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
We partially know because our days (redeeming insight) are numbered (indoctrination paradigms). May God grant us the wisdom to also know the fullness or complete stature of the Christ that redeems us through the birth by His Spirit being manifested in all who seek the truth so that we can also understand
1 Cor 15: 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ
the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
So that we can also claim
John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
And be led solely by
John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.