Skip to main content

For Members Only

Holy Land Moments
   

Hebrew Word
of the Day

January 15, 2012

"Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?"
— Psalm 24:3

If you have ever joined a club or organization, there probably were some membership requirements that you had to satisfy. Maybe it was a work-related association that required a certain number of years experience. Or maybe it was a social club where you might have needed sponsors or an interview before you were “accepted.”

In any event, before joining any kind of organization, the question typically comes up: Who is allowed to join? What qualifications are needed in order to enjoy the benefits of that group?

It seems that David in Psalm 24 is asking a similar question in verse 3: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?” David poses a similar question in Psalm 15:1: “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?”

David’s questions reminded worshippers then that although everyone may attend worship at the sanctuary, not everyone will receive God’s blessings or will enjoy the status of righteousness. Indeed, in a recurring theme throughout the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), God expected His people to welcome their privileges from the heart, and to reflect that in their behavior.

So what is required? David lists the following: clean hands (which also can be translated in Hebrew as “innocent”), a pure heart, and a desire to trust and follow God rather than idols and false gods. A person who meets those requirements is the one who will receive blessings from God and who will be regarded by others as having “right standing with God their savior” (v. 5, NLT).

This type of “membership” requirement is expressed elsewhere in Scripture: “The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous” (Psalm 15:2); “a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17); “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him” (Proverbs 15:8).

Those are the ones who will be considered members in good standing and who will be welcomed into His presence.

We all ought to take a good look at what club we are trying to join — hopefully a holy, biblical one — and what we are doing to meet its standards.

With prayers for shalom, peace,


Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein
President

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

COMMIT TO

In the face of widespread insecurity, fear, and hopelessness, our nation desperately needs your prayers. Join us in praying for our nation, that God will heal our land.

Pablo reprende a Pedro

Pero cuando Pedro vino a Antioquía, le resistí cara a cara, porque era de condenar. Pues antes que viniesen algunos de parte de Jacobo, comía con los gentiles; pero después que vinieron, se retraía y se apartaba, porque tenía miedo de los de la circuncisión. Y en su simulación participaban también los otros judíos, de tal manera que aun Bernabé fue también arrastrado por la hipocresía de ellos. Pero cuando vi que no andaban rectamente conforme a la verdad del evangelio, dije a Pedro delante de todos: Si tú, siendo judío, vives como los gentiles y no como judío, ¿por qué obligas a los gentiles a judaizar? Nosotros, judíos de nacimiento, y no pecadores de entre los gentiles, sabiendo que el hombre no es justificado por las obras de la ley, sino por la fe de Jesucristo, nosotros también hemos creído en Jesucristo, para ser justificados por la fe de Cristo y no por las obras de la ley, por cuanto por las obras de la ley nadie será justificado. Y si buscando ser justificados en Cristo, tamb...

El quebrantamiento de Pedro

If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view .     Leer | Lucas 22.54-62 11 de noviembre de 2014 El orgullo de Pedro era un obstáculo para los propósitos de Dios. Cristo buscaba a un siervo-líder para que guiara a los creyentes una vez que Él regresara al cielo. El antiguo pescador era un impulsivo sabelotodo, pero el Señor vio su potencial a pesar de su arrogancia. Por eso, el gran Artesano utilizó una filosa herramienta —la humillación— para quebrantarlo. Cuando las palabras del Señor estuvieron en conflicto con la opinión de Pedro, el discípulo reprendió temerariamente a Jesús. El Salvador respondió con una virulenta reprimenda, tanto para silenciar como para enseñar ( Mt 16.21-23 ; Jn 13.5-8 ). Inclusive, Pedro incumplió su promesa de morir por el Señor cuando lo negó tres veces ...