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What Does Šāḥaṯ Mean For Benjamin Netanyahu & Congress?

What Does Šāḥaṯ Mean For Benjamin Netanyahu & Congress?

Last updated on: September 7, 2025 at 8:57 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What Does Šāḥaṯ Mean For Benjamin Netanyahu & Congress? 2025-09-07T20:57:39-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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In major news this week, Israel has continued its quest to dominate the Middle East and follow the corrupt ways of this fallen kingdom. Violence in Israel escalated as it destroyed numerous high-rise buildings in Gaza.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

The supposedly holy people even continued to destroy buildings on the Sabbath. Instead of being God’s holy people, Israel has become hell-bent on being just as evil and corrupt as this fallen kingdom called Earth.

Once again, Israel has turned from God’s ways in pursuing earthly greatness (Judges 2:11-12, 2 Kings 17:7-20, Isaiah 1:4, Jeremiah 2:17-19; 3:12-13, Hosea 4:1).

Despite many Israelis’ cries to end the war, Prime Minister Netanyahu only wants to continue fighting and killing, just like the corrupt pursuits and practices of this world. Benjamin Netanyahu is only concerned about seeking revenge and establishing an earthly kingdom.

He has forgotten Israel’s call to be holy and different from this corrupt world (Exodus 19:5-6, Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 14:2). The gods of this world have corrupted God’s holy people:

Power-hungry
Unloving
Unforgiving
Vengeful
Violent

Furthermore, Prime Minister Netanyahu is caught up in his own trial over corruption against the Israeli people. The chosen leader of God’s people is accused of both bribery and fraud. Even the Israeli court system has become corrupted in support of their unholy leader.

Instead of listening to and living by the Holy Spirit, Netanyahu is following the corrupt ways of this fallen kingdom. Once again, this corrupt world has led mankind astray (Genesis 3:1-17; 6:5).

What Is Corrupt

Unfortunately, for the past five or six years, corruption has been ignored or politicized. The Bible is clear that corruption and sin are human problems; even God’s people aren’t immune to sin and corruption, despite what many false teachers want to believe.

Image by Pixabay

The Israeli government is notorious for its bribery and corruption scandals, although they have the head knowledge of God’s Word; their actions are sometimes corrupt and evil, just like the world.

Corrupt is defined as, “To change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions; spoil.” The Bible is clear that sin and corruption are human problems (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23).

That is why the Bible has a lot to say about corruption (Proverbs 15:27, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 1 Timothy 6:3-5).

As God’s people, we are to be different from the corrupt ways of this world (Deuteronomy 7:6, Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 2:9). We are called to avoid all evil and corruption (Romans 12:9, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 2 Peter 2:18-19). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about corruption and where it comes from.

Šāḥaṯ

The Torah tells us how God created the world and everything in it, and they were good (Genesis 1:1-31). At the time, there was no death or pain. Until the first Adam became unhappy and dissatisfied with God’s goodness and wanted more.

The first Adam’s thirst for greatness and more opened the door for sin, corruption, and death to enter the world (Genesis 3: number 13-24). Ever since, mankind and this world have been corrupted and cursed.

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for corrupt is šāḥaṯ, and it can also mean, “Destroy, ruin, decay, spoil, or rot,” depending on the context it is used in. God set His people apart to help repair the corruption and to be His witnesses in this fallen world (Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2). Judaism teaches God’s people to speak out against and avoid the corruption of this world to help change the world:

Do not accept bribes
Community service
Pursuing truth
Fighting for justice
Being honest in business
Practicing the Torah
Political action
Social action
Religious action
Morality

Jesus reminded His followers to be the light of the world and to overcome the darkness and corruption of this temporary kingdom (Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12). He rebuked the religious and political leaders of his day for their corrupt ways (Matthew 23:1-39, Luke 13:31-32).

Image by Pixabay

Our Lord emphasized caring for the least of these (Matthew 25:1-46). He taught His followers to always put others first Matthew 23:11). Our Rabbi taught His followers to love their neighbor and enemies the same (Matthew 22:39-44). God’s people are called to avoid the corrupt ways of this world and be more like God.

Congress

Earlier this week, Congress returned from its one-month-long summer break. The break began early to avoid the controversy over the Epstein files being released. The Melee over the Epstein files and what they say hasn’t gone away.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

The Trump campaign pledged to release the files and expose the evil corruption; eight months later, they have only been covered up or denied altogether. Apparently, Maga’s chosen Savior isn’t part of the solution, but a continuing part of the corrupt problem:

Deceptive
Greedy
Unloving
Vengeful
Prideful

Many in Maga are realizing their chosen Savior is just as corrupt as any other fallen man (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 5:12).

Throughout the week, more controversy in Congress erupted as Robert Kennedy Junior faced Congress on his handling of the nation’s health departments.

The secretary continued to push his unscientific and controversial conspiracy theories about vaccines causing autism. RFK Junior was also questioned over his handling of the CDC and their leadership.

More polls show that the American people have lost trust in our government because of its corruption and mishandling of the new COVID-19 vaccines.

Now, as I write this, the president has threatened to use force against American citizens in a major American city. Too many conservatives and Christians in Congress have listened to their flesh that is šāḥaṯ (Galatians 5:19-21!

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