Enter-In

The title of this Sabbath's reading is Ki-Tavo, meaning "When you come in" from Deuteronomy Chapters 26-28. As with the previous chapters, this portion deals with the instructions of the LORD to the children of Israel, through Moses, as they prepare to enter into the land that God has promised them. In order to have the blessing of God upon both themselves and the land, the LORD repeatedly told His people to keep His commandments. Terrible curses would come upon their new land, if they did not keep His statutes. I think the entrance of the Israelites into their Promised Land also has great prophetic meaning for us. I was amazed to find in this Sabbath reading that their story parallels our story as believers in Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The LORD instructed the Israelites that when they came into the new land, they were to gather the first fruits of the land, bring it to the priest as an offering to God, and make a uniquely worded declaration: "And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, 'A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty and populous..." (Deut. 26:5 KJV). Using the Hebrew meaning of the main words in this verse, we could express the verse this way: "An exalted royal, ready to be broken and put to death, was my Prince, my Father. He descended into the adversary's stronghold of distress, fear and assault and remained there temporarily. The few and diminished became a mass of people, a nation, a body, with greatness like the greatness of God Himself, mighty, countless, and multiplied exceedingly." The people's declaration upon entering the land, considering the meaning of the words in the Hebrew language, is recognizable to us as the Gospel of Jesus. We also were delivered out of that place in eternity by the hand of God in the same way mentioned in this verse of the Sabbath reading: "So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm (nata zeroah - "stretched out arm, shoulder (of animal sacrifice"), with great terror and with signs and wonders." (Deut. 26:8). The "outstretched arm" of God's deliverance for us, took the form of Jesus' arms stretched out on the cross in sacrifice. Continuing on with our parallels, in several places in this Sabbath's reading, and in previous scriptures, the LORD describes the land that the Israelites will enter as "...a land flowing (zub - gush out, to die, to flow freely") with milk and honey." (Deut. 26:9, 15, 27:3). In the Song of Songs, Solomon connected the Beloved's bride with the taste of milk and honey (Song 4:10-11, 5:1). It was the practice among the Israelites to give newly married brides a mixture of milk and honey. So not only did the expression "a land flowing with milk and honey" refer to a natural land of abundance and the finest things, but we can also find a prophetic parallel to the marriage of the Lamb of God and the Bride of Christ (Rev. 19:7). The physical entrance into the land by the Israelites as they became a nation has direct correlation to our entrance into the spiritual land of salvation and glory as believers in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote of the principle that the natural is manifested first, and then the spiritual after (1 Cor. 15:45-46). We do not replace Israel in this way at all, but Israel's entrance into, and existence in the land sets the natural precedent and prophesies of our entrance and habitation of a spiritual land. In another example of this "dual" entrance from this Sabbath's haftarah reading, the prophet Isaiah described the land. He talked about the land in transformation from wilderness and wasteland desert to a place that will blossom like the rose, in abundance, excellence and glory (Isa. 35:1). Israel has indeed become a land that has turned the desert into bloom. They are well known for their agricultural exports to other nations. However, this is also a picture of our transformation through Christ in the kingdom of God. Isaiah also talked about another kind of blossoming that occurs when God comes to save. It is a blossoming that we associate with the Messiah: "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 shall sing..." (v. 5-6). Jesus confirmed His identity to John the Baptist and the people of Israel with these very signs (Lk. 7:18-23). Isaiah wrote in this chapter about "waters bursting forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert" for the thirsty land (Isa. 35:6-7). Israel has irrigated the desert and brought water where there was only parched ground before. However, Jesus also talked about another form of living water that He provided to the dry desert of the spirits of man: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (Jn. 7:37). To the woman at the well, Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of this water (of the natural well) will thirst again, 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." (Jn. 4:10-14). Regarding the land of which Isaiah wrote in Chapter 35: "A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others...the redeemed shall walk there." (Isa. 35:8-9). This Highway of Holiness is established by the LORD as a spiritual work - no devouring beasts, no sorrow or sighing shall be found on this Highway (v. 9-10). Of course, Jesus provided a "Highway of Holiness" for us (Mt. 7:14), and our walk with Jesus is to be a walk of holiness (1 Peter 1:14-16). The LORD's covenant with Israel is not just a physical covenant regarding the land, but He also talks about His spiritual covenant with them (Isa. 59:21). In Isaiah 60, another portion from this Sabbath's reading, Ki Tavo, about entering into the land, we read Isaiah's prophetic vision concerning "The City of the LORD" and "Zion of the Holy One of Israel" (Isa. 60:14). The walls are called "Salvation", and its gates are called "Praise" (v. 18). In addition, this is not a natural land with natural light that Isaiah sees. It is a place where the LORD is the everlasting light (v. 19, also Jn. 8:12, Mt. 5:14-19, Rev. 21:23, 22:5). As this spiritual land shines with the everlasting light of God, so should those whom the LORD is calling: "Arise (qum - "arise, be established, be fixed, be raised up"), shine (or - "enlighten, become light, to be illuminated"); for your light (or - "light of a lamp, light of life (see Jn. 1:4), light of day, flood of light) has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you." (Isa. 60:1). Although the earth and people are covered in deep darkness according to the prophecy, the people of this spiritual land shine with the light of God, bringing many to that light (v. 2-4). The rising of the light of the LORD in us is vital in these times of darkness and fear. As the Israelites were about to "come in" to their land, God warned them to keep His commandments and statutes. We also, as those called to "come in" to the land of the Messiah, Jesus, are called to obey God's Word (Jn. 1:1, 14) and keep His commandments as Jesus said: "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him..." (Jn. 14:21, 23-24. See also Jn. 15:10-12, 14:15). May we understand that there is a responsibility to be kept regarding the Word of God when coming into the land, which is our habitation in Christ. The spiritual land is glorious, and its work in the earth, through us, is glorious. If you would like to know more about entering into our habitation in Jesus, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, You have made the way for me to enter into an inheritance in God. I believe You died for my sins, and rose from the dead to provide me the inheritance of everlasting life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit to show me, and help me to keep, Your commandments. Let me rise and shine with the light of Jesus Christ that draws men to it from out of the deep darkness. Forgive me for when I have not been that light. I want to dwell in land of Your kingdom, the City of God. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen."

Merciful

There is one aspect of mercy that perhaps we do not always consider. Mercy in God's hands, and subsequently in ours, is not just an emotion of pity and compassion, or a gift of undeserved favor. It is also a creative power. In this week's Sabbath reading, which is titled Ki Teitze, meaning "When you go out", from Deuteronomy Chapters 20-25, one of the themes that keeps appearing throughout is the attitude and acts of mercy. It is no coincidence that this reading portion is assigned during the Hebrew month of Elul (see previous post titled "Transition"), also called the Month of Mercy and Forgiveness, when the Thirteen Attributes of Divine Mercy (Ex. 34:6-7) are prayed. From the Sabbath reading in Deuteronomy 24, the LORD commanded various merciful acts to be practiced by the children of Israel, keeping in mind the following: "But you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this thing." (Deut. 24:18, 22). By stating this in this context, God connected the mighty and miraculous deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt to an act based upon His mercy. We, then, "when we go out" are to treat others with this same mercy, opening the door for God's miraculous creative power of deliverance. In the various examples given by God in the Sabbath reading, regardless of other considerations that might be in play, mercy was to be the first consideration. In another part of scripture where we read what is called the Thirteen Attributes of Divine Mercy, as God passed before Moses declaring His name, He spoke of His mercifulness twice saying, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful (rahum- merciful, compassion, pity, love, tender affection) and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy (keeping: nasar- preserve, keeper, watchmen, monuments, guard with fidelity, protect, maintain/mercy: hesed - mercy kindness, favor, show thyself merciful, bow the neck in courtesy; also includes reproach, wicked thing, put to shame) for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..." (Ex. 34:6-7). As we can see from the Hebrew words used in the above verses, not only does God show mercy, but He "keeps" it. He guards and protects it. He sets up monuments to serve as reminders of it. He appoints watchmen to keep a watch for it. We can also see from the Hebrew meaning for mercy, hesed, that in keeping mercy for some, the LORD must judge the wickedness of others. The LORD, in revealing His name to Moses above, also included, "by no means clearing the guilty..." (Ex. 34:7). God's mercy is present to those He is delivering, but to those who wickedly refuse and obstruct that deliverance, the ultimate rulership of His mercy requires that they be put to shame. Egypt found this out when they insistently resisted God's merciful deliverance of His people out of bondage. Egypt was not destroyed in judgment, but its opposition to the merciful will of God wss powerfully and painfully overcome by His judgments. In this Sabbath's haftarah reading from Proverbs 30, Solomon asked the question, "...Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?" (v. 4). Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, became the bodily form of God's mercy for us: "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..." (Eph. 2:4-6). Mary also proclaimed that the birth of her child, the Savior, comes out of God's mercy (Lk. 1:54-55). God's mercy towards Israel, and all men who were dying in sin, became a powerful creative work of salvation, overcoming all of the power of the world, sin, and death (Jn. 16:33). His mercy is not extended because we earn or deserve it. It is extended by God because we desperately need it, and that mercy is the only thing that can help us. We very much need this mercy of God today as we are faced with tumultuous events and dangers. Many times those who needed a miracle from Jesus approached Him crying out to Him as a Giver of mercy (Mt. 9:27, 15:22, 17:15, 20:30-31), and from His mercy the creative works of healing and deliverance did indeed pour forth. From this week's Sabbath reading comes an example of a powerful creative work that began in God's mercy. It is from the haftarah reading in Isaiah 54. The LORD's mercy is stirred on behalf of Israel, whom God describes as an unmarried woman with no children: "...a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit" (v. 6). From her place of desolation and childlessness, God said to Israel: "For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. He is called the God of the whole earth." (v. 5). The LORD continued, "...with great mercies I will gather you...with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you..." (v. 7-8). The LORD told Israel that she must enlarge her tent because the number of her children, though she was barren, would be very great, "and your descendants will inherit the nations..." (Isa. 54:1-3). This promise of the LORD comes after His prophecy in Isa. 53, the chapter describing the Servant who suffered and was killed for the sins of others. That Servant "shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities." (Isa. 53:11). How could Israel have imagined from the LORD's promise of mercy in Isaiah 54, that millions, even billions, of people over the centuries from all the nations of the world would become her spiritual children. While Israel might have imagined that this prophetic promise in Isaiah 54 was referring to future natural children, the mercy of God would produce an even greater miracle. Israel could never have imagined the powerful creative work that was done on behalf of her childless state. Most of those prophesied children, having found the knowledge and faith in El-elohe Israel, the God of Israel, came to that knowledge of Him through the sacrifice of His Son, the Messiah, Jesus. When we think of the mercy of God, do we understand the earthmoving creative power that it engenders? As the LORD commanded the children of Israel to remember His mercy in Deuteronomy 24, and to do likewise to those who needed it, Jesus also gave the same commandment. After His parable about the mercy that the Good Samaritan had shown to the wounded stranger, Jesus said to His listeners, "Go and do likewise." (Lk. 10:30-37). Mercy is not just about being "nice", or trying to "earn" spiritual credits with God. Mercy is about a foundational element in God's name, and the power of it that changes seemingly hopeless situations. May our thoughts, words, prayers, and actions towards others always incorporate the miraculous mercy of God. If you would like to learn more about the mercy of God, you can start with a prayer: "Heavenly Father, mercy is Your name. You sent Your Son, Jesus, to be mercy for me. While I was dead in my trespasses, I remember that Your mercy made me alive, and raised me up in Christ Jesus. Jesus sent another Comforter (Parakletos) to me, the Holy Spirit, Who joins God and His mercy to me. By this same Holy Spirit, help me to extend the mercy of God to others in need, that the God of Israel might move every circumstance in the power of His deliverance. I ask You this in Jesus' name. Amen."

Transition

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

See!

The LORD had a message for a specific group of people among the Israelites. The message was this: "Therefore you shall love (ahab - "to desire, to breathe after, to love, to delight in") the LORD your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always (yom - "day/daily, ever, lifetime; today, yesterday, tomorrow")." (Deut. 11:1). The LORD's message was about a day to day lifestyle of loving God and obeying His commandments, for the group of people to which the LORD was speaking. He described this group: "Know today that I do not speak with your children, who have not known and who have not seen the chastening of the LORD your God, His greatness and His mighty hand and His outstretched arm - His signs and His acts which He did..." (v. 2). The LORD was speaking to those who had experienced Him, who were witnesses to all of the things He had done in the deliverance of His people from slavery, and His continued acts as He guided them in their journey to the Promised Land. The LORD had expectations of this group, because they had seen Him, and His acts. The reason for the LORD's expectation for this group is because everything the LORD will command them in these chapters will prophetically point them, and later us, to the Messiah, the Savior. This week's Sabbath portion is titled Re'eh, which means "See", and comes from Deuteronomy Chapters 13-16, but it begins with the command in Deut. 11: "Behold (See), I set before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known." (v. 26-27). There is either the blessing, or the curse. There is no middle ground to walk between the two. The LORD made clear His opinion of the middle ground as Moses said: "You shall not at all do as we are doing here today - every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes - for as yet you have not come into the rest and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you." (Deut. 12:8-9). There was a rest and an inheritance to be obtained, but they weren't going to get there by going your own way, and doing whatever they wanted. There was a prophetic pattern being established, to be followed carefully, to bring them to a desired end. One of the first commands given to this group of people who had experienced the LORD involved a place: "...you shall seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go." (Deut. 12:5, 11, 14, 18, 21, 26). This place, which would later be Jerusalem from within the territory of the tribe of Judah, was the place designated for the people to bring their worship, sacrifices, and offerings to God. However, it was a place to come to rejoicing. The people who inhabited the land before the Israelites had worshipped their idols on mountains, hills, at trees, and many varied places (Deut. 12:2-3), and committed acts of abomination to those gods, even the burning of their own children (v. 31). It was prophetically necessary to bring Israel to Jerusalem in worship as we will see. The LORD warned this group that they could not venture away from His worship, even if a prophet with proven accuracy was to instruct them to do so. These people, who were witnesses to the LORD's acts, and hearers of the LORD's commands, were to hold fast, and not allow themselves to be enticed away from Him (Deut. 13:1-11, see also Lam. 2:13-14). Jesus, and the apostles of the New Testament had the same word of warning for these lst days for the believers in Christ - beware of false prophets, and hold fast to what you know is the truth according to the word of God (Mt. 7:15, 24:11, 24, 2 Pet. 2:1, 1 Jn. 4:1, 2 Tim. 1:13, Heb. 3:6, 10:23, Rev. 2:25, Rev. 3:3). The LORD went on to command this eye-witness group of His people in this week's Sabbath reading portion from Deuteronomy that they should not eat any unclean thing saying: "You are the children of the LORD your God...For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deut. 14:1-21). Not only does this command of the LORD pertain to clean and unclean animals as food for His people, but, spiritually, I believe, the unclean animals mentioned also represent unclean practices, and the people who do them. I say this because prophetically speaking, the LORD will later reveal, through this commandment of unclean foods, the miraculous and sovereign cleansing that He would accomplish through His Son, incuding the acceptance of Gentiles into the faith (Acts 10:9-16). Peter would say, based upon the events that occurred after his vision of unclean animals, "...In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." (v. 34-35). Continuing in Deut. 14, the LORD commanded the tithe to be given to the Levite and to the poor, widow and fatherless as part of the way of blessing, "...that the LORD may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do." (v. 29). This blessing continued to be fulfilled in the New Testament, as two Gentiles received a miracle of God because of their giving to the synagogue (Lk. 7), and the poor (Acts 10:1-4). Alms, the merciful giving to the poor, is from the Greek root word whose meaning includes the quality of God in providing and offering to men salvation by Christ: Jn. 3:16), which makes God's command to give alms within the tithe a prophetic foreshadowing of salvation. To further connect the law given to these people, who are expected to "see", with the prophetic and the way of blessing, in Deut. 15:1-2, every seventh year is commanded by God for the forgiveness of debt of all kinds. This seventh year is to be called "the LORD's release" (samat - "let drop, loosen, detach, overthrow, fling down, let rest"). It is known as the Shemitah. By obediently observing this seventh year of the LORD's release, the nation will be greatly blessed: "For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you." (Deut. 15:6). Jesus would later speak a parable of the unforgiving debtor, and how our forgiveness of another's debt, or not, affects God's forgiveness of our "debts" (Mt. 18:21-35). Jesus would also teach for us to pray to our Father, "And forgive us our debts (opheilema - justly or legally due, something owed; a metaphor for offense, sin), as we forgive our debtors." (Mt. 6:12). Just before Jesus died while on the cross, He made the statement, "It is finished." (Jn. 19:30). Not only does the Greek word used here, teleo, mean the end of something, but it also means "paid; to discharge a debt". It is timely to note that the next seventh year of the LORD's release of debt, or Shemitah, begins next month, from 9/7/21 - 9/25/22. The obedient keeping of the Shemitah by the Israelites, prophetically made the way for the blessing of Christ's teaching and atonement many generations later, with the forgiveness of our debts, or sins. Finally, in Deut. 16, the LORD spoke to these people who were to "see" about three out of the six feasts of the LORD, which could not be obeserved at home, but would require a pilgrimage to "the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide" (v. 6). The LORD said, "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses..." (v. 16). Although all of the feasts of the LORD prophetically point to the Messiah, the three feasts spoken of in Deut. 16 have a special connection with both the Messiah and Jerusalem, "the place". It would be prophetically necessary that on one specific Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, all would be required to come to Jerusalem to "see" the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. All would have come to Jerusalem again seven weeks later to observe the Feast of Weeks as well, and would have "seen" the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the next day, Pentecost, to empower the church of believers in Christ (see Acts 2). The third feast that required the pilgrimage to Jerusalem is the Feast of Tabernacles, "...when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress." (v. 13). Prophetically, a Feast of Tabernacles will be fulfilled in Jerusalem after a great battle (threshing floor and winepress). In this battle, the nations will come together against Jerusalem, but the LORD Himself, the Messiah, will come with all His saints and defeat them. The survivors from the defeated nations will be required to come to Jerusalem yearly "...to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles." Those nations who do not come, will suffer under a curse of plague and drought. All who do come to Jerusalem for this feast as commanded by the LORD, will experience the blessing of an outpouring of holiness in Jerusalem and Judah (see Zech. 14). This group of people whom the LORD addressed in Deuteronomy, who were expected to "see", carried the prophetic commandments of God for our benefit, and for the benefit of all the nations of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3, 18:18, 22:18). The path of blessing being commanded by the LORD here, was the path to Messiah, Jesus. Jesus taught that He didn't come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them (Mt. 5:17-18). Jesus also taught that all of the scriptures testify of Him (Jn. 5:39). We can "see" that clearly in these passages from Deuteronomy. We, the believers in Christ who have experienced the Lord, to whom the arm of the LORD has been revealed (Isa. 53:1), are also called to be a people who are to "see" (Isa. 52:8, 15). We carry the ongoing blessing of the salvation of Christ to others, and we also carry the prophetic promise of the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah (Rev. 22:12-13, 17/Isa. 40:10-11, Isa. 62:11-12), the creation of the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:10-14/Isa. 65:17-19), and the appearance of the New Jerusalem, where the tabernacle of God will be among men (Rev. 21:1-5/Isa. 52:1-2/Lev. 26:11-12). One of the ending verses written by John in Rev. 22:14 says, "Blessed are those who do His commandments...". The Lord is still commanding His people to "see" and follow the way of blessing. If you would like to be part of the people whom the Lord has called to "see", you can pray: "Heavenly Father, You have commanded us to love You, and You have given Jesus, Your Son, as a gift for my salvation. I believe that Jesus died to pay for and forgive my debt of sin, and that He rose again from the dead. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so I may "see", and experience You, and bring to others the prophetic promises, the blessings, found in Your commandments. I ask this in the name of Jesus, the Messiah. Amen."

3Nations

In this week's Sabbath reading from Deuteronomy Chapters 8-11, Moses delivers the Word of the LORD to the children of Israel as they are about to cross the Jordan River into the land that God promised to them. They are about to become a nation. As a nation, the LORD has certain insights and warnings for Israel. Moses speaks from the LORD about the land saying: "...you shall keep every commandment which I command you today...that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year." (Deut. 11:8-12). The land into which the Israelites were about to go was not like other lands. This new land was supernaturall provided for from heaven. This land had a very special meaning to God, and that continues to this day, and will continue through the return of Christ, and beyond. It was a land specifically promised to the fathers, but it is also the land to which the Son of God, the Messiah, would be sent to save the children of Israel (Mt. 15:24, Mt. 10:5-8, Rom. 1:16), and from this land, the world and its nations will be changed and ruled by Him (Zech. 14:4-9). Because of all of these things, it is the land of promise in more ways than one. Moses continued to say that if the Israelites as a nation continued to obey God's commandments given to them that day, "to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled." (v. 13-15). Not only was the nation of Israel to follow this command, which is part of the Shema (Deut. 6:4-5), but they were to wear the command on their bodies, and place it upon their homes. They were to be faithful and diligent to teach this commandment to their children in every circumstance as well (v. 18-20). Another benefit that would be upon them as a nation, as they kept this commandment of God, was that all of the occupying nations currently in the land would be driven out from before them by the LORD, even larger and greater nations than themselves, and these nations would have fear and dread of the nation of Israel placed upon them (v. 23-25). If the nation of Israel failed to serve the LORD in love, and turn to other gods, the blessings of the new land would dry up, and the people would perish quickly from the land (v. 16-17). There is great blessing when the countenance of the LORD is lifted upon a person or nation, and great hardship when His glorious face is turned away (Num. 6:23-27, Prov. 16:15). Understanding these same truths, our nation, which is the second nation referred to in the title of this entry, also called upon God from its beginning, and wrote of its commitment to God's precepts in its founding documents. Our first document, the Declaration of Independence states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." We began our independent nationhood with the premise that all men have been equally created by the Creator. Man did not come into being as an accident of circumstances, our documents declare, and man did not create himself. Also, the idea that men were equal was an earthshaking concept for its time. The other nations of the era did not hold that belief. Could an common man be equal to a king? This was a ridiculous thought to most at that time, but we declared men to be equal because they were all a divine creation of God. These same founders wrote that they would rely upon God, as the Supreme Judge of the world, to determine if their intentions in forming a new nation were right in His eyes: "We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown." Finally, they vowed in this document that they would rely upon God for protection: "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence , we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." We believed the precepts of God in forming this nation. We called upon God to judge our intentions, and we relied upon God for protection in this hazardous step of independence. In the writing of our second founding document, The Constitution, we published our belief that liberty did not originate with men, but was a blessing from God to be valued and defended: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." As we became a nation, we did so swearing our belief and reliance upon God. We have also written this same affirmation upon our public buildings, and even on our currency, down to the smallest denomination, the penny. However, as our nation, has turned our back on these declarations and affirmations on many occasions, we have seen, as the LORD warned Israel, that our blessings from God have begun to dissolve. Our extreme weather has caused problems with crops, causing shortages. Cattle have been slaughtered early because there is a shortage of hay and feed. In becoming like the other nations who do not depend upon the LORD for their protection, nor heed His commandments, we have seen a pestilence cover our land. Also, for a nation who never saw a defeat in war, we have had few victories in the last 70 years or so. Enemies no longer have a dread of us, as God promised the nation of Israel if they would love Him and heed His Word. Inspite of the fact that we have the greatest military force money can buy, our enemies have become confident from experience that they can out-wait us, out-last us, and out-fight us. A third nation that carries an obligation before God is a spiritual nation. In a Torah portion before this Sabbath's reading, God said of His people: "For you are a holy people (Hebrew am - "people, tribe, nation") to the LORD your God: the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you or choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the land of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." (Deut. 7:6-9). Peter wrote a similar description of those who belong to Christ: "They (those who do not accept Jesus) stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people (Greek laos - "people, group, tribe, nation") that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10). Believers in Christ are not only The Church, His Body, and His Bride, but we are also a nation of God in Christ. It is still necessary, and will always be necessary for the believers in Christ to love God, and obey His commandments. As God instructed the nation of Israel, Jesus taught the same part of the Shema as being the greatest commandment (Mt. 22:36-40). Jesus also said, as God taught Israel: "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (Jn. 14:15). To Israel, to America, and to the nation of believers in Christ who have turned away from their love of God, the LORD asks these questions from our haftarah portion of this Sabbath's reading: "Thus says the LORD: 'Where is the certificate of your mother's divorce, whom I have put away? Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you? For your iniquities you have sold yourselves, and for your transgressions your mother has been put away. Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?..." (Isa. 50:1-2). The LORD waits for us to turn back to Him. He waits for our nation's answer to His call. He is looking for an opportunity to redeem and deliver both individuals, and His nations. The title of this week's Sabbath reading is Eikev, which means "If/Because (you follow)". Who or what are we following? The LORD commands us to follow Him. If you would like to follow the LORD your God in love, heeding His commandments, you can pray: "Heavenly Father, You have asked us to love and follow You. Your Son has asked us to love Him, obey His commandments, and follow Him. You have called me as an individual, and You have called me to be part of a holy nation. You sent Your Son to die for my sins, and to rise from death for my everlasting life: to bring me out of darkness and bondage, and into Your marvelous light. Forgive me of my sins. I turn back to You, and place my life in Your hands. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Sanctify me and cleanse me, and teach me Your commandments. I ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen."

Changes

People who don't know God well, don't think that He is associated with rapid and revolutionary change, but they would be wrong. The Sabbath readings for this week represent a season of profound spiritual changes, as well as changes in natural circumstances. The Torah readings from Deuteronomy Chapters 3-6 begin with the announcement of a pending change of leadership for the children of Israel from the era of Moses, whose name means "to draw out, to pull out", as Moses was drawn out of the Nile River as an infant, and as he drew out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt and slavery. The new leader appointed by the LORD was to be Joshua, whose name means "Jehovah is salvation/opulence". Joshua would lead the children of Israel into the new land. The title of this week's Sabbath reading, in which we see drastic changes, is Va-etchannan (Nachumu). Va-etchannan means "and I besought". In Deut. 3:23-26, Moses besought God to allow him to cross over with the people to see the good land beyond the Jordan River. God not only refused His servant Moses, but said, "Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter." (v. 26). Moses had disobeyed God earlier, striking the rock for water, when God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock, and at that time God informed Moses that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:7-12, Num. 27:12-14). Not only did Moses disobey God's command, but he did not discern Christ as the Rock which followed the camp of Israel in the wilderness, from Whom sprang their living water (1 Cor. 10:4). The LORD also knew that it would require a new leader to lead His people into their new land, and new identity as a nation, rather than as a camp of tribes. No doubt the thought of a change in leadership, no matter how necessary in God's eyes as He provided for the future of His people, caused distress and sadness. The children of Israel were baptized into the baptism of Moses as they went through the Red Sea (1 Cor. 10:1-2), but now they were to be baptized in a new baptism initiated by a new leader as they were about to enter and cross the Jordan (meaning "descender, flowing down, to come down (pertaining to revelation), abundantly) River into the Promised Land. We also received a change in baptisms as we became part of the Church of Believers, from the baptism of repentance, to the new baptism of Christ and the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 11:15-16, 19:4-6). Another change experienced by the children of Israel, as Moses reminded them in Deut. 5:2-4, was a new covenant not previously known by their fathers: "The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, those who are here today, all of us who are alive. The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire." The people of God walked in a new understanding and covenant relationship with the LORD as they received His Word, the Torah. Moses also revealed to the people a new understanding of the Person of God in this week's Sabbath reading. He brought forth what is called the Shemah, which revealed the mystery that the LORD was a plural unit: "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one (echad- together unitedly, to unify, to join oneself together)!" (Deut. 6:4). We know this unity of God as the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Moses also revealed a change in the understanding that the children of Israel had about their relationship with God. Their, and our, service and obedience to Him, and their personal relationshp with Him, were to be based not upon religion and compulsion, but upon total love (Deut. 6:5). That was a revolutionary thought for the time. God's people were to wear these words on their foreheads and hands, and placed on their houses as a sign (v. 8-9). This "sign" declared the undivided plurality of God, and the love-based relationship we are to have with Him. Another of the changes contained in this week's reading is the timing of the reading. This specific date on the Hebrew calendar signals an acknowledgment of a change. This Sabbath's reading is on the Sabbath following what is considered as the saddest, most mournful day of the Jewish calendar, Tisha B'Av, the ninth of Av, which is observed with sorrow and repentance, along with the hope of receiving a vision (chazon) from God concerning the building of a third temple, and the reign of Messiah (for more information, see the previous blog post). The ninth of Av is the date on which many calamities befell the Jewish people, including the destruction of their two temples. However, the title of this Sabbath's reading is also Nachumu, which means "comfort". This day of comfort and change promised to God's people falls on Tu B'Av, or the 15th of Av. The 15th of Av is considered the happiest day on the Jewish calendar. This year, Tu B'Av falls on July 23-24. It may surprise us to find out that Tu B'Av is considered in Israel to be the most important day of the year next to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. So between two Sabbaths, we experience a complete change in the course of six days of going from the saddest state of repentance on Tisha B'Av, to the greatest joy on Tu B'Av. What accounts for this rapid change? This great day of joy of the 15th of Av is connected to marriage, and many marriages in Israel occur on this date. In years past, the unmarried women in Israel would dress in white and go dance in the vineyards. Unmarried men would go to the vineyards, and hopefully meet the young women who would become their brides! Although this date isn't specifically mentioned in scripture, its foundation in truth is beautifully expressed. The Song of Songs seems to refer to it as it reveals the connection of the vineyard to marriage: "Come, my beloved,...Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has budded, whether the grape blossoms are open, and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give off a fragrance, and at our gates are pleasant fruits, all manner, new and old, which I have laid up for you, my beloved." (Song of Songs 7:11-13). No one can say that the LORD isn't a romantic! And, of course, we can't help but connect this lovely image of Tu B'Av with the prophesied marriage of the Messiah, Jesus, with His Bride, those who believe and follow Him. That also will be a time of great rejoicing in heaven (Rev. 19:6-9). Tu B'Av also reminds us of the marriage relationship that God has with Israel (Isa. 54:5-6, Hosea 2:14-16). The Sabbath reading for Tu B'Av titled Nachumu, or "comfort", is from Isaiah 40. It reflects the great spiritual change in the six days from Tisha B'Av to Tu B'Av. Isaiah wrote: "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!' Says your God. 'Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the LORD's hand double (comfort spoken two times) for all her sins...[note: v. 3-4 not included here is the prophecy of the ministry of John the Baptist, who revealed the Messiah to Israel. See also Lk. 3:2-6]...The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken...He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young." (v. 1-5, 11). Sins are pardoned, warfare is ended, and the Lord acts as a Shepherd to His people. All of these qualities are also incorporated in the Person of Jesus. Isaiah 61, the first part of which Jesus read in the synagogue, also brings the prophecy of a complete change from sadness and mourning to comfort, as we find mirrored in Tisha B'Av and Tu B'Av: "...to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isa. 61:2-3). The result of these changes that Isaiah prophesied, is the rebuilding and restoration of waste places, desolations, and ruins (v. 4). The prophet Hosea connects all four themes we have discussed, changes, marriage, comfort (Nachumu), and even the vineyard, as the LORD says: "I will give her (speaking of Israel) vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor (meaning "trouble, disturbance, calamity") as a door of hope; she shall sing there...And it shall be in that day, says the LORD, that you will call Me 'My Husband', and no longer call Me 'My Master' (referring to Israel's worship of the idol, Ba'al)." (Hos. 2:15-16). The apostle Paul revealed in the New Testament the source of comfort, like that found in the Sabbath title Nachumu: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain (see Moses' comment above from Deut. 5) until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4:14-18). The promise of resurrection through the Person and First Fruits of resurrection, Jesus, is the highest comfort found in the concept of Tu B'Av. Paul also wrote: "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...because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Rom. 8:18-21). The Tisha B'Av to Tu B'Av changes affects all creation. The worsening troubles and turmoil of this present time that the whole earth is experiencing will bring forth the return of Christ and the creation of the new heavens and the new earth. These are times of great changes. Some of those changes have caused us to mourn for the losses. However, those losses usher in the comfort of God, with all its hope and joy. The beautiful and hopeful Messianic promises of change and comfort found in Tu B'Av enriches the understanding and faith of the believer in Christ. If you would like to know the comfort of the Lord, which He has provided for His people, you can pray: "Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for me, and rose again from the dead, so I could have everlasting life. This is the comfort of God provided for me in the body of His Son. In an instant, as I receive you as my Lord, You change my natural and spiritual circumstances. You deliver me from mourning, sorrow and loss, to hope, joy, and salvation. I am joined to you as a Bride is joined to the Bridegroom on Tu B'Av. Baptize and fill me in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Three in One. I give thanks in Your name. Amen."

TheVision

The Jewish people observe a special date, Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, which falls this year on this Sabbath. The 9th of Av (Av is the fifth month on the Hebrew calendar) is the date of certain earthshaking events in history that befell the Jewish people, which they believe came about because of their sin. They observe this saddest day on the Hebrew calendar with repentance, fasting, and prayer. Some of the events in history associated with this date of Tisha B'Av include: the discouraging report of ten out of the twelve spies who were sent to scout the Promised Land, which caused the Israelites to refuse to go into the land which the LORD had promised them because of fear; the destruction of the first temple, Solomon's temple, by King Nebuchadnezzar of Assyria in 587 BC, after which the kingdom of Judah was sent into exile to Babylon; the destruction of the second temple, which was built under Ezra's leadership, by the Romans in 70 A.D., after which many Jews were dispersed out of the land of Israel, and into the nations; in 135 A.D., a subsequent rebellion on Tisha B'Av in which 500,000 Israelites were killed, was crushed by the Romans, and the ruins of the previously destroyed temple that were left on the temple mount site were buried. On this same date, the 9th of Av, during the first Crusade, 10,000 Jews were killed in 1096. Also on Tisha B'Av, the Jews were expelled from England in 1290 A.D., from France in 1306, and from Spain in 1492. The Jews were deported by the Nazis from the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland to the Treblinka Concentration/Extermination Camp on Tisha B'Av in 1942. The title given to this special Sabbath's readings is "HaD'varim-Chazon", which means "the words - the vision". The reference to the "words" in the title is because this Sabbath marks the beginning of the reading of the Book of Deuteronomy (chapters 1-3), which is the fifth book of the Torah. "The vision" mentioned in this special Sabbath's title refers to the vision that God gives to the Jews on this saddest day of Tisha B'Av: it is a hopeful vision of the third temple, prophesied by Ezekiel, which the Jewish people associate with the coming Messiah's Kingdom. In the last post, we learned that followng Tisha B'Av, on the fifteenth of Av, the most joyous day on the Hebrew calendar, marriage to one's destined soul mate is celebrated. Considering these things about the vision of the third temple received by the Jews on Tisha B'Av, and the soon-coming marriage celebration of the fifteenth of Av, I think of the assembly of the believers in Messiah/Christ, Jews and Gentiles together, which is the Church. Of these believers in Christ, Paul, an apostle who ministered to both the Jews and the Gentiles, wrote: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are...And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (1 Cor. 3:16, 17, 23). He also wrote: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Paul described the temple of God this way: "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made of hands." (Acts 17:24, see also Acts 7:47-48). Peter also wrote of this temple associated with our Messiah: "...laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up to a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:1-5). Paul and Peter are describing a spiritual temple, built of believers in Messiah/Christ, which is being built upon the first Living Stone, Jesus. I am not suggesting that this spiritual temple referred to by Paul and Peter replaces the prophesied physical third temple that is to be built. I am suggesting that the vision of the third temple given to Jews on Tisha B'Av, while it may be about a physical third temple, because it is associated with the Messiah, it is also about a special temple in the Spirit. This spiritual temple is one in which we are called to be a part. It is helpful to look at the meaning of the number three, or third, the Hebrew word shelosh. That meaning includes the thoughts of "seeds, fruit, revelation, resurrection, new life, words of life, the giving of the Torah and the Spirit, the foundation of the Temple/House, the first and strongest geometric shape (triangle), harmony and unity, chain of continuity, the third day". The number three is also represented by the Hebrew letter gimel, which pictographically means: "something lifted up like a camel rising from its knees, to ripen, reward, nourish, mature, recompense, benefit, to gather, to carry". This is also what we know about the temple of the Messiah from Jesus: "...Jesus... said to them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' Then the Jews said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?' But He was speaking of the temple of His body." (Jn. 2:19-21). Again, to me, all of these things point me toward a rich spiritual meaning, along with the natural meaning, of the vision of the third temple given by God to Jews on Tisha B'Av. Believers in Messiah, both Jews and Gentiles, should understand the impact of sin upon this holy spiritual temple, as sin also had impact on the physical houses or temples of God. Tisha B'Av reminds us that two temples, which the Jewish people thought could never be destroyed, did see destruction. They thought Jerusalem would be safe because of the presence of those temples of God, but Jerusalem was not safe from attack. Jesus was and is zealous for the house of God, from which He chased, with whips made of cords, those who practiced usury and thievery as recorded in all four Gospels (Mt. 21:12-14, Mk. 11:15-18, Lk. 19:45-47, Jn. 2:14-16). Jesus was not just zealous for a physical temple made of stones. He is zealous also for the living temple of God, those who believe in Him. God is zealous for His house, which contains the pattern of the salvation provided by His Son, and He will not tolerate it to be defiled by sin. Peter wrote to "lay aside" those things that defile the spiritual temple which God is building through His Son (see verses above). Paul wrote his comments about the spiritual temple of God, which we read above, by beginning with the comment, "for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" (1 Cor. 3:3), and "...you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?..." (1 Cor. 6:8-9). The special scripture reading for HaD'varim-Chazon of this Sabbath comes from Isaiah 1. The LORD prophesies to the heavens and the earth about His people who have become a sinful nation, laden ("kabed"- heavy, hard, massive, burdensome, very oppressive, grievous) with iniquity, a brood of evil doers and corrupters; (spiritually) sick from head to foot with wounds, bruises and putrefying sores. Even though they make many prayers...their hands are full of blood (Isa. 1:1-15). These are the words (D'varim) from Isaiah 1, and this is the vision (Chazon): "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (v. 16-18). The Jews mourn and repent over the losses of Tisha B'Av. Shouldn't we, the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit, also remember Tisha B'Av with repentance, and receive the renewing vision of the Messiah's Temple in us? These are "the words and the vision" of Tisha B'Av. If you would like to be part of the spiritual temple that the Father is building, you can pray: "Heavenly Father, I believe that You are building a temple not made by human hands, but a living temple made from living stones. The foundation of this temple is the sacrifice and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Who died for me, and the living stones are those who believe in Him, and are filled with Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me of my sin, cleanse me, and fill me with Your Spirit, and the vision of Tisha B'Av, which is the temple of Messiah's kingdom. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."