PSALM 150:1-6

‎Psa. 150:1‏ הַלְלוּ יָהּ הַלְלוּ־אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ הַלְלוּהוּ בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ׃

‎Psa. 150:2‏ הַלְלוּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָיו
הַלְלוּהוּ כְּרֹב גֻּדְלוֹ׃

‎Psa. 150:3‏ הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר
הַלְלוּהוּ בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר׃

‎Psa. 150:4‏ הַלְלוּהוּ בְתֹף וּמָחוֹל 
וּהַלְלוּהוּ בְּמִנִּים וְעוּגָב׃

‎Psa. 150:5‏ הַלְלוּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁמַע
הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה׃

‎Psa. 150:6‏ כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַלְלוּ־יָהּ׃

This audio file is from a worship service at Ambassadors Central. The song is based on Psalm 150:6

שׁוֹפָר

נֵבֶל

כִנּוֹר

תֹף

מָחוֹל

מִנִּים

עוּגָב

צִלְצְלֵי 

Psa. 150:1           Praise the LORD!

            Praise God in His sanctuary;

            Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

Psa. 150:2           Praise Him for His mighty deeds;

            Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

Psa. 150:3           Praise Him with trumpet sound;

            Praise Him with harp and lyre.

Psa. 150:4           Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;

            Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

Psa. 150:5           Praise Him with loud cymbals;

            Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Psa. 150:6           Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

            Praise the LORD!



Comments:

It is interesting that the word בְּקָדְשׁוֹ is translated as 'in His sanctuary.' However, the root word is קדשׁ, meaning 'holiness.' In Psalm 60:6, the word בְּקָדְשׁוֹ is translated as 'His holiness." Likewise, in Psalm 89:35, בְקָדְשִׁי is translated as  'by My holiness.' In short, when you enter into His sanctuary, you are entering into His holiness. Where the believers gather, it is His sanctuary and it is holy ground. 

PSALM 134:1-3

Psa. 134:1‏ שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת 
הִנֵּה בָּרֲכוּ אֶת־יְהוָה כָּל־עַבְדֵי יְהוָה הָעֹמְדִים בְּבֵית־יְהוָה בַּלֵּילוֹת׃

 ‎Psa. 134:2‏ שְׂאוּ־יְדֵכֶם קֹדֶשׁ וּבָרֲכוּ אֶת־יְהוָה׃

‎Psa. 134:3‏ יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה מִצִּיּוֹן עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃

Psa. 134:1-3

Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD,

        Who serve by night in the house of the LORD!

A Song of Ascents.

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary

        And bless the LORD.

May the LORD bless you from Zion,

        He who made heaven and earth.

IN HEBREW: WISHING YOU A BLESSED CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

מְאַחֲלִים לָכֶם חַג הַמּוֹלָד מְבֹרָךְ
 וְשָׁנָה חֲדָשָׁה נִפְלָאָה

מְאַחֲלִים = me-a-ha-lim = wishing 

לָכֶם = la-kem = to you 

חַג = hag = festive 

הַמּוֹלָד = ham-mo-lad = Christmas

מְבֹרָךְ = me-vo-rak = Blessed (from the root word ברך)

וְשָׁנָה = we-sha-nah = And year

חֲדָשָׁה = ha-ra-shah = the new

נִפְלָאָה = nif-la-ah = wonderful

ISAIAH 7:14

Is. 7:14 לָכֵן יִתֵּן אֲדֹנָי הוּא לָכֶם אוֹת
הִנֵּה הָעַלְמָה הָרָה וְיֹלֶדֶת בֵּן
וְקָרָאת שְׁמוֹ עִמָּנוּ אֵל׃

Is. 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign
Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel

NASB translates as an indefinite article ‘a virgin’; however, the prefix הָ in the Hebrew text shows that it is a definite article ‘the maidservant’ (not just any maidservant).

   Some Insights

Insight No 1

עִמָּ  

   this word (with the qamats and pronounced as ‘im’) is simply the preposistion, ‘with 

  נוּ

       this is a pronominal suffix for the first persons common plural

                     First persons = referring to ourselves. (if singular, it’s ‘I’ or ‘me’, but if it              

'is plural, it is ‘we’ or ‘u

                     Common = both gender = male and female included. In Hebrew, it is                  

.very specific – either male or female

אֵל 

This is just a common name used for God

So, this is why Immanuel means, “God with us” and the common pronoun refers to all

   men and women. No one is excluded from God’s Kingdom 

Insight 2

הָעַלְמָה
In Hebrew,  הָ is the definite article. So, when you add the definite article הָ to the word עַלְמָה, you have what we would say in English, ‘the virgin’. One reading the text in English may not notice the significance of the הָ in this word but in Hebrew, we know it refers to the chosen woman. God did not use any woman, but God use Mary whom He had chosen

Indeed, God chose one virgin (a servant of the Lord) to give birth to the Messiah

===================================================

I have memorized this verse. It is not difficult after all once you break the verse

to different phrases and understand the words. Vocabulary will take time to build. Therefore, be patient. Press on to learn God’s Word in the original languages

A word of encouragement: Read how God has blessed me since I started learning Hebrew. Click here to read further.

READING FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE ON ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCING PLATFORM

Zoom allows the host to record the entire session to be replayed anytime you wish to review the classes. 

I hope several people will be able to host the reading from the Hebrew Bible with people joining them. That way we can have several sessions throughout the week and anyone who wants to learn to read the Hebrew Bible can join the different groups.

Zoom is a video conferencing platform. It provides 40 minutes free hosting of a meeting which invited guests can join. You get to see the guests and your guests get to see you online. When you speak, all of them can hear. When they speak, you can also hear them clearly.

Unlike Webex, Zoom allows you to use more features like sharing a screen on your laptop for all to view. These features are also available free of charge. For example, when I host a meeting of Hebrew Bible reading, I share on the screen the text from my Accordance software. You will get to see the Hebrew text on your computer screen.

We can then read it together. Or, each of us take turn to read. After that, I click on the audio file after we finish reading one verse from Accordance. You get to hear the text read to you by a native Hebrew speaker.  What I hear and what I see on my laptop, you will also see or hear on your computer when I Share Screen with you.

Step 1: Go to zoom.us. Click on SIGN UP. IT'S FREE.
(a) Type in your email address.
(b) Go to your email Inbox and follow the instructions.
(c) Remember to keep your password so that you can use it later.
(d) You will receive an email sent to your email account. Follow the instructions on the email.

Sign up for Free

STEP 2: You can either choose to HOST A MEETING or JOIN A MEETING.

(a) Hosting a meeting means you will invite others to join your meeting. I suggest you click "with video on". This will allow others to see you instead of just seeing a screen on their PC.

b) You will see a screen like this. Now click on the black box which reads, "Click to invite participants." You will see an icon at the bottom that says "Copy URL". This is the link that you need to copy and paste onto an email or on whatsapp so that people can participate in your meeting using this link.

c) You can also SCHEDULE A MEETING and send people the invitation in advance. 

STEP 3: If you receive an URL link from someone who is hosting the meeting, you need to click on JOIN MEETING.

Key in the number and click to join the meeting. 

ENJOY YOURSELVES! Make the best use of technology to help you learn Biblical Hebrew as a community of students!

IMPORTANT: If you are participating in a video conferencing for the first time. Here are some guidelines for you:

(1) Do not dig your nose or do funny poses when the video camera is on.

(2) Make sure you are in a quiet corner of your home. People can hear your kids shouting unless you "mute" your microphone. Noise from a blowing fan can also "disrupt" the class. If you are following the class while driving, make sure that you "mute" your microphone. The host can also mute your microphone so that it will be distracting other people trying to listen in. If you are not speaking, please "mute" your microphone. This will cut off the distractions to the class.

(3) If Zoom or Webex allows you to click "Raise" or "Lower" your hand, make sure that after you have asked the question, "Lower" your hand. Otherwise, the teacher will think that you still want to ask a question.

(4) A few people can talk at the same time, but avoid doing so. Take turns to speak. This is general courtesy even when you are online.

You can also have breakout rooms on Zoom. This is similar to a class of 30 students going into smaller discussion groups to discuss before coming back into the classroom again.

You will be able to check out a lot of resources / tutorials on Zoom. Just go to Google and type the keywords, "Zoom Youtube."

ONLINE CLASSES CONDUCTED BY ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES

For those who are serious about learning Biblical Hebrew, you can also sign up with Israel Institute of Biblical Studies. 

View the video to get a feel of how the classes are conducted using Webex. You get to meet fellow students from all over the world. 

30 lessons of one hour each per week costs about US$900 - 1000. They have a few levels but everyone has to begin with Level A.

Payment can be made by instalment over six months. Apart from this online classes, they also have Forums where you can ask questions. From time to time, Webinars are also conducted on specific topics.

If you are interested, you can email them eTeacherGroup Customer Care <service@eteachergroup.com>. 

Enjoy learning!

FINALLY, A BOOK FOR THOSE WHO THINK THEY CAN NEVER LEARN HEBREW!

 

Written in very simple English, this book is also useful for youth groups. You may pre-order before January 1, 2020. The deadline is set so as to reduce administrative work for us. If more than 10 copies, you get a special offer price of RM20 (regular price: around RM26) and delivery will be arranged. Please add RM10 for the cost of postage or delivery. Help us to sell the book within your circle of friends. We will let you know the retail price once it has been firmed up. Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to a next book project.

The idea of this book on Hebrew was conceived in the early months when I was still learning Hebrew.
     
You may not believe this but that was what I told Rev Aaron Decker who conducted a one-day workshop on Biblical Hebrew.

I had earlier suggested to him that we should write a book together to help beginners to kickstart the journey. The co-authorship did not happen, but he was happy to write a Foreword for me.

The first draft of this book was completed in around August or September. It was checked by a long-time friend of mine, Bro Yeoh Oon Chuan.

I added new things as I learnt them, knowing that beginners in Hebrew will be able to benefit from this book. It took some time for the book to be checked through to ensure accuracy. Thank God, the  book is now almost completed and waiting to be printed once the ISBN is issued! We are still trusting God for the funds (or, at least the pre-orders) to help with the cost of printing.

Challenges

We faced a lot of challenges even when the layout was being done by the designer. For example, I had all the Hebrew words in Accordance font; but, when the text was copied onto the Indesign software, the fonts changed. Some letters were not recognisable and appeared only as boxes.

The designer had to change the font of the words one by one. When I did the first round of proofreading, I found some words were all jumbled up. One by one, we had to correct them.

To make sure that the book will help beginners to learn Hebrew so that they do not give up midway, I had to rewrite a lot of the text to make the book more interesting and easy to read.

The decision to choose between digital or offset printing had to be made as well. Digital printing is too expensive although the quantity is more manageable, but it will mean that the price of the book may be too high. Of course, everything works on volume but for a book like this, I cannot expect to sell more than 500 books a year!

Thankfully, I have one brother-in-Christ who agreed to subsidize partially the book so that the cost can be lower. Bro Ang gave me some copies of his book to sell, and proceeds from the sale of the books also contribute to the cost of production. Many were willing to buy the books, and some just gave out of the generosity of their hearts. Several others also agreed to pay in advance for their book orders. This has helped me defray part of the costs in producing the book.

Blurbs 

When I sent my first draft to several people including seminary heads and my church pastor, I am delighted to receive their words of commendation:

“I have taught Hebrew for many years, but this book brings you the basics that you need to even begin somewhere." -     Rev Dr Philip Siew, Principal, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia

“Here in this book, the author has meticulously laid out step by step how we can master this biblical language.” -     Dr Chew Weng Chee, Senior Pastor, SIB Kuala Lumpur

“I have no reservations to recommend this book to every Christian who wants to understand the rudiments of the language of the Old Testament.” -     Rev. Ron Hee, Principal, Tung Ling Seminary

“The work the author has put into this text, and the creativity that can be found on every page, reveals the considerable skill he has developed with Hebrew in an extremely short period of time.” -     Rev. Aaron Decker, Visiting Lecturer in Old Testament, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia

My Plans Ahead 

Godwilling, with this book designed for beginners, I will be able to promote the learning of Biblical Hebrew from 2020 onwards.

I have generated a powerpoint which I have made available free to people who want to learn Hebrew, but it is nothing like attending a half-day or one-day workshop which I am willing to conduct.

Perhaps, I can package the workshops along with this book so that people who attend the workshops can get a copy of this book at RM20 a copy. If interested, please email LearnHebrew5780@gmail.com

END.

PSALM 20:4 NASB

 Psa. 20:5 יִתֶּן־לְךָ כִלְבָבֶךָ וְכָל־עֲצָתְךָ יְמַלֵּא׃

Psa. 20:4  May He grant you your heart’s desire
And fulfill all your counsel!

PSALM 44:21

Psa. 44:22 הֲלֹא אֱלֹהִים יַחֲקָר־זֹאת כִּי־הוּא יֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלֻמוֹת לֵב׃

Psa. 44:21

Would not God find this out

For He knows the secrets of the heart

PSALM 118:28-29

Usually I am unable to sing the more modern and upbeat Christian songs on Sunday morning worship.

Instead, I would use the time to memorise a psalm and use it in my worship.

I worship God by memorizing Scripture. Today, as I was memorizing Psalm 118:28-29, my eyes just teared. It was such a beautiful experience when you use the original language that the psalmist used when he extolled God.

Psa. 118:28-29

 28 אֵלִי אַתָּה וְאוֹדֶךָּ אֱלֹהַי אֲרוֹמְמֶךָּ׃

29 הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ׃

“You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:28-29‬ ‭

PSALM 23

Psa. 23:1‏ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר׃

‎Psa. 23:2‏ בִּנְאוֹת דֶּשֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵנִי עַל־מֵי מְנֻחוֹת יְנַהֲלֵנִי׃

‎Psa. 23:3‏ נַפְשִׁי יְשׁוֹבֵב יַנְחֵנִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶדֶק לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ׃

‎Psa. 23:4‏ גַּם כִּי־אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת לֹא־אִירָא רָע כִּי־אַתָּה עִמָּדִי שִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ הֵמָּה יְנַחֲמֻנִי׃

‎Psa. 23:5‏ תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה׃

‎Psa. 23:6‏ אַךְ טוֹב וָחֶסֶד יִרְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּי וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־יְהוָה לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים׃

A Psalm of David 
Psa. 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd,  I shall not want.
Psa. 23:2  He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
Psa. 23:3  He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Psa. 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I bfear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psa. 23:5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Psa. 23:6  Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,  And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.