RoshChodesh

 

                                                             Phases of the Lunar Cycle

     This Sabbath reading portion has a double title: Mattot, meaning "Tribes/Staffs", and Massei, meaning "Journeys of." Numbers 32 through 35 are included in this portion in which Moses writes a record of the Israelite tribes' journey through the wilderness with all of its arrivals and departures along the way. This is also a special Sabbath designated as Rosh Chosesh because during the next week, the new moon phase of the lunar cycle will usher in the new month on the Hebrew calendar called Av, which is the Hebrew word for "Father". This is what I will be studying for this entry. The Hebrew calendar is based upon the lunar cycle rather than the solar cycle upon which our calendar is based. Although many tragic events occurred for the Hebrews during the month of Av throughout history, the fact that this month is named "Father" brings focus back upon the divine compassion, comfort and sureness, not just of God, not just of Creator, but of our "Father."

 

     Rosh means "head, highest, most important, beginning, first" and Chodesh means "month" or "new." Just as the Sabbath is observed weekly, Rosh Chodesh is observed as each new moon/month occurs. The new moon is not usually visible to the naked eye from earth. If you look at the chart of the lunar phases at the top of the page, the new moon is depicted in the middle on the right side of the image. If you look closely, you can see that there is only a very obscured depiction of the moon in the new moon phase. You can hardly see it. It is dark because, as we look from earth, the moon appears to be positioned between the earth and the sun, so the light of the sun is not reflected off of the side of the moon that faces us. NASA says that the moon rises and sets with the sun in this phase.

     Although the moon in the new moon phase is not generally observable from earth, it is still there. It does not cease to exist as a celestial body. In the same way, the LORD asks us to perceive the new things that He is doing based upon His assurances that they are there, even if they are not yet evident to the human eye. 

     

     With the new moon comes a whole new cycle of the phases of the moon. In one of this Sabbath's readings, the prophet Isaiah mentions observances of the new moon. In Isaiah 66, the LORD asks His people, "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?..." and also saying that (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-things already exist. (v. 1-2). The LORD then goes on to describe a very lackluster, careless, disrespectful worship by His people. The LORD even says that He is being brought abominations: "...and their soul delights in their abominations." (see v. 3). They treat the LORD in the same way that they would treat one of their useless idols according to this Word from Isaiah.

  

     Isaiah also wrote here that what the LORD is looking for is the establishment of His home within the human soul: "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (v. 2). The idea of a physical building as being the dwelling place of God is "the way things have always been," which removes the newness of the LORD from man's perception and expectation, saying, "This is where we worship, this is how we worship, this is what we do, this is what we understand, this is what we are comfortable with, this is the way it has always been done." Jesus challenged this old way of understanding by bringing a new and revolutionary revelation based upon the promises of the scriptures. Jesus did not bring the revelation to a Jewish religious leader, nor to a respected or honored citizen of Jerusalem where the temple of God dwelt in impressive glory, but He brought this new thing to a Samaritan woman of scandalous reputation. This is not what one would usually "expect." This is not how it is "supposed" to happen. Jesus had sent His disciples away because He knew in the Spirit that the Samaritan woman would be coming to the well, and He was waiting for her arrival. He not only identified Himself clearly as the Messiah/Christ to her, but Jesus also revealed the heart of God: "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father (Av in Hebrew) in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (Jn. 4:21-24). 

    

     As the Samaritan woman expressed her understanding that the coming Messiah (Christ in Greek) would teach all things, Jesus said to her: "I who speak to you am He." (v. 25-26). We don't even know this woman's name, but Jesus purposefully waited for this woman to reveal new things to her, previously unimagined in traditional religious thinking of the time.

     Later, the disciples would be shocked as Jesus prophesied to them that the magnificent temple in Jerusalem, which they reverenced and admired, would be totally destroyed. (Mt. 24:1-2). Jesus does say in His continuing prophetic message to His disciples: "...the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light." (Mt. 24:29). It is possible that Jesus was speaking of a new moon in this part of His prophecy. Soon after, Jesus would be arrested, tortured and crucified during Passover.

     As we continue in the Sabbath reading from Isaiah 66 assigned because this Sabbath precedes a Rosh Chodesh new moon for the coming month of Av ("Father"), Isaiah speaks about a new thing the LORD is bringing to birth. The new birth will involve the delivering of a male child even before the birth pangs (hebel/habal - sorrows [see Mt. 24:8], pain, destruction, travail/destroy, corrupt, offend, take a pledge, to be ruined, to bind, to writhe in pain) begin. (v. 7). The LORD asks, "Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation (goy/geva/gev/ga'a - nation, heathen, Gentiles, people, descendants of Abraham, a body of people/the back, body/back as beaten/to rise up, risen, triumph, gloriously, be raised up) be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor (hul - pain, tremble, wounded, grievous, shake, tremble, be in anguish, to twist or writhe in pain, suffering torture), she gave birth to her (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children." (v. 8).

     Before the appointed time of terrible sorrow, pain and destruction, a male child will miraculously be brought forth in a surprising way. A nation is born of both Abraham's descendants and Gentiles, a body of people, whose origins are from a beaten back or body, and from a glorious and triumphant raising up. These are Zion's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children. This is how I would summarize the powerful Hebrew meaning found in verses 7 and 8, above. What or Who do you see in these verses from the Hebrew meanings?

     When God fulfilled His prophecy here, who was able to perceive it, even though it had been obscured from sight (like the new moon), and who did not perceive it because they were happy with "the way things have always been done"? Paul described the Gospel of Messiah/Christ as a mystery of divine truth that had previously been hidden, but had now been revealed. (Eph. 3:1-7, Rom. 16:25-27, Col. 1:24-27).

     The LORD continued, saying in Isa. 66: "Rejoice with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her. That you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." (v. 10-11).

     What started with a people who had dishonored the LORD with indifferent worship, now reveals something new: the birth of the male child and a body of worshipers from all nations that suddenly comes forth afterwards: the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Zion. Rejoice! (see Isa. 66:18-21).

     The reading from Isaiah 66 of this Sabbath before Rosh Chodesh concludes: "For as the new heavens and the new earth (see also 2 Pet. 3:10-13) which I will make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD. 'And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses (peger/pagar - corpse, monument, ruins of men's idols/void of strength, tear down, destroy) of men who have transgressed (pasa' - transgress, rebelled, revolt, break away from just authority, expanding, spreading, multiplying, apostatize, march forward against) against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence (dera'on - eternal contempt, aversion, abomination, be repulsed) to all flesh." (v. 22-24).

     Bible Prophecy may have more than one interpretation and/or application and fulfilment. I see here, however, from the Hebrew meanings involved, the promise of the coming of the suffering yet triumphantly resurrected Messiah/Christ, and the Body of both Jews and Gentiles that would come forth from Him, provided by the Av/Father God before the terrible destruction comes. In the last-mentioned verses from Isaiah 66 above, we see the newness created in and through Messiah/Christ, the male child who was born, and the eternal destruction and burning of the old, which had rebelled against all that is God. Revelation 21 tells us the same thing: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea...Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make 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 the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev. 21:1-8, excerpt).

     Not only does the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Lord Jesus make all things new to a massive extent as stated above, but He also makes us, the individual believer in His salvation and redemption, part of a new thing, a new creation, of new heavens and a new earth, as Isaiah prophesied. Paul wrote this truth: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." (1 Cor. 5:17).

     There are twelve new moons in a year, one for the beginning of each month on the Hebrew calendar. However, only a few are noted in the Sabbath reading portion cycle. This Rosh Chodesh or new moon for the soon beginning month of Av/"Father" is one of them. As we can see, the meanings we discovered in this Rosh Chodesh reading portion are powerful, to bring us into that newness of the Father whose Word says, "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him.!" (Lamentations 3:22-24). Although we may not see right now all of the newness that the LORD has provided for us, like the Rosh Chodesh new moon, the newness is there and will be revealed. We enter into the newness in the assurance of our faith in our Av Father, and in His Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. That continuing newness will keep us through the days ahead.

     If you would like to know more about and enter into the newness of our Father, you can join with me in my prayer: "Most Awesome God our Father, You have provided the Way for me to become part of Your new creation, and the newness of Your Spirit, through Your Son, Jesus, my Savior. I desire, Lord, to run into Your newness, to be covered with it, to become it. Forgive me, Lord, when I have clung to old things, old understanding, old ways, an old creation that is passing away, and failed to perceive the newness that You have made for me every day, every month, and every year. I will rejoice in Your newness! Help me, Father, by Your Word and Holy Spirit to bring Your newness through Messiah/Christ to all. The whole creation is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God. (Rom. 8:18-25). I pray for this in the name of Jesus, my Lord. AMEN."

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

I would also like to recommend for additional reading and entry from the Mending The Breach blog, written by The Berean, titled The Blood Moon Bride. 

TempleGlory

     "...on this rock I will build My church (ekklesia/kaleo + ek - an assembly of Israelites, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship, the whole body of Christians/to call aloud, to call by name, to call forth + out of, away from, separation from a point of origin of place or time), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Jesus speaking in Mt. 16:18-19).

and

     "...you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire...Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (Paul writing in 1 Cor. 3:9-16, excerpt).

     The title of this week's assigned Sabbath reading portion is a double title: Va-yakheil and P'kudei. Va-yakheil means "And he assembled", and P'kudei means "Amounts of/Accounting of".  The first title is from Exodus 35:1, which says: "Then Moses gathered (qahal - gather together, assemble, to summon an assembly, to call, to call together) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-congregation of the children of Israel together...". Both titles have to do with the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness and the building of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. Both the tabernacle and the temple began as a vision of a pattern given from heaven and commanded by God to Moses (see Ex. 25:8-9, Heb. 8:5) and then in a later generation the plan given to King David by the Spirit of God (see 1 Chron. 28:11-13) whose son, Solomon, built the temple according to the vision of his father, David. We also see in the verse at the top of the page that the "church" (see ekklesia meaning above) is also built upon a revelation from heaven as Jesus declared, the revelation being Jesus as the Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 16:15-17).

     The pattern of both the tabernacle and the temple and all of their furnishings were not random, but very specific in detail and the materials to be used. Pages and pages of scripture describe all of the exact details of the items that needed to be constructed to be placed in the tabernacle or temple. Each piece contained individual parts, and each piece was to be set in specific places in the structure. All parts, pieces, components of pieces, priestly garments, materials to be used and their placement were described in intimate detail down to the rings that held the curtains. All pieces and materials used to create the pieces were accounted for and assembled. Nothing was created by the ideas or choices of men. The tabernacle and later the temple were constructed to the exactitude of God.

     As the tabernacle was completed, Moses anointed the tabernacle with oil as the LORD commanded him to do: "And you shall take the anointing (masha/masah - anointing, anointed, consecrate by anointing/smear, anoint, spread a liquid, consecrate, to stroke or spread over, to measure: to spread out and to expand) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-oil, and anoint (see masah above) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle-and-all-that-is-in-it; and you shall hallow it and all its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-utensils/vessels (keli/kala - vessel, weapon, jewel, furniture, object/finish, end, accomplish, done, fulfil, determined, complete, bring to pass), and it shall be holy." (Ex. 40:9).

     As we can see, everything connected to the tabernacle was identified with the Messiah/Christ Jesus by the use of the written *aleph-tav (see *note below). Everything connected to the tabernacle was anointed with *aleph-tav-oil. The Hebrew words used for anointing/anoint (see above) are the root words for "Messiah" in Hebrew ("Christ" in Greek), which means "the anointed One".

     The Hebrew meanings shown above in the verse from Ex. 40:9 parallel the language used in Eph. 4:12-13 and 16 as being the spiritual identity of the ekklesia church determined by the will of God, as He appointed offices of spiritual leadership in the ekklesia church, which is the Body of Christ in heaven and on the earth, to include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers: "...for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying/perfecting (katartismos/katartizo - complete furnishing/put in order, arrange, perfectly join together, complete thoroughly, fit, frame, make - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above)) of the body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (telios/telos - brought to an end, finished, complete/end, that by which a thing is finished, definite point or goal - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above) man, to the measure (metron - a vessel used to determine a quantity of dry or liquid, a determined extent - see meaning of "anointing" above) of the stature of the fullness (pleroo - to fulfill, to bring to pass, accomplish promises and prophecies, bring to realization, made complete in every particular, to carry through to the end, to fulfill or to cause God's will and promises, to receive fulfilment - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above) of Christ....from whom the whole body, joined and knit together (see the meaning of katartizo above) by what every joint supplies...by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love"

     Moses, personally arranged or set in order (see katartizo above) the tabernacle and its furnishings according to the pattern that he was shown on the mountain. (Ex. 40:17-33). "So Moses finished the work."

     Moses had also assigned earlier, by specific command of the LORD, two master craftsmen, full of the Spirit of God, to supervise the construction of all of the items of the tabernacle. (Ex. 35:30-35). When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he also appointed a master craftsman, Huram, who was filled with wisdom, understanding and skill, sent to him by King Hiram of Tyre to supervise the making of all of the extensive bronze work items that would be used in the temple. (see 1 Kings 7:13-14). In the verses at the top of the page from 1 Cor. 3:9-16, Paul also called himself "a wise master builder" for the purpose of building the spiritual house of God and laying the foundation of Jesus Christ. Although the church leadership at the time did not recognize Paul's apostleship, God did, and Paul was miraculously called (see ekklesia above) in an encounter with Jesus Christ while he was on the road to Damascus. Paul proved his appointment to apostleship every day of his life and still does to this day. His words are still fruitful in the manifestation of the true ekklesia church. Apostles are still appointed to the ekklesia church for the same purpose since God has not changed His Word.

     When both the tabernacle and later the temple were completed, "Then the cloud covered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of God filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle." (Ex. 40:34-35).  After Solomon's temple was completed there was a similar occurrence: "And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of the LORD." (1 Kings 8:10-11). The glory covered and filled the tabernacle and temple identified with the Messiah/Christ as the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (see *note below). Jesus prayed to the Father that He had given His believers His own glory so that they/we would be made perfect (teleioo/teleios - see meaning above and also the meaning of "utensils/vessels" above). (see Jn. 17:22-23). Doesn't this follow the pattern established from heaven for the tabernacle/temple?

     At the top of the page, the words written by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:16 state that, as a believer, each of us individually is the temple of God with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Cor. 6:19, Paul again wrote: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" This spiritual temple created within each believer is based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (see 1 Cor. 3 above). The apostle Peter wrote that each believer is also a part of a larger spiritual temple: "...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:5). Jesus said that it is HE who builds His church in Matthew 16 (see the top of the page). Again the apostles wrote that this spiritual tabernacle/temple is directly related to the Messiah/Christ Jesus in agreement with the pattern given many generations earlier by God: the true ekklesia (see meaning above) church of both Jew and Gentile is built of the same heavenly pattern as the tabernacle, the pattern of which was given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, and the temple of Solomon, built upon the plans given to his father, King David, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Both "houses" were directly identified with Messiah/Christ based upon the presence of the written Hebrew *aleph-tav throughout the detailed descriptions given regarding both of the Houses of God.

     The true ekklesia church that is being built into a spiritual House of God was established by God with a foundation identity based only on His Son, the Messiah/Christ Jesus, and led by His Holy Spirit. It is a heavenly pattern that, when completed, becomes a tabernacle/temple filled with the glory of God. The ekklesia church has no other foundation than Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our living faith (see Heb. 12:2). The ekklesia church is not randomness, confusion and division but the completion, perfection and fulfilment of Jesus Christ. (see Eph. 4:13). This is the divine building plan or the blueprint of the ekklesia church.

     The LORD's intricate and exacting heavenly pattern for His tabernacle/temple produces a spiritual, living, resurrection temple made up of Sovereignly purposed and called believers in Jesus Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile. It is a living temple filled with the Holy Spirit and the glory of Jesus Christ and the Father, which glory has been given to us by Christ. It is the same glory that came with the presence of the LORD and filled the tabernacle and later the temple and before which no flesh could stand - not the priests and not even Moses, yet we stand in it and of it. It is the same glory that shone upon the shepherds of the field at Bethlehem when the Messiah/Christ Jesus arrived into the world as a baby. (see Lk. 2:8-14). It is the same glory brightness that destroys the Lord's enemies at His coming/appearing, even the lawless one who is called antichrist. (see 2 Thess. 2:8). This same glory has a voice that is continually declaring the message of Messiah/Christ's return to the world through our testimony: "Surely I am coming quickly (tachy - speedily, without delay, soon, suddenly)," as we respond saying, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). There is a beautiful and powerful song that begins with the declaration: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”.  The pattern of the House of the LORD's glory and habitation is not and cannot be built by human hands or ideas. (Acts 17:24, 2 Cor. 5:1-2, Heb. 9:11).

     If you would like to learn more about being the building of the living temple of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have given Your Son Jesus, and called me in Him, to be built into Your living temple, the place of Your holy and glorious habitation. Lord, let me abide in the true and only foundation of Jesus Christ. This living temple is a house of prayer for all nations, with every kindred, tribe, race, and tongue offering spiritual sacrifices to You, always offering prayers of intercession according to Your will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. Help me, Lord, to be led by Your Holy Spirit, and not my own will, plans or ideas because I am not my own, but I have been bought with the price of the blood of Jesus Messiah/Christ, the Anointed One. Let that same anointing oil cover my life and purpose in Your holy living temple, the anointing oil of the Messiah/Christ that causes me to shine with Your glory and holiness. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! I ask these things 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. 

HeaveOffering

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled T'rumah, which means "Offering". The title comes from the first two verses of the reading portion which begins in Ex. 25: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering (teruma/rum - contribution, heave offering in sacrifice, offering for sacred uses, an oblation/lifted up, exalt, high, heave, extol, to rise, rise up, be set on high, be raised). From everyone who gives it willingly (nadab - willingly offered, offered freely, to volunteer) with his heart you shall take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My offering."

     The offering that Moses has been told to receive from the Israelites has two characteristics: it is a heave offering, meaning lifted up, and it is voluntary, to be given from the heart. This special heave offering of specific items will go to the building of the tabernacle of God's presence, containing the ark of the covenant of God's Word, providing His atonement for sins, as His house of light and bread, and as His house of prayer. All of the reading portions assigned to this Sabbath pertain to the building of the tabernacle of the wilderness, or later in time, the temple built by King Solomon in Jerusalem.

     The two characteristics of the offerings to be brought are also reflective of Jesus Christ, who is the chief cornerstone of the spiritual house or temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22), of which we are the living building stones (1 Pet. 2:4-5). First, the heave offering is displayed to us as Jesus said: "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up (hypsoo/hypsos/hyper - to lift up on high, to raise, to elevate, to exalt/high, exalted, elevation/for the sake of, on behalf of, instead of, on the part of, above, exceedingly abundantly) from the earth, will draw all (peoples) to Myself.' This He said, signifying by what death He would die." (Jn. 12:31-33). Jesus identified Himself as a heave offering as we compare the meaning in the Greek to the similar meaning in the Hebrew above. The sacrifice of Messiah/Christ was also completed by His resurrection, when, again, He was "raised up". (see 1 Cor. 15:16-17).

     The second characteristic of this offering from the Israelites is that it must be voluntarily given out of love. We often think that Jesus' was killed by men, but it was not possible for men to take Jesus' life unless He allowed it. Jesus had at His beck and call legions of angels if He so desired to escape. (see Mt. 26:50-54). Of His death as a voluntary T'rumah heave offering, Jesus clearly stated: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep...As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep...Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (Jn. 10:11-18, excerpt).

     Like the heave offerings that built the tabernacle of God, Jesus' heave offering of Himself was voluntary and given from His heart - His heart for His Father in heaven, and His heart for His sheep.

     The voluntary T'rumah heave offerings to be brought for the building of the tabernacle, according to the instructions that the LORD gave to Moses, included fifteen specific items that ranged from precious metals and gems to various colored threads. (Ex. 25:3-7). All of these items according to their Hebrew meanings create an image of the characteristics and sacrifice of Jesus. Some of the translated meanings of the fifteen types of items to be offered include: to shine, shimmer, brilliance, white fine linen, alabaster, sacrificial victim, prevail, strong, doorposts and lintels (a reminder of the blood of the Passover Lamb, who is also Jesus), leader of a flock, noble leader, laid bare, made naked, fasten to wooden timbers or planks, carpenter, scourging thorns, to pierce, to whip, anointing, fruitfulness, light, glorious, consecrated, anointed, sweet smell or fragrance, sweet smoke of sacrifice, precious stone, build a house, temple, altar, foundation or family, Father/Son.

     The LORD continued His instructions to Moses: "And let them make Me a sanctuary (miqdas/qadas - sacred place, holy place, consecrated place/prepare, sanctuary, dedicate, holy, appointed, treated as sacred: set apart), that I may dwell among them (see also Jn. 1:14, Rev. 21:3). According to all that I show you, that is, the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." (Ex. 25:8-9). Moses could not construct a tabernacle from his own ideas, but there was a specific pattern (tabnit - plan, resemblance, figure, form, likeness, similitude, image or likeness of a thing) that must be created for the tabernacle. This "pattern" is modified by an untranslated aleph-tav in the written Hebrew (or Alpha and Omega in Greek: see notation below), which, to those who have read the Book of Revelation, is how Jesus described Himself.

     Why is the LORD asking His people to voluntarily bring these fifteen specific items as a T'rumah heave offering? The meaning of the number fifteen to us might represent 3 (the Trinity) X 5 (the number of Grace), or perhaps 10 (the number of Completion) + 5 (the number of Grace).

     However, Jewish rabbis also teach about the meaning of the number fifteen that is not contradictory to the deepest and most powerful concepts of the New Testament as we will see. According to the rabbis, "fifteen" represents the rest achieved after the deliverance represented by the number "fourteen". It also signifies a new direction as well as the bond between husband and wife (see also Eph. 5:25, 30-33). The number fifteen also equals the number of the Psalms of Ascent (Ps. 120-134), which are equivalent to the fifteen steps of the temple, those steps achieving the elevation of the individual from the physical to the spiritual state as well as the joining together of heaven, represented by the number 7, and earth, represented by the number 8 together totaling 15. The rabbis write that there are also fifteen signs of the closeness of the appearing (or return by our belief) of the Messiah/Christ. These fifteen signs indicate that the Messiah/Christ is so close to appearing that "you can hear His footsteps". These fifteen signs are also very similar to Paul's teaching in Rom. 1:28-31 and 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

     The number fifteen is also represented by the two Hebrew letters yod and heh, letters which mean "Behold the Hand (of God)", and are the first two letters in the name of God: YHWH. So "fifteen" also represents the powerful work of the hand of God.

     What the rabbis write about the meaning of the number fifteen as shown above is revealed in the New Testament in what it means to be in Jesus Messiah/Christ as believers. In us, as we are in Messiah/Christ, heaven and earth are to be reconciled to God through His Son (2 Cor. 5:18-21) and joined together. Jesus taught His disciples the prayer, which states in part: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." (Mt. 6:9-10).

     Also, as we ascend into the presence of God through Christ, we are to be changed into new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). We change from the physical state to the spiritual state, from corruption of the flesh to the incorruption of the Spirit (1 Cor. 15:50-54). A change takes place as we were crucified with Christ and as we offer ourselves as a living (heave) offering sacrifice to God (see Rom. 12:1-2, Gal. 2:20). Scripture says that we ascended into the heavenly places as we are in Christ (see Eph. 2:4-10), not conformed to the things of this world, but we are transformed into the image and likeness (see "tabnit - pattern" above) of the fulness of Jesus Messiah/Christ through His Word. (see also Eph. 4:11-15). 

     As we can see, the New Testament reflects what the rabbis teach regarding the number "15".

     These are not just words that we read but they are the expectation of God for us now as we remain in His Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. These are not just promises for a "sweet by and by" after we have died but are to manifest in us now as the apostles wrote it. Do we have the faith to believe in the complete meaning of the accomplished work of Jesus as a T'rumah heave offering on the cross, and as the Resurrection and the Life for the now time in our lives? The rabbis foresaw God's miraculous and transforming purpose for us, but we New Testament believers have a difficult time "believing" it. We are very much caught up in the events and conditions of this world, focusing our eyes on the dirt beneath our feet, not wanting to let go of it long enough to reach out for the vision and things of heaven. We are to speak and believe in a transforming reconciliation of the two through Jesus Christ and His voluntary T'rumah heave offering.

     Eventually, the transformative change will be so extensive that it will result in new heavens and a new earth, with the holy city of heaven and the tabernacle of God descending to the earth as the Lord declares : "Behold, I make all things new...It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End..." (Rev. 21:1-6). Peter also wrote that we are to look (prosdokao - look for in expectation, denotes mental direction) for these things in order to hasten (speudo/pous - desire earnestly, to await eagerly, to study, to urge on/sit at the feet of a teacher, put one's foot on the vanquished in victory) them. (2 Peter 3:10-14). We are to have an active role in this transformation process promised by God since Genesis, not passively sitting on the sidelines.

     The house, tabernacle, or temple of God is built from T'rumah heave offerings given from the heart that are in the pattern of the Messiah/Christ.

     If you would like to know more about the pattern of the Messiah/Christ in the building of the house of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, after the pattern of Your Son, Jesus, I offer myself as a living heave offering for the building of Your living temple here on the earth, as it is in heaven. The purpose of this living temple is so You can dwell among Your people in the holy sanctuary created in me through Jesus. I earnestly desire to see Your will, Father, done on earth as it is in heaven. Transform my mind to walk in the ascended places by Your Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Teach me how to bring reconciliation between heaven and earth until new heavens and a new earth are manifested according to Your prophetic promise.  I ask these things 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.

     

Government

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shroud of Turin

     

     

     

TheConsolation

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Va-etchannan, meaning "And I besought." The portion begins with Moses' prayer to the LORD in Deuteronomy Chapter 3: Then I pleaded/besought with the LORD at that time saying: 'O LORD God, You have begun to show Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) servant Your greatness and Your mighty (vaw [nail]-aleph [Adonoi/Lord]-tav [cross/covenant]) hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? I pray, let me cross over and see the good (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon." (v. 23-25). Moses was referring to the previous event when he was instructed by the LORD to speak to the rock in the wilderness in order for the rock to supply abundant water for the people and their animals, but Moses, in anger against God's people, struck the rock instead. (Num. 20:7-11).

      Because of this action of "unbelief" and not hallowing the name of the LORD before the people, the LORD told Moses that he would not be allowed to lead the people into the promised land. (Num. 20:12-13).  Moses said that he besought (hanan/hana - have mercy on, graciousness, favor, pity, implore, beseech, make supplication/bow down) the LORD about His decision to keep Moses from crossing into the promised land with the people. The aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega servant of the LORD, Moses, was bowing down and begging God to show grace and mercy to him and to allow Moses to go into the promised land with the people. We would expect the LORD to hear this earnest prayer for mercy from His servant and grant it. However, Moses said that the LORD "was angry with me on your account and would not listen to me." The LORD then answered Moses: "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter."  (Deut. 3:26). When Moses said that the LORD was angry with him "on your account", in Hebrew the word is ma'an and means: "purpose, to the end intent, for their benefit, for their welfare." The Lawgiver, Moses, could not lead the people in for the sake of their own good as the LORD saw it, but there was one who could: "But command (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joshua ("Jehovah is salvation", Jehovah-saved), and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land which you will see." (v. 28). For the people's own good, it was better for Joshua to lead them in. The law, represented by Moses, testifies of and leads to something greater - the salvation of the LORD as we will see, and it is the salvation that leads us in. 

     Jesus referred to this something greater, which was Himself as salvation, when He said to the religious people, "You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." (Jn. 5:39-40).  Jesus also said, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (pleroo/pleres - to accomplish, to make full, to complete, to carry through to the end, to carry into effect, to bring to realization/complete, filled up, to perfect lacking nothing)." (Mt. 5:17). The LORD said to Moses the Lawgiver that it was for the good of the people, for their sake, that salvation, Joshua, leads them into the land.

     As Moses experienced this heartbreak, the LORD offered him consolation: "Go up (ala - go up, ascend, climb, be taken up, brought up) to the top (ros - head, chief, principal, first, beginning, summit, captain, ruler) of Pisgah (pisga/pasag - a cleft/to consider, to contemplate), and lift (nasa - lift up, exalt, carry, bear up, extol, forgive, lofty, raise up, receive, be high) your eyes (ayin - sight, fountain, well, face, countenance) toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over (abar - pass over, cross over, pass beyond, pass through, make to perish, make to cease to exist, make transition) this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jordan (yarden/yarad - descender, descending/sink down, be brought down to a lower region)." (Deut. 3:27). Moses would be given a vision of the land to console him. He, the Lawgiver, will see it by revelation from afar off, but he will not be able to cross over death: the descending, the sinking down, to get there. But Joshua, "Jehovah (LORD [YHWH: 'Behold the hand, behold the nail'] is salvation", can and will. Not only will he cross over, but he will lead all of the people to cross over with him.

     The words of the Lawgiver, Moses, and the Prophets are a light and a lamp that illuminate a path, but the path leads to a destination - The LORD: "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." (Ps. 119:105). This verse is the first verse that is written under the Hebrew letter NUN (נ) in Psalm 119. The pictographic Hebrew letter nun means "son, heir to the throne." In this week's Sabbath reading portion, Moses wrote this about our destination: "Hear O Israel: The LORD (YHWH, see above) our God is one (ehad/ahad - first, one, united, alike, altogether and apiece, together unitedly/unite, inseparably joined together like a sword of three edges)! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." (Deut. 6:4-6).

     This Sabbath reading is also called Nachamu, meaning "Consolation". It is the Sabbath that follows the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, Tishah B'Av, the Ninth of Av. The Ninth of Av is the date of some tragic events in the history of the Jewish people (see the previous blog post "Speak" for more details). The Sabbath reading offers Isaiah 40 as a comfort and consolation to Israel after this day of mourning, just as the LORD offered revelation consolation to Moses in his moment of deep sadness mentioned above. Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD to His people: "Comfort (naham - to console, to comfort, be comforted or consoled, repent, to draw a breath), yes, comfort (naham, see above) My people! Speak comfort (leb/lebab - heart, soul, inner man, kindly/mind, heart, soul, understanding) to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." (Isa. 40:1-2).

     This Word of consolation comes from the wilderness, the desert, crying "Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God...The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (v. 3-5). (See more about the mouth and words spoken in the wilderness in the previous blog entry "Speak".) The consolation of Israel is the fact that the LORD is coming, and all eyes shall see Him! There is a Person who is known to the Jewish people as "The Consolation of Israel", and that Person is the Messiah/Christ. The consolation commanded here is not just a comforting feeling, but it is the LORD Himself. The words spoken here in chapter 40 by Isaiah were a prophecy fulfilled by the arrival of John the Baptist, who was anointed by God to point Israel to the Messiah, whom he identified as Jesus, saying, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn. 1:19-36).

     This was the anointing of The Consolation from Isaiah 40: "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (v. 29-31).

     When Jesus was born, eight days were completed for His circumcision, and Mary and her husband, Joseph, came to the temple in Jerusalem after the days of Mary's purification were completed as the Law required. There was a man in the temple named Simeon who was just and devout, and he was "waiting for the Consolation of Israel" to appear. Simeon had received a prophetic revelation from the Spirit of God that he would not die before he had seen The Consolation, and the Spirit had sent him to the temple on that very day: "And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he (Simeon) took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 'Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel." (Luke 2:22-32). Simeon connected The Consolation of Israel, the Messiah/Christ, to the LORD's salvation.

     The prophet Isaiah also wrote that the people of God will proclaim and praise the naham consolation or comfort of the LORD, while connecting it to His salvation: "...Your anger is turned away, and You console/comfort (naham, see above) me. Behold, God is my salvation (Yesua), I will trust and not be afraid; for YAH, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation (Yesua). Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Yesua)." (Isa. 12:1-3).

     The Apostle Paul also wrote that consolation and salvation were connected together even through men's suffering and tribulation. He pointed out the source of that consolation: "...our consolation also abounds through Messiah/Christ." (Col, 1:1-7).

     Paul wrote this blessing to the believers in The Consolation of Israel: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation (paraklesis/parakaleo - a calling near, consolation, comfort, solace, of Messianic salvation/call to one's side, receive consolation, be comforted, encouraged, strengthened - see Deut. 3:28) and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." (2 Thess. 2:16-17). It is the Lord's consolation and the power of hope through His grace that enables us to walk in His Word and Works. In this verse above, we see that the meaning of "consolation" in Greek is directly tied to the salvation work of the Messiah/Christ. He allows us to call Him to our side, and He calls us to His side to console and comfort us. Jesus told His disciples that He would send The Comforter/Consoler (parakletos), the Holy Spirit, to help them after He returned to His Father in heaven. (Jn. 14:15-18, Jn. 15:26). The Salvation and The Consolation again are connected together.

     As we go back to Isa. 40, which cries out for the consolation of God for His people, Isaiah prophesied of the "good tidings" that would come out of Zion and Jerusalem (v. 9, see also Lk. 2:10-12). These good tidings that Isaiah prophesied declares "Behold your God!" Even though the LORD God would come with a strong hand and arm to rule in this prophetic Word, He is also described as The Consolation: "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." (v. 10-11). Jesus (Yesua - "The LORD is salvation") said, "I am the good shepherd..." (see Jn. 10:11-16).

     This Sabbath of Nachamu, which follows Tishah B'Av, the Ninth of Av, a day of mourning and loss for the Jewish people, offers this promise of consolation to God's people. If you have suffered mourning and loss, His salvation consolation is available to you also. Who better to console and comfort His people than the LORD, YHWH (yod, hey, vaw, hey: "Behold the hand, behold the nail") who had experienced the suffering of man in His own flesh (Isa. 53:3-5), and welcomed the consolation and strengthening ministered to Him by angels? (Lk. 22:41-44, Mt. 4:10-11). Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Mt. 5:4). The LORD wants us to seek His consolation.

     If you would like to know more about The Consolation of Israel for your life, you can pray with me: "Heavenly and gracious Father, You have sent The Consolation of Israel, Your Son, Jesus, the Messiah/Christ, and my salvation. In these times, many who have suffered loss need Your consolation and comfort. In these challenging days, I and many others need the encouragement and strengthening of Your consolation to walk in Your Word and Works. You, the LORD's salvation, are able to lead me and this Your people to victoriously cross over the descent into death and to enter into the covenant promise of God, abundant and eternal life. I pray that many will begin to seek out Your salvation consolation, and You will lead them as Your flock. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as 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.

Life&Death

     "It's a matter of life and death!" This is a well-known expression meaning that something is of extreme urgency. This expression came to mind as I read the Sabbath reading portion.

     This is the second week of the Sabbath reading portion titled Acharei-Mot, which means "after the death". This reading portion began on the Sabbath following Passover, which we discussed in the previous blog entry "Tabernacles&Passover" and continued through the Feast of First Fruits (Lev. 23:9-12), which occurs on the day after the Sabbath following the Passover, which would be on a Sunday. This is the Feast which was fulfilled by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:20-23), who was slain on Passover, and three days later rose from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits (Mt. 28:1, Mk. 16:`1-2, Lk. 24:1-3, Jn. 19:42-20:1). 

     As mentioned last week, this Acharei-Mot Sabbath reading starts in Lev. 16 after the deaths of two of Aaron's sons, who had offered strange (zur - a stranger, an enemy, a foreigner, loathsome, profane, commit adultery) fire before the LORD (Lev. 16:1). By offering strange incense, Aaron's sons did not regard the LORD as holy, and did not glorify Him before the people. For this, fire went out from the LORD and devoured them. (Lev. 10:1-3). If we consider the fact that the tabernacle given to Moses by the LORD was patterned after the heavenly things, we know that the incense that is to come before God in His heavenly temple is made up of the powerful, Spirit-filled prayers of the saints, which prayers are cherished by God (Rev. 5:8). To come before God with a tainted version of this would be unacceptable. These deaths may seem harsh to many who read of them. However, by disregarding the holiness and glory of the LORD, and the profound purpose that exists within that holiness and glory and coming before Him in the same manner as strangers or enemies, His people were removing that part of the LORD's character that is powerful to save from death and the grave and to deliver any and all who call upon Him. Why would anyone call on God if His own people treat Him no differently than a useless idol, or a powerless figurehead? It is this holiness of the LORD  that called us to His salvation: "...God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed...who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel..." (2 Tim. 1:8-9). Isaiah wrote of the LORD's declaration over us: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you., For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...Fear not for I am with you...I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth - Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." (Isa. 43:2-7). The LORD also said that when He redeemed us, we became His. (Isa. 43:1). We became enfolded into His holiness and glory through His Son, sent as a sacrificial Lamb to atone for us, and to pay the redemption price for us on behalf of His Father in heaven. Not only does the LORD save and deliver through His holiness, but He calls us into His own holiness as He also glorifies us in His own glory (Rom. 8:30, Jn. 17:22-24, 1 Thess. 4:7-8, Eph. 1:3-6). Only the holy and glorious God can do this, and it is His purpose to offer this salvation to all who will call upon Him as the God who saves (Joel 2:32).

     In this week's Sabbath reading portion the LORD calls upon His people through Moses, saying: "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." (Lev. 19:1-2). We read last week that the uncleanness of God's people causes His house, or tabernacle/temple, to become defiled and unclean as it sits in the midst of them (Lev. 16:15-16). We will see more about the house/tabernacle/temple of the LORD later. In Lev. 18, the LORD gave a command to Moses to speak to the children of Israel, saying: "I am the LORD you God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My judgments, and keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My ordinances, to walk in them [which if a man does, he shall live (hayay - remain alive, have life, continue in life, to revive from sickness or death, preserve alive, restore to life, save life) by them]: I am the LORD your God. (Lev. 18:1-5). The ways of Egypt and Canaan were wrapped up in the worship of terrible gods and idols that glory in the death of men, but the ways of the LORD God are wrapped up in life, even the restoring of life from the dead, and salvation life, as we see in the Hebrew meaning of hayay, life above. The LORD couldn't make it plainer to His people. In another place, Moses tells the people: "See (ra'a - see, perceive, prophetic sight or revelation, have vision, discern, be visible), I have set before you today (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) life and good, death and 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 (hayay - same as above) and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess." (Deut. 30:15-16, see also Josh. 24:14-15).

     In another reading from this week's Sabbath portion, the prophet Jeremiah received the Word of the LORD for Judah and Jerusalem. The LORD said to Jeremiah: "A conspiracy (qeser/qasar - conspiracy, treason, unlawful alliance/to bind, to tie, to bind together, to bind oneself) has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have...gone after other gods to serve them...have broken (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My covenant which I made with (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) their fathers. Therefore...I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them...(they) will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense but they will not save them at all in the time of trouble...you have set up altars to that shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Ba'al (Phoenician/Canaanite god)...What has My beloved to do in My house, having done lewd deeds with many? And the holy flesh has passed from you. When you do evil, then you rejoice." (Jer. 11:9-15). In using the word "conspiracy" above, the LORD is saying that His people have tied themselves to an unlawful alliance with the gods whom they have chosen to serve. These gods of depravity and death become spiritually bound to the individual. The LORD sees the body of death to which His people have tied themselves.

     It is interesting that the LORD gave prohibitions regarding contact with a dead body (Num. 19:11-22). In these prohibitions, if the man who is unclean from touching the dead "does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD."  Again we see that the uncleanness of the people of God also defiles the house of God. As Paul saw the destructive power of sin in our/his flesh, our spiritual temple, he cried out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom. 7:24-25). The house of the LORD is the house of life which breaks out against death.

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, the prophet Amos prophesied against the northern kingdom of Israel when the nation was divided into two kingdoms. Amos prophesied of a great calamity that would come upon Israel because of its injustices and corruption, because it did not heed the voice of the LORD and His commandments: "The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. And the songs of the temple shall be wailing in that day, says the LORD God - Many dead bodies everywhere, they shall be thrown out in silence." (Amos 8:2-3). The LORD showed Amos another vision of the temple: "I saw (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD standing by the altar, and He said, 'Smite (naka - slay, beat, wounded, stripes, give wounds, to be stricken or smitten, scourge, chastise, send judgment upon) the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them..." (Amos 9:1). The LORD promised that wherever the people chose to hide from those shaking doorposts and thresholds of His temple, they would not be able to escape..." All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, who say, 'The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.' (v. 1-4, 10). The very doorposts and lintels or the house/temple that were to shield the Israelites from death by the blood of the Passover Lamb (Ex. 12:3-7), were now to be struck, slain, beaten, wounded, scourged, stricken and smitten, chastised in judgment for the sins of God's people (see Isa. 53). In disregarding the blood of the Lamb which was provided for deliverance, and choosing instead the gods of this world, all things become death. The gods and systems of this world do not serve life. They serve money.

     The apostle John wrote of the revelation given to him. In that revelation, he saw the Lamb, Jesus, in the temple of heaven, opening the seals of the scrolls that would lead to the wrath of God that was to be poured out upon the earth. (Rev. 15:5-8). The temple of life breaks out against the powers of death, and against all of those who "tie" themselves to those things. Elsewhere in scripture, the LORD commands His people: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God. and they shall be My people...Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you...I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:16-18, see also Isa. 52:10-11).

     This prophecy of Amos, above, is certainly a matter of life and death, but then the LORD gives Amos this prophecy: "On that day, I will raise up (qum - rise up, raise, establish, preserve alive) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the tabernacle (sukah - tabernacle, booth, pavilion, entwined boughs, covering) of David (meaning "beloved"), which has fallen (napal - fall down, lie down, violent death, perish) down, and repair its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) damages; I will raise up (qum - same as above) its ruins, and rebuild (bana - build, repair, have children, obtain children) it as in the days of old (olam/alam - everlasting, ancient, evermore, perpetual, continuous existence, eternity, a hidden time/to conceal, hide, secret); That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,' says the LORD who does this thing...I will bring back (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the captives of My people Israel..." (v. 11-12, 14). The LORD promised that they would drink the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) wine (yayin - effervescent, banqueting wine, ripened grape cluster, vineyard) and the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) fruits (peri - first fruits, fruit, boughs, reward).

     As the prophecy of Amos tells us, according to the meanings of the Hebrew words used, the LORD is going to raise up from death the tabernacle of David, meaning the Messiah/Christ. This tabernacle did not originate from the time of David but was concealed within eternity. This is the same thing that Paul wrote above about salvation, which is God's purpose and grace through Messiah/Christ, which was from before time began, and what was previously hidden in that eternity is now revealed (see 2 Tim. 1:8-9). The tabernacle of which Amos wrote prophetically is the original tabernacle of life. It is not referred to as an ohel tabernacle, but as a sukkah tabernacle, an intimate chamber or booth made of boughs of living matter, of the type constructed for the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a tabernacle that is meant to welcome many children, even those who were once enemies and heathen, but are now called by the name of the LORD. Those who were taken as spiritual and physical captives are brought home to enter the time of banqueting and fruitfulness with Him. It is the sukkah of eternal life for those who belong to "the Beloved", the Son of David, the Son of God (Mt. 17:1-9, Mt. 3:16-17).

     In this chapter of Amos, we see that the LORD's judgment and salvation, death and eternal life, are offered side by side to His people. It's a matter of life and death - choose life.

     If you would like to learn more about holiness and glory to save life, you can join with me in prayer: "Heavenly Father, I choose life today. I choose the Word and Way of the LORD. I gratefully receive Your salvation, provided to me by the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. By Your Holy Spirit, lead me in the ways of life. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness by Your grace extended to me. Show me how to turn away from the paths of death and walk instead in the path of life. Let me dwell all my days in Your tabernacle, in Your holiness and glory. I ask this in the name of Jesus, My Savior. AMEN."

 *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. 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.