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Monday, 22 April 2019
The Megan David

I want to write today about the Magen David (Hebrew) or the "Star (or Shield) of David" (English). This is the six pointed star we find in the center of the Israeli flag. Many ladies wear this symbol around their necks. Usually, men wear a Mezuzah necklace.

What do we see when we look upon the Magen David. What does it symbolize? Everyone can have his/her own answer to these questions. Some say the Magen David is a pagan symbol. I have 2 things to say about that. 1) Not to me it's not. 2) I like what Dan Juster says, "It's only pagan if you make it pagan." So, take my advice, "Don't make it pagan." So, can we get past that? After all, the 6 pointed star is part of the Messianic symbol (which is a 3 in one symbol that includes the fish and menorah), pictured above.

From where does the Magen David come? In paleo Hebrew, the Dalet is an equilateral triangle (like the Greek delta). Note: This is also true of Phoenician, upon which Paleo Hebrew is based. We spell David (in Hebrew pronounced Dav-eed) with 3 Hebrew letters, Dalet-Vav-Dalet (which means "beloved"). In Paleo Hebrew that would have involved two triangles and a straight line (for the Vav) in the middle. Take the two triangles, superimpose them, point one up and the other down and you have the Shield (or Star) of David.

Now that we know from where the Magen David comes, what does it mean? The triangle has 3 sides. What could those 3 sides mean? As followers of Yeshua, we immediately think, "The Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

That accounts for the Dalet that points up, but what about the Dalet that points down? There is another "trinity" in David, the human being formed from the "body, soul, and spirit" of man. Since the reality of David is David's Son, Yeshua, we have this understanding. Yeshua is fully God and fully man. The Magen David is perfect to represent the fullness of Who He is, both His humanity and His divinity.

Add one last thought to that, okay, two. The Hebrew word Delet means "door". Do you think Yeshua had a deeper meaning when He said, John 10:9 "I am the gate! (door) If anyone comes in through Me, he will be saved. He will come and go and find pasture." But the Dalet has another meaning. A poor (or humble) person. Could Yeshua have spoken words that would not be missed by the people to whom He spoke them? Matthew 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

And, as Paul Harvey used to say, "Now you know ... the rest of the story." R. Michael.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 10:15am Comment Comments: 0