Writings by Barri Cae MallinL'ahm Day-nee (Teach me)Sunday 23 November 2003 - 14:45:15Show me Thy ways, teach me Thy paths. Ps. 25:4 Have you ever given thought as to what it means to be taught by the LORD? Young Jewish students begin preparing at age ten for their Bar Mitzvah. They study Hebrew, they learn traditions, they pour over commentaries written by famous Rabbis, all to culminate on their special day. Their chief aim is at age thirteen, to become Bar Mitzvah, son of the commandment. Two years ago (longggg after I was twelve, it is age twelve for girls), I became Bat Mitzvah, daughter of the commandment. When I was growing up, we belonged to a Reform Temple, and back then, I was the only girl in the preparation classes. I begged my parents to not let me attend, and they relented. But at age twelve, we switched to an Orthodox synagogue, and there I was, the only person in all of the cheder (school) not a Bat Mitzvah. Although I felt alienated, the LORD used that alienation to eventually drive me to Yeshua Jesus. The Hebrew word for teach is lamad, lah-mahd, and it can mean teach, instruct, learn, educate, skillful, diligent, expert. When you personalize it, it becomes lahm-day-nee, Teach me. When you think about being taught by the LORD, to walk in His path, what do you think that means? Is it scripture memory? Is it participation in a Bible study? Is it time alone with God, to read and meditate? Does it mean to be like Mary, who sat at Yeshua Jesus' feet, and listened to Him, while her sister Martha, served Him? Our Heavenly Instructor is not like any other teacher. Earthly instructors have position; our Heavenly teacher is lowly, humble, and meek. Earthly instructors grade according to the norm; our Heavenly teacher graces according to love. Yeshua is the Only One who has walked the same lowly path as you and me. How glorious and comforting it is that in the midst of our human experience of hurt and pain and disappointment and loneliness and heartache, that He has walked our way before. He enables us, He teaches us to rise above our human tendency to fall into self-pity, self-reproach, depression, resentment, bitterness and so on. He is the Best Teacher. Yeshua Jesus knows what heartache is, He knows what loneliness is. No one suffered like He did. Yeshua knows what the dark night of the soul is. He knows what it is like to be persecuted, ridiculed, mocked, taunted, abused, derided, jeered, embarassed. I have felt those ways, haven't you? The dark night of the soul escapes no one. Loneliness is the unwelcomed stranger that creeps into each of our lives. But if you have been feeling lowly, depressed, stretched beyond measure, challenged, abused, or forsaken, then there is good news for you. You are in the School of the Lowly, and it is a beautiful place to be. You are in good company: Now the man Moses was very meek (poor, humble, afflicted, lowly) above all men which were on the face of the earth - Numbers 12:3 You will be provided for: The meek (poor, humble, afflicted, lowly) shall eat and be satisfied - Ps. 22:26 You are getting your graduate degree with the LORD as your Chief Academic Dean: The meek (poor, humble, afflicted, lowly) will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way - Ps. 25:9 Your day will come: The humble (meek, lowly, afflicted) shall see and be glad - Ps. 69:32 The LORD lifted up the meek (lowly, afflicted, humble); He casts the wicked down to the ground - Ps. 147:6 He is pleased with you: For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek (humble, lowly, afflicted) with salvation - Ps. 149:4 His promises to you: The meek (lowly, humble, afflicted) also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor man shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel - Isaiah 29:19 For thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite (crushed) and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite (crushed) ones. Isaiah 57:15 |
|
|
Copyright © Barri Cae Mallin. |
|