SINAI 6000, Leviticus/Waiqrah

How now do we observe "My" feasts?

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[This was originally posted in 2013 and revisited during the autumn feasts commanded to Israel in  Leviticus 23.  While the article gives the ‘fall feasts’ as justification for reposting, we are fast approaching the spring festivals, “easter” in Christian reconfiguration, and passover in the original Exodus account.

 

In the first two years of our pilgrimage, we were not sure how non-Israelites or gentiles like ourselves were to observe the  feasts of YHWH as commanded to Israel.  At that time, we decided to ‘play it safe’; in other words, ‘just do it!’  As we continued to study the Torah, and discussed where do gentiles fit into the plan of YHWH for all humanity, we started shifting into a different conclusion. This is one of the posts where we explain our position.

 

TRANSLATIONS: Unless otherwise stated, we are using  [AST] or ArtScroll Tanach for the Hebrew Scriptures; and for Christian OT, the  [ESV] English Standard Version.—Admin 1]

 

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The springboard for revisiting this topic is twofold:

  •  It is timely, i.e. the ‘fall festivals’ of Leviticus 23 were scheduled during the shifting from the month of Elul to Tishrei, when three festivals are celebrated;

—starting with Yom Teruah (feast of trumpets) which is also Rosh Hashanah (new year),

—followed in 10 days by Yom Kippur (day of atonement),

—and in 5 days by Sukkot (feast of booths or tabernacles).

 

  • It is timely in terms of group retrospection:

—at about this time of the year,

—Sinai 6000 emerged informally as a core group of ‘Truth-seekers’

—who, two [update: 10] years ago, had dropped all previous religious affiliation

—to backtrack to the original pathway long trodden by Israel

—that led to the Sinai revelation.

 

Having riveted our focus on Sinai as the site and source of Divine Revelation, from the start we had chosen to call our Truth-quest a ‘pilgrimage’ of sorts, learning step by step how to react to that revelation we recognize and accept as YHWH’s gift to all humanity— the TORAH,

—alternatively known to Jews in the Hebrew as Chumash,

—and to Christians in Greek as the Pentateuch.

 

Here’s a timely reminder from an article in aish.com, by Dovid Rosenfeld/Simchat Torah: Just You and Me: 

 

“Every one of us has his personal story, how he came to be who he is today and what the Torah means to him.  For the Torah is the possession of all of us. No one has the monopoly on God’s wisdom.  It is wisdom we can all study and grow from – and recognize its personal message to us.” 

 
Amen!  Agree!  “The Torah is the possession of all of us”  —- the Israelite and non-Israelite, for the Jew and for the Gentile.  We settled that issue from the start.

 

So what’s the problem? 

 

Well, the continuing nagging question is this: 

How does a non-Israelite, a non-Jew, a gentile,

“react” to that revelation in this day and age

and in the non-Torah cultures where we belong? 

 

From our experience— initially upon learning that gentiles were among the Israelite population of the “mixed multitude” that left Egypt, we were elated to learn that non-Israelites were represented at Sinai even if the covenant was specifically with Israel.  So without thinking, we claimed not only our ‘place’ but our ‘obligation’ to observe Torah.  Simple? Well, not quite, not so fast.

 

As any gentile soon discovers upon embarking on a serious study of Torah, it is not as easy as reading ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’, no questions asked, just obey.  

 

Why not?

  • For one, the whole Torah is addressed, understandably, to guess who? Israel of course.  So from the time Torah is given on Sinai, you feel like an outsider looking in. You could relate to “In the beginning” with Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, even Isaac and Jacob before he becomes Israel. (Jewish writers refer to them all as “Jews” but we don’t agree but that requires another article.) 
  • For another, the context in which the instructions are given is specific:  

—during their wilderness wanderings,

—with projections to the Israelites’ future

—when they enter and conquer the Land,

—and settle themselves there according to tribal assignments.

  • If there were references to gentiles, they were not at all complimentary, 

—particularly when referring to the idolatrous nations

—who ignorantly worshipped the creation rather than the Creator

—and who were notorious for abominable practices

—that Israel was constantly warned against following.

  • The gentler references were towards—

—‘foreigners’ or ‘strangers’ in their midst

—who were to be treated kindly

—just like ‘widows’ and ‘orphans’ and the ‘poor’

—but were excluded from certain observances that were strictly for the ‘circumcised’. 

 

As such, much of Torah leaves a gentile perplexed, so that the question we often ask:  

  • “how does this apply to me in my context — today in my culture, my nationality, my personal identity?”
  • or more specifically, “how could I possibly apply what I read and learn —

—in the context of the times I live in,

—the culture,

—the world system that operates not only differently

—but is not evenTorah-friendly”?

 

Jews who live the Torah way are ‘set apart’ from the larger community not necessarily in terms of separating themselves physically but in terms of showing a distinct cultural if not religious identity, from the food they eat, to the day they congregate, to the place identified specifically with them — the synagogue, to the symbols and trappings characteristically theirs or associated with them, as well as the festivals they celebrate, and much more. 

 

The gentile communities among whom Jews live are aware of them and their ‘distinctiveness’.  In the Land where areas are under Israeli control, Jews are free to practice their religion, customs and traditions; the laws of the Land so to speak, are ‘Torah-friendly’.

 

But what about the gentile who embraces the Torah and the God Who prescribed it as a way of life? Where does a gentile go? What does a gentile do? Is the natural consequence isolation?  Separation from former religious affiliations which is what we do experience?  Or eventually join Judaism?  Could a gentile live Torah without resorting to copying Jewish traditional ways?  How much of Torah could and should  a gentile apply to his/her life?  Surely, there are many more questions that come up as one reads through the Chumash. But let’s keep it simple for now.

 

This much we have understood and decided upon as individuals as well as a small start-up community:

  • Of the 613 do’s and don’ts in the Torah, you will notice—

—some are specific to Israel,

—to Israel in the Land,

—to a specific tribe such as Levi,

—to women, or men,

—to masters or slaves,  etc.

 

Understand the intention: to regulate Israel’s life while in the wilderness and eventually in the Land.  

 

Therefore, which ones are applicable to us, gentiles living in this day and age? A few easy answers that universally apply:

  • Health laws such as Leviticus 11 – the diet prescribed for human consumption are relevant; unclean animals were created “good” and “very good” and still fulfill their scavenger assignment to clean up the earth, but don’t eat them if you want to remain healthy from birth to old age.  
  • Sanitation laws:  modern medicine caught up with Torah’s quarantine of infectious diseases; hygienic practices of burying human waste under the soil; drinking water from running water, etc.
  • Kind treatment of the underprivileged: widows, orphans, the poor, strangers and foreigners.
  • Laws generally adopted in democratic societies (individual freedom, rights and responsibilities; equal justice for all, and so on.)

 

There are many more, but we have to move on to the topic of this post.

 

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What about Leviticus 23, which YHWH calls “My” feasts? If it were “your” feasts, we could interpret them to mean they’re intended only for Israel. 

 

[ESV] Leviticus 23:1-2

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.”

 

[AST] Leviticus 23:1-2

HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying:  Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them:  HASHEM’s [YHWH] appointed festivals that you are to designate as holy convocations—-these are My appointed festivals.

 

If these feasts are the YHWH’s “appointed times” should not all humanity observe them? At first glance, it would appear so . . . but ponder this:

 

As former Christians/Messianics, some of us had not only celebrated Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot, but observed these festivals according to the Jewish tradition, following the Haggadah for Passover but incorporating Messianic theology which connects Jesus to all of them.  

 

As Sinaites, we continued to celebrate these feasts with the Jews, dropping the superimposed Christian connection with Jesus and reverting to the Jewish traditional ways of celebrating them.  Knowing no other way, we figured just obey until we know more, better safe in ignorance than sorry in violation.  

 

 

Every year, we revisit the festivals and this year, we came to a different conclusion.  We noticed that there were three agricultural festivals when Israelite men were required to be present at the temple in Jerusalem; these were:  

  • Passover (Pesach, including Unleavened Bread and First Fruits), 3 in 1;
  • and Shavuot (Pentecost) for the spring festivals;
  • and Sukkot (Feast of Booths/ Tabernacles) in the fall festivals.

 

Wondering why only three and not all seven (not included is the weekly Sabbath and Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement), we figured that the three festivals look back to significant happenings in the national history of Israel:  

 

  • Pesach/Unleavened Bread/First Fruits — exodus or liberation from bondage;
  • Shavuot — Covenant on Sinai, giving of the Torah;
  • Sukkot — lived in tents in the wilderness wanderings, as the God of Israel lived among them.

 

Through the celebration of these particular feasts, Israelites would remember their roots, their identity, how their God provided for them in the wilderness, their chosen-ness, and their commitment to obey their God and live His Torah.  These festivals are specific to Israel’s national experience. They should celebrate these five festivals, as well as the other two listed in Leviticus 23: the weekly sabbath, and Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. All seven feasts apply to them.

What about us, gentiles?  We propose that while it is educational and informative for us to celebrate the five festivals that are specific to Israel, we are not obligated to do so. They are not in our national experience, they are not in our history, whatever country or nationality we belong to.  They are peculiarly and identifiably Israel’s.  

 

 

However . . . the weekly Sabbath was instituted as a feast for all created humanity to remember Who is the Creator, as early as Bereshiyth/Genesis 2:1-3:         

 

[AST] Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their array.  By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.  God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because on it, He abstained from all His work that God created to make.

 

 

Before there was Israel, there was the Sabbath.

 

Before the giving of the Torah on Sinai, there was the Sabbath.

 

On the way to Sinai, Israel’s God trained the mixed multitude to observe the seventh day by teaching them to take two day’s portion of manna on the 6th day, so that they could rest on the 7th:

 

[AST]  Exodus 16: 4-5  HASHEM [YHWH] said to Moses, “Behold!—I shall rain down for you food from heaven; let the people go out and pick each day’s portion on its day, so that I can test them, whether they will follow My teaching or not.  And it shall be that on the sixth day when they prepare what they bring, it will be double what they pick everyday.

 

25-30  Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath for HASHEM [YHWH] ; today you shall not find it in the field.  Six days shall you gather it, but the seventh day is a Sabbath, on it there will be none. It happened on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, and they did not find.  HASHEM [YHWH] said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to observe My commandments and My teachings?  See that HASHEM [YHWH] has given you the Sabbath; that is why He gives you on the sixth day a two-day portion of bread.  Let every man remain in his place; let no man leave his place on the seventh day.”  The people rested on the seventh day.

 

The Sabbath is experientially taught to the mixed multitude; they did not have to “leave” their place on the seventh day, only because they were supposed to have already gathered their double portion of manna the day before.  Some observant Jews (because they ARE of Israel) take this to mean they do not leave their homes on the Sabbath; well, this is in their national experience and they are probably playing safe by applying it to themselves even today. 

 

 

Finally on Sinai, the 10 “Words” were inscribed on tablets of stone and the 4th was the Sabbath . . . it officially became Law:

 

[AST] Shemoth/Exodus 20:8-11

Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it.  Six days shall you work and accomplish all your work; but the seventh day is Sabbath to HASHEM [YHWH], your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant your animal, and your convert within your gates—-for in six days HASHEM [YHWH] made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day.  Therefore, HASHEM [YHWH] blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it.

 

Later as Israel fails to live up to the Torah and is warned by prophet after prophet to mend its ways and return to YHWH,  Isaiah adds this:  

 

[58:13-14]  

If you restrain your foot because it is the Sabbath; refrain from accomplishing your own needs on My holy day; if you proclaim the Sabbath a delight, and the holy [day] of HASHEM [YHWH]  ‘honored,’ and you honor it by not engaging in your own affairs, from seeking your own needs or discussing the forbidden—then you will delight in HASHEM [YHWH], and I will mount you astride the heights of the world; I will provide you the heritage of your forefather Jacob, for the mouth of HASHEM [YHWH] has spoken.

 

And still speaking to Israel, the universal scope of Sabbath observance is emphasized:

 

[56:1-8] 

Thus said HASHEM [YHWH]:  Observe justice and perform righteousness, for My salvation is soon to come and My righteousness to be revealed.  Praiseworthy is the man who does this and the person who grasps it tightly:  who guards the Sabbath against desecrating it and guards his hand against doing any evil.  

Note vs. 3:  

Let not the foreigner, who has joined himself to HASHEM [YHWH], speak, saying, ‘HASHEM [YHWH] will utterly separate me from His people’; and let not the barren one say, ‘Behold I am a shriveled tree.’  For thus said HASHEM [YHWH] to the barren ones who observe My Sabbaths and choose what I desire, and grasp My covenant tightly:  In My house and within My walls I will give them a place of honor and renown, which is better than sons and daughters; eternal renown will I give them, which will never be terminated.  

And vs.6:  

And the foreigners who join themselves to HASHEM [YHWH] to serve Him and to love the Name of HASHEM [YHWH] to become servants unto Him, all who guard the Sabbath against desecration, and grasp My covenant tightly—I will bring them to My holy mountain, and I will gladden them in My house of prayer; their elevation-offerings and their feast-offerings will find favor on My Altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.  

 

That clear, how now does a gentile observe the Sabbath?  

 

If you check out the Jewish observance, they have their traditional ways— from the welcoming of the “queen of days” on “erev shabbat” or Friday sundown, to saying goodbye at “havdalah” or Saturday sundown.  Some go to extremes, observant Jews are meticulous as they feel they should be.  The Jewish websites on our link are full of instructions but remember, Jews write for Jews, not for gentiles.

 

What about us . . .  non-Jews?  

 

For now, our Sinaite core group have decided on the following:

  • The essence of the Sabbath is to spend the day fully concentrating on YHWH and His Torah.
  • We obey the command to “cease” from doing what we normally do six days a week,
    • that is, as much as it is possible for us to do so in a Sunday-world-system when some of us have jobs that require us to work on the Sabbath.
  • We welcome the sabbath on ‘erev’ like the Jews do, either individually, with family, or with community.
  • We take our 6-8 hours sleep the rest of that evening.
  • Those of us who don’t work spend Saturday AM hours in study, prayer, devotional time.
  • Those of us who work take our noon lunch-hour off to worship together and read Torah; we figure we’ve already observed 16 hours of the Sabbath as best as we could within the Sunday system we are caught in; we dedicate our work-hours ever-conscious of our Creator God and grateful for all He has done for us the past week, if not for all of our lifetime.
  • Those of us who are free all day come together (Saturday PM hours) to a fellowship meal and study Torah together; regarding this —- we’ve been made conscious by a Jewish friend that all we’ve done is move our Sunday activities to Saturday, but we find nothing wrong with coming together because our God is the God of the Sabbath, and because we do not see each other all week so what better day to enjoy one another than His appointed day?
  • When we break up at ‘havdalah’ like the Jews, we say goodbye to the Sabbath and look forward to the next.

 

We ‘delight’ in the Sabbath because He declares it as an “appointment” with Him.  So instead of finding it as a restrictive day where we can’t do anything “as usual”,  it is a day to enjoy the blessings of a ‘date’ with YHWH, and do whatever we can to honor Him and HIs day.  It is “My” appointed time when He commits Himself to meeting with Sabbath-keepers . . . and so we meet with Him individually, with family, with community. 

 

That settles the Sabbath.

 

What about the other “My” feast that all people — Jew and Gentile are obligated to observe?  

 

Does everybody sin?  Yes. . .  

 

Does everybody need to observe the day of atonement? Yes! 

 

So what about Yom Kippur?  Please read the sequel to be written later.

 

 

On behalf of Sinai 6000 Core Community,

 

 

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CHRISTIANITY

Man-made Creeds: Nicaea (325), Constantinople (381) and Athanasius (c.430?)

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[For those who have not read the Creeds drawn up by the “Church Councils” in the 4th-5th centuries C.E., the texts below state the official doctrinal beliefs of Christianity, particularly the nature of theTrinitarian Godhead. Now isn’t it presumptuous for mere humans to decide the very nature of GOD and worse, their consensus runs counter to the self-revelation of YHWH in the Hebrew Scriptures?]

 

[Source:  http://www.churchhistory101.com/century4-p8.php]

The Original Creed of 325 AD

 

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;

By whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth];

Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man;

 

He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven;

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

And in the Holy Ghost.

 

[But those who say: ‘There was a time when he was not;’ and ‘He was not before he was made;’ and ‘He was made out of nothing,’ or ‘He is of another substance’ or ‘essence,’ or ‘The Son of God is created,’ or ‘changeable,’ or ‘alterable’—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.]

 

At the end of the original creed was added the text above – obviously aimed at Arius.

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NICENE – CONSTANTINOPLE CREED – 381

[Source: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/nicean_creed.html]

THE HOLY CREED WHICH THE 150 HOLY FATHERS SET FORTH,

WHICH IS CONSONANT WITH THE HOLY AND GREAT SYNOD OF NICE.

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead. Whose kingdom shall have no end.

 

And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver-of-Life, who proceedeth from the Father*, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And [we believe] in one, holy,** Catholic and Apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, [and] we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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ATHANASIAN CREED

[Source:  http://www.ccel.org/creeds/athanasian.creed.html]

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;

2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;

20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.

21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.

26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.

27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world.

32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.

34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.

36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;

40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;

42. and shall give account of their own works.

43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.

OPINION

Are there no more ‘biblical’ miracles today?

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Image from stevenhartman.com

Image from stevenhartman.com

[First posted in 2016; we haven’t changed our perspective on this topic.—Admin1.]

 

———–

 

Look at that book, some of us Sinaites might learn something from taking that course or simply ordering the book.

 

There has been, for 7 years now, an ongoing debate among Sinaites about the topic suggested in the title of this post.  Majority of us do not believe that biblical miracles still occur today, and note please that the defining word is “biblical”.

 

We do have one faithful Mormon who opens her testimony with “in my simple thinking”,  regarding how prayerful life is rewarded with positive answers or so she claims;  she is exasperated with our skepticism because she definitely believes that God has worked miracle after miracle for her.  She considers ‘answered prayer’ as ‘miracle’.

 

Others are non-committal, because hey, God might not grant them a miracle if and when they desperately need one.  The key phrase as our Sinaite-Mormon says is “just believe” and “have enough faith” — typical of Christian orientation.  In fact, we have not forgotten the stock Christian teaching that God always answers prayers—

  • but not always with a yes;
  • sometimes it’s a no;
  • and other times it’s ‘maybe’ or ‘wait’ or ‘not now’.

But let us not confuse answered prayer (the positive one) with miracle.

 

I for one have become a skeptic because after years of praying not so much for miracles but even just small divine interventions, I have waited in vain.  I accede to the thinking that coincidences might indeed be considered answered prayer but honestly, if I did not act and move on the problem, nothing would have happened.  In short, miracles just don’t fall on our lap! God gave us a brain, the Torah for wisdom, plain common sense, opportunities to hit or miss, use or misuse, and depending on serendipity, yes, everything might just fall in place for our benefit.

 

Don’t I have enough faith?  I sure do, but I have studied the Torah and YHWH’s dealing with Israel enough to not expect Him to do for me what He did and continues to do for Israel.   I do not expect God to do what He expects me to do for myself and even when I’ve done everything on my end,  I should not be disappointed if He still doesn’t bail me out.  So far, I’ve arrived at my own solutions from my God-given brain plus lifelong lessons learned from plain common sense.  Now, if I have not acted and done nothing and God surprises me with something totally unexpected, I might change my mind about answered prayer but when it comes to miracles today?

 

What do we mean or understand by the word “miracle”?  It is casually used in normal conversation to refer to anything unusual, beyond one’s ability to effect,  perhaps an unexpected blessing (but never a misfortune) that comes our way and yes, often, answered prayer about something the pray-or wants so badly but could not accomplish on his/her own.

 

Some dictionary definitions:

  1. an extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency;

  2. a remarkable event or development that brings very welcome consequences;

  3. an exceptional product or achievement, or an outstanding example of something.

 

Most answered prayer belongs to #2 or #3 but #1 should be the agreed-upon understanding when we use the word “miracle”.

 

That clear, here’s a post from Chabad. org that puts that specific category in the Jewish perspective:

 

http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3375779/jewish/Why-No-Biblical-Miracles-Today.htm

 

And just for balance, here’s a Christian perspective that is much different from the way most miracle-demanding Christians think and that is why I chose to feature it:

 

http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/27615/why-are-there-no-longer-large-scale-miracles-from-god

 

 

Let’s get something straight; what Sinaites do agree on is this:  the Torah is full of ‘biblical’ miracles the God of Israel accomplished on its behalf.    After all,   YHWH consistently calls Israel  “My firstborn”,  “My son”,  “My servant”,

  • the only nation initiated and formed and birthed by YHWH Himself,
  • Who committed Himself to be faithful because He loved their patriarchs,
  • Who was ‘personally’ involved in their past, present and future to see through its fruition His pre-destined plans,
  • even if they did not initially seriously obediently responded in action, even as they verbally said “we will obey” but often did not as their national history, enshrined in their Scriptures attest to.

 

For those who are incredulous about whether or not the God of Israel still performing miracles for His Chosen Nation today, take time out to watch this video:

http://jewtube.tv/israel-conflict/amazing-miracles-war-gaza-probably-havent-heard-yet/

As we have learned from a lifetime of bible study,  and as we continue to believe, the God of Israel is committed His promises to His servant-son Israel till the end of the age.  It is evident that  the God of Israel continues to aid His chosen son-servant-nation.   This inspires awe in the belief system of  ‘outsiders’,  gentiles like us; we take notice when we learn about modern wars waged against but which do not vanquish Israel,  a small yet surviving people/reborn-nation that has learned from millennia of anti-semitism to protect themselves and the borders of the small piece of territory allotted to them by the United Nations in 1947.  Yes they are back in the land, a strange phenomenon for skeptics but not for prophecy-watchers who connect it with Isaiah 66:8:  

 

“Who has heard such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Can a land be born in one day?

Can a nation be brought forth all at once? 

 

OK, OK!  I do believe in miracles. . . but only for Israel, then and now.

 

Now what about us, gentiles, outside of the “chosen” ?  Can we expect miracles from the God of all nations, the same God of Israel, Creator/Revelator on Sinai? Has He made any commitment to ‘outsiders’, gentiles?

 

First of all, do the Hebrew Scriptures record miracles performed by the God of Israel for non-Israelites?  If so, what might have been the purpose then?

 

Well, come to think of it, there are examples of miracles performed for non-Israelites.   To be technical about it (the Rabbis won’t like this), remember that Abraham was the first of the patriarchs of Israel; he was gentile, and the God who spoke to him performed the miracle of birth in old age for this man of faith through his skeptical wife Sarah.  Everyone else before Jacob the first Israelite, was gentile, from Adam and Eve to Noah.  What miracles can be noted for those generations before Abraham?

 

The 2nd generation patriarch Isaac was the father of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel, and if we’re going to be persnickety about this, the nation/people of Israel descended from him through his 12 sons who became the 12 tribes, etc. etc.    But since all three patriarchs are considered progenitors, yes they could be referred to generally as ‘Israel’, from Abraham to the Jews today; in fact, Abraham has been referred to  the first “Jew”  which again, is neither accurate nor proper, what with the descendants of Ysmael also tracing their roots back to Abraham.

 

Technically, the term “Jew” wasn’t used until much much later when Israel was already occupying the land and divisions had resulted between the 10 tribes occupying the upper kingdom called “Israel” (to confuse us further!) and lower kingdom “Judah” (2 tribes of Judah and Benjamin).

 

To save myself the trouble of further explaining here, please go to this link:

 

  http://www.jewfaq.org/whoisjew.htm

 

Now back to the question — did the God of Israel ever perform miracles for the benefit of non-Israelites? Go to a related article, click this link:

The UNchosen:  What if you were a gentile slave in Egypt?

 

 

 

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CHRISTIANITY

And now a “satanic rosary” . . . really?

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On the occasion of the supposed birth anniversary of Mary, the mother of Jesus (September 8), there’s a topic trending on FaceBook — “satanic rosary” — huh?

 

The word “rosary”,  everyone understands to be the Catholic beads that guides the prayers of the faithful, particularly Marian devotees, who recite the “Hail Mary full of grace/Holy Mary Mother of God” for the interconnected 10 beads and “Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” for the separated single bead in between five sets; not to forget the introductory “Our Father”, 3 “Hail Marys” and 1“Glory be…” in the extension that begins the whole series. Or something like that.  It’s the Catholic version of the pagan prayer beads.

 

Do other Christian denominations use something similar to the Catholic rosary?  We haven’t heard of one, it’s a uniquely Catholic prayer-tradition, all associated with devotion to Mary, or “Mama Mary”, the “Virgin Mother” in the Gospels of the Christian New Testament.  Aside from Mary who has now been elevated to “redemptrix” aside from “mediatrix”, virtually on the same level as her son Jesus,  Catholic prayers are also deflected to other ‘intercessors’, ‘mediators’ if you will:

  • “saints” (dead canonized Catholics),
  • dead relatives,
  • specific holy persons associated with travel, need for a husband, lost items, etc.

But the rosary is prayed on behalf of Mary.  Is this “biblical” or not?  Depends on which bible you’re reading and believing as “the very words of God”  and how religions interpret (or misinterpret) their “Bible”.

 

The  word  “satanic” could mean anything that is against God but to be specific, the word is associated with ‘ha satan’ or ‘the adversary’ in the Hebrew Bible which (surprise, surprise) does not promote belief in a rebellious devil named Lucifer.  Confused?

 

Since”satanic” is added to “rosary” — presumably there is a version connected with satanic cults or there is a “satanic rosary” masquerading as a regular rosary to mislead Catholics.  What is the fuss about?  Since Catholics and Christians believe in the existence of the devil and a heirarchy of demonic spirits (because the New Testament scriptures begin and end with them), they also promote the belief that objects associated with the Evil One are to be shunned to prevent demonic influence, oppression, possession.

 

So again, presumably, praying a “satanic rosary” is praying not to Mary “the Mother of God” but to Satan the Father of Lies.

 

Here’s the news coverage related to this latest religious bugaboo:

Satanic rosaries, religious items have reached PH, Church warns

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Sep 05 2017 05:00 PM | Updated as of Sep 05 2017 06:27 PM

CBCP warns: “Unknown to the trained eye, this is actually a Satanic rosary.” Photo by Philippe De Guzman

MANILA – The Catholic Church has warned the Filipino faithful against the circulation of Satanic rosaries and religious items in the country.

Diocese of Novaliches Office of Exorcism (Libera Nox) chief exorcist Fr. Ambrosio Nonato Legaspi warned Catholics against using rosaries that may be “infested or cursed,” as reported by CBCP News.

Fr. Legaspi explained that these rosaries, as well as Masonic medals that are also in circulation, are those that are distributed by Satanists, particularly a group called Illuminati. The satanic rosaries are “prayed over” by its makers, and are consecrated to evil so that evil spirits will follow those who use it.

“These were made not only to be simply given away but to deceive Catholics…so that evil spirits will haunt them,” Fr. Legaspi was quoted in the report.

Satanic rosaries, according to Diocese of Novaliches Libera Nox assistant case officer Philippe De Guzman, have odd symbols that are not easily visible to the naked eye.

 

The rosaries which are often made of plastic, could have a snake wrapped around the cross, a pentagram, and a sun with rays which is an insignia of the Illuminati.

 

Masonic medals on the other hand, look like that of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal except that the insignia of Masons–a compass, is placed at the bottom.

Fr. Legaspi is also calling upon Catholic priests to bless religious items according to Catholic rituals and to exorcise them, especially if its owners have experienced paranormal occurrences.

 

“Not just a blessing, these items should be exorcised. Not just an ordinary blessing where water is just sprinkled–as most priests commonly do–but to use the Catholic ritual…that would frighten the demon away,” he said.

 

Fr. Legaspi also explained that exorcists should not just sprinkle holy water on cursed or infested religious items since this will not make evil spirits go away especially if Satanists carried a ritual that lasted for more than 30 minutes.

 

— Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

Read More:  Catholic Church   Satanic rosaries   Iluminati   exorcism   satanism  
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Now back to us —Sinai 6000:

 

There was a time in our Christian past when we swallowed stories such as this, to the extent we not only wasted money on books about the occult but also attended seminars on how to combat the Devil, evil spirits, learning to be “bondage breakers”.   We sanctified our living space, throwing out any object that might be associated with the occult; out went souvenirs, even gifts if their sources were ‘pagan’ or simply ‘non-Christian’.

 

In our praying (partnership or group) we would not articulate our requests aloud, fearing that Satan would hear and get in the way of getting our prayers answered.  Imagine giving imaginary beings “omnipresent” power, as though Satan, just like God,  could be everywhere listening in on every Christian praying partnership or group.

 

Religions thrive on gullibility and ignorance, not to forget laziness on the part of the flock to stick their necks out or study on their own to get to the original truth revealed by God, the Sinai Revelation.

 

If you believe what the New Testament scriptures say about the devil and his cohorts, hereunder are posts reflecting the Sinaite’s position on this; not surprisingly, the series are categorized under the label CHRISTIANITY:

 

 

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Q & A

Q&A: Why did God have to choose a “people”?

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content[First posted in 2012 when Sinai 6000 was just starting out.  This was asked by us, addressed to “Ask the Rabbi”.  The answer is of course from the Jewish perspective, specifically a Rabbi’s perspective.  

 

The Sinaite’s “A” to its own “Q”: 

Sinaites have since resolved this question for ourselves; it is a bit different from the Rabbi, and it is explained in many of our articles.  In a nutshell:  God had to start out teaching His Way and revealing Himself first to a ‘people’, a ‘nation’, distinct in its assignment and destiny by virtual covenant relationship with Him. If the whole world, all other people, other nations watch and see how well these people function with His laws and instructions on how to live with one another, His Way, then those nations/peoples will be so attracted that they too will wish to emulate and apply those laws to themselves and worship the God who is the Source of such guidance.

 

Update 2018:  We have featured a  book that tackles the topic of “chosenness”, please check out the following: 

—Admin1].

 

 

 

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Question:

 

Why did God have to choose a “people”?

 

Why didn’t he make all his laws and commands and relationship available to the world equally?
When it comes down to it aren’t we all the same in potential as well as flaws? I always thought He did so in order to have a group of people that could be an “example” to the rest…but the more I think about it, if I had three children, it doesn’t make sense to put all my focus into one just so the other two can see how its done.
Thank you for your time…

 

 

Answer:  Rabbi M. Younger/Aish.com
Shalom –

 

Thank you for your interesting question.

 

As I understand it there is a two part answer.

 

First, as a father of multiple children I can tell you that each is unique and we attempt to find the particular niche in the family for each one. I have one son who is very devoted to his Torah learning and we do what we can to support that and to not cause him undo interruptions. On the other hand, he is less than talented in using his hands. I have another who has not yet matured in his Torah studies but is both musical and handy. I will look for ways for him to show off his talents (usually that means singing zmiros at the Shabbos table) and help fix things around the house.

 

So too,on an national level. Different nations do have different aptitudes and attributes – call it spiritual genetics if you want. That nation that is built in the way that makes it most fitting to be the agency by which God manifests Himself in this world is the Jewish people.

 

But it is a two way street.

 

Let us go back to the beginning. God is the ultimate source of good and desires (to the extent that we can use such words to describe Him) to bestow good. God could have bestowed on us the good of the world to come without the “bother” of us going through this world first. But that would have been nahama d’kisufa – bread of shame, the unearned reward. It is the greater good to allow us to earn our future reward than to just give it to us.

 

We earn, or better yet create, our reward by overcoming the challenges that we are presented with an recognizing and manifesting God’s presence in this world. This world is called olam from the root word he’elem meaning hidden. God presents us with a universe in which he is hidden (mostly by allowing to imagine that we have independent existence hence desires and ego issues). Our mission is to get past the “curtain” of our self-centeredness and reveal God.

 

Originally this challenge was presented to Adam who included all of humanity in his great soul. When he failed the test, the challenge was then re-presented, not to one person, but to the corporate body made up of all humanity. But most of humanity abdicated responsibility for this job and just one person, back in the time of history when nations were being founded, accepted the mission for himself and his descendants. That was Avraham our forefather.

 

So it is to Avraham, whom we may call a “proto-Jew”, for he was still but one individual that we look as the progenitor of our nation. He was followed by Yitzchak and Yaakov as patriarchs and then there is the time of transition until we have a nation that is formed at the exodus from Egypt and the revelation at Sinai. And now we are all descended of that core nation and back to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. And it is these descendents that are the “chosen nation”

 

I hope that this has been helpful.

 

With blessings from Jerusalem.

 


SINAI 6000

Starting over . . .

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[This reflects only the last leg of “the  journey of a lifetime”  for one Sinaite.  We are now  in year 2018.   This is part of our “looking back” series, remembering where we came from and how far we have travelled the pathway to the Sinai Revelation.   This was an email exchange between a messianic teacher and his bible student of 3 decades; circa September 2010; slightly edited for publication when it was first posted in 2012.  We share these exchanges because they  represent two belief systems that run counter to each other, and being exposed to two or more sides of any issue adds to decision-making for those who face ‘ crossroads’ in their journey of faith. —Admin 1]

 

 

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Sinaite:  Confession time.

 

 I’ve come to yet another crossroad in my Truth-seeking and am taking a direction I never thought I would ever take. This redirection started  sometime this year when you conducted the one-day seminar at Noah’s Ark.  You mentioned that a former Christian who turned Messianic (Singapore pastor, I think) went all the way back to Judaism.  I thought  about that person’s decision and why, if he’s met Jesus of Christianity/Yeshua of Messianic Judaism, would he revert to a “Christ-less” faith?

 

Well, truth to tell, I’ve come to a similar decision lately—not to go back to Judaism like that believer did, but to simply stick with YHWH the God of Israel, as we’ve come to know Him through TNK. 

 

You see,  after getting my Christian beliefs straightened out by Hebrew Roots/Messianic teaching, I started investigating all other “givens” in christianity that  I never questioned before.  

 

This came about  because I felt I was being “led,” because circumstances were just taking me to sources I wasn’t even seeking.

 

 Just lately, I finally caught up with reading a whole shelf of  books I collected from various sources—some bought in Santa Rosa [not from Christian or Messianic sources, but the “religious” section of bookstores like Barnes and Noble, Borders, websites like amazon.com].  They’ve been on my bookshelves all this time, I’ve forgotten about them.  I didn’t get around to reading them because I spent 2007-2010 catching up with Messianic literature.  

 

I also forgot I had unread books I picked up from your messianic seminar book sales.  I reviewed Lew White’s Torah Zone and Fossilized Customs (you gave me this decades ago), though this updated version has expanded in length as well.  The web has become a great way to interface with other Truth-seekers sharing their search, so I started reading their discussions.  

 

I even reread several books on the so-called “cults”  because I’m in friendly discussion with a Jehovah Witness, a Unitarian, and a Mormon.  I watch 7th Day Adv. channel  a lot because of their health programs but also check out their teaching.  I’ve always wondered why these christian groups are designated as “cults” [therefore, stay clear of them]  and figured out that basically, it’s because they’ve deviated from some basic doctrine[s] of mainstream christianity —like the Trinity, Incarnation,  immortality of the soul, concept of hell as eternal punishment, they worship on the biblical Sabbath, or follow the teachings of their founder, etc. Yet, all of them do have kernels of biblical truth.

 

Add to all the above:

 

* Your book that I borrowed from the BCMC library ,  Christian Anti-Semitism: A History of Hate [quite an eye-opener, that’s why I asked you to bring me home a copy]; 

 

*several updated and expanded tomes on Christian History [mind-boggling details] ;

*published scholarly debates in the Jesus Seminar which reopened centuries-old questions on gentilized Christianized version of the Jewish messiah;

 *studies of textual critics with modern superior tools of textual analysis, 

*linguistic studies which are able to detect errors, additions, awkward juxtapositions, etc. that earlier scholars could not do without computer technology; and of course, 

*recent archeological discoveries.

 

I reread books I had since 1990s on how the NT canon was put together; textual critics’ examination of the gospels—what Yeshua said and claimed for himself, what his followers claimed for him, what others added in transmission,  plus recently published books like  Scripting Jesus, Misquoting Jesus, The Gospel of Jesus Christ  [as opposed to the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John]. 

 

And since my training is in literature, I reviewed books on hermeneutics [I’ve bought all there is available on that subject]  

 

At a local bookstore,  I also stumbled upon The Power New Testament,  a recent NT version where questionable texts included in all Bible versions/translations and indicated by notations/italics/parentheses-— were simply taken out.  The editor is a Florida pastor who worked  with a Jewish rabbi-consultant. I was surprised that the “great commission” did not include the Trinity; Mark had a different ending; the woman caught in adultery was one of many additions, etc.

 

I had to wonder WHO was leading me to all these discoveries, the God of Truth or the father of lies?  I mean, books would practically jump on my lap, fall out of my shelves, when I as much as think of a specific topic! I figured maybe YHWH thought I’m ready for this, I’m ripe for the picking. Test me! 

 

So much tampering with the NT part of our bible stunned me.  I know God’s truth is in the New Testament scriptures,  buried like the TNK was in man-made traditions and additions. But at least even if TNK got buried with rabbinic commentaries and oral tradition, the additions were still based on God’s earlier foundational revelation.   As far as the NT is concerned, I no longer am sure what to swallow and what to spit out. I used to love the Gospel of John, I thought it was such a perfect literary creation only to find out it probably is! Now I regard it as simply a perfectly crafted piece of literature; whoever penned it was a great writer with an intention obvious to me only now, never before.

 

 There’s more to this than I can explain on email. If I’m treading on dangerous ground, straighten me out. 

 

 I’ve scribbled my favorite prayer on all the bibles I’ve bought and used. I don’t know where I first read it, I just wrote it down and it reminds me that Truth-search is a never ending journey for us on this side of eternity. No one has a monopoly of it; no one knows it all; our glimpse of YHWH is about the extent of the 5 blind men and the elephant, even with the help of modern computer technology.  

 

So, here’s my prayer:

“From the cowardice that shrinks from new truths, 

From the laziness that is content with half truths, 

From the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, 

O God of Truth . . . deliver us!”

—Anonymous

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Messianic Pastor:   Shalom, and I mean the “Peace that surpasses all understanding!”

 

Amen to your prayer at the end!  And Yes, you are being tested, sifted as wheat to see what you really are, probably more testing in this area than I have faced, not having all those books to read to confuse me!  I know the NT has not been handled over time as carefully as the TNK.  This is a slippery slope, so do not throw any banana peels in your path as you walk along!

 

I also am aware that some “scholars” like attention, like to be critical in order to stir up controversy and become “authorities.”  Like politicians and clergy, there is money, position, and power available to those who can break loose and become different.  However, a few are genuine, humble seekers of Truth.  We need much discernment to know which is which, what is Truth and what is a slick counterfeit.  In these last days, this is extremely so!!

 

I have a few foundation stones:

 

1) Spiritual Truth is revealed by God to His insiders, those genuinely in His Family, those who have been given eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to trust and obey.  This is clear in the TNK, and clearly said in Mt 13:10ff and Mt 16:17.  Outsiders can see the same evidence and come to different conclusions.  As in salvation, this is all by His Grace, not our abilities.  Diligent study of His Word is essential, and will be rewarded. 

 

2) God is Infinitely Holy.  Mankind is Infinitely sinful.  Mankind can do nothing to bridge this gap, and God made it this way in His Master Plan.  To bridge the gap, God provided Himself, in His Son Yeshua, as an Infinitely Holy sacrifice to pay for all of mankind’s sins, which He offers to all mankind.  To those who respond positively, again by His Grace and possibly His Choice, He makes them His children, His Family.  There is no other way for love to prevail, both agapao and phileo, for God is Love!  Sifting is essential to make the separation.  Mankind is unique.  Angels do not have this choice.

 

3) As for the TNK and NT, I believe every word was controlled by God as the writers wrote the texts.  Since we have only copies today, and versions in English for us, if I have any Trust in God at all, I deliberately Trust Him without question that He will guide my study of His Word to come to Truth and be given discernment to wade through any manipulations of the text by the enemy.  This is why I think Greek is essential to compare manuscripts and leave questionable passages to “later.”  I do not have to know everything; I do not need to have an answer for everything.  I do need to know God and to walk in step with Him.  By God, I mean the “three in one,” but do not like the word Trinity=3 gods.  To me, Yeshua is fully Deity and fully humanity as Adam before he sinned.  Anything less means that His sacrifice was not acceptable.

 

Understanding all this is overwhelming to the point of shedding tears of JOY and gratefulness that I can live day by day with that “peace that surpasses all understanding.”  No sweat, no stress, no fear.

 

When we get to Baguio in December, we can have a one-on-one study.  I will listen, you talk, ok?

 

With much love and appreciation, my sister!!

 

Messianic Pastor:  Hag Sameach is the greeting for any Hag – one of the 3 pilgrim festivals in Jerusalem – and this one is Sukkot.

 

Today being the last great day of the Appointed Time of Sukkot, we meet as it is a Holy Convocation, at least those who do not have to go to work.  The group here is about 15 people.  I did not start it…they invited us in to help teach. They want to study Revelation, so I am re-doing that one for them, and myself.  I am fully convinced that we are about at the End of the End Times and THE Kingdom is coming, the one promised to Israel, to David and his greater Son, THE Messiah, and with details in all the Prophets.  THE Messiah can be none other than YHVH Yeshua Meshiach.

 

You are much in prayer these days, as “Satan has desired you, to sift you as wheat,” but YHVH is going to bring you through to victory, not only for your sake, but for all those who depend on you.  The responsibility of being a teacher is frightening and heavy, but we (in contrast to others) must teach only Truth as far as we know it.

 

Blessings on you with much love and prayer.

 

Sinaite:  Yes, I take very seriously my responsibility as a “teacher” since YHWH will hold us responsible for handling or mishandling His revelation.

 

A friend keeps correcting me that I should not even think that  I’m “teaching” but that I’m only “sharing” what I learn . . .[whatever] . . . each individual makes his decision for himself.  As a “sharer” my objective as it has been from the beginning, is to equip any willing learner with the same training I studied and specialized in college/grad school . . . how to read a book, any book . . . and specially how to read the Bible. I do show how different religions reach doctrinal positions; mistranslations; point of view, etc.  In the process I share what I’ve come to believe, for myself.  That is all I do. It’s a take it or leave it understanding between me and the others. 

Until I’ve done further homework on what I shared with you last email, I stay on what I feel is solid ground for now—- YHWH of the Hebrew Scriptures.  Him I fully understand. Yeshua of the gospels and the New Testament, I have to restudy.

 

 

Messianic Pastor:  Blessings on you!  I also share what I have learned, “take it or leave it.”  But you and I never quit learning!!  

Right now I am re-teaching-sharing the book of Revelation as requested by the small group here, after many years only looking at certain parts…but I need to know it, along with all the TNK Prophets, as the Time is NOW.  

 

Daniel spelled it out quite well….. You are better at handling literature, much more so that I am.

 

This might be helpful….. hope it comes through, although they want you to subscribe to their Newsletter to get the book free……..

 

Dear Fellow Conservative,

Fed up with smug atheists claiming that the Bible is full of intolerance, hatred, and outlandish fables? 

Then you must get your hands on this free book.

It’s the antidote against the secularist onslaught from mockers, skeptics and deniers.  

Engaging and well-researched, it sets the record straight with archaeological and historical evidence to prove that the Bible is true.  So next time you talk to an atheist be prepared with this complete guide. 

Get the details here. Sincerely, 

 Thomas S. Winter

 

 

Sinaite:  Thanks, will check it out, although I think I’ve read everything there is to both sides of the argument but it’s always good to read all there is available.  It’s really not confusing to me. I used to think I wasted my time in college and gradschool majoring in literature; now I see how that training is finally put to good use; I know God prepared me for this time.

 

Like I said,  I have no problem with TNK; no matter what “new finds” say about it; I see God’s signature there. It’s  NT I have to review with different vision-glasses, minus everything I  swallowed without question before. 

 

 I know God’s Truth is there, just need to seek God’s leading and confirmation of what’s His and what’s man-made.

SINAI 6000, Q & A, CHRISTIANITY

Q&A: Why did you leave Christianity?

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[Many of the first articles we posted in year 2012 when we started this website were focused on explaining our change of direction from the “Savior” on Calvary to the Revelator on Sinai.  Many of our Christian friends/colleagues were befuddled as we would have been once upon a time, had our Christian co-workers done the same. We are reposting many of those earliest ‘apologetics of sorts’, for those who have just discovered this website.—Admin1]
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Q1: What would make Christians like yourselves turn away from everything you have embraced all your life as your belief system/religion/faith, whatever you call it, when you’ve lived it and declared it to others because you were so sure all those years that what you knew was the absolute truth?

A:   In a word . . . EVIDENCE.

Each shift was based on progressive exposure to factual knowledge instead of simply “faith” in declared unexplained mysteries.  When religious teachers say ‘don’t ask, just believe’—we went beyond trusting other people’s word and kept studying the Bible as well as all other resources available to us.  

A Catholic friend once argued that “faith” should not be based on “fact” because once it is, then it’s “fact” and not “faith”!!!  

Our view is — faith should not be blind.  What we place our faith or trust or belief in must have basis.  People make decisions daily based on “fact” and “evidence”.  

Examples:  
  • We trust that the food prepared in restaurants won’t make us sick but we could check out the cleanliness of the kitchen and food handlers to make sure.
  • Transport services, particularly air travel or sea travel, have track records on safety or negligence.  Should we not check out which one will get us to our destination?
  • When we pay for goods these days, aware of so much counterfeit look-alikes, would we not want to see the manufacturer’s guarantee?
  • This applies as well and even more importantly to our hard-earned money.  Bank tellers are trained to spot fake cash by handling genuine money all the time.

So why not apply the same attitude towards faith in God, or our belief system that guides the way we should live our lives?  
A Christian pastor we had “converted” to the Christian faith asked the same question, explaining that when he was “converted” it was because he was “convicted” first, and then he started studying Christianity.

 

We explained that in our case, we investigated the roots of our faith first, merely reading historical books about how Christianity started before we were “convicted” that we’ve been on the wrong path all this time.  Conviction must not precede investigation; it must be the result of investigation and since Christianity is a historical religion, it is so easy to trace when it began, how it began, who were responsible for starting it and making it into a major religion, etc.  That is readable and knowable in history books.  If after finding out all the answers to the what, when, how, who, and one is still “convicted” that Christianity is from the God of Truth and Revelation, then stay within that religion; if not, one has to make a difficult decision  . . .  .

God is not a God of confusion; He’s very clear, in fact specific when it comes to Himself and what He requires of man.  If He consistently declares how He hates idolatry, turning to other gods that compete with Him, would He be vague about Himself and the Way He wants humankind to follow and live?

Q2:  How do you know you’re not mistaken now, when you’ve shifted a few times from your original religion?

 

How do we know we’re on the right path this time?  Because we’ve done our homework THIS TIME!

 

 

In behalf of the Sinai 6000

Core Community,

 

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OPINION

Jewish vs. Biblical

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[First posted in 2012; when we left Christianity and its foundational scriptures (the New Testament), the natural fallback for us was to check out Christianity’s claimed ‘foundational scriptures’ and that would be the Hebrew Scriptures, retitled “Old Testament” to justify the “New Testament”.   As early as that transitional time, we checked out Judaism as a religion and decided it was not an option for us, so we decided to study for ourselves the revelation on Sinai by the God who formed and taught a people to represent Him to all humanity, and that would be the Torah.  We were careful to separate the man-made religion that sprung  from the God-sourced Revelation.—Admin1].

 

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Q:  Is Judaism a religion?

 
 As far as we can understand, Judaism is the religion of the Jews that evolved from the original teachings in the Written Torah [the five books of Moses] which the recorders and transmitters of Israel have carefully kept intact.  Because Judaism seems to recognize the authority of the Oral Torah [commentaries by Jewish sages through the centuries], then teachings or interpretations that go farther than what the Torah explicitly states are extraneous.
For as long as Oral Torah remains true to the Written Torah, there is no conflict; but when the laws are ‘fenced’ to the point of going to unnecessary extremes in application for fear of violating,  then Torah becomes a burden and not a delight.  If the gospels are to be believed,this exactly what the Pharisees were accused of doing to God’s commandments.

Q.  Related to this question is another: what is the difference between being “biblical” and being “Jewish”, are they not one and the same?

 We are often asked—why are you following the “Jewish” diet, or observing the “Jewish feasts” or reading the “Jewish” scriptures, or worshipping on the “Jewish” Sabbath?
People confuse the two –“biblical” and “Jewish”, perhaps because the Jews are about the only identifiable ethnic group or people who do live the Torah;  not ALL Jews, but Torah-observant Jews, or religious Jews.  

As far as we understand the differences between “biblical” and “Jewish”, this is the deciding factor:  in so far as teachings/practices/customs/celebrations/etc. were added as Jewish traditions, they belong more to Jewish culture.  
For example, the 7 feasts commanded in Leviticus 11 are:
  • the spring festivals: Passover [Pesach],
    • Feast of Unleavened Bread [Hag HaMatzah],
    • Feast of First Fruits [Bikkurim],
    • Pentecost [Shavuot];

—-and the fall festivals:

  •  Feast of Trumpets-New Year [Yom Teruah-Rosh Hashana],
  • Day of Atonement [Yom Kippur]
  • and Festival of Tabernacles [Sukkot].

Yet Jews traditionally celebrate 2 extra festivals not included in the 7:  Hanukkah and Purim.  The 7 are “biblical” feasts, the 2 are “Jewish” feasts.

As for the “Jewish” diet?  The dictionary definition of “Kosher” is:
Restrictions on the foods suitable for Jews are derived from rules in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Animals must be slaughtered and prepared in the prescribed way, in which the blood is drained from the body, while certain creatures, notably pigs and shellfish, are forbidden altogether. Meat and milk must not be cooked or consumed together, and separate utensils must be kept for each. Strict observance of these rules is today confined mainly to Orthodox Jews.

As long as the Jewish observance is “by the book” or by Torah, then it is “biblical”; but when it goes to extremes beyond the biblical prescription, then it is “Jewish.”
What about the Sabbath?  That is a universal commandment that the Creator Himself established on the 7th day after His 6-day work of creating the heavens and the earth and filling them with details.  There were no Jews at that time, so the Sabbath is not a Jewish day but a biblically ordained day, included in the 10 commandments as the 4th.  
It is therefore imperative for one to be discerning enough, to recognize and separate what is “Biblical” from what is “Jewish”.  How does one get there?  Study the Hebrew Bible!
 
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CHRISTIANITY, Q & A

Q&A: Christianity – a man-made religion?

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[This is one of our first posts in 2012 when we started this website. Understandably, we had a lot of explaining to do about why we left Christianity.  The Christian Lenten season has begun leading to Easter week, so we think this is a timely reminder of the ‘whys’ of our perceived  ‘apostasy’.—Admin1]

 

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Q:  Why do you call Christianity a’man-made’ religion?  Is it not based on God’s word, the New Testament?  Isn’t the New Testament simply an extension of the Old Testament?  

 

 

A.  We have debated the meaning of the term “religion.”  Our definition of religion is — man’s understanding and way of relating to any god of his imagination or invention.  Unless God reveals Himself to man, man has to guess what God is like.  In our view, all religions, unless they are based on God’s revelation belong to the category of ‘man-made religion.’  Even Judaism, in our view, is a religion, albeit based on the revelation of the God of Israel.  Judaism has ‘fenced’ the laws of God in their zeal to not violate any of it, and in the process add prohibitions that are extra-biblical.

 

In our view, in belief and practice, Christianity belongs to man-made religions; historically, this is very easily proven, specially when you read the beginnings of this belief system as well as how it re-invented itself into different sects through the centuries.  [Best to read different histories of Christianity; secular historians give a far more objective account than christian historians.]

 

Historically this religion developed under one religious umbrella known as “Christianity,”

 
  • with roots in a mother syncretic religion— Roman Catholicism
  • and breakaway sects which evolved into Reform Protestantism and its evangelical offsprings;
  • it has a 20th century version that masquerades in Hebrew dress and Jewish trappings called Messianic Judaism, because MJ claims that Christianity was an offspring of 1st century Judaism.
 

In terms of TRUTH-content, attached to its New Testament canon is its “christianized” version of the original revelation The Hebrew Scriptures or the Tanach [TNK]:

 
  •  Retitled as  “Old Testament” [OT] to suggest its being obsolete and replaced by the “New Testament” [NT].
  • In teaching that divine revelation is “progressive”, OT is considered merely as prophetic, pointing to fulfillment in NT.
  • It teaches a theology that runs counter to its predecessor — foundational scriptures [Tanach or “old testament”]—that  it claims to be a continuation and conclusion of.
  • It teaches that christians or believers in Christ are “under grace” and not under the “Old Testament” Law but  Jeremiah 9:11-13/16:11 declares otherwise.
  • It rearranged in chronological order the original order, division and number of books comprising the original Hebrew Scriptures.
  • It assigned Anglicized/Greek titles to the Hebrew titles and in so doing, readers all but forgot that the 2nd person it declares as God Himself was a Jew.
  • It redefined the very nature of GOD from “the ONE and ONLY” [Deuteronomy 6:1] to a Trinitarian Godhead, according to majority vote in mere councils of men [Council of Nicea, 325 CE].
  • It tampered with, mistranslated, reprogrammed many OT verses to confirm its claims about the  Jewish messiah.
  • It changed the whole concept of the Jewish messiah into a totally foreign gentile mythic figure patterned after pagan religious concepts of a savior.
  • In doing the above, a different god was introduced—
    • with a different name from YHWH—Jesus Christ,
    • with a dual nature [human/divine]
    • but belonging to a trinity as “the second person”
    • co-equal with the other 2 persons—Father [Colossians 1:15] and Holy Spirit;
    • and worshipped more than the other 2;
    • totally eclipsing TNK’s GOD YHWH whose NAME was all but forgotten,
    • relegating YHWH to the background “Father” status who concedes all power, honor, glory and judgment to  His “Son” [Isaiah 42;8/48:11];
    • ascribing titles that belong only to YHWH [Isaiah 43:11-15/44:6-8/45:5, 21-23]
    • who was proclaimed to be the very Creator Himself [John 1:3/Colossians 1:16],
    • who creates the “new heavens and the new earth” [Isaiah 65:17/66:22]
    • who was supposedly prefigured in about 324 “messianic prophecies” in OT.
 

If any christian seeker after the ONE TRUE GOD—–

  •  decides to investigate all the claims of christianity and manages to take bold steps to peel off layers of what has been  “added on” and “tampered with” in the 2-part scriptures [The Christian Bible] used in this religion,
  • Then—he has a chance of progressing to the True Original Revelation [TNK] and finally meet the ONE TRUE GOD who has proclaimed throughout the TNK that HE is ONE, there is no other, [Deuteronomy 4:32-40]
  • the GOD of history [Isaiah 46:8-10/48;3-6]

Because of the very fact that GOD’s Words and acts in history have been faithfully recorded by the receivers of HIS revelation [Israel], then there is great responsibility for any individual/community who have access to the ORIGINAL REVELATION to read/study/apply/obey–and declare, as the “mixed multitude” did on Mt. Sinai:

“All that GOD has spoken,

we will do and we will hear.”

 
  • There is no more reason to remain ignorant in this day and age, because every christian bible/new testament has the “OT prequel” attached to its “NT sequel”.
  • It is therefore incumbent upon the individual/community-leader[s] to heed the warning in Deuteronomy that after Torah, all future claims to be from YHWH’s mouth must be measured against the standard of HIS original revelation—Torah [Deuteronomy 13:1-6]
  • Just as all counterfeits must be scrutinized and checked against the genuine—whether money or imitated goods—- the same must all the more apply to “Scripture” that claim to issue from YHWH, that does not carry the same authority as the Prophets of Israel in their unmistakable declaration that reverberates throughout the TNK—-“Thus saith the LORD”.
  • The enlightened/informed seeker must then make a choice between his previous religious orientation and true Biblical faith in the ONE TRUE GOD whose NAME is YHWH;
  • and make a commitment, just as Joshua and Israel did:  “Choose today whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH.” . . . “We too will serve YHWH, for HE is our GOD!” [Joshua 24:14-18]
  • And heed the words of GOD through the prophet Jeremiah:  “Thus saith the LORD:  Stand on the roads and see; ask about the various paths of history, which path is best, and walk on it and find solace for your soul.” [6:16]

 

 

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OPINION, Exodus/Shemoth

Laws on stone, why not in heart and mind and lifestyle?

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Image from www.toonpool.com

Image from www.toonpool.com

[First posted in 2015.  Jewry will soon be celebrating Passover and according to biblical history, what comes next?  Sinai.  Here are some thoughts about what happened there.—Admin1.]

 

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Ponder this:  what did the original tablets given to Moses look like?

The Creator who made this perfect universe chooses to produce one more item made from already existing material;  the first time he did  this was when he formed “adamah” (representative humanity) from the dust of the earth.   This time He produces for Moses 2 stone tablets on which He metaphorically inscribes with His ‘handwriting’, (in Hebrew alphabet presumably),  the essence of divine standards for how adamah,  ‘humanity created in His image’ should live.  

 

The connection between the two is subtle but significant and should not be lost on clueless readers, so let us spell it out:

 

The Creator who now appears as Revelator intended the created being made from existing dust to live according to a set of guidelines, ‘laws’ if you will, that the Law-Giver Himself determines for the only creature made in His image.  

 

Free will and choice are intertwined in yet another test of acceptance . . . or non-acceptance,  imposed no longer upon two human genders (first man and woman) but this time upon two categories of people (the ‘chosen’ that will become Israel, and non-chosen non-Israelite) in the “mixed multitude” liberated from Egyptian bondage, now assembled on Sinai, waiting for “what next?”  

 

Let us not miss the message; the lesson (not the non-existent devil)  is in the details.

 

 

Now back to the original set of tablets given to Moses, ‘ready made’.   Moses had no participation in this first set.   Just think:  what would tablets made by YHWH Himself look like and would their appearance mean something?

 

 What are we getting at?

  • Would the material of the tablets reflect the place where virtually every human being starts—rough, raw, imperfect in his earthly ways?
  • Or would the material represent the TORAH-transformed life, when a person’s mind and heart is seared by the very commandments of his new Master so that he willingly applies these to his conduct?
  • Or, would the material reflect the longings of the human heart to be perfect, a material of supreme value that demonstrates the human ideal, the highest he could aspire for? 

Are we reading too much in this simple narrative?  Perhaps not, literary critics of the Hebrew Scriptures point to the remarkable characteristic of the language, the narrative style,  in effect — “so much meaning in so few words.”  It is for the reader/listener/receiver of the message to connect the dots.  

 

Image from ccmlbv.tumblr.com

Image from ccmlbv.tumblr.com

While googling free images of the Ten Commandments, there was as usual, quite a variety to choose from, reflecting the creative imagination of bible illustrators:  from rough looking rectangles with rough uneven shapes, to polished perfect tablets with the familiar rounded-top.

 

 Now remember that this is the 1st original divine-issued tablets, not the 2nd human-hewn available desert material Moses had to reproduce later after he had broken the first pair.  

 

Ponder these:

  •  Why is this discussion bothering to focus on the material of the two tablets instead of on the more important Message from the Creator/Revelator/Law-Giver Who identified Himself as YHWH?  Of course the message is more important but don’t overlook the peripherals, the unstated or understated message.
  • Just think:  has any other god (albeit non-existent in reality but existent in human idolater’s minds) from antiquity issued commandments that have survived to this day as the supreme guide for ideal conduct for all humankind?  Some ancient religious cultures do claim so but theirs have not reached universal acceptance and application.  In fact these TEN have been widely embraced and even enshrined in important government edifices (specially in court buildings) in democratic societies.

 

Unbelievers and skeptics today don’t even realize the source of democratic ideals they adhere to as they live moral and ethical lives.  

 

Perhaps the most interesting image that turned up in google is the biggest structure that landed in the Guinness World Records and which, ironically, is right in the home  city of our core group of Sinai 6000:
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A boy looks at the world's largest tablet of the ten commandments on display in Baguio City, north of Manila

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-gets-worlds-largest-ten-commandments-143349108.html

TEXT:  A building-sized edifice carved with the Bible’s Ten Commandments was unveiled Wednesday in the Philippines, making it the largest tablet of its kind, according to Guinness World Records.
The tablet, a copy of the rules supposedly handed down by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, was inaugurated by city officials on a hill overlooking the northern resort city of Baguio. A local religious group, donated the imposing 152.90 square metre (1,650 square foot) tablet to the city as they were presented a certificate from Guinness World Records:
 “This beautiful and divine edifice will serve to drive away the evils of spirits that time and again emerge,” said Baguio Congressman Bernardo Vergara at the inauguration. “May it drive away evils of illegal drugs, gambling, prostitution.”
The religious leader who sponsored the project, Grace Galindez-Gupana, topped her previous world record, attained in 2009 when she built a similar 65-square-metre tablet on a hill outside Manila.

 

The blog that followed this article and image is typical of the controversy that arises from any discussion of the 10 Commandments.  Why is this so? The first reaction is usually about which version was used in the text, the Catholic version or the Protestant/Evangelical version?  Nobody bothers to ask about the original version in the Hebrew Scriptures;  isn’t that strange for a religion that claims its adherents are under grace and not law?  

 

The 4th commandment is legible from the photograph, as the Sabbath, so the designers, thankfully, followed the true listing.

 

Image from suzannepayingattention.blogspot.com

Image from suzannepayingattention.blogspot.com

For the local officials to presume that setting up this monument will eliminate the evils in the community without the local government itself acting is wishful thinking and selective; why not throw in corruption, bribery, cheating in elections, misuse of government funds, modern slavery, and not to forget—church-cover up of clerical pedophelia, etc.— to the obvious short list of social evils cited: ‘illegal drugs, gambling, prostitution.” 

 

 

 External reminders are useless when these laws are not internalized and reflected in the lives of the population.  Governing leaders, legislators and enforcers of the law have to do their part to eradicate evil and ills in any society starting with being models themselves of the Torah lifestyle, basically the 10 C’s. And more importantly—enforce the laws equally and make sure justice is served. 

 

Jeremiah 31:31 speaks of a “new covenant” which has been misunderstood and therefore misused and misapplied by Christianity to refer to the “new covenant” with them, the “new Israel” as explained all over their “new testament”.    When one carefully reads the details (yes, YHWH the LawGiver is in the details), one will see who are the two parties involved in this RENEWED covenant spoken of by Jeremiah.  

 

The parties are the same as in the first covenant on Sinai, on what became the feast of Shavuot (anniversary of the giving of the Torah and virtually the official status of Israel as a recognizable national entity in that ancient world):

 

  • YHWH the Law-Giver,
  • and Israel/the mixed multitude as the Law-Receiver.  

 

What is the original covenant about?

 

 YHWH’s  guidelines for living for His people, and that would include any individual outside of Israel who embraces Him, the God of Israel, as God and Lord (gentiles in the mixed multitude who become integrated with Israelites).

 

 

What is the renewed or “new” covenant about?

 

It is still about His TORAH.  

 

That covenant is reiterated in Jeremiah 31:31-34 but what is the difference if there is any?

 

 Instead of being written on tablets of stone, the Law will be written on minds and hearts.  

 

By whom?  

 

Remember Who placed His signature on tablets of stone?  That same One. His Signature is in every one of us.  That is why every individual born on this earth has a sense of YHWH’s standard of right and wrong,  without having heard of Torah, even when he is in another world religion with a different scripture worshipping a god with another name.  That sense of right and wrong is inborn, as restated by the Creator-Revelator-LawGiver through His mouthpiece Jeremiah.  

 

That is what Rabbis teach as one of two inclinations in humanity—

  • the inclination to do good as opposed to—
  • the inclination to do the opposite of good.  

 

Choice . . . because humanity was divinely endowed with free will which they never lost;  humans are not ‘helpless’ and ‘hopeless’ because of ‘original sin’;  humans are born in ‘neutral’ condition with the two inclinations; otherwise what is the precious gift of free will for if it cannot be exercised?  Further, what use is free will in a context where there is only one choice or none,  except the one enforced by the dogmatic terrorizing two-legged religious or secular powers that rule?

 

 

The wonder of the God of Israel (the God of the Nations as well) is that He values the gift of free will in humankind so much so,  that while He sets the standard of what is RIGHT,  yet  He allows that supreme standard to be ignored, if not violated wilfully but not without declared consequences.  Divine justice works in strange ways!  And yet again,  the All Powerful God  judges wisely and mercifully when the violation is out of ignorance of His Law:  ‘unintentional’ sin.  

 

 

Did you know that the purpose of “sacrifices” and “offerings” at the Sanctuary and later at the Temple were only for unintentional sin? Don’t take our word for it, review Exodus and Leviticus or read more carefully if this is your first time.

 
The ever gracious God of mercy and compassion even provided ‘cities of refuge’ for cases of homicide, unintentional taking of human life; such places provided for by the LawGiver Himself, where fugitives who accidentally killed could run to as sanctuaries of safety from avenging relatives or tribes. What a righteous and wise and merciful God is our Lord YHWH, indeed! 

 

What about intentional wilful sin?  

 

There is no sacrifice for intentional sin.  The requirement for wilful sin, outright disobedience is not substitution of a sacrifice, whether animal or human, substitution for what a sinner himself should be doing for himself!  

 

 

And what is that?  REPENT!

 

 

Recognize wrongdoing, ask forgiveness,  change heart and mind, and turn 180 degrees from the direction you have always or momentarily taken.

 

 Something or somebody else dying for you does not get you off the hook because IT DOES NOT CHANGE YOU!   Only you can make that crucial decision to turn your life around because you can,  because you are not helpless to inherited sin and therefore hopeless and dependent on a ‘savior’. 

 

But back to the reiteration of the Sinai Covenant by the prophet Jeremiah —review the text.  We provide here the ArtScroll Tanach rendering (we add the Tetragrammaton Name after HASHEM):

 

 

[AST]  Jeremiah/Yirmeyahu 31:31-34 
30  Behold, days are coming– the word of HASHEM {YHWH}–when I will seal a new covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah:
31  not like the covenant that I sealed with their forefathers on the day that I took hold of their hand to take them out of the land of Egypt, for they abrogated My covenant, although I became their Master —the word of HASHEM {YHWH].  
32  For this is the covenant that I shall seal with the House of Israel after those days —the word of HASHEM {YHWH}—I will place My Torah within them and I will write it onto their heart; I will be a God for them and they will be a people for Me.
33  They will no longer teach —each man his fellow, each man his brother — saying, ‘know HASHEM {YHWH}!  For all of them will know Me, from their smallest to their greatest—the word of HASHEM {YHWH}—when I will forgive their iniquity and will no longer recall their sin.  
34  Thus said HASHEM {YHWH},  Who gives the sun as a light by day and the laws of the moon and the starts as light by night; Who agitates the sea so that its waves roar;  HASHEM {YHWH}, Master of Legions, is His Name:  
35  If these laws could be removed from before Me–the word of HASHEM {YHWH}–so could the seed of Israel cease from being a people before Me forever.

One final point:  

Was it only in Jeremiah’s time that the the Law-Giver
intended His Torah to be etched in human hearts and minds?  

[EF] Deuteronomy / Davarim11: 18
18  You are  to place these my words
upon your heart
and upon your being;
you are to tie them as a sign on your hand,
let them be as bands between your eyes;
19 you are to teach them to your children,
by speaking of them in your sitting in your house,
in your walking on the way,
in your lying-down, in your rising-up.  
20  You are to write them upon the doorposts of your house,
and on your gates,
in order that your days may be many,
along with the days of your children
on the soil that YHWH swore to your fathers,
to give them  (as long) as the days of the heavens over the earth.  
22 Indeed, if you will keep,
yes, keep all this commandment that I command you to observe,
to love YHWH your God, to walk in his ways and to cling to him,
23 YHWH will dispossess all these nations from before you,
and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier (in number)
than you.
Blessed be the God of Israel,  
the God of all nations,
the God we,  Sinaites,  acknowledge,
love and embrace 
as the One True God.  
Blessed be His holy Name,
YHWH,
 the Name we proudly proclaim
in all reverence and awe!
Amen.

 

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