LIGHT OF MENORAH

We continue with the words of the Lord's Prayer, HaTehfeelah Adonai.  Our focus is now on the words, "...who is in heaven."  This begs the question where does God live?  Where is His abode, where does He dwell 24/7?  Isn't heaven the sky above and space with the moon and sun and planets and galaxies?  If so does God live out there behind a nebula or a galaxy hidden from our eyes?  Or, does the English language cause some issues?  We have put the Lord's Prayer into its historical context and we see that it was first taught in Hebrew to a specific group of people, the religious Jewish disciples, and in a specific culture and time; He taught it sometime between 24-30 A.D. to those who practiced Second Temple Judaism and who only had the Old Testament, the Hebrew scriptures, as their only Bible.  So, let's jump in.  Let's see what they knew and understood in Hebrew.  Let's find out where God lives and dwells 24/7.  

Once again here's links I mentioned in the lesson.  Check them out as they hopefully will add and enrich your study of HaTehfeelah Adonai, the Lord's Prayer which He gave to us, His disciples, and we can now call it, HaTehfeelah Talmidim, the Prayer of the Disciples.

Link Gethsemane 1 - https://www.facebook.com/lightofmenorah/videos/229720674906046/

Link 2a - Dr. Brad Young's videos on the Hebrew background of the Lord's prayer - https://www.bradyoung.org/index.php/videos/40-dr-young-s-youtube-links-on-god-s-learning-channel

Link 2b - Dr. Brad Young's scholarly work on the Jewish background of the Lord's prayer - click here to access all his books in the bookstore  

Link 2c - Dr. Brad Young's article on the Lord's prayer at "Jerusalem Perspective" - https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2229/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Is the Bible credible?  Can we trust it?  Is the Exodus more than a story?  In lesson 2 we begin an amazing journey to show the veracity, the trustworthiness, of the book of Exodus.  As we continue in Exodus chapter one we will see that we are dealing with historic events – things that actually happened.  We will begin to verify the exact year when Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt.  It’s all related to an ancient pagan calendar that the majority of archaeologists agree is accurate and can be used to date events. 

Another aspect of this lesson is WOMEN.  The Bible is the only ancient religious source that shows the real intention of God as it relates to men and women.  God made men and women both equally in His image.  Man is not above woman and woman is not above man - they are equal in God's eyes.  The Bible is the only ancient source lifting up women to their equal and lofty place in God’s creation and plan.  Men are the ones who put down women.  The problem that messed things up was sin and turning away from God.  Woman first and then her man.

Later we see that woman was “built” by God (that is the actual Hebrew – built assumes a specific design unlike man) NOT to be a “suitable helper.”  That is what men did in translation.  They did not translate the Hebrew correctly and thus put down women.  The actual Hebrew is EZER KENEGDO  עזר כנגדו or a strength in front or a strength alongside. 

Gen. 2:18.  The implication is man was incomplete without woman and visa versa.  Woman is not man’s little helper.  No way.  She is the completeness of his strength and seemingly implies that physical strength is not sufficient.  Man needs woman. 

In this lesson we will see that the great pharaohs of Egypt are of no account as compared to two pagan Egyptian  women.  We will meet real heroines, we will meet strong, brave, bold women with guts.  Not men.  Women.  The Bible cries out from 3400 years ago to teach us, men and women, what it means to be one of God's people.  

In this lesson I mentioned I’d provide links to a few articles that relate to this lesson.  The links are below. 

The first link is to an article on Roman practice of infanticide and the catacombs of Praetextatus - https://earlychurchhistory.org/medicine/infanticide-in-the-ancient-world/

The second link is another major article on the legality of ancient abortion, infanticide, and infant exposure in ancient Rome and Greece and the early Christian response - https://www.dropbox.com/s/aj2qbmm6eqc7d5f/Pagans%2C%20Christianity%2C%20and%20Infanticide.pdf?dl=0

The third article is on 4 reasons why the early Messianic Christian assembly (church) grew so fast - https://myocn.net/four-reasons-why-early-christian-church-grew-so-quickly/

Lastly is a paper I did on adoption in ancient Rome.  It relates so well to this lesson.  Link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/i0fg3wwbm9xohzq/Ephesus%20Adopt.pdf?dl=0

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret ... somewhere north of the Sea of Galilee)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

In lesson 2 we continue to lay the foundation for this in depth study of the first five books of the Bible, commonly referred to as the TORAH (which does NOT mean LAW but TEACHING).  In this lesson we ask if there are no dinosaurs in the Bible (and there is NO mention of them in the Bible in Hebrew) then does that help us grasp what the Torah is and is not?  Here's a link to a Jewish scholar and his teaching on why dinosaurs are not mentioned in the bible - click here to watch Dr. Hugh Ross, a credible scientist and astrophysicist discuss the question about dinosaurs and the Bible. He is awesome.

Here's the link for part 1 –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtEDmwxNE6s&t=0s

And here’s the link for part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iraI4NWQSRs

Some Jewish and Christian scholars say that Gen. 1:21 is talking about large fish.  It can't be large fish - the Hebrew taken to the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses the phrase in Greek to describe the great evil dragon in the book of Revelation who is Satan.  Satan is NOT a big fish.  Once again how can translators so misinterpret the text of scripture and not check how the phrase in Gen. 1:21 is used throughout the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament that I like to title, "The Messianic Writings?"  And lastly, this session gets into the 5 purposes of this series, "The Gospel According to Moses."  We approach this study with the focus of archaeology, history, geography, customs, culture, and the languages of the ancient Middle East.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - someplace in the Shephaleh - foothills of the Judean mountains)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In this lesson we start our study of the exact words of the Lord's prayer.  This lesson will focus on the first two words, "Our Father." 

Is Jesus teaching something new?  Is Jesus bringing in a new idea?  Were the disciples of Jesus amazed at the start of the prayer when they heard the words, "Our Father?"

Again, we return to 24-30 A.D. - the time when Jesus was here as a rabbi, as a Torah teacher.  Torah does not mean law but instruction.  Jesus was teaching the Father's instruction and not laws.  That makes sense when you understand what Torah means and that all the had in Jesus' day was the Hebrew Scriptures that we call the Old Testament.  There is nothing OLD about it.  And, as we reconnect to those days we find that these two words, "Our Father," show that the Lord's Prayer that He gave to His disciple, and therefore to us, is a prayer coming out of a Jewish culture; we can therefore more fully appreciate the prayer when we understand its Jewish background and foundation.

I said I'd supply some links.  The links in this lesson are referenced below.

Dead Sea Scrolls Link 1 - https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/

The Tobit fragment - Link 2 - https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/explore-the-archive/search#q='4q200'

Gethsemane - Link 3 - https://www.facebook.com/lightofmenorah/videos/229720674906046/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

Ferret near the ancient site of Bethel

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In this 2nd lesson on the Lord's prayer we will focus on Jesus' specific guidelines He taught when we pray.  1st, go into your inner room.  Next, do not use meaningless repetition like the pagan Gentiles.  Are these instructions unique?  Is Jesus teaching us something that is different than praying as a religious Jewish person in His day?  Are these guidelines uniquely Christian?  NOPE.  Jesus is teaching and emphasizing what His disciples have been taught as they grew up in their hometown synagogue schools.  As we study this in its historical context we find we are dealing with things so common in the Hebrew culture of the 1st century, Jesus' day.  But, Jesus is emphasizing that prayer is not just going through the motions.  Jesus is teaching us this act of prayer is a big deal in that praying to the Father is talking to Him in a deeply personal, intimate, and private manner.  He is teaching us that concentrated and intentional prayer is a mark of a true disciple.

Again, in this session I mention a few resources.  I am providing the links to two of them.  The first is a link to the early Jewish Christian instruction booklet called the Didache (Greek for "teaching") written in the late 1st century.  It provides guidelines and instruction for living as a true disciple.  See "chapter 8" where we see that the Lord's Prayer is to be said three times per day to keep up the Jewish practice to prayer three times a day.  The second link is Ray Vander Laan's article on Rabbi and Talmid or Rabbi and Disciple.  The Lord's prayer has been given to His disciples since one of His disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.  Knowing what a disciple is is important background for us to know the Lord's prayer and how it relates to us.

Link to the Didache - https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-lightfoot.html

Link to Ray's article on Rabbi and Talmid - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

This is a NEW podcast series.  We will focus on the Lord's Prayer or what we sometimes call, "The Our Father."  There are 100's of excellent books from excellent scholars on this prayer.  What we will do is simply look at this prayer in its historical context.  And, God willing, this perspective will only add to the understanding we have of this prayer and prayer in general.  In this first session we ask why did Jesus give the disciples this prayer?  The Jewish people in Jesus' day were known as a praying people.  They had a set of prayers they prayed three times a day!  This was normative as relates to the Jewish culture of Jesus' day, 2nd Temple Judaism.  So why does Jesus add to their list of prayers?  As we reconnect to the culture the reason is explosive and only challenges us to also understand how this prayer relates to us in the 21st century.  

In this session I bring up various links to other resources.  Here's the links below.

Link 1 - Dr. Brad Young's videos on the Hebrew background of the Lord's prayer - https://www.bradyoung.org/index.php/videos/40-dr-young-s-youtube-links-on-god-s-learning-channel

Link 2 - Dr. Brad Young's scholarly work on the Jewish background of the Lord's prayer - click here to access all his books in the bookstore  

Link 3 - Dr. Brad Young's article on the Lord's prayer at "Jerusalem Perspective" - https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2229/

Link 4 - Ray Vander Laan's article on "Rabbi and Talmidim" - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

It is amazing how God uses the major event in Judaism, the Exodus, to teach us what His ultimate redemption of all men and women will be like.  The Exodus stands alone as a major event in human history.  It is amazing that God chose one people to be His chosen people so that the world would come to know Him, the God of Abraham, the one God, the only God through Israel.   He didn't pick Israel because they were somehow better than every other people.  No.  Just the opposite.  They were a stubborn and stiff necked people and the Lord teaches them it is not that they are righteous that He is doing all this ...

"Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you. "It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Deu 9:4-5) 

And later in Isaiah 42:6 & 49:6 we learn that God has a purpose for Israel, His servant.  They are to bring His salvation (salvation in Hebrew is YESHUA יְשׁוּעָה or, in English, Jesus!) God will bring His Yeshua יְשׁוּעָה, His salvation, to the whole world through Israel.

The first redemption is the Exodus.  And God seems to teach all of us that to understand the ULTIMATE redemption we need to understand the Exodus.  If we understand the first we will understand the second; we will understand the Jesus and the Cross.  This became the major event in Christianity.  

So.  Let us dive in to the study of Exodus.  Let us ask how God brings us the Gospel and the Good News of the Kingdom to us via the pen of Moses.  Let us turn to study THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MOSES.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - near the ancient site of Bet El (Bethel) in Israel)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

This is the 1st lesson in the Torah series for Christians on Genesis. This lesson provides the main goals of this unique Bible study. The emphasis is on the Bible in its historical context; it focuses on archaeology, geography, history, and the ancient culture and customs and even the languages of the Middle East.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

 

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In John 5:39 Jesus teaches that SCRIPTURE testifies of Himself.  It is easy to show He said this betwem 24-30 A.D. when all they had was the Hebrew Scriptures,  the Old Testament, Jesus' Bible.  Again and again in the series "The Gospel According to Moses" we have seen how key veerses of Genesis and Exodus do testify of Jesus, the coming Messiah.  Exodus chapter 40 is no exception.  It is so awesome how Exodus 40 testifies of Jesus but also shows the Exodus and God's rescue of His treasured people, the Hebrews, is part of the Lord's amazing redemption plan of all those made in His image - US!!  Jew and Gentile.  

It is critical that along with this video you also watch the video PASSOVER 6 - DID WE MISS SOMETHING.  Here's the link ...

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/passover-lesson-6-did-we-miss-something-the-end-and-the-beginning-his-death-his-birth/

In this vidcast (video podcast) check out the critical information that is found in the comment section.  This video, along with the vidcast on Exodus 40, show that Messiah may have likely been born on Passover!  

This completes the lessons on Exodus.  There is a Jewish custom to recite the following when one completes a book of Torah.  

Pronounced ...

Ka Zack Ka Zack VayNeet Ka Zayk

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?

(John & Robin somewhere in the Middle East)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0