by Ptr. Art Calaguas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shalom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The death of the 12 Druze children killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack in Majdal Shams, in the Golan Heights last July 27, 2024 has brought about Israeli retaliation in terms of targeted assassinations of top Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. Israeli and international attention are now focused on Iran\u2019s and Hezbollah\u2019s expected retaliation, for such is the Mid-East war playbook. Negotiations for a temporary ceasefire deal seem to be in waiting mode even as the IDF attacks pockets of Hamas terrorists who reappear in different parts of Gaza. More than 100 hostages (alive and dead) are still held somewhere in Rafah or elsewhere in Gaza. The hostages have been in captivity for over 300 days since the Hamas attack on Israel last October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let us continue to pray for the immediate and unconditional release of all the remaining hostages and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the Book of Leviticus references to the original Abrahamic covenant promises including the land to be given to the Israelites are also found as in the books of Genesis and Exodus. Last time, we found God\u2019s warning to the Israelites when they possess the land not to commit the same \u201cabominable\u201d or \u201cdetestable\u201d acts committed by the peoples occupying Canaan or they themselves will be \u201cvomited\u201d out. These acts (abundantly spelled out in chapter 18) included sexual licentiousness, prohibited sexual relations, incestuous relationships, bestiality and the sacrificing of children to the god Molech. One of the phrases used quite often in chapter 18 is \u201cuncover nakedness.\u201d It is the ancient euphemism for having sexual intercourse. Leviticus 18 hammers the aberrant and perverse practices that the Egyptians and Canaanite peoples do that the Israelites are to avoid at all cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leviticus 19 on the other hand speaks about the holiness that the LORD expects of his people. Note the key phrase: \u201cYou shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy\u201d (Leviticus 19:2). Both the ESV Global Study Bible<\/em> and The Jewish Study Bible<\/em> emphasize that the word \u201choly\u201d and \u201choliness\u201d means being \u201cset apart, unique and distinct.\u201d It does not point to superior moral or ethical qualities or emulating \u201cdivine attributes such as compassion and forgiveness\u201d even though these are desirable. It is about the \u201cotherness\u201d of the divine being who is God. In this sense, the Israelites are called to \u201cotherness\u201d by belonging to the LORD. Hence being set apart, chosen, being separate from the other peoples, and then for God to be in their midst carries an expectation for the Israelites to obey and fear (revere) the LORD and remain faithful and loyal to the covenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that Leviticus 19 also contains what the Lord Jesus declares in the Gospels as the second greatest commandment: to love one\u2019s neighbor as one\u2019s self (see Leviticus 19:18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is in Leviticus 19:23 and 29 where the next references to the land the Israelites would come into and possess are found. The Hebrew verse of Leviticus 19:23 is given below (read right to left, top down) specifying a decree for the people to observe to keep the land holy (set apart):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05be\u05ea\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u05a3\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0597\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b0\u05d8\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05dd\u0599 \u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc\u05be\u05e2\u05b5\u05a3\u05e5 \u05de\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b8\u0594\u05dc \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05a5\u05dd \u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b9\u0596<\/mark>\u05d5 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05e4\u05b4\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05d9\u05b9\u0591\u05d5 \u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05dc\u05b9\u05a3\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05e0\u05b4\u0597\u05d9\u05dd \u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05a5\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u059b\u05dd \u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b5\u05dc\u05b4\u0596\u05d9\u05dd<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b9\u05a5\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05db\u05b5\u05bd\u05dc\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Jewish Study Bible (Jewish Publication Society) translation for this verse is given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 23<\/sup><\/strong>When you enter the land<\/mark> and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden<\/mark>. Three years it shall be forbidden<\/mark> for you, not to be eaten.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The IVP Bible Background Commentary \u2013 Old Testament<\/em> notes that careful fruit tree husbandry including \u201ccultivation and pruning was necessary during the first three years in order to insure eventual good harvests and proper maturing of the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the text, the land to be entered is obviously Canaan. The 1st<\/sup> translated word \u201cforbidden<\/mark>\u201d used here and in other translations actually is from the Hebrew word \u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 (\u201corlah\u201d) meaning \u201cforeskin\u201d and the 2nd<\/sup> word also translated \u201cforbidden<\/mark>\u201d is from the Hebrew word \u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05dc (\u201carel\u201d) meaning \u201chaving foreskin\u201d or \u201cuncircumcised.\u201d It is not difficult then to see why this is translated as \u201cforbidden\u201d on account of the Covenant of Circumcision (Genesis 17). The fruits are deemed \u201cunclean\u201d or \u201cuncircumcised\u201d until after 3 years. As in waiting for the circumcision of Israelite male babies until the 8th<\/sup> day, one must wait for 3 years before harvesting the fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verses 24-25 give further explanation for treating the fruits as off-limits for the first 3 years. Verse 24 states that on the 4th<\/sup> year, the fruits are to be set aside for jubilation (or offering of praise) before the LORD. Then Verse 25 says that only on the 5th<\/sup> year can the fruit be eaten; these are observed so that the yield of the tree is increased. Verse 24 uses the Hebrew word \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 (\u201cqodesh\u201d) meaning holy, sacred, set apart. That\u2019s why The Jewish Study Bible<\/em> translates it as \u201cset aside.\u201d It is in keeping with the whole theme of holiness, of being set apart in Leviticus chapter 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leviticus 19:29 further stresses that the land must be kept pure and holy and must not be defiled. The Hebrew verse of Leviticus 19:29 is given below (read right to left, top down) linking prostitution to the defiling of the land; the opposite of holiness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05ea\u05b0\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7\u05dc\u05b5\u05bc\u05a5\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05bd\u05ea\u05be\u05d1\u05b4\u05bc\u05ea\u05b0\u05bc\u05da\u05b8\u0596 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b0\u05e0\u05b9\u05d5\u05ea\u05b8\u0591\u05d4\u05bc \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0\u05be\u05ea\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05a3\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0594\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05a5\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0596\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05d6\u05b4\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05bd\u05d4\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Jewish Study Bible (JPS) translation for this verse is given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 29<\/sup><\/strong>Do not degrade your daughter and make her a harlot, lest the land<\/mark> fall into harlotry and the land<\/mark> be filled with depravity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The translated word \u201cdegrade\u201d can also be rendered \u201cdefile,\u201d \u201cpollute,\u201d or \u201cprofane\u201d with a definite sexual character in context. Being made a harlot or engaging in harlotry is another way of describing prostitution. In the ancient Near East (ANE), prostitution for one\u2019s daughter can be the result of war or other dire financial situations. It can also be part of cultic activities, such as being a temple prostitute of the many gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the surrounding peoples and lands. This prohibition again reiterates that the people of God when they come into the land must not commit the acts deemed abominable to the LORD. Being holy or set apart meant a deep and inseparable connection between the people and their land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will continue next time, perhaps after Oplan UPCAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless us all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Ptr. Art Calaguas Shalom. The death of the 12 Druze children killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack in Majdal Shams, in the Golan Heights last July 27, 2024 has brought about Israeli retaliation in terms of targeted assassinations of top Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. Israeli and international attention are now focused on Iran\u2019s and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[6,7,18,9,8,5],"class_list":["post-449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ptr-art-calaguas","tag-church-of-the-risen-lord","tag-crl","tag-jesus","tag-spiritual-refreshment-of-the-day","tag-upcemi","tag-upcrl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":450,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449\/revisions\/450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}