HolyOnes

This Sabbath is a special or unusual Sabbath called K'doshim, meaning "holy ones". The reading for this Sabbath begins in Leviticus 19, where God gave the command: "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." (v. 2). As we can see, it was always God's intention that His people be like Him, so as to be identified as belonging to Him. God's people were to be set apart from the other people of the world: "I am the LORD your God who has separated (badal - set apart, divide, sever out, to make a distinction or a difference) you from the peoples...And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated/severed you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." (Lev. 20:24-26). The Apostle Paul also wrote about this separation or severance: "...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed (metamorphoo - transfigure, change into another form, adjustment of shape, nature, form) by the renewing (anakainosis - complete change for the better, renewal; to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state) of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:2). Paul wrote about a change that goes much more deeply than that of adopting a kind of outwardly "holy" behavior or attitude. The change Paul wrote of is about being changed into a completely new form. In verse 1 of Romans 12, Paul begs us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." The term "reasonable service" comes from the Greek root words logos and latreuo. Jesus is called the Logos, or spoken Word of God, in John 1:1-3. The term latreuo relates to being a menial servant, to serve, to perform sacred services. Paul told us in this verse to sacrifice ourselves and our own identity, in order to be a servant to the Spoken Word, Jesus. It is by the Word of God (Eph. 5:26) that our minds are washed, renewed and changed. This is part of our "transformation" from the profane to the holy. We are not here to be like everyone else, but to become the image of God by belonging to Him through His Son. Jesus is: "...the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation...now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith..." (Col. 1:15, 17, 21-23). Here is change or transformation again: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed (symmorphos - having the same form as another, fashioned like unto) to the image (eikon/eiko - image, figure, likeness/to be like, a copy) of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Rom. 8:29). It is far better to be transformed into the holy identity of the resurrected Christ, conformed to His image, than trying to achieve a holy identity of our own. Man always gets it wrong when they attempt to do that. God did not command us to "act" holy, but to BE holy in the same way, and by the same standard that HE is holy. This is truly what Christ accomplished in our behalf. If we can understand and accept it by faith, then we can become it in truth. New Testament scripture is full of the necessity of our ending, in order for Christ to begin in us, such as: "...you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on (endyo - in the sense of sinking into a garment) the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him...Christ is all and in all." (Col. 3:9-11). The holiness of God incorporates a new identity in us, which is begun through His Son, Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God from our innermost being (Eph. 3:14-19, 2 Cor. 4:16-18), progressing outwardly. Jesus wanted to teach this to us about our new identity when He said that you just can't put new wine into old wineskins! (Mk. 2:21-22). It turns out that when the LORD spoke the sentence "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy" to the children of Israel, He was really saying a mouth-full, even a book-full. In a look at another complete transformation in the holiness of God, this Sabbath, because of where it falls on the calendar, is also set apart as the Sabbath before Israel's Independence Day, which is on the date of Iyar/Ziv 5, or May 14th on our calendar. In Hebrew, this independence is noted as Atz'ma'ut accompanied by the Sabbath reading of Micah 4, and Isaiah 60. Israel miraculously became an independent nation again in 1948 after 2,000 years. This is an event that will transform not only Israel, but the world. The end time events prophesied in scripture depend upon Israel and Jerusalem existing and being inhabited. The names of the month in which this restoration of Israel as a nation occurred, Iyar/Ziv, have a special meaning dealing with transformation. Ziv means "radiance, light, glow". This same month became known as Iyar after the Babylonian captivity. Iyar is associated with a Biblical event when the bitter water of the wilderness was made sweet. This transformation happened when Moses was shown (yara - point out, teach, instruct, to shoot) by the LORD a tree (es - timber, wooden post, gallows, carpenter) that when thrown into the bitter water, would make it sweet. (Ex. 15:22-26). The LORD made that place and event a statute and ordinance for Israel. The LORD promised to set a difference between the diseases of Egypt and His people, and to be their Healer (rapa - healing of national defects, of personal distress, of hurts of nations involving restored favor, to sew together, to mend), as His people obeyed His ordinances. Therefore the month of Iyar is associated by the Jewish people as providing an opportunity for healing. We can see a prophetic meaning to the transformation of the bitter water by the throwing in of a tree to be related to the transformative work of the cross on which Jesus was later crucified. It is interesting that out of all of the verses in scripture that deal with Israel as a nation, it is the verses from Micah 4 and Isaiah 60 that are applied to this miraculous anniversary of Israel's independence as a nation. Micah 4 speaks about a transformation that will occur in the latter days, the time in which we are now living. Nations shall be transformed because of the Word and Law that flows from Zion and Jerusalem, and the mountain of the house of the LORD will be exalted. The lame and the outcast will become "a strong nation". Redemption will come to God's people, and the stronghold, dominion and kingdom will be with Zion and Jerusalem. In Isaiah 60, though the earth will be covered in great darkness, Zion shall arise in light. They shall become radiant, and the nations with their abundance shall come to them. Their sons and daughters will be brought back to them, and "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations." (Isa. 60:15), and "...your people shall all be righteous;" (v. 21). In remembering God in the rebirth of Israel after two thousand years, scriptures were chosen in which the blessing and favor of the LORD upon Israel and Zion would transform not just their own nation, but all of the nations of the world. It is difficult sometimes to picture this great transformation considering the conditions in the world today, but God is the God of miraculous transformations, and we will be holy, because He is holy. He is transforming you and me, and He is transforming all creation through His Son. If you would like to learn more about this transformation, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, by Your Son, Jesus, you have brought transformation to my life, and also to Israel and the nations. You have made us holy through Jesus, as we are transformed from our own likeness into His image. You allowed me to be born anew. You showed Moses how to transform the bitter waters, so they would become sweet. You brought Your nation, Israel, back from the dead, and the whole world will be affected by it in these last days. Father, transform Your people from our innermost being to our outer form into the image of Your holiness, Your Son. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who quickens my mortal flesh, raising me from death to life. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."