Yada link
My sister sent me to a link regarding a connection between the Old Testament and Covenant making - see http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsphideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=f59afc3157a6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
I've been attending church all my life and have not made the connections contained in this talk until today! I know we partake of a sacrament and other ordinances, but I failed to make the connections between them...the sum of the parts if you will.
This talk makes reference to the Hebrew word "yada". Not the word made popular through Jerry Seinfeld's phrase yada, yada, yada meaning mindless, boring, or empty talk.
The Hebrew word "yada" means to know as in "to have an intimate and interactive relationship with its subject". Thus when the scriptures say that we need to "know the living God" it's not merely to know who he is and to acknowledge Him.
From the article: "The prophet Hosea clearly condemned Israel when he said: “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge [yada]” (Hosea 4:6). Hosea was not just suggesting that Israel had lost a knowledge of her God, but that they had ceased to identify with God’s causes and purposes. Israel had lost her ability to understand the great purposes the covenant relationship had been established to convey."
Yada means to have an interactive relationship with him. John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". And when he says (Matt 7:23) "depart from me, you never knew me" he is stating that we did not develop a divine relationship with him. Rather weighty, isn't it?
A second part of this talk refers to the covenant making itself. A covenant is like an ancient treaty. In a treaty the conquering party places or imposes rules for the body they conquer. In turn they agree to certain protections and rights if the conquered remain loyal to the conqueror, particularly in times of challenge, battle, or threat.
The preamble, the historical prologue, stipulations, provisions, witnesses, blessings and curses, ratification ceremonies, are all a part of this ancient treaty or covenant. When we participate in the weekly sacrament, it is not just a reminder of the baptismal covenant. It is a holy ratification ceremony - a oral recitation of the promises, protections, and blessings we enjoy as we commit ourselves to remaining loyal to our conqueror. However, in this case our conqueror is God who does not claim victory by force but by our willing submission to Him.
I'm not certain I’m saying this well. I think you get the idea. What I neglected to understand is that all of the ordinances, rites, and sacraments we participate in as latter-day saints are parts of this one whole - that we not only recognize God as our father, but we submit our will to his and allow him to conquer our hearts.
I've been attending church all my life and have not made the connections contained in this talk until today! I know we partake of a sacrament and other ordinances, but I failed to make the connections between them...the sum of the parts if you will.
This talk makes reference to the Hebrew word "yada". Not the word made popular through Jerry Seinfeld's phrase yada, yada, yada meaning mindless, boring, or empty talk.
The Hebrew word "yada" means to know as in "to have an intimate and interactive relationship with its subject". Thus when the scriptures say that we need to "know the living God" it's not merely to know who he is and to acknowledge Him.
From the article: "The prophet Hosea clearly condemned Israel when he said: “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge [yada]” (Hosea 4:6). Hosea was not just suggesting that Israel had lost a knowledge of her God, but that they had ceased to identify with God’s causes and purposes. Israel had lost her ability to understand the great purposes the covenant relationship had been established to convey."
Yada means to have an interactive relationship with him. John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". And when he says (Matt 7:23) "depart from me, you never knew me" he is stating that we did not develop a divine relationship with him. Rather weighty, isn't it?
A second part of this talk refers to the covenant making itself. A covenant is like an ancient treaty. In a treaty the conquering party places or imposes rules for the body they conquer. In turn they agree to certain protections and rights if the conquered remain loyal to the conqueror, particularly in times of challenge, battle, or threat.
The preamble, the historical prologue, stipulations, provisions, witnesses, blessings and curses, ratification ceremonies, are all a part of this ancient treaty or covenant. When we participate in the weekly sacrament, it is not just a reminder of the baptismal covenant. It is a holy ratification ceremony - a oral recitation of the promises, protections, and blessings we enjoy as we commit ourselves to remaining loyal to our conqueror. However, in this case our conqueror is God who does not claim victory by force but by our willing submission to Him.
I'm not certain I’m saying this well. I think you get the idea. What I neglected to understand is that all of the ordinances, rites, and sacraments we participate in as latter-day saints are parts of this one whole - that we not only recognize God as our father, but we submit our will to his and allow him to conquer our hearts.
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