LivingCenser

                                                        A priest with his censer of incense

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Korach, meaning "Bald." This title is found in the wording of the verse that opens this reading portion: "Now Korah (qorah/qarah - "bald"/make bald, make a baldness, to make oneself bald, make smooth) the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Num. 16:1-3).

      So the Sabbath title refers to a man's name, Korah, who was a Levite, the tribe of dedicated servants and priests who ministered in the tabernacle. Moses and Aaron were Levites also. We see that Korah and two hundred fifty renown leaders whom he had persuaded were challenging Moses' and Aaron's spiritual positions and leadership of God's people. The Hebrew letters of the name "Korah,", each having their own meaning are qoph, reysh and heh. When these letters and their meanings are put together, they could form the meaning "Behold, the highest and most important head who is first, has been made the back of the head, the last and the least." We will see that this describes well what is happening here.

     Korah was not challenging Moses and Aaron on behalf of the people, but because of his own ambition, as Moses discerned. He said to Korah: "Hear now you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-work of the tabernacle of the LORD...Are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-your-company are gathered together against the LORD." (Num. 16:8-11, excerpt). Notice that all of the rebels involved have the written *aleph-tav preceding them. They were identified in some way with the Messiah/Christ (see *note at the end of the entry). Is this surprising? We will read of this kind of attitude again in the New Testament later.

     As we see above, the challenge against Moses and Aaron was really a challenge against the LORD. The LORD will meet this challenge. Like a head that has been made bald, challenging the LORD's position removes a "covering." The LORD will demonstrate this. Once Moses and Aaron had received the challenge to their positions of authority over the people, a position which they had never sought, these were the instructions from the LORD to the rebels: "Do this: Take censers (mahta/mehita/hata - firepans, censer, fire holder, for live coals, removing live coals/destruction, terror, ruin, dismaying, a breaking, dissolution/seize, take away, snatch up coals, destroy) Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense (qetoret/qatar - incense, perfume, odor of sacrifice, smoke, fumigation that causes to flee) in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi." (Num. 16:6-7).

     This is not the first time that the LORD has dealt with people through the use of censers. (see Lev. 10:1-3). As we can see by the Hebrew word meanings for censer and incense, the burning coals have the meaning of a terrifying destruction and breaking. The incense that represents the fragrance of sacrifice (see qetoret/qatar above) placed upon those coals becomes a smoking cloud that covers over that destruction. The cloud of incense also acts as a fumigating smoke that causes (spiritual) undesirables or pests to either leave or be destroyed. Regarding the incense to be used, the LORD said in an earlier place: "You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure and holy...It shall be most holy to you. But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD." (Ex. 30:35-37, excerpt). Any who used the incense for any private purpose other than in worship of the LORD would lose their lives (see Ex. 30:38). 

     When the LORD commanded Korah and the other rebels to get out their censers, they should have gotten a clue that this was not going to turn out well for them, and it didn't. They were destroyed in a terrifying manner (see mahta/mehita/hata above) - by earthquake and by fire. (Num. 16:31-35). Then the LORD ordered that: (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-censers that the rebels "...who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." (v. 38). It is not men who made the censers holy but the LORD who made them part of His holiness because they were in His presence.

     In the hands appointed by the LORD, the power of the holy things of God save and deliver, but in the hands of those who presume but have not been so called, appointed and anointed, those same holy things become a death sentence to them. 

     The very next day, when the whole congregation is condemning Moses and Aaron for the deaths of their brethren, the rebels, the LORD, hearing the accusation, broke out in anger against the Israelites. As Moses and Aaron fell on their faces to intercede for the congregation, Moses told Aaron: "Take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-censer and put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-fire-in-it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon, to be covered over, propitiation) for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." (Num. 16:41-46). As we know, Jesus Messiah/Christ is the Atonement covering for our sins that saves us from the death and destruction of sin.

     As Aaron ministered atonement with his censer, he ran to stand between the living and the dead. The plague stopped at that place. Fourteen thousand seven hundred died before the plague was stopped. That's how fast it had swept through the people. (see v. 47-50).

     Before we assume that the rebellion of Korah is limited to the Old Testament, let's look at some instances where people have made themselves "bald" or uncovered in the same manner as Korah:

Personal ambition: Luke 22:24 says: "Now there was also a dispute among them (referring to the disciples of Jesus), as to which of them should be considered the greatest." Jesus said that the ways of the Kingdom of God were completely different from those of the world. The idea of "greatness" comes in the form as one who serves rather than one who insists upon being served. He Himself came as a servant among them. (v. 25-27).

     The idea of "greatness" in the kingdom arose again as His disciples asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Mt. 18:1). How can anyone sit before the Greatest, the Son of God, and ask, "Who is the greatest?!" Perhaps they were expecting Jesus to say, Abraham, or Moses, or David. However, Jesus called a little child before Him, and He said, "Unless you are converted (strepho - turn oneself, turn back again, reverse, turn from one's course of conduct) and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." (v. 2-5). We carry this kind of mindset of being "great" from the world. We have to turn away from it. Again, the qualifications of the Kingdom of God are not like those of the world. However, worldly standards and goals often still have rule over our minds, whether we admit it or not.

     Paul addressed this issue of personal ambition in the Church saying: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Phil. 2:3). Paul doesn't say to consider others equal to oneself but better than oneself! Korah the Bald wouldn't like that one. We might have a difficult time with that one also.

Financial Gain: Many warnings appear in scripture about those who preach Messiah/Christ for financial gain. See 2 Pet. 2:3, Titus 1:11, 2 Cor. 2:17, 1 Tim. 6:9-11. I say sincerely, God bless those who humbly and obediently serve the Lord for no other reason than because they love Him and love His people. I thank you for your sincerity and selflessness.

Works Denying the Father: Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness/iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23). Korah disregarded the leadership of God the Father over Israel and decided that he was more qualified to lead the people than the ones appointed by God. The two Hundred and fifty leaders of renown agreed with him. He and they were wrong. The Father has not ceded His throne to any man and never will.

     We who believe in Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile, have been called by the LORD God to carry the Living (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Censer, Jesus, whose atonement covering, like the incense of the odor of sacrifice, covers and appeases the fiery coals of wrath and destruction.

     If you would like to know more about the Censer of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Most High Father, as priests in Your Kingdom (1 Pet. 2:9-10), You have given us the great privilege of carrying and ministering the Living Censer that is Your Son, Jesus. Lord, let me put aside all selfish and worldly thoughts and ways, and serve and love You with all my heart, mind, and strength. Turn me, Lord, away from the corruption of Korah and his followers, and cause me to embrace Your Kingship, Lordship and reign over my life. Let me be as a little child before You and let me esteem others more than myself. Keep me from challenging You as my Shepherd and King by seeking my own ways instead of Yours. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. AMEN."

 *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Consecrated

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'mini, which means "the eighth day." This title comes from Leviticus 9:1, which says: "It came to pass on the eighth (semini/samen/saman - eight/plenteous, fat, robust, rich/to shine with oil, to cover with fat-oil) day (yom - time, day, daily, year, ever, continually, full, always, whole, day as opposed to night) that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel." At this point, Aaron and his sons had spent seven days in the tabernacle until their consecration had ended. (see Lev. 8:31-36). They spent those seven days of consecration (millu'/mala' - installation of priests, setting stones/gems, dedicatory sacrifice, sacrifice of inauguration/fill, fulfill, full, complete, consecrate, accomplish, replenish, overflow, gather) eating ('akal - eat, devour, consume, destroy, slay, burn up) the burnt offering of consecration (Lev. 8:28) and the bread from the basket of consecration offerings (see Lev. 8:31). 

     The "basket" mentioned above that contained the bread of the consecration offerings, is the Hebrew word and root sal/salal, which means: a slender rod of which baskets are woven, a basket woven from reeds/raise up, lift up, exalt, extol, esteem highly, to gather, to make a way level by casting up stones, make plain. The basket is made of slender rods or reeds that can be woven. The Messiah/Christ, the Elect One in whom the LORD delights, is prophetically connected to a bruised reed by Isaiah: "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax (linen or cotton used for a wick) He will not quench. He will bring forth justice for truth." (Isa. 42:3). The reed of Egypt and Palestine grows to a great height, and it is jointed in its stem like bamboo. It has a magnificent blossom at the top of the reed. It is so slender and tender that a gust of wind can flatten it, but then it will immediately be raised up to its upright position. Jesus was laid down in death but rose back up again like the reed. The Gospel of Matthew references this prophecy from Isaiah, and Jesus' fulfilment of it. (see Mt. 12:15-21). When the soldiers mocked Jesus' Kingship before His crucifixion, they struck Him with the reed that they had placed in His hand. (Mt. 27:27-31). Jesus is both the Bread (Jn. 6:35, 48-51) and the (reed) Basket that contains the consecrating Bread, which is His Body raised from the dead. Just as Aaron and his sons were told to eat the bread from the basket of consecration offerings, Jesus took bread and broke it and told us to eat it, saying, "Take, eat; this is My body." (Mt. 26:26). The Bread that is His sacrificed body not only feeds us Life but consecrates us as it follows the pattern above. During this time of Passover and the Resurrection, partaking in the elements of Communion with the Lord is especially meaningful.

     Now, on the eighth day, the ministry of Aaron and his sons as priests of the atonement would begin: "And Moses said to Aaron, 'Go to the altar, offer (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-sin-offering-and-your-burnt-offering and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, appease, pardon, pitch covering) for yourself and for the people. Offer (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded." (Lev. 9:7).

     The purpose of the seven days of consecration was in order to minister the atoning sacrifice for themselves as priests and for the people. Jesus, as indicated by the Hebrew written *aleph-tav above is our offering for the atonement for sin. 

     As the followers of Messiah/Christ, He also consecrated us with His own body. It is not a consecration for the purpose of religious oppression and hypocrisy, for which Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes, but it is a consecration in Messiah/Christ and His atonement blood of mercy and forgiveness, and it was always meant to be so as the prophetic pattern revealed. This consecration requires serious consideration on our parts. Paul wrote that we are called to holiness, called to come out from among the worldly, the profane and the unclean things (as Aaron and sons were commanded to remain in the tabernacle for seven days). (see 1 Thess. 4:7, 2 Cor. 6:17-18)). The Book of Hebrews calls it a heavenly calling. (Heb. 3:1).

     The Lord Jesus told us to take and eat of His body. His body and blood were the one-time and forever offering for the sins of the world, forming a new covenant between God and the people: "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Holy Place once for all, having obtained (for us) eternal redemption." (Heb. 9:11-12). God made Messiah/Christ "who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus fulfilled the will of God to be a sin offering for the world, not out of a religious obligation, but out of the love of the Father for the world, and the love of the Son for the Father and for us. We can understand why the apostle Peter wrote to us that love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pet. 4:7-8). Our greatest and life-changing gift from God was planned and provided to us out of love through His beloved Son, Jesus.

     Part of the prophetic pattern established by the priesthood under Moses was that they must eat (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the sin-offering which God said was most holy (see Lev. 6:17) in the same way that Christ told us to eat of Him. We eat of Him not for ourselves only, but, if we can see the prophetic pattern of the priesthood which we will read below, we are to eat of Christ, the most holy sin offering, to minister priestly atonement for the sins of the world, for which sins Messiah/Christ substituted Himself and died. 

       Here is that interesting image of the pattern of the priesthood. On one occasion, the two living sons of Aaron had burned up the offering completely but had not eaten any of it, nor applied the blood as it was commanded be done. Moses asked them: "Why have you not eaten ('akal - to eat, devour, consume, destruction of the flesh) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sin-offering in a holy place, since it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?...indeed, you should have eaten it in a holy (place), as I commanded." (Lev. 10:16-18). Aaron answered that because of the recent deaths of his two other sons by the fire of the LORD, which devastated Aaron (see Lev. 10:1-3), Aaron feared that the LORD might not have found (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sin-offering acceptable had he eaten it. Aaron and his remaining two sons might have born the judgment of the LORD because of it. Moses accepted this reason from Aaron. (v. 19-20). The eating of the sin offering by the priest was to make atonement for the sin guilt of the people, which had been placed upon (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-offering.

     Paul wrote of a warning when eating and drinking of the body/bread and blood/wine of Messiah/Christ in Communion. Paul wrote: "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged." (1 Cor. 11:27-31). This is very much like what Aaron told Moses. We cannot correctly understand what Paul was warning us if we do not understand the prophetic pattern of the priesthood established by God with Moses as we read it above. We have received a royal priesthood from God through Messiah/Christ Jesus. It is the priesthood of the light and mercy of the Kingdom of God through Christ, ministered to others as we also have received it ourselves. (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10). It is a Sh'mini "eighth day" (see the meanings at the top of the page) priesthood. While it is a glorious priesthood, it is a priesthood that requires humility, discernment and self-examination. 

     From another reading portion of this Sh'mini "Eighth Day" Sabbath, when David received the prophetic promise of Messiah/Christ, who would come from David's own line, David was moved with great humility, asking the LORD: "Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far?...What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant?..." (see 1 Chron. 17:11-20). We have received more than a prophetic promise. We have received all of the "Eighth Day" rich and shining-with-oil fulfilment of that promise in Messiah/Christ Jesus. Let us receive Him with the same humility as David did, and let us receive Him in the holy place.

     If you would like to learn more about our consecration and priesthood in Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have offered Your own Son, Jesus, who was without sin but became my sin, as my most holy eternal sin offering. Help me, LORD, to minister Your Son as the atonement for sin, not only for myself, but for all of the people. LORD, You consecrated Your priesthood in order to begin their ministry of atonement in Your name. As I remember the Lord's death and resurrection this week, and the Table of the Lord that holds the elements of His most holy sacrifice for the sins of the world, let me approach in consecration, please Lord, and with soul-bearing humility and gratitude, on behalf of all of the people, as I proclaim His death until He comes. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

    *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

AtonementWitness

      This Sabbath, according to some calendars, is the observance of the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kipur, which is one of the fall feasts of the LORD. Believers in Jesus Messiah/Christ know that He IS the atonement for our sins, covering and obliterating our sins with His own blood made as a sacrifice, thus fulfilling this feast (see Mt. 26:27-28, 1 Jn. 2:1-2, Rom. 5:10-11, Rom. 3:23-25). This is a one-day feast commanded by the LORD in Leviticus 23: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement (Kipur/kapar - atonement, expiation, redemption/atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, cleansed, pardon, pitch, obliterated, to cover over [with pitch], to expiate, be merciful). It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict (see below) your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. And you shall do not work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God..." (v. 26-28).

     Before we leave the Hebrew word meanings above connected to Yom Kipur, I would like to look more closely at the Hebrew word ana, translated to mean "afflict", regarding our souls. Most traditionally treat the affliction of our souls as a day of fasting and repentance, however, the Hebrew meaning goes deeper than that. The Hebrew word ana means "afflict, humble, be bowed down, to stoop, to weaken oneself, submit oneself, concern oneself with one's soul, be labored or exercised over one's soul." There is an additional meaning to the word ana, or afflict, that requires an action: "to answer, respond as a witness, make answer, testify, speak, give account, sing, cry out, praise song, the shout of soldiers in battle, a witness giving evidence." This powerful day of "affliction" is not only to include a humbling examination of our souls, but it is a day that requires us to take an action, and to give evidence.  We will see this in the next few examples.

     The root word of Kipur (Atonement) is kapar as shown above. The root word kapar first appears in scripture during the account of Noah's building of the ark. As we see above, kapar means "atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, cleansed, pardon, obliterated, cover over (with pitch), to expiate, be merciful." The LORD had told Noah that "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood...and cover it (kapar - see above) inside and outside with pitch (koper/kapar - ransom, satisfaction, price of a life, redemption price)." (Gen. 6:13-14). All mankind was to be destroyed except for one family: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (v. 8). How would you feel to have seen by revelation from God the deserved total destruction of all mankind and then to have been told that you and your family would be the only exception? How would you feel to have received this unearned gift? Would you bow down in humility and submission before this awesome gift and mercy of God? This is what the LORD is looking for in His people because we have received the undeserved atonement in the blood of Jesus Christ, who, while we were yet sinners, died for us. Do we understand the utter destruction from which the atonement blood shields and delivers us? Why would we think that this day is about food or the abstaining from food? The LORD corrected this false perception in Isaiah 58. We don't want to reduce an act of God's transformative power and mercy into a religious ritual.

     In this account of the ark, scripture remarks upon Noah's genealogy and generations. Noah is described as a just man, perfect (tamim/tamam - without blemish, perfect, upright, without spot, whole, complete, full, innocent (see Mt. 27:3-5), complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact/end, finished (see Jn. 19:30), clean, perfect, done, be completed, completely crossed over) in his generations, as well as the remark that "Noah walked with God." (Gen. 6:9). The LORD was looking at Noah's generations, calling them "perfect". What He saw in those generations is found in the statement: "Noah walked (halak/yalak - depart, die, live, carry, cause to walk, take away, vanish) with God (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Ha-Elohim)." To me, this is saying that Noah's generations or descendants contained the Messiah/Christ. In the same way as the later case of David, the seed of the Messiah, who is the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, was in Noah. This was a very humbling thought for David (see 2 Sam. 7:18-22), and it must have been for Noah also. All of these things is enough to cause a person to bow down before the LORD in thanks and awe.

     Noah, as a witness and a testimony to the atonement, followed God's will and prepared a place (see also Jn. 14:1-6) which was the ark. That place was covered inside and out with the koper/kapar atonement (pitch) that protect from the destruction of judgment. Noah applied the pitch (covering atonement inch by inch, foot by foot, inside and outside of the very large vessel.

     Another Atonement witness or testimony is found in Num. 16:41-50. There had been a terrible rebellion among the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness. As a result of this rebellion, all involved in it died, having been swallowed alive by the earth, or consumed by fire from heaven. After these deaths, the people turned against Moses and Aaron, falsely accusing them of killing God's people (Num. 16:41). The glory of the LORD covered the tabernacle and Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle as the LORD said: "Get away/Get ye up (ramam - exalted, lifted up, mount up, to rise, to be high) from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell (napal - fall down, be offered, cease, die, perish, smite out) on their faces." (v. 42-44). Notice how Moses and Aaron fell down on their faces, as the LORD commanded them to "Get ye up".  The lower you humble yourself or your soul, the higher you are lifted up in the Spirit. "So Moses said to Aaron (aharon - "light bringer"), 'Take a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) censer (mahta/mehita/hata - fire-holder, censer, firepan, a pan for live coals, implement or vessel in which burning coals are carried/destruction, ruin, terror, a breaking/to take hold of, seize, take away, snatch up [coals], to pick up fire) and put fire in it from the altar, put incense (qetoret/qatar - odor of burning sacrifice, perfume/fumigation, a smoke of sacrifice) on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, reconcile, forgive, cleansed, merciful, pardon, pitch, to cover over, overspread) for them; for the wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague (negep/nagap - blow, striking, plague, stumbling of the foot/smite, hurt, slain, struck, stumble, beaten, defeated) has begun." (v. 45-46). Aaron did so, "...standing between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." (v. 48). Aaron ran into the middle of a deserved plague of judgment with the atoning fire from the altar. Before the plague was stopped by Aaron's atonement witness, 14,700 people died (v. 49). 

     In describing the Messiah/Christ who would come, John the Baptist said: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Mt. 3:11).

     We experienced a terrible plague in the past few years. Millions were sickened and many died. What was our atonement witness in the midst of the plague? Was it the same as Aaron's? By definition, we, the believers in Christ, understand what it means to be a people who were undeservedly spared (see Rom. 5:8) from utter destruction because of the Atonement blood of Jesus. Did we apply the atonement for the sins of the people in the midst of the plague?

     Jesus, the Person of the Atonement, gave humbling testimony of the ministry of atonement. We think of the atoning work of the cross, which is true, but the atonement didn't start there. Jesus first dropped His atoning blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, meaning an olive oil press, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, where His soul was so deeply troubled and sorrowful that His sweat became great drops of blood that fell to the ground (see Lk. 22:44), and where His testimony was the submission of His will to the will of His Father. (Mt. 26:36-39, 42). This is the perfect picture of the affliction (ana, see above) of the soul associated with the Day of Atonement.  If you are in this sorrowful place of pressing and wrestling in your soul, Jesus left His atonement blood in that place for you. He left the answer in that place for you also: "Not my will, Father, but Your will."

     The next place that Jesus shed blood was at the house of Caiaphas the high priest. He was accused of blasphemy (see Isa. 50:6), and they spit in His face, beat Him, and slapped Him. (Mt. 26:65-68). If your religion has separated you so far from God that you can no longer recognize Him when He is standing before you, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood in your house also if you will receive it.

     From there, Jesus was taken for the first time to Pilate's palace, where He must have continued to drop blood from the beating, and then He was sent to the palace of Herod, where He also must have left drops of blood on the floor. He was then returned to the judgment court of Pilate, where He was crowned with thorns, scourged, and beaten. (Jn. 19:1-3). There must have been great streaks of blood left at Pilate's judgment seat. If you think that government is the answer to problems, a provider of equity, and the dispenser of justice separate and apart from God, or you are a member of government who panders to power and wealth rather than righteousness, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood in your house too if you will receive it.

     Then Jesus began the walk with the cross through the streets of Jerusalem, where His blood must have trailed on the ground on the way to the place of crucifixion. Simon a Cyrenian (a place in Libya, Africa), a passerby not involved in the horrible proceeding, was forced to carry the cross for Jesus (Lk. 23:26-27). Simon must have gotten smeared with that atoning blood as well. Jesus does not remain confined to a church building but walks the streets of our communities (see Prov. 8:1-10), where He leaves drops of His atonement blood. If you think that the atoning blood of Jesus is only for certain racial, ethnic or cultural groups and not for you, He left drops of His blood just for you. 

     Finally the Atonement and the Atonement Witness, Jesus, came to Golgotha (golgotha/gulgolet/galal - skull/every man, census count or poll to determine the price of redemption/roll away, remove, flow down) where He was crucified (Mt. 27:33-35). Here, of course, His blood would have dripped upon the ground of "the Skull" (every man, see gulgolet, above). However, His blood would also have gotten upon the soldiers who laid Him on the cross, took hold of His arms and legs to nail Him and later stood below Him as they pierced Him in His side (Jn. 19:33-34). The Word of Isaiah 53 tells us that there was never a man whose face and form was so marred as this man. A person doing such a job as those soldiers did on Golgotha couldn't help but come into contact with His blood. If you think that you have done something so offensive to God that you cannot be covered and forgiven by the atonement blood of Christ, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood for you if you will receive it.

     Before the day of His resurrection, Jesus left drops of His blood on the burial cloth that laid beneath and over His body in the sepulcher in which He was buried. If or when you are facing death, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood for you. It is the shed blood that has overcome death.

     Under the law of Moses, on the Day of Atonement in the tabernacle of God, the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies with a basin of the blood of the sacrifice, dip his finger, rather than a utensil, into the blood and sprinkle the blood of atonement on the Mercy Seat, also called the Throne of God according to Jewish tradition, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. It is the only day of the year when the priest could enter that holiest part of the tabernacle and come out alive. The atonement must be applied with our hands, not just for our own benefit, but on behalf of others. The Atonement requires an answer, a witness, a testimony, an action. Now, the Book of Hebrews says, we can enter into that holiest place through the torn body of Christ and approach (Heb. 10:19-25) the Mercy Seat, the place where the blood of atonement is applied on behalf of the sins of the people. 

     If you would like to learn more about the Atonement, you can join me in prayer: "Merciful Father, as we come to the Day dedicated to Your provision of Atonement, which is the blood of the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus, lead me by Your Spirit and Word into a deeper understanding of what it means to be a witness giving evidence of this powerful and costly Atonement. As Noah "walked with the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega God", show me how to walk and apply Your Atonement upon Your Mercy Seat.  It is not by my will, Father, but by Your will. Help me to humble and search my heart and soul until like Noah, Aaron and Jesus, I walk in the application or ministering of Your Atonement especially in these trying times. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

     *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as Α Ω , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

Sent

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Korach, which means "Bald". This title comes from the beginning of the reading portion in Numbers 16: "Now Korah (qorah/qarah - bald/to be bald, to make bald, make oneself bald because of anyone's death) the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up (qum - rise up, stood up, arise, raise, to raise oneself, to stand, to establish) before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown." (Num. 16:1-2). Korah, spoken of in these verses, was the great-grandson of Levi and was one of the Levites who served in the tabernacle.

     These last few weeks we have seen the element of "rising, lifting up, exalting" being an important theme in the Sabbath readings. The Hebrew words nasa and ala were used to express this. We see this "rising, lifting up" theme again this week, but in a rebellious act against God: "They (those named above) gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much (rab/rabab - many, great, captain, greatly increase, officer, prince, much, a master, magnitude/be or become much, become great, increase, multiplied) upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt (nasa - to lift up, bear up, to sustain, forgive, exalt, to increase) yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (v. 3).

     This is called "Korah's Rebellion", although Korah made sure to enlist the support of 250 of the leaders (nasi/nasa - prince, captain, chief, ruler, one lifted up, exalted one, vapor or mist which ascends) of Israel. This rebellion, however, was founded in a lie. The rebels accused Moses and Aaron of having taken the role of leadership upon themselves, exalting themselves above the other Israelites. We know that the LORD called a reluctant Moses to this office of leadership, and He appointed Aaron also (Ex. 3:9-11, Ex. 4:10-17). Neither Moses nor Aaron appointed themselves, nor considered their roles to be something to be desired. We also know that privately, Moses cried to the LORD as he felt overwhelmed by the position to which the LORD had appointed him (Num. 11:11-14). During a previous painful rebellion against Moses' leadership from within his own family, the scriptures noted: "Now the man Moses was very (meod - exceedingly, greatly, very, utterly) humble (anav/ana - very meek, humble, poor, lowly/be bowed down, humble, to stoop, humble oneself, looking down, chasten self, submit oneself), more than all men who were on the face of the earth." (Num. 12:3).

     It is also interesting that the first thing that Moses did on hearing the false accusation that he had lifted himself was to physically lower himself: "So when Moses heard it, he fell (napal - fall down, cast down, lay, overthrow, prostrate oneself before, perish, slay, throw down) on his face..." (v. 4). He then told Korah that it will be the LORD who will choose who is to come near to Him (v. 5-7, see also Ezek. 44:15-16, Num. 17:5). Moses also said, "...you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things, for I have not done them of my own will...these men have rejected the LORD." (v. 28, 30). It is fitting that the LORD chose to deal with those who "rose up" before Moses by sending them downward: "Now it came to pass, as he (Moses) finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them (Korah, Dathan and Abiram and families), and the earth opened its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down (yarad - go downwards, descend, fell, sink down, be prostrate, lay prostrated, bring down) alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished among the assembly...And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense." (v. 31-33, 35).

     The Levites had been chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle, but Korah coveted a "higher" position, even the positions of Moses and Aaron, who were themselves Levites. As Moses pointed out, these rebellious Levites were not rejecting Moses but the LORD. 

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, we see the same thing again. The appointed priest, judge and prophet of Israel, Samuel, had been rejected by the people of Israel who wanted a king instead like the nations around them. This choice made perfect sense to the people of Israel. Samuel was old, his sons were corrupt, and there was an enemy king, Nahash (nahas - serpent, dragon, snake, viper, image of a serpent, practice divination, soothsayer, use sorcery) of the Ammonites threatening them. However, in all of their thinking, they forgot that it was through the anointed and appointed office of Samuel as priest, judge, and prophet of Israel that caused the LORD to save them from the attacking Philistines just shortly before this incident. How short people's memories are! Not only that, but the LORD then kept the Philistines from harming Israel for the rest of Samuel's life. Israel also had peace with the Amorites (see 1 Sam. 7:7-14). This is exactly how the LORD miraculously works through His appointed servants in leadership on behalf of His people and their nation. The LORD assured Samuel that it was not he, Samuel, who had been rejected by the people, but they had rejected the LORD from reigning over them in favor of a king. (1 Sam. 8:6-9). 

     After Samuel had anointed Saul as their first king as the LORD had instructed him to do, Samuel began to teach Israel of the wickedness they had truly done by this, and what would befall them as a result of removing the LORD from reigning over them: "It is the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt...your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place." (1 Sam. 12:6, 8). Samuel told the people how the LORD had later heard their cries, even though they had sinned in the worship of false gods. They were being oppressed by enemies and the LORD sent deliverers to rescue them: "And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD God was your king." (v. 11-12). Because they had been wicked and chosen a king from among themselves rather than the LORD, Samuel said that he would call on the LORD to send thunder and rain upon the wheat crop that was then ready to be harvested, which would damage the crop (v.16-17). The people feared the LORD and Samuel when this sign came to pass, and Samuel said to them, "Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider the great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king." (v. 24-25).

     The LORD had exalted this small nation of people to be the only nation on earth to be supernaturally ruled and prospered directly by Him, but they preferred the rule of a man. The LORD had covered them and heard their cries for help and answered them, but they exchanged that covering for a king who was a man like them.

     There are many nations around the world facing wars, terrors, oppression, famine, drought, economic instability, and violence and crime, including my own nation. All of these conditions are prophesied in scripture and will grow torturously worse (Mt. 24, Lk. 21:5-36). These nations, like Israel in scripture above, prefer to rely upon their kings, presidents, prime ministers, dictators, tyrants, legislatures and courts to provide answers and deliverance. They refuse to turn to the LORD or to call upon His anointed and appointed spiritual leadership whom He has set in every nation on earth. My own nation's founding documents acknowledge the all-powerful and merciful hand of God in the establishing of my country, but this same nation has done all that they can to eliminate God from the hearts and minds of its people, and my nation as a result is in deep trouble. However, this Sabbath reading portion Korach, or "Bald", is a timely reminder that we have a miraculous resource available to us which we can no longer neglect. I will be praying that all leadership in my nation begin to reach out to the truly anointed and appointed spiritual leaders that the LORD has provided for such a time as this.

      Paul wrote this regarding all in authority over us: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4). Are we praying for those in authority over us? The Lord will move through our prayers for them, to save souls and to provide a blessing for our lives.

     This is an age of lawlessness. Even the Church of believers in Christ often fail to acknowledge the role that anointed and appointed spiritual leadership provides in our lives, and instead, challenge and criticize that leadership at every opportunity. Jesus wept as He prophetically observed the terror that would be coming upon Jerusalem. Jesus wanted to gather them under His protective wings, but they refused (Mt. 23:37-39). The Lord moves miraculously through our anointed and appointed spiritual leaders to guide His people safely through danger. By weakening or removing the covering of the spiritual leadership that Jesus has provided and appointed to those who believe in Him, we become spiritually "bald" like Korah. We think to pull down our spiritual leaders in an effort to "lift up" ourselves into a higher position, but it is the Lord who determines who may come near to Him. Instead, the quickest way to "fall lower" is to disregard those appointed by Him, thereby disregarding Him who is head of all things to the church (Eph. 1:19-23). We believers have also begun to rely upon the political leadership of men as the Israelites did, rather than the rulership of the LORD. Our times are too dangerous for this choice.

     If you would like to know more about the importance of the LORD's appointed covering, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, forgive me for relying upon man instead of You. Forgive me for weakening Your covering over me, my family and my nation because of the rebellion in my heart. By Your Spirit, help me to seek Your face at every turn of events, and to believe Your Word which was given for my benefit. Help me to lift the arms of Your anointed servants, rather than pulling their arms down. I pray also for the heart of my nation, Lord, that we may turn back to You, our only true God, whose arms are always outstretched towards us. Have mercy and forgive our stubbornness, revive us, renew us, visit us, save us. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as Α Ω , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

Defense

We were once very confident that the defense systems of our nations, especially those that were the most elaborate, sophisticated, and powerful in the world, were perfectly able to protect us against foreign attack...until the bright, clear morning of September 11, 2001. The world found out that no army, navy, or air force, no matter how advanced, was able to defend any nation in every circumstance. We were vulnerable then, and we remain vulnerable now. However, there is a Defense that IS sure, and cannot be shaken. In the Book of Numbers, or B'Midbar in Hebrew, which means "In the Wilderness", we read that the LORD divided the hundreds of thousands of Israelite men, whom the LORD called His armies, into divisions for war. Each tribal division, and in the case of the Levites, the priests, divisions within the division, camped under an identifying banner. The LORD armed His people with His Word, given to them from Mount Sinai, and the LORD covered His people, and enforced the placement of His anointed and appointed covering, Moses and Aaron. We saw last week that the people of God rashly rebelled against this covering the LORD had provided for them. The LORD's presence was strategically positioned in the midst of His people, in His Tabernacle. Sometimes the Israelite armies would go into natural battle against an enemy, but the greatest enemies they faced were not natural, but spiritual. However, the LORD had set in place a powerful defense system over His people. It is the title of this week's Sabbath reading portion, Chukkat, meaning "Ordinance of". The Hebrew letters that compose the word chukkat, or "ordinance of", are cheth, vaw, qoph, tav. Each of these letters have an individual meaning that, when joined together in this word, can mean "The fence, the tent wall, that separates and protects is joined together into a circle from the head and behind by a nail and a cross, the sign of the covenant". Chukkat, the ordinance of God, is the defense system for His people. The very first verses of Chukkat, this week's reading beginning in Numbers 20, reveals a wealth of information for us in order to study this defense system: "Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was burried there. Now there was no water for the congregation..." (Num. 20:1-2a). The people were not journeying and encamping according to their own whims. They were being led by the Pillar of Smoke during the day, and the Pillar of Fire by night, and following the Ark of the Covenant (see. Num. 10:33-36). The people are now in the Wilderness of Zin, which means "a low palm tree, desert, to prick". They were staying in Kadesh. The root word of Kadesh in Hebrew, Qadas, means "holy, sanctify, be hallowed, be separate, sacred, purify, clean, the Sabbath, consecrated as a priest, to declare holy". As the people of God, we can understand the nature of holiness found in this word qadas. From this holy root word, qadas, we will move closer up towards our word "Kadesh" with the next root word, qades. However, something has happened to corrupt the holiness of qadas. Qades, contrarily means "unclean, male devotee to licentious idolatry of Venus or Astarte, consecrated prostitute to an idol". Finally, the word of the place mentioned in the above verse, Kadesh, means "holy, sanctuary, libidinous worship of Astarte or Venus, harlot". Why had God directed His people to such a place? The people of God were encamped in a place of spiritual warfare. Their enemy is a spirit that twists and perverts the idea of the holiness of God. Holiness is attacked by corrupting the principle of consecration, and twisting it into depravity. The people have arrived in "the first month", yet there is no mention of Passover, which was last mentioned in Num. 9, during another first month, when the people were in the Wilderness of Sinai. The LORD had to command them then to keep the Passover, even though the Feasts of the LORD had been established earlier as an eternal ordinance of God (Num. 9:1-5). Miriam, Moses' sister and prophetess, died at this time in the Wilderness of Zin. Also there was no water in the land. However, the people did not turn to their defense system. Instead, they turned against it: "And the people contended (rib - grapple, wrangle, debate, strive, seize one another by the hair, rend each other's garments, contend with blows, defend) with Moses and spoke, saying: 'If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! Why have you brought up the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) assembly of the LORD into this wilderness that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place?" (Num. 10:3-5a). Of course, Moses didn't choose to be the one to deliver the people out of Egypt, or to determine their path to the Promised Land. This was done by God. We have additional information that this account was taking place at the time of the appointed Feasts of the LORD that were an ordinance for the first month, because the people were looking for grains, figs, vines and pomegranates (v. 5), which are the fruits of the Feast of Tabernacles. They could not find those fruits in this Wilderness of Zin at Kadesh. Because of the contention of the people against them, Moses and Aaron left the congregation and went to the door of the Tabernacle where they fell on their faces, and the glory of the LORD appeared (v. 6). The people had tried to defend themselves against the evil of that place by contending with Moses and Aaron. Moses and Aaron, on the other hand, would receive an ordinance of defense from the LORD: "Then the LORD spoke...'Take the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rod: you and your brother Aaron gather the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; and you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation and their animals..." (v. 7-8). In this "evil" place where the idea of the holiness of God has been defiled, leaving the land a barren, waterless desert, the LORD answered His complaining people with His glory, and with the Rock of His Salvation. It is a Rock filled with enough water to provide not only for the hundreds of thousands of numbered males plus women and children, but for their flocks and herds as well. Jesus spoke of Himself as an infinite supply of living water: "Whoever drinks of this water (a well established by Jacob) will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (Jn. 4:13-14). Jesus gave this revelation promise to a woman whom many would have considered to be immoral, and her land, Samaria, was also despised by the religiously minded, for worshipping God in an unacceptable manner. The New Testament also clearly identified this Rock at Kadesh as Christ: "...all our fathers...drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." (1 Cor. 10:4). In the Wilderness of Zin, the LORD did not deal with the spirits of darkness by contending with them, but by overcoming them with the glory of His holiness, and with the provision of His Son, the Messiah, as water to His rebellious people. In the same way, the LORD did not manifest His Son to us because we deserved Him. Scripture says that while we were yet sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8-11). However, not only is this the Rock of Salvation, but it is a Rock of defense, as we read in the Psalms: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength (rock), in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies...He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved...the LORD has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge." (Ps. 18:2-3, Ps. 62:2, 6, Ps. 94:22). As Moses was given the command to take the rod and speak to this rock before all of the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation, The holiness of the LORD was again profaned by bitterness in this place of Kadesh. Moses, in His outrage, did not speak to the rock, as he was commanded, but struck the rock twice with the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rod, saying: "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (Num. 20:10-11). For this error, Moses and Aaron were told by the LORD that they would not be bringing His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation into the (eres) land/earth/world which the LORD had given them because "...you did not believe Me, to hallow (qadas - see above root of Kadesh) Me in the eyes of the children of Israel..." (v. 12). The LORD brought His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation to this forsaken place, made desolate by the perversion of holiness, in order to be enthroned in His qadas holiness. However, this would now be known as "the water of Meribah (meaning strife, contention, provocation)" because the children of Israel contended with the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD (Yehovah) here (v. 13). The LORD had brought His people to this desolate place for a reason and a purpose - not to punish them, but to exalt Himself and establish His holiness over the spirits of darkness in this place. Psalm 99 is also assigned reading for this Sabbath of Chukkat or "Ordinance". It says in part: "The LORD reigns...Let the earth be moved...He is holy (qados/qadas)...Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool - He is holy (qados/qadas) ...You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy (qados/qadas) hill; For the LORD our God is holy (qados/qadas)." (v. 3, 5, 9). This is something for us to keep in mind today also as we see darkness twist the holy character of the LORD before the people. As God's people left Kadesh, they traveled to Mount Hor, where Aaron would die by the Word of the LORD, and his son, Eleazar, would become high priest in his place. Mount Hor in Hebrew means "mountain mountain". It is also referred to as "the everlasting mountains" and "the eternal hills". The LORD said that this was the place where Aaron shall be gathered to his people and die there" (Num. 20:26). It is south of the Dead Sea, and the local people have referred to it as "the Mountain of Aaron the prophet". Aaron would be gathered to his people at this place and time, "for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) word at the water of Meribah." (v. 24). Here the LORD gives us an idea of what He intended to accomplish with the Rock at Kadesh. It is not something that we would immediately be able to see and understand without looking at the Hebrew words involved. Moses rebelled against the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) "word" of the LORD regarding the Rock. The Hebrew used for "word" is not dabar, as we usually see, but pe. Pe/pa'a means "mouth, lip, commandment, blowing, breathing/splitting, cleaving, break in pieces, shatter, blow away, scatter with wind". This (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) "word" was going to blow , scatter, shatter, those perverse spirits of darkness that had tried to rule over that area. Psalm 68:1-2 describes how God's enemies are scattered (pus - shake, break, or dash to pieces, scatter abroad) and driven away (nadap - diffused, dispersed, driven about especially by wind) like smoke. The Chukkat ordinance or command of God regarding the Rock at Kadesh was like a blowing of holy wind from the mouth of God in order to break His enemies to pieces and scatter those pieces in the wind. Unfortunately for Moses and Aaron, they did not keep this "blowing" pe word from the mouth of the LORD. We can learn from this lesson, can't we? If you would like to know more about God's perfect plan of defense on behalf of His people, you can pray with me: "Lord, You are my Rock of defense and Salvation (Yeshua/Jesus). The breath of Your mouth scatters Your enemies, and the throne of Your holiness will never be overcome. The whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD, and we shout, "GLORY!" to the LORD who reigns in holiness. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit, and use the steps of my appointed journey with You to establish Your holiness in the earth, as it is in heaven. Let me not lean on my own understanding, nor be subject to the spirita of this world, but to trust in You only as my defense. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Glory&Beauty

Sometimes in the day to day routines and problems of life, I forget the kind of majesty that God has made available to us. In reading this week's sabbath portion titled T'tzavveh, meaning "You shall command", I was reminded of the system of glory and beauty that God has ordained for us in the heavenly realms now, in this life, and the exodus, or "way or road out of", that has been provided in this system of glory and beauty. This week's sabbath reading, starting in Exodus chapters 27 through 29, deals with the establishment of the priesthood which would serve God in the tabernacle of the wilderness. The brother of Moses, Aaron, and his four sons were set apart for the priesthood: "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans (hakam + leb - exceedingly wise in heart and understanding), whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest...So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest." The LORD commanded that the work on portions of Aaron's garments be "artistically worked", and "intricately woven". Although God has gifted these artisans with a Spirit of Wisdom, I wonder if they mastered their craft under their slavery to Pharaoh. Where else would they learn the application of the finest workmanship? Slaves would have no need to make themselves intricately created garments. On these intricately made garments, Aaron the priest was to wear two sets of stones. One set of two onyx stones were to be worn on each shoulder, and twelve, representing the tribes of Israel were to be on a breastplate "over his heart", which was to be attached to the priest's ephod. These stones on the breastplate of judgment (vaw-aleph-tav attached to "judgment") would contain the "Light and Perfection" of the LORD, the Urim (aleph-tav attached) and the Thummim (aleph-tav attached). (Ex. 28:9-12, 20-30). The attachment of an aleph tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, inserts the presence of Jesus, the Messiah, who called Himself the Alpha and the Omega translated into the Greek, or the Aleph-Tav. Urim is a word that means "lights, revelation, shine, glorious". Thummim means "perfection, upright, completeness, innocence, end, finished, done, accomplish, consumed, spent". As Jesus, the Light of the world (Jn. 8:12), hung attached to the front of the cross, as if He were the breastplate attached on the front of Aaron's body over the heart region, He said, "It is finished." (Jn. 19:30). He served as the Urim and Thummim, the Light and the Perfection, the confirmation of God's plan of salvation. In another portion from this week's sabbath reading, David's life was saved by consulting the Urim and the Thummim of the priest's ephod (see 1 Sam. 23:1-13). Upon the stones that were attached to Aaron's shoulders and on the breastplate, the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were engraved: "With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet...And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name..." (v. 11,21). These engravers gifted by God, were to engrave the stones as one would engrave a signet ring, the symbol of royal authority. Slaves don't wear signet rings, so the Hebrews would have had to perfect their Spiritual gifts from God by serving Pharaoh and his court in their slavery. This is a good reminder to us that although we may be gifted by God, those gifts are perfected into artisan quality by the trials and difficulties we may face (1 Pet. 4:12-14). Regarding the engraving of the stones worn on the shoulders and on the ephod of the priest, and continuing in the imagery of the Cross, Jesus was also engraved. He was engraved, both front and back according to the Shroud of Turin, with the many marks of a whip. Isaiah and Peter both wrote that these engravings into His skin were and are for our healing (Hebrew:rapa/Greek: iaomai - heal, physician, cure, repaired, restore favor, make whole, to mend, to pardon/heal, cure, make whole: to free from errors and sin, to bring about one's salvation). Scripture refers to the Book of Life, and the Lamb's Book of Life (Phil. 4:3, Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12,15, 21:7, 22:19). Could that Book have been written by the whip marks that engraved our names into Jesus flesh, as names were to be engraved like a signet upon the stones of the priest's garment? A Living Book, as well as a Book of Life? We are called living epistles (meaning "to send a message"): "...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." (2 Cor. 3:3). Would Jesus be less than a living epistle? As Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father on our behalf, does each mark upon Him bring our name before the Father as a memorial? If it seems distasteful to imagine our names engraved upon Jesus in this painful manner, we can also consider the verse: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See (hen - Behold!), I have inscribed/graven (haqaq - to cut out, engrave, cut upon, mark out, decree) you on the palms of My hands (root word kapap - bore out, dig out, bend oneself, to submit oneself); your walls are continually before Me." (Isa. 49:15-16). The LORD tells us here to see, to look upon the engraving upon His body. He wants us to see them. The words and images contained in the description of the priestly garments and regalia bring to my eyes the image of Christ, our High Priest (see Heb. 4:14-16, 8:1), positioned on the cross. God also told Moses to follow the pattern shown to him on the mountain concerning everything related to the tabernacle (Ex. 25:40). This command must also include the garments of the priests. The Book of Hebrews tells us that the pattern followed by Moses on earth was after the heavenly things (Heb. 8:5). In scripture, the engraving works both ways. In Rev. 2:17, each of those who overcome with Christ are given a white stone with a new name that only they will know, written upon it. Revelation 22:4 says: "They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads." This is what I see in the pattern concerning the garments of the priest, Aaron (meaning "light bringer"). If this is the image of Christ's priesthood, then it is also the image of our priesthood of glory and beauty, because we also are called to be kings and priests (Rev. 1:6, 5:10). In another part of the description of the priest's robe, scripture says: "And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around...And it shall be upon Aaron when he ministers, and its sound (qol - voice, thunder, proclamation, send out, call aloud, the voice of God thundering) will be heard (sama - hear, obey) when he goes into the holy place before the LORD and when he comes out, that he may not die." (Ex. 28:33-35). There are various thoughts and traditions regarding the bells (pa-amon/pa'am - stroke, beat, being struck, like the strike needed to sound a bell, beat persistently, hit, impel) and pomegranates (rimmon/ramam- upright, lifted up, exalted, high, lofty, rise up) on the hem of Aaron's robe. However, the Hebrew meanings of the words as shown above, used in these verses, give us another very clear image. The LORD is listening for a certain sound to be produced, a thunderous proclamation, and this sound will keep Aaron from dying when he enters into the presence of the LORD in the Holy of Holies. Considering the meaning of the words, perhaps the sound that pacifies God toward men is the sound associated with the beating and lifting up of His Son, Jesus. Every strike upon Jesus had a sound and a meaning before the Father's eyes and ears. The prophet Isaiah brought the Word of the LORD regarding this: "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise (daka/dak - break, beat to pieces, humble, trample, afflict, chastise, reprove) Him; He has put Him to grief, when You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed (zera - seed, child, fruitful, harvest, yielding seed, produce seed, scatter seed), He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities." (Isa. 53:10-11). In Isaiah's verse, there is a beating of His Servant, or chastising, and this pleases the LORD because of the seed that is produced. The Son/Servant is beaten to produce seed, to produe a harvest, therefore it is pleasing. Pomegranates are all seed! There is very little pulp in this fruit and it is inedible, but the fruit is filled with edible and delicious seeds. Once you open the fruit, you have to "beat it" with a wooden spoon to get the edible seeds to fall out. God's Son wasn't beaten against His will, but He willingly submitted to the abuse and execution, knowing it would please His Father as the Son's soul became an offering for sin. Jesus told His disciples before His arrest: "Put your sword in its place...Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" (Mt. 26:52-54). The Father was listening. Jesus never prayed for those legions of angels, which the Father would have sent. Jesus submitted to all that followed so that the scriptures would be fulfilled. Some of those scriptures pertain to the garments that consecrated Aaron as priest, and were for glory and beauty. Isaiah says that the Father was pleased with His Son's choice. This sabbath is a special sabbath called Zachor, which means "Remember". It is the sabbath before Purim. In the remembrance of Purim, we see another example of the sacrificial priesthood of Christ. Queen Esther, clothed in her royal attire of glory and beauty, voluntarily risked her life in order to come before her husband, the King, saying "If I perish, I perish!" (see Esther 4:11-17). Because she came sacrificially, she was accepted into the presence of the King, and "she did not die." She made intercession before the King on behalf of the Jewish people, herself included, and exposed Haman's plot of genocide. Many view Esther as a prophetic type of the Church, the Bride of Christ, and so she was, as she followed "the exodus - sacrificial way, the road out of" of the prophesied Christ, our Priest of intercession. If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ as our Priest before the Father on our behalf, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have given Your Son as my High Priest covered in glory and beauty. He is ever making intercession before You on my behalf. He is engraved with my name, written in His living book. The thundering sound proclaimed by His sacrifice is pleasing to Your ears, because it has produced abundant seed and harvest of souls, including mine. By Your Holy Spirit, help me to continue to learn the revealing of Christ in the imagery of the garments of Your priesthood, so I may learn how to be a priest before You in the image of Jesus, Your Son. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN." **There is a free ebook now available that was written by a well-respected author and expert on the subject of the fascinating Shroud of Turin titled: "The Shroud of Turin- A Perfect Summary". You can get this free ebook by going to www.TheShroudofTurin.org/freebook.**

Atonement

These past few Sabbaths, the readings have focused on the priesthood. This week's Sabbath reading titled Korach, meaning "baldness", does so also. To me the term "baldness" in this reading refers to a lack of spiritual covering, and we will learn what the priest did in the middle of this dire circumstance. We are also called kings and priests, and a royal priesthood unto the Lord under the new covenant in Christ. This made me think about my role as a believer-priest when the spiritual covering over a people has been removed. Our Sabbath reading begins in Numbers 16 with a terrible rebellion that starts small but eventually encompasses all of the congregation of Israel. The rebellion started with four men, one of whom, Korah, was a Levite from the same tribe as Moses and Aaron, the tribe of the priesthood. The other three rebels were from the tribe of Reuben. Those four men recruited two hundred and fifty tribal leaders of the congregation who were: "representatives of the congregation, men of renown." (Num. 16:1-2). The rebellion began in covetousness, envy and resentment, but was fed by false accusations and lies. These four men and the tribal leaders accused Moses and Aaron of appointing themselves to be the leaders of the Israelites. They said: "You take too much on yourselves, for all the congregation is holy...and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?...Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey (referring to Egypt), to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards..." (v. 3, 13-14). Moses pointed out to Korah the Levite that he was showing that he despised his own calling of the LORD to serve in the tabernacle, and coveted and envied another's calling instead (v. 9-10). Because of this, they were "gathered together against the LORD" (v. 11). The Levite rebel, Korah, then gathered all of the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the door of the tabernacle. So now all of the people have turned against Moses and Aaron. The glory of the LORD appeared before them all. The LORD not only planned to deal with the rebels, but also to consume the whole congregation in a moment (v. 19-21). Moses and Aaron fell on their faces interceding with God on behalf of the congregation. God allowed the congregation to separate themselves from the rebels, as the earth opened up underneath the four original rebels and the two hundred and fifty tribal leaders who had joined them, and they fell down into the open earth alive, and the earth closed over them (v. 28-33). However: "On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron saying, 'You have killed the people of the LORD.' (v. 41). The glory of the LORD appeared again, and the LORD repeated that He would consume the people. Moses and Aaron again fell on their faces before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - to cover over, to be covered, to overspread, to cover (sins), to make expiation for an offender, reconciliation, forgive, appease, pacify) for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." (v. 45-46). Aaron did as Moses had spoken, "and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident." (v. 45-49). In making atonement for the people, Aaron physically placed himself in the middle of the plague to stand between those who were dead, and those who were yet alive. The fast-moving plague was stopped at that point. Before this incident, atonement was observed as a feast day of the LORD, carried out on an appointed day, in an appointed place, the Holy of Holies, and with a specific sacrifice. In this instance, however, making atonement for the people was accomplished by an act of intercession using a censer and incense. How did God feel about this intercession of atonement that Aaron ministered at the command of Moses? After this incident, in Numbers 17, the LORD lets us know. All of the rods that represented the fathers of the tribes of Israel, with their tribes' names written on them, were brought before the LORD in the tabernacle. Aaron's rod, with his name written on it for the Levites, was included with the other rods (Num. 17:1-7). The LORD said that the rod of the man whom He will choose will blossom. He would settle the complaints of the children of Israel against Moses and Aaron in this way. The next day, Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, "and behold, the rod of Aaron, for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." (v. 8 KJV). Not only had the rod, a long dead staff, produced blossoms, but it produced almond fruit as if it were a living tree. Not only did it produce almonds, but ripe almonds. Although the wording of this verse in English sounds repetitive, the Hebrew meanings of the words here are not repetitive, and each phrase adds a new and different meaning. The four phrases used here in v. 8 have the following meanings: "budded": parah - bud, blossom, break forth, extend wings and fly. "Brought forth buds": yasa/perah - deliver, lead out, bring out, proceed/flower, blossom. "Bloomed blossoms": sus/sis - flourish, to shine, gleam, twinkle, to be bright, to glance through a lattice/ blossom, wings, feather. "Yielded almonds" - gamal/saqed/saqad - dealt bountifully, bestowed, recompense, do good, wean a child or mature, ripening/almond trees, almonds, the first tree to awaken out of winter sleep/watch, keep watch over, wake, hasten, sleepless. Regarding this budded rod of Aaron's, the LORD instructed Moses: "Bring Aaron's rod back before the Testimony (meaning the ark of the covenant), to be kept as a sign against the rebels (meri - rebellious, bitterness, stubborn refusal to obey; root word mara- "stroke, strike, slash with a whip"), that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die." (v. 10). Not only did Aaron's rod bud as a fruit of his atonement for the people, but it remained before the Testimony of the LORD as a sign against such rebellion, on penalty of death. In this Sabbath reading, we can see the role of the priest as one who stood between the living and the dead in a plague, and made an atonement, even for rebellious people who falsely accused him and resented him. The LORD recognized the power and work of that atonement through the budding of Aaron's staff. His Son, Jesus, as our High Priest, looked upon those who were crucifying Him, who had mocked and whipped Him in their rebellion against God, and said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Lk. 23:34). He is our atonement (Rom. 5:11), and not only for us, but for the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). Jesus' atonement is a one time offering that extends into eternity: "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting/expecting (ekdechomai - receive, accept, grant access to, embrace, make one's own, to take with the hand) till His enemies (echthros - hostile, hating, opposing) are made (tithemi - lay down, bend down, kneel down, carry no longer, establish) His footstool (hypopodion - among, by, or under foot, a foot on the neck of an enemy, or at the feet as a disciple)." (Heb. 10:10, 12-13). Scripture says also that every knee should bow at the name of Jesus, and every tongue should confess Him (Phil. 2:8-11). Our priestly ministering in intercession of His atonement for the people plays a role in that transforming victory, I'm sure. If you would like to know more about our priesthood in Christ, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You have given us the priestly ministry of reconciliation through Your covering atonement. Fill me with the Holy Spirit who shows me how to pray and intercede effectively in the middle of world-wide rebellion against God, and the resulting deadly plague. You are sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting expectantly to receive those who will come forth from Your atonement, and sit at Your feet as disciples, or bow at Your feet as a subject before You. As the time grows short, Your desire is that none should perish but that all should come to repentance and salvation. Show me how to stand in the gap, and make up the hedge with my censer of incense, or prayers, for those who are uncovered and in danger of perishing. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Naso

This week's Sabbath reading is titled Naso, or "Elevate!". The meaning of naso in English is "to elevate, lift up, to take a census or a sum, a measure of elevation". In this Sabbath reading, the LORD will give us a look into both His priesthood and kings, and their important role in the command to "Elevate!" the people of God. As we carry on church "life as usual", we have perhaps forgotten the root of our calling from the Torah. We also have been called to be a spiritual priesthood and kingship before God (1 Pet. 2:9-10, Rev. 1:4-6, Rev. 5:9-10). In this Sabbath reading, Aaron, Moses' brother, is serving as the high priest, and his sons are assisting him. His service in the Tabernacle deals with intercession and sin, trespass, peace and atonement sacrifices to God. On only one occasion, told to us in Numbers 6, did God give Aaron a command through Moses regarding what Aaron must speak to the children of Israel: "And the LORD spoke to Moses saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons saying, "This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: The LORD bless (barak - bless, kneel, adore) you and keep (samar - guard, give heed to, keep watch, save life, to hedge about) you; The LORD make His face shine (or - light, enlighten, glorious, to make shine, kindle) upon you, and be gracious (hanan - show favor, have mercy, to bend in kindness to; to camp, dwell, pitch a tent) to you; The LORD lift up (nasa - lift up, carry away, forgive, exalt, assist, bear continuously, desire, armor, marry) His countenance upon you, and give you peace (salom/salam - peace, welfare, prosperity, health, safety, completeness, contentment, friendship in covenant relationship with God/recompense, reward, restore, repay, restitution, full, to be finished, completed, be uninjured, perfect, to be whole).' So they shall put My name (sem - name, fame, reputation, glory, authority, character, definite position, sign, mark) on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." (Num.6:22-27). This blessing to be said by Aaron to the children of Israel placed God's name upon the people, and accomplished much in the Spirit, as we can see from the word meanings. This blessing was meant to build something prophetically within the people of God, as well as supply their immediate and natural needs. This blessing, as we can see from the word meanings, immediately brings to mind those things that are found in the Person of the Messiah, Jesus: light, forgiveness, mercy, completion, perfection, wholeness, being carried away, marriage, reward. So the prophetic promise of the Messiah is also being embedded in the people through this blessing. The people didn't have to earn or deserve this blessing. It was an obligation of the priesthood to say it as commanded by God. This blessing marked the difference between the people of God and all others. Do we, the priests of the New Covenant, understand and perform this commandment of God? In another portion from this Sabbath's "Elevate!" reading in 2 Chronicles 6, we are given a kingly example of the command Naso, or to "elevate" God's people. God has placed before us in this portion, one of the most glorious and renowned of the kings of Israel, Solomon, the son of David. His glory was so far above all other kings, that Jesus used him as an example of glory in His teaching: "...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field...will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Mt. 6:28-30). In our Sabbath reading for this week in 2 Chronicles 6, the Temple of God has just been completed in Jerusalem. It was a luxurious and glorious temple, and King Solomon is leading its dedication. All Israel was assembled before him as he stood on a platform that had been built before the bronze altar of the LORD so that all of Israel could see him: "...and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven." (2 Chron. 6:12-13). When is the last time we saw a king, or any governmental authority, kneel down, raise his hands towards heaven and pray? As kings before God, which we are according to scripture, when was the last time that we knelt down, and raised our hands to heaven to pray? What did Solomon pray to God about in the dedication of this temple? He asked the LORD to make this temple a place where God's people could pray, confess His name (v. 26), and come to Him for forgiveness (v. 21, 29-30)...a place where the land could be healed as a result of the repentance of God's people (see 7:14). Not only did Solomon pray for such a house of God for the people of Israel, but for any foreigner who would come because they believed the name of the God of Israel (v. 32-33). When Solomon finished praaying, "fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple." (7:1). Because of the presence of the glory of God, the priests could not enter the LORD's house (7:2). The Prophet Isaiah confirmed Solomon's prayer calling God's house a house of prayer for all nations (Isa. 56:7). Jesus confirmed the Law and the Prophets by calling the House or Temple of God to be a house of prayer for all nations (Mk. 11:15-17, Mt. 21:12-14). As the living, spiritual temple of God, we also are a house of prayer for all nations, as we have been redeemed and called "out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." (Rev. 5:9-10). As we saw what happened when Solomon prayed, amazing things happen when "kings" humbly and sincerely pray. Our modern politicians, even those who proclaim faith, do not pray publicly. However, there was a speech given by Ronald Reagan on February 6, 1986, that came very close, and which brings to mind the great prayer of King Solomon, and the priestly blessing of Aaron that we read above. This is an excerpt from that speech: "...We also have His (God's) promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that 'If My people, which are called by My name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.' Let us, young and old, join together...in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends...and all mankind, now and always. The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America...Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Today, we utter no prayer more fervently than the ancient prayer for peace on earth. If I had a prayer for you today...it is that one we're so familiar with: 'The LORD bless you and keep you, the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace...'. And God bles you all." If you would like to know more about our calling as priests and kings, which Christ has made us, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You have appointed us to minister before God and man as Your priests and kings. By doing so, we speak "naso", elevation to man, and glory to God our Father in Your name. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill this important spiritual assignment, not by the agendas of man, but by the command of God, and these precious examples given to us from God in His Word. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."