It seems like the world can’t get enough of the “material girl” Madonna, aka “Esther” (Louise Ciccone Ritchie). According to Haaretz magazine, Louise has recently appointed herself as “Ambassador for Judaism” and was given warm reception and private audience with none other than President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem after Rosh Hashana festivities concluded last Saturday evening.
Could the formerly meretricious “Madonna” actually now be considered an ambassador of “Judaism” to the world? Has her association with the Phillip Berg’s Kabbala Center and her scarlet thread - believed to ward off ayin hara (the evil eye) – likewise transform her from a diva of debauchery into an eshet chayil (woman of valor)?
Well, that seems unlikely. Unlike the placebo effect of Hollywood-styled Kabbalah, true wisdom comes through many years of earnest study of the Scriptures. First the p’shat of the Scriptures must be mastered — that is, the grammatical-historical meaning — and only later can non-explicit inferences honestly be made. It is a perversion to read into the texts of Scripture “mysteries” before taking the time to truly understand the basic hermeneutical principles that gave birth to the texts in their context. Otherwise, the Scriptures of Judaism (and Christianity) would be on a status similar to that of the I Ching, with serendipity as the axiomatic way of approaching spiritual meaning. Nonetheless, a text without a context is a pretext.
Our age is all about instant gratification, instant knowledge, instant satisfaction. However, the truth of Scripture is not dispensed like fast food from the window of a MacDonalds and genuine wisdom refuses to be pandered as a mass consumption item. A Scriptural sense of mystery is not some eery wonder about emanations or esoteric mumbo-jumbo about manipulating Hebrew letters or numbers. No, true mystery comes from yirat Adonai – the fear of the LORD – and the awe that is inspired when He is encountered in the truth. True mystery is far more humble and plain to the way of the heart. It sees beauty and glory in everything, and regards all people as worthy of respect.
In our so-called postmodern world of deconstructionism and Wittgensteinian language games, many people assume that religious truth is something that is entirely plastic, something malleable and alterable according to taste. There are tragic results from this line of thinking. Truth has a habit of encountering illusions and dashing them to pieces. We do not stand above Scripture but under it. We do not attempt to manipulate God or “force His hand” but rather are dependent upon Him for every breath we take. We submit to God in humility and then, if it pleases Him, we are given true understanding.
Thank God Jesus came to reveal His Kingdom to the little children. Thank God that He “takes the proud in their own conceits.” Thank God that the preaching of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who believe, it is the power of God.” Thank God that the “wisdom of this world” is nonsense to God.