To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Wed, March 5, 2003 4:23 pm
Subject: [HF] Bible Study HF074
- The Issue of Ra and Shalom
Hebraics,
In our next study I want to
deal with a subject that has its
difficulties. It will be well worth looking into. The subject has to do
with God saying that He is the One who causes 'peace' and He is
the One who causes 'calamity.'
This is Bible Study HF074 - The Issue of Ra and Shalom.
The Lord gave Isaiah a prophecy concerning Cyrus. It begins with,
"Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by
the right hand, to subdue nations before him and to loose the loins
of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut."
After a bit, the Lord says, "I have also called you by name; I
have
given you a title of honor though you have not known Me." Then,
"I
will gird you, though you have not known Me."
Finally we come to the statement God makes which will take in our
study. He says, "That men may know from the rising to the setting
of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the Lord, and there
is no other, the One forming light and creating darkness, causing
well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these
things." (Cf. Isa
45:1-7)
Here are four points of interest, each of which can be considered
on its own. (You may want to read the entire chapter.):
(1) God's Messiah: The term 'anointed' as it is applied to Cyrus is
the Hebrew word rendered in English as Messiah. [Mishiach.] The
ancient Greek translation actually calls Cyrus, God's 'Christos.'
Cyrus is the only Gentile ever accorded this title. In this respect it
can be said Cyrus serves at least in part as a type of Christ.
(2) Humanity in God's hands: This prophecy twice says that Cyrus
was raised up, even though he did not know the Lord. This shows
how God works in humankind to accomplish His own purposes. It
also helps us to better understand the cross. Peter said, "This
[Jesus], [was] delivered over by the predetermined plan and
foreknowledge of God..." (Cf. Acts
2:23)
(3) Israel: In verse 4 God says Cyrus was raised up "for the sake
of
Israel [His] chosen one." This accords with what Jesus said about
the times and epochs. The disciples asked Him, "Lord, is it at this
time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" His response was,
"It
is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed
by His own authority." (Acts
1:6,7) Even in her rebellious state,
Israel yet served as a centerpiece for God's work of redemption. It
is the same today.
(4) One God: The Persians believed there were two supreme
beings. One created darkness. The other created light. One caused
calamities. The other brought blessings. There was a lesson to be
taught the nations. God alone is God. That lesson needs to be
learned. There is one true Lord of heaven and earth. God has no
competition. (Sure does away with new age and universalism.)
For this part of our study I want to center in on two words. God
says, "I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One ... causing
well-
being and creating calamity." This is something God's faithful Old
Testament people understood. But it isn't always understood today.
First the Hebrew words: 'Well-being' is the Hebrew 'shalom.' We
are usually familiar with this expression. It is used by Jewish people
today as a form of greeting. Shalom carries a variety of meanings,
all which are good. It includes the ideas of completeness,
soundness, welfare, peace, friendship, safety, and security. So
when a Jewish person says 'Shalom' to you, he is expressing the
best that God has.
But the Hebrew word for 'calamity' also needs to be understood.
The word is 'ra,' and it carries pretty much an opposite meaning to
shalom. Ra speaks of that which is bad, disagreeable, unpleasant,
misery, pain, adversity, injury, wrong, and of course, calamity.
Now that we know the words, what is the problem? The problem is
realizing that God is responsible both for well-being and calamity.
This sort of does away with some of the modern-day teaching that
if anything good happens, it has to be from God. If anything bad
happens it has to be from the devil. According to this Scripture,
God is behind both, and at least in a permissive sense.
But we do need to understand these terms in their proper
perspective. Calamity can be a great blessing even in God's
people's lives if we understand that a calamity can end up
producing something positive. Charles Spurgeon preached a
sermon that was entitled, 'Miseries, Messengers of Mercy.' He was
able to point to miseries in our life as a cause of our turning or
returning to the Lord, or as a cause of correction.
We can also take this a step further. When God allowed sin to
have its place, He decided that sin would pull a little red wagon
behind it, called 'ra.' (Calamity.) It is this particular truth that
stands
behind the Biblical statement, 'the fear of the Lord.' For example
the sage says, "Do not be wise in our own eyes; fear the Lord and
turn away from evil (ra)." (Pro
3:7) The thought is that we who fear
the Lord will turn away from those things that are displeasing to the
Lord. If we don't turn, then calamity is waiting around the corner.
The state of mind that much of Christianity is in today, especially in
our western affluent democracies, is that God is portrayed as sort
of a 'Sugar Daddy' in the sky, who lovingly dispenses grace for
everything we do, therefore it really doesn't matter what we do.
That is so far from what the Bible actually teaches. The apostle
said, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man
sows, this he will also reap." (Gal
6:7)
Certainly this does not do away with God's grace, nor His love for
mankind. What this kind of teaching does is destroy the moral
undergirding of a true Biblical walk. It also gives a false sense of
security, when evil is called good, and good can be called evil. This
is one reason the divorce rate in the Church today nearly matches
that of the world. Such a thing could not be said thirty years ago.
The Billy Graham Association did a survey many years back that
determined that for families who prayed and attended church
together, the divorce rate was one in four hundred. What has
brought such spiralling changes? What happened is that the moral
fiber of our nation is eating away. Some of it can be contributed to
today's teachings on 'You are gods,' and other such like teachings.
Where do you hear 'holiness' teachings today?
It is isn't a matter of being negative. Actually the Bible says this
will
happen in the latter times. But the Bible also teaches that terrible
things will happen in the latter times. Jesus said that men's would
be fainting from fear and the expectation of things which are
coming upon the world." (Cf. Luke
21:26)
But the point at hand brings us back to 'ra' and 'shalom.' Is there a
price to pay for sinful attitudes? Is there a blessing to be had for
those who follow in the true ways of the Lord. Sure there is. Life
itself reveals this lesson very clearly. Jesus never tells us to ignore
the terrible things that will happen. He simply tells us to look up.
Our redemption is drawing near. In another place He tells us not to
let our hearts be troubled.
As a final thought in this portion of the study, let me quote the
apostle Paul. He said, "Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God
stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and,
'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from
wickedness.'" (2
Tim 2:19)
Notice carefully the two sides of the foundation seal. One is the
security of the believer. God knows you personally. He loves you.
He is your Savior. But the other side of the seal is that believers
are instructed not to revert to foolish lives.
Look around you at those who disregard the seal inscriptions? Look
at the the pain, the calamity. Is God able to heal our hurts? Sure
He is and He does. There are some pains in our memories that we
will carry throughout life. But perhaps even these pains serve a
good purpose. What did David say? "Before I was afflicted I went
astray, but now I keep Your word." (Psalm
119:67)
The study is open. Feel free to comment on any portion
Shalom in the Christ,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.christianchallenge.org/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace
of God; that no root of bitterness springing up
causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)