{"id":79204,"date":"2020-08-24T15:39:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T12:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=79204"},"modified":"2020-08-24T15:41:26","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T12:41:26","slug":"from-the-diary-of-joshua-the-high-priest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/from-the-diary-of-joshua-the-high-priest\/","title":{"rendered":"From The Diary Of Joshua The High Priest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From the diary of Joshua, the high priest:<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever since taking charge as high priest and overseeing the rebuilding of the Temple, I have felt great sympathy for my biblical predecessor. Settling this land and keeping these people organized is no small task.<\/span><\/p>\n

The foundations for the Temple have been laid, and now we face a dilemma. Should we renew the sacrificial service, at least in part, as soon as possible or wait until everything is completely constructed and perfectly in place? Most of my fellow priests want to wait, so we can serve exactly according to the rulebook. I understand their anxiety. An error in the sacred service could be fatal. But there are other concerns. The construction itself is not the goal, serving God is. What would God want us to do? Without the Urim and Thummim, we have no way to know. And there are the people. They are restless and want to see progress. Otherwise, I fear they will want to leave this rocky hill country and return \u201chome\u201d to Babylonia.<\/span><\/p>\n

After much consideration, today I announced that as high priest, I am taking responsibility. Sacrifices will be renewed. I accept upon myself any and all guilt.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few weeks later<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

I doubt the rightness of my decision; I am overwhelmed with anxiety. I can hardly sleep and am losing weight. My family is terrified.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

Last night, as I mentally reviewed the procedures for Yom Kippur, meditated on pronouncing the Ineffable Name, and imagined myself stepping into the Holy of Holies, an angel of the Eternal appeared. He reached out his hand and led me deep inside. It was very dark. I was terrified. I prayed that my wife and children would understand that I had sacrificed myself for the sake of God and His people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, I was in a space full of light. I could not see but knew that I was in the presence of The One Who-Was-Is-Will-Be. I wanted to prostrate myself but could not move. I was horrified to see that my garments were stained with sin, mine and those of my people. The Accuser began to speak, but the Holy Blessed One silenced him. \u201cThis is a brand plucked from the fire. Joshua, my servant, you acted to benefit My people and therefore, I have removed your guilt.\u201d My filthy garments were exchanged for clean ones, a diadem was placed on my head, and my commission renewed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, the cock crowed, and I was in my room in Jerusalem, almost late for work. Already dressed (how did that happen?), I slipped on my sandals and hurried to the Temple. At the entrance, Zechariah stopped me. Without a word, his prophetic eyes caught mine. He stared into my soul and nodded. I returned the nod, and went on my way.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":79212,"id":79212,"title":"zech3-diary","filename":"zech3-diary.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/from-the-diary-of-joshua-the-high-priest\/zech3-diary\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"zech3-diary","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":79204,"date":"2020-08-24 12:40:56","modified":"2020-08-24 12:41:22","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":6000,"height":4000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech3-diary-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"embedded_video":"","video_duration":"","show_fb_comments":true,"credit_media":""},"tile":{"top_caption":"","main_caption":"From The Diary Of Joshua The High Priest","main_caption_size":"1","sub_caption":"He stared into my soul and nodded. 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