Name&Purpose

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is very special. It is titled, Sh'mot, which means "Names." The word Sh'mot is also the Hebrew title of the Book of Exodus. The Book of Exodus deals with many amazing events including the deliverance of the Israelites out of the slavery in Egypt, the anointed and miraculous leadership of Moses as the Deliverer appointed by the LORD, the parting of the Red Sea, the receiving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and much more. It tells us something important when such a Book is named for and begins with the concept of "Names." The word Sh'mot, meaning names, is made up of the Hebrew letters shin, mem, vaw and tav. Each of these letters has an individual meaning, and when they are grouped together in this word they could be interpreted to mean: "the mighty consuming rock of water and blood of the nail and the cross/covenant/mark."

     The word Sh'mot, as a title of both the Book and this Sabbath, is taken from the first verse in the Book of Exodus: "Now these are the names (sem/sum - name, renown, fame, reputation, glory, memorial, monument, a mark of honor, authority and character, a mark with which anyone is marked/set, appoint, mark, ordain, establish, determine, transform into, make for a sign, care, preserve, purpose, to set standing in place, to plant, beget, to put garments on oneself, to set on fire) of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob."

     Please note the powerful meaning of the idea of a name as shown in the Hebrew meaning above. It is as if by naming us, the LORD sets marked pillars in place that are monuments of glory, honor, authority and character. At the entrance of the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, called Solomon's Porch," two bronze (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) pillars stood that were (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) named Boaz ("in fleetness and strength") and Jachin ("He [the LORD] will establish"). (see 1 Kings 7:21). This is also where Jesus plainly identified Himself as the Messiah/Christ in Solomon's Porch in the temple of Jerusalem, formally establishing His Kingdom, and also told those who had challenged Him there: "I and My Father are one." (see Jn. 10:22-30). After His resurrection, believers in Christ would meet together in the same Solomon's Porch (see Acts 3:11-16 and Acts 5:12).

     The names of these pillars were no accident but established a prophetic monument of glory honor, authority, and character of the King and Kingdom of God that would be fulfilled by Jesus Messiah/Christ, and also His believers.

     Under the Hebrew meaning for "name", (see sem/sum above), we can see that the name also transforms the person or thing. We have seen in previous Sabbath reading portions how God changed Abram's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name to Abraham (Gen. 17:5-7, Neh. 9:7), Sarai's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name to Sarah, and Jacob's name to Israel. (see Gen. 32:26-28). As their names were changed, their prophetic purpose was set in place.

     The name Abraham transformed Abram to a father of many nations and kings, and as an establishing point of covenant with God according to the verses noted above. Sarah's name transformed her into a mother of a future son, and a mother of nations and kings. Jacob's new name, Israel, transformed him into a prince who prevails with God and men.

      In another portion from this Sh'mot, "Names", Sabbath reading, Pharaoh's daughter found a baby in the river waters that she named Moses because, as the name means, she drew him out of the waters. (Ex. 2:5-10). The deliverer appointed by God to guide His people out of Egypt, Moses, was taken from the same waters that were claimed by the terrible gods of Egypt who were falsely credited with creative power, including life and death. Using their own place of rulership, the river, to identify His deliverer in this manner, the LORD made fools of those gods before the eyes of the Egyptians who believed and relied upon them. The LORD judged those gods as He judged all of Egypt by the plague of the death of all of the first-born. (see Ex. 12:12).

     Jesus marks our transformation in Him by writing upon us a new name (see sem/sum above): "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar (stylos/histemi - pillar, column, flames rising like a pillar, support/make firm, establish, cause to stand, uphold authority, set in place) in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev. 3:11-13, also see Rev. 2:17).

     Before He was born, Jesus was given His name which reflected His purpose and the monument of authority that He would establish as the angel Gabriel told Mary: "And behold, you will conceive in your womb  and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS (iesous [Greek]/yehoshua [Heb.] - meaning "Jehovah is salvation"). He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." (Lk. 1:31-33).

     Within the Hebrew meanings above of "name", sem/sum, are included the ideas "to put garments on oneself", and "to set on fire." Believers in Messiah/Christ Jesus particularly are able to find these ideas in scripture. In Galatians 3:26-27, Paul wrote: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on (endyo - out on, clothe with, be clothed) Christ." (see also Rom. 13:12-14 and Eph. 4:20-24). We clothe ourselves in Christ in the same way that we would sink into a garment. After the resurrection, the believers in Jesus Christ were gathered together in the upper room above David's tomb in Jerusalem on the Feast of Pentecost/Weeks, when fire came down from heaven, which was the Holy Spirit, and settled upon the heads of each one. (Acts 2:1-4). To consider the spiritual imagery described here, we could say that each believer became a torch of fire (light) or a living pillar of flame as they received the Holy Spirit in this form. They were transformed in this experience, and the church was established as Peter gave his first sermon regarding faith in Christ and repentance unto salvation to those present who were observing this phenomenon.

     As we can see from all of the above examples from scripture, "What a difference a sem/sum name makes!"

     Going back to our Sabbath reading portion for this week in the Book of Exodus (Sh'mot), the LORD reveals His name to Moses at the burning bush of fire: "Then Moses said to God, 'Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?' And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM (haya/hava - to be, to become, has been, to exist, to come to pass, to be established/to breathe, to be) has sent me to you.' Moreover God said to Moses, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations." (Ex. 3:13-15). The LORD clothed Himself in fire to reveal His sem/sum name.

     The Hebrew letters yod-hey-vaw-hey that are written for this name, LORD, or "I AM", that was revealed to Moses above, and to all generations to come after him, have the individual meanings when combined that can express this: "Behold, the hand, behold the nail." The name revealed to Moses here means the life, or existing, before, the life now and the life to come (see haya/hava above). He is the breath that forms all life. There is no life without Him as the Existing One. 

     Jesus revealed Himself in the first chapter of the Book of Revelation, saying: "I am the Alpha and the Omega (also Aleph-Tav in Hebrew, see *note at the bottom of the page), the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:4, 8). He also describes Himself as "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen." (v. 18). John 1:4 says: "In Him was life (zoe/zao - absolute fulness of life which belongs to God and to Christ/to live, to breathe, to be alive)...". Clothed in His name, Jesus, we have this same life.

     Each of us is named. According to the choices made, and the Messiah/Christ of salvation either gratefully received or rejected, some of those names are written in the Book of Life, and some are not. The names of life given to us have the power to transform us and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. The name we have identifies us with the Messiah/Christ Jesus or not: "...that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth...Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (spoken by Peter, the Book of Acts 4:10-12, excerpt). This is the name that has been given to us from heaven for our salvation. Put on, be clothed in that name and live.

     If you would like to know more about the name of the LORD and life, you can pray with me: "Living Father, You have given us Your only begotten Son, Jesus, Yehoshua Salvation, so that I may be transformed from death unto life by that name. You are life forevermore, and You have gifted that same life to me through faith in that name. What power You have placed in Your name for my benefit! Transform me by that name, establish me in that name, and clothe me in that name, "Jesus". I praise and thank You 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. 

AltogetherJust

      From scripture, the LORD makes clear that He takes justice and judgment very seriously. He holds judgment to a very high standard. He expects the same from us: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8). As I read this verse and consider it, it seems impossible to do the first two requirements if we do not have the third: to walk humbly (sana - lowly, humbly, modest, submissively, to show humility, keep close, preserve) with your God. And it is impossible to do the third without doing the first two!

     Before this verse from Micah above, the question is asked by the prophet: "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" (v. 6-7).

     Micah's revelation in verse 8 above is a religion killer, religion being man's doctrines of how to reach God. The greatest offering that we can bring the LORD is not reflected in religious obligations but is found in an inward change of heart which is rooted in thanksgiving towards God (see Col. 3:12-17), and consequently our righteous offerings to Him flow from that place of humility, love and thanksgiving. Perhaps because the LORD loves His Son so much, that when He sees the qualities of His Son in our inner man, He is well and most pleased (see Mt. 3:13-17). Jesus, His Son, walked with all power and authority, wisdom, grace and truth, but He also was willing to empty Himself of His privileged station of equality with the Father, and bow humbly before the will of His Father, God. Because of this, Christ was highly exalted by the Father. (Phil. 2:3-11). The humility that Micah wrote that God requires of us is not a place of weakness, but a place of God's trust, promotion and power.

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Shoftim, meaning "Judges." The first mention of this office comes under the heading in my Bible, "Justice Must Be Administered." Deut. 16:18-20 says: "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the LORD your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the people with just judgment. You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe (sohad/sahad - gift, reward, bribes, present, bribery, donation/reward, hire, give a present, bribe, ransom, hire, give a reward, donate, bestow a gift especially to free from punishment), for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists/perverts the words of the righteous. You shall follow what is altogether just ("just, just" in Hebrew - sedeq/sadaq - righteousness, justice, rightness in government, cause, speech, ethics, vindication, deliverance, victory, prosperity, redemption, salvation, in the name of the Messianic (Christ) King/be just, be righteous, to be just of God, do or bring justice, to declare righteous, to justify, cleanse), that you may live and inherit (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land (eres - land, earth, whole earth, country, territory, district, region, piece of ground, Sheol the underworld, inhabitants of the land, land of the living) which the LORD your God is giving you." 

      As we look at the phrase "altogether just" as it applies to the requirement of the appointed judges and the people in general, it is "just, just" in Hebrew (see sedeq/sadaq, above) placing a double emphasis on the quality of doing and being "just'. We have a certain concept of the act of judging in the spiritual sense, but in looking at the meanings included in the Hebrew language, "just" is connected to "deliverance, victory, prosperity, redemption, salvation, in the name of the Messiah/Christ King". Here we see why the Father entrusted all judgment/justice into the hands of His Son, Yeshua (meaning "salvation, deliverance, welfare, save, prosperity, victory" - see also "just", sedeq/sadaq above)), Jesus: "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment (krisis - right, justice, a separating, sundering, judgment, concerning justice and injustice, justice as divine law) to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly I (Jesus) say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (Jn. 5:22-24). The One who has the authority over all judgment is the One who is "altogether just".

     To be "just", to do "justly", is directly tied to salvation, redemption, deliverance, and the Person who embodies "the name of the Messiah/Christ King", Jesus the Just. This elevates our idea of judgment, justice and just to the divine level. It is not based upon the ideas, preferences, or biases of men. The Lord allows us to know (epiginosko - to know accurately, to ascertain, perceive, understand, recognize) a person by the fruit, works/results of that person (see Mt. 7:15-20), but God only, and His Son as stated above, are equipped to judge the heart of a person. (see 1 Sam. 16:6-7, 1 Chron. 28:9-10).

     We have all sinned and are worthy of condemnation except by belief in the "altogether just" Person of Christ who attained salvation and deliverance for us through giving His own life and being raised again for our sakes. Paul wrote in Romans: "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Rom. 3:21-26).

     Going back to our beginning verses for this Shoftim, "Judges", Sabbath reading portion from Deut. 16:18-20 above, following what is "altogether just" will determine whether God's people live and inherit the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) land. The Hebrew word for "land" is eres, which can mean a piece of ground, the territory, the country, or its meaning can expand further to include the whole earth and its inhabitants. The power of God's people being "altogether just", or "just, just", can impact the whole earth.

     The command to be "altogether just" is not a command to ignore sin, which destroys, kills, and brings condemnation, nor is it a command to deny that the LORD will absolutely judge the guilty. However, it seems to carry the even greater power to save, deliver, redeem, have the victory, prosper, all in the name of the Messiah (Christ) the King, according to its meaning in Hebrew. Paul expounded on this very meaning in Rom. 3, above. Paul connects it to the righteousness of God proven through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for all who will believe and receive, because He is just and the justifier. This is a very powerful and important concept in understanding what it means as God commanded His people to be "altogether just" in their judgments.

     We see a prophetic picture of this sovereign transformation from the wrath of God against His people (see Isa. 51:17-23), using the concept of being "altogether just" (see sedeq/sadaq above) and the LORD as just and justifier as Paul wrote in Rom. 3 above in another part of this Sabbath's reading portion. In order to change His wrath and condemnation into redemption and salvation, the LORD said through His prophet: "Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you. Shake (na'ar - shake out the [your lion's] mane and growl) yourself from the dust (apar - dust, earth, rubbish, ashes, mortar, be gray from the dust), arise; Sit down (yasab - dwell, inhabit, remain, have as one's abode, to marry [give a dwelling to]), O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion! For thus says the LORD: 'You have sold yourselves for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money...How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'...For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem....all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD." (Isa. 52:1-12, excerpt).

     Do we understand the powerful tool of "altogether just" with which the LORD has entrusted us? Are we able to see the transformative power of "altogether just" not just as it pertained to Israel but to "all the ends of the earth" as Isaiah's verses point out? Do the words that we speak incorporate this power of transformation from condemnation and wrath to salvation and redemption in the name of the Messiah (Christ) the King? (see sedeq/sadaq above). If not, we are missing an anointed opportunity in these last days before the return of Christ who will judge and reign. Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, as Paul wrote, not to give permission to sin, but that grace might reign in righteousness through Jesus. (see Rom. 5:20-21, Rom. 6:1-5).

     The triumphant vision given to Isaiah above, is not complete without the verses that follow regarding the sin-bearing Servant of God who was marred beyond recognition for the purpose of the sprinkling/spurting (naza) of His blood of expiation for many nations, the Servant/Messiah whom kings will hear about and see.  (v. 13-15). As the description continues into Isaiah 53, it becomes obvious that this is a prophetic portrait of Jesus, who "bore the sin of many", which was given to Isaiah 750 years before Christ's birth on earth.

     Our Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news, the glad tidings of good things (see Isa. 52 above), of transformation from death to life, from darkness to light, from sin to the righteousness of God. It is the proclaiming of the reign of grace in righteousness over sin. This Gospel is the power of God to salvation for all who believe, for both Jew first and then the Gentile. (See Rom. 1:16-17). For those who receive the Savior, Jesus, who believe in His name (see sedeq/sadaq above) it is the transformative power and authority to become children, sons, of God. (see Jn. 1:10-13). We believe this for ourselves. Will we also believe it and proclaim it for others? The Lord gave His life in that sure promise of the Father. The LORD in our midst is the Mighty One who will save. (see Zeph. 3:17).

     If you would like to learn more about the "altogether just" Gospel of Jesus Messiah/Christ, you can join me in my prayer: "Father, You are the Mighty One who saves. I give You all praise and thanks for Your extraordinary wisdom, knowledge and understanding, which has built into Your commandment for us to be altogether just, Your desire and power to save and redeem. You gave Your only Son, my Savior Jesus, in order to save the lives of the inhabitants of the whole earth. Lord, as evil seems to be increasing and wickedness surrounds, let me never forget Your mighty power to save and transform the human soul, and to proclaim it. Help me to walk in what is altogether just, and to believe and declare Your sedeq/sadaq "righteousness, justice, rightness in government, cause, speech, ethics, vindication, deliverance, victory, prosperity, redemption, salvation, in the name of the Messianic/Christ King/to be just, be righteous, to be just of God, do or bring justice, to declare righteous, to justify, to cleanse." Nothing is impossible with You, Lord. You have commanded Your people, both Jewish and Gentile, to be the just of God. Give me Your heart, and transform my mind by Your Word, Jesus, to walk in this transforming hope for the whole earth. I ask this in Jesus' name, in the name of the Messianic (Christ) King. 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. 

HeaveOffering

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled T'rumah, which means "Offering". The title comes from the first two verses of the reading portion which begins in Ex. 25: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering (teruma/rum - contribution, heave offering in sacrifice, offering for sacred uses, an oblation/lifted up, exalt, high, heave, extol, to rise, rise up, be set on high, be raised). From everyone who gives it willingly (nadab - willingly offered, offered freely, to volunteer) with his heart you shall take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My offering."

     The offering that Moses has been told to receive from the Israelites has two characteristics: it is a heave offering, meaning lifted up, and it is voluntary, to be given from the heart. This special heave offering of specific items will go to the building of the tabernacle of God's presence, containing the ark of the covenant of God's Word, providing His atonement for sins, as His house of light and bread, and as His house of prayer. All of the reading portions assigned to this Sabbath pertain to the building of the tabernacle of the wilderness, or later in time, the temple built by King Solomon in Jerusalem.

     The two characteristics of the offerings to be brought are also reflective of Jesus Christ, who is the chief cornerstone of the spiritual house or temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22), of which we are the living building stones (1 Pet. 2:4-5). First, the heave offering is displayed to us as Jesus said: "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up (hypsoo/hypsos/hyper - to lift up on high, to raise, to elevate, to exalt/high, exalted, elevation/for the sake of, on behalf of, instead of, on the part of, above, exceedingly abundantly) from the earth, will draw all (peoples) to Myself.' This He said, signifying by what death He would die." (Jn. 12:31-33). Jesus identified Himself as a heave offering as we compare the meaning in the Greek to the similar meaning in the Hebrew above. The sacrifice of Messiah/Christ was also completed by His resurrection, when, again, He was "raised up". (see 1 Cor. 15:16-17).

     The second characteristic of this offering from the Israelites is that it must be voluntarily given out of love. We often think that Jesus' was killed by men, but it was not possible for men to take Jesus' life unless He allowed it. Jesus had at His beck and call legions of angels if He so desired to escape. (see Mt. 26:50-54). Of His death as a voluntary T'rumah heave offering, Jesus clearly stated: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep...As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep...Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (Jn. 10:11-18, excerpt).

     Like the heave offerings that built the tabernacle of God, Jesus' heave offering of Himself was voluntary and given from His heart - His heart for His Father in heaven, and His heart for His sheep.

     The voluntary T'rumah heave offerings to be brought for the building of the tabernacle, according to the instructions that the LORD gave to Moses, included fifteen specific items that ranged from precious metals and gems to various colored threads. (Ex. 25:3-7). All of these items according to their Hebrew meanings create an image of the characteristics and sacrifice of Jesus. Some of the translated meanings of the fifteen types of items to be offered include: to shine, shimmer, brilliance, white fine linen, alabaster, sacrificial victim, prevail, strong, doorposts and lintels (a reminder of the blood of the Passover Lamb, who is also Jesus), leader of a flock, noble leader, laid bare, made naked, fasten to wooden timbers or planks, carpenter, scourging thorns, to pierce, to whip, anointing, fruitfulness, light, glorious, consecrated, anointed, sweet smell or fragrance, sweet smoke of sacrifice, precious stone, build a house, temple, altar, foundation or family, Father/Son.

     The LORD continued His instructions to Moses: "And let them make Me a sanctuary (miqdas/qadas - sacred place, holy place, consecrated place/prepare, sanctuary, dedicate, holy, appointed, treated as sacred: set apart), that I may dwell among them (see also Jn. 1:14, Rev. 21:3). According to all that I show you, that is, the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." (Ex. 25:8-9). Moses could not construct a tabernacle from his own ideas, but there was a specific pattern (tabnit - plan, resemblance, figure, form, likeness, similitude, image or likeness of a thing) that must be created for the tabernacle. This "pattern" is modified by an untranslated aleph-tav in the written Hebrew (or Alpha and Omega in Greek: see notation below), which, to those who have read the Book of Revelation, is how Jesus described Himself.

     Why is the LORD asking His people to voluntarily bring these fifteen specific items as a T'rumah heave offering? The meaning of the number fifteen to us might represent 3 (the Trinity) X 5 (the number of Grace), or perhaps 10 (the number of Completion) + 5 (the number of Grace).

     However, Jewish rabbis also teach about the meaning of the number fifteen that is not contradictory to the deepest and most powerful concepts of the New Testament as we will see. According to the rabbis, "fifteen" represents the rest achieved after the deliverance represented by the number "fourteen". It also signifies a new direction as well as the bond between husband and wife (see also Eph. 5:25, 30-33). The number fifteen also equals the number of the Psalms of Ascent (Ps. 120-134), which are equivalent to the fifteen steps of the temple, those steps achieving the elevation of the individual from the physical to the spiritual state as well as the joining together of heaven, represented by the number 7, and earth, represented by the number 8 together totaling 15. The rabbis write that there are also fifteen signs of the closeness of the appearing (or return by our belief) of the Messiah/Christ. These fifteen signs indicate that the Messiah/Christ is so close to appearing that "you can hear His footsteps". These fifteen signs are also very similar to Paul's teaching in Rom. 1:28-31 and 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

     The number fifteen is also represented by the two Hebrew letters yod and heh, letters which mean "Behold the Hand (of God)", and are the first two letters in the name of God: YHWH. So "fifteen" also represents the powerful work of the hand of God.

     What the rabbis write about the meaning of the number fifteen as shown above is revealed in the New Testament in what it means to be in Jesus Messiah/Christ as believers. In us, as we are in Messiah/Christ, heaven and earth are to be reconciled to God through His Son (2 Cor. 5:18-21) and joined together. Jesus taught His disciples the prayer, which states in part: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." (Mt. 6:9-10).

     Also, as we ascend into the presence of God through Christ, we are to be changed into new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). We change from the physical state to the spiritual state, from corruption of the flesh to the incorruption of the Spirit (1 Cor. 15:50-54). A change takes place as we were crucified with Christ and as we offer ourselves as a living (heave) offering sacrifice to God (see Rom. 12:1-2, Gal. 2:20). Scripture says that we ascended into the heavenly places as we are in Christ (see Eph. 2:4-10), not conformed to the things of this world, but we are transformed into the image and likeness (see "tabnit - pattern" above) of the fulness of Jesus Messiah/Christ through His Word. (see also Eph. 4:11-15). 

     As we can see, the New Testament reflects what the rabbis teach regarding the number "15".

     These are not just words that we read but they are the expectation of God for us now as we remain in His Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. These are not just promises for a "sweet by and by" after we have died but are to manifest in us now as the apostles wrote it. Do we have the faith to believe in the complete meaning of the accomplished work of Jesus as a T'rumah heave offering on the cross, and as the Resurrection and the Life for the now time in our lives? The rabbis foresaw God's miraculous and transforming purpose for us, but we New Testament believers have a difficult time "believing" it. We are very much caught up in the events and conditions of this world, focusing our eyes on the dirt beneath our feet, not wanting to let go of it long enough to reach out for the vision and things of heaven. We are to speak and believe in a transforming reconciliation of the two through Jesus Christ and His voluntary T'rumah heave offering.

     Eventually, the transformative change will be so extensive that it will result in new heavens and a new earth, with the holy city of heaven and the tabernacle of God descending to the earth as the Lord declares : "Behold, I make all things new...It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End..." (Rev. 21:1-6). Peter also wrote that we are to look (prosdokao - look for in expectation, denotes mental direction) for these things in order to hasten (speudo/pous - desire earnestly, to await eagerly, to study, to urge on/sit at the feet of a teacher, put one's foot on the vanquished in victory) them. (2 Peter 3:10-14). We are to have an active role in this transformation process promised by God since Genesis, not passively sitting on the sidelines.

     The house, tabernacle, or temple of God is built from T'rumah heave offerings given from the heart that are in the pattern of the Messiah/Christ.

     If you would like to know more about the pattern of the Messiah/Christ in the building of the house of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, after the pattern of Your Son, Jesus, I offer myself as a living heave offering for the building of Your living temple here on the earth, as it is in heaven. The purpose of this living temple is so You can dwell among Your people in the holy sanctuary created in me through Jesus. I earnestly desire to see Your will, Father, done on earth as it is in heaven. Transform my mind to walk in the ascended places by Your Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Teach me how to bring reconciliation between heaven and earth until new heavens and a new earth are manifested according to Your prophetic promise.  I ask these things 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.

     

TabernaclePilgrimage

      This Sabbath's reading portion is titled CHOL HA-MO'ED SUKKOT, which means "the interim days of the Feast of Tabernacles". This Sabbath falls in the middle of that seven-day feast. The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven-day fall feast commanded by the LORD to His people. It is one of three feasts out of the seven in which the LORD requires that His people physically gather in Jerusalem to come before Him: "Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread...and the Feast of Harvest (also known as the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost), the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering (also known as Tabernacles) at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field. Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord (adon - Lord, master, owner, king, ruler, husband) God." (Ex. 23:14-17). The other feasts may be observed locally, but these three feasts, including Tabernacles, must be observed before the Lord God, which would be at His tabernacle/temple, and later in history that place would be in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:1-6).

     In one of this Sabbath's reading portions, the LORD is withdrawing from the Israelites because of their continuing sinful and rebellious attitude towards Him: "And I will send My Angel before you...for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people." (Ex. 33:2-3). However, Moses could not journey on until he received the promise from God that He would indeed continue to be with them in their midst. The presence and identity of the LORD Himself among His people is what separates His people from the other peoples. Moses said: "Now therefore I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) way (derek/darak - way towards, journey, manner, road trodden, direction, a going hence, the way which leads to that place, mode, course/tread, walk, lead forth, guide, bend a bow, archer), that I may know You and that I may find grace (hen/hanan/hana - grace, favor, acceptance, elegance, kindness/mercy, show favor, pity, to bend or stoop in kindness/dwell, encamp, rested, bow down, incline) in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people. And He (the LORD) said, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Then he (Moses) said to Him, 'If Your Presence (panim/pana - face, presence, before and behind, countenance, person/turn, look, prepare, regard, to face, appear) does not go with us, do not bring us up (ala - raised, arose, exalted, ascend, go up, be brought up, be carried away, led up, be offered) from here. For how will it be known that Your people have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth. So the LORD said to Moses, I will also do this (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) thing (dabar - word, thing, matter, speak, utter) that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." (Ex. 33:13-17).

     It was considered absolutely essential to Moses that God dwell, be present among, and travel with His people. This is "Tabernacle". The Hebrew word and roots for tabernacle is miskan/sakan/sakab, meaning "dwelling, place, tabernacle, residence, temple, habitation, tent/dwell abide, inhabit, remain, continue, dwellers, cause to remain, rest/lie down, sleep, rest, lodge, take rest."

     The prophet, Ezekiel, also wrote how the presence of the LORD, which is the meaning of tabernacle, among His people marks them as different from all other people: "My servant David (referring to the immortal Messiah/Christ, the descendant of David) shall be their prince forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know the I, the LORD, sanctify (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore." (Ezek. 37:26-28).

     In another reading portion for this Sabbath, King Solomon wrote of the importance of the intimate relationship of grace present when dwelling with God in His tabernacle, especially as the calamity and terror of the last days approach: "Remember now your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult (ra - evil, wickedness, hurt, trouble, affliction, adversity, grievous, calamity, harm, distress, misery) days come...Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well...Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Eccl. 12:1, 6, 13-14).

     We see an example of the calamity that comes upon God's people when they forsake the blessing of being in an intimate tabernacle presence with their God: "For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place (miskan - see above: tabernacle) of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him....Therefore the wrath of the LORD fell upon Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble (za'ava - a horror, trembling, object of terror or trembling), to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. (2 Chron. 29:6, 8).

     One of the Psalms expresses a deep longing for the tabernacle presence of the LORD. The Psalmist wrote: "(David said) I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place (miskan - see above: tabernacle) for the Mighty One of Jacob....Let us go into His tabernacle (miskan - see above: tabernacle); let us worship at His footstool. Arise O LORD, to Your resting place. You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy." (Ps. 132:4-5, 7-9).

     In this place of tabernacle, there is a change in circumstance, a transformation as the LORD answered the desire expressed by the above psalmist: "This (Zion) is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation. and her saints shall shout for joy." (Ps. 132:13-16). The place of the LORD's tabernacle dwelling with men has become Zion, and the great blessings of the LORD are found there.

     Psalm 84 cries out to be in the LORD's tabernacle, where God dwells with man: "How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God...Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You. Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage (mesilla/salal - ways, path, raised way, staircase, ladder, course of life/lift up, cast up, exalt, raise up, make a level way). As they pass through the Valley (emeq/amaq - valley, lowland, open land suited for growing corn or for a battlefield/deep, depth, deep as being unsearchable) of Baca (weeping, lamentation, bewail, mourn, shed tears, weep bitterly), they make it a spring (mayan/ayin - fountain, spring, well, a place irrigated with fountains/eye, sight, fountain, well, presence, face, pleased); The rain (more - early rain, teacher, archer) also covers (ata - cover, enwrap, envelop oneself, clad, array, clothe) it with pools (beraka - blessing, prosperity, praise of God, a gift, benediction, treaty of peace, invocation of good). They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear O God of Jacob!...For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of My God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!"

     Not only does the tabernacle of God cause a transformation, but the pilgrimage in the Spirit that a person makes to the tabernacle dwelling place of God creates a transformation along the way as we saw in the verses above from Ps. 84. We create spiritual highways that change low places of mourning and bitter weeping into pools of praises, blessing, peace and benedictions, or good words. Sometimes we are so overset by the troubling events of the depths that we see now, that we neglect our upward spiritual pilgrimage that transforms the "now" into the dwelling place or tabernacle of God with man, the place of glory and grace.

     There used to be, and still are, pilgrimages from all over Israel and even from the nations of the world to Jerusalem, to the mountain where the temple of the LORD stood. The people would walk up many inclines and steps as they ascended to the House of God. Many believe that the prophets of God have written about another physical temple/tabernacle that will be built in these end times before the return of Jesus Messiah/Christ. These pilgrimages in the natural were shadows of the spiritual pilgrimages we are called to in order to come to that place where God dwells with and in man.

     Moses sought this place of oneness with God (Ex. 33:18-23). Abraham sought a city whose Maker and Builder was God and not man (Heb. 11:8-10). Both Paul and Peter wrote of the House or dwelling place of God, being built not with natural bricks or stone, but of living stones, which are the believers in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith (Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Pet. 2:4-5). Peter also wrote that by believing in the promises of God, we make a pilgrimage in faith looking forward, as Abraham did, to those new things to come, even a new creation (2 Pet. 3:12-13, see also Isa. 66:22-23). This tabernacle pilgrimage brings forth the transformation from the realm of the prophetic into manifestation (Heb. 10:35-39, and Heb. 11:1-3).

     This is the marvel that awaits us at the end of our spiritual pilgrimage to the tabernacle of God: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new..." (Rev. 21:1-5).

     This is a similar transformation as the one we read in Ps. 84, above. regarding the Valley of Baca. If we want to see the tears and mourning of these times transformed into righteousness and salvation, let us begin our prophetic pilgrimage to the LORD's tabernacle.

     Jesus left us the most powerful promise concerning His Father's tabernacle and its feast: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house (oikia/oikos - house, dwelling, abode/house of God, tabernacle) are many mansions (mone/meno - abode, dwelling, indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers/kept continually, not to perish, endure, remain, lasting); if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare (hetoimazo - make ready, prepare, provide, prepare a feast, a supper, a lodging; to receive on coming, things made ready in advance) a place for you, I will come again and receive (paralambano/lambano - to take with one's self, to join with one's self, receive near/take with the hand, take up a thing to be carried, to take in order to carry away, to collect, to gather) you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way (hodos - a travelled way, road, a traveler's way or journey [see "pilgrimage" above], progress, a manner of thinking, feeling or deciding) you know." (Jn. 14:1-4).  

     As Jesus described His Father's tabernacle and the place already prepared within it for us, He also connected this to His return. Our spiritual pilgrimage or "way" to God's tabernacle also anticipates not only Christ's return but our being received or carried away to Him - known as the Rapture (see 1 Thess. 4:16-18). Jesus expected His disciples to make the spiritual pilgrimage to the tabernacle of God, where Christ has prepared to be joined to us, and to return. The promises connected to the Feast of Tabernacles/Ingathering are very deep, eternal, and creation changing.

     If you would like to know more about our tabernacle pilgrimage, you can pray with me: "Father, You have called me to Your tabernacle, made me a living stone in Your tabernacle, and Your Son, Jesus, has also promised me a place in Your tabernacle forever. As I make my spiritual pilgrimage to this destination, I am praying and believing that transformation will follow my steps, that deep places of suffering and tears will be transformed into elevated places of Your abounding blessings. As my spiritual pilgrimage to Your tabernacle progresses, let old things pass away, and let Your new things be manifested. Father, let the gathering in, called the Feast of Tabernacles, of Your salvation harvest be filled and completed with both Jew and Gentile from out of all nations, and let Christ's return be hastened. These promises associated with this feast are almost too awesome to comprehend but help me to learn and walk in them by Your Holy Spirit and Your living Word. I ask for and believe these things by faith 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 Α Ω , 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.

     

Chosen

      Jesus said to His disciples: "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you....I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go out and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another." (Jn. 15:9-17). The word translated here as "friends" is the Greek word philos, a word much deeper in significance, meaning "friend, associate, a son of gladness who is the friend of the Bridegroom, companion, dear to God and favored with His intimacy, joined with." Jesus was not speaking of His disciples as casual friends or acquaintances.

     Sometimes we can be filled with spiritual pride when we think that we were smart enough to chose Jesus. However, Jesus chose us, and He didn't choose us of His own will, but in accordance with all whom the Father placed in His hands (see Jn. 6:38-41, Jn. 17:11-12, Jn. 18:8-9). Like the disciples in the Gospel, we simply accepted the invitation proffered to us. Along with the acceptance of this invitation comes the expectation that we will listen to the commands of Jesus and obey them as stated above and thereby produce the fruits that result from that obedience and our relationship as friends of Jesus. Do we fulfill this expectation?

     The above words of Jesus to His chosen disciples very much reflect what we will learn from this Sabbath reading portion titled Ki Tavo, which means "When you come in." This reading portion covers Deuteronomy chapters 26 through 28. In these chapters, the LORD ties the identity of the Israelites to Himself. He does this for a specific purpose, which we will see.

     This Sabbath title, Ki Tavo, comes from Deut. 26:1-3: "And it shall be, when you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce/fruit (peri/para - fruit, fruitful, firstfruits, boughs, offspring, progeny/bear fruit, be fruitful, show fruitfulness, increase, to bear) of the ground...And you shall go to the one who is priest in those days, and say to him, 'I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the country which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us." This is a declaration that the LORD has fulfilled His promise of the land to them.

     The LORD then instructed His people: "So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you." (v. 11). There is to be joy in this relationship with the LORD who keeps His promises, as there is joy in our relationship with Jesus, above.

     Jesus told His disciples to keep His commandments in their relationship with Him. The LORD said the same to Israel through Moses: "...you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey His voice (qol - voice, noise, sound, thunder, call aloud, cry). 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).

     The LORD repeated His promise regarding the relationship He was forming with Israel: "Then Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the LORD your God. Therefore you shall obey the voice (qol- see above) of the LORD your God, and observe (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) His commandments and (*vaw (nail)-aleph (Lord)-tav (cross/covenant) His statutes which I command you today." (Deut. 27:9-10).  Again the LORD said: "...if you diligently obey the voice (qol - see above) of the LORD your God, to observe carefully (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth...The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the commandments of the LORD your God 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." (Deut. 28:1, 9-10). In these chapters it is also written that the blessings of God follow the obeying of His voice, commandments and statutes, and curses follow the disobedience to the same. We also need to understand that the LORD is not satisfied with the keeping of His written commandments, but He also demands that His people hear and obey His voice. The spoken Word of God preceded the written Word. The spoken Word is the tool of creation and the communication that the LORD used with mankind, including the patriarchs of the Hebrews. The spoken Word of God is identified as Jesus in the New Testament by the use of the Greek word logos (logos/legos - of speech, a word uttered by a living voice, the sayings of God, something said, utterance/to say, to speak, to teach, to exhort, command, call by name) in connection with His identity within the Godhead. (see Jn. 1:1-5, 14).

     The voice of God has not been replaced by the written Word of God but confirms it. The LORD still speaks today. He speaks to us through others, but He also speaks to us intimately, within ourselves, by His Spirit in us. Jesus told us that He would send the Holy Spirit, which He did on Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks (Acts 2:1-4), and the Spirit would lead us and teach us (Jn. 16:7-15). If we are not hearing the Spirit of God, it is because we are not listening (Ex. 20:18-19).

     The LORD includes above the idea that the special relationship that the LORD has with His people is not only for their benefit but affects all of the nations on earth. This is spiritual fruitfulness brought forth by the LORD through the obedience of His people. From another reading portion of this Ki Tavo, "When you go out" Sabbath, the LORD prophesies beautifully of the effect upon other nations when the LORD glorifies His people: "Arise, shine; For your light (see also Jn. 8:12, Mt. 5:14-16) has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you...The Gentiles/nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising...and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD...The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you...And they shall call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel." (Isa. 60:1, 3, 10, 14). 

     Jesus called His disciples to His joy and God called His people to rejoice in the promise that had been fulfilled by the LORD. The promise of the land (eres - land, country, whole earth, world, nations) had been a transformative promise. What once had been in the hands of idolatrous tribes was now going to become something else in the hands of the people who worship the true God of creation. From another reading portion of this Sabbath, Isa. 35, we see this transformation: "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and 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. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert...No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, 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 sadness shall flee away." These verses from Isaiah prophesy of a total transformation of land, beasts and people, and the great joy that accompanies it.

     Today, when the Jewish people speak of "the final redemption", they are speaking of the appearance of the Messiah/Christ. The identifying description of the Messiah/Christ lies in the above verses about the healing of the blind, deaf, lame and dumb (unable to speak). Jesus performed these miracles in His first appearing to affirm His identity as the Messiah/Christ. When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent messengers to Jesus to ask, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" Jesus answered him, saying, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel (good news) preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." (Mt. 11:3-6). Jesus also freed the tongues of the dumb as mentioned above (see Mark 7:32-35). The same spoken logos Word of creation Who became flesh and called us His friends commanded the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the dumb to speak, and the dead to rise, and this same logos spoken Word transforms all living creation. 

    The transformation doesn't end there, however. There is a further transformation awaiting the creation. Isaiah prophesied: "...And they shall declare My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) glory among the Gentiles/nations...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...all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD." (Isa. 66:19-23, excerpt. See also Isa. 43:18-19, 2 Pet. 3:10, 13-14, Rev. 21:1). Jesus also told His disciples to go into all nations to teach and declare all that He had commanded them (see Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-18).

     All of this proceeds from the LORD's instruction to His "special people", called by His name, to "obey the voice...and keep His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) commandments" with rejoicing. We should never let these already accomplished and yet-to-be manifested great works of God slip from our awareness, our obedience, our faith, our lips nor our vision.

     "When we come in", the obedient people of God bring His name, His transformation power, and His spoken and written Word, with them. The world was changed by God through a small population of people dwelling in a small nation, the Israelites and their fruit: the preserved Word of God and the Messiah/Christ who came from within them, and the world will be changed again.

     If you would like to learn more about the purpose of God's special people "when we come in", you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, I rejoice in Your voice and in Your written Word. I rejoice in the relationship into which I have been brought with You and Your Son. I rejoice in the Holy Spirit who brings Your voice and Your Words to me. I rejoice in the transformation of creation, and the transformation in my life as a new creature in Christ. The old has passed away, and You bring forth the new (2 Cor. 5:17). Forgive me when I have limited Your Word and my vision. "All things are possible with God": this is the testimony that You have placed on the lips of Your special people called by Your name. I declare this glory of God to the Gentiles/nations 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 Α Ω , 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.

Zion



We know that Zion has to do with God's people, and His Kingdom.

If we study the word meaning of Zion, we discover a whole story of what Zion was, is, is becoming, and always will be.
The first mention of Zion in scripture pertains to its capture from the Jebusites (root meaning-tread, trample to pieces, polluted, loathe, reject, desecrate, trodden under foot as used regarding a corpse, who spoke to David, saying:
"You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," thinking, "David cannot come in here." Nevertheless, David took the stronghold (meaning- net, prey, snare, hunted, capture, siege works, hunting implement, chase, lie in wait for),  of Zion, that is, The City of David...Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David (meaning "Beloved, well-beloved, lover, friend"). And David built all around from the Millo (root meaning- to fill, be full, complete, abundance, consecrate, confirm, replenish, overflow, satisfy, to be accomplished, be ended) and inward (meaning- house, dwelling habitation, temple, household, family, descendants as an organized body). So David went on and became great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him."   2 Sam. 5:6-10 (excerpt)
Until David, the beloved, came and captured it, the place known as Zion was an enemy stronghold, a place of desecration and death, according to the meaning of the words used above. From the moment of its capture, David began a re-building of the city from the outward to the inward, becoming a consecrated place of overflowing satisfaction, a place of a holy household, a completed work.
We can see the same wonderful transformation process in the meaning of the word Zion, itself:
"dryness, desert, barren, parched", but also: "to be bright, to shine, enduring, preeminent, perpetual, superintendent or chief, to conquer, a clear voice, the virgin voice, pure, chaste, sincere, faithful, to be perfect, complete, perpetual, to lead in music, and in the service of the temple".
Zion is our story. Zion is the Gospel. We were entrapped, snared prey, spiritually blind and lame, desecrated by sin to be food for devils. We were as dead as corpses trampled under foot, until our Champion, our Deliverer, our Savior, the Beloved, Jesus Christ, stormed the stronghold of the enemy, and began to rebuild and replenish us, with Himself as the chief cornerstone (Mt. 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Pet. 2:7) of that rebuilding, until we became the temple service and the family of God. Songs of deliverance became our voice. We who were barren and parched became fruitful (Ps. 113:9, Lk. 1:36, 2 Pet. 1:8), shining and bright, called to be the light of the world, just as He is the Light of the world.
Even the pictographic Hebrew letters used to form the word Zion צִיּוֹן bring its meaning to us:
Tsadhe- hook, something inescapable, trouble, to hunt but can also mean to pull toward, desire, a harvest, righteous. As sin held us inescapable in death, Christ desired us and drew us to Himself, calling us a harvest of the righteous by His blood.
yod- hand closing upon, but also a finished work, a deed done, as Christ's work of atonement was finished on the cross, and we are finished or completed in Him.
vaw- a nail, a hook, becoming bound, can also mean joining and making secure together, as when Christ, nailed to the cross, joined us to Himself and to His Father as one.
nun- a fish (to be caught as food?), to continue, offspring, descendants also includes heir to the throne, and faithfulness. We were descendants of fallen man, to be hooked continually, but now, we are offspring, even joint heirs, with the Heir to the Throne of God, Jesus. Now, instead of fish as prey, our faith is symbolized by the fish that nourishes, and reminds us of Christ's miracles of multiplication. The fish reminds us that we have become "fishers of men" (Mt. 4:19).
We see in the above illustrated that what the enemy meant for evil, our Father turned for good by His Beloved Son. It is the transformation of Zion, from death to life.
Zion's purpose, according to the meaning of the word in Hebrew, is to be "a monumental guiding pillar, a marker, a sign post, a waymark in the sense of conspicuousness". We, as the inhabitants of Zion, constitute a living monument and signpost, by which all who see us are led to that City of David the Beloved, whose Builder and Maker is God (Heb. 11:8-10). Are we truly being Zion, as we are purposed to be: the waymark, for all others to come to the City of God?
The Book of Hebrews describes Zion, and ourselves this way:
"But you have come to Mt. Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks..."  Heb. 12:22-25
Zion is the place of glory where we dwell. It is who we are. It is the place where, in the Name and Person of the Beloved to Whom we belong, those devils that hunt and take others as prey now have become prey themselves. It is the place where the desecrated is rebuilt into the consecrated. It is the place where replenishment, satisfaction, and overflowing abundance now exists where previously the dead had been trampled under foot. Those who were barren and parched, now bloom and bear fruit. We are the waymarkers for others to this place.
This time of year, especially the Christmas season, is calling us to Zion. As the song says, "Zion Is Calling Me". We must answer the call.


 

Peace

As the baby Jesus was born on Christmas day, an announcement went out from the angels:
"Glory to God in the highest (Elohim Elyon), and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" 
                                                                                                            Lk. 2:14
As we come into the Christmas season again this year, it doesn't appear that men have gotten that supernatural message of peace. There is turmoil within the individual person who can't seem to be at peace, turmoil within marriages and families, between neighbors, in politics, between races, ethnic groups, cultures, religions, and, of course, nations. Jesus warned that this turmoil would increase as the time of His return draws near (Mt. 24:6-8, Lk. 21:9-10). It seems hopeless. Even those who worship God cannot get along with each other. In this world of unending strife, I wanted to find out more about that promise of peace.
Jesus described the promise this way, as He also spoke about sending the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to those who believe:
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."   Jn. 14:27
Jesus told us that He gives us His peace. This peace is not the same kind of peace that is created by men for men, as Jesus said. It is not even part of the same understanding of the word. Peace in Christ is described as surpassing and overcoming all understanding, or reasoning (Phil. 4:7). Perhaps this is why it was announced from heaven that first Christmas. It is now in the world, but not of the world.
It is important then for us to know what the peace of Jesus is that He gives to us. In fact, one of the deceptions of the coming Antichrist in order to make the world believe that he is the Christ, is a form of peace that he will establish, which he, himself, will also break (Dan. 9:27, Dan. 11:36-39). We need to understand the true nature of God's peace.
The Greek translation of the word Jesus used for "peace" is eirene. It means "exemption from the rage and havoc of war, security, prosperity, safety, felicity, of the Messiah's peace, the way that leads to peace (salvation)". The root word means "to join". This is an important point. Am I really as joined to Christ as I think I am? According to the word meaning, this joining with Christ is the place from where His peace flows.
The Hebrew of the word used, shalom, is even more interesting. It starts out meaning much the same as the Greek: "welfare, prosperity, peace, safety, tranquility, contentment, friendship". However, if we look at the root word, we begin to see what makes the peace given by Jesus so different from the peace given by men. The root word means, "completeness, soundness, to perform, make an end of, finish, restore, end, full, to make whole or good". The peace of which Jesus spoke is active, transforming to completion. It transforms not only the individual, but also, consequently, all of creation as we will see. This must be part of the reason why Paul said that all creation groans for the manifestation of the sons of God. It is crying out for that peace given by Christ:
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God...because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."
                                                                                                            Rom. 8:18-22
The prophet Isaiah was given an amazing glimpse of a transformation of both man and creation into the condition of peace always intended in the plan of God:
"...For out of Zion shall go forth the law. And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem...They shall beat their swords in to plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD."   Isa. 2:3-5
And for all creation:
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.(And dust shall be the serpent's food.)  The nursing child shall play by the cobra's hole. And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."   Isa. 11:6-9 (Isa. 65:25)
As we have seen above, the meaning of the peace to which Jesus referred includes a bringing to a completion, to a conclusion. The transformation begins in that peace announced from heaven two thousand years ago, and concludes in that miraculous peace of man and creation shown to the prophet Isaiah.
That transformation of peace begins in each one of us. This Christmas, let us be joined to Christ, and to His peace.

Our Father declared by His angels, "...on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Merry Christmas to you, and God bless you.
                                                                                       

Transformation

 

"The poor and needy seek water,
but there is none.
Their tongues fail for thirst.
I, the LORD, will hear them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open rivers in desolate heights,
And fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land springs of water.
I will plant in the wilderness
the cedar and acacia tree,
the myrtle and the oil tree;
I will set in the desert
the cypress and the pine
and the box tree together,
that they may see and know,
and consider and understand together,
that the hand of the LORD has done this.
And the Holy One of Israel has created it."
                                  Isaiah 41:17-20

Our Father uses this beautiful natural imagery of watering and planting the desert, in order to show the power of transformation that He brings to the lives of those who desire and thirst for Him.
When we seek to know our Father, and begin to study His word, and meditate upon what we have learned of Him, we begin to desire to reflect His nature, His character.
Jesus proclaims in a loud voice that if anyone thirsts, let him come to Him and drink (John 7:37). He also tells the woman at the well:
"but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)

There is a transformation in the life of a human being from having a relationship with our Father, and with His Son, Jesus. This transformation not only occurs in us, but in all of the circumstances pertaining to our lives.
The Apostle Paul explains that we become a new creature, a new creation through our relationship with Christ. We cannot help but be changed:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."         2 Cor. 5:17

Our Father has told us that He has made great and precious promises by which we become partakers of His divine nature! (2 Peter 1:4). He created us in His image, and His plans for us have never changed. By His transforming power, we begin to walk in His likeness and being.

The prophet Isaiah again says of God:
"Do not remember the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert...
Because I give waters in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert,
to give drink to My people, My chosen.
This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My praise."
                                 Isaiah 43:18-21

The purpose of the transforming power of God is to bless and benefit His people, and to cause His people to rejoice, showing praise to God. He has always desired to fill the earth with mankind fulfilling His purpose: to inhabit His image and character.
Though we may try to change ourselves with all of our might, our success is often limited, and of short duration. But the transformation that comes from our Father, starts in our innnermost being. It is miraculous, and everlasting. Some of the changes are startling and sudden. Some of the changes begin to show slowly in our thoughts, emotions, and finally, our outward behavior. This transformation received with our commitment to the LORD, continues throughout our whole life.
Our Father delights in His transforming power, and desires for us to share in this delight.

"To Be Like You (Lord)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmITHkKGyO4