The Holy One calls to me this morning. His subject today is a re-occuring one. His reassuring Presence is felt even in the darkeness of this hour just before dawn. "Always remain teachable and I will show you more of Who I AM".
Since early in my walk I have had a love for Israel and a passion to understand the culture of the Jewish people. My fascination came from a relationship I had with a friend who was a "Messianic Jew"; meaning a Jewish person who has accepted that Jesus is her Messiah, the Savior spoken of throughout the Holy Scriptures. She was quite unusual since most people of Jewish descent have not.
During the course of our friendship. I sat under her teaching on various subjects. What always blew my circuits was her references to things described in the parables that were common to Hebrew understanding yet were unknown to me.
The verse that tells us it is easier for a camel to go through the "eye of a needle" than enter the Kingdom of Heaven describes a known scene in the desert lands long ago when cities had huge protective walls and a gate that was closed and locked at night to keep desert mauraders from entering in and attacking a slumbering people.
What I didn't know was that caravans that arrived after the gates were closed had to enter by way of the "eye of a needle" which was a small opening in the wall beside the gate. To enter, a camel laden with supplies, would have their bags of goods removed outside, lower their bodies to go through the opening without them and then have them replaced once inside the city walls. Thus the eye-of-the needle reference that Hebrew people would automatically relate to.
The point to the parable has a greater symbolism with deeper understanding when viewed through culture and context. In my western world view the needle would represent a sewing instrument and in my mind, the take away was that having earthy riches would make it IMPOSSIBLE to enter heaven. As if riches here made salvation impossible.
Recently I heard a podast that yet again made reference to Hebrew culture and enabled me to gain a better understanding of some of Yeshua's last words from the Cross, as He was dying for humanity in our place.
The reference is Psalm 22 and His words "Eli! Eli! L'mah sh'vaktani?" translated "My God! My God! Why have you deserted Me?"
We see this referenced as Psalm 22. To the Hebrew, scriptural addresses are not the way they reference Holy Text. Chapters and verses were a mediveal addition to the Hebrew Bible (Their TaNaK, our OT) Culturally, Hebrews reference the first words of the text and every Jew in Jesus' day would know to go to the place of the text to gain understanding of the message being taught.
Memorization was the method of instruction. Jesus was not just crying out in agony, but was directing His people to go read and remember what Psalm 22 is telling them. It is a messianic prophecy from King David that He was fulfilling. BAM!
Culture and Context is vital to gain the deeper reveations of our Lord and Savior. Jesus, Yeshua was born in Divine purpose as a Jew. He is and aways will be the Lion of the tribe of Judah, a Jew--the Jewish Messiah that we, "Christians" have the privilege to claim as our Messiah too.
In our western world view, without Jewish culture, what can we understand about a "Mediteranean" shepherd and his relationship to his sheep? Or the role of a Great High Priest? Or the symbolism of the "Lamb of God", Or what a "Kinsman Redeemer" actually does? Without a cultural understanding these descriptions of Jesus mean little to us.
It's worth noting, the only "Bible" that Jesus and the disciples had was the Old Testament scrolls called the TaNaK. Almost all that we read about Jesus and His incarnate life in the gospels occurred while he was observing the instructions Yahweh gave His people Israel, written in the TaNaK, with the celebration of Holy Days, Temple Sacrifices, and Prophecies of things to come. Yeshua came to show us the Father, and to model proper and perfect execution of His will. The New Testament came to us some 100-150 years after Jesus was resurrected and ascended into Heaven. To understand the New Testament, we must be anchored to the Old Testament and all the historic and cultural mores of the Hebrew people.
I find it a personal imperative to study the culture and context of Scripture: when, where and to whom it was given according to a Hebrew world view as it was lived out by our Beloved Savior. I am so thankful to have been given this promise that goes with "teachablility" in pursuit of the much more of my Yeshua. I am excited to see the Bible come alive as I gain a greater understanding of it's people and our Yahweh.
The Holy Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
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