GOD’S WORD FOR NOVEMBER 22 ~ ~ Psalm 119:18 ~ ~ “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. (Your Word)”
From the book, How to Read the Bible by Dr. Michael Youssef. Chapter entitled One King One Kingdom. Section: A Peculiar People:
There were many tribes and nations on earth when God established the nation of Israel, but its people were like no other people in the world. Israel’s distinguishing feature was its unique religion, completely unlike the religions of all the surrounding Canaanite tribes. It was unique in two important ways:
FIRST: Jewish faith was “monotheistic.” The people of Israel served one God, and He had commanded them, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3).
SECOND: the Jewish faith was “aniconic,” meaning the people were forbidden to make icons – representations of God in any human or animal form. Statues, carved images, and pictures were banned because God had commanded, “you shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” (Exodus 20:4)
These two aspects of the Jewish faith contrasted sharply with the pagan religion of the surrounding Canaanite tribes. These ancient religions were “polytheistic,” meaning the people worshiped many gods, and “iconic,” because they used statues and images – icons – to represent them.
The pagan gods usually represented forces of nature (wind, water, fertility) or objects in the sky (the sun, the moon, the stars). The pagan gods were part of the natural order and did not demonstrate any moral character. They were not holy, all knowing, or unchanging, like the God of the Jewish religion. In fact, many of the pagan gods were as unreliable and malicious as human beings. The pagans believed they could manipulate their gods into bestowing favors by means of rituals, chants, and sacrifices – including human sacrifices.
(this is why God forbids His people – Christian or Jews – from dealing with the occult, because these gods were demons, who the pagans worshiped as gods. Today many are worshiping demons without knowing it)
The God of Israel was completely unlike the pagan gods. The people of Israel knew Him as the One who created and controlled the sun, moon and stars. The Jewish people also believed that God controlled human history, was righteous in His judgment, mighty in his saving power, and merciful in His fatherly love. There was no god in the pagan pantheon who was as powerful, good, and loving as the God of Israel.
God’s name was written as four characters in the Hebrew language (known as the Tetragrammaton) which equate to YHWH in the English alphabet. Bible translators have transcribed YHWH as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.” In the Hebrew Bible, God has many other names as well, such as:
“El Shaddai” — Lord God Almighty;
“Adonai” – Lord;
“El” – God;
“El Elyon” – God Most High;
“El Olam” – Everlasting God;
“Jehovah Nissi” – Lord, My Banner;
“Jehovah Rapha – God Who Heals;
“Jehovah Jireh” – God Will Provide;
“Tzevaot or Sabaoth” – Lord of Hosts
These are just a few of many names that depict His wonderful attributes and characteristics.
The people of Israel not only believed that God existed, but were convinced that He had entered history. They believed the Creator of the cosmos had spoken to Abraham and made a covenant with him: a promise to make a great nation, a chosen people of Abraham’s descendants. As you read through the Old Testament, it becomes clear that Israel was not chosen because of the people’s intrinsic merit and sterling character: rather, the Exodus narrative is brutally honest in depicting a people who are ungrateful, unfaithful, and unworthy of God’s grace.
God sovereignly and graciously chose a people for Himself so that they might choose Him.
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But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father has chosen to give you the kingdom.
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
John 14:27
Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.
John 16:27
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I come out from God.
Romans 5:8
But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.