(This article reflects the viewpoints of another and does not necessarily reflect the understanding of Qumran Bet Community or AmYHWH. Perhaps truth would be better served if you also added your contribution to this piece.)
The Book of Life
Ken
Graydon
The
ETERNAL has laid before us His book – the Tanakh, THE BOOK OF LIFE as the
only book needed to enable us to learn His ways, His purposes and His calling
on our life.
The
story of the world, from its creation to its, longed for, renewing and the
presence of the Messiah, are clearly written for us to understand and live by.
WE
NEED NO OTHER BOOK. Why, if we have the book dictated by the ETERNAL, that
contains the whole truth, would we need any other book? How would it help us
to read the varying opinions of men, or the fantasies of the mythmakers?
Deut
17: 18-20 When he is seated on his royal throne, he shall have a copy of this
Teaching [the Torah] written for him on a scroll by the Levitical priest. Let
it remain with him and let him read it all his life, so that he may learn to
revere the ETERNAL, to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching as well
as these laws. Thus he will not act haughtily toward his fellows or deviate
from the Instruction to the right or to the left, to the end that he and his
descendants may reign long in the midst of Israel.
The
study of the Torah [which means ‘teaching’ not law] is sufficient
education for the king of Israel to know everything he needs to know to govern
to the ETERNAL’s standard. Not only for the current king but for his
descendants. A king who was torah observant may expect his son to succeed him
on the throne – the non-observant kings did not have this guarantee.
We
have the benefit, not only of the Torah, the first five books of Moses but
also the prophets and the writings, which give us a more comprehensive
teaching. Everything you NEED to know is in the Tanakh. Those of us called to
this walk have a duty to study the Tanakh, to speak about it, write about it
and especially, to live by it. Using any other books, no matter how popular
they may be, or how deceptively they are titled, is disobedience to the very
clear instructions of the ETERNAL.
Deut
28:58-59 If you fail to observe faithfully all the terms of this Teaching that
are written in this book, to reverence this honoured and awesome ETERNAL, He
will inflict extraordinary plagues upon you and your offspring, strange and
lasting plagues, malignant and chronic diseases.
[the passage continues, read more in your Tanakh]
Have
you noticed that we have a lot of diseases and illnesses about? Such as AIDS,
cancer, TB has come back, arthritis, and so on …...
the ETERNAL keeps
His word, even the times when we might wish that He does not.
Psalm
119 is very long, too long for me to type it out here. Each one of the 176
verses is addressed to the ETERNAL about our need to study, understand, obey
and be immersed in the Tanakh. Take some time to study and pray about this
Psalm – you will find it very rewarding.
There
is an interesting quote from Rebbetzim Esther Jungreis that “having a book
of the Psalms is like having a mobile phone to connect you to the ETERNAL.”
Why would you deny yourself the opportunity this inter-action with the CREATOR
of the Universe that a study in the Psalms will bring you?
Joshua
1: 7-8 But you must be very strong and resolute to observe faithfully all the
Teaching that My servant Moses enjoined upon you. Do not deviate from it to
the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Let not
this Book of the Teaching cease from your lips, but recite it day and night so
that you may observe faithfully all that is written in it. Only then will you
prosper in your undertakings and only then will you be successful.
By
asking us to recite the Tanakh, the ETERNAL is making sure that we really have
the words of the Tanakh in our mind. We increase our ability to understand and
remember these words of life because we see them with our eyes and hear them
in our ears at the same time. How do you feel about the promise from the
CREATOR of the Universe that, if you
consistently study and apply the Tanakh in your life, you will prosper and be
successful? Success and prosperity on the ETERNAL’s terms, to enable you to
do His work, is something to be devoutly pursued.
The
ETERNAL has put before us His way of doing things. It’s simple and
straightforward. As you read the Tanakh you will no longer be mislead by other
strange customs – you will know the truth and you will be blessed in your
obedience.
You
will know that men must be circumcised and wear beards. They should also keep
their hair trimmed. We all should wear tzidzits as a reminder of the
commandments. There is no rule about wearing hats of any kind, robes or tying
leather boxes to your head! Ladies will dress modestly, it is implied but
there is nothing about head covering.
Isaiah
51: 7-8. [this is a promise for being obedient to study the Tanakh] Listen to
Me, you who care for the right, O people who lay My instruction [Torah] to
heart! Fear not the insults of men and be not dismayed by their jeers; for the
moth shall eat them up like a garment, the worm shall eat them up like wool,
but My triumph shall endure forever, My salvation through all the ages.
The
ETERNAL makes studying the Tanakh something that will enable you to share in
His triumph and His promise of salvation. Do not lose either of these by
wasting time in other books!