Overthrown

      "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying: 'We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned'...Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev. 11:15-19, excerpt).

     This is the vision given to John by Jesus Messiah/Christ of the overthrow of earthly kingdoms of men's power and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth in heavenly power and covenant. It is accompanied by great noises and shakings, even hail. It seems that we are seeing this same kind of unusual phenomenon here on earth more and more frequently now also.

     This week's Sabbath reading portion titled D'varim, meaning "The Words," also deals in part with the overthrow of mighty kingdoms on earth. D'varim is also the Hebrew name of the Book of Deuteronomy, and the Sabbath reading begins in Chapter one of that Book. This Sabbath, we are beginning a new Hebrew month, Av, and we are also beginning a new Book, D'varim/Deuteronomy, in the Torah/Bible. The month of Av, translates to "Father" in English, and is especially used in the phrase "Menachem Av," meaning "Comforting Father," with the Father being our comfort in times of mourning and loss. The Jewish people have known great sorrows in this month throughout history, but the LORD has never given up His promise of reconciliation and renewal, which we will see in this D'varim Sabbath study.

     These two new beginnings occurring on this Sabbath, draw our attention to the idea of the old passing away and the new being established, especially for believers in Messiah/Christ. Paul wrote: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:17-19). Paul said that God has reconciled the earth to Himself through His Son, Jesus, and that miraculous reconciliation process includes us. We need "to get with the program" of this great reconciliation of heaven and earth! This means that our attention should be focused in a special way. Peter wrote that we should not be invested in what is passing away but looking for and "hastening " (speudo/pous - to haste, make haste, to desire earnestly, to urge on diligently, to await eagerly, make haste unto/foot, footstool, as putting the foot on a vanquished enemy, as a disciple sits at the feet [of Jesus] listening to instruction) the new that is coming. (2 Peter 3:10-14). Why are we so caught up and invested in the things that will pass away?

     If God's people turn back from His vision of reconciliation and renewal, they can become caught up in the overthrow of the old, as we will see in this week's Sabbath reading portion.

     Moses recounts very ancient history in Deuteronomy of nations overthrown and replaced by a new people. The Lord had given territory to Esau, son of Isaac and brother of Jacob, and his descendants, and Lot, the nephew of Abraham, and his descendants. The LORD told Moses and the Israelites: "Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Mount Seir (seir/sair/sa'ar - hairy or shaggy, patriarch of the Horites who were the aboriginal occupants of Edom before the descendants of Esau/goat, devil, satyr, hairy, demon-possessed he-goat/come like a whirlwind, be horribly afraid, dread, sweep away, come as a storm) to Esau as a possession." (Deut. 2:2-5). The LORD also commanded regarding Moab: "Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar ('ar/'ir - a city, an enemy/a place or city guarded with a watch tower and frequented by people, a terror, rage, heat of anger, the enemies' metropolis like Nineveh) to the descendants of Lot as a possession. (The Emim ('emim/'ema/'ayom - terrors, idols that cause terror to their worshippers, a very ancient people that occupied the land of the Moabites before them/terror, dread, fear, horror, idols/terrible, dreadful, frightful) had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. They were also regarded as giants, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim. The Horites (hori/hor/hur - cave dwellers, troglodyte, those who in very ancient times inhabited Mt. Seir/hole, cave, den of wild beasts/hole, crevice of serpents, cell of a prison, an abominable subterranean prison, the hole of a viper or an asp, the desire to be hidden from the judgment of God [see also Rev. 6:14-17]) formerly dwelt in Seit, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the LORD gave them.)" (v. 9-12). The former idolatrous nations of people were long ago dispossessed by descendants of those related to the Israelites. At the time of Moses, the Israelites were not to touch the territories of Moab and Mount Seir by the command of God.

     We are given a very interesting and rare look here into ancient aboriginal people. As we can see from the Hebrew meanings of these ancient places and people, God had overthrown the terror related to them and replaced them with descendants of Abraham who were related to Israel. He overthrew the evil and the terror of these places associated with idolatry, the devil and demons.     

     Also in these early chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses reviews the recent defeat of two kings, both Amorites, by Israel as delivered into their hands by the LORD. These kings, Sihon and Og, must have a very special spiritual significance because they are mentioned several times in scripture in the Books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Judges, 1 Kings, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and the Psalms. They represent something that scripture intends for the people of God to remember. What must we learn about their defeat?

     Og ("long-necked"), the king of Bashan ("fruitful, region known for fertility"), was a giant, and according to the Concordance, he was one of the last of the ancient giants, the Rephaim (meaning casting down or throwing down). He ruled over the fruitfulness of the land according to the Hebrew meaning. Sihon (sihon/suah - warrior, tempestuous, sweeping away/wipe away) was king of Heshbon (stronghold, reason, reasoning, understanding). His name implies that he was an aggressive warrior who valued the reasoning and understanding of men rather than God. Both kings were of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Amorite (emoi/amar - a "sayer"/speak, command, tell, utter, say, publish, declare, to think, intend, boast, declare, demand, desire) tribe of Canaan. We also saw the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega designation in the Hebrew writing of Mount Seir, above. The Amorites, according to their *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega designation in the written Hebrew should have been declaring and desiring the prophesied Messiah/Christ, but they, instead, fell into a demonic Canaanite religion. This is a description of the religion of the Amorites and the Canaanites in general: It is similar to the earlier Sumerian religion. It was an extraordinarily base and degraded religion of brutality, with gross and perverse sexual excesses and depravity as fertility rites. They offered animal sacrifices, and there is archeological and anthropological evidence of human sacrifices to their gods, such as Ba'al. There is evidence that the human sacrifices of the Amorites included their own children, particularly their first-born. They practiced magic, spell casting and binding, and spiritism.

     The LORD, at the time of His overthrow of the Amorites, considered their wickedness to be complete. It was time for them to go, and the Israelites dispossessed them and their kings Og and Sihon. The old evil was overthrown, and the newness of God replaced them.

     Here are some of the references in scripture to the defeat of the Amorite kings Og and Sihon, and its wider significance:

"Moreover You gave them (the Israelites of the wilderness) kingdoms and nations, and divided them into districts. So they took possession of the land of Sihon, (*vaw-aleph-tav: "the Lord, Adonai, nailed to the cross") the land of the king of Heshbon, and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land of Og king of Bashan." (Neh. 9:22).

"He (the LORD) defeated many nations and slew mighty kings - Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan - and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people." (Ps. 135:10-12). Ps. 136:17-22 describes this overthrow, reconciliation and renewal work of God among the nations of the earth as exhibiting His mercy that endures forever.

     Although Moab was not to be touched at the time of Moses' words in Deut. Ch. 2, generations later the judgment of God, who is the Just Judge without favoritism, was prophesied to fall upon that nation because it exalted itself against the LORD (Jer. 48:42). We will see some familiar references in the language used: "Fear and the pit and the snare shall be upon you, O inhabitant of Moab,' says the LORD. He who flees from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who gets out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For upon Moab, upon it I will bring the year of their punishment," says the LORD..."...But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the brow of Moab, the crown of the head of the sons of tumult." (v. 43-45, excerpt).

     The descendants of Lot, who had overthrown the aboriginal tribes who practiced perverse and murderous idol worship, would now be overthrown themselves because they had placed themselves above God and His will.

     As descendants of Noah, whom the LORD used as a prophet and deliverer from God's judgment, these idolatrous aboriginal tribes of Canaan, would have had the knowledge of the LORD from their forefathers. They chose a way of darkness instead. Sadder still, is that the people of God, then and sometimes even now, turn away from their knowledge of God and embrace the knowledge of the world instead. Both Paul and Peter wrote that this would especially be so in the latter days before the return of Messiah/Christ Jesus. (see Rom. 1:18-32 and 2 Pet. 2:1-3). The Lord holds off His judgment for as long as possible, giving every opportunity for all to repent and return to truth. (2 Pet. 3:9). However, without repentance, the overthrow will eventually come.

     This D'varim Sabbath reading portion brings us to the prophet Isaiah, who wrote the Word of the LORD concerning His own people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Alas, sinful nation, a people laden (kabed - great, grievous, heavy, sore, hard, thick, dull, difficult, very oppressive, unresponsive) with iniquity, a brood of evil doers, children who are corrupters!  They have forsaken (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the LORD, they have provoked to anger (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward...Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire; strangers devour your land in your presence; and it is desolate, as overthrown (mahpeka - overthrow, destruction, always of Sodom and Gomorrah, overturn) by strangers." (Isa. 1:4, 7). 

     I(nstead of being full of the kabod glory of God, as they were called to be, and as we are called to be also, His people had instead become full of kabed iniquity.

     Their appointments with the LORD, such as their sacrifices, New Moons (new month), Sabbaths, sacred assemblies and meetings, appointed feasts, meant to renew and reconcile, had become an abomination before the LORD instead. The LORD said that He could not bear them anymore. (v. 13-14). His people were practicing idolatry in the tree groves (symbolizing strength) and gardens (symbolizing protection). (v. 29-30). As designated by the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega connected to the names of God above, His people rejected their knowledge of the saving Messiah/Christ, and chose instead the natural strength and defense, and the empty promises of false gods. (see Isa. 2:6-8, 10).

     The LORD compares His people to Sodom and Gomorrah. (v. 10).

     The LORD's nation of "Praise," Judah, and Jerusalem, the city that bears His name: "The LORD is Peace," will be overthrown, as the LORD did with the Canaanite nations of idolators before them, in His prophecy to Isaiah. The LORD said that instead of being full of justice and righteousness, His city, Jerusalem, had become a city of murderers, rebellious, a companion of thieves, corrupt, oppressing the powerless and poor. (v. 21-23).

     Approximately two hundred years later, Isaiah's prophecy of an overthrown Judah was fulfilled as that nation was led into captivity to Babylon, who conquered them. God's people are not meant to be overthrown but choose it when they overthrow their knowledge of the One who loves and saves them.

     However, in this same chapter of Isaiah, the LORD also prophesies the restoration of Judah: "I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents (sub - return, bring back, to restore, refresh, repair, turn back to God, be brought back) with righteousness." (v. 26-37). It is not too late to return to the LORD. It is not too late to walk in His newness through the Messiah/Christ Jesus.

      This is not the end of the story, however. The LORD would not ever forget His covenant with Israel regarding the land, and His plan for renewing and reconciling the whole earth to Himself through Messiah/Christ as stated above. This plan required the existence of Israel, including Judah: Bethlehem of birth and Jerusalem of death and resurrection. The return of Messiah/Christ and His reign on earth will also flow from Jerusalem, the place of David's throne as many prophecies promise. (see Isa. 2:1-4, Isa. 9:6-7, Ps. 2:6-12, Zech. 14:3-4,Zech. 14:8-9,14, 16-17, etc.).

     The believers in Messiah/Christ are called to be an important part in the reconciling and renewing of the earth to the LORD as we saw in the beginning verses above. The "old" will be overthrown, but we are called to be part of the "new" in Messiah/Christ, and to minister it to others.

     If you would like to learn more about the reconciliation and renewal work of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Gracious Lord and Father, from the beginning, You have set forth Your plan to restore, reconcile and renew all of the earth and its inhabitants in Yourself. You sent Your Son, Jesus, to bring this newness to the earth, to reconcile every soul with his/her Creator, to forgive and redeem all who were laden with iniquity and destined to be overthrown. I thank You for Your grace and mercy that You extended to me and to all the world because of Your love for us all. Your Son will return to establish Your Kingdom in the earth and have rule so that the earth may dwell in peace. Keep me, Lord, in Your perfect peace, and draw me nearer always to Yourself. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may bring the Word of reconciliation to others. 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. 

Zadok

We have been reading in the Book of Leviticus, which means "of the Levites" from the Latin. In Hebrew, this third Book of the Bible is called Va-yikra, which translates to "and He (the LORD) called". The Law that God gave to Moses to bring to the people of Israel is included in this Book, as well as the ministry of the priests and the Levites (the tribe of priests) who served in the tabernacle of God. We who believe in the Messiah, or Christ, Jesus, are also called to a priesthood before God (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10), as has been mentioned previously, so we will see what we can learn about the priesthood from this week's readings. This week's Sabbath reading portion titled Emor meaning ""say", covers Leviticus chapters 23 and 24. What is Moses to say to the children of Israel at the command of the LORD? The LORD gave feasts to His people to observe at appointed times of the year. He commanded that these feasts were to be kept throughout all generations: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts." (Lev. 23:1-2). We may sometimes have difficulty relating to the Feasts of the LORD, however, the Feasts have a special quality and meaning that I think certainly applies to us and the world today. There are Feasts that take place in the spring, and Feasts that are appointed for the Fall, or harvest time. First mentioned of the Feasts is the Sabbath (Lev. 23:3). The Sabbath is treated as foundational to all of the Feasts. The identity of the Messiah is revealed in the Feasts. In the verses above, the LORD calls His Feasts holy. If we look at the meanings of the Hebrew words used in the two verses above from Lev. 23:1-2, we will find that these Feasts also are "appointed times to assemble and meet with the LORD, a fixed time for a betrothal, for an engagement in marriage between God and His people, summoned, called by name, invited, bidding of His guests to come to a rehearsal for future events, appointed assemblies where one will encounter God in an unexpected way". All of these qualities of the appointed Feasts of the LORD are very important in meaning, as we can see,, and not to be missed. These are the appointed holy Feasts of the LORD to which we are summoned by name: Passover-Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth)/Simchat Torah (see Lev. 23 for details). We will see that not only were these Feasts established by God, but they played a role in supernatural events between God and Israel. The priesthood ministered during these feasts, and played an important role in miraculous encounters with God. Our priesthood in Christ should also lead others into saving, supernatural encounters with the God of our salvation. In one of this week's Sabbath readings, Psalm 81, the writer, Asaph, the chief Levite singer under King David, called God's people to return to Him. Asaph's name means "gatherer, to gather together", which is appropriate, as he issued an invitation from God for His people to gather together again, and meet Him at His feasts: "Sing aloud to God our strength...Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob." (v. 1, 3). The LORD said: "You called in trouble,and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place (seter/satar - hiding place, covering, protection, shelter/concealed, hide oneself carefully) of thunder (ra'am - thunder, display of might, the whole circuit of the divine power)...". (v. 7). The "secret place of thunder" to me, is represented by Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles, in which God instructs His people to build booths (enclosed coverings) out of the lovliest tree branches, and spend seven days within them. In its way, it is an intimate "secret place" under His green branches to meet with God, where He will display Himself within His provision of the finest fruits of the land. The booths built of camouflaging branches also represent the marriage canopy under which the bride and groom are joined together. It represents the place where God meets His bride, Israel, and Christ meets His bride, the believers. The LORD refers again to this shelter, His secret place, in Psalm 91: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (v. 1). Asaph the Levite is saying to us, "Do you need to return to God? He is waiting for you to meet Him in the secret place." This is also to be our message to others as the priests of Christ. In another Sabbath reading portion, the priest, Ezra, with the governor, Nehemiah, led the people of Jerusalem back to God after their return from a heartbreaking exile. They had been exiled from the land in the first place because they had exiled their hearts from God. The revival of their relationship with God followed their observance of Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles (Neh. 8). Israel had not observed the Feast since the time of Joshua (v. 17), even though the LORD had commanded His people to meet with Him in His Feasts throughout all of their generations. When Ezra the priest read the law to all of the people, and the Levites helped the people to understand its meaning, the people wept in repentance for not keeping the Word of the LORD (Neh. 8:9). This reading before the people was done on the first day of the seventh month (v. 2), which would have been the Feast of Trumpets, a day that "is holy to the LORD your God." The people then began to gather what they would need in order to keep the coming Feast of Tabernacles. Again Ezra the priest gathered the people to explain what was required to observe the Feast so that they would understand (v. 13). He instructed the people to announce to everyone in Jerusalem and the other cities: "Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." (v. 15). After keeping the Feast of Tabernacles with very great gladness, the people were assembled, and entered into repentance confessing their sins, and the sins of their fathers, and they read the Book of the Law (Neh. 9:1-3). When we meet God in His secret place, our hearts are touched not only by His divine Almighty power on our behalf, but also His loving mercy towards us. The Levites (levi/lava - joined to, attached/abide, to unite, to cleave to), standing on the stairs (ma'ale/ala - ascent, lofty place/come up, offer, light, cause to ascend), again led the people by lifting up their voices and proclaiming the greatness of God, and the re-dedication of His people to their covenant with Him (Neh. 9:4-38). The Levites were positioned in the Spirit, joined to the LORD in a lofty place (the stairs), to cause the people to "come up" or ascend in praise and re-dedication. This is what we also can bring to the people as the priests, the joined ones to the LORD, who stand in the lofty place. In another reading from this week's Sabbath, King Solomon has just completed the newly built Temple of God in Jerusalem. He was ready for the furnishings to be brought in. Solomon assembled all of the elders of Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ArK of the Covenant into the new temple: "The Levites took up the ark...the priests and the Levites brought them (the furnishings) up...Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy place, under the wings of the cherubim." (2 Chron. 5:1-7, excerpt). Only the priests and Levites were allowed to bear the ark and the other vessels of the LORD. All of these furnishings represent the identity of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, in their prpose before God. Only the priesthood of saints carry the physical presence of Christ before the people, not with hands of flesh, but, as the Levites did, using spiritual poles or staves (bad/badad - a part of the body [see 1 Cor. 12:27], branch [see John 15:5]/to separate oneself, be separate [see Rom. 12:1-2]). Scripture tells us that the placement of the ark in the temple occurred on one of the Feasts of the LORD that is appointed for the seventh month (2 Chron. 5:3). Because all of the men of Israel were assembled with the king in Jerusalem, it was most likely the Feast of Tabernacles. The job of the Levites and priests was not done yet, however: "the priests...and the Levites who were the singers...stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets - indeed it came to pass when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound...saying, "For He (the LORD) is good, and His mercy endures forever', that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering...for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God." (v. 11-14, excerpt). The united voice and instruments of the priests and Levites ushered in the manifestation of the glory of God. No wonder the spirits of darkness have done all that they can to keep the members of the priesthood of believers in Christ from being unified in sound. The instruments mentioned above have these meanings in Hebrew: "sounded, surround with a stockade, separated from the open country, call aloud, proclamation, to call together, to quiver with vibration, a vessel, a weapon, a jewel, armor, to finish, end, accomplish, fulfill, destroy". This alone should teach us a great deal about our priesthood, if we will seek it. Finally, this week, the Sabbath portion brought us to a prophetic vision in Ezekiel chapter 44. Ezekiel received a vision from the LORD of a temple, unlike any temple that had existed before. He saw an eastern outer gate of the temple that the LORD Himself had entered. According to the prophetic vision, the same gate will be used only by "the prince", who will be able to sit in the gate and eat bread before the LORD (Ezek. 44:1-3). The Eastern Gate is associated with the appearing of Messiah, the Prince of Peace, whom we know to be Jesus Christ. Daniel the prophet also wrote of the Messiah to come as "the Prince" (Dan. 9:25). Also connected to this temple of Ezekiel's vision will be a new priesthood. The LORD explained to Ezekiel: "But the priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went away from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,' says the LORD God. 'They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge." (Ezek. 44:15-16). The Zadok priests were to eat only of the holy sacrifices made to the LORD (Ezek. 44:29-31, Lev. 22:7-8)). In Ezekiel's vision, the Levites had become so corrupted by idolatry that they were no longer fit to minister before the LORD, and their corruption had caused all of the house of Israel to fall into iniquity: "...therefore I have raised My hand in an oath against them,' says the LORD God, 'that they shall bear their iniquity. And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed..." (v. 12-13). Priests who minister before God cannot be covered with abominations and iniquity, neither then nor now. What is the meaning behind the new Zadok priesthood who will be accepted by the LORD? Zadok/sadak in Hebrew means "righteous, just/cleansed, justified, save, to absolve, to acquit, to purge oneself". Malachi also wrote prophetically of a priesthood, purified, purged and refined by the Messiah Himself so that they may be able to minister in righteousness. (Mal. 3:2-3). Speaking in the same meaning as the Zadok priesthood, Paul wrote of those who have turned away from sin and come to Christ: "...But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11). The Zadok priests of Ezekiel's vision will be clothed in linen garments as they minister before the LORD (Ezek. 44:17). The Book of Revelation speaks of the Bride of the Lamb (Jesus) being "arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright for the fine linen is the righteousness (sadak in Hebrew) of the saints." (Rev. 19:8). The Zadok priesthood was given a specific charge by the Word of the LORD in the vision of Ezekiel: "And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy (see Lev. 22) and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. In controversy they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgments. They shall keep My laws and My statutes in all My appointed meetings (Feasts), and they shall hallow My sabbaths...I am their inheritance...I am their possession." (Ezek. 44:23-24, 28, see also Eph. 1:13-14, 17-23). The Zadok priesthood of righteousness appears to be very similar to our priesthood in Christ. Handel wrote a glorious piece of music titled "Zadok the Priest". Called one of the most triumphant moments in classical music, I recommend a listen to Handel's "Zadok the Priest", if you have a chance. This Sabbath's reading portion taught me something new about not only the Feasts of the LORD, but especially about the ministry of the priesthood before God and the people. If you would like to learn more about these holy things of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your desire to meet with Your people at appointed times, and to manifest Your greatness before them. You have created a place where we can come to You in the tabernacle of Christ's salvation in the beauty of holiness, where we can dwell all the days of our lives. Through Your Son, You have called me to a priesthood to minister to You and the people by the Holy Spirit, handling the holy things of God, teaching others Your Word so that they can understand, in unity ushering in the glory of God. You have given me linen garments of righteousness, not by any works that I do, but by the sacrifice of Your Son of righteousness, Jesus. You only are my inheritance and my possession. I pray these things in the name of Jesus, AMEN."

Birth

The Sabbath reading for this week is titled Tazri'a, which means "she bears seed", or "childbirth". This is also the Sabbath before the new month of Nisan begins. "Nisan" is a Babylonian word. The Hebrew word for this new month is Aviv. It is designated by God to be the first of the months of the year (Ex. 12:2). The Passover Feast, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread take place in this month. The new month of Aviv also represents the ripening of the barley harvest, and so it is also associated with the spring season, renewal, and, as we will see, birth. Aviv also means "to bring forth shoots", and the root word of Aviv, is the word av, meaning "Father". Not only is human birth mentioned in this Sabbath's reading, but a powerful spiritual birth as well. We will see that in all of these cases, the birthing process is very special in the eyes and purpose of God. Our understanding of the Hebrew words used in the commands of God regarding birthing offer a special view into His thoughts. Scientifically, we know that the woman's body becomes a filtering process for the life in the womb. The placenta removes toxins from the blood going to the fetus, and produces antibodies for the benefit of the unborn child. After the birth, the mother's body continues healing and cleansing for about six to eight weeks. Man did not have this biological knowledge at the time, but the LORD did, and He made the necessary allowance for this physical and spiritual cleansing process to continue for a specific number of days, either forty (gimel - meaning to ascend a level) or eighty (Pe - meaning an opening, an entrance, a beginning), in Leviticus 12. The LORD then said in Lev. 12:6: "When the days of her purification are fulfilled...". The Hebrew language used here reflects great beauty and delight. The Hebrew word translated as "purification" is tohar/taher. and means "glory, splendor, brightness, majesty, clearness, to purify, to shine, to be bright". The word "fulfilled" is the Hebrew word mala, meaning "consecrate, replenish, gather, overflow, abundance, to satisfy, complete, to make full". The mother's glory is made full to overflowing in this process. As the new mother completed her days of purification as mentioned above, she was to bring offerings to God. The first offering she must bring was that of a lamb (keber - to dominate, a ram just old enough to butt, sheep in general). She also had to bring a pigeon (yona - a dove/pigeon, endearment, gentle, ardor), or a turtledove (tor/tur - term of endearment, to be especially dear to, also a circlet or ornament for the hair made of pearl, gold, or silver; succession; to search out, select, to follow after, to show the way in an unknown place). The offerings made here show us a very special endearing love, not in weakness and helplessness, but in strength. There is an acknowledgement of royal succession and the diadem of honor between the new mother and the LORD. We see this same respect, marvel, and glory from God regarding birth in another reading for this special Sabbath before the month of Aviv. In Isaiah 66, the LORD revealed how far His people's hearts had gone from him. Their offerings were made worthless to God because of their lack of love, respect, and reverence for the God who called them, redeemed them, and delivered them (v. 3). The LORD said that He looks instead "...on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." (v. 2). The LORD said that when He spoke, no one answered or heard (v. 4). However, in the middle of these sad observations, the LORD declared a great birth: "The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, who fully repays His enemies! 'Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?', says the LORD. 'Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?' says your God." (Isa. 66:6-9). What the LORD, who marvels in birth, was causing to be born in this prophetic word would affect Jerusalem, as well as the Gentiles: "Rejoice in Jerusaalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her; all you who mourn for her; That you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted, with the abundance of her glory...on her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." (v. 10-13). This is not the end of the birthing, however, as the LORD spoke of the abundance of her glory (see above regarding the new mother's completion of purification). "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', says the LORD." (v. 22-23). The beginning of the new month of Aviv is signified by the appearance of a new moon, or Rosh Chodesh. We can never doubt, especially in this coming month of Aviv, that God will be birthing something in the earth, not only to restore the hearts of His people back to Him, but to also accomplish the defeat of His enemies, as He said in Isaiah. Warfare is won through birth! As the fulfillment of His prophetic promise to the Serpent of his defeat (Gen. 3:14-15), the LORD caused His Salvation to come to the world through the miraculous and enduring birth of a Child in Bethlehem to a virgin (Lk. 2:6-7). This same birth will impact spiritual and world events of these last days also (Rev. 12:1-17). Birth is not just a natural individual event, but it is full of spiritual importance in the timing and purpose of the LORD. If you would like to be part of what God is birthing in your life, and in the world, you can pray with me: Heavenly Father, in this Aviv season of birth, renewal and resurrection, I pray that Your purpose be birthed in Me and in the earth. I pray for the ripening of the harvest of God. Because of Your Son, Jesus, I have experienced the new birth by faith in Him, and in His resurrection. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I am able to "bring forth shoots", and be fruitful for Your kingdom. In Jesus' Name I pray, AMEN."

Mercy (Pt 3 of 3)

This is Pt. 3 in a series covering these three fall feasts of the LORD commanded in scripture: the Feast of Trumpets (see the previous post, "NewMoon"), the Days of Awe/Repentance (see the previous post, "AWE"), and today's post, "Mercy" which is about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. These posts cannot cover all that can be said about these feasts, and their importance not only to the Jewish people, but also to all who know Jesus as Messiah and Lord. I wanted to look into them to discover how these feasts that have been ordained by God to all generations must also contain a great impact on my spiritual walk. God has a purpose for us in these feasts, as well as the revelation of Jesus within them. 
Let's do a brief review of the previous two posts, and then begin our look into Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
We found that as well as the significance of the shofar or trumpet, the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, is directly tied to the new moon (root word "chadash") of the month of Tishrei (meaning "beginning"). This feast marks the beginning of a process. The chadash meaning of the Feast of Trumpets involves renewal, restoration, rebuilding, as well as the polishing and cutting of a sword. The rapture of the church is the most dramatic "renewal" of all, and it is associated with the sounding of the trumpets on this feast day.
We begin that personal renewal, and the even wider process of renewal of creation, during the self-examination and repentance associated with the Days of Awe, the days between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur. Repentance is the means, but the end result the Lord is looking for in us is change. Jesus addressed His churches and sought this serious change in them in the Book of Revelation. Failure of the church to address and change our serious shortcomings would result in great loss, according to these scriptures (see chapters 2 and 3). Heeding the Holy Spirit, and seeking the changes that the Lord required of His churches would result in rewards.
According to the rabbis, on  the Feast of Trumpets, our names are written or inscribed into books based upon the Lord's examination and determination regarding us. On Yom Kippur, the names in those books are sealed, or finalized. We have the days in between to search ourselves and determine to change those things that would have us inscribed and sealed into judgment books, "to avert the severe decree", as it is taught by the rabbis. As we saw in the previous post, "AWE", for those not found inscribed in the (Lamb's) Book of Life, the ramifications can be very serious. even deadly. This judgment of Yom Kippur is not the judgment of the dead, but the judgment of the living.
While on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, our names are sealed in those books, Lev. 16 also shows us the pattern for the provision of the atonement and mercy of God, which are also imbedded in this feast day. As we saw in the previous entry, scripture says that mercy and judgment always dwell together in God. The Day of Atonement is a solemn feast day (Lev. 23:26-32). The LORD commands that we fast, pray, and afflict ourselves. We are not to be busy with "life as usual" on this day. The pattern of heavenly intercession for the sins of the people is revealed in this feast day as given to Moses from God (see Lev. 16). The High Priest entered the Holy of Holies with the blood of sacrifice, and sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat. This atoning blood was for himself and his family, the tabernacle, and all of the people.
In the prophetic fulfillment of this most holy purpose of the Day of Atonement, God has not relied upon man, but has appointed His only Son to be not only the blood of sacrifice (Heb. 9:13-14), but also the High Priest who applies the sacrificial blood (Heb. 6:20, Heb. 7:24-26), and the Mercy Seat (meaning of "propitiation" used in Rom. 3:25, 1 Jn. 2:2) itself upon which that holy blood is sprinkled. That Mercy Seat is the throne of the presence of the glory of the LORD. Jesus is the Person, the Place, and the Means, the All in All, of the mercy provision of God. Leviticus 16:17 tells us that while the High Priest is fulfilling his duty on this day, no man may be present in any part of the earthly tabernacle. Now, instead of men, who have weaknesses, to intercede as High Priest, using the blood of animals, God has appointed His Son, who has been perfected forever, to be our High Priest as on the Day of Atonement (Heb. 7:28). The purpose of the approach to the Mercy Seat is to seek mercy in the face of the judgment of the living sealed in the books, and to bring reconciliation of man with God.
The Book of Hebrews tells us that we too can now approach that Mercy Seat, having been cleansed ourselves through Christ (Heb. 10:19-23). We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together for this purpose, especially as we see this Day approaching, as some forsake it (Heb. 10:24-25). Here again, scripture tells us that the significance of these feast days are for the church, as well as for the Jewish people. Although it is the current custom of the church to ignore the true observance of these feast days, and the repentance and change that is required within them, we are warned in scripture not to overlook the significance in our walk:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?..."The LORD will judge His people"...It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."   Heb. 10:26-31 (see also Deut. 32:35-36)
The verses above were all written in the context of the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement by our High Priest, Jesus Christ. The whole Book of Hebrews teaches the church about this feast, and how it applies to the believers in Christ. The provision of this mercy, and its sanctification is forever. However, that doesn't mean we can take it for granted that the judgment of the living does not also apply to us as believers in Christ. Our Good Shepherd, Jesus, Who examines us, expects us to understand and observe the provision of mercy (and completed renewal) that pushes back the judgment deserved, and has been so lovingly and powerfully provided for us in this feast day. Are we diligent at the Mercy Seat of God on behalf of ourselves and all people? The mercy of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is precious to our walk with Christ. That mercy cost our Father, and His dear Son everything.

Our Father has sent His mercy, His Son, to provide the atonement for us.