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."

Cause/Effect

In the two previous posts, we have looked at some interesting scriptures regarding the last days and the nations of the earth. We have seen the importance of the role of Jerusalem among the nations, even in the comprehensive meaning of the name of the city of which the Hebrew means, "teaching of peace". We read why the command in the Psalm 122 to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem", means so much more than that short phrase encompasses, not only in regards to the destinies of the nations, but for our individual destinies found in the phrase, "for the sake of my brethren and companions".
In this entry, I would like to look at how our individual walks as believers and followers of Christ directly effects the nations of the earth:

"I will greatly rejoice ("suws suws" , a word repeated here in Hebrew reflecting the intensity of meaning as "to be bright, exult, display joy, to leap of spring with joy) in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful ("giyl"-go in a circle, dance, leap for joy) in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments ("beged"- cloth, covering, vesture, precious garment, with which anything is "wrapped up"*) of salvation ("yesha"- deliverance, salvation, rescue, safety, prosperity, victory, liberty. Root: avenging, defend, ample, broad, opulent, to set free),
He has covered me with the robe ("m'iyl"- mantle, cloak, outer robe, garment of the high priest) of righteousness ("tsedaqah"- justice, righteous acts. Root: cleansed, to justify, to vindicate, to clear self),
As a bridegroom ("chathan"- bridegroom, husband, circumcised child as a species of religious espousal as in "bridegroom of blood" as a sign of covenant relationship. Root: to cut off, to circumcise) decks ("kahan"- priest's office, to mediate in religious services, prophet, put on regalia, rich, opulent) himself with ornaments ("pe'er"- fancy headdress, beauty, bonnet, tiara, turban. Root: glorify, beautify, to gleam, white glowing heat),
And as a bride ("kallah"- bride, betrothed, crowned with a chaplet meaning a garland or wreath for the head or a number of beads strung together signifying prayers. Root: to complete, to perfect, to put a crown upon) adorns herself with her jewels ("kelly"- vessel, instrument, weapon, armor, armor-bearer, utensil, implement (of hunting, war, music, labor), yoke of an oxen, artillery, vessel for the temple. Root: to end, to finish, be completed, be fulfilled, vanish, wholly reap).
For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth ("tsamakh"- to sprout, to grow abundantly or thickly, to cause to sprout, to shine, shining forth, to cause deliverance (righteousness) before all nations."   Isa. 61:10-11

As usual, the wonderful prophet Isaiah gives us a prophetic look into things that most others were seldom shown. This is an individual and personal revelation of Isaiah using the words "I, my, me". The salvation work produced in the individual living in the earth has an inevitable witness or impact upon the nations of the earth, in the same way that the purpose and achievement of a garden is to bring forth buds. The manifested effect must follow the cause.
Jesus pointed us to this chapter of Isaiah when He preached the first verses of this chapter in the synagogue, and announced that He was the fulfillment of those verses (Lk. 4:18-21). We are a fruit of that fulfillment in a special way.
As we look at the meanings of the Hebrew words used in the verses from Isaiah, above, we can learn many things that perhaps the English meaning wouldn't show us. We can learn what the believer looks like in the Spirit, and the effect the properly clothed believer has in the earth.
First of all, Isaiah reveals that the joy found in the person who receives salvation is so great that it cannot be contained in a calm body, but the body must explode with it in jumping, dancing, or movement of some kind. When is the last time we felt or exhibited this kind of all-consuming joy? Most of our thoughts, emotions, actions and reactions unfortunately are responses to earthly circumstances and conditions, and not around the joy of the salvation glory with which we have been filled. This joy of the LORD is our spiritual and physical strength (Neh. 8:10, Ps. 21:1) and it is of eternity, yet we quickly forget it in our changing circumstances, which are temporal. Just when we need strength the most, we seek it in other ways, but it is found in the joy. Even in daily struggles and challenges, we are so much more spiritually effective if we keep and activate that joy, knowing that God turns for good, even what the enemy meant for evil (Gen. 50:20, Rom. 8:26-28). It is in the worst of circumstances that we especially need that strength of joy for ourselves and others. Maintaining this kind of joy is a big challenge for me, but Isaiah's words teach me its importance and encourage me to keep it in mind.
The salvation and righteousness with which we have been clothed, have a rich and extensive meaning in these verses from Isaiah. Isaiah is speaking here of spiritual clothing, but that spiritual clothing can still be discerned by others. The spiritual outerwear reflects the inner condition, the working of God's salvation and righteousness within us, making it readily apparent. Scripture tells us that the wife of the Lamb is clothed in clean, bright, fine linen garments that reflect "the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev. 19:7-8).
We are familiar with the imagery of the Bridegroom and Bride as it refers to Christ and His believers or "ekklesia" church, but the image of the bridegroom here in these verses very much centers around circumcision, and the covenant it represents, and the sacrifice with which it is sealed. Paul taught that circumcision was not an outward act, but an inward condition of the heart (Rom. 2:28-29). This is where covenant with God is made and kept. Have we allowed our hearts to be circumcised in this manner? Do our lives reflect the sacrifice surrounding our covenant with our Lord and Savior? The receiving of salvation is free to us, though it was not free for Jesus to make that provision for us, but the working of it in us is accompanied by this kind of spiritual circumcision in order for it to have an effect on others.
According to the Hebrew words used in the verses from Isaiah, the bridegroom's garments express his priestly office, and his prophetic calling. Do we intercede and mediate for others, or are our "religious" duties mostly concerned with benefit to ourselves? Do we believe in the prophetic promise contained in every word of God, therefore speaking it and praying it? These are the garments we must wear to be effective in the earth, as well as in the Spirit.
In the above verses, the jewels with which the bride adorns herself are not earthly precious stones, which man would find impressive, but it refers to weaponry, tools and implements that produce a work (effect) of some kind, even a creative work. According to the meaning of the word used, the bride is adorned with temple vessels that contain sanctified elements of worship and sacrifice. Do we love the glory of jewels of honor and wealth, but fail to value the true glory of the jewels of effective, creative works produced by faith, saving many, rather than religious works of the law which are dead (James 2:14-20, Heb. 6:1)? Are we wearing temple vessels representing cleansing and sanctification? In these verses according to the Hebrew, the bride's crown, which is made of a living garland that the she wears around her head, also contains beads representing her prayers. The prayers of the righteous are effective and avail much, even saving the sick (James 5:15-16).
Isaiah wrote that the coverings put upon us by God represent the spiritual work of salvation in us that have an impact on nations and peoples even as gardens bring forth the fruit of what has been sown in them. Are we wearing the garments that have been provided for us by God, garments that impact and effect, or have we woven and worn our own idea of what the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness should look like: whitewashed and impressive to others on the outside, but inside filled with corruption (Mt. 23:26-28)?
At His death, Christ was "wrapped up"* in a garment that not only carried His image, and reflected His death and resurrection, but the garment carried the signs of His suffering on behalf of many others (Isa. 53:11). This is indeed the nature of our garment of salvation, and our robe of righteousness, but will we wear them? If we will wear them, then the nations of the earth will see, and we will be a witness and an instrument in God's desired effect upon the nations through us.

Our Father desires to cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations.

Joy!

 

"Without having seen Him, you love Him;
though you do not (even) now see Him,
you believe in Him and exult and thrill
with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy."
                                     1 Peter 1:8 (AMP Version)

If we look in the scriptures at the verses relating to joy, there are so many, it would be impossible to cover even half of them here. In the verse above, the joy of God makes us shine gloriously. It is so overwhelming, that we cannot even express what we are feeling. There are no words to describe it.

Jesus spoke about giving us His joy:
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."     Jn. 15:11     
and, Jesus praying to His Father in heaven says,
"But now I come to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves."      Jn. 17:13

In the above, Jesus made the point that He was speaking of His joy, even while He was yet in the world. He wasn't speaking of a joy that could only be attained when we are in heaven. And the joy He was describing was a supernatural joy that is specifically found in Him. It is the joy of the Father.
Psalm 43:4 says:
"Then I go to the altar of God,
to God, my exceeding joy;
And on the harp I will praise You,
O God, my God."
Psalm 16:11 says:
"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
The "fullness" spoken of in the above verse means to be filled to satiation, as with food or drink, to the point where you can contain no more.

Psalm 105:42-43 tells us that as the Father brought His people out of slavery in Egypt, He joy and gladness, the word gladness meaning "with a joyful shout". Our Father shouted with joy! When was that last time you were so full of joy that it came bursting out of you with a shout that you couldn't hold back? This is the kind of joy that our Father lives in and wants us to have.
Our Father wants our joy to be so full, that when we walk in the earth, this joy transforms creation:
"For you shall go out with joy,
and be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier
shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the LORD for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." 
                                   Isa. 55:12-13

In the above verses, the supernatural joy of our salvation impacts all creation, and transforms the curse (thorns and briars), into a blessing (cypress and myrtle trees). This joy establishes the Name of God in the earth.
Our Father commands us to be glad and rejoice forever in what He creates. Joy is listed as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Gal. 5:22. If we have received Him, then not only should we be living in joy ourselves, but we should be feeding that joy to all whom we meet in life. If we truly feel gratitude to our Savior and our Creator, than that gratitude certainly expresses itself in joy. Have we lost that feeling of joy? Then let us stir up the gratitude that we once knew and felt so well.
Jesus talks about the person who resembles stony places in Mat. 13:20-21. This person received the word of salvation with great joy, but because of trials and disappointments, he has become offended by the word, and by God. Have we allowed hardships and disappointments to make us stony places devoid of joy? This is not the will of the Father for us.
Man has a hunger for the joy of God. So many look in diverse places trying to find the feeling of joy for which their souls hunger. They end up substituting temporary things to try to attain that feeling, but those things pass away, because they are not the everlasting joy for which our souls long. So many are suffering to find just a few moments of a temporary joy, that is not joy at all.
We who are the called of God, walking in His joy, bring the "good news" to all creation. In that joy, our lives exhibit for all to see that joy can be found in the wells of salvation.
This is Apostle Paul's prayer for us in Romans 15:13:

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit..."

Our Father is joy!

"Joy to the World" (Flash Mob)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9865b-K9s2w

"Center of My Joy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=265uVZ39Z1E

"Trees of the Field"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjL27TlSwYU