Appointment

    

      

     If the LORD made an appointment to meet with you and reveal Himself to you, and fellowship with you, would you keep that appointment? Most of us would surely say, "Yes! Of course!" The LORD has provided these appointments, but most of us fail to show up, or if we do show up, the people of God have changed the appointment into something that is done according to tradition or religious obligation, leaving no room for the expectation in faith of encountering the presence of the living God. 

     These appointments with the LORD are composed of the holy saving blood, the cleansing and refreshing of holy water, the holy voice and breath of the LORD, the consuming power of holy fire, the sacrifice of the holy offering, and the glory of His holy presence. They were never meant to be treated as a time of customary ritual.

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Emor, which means "Say". The title comes from Leviticus 23:1-2: "And the LORD spoke (dabar - speak, say, promise, pronounce, declare, warn, primary power is to arrange in order, to lead, to guide to pasture, to follow behind) to Moses, saying ('amar - say, speak, command, to be called, to say in one's heart, to avow, to bid, appoint, desire, require, show and declare, to bear forth, to bring light), 'Speak (see dabar above) to the children of Israel, and say (see 'amar above) to them: The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim (qara'/qara' - call and endow, proclaim, appoint, named, invited, bidden, gave, renowned, preach, utter a loud sound, be summoned, be called out, be chosen/meet, encounter, cause to meet) to be holy convocations (miqra/qara' - assembly, calling, calling together, reading, reciting, a rehearsal/see qara' above), these are My feasts (mo'ed/ya'ad - feast, congregation, sacred season, appointed time-meeting-place-sign, solemn, tent of meeting/meet, assemble, appointed, time, agreed, appointment, to be set or fixed, to espouse, betrothed for marriage)."

     We see in the above two verses that there are three different Hebrew words used for something spoken: "speak, say, proclaim", and each of those words has its own powerful emphasis. The LORD is leaving no room for misunderstanding. The letters of the Hebrew word emor, meaning "say", which is the title of this Sabbath, are aleph + mem + reysh. Each letter has its own meaning in this language and can give us an even deeper understanding of what is meant. These three letters when joined together can mean: "Adonai/the Lord is the First, the mighty and massive origin of the water and the blood, the Highest, the Head, the Beginning, the most important." This is the One who is "saying" and issuing the proclamation regarding His feasts.

     This isn't a religious practice that is determined by a man, but it is a command, appointment, invitation, calling, declaration, summons, encounter, desire in the heart of the LORD.

     All of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-Feasts (written Hebrew in Lev. 23:44) spoken of by the LORD in Leviticus 23 are: the Sabbath, the LORD's Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot, Pentecost) which will occur later this month, the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, Feast of Ingathering), and The Eighth Day (Simchat Torah: "Rejoice in the Torah/Word of God").

     It is revealed in the New Testament that the identity of Jesus, and His appearing and purpose to mankind are found within all of the feasts of the LORD named in Leviticus 23. 

     Jesus directly associated Himself with at least four of the feasts (Sabbath - see Mk. 2:27-28; Passover and Unleavened Bread - see Mk. 14:12-25; Tabernacles [incl. water-drawing ceremony/Nissuch Ha-Mayim] - see Jn. 7:37-39). The apostles also wrote of Messiah/Christ's identification with the Feasts of the LORD mentioned in Lev. 23 including Passover, First Fruits, Trumpets, Atonement, Feast of Weeks/Pentecost (Christ's identity is hidden in the Greek root words of Acts 2:1), and Tabernacles. So the feasts are not limited in observance and understanding to Israel or the Jewish people only, but to all who call upon the name of the LORD and receive His Person, His Word and His Voice because these are the Feasts of the LORD.

     Other readings assigned to this week's Emor, or "Say", Sabbath portion record how the LORD moved upon His people in connection with their heart-felt keeping of His feasts. Nehemiah records what happened immediately following the Israelites' keeping of the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles and The Eighth Day (Simchat Torah) observance that had not been kept for centuries, since the days of Joshua. (see Neh. 8:16-17). The next day, on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month, the people of God assembled themselves, separating themselves from the foreigners in their midst, and began to repent and confess their sins as the Book of the Law was read to them. The Levites began to sing the song of the LORD, and the people renewed their covenant with God. (Neh. 9 and 10). There was great spiritual revival and commitment among the people.

     In another reading portion, during the Feast of the LORD in the seventh month, which the rabbis teach was the Feast of Tabernacles, Solomon assembled the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-elders and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-heads-of-tribes in Israel, and had (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-ark brought up from the City of David, which is Zion, and placed in the Holiest Place in the newly built temple in Jerusalem. The Levites began to play their instruments and sing as one sound, praising and thanking the LORD, saying, "For He is good, and His mercy endures forever." In that moment, the house of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of God. (2 Chron. 5:2-14 KJV).

     The prophet Ezekiel's prophetic vision of a temple that would be built included the glory of the LORD: "Also He brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; so I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of the LORD; and I fell on my face." (Ezek. 44:4).

     As we saw earlier above, the Hebrew word for "feast" is mo'ed which also includes the meaning "the tent of meeting". The tent of meeting was the place where Moses met with God and spoke to Him: "Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, and called it (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that every one who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp...And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses...All the people saw the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-pillar...and all the people rose and worshipped...So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend..." (Ex. 33:7-11).

     Because of Jesus' sacrifice for our salvation (Passover, Day of Atonement), and His sending the Holy Spirit to each of us (part of the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost), we also may meet with the Lord in our spirits, speaking to Jesus and directly to the Father (see Jn. 16:23-24) as speaking face to face with a friend within our tents or tabernacles of meeting, which are our own bodies, as Paul wrote. (see 1 Cor. 3:16-17). These tents of meeting, which are our bodies, have also been filled with the glory of the Lord, according to the Words of Jesus (see Jn. 17:22-23) and Apostle Paul (see Rom. 8:28-30, 2 Thess. 2:13-14).

     The Feasts of the LORD should not be a foreign concept to us as believers in Jesus, because they are the stories of our lives in Jesus Messiah/Christ, as He has manifested His presence and glory within us, as He came the first time, and as He will return again.

     If you would like to know more about how the Feasts of the LORD reflect our walk with Jesus Messiah/Christ, you can pray with me: "Father of the Feasts, You have spoken to Your people and commanded them to keep Your Feasts. You have placed the identity of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus, in the origin and meaning of each Feast.  In Your Feasts, You have shown Your people how to meet with You in Your holy presence through the way provided by Your Son. As I observe Your Feasts at their set times, help me to understand that they are not just tradition or custom, or a date on the calendar, but an appointment with You, and a continuing work of Your Holy Spirit as they reflect the Way of Salvation from its beginning in Passover to its culmination in Your Presence and glory of Tabernacles and The Eighth Day. These Feasts are Your story, Father, Messiah/Christ's story, the Spirit of God's story, and my story in You. As I observe Your Feasts, Lord, let the Holy Spirit continue Your work of perfection and completion in me. Let me draw ever nearer to You, Father, in worship and communion through Jesus. I ask these things in the name of Jesus Messiah/Christ. 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. 

NewThing

      This Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yelek, meaning "Then he went out", which we see in Deuteronomy 31:1-2: "Then Moses went (yalak - go, walk, come, depart, lead, carry, proceed, cause, to walk) and spoke these (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words to all Israel." The words that he would speak were spoken on the same day as his 120th birthday. Moses said, "I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross over this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jordan (meaning "descending")." 

     The number of Moses' years, 120, in Hebrew Gematria has the meaning of a full and complete human lifespan. At the same time, it signifies a period of probation and preparation for all mankind for what is coming next. (see Gen. 6:3). Something is coming to an end while something else is coming to its beginning. Moses would not be going forward with Israel across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. That was an ending, and, I'm sure, a most sad event for Israel. However, who will lead the new beginning? Moses revealed it to Israel: "The LORD your God Himself crosses over (abar - pass over, pass through: especially between covenant parts, pass by, go in advance, cause to cross, impregnate, to cover in copulation) before you; He will destroy these (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua (Yehosua - Jehovah [the LORD] is Salvation) himself crosses over (see abar above) before you, just as the LORD has said...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. 31:3, 6).

     Both the LORD and Joshua, whose name is associated with salvation and also Jesus' Hebrew name, would be crossing over before the Israelites. As we can see from the meaning of abar above, "crossing over" is also includes the idea of impregnating. This is the beginning of a new period for Israel that will require the presence of God and His Salvation to go before them. The people of God get into trouble when, instead of allowing God to go before them, they go before God and become separated from Him. Sometimes the LORD has led the way, but His people have refused to follow in His steps. Please, LORD, always go before us and lead us.

     It is also interesting that Joshua was from the half-tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim was a son of Joseph by his Egyptian or Gentile wife. This half-Hebrew, half-Gentile son of Joseph was adopted as a son by his grandfather Jacob/Israel (see Gen. 48:5-6) and became one of the tribes of Israel along with his brother Manasseh.

     At this point, we can see the meaning of our Sabbath title "Then he went out." Moses went out, but something greater came in, God Himself and His Salvation. The LORD never ends something without starting something greater. Isaiah wrote: "Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things (hadas - fresh [gain] of this year, new thing, unheard of, make anew, be new, renew, repair, restore) I declare; Before they spring forth (samah - sprout, bud, bring forth, bear, shine forth, spring forth) I tell you of them...Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing (see hadas above), now it shall spring forth (see samah above); Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isa. 42:9, Isa. 43:18-19). This is the language of birthing something new. However, we often find ourselves firmly entrenched instead in the old things. The wisdom of this Sabbath's Va-yelek reading portion, especially as it comes within the Feast days, urges us to look towards the new thing that the LORD is saying or doing.

     Paul wrote in the same Spirit as Isaiah above: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ..." (2 Cor. 5:17-18). Paul wrote that we are to carry forth in that same ministry of reconciliation. However, in this reconciliation, "all things have become (and are becoming) new."

     In John's vision of heaven, he saw this: "Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make (poieo - make, bring forth, bear, produce, shoot forth, fulfill, perform, do) all things new.' And He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega (*aleph-tav in Hebrew), the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." (Rev. 21:5-6).

     There is new and fresh manna (a mysterious flake from heaven that came each morning with the dew, from which the Israelites were able to make bread) available to us every day in the LORD. Even this same miraculously delivered heavenly manna became wormy and stunk when held over beyond the daily arrival of the new manna. (see Ex. 16:4-5, 15-21).  Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven for His daily provision of revelation bread. Do we think that Jesus was speaking of natural bread? It is not disrespectful to the written Scriptures to seek the daily bread of the Lord. The new revelation from God that Isaiah spoke of above never contradicts His written Word but reveals the living depths of it and quickens it in us. Every time we open the written scriptures, it comes with the expectation of receiving new wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The LORD created His scriptures to be “living”, eternally speaking and revealing Him in a new way. Paul called those who searched the scriptures in this manner, “noble”. (Acts 17:10-11). Ask the LORD for fresh manna and He will give it to you. Jesus said it this way: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Mt. 7:7-11).

     This Va-yelek Sabbath is teaching us to seek out the precious new thing, the new birthing, that the LORD is doing, especially at this season of feasts. It's about being pregnant and bringing it to the birth as we "cross over" after Him and Joshua/Jesus, His Salvation.

     This coming Sabbath is also a Shuva Sabbath. That is the Sabbath that occurs between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, two of the Feasts of the LORD, which He commanded to be kept forever. The Feasts are holy appointed times that the people are to keep with God. They mark important spiritual days and seasons that affect not only those who worship God but also serve as a prophetic revelation of Messiah/Christ. One moving example of this is the Feast of Passover, and its fulfilment by the death of the Lamb of God, Jesus, on that feast. Each week, we seek the glory and wisdom of God together on the Sabbath, the first named Feast of the LORD (Lev. 23:1-3), as we study the Sabbath portions together. Each Feast is not only an appointment with God, but it carries with it prophetic implications of events that will affect the whole world. Man makes his plans, but God's plan prevails. 

     The Hebrew word Shuva used to describe this Sabbath comes from another reading portion from the prophet Hosea: "O Israel, return (shub(v) -return again, turn back, come/go back, repent, turn back to God, turn away from evil, restore, refresh, repair, recover, deliver) to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity (aon/ava - punishment, guilt, fault, sin, perversity, crime/crooked, perverse, troubled, wickedly, twist, distort, do wrong); Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, 'Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifice of our lips." (Hosea 14:1-2). As we can see from the meaning of the word, shuva, above, it means not only to repent and return to God, but it also carries with it the promise of "restoring, refreshing, repairing, recovering, and deliverance." Sometimes we view repentance as an accusation and a punishment chore, but the LORD receives what we worshipfully bring to Him, including repentance of iniquity, and returns to us even greater things that will restore us and keep us spiritually and physically alive. We are increased and made more through a heart-felt and loving return to our wonderful Father in heaven.

     The LORD describes what He returns to us in this way: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away (see shub(v) above) from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. Those who dwell under his (Israel's) shadow (sel - shadow, defense, shade, protection) shall return; they shall be revived like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon." (v. 4-7). The same revival and restoration that comes to Israel through their repentance will bring others also to the same repentance and resulting blessings. We pray for revival. The LORD's revival is found within the shub(v) return blessings. Even the LORD's feasts bear witness to this. Just five days after the somber Day of Atonement, the rejoicing, abundance and the dwelling of God with His people represented in the Feast of Tabernacles is celebrated for seven days. In Jewish numerology, it is said that the number "five" represents "divine grace and the perfection of the natural order connecting God to the earthly realm through the four directions of the world."

     Sometimes it is the Jewish practice to look at words in Hebrew that are similar to a word to expand the understanding of that word. In the case of shuva (see above), we can also look at the word shava, which means "to cry out or shout out for help, to shout for freedom from some trouble, to implore help, to be freed, ample." We are shouting to the LORD for help and freedom and we are in turn freed by Him. The LORD heard the cries of His people while they suffered in harsh bondage in Egypt, and He answered those cries with deliverance. (see Ex. 3:7-10). There is the Hebrew word shavah, which means, "equal, to agree with, to become like, to resemble, to level or equalize, to set, to place, to bring forth." This adds to our understand of shuva or return as found David's Psalm 18. The LORD delivered David from the pangs of death when David cried out (shava, see above) to Him (v. 4-6), and David then declares: "It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect (tamim - without blemish, without spot, perfect, whole, complete, full, innocent, entirely in accord with truth). He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places." (v. 32-33). From the initial place of death, David was revived and his ways were made perfect and he was set upon the spiritual high places by God. The Hebrew word sheva, similar in form to shuva above, is a solemn oath repeated seven times, or to "seven oneself." It is used also in scripture as the oath that institutes a covenant. (see Gen. 21:27-34). The word sheva also means "completeness." How does this help us to understand shuva return? There are times when the LORD swears an oath upon Himself, making it an absolute guarantee because the LORD cannot lie: "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, 'Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.' And so, after he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (Heb. 6:13-15, also Gen. 21:15-18). A similar kind of solemn covenant oath is also given to those who shuva return to the LORD: "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old.". (see Micah 7:19-20).

     In receiving our shuva repentance, as we turn back to the LORD, the LORD will forgive our sins, turn our mourning into dancing, our barrenness into fruitfulness, our sorrow into joy, because He has promised to do so and He is faithful. This is the shuva blessing.

     To learn more about fresh manna revelation from God, and seeking the LORD in shuva return and renewal, you can join me in prayer: "Dearest Father, You are calling us to seek You in shuva return and renewal. Who is like our God who can renew, revive and elevate each individual life if we will return to Him? Who is like our God who can use our return to revive the whole world? As the song says, 'I Will Follow Him (wherever He may go).'  LORD, let us seek the new revelation that You supply daily to Your people as the bread that feeds our souls. Your prophet said that You desire to tell Your people what You will do. Old things have passed away, and new things come to us daily from You. It is by this same principle that You have created us new through Your Son, our great Savior, Jesus. I give You the highest praise and thanks for continuing daily to reach out with love, grace and renewal to all mankind. These things I pray to You 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. 

Zadok

We have been reading in the Book of Leviticus, which means "of the Levites" from the Latin. In Hebrew, this third Book of the Bible is called Va-yikra, which translates to "and He (the LORD) called". The Law that God gave to Moses to bring to the people of Israel is included in this Book, as well as the ministry of the priests and the Levites (the tribe of priests) who served in the tabernacle of God. We who believe in the Messiah, or Christ, Jesus, are also called to a priesthood before God (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10), as has been mentioned previously, so we will see what we can learn about the priesthood from this week's readings. This week's Sabbath reading portion titled Emor meaning ""say", covers Leviticus chapters 23 and 24. What is Moses to say to the children of Israel at the command of the LORD? The LORD gave feasts to His people to observe at appointed times of the year. He commanded that these feasts were to be kept throughout all generations: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts." (Lev. 23:1-2). We may sometimes have difficulty relating to the Feasts of the LORD, however, the Feasts have a special quality and meaning that I think certainly applies to us and the world today. There are Feasts that take place in the spring, and Feasts that are appointed for the Fall, or harvest time. First mentioned of the Feasts is the Sabbath (Lev. 23:3). The Sabbath is treated as foundational to all of the Feasts. The identity of the Messiah is revealed in the Feasts. In the verses above, the LORD calls His Feasts holy. If we look at the meanings of the Hebrew words used in the two verses above from Lev. 23:1-2, we will find that these Feasts also are "appointed times to assemble and meet with the LORD, a fixed time for a betrothal, for an engagement in marriage between God and His people, summoned, called by name, invited, bidding of His guests to come to a rehearsal for future events, appointed assemblies where one will encounter God in an unexpected way". All of these qualities of the appointed Feasts of the LORD are very important in meaning, as we can see,, and not to be missed. These are the appointed holy Feasts of the LORD to which we are summoned by name: Passover-Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth)/Simchat Torah (see Lev. 23 for details). We will see that not only were these Feasts established by God, but they played a role in supernatural events between God and Israel. The priesthood ministered during these feasts, and played an important role in miraculous encounters with God. Our priesthood in Christ should also lead others into saving, supernatural encounters with the God of our salvation. In one of this week's Sabbath readings, Psalm 81, the writer, Asaph, the chief Levite singer under King David, called God's people to return to Him. Asaph's name means "gatherer, to gather together", which is appropriate, as he issued an invitation from God for His people to gather together again, and meet Him at His feasts: "Sing aloud to God our strength...Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob." (v. 1, 3). The LORD said: "You called in trouble,and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place (seter/satar - hiding place, covering, protection, shelter/concealed, hide oneself carefully) of thunder (ra'am - thunder, display of might, the whole circuit of the divine power)...". (v. 7). The "secret place of thunder" to me, is represented by Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles, in which God instructs His people to build booths (enclosed coverings) out of the lovliest tree branches, and spend seven days within them. In its way, it is an intimate "secret place" under His green branches to meet with God, where He will display Himself within His provision of the finest fruits of the land. The booths built of camouflaging branches also represent the marriage canopy under which the bride and groom are joined together. It represents the place where God meets His bride, Israel, and Christ meets His bride, the believers. The LORD refers again to this shelter, His secret place, in Psalm 91: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (v. 1). Asaph the Levite is saying to us, "Do you need to return to God? He is waiting for you to meet Him in the secret place." This is also to be our message to others as the priests of Christ. In another Sabbath reading portion, the priest, Ezra, with the governor, Nehemiah, led the people of Jerusalem back to God after their return from a heartbreaking exile. They had been exiled from the land in the first place because they had exiled their hearts from God. The revival of their relationship with God followed their observance of Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles (Neh. 8). Israel had not observed the Feast since the time of Joshua (v. 17), even though the LORD had commanded His people to meet with Him in His Feasts throughout all of their generations. When Ezra the priest read the law to all of the people, and the Levites helped the people to understand its meaning, the people wept in repentance for not keeping the Word of the LORD (Neh. 8:9). This reading before the people was done on the first day of the seventh month (v. 2), which would have been the Feast of Trumpets, a day that "is holy to the LORD your God." The people then began to gather what they would need in order to keep the coming Feast of Tabernacles. Again Ezra the priest gathered the people to explain what was required to observe the Feast so that they would understand (v. 13). He instructed the people to announce to everyone in Jerusalem and the other cities: "Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." (v. 15). After keeping the Feast of Tabernacles with very great gladness, the people were assembled, and entered into repentance confessing their sins, and the sins of their fathers, and they read the Book of the Law (Neh. 9:1-3). When we meet God in His secret place, our hearts are touched not only by His divine Almighty power on our behalf, but also His loving mercy towards us. The Levites (levi/lava - joined to, attached/abide, to unite, to cleave to), standing on the stairs (ma'ale/ala - ascent, lofty place/come up, offer, light, cause to ascend), again led the people by lifting up their voices and proclaiming the greatness of God, and the re-dedication of His people to their covenant with Him (Neh. 9:4-38). The Levites were positioned in the Spirit, joined to the LORD in a lofty place (the stairs), to cause the people to "come up" or ascend in praise and re-dedication. This is what we also can bring to the people as the priests, the joined ones to the LORD, who stand in the lofty place. In another reading from this week's Sabbath, King Solomon has just completed the newly built Temple of God in Jerusalem. He was ready for the furnishings to be brought in. Solomon assembled all of the elders of Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ArK of the Covenant into the new temple: "The Levites took up the ark...the priests and the Levites brought them (the furnishings) up...Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy place, under the wings of the cherubim." (2 Chron. 5:1-7, excerpt). Only the priests and Levites were allowed to bear the ark and the other vessels of the LORD. All of these furnishings represent the identity of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in their prpose before God. Only the priesthood of saints carry the physical presence of Christ before the people, not with hands of flesh, but, as the Levites did, using spiritual poles or staves (bad/badad - a part of the body [see 1 Cor. 12:27], branch [see John 15:5]/to separate oneself, be separate [see Rom. 12:1-2]). Scripture tells us that the placement of the ark in the temple occurred on one of the Feasts of the LORD that is appointed for the seventh month (2 Chron. 5:3). Because all of the men of Israel were assembled with the king in Jerusalem, it was most likely the Feast of Tabernacles. The job of the Levites and priests was not done yet, however: "the priests...and the Levites who were the singers...stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets - indeed it came to pass when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound...saying, "For He (the LORD) is good, and His mercy endures forever', that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering...for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God." (v. 11-14, excerpt). The united voice and instruments of the priests and Levites ushered in the manifestation of the glory of God. No wonder the spirits of darkness have done all that they can to keep the members of the priesthood of believers in Christ from being unified in sound. The instruments mentioned above have these meanings in Hebrew: "sounded, surround with a stockade, separated from the open country, call aloud, proclamation, to call together, to quiver with vibration, a vessel, a weapon, a jewel, armor, to finish, end, accomplish, fulfill, destroy". This alone should teach us a great deal about our priesthood, if we will seek it. Finally, this week, the Sabbath portion brought us to a prophetic vision in Ezekiel chapter 44. Ezekiel received a vision from the LORD of a temple, unlike any temple that had existed before. He saw an eastern outer gate of the temple that the LORD Himself had entered. According to the prophetic vision, the same gate will be used only by "the prince", who will be able to sit in the gate and eat bread before the LORD (Ezek. 44:1-3). The Eastern Gate is associated with the appearing of Messiah, the Prince of Peace, whom we know to be Jesus Christ. Daniel the prophet also wrote of the Messiah to come as "the Prince" (Dan. 9:25). Also connected to this temple of Ezekiel's vision will be a new priesthood. The LORD explained to Ezekiel: "But the priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went away from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,' says the LORD God. 'They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge." (Ezek. 44:15-16). The Zadok priests were to eat only of the holy sacrifices made to the LORD (Ezek. 44:29-31, Lev. 22:7-8)). In Ezekiel's vision, the Levites had become so corrupted by idolatry that they were no longer fit to minister before the LORD, and their corruption had caused all of the house of Israel to fall into iniquity: "...therefore I have raised My hand in an oath against them,' says the LORD God, 'that they shall bear their iniquity. And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed..." (v. 12-13). Priests who minister before God cannot be covered with abominations and iniquity, neither then nor now. What is the meaning behind the new Zadok priesthood who will be accepted by the LORD? Zadok/sadak in Hebrew means "righteous, just/cleansed, justified, save, to absolve, to acquit, to purge oneself". Malachi also wrote prophetically of a priesthood, purified, purged and refined by the Messiah Himself so that they may be able to minister in righteousness. (Mal. 3:2-3). Speaking in the same meaning as the Zadok priesthood, Paul wrote of those who have turned away from sin and come to Christ: "...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. 6:11). The Zadok priests of Ezekiel's vision will be clothed in linen garments as they minister before the LORD (Ezek. 44:17). The Book of Revelation speaks of the Bride of the Lamb (Jesus) being "arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright for the fine linen is the righteousness (sadak in Hebrew) of the saints." (Rev. 19:8). The Zadok priesthood was given a specific charge by the Word of the LORD in the vision of Ezekiel: "And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy (see Lev. 22) and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. In controversy they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings (Feasts), and they shall hallow My sabbaths...I am their inheritance...I am their possession." (Ezek. 44:23-24, 28, see also Eph. 1:13-14, 17-23). The Zadok priesthood of righteousness appears to be very similar to our priesthood in Christ. Handel wrote a glorious piece of music titled "Zadok the Priest". Called one of the most triumphant moments in classical music, I recommend a listen to Handel's "Zadok the Priest", if you have a chance. This Sabbath's reading portion taught me something new about not only the Feasts of the LORD, but especially about the ministry of the priesthood before God and the people. If you would like to learn more about these holy things of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your desire to meet with Your people at appointed times, and to manifest Your greatness before them. You have created a place where we can come to You in the tabernacle of Christ's salvation in the beauty of holiness, where we can dwell all the days of our lives. Through Your Son, You have called me to a priesthood to minister to You and the people by the Holy Spirit, handling the holy things of God, teaching others Your Word so that they can understand, in unity ushering in the glory of God. You have given me linen garments of righteousness, not by any works that I do, but by the sacrifice of Your Son of righteousness, Jesus. You only are my inheritance and my possession. I pray these things in the name of Jesus, AMEN."

Zadok

In this Sabbath's reading portion titled Emor, or "Say", most of the Feasts of the LORD are given to Moses in Leviticus 23 for the people to observe throughout their generations. A study of these Feasts reveals the prophetic Person, promise and timetable of Christ, just as the pattern of the Tabernacle also declared the promise of Christ. The Hebrew word for "feast" used in Leviticus 23 is moed, and the root word is ya'ad. The meanings of these two Hebrew words are very important to all of the people of God. The meaning includes: "appointed time, appointed season, appointed sign or signal, a fixed time, a point of time, assembly; betrothed, engaged for marriage, to espouse". As the Bride of Christ, paying attention to the appointed times and seasons that have been encased in the Feasts of the LORD is very important. The meanings of the individual pictographic Hebrew letters that make up the word for "feast", moed, when put together could be saying to us "the mighty stream of blood from the nail inescapably pulls us on a journey toward a destination, a righteous harvest, like a movement or a path entering through a door or curtain". Christ described Himself as the Door for the sheep, His followers, to enter into the pasture of salvation (Jn. 10:1-9). He is also the Door or Curtain by which we may enter into the Holiest Place to the Mercy Seat, which is considered in Jewish tradition to be the Throne of God (Heb. 10:19-23). These Feasts bring us on a set journey from beginning to the end on the path to and with the Lamb of God, our Betrothed (Rev. 19:7-9). Not only are the Feasts a path, but they are a set timeline according to the meanings of the words. They play a significant part in our understanding of the plan of God for all of us. Currently, at this time of year, we are in the middle of the spring feasts. Part of this Sabbath's reading that includes the Feasts of the LORD, is also an unusual vision from the Prophet Ezekiel. The prophet had just given a very detailed vision of a temple that had not yet been built (Ezek. Ch. 40-43). Ezekiel saw the glory of the LORD enter the temple from the eastern gate of Jerusalem in this vision, and heard a voice say, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet (see also Zech. 14:3-4), where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever..." (Ezek. 43:7). This temple of Ezekiel's vision is sometimes referred to as "the third temple", and many expect this temple to be built in these end times. Jewish tradition states that the Messiah will enter through the eastern gate when He comes because of the prophecy of Zechariah noted above. At the same time, Ezekiel also received the Word of the LORD concerning a revolutionary change in the priesthood that would serve Him in this prophesied temple. The Levites will no longer be accepted to minister before the LORD, and will only be allowed to minister in the outer courts. This is because they had previously led the people away from the LORD and into idol worship: "...And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed." (Ezek. 44:10-13). There was only one branch of the Levites that would be allowed to minister before God, in this new priesthood that Ezekiel saw, which were to be the sons of Zadok: "But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,' says the Lord God. 'They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge." (Ezek. 44:15-16). The "Lord" who is speaking here about His Zadok priesthood is called Adonay in Hebrew. The meaning of Adonay/Adon includes, "Lord, Master, king, husband, prophet, prince, captain". The Hebrew letters that make up the name Adonay, when put together, mean: "the powerful authority of the First, who is the Door, the Way, the Son, the Offspring, the Seed, the Heir to the throne, whose hand accomplished the finished work" (see also Jn. 17:4, Jn. 19:28-30). This priesthood spoken of by Ezekiel as declared prophetically by Adonay, the Lord, will consist only of the sons or descendants of Zadok. Let us look at who Zadok was, who lived generations before this vision was given to Ezekiel. Zadok was a priest who remained faithful to King David when many others were conspiring with David's son, Absalom, the counterfeit heir, to depose the king (2 Sam. 15:23-24). King David had previously received the prophetic promise that the Messiah would be his future descendant (2 Sam. 8:12-18). Not only did Zadok remain faithful to David, and willing to follow him into exile, but he would also play a role in the king's future return: "The king also said to Zadok the priest, 'Are you not a seer (prophet)? ...See, I will wait/tarry/delay in the plains (crossing place, cause to bring over) of the wilderness (pasture for feeding flocks) until word comes from you to inform/certify (declare, utter, show forth, make known, profess openly, proclaim, bring into sight, proclaim and celebrate with praise) me." (v. 27-30). When the time came for King David's return, he sent a message to Zadok to bring to all of Judah: "You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?". This touched the hearts of all the men of Judah, who sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your servants." (see 2 Sam. 19:11-14). This is also the role that we have in the return of Jesus, "the Root and the Offspring of David". As Zadok asked the question of Judah, are we, Christ's brethren of His blood, the last to bring back the King? This should not be so. We, the Bride, are to join the Holy Spirit, not just in waiting for Christ's return, but in saying "Come", or erchomai in Greek, which means "to come forth from one place to another, used of those arriving or returning" (see Rev. 22:16-17, 20). The verse tells us to "say" this, but the meaning in Greek, lego, is much stronger. It means "to speak, affirm, maintain, teach, exhort, advise, to command, to call by name". Like Zadok, we have been given the responsibility by the King to exhort all of Judah, "the people of praise", to speak the command for Him to "Return" or "Come". Zadok's name in Hebrew means "to be just, be righteous, to be justified, make someone righteous, turn to righteousness". Daniel described God's people in the latter days or end times as "those who turn many to righteousness". The Zadok priesthood, which would be the descendants of Zadok as prophesied by Adonay, the Lord, in Ezekiel's vision, would have this calling also: They were to be clothed in linen (Ezek 44:17, Rev. 19:8). They will teach the people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and between the unclean and the clean (v. 23, Dan. 11:33). They shall stand as judges in controversies (v. 24, 1 Cor. 6:3-6). They shall keep the Lord's statutes, the appointed feasts, and hallow the Sabbath (v. 24, Jn. 8:31, Jn. 14:15, Jn. 15:10, Mt. 5:17-20, Mt. 12:8). The Lord, Adonay, also said that He is the Zadok priests' inheritance, and their possession (v. 28, Eph. 1:10-14), and they were to have no other inheritance in the earth. These priests were to have the first, best, or most chief, the head of the firstfruits offering (v. 30, 1 Cor. 15:20-23, Rom. 8:29). We also have been called to a priesthood, which Peter calls "a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9-10), that requires something of us. I found that this week's Sabbath reading titled Emor, or "Say", contains so many parallels with our walk with Christ, and a timely message for the believers in Christ pertaining to our ministry or purpose on earth in these times. If you would like to learn more about these things, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You show and teach us things in Your Word to guide us through these challenging days before Your return. Prepare us by Your Holy Spirit, and sanctify us by Your Word, to walk in the priesthood to which You have called us, and to minister Your salvation to all creation. We join with the Spirit, and exhort all, both Jewish and Gentile, to send this imperative word to our King of Kings, Jesus: "Come!". We ask and speak these things in the Name of Jesus. AMEN."