Sunday, July 10, 2016

April/Nisan, 2017/5777, Tremendous Significance

This is the photo I chose for the month of April/Nisan, 2017-5777 for the calendar, 'REFLECTIONS'
Given the tragic events of the past few weeks, I have found it impossible to blog. No words of mine could possibly express the horror we have witnessed from such senseless loss of precious lives. I feel at times like, #Icantbreathe, eleven times over. I have been posting on social media, the root meaning of the names of each of the Hebrew months. As the Jewish calendar begins in October, 2016 for the New year of 5777, that is where I too began. I am now up to April/Nisan 2017/5777. I gather the information I post from various web sites and pull the information I feel is most relevant, without boring anyone to tears. One very important thing I learned when we visited Israel many years ago, is that nothing, no placement of a rock to the construction of a building is placed or built without tremendous significance. An example would be, when entering the gates of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, the signage is 3 dimensional. It was created this way for a purpose. The purpose was and is for birds to build nests within the lettering so that visitors might hear the birds singing as they enter!!! What a stunning idea. It is no different that each of the root meanings for the Hebraic months hold tremendous significance. As I began researching the month of Nisan, I found that it has tremendous significance for today, hence the blog post. I usually end each post with a scripture or a poem, but, today I begin:

"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
 though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."
(Psalm 46:1-2)

"Passover, occurs in the month of Nisan. Passover is really a month long celebration. Over and over it is referred to as the "month of spring", the "month of redemption," the month of Nisan, and so on. The word Nisan (נִיסָן) itself might come from either the word nitzan (נִצָּן), meaning "bud" (Song 2:12), or the word nissim (נִסִּים) meaning "miracles," both of which suggest physical and spiritual resurrection in our lives. Others think the word comes from the verb nus (נוּס), meaning "to flee," both in relation to Israel's flight from Egypt and Egypt's flight from Israel (i.e., when the pursuing Egyptian cavalry fled (נָסִים) before the sea closed upon them (Exod. 14:25, 27). We also see this usage in the verse: "The wicked flee (נָסוּ) when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov. 28:1). The devil's power is found in the lie.  If he can make you afraid, you will not think clearly. Establishing your faith in the truth will embolden you to deal with the lies and distortions that are intended to enslave you in fear. The truth will set you free. 

In light of the conditions of this present evil world, we cry out for the Messiah to return now! We want His deliverance. Most politicians, by definition, exhibit the Pharaoh-like lust to control and exploit people.  They are called "the lords of the darkness of this world." This is the nature of the corruption of those who crave power over others. Today, so many people live in fear because they believe the propaganda of the "princes of this age."  We must always keep in mind that reality centers on the LORD God of Israel, not in appearances and the rhetoric of political or media figures. Melo khol ha'aretz kevodo: מְלא כָל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדו, "the whole earth is filled with His glory (Isa. 6:3). And the LORD God of Israel cares about people's liberation from deception and tyranny. The story of the Exodus is His everlasting rebuke to all the world's dictators and should cause every politician to soberly assess their fate...  The time is coming when His judgment will fall upon all the "kings of the earth who take counsel against the LORD and against His Annointed" (Psalm 2:2). 

'The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.'  Ecclesiastes 1:9

It is also noted that, Nisan is the first month of Spring. When it arrives, something about the increasing light, the warmer air, and the sprouting vegetation, may enhance our feeling that life is a gift and a blessing. Deeper within this instinctual feeling is the recognition that life is given to us whether we ‘deserve’ it or not. This is a deep level of humility, and it brings forth a tremendous sense of gratitude. During the eight days of Passover, as we eat matzah, the bread of humility, we should strive to internalize this idea. Life is a miraculous gift descending from above. It cannot be earned, only humbly received. According to one opinion, Nisan is when human life was created."

 And I end with the scripture on the calendar for April/Nisan:

'Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.'
                                                                                                       Isaiah 11:1

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