Jealousy

This is a continuing look at the Sabbath reading portion titled Naso, meaning "to elevate, lift up". The first part of this study began last week, and is posted on an entry just below this one. We will start our story in the New Testament this time to see an example of the elevation of naso. The Pharisees and the chief priests, who were the religious leaders at the time, "...sent officers to take (piazo/biazo - take, caught, apprehend, lay hold of in order to imprison, arrest/apply force, inflict violence upon) Him (Jesus)...Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why have you not brought Him?'. The officers answered, 'No man ever spoke like this man!" (Jn. 7:32-45, excerpt). The Pharisees told the officers that they too were deceived like the ignorant crowd, saying, "....this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." (v. 47-49). The Pharisees were very confident that they, unlike the ignorant people, knew the law. One of their members, a secret disciple of Jesus, spoke up against the arrest action: "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" (v. 50-51). So the law was to fairly handle accusations, and not judge someone guilty without a hearing. What had Jesus said that had caused the temple officers to come back empty-handed? One thing He said during this time was at a Feast of the LORD: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (Jn. 7:37-38). On another occasion, Jesus said to the Samaritan woman by the well who had had several husbands, and "not-quite husbands": "...whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (Jn. 4:13-14). Then these debates of the religious leaders concerning Jesus broke up, and they returned to their homes. Meanwhile, Jesus had headed in a different direction. He went to the Mount of Olives, and early the next morning, He went to the temple in Jerusalem. There all the people came to Him, and He sat down and taught them (Jn. 8:1-2). We can imagine how these same Pharisees felt when they saw all the people going to Jesus in the temple, and Him teaching them instead of themselves, as "the experts". Many times in Scripture, the religious leaders were described as jealous, envious, and enraged at the Words and miracles of Jesus (see Mt. 27:15-18, Lk. 6:9-11, Lk. 11:52-54, Jn. 11:47-53, 57). In their resentment of Him, the scribes and Pharisees immediately brought a woman before Jesus there in the temple that they said had been taken/caught (katalambano - apprehend, lay hold of, seize, come upon, perceive, to make a trial of) in adultery. From the meaning of the Greek word used here, this does not necessarily mean that the woman had already been proven guilty, but she had been seized under the allegation of adultery. However, they told Jesus that the woman was caught "in the very act" (Jn. 8:1-4). Were they telling Jesus the truth? These leaders had already proven that they had no problem bending the religious rules for their convenience, and Jesus had often condemned them for it. Jesus, who was without blame, had Himself been the victim of their false accusations many times. Jesus was about to give these religious leaders a demonstration of His superior, even omniscient knowledge of the Scriptures (He is the Word of God), as He applied the Law of Jealousy from Numbers 5, which is one of our Sabbath reading portions. This is the law of jealousy as given by the LORD to Moses: The spirit (ruah - breath, wind, spirit, mind, blast, vain, anger, seat of emotion, bitter, discontented, an unaccountable uncontrollable impulse) of jealousy (qinah/qana - jealousy, envy, zeal, ardor of anger/jealous anger) has entered into a man. Either his (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) wife has indeed committed adultery (defiled herself), but it was done in secret with no witnesses, having not been caught (tapas - taken, surprised, caught, seized, captured), or his (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) wife has not defiled herself, but is an innocent accused by the spirit of jealousy that has entered her husband. He is to bring his wife to the priest, and along with bringing a jealousy offering "for bringing iniquity to remembrance", she will be given holy water brought in an earthen vessel to drink in which dust (apar - dust, earth, powder, ashes) from the floor of the tabernacle has been mixed (Num. 5:11-.18). The priest would then have the woman swear an oath that if she is guilty of this iniquity, certain physical curses would come upon her (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) thigh/loins, and her (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) belly (womb) that would prevent her from having children, and cause her to be a curse among the people. The priest would write these curses in a book, "and he shall scrape them off into the bitter water. And he shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her to become bitter." (v. 23-24). The LORD concluded His command saying: "This is the law of jealousy...". (Num. 5:29). This law, as we can see, is not about adultery, which has its own specific place in the law. It is about a spirit of jealousy that holds both the man and his wife in bondage. The husband cannot prove his wife's guilt, and the wife cannot prove her innocence. God provided a way in which an innocent may be supernaturally proven innocent, and both husband and wife may be delivered from the effects of this destructive spirit. Otherwise, there is no remedy for this situation which cannot be proven either way. Let's look at what Jesus did with this law of jealousy, and these religious leaders, whose motivations of jealousy, envy and rage, He was already very familiar with. The scribes and Pharisees said of the woman: "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?' This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up (nasa/naso in Hebrew - lift up, rise up, bear, carry in the arms, support, forgive, aid, assist, help, hold up, pardon, spare, to lay sin upon oneself) and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest, even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up (nasa/naso in Hebrew: see above meaning) and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers (kategoros - "against" + "the assembly", accuser, name given to the devil, as against one in the assembly) of yours? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said to her, 'Neiither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (v. 5-11). We see the elements present here from the law of jealousy. The woman is accused of adultery. Jesus, had just taught that HE is the source of "the holy water", the living water of everlasting life of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 7:39). He wrote on the ground (ge - ground, earth) of the temple (tabernacle). Many believe that Jesus was writing the sins of her accusers in the ground. That's a good conclusion. Remember, though, that the law of jealousy required that the curses of that law be written. Jesus would know if the accusation against her was false, but He didn't say that it was. If the accusation was true and proven, why hadn't the men already stoned her before this? It was very convenient for them to come with this accused woman at that very moment when they were so angry with Jesus, in order to test Him. Jesus "raised Himself up" twice during the incident. Was He exercising the true meaning of nasa/naso in which the law of jealousy is found? The true meaning in "elevating or lifting up" of nasa/naso includes forgiveness, pardon, help, to spare, to lay sin upon oneself, as we saw above. We like the idea of ourselves being elevated, but the true elevation comes when we elevate others with us. All of these things are food for thought as we read and meditate upon naso, to elevate, to lift up. If you would like to know more about the grace of naso, you can pray with me: Heavenly Father, You made a provision to vindicate the innocent, and righteously judge the guilty. However, we are all guilty in our hearts, and need the forgiveness, pardon, and help of Your naso Son, Jesus. He said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." (Jn. 12:32). Fill me with Your Spirit, so that I can walk in the truth of elevation in Christ. You sent Your Son, so that I might be raised up with Him (Eph. 2:6). Let me be slow to accuse, and quick to elevate in forgiveness and prayer. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Righteousness

 

As I write about this topic, I must say that it is not with a clear understanding. I know that there are many more people out there who would know more about it than myself. There are clergy and those who have studied the Word for years, and prayed  and walked in the wisdom of God, who could be clearer in thought on this subject. But more and more, I have a feeling in my gut that I have to try and puzzle out. Perhaps a year from now, or two, or three, or more, I will have a different understanding of this issue. The issue I am struggling with is the issue of righteousness. We believe we know what this word means. In Hebrew, the word righteous or righteousness means "to do or bring justice, to have a just cause, to be just, lawful, correct". I find this definition different from the one I had in my own mind. I had viewed righteousness as being in a condition without sin. I think this is the view of most people. But considering the Hebrew meaning, righteousness pertains to actions or works that reveal justice.  A form of behavior that reflects "rightness".
There is an interesting story of justice in John 8. The religious people of the society bring a woman before Jesus. She has been caught in the very act of adultery. The Law of Moses says that such a person should be put to death (Lev. 20:10). The act of adultery is certainly forbidden by the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:14). The crowd of religious leaders asks Jesus "But what do You say?". They were testing Him, and looking for a reason to accuse Him of breaking the commandments. But Jesus didn't answer them. In fact, never did He answer them directly in any way. He stooped down to the ground, and began to write in the dirt with His finger, as if He hadn't heard their question. They asked Him again. Jesus stood and said "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (John 8:7). Then He stooped down and began writing on the ground again. Everyone began, one by one, to walk away, convicted by their consciences. Only the adulterous woman was left standing there.  Jesus asked the woman if there were any accusers left. She answered Him, "No one, Lord." Jesus answered her. "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (Jn. 8:11).
We don't know what Jesus was writing in the dirt that day. There is speculation that He was writing in the dirt all of the sins or unrighteous acts of the religious leaders standing there that day. That they also were guilty of breaking the Law of Moses in one form or another. 
The religious leaders in the story did not bring a false accusation. The woman did indeed commit adultery (although her partner in the crime seems to be missing from this event!), and the Law of Moses is clear on the punishment. So what does this mean? Is Jesus telling the leaders that they should ignore the Law of Moses? Well, the Law of Moses doesn't cleanse sin, it just makes us knowledgeable of sin. (Rom. 3:20). The only remedy the Law of Moses could provide was a temporary one of animal blood sacrifice, that was a type and shadow of the perfect, and all-time sacrifice that would be provided in the future by God, Himself, in the form of His only begotten Son. So what was Jesus trying to demonstrate, or teach to this group?
There is a principle in our civil law called "clean hands". If you come to court, making an accusation against someone, you must come to court with "clean hands". In other words a drug dealer cannot sue someone saying the person did not pay him for the drugs that were sold. The drug dealer is breaking the law himself, and therefore, he does not have good standing to accuse the other person. He, himself, does not have "clean hands". The court will not hear his case. Perhaps we can say that Jesus was telling the religious leaders that they "did not come to court with clean hands". Their actions did not come forth out of a condition of righteousness.
So who does have "clean hands"?Of our own strength, none of us do! The scriptures say:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
                                             Romans 3:23
"As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one;"
                                              Romans 3:10
"They have all turned aside, 
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good, No, not one.
                                               Psalms 14:3, Psalm 53:3
"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
                                                Eccl. 7:20

What about when we want to please God, and try to exercise control over our thoughts and behavior? Can't we be righteous then? We know right from wrong, and can choose to act righteously, can't we? The Prophet Isaiah says:
"But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind, 
Have taken us away."
                                               Isa. 64:6

It is not possible for us to be or act righteously by our own strength and determination alone.
We cannot buy righteousness, we cannot earn it, we cannot deserve it. We cannot follow a law to achieve it. Righteous words, thoughts and deeds, come from out of a re-created, a converted, spirit and soul. It is a flow that should come forth out of the Christ that we have asked to reside in us, the Holy Spirit that dwells in us to lead us into all the righteousness of our Father (Rom. 3:22):
"(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)".
                                              Eph. 5:9

So often, we, the Church, think this means that we can look at all those around us for the purpose of identifying others' unrighteous acts. Now that we are righteous, we can speak of the unrighteousness of others. But this does not sit well in my soul. It is said that a person cannot repent unless they know they have sinned. So we need to bring that sin to their consciousness. But then, it seems to me that we are no more effective than the Law of Moses was, only giving a knowledge of sin, but not providing the remedy. We are telling people to free themselves of unrighteousness, but we do not tell them that their freedom is not found in the natural, but in the supernatural gift of Christ. I think sometimes we have made people aware, but we do it to accuse, not to remedy. How can we be so quick to point out the sins we see around us, without looking, first, at the sin and unrighteous acts within ourselves? When the world sees us genuinely dealing with, and repenting of our own unrighteousness, they will then be able to take seriously our message to them of repentance and cleansing through the righteousness of God, which is Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that the Church should never call sin what it is - harm, death, decay? Isn't that the truth? Shouldn't we stand for the truth without compromise? So what is the answer?
Inside me, the suggestion comes that if I am indeed a vessel of that free, merciful gift of righteousness through Jesus, shouldn't my life reflect that grace? Though my sin may be visible, regardless of my desire to live righteously, shouldn't there be a quality about my life that leads others to ask: "What is the source of that difference I can see in you? How can I have that also?"
If the only way I can bring the attention of others to the need for repentance is by pointing a finger at them, then haven't I failed in my walk with Christ? Shouldn't my life be an open book of the fruits of my own repentance? Shouldn't righteous thoughts, words and deeds flow out of my saved spiritual condition?
In Eph. 5, scripture tells us to be the same kind of light that Jesus was, and is. It tells us to walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8). This light that dwells in us shines onto works of darkness and exposes them, even unrighteousness covered and hiding in secret (Eph. 5:11-13).
In another place in scripture, Jesus said to the crowd who followed Him, who felt justified in righteousness based on the fact that they were descended from Abraham,
"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."         
                                                                  Luke 3:8
They thought they achieved righteousness by who their ancestor was. We are not born into the condition of righteousness. Righteousness is a way of life that mirrors the Father's words, and actions.

In the story of the woman who was caught in adultery, wouldn't Jesus have been speaking the truth to agree with the crowd, and convict the woman of adultery? Yet He didn't do that. He showed her, and the crowd, something completely different about the condition of righteousness, and then said to her "...go and sin no more."
 We, on the other hand want to tell the world "go and sin no more", without showing them the "something different" that comes from the character and wisdom of God. Isn't it so, that the world has become weary of hearing us tell them how they do not walk in righteousness, when they see that we do not either? We call others to repentance, but where is our repentance for our own thoughts, words, and deeds? Don't we want the fruit that comes with repentance that Jesus told us to seek? Isn't it so hard to examine ourselves truthfully, see our personal faults and shortcomings, and ask for forgiveness for them? Yet, we want others to do this, without them even knowing or understanding Who our Father is, Who Jesus really is? Scripture instructs God's own people to humble themselves and repent (2 Chron. 7:14).
Even within the Church, we look at our brothers and sisters, and so easily discern their shortcomings. We point the finger at the other, and talk about their errors and mistakes, but fail to see our own. This is self-righteousness. We are back to thinking that we are righteous by our own goodness and strength, or by who our parents were, or because of what church we attend, or for other reasons of the flesh. It is not possible to be righteous by our own ability, as we saw in the scriptures above. 
If we do not examine ourselves first, and do so continually, we are coming to court without "clean hands". If we insist on standing in our own righteousness, then the righteousness of God through Christ, can no longer do a work in us. We will have chosen to stand before God in our own strength, rather than in His strength, in our own righteousness, rather than His righteousness. This is not wisdom.
If I was standing in that circle of religious leaders accusing the woman of adultery, what sins of mine would Jesus be writing in the dirt? I hate to even think of it, but for the woman's sake, as well as my own, I need to take it very seriously. If I want to see her restored and saved, and myself walking in righteousness, I have no choice but to examine what Jesus is writing in the dirt about me.
Before we can even begin to hope to impact the world with calls for repentance and a demand for righteous behavior, we each need to read what Jesus is writing in the dirt about us. If we sincerely deal with these things before Him, then and only then, can we be effective in our call of repentance to the rest of the world. Then and only then, can the righteousness of our Father become a part of our lives. Then our words will ring true and shine with Light, and reveal the works of darkness. Yes, the world seems full of sin, but the Word says, "Where sin abounds, grace does more abound". The power of the birth of Christ lies in the fact that God has good will toward men, and declares peace and reconciliation between men and Himself. All heaven is rejoicing that the Savior who has come to take man's sins away is born!
In Rev. 19, the Marriage of the Lamb is about to take place. The Bride has made herself ready, and is clothed in fine white linen, clean and bright. This fine linen is "the righteous acts of the saints." (Rev. 19:8). It is time not to just speak righteousness, but to BE righteousness. 
I believe we need to declare the righteousness of God, our Father (Psalm 40:9-10), to speak the truth of the need and the privilege to walk in righteousness, but the Psalmist also declares this:
"I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart."
                                                  Psalm 40:8 
In Zechariah, the angel of the LORD says to the priest, Joshua, as He clothes him in righteousness:
"If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will keep My command,
Then you shall also judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts;" 
                                                    Zech. 3:6-7 

As the verses above say, the way of righteousness starts with a change in my own heart. Why would the LORD want someone to judge His House, who does not himself, walk in the righteousness of our Father? This righteousness is found through Jesus only, not by my own power.
 
I do not know if I have the right understanding of this, but I know that what we are now doing, isn't working. We need to really think about this issue, and try to discern what the heart of God truly is in this. Time grows short, souls are in the balance, and there is much work to be done.

Our Father is Righteousness.


"Lord, I Need You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKjmy5pGyqA

"You Are My Hiding Place"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF5ieYJCqnw