Sights&Sounds

Last week, the Sabbath readings took us to the beginning of the fifth Book, Deuteronomy, or D'Varim, meaning (Words) in Hebrew. "Deuteronomy" is from the Greek language, and means "a repetition (of the Law)". We will see that Moses does repeat the Law to the Israelites as they camp along the eastern side of the Jordan River before they enter into the Promised Land. However, there is something else going on in this week's reading portion titled Va'etchannan, which means "And I besought". This portion begins in Chapter 3 of Deuteronomy, where Moses begs the LORD to allow him to enter the Land with the Israelites: "Then I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, "...I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.' But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me on this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan." (Deut. 3:23-27). And the LORD told Moses that He was giving the leadership of the Israelites to Joshua, and Joshua would go over with the people. (v. 28). From our English translation, we might think that the LORD was strongly and perhaps callously denying the heartfelt request of Moses, who described himself to the LORD as His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, see Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13) servant (ebed/abad (servant, bondservant, slave, worshipper, subject, laborer, worship and obey). (Deut. 3:24). However, if we look at the Hebrew meanings of the key words here, we will see that the LORD wants Moses to speak (dabar) no more about it, because his request, as a prophet of the LORD, actually limits God's purpose. In fact, the LORD, in answer to His servant's pleadings above, commands Moses to elevate the vision of his eyes and understanding. The LORD told Moses: "Enough!", or, "Let it suffice!". Unlike the meaning of our English understanding, the word "enough/suffice" in Hebrew is rab/rabab, meaning "great, much, prince, captain, master, multitude, mighty, abounding, exceedingly, increase, great understanding, vast, arrows, archers/multiplied, manifold, ten thousands, become many, expand, spread". Then the LORD told Moses to "go up", or ala in Hebrew, meaning: come up, offering, raised, arose, light, exalted, ascend, extend the boundary, lift oneself, overcome. "The top" is: ros - top, chief, captain, sum, beginning, height of the stars, highest, supreme, prince, first and foremost. "Of "Pisgah/pasag": cleft/contemplate, consider, accurately contemplate. The LORD doesn't want Moses to limit his vision to the land, even though Moses calls the land "good" (tob - of favor, goodness, delightful, joyful, benefits, precious, rich, sweet, upright). The physical land is a foregone conclusion, because it is a promise of God. However, at the pleading of Moses, the LORD does not ignore that pleading, but He commanded Moses, the prophet of God, to see beyond that to the truly awesome, unlimited destination of the LORD's VISION. God tells Moses to "lift up your eyes" (nasa - bare up, lift up, exalt, rise up, accept, marry, magnify, forgive/obtain pardon, raise up, grow, increase, lift up soul in desire (towards God). "Eyes", or ayin in Hebrew, not only means physical eyes and sight, but the understanding, a fountain, knowledge, judgment. Moses is told to look in the four directions from Mt. Pisgah: westward, northward, southward, eastward. These directions also translate from the Hebrew as "the roar of the sea, the nations by the sea and across the sea; that which is dark, hidden, obscure, of heaven; at the right hand; rising, rise up, shine, come forth, like rays of sunlight, appear. From the meanings of these fur directions, Moses was supposed to "see" the plan of salvation, including the resurrection of the Son Who is at the Right Hand of God. The LORD told Moses not to speak small things of a limited, natural understanding, but to lift up his eyes from the greatest height, and see beyond to what God has seen and purposed. Then Moses was to take this revelation knowledge and command (sava - appoint, ordain, lay charge upon, send with, delegate), encourage (hazaq - encourage, prevail, strengthen, press urgently, make firm, make bold, hold up and support, fortify), and strengthen (ames - courage, brave, establish, increase, assure, make alert, stenghten) (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joshua (yehosua - "Jehovah is Salvation"). Joshua will bring the people into their inheritance, "which you will see (ra'a - look, behold, appear, consider, perceive, foresee)". (v. 28). This is a prophetic journey that requires the prophetic Vision of God given to His prophet, to a prophesied spiritual, as well as a physical destination. The LORD says to Moses, and to all of us, don't limit your vision, and don't speak that limited vision. Lift up your eyes and ra'a see! It is also interesting that the beginning place of this amazing encounter, Pisgah (v. 27), and the ending place of this encounter, Beth-Peor/Ba'al-Peor (see v. 29), were places from which Balaam tried to curse the Israelites for King Balak, but could not (see Num. 23:13-14, Num. 22:41). Man cannot curse what God has blessed, and the plans of God, established before the world was formed, will not be contradicted (see Rev. 13:8, 1 Pet. 1:19-20). In this Sabbath reading portion called Va'etchannan, or "And I besought", Moses repeated portions of the Law to the Israelites so that they would keep it when they entered the Promised Land in order to prosper, and keep their lives (see Deut. 4:1). However, also repeated several times within these three chapters of Deuteronomy, are specific sights and sounds that Moses never wants the Israelites to forget, because these sights and sounds make this nation of Israelites different from among all the nations of the earth: "For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself, lest you forget the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the LORD your God in Horeb (horeb/harab - desert/dry up, desolate, laid waste, kill, decay, destroyer), when the LORD said to me, 'Gather the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people to Me, and I will let them hear My (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) dabar words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children." (Deut. 4:7-10). Moses is about to repeat the sights and sounds that all of the Israelites saw and heard that they were to remember all of their lives, and teach to their children, and he will repeat the telling several times: "Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice. So He declared to you His (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant (berit/bara - covenant, alliance, pledge, friendship, banquet, marriage, cutting:passing through pieces of flesh/miracles, create, something new, shape, form, transformation, eat, food, manifest) which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments...". (Deut. 4:11-13). These were amazing and unforgettable sights and sounds, as the LORD made His presence known and His voice heard before His people in a place that can only be described as the devil's own stronghold of death, according to the meaning of Horeb (see above). Again, in another place, Moses said: "Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? Or did God ever try and go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation...according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? (Deut. 4:33-34). Moses explained the reason why God had done this thing before their eyes: "To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him." (v. 35). Again Moses repeats: "Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth, He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire." (v. 36). Moses told the Israelites that the LORD had done this because of His love for their fathers, and those fathers' descendants (v. 37). "Therefore", Moses Said, "know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above, and on the earth beneath; there is no other." (v. 39). Therefore, God's people were to keep the Words that God spoke to them, His statues and commandments to prosper and prolong their days (written "behold" (hey), yamim - days, time, continually, ever, always) in the earth (adama - earth, nations, ground) forever (kol/kalal - all the whole, everything, all, whosoever, whatsoever/made perfect, made complete) (v. 40). This is where the Hebrew words are important, because Moses is revealing what he learned when he enlarged his Vision - that the LORD is talking about eternal life and perfection for whosoever in the whole earth. This is also the Gospel, our Good News. Again, Moses will repeat to the people: "Hear, O Israel, the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) statutes and judgments... (to learn and observe)...The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb (see above)...with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire...you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain..." (Deut. 5:1-5). Moses repeated again: "These (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words (the Ten Commandments) the LORD spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more..." (Deut. 5:22). And again he repeated: "So it was when you heard the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire..." (v. 23). These awesome sights and sounds that the people witnessed were never to be forgotten, but told to their children and children's children. The Word of God, which brings life (Jn. 1:1-5), was brought forth out of the stronghold of death, and only God can do that. This is the promise and the consolation that God has given to His people. The LORD confirmed and sealed the Word that was delivered on Mt. Horeb (part of the Sinai summits) with the signs and wonders of His fire, darkness, and voice. Jesus assured His disciple that He was the resurrection and the life when she was disconsolate over the death of her family member (Jn. 11:25-26). Jesus also said that the day was here when "...all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth..." (Jn. 5:26-29). As the LORD displayed before Moses and His people His Words of life from a mountain of death, Horeb, Jesus spoke His Words of life from the mountain of death called Calvary (kranion/keras - a skull/a horn), or in Hebrew, Golgotha (golgotha/gulgolet/galal - skull/every man/roll down, remove, roll away). From that place He said: "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do", and told the criminal crucified next to Him, who had besought Him: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."{Lk. 23:32-34, 42-43). These are also sights and sounds witnessed, recorded, and to be remembered forever. Those who beseech the LORD in their desperation, as Moses did, as one of the criminals who was crucified with Christ did, will not be turned away. This Sabbath is also the Sabbath that follows the sorrowful events that occurred to God's people throughout history on the Ninth of Av, or Tisha B'Av (see previous blog post titled "Words and Vision"). Because of this, this Sabbath's reading portion is also called Nachamu, from the Hebrew word naham, which means "comfort, repent, comforter, moved to pity, compassion, to pant or groan, to lament and grieve". For this portion titled Nachamu, Isaiah 40 is read in the synagogues: "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' says your God. 'Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD double for all her sins." (Isa. 40:1). Just as Moses besought the LORD and received much more than he asked, God's people receive a double portion of comfort ("Comfort ye, Comfort..."), and not only that, but the pity and compassion of that double portion of comfort from the LORD leads to repentance from which God overcomes sin. Now this double portion of compassion is directed towards Jerusalem. However, the Vision of the LORD in this chapter of Isaiah encompasses the whole earth, as God is described as "...He who sits above the circle of the earth..." (v. 22). While some believed, and maps of old epicted, that the earth was flat well into the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods, the Greek, Eratosthenes, had calculated the circumference of a spherical earth in 240 BC. However, Isaiah had seen the Vision of God, and recorded the Vision with earth as a circle long before that, in around 750 BC. The Vision was written to bring to the remembrance of God's people how BIG God is, and the limitlessness of His power. In this same chapter of the double portion of comfort for His people in circumstances of desolation, God gave Isaiah another prophecy connected to the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD...The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (v. 3-5). This is the prophetic promise, as part of a double portion of comfort, of the ministry of John the Baptist that would arrive many hundreds of years later as recorded in all four Gospels (Mt. 3:1-3, Mk. 1:4, Lk. 3:2-6, Jn. 1:19-23). He would be the prophet who called God's people to prepare with repentance of nachamu, and identified Jesus as the promised Messiah, saying, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn. 1:29). He was the prophet who came out of the LORD's provision of the double portion of comfort for His people. The miraculous, unlimited, and all-powerful comfort and consolation of God to Moses, to His people, Israel, to the whole world, extends far beyond what we think: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (of Christ) that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:20-21). With these inspired words, it sounds like Paul was preaching from the revelation of this week's Sabbath portion, doesn't it? Finally, of all the sights and sounds that the Israelites, that most special nation in the earth, were reminded of during this Sabbath reading portion of Va'etchannan, "And I besought", and Nachamu, "Comfort", was this sound: "HEAR, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:4-5). If you would like to learn more about the comfort and consolation of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You answered Moses when he besought You with a Vision of consolation that far surpassed his sorrow. You allowed Moses to receive the Vision of Your salvation, resurrection, and eternal life by the One, Your Son, Who sits at Your right hand. I want to remember always the sights and sounds when You revealed Your Son and Yourself to me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I will always remember that moment and tell it to my children, and their children, amd so that I will always walk in the highest Vision of the double portion of the Comfort of the Almighty. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

WordCovenant

In last week's entry titled "Words/Vision", we saw how the cultic practices of the Canaanites, who would be dispossessed from the Promised Land by the Israelites, used idols and false gods in their grasping of wealth and security. This Sabbath's reading titled Va-etchannan, or "And I besought (the LORD)", is from Deuteronomy Chapters 3 through 6. In this reading portion, Moses told the Israelites that their lives, their sustenance and much more was available to God's people by knowing and loving Him and observing His Word. God Himself delivered His Word to them in an awesome appearance on Mt. Sinai in the wilderness. This giving of His Word to His people formed a covenant unlike any covenant that had been known to their fathers before them. Moses said: "The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb (location of Mt. Sinai). The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire." (Deut. 5:2-4). As Moses reminded the Israelites in these few verses of the circumstances involved in the giving of the Word-covenant by God to His people, the awesome power of this Word-covenant is revealed in the Hebrew words and meanings used here. First of all, the Word-covenant was delivered to them in Horeb. Horeb means "desert, dried up, kill, destroyer, waste, slay, decayed, absence of water, to fight". This Word-covenant was given right in the middle of a place of death, that is unable to sustain life, which was the territory of the destroyer. It was given to those who are "alive", or hay/haya/hava in Hebrew, meaning "live, life, creature, living thing, sustenance, maintenance, flowing fresh water, revival, renewal/save, revive, recover, live, live forever, sustain life, live prosperously, be restored to life or health, to revive from death, faintness, or discouragement, to preserve alive, nourish, be whole/declare, make known, to breathe". God's Word-covenant speaks life, including eternal life, even in the habitation of the destroyer and death. God delivered this covenant to His people face to face, in the midst of fire (es - supernatural fire accompanying the visible manifestation of God to humankind; altar fire). Perhaps God delivered this Word-covenant, which was unlike any other previous covenant, in such an earthshaking display of never-to-be-forgotten power and personal presence because, at a later time, His Word would become flesh and dwell among us, full of grace and truth in the form of His only begotten Son, Jesus, our Savior and Messiah (Jn. 1:14). Jesus also said to those questioning Him: "You search the scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (Jn. 5:39). The Canaanite idols, and the world's current idols of wealth, military and political security and power, and dependence upon men's knowledge and understanding are laughable when contrasted with the kind of power imbedded in God's Word-covenant, which He delivered face to face with His people from the midst of fire. Moses told the Israelites to know and observe God's commands and statutes "that you may live" (see also Jn. 6:63, Ps. 119:25), and "take possession of the land" (Deut. 4:1). He also said: "...be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes", and as a result determine that Israel is a great nation not only because of that wisdom and understanding, but because God is so near to it. (Deut. 4:6-7). Do we have this same Word-covenant with God that causes others to see wisdom and understanding in us? to see the nearness of God to us? There were other benefits from this Word-covenant with God. Moses said that the observance of this Word-covenant would prolong their days (see also Prov. 3:1-2), and they would be multiplied greatly (Deut. 6:2-3). They would dwell in large and beautiful cities that they had not built (see also Heb. 11:10). In addition, the observers of the Word-covenant would have "houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant..."> (Deut. 6:11). These are blessings not achieved by human effort, but out of the bountifulness of God's Word-covenant with His people. However, His people, as they were filled and prospered, were not to forget the LORD Who delivered them out of Egypt, and out of bondage (v. 12). In prosperity and fullness, it is easy to fall into the trap of forgetting Who has given us everything that we have (see Rev. 3:14-19). In these chapters from Deuteronomy, Moses restated the Ten Commandments (Deut. 5:6-21). These same Ten Commandments are being removed from public display in our nation because of the fear of some people's complaints. It seems, based upon what we have read above, that it would be far better to offend people with the truth, than to offend the LORD God Who appears to us face to face from the midst of fire. Moses (and Jesus) also told the congregation this: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart." (Deut. 6:4-6, Mt. 22:37-38). It is not enough to read the Words, or even to speak the Words, but they must become part of our hearts in order for us to observe them, and for them to produce life in us. The Word-covenant was also to be worn as a sign (ot - appearing, mark, banner, warning, evidence, proof, miracles, both past and future, consent or agreement) on the forehead, the hand, the doorposts of their houses, and on their gates of entrance. (Deut. 6:8-9). We are to be so joined to the Word-covenant with bindings, that we are identified by it. With concern and caring for the salvation and welfare of the children and the grandchildren of His people, the LORD commanded that the young ones also be taught the Word of God diligently in every daily situation (Deut. 4:9-10, 6:7). As we found out above, the Word-covenant was given by God to His people in the middle of the place of the destroyer, desolation and death. We will see this again in another section from this week's Sabbath reading. The reading is from Isaiah 40, which is always read on the Sabbath called Nachamu, or "Comfort", which follows Tisha B'Av. Tisha B'Av, meaning the ninth day of the month of Av, commemorates the destruction of the two Jewish temples, which occurred on the same date but hundreds of years apart, as well as other devastating events in history for the Jews. Tisha B'Av is remembered with a day of mourning and repentance, but also with hope in the redemption of God. Out of the place of desolation, once again God delivers His Word of life, revival, and healing. In this Nachamu reading portion, the LORD has just delivered a prophecy to King Hezekiah of Judah through His prophet Isaiah. The LORD prophesied that the king's accumulated wealth, and his sons, (as well as the people of Judah) would be carried away into captivity to Babylon, leaving nothing left (Isa. 39:5-7). However, the LORD also prophesied a Word of reviving consolation: "Comfort (naham), yes, comfort (naham) My people!' says your God. Speak (dabar) comfort (leb) to Jerusalem and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned." (Isa. 40:1-2). The first two appearances of the Word "comfort", or naham, in verse 1, according to the Hebrew meaning, refers to the comfort, pity, Comforter, consolation and compassion that God pours out on His people as they sincerely regret and repent of their iniquities before Him. The second use of the Word "comfort", or the Hebrew word leb, used in verse 2, is a different word and has a completely different meaning from the first mentions of "comfort". As the LORD says: "Speak comfort...", it means to promise, declare, speak, sing, command to the understanding, emotions or desires, and the inclination or will of Jerusalem - in other words, to speak directly into to the soul(s) of Jerusalem from the soul of God. The LORD then prophesies the Words that will be repeated at the appearance of John the Baptist, the prophet who would come to identify the Messiah, the Christ, to the people many centuries later: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD...The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (v. 3-5, see also Jn. 1:23, Mk. 1:2-5). Then the LORD says to the cities of Judah: "Behold your God!...Behold, His reward is with Him...He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." (v.9-11. excerpt, see also Jn. 10:11-18, Rev. 22:12-13). Isaiah 40 is full of consolation and encouragement, reminding His people that all creation is small compared to His greatness. Isaiah 40 ends with this Word-covenant promise: "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (v. 29, 31). Even in the place of desolation, the Word-covenant of God, His Living Word, Jesus, speaks life, renewal, healing and restoration for those who are partakers of that covenant with Him. If you would like to learn about the Word-covenant of life even in the place of desolation and destruction, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You delivered Your Word-covenant with awesome signs and wonders, face to face with Your people. You filled Your Word-covenant with life, even eternal life, revival, fresh water, and healing for us. You speak consolation and salvation into our souls when we are in a place of mourning and repentance before You. You sent Your Son, Jesus, as the Word Who became flesh, so we could all see His glory, grace, and truth. Fill me with Your Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to revive me, so that I can know and observe Your Word-covenant of life. I pray for this same revival for my nation. I ask these things in Jesus' name, AMEN."

Changes

People who don't know God well, don't think that He is associated with rapid and revolutionary change, but they would be wrong. The Sabbath readings for this week represent a season of profound spiritual changes, as well as changes in natural circumstances. The Torah readings from Deuteronomy Chapters 3-6 begin with the announcement of a pending change of leadership for the children of Israel from the era of Moses, whose name means "to draw out, to pull out", as Moses was drawn out of the Nile River as an infant, and as he drew out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt and slavery. The new leader appointed by the LORD was to be Joshua, whose name means "Jehovah is salvation/opulence". Joshua would lead the children of Israel into the new land. The title of this week's Sabbath reading, in which we see drastic changes, is Va-etchannan (Nachumu). Va-etchannan means "and I besought". In Deut. 3:23-26, Moses besought God to allow him to cross over with the people to see the good land beyond the Jordan River. God not only refused His servant Moses, but said, "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter." (v. 26). Moses had disobeyed God earlier, striking the rock for water, when God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock, and at that time God informed Moses that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:7-12, Num. 27:12-14). Not only did Moses disobey God's command, but he did not discern Christ as the Rock which followed the camp of Israel in the wilderness, from Whom sprang their living water (1 Cor. 10:4). The LORD also knew that it would require a new leader to lead His people into their new land, and new identity as a nation, rather than as a camp of tribes. No doubt the thought of a change in leadership, no matter how necessary in God's eyes as He provided for the future of His people, caused distress and sadness. The children of Israel were baptized into the baptism of Moses as they went through the Red Sea (1 Cor. 10:1-2), but now they were to be baptized in a new baptism initiated by a new leader as they were about to enter and cross the Jordan (meaning "descender, flowing down, to come down (pertaining to revelation), abundantly) River into the Promised Land. We also received a change in baptisms as we became part of the Church of Believers, from the baptism of repentance, to the new baptism of Christ and the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 11:15-16, 19:4-6). Another change experienced by the children of Israel, as Moses reminded them in Deut. 5:2-4, was a new covenant not previously known by their fathers: "The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire." The people of God walked in a new understanding and covenant relationship with the LORD as they received His Word, the Torah. Moses also revealed to the people a new understanding of the Person of God in this week's Sabbath reading. He brought forth what is called the Shemah, which revealed the mystery that the LORD was a plural unit: "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (echad- together unitedly, to unify, to join oneself together)!" (Deut. 6:4). We know this unity of God as the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Moses also revealed a change in the understanding that the children of Israel had about their relationship with God. Their, and our, service and obedience to Him, and their personal relationshp with Him, were to be based not upon religion and compulsion, but upon total love (Deut. 6:5). That was a revolutionary thought for the time. God's people were to wear these words on their foreheads and hands, and placed on their houses as a sign (v. 8-9). This "sign" declared the undivided plurality of God, and the love-based relationship we are to have with Him. Another of the changes contained in this week's reading is the timing of the reading. This specific date on the Hebrew calendar signals an acknowledgment of a change. This Sabbath's reading is on the Sabbath following what is considered as the saddest, most mournful day of the Jewish calendar, Tisha B'Av, the ninth of Av, which is observed with sorrow and repentance, along with the hope of receiving a vision (chazon) from God concerning the building of a third temple, and the reign of Messiah (for more information, see the previous blog post). The ninth of Av is the date on which many calamities befell the Jewish people, including the destruction of their two temples. However, the title of this Sabbath's reading is also Nachumu, which means "comfort". This day of comfort and change promised to God's people falls on Tu B'Av, or the 15th of Av. The 15th of Av is considered the happiest day on the Jewish calendar. This year, Tu B'Av falls on July 23-24. It may surprise us to find out that Tu B'Av is considered in Israel to be the most important day of the year next to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. So between two Sabbaths, we experience a complete change in the course of six days of going from the saddest state of repentance on Tisha B'Av, to the greatest joy on Tu B'Av. What accounts for this rapid change? This great day of joy of the 15th of Av is connected to marriage, and many marriages in Israel occur on this date. In years past, the unmarried women in Israel would dress in white and go dance in the vineyards. Unmarried men would go to the vineyards, and hopefully meet the young women who would become their brides! Although this date isn't specifically mentioned in scripture, its foundation in truth is beautifully expressed. The Song of Songs seems to refer to it as it reveals the connection of the vineyard to marriage: "Come, my beloved,...Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has budded, whether the grape blossoms are open, and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved." (Song of Songs 7:11-13). No one can say that the LORD isn't a romantic! And, of course, we can't help but connect this lovely image of Tu B'Av with the prophesied marriage of the Messiah, Jesus, with His Bride, those who believe and follow Him. That also will be a time of great rejoicing in heaven (Rev. 19:6-9). Tu B'Av also reminds us of the marriage relationship that God has with Israel (Isa. 54:5-6, Hosea 2:14-16). The Sabbath reading for Tu B'Av titled Nachumu, or "comfort", is from Isaiah 40. It reflects the great spiritual change in the six days from Tisha B'Av to Tu B'Av. Isaiah wrote: "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God. 'Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD's hand double (comfort spoken two times) for all her sins...[note: v. 3-4 not included here is the prophecy of the ministry of John the Baptist, who revealed the Messiah to Israel. See also Lk. 3:2-6]...The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken...He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." (v. 1-5, 11). Sins are pardoned, warfare is ended, and the Lord acts as a Shepherd to His people. All of these qualities are also incorporated in the Person of Jesus. Isaiah 61, the first part of which Jesus read in the synagogue, also brings the prophecy of a complete change from sadness and mourning to comfort, as we find mirrored in Tisha B'Av and Tu B'Av: "...to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isa. 61:2-3). The result of these changes that Isaiah prophesied, is the rebuilding and restoration of waste places, desolations, and ruins (v. 4). The prophet Hosea connects all four themes we have discussed, changes, marriage, comfort (Nachumu), and even the vineyard, as the LORD says: "I will give her (speaking of Israel) vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor (meaning "trouble, disturbance, calamity") as a door of hope; she shall sing there...And it shall be in that day, says the LORD, that you will call Me 'My Husband', and no longer call Me 'My Master' (referring to Israel's worship of the idol, Ba'al)." (Hos. 2:15-16). The apostle Paul revealed in the New Testament the source of comfort, like that found in the Sabbath title Nachumu: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain (see Moses' comment above from Deut. 5) until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4:14-18). The promise of resurrection through the Person and First Fruits of resurrection, Jesus, is the highest comfort found in the concept of Tu B'Av. Paul also wrote: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us...because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Rom. 8:18-21). The Tisha B'Av to Tu B'Av changes affects all creation. The worsening troubles and turmoil of this present time that the whole earth is experiencing will bring forth the return of Christ and the creation of the new heavens and the new earth. These are times of great changes. Some of those changes have caused us to mourn for the losses. However, those losses usher in the comfort of God, with all its hope and joy. The beautiful and hopeful Messianic promises of change and comfort found in Tu B'Av enriches the understanding and faith of the believer in Christ. If you would like to know the comfort of the Lord, which He has provided for His people, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for me, and rose again from the dead, so I could have everlasting life. This is the comfort of God provided for me in the body of His Son. In an instant, as I receive you as my Lord, You change my natural and spiritual circumstances. You deliver me from mourning, sorrow and loss, to hope, joy, and salvation. I am joined to you as a Bride is joined to the Bridegroom on Tu B'Av. Baptize and fill me in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Three in One. I give thanks in Your name. Amen."