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| Tsiyon News | |
Tsiyon Messianic Radio Newsletter Vol 5.02 - 10/22/6009 TAM - 01/08/2010 | |
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Listener Feedback - Is Kingdom Shekel Idolatry?
Listener Question: RE: Kingdom Shekel Die - How do you interpret: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:" Isn't a lions head a likeness of something on the Earth? Wouldn't that be a violation of the Torah? Just a question.
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Tsiyon Answer: Thanks for your question. You are quoting Exodus 20:4:
Exo 20:4 "You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Our problem if we stop with this one verse (part of a verse really) is that Israel is disallowed from making a likeness of anything for any reason. This clearly is not the intent of the verse since the Mishkin/Tabernacle was commanded to have likenesses of various things all through it (ex. Exodus 25:28).
Exodus 20:4 expresses only part of a thought. The full thought requires that we include verse 5 also.
4 "You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.." Exodus 20:4+5
This is not a general prohibition against creating a likeness of anything. It is a prohibition against making a likeness of anything as a god to worship. JFB Commentary sums it up like this:
"Thou shalt not make ... any graven image ... thou shalt not bow down thyself to them — that is, "make in order to bow." Under the auspices of Moses himself, figures of cherubim, brazen serpents, oxen, and many other things in the earth beneath, were made and never condemned. The mere making was no sin - it was the making with the intent to give idolatrous worship."
The likenesses on the Kingdom Shekel are not intended for worship, as I'm sure any of our listeners know. The likenesses on the Kingdom Shekel illustrate symbols taken from Scripture that have fulfillment in our day. For example, when people view the lion on the front of the shekel nobody will think that is intended to be an actual likeness of Messiah. It is a likeness of a symbol from Revelation 5:5 and is labeled as such on the shekel. Does this have meaning about Messiah? Most definitely, just as the Biblical symbol it is taken from does. However, it is in no way meant to be an object of worship, anymore than an illustrated Bible is an object of worship. It is telling a story that YHWH wants to be told in what we believe is a dynamic and effective way.
The coins of this world sport likenesses of the great men and women of this world uplifting the perceived greatness of the governments of this world. By contrast, the Kingdom Shekel features symbols from Scripture that uplift the Kingdom of Messiah. I think that's better and more appropriate for Messiah's Kingdom people, don't you?
Thoughts from Eliyahu ben David:
In our last Tsiyon News I explained why Tsiyon has disregarded accusations against Jonathan David Brown, and continues to use his music on our program in spite of such accusations. I was gratified by the rapid positive response from listeners supporting that position! In fact, although I got many supportive comments, I did not get even one negative comment against Jonathan or our use of Jonathan's music. Below are some of the responses.
| In this issue |
- The Great Bank Scam
- Latest News
- Visit Tsiyon Radio
| Recent Programs |
- The Great Bank Scam #210
- Why Does The Heathen Rage? #209
- Money & Life #208
- Escape Economic Oppression #207
- The Holy Half Shekel #206
- Redeemed by Silver #205
- Real Money #204
- Watchman or Shepherd? #203
- Revelation Afterthoughts #202
- Politics in Prophecy #201
- The BIG Picture 2 #200
- The Big Picture #199
- It Doesn’t Make Sense! #198
- The Great Sukkot Ingathering #197
- Sukkot Messiah’s Birthday #196
- The World Under Judgment #195 - Two Radio Interviews
- One World Government in Revelation #194
- Immersion of Repentance #193
- Denice Newton Interviews Eliyahu ben David #192
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Jonathan David Brown Listener Response
"Jonathan's music is a
blessing in my household. I hear my children singing "O House of
israel" song, and myself at times, it's a beautiful anointed
song..."
"..All during these last years as I was listening to the programs I
could sense the spiritual significance of these songs. These are in
your face about the Torah and about the religious system that we all
have encountered. I was happy to get a copy and then before I
received the CD you come out with this email about Jonathan. I said
to myself what have I gone and done. I’m thinking this guy can’t be
bad because the message is so clear and right on. As I read your
email I see that you have no regrets and I trust what you wrote in
the email. I haven’t attempted to search to see what this someone
has said because right now I don’t need to. I am going to listen to
the “Insane Babylonianz” and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
and thank Yah for leading me out of clutches of the worlds systems."
"Amen to 'Thoughts' E b D"
"I am new to your website and don't even know who Jonathan David
Brown is. But while reading your comments regarding him, one thought
popped into my mind immediately. What of the Apostle Paul? His
initial mission in life was to destroy true believers until he,
himself, became converted to the truth. Yahweh has called each of us
out of our world of sin. Sin is sin; it's only man who puts it into
categories. So regardless of what ANY of us have ever done in our
lives, we are made clean by the blood of the Lamb. His is the only
opinion I care about! I appreciated reading your comments."
Reading these comments and others like them made me feel blessed to be part of such a loving and discerning group of believers. I'm proud of you!
Blessings and Shalom in the Name of Y'shua Messiah,
Eliyahu ben David
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