Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Fear of the L-RD

I have been engrossed in study in the book God's War on Terror. I finished it and will be posting about it soon enough. It was so intense I basically forgot to post. Also finished Aspects of Rabbinic Theology although I only had a little bit left to finish. I tend to be "in" many books at the same time and read according to my "interest" at the moment. The following passage put the fear of the L-RD in me and was referenced in ART but is quoted here from the original source, The Mishnah. Tractate Abot 4:22:

A. ...Those who are born are [destined] to die, and those who die are [destined] for resurrection.
B. And the living are [destined] to be judged--
C. so as to know, to make known, and to confirm that (1) He is G-d,
D. (2) He is the one who forms,
E. (3) He is the one who creates,
F. (4) He is the one who understands,
G. (5) He is the one who judges,
H. (6) He is the one who gives evidence,
I. (7) He is the one who brings suit,
J. (8) and He is the one who is going to make the ultimate judgement.
K. (9) Blessed be He, for before Him are not (1) guile, (2) forgetfulness, (3) respect for persons, (4) bribe taking,
L. for everything is His.
M. And know that everything is subject to reckoning.
N. And do not let your evil impulse persuade you that Sheol is a place of refuge for you.
O. For (1) despite your wishes were you formed, (2) despite your wishes were you born, (3) despite your wishes do you live, (4) despite your wishes do you die, and (5) despite your wishes are you going to give a full accounting before the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

4 comments:

  1. Wow...O is my favorite. Wow.
    I love how you have the fear of the L-rd, I've always said that was one thing I loved so much about Wyatt. Which makes since, him being your son. Thanks for sharing Thomas. I've been missing your wise and challenging words.

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  2. Makes me consider and reconsider my orthopraxy.

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  3. I want to read this every day. It reminds me that one day we will be before the throne and everything we've done here does matter. Thanks for reading, honey.

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  4. I'm with Leah - I think this is something that I should read very consistently. This trembling in my heart is medicine to my soul. I have shared this with Sean and all he could say was, "wow".

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