Spiritual Growth Through The Deeds of Our Forefathers

"Spiritual greatness is inborn within each of us, and therefore, the goal of bringing it to the surface is within our grasp...When one aspires to the deeds of our Forefathers, he finds himself propelled along the path of spiritual growth because the opportunity truly exist to reach the loftiest level." (Praying With Fire, Rabbi Heshy Kleinman, page xxxiii)

Obedience to the commandments has a very tangible benefit that is almost never appreciated by the believer.  To the degree we perform the same obligations as Jesus and the prophets, we come to understand that we can achieve a similar level of spiritual growth.  As it is written,

"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.  Then he prayed again and the sky poured rain and the earth produce its fruit." (James 5:17-18)

As you can see from the original quotation, I am just beginning the book Praying With Fire.  It is already convicting me that my approach to prayer is grossly inadequate.  Prayer is the principal way that the believer "draws near" to the LORD God, (Psa 145:18-19)(James 4:8).

"The Gemara says that prayer stands at the very heights of the world, yet it is ‘looked down upon and degraded by man.’"  While study of the scripture can bring us into the world to come, "prayer can provide all the necessities of this world, such as good health, a livelihood, peace of mind and spiritual growth."

I will let you know how the book turns out.  Have a blessed day and season during this time of family fellowship.  - Scott

 

 

 

   

How Many Eyes Does the LORD Have?

“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chron 16:9)

The Bible assigns human attributes to God including hands (Psa 110:1), feet (Psa 99:5), and eyes in the passage above.  Most believers would assume that the LORD has two eyes, but scripture actually provide a definitive quantity that is more than two.

 

“But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel – these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.” (Zech 4:10)

 

The answer is “seven…eyes of the LORD,” which some understand as complete and perfect viewing of the creation by the Creator.  The prophecies of Zechariah began in “the second year of Darius” (Zech 1:1), at a time when construction of the second temple had been stopped, (Ezra 5:1). The words of Zechariah and Haggai were given to encourage the faithful to continue the work on the temple despite the edict of the local authorities.  To this end, Zechariah saw “a plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel”, a sign to restart the construction, which would be completed “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit’ says the LORD of hosts,” (Zech 4:6).   Just a few verses earlier, Zechariah's prophecy is filled with a number of Messianic allusions.

 

“‘I am going to bring in My servant the Branch. For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’” (Zech 3:8-10)

 

“The Branch” is a reference to Jesus, as Matthew recorded, “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matt 2:23), which means shoot or branch.  The suffering of Jesus at the cross removed iniquity in one day, “once for all when He offered up Himself,” (Heb 7:27). The future reign of Jesus on the earth is reflected in scripture as a time of peace and prosperity when “each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree,” (Micah 4:4).

 

Zechariah’s vision also includes one stone that contained seven eyes. This is also a reference to Jesus as the apostle John wrote, 

 

“And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.” (Rev 5:6)

 

John witnessed seven eyes associated with the Lamb who was slain. These seven eyes are said to be  “seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” The words of John mirror the words of Zechariah, “On one stone are seven eyes…eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth,” (Zech 3:9 & 4:10), and the original words of Hanani the seer, “For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth,.” (2 Chron 16:9).

 

Most believers have always appreciated that Jesus has His eyes on us, we just did not realize that there were a total of seven eyes. Now take the background of what you have just read and apply this understanding to a story from the gospel of John.

 

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’ 48 Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’ 49 Nathanael answered Him, ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Because I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.’” (John 1:47-49)

 

The response of Nathanael, “You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel,” has always been surprising, even to Jesus if that is possible, “Because I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe?” We wonder why Nathanael responded in this manner? 

 

We understand that Nathanael was well versed in the Law and the Prophets (John 1:45), so he probably made a connection between the words of Jesus and prophecy, but which one?  Only a handful of verses in the Hebrew text talk about a person sitting under the fig tree. Further still, the only passage (that I know) that places sight ("seven eyes" (Zech 3:8) and "I saw you" (John 1:48) and the Kingdom phrase, "under the fig tree" (Zech 3:10)(John 1:48), in close proximity is contained in Zechariah.   If Nathanael was thinking about this passage in Zechariah, then the context of the passage would lead him to conclude that Jesus was the Branch, who believers know at the "King of Israel". 

 

Scott