12 Steps to Eternal Life

Now that we have considered Isaiah 55:9-11, Psalm 1 and Psalm 119 in validating and motivating our study of the Tanakh, (if not, please first review them on the home page,) let us consider the following learned wisdom before we proceed:

The Talmud teaches that “of all that G_d created in his world not a single thing was created without purpose” (Shabbat 77B) …. This principle extends to all events and occurrences, none of which is purposeless, for all that transpires is directed by Personal Divine Providence. Similarly, awareness of specific information is not purposeless. We are not made aware of anything irrelevant to our service of G_d. [The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Reshimot 44]

The act of listening requires a submersion of the self and immersion in the other. This isn’t always easy…. Suspending the self does not of course mean losing the self—though that seems to be precisely what some people are afraid of…. To really listen you have to suspend your own agenda forget about what you want to say and concentrate on being a receptive vehicle for the other person…. Genuine listening means suspending the memory, desire, and judgment—and for a few moments at least, existing for the other person. [Michael P. Nichols, The Lost Art of Listening: How Learning to Listen Can Improve Relationships (New York: Guilford Press, 2009, pp. 75-77]

"The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10) [King Solomon]

“Holy, holy, holy! The LORD of Hosts! His presence fills all the earth!” (Isaiah 6:3)

"You will search for Me and find Me, if only you seek Me wholeheartedly." (Jeremiah 29:13)

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you wondrous things, secrets you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:2-3)

“Let me know Your paths, O Lord; teach me Your ways; guide me in Your true way and teach me, for You are God, my deliverer; it is You I look to at all times.” (Psalm 25:4-5) [King David]

"Let not this Book of the Teaching cease from your lips, but recite it day and night, so that you may observe faithfully all that is written in it. Only then will you prosper in your undertakings and only then will you be successful." (Joshua 1:8)

Now, with our “listening ears” activated and with our hearts and minds receptive to the Word of the LORD, we may ask: “What does the Jewish Bible teach about eternal life and how a person may gain it?” To answer these questions, we will examine, step by step, what the Tanakh teaches about ourselves, Hashem and our relationship to Him. But before we proceed on our personal journey through the 12 Steps to Eternal Life, let us ask ourselves the following questions:

#1: “If I were to die today, am I sure I would enter heaven, or would I have some doubt?”

Most people, if they are honest, will admit they have some doubt. Even renowned Torah scholar Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai, weeping shortly before his death, expressed uncertainty as to his final destiny: "There are two paths stretching before me, one to Gan Eden [Heaven] and one to Gehinom [Hell]. I know not on which I shall be led." [Talmud, Berachos 28b]

However, if you are sure because you believe that your G_dly soul outweighs your animal soul, this will be addressed in Steps 1-3.

Or, if you are sure because you believe that your mitzvahs will suffice, this will be addressed in Steps 1, 4 and 8.

#2: “If I discover from the Tanakh how I can be sure (without relying upon anything from myself,) will I be open to accepting it?”

#3: “How will I benefit from such a discovery, if I am not open and willing to accept it?”

Step 1: We discover from God’s word that all of us are sinners.

“For there is not one good man on earth who does what is best and doesn’t err.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

"Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am purged of my sin?'" (Proverbs 20:9)

“The Lord said to Himself: ‘Never again will I doom the earth because of man, since the devisings of man’s mind are evil from his youth.’” (Genesis 8:21)

“When they sin against You—for there is no man who does not sin….” (1 Kings 8:46)

“Man’s deeds are corrupt and loathsome; no one does good.” (Psalm 14:1)

“All have turned bad, altogether foul; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:3)

“Man’s wrongdoing is corrupt and loathsome; no one does good.” (Psalm 53:2)

“Everyone is dross, altogether foul; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 53:4)

“Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for before You no creature is in the right.” (Psalm 143:2)

“We all went astray like sheep, each going his own way.” (Isaiah 53:6a)

“We have all become like an unclean thing, and all our virtues [including our mitzvahs] like a filthy rag. We are all withering like leaves, and our iniquities, like a wind, carry us off.” (Isaiah 64:5)

"Most devious is the heart; it is perverse—who can fathom it?" (Jeremiah 17:3)

God spoke all these words, saying:

“I the Lord am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage:

1. You shall have no other gods besides Me.

2. You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the Lord your God am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

3. You shall not swear falsely by the name of the Lord your God; for the Lord will not clear one who swears falsely by His name.

4. Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God: you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.

5. Honor your father and your mother, that you may long endure on the land that the Lord your God is assigning to you.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house: you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female slave, or his ox or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

(Exodus 20:1-14)

Step 2: Our sin has separated us from God.

“But your iniquities have been a barrier between you and your God. Your sins have made Him turn His face away and refuse to hear you.” (Isaiah 59:2)

“Had I an evil thought in my mind, the LORD would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18)

“For You have hidden Your face from us, and made us melt because of our iniquities.” (Isaiah 64:6b)

“Then they will go with their sheep and cattle to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him. He has cast them off: [Because] they have broken faith with the LORD.” (Hosea 5:6-7a)

“But I will not go in your midst, since you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:3)

“And the nations shall know that the House of Israel were exiled only for their iniquity, because they trespassed against Me, so that I hid My face from them.” (Ezekiel 39:23a)

Step 3: Sadly, all of us will die because of our sin.

“The person who sins, he alone shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:20)

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat; but as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

“By the sweat of your brow shall you get bread to eat, until you return to the ground—for from it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19)

“Righteousness is a prop of life, but to pursue evil leads to death.” (Proverbs 11:19)

“A road may seem right to a man, but in the end it is a road to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

“Saul died for the trespass that he had committed against the LORD in not having fulfilled the command of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 10:13a)

“But every one shall die for his own sins.” (Jeremiah 31:30a)

Step 4: God will judge each of us by his righteousness.

“God will call every creature to account for everything unknown, be it good or bad.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

"I the LORD probe the heart, search the mind— to repay every man according to his ways, with the proper fruit of his deeds." (Jeremiah 17:10)

“The Lord judges the peoples…. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; he who probes the mind and conscience is God the righteous.” (Psalm 7:9a-10)

“Pay homage in good faith, lest He be angered, and your way be doomed in the mere flash of His anger.” (Psalm 2:12)

“For the LORD of Hosts has ready a day against all that is proud and arrogant, against all that is lofty—so that it is brought low.” (Isaiah 2:12)

“As you did, so shall it be done to you; your conduct shall be requited.” (Obadiah 1:15a)

“I will punish you according to your deeds—declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 21:14)

“Assuredly, the evil man will not escape.” (Proverbs 11:21a)

Step 5: My eternal destiny will be either heaven or hell.

“Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting of abhorrence.” (Daniel 12:2)

“But you, go on to the end; you shall rest, and arise to your destiny at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:12)

“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)

“As they kept on walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses suddenly appeared and separated one from the other; and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (2 Kings 2:11)

“For You will not abandon me to Sheol, or let Your faithful one see the Pit. You will teach me the path of life. In Your presence is perfect joy; delights are ever in Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:10-11)

“Then I, justified, will behold Your face; awake, I am filled with the vision of You.” (Psalm 17:15)

“But God will redeem my life from the clutches of Sheol, for He will take me.” (Psalm 49:16)

“You guided me by Your counsel [and afterward receive me with glory.] Whom else have I in heaven? And having You, I want no one on earth. My body and mind fail; but God is the stay of my mind, my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:24-26)

“For as the new heaven and the new earth which I will make shall endure by My will—declares the LORD—so shall your seed and your name endure. And new moon after new moon, and sabbath after sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship Me—said the LORD. They shall go out and gaze on the corpses of the men who rebelled against Me: Their worms shall not die, nor their fire be quenched; they shall be a horror to all flesh.” (Isaiah 66:22-24a)

“For a fire has flared in My wrath and burned to the bottom of Sheol.” (Deuteronomy 32:22a)

“But transgressors shall be utterly destroyed, the future of the wicked shall be cut off.” (Psalm 37:38)

“Instead, you are brought down to Sheol, to the bottom of the Pit.” (Isaiah 14:15)

“Lo! The day of the Lord is coming with pitiless fury and wrath, to make the earth a desolation, to wipe out the sinners upon it.” (Isaiah 13:9)

“I will destroy mankind from the face of the earth—declares the Lord…. those who have forsaken the Lord, and those who have not sought the Lord and have not turned to Him.” (Zephaniah 1:3a,6)

“For lo! That day is at hand, burning like an oven. All the arrogant and all the doers of evil shall be straw, and the day that is coming—said the Lord of Hosts—shall burn them to ashes and leave of them neither stock nor boughs.” (Malachi 3:19)

Step 6: God has a Son who was with Him at earth’s creation.

“Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hand? Who has wrapped the waters in his garment? Who has established the extremities of the earth? What is his name or his son’s name if you know it?” (Proverbs 30:4)

“Why do nations assemble, and peoples plot vain things; kings of the earth take their stand, and regents intrigue together against the LORD and against His anointed? “Let us break the cords of their yoke, shake off their ropes from us!” He who is enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord mocks at them. Then He speaks to them in anger, terrifying them in His rage, “But I have installed My king on Zion, My holy mountain!”

Let me tell of the decree: the LORD said to me, “You are My son, I have fathered you this day. Ask it of Me, and I will make the nations your domain; your estate, the limits of the earth. You can smash them with an iron mace, shatter them like potter’s ware.”

So now, O kings, be prudent; accept discipline, you rulers of the earth! Serve the LORD in awe; tremble with fright. [Kiss the Son lit.], lest He be angered, and your

way be doomed in the mere flash of His anger. Happy are all who take refuge in Him.”

(Psalm 2)

Our Sages expounded the passage [Psalm 2] as referring to the King Messiah [Talmud, b. Berakhoth 7b]

‘Serve the Lord' refers to the Lord, while ‘Kiss the son’ refers to his anointed one, and the meaning of bar is like [the meaning of bar in the phrase] ‘What my son [beri] and what, son of my womb [bar bitni; Prov. 31:2].’ And thus it is written, ‘You are my son’ [Ps. 2:7]. And it is a custom of the nations in the world to put their hands under the hand of the king, as the brothers of Solomon did [see 1 Chr. 29:24 in the Hebrew], or for the servant [to put his hand] under the thigh of his master [see Gen. 24:2], or to kiss the king. And this is the custom until today in the land of India. [Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra]

Step 7: God named His Son, “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.”

“Assuredly, my Lord will give you a sign of His own accord! Look, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) [Please Note: The Jewish Septuagint (LXX) translates the Hebrew, almah, ("young woman," here) with the Greek, parthenos, ("virgin.")

“For a child has been born to us, a son has been given us. And authority has settled on his shoulders. He has been named “The Mighty God is planning grace; the Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler”— In token of abundant authority and of peace without limit upon David’s throne and kingdom, that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity now and evermore. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall bring this to pass.” (Isaiah 9:5-6)

“See, a time is coming—declares the Lord—when I will raise up a true branch of David’s line. He shall reign as king and shall prosper, and he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be delivered and Israel shall dwell secure. And this is the name by which he shall be called: ‘The Lord is our Vindicator.’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

“They strike the ruler of Israel on the cheek with a staff. And you, O Bethlehem of Ephrath, least among the clans of Judah, from you one shall come forth to rule Israel for Me— One whose origin is from of old, from ancient times [eternity].” (Micah 4:14b-5:1)

“Listen to Me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am He—I am the first, and I am the last as well. My own hand founded the earth, my right hand spread out the skies. I call unto them, let them stand up. Draw near to Me and hear this: From the beginning, I did not speak in secret; from the time anything existed, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent me, endowed with His spirit.” (Isaiah 48:12-13,16)

“The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at My right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.’ The Lord will stretch forth from Zion your mighty scepter; hold sway over your enemies!” (Psalm 110:1-2)

Step 8: To atone for my sin, a blood sacrifice must be made.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have assigned it to you for making expiation for your lives upon the altar; it is the blood, as life, that effects expiation.” (Leviticus 17:11)

“And if anyone of the house of Israel or of the strangers who reside among them partakes of any blood, I will set My face against the person who partakes of the blood, and I will cut him off from among his kin. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have assigned it to you for making expiation for your lives upon the altar; it is the blood, as life, that effects expiation. Therefore I say to the Israelite people: No person among you shall partake of blood, nor shall the stranger who resides among you partake of blood.” (Leviticus 17:10-12)

“In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil; and Abel, for his part, brought the choicest of the firstlings of his flock. The LORD paid heed to Abel and his offering, but to Cain and his offering He paid no heed.” (Genesis 4:3-5a)

“Every creature that lives shall be yours to eat; as with the green grasses, I give you all these. You must not, however, eat flesh with its life-blood in it. But for your own life-blood I will require a reckoning: I will require it of every beast; of man, too, will I require a reckoning for human life, of every man for that of his fellow man! Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in His image did God make man.” (Genesis 9:3-6)

“But make sure that you do not partake of the blood; for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the life with the flesh. You must not partake of it; you must pour it out on the ground like water: you must not partake of it, in order that it may go well with you and with your descendants to come, for you will be doing what is right in the sight of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 12:23-25)

Step 9: The shed blood of God’s Son paid the penalty due us for our sin.

“But he was wounded because of our sins, crushed because of our iniquities. He bore the chastisement that made us whole and by his bruises we were healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

“My righteous servant makes the many righteous, it is their punishment that he bears; assuredly, I will give him the many as his portion, he shall receive the multitude as his spoil. For he exposed himself to death and was numbered among the sinners, whereas he bore the guilt of the many and made intercession for sinners.” (Isaiah 53:11b-12)

“This prophecy was delivered by Isaiah at the divine command for the purpose of making known to us something about the nature of the future Messiah, who is to come and deliver Israel, and his life from the day when he arrives at discretion until his advent as a redeemer, in order that if any one should arise claiming to be himself the Messiah, we may reflect, and look to see whether we can observe in him any resemblance to the traits described here: if there is any such resemblance, then we may believe that he is the Messiah our righteousness; but if not, we cannot do so.” [Rabbi Moshe Kohen ibn Crispin]

“The right view respecting this Parashah is to suppose that by the phrase ‘my servant’ the whole of Israel is meant, as in 44:2; 49:3, and often. As a different opinion, however, is adopted by the Midrash, which refers it to the Messiah, it is necessary for us to explain it in conformity with the view maintained there.” [Nachmanides]

“Our rabbis with one voice accept and affirm the opinion that the prophet [here] is speaking of the Messiah, and we shall ourselves also adhere to the same view.” [Rabbi Moshe Alshech]

Our Rabbis taught: The Holy One, blessed be He, will say to the Messiah, son of David (may he reveal himself speedily in our days!), “Ask of Me anything, and I will give it to you,” as it is said, “I will tell of the decree, etc., this day have I begotten you. Ask of me and I will give the nations for your inheritance” (Ps. 2:7–8). But when he will see that Messiah son of Joseph is slain, he will say to him, “Lord of the universe, I ask of You only the gift of life.” “As to life,” He would answer him, “Your father David has already prophesied this concerning you,” as it is said, “He asked life of You, and You gave it to him [even length of days for ever and ever]” (Ps. 21:4[5]). [Talmud, b. Sukkah 52a]

“Indeed, My servant shall prosper, be exalted and raised to great heights. Just as the many were appalled at him—So marred was his appearance, unlike that of man, his form, beyond human semblance—Just so he shall startle many nations. Kings shall be silenced because of him, for they shall see what has not been told them, shall behold what they never have heard. Who can believe what we have heard? Upon whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he has grown, by His favor, like a tree crown, like a tree trunk out of arid ground. He had no form or beauty, that we should look at him: No charm, that we should find him pleasing. He was despised, shunned by men, a man of suffering, familiar with disease. As one who hid his face from us, He was despised, we held him of no account. Yet it was our sickness that he was bearing, our suffering that he endured. We accounted him plagued, smitten and afflicted by God; But he was wounded because of our sins, crushed because of our iniquities. He bore the chastisement that made us whole, and by his bruises we were healed. We all went astray like sheep, each going his own way; and the LORD visited upon him the guilt of all of us. He was maltreated, yet he was submissive, he did not open his mouth; like a sheep being led to slaughter, like a ewe, dumb before those who shear her, he did not open his mouth. By oppressive judgment he was taken away, who could describe his abode? For he was cut off from the land of the living through the sin of my people, who deserved the punishment. And his grave was set among the wicked, and with the rich, in

his death—though he had done no injustice and had spoken no falsehood. But the LORD chose to crush him by disease, that, if he made himself an offering for

guilt, he might see offspring and have long life, and that through him the LORD’s purpose might prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see it; he shall enjoy it to the full through his devotion. My righteous servant makes the many righteous, it is their punishment that he bears; assuredly, I will give him the many as his portion, he shall receive the multitude as his spoil. For he exposed himself to death and was numbered among the sinners, whereas he bore the guilt of the many and made intercession for sinners.” (Isaiah 52:13–53:12)

“My God, my God, why have You abandoned me; why so far from delivering me and from my anguished roaring? My God, I cry by day—You answer not; by night, and have no respite. But You are the Holy One, enthroned, the Praise of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You rescued them. To You they cried out and they escaped; in You they trusted and were not disappointed.

But I am a worm, less than human; scorned by men, despised by people. All who see me mock me; they curl their lips, they shake their heads.

“Let him commit himself to the LORD; let Him rescue him, let Him save him, for He is pleased with him.”

You drew me from the womb, made me secure at my mother’s breast. I became Your charge at birth; from my mother’s womb You have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls surround me, mighty ones of Bashan encircle me. They open their mouths at me like tearing, roaring lions. My life ebbs away: all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me; my vigor dries up like a shard; my tongue cleaves to my palate; You commit me to the dust of death. Dogs surround me; a pack of evil ones closes in on me, like lions [they maul] my hands and feet. I take the count of all my bones while they look on and gloat. They divide my clothes among themselves, casting lots for my garments.

But You, O LORD, be not far off; my strength, hasten to my aid. Save my life from the sword, my precious life from the clutches of a dog. Deliver me from a lion’s mouth; from the horns of wild oxen rescue me. Then will I proclaim Your fame to my brethren, praise You in the congregation. You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, honor Him! Be in dread of Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He did not scorn, He did not spurn the plea of the lowly; He did not hide His face from him; when he cried out to Him, He listened. Because of You I offer praise in the great congregation; I pay my vows in the presence of His worshipers. Let the lowly eat and be satisfied; let all who seek the LORD praise Him. Always be of good cheer! Let all the ends of the earth pay heed and turn to the LORD, and the peoples of all nations prostrate themselves before You; for kingship is the LORD’s and He rules the nations. All those in full vigor shall eat and prostrate themselves; all those at death’s door, whose spirits flag, shall bend the knee before Him. Offspring shall serve Him; the LORD’s fame shall be proclaimed to the generation to come; they shall tell of His beneficence to people yet to be born, for He has acted.”

(Psalm 22:2-32)

The LORD said to my lord, “Sit at My right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.” The LORD will stretch forth from Zion your mighty scepter; hold sway over your enemies! Your people come forward willingly on your day of battle. In majestic holiness, from the womb, from the dawn, yours was the dew of youth. The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever, a rightful king by My decree.” The Lord is at your right hand. He crushes kings in the day of His anger.

He works judgment upon the nations, heaping up bodies, crushing heads far and wide. He drinks from the stream on his way; therefore he holds his head high.

(Psalm 110)

Step 10: If I repent (turn away from my sin to follow the Lord), God will forgive me.

“Let the wicked give up his ways, the sinful man has plans; let him turn back to the Lord, and he will pardon him; to our God, for he freely forgives.” (Isaiah 55:7)

“Come, let us reach an understanding, —says the LORD. Be your sins like crimson, they can turn snow-white; be they red as dyed wool, they can become like fleece.” (Isaiah 1:18)

“I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your fetishes. And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit into you: I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh; and I will put My spirit into you. Thus I will cause you to follow My laws and faithfully to observe My rules.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

"Who is a God like You, forgiving iniquity and remitting transgression; Who has not maintained His wrath forever against the remnant of His own people, because He loves graciousness! He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities, You will hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18-19)

“See, a time is coming—declares the Lord—when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, a covenant which they broke, though I espoused them—declares the Lord. But such is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel after these days—declares the Lord: I will put My Teaching into their inmost being and inscribe it upon their hearts. Then I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No longer will they need to teach one another and say to one another, “Heed the Lord”; for all of them, from the least of them to the greatest, shall heed Me—declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquities, and remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Step 11: Now, trust in His Son’s sacrifice for your personal redemption.

“Pay homage in good faith lest he be angered and your way be doomed in the mere flash of his anger. Happy are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:12)

“[Kiss the Son lit.] lest he be angered and your way be doomed in the mere flash of his anger. Happy are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:12)

Our Sages expounded the passage [Psalm 2] as referring to the King Messiah [Talmud, b. Berakhoth 7b]

‘Serve the Lord’ refers to the Lord, while ‘Kiss the son’ refers to his anointed one, and the meaning of bar is like [the meaning of bar in the phrase] ‘What my son [beri] and what, son of my womb [bar bitni; Prov. 31:2].’ And thus it is written, ‘You are my son’ [Ps. 2:7]. And it is a custom of the nations in the world to put their hands under the hand of the king, as the brothers of Solomon did [see 1 Chr. 29:24 in the Hebrew], or for the servant [to put his hand] under the thigh of his master [see Gen. 24:2], or to kiss the king. And this is the custom until today in the land of India. [Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra]

“And Pharaoh said to his courtiers, ‘Could we find another like him, a man in whom is the spirit of God?’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is none so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my court, and by your command shall all my people [pay homage, lit. “kiss”]; only with respect to the throne shall I be superior to you.’” (Genesis 41:38–40)

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our sight. This is the day that the LORD has made—let us exult and rejoice on it.” (Psalm 118:22-24)

“The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me as a herald of joy to the humble, to bind up the wounded of heart, to proclaim release to the captives, liberation to the imprisoned; to proclaim a year of the LORD’s favor and a day of vindication by our God; to comfort all who mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Step 12: Then you will be raised to live with God in heaven forever!

“But I know that my Vindicator lives; in the end he will testify on earth – This, after my skin will have been peeled off. But I would behold God while still in my flesh.” (Job 19:25-26)

“But you, go on to the end; you shall rest, and arise to your destiny at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:12)

“For You will not abandon me to Sheol, or let Your faithful one see the Pit. You will teach me the path of life. In Your presence is perfect joy; delights are ever in Your

right hand.” (Psalm 16:10-11)

“The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me to water in places of repose; He renews my life; He guides me in right paths as befits His name. Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me. You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my drink is abundant. Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD [forever].” (Psalm 23)

Please respond to this wonderful news by adopting David’s prayers as your own:

“Have mercy upon me, O God, as befits Your faithfulness; in keeping with Your abundant compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly of my iniquity, and purify me of my sin; for I recognize my transgressions, and am ever conscious of my sin. Against You alone have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight; so You are just in Your sentence, and right in Your judgment. Indeed I was born with iniquity; with sin my mother conceived me. Indeed You desire truth about that

which is hidden; teach me wisdom about secret things.

Purge me with hyssop till I am pure; wash me till I am whiter than snow. Let me hear tidings of joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed exult. Hide Your face from my sins; blot out all my iniquities. Fashion a pure heart for me, O God; create in me a steadfast spirit. Do not cast me out of Your presence, or take Your holy spirit away from me. Let me again rejoice in Your help; let a vigorous spirit sustain me. I will teach transgressors Your ways, that sinners may return to You.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God, God, my deliverer, that I may sing forth Your beneficence. O LORD, open my lips, and let my mouth declare Your praise. You do not want me to bring sacrifices; You do not desire burnt offerings; True sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God, You will not despise a contrite and crushed heart.”

(Psalm 51:3-19)

Out of the depths I call You, O LORD. Lord, listen to my cry; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy. If You keep account of sins, O LORD, Lord, who will survive? Yours is the power to forgive so that You may be held in awe.

I look to the LORD; I look to Him; I await His word. I am more eager for the Lord than watchmen for the morning, watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, wait for the LORD; for with the LORD is steadfast love and great power to redeem. It is He who will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.

(Psalm 130)