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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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intercourse between man <strong>and</strong> man, were quite<br />

different. All was dominated by <strong>the</strong> one allabsorbing<br />

idea <strong>of</strong> religion. It penetrated every<br />

relation <strong>of</strong> life. Moreover, it was inseparably<br />

connected with <strong>the</strong> soil, as well as <strong>the</strong> people, <strong>of</strong><br />

Palestine, at least so long as <strong>the</strong> Temple stood.<br />

Nowhere else could <strong>the</strong> Shekhinah dwell or<br />

manifest itself; nor could, unless under exceptional<br />

circumstances, <strong>and</strong> for ' <strong>the</strong> merit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>rs,'<br />

<strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> prophecy be granted outside its<br />

bounds. To <strong>the</strong> orthodox Jew <strong>the</strong> mental <strong>and</strong><br />

spiritual horizon was bounded by Palestine. It was<br />

*<strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>'; all <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world, except<br />

Babylonia^ was * outside <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>.' No need to<br />

designate it specially as * holy'; for all here bore<br />

<strong>the</strong> impress <strong>of</strong> sanctity, as he understood it. Not<br />

that <strong>the</strong> soil itself, irrespective <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people, was<br />

holy; it was Israel that made it such. For, had not<br />

God given so many comm<strong>and</strong>ments <strong>and</strong><br />

ordinances, some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m apparently needless,<br />

simply<br />

• Mm. St ft to call forth <strong>the</strong> righteousness <strong>of</strong> Israel

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