Lifting the Shades

Note: the key words in this article are “learn” and “knowledge”.

“Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times….” (Isaiah 33:6).

After saying, ‘GO AND LEARN what this means:’ Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6, “I will have mercy and not sacrifice and THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD more than burnt offerings.” Matthew does not record the last part of this verse: an explanation is that often a rabbi did not need to quote a full verse because his students knew the passage by heart.

The light of the Bible has been shining thousands of years upon the earth. In our day the light is becoming more and more brilliant to those who study it.

A holocaust survivor’s view of the Bible: “Ultimately, as technology develops and selfish individual control of power resources continues to increase, a catastrophe that likely will destroy mankind is unavoidable. Only the love and fear of the one God of the Bible offers hope for mankind to become conscious of the sanctify of life and survive.” (Zev Kedem)

A part of the excavations at Tamar showing a portion of the Roman Bath.

Regarding projects in Israel: let us consider some important facts in Psalm 102:13-22. “You shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion; for the time to favor her, yea. the set time is come.” If not our time, when? The following verse strongly suggests it is for the now generation:

V. 14, “For Thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.”  Another translation says, “and love her dust.”

Since 1948 when Israel became a State, archeology – especially Biblical archaeology – has exploded and risen to heights never known before. Volunteers clamor to come and dig in the dust! They do not hesitate to get their hands dirty.

What is the God-given reason for this interest?

V. 15-16, “So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.” His glory can be defined as caring love. Think awhile on that! What makes “glory” glorious? For glory to shine, there must be caring LOVE. This definition of His glory is attested in the following verse:

V. 17, “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.”

V. 18, “This shall be written for the generations to come; and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.”  This certainly includes us by His great grace.  Have we thanked Him lately for His Word and that we live in a time of great fulfillment of His promises?

His caring love is also depicted in the following:

V. 19 –21, “For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; [Why? Three reasons here:] To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; to declare the name of the LORD in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem.”

A final “when” is a challenge for our day.

V. 22, “When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.”

So we see in the above passages the clear purpose of His “arising and beholding”. We see, also, that mankind has a part in bringing about the deliverance and restoration. Over and again, as in the above verse 22, we are admonished to join together with our brother Judah to DO what we can to help. The Apostle Paul hit the nail on the head  in Romans 15:27, when he said, “For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal [material] things.”  Instead of “Gentiles”, read “believers from the nations” – not pagan any more because the Word of God has reached us through Judah who has preserved it though the ages.

The palm trees Bible Light friends paid for will line the entrance to Biblical Tamar Park, a plot of some 50 acres. The present need is to construct the building in which the learning will take place. Bible Light friends – and/or Christians from any where – will not do it all. What is great about it, is that Jews and Christians are working together to build the museum complex, and make Tamar again “The City of Palm trees.” In fact plans for the museum is to resemble the top of a palm tree when viewed from the air. Visitors will be able to walk around in the circular building and view the archaelogical finds depicting the many eras covering thousands of years to the present time and a glimpse of the future. Our focus in Bible Light is the Library/Learning Center. There are many ways to help – large and small.

My desire is to see “Judah and Joseph”, from everywhere and anywhere, come together to learn from each other. To bless each other, to build and to plant and to help reach and teach all nations of the world the eternal proven truths from the Manual that God gave to go with the man He created.

Israeli authorities expect Biblical Tamar to be a great tourist attraction. In my opinion, the Learning Center will be the chief reason, because the Word does not return void (Isa. 55:11). Scholars who know the original language of the Bible can have a base at Tamar. A good share of the battle between good and evil is caused by man’s additions (editions!) and deletions in transltaions of God’s Word. Ignorance is not bliss!

Upper rooms of Solomon's Porch as this part of the Temple appeard in Jesus' time according to modern archaeology.
(Picture taken at Model City by Terry Distin.)

The purpose of Bible Light publications is to encourage individual study in order to understand more fully the meaning of this great Book we call the Bible. The Library/Learning Center is not another missionary project in Israel to convert Jews to Christianity, nor Christians to Judaism. The need is to study the Bible together in love and understanding.

So often taught in the Bible is the importance of publishing. We need that tool for learning. To publish means to make known. Jeremiah was good at it, “Make ye mention to the nations. Behold, publish….” (Jeremiah 4:16). And listen to Jeremiah in 31:7, “For this saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye and say, O LORD, save thy people....” – save those still scattered and persecuted among the nations.

This may be the best quote from Jeremiah on the subject: “Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, conceal not….” (50:2), make it known. Lift up the shades and let light in.

What more encouragement do we need to go with the Lord in His plan to make His knowledge fill all the earth as the waters cover the sea?  Isaiah 11:9 and Habakkuk 2:14.

You – like I – are probably not financially rich, but I can give whatever “widow’s mite” and strength He gives me to help bring His Kingdom of caring love to this sick world.               Editor