Shalom, my brothers and sisters,
Every community in the ancient Middle East had kings. In the original Israelite religion, however, they alone had a king that no one could see. They alone had a king who would treat them justly, rule them with equity and impartiality, not take advantage of them, would not make extortionate demands on them, and who would protect them and care for them. This King was Yahveh.
The major distinction between the Israelite religion, and post-Exile Judaism which evolved from it, is that the Israelite religion had no messianic theology, or messianic expectations. Before Saul and David were crowned kings of Israel, Abraham did not have any messianic hopes; nor did Isaac or Jacob, or Moses, or Joshua, or any of the Judges of Israel. Messianic saviours were introduced into the Jewish religion from Zoroastrianism shortly after the Babylonian Exile – belief in a messiah-saviour was not part of the original Israelite religion which Yahveh gave us. For this reason, messianism does not play any part in modern Talmidi theology.
In ancient times, kings were the leaders of armies. They were the ancient equivalents of generals. When ancient peoples sought someone to lead them and save them from their enemies, they turned to their human kings. It was not, however, to be this way with Israel.
In times of conflict, Israel was supposed to turn to Yahveh, and Yahveh would appoint a temporary human leader. This ‘deputy general’ would follow God’s instructions, and so save them from their enemies. Gideon was such a man during the time of the Judges (or ‘warrior-defenders’) of Israel. When Gideon gained victory over Israel’s enemies, the Israelites sought to make him their king, but this was Gideon’s answer: ‘I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. Yahveh alone will rule over you.’ (Jdgs. 8:23)
This was the original Yahwist ideal. After generations of demanding a human king, God finally relented, albeit reluctantly (see 1Sam 8:1-19), and gave them Saul for their king. Unfortunately, post-Solomon, Israel’s experience of human kings was a disaster. Her kings were constantly unfaithful to Yahveh, and were sometimes cruel and unjust. They made ruinous decisions which put them into the hands of their enemies.
With such a history of bad kings, Israel and Judah began to long for an ideal king. Thus was born messianism – the idea of a perfect king-saviour. Fuelled by contact in the 6th century BCE with the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism (which taught belief in a similar king-saviour), Israelites began to long for a king who would rescue them from a world of darkness, and deliver them into the world of light. What many Israelites just could not understand at that time, was that instead of turning to a human king-saviour, they had only to turn back to their original King-Saviour – Yahveh – and they would be delivered from their woes.
To those who advocate messianism – the idea of a human king-saviour – I ask this: Why isn’t Yahveh enough for you? Why isn’t your heavenly Father sufficient – your living God, who loves you, who cares about you, who teaches and guides you, who comforts you in times of distress, who shows you the error of your ways and heals you, who understands every pain and sorrow that you endure, who knew you before you were born, and who has given you the promise of eternal life in heaven, in the presence of God’s radiant glory? Why isn’t Yahveh enough for you?
Yahveh, through the purifying power of God’s Glory, is able to cleanse us of our sins, forgive us and make us whole – not through any blood or death. Yahveh is the love that does not have to be bought, and the happiness that does not have to be suffered for.
Yahveh is the father who guides you, the mother who loves you without condition, the best friend you can ever have, who loves you so much that God lives for you so that through God’s life, you can have happiness here on earth, and eternal life in heaven; Yahveh is your Defender who saves you on a daily basis, your Advocate who fights your corner, the Healer who cares for you in times of sickness, and the wise Counsellor who provides every answer. Yahveh is the bread that comes without price, the drink that is completely free, the food that sates every hunger, and the wine that slakes every thirst.
To those awaiting a messiah-saviour I ask, why do you need more? What exactly is the ‘more’ that you need? You have a great and powerful King in Yahveh; why do you need another one? Why do you await another saviour? For these people, my advice is this: Search in your heart of hearts – is not Yahveh the true, living God that you know – the God whom you were created and born to know? The God whom you have always known? Why then seek someone else?
Modern Talmidaism holds to this original Israelite ideal of Yahveh alone as our King-Saviour. Talmidaism has turned its back on messianism as the failed practice of putting trust and belief in imperfect human beings, and of hankering after the future, while forgetting to live in the present. We don’t have to wait for a king-saviour to arrive, because our true King-Saviour is already with us, here and now.
And because our true King-Saviour is with us now, so also the Kingdom of our God is here and now.
Blessed be the Holy Name of Yahveh!
your brother in service and humility
Shmuliq
“I have set Yahveh clearly before me always” (Ps 16:8)