The Pursuit of Power (1)
She did not listen to the voice; she did not receive correction; she did not trust in YHWH; she did not draw near to her God. Zephaniah 3:2 KJV3
Did Not – For the next four days I want to revisit the idea of power in the prophets.
Zephaniah speaks out against the oppressing city. His words are harsh, convicting, condemning. They are less a call to repentance than they are a proclamation of judgment. “Woe to her rebelling and being defiled,” says the prophet. Perhaps we need to hear his words afresh. Everything he says about the ancient society is true of our civilization, one hundred times over.
In this verse, Zephaniah provides four accusations, each one beginning with the Hebrew word lo. This is one of two Hebrew words meaning “no” or “not.” It is used to express the unconditional prohibitions of the commandments (“You shall not”). In Zephaniah’s mouth, this word strikes the hammer blows of impending doom. “You never listened; you never took correction; you never trusted in YHWH; you never drew near.” Now it is too late. Just as God instructs Jeremiah not to pray for His people, not to delay their chastisement, so God’s word through Zephaniah is the flash of lightning before the inevitable thunder. Judgment is coming and nothing will stop it.
What did this oppressing city do to deserve such terrible consequences? Nothing more than we find in our own land. Lo shamah. You did not listen-obey. God’s instructions were clearly given. Every person heard them and agreed to follow them throughout the generations. There is no excuse. Today we look out upon the land and see very, very few who uphold Torah. Certainly the culture is adamantly opposed, fighting even the smallest remnant of Torah suggestions. We did not listen.
Lo laqha. We did not grasp; we did not seize; we did not take on the correction of the Lord. He provided it time and again. He reminded, cajoled, encouraged, remonstrated and engineered circumstances to bring us to our senses. But we refused. At every crossroad of opportunity, we chose power rather than humility, pride rather than repentance. We did not take.
Lo vataha. We did not trust. Batah is a verb expressing confidence, reliance and security. It is the defining action of those who truly follow Him. It is the replacement of retirement accounts, bank balances, insurance, security alarms, body guards, job guarantees and anything else that becomes the foundation of our perceived security. In a world demon-possessed by fears of the future, God offers safety. But we preferred money. We did not trust.
Lo kareva. We did not draw near. There is a procedure for drawing near, a ritual that brings us close to Him. We have ignored it and created our own approach. So we pray, “Lord, be present in the place today.” But why should He? We approach without purity. We require Him to join us instead of coming to His house His way. Across the land we act as if God draws near at our invitation while we summarily dismiss His. We did not draw near.
And what is the result? The oppressing city will be destroyed. God will start over with the remnant.
Zephaniah’s proclamation is the sound of the hammer about to flatten the metal on the anvil. When the hammer strikes its blow, none will escape. The righteous and the wicked will perish together while God reshapes the earth. Their ultimate destinies may be different, but collateral damage is the consequence of living in a civilization of “did not.”
Today is a great day to be alive. We who know Him have much to do before He arrives. There are many, so many, who need rescue. There are many who need the favor of righteous acts. There is light to be shed abroad. Before judgment, there is re-collection. Who will you rescue from the “did not” society today?
Topical Index: leadership,power,Zephaniah 3:2
I need so much clarification on this from you Skip or others that might comment. We have means to provide us the things we need to live in this society like retirement funds and insurance. Why are these bad things? Is a fool not the person who squanders all he has been given and not plan for the future? Joseph is an example to us of that wisdom no?
In what ways are we not upholding Torah? I am not arguing the points I am only seeking to understand where I might be in error so I can make corrections in my actions.
All thoughts welcome please.
Thank you
Cheryl
Notice again what I wrote. “anything else that becomes the foundation of our perceived security” The issues is not whether bank accounts, insurance policies or retirement is good or bad. The issue is whether these things become the FOUNDATION of our security, that is, we trust in them rather than in YHVH. Of course, we prepare, we save, we protect. God does not expect us to sit by and wait. But He knows, and I hope we know, that none of these things are the BASIS of our security, our hope. They can all disappear in a moment. I know this from personal experience. Then the question will be, “Did you trust in your accumulation, or do you trust in Him?”
Ok got it and that makes sense.
Thanks
Cheryl, those have been big questions for me too. I have seen that we are frogs slowly boiling in a pot. The laws of the earth: what is ‘allowed’ and what is discouraged; can herd us, like unholy shepherds of fear or even greed, where we would not have gone otherwise. Think about it: community depends on what and whom for security? Each other. How difficult is it nowadays for us to do that? Very. Why?
Take health insurance. Why do we have it and how do we use it? We have it because we are afraid of not being able to handle our own health, and there are no ways left for community (it SEEMS, anyway) to help us except give us money to pay the system, but what if the community still had the family doctor that made house calls if necessary; the midwife and neighbors willing and able to come for births; the vet who also knew how to set a bone in a pinch if the roads were snowed over and a local hospital that could still take care of your catastrophies and make arrangements later for you to pay for them? Not to mention that 90% of what we go to a doctor for nowadays could have been prevented, ameliorated, safely ignored or even cured at home with the knowledge of thousands of years worth of experience we have been shielded from by lies and half truths? And what if we still had a spiritual system that we knew to turn to FIRST because, even if we still needed that community help to overcome the medical or other challenge on the back side of that spiritual intervention, we could be taking care of the spiritual end of it in conjunction with the other?
We have ‘laws’ against most of this today, and getting worse by the day. We are now so afraid of being ‘illegal’ (or ‘unsafe’) we don’t even consider how that fear is keeping us from being able to turn to each other – which was the original design – for safety or even basic help: and if any of us decided to forgo insurance altogether and wing it entirely on faith in heaven alone like the verses below outline? Well, how far outside today’s laws and societal expectations of ‘righteousness’, or ‘prudence’ would we be then?
Psalms 94 mourns about a state of society where there can be no righteousness possible: where it asks: “20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? 21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. 22But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. 23And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.” Which side of that equation should we be asking and seeking to be on the other side of? I think these are valid questions for today. Thank you, Skip, for asking them!
In America 150 years ago the Church and the community were responsible for the welfare of everyone living in the area. As mobility destroyed community, so it destroyed the sense of communal responsibility. And the State, pretending to be God, took over those actions in society that were originally given to His people as salt and light. I will be writing more about these social and economic changes, and how they have reshaped our culture so that we are stuck with the State.
Regarding: The Pursuit of Power, August 21, 2018. Have you ever heard of Walter E. Williams? He is a professor of economics at George Mason University. I like what he says about capitalism vs. socialism. Not easily accepted these days it seems. He says people have contempt for capitalism. It’s true. In a nutshell he says that taking money from one person and giving it to another person is stealing. ‘Why is wanting to keep the money you earn greed and taking money from other people not greed?’
I now look at freedom as being on a scale instead of the 3 basic systems that are usually discussed. I wondered where Japan was when I first came here in 1982. It seemed to be a mixture. It became extremely clear to me when the ones who think they own everybody made a new law that went into effect on June 15 of 2018. Every single person in this country has to ask the government for their permission and approval to operate short-term rentals as a business (like the Airbnb model which is not new just expanded). Every single person. Even if it’s your own home. It gets me so angry because it’s all about money. Greed. They could care less about the citizens. They spent so much time getting the law into place. What if they had spent that time trying to figure out what is causing all the physical and mental illnesses? They are seeing the fruit of the poisoning now but are blind as bats as to what’s causing all the problems.
What’s makes it even more irritating is that the government cancelled thousands of reservations because of the law. They didn’t give people a grace period but they did give pedophiles a one-year grace period to get rid of child pornography when the law regarding that issue went into effect in 2014. (Still legal in manga). Jake Adelstein has written about this. Very interesting talks on YouTube.
Gabor Mate, someone mentioned by Skip, surely doesn’t understand capitalism and how dangerous socialism (and beyond) is. He said: It’s impossible under capitalism because the essence of capitalism is to separate the mind from the body. ‘What?????’ And he said: And basically, people are all considered material goods. ‘What??????’ again. Unbelievable coming from someone whose family experienced the holocaust directly. I was shocked when I read that but I would bet his lifestyle doesn’t reflect His idea of capitalism. This might be from the article he has titled ‘Why are so many adults today haunted by trauma?’
‘Prior to capitalism, the way people amassed great wealth was by looting, plundering and enslaving their fellow man. Capitalism made it possible to become wealthy by serving your fellow man.——-Walter E. Williams.
Everything is connected and affected by laws. God’s laws are the ones we need to obey.
Laurita in Reluctant Leaders (Rewind), August 19, 2018 said this: I think the Jewish economy was initially set up with the greatest amount of individual autonomy possible in a cooperating unit, with temporary leaders spontaneously arising in response to particular needs.
I think this is a good description of what freedom is or should be in a system based on capitalism which is nothing short of being able to be free to work and to profit from that work.
Thanks you Laurita
I understand what you’re saying and have moured over it myself. I however know that where we are is where we are. How now then do we live is my question. I am trying not to look back at the past to frame my present and future. I personally found it discouraging and frustrating. Our community is disjointed. Separated by space and life. Some travel two hrs to gather on Shabbat. We travel one and a half. How does community exist in that type of situation? We are working on that and the solutions aren’t what we may want but they are the best we can find right now. A few yrs ago a few families from our group moved to the mountains, bought property where they can all live on one piece of land and they live together and study and worship together all in an amish community. It works for them but it’s not my idea of what I want for my life. That is the closest thing I can think of to “going back” to the way things use to be. Who of us is willing or even desires that life? Skip told of a small town in Italy where people set out chairs and gathered to chat in the evenings how wonderful but a rare find today.
So do we throw up our hands or do we start, like you say, where we are? If we don’t start asking different questions, the status quo will continue to define us. If we don’t ask “what do we do instead?” we will never know. Of course we can’t see another way unless and until we start questioning the way we find ourselves on, but once we do – then, if we start to learn how to move in faith – will we be willing to take the responsibility we are shown? That responsibility stuff is what I find keeps most folks from that asking, frankly. I think we can get used to not having either faith or responsibility, and so become afraid of the responsibility that the practical exercise of faith always returns us to.
That slow boil? I think the frogs stay in the pot because they don’t want to take the responsibility back for their own lives, but when were we ever supposed to hand it over? I think we lose the ability to trust ourselves and each other at the same rate we lose our ability to trust in God.
What does that look like to you? I am in a situation where this line of thought and talk is so relevant. This is just so perfect right now I hope you don’t mind chatting this out with me. Thank you!
It is going to be different for each of us, of course. What looks ‘right’ on the outside, anyway, for some of us is going to be an exercise in sin for others, depending on where we are in faith. We don’t get teleported out of Babylon, after all. We start the journey on one foot. What was ok yesterday for me, may not be today. I have to keep asking!
To take back faith in our lives is to ask what love would do in that place, or would want for us. If it is not life-affirming, then it will be an exercise in faithlessness. The world can only manage, but we are called to thrive. To take responsibility back is to step back into the thrill of life again. As we get better at walking, we can take bigger leaps of faith without running the risk of presumption.
The voice of the Shepherd is what we sheep are supposed to be learning to recognize, but if we don’t start asking (and listening) for what He wants in all those basics of our life and exercising real faith, how else can He train us to know His voice?
Ok thank you
Really enjoying how are you see things, Laurita! Also enjoying the book that Skip and youn did in collaboration, “ 31 Days of Transformation”. Continues to change my thinking/living.
Watching the news last night, I was commenting to a friend of mine in regards to the frog theory. It all happens so gradually until one day we realize our goose is cooked! That’s why paying attention and living with intention is so important. Stay close to the Shepherd. He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. But he also calls us to be awake and alert!
We can easily get lulled to sleep!
He doesn’t want us running around like freaks screaming, “the sky is falling !” But he wants us to be aware of the signs of the times, so we’re not caught unawares !
Thanks Skip, for the heads up, looking forward to the next few days entries !
“Lo kareva. We did not draw near. There is a procedure for drawing near, a ritual that brings us close to Him. We have ignored it and created our own approach.”
Skip, a ritual is said to be “a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.”
Do you mean the appointed moedim, which I can’t see as being a “procedure” or “a ritual”, or do you mean something else? I don’t remember you ever explaining anything about a ritual procedure for drawing near, so could you please briefly explain that here, and direct us to where else we can find more of what you have written about this? It seems you must have misspoke, as I am very shocked if I missed something so very profoundly paramount as this, “a procedure”, “a ritual” that guarantees bringing us close to Him. If there is such a thing, I certainly am “ignorant” of it, but I’m pretty confident I can assure you I haven’t “ignored it”.
And then, in yesterday’s blog, “Folklore”, you quote Brother Lawrence, saying, “People seek methods of learning to know God. Is it not much shorter and more direct to simply do everything for the love of Him? There is no finesse about it. One only has to do it generously and simply.” So that seems to imply that we can measure our spirituality in this way, which to me seems to be just what you say in this blog is something we should not do, i.e. creating our own approach, and that seems so “Christian” and a mentality that you so often reprove.
Thank you for clarifying.
“Ritual.” What I have in mind is simply the steps given in Leviticus. Korbanot. How to draw near. Not festivals or feasts, but the proper steps in worship, which is nothing more than drawing near.
Please, if you will, cite those simple proper steps here, as you understand it, and please give Leviticus reference, if you don’t mind. Thank you.
But, Jerry, the whole book of Leviticus is a “how to” manual about approaching God. Get a copy of the JPS Torah commentary on Leviticus and see what the rabbis say about these verses.
Well, then that doesn’t seem like simple proper steps or “a ritual” that guarantees drawing near, as there is much in scripture that says that there have always been those who practice such a “procedure”, yet their hearts have been far from Him. Plus, how would that look in community now, without a temple or priests? It’s just not that “simple”, it doesn’t seem. And do you know any Hebraic groups that practice such “a procedure”, such “a ritual” whereby all experience drawing near?
It would seem to me that Jesus made it pretty simple in Mat. 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Robert,
Not trying to be nit-picky but that particular scripture in Matthew 18 is more about reconciling one’s self to one’s brother/fellow believer in a holy manner rather than the power of a group of people invoking YHWH in prayer. It is one of the scriptural verses most frequently taken out of context. Just sayin’.
Perhaps you should consider Proverbs 21:3. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
HI John. I’m not, sure why you are suggesting that I should be the one who should consider to do righteousness and justice. Am I misunderstanding you or are you misunderstanding me? I’m not the one suggesting there are simple proper steps, “a ritual”, “a procedure”, or now, as you are quoting, “sacrifices” as the way to draw near, and as a way that is distinctly different than those who “create” their “own approach”. .
Didn’t sound to me as if he was suggesting that you do righteousness or justice, only that you consider the proverb. Doing those things (Gods definition of them) is what deems your worship acceptable. But worship isn’t attending a service, but the “work” that you do. Sounds to me like they’re the same thing. “If you walk in my statutes”…..That takes us back to Leviticus as to define what makes our worship acceptable. Consider this, it’s not the “law” that’s the issue but rather the principle that supports it. Here’s an example, why should you not return evil to someone that has done evil to you? To go farther, how do you nullify evil? Biblically?
Yes, I understand what you’re saying about my response to John and you’re right, I poorly worded that. I didn’t mean to imply that he was saying exactly that, but that I was the one who should consider the proverb. But, otherwise, this thread is about the claim that there is “a ritual”, “a procedure”, “simply proper steps in worship” by which we may draw near, and that “we have ignored IT and created our own approach”. I’m not hearing clear and definitive support for those claims. Now in the NT, there is instruction that when believers gather together they are to bring a psalm, hymn, and spiritual songs, and to share in the teachings of the apostles, breaking of bread, fellowship, and prayer. However, what are the “proper steps in worship”, from Leviticus, “the ritual”, “the procedure” that we are to do today to draw near, and that apparently those who are “in-the-know” are doing, that is distinctly different from those who are creating their own approach?
Do a study on clean and unclean, holy and common. Beings that God asks His people to be both, that would be a good start in ascertaining what ritualistic worship consists of. Is obeying Sabbath a ritual? How bout a brother that has an offense against you before you seek Gods presence? Psalm 15 asks the question.
I didn’t get the “simply” part in the blog post. If I listen to the point and principle of drawing near rather than pick apart words used I am able to follow better. What the writer meant is key.
When I think about the “draw near” part… I see it through the lense of relationship, ie connecting, restoring … I see this as someone who loves me establishing connection, protection, and loss prevention. The law kept us and still does as some need that gate at the top of the stairs to keep from falling and breaking their necks. The law isn’t perfect but it isn’t obsolete either. Children need rules but they also grow up and the rules continue to guide … be a light on their path.
Hebrews 7:18-19 … For, on the one hand, a former commandment is cancelled because of its weakness and uselessness [because of its inability to justify the sinner before God] ( for the Law never made anything perfect ); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God.
Sorry, you may think that you are following better, however, the “simply “ part was not in the blog proper, but in Skip’s further statements in reply to my comment on his blog, stating that what he had in mind regarding “ritual” was “SIMPLY the STEPS in Leviticus”. So, I wouldn’t quite agree that words are being minced here. What Skip is saying here is that we have “created our own approach to drawing near”, instead of doing “a ritual”, “a procedure”, and “simply the proper steps in worship” that are in Leviticus. So, would you say that you are following Skip’s admonition, doing “a ritual”, “a procedure”, “the steps in worship” in Leviticus“? Or are you YOU, TOO, creating your own “approach” to drawing near?
Jerry and Lisa, your thread got me to thinking. Worship is not a synonym for prayer, even though it could be considered a form of it. Also, even if we “honor (Him) with our lips, but (our) hearts are far”, the effort fails at being worship.
So it seems to me that to ask “what brings the heart near?” might help define worship proper. What made the heart far? Sin. Holiness is where we “set aside the sin that so easily besets us”, which is sanctification.
Leviticus shows us what sin is and how to “set it aside”; indispensable info for the holiness wherein we take off our shoes – our separation (sin) from the earth (humus of humility) we are formed out of – for only holy people can approach (the humility of worship) safely. For example, the rituals of Sabbath prep and keeping are a picture of how sanctification is accomplished. It is a great object lesson, but how many of us miss the vital fact that the prep – which signifies the “putting aside” of sin (“wash your sins”) – is the only way keeping Sabbath can actually “draw” us near.
In the places of my life where love works through me, and I am no longer stuck, I find myself increasingly aware of the fact that I did not ‘make’ the function: I was not responsible for the fact that my motive was pure; that my choices were right; that I succeeded where I had always flopped before. Everything that ‘goes right’ in my life is because I got out of the way – succeeded in setting aside sin – in that place, so I am learning to express gratitude then and there. There, in that tiny place of restored order, I am free to worship – I am free from self and sin – and I am correctly motivated to worship with an undivided (sanctified) heart .
I think I would have to say, sanctification (the holiness that deems us fit for worship) is a poorly understood subject for us sinners.
While I appreciate Skips efforts I know he’s a human giving his best efforts. And these are no half ass efforts if I might add.
No I was not moved to “perform” a ritual. I get that rituals point to spiritual realities … worship, connection, sincere love (heart service, not lip service per se’)
The goal is love!
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Also I wanted to say, the effort of being clean and maintaining that state isn’t a “simple” thing. Perhaps what Skip was pointing towards is the fact that the procedure to engage in that is “simply” laid out. Straight forward, this is clean, this is not…..etc. If you haven’t already, I would suggest taking a stab at reading Luzzato’s book the path of the just. He lays out in much detail what this looks like in an individuals life. It’s pretty foreign to those of us coming from a traditional Christian background but it’s true to the principles laid out in Torah and it’s a really tough read IF you don’t just read it, but allow it to challenge you.
The questions I asked above concerning evil aren’t just random questions, how you deal with evil when you encounter it, is a matter of keeping ourselves clean or unclean and therefore acceptable. These are some of the “simply” laid out principles in books like Leviticus.
Be still. God has a plan.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Sinful humanity begs to differ. Money. Power. Shinny objects.
Fear not. The solution is in His hands . . . and our meekness plays into it.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”
As Oswald Chambers writes today: “In the Christian life, Godly influence is never
conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the
genuine loveliness which is the characteristic of the touch of Jesus.”
Trust in the plan. Trust Him.
It seems like Pride and Prejudice everything everyone needs is right in front of us, can you not see it? It’s springing all all over! Total teachers everywhere, even as confused as some modern day Christian theologians, arguing with each other, but the bottom line is… The resurrection of Torah going back to the beginning even one Ministry where the answer is in its name Grace in Torah and excellent find. But people reject it. None the less. Here’s a what if… What is the headlines the internationally what you say best Bible teacher scholar prophet encourager,
The best kept secret uncovered……,.. skip Moen, what would we say? It’s about time! I told you so! Or would we just let excitement hearts and go on believing the same way as we have been..
B..B shalom
Well I have put myself up for crucifixion with your nicely explained intent with this prophecy in my peer religious group Skip. So I will just commit suicide here myself…
The prophets major call is repentance. God’s simple solution is walk humble with all men with a purpose… To manifest Christ or the pure anointment directly from God and by God in our lives.
Job debated this issue after he lost everything… and God answered directly without ignoring Job’s concern. He actually got Job to reflect on them himself to find God’s purpose for him. No harder work. No greater sacrifice but a more secured lifestyle with less effort… when he realised what God needed from him.
Yeshau said specifically… feed, clothe, visit those imprisoned and provide shelter where possible. Acts 2 comes to mind…
The simple step as I read in scripture is accept what and where we are. Stop chasing the world what we see, desire, find valuable and glorifying.
Now start devoting life towards revealing and sharing the gifts we understand as from God and He will guide us to a greater truth…
Christ in us the glory and grace from God.
Yip no laws here. No Torah just a simplified honest from the heart approach to serve God by loving His complete creation. And taking time to personnally connect with God and fellow pilgrims.
Addict, preacher, king and all other kind of struggling individuals we should love like ourselves… Anyone willing to help me understand how we love others as ourselves…
I think there is still an important missing variable in your noble equation, Seeker. I found that I DIDN’T know how to love myself, and therefore I kept messing up in my attempts to love others. That perfect equation is still going nowhere unless and until we get that. Details.
I can relate to that I ve messed up more than my fair share in looking after myself first…
In every self help book I ve read they say appreciate and reward yourself to empower yourself. Is that how we learn to love ourselves or is it when caring for the basics…
But we CAN’T “empower” ourselves; which is to say we cannot return ourselves back to the power of choice that we lost, that’s the problem in a nutshell. For example, I can know all day long that good nutrition is vital for self health, but if I am abusing food to raise my neurotransmitter levels, I am in the bondage of addiction.
Here is our real problem: we all know in our hearts what love is (because we all want it) but, if we are unable to even get to first base with ourselves, we lack the freedom to do the same with those around us, too. When we try, not only is it going to fail; they are going to regard us (in their bitterness at needing our love but not getting it) as hypocrites – because, of course (at that point, anyway) we are. I got stuck right here for years.
Thank you