New year, new beginning
Following the Lord: a challenge
Rosh haShana is a festival of joy and at the same time it is a very serious festival. The shofar calls us to examine ourselves thoroughly and to return to G’d. Righteousness has to do with the truth and who on earth knows the truth? Nevertheless our Messiah Yeshua says: “I AM the Truth, the Way and the Life” (John 14 vers 6).
Without Him we will go astray and the path will be dangerous and uncertain. Following Him is a skill of life in which we can only succeed if we humble ourselves and sincerely confess the sins which we have committed against our Creator. For this we need the Spirit of Truth which proceeds from Avinu Malkenu, our G-d and our Father (John. 15,26). In this we see the full plentitude of the Eternal One working. Unfortunately, the church has replaced this for a dogma of trinity, which has a repulsive effect on the Jewish people. I think this is very understandable, because of the unnatural and idolatry character of this dogma. How could a human being ever see through this mystery and make it a dogma? The divinity of the Messiah is granted, because only G-d can set our souls free from sin and pay the price for a human being. A human could never do this.
The Lord keeps an eye on us
Psalm 33 is read in the synagogue during Rosh Hashana. “The Lord frustrates the purposes of the nations; he keeps them from carrying out their plans” (vers 10), “The Lord looks down from heaven and sees all of us humans” (vers 13), “He forms all their thoughts and knows everything they do” (vers 15)
In these confusing times there is a safety in knowing and walking with G-d. It gives us hope and comfort to experience His love for us. To know that He knows our struggles and pain from the past and He will carry us through. Especially during the High Holy Days we have special times of comfort to strengthen our inner beings to go forth on the path of faith.
Bar of soap of the Lord
Sometimes psalm 130 is being read in the synagogue: “Hear my cry, O Lord; listen to my call for help! If you kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned?” (verses 2+3),
How could we be happy and joyful if we would be reminded continually of our sins that we have committed intentionally or unintentionally. Isaiah 1:18 says it to us “Come now, and let us reason together. Says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be white as snow..”
If we confess our sins G-d will be faithful and righteousness to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9). I taught my children: to apply this text to your life, is the bar of soap of our G-d.
The Torah in our heart
“Israel, trust in the Lord, because his love is constant and he is always willing to save. He will save his people Israel from all their sins” (verses 7-8). All of Israel will be saved!
G-d is love and His love is everlasting!
Let’s make a new start this Rosh haShanah by giving the Lord the opportunity to write the law in our hearts, as he promises in Jeremiah 31. At Rosh haShanah we remember the creation and that the law was given by G-d to Moses on mount Sinai. Let’s make sure that we are now part of His new covenant of the writing of the Torah on our hearts and so becoming a new creation.
Happy New Year!
Chag sameach!