17th of the 13th month 2016/2017
Shalom all,
Amos 8:11-12 “See, days are coming,” declares the Master יהוה, “that I shall send a hunger in the land, not a hunger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the Words of יהוה. 12 “And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east – they shall diligently search, seeking the Word of יהוה, but they shall not find it.”
These words from the book of Amos are very striking indeed, especially as we consider the terrible consequences for there being a famine for the hearing of the Words of יהוה! As we consider how the majority in the world today are not hearing the True Words of יהוה it becomes clear that these prophetic words that were given through this prophet are certainly in effect. While many are diligently searching and seeking the Word of יהוה they are not finding it, simply because they do not have ears to hear what the Spirit says! By that I mean that while many may be diligently seeking and searching the Word of יהוה, the clear proof that they are not hearing the Words of יהוה is seen in their continued disobedience and the holding fast to the false traditions and dogmas of man, while the commands of Elohim are being forsaken! In a message called, ‘A FAMINE FOR THE WORD THAT IS ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE!’ I would like us to carefully consider the need to be a people who have ears to HEAR, in order that we can properly GUARD and DO the clear instructions and commands of Elohim and not be found to be a people that are ‘diligently searching and seeking yet never finding’, due to a turning their ears away from hearing the Torah!
We are told in Chapter 1 of the Book of Amos that Amos was a ‘herdsman from Teqowa’. Teqowa was a small town in the hill country of Yehuḏah. The name עָמוֹס Amos – Strong’s H5986 means ‘burden’ or ‘burden bearer’, as his name comes from the root עָמַס amas – Strong’s H6006 which means, ‘to load, carry a load, lift up and take a burden’; and at its root can carry the understanding of encouragement, as one would lift or carry the load of another!
This word עָמַס amas – Strong’s H6006 is used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be יהוה, day by day He bears our burden, the Ěl of our deliverance! Selah.”
We are also told to bear one another’s burdens in:
Galatiyim/Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so complete the Torah of Messiah.”
The word in Greek for ‘bear’ is βαστάζω bastazō – Strong’s G941 – ‘take up, carry, bear, endure’.
From this we see the critical need for us to be a people who are lifted up and enlisted to serve Messiah must ‘lift each other up’ so that – WE COMPLETE THE TORAH OF MESSIAH!
The Hebrew word used for ‘herdsman’ is נֹקֵד noqeḏ – Strong’s H5349 which means, ‘sheep raiser, sheep dealer, sheep tender’, and literally speaks of one who manages the flock. תְּקוֹעַ Teqowa – Strong’s H8620 means, ‘a stockade’, and gives us a picture of ‘a sheepfold’, and comes from the root word תָּקַע taqa – Strong’s H8628 which means, ‘to thrust, clap, blow, give a blast, trumpeter’. I find this very interesting, as we are able to see that יהוה took a shepherd who knew how to count and look after sheep, from a place that can, at its root, mean “trumpet”, in order to loudly proclaim His Word to a people who were headed for destruction. This is a call we also see being given to Yeshayahu, in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 58:1 “Cry aloud, do not spare. Lift up your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression, and the house of Yaʽaqoḇ their sins.”
This is exactly what Amos was called for! And in many ways, this is what we are all called for, as we are to be loud in our proclamation of the truth, bearing the burden of encouraging one another daily, as we look out for each other, warn each other and together raise the shout of our Coming King!
Amos was called by יהוה to announce His coming judgement upon Yisra’ĕl, and was given the clear job of calling them to repentance and turn from their sin and idolatry. Amos prophesied while both kingdoms of Yisra’ĕl were physically prospering and were expanding their territories, having taken hold of many important trade routes. As prosperous as they had become they were, at the same time, becoming more corrupt in their government and were exploiting the poor and needy; and worst of all, they had forgotten that they were a set-apart people unto יהוה.
Although they were seemingly very ‘religious’, it was all superficial. The prophetic ministry of Amos took place during the time that Yaroḇ’am, son of Yo’ash, was sovereign over the House of Yisra’ĕl. (Yaroḇ’am, son of Yo’ash, was the 13th king of the House of Yisra’ĕl).
In the book of Amos we see the how Chapters 3, 4 & 5 all begin with the words: “Hear this word…”
In Chapter 3 & 5 this phrase is written in the Hebrew text as follows – שִׁמְעוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָר – shim’u eth–hadaḇar
In Chapter 4 of Amos the phrase, ‘Hear this Word’, is written in the Hebrew text as follows – שִׁמְעוּ הַדָּבָר – shim’u hadaḇar.
This phrase שִׁמְעוּ אֶת־הַדָּבָר – shim’u eth–hadaḇar is also written in one other passage of Scripture:
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 10:1 “Hear the word which יהוה speaks to you, O house of Yisra’ĕl.”
The words of this chapter in Yirmeyahu are very clear and are words that the body of Messiah must still hear today!
Do not learn the ways of the nations and do not do what they do!!!
What we need to recognise is that the same message is, or ought to be, as loud and clear today – “Hear this word!!!” – Sadly we find that most are not hearing! And having said that we therefore need to be reminded of the repeated phrase we see being given by our Master, in calling His Bride out from among the nations: He who has ears let him hear…!
These were not ‘nice ear tickling words’ that Amos and Yirmeyahu had to deliver to a stubborn and hard of hearing people – these were heart cutting, bone cutting messages that they gave – words that need to be spoken today, in order to get a lost and deceived people to return to יהוה.
The word that is translated as ‘hear’ is שִׁמְעוּ – ‘shim’u’ – which comes from the root verb שָׁמַע shama – Strong’s H8085 which does not just mean ‘hear’, but rather it means, ‘to listen with attention, comprehend and discern, give heed to what is being spoken’. Here it is written in the active voice which is a very clear command to ‘listen up’.
The rebellious and defiled do not have ears to hear, and are therefore giving no attention to what has been written in the Word and taking no heed to what is being spoken by the voice of יהוה! If they did listen attentively, as they should, they would not be so stupid and foolish, for anyone who is truly listening to what the Spirit is saying in the Word of Elohim will be very careful to guard uprightness and pursue set-apartness, in order to find themselves being hidden in יהוה on the day of His coming wrath!
The Hebrew word אֵת eth – Strong’s H853 is a word that is seen as an ‘untranslated participle’, and is used as a direct object marker for which we have no equivalent in English, therefore this is used as a sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative, which is the grammatical case that marks the direct object of a verb or the object of any or several prepositions. It is the Words of יהוה that Yisra’ĕl are called to listen attentively to!
The Hebrew word used here for ‘this word’ is הַדָּבָר– hadaḇar which comes from the noun דָּבָר daḇar – Strong’s H1697 meaning, ‘speech, word, commandment, chronicles, message’ which in its primitive root verb form – דָּבַר daḇar – Strong’s H1696 means, ‘to speak, command, counsel, declare, proclaimed, converse, warn, threaten, promise’.
The 5th book of the Torah (Deuteronomy), which is called “DEḆARIM” – דְּבָרִים –, is the plural of the word דָּבָר daḇar – Strong’s H1697. The Word of Elohim (which includes the collection of all His instructions contained throughout the Scriptures) is that which washes us, teaches us, and trains us in righteousness and causes us to be a people who have ears to hear the very Word that has been made abundantly available to us by the Blood of Messiah!!!
As we consider this word – דְּבָרִים Deḇarim– plural of the word דָּבָר daḇar – Strong’s H1697, in the ancient pictographic script, we are able to recognise the importance of the Word of Elohim, and how it is His Word that prepares us as His ready Bride!
In the ancient script the word דְּבָרִים Deḇarim, looks like this:
Dalet – דְּ:
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as a ‘tent door’. It can also have the meaning of a back and forth movement, as one goes back and forth through a tent door; and so speaks of an access point. It can also carry the meaning of ‘dangle’ or hanging, as the tent door would hang from the roof pole of the tent. It speaks a great deal of understanding the door of the tent of appointment as the only means of access, showing us the importance of the Appointed Times/Feasts of יהוה. Therefore our need to gather as we are commanded to, is the starting point for us to embrace, learn and understand what His Word teaches and instructs us to do.
Beyt – בָ:
The ancient script has this letter as , which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’ or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed to the tent structure itself. We also recognise that the House/Dwelling Place of Elohim is the body of Elohim that is built up as living stones in our Master, יהושע Messiah. A house/tent speaks of your family and to whom you belong and under whom you submit and adhere to, as the House of Elohim has clear instructions for those in the House! The Light (that is His Word) is for those in the House!
Resh – רִ:
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and has the meaning of the head of a man as well as ‘chief, top, begging or first’. It means ‘top’, as in the top or head of a body, and ‘chief’, as in a head of a tribe or people; as well as the one who rules the people. Every House has a head of the home, and all in the House submit to the instructions of the One who is head of the home, listening to and obeying the words that the Head speaks!
Yod – י:
The ancient script has this letter as which is ‘an arm and hand’, and carries the meaning of ‘work, make, throw’, from the primary functions of the arm and hand, and it also represents worship or giving thanks in the extending of hands as a gesture of this. The work of one’s hands is the basic meaning of this letter! And this letter also pictures for us the outstretched Arm and working Hand of Elohim that is not too short to save!
Mem – ם:
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. Water is also a very clear picture for us of that which washes or cleanses us, as we understand from the picture of the bronze laver in the Tabernacle that was used to clean the priests, and was made from the bronze mirrors that was used by the women who worshipped at the Door of the Tabernacle. As we look into the mirror of the Word of Elohim, we are to allow it to cleanse us and cause us to remember how we are to look, speak and act, in complete adherence to His clear words of instructions contained therein!
As we consider the very powerful word – דְּבָרִים Deḇarim – in the ancient pictographic text, we are able to grasp a fuller understanding of the importance of the Words of Elohim, and we are able to see from the collection of these letters the following:
AS WE COME TO THE DOOR (MESSIAH), AND GUARD HIS APPOINTED TIMES/FEASTS THAT ARE COMMANDED FOR THE HOUSE/DWELLING PLACE OF ELOHIM, WE SUBMIT UNDER THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE/BODY, FOR IT IS BY HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARM AND HAND THAT WE ARE DELIVERED OUT OF THE NATIONS AND CLEANSED TO BE A SET-APART BRIDE, THAT SUBMITS TO THE COMPLETE AUTHORITY OF THE WORDS OF OUR MASTER AND KING!
The reason for me highlighting this word in the ancient pictographic lettering is to highlight how important it is for us to have ears to hear the Word of Elohim!
יהוה had certainly given Yisra’ĕl a great physical blessing, but more than all the blessing that they had received physically – He gave them His Word through Mosheh and the Prophets. His Word was available to all His people and they were called to bear the fruit of that. It is no different today – His Word is available to all! Yet in Amos 8:10 He tells Amos that He would turn their festivals into mourning – why? Because they did not eat of His Word!
Today we too have the abundant fruit of His Word that is readily available to us and if we do not eat of it – we will not bear any good fruit that ought to last. We are to eat daily of His Word and we cannot rely on past meals for today, so to speak, and expect to survive! For many, the only word they are ‘seemingly eating’ is that which they may hear on Shabbat – if their ears are actually open and they are not being distracted by the world and the deceit of riches and the pressures of life that they face! If you do not eat of His Word it is an offense to Him and you will not be able to live fruitfully! יהושע said in Yoḥanan:
Yoḥanan/John 6: 53-58 “I am the living bread which came down out of the heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever. And indeed, the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” 52 The Yehuḏim, therefore, were striving with one another, saying, “How is this One able to give us His flesh to eat?” 53 יהושע therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Aḏam and drink His blood, you possess no life in yourselves. 54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood possesses everlasting life, and I shall raise him up in the last day. 55 “For My flesh is truly food, and My blood is truly drink. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood stays in Me, and I in him. 57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me shall live because of Me. 58 “This is the bread which came down out of the heaven, not as your fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread shall live forever.”
He also said, quoting from Deḇarim/Deuteronomy while being tempted, in:
Luqas/Luke 4:4 “But יהושע answered him, saying, “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of Elohim.’” (Deḇarim/Dueteronomy 8:3)
We live by EVERY WORD of Elohim – it is really sad to see how so many have been so misled into believing that the Tanak is not needed any longer! We are to live be EVERY WORD of ELOHIM for without it we shall not live and without it we shall not be able to bear the fruit of righteousness that ought to be borne in abundance!
If you neglect His word the He sends a famine for the hearing of His Word! Yisra’ĕl had ‘heard’ but it did not change them, or rather they refused to change, and so would find themselves in a famine for hearing!
What is said in Yeshayahu is true even still today: Hearing but not hearing!
In Amos8:11 the famine that would be sent because of the lack of pure fruit was not a hunger for bread or a thirst for water but for a hearing of the Word. We know that ‘bread’ represents the community or the body of Messiah and ‘water’ often speaks of the teaching of the Torah, as we are washed in the Word and cleansed. Yisra’ĕl had the Hěḵal (Temple) and they had the Torah teachings, yet they did not HEAR – GUARD and DO! This same problem still exists today!
There is still today plenty of ‘Bread’ and ‘Water’, so to speak, as there are many assemblies to choose from and there is plenty of Torah instruction available – yet what is lacking in a great way is true obedience to His commands!!!
The Word of Elohim is abundantly available yet many are diligently seeking and not finding, which highlights the clear effects of a famine for the Word that has been sent by Elohim as a clear form of discipline, calling for those who have ears to hear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the assemblies!!!
Amos8:12 goes on and tells us that they would wander from sea to sea! In other words, we are able to take note how this can be clearly seen by many who are ‘knowledge hunters’, so to speak, as they seek the latest teaching and will go a great distance for it too; or they will fall into the trap of rabbinical insights thinking or Christian catechisms and dogmas, thinking that by seeking them that it will enhance their learning, while others may even try to decode the Scriptures. The Word is not far off or hidden – it is simple and plain for those who simply choose to have ears to hear.
We are continually amazed at how the Father grows His called out ones who have ears to hear, as we see that if we are simply obedient to hear, guard and do the Word, then the plainer the Word becomes for us.
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 30: 11-14 “For this command which I am commanding you today, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far off. 12 “It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ 13 “Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ 14 “For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it.”
Sadly too many do not want to obey – that is to HEAR – GUARD – DO!
A famine is often an opportunity to teach us to seek יהוה and live, depending upon where our eyes are fixed!
The word used for famine is רָעָב ra’aḇ – Strong’s H7458 meaning, ‘famine, hunger, famished’. What is interesting to take note of is that in Hebrew the word for ‘abundance’ is רַב raḇ – Strong’s H7227 which means, ‘many, abundance, much, great, abounding, plentiful’. As you will notice is that the difference between these two words is one letter – the letter ‘ayin’ – עָ – which in the ancient Hebrew text is pictured as an ‘eye’ with the meaning, ‘to see’; and so here we can learn the clear difference between being in a place of famine or a place of abundance is determined by where are eyes are focused upon – if we take our eyes off of the Truth the danger of famine can become very real in our lives as we look to the flesh and circumstances above the Word and His promises that are sure in Messiah as we walk in obedience!
The famine for the Word that יהוה sends is not because His Word is not available but because those who ought to hear have turned their ear away from hearing His Word and as a result suffer the damaging effects of a famine, as a famine brings destruction, pestilence and even death!
The Hebrew root word רַב raḇ – Strong’s H7227, meaning ‘abundance, great’ is used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those loving Your Torah, and for them there is no stumbling-block.”
The reason for me mentioning this verse is to highlight something extremely important! Those who love the Torah of Elohim have ‘great’ – רַב raḇ – Strong’s H7227 – peace and have no stumbling blocks!!! With this clear statement we can therefore see that those who do not love the Torah of Elohim will not have great peace but will have many stumbling blocks and be in distress due to a famine for the hearing of the Word!
What becomes clear to us is that a famine for the Word that is sent by Elohim is not a result of there being no Word but as a result of there being no love for the Word and therefore being handed over to the delusion of lies and hypocrisy as taught by vain and false traditions and dogmas of man!
Great emphasis is being placed here in Tehillah/Psalm 119:165 on how much peace that those loving the Torah have!
In Hebrew the word that is translated here as ‘peace’ is the word שָׁלוֹם shalom – Strong’s H7965 which means, ‘wholeness, completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, health, prosperity, well-being, safety, protection’, which comes from the primitive root verb שָׁלֵם shalem – Strong’s H7999 which means, ‘to be complete or sound, rewarded, make full restitution’.
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 26:3 “The one steadfast of mind You guard in perfect peace, for he trusts in You.”
The Hebrew text is written as follows:
יֵצֶר סָמוּךְ תִּצֹּר שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם כִּי בְךָ בָּטוּחַ – ‘yetser samuḥ titsor shalom shalom ki ḇeḵa batuaḥ’ and can be literally translated as: ‘he whose mind is steadfast you keep in perfect peace, because in you he trusts’
The term ‘perfect peace’ is translated from the repetition of the word ‘shalom’. Yeshayahu was picturing himself standing in the redeemed land with the remnant, listening to the people express their thanks to and confidence in יהוה our Saviour! And the true thanks of the reality of the deliverance being made complete for those who are steadfast in mind is expressed in the complete shalom that is experienced by those who trust in יהוה. Those loving the Torah have perfect peace and are not shaken by threatening circumstances but stand firm on the Rock of their deliverance!
The root meaning of shalom is to be whole or sound, and this leads to various translations that speak of completeness, wholeness, well-being, welfare and peace. Shalom also includes the idea of vigour and vitality in all dimensions of life.
Shalom carries a wealth of meaning that is almost impossible to summarise in a few sittings, yet the concept of shalom entails a completeness and wholeness in our Master and elohim, who has redeemed us from enslavement to the chaos of sin!
In the ancient text the word שָׁלוֹם shalom looks like this:
Shin – שֵׁ:
This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food.
Lamed – לֵ:
The ancient script has this letter as , and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction, and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to bring back by Authority.
Waw/Vav – וּ:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’ as well as ‘bind’.
Mem – מ:
The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. Knowing this letter represents ‘water’, we are also able to see how this can render for us the meaning of ‘washing’ or ‘cleansing’.
Now when looking at this word in the ancient pictographic script, we are able to recognise what the true Shalom of Elohim brings and does for us, for its ancient meaning could be rendered, among others, as follows:
THAT WHICH DESTROYS OR BREAKS THE FALSE AUTHORITY THAT BOUND US TO THE CHAOS OF THE NATIONS!
And further renders the meaning:
THE WORD OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD THAT SECURES FOR US A COMPLETE CLEANSING!
This word speaks of a complete restoration of what was lost and broken and ensures the provision for what is needed to make one whole and complete, lacking nought! For we have been given all we need for life and reverence, having been grafted into the Covenant of Peace by the Blood of Messiah!
The Hebrew word for ‘stumbling block’ is מִכְשׁוֹל miḵshol – Strong’s H4383 which means, ‘a stumbling, a means or occasion of stumbling, obstacle’, and comes from the root verb כָּשַׁל kashal – Strong’s H3782 meaning, ‘stumble, totter, stagger, bring down, failing, weakening’, and is used to describe the ‘weak knees’ in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 35:3 “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the weak knees.”
In the parable of the sower we take note of the seed that falls on rocky places:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:20-21 “And that sown on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived, and when pressure or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
The Greek word that is translated here as ‘stumbles’ is σκανδαλίζω skandalizō – Strong’s G4624 which means, ‘to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way upon which another may trip and fall’, and metaphorically can mean, ‘to offend’. It also carries the meaning, ‘fall away, led into sin, stumble, to cause another or be caused to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey’.
Some people stumble under pressure due to hands that are weakened by deceit when persecution comes and then quickly compromise. Rocky hearts that have no ability to let the Word take root in their lives and quickly stumble when pressure and persecution, BECAUSE OF THE WORD, arises.
This Greek word σκανδαλίζω skandalizō – Strong’s G4624 comes from the root word σκάνδαλον skandalon – Strong’s G4625 which means, ‘a snare, stumbling block, offense’, and it is this word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) for ‘stumbling block’ in Tehillah/Psalm 119:165.
What we can therefore see from these words in Tehillah/Psalm 119 is that those loving the Torah of Elohim can be likened to those who are represented by the good soil, as they hear the Word, understand it by doing it and bear much fruit of obedience, along with the assurance of a complete shalom!
In the opening verse of Tehillah/Psalm 78 we see the following:
Tehillah/Psalm 78:1 “My people, give ear to my Torah, incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”
These words echo the continued call throughout Scripture, which calls people to turn their ear to the hearing of the Torah!
Shemoth/Exodus 19:5-6 “And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine – 6 ‘and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
These verses make it very clear – for us to truly be a treasured possession of the Most High, we are to make sure that we obey His voice and guard His Covenant.
In the above verse the root word שָׁמַע ‘shama’ is used twice in a row, which means to ‘hear, listen and obey’. The structure is as follows:
אִם־שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ – ‘im-shamoa tishmau’ which literally translates as: “If hearing, you shall hear” and this reminds me of how often we see the term being used in Ḥazon/Revelation to the assemblies: “He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit says.”
The call here is to hear the depths of what is being spoken – hear the spirit that lies behind the letter! Now if people are not even listening to the letter, how are they ever going to hear what the Spirit says!!!
Turning our ears properly to the correct hearing of the Word will cause us to be a people that HEAR, GUARD and Do the Word and walk in the perfect shalom of our Master, no matter what we face! As we hear attentively, as we should, and obey the Word then our understanding of the Word increases tremendously, causing us to be continually nourished and fed by daily meditating upon the Torah of Elohim, equipped to be prosperous in all we do!
Despite the abundant supply of the Word of Elohim being made freely available to all who respond to the call of the Master, many have turned their ear away from hearing the Torah and in doing so will find themselves in a famine, where their words will not be heard!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 28:9 “He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.”
This parable is one that many have turned their ears from hearing, literally! So many today claim that the Torah is no longer valid and simply view the Torah and the prophets simply as good stories while they do not recognise the need to hear, guard and do what is instructed therein!
This parable is a severe warning against turning one’s ear from hearing the Torah! The concept of turning one’s ear from hearing the Torah implies one who does not hear and do what the Torah says. There are many who may hear the words of the Torah and even read the ‘stories’ of what they call the ‘Old Testament’, yet by their refusal to guard to do what is commanded therein is also understood as turning one’s ear from hearing the Torah!
The Hebrew root verb for ‘turns away’ סוּר sur – Strong’s H5493 meaning, ‘turn, turn aside, depart from a way, avoid, be removed from, put away’, and is used in Scripture in reference to ‘putting away’ that which we should not be associated with, which highlights the truth that many who claim that the Torah has been ‘done away with’ and is no longer necessary to keep are turning away from hearing the Torah!
The Hebrew word used here for ‘ear’ is the word אֹזֶן ozen – Strong’s H241 which means, ‘an ear, hear, attentive, closely, recite, reveal’ and comes from the root verb אָזַן azan – Strong’s H238 which means, ‘to give, ear, listen, pay attention, perceived by ear’, and while this also carries the meaning to listen and listen attentively, it literally means to ‘cup the ear’ – in other words give your complete attention and be obedient to take it all in.
To turn one’s ear away from hearing the Torah is to turn one’s ear away from hearing the clear and vital instructions of Elohim. Those who do this seek out false teachers who will tickle their ears with things they want to hear and reject the clear Truth of the Torah of Elohim that is to be heard and obeyed!
Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear 4 and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.”
Refusing to hear the Torah of Elohim and guard to do what His Torah instructs will result in one’s prayers not being heard, as we also take note of the clear rebuke given to s stubborn people who refused to listen to the Torah:
Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 7:11-13 “But they refused to listen, and they shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears from hearing. 12 “And they made their hearts like flint against hearing the Torah, and the words, which יהוה of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from יהוה of hosts. 13 “And it came to be: as He called and they did not hear, so let them call, but I shall not hear,” said יהוה of hosts.”
Those who turn away from the hearing of the Torah, which implies a hearing and a guarding to do what is heard from the Torah, are being vain in their attempted prayers, for their prayers are an abomination to יהוה!
Those who hear, guard and do the commands of Elohim are heard by Elohim:
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we guard His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 15:29 “יהוה is far from the wrong ones, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
He hears the prayers of the righteous! The righteous are those who walk in and guard righteousness, and we are clearly told what righteousness is for us, in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”
Why is it then, if His Word is abundantly available, that He has sent a famine for His Word? The answer is very simple – people do not love Elohim and have not received a love for the truth, as they have been blinded by the delusion of lawlessness which promotes the turning away from pure obedience to the Torah by the evil, misguided and corrupt teachings of lawlessness as promoted through vain dogmas and traditions of man!
Tas’loniqim Bět/2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, 10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved. 11 And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood, 12 in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness.”
A famine is sent due to a lack of proper love for Elohim, despite the vain lip service that is rendered by many who diligently seek and search for the Word of יהוה in man-made systems of religious worship, which they will not find!
His pure Living Word will only be found through proper obedience and the attentive hearing of the Word caused by a love for Elohim! And this is love for Elohim…:
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and guard His commands. 3 For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy”
As we carefully consider the words of Elohim that we see being given to us through Amos and recognise how there is certainly a famine for the Word of Elohim we are able to identify that there are many who may claim to know and love Elohim, yet due to a lack of hearing as they should, have been handed over to the famine sent by Elohim. This in itself should cause an awakening of sorts within the ears of many and at the same time issue a severe warning against the turning away of one’s ear from hearing the Torah of Elohim!
In the days of Amos we take note how materialism, moral and religious corruption had caused Yisra’ĕl to turn their ears from hearing the Torah and as a result a famine for the hearing of the Word was decreed and this we are able to see happening in our generation today… as we see…
A FAMINE FOR THE WORD THAT IS ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE!
As we all take careful consideration in regards to the words of Elohim as spoken through Amos, the herdsman from Teqowa, may we make sure that we have ears to hear attentively to the Word of Elohim, after all He has made it freely available for all and in Him He has given us life abundantly… keep your ears open to our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, and keep them turned away from falsehood as you HEAR, GUARD and DO ALL our Mighty Elohim commands!!!
It is time to guard righteousness and seek Elohim and His Kingdom with all we have, for then we shall never lack or be in famine but be well nourished and established as His own!
Tehillah/Psalm 34:10 “Young lions have lacked and been hungry; but those who seek יהוה lack not any good matter.”
Mattithyahu/Matthew 5:6 “Young lions have lacked and been hungry; But those who seek יהוה lack not any good matter.”
A FAMINE FOR THE WORD THAT IS ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE!
How hungry are you? Let not a famine be upon you but rather a shalom that is complete in our Master, as you have ears to hear and obey!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show you favour; יהוה lift up His face to you and give you Shalom!