Article #373
Subject: Discussion of the Mitzah 70
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 11/10/2014 11:57:38 AM

Discussion of the Orthodox Jewish Mitzah 70

studied during the Torah section in Exodus of Mishpatim

The prohibition of “Blessing YHWH Adonai (Hashem) [Blasphemy]

Since this Mitzvah could possibility be interpreted by some as an argument
from history justifying blame on (but certainly not his crucifixion) Jesus
Christ, God’s only Son, and also why it is impossible to be both a Christian
and a Jew, I will spend some time discussing it.
It, and the reason for it is explained in the currently taught Mesorah Arts,
Book of Mitvahs it means anyone is prohibited from adding the vowels of Adonay
to the Tetragrammaton YHWH and explicitly pronouncing this combination of
letters (writing it, of course, can not be prohibited of us as it is contained
thus in many places in the Torah and the Torah will need to be written out as
a book or scroll again and again as we go forward together).
If one accepts the premise that such a pronouncement is blasphemy then it is
easy to understand why we need to prohibit it. For, one of the main purposes
of our lives, as both Christians and Jews have been teaching for a long time,
is to Sanctify God’s Name.
I can remember one time when I was arguing with my blessed mother Virginia
Harrell, may her soul and life long beliefs live eternally, that I used the
name Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son, off of hand, in an non-reverential way.
“Do not say His Name, that way she fired back at me”. Whether Christian or Jew
or both, we should share this important goal, to act in a way through our
verbal pronouncements and actions that sanctifies at all times God’s Name in
of our lives.
But, invoking God’s Name, as a help to aid our own limited human powers of
thought, in a prayer or prayer discussion, whether inside a Church or
Synagogue with believers, or outside it in the world of all of us, with others
is not blasphemy.
We have the Bible and Torah references:
Psalm 103 verse 1
“Bar’Chay Nef’shay et YHWH” Bless the Lord, my soul (and all that is within
me).
Verse 2
“Bar’Chay Nef’shay, et YHWH” Bless the Lord, my soul (and forget none of His
benefits).
Verses 21,22
“BarChay YHWH” Bless the Lord, O His angels.
“BarChay, YHWH” Bless the Lord, all His works.

Psalm 104
Verse 1
“Bar’chay Nef’shay et YHWH, YHWH Elohay” Bless the Lord, my soul, the Lord is
my God.
Verse 35
“Barchay Nefshay et YHWH, Hallelujah” Bless the Lord, my soul, praise JAH.

If we also accepts the premise, that another purpose of life both in time and
outside of it is to glorify God dwelling inside of our individual persons then
it is also certainly clear that statements and pronouncements like Jesus made,
saying “ I AM the Light of the World” and “I AM the Bread of Life”, and “I AM
the Door” are not blasphemy of God’s Name. Looking back on it I don’t think
many Jews or Rabbi’s would still argue today that this is blasphemy. However,
this mitzvah, if interpreted wrongly could argue for this conclusion.
Since, as explained, in more detail in travel discussions with Our Prayer
Group, I believe that the purpose of life is, as given in the Lord’s Prayer
which we say each day, to bring Heaven, more and more down to earth I think
there is a strong argument that in order to achieve this more fundamental
purpose, (that of increasing Heaven on Earth as it dwells in and around more
of us, day by day) there is a strong argument that neither of the first two
explained purposes should be practiced in a way to exclude either of the
other, but in a way that they both can be achieved together.
One reason, I believe, after studying how God’s Holy Spirit dwells in us
through Divine Names for a long time, that adding the vowels of Adonay (A, O,
AI) in particular might be prohibited more than for example those of Elohim
(E, O, I) is that the total sequence of vowels, as for instance organized in
Sanskrit as a,aa,I,ii,o,o,u,uu,r,rr, l,ll,m,,mm,ah,ahah, ai,ai. Is encompassed
by the sequence a, o, ai. Whereas the sequence e, o, I does not so encompass
this part of the vowel part of the alphabet. And, since an important
characterizing attribute of God is His all encompassing nature as it dwells in
us through names and language the earlier sequence would be closer to
representing Him this way in us.

For this same reason the Vedantic word OM or A U M, composed of all Sanskrit
vowels, is said to be Pranava or God, even though it does not have any
consonants in it.
God’s Nature dwelling in us through language is also composed of consonants
(which are limited factors in sound pronounciation) as well as vowels (which
are activating factors). Thus a fundamental, Number One, way to understand God
in us through names, divides itself into two parts, a Shiva part YHWH
(representing male limiting absolute consciousness) and a Shakti part A,O,
AI,(represemting a female activating spirit).
Of course, as Christians and Jews, we believe that God’s Holy Spirit dwelling
in us can be both male and female so this analogy falls short somewhat, as it
should, of helping us understand all these divine mysteries with our own
intelligences.
Prayer that this above teaching will help others:

We affirm to our Eternal God and Creator that Divine Love, [between Our
Father, His Son, and Their Holy Spirit] prevails in us as we bless God’s Name
in us through these teachings.

Article #427
Subject: How else can we santify God's Name?
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 8/3/2015 01:38:29 PM

Had a very happy three hours praying with a husband and wife Messianic Jewish
team from Mississippi. They agree that it is important to speak about,
discuss, as well as meditating on it in private, the Divine Name YHWH in
public. They offered the argument, "How else can we sanctify it?"