Authority

      In the New Testament, we are told in several examples of the power and authority that has been given to the believer in Jesus Christ by Him and of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sends into the believers' lives. Jesus made clear that all authority/power (exousia/exesti - power of choice, permission, ability or strength with which one is endued (see endyo below), power of authority and privilege, power of rule or government/legal) has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. (Mt. 28:18). Here are just a few examples of the power accompanied by the authority given to believers by Jesus:

     "Behold, I (Jesus) send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (endyo - clothed with, arrayed in, to invest with clothing, sink into clothing) with power (dynamis - strength, power, ability, power for performing miracles, moral power and excellence of soul) from on high (hypsos/hyper - height, heaven, elevation, exalted, high rank or station/exceedingly abundantly, above, beyond, over)." (Lk. 24:49 also Acts 1:8).

     "Then He (Jesus) called His twelve disciples together and gave them power (dynamis - see above) and authority (exousia - see above) over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Lk. 9:1-2).

     "Behold, I (Jesus) give you (seventy disciples) the authority/power (exousia - see above) to trample on serpents (ophis - serpent, especially satan, artful, cunning and malicious) and scorpions (skorpios - concealed, lurking, piercing poisonous sting), and over all the power (dynamis - see above) of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Lk. 10:19).

     (Jesus said) "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:22-23).

     "Assuredly, I (Jesus) say to you, whatever you (the disciples) bind (deo - to tie, fasten with chains, to forbid, declare illicit) on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose (lyo - to loose one who is bound, set free, deprive of authority, declare unlawful, overthrow, do away with) on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Mt. 18:18-20 and also Mt. 16:19).

     Whatever power and authority the believers in Christ exercise, it is to reflect and represent the power and authority of Christ and as given by the Holy Spirit. It is not meant to be empowered by our own ideas, emotions, or will, all of which comprises our souls. It is by the Spirit of God.

     Even Jesus declared that He only did what He saw His Father in heaven doing (Jn. 5:19), and He only said what He heard His Father in heaven saying (Jn. 12:49-50). He was completely submitted to His Father's will in all things, saying, "...not My will, but Yours be done." (Lk. 22:42, Mt. 26:39).

     This is the high standard set in exercising the power and authority given to us by Christ. There is no other acceptable standard.

     The above scriptures from the New Testament relating to power and authority have been included here to help our understanding of this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Chukkat, meaning "Ordinance (of)". The Hebrew word chukkat/chukat is found in Num. 19:1-2: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 'This is the ordinance (huqqa/hoq/haqaq - statute, ordinance, appointed, limit, prescribed, established or defined/bounds, boundary, decree, appointed/lawgiver, governor, one who decrees, inscribe, engrave, cut into stone or metal tablets, stamp violently on something) of the law which the LORD has commanded..."

     We can also see the purpose of the ordinance, or huqqa, by the meanings of the Hebrew letters that form the word: cheth, qoph, heh. The combined meaning found in the letters could be expressed as "Behold, revealed is the division, the separation and protection between what is in the inner chamber from what is outside the tent wall." We know that what is in the inner chamber of the tent/tabernacle is holy and separated from what is outside the curtained and gated outer perimeter of the tent/tabernacle.

     There is also to be a protective separation or division between the holy people of God and the profane, or fleshly things of the world. Paul wrote this question: "...For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?...Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord..." (excerpt 2 Cor. 6:14-18, also 1 Thess. 5:4-5, Eph. 5:8-11).

     In this week's Chuqqat or "Ordinance" Sabbath portion, the Israelites led by Moses and Aaron, came again into a part of the wilderness without water: "Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and Aaron and spoke, saying: 'If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! (Referring to Korah's rebellion - see Num. 16:31-35, 47-49.) Why have you brought up the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?..." (Num. 20:2-5).

     This generation of the Israelites had already been told by the LORD that they would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land, but instead, wander in the wilderness for forty years and, with just a few exceptions, die in the wilderness. (see Num. 14:26-38). This was done because of their previous unbelief and disobedience to God. The Israelites had also seen the LORD produce water from a rock before when they were without water. (Ex. 17:5-7). On that occasion, Moses was instructed by the LORD to strike the rock with his rod/staff, and the water would then flow. This time, however, the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: "Take the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rod (matte - staff, branch, tribe, rod or scepter of a king, support of walking, support of life, soldier's spear, used in chastising); you and your brother Aaron gather the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water...and give drink to the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation and their animals." (Num. 20:8).

     These were the instructions that Moses received from the LORD. However, Moses also spoke words over the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation that the LORD had not commanded him to speak, saying: "Hear now you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (v. 10). Then, instead of speaking to the rock as instructed this time by God, Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. (v. 11). Water did flow out of the rock abundantly.

     The rod that Moses carried was designated by God at the burning bush to be proof to the Hebrew slaves in Egypt that the LORD had appeared (ra'a - to be visible, to gaze at, to be caused to be seen, to look upon) to Moses. (Ex. 4:1-5). The LORD also told Moses that he was to do signs (ot - signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, token, proof) with the rod in his hand. (Ex. 4:17, see also Mk. 16:17-18: signs follow believers in Christ). It is with this rod that Moses demonstrated the power and authority of God over Pharaoh, his magicians, the whole country of Egypt and their gods, and Moses' own role as the appointed messenger of Almighty God.

     At the same time as the rod of Moses was designated by God for signs, God also said to Moses: "Who has made man's mouth?...Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." (Ex. 4:11-12). Isn't this what Jesus said also? He spoke only what He heard the Father speak (see above). He also told His disciples that they were not to give thought as to what to say, that the Holy Spirit would give them the words to speak. (Lk. 12:11-12). The phrase "the authority of the believer" to me, therefore, is somewhat of a misnomer. The authority of a believer is the authority of the Father and the Son manifested in an obedient and submitted servant, after the pattern established by Jesus with His heavenly Father. (see Phil. 2:5-13).

     There were many occasions when the LORD said to Moses: "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them...", but this event in the wilderness was not one of them.

     Philippians 2, referred to in the notation above, continues, bringing this instruction from Paul that should remind us of this event involving Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness: "Do all things without complaining and disputing (dialogismos/dialogizomai - disputing, arguing, the thinking of a man within himself, questioning what is true, doubting, reasoning, opinion/to reason, dispute, reckon up reasons, revolve in one's mind), that you may become blameless (amemptos - free from fault or defect, deserving no censure) and harmless (akeraios - pure, innocent, without a mixture of evil), children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life..." (Phil. 2:14-16, excerpt).

     This was the LORD's response to the actions of Moses: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (Num. 20:12). Moses would not be entering and taking Israel into the land. His brother Aaron would soon die at Mount Hor on the border of Edom, as the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "...for he (Aaron) shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My word at the water of Meribah (meriba/rib - strife, contention, quarrel/contend, chide, debate, wrangle, rebuke, complain, adversary)." (v. 22-24). Aaron's son, Eleazar would go up on the mountain with Moses and Aaron, Aaron's garments would be removed and put on his son, "and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain." (v. 25-28).

     Moses would later say that he pleaded (hanan - implore, have mercy on, be gracious, show pity and favor) the LORD to let him cross over the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jordan to see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land, but the LORD refused him. The LORD would let Moses look upon the land from the top of a mountain, but he could not enter. (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joshua (yehosua - "Jehovah is salvation", a form of the Hebrew name of Jesus) would lead the children of Israel into the land instead. (Deut. 3:23-28).

     Another reading from this Chukkat, "Ordinance" Sabbath portion says: "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: Do not harden your hearts, as in the day of rebellion (meriba - see above)...For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest." (Ps. 95, "A Call to Worship and Obedience", v. 6-11, excerpt).

     Paul revealed in Romans: "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God...because the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God...even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Rom. 8:19-23, excerpt).

      As sons or children of God through Jesus, we have something that is waiting to be manifested in us, and when it is manifested, all creation will also manifest it and be delivered. It is through belief in Jesus that we attain the exousia (see above) power of authority to become sons of God, born by the will of God. (see Jn. 1:12-13). It is by being led by the Spirit of God, and not ourselves, that we receive the Spirit of adoption as children of God and joint heirs with Christ. (see Rom. 8:14-17).

     A great deal, especially in these current times, depends upon our correct understanding of the authority of the Father and the Son that has been placed into the hands of the believers. To this end, we need to display more of Him and His ways and thoughts, and less of our own flesh and soul.

     If you would like to know and understand more about the authority that the Lord has entrusted into our hands, you can pray with me: "Father in heaven, You have done awesome and great things. You have sent Your beloved Son to guide us back into Your presence and grace. You have entrusted Your Son, Jesus, and those who believe in Him to walk in the authority and inheritance of servant sonship. Father, I want to speak what Your Spirit tells me to speak. I want to do the things that You show me to do. Let Your sons, Your children, be manifested in the creation. Let Your deliverance flow through our words and deeds as directed by Your will, in the same way that You brought millions of Your people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. I ask this in the name of Your Son, 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. 

Little

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is T'tzavveh, meaning "You shall command". This title comes from Exodus 27:20, the first part of the reading portion: "And you shall command (tsa-vaw - command, appoint, charge, order, commission, set up) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Israel that they bring you pure (zak/zakak/zaka - clean, clear, pure, righteous, the pure one/to be pure, bright, clean, shining splendor of nobles, make clean, pure in God's sight, to cleanse, to wash/clean, pure, justified, keep clean, keep pure, to be translucent, be innocent) oil of pressed (katit/katat - beaten out regarding pure oil, pounded fine, costly/beat down, destroyed, break in pieces, smite, crushed, bruise, violently strike) olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually."

     This command from God is for the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people of God (see *notation below). That includes all believers in Messiah/Christ both Jewish and Gentile. The hidden mystery of God from the beginning was to bring forth the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, from among the children of Israel for the whole world. (Col. 1:26-27). The very olive oil used to light the lamp of the tabernacle referred to above is a reflection of the righteousness and suffering of Jesus to produce us justified, clean and pure, so that we also may shine as He shines. He is the Light of the world, and commands us also to be the light of the world. There is a parable told by Jesus of the foolish virgins who had no oil for their lamps. When He, the Bridegroom came suddenly, they were unprepared to go with Him. When they tried to enter into His presence later, Jesus told them, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you." (Mt. 25:1-12). The prepared pressed/beaten/crushed/bruised pure oil, which identified Him, was not present in them.

     We also saw in last week's Sabbath reading portion blog titled "HeaveOffering", that all of the fifteen free-will offerings used to construct the tabernacle reflected the image and pattern of Jesus Christ.

     The Sabbath reading portions from Exodus chapters 27 through 30 deal with the furnishings of the holy chamber in the tabernacle that was before the holiest place. It also deals with the holy garments that Aaron was to wear as the high priest. Moses was to wash and dress Aaron himself in the presence of Aaron's sons: "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty...to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me (the LORD) as priest." (Ex. 28:1-3, Ex. 29:4-9).

     The tabernacle was meant to be a holy place where the LORD would dwell with His beloved people as the LORD told Moses: "...at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. So I will consecrate the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tabernacle of meeting and the altar...I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God." (Ex. 29:42-46).

     How beautiful is the desire of God to dwell among His people! How did this miraculous and awesome purpose become empty religious ritual to some? The LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men..." (Isa. 29:13, see also Mt. 15:7-9). However, God will never give up on His greatest desire to dwell among men. He sent Jesus, His Son, to walk and tabernacle or dwell among us and even in us. (Jn. 1:14). God will also bring His heavenly tabernacle to descend to the earth in order to dwell with men. (Rev. 21:1-6).

     In another reading portion from this T'tzavveh Sabbath portion, the LORD revealed to His prophet, Ezekiel, the message that the glory and beauty of His tabernacle/temple should bring to men: "And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple....Son of man, this (the tabernacle/temple of the vision) is the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever....Son of man, describe the temple to the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) pattern (taknit - pattern, measurement, consummation, perfect form)...Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) whole design (sura/sur - a form as if pressed out, a rock/rock, block of stone) and all its ordinances, and perform them. This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple." (Ezek. 43:4-12, excerpt).

     In this case, the vision of the tabernacle/temple has the purpose of showing His people how holy He is, and how holy they are not. Sometimes, we cannot see the spots and stains upon ourselves, yet it is necessary if we are to allow God to bring us closer to Himself in His dwelling place with us. This amazing vision of the temple of God was to achieve that - that the people of God would see their own iniquities in contrast to the glory of God. It is interesting here though that not only is the holiness of the LORD on display but also His glory. His holiness is His glory. When the prophet Isaiah experienced the LORD's holiness and resulting glory, he realized his own iniquity. (see Isa. 6:3-5). In the same way, the LORD commands Ezekiel to show the pattern and design of the temple to His people.

     The LORD wants His people to know the temple's pattern and to keep its design. Both of these things are based upon the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (see above), which is the identity of the Messiah/Christ, Jesus. Paul wrote about believers in Christ coming 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 fulness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13). This is also the story that the tabernacle/temple has to tell God's people according to the written Hebrew of the verses from Ezekiel above. This is the place where we come to have our sins washed away by the atonement sacrifice (Jesus Messiah/Christ) and to walk in the presence and the glory of God, which Jesus gave to us that we may be one with each other as the Father and Son are One, as well as we being made perfect in one. The glory is unifying. (Jn. 17:22-23).

     The purpose of the vision of the tabernacle/temple of God given to Ezekiel was to call God's people out of the low place of men's doctrines and ways, and into the high, glorious place of the holiness of God through the pattern and design that represents the Messiah/Christ.

     The last piece of our puzzle from this Sabbath's reading portion is the theme of Zachor. Zachor means "Remember and don't forget." Zachor is observed on this Sabbath as the Jewish people are entering into the period of time before Purim, the deliverance of God's people from an evil man's plan for their destruction, and Passover, when the lamb was sacrificed and its blood applied to the doorposts and lintels of the houses of the Israelite slaves in Egypt. The blood of the lamb would protect their houses from the plague of the death of the first born that would lead to their deliverance from Egypt and its slavery. For believers in Christ, this is also the time before the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah/Christ and our Passover Lamb.  Zachor observed during this time, like the tabernacle/temple, has a pattern, similar to the pattern of Ezekiel's vision of the temple, as we will see, that we are to remember and observe.

     The Zachor reading that is part of this Sabbath comes from 1 Sam.15. King Saul was given a command from the LORD through His prophet Samuel. Samuel was also the judge of Israel. Saul was given the command to totally destroy that Amalekites: "Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." (1 Sa. 15:2). Amalek was one of the nations that ambushed and attacked Israel when the LORD was bringing Israel up out of Egypt. The Amalekites were also involved in sorcery and other occultic practices to a very dark and dangerous degree. Their involvement with dark magic went so deep that it manifested not only in each person, but also in all of their animals. Rabbinical writings suggest that the Amalekites, through black magic, were shape-shifters, able to take on the form of animals. The Amalekites were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, and the grandson of Abraham. Therefore they would have at some point had the knowledge from their forefathers of the God of the Hebrew people, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They had fallen away from the light of God, and sought the darkness of the occult instead.

     However, Saul was not obedient to the command of God spared the Amalekite king, Agag, and the best of the Amalekite animals. Not waiting for Samuel, Saul even sacrificed these bewitched animals to God in order to please the people. (v. 9). 

     Afterwards, Samuel heard this from the LORD: "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." (v. 10). Samuel also found out that Saul had set up a monument for himself at Carmel. As Samuel confronted Saul, Saul insisted that he had performed the command of the LORD given to him, but then blamed the desire of the people with him who had wanted to spare the best of the animals. Samuel delivered the judgment of the LORD upon King Saul: "When you were little (qatan - young, small, insignificant, unimportant, little) in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?...Why did you swoop down (it - scream, shriek, fly, swoop down upon, to dart greedily) on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?" (v. 17-19).

     Samuel told King Saul that obedience to God's voice was better than sacrifice, and rebellion against the LORD was equal to the sin of witchcraft (which was what the Amalekites practiced). Saul was no better than the Amalekites in the eyes of the LORD. Saul pleaded with Samuel to pardon his sin and return with him, so that Saul could worship the LORD. Samuel said to Saul: "I will not return with you, for you have rejected (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel...The LORD has torn (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. And the Strength of Israel (referring to the LORD) will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent." (v. 22-29, excerpt). Samuel, however, did relent and return with Saul so that Saul would not be dishonored in front of the elders of Israel, which had been Saul's concern. (v. 30). Again, Saul's concern was his own honor in the eyes of others, and not in respecting the Word of the LORD. We know that Samuel would soon anoint young David to be the next king of Israel.

     Samuel, himself, carried out the word of the LORD and killed Agag, the king of the Amalekites whom Saul had disobediently spared. (v. 32-33).

     Samuel pointed out to King Saul that his fall from the LORD didn't begin with his disobedience to the LORD's command. It began when Saul stopped seeing himself as "little" before the beauty, glory and holiness of the LORD. To me, this is the lesson that we are to zachor remember and never forget. It is the same lesson that the LORD wanted Ezekial to show the people as the prophet revealed the pattern and design of the temple of the prophet's vision.

     We all begin to go astray when we forget that we are little before the LORD, even when He has kindly elevated us by the grace of His Son, our Savior, Jesus. Paul wrote to the church: "For I say, through the grace given to me, for everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Rom. 13:3). 

     Jesus gave us this powerful insight: "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Lk. 18:16-27). 

     Many have fallen because they forgot to be "little". God's elect are disgraced before the heathen because they forget to be "little".  Zachor remember and don't forget, especially as we come into this powerful season of the deliverance of the LORD.

     If you would like to know more about remaining "little" in the sight of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Father, when I look into Your holiness and the pattern and design of Your House, based upon the sacrifice ow Your own precious and beloved Son, Jesus, I want to remember and never to forget to be little before You. If I catch myself thinking more highly of myself, or if I desire to be honored and respected before men more than God, let me remember to be little. Jesus told us that the Kingdom is composed of little children. Remind me, LORD, to be a little child before You. Show me the pattern and design of Your glorious House when I forget to be little. 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.

     

Build

       Last week we looked at the kind of offering that God requires to build His Tabernacle/Temple/Spiritual House.  This week I hope that we will be able to see how that House of God is for the purpose of, and containment of His glory, and how the use or misuse of His vessels of glory can affect the building of God's kingdom.

     In a vision of Isaiah the prophet, he saw and heard angelic creatures in heaven who stood above the throne of the Lord, crying, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory (kabode - glory, honor, abundance, splendor, dignity, reputation, reverence, weight, copiousness, heaviness, majesty, magnificent, the heart and soul)!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone (dama - to cease, cut off, destroy, perish, to make an end of, to lay waste, to desolate)! Because I am a man of unclean (tame - unclean, impure, defiled, polluted, profane God's name, profane with wickedness) lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega in Greek, as Christ referred to Himself: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13) King, the LORD of hosts." (Isa. 6:3-5). According to Isaiah's vision, the whole earth is full of the glory of the LORD, and the glory of the LORD reflects the magnificent holiness of His heart and soul as we see from the meaning of the Hebrew words. Jesus told His Father in heaven that He had given us the same glory as the Father had given Him (see Jn. 17:22-23)). This is an incredible gift. This week's Sabbath reading portion will teach us about the design and pattern of the glory and our treatment of the glory.

     This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled T'tzavveh, meaning "you shall command", which begins in Exodus Chapter 27 and runs through part of Chapter 30. The title comes from Ex. 27:20, in which the LORD says to Moses: "And you shall command the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Israel that they bring you pure oil (semen/samen - from a primitive root meaning "to shine") of pressed olives (zayit/ziv - as yielding illuminating oil, to adorn, to shine, to be clothed, splendor, brightness, freshness and beaty, clear and brilliant/brightness) for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually." While olive oil is often associated with the Holy Spirit, this Sabbath reading also leads us to connect it to "the glory" by its meaning in Hebrew.

     The next command given to Moses was to take and dress Aaron and his sons in "holy garments" to be made by gifted artisans whom the LORD has filled with the spirit of wisdom (Ex. 28:1, 3). The LORD said: "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty." (v. 2). As the LORD describes in detail the garments for Aaron the high priest, He also says: "...And you shall make hats (migba'a - turban, headgear, mitre) for them, for glory and beauty.  So you shall put them on (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Aaron your brother and on his sons with him..." (Ex. 28:40-41). Although sacrifices and the anointing of sanctification were also commanded regarding the priests and the tabernacle, the LORD said: "...at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. And there will I meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. So I will consecrate the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God." (Ex. 29:42-45). The glory of the LORD sanctifies His house, and we are the spiritual house of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Not only does the glory sanctify His House, but the garments of the priests, as we are also called to be, were to reflect the glory of the LORD.

     In another reading from this Sabbath, the prophet Ezekiel had a remarkable vision of the building of a Temple of the LORD, which many believe will be the third Temple to be built in Jerusalem, and, as usual, the House of God has a present spiritual application for us as well. After Ezekiel describes the details of this prophetic Temple of God, he also sees the following: "Afterward he (a "man" whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze: see Ezek. 40:3) brought me to the gate that faces towards the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory...and I fell on my face (see also Rev. 1:12-18). And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple.  Then I heard Him speaking to me from the temple, while a man stood beside me. And He said to me, 'Son of man, this is the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever. No more shall the house of Israel defile My holy name (see Isaiah above - "unclean lips"), they nor their kings, by their harlotry or with the carcasses of their kings on their high places."  (Ezek. 43:1-7). The imagery of this glory-filled Temple as Ezekiel would relate it to Israel, would change their profaning ways, just as Isaiah was changed by his vision. In this case, the glory was not confined to the Temple that Ezekiel saw prophetically, but the whole earth shone with that glory, as Isaiah also saw above. We are familiar with the glory as believers in Christ, and as Jesus declared, we are partakers in that same glory. However, this is not to be a point of boasting for us, but a point of change. How can we experience the glory of God and not be changed? The glory that Jesus, the Word, had, was the glory of the only begotten of the Father, and was manifested by His being full of grace and truth, not for His own benefit, but for the benefit of others (Jn. 1:14). So we can also see that the Word of God as Jesus, is directly connected to His glory from this verse in the Gospel of John. Jesus also described Himself as a temple, saying, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'...But He was speaking of the temple of His body." (Jn. 2:18-21, also see Rev. 21:22-23).

     We saw above in Exodus, that the priests' garments were designed for glory and beauty. In another reading portion from this Sabbath, we will see that David's prophetically promised kingdom is preserved by a portion of the priest's garment. In 1 Sam. 23, Saul was the king of Israel, but the report of the attack of the Philistines at Keilah, who were robbing the grain from the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) threshing floors, was brought to David's attention. David had already been anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel, but he was not yet king. Saul hated David as a rival and sought his life. Upon hearing of the attack of the Philistines, "...David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Shall I go and attack these Philistines?' And the LORD said to David, 'Go and attack the Philistines and save (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Keilah.' (1 Sam. 23:1-2). As the king, it would have been Saul's job to inquire of the LORD and go into battle, but he didn't do it. He was busy seeking David to kill him. David's men were reluctant to go on this mission and expose themselves to Saul's discovery. David inquired again of the LORD, and the LORD told him to go and attack the Philistines (v. 3-4).  The attack was successful, and the inhabitants of Keilah were saved (v. 5). Saul indeed heard about David being at Keilah and prepared to go there and kill David. A priest, Abiathar had fled to David at Keilah, and brought the priest's ephod, the breastplate of the priest's garment (see above), in his hand. David inquired of the ephod that if Saul attacked David at Keilah, would Keilah give him over to Saul. The LORD answered that David would be delivered into Saul's hands, so David and his men fled, and their lives were saved (v. 6-13). David sought the grace and truth of the glory that was in the LORD's spoken Word (Jn. 1:14), and he sought the glory and beauty that was in the priestly garments (Ex. 28:2). This saved his life and built his future kingdom.

     While David's kingdom was being built up, in another reading portion from this Sabbath, Saul's kingdom was about to come crashing down, because he would profane the glory of the LORD. The prophet/judge Samuel came to King Saul with a command of the LORD: "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD....Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them."  (1 Sam. 15:1-3). According to Jewish oral tradition, the Amalekites were involved in a form of occultism that included changing shapes, even into animal shapes. They had also mistreated Israel. For these reasons the LORD wanted all destroyed, including the animals. As the LORD pronounced judgment on them, they are written in Hebrew as aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega Amalekites (as written in v. 3). This indicates that they had known the LORD but had chosen instead to profane Him and follow after acts of spiritual darkness. We already know that the Word of the LORD, which came in the flesh as Jesus, is full of glory from Jn. 1:14, but Saul did not obey it. He captured (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Agag (meaning "I will overtop", "I shall increase"; flame), the king of the Amalekites, alive, and saved the best of their animals because it seemed like a good idea to him (v. 7-9). The LORD told Samuel that He greatly regretted setting up (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Saul as king, "for he has turned back from following Me." (v. 10-11). Not only did Saul disobey the voice of the Words of God, but he built a monument to himself at Carmel! (v. 12). Samuel heard the sounds of the animals as he approached Saul's camp. He said to Saul: "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?..." (v. 17). Saul still had the hardness of heart to defend his disobedience to Samuel., saying, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD...", and he blamed the people for taking the best of the animals to offer before the LORD (v. 20-21). 

     Samuel announced the fall of Saul's kingdom in this way: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." (V. 22-23). Saul tried to repent, but it was too late (v. 24-26). Saul even tried to physically seize Samuel's robe as he turned away, but Samuel again said, "The LORD has torn the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you (referring to David). And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent/relent. For He is not a man, that He should repent/relent." (v. 27-29). It had seemed right to Saul to bring the huge offering to the LORD, but in the eyes of the LORD it was a despised offering that reflected Saul's rebellion and disobedience to the voice of the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Word of the LORD. It is this Word that is full of His glory (see Jn. 1:14). Saul also showed where his heart truly was when he built, not the temple of God, not the Kingdom of God, but a monument to himself at Carmel (meaning "garden land", fruitful field, planted field, orchard, vineyard, vines, vintage, full ears of corn).

     We should also know that the Amalekite king, Agag, whom Saul left alive against the Word of the LORD, would have a descendant generations later named Haman, described as an Agagite (Esther 3:1-2), who would plot to have all of the Jews of Persia killed because one man had offended him. The genocide order was in place and, except for a miracle of God, would have been carried out. He was one of the most notorious villains in scripture. His destruction, along with all of his sons, is recorded in the Book of Esther, and celebrated by the festival of Purim, which will occur in March. The LORD's commands, which Saul considered to be unreasonable, were also based upon His omniscient knowledge of the future. 

     There is a connection between "obedience" as the LORD speaks of it to Saul above, and His glory. In Phil. 2:5-11, the humble obedience of Jesus Christ towards His Father, even by His death on the cross, caused God to exalt Him highly and give Him a name that is above all others. By this name, all creation is brought into worship and reverence, confessing that Jesus Christ is LORD, "to the glory of God the Father".

     If you would like to know more about building the place and the kingdom of the glory of God, you can pray with me: "Father of all, You have made all things, including me, for Your glory. I pray, Father, that by Your Word and by Your Spirit, You would teach me to glorify You in all that I think, say, and do. Lead me to walk in obedience and to seek and honor Your Word rather than my own will. Forgive me, Lord, when I have sought my own glory and praises. Help me to remain "small in my own eyes" so that I may be made big in Your eyes. Let me be a spiritual temple that is filled with the glory of Almighty God in Christ. I ask these things in Jesus' name, which is the name above all names! AMEN."

     

     

Inheritance

The title of this week's Sabbath reading is Ki Tavo, meaning "When you come in", based on the words that Moses spoke to Israel "It shall be when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving to you as an inheritance..." in Deut. 26. The Israelites were about to cross over the Jordan River from the eastern direction into the land promised to them by God. The situation changes for the people of God when they come into their inheritance, and there are important principles for us to learn, as we also come into an inheritance when we become followers of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote of our being "...heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." and spoke of "...the glory which shall be revealed in us", and "...the glorious liberty of the children of God...", having "the firstfruits of the Spirit". (Rom. 8:17-23, excerpt). In another place, Paul wrote: "In Him (Christ) also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory." (Eph. 1:11-12). We who have received an inheritance from God are called to function at a different level. We will see this in this Sabbath's readings also, because we have "come in". The first thing the Israelites were to do when they arrived in the land was to bring an offering to God. This offering was not to be from what they had brought with them from Egypt, and it was not be what they had planted and grown themselves, nor accumulated during their journey. The LORD commanded: "...you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land your God is giving you...and go to the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide...". (Deut. 26:2). This offering was to come from what they found already growing in their new land, from their inheritance given to them. However, a declaration was to accompany this offering. The one bringing the offering must say before the priest: "I declare today to the LORD my God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us...My father was a Syrian (Aramean), about to perish, and he went down to Egypt and dwelt there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. But the Egyptians mistreated us, and laid hard bondage on us. Then we cried out to the LORD God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and looked on our affliction and our labor and our oppression. So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which You, O LORD, have given me." (v. 3-10). Then the offering is set before the LORD and He is worshipped, "So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house..." (v. 11). In the third year in the land, the Israelites were to begin bringing the tithe they had laid aside of all of the increase they have received. The offering of the tithe (a tenth) was also to be accompanied by a declaration ending with "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that You hve commanded me. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, just as You swore to our fathers, 'a land flowing with milk and honey'." (v. 13-15), excerpt). As the people further proclaimed that the LORD was their God, and that they will walk in His ways, His commandments, and His judgments, and obey His voice, the LORD makes a proclamation in exchange: "Also today, the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken." (v. 17-19). All of these declarations are made in conjunction with the giving of tithes and offerings to the LORD, and, as we read, the LORD proclaims amazing things over His people in return. Those amazing things sound very similar to what Peter wrote to the Church of believers (see 1 Peter 2:9-10). I must ask myself, then, what I am declaring, if anything, as I bring my tithes and offerings to the LORD. We can see that making a declaration of the Lord's deliverance and inheritance to us is to be a powerful, appropriate, even a commanded, part of our giving. I have received an amazing inheritance from Him. When I bring something to the LORD, I should be declaring that inheritance. An inheritance that first found me in sin, oppression, bondage, darkness, and death, as the Israelites were in Egypt, and brought me into that place of glory that Paul wrote about above - even to the sharing of Christ's own inheritance from His Father! Isn't this worth a declaration or two? The LORD has promised here in Deuteronomy 26 that if I make my declaration while giving to Him, He will make a declaration or proclamation to me. We should be aware that there are expectations of a people "when they come in", and have received their miraculous inheritance. God has given them and us a guideline to guarding and keeping the inheritance that they, and we, have been given. In Deuteronomy 28, another portion from this Sabbath's reading, Moses brought to the Israelites the Word of the LORD: "...if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments...the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." (v. 1). This is the same declaration that the LORD made to His people previously in Deut. 26. This is part of their inheritance of the land, if they obey. On top of that, the LORD declared: "And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God." (v. 2). The LORD then told them of all of the blessings that will manifest in their lives, including the fruitfulness of their own bodies in children. Enemies would flee from before them. "The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments...and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you...and the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath (see Jesus' words in Jn. 8:23), if you heed the commandments...and are careful to observe them." (v. 2-13, excerpt). Observing the commandments and voice of God preserves and guards the inheritance which the LORD has given to His people. His intentions were not to bring them to the land, and then set them on their own without His counsel. As we continue in this Sabbath's readings, we will find that this is just the beginning of the expectations, proclamations and miraculous manifestations that God has in store for His people to whom He has given an inheritance. The inheritance includes, as Paul wrote above, the LORD's inclusion of His people in His own glory. This Sabbath's reading also includes specific portions from the prophet Isaiah: "Arise (qum - rise up, stand, come on the scene, be established, raise up, give effect to), shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness (hosek/hasak - darkness including destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness; the dark place of Hades, dark as withholding light, to be surrounded with darkness) shall cover (kasa - overwhelm, hide, conceal, spread over, clothe) the earth, and deep darkness (arapel/arap - thick darkness, heavy or dark cloud, gloom, night, darkness dropping down) the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you...Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me...to bring your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them, to the name of the LORD your God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He has glorified you...And they shall call you 'The City of the LORD', 'Zion of the Holy One of Israel'." (Isa. 60:1-2, 9, 14). The inheritance of glory is not for our sake alone, but in order that the Gentiles and the nations will glorify the LORD also. The inheritance of glory given to us, if we will rise up and stand in it, is the only light that will be available to a world and its people who have been totally swallowed up in a natural and spiritual darkness, even the darkness of Hell. To understand and obediently walk in our inheritance from God through His Son, has grave importance to the world. Paul also wrote of our inheritance as sons of God: "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing (apokalypsis - a disclosure of truth, appearance, of something previously withdrawn from view but now made visible to all, lighten) of the sons of God...because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption (phthorah- destruction, perishing from defilement, eternal misery in Hell) into the glorious liberty of the children/sons of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now." (Rom. 8:19, 21-22). We see Paul's teaching again in the Sabbath reading for this week in another selection from Isaiah regarding our salvation inheritance's effect on creation and other people: "...the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing...They shall see the glory of the LORD, the excellency of our God...Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing (see also the words of Jesus in Mt. 11:2-6). For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water...A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it...And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isa. 35:1-2, 5-8, 10). As the ancient order of weekly Sabbath readings was established many generations ago, we can see that the miraculous inheritance from God of the Promised Land by the Israelites also promised and was joined to an even greater inheritance, which would include other people as well. It is an inheritance that transforms from the deep darkness of Hell into the light of God's Glory through Jesus Christ. This is an inheritance well worthy of guarding and keeping as God instructed His people to do with all diligence. If you would like to learn more about this precious inheritance from the LORD of Glory, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, You have promised in Your Word that the whole earth will be filled with Your glory. You have given Your people an inheritance of shared glory with You through Your Son, Jesus. As You gave the land to Israel, You called them to be Your holy people set high above all nations, declaring the inheritance You gave to them as You delivered them out of Egypt and bondage, and into holiness and liberty. I have also received an inheritance of salvation through Your Son, and I declare how You delivered me from deep darkness and death into Your kingdom of marvelous light and glory. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can diligently obey Your Word and Your voice in guarding this inheritance received from You. All creation waits eagerly, and depends upon seeing Your people walk in this inheritance. I thank and praise You in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

Culture

The word "culture" has several definitions. The first: "Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. It encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, what we believe is right or wrong...the way of life". In other words, the culture of a group of people reflects the content of their souls - their minds, their wills, and their emotions. We have certainly seen how our culture has changed radically in the last few generations. Many would say that this cultural change has not been for the better. There is also a biological meaning to the word culture which is also interesting: "cells, tissues or organisms grown in a medium either for scientific purposes or to get the substances these living things produce". In a culture of this kind, something grows, multiplies, and produces. Like the biological definition, I think the things that make up our culture in our society have found a medium in which they can grow, multiply, and produce a substance within our lives. Our culture becomes a living thing, in a way. In 1995, the Chicago Tribune reported the following: "...Pope John Paul II condemned a growing and widespread "culture of death" in which moral crimes ...are viewed as individual rights." Over twenty years ago, the Pope made this remark, which was considered shocking at the time, about what he saw as an alarming and growing trend in our culture, which was a disregard for life. Our current times have certainly verified the Pope's comment and concern. Violence of all kinds has increased and become more bizarre. I live near a major city where reports of violence and murder has become a daily occurence, even against innocent people just walking down the street, or waiting for a train. Has our culture indeed become a "culture of death"? If so, how and why did that happen, and what can be done? In this week's Sabbath reading titled Tzav, or "Command!", the prophet Jeremiah wrote the Word of the LORD about a culture gone wild. The Sabbath reading related to the topic of giving offerings to the LORD. The commands given to the people concerning offerings were given in Leviticus Chapters 6-8, which are also part of this week's reading. In the reading from Jeremiah, the offering had been turned from a holy expression of worship and obedience into a horrible abomination before the LORD. What had been meant to be, through the obedience of God's people, a prophetic picture and promise of the sacrifice and atonement of Christ, became an act of disobediance instead, and a profane doctrine of devils. The offerings commanded by God gave His people an opportunity to express their obedience to the commands of God. This obedience was to their benefit and blessing in every way. However, as Israel offered their sacrifices and offerings to idols instead (Jer. 7:17-19), the LORD spoke to Jeremiah: "For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices, but this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you." (Jer. 7:22-23). The LORD's commands were not for His benefit, but the obedience to them benefitted His people. The Lord said the same in 1 Sam. 15:22-23, and Hosea 6:6. The Lord was establishing a culture, or way of life, among His people of obedience to His voice. The LORD continued: "Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward...they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers...This nation that does not obey the voice of the LORD their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished (abad - perish, destroy, die, be exterminated, kill, put to death) and has been cut off (karat - cut down, destroy, to cut off a body part, behead, to permit to perish) from their mouth." (v. 24-28). As we can see, the first consequence of the disobedience of God's people was a death by murder- the murder of the truth according to the meanings of the Hebrew words used in the verse, and haven't we seen this very thing in our time also? Truth has become difficult to find in our culture. Because of this death consequence of the culture of disobedience, the LORD warned that many would die. First, the people of God killed their own children, offering them by fire at a place called Tophet ("place of fire"; contempt, spitting, smiting, to strike, kill), also called the Valley of Hinnom (meaning "lamentation"), as an abominable sacrifice to their idols. We see a form of this abomination in our own culture today. We have made the killing of children a choice, a protected liberty. The physical place where they burned their children was referred to later as Gehenna, and Jesus used it as an analogy to describe the eternal and abominable burning of Hell (Mk. 9:42-50). God did not command their children to be destroyed there, but they sent their children there by their own choice. This is what grows in the culture of disobedience - death. The LORD told His people through Jeremiah that as a result of their disobedience, that valley would become too full of dead bodies to bury: "...for they will bury in Tophet until there is no room. The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the heaven and for the beasts of the earth. And no one will frighten them away." (v. 32-33). From the place of that valley, the deaths will multiply and spread to their cities, and then to the whole land (v. 34). In the culture, or medium, of disobedience to God, death was the product that was grown and multiplied: "Then death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of those who remain..." (Jer. 8:3). The Sabbath reading from Jeremiah concludes: "Thus says the LORD: 'Even the carcasses of men shall fall as refuse on the open field...and no one shall gather them...Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment/justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,' says the LORD." (Jer. 9:22-24). The LORD also said that the disobedience of His people had grown so pervasive that He knew they would not listen to His warning by the words of Jeremiah (Jer. 7:27). This is a grim message from God for His people, but there is a remedy to the culture of disobedience that we, His people, have chosen. It is not too late to change our culture of disobedience and death. God waits patiently and rejoices and glories in the return and restoration of His people, and has provided the way of return. Psalm 85 says: "LORD, You have been favorable to Your land...You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin...Restore us, O God of our salvation...Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, LORD, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly...that glory may dwell in our land...Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway." (Ps. 85). In this psalm, as His people ask for forgiveness, restoration, and salvation, the LORD begins a revival work in them and in their land. Truth is restored, and mercy, righteousness and peace are established. The psalmist is determined to listen to the voice of the LORD, and follow the path of righteousness that His footsteps has established. The culture of the land is changed. As Jesus urged His Church to repent, He promised that He is right outside the door knocking. If anyone hears His voice, and opens the door, "I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Rev. 3:20). Second Chronicles 7:14 assures us that if His people will repent, pray, humble themselves, and turn from their wickedness, God will hear, and heal their land. WE have the remedy in our hands, and in our mouths to the culture of death. Since we started with the Pope's warning in 1995, we can end with his declaration of truth spoken against the culture of death. The truth that he declared was called "Evangelium Vitae", or the Gospel of Life. He based his declaration on the following said by Jesus: "The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn. 10:10). Jesus came to "cancel" the culture of death with the way of LIFE in Him. He came to restore not just life, but abundant life. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." (Jn. 14:6). Life and restoration cannot come any other way. This is the blessing that God has provided through His Son, and our Salvation. Let us return to the way of obedience and life. Why would we choose anything else? If you would like to be part of the culture of life, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to cancel the power of death. Forgive me, Father, when I have refused to hear Your voice, and have chosen my own way. Fill me with Your Spirit to guide me and remind me of the paths of righteousness, and the way of obedience to You. As I turn back to you, LORD, heal my land, and restore it to Your peace. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN."

Hearts

This Sabbath reading portion, which includes Deuteronomy Chapters 29 through 31, titled Nitzavim-Vayelech, comes just before the new Hebrew calendar year begins, which will be year 5782, and right before the Feast of Trumpets, one of the appointed fall feasts commanded by the LORD. Therefore, I believe that this Sabbath portion has a great significance in this new beginning, and this season of the LORD's appointed feasts. In this Sabbath reading, Moses was preparing to depart life at the age of 120 (Deut. 31:1-2), and he was imparting to Israel, some important things to remember in their relationship with God. Moses knew that these things would make the difference between Israel's success or failure, even their life or death. One part of the two-part title of this reading is Vayelech meaning "Then he went out". Moses was speaking to these people whom he had led for over forty years as a leader and a prophet whose time was nearly up. Moses called all of Israel to assemble in order to enter into covenant with God for the keeping of His commandments, and God's covenant with them establishing them as a people for Himself (Deut. 29:9-13). The other part of the two-part title for this Sabbath portion is Nitzavim which means "Are standing". Not only was all of Israel to stand before the LORD in this assembly of covenant, but also anyone else who was in the camp as a stranger or a laborer. However, this assembly was not limited to those physically present. Moses said: "I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today..." (v. 12-15). This perpetual covenant of obedience is not only with Israel and her generations to come, but with the future stranger and laborer in the camp also. In the same manner, as we stand before the LORD, we represent not only ourselves before Him, but those who are yet to come. It is easy to forget that those people who have not yet appeared are "in us" (see also Isa. 66:8-11, Heb. 7:9-10). As Moses prepared the people before his death, he stressed the importance of their covenant of love for God (Deut. 30:16), which is expressed in obedience to God and His Word. Although there was a curse associated with the breaking of this covenant of obedience to the commandments of God, Moses promised that the LORD would reverse the curse (example: the scattering of the people of Israel to foreign nations) if "...you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul...And the LORD God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." (Deut. 30:1-2, 6). Then the people will again obey the voice of the LORD, causing them to prosper, abound, and increase (v.9). The Word of God, Moses said, was not in some unattainable place, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (v. 14). Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Lk. 6:45). This is about the contents and work of the heart, not about a set of religious obligations. The treasures of our hearts must contain the love of God, and therefore the love of His Word, Jesus (Jn. 1:1-3, 14). From this treasure, our words and obedient actions will flow. It seems that trying to be religiously obedient to God's Word without the necessary foundation of love for Him, not only results in eventual spiritual error, but is without value to God (Isa. 29:13-14, Mt. 15:7-9, Ezek. 33:31). How do we view the commandments of God, and how do we relay this view to others? The type of relationship that Moses was urging to all of Israel, also leads us to a prophecy in Jeremiah. In the haftarah portion for this Sabbath, Jeremiah wrote of a "new covenant" that would reflect this type of heart relationship with God (Jer. 31:31-33). The Words of God, Jeremiah wrote, would be written internally in God's people...not just to do but to be. Moses took this relationship even further as he described the blessing or the curse that flows from whichever treasure we keep in our hearts regarding the love of God, and obedience to His Word: life and good, or death and evil (Deut. 30:15). "...I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice,, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days..." (v. 19-20). In his last days, Moses is imploring Israel to love God, not only to love Him, but to cling or cleave (dabaq - "to cling, to stick to, to be joined together, follow closely, pursue hard) to Him as spouses cleave to each other (Gen. 2:23-24). With these words, Moses was calling Israel to a marriage relationship with God. This is the only thing that will preserve them. The LORD prophesied through Isaiah in another haftarah portion of this sabbath's reading regarding the marriage relationship He has with His people. He prophetically called them "The Holy People" and "The Redeemed" (Isa. 62:12). Righteousness and salvation shine from these people like a burning lamp (v. 1). He will call these people and their land by a new name: Hephzibah, meaning "My delight is in her", and Beulah, meaning "to marry, to be lord (husband) over, married wife, take a wife, dominion" (v. 4). We can see that the purpose of the LORD for His people is that they should be in a loving marriage with Him. Jesus also, as the worthy Lamb of God, is the Bridegroom in marriage to His prepared Bride (Rev. 19:6-9). Here is an interesting point in reading Isaiah's prophecy regarding the use of the word Beulah, or "married. The word which has been translated as the word, Beulah in the verse from Isaiah, is the Hebrew word, ba'al. We also know Ba'al to be a false god whom Israel worshipped as an idol. Jezebel, the evil queen's name, means "Ba'al is husband to". The worship of Ba'al, in its demonic twisting of the true purpose, involved sexual impurity, perversion, and the use of both male and female prostitutes in worship. This is the corruption of God's concept of His marriage to His people. While the Beulah marriage with God brings forth offspring who are worshippers, the relationship with the demonic idol, Ba'al, calls for the sacrifice of children. The concept of marriage to God is so vital and powerful, that the counterfeit opposition to the holy concept still presents itself today. We cannot assume that we are immune to its influence. As John heard and saw the glory of the marriage of the Lamb to His Bride, he immediately fell down in worship of the one who revealed it to him. He was severely scolded for this by the one who identified himself as "of the brethren" (Rev. 19:10). The spirit of idolatry is quick to seek to corrupt this powerful revelation of God in order to destroy it, before we even realize that we have been susceptible to it. May we come to this time of new beginnings of the year, and the appointed fall feasts of the LORD, by allowing some of Moses' last instructions to bring us to a new understanding and determination to love the LORD with all our hearts and all our souls. If you would like to enter into this kind of relationship with the Lord, you can pray: "Dear Father in heaven, I come to You and to Your Son, Jesus, with the desire to establish myself in the love of God. I want a personal and intimate relationship with You, loving You with all of my heart and soul, and I want Your Word to be the treasure of my heart from which my obedience flows. I know that You loved me so much that You gave Your only Son for my sins. You raised Him from the dead so I would not have to know death. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to teach and quicken me in my loving relationship with You. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."