Mussar

I'm trying to understand what mussar means for me, not only as a student of the Bible, Torah, Mishnah, etc. but as a disciple who will not only know God's Word but live it and pass it on.

I first went to the Proverbs of Melech Shlomo to learn what mussar is.

For us in our journey of redemption and righteousness, mussar is the chastening and discipline and instruction in righteousness. And as Paul/Shaul taught his disciple, summarizing the principle of mussar, 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
(2Ti 3:16 KJV)

The word "mussar" means instruction, correction, discipline, chastening, etc. Fools despise and reject instruction. They prefer to be proud, ignorant, arrogant, and they hate enlightenment. They hate looking beyond their own selfish wants. Wise men, however, hear and heed correction.

The fear of Hashem is the beginning of wisdom and instruction (mussar). Divrei Torah teaches, reproves, corrects, and instructs in righteousness. God uses the mussar of father and the torah of our mother to teach us, and we must heed them. We must hear and heed mussar, instruction and correction that builds us up and perfects us. We must confront our weaknesses and listen when others tell us of our blind spots. In this way our character is built.

Mussar  also means disciplines, the spiritual discipline of studying Torah and ethics, to learn principles of Godly character, righteous ethics, and learning integrity, selflessness, and through that learning, dealing with the issues of the heart. Through studying mussar we identify areas of weaknesses and needs in our life. Through studying mussar, Ethics of our Fathers and the Ways of the Righteous, we grow. We learn responsibility - for our actions. We study the workings of God's creation and work on our relationships with God and with others also. 

In Judaism, character qualities are spiritual qualities - to be spiritual is to be selfless, loving, humble, mature, joyful etc. Spiritual qualities are Godly qualities - that we may be godly and like God.

Through the Messiah we have been given to partake of the divine nature. 

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Adonenu Yeshua the Messiah.
(2Pe 1:3-8 KJV)


Let us remember to do works of tzedekah and heeds the words of mussar both from studying God's Word, from the righteous who walked before us and our parents. God rewards men according to their deeds- we must patiently continue to do good and seek for glory, honor, and immortality (eternal life). The goodness of God (chasdo HaShem) leads us to repentence, to make teshuvah.

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.
(Rom 2:3-11 KJV)

And finally, remember that instruction = chastening and chastening = instruction.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
(Heb 12:5-15 KJV)