Does a prayer book give voice to our prayers or is it only rote?

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Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
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#1
As I have explored the prayers of the Siddur I find it enriches my prayer life. Is this wrong?

This prayer book is called a Jewish Prayer book, and many say we may not copy the Jews. Does this make the siddur wrong for us?
 

DorotheaSofia

Active member
Sep 21, 2020
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#2
The bible says to judge things by their fruit. SO I would say, If it enriches your prayer life you should really continue using the siddur. Just make sure that everything you pray out of it aligns with christianity and the New Testament etc
Also, to say that we should not copy Jews is a bit weird in my opinion: The psalms are written by Jews, Jesus was a Jew... I don´t quite understand why people would say that.
 

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
Sep 17, 2018
4,061
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#3
The bible says to judge things by their fruit. SO I would say, If it enriches your prayer life you should really continue using the siddur. Just make sure that everything you pray out of it aligns with christianity and the New Testament etc
Also, to say that we should not copy Jews is a bit weird in my opinion: The psalms are written by Jews, Jesus was a Jew... I don´t quite understand why people would say that.
Because Jews are under the law. Christians are under grace. So when one says not to copy Jews it's likely meaning to not live according to works and the law, but through the grace God provides through Jesus death on the cross, which the Jews reject.
 

DorotheaSofia

Active member
Sep 21, 2020
131
113
43
#4
Because Jews are under the law. Christians are under grace. So when one says not to copy Jews it's likely meaning to not live according to works and the law, but through the grace God provides through Jesus death on the cross, which the Jews reject.
Probably that´s the point, I totally agree with that.
 

Happy2020

Active member
Oct 5, 2020
114
73
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#5
As I have explored the prayers of the Siddur I find it enriches my prayer life. Is this wrong?

This prayer book is called a Jewish Prayer book, and many say we may not copy the Jews. Does this make the siddur wrong for us?
How did you get your hands on a siddur? Are you Jewish yourself or just exploring?
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
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#6
May you link me to a sample prayer from the book? I would like to take a look at it, please. Thank you.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#7
Because Jews are under the law. Christians are under grace. So when one says not to copy Jews it's likely meaning to not live according to works and the law, but through the grace God provides through Jesus death on the cross, which the Jews reject.
It tells us in Lev. 17:11 that God gave blood on the altar for the atonement of the soul, and that is grace. Besides, in Isaiah it tells us that God hated the blood of animals, and the blood of animals as a symbol of Christ were to be sacrificed when they asked the Lord for forgiveness of the soul. If blood was sacrificed to feed the Gods as the idol worshipped did, God hated it. So Jews are not under the law for forgiveness, there is no forgiveness ever without blood.

God is eternal and God does not change from Genesis to Revelation. What was true at creation is true until the new earth is formed. If you will read the Psalms, over and over it tells of God's grace. They were written before Christ.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
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#8
May you link me to a sample prayer from the book? I would like to take a look at it, please. Thank you.
Do a google search for the Amidah in English.

When the Jews were allowed to return home from Babylon they had lost much knowledge of the one true God. In order to gather this information they called for Jewish leaders who remembered to assemble and gather this information. It is called the Great Assembly. One of the things they did was compose a prayer to be used daily, the standing prayer called the Amidah. It is still used by Jews today.

When Christ gave us the Lord's Prayer, it is a condensed version of this prayer.

After Christ, when the Jews were sure Christ was not the Messiah promised them, they added to this prayer against Christ. Most texts of this prayer given on the internet do not include this addition.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
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#9
How did you get your hands on a siddur? Are you Jewish yourself or just exploring?
I searched scripture because I believe that Christ fulfilled all that was said of Him in the old testament and said He did not change it, because I believe God is eternal and is the same from Genesis to Revelation. I believe that Christ fulfilled and made all complete, so what Christ did is for our salvation. Learned what He fulfilled helps me understand Christ.

I study the old testament as an explanation of Christ. I learned that Christ condensed a Jewish prayer when He told us how to pray, I did a google search to find out the original prayer to see if that is so, as there is some controversy about that. From there, I learned there was a book of Jewish prayers, and I googled to find out what those prayers were all about.
 

soggykitten

Well-known member
Jul 3, 2020
2,322
1,369
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#10
As I have explored the prayers of the Siddur I find it enriches my prayer life. Is this wrong?

This prayer book is called a Jewish Prayer book, and many say we may not copy the Jews. Does this make the siddur wrong for us?
I think God would want his people to talk to him from their heart not from a prescribed set of words other people cobbled together.
Just as a side note here, what Christians call the law of God is for Jews the Torah. If all Jews are under the law why don't they commit to animal sacrifice today for their sins?

20. What do Jewish people believe about the Law of Moses
 

Happy2020

Active member
Oct 5, 2020
114
73
28
#11
I think God would want his people to talk to him from their heart not from a prescribed set of words other people cobbled together.
Just as a side note here, what Christians call the law of God is for Jews the Torah. If all Jews are under the law why don't they commit to animal sacrifice today for their sins?

20. What do Jewish people believe about the Law of Moses
Hi there soggy kitten. If you are seeking a true answer to help you understand, I can certainly share to help you understand better. Have a great night!
 

Happy2020

Active member
Oct 5, 2020
114
73
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#12
I searched scripture because I believe that Christ fulfilled all that was said of Him in the old testament and said He did not change it, because I believe God is eternal and is the same from Genesis to Revelation. I believe that Christ fulfilled and made all complete, so what Christ did is for our salvation. Learned what He fulfilled helps me understand Christ.

I study the old testament as an explanation of Christ. I learned that Christ condensed a Jewish prayer when He told us how to pray, I did a google search to find out the original prayer to see if that is so, as there is some controversy about that. From there, I learned there was a book of Jewish prayers, and I googled to find out what those prayers were all about.
You have an interesting perspective on things. Why do you read from a Siddur comprised of amazing Sages/Rabbi's like Ezra and Nechamiah and see the wisdom in a very powerful Jewish text, yet not see that there is in more profound wisdom on "life" and our "purpose" throughtout the rest of the OT which is greater than the Siddur? I hope you don't mind me asking. Thanks.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#13
I think God would want his people to talk to him from their heart not from a prescribed set of words other people cobbled together.
Just as a side note here, what Christians call the law of God is for Jews the Torah. If all Jews are under the law why don't they commit to animal sacrifice today for their sins?

20. What do Jewish people believe about the Law of Moses
God is eternal and God's grace is an eternal property of the Lord. There has never, ever, been life given except through Christ
You have an interesting perspective on things. Why do you read from a Siddur comprised of amazing Sages/Rabbi's like Ezra and Nechamiah and see the wisdom in a very powerful Jewish text, yet not see that there is in more profound wisdom on "life" and our "purpose" throughtout the rest of the OT which is greater than the Siddur? I hope you don't mind me asking. Thanks.
I personally have NO perspective on the ways of the Lord. If it isn't in scripture then it isn't the truth. God does not allow me to speak for Him personally, I may only speak what the Lord tells me in scripture. If anything I say can't be backed up with scripture it is blowing in the wind or worse.

I think every Psalm is greater than the Siddur. I feel blessed by siddur prayers, but they are nothing compared with scripture telling us about the Lord. In fact every prayer of the siddur has to be checked out with scripture to be sure it is correct.
 

Happy2020

Active member
Oct 5, 2020
114
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#14
God is eternal and God's grace is an eternal property of the Lord. There has never, ever, been life given except through Christ
I personally have NO perspective on the ways of the Lord. If it isn't in scripture then it isn't the truth. God does not allow me to speak for Him personally, I may only speak what the Lord tells me in scripture. If anything I say can't be backed up with scripture it is blowing in the wind or worse.

I think every Psalm is greater than the Siddur. I feel blessed by siddur prayers, but they are nothing compared with scripture telling us about the Lord. In fact every prayer of the siddur has to be checked out with scripture to be sure it is correct.
I only brought this up, because I thought in your previous post, you were down playing just how perfect and vital the Tanakh is by saying it is used to point to Jesus. The whole world exists on the words of the Tanakh, that is why not even a dot can be erased nor will it until heaven and earth pass away (which is never). Jesus himself is the Word of G-d, therefore he himself is a walking Torah Scroll.

As for the Siddur, you don't trust Ezra or Nechimah? One of them alone would make the wisest man in the last 1000 years look like a child in wisdom, I can assure you "they checked the scripture". They knew 70+ languages and all the sciences the world had to offer as well in order to be the leaders they were (i.e. the Sanhedrin Leaders) at that time.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#15
I think God would want his people to talk to him from their heart not from a prescribed set of words other people cobbled together.
Just as a side note here, what Christians call the law of God is for Jews the Torah. If all Jews are under the law why don't they commit to animal sacrifice today for their sins?

20. What do Jewish people believe about the Law of Moses
No one has ever, at any tine, been forgiven through obeying the law. Jews are people, God's grace was given to them through the symbolic blood of Christ, even though they could not know of Christ before Christ was born as a man. Jews know this, but think that God gave blood on the altar for their souls. They depend on God's grace even though they think the Messiah is yet to come. They know it is through the Messiah they are saved, they don't think Christ was the Messiah.
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,428
113
#16
I only brought this up, because I thought in your previous post, you were down playing just how perfect and vital the Tanakh is by saying it is used to point to Jesus. The whole world exists on the words of the Tanakh, that is why not even a dot can be erased nor will it until heaven and earth pass away (which is never). Jesus himself is the Word of G-d, therefore he himself is a walking Torah Scroll.

As for the Siddur, you don't trust Ezra or Nechimah? One of them alone would make the wisest man in the last 1000 years look like a child in wisdom, I can assure you "they checked the scripture". They knew 70+ languages and all the sciences the world had to offer as well in order to be the leaders they were (i.e. the Sanhedrin Leaders) at that time.
So that is why I feel so blessed through those prayers!!!! They seem to express things that is deep inside of me that I couldn't express without their help.
 

Happy2020

Active member
Oct 5, 2020
114
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#17
So that is why I feel so blessed through those prayers!!!! They seem to express things that is deep inside of me that I couldn't express without their help.
Absolutely correct tzadik! Now, if you really want to get deep inside those prayers, get a Jewish book to explain the meaning and reasoning behind each word in the Siddur and why it is in that order, why that phrase etc, and you will really begin to go deep.

And yes, Yeshua's prayer (The L-rd's Prayer) is a shorten 'kitzur' version of the Amidah (Shemonie Esrei). I am sure though you are wise enough to know to combine these prayers with your own person outpouring of prayers. We call that Hitbededut. Rebbe Nachman is another tzadik you can learn so much about deep personal prayer from and....since he is more "esotric", he literally spells Yeshua's name for you in all his text (Likutei Moharan). Enjoy!
 

SoulWeaver

Senior Member
Oct 25, 2014
4,889
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#18
As I have explored the prayers of the Siddur I find it enriches my prayer life. Is this wrong?

This prayer book is called a Jewish Prayer book, and many say we may not copy the Jews. Does this make the siddur wrong for us?
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
 

soggykitten

Well-known member
Jul 3, 2020
2,322
1,369
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#19
No one has ever, at any tine, been forgiven through obeying the law. Jews are people, God's grace was given to them through the symbolic blood of Christ, even though they could not know of Christ before Christ was born as a man. Jews know this, but think that God gave blood on the altar for their souls. They depend on God's grace even though they think the Messiah is yet to come. They know it is through the Messiah they are saved, they don't think Christ was the Messiah.
Where in the Torah are Jews told they will attain eternal salvation by obeying God's laws?
Jesus obeyed the laws of God.