ECCE

      Both  Simchat Torah , meaning "Rejoice in the Torah," and Shemini Atzeret , meaning "the eighth day," follow the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles. The eighth day has a meaning to the Jewish people of new beginnings. At this time, readings from the first five books of the Bible (the Torah) ending with Deuteronomy have been studied for the year, and the readings return to the first Book of the Torah, with Genesis chapters 1 and 2. It is also a sad fact that often during God's appointed holy days, attacks have come against Israel in the past. These holy days were ordained by God to "awaken" His people and to bring His people into His presence and relationship with Him.      The LORD spoke to His people through Isaiah the prophet contrasting His own righteousness and omniscience with the unrighteousness of His people: "...Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the en...

When considering the troubling events of this week, my wife, Pastor Mary, made a comment that "there's nothing new under the sun". This is found in Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon: "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun...it hath been already from old time, which was before us." (Eccl. 1:9-10). The prophets were given the Word of the LORD in warning to God's people, and they were often ignored or accused because of it. The prophet Amos, a humble shepherd who was called by the LORD to be a prophet to Israel, wrote of the threat of war and conflict, and the judgment of the LORD upon those nations who attacked Israel. Amos wrote of the judgment against Damascus and Syria (Amos 1:1-5, see also Isa. 17:1). Amos also wrote about Gaza, the territory in our headlines today: "...For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the ...