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Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) That's how the King James puts it. And no doubt, many of us have memorized (or at least, stored a paraphrased version of) this verse from the KJV. In particular, the part to "rightly divide the word of truth." Now I don't know about you, but for me, having spent my entire life in the Bible Belt, I've heard plenty a' Southern preacher proclaim this verse as a means of explaining dispensationalism. Namely, that the need to "rightly divide" the word, means to understand the difference in what was for then/them (Jews of the OT era), and what is for Believers today. 
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So far in this series, we’ve looked at the heart, the liver, the kidneys, and the nose. This time, we’ll look at something that is specific to women: the womb. While this article is a short one, I believe it is nevertheless a crucial part of what this article series is building up to.  Over the years, Torah Keepers have struggled with what title to use in reference to a Torah teacher. Should they just be called 'teacher'? What about 'pastor'? Some prefer the Jewish term 'Rabbi' while others wholeheartedly oppose it. This opposition typically stems from a verse in the Gospels. Mattithyahu [Matthew] 23:8 - But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Because of this, many in this walk have opposed the title, and I have personally witnessed numerous heated debates and arguments over the use of said title.  In the previous parts of this series, we have examined three of the vital organs in the human body: the heart, the kidney(s), and the liver. This time, we're going to move away from the organs. We're going to look at the nose. Commonly overlooked, you will be amazed at the number of times the word "nose" actually appears in Scripture.  When we read Scripture through our modern translations (primarily English, but be it in any language), we tend to miss some of the little nuances and nuggets that are present in their original language. The Hebrew language is a perfect example of this, especially in the words it uses to describe the parts of the human body. In Part 1 of the Hebrew Anatomy series, we looked at what is one of the most important organs in our body: the heart. We saw how it connects to the mind, and the thoughts. In Part 2, we looked at the kidneys, and how they connect to the emotions. In this installment, we will examine the liver.  In Part 1 of the Hebrew Anatomy series, we looked at the heart, and how it is described in the Bible. How the very language of Scripture itself uses the word that we have come to view in English as "heart." In Part 2, we will be looking at the kidneys, and how they are related to something more than just a regulatory organ.  We have all read the Scriptures before that speak of the "heart of man" or about King David being a "man after God's own heart." (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Yet generally, due to our Western (Greco-Roman) mindset and worldview, we think of this in an emotional sense. We think of "heart" as the seat of the emotions. But did you know that according to the example set in the Hebrew Scriptures, that is actually not true? In this brief article series, we're going to examine some anatomical terminology that the Scriptures use, and see about digging up a deeper meaning. These articles will explain how the physical parts of the human body (heart, kidney, liver, etc.) is related to a deeper spiritual meaning, and how they relate to the soul itself. This was understood thousands of years ago, but due to translating the Word so many times, we have seemingly lost it.  In our modern American society, we have heard the phrase "to serve and protect" many times. It is supposed to be the motto of the police departments across the country. Indeed, many of them even have these words adorning the side of police squad cars. But did you know that this motto is actually not an American invention, and neither is it modern at all?  There is a piece of liturgy that is recited every week in many assemblies, both Jewish and Messianic alike: Etz Chaim. Etz Chaim (Hebrew: עץ חיים) means "tree of life." Or perhaps more literally, "Tree of Lives" as chaim is plural. This liturgical prayer is said weekly in relation to the Torah. Yet there is a specific reason for this.  This writing will be brief (compared to some of my other writings). I simply want to use a few historical and Scriptural facts to make a few points, and primarily to address some false assumptions and false teachings that are going around. If you've been Torah Observant (and been on the Internet) for any length of time, you've no doubt encountered most if not all of these teachings. Sadly, many fall for them when they are new to this walk. The feeling that you've been lied to and betrayed by the Christian Church for so long has led many to reject any and all orthodoxy. I tend to say, "A little bit of orthodoxy can go a long way." And yet, not everything the Church does is wrong. Not everything they believe is a lie. And many things are merely misconceptions.  |
AuthorJ. A. Brown Archives
June 2020
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