1. Transforming Earth into a Paradise - Part 2
Transforming Earth into a Paradise according to Judaism
God has promisedblessingsforobedience andcursesfordisobedience
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse, the blessing
if you obey the commands of God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the
commands of God and turn from the way that I command you today
Deuteronomy32:46-47 "he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared
to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this
law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.
Deuteronomy28:2-6 confirmsandreiteratesthe same message
All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey God: You will be blessed in
the city and blessed in the country.
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your
livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and
blessed when you go out.
The most frequentteachingsof the OldTestimonyare 'blessingsforobedience&Cursesfordis-
obedience
Deuteronomy 30:15-16 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and
destruction. For I command you today to love God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his
commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and God will bless you in the land
you are entering to possess.
Deuteronomy30:19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I
have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your
children may live

2. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 what does God ask of you but to fear God, to walk in all his ways, to
love him, to serve God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13and to observe the
LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
The same consistentteachingsare alsoconfirmedinDeuteronomy7:12-16,Deuteronomy11:13-15,
Deuteronomy15:5-6,Leviticus26
Deuteronomy29:9 alsourgespeople tofollow the law inordertosucceed
Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them that you may prosper in all that you do
Similarteachingsare alsomentionedinDeuteronomy 28:15-20, 28:47-48, 28:58-59, 30:8-10, andin
manyother verses
Deuteronomy4:2"Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the
commands of God that I give you.
Deuteronomy6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! “You shall love the
LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them
diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by
the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
“You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You
shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates
Deuteronomy11:18-20 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on
your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along
the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses
and on your gates
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or
beyond your reach.

3. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and
proclaim it to us so we may obey it?
Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim
it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart
so you may obey it.
Mosestaught that Justice shouldbe grantedtoall – one measure forthe citizensandthe strangers
Leviticus 19:34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as
yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt
The same message of lovingthe foreignerswasconfirmedinDeuteronomy 10:19, and Leviticus
19:34
Deuteronomy 10:19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were
foreigners in Egypt
Leviticus19:34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them
as yourself
In Deuteronomy10:13-29, Moseshas summarizedwhatGodwantsfrom us.
These versesteachusthat God isjustand merciful;he likesustobe justand merciful toorphans,
strangers,andwidows,toworshiphimasthe onlyGod and to obeyhislaw
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He
requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him
and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and
decrees that I am giving you today for your own good
Deuteronomy10:17-19 teachthat God isgreat, mighty,awesome,doesnotshow partiality;reminds
us of the justice forthe orphanand the widow

4. For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the
awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He ensures that orphans and widows
receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and
clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in
the land of Egypt
Deuteronomy27:19 Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the orphan, or
the widow
Deuteronomy24:17 Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak
of the widow as a pledge
Deuteronomy 24:14 -15 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy,
whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it.
Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin
Exodus23:2 is a warningto those whofollow the majority
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert
justice by siding with the crowd
Joshua1:7-8 teachespeople tokeepGod’sLaw alwaysontheirlips
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not
turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful
The core teachingsof Mosesare alsoconfirmedbythe Prophets;theyhave alsotaughtthatGod
revealedthe lawsthatare justand right,but mostpeople became arrogantanddidnotobeyGod’s
commands

5. 1 kings3:9-14 teachesthatwhen Solomon askedforwisdomtodistinguishbetweenwhatisright
and whatis wrong;God waspleased thatSolomonhadaskedforthe wisdomandnot forlong life or
wealth.Godhave answeredhisprayersandaskedhimtocontinue toobeyGod
That is the conditionsof answeringthe prayers; toobeyGod.It isnot a free giftto certainpeople;
Obedience isaconditionforansweringthe prayers
Our life consistsof anumberof days,witheach daypasses,we lose apart of our life –thisshould
urge us to think,whatisthe mostimportant thingtodo – to Get wisdom
Similarteachingsare taughtbyDavidand Solomon
Psalm90:12 teachus that we shouldbe wise andknow thatour life consistsof days,eachday
passes,partof our life iscut;thiswisdomhelpstobringuscloserto God
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom
Proverbs17:15 states:
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an
abomination unto God
That shouldbe consideredasawarningto the teachers whopromise free salvationtothe sinners
withoutadvisingthemtoobeyGod’slaw
In Psalms1:1-2 Davidteachesthatthere are wickedpeoplewhochoose the wayof sinnersand
there are righteouspeople whochoose toobey;he didnotteachthat people are bornsinners
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he
meditates day and night
Psalms4:4 teachesthatpeople are chosenbecause of theirobedience
That teachingclarifiesthatthe choice isnotbecause of the righteousnessof theirfathers,but
because theyhave obeyedGod

6. Psalms5:11-12 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread
your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O
LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield
Psalm5:8-12 teach that God punishesthe wickedandblessesandprotects the righteous
Psalms25:10 teachesthat the mercyof God isnear to those whokeephislaw
Psalms119:1-2
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart
Psalms37:4-6 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your
heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday
sun
Psalms41:1-2
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender
him to the desire of his foes
Psalms115:11 You who fear him, trust in the Lord - he is their help and shield
Similarteachingsare alsowritteninPsalms18:2 and 28:7
Proverbs30:5 teachesusto trust inGod’s wordsandto take refuge inGodas our shield
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him

7. Psalms84:11 and Psalm18:30 teachthat God is the ShieldandRefuge toanyobedientperson;not
onlyto Abrahamor Prophets
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He
withhold from those who walk uprightly Psalms84:11
This God – his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who
take refuge in him Psalm18:30
SolomonalsoreiteratedthatwisdominProverbs30:5
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection
over them, that those who love your name may exult in you
Psalm5:11
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your
ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths
Proverbs3:5-6
The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble Psalm9:9
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us
Psalm62:8
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock
Isaiah26:4
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble

8. Psalm46:1
Obedience toGod'slawand doinggooddeedsare prescribedasthe wayfor successbythe Prophets
Psalms112:1-8 urge people toobeyGod’scommands
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and
riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous
man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs
with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is
secure, he will have no fear
Psalms119:1-2 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the
LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart
Proverbs14:21 He who despises his neighbour sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy
Proverbs3:27-29 teach highmoral valuesof fairness,generosity,andpeace
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to
your neighbour, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow" when you now have it with you. Do not
plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you
Proverbs3:33-34 teach that God givesgrace to those whohumble themselvesandhe doesnotlike
the proud mockers
The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He
mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble
Proverbs22:9 teachesgenerosityandurgespeople tofeedthe hungry
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor

9. Proverbs19:17 teacheskindness
He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done
Proverbs28:27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them
receives many curses
Proverbs 1:7 teachesthat wise peopleshouldfearGod
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and knowledge
Proverbs3:13-15 urge people toseekwisdom
Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable
than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you
desire can compare with her
Proverbs11:6 teachesthatpeople candetermine theirfate bytheirdeeds
The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires
Proverbs16:8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice
Proverbs19:16-17 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt
for their ways will die. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them
for what they have done
Proverbs20:10 Differing weights and differing measures; God detests them both
Proverbs20:22-23 teachforgivenessandfairness
Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
God detests differing weights and dishonest scales do not please him

10. Proverbs21:3 meansJustice betterthansacrifice
Proverbs21:13 meanswhoeverdoesnotanswerthe poor,Godwill notanswerhim
Psalm10:18 urgespeople tobringjustice tothe orphansandto defendthe oppressed
Bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them
Proverbs24:11-12 urgesusto helpthose ledawayto deathandthose staggeringtowardslaughter
by the unjustauthorities
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they
have done?
Accordingto the wisdomtaughtbyverseslike Proverbs24:11-12, Psalm10:18, Isaiah1:23 andIsaiah
58, we shouldnotturn a blindeye tothe bad leaderswhokill theirownpeopleanddestroytheir
owncountriesinorderto stay inpower;we shouldnotsaythat those conflictsare not a threatto
our national security.Scholarsshouldnotcontinue toteachthatthe existingauthoritiesmusthave
beenordainedbyGod
Killingthe innocentpeople isagainstthe teachingsof all religions
Killingthe innocentpeople isagainstthe guidelinesof the conscience andthe intelligence evenfor
those whodo notbelieve inGodandfor those whoignore the religionteachings
Proverbs24:29 teachesforgiveness
Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me; I’ll pay them back for what they did.”
Proverbs28:4-9 teachthat those whodisobeythe law supportthe wickedandurge those whoobey
to resistthe wicked
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

11. Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse.
He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to
the poor. If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable
The versesremindsusthatthe setupof the testingenvironmentallowsthe co-existence of goodand
evil;thatisalsotaught by JesusinMatthew 13:24-29
Ecclesiastes12:13-14 summarize some importantteachings
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
Isaiah56:1-2 Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my
righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, the man who holds it
fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil
Isaiah5:20 Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light
for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah1:15-17 explainthe reasonsfornotansweringthe prayersandprovide prescriptionsfor
acceptance of prayers
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow

12. Isaiah2:4 urgesus to stop the wars,to use our toolsfor agriculture purposesnotformilitary
purposes
They will hammer their swords into plow-blades and their spears into pruning-knives;
nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war
The wisdomtaughtby suchversesisto use our resourcestoincrease the prosperityinordertofeed
more people insteadof using the militaryhardware todestroythe citiesandtokill people
Isaiah60:18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your
borders
Isaiah30:9-10 and Isaiah30:12-14 warnthose whoignore the true scripture andteachinteresting
stories
For these are rebellious people, deceitful children,
children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction.
They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets,
“Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions”
Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin
will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.
It will break in pieces like pottery
Isaiah 30:15 teaches in repentance and obedience is your salvation
Isaiah40:25-28 teach to thinkof God and of the universe
“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?

13. Isaiah59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face
from you, so that he will not hear
Isaiah46:9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I
am God, and there is none like me
Isaiah48:18 If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a
river, your well-being like the waves of the sea
Isaiah42:21 teachesthat God couldhave considerthemrighteousif theyhadglorifiedthe law
Isaiah58:6-11 teachthat the true worshipsare notthe prayers,the fastingandthe rituals,butare to
loosenthe chainsof injustice,todefendthe oppressed,tofeedthe hungryand to helpothers
Such versesare sample prescriptionsforthose whoseekrighteousnessandthose whowantGodto
answertheirprayers
It isnot impossible forpeopletofollow suchwisdomandtotransformearthintoa paradise
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -
when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I
Isaiah3:5 People will oppress each other - man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young
will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honored.
He explainedthe reasonof those disastersin3:8-9 because theydidnotobeyGod buttheychose to
repel andhave rewardedevil untothemselves

14. Isaiah3:10-15 teachthat it isgood to eatthe fruitof our labourandwarn the unjustauthorities
whichmisleadpeople
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have
done.
My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.
The Lord takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
“It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?”
Isaiah9:14-16 warnsthe false teacherswhoteachdistortedteachingsandwhomisleadpeople
Micah 3:11 warnsthe bad religionteachers
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets
thereof divine for money
Isaiah9:15-16 warnthe religionteacherswhoteachliestomisleadpeople
the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. Those who
guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.
Isaiah1:23 warns the unjustauthorities
Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do
not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them
2 Chronicles7:14 teachesthatGod answersthe prayersof the repentedsinners
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and
turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will
heal their land

15. Extractedfrommy AmazonBook‘Towardsa BetterLife’
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Towards-better-life-Objectives-
Measures/dp/1515185648/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456426110&sr=1-
4&keywords=sabry+shaheen