Introduction
“Shehmah, Ysrael…”
Hear, O Israel: The Lord Our God, The Lord is one. Love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
These are likely the two most famous words spoken to God’s people. spoken through Moses, the prophet and leader. They were written down as part of Torah, God’s instructions how to live in treaty with Him. They became a starting point for the prophets, who called the Israelites back to obedience. For Jesus and Paul, those words were a call to deeper relationship with the Father. “Hear, Oh Israel… not read and obey.”
Torah, God’s Instructions
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible contain the early history of Yahweh’s goodness to his people. They also contain His instructions for Edenic life in the Promised Land.
The Israelites were told to listen to and obey the written instructions. Every king was supposed to write out a copy for himself. All were to meditate on and learn from the stories and commands in Torah (Joshua 1:7-8). Right after the initial command to hear, they were to
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:7).
Faith is expressed in trusting and obeying these instructions and commands. More importantly, faith is expressed in hearing and obeying the voice of Ruach.
Basis of Israelite Wisdom and Morality
Torah was meant to become the wise, loving instructions for living with Yahweh as king. The commands were to improve the lives of the poor and oppressed, whether women, the weak, or slaves. Yahweh’s wise justice would make things right for all people.
After the scattering from the Tower of Babylon, the nations were put under the rule of lesser gods, as delegated by the Creator (Deuteronomy 32:8-9). The Israelites were supposed to live Edenic lives and draw in the other nations (Deuteronomy 4:6).
Told to separate themselves from the evil practices of the other nations, the Israelites were not to idolize that separateness. They were supposed to teach life under Yahweh.
After the return from exile, Israel’s religious leaders idolized God’s written words. The same happens with so-called bibliophiles, who idolize even the English words in the Bible.
Problems with Idolizing the Written Word
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day used human traditions as a protective fence to prevent the breaking of the Law. They believed all of Israel had to become righteous through Torah observance so that Messiah could come, kick out the Romans, and set up His kingdom. Today, there exists the custom of kissing a Torah scroll as it’s being paraded around the congregation. This is making an idol of the words versus listening to and obeying the Voice.
The Law became the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad, what I call the “Tree of Morality”. God’s commands are learned for wisdom, which is a good thing. However, idolizing the written words sets aside “Hear” and “Love”.
Idolatry of Bible Inerrancy
This principle of Christian faith treats the English words written in Western Bibles as literal – not literary. They are to be believed as written without fail, despite errors in translation and cultural differences, despite modern scientific discoveries unknown to the ancient authors. This principle misses the intended messages of the Hebrew authors, men of an ancient and non- scientific culture.
Application
Set aside the principle of English Bible inerrancy. Accept that the original authors wrote from an ancient, non- scientific worldview to people of a Middle Eastern culture.
Learn the wisdom of the written words. Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live (Proverbs 4:4).
Also, listen to the voice of Ruach. Hear, O Israel…