Ban on Idolatry V'etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) by Rabbi Yehuda Appel

At the end of World War Two, Winston Churchill was asked if he was concerned about how historians would view his role in the war. He replied that he wasn't the least bit concerned, saying that, "history shall be kind to me, for I shall write it." Ultimately, Churchill's words came true; his history of World War Two became one of the most popular books on the subject.

The attempt to shape and influence events is part and parcel of the human saga. All of us want to be players in the game of life. But while we can in fact influence events, we cannot control their final outcome. Ultimately, all is in the hands of the Almighty.

A central focus of this week's Torah portion, V'etchanan, is the ban on idolatry. The Israelites are absolutely forbidden from worshiping or even making graven images. They should not intermarry with the surrounding nations lest they be drawn after their idolatrous ways. Jews are forbidden not only from making likenesses of other gods, but Jews may not even make an image which symbolically represents God Himself. This stricture is so great that a Jew should rather die than participate in pagan worship.

Why is idolatry seen as such a severe transgression? Some commentators see the Torah's stricture against making a graven image as a preventive law, to avoid the possibility that people will mistakenly come to worship this image as God Himself. The Ibn Ezra notes that our relationship with the Almighty is direct - without any intermediaries. The use of an image - even as a mere symbol to represent the Divine - would constitute an intermediary and is thus forbidden.

The commentators give another reason for the Biblical disdain of idolatry: It is perversion of the metaphysical order. Judaism teaches that we must subordinate our will to the Almighty's will. The nature of pagan worship is just the opposite. It is an attempt to influence and ultimately control spiritual forces. Jewish tradition says our purpose in this world is to achieve moral growth by emulating the Almighty's behavior - not to influence spiritual forces into helping meet our own egotistical desires.

In other words: Idolatry is wrong because it is false! A graven image is an inanimate object incapable of accomplishing anything. There is nothing "real" behind the wood and stone. Compare this to the Almighty Who is responsive to one's needs and holds the keys to all success and failure. Says the Talmud: "The seal of God is Truth."

Similarly, revisionist history is the wrong approach. We cannot escape "reality" with the stroke of a pen. So too with the Creator of the universe. We must strive not to fashion God in our own image, but rather to fashion ourselves in the image of God.

REDEMPTION OF ZION

 (Isa_1:27): This is a portrait of that final deliverance of the Church when we are set at liberty from the hold this world has on us and given a new body in His likeness (Rom_8:17-23; 1Co_15:45-58; 1Jn_3:1-3; Php_3:20-21).

The term "Zion" has a very interesting history and is interpreted variously. Gesenius, the famous Hebrew scholar said Zion is derived from a Hebrew root צהה, cāhāh, “to be dry.” He gives the Arabic equivalent ṣihw, the Arabic ṣahwat signifying “ridge of a mountain” or “citadel.”

Delitzsch claims it is from the Heb. root  צוּה, ciwwāh, “to set up.” Wetzstein thinks it is from צין, cīn, “to protect.”

J. F. Witty said Zion can signify (1) a heap of stones (2) a monument (3) a sepulcher.

Some say it means "Sunny" or "Sunny Mountain." It is often referred to in the Bible as Mount Zion sometimes speaking of Mount Moriah. Others say it means fortress. We know in the days of the Jebusites it was their fortress then David captured it and it became known as the "City of David," then referred to at times as Jerusalem and in the Book of Revelation as the "New Jerusalem." Paul refers to it as the Church (Heb_12:22). Isaiah said the Messiah will set up His government there and all nations will flow into it (Isa_2:1-4).

I will not take the time here to blend all of these views of Zion into the kaleidoscope of the Church of Jesus Christ but when you view the various perspectives of the Church as the Bible describes it you find the Masterpiece of Jesus Christ (Eph 2:10), the beauty of holiness, the glory and splendor of God.

 Kelsey Griffin

GOD'S HAND AS A SMELTING POT

 (Isa 1:25): Isaiah pictures Israel falling into God's hand like ore of metal being placed in a smelting pot to melt it down in order to remove the impurities! This is a good example of God purifying the Christian!

This process involves melting the metal and skimming off the impure slag until the worker can see his own image in the liquid metal. We must be willing to submit to God, allowing His hand to remove our sin so that we might reflect his image.

That is the same hand He turned upon the Israelites to deliver them from Egyptian bondage; the hand that delivers you from the bondage of the world (2Cor 6:14-18; 2Cor 7:1).

Dross is symbolical of the sin that is openly flagrant in the life [that which so easily besets] (Heb 12:1 ). It is different from the metal, and is comparatively easily separated from it. But God goes further. He says, "I will take sway all of your alloy." This is far more wonderful, because the alloy is something which enters into the nature of the metal, as is were, and it requires a chemical process to separate them. God says that He will deal not only with deeds of sin [the outcrop of sin in act], but He will deal with the sin nature of which the act is the outcrop.

God knows how to "turn up the heat" and refine your life, taking away your impurities. His goal is not to destroy; instead He says, "I will restore." God will purify Jerusalem, to the point where Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. He will do the same with you and you [the church] will be called the city New Jerusalem pictured as a Bride adorned for her husband (Rev 21:2). Kelsey Griffin

GOD OF RESTORATION

 (Isa 1:26): Only God has the ability to

return you to your former position; to fulfill His original intended design that you have marred!

You cannot revert to the embryonic state and try to get things right this time; but you can be "reborn" from above (Joh 3:1-5) so that you are a new creature; old things pass away and all becomes new (2Co_5:17).

The entire book of Joel is dedicated to restoration. He pictures the desolation of a locust plague and the restoration that follows. In the same way God restores His people and pours His Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28-30).

The purpose of the book of Judges is to show what gems God can get from the wasted life of man. From the period of judges when every man did what was right in his own eyes God brought forth Ruth and Hannah. From these two dedicated women came Samuel and David. God can take the very worst and make the best out of it. He turns curses into blessings.

The potter does not cast out the botched clay; he simply makes it into a different vessel. He does not give up easy when He has a design in mind that is marred for lack of cooperation on the part of the clay. So if your cooperation is faulty He has ways of putting pressure and He knows where to put pressure, how to put pressure, how much pressure to put and when to let up on pressure!

 Kelsey Griffin

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES DO NOT RETURN

 (Deu 1:19-46): You do not have a chance to get a first opportunity. It is like the river that continues on its way and will not return.

At the same time it is not wise to jump at the first bargain because there are usually better deals if we wait patiently and spend time checking things out. Seek ye first the kingdom (Mat 6:33).

 Israel had departed from Egyptian bondage. They had the taste of victory. They had endured privation, performed a toilsome journey, for one object, and that was to possess Canaan; yet, when they touched the threshold of the inheritance, they failed to rise to the vision of their privilege. They hesitated, dawdled, feared, and failed. Men play with opportunity as with a toy, and when their eyes open to see its value, lo! it has vanished. Possibly, there is a supreme moment in every man's history; yet often he is too indolent to improve it.  Many reach the margin of a glorious destiny, and then turn back to the desert, The path of duty is very plain; but self-indulgence makes us blind as a mole. That is the reason we must constantly keep in good communication with God and seek His direction in everything.

 Kelsey Griffin

A REASONABLE GOD

(Isa_1:18): "Come now, let us go to court [reason] together." He is willing to hear your argument if you think He should do things differently. He is not capricious or arbitrary in His judgment.

God is reasonable to the last.

Atonement was given at Calvary for man's benefit and use.  Yet Christ is received with little enthusiasm by many.

After man has committed high treason against his throne and court, after he has done his best to snap the divine scepter, and insult the divine honor, after he has made himself a disgrace in creation, God says to him, not, " I will cut thee in twain with my glittering sword; I will put my foot upon thee and crush thee into the dust, and defy thee to get thy life again;" but he says, "Come now, let us reason together." This proposition is not only the proof of the grace of God; but that grace itself is the vindication of his righteousness. He knows he is right, and he knows he is right in the court of reason; that if the case be honestly and fully stated the criminal will convict himself, he will burn with shame, and cry out for the judgment that is just.

God is right, and we are wrong in this controversy.

There is a way out for those who will reason with Him. Someone has stated it this way:

Philosophy says: Think your way out.
Indulgence says: Drink your way out.
Politics says: Spend your way out.
Science says: Invent your way out.
Industry says: Work your way out.
Communism says: Strike your way out.
Fascism says: Bluff your way out.
Militarism says: Fight your way out.
The Bible says: Pray your way out, but
Jesus Christ says: "I am the way out"

Merchant advertises the durability of a tire, battery, spark plugs.  The response of the public is great—the crowds come.  Yet these products wear out soon!

 Kelsey Griffin

HOW WILL WE REACH OUR DESTINATION?

 (Deu 1:1): We all know that the end and aim of life is not in this world. If we are to arrive at the right destination we must have help and guidance. (10-14-11)

As Deuteronomy opens Israel was still in the wilderness. It was eleven days journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea yet it took them forty years to accomplish it. What takes the shortest time is not always the best path. Desert

wandering was a preparation for the destined goal.

Life is but a preparation. Man's true destiny is immortality. Two things are necessary for the man who would reach his true destiny.

First of all we must have a guide that will take hold on us and bring us through.

Several forces in society are laying hold of mankind today, such as ambition, avarice, lust, pleasure, pride, superstition. One or more, perhaps all, grasp and hold mankind. They extend around them like some dense poisoning fog, robbing them of both light and strength. While environed with such, or indeed any form of sin, Christ would break His way into us with help, " I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance," (Luk 5:32; 1Ti 1:14-16; 1Pe 2:3; Act 10:36; Act 13:38-39; Col 2:13).

Secondly, just as He takes hold on us to bring us to our destination we must also take hold on Him as our guide.

We begin by believing on Him in obedience to His Word.

He said we were to keep His commandments (Joh 14:15; Joh 15:10; Jam 2:17; Gal 5:6). We take refuge in the blood of His atonement. We are baptized in Jesus Name and filled with His Spirit (Act 2:38; Joh 3:3-5). 

Kelsey Griffin

The Big Picture

What does it mean to get the big picture?
Many people fail to see the big picture.
I will tell you why.
Let's start with an example.
You're driving down a four-lane road and there is a lane closed ahead. At the two-mile mark there is a sign indicating so. You miss that sign because you're distracted. You were on your phone, adjusting the radio, plucking your eyebrows. A mile from the lane closure there is a large yellow arrow directing you to move over.
Now distractions have brought you to the point where you are stuck. Getting the big picture means seeing the whole thing. Now the big picture with God is a different thing, or is it? It is as easy as removing the distractions from your life to be able to see God's big picture.
"Hessah da'at is what the Jews call a "removal of the mind" or as we say , "going through the motions."
Concentrated prayer and discipline in our lives enables us to see Gods big picture.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(Hebrews 12:1)

The Word

Unlike man, there is no disconnect between the utterance of God's mouth and God Himself. A man may say words that are not true, but every word spoken by God is the very truth of God. His Divine Word cannot be understood as something separate from Him. Herein lies insight into the mystery of Messiah.

NEW MOON CONSECRATION

(Psa 81:3): One important aspect of New Moon celebration was its relation to new beginnings and the consecration of all beginnings to God!
From the time of the Exodus from Egypt the Jews attached a great deal of importance to beginnings. God told them at the time that He laid claim to every firstborn child and animal.

They consecrated the first of everything to God, and by so doing they felt they were consecrating all the rest. The concept of paying tithes is that I bring my ten percent to God in recognition that the 100% belongs to Him and I will use His 90% as a steward of His possessions. The first sheaves of harvest were consecrated for the whole harvest. They gave the first to God as an acknowledgment of His right to all the rest. And so with regard to the months, they consecrated each month to God, by specially consecrating the first day of the month. Now, we may well follow their example in presenting the first of everything to God. I should like you to feel that you ought to give the beginning of your life to God as the Jews gave the first day of every month specially to Him.
Kelsey Griffin

BRIDE WHO FORGOT HER WEDDING DRESS

(Jer 2:32): Jeremiah's portrait is as ludicrous as it is impossible. What woman ever arrived at the wedding saying, "Oh I knew there was something I was supposed to get; a wedding dress?" (8-28-10)

Long before any arrangements are made for the wedding the wedding gown is either purchased or prepared for. It will only be used on this one occasion but is beyond forgetting. Yet the God of the universe who guides every event in the life is forgotten as though He does not exist.

It is the picture of the "spare tire mentality." We get in the car and drive away so many times without even thinking about the spare tire because we do not use it but when it is needed it gets our undivided attention. It is like the fire truck or ambulance that gets in our way on the highway and we wish the think would either hurry up or move over so we could pass. But if our house is the one on fire or we have an emergency we want everybody to get off the road so we can get this thing done!

What a peculiar creature is the human who would never forget the most trivial but never remember the most important things of life!
Kelsey Griffin

Lashon Hara Watch What You Say

The Hebrew term lashon hara (or loshon hora)  is the halakhic term for derogatory speech about another person.

The Jews believe that all their woes in life have come from this. Just like you said, God had had enough of them when the spies came back with a bad report.

There is a day on the Hebrew calendar coming soon known as Tisha B'Av or the ninth day of the Hebrew month known as Av.

 

Five misfortunes befell our fathers ... on the ninth of Av. ...On the ninth of Av it was decreed that our fathers should not enter the [Promised] Land, the Temple was destroyed the first and second time, Bethar was captured and the city [Jerusalem] was ploughed up. -Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6

...Should I weep in the fifth month [Av], separating myself, as I have done these so many years? -Zechariah 7:3

Tisha B'Av primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples, both of which were destroyed on the ninth of Av (the first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.).

 The Alhambra Decree, issued March 31, 1492, ordered all Jews to leave Spain by the end of July 1492. July 31, 1492 was Tisha B'Av. 

• The Bar Kochba revolt was crushed by Roman Emperor Hadrian. The city of Betar -- the Jews' last stand against the Romans -- was captured and liquidated. Over 100,000 Jews were slaughtered. (135 CE)
• The Temple area and its surroundings were plowed under by the Roman general Turnus Rufus. Jerusalem was rebuilt as a pagan city -- renamed Aelia Capitolina -- and access was forbidden to Jews.
• 1. World War One broke out on the eve of Tisha B'Av in 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia. German resentment from the war set the stage for the Holocaust.
  2. On the eve of Tisha B'Av 1942, the mass deportation began of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto, en route to Treblinka.
  The restrictions on Tisha B'Av are similar to those on Yom Kippur: to refrain from eating and drinking (even water); washing, bathing, shaving or wearing cosmetics; wearing leather shoes; engaging in sexual relations; and studying Torah. Work in the ordinary sense of the word [rather than the Shabbat sense] is also restricted. People who are ill need not fast on this day. Many of the traditional mourningpractices are observed: people refrain from smiles, laughter and idle conversation, and sit on low stools.

In synagogue, the book of Lamentations is read and mourning prayers are recited. The ark (cabinet where the Torah is kept) is draped in black.

Tisha B'Av is never observed on Shabbat. If the 9th of Av falls on a Saturday, the fast is postponed until the 10th of Av.

 

Jews believe that lashon hara has lead to these tragedies..........

This to them is a sign that the Divine Presence left the Temple. 

 

The term lashon hara does not explicitly occur in the Tanakh(Hebrew Bible), but "keep thy tongue from evil" (lashon hara) occurs in Psalm 34:14.

 

The Torah contains a general injunction against rekhilut (gossip): "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:16).^[9] In addition, the words "ye shall not wrong one another" (Leviticus 25:17) according to tradition refer to wronging a person with one's speech.^[10]

The Talmud (Arakhin 15b) lists lashon hara as one of the causes of the Biblical malady of tzaraath (leprosy), In Sotah 42a, the Talmud states thathabitual speakers of lashon hara are not tolerated in God's presence. Similar strong denouncements can be found in various places in Jewish literature.^[11]

In Numbers chapter 12, Miriam gossips with her brother Aaron. She questions why Moses is so much more qualified to lead the Jewish people than anyone else. God hears and strikes her down with tzaraath. Miriam had to stay outside of the camp for a week due to the tzaraath. During this time, all of Israel waited for her.