The Most Popular Person in Town

Since our grandchildren have been little, my wife and I have often taken them to the town library.  They're excited to go every single time. There are books to pick out, games to play, other children to meet and just a wonderful safe little world of learning to explore. 

One of the most exciting moments in each of our grandchildren's young lives was getting their very own first library card. Here is our 4 year old grandaughter Sophia getting her's last week. 

All our grandchildren feel like the library is especially for them. Its for their parents too.  It is also for my wife and me as their grandparents. There is something for everyone at a library.  A library is for the whole community. It brings the entire community together. 

Our son's family lives in a little town near Plymouth Massachusetts. They have a fabulous library where they take their children practically every week. 

My son's wife is a first grade teacher in their town. She is very popular. When they are out to dinner in town and run into a family with little children that go to her school the kids get very excited to see her! But there is someone in town who is more popular than any teacher, the principal, any fire or police person and even the town supervisor. It is the town librarian. 

Wherever the librarian goes, the children get extremely excited. Everyone, including the parents and teachers is happy to see the librarian. My son will tell you -- The most popular person in their town is the librarian. 

As we watch our grandchildren grow and thrive with each library visit, we're reminded of the timeless value of these institutions. A librarian is the keeper of the place that stands as a beacon of knowledge and imagination. 

CREDIBLE WITNESSES

The Garden Tomb where the Linen Clothes Were Found

THE BIBLE REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF TWO CREDIBLE WITNESSES.

These passages highlight the importance of multiple witnesses to confirm the truth of a statement or accusation, a principle that is rooted in Old Testament law and carried into New Testament teachings.

Deuteronomy 19:15 - One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

Matthew 18:16 - Jesus instructs that if a person does not listen to a private correction, the matter should be taken to one or two others, so that "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established."

John 8:17 - Jesus refers to the law, stating, "It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true."

2 Corinthians 13:1 - Paul writes to the Corinthians, stating, "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."

APPLYING THIS REQUIREMENT TO THE SHROUD

There are Two Credible Witnesses that Jesus was dead and placed in the tomb:

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are indeed considered credible witnesses to Jesus's death and burial. Both were respected and wealthy members of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of Jesus, highlighting his crucial role in the burial of Jesus and the fulfillment of prophecy. 

According to the Gospel of John, both men took significant steps to ensure Jesus' body was properly buried. Joseph of Arimathea, described as a secret disciple of Jesus, boldly asked Pilate for Jesus' body and provided a new tomb for the burial. Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus at night, brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes to prepare Jesus' body according to Jewish burial customs.

His burial involved handling His lifeless body.  Their participation marked a public declaration of their faith, as they risked their positions and reputations by associating with Jesus' body at such a critical time during the Passover. 

There are Two Credible Witnesses that Jesus "gave" us the Shroud:

John 20:3-9 - Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Peter and John are indeed witnesses to the discovery of Jesus' linen burial cloths and the face cloth in the empty tomb of Jesus. According to the Gospel of John, both disciples raced to the tomb after hearing from Mary Magdalene that it was empty. John arrived first and saw the linen cloths lying there but did not enter. When Peter arrived, he went into the tomb and observed the linen cloths and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, folded separately from the other cloths. The the burial cloths led John and Peter to believe in the resurrection of Jesus.

Matthew 12:39-41 -- But he replied to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah, because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look—something greater than Jonah is here! 

John immediately understood that Jesus was resurrected when he saw the sign - the Sign of Jonah. 

The discovery of the linen cloths is significant because it suggests that Jesus' body had not been stolen. Grave robbers would not have left the cloths so neatly arranged. Grave robbers would likely not have taken the time to remove the burial linens and directly handled the corpse. If someone had been stealing the body, it would have been more practical to take the body still wrapped in the linens. 

Furthermore, the Scriptures do not suggest that Peter and/or John took the linens.  If anything they seem to left them and gone home. 

John 20.10 - Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

WHY DOESN'T MARY SEE/SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE BURIAL LINENS?

In the very next verses, Mary is at the tomb but there is no mention of the burial linens. 

John 20:11-13 -- 11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

In the context of the verses directly beforehand, the bible suggests to me that the linen clothes are not in the tomb. If they were, it stands to reason that Mary would have remarked about them, just as John and Peter did. 

In addition, had Mary seen the linens she would undoubtedly NOT have left them there. Afterall, she already had concerns that someone took the body. 

Besides, Jesus knew that in Jewish law at that time Mary was not a credible witness because she was a woman. Jesus didn't need her to see and testify to the presence of the linens! 

Linen Clothe with the Image of a Crucified Man

FOUR WITNESSES TO ONE SIGN - THE BURIAL LINENS

Between Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, Paul and Peter we have four Witnesses to the burial shroud of Jesus. They are not being presented as Witnesses to the crucifixion or the resurrection in these verses, but rather just to the presence of the burial shroud. Altogether there are four "credible witnesses!" 

All of this leads up to this question:  What does the shroud reveal? 

The answer is the shroud reveals every minute detail of his humiliation and crucifixion and His Resurrection. The Shroud is Jesus's personal testimony, written with his own blood, of His death, time in the tomb and His Resurrection. 

According to Christian belief, Jesus provided a sign for all the world to see that He died and was resurrected.

Daniel 12:4 (NKJV) - "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" 

The burial shroud is the only actual physical scientific evidence of the Good News today. It is the Sign of Jonah given by Jesus to all the world to see. And yet, it is a miracle preserved for the end of days.  Only in our generation have scientists possessed the knowledge to be able to understand all the incredible proof that the burial shroud reveals. It is for our time! 

Esther 4:14 (NKJV) - "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

STRAIGHT STREET

Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths".

Yasher יָשָׁר is the Hebrew word for straight, honest, upright, right. "Yasher Koach" is a Hebrew phrase meaning "may your strength be straight."  It is kind of like saying "more power to you." 

Yasher Koach is commonly used to congratulate someone after they read from the Torah or performed a mitzvah in a synagogue setting. The term reflects appreciation for actions that benefit others, particularly in a religious context.  I've said it a thousand times. I've had it said to me dozens of times. (FYI, The proper response to "Yasher Koach" is "Baruch Tihiyeh," meaning "may you be blessed.")

The phrase "Yasher Koach" originates from a Talmudic commentary on Moses breaking the Tablets of Testimony. In the Talmud, specifically Shabbat 87a, it is noted that God approved of Moses' action when he shattered the tablets after witnessing the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf.

After Moses broke the Tablets in Exodus 33:18-19 Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

Then in Exodus 34.1 the Lord said to Moses “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke

There is an amazing connection between Yasher Koach and the New Testament, between Moses action and the Apostle Paul. In this article I aim to show that. 

Straight Street 

There is a VERY important detail in the verse Acts 9.11 of the Brit Hadasha ("a New Covenant by Blood") which could easily be missed that jumped out to me. The detail is the place where Saul of Tarsus is to be found - on "Straight Street." That is is the trigger for this entire essay.

Straight Street is the main east-west Roman road, or decumanus maximus (Principle Street) of the city. 

The street's name can be seen as metaphorical for Saul's newfound spiritual direction and clarity after his encounter with Jesus. This interpretation emphasizes the idea of moving from a misguided path to one aligned with divine purpose and truth.

Matthew 7:13-14 says “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 [a]Because narrow is the gate and [b]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it".

"Straight Street" is an amazing detail that can be traced back to the day Moses came down Mount Sinai with the first "Tablets" and "broke them" and Adonai instructed Moses to “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones." 

"Straight Street" takes us all way forward to the ressurection and the moment when the apostles John and Peter, who were spared by Gamaliel, arrive at the tomb and see the "linen clothes" of Yeshua and "understood." 

"Straight Street" is the road the Jews kept going off. Moses and the prophets spoke of the Israelites/Israel's disobedience throughout the Tenach. The Apostle Paul dedicated his life to trying to keep the gentiles on the straight and narrow way.

It is these profound connections to Straight Street this essay seeks to explain. To start out, for context, here are the verses in Acts chapter 9 where the Straight Street where Saul of Tarsus is found just before it is written that "something like scales" fell from his eyes" and "he received his sight and was baptized."

Acts 9:10-18

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 

12 And in a vision he [Saul/Paul] has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

Acts 6:15 and 7:1 set the stage for Stephen's powerful rebuke by highlighting his divine inspiration and the false accusations against him. In Acts 6:15, Stephen's face is described as that of an angel, indicating his divine authority and the presence of the Holy Spirit. This prepares the audience for the significance of his speech. Acts 7:1 introduces the high priest's question, prompting Stephen's detailed response, which critiques Israel's history of rejecting God's messengers and culminates in a bold indictment of the religious leaders' failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. This is the lead in for the the story of Saul from Tarsus on the road to Damascus. 

The Holy Spirit Showed Me The Interconnected Legacies of Gamaliel and Paul: Irony, Influence, and the Growth of Early Christianity.

The early Christian movement is a tapestry woven with threads of irony, influence, and transformation. Central to this narrative are two pivotal figures: Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee and teacher, and Paul, his famous student. Their actions and teachings played crucial roles in the development and spread of Christianity, revealing the complex interplay between Jewish and Christian histories, underscored by the profound implications of the Hebrew phrase Yasher Koach.

Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus is marked by a profound encounter with a divine light. In Acts 9:3-6, as Saul travels to Damascus to persecute Christians, a bright light from heaven suddenly surrounds him. This light is accompanied by the voice of Jesus asking, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" The intensity of the light causes Saul to fall to the ground and blinds him temporarily. 

This experience is pivotal, leading to Saul's conversion and transformation into Paul, a devoted apostle of Christianity. The light symbolizes divine revelation and the illuminating power of the Lord, marking Saul's transition from spiritual blindness to enlightenment.  I believe this foreshadows the Light of the Resurrection. This is the Light that created "The Sign of Jonah." But let's not get too far ahead. 

Gamaliel's Principle and Irony

Gamaliel's intervention during the trial of the apostles Peter and John, as recorded in Acts 5:34-39, is a testament to his wisdom and restraint. He advised the Sanhedrin to exercise caution, suggesting that if the Christian movement was of human origin, it would fail, but if it was from God, it could not be stopped. This pragmatic approach allowed the apostles to continue their mission. 

The irony lies in Gamaliel's failure to recognize the growing belief in Jesus as a sign of divine favor, despite his own counsel that such growth could indicate God's hand at work.

Gamaliel's principle of allowing divine will to manifest without interference is reminiscent of the Israelites' journey during the Exodus. 

Moses breaking the Tablets upon witnessing the Israelites worshiping the Golden Calf. This act, while seemingly destructive, was a demonstration of leadership and commitment to the divine covenant. Similarly, Gamaliel's advice to let the apostles be was meant to prevent unnecessary conflict, yet he missed recognizing the divine favor in the burgeoning Christian movement.

Gamaliel Misses It

Gamaliel is the author of  "The Prayer Against the Heretics," known as the Birkat HaMinim. This bracha was added to the Shemoneh Esreh in the Amidah, a central prayer in Jewish liturgy. This particular blessing, often referred to as the "Twelfth Blessing," asks God to destroy heretics and those who oppose the Jewish faith, namely early Christians. 

 "The prayer against the heretics," known as the Birkat HaMinim

The Birkat ha-Minim -- (Ber. 28b; Meg. 17b; Yer. Ber. iv.), the prayer against heretics and Sadducees (and traducers, informers, and traitors):

"May no hope be left to the slanderers; but may wickedness perish as in a moment; may all Thine enemies be soon cut off, and do Thou speedily uproot the haughty and shatter and humble them speedily in our days. Blessed be Thou, O Lord, who strikest down enemies and humblest the haughty."

Around 100 AD, according to the Babylonian Talmud (Berakhot 28b), Rabban Gamliel instituted this prayer as part of the Amidah to address the challenges posed by heretical sects, including early Christians and other groups perceived as threats to Jewish religious integrity. The prayer was meant to safeguard the community against those who rejected or undermined rabbinic authority. 

The "Twelfth Blessing" is still in the Shemoneh Esreh to this day. When will it will be removed? Surely when the Jews say "Baruch Haba, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” 

History of Paul

Paul, originally Saul of Tarsus, was a student of Gamaliel and initially a zealous persecutor of Christians. His education under Gamaliel provided him with a profound understanding of Jewish law, which he later used to articulate Christian theology. After his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul became a leading figure in spreading Christianity, emphasizing faith in Jesus Christ over strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. His efforts to keep the church on a straight path resonate with the ethos of "Yasher Koach", reflecting the perseverance and strength required to maintain doctrinal integrity.

Paul's transformation from a persecutor to a proponent of Christianity illustrates the profound impact of Gamaliel's teachings. Despite initially opposing the Christian movement, Paul's conversion and subsequent missionary work were instrumental in shaping early Christian theology and expanding its reach. His letters to various Christian communities addressed challenges such as ethical behavior and theological disputes, helping to unify and strengthen the early church.

The Broader Impact of Gamaliel's Actions

Gamaliel's intervention had a cascading effect on the early church. By preventing the execution of Peter and John, he allowed the apostles to continue their mission, leading to the conversion of many and the establishment of a strong Christian community. His actions demonstrate the power of restraint and the potential for unintended consequences when dealing with emerging religious movements.

The irony of Gamaliel's role is further underscored by the account in John 20:3-9, where Peter and John, the apostles he spared, discover the empty tomb and the "linen cloths" that Jesus was wrapped in by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who prepared Him for burial and laid him in the tomb. 

Upon seeing the linen cloths, John believed, recognizing the significance of the empty tomb as evidence of Jesus' victory over death. This moment of realization highlights the transformative power of faith and the ability to perceive divine truth in seemingly ordinary circumstances. Gamaliel, with his principle of recognizing divine movements, might have been expected to see the growth of Jesus' followers in a similar light, as a testament to the divine favor upon Jesus' message.

The Significance of Yasher Koach

The phrase Yasher Koach, may your strength be straight, embodies the spirit of strength and perseverance demonstrated by key figures in religious history. In the context of early Christianity, it reflects the efforts of individuals like Paul, who worked tirelessly to guide the church and ensure its doctrinal integrity. This perseverance and commitment to maintaining a straight path are central to the ethos of Yasher Koach.

The phrase's origin, tied to Moses' breaking of the Tablets, serves as a reminder of the importance of discernment and leadership in maintaining the covenant with God. Just as the Israelites' deviation with the Golden Calf was a significant misstep, Gamaliel's oversight in recognizing the divine favor in Jesus' message serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of discernment and openness to God's work in the world.

A Disciple Is On a Straight Street

A disciple being on a straight, disciplined road.  The essence of dedication and focus required in the pursuit of spiritual growth and understanding is captured in the meaning of Yasher Koach.  This concept underscores the importance of maintaining a clear path, free from deviations and distractions, as one seeks to embody the teachings and values of their faith.

The path of discipline is a cornerstone of a disciple's journey.  We all need to stay on a "Straight Street" and we all need to call on strength from the Lord to do so. 

Isaiah 45.2 - I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.

Conclusion

The intertwined stories of Gamaliel and Paul highlight the interconnectedness of Jewish and Christian histories. Gamaliel's influence on Paul demonstrates how Jewish teachings and traditions played a crucial role in shaping early Christian theology. 

The irony of Gamaliel's role in the growth of Christianity, coupled with Paul's efforts to maintain the church's integrity, underscores the complexity and richness of early Christian history. Gamaliel's failure to fully practice his principle of recognizing divine movements, alongside Paul's steadfast guidance, illustrates the nuanced and often unexpected ways in which religious traditions can intersect and influence one another.

Gamaliel's initial advice to let the apostles be, based on the premise that divine movements cannot be stopped, should have led him to recognize the growing number of Jesus' followers as a sign of God's favor. Yet, his reluctance to fully embrace this possibility highlights the complexities of faith and the challenges of interpreting divine will. This narrative serves as a reminder of the profound impact of individual actions and decisions on the course of religious development, illustrating the nuanced and often unexpected ways in which religious traditions can intersect and influence one another. 

The insight from John 20:3-9, where Peter and John understood the significance of the empty tomb, further emphasizes the transformative power of faith and the ability to perceive divine truth in the unfolding of history. Gamaliel's story, with its profound irony, invites reflection on the importance of openness to divine movements and the potential for growth and transformation in unexpected places. 

It must be repeated that Gamliel spared Peter and John, who are two of the earliest disciples who are on Straight Street. They are also the first two apostles to see the and "understand" at the tomb when they saw the linen clothes. Peter is symbolic of the start of the Church. John, the one Jesus is said to love most, is the author of the final book in the New Testament, Revelation.  

Ezekiel 36:26 -27 -- I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

The Lord and the Scriptures promised us His Spirit and that Spirit would help us stay on straight (Yasher) Street. 

"Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you."

Proverbs 4.25

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Note: I checked the original Hebrew in the verses of Proverbs I quoted and יָשָׁר is applied. 

GIMEL - 3

"The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord" 

Isaiah 60:6

Let's Take a Ride On A Gamal ...

The Hebrew letter Gimel (ג) is the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is derived from the word "gamal," meaning "camel." The letter's design resembles a man in motion. 

The Gimel is said to illustrate a rich man running to help a poor man, the next letter (Dalet). Thus Gimel reflects the idea of generosity and support. Therefore, the Gimel symbolizes a benefactor, representing the act of giving, particularly in charity. 

The Hebrew Root of the Word "gamal" (גמל) 

The letter gimel and the word gamal meaning "camel" are derived from a three letter root ג-מ-ל which encompasses meanings such as to invest, to wean, to ripen, or to treat someone well or ill. The verb gamal is used to describe the completion of a growth period or transition, often involving an infusion of something beneficial or transformative.

Judaism's Mystical Insights into Gimel

Gimel's mystical significance links the concepts of nourishment and weaning, as camels can sustain themselves on long journeys.

In gematria, gimel represents the number three. It is written like a Vav with a Yud as a "foot." Again an image of a man in motion. The Vav, which is the 6th letter in the Hebrew aleph-beyt is pictured as a nail and representing a person who stands upright. 

Gimel as Three

Gimel (ג) is the third letter of the alphabet and it's numeric value is 3.  Three represents the Torah, which was given to the Jewish people in the third month of the year (Sivan), to our teacher Moses (the third of three children), on the third day of separation between husband and wife (the prohibition of mari­tal relations, as instructed by G‑d). The Torah was issued to a people of three groups: the Kohens, Levites, and Israel­ites. Finally, the Tanakh itself is divided into three segments: the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Scriptures.

Meaning of Gimel Through Three Ancient Stories 

Gimel has several meanings. The following three stories illustrate three meanings of gimel:

1. Nourish Until Ripe -- After Korah rebelled against Moses and Aaron, G‑d told Moses, “Take a staff from Aaron and from all the other tribes of Israel. Then place the staves in the Holy of Holies [and see which one sprouts fruit].” The next morning, Moses brought out the staves from the Holy of Holies, and all of Israel saw that the staff of Aaron produced (vayigmal) completely ripened almonds. Thus the word vayigmal—ויגמל—is made up of the same letters as גימל—gimel.

2. To Be Weaned -- “The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned (vayigamal).” At first glance, the concepts of being weaned and nourished until ripe seem con­tradictory. When you’re nourishing, you are giving. When you’re weaning, you are ceasing to give. In essence, however, they are consistent, because if you nourish until ripe, you no longer have to give.

3. Camel -- Gimel is also called gamal, or camel. The camel itself embodies the process of weaning and nourishing, as it is able to sustain itself on journeys of vast distances after being sufficiently hydrated. We also note that gimel is similar to the word gomel, which means to be kind or benevolent. The camel is able to help the sojourner survive the harsh desert sun by carrying him to his destination. The word gimel in Aramaic is gamla, or bridge. One can say that the bridge is the hump of the camel itself, which provides the means and structure to bring people where they need to go.

A Christian Dimension - the Holy Spirit 

Gimel (3) also symbolizes the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son. The progression from Aleph to Bet to Gimel can be seen as a journey from the divine source (Aleph), through the creation and establishment of the world with a house (bet) for Adam, to the active engagement in acts of kindness and spiritual growth (Gimel). 

Camel Talk

Here are three notable New Testament verses that each feature a camel. Perhaps they can be appreciated in someway in light of a better understanding of the letter Gimel.

Matthew 3:4 -- "Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey." 

Matthew 19:24 -- "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God"

Matthew 23:24 -- "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!" 

 

Did You Know? 

Here is an interesting fact about the Israelites journey in desert during the Exodus.  The Israelites did not travel with camels during the Exodus. While camels are mentioned in the Bible in connection with the patriarchs like Abraham and Jacob, they are not mentioned as part of the Israelite possessions during the Exodus from Egypt. The biblical narrative does not include camels among the livestock or means of transport used by the Israelites during their journey out of Egypt. 

Significant Hebrew Words Beginning with Gimel:

Gamal (גמל): Meaning "camel," this word is directly associated with the letter Gimel, which is thought to resemble a camel in shape.

Gomel (גומל): This word means "benefactor" or someone who gives to others, reflecting the concept of generosity and kindness.

Gmul (גמול): This word can mean both "compensation" and "nourishment," illustrating the dual nature of giving and receiving.

Gan (גן): Meaning "garden," often used in the context of the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden).

Geulah (גאולה): Meaning "redemption," a central concept in Jewish theology referring to the ultimate redemption and liberation of the Jewish people.

Gadol (גדול): Meaning "great" or "large," often used to describe greatness or importance.

Gilgul (גלגול): Meaning "cycle" or "reincarnation," a concept in Jewish mysticism referring to the transmigration of souls.

Gevurah (גבורה): Meaning "strength" or "might," one of the ten sefirot in Kabbalistic teachings, representing discipline and judgment.

Goral (גורל): Meaning "lot" or "fate," often used in the context of casting lots or determining destiny.

In closing, the rabbis say "gimel signifies the connection between the poor and the wealthy person, so does it represent the merger, the bridge, between the material world and the reality of G‑d."

MY SOUL UNDERSTANDS

Sometimes I understand something in my soul that I doubt I could explain to someone else.  When I experience an understanding in my soul I know my prayers and meditations are connected to Hashem. 

I had such an moment while reading the following linked article on Malchut and the humility of kingship this morning and understanding it in the context of Salvation. 

This type of experience happens most often when I am in a completely dark and quiet room at a very early hour in the morning, before sunrise. Just after I open my eyes, but well before I have any intention of getting up, it is not uncommon for me to hear a small voice. It is not audible. It is heard by listening in the spirit. I follow it. This is also when I love to journal the most, capturing revelations along the way. Such is the basis for this blog post. 

My conscious self is often observing during this interaction between my soul and the small voice. I find myself drifting back to sleep. In my slumber the conversation continues, un-encumbered by reality and the dominance that comes from an awake and active mind.  For that reason I allow myself to freely drift back to sleep, sometimes it is for twenty minutes and sometimes for twenty seconds. I don't make any attempt to stay awake. 

Because I am dreaming at times during this process (for lack of a better word to call it), I have to discern the meaning of my dreams. I have to separate what the brain is doing from what the small voice is saying. 

Once the sun comes up and natural light starts to enter my room I shift my focus. If I have been journaling I try to wrap up my entry.  Sometimes I will follow up with research. It all depends. 

I cherish these moments.  My prayer is that the understanding I recieve during them will guide me in my daily life. Sadly, I often fall short from the correction I desire. Perhaps part of the reason I fall short from the achieving what I feel is a sufficient correction is that I am not as clear as I need to be in my asking.  Either way, I am certain that this process is never complete until we stand before Adonai. "Rinse and repeat" is a colloquial expression that comes to mind for the pattern of repeating this process day-after-day.

The world has it's ways of distracting me from applying the understanding that comes to my soul during prayer and meditation to how I operate during my day. Maintaining mindfulness of Hashem is a challenge. 

Starting my day in the Word is good. But I want to do a better job of charging myself with an intention and setting reminders that help me to keep on track. 

As I have gotten older I have learned to embrace the journey and to be more gentle with myself as I navigate the balance between the better self I desire and the self I am. By the same token, there is an increasing sense of urgency.  I don't know if this sense of urgency is due to my aging or the world's aging, or both. 

I appreciate if all this sounds a bit like crazy talk. If you think it does I would suggest you read the article that inspired this blog post -- Malchut and the humility of kingship and draw your own connection to Hashem however you do.

Proverbs 20:12 -- "The ear that hears and the eye that sees—the LORD has made them both" 

שָׁׁלוֹם שָׁׁלוֹם -- Shalom Shalom - Perfect Peace 

HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO BLASHPEMY?

3rd Commandment: 

לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹקיךָ לַשָּׁוְא כִּי לֹא יְנַקֶּה ה' אֵת אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא אֶת שְׁמוֹ לַשָּׁוְא

You shall not take the name of the L‑rd your G‑d in vain; for the L‑rd will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. 

What does blasphemy mean? 

The commandment not to use God's name in vain is found in the Third Commandment for Protestants and Jews, and the Second Commandment for Catholics. It instructs believers not to misuse the name of God, which includes using it in a manner that is empty, worthless, or for false purposes. This can involve making false oaths, blasphemy, or using God's name to justify wrongful actions. The commandment emphasizes the importance of treating God's name with reverence and not using it to advance personal agendas or trivialize its significance.

You can appreciate why some think of blasphemy as the same as profaning God or desecrating God.

The terms "profane" and "desecrate" have distinct meanings. "Profane" refers to treating something sacred with irreverence or disrespect, often by using it in a secular or inappropriate context. "Desecrate," on the other hand, specifically involves the act of violating or damaging something sacred, often through destructive, blasphemous, or sacrilegious actions. While both involve disrespect towards the sacred, desecration is a more active and damaging violation. It involves taking possession of something holy and sacred and damaging it by using it for something evil and detestable to Adonai.

לְחַלֵל (leḥalel) is desecrate in Hebrew. The root of the Hebrew word לְחַלֵל (leḥalel) is ח-ל-ל (ḥ-l-l). The word חִילּוּל (ḥillul), meaning desecration or defilement, is built off that root. That root is in the Hebrew for blasphemy -- חִלוּל הַשֵׁם. Leḥalel (לְחַלֵל) appears in the Old Testament and is often translated as "to profane" or "to desecrate." 

Here are examples of desecration and blasphemy.  The first is the "Abomination of desolation" found in the Book of Daniel.  

Daniel 5:1-4 --Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 

While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his [a]father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 

Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone

We know how that worked out for Belshazzar and the Babylonian kingdom.

Another is found in the Book(s) of Maccabees, which is an Apocryphal writing not in the Tenach. Maccabees I & II describe the pagan sacrifices which the 2nd century BC Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes performed when he replaced the daily temple offering with a pig. This is where the holiday of Hanukkah comes from.

Here are two other stories in the Tanakh related to desecration:

In Ezekiel 22 the Temple is desecrated by King Manasseh through idolatrous practices. Ezekiel 22.26 reads - "Her priests robbed My Torah and profaned My holy things;

In 2 Chronicles we find an example of taking Adonai's name and using it without authority.

2 Chronicles 33:4-6 -- He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

In the New Testament, in John 10, Jesus is accused of blasphemy by Jewish leaders when Jesus attended the Festival of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, as described in John 10:22. This festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Greek Hellenistic king who ruled the Seleucid Empire. Jesus used the occasion to declare His identity as the Messiah and the Son of God.

John 10:32-36 -- The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

It is interesting to me personally how the Bible relates the concepts of "Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit," knowing one by his fruit and the sign of Jonah.

Here are verses I am referring to:

Matthew 12:22-42 --

²² Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³ And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ²⁵ Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶ And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. ³⁰ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶ I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” ³⁹ But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

For what it's worth...I was taught very little about blasphemy in my temple. I don't remember a discussion or sermon specifically on blasphemy. Here is something from a credible Jewish source on the subject of Blasphemy:

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/blasphemy-in-judaism/

There is something VERY interesting in that explanation concerning the Tetragrammaton and a puzzling definition for blasphemy given in the Mishnah (Sanhedrin 7: 5). The penalty of stoning for the blasphemer applies only where he used the Tetragrammaton with which to curse God by this name: “Let the Tetragrammaton curse the Tetragrammaton.” This would make the whole offense impossible in practice, to say nothing of the extreme psychological difficulty involved in the whole idea of requesting God to curse Himself.

That explanation reminds me of a well known debate concerning Jesus in the New Testament. The Jewish leaders debated about Jesus concerning a "house divided" in Mark 3:23-30. In this passage, Jesus was accused by the Jewish leaders of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Jesus responded with a parable, stating that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, implying that if Satan were casting out Satan, his kingdom would be divided and unable to stand. This argument was used by Jesus to refute the claim that His power came from an evil source.

The Ultimate Desecration/Blasphemy To Come

The ultimate desecration will come about as Daniel prophesied. The "abomination of desolation" is a prophetic concept mentioned in the Book of Daniel and referenced by Jesus in the New Testament. Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 11:31) describes a future desecration of the temple, like that was historically fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 B.C. when he erected a statue of Zeus in the Jerusalem temple and offered swine on the altar, defiling the holy place. Jesus later referred to this prophecy as a future event in Matthew 24:15, suggesting a similar desecration would occur, which some interpret as the Roman destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

In the New Testament, Jesus references the "abomination of desolation" in Matthew 24:15 during the Olivet Discourse. He mentions the prophecy spoken of by the prophet Daniel, indicating a future event where something highly detestable would stand in the holy place, signaling those in Judea to flee to the mountains. This event is associated with "End-times."

Matthew 24:15-21 -- “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!  Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 the Apostle Paul writes of this desecration performed by the "man of sin" or "lawlessness" who will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or is worshiped, and will sit in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. This aligns with the prophetic theme of the "abomination of desolation," which Jesus also mentions in Matthew 24:15, referring to a future desecration of the holy place.

When the ultimate evil, the anti-Messiah, performs the ultimate desecration of the temple in Jerusalem and declares himself Adonai, the world has big problems ahead, like we have never seen before! Of course in order for this to happen there needs to be a third temple!  

The act of desecration of Adonai's Holy Place can't happen in a way that Jews will be decieved without the temple that Jews believe will be built with the coming of the Messiah AS Jews believe. That being the case, surely Satan would use all his methods to keep Jews from reading and understanding the New Testament. Satan wouldn't want Jews to be forewarned about his plans of deception and the real blasphemy Satan has in store for the world in the third temple that Jews are so looking forward to.

While Jews do believe in the Messiah's coming, and many religious Jews think that it will be sooner than later based on the times and what we see in the world, they don't see the story ending this way. 

Sadly, tragically, according to the New Testament, the Jews won't recognize the blaspheming Antichrist and stone him. They will accept him. Then, they will come to know him by his fruits!  Woe to the people on earth! In the meantime, it's best to keep ALL THE 10 Commandments including #3!

Conclusion
My personal sense of blasphemy is that it is worse than profanity. It is the most extreme case of desecration.  In addition, it involves an action, an act, of "taking" (robbing) something very holy to Hashem, such as His name or Temple, and using without authorization for a purpose that is "in vane."  In other words, for a purpose that is detestable to Adonai. 

Proverbs 6:16-19 list seven things that are detestable to Adonai:

1. Haughty eyes: A feeling of pride and looking down on others
2. A lying tongue: Speaking falsehoods with the intention to deceive others
3. Hands that shed innocent blood: Cold-blooded murder
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes: Thinking or conceiving evil against any individual or group for personal benefit or other misguided objectives
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil: Enjoying evil
6. A false witness who pours out lies: Perjury
7. A person who stirs up conflict in the community: Dissension among brothers

Doing any of these detestable things in and of themselves would not constitute "Blasphemy," in my opinion. By the same token, if one where to do them in Adonai's name by claiming His authority to do them, that would constitute Blasphemy.  

YOU MAY BE A ZIONIST

Biblical Israel showing the 12 Tribes

You do NOT need to be a Jew to be a Zionist! 

Our nation's founding fathers were Zionist. Martin Luther King Jr was a Zionist. Anyone who prays to the One God of Israel is a Zionist. Believing Christians are Zionist.  I think a lot of people are "Zionists" and they don't even know it.

A ZIONIST SIMPLY BELIEVES IN ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST AS A NATION IN PEACE.  

Zion is Jerusalem. It is the hill on which the City of David was built approximately 3000 years ago on land King David purchased.

Palestinian leader Abbas says all of Jerusalem belongs to the Muslims. They will settle for nothing less!!  

Clearly Hamas is willing to let EVERY SINGLE Palestinian die and every school, Mosque, and hospital be destroyed rather than surrender their weapons and live peacefully with Israel. The Muslim leaders in Iran, Yemen, Syria, Turkey and Gaza do NOT want peace. They want ALL of Israel -- "From the River to the Sea!"

THE SEA MAKES SENSE

The ancient Philistines occupied the southern coast where Gaza is today more than 3,000 years ago. The Philistines are believed to have come from the island of Caphtor, which may have been Crete.  The Philistines are believed to have been part of the group known as the "Sea Peoples" that migrated from the Aegean region to the southern coast of Canaan around 1175 BC.  

The Palestinian's are not modern day Palestinians! 

The Philistines were enemies of the ancient Israelites.  They were portrayed in the Bible as a crude and warlike race. Even today it is considered an insult to call somebody a "Philistine."

Goliath was a Philistine. Goliath is the infamous giant and “champion of the Philistines,” who first appears in the Bible in 1 Samuel 17:4.  The boy David slew Goliath when Philistines had come up to make war against King Saul in the 11th Century BCE.

ISRAEL IS THE ORIGINAL JEWISH HOMELAND

Israel is the one and only Jewish homeland in a vast region of Muslim countries. 

Here is a map during King David's period prior to the Romans conquering the region. The Jews controlled a region that was much larger than present day Israel. 

Virtually every nation in the world today is the result of battles fought and won. Nations are created with the blood of men. No peoples fought harder than the Sons of Jacob. No nation that exists today fought those battles as long ago as Israel. No nation that exists today has their battles documented in the ancient texts of the Bible and the Book of Jasher. 

Click on map to enlarge.
Then pinch to zoom. 

Joshua and the sons of Jacob, the Israelites, defeated several peoples during their conquest of the Lands' Adonia promised Abraham and Moses that are described in the bible. The primary groups mentioned include the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Notably, they defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, who were among the last of the Rephaites. 

The Children of Israel suffered horrible defeats too. They were overrun by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Romans and eventually the Ottoman Empire which was the Turkish. The Ottoman Empire controlled all the territory that we know as Israel, Judea and Samaria until WWII. 

Perhaps the most well know battle fought by Israel is the one against the Seleucids.  People don't remember the Seleucids, they remember who defeated them -- the Maccabees!  That's how we got the Feast of Dedication -- Hanukkah!! 

The Seleucids were a Macedonian Greek dynasty that ruled the Seleucid Empire during the Hellenistic period, from 312 BC to 64 BC. Founded by Seleucus I Nicator, a general under Alexander the Great, the empire included territories in modern-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, and parts of Turkey and Central Asia. 

No body in their right mind would say that Israel today belongs to any of ancient empires. Those empires are dead, but Israel is alive!!

Notice their wasn't one ancient battle with the King of Palestine. Notice their wasn't a Palestinian Empire. How is that? 

After the Maccabees re-dedicated the temple in 156 BCE, Israel enjoyed a prosperous period.  That ended when the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 CE and drove the Jews out of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. 

Check out my blog about the Maccabees 

After a series of Jewish-Roman wars between 66 and 136 CE including the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 CE) which left Jerusalem in ruins and Jews scattered around the world, the Romans renamed the region to "Syria-Palaestina” as a reference to the Jew's arch enemies the Assyrians and the Philistines. The Romans also renamed Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina. This was part of Emperor Hadrian's efforts to Romanize the city and erase its Jewish identity. 

The Romans are long gone, but Israel lives!!

ISRAEL HAD THE DEED LONG BEFORE THE ROMANS!

The Israelites own the deed to Jerusalem!! It is in the bible. 

1 Chronicles 21:18-28 (ESV) -- David Builds an Altar: 

Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 

So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 

Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 

As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 

And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 

Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.”

But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. 

And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 

Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there.

EVEN BEFORE THAT ...

Way back in the time of Moses, God told the people of Israel that he had already chosen a place for his dwelling place in the Promised Land, mount Moriah, long before they’d even got there:

“You are to seek only the place Adonai your God chooses from all your tribes to put His Name to dwell—there you will come.” (Deuteronomy 12:5)

God marked out Zion in the BIBLE in Genesis 22 when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah.

THAT SPOT WHERE GOD TOLD ABRAHAM TO SACRAFICE ISAAC IS THE TEMPLE MOUNT TODAY!!! 

Conversely, Jerusalem (Zion) is not mentioned even one time in the Quran which was written some 3600+ years later in ~610 C.  The Al-Aqsa Mosque was built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 685 and 715 CE. 

By the way, the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been destroyed by earthquakes multiple times and rebuilt: 

1. 714 CE: The eastern part of the mosque was destroyed by an earthquake but was rebuilt. 
2. 746 CE: A large portion of the mosque was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 758. 
3. 1033: The mosque was destroyed by another earthquake and rebuilt shortly after.

Various empires, such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and eventually the Islamic Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire each controlled the region for a time. 

It was conquered by the Ottoman Turks who invaded and occupied it for 402 years (1516-1918). The Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I in October 1918. Great Britain took over Jerusalem after World War I.

This map shows the MUCH larger area that was going to be established again as Israel. 

The Balfour Declaration was a statement issued by the British government in 1917 that expressed support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland. The declaration was sent in a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, on November 2, 1917. The letter was intended to be passed on to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, and the declaration was published in the press on November 9, 1917.  

No nation has as great a claim to Israel, Judea and Samaria as the Jews do today! 

SO I ASK YOU: ARE YOU A ZIONIST?