GiveEar

      

Words like rain...

     We have seen the LORD tell us to ra'a see, which means not only to see naturally, but to see and perceive spiritually, to have revelation, to perceive, to have a vision, to foresee, to be a seer. It is a powerful and wondrous thing to ra'a see and perceive the spiritual realm as the LORD desires to show us. Many times the scriptures will say, "Lift up your eyes and (ra'a) see...". This Sabbath reading portion is titled Ha'azinu, which means "to give ear to" or "to listen." We see this title used in the first reading portion of this Sabbath in the Song of Moses, Deuteronomy 32:1: "Give ear ('azan - give ear, listen, hear, hearken, perceived by the ear, be obedient, to hear in the same way that God hears and listens to prayers) O heavens, and I will speak; and hear (sama - hear, hearken, obey, understand, discern, perceive, publish, declare, to listen to and consent to and agree with, to yield to), O earth, the words of my mouth."

     This kind of 'azan and sama hearing and ra'a seeing is to hear and see/perceive as God hears and sees. From the beginning, Adam identified the presence of the LORD in the Garden of Eden by hearing (see sama above) His voice. (see Gen. 3:8-10 KJV). All creation still hears the voice of the LORD in this manner (see Ps. 29:3-11) except for man, who in his rejection of God, becomes one who is as the LORD spoke to Isaiah: "Go and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return (shub(v) - return, repent, restore, recover, refresh, repair, be brought back) and be healed." (Isa. 6:9-10). Are we able to "see" from this Word to Isaiah, that during this time when the LORD has set aside the fall feast season and the Day of Atonement for repentance and return to Him, that unless we have eyes that "see", ears that "hear", and hearts that "understand" as the LORD sees, hears and understands, return and restoration to the LORD is not possible? Repentance and all of the healing that comes with it is not a religious term and obligation, as some treat it, but a time to find the ears, eyes and heart of God that the LORD put within us when He created us. It is the time to seek and find the Person who is the Atonement of God, His Son sacrificed for us, and His blood that covers and cleanses sin poured out for us, Jesus Messiah/Christ. Are we truly perceiving Him in the Day of Atonement? We will see more about this later.

     Moses was addressing both heaven and earth in his Song, and commanded that they listen to his words. The following was his declaration (see sama above) to those elements: "Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass. For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He." (v. 2-4).

     The words of Moses' Song are to touch and cover every part of the creation like rain and dew descend and cover, and that creation is to hear, perceive, understand and obey them. These words will be imprinted on the creation. They are indelible: making marks that cannot be removed nor forgotten, enduring eternally. We can say also that the Word became a flowing liquid that covers.

     This Ha'azinu, "give ear", Sabbath also falls between Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. On the Day of Atonement, we humble ourselves and repent before the LORD because we understand the cost of the blood of sacrifice that was needed to cover our sins. A life was given on our behalf. However, the Atonement is not just a day, but the prophetic promise of a Person, the Son of God, Jesus Messiah/Christ who is our Atonement as prophesied by Isa. 53:5, declared (see sama above) by Jesus to His disciples, saying: "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Mt. 26:28) and foundationally set by the apostles. (see Rom. 3:23-26, 1 Pet. 2:24-25, 1 Jn. 2:1-2). This same provision of covering also has a special place during these latter days before the return of Messiah/Christ, as Moses will show us.

     The Feast of Tabernacles contains the joyful promise (Ex. 25:8-9, Lev. 26:11-12, Ezek. 37:24-28) and fulfilment of a place prepared for us with God and Christ (see Jn. 1:14, Jn. 14:1-6, 1 Cor. 3:16-17), and the dwelling of God among us. (see Rev. 21:1-6).

     As we continue with the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32, the prophetic declaration that began with exalted praise of the LORD to the heavens and the earth, now turns to great heaviness. The Song contains a warning to Israel, and also to all of us, about their/our continual rejection of the LORD who had delivered them from Egypt and exalted and blessed them mightily in their own land, including providing them with "the pure (hemer/hamar - pure, red wine/seal up, cover or seal with pitch [see Gen. 6:14 - kapar: atonement] blood (note: the sprinkling of the blood is for the atonement for sin) of the grape.". (v. 10-14 KJV). Part of the provision that the LORD had given to Israel was the revelation of the atoning blood, as we see above)

     Moses' Song cried out that if only God's specially chosen and sanctified people would understand and consider their latter end. (v. 28-29). Their latter end will contain tribulation that we also see in the Book of Revelation: disasters heaped upon them, being wasted with hunger, devoured by pestilence, the teeth of beasts, the poison (hema - venom, rage, anger, wrath) of serpents (zahal - crawl into the earth to hide, fear), the destroying sword, and terror within. (v. 23-25, see also Rev. 6:1-8).

     Because of the crookedness and lack of faith found within His people, Moses sings this prophecy of the LORD: "For a fire is kindled in My anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell; it shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." (v. 22). A fire that burns the whole earth all the way down to its foundations will be released. Ezekiel later prophesied of judgment fire. (Ezek. 19:10-14, 20:45-48). Malachi prophesied of the Refiner's fire coming to purify Israel. (Mal. 3:2-3). The Book of Revelation prophesies destroying fires (Rev. 8:7-11), and the apostle Peter wrote of a melting fire (2 Pet. 3:10-13).

     We have been given the living blood atonement kapar covering to keep us from flood and fire judgment. However, Moses sang that Israel preferred to save themselves by their own strength and gods. These things will fail to save them. The Song turns again at this point: "For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their power (yod - hand, power, strength, direction, force) is gone ('azal - gone, fail, spent, used up, evaporated, exhausted, go to and fro, disappear), and there is no one remaining, bond or free....Rejoice, O Gentiles/nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide mercy/atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, cleansed, merciful, pardon, atone for sin, make atonement for, cover over with pitch, be covered over, overspread) for His land and His people." (v. 36, 43).

     When Israel has exhausted all other ways to save itself, the LORD will have mercy and show them the way back to His (kapar) atonement provision. We see today that nations, including Israel, are relying on their military strength or the strength of their alliances with other nations, to provide them with safety in this dangerous time. We see millions of people running "to and fro" to other nations in order to escape the famine, pestilence, warfare, poverty, persecution and misery in their own countries. The LORD will remove these false safety nets in order to provide for His people, as He promised the forefathers: the true and living safety net that saves them out of all their troubles. (see Ps. 34:4-7, 18-20). Moses, who loved and interceded before God on behalf of the children of Israel, spoke in the 'ozen/'azan hearing ears of Joshua and all of the congregation that they should learn the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words of his Song and teach their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children so that the prophetic warning therein and the kapar Atonement deliverance provided would be perceived with eyes that ra'a see, ears that sama hear and hearts that understand. 

     As Moses prophesied, this will be a terrible time for Israel and the world in these latter days. Jesus described these times: "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days be shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." (Mt. 24:21-22). I know that this is a difficult message, however, we need to understand the Atonement provision of God, which Moses spoke of to the children of Israel in his Song, in the deepest way - with eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that understand. Israel needs to understand Atonement in its truest sense. This is something that goes beyond a day of fasting. The Atonement is God Himself in the flesh, offering Himself and His covering blood for our sakes. Jesus said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" (Mt. 23:37-39, see also Ps. 91). Jesus, as our living Atonement, felt the strong purpose and desire to cover.

     Moses was not alone in this warning message. From other selections in this Ha'azinu, "Give Ear," Sabbath reading, Psalm 78 is included. It begins: "Give ear ('azan - see above), O my people...incline your ears ('ozen - see above)...we have heard (sama - see above) and known (yada - know, understand, consider, acknowledge, declare, teach, perceive, discern, to know by experience, confess, be revealed)..." (Ps. 78:1-3). The Psalmist wrote that they would not hide this revelation knowledge from their children, even children yet to be born, "That they may set their hope in God..." (v. 7). The Psalmist recounts all of the times that Israel rebelled against the LORD who provided so miraculously for them in the wilderness. Although they were not faithful to Him: "...He being full of compassion, forgave (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, cleansed, pardon, merciful, to cover over, atone for sin, be covered over, to overspread) their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. (v. 38). Again, the kapar Atonement that covers came to the rescue, saving them from God's destruction! The Psalmist then points to David, from the tribe of Judah, the place of Mt. Zion, who came for the purpose of shepherding Jacob (Israel), God's people: "So he (David) shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands." (v. 68-72, excerpt). David also represents the house from which the Messiah/Christ Jesus would later come, who was also called "the Son of David."

     The prophet Joel wrote of a people who come against Israel as being "great and strong, the like of whom has never been; Nor will ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations. A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns...surely nothing shall escape them. Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like swift steeds, so they run...like the noise of a flaming fire that devours stubble, like a strong people set in battle array. Before them the people writhe in pain; all faces are drained of color...They (the strong people who look like horses) climb into the houses, they enter at the windows like a thief." (Joel 2:2-9, excerpt). This "army" has an appearance as horses. Revelation refers to the four horsemen of the apocalypse, describing the horses they rode and the death that they brought in different forms, but they could not touch the oil (the anointing, Messiah/Christ) and the wine (the blood). (Rev. 6:1-8). These carriers of death cannot touch the blood of the anointing.

     How should Israel be saved? Shall it use its wealth to assemble for itself the world's greatest army? Shall it align itself with, and depend upon the power of the world's strongest nation? Neither of these things will provide the kapar Atonement covering they will need. The LORD will arrange events so that they will have to find that true kapar covering that cannot be killed or destroyed because He promised that He would provide it for them.

     The Law of Moses commands that the Day of Atonement was to be observed as a sabbath wherein God's people "afflict your souls." (Lev. 23:26-32). Those who do not do so will be cut off from his people - perhaps because there is no covering? What does it mean to afflict one's soul? It is often interpreted in part as fasting. However, we need to look more deeply. The soul is the seat of the emotions, the thoughts of the mind, and the will, the desire for self-determination. Joel gives us this look into Atonement: Now, therefore,' says the LORD, 'Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.' So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm." (Joel 2:12-13). 

     Tear down the useless things that we have built within our own souls. Tear open our hearts, and ask the LORD to rebuild and restore those things that He created in our souls when He breathed His own breath into us: eyes that see, ears that hear, and a heart that understands so that we may perceive our Atonement, Messiah/Christ Jesus, and receive Him.

     If you would like to learn more about the Atonement covering of the LORD, you can join me in my prayer: "Blessed LORD over all the earth, "God of Israel" is one of Your names in scripture. You have promised with Your own life and blood to cover, and save all of Israel, and all who believe Your Son, Jesus. Help me to search my own heart, to rend it so that You may restore, renew and rebuild my heart that I may walk in understanding. Heal my eyes, as Jesus did with the blind, so that I may "see." Heal my ears, as Jesus did with the deaf, so I may "hear." I pray this same mercy for all of Israel and the descendants of Abraham, including his descendants by faith, for we have inherited Your promises through our Atonement, Jesus. I trust in You, LORD, and I will declare it to future generations. 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 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. 

theRock

This Sabbath's reading portion is titled Ha-azinu, which means "Listen". This portion is read on the Sabbath before the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. The Day of Atonement is different from all the other feasts that the LORD commanded His people to keep. It is the only feast in which the LORD commands: "...you shall afflict (ana - humble, bowed down, weaken oneself, submit self, oppression and sorrow, to furrow the ground, to bring the earth into cultivation; hear, answer, bear, cry, respond as a witness, pay attention, to make answer, to give account, speak, shout, sing) (aleph-tav) your souls..." (Lev. 23:26-32). The afflicting of one's soul is interpreted to mean that God's people should pray, confess, and repent with fasting. It is a most solemn day. Under the Law of Moses, the atonement for sin took place in the deepest part of the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, where the High Priest could enter only once a year on this appointed day to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice of atonement upon the Mercy Seat that covered the Ark of the Testimony. The tablets containing the Ten Commandments were inside the Ark. This atonement blood would cover the sins of the people for one year only. Jesus fulfilled this prophetic appointed feast by entering the Holy of Holies in heaven with His own blood as the atoning sacrificial covering for our sins. His sacrifice is not made yearly, as under the Law, but was made once, for all time. (Heb. 9:11-15, 23-26, 10:1,3-4). As I read the Sabbath portion for this week, I saw something about the Day of Atonement, and its fulfilment accomplished by the atoning blood of Christ, that I had not considered before: it was this Atonement that was the very foundation of all creation. We already know the scripture from Revelation calling Jesus "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev. 13:8). In another example, if we look closely at the Hebrew in Genesis 1:1, which starts "In the beginning...", God is written as Elohim aleph-tav. The individual pictographic Hebrew letters, aleph and tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, can individually mean "God + cross". Jesus referred to Himself as "Aleph-Tav" when He said "I am the Alpha and the Omega (as translated into the Greek language), the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13). We will see more of the connection between the Atonement and the Foundation of the world in this week's Sabbath reading portion as well. This week's reading includes Deuteronomy 32, which is a song that Moses was commanded by God to teach to all of the people of Israel. His song begins with the phrase "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; And hear O earth the words out of my mouth." (Deut. 32:1). Moses was singing a declaration of witness to all creation (see above definition of "afflict"). In this song, the LORD prophesies that Israel will turn away from Him, including the offering of sacrifices to demons (v. 17), and the many evils, like war, famine, pestilence and beasts, that would fall upon the children of Israel because of that. He also sang: "They are not His children, because of their blemish...children in whom there is no faith." (v. 5, 20). In describing the anger that is therefore created in God, the song of Moses said: "For a fire is kindled in My anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell; it shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." (v. 22). Who or what could possibly save His people from such holy and righteous burning anger? It is an anger that will descend to, and set on fire, the very foundations of the earth. At the end of his song, Moses revealed this promise of the LORD: "He will provide atonement (kapar - cover, purge, make atonement, make reconciliation (see also Col. 1:19-20), expiate, cancel, cleanse, forgive, be merciful, pardon, overspread, free from legal charge) for His land and His people", which the people and the Gentiles would receive with rejoicing (v. 43). The promise said that God will provide the covering atonement. Although Israel already had the yearly atonement of animal blood by the Law, this atonement is spoken of in the future tense. God will provide it, rather than the sacrifices of men. As Abraham promised his son, Isaac: "God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." (see Gen. 22:6-8, 13-14). The word translated "provide" here really means much more. Don't let traditional knowledge of men rob you of the depth of the Word of God. As a student of Hebrew scripture brought to my attention, the word translated as "provide" is the Hebrew word ra'a, which really means: "behold, show, appear, foresee, look at, present oneself, to be visible, to be pleased with the sight, approve, look one upon another, present, cause to see, to be taught in visions divinely brought, provide". In these verses from Genesis, Abraham lifted up (nasa - bear/lift up, carry, accept, pardon, forgive, bring forth, extol, exalt, magnify, respect, rise up, desire, marry) his aleph-tav eyes and took (laqah - take, receive, fetch, bring, married, infold, send for, mingle, take for oneself, to receive for care and protection, to receive with the ears) the aleph-tav ram and offered it instead of his son. We who believe in Jesus Christ understand and believe that, as prophesied and promised, the future Atonement that God would send in order to cover His people from the fire of His anger that burns to the bottom of hell, would be His own Son, Jesus. In this song, which is read before the Day of Atonement, Moses refered to the "rock/Rock" seven times, including: "He is the Rock, His work is perfect"; "honey from the rock"; "oil from the flinty rock"; "forsook God... and scornfully esteemed the Rock of His salvation"; "of the Rock who begot you"; "their Rock"; "our Rock". This is the first time in scripture that God is described as a "Rock". This Rock in the Song of Moses is specifically identified as "the Rock of God's salvation". The Hebrew word for "rock" is sur, which means "rock, cliff, block of stone, boulder, refuge, beauty, strength, sharp, a sharpened tool made of rock used to circumcise, also to bind, distress, lay siege, fortify, adversaries". The same "Rock" that is a refuge and salvation for some, is war against another. We take it for granted now that God is our Rock, but it must have seemed strange when, for the first time, Moses repeatedly referred to the LORD in this way. Why would God identify Himself to Moses as the Rock, and what did it have to do with atonement? Moses and the people had already had two special experiences with "a rock" in the wilderness that provided enough water for all the people, and their flocks and herds (Ex. 17:1-7, Num. 20:2-11). As we will see, so great was this miracle, that it was still being praised as a specific wonder of God on behalf of His people centuries later in the Psalms (Ps. 105:41, 114:8). The New Testament reveals that this Rock in the wilderness was Christ (1 Cor. 10:2-4). Jesus Himself told of how He was the source of the living water of everlasting life that never runs out (Jn. 4:10, 13-14, Jn. 7:37-3). Here is an interesting scientific point that bears witness to the idea of rock as water found in the natural creation (true science, as opposed to false science, always bears witness to the Word of God). Water can be locked inside of two minerals: ringwoodite and wadslyite. These minerals are found only in the earth's mantle, the foundational rock of the earth. The depth of this mantle rock extends to 250-410 miles below the earth's surface. The amount of water contained in this mantle rock may be more than in all of the oceans combined. Steve Jacobsen, a geologist at Northwestern University said that because of the depth of this mantle rock, "It is not accessible. It's not a resource in any way." (as reported by NBC News). Man cannot access this impossibly deep foundational rock by any human means, yet the Rock followed Israel in the wilderness, and gushed forth abundant precious water when there was none to be found. In another reading portion from Ha-azinu, or "listen", Sabbath lesson before the Day of Atonement, we are again brought to the Rock: "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence...For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock except our God?...and He makes my way perfect...The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!" (2 Sam. 22:2-3, 32-33, 47, a Psalm of David). Now, in this Psalm, instead of the fire of God's anger being directed at His people, it is directed at the enemies of His people: "Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven (samayim - firmament spread out like a vault over the globe as supported on foundations and columns) quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it...the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils." (v. 8-9, 16). This duality, Savior to some and Burning Breath of Fire in anger against an enemy, is included in the meaning of the Hebrew sur Rock as we saw above. Another reading from this week's Sabbath before the Day of Atonement recalls the rock known to Moses that yielded water for the people of God, as mentioned previously: "He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink in abundance like the depths (tehom/hamam - deep, depth, deep places, primeval ocean, abyss, deep hollows in the earth, subterranean water supply/break, consume, crush). He also brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. Behold He struck the rock (see Isa. 53:4 - "stricken... smitten") so that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed...In spite of this they still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works...they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer...(He) chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved...He also chose David His servant...to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance." (Psalm 78, excerpt). David and Judah were named in connection to this. From both Judah and David, Jesus was descended in flesh as prophesied, and called Himself "the Good Shepherd" of His flock (Jn. 10:11, 14-16). As the assigned reading for this Sabbath before the Day of Atonement indicates, the atonement to be sent by God in the Song of Moses is also mentioned in connection to the foundational Rock of His salvation. Did you ever wonder why man was formed from the dust (apar - dust, earth, powder, ore, pulverize) of the ground? (see Gen. 3:19). I can't say for sure, but it is interesting that dust is the product of Rock that has been crushed by weathering, and we know that man was created in God's own image. Perhaps it is the image of the crushed (daka - bruise, break in pieces, beat in pieces, crushed, shattered, crumble, crush to pieces) Christ mentioned in Isa. 53:10. Here is yet another hint that the Atonement was the foundation of the world and creation. Man, it can be argued, was created from the Atonement sacrifice of Christ "from the foundation of the world". Let's look at some more verses that refer to the connection of Jesus to the (atonement) foundation of creation: John 1:1-4 - "All things were made through (dia - the channel of an act, by, through, with, because of) Him (The Word, Christ)..."/ 2 Tim. 1:9: "(God) who has saved us and called us...in Christ Jesus before time began"/ Heb. 1:1-2: God who...by His Son...through whom also He made the worlds...purged our sins"/ 1 Pet. 1:18-20: "You were...redeemed...with the precious blood of Christ, was of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you...". Before God, Elohim aleph-tav, created the world, the Lamb of God was slain for our salvation and atonement, and all things were made through Him, the living Word. I hope that I have been able to express the vision of the Atonement blood of Jesus Christ for the purging of our sin as a foundational work from the beginning, and before the beginning, of all creation, including the creation of man. Worthy is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world! If salvation and atonement through Jesus Christ are indeed the foundation upon which all of creation was established, the LORD insists in Lev. 23 that we cannot disregard it in favor of our own self-righteousness. The Day of Atonement is a Day appointed by the LORD to allow us to humbly confess and acknowledge His foundational sacrifice of Atonement for our benefit. He saw our need even before we knew that we needed it: "But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Rom. 5:8-10). If you would like to know more about the priceless Atonement covering and purging our sins, you can join with me in my prayer: "Father of heaven and earth, You sent Your Son, Jesus, as the Atonement for my sins. His own blood has been sprinkled on the Mercy Seat for me. He was the Lamb sacrificed for this purpose from and before the foundation of the world. Moses sang of this Atonement, and taught all of the children of Israel his song. Not only Atonement, but also the living waters of salvation and eternal life are poured from the Rock of our Salvation. By Your Word and Spirit help me to build my house of faith dug deep with its foundation laid on the Rock (Lk. 6:47-48). I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

Shuvah

This is the first sabbath of the new Jewish calendar year. It is also the sabbath that comes between the Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah, which has recently passed, and the most solemn Feast of the LORD, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which will occur in a few days. This time between the two feasts is called Shuvah, meaning "return". It comes from the Hebrew root word shub which means "return, recover, come/go back, to restore, refresh, repair, be brought back". At the same time, shub can also mean "turn away from, refuse, hinder, reject". When we return to God, we are purposefully turning away from, refusing and rejecting those things that are not of God, refusing and rejecting them. As we will see in one of the sabbath readings, the people of God are not always aware of how far they have drifted from God, but God is aware, and calls His people to return. Jesus found this same condition even among those who believed in Him. They could not see how much their sin had enslaved them, and that they needed Jesus, the Son, to set them free from it. In fact, they were offended that He would contend such a thing (see Jn. 8:30-40, Jn. 9:39-41). However, the systems of this world, and even our own flesh, are continually working to separate and distance us from our God. We can all use this precious time allotted by God to return to him. As I read this week's Sabbath scriptures and other verses, it seemed to me that we were being told about a serious but magical time in the LORD. I know that the use of the word "magical" might seem strange when applied to a discussion about the things of God, but that's the word that came to mind. When I looked up the definition of "magical", I found that it included "supernatural, mystical, extraordinary, exceptional, remarkable, superlative, amazing, unparalleled" and so on, so I'll stick with the use of the word "magical". In fact, Shuvah is so magical, no one would want to miss experiencing it when they find out what it means, and its far-reaching results. Here is our first example of the magic of Shuvah from this week's sabbath reading: "O Israel, return (shub) to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; take words (dabar - utterance, promise, precept, a royal mandate, oracles, a thing done) with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, 'Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. Assyria (in the sense of being, or relying on, one who is fortunate, successful, prosperous) will not save us, we will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands (meaning by the strength of our own efforts and the idols we create), 'You are our gods.' For in You the fatherless finds mercy." (Hos. 14:1-3). The return to the LORD begins through the words out of our mouths, as is mentioned three different ways in v. 2, above. The prophet Jeremiah also wrote of what our declaration should be as we return to the LORD, as we are also turning away from the abominations that exist apart from Him: "...And you shall swear (saba - swear, take an oath, repeating a declaration seven times), 'The LORD lives', in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." (Jer. 4:1-2). Even the nations will be affected by the declaration of those who return to the LORD. That's magical! We can also see in the verses from Hosea 14 above, that whether we do or do not have earthly fathers, we are "fatherless" unless we can recognize and say that we need God as our Father. Now here is the "magic" of shub, or return, as the LORD says in response: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him, I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. Those who dwell under his shadow shall return (shub- see above); they shall be revived (haya/hava - saved, have life, be restored to life or health, revive from death/ breathe, declare) like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent (zeker - remembrance, memorial, bring to remembrance) shall be like the wine of Lebanon...Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." (v. 4-7, 9). In Hosea 13, the LORD also declared: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. 'O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction!' Pity (for Death) is hidden from My eyes." (Hos. 13:14). When the apostle Paul wrote about our resurrection in Christ (1 Cor. 15:51-55), he quoted these verses from Hosea, adding "Death is swallowed up in victory." which he repeated from Isaiah. However, the seeds of it all were planted in Shuvah, return. Our way of return to our Father, and resurrection, or Shuvah revival from death, is Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:1-7). In another reading from this week's sabbath in Micah 7, we can read about the far-reaching effects of Shuvah return. The prophet saw the condition of the people: "The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net...Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, like those who glean vintage grapes; (but) there is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires." (Micah 7:2, 1). The prophet described these terrible things that he saw, and the resulting lack of the first fruits that signify the favor and provision of God for His people, which would include the first fruits of the resurrection, Jesus (see 1 Cor. 15:20). The prophet then turned to the LORD and said with his mouth: "Therefore I will look (sapa - look well, keep watch, lean forward and peer into the distance, to shine, to be bright, to overlay with gold and silver) to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me...'Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage...as in days of old...Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?' He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue (kabas - bring into bondage, tread down, conquer and subjugate) our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 'You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old." (Micah 7:7, 14, 18-20). In Malachi 3, the LORD said to His people: "Return (shub - see above) to Me, and I will return (shub) to you." (Mal. 3:7). We can see clearly here that Shuvah return is reciprocal, rather than a one-way activity. His people weren't even aware of how far they had drifted from the LORD, and had to ask Him (Mal. 3:7, 13). After explaining how they had departed from Him as revealed in their tithes, offerings and their words, the LORD promised this if they returned: "And try Me now in this...if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes...And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land', says the LORD of hosts." (Mal. 3:8-12). Even a book of remembrance will be written before the LORD "for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. 'They shall be mine', says the LORD of hosts..." (v. 16-17). Here is a "magical" Shuvah transformation from Isaiah: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return (shub) to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon...For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands...And it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isa. 55:7, 12-13). Even creation experiences the magic of a Shuvah return according to Isaiah's prophecy. Isaiah wrote that a Shuvah return is so magical, that the resulting effects in the earth will be an everlasting sign to all. It is always wise to enter into the Shuvah return to the LORD that is traditionally observed during the ten days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, and not ignore the opportunity. Why would we not want to return, especially in these perilous times, considering the power, blessing, and "magic" found in the return of God's people to Him? If you would like to enter into a Shuvah return to the LORD, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, I am returning to You. So many things have pulled my eyes off of You, and pulled my heart away from You. I recognize the sin in my life, and confess it in my return to You. You gave Your Son as my Shuvah Return, as my Atonement, and as my Sacrifice for my sin. I declare with the words and saying of my lips that You are my Father, my Shepherd, my Reviver, and my Restorer. You have saved me, and revived me from death to life and health. As I return to You, LORD, pour out Your Shuvah blessing and "magic" upon the earth, so that all nations and all creation may see it, and that it may be to You 'for a name, and an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off'. You are an 'amazing, extraordinary, superlative, unparalleled' God! I return to You in Jesus' name, AMEN."

Mercy

For most of the world, and sadly for most of the Church, today is like any other day. It is a typical Monday morning, except of course for the pandemic, the fires, the hurricanes, the political enmity and turmoil, desperate outcries against racism and injustice, and the huge increase in violence and murder. However, today is not like every other day to God. This is a very solemn day to God. It is a day of life and death, and the provision of mercy. It is a day when He looks at His Throne of Judgement, and sees the blood of His Son poured out upon it, crying out to Him. In His Word, He makes clear that this should be a most solemn day for us as well. Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Today is not a day for "normal" activities. It is a day when some will be cut off, and some will live. For many in the Church, Yom Kippur is "Old Testament". Now that we have Christ, they think, we are saved, and the issue is moot for us. They argue that it is understood that Christ is our Atonement, and we have already been covered in that blood. However, the Book of Hebrews makes very clear that the Day of Atonement, while fulfilled by Christ, is a Day in which all of the people of God, especially the believers in Christ, should actively participate. It even says within the context of the whole explanation of the Day of Atonement of previous chapters: "...not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace." (Heb. 10:25-29). These words of the Book of Hebrews were written to the Church, the sanctified believers, the partakers of the covenant sealed by the blood of Christ. The writer of Hebrews is saying that to ignore this Day is like trampling the blood of Christ underfoot, and thereby becoming an adversary of God. It is like treating the atoning blood as a common, everday, business as usual thing to which we are automatically entitled. The Day of Atonement is very much a solemn Day that applies to those who, having been saved by the grace of God through Christ, may partake in by faith the opportunity presented by this Day to avail ourselves of the atoning blood that covers our continuing sins. The provision has been made. Why would we ignore it? Why would we despise it? "Kippur" is from the Hebrew word kaphar, which means atonement, reconciliation, merciful, cleansed, forgive, pardon, purge (away), to cover, cover over, to overspread, pacify, propitiate. On the occasion of this feast, the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies with the sacrifical blood of animals, and poured it upon the Mercy Seat which covered the Ark. Not only has Christ fulfilled this feast by entering into the Holy of Holies in heaven as our High Priest, according to the Book of Hebrews, but He covered the Mercy Seat, not with the blood of animals for a temporary relief, but with His own blood, providing an everlasting covering. Though we who are in Christ are saved, there is no doubt that we all continue to sin. This is the place to which we can go to have our continuing sins covered and purged away. We approach the Mercy Seat of the atoning blood of Christ by faith, in the promise of God in this Day, which He has set apart, a Day in which He has provided an appointed time and place for us to partake of His provision of mercy. It is a provision that was appointed for us before the foundations of the world, when the Lamb was slain. This Day is associated with the Lamb's Book of Life. The Father told His people in the Book of Leviticus that he who does not avail himself appropriately of the atonement provision of this day, with an attitude worthy of the Day, shall be cut off from his people (Lev. 23:26-32). The Book of Hebrews says that this Day is still part of the commandments of God. The provision is there for us. The word of God clearly tells us the importance of this Day to Him for our sakes. It is a Day that proclaims life or death. The blood of the Lamb is crying out to His Father on our behalf from God's Mercy Seat, which is the Throne of the presence of God. That blood is crying out, "Atonement! Reconciliation! Mercy! Cleansing! Covering! Propitiation!" Why would we want to ignore that blood or this Day? Our Father has proclaimed the Day of Atonement for His people. "May you be written in the Lamb's Book of Life!"

Mercy (Pt 3 of 3)

This is Pt. 3 in a series covering these three fall feasts of the LORD commanded in scripture: the Feast of Trumpets (see the previous post, "NewMoon"), the Days of Awe/Repentance (see the previous post, "AWE"), and today's post, "Mercy" which is about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These posts cannot cover all that can be said about these feasts, and their importance not only to the Jewish people, but also to all who know Jesus as Messiah and Lord. I wanted to look into them to discover how these feasts that have been ordained by God to all generations must also contain a great impact on my spiritual walk. God has a purpose for us in these feasts, as well as the revelation of Jesus within them. 
Let's do a brief review of the previous two posts, and then begin our look into Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
We found that as well as the significance of the shofar or trumpet, the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, is directly tied to the new moon (root word "chadash") of the month of Tishrei (meaning "beginning"). This feast marks the beginning of a process. The chadash meaning of the Feast of Trumpets involves renewal, restoration, rebuilding, as well as the polishing and cutting of a sword. The rapture of the church is the most dramatic "renewal" of all, and it is associated with the sounding of the trumpets on this feast day.
We begin that personal renewal, and the even wider process of renewal of creation, during the self-examination and repentance associated with the Days of Awe, the days between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur. Repentance is the means, but the end result the Lord is looking for in us is change. Jesus addressed His churches and sought this serious change in them in the Book of Revelation. Failure of the church to address and change our serious shortcomings would result in great loss, according to these scriptures (see chapters 2 and 3). Heeding the Holy Spirit, and seeking the changes that the Lord required of His churches would result in rewards.
According to the rabbis, on  the Feast of Trumpets, our names are written or inscribed into books based upon the Lord's examination and determination regarding us. On Yom Kippur, the names in those books are sealed, or finalized. We have the days in between to search ourselves and determine to change those things that would have us inscribed and sealed into judgment books, "to avert the severe decree", as it is taught by the rabbis. As we saw in the previous post, "AWE", for those not found inscribed in the (Lamb's) Book of Life, the ramifications can be very serious. even deadly. This judgment of Yom Kippur is not the judgment of the dead, but the judgment of the living.
While on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, our names are sealed in those books, Lev. 16 also shows us the pattern for the provision of the atonement and mercy of God, which are also imbedded in this feast day. As we saw in the previous entry, scripture says that mercy and judgment always dwell together in God. The Day of Atonement is a solemn feast day (Lev. 23:26-32). The LORD commands that we fast, pray, and afflict ourselves. We are not to be busy with "life as usual" on this day. The pattern of heavenly intercession for the sins of the people is revealed in this feast day as given to Moses from God (see Lev. 16). The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of sacrifice, and sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat. This atoning blood was for himself and his family, the tabernacle, and all of the people.
In the prophetic fulfillment of this most holy purpose of the Day of Atonement, God has not relied upon man, but has appointed His only Son to be not only the blood of sacrifice (Heb. 9:13-14), but also the High Priest who applies the sacrificial blood (Heb. 6:20, Heb. 7:24-26), and the Mercy Seat (meaning of "propitiation" used in Rom. 3:25, 1 Jn. 2:2) itself upon which that holy blood is sprinkled. That Mercy Seat is the throne of the presence of the glory of the LORD. Jesus is the Person, the Place, and the Means, the All in All, of the mercy provision of God. Leviticus 16:17 tells us that while the High Priest is fulfilling his duty on this day, no man may be present in any part of the earthly tabernacle. Now, instead of men, who have weaknesses, to intercede as High Priest, using the blood of animals, God has appointed His Son, who has been perfected forever, to be our High Priest as on the Day of Atonement (Heb. 7:28). The purpose of the approach to the Mercy Seat is to seek mercy in the face of the judgment of the living sealed in the books, and to bring reconciliation of man with God.
The Book of Hebrews tells us that we too can now approach that Mercy Seat, having been cleansed ourselves through Christ (Heb. 10:19-23). We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together for this purpose, especially as we see this Day approaching, as some forsake it (Heb. 10:24-25). Here again, scripture tells us that the significance of these feast days are for the church, as well as for the Jewish people. Although it is the current custom of the church to ignore the true observance of these feast days, and the repentance and change that is required within them, we are warned in scripture not to overlook the significance in our walk:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?..."The LORD will judge His people"...It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."   Heb. 10:26-31 (see also Deut. 32:35-36)
The verses above were all written in the context of the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement by our High Priest, Jesus Christ. The whole Book of Hebrews teaches the church about this feast, and how it applies to the believers in Christ. The provision of this mercy, and its sanctification is forever. However, that doesn't mean we can take it for granted that the judgment of the living does not also apply to us as believers in Christ. Our Good Shepherd, Jesus, Who examines us, expects us to understand and observe the provision of mercy (and completed renewal) that pushes back the judgment deserved, and has been so lovingly and powerfully provided for us in this feast day. Are we diligent at the Mercy Seat of God on behalf of ourselves and all people? The mercy of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is precious to our walk with Christ. That mercy cost our Father, and His dear Son everything.

Our Father has sent His mercy, His Son, to provide the atonement for us.

Eternal

The nature of our Father is eternal, and He inhabits eternity:

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them." 
                                                                    Deut. 33:27
"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
                                                                    Isa. 57:15
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever, Amen."
                                                                    1 Tim. 1:17

Today happens to be Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when the Jewish people recognize the power of God to forgive sin and show mercy upon mankind. It is an awesome time of judgment. This is a day of fasting, as we humbly submit ourselves for His judgment. We afflict our bodies and souls with fasting to put the temporal things of the world away, and look into the eternal things of our Father. Life on earth exists but for a moment in time, but the life our Father has called us to exists with Him, forever. This calling to His eternal life was promised before the world began, before the measure of time began (Titus 1:2, 1 Peter 5:10).  It is a promise of eternity, from eternity. This eternal quality of our Father was sealed in us by the sacrifice of His Son for our sins. This sacrifice tore the separating veil apart that kept man from his eternal Father, the separating veil that divides the temporal from the eternal:
"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
and the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
                                                                  Mat. 27:50-52 
 
Our Father, though He placed us in a temporary body of flesh, always purposed us to be an eternal creation with Him. He manifested this eternity in bodily flesh through His Son, Jesus, so we could see this promise, so we could touch this promise, so we could understand this promise of eternity, not bound by the flesh of man:

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
(for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."
                                                                 1 John 1:1-4  
"And this is the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."
                                                                  1 John 5:11

According to the scripture above, the eternal life of the Father is not limited to something that we will receive after we finish this life on earth in our flesh. This eternal life is something that has already been given to us, while we are yet in our flesh, because it is the life in His Son, and we are in His Son:
"As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him."
                                                                  John 17:2

Even while we are yet in our flesh bodies, we live in the eternal life of Jesus. Our lives and focus are never to be bound to the temporary ways and things of this world, but always to view all things through the eyesight of eternity:
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hand, eternal in the heavens."
                                                                  2 Cor. 4:17-18, 5:1

The Prophet Daniel spoke of the everlasting Kingdom of God:
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that shall not be destroyed."
                                                                     Daniel 7:13-14

On this Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, let us consider and remember the eternal things and the eternal life, and that eternal kingdom to which we have been so graciously called, and let us incorporate that eternity of our Father and His Son into our lives now, even while we are here on earth. Let us examine ourselves, and also pray as never before for those whose souls hang in the balance between death and life. The eternal life of Jesus Christ is manifested through us.

Our Father is eternal.

"Kol Nidrei" sung on Yom Kippur Eve
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrBcN4lSjBc 


Illustration of Eternity 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWk7RUg3ZV4