“The apostles in the Jerusalem Council decision left Gentiles] with an ambiguous and tenuous status among the people of God that can best be described as that of a God-fearer: a monotheist non-Jew worshipping in a Jewish context,” Boaz Michael, D. Thomas Lancaster, “ ‘One Law’ and the Messianic Gentile”, Messiah Journal 101.
Some in the Messianic movement teach that Gentiles belong to a class called the G-d-fearer, that Gentiles are not to bother with anything in the Torah more than just being a good person.
But is that what yirat HaShem really means in the Scripture?
First, let's observe that yirat is not about trembling in fear but rather:
In this verse we see what looks to be a contradiction: fearing and rejoicing at the same time. But the contradiction is resolved once we understand that within the word yirat is the word ra'ah which means to see. The idea being that once you see how awesome G-d is then your reaction is reverent awe and even an excited trembling with joy wherein your soul desires to return to its source.“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling,” Psalm 2:11
It's like when we see the universe and immediately feel humbled by the power of the Creator:
But what causes our soul (nefesh) to rejoice when we see G-d's awesomeness?"When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; What is man that you take thought of him, And the son of man that you care for him?" Psalm 8:3,4
Well, that's where the term for "returning" to the L-rd is enlightening:
That term for return, shavta, has the same letters as Shabbat. Why is that? Because on Shabbat we realize that we are utterly dependent on G-d and we delight in drawing close to our Source! We literally return (shavta) to Him on Shabbat!“When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return [vshavta] to the LORD your God and obey him,” Deuteronomy 4:30
And this term shavta is related to meshivat which is translated in English as "restoring" or "converting":
Why does Torah convert/restore the soul? Because it is "perfect" which means it carries the fullness of everything your soul has been looking for."The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul [meshivat nefesh]: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple," Psalm 19:7
So "fearing" G-d is really about "returning" to Him by keeping the commandments:
In conclusion, we should not listen to such men who say that fearing G-d results in an ambiguous status and a tenuous connection to His people. Such men are effectively working to unplug us from our power source. Heaven forbid! Scripture says:"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man," Ecclesiastes 12:13
“The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant,” Psalms 25:14
Yirat HaShem means we are so excited that we tremble with joy as we return to G-d by hearkening to His Voice! We are so awestruck by Him that no man can keep us from pursuing His Torah! It is our power source!"...keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me and take hold of my covenant....all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it...these I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my House of Prayer," Isaiah 56:4,6-7
Don't let any man discourage you from plugging into the joy that G-d intends for you and your family!
Shalom and Blessings to the True Brothers and Sisters,
Peter
Is shavta spelled exactly like shabbat?
ReplyDeleteExactly! Isn't that cool?
DeleteMessianic "Judaism" is Christianity. Christianity is idol worship. Legit Orthodox Judaism is from G-d and cannot be merged with idolatry. www.kiruvnow.com
ReplyDeleteTorah says that the Messiah is G-d. Check this out:
Deletehttp://orthodoxmessianic.blogspot.com/2015/08/censoring-face-of-messiah-why-jewish.html
Judaism is (1) the People of Israel (both native and sojourner); (2) the Torah. There are Reform Jews who see themselves as belonging to Israel and who believe they are keeping the Torah. There are Orthodox Jews who see themselves as belonging to Israel and who believe they are keeping the Torah. The common elements are (1) People of Israel and (2) the Torah.
In the same way, adherents of Messianic Judaism see themselves as (1) members of Israel who (2) keep the Torah. And its not idolatry if you are worshiping HaShem. Mainstream Messianic Judaism believes that only HaShem should be worshipped and that Yeshua is the earthly manifestation of HaShem, the one to whom Israel will look:
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn," Zechariah 12:10
Peter, Yeshua was not a liar. He said "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why go you about to kill me?"
DeleteHave you considered those who practice rabbinic Judaism are not keeping the law of Moses? Have you seen the testimonies of rabbis who claim the Torah is a myth? Have you seen how the teachings of the rabbis do not line up with Torah?
Once you study it out, you will find that Judaism is not just “Israel keeping Torah”, but something else entirely.
When will messianics learn, you can't keep Torah and deny Yeshua is the messiah, Yeshua is the entire point of the law and the prophets, they all speak of him.
Here is some Torah: "In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord."
What people? Is he a liar? Will they actually hear because you want them to?
You really should familiarize yourself with John 8, Yeshua explains Judaism in contrast to his real disciples.
Jeremy,
DeleteLet your pals, Yoseph Mizrachi and Tovia Singer, know that they are welcome to write a guest post for this blog. I'll provide a rebuttal in the comments section.
Shalom,
Peter