Month: August 2024

Blessing of Holy Desperation

John J Parsons

Shalom chaverim yakarim. In this “Daily Dvar broadcast” (see link below) I discuss what I have called the “blessing of holy desperation” (ברכת יֵאוּשׁ הקדוש), which I define as that very special blessing of needing God so viscerally that you would otherwise fall apart or even self-destruct apart from his ongoing intervention in your life. It is this great blessing of “brokenness” that reveals God’s compassion and grace in our lives…  I hope you will find it helpful.

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Podcast:

 

Hebrew Lesson:

 

Parashat Va’etchanan (podcast)…

John J Parsons

Our Torah portion for this week (Vaetchanan) includes some of the most foundational texts of the Jewish Scriptures, including the Ten Commandments, the Shema (the duty to love God and study His Torah), and the commandments of tefillin and mezuzot. In addition, in this portion Moses predicts the worldwide exile and the eventual redemption of the Jewish people in acharit hayamim (the prophesied “End of Days”).

We always read this portion of the Torah on the Sabbath that follows Tishah B’Av, called Shabbat Nachamu (שבת נחמו), the “Sabbath of Comfort,” since the haftarah speaks about God’s future consolation in the coming kingdom of God (“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people [Isa. 40:1]). With the advent of this special Sabbath, we have just seven weeks to prepare for the new year (i.e, Yom Teruah) and the High Holidays – a “jubilee” season that heralds the return of Yeshua… In addition, on the 15th day of the month of Av we will celebrate chag ha-ahavah (חַג הָאַהֲבָה), or “the holiday of love.” Since it marks the “last” festival of the Jewish year, prophetically the 15th of Av (called Tu B’Av) pictures our marriage to the Lamb of God (Seh Elohim), the LORD Yeshua our beloved Messiah. On a soon-coming day those who belong to the LORD and are faithful to follow His ways will be blessed with the unspeakable joy of an eternally intimate relationship with Him. This is heaven itself – to be in the Presence of the LORD and to be regarded as His beloved (Rev. 19:6-9).

 

Vaetchanan Podcast:

 

God’s Glory and Tishah B’Av…

John J Parsons

Shalom chaverim.  In this “Daily Perush” audio I provide an exegesis and reading of a significant phrase in King Solomon’s great prayer at the dedication of the First Temple, namely, “Behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you” (2 Chron. 6:18), and I then go on to reflect a bit on the meaning of these words in relation to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.  Please note that this topic is primarily designed for those who are studying Biblical Hebrew. I hope you will find it helpful. – John

Key Verse:

 

 

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Additional Comments

During his earthly ministry, our Lord Yeshua referred to himself as “the True Temple of God” (המקדש האמיתי של אלוהים) that dwelt among us. The Mishkan (Tabernacle) was a temporary dwelling place as was the physical Bet Hamikdash (Temple). As Solomon said, God never could be contained in a house made of stone, cedar and gold (2 Chron. 6:18). These were shadows of a greater Substance that entirely embodied the Temple’s purpose and essential truth (Col. 2:17).

Yeshua told the Pharisees of his day that he was greater than the Temple in Jerusalem (Matt. 12:6) and challenged them: “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19-21). Yeshua is the Shekhinah – the Presence of God – manifested in the temple of human form: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col. 2:9, John 1:1,14).

As the Lamb of God, Yeshua is not only the Kodesh Hakodoshim (Holy of Holies) — embodied within a human heart of flesh — but also the substance and end of all sacrifice (Heb. 10:12). When his flesh was destroyed on the Cross, the curtain of the Temple was likewise rent asunder (Matt. 27:50). Access to the inner sanctum of the LORD was thenceforth available to all who would come in faith. Yeshua alone is the Spirit, Source and the End of the true Temple of God.

 

For more see:

The Significance of Zion and the tragedy of Tishah B’Av

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Tishah B’Av: Turning back to God

John J Parsons

The Book of Lamentations is an acrostic (i.e., alphabetical) poem that begins with the Hebrew letter Aleph (א) in the word “eichah” (אֵיכָה), which also marks the Hebrew name of the book (מגילת איכה). “How (eichah) lonely sits the city that once was full of people!” (Lam. 1:1). The sages note that this word “how” (i.e., eichah) could also be read as “where are you?” (i.e., ayeka: אַיֶּכָּה), God’s first word spoken to Adam after he broke covenant in the Garden (Gen. 3:9). Note that God’s question is often our own: “Where are you God? Are you here, in the midst of this tedious moment? Do you know my loneliness, my ache for love? Do you understand the troubles of my heart? Do you know my pain?”

And yet how many people have faith that God’s call is one of comfort and restoration? God uses our loneliness (“how lonely…”) to search our hearts, asking each of us, ayeka – “Where are you?” “Why have you turned away from me and chosen a state of exile?” Our haunting sense of God’s absence impels us to seek for him… God awaits our only possible response, “Hashivenu!” — an imperative (urgent appeal) for the grace to repent: “Turn us back to yourself, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old” (Lam. 5:21).

 

Hebrew Lesson
Lamentations 5:21 reading:
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Our response to the questioning love of the LORD is called teshuvah (i.e., תְשׁוּבָה: “turning [shuv] to God”). Teshuvah is an “answer” to a shelah (שְׁאֵלָה), or a question. God’s love for us is the question, and our teshuvah – our turning of the heart toward Him – is the answer. As Jeremiah confessed in the hour of great trouble: “I called upon your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; You heard my voice: hide not your ear at my breathing, at my cry. You came near when I called upon you; you said, ‘Do not be afraid.’” (Lam. 3:55-57).

 

Parashat Devarim Podcast…

John J Parsons

Our Torah reading for this week (i.e., parashat Devarim) is the very first portion from the Book of Deuteronomy (i.e., Sefer Devarim: ספר דברים), which is always read on the Sabbath that immediately precedes the somber holiday of Tishah B’Av (תשעה באב). In Jewish tradition, this special Sabbath is called “Shabbat Chazon” (שַׁבַּת חַזוֹן), “the Sabbath of Vision,” since the Haftarah that is read (i.e., Isa. 1:1-25) comes from the vision of the prophet Isaiah (ישעיהו הנביא) regarding the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. In both Jewish tradition and liturgy, teshuvah (repentance) and viduy (confession of sin) are the themes of this preparatory Sabbath.

 

Devarim Podcast:

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