THE SHEMA, THE RABBI, AND THE GOSPEL (continued)
Isaiah 61 reveals amazing truth about strong trees. It's in verse 3 we find the word trees along with righteousness.
3 "To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
The word trees in the Hebrew is number 353 in Strongs concordance. It comes from a root which is number 193 meaning rolled together into one, twisted for strength. It is further defined as POWERFUL, MIGHTY, STRENGTH, CHIEF, RAM, PILLAR, MIGHTYMAN, OAK, RAM, ANY STRONG TREE. (AYIL in Hebrew) 'UL'
How can mourners and those broken and weighted with such burdens be called powerful, mighty, strong, righteous? Some how they have been rolled together and become one in the word AYIL in Hebrew. Every time I pass by a strong and mighty tree, I realize it's a witness. The CREATOR placed this in our world to reveal the wondrous work of strength in the chosen piece of wood, before the foundations of the world (the chief, pillar, ram, and mighty one).
The Rabbi had such detailed understanding as HE was asked to open the scroll of Isaiah to the verses at the beginning of chapter 61. He read from there as if HE understood it as HIS own calling, to become one with broken, sick, poor, criminal, and captive. What kind of strength would it take to even make this a possibility? No man could ever claim such things of himself.
My grandfather took me into the woods at six years of age to pick out my tree. He wanted me to have a tree that would be growing long after he was gone. He took me to my home and we planted that tree. It is still there after more than 50 years. In the history of the faith, many have been given their own tree like I was. I didn't realize this until I visited the land of Israel. They are still planting trees in the land and I believe many are for the same reason my grandfather did for me. It is tradition there and that brings joy knowing it was done by one strong, mighty, and caring for me long before anyone in my family knew of these things.
So how is SHEMA apart of this? Recently I took the words of the SHEMA into a study, looking up definitions and roots. The discovery has continued to build and I wonder what things will look like when JEWS and CHRISTIANS begin to get a glimpse of this WONDER.
SHEMA - hear, is 8085 in Strongs~ to hear intelligently, attention, obedience, cause to tell, call together, carefully, certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, diligently discern, give ear, cause to hear, let hear, make to hear, hear tell, listen, make noise, make a noise, proclaim, publish, regard, report, show forth, sound, surely whoever hears is witness. The Rabbi called to read surely completed every word of this definition of what we know as SHEMA.
SHEMA being the first word, is so complete, what about the last word ECHAD (One). ECHAD is truly the crown of the SHEMA we find in Deuteronomy 6:4. When the word ECHAD is placed on the strings of the ATARA NEVEL HARP, it sounds the same as the word CHESED, the Hebrew word lovingkindness. The sound is the same with one exception, one octave higher. Is this revealing "The LORD IS ONE" (ECHAD) is the lovingkindness, GRACE that rolls us into one with the strength and salvation through the planting of the LORD. I believe it is.
On the flight of my first trip to the land of Israel, I was seated next to a small elderly man. He was watching cartoons nearly the entire way and ever once in a while would let out a joyful little laugh. My thoughts eventually turned to "he must be a terrorist or something entertaining himself with cartoons for such a long time." Eventually I became brave enough to ask him a question about the book he was reading. He said it is the most wonderful book on the SONG OF SONGS. I knew he was the kind of man I would want to get to know when I heard that. I ask him to speak each of the names of the other books of scripture in Hebrew and he did along with the names of people contained in them. It was quite a blessing that I remember to this day. This continued on for a while until he asked me a couple questions. Why was I travelling to the HOLY LAND, and did I know SMAAA. I answered the first question well, but to the other question, I said I didn't understand the last word. So he asked again, and I shook my head, I still don't understand what you are saying. He looked at me kind of shocked and said you don't know SMAAA? I said no. He shook his head side to side for a little bit with a groaning not believing what he was hearing from me. With his Israeli accent I wasn't understanding he was saying SHEMA. The SHEMA is desired to be the first thing said in the morning, the last thing said before sleep in the evening, and hopefully the last thing said as death comes. So many around the world are rehearsing SHEMA daily, hearing their own voice proclaim the blessings of knowing the TREE RIGHTEOUSNESS that's been planted in every life, by the RABBI OF ALL RABBIS.
3 "To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
The word trees in the Hebrew is number 353 in Strongs concordance. It comes from a root which is number 193 meaning rolled together into one, twisted for strength. It is further defined as POWERFUL, MIGHTY, STRENGTH, CHIEF, RAM, PILLAR, MIGHTYMAN, OAK, RAM, ANY STRONG TREE. (AYIL in Hebrew) 'UL'
How can mourners and those broken and weighted with such burdens be called powerful, mighty, strong, righteous? Some how they have been rolled together and become one in the word AYIL in Hebrew. Every time I pass by a strong and mighty tree, I realize it's a witness. The CREATOR placed this in our world to reveal the wondrous work of strength in the chosen piece of wood, before the foundations of the world (the chief, pillar, ram, and mighty one).
The Rabbi had such detailed understanding as HE was asked to open the scroll of Isaiah to the verses at the beginning of chapter 61. He read from there as if HE understood it as HIS own calling, to become one with broken, sick, poor, criminal, and captive. What kind of strength would it take to even make this a possibility? No man could ever claim such things of himself.
My grandfather took me into the woods at six years of age to pick out my tree. He wanted me to have a tree that would be growing long after he was gone. He took me to my home and we planted that tree. It is still there after more than 50 years. In the history of the faith, many have been given their own tree like I was. I didn't realize this until I visited the land of Israel. They are still planting trees in the land and I believe many are for the same reason my grandfather did for me. It is tradition there and that brings joy knowing it was done by one strong, mighty, and caring for me long before anyone in my family knew of these things.
So how is SHEMA apart of this? Recently I took the words of the SHEMA into a study, looking up definitions and roots. The discovery has continued to build and I wonder what things will look like when JEWS and CHRISTIANS begin to get a glimpse of this WONDER.
SHEMA - hear, is 8085 in Strongs~ to hear intelligently, attention, obedience, cause to tell, call together, carefully, certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, diligently discern, give ear, cause to hear, let hear, make to hear, hear tell, listen, make noise, make a noise, proclaim, publish, regard, report, show forth, sound, surely whoever hears is witness. The Rabbi called to read surely completed every word of this definition of what we know as SHEMA.
SHEMA being the first word, is so complete, what about the last word ECHAD (One). ECHAD is truly the crown of the SHEMA we find in Deuteronomy 6:4. When the word ECHAD is placed on the strings of the ATARA NEVEL HARP, it sounds the same as the word CHESED, the Hebrew word lovingkindness. The sound is the same with one exception, one octave higher. Is this revealing "The LORD IS ONE" (ECHAD) is the lovingkindness, GRACE that rolls us into one with the strength and salvation through the planting of the LORD. I believe it is.
On the flight of my first trip to the land of Israel, I was seated next to a small elderly man. He was watching cartoons nearly the entire way and ever once in a while would let out a joyful little laugh. My thoughts eventually turned to "he must be a terrorist or something entertaining himself with cartoons for such a long time." Eventually I became brave enough to ask him a question about the book he was reading. He said it is the most wonderful book on the SONG OF SONGS. I knew he was the kind of man I would want to get to know when I heard that. I ask him to speak each of the names of the other books of scripture in Hebrew and he did along with the names of people contained in them. It was quite a blessing that I remember to this day. This continued on for a while until he asked me a couple questions. Why was I travelling to the HOLY LAND, and did I know SMAAA. I answered the first question well, but to the other question, I said I didn't understand the last word. So he asked again, and I shook my head, I still don't understand what you are saying. He looked at me kind of shocked and said you don't know SMAAA? I said no. He shook his head side to side for a little bit with a groaning not believing what he was hearing from me. With his Israeli accent I wasn't understanding he was saying SHEMA. The SHEMA is desired to be the first thing said in the morning, the last thing said before sleep in the evening, and hopefully the last thing said as death comes. So many around the world are rehearsing SHEMA daily, hearing their own voice proclaim the blessings of knowing the TREE RIGHTEOUSNESS that's been planted in every life, by the RABBI OF ALL RABBIS.
LIVING WATER (continued)
The RABBI reminded her of greater ways, the Prophet Isaiah mentioned concerning a well.
1 In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; HE has become my salvation."
3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:1-3)
The word wells in the Hebrew is number 4599 in Strong's concordance. A WELL, FOUNTAIN, or SPRING with roots of a cloud of covering, that provides shelter, a tiny shelter built for protection in the field (roof with four posts), affliction. The pictograph combines (eye and seed) meaning the eye of continuance, to watch over seed in the shelter. The eye reveals the heart, (to watch over the seed sown). The word "WELL" IS THE EYE OF THE GROUND by definition.
There's a huge river that flows on our land. It remains unseen being 120 feet below the ground. It's source is invisible and remains hidden but its presence is known and its blessing is great. In earlier times, wells were drilled on surrounding farms, and the water was undrinkable and filled with sulfur. Yet from this flowing river from unseen sources beneath our land, remains pure and drinkable even in the dry times. Form the scripture, water flowing in streams and from unseen sources, is called mayim chayim "living water". To enter the TEMPLE in Jerusalem, one had to pass through a MIKVEH pool that held the flowing water from a flowing stream. The MIKVEH was for the cleansing and preparation of the heart as well as the body, for the ways of SALVATION.
The RABBI at the well, had seen into the heart and life of this woman drawing water that day. The mayim chayim or (living water), can always see the condition of the heart that is ready to draw it forth from repentance. She knew of the scripture, and longed for the wells of SALVATION to open to her. The RABBI ask her for a water she had never known, and then allowed her to draw it forth from the well on that day. When the mayim chayim (living water), met her that day, a joy filled her heart, and she ran to take it to everyone she knew. The RABBI was not hungry when his friends returned with food, just watching over the seed sown brought a fullness that couldn't be increased with food. Salvation awaits those who long for the unseen source of mayim chayim "living water" in life, to open. Every well with mayim chayim "living water" flowing, watches as an eye, longing for hearts and minds to open to the RABBI, who knows the sources of the invisible, which comes from above.
1 In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. 2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; HE has become my salvation."
3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:1-3)
The word wells in the Hebrew is number 4599 in Strong's concordance. A WELL, FOUNTAIN, or SPRING with roots of a cloud of covering, that provides shelter, a tiny shelter built for protection in the field (roof with four posts), affliction. The pictograph combines (eye and seed) meaning the eye of continuance, to watch over seed in the shelter. The eye reveals the heart, (to watch over the seed sown). The word "WELL" IS THE EYE OF THE GROUND by definition.
There's a huge river that flows on our land. It remains unseen being 120 feet below the ground. It's source is invisible and remains hidden but its presence is known and its blessing is great. In earlier times, wells were drilled on surrounding farms, and the water was undrinkable and filled with sulfur. Yet from this flowing river from unseen sources beneath our land, remains pure and drinkable even in the dry times. Form the scripture, water flowing in streams and from unseen sources, is called mayim chayim "living water". To enter the TEMPLE in Jerusalem, one had to pass through a MIKVEH pool that held the flowing water from a flowing stream. The MIKVEH was for the cleansing and preparation of the heart as well as the body, for the ways of SALVATION.
The RABBI at the well, had seen into the heart and life of this woman drawing water that day. The mayim chayim or (living water), can always see the condition of the heart that is ready to draw it forth from repentance. She knew of the scripture, and longed for the wells of SALVATION to open to her. The RABBI ask her for a water she had never known, and then allowed her to draw it forth from the well on that day. When the mayim chayim (living water), met her that day, a joy filled her heart, and she ran to take it to everyone she knew. The RABBI was not hungry when his friends returned with food, just watching over the seed sown brought a fullness that couldn't be increased with food. Salvation awaits those who long for the unseen source of mayim chayim "living water" in life, to open. Every well with mayim chayim "living water" flowing, watches as an eye, longing for hearts and minds to open to the RABBI, who knows the sources of the invisible, which comes from above.