For God's Word is full of life and power, and is keener than the sharpest two-edged sword. It pierces even to the severance of soul from spirit, and penetrates between the joints and the marrow, and it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 WNT Recently this verse came to life for me. It's happened before.... I'll read something in the Bible and then some time later read it again, but find something wholly new and amazing that I didn't see previously. It just clicks. Does that ever happen to you? This is {part of} what it means by "the Word is ALIVE". Of course, the Word is alive! Yeshua is the Word of God (John 1:1 & 14). He is alive and has ascended to the right hand of the Father (Acts 7:55, Mark 16:19, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20). Yeshua is also the physical manifestation of the Father, YHWH. Because Yeshua is the Word and alive, and the physical representation of the Father to us, He is able, through the Holy Spirit of YHWH God, and his oneness with the Father, to teach us new things. He has been given all authority on the earth! Each time we read scripture we have the opportunity to see things with bigger eyes, with more understanding through His wisdom. This week's Torah portion, Vayera, from Genesis 18-22, was this kind of *new* for me. I remember reading many times before that YHWH, I AM, appeared to Abraham often. I remember in this particular section of scripture, that Abraham stood at the door of his tent and saw three {men} coming toward him. Upon seeing them, he ran out to meet them and fell on his face in front of the LORD God of Hosts. I remember that Abraham asked them to stay, refresh themselves and converse with him, and that he then ran inside and had Sarah fix the visitors some food. Afterward, when the food was ready, Abraham brought it out and set it before the three men and they ate. Shortly two of the men went on their way (to eventually reduce Sodom and Gomorrah to rubble), however the LORD God stayed behind and talked with Abraham. We know for a fact that it was YHWH because of the conversation that is recorded in scripture. YHWH GOD revealed to Abraham that He was going to destroy the two wicked cities (Sodom and Gomorrah) , but Abraham pleaded with YHWH, as a friend, about sparing the cities if He, the LORD, found righteous ones there. Abraham counted down from 50 righteous, to 45, to eventually only 10 and inquired of the LORD YHWH about His plans. YHWH said He would indeed spare the wicked for the righteous' sake. What a fabulous interaction between Abraham and his Father, our Father! Now, what I didn't notice or know before is this: 1) The Bible says that God, YHWH, The Great I Am, the King of kings, "APPEARED BEFORE AND TALKED TO ABRAHAM". Repeat that. Wait. Doesn't the Bible also say that no man can look upon God and live. Isn't that exactly why the Israelites cried out in fear and trembling to Moses at Mt. Sinai and begged him to go up on the mount and commune with God and relay God's message to them? They were afraid! So how did this work with Abraham? Simple! The only way God physically shows Himself to us is through the physical manifestation of His Son - the Messiah, the Savior, Yeshua. However, there are those (in Judaism and other religions, who deny Yeshua's messiahship) who say that it was NOT YHWH God Who appeared to Abraham, but just an angel. The irony is that these same people named the Torah portion "He appeared". Who appeared, then? YHWH! YHWH God appeared to Abraham in physical form, as the Messiah himself! Wait. Yes, I said that correctly, but let me elaborate some. Some of the same rabbis and Judaic scholars who divided up the Torah into 54 portions for reading throughout the year, and named the portions {usually} after the first word in the section, say that YHWH did not actually appear to Abraham, but yet they names the section "He appeared". Today they say it was {just} a third angel -- but both can't be right - the scripture AND the rabbis. One of them is wrong (or lying to cover up truth). I wasn't completely sure what was right or going on, so I did some research. While I don't have a conclusive answer, here is my logic of sorts. If the Judaic authorities (who say the Torah portions are named after the first couple of words in the Torah portions, and that their Tanakh is correct and without error) admit it was YHWH God that appeared to Abraham then they have a big problem on their hands. They deny that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah (Christ) == SO they have to say it was only an angel and not YHWH God in physical form as Yeshua the Messiah or they have to go back ad revisit the Yeshua questions. They have a conundrum because the Bible, both in the New and Old Testaments says that the physical appearance of YHWH is only through His Messiah. YHWH's physical appearance is through his son and His son is none other than Yeshua. If Yeshua is the son of YHWH, then He is God, and John 1:1 and 14 are true. And THAT is the great issue for the Judaic authorities in a nutshell. he Word was made flesh and dwelt among us in Yeshua the Messiah. Rabbinical Judaism and Jews who adhere to rabbinical Judaism (instead of the Word of YHWH) have issue with that. They won't always have that issue, but right now they still do. 2) The second aha! moment had to do with Deuteronomy 14:21, Exodus 23:19, 34:26 (that being a simple comparison of the rabbinical kosher laws vs the food and dietary laws contained with in actual scripture). The same instructions are repeated three times in the Bible. It says: Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to an alien living in any of your towns, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk. Deuteronomy 14:21 Jewish authorities (rabbis) explain this statement about a young goat being cooked in it's mother's milk to mean that NO MEAT item can be cooked in, served with, or eaten with or NEAR any dairy item. The verses copied above DO NOT SAY THIS. This is strictly a rabbinical law, not YHWH's law. "The meat and the dairy shall not touch" is not biblical. The Bible, even in the the original languages, does not say "all meat and dairy must be separated at all times". It simply says, paraphrased, 'do not kill a young animal and then cook it in the milk of its own mother'. HOW CRUEL that would be! It isn't about keeping the meat and cheese separated, it's about ethical considerations and kindness vs cruelty. This statement is about doing that which is right and good. In the same vein, the Bible instructs us not to take the eggs from a nest while the mother bird is present (Deuteronomy 22:6), which speaks of ethical considerations, kindness, doing what is right vs cruelty. If we are to believe that we should keep all meat and dairy separate, then are we to also keep eggs products and meat separate? Is that what YHWH meant when we look at it all in context? I do not believe so, and neither do millions of Bible scholars or laymen, Jews, or gentiles followers of YHWH's laws. Apparently YHWH wanted to concretely, without-a-doubt, explain this to me; He led me next to Genesis 18:8 (pasted in several versions for clarity): He [Abraham] then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they [the Three] ate, he [Abraham] stood near them under a tree. NIV And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. KJV And he took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. JPS Tanahk 1917 ...and he taketh butter and milk, and the son of the herd which he hath prepared, and setteth before them; and he is standing by them under the tree, and they do eat. YLT Then he took curds, milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it all before the men; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate. CJB Full Massoretic Hebrew Text and Literal Translation of the Hebrew Tanahk, with Strong's Annotations And he took 3947 z8799 butter, 2529 and milk,2461 and the calf 1121 1241 which x834 he had dressed, 6213z8804 and set 5414 z8799 [it] before x6440 them; y6440 and hex1931 stood 5975 z8802 by x5921 them under x8478 the tree,6086 and they did eat. 398 z8799 וַיִּקַּח חֶמְאָה וְחָלָב וּבֶן־הַבָּקָראֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיִּתֵּן לִפְנֵיהֶםוְהוּא־עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץוַיֹּאכֵלוּ waYiQach chem'ähw'chäläv ûven-haBäqär ásheräsäh waYiTën lif'nëyhemw'hû-omëd álëyhem Tachathäëtz waYokhëlû A literal, word-for-word reading in any and every translation or ancient text says it simply: YHWH God APPEARED to Abraham. Abraham and Sarah prepared a meal of milk, curds/butter and meat for YHWH God and the two angels with Him. Abraham set the meal before the three, and YHWH God ATE the meal that Abraham and Sarah had prepared. Nothing is said about there being a problem with serving meat and dairy together. We must assume that Abraham and Sarah did not kill a young animal that day to prepare it in it's own mother's milk. That would have been against the commands. BUT they do serve GOD and the Angels milk and butter and meat TOGETHER, and the angels and GOD ATE THE MEAL. Was Abraham so bold and so arrogant to serve the God of the universe something that He forbid? No, not at all.... Abraham simply did not kill a calf or kid and boil it in its own mother's milk and then serve it. There was no need or reason to separate the meat and the dairy. This is another one of the "fences around the Torah" that the rabbis have come up with and imposed upon men. I will finish with these two verses, one from the Tanahk and one from the B'rit Hadashah: “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it." Deuteronomy 4:2 and also Deuteronomy 12:32 copied material, no source available.
Jesus and the Ten Commandments Some said Jesus did away with the ten commandments. {See my posts on pleroo and Matthew 5 for more on this subject}. They say that by leading a sinless life, He fulfilled them for us. Although it is true that Jesus lead a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), does that mean He wanted us to continue in sin? What did Jesus teach about each of the ten commandments? Jesus' teachings are quoted in this section as often as they are quoted in the New Testament. Before you read them, ask yourself, if Jesus was doing away with the ten commandments, why would He have spent so much time teaching people to keep them and allowed so much space in the New Testament to be devoted to them? Commandment 1 "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matthew 4:10). "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and the great commandment" (Matthew 22:37). "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment" (Mark 12:30). "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Luke 4:8). Commandment 2 "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Matthew 4:10). "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve" (Luke 4:8). "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam...to eat things sacrificed to idols" (Revelation 2:14). "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow...My servants to...eat things sacrificed to idols" (Revelation 2:20). Commandment 3 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men" (Matthew 12:31). "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,...blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man" (Matthew 15:19-20). Commandment 4 "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath" (Matthew 12:11-12). "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath" (Matthew 24:20); there would be no reason to pray this if the Sabbath was not going to be in existence. "And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath'" (Mark 2:27); this verse tells all who will see which day is the Lord's Day. "And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue" (Mark 6:2). "And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read" (Luke 4:16). "Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths" (Luke 4:31). "The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath...Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?" (Luke 6:5,9). "But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath...The Lord then answered him and said, 'Hypocrite...So ought not this woman...be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?'" (Luke 13:14-16). "'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?'...And they could not answer Him regarding these things" (Luke 14:3,6). "are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?" (John 7:23). Commandment 5 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22). "For God commanded saying, 'Honor your father and your mother' and 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death'" (Matthew 15:4). "Honor your father and your mother" (Matthew 19:19). "Honor your father and your mother" (Mark 7:10). "Honor your father and your mother" (Mark 10:19). "You know the commandments:...Honor your father and your mother" (Luke 18:20). Commandment 6 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder', and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matthew 5:21-22). "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders...These are the things which defile a man" (Matthew 15:19-20). "You shall not murder" (Matthew 19:18). "...murders...All these evil things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:21,23). "Do not murder" (Mark 10:19). "You know the commandments:...Do not murder" (Luke 18:20). Commandment 7 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery'. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28). "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 5:32). "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...adulteries, fornications...These are the things which defile a man" (Matthew 15:19-20). "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9). "You shall not commit adultery"(Matthew 19:18). "...adulteries, fornications...All these evil things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:21,23). "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:11-12). "Do not commit adultery" (Mark 10:19). "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery" (Luke 16:18). "You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery" (Luke 18:20). "'Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery'...And Jesus said to her...'sin no more'" (John 8:4,11). "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation" (Revelation 2:22). Commandment 8 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...thefts...These are the things which defile a man" (Matthew 15:19-20). "You shall not steal" (Matthew 19:18). "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer', but you have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13). "...thefts...All these evil things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:22-23). "Do not steal" (Mark 10:19). "You know the commandments:... Do not steal" (Luke 18:20). Commandment 9 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. But I say to you, do not swear at all" (Matthew 5:33-34). "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...false witness...These are the things which defile a man" (Matthew 15:19-20). "You shall not bear false witness" (Matthew 19:18). "Do not bear false witness" (Mark 10:19). "You know the commandments:...Do not bear false witness" (Luke 18:20). "And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars" (Revelation 2:2). Commandment 10 "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on" (Matthew 6:25). "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts...These are the things which defile a man" (Matthew 15:19-20). "...covetousness...All these evil things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:22- 23). So it is clear that Jesus taught every one of the ten commandments. Remember, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Interestingly, although Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law" (Matthew 5:17), that is what many have concluded. When He also said, "I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (pleroo). For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (vs.17-18), some have concluded that "fulfill" means that Jesus came to destroy the law (interestingly, Jesus fulfilled baptism by being baptized, not eliminating or revoking baptism 3:13-16). In many of the verses following this (5:19-37, several of which are quoted above) Jesus proves that He did indeed come to "magnify the law and make it honorable". NOT to abolish it! I re-learned something very important and personal this week. God gives us second chances. Our friends may not - they may turn on us. Our spouses may not, they may leave us. But YHWH longs to give us a second chance. I knew that, but I had forgotten it from a scriptural point of view. What I mean is, I had learned this several years ago, but being new to "everything OT", I was not fully aware of the impact this should have had on me, my life and my view of my Abba. What am I talking about? Why, Second Passover, of course. YHWH has seven appointed feasts -- Pesach (Passover), Chag Hamotzi (Unleavened Bread), Yom Habikkurim (First Fruits), Shavuot (Pentecost), Yom Teruah (Trumpets), Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Sukkot (Tabernacles). They are not Jewish feasts, they are YHWH's Feasts. And these Feasts of YHWH (with the exception of Yom Kippur) are to be times of joy and celebration and remembrance. They are to be feasts, after all! The Israelites, those who loved and followed the Creator of all things, would have naturally WANTED to participate in every one of the Feasts in worship of their Father and God. But what happened if one was "unclean" or far, far away from Jerusalem and the Temple and unable to participate in the Passover celebration? What then? Well, we don't have to speculate. It actually happened, and scripture tells us all about the provision, the second chance, that YHWH lovingly gave to his children when they asked Him. "But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day and said to Moses, 'We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?'” (Numbers 9:6–7) What did He do? He gave them a Second Passover! This feast is unique among all the others in the Bible because God gives His people a second chance, the Second Passover, in response to unclean people asking to be included! They LONGED to participate in their Abba's celebration (as should we). “When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight.” (Numbers 9:10 -11) The rules for this second chance were slightly different from those on the first Passover, but nonetheless important. For the Second Passover, the Israelites who celebrated it did not have to clean their houses and then keep the feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days as they were required to the month before. Instead, God gave them a one-day pass to bring their Passover offering to the Temple and eat unleavened bread on that one day! The Second Passover is a perfect picture of our missed opportunity and the unmerited mercy of our loving Father in heaven. Although YHWH set out a time and way for Israel to observe and celebrate Passover on Nissan 14 of each year, He revealed Himself loving, kind, merciful and caring through the provision of the Second Passover. It is NEVER TOO LATE to worship and thank YHWH His mercy and loving-kindness toward us. There is very good reason for those who were/are unclean or who were too far from Jerusalem, traveling, to have had to miss Passover, but these followers refused to accept their exclusion, and asked YHWH for any go. In response He gave them their hearts' desires in order that they could worship Him. As His child I must always remember that I am never too far, or too far gone, to seek His face, to seek to worship Him and to please Him. He longs for me to do just that! He will hear and He will answer! He longs to give me the desires of my heart (as my heart's desires line up with His!). Therefore, may I always remember the lessons of the Bible from the story of the Second Passover and refuse to be excluded from the fullness of life promised by my Messiah because of circumstances or mistakes from my (distant or not-so-distant) past. YHWH hears me when I call, and Yeshua promises results if I will only ask: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7–8 It is almost the end of April on the Gregorian calendar, so that means we are in the Hebrew month of Iyar. Iyar is its Babylonian name, the Bible refers to it as ‘the second month’ or ‘chodesh haziv’ (the month of shining or blossoming), or simply as the month of Ziv. There are always two days of Rosh Chodesh Iyar (celebration of the new moon), the first of which is the 30th day of Nisan. Iyar always has 29 days. Iyar is known as the month of (natural) healing.
Two memorials commemorating events in history of modern Israel are celebrated in this month. Israel Independence Day is on the 5th of Iyar, and Jerusalem Day, the day Israel reconquered Jerusalem during the Six Day War, is on the 28th day of the month. The 4th of Iyar is Israel's Yom HaZikaron, or Israeli national memorial day for fallen soldiers. There are several dates in Israel's ancient history to note this month, too, as recorded in the pages of scripture. 1) On the first day of Iyar following the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the thirsty people reached a well of bitter water. Moses was told to cast a tree into the water. He did and it miraculously became sweet. YHWH then promised that if Israel followed His ways he would not place upon them the diseases he placed upon Egypt. “The diseases I have placed upon Egypt I will not place upon you, for I AM YHWH your Healer.” Exodus 15:26 YHWH Rophe - YHWH our Healer Hebrew letters often have deeper meaning than the simple words they spell. Again, the Hebrew letters that form the word Iyar form an acronym of the Exodus verse above: "I am the Lord your Healer", thus Iyar is seen as a propitious time for healing. 2) On the first day of Iyar, King Solomon began the construction of the First Temple. (Kings I:6:1) 3) On the exact same day, hundreds of years later, Ezra began the construction of the Second Temple. (Ezra 3:8) 4) During the month of Iyar following the exodus from Egypt, mannah began to fall in the desert for the wandering people to eat, and it continued to fall for 40 years. According to Jewish tradition, mannah is supposed to have healing qualities, so there is another association between Iyar and healing. When I ran across this I sat up and took notice. At this very moment.... actually since about the time of the new moon for Iyar ..... I have been in need of physical healing. I'm not sure why or what is going on, but it has definitely gotten my attention. The list of symptoms in interesting: (roving) joint pain, swollen lymph nodes on my neck, extreme fatigue, low grade fever, swollen and/or weak hands and arms, headaches, back and neck pain, not being able to sleep, and a host of other little things that hit pretty much all at once, but I didn't realize were connected or related. Yikes! I was delighted to do some reading about what the Jewish sages say this month means, or what it's essence is all about... I found the essence to be healing, drawing closer to YHWH and building understanding. Although I do not subscribe to Talmudic teachings as being equal with Torah, I do find the associations between this month, it's constellation (the ox plowing the field, sowing new seed and nourishing growth and healing of the land), letter meanings (as in the acronym explained above) and the historical dates of import (also listed above), etc., to be amazing and somehow comforting, if not a little enlightening. Above all, I am just pleased as punch that YHWH brought all this to my attention. I had already determined and understood (through prayer) that the next few weeks were going to have to be a time of healing and recovery and discovery for me because of the number of things in life that recently changed or stopped and how worn out I feel inside and out! It has become (literally) painfully obvious that some of my priorities are out of balance. This has been a confirmation of that decision to rest and seek His healing and comfort. Hallelujah and praise be to the One who opens my eyes... daily... Reposted from Bibles for Israel, http://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/passover-day-dedicated-coming-messiah/ The Eighth Day of Passover, 5775 Torah Readings: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17; Isaiah 10:32–12:6; 1 Corinthians 15:35–16:24; Revelation 2:1–7 Maftir: Numbers 28:19–25 “On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.” (Exodus 12:16) It has been a full week—seven days—of eating matzah (unleavened bread) and abstaining from all forms of leaven during Pesach (Feast of Passover). Last night, on the seventh night of Passover, some Jewish people stayed awake all night. They do this because the Israelites are believed to have crossed the Red Sea on this night of Passover. It was an all-night event that demonstrated the miraculous and awesome power of God. The Torah reading for the seventh day of Passover (Exodus 13:17–15:26) includes the recounting of the crossing of the Red Sea. Jewish people then sing the Song of Moses—the same one sung by the ancient Israelites thousands of years ago when they rejoiced over their victory in safely reaching the other side: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: ‘I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and driver He has hurled into the sea.’” (Exodus 15:1) While Passover is now drawing to a close in Israel, the last day of Passover is just beginning in the Diaspora (Jews living outside Israel). This extra day of Passover for Jews living outside Israel was instituted by rabbinic decree from early on. One purpose may have been to raise awareness among members of the Jewish communities living outside of Israel that they could come home out of exile. Another reason, perhaps the original reason, however, for the extra day has to do with the timing of the holiday. Originally, the beginning of the month was established at the sighting of the New Moon in Jerusalem, which set the exact day of the celebration of holidays. Special messengers were dispatched from Jerusalem so that throughout Israel, as well as the Diaspora, holidays would be celebrated on the proper day. Of course, the messengers did not always arrive before the holiday, so an extra day was added to some holidays, including Passover. But in regards to time, there is another difference between the eighth day and the rest of Passover; the eighth day looks forward to a future redemption rather than back to a past redemption. From Redemption in Egypt to Final Redemption in the Messianic Era The Exodus from Egypt marked a new beginning for the Israelites—the birthing of their nation. But theirs was no ordinary nation, for when they stepped out of Egypt, they stepped into a Divine call and destiny. God Himself would guide them so that their Divine call and destiny would be fulfilled: to be a holy nation and kingdom of priests holding out to the other nations the Torah and Light of the World. Israel's nationhood was conceived with God’s personal call to Abraham. It continued to grow through Isaac and Jacob and the twelve sons that became the 12 tribes, which multiplied to great numbers in just 400 years. And finally upon the Exodus from Egypt, birthing the nation that would bring about the blessing of God to the world. Each year at Passover, we are to consider that we ourselves left Egypt those many years ago. But this looking back also points to our present. Each of us has our own personal Egypt from which we need deliverance. Still, this extra day of Passover changes the focus from the redemption of our first exile to a future, final Messianic redemption of the Jewish People. According to Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, “The two are intimately connected, the beginning and end of one process, with God in the future redemption showing wonders‘as in the days of your exodus from Egypt.’” (Micah 7:15) The Torah reading for the eighth day of Passover (Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17) reminds us that the firstborn of one’s herd belongs to God. Of course, this is connected to the sparing of the firstborn Israelites whose houses were marked with the blood of the lamb. This Parasha reading also describes the offerings that were to be brought to the Temple for seven days during Pesach. And it provides a variety of laws, including those related to tithes, the year of release (Shemitah year), the release of slaves, and a comprehensive description of the Shalosh Regalim (three pilgrimage festivals): Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Pentecost), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)—festivals during which God requires the men of Israel to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Although the Temple does not exist today, plans have been drawn up for the creation of the Third Temple. The Temple vessels and priestly garments have also been created, and the priests are already in training. This is the Temple in which the anti-Messiah will set up the abomination of the desolation in the Last Days. It is also the Temple that Yeshua (Jesus) will return to and demonstrate once again how zealous He is for His Father's house. The Prophesied Final Redemption This Haftarah passage was specially chosen to be chanted on the last day of Passover because it contains several allusions to the redemption from Egypt. The Haftarah, from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 10:32–12:6), begins with a prediction that Assyria will be defeated. This defeat apparently occurred on Passover, according to Jewish tradition. In this Haftarah reading, Assyria is described as the rod of God’s anger in punishing Israel’s unfaithfulness. But Assyria itself will be punished because it went beyond God’s bidding by being excessively cruel to Jerusalem. (Isaiah 10:11) Furthermore, it attributed its success against Jerusalem to its own might. (Isaiah 10:12–15) Isaiah 37 describes the Assyrian army’s unsuccessful campaign against Jerusalem. In one night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 in the camp. Assyria failed to crush Jerusalem. The power of David's throne in Jerusalem continues through the Messiah; this Haftarah portion promises that a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse (King David’s father). That shoot is the Messiah, and the Spirit of the Lord, Isaiah says, will rest on Him. (Isaiah 11:1–2) This reading further states that He will reign in Israel, and the nations will seek out His counsel. The Haftarah continues with Isaiah’s message of hope that the Israelites will again be gathered together from lands of exile and return to Israel. The reading also contains the famous great vision of the Messianic Era in which both society and nature will undergo a complete transformation—a new exodus, as it were. Peace and harmony will reign supreme among all people as the Messiah governs by God’s Spirit and not through force. Isaiah offers a prophetic vision of the final redemption. He includes some of the most known and perhaps appealing images of the harmony of the soon-coming MessianicEra, as well as the return of the Jewish People to the land of Israel, which will be ruled by the Messiah. “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6) “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:12) The Jewish People Long for Their Messiah While all of Passover points to future redemption, the eighth day of Passover is distinguished by focusing on the Messianic redemption, so much so that the final meal at the end of the Eighth day is called the Feast of the Messiah. The redemption that Messiah brings will be a complete redemption in which Israel will no longer be in exile. Past redemptions are considered incomplete in Judaism because the possibility for exile remained; however, in the final redemption, all possibilities for exile will be obliterated. (Chabad) Many Christians today are unaware that the belief in the coming of the Messiah is a cardinal tenet of the Jewish faith. The Jewish People have looked for centuries for a Messianic deliverer who would bring world peace. Nationally speaking they do not yet recognize that Yeshua (Jesus) is the promised Messiah for whom they have been longing, or that He will soon be returning to Jerusalem as the King of Israel. However, the Prophet Zechariah does promise that Israel will one day recognize Yeshua as the Messiah: "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son." (Zechariah 12:10) The president of the United States of America decided and announced it is time that we "reassess our relationship with Israel" and "stop supporting them at the UN". You can see the alarming article below and pray for all of us. It is not really a surprise, but it sure isn't welcome or wanted!!
What shall we do, Americans? Sit by quietly while we head, warp-speed, to destruction and further cursing? Write newspaper editors and complain? Send a million emails and blogposts flying hither and yon? March a million of us who disagree into DC and make a huge stink? Write our self-righteous, self-entitled, "elected" officials and demand they do something about this? I ask you: Who will listen? Who will hear? Who will speak up? How many voices will it take? Who will take a stand? Is there anyone left who seeks the mind of the GOD? Even the stones cry out. I personally do NOT support, condone or want any part of a nation or people that either covertly or openly chooses death over life, evil over good, curses over blessings, idol worship & satanic devotion over the King of the Universe. I read those warning just this week again. If you are wavering, pick up your Bible and read Deuteronomy (D'varim), mainly chapters 27 through 32, and behold the stark realities for yourself. Yet, as I feel the anguish and frustration in my spirit rising, I glance up at my notes and see this quote. It is the last thing on my current page: "The people of YAHWEH may sanctify each and every situation, even as it 'appears' to not be what one would expect, knowing that YAHWEH has allowed it to happen and He is certainly present in it, using it to fulfill His Perfect Will and Purpose for His glory." Most of this past week I was working on a word study: Sanctification. How appropriate, Father. Sanctify: set apart, make holy, redeem, set apart to its intended use purposed by its Creator or Designer, separation unto GOD, absolve, unburden, make legitimate or binding, free from sin, purify, consecrate, to cause to be or seem morally right or acceptable, hallow, the effect of obedience to the Word of YHWH in one's life that is to be pursued in a Believer's life, the act or process of becoming or acquiring sanctity, to be set apart for a particular purpose or work and to make holy or sacred Hebrew: לקדש WOW! That one definition really stands out, not because I underlined it, but because the Holy Spirit underlined it for me. Sanctification is the effect of obedience to the Word of YHWH in one's life that is to be pursued in a Believer's life. This week I was reminded several times that YAHWEH used Pharaoh in dealing with His people, then he punished Pharaoh, and his nation, for not choosing blessing and good. YAHWEH used King Cyrus to judge his people, but then he punished King Cyrus, and his nation, for choosing evil over good. Is YHWH using the United States and its people, to bring His chosen people to repentance, to ultimately bless His chosen ones, and bring the events in His ages-long plan to fruition. Yes! I believe He is! Will YAHWEH then punish the United States and the people of the US (not individually, but collectively), for choosing evil over good and cursing over blessing? Yes, I believe this, too! Shema! Listen yo the words of the One Who made us all. It is a blessing to be used of YHWH to His glory and power, but woe to those who {individually} do not choose life over death and blessing over cursing. In Romans 11:20-21, Sha'ul (Paul) reminds his Jewish audience that when YAHWEH elected or chose them to be the redemptive agent for the whole world, that he did not guarantee redemption for every Israelite. Americans in general are obviously not his chosen ones! Certainly not! But neither are all who are borne of Israel, Israel (Rom 9:6). Some who are not borne of Israel are now of them, as we have chosen to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and call their God, our God, choosing life over death, blessing over cursing, good over evil, etc. (Romans 11:17-24, Gal 3:26-29, I Peter 2:9-10, I John 1:9, and many more). We serve a good God, a just God, a moral, righteous, loving God. We serve a God Who is trustworthy and will always fulfill His promises, to the good AND to the wicked. Yeshua prayed to His Father in Yohanan 17, saying, "Father, you must now make them holy [sanctify them] by means of the truth; Your Word is Truth". [paraphrased] Yeshua is the Living Word. Yeshua (Jesus) went on to pray that the Father would not take His own out of the World, but that He would protect us from the evil one and send us out into the world, as He was sent into the world on our behalf. Is our faith true faith or only based on blessings? I Peter 1:15 "...now you must be holy in all your conduct, because it has been written 'You will be holy because I AM holy' ". Sanctification is the effect of obedience to the Word of YHWH in one's life and is to be pursued earnestly in a believer's life. We must be willing to stand up for Truth and follow the Word of the Living God, to remain true and steadfast, even unto the end, obeying His commands and listening to His Word, unto death, regardless of what comes our way, for this is the ultimate test of our faith. =================== Subject: Breaking News Video: Obama Declares Intent to 'Abandon Israel at the UN' Click here to watch: Senator Rubio Rips Obama's 'Historic Mistake' on Israel President Barack Obama’s supposed congratulatory call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, two days after the Likud leader triumphed in Israel’s elections, was actually a bitter 30-minute conversation, Israel’s two main TV news stations reported Friday night. Quoting unnamed Israeli sources, they said the president made clear he didn’t believe Netanyahu was genuinely supportive of a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict, and that he indicated that the US would no longer automatically support Israel at the United Nations. According to a Channel 10 read out on the call, indeed, Obama left Netanyahu with “the impression that he intends to abandon Israel at the UN.” The United States has actually been considering a reevaluation of ties with Israel, including its automatic support for the Jewish state at the United Nations Security Council, for at least four months, the Israeli sources also told Channel 2. Although the White House claims the reassessment was prompted by Netanyahu’s remarks on Monday in which he rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state — and which he walked back Thursday — that is not the case, according to the officials. The threat to reassess relations was reported widely this week and, according to the TV reports, was issued directly to Netanyahu on Thursday by Obama in the call. During the 30-minute conversation, described as “difficult” by Channel 2, Obama made clear to the prime minister that the US was reconsidering its support for Israel at the UN as well as its approach to Israeli-Palestinian peace in light of Netanyahu’s pre-election comments rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. Channel 10 also said Netanyahu was adamant about keeping his ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, in the job despite heavy American criticism. Watch Here Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) on Thursday night delivered a powerful speech against US President Barack Obama's increasing hostility towards Israel after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's elections victory, as the White House threatened to pull support for Israel at the UN. Source: Times of Israel I personally believe this article's topic (below) is EXTREMELY important to Christians, to believers in the Savior Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, GOD in Flesh, because I think this is exactly what has happened.
Divorce (verb): A tearing asunder. A dissolution. A separation of things that were, or ought to be, connected. Disunity. Estrangement. Alienation. To disconnect. A division or disassociation. To detach or isolate. To create a gulf, chasm or abyss. DO YOU HEAR THE VIOLENCE AND PAIN INVOLVED IN THIS WORD?? Words mean something. Words are not isolated sounds. Language is what separates man from animals. We are made in the image of the Creator. This Creator chose to make us in His image, with language.... don't you think this makes WORDS important? Calling what has happened to the church of the first century, making it what it is today, a divorce, is absolutely fitting. The basic rundown: when Christians forgot where we came from (which was by design from the Roman Catholic Church and/or by accident just due to lack of knowledge of the Word or experience with true believers), how could we possibly know where we are going and who we are as we go!!?? Modern Christianity has NO idea where it is going today (or yesterday) because it has NO idea from where it has truly come.. So much of the actual Word of GOD has been muddled, lost, twisted, misconstrued, misinterpreted, lied about, changed, moved, re-written, ignored or forgotten over time. We have gotten to the point where there is no difference between modern Christianity and rabbinical Judaism, humanism, atheism or anything else. Christianity is not seen as any different from the world around us. We are not distinct from the world. It ALL runs together. It all looks the same. Much of what we now call religion or church or Christianity is not true, factual or even based on the word of YHWH anymore. They are evolutions of man's own interpretation, his evolved traditions and history. It isn't about leaving the church and joining the synagogue, disavowing this group's traditions and adopting this other one's, or leaving the church/synagogue altogether and forgetting about GOD and everything religious. It is about LEAVING THE WORLD, studying the Word of GOD ourselves and knowing what He really says -- not relying on what men tell us He says., not relying on what any man hopes He says, not putting our hopes on what man thought He said, not even what we believe He says -- but instead hanging our hopes and expectations on the promises and Truths of WHAT HE ACTUALLY SAYS! Repeatedly, the LORD warns us not to take away or add to the words of the Bible. He exhorts and urges us to read and know what He actually says! FOR. OURSELVES. Yet, in our humanness and pride and arrogance, even Rabbinical Judaism and modern Christianity have done exactly what we were told NOT to do! In this article, Rabbinical Judaism is what the author is talking about as having evolved since the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. I'm adding that Christianity has become something first century believers in the Messiah would NEVER EVEN recognize -- it has become it's own religion that I have begun calling Churchianity. That sounds harsh, I know. It sounds too tough, too "in your face", but the harsh reality is that, not even Jesus, walking on this earth in the flesh today, would recognize what some call Christianity. The last sentence of the whole article sums up what it has meant to have this divorce between the reality of GOD and the thoughts of man's own making. Instead of partnering with and being a part of those whom Lord chose to reveal himself, we "Christians" have been some of their worst enemies down through the centuries. In reality, that means that we have chosen to divorce ourselves from GOD (Yahweh), because He is the GOD who chose the Hebrews-Jews-Israelites. He promised them He would never forget them and He won't. We have not replaced them or taken their place as a church or as a whole. GOD always keeps His promises. Always. Scripture says He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hallelujah! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now excerpts from an article from Messianic Bibles for Isra'el “I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there.” (2 Chronicles 7:16) While the lives of countless millions have been radically changed by Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) for the better, how many have known Him as a Jew? Throughout His lifetime, Yeshua/Jesus worshiped in the Temple in Jerusalem, honoring God’s commitment to the Temple Mount which God chose and consecrated, placing there His Name, eyes and heart forever. (2 Chronicles 7:16) He also consistently attended the synagogues of the first century. He participated, as well, in the Torah readings, giving His own teachings on Scripture. Like Him, the first-century Jewish Believers in Yeshua also maintained their faith in an authentic Jewish context. As the message of salvation was brought to the nations, the Gentile Believers faced the task of changing, adapting and / or repenting of their own cultural traditions and entering into a lifestyle that reflected Yeshua's message—a message consistent with the Torah given through Moses to Israel. Today, however, many Believers have limited understanding of the Jewish roots of their faith, let alone its roots in the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic Covenants. “His message has touched nearly every nation … and that is a good thing. However, in the process, the nature and identity of the Messiah has been tampered with, even altered, by those without the authority to do so," says an angelic character named Ariel in Ron Cantor’s novel Identity Theft. Of course, Cantor is referring to the true-to-life and troubling divorce of Yeshua from His Jewish identity in the eyes of the world at large and in the understanding of both Gentile and Jewish Believers. Such a divorce makes it difficult to bring the Good News to God’s Chosen People since the message is steeped in Gentile culture, making it look like foreign to the Jewish People. The Jewish People are waiting for the Good News of the Jewish Messiah through David’s line, so when they are presented with a Gentile Messiah, it is too easy to dismiss the message altogether. Rediscovering the Jewish Context of Faith “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.” (I Corinthians 3:10) The Judaism of Yeshua's time was different than today. First-century Judaism revolved around Temple worship. Of course, about 40 years after Yeshua's death and resurrection, the Temple was completely destroyed by the Romans. With the Temple gone, Rabbinic Judaism grew from Pharisaic Judaism and developed the traditions connected with modern-day worship at the synagogue. After the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, the synagogue became central to worship and prayer. Prayer came to be conducted three times a day to correspond with Temple services of offerings and prayer. That was perhaps a logical outcome since the synagogue had already emerged in Jerusalem and elsewhere as a communal meeting place for the Jewish People before the Second Temple was destroyed. That is why it was Yeshua’s practice to visit the local synagogue, "proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness." (Matthew 9:35) His pattern of visiting the synagogue and preaching was entirely consistent with the pattern of sectarian preachers or teachers common in His day. Like Yeshua, those preachers also had talmudim (disciples). The local synagogue was part and parcel of the Jewish lifestyle even before the Temple was destroyed. "Virtually all scholars recognize that the synagogue was a well-developed institution at least a century before the Romans destroyed the Temple," writes cultural historian Steven Fine. (Center for Online Judaic Studies: "Did the Synagogue Replace the Temple?") The synagogue was created for reading the Torah and the Prophets, studying the commandments, teaching, and hosting visitors from abroad. "It was a place where they could experience religion in a way very different from, yet complimentary to, what was available to them in the Temple," Fine said. The synagogue did not in any way detract from the large-scale sacrificial worship that took place at the Temple, in which Yeshua and His talmudim (disciples) faithfully participated. Although Fine says that “the role of prayer in synagogue life was dwarfed by the study of Scripture,” it played enough of a role that Yeshua admonished ostentatious shows of charity and prayer in Matthew: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:5) As small hubs of communal Jewish life, the synagogues were important to Yeshua, His talmudim and the larger community who believed He was the Promised One, including many leaders. However, it seems that not all Believers in Yeshua’s day, and perhaps after His death and resurrection, were vocal about their faith, due to the danger of being forced to leave the synagogue: "Many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God." (John 12:42-43) The Leadership of Peter, James, and Paul "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." (John 4:22-23) The Pharisees, a prominent Jewish sect, were influential in the development of the traditions of Believers. Paul of Tarsus was a proud member of this sect, as were many other Jewish Believers. "I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees." (Acts 23:6) As the numbers of Gentile Believers in the first century grew, some Jewish Believers concluded they must be circumcised to be saved (Acts 15:1). The question, in essence, was whether the Gentiles should go through conversion ceremonies to become Jewish. This required taking an oath to keep the Mosaic Law, along with all the traditions and rules that had developed around keeping them. This dispute prompted Paul and Barnabas, “along with some other Believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.” (Acts 15:2) The fact that the apostles and elders were based in Jerusalem is an indication that life was still revolving around Temple worship for the early Believers. There in Jerusalem, we see that the leadership of the council included Peter and James. It was to them that some of the Believers, who were Pharisees, presented arguments that Gentile Believers should undergo a ritual conversion process: “Some of the Believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, 'The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.'” (Acts 15:5) This was no easy decision, apparently. The apostles and the elders discussed this question in great depth before arriving at a resolution. Then Peter addressed the assembly, telling them that God had accepted the Gentile Believers on the basis of their faith, in the same way that He had accepted the Jewish Believers on the basis of their faith: “God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them [the Gentiles] by giving the Ruach HaKodesh [Holy Spirit] to them, just as He did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith." (Acts 15:8-9) Paul and Barnabas explained how God purified the Gentiles’ hearts by faith when he told the assembly how God was at work among the Gentiles even though they had not ritually converted. At the conclusion of this meeting, James emphasized that Gentiles turning to faith in the Jewish Messiah was in fulfillment of the prophets, quoting from Amos 9:11–12: “In that day I will restore David's fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name.” James, saying "that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God," (Acts 15:19) provided the following list of things from which Gentile Believers should abstain:
Some scholars interpret this list to be a reference to the seven Noahide laws from the Noahic Covenant, which also includes a prohibition against blasphemy and theft, and establishes the need for courts of justice. According to the rabbis, the Noahide laws are a universal moral code. Although James concluded with the statement that Gentile Believers do not have to enter the Mosaic Covenant through conversion, he did not diminish the importance of the law of Moses nor its influence as a moral light to the world: "For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21) Indeed, it is clear in Acts 21 that the law of Moses certainly had not grown less important to Jerusalem's first-century Believers in Yeshua. When Paul returns there, the Jewish Believers greet him, noting a continued commitment to Jewish tradition and practice: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law." (Acts 21:20) But they also inform him that a dispute has risen about his ministry to the Jews. He has been falsely accused of teaching the Jews who live among the Gentiles to not follow Moses, including teaching them not to circumcise their children or live according to Jewish custom. "They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.” (Acts 21:21) To show that this was a false accusation and that he himself still lived in obedience to the law, Paul agreed to join the purification rites of four Jerusalemite men who would be taking a purification vow at the Temple. As the rites involved a preliminary hair cutting, it is likely that he took a voluntary Nazarite Vow, which involved abstinence from eating grape products and from cutting hair for a determined season—in this case, seven days (Numbers 6:1–27; Acts 21:26–27). "Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law." (Acts 21:24) Over the course of the next week, Paul and these men worshiped at the Holy Temple. When the seven days of the vow were almost over, Jews from Asia noticed Paul in the Temple. Sadly, these Jews subscribed to the misguided belief that Paul “teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place.” (Acts 21:28) They stirred up the crowd and a violent mob dragged Paul from the Temple Mount, believing that he had defiled the Temple by bringing Trophimus the Ephesian, a Gentile who had been seen in Jerusalem with Paul. The accusation was totally false. Paul was entirely observant and he would never defile the Temple. He also was not teaching the Gentiles to dismiss the law of Moses. He did uphold, however, that salvation was through faith in Yeshua and not through works or conversion to Judaism. Early Jewish Believers continued to live an entirely Jewish lifestyle. But as the number of Gentile Believers grew, they also increasingly rejected the Jewish roots of their faith and dismissed their debt to the Jewish People. After Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire around AD 325, the Jewish people endured centuries of prejudice and persecution, often being forced to give up their Jewish identities. Despite that, God has had His hand on the Jewish People and He has kept them throughout the centuries, miraculously reestablishing the Jewish State in 1948 in fulfillment of countless Bible prophecies. Throughout the centuries, as well, God has continued to call the Jewish People to faith in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah). And even though these Believers have often experienced persecution from both Jews and Gentiles, just like Paul and the early Jewish Believers, they have faithfully continued to share the Good News with the Jewish People and the nations. Centuries of anti-Judaism within Christianity have helped create the false impression that Yeshua and the first-century Hebraic faith were not Jewish. The Jewish People have developed strong feelings about Yeshua, in whose name they have been persecuted, beaten, accused, and annihilated for nearly 2,000 years. You know how you read something and it just strikes a chord in you - you know it's true, you know it is fact, you know it came straight from the heavens into your field of vision? This short little commentary was that strike for me.
There has been a big hullabaloo about the liturgy change within the catholic church in the news lately. I don't know why I just kept thinking about it, but it keeps coming back to mind. It just hit me oddly, for the obvious reasons, but there was something more. One day I opened my email and found this buried in another email. Bam! My feelings and thoughts on paper - but not written by me. (That happens a lot more these days than it used to.) True worship is not about what we are comfortable with or what some man or organization says we should be doing, saying, or feeling. What does GOD say? What does He want? What does He require? We have too often let men tell us what we should be doing!! We've trusted their guidance and their "knowledge", and we've made great assumptions about what they know, instead of looking to GOD's Word for ourselves, asking the Spirit of YHWH (the Ru'ach HaKodesh) to guide and instruct us. We have all too often let man tell us that grace is all there is and that there is -- all that we need. How can this be? Our creator is a God of order and he says "I, YHWH, do not change." Malachi 3:6. My husband and I have had a lot of conversations about related things recently and this is just one more piece to the puzzle -- I thought it was a new piece, but it's the same exact thing - none of this "stuff" can be separated or compartmentalized. Over and over again, the writers of the second half of the Bible (the (Re)New(ed) Covenant say we must trust GOD and obey him. In these instances, trust means that you are "sold out" for Him. That person is 100% "bought in". Obey means that because you are sold out, you want to prove it, you want to immerse yourself in it, be part of it, be in ALL of it. It's exactly like being in love with someone and wanting to prove it by marrying and loving them, serving them, sharing everything with them for the rest of your life, being with them, being involved in all they do and are. If I say "I love you", but I don't want to marry you, or spend time with you, doing things we enjoy, or share my feelings, dreams, desires and fears with you, be intimate with you, and if I don't trust you and don't want to, then what kind of love is that? What kind of relationship will that be? Why do we think our love of GOD can be any different? Why do we set up a different standard for our relationship with the mighty GOD of the universe? We can't love GOD without the obedience part. It is impossible. James says "...faith without works is dead..." It is impossible! Our Father is specific in telling us how to worship and obey and know Him, but we ignore his very instructions to us about HOW to go about doing this thing called "abiding",. Instead we do what man tells us, the way man tells us to do it, and in the time frame man lays out -- be that man a pastor, a rabbi, a priest or ourselves! This is so WRONG!! Seek God and His Kingdom first! Now the article that inspired this: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How does God want to be worshiped? Ed Dowd November 25, 2011 An unusual event will transpire this coming Sunday, November 27, in Catholic parishes across the world. The worship service ceremony and some memorized spoken phrases will be altered, and in some cases, reordered. “The biggest challenge will be for priests, who must learn intricate new speaking parts — often late in their years of service to the church. Many clergy are upset by the new language, calling it awkward and hard to understand”(Associated Press, November 5, 2011). Priests and parishioners alike have concerns and are hesitant to change the Catholic Liturgy, which is simply defined as a standardized order of events observed during a religious service. "We're tinkering with a very intimate and personal moment," said the Rev. Richard Hilgartner, executive director of the worship office for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "It's public worship, it's the church's official public prayer, but for the individual faithful, it's one of the primary means of their encounter with the Lord." Regardless of your religious affiliation, it is important to ask how our Heavenly Father expects to be worshipped. Does God want to be worshipped through traditions of memorized words, phrases and statements? Does God want to be worshipped through rituals created by men? Does God want to be worshipped through a language which is not understood by the individual worshipper? God makes a blunt statement through the prophet Amos when He states, “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments” (Amos:5:21-23, NKJV). The nation of Israel at the time had meandered away from God’s way of life and had set up for themselves their own idols and self-gratifying religious ceremonies. God was angry with them for promoting traditions of men over His formula for a successful way of life. They in turn were sent into captivity (verse 27) for not worshipping and honoring God like He wanted to be worshipped and honored. True worship of God involves nothing short of the inward transformation of the human heart by faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice and having Christ live in us through the Holy Spirit to help us obey. External worship practices alone are inadequate. God is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit, from a converted and transformed heart. True worship, then, is much more than praise of God in a public worship service. This broader meaning is indicated by the fact that five Greek verbs are translated "worship" in the New Testament. "The worship of God is nowhere defined in Scripture . . . It is not confined to praise; broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgement" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, "Worship, Worshipping," p. 686). Prior to what is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer, Christ stated in His own words what His perspective is on memorized prayers, sayings and chants. “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew:6:7 NKJV). The phrase “do not use vain repetitions” is a Greek phrase that is “supposed to be derived from the name of a Greek poet, who made long and weary verses, declaring by many forms and endless repetitions the same sentiment. Hence, it means to repeat a thing often; to say the same thing in different words, or to repeat the same words, as though God did not hear at first” (Barnes Commentary,Matthew:6:7). God does not want to be worshipped with empty and memorized words, which are said without a mental internalization of what those words mean. Jesus Christ Himself sharply rebuked the religious leaders of His day because they replaced God’s commands with their own humanly devised forms of worship. Christ in His own words told them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men— the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do. All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark:7:6-8 NKJV). Christ reserved the harshest words of warning for those who would profess to worship God, but refuse to do God's will or obey His laws (Matthew:7:21-23). Such worship is empty and without merit, unacceptable to God and Jesus Christ. Paul continued the warnings of following man’s traditions when he told the church at Colosse, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8 NKJV). All of our actions, whether in how and when we worship all the way to what forms the habits of our daily lives, should point to the Biblical instruction that God has inspired for our learning. Beware of man’s traditions. Beware of differences between what the Bible says and what your priest, rabbi, elder or any other religious leader encourages you to do. Don’t be blind when it comes to your spirituality. Rather read your Bible, and see what God Himself has to say! |
musings: (noun)a period of reflection or thought, introspection, ponderance, rumination, contemplation, deliberation, deep thinking Isra'eli red poppiesCategories
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