Sharing A Good Article

I just got this article in my email from Outreach Israel Ministries and thought that it was good and fit so well with the direction that the Holy Spirit has been taking me in lately that I should share it here. This is part of a series of daily reflections called the Counting of the Omer, leading up to Pentecost or Shavuot. I especially appreciated the reminder of Ezra 7:10. I think I just might have to copy that verse onto a sticky note to put on my wall by my desk. I like how it says that Ezra "set his heart" to study God's Word and to "practice" it. That's what its all about--being a do-er of the Word and not a hear-er only.

Pirkei Avot
Day Fourteen Reflection

And your people, all of them righteous, shall possess the land for all time; they are the shoot that I planted, My handiwork in which I glory (Isaiah 60:21, NJPS).

Shammai says: Make your study of Torah a regular practice, say little and do much, and receive all men with a cheerful countenance (m.Avot 1:15).

The School of Shammai was the stricter of the two Rabbinical schools that dominated the Pharisees. While many are inclined to think that the early Jewish Believers in Yeshua only followed the halachah of the School of Hillel, the School of Shammai likewise had influence. He says to “Make your learning of Torah a fixed obligation” (Neusner).[1] This very much mimics King David’s words in Psalms 119: “I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever” (v. 44). Shammai emphasizes that one’s true obedience to the Torah is evidenced by proper actions in the world, most notably, “Greet everybody cheerfully” (Neusner).[2]

An emphasis on studying the Torah can be seen all the way back in the time of Ezra, when the Southern Kingdom exiles returned from Babylonian captivity. Having a strong grasp on God’s Law was believed necessary so another such judgment would not happen again. Ezra 7:10 attests, “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Of course, when we read Shammai’s words many get the impression that all he is emphasizing is a constant and rote examination of the Pentateuch. But is this really the case?

Not enough Messianics realize this, but in Jewish theology torah is considered to be more than just the Biblical books of Genesis-Deuteronomy. It is God’s teaching and instruction. While this instruction begins with Genesis, it extends through all vessels whom He has used to instruct His people. Do you think that all that Shammai is emphasizing here was reading and examination Genesis-Deuteronomy? This is what many consider “Torah study” to be, but the Rabbis of Yeshua’s day equally studied the histories of Israel, the Prophets, the Wisdom literature—in addition to the Torah. They also considered torah to include the Spirit-inspired directives of their spiritual leaders. More and more studies are revealing that when the Apostle Paul uses the word “law,” for example, he uses it in a much more fluidic sense than to only refer to the Written Torah of Genesis-Deuteronomy, as he also includes much of the Oral Torah or teachings of the Rabbis in his definition.

Some of this may come as a shock to some of you, because your primary—and perhaps only—Bible study as a Messianic Believer focuses around the weekly Torah portion. While the weekly Torah portion is absolutely imperative to study, there is a whole Bible out there of torah that should not be overlooked. There is so much to be gained by disciplining yourself to a constant study of all of God’s Word, that it boggles my mind why so many Messianics focus exclusively on just the Torah. I cannot remember when the last time I was ever in a Messianic study on one of the historical books of the Tanakh, or even one of the Minor Prophets. What does this say for the development of the Messianic movement? It means that we have much studying to do that we are overlooking! It means we have a long way to go.

None of us are to be engaging in any rote examination of any set of Scripture. There is Shammai says that we are to study God’s Word, torah, so that we can “do much” and “receive all men with a cheerful countenance.” Our faithful study to the Bible is to be reflected in a positive impact on the world around us. Do we study the weekly Torah portions, the rest of the Tanakh, and the Spirit-inspired words of the Apostles with this in mind? How many people study the Torah for reasons other than to grow spiritually? Consider this the next time you open your Bible, and be sure to pray before you read. Ask the Holy Spirit to quicken you with what you are reading, and convict you if you are not bearing the fruit of those obedient to the Word.

We are one day closer to Shavuot!

NOTES
[1] Neusner, 674.
[2] Ibid.