Roots of Faith

Today is a special Sabbath known as Shabbat HaGadol (the big Sabbath). It is the Sabbath which immediately preceeds Passover.

Passover is the festival of Freedom and Redemption. At Passover we tell the story of the redemption of God’s firstborn son Israel (see Exodus 4:22-23).

The Passover of the past is always linked to the passovers of the future. The prophets Jeremiah foresaw a yet future Passover that would be greater than the first (Jeremiah 16:14ff). This future Passover will deliver mankind from physical and spiritual bondage and oppression and will be, according to Hebrew legend, heralded by Elijah the prophet. We read of this in this week’s special Haphtarah from Malachi.

This special reading from the prophets in this week’s lesson speaks of the end….and of a choice that we will have to make. The outcome depends upon our choice. Malachi speaks of judgement day.

We are charged to return to YHWH with a promise that if we do He will return to us (Malachi 3:7 / Zechariah 1:3). We also read the final words of the prophets…Remember the torah of Moses!

As we approach this time of redemption we should focus on the two ways - Moses declared these two ways in Deuteronomy 30:15-20.

In this week’s lesson I show Paul’s theology as stated in Acts 24. I specifically speak on verses 14 and 15 of that chapter. Daniel 12:1-4 seems to be the source of this theology at least in part.

I cover also a strange text from Isaiah 66:24 from which I begin to talk of a view of “hell” from the Hebrew Bible. The origins of the idea of Hell come in also this week in the normal prophet reading from Jeremiah 7. There we read of a place called the valley of the sons of Hinnom, which is rendered in the Greek as Gehenna. See 2 Chronicles 28:3, 33:6; Jeremiah 19:1-9 and the following texts in the New Testament - Matthew 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6.

This valley is located in the south of Jerusalem. It became a place where according to my sources in the time of Jesus, dead animals and trash were burned. The fire there burned all the time and the image was quite shocking I am sure.

I cover several other points in this week’s lesson. I hope that you will take the time to listen to the class. Let us know what you think of the service. Until next week - Shalom, Ross

 

 Tzav - Intro [39:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Tzav - Reading and comments [47:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download