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. 

Radiant!

      

"Shin", The Name of the LORD

     In a little over a week, the Feast of Trumpets will occur, which is one of the Feasts of the LORD commanded in His Word. This Sabbath reading portion is titled Ki Tavo, meaning "When you come in." The vo letters in the title Ki Tavo, refer to the Hebrew word bo, which means: "enter, come in, lead in, cause to come in, to attain to, to bring near, to bring upon." Our Sabbath title comes from Deuteronomy 26: "And it shall be, when you come into (bo - enter, come in, lead in, cause to come in, to attain to, to bring near, to bring upon) the land (eres - land, country, ground, world, earth, nations, whole earth and its inhabitants) which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce/fruits 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, to weave, woven) and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide." (v. 1-2).

     What I learned from this Sabbath reading portion was awesome and beautiful. It shouts, "Prepare to be changed, and to bring change!" to me, especially in view of the coming feast. The two verses above begin us on our journey. The rest of the Sabbath study will show us the radiant result of the journey. The journey of change is not just for our sakes, but for what the world will see in us, affecting them also.

     As we look at the two verses from Deuteronomy, above, the Israelites were to enter into something. The meaning of the Hebrew word bo also includes the idea of leading in, attaining, to bring near, to bring upon. Their entering in will cause something to be brought near, and to bring upon or cause to happen. They not only enter themselves, but the idea of leading others in is also part of the meaning. The land (eres), which they are supposed to enter, is not limited in meaning to a specific piece of ground, but also refers to nations and the whole earth. The Israelites entering into the land has far-reaching spiritual implications. They are not just to enter and visit the land, but they are to possess (yaras - to occupy by driving out previous tenants, to expel, devour, new wine) it, and dwell (yasab - dwell, remain, abide, continue, have one's abode, to sit down, thrones) in it as given to them by the LORD.

     Upon entering the land, the Israelites were to bring the first fruits of the land as an offering. They were to bring it in a basket. Jesus is identified in scripture as the first fruits of the resurrection: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become 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, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. (1 Cor. 15:20-23). It is specifically written above that the first fruits of the land are to be placed in a basket. The Hebrew word for basket as shown above, not only means a basket, but to weave or woven. Jesus, in accordance with Jewish burial customs of the day, as illustrated by the Shroud of Turin, was enveloped in a linen cloth, which is a woven fabric. This was the "basket" that held Him, if you will. Peter and John, the disciples, saw the empty linen fabric laying in the open tomb after Christ's resurrection. Seeing the empty linen caused John to believe. (see Jn. 20:3-8).

     The above is not the only reference to resurrection in this week's Ki Tavo, "When you come in," Sabbath reading portion. When the Israelites brought in their offering of the first fruits of the land after they entered in, they were to proclaim: "My father was a Syrian/Aramean, about to perish (abad - perish, surely, utterly, destruction, broken, undone, be exterminated, put to death, blot out, cause to vanish, be lost, have no way to flee, to be wretched, to slay, to cut off), and he went down (yarad - sank, fell, go down, descend, sink down, be taken down, brought down to a lower region) to Egypt (misrayim/masor/sur - Egypt/besieged places, fortified, distress, hemming in/assault, adversaries, bind up, enclose, confine, shut in, show hostility and to treat as a foe) and dwelt there...." (v. 4-5).

     Hopeless in death and utterly cut off, taken down to the lower region so fortified that none can escape: death, the grave and hell. Evil was inflicted upon them in that place (v. 6). This would have been a place without any hope, however: "Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers...and the LORD heard our voice...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 land...and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O LORD, have given me." (v. 7-10, excerpt). With a great personal effort, the LORD brought His people out of the previously inescapable place of death and torment. And we remember, honor and proclaim this great liberation with the Firstfruits, Christ, encased in a woven "basket," who descended into hell after His death in order to preach to and liberate the prisoners there. (see Eph. 4:8-10, 1 Pet. 3:18-20). 

     This is the greatest victory in the history of man: the liberation of the human soul from the fortified prison of death, the grave and hell. Is anything therefore too difficult for God? As we live with tragic current events that reek with the presence of evil, are we remembering our own proclamation regarding the power of First fruits of resurrection, Jesus? We are to proclaim His death until He returns in our remembrance of Communion, or the Lord's Supper. (see 1 Cor. 11:23-26). This is the food of life, His own life, with which He fed us. The Communion is essential to our spiritual life in Christ, and our proclamation contained within it goes out to the eres: the whole earth and its inhabitants. (see eres above). Do we believe this?

     In the two verses from Deuteronomy at the top of the page, the LORD commands Israel to bring their firstfruits and "go to the place (maqom/qum - place/rise, raise, abide, become powerful, to be proven, be raised up) where the LORD chooses to make His name (shem - name, reputation, glory, conspicuous position) abide." (Deut. 26:2). The LORD said that there was a place where He has put His name. Many have written that the geographical features of the city of Jerusalem form the Hebrew letter "shin ש" on the face of the earth (see photo at the top of the page). The shin ש is the letter that begins the word shem, meaning "name." Often the letter shin ש alone represents the name of the LORD. That is an amazing fulfilment of scripture. However, the power and purpose of that Name, ש, is even greater.

     The shin letter on the face of Jerusalem is formed by three valleys around and through the area. One might think that the LORD would place His name over a place of beauty, however, the meanings of the three valleys is just the opposite. The Valley of Kidron has the meaning, "turbid, murky, foul, dirty, dark, gloomy, be squalid, to go in filthy garments, a place of refuse." The Valley of Hinnom has the meaning, "lamentation, wailing, groaning, place of the sacrifice of children by fire which is an inhuman and idolatrous practice abhorred by God, also known as Gehenna: the place of constant fires that dispose of refuse and filth, a symbol of hell." Lastly is the Valley of Tyropoeon, also called the Central Valley, that runs through the middle of Jerusalem. This valley has been filled over the centuries with vast amounts of debris. These three valleys also separate the holy mountains of God in or around Jerusalem: Zion, Moriah and Olivet. So this is not only a valley of debris, but a valley of separation. The LORD has used garbage dumps to spell out and magnify His Name in all the eres earth! The LORD God exalts Himself over every situation, condition, and hopeless place. Do we just see the garbage, the gloom, the darkness, the abomination and filth, or do we discern the shin ש Name of the LORD inscribed in the earth as His possession? Do we spiritually write His shin ש  Name and proclaim it? Do we scrape His shin ש Name into the soil with our shoe or with a stick as a child might? We have recently seen acts of great darkness, full of murders and expressions of hatred and anger. The weapon against that darkness is the light of the Lord in us, and the power of His Name engraved into the earth..

      In another portion from this Ki Tavo "When you come in" Sabbath, The LORD assures us that the way to overcome darkness is with resurrection light: "Arise, shine (or - become lighted up, shine, become light); For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness 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 kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you...Then you shall see and become radiant (nahar - to flow, a stream of light, to beam light, be radiant, flow together, the sheen of a running stream), and your heart shall swell with joy." (Isa. 60:1-5, excerpt).

     Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Mt. 5:16). Shining our light before men is not for the glory of our name, but to glorify the shin Name of the Father.

     This same power of resurrection light transforms "garbage dumps" into glory and beauty in another Sabbath portion from this week: "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing...Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.' Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams (see "radiant", nahar above) in the desert." (Isa. 35:1-6, excerpt).

     Let us flow together as a stream of radiant light. The LORD's Name has already been engraved into the earth.

     If you would like to learn more about shing with resurrection light, you can join my prayer: "My Father in heaven and on earth, the whole earth is full of Your glory, and the resurrection glory of Your Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. Even as darkness thickens, Your light overcomes it. Teach me by Your Holy Spirit how to shine the resurrection light within me, given to me, and prayed for me, by Your Son. Let that light so shine that those who are lost in darkness will see it and follow it to Your salvation. Let unrestrained rejoicing fill the air, replacing the sound of the weeping and groaning of suffering. I ask these things in the Name of Jesus. AMEN."

Chosen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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