Rock of Israel

“The spirit of HASHEM spoke through me; His word is upon my tongue. The G-d of Israel has said – the Rock of Israel has spoken to me – “[Become a] ruler over men; a righteous one, who rules through the fear of G-d, like the morning light when the sun shines – a morning without clouds, from the shine out of the rain, grass [sprouts froth] from the earth. (2 Samuel 23:2-4)”

Many Christians believe that the term “Rock of Israel” refers to their human deity. They therefore divide One G-d into separate parts, thinking the Rock of Israel is not only separate from the G-d of Israel, but speaking to Him. They feel the multiple mention of G-d reveals a multiplicity of G-d entities, but this is really a misunderstanding of basic Hebrew poetic form identifying the G-d of Israel as their Rock. King David uses a literary technique of theme repetition to communicate importance and emphasis. Another example of this poetic technique can be found in Psalm 130:5, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits," and in numerous other instances.

In addition to the misinterpretation above, Christians also call their deity the “morning light” and assume David is describing their deity based on their misunderstanding of Who spoke to David. It is HASHEM alone, the G-d of Israel, the Rock of Israel, talking to King David about his reign.

These verses are part of the last words spoken by King David, a poetic description of his rule over Israel. When the anticipated messiah will rule the Jewish people he will be like David, a normal man appointed by G-d to be a righteous ruler, who fears G-d and whose reign is pleasant like King David’s reign, “like the morning light when the sun shines…”

Give Thanks to HASHEM among the Nations

“Therefore, I shall give thanks to You, HASHEM, among the nations, and to Your Name I will sing. (2 Samuel 22:50)”

This verse finds itself among the list of more than 300 purported prophecies presented by many Christians in an effort to authenticate their religion. Some of these verses that supposedly prove their religion are simply declarations of praise and gratitude to HASHEM, thereby providing no evidence of any religion.

2 Samuel 22:50 is part of a song that “David spoke to HASHEM…on the day that HASHEM delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. (2 Samuel 22:1)” Immediately preceding this verse, David says, “…Exalted is G-d, Rock of my salvation, The G-d Who grants me vengeance and subdues nations beneath me, (2 Samuel 22:47-48)” In 2 Samuel 22:50, David states that he will give thanks to HASHEM for victory and sing His Name among the nations that were defeated and subdued, possibly referring to the Philistines.

According to Many Christians, when David says he, “shall give thanks to You, HASHEM, among the nations…” he supposedly predicts that the man they worship came for all people due to thanks being declared “among the nations…” Christians misunderstand David’s proclamation of thanks to predict their deity’s widespread acceptance among nations outside of the Jewish people, when, in actuality, the subsequent abandonment of Christian beliefs by the vast majority of Jews discredits the validity of Christianity. This is because the nations of the world are prophesied to ultimately see the wisdom and truth of Torah through Jewish observance.

“Many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek out HASHEM, Master of Legions, in Jerusalem, and to supplicate before HASHEM. Thus said HASHEM, Master of Legions: In those days it will happen that ten men, of all the [different] languages of the nations, will take hold, they will take hold of the corner of the garment of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you!’ (Zechariah 8:23)”

The nations are not prophesied to abolish parts of Torah and deify a man. It is the Jewish people, upholding and practicing Torah values that are the source of “…a light to the nations; (Isaiah 42:6)” as it is written,

“See, I have taught you decrees and ordinances, as HASHEM, my G-d, has commanded me, to do so in the midst of the Land to which you come to possess it. You shall safeguard and perform them, for it is your wisdom and discernment in the eyes of the peoples, who shall hear all these decrees and who shall say, “Surely a wise and discerning people is this great nation!” For which is a great nation that has a G-d Who is close to it, as Is HASHEM, our G-d, whenever we call to Him? And which is a great nation that has righteous decrees and ordinances, such as this entire Torah that I place before you this day? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)”

The Jewish people are praised by HASHEM. Torah observance produces an intricately beautiful relationship with HASHEM and the Torah imparts wisdom, kindness, morality, mercy, justice, and Monotheism to the nations of the world. Jews will be sought out by the nations for their relationship with G-d and observance of Torah laws.

David's Offspring

“When your days are complete and you lie with your forefathers, I shall raise up after you your offspring who will issue from your loins, and I shall make his kingdom firm. He shall build a Temple for My sake, and I shall make firm the throne of his kingdom forever. I shall be a Father unto him and he shall be a son unto Me, so that when he sins I will chastise him with the rod of men and with afflictions of human beings. But My kindness will not be removed from him as I removed [it] from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your dynasty and your kingdom will remain steadfast before you for all time; your throne will remain firm forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-16)”

HASHEM will establish Solomon on the throne after David and he will build a Temple for HASHEM. The throne will belong to Solomon’s descendants forever. He will love Solomon as a Father loves a son by disciplining him when he sins, but He will never remove the kingdom from him.

Many Christians believe that the offspring in this passage is the man they worship. Christian doctrine teaches that their deity is without sin, blameless and perfect.  It is clear that this passage would not be compatible with this Christian idea, since HASHEM says, “…so that when he sins I will chastise him…” This incongruity would destroy the central tenant of Christian beliefs if applied to their deity, because, their whole religion falls apart if their deity sins.

Nevertheless, Christians maintain that the son of G-d in this passage refers to their deity, even though he was never king, failed to sit on the throne and didn’t build the Temple. They claim he will return to complete these things at some unspecified future date, ignoring the difficulty created by their unsubstantiated reasoning. Obviously, since none of the prophecies were fulfilled, nothing can be proved.

In addition to the unmistakable lack of prophetic fulfillment, Christians misconstrue the phrase, “son of G-d", thinking it indicates divinity. This phrase is repeatedly used in the Hebrew Bible as a term of endearment to signify HASHEM's close relationship with those He loves, never implying divine origin. The whole nation of Israel is called G-d’s ‘firstborn son’ in Exodus 4:22. Both David and Solomon merit this affection. Solomon is the son in this passage, who builds the Temple.

Many Christians also become confused by the promise of HASHEM to “make firm the throne of [Solomon’s] kingdom forever.” They mistake it to predict a king who will be on the throne forever, when in fact it reaffirms the promise given to King David that his throne and kingly line will remain forever, never to be handed over to another. The prophecy of Jacob about Judah is fulfilled through the house of David.

Moshiach

“HASHEM – may those that contend with him be shattered, let the heavens thunder against them. May HASHEM judge to the ends of the earth; may He give power to his king and raise the pride of his anointed one. (1 Samuel 2:10)”

Many Christians believe that the word Messiah (anointed) is exclusively used in the Hebrew Bible as a reference to their deity, as if the word were a proper noun identifying only him. They apply this unfounded assertion to Hannah’s prayer, insisting the anointed one she references is their deity. She makes no mention of a divine being, only an ordinary king who requires HASHEM’s assistance in everything he does. It goes unacknowledged by most Christians that even their deity declares that he doesn’t know what the Father knows (Matthew 24:36 & Mark 13:32) thus distinguishing himself from divinity or unity with G-d. There is no mention of this or any other anointed king being divine. In fact, when Hannah talks about HASHEM, she affirms His Oneness,

“There is none as holy as HASHEM, for there is none besides You, and there is no Rock like our G-d. (1 Samuel 2:2)”

The Hebrew word for anointed, is moshiach. The two words ‘his anointed’ which are used in this verse, would be written as one word in Hebrew with a possessive pronoun ending. It would read m'shicho. This is the word form used above. Each and every Jewish king is anointed. The man that Christians worship never ascended the throne and never took the title of king, therefore this verse and others like it would not apply to him, so he is not only without divine origin, but also never became an anointed king either.

Since the second Temple’s destruction, Jews have been awaiting the restoration of Jewish life in Israel, including a king on the throne and the construction of the third Temple. This expected king is called a moshiach, translated into English as Messiah, because he will be anointed as were all the previous kings.

“All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David sealed a covenant with them in Hebron before HASHEM, and they anointed David as king over Israel. (2 Samuel 5:3)”

“Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured some onto [Saul’s] head, and he kissed him. He said, “Indeed, HASHEM has anointed you as ruler over His heritage. (1 Samuel 10:1)”

This verse is the last part of Hannah’s beautiful prayer to HASHEM, who granted her previous request to have children. Hannah is praising HASHEM throughout her supplication. She then ends with a request that those who contend with her son be destroyed, and asks for the future kings that Samuel anoints to be given power and strength.

The Curse

“If a man shall have committed a sin whose judgment is death, he shall be put to death, and you shall hang him on a gallows. His body shall not remain for the night on the gallows, rather you shall surely bury him on that day, for a hanging person is a curse of G-d, and you shall not contaminate your Land, which HASHEM, your G-d, gives you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

Many Christians parallel this verse, where a hanging person is called “a curse of G-d”, to the curse issued as a punishment for forsaking, “the covenant of HASHEM.” They believe their deity is this hanging person who is somehow absorbing, for all Jews, the curse of forsaking the Torah. They maintain he committed no sin, free from blemish and thus merited to suffer for others.

The man in this passage that Christians reference to prove their beliefs has “committed a sin whose judgment is death. (Deuteronomy 21:22)” so this man obviously isn’t free from sin and does not fulfill the most important requirement they created for their deity. The true meaning of this passage is that a hanging person is a curse of G-d and should be taken down because “you shall not contaminate your Land. (Deuteronomy 21:23)” This verse has no relationship to the curses one receives if they scorn the Torah.

“And they will say, “Because they forsook the covenant of HASHEM, the G-d of their forefathers, that He sealed with them when He took them out of the land of Egypt; and they went and served the gods of others and prostrated themselves to them – gods that they knew not and He did not apportion to them. So G-d’s anger flared against that Land, to bring upon it the entire curse that is written in this Book; and HASHEM removed them from upon their soil, with anger, with wrath, and with great fury, and He cast them to another land, as this very day!” The hidden [sins] are for HASHEM, our G-d, but the revealed [sins] are for us and our children forever, to carry out all the words of this Torah. (Deuteronomy 29:24-28)”

“But if you will not listen to Me and will not perform all of these commandments; if you consider My decrees loathsome, and if your being rejects My ordinances, so as not to perform all My commandments, so that you annul My covenant – then I will do the same to you; I will assign upon you panic…If despite this you do not heed Me, then I shall punish you further, seven ways for your sins. I will break the pride of your might…I will destroy your lofty buildings and decimate your sun-idols…I will make the land desolate…and you, I will scatter among the nations…You will become lost among the nations; the land of your foes will devour you. (Leviticus 26:14-38)”

The curse for transgressing the Torah only applies to Jews, because it is only Jews who are responsible for Torah observance. These verses specify idolatry and willful disregard of Torah laws as precursors to receiving the curse of exile and suffering. Someone who exhibits disdain for observing Torah is in danger of harsh judgment. This judgment is intended to drive Jews towards teshuvah.

“My child, do not despise HASHEM’s discipline, and do not despise His reproof, for HASHEM admonishes the one He loves, and like a father He mollifies the child. (Proverbs 3:11, 12)”

HASHEM longs for his children to return to Him so that He can provide mercy to repentant sinners who perform teshuvah, a Hebrew word which literally means return. It involves the three elements of regret, change, and verbal expression of sins. The Torah declares that Jews will return from the land of their enemies to observe Torah in the Land He promised to their forefathers.

According to Christians, no one should be concerned about the curse of forsaking the Torah, because they assert that the curse is annulled by the death of their human deity. They believe that he died to take responsibility for the sins of the world and this death alleviates them from punishment. They add worship of an idol to the requirements for repentance. They assert that mercy is only given through worship of their false god.

Most Christians incorrectly claim that if someone breaks even one commandment in the Torah, then they are irrevocably under the curse. They believe it isn’t possible to receive mercy without accepting their human sacrifice as payment for sin. They believe that forgiveness is only attainable through their deity’s death. They formulated this belief without acknowledging that the true path to forgiveness, repentance and changed behavior, is repeatedly mentioned in the Torah.

“Then they will confess their sin and the sin of their forefathers, for the treachery with which they betrayed Me…But despite all this, while they will be in the land of their enemies, I will not have been revolted by them nor will I have rejected them to obliterate them, to annul My covenant with them – for I am HASHEM, their G-d. I will remember for them the covenant of the ancients, those whom I have taken out of the land of Egypt before the eyes of the nations, to be a G-d unto them… (Leviticus 26:40-45)”

“It will be that when all these things come upon you – the blessing and the curse that I have presented before you – then you will take it to your heart among all the nations where HASHEM, your G-d, has dispersed you; and you will return unto HASHEM, your G-d and listen to His voice, according to everything that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and all your soul. Then HASHEM, your G-d, will bring back your captivity and have mercy upon you, and He will gather you in from all the peoples to the ends of heaven, from there HASHEM, your G-d, will gather you in and from there He will take you. (Deuteronomy 30:1-4)”

Many Christians believe that their deity finished the Torah and absorbed the curse, consequently nullifying the Torah’s precepts. They teach that the Torah was given merely to show Jews and the whole world the sinful nature of humanity through humanity’s alleged inability to keep all of the laws, supposedly resulting in the need for their human sacrifice.

This view of Torah, postulates that HASHEM, our loving Father effectively set His treasured people up for destruction from the moment the Torah is given, Heaven forbid! What loving father would give His children a set of rules that they have no chance of following, expecting them to fall short? Is it justice to punish someone for failing at a task they had no hope of completing in the first place?  If His purpose was to show the sinful nature of humanity, what was the need for 613 separate commandments?  Only one would have sufficed. On the contrary, The Torah is a beautiful way of connecting to G-d. It is meant to be performed and followed, without becoming distracted by those who diminish its purpose and meaning.

"You trampled all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is false. (Psalm 119:118)"

“For it is a time to act for HASHEM; they have voided Your Torah. (Psalm 119:126)"

"The pursuers of sinful counsel draw near; they are far from Your Torah. Yet You are nearby, O HASHEM and all your commandments are true. From the start I gained knowledge from Your testimonies, because You established them forever. (Psalm 119:150-152)"

"Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. I have sworn, and I will fulfill, to keep Your righteous ordinances. I am exceedingly afflicted; O HASHEM, preserve me in accordance with Your word. Please accept with favor the offerings of my mouth, O HASHEM, and teach me Your ordinances. My life is constantly in my hand, but I did not forget Your Torah. The wicked laid a snare for me, but I did not stray from Your precepts. I have taken Your testimonies as my eternal heritage, for they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, forever, to the utmost. (Psalm 119:105-112)"

The Torah is a treasured gift. 

“My child, do not forget My Torah, and let your heart guard My commandments. For they add to you length of days and years of life and peace. (Proverbs 3:1, 2)”

G-d does not desire to see His people fail, and did not give the Torah with that intention. It is given to enrich our lives with wisdom and guidance, to show the world morality and holiness.

“Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its pathways are peace. It is a tree of life to those who grasp it, and its supporters are praiseworthy. (Proverbs 3:17, 18)”

The Torah is not meant to be taken away by one person, to finish it, and eliminate it. The real purpose of the Torah is for each person to come close to HASHEM and through following His perfect decrees, bring His light into the world. It is for each person to do for themselves.

“For this commandment that I command you today – it is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in heaven, [for you] to say, “Who can ascend to the heaven for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it?" Nor is it across the sea, [for you] to say, "Who can cross the other side of the sea for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it?" Rather, the matter is very near to you – in your mouth and your heart – to perform it. See – I have placed before you today the life and the good, and the death and the evil, that which I command you today, to love HASHEM your G-d, to walk in His ways, to observe His commandments, His decrees and His ordinances; then you will live and you will multiply, and HASHEM, your G-d, will bless you in the Land to which you come, to possess it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-16)”