Читать книгу The Jewish Religion, Ethically Presented - Henry Pereira Mendes - Страница 10
ОглавлениеTHE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Second verse of the Shema’:
Blessed be the name of the Glory of His Kingdom for ever and ever.
1. God is our King. The Hebrew word for king means one who guides or leads.
2. God is our king who guides or leads us.
3. His kingdom will be established on earth when all mankind will follow His guidance. All will then be happy, for men will then act righteously.
4. The glory of any king is the happiness of his subjects. So the glory of God, who is the supreme King of Kings, is the happiness of His creatures. God desires that we, His creatures, should be happy, because He loves us. But human happiness cannot exist without righteousness.
5. We help to establish God’s kingdom on earth and to spread its glory, when we try to promote each other’s happiness, and when we promote righteousness in every way possible.
*6. “The name of the glory of His kingdom” means the nature, the existence, the establishment of the glory of His kingdom.
7. Therefore, when we pray “Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom” we mean “Blessed be the establishment of the glory of God’s kingdom on earth.”
8. The establishment of God’s kingdom means the time when men will not try to injure each other. Righteousness will rule human life. There will be no violence, no cruelty. Even nations, instead of fighting, will go before judges to have their disputes decided. All men, all nations, will obey the laws of the Lord, our God, and will be guided by Him, the King of the Universe.
9. The establishment of God’s kingdom on earth is what we mean by the Messianic Era, or Era of Peace and Righteousness. See Chapter xlii (Part II).
[NOTE.—This verse is not in Deuteronomy. It is what our ancestors used to say when they heard God’s sacred Name solemnly pronounced in the Temple on certain special occasions.]
BIBLE QUOTATIONS.
1. The Lord is King; let the earth rejoice.—Psalm xcvii, 1.
God is King of all the earth.—Psalm xlvii, 6.
The kingdom is the Lord’s, and He is Ruler over all nations.—Psalm xxii, 28.
Thine is the kingdom, O Lord.—1 Chron. xxix, 11.
They shall speak of the glory of Thy Kingdom, and talk of Thy power.—Psalm cxlv, 11.
He guided thee in the wilderness.—Deut. viii, 15.
2. He is our Guide even unto death.—Psalm xlviii, 14.
3. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.—Zech. xiv, 9.
Unto Me every knee shall bend.—Isa. xlv, 23.
All nations which Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord, and shall honor Thy Name.—Psalm lxxxv, 9.
4. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory.—Psalm xxiv, 10.
Glory shall dwell in our land.... Yea, the Lord will give happiness.—Psalm lxxxv, 9-11.
The whole earth shall be filled with His glory.—Psalm lxxiii, 19.
5. Make your ways and your doings good.—Jerem. xviii, 11.
Do good.—Psalm xxxiv, 14.
Seek peace and pursue it.—Psalm xxxiv, 14.
Seek good and not evil, that ye may live.—Amos v, 14.
Hate evil, love what is the good and establish justice.—Amos v, 15.
Show loving kindness and compassion every one to his brother.—Zech. vii, 9.
Oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, nor the stranger, nor the poor, and let none of you imagine evil in his heart against his brother.—Zech. vii, 10.
Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor.—Zech. viii, 16.
6. All flesh shall bless the name of His holiness for ever and ever.—Psalm xlv, 21.
8. Glory shall dwell in our land. Mercy and Truth shall meet, Righteousness and Peace shall embrace. Truth shall spring forth from earth and charity shall look down from Heaven. Yea, the Lord will give happiness.—Psalm lxxxv, 9-11.
