Holy Hormones Bible Study: Teaching — If your book isn’t a buzz, it’s not the Bible.
HE IS THE GOD YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED HIM
Invite Him in
Brace yourself! This is more of a teaching blog than an entertaining one. It may not be an easy read because there is more here than a normal, well adjusted person would generally want to know. But the time will be well spent. The detail which makes me a boring person brings the Bible alive for me. If, however, you happen to like what you read, there’s more to be found here.
[NOTE: Important words analysed below are identified with Hebrew/Greek transliterations into English and Strong’s Numbers so that whoever wants to can check them out — the recommendation is that you do. I use the Blue Letter Bible (https://www.blueletterbible.org/ BLB)]
Torah-fied Saints miss the nuances
There are mediocre Jews just as there are mediocre Christians. That is, those who do just enough to feel comfortable in themselves — can’t take this stuff too far. (Matthew 7:21–23) But the serious Jews see Yehovah from a completely different perspective than many NT Saints. (for instance, on this website https://thelandofisrael.com/ )
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord is the common English cliché that punctuates the conversation of many chronologically enhanced Saints — especially preachers — in my part of town. Certainly it is not a bad thing to say, but something interesting was demonstrated at a meeting. The convener noticed the practice and suggested that the phrase not be as a substitute for, “Um,” when speaking. Everyone agreed and the meeting proceeded; for less than 10 sentences. A re-start was called and things went well; for less than 10 sentences. Then again. . . . finally lunch arrived. The effort was not resumed after lunch.
It is written in Matthew 6:7 || “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” The unspoken words heard there are, “You are speaking to God.” Enough said.
Before I get cancelled, I am not saying there is anything wrong with a sincere, “Praise the Lord,” as you will see.
Baruch HaShem (Praise The Name)
The devout Jews whom I follow, Orthodox trained Rabbis, say that this phrase, when used well, is very intimate. It is an Invitation to The Name to join you in your situation — good or bad. Knowing your heart He, the Loving Father, is delighted to be involved. [The Father is not an unknown concept to Judaism. The Torah is based on this.]
If you care to search, you will find texts declaring that:-
• He rejoices when you rejoice in His Name. Many times He Commands His People to rejoice in His Festivals (Leviticus 23).
• He also is delighted when you go your own way, get into trouble, repent and return to Him — as demonstrated with the Prodigal Son who, under the Law of Moses, should have been stoned to death.
• But apparently He just wants you to hang-out with Him. The example is Enoch. Who is post-worthy in his own right.
You will find texts which say, in so many words, “You only come to see me when you need something.”
How often is my prayer life like that?
But when circumstances beyond your control are overwhelming, you invite Him and He takes on one of His proper Names, El Shaddai, God Almighty — The All-sufficient One, because He is sufficient for your needs. He is the God you need when you need Him, and He enters the ring as Yehovah Gibbor, The Valiant Warrior Who delights to take up your cause. And your Father is the best fighter on the block.
There is much more that is said about the Name of God in a five part series beginning in this post.
How do you come to Him?
Those who come to Him must acknowledge Him as Lord of All. Unfortunately, too many of “Those Who Call Themselves by His Name” treat Him as one of Pavlov’s Dogs. We ring the bell and we expect Him to jump to it. Using special prayers to summons God is witchcraft. There are those who try to harness the Power of God for their own benefit. Remember “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark?” Do a search on Celebrities who study Jewish Mysticism, Kabbalah.
But if you come with a Humble Heart He is not stingy.
He has given you a promise and will not renege. For it is written:-
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and (I will) honour him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and (I will) show him my salvation.”
But hang on! That’s eight promises when just one will do. Praise the Lord! He is the God of Abundantly.
What is the logical thing to do?
Invite Him in — good times — bad times — the times in between and He will give you His phone number. The line is always open.
Jeremiah 33:3 || ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
The forgoing evidence has not been presented to convince any reader but to allow a personal decision to be made. There is much more to know about this subject. Perhaps you’ll pay another visit, sometime.
All Glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
(We all have a plank in our eye. It’s bigger than we think.)
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