HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH
INSIGHTS #28
OLD TESTAMENT Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS Lesson #28
Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< AFTER THE FIRE A STILL SMALL VOICE >>
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(1.) "Rain" and "Life" Expressed in Jewish Prayers:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
These prayers include a subtle, recurring inference to the Messiah. ". . .
Among the manifestations of God's power are His providing sustenance for all
living creatures, His healing the sick, and His causing rain to fall. Stress is
laid on the revival of the dead, and the benediction which concludes with
Barukh mehayyeh hametim ("Blessed be... He Who revives the dead") is therefore
also known as Tehiyyat ha-Metim ("Resurrection of the Dead"). (Encyclopedia
Judaica Jr.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(2.) Rainfall in Jerusalem Equal to London's:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, the rainfall is equivalent to London, the
capital of England, although Israel gets their rain all at once! An annual
average of twenty-six inches of rain falls in
Israel during the months of December, January and February (Utah gets about
thirteen inches per year).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(3.) Rain, Metaphor of Reward and Punishment:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
". . . God rewards the righteous by granting them prosperity and well-being, and
punishes the wicked with destruction. This forms the basis of the passage from
Deuteronomy . . . adherence to God's commandments will bring "the rain in its
seasons"; disobedience will cause God "to shut up the heavens that there be no
rain, and the land
will not yield her fruit." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(4.) Sealing the Heavens:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In response to the faithlessness of Israel, the "sealing" prophet, Elijah,
sealed the heavens. Drought and losing crops was a result of disregarding the
"still small voice" and thereby, losing their eternal families. "The prophets
attacked idol worship not only on the grounds that it violates God's covenant
with Israel, but also because it was useless. While the pagans believed that
the natural phenomena rain, fertility, health etc. were controlled by idols, the
prophets taught that God is in control of nature." (Encyclopedia JudaicaJr.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(5.) Worthy Foreigners:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In blessing the "foreign" widow, Elijah set up a lesson that Jesus would later
use at Nazareth, in plain view of Mount Carmel, still known for Elijah's "droughtful"
response to Israel's faithlessness. ". . . But unto none of them was Elias
(Elijah) sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a
widow." (Luke 4 25-26) In the Bible, another righteous widow, Ruth,
cared for by a righteous Israelite, Boaz, produced the royal line of David, and
ultimately the Savior, the Messiah. These are repeated lessons; "take care of
the widows!"
|
