Rabbi Isaac Lichtenstein
1824-1909
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Part 3

Admire the power of Christ in the numerous youth in all Christian lands, chiefly in Germany and England, who, instead of reading pernicious literature, read the Bible, instead of frivolous songs sing psalms, and instead of loose company, frequent devotional meetings.

Lastly, be just to the Christian messengers, the missionaries,[1] who for Christ’s sake go out into the world, the Bible only in their hand, without weapon or defence, and who, renouncing comfort, and defying privation and weariness, offer the gospel to the heathen, and in such self-denying work are neither dismayed by the savage cannibal or the fatal climate. Learn to honour and appreciate those friends of Israel among the nations, those Philo Semites among Christians – of whom Professor Franz Delitzsch, of Leipzig, was one – who “behold the God of Israel, and under His feet, as it were, a beautiful sapphire like the colours of heaven when it is bright,” and who hold in truth the pure, spiritual, original Mosaic faith: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy might; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Mark 12:29-31)

These follow Jesus, and in the power of His Spirit seek to give expression to that which was the heart and soul of the revelation of God by Moses and the Prophets; in them it is truly come to pass: “My name is had in praise among the nations, from the sunrise to its going down.” (Malachi 1:11)

These friends of Israel have no desire to turn us away from the one God our Father, but to bring us to Christ, as to Him in whom Jehovah dwells, and who has appeared to redeem His people; as to Him also in whom Faith, Hope, and Love, those three heavenly powers, which are the arteries of true Judaism, course together in their original source and heat. If we call on Him, He will reveal Himself as the Good Shepherd, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dayspring from on High hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)

Dearest Brethren, we are in the midst of the Christian world, we are scattered among the nations who worship the God of Israel in Christ; whether we recognize it or not, we are walking in the light which Christ has shed over the world, and we enjoy the fruits of His having come as Saviour. How long shall we continue cold and lifeless? how long shall we repel and hold aloof from Him who is the Crown of Israel, in whom the Law and Prophets have their fulfillment and completion? No more do we dwell pent up in the Ghetto, the time of our inequality as citizens and deprivation of political rights is at an end, we share in all the intellectual privileges of our Christian fellow-citizens. Why then should longer remain cooped up in the narrow spiritual Ghetto, in which for centuries long we have dwelt, whose walls have long since been broken down and overcome by a new spirit of life?

Rabbinic-Talmudic Judaism, that wonderful old fortress of the tenacious Jewish mind, built up in opposition to Christianity, is full of breaches – a heap of ruins.

Gone is the old Jewish piety, gone the old Jewish virtues, kindled by faith in Scripture and tradition, the whole armoury against oppression and persecution is decayed. The barest unbelief, the boldest immorality and worldliness, meets us in the Jewish youth of our day; not the Talmud only, but with countless Jews, Moses and the Prophets are also become a scoff. From whence shall help come? Who can heal this wound of Joseph? The true balm of Gilead for Israel lies in the hand of Jesus. New enemies of our people have arisen, the Anti-Semites have sown a dragon’s seed which ripens to a horrid harvest. The new Goliath will receive his death-blow from the Semites, Jesus and His Apostles, by the grace and truth of His words. Range yourselves under the banner of Jesus, and then we can overcome our enemies with their own weapons, and destroy their molehill. Is God with us, then who can be against us? But God is not with us if we are not with His Servant and Child Jesus.

And will Israel cease to be a nation when at last he recognizes in Christ his Redeemer and Messiah-King? Shall we then be absorbed in Christendom, and will there be an end to our God-consecrated people? By no means; Israel will then, at last, attain the position to which he is called of God. At the head of the nations, as the first-born, the people of Salvation, from whom the Saviour of all peoples has arisen; as that nation in which the Kingdom of God was first founded, and reached its perfection in Jesus, the true king of Israel. Then will be fulfilled to Israel those prophetic promises as yet unfulfilled; then the words of Zechariah shall come true: “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, at that time ten men out of all the languages of the nations shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” (Zechariah 8:23) As also the word of Isaiah: “At the last times shall the mountain of the Lord’s house be exalted, and be high above all the mountains, and all nations shall flow unto it. And one shall encourage another saying, Come ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For from Zion will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Oh House of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord!” (Isaiah 2:2-5)

Jesus says: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6) “Then spake Jesus again to them and said: I am the Light of the World, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.” (John 8:12)

Israel! Arise, shine! Thy light is come.