Religions (2)

Judaism

Judaism is practically distinguishable from most other religions in that its central tenet is that there is only one God. It shares this tenet with the two world religions that have arisen out of it, that is, Christianity and Islam. However, it is distinguished from them because:

(1) It has a racial basis. Jews look to Abraham as their father in a natural sense (Luke 3:8;16:24; John 8:33-37). Christians also see Abraham as their father, but in a spiritual sense (Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 3). Moslems claim to have a link with Abraham through Ishmael, but consider all races as subjects of evangelisation as do Christians. Jews on the other hand may make proselytes (Matthew 23:15), but in circumcising them they are in a sense making those persons Jews.

(2) Jews consider themselves to be disciples of Moses, that is, doctrinally they look to him (John 9:28). Christians look to Christ and are his disciples (John 8:31/32). Moslems look to Mohammed who gave them the Koran, which is effectively their Bible.

(3) Jews politically look back to David their king , and Christ came to them as Son of David (Matthew 21:9; Mark 10:46-52). (the Saul line was extinguished). Their symbol is the star of David, perhaps obtained from Numbers 24:17. Christians have no king but recognise Christ as their Lord (Romans 10:9). Although not put before us in the Bible as such, many Christians think of the cross as their symbol; the crusaders had it on their flags and armour. The Roman emperor Constantine adopted it. Moslems have no king as such, but have adopted the crescent as their symbol.

What is called Judaism is in reality the religion based on the law of Moses which contained moral instruction (the ten commandments etc.) and also instructions for making a tabernacle and a related sacrificial system. The system of worship was a material one (Hebrews 9:1-5). The blessings connected with it were earthly . God gave Israel the land of Canaan to inhabit (Genesis 13:14-17) as well as other blessings connected with the keeping of the law and corresponding judgements if they did not (Deuteronomy 27 & 28). The land was obtained by military conquest (Joshua). It is of course true that many Israelites saw beyond the material blessings that they received, as David who looked for blessing beyond this life (Psalm 133:3). David also spoke of spiritual worship, saying: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation" (Psalm 141:2). Many had no land here but looked for a heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16). However this does not set aside the fact that the system of worship was material and the related blessings connected with the earth.

Up to the time of the carrying away to Babylon Israel had a land, a king, a temple and a priesthood. However when they returned from Babylon to the land of Israel although the temple was rebuilt they did not have a king and for the most part remained under Gentile government (Persian, Grecian and then Roman rule). Ultimately the temple was destroyed by Titus the Roman general and the Jews dispersed among the nations. However before that took place the Jews (essentially the descendants of Judah, though there were persons with other tribal ancestry as Anna who was of Asher (Luke 2:36) and Paul who was of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5) ), stood in the place of Israel. They had no priest with Urim and with Thummim (Ezra 2:63), but they had God's word and his Spirit (Haggai 2:5). They came together to have his word (the law) expounded to them in the synagogues as they were enjoined to do by Malachi (chapter 4:4). They did not return to idolatry.

As we all know the Jews still exist today as a separate people and since the second world war have a footing in Palestine (the Holy land). Having rejected their Messiah (Jesus) they have for the time being been blinded (2 Corinthians 3:14-16; Romans 11) but they will ultimately be blessed when Christ returns (Zechariah 12-14).

We must not put Judaism on a level with Islam, because, as Paul reminds us, the Jew was entrusted with the oracles of God (Romans 3:1/2). They also had many other privileges as detailed in Romans 9:1-5. The Moslem has none of these things whatever he may claim.