Bible nuggets from a Hebraic perspective
By Dr Clifford Denton
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS DYNAMIC, NOT STATIC. It is a journey that could be likened to the children of Israel’s walk through the wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land. Faith itself is active and grows through exercise on this walk.
That is why the metaphor of walking is used so much in the Bible. ‘Halakh’ is the Hebrew word for walk, while ‘Halakhah’ means to walk out.
It was Moses’ responsibility to “teach God’s people the statutes and laws, and show them the way in which they must walk… “(Exodus 18:20)
When we walk off the good path, God calls us back. “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it.” (Jeremiah 6:16)
Hence the Hebraic mindset is not static but is always looking for the way to actively do rather than passively think. This is why James taught, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” This is why the Jewish Yeshiva (rabbinical school) is so noisy and active, with question after question as to the right way to walk in obedience to Torah. This why Jerusalem is such a busy place in which to live, full of people with the mindset of always doing.
Similarly we should be active in our faith, looking for the right way to walk out our salvation day by day.
True halakhah is a walk with God under the discipline of the Holy Spirit.
(Further studies are available on www.tishrei.org)