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.

AncientWays

      This Sabbath's reading portion is titled Ha'azinu, meaning "Listen." This Sabbath comes during the Ten Days of Awe between The Feast of Trumpets, Yom Teruah: literally "The Day of Blasts", and the Feast of Atonement, Yom Kippur (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, appease, merciful, cleansed, pardon, cover over, expiate/cancel, overspread, obtain forgiveness). This reading portion starts in Deuteronomy 32, which is The Song of Moses. In this song, Moses begins by telling the heavens and the earth that the words he is singing have great importance, knowledge and understanding to bring to us: "Give ear (azan - to hear, listen, be obedient, broaden out the ear with the hand, prick up the ears), O heavens, and I will speak; And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching (leqah/laqah - teaching, insight, doctrine, teaching-power/take, seize, fetch, lay hold of, buy, take in marriage, carry off, flash of lightning) drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew...For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He." (Deut. 32:1-4).

     As Moses sings his words to "the heavens", it is the Hebrew word samayin, which means not only the abode of God, but also "the visible in which the clouds move and the higher ether where celestial bodies revolve, the firmament which seems to spread out like a vault [an arch that supports a roof or ceiling] over the globe as supported on foundations and columns, a place from where the rain is let down as through doors or floodgates." So not only does samayim heaven refer to the invisible realm of God, but also to the atmosphere and space that vaults the earth. We know that the rebellious spirits of wickedness inhabit this atmosphere, this vault of heaven, as Satan is called "the prince of the power of the air (aer - the air, the atmospheric region)", (Eph. 2:1-3). Paul also wrote about "spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (epouranios/ouranos - the abode of God and His angels; lower heavens of the stars, heavens of the clouds/the vaulted expanse of the sky)." (Eph. 6:10-12). 

     Moses sings about beloved Jeshurun ("upright one", a poetic term for Israel): "...he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed (see Isa. 53:1-6) the Rock of his salvation. They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods; with abominations they provoked Him to anger. They sacrificed to demons (sed/sud - demon, to rule, rulers/ruin, destroy, spoil, devastate, waste, strong, powerful, to act with violence, to rule, to master), not to God, to gods they did not know, to new gods, new arrivals (qarob/qarab - from near, from the vicinity, of relationship and affinity, intimate acquaintance, within a short space/come near, approach, draw near, bring near) that your fathers did not fear (sa'ar - to feel a sacred awe). Of the Rock who begot you, you are unmindful, and have forgotten the God who fathered you." (Deut. 32:15-18). His own people chose to worship other gods, which were nothing less than demons, fallen angels.

     There is a generation that has corrupted themselves within their surroundings, nearby as the above scripture states, within the ways of the times and places, within their neglect and forgetfulness towards God and their Rock of salvation and their worship of the demon rulers and powers that are surrounding, rather than the worship of God: They have corrupted themselves; They are not His children, because of their blemish (me'um - blemish, spot, defect, moral stain): a perverse ('iqqes/aqas - distorted, false, crooked, perverted, perverse of mind and fraudulent of speech/to knot or distort, making the straight way crooked) and crooked generation...they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faith" Moses said (Deut. 32:5, 20). The LORD lovingly named His people Jeshurun, the straight and upright ones, but they have allowed themselves to become twisted and crooked.

     The apostle Paul wrote to the church: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:1-2). The world of "here, now and nearby" seeps into us and corrupts us, and, as Moses said above, removes our faith from us. We are no longer recognizable as children of God. Jesus said of His disciples that they were in the world, but not of the world (Jn. 17:11, 14-17). We are also in this world but are not to become of this world.

      Moses in his song, calls Jeshurun to remember: "Remember the days (yom - day as defined by the warm, hot hours, time, chronicles, year, always, season) of old (olam/alam - ever, everlasting, perpetual, evermore, always, antiquity, ancient, continuous existence, unending future, eternity/to conceal, to hide, secret, veiled from sight), consider the years of many generations. Ask your father (ab - founder of a household, group, family; originator, generator, first ancestor), and he will show you; your elders (zaqen - ancient man, eldest, aged, ancient, old man), and they will tell you..." (v. 7).

     The people of God had/have become so corrupted by "the here, now and nearby" that they can no longer be called the children of the perfect, righteous God of truth, uprightness, and justice, because in their blemishes and imperfections they no longer bear a resemblance to Him. "They are not His children" is a very sad condition. The LORD wants to bring them beyond the "here, now and nearby" that corrupted them and have them consider and remember "the days of old", the eternal and everlasting things, the things that are generally concealed from man, but the knowledge of the ancient truths can be found within their heritage in Him. In the "here, now and nearby", man tends to think that the world is ruled by the will of man, however, there are ancient and everlasting foundational spiritual truths upon which all creation, including man, began and continues. The LORD spoke about these ancient ways: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old (olam/alam - ever, everlasting, perpetual, evermore, always, antiquity, ancient, continuous existence, unending future, eternity/to conceal, to hide, secret, veiled from sight) paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen." (Jer. 6:16-17). During these present fall feasts, the trumpets or shofars are blown, calling for God's people to repent and return to Him.

     Not only does the LORD want His people to return to these ancient paths that lead to Him, but it is our ordained purpose to restore those ancient paths that have been forgotten, neglected and destroyed: "Those from among you shall build the old (olam - see above) waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In." (Isa. 58:12). It is interesting that this chapter of Isaiah begins with: "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (v. 1). We may mistakenly think that we have nothing to repent for, that repentance is only for the unbeliever, but by believing so, we miss an opportunity to see the resulting restoration of eternal truths through us for the whole world. The whole creation groans for the manifestation of the sons/children of God (Rom. 8:20-22) who, through Jesus Christ, resemble their Father in truth, perfection, righteousness and justice, as Moses said. This is part of God's call for His people to return to Him, especially during this time of repentance and return (shuvah) during the fall feasts.

     During this shuvah return time of the fall feasts, part of this Sabbath reading portion is from the prophet, Micah: "He (God) does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy/lovingkindness. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old (qedem/qadam - old, ancient, before, aforetime, eternal, antiquity, Mount of the East, earliest time, beginning, that which is before/go before, go in front, beforehand, precede)." (Micah 7:18-20).

     Another reading portion from this Ha'azinu, "Listen", Sabbath is from the prophet, Hosea, calling the LORD's people to return to Him: "O Israel, return (shuv- return unto, come back, go back, restore, refresh, renew) to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; Take words with you and return (shuv - see above) to the LORD. Say to Him, 'Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips." (Hos. 14:1-2).  The LORD says in response: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him...Those who dwell under His shadow shall return (shuv - see above); They shall be revived like grain (dagan/daga - wheat, corn, grain, increase, multiply, used for bread/multiply, increase, become numerous, to cover, covering over everything, great multitude), and grow like a vine..." (v. 7).

     In the meaning of the word, return (shuv), there is also the meaning of restore, refresh, renew as we see above. We saw this same truth in the verses from Isaiah 58 above. Hosea calls it "revived". So many want to see revival. So many are praying to see all men know the LORD and His salvation through Christ. The seeds of it can be found in the shuv return to the LORD by His people.

     The LORD said, "Return to Me and I will return to you." (see Mal. 3:7, Zech. 1:3, Neh. 1:7-9).

     As His people return to Him, the LORD promises: "I will be like the dew (tal/talal - night mist, to cover with a roof, distilled from heaven [see Deut. 32:2, above] to Israel; He shall grow like the lily (susan/sus - whiteness, trumpet-shaped/exult, rejoice, leap with joy), and lengthen his roots (seres - roots indicating permanence, footholds, flourishing in prosperity) like Lebanon (meaning whiteness, purified, make white). His branches shall spread; His beauty (hod - glory, beauty, majesty, honor, splendor, goodly) shall be like an olive tree (zayit - be bright, fresh, luxuriant, oil as clear and brilliant), and his fragrance (reah - pleasant scent, fragrance, perceive, breath, to blow) like Lebanon." (Mic. 14:5-6).

     If you would like to experience repentance and the restoration of the LORD, you can join me in my prayer: "Lord, I come to You in repentance. I desire to return to You, to the place of My salvation, restoration and renewal. Remove the spiritual blemishes from me. I turn away from the thoughts and ways of the world and turn to You, my Creator and King. Restore me to the ancient paths of righteousness and let me be a repairer and restorer of those ways for others. Fill my life with the fruits of repentance and the way of life everlasting, in Jesus' name, AMEN."

Returned&Restored

      This week's Sabbath reading portion has a double title, Nitzvarim - Va yelech. This Sabbath is the last Sabbath in the month of Elul, which is dedicated to the repentance of God's people and their return to the LORD. Within a few days following this Sabbath, the Feast of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah, will take place. This feast day is also known as Rosh Hashanah. 

     This week, we will be focusing on the Nitzvarim part of the title, which means, "are standing". This title comes from Deut. 29:10-13 which contains the words of Moses to the Israelites: "All of you stand today before the LORD your God: your leaders and your tribes and your elders and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones and your wives - also the stranger who is in your camp...that you may enter into (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant with the LORD your God, and into His oath (ala - covenant confirmed by an oath, blessing, curse), which the LORD your God makes with you today, that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

     Then the LORD makes the following statement: "I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today." (v. 14-15). There is a "today" that is connected with our covenant with God, and His with us. It was not just something entered into long ago, but it is present and now. However, the LORD makes clear that there are those who are not here today, but they will still be able to have their "today" of covenant with Him in the future. In another part of scripture the LORD says, "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2, Isa. 49:8). Today, now, is the day in which the LORD has made a place for you to stand before Him and accept His salvation covenant.

This is a beautiful offer to those who will stand before the LORD "today" in covenant, from the youngest to the oldest, from the common citizen to the leaders, from the tribes by blood to the stranger or foreigner in the midst, from those present now to those who will be standing in the future.

     As we saw with the Hebrew meaning of the word, "oath" or ala used above, there is a curse that comes when this covenant is broken. There are several things mentioned in Deut. 29 involving the situations that bring the curse. One involves anyone "whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations" creating among His people "a root bearing bitterness or wormwood (la'anah - to curse, poisonous, accursed, bitter things, perverted justice, noxious)." (v. 18). We should understand that the worship of the false gods/idols of the world, both today and as it did then, involved horrible practices including human/child sacrifice, and the use of perversion and prostitution as worship. These practices caused whole nations to be shrouded alive in spiritual darkness: a living death. How much worse is it for someone who knows God to put the corrupted and corrupting things of the world before Him, thereby creating idols?

     Another situation that brings the curse in Deut. 29 is one who hears the words of the curse but ignores the curse, while blessing himself saying "I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart..." (v. 19). This person chooses to go their own way not believing the reality of the curse or that he will be affected by it. Perhaps this person thinks that the LORD will bless and protect him anyway. The LORD said that this person's name would be blotted out from under heaven (v. 20).

     This curse would affect the whole land (v. 23). When others would wonder why the LORD had done these things to the whole land, the answer would be given: "Because they have forsaken the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt; for they went and served other gods and worshipped them, gods that they did not know and that He had not given to them." (v. 25-26).

     With God dwell the blessings. Separated from God dwell the curses. It is like saying "In the Light, there is light. Separated from the Light, there is darkness", or "With the Giver of Life, there is life. Separated from the Giver of Life, there is death." For the world, including the people of God, that found themselves in darkness and the curse, God sent His Son, Jesus, Messiah/Christ, to become the curse of the Law for us so that we might walk in the eternal blessing of the salvation covenant with God (Gal. 3:10, 13-14).

     What we learn above is only to set the stage for the Sabbath lesson of this week found in Deut. Ch. 30. The LORD establishes a provision for His people to be able to return to Him when they find themselves separated and dispersed, both spiritually and physically: "Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity (sebut/saba - captivity, captives, prisoners, exile/take captive, take or lead away), and have compassion (raham - to love deeply, have mercy, have compassion, to stroke with love, cherishing, soothing, to behold with tenderest affection) on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you." (Deut. 30:1-4, see also Heb. 7:25-26).

     The LORD promises to bring them back to their land and they will possess it, and: "He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the LORD your God will circumcise your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live...The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand...the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments...and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (v. 5-10, excerpt).

     How hard does the LORD of All make it for His people to be return to Him? He makes it as easy as turning to Him in complete love, a love which causes His people to obey His voice and Word. Moses said that this was not too difficult, or a thing too distant for them to do: "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) life and good, death and evil...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling (dabaq - follow hard after, cleave to, abide, joined to, pursue closely, cling, adhere firmly, be glued) to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land..." (Deut. 30:11-20, excerpt).

     In another reading portion from this Nitzavim Sabbath, the LORD expresses His desire to the prophet, Jeremiah, for His people to return to Him: "...I earnestly remember him still; therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD...Turn back, O virgin of Israel...How long will you gad about, O you backsliding daughter?...I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul...Behold, the days are coming, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah...I will put My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people...For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (see Jer. 31: 20-34, excerpts). We can see the heartfelt desire of the LORD for His people to return to Him. Jesus had the same desire as He sent the message of repentance and return to His church in the Book of Revelation: "Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Rev. 3:19-20). The church had become so indifferent to their Savior that He had to stand outside the church and knock (krouo - to knock [with a heavy blow]) to be let in! As did His heavenly Father with Israel, Jesus offered other powerful rewards also if the church would return to Him (v. 21-22). To another church Jesus said, "...you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works..." (Rev. 2:4-5). If this church repents, Jesus promises them to eat from the tree of life in Paradise. The first works were driven by the church's love for their Savior. They must return to that love and its fruitful works.

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, we see a people who have returned to the LORD. This is their voice: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels." (Isa. 61:10).

     This is the LORD's response to their joyful return: "For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation (yesua - salvation, deliverance, rescue, also the Hebrew name of Jesus) as a lamp that burns. The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name (see also Rev. 3:12-13, Rev. 2:17), which the mouth of the LORD will name. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God...and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you...Indeed the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the world: 'Say to the daughter of Zion, surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work (pe'ulla - deeds, good action, a people won back by warfare) before Him." (Isa. 62:1-11, excerpt).

     The second state of the returned people above becomes even more blessed and exalted than their first state. This is the way of the LORD who is forever eager to pour out His mercy upon His people who will return to Him. It is especially at this time of the year that we need to repent, renew our love for the Lord, and return to Him. We should not wait until He is pounding on the door of our hearts asking for entry. Jesus warned that in these days before His return many will fall away and the love of many will wax cold (Mt. 24:10-13, 2 Thess. 2:3). It is time to return to our Lord. Call upon the Lord while He is near.

If you would like to take this opportunity today to return to the LORD whose hands are stretched out to us and waiting (see Isa. 65:1-2), you can join me in my prayer: "My Father, You have shown me mercy in my life. You have saved me through Your beloved Son, Jesus. Today, Lord, I want to repent for going my own way and I want to return to You, my Creator. I want to renew my love for You, to cling to You and follow after You. Jesus, You have made the Way possible for me to return to my Father and be reconciled with Him. Fill me with the Spirit of God who leads me and teaches me in His ways of everlasting life. 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.

Chosen

      Jesus said to His disciples: "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you....I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go out and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another." (Jn. 15:9-17). The word translated here as "friends" is the Greek word philos, a word much deeper in significance, meaning "friend, associate, a son of gladness who is the friend of the Bridegroom, companion, dear to God and favored with His intimacy, joined with." Jesus was not speaking of His disciples as casual friends or acquaintances.

     Sometimes we can be filled with spiritual pride when we think that we were smart enough to chose Jesus. However, Jesus chose us, and He didn't choose us of His own will, but in accordance with all whom the Father placed in His hands (see Jn. 6:38-41, Jn. 17:11-12, Jn. 18:8-9). Like the disciples in the Gospel, we simply accepted the invitation proffered to us. Along with the acceptance of this invitation comes the expectation that we will listen to the commands of Jesus and obey them as stated above and thereby produce the fruits that result from that obedience and our relationship as friends of Jesus. Do we fulfill this expectation?

     The above words of Jesus to His chosen disciples very much reflect what we will learn from this Sabbath reading portion titled Ki Tavo, which means "When you come in." This reading portion covers Deuteronomy chapters 26 through 28. In these chapters, the LORD ties the identity of the Israelites to Himself. He does this for a specific purpose, which we will see.

     This Sabbath title, Ki Tavo, comes from Deut. 26:1-3: "And it shall be, when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce/fruit (peri/para - fruit, fruitful, firstfruits, boughs, offspring, progeny/bear fruit, be fruitful, show fruitfulness, increase, to bear) of the ground...And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, 'I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us." This is a declaration that the LORD has fulfilled His promise of the land to them.

     The LORD then instructed His people: "So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you." (v. 11). There is to be joy in this relationship with the LORD who keeps His promises, as there is joy in our relationship with Jesus, above.

     Jesus told His disciples to keep His commandments in their relationship with Him. The LORD said the same to Israel through Moses: "...you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice (qol - voice, noise, sound, thunder, call aloud, cry). Also today the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken." (v. 17-19).

     The LORD repeated His promise regarding the relationship He was forming with Israel: "Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the LORD your God. Therefore you shall obey the voice (qol- see above) of the LORD your God, and observe (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His commandments and (*vaw (nail)-aleph (Lord)-tav (cross/covenant) His statutes which I command you today." (Deut. 27:9-10).  Again the LORD said: "...if you diligently obey the voice (qol - see above) of the LORD your God, to observe carefully (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth...The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you." (Deut. 28:1, 9-10). In these chapters it is also written that the blessings of God follow the obeying of His voice, commandments and statutes, and curses follow the disobedience to the same. We also need to understand that the LORD is not satisfied with the keeping of His written commandments, but He also demands that His people hear and obey His voice. The spoken Word of God preceded the written Word. The spoken Word is the tool of creation and the communication that the LORD used with mankind, including the patriarchs of the Hebrews. The spoken Word of God is identified as Jesus in the New Testament by the use of the Greek word logos (logos/legos - of speech, a word uttered by a living voice, the sayings of God, something said, utterance/to say, to speak, to teach, to exhort, command, call by name) in connection with His identity within the Godhead. (see Jn. 1:1-5, 14).

     The voice of God has not been replaced by the written Word of God but confirms it. The LORD still speaks today. He speaks to us through others, but He also speaks to us intimately, within ourselves, by His Spirit in us. Jesus told us that He would send the Holy Spirit, which He did on Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks (Acts 2:1-4), and the Spirit would lead us and teach us (Jn. 16:7-15). If we are not hearing the Spirit of God, it is because we are not listening (Ex. 20:18-19).

     The LORD includes above the idea that the special relationship that the LORD has with His people is not only for their benefit but affects all of the nations on earth. This is spiritual fruitfulness brought forth by the LORD through the obedience of His people. From another reading portion of this Ki Tavo, "When you go out" Sabbath, the LORD prophesies beautifully of the effect upon other nations when the LORD glorifies His people: "Arise, shine; For your light (see also Jn. 8:12, Mt. 5:14-16) has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you...The Gentiles/nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising...and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD...The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you...And they shall call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel." (Isa. 60:1, 3, 10, 14). 

     Jesus called His disciples to His joy and God called His people to rejoice in the promise that had been fulfilled by the LORD. The promise of the land (eres - land, country, whole earth, world, nations) had been a transformative promise. What once had been in the hands of idolatrous tribes was now going to become something else in the hands of the people who worship the true God of creation. From another reading portion of this Sabbath, Isa. 35, we see this transformation: "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing...They shall see the glory of the LORD, the excellency of our God...Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert...No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sadness shall flee away." These verses from Isaiah prophesy of a total transformation of land, beasts and people, and the great joy that accompanies it.

     Today, when the Jewish people speak of "the final redemption", they are speaking of the appearance of the Messiah/Christ. The identifying description of the Messiah/Christ lies in the above verses about the healing of the blind, deaf, lame and dumb (unable to speak). Jesus performed these miracles in His first appearing to affirm His identity as the Messiah/Christ. When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent messengers to Jesus to ask, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" Jesus answered him, saying, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel (good news) preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." (Mt. 11:3-6). Jesus also freed the tongues of the dumb as mentioned above (see Mark 7:32-35). The same spoken logos Word of creation Who became flesh and called us His friends commanded the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the dumb to speak, and the dead to rise, and this same logos spoken Word transforms all living creation. 

    The transformation doesn't end there, however. There is a further transformation awaiting the creation. Isaiah prophesied: "...And they shall declare My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) glory among the Gentiles/nations...For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'so shall your descendants and your name remain...all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD." (Isa. 66:19-23, excerpt. See also Isa. 43:18-19, 2 Pet. 3:10, 13-14, Rev. 21:1). Jesus also told His disciples to go into all nations to teach and declare all that He had commanded them (see Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-18).

     All of this proceeds from the LORD's instruction to His "special people", called by His name, to "obey the voice...and keep His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) commandments" with rejoicing. We should never let these already accomplished and yet-to-be manifested great works of God slip from our awareness, our obedience, our faith, our lips nor our vision.

     "When we come in", the obedient people of God bring His name, His transformation power, and His spoken and written Word, with them. The world was changed by God through a small population of people dwelling in a small nation, the Israelites and their fruit: the preserved Word of God and the Messiah/Christ who came from within them, and the world will be changed again.

     If you would like to learn more about the purpose of God's special people "when we come in", you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, I rejoice in Your voice and in Your written Word. I rejoice in the relationship into which I have been brought with You and Your Son. I rejoice in the Holy Spirit who brings Your voice and Your Words to me. I rejoice in the transformation of creation, and the transformation in my life as a new creature in Christ. The old has passed away, and You bring forth the new (2 Cor. 5:17). Forgive me when I have limited Your Word and my vision. "All things are possible with God": this is the testimony that You have placed on the lips of Your special people called by Your name. I declare this glory of God to the Gentiles/nations 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.

Tassels

    

     This Sabbath's reading portion is titled Ki Teitze, meaning "When you go out". This phrase is used in Deut. 20:1, and 21:10. It is used in these circumstances: "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." Also: "When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hands, and you take them captive..." The Ki Teitze phrase is connected here with battle and war against enemies.

     This week's portion begins in Deuteronomy chapters 22 through 25. These chapters cover a variety of laws as Moses reviews them with the people, but there is one verse concerning the garments to be worn by the Israelites that seems to be covered in mystery: "You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together.  You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover (yourself)." (Deut. 22:11-12). The assorted commandments in these chapters, including the commandment above dealing with clothing, have been specifically included with "When you go out", or battle. What could a tassle possibly have to do with going out to battle? We will have to seek out this mystery.

     The tassels or tzitzit that we see at the four corners of a prayer shawl or tallit are threads that have been folded over, twisted together and intricately knotted together to hang from the shawl. Often the explanation is given that the tassels are to serve as reminders of all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) commandments of God to do them, not following the sinful inclination our own hearts and eyes as is mentioned in Num. 15:38-40, and the tassels are tied in such a way as to reinforce this meaning, but the Hebrew meanings of the words in the verse above will take us even deeper. Let's look: "You shall make tassels..." (gadil/gadal - twisted threads, tassel, fringe, cord, rope, plaited locks, border of garment, intertwined threads, twisted work/magnify, great, grow, make powerful, praise, to do great things, make firm, become strong, of a king, lifted high, lifted up, salvation/yesua (Jesus) [Ps. 18:50], twist together, bind together). The twisting together and knotting to make the tassels does not just show us joined to and inseparable from God's commandments, but to God Himself, especially as associated with salvation. The name of God that includes the word for "tassel" is El HaGadol, or Great God, and Jehovah Gadal, "The LORD Magnified" (see Ps. 40:16). We can also see the application in warfare, as placed in this Sabbath reading as mentioned above, by the meanings in the word "tassel" of "make powerful, become strong, make firm."

     Continuing the Hebrew meanings found in the verse above from Deut. 22:12, "...on the four (arba/raba - four, square, foursquare, four sided) corners..." (kanap - feathered wing as covering, edge, border, extremity, corner of garment, coverlet, extremities of the earth, the highest summit of the temple, to cover over). In the importance of the number "four", we see the four-lettered name of God, YHWH: yod, heh, vaw, heh: "Behold the hand, behold the nail", and the foursquare nature of the City of God, the New Jerusalem come down from heaven (see Rev. 21:16), in which we also see the reference to this city being on a "great and high mountain " (see Rev. 21:10 and Isa. 2:2).

     In the meaning of "corners" from this phrase we see so many prophetic meanings here from the feathered wings of protection in Ps. 91:4, which are also the feathered wings of covering of the Messiah/Christ in Mt. 23:37, and in the eagle's wings that bore the Israelites out of Egypt in Ex. 19:4 and will bear them up again and keep them safe in the last days (see Rev. 12:13-17). We also see the corner of the coverlet wing with which Boaz covered his future wife Ruth as she sought his protection.  They would later bear the child who would be the grandfather of the future David, and his messianic lineage (see Ruth 3:7-9). 

     Continuing the verse from Deut. 22:12: "...on the clothing (kesut/kasa - covering, raiment, veiled like a married woman, a present given in order to obtain a pardon/cover, conceal, garment, the covering and concealing blood, the cloud covering that accompanies the appearing of God, to put on, overwhelm, to hide) with which you cover (kasa - see above) yourself..."

      The garment with tassels shares the same meaning as the covering with which God covers himself (Ps. 18:10-12, Ps. 97:2, Rev. 1:7-9, Rev. 19:11-13), the same meaning by which a veiled woman declares herself to be married as the Lord has married His people (Isa. 62:5, Isa. 54:5, Eph. 5:31-32, Rev. 19:7-9), and the same meaning as the covering power of the blood of sacrifice shed to cover sin (Lev. 17:11, Heb. 9:22, Heb. 10:19-22, Rev. 19:11-13). When these covering clothes with tassels are worn, it is like a gift given to gain pardon as in the robes of righteousness given to us (Isa. 61:10), and the pure white linen given to the saints to wear (Rev. 19:8).

     The commandment given by the LORD for the wearing of the tassels on the corners of the garment were also to include a single blue (tekelet/sehelet/sahal - violet thread, any color from the blue spectrum, the shellfish from which cerulean purple is made/the ingredient of holy incense, the pungent odor of the shell of the shellfish found in the lakes of India where nard [spikenard, the most costly of fragrant oils] grows/lion, fierce lion, to roar like a lion) thread/ribband twisted and knotted in among the seven white threads (Num. 15:38). The violet color spectrum has the lowest wavelengths of light (400 nm), but the highest frequency (7.50) and the highest energy (3.10). The violet spectrum of color also is associated with the acoustic thermal noise of water. The voice of God and the sound of heaven has been compared to "the sound of many waters." (see Ps. 29:3-4, Rev. 14:1-2, Rev. 19:6). This could be associated with the use of the violet color spectrum in one of the threads. Hear that voice of the LORD and obey it.

     Also in Num. 15:38-41, is the commandment to attach the tassels to garments in order to remember and do all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) commandments of God, The LORD also said here, "...and be holy (qados/qadas - holy, saint, sacred, set apart, a sanctuary, God by eminence as appearing exalted on His throne [see Isa. 6:1-3], divine name, separate from impurity and sin, sabbath, pure, clean, free from defilement of unclean or profane things, whom the grace of God has set apart, worshippers of God/sanctify, consecrate, purified, pronounce as clean, those who are consecrated by touching holy things) for your God. I am the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God." The LORD spoke of the tassels with the understanding of His holiness, and the holiness He proclaims to others by His grace.

     What depth of meaning the LORD hides in such a small thing as a tassel attached to the corners of a garment! He hides these things for those who deeply need to find them. We see an example of this from the Gospels. There was a woman who had a health issue for twelve years, and no remedy had been found. Although she had spent all of her livelihood on physicians, her condition only grew worse. The woman had a continual flow of blood that made her unclean under the law. This unclean condition would have required that she be separated from the rest of her household. She saw Jesus walking, surrounded by a large crowd. The woman believed that if she could only touch the hem (kraspedon - border, extremity, fringe of a garment, tassel made of twisted wool hanging down from a mantle or cloak) of His garment, she would be made well (Mt. 9:20, Lk. 8:44). The woman came up behind Jesus and touched His hem (tassels) and "immediately her flow of blood stopped." Jesus then said, "Who touched Me?...Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." (Lk. 8:44-46). Unless the woman understood the hidden meaning of the tassel, why would she purposefully seek to touch it even though she was unclean? Why did Jesus equate the touching of His garment's tassel as being a touch upon Himself - "Me"? Remember the Hebrew word for "tassel" is gadil/gadal, meaning in part "power, make powerful" (see above). Jesus felt this power leave Him and knew that someone had received a miracle. The woman came forward and explained all to Jesus. (Lk. 8:43-48). The holiness (qados/qadas) of God that we read about above in connection to the tassels, pronounced this woman to be clean, and she was made clean. She was consecrated by touching a holy thing/Person. The knotted and twisted threads of the tassels are not holy of themselves, but Who and what they represent is holy. Jesus scolded the religious leaders for putting on an outward show by wearing overly long tassels (Mt. 23:1-12), but there was no power in their lives. It had become an empty religious observance without revelation understanding. The power comes from the revelation of who the Powerful One is and what He does.

     There is a blessing spoken before putting on the tasseled (tzitzit) garment: "Blessed are you, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to enwrap ourselves with tzitzit."

     To me, the small tassels carry even more of a meaning than as a reminder of the commandments of God. Jesus told the religious leaders that the law and the prophets which they studied so diligently looking for eternal life testified of HIM. 

     El HaGadol, the Great and Powerful God wants us to find HIM in His commandments, even the small, mysterious commandments like the one for wearing tassels. Nothing in the Word of God is insignificant. 

     If you would like to know more about the LORD that has been hidden in the tassels, you can pray with me: "God Most Powerful, heavenly Father, help me to seek out the treasures that You have hidden for us to discover. Even the smallest things testify of Your greatness, and Your care for me. Let my faith be mixed with revelation understanding, so that Your Word becomes alive in my life, and powerful. Cleanse my life in the water of Your Word and Spirit and cover me with the blood of the One who died for me - Jesus Messiah/Christ. 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.

Government

      At this time of year, some of the nations of the world, who have the liberty to vote and choose, are soon electing their governments. This week's Sabbath reading portion, Shoftim, meaning "Judges", will give us an image of the government that the LORD has commanded for His people. We will then see how closely God's idea of government has been successfully carried out by man. The Sabbath title comes from the Hebrew word sapat, or judge, and means "to judge, govern, vindicate, punish, to act as law-giver, judge, or governor, to rule, to execute judgment, to pronounce sentence, to litigate, to plead for, to defend, to set up, to erect." Not only does the judge govern, as we would expect, but within the meaning of the word sapat is the meaning "to set up, to erect." A judge in the kingdom of God builds or establishes something that was not there before according to the Hebrew meaning. The pictographic Hebrew letters of the word sapat: shin, phe, teth, could be combined to have the meaning "El Shaddai (God Almighty, the all-sufficient One) opens His mouth of strength to devour with sharp teeth the snake coiled and twisted in the basket." We will see that this is very accurate, because the government of God in prophecy will indeed devour the coiled, twisted serpent or snake.

     This is God's command regarding judges: "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people with just judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land which the LORD your God is giving you." (Deut. 16:18-20). 

     The concept of the just judge comes straight from the character of the LORD for the purpose of our defense: "My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day." (Ps. 7:10-11). In another Psalm, it is written that God's throne is established in justice: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance." (Ps. 89:14-15).

     There was one man from scripture who placed himself next to the gate of the city while telling the people that no one from the king was available to hear their cases. He said that if only he was made a judge, he would hear their cases and render just judgment. By doing this, this king's son, Absalom, stole the hearts of the men of Israel from his father, King David. (see 2 Sam. 15:1-6). Sometimes people, both in and out of the church who have not been called to sit there, place themselves in the city gate and in the seat of judgment and act in such a way as to undermine the heavenly Father's Kingdom with their own personal agendas and prideful desires. Meanwhile, they judge after the flesh and not by the counsel or Spirit of God. Jesus spoke about the proper method of judgment when He said to the religious leadership, the Pharisees: "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me." (Jn. 8:15-16). In another place, Jesus said: "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear (akouo - to attend to, to consider what is said, to understand the sense of what is said), I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." (Jn. 5:30). Because of this obedience and submission to the voice of His Father, Jesus, the Son, was entrusted by God the Father with all judgment. (Jn. 5:21-23). Do we as believers in Christ follow this pattern and standard of righteous judgment established by Jesus?

     Moses also told the people that for those whose matters are too difficult to be settled in the gate of their city, they must arise (qum - rise up, raise, stand, establish, accomplish, set up, erect, build) and go up (ala - come up [before God], offering, light, raised, exalted, ascend, climb, shoot forth, excel, to be taken up, a train of a garment lifted) to the place where the LORD chooses: "And you shall come to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge there in those days, and inquire of them; they shall pronounce upon you the sentence of judgment. You shall do according to the sentence which they pronounce upon you in that place which the LORD chooses. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they order you. According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you." (Deut. 17:8-11). At this level of government, the priest was standing to administer justice as ministry before the LORD, not man (v. 12). Do priests and/or anointed ministers of God who consult the LORD form any part of our governments or justice systems? They are not generally welcome to participate in this way in secular government.

     The LORD foresaw the kings that would sit on the throne of Israel to govern it. He commanded that their part in the governing of God's people would require a level of righteous character. The LORD would choose the king, not the people. The king could not be a foreigner, but from the people. The king would not increase the armies (horses) for himself nor cause the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people to return to Egypt to gain the military strength (horses) of Egypt. The king was not to multiply wives, silver, or gold for himself. The king must write for himself a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) copy of the Book of the Law before the priests and the Levites, read it, and be careful to observe all the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words of the law and statutes. and to learn to fear the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) LORD all the days of his life in order to prolong all his days in his kingdom. (Deut. 17:14-20). Do those whom we choose to rule over our nations have this kind of fearful (awed) relationship with the LORD or with His Word? 

     The Book of Proverbs, written by King Solomon, describes a king who rules in just judgment after the manner of the LORD: "Divination/divine sentence (qesem/qasam - in this case meaning: divine, prudent) is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment...It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness; for a throne is established by righteousness (see also Ps. 89:14-15 mentioned above)...In the light of a king's face is life (see Ps. 89:14-15 mentioned above), and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain." (Prov. 16:10-15, excerpt). Do our rulers whom we choose contend for life?

      From another reading portion of this Shoftim Sabbath, the LORD spoke about the King that He would raise up in Jer. 23: "Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jer. 23:5-6). This King spoken of here as a Branch of David is the Messiah/Christ, our Jesus, to whom we look to return to rule upon the earth in righteousness and judgment. This is the government of God on the earth.

     This King, the Branch of righteousness of David, who brings the government of God, is greater than any earthly king, and is described in a section of Isaiah 52, a chapter which is included in this Shoftim Sabbath portion: "Behold My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished (samem - astonished, desolate, appalled, stun, stupefy, causing horror, confounded) at you, so His visage (mare - appearance, countenance, sight, comeliness) was marred (mishat - disfigurement of face) more than any man, and His form (to'ar/ta'ar - form, shape, figure, appearance/marked out, described, drawn in outline, delineate, trace out)) more than the sons of men; So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall consider." (Isa. 52:13-15). It is interesting that as Isaiah describes the marred form of this exalted Servant, the Hebrew word ta'ar used here brings to mind the "outline, tracing or drawing" that we can see on the Shroud of Turin. However, this "outline" present on the Shroud, having very accurate details of crucifixion, has been proven not to have been "drawn" or "traced" by natural materials or means, but by some other force which cannot be identified nor duplicated. Many believe that the three-dimensional outline on the Shroud therefore may have been produced by intense light energy that would have been emitted during the resurrection of Jesus, which created a photographic negative on the linen cloth. The Hebrew language used here causes us to consider these things.

     As we consider government in this Shoftim Sabbath portion, we must also remember the prophecies of an evil, ungodly government that will be a perversion of the pattern of government (priest, judge, Levite) that God commanded above. The leader of this ungodly government will be empowered by Satan himself. The prophet Daniel gives us a glimpse of this leader, whom he called a king (see Dan. 11:30-32, 36-39) and the Book of Revelation, which calls this ruler the beast, reveals further details (Rev. 17:1-13). This evil government will persecute many unto death of those who are in covenant with God including those who carry the testimony of Jesus Messiah/Christ, and will defile with abomination the worship of God. These will be terrible days on earth. However, The Lamb of God, the Savior, Jesus, the heavenly King will return and overcome them (Rev. 17:14, Rev. 19:11-16). When the LORD gave Moses His pattern of His Shoftim government, it was a pattern established, set up, forever. Included in this pattern of righteous and just government, the LORD left no provision for Satan, or his possessed minions, to replace it. It is important for us, the people of God, to follow His pattern and understand the prophetic hope contained within it. We will see this hope laid out for us below.

     In another reading portion from this Shoftim Sabbath, the LORD demands that His people listen to the words which He speaks: "Listen to Me, My people; and give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, and I will make My justice rest as a light of the peoples. My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, and on My arm they will trust....But My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not be abolished. Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults...But My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation." (Isa. 51:4-8, excerpt). This is something for the judges to be declaring prophetically and establishing as a just sentence against the spiritual principalities of wickedness. (see Eph. 6:10-13). The LORD demands that we hear about the deliverance that He has promised and provided in His government that will stand forever against the government of evil. We can live, speak, and prophecy His government against the days ahead. It is an overcoming light for the peoples against the coming darkness.

     We have a powerful prophetic word from Isaiah describing the eternal kingship and government of the Messiah/Christ: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this." (Isa. 9:6-7).

If you would like to know more about and learn to walk in the government of God, you can pray with me: "Father of Glory, You gave us Your pattern of righteous and just government to provide to all mankind a promise to save us from the plan of spiritual wickedness. Of Your government, Lord and King, there will be no end. We proclaim Your government in the earth and look to this precious promise even as the days darken. You have provided this sure hope for us, and You have given Your trusted Son, Jesus ("Salvation") to be the King of Your government on earth. For this "Wonderful" thing, I give You many thanks 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.

To consider additional information regarding the Shroud of Turin, you can visit:

Shroud of Turin