Transition

The Sabbath reading portion for this week is titled, Shoftim, which means "Judges". This Sabbath portion is from Deuteronomy Chapters 16-20. The earlier mention of judges is from Deut. 16: "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you." (v. 18-20). The judges executed justice in a partnership with the Levites (Deut. 17:8-9, 12, Deut. 19:16-19). The judgments of the judges and Levites was to be carried out, so God expected complete rectitude in the judge and in the proceedings. Later, in the Book of Judges, the LORD appointed special judges to deliver His people from the hands of their enemies, who oppressed His people. Their enemies had been able to rule over them for a time, because of the sin and idolatry of God's people, but then the time of their deliverance was ordained. Coming back to this week's Sabbath reading, according to the verses above, the justice of the judges and Levites was decided and carried out in the gate of each city. The term "gate" is the Hebrew word sa'ar, which means "gate, city, door, entrance, port". The root word means "to split open, to cleave, to open in fissures, to dismiss, to set free, to set a price, to calculate". The gate is an opening, a place of transition from one thing into another. This is also true in spiritual terms. The word gate also refers to the different doors of the temple, where the priest transitions from the outer part of the temple, into the inner part. I found from this Sabbath reading that God has spiritual points of transition, or gates: moving from the end of one thing to the beginning of something else. The people of God need to be aware of these points of transition, especially in regard to the events of today, which we will discuss later. As we also look at the haftarah portion of this week's Sabbath reading, Isaiah 51 and 52, we see another example of a spiritual point of transition. In these chapters from Isaiah, the LORD is speaking to His people, Zion, who have been experiencing terrible troubles. The LORD is revealing to them that they have come to a place of transition. He asks His people: "Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die...you forget the LORD your Maker...You have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor when he has prepared to destroy...But I am the LORD your God...the LORD of hosts is His name. And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, that I may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, "You are My people." (Isa. 51:12-16). In these verses, the LORD has revealed something very important to Zion. The reason that the LORD put His word in our mouths (His Word is Jesus), and the reason that He covered us in the shadow of His hand was so that He could establish the heavens, lay the foundation of the earth, and declare Zion as His people. That is a very deep statement of revelation that the LORD delivered to us in that verse. From there the LORD said, "Awake, awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, and drained it out...These two things have come to you; who will be sorry for you? - Desolation and destruction, famine and sword - By whom will I comfort you? Your sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets...They are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of your God." (v. 17-20). Conditions were very bad here. The fury of God took the form of destruction among the people of God, but then the point of transition is given: "...please hear this you afflicted...Thus says your LORD, the LORD your God, Who pleads the cause of His people: See, I have taken out of your hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of My fury; you shall no longer drink it. But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you." (v. 21-23). The LORD has prophetically declared a point of transition to His people. To Zion, the LORD says: "Awake, Awake! Put on your strength...Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city...Shake yourself from the dust, arise...Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck...You have sold yourselves for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money...Your watchmen shall lift up their voices...for they shall see eye to eye when the LORD brings back Zion...The LORD has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD. For the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard." (Isa. 52:1-12). What is going forth at the point of this miraculous transition? The bringing of the good news, the glad tidings of good things, the proclaiming of salvation, the proclaiming to Zion that their God reigns (v. 7). This chapter and the next chapter, Isaiah 53, tell us exactly how these good tidings were created - the Servant who will suffer and die, not for His own sins, but for the sins of us all. The spiritual point of transition for Zion that occurs is achieved by His Word of salvation in our mouths as we proclaim the good news. Notice also that, as part of this point of spiritual transition, God calls His people to "Depart", and "Go out from there", and "Touch not the unclean thing". Like the judges who sit in the gates in Deuteronomy, we are to be upright, beyond the influence of corruption. We cannot declare the spiritual point of transition while we ourselves are ruled and influenced by our sins. Like the judges and Levites who sit in the gate in Deuteronomy, those who proclaim salvation establish and execute the Word of justice. The watchmen, those who are positioned to see ahead, are commanded to prophetically rejoice (Isa. 52:8-9). The people of God, even while they are fainting in the streets, are told to rise up, awake, shake off the dust, and put on their beautiful prophetic garments. I believe that we are at such a point of transition now. This type of spiritual point of transition can also be found in the New Testament. In teaching the signs of the end times before His return, Jesus said that when we see the terrible signs of the end of the age begin to happen, "look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (Lk. 21:28). The Son of Man is seen coming with power in clouds of great glory (v. 27). Others may be looking at the destruction and horror all around, but the believers in Christ are to be ushering in a point of transition when they begin to see the things prophesied, which we are seeing now. We are to be looking up, looking to His triumphant coming. The apostle Peter told us that our focus was not upon the old heavens and the old earth, which were to be dissolved in fire, but our whole manner was to based on something else: "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:10-14). Peter wrote that not only do we who sit in the gates hasten this transition by doing this (v. 12), but looking forward in this point of transition is to inspire diligence in us, looking to be found by Christ to be without spot or wrinkle (v. 14). The dissolving of old things does not inspire this change in us, but our "looking for", or anticipation of, this awesome point of transition does call us and inspire us to this necessary spiritual change. Considering today's current events, which include fires, floods, wars, and pestilence, we can declare to the people of God a point of transition to something greater than has ever been seen before. From our position "in the gates", we must declare it like the righteous judges. Even the Hebrew calendar is declaring a spiritual point of transition. We are currently in the month of Elul, the sixth month on the Hebrew calendar, a month for repentance in preparation for the transition to the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, Tishri, which will also begin the new calendar year of 5782. Not only will the new month of Tishri begin on the Feast of Trumpets, but this year, the Feast of Trumpets will signal the beginning of the Shemitah year of the LORD on September 6-7, 2021, for the forgiveness of all debts (see previous post for more information on the Shemitah). This whole next year will be a special Sabbath year. The people of God can recognize the spiritual point of transition, even in the midst of what will be increasing tribulation in the earth according to the scriptures. I know the days are dark. I know the times are dangerous, but this Sabbath's reading portion, Shoftim, in addition to the message found in the Hebrew calendar proclaiming an ending of an old calendar year, and a beginning of a new month, a new calendar year, a Sabbath year (Shemitah), as well as the approaching fall Feasts of the LORD, all proclaim to me a transition point of the LORD for His people. Are we proclaiming and establishing it in the gates? If you would like to understand and be a part of this spiritual point of transition, you can pray: "Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins, to cover me in His righteousness. You raised Him from the dead, so death would have no hold over me. I repent and depart from the way of sin, and return to You. You have placed the good news of salvation in my mouth, so that Jesus may triumphantly return, and so that the new heavens and the new earth may be hastened and established. Lord Jesus, fill me with the Holy Spirit, so that I can proclaim to Zion, "Your God reigns." I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

MyPeople

As Jesus revealed who His true disciples were, He gave us a very serious insight. He said, "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord", shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Mt. 7:21-23, see also 2 Thess. 2:7-10). If these ministry works mentioned by Jesus do not identify us as being ones who are doing the Father's will, then what does?! Hopefully, this question will be answered as we continue our study. It doesn't matter how we have ministered to others in Jesus' name, if we have not been obedient to the will of the Father in our own lives. In Mt. 7 we also see warnings about judging others without examining ourselves first, and seeking repentance and deliverance for "the plank" in our own eye (v.1-5). This is a very serious situation among us today. We seek the wonders, but not the repentance and change. Jesus brought the good news also in this passage telling us, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (v. 7-8). There are good gifts waiting to be given to us, if we will seek Him first(v. 11). The life found in Christ is not a "do whatever you want to do" kind of life. It is a life that requires God's people to get the planks out of our own eyes through repentance, and to seek Him continually. However, we are assured that if we will do that, great fruit will come of it (v. 16-18). Jesus also promised, "...how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (v. 11). We go from a serious warning, to the heights of all good things in this passage. What is the Father's will for His people in regard to these things? We will see an important truth for this time given to us from this week's Sabbath reading titled Mattot-Mass'ei translated, "the journeys of the tribes". This Sabbath is the last Sabbath before the beginning of the month of Av (meaning "Father" and "Consoler") the fifth month on the Hebrew calendar. The beginning of the new month of Av is called in Hebrew Rosh Chodesh Av. Within this new month, the sin of the ten spies, who brought back a discouraging report to the congregation of Israel, and the destruction of the two temples of God in history as a result of the sin of God's people, are remembered this month. The destruction of both temples occurred many hundreds of years apart but on the same date, the 9th of Av. Therefore, the first nine days of Av are spent in mourning, fasting, and repentance. Following that date, however, the 15th of Av represents a completely different occurrence. From the 10th of Av forward, joyful celebration begins for that coming 15th day of Av. The 15th day of Av is a marriage holiday, celebrating the finding of one's predestined soul mate. It is one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar. We who believe and wait on the return of Christ, to be joined to Him in the marriage supper of the Lamb, can relate to the prayer said during this month: "May we soon merit the coming Moshiach (Messiah/Christ), and the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash (House of God), so that the times we yearn for will become a reality, especially in our time. Amen." This is very much like the prayer of the Spirit and the Bride in the Book of Revelation regarding the return of Jesus: "Come!" (Rev. 22:17), and "Even so, come Lord Jesus!" (v. 20). To me, the verses from Mt. 7, the Sabbath lesson of this week, and the revelation concerning the month of Av, all have an important message for these end times before the return of Christ. Let's look at Isaiah 66, which is a designated reading from the haftarah for this special Sabbath. In this chapter, God clearly states His will regarding His people, and the incredible fruits that result from the doing of His will. The LORD begins this section of Isaiah by asking "Where is the house that you will build Me?" He makes it clear that His people have made the sacrifices and offerings of His house meaningless as they follow their own ways, having indulged in sin and idolatry. The LORD will send delusions upon His people, because of it (see also 2 Thess. 2:11-12). Not only did they not do the Father's will, but they did not seek Him, or hear Him: "Because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight." (Isa. 66:4). The LORD's house, His Beit HaMikdash, is destroyed by the sin of His own people, as remembered on the 9th of Av. However, the LORD is looking for certain ones among those who call themselves His people, who understand His will: "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor (ani- humble, lowly, needy) and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles (hared- is fearful, reverential) at My word." (v. 2, see also Ps. 51:16-17 and Ps. 34:18-19). As in Mt. 7, we start out in Isa. 66 with a people who claim to be God's people, even doing the work of ministry in the offerings and sacrifices, but serving lawlessness instead because they are not doing the Father's will. Isaiah tells us that the Father's will is a repentant heart in the humble, contrite person. As Jesus warned, we are looking to pull specks out of others' eyes, and seeking to do signs, wonders, and miracles in His name, while He is looking for our humble, repentant heart before Him. In Isa. 66, the LORD speaks directly to those who do humbly tremble before Him. He tells them that there is a sound and a voice going forth from His city, and His temple. Zion is giving birth! Not only is Zion giving birth, but Israel as a nation is rebirthed also. Rejoice and be glad "That you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation (Av) of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." (v. 11). Because of this humble trembling before God of the repentant ones, the Gentiles will flow glory like a stream for the comfort of God's people (v. 12). The judgment of the LORD is poured out upon all flesh until all nations come and see the glory of the LORD (v. 16, 18). There is yet another great fruit that will come forth from the humble and contrite heart: "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me", says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one new moon (Rosh Chodesh) to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me." (v. 22-23). All of this poured forth from the Father's will because of the repentance of even one. In this chapter of Isaiah, we see the destruction caused to the LORD's house by His unrepentant people, also represented in the first nine days of Av, but then we see a shift in the spiritual winds, as God looks for and finds among those who call themselves His people, even one, who comes humbly, contrite and trembling before Him. We also see the same principle in another place in scripture where the repentance of God's people leads to the healing of a nation, even a nation experiencing God's judgment (2 Chron. 7:14). The Apostle Peter wrote, "'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time..." (1 Pet. 5:5-6). As Isaiah did, Peter also connected the new creation to those of a humble heart saying, "...what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;" (2 Peter 3:11-14). God is patiently waiting for us, His people, to come to repentance (v. 9). This is the will of the Father, and this is what breaks the spirit of lawlessness. I hope I have been able to express to you what I saw in these verses: the connection of repentance, even in just one of God's people, to a birth of Zion, and a new rebirth of all nations, and even all creation. The Sabbath scriptures of the Rosh Chodesh Av, and its prayer, reflect this awesome truth. The place of repentance for believers is not a place of condemnation, but a place of cleasning and renewal. It is a place where God can identify those who belong to Him, and find the "one" who does the Father's will. If you would like to join yourself to the will of the Father, you can pray: "Heavenly Father, I come open before you with only the righteousness and grace of Your Son, Jesus, our Messiah, to cover Me. I ask Your mercy and forgiveness for disregarding Your will, and ignoring Your voice. Forgive me for the destruction that this causes to Your house. Your Word, spoken and written, causes me to bow my head before You, because Your Word, Jesus, is filled with Your glory. Cleanse my heart and my ways by the Blood of Jesus, Who died and rose from the dead for me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, my Comforter and my Consolation, so that Your will is fulfilled within me. I join with others who are praying during this month of Av for the coming of Messiah, our destined and perfect soul mate. I ask these things in Messiah's name, Jesus. Amen."