I write this morning, listening to the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff in his Vespers – a piece entitled Blagoslovi gospod' moyey dushi (Bless Adonai, O my soul). Rachmaninoff was a great musician who was routinely condemned by the American mass media and the dominant voices in music. Every bit of his music was criticized – primarily because it was too popular. Somehow, such a thing was not allowed in classical circles. Yet, now, in understanding his faith, I know why he was persecuted, and why such a gifted composer, pianist, and conductor was given a life of suffering in the production of his gift.
As I write, the RUACH has given to me the desire to elaborate on the things this country must do if it is to repent before our Maker – the one who loves us so, and the one whose nature is loving kindness, and whose mercy endures forever. Can we find our way back from this pit of She’ol where we now find ourselves? There is a path; it is narrow; a wall of fire is on one side, and a deep ocean on the other; right now, it is unlit, but for those who seek, it shall be found.
We begin in one place in all our discussions:
Marqus (Mark) 12:28-31
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And YAHUSHA answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Yashar’el; YAHUAH ELOHAYNU, YAHUAH is one: 30 And you shall love את eth YAHUAH ELOHAYKA with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
So, we begin with the question: How do you love את eth YAHUAH ELOHAYKA with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength?
Yechezq’el (Ezekiel) 36:25-30
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new ruach will I put within you: and I will take away את eth-the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put את eth-my RUACH within you, and cause you את eth to walk in my statutes, and ye shall guard my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your ELOHIYM. 29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the grain, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply את eth-the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
It is written here, that with a renewed heart, and a renewed soul, joined with the RUACH of YAH within, a believer is caused to walk in the statutes (בחקי)(choq) of YAH, and to guard his judgments (ומשׁפטי)(mishpath). This statement is reaffirmed in the words of HA’MASHIACH, who said:
Yahuchanon (John) 14:15-17
If ye love me, guard את eth-my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 Even the RUACH EMETH; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
Yahuchanon continues with this statement:
Yahuchanon Ri’shon (1 John) 5:1-6
WHOSOEVER believes that YAHUSHA is HAMASHIACH is born of YAHUAH: and everyone that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love את eth-the children of YAH, when we love את eth-YAHUAH, and guard את eth-his commandments (מצות)(mitsvoth). 3 For this is the love of YAH, that we guard את eth-his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of YAHUAH overcomes את eth-the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our belief. 5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that YAHUSHA is the Son of ELOHIYM? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even YAHUSHA HAMASHIACH; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the RUACH that bears witness, because the RUACH is truth.
This then, is step number one.