AtonementWitness

      This Sabbath, according to some calendars, is the observance of the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kipur, which is one of the fall feasts of the LORD. Believers in Jesus Messiah/Christ know that He IS the atonement for our sins, covering and obliterating our sins with His own blood made as a sacrifice, thus fulfilling this feast (see Mt. 26:27-28, 1 Jn. 2:1-2, Rom. 5:10-11, Rom. 3:23-25). This is a one-day feast commanded by the LORD in Leviticus 23: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement (Kipur/kapar - atonement, expiation, redemption/atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, cleansed, pardon, pitch, obliterated, to cover over [with pitch], to expiate, be merciful). It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict (see below) your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. And you shall do not work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God..." (v. 26-28).

     Before we leave the Hebrew word meanings above connected to Yom Kipur, I would like to look more closely at the Hebrew word ana, translated to mean "afflict", regarding our souls. Most traditionally treat the affliction of our souls as a day of fasting and repentance, however, the Hebrew meaning goes deeper than that. The Hebrew word ana means "afflict, humble, be bowed down, to stoop, to weaken oneself, submit oneself, concern oneself with one's soul, be labored or exercised over one's soul." There is an additional meaning to the word ana, or afflict, that requires an action: "to answer, respond as a witness, make answer, testify, speak, give account, sing, cry out, praise song, the shout of soldiers in battle, a witness giving evidence." This powerful day of "affliction" is not only to include a humbling examination of our souls, but it is a day that requires us to take an action, and to give evidence.  We will see this in the next few examples.

     The root word of Kipur (Atonement) is kapar as shown above. The root word kapar first appears in scripture during the account of Noah's building of the ark. As we see above, kapar means "atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, cleansed, pardon, obliterated, cover over (with pitch), to expiate, be merciful." The LORD had told Noah that "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood...and cover it (kapar - see above) inside and outside with pitch (koper/kapar - ransom, satisfaction, price of a life, redemption price)." (Gen. 6:13-14). All mankind was to be destroyed except for one family: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (v. 8). How would you feel to have seen by revelation from God the deserved total destruction of all mankind and then to have been told that you and your family would be the only exception? How would you feel to have received this unearned gift? Would you bow down in humility and submission before this awesome gift and mercy of God? This is what the LORD is looking for in His people because we have received the undeserved atonement in the blood of Jesus Christ, who, while we were yet sinners, died for us. Do we understand the utter destruction from which the atonement blood shields and delivers us? Why would we think that this day is about food or the abstaining from food? The LORD corrected this false perception in Isaiah 58. We don't want to reduce an act of God's transformative power and mercy into a religious ritual.

     In this account of the ark, scripture remarks upon Noah's genealogy and generations. Noah is described as a just man, perfect (tamim/tamam - without blemish, perfect, upright, without spot, whole, complete, full, innocent (see Mt. 27:3-5), complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact/end, finished (see Jn. 19:30), clean, perfect, done, be completed, completely crossed over) in his generations, as well as the remark that "Noah walked with God." (Gen. 6:9). The LORD was looking at Noah's generations, calling them "perfect". What He saw in those generations is found in the statement: "Noah walked (halak/yalak - depart, die, live, carry, cause to walk, take away, vanish) with God (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Ha-Elohim)." To me, this is saying that Noah's generations or descendants contained the Messiah/Christ. In the same way as the later case of David, the seed of the Messiah, who is the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, was in Noah. This was a very humbling thought for David (see 2 Sam. 7:18-22), and it must have been for Noah also. All of these things is enough to cause a person to bow down before the LORD in thanks and awe.

     Noah, as a witness and a testimony to the atonement, followed God's will and prepared a place (see also Jn. 14:1-6) which was the ark. That place was covered inside and out with the koper/kapar atonement (pitch) that protect from the destruction of judgment. Noah applied the pitch (covering atonement inch by inch, foot by foot, inside and outside of the very large vessel.

     Another Atonement witness or testimony is found in Num. 16:41-50. There had been a terrible rebellion among the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness. As a result of this rebellion, all involved in it died, having been swallowed alive by the earth, or consumed by fire from heaven. After these deaths, the people turned against Moses and Aaron, falsely accusing them of killing God's people (Num. 16:41). The glory of the LORD covered the tabernacle and Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle as the LORD said: "Get away/Get ye up (ramam - exalted, lifted up, mount up, to rise, to be high) from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell (napal - fall down, be offered, cease, die, perish, smite out) on their faces." (v. 42-44). Notice how Moses and Aaron fell down on their faces, as the LORD commanded them to "Get ye up".  The lower you humble yourself or your soul, the higher you are lifted up in the Spirit. "So Moses said to Aaron (aharon - "light bringer"), 'Take a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) censer (mahta/mehita/hata - fire-holder, censer, firepan, a pan for live coals, implement or vessel in which burning coals are carried/destruction, ruin, terror, a breaking/to take hold of, seize, take away, snatch up [coals], to pick up fire) and put fire in it from the altar, put incense (qetoret/qatar - odor of burning sacrifice, perfume/fumigation, a smoke of sacrifice) on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, reconcile, forgive, cleansed, merciful, pardon, pitch, to cover over, overspread) for them; for the wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague (negep/nagap - blow, striking, plague, stumbling of the foot/smite, hurt, slain, struck, stumble, beaten, defeated) has begun." (v. 45-46). Aaron did so, "...standing between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." (v. 48). Aaron ran into the middle of a deserved plague of judgment with the atoning fire from the altar. Before the plague was stopped by Aaron's atonement witness, 14,700 people died (v. 49). 

     In describing the Messiah/Christ who would come, John the Baptist said: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Mt. 3:11).

     We experienced a terrible plague in the past few years. Millions were sickened and many died. What was our atonement witness in the midst of the plague? Was it the same as Aaron's? By definition, we, the believers in Christ, understand what it means to be a people who were undeservedly spared (see Rom. 5:8) from utter destruction because of the Atonement blood of Jesus. Did we apply the atonement for the sins of the people in the midst of the plague?

     Jesus, the Person of the Atonement, gave humbling testimony of the ministry of atonement. We think of the atoning work of the cross, which is true, but the atonement didn't start there. Jesus first dropped His atoning blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, meaning an olive oil press, located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, where His soul was so deeply troubled and sorrowful that His sweat became great drops of blood that fell to the ground (see Lk. 22:44), and where His testimony was the submission of His will to the will of His Father. (Mt. 26:36-39, 42). This is the perfect picture of the affliction (ana, see above) of the soul associated with the Day of Atonement.  If you are in this sorrowful place of pressing and wrestling in your soul, Jesus left His atonement blood in that place for you. He left the answer in that place for you also: "Not my will, Father, but Your will."

     The next place that Jesus shed blood was at the house of Caiaphas the high priest. He was accused of blasphemy (see Isa. 50:6), and they spit in His face, beat Him, and slapped Him. (Mt. 26:65-68). If your religion has separated you so far from God that you can no longer recognize Him when He is standing before you, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood in your house also if you will receive it.

     From there, Jesus was taken for the first time to Pilate's palace, where He must have continued to drop blood from the beating, and then He was sent to the palace of Herod, where He also must have left drops of blood on the floor. He was then returned to the judgment court of Pilate, where He was crowned with thorns, scourged, and beaten. (Jn. 19:1-3). There must have been great streaks of blood left at Pilate's judgment seat. If you think that government is the answer to problems, a provider of equity, and the dispenser of justice separate and apart from God, or you are a member of government who panders to power and wealth rather than righteousness, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood in your house too if you will receive it.

     Then Jesus began the walk with the cross through the streets of Jerusalem, where His blood must have trailed on the ground on the way to the place of crucifixion. Simon a Cyrenian (a place in Libya, Africa), a passerby not involved in the horrible proceeding, was forced to carry the cross for Jesus (Lk. 23:26-27). Simon must have gotten smeared with that atoning blood as well. Jesus does not remain confined to a church building but walks the streets of our communities (see Prov. 8:1-10), where He leaves drops of His atonement blood. If you think that the atoning blood of Jesus is only for certain racial, ethnic or cultural groups and not for you, He left drops of His blood just for you. 

     Finally the Atonement and the Atonement Witness, Jesus, came to Golgotha (golgotha/gulgolet/galal - skull/every man, census count or poll to determine the price of redemption/roll away, remove, flow down) where He was crucified (Mt. 27:33-35). Here, of course, His blood would have dripped upon the ground of "the Skull" (every man, see gulgolet, above). However, His blood would also have gotten upon the soldiers who laid Him on the cross, took hold of His arms and legs to nail Him and later stood below Him as they pierced Him in His side (Jn. 19:33-34). The Word of Isaiah 53 tells us that there was never a man whose face and form was so marred as this man. A person doing such a job as those soldiers did on Golgotha couldn't help but come into contact with His blood. If you think that you have done something so offensive to God that you cannot be covered and forgiven by the atonement blood of Christ, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood for you if you will receive it.

     Before the day of His resurrection, Jesus left drops of His blood on the burial cloth that laid beneath and over His body in the sepulcher in which He was buried. If or when you are facing death, Jesus left drops of His atoning blood for you. It is the shed blood that has overcome death.

     Under the law of Moses, on the Day of Atonement in the tabernacle of God, the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies with a basin of the blood of the sacrifice, dip his finger, rather than a utensil, into the blood and sprinkle the blood of atonement on the Mercy Seat, also called the Throne of God according to Jewish tradition, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. It is the only day of the year when the priest could enter that holiest part of the tabernacle and come out alive. The atonement must be applied with our hands, not just for our own benefit, but on behalf of others. The Atonement requires an answer, a witness, a testimony, an action. Now, the Book of Hebrews says, we can enter into that holiest place through the torn body of Christ and approach (Heb. 10:19-25) the Mercy Seat, the place where the blood of atonement is applied on behalf of the sins of the people. 

     If you would like to learn more about the Atonement, you can join me in prayer: "Merciful Father, as we come to the Day dedicated to Your provision of Atonement, which is the blood of the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus, lead me by Your Spirit and Word into a deeper understanding of what it means to be a witness giving evidence of this powerful and costly Atonement. As Noah "walked with the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega God", show me how to walk and apply Your Atonement upon Your Mercy Seat.  It is not by my will, Father, but by Your will. Help me to humble and search my heart and soul until like Noah, Aaron and Jesus, I walk in the application or ministering of Your Atonement especially in these trying times. I ask this 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 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.

Election

Moses asked to see the personal glory of the LORD. How would the LORD answer Moses' prayer, while keeping him alive, "...for no man shall see Me and live."? According to what we read in this account, the LORD protected Moses through His power of election: The LORD said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD (YHWH - the Hebrew pictographic letters meaning: "Behold the hand, behold the nail") before you. I will be gracious (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus: Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion/mercy on (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) whom I will have compassion/mercy." (Ex. 33:19-20). The apostle Paul wrote of this same event with Moses as he explained the election of God: "...so then it is not of him who wills (in this case referring to Moses), nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy...Therefore, He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills, he hardens." (Rom. 9:11-18). This election pertains to whom God chooses to show mercy (example given: Jacob, Moses), and of whom He chooses not to show mercy, and to harden in heart instead (example given: Esau, Pharaoh)..."(...that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him who calls." (Rom. 9:11). So the election of God is to accomplish His purpose. The Concordance defines "election", the Greek word ekloge/eklogemai, as meaning: "the decree made from choice by which God determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone; of the act of God's free will by which before the foundations of the world He decreed His blessings to certain persons". As we can see in the above encounter with Moses, God marks those whom He chooses to show grace and mercy with the Hebrew letters aleph-tav, the title of Christ revealed in the Book of Revelation. We will see that the Hebrew letters that form the words "grace" and "mercy", the components of election as mentioned, also contain the identity of the Son of God. As Paul pointed out, the election is not according to our works (we cannot earn it), but the will of God as He executes His plan for the earth. We will see much more about grace and mercy, and their involvement in the election of God, during this Sabbath reading portion titled No'ach, meaning "rest/resting place". This is the name of Noah, who is first seen in Gen. 5:29, so named because he would be a comfort to the difficult toil of man in the midst of the earth, which the LORD had cursed as a result of the sin and fall of man (see Gen. 3:17-19). The Noach Sabbath reading is found in Gen. chapters 6 through 11. We will see the election of God run through the account of Noah and his sons. Out of all of the people of the earth, only Noah was elected to find (masa - find out, meet, get, secure, detect, be recognised) grace in the eyes of the LORD. Grace, one of the components of election, recognised Noah. The word "grace" used in this verse is the Hebrew word hen, meaning "grace, favor, pleased, precious, acceptance, elegance, kindness, beauty, good will, supplication, prayer". The pictographic Hebrew letters of the word hen, or grace, can mean "Behold, the Son, the Heir to the throne". We are familiar with the story of Noah. The spiritual condition of the hearts of the people of the earth were filled with violence and evil continually. God would judge and cleanse the earth with a flood of waters (Gen. 6:5-7). The LORD instructed Noah to build an ark according to His specifications that would hold all of Noah's family, including three sons and their wives (Gen. 6:17-19), and male and female animals living on earth, both clean and unclean animals. This was a covenant of safety in the aleph-tav ark (which is a picture of Christ), high and lifted up above the waters, sealed in by God Himself, that the LORD made with His elect, Noah, and all of us who will receive it. The same waters that flooded the earth in judgment, caused the ark to be lifted up above the judgment: "Now the flood was on the earth forty (arbaim - fourth, forty, four-fold, to square, four-sided, a doorway) days. The waters increased and lifted up the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) ark, and it rose high above the earth." (Gen. 7:17). As the flood waters receded, and the dry ground appeared, as a sign of His everlasting covenant promise to Noah, His elected, to never flood the earth with water again, the LORD established the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) rainbow in the sky (Gen. 9:12-17). This is a good time to learn what the Hebrew word for "rainbow", or "bow", qeset/qasa/qas, means: "bending an archer's bow, shooting arrows/harden, stiff-necked, grievous, struggle against/to lay a snare, to lay bait, to set a trap". This should have a particular warning for the times in which we live. Be careful with the signs of God, or you will fall into the trap that has been set for the grievous, the stubborn and the rebellious. As we look at the election of Noah, after whom this Sabbath reading portion is named, we can see some interesting details: "This is the genealogy/generations (toldot/yalad - generations, birth, course of history, account of men and their descendants, begetting or account of heaven/bring forth, travail, to act as midwife) of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect (tamin/tamam - without blemish, complete, perfect, without spot, whole, blameless/end, finished, perfect, done, completely, crossed over, destroy uncleanness, accomplish) in his generations (dor/dur - generation, many, all, an age, the period, the circuit, ages to come/to move in a circle, go around, to remain, inhabit). Noah walked with (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus) God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, Japheth." (Gen. 6:9-10). The LORD is making much of the importance of Noah's generations. Two different Hebrew words are used to describe the generations in the above verse, and both of those Hebrew words mean much more than "descendants". Something would be accomplished, completed, in the ages to come. Noah was described as "perfect". We can see in the Hebrew word and root that a description is given that could only depict Jesus Christ. This shouldn't surprise us because Noah walked with the Aleph-Tav/Alpha and Omega/Jesus God, before the Aleph-Tav Christ was physically born. Then in the verse, we are immediately pointed to Noah's three sons. In fact, the setting of end time events was "established and completed" through the "generations" of Noah: his three sons. Scripture says that all of the people of the earth are descended from Noah and his three sons after the flood (see Gen. 9:18-19). The name of Noah's first son, Shem, means "name, famous, conspicuous position, mark with a sign, the celebrated name of God {HaShem}, to call on the name Jehovah (YHWH - meaning "Behold the Hand, Behold the Nail"). From Shem's descendants, came the Hebrews (Eber), Abraham, Judah, David and others, which are all included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Gen. 11:10-32, and see Lk. 3:33-36). Ham/hamam, whose name means "hot, heat, enflaming, inflame oneself, hot and burning with lust", is also the name by which the Egyptians refer to themselves. Canaan, and all of the tribes thereof, Sodom and Gomorrah, Gaza, Assyria and Nineveh, Cush (Ethiopia) nd Put (Libya) (see Ezek. 38:5), Nimrod in Babel and Shinar, are also descendants of Ham (Gen. 10:6-12), and have been, and in the end times, will be aggressors against Israel. Ham, as we know, was cursed by his father, Noah, because he scorned his father, who had found grace in the eyes of the LORD, and His election (see Gen. 9:20-27). This had nothing to do with the color of Ham's skin, or the races of some of his descendants. That is a man-made lie, and it never came out of the mouth of God. These descendants of the cursed Ham became the enemies or oppressors of the people of Israel. The last mentioned son, Japheth, is very interesting. His descendants spread northward to eventually populate Europe and parts of Asia. Japheth's (yepet/pata) name means: "entice, deceive, persuade, flatter (see Dan. 11:29-32), allure, silly one, gullible, seduce, delude". His descendants include: Gomer, Magog, Tubal, Meshech, Togarmah. These nations and peoples constitute Russia, parts of Asia Minor, and areas of central Europe, and are mentioned specifically as those nations who, according to the prophecy in Ezek. 38:1-6, 8-9, will be drawn by God as into a trap, in a massive invasion and war against Isreal in the end times.The scenario for the end times was set in place by God's election of Noah. Jesus connected the events and signs of the end times before His return to "the days of Noah" (Mt. 24:36-37). Again, the election of God, whether for His favor, or for the hardening of hearts, is not haphazzard nor arbitrary. Election is used to further the strategic plan of God for His creation, including man. I have often wondered why God selected Noah, but now I can see more clearly the hidden plan of God for the end times in the generations of Noah. You can't out-plan God! Often, we are preoccupied with the cares of the moment, or of the day to come, while God has already planned out eternity. Also included in this Sabbath's reading portion, is an event in which people tried to attain the election of God through their own will and strength. The descendants of Ham (see above), who dwelled in the plains of Shinar, said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name (Shem, same as above) for ourselves, lest we be scattered (pus - scatter, disperse, break to pieces in order to scatter into dust, shake to pieces, dash to pieces) abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Gen. 11:1-4). They wanted to make themselves a name (Shem) of the elect of God in order to avoid the consequences of being the unelected. Their efforts were not successful (see verses 7-9). The LORD has made a way for anyone who so chooses, by the drawing or leading of the Father and the Holy Spirit (Jn. 6:43-45, 1 Cor. 12:3), to become part of "the elect" of God, as we will see, but it isn't by our own strength and plans. The LORD sovereignly rules over His election of men. In another reading from this Sabbath's portion, Noach, the LORD assured those whom He described as a barren woman, of His eternal election. He said that He has called them, and with great mercies and everlasting kindness He will gather them and have everlasting mercy on them: "My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, 'who has mercy on you." (Isa. 54:1-10). Here is our second component of election, as we saw with Moses' encounter with God, above: mercy (raham - mercy, compassion, love, pity, to fondle, tender affection, gentle emotion, cherishing, soothing). This chapter of Isaiah comes immediately after the suffering Messiah/Servant, who was sacrificed for our sins, was revealed in Isaiah chapters 52 and 53. Of course, according to scripture, this Servant Messiah of God is His "Elect One" (Isa. 42:1, 1 Pet. 2:6), and we who believe take part in Christ's election through God's abundant mercy (1 Pet. 2:6, 1 Pet. 1:2, 3-5). As referred to in Isa. 45:4, and Isa. 65:9-10, Israel is named as God's elect, in addition to being descendants of Shem. Our election by grace and mercy is through the Elect One, Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice made for us. As the elect in Christ, Paul wrote about what our conduct and character should be: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you....but above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." (Col. 3:12-16). This is how we show forth our gracious and merciful election through Christ. If you would like to learn more about the election of God, you can pray with me: "Father, through Your beloved and elect Son, Jesus, You have made me part of Your elect. I thank You for the grace and mercy that You extended to me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can exhibit Your election of me as Paul described. I pray for any and all others who would seek Your election, salvation, and deliverance through Jesus. Noah walked with Aleph-Tav God, and was a man through whom You could accomplish Your purpose in the earth, even through many generations. I pray the same for my life as well. I ask these things in Jesus' name, AMEN."

Preserved

This week's sabbath reading is titled Noach, or the name "Noah" to us. Noach in English means "rest, resting place, quiet". If we look at the individual Hebrew letters of the word and name Noach, which are nun and cheth, we will see an additional meaning : "the Son, the Heir to the throne, separates and protects in an inner chamber". These letters can also mean at the same time : "the faithful seed or offspring that are separated from, divided from, and protected". The story of Noah is well known. Children's stories and toys tell the story of Noah and the Ark. However, we can be sure that there are deep things to learn in this account in scripture. In fact, the warning that Noah brought to the world as he built the ark, according to God's specific instructions, is still crying out a warning for us today. Jesus told us that the account of Noah, the ark, and the flood that brought destruction to the earth will again have meaning in end time events, and the return of the Son of Man (Mt. 24:36-39). The Apostle Peter also referred to the flood of Noah, and its relationship to end time beliefs, unbeliefs and deception: "Scoffers will come in the last days...saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.' For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water." (2 Peter 3:3-6). This past event of the flood is to remind us that as others scoff, God will do what He needs to do to establish justice and righteousness, and to preserve His remnant of people. Not only that, but Peter also wrote that the same word that ultimately preserved the heavens and earth then, is still active, and has caused the heavens and earth to reserve fire "until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." (v. 7). Peter tells us that as much as the flood was an act of judgment, as the coming fire will be, he also tells us here that the flood was an act of preservation for a remnant. It is through this obedience to God's instructions for preservation, which was the ark, that Noah became listed as one of our fathers of faith, and an heir of righteousness by faith (Heb. 11:7). This sabbath reading, Noach, deals with God's merciful preservation out of evil, violence, ungodliness and calamity, one man, his family, and some from all of the animals that breath. We will see other examples of this from this sabbath's reading as well. In our first sabbath portion out of Genesis 6, we find out that the men of the earth had become filled with wickedness, evil, violence and corruption (sahat - corrupt, destroy, destroyer, waster, ruin, decay, be rotted, pervert). Because of their evil, the decay of rotting death had entered living man and, consequently, creation (Gen. 6:5, 11-12). Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death - even a living death, a living corruption. However, also according to Romans 6:23, there is a remedy to this living death, which is the gift (charisma/charizomai/charis/chairo - a gift, a favor one receives without any merit of his own, divine grace, faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue/give freely, bestow, to preserve a person in trouble, to pardon, rescue, forgive/grace, good will, loving-kindness, gift of grace/to rejoice, be glad, be well, thrive) of God, which is in Jesus Christ. We can't buy or earn this gift. It is freely bestowed by God for the asking, and even before we have the good sense to ask for it, so we can't even take the credit for having good sense! Anyone who has had the awesome experience of receiving the grace gift of the salvation of God has experienced this. It as a gift - you can't "earn" it, "deserve" it, or "buy/barter" it from God. It can't be done. The gift is given in Gen. 6: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD...Noah was a just (sadiq/sadaq - righteous, just as a judge or king is just, justified, to make one righteous, to speak truth) man, perfect (tamim/tamam - without blemish, without spot, complete, finished, shutting up, in accord with truth) in his generations. Noah walked with God." (v. 8-9). This gift of grace is not a one-time event. The gift continues to operate in us, making changes in our minds and hearts. The loving gift of grace will break our stony hearts, and build a new heart in us, if we will allow it to do so, leading and prompting us to righteous acts inspired by the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. The gift of grace is a life-changer, and a life-definer. Just ask Noah. As Noah received the gift of grace from God, he was given the qualities of justness and perfection. As we can see, both of these qualities are connected with the speaking of and agreement with truth. Jesus said that the truth of the Word of God sanctifies us and sets us free (Jn. 17:17, Jn. 8:31-32). Believers are to walk in truth (Ps. 86:11, 2 Jn. 3-4, 3 Jn. 1-4). The truth is a Person, Jesus (Jn. 1:16-17, Jn. 14:6-7, Rev. 19:11). There may be many who make claims to truth, but there is only one who IS Truth. God connected Noah to this Person of Truth, Jesus, but how? In the verse above, we see the phrase "Noah walked with God". God, in this case is Elohim here in this verse. However, in the Hebrew writing of this phrase, something additional is connected to the word "Elohim". Two Hebrew letters, Aleph and Tav, are joined to "Elohim". In Rev. 22:13, Jesus says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." "Alpha" and "Omega" are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Hebrew equivalent of first and last letters, which is what Jesus would have used, is "the Aleph" and "the Tav". Besides this example in Gen. 6, there are many other places in scripture where the "Aleph-Tav" is connected to significant words and phrases, but their presence does not get translated into English. In this case, Noah has been given the gift of grace from God, and caused him to walk with God Aleph-Tav that will separate him, and rescue him and his household, as well as representatives from the animal kingdom, from the coming disaster. God told Noah: "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside (bayit/bana - house, shelter, family, descendants, temple, palace) and outside ( hus- outward, whatever is without, to sever or separate by a wall) with pitch (kapar - atonement, reconcile, purge, forgive, cleanse, merciful, to cover, pardon)." (Gen. 6:14). Noah was to "flood-proof" the ark with mercy, forgiveness, cleansing, reconciliation and atonement. We also know that the kapar atonement of scripture is the blood of sacrifice, the Blood of the Lamb, Christ (1 Jn. 2:1-2, Heb. 9:11-14). There is another interesting reference to Jesus Christ in the account of Noah as God commanded Noah to build a window into the top of the ark, and a door into the side (Gen. 6:16). "Window" is the word sohar/sahar meaning "noon, nonday, suddenly, unexpectedly as an attack upon an enemy/to press out oil, to glisten, to shine, come forth, reveal oneself, light, splendor". We have a verse in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, which refers to the destruction of the lawless one, or antichrist: "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming." The word for "door" used above is the Hebrew word petah/patah, which means "door, gate, open, loose, grave, break forth, appear, open wide". We know that Jesus called Himself "the Door", and He broke open the grave for us all (see Jn. 10:7-10, Mt. 27:51-53, Mt. 28:2-6). There are many more details in the account of Noah that we could look at, but we will end this section from Genesis 6 with the promise of God to Noah: "And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth...everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark- you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you." (Gen. 6:17-18). Another example of preservation out of destruction from this week's sabbath reading titled Noach, or "Rest", is from Isaiah 54. God in His anger had turned His back on His people, Israel, like a wife rejected by her husband, like a woman made barren of children: "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer. For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you...My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed." (Isa. 54:1-10, excerpt). Under the same promise that God made to Noah, He would extend His undeserved mercy and kindness again to this remnant of Noah's descendants who had turned from Him. As we see these mercies of God once again extended here to Israel to serve as an example for us, it should cause our own hearts to soften with love and repentance towards Him as well. In Jeremiah 31, another portion from this week's sabbath reading, Israel had rebelled against God, had broken their covenant with Him, and brought destruction to their doors, as Jeremiah had prophesied would happen. However, Jeremiah also then brought this promise of undeserved mercy from the LORD: "Behold the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah...But...after those days...I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people...For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jer. 31:31-34). His people brought destruction on their own heads, but the LORD, as with Noah, would extend His gift of grace, change His people in their minds and hearts into righteousness, and forgive their sins. Again, a remnant shall be preserved by grace. In another sabbath reading portion, God's people have become corrupt, they have not trusted in, nor drawn near to the LORD. Because of this, the LORD will gather the nations. His wrath and fiery destruction will be poured out over all the earth. However, God will preserve a remnant, and restore "a pure language...and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth...Be glad and rejoice with all your heart...The LORD has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; You shall see disaster no more." (Zeph. 3:8-15). The undeserved grace, mercy, and kindness of God seems to be the recurring theme through this week's sabbath readings. There is a place of rest in the LORD, His ark of Christ, like the one He established with Noah, if we will abide in it as Noah did. God remembers His floodwaters, and has not forgotten that place where His people are preserved by His grace. There is no other place nor means by which we may be preserved. (Acts 4:10-12). If you would like to learn more about being preserved by grace, you can pray with me: "LORD Jesus, the Father gave His grace to us through You, and as You preserved Noah and his household, and even the animals of the earth, You desire to preserve me. I want to walk with You, Aleph Tav-Elohim, as Noah walked with You, and You called him just and perfect, speaking and in accord with truth. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, as the dove returned to the ark with an olive leaf to give Noah sure knowledge and comfort that the waters had indeed receded for him. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were with Noah, and also, I ask, be with me and my household always. I don't wish to search for my place of rest anywhere else but in You, and in your gift of grace. I ask these things in Your holy name. AMEN."

Walk

We certainly live in extreme times, don't we? I have never seen such times as these. Dangerous illnesses are sweeping through every nation. Extreme weather is occurring in unexpected places and creating havoc. Rage and violence have intruded into every activity: road rage, airplane rage, school rage, workplace rage, subway rage, pedestrian rage, political, economic, racial and social rage. There is an on-going shortage of food and goods. Justice is difficult to obtain. It even seems that a type of tyranny is emerging where the lives of the many are dictated by the interests and strange ideas of the few. The world seems to have been turned upside down, and so many people just want to see everything to go back to the way things were two years ago. They look forward to the future when they can eat and drink freely at restaurants, go to concerts and stadiums again, go back to school as in the past and have graduations, proms, and parties, or attend church as it used to be. People want to be able to marry and have the kind of weddings that we remember, and gather with family and friends like we used to. So many hearts are saddened and perplexed, even fearful. How are we as believers in Christ to go through these trying times? Jesus said that the days leading up to His return would be like the ones that we are now experiencing (see Mt. 24, Lk. 21). He pointed to a similarity to the time of Noah. Noah's time was a time when men's hearts were evil, and violence ruled (Gen. 6:5, 11-12). The human race had been corrupted by rebellious angels, and the offspring produced were physical giants, called Nephilim. Many write that these giants were also tyrants in the earth (see Gen. 6:1-4). In comparing the days of Noah to His return, Jesus said: "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Mt. 24:37-39). However, scripture tells us that Noah was different from the others on the earth: "...Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God." (Gen. 6:9). God began discussing His impending judgment of the earth with Noah long before the event occurred, instructing Noah to build a means of escape and safety for himself and others according to God's specific instructions (Gen. 9:13-14). The term "walked with God" as it was used to describe Noah, was also used to describe another man - Enoch: "After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." (Gen. 5:21-24). I think it would be important to know more about the phrase, "walked with God", since it was uniquely applied to these two very important men connected to very unusual circumstances in scripture. The word "walk" in Hebrew used in these verses is halak, written as הָלַךְ, which means "to go, depart, manner of life, proceed, move, live, to lead, follow". I would especially like to look at the Hebrew letters that compose the word halak, meaning to walk. The letters in this word are he, lamed, and kaph. Each letter in the Hebrew language has a meaning, and we get a deeper look at what it means to "walk with God" as we look at these individual letter meanings. He means "to look, behold, to reveal, to show". Lamed means "a shepherd's staff, to teach, yoke together, to control, to prod, to guide, to urge forward". The letter Kaph used in this word means, "palm of the hand, the power to lift up or suppress, to bend, open, allow, cover". As these two men walked with God, we can see that God revealed or showed things to them: the Shepherd's hook (Jesus is the Good Shepherd) guided them, taught them and urged them forward. As they walked with God, they were also covered by His hand, and understood and walked in God's power to lift up or suppress, to open or close concerning all things that pertained to them, and creation. God wants us to walk with Him in the same manner as Enoch and Noah, and He will get us through the days ahead. Jesus said regarding those who walk with Him, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." He also said, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." (Jn. 12:26). This Sabbath's reading portion deals with the timely story of Noah in Genesis 6, and also the reading of Isaiah 54. The portion from Isaiah also reflects a "walk with God" and with our Shepherd Jesus, if we will walk with Him as Noah and Enoch did: "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me (says the LORD)...For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed...In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you...No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me", says the LORD." Our walk with God, in the revelation of His Son, is reflected in how we walk. According to scripture, this is what our walk should look like if we are indeed walking with God: we should be walking in newness of life (Rom. 6:4), walking after the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1, Gal. 5:16, 25), walking by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), walking worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1), walking not as other Gentiles (Eph. 4:17), walking in love (Eph. 5:2), walking as children of light (Eph. 5:8, Jn. 8:12), walking in Jesus (Col. 2:6), walking in wisdom (Col. 4:5), walking as Jesus walked (1 Jn. 2:6), walking in His commandments (2 Jn. v. 6), walking in truth (3 Jn. 1:4, see also Jn. 17:17, Jn. 14:6). It means something important to walk with God, and we need to know about it during these difficult times especially. God has provided this privilege for us in order to keep us, protect us, and to bring us through any and every circumstance. There are those who desire to walk with God, and those who don't. I want to be one of the ones who does want to walk with Him, and I want my family to be doing so also. If you would like to begin walking with God, or to renew your walk with Him, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, like Enoch and Noah, I desire to walk with You. You have provided in that walk the revelation of our Good Shepherd, Jesus. I believe that Jesus died for my sins, and rose again from the dead. I want to be one who hears His voice, and follows Him. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so I can walk in the way that reflects walking with You. I thank You, Father, that in my walk with You, You establish me in righteousness, and You keep me far from oppression and fear. I praise and thank You for calling me, and allowing me, to walk with You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen."

Walk

This entry is based upon the Torah and Haftarah readings assigned to last week's Sabbath, and this Sabbath. Even those these two sections of scripture are read a week apart, I believe they have a common thread. As is true with all scripture, these scriptures have insights that are very pertinent to our walk with Christ and these current times. We will see the ruling image of Christ in these scriptures as well. Last week's Sabbath section of scripture in the Parshah, or assigned reading, is titled "Noah" or "Rest". God had concluded that because of the thorough wickedness of men, and the evil that was in their hearts continually, He would destroy men from the earth: "And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." (Gen. 6:6-7). Onto this scene of impending judgment and destruction, Noah is inserted: "But Noah found (encountered, acquired) grace (favor, acceptance, mercy, supplication) in the eyes of the LORD. This is the geneology of Noah. Noah was a just (righteous, correct, lawful, cleansed) man, perfect (complete, without blemish, in accord with truth; finished, to be completely crossed over) in his generations (also an age, a period, to dwell). Noah walked (to die, live, manner of life) with God (Elohiym-plural name of God)." (v. 8-9). Last week's Sabbath section of scripture in the Parshah, or assigned reading, is titled "Noah" or "Rest". God had concluded that because of the thorough wickedness of men, and the evil that was in their hearts continually, He would destroy men from the earth: "And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." (Gen. 6:6-7). Onto this scene of impending judgment and destruction, Noah is inserted: "But Noah found (encountered, acquired) grace (favor, acceptance, mercy, supplication) in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just (righteous, correct, lawful, cleansed) man, perfect (complete, without blemish, in accord with truth; finished, to be completely crossed over) in his generations (also an age, a period, to dwell). Noah walked (to die, live, manner of life) with God (Elohiym-*plural name of God)." (v. 8-9). (*The use of the name "Elohiym" here for God lets us know that, as a plural, the Son and the Holy Spirit are understood also.) From the Hebrew meanings, including root meanings, of the description of Noah, we can see that he was a forerunner in the Spirit of a follower of Christ in his age. As such a follower, he received the characteristics of Christ through grace. He would provide a place of rest in prepartion for the coming judgment. We are called to have a similar walk with God during the approaching judgment of the earth. Not only would the rest be for himself and those immediately with Noah, but there would be a promise of the same rest for Noah's descendants, his future generations. The haftarah portion from Isa. 54 tells us that God was still keeping His covenant promise established with Noah to show His mercy and kindness to Noah's descendants. God called it His covenant of peace with them. As in the case of the description of Noah here in these verses, we also are "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren." (Rom. 8:28-30), in our age, which is the age of Christ and His Church. We also therefore are called to provide a place of rest against the shakings and coming judgment of God. That place of rest is the same place of rest as in Noah's day, in Christ. In this week's assigned Torah reading, the section of scripture is called "Lech Lechah", or "Go forth yourself!" It begins in Gen 12, as Abram is told by God: "...Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation...and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen. 12:1-3). In the same way that Noah was described as "just", which in part means "completely crossed over", Abram would begin a journey, or walk, through which he will become "completely crossed over", spiritually speaking. Like Noah, having made this spiritual journey, he will impact many generations, and all the families of the earth. In these first nine verses, Abram is brought from a place of burning, scorching, parching, anger (Haran), to a place of humbling oneself, the bending or falling to the knees (Canaan), to a place where the back and shoulders are offered (consented to) for carrying a burden, and upon which blows are inflicted (Shechem), to the place of teaching, instruction and the early rains (Moreh), to the spiritual place of intercession: positioned between iniquity, perversity, destruction and ruin (Ai) and the House (tent, family, descendants) of God (Bethel). We can clearly see a journey in Christ in these places where Abram was directed to go. This reflects our journey as well as we are brought from death to life through Christ's sacrifice. The work of our walk also includes intercession as we stand between destruction and the House of God, praaying the mercy of God. In the corresponding Haftarah portion for this week's Sabbath, the prophet Isaiah describes the work that was accomplished through Abram, and the generations to follow him: "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, "You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away...I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isa. 41:8-10). The LORD also declared in this assigned passage for this Sabbath, "Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am the first; and with the last, I am He." (v. 4). As we see the use of the term "beginning", as well as "first" and "last", we can understand that this reference is to Christ, Who identified Himself in these terms in the Book of Revelation (1:8,11, 17)). Christ's work through our walk with Him, is not just with us, but to establish a relationship with us from which to call future generations to Himself. The journey of Abram was a "walk with God", as it was with Noah. This walk produced the work of Christ in these men, as it is also produced in us. The work is not just a change for one man, but a change impacting many generations into the future. We are assured of this great fruit into the distant future because the generations produced out of this Christ-like work, are generations ordained by Christ Himself, the First and the Last. We can see why this Sabbath's section of the Parsha is titled "Go forth yourself!" We can rejoice in the fruit that the Lord guarantees from every life walked with Him. May you be encouraged in your walk with Christ, and may the Lord bring forth His work of rest out of judgment, and the establishment of His covenant blessing to many generations through us. Our Father has called us to walk with Him in Christ. If you would like to begin to walk with God through His Son, Jesus, Who is the First and the Last, we can pray this life-changing, and life-giving confession of faith: Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me. I believe that You rose again from the dead, and are returning soon to rule and reign on the earth. I confess my sins to You, and believe that You have cleansed me of those sins. I believe I have received the promise of everlasting life in You. Fill me with the Holy Spirit Who will teach me and lead me in this walk to follow You in Your ways of truth and righteousness. I give You thanks for hearing my prayer, and receiving me into the eternal loving covenant family of God. In Your name, I come to the Father. Amen.

ViewPoint

In the last entry, we looked at a special shelter that God had constructed is a haven for His people in the time of trouble (Psalm 91). I would like to study how our viewpoint affects this shelter.
Through all of the hatred, brutality, injustice, violence, disease, death, "natural disasters", economic upturns and downturns, racism, wars, strife, corruption, political haranguing, thievery, perversion, oppression and depression, whether found in the world or even in the Church, the Lord keeps my eyes fixed on a particular view, and doesn't let me turn my head to the right or the left to see anything else. I am very tempted to turn my head and gape, like a rubber-necker slowing down to look at a disaster scene, but so far, try as I might to look, my head is jerked forward again, and I am directed to "look this way instead". It's like being a race horse that has to wear blinkers to prevent it from getting distracted from the goal - to cross the finish line placed somewhere ahead of it, or a blinkered plow horse that is to keep to the row being worked. As it turns out, I don't think being blinkered is a bad thing.
The Word of God is full of examples regarding where I should be looking, where my viewpoint should be, especially in these times.
Jesus said that the conditions at the time of His return would be like those in the days of Noah: people going about their normal daily tasks, unaware, or disbelieving, that judgment is about to fall. The days of Noah were filled with men's violence against men. Men had become so depraved that only evil filled their hearts and minds continually (Gen. 6:5, 11-13). Where was Noah's viewpoint through this terrible time? His viewpoint was directed by God, not upon the wickedness of men, but upon the shelter from the calamity (v. 14-16). He had to have his eyes focused on God, ignoring all diversions, because he couldn't have built the massive ark any other way. We don't know that he was even a shipbuilder, but God had appointed a work for Noah to complete before the judgment was to begin. God's covenant was with Noah (v. 18), and this shelter would be for himself and family members. In setting his view and focus upon what the Father planned, was Noah neglecting his spiritual responsibilities to be salt and light, or as a prophet to his generation? Scripture says no (Heb. 11:7, 2 Pet. 2:5). The fruit of his singular focus, which was the gradual building of an ark, which consumed many years of Noah's life, was a witness in itself to those around him. Its purpose was not only to provide a shelter for the righteous, but to condemn the unrighteous world. The world asked, "Noah, why are you doing such a foolish thing when there is no water anywhere around here?" "Noah, don't you see the terrible things going on all around you?" "Didn't you hear that your neighbor was murdered last night by violent men?" "Where is your God now, Noah?" But Noah kept building. There was a terrible judgment coming, but Noah's job was to build an ark, plank by plank- a work that not only pointed to a judgment, but also to the refuge from it.
As Jesus' return nears, it is also accompanied by many horrors and terrors as prophesied, with worse yet to come. These calamities will be the worst the world has ever known (Mt. 24:21). His first coming was also accompanied by terrible conditions and events. The Roman occupiers were brutal. They took captives from the conquered lands like Israel, and brought them to Rome to be slaves. Thousands were crucified along the roadways as a warning and a tool of intimidation against any who might think to "cause trouble". Their rule was oppressive, and they sucked the economic blood out of the territories they conquered, removing riches and taxing the people into poverty. Their governing was corrupt, and "justice" was bought for money, or determined by political considerations. The puppets they put in charge betrayed their own people to serve the Roman interests. Demons had seeming free reign, causing people to lose their minds, even viciously attacking children. Sicknesses were chronic or incurable, so that even physicians and priests could no longer offer relief. Even religion had become monetized, oppressive and violent. One had to believe the Messiah secretly for fear of expulsion and persecution by religious leaders. Towers fell, and innocent people were killed. It was every man for himself as the sick and lame struggled to enter into the healing waters. Even among the disciples of Christ, the son of perdition was present, who stole and betrayed unto death. He was a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
So what did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus to do? Yes, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Lk. 4:18-19/Isa. 61:1-2a; Lk. 4:1), and the Spirit was leading Him in a specific direction. The Spirit was leading Jesus to build an ark or a shelter, which was the kingdom of God, and Jesus did not remove His eyes from that goal. He was anointed to preach the good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of prisons to those who are bound, and to proclaim the acceptable (ratson- good will, favor, pleasing, delight, will, desire, satisfaction, acceptance; root meaning-affection, reconcile self, approve, accomplish, pleased, paid off) year of the LORD.
A multitude gathered to hear Him speak one day. Considering the events and turmoil swirling around the nation, what would Jesus, this rabbi and prophet say? Would He condemn the brutal Roman occupiers? Would He rebuke the corrupt puppet king, Herod, like John the Baptist did? Would He praise Israel for remaining faithful in their worship at the Temple, despite all of the challenges? Would He demand justice for all of those who had been abused and oppressed? Would He lead a revolution against the occupying power, as the Maccabees had done? The multitude waited to hear what He would say to them. They didn't expect Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, to build an ark:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake."   Mt. 5:3-11
No doubt there were many perplexed and disappointed listeners that day. They didn't hear what they were hoping and expecting to hear. However, if they were listening carefully, they would have heard the building of an ark, a shelter, a haven of spiritual safety within the darkness of evil, and the storm of judgment that was to come against it.
Other listeners on another occasion might have been equally disappointed to hear Jesus say that the first and most important thing to seek, even in those times of brutality, was the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. He promised that everything else they needed would follow that ark (Mt. 6:33). This is where their eyes should be focused.
Jesus was creating an alternate reality through faith. It was not a false reality, but the true reality of the kingdom of God. This is the way we are to understand all things- by faith:
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."  Heb. 11:3
The whole of Hebrews 11 is about men who were not ruled by the things which they could see, but they sought the things that were not yet seen, in spite of what was visible in the natural world. They, after the image of God, through faith, created a new or an alternative reality from things which could not be seen. Paul wrote, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor. 5:7). Faith is the whole basis of the belief that we have. It is impossible to please God without it (Heb. 11:6). Our faith is strengthened or weakened depending on our viewpoint.
Jesus said that when we see all of the calamity happening, and the evil growing worse and worse, even to the point where men's hearts are failing them in fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, our viewpoint is to then change. When we become aware of the appearance of these signs, we are now directed to "look up" with heads lifted up, because our reality, Redemption, is drawing near (Lk. 21:26-28). What is seen when "looking up" differs greatly from what is seen when "looking around". We need that change in viewpoint. We can't build what needs to be built without that change. They see disasters and the fruitless countermeasures of men, but we see Redemption and the power of salvation and creation. This different viewpoint of events creates joy where there is reason for sorrow, and hope and confidence where there is encompassing fear and dread. We are not to be reactive to the world, but proactive in the kingdom of God.
In Psalm 73 King David, of the household of the Messiah, wrote an account of when his viewpoint was changed. His eyes had been on the prosperity of the wicked, and the seeming injustice of it (v. 1-3). He found himself becoming angry, bitter, resentful. He began to think that it was pointless to seek righteousness. His heart was grieved, and his mind was vexed by what he was focusing upon. In fact, he said that his feet almost stumbled, and his steps nearly slipped. However, when he entered the sanctuary (mikdash- holy place, hallowed part, chapel, asylum (which means an inviolable place of refuge and protection), consecrated place; root meaning: holy, prepare, appointed, set apart, be separate, to keep oneself apart or separate) of God, his viewpoint was changed. He began to set his mind upon the things above rather than things on the earth (Col. 3:2, Phil. 4:8). He became filled with the vision of God, rather than the vision of man. The warning to me in this account of David is that our spiritual walk is profoundly affected by our viewpoint.
On another occasion, Jesus spoke about a king planning a wedding banquet for his son's marriage, and how important it was that all invited should prepare to attend. Jesus' listeners could have wondered why attending a wedding was important at such a time as this. Like those who refused the wedding invitation in the parable, they  might think there are more important things with which to be concerned. How could focusing on preparing to attend a royal wedding solve their dire problems? Yet Jesus told them it would.
As those who were connected to Herod (allied with worldly powers) questioned Him about paying the controversial taxes to Caesar, Jesus was not going to be drawn from His viewpoint, which was His Father's kingdom. Instead He examined a coin, saw the image of Caesar upon it, and answered, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Mt. 22:16-21).
Jesus talked about the work and the profits the hard Master expected to receive from his servants when He returned. There was a spiritual job to accomplish regardless of worldly circumstances and "wisdom". I'm sure His listeners were hoping instead that He would tell them how to be freed from the hard task masters they already had here on earth, not told to serve another one. However, Jesus was telling them how to escape their earthly servitude. Messiah expects to see what we have accomplished and created through faith in Him, not from a viewpoint of the world. Yet by having our viewpoint on the shelter of the kingdom that Messiah expects us to focus upon, we are serving those on earth who labor, and are heavily burdened in these times.
Jesus talked about the field that was white for harvest, and the laborers that were few. Was Jesus now expecting them to add another task to their already burdened bodies and souls?
No, He was talking about the spiritual work that was to be accomplished during such a time as that... and this. From this viewpoint, we are not denying reality, but creating it, and not just for ourselves, but for many others as well.
Finally, Jesus completed the ark, the shelter of salvation, that He was anointed to build by offering Himself as the Haven in the storm of wickedness, turmoil, and death that swirled around them. This sacrifice was the final nail to be set in what Jesus was building by keeping His eyes on what His Father was doing, not upon what man was doing. From the viewpoint of men, this sacrifice looked like a humiliating death deserved by a sinner, but from the viewpoint looking towards heaven and the Father, it was an act of a righteous Man, creating everlasting life for many.
There is a judgment about to fall, and an ark or shelter for us to build, and like Noah and Jesus, our eyes should be set to the task. Do not be pulled to the right or to the left, but let your viewpoint be directed by Him (Prov. 4:25-27), the Master Ark Builder. There will be those in the world who will be looking for the place that is the haven and the shelter that the Father has built.
If we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit, our work in progress, and of course the completed work, will be a testimony and a prophetic warning to the perishing, but also a shelter, an encouragement, and an asylum to those appointed to everlasting life. It just depends on your viewpoint.

Our Father is showing us where our viewpoint is to be placed.

Cover

"...You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty...You were the anointed (outspread wings, to smear, to rub with oil, to draw the hand over anything, to spread over anything) cherub (angelic guardians- flanking the throne of God, hovering over the ark of the covenant, chariot of Jehovah, angelic representations in the innermost part of the holy tabernacle and temple of Solomon) who covers (covering, defense, hedge in, join together, stop the approach, weave together, interweave); I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones (stones of fire) (precious stones, building stones, altar fire of God, splendor and brightness, wrath)."     Ez. 28:11, 14
These verses above are, to me, some of the most pathetic in all scripture. Although it is written to the king of Tyre (rock used as a knife), these verses in Ezekiel 28 are directed toward Lucifer. It is a picture of wasted privilege, wasted gifting, calling and purpose, wasted glory, and position of trust and honor. The very one who had been created to be a covering, became the remover of covering, the accuser of the brethren, the accuser of the world. The one who was to be the defender, became the adversary. He had the privilege to be a covering to God, to the covenant of God, to the blood of sacrifice poured out upon the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies. The one who was the "light-bearer" of God, Lucifer, now only uses his light to masquerade and deceive (2 Cor. 11:14).
He is described as "anointed", the anointing being like spread out wings, and his purpose was to cover. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One, covers with His blood. Many of the anointed ones in scripture were priests and kings, again, those who "cover" the people, and the land. To be priests and kings, as you know, is also our calling (1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 1:6, 5:10). This calling is not for the purpose of being exalted over others, but in order to cover.
Satan moved King David to number the people of Israel (1 Chron. 21:1). Instead of being a covering as king, David removed the covering over his people. We don't want to be likewise moved by Satan.
Remember, "anointed" here means to cover with spread out wings, to spread or cover with oil. Often, I think, as we consider ourselves "anointed" by God, we forget this meaning, being impressed instead by the privilege of anointing. The name Lucifer, is a lesson to us in itself, as well as being a prophetic decree of his own end. While his name in Hebrew means, "light-bearer, shining one, morning star, to be clear, to be brilliant", in the root meaning of this name, we see a descent from the heights to the depths. His name becomes "to boast, to make into a fool, to act like a madman". We see this similar descent in an earthly king who abused his charge to be a covering over God's people, Judah, while they were in exile. This was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (see Dan. 4). He fell from glory into insanity. As he humbled himself under heaven, God was able to restore him to his kingdom.
As God describes the glory and promise of this creature, the anointed cherub, through His prophet, Ezekiel above, we also hear the pathos and sorrow of a purpose thrown away. Iniquity caused this turning away from his glorious covering purpose (Ezek. 28:15). Iniquity means "injustice, violent deeds of injustice, injustice of speech, wickedness, depravity, iniquity as of a judge, (root) to deal unjustly, distort morally, turn away, turn aside". This is about judging gone wrong. It was not Lucifer's job to judge as the anointed cherub who covers. It was his job to cover. Lucifer judged men (Job 1:11, 2:4-5), and he judged God (Job 1:9). Lucifer's covering was to be a defense, a hedging about, according to the Hebrew meaning. Yet he mocked the hedging about of men by God:
"Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? But now, stretch out Your hand...and he will surely curse You to Your face!"   Job 1:9-10
In all of these things, Satan judged falsely (Job 2:10).
In contrast is the life of Noah. He saw judgment coming, and built a covering by the instruction of God. Even as he covered, he was also covered. Those meant to find the covering, found it (Noah, his family, the animals chosen). Those who mocked and rejected the covering that Noah provided, remained uncovered in the judgment.
At the darkest, emptiest condition of creation, the Holy Spirit covered (Gen. 1:2).
Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, came to cover, although that covering was rejected (Mt. 23:37, Lk. 13:34).
The secret place of the Most High is found under the covering of His wings:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge."
                                                                                                              Ps. 91:1-4
This secret place of the Most High is a place that I covet dearly. Yet, I cast others out of this precious place by carelessly exposing them and removing their covering. If I remove their covering, I will also be uncovered. I don't want to live all my life only to discover too late that I had turned away from the purpose for which God had anointed me as a priest and a king. I would rather err on the side of covering too much, if there is such a thing, than to be one who uncovers.
Noah, our hero of covering, fell into shame through drunkenness. He had three sons. One of his sons saw his father's shameful condition, and told his two brothers. Those two brothers, however, together backed into their father's tent, and covered their father's disgrace with a garment. God blessed the two sons who covered their father. The son who spoke of his father's disgrace was cursed, and his descendants lost the habitation of the land, Canaan. The covering action of the two sons may even have lengthened Noah's life, because we are told that Noah lived an additional 150 years (Gen. 9:20-29). We can choose to cover, or to uncover.
Part of the work of the anointing that covers, as we see in the verses from Ezekiel at the top of the page, is a "joining together, a weaving together, and interweaving".  We see a beautiful illustration of this in Psalm 133. The unity of the brethren was like the oil of anointing that completely covered  the high priest Aaron ("light bringer") from head, over beard, or covering of the chin, over garments, a covering of the body, to the feet and beyond. So even his covering was covered! This covering and joining together of the brethren is equated to the blessing of life forevermore. The anointing, the covering, the joining together, the blessing. One cannot be removed from the other. 
However, often we uncover our spouses, our parents, even our own children, our spiritual brothers and sisters who are fellow members of the body of Christ. We uncover those who have been given spiritual responsibility for us. I try not to uncover, because I instinctively know the harm in it, but it comes out of my mouth sometimes anyway. Often, we uncover others in order to justify ourselves. There will always be those who rip away the covering. We need more of those who will rush in to cover.
God said that He found His chosen, Jerusalem, in a naked condition, and He covered her:
"...so I spread My wing over you, and covered your nakedness...Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk..."   Ezek. 16:8-9
I want to be one who covers.

Our Father anoints us to cover.


    Noah covered by his sons

Grace

The first mention of "grace" in scripture is found in the story of Noah. The LORD had seen that  "...the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."  (Gen. 6:5). So thoroughly evil were not only the actions of men, but even their thoughts, that the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth. This evil condition of man grieved God in His heart. It was through men that the whole earth was filled with violence (v. 6, 13). This is also the first mention of "violence" in scripture, which means to tear away the covering from someone in order to do them harm.
As the LORD began to plan the destruction of man, Noah "found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (v. 8). The word "grace" is from the root word chanan, meaning to show favor, to pity, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior. However, included in the meaning is the fact that grace has a causation by an imploring or beseeching. From this meaning, we can understand that Noah, seeing the condition of man around him, beseeched and implored God for grace. Noah found that grace because he implored God for it. The word "found" in v. 8 above, is the word matsa: to find, to find out, to come, to meet. In the Passover Seder, the matsa is covered, and part is even hidden, and it is an object that is to be sought and found. The person who finds the hidden matsa, which to Christians represents Jesus' burial and resurrection, receives a reward.
Noah "found" grace because he was seeking it in God.
Because Noah found the grace hidden in the eyes of God, the LORD called Noah just (to have a just cause), righteous, and perfect, meaning complete, whole, unimpaired (v. 9). Because he beseeched God for grace and found it, Noah walked with God. To walk with God can mean many things according to the definition of the Hebrew word. "Walked" can mean "to be conversant, to follow, to be led, to be carried, to be brought, and also, very importantly, to vanish".
Why was Noah's imploring God for grace so precious in God's eyes? Because, when Noah cried out for grace, he was prophetically crying out for God's precious Son, Jesus:

"For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
                                                                             Jn. 1:17
                                                                 And
"...God, who 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."                                                                  2 Tim. 1:8-9

God's hand of grace in answer to Noah's imploring, or seeking, was the construction of the ark. 2 Pet. 2:5 tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness to the people of his generation. His generation did not receive his preaching, nor the testament of God's grace represented by the ark and, except for Noah's own household consisting of eight people, all  other people were lost in the judgment flood of the LORD. According to Jesus, the others, though warned, did not understand, nor expect, the suddenness and scope of the utter destruction that took them all (Mt. 24:39). The ark was shouting, "Grace, Grace," but no one took heed.
The story of Noah is also important in our time. All indications are that these are the last days before we see the return of Jesus. Jesus said that right before His coming, the times, conditions and circumstances would be very much like Noah's days (Mt. 24:36-39). Like Noah's generation, the warnings and preaching would be disregarded by that generation until the moment of the Son of Man's sudden coming.
A powerful testimony to the spiritual stature of Noah, who beseeched and found the grace of God, is told in 1 Pet. 3:18-20:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also, He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine long-suffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight souls, were saved through water."
In remembrance of Noah's cry for grace, even thousands of years later, the Holy Spirit led Christ after His death to preach to those who, through their own disobedience, were judged in the flood, and their souls condemned to prison. The Holy Spirit sent the personification of Grace to them, the same living and eternal Grace that Noah had beseeched of God. It is the same Grace who had put Himself into the violent hands of men. The same Grace that had laid down on the cross, and was lifted up. The same Grace that preached in Sheol, and was raised to life again, so this gift could come to each one of us from the Father.
The cry to God for grace is a powerful thing. He receives those cries, and as with Noah, He counts it unto us as justice, righteousness and perfection. As the above scripture teaches us, our cries for grace never die, but they live forever in the eyes, ears, and will of the Father. Considering the times in which we live, we would do well to remember the example of the just, righteous, and perfect Noah, who, because of his beseeching for His grace, walked with God.

Our Father answers our imploring cries for His grace.

"I Know Something About God's Grace"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgvfPk_eXPk


"Your Grace Finds Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amTCngr487o