Lessons from the lamed

1. Lessons from the lamed

2. 22 Letters of Hebrew Alphabet LAMED

4. lamed lamed rotated 90 degrees

5. Oxgoad: A long wooden pole that has been tipped with a sharpened iron point at one end and capped with a flattened chisel-like blade at the other end. lamed rotated 90 degrees A yod

6. Yod, prounounced like “yode”

8. Oxgoad: A long wooden pole that has been tipped with a sharpened iron point at one end and capped with a flattened chisel-like blade at the other end. lamed rotated 90 degrees A yod = arm or hand for work Judges 3:31:After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.

9. lamed is foundation for Hebrew word LAMAD = DML Means both “teaching” and “learning”

10. From moment of birth, we learn and teach • Exercise every aspect of sensory perception • Infants learn from parents, siblings, others • Infants give lessons back – even before born • Parents learn amazing lessons • Toddlers become teachers of younger siblings • Everyone is learning, teaching from infancy • As new creatures, it is the same from begettal

11. lamed lamed rotated 90 degrees Goad of learning and rigor of study Inculcates understanding leading to wisdom lamed prods us to progress

12. Why Must We Become Students and Teachers? • Learning and teaching is God’s greatest endowment to His children • Holy spirit is ox goad (lamed) God’s learning, teaching mechanism • Develop consciousness of divine • Transmits spirituality through understanding • Study alone is insufficient • Must spur action, action spurs training • Ox goad spurs animal to move • Moved by study, to change lives • Knowledge not ultimate goal, study transforms into apt teachers—now for our brethren and for world in Millennial Age

13. Ecclesiastes 12:9-12 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. The Judgment of Solomon by de Boulogne

14. 1 Chronicles 25:8 They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil. limud Another form of lamed Root word of talmid, meaning “scholar” Solomon’s Temple

15. Study and experience brings heavenly wisdom • Like lamed, attaining wisdom from God places above rest of humanity • Subjected to discipline of study, reflection, correction • Passion to “know” must be tempered with desire for “wisdom” • Learning becomes wisdom through experience of corrected actions The Heavens by Jeff Newby

16. Luke 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

17. Matthew 11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, "For my yoke is easy and My burden is light."

18. Luke 6:40 ”A disciple is not better than his teacher. But everyone who is fully-trained will be like his teacher.” Disciple: old French word from Latin discipulus, “pupil”, transliterated from Latin discrete, “to learn”

19. Proverbs 3:11,12(NAS) My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights

20. Disciples Are Students In Training • Improving • Learning • Growing Goal is to create a different future in us and for us

21. Three Ways to View Discipline • Controlled behavior • Systematic method to obtain obedience • Training to produce specific outcome

22. 1. Controlled Behavior Forced compliance

23. 2. Systematic Method to Obtain Obedience • Submission to authority • Punishment intended to correct • Role of law for Israel • Rule of Millennial Age beginning

24. 3. Training To Produce Specific Results • Produce moral or mental improvement • Self-discipline, self-control • Learning from adversity

25. Cannot change past Faith is giving up all hope for different past Must create different future God molds character to respond differently “Next Time” is a principle of discipline Blasted from the Past, Barbara Wheeler-Connolly

26. How to get the most from our training as students

27. 1. Look at where we’ve been and what we’ve done • If had to live through again, what would I do differently • What part of lesson do I want to hold onto that was most valuable • If I had to give one piece of advice to someone else from experience, what would it be • If I could erase this event from my history, would I

28. 2. Look to the Future • When problems strike, look forward to lesson you’ll take away • Victor Frankl recorded Auschwitz experience in Man’s Search for Meaning “He who finds diamonds must grapple in mud and mire, because diamonds are not found in polished stones. They are made.”

29. 3. Look Sideways • Everyone else running race is also learning • Share experiences with another brother or sister • Teaches us to be receptive and open to learning • “As we talk together, sparks are ignited which pass from mind to mind, and soon grow into a steady flame of understanding which we could never achieve on our own.” • “Pack Up Your Sorrows”

30. Learning From Difficulties Produces Desired Character Romans 5:3,4 …And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character…” Paul’s Journey by Victor Alexander

31. But some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds by persuasion. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead. But the disciples formed a circle around him, and he got up and went back to town. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. As they were telling the good news in that city, they made many disciples. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, Acts 14:19-21 We must endure many hardships to get into the kingdom of God. The Stoning of St Paul and St Barnabas At Lystra, B. Fabritius, 1672

32. God Puts Us in Circumstances to Change Weakness Into Strength Job 23:8-11 Behold, I go forward but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; when he acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold…

33. Job 36:5, 36:10-11 Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding. . . He opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they return from evil. "If they hear and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity And their years in pleasures…”

34. Blessings, lessons, growth from experience take time to show benefit

35. Someday, we will be monument to God I Pet. 1:3-7:Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

36. Lamed is middle letter of alphabet 11 letters before 10 letters after

37. Middle of human body is heart • God’s word must • be “hidden” in the • heart • Learning is “heart” • of doing God’s will

38. Lamed preceded by Caph, followed by Mem M a L K i =King

39. Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. AMEN