Nothing New [under the sun]

The current political, economic, and religious context that the people of God [the church] abide amidst, especially in America, is nothing new.  Based on my observations, we [the church] are a spitting image of the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the years that led up to their exile to Assyria. 

There are several parallels that could be mentioned, but here I will only comment on two. 

[1.] The foundational and most significant similarity, from which all other symptoms inevitably develop from, is the absence of deliberate contextual observance of God’s Torah [instructions].  When Jeroboam became king over the northern kingdom he immediately introduced and implemented religious practices that were contrary to what God had commanded his people.  Jeroboam erected false altars, he started new “holidays,” and even presented a revisionist history that began to move the people out of their YHWH-given heritage [cf. 1 Kings 12:25-33].  Every king that succeeded Jeroboam was considered evil, specifically because they did not depart from the “sin” that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit [cf. 1 Kings 15:34; 16:26].  Moreover, 2 Kings 17 explicitly describes why God sent Israel into exile:

And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced…

and,

And Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD and made them commit great sin. The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them…

Consider then some practical developments of how the religious experience of the northern kingdom grew away from what God had intended for them as his chosen people.  To begin, one must understand why Jeroboam introduced the new religious practices. 

And Jeroboam said in his heart…If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.  [1 Kings 12:25-17]

Clearly Jeroboam’s lust for power was a major factor.  In light of his fear mentioned above, he, as king, made things easier and more convenient for his people.  “Instead of traveling all the way to Jerusalem to worship,” he said, “you can just go down the street to Bethel, or even to Dan if you live up in the north” [1 Kings 12:28].  Not only was it the case that Israel’s leader led them astray, but Israel [both in Judah and in the northern kingdom] also lived with “pagan” neighbors, literally.  They did not wipe out all the Canaanites when they entered the land [cf. Josh. 23:13; Judges 2:3].  Therefore, there were leaders [kings, priests, prophets] who led Israel astray in order to keep power and there was also a “secular” world that influenced the Israelites.[1] 

These things [already] existed in the first generation that made up the northern kingdom.  Imagine now, based on the biblical account, what must have been the case roughly two hundred years after that.  Each generation got further and further away from where God wanted them to be.  Each generation grew up in an ever-changing-away-from-YHWH culture.  The important thing to note, that is especially relevant here, is that these generations had no idea of this occurrence and the significance of it.  Those who had gone before them I’m sure extended some good things found in Torah, and even some accurate depictions of YHWH.  Nonetheless, generally speaking, they were very distant from where they should have been and did not contemplate the kinds of implications that we can contemplate now in hindsight.  In fact, that is why God sent prophets to them.  “TURN BACK TO YHWH AND HIS TORAH!”   

So, the disregard of God’s torah and the added influence [and attraction] of secular ways, on top of an ignorance accumulated over decades left the northern kingdom looking very much like the “world.”  This was not God’s will for his people.

[2.] Because of the former, Israel [God's people] had failed to keep a “pure and undefiled religion” [James 1.27].  The wealthy lived in luxury while the poor kept getting poorer.  Righteousness and justice did not flow down like a river [Amos 5.24].  Their economy was weak because of greed.  They were at war with other nations, and even fought against their “brother” [Judah].  They each were looking out for themselves.  Their love had grown cold due to torahlessness [Matt. 24.12]. 

These similarities between the northern kingdom Israel and the current state of God’s people [the church] are striking.  At large, God’s torah has been disregarded for centuries among God’s people.  As a result, there have been countless un-righteous deeds done by the Church [both to unbelievers and believers], division continues to run rampant, a “prosperity gospel” is preached and believed, and a syncretism has developed causing significant conformity to “secular” ways that has diminished our distinctiveness.  Our love is growing cold.     

To acknowledge these things is not merely to conclude, “Wow, I’ve never thought about that.”  Nor is it enough to say, “Well, what should we do?”  We must address these questions and most importantly recognize and understand that these things are not coincidence.  This “story” was recorded for our purpose [1 Cor. 10:11].  Considering the implications of this prophetic reality and connection can only lead us one way; the same way the prophets called Israel to repent back to and follow.  

[1] By “secular” I mean a culture that doesn’t acknowledge YHWH as the one and only God.  During the time period of which this post describes Israel’s religion [the northern kingdom especially] had become very syncretistic, meaning they included Ba’al worship and Asherah worship [idolatry] with their “faith” in YHWH. 

יהוּדי ["jew[s/ish]"=judean[s]]

I have been greatly blessed from much that Jewish believers in Yeshua have brought to the table regarding the faith.  There is no doubt an abundantly rich stream that has flowed through history specifically through the people that at one point began to be called “Jews.”  After all, “…to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.  To them belong the Patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Messiah, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen” [cf. Romans 9.4-5].

God chose the descendants of Jacob to be the light for the nations, and in fact God has fulfilled his promise through this nation, namely through Messiah Yeshua who is the light of the world.  Amidst this reality, however, exists a great error that I’m convinced continues to be perpetuated by the Church at large either because of former anti-semetic Church Fathers, misinformed teaching, simple ignorance, and/or a lack of interest.  And, because of this error, I’m convinced that we as the People of God, the Church [ekklesia] called Israel, have missed out on universally formative and sanctifying  observances that God intended for his people.  Not to mention the potential level of intimacy he desires as well.  Do get me wrong, I’m NOT saying because of this error we’ve been completely wrong in all things and are not able to be intimate with God.  Not at all.  All I’m saying is that clearing up this error can imply much for the daily lives of God’s people that will yield much blessing, much fruit, and deeper fellowship while at the same time cause us to walk more sanctified maintaining God’s light in this world.

This error can simply be described by saying that most believers in Yeshua today consider the biblical commandments found in the “Old Testament” [with the exception of the Ten Commandments and the notion of tithing] as being “Jewish.” For instance, when talking about the holidays Pesach [Passover], Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, etc. people call them “Jewish” holidays.  Eating kosher is considered “Jewish.”  I believe this is a false labeling.

If we go back to Mt. Sinai when God gave these blessed commandments to his people who he just redeemed from bondage we will find that God gave these to Israelites, not to the “Jews.”  You may say, “What’s the difference?”  Everything!  I am not Jewish.  But, I am an Israelite.  Why? How? Because I’ve trusted in Yeshua as Savior I am a part of the commonwealth [cf. Ephesians 2-3; Romans 9-11].  Plus, not only were they not “Jews” at the base of the mount, there was also a “mixed multitude” there [cf. Exodus 12.38].

It would be anachronistic to say that God gave his commandments to the Jews.  The term “Jew[s/ish]” that we read in the Old Testament [or the New Testament for that matter] does not just mean what “Jew” commonly means today. [1]  The people called “Jews,” generally speaking, are people specifically from the region of Judah/Judea [as opposed to the descendants of Jacob who were from the northern region/Kingdom], which was translated into the understood vocabulary of the day, namely “Jew[s/ish].”  References to “Jews” in Ezra and Nehemiah for instance are descriptive of people who had been taken out of Judah and were now coming back to this region; more accuracy would render the label “Judeans.” Furthermore, the Israelites that were from the Northern Kingdom of Israel were never called “Jews”, historically speaking.

So, what does all this mean?  It means that if I observe the feasts in Leviticus 23, I am not celebrating ”Jewish” laws or holidays.    More accurately, I would be keeping biblical commandments, holidays, etc. [2]  A review of Leviticus 23, when God explains the festivals to his people, should remind the reader that these feasts/festivals/holy days belong to GOD, they are his; they do not belong to the Jews - they are not “Jewish” [cf. v.2; also Leviticus 19.3].  Paul’s usage of “belong” above does not imply an “owning” as in private assets/property.  God’s commandments, statutes, and ordinances were given to his people initially called Israelites and then hundreds of years later labeled “Jews.”

These people were blessed with the privilege of having the first taste of the world-to-come by being able to develop the heritage of God’s Kingdom into their lives.  Now, because of Yeshua, all who believe in their heart and confess with their lips that Yeshua is Lord [Romans 10], can be grafted into this people, called Israel, and have just as much access to these things; these things that belong to God and pertain to life and godliness as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua who has called us according to his own excellence and glory that we may partake in his divine nature [cf. 2 Peter 1:3-4].

[1] The label “Jew” today is, generally speaking, descriptive of anyone who can trace their lineage back to Jacob, despite any literal connection to the specific tribe of Judah, from which the term “Jew” originated.  Is a descendant of Ephraim a “Jew”?  Or are they an “Ephramite”?

[2] These specifics are the easiest to use to make the point at hand.  It should be understood that the point addressed also applies to the rest of the commandments.