Return&Reward

                                                                    Blowing the Shofar 

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      This week's Sabbath reading is a continuance of last week's title Va-yelech, meaning "Then he went out" from Deuteronomy 31, as well as being the time of Shuvah, meaning "Repent/Return." It is Shuvah because this Sabbath is also the Feast of Trumpets, in Hebrew: Yom Teruah, also know as Rosh Hashanah. This Feast of the LORD is known for the blowing of the shofar trumpet. This date of the Feast this year also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, which impacted not only one nation, but the world.

     In Deuteronomy 31, the LORD gives Moses a song which he must teach to the Israelites who are about to enter the Promised Land. The LORD told Moses that the purpose of the song is to lead the people back to Him because, the LORD prophesies, "Behold, you (Moses) will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-covenant which I made with them. Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured...Now therefore, write down this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-song for yourselves, and teach it to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the children-of-Israel; put it in their mouths, that this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel...Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel." (v. 16-22, excerpt).

     This song was an *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega son for the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega children of Israel. It is a song that calls upon heaven and earth to testify of the truth that the LORD found Jacob/Israel in the wilderness, taught him, encircled him, instructed him, kept him as the apple of His eye. The LORD carried them on His wings to the heights of the earth and supplied them with every good thing. Then they forsook the LORD and scorned the Rock of their salvation. They worshipped demon gods. The LORD turned away from them and hid Himself because they were children of no faith. They would suffer disasters: arrows, hunger, pestilence, beasts, serpents, the sword. Their vine was of the vine of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, the LORD will judge His people with compassion. He will turn His anger on their enemies instead. Then there will be rejoicing instead of calamity: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement (kapar - atonement, reconciliation, forgive, purge away, merciful, cleansed, pardon, to cover over) for His land ('adama - ground, land, whole inhabited earth/red/blood) and His people." (Deut. 32:1-43, excerpt).

     We can see that the purpose of this *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-song is to cause the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-children-of-Israel to return to the LORD, even from the most corrupt sins, where the LORD provides His merciful atonement (see kapar above) healing and restoration. We understand that Jesus Messiah/Christ is the blood Atonement covering that purges, cleanses and pardons us of sin and causes us to return to the Shepherd of our souls. (see 1 John 2:2 and 1 Pet. 2:24-25). John wrote: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 Jn. 1:9-10).

     As part of this Shuvah (Return/Repentance) Sabbath, the reading portion includes the Word of the LORD from the prophets Hosea and Micah. From Hosea 14: "O Israel, return (sub - return again, turn back, revive, restore, refresh, recover, deliver, recompense) to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; Take words with you and return to the LORD." (v. 1-2). As a result, the LORD promises to heal them, to love them, to make them fruitful and beautiful. Also: "Those who dwell under His shadow shall return; they shall be revived like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon." (v. 7).

     From Micah 7, the prophet proclaims that he will arise out of darkness and the LORD will be a light to him. Even though the prophet has sinned against the LORD, the LORD will plead his case for him and execute justice for him. Also: "He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness." (V. 8-9).

     As we can see in the Hebrew word sub above, meaning "return", the return is directly connected to reward: miraculous revival and the restoration. The concepts cannot be separated. One must follow the other. There is a reward received upon the sub return to the LORD.

     We can see from the presence of *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega above that the provision for return and reward is not limited to the "Old Testament", also called the Tanakh. Jesus applies the same concept to His Churches in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3 as He calls those Churches to return to Him and repent and promises the rewards they will receive as a result of following the voice of repentance and the voice of the Holy Spirit.

     There are several interpretations as to what these seven churches of Revelation mean or represent, but, at face value, we can perhaps agree that Jesus chose to speak to these churches because the challenges, successes and failures that had beset them also besets many churches and believers today. He reminds several that they are sitting in the middle of the place of Satan's throne. These churches were in danger of falling under the challenge of evil and darkness rather than standing against it in Christ and in His works, His Name, His Word and the Spirit. This same challenge is eternal and present with us today. This time of the holy fall Feasts of the LORD is accompanied by the call of the shofar trumpet to repentance, return to the LORD and the receiving of His rewards for us if we will hear and obey.

     According to articles written by rabbis, the sound of the shofar trumpet calls to God's people as a loud voice - a prophetic voice and the voice of the LORD Himself. (see Isa. 58:1, Rev. 1:10, Rev. 4:1-2). It's a call of warning and judgment, of gathering together, of return to the LORD and repentance. The sound of the shofar, the rabbis wrote, is the voice of heaven forming a bridge between heaven and earth. The voice of the shofar leads to revelation and causes closed hearts to be opened and repentant. The sound of the shofar stirs God's compassion and mercy. The sound of the shofar stirs Jewish hearts to call for the appearance of Messiah/Christ. The shofar proclaims the birth of creation and man and is the sound of rebirth and new life that comes forth from repentance and a changed or transformed heart. The breath of the shofar joins with the breath of the Spirit of God bringing forth divine breath into the world. The breath going forth from the shofar becomes spirals of light in the world, and darkness flees.

     In the Book of Acts, the disciples said that they were compelled to speak forth (laleo - to utter a voice or to emit a sound) the Name of Jesus when religious leaders tried to silence them. They were compelled to make the sound. (Acts 4:18-20).

     If you would like to learn more about the return to the LORD and His awaiting rewards, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father and Great King above all the earth, Your voice goes forth like a trumpet summoning me to return to You and to repent through Your Son of Atonement and Forgiveness, Jesus. Lord Jesus, Your voice as a trumpet is calling me to return to my first love - a love and devotion to You. I hear the shofar trumpet of Your Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, please give me a heart to obey what the Spirit is saying to me. Although You are a Rewarder of those who diligently seek You, Lord, I return to You because You are worthy. I return to You because You have not forsaken me, nor lost me out of Your Good Shepherd's hand. Even when I have been in the darkness of iniquity and worldly cares, You have been a Light to me, showing me the way back to You and beckoning me into Your Presence. Especially in this season, I pray that the whole earth would hear the voice of the shofar trumpet and would return to their Creator, to their Savior, because this is the season of great harvest. 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. 

Standing

      This is the Sabbath before the great Feast of Trumpets. That Feast of the LORD contains the multiple blasts of the shofar ram's horn trumpet that sound out to all the earth, but particularly to God's people. The blasts signal the urgent call to repentance and return of hearts to the LORD.

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading is a double title. The first title is Nitzavim, meaning "Are standing," found in Deuteronomy 29:10-15, which are the words of Moses to the Israelites: "All of you stand (nasab - stand, appointed, establish, upright position, fixed, stationary) today before the LORD your God...that you may enter into covenant (berit - covenant, alliance, league, agreement, pledge, alliance of marriage or friendship) with the LORD your God, and into His oath ('ala - oath, a covenant confirmed by an oath, an oath joined with an imprecation or curse, to swear, to curse, to put under a curse bound by an oath), 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. I make this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-covenant and this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-oath, not with you alone, but with him (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-who stands ('amad - raise up, stand up, withstand, waited, remain, continue, establish, abide, endure, be steadfast, be upright, be appointed) here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today."

     There are two different Hebrew words used in the above verses that are translated as "stand." The first, nasab, from which the Sabbath title comes, refers mostly to a physical position of standing. The second word, 'amad, seems to mean more of a spiritual standing: an abiding, enduring, remaining and steadfastness. Jesus also spoke of the blessings and the curses attached to abiding and remaining (see 'amad "standing" above) in Him and in His words, or the failure to do so. The blessings of abiding in Christ are fruitfulness, answered prayer, His love, and His joy. The curse includes being fruitless, cast out, withered and thrown into the fire. (see Jn. 15:4-11). Jesus was dealing here with issues of life and death.

     The LORD's oath mentioned in the above verses from Deuteronomy which accompanies the covenant includes the idea of an attending curse according to the Hebrew meaning above. Moses told the people of Israel that both blessings and curses attend the covenant of the law: blessings if the people follow the LORD and His Word, and curses if a man turns away from the LORD to follow other gods or to follow the ideas of his own heart instead of the LORD. Moses warned that the consequence of doing this would be that every curse of the law would fall upon the land until it is brimstone, salt and burning like Sodom and Gomorrah. (see Deut. 29:18-23). 

     As Jesus dealt with issues of life and death as mentioned above, Moses also connected the spiritual "standing" of God's people with life and death: "And the LORD your God will circumcise (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-heart and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-heart of your descendants, to love the 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, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good....if you obey the voice of the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn (sub - return, turn back to God, come back, repent) to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment which I command you today...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 (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-good, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-death and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-evil, in that I command you today to love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess." (Deut. 30:6-16, excerpt). This is not about "standing" legalistically or religiously, this is about the heart, and Who our hearts worship in love. It is not just about what or how much you know, but WHO you know and LOVE with an (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-heart that only He can circumcise. Sometimes we lose track of that "WHO and the LOVE for Him." (see Rev. 2:4-5). It is a matter of life and death, and good and evil. We also see above that the LORD makes room for His people who have turned away from Him to turn back to Him. We all need to return to the LORD so that we may live and dwell in His blessing.

     The oath of the curse that came with the covenant was never meant for God's people, but for their enemies: "Also the LORD your God will put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-curses on your enemies ('oyeb/'ayab - enemy, adversary, foe, to persecute, to hate/to be hostile to, to hate, to treat as an enemy) and on those who hate you, who persecuted you." (Deut. 30:7). His people were not to fall into the same ways as these enemies, forgetting to love God with all of their hearts. Moses was warning them not to choose this way that leads away from the LORD. Paul wrote the same principle, saying, "But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint (tithemi - to set, fix, establish, place, ordain, set forth) us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." (1 Thess. 5:8-11). Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law so that we would receive the blessings of Abraham.  (Gal. 3:13-14). Paul, the highly trained Pharisee, knew his Torah, and he knew the fulfilment of the Torah through the salvation of Jesus Messiah/Christ.

     The LORD God was warning His people through Moses to stand before Him, to remain and abide in Him in love because He is the life and the blessing, and not to fall into the same curse as their enemies. Paul also wrote that we should not be conformed to the world (and its ways) but to be transformed in our minds (see Rom. 12:1-2). Jesus said that while we were physically in the world, we were not of this world (see Jn. 17:14-19). God's people are separated, consecrated, sanctified unto Him. (see Deut. 7:6, Jn. 17:17-19).

     As we look at the corresponding reading portion to Nitzavim, "Are standing", the blessings of the LORD are unlimited through the Person filled with the anointing (masah - root of the Messiah/Christ) of the Holy Spirit. They are earth-changing. Where once the curse that brought mourning, darkness, being stricken, forsaken and hated covered the people, now the light of the glory of the LORD has risen upon them for all to see. The Person in whom the anointing of the Spirit of the LORD resides preaches and proclaims healing, liberty, comfort, beauty, joy, righteousness, rebuilding and restoration, double honor, everlasting joy, truth, an everlasting covenant, garments of salvation, robes of righteousness, a crown of glory, a new name, delight, and being married. "So the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations...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 they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed (see Gal. 3, above) of the LORD..." (Isa. 61 through Isa. 62, excerpt). Isaiah refers to salvation as a Person, as the prophet uses "His" and "Him" to describe salvation above. Jesus referred in part to this above blessing as being fulfilled on the day that He read it from the scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath. (see Lk. 4:16-19). He had come to announce to the ends of the world the redemption from the curse and the coming of the blessing through Himself, who is the Messiah/Christ, the Salvation anointed with the Spirit of the LORD. Jesus' name in Hebrew means "Salvation of the LORD."

      Moses' time was running out. The second title of this double-titled Sabbath is Va-yelech, meaning "Then he went out." This title comes from Deuteronomy 31:1: "Then Moses went and spoke these (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-words to all Israel." Moses, now one hundred and twenty years old, had little time left before he would die, and Joshua would then lead the people over the Jordan River and into the land. In part, Moses tells Israel regarding the tribes that were currently inhabiting the land: "The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deut. 31:5-6). These were some of Moses' last words to Israel telling them to stand in the LORD in courage and trust in Him. The LORD was sending His people into the land with His presence and authority going with them.

     Jesus also sent His disciples, which includes us, into the "land" or world in the same manner: "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (aion/aei - forever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity, the worlds, the universe/perpetually, incessantly, at any and every time, always).' Amen." (Mt. 28:18-20).

     If you would like to learn more about standing and abiding in the Lord with all of your heart and soul, you can join my prayer: "Dear heavenly Father, circumcise my heart so that I will stand before You and in You always, and that I will love You with all my heart and soul. LORD - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - You are with me always because of the abundant and eternal blessings of Your new covenant with me, written in the broken Body and the poured-out Blood of Your Son, Jesus. You have redeemed me from the curse! Let my heart, mind and will be staid upon You, loving and trusting You in worship and thanksgiving. 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. 

FIRST

    The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Ki Tavo, which means "When you come in."  The title comes from Deuteronomy 26:1 - "And it shall be, when you come into the land ('eres - land, country, nations, whole earth, world, land of the living) which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess (yaras - occupy, seize upon utterly, inherit, devour, consume, take, expel, drive out) it and dwell (yasab - dwell, sit down as a judge, remain, abide, marry, establish) in it...".

     We will read in this Sabbath portion that the first thing the LORD will establish in the land is an economy. It is an economy unlike any kind of economy in the world. The economy of God upon the entrance into the land expressed in Deuteronomy 26 is not based upon "supply and demand" or a "free marketplace", stocks and bonds, credit and debit, or any other economic philosophy or practice. It doesn't matter if there is a "Bull Market," of a "Bear Market," what the prevailing rate of interest is, or how much we have in our 401k's or if we even have a 401k. The LORD reveals His economy here as being the giving of the Firstfruits of the ground in worship: "...you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and put it in a basket (tene' - basket, woven, to weave) and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide...and say to him (the priest)...'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." (v. 2-3). To make a note here, this offering of First Fruits of the ground ('adama/'adam/dam - earth, ground/be red, made red/blood) is to be brought in a basket, a woven item. Jesus, the Firstfruits of the resurrection, meaning that there was to be more to follow Him in resurrection, was enfolded in a woven linen cloth. The concept of Firstfruits is precious to the LORD because, as a spiritual principle, multiplication and abundance proceeds from the First Fruits. The LORD is a God of abundance.

     The worshipper bringing the firstfruits offering to the priest then confesses the history of the Israelites, including their hard bondage in Egypt. (v. 5-6). The worshipper then says: "Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-our-voice (qol - meaning includes the bleating of a Lamb) and looked on (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-our-affliction ('oni/'ana - affliction, misery, wretched/humble, oppress, bowed down, abase oneself) and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-our-labor ('amal - labor, toil, pain, painful, travail, sorrow/work severely) and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-our-oppression (lahas - oppression, affliction, distress, to squeeze, press, crush, torture). So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He has brought us to this place and has given us this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-land, 'a land flowing with milk and honey'; and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits (resit/ro's - first, beginning, chief, choice part, the first in place-time-order-rank, principal thing/head, chief, beginning, captain, forefront, top, highest, total sum, principal, ruler, highest and supreme, a prince) of the land which you, O LORD, have given me.' Then you shall set it before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God." (v. 7-10). The firstfruits mentioned here are directly connected to the land flowing with milk and honey, which are fruits of creation signifying prosperity and gracious abundance, which we cannot create or duplicate by our own efforts. A common insect and barnyard animals created by God produce them for a world population, but we cannot.

     As we can see by the Hebrew meaning of "firstfruit" (see resit/ro's above), it refers not just to the first of something, but it also refers to a Person: "the highest and supreme ruler or prince." This is Jesus. The people were to bring the recognition of the Messiah/Christ/Savior before God in worship many centuries before the birth of Christ. Many believers in Messiah/Christ do not know about the importance of worshipfully bringing our Firstfruits, representing the rulership and headship of the Son over all things, to God the Father with thanksgiving for His mighty deliverance. The above verse also includes the (underlined) phrase brought us out. This is the Hebrew word yasa', which includes the meaning, "to go forth with a purpose or for a result, to germinate or expand." Yes, God brought His people out of the suffering bondage of Egypt for their benefit, but there was also a purpose or a result being achieved by this mighty work. It was also all about the "Firstfruit" Ruler and Prince, Jesus Messiah/Christ, who would, later in time, fulfill His purpose in this promised land, in a city (Jerusalem) that did not even exist yet, and the people's commanded prophetic worshipful gratitude for Him.

      This is the same resist/ro's (see meaning above) highest and supreme Ruler Prince and Firstfruit that headed up all creation and is translated as "In the beginning God created (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-heaven and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-earth." (Gen. 1:1).  In the New Testament, this is expressed by the Greek word arche/archomai, from John 1:1, meaning "beginning, origin, the person who commences, the first person in a series, the leader, the chief, ruler, the first/to be chief, leader, ruler, the first to do anything, begin, to designate the one who is placed over the rest in holding an office." As we can see, it is very similar in meaning to the Hebrew word and includes the idea as a Person in a beginning role or as a first. All creation, including all living, came forth from this Firstfruit Person who is the beginning. (see Jn. 1:1-5, 14).

     Paul wrote concerning Messiah/Christ as the Firstfruit: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterwards those who are Christ's at His coming. ...He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:20-26). We could not have followed Him in resurrection unless He had been the Firstfruits of it.

     The offering of the Firstfruits of the ground before God when they come into (see Ki Tavo above) the land, declares and sets apart Messiah/Christ's rule and reign over that ground (see 'adama/'adam/dam above).

     All things proceed from the meaning contained in the Firstfruit, and not by the political or economic systems of this world although we live within them. Paul wrote of the significance of the meaning behind Jesus being the First: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For buy Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions of principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (synistemi - to place together, to put together by way of composition, to establish, to unite parts into one whole). And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence (proteuo - to be first in rank or influence, to hold the first place)." (Col. 1:15-18).

     Twice in the verses above "firstborn" is used to describe the position of Messiah/Christ Jesus. This is the Greek word prototokos, meaning "firstborn, first-begotten, first in time or place, first in rank-influence-importance-honor, foremost, before, beginning, best, chief, in front of, above, ever, to produce from seed, to bring forth- whether a woman giving birth or earth bringing forth its fruits." Not only is He before and first of everything, but all other things are subsequently brought forth from Him.

     The things of which our lives consist are not brought forth by political or economic systems, but in, of, by, through and for the Firstfruit, Jesus Messiah/Christ, as Paul wrote clearly above in Colossians. Although we live among these systems of this world, our understanding must be ruled by the principles of the Kingdom of God, including the principle of the Firstfruits, who is a Person. Jesus also said this same thing in Mt. 6:24-34 regarding the choice to serve God or mammon (mamonas - personification of wealth, deification of avarice, confidence and reliance upon wealth)). He said "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on...But seek first (proton - first in time - place- order or importance, first in rank-influence-power, chief, beginning) the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added (prostithemi - again send, give more, increase, proceed further, to join to, establish, ordain, set forth) to you...". Notice that mammon doesn't serve us, but we serve mammon. I would rather choose to serve God. In Him are the issues of life.

     Earlier in this entry, we looked at the meaning of the phrase brought us out, which is the Hebrew word yasa'.  It means "to go forth with a purpose or for a result, to germinate or expand." There is a purpose and a result that germinates and expands from the Firstfruits principle and offering. The corresponding reading for this Ki Tavo, "When you come in" Sabbath is from Isaiah 60. The purpose or result that the LORD reveals is a miraculous transformation: "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you...And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles/nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (v. 1-3, excerpt). The LORD then details how the nations would bring their wealth to God's people. The children of God's people will return to them. The LORD spoke of the germination and expansion (see the meaning of yasa' above) that He will cause to come forth: "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." (v. 21-22).

     Another reading portion from this Sabbath says: "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom (parah - flourish, bud, blossom, break forth, abundantly, spreading, send out shoots, to cause to bud or sprout) as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God." (Isa. 35:1-2). The LORD is able to bring forth the germination in abundance whether in a natural or spiritual desert or wasteland that exceeds the natural blossoming of other places.

     Not only will the LORD germinate and expand the natural (and spiritual) blossoming, but He will raise up a spiritual highway, the Highway of Holiness, by which to bring all of the many redeemed of the LORD to Zion, the City of God. (v. 8-9).

     The understanding and observance of the principle of Firstfruits when we come in (see Ki Tavo above) to any situation, brings in the First, the Chief, the Beginning, the Head, the Ruler, the Prince who created all things and is the head of all things, the Firstborn, the First-Begotten, Jesus Messiah/Christ. All glory to God in the highest!

     If you would like to grow in the knowledge of Christ as Firstfruits, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You gave a gift of heavenly knowledge to be fulfilled here on earth when You commanded Your people regarding the Firstfruits. Lord, I do not want to put my confidence in the systems of this world. Fill me with the knowledge and understanding of the power of the Firstfruits, which is the Person of Your Son, Jesus. I believe in Jesus to save me. I believe in Jesus to pass me from death unto life, and I believe that all things consist of, by, from and for Him, and not by the philosophies or systems of man. Transform my natural mind from confidence in the systems of this world and renew my mind in the truth of the position, power, and authority of Messiah/Christ over ALL things. Let me look to the First-born, the First-begotten of God Almighty for all things that relate to my life, welfare and godliness. Holy Spirit, fortify me in this because I know that the systems of this world will soon be shaken. Fortify me in this truth because I know that the systems of this world do not bring forth life. I ask this in the name of my Lord, 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. 

Remember...

      There is a term called "worldview". It is defined as "the mental framework or lens through which a person or group views, interprets and makes sense of the world and reality. It shapes how a person answers big life questions, defines right and wrong, and makes daily choices." Each individual comes to a world understanding based upon what they know is the truth, and also by what they have personally experienced. I found that in this Sabbath reading portion titled Ki Teitze, which means "When you go out", the LORD repeatedly gives the Israelites a "worldview" which they are to keep in mind when applying the Law which the LORD had given to Moses, and their view of the world in general.

     The Book of Deuteronomy, in which this Sabbath reading begins, contains the final words (dabarim/d'varim) of Moses to the younger generation of Israelites as they are about to end their journey through the wilderness and enter into the land which the LORD had promised to their fathers. The older generation, which was a rebellious generation, has just about passed away as the LORD said would happen before entering the land. The title, "When you go out" is used several times, including Deut. 20:1, Deut. 21:10 and Deut. 23:9. The phrase is connected in these verses with battle: "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." And: "When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand, and you take them captive....". Also, "When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing." The LORD gave instructions regarding how the Israelites should conduct themselves "when they go out...". 

     The rest of the instructions of Moses in these assigned chapter readings, as well as previous readings, regarding the keeping of the Law is to be based upon a certain "worldview". Here are some examples:

     In showing generosity and kindness to a fellow countryman who has been sold to you and is now to be released in the seventh year (which is the LORD's Release), the master is to bestow on this former slave/servant liberal provisions with which to start his life again. This generosity and mercy are to be carried out with this "worldview": "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-thing (dabar) today." (Deut. 15:12-15).

     As the LORD described His Feasts which the Israelites must keep including (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Passover and the Feast of Weeks/Shavuot/Pentecost which was to include rejoicing with their children, their servants, the local Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, the LORD related these feasts to their deliverance from Egypt. He concluded by saying: "And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-statutes." (Deut. 16:1-12).

     In another example: "You shall not pervert justice due to the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow's garment as a pledge. But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-thing (dabar).

     "When (ki - see Sabbath portion title) you reap your harvest in your field...When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again...When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-thing (dabar).

     Even the observance of the Sabbath must contain this "worldview": "Observe the Sabbath (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-day." (Deut. 5:12-15).

     It becomes clear what kind of "lens" (see worldview definition above) the LORD had commanded His people to see through when dealing with the commands of the LORD, including the Sabbath, and when dealing with each other, even when dealing with warfare, enemies and captives. The LORD connects the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Messiah/Christ (see *note below) to the dabar things involved with remembering that they were slaves in Egypt and it was God who brought them out. This remembrance was their starting point and their continuation: Remember where you came from and how you got here. The LORD even prophesied that once His people arrived in the land promised to them and began to prosper, they would forget where they came from and how they got there and they would think that they accomplished it on their own. The LORD said this: "...when your heart is lifted up, and you forget (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage....then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-His-covenant which He swore..." (Deut. 8:14-18). Their remembrance or their forgetting of the LORD's commanded worldview will have an impact on their relationship with the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega LORD and His covenant.

     There is a stark illustration of this as Jesus spoke to a group who believed in Him: "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants, and we have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free?' Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (Jn. 8:31-34). Uh-oh, they forgotten what God had told them to remember. They changed the commanded "lens" through which they were to view themselves, each other, the law, and even their enemies. Now their "lens" had become being the descendants of Abraham according to the flesh. The (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-things (dabar) of God are not defined by man's flesh, but by God's Spirit. They even denied that they had ever been slaves, saying this while they were then under the oppressive boot of the Roman Emperor and his puppets, the Herods. This group that Jesus was talking to were so offended by His words of salvation freedom in the truth of God and His Son that they wanted to kill Him! (Jn. 8:58-59). Needless to say, they missed that particular day of their visitation and salvation, remaining slaves to sin and its consequence - eternal death - because they forgot to remember.

     From another reading portion from this Ki Teitze, "When you go out" Sabbath, the Book of Proverbs tells us about a generation that does not remember the God of their deliverance: "There is a generation that curses its father, and does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation - oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men." (Prov. 30:11-14). I think we can say that this generation being spoken of here, as also the one shown by the example above, does not remember that they were slaves in Egypt, but were delivered out of the house of bondage by the power and mercy of the LORD.

     From the same proverb, the writer asks us to remember and answer: "Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?...Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know? (v. 4). Do we know those names, the writer is asking, or do we only know our own names and self-importance?

     How do these *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-things (dabar) apply to us, who have already believed and been saved by Jesus Messiah/Christ? God's miraculous deliverance of the Israelites at Passover from their heavy burden of slavery in Egypt, which they are always to remember, was also a prophetic foreshadowing of our deliverance from the slavery to sin and death by the blood of our Passover Lamb of God, Jesus (see 1 Cor. 5:7-8). We were slaves to the world, sin and death and have been brought out of that slavery by *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-the-LORD. We have been promised glorious things as the now sons and daughters of God in Christ. However, I think that the moment that we forget where we came from and how we got here, our witness in the earth is compromised. Paul wrote about this. He challenged the Church about how the believers were treating each other. They were cheating each other and suing each other in the courts over slights. He wrote: "...you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?... And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:7-11).

     We can't forget where we came from and how we got here. We can't ignore the "lens" through which the LORD commanded us to view ourselves, each other, the law as fulfilled by Christ, the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-things (dabar), and even our enemies, or change it into a different kind of "lens". 

     Paul also wrote: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Rom. 5:8-10). We did not save ourselves, nor were we ever able to. We did not reconcile ourselves to a holy God, nor were we ever able to. We must remember where we came from and how we got here. If we DO remember, it shows in our view of ourselves, each other, and even our enemies. If we DO remember, it shows in the thoughts of our hearts and the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-words (dabar) out of our mouths. If we DO remember, we show ourselves to be the peculiar and special people that God called us to be. If we DO remember, our fruit changes from fruits of shame to fruits of holiness and everlasting life (see Rom. 6:20-23). When we DON'T remember, that shows too.

     I don't know if you come from the same place as I do, but I was lost and chained in darkness. However, according to my previous "worldview," this seemed like normal life. This is all I knew. Not only was I lost and chained in darkness in a pit of death, but I was too ignorant to know that I was lost and chained. I was so ignorant that I did not know as truth that there was only one true God of perfect holiness, grace, and love, so I didn't seek Him. I didn't find Jesus Messiah/Christ, He found me. It was not until He found me that I began to understand that He had set me free from slavery, darkness and the chains of death. Yes, I know and believe that we are many wonderous things as we abide in Christ for His purpose and use, but I don't ever want to forget where I came from and how I got here.

     "But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-thing."

     If you would like to learn more about these (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-things, you can join my prayer: Dearest LORD and Father, while I was yet a slave, You sent Your beloved Son, Jesus, to find me and set me free. When I didn't love You, You loved me. While I was still sinning and dying, You sent Jesus to save me. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit in a moment to quicken me while I was dead and raise me up with Jesus to eternal life of Oneness with You, the God of heaven and earth. Father, let me never forget. Father, let me always view the world through this lens of miraculous mercy and the holy power of God Almighty. I would be enshrouded in deep darkness without You. I would be dead without You. Help me to lead others into Your love, light and life. I ask this in the name of 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. 

Judges

 

   The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Shoftim, meaning "Judges." The Hebrew title comes from the word sapat, which means "to judge, defend, condemn, avenge, execute, plead, govern, vindicate, punish, reason, rule."

     In Deuteronomy 16:18-20, we read about 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 (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-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 (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-land ('eres - land, country, nations, earth, world, the whole world and its inhabitants) which the LORD your God has given you." 

     We can see above that the standard for judges and judging is absolute justice, not influenced or determined by favoritism nor reward. The judgment of the judge is to be of such absolute and unbiased justice that failure to heed a judge's ruling can result in death. (see Deut. 17:9-13). Failure to follow absolute justice in judgment can affect your life and prosperity or well-bring in the earth.

     As we can see from the Hebrew meaning of judge, sapat, above, the judge not only may condemn in judgment, but can also vindicate, avenge a wrong, or plead a case for an individual.

     Several scriptures speak of God and Messiah/Christ Jesus as Judges. Abraham called God "the Judge of all the earth..." and called upon His perfect justice. (Gen. 18:25, Acts 17:30-31). Paul, who was unfortunately familiar with being judged by men, wrote that He who judges him is the Lord. (1 Cor. 4:2-4). Solomon and Paul both wrote that God is the One who judges all of the secret things, good or evil. (Eccl. 12:13-14, Rom. 2:16). Jesus said that His Father in heaven has given all judgment into His hands. (Jn. 5:21-23). Paul wrote this eye-opener regarding judging how each believer esteems or observes the things of God: "But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: 'As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:10-12). We often see the Body of Christ divided because of the rendering of judgment regarding who is serving the Lord correctly, and who is not, as Paul warned about above. 

     For those who choose to take on the responsibility of judging what the Lord has reserved for His judgment, which is the whole earth, these are huge and perfect shoes (and absolute standards) to fill, with consequences to pay if not done perfectly justly as Deuteronomy 16 above reveals.

     Jesus had said the same precautionary words as Paul above: "Judge (krino - determine, resolve, decree, examine for judgment, to separate, put asunder, decide, condemn, punish, damn, to sentence) not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Mt. 7:1-5). If you are considering taking on the responsibility of judging, especially concerning the brethren, be careful to remove the plank out of your own eye first. The Lord doesn't have any planks in His eye.

     

     The authority of the judge is not only to condemn and administer punishment, but it is to establish godly justice on behalf of God's people as we see in the meaning of sapat, judge, above. It was the judges of Israel who were called to judge the oppressors of Israel in the Book of Judges at the time appointed by the LORD, and pull them down, bringing deliverance to God's people.

     In another reading portion from this week's Shoftim, "Judges", Sabbath, we see the powerful justice of God acting as the Judge in turning circumstances completely around for His people who had experienced desolation, destruction, famine and sword. In an excerpt from Isaiah 51, the LORD declared to His people: "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 (yesa/yasa - deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, welfare, prosperity, victory/Savior, help, preserved, salvation, defend, avenge, victory, saved in battle, open wide, free, opulent, liberty) has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples...My salvation (yesua - salvation, deliverance, prosperity, welfare, victory, save, saving; also the Hebrew name of Jesus) will be forever, and My righteousness (sedaqa/sadaq - righteousness, justice, righteousness of a judge-ruler-king, the vindication-justification-salvation of God/just as of God, justice, justify, just cause, bring justice, vindicate the cause of) will not be abolished....Awake ('ur - stir up, lift up, awake, raise, be roused, be triumphant, open the eyes), awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the LORD (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-cup of His fury; You have drunk (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-dregs of the cup of trembling, and drained it out...Therefore, please hear this, you afflicted, and drunk, but not with wine. Thus says your LORD, the LORD and your God, who pleads the cause (also see sapat meaning above) of His people: 'See, I have taken out of your hand (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-cup of trembling, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-dregs of the cup of My fury; you shall no longer drink it. But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to you, 'Lie down, that we may walk over you.' And you have laid your body like the ground, and as the street, for those who walk over." 

     God had previously judged His people, but, when that judgment was satisfied, the LORD turned and placed the same judgment on oppressors who had taken advantage the affliction of His people in order to trample upon them.

 We notice above that the means by which the LORD administered perfect and absolute justice was His salvation, both the condition, yesa/yasa, and the Person, who is Yeshua/Jesus, and His righteousness.

     In Isaiah 52, another reading portion assigned for this Shoftim, "Judges" Sabbath, again the LORD proclaims over Zion and Jerusalem: "Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall not longer come to you. Shake yourself from the dust, arise; Sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds on your neck, O captive daughter of Zion!...How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation (yesua - see meaning above), who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!" 

     Again we see the revealed knowledge of yesua salvation proclaimed in order to break the bondage of God's people. At the end of this Chapter 52 of Isaiah, and continuing into Chapter 53, God's suffering, sin-bearing Servant is revealed who will justify (sadaq - to do or bring justice in administering the law, to be or do justice, to be right, be justified) many. Paul wrote that we have been justified by God through our faith in Jesus, and this even before the beginning, by the foreknowledge of God. (see Rom. 5:1-2 and Rom. 8:29-30).

     We see another example of justice through God's salvation and righteousness in another Shoftim, "Judges," Sabbath reading portion. The prophet Jeremiah wrote the Word of the LORD: "Behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will raise to David a Branch (semah - branch, sprout: of the Messiah/Christ from the Davidic tree) of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and justice/righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved (yasa - see above), and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Jer. 23:5-6). 

     We recognize here in the above prophecy the Messiah/Christ Jesus, who is the King of kings and a descendant of David (see Mt. 9:26-31 and Mk. 10:46-52). His reign is made of salvation, righteousness and just judgment.

     The LORD commands us to do justly in His Word: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly (mispat/sapat - judgment, lawful, law, justice-right-rectitude, a verdict pronounced judicially/ see sapat above), to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). Choosing to do the first, "do justly", requires for us also to do the other two: love mercy, and walking humbly with God.

     We have seen that just judgment is so important to the LORD that He pulled out "the big guns" to secure it. The first being His Salvation (yesua, see above) as Isaiah told us, and secondly, His King of Righteousness, as Jeremiah revealed above. Both of these powerful agents of justice were in the form of one: His Son, Messiah/Christ, Yesua/Jesus, the Lord our Righteousness. 

     Judgment and justice can make the difference between bondage and freedom, salvation and condemnation, and life and death. These things are not to be handled so carelessly in words that flow so recklessly from our hearts and mouths. Isaiah told us what we should be saying and proclaiming. Jeremiah gave us the proclamation of the LORD regarding the King of Righteousness, which we are to believe. Jesus told us what we should be teaching and preaching to all nations: The Gospel of salvation (see Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-18, Lk. 24:46-49). There is no greater or more beautiful just judgment that can be spoken than this.

     If you would like to learn more about the LORD as the Judge of all the earth, you can join my prayer: "Dear Father, Just Judge of the earth, You sent your Son, Jesus, who is Salvation and Righteousness, to announce the just judgment of God to all living. Help me, LORD, by Your Word and Spirit of Truth, to proclaim the Day of Salvation that saves men from condemnation and declare the installment of Your Kingdom of Justice through Your Son, Jesus, the King of Righteousness. Lord, forgive me, and remove from my heart and mouth words of unjust judgment, made from my own will and understanding. Let everything in my being point towards You instead. I ask this in the name of Your Son, 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. 

LifeAndLight

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled R'eh, which is translated as "Behold". The Hebrew title comes from the word ra'a meaning: "behold, see, look, consider, perceive, foresee, seer, inspect, learn about, discern, distinguish, give attention to, to see the face of a king, to see the face of God, enjoy the light, to live, to be taught in visions divinely brought, to care for what is seen, to choose for oneself, to see for oneself." As we can see, the meaning of ra'a is very deep and is an essential element in our relationship with God. It includes seeing with the eye, but it is more about seeing with our spirit, the inner eye which God has given to all of us by which we may discern God and the things of God. In Jn. 1:1-5, and 14 scripture says that all men have been created in the life of the Word, who is Jesus, and the life is light in each of us (see the meaning of ra'a above also). There is a basic knowledge of God that has been infused into all people. The Creator doesn't leave us blind but gives us the spiritual sight to behold and discern His face if we choose (see ra'a above) to do so.

     Relating to this Sabbath's reading portion, "Behold" or r'eh/ra'a, appears in Deut. 11:26-28: "Behold, I set before you today (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known." The LORD doesn't just ask for blind obedience but wants us to r'eh/ra'a, to discern with our inner spiritual vision, the truth regarding the blessing, which we can see is associated with the knowledge of *aleph-tav, the Messiah/Christ, and the curse of which He is speaking here. As we can see from the meaning of r'eh/ra'a, "behold", above, there is also a choice that comes with this special vision, just as God offered a choice above to His people of the blessing or the curse.

     As we will see below, several reading selections from this week's R'eh/Ra'a, "Behold" Sabbath reading reveal the awesome blessing of choosing His Word and choosing to live in the light of the LORD.

     The great blessings of the LORD in this R'eh/Ra'a, "Behold", Sabbath reading also come with the obedient observance of "The LORD's Release" (semitta/samat - release from debt, remission of debt, suspension of labor/shake, release, throw down, overthrow, let loose, rest, fling down, to smite, to strike, to thrust), also called Shemitah, as revealed in Deuteronomy 15. The meaning of the word also includes a shaking up and an overthrow. The oppression of debt is cast down. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for the LORD's Release, or Shemitah, in what we call The LORD's Prayer: "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." (see Mt. 6:9-13). We all carry a debt of one form or another, physical or spiritual, and we all need the release from that debt.

     The LORD's Release was to occur in the seventh year when all debts owed by (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-neighbors and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-brethren were to be forgiven. This "Release" was to be done out of a heart of love and joy for one's brethren and God's will, and not with resentment or manipulation. The blessing that accompanies Shemitah Release is stated: "...for the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance - only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-commandments which I command you today. For the LORD will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you." (Deut. 15:4-6). Looking at the blessings that follow the Shemitah Release of the LORD, the economy and banking system of the world can be overturned and shaken as a result. This is the power and authority within the LORD's Shemitah Release. Jesus Messiah/Christ is the Person who fulfills the Shemitah Release for us. All of our debts to God are "Paid in full" through Him as He said, "It is finished (teleo - to finish, to end, to pay)" while on the cross. (Jn. 19:30).

     From Isaiah 54-55 of this week's reading, the prophet wrote the word of a tremendous blessing from the LORD to His people who had suffered affliction: "Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all your walls of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD (see ra'a meaning above), and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear...No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me...Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you - the sure mercies of David." The house of David, who at the writing of Isaiah had been dead for over two hundred years, is the line from which Messiah/Christ (Jesus), the Son of David, would be born. Isaiah also wrote that other nations would run to this people "because of the LORD your God, and the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you." (Isaiah 55:5). Jesus also prayed, saying to His heavenly Father that He, Jesus, has given those who believe in Him the same glory as He has with the Father from the beginning. (Jn. 17:22-24).

     The meaning of r'eh/ra'a, or "Behold," as given above includes "to see the face of a king", as well as being associated with light and life. From another section of this Sabbath we read in Proverbs 16:15-16: "In the light of the king's face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver." As we saw above, life and light mentioned in ra'a and in John 1 are connected to "the king's" face. The Messiah/Christ Jesus is the King of kings. Of His Kingship, He has also made us to be kings or royalty of the Kingdom of light in service to God. (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10 [Ex. 19:6], Rev. 1:6, 5:9-10).

     Isaiah again in this Sabbath's readings, speaks the Word of the LORD to the land of Judah who will sing this song: "We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation (yesua - salvation; the Hebrew name of Jesus) for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in." (Isa. 26:1-2). The prophet directed the Word of the LORD to "the land of Judah", which is the southern part of Israel including Jerusalem. The Hebrew word 'eres used here is referring to the land, but also means "earth, world, nations." Judah is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, but the Hebrew word itself is yehuda/yada/yad which means "praised/thanksgiving, confess, make confession (see also Rom. 10:9-10)/hand, consecrate, power, strength, sign, monument." Those who believe in Messiah/Christ Jesus are also a consecrated/sanctified people (see Heb. 10:10) through Messiah/Christ who make confession by mouth of the belief in their hearts, and signs follow the believer. (Mk. 16:15-18). Our testimony is a living monument to the salvation, power and glory of God. (see Rev. 12:10-11, 1 Pet. 3:15).

     Within the language is not only a surface understanding, but also a deeper or wider understanding that can be found within it. God's vision, even as expressed to Abraham and others, is not small or limited.

     From this same Sabbath reading selection, Isaiah 26 also promises us further blessings in our God. Those blessings include perfect peace, an everlasting covenant, justice, righteousness, grace, increase, glory, expansion, perfect judgment, and the raising of the dead.

     This R'eh/Ra'a Sabbath reading portion also brought mention of "a curse" from Deut. 11:26-28 as written above. The curse follows the turning away from God to go after other gods. The LORD also warned that after (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-nations of the promised land were cut off from the land by the LORD before the Israelites, the Israelites were not to follow after or inquire after the gods of those people: "You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-sons and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-daughters in the fire to their gods. (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Whatever-thing I command you be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deut. 12:29-32).

     The previous people who inhabited the land had knowledge of the Messiah/Christ as we can see by the presence of the *aleph-tav designation. Even their children were appointed to belong to the *Aleph-Tav/Alpha and Omega Christ. However, those people chose to turn away from that knowledge and were even willing to burn their children to death in order to worship demon gods with abominations. Paul wrote in Romans of those who knew God, who had manifested Himself to them since the creation, but they chose (see ra'a meaning above) to deny that knowledge. They knew God but did not glorify Him as God. Therefore: "...they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened....Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts..." (Rom. 1:18-24). Their abasement grew worse, even "knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death..." (v. 26-32). We see the same today. Many people have chosen to turn away from their inner knowledge of God and to turn away from His life and light. The Lord repeatedly says to them, "Behold (the face of God, the face of the King)!" We have the freedom that God has given each man to choose, to see, to behold, to discern, and to enjoy and live in the light of life which exists only in Him.

     However, there exists a most powerful and overcoming truth for all mankind: Jesus became a curse, and suffered the death of it, so that we may be set free from the power of the curse and to receive the blessings: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham (see Gen. 12:3, Gen. 22:15-18) might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3:13-14). 

     Messiah/Christ Jesus, the righteous and innocent, both divine and man, inseparable from His Father in heaven, became a curse to Release us from the debt of the curse contained in the Law. What must the righteously divine Jesus have felt by becoming a curse, and all of the abominations of the curse, separated or cut off from the light and life of God His beloved Father? He suffered this and then overcame it on our behalf. He shook and overthrew the spiritual debt economy of the spirit of this world.

      Again, God says to man: "Behold!"

     If you would like to learn more about r'eh/ra'a, and the blessing of looking upon the life and light of the face of God and the King, Jesus, you can join my prayer: "Gracious and blessed Lord, You have poured out a blessing too great for me to contain. You have released me from all debt, and You have delivered me from the curse through the sacrifice and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus, my Savior. You allow me to stand in Your light and life, and have said that I may see Your face through spiritual ra'a sight. Lord, Your face is the only face that I desire, and I never want to turn away from Your face. Blessed be the Holy One of Israel who is LORD of all of the nations and people of the whole earth. All of the families of the earth are blessed within Your covenant, including all of my family, as You promised Abraham. I praise You, Lord, and offer my thanksgiving and my love to You in the name of Jesus, my King. 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. 

 

HeartTablets

                                                      Tablets placed inside of the Ark of the Covenant/Testimony

       The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Eikev, which means, "Because/As a consequence of/following after." The title comes from Deuteronomy 7:12-13, as Moses spoke to the Israelites: "Then it shall come to pass because ('eqeb/eikeb  - because, end, consequence, gain, reward, result, the latter part, wages) you listen to (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-these-judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-covenant and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-mercy which He swore to your fathers. And He will love you and bless you and multiply you..." 

     For this study, we should pay special attention to the use of the words "the judgments", "the covenant", and "the mercy", and that all three are preceded by the *aleph-tav in the written Hebrew, which Jesus identified as being Himself (see *note below).

     In the readings for this Sabbath from Deuteronomy chapters 8, 9, and 11, Moses continually stresses, not just the law, but the kind of personal and intimate relationship that Israel should keep with the LORD and with His Word. Let us look at some of these instructions of Moses.

     Moses said: "Therefore you shall love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always." (Deut. 11:1).

     "And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul (see also Deut. 6:4-5), then I will give you the rain for your land in its season...". (Deut. 11:13-14).

     "For if you carefully keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-commandments which I command you to do - to love (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him - then the LORD will drive out (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-nations from before you..." (Deut. 11:22-23).

     We can see that the keeping of the commandments is "the consequence of" or "follows after" (see 'eqeb/eikeb above) the love for the LORD. There are blessings that will also be "the consequence of" or "follow after" the keeping of God's Word in our love of Him as mentioned in the above verses. The LORD through Moses emphasizes the necessity of loving Him with all of our hearts.

     Moses gives even deeper instructions to the Israelites: "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." (Deut. 6:6). Also, "Therefore you shall lay up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-these-words-of-mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes." (Deut. 11:18).

     The Words of the LORD are not only to be obeyed, but they are to be internally placed upon/within our hearts.

      These things brought to my mind a visualization that I had not considered before. Let us go to the next step in the vision that the LORD will present to us through His pattern established with Moses.

     Moses received the first set of stone tablets which contained the Ten Commandments which the LORD Himself wrote on the mountain. The LORD then told Moses to hurry down from the mountain because the people below were committing a great sin. Moses hurried down from the mountain with those tablets to find that a golden calf idol had been molded and the people were raucously worshipping it. He threw down the stone tablets and broke them before the eyes of the people. He took their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-sin, the golden (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-calf, and burnt it with fire, and then crushed and ground what was left of it into fine dust. He then threw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-dust into the brook (nahal root- inherit, inheritance, heritage, give as a possession, receive anything as a possession) that descended from the mountain. (see Deut. 9:12-21).

     We have heard of this above account in scripture, but seeing the written *aleph-tav's connected to this event is very thought provoking.

     However, the LORD was not done. He would write again upon a new or second set of tablets, telling Moses: "...Hew (pasal - cut out of a quarry, to carve, building stones, hew off boughs to create a shape) for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to Me on the mountain and make yourself an ark ('aron/'ara - ark, chest, coffin/to gather, to reap, to collect together) of wood ('es/'asa - tree, wood, gallows, carpenter/ to shut, fasten, shut a door). And I will write on the tablets (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in the ark...And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Ten Commandments...Then I turned and came down from the mountain, and put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are, just as the LORD commanded me." (Deut. 10:1-5, excerpt).

     As Moses described above, he was instructed to create an ark for the second set of commandments. We know that this ark containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments would later be placed in the innermost chamber of the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies. An additional item would be added to the construction of the ark: a gold covering around the wooden chest of the ark, and a special solid piece of gold for the top of the chest, called the Mercy Seat (kapporeth - to cover, atonement covering), that would also include as one piece two covering angels with wings. Jewish teaching also refers to the space above the ark of the covenant/testimony as the Throne of God. 

     Therefore, the Words are carved on the tablets of stone, which tablets are kept or concealed within the wooden ark, which is directly under the Mercy Seat covering and, at the same time, under the covering wings of the two angels. For me, this is a visualization of our relationship with Jesus Messiah/Christ.

     There are many scriptures that instruct us to write the Word of God on/in our hearts, some even say specifically "the tablets of our hearts": "Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet (luah - of stone or wood on which anything is carved) of your heart." (Prov. 3:3). Also: "My son, keep my (the father's) words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." (Prov. 7:1-3). Other references to the Words of God being in our hearts can be found in Prov. 6:21, Prov. 4:20-21, Ps. 119:11.

     The prophet Jeremiah connects the writing of God's Word in our hearts to a new covenant: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of Israel and with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of Judah - not according to the covenant that I made with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-fathers...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-covenant which they broke (parar - to break to bits, shatter, split, crack through, break apart, crumble, destroy)...But this is the covenant that I will make...I will put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-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." (Jer. 31:31-34, also Heb. 8:8-12).

     For me, according to this spiritual pattern and vision, the tablets of stone upon which the LORD wrote His commandments represents the hearts of His covenant people, particularly His new covenant people represented by the second set of tablets. Why would our hearts be shown in this vision pattern to be of stone? The prophet Ezekiel wrote the Word of the LORD regarding stony hearts that are transformed: "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-My-Spirit within you and cause you to walk (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-in -My-statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezek. 36:25-27, see also Ezek. 11:19-20). Paul followed this same vision pattern, writing: "...clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart." (2 Cor. 3:3).

     Why two tablets according to scripture? Perhaps because the Body of Messiah/Christ and the inclusion of the nations as spoken by God prophetically, is of two peoples: Jewish and Greek/Gentile who become as one man through faith in Messiah/Christ. (see Rom. 1:16-17 and 1 Cor. 12:12-14).

     The ark of wood (see meaning above) in this vision pattern that I am seeing, into which the tablets are placed, hidden, or gathered, is Messiah/Christ. The Hebrew letters that make up 'aron, or ark in English, are aleph, reysh, vaw and nun. The individual meanings of each letter, when joined together can mean: "The Lord Adonai who is the highest, the head, the first and the beginning, is joined to or nailed to, the son, faithful and continual, who is heir to the throne." Paul also wrote of this vision pattern: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above....Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Col. 3:1-4). Jesus told us to abide in Him, rather than just "with" Him. (see Jn. 15:4-5).

     I am saying that the vision pattern has us, as living tablets, permanently inside the Ark of the Covenant/Testimony, which is Messiah/Christ, and inside the Holy of Holies, where no flesh was allowed to go, except once a year by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. The Book of Hebrews says that we now have full, bold, and unlimited access to the Holy of Holies, because of the work of Christ on the cross and His atoning blood that was shed. (Heb. 10:19-23).

     The vision pattern does not end there, but continues.

     So far, the Word of God is written on/in the tablets of our hearts. The tablets, our hearts, are gathered and hidden within the ark, Jesus. The ark is positioned under the solid gold Mercy Seat, which receives the atoning blood of the sacrifice (Messiah/Christ: see Heb. 10:19-23 above). Above the Mercy Seat, and hammered from the same piece of solid gold, are the overspreading wings of the covering angels. Let us look at some scriptures pertaining to this place of the mercy and wings of Elohim (the name of God meaning the exceedingly great God and His angels):

     The Book of Hebrews again teaches: "Let us therefore (through our sympathetic High Priest, Jesus) come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:15-16).

     "For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide (gur - dwell, abide, gathered, gather together [see 'aron/ark above], stand in awe) in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter (seter - secret place, hiding place, covering, carefully hidden) of Your wings." (Ps. 61:3-4). David wrote this Psalm referring to the tabernacle of God as his dwelling place forever, specifically in the hiding place of God's wings.

     "He (the Most High) shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (Ps. 91:4).

     "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul (nehfesh - soul, life, breath, mind, heart, tablet) trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by." (Ps. 57:1 by David).

     "How precious is Your lovingkindness (hesed - mercy, goodness, merciful, kindness, love, favor), O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings." (Ps. 36:7 by David).

     David wrote of this same vision of the spiritual pattern that Moses presented to Israel, and which was later fulfilled in Messiah/Christ, Jesus. David also referred to this place under the mercy and wings as a refuge, as a place of our trust and hope. It is also written in the Book of Hebrews: "...it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil (referring to the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle), where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (meaning "King of Righteousness")." (Heb. 6:18-20).

    The idea of our eternal home in the Holy of Holies, within Messiah/Christ, is not far-fetched, but is confirmed in scripture, both by pattern, as Moses gave, and by written Word, as we see above. We are in the world, but not part of the world, as Jesus said, although it seems that we often leave the privilege of our awesome and glorious dwelling in the holy Presence in order to become entangled in the cares of the world which are passing away. However, our position in the Holy of Holies, hidden in Messiah/Christ, is a powerful position - remember the Word of God that is written in our hearts? That Word contains all of God's promises to mankind. That Word contains the plan and provision of God's Kingdom of salvation through His Son. By our position in the Holy of Holies, we bring this Word before God's throne of mercy every moment, every day, and from every corner of the globe.

     I want to always dwell in Messiah/Christ Jesus under the mercy and wings of God.

     If you would like to know more about dwelling in the Holy of Holies in Messiah/Christ, you can join my prayer: "Dearest Father, let Your Word always be written on the tablets of my heart. Let me desire to dwell in the tabernacle of the LORD all the days of my life. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to understand more about ministering Your Word from this exalted and holy place within Christ Jesus, and under Your blood atonement mercy and the refuge of Your wings. I didn't understand the holy place that Jesus went to before us in order to prepare for us, so that where He is, we may be also. Through our Savior, Jesus, we have received this glorious honor, and I thank You, Father, for this awesome purpose in You. I bless and exalt My Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 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 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.