TK Torah Keepers

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. ⁵ Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. ⁶ And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. ⁷ Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. ⁸ I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. (Psalm 55:4-8 KJV)

The psychologists have repeatedly demonstrated that human beings typically respond to the threat of danger in one of two ways, “fight” or “flight”.  For most people “flight” is the preferred response.  I remember Mr. Kim, my Tae Kwon Do teacher use to teach his class that the “Tae Kwon Do Walk” is the most important skill to develop.  He emphasized that this “walk” was the primary move and foundation of any self-defense.  He would have us line up and then begin walking, placing one foot in front of the other, as he would call out “left, right, left, right,” building up the tempo of his cadence until we were all running around the dojong.  Then he would say, “Now that you have mastered the ‘Tae Kwon Do Walk’ you can walk away from trouble before it begins!”  I can personally attest to the successfulness of this ancient technique.  I have employed this primary form of self defense on numerous occasions and am still alive to tell about it.  On occasion, however, circumstances are such that we cannot run away.  We must stay and face the accuser or the adversary.  Our Master has warned us on numerous occasions in his teachings the cost of being his disciple.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22 KJV)

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. (Matthew 24:9 KJV)

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. (Luke 21:12 KJV)

Our Master also taught us not to be afraid of what men may do to us, but rather to remain faithful and fear God.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 KJV)

YHWH sent Yeshua to be a light for those sitting in the gross darkness of the world.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but YHWH shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:2 KJV)

 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:16 KJV)

Then spake Yeshua again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12 KJV)

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5 KJV)   

Not all men welcome the light

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5 KJV)

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:19-20 KJV)

As the body of Messiah we too are to be a light to the world.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14 KJV)

While we may seek to live peaceably among all men, all men will not let us live peaceably. Yeshua knew that we would face persecution, oppression, resentment, and rejection because of our association with him but he sent us into the dangers of the darkness nonetheless.

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3 KJV)

Even in the Messiah’s high priestly prayer, he asked that the Father would not take us out of the world, but that he would protect us in the darkness of this world.

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ¹⁸ As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (John 17:14-18 KJV)

While we should not needlessly place ourselves in danger, the calling of YHWH through Yeshua is that we be his body in the world.  As the body of Messiah we may expect that we will take our share of name calling, false accusations, beatings, floggings, beard pulling, rejection and possibly even death.  But we must not simply run away and hide.  We are called to be a light even in this darkness.  Even in this peril of adversity we must fulfill the Master’s teachings.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, ²⁸ Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. (Luke 6:27-28 KJV)

To do fulfill this calling in the Spirit of Messiah, we must truly believe the gospel that Yeshua has indeed overcome the power of sin and death.  To genuinely stand our ground and not run and hide our light in the face of gross darkness, we must believe that just as we suffer rejection, humiliation, beating and even death for our association with Messiah, so too will we be raised from death because of our association with the Messiah. While our instinct may be to fight or fly, our Master has commanded us to stay and shine.  At these times, may the Father truly bless us with courage, conviction and faith!

A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. ¹⁴ For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, ¹⁵ To call passengers who go right on their ways: ¹⁶ Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ¹⁷ Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ¹⁸ But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. (Proverbs 9:13-18 KJV)

The warning at the end of Proverb 9 is an important one.  The Proverb begins with an anthropomorphic description of wisdom as a woman who has built her house solidly and tends to her household’s needs.  It concludes with this contrasting description of a foolish woman who sits in the gates inviting people in to dine with her, drinking stolen water and eating meat in secret. While there are numerous applications of this proverb, the one that I want to focus on involves stolen water and meat eaten in secret. 

There are many students of the Bible (and even some scholars) who are forever searching for some new revelation, some newly discovered detail, some revolutionary discovery that will redefine the definition of “truth,” radically transform the faith, and make a name for them-selves.  While the endless pursuit of truth and understanding is indeed a virtue that we should all faithfully encourage one another in, we must be careful that we do not become so enamored with the “hunt” that we forget what we are hunting for!  Biblical-Studies is a vast field of study, which involves the study of language, etymology, scriptology, linguistics, anthropology, archeology, history, and many other important disciplines.  There is no way possible for one person to master all of the fields that play a significant role in the field of Biblical-Studies.  This should not, however, prevent any of us from taking our search for biblical truth and understanding seriously. 

It is always exciting when we do stumble upon some new revelation or detail that deepens our understanding of who the Sovereign Creator of the Universe is and what he desires from his creatures.  The search for truth and understanding can be a long and arduous path.  Seeking for understanding can lead us down many rabbit trails and dead-ends.  In most cases, our studies will raise more questions than answers.  It is in these dark, difficult, arid moments in our studies that we become vulnerable to the temptation to listen to the foolish woman sitting in the gate offering us stolen water and secret bread. 

In the course of study, many students stumble upon some new book or writing that they have never heard of before, such as the Book of Enoch, or the Book of Jasher, or the Gnostic Gospels, or other such “lost books of the Bible”.  Upon reading this material, all manner of excitement is generated.  Clearly this is new revelation!  Instantly the student wants to jump into this new material and re-translate all of scripture by it.  Oh how exciting it all is.  The same may be said about such teachings as the “Lunar Sabbath.”  One or two people find an obtuse quote outside of scripture and suddenly want to re-interpret all of scripture to fit their new found novelty.  These “mysteries” and “secret texts,” which have been hidden from believers for centuries are the equivalent to stolen waters…and meat eaten in secret.  Those that re-introduce these ancient and rejected teachings to yet another unsuspecting, uninformed and undiscerning audience of believers rejoice in being the one who “discovered” this novel revelation.  Armed with their new revelation these revelers quickly become the self-appointed leaders of a new reformation movement within the body of Messiah. 

But note carefully what the proverb warns….

¹⁶ Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ¹⁷ Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ¹⁸ But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. (Proverbs 9:13-18 KJV)

This stolen water and secret bread, while promising to be tasty and stimulating ultimately lead to death not to life!  Many, who fall prey to the desire for novel revelation and excitement in their search, ultimately become disenfranchised, frustrated, and hopelessly lost in what was once their pursuit of truth.  We must be cautious and discerning in what we read and study carefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully.  We must be sure that we are indeed seeking truth and understanding and not simply excitement, or worse yet a name for ourselves. 

There is indeed much that we have not yet discovered about the Bible.  Almost every day scholars and archeologists discover new artifacts that change or add to our understanding of the scriptures.  We must, however, learn to distinguish between fact and the interpretation of fact.  We must also learn to listen to what the Spirit of the Holy One is speaking.  The Bible is, in its self not the Word of God, but the testimony to the Word of God which is living.  Therefore, everything we study in the written word must be confirmed by the Spirit of the Holy One.  Everything received by the Spirit should likewise be confirmed by the testimony of the scriptures.  We should not simply accept everything we read as being truth.  We should question everything and prayerfully search the scriptures for ourselves. We must also consult with our brethren that we not become entangled in our own private interpretation.  We should also pray ardently for wisdom before making any change in our lives or walk.  Be not easily misled by what may at first appear logical or practical.  Instead, faithfully question and search out the matter in word and prayer.  While there is much we do not know there is nothing beyond the Father’s knowledge.  Therefore before accepting anything new, go to the Father and ask for his confirmation upon what you have discovered.  Do not change anything until it has been confirmed.  Do not swallow a teaching or revelation simply because it tickles the ears, is “new,” or “novel,” or promises to be sweet.  Truth is always better even when it is sometimes dull or bitter.