September 2019
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Volume XXV, Issue 7 September 2019 Shana tova ISRAEL: THE APPLE OF GOD’S EYE | YOM KIPPUR AND THE TEMPLE EXPLAINED | HEBREWS BIBLE STUDY FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friend, Shalom in His peace! We are still following up on the hundreds of contacts we received through our Shalom New York outreach this summer, during which more than 125 staff and volunteers shared the gospel in New York City. What a wonderful start to the fall season of new beginnings. Israel, the In fact, the Jewish community worldwide is getting ready to celebrate the Jewish New Year, known in Hebrew as Rosh Hashanah (literally, the “head of Apple of the year”). Our staff around the globe will have “High Holiday” services, where we will celebrate God’s Eye the holidays and, through the worship and mes- sages, point to the One in whom we have new and A SEASON everlasting life. Please pray especially for the many Jewish seekers who will be coming to our services, OF NEW as there will be hundreds! BEGINNINGS Thank you again for caring and praying! We also continue to celebrate our 125th year of ministry among the Jewish people by looking Please pray for back on our rich history to encourage us for the bright future God has prepared for Israel and the the many Jewish Jewish people (Romans 11:25ff). We continue to be inspired by the lasting legacy of Dr. Charles Lee seekers who will Feinberg who came to faith through Chosen People be coming to Ministries—then known as the American Board of Missions to the Jews—in the early part of the Zechariah was one of the prophets who our High Holiday 20th century. Dr. Feinberg went on to become the lived after the Babylonian captivity in first dean of Talbot Theological Seminary and one the time of the restoration of Israel to services. of the finest Bible scholars of the modern era. In their own land. He had a message of honor of Dr. Feinberg and our 125th anniversary, spiritual importance for the remnant we are happy to reprint one of Dr. Feinberg’s of God’s people who returned to Pal- articles on Israel. estine [Israel]. He also warned those who were remaining in Babylon of the One of our staff was reading through our archives coming judgment upon all those na- and found this article from 1964. I enjoyed it so tions who had afflicted God’s people, much, I wanted to share it with you! Israel. In the midst of this prophecy Please continue to pray for Israel and the Jewish he stated that those who touch Israel, people, the apple of God’s eye, especially during the Jew, touch the apple of God’s eye. this holiday season. I hope and pray you enjoy Zechariah declared: “For thus says the this newsletter, as we explore the Holy of Holies, LORD of hosts, ‘After glory He has sent which is central to the Day of Atonement just a me against the nations which plunder few weeks away. you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye’” (2:8). Happy New Year! Why did God call Israel the apple of Your brother in Messiah, His eye? This designation is a beautiful figure Mitch and picture of Israel because it speaks of, first, that which is so precious. 2 The Chosen People | SEPTEMBER 2019 by Charles L. Feinberg Written in 1964 and published in the book, Israel, in 1980 That Which Is So Precious in Isaiah (43:10-12): “‘You are My witnesses,’ declares the LORD, ‘and My servant whom A man guards the apple of his eye because it is dear to him. I have chosen, in order that you may know It is considered by every man as one of his most precious and believe Me, and understand that I am possessions. The psalmist prayed to the Lord: “Keep me as He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Thy wings” after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides Me. (Psalm 17:8). No one is interested in bargaining away the apple It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there of his eye, nor in exchanging it for some trifling object. God was no strange god among you, so you are My witnesses,’ declares considers the Jew as His precious possession. God has set His the LORD, ‘and I am God.’” This was the intention of God for love on Israel and they are very precious to Him. Moses told Israel and still is. them in the wilderness: “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of Fifth, the apple of the eye is that which is so carefully protected. the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your That Which Is So Carefully Protected forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand, Remarkable and abundant provision is made for the protection and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of of the pupil of the eye, of which many people are unaware. The Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:7–8). protection consists of: (1) the strong frontal bones (to guard Second, the apple of the eye indicates that which is so easily against a blow); (2) the brow and eyelash (to protect against injured. dust); (3) the lid (to guard against painful glare); and (4) the tear glands (to provide continuous cleansing). With Israel is That Which Is So Easily Injured the omnipotent power of God committed to protect them. The psalmist clearly recounts the protecting hand of God over His It is not necessary to thrust a knife into the eye to cause excruci- people: ating agony and injure it. A splinter, an eyelash, a speck of dust, or a touch will bring real pain. We need to be exceedingly care- He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which ful how we conduct ourselves toward the Jew. He may appear He commanded to a thousand generations, the covenant without protector, but any injury hurts the heart of God, as He which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac. has repeatedly stated in the Word of God. Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land Third, the apple of the eye is that which is impossible to repair. of Canaan, as the portion of your inheritance,” when they were only a few men in number, very few, and strangers That Which Is Impossible to Repair in it. And they wandered about from nation to nation, Parts of the human body can be injured and mutilated, and from one kingdom to another people. He permitted no yet some type of replacement can be made. Hands, feet, and man to oppress them, and He reproved kings for their bones in the body have been replaced by skillful surgeons, or sakes: “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My so treated that they are still useful. But the pupil of the eye prophets no harm.” Psalm 105:8–15 cannot be repaired once it is severely injured. Some injuries to Remember, God’s hand of protection is upon Israel as a nation, Israel, God’s people, cannot be repaired. How can the slaughter and He will not suffer them to cease as a people. of six million Jews in Europe ever be repaired? How can this multiplied injury be righted? Impossible! And to think that That Which Causes Intense Pain When Injured everyone who touched them—let alone cremated them—was touching the apple of God’s eye! When a man’s pupil has been injured, he feels intense pain. And this pain can be so great that he becomes sick. To injure Israel Fourth, the apple of the eye is that which allows the light to is to cause God intense pain. He says: “In all their affliction He penetrate. was afflicted” (Isaiah 63:9). When Israel is mistreated, God reckons that His very name, His own excellence, is blasphemed That Which Allows the Light to Penetrate (Isaiah 52:5). The pupil of the eye is the entrance through which the light We never dare to forget that he who touches Israel for ill will rays from without penetrate to the retina so that we may see not go unpunished. Nations as well as individuals have proved the objects before us. Israel is God’s entrance way for the light the truth of this passage of Scripture. On the other hand, we of His Word and His salvation to enter the world. One day must also remember that he who touches Israel for good, will Jesus the Messiah said to a Samaritan woman: “You worship not go unrewarded (Matthew 25:40). You, too, have something that which you do not know; we worship that which we know; you must keep in mind. You must be willing to open your eyes for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). These words of the to see the glory and the beauty of the Messiah or you will never Messiah and Savior were in perfect accord with the declaration be able to behold the glorious sight! The Chosen People | SEPTEMBER 2019 3 All of this was done year after year on the Day of Atonement in the Holy YOM KIPPUR of Holies to atone for Israel’s sins.