Vol. # December 2005 P.O. Box 1093, Jerusalem Tel:

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1 Bridges for Peace Israel Teaching Letter BRIDGES FOR PEACE YOUR ISRAEL CONNECTION Vol. # December 2005 n INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS P.O. Box 1093, Jerusalem Tel: intl.office@bridgesforpeace.com n AUSTRALIA P.O. Box 1006, Tewantin Queensland 4565 Tel: adminaust@bridgesforpeace.com.au n CANADA P.O. Box 21001, RPO Charleswood Winnipeg MB R3R 3R2 Tel: , bfp@mts.net n JAPAN Taihei Sakura Bldg. 5F Taihei, Sumida-Ku Tokyo Tel: , bfp@bfpj.net n NEW ZEALAND P.O. Box 10142, Te Mai, Whangarei Tel: bfpnz@paradise.net.nz n SOUTH AFRICA P.O. Box 15263, Panorama 7506 Tel/FAX: bfp@mweb.co.za n UNITED KINGDOM Donations: Victoria House, Victoria Road Buckhurst Hill, Essex IG9 5EX Tel: info@bridgesforpeace.co.uk Enquiries: Office 17 Maesteg Business Centre Heol Ty Gwyn Ind. Est. Maesteg CF34 0BQ Tel: bfpuk@btconnect.com n United States PMB S. Sheridan Rd. Tulsa, OK Tel: Product orders: postmaster@bfpusa.org He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 1

2 Kindness: The Measure of Man s Spirituality Each of us can remember moments when we gave or received kindness. It is a positive action, and it uplifts everyone involved. Lovingkindness is the English translation of the Hebrew word hesed, which also means unconditional mercy and grace. It is not reserved for special people, but we are expected to show lovingkindness to all. Whether we are Jew or Gentile, we are btzelem elohim (made in the image of God). God is not a physical being; He is Spirit. His behavior should flow through us to the world around us. This wonderful blessing means we have His characteristics. Christians believe He dwells within us, so His Spirit should flow through us. He made us to be His vessels. He fills us with His lovingkindness when His Spirit dwells within us. Yet, it seems we are falling a long way short of the possible. Having His lovingkindness should change the world. This lovingkindness is so dynamic that it never stops; it does not give up on people. It loves. That is how God has related to each of us, so that is how we know what lovingkindness is. I need the lovingkindness of the Lord day by day, moment by moment. The question and challenge for me must be: Do I pass along His lovingkindness to others at the level I know I need it for myself? The God-standard of lovingkindness is very high. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned and ignored the Word of the Lord. Their fall cost them, but before He sent them from the Garden, God made clothing for them. God is kind even when He disciplines His beloved. God refused Moses entry into the Promised Land; but when he died, God arranged for Moses to be buried in Moab. To a Jew, who considered proper burial of utmost importance, this would have been seen as God s thoughtful kindness. Today we face a worldwide War on Terror. What a radical change would occur if we could encourage all sides of the debate to rely on the loving character of God, instead of killing each other in hate? 2 Israel Teaching Letter n December 2005

3 When I browsed the Internet recently, I came across the Kindness Campaign. Their motto says, Spread kindness it s contagious. The campaign encourages participants to stop the spread of violence, hatred, and unkindness. It says, You just have to remember to do some small daily acts of kindness for yourself, your family, friends, neighbors, school mates, work mates, strangers, those who are sick or in need, and anyone else you meet (1). I know nothing about the people who run the Kindness Campaign, but their goal is wonderful. A genuine act of kindness produces positive results. The biblical kind of lovingkindness expects no reward or return and falls into a very exclusive category. There are generous things we do for others, but often the motivation is to receive reward or return. That is not the godly kind of kindness. The prophet Micah reminds us: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic. 6:8). Kindness is expected of us. One Jewish study says the best illustration of kindness is the creation of the world (2). Another says, The world was created solely to enjoy God and to bask in the glory of the Divine Presence. The design of creation is for the benefit of its creatures themselves, and that is kindness in its purest sense (3). This means God created the universe, and His entire creation was made for our benefit. This gesture sums up His kindness. Here is the kindness of God beautifully expressed: And I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in lovingkindness and in compassion, and I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. Then you will know the Lord (Hosea 2:19 20). Nelson s Bible Dictionary describes kindness as God s loyal love and favor toward His people. That definition is summed up in Hosea 2:23: I will plant her for Myself in the land; I will show My love to the one I called Not My loved one. I will say to those called Not My people, You are My people ; and they will say, You are my God (NIV). Here the lovingkindness of the Lord motivates His generosity to His beloved people. Rabbi Yosef Ze ev Lipowitz wrote: Human beings, who are created in the image of God, can and must attain the spiritual level of kindness. Kindness is the standard by which man may be measured; it reveals his degree of spirituality (2). That last sentence spoke to me very powerfully. The world was created solely to enjoy God and to bask in the glory of the Divine Presence. Rabbi Malka Drucher, in his sermon The Torah of Lovingkindness, wrote, The trick is to love when you don t like, when you re afraid you don t have enough to give, and when you feel distant from others, yourself, and God. In the Jewish Talmud (collection of traditions and commentaries), there is an aggadah (legend that teaches a moral lesson) concerning the destruction of the Second Temple (Gittin 56). A man decided to host a party for all his friends. He drew up a guest list and instructed his servants to send out the invitations. One of the men on the list was Kamtza; but a servant, in error, sent the invitation to another man named Bar Kamtza, who was, in fact, an enemy of the host. When Bar Kamtza received his invitation, he was filled with gratitude and turned up at the party. When seen by the host, Bar Kindness:The Measure of Man s Spirituality 3

4 Kindness... Kamtza was ordered to leave immediately. Bar Kamtza said it would be embarrassing for him to leave. He offered to pay for half the banquet, if he could remain. The host was determined and again ordered Bar Kamtza to leave. Distraught now, the guest offered to pay for the entire cost. Nevertheless, he was ordered to leave. Bar Kamtza was so hurt and upset, he went to the Roman authorities and gave a report to them about the wicked, disloyal behavior of the Jews. His comments angered the Romans, who attacked and destroyed the holy Temple. When teaching from this Talmud story, the rabbis underline the importance of kindness and the significant impact of the opposite behavior. Remember Joseph s brothers who set out to murder him? They believed their unkindness caused great famine. They said to one another, Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that s why this distress has come upon us (Gen. 42:21, NIV). Like the Bar Kamtza story, most of us can remember times when an unkind act or word caused problems or difficulties. Unkind behavior promotes hurt and pain. Joseph chose to reveal his identity to these men at a very significant time. He learned his brother Judah had offered to take the place of Benjamin in prison. Benjamin was a favorite of their father. This gesture touched Joseph deeply. As Benjamin was about to be locked away, Joseph revealed his true identity to them. Judah s act of kindness sparked mercy. Imagine that moment when Joseph, the powerful prime minister, said, I am Joseph, your brother! This must have been a worship time for everyone. The initial response would have been shock and then sheer joy. I imagine their sense of relief was overwhelming. The throne of God is established in kindness. We have warped His authority by what is called authoritarianism, but that kind of harsh, directive leadership style is not from God. Rather, Isaiah explains that His authority is built on kindness. A throne will even be established in lovingkindness (Isa. 16:5). God does not rule through authoritarianism. He is love. His Kingdom functions in love. His presence is established in lovingkindness. The Lord is abundant in kindness. But Thou art a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness... (Neh. 9:17b). That verse goes on to say, And Thou didst not forsake them. His kindness is forever. His kindness continues, even in the face of rebellion. From the beginning of God s relationship with man, we were instructed to learn from Him. He encourages us to observe His divine character. We are blessed because of His kindness to us. In turn, we should be like Him and extend that blessing to others. In the Torah (Gen. Deut.), the successful exchange between God and His people is continuously dependent upon His lovingkindness. Without the kindness of God the 4 Israel Teaching Letter n December 2005

5 people have no hope. The same continues in the Gospels. Yeshua (Jesus) told us to love one another, even as I have loved you (John 13:34). He is the example. One of the favorite excuses of sinners is everyone is doing it. That is not a good excuse to offer God. He is our standard and His standard of lovingkindness is for all of us Jew and Gentile alike. To Him, we look and are radiant (Psalm 34:5). What a wonderful and kind promise! Christians have a greater challenge. We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). That positive statement is made even stronger and more challenging in the next verse: If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20). The standard set by Rabbi Lipowitz is becoming clearer now: Kindness is the standard by which man may be measured; it reveals his degree of spirituality. Yeshua said the same thing. Whether Jew or Gentile we cannot earn the love of God. He ministers His blessings to us by His kindness and grace. In Jewish studies, the story is told how depression and sorrow followed the fall of the Second Temple. The people were distraught. How could they now find peace with God with no Temple to provide the animal sacrifices? One day the wise Rabbi Jochanan ben Zakkai was with his disciple, who expressed this dilemma. The disciple wept as he cried out, The place which atoned for the sins of the people now lies in ruins! Be not grieved, my son, spoke the wise rabbi. There is another way. We must now gain atonement through deeds of lovingkindness. For it is written, I desire steadfast love, and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6, ESV). Love each other, as I have loved you, Yeshua instructed His followers. We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). The redemption of God was never given for us to burn out in an attempt to earn it. His grace always came first. Israel is beloved because of His kindness to them. God chose them. His love initiated a very special relationship. It was His choice, and His right to choose is beyond question. God says, however, His kindness should initiate an appropriate response from those He loves. Thus says the Lord, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast about this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the Lord (Jer. 9:23 24). The Lord delights in lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness. It certainly helps us to know what causes Him delight! Ruth, the Scroll of Kindness The sages of Israel call the book of Ruth, the scroll of kindness. This amazing story describes the special relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth was a Gentile who became part of the Davidic line because of her kindness to Naomi and then through her marriage to the kinsman-redeemer Boaz. Yeshua came from this same line: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler, who will shepherd My people Israel (Matt. 2:6). The story of Ruth came after a dismal time in Israel, the era of the judges. After the heady, victorious days of Joshua, came confusion and despair. It would be nearly 400 years before the monarchy was established. Justice was corrupted, and judges were needed to judge fellow judges. Society spiraled into anarchy. Each tribe had received their respective allocations of territory, but they still faced occupation. The Canaanites were prevalent in the land and posed a serious threat. They possessed many of the fortified cities on the northern border of Judah, Kindness:The Measure of Man s Spirituality 5

6 including Gezer, Aijalon, Shaalim, and Jerusalem. On the northern border of Manasseh, they held Beit Shean, Ibleam, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor. The Canaanites were the enemy within. Outside the borders of Israel, the enemies included Moabites, Midianites, Ammonites, and Philistines. Israel succeeded against all of them, except the Philistines. With enemies inside and out, you would expect the tribes to unite to gain greater strength, but the judges only had limited authority. They were restricted by borders and could not unite the clans. The tribes of Israel acted independently of each other with no sovereign leader to unite them. According to Jewish tradition and commentary, Naomi s husband Elimelech ( my God is king ) had legal claim to the throne. He was a descendant of Nachshon from the tribe of Judah, to whom Jacob had bequeathed kingship. Elimelech had great wealth and was the head of his clan. He is even quoted as saying, to me shall kingship come. But when the opportunity to lead the people came, he fled his place and position. He took his family to Moab, despite Torah warnings, which banned fellowship between the Moabites and the people of Israel (Deut. 23:3 6). Elimelech was an influential man. The people were stunned and disappointed when he fled. The Jewish wise men said, He caused Israel to lose heart (Ruth Rabbah 1:4). His behavior was labeled Elimelech s selfishness. This very sad scenario lays the foundation for the change to come through the Gentile Ruth. The sons of Elimelech were Mahlon and Chillon. They married the Moabite women Ruth and Orpah, but within ten years, all three men died. The widow of Elimelech was the Jewess Naomi, whose name means pleasant. There was famine in the land when the women were widowed. The land was under stress. Yet, while the circumstances were dark, God was moving to bring kindness, love, and mercy to His people, once again. God s plan proceeded despite Elimelech and his self-centeredness. In the midst of set-back, God was able to bring forth a great blessing. The scene is very emotional. So she [Naomi] departed from the place where she was, and her two daughtersin-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept (Ruth 1:7-9). It is possible Naomi wanted the Gentile girls to go home because she was embarrassed to have them follow her to Judah. She was returning as a bereaved and dependent woman. There might not be great enthusiasm if they arrived as three women, who were needy and two of them Moabites. Naomi s tearful blessing was biblically accurate when she said, May the 6 Israel Teaching Letter n December 2005

7 Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. Her blessing rests directly with Genesis 12:3a, I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. Both daughters-in-law said to Naomi, No, but we will surely return with you to your people (Ruth 1:10). It was a tearful time as the women discussed their future: And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her (Ruth 1:14). Jewish teaching describes the different kisses to be found in the Bible. We can find kisses of love and commitment, of a traitor, of hello and good-bye, and of politeness. Orpah s kiss said, Good-bye! Ruth clung to her mother-in-law. This was commitment. Then she [Naomi] said, Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law. But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me (Ruth 1:15 17). What a stark contrast to Elimelech, who fled at the first sign of responsibility! Ruth and Naomi arrived in Judah at Passover. So Naomi returned, and with Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest (Ruth 1:22). This is where Ruth became the wife of the wealthy Boaz, and they had a son named Obed, whose name means a son is worshipped. Yeshua would come from this line, and He is the Son who is worshipped. Ruth was the grandmother of David. She was a Moabite woman who showed great kindness, love, and mercy to the Jews Naomi and Boaz. Her kindness towards the Jewish people and the honor God gave to her shows how we should also assess our hearts. In the attitudes shown by Ruth, the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22 23 is obvious. There were significant barriers, which might have quenched the spirit of love and mercy in this great story, but Ruth chose the godly way. She came from a place of humility. She bowed down with her face to the ground (Ruth 2:10, NIV). She was willing to fill a position lower than a mere servant, although she was a daughter-in-law (Ruth 2:13). She demonstrated kindness in practical ways by sharing the gleanings from the fields with Naomi (Ruth 2:18). There is a wealth of godly attributes to be found in Ruth: obedience (Ruth 3:5), kindness (3:10), holiness (3:10), and discretion [3:14]. There is true love, faithfulness, and commitment to Israel (4:15). The world is concerned about the expansion of terror today. The headlines are the same, although the locations for murder and disaster may change day by day. Kindness is the significant attribute available to all who know and worship the God who is love. Many like Elimelech, will avoid their responsibility. God has supplied all we need to be triumphant and victorious, but self-interest robs the Elimelechs of the blessing. Through the life of Ruth, the Gentile Moabite, we have an example of the kindness and love that we can provide in this time of need for the Jewish people. If we choose the way of kindness, the Lord will bless in ways beyond our expectations. Kindness:The Measure of Man s Spirituality 7

8 A Self Test 1) When do I find it most difficult to be kind? 2) When was the last time you remember sharing an act of lovingkindness? 3) List some ways you can improve your commitment to kindness? 4) What acts of kindness have been the greatest blessing for you? 5) How do you show lovingkindness to Israel? (Gen. 12:3). By Ron Ross Bridges for Peace Host of Israel Mosaic Radio References Quote from Petichta from Ruth Rabbah 5 3. Ruth: The Scroll of Kindness by Rabbi Yosef Ze ev Lipowitz All Scriptures taken from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted. We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NKJV) Many pastors, Bible teachers, and laypeople have written and asked if they can use these notes for preaching and teaching. The answer is a resounding yes! It is our hope that the information contained herein will be disseminated over and over again, whether through the spoken word or by photocopying and redistributing these teachings. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3). 8 Israel Teaching Letter n December 2005