Isaiah 44:5

[muffler dragon]

Isaiah 44:5 (NASB)
"This one will say, 'I am the LORD'S';
And that one will call on the name of Jacob;
And another will (1) write on his hand, 'Belonging to the LORD,'
And will name Israel's name with honor.

I read this passage some time ago and it really struck me. The portion that really sticks out is the "And another will write on his hand, 'Belonging to the LORD,'"

To give you some background, without regard for potential backlash:

Five years ago this June, I had been moving into a very deep relationship with the L-rd. I had made a few mistakes that had caused me some deep pain. The L-rd walked me through them and gave me back what I could never achieve on my own. Throughout this time of devotion and love, I was moved in my spirit to make a profound and permanent statement of my belief in the one true G-d. I prayed about this immensely. The L-rd guided me to my interlinear Bible and had me look up the request of Solomon: wisdom and knowledge. As I am sure that some of you are aware, the two are chokmah and madaw (spelling?). I know have chokmah on the inside of my right forearm and madaw on the inside of the left in the original hebrew without vowel points.

I have heard and read:

Leviticus 19:28 (NASB) 'You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.

The portion that I make note in the above verse is the 'for the dead'. I, by no means, did this for the dead. I have made the commitment that I shall not have any tattoos on myself in regard to anything, but G-d. The reason I bring this up is for two reasons:

1) to get a general idea as to your views on this matter.
2) I met a gentleman this past weekend who actually knew that it was hebrew on my arms and asked me why I got them. I told him, and his response was that he has a number of friends in New York, who are Jewish, who get tattoos because of it being such a 'bad' thing for them to do.

I say all that to say this, I have adopted Isaiah 44:5 as an appeal as to why I did what I did. I feel that the L-rd guided my in my decision making, and I appreciate being 'marked' for him.

Nathan

[Henaynei]

In Judaism all tatooing is forbidden - does that keep Jewish women from getting "permenant" eye liner and the such - I doubt it :)

I can not speak to what you feel the L-rd told you to do then - but it does sound like He has met you where you are today and given you a verse to let you know He loves you and sees your heart ;)

[muffler dragon]

In Judaism all tatooing is forbidden - does that keep woman from getting "permenant" eye liner and the such - I doubt it :)

I can not speak to what you feel the L-rd told you to do then - but it does sound like He has me you where you are today and given you a verse to let you know He loves you and sees your heart ;)
Dear Henny:

I appreciate your support.

Moreover, though, I was hoping someone might be able to give me some in depth consideration on the actual verse. What was the custom of one 'writing' on his hand, "Belonging to the L-rd."? Is this metaphorical or was there something that the Jewish people would do to make that distinction.?

Thanks,

Nathan

[Henaynei]

Dear Henny:

I appreciate your support.

Moreover, though, I was hoping someone might be able to give me some in depth consideration on the actual verse. What was the custom of one 'writing' on his hand, "Belonging to the L-rd."? Is this metaphorical or was there something that the Jewish people would do to make that distinction.?

Thanks,

Nathan
I think it might well fall in to the same category as "written on your heart", "wear them as frontlets and upon your hand," etc. But the rest to fht gang is not on line yet and I'm sure you'll get other views ;)

[P_G]

Then as now people would extend their hand in a gesture of greeting.
Perhaps not a handshake as we have today but something similar to be sure.
It was a way of showing you were unarmed.
So the first thing some one would notice about you was your hand.
They were looking for your hand your hand told the person if you were
dangerous or not. It made a statement about you.

Secondly to that people naturally look to the eyes. Even a small child an infant
looks at eyes. A circle with two dots in it we recognize as a face and eyes. So the area just above that the forehead is a noticeable thing. It is what we recognize.

So where does that put is. G-d talks about people being sealed on the hand or the forehead. Either for him or against him. The mark of the beast or the mark of G-d. Who do I belong to? Can you tell just by looking at me with even the most casual of glances? Is the first thing you can see about me who owns me?

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

An admonition. That always the first thing someone sees about you is that you are a G-dly man a man who is different set apart not like the world and surely not like the prince of this world.

Who owns you? Can people tell? Right away?


blessings

Pastor George :wave:

[debi b]

I agree with Henaynei and Pastor George :wave:

As far as the actual words go you did translate them corectly. Perhaps part of understanding this area of text lies in the larger setting. There is alot of correcting and comforting, contrasts in this area. Isa 43:22-28 is pointing out some real big problems and it ends with....I handed Yaacov over to devastation and Yisrael to rebukes.

So we begin in chapter 44 with comfort. The general consensus among most commentators on verse 5 is "the prophet describes the entusiastic attitude the redeemed people of Israel will assume" (Stone)