26th of the 12th month 2017/2018
Shalom all,
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:10 “If you falter in the day of distress, your strength is small!”
As I was going through Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24 this week, I was intensely gripped this verse and was caused to simply stop and meditate on the very sobering and strong wording of this verse. As I began to think upon what Shelomoh was putting forth in this parable, I realised that the strength of so many today is small, due to the increasing distress of the daily pressures of life that are causing people to falter. As I was looking into the mirror of the Word, with this verse prominently standing out for me, I too was gripped with the reality of how easy it is for us to falter if we are not maintaining our stand in the Master. While meditating on this verse I was immediately drawn to a verse I had read a couple of verses before this one and looked back over it and began to see a clear connection that highlights how necessary it is for us to keep our stand in the Master steadfast and secure, by growing continually and consistently in the knowledge of His Word. The verse I am referring to is
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:5 “Mighty is the wise in strength, and a man of knowledge strengthens power”
In a message called, ACTIVE KNOWLEDGE STRENGTHENS – LAZINESS WEAKENS! I will take a closer look at these two verses, by looking at the Hebrew words, in order to expand on the wisdom contained in these parables of Shelomoh, with the hope that this message will encourage and equip the hearer of these words in the strengthening knowledge and joy of our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah!
Beginning with verse 10 I want to take a look at 4 Hebrew words that will expand our understanding of what is being said to us here and then go back to verse 5 recognise how important it is for us to maintain a strong stand of belief in the Master, so that we are not rocked and swayed by various distresses that we may encounter on a daily basis.
As one ponders on the words contained in verses 5 & 10 we are able to recognise the following:
How you stand (or fall) in the midst of the battles of life will reveal your strength (or lack thereof) in the Master and therefore reveal the knowledge and wisdom (or lack thereof) of His Word operating in your life!
The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘falter’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:10 comes from the root verb רָפָה raphah – Strong’s H7503 which means, ‘sink, relax, abandon, fall limp, feeble, lazy’, which teaches us the vital lesson on guarding against laziness and abandoning the way of set-apartness. A word that is derived from this root verb is רָפָא rapha – Strong’s H7496 which means, ‘departed spirits, dead, deceased’, from which we get the plural word רְפָאִים – ‘Repha’im’ which is translated in Scripture as ‘the dead’ and is also a word that is used to refer to the inhabitants of an area east of the Yardĕn, and represents that which is deceased. The Repha’im were one of the enemies that were to be destroyed. The word רְפָאִים – Repha’im also has the meaning of, ‘giants’, and were a race of the giants that are spoken of in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 2 & 3 and whose sovereign was Oḡ of Bashan, whose bedstead was nine cubits is its length and four cubits its width, according to the cubit of a man.
What is worth taking note of is that the similar sounding word that is understood as ‘healing’ is the root word רָפָא rapha – Strong’s H7495 which means, ‘to heal, repaired, become fresh, purified, cure’, and we know that יהוה is our Healer!
As we take time to think upon this, we should be reminded that we are to not be lazy and let our hands hang limp but rather we are to be strengthened in the Truth, with hands lifted high, signifying a productive and active life of obedience and praise in the Master! We cannot sink and relax in the ‘dead teachings’ of man-made theologies that have cast aside the Word Torah of Elohim but must be strengthened in the Living Word that never changes!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 35:3-4 “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the weak knees. 4 Say to those with anxious heart, “Be strong, do not fear! See, your Elohim comes with vengeance, with the recompense of Elohim. He is coming to save you.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 15:19 “The way of a lazy one is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the straight is a highway.”
What is also interesting to take note of as we consider the various applications of the root words here, is that it can represent either healing or decay and so we are also presented with the choice that has been set before us – life and death and we must choose life!
It is made clear in Yeshayahu that the departed spirits (רְפָאִים – Repha’im) do not rise:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 26:14 “The dead do not live; the departed spirits do not rise. Therefore You have visited and destroyed them, and made all their remembrance to perish.”
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10:7 “The remembrance of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wrong ones rot.”
What Shelomoh is teaching us here in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24 is that we are to stand armed in the wisdom of the Torah of Elohim so that in the day of distress we will not fall but continue to stand firm in Him!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘distress’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:10 comes from the root word צָרָה tsarah – Strong’s H6869 which means, ‘affliction, anguish, distress, trouble, tightness’ and comes from the word, צַר tsar – Strong’s H6862 that can mean, ‘adversary, enemy, foe’ and this word is also often translated as tribulation, which teaches us a vital lesson of realising that in the very distressing times that lay ahead, our help is in our Master and Elohim alone – יהוה of Hosts – for it is He who fights for us and covers us under the shadow of His wings!
This word comes from the primitive root verb isצָרַר tsarar – Strong’s H6887 and means, ‘bind up, tie, restrict, be restricted, narrow, cramp, frustrate, distress, trouble’.
Tehillah/Psalm 20:1 “יהוה does answer you in the day of distress! The Name of the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ does set you on high!”
There is no better encouragement than hearing and knowing that יהוה hears your cry in times of trouble!
So, as we know that during the tribulation, we who are in Messiah have this wonderful promise we can be sure of! יהוה will defend those who know the Elohim of Ya’aqoḇ and cause them to stand in the day of distress for it is He who strengthens His taught ones in the wisdom, understanding and the proper counsel of our Master and King!
Why I am highlighting these words is to simply emphasise that in this world we will have trouble, yet we can put our firm trust in our Master and Elohim as we find our refuge and strength in Him.
In the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) we see that the Greek word being used for ‘distress’ is θλῖψις thlipsis – Strong’s G2347 means, ‘tribulation, pressure, affliction, distress, persecution, trouble’ and comes from the primitive verb θλίβω thlibō – Strong’s G2346 which means, ‘to press or afflict, to distress, suffer affliction’, and in the literal sense can mean, ‘to squash, press, hem in, rub, harassed’, and also can be understood as being ‘narrow or hard pressed’. This word θλῖψις thlipsis – Strong’s G2347 is used in:
Yoḥanan/John 16:33 “These words I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have pressure, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
The Word of Elohim is what we have, to recognise the True peace we have in our Messiah King; and while we certainly will have much pressure in the world, we are able to be strong and courageous as we stand firm on the Rock of our Salvation and hold fast to the Living Word, aměn!
In the world we have pressure….! How true is that statement!!! Pressure, pressure and more pressure… is that how it feels at times for most of you? Well take heart … because this is our lot, and our only means of enduring the sure pressure is to ‘hear – guard – do’ the Word of Elohim! What is very clear to us is that we, who are walking faithfully in Messiah, will have pressure in this world – the question is how we are handling the pressure – with courage and joy, or do we find ourselves stumbling under pressure?
How do you handle times of distress? Are you faltering because your strength is small or are you standing firm in eth Truth, guarding the knowledge of our Master by actively doing what He commands?
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘small’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:10 comes from צַר tsar – Strong’s H6862 that can mean, ‘adversary, enemy, foe’ – which we have just discussed, as it is from this word that the Hebrew word for ‘distress’ is derived!
There is a definite play on words being used here by Shelomoh, with the clear focus of teaching us to guard the knowledge of Elohim and be adequately armed in His Torah that equips us in the Master to stand!
What we can see being presented to us, in this powerful parable, is that if you worry in distressful times then the distress becomes your enemy and weakens your ability to stand, highlighting that one’s eyes are not being properly fixed on the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief but is rather so fixed on the distress and is therefore unable to see a way of escape, causing one to falter and fall as a result of lazy or limp hands!
The last word that I want to look at from Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:10 is the Hebrew word that is translated as ‘strength’, which comes from the root word כֹּחַ ko‘aḥ – Strong’s H3581 which means, ‘power, might i.e. the potential to exert force in performing some function; physical strength; virility; power and ability to do that which on is capable to perform’. In other words, this word speaks of one’s ability to be firm and do what is required! This root word is also used in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:5 where it is translated as ‘power’, which we will look at along with the other key Hebrew words from verse 5. What verse 10 is teaching us is that if you are too lazy to stand and guard to do what is required according to the Word of Elohim then you will not have the ability to properly stand and be a faithful ambassador of the reign of Elohim, and the strims of life will cause you to fall!
Let us now take a look at the key words that we are able to look at in verse 5, giving us greater insight into these wonderful parables of wisdom!
Verse 10 highlights for us the fate of the one who is lazy and foolish, whereas verse 5 highlights for us the clear character of a wise servant of Elohim!
As I mentioned, the same root word that is translated as ‘strength’ in verse 10 is used here in verse 5 and is translated as ‘power’. Here in verse 5 we are told that a man of knowledge strengthens power. In verse 10 we are given a picture of one who lacks power or strength and is being weakened due to laziness and in verse 5 we are given the picture of one who is continually being strengthened due to a proper discipline of growing in the knowledge of Elohim!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘strengthens’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:5 comes from the root word – אָמֵץ amats Strong’s H553 which means, ‘to be alert both physically and mentally, be fully alert – awake and not asleep, be steadfast’. This word is often translated as ‘courageous’ in Scripture, as seen in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be afraid of them. For it is יהוה your Elohim who is going with you. He does not fail you nor forsake you.”
These were the words that Mosheh spoke to all the children of Yisra’ěl, after which he also gave the same instruction of being string and courageous to Yehoshua.
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 31:7 “And Mosheh called Yehoshua and said to him before the eyes of all Yisra’ěl, “Be strong and courageous, for you are going with this people to the land which יהוה has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you are to let them inherit it.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘be strong’ comes from the root word חָזַק ḥazaq – Strong’s H2388 and carries the meaning, ‘to grow firm, fasten upon, strengthen, take hold of’ and can have the concept of ‘grasp between your ears’.
When we grasp between our ears what we ought to, then יהוה will strengthen us to be ‘courageous’, which is the root word – אָמֵץ amats H553 – means ‘to be alert both physically and mentally, be fully alert – awake and not asleep, be steadfast’.
In Hebrew, modern soldiers are often told: ‘חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ – ‘ḥazaq veematz’ which means, ‘be strong and courageous’, and is a phrase we see being used a number of times in Scripture.
What we can learn from this is that for us to be ‘strong and courageous’ in Messiah, we need to ‘grow firm’ in the Torah and have the commands of Elohim fastened upon our hearts as we take hold of the Truth and walk in it with boldness, being fully alert and steadfast in walking in the Truth. And it is through the ‘command/s’ of the Torah (Mosheh) that we are commissioned, appointed and strengthened ‘in’ Messiah!
We must remember to put on the armour of Elohim and fight the good fight of belief; and therefore, as soldiers of Messiah, we need the encouragement ‘to be strong and courageous’ and are equally responsible in encouraging each other in this regard too. As the faithful remnant Bride of Messiah, we must be strengthened in His Word and stand courageously firm in the belief as we remain steadfast in the prescribed set-apartness that we are called to walk in!
In Mishlĕ/Proverbs 31 Shelomoh gives us a clear description of a capable wife that strengthens herself:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 31:17 “She shall gird herself with strength, and strengthen her arms.”
The capable wife is dressed and ready for action!!!
This is a parable that highlights how we, as the Bride of Messiah, are to be a capable wife that is girded with strength by walking in and staying in the Truth!
Mighty is the wise in strength!!! This is the first part of verse 5 and makes it clear how important it is to be strong in the wisdom of Elohim!
The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘strength’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:5 comes from the word עֹז oz – Strong’s H5797 which means, ‘strength, might, fortress, power, stronghold’, and this comes from the root verb עָזַז azaz – Strong’s H5810 which means, ‘to be strong, be brazen, prevail, display boldness’.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘mighty’ comes from the root word גֶּבֶר geḇer – Strong’s H1397 which means, ‘man, men, warrior’ and comes from the word גָּבַר gaḇar – Strong’s H1396 which means, ‘to be strong, mighty’.
The Hebrew word used here for ‘wise’ is חָכָם ḥaḵam – Strong’s H2450 which means, ‘expert, skilled, learned’ and comes from the primitive root word חָכַם ḥaḵam – Strong’s H2449 meaning, ‘to be wise, skilful, make wise’.
To be wise means to be one who is skilled or learned and this takes time, determination and discipline! The evidence of one being wise is seen in how one is increasing in their learning, as they give their ear – that is their full attention – to hearing proper instructions that are given from the Father and living as a taught one of the Master.
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 1:5 “The wise one hears and increases learning, and the understanding one gets wise counsel”
Many today are being foolish by walking in ways that are contrary to the prescribed pattern that we have been given in Scripture for a Bride who is to make Herself ready and are doing whatever they feel is right for them.
It is from this root verb חָכַם ḥaḵam – Strong’s H2449 that we get the Hebrew word for ‘wisdom’, which is חָכְמָה ḥoḵmah – Strong’s H2451 meaning, ‘wisdom, skill’.
In the ancient pictographic alphabet, this Hebrew word for ‘wisdom’ – חָכְמָה ḥoḵmah – Strong’s H2451 looks like this:
Ḥet – חָ:
The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside. Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’. As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall, having been separated from the world and built up in the master!
Kaph – כְ:
The ancient form of this letter is – meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!
Mem – מָ:
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’.
Hey – ה:
The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’. The meaning of the letter is “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”; from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!
As we consider these pictographic letters that render for us the term for ‘wisdom’ we are able to clearly see that wisdom entails a separation, as pictured through the tent wall. We can therefore render the meaning of the construction of this word, in terms of true wisdom, as meaning:
WE ARE BUILT UP IN THE MASTER AS WE SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE WORLD AS WE SUBMIT UNDER THE HAND OF OUR MASTER AND DO WHAT HIS WORD INSTRUCTS AS IT WASHES US, AND ENABLES US TO LIFT OUR HANDS TO HIM IN CONTINUAL PRAISE!
Wisdom, at its core, speaks of one’s ability to clearly separate the good from the bad, the right and wrong, the left and right, and know the difference between up and down, so to speak. This we are to be able to do as we exercise true discipline – that is – the discipline of separation!
Wisdom is often used in the context of a skilled workman that has been equipped by the Spirit of Elohim:
Shemoth/Exodus 28:3 “And you, speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the garments of Aharon, to set him apart, for him to serve as priest to Me.”
Wisdom, in the ancient text, can speak of a clear separation by the washing of one’s hands; and as we consider the design of the Tabernacle, we need to be reminded that the bronze laver was used for the serving priests to wash their hands and feet; and clearly pictures for us how we are to be continually washing our work and walk through being immersed in the Word that transforms us!
Some translations render the first part of Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:5 as ‘A wise man is strong’ or, ‘A wise man is full of strength’ and what we can glean from the understanding of the Hebrew words is how the wisdom of Elohim can make one to be strengthened to stand in the Master and stay standing!
How we strengthen the power of His Word in our lives is through the knowledge of Elohim! Not just a head knowledge but an active knowledge, which implies a proper hearing, guarding and doing of the Word!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘knowledge’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:5 comes from the root word דַּעַת da’ath – Strong’s H1847 which means, ‘knowledge, concern, premeditation, skill’, and comes from the root verb יָדַע yaḏa – Strong’s H3045 meaning, ‘to know’.
As we meditate on the Torah, day and night, we are further equipped to guard the Word of Truth and the knowledge of the Set-Apart One! People who disregard the need to guard the knowledge by casting aside the Torah of Elohim can never be prosperous in the walk of set-apartness and will perish due to the lack of knowledge being carefully guarded in their mouths, for the Torah is to be in our hearts and mouths – to do it!
Kěpha tells us that we are to add to uprightness knowledge! (Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 1:5)
Adding knowledge to uprightness is vital as we recognise that we are to never stop growing in the knowledge of our Master and Elohim as we continue to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness, meditating on His Torah day and night in order to grow and be properly equipped to walk upright before His face! While growing in knowledge is certainly a critical aspect of our walk of set-apartness we also recognise that growing in knowledge without the proper application of the knowledge that is learnt is a fruitless exercise and will simply puff one up instead of causing one to serve in humility!
Knowledge only puffs up when the knowledge is not proper applied in obedient works of love before Elohim! Without knowledge we shall perish as we take note that the Master tells us in:
Hoshěa/Hosea 4:6 “My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children.”
‘To know’ Elohim is to guard His commands, commands that we are to be meditating on day and night. Those who are not doing so will perish and cease to be, as they will be violently cut off!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 6:9 describes for us those who are ‘seeing’ but do not ‘know’! It is one thing to look and see but to truly ‘know’ Elohim is to Guard and DO His commands!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of יהוה is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Set-apart One is understanding.”
What we must recognise here is that knowledge of Elohim comes in the guarding and doing of His commands, and our understanding of Him can only come in the doing of His Word. If you do not understand Him them you do not know Him because you do not do what He says, and if this is the case you will die for lack of knowledge and be unable to have an excuse for ignorance! The clear knowledge of Elohim has been revealed through Messiah who came to fully proclaim the Torah and the Prophets and lead us as we walk as He walked! He has appointed some to equip the body so that the body can be perfected until we all come to a unity of belief and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim!
When you dig in to the Word, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, you will be filled! This is what I believe is a vital aspect to what ‘adding’ to your uprightness is! It is the fervent and intense hungering and thirsting for the Word. What is worth taking note of is that you will be only be filled according to your hunger and thirst! If you only come to the Word for a ‘quick snack’ once in a while, so to speak, then that is as much as you will get from the Word – a snack’s nutritional value, which will never be sufficient for your health! Yet when you come daily to Word and take the necessary time to enjoy and eat of the whole buffet, so to speak, then you will certainly begin to taste and see that יהוה is good!!!
Having said that, let me ask you, “Just how hungry and thirsty are you – to walk in His Torah?”
Lazy people prefer a quick snack that does not require any effort at all and are therefore never equipped to properly stand firm in the face of distress, showing their vulnerability in faltering when the pressures get too intense!
Knowledge in יהוה increases one’s power and strength to stand firm and withstand the onslaught of distress.
Laziness diminishes any power and strength the fool may thought to have had!
As we carefully consider these two verses from Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24 (5&10) the mirror of the Word presents to us a clear contrasting picture of being strengthened in the wisdom of the Word that is diligently obeyed or being weakened by the laziness of lawlessness.
When the storms and distresses and pressures come, if you remain lazy and lack the diligence and desire to seek out and grown in the knowledge of Elohim then you will have no strength to stand and lack the ability to withstand that which comes against you!
Anxiety cuts off the life of the Word, just as our Master explains in His parable of the Sower where He describes the seed, which is the Word, that falls among thorns:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:22 “And that sown among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the worry of this age and the deceit of riches choke the word, and it becomes fruitless.”
The Greek word translated as ‘choked’ is συμπνίγω sumpnigō – Strong’s G4846 which means, ‘to choke, pressed against, strangle completely – that is literally to drown and figuratively to crowd’. Have you ever felt like you are drowning in a sea of doubt and fear, or being crowded out by external pressures that are pressing hard against you? Well this is what worries, riches and pleasure of life will do to you if you are not careful in keeping the soil of your heart free from such thorns and are not meditating day and night on the Truth, and not shining the light with confidence!
The Greek word translated as ‘worry’ is μέριμνα merimna – Strong’s G3308 which means, ‘cares, worries, anxieties’.
This Greek word can also render the understanding of, ‘being pulled in different directions’!
Have you ever felt like you are being pulled in so many directions that you do not know which way to turn?
The sad reality is that most of us tend to allow anxieties to consume us and when this does, then the very Word that has been deposited in you gets choked out! Now, think about this for a moment: choking is not a nice experience!!!
Worries/anxiety choke out the good deposit of the Truth and when this happens many do not get back to the Word and do what is required to change, but rather seek to have their ears tickled in order to seemingly sooth away the crippling effects of anxiety, yet fail to realise that laziness to do so will weaken them, whereas getting wisdom and growing in the knowledge of Elohim will strengthen one and cause one to stand and be able to breath in the fear of Elohim and be unaffected by chocking thorns!
The main purpose of this message is to highlight the clear contrast of an active knowledge in the Word of Elohim versus laziness. Ya’aqoḇ reminds us that belief without works is dead and herein lies the clear truth that if we do not guard to do what Elohim has commanded in His Word then we cannot have a living belief/faith. However, when we have an active belief that works obedience and grows in understanding through the the application of the knowledge of Elohim that is sought after and meditated upon, we are courageously strengthened to stand and after having done all, keep standing!
Have you found yourself faltering in the face of distress? If so, then learn a vital lesson from these parables and recognise that it is as a result of not being strengthened in the Word!
It is time for the true capable bride of Messiah to rise up and take a firm stand in the Truth in order to be strengthened through the active knowledge of Elohim!
In Mishlĕ/Proverbs 31:10 the following question is asked: “Who does find a capable wife?”
The Hebrew word for ‘capable’ is חַיִל ḥayil – Strong’s H2428 the same word that is used to describe these mighty brave men who separated themselves to Dawiḏ! This is also the same word that is used to describe the ‘able’ men that Mosheh’s father in law instructed him to seek out!
Those who find strength in Elohim go from strength to strength and become capable and firm members of the body of Messiah!
It is in the Master that we are equipped to go from strength to strength!
In the Hebrew ancient pictographic symbols, the word for ‘capable, able, brave’ – חַיִל ḥayil was written as follows:
– this is the Hebrew letter ‘ḥet’, which in the early script is pictured as a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘separation’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent, or can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside. Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’. A wall is also built up by stones, which can also picture for us as living stones being built up in Messiah!
– this is letter ‘yad or yod’ which in the ancient script is pictured as ‘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!
– this is the Hebrew letter ‘lamed’, which is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, representing ‘authority’ and 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, as well as be submitted under the Authority of the Good Shepherd!
When we see these letters in the ancient script being used to describe someone who is considered ‘brave, and able’ we can certainly glean from this the following:
THE TRUE BRAVE AND ABLE ONES IN THE BODY OF MESSIAH ARE THE ONES WHO TRULY REPRESENTS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SEPARATED AS LIVING STONES, AND BE SUBMITTED TO DOING THE WORK OF OBEDIENT SERVICE, BEING LED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF OUR GOOD SHEPHERD, AND EQUIPPED TO TEACH AND LEAD OTHERS TO MATURITY IN MESSIAH!
Those who go from strength to strength appear before Elohim! This is a powerful promise for those who stay in the Master, for they shall see Him face to face when He comes for His Capable Bride!
Learning from the very wise parables of Shelomoh, we recognise that:
ACTIVE KNOWLEDGE STRENGTHENS – LAZINESS WEAKENS!
Are you being strengthened daily in the Word of Elohim and actively living it out through complete set-apartness according to His Word or have you been lazy and as a result have become weakened and unable to fight the good fight of the belief?
Be encouraged and equipped today to know that it is an active knowledge in the Word of Elohim that will strengthen you and cause you to be capable to withstand the distresses of life! Be on guard against laziness and do not be weakened because of it!
In closing, I would like to echo the words of Sha’ul to Timotiyos… words that we all need to hear:
Timotiyos Aleph/ 1 Timothy 6:12-14 “Fight the good fight of the belief, lay hold on everlasting life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession before many witnesses. 13 In the sight of Elohim who gives life to all, and of Messiah יהושע who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you: 14 that you guard the command spotlessly, blamelessly, until the appearing of our Master יהושע Messiah”
ACTIVE KNOWLEDGE STRENGTHENS – LAZINESS WEAKENS!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face to and give you shalom!