BeHoly

      This week's Sabbath reading portion has a double title: Achariei Mot (see Lev. 16:1), which means "After the death" and K'doshim (see Lev. 19:1-2), meaning "Holy Ones". The LORD spoke to Moses saying: "Speak to all (kol/kalal - everything, all, whosoever, whatsoever, the whole, the totality/to complete, perfect, make perfect, finish, a crown, crowning of the bride, nuptials, to put a crown upon) the congregation of the children of Israel (yisrael = sara + el: have power as a prince. royal, to prevail, to fight + God), and say to them: 'You shall be holy (qados/qadas - sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart, pure, clean, free from defilement/consecrate, sanctify, prepare, be holy, be separate, dedicate, clean, purify, declare holy), for I the LORD your God am holy (qados/qadas - see above)." (Lev. 19:1-2, see also Lev. 11:44-45, Lev. 20:26). Holiness is identified as the quality of the LORD who is called (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-Holy-One-of-Israel in the scriptures such as Isa. 1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:17, 20; 12:6, 17:7; 29:19, 23; 30:11-12, 15; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14, 45:11; 47:4; 48:17. All of these references to The Holy One of Israel are just those found in the Book of Isaiah. There are many more throughout scripture.

     This is quite a concept: The LORD is stating that His people are to be equal in holiness to God's holiness! From this statement, some may believe that we are to achieve this perfect holiness, for there is no partial holiness or almost holiness, by our own strength and methods. However, to me, this statement is saying something different. To me it is saying that this is not possible in the strength of flesh, using man's religious ideas, interpretations, and efforts. This is a far more powerful concept than any religion's efforts. Jesus said that a man is defiled by what proceeds from his own heart: Mt. 15:16-20, Mk. 7:20-23, see also Jer. 17:9-10. Our own ideas are the very things that defile us in the first place, so we cannot rely upon our own hearts and ideas to purify ourselves to the degree of the holiness of God, but should seek the more powerful way to and of His holiness that has been provided to us by God Himself. What is this way provided to the holiness of God?

     If we look at the two titles that have been joined together for this Sabbath, we see an idea: "After the death...the holy ones." There is a death that leads to holiness. This idea begins to lead us to the Rock who is higher than ourselves, who pours out the water of refreshing and cleansing, even the waters of holiness.

     It is written in the Book of Hebrews that Christ's death fulfills God's will, which includes our holiness as stated above in Leviticus, and perfects the sanctified: "By that we will have been sanctified (see qados/qadas above) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." (see Heb. 10:4-10).

     Apostle Paul also wrote: "....that no flesh should glory in His (God's) presence. But of Him (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification (see qados/qadas above) and redemption - that as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Cor. 1:30-31).

     Paul also wrote: "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He (Jesus) has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy (hagios/hag - holy, saints, Holy One, sacred, pure, blameless, consecrated, clean [see similarity with Hebrew qados/qadas above]/feast of the LORD, sacrifice), and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith...not moved away from the hope of the gospel...which was preached to every creature under heaven." (Col. 1:21-23).

     Paul again wrote: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace..." (Eph. 1:3-7). The blood of Christ which achieved all of these things for us, came to all of mankind through His death. There is nothing here that suggests that these results were achieved through my efforts to be holy, but instead by the will of the Father through the death of Jesus Christ. 

     Paul wrote in Ephesians: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loves the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:25-27).

     Does this mean that nothing is required of us to be holy as the LORD is holy? Well, no. First, we must remain in the faith of the Gospel that declares that Jesus died to make us holy, as Paul wrote above. It is through the eyes of faith that we can see and receive this truth that sanctifies us. (see also Jn. 17:19). Then we remember our hint from above: "After the death...the holy ones." Christ's death established us in holiness, but there is another death involved in the path of holiness. Paul wrote: "For I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20). This refers to a type of death for each of us by which we give up our own imperfect will, ideas, and desires. Now, instead, the holy Christ lives in us and we in Him.

     Paul gives us more detail of this concept in Romans: "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His (Jesus') death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord...present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Rom. 6:5-13).

     "After the death...the holy ones."

     In these words from scripture above, we are not being asked to die physically, but to become united into the death and resurrected life of Christ as He lives. Paul wrote in the above verse from Galatians 2:20, "...it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...". This is how God makes us holy if we will accept it - by making us one with His holiness, with His life through the death and life of His Son, Jesus.

From the K'doshim, or "Holy ones" Sabbath reading in Lev. 19, the LORD gives us a thought-provoking look into this holiness. The LORD says: "Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father." (v. 3). Why does this reflect holiness? All of us are to come before the Lord like little children, without pride and self-importance, with child-like faith, love, joy, and the reverence that comes as a child naturally depends upon a parent for all things, knowing that the parent will provide for every need. (see Mt. 18:1-5).

     The LORD then commands: "...keep (samar - keep, observe, preserve, watch, save, wait for, retain, guard) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-sabbaths: I am the LORD your God." (v. 3). Why does the LORD's holiness fill His sabbaths? The sabbath represents and contains the completion and perfection of God's restoration, reconciliation and renewal plan established before the beginning for all of creation, but especially for man. For this reason, it is holy in the eyes of God. The sabbath was made to bring this completion to man, Jesus said. Jesus also said that the sabbath has a Lord to reign over it, to be the Master and Administrator of its fulfilment in the completion of God's will to provide for and renew man, and that Lord of the sabbath is Jesus Messiah/Christ. (see Mk. 2:27-28).

     As we look at the other reflections of holiness in verses 4-18, with which the LORD identifies Himself by repeating, "I am the LORD your God" six additional times, we can see the holy heart of God towards man, which He also wants to see in our thoughts and works, as well as man's reverence towards his holy God. We can see by this that we are only able to love God with all of our hearts, soul and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves, which fulfills all the law and the prophets, if we do so out of a heart filled with the holiness belonging to the LORD our God. (see Mt. 22:36-40). These are holy manifestations that appear out of a holy heart.

     If you would like to learn more about walking in the holiness of God, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, through the death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus for all of the world, You opened the door into Your heart of holiness. You called us to be worshippers, but You also called us, and made the way for us, to be partakers of Your own glorious holiness. This is a love and power towards us that is too great to fully comprehend, but You have entrusted us with Your own holiness. Lord Jesus, I never want to reject what You have accomplished for me by the sacrifice of Yourself, including my being made holy in You with the holiness of God. Help me, Lord, through Your Word and the Holy Spirit whom You have placed within me, to perceive and receive this divine gift of holiness. Let the holiness of God be manifested through my life, rather than my own thoughts and will. Let me not live by my own desires but let me live instead by and with Christ in me. There is no greater honor in my life, nor known to man, than Christ, the Holy One, in me. I ask this in Your name, 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. 

RevolutionaryHope

      When an angel came to Mary with the announcement that she would bear a Son, who was in fact, "the Son of the Highest", Mary was very bewildered by such a possibility. The angel explained and concluded by saying, "For with God nothing will be impossible." (Lk. 1:35-37). 

     This Sabbath reading portion is a double-titled portion: Tazri'a-M'tzora. Tazri'a means "She bears seed", and M'tzora means "infected one". One of the infections from which the LORD offers a remedy in this Sabbath reading portion is the leprosy infection: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest." (Lev. 14:1-2). The priest would accept the sin offering, "and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness." (v. 19). The verses 3-9 describing the cleansing offering and practice to be done are full of *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, too many to document here. The presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew indicates the presence of Jesus to us, because He identified Himself with the *aleph-tav in the Book of Revelation (see *note at the bottom of the page for details). This is also confirmed by the healing of lepers by Jesus many generations later as recorded in the Gospels.

     There is an important thing to know about this cleansing of leprosy which the LORD prescribes to the one afflicted in the Law given to Moses: leprosy was an incurable disease. This is the modern definition of leprosy: "Leprosy- lepra tuberculosa - a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacillus leprae and characterized by the formation of growths in the skin, mucous membranes, peripheral nerves, bones and internal viscera, producing various deformities and mutilations of the human body and usually terminating in death." Death is still the usual outcome according to this definition even though leprosy is now treated with medicine.

     The first documentation of the disease was recorded in ancient Egypt and was attributed at the time to the infection of the waters of the Nile River.  It is believed to have spread to other nearby nations from there. Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases. Today, it is estimated that 2-3 million people are permanently disabled because of leprosy, with India having the greatest number of cases.

     Even though leprosy was a sure death sentence at the time of Moses, the people of God were able to be cleansed through *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega offerings as given in the Law and ministered through and under the oversight of the priest. Before this, the world had never known this hope and promise regarding the cleansing of leprosy, and the deliverance from certain death.

     There was a prophet in Israel, Elisha (meaning "God is salvation"), who had received a double portion of the anointing that his spiritual mentor, Elijah, had upon his life. Elisha lived in Samaria in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Both Elisha and his mentor, Elijah, were not prophets in the sense that they received the prophetic Words of the LORD and recorded them in a book as Isaiah and Jeremiah did. Instead, these prophets prophesied primarily through the deeds that they did from the hearing of the Word of the LORD to them. Elijah and Elisha brought the Kingdom of God into the earth by doing His works.

     At this same time, there was a great and mighty man of valor, Naaman (na'aman/na'em - pleasantness/pleasant, beautiful, sweet, delightful, lovely, show gracious favor toward), a man of integrity, who was the commander of the enemy Syrian army. He was also a leper. Naaman had an Israelite slave in his household who had been brought back as a captive to Syria as a young girl after the Syrians had gone on raids into Israel. (2 Kings 5:1-2). This Israelite slave girl said to Naaman's wife: "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy." (v. 3). Even his captive slave admired Naaman and cared what happened to him. It was as a consequence of this true statement of a little captive slave girl from Israel that Naaman, the Syrian commander, received the news of hope.

     Naaman went to his master, the king of Syria, and told him what the captive Israelite slave girl had said. The Syrian king told Naaman to go to Israel to seek out this prophet, and the king would send a letter to the king of Israel. Naaman took with him large amounts of gold and silver, as well as clothing, prepared to pay for his healing. This letter from the Syrian king to the king of Israel told the king of Israel to heal his servant, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Naaman, of leprosy. The king of Israel was shocked by (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-letter and went into mourning, tearing his clothes and saying, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy?...see how he seeks a quarrel with me." When Elisha heard about the distress of the king of Israel, he told the king not to tear his clothes but to send the Syrian, Naaman, to him, "and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." (v. 4-8). Elisha was telling the king not to be a messenger of hopeless mourning regarding this event.

     When Naaman came to Elisha's house with his horses and chariot, Elisha would not even come out of his house to speak with him! The prophet sent a servant out to give Naaman this message: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." (v. 9-10). It is interesting to know that the cleansing of leprosy according to the Law given to Moses, requires that the one suffering from leprosy to be sprinkled seven times. (see Lev. 14:7).

     At first, Naaman was offended and "furious" by the strange instructions and the manner that the instructions had been given to him, but his servants respectfully suggested to Naaman that he might as well do it: "So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (v. 11-14). Naaman and all of his aides returned to Elisha, and Naaman said to the prophet: "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant." However, Elisha refused the gift, saying: "...I will receive nothing." 

     The miraculous healing of Naaman the Syrian's leprosy could have been a turning point in the enmity between Syria and Israel. However, the corrupt action of Elisha's servant seems to have impacted upon that possibility as we will see.

     As Naaman left, Elisha's servant, Gehazi (gehazi/gay'/geva - "valley of vision"/steep valley/pride, lift up), pursued (radap - pursue, chase, persecute, harass, pursue ardently, run after a bribe) Naaman and asked for silver and garments on behalf of the prophets, which Naaman gladly gave to him. Elisha perceived in the Spirit what his servant had done and asked Gehazi: "Is it time ('et/'ada - a fit or proper time, an opportunity, a certain time/adorn oneself, to attack in a hostile manner) to receive (laqah - lay hold of, take in the hand, take possession of, take in marriage, accept, receive, capture, seize, procure) money and to receive clothing, olive groves, and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?" Elisha then said to his servant, Gehazi: "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.' And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow." (v. 15-27). Considering the meaning of the Hebrew laqah above, could it be possible that receiving the wealth of the Syrian commander also meant receiving or "being married to" the means by which that wealth, as Elisha described it above, was acquired? Abraham, generations earlier, also refused to accept the spoils that were offered to him that were captured in battle by the king of Sodom because it would rob God of the glory He had in Abraham's life. (see Gen. 14:21-24). Perhaps these deeper issues require careful and obedient discernment through the Holy Spirit.

     At a moment that was meant to glorify God for His gracious deliverance of Naaman from the death sentence of leprosy, a moment powerful to pull down spiritual strongholds over a man and even possibly over his nation, Gehazi used that moment to enrich himself.

     From Elisha's question to his servant, it also seems that this miraculous healing came at a pivotal time and purpose in the will and plan of God that would affect something very important. Not long after this miracle healing took place and the inappropriate acceptance of Naaman's gift by Gehazi, it is recorded in scripture that the king of Syria went to war against Israel (see 2 Kings 6:8) and besieged Samaria in a severe and desperate famine (see 2 Kings 6:24-25). 

     The healing of leprosy was a revolutionary, powerful and gracious provision of God beyond all worldly knowledge that was placed into the hands of Israel, for their benefit and even for the benefit of those outside of Israel as the LORD would use it. It was even more importantly a prophetic representation of the ministry of Jesus Messiah/Christ, who healed the unhealable and cleansed the uncleanable, thereby giving hope to the hopeless. All of these things were foretold by the prophets of God. (Ex. 4:6-7, Ps. 51:1-2, 7, Ezek. 36:25, Acts 10:15). As His servants, we are called to have a deeper discernment and understanding regarding this treasure of hope that has been given to the world through Jesus Messiah/Christ, especially at this time.

     If you would like to learn more about our revolutionary hope in Jesus Messiah/Christ, you can pray with me: "Father of all life, You miraculously and sovereignly injected hope into the world that was filled with hopelessness. You provided this hope to point us to the coming of Your Son, Jesus, regarding whose birth the angel said: "...with God, nothing will be impossible." Help me, Lord, to be guided by Your Holy Spirit in discerning Your miraculous works. Help me, Lord, not to question or speak against or judge Your works of salvation, healing and deliverance that You have brought to someone's life. Each one that You touch is part of Your plan for salvation in the earth. I never want to call common what You have sovereignly made clean, but I want to be instead a living "AMEN!" of celebration. 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. 

     

LightofGod

     Last week we studied the Sabbath portion titled Sh'mini, which means "Eighth Day". The Hebrew word not only includes the number eight as well as numbers built upon the number eight like eighteen, eighteen thousand and so on, but the meaning of sh'mini or semini/samen/saman includes so much more. It includes the idea of "plenteous, fat, robust, rich/to shine with oil, to cover with fat or oil." The idea is the overflowing riches of the anointing and shining with the oil of anointing. 

     In keeping with the understanding of the word semini, the Sabbath portion also includes Atz'ma'ut, a recognition of the anniversary of the restoration and independence of the modern nation of Israel. Atz'ma'ut in the Hebrew means "to become an entity". God prophesied that He would restore Israel as a nation, and approximately 2,000 years after its demise, Israel was restored as an independent nation on May 14, 1948. This was a great miracle and fulfilment of prophecy. However, the miracle doesn't end there. While the nation of Israel prospers greatly and is the premier military power in the area, the promise of semini goes so much further. If we limited the fulfilment of God's promises to the 1948 physical re-establishment of the nation of Israel, we would be robbing Israel of the great prophetic semini promises of God for the spiritual riches and anointing that He has for Israel that will impact the world. Because of this, God's semini promises for Israel are important for all of the people and nations of the earth.

     If the Atz'ma'ut anniversary of Israel does not occur until May 14, why does a March/April Sabbath reading portion include it? It was decided that the month of Nisan, which is the month of Passover, is the perfect time to examine the great miracle of this restoration, and God's semini prophecies for Israel.

     The first Atz'ma'ut anniversary reading portion from the Sh'mini Sabbath is from the prophet, Micah, whose Hebrew name Michayahu means "Who is like the LORD (Yahweh)?":

     "Now it shall come to pass in the latter ('aharit/'ahar - after part, end, latter time, future time, posterity, remnant/afterwards, seeing, in the background, hinder parts) days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.' For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore....'In that day,' says the LORD, I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast and those whom I have afflicted; I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation; so the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever." (Mic. 4:1-7, excerpt, also Isa. 2:1-4). Isaiah, who earlier in time wrote this same Word of the LORD added: "O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isa. 2:5).

     How wonderful is the semini shining oil of the anointing that will flow out of Jerusalem, as the LORD, Himself, teaches all people and nations! How wonderful is the shining anointing that causes the end of war among the nations of the whole world! How wonderful is the shining anointing that creates a nation from the lame and the outcasts that no one valued! This is not an Atz'ma'ut celebration remembrance that is limited to the physical restoration of the nation of Israel, miraculously brought back from non-existence in 1948, but a Sh'mini celebration of the shining anointing of the LORD, that will change the world. Believers in Messiah/Christ view this prophetic vision of Micah's as the reign of Messiah/Christ Jesus on earth after His return.

     Another Atz'ma'ut (anniversary) reading portion from this Sh'mini Sabbath is from Isaiah 60: "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness (hosek/hasak - darkness, misery, destruction, sorrow, obscurity, wickedness, of Hades/become dark, grow dim, confuse) shall cover the earth, and deep darkness ('arapel - heavy thick darkness, gloom, heavy dark cloud) the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and the kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up (nasa - lift up, arise, to carry, forgive, hold up, obtain, cast eyes upon) your eyes ('ayin - sight, a fountain, look well, regard) all around (sabib/sabab - on every side, in a circle/walk around, march around, turn oneself, change, transform), and see (ra'a - see, look, consider, seer, discern, perceive, foresee, have vision, to be visible): They all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see (ra'a, see above) and become radiant (nahar - flow together, lightened, to shine, to beam, be radiant), and your heart shall swell with joy...The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you...And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD...For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. Also your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time." (Isa. 60:1-6, excerpt, 20-22).

     As Isaiah wrote the LORD's prophecy above, it must have reminded him of His vision of the Lord on His throne in the temple of God in heaven, and the seraphim angels that cried out to each other: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isa. 6:3).

     Even when all around is a thick, deep darkness, the LORD is asking above for Israel to "see" with spiritual sight, to turn in place and look all around them and "see into being or visibility" what the LORD has declared over Israel. This goes beyond the establishment of the nation of Israel in 1948, as miraculous as that was. This is a vision of radiant beaming light that shines out from Israel. Nations and people will be drawn out of that crushing darkness towards this beaming sh'mini oil of shining. Israel and all of us who value the Word of the LORD are to prophetically "see" this vision. 

     In the 1930's and 40's a thick darkness of lies and oppression did attempt to cover the earth and to subject all of the people, especially Jewish people, to the point of extinction. However, out of this time of darkness, the nation of Israel was born in 1948. We are living in a time when a great spiritual darkness from hell of destruction, wickedness and misery is again trying to overcome the world. Even now, Isaiah's words from the LORD are again calling out to Israel and to all of us who believe to look up and look all around us and "see" this promise of the manifestation of the light and glory of the LORD coming forth to the world from this restored nation. "All around", or sabib/sabab in Hebrew, includes the meaning of to change, to transform (see above). Seeing with ra'a prophetic sight, brings the invisible into visibility (see ra'a meaning above) and transforms the nations and people even beyond the borders of Israel as the shining light overwhelms the darkness.

     Darkness cannot be destroyed with military strategies or bombs. It is a spiritual power. As Isaiah wrote, darkness, even the thick darkness of Hell, is only overcome with the eternal and gloriously radiant Light of God from within His people whom He has raised up: "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you," Isaiah wrote.

     At the current time of great darkness, we are called to lift our eyes all around us and ra'a see the glory of the Kingdom of God, and the glory of the Messianic/Christ's Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, and to be that same glory of beaming radiance, the same sh'mini shining with the oil of anointing, that overcomes the darkness. 

     John wrote: "This is the message we have heard from Him (Jesus) and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 Jn. 1:5-7, see also Jn. 1:4-5, Jn. 8:12, Col. 3:1-4, 2 Pet. 3:13-14, Lk. 21:28). The prophecy of Isaiah above is still powerful, still working, still being fulfilled in the earth. To both the nation of Israel, and to the Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah/Christ, who are the light of the world as Jesus is the Light of the world, let this Light so shine. (see Mt. 5:14-16).

     The vision of the LORD didn't end in 1948, and the intention of the vision is to beam this shining light into the darkness. The prophet Daniel spoke of those who shine. Jesus spoke of that shine and told us all to be it. He is the source of that shine because He is Messiah/Christ, the Anointed One, anointed with the sh'mini shining oil of Kingship. If you can ra'a see and be the shine, then you will also see Him as the source of it.

     When David wrote of the LORD as his Shepherd in Psalm 23, he said: "...You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over," he was speaking in a way that incorporates the meaning in Hebrew of the Sh'mini (see above) Sabbath.   

     The Hebrew word, Atz'ma'ut, the anniversary of Israel's independence included in the Sh'mini Sabbath, also has in its root meaning the word "bone." Israelites use this meaning to point to the prophecy regarding the valley of dry bones of "the whole house of Israel" that come to life again as Ezekiel obediently prophesied the Word of the LORD over those dry bones, which have been long imprisoned in death. (Ezek. 37:1-14). This was written while Ezekiel and the Israelites were still kept in captivity in Babylon. The LORD promises that He will "...open (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-graves" and bring you into the land of Israel...Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. Then I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land." (v. 12-14).

      (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) resurrection from death, the voice that opens graves (see Jn. 5:24-25), did come to the nation of Israel generations after their captivity in Babylon ended and they were returned to the land. From that nation of Israel, the news of the Resurrection and the Life, the Messiah/Christ (see Jn. 11:23-27), was spread by Israelite believers to other people and nations, changing/transforming millions and millions of lives over two thousand years.

     God's wondrous and miraculous plan for the nation of Israel and its impact on the world was not begun and completed in 1948 but began in eternity and will continue into eternity, including playing a key role in the return of Jesus to earth to rule and reign forever. In the meantime, Arise, shine against the darkness. Look up and all around and "see" it according to the Word of the LORD.

     If you would like to learn more about the battle of Light against darkness, and our "seeing", "being", and "shining" role in it, you can join with me in prayer: "Heavenly Father of Light! You have prophesied to Israel and to all of us the truth of Your purpose and plan to overcome the kingdom of darkness that attempts to cover the earth and all of the people. You sent Your beloved Son, Jesus, to be the Light of the world, and He called me and those who believe on Him to be the same Light. Father, I want to be that Light. Your Word is Light. Let Your Word, who is Jesus, and Your Spirit, who is truth, dwell within me and shine from me. Anoint my head with Your pure oil, Father, and transform me into Light and transform also those who see Your Light in me. Father, let darkness recede from before Your Light as I turn all around and "see" and believe that the whole earth is filled with the glory of God. I ask this in the name of Your Son, my Savior, 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. 

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. 

GreatSabbath

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Tzav, meaning "Command." This is also a special Sabbath called HaGadol, or Great Sabbath, in this case because it is the Sabbath before Passover. The title, Tzav, comes from Leviticus 6:8-9: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying 'Command (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Aaron ('aharon - "light bringer", mountainous) (*vaw-aleph/tav)-and-his-sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering...". The word "command” is the Hebrew word sav meaning: command, charge, appoint, order, ordain of divine act, to set up.

     What is being ordained by the LORD to the priest is the atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon) for a person's trespasses against the LORD regarding a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-neighbor. These trespasses are described in earlier verses 1-6 KJV in the chapter. The trespasses are against the LORD for the acts done against the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-neighbor. Now a "neighbor" is specifically used here instead a "person". The Hebrew word for neighbor is 'amit meaning: neighbor, another, an associate, fellow, kindred, companion. This is not a stranger, but one who is known to the person committing the trespass. This neighbor is also identified with Messiah/Christ because it is preceded by the written *aleph-tav. The Messiah/Christ would be born from among them, be kindred to them, would live among them and with whom they would become acquainted.

     It is appropriate that this reading is connected to the Sabbath before the Passover, a Great Sabbath, when the Passover lamb, who had been brought into the household, was killed and its blood was used to cover the doors of the houses of the Israelites in Egypt in order to protect those households from the last plague of Egypt - the death of all first born. Jesus is identified as our Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world by three apostles in the New Testament: Paul in 1 Cor. 5:7-8, John in John 1:29 and Rev. 5:6, and Peter in 1 Pet. 1:18-19.  We will see that the trespasses committed against the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega "neighbor" deeply resemble the suffering, crucifixion, burial, descent into Hell, and resurrection of Jesus Messiah/Christ. It is a timely Sabbath reading because, not only is Passover approaching, but also Resurrection Sunday. We will also see that the LORD commanded the provision of Atonement that would cover and pardon the trespasser.

     The portrait of the suffering and death of the Messiah/Christ (Jesus) is found in the very particular language used to describe the trespasses against the LORD by the abuse of the *aleph-tav- "neighbor". Therefore, I will look at the Hebrew word meanings found in these uniquely worded phrases from Lev. 6:4-11 from the King James version.

     From verse 4, there are four phrases which describe the trespass against the neighbor which the trespasser must restore to him:

1.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-that-thing which he took violently away: (gazal - rob, consume, force, torn, seize, take away by force, flay, strip, tear, strip off skin from flesh). Jesus was seized forcibly in His arrest, and His skin was flayed from His body with the Roman scourge/whip.

2.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-thing deceitfully gotten: ('oseq/'asaq - injury, cruelly, oppression/oppress, violate, be crushed, injustice, roughness, do violence, wrongly). Jesus, who was innocent of the contrived allegations against Him, as even Pontius Pilate attested (see Lk. 23:14), was nevertheless wrongfully violated, cruelly mocked and violently injured.

3.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-that-thing which was delivered to him [the trespasser] to keep: (paqad - attend to, care for, pay attention to, observe, to seek, to be visited, to be appointed, to be watched over, be caused to miss, trust). Jesus was the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega "thing" that was given by God into the care and keeping of man. Jesus told the people to follow Him, to seek Him, to receive His visitation, but, as was God's plan from the beginning, Jesus was instead delivered up violently (see Acts 2:22-23) by the sins of all (both Jew and Gentile because all have sinned) to be executed. (see Isa. 53:3, Mt. 27:24-25, Acts 2:23, Rom. 4:24-25, Rom. 8:31-32).

4.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-lost-thing which he (the trespasser) found: ('abeda/'abad - lost thing, place of destruction, Hades, abyss/perish, broken, destroy utterly, vanish, kill, exterminate, to blot out, no escape, cut-off, lost and wandering sheep, houses laid waste) and (found/masa' - encounter, detect, recognize, discovered). Jesus was treated as lost and consigned to extermination and Hades/Hell (see 'abeda/'abad above) even though He had told them, and us, that they should detect and recognize (see masa' above) Him as being part of His Father in heaven for His works' sake, if for no other reason. (Jn. 14:10-11). Jesus overcame death, Hell and the grave as He entered into them. (Rev. 1:18, Acts 2:24-28).

     Let's look at verse 6 from this chapter of Leviticus for our next depiction of Messiah/Christ: "And he (the trespasser) shall bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-trespass-offering ('asam - sin, trespass, guiltiness, to do wrong, do injury, desolate, perish) unto the LORD, a ram ('ayil/'ul - ram, door post, door jambs, mighty tree, lintel, ram as a sacrifice, as yielding wool, door surround, leaping, skipping [as the pascal lamb]/noble leading man) without blemish (tamim/tamam - without blemish, perfect, upright, complete, full, innocent, what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact/end, finished, spent, done, accomplish, perfect, to be completely crossed over, make whole, be upright) out of the flock...for a trespass offering, unto the priest."

     In the meaning of the Hebrew words noted above, there is a connection of "the ram" to the blood smeared doorposts and lintels of the Passover deliverance (Jesus is our Passover - see above) and protection from the plague of death. As we look at the meaning of "without blemish" above, we can understand the words of Jesus on the cross when He said, "It is finished." He was and is perfect in His innocence and in full accord with truth. (see Jn. 1:14).

     This same image is to continue in us, the believers in Messiah/Christ. Paul wrote that the end goal of God for the Church was to the "perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13). In another place, Paul wrote that Christ wanted to present us to Himself "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:26-27). We are also to have the same quality as Messiah/Christ as the *aleph-tav-the-burnt-offering for trespass: tamim - without blemish. If it is the purpose and will of God that we are to be built into this perfect man and fulness of Christ, then we should understand the image into which we are being conformed. It includes the image of the *aleph-tav-burnt-offering. (see Heb. 13:13-14). We will see this again later.

     In this Lev. 6 chapter, the LORD commanded (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Aaron-and-his-sons to take the trespass burnt offering and burn it upon the altar, whose fire is to be kept burning continually. After (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-burnt-offering has been consumed, the priest shall take off his priestly garments, put on other garments, "and carry forth (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-ashes without the camp unto a clean place (taor/taher - shine, uncontaminated, to be bright, empty)." (v. 9-11).

     After Jesus Messiah/Christ had been consumed on the cross as our trespass offering (see Isa. 53:5, 8, 10), His body was taken and placed in the clean, unused tomb carved out of the rock, owned by Joseph of Arimathea (from rama/rum - birthplace of Samuel, high place/to raise, rise, rise up, exalt, set on high, lift up, raise, heave offering), "...where no one had ever lain before. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near." (see Lk. 23:50-54). The tomb was located in a garden, "in the place where He was crucified." (Jn. 19:41-42). This meant that the tomb was located outside of the city just as the *aleph-tav ashes of the *aleph-tav burnt offering were to be placed outside the camp. (see Heb. 13:10-14, Jn. 19:17-20). Being a new, never occupied tomb meant that it was "a clean place", undefiled previously by a corpse. The "clean place" mentioned in Leviticus for the deposit of the ashes of the offering is also a place that means "bright, shining" (see taor/taher above). Paul wrote that Jesus was raised by the glory of the Father, as we are also (see Rom. 6:4-5), and the tomb was left "empty" (see again taor/taher above).

     Before we leave Lev. 6, there is another interesting point to make, which will also take us into another reading portion from this Tsav Sabbath. In Lev. 6:12-13, the fire of the altar must always be kept burning: "...The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." What is this fire that shall always be burning and never quenched? Is it the fire of God's wrath? Is it the fire of Hell? The word "ever" used in the above verse is the Hebrew word tamid. Notice that this Hebrew word is very similar to the Hebrew word that means "without blemish", that is tamim/tamam, referring to the *aleph-tav-burnt-offering for trespasses. 

     Related to this, from another Tzav "Command" Sabbath reading from this Ha-Gadol or Great Sabbath before Passover, we also read of the Refining Fire that is the LORD: "Who can endure (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire...He will purify (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sons-of-Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer the LORD an offering in righteousness." (Mal. 3:2-3). This refining fire then has the effect of leaving the sons of Levi "without blemish", purged of all unrighteousness. This same ever-burning tamid refining fire of the altar is continually available to purge us as well.

     The baptism of the Holy Spirit upon and within the believer in Messiah/Christ Jesus is a baptism of spiritual fire. (see Mt. 3:11-12). The manifestation of this promise indeed appeared as "tongues of fire" upon each believer waiting upon the Lord in Jerusalem on the Feast of Pentecost/Weeks. (see Acts 2:1-4).

     The LORD spoke directly clarifying that the animal sacrifices that were commanded to the Israelites and the Levitical priesthood were not for the pleasing of God by shedding animal blood for the Atonement of sins and trespasses but as a prophetic shadow of better and perfect things to come. These animal sacrifices were pointing instead to obtaining the true knowledge of the will of God and what He has prepared for man, namely an eternal and holy Atonement through the blood of His Son, Jesus. (see Ps. 40:6-8, Isa. 1:11, Jer. 7:21-23, Hos. 6:6, Heb. 10:1-4).  Jesus' identity is "hidden in plain sight" in the Hebrew language of the Torah as noted above, and in confirming New Testament scriptures. It is into this same identity and image, the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-burnt-offering, that we also are being transformed. (see Rom. 12:1-2).

     It you would like to know more about the burnt offering that is the Son of God into which image we are also being transformed as believers, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have sent Your Son to be our burnt offering sacrifice for sin. You established the prophetic pattern which You fulfilled with the perfect, innocent and upright sacrifice beyond the greatest imaginations of men. You told Your prophets that we were to look for this knowledge of You even beyond the proscribed sacrifices of the Law. Lord Jesus, not only were You gracious to become my sacrifice, but You have also called Your followers to be conformed into this same image. By Your Word and Holy Spirit, give me the understanding needed to offer myself, conformed to the fulness of the stature of Christ, as a living sacrifice proving the good, acceptable and perfect will of God before all creation. Let this Passover/Resurrection season witness to the world the wonder, love and forgiveness found in Your Atonement provision for all, Your Son, Jesus. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Son of God, Savior and Lord. 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. 

Calling

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yikra which means "And He called." Va-yikra is also the Hebrew name for the third Book of the Bible that we call "Leviticus." This Book is about the calling of the priests into the service of the LORD in His tabernacle, and the offerings to the LORD that the priests are supposed to minister. This sabbath portion's name comes from the first verse of Chapter 1: "Now the LORD called (qara - to call out, cry out, proclaim, utter a loud sound, to summon, invite, appoint, call and endow, give name to) to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting..." This is the same Hebrew word, qara, as God used in calling and naming His creation (see Gen. 1:5, 1:8, 1:10 ) and by which Adam "called" all of the beasts of the creation in order to name them. (see Gen. 2:19-20). It is an authoritative "calling" that establishes an identity and purpose.

     As the Book of Leviticus begins, it begins with a blood sacrifice. God called Moses to speak to the children of Israel about the kind of blood sacrifice (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to bring to the tabernacle that would be accepted for each man's atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, merciful, cleansed, pardon, cover over, atone for sin, propitiate [see Rom. 3:23-26, 1 Jn. 2:1-2]).

     After the Israelite brings his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to the tabernacle, he will kill it there. Then the priests take over. They will take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood and sprinkle (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood around the altar. (v. 5). Then the man shall flay/skin (pasat - strip, flay, strip off, spread out, deploy in a hostile array, to unclothe-plunder-flay, invade, stretch out, to rush upon, to attack) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering. I think that we can see the connection here in the word "flay/skin" to the whipping of Jesus, our (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering not only for our atonement, but for the atonement for the whole world as scripture tells us. Part of being the atonement (see kapar above) is also that Jesus reconciles all creation to the Father, which same ministry of reconciliation has been given to us. (see 2 Cor. 5:18-19).

     So the priesthood was to have a direct role in receiving and applying the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt offerings of the children of Israel. As we believers in Messiah/Christ are called to a spiritual royal priesthood (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10, Rev. 1:5-6, Rev. 5:8-10, Rev. 20:6), we also have this ministry before the Father of the receiving and applying of His Son's atoning blood on behalf, not only of ourselves, but for the people. Revelation 20:6 noted above ties this priesthood of God and Christ with those of the first resurrection who will also reign with Messiah/Christ for one thousand years. They are called blessed and holy. Jesus made clear the "calling" authority that He has given to us by saying, "Peace to you! As (kathos - according as, just as, in the degree that, in proportion as, in that manner, like) the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:21-23). What are we doing with this qara calling from Messiah/Christ who is sending us in the same manner in which He was sent by His Father? Jesus, who also taught us to pray saying in part, "And forgive us our debts/trespasses, as we forgive our debtors/those who trespass against us," adding "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Mt. 6:9-15). This also is part of our priestly qara calling. The forgiveness is not predicated upon what we or others "deserve" to receive. It is based upon the words of Jesus, saying: "As the Father sent Me...".

     From another Sabbath reading portion in Isaiah 43, the LORD mourns that His people haven't qara called upon Him. They have neglected the atonement burnt offerings which call out to Him, in the same manner that the atonement blood of His own Son, Jesus calls out to Him - not for vengeance, but for forgiveness. (Heb. 12:22-24). The blood cries out eternally. The LORD, in Isa. 43, faults their teachers/mediators (lus - ambassador, intercede, teacher, interpreter, mocker, scorn, derision, boast, talk arrogantly), and the LORD said that the "princes of the sanctuary", the royal priests, would become profaned, and the people accursed. Teachers/interpretors/mediators/ambassadors of God became mockers and scorners as they failed to teach the people the truth.

     The people had not been properly taught that it is the LORD "who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." (Isa. 43:22-28). The apostle Paul took his “ambassadorship” (see the meaning of lus above) very seriously as he begged us to be reconciled (see the meaning of kapar atonement above) to God through the atonement of Messiah/Christ. (see 2 Cor. 5:20-21). The whole point of the "ambassadorship", both in Isaiah 43 and 2 Corinthians 5, is to minister to men to the kapar atonement reconciliation blood of our burnt offering, Jesus.

      The priests of Leviticus ministered the atonement blood of the offerings for hundreds of thousands of the children of Israel. In so ministering, the hands of the priests were continually handling the blood of atonement. Would the presence of the atonement blood be evident on our hands as the royal priests of Jesus Messiah/Christ? Have we neglected to minister it on behalf of the people as the LORD mentioned in Isaiah 43? If so, have we left the blood of Atonement in Messiah/Christ behind a closed Door (Jesus is the Door of the sheep)? Who knows if our opening of the Door of Atonement, who Christ is and which Christ provided, will not also open the Door for the entrance of the Spirit of Grace and repentance? (PLEASE NOTE: A SUBMITTED COMMENT FROM A READER CONTAINING IMPORTANT THOUGHTS HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG ENTRY.)

     God must surely bless those who, in quiet times of intercession (see lus above) with the LORD, minister the precious atonement blood of His Son that cries out to the Father on behalf of all creation, including man.

     This is how the apostle Paul described the qara calling of the LORD for His purpose towards us who believe in the Son, Jesus: "And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself]. And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]." (Rom. 8:30 AMPC - Amplified Version). God has called us to a high and heavenly calling in Jesus Messiah/Christ, including that of a royal priesthood.

     If you would like to learn more about the priestly ministry of the Atonement blood of Jesus, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, the blood of Your Son, Jesus, cries out to You from the Mercy Seat for forgiveness and purging of our sins. Lord, the blood of our Atonement, Jesus, is meant to be spread out beyond ourselves. The blood of Jesus cries out for the whole world. This is why You sent Your Son, Father, and He completed the work that You ordained for Him. The blood of the Atonement is priceless and most precious, yet it was freely poured out to make the way for the reconciliation of all creation. Father, I pray for the reconciliation of all man to You, which is the desire of Your heart. I say to all men: "Be reconciled to God, your Father and Creator, by the blood of Jesus." I ask these things 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. 

SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING VALUABLE COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED BY A READER:

"The priests of Leviticus ministered the atonement blood of the offerings for hundreds of thousands of the children of Israel. In so ministering, the hands of the priests were continually handling the blood of atonement. Would the presence of the atonement blood be evident on our hands as the royal priests of Jesus Messiah/Christ?"

There is a mystery connected to this question. 

In the Old Testament, when the word "consecrate/consecrated" occasionally appears (referencing the priests/priesthood), there is a hidden phrase in the Hebrew. 

"Fill the Aleph-Tav hand(s)."

Some examples of where this appears is Exodus 28:41, 29:29, 29:33, Leviticus 8:33, 16:32, and 21:10.

When reading "consecrate(d)" in Hebrew, it reads "fill his/their (Aleph-Tav) hands".

You can search this yourself by putting [H4390+H853+H3027] in the search bar of your online concordance (I use Blue Letter Bible) or by looking up the references I provided and viewing the interlinear translation that shows the Hebrew.

At the crucifixion, Jesus' (Aleph-Tav) hands were pierced and bloodied.

His HANDS WERE FILLED, but not with an animal sacrifice.

They were filled with HIS OWN BLOOD, the true offering.

Jesus is our true High Priest.

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which HE HATH CONSECRATED for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an HIGH PRIEST over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." ~~Hebrews 10:19-22

At the cross, Jesus stretched out His Aleph-Tav hands, and they were filled-- not with the blood of animals, but with His own atoning life, CONSECRATING the new and living way into the heavenly sanctuary. 

As His royal priesthood, our calling is to bear the evidence of that same atonement in OUR OWN HANDS, living as those marked by His sacrifice and entrusted with His ministry.

~~The Berean