The Jewish High Holy Days are coming up, and with it the many services, traditions and special readings specifically related to this holiday season. One book from the Bible that is read on the Shabbat during Sukkot is Ecclesiastes. Many struggle with understanding why this book is even in the canon of Scripture, let alone being the focus of one of our most important holidays. I believe Ecclesiastes is included because it reminds us to contemplate the intentions of our life: “Why do I do what I do?”
It
is so easy to go through the motions of “religious practice”, even for people
who say that their religious practice is “free”, without old “man-made”
liturgies and service structures. I see this often when I am speaking in
churches: people barely singing along in a hymn book or when the worship band
is leading. They are present, but not fully engaged. Certainly in my own
synagogue I see this way too often: mouthing words from the siddur liturgy is
not the same as reading the liturgy with heartfelt and passionate love of G-d!
The Hebrew Scriptures often use the word שָׁמַר (shamar) in relation to diligence before G-d, especially regarding his instructions. The word means to keep, guard, watch … observe. Interestingly enough, in the prophetic literature G-d is constantly rebuking Israel for their observance, but not because they are not being observant in their practice, but because of the lack of diligence and proper intent in their observance. As Isaiah 42:20 states:
“You have seen many things, but you do not pay attention. Though
ears are open, no one hears.”
We must remember that our actions (attending services, reading Scripture, serving others) must be the result of our active and intentional relationship with G-d. We should not do these things simply out of duty or ought, even if G-d commands us to do them (which he does in the Scripture). G-d wants us to keep his commandments because we love him! As Messiah Yeshua said in John 14:15:
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
I still firmly believe that there are people around us sincerely seeking to know the truth of who G-d is. Are they able to see the truth of G-d in our observance? When they walk into our religious services, will they observe us in heartfelt and passionate worship of G-d because of our love for Him? When they observe us at work, at the store or in the neighborhood, are they able to see the diligence and watchfulness of our faith shining out in the details, values and priorities of our lives?
If we say that we love G-d and our Messiah Yeshua, we each must be diligent that our observance is truly heartfelt, and as a result of this, obvious to those around us who need to know G-d’s love for themselves.
Forward for Messiah,
Rabbi Kirk Gliebe
