ForgivingtheUnforgivable

     

     

     "Then Jesus said to him, 'Away with you (hypago - bring under, lead under, sink out of sight, drive back), Satan (satanas - adversary of God and Christ, one who opposes, inciter of sin and apostacy towards God, prince of evil spirits, controls idol worshippers, the accuser, the devil, Satan)! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. Then the devil left (aphiemi - send away, forsake) Him, and behold, angels came (proserchomai - draw near to, worship, visit, assent to) and ministered (diakoneo - to serve, to wait upon, the servant of a king) to Him." (Mt. 4:10-11). 

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Ki Tissa, meaning, "When you take/lift up/carry out", and the title is from Exodus 30:11-12. These verses say: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'When you take (nasa - bear up, lift up, take up, carry, forgive, exalt, rise up, support, endure, to cause one to bear, hold up, raise up, be high) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-census (ro's - sum, head, top, beginning, captain, highest, supreme, prince, height, chief) of the children of Israel for their number (paqad - number, visit upon, punish, appoint, judgment, reckon, lay upon as a charge), then every man shall give a ransom (koper/kapar - ransom, satisfaction, price of a life, henna plant [red-brown dye], atonement ordered by the LORD/atonement, purge, reconciliation, mercy, pardon, forgive) for himself to the LORD, when you number (paqad - see above) them, that there may be no plague (negeb/nagab - blow, striking, plague, infliction, stumbling, fatal blow/smite, slain, struck, beaten, plague, hurt) among them when you number (paqad - see above) them." 

     In the verses above, we see an atonement "ransom" commanded by the LORD to provide pardon and forgiveness for His people, Israel. This atonement "ransom" from the fatal blows of plague is connected to the lifting up/raising of a Prince who is the highest supreme, the Beginning. In the Hebrew word meanings above, I see a prophetic picture of the Messiah/Christ Jesus as this Prince who was lifted up on a cross, and then lifted or raised up from the dead. It is the atonement mercy and forgiveness commanded and provided by God by the blood (reddish-brown coloring - see henna above) of Jesus so that we do not have to suffer the fatal blow of plague which He suffered for us.

     This provides a powerful foundation to events that we read in this week's Sabbath portion, Ki Tissa. We will see God forgive the unforgivable.

     

     In Chapter 20 of Exodus, the LORD verbally gives The Ten Commandments to Moses to tell to the children of Israel, including the commands that they shall have no other gods before Him, and that they shall not make for themselves a carved image, nor bow down before them, nor serve them. "For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." (v. 3-5). Later, the LORD will repeat this to Moses to tell the people: "...Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make anything to be with Me - gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves." (v. 22-23).

     Later, Moses wrote all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words of the LORD in the Book of the Covenant and read them to the people. The people said to Moses: "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." (Ex. 24:4-7). 

     Again, the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and "He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." (Ex. 31:18). Now these same *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega words of the LORD would be written again, this time in stone, and by the hand of the LORD Himself. This brings us to Exodus 32. 

     While Moses was still on the Mountain with the LORD: "...when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, 'Come, make us gods the shall go before us; for as for this Moses...we do not know what has become of him." (Ex. 32:1).  Aaron then collected all of the gold earrings that the people were wearing in their ears, "...and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!' So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it...Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." (v. 2-6).

     How can God forgive the unforgivable that we see taking place above? He sent an intercessor.

     The LORD said to Moses: "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted (sahat - destroy, corrupt, ruin, mar, be rotted, injured, pervert, decay, perish, act wickedly) themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them....Now, therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation. Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God...'Turn from your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (meaning Jacob), Your servants to whom You swore...'. So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people." Ex. 32:7-14, excerpt). The LORD had seen the people as rotting corpses because of their destroying sinful act, according to the meaning of the Hebrew noted above.

     As Moses' anger broke out upon the Israelites for what they had done, he broke the tablets of stone upon which the LORD had written His word, and burned (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-calf of gold that had been made and made the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children-of-Israel drink it. Three thousand lost their lives that day to the swords of the sons of Levi, the tribe of priests. Why is the calf identified with *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, or the Messiah/Christ (see *note below)? Perhaps because they made the golden calf idol their substitute man-made savior, their deliverer, their Messiah in their eyes. It still happens today, even with believers in Christ, that gold, money, the work of our hands, our families, our government, our military power, science, the visible things of the world rather than the invisible things of the Spirit, become our answer, our dependence, and the receivers of our faith instead of the One who truly died for us. Paul rebuked the church for turning away from the Gospel truth of Jesus Christ that they had learned and for believing a falsehood instead. (see Gal. 1:6-7). Jesus, through His revelation to John, rebukes a worldly rich church that doesn't even realize that it is really "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", and urging the church to buy from Him "gold refined in the fire, that...the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed." (Rev. 3:17-18). Satan, the opponent of God and Christ (see above), is always dangling this deception in front of our eyes in order to turn faith away from God.

     Viewing the people, Moses had seen them as "unrestrained/naked," ((para' - uncover, bare, naked, perish, expose). Telling the people that perhaps he could make atonement (see kapar above) for them with the LORD, Moses returned to the presence of the LORD on the Mountain and said: "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." (v. 31-32). Seeing that the people had been uncovered or made spiritually naked before their enemies because of their sin, Moses sought God's kapar atonement covering for the people, even offering the removal of himself from God's book. The apostle Paul also said that he would have offered his own salvation if he could on behalf of the salvation of his Jewish brethren who did not believe Messiah/Christ Jesus. (see Rom. 9:1-5).

      I offer the following as food for thought only regarding nakedness and the atonement covering, and not as any kind of doctrine. This is the connection that I am seeing in my spirit. There is another instance of "nakedness" in scripture. It is from the Book of Genesis, when Adam and his wife, Eve, after their choice to rely upon themselves rather than the LORD, having believed the lies of the serpent (see Gen. 3:1-6), discovered that they were naked ('erom/'aram - nakedness, naked and helpless/to make bare, make naked, to be subtle, shrewd, crafty, cunning, smooth, impudent, spiteful as manifesting one's malevolent mind) (see Gen. 3:7). The Hebrew root meaning of "naked" above, 'aram, leads us directly to the serpent who is described as being subtle or cunning in Gen. 3:1. The Hebrew word and root word for "serpent" are 'arum and 'aram. We see the connection between the serpent and the nakedness of man through the Hebrew language here. We can see then that it is Satan's strategy for man to remove his kapar atonement covering, leaving him naked and helpless. How could Adam have had the atonement covering many generations before Jesus Messiah/Christ was slain on the cross? Scripture describes Jesus as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth. In Isaiah 53, the prophet saw the Servant of God already beaten and slain for the iniquity of us all because the prophet writes of this in the past tense even though Jesus wouldn't be born until 750 years after Isaiah wrote his prophecy. David saw and prophesied of the crucifixion as if it was occurring to him in his present time even though he lived 1,000 years before the birth of Christ and never suffered crucifixion himself (see Ps. 22:1-18). This is the nature of prophecy and the things of the Spirit, as well as the nature of God and His Son: He is past, present and future all at the same time. (see Jn. 1:1-2, Rev. 1:8, Rev. 4:8). It is also interesting that the name "Adam", which is usually translated as meaning "man", has a deeper meaning of "dyed red, be red, to show red, to look red". A related Hebrew word dam means "blood, bloody, wine". Perhaps we can say that Adam's name could mean "a man of the blood". Paul called Jesus the "last Adam" and the "second man" in scripture. (see 1 Cor. 15:45-49).  In Rom. 5:14, Paul wrote that Adam was "a type of Him (meaning Christ) who was to come." When the LORD created "Adam" and his wife, they were naked then also, but scripture says that they were not "ashamed" (bus - ashamed, confounded, troubled, disconcerted, disappointed or delayed, to fail in hope and expectation). If they were not ashamed, then they were in hope and expectation - hope and expectation of what or Whom? Jesus Messiah/Christ is our hope and expectation, our assurance. (see Ps. 62:5-7, Prov. 23:18, Ps. 5:7, Mt. 24:30-31, Rom. 15:12-13). Adam "wore" the atonement covering of the Lord through faith, and he was not ashamed - until he rejected the faith in the atoning blood covering. They then attempted to cover themselves with 'ale/'ala raised-up branch(es).

     In another reading portion of this week's Ki-Tissa Sabbath, we find that the whole nation of Israel, including their royal family, had turned from the worship of God to the worship of the false god, Ba'al.

     How can God forgive this unforgivable thing? He again sent an intercessor, the prophet Elijah: "So Ahab (King of Israel) sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered not a word." (1 Kings 18:20-21).

     Elijah took twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel and built an altar in the name of the LORD. (v. 30-32). Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal who were to offer a bull on an alter to their god, while Elijah prepared an offering of a bull on the altar that he had built to the LORD. The prophets of Baal could not get their god to answer them, and Elijah began to pray to the LORD: "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-things (dabar - thing, matter, commandment) at Your word (dabar - see above). Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-hearts back to You again." (v. 36-37).

     The fire of the LORD fell and consumed Elijah's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-sacrifice, including (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-stones of the altar: "Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (v. 38-39). The LORD had turned the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega hearts of the people back to Himself.

     It is no surprise that God has also provided for us the perfect Intercessor - Jesus Messiah/Christ. The Book of Hebrews says of Christ: "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25). Paul wrote of those who remain in the justification of God through Christ: "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Rom. 8:34-35). John wrote to the church so that we may not sin. However: "... if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (meaning atoning blood covering sacrifice) for our sins, and not ours only but also for the whole world." (1 Jn. 2:1-2). We also are to pray and intercede continually for all of the saints in the same manner. (Eph. 6:18).

     If you would like to learn more about intercession and forgiveness of God and Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, when I didn't know you and had no hope in eternity, Your Word gave the promise of intercession on my behalf, and of an atonement covering for my spiritual vulnerability. You fulfilled these promises through Your beloved Son, Jesus. You forgave me of the unforgivable as I was determined to live a life without You. Your Son became not only my Intercessor, but my hope and expectation when I had none. Jesus poured out His blood in order to cover me when I didn't know I needed His covering. Father, I ask You to keep me from the temptation of the evil one and direct my steps so that I never leave the atonement covering Jesus provided for me. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can pray and intercede for others as Your Son intercedes. 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. 

Enter

    

     "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:19-22).

     The above verses from the Book of Hebrews speaks about entering into the House of God, because of and through the way that has been made for us to enter, the flesh of Jesus Christ, torn open for us. Jesus also referred to Himself as "the Door" by which the sheep of God enter into His sheepfold of safety: "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture....I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn. 10:9-10).

     This truth of "entering in" is also reflected in this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Bo, meaning, "Enter." The Hebrew letters that comprise the word bo are beyth and aleph. The individual meanings of these Hebrew letters are "house/family/within" and "the first, or Adonai/Lord." Therefore, just within the word bo itself is the meaning "the house of the Lord," as we saw in the top verse from Hebrews 10, in addition to the word meaning, "enter."

     The title "Bo", is found in Exodus 10:1-2, the first verses of this Sabbath reading portion: "Now the LORD said to Moses, 'Go in (bo' - enter, go in, lead in, come in) to Pharaoh; for I have hardened (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-heart and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the hearts-of-his-servants, that I may show these signs ('ot - signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, banner, proof, beacon, monument, evidence, token/consent, agree, consent to any one) of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and (*vaw-aleph-tav)-My-signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD." Moses would enter into the house of Pharaoh again in order to repeat the LORD's command to let His people go to serve Him. (v. 3).

     Entering into the house of God as mentioned in the verses from Hebrews at the top of the page is connected with the way of entrance that Jesus made for us by the sacrifice of His own body and blood. As Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through (dia - through, with, by, by the means of) Me." (Jn. 14:6).

     It is very interesting that the concept of entering in this Bo Sabbath reading portion also contains three mentions of Passover, the sacrifice of the spotless lamb and the application of its blood upon the doorposts and lintels of each Hebrew home. Entering their homes through that blood-soaked doorway would assure their safety from the coming tenth and final judgment/plague of death to the first-born in Egypt. Therefore that sacrificed blood upon the door has a direct connection to the concept of "entering." into the salvation provision of God. The meal in which the Hebrews were to partake was within that blood-painted door: "Now the blood shall be a sign (see 'ot above) for you on the houses where you are. And when I see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt....and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning (boker/bawkar- end of night, coming of daylight, beginning of the day, bright joy after the darkness of distress/inquire, seek out, search for, look for, consider, admire, care for, inspect diligently, discern, contemplate, to cleave, to open, breaking forth and arising of light)." (Ex. 12:13, 22). 

     Up until this point, the earlier plagues of Egypt did not strike the territory of Goshen (meaning "drawing near") where the Hebrew slaves lived. However, against the plague of death, physical territory would not save them - only the lamb, sacrificed and eaten (Ex. 12:8, see also Jn. 6:53-58), and its blood painted on the doorposts and lintels of their homes would save them from the destroyer. For this protection, they would have to dwell or abide inside the body of the LORD. Jesus also said to abide in Him as branches abide in the vine. (Jn. 15:4-8).

 Isaiah also wrote the word of the LORD telling His people to enter (bo - see above) into their chambers (heder/hadar - within, inward or innermost parts, inner chamber, bedchamber, private chamber/encompass, surround, enclose as a room) until the indignation (za'am - foam at the mouth rage, anger, abominable, angrily indignant) has passed. (Isa. 26:20).

     In Exodus Ch. 12, which is also part of this Sabbath's Bo "Enter" reading portion, scripture says that "on that very same day" (v. 41 and 51), on the night of Passover, and as prophesied to Abraham generations before (v. 40, and Gen. 15:13-14), "that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies."  In Ex. 13, another part of this Sabbath's reading, Moses told the children of Israel to "Remember (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-this-day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place...On this day (which is Passover) you are going out, in the month of Abib ('abib - fresh young ears of barley, green ears of corn, tender young ear)." (v. 3-4). In this same chapter, Ex. 13, Moses tells the children of Israel that when the LORD brings them into (bo -see above) the land of the Canaanites and other Canaanite tribes "that you shall keep this service in this month." Passover would then be immediately followed by the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread. 

     The image that I am seeing here is one in which the same (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) day, meaning Passover, and consequently the same blood-painted door, that was their way of exit out of Egypt will be the same door by which they will bo enter into the land that the LORD promised to their forefathers by covenant. With the same sweet, striped, pierced and without the leaven-of-sin Bread that they ate on Passover, they would also remember, observe and eat for a Sabbath week (seven days) in the new land which they would enter. Both the exit and entrance were mentioned in the same context of Passover.

     Jesus prayed to the Father before His arrest and death, praying for His current believers, and those believers who would come in the future: "I do not pray for those (His present disciples) alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (Jn. 17:20-22). We become one with past believers, with current believers and with future believers because we are all in the Father and Son. We convince the world that Jesus Christ was sent by the Father, not only because of our faith, but because we are in the Son and also then in the Father, and it shows. It is a sign (see 'ot above).

      This is a level of intimacy that is more than "knowing" Him or even believing Him. This calls for being in Him. Many know of Jesus Christ. Many even concede that He is the Lord, but how many dwell inside of Him? The following verses reveal the importance of being "in Christ": 2 Cor. 5:16-17, Rom. 8:1-2, Eph. 1:3, and Eph. 2:4-10, 13, Gal. 3:27-28. As we read these verses listed here, what have we previously thought as regarding their meaning? Perhaps we thought that they mean for us to enter into faith in Christ? However, perhaps they mean as they say - to enter through and into the Person of Christ. We often think that being saved means to ask Jesus to come into (see bo above) our hearts, but perhaps salvation also means for us to desire and seek to enter into His heart.

     Finally, from another reading portion of this Bo "Enter" Sabbath, in 2 Chron. 35, we read about how King Josiah (meaning "the LORD is the foundation support"): "...kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem." (v. 1). On this occasion, the king restored the ministry of the priests and Levites in the house of the LORD. The king also restored the holy ark into its proper place in the temple. The king gave the people all of the lambs that would be necessary to offer for Passover, tens of thousands of them from the king's own possessions. They also kept the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. (v. 17). There hadn't been a Passover kept in Israel since the days of Samuel. (v. 18). Imagine what this event must have meant to Jerusalem and Judah - the healing and restoration of their relationship with the LORD. It is also written of Josiah: "Thus Josiah removed all the abominations from all the country that belonged to the children of Israel, and made (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-who-were-present in Israel diligently serve (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD their God. All his days they did not depart from following the LORD God of their fathers." (2 Chron. 34:33). When King Josiah died, "...all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah." 

     As I read these passages, the message for me this Sabbath and forward is to seek out and enter into the Lord Jesus in a new and deeper way, to have a deeper understanding of the meaning of the blood-painted doorway through which Israel exited and entered. We know Jesus as this Door of entrance into that innermost chamber, which is Himself.

     If you would like to learn more about entering into Christ, you can join me in my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You provided a holy, consecrated Door for us to enter into Your house and Your presence, a Door which is soaked with the blood of Your precious Son, Jesus. Show me Father, by Your Word and Spirit, the way to live, move and have my being in Christ, our Passover. Let me be one of those who dwells and abides in my Lord, Messiah/Christ, and in You, which is a miraculous sign to the world that You have indeed sent Your Son. Give me a greater understanding of the need to abide in Christ. I ask this 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. 

Image

This week's sabbath reading is titled Mishpatim, meaning judgments or ordinances from Exodus chapters 21 through 24, but a look at the Hebrew meaning of the word tells us much more. Mishpat and its root sapat mean "judgment, ordinance, lawful, execution of judgment", as we would expect. However, it also means "manner, cause, worthy, fashion, custom, discretion, measure, as well as justice, right, rectitude as attributes of God and man. It means to condemn and punish the guilty at the same time as it means to plead a cause, defend, and deliver, especially regarding the poor and oppressed. We will see in these chapters that the LORD is establishing principles and a character for His people that prallel and converge with His own character and image. These are not just a set of arbitrary, outdated, rules with which to burden man, as some may think, but these mishpatim are for the establishment of an image on earth consisting of God in, and with, His people. When God created man, He created them, male and female, in His/Our own image (Gen. 1:26-28). This primary truth from the beginning has not changed throughout scripture. We will also see from two of the prophets in this sabbath reading, the connection of the formation of this image in His people with the idea of exodus, a Greek-Latin word meaning "the way or road out of", which is the name, and theme of this second book of scripture. The realization of these things in this sabbath reading was very inspiring for me, and I hope it will be for you also. We can see how these commandments in these chapters from Exodus reflect the character of God. Exodus 22:1-9 speaks about how the thief shall be required to restore what has been stolen, from double up to five times the item stolen. The LORD is the foremost Restorer of things lost or stolen: "And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before...Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning..." (Job 42:10, 12). The LORD promised to restore Israel: "The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied..." (Joel 2:24-26). The LORD warned His people in this week's sabbath reading not to mistreat a stranger (foreigner), a widow or the fatherless, or He will hear their cries to Him, and His wrath will be poured out upon His people (Ex. 22:21-24). Protecting the stranger, the widow, and the fatherless are part of the LORD's character: "Sing to God, sing praises to His name...a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation...The LORD watches over strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow..."" (Ps. 68:4-5, Ps. 146:9, see also Deut. 10:17-18). The LORD commanded His people not to charge interest or keep security, such as keeping a man's covering garment as security, in making loans to their brethren (Ex. 22:25-27). It is the character of the LORD to give without the expectation of repayment: "What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?" (Ps. 116:12). Jesus, in expressing the image of divinity, said: "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also...Give to him who asks you and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away." (Mt. 5:40, 42). In Ex. 23:1, 6-8 from our sabbath reading, the commandment is given to God's people not to circulate a false report, and not to be an unrighteous or false witness. The LORD speaks in scripture of the absolute reliability of His true report (Isa. 53:1), and the value of His true witness regarding His Son, Jesus (Jn. 5:37). The truth of God, or His judgments, and of His witness can also be found in Ps. 119:160, 2 Sam. 7:28, Ps. 19:9, and Rom. 3:3-4 to give just a few additional examples. The LORD wants those who belong to Him to keep truth in justice, because God is truth, as is His justice. In Ex. 23:8, God commands His people not to take bribes in the same way that He does not take bribes (2 Chron. 19:7, Deut. 10:17). God's people are not to show partiality against the poor in justice (Ex. 23:3, 6), just as God does not show partiality: "For the LORD your God is God of gods and LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe." (Deut. 10:17, see also Rom. 2:11). God's people are not to participate in an injustice against someone because he is an enemy (Ex. 23:4-5). In describing the divine character, Jesus said: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just, and the unjust." (Mt. 5:44-45). In another commandment the LORD says: "...do not kill the innocent and righteous..." (Ex. 23:7). This is one of the things that God hates (Prov. 6:16-19). Judgment would come to Israel because their hands were covered with innocent blood (Isa. 59:3, Ezek. 22-27). God does not shed innocent blood - He avenges it (see Rev. 6:9-11, Ps. 106:37-42). In these chapters from Exodus in this week's sabbath portion, God commanded that controversies in justice be brought before the judges to be decided (see Ex. 22:8-9). The Hebrew word used here for "judges" is elohim, which is the very name of God, Himself. God is teaching His people His Word and principles to conform them to His own image and name. We know this in the New Testament as Paul wrote that the church was to grow into "a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13), and again he wrote that we have been predestined by the Father "to be conformed to the image of His Son...these He also glorified." (Rom. 8:29-30). In another place in scripture God tells His people: "Be ye holy as I am holy" (Lev. 19:1-2, 1 Thess. 4:6-7, 1 Pet. 1:15-16), and "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Mt. 5:48). We don't change ourselves into this same holy and perfect image, however. The Word of God changes us (see Rom. 12:1-2). We learn from this sabbath's reading that there is another necessary element to being conformed to, and united with, God and His likeness. Previously in our scripture reading, only Moses could be enveloped in the presence of God, thereby becoming the intermediary between God and His people. In Exodus 24, an amazing event occurred: "So Moses came and told all the people the words of the LORD and all the judgments (mishpatim- see above). And all the people answered with one voice and said, 'All the words which the LORD has said we will do.' And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins (agan/nagan - basin, cup, goblet, bowl (as pounded out hollow), a laver, a trough for washing/to pound, to strike strings of an instrument, to thrum or beat a tune with the fingers), and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, 'All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.' And Moses took the blood and sprinkled (zaraq - sprinkle, scatter, here and there) it on the people, and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant (see Lk. 22:14-20, which also refers to the presence of the cup, the twelve apostles, and the meal) which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.' Then Moses (meaning drawn out of the water, rescued, pull out) went up, also Aaron (meaning light bringer), Nadab (meaning willingly offered, offer freely, offer self, volunteer), and Abihu (meaning "he is my father"), and seventy (see Lk. 10:1) of the elders (zaqen - ancient) of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone (see Ezek. 1:25-28), and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But on the nobles of the children of Israel, He did not lay His hand. So they saw God and they ate and drank." (Ex. 24:3-11). They saw God. Scripture doesn't say that they saw the glory of God on the mountain, but that they saw God. How is this possible? The New Testament reveals this mystery, and gives us the other necessary component to the image of God joined with man: "And of His (Christ's) fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." (Jn. 1:16-18). In another place Jesus said: "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father." (Jn. 6:45-46). In a third place, it is recorded: "Jesus said to him (Thomas), 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." And Philip said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, snd it is sufficient for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father?" (Jn. 14:6-9). In Exodus 24, the sprinkling from the basin of the sacrificial blood of the covenant upon the people, manifested the presence of the Messiah, Jesus, who said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." There are just too many parallels to the revelations found in the New Testament in this mysterious account in Ex. 24 to be ignored. An additional point of interest regarding these verses from Ex. 24 above is that an aleph-tav is connected to the name of God, Elohim, as it was written in Hebrew: "So they saw Elohim-aleph tav..." (v. 11). Jesus specifically referred to Himself as Aleph=Tav, which are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, when He called Himself "the Alpha and Omega (translated into the Greek), the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" in Revelation. From this sabbath's reading, two prophets prophesied of the removal from His people of the exodus provided by God as they broke the same mishpatim, or judgments, as those that were delivered to His people in Ex. 22 and 23, which they declared they would do. They broke from His Word, and His justice, which is established from His own character and Person. They broke their oneness with His image or likeness, so they broke with His exodus, ("the way or road out of"). Jeremiah wrote that King Zedekiah and all of the people had made a covenant to set at liberty all of the Hebrew brethren who had been kept as slaves, and they let them go (Jer. 34:8-10). Then they changed their minds and brought all of the former Hebrew slaves back into slavery (v. 11). Through Jeremiah, the LORD condemned them for breaking the words given to them through Moses (v. 12-16). So the LORD promised that He would give liberty to those things that would come to bring destruction to His people: the sword, pestilence, famine, and conquering (v. 17). The prophet Amose wrote the Word of the LORD against His people as they broke the mishpatim given by Moses in this week's sabbath portion: they trod down the poor with taxes, they afflicted the just and took bribes (Amos 5:10-13). Their empty sacrifices would not deliver them, because they would not be accepted by God (v. 21-23). Destruction, wailing and very deep darkness would come upon them (v. 16-20). In His people, the LORD expects to see Himself, as He said: "But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream", as He told His people: "Seek Me (davas - seek, search, follow in pursuit or search) and live...Seek the LORD and live..." (v. 4, 6). His mishpatim are not to burden or constrict us, but to develop us into His image, as He determined for us from the beginning. If you would like to learn more about being conformed to God's image, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You gave us Your mishpatim, Your judgments and ordinances, as one of the ways for me to be conformed to Your image. You gave me the blood of Your Son as a willing sacrifice so that I may see God. Conform me to the image of Your dear Son by His blood, and wash me with the water of Your Word (Eph. 5:26, and 1 Jn. 5:6). By Your Holy Spirit, let Your Word be written in my heart, so that I may be changed, and let Your exodus, "the way out of", be manifested in my life. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."

HaGadol

This Sabbath is called The Great Sabbath, or Shabbat Hagadol in Hebrew. This is because it is the sabbath before Passover. Passover is the ordained feast of the LORD remembering how the LORD miraculously protected His people from the angel of death in the final plague against Egypt, and caused Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of slavery, and out of Egypt. The Israelites were commanded by God to select a lamb for each household on the tenth day of Aviv. On the fourteenth of the month of Aviv, the Passover lamb was sacrificed, and its blood was applied with a hyssop branch to the doorposts (sides) and lintels (crosspiece at the top of the door) of each house. When applied, the blood stains also made the shape of the cross. The lamb itself was to be eaten until there was none left. When the angel of death saw the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and lintels of the house, he would "pass over", or spare, the house. The Egyptians, whose doorposts wouldn't be marked with the blood, would suffer the death of the firstborn in each household: "For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever." (Ex. 12:23-24). Rabbis teach that when the lamb was selected on the tenth day of Aviv in preparation for that first Passover in Egypt, it took place on Shabbat Hagadol, the Sabbath before the actual Passover, which would occur four days later. On that Shabbat HaGadol, they teach in the Code of Jewish Laws (Orach Chayim 430:1) that a miracle occurred. The Isrelites were able to select the lambs without being stoned to death by the Egyptians (see Ex. 8:25-27). It was considered blasphemy against the Egyptian god Amun-Ra, the sun god, to kill and eat any animal of the ram family, because the depictions of Amun-Ra included ram's heads. However, as a result of a miracle, the Israelites were able to select and keep the lambs to be used for the Passover. In this feast of Passover from Exodus, we see a direct confrontation between the LORD and the oppression of Egypt against His people, which resulted in the plague of death. Another part of this week's Sabbath reading is from Malachi 3, and is specifically to be read for The Great Sabbath before Passover. Although the Passover is not mentioned in this portion of reading from Malachi, it has been assigned as part of the Passover understanding. Therefore it is a mystery, and we must uncover its pertinence to Passover. It is no coincidence that like the first Passover in Exodus, we are given a prophetic promise concerning the appearing of the Lord, the preparation necessary by His people, and the judgment on the wicked that will accompany His appearing. According to these verses in Mal. 3, there is one who is going to come to prepare the way for the Lord, and then: "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,' says the LORD of hosts. 'But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap...He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness." (Mal. 3:1-3). Here we have the announcement of the appearing of the Lord, and the preparation of His people for the event, as we had with the Passover and the applying of the lamb's blood to the doorposts. Again, His people have to prepare themselves becauae judgment will be carried out with the Lord's appearing, as it was with the Egyptians: "And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien - because they do not fear Me,' says the LORD of hosts. 'For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed , O sons of Jacob....Return to Me, and I will return to you,' says the LORD of hosts." (Mal. 3:5-7). Because this reading portion is included as a reading for Shabbat HaGadol, I am beginning to see that the first Passover as a warfare event that is repeated in the Gospels' appearance of Jesus, as well as in the prophecies of His return, as we will see. We read that Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover, and shared a Passover meal, or Seder, together. On that Passover before Jesus died, scripture says that Satan entered into Judas Iscariot at the same time that the chief priests sought how they might kill Jesus (Lk. 22:1-3). It is the unleavened bread of the Passover meal that Jesus identified as His body broken for us, and the wine of the Passover Seder as His blood given for the New Covenant of salvation: "Then He (Jesus) said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer...And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." (Lk. 22:15-20). Our communion remembrance comes from that Passover Seder. Jesus died on the cross on the Passover, at the same time of day when the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the temple court. Paul later made sure that we understood that Jesus was not just, as John the Baptists proclaimed, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29, 36), but that Jesus was specifically our Passover Lamb.(1 Cor. 5:7). We can see the warfare of the Passover as Satan actively entered the traitor, Judas, and as the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus. The warfare is engaged, and the battle is won by the blood of our Passover Lamb. The blood is like a two-edged sword: on one hand, providing its protection for those covered by it, and, on the other hand, excluding from its protection those not covered by it. We see the warfare of our Passover Lamb again in the Book of Revelation. The only One considered worthy to be able to open the seals of judgment against the wicked in heavens and the earth is the Lamb (Rev. 5:1-6, 6:1). All creatures, both in heaven and of the earth proclaim in that moment: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!' (Rev. 5:11-14). Jesus is also identified as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah", and as "the Root of David", but it is the Lord as the Passover Lamb who executes the judgment. It is the Lamb who goes to war. We are told of a great warfare in heaven in which the serpent, that is the devil, or Satan, is cast down out of heaven with his angels, and it is made clear how this mighty victory was won: "And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:7-11). On this Shabbat HaGadol, the Sabbath before the Passover, and during the Passover itself, let us keep in mind the appearing of the Lord, the preparation of His people for that appearing, and His execution of judgment against the oppressors. However, most of all, let us understand the warfare of the Passover Lamb. If you would like to know more about our Passover Lamb, Jesus, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, as my Passover Lamb, You died for my sins. You died to protect me from death. Because of the covering of Your blood, death has passed over me, and spared me. Your Passover Lamb's blood that has protected me, also testifies against those who have refused the work and protection of Your blood. It is as my Passover Lamb that You do warfare in the heavens and on earth, and execute judgment. Fill me with the Holy Spirit Who guides me through Your refining and purging process in order to prepare me in righteousness for Your appearing. I depend upon the work of the Passover Lamb in me, and in the earth. I ask this in Your holy Name, AMEN."

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.

Lamb

Tonight is the beginning of Passover, and it is also "Good Friday" of the Resurrection season. Good Friday marks the death of Jesus on the cross. It also is the Sabbath tonight.
For Christians, I think we lose a great deal of the depth of the accomplishment of the crucifixion of the Lamb of God, when we do not know the meaning of the Passover.
Something very deep occurred on the night of the Passover, as God brought the plague of death to the households of Egypt, in order to force Pharaoh to release His people, Israel, from slavery.
Moses had warned the enslaved people of Israel to prepare their houses for the coming plague of death. They had to sacrifice a lamb, and cover their doorposts and lintels with its blood, and they had to be ready to leave Egypt suddenly. The LORD promised:
"...and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."   Ex. 12:13
The LORD was not only doing battle with a man, Pharaoh, but with the spiritual principalities that ruled over Egypt (v. 12). Only the blood of the lamb would separate God's people from the judgment that was about to fall on every household in Egypt:
"And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead."   Ex. 12:29-30
Not only did the night of the Passover deliver the Israelites out of slavery, but it was a prophetic portrait of the deep work of the blood of Jesus, whom John the Baptist identified as the Lamb of God, shed to deliver us all. Passover was not limited to a look into the future sacrifice of Christ, but was a depiction of God's provision of the sacrifice that was already accomplished in the spirit before man was created:
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."  Rev. 13:8
Passover was not a one-time event, but reached from before creation to the cross of Calvary (meaning "skull", root: horn, particularly as the apex of an altar: see also 1 Ki. 1:49-51). It will reach into the eternal future, as well, as each one of us must apply Christ's blood to ourselves in order to receive deliverance from slavery and death.
That Passover night in Egypt, each family had to collect the lamb's blood in a basin (meaning goblet, cup for holding wine or blood; root meaning: door or gate-see Jn. 10:7-9), and dip it (to plunge, to immerse oneself) with hyssop, and strike the doorposts and lintels with it (Ex. 12:22). Hyssop was an herbal bush that was used for healing, and in spiritual purification. Striking it upon the doorframe would release its aromatic fragrance. The Jews even understood that the aroma of the hyssop could actually do a transformative work involving one's thoughts and emotions*. Hyssop, because of its healing and cleansing property, was also associated with "the divine voice". The cleansing is not only for the outside of a man, but for an inner work as well. David, guilty of adultery and murder, pleaded before God:
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me and I shall be whiter than snow."    Ps. 51:7
Also, the action of "striking" those doorposts must have caused the blood on the hyssop branches to splatter and splash onto he who was applying it. Applying the blood was not a "hands off", neat process. One had to have an intimate contact with it. We can't have a distant knowledge of that precious Lamb's blood, but must experience it, immerse ourselves in it.
The blood of the Lamb is still doing its work. Each one of us must collect that blood from the foot of the cross, and apply it to ourselves in order to be cleansed from our sins, and to be delivered from evil's oppressive slavery. We are delivered from bondage and into the freedom of the Son of God. There is a reason why we, like Jewish children around the world tonight, should be asking the question, "Why is this night different from all other nights?"


Our Father has commanded us to observe the Passover.

Scene from "The Ten Commandments"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW2EMthD56E

"Watch the Lamb"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNT1AThOgME

*Hyssop Information

Divine

Treating the divine as if it were common can be an easy, but extremely dangerous trap to fall into. In the chapter which deals with communion, 1 Cor. 11:17-34, Paul brings insight and gives a warning concerning this issue:
"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning (to esteem, approve, prefer, determine, distinguish on account of) the Lord's body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."  1 Cor. 11:28-31
The Lord's body is described within the communion that Paul was discussing in this chapter. His body spoken about here goes beyond the physical elements of the bread and wine, and instead envelopes the purpose of His coming-as the Son of God, His body broken for us, receiving the punishment that we deserve, overcoming death for us in order to create a new, resurrection body for us, and His blood covering and satisfying the lawful judgment of the Old Covenant, and creating the New Covenant. This New Covenant defeats the power of death from our sin, and provides eternal life in His righteousness. When we participate in this communion with Him, we are remembering His accomplishment for us, and in us, until He comes again. Paul tells us that every time we participate in communion, we "shew" (declare, teach, preach, proclaim publicly, root: "as an angel") that the Lord has victoriously completed His work of salvation for all (v. 24-26). A modern English form of the word, "shew" is proclaim, meaning "to publicly or officially announce, especially when dealing with a matter of great importance". Yet, there were those in the church at that time who treated the communion elements as if they were just a meal. Paul said, that when we do not discern what Christ was providing for us when He ordained the communion, we reduce the divine purpose from heaven which has been given to us, into something common. As a result, many became sick and slept, or died (v. 30).
In leaving us the instruction for communion, I don't think that Jesus' purpose was to institute a legalism, but to provide a way to continually announce and offer His salvation to the world.
I would like to take this precept of divine provision, and consider it in regard to other issues we may face in the body of Christ.
Paul goes on to describe in the next chapter, the Lord's body, that He created from His own:
"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ....For in fact, the body is not one member, but many...But now, God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased...But God has composed the body...that there should be no schism (division, dissension, rt: to break, to cleave, to split into factions) in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another...Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually."
                                                                                                      1 Cor. 12:12-27(excerpt)
We do not place ourselves in the body, but God has done this. He specifically does this in order to prevent division, dissension, and the splitting into factions. Uh-Oh!! That's exactly what the church has become: divided, dissenting, and split into thousands of factions. So what happened? I think we took something divinely created and appointed, and exerted our own will over it, reducing it to the common.
This divinely appointed body has a head, for what good would a body be without a head?!
"And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church..." Col. 1:18.
And, "...grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."                                                                                       Eph. 4:15-16
From these scriptures, we can conclude that while we are the body of Christ, the head of this body is Christ, Himself. Again, with Christ as the head, every part of the body is in its correct place, supplying the whole body, and growing. Uh-Oh!! What happened again? Could it be that we have replaced Christ's headship with our own, thereby replacing the divine with the common, again?
As the head, "...He Himself gave (furnished, appointed, endued, entrusted, committed, given to someone to care for his interests) some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping (perfecting) of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;"  Eph. 4:11-13
We are members of the body, set in our places in that body by God, with Christ as the head, who has appointed certain ones to develop us to a specific end. Have we accepted those whom Christ has divinely appointed over us, or have we rejected them in order to exercise our own choice in the matter?. These appointments are His divine provision for us that will produce unity, and spiritual growth into knowledge, perfection and Christ's fullness.
When we do not recognize these things in that manner, we do not receive the benefit of the provision, and we suffer for it. These appointments concerning the body are not a matter of chance, nor choice, but by divine ordination and decree. We have a King/Lord/Head in Christ, and a heavenly Father, who make those determinations regarding us, and gift us accordingly by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:11). If we fail to discern the divine source and connection to how, where, and under whom we have been placed in the body by God and Christ, instead thinking we can decide these things for ourselves, we reduce the divine to the common, as the Corinthian church did in the matter of communion. In this case, the ordination of the Father and the headship of the Son over the church is replaced by the realm of man's will and determination. Again, as with the communion issue, I don't think the Father's purpose, and the structure created by Christ, was to institute a legalistic demand upon us, but to provide a divine benefit for the church, the body of Christ, and each individual member thereof. At the same time, a divinely driven church would fulfill God's plan for the church-the ministry of reconciliation between God and man, by being the Body of Christ in the earth.
If we refuse Christ's Lordship over His body, including our assigned place and part of the body, we reject His and His Father's provision for us. This can bring harm to ourselves, and certainly to the church. This requires serious self-examination and prayer, regarding our views of Christ, His body, and our presence and position in that body. If we judge ourselves in this matter, we will not be judged (1 Cor. 11:31).
Not discerning the Lord's body, according to Paul's words, is very dangerous. It is a trap set by the enemy, and approved by our own flesh, in which we can so easily be snared if we are not careful.

Our Father has placed us in the body, with Christ as its Head.

"The Doxology"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQUTvMtUhw4

Directions

Our understanding and measuring of the world is done with north-south, and east-west latitude and longitude lines and directions. It is how we establish the global coordinates of a location. It is how the earth is divided into hemispheres.
One of the great scriptures of the Bible is John 3:16:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
The giving of the Son was for the whole world. The cross becomes the compass, and as Jesus was placed upon it and it was lifted up from the earth, His blood covered the compass directions. His arms were spread out onto the east-west cross piece, and the blood came from His hands upon those points. His head lay upon the north end of the upright piece, covered by the blood pouring from piercings of the crown of thorns, and the beating of His face. The southern point of the upright was covered by the blood of His feet. Every point between the north-south and east-west of the cross pieces was covered by the blood of the whipping of His back, arms and legs. The piercing of His side poured the water and the blood onto the midpoint of the directions. I had often wondered why the Son was pierced at the hands and feet. If the point was to release the atoning blood, there are much more efficient ways to do that. Wounds to the hands and feet are not fatal, and seem an unusual choice of the will of God. These wounds are prophesied by King David in Psalm 22:  "For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet."  There are probably other significant reasons why the Son had to be pierced at head, hands, feet, and side, but when I consider it, I see the blood at the four directional points.
The scriptures have interesting references to the primary compass directions that add to my picture. As Jacob dreamed about the ladder that reached from earth to heaven, and the angels that ascended and descended upon it, the LORD stood above that ladder and made this prophetic promise to Jacob:
"Also, your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed (incl. Messiah) all the families of the earth shall be blessed."     Gen. 28:14
Trusted gatekeepers to the tabernacle of the LORD, as well as the twelve tribes of Israel, were assigned to the four directions: the east, the west, the north, and the south (1 Chron. 9:24-26). The gatekeepers had charge of the keeping of the chambers and treasuries of the LORD. I don't think the LORD assigned the Gatekeepers (sho ar, שׁוֹעֵר ) because He was concerned for His money. The gatekeepers might have been in place, however, to keep watch over the true "treasures" of the four directions, the souls of the past, present, and future generations of the Redeemed in the earth. The Hebrew letters of the word for gatekeeper are shin, (sharp, destroy), vaw (nailed, joined), tsadde (inescapable, destination, harvest), reysh (most important, chief, head). The root word for gatekeeper is shah-ar, meaning opening, heaven. The destroying, sharp nails are an inescapable journey, bringing the harvest of chief importance, and the opening to heaven.
When Solomon built the temple, one of the furnishings was a great sea of bronze (2 Chron. 4:2-5). It was a large, completely round laver, which contained thousands of gallons of water, set upon the backs of twelve cast bronze oxen. Three oxen faced looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east. This giant laver or sea might have meant other things as well, but to me it is a beautiful picture of the cleansing Word, the Holy Spirit, the Salvation of the LORD to all the nations of earth.
Psalm 107 tells us that the redeemed (by the blood) of the LORD are gathered from the four directions of the earth. These redeemed had been hungry and thirsty, in a dry spiritual wilderness, from places of darkness and the shadow of death, and those lost in the storms and waves of the sea (v. 2-5, 10, 14, 25, 29-30). If we look at the Hebrew words and meanings of the four directions, we will see a similar picture:
West (yam)- seaward, the roaring of the surf and waves.
North (tsa phown)- hidden, obscure, dark, hidden ones, secret places, to hide, conceal.
South (negeb)- wilderness, desert region, parched, drought.
East (kedem)- ancient, before time, beginning, eternal, prevent, precede, to go before.

In Isaiah, the LORD, who identifies Himself as "your Savior", prophesies:
"Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
and gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, "Give them up!"
And to the south, "Do not keep them back!"
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth-
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him."      Isa. 43:5-7
The LORD also promises that His salvation (Jesus) will be seen to the ends of the earth (Ps. 98:3, Isa. 49:6, Isa. 52:10, Acts 13:47).
Jesus described those who would be saved and redeemed by Him:
"They will come from the east, and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God."   Lk. 13:29
As Jesus' hands, head, and feet, were stretched out on the cross, His blood reached out and covered the four directions of the earth. That blood was demanding, "Give them up!" and "Do not keep them back!".

The Father keeps His promise to the four directions of the earth.

"Shout to the North"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctc3GqWaV3U

"God Will Restore the World" (Chinese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbIKFzIGII

"Mighty God"  (Soweto, Africa)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl62KqAruBo

"The Whole Earth" (Spanish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es1YWSCXPZQ

Praise, Worship (Aleut)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wltpsYWW4Q

"Resurrection Chant/Hallelujah" (Russian)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsxxJNpZtHA

"Immanuel, Immanuel"  (Arabic -Cairo, Egypt)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjEehbjbIAY

"Et Shem Yeshua"  (Hebrew, Israel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUqm_N8muT0