Defining Ises and its Importance

Buruk Fikir!
Blessed Love my Royal Sistren.

As some of I and I prepare to enter into Sabbath once again, I offer a reasoning (from my RasTafari Book of Ises) on the meaning and importance of Ises. No woman is as strong as she can be if she doesn't have the power of Ises and Communion with JAH in her mind, body and soul. Ises is so many things - a rejuvenation, a hope, a cleanse, a thanksgiving, a joyful noise, a comfort...it is the right medicine for every ailment or the right answer for every question.
Ises was one of the most important things to Empress Menen and Emperor Haile Sellassie I as well. They prayed everyday and held the Church and priests close to Their home. A Chapel was necessary wherever They lived, so They could pray in private. Empress Menen used prayer as Her secret weapon during the war with Italy - She dedicated Her crown to the Church in prayer, for victory in Ethiopia. Her prayers were answered favourably! To me, in many aspects of Their lives, JAH RasTafari displayed honour, submission and reverence for the service of the Almighty JAH but Ises or prayer was the most personal and the most relied upon show of faith, love and duty.

So...what is prayer, why is it important for and to mankind?

      The Ethiopian Feta Nagast states that “prayer is the talking of man to the Highest God, whereby he thanks Him, praises Him, and recognizes His domain, confessing his sin and seeking on his part the way of pleasing Him” (Strauss 2002, pg. 88). This is a general summary of the different aspects and purposes of praises or worship which each individual must embrace in their Iritual relationship with JAH.
      Ises is the Rastafari word sound for “Giving Praise(s).” As the Feta Nagast quote says, we use prayer to talk to God and seek instruction or revelation from HIM. It is hence a language of communication between Isra’el and JAH where instruction, comfort and answers are received. In fact, Ises is the portal to communion with the Irit and Presence of JAH in the conscience, Tabernacle and in Earth. Rastafari know the God of Flesh and God of Irit become one through Ises, and through Righteousness. With both these Gifts of the Hola Irit, the presence of JAH Rastafari in the hearts of our flesh and Irits is made known to I and I in a healing and illuminating way. One of the greatest sacrifices of Ises, is to beseech God's goodness, healing and illuminating powers for the sake of others and not only ourselves.
       There are many verses of the Holy Bible which can describe more the relationship we have with JAH through Ises and therefore add an overall overstanding on the important purposes of Giving Ises in Isra’el. It is clear that Ises is the first pillar of the Ethiopian Hebrew Israelite Nazirene Faith and Livity because it is an act of service rendered to Jahovah out of partnership, love, reverence, humility and honesty. The Old Testament is filled with ensamples of Israelites worshipping, how they organized themselves to do such, and the reasons behind worship according to their relationship with Jahovah – think about the weeklong ceremony and vigil that brought down the wall of Jericho. The Book of Psalms is the Judahite and Levite (or throne and temple) compilation of poems and hymns of Ises. The Israelite way of giving Ises is therefore very oral and vocal, something that is communal. The Psalms state that Ises is a time of thanksgiving unto JAH, the fruit of our lips, our song of Ises, our cry, meditation and supplication.
      Thanksgiving is a sacrifice of praise. Jonah, in chapter 2 verse 9 said “I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” Solomon in Proverbs 15:8 said that “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is His delight.” Jeremiah 33:10-11 also speaks about the joy in bringing these thanksgiving sacrifices into the House of the Lord in honour of the marriage of the Iritual bride and bridegroom.
     Ises as a sacrifice is therefore an important component of the Temple or Tabernacle, or in RasTafari: Taba. The House of the Lord was not built for blood sacrifice but for this sacrifice through prayer, for Ises. In the Ible it was the place where the Levites glorified the Tabernacle of Zion or the Ark of the Covenant which houses the Word of Jahovah. The Word of JAH was known in His sacred house through praise. The Taba as the House of the Lord is the physical altar structure built by man for the purpose of housing and congregating worship. But it is not the true house of prayer – the fleshly sanctuary of the Word and Irit of JAH is righteous Man and Wombman. Because man was built to manifest and serve JAH as His and Her Image, it follows that our Ises sacrifices and righteous deeds are our true incense before the Lord.
        In the Tabernacles of JAH and flesh, Ises is used for confessing our sin and seeking the ways that we could please JAH, as stated in the Feta Nagast. These are together acts of “beseeching God” and hoping that our prayers are answered by taking up the commitment to repentance. Confessing sin before JAH is an acknowledgement of wrong-doing which is a duty of every faithful member of the Church to perform in the, or in their personal Taba by means of Ises. Because we are honest enough to know that we need to confess our weakness, Ises is for many of us, about beseeching or asking God for His Holy Irit which can provide help, instruction, patience, mercy and prosperity/fortune.
       Whether Ises is given silently or while worshipping together, single-mindedness is necessary. The focus should be solely on the task and purpose at hand. Ises must be genuine and confidently engaged in.
      As mentioned, Ises (praises) or prayer is the medium through which we acknowledge the Source, course and perfection of life, the Hola Irit and the Word of JAH. Through it we are also able to spiritually connect to the Covenant of Ithiopia's Isra'el, which was carried by the lineage of King David as passed from Solomon to his Kushite son Emperor Menelik I; which was then extended to I and I Ithiopian Diasporan Beta Isra'elites through Menelik's “son” Emperor Haile Selassie I. Ises is given to Inite and Selabrate Rastafari union and communion with this Solomonic passage of the Irit of the Kristos (kr-eye-stos) and the Male and Female God-Head of Ithiopia's Isra’el. It is the moment in which I and I hail JAH RasTafari Qedamawi Haile Selassie and Itegue Qedamawit Wollete Giyorgis (Empress Menen) and acknowledge Their supremacy in righteousness as the Elect of Jahovah, Leaders of our Resurrection, Redemption and Repatriation. Ises is our freedom from spiritual and physical poverty and slavery when we use it to honour the Messianic works in Ithiopia's Isra’el.                                                 

As I and I call upon Them in Ises, I and I speak the language of the Kristos and partake in such Royal Black Ivinity. Ises is therefore for Ithiopia Afrika; the Iditation which keeps us on the right path, and the force behind our spiritual and physical deliverance from Babylon (Roman Christianity, Judaism, and White Supremacy as led by England and America).
      Rastafari must use Ises to excel in the famous quote “Forward ever, backwards never.” Ises is necessary for Rastafari to keep chanting down the spirit of Belial/Beliar or Satan, carnality, sin, death and corruption as manifested in our present time in paganism (all white and idolatrous religion) and white supremacy (mainstream), so that we may never look back upon our former wrong-doing with admiration or longing. We sacrifice the wrong in preference of pleasing the Lord God and doing what is right for ourselves and children as a race.
      There are many other worthy and important purposes of Ises that can be considered and explored not just by Rastafari, but by everyone who seeks some kind of well-being or positive reinforcement in their life.

Ises as a working power of JAH and Spirit in our lives, does many beneficial things for humanity:

• creates peace within and around I and I through Iditation and positivity
• channels the Hola Irit which creates health and wholeness in our minds & bodies
• pacifies our temper and wrath
• allows clarity and truth to shine through chaos so that our questions are answered
• helps us to change our lives and the lives of others
• gives new direction to the exiled, lost and corrupt
• builds steadfast faith over doubt and weakness
• builds hope to conquer poverty and achieve endeavours
• builds courage and strength over fear and despair, and
• adorns us with protection, prosperity and success.

                                             The Hebrew Scriptures on Ises

      All Hebrews prayed and talked to their Living God Jahovah in the Bible, and they in their histories proved the benefits of and reasons for Ises; as they exalted JAH and were able to achieve by prayer: Hannah, Elijah, Yesus, Ezra, Maryam, Moses, Abraham, Daniel, David and the list goes on. The following verses show why they prayed, why Jahovah wants and expects prayer from Isra'el, and highlight other points made previously on Ises:

This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. (Isaiah 43:21)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. (Psalm 71:5-8)

He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see his face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness. (Job 33:26)

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:14-15)

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. (2 Samuel 22:4)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord [JAH Rastafari Sela]. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. (James 5:13)

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. (Psalm 47:1-2, 6-7)

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

(Psalm 34:13)

Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.

(Psalm 147:1)

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

(Psalm 107:8)

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain. (Psalm 48:1)

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

(Psalm 50:23)

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

(Psalm 63:3-5)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.(Psalm 92:1-2)

For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. (Psalm 96:4-5)

Selah!
JAH RasTafari be praised for all wisdom, word sound, works and peace imparted upon I and I Covenant Keepers of Ithiopia Hola T'sion!
Sis. Ila