ArmyofLight

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is B'ha'alot'cha, meaning "When you step up" or "When you go up." Last week's Sabbath portion, Naso, also dealt with lifting up and elevating. The beginning verses of this week's reading are: "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to Aaron, and say to him, 'When you arrange (ala - come up, ascend, light, offerings, burn, raised, arose, exalted) the lamps, the seven (seba/saba - to swear an oath seven times) lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand." (Num. 8:1-2). The Hebrew word ala used in these verses also gives us the B'ha'alot'cha title for this week's Sabbath reading portion.

     Further instruction given to Moses from the LORD regarding the lampstand: "Now this workmanship of the lampstand was hammered gold (zahab - gold, to shimmer, the golden splendor of the heavens); from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work. According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) lampstand." (v. 4).

     The rabbis have written that the lampstand of the Holy Place in the tabernacle was quite tall. In order to reach the wicks to light the lamp, the high priest or his sons would have to climb up three steps placed in front of the lampstand. These also were made of gold. Aaron would have to "step up" or "go up" (see our Sabbath reading title B'ha'alot'cha and its translation above) in order to light the seven lamps daily. The lighting of the lamps of the lampstand is a spiritual work of ascendency. 

      Previously, we also learned that the Hebrew words saba/seba used here to mean "seven," also have the meaning, "warfare, battle, war, appointed time, soldiers, company, go out to war, a mass of persons organized for warfare, army/go forth as soldiers to war, as a soldier against an enemy, wage war, fight, serve, mustered, assemble, wait upon." There is always a battle for the ascended position. It is recorded that Satan desires to ascend to God's heavenly place: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...For you said in your heart: I will ascend (ala - see above) into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High!" (Isa. 14:12-14, excerpt). Satan's attempts will always fail, and the LORD promised that Lucifer would be brought down (yarad - go down, descend, sink down, sent down, fall) to the lowest depths of the Pit. (v. 15). Lucifer is named for light, and he covets light, but because of his prideful desire for the position of God, his appointed destiny is the eternal darkness of the Pit.

     There is a struggle or warfare between darkness and light, although we are assured that the darkness will never overcome/comprehend (katalambano - lay hold of to make one's own, attain to, take possession of, to seize upon, of evil overtaking something, perceive) the light. (Jn. 1:5). The Greek meaning definitely alludes to a power struggle between the light and the darkness, although it is a futile one. The darkness can never hope to overcome the light because Jesus IS the Light (Jn. 1:6-9). Every person coming into this world is given light by The Light, Jesus. That light became life in every man, yet there continues to be a challenge from the darkness for the souls of men. David also wrote of the connection between light and life that we read of in John 1: "For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light." (Ps. 36:9).

     David also wrote about the warfare struggle between darkness and light: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked come against me to eat up (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident...And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me..." (Ps. 27:1-6, excerpt).

     Let us look more deeply into the divine quality of the golden lampstand constructed for the tabernacle in Numbers Ch. 8, as mentioned above. The lampstand was to have seven (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) lights/lamps (nir - lamp, to glisten, a light, progeny that continues forever, a family line that remains on the throne, the guidance of God's Word [ref. Prov. 6:23, Ps. 119:105], to shine or gleam like a freshly plowed furrow of soil).

     The lamps of the lampstand were to give light in front of the lampstand. The Hebrew word for the phrase "in front of" is mul/mol, meaning "circumcise, let oneself be circumcised, cut in pieces, cut off, destroy, to purge/forefront, before it, in the presence of."

     Circumcision is not just meaningful in the flesh, but it is spiritually meaningful. We have seen that the LORD connects His lampstand of light with ascendency. In this verse above, He also connects His light with not only an outward circumcision, but more importantly, with an inward circumcision. Moses wrote about this inward circumcision: "Indeed, heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it...Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart (lebab - heart, mind, will, soul, understanding, thinking, inner man, inclination, conscience), and be stiff-necked (qasa - hard, severe, fierce, harsh, make difficulty, make burdensome, make grievous, dense, stubbornness) no longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe." (Deut. 10:14-17, excerpt).

     Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote the word of the LORD: "Circumcise (mul, see above) yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart (lebab, see above), you men of Judah and Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings." (Jer. 4:4).

     Paul, a Jew, a Pharisee, trained under the great teacher, Gamaliel (Acts 22:1-3, Phil. 3:3-8), understood the truth of these scriptures and wrote: "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God." (Rom. 2:28-29, see also Col. 2:11-12). What was commanded by God to be observed in the flesh was a foreshadow, that separated and designated one flesh in covenant from all of the other flesh on the earth, so that an even deeper spiritual understanding could later be revealed.

     The Light represented by the lampstand of the tabernacle pre-dated the Patriarchs and also the Law, having been the first work of creation, and as a result, God declared the separation warfare between darkness (hosek - darkness, obscurity, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, Hades, underground prison, adversity, sadness) and light (or - light, shine, give, glorious, kindle, light of lamp, light of life, light of prosperity, light of instruction, bright, illumination in every sense.) (see Gen. 1:1-5). That Light is the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians: "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6, and see Prov. 16:15).

     Evil plans, intentions and acts that are hidden in darkness, even the evil in the hearts and lives of His own people, are exposed in the light of God. (Ps. 90:8, Eph. 5:13-14). Paul wrote of our former spiritual condition: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Eph. 5:8).

     So great is the power of the light of God that it is the power of resurrection: "Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, the darkness (hosek, see above) shall cover the earth, and deep darkness (arapel - heavy thick cloud of darkness or gloom drooping down) the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles/nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (Isa. 60:1-3).

     We can see in the above verses that darkness continues to try to overstep the bounds that the LORD set for it. However, it cannot overtake, overpower, or overset the light of God, and in fact, shrinks away before it. That same light is within us as Isaiah wrote above, and as Jesus commanded, saying, "You are the light of the world..." (Mt. 5:14-16). Jesus said of Himself: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life (see meaning of or above)."

     Also in this Sabbath's reading portion, the LORD commanded the construction of two silver trumpets. (Num. 10:1-2). The purpose of these trumpets, which were different from shofars made from rams' horns, was for the calling of the congregation of Israel together, and for the directing of the movement of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) camps of Israel. The silver trumpets were also to be used "...when you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you..." and "in the day of your gladness..."(v. 9-10). Rabbis have written that the silver trumpets are symbols of God's guidance as a light illuminating the path in the journey of faith.

     Even the shofar ram's horn trumpets, the rabbis write, are compared to the light of God's presence, influence and holiness, and the light associated with divine revelation as occurred from Mount Sinai, when the Torah Word of God, also described as light, was delivered to His people.

     One event told in scripture involved a strange army of three hundred Israelites assembled to go into battle against the unjust oppression of the Midianites (midyan - strife, contention, brawling, discord, quarrel). These three hundred men were armed with a trumpet in one hand and a lamp (lapid - lamp, firebrand, flame, torch, lightning, burning, to shine) in the other hand. Considering what we read above about the trumpets, they were then, in effect, an army of light. The enemy destroyed itself by killing each other with swords as they panicked and fled. (Judges 7:19-23). Darkness must flee before light.

      We also have been called into God's army of light: "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in Whom we have redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins." Col. 1:12-14 AMPC, and also see 1 Pet. 2:9)

     If you would like to know more about God's army of Light, you can join me in prayer: "Lord, You are Light and You are the Father of Lights. You sent Your Son as the Light of the world, and He called me to join Him in being the same kind of Light. It is the Light of Christ that overcomes darkness. It is that Light of Christ that draws men out of darkness. As darkness tries once again to flood the earth and its people, help me to "arise and shine" and be the Light that You have called me to be. Your Word is the Lamp that lights my path, and Your Spirit is the Light of Truth with which You have baptized me. I give You all praise and glory because You did not leave me in the darkness. In the name of Jesus I pray. 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. 

     

Battlefield

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled B'midbar, which means "in the wilderness". B'midbar is also the Torah title of the fourth book of the Bible, which we call "Numbers". The title comes from the first verse of the Book of Numbers: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt..." 

     The LORD instructed Moses to take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) a census of the children of Israel to include every male from twenty years old and above, "all who are able to go to war (saba/seba - warfare, battle, war, appointed time, soldiers, company, go out to war, a mass of persons organized for warfare, army/go forth as soldiers to war, as a soldier against an enemy, wage war, fight, serve, mustered, assemble, wait upon) in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies (saba/seba - same as above)." (Num. 1:3). There can be no doubt, based upon the meaning of the Hebrew word for war or army, that the LORD is mustering His people for warfare.  The LORD had been referring to the Israelites as His armies since the Book of Exodus, before and after He delivered them out of their slavery in Egypt. (see Ex. 7:4-5, 12:17, 12:41-42, 12:51).

     According to verse 1, it has been two years since the Israelites had come out of their Egyptian slavery. This implies a certain maturity of experience in their walk with the LORD. They have seen powerful miracles, and they have suffered losses of life because of rebellions, disobedience and idolatry.  The LORD considers them able to walk as His armies. The battles that they face will not only be physical warfare, but, more importantly, spiritual warfare. Their primary weapon will be their traceable covenant identity in the LORD as they recite their lineages all the way back to their ancestors with whom the LORD made covenant promises. (see Num. 1:18-20). As the Israelite men over twenty years old were counted, the largest group came from the tribe of Judah (yehuda/yada - "praised"/praise, give thanks, confess, to revere or worship with extended hands, shoot arrows, cast down, throw down) at 74,600 men of that age. (v. 26-27). Looking at the meaning in Hebrew of the word "Judah", we can see praise, thanksgiving and earnest worship of God become weapons in warfare. The tribe of Judah will bring forth the Messiah/Christ Jesus many generations later and it is Jesus who defeated the spiritual enemies of man which included sickness, sin, death, hell and the grave, and He did so in an act of glorifying His heavenly Father (see Jn. 12:27-28, Phil. 2:8-11). It will serve us well to remember this great weapon of our spiritual warfare if we learn nothing else from this Sabbath's B'midbar reading portion than this, but there is more to learn.

     All of the tribes of the Israelites were numbered for warfare in the same manner, with captains (nasi - chief, captain, prince, king, ruler, one lifted up) from each tribe appointed over them by the LORD. As the names of the captains are given in Numbers Ch. 2, many remind us of Messiah/Christ Jesus in meaning: "Given, appointed, bestowed of/by God", "Whose Father is God", "The Rock is God", and "Peace and Completeness of God".

     The Levites, or priestly tribe, who served in the tabernacle were not left out of the armies of warfare. The same Hebrew word seba/saba used above for "warfare, armies, soldiers, battle, etc., is used to describe the hosts and service of the Levites, all of those thirty to fifty years old were to be numbered. (see Num. 4:3, 4:23, 4:30, 4:35, 4:39, 4:43). Their service in the tabernacle was actually associated with the warfare of seba/saba. 

     We also can't forget the women! In Ex. 38:8, the LORD included them in His army of seba/saba warfare: "He (Moses) made the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) laver of bronze and its base of bronze from the bronze mirrors (mar'a/mar'e - visions [sent by God], mode of revelation, mirror/sight, vision of form, appearance, visage, pattern or countenance) of the serving (seba/saba - see above) women who assembled (seba/saba - see above) at the door of the tabernacle of meeting."  Revelations and visions from God, particularly pertaining to a certain form, visage, countenance and pattern which, I believe, pertains to the visage and form of Jesus Messiah/Christ (see Isa. 52:13-15), are part of the spiritual warfare the Israelites were called to, especially through the women, as mentioned here.

This is a good place to look more closely at the Hebrew word for "wilderness", which is midbar. Midbar means, "wilderness, desert, uninhabited land, a sterile, sandy country." We would expect this desolate meaning. However, midbar also contains the meaning, "pasture as an open field where cattle are driven, plain country fit for the feeding of flocks." Two opposite conditions are contained within the meaning of midbar, as we can see. There is also a secret within the meaning of midbar that can help us understand the key that relates to these two opposite meanings.

Midbar also contains the meaning, "speech, mouth as an organ of speech." The Hebrew root word of midbar is the Hebrew word dabar, which means "speak, say, promise, tell, command, pronounce, warn, put to flight, sing."

On the battlefield of the wilderness, it is what we speak, pronounce and sing that determines whether a sterile desert or a pasture fit for feeding flocks and cattle is established. What are the armies of the LORD speaking in the wilderness? The LORD can take a spiritually desolate and uninhabited wilderness and turn it into a lush spiritual garden, or He can take a fruitful green pasture of food for His flocks and make it desolate, and it seems to depend largely on what His army speaks according to the meaning of midbar.

     The Israelites of the Book of Numbers were in their second year after their deliverance from slavery. As we mature in our walk with the Lord, we can expect that the Lord will begin to lead us into spiritual warfare, not only in our own circumstances, but in warfare that will lead to the spiritual salvation and liberation of other people and even nations. Often we regard people as being foes, however, the apostle Paul wanted us to have this revelation about our warfare: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor. 10:3-5). This spiritual warfare isn't against other people, it is against our own minds! So many of us feel overwhelmed by problems that will pass away with all other temporal things, or we become discouraged by life's challenges and continued struggles against sins and weaknesses in our own souls and flesh until we tempted to wave the white flag of surrender. Never! Fight that battle with thanksgiving and praise out of our mouths, with hands lifted up and outstretched in reverence and worship, shouting the victory of the Lord as promised in His Word. As we continue to fight the spiritual battle, we need to understand that we are also winning the warfare on behalf of others as well.

     We can see that our warfare is directly connected to our relationship and covenant inheritance with and in Messiah/Christ Jesus, just as the Israelites' warfare was based upon their covenant heritage in God.

     In another place, Paul wrote: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph. 6:12-13).

     As the Israelites were, we are also called to be a spiritual army fighting spiritual warfare. We do not go to battle in our own strength, nor with weapons that have been made by men for use against men. but we are armed with the truth of the Word of God, which was embodied in Jesus (Jn. 1:14), and with the victory of Jesus:

     "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Jn. 16:33, the Words of Jesus).

     "Death is swallowed up in victory...The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory though our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:56-57/Isa. 25:8-9).

     "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:37-39).

     Scripture tells us that Jesus sent out seventy disciples in His name to bring the Gospel to cities where He intended to go. They were to heal the sick and bring the message: "The kingdom of God has come near to you." (Lk. 10:1-9, excerpt). The seventy returned to Jesus with joy because even the demons were subject to them in Jesus' name. Jesus had known of their victory as He said to them: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall be any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Lk. 10:17-20).

     As Jesus explained above, the serpents and scorpions He referred to were not physical creatures, but spirits or demons. Both of the creatures mentioned have the meaning in Greek of being sharp in vision, able to look into the distance in order to spy, being skeptical and having malicious intent especially associated with Satan, for the purpose of piercing and stinging.

     The disciples' obedience to the commands of Jesus, in His name healing the sick and declaring the Kingdom of God, sent Satan falling from his position in the heavens!  The warfare victory was not because of themselves, but it was because of the Yesua (Jesus' name in Hebrew) salvation of God is their lives. This is also the Great Commission that Jesus gave to His disciples. (see Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-18).

     It is very important to know that this B'midbar Sabbath reading portion must be read on the Sabbath before the Feast of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, which in Greek is called Pentecost. Previous weeks' Sabbath reading portions were doubled together so that this B'midbar portion would fall on this specific appointed Sabbath. This year, Pentecost falls on this coming Monday-Tuesday. The Book of Acts tells us how the LORD fulfilled the Feast of Pentecost by sending the Holy Spirit in flames of fire to the believers in Messiah/Christ Jesus who obediently waited for "the power from on high" (Lk. 24:49 , Acts 1:8) in Jerusalem. The effect of the Holy Ghost fire was to change the believers' tongues (glossa - the tongue, an organ of speech, a distinct language).

     What were the changed tongues of the believers saying by the power from heaven? Foreign pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for the feast were amazed, "because everyone heard them speak in his own language...Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs - we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." (Acts 2:1-11, excerpt).

     The tongues of the Holy Spirit gave praise for the wonderful works of God. We are brought right back to midbar (see meaning above regarding mouth and speech) and the largest tribe in the LORD's armies in the wilderness - the tribe of Judah, meaning "Praise". As we observe this Shavuot, Feast of Pentecost of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which continues with us, let us join in the fiery tongues of praise.

     If you would like to know more about being in the Lord's army of believers, you can join me in my prayer: "LORD of hosts, You have called Your people to be part of Your armies of warfare and transformation. What a privilege to be called by You and included in Your mighty works! My heritage in You and in Your Son, Jesus, includes Your victories on our behalf. All creation is waiting for this manifestation of Your sons in the earth. Teach me to speak in the way that transforms the spiritually dry wildernesses into green pastures. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who gives me a tongue to proclaim the wonderful works of God to all people and nations. Fill my mouth with praises because You have written my name in heaven. I ask this in the name of my Savior, 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.

WarfareFeasts

      "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).

     These verses above are the beginning of this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Emor, meaning "Say." In the verses above, there are three different words that express a spoken communication. Each of the three words has a distinct and important meaning. By using three different Hebrew words here, what the LORD desired to communicate to His people must carry great importance. However, in many ways, the subject of that importance, the feasts of the LORD, remain a mystery to us. The LORD must want us to search them out.

     First, we can look at the Hebrew words and meanings used above to express spoken communication:

• "Speak" is the word dabar in Hebrew, meaning "speak, utter, declare, command, promise, warn, sing, appoint, commune, pronounce, rehearse, teach." The Hebrew letters used to make up the word dabar are daleth, beth, and reysh. The individual meanings of these three pictographic letters could be joined together to mean "The door/way of life to the tent, house, family or body of the Highest."
• "Say" used above is the Hebrew word amar, from which we get the title of this week's Sabbath reading portion, Emor. Amar means "said, speak, answer, command, tell, call, promised, intend, to be called, avow, publish, to be or make prominent, to bear forth, to bring light, to think, to will." The Hebrew letters used to create the word amar are aleph, mem, and reysh. These letters placed together form the idea "The gentle Lord, Adonai, teaches a thousand the source (the beginning) of the waters of the Highest."
• "Proclaim" is the Hebrew word qara which means "call, cried, read, proclaim, named, guests, invited, bidden, preach, utter with a loud voice, summon, call and commission, appoint, call and endow, give name to, be called out, be chosen, encounter, cause to meet." Qara is made up of the Hebrew letters qoph, reysh, and aleph, and these letters when joined together could have the meaning "The last, the back, the final (the end) is the head, the Highest, the gentle Lord Adonai."

     Each of these three words in these verses that express spoken communication of some kind contain three letters. There is a kind of trinity being expressed here.

     Both of the Hebrew words amar, "say", and qara, "called, named" are present throughout Genesis Ch. 1 as God (Elohim *aleph-tav, see also Jn. 1:1-5, 14) created the heavens and the earth. These same two words are used in the other reading selections from the Torah for this week's Emor Sabbath: Lev. 23:23-38 and Lev. 24:1-9 when giving God's commands regarding the feasts of the LORD.

     Jesus also embodied the meaning of these three Hebrew words in one example from the New Testament: "Then Jesus cried out (krazo - cry out aloud, speak with a loud voice, call aloud, scream, shriek, see also qara: proclaim, above) and said (eipon - speak, say, command, grant, answer, bid, tell, see also amar: say, and dabar: declare, promise, pronounce, above), 'He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light (see amar: to bring light, above) into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." (Jn. 12:44-46). Jesus also gave a dabar warning in v. 47-48: "And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last days."

     Elsewhere in scripture, the LORD says: "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey (sama- hear, obey) My voice and keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is mine." (Ex. 19:5). The LORD expects us to hear His voice and obey it.

     Jesus also said: "...blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (Lk. 11:28).

     In another reading portion from this Emor Sabbath, the LORD cries out to His people to repent and return to Him: "Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me!....Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways." (Ps. 81:8, 13).

     The LORD, the Great God, has a voice! However, sometimes we have "selective hearing".

     The appointed feasts of the LORD, which He spoke to Moses in Lev. Ch. 23, include the Sabbath, Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First Fruits, the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost, the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and finally, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day called Simchat Torah: Rejoice in the Torah.

  

     In reading of the feasts of the LORD, the Sabbath is a foundational component of each of them. While for some, the feasts are observed by rote in a religious fashion, to others, there is an understanding that the feasts also incorporate a prophetic timeline. Books have been written about the connection of the Feasts of the LORD to Jesus Messiah/Christ. Each feast proclaims the mighty salvation work of Jesus, some Feasts fulfilled through his first appearing, and some to be fulfilled by His prophesied and eagerly awaited soon return.

     I would also like to present an additional meaning to the Feasts of the LORD for us to consider.  The spiritual victories accomplished by the Lord through these feasts are so massive in importance that these spiritual victories affect the natural world and future generations.

     Where there are spiritual victories, there has been spiritual warfare. The spiritual warfare of the Feasts is so intense that life and death may hang in the balance, including the Sabbath observance on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:30). How do God's people become collateral damage from the spiritual warfare of the Feast? We will see.

     When we look at the Passover, for example, the Israelites were warned to put the Lamb's blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. They were to go into their houses, shut the door, and not come out of their door until morning. That night, death would move throughout the land of Egypt, and the only safety provided for God's people was to be found in following His instructions completely. (Ex. 12:21-24). It was on this night that God judged the gods of Egypt and those who served them. (see Ex. 12:12). This kind of spiritual warfare was not limited to this night. The Passover was to be observed as an ordinance forever. 

     Nations of the earth were warned by the Prophet Zechariah that if they failed to come to Jerusalem to worship the King (Messiah/Christ), the LORD of hosts, during the Feast of Tabernacles, there would be no rain upon their lands. (Zech. 14:17-19). Come into the safety provided by the LORD in His Feasts or suffer the dangers that await outside of it.

     Jesus, who inhabits the Feasts of the LORD, looked out over Jerusalem and wept because He knew the terror that was coming their way. He said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" (Mt. 23:37). This was said by Jesus two days before He observed the Passover with His disciples and was crucified. (see Mt. 26:1-2). His invitation was not accepted. Jerusalem observed the Passover and the other Feasts of the LORD religiously and traditionally, but ignored the messengers and the prophets, including John the Baptist (Jn. 1:29-36), who clearly identified Jesus Messiah/Christ with the Feasts. Salvation (yesua [Jesus' Hebrew name]/yasa - salvation, deliverance, health, saving, welfare, prosperity, victory, safe/savior, preserved, defend, rescue, avenge, safe, victory) doesn't come through religious rituals but by only one name under heaven: Jesus. (see Acts 4:10-12).

     I mentioned above that the Feasts of the LORD are associated with the Sabbath as well. (see Lev. 23:7, 11, 15-16, 21, 24-25, 32, 34-35, 39) The Hebrew word for sabbath, which is sabat, means as we expect to see, "rest, cease, be completed." However, sabat also means at the same time, in the same breath, "put an end to, to destroy, to remove, to cause to fail, rid, take away, cut off, interrupt." Here is the warfare of the LORD incorporated into His Sabbaths, and therefore, also into His Feasts.

     As God's people understand this meaning connected to the Feasts of the LORD, they will view the Feasts, not as a religious obligation or tradition, or as something meant only for the Jewish people, but as a haven of safety while the LORD goes into battle against the spirits of evil.

     The Feasts of the LORD are set at appointed times or seasons, and so is warfare. There is a time when kings are to go into battle. (see 2 Sam. 11:1). Spring is specifically mentioned as the time of kings' warfare, and there are Feasts of the LORD designated for the spring season. There is another mention of an appointed time/season for war: "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." (Eccl. 3:1, 8). Jesus incorporates the purposes of the Feasts of the LORD, and we view Him as Peace and the Giver of Peace, and so He is. However, we cannot forget that as the Son of God and as the Son of the warrior king, David, Jesus is also well acquainted with great spiritual warfare and victory. (see Rev. 19:11, 15-16). Jesus didn't deliver us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light, and from the kingdom of death into the Kingdom of eternal Life without warring against and defeating these spiritual kingdoms of darkness and death. (1 Pet. 2:9-10, 1 Cor. 15:24-26, Rev. 1:17-18). Jesus goes to war and has overcome the world so that we may have peace. (Jn. 16:33).

      The depths that the LORD has hidden in His appointed feasts will impact the whole earth, and His desire to reveal those depths to His people is greater still. However, many ignore His invitation (see qara, above) to come to His appointed feasts, or they come to the Feasts but ignore the prophets and messengers who revealed the prophetic and holy knowledge of the Feasts. Jesus told a parable of a king who invited guests to his son's wedding feast, but many gave excuses not to come. The king said, "The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy (axios/ago - to know the weight or value befitting a thing/to pass a day, keep or celebrate a feast, etc.)." Others then were invited to fill the wedding hall, but one who attended "did not have on a wedding garment" (the garment reflects the understanding, honor, acceptance and preparation due the king's feast). The king said to his servants: "Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." (Mt. 22:1-14, excerpt). Properly weigh the value of the invitation sent to us by our King.

 

     We are called to understand the weight of importance, "the worth", that is contained within the Feasts of the LORD, and the habitation of the Savior, Jesus Messiah/Christ within them. The Feasts that have been given to us by God by special invitation are not for His benefit, but for ours. In the appointed time of cataclysmic spiritual warfare, we will be urgently seeking that safety and victory that the LORD has provided in His Feasts.

     

     If you would like to know more about the victory achieved by the LORD in His Feasts, and the provision of safety that He has given for us within them, you can join me in my prayer: "Heavenly and loving Father, how can we know the heights, depths and breadth of the love and provision that You have created for us as expressed in Your Feasts? Your Son, Jesus, was sent to the world to overcome the works of darkness on our behalf, and to deliver us into Your arms of safety. Help us through Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit to enter into Your Feasts understanding the weight of their value to us. Lord Jesus, the warfare and victory that You have fought and brought forth on our behalf is beyond anything that the world can provide for us. You are our song, and our salvation, our place of safety, and our victory, and we meditate upon and deeply consider the price that You paid in the battle, and we celebrate the supernatural victory that You achieved for us. Let me not look at the Feasts in the same way as before but let me hear what You say to teach me and enter into the depth of meaning that You have placed within the Feasts. I bless 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.

     

Ascension

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Naso, meaning to "elevate/lift up". The root word nasa means "to lift up, bear up, carry, take, carry off, to lift oneself up, exalt, rise up, to grow, to increase, to be borne, to be carried, to forgive." God's power and authority to forgive is found, at least in part, in His naso/nasa ascended position

     This week's Sabbath reading portion will also help us to also understand that there is a battle for this ascension. The spiritual war has already been won as we will see, but on-going spiritual battles still challenge that victory. The prophet Isaiah gave us revelation concerning Lucifer's (Satan's) challenge for ascendency and his inevitable defeat: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol (sheol - underworld, grave, hell, pit), to the lowest depths (yereka - extreme parts, the rear recesses, the buttocks) of the pit (bor - pit hole, dungeon, cistern used for prisons, lowest sepulchre [dug out of stone] of the dead)." (Isa. 14:12-15). Previously, according to Isaiah above, Satan had been cast down from heaven to earth. However now, because of his challenge to God's (and His people's) ascended position, he will be cast into an even lower depth - the most recessed part of the pit. The word for "ascend" used here by Isaiah is ala, which includes the meaning "to actively mount or climb up." God holds the position of ascension because He is the Ascended One by His holy and perfect nature. Lucifer or Satan tries to achieve ascendency by his own will and strength because of the wickedness found in his heart. The LORD has also shown His people that He has called them to the place of ascension, but it is not achieved by our own will and strength. It comes by lifting Him up, as we will see.  

     Our Sabbath reading portion begins in Numbers 4. Here we find those who lift up, bear up, and carry: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses regarding certain groups of Levites, saying, 'Also take (nasa - see above) a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) census (ros - head, top, summit, height, choicest, best, excellent, forefront, highest part, ruler, chiefest, captain) of the sons of Gershon (gerson- exile, refugee, expulsion), by their fathers' house, by their families." (Num. 4:21-22). As the LORD ordered a census, He was elevating to the highest realms those who were being accounted for by name according to the Hebrew meanings above. He took them from the lowest condition according to the Hebrew meaning of gerson, and He caused them to ascend.

     The LORD said of the sons of Gershon: "This is the service of  the families of the Gershonites, in serving and carrying (massa/nasa - song, prophecy, tribute or gift, bearing, lifting, utterance, oracle, that which is carried or brought, that which the soul lifts up): They shall carry (nasa - see above) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) curtains (yeria/yar - curtain, drape, veil of tent or tabernacle/to grieve) of the tabernacle...with its covering (mikse/kasa - covering/covering cloth, to conceal, to hide)...of badger skins...the screen (masak/sakak - screen, veil/fence about, shut in, protector) for the door of the gate of the court, the hangings (qela/qala - sling, slingstones, door, screen/sling, hurl forth, to engrave) of the court...and all that is made for these things: so shall they serve." (Num. 4:25-26). The LORD caused the Gershonites to nasa ascend from a low earthly position into the highest realm of prophetic utterance (see massa above), to the realm of David/Messiah (sling and slingstones), to the realm of the hidden things of God waiting to be revealed to His people (see also Col. 1:26-28), to the realm of the prophetic covering that protects and shelters God's people (see Ps. 105:12-15) according to the Hebrew meanings of the words above. They were not ascended for their own sakes alone, but they were entrusted with the oracles of God for all of God's people (Rom. 3:1-2). Paul told the church to covet the gift of prophecy. Shouldn't we therefore be prophesying in nasa ascension? There is a battle for ascension. The easiest way to concede ascension to Lucifer/Satan is to misunderstand our own ascension in Christ.

     Then the LORD spoke to Moses regarding the sons of Merari, another family group of Levites, saying: "As for the sons of Merari (merari/marar - bitter, unhappy/bitterness, grieved, choler [irascible temperament, bile], to be enraged, vexed, to embitter oneself), you shall number (paqad - appoint, assign, seek, look about for, be needed, be missed, to be watched over, be entrusted, to muster, to visit) them by their families and by their fathers' house...to do the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) work (aboda/abad - service, labor, tillage, office, bondservant, ministry, sacred service/servant, serve, work, worshippers, to make oneself a servant) of the tabernacle of meeting. And this is what they must carry (mismeret/mismar/samar + massa/nasa - guard, watch, in the house of detention/place of confinement, prison, watch, guard/keep, guard + song, prophecy, tribute, bearing, lifting, utterance, oracle/take, lift up, bear up, carry, exalt, rise up) as all their service (saba/seba - warfare, army, battle, war, heavenly army/wage war) for the tabernacle of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars (beriah/barah - bar, city gates, fortress, prison, cross-beam bar, bar used to shut door to entrance of Hades, bar of defense of a prince/chase, drive away, put to flight, cause to flee, cut through or break through), its pillars (ammud/amad - pillar/withstand endure, take one's stand, abide, stand firm), its sockets (eden/adon - base, pedestal, strong, firm foundation/strong, lord, master, to rule)...pegs (yated - pin, peg, nail, tent stake, to drive in a nail), cords (metar/yatar - cord, string of a bow/remnant, overflow, abound, preserve alive, excel, show pre-eminence), with all their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) furnishings (keli/kala - weapon, utensil, tool, yoke, artillery, jewel/to accomplish, finish, to be completed, be fulfilled, bring to an end) and all their service; and you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry." (Num. 4:29-32). There's a great deal of Hebrew word meanings here for these verses about the sons of Merari, but the bottom line is that you don't want to mess with these guys! The LORD took those who were full of bitterness, and anger and caused them to ascend into an army of spiritual prison guards and warriors. They were the spiritual soldiers and policemen binding (see also Mt. 18:18) and imprisoning harmful criminals in the spirit realm through the prophetic songs and weapons given to them in ascension. One good example of this kind of calling is found in another reading portion of this Sabbath from Judges 16, which is the account of Samson's defeat of the Philistines of Gaza. He tore up, lifted up and carried away the huge city gates (see above) of Gaza, and later brought down the temple of their false god Dagon (dagon/daga - "a fish", Philistine god of fertility and increase represented by the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish/to be covered over in darkness) by its pillars (see above) with all of the lords of the Philistines gathered in the temple. Nothing could stop Samson. He was a human wrecking ball. This account of Samson and the Philistines was also prophetic considering current events. 

     There is a third group of Levites mentioned in the beginning of Numbers 4. Moses was to take (nasa - lift up, bear up, carry, take, endure, support, to be borne, forgive, bear continuously) a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) census or sum (ros - head, top, summit, height, choicest, best, excellent, forefront, highest part, ruler, chiefest, captain) of the sons of Kohath (qehat - assembly; to ally oneself). The Kohaths were ascended by the LORD in order to carry the most holy things (qodes + qodes - apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness, saint, sanctuary, consecrated to God) of the tabernacle. These included the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat, both overlayed with gold, the golden altar of incense, the golden table of shewbread, and the golden candlestick/lamp/menorah. The Kohaths are important because as "the assembly", they resemble the ekklesia, the Greek word for "church". Ekklesia/ek + kaleo/keleuo means "an assembly of the Israelites, an assembly of Christians, the whole body of Christians both already dead and still living, a calling out, a church, a congregation of either Jews or Christians/to call aloud, utter in a loud voice, to name, by name, to bear a name/to command, to order, to urge on." To believers in Messiah/Christ, the very holy furnishings of the tabernacle that were to be carried (massa/nasa - see above) by the Kohath Levites represent the Father (Ark/Mercy Seat), the Son (Altar of Incense, Table of Shewbread, Golden Lampstand of Light), and the Holy Spirit (the holy oil that fills the Lamp and the fiery coals and rising smoke of incense prayers). The Kohaths in Num. Ch. 4 are treated differently than the other Levite families already mentioned above, but they have a special meaning for us, the true ekklesia church of both Jews and Christians.  

     The numbers of each group of Levites mentioned here were in the thousands. No one person, nor just a handful, had to carry the holy burdens. Sometimes we think that we are the "only one", but as the LORD told Elijah, who was feeling very sorry for himself, there were many who were in His obedient service (see 1 Kings 19:14-18). It's difficult for us to ascend while in the middle of a pity party! And the battle for spiritual ascendence rages on.

     The message of Naso is not only important to Israel, especially at this time, but it is also essential to our understanding of our calling in Christ. Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives in the presence of His disciples (Acts 1:8-11), the Holy Spirit was poured out in fire on the disciples waiting in the Upper Room located above David's tomb in Jerusalem on the Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost are being observed this month. This was the fulfilment of the promise that Jesus had made to His disciples before His crucifixion and resurrection (Jn. 16:7-11, 16). The second event of Pentecost could not have been fulfilled without the accomplishment of the first event: the Ascension. The Ascension of Jesus was a great victory of authority and glory (see Ps. 24:7-10). Christ did not ascend for His own benefit alone, however. We spiritually ascended with Him. Paul wrote: "But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus....For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:4-10, excerpt). Our ascension in Jesus Christ is for appointed good works, and, like the ascension of Naso, it also carries a prophetic message for ages to come.

     For this purpose also, the LORD instructed Aaron to speak an ascension blessing over the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Israel:

"The LORD bless you and keep (samar - keep, guard, observe, protect, watchman, save life, preserve, take heed, mark) you; The LORD make His face shine (or - become light, be light, shine, glorious, fire, set on fire, be-give-show light) upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up (nasa - bear up, lift up, carry, forgive, exalt, regard, take, be lifted up, rise up, bear continuously, cause one to bear, be high) His countenance (panim/pana - face, presence, person, before, behind, toward/look at, turn toward) upon you, and give you peace (salom/salam - peace, prosperity, safe, health, soundness, completeness, tranquility, friendship in covenant/recompense, reward, restore, repay, retribution, finished, make whole)."

"So they shall put My (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name (sem/sum - name, reputation, glory, monument, memorial, character, honor, authority, fame/appoint, place, set in place, make for a sign, establish, ordain) on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." (Num. 6:22-27).

     As God causes His *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega children to ascend, He places His name, glory, character, authority and appointed purpose upon them, and they become a (prophetic) sign to others. 

     God delivered His people out of Egypt through ascension: borne (nasa - see above) on eagles' wings (Ex. 19:3-6). Prophets have been lifted up in ascension in order to receive the Word/vision of the LORD (Ezek. 8:3, Isa. 6:1-3, Isa. 40:21-23, 26, Rev. 4:1-2). The LORD, the Most High, speaks of those who ascend to make their dwelling under His wings (Psalm 91). Paul wrote that we are to live in ascension through Messiah/Christ (Col. 3:1-3, Phil. 4:8-9). However, we tend to spend so much of our time, concern and attention over things that are under, below, and beneath. We can be prophesying, carrying and guarding instead from our ascended position. As Jesus Christ's seventy disciples returned rejoicing from doing the spiritual works of ascendency, He remarked that He saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning. (Lk. 10:17-20).

     There is an on-going spiritual battle for ascendency, and the LORD expects us to win it: "But you shall receive power (dynamis - power, mighty wonderful work, strength, miracles, ability, inherent power, excellence of soul, abundance) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me (Jesus) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8). At this time of Pentecost/Feast of Weeks, we are reminded of this great outpouring of power to us from on high. 

     If you would like to know more about the Naso ascension of God's people, you can join me in my prayer: "Most High Father, You have lifted me up in Your Son, Jesus, and have seated me with Him in heavenly places by Your grace. You have appointed me to do ascension works as a prophetic sign and for Your glory. As I lift up and carry You, You lift up and carry me also. You have placed Your great name upon me. I thank and praise Your Son, Jesus, for ascending on high for me, and for sending Your Holy Spirit to baptize and fill me with Your spiritual fire. I give You all honor, glory and praise in Jesus' name. 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.

     

HaGadol

This Sabbath is called The Great Sabbath, or Shabbat Hagadol in Hebrew. This is because it is the sabbath before Passover. Passover is the ordained feast of the LORD remembering how the LORD miraculously protected His people from the angel of death in the final plague against Egypt, and caused Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of slavery, and out of Egypt. The Israelites were commanded by God to select a lamb for each household on the tenth day of Aviv. On the fourteenth of the month of Aviv, the Passover lamb was sacrificed, and its blood was applied with a hyssop branch to the doorposts (sides) and lintels (crosspiece at the top of the door) of each house. When applied, the blood stains also made the shape of the cross. The lamb itself was to be eaten until there was none left. When the angel of death saw the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and lintels of the house, he would "pass over", or spare, the house. The Egyptians, whose doorposts wouldn't be marked with the blood, would suffer the death of the firstborn in each household: "For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever." (Ex. 12:23-24). Rabbis teach that when the lamb was selected on the tenth day of Aviv in preparation for that first Passover in Egypt, it took place on Shabbat Hagadol, the Sabbath before the actual Passover, which would occur four days later. On that Shabbat HaGadol, they teach in the Code of Jewish Laws (Orach Chayim 430:1) that a miracle occurred. The Isrelites were able to select the lambs without being stoned to death by the Egyptians (see Ex. 8:25-27). It was considered blasphemy against the Egyptian god Amun-Ra, the sun god, to kill and eat any animal of the ram family, because the depictions of Amun-Ra included ram's heads. However, as a result of a miracle, the Israelites were able to select and keep the lambs to be used for the Passover. In this feast of Passover from Exodus, we see a direct confrontation between the LORD and the oppression of Egypt against His people, which resulted in the plague of death. Another part of this week's Sabbath reading is from Malachi 3, and is specifically to be read for The Great Sabbath before Passover. Although the Passover is not mentioned in this portion of reading from Malachi, it has been assigned as part of the Passover understanding. Therefore it is a mystery, and we must uncover its pertinence to Passover. It is no coincidence that like the first Passover in Exodus, we are given a prophetic promise concerning the appearing of the Lord, the preparation necessary by His people, and the judgment on the wicked that will accompany His appearing. According to these verses in Mal. 3, there is one who is going to come to prepare the way for the Lord, and then: "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,' says the LORD of hosts. 'But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap...He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness." (Mal. 3:1-3). Here we have the announcement of the appearing of the Lord, and the preparation of His people for the event, as we had with the Passover and the applying of the lamb's blood to the doorposts. Again, His people have to prepare themselves becauae judgment will be carried out with the Lord's appearing, as it was with the Egyptians: "And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien - because they do not fear Me,' says the LORD of hosts. 'For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed , O sons of Jacob....Return to Me, and I will return to you,' says the LORD of hosts." (Mal. 3:5-7). Because this reading portion is included as a reading for Shabbat HaGadol, I am beginning to see that the first Passover as a warfare event that is repeated in the Gospels' appearance of Jesus, as well as in the prophecies of His return, as we will see. We read that Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover, and shared a Passover meal, or Seder, together. On that Passover before Jesus died, scripture says that Satan entered into Judas Iscariot at the same time that the chief priests sought how they might kill Jesus (Lk. 22:1-3). It is the unleavened bread of the Passover meal that Jesus identified as His body broken for us, and the wine of the Passover Seder as His blood given for the New Covenant of salvation: "Then He (Jesus) said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer...And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." (Lk. 22:15-20). Our communion remembrance comes from that Passover Seder. Jesus died on the cross on the Passover, at the same time of day when the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the temple court. Paul later made sure that we understood that Jesus was not just, as John the Baptists proclaimed, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:29, 36), but that Jesus was specifically our Passover Lamb.(1 Cor. 5:7). We can see the warfare of the Passover as Satan actively entered the traitor, Judas, and as the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus. The warfare is engaged, and the battle is won by the blood of our Passover Lamb. The blood is like a two-edged sword: on one hand, providing its protection for those covered by it, and, on the other hand, excluding from its protection those not covered by it. We see the warfare of our Passover Lamb again in the Book of Revelation. The only One considered worthy to be able to open the seals of judgment against the wicked in heavens and the earth is the Lamb (Rev. 5:1-6, 6:1). All creatures, both in heaven and of the earth proclaim in that moment: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!' (Rev. 5:11-14). Jesus is also identified as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah", and as "the Root of David", but it is the Lord as the Passover Lamb who executes the judgment. It is the Lamb who goes to war. We are told of a great warfare in heaven in which the serpent, that is the devil, or Satan, is cast down out of heaven with his angels, and it is made clear how this mighty victory was won: "And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Rev. 12:7-11). On this Shabbat HaGadol, the Sabbath before the Passover, and during the Passover itself, let us keep in mind the appearing of the Lord, the preparation of His people for that appearing, and His execution of judgment against the oppressors. However, most of all, let us understand the warfare of the Passover Lamb. If you would like to know more about our Passover Lamb, Jesus, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, as my Passover Lamb, You died for my sins. You died to protect me from death. Because of the covering of Your blood, death has passed over me, and spared me. Your Passover Lamb's blood that has protected me, also testifies against those who have refused the work and protection of Your blood. It is as my Passover Lamb that You do warfare in the heavens and on earth, and execute judgment. Fill me with the Holy Spirit Who guides me through Your refining and purging process in order to prepare me in righteousness for Your appearing. I depend upon the work of the Passover Lamb in me, and in the earth. I ask this in Your holy Name, AMEN."

Warfare

The tabernacle has great meaning for all of us. Its structure and ministry are a pattern of Christ and His sacrifice for sin, and also His believers who form, individually and corporately, a living tabernacle, with the glory of God through Christ within. The entrances into the court of the tabernacle, and each of its two inner chambers, were called The Way, The Truth, and The Life, according to Jewish tradition. Jesus identified Himself with these entrances of the tabernacle into the presence of God: "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (Jn. 14:6). Even though the Israelites numbered many hundreds of thousands at the time when the tabernacle was assembled, there was only one entrance into the court of the tabernacle. Although many in the world believe that God may be approached in a variety of ways and religions, the design of the tabernacle shows that there is only ONE way to come to the Father, and that is through His Son. There is only ONE door for the sheep to enter (Jn. 10:7). The tabernacle is not about a religion, it is about a way. That way is paved with redemption from sin: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine...For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you...Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel...I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King...I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." (Isa. 43). Isaiah in the verses above refers to the LORD's "calling" of His people by name. The title of the Sabbath reading for this week is Va-yikra, meaning "And he called". As the tribes of Israel were assigned by God to their encampment positions around the tabernacle (see Numbers 2), the encampment of the tribes formed the shape of a cross if viewed from the air. These groupings of tribes placed on the north, south, east, and west of the tabernacle were called "armies", and the tribes were numbered by their young men over twenty years of age, who were old enough for battle. The armies of warfare were assembled around the tabernacle. In the previous post, I mentioned that everything connected to the structure and the ministry of the tabernacle, according to Jewish tradition, was to accomplish "God's unity and the rectification of our souls and the world". This is referred to by the Hebrew word tikkum, a word which also happens to mean "warfare". What role does the tabernacle of God play in spiritual warfare , and therefore our warfare as living tabernacles of God in our current time? We are assured in scripture that evil men will grow worse. There is and will be deception and lies, betrayal and persecution, and corruption and violence. The earth quakes and erupts, and nature itself seems to be turning against the sins of men. Jesus prophesied all of these things in Mt. 24, and Lk. 21. In reading articles on some of the current and future developments and plans of science and government, the word "abominations" is too mild to describe them. It hurts our hearts just to look all around us and consider all of the evil working through the minds and hearts of men. The tabernacle tells us that the first place to begin the ministry of reconciliation between creation and God is within ourselves, His called people. This is the "rectification of our souls" described as part of the purpose of the tabernacle. When Solomon's temple was dedicated, the LORD promised Solomon that even in the middle of His catastrophic judgment, "If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I shall hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:14). God's people were taught the covering power of the blood sacrifice (of Christ) through the tabernacle. The Sabbath readings for this week include Leviticus 2, 4-5, the offerings that cover sin. We, His called people, understand that the ministry of offerings and sacrifices of the tabernacle are fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world to those who will accept that sacrifice. In the tabernacle, we are taught that the priest must make the covering sacrifice for himself first, before he can minister the sacrifice on behalf of the people. We also must sanctify ourselves, and allow ourselves to be cleansed first, before we can deal with others. This is our first stand in spiritual warfare. We start with ourselves. I have read and heard many comments that the failure of God's called people to start the warfare with ourselves has resulted in some having no interest in Christ or Christianity. They cry, "hypocrisy!", and they are not wrong. By failing to begin our warfare within ourselves, as the tabernacle teaches, we become a stumbling block to the acceptance by others of faith in Christ. By not beginning with ourselves first, we fall out of our "cross formation" in warfare. Moving on, as mentioned above, the "armies" of Israel were encamped in the specific pattern of a cross, with the tabernacle and all it represents, in their center. So now, with Christ set firmly within us, let us begin to turn our vision outward to the "rectifying of the world". David talked about the wicked who were around him, who come against him "to eat up my flesh". He spoke of the enemies and armies that were encamped against him, the war they brought to him, a time when father and mother forsake him, when the will of his adversaries and "false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence". David said that because of the natural and spiritual warfare against him, "I would have lost heart". What caused him to inhabit a place of victory inspite of all of these attacks and challenges? "One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a Rock. And now my head shall be lifted above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD...When You said, "Seek My face", my heart said to You, Your face, LORD, I will seek." (Psalm 27, excerpts). The tabernacle, and what it represents, was the place of David's courage, strength and victory. So why do we ignore the important lessons of the tabernacle? Another Psalm, which was written by Asaph, also mentions the tabernacle. (note: Asaph wrote 12 Psalms. The number 12 has significance with repeated mentions both in the Old and New Testaments. In Hebrew teaching, the number twelve means "totality, wholeness, the completion of God's purpose". The name Asaph in Hebrew points to the called people of God: "gatherer, gather in, assemble, to gather and take away, harvest, rearguard".) In Psalm 73, Asaph wrote, "...my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked...pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with abundance...They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth...Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease...When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me (thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind) - Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end...I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73, excerpts). In this case, the evil that Asaph saw all around him, enlarged in pride because it seemed to go unpunished, caused Asaph to nearly stumble in his faith. Similar to the evil of our day, what Asaph saw hurt his heart and vexed his mind...until he entered the sanctuary of God. In the presence of God, Asaph was able to see the end as God knows the end. Like David, Asaph found that the presence of God in the sanctuary gave him the surety, and the peace that comes from that knowledge of "the completion of God's purpose", which is glory. This was Asaph's victory in spiritual warfare found in the tabernacle of God. One of this Sabbath's haftarah portions is from Isaiah 33. The chapter opens with woes to those who plunder and deal treacherously, and the disasterous effects upon the earth because of them (v. 9). Sadly, also mentioned in the same company as the plunderers and the treacherous, are those who are sinners and hypocrites in Zion, who shall live in fear (v. 14). However, rather than these things being the focus of our attention, for God will deal with them, Isaiah directs our eyes elsewhere: "The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure...Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, a tabernacle that will not be taken down; not one of its stakes will ever be removed, nor will any of its cords be broken. But there the majestic LORD will be for us..." (v. 20-21). Part of our warfare tactics is about where we keep our eyes. It is easy for our attention to be consumed by the evil of our times, but that will not bring the victory in our warfare. The LORD assures us in Isaiah that evil will be dealt with. Our victory is in keeping our focus on the eternal things, and the tabernacle of God is one of those, never to be dismantled, but always the center of Zion and Jerusalem. This is the ultimate victory in spiritual warfare that the tabernacle teaches. Regardless of the increase in the evil around us, we have the sure knowledge that the completion of God's purpose will be glory. Our Father will complete His purpose in His eternal and living tabernacle. May God's called people bless His glorious name forever, and let the whole earth be filled with His glory, Amen, and Amen. For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea (Ps. 72:19, Hab. 2:14). If you would like to know the living tabernacle of God, you can pray: "Dear Father, I believe that You have given Your Son, Jesus, as the eternal sacrifice for my sins, as found in the pattern of Your tabernacle. I believe He died for me, and rose from the dead. Your Word promises that He is coming again to reign over the earth. Your Word also promises that the whole earth is filled with Your glory. You will make Your tabernacle with men. Forgive me, and cleaanse me from all sin, pride, and unrighteousness. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can be the tabernacle of God's glory. I ask these things in Jesus' name. AMEN."