A Higher Level of Divine Service to GOD

Course: Intro to Torah Anthology– Class Handouts Note: I am currently transitioning class materials onto this page as we continue through the course. Please refer back to this page at least once per week to ensure you collect all class materials/handouts/worksheets. Shalom

Always approach your time of study in the Word of GOD with humility and prayer before you begin and close with prayer afterward. To assist with this, I am adding this link to the BLESSING BEFORE & AFTER TORAH STUDY, for quick access. After you are done studying, scroll to the last prayer on the LANGUAGE OF PRAYER page and you will see the Blessing After Torah Study.

FYI: Only 2 of 3 pages of the Torah Lishma Handout have been included on this page. Beneath page 2, I have added an exercise for each student to complete. Reflect on the teaching, consider the assignments carefully, make note of your reply and check back at least weekly for the next step. God Bless.

WHAT STEPS CAN I TAKE TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES FROM A HEBRAIC POINT OF EXEGESIS?

Many times, students have asked what steps they should take to gain a deeper revelation of the scriptures. I suggest that they begin with learning and understanding the methods of Biblical Exegesis of the Scriptures from a Hebraic standpoint. Most of you have learned the Classical Method of Biblical Exegesis from a Christian viewpoint. Now, we are going to add to your arsenal of information by looking at the scriptures in a new way. The Objective: discipline our minds to see the finer details in the text. Traditionally, from my perspective as a teacher, we read over key information. We read right past key information, that I call “flags” that are trying to wave us down in order to alert us that, “more is going on… right there on the pages of scripture than we allow ourselves to take the time to see.” This exercise is about shifting your torah study, to the level of becoming meticulous in the text!

As I say that, I can hear the voices from my past saying… “It doesn’t take all that!” I assure it that it does. If you are at all interested in shifting your study to the level that it becomes “A Higher Level of Divine Service to GOD”, then you have to become determined to push past a few voices in order to get to where it is you want to go in the things of GOD. That’s lesson #1.

IN THE EXCERCISE BELOW, I am presenting an excerpt from the Bible from the Book of Ruth. Your assignment is to pinpoint at least 6 points of information that are “flags” to pursue further inquiry. What 6 points of information in the text are flags? i.e., which key points jump out at you in the message? What are the questions that you should be asking about them?

That’s it! I will update this post in a few days with the 6 points that I would choose and suggest some possible questions that you should ask when studying the Book of Ruth. We will move forward after we have are questions in line…. See you soon!

Keep these 3 Basics in Mind as you Meditate on Chapter 1 of the Book of Ruth.

• The scriptures contain timeless teachings/ lessons that can sometimes take years to uncover.
• All of Scripture conveys ‘Spiritual’ teachings and instructions. The Word of GOD is not given for the purposes of building up the flesh, I.e., carnal desires and motives. The Word is given for the purpose of building us up spiritually. The wisdom contained in the Word is speaking to the Spirit of mankind, in order to protect the soul.
• There are levels of meaning in the messages/teachings in the Word. Scripture elevates the soul and the spirit. The literal meaning of the text is only the beginning of wisdom.
• Humility is/can be your greatest asset in your quest to delve deeper into the depths of God’s Word. Humility is greatly undervalued. Desire it, acquire it and cherish it, whichever is the case. Suppress any compulsion to judge the characters or their actions in the text. Their lives and stories are for the purpose of instruction. The virtue of humility must be applied in every aspect of your walk, even study. Approach every encounter with the Word in humility. Amen.

BOOK OF RUTH – CHAPTER 1 KJV Public Domain

Click this Link: in order to view a word-for-word translation of the Book of Ruth from Hebrew to English. The link will take you to Biblehub.com starting with Ruth 1:1

A/O 06-05-21 I have updated this post by underlining Key Phrases in Chapter 1 of Ruth (below) that indicate that are stated in such a way that they should cause questions to arise. Take a look at what has been underlined and make note if they provoke any questions and what they are? I won’t underline all of them right now, but enough to show you something new. Later, I will come back and suggest some questions of my own. God Bless

FYI: Another exercise of this kind can be found on ‘HOW TO STUDY THE TORAH’ Click Here Enjoy!

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

² And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

³ And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

⁴ And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

⁵ And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

⁶ Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.

⁷ Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

⁸ And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

⁹ The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

¹⁰ And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

¹¹ And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

¹² Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

¹³ Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.

¹⁴ And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

¹⁵ And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

¹⁶ And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

¹⁸ When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

¹⁹ So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

²⁰ And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

²¹ I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!

SHALOM!