~Albert Einstein
I think it is a miracle how the Hebrew God Adonai, the Psalms, and The Torah protect the innocent and punish the guilty; and I see this miracle as a tool to keep world peace. There is a question that comes up frequently to my mind: the question whether or not to wish for revenge if you have been mistreated by an "evil-doer" (as is the wording in King David's Tehillim--The Hebrew Psalms.)
Maimonides does not see human revenge as being a peaceful answer to establishing justice; as an answer to one's problems. But in Exodus in the Torah, it is "...an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth... " That verse is not a prescription for revenge; instead the idea is to give fair punishment for a crime--a punishment that fits the crime; or a reward that fits a good deed; or to set a fair price for a saleable item. One of the 613 Commandments explicitly states "Do not to take revenge" and another says "Do not bear a grudge." These Commandments come from the Torah in Leviticus 19:18.
But do the Hebrew Psalms promote taking too passive of a role in punishing crimes by an evil-doer; encouraging the victim to be "letting go and letting God"? In the Psalms the message is that if one is treated unfairly one can be sure that God will take care of the injustice His way: His way being to break the arms of the evil-doer. In Psalm 37:17 it says: "For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but Adonai upholds the righteous." This approach as I see it; takes away the human need for revenge--humans do not need to get revenge because God knows who is righteous and who is not and He will take care of the revenge Himself with Divine Intervention, (i.e. The Ten Plagues, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and The Great Flood). In Psalm 1:4-6 it says: "Not so the wicked, who are like chaff driven by the wind. 5 For this reason the wicked won’t stand up to the judgment, nor will sinners at the gathering of the righteous. 6 For Adonai watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed."
This afore-mentioned philosophy "God'll get ya" is the punishment for the crime and suggests that human revenge is not necessary. "Anger leads to evil." Of course there are courtrooms for more serious crimes, but here we are discussing the everyday mistreatment of the poor, the orphan and the widow; rudeness, verbal abuse, being insulting or bullying. What of these offenses? Is revenge necessary? Not according to the Tehellim Psalms. Psalm 37:32-33 says " The wicked keeps his eye on the righteous, seeking a chance to kill him. 33 But Adonai will not leave him in his power or let him be condemned when judged."
Maimonides does not see human revenge as being a peaceful answer to establishing justice; as an answer to one's problems. But in Exodus in the Torah, it is "...an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth... " That verse is not a prescription for revenge; instead the idea is to give fair punishment for a crime--a punishment that fits the crime; or a reward that fits a good deed; or to set a fair price for a saleable item. One of the 613 Commandments explicitly states "Do not to take revenge" and another says "Do not bear a grudge." These Commandments come from the Torah in Leviticus 19:18.
But do the Hebrew Psalms promote taking too passive of a role in punishing crimes by an evil-doer; encouraging the victim to be "letting go and letting God"? In the Psalms the message is that if one is treated unfairly one can be sure that God will take care of the injustice His way: His way being to break the arms of the evil-doer. In Psalm 37:17 it says: "For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but Adonai upholds the righteous." This approach as I see it; takes away the human need for revenge--humans do not need to get revenge because God knows who is righteous and who is not and He will take care of the revenge Himself with Divine Intervention, (i.e. The Ten Plagues, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and The Great Flood). In Psalm 1:4-6 it says: "Not so the wicked, who are like chaff driven by the wind. 5 For this reason the wicked won’t stand up to the judgment, nor will sinners at the gathering of the righteous. 6 For Adonai watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed."
This afore-mentioned philosophy "God'll get ya" is the punishment for the crime and suggests that human revenge is not necessary. "Anger leads to evil." Of course there are courtrooms for more serious crimes, but here we are discussing the everyday mistreatment of the poor, the orphan and the widow; rudeness, verbal abuse, being insulting or bullying. What of these offenses? Is revenge necessary? Not according to the Tehellim Psalms. Psalm 37:32-33 says " The wicked keeps his eye on the righteous, seeking a chance to kill him. 33 But Adonai will not leave him in his power or let him be condemned when judged."
I see this as a very peaceful approach to solving everyday small offenses. My daily prayerbook (siddur) has a nighttime prayer where we ask God "...to forgive anyone who angered annoyed or wronged me, myself, my possessions or my honor." We ask God to "Let no one be punished on my account." It is this peaceful way to forgive these oppressive actions, and not to seek revenge--that will repair the world's attitude towards holding a grudge--instead of forgiving--inappropriate behavior and actions.
The Torah goes on to say that it is a crime to "...insult one's father or mother," and this crime is punishable by death. There are definite measurements of crimes as to their seriousness, and these offenses are addressed in the Torah, Talmud and Mishnah.
The Torah goes on to say that it is a crime to "...insult one's father or mother," and this crime is punishable by death. There are definite measurements of crimes as to their seriousness, and these offenses are addressed in the Torah, Talmud and Mishnah.
The bottom line as I see it, is "not to take the law into one's own hand." And to try to forgive an offender rather than seek revenge. The Divine Lawmaker, Judge and Executioner is Adonai; and He will protect the righteous, and condemn the guilty.
No comments:
Post a Comment