Obedience

“Does YHVH delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of YHVH? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay heed than the fat of rams. 

For rebellion is like the sin of divination and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry.” 

(1 Samuel 15:22-23)

The key phrase in the center of these verses is “to obey is better than sacrifice.”  This is a simple phrase we can commit to memory to remind us of YHVH’s view regarding obedience.

In our modern societies, the term ‘obedience’ has taken on generally negative connotations. Our contemporaries seem to place high value on conduct such as individualism, non-conformity, vigilantism, and other essentially renegade or maverick behaviors.  People who behave this way are often pegged as heroes, trailblazers, and innovators.  People who are ‘obedient’ are usually seen as mindless automatons who cannot make choices for themselves.

Part of the reason this is so is because our human natures are not prone to be “obedient” – it sounds like “subservience” to our ears; and we want independence and autonomy – what we like to think of as “freedom.”

Obedience sounds like the opposite of that. It sounds like bondage to us.  So we reserve our “obedience” for things we say WE WANT to do.  

We generally believe we are being obedient only or mostly to our own desires and ambitions.  And we have been taught that is a good thing.  In fact, we have come to believe this approach to life is the best for us – to “look out for number one.”

But if we are honest with ourselves, we are already, every day, all day being obedient to forces outside ourselves – yet we nevertheless convince ourselves we are making choices for ourselves.

Think about this:  what really drives your choices – for fashion, for entertainment, for selecting a job, for what you eat, what you buy, what kind of car you drive?  

More often than not, there are aspects of pleasing or following others in nearly everything we do – our choices are based on what we think others will think of us – on what we think will make others happy or what we think will cause others to pay attention to us.

So, obedience is a bit of a complex aspect of human existence.  It is not something we can truly escape.

Bob Dylan captured the essence of this truth in his song, “Gotta Serve Somebody.”  The message of Dylan’s song boils down to something Yeshua said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12:30)

We do not like to think in such bi-polar terms, but Yeshua is telling us here – we must choose – FOR him, or against him.  There is no middle ground, no matter how much we want there to be.

This echoes what YHVH told the children of Israel when they were preparing to enter the Promised Land (Exodus 40).  “Obey my instructions, and you will be blessed.  Don’t obey my instructions, and you will be cursed.”

He is not just trying to frighten us or intimidate us.  He knows what is best for us.  And he knows what it takes to live peaceably in his kingdom.  So, he encourages us to be obedient to his teachings, for our own sake, for the sake of his kingdom, for the sake of his holy name, and for his glory.

Far from causing bondage, following YHVH’s instructions is what brings us true freedom.  Outside the boundaries of his teaching, we are on our own.  The weight of the world distracts us and burdens us.  YHVH’s Word is our guide for how to live in this world and how to prepare for eternity.

Yeshua came to demonstrate obedience, and he calls us to follow him.  He said, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.”

Yeshua also said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets.  I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.  Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass.  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others the same shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.  But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

ALL. THINGS. Seriously.

What kind of Father is YHVH?   

What does it mean to be children in His Kingdom?

Scripture gives us plenty of answers and examples for these questions.  I have placed a couple of hints in the subject line.  Therefore, much of this blog post is going to be quoting scripture.  As always, scripture speaks for itself.

The inspiration for this post came from many months in which the phrase “all things” persistently lingered in my thoughts.  I decided to go looking for scripture that tells us what role “all things” plays in the Kingdom of YHVH.**  What follows below is some of the fruit of that search.  

I acknowledge that the appearance of the phrase “all things” in scripture will depend upon which translation one is using.  I did not take this study back to the original languages (yet) to ensure that I was always finding the same Hebrew or Greek word or phrase being translated as “all things.”  So, this blog post is stretching my own accustomed rules of exegesis, which place high value on going back to the original languages.  Nevertheless, I find this a powerful exercise in looking more closely at how we are supposed to walk and live as Kingdom children.

Also, and this seems obvious, but keep in mind that “all things” really does mean “all things.”  There is literally no way to interpret that phrase as anything else.  It does not mean “some things” or even “most things” or “many things.”  It means ALL THINGS.

By the way, I searched all of scripture, but this phrase seems to be predominantly (based on my searches so far, exclusively) in the Messianic Writings (New Testament).  I am wondering if, as the embodiment and fulfillment of Torah, Yeshua haMashiach is delivering “all things” through the renewed covenant.

Read, and be blessed:

“And looking at them Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27, NASB)

“And Jesus said to him, ‘'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes.’” (Mark 9:23, NASB)

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:3, NASB)

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26, NASB)

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” (Acts 3:19-21, NASB)

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28, NASB)

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32, NASB)

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36, NASB)

“For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10, NASB)

“Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6, NASB)

“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.” (Ephesians 1:9-10, NASB)

“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.” (Ephesians 1:22, NASB)

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, NASB)

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. … and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:16-17, 20, NASB)

“In every thing (all things) give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV)

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2, NASB)

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11, NIV)

He created all things.  All things are possible with him.  We can do all things in him.  The Spirit will teach us all things, and the Spirit searches all things.  He will freely give us all things.  In the fullness of time, all things will be restored.  All things work together for good.  From him and through him and to him are all things.  In all things we must give thanks.

Yeshua has been appointed heir of all things.

We are joint heirs with Yeshua haMashiach. 

Are you ready to take up your inheritance?

** GRAMMAR NOTE:  I know, I know.  “All things” is (are?) plural and should therefore take a plural verb form; i.e., “play” instead of “plays.”  BUT the phrase “all things” is (are?) being used in the above sentence as a singular noun.  It is representing “a phrase” or “that phrase,” so the verb form is correctly singular.

Shalom!

שלום

On Good Terms

In the entries leading up to this one, I have explained that my approach to life with YHVH and the study of His Word have taken a direction I was not previously expecting, and which, to be honest, I was not specifically seeking.   I mean, I was seeking to draw closer to Him, and the path of Hebrew Roots is where I believe he led me.  As I proceed to recount my experiences on this journey and the personal developments that have accompanied it, I will be trying to shed light on things in the same order in which I encountered them.

One thing I should probably address sooner than later is terminology.  Already in previous entries I have been using terms with which some of you may not be familiar or comfortable.  Therefore, this entry will be devoted to a kind of annotated glossary of terms.  So…  I will just dive right in.

YHVH – this is my preferred way of expressing the memorial NAME of our Almighty Father, Creator, King of the Universe.  All-caps to denote respect.  Just the four letters to reflect the Hebrew yod-hay-vav-hay, without any attempt at a specific pronunciation.  This topic will probably be a blog entry of its own since there is much to say about how this is handled by various groups, what does Scripture say about it, how have the Bible translators treated it, etc.

Yeshua – the Hebrew name of Jesus.  There is also debate about how this is to be spelled and pronounced; and some groups are adamantly opposed to using the westernized name.  Again, a lot can be said about this topic, too.

ha’Mashiach – The Messiah.  I will use this in preference over Christ.  “Christ” carries the general meaning of something having oil rubbed on it, hence “anointed”; but the meaning of Mashiach is much more expressive, descriptive, and meaningful.

Torah – this is specifically the five Books of Moses; i.e., the first five books of the Bible.  However, the term is often used to refer to “The Law.”  Purists will not appreciate it, but I confess I often use this term to refer to the whole of the Word of YHVH; and I consider Yeshua to be the Living Torah, as depicted in the first chapter of the gospel according to Yochanan (John).

TANAKH – this refers to the entire first part of the Bible, or what is commonly called “The Old Testament.”  It is a Hebrew acronym for Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), Ketuvim (Writings).  I am not yet so much in the habit of using this term, but I do occasionally.

 Names – I will not present here an exhaustive list of Hebrew names, but I will usually try to use the Hebrew instead of the westernized version.  For example, above I used Yochanan for John.  I will use Ya’acov for Jacob; and, by the way, Yeshua’s brother “James” was really named Ya’acov, but King James wanted his name to be in the Bible, so…  The book of James is rightly called Ya’acov.  For Isaiah, Yeshayahu.  For Peter, Kefa.  For Matthew, Mattityahu.  And so on.  When names come up, I will put the westernized version in parentheses after.  This goes for place names, too; e.g., for Jerusalem, Yerushalayim.

Mitzvot – instructions, precepts, commandments.  Actually, this is plural for mitzvah, which is commonly used to describe any good deed.

Qahal – assembly, congregation.  I will tend to use this word to describe a gathering of believers.  Kehila is a closely related word that can be used interchangeably with qahal.  These terms have the same essential meaning as the Greek ‘ecclesia.’

Mishpacha – Family.  Often used to describe a qahal because of the closeness of the fellowship.

Moedim – Appointed times; seasons.  This term refers to the seven commanded Feasts of the LORD, laid out in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23.  There will definitely be an entry about these feasts; probably one in general, then one specifically for each of the seven.  These are hugely important days.

Shabbat – also called Sabbath, this is the seventh day of the week, which the fourth of the Ten Commandments bids us to “remember” and to “keep holy.”

Rosh Chodesh – literally, “head of the month,” this is the time when the moon reaches its full wane; just before it begins to wax (grow) again.  Scripture tells us to observe this day each month with feasting and shofar blowing (B’midbar [Numbers] 10:10).

I know I have overlooked some terms in this entry, but this is enough to get the ball rolling.  We use Hebrew a lot in singing and praying.  I believe Hebrew truly is “YHVH’s language”; and that is yet another separate topic for a blog entry!

Shalom!

שלום