“TO BE SAVED FROM PERIL / TO DRAW CLOSE TO G-D”
In the daily prayers and blessings, the scriptures frequently petition G-d for immediate, temporal forms of "salvation" (ישועה, Yeshuah). These include prayers for health, prosperity, peace, and protection from adversity. Such prayers reflect a belief in G-d's ongoing involvement in the world and His power to intervene in human affairs. While salvation can be in the temporal and physical, it is also eternal and spiritual.
Within the spiritual, salvation is conceptualized as the process or state of drawing closer to G-d or having existence with G-d. This perspective emphasizes a relational and existential dimension of salvation, where it's not only about being rescued from physical or spiritual peril but also about achieving a profound closeness and alignment with G-d’s desires.
This broader, more spiritual understanding of salvation encompasses both personal and communal aspects of the believer’s life, where salvation is seen as the ultimate reconciliation and union with G-d. It is reflected in the prayers, rituals, and ethical teachings of scripture, aiming to guide individuals and the community towards living in a way that is harmonious with G-d's will, thereby achieving spiritual closeness.
An expression of this desire for closeness through salvation can be found in the Psalms, which frequently articulate a yearning for G-d's presence and deliverance. For example, Psalm 73:27-28 states:
"Those who are far from you will perish and be destroyed…But as for me, the nearness of G-d is my good; I have made the L-rd G-D my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works."
The concept of salvation, therefore, extends beyond mere physical or historical redemption, encompassing a deep, ongoing spiritual journey towards living in presence with and closeness to G-d. This journey is marked by adherence to G-d's commandments, engagement in prayer and study, and the pursuit of a life that reflects G-d's holiness and goodness.
Comments