Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But reverence with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought naught into the world, and it is impossible to take any out. 8 When we have food and covering, we shall be satisfied with these.”

Reverence with contentment… 2 very powerful attributes that ought to be actively embraced in the life of a true worshipper of Elohim. The Greek word translated here as ‘reverence’ is the noun εὐσέβεια eusebeia – Strong’s G2150 and carries the meaning of, ‘well-directed reverence’, and at its root it carries the meaning, ‘to be true and to adore’ speaking of one’s devout worship and being dutiful in one’s obedience’. This word, applied to a believer, denotes a life that is truly acceptable unto Messiah, indicating a proper attitude toward יהושע  Messiah, who saves him. It comes from the adjective εὐσεβής eusebēs – Strong’s G2152 which describes a ‘pious, devout, reverent man’. These words are a construct of two words: 1 – εὖ eu – Strong’s G2095 which is an adverb meaning, ‘good, well done’ and 2 – σέβω sebō – Strong’s G4576 which is a verb that means, ‘to worship, revere, Elohim-fearing’. So true reverence, even in the Greek understanding is a ‘good and well done, Elohim-fearing worship’!!! εὐσέβεια eusebeia reflects both an attitude and a way of life, that is well pleasing to our Master, through the continued display of complete set-apartness without compromise!

When we understand what true reverence toward Elohim means, we will find that we will do our utmost to give no room for compromise, and forever strive for perfection in the Master, no matter where we find ourselves or in what circumstances we may be in. Let me be very clear – it is possible to fake εὐσέβεια eusebeia – that is to have ‘a form of reverence’ in appearance only, while not having the real thing. This is what many are doing today, as they are simply putting on a show, having a form or reverence but no power to actually live it out, as their neglect for a well pleasing and good Elohim-fearing worship is non-existent, as clearly seen through their neglect for the Torah and the need to guard the commands of Elohim!

I think we can all agree that we do not see much reverence toward Elohim today! A twisted message has caused many to not have a true reverence for Elohim whatsoever; and they do as they please while at the same time think that they can demand to walk in the Promises of the Word! The false prosperity message seeks to claim all the promises without actually walking in obedience as they want the presence and promise of יהוה while turning their noses up at the need to be fed and to walk in The Word and obey the clear instructions for set-apart living.

Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 1:3 “as His Mighty-like power has given to us all we need for life and reverence, through the knowledge of Him who called us to esteem and uprightness.”

Here Kěpha is very clear – יהושע has given us all we need for life and reverence – through the knowledge of Him!!!

Now while I could go on about reverence, I am sure that we are all familiar with the clear understanding of what true reverence toward our Mighty Master and Elohim entails, but what I want to look at tonight is that attribute or characteristic that, when found together with reverence, brings great gain; and that is ‘contentment’! In a message tonight called, ‘LEARN TO BE CONTENT!’ may we be reminded how important this is for us who desire to reverent lives before our Master and King, יהושע Messiah!

Please turn with me to Philippians/Pilipiyim 4 (Read).

Reverence is essential in any true believers life, yet Sha’ul tells us that reverence with contentment is great gain, as we read earlier! Now the Greek phrase ‘great gain’ is from the words: 1) μέγας megas – Strong’s G3173 which means, ‘great, abundant, large’ and 2) πορισμός porismos – Strong’s G4200 which means, ‘to procure or provide a means of gain, acquisition, source of gain’. You want to know what the ‘source of MEGA GAIN’ is – here in Scripture is the clear answer – reverence with contentment! As we look at the closing chapter of Sha’ul’s letter to the Philippians, we are able to gain some valuable insight in recognising our need for contentment, and having a steadfast mind in our Master in all circumstances. What we need to be reminded of when reading this letter, is that Sha’ul wrote this letter to the Philippians while he was in prison – he was not sitting on some tropical island catching a suntan – he was in chains!!! And while in chains he teaches us a great deal in regards to contentment, for this was a man whose identity was secure in the Master, and the words of this letter reveals this to us! He is in prison and he basically says, “Listen guys, I have found the recipe for joy!” He had to face imprisonment, division among believers in Rome and now in Philippi, and even the threat of death, yet he is content and free from worry. In writing to the assembly at Philippi he shares with them the secret to victory over worry, which he had learnt through his life. What is interesting to note is that the Greek word Φίλιπποι Philippoi – Strong’s G5375 means, ‘lover of horses’, and was a city in Macedonia. Now being in the south of Greece, the people in Philippi would have been greatly influenced by the worlds ways, and the meaning of this name of a city that was founded by the king of Macedon, Philip II, can teach us a lesson on the continual struggle that the ways of the flesh and the ways of the spirit are in continual battle over. Horses and chariots in Scripture are often used as a metaphor for riches and wealth, and we are reminded of the words Dawiḏ, the beloved king in:

Tehillim/Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we remember the Name of יהוה our Elohim.”

One of the toughest battles that most people face on a daily basis is the wrestling between the anxieties that the deceit of wealth and worries of this life tries to load upon people, and the ability to remain firm and headstrong in our faith and being content, despite the varying circumstances or challenges we face.

In this very powerful letter to the believers in Philippi, we are able to recognise the very clear theme of this letter, in teaching us how we are to put on the helmet of deliverance, as it reveals to us the mind of Messiah we ought to have!

In Chapter 1 Sha’ul describes what could be called ‘the single mind’, and shows how to gain victory over circumstances. In Chapter 2 he describes ‘the submissive mind’ and encourages us on how to overcome troublesome people. In Chapter 3 he describes ‘the spiritual mind’ and how we can be triumphant over physical circumstances; and here in Chapter 4 he teaches us what it is to have ‘a secure mind’, a mind that is filled with peace and joy.

When you have a secure mind in יהושע Messiah then His peace will guard you and guide you; and when we have that kind of protection – why worry? Worry chokes out the Truth and can cause us to lose breath, faint and even perish, yet if our mind is secure, then we are able to breath with confidence; and as the last verse in Tehillim/Psalms tells us – Let everything that has breath praise יהוה. A worried mind cannot praise effectively, while a mind that is secure in all circumstances can! A secure mind in our Master is a sure remedy to worry, and can bring us complete contentment, which with reverence will give us great gain!

In verse 6 Sha’ul tells us very plainly, “Do not worry at all”, and the Greek word for ‘worry’ is μεριμνάω merimnaō – Strong’s G3309 which means, ‘to be anxious, care for, worry’ and comes from the root μέριμνα merimna – Strong’s G3308 which means, ‘cares, worries, anxieties’. יהושע tells us in the Parable of the sower and the seed, that the worries/cares of this life choke out the word, and this is exactly what happens to the seed sown among thorns, which pictures those who hear the Word, but the worries of life choke it out! 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 allow anxieties to consume us and when this does, then the very Word that has been deposited gets choked out – now think about this choking  – it is not a nice experience!!! Worries choke out the good deposit. We are to be on guard and watch, and be careful for this not to happen! How many of you have worries? Just think about it, we all have bills, bills, bills, and more bills – sometimes we even dread looking in the post box.

Sha’ul is teaching us in this letter, that when our minds are secure in our Master then we should not worry at all! This does not mean that we be ignorant of pressing needs and responsibilities, it means that we are to guard the good deposit and not lose heart and allow the Word that sustains us to be choked out!

Here in this last chapter of this letter to Philippi Sha’ul is giving us a remedy for worry. In the first couple of verses he is appealing to the assembly to be of the same mind, and pleads with two women who were fighting to make up and agree with each other in the Master. Perhaps these two women were well known and very influential, and the dispute they were having was obviously affecting many others, and it was time to put aside personal agendas and get busy with the Master’s!

I spoke two weeks ago about ‘The trouble of one can affect the many’ as we looked at Aḵan and how an individual’s compromise can have an enormous effect on the greater assembly. Sha’ul urged these two women to walk in unity so as not to bring division and break their ability to stand firm together in the Master; as he basically reminded them of יהוה’s presence, and that the Master is near; in other words He is with you to help you now. Εὐοδία Euodia – Strong’s G2136 means, ‘fragrant or prosperous journey’ and Συντύχη Suntuchē – Strong’s G4941 means, ‘a pleasant acquaintance, joyful event’. These two women were not living up to the meaning of their names. These two who once contended at Sha’ul’s side for the sake of the Besorah, and were certainly not being pleasant or prosperous in their friendship; as they were now being contentious rather than content, and Sha’ul encourages them to “make things right”.

How true it is today that when we don’t “make things right” with people, then worry creeps in! This is an open door for worry and fear! We need to learn to walk in unity and ‘make right’ even when we have been wronged, because if we do not our mind can never be secure in the Master and we shall struggle with true contentment, which in turn may render our reverence as being a mere form without any power!

He commands a rejoicing here, and this is not a suggestion but rather is a clear instruction, for we are to rejoice in the Master always, and when there are disputes and fightings in the body, true rejoicing is hindered!

There is no joy in narrow selfishness; joy involves an open heart and a generous love. Now sometimes the trials and pressures of life may make it almost impossible to feel joyful. But Sha’ul here was not telling his readers to be joyful – he was encouraging them to rejoice in the Master. יהושע Messiah is the One in whom the sphere of rejoicing must take place. Yes there are many circumstances where we may not or cannot be joyful, but we can always rejoice in the Master and delight in Him – why? Because of His presence – He is with us and He is near at hand to help us in all circumstances. Sha’ul was an excellent example for us as one who had inner joy despite external circumstances such as persecutions, imprisonment or even the threats of death that were against him.

The word translated as ‘rejoice’ is the Greek word χαίρω chairō – Strong’s G5463 which means, ‘be glad, joyful, thrive, give one’s greeting and approval’, and this is what we ought to be doing always – living our lives in a joyful approval of the Master’s instructions for us as His treasured possession – we are able to do this when we recognise that He is near, and the Greek word translated as ‘near’ is ἐγγύς eggus – Strong’s G1451 which means, ‘near, nearby, draw near, ready’ and is understood as referring to times that are imminent and about to come to pass. This imminent return of our Master ought to cause us to be a rejoicing people, who with great expectation shall be found having fervent faith when our Master comes!

With a true rejoicing heart that is secure in the Master, Sha’ul continues to teach us on how we ought to think, and it begins with whatever is true! Praise our Master that He has taken the veil of lies from our eyes and revealed to us His Truth! This alone ought to cause us to be a continual rejoicing people, as we set our minds continually on His Truth as we meditate day and night on His Torah! Why then does worry set in? Well, what is interesting to take note of is that a survey that was done showed that only 8% of the things people worried about were actually legitimate matters of concern. That means that at least 92% of the worries that people have are either imaginary, never come true or are matters that are beyond their control and are therefore wasting their time worrying over it. Satan is a liar, he is the father of lies and he wants to corrupt our minds with lies. If our thinking is of “whatever is true”, then lies will be easily spotted and rejected!

The Truth sets us free from worries and lies! Sha’ul continues to expand on that which goes with the pure truth – nobility, righteousness, clean, lovely and of good report. Without the Truth we are unable to discern between the set-apart and profane, or between the clean and the unclean, and true righteousness involves a guarding of the commands and so to think of righteousness is to be thinking of how we ought to be walking, in set-apart and complete obedience to the Torah of Elohim!

Sha’ul then tells them to keep on practicing that which they had learned from him and the Greek word translated as ‘practice’ in verse 9 is πράσσω prassō – Strong’s G4238 which means, ‘to do, attend to, perform, undertake to do, practice, be busy with, accomplish’. What Sha’ul was telling them was that they were to be busy with that which they had learned from him, and that which he had just reminded them of in terms of their thought life! How many of you have found your mind wandering from the truth and purity and righteousness, and you find yourself involved in rude discussions and coarse joking that does not build up others? Well this we are to guard against, and we will when we practice to think on that which we should!

Now here in verse 11 is the concept of how we are to get true contentment, and as we see from Sha’ul’s words from a prison cell, he tells us plainly that he ‘learned to be content’ in whatever state he was! Reverence is a clear duty and responsibility of a set-apart servant of the Most High, and when we understand that true reverence with true contentment gives us great gain, and establishes within us a secure and joy-filled mind, we need to recognise that contentment does not just fall into one’s lap – it needs to be learned! What Sha’ul teaches us is that we should not be the victim of our circumstances, but we should rather be the victor over our circumstances, where we are in a secure place of a pure thought life that strengthens us in the Beloved, and gives us the courage to accept all circumstances and not be crippled by them, but rather be strengthened to do all through Messiah who empowers us in the Truth of His Living Word!

We need to learn to not be pampered in order to be content, but rather we ought to find true contentment in our Master, as we follow Him and walk as He walked!

Contentment is not complacency, nor is it a false peace based on ignorance, for the complacent are unconcerned about others, while the one who is truly content is always willing to share in what he does have, despite how much or how little that may be, and in fact the truly content one will share in his lack! Contentment is not an escape from the battles of life, but rather a faithful abiding in the full shalom we have in our Master as we walk in Him and remain in Him, amidst the battles that surround us continually!

Sha’ul learned to be content!!! The Greek word translated as ‘learned’ is μανθάνω manthanō – Strong’s G3129 which means, ‘learn by use, practice’ and the basic meaning of this Greek word is understood as, ‘to experience’, and the use of this word implies an intellectual concern, which can therefore also render for us the understanding of, ‘seek to experience’ or, ‘learn to know’; and this word is also used in the Greek language with the understanding of, ‘learning skills under instruction’. This word comes from the root μαθ- math which means, ‘to learn, educated, receive instruction’, and a derivative of the word μανθάνω manthanō is μαθητής mathētēs – Strong’s G3101 which means, ‘disciple, pupil, student, taught one or one who is learning’. Sha’ul was one who had learnt, under the instructions of our Master, on how to be content in all situations, as he would follow the instructions of the Good Teacher! The Greek word translated as ‘content’ is αὐτάρκης autarkēs – Strong’s G842 which means, ‘content, sufficient for one’s self, self-sufficient, independent of external circumstances’, and this comes from two Greek words: 1) – αὐτός autos – Strong’s G846 which is a pronoun that means, ‘self, he, she, it’ and 2) – ἀρκέω arkeō – Strong’s G714 which means, ‘be enough, suffice, content, to be possessed of unfailing strength, be strong, ward off, defend’. This clearly implies for us that in the battles of changing circumstances you take a firm and shalom filled stand, and be strong and of good courage! This ability to stand in any circumstance takes learning to stand in any circumstance! In order to stand firm and possess an unfailing strength in the Master, we need to learn how to stand, and so it comes with a much needed learning on how to do that through many differing circumstances, and so we, as students of the Most High, are enlisted in the school of life and receive on the job training, for which we are fitted in the Master for every good work, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in! There were certainly times when Sha’ul pleaded for a way out, yet when he asked or pleaded with the Master 3 times that a thorn in the flesh be taken from him, he was given a very clear answer:

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, “My favour is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I shall rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah rests on me.”

The Greek word translated as ‘sufficient’ is ἀρκέω arkeō which we have just discussed! This word is also found in:

Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 6:8 “When we have food and covering, we shall be satisfied with these.”

We have our covering in the Blood of Messiah, and we have our food in the Word that sustains us, and having these we shall be content!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your way of life be without the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For He Himself has said, “I shall never leave you nor forsake you”, 6 so that we boldly say, “יהוה is my helper, I shall not fear what man shall do to me.””

Be content with what you have… for יהוה is our help!!! And it is in various circumstances that we will learn this, for we will quickly learn that יהוה is our help, when we find ourselves in life’s most difficult situation and circumstances, where the only peaceful option is to learn to be content and satisfied with what we have! When we can continue to learn this along with pure reverence, we will find great gain!!!

I was encouraged by this passage, as some of you may remember that Justin read this passage in Philippians/Pilipiyim 4:10-20 two weeks ago on Shabbat, after our reading of the Torah and the Prophets, and in light of events that have transpired since then, I was greatly encouraged that he got to read these words, even though he read it from his French Scriptures! Justin had a severe stroke two days later and has been in a coma for almost 2 weeks now, with the prognosis looking very slim, as he is being transferred to hospice care, with the doctors making it clear that he has little time left. As sad and heart-breaking as it is for us as a small fellowship, I was extremely encouraged by the fact that he got to read these words of Sha’ul, as if his own, to us, in what may be his farewell words to us. Justin, as many of you will know, was a man who too had learned to be content in whatever state he was in. This was his second stroke, the first happening 3 years ago, and he has been on disability for the past 8 months or so. He was a man that was extremely grateful and thankful for the concern we showed him, even when we had no chance to physically meet all his needs. He found continually strength in our Master, and he certainly knew what it was to have in excess as well as what it was to be in need. I can only be strengthened by his example of reverence with contentment and know that his example is a challenge to us all, and ought to cause us to look into the mirror of the Word and assess our own lives to see if we are open to the continual learning of contentment, that when coupled with reverence we shall find great gain in standing steadfast in our faith, with a secure mind in our Master, or are we falling too easily into worries!

When we have the Master as our sure help and shield, why should we not be content! As we consider the following verses from Tehillim/Psalms, may we be strengthened to learn to be content and stand in great reverence of our coming King.

Tehillim/Psalm 33:20 “Our being has longed for יהוה; our help and our shield is He.”

Tehillim/Psalm 54:4 “See, Elohim is my helper; יהוה is with those who sustain my life.”

Tehillim/Psalm 63:7 “For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing.”

Tehillim/Psalm 115:9-11 “O Yisra’ĕl, trust in יהוה; He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aharon, trust in יהוה; He is their help and their shield. 11 You who fear יהוה, trust in יהוה; He is their help and their shield.”

Tehillim/Psalm 124:8 “Our help is in the Name of יהוה, maker of the heavens and earth.”

 Knowing this truth, why should we worry anymore…. Let us learn to be content, Aměn!

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!

It is a joy and privilege for us to come together each Shabbat as commanded, and embrace the truth of delighting ourselves in our Master and Elohim, worshipping Him is spirit and truth, as our Master tells us clearly when speaking to the Shomeroni woman He met at the well, in:

Yoḥanan/John 4:23-26 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him. 24 “Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming, the One who is called Anointed. When that One comes, He shall announce to us all.” 26 יהושע said to her, “I who am speaking to you am He.””

Here before the eyes of this woman was the clear and wonderful revelation of the One who is to be worshipped, and tonight I want us to consider the function of our clear design, in a message called, ‘CREATED TO WORSHIP OUR MASTER AND ELOHIM!’ Tonight I would like us to look at 2 very powerful chapters that give us a wonderful glimpse into the continual praise that is to be offered up to יהוה our Elohim, please turn with me to Ḥazon/Revelation 4-5(read).

Many people, for some strange reason, don’t like to read Ḥazon/Revelation, which is totally crazy, as I want to tell you that this book is amazing, and is written as an encouragement to the set-apart ones of Elohim, while giving us a clear revelation of our Mighty Redeemer, Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, who is to be worshipped in spirit and truth! These two chapters of Ḥazon/Revelation 4-5 deal primarily with worship, and so I would like us to take a brief glimpse at what Yoḥanan was shown in the Spirit. True spiritual worship is one of the greatest needs in our lives as individuals and as an assembly together; and we find today that a lot of emphasis is placed on witnessing for Messiah and working for Messiah, which is of vital importance; but little emphasis is placed on worshipping Messiah. Now to “worship” means “to ascribe worth”. It means to use all that we have and are to praise Elohim for all that He is and does. We will worship Him forever and ever, and therefore it makes clear sense that I ought to do what I am made to do, and that is worship our Creator and Redeemer, right here, right now on a continual basis! Ḥazon/Revelation 4 and 5 helps us better understand ‘how’ and ‘why’ we worship Elohim, and give Him all the esteem He is due. Here Yoḥanan is given a glimpse, a taste if you will, of the purity of praise that takes place day and night before the throne of our Master, reminding us that our praise should never cease, as we offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice, day and night!

You will notice that these events take place after the messages were given to the 7 assemblies, as he says, “After this…”, After the clear messages of encouragement, rebuke and reproof were given, Yoḥanan is taken up into the heavens to see what is possibly the most amazing site anyone could ever see – the brilliance of this worship that shall happen before Elohim and the splendour of this imagery causes us to recognise the joy we are able to share in understanding the clear and great revelation of who it is that we are to worship in spirit and truth. Yoḥanan’s vision allowed him to give us a picture of the esteem of the presence of יהוה our Elohim, together with a picture of the amazing sound of praise that he heard. We can learn a great deal from these chapters as we are presented with two aspects of worship for our instruction and imitation. Let us look at these two aspects of the purity of worship that Yoḥanan saw in the heaven, before the One who sat on the throne: In Chapter 4 we are able to see the theme of a worship unto Elohim, our Creator; and this progresses in revelation as we go into chapter 5 and see the clear theme of the worship that is given unto Elohim, our Redeemer. The worship given to our Creator and Redeemer is what is being revealed before us here, and in this truly amazing description of this heavenly scene of praise we are able to grasp the reality of our need to be continually worshipping our Might Creator and Redeemer, יהושע Messiah!

WE WORSHIP THE CREATOR WHO SITS ON THE THRONE! (Chapter 4)

In these two chapters the Greek word translated as ‘throne’ is θρόνος thronos – Strong’s G2362 which means, ‘throne, seat’, and speaks of the position of royalty and kingly power, and is primarily used in referring to the seat of Authority of Elohim. This word is used 61 times in the Renewed Writings (N.T.), while in Ḥazon/Revelation it is used 46 times, and here in these two chapters it is used 19 times. This clearly shows us the emphasis or theme of these chapters, in revealing to us the One who is seated on the highest seat of Authority that is over all creation! The emphases on the throne declares to us that no matter what happens on earth, Elohim is on His throne and is in complete control! In this powerful book, Yoḥanan emphasises the esteem and sovereignty of the One who sits on the Throne, which was a great encouragement to those who were suffering and being persecuted for righteousness sake in Yoḥanan’s day, and these words are still alive and a great encouragement for us today! This book was written to encourage us in the Master. As we look at the throne, as a central key in chapter 4, it will help us to understand the wonderful arrangement of this section. Let us therefore look at 6 aspects of the throne:

1 – Who is on the Throne? – Almighty Elohim (verses 2-3)

The first voice Yoḥanan heard was like a trumpet, and this can also remind us of Yom Teruah, which will be the sound of the awakening blast of what is to come, and Yoḥanan is then taken forward in time to be shown what will take place after the trumpet blast! While there may not be sufficient words to describe the splendour and majesty of what Yoḥanan saw, he tells us very clearly that he saw a throne (1 throne) and One who sat of the throne!

There is no possible way for human words to fully describe what Elohim is like in His essence. Yoḥanan however  uses some  amazing words to describe Elohim’s completeness. He describes the One who sat on the throne as being like a jasper and ruby in appearance. ἴασπις iaspis – Strong’s G2393 is the Greek word translated as ‘jasper’, which is a clear translucent gem, which pictures for us something that is clear and free from disguise or falseness! This stone is described in Ḥazon/Rev 21:11 as being as clear as crystal! The appearance that Yoḥanan was seeing was clear and crystal!!! The Greek word translated as ‘ruby’ is σάρδιον sardion/sardius – Strong’s G4556 which is red or ruby colour. Amazingly, these two stones were the first and last of the twelve stones on the breastplate of the high priest as described in Shemoth/Exodus 28:17-21.

The first stone represented the tribe of Re’uḇĕn, the first born and in Hebrew is the word אֹדֶם oḏem – Strong’s H124 which comes from the word אָדֹם aḏom – Strong’s H119 which means, ‘to be red, ruddy’, from which we get the name אָדָם aḏam – Strong’s H120 which means, ‘man, mankind, human, person’. The last stone on the Breastplate of the High Priest which represented Binyamin, was a ‘jasper’ stone which in the Hebrew is the word יָֽשְׁפֶה yashepheh – Strong’s H3471.

Even the breastplate of the high priest represented Elohim Almighty, for He is the first and the last, the Aleph and Taw. What is interesting to take note of here is the change of order of these stones! On the Breastplate the first and last would be represented by the ruby and jasper, while here in Ḥazon, Yoḥanan describes the One who is seated on the throne as having the appearance of a jasper and ruby. Re’uḇĕn who was the first born and lost his first born status because he defiled his father’s bed, can also represent for us the first Aḏam who sinned, as represented by the ruby stone. By the redeeming work of Messiah, the last Aḏam, who became the life giving spirit, is now being described here by Yoḥanan as being a jasper first and then a ruby, which pictures for us the complete work of redemption having been done by the blood of Messiah. In other words, the One who Yoḥanan saw seated on the throne is our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, the Aleph and the Taw! The Greek word translated as ‘appearance’ is ὅρασις horasis – Strong’s G3706 which means, ‘vision, sight, act of seeing, appearance or visible form’!!! Can you grasp what Yoḥanan saw? He saw the visible appearance of our Master and Elohim – and it was יהושע Messiah!

2 – AROUND THE THRONE – A RAINBOW (verse 3)

This rainbow was not an arc, as we have been accustomed to seeing, but was a full completed circle that encircled the throne; for herein we see the complete picture of the completed covenant יהוה made with all creation! The rainbow reminds us of Elohim’s covenant with Noah; His covenant was not just with Noah but with all creation.

Berěshith/Genesis 9:13 “I shall set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”

The sign He has set in the heavens is therefore a two-fold sign – it is a witness of His loving-commitment toward the righteous who are hidden from His wrath, while at the same time it is a witness and warning against the wicked – that His bow is armed ready and drawn with His the arrows of His coming Judgements upon the earth for the day of His wrath!

It is also a great sign for us who are ‘in’ Messiah, reminding us that no matter how big or strong the bow of the enemy may seem, and no matter how many arrows the enemy tries to shoot at us – the enemies bow and arrows cannot match that of our Supreme Master and King – יהוה of Hosts!

Judgement is about to fall, and yet the rainbow reminds us that we serve and worship a Elohim that is merciful and patient. Now usually a rainbow appears after a storm, but here we see a rainbow before the storm, to remind us of our Elohim who is lovingly committed to His Covenant with us, His redeemed!

3 – AROUND THE THRONE – ELDERS AND LIVING CREATURES (3-4, 6-7)

This powerful picture of the 24 elders who sat around the throne is a very comforting and intriguing vision, as it can represent for us the purity of appointed worship before the Creator and Redeemer. In many ways this number of 24 can represent for us the completeness of the Body of Messiah, as pictured by the 12 tribes of Yisra’ĕl as well as the 12 Apostles, In Dani’ěl we are able to read about his vision where the thrones were empty, or rather being set up (Dani’ěl/Daniel 7:9), and now here in Ḥazon we are told that Yoḥanan sees them filled, representing an authority that has now firmly been set up and established to rule and reign all of creation, under the Headship of the One who sits on the Throne!

I also see another powerful picture being represented here in this number of 24 elders that were seated around the throne.

We are able to get a glimpse of this by what Dawiḏ divided and appointed to service of the priesthood, for coming into the House of יהוה, as seen in Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 24. In this chapter we are given the allotted appointments that were divided into 24 divisions of service, and when one looks at these 24 names we are able to glean some great revelation of the mighty work of our Creator and Redeemer, our Beloved King, יהושע Messiah.

I would briefly like to run through these names, and then you will understand why I can see a parallel between this passage and the picture of pure worship that Yoḥanan saw. 

24 names of the division of the sons of Aharon in Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 24:7-18:

1 – יְהוֹיָרִיב Yehoyariḇ – Strong’s H3080 which means, ‘יהוה contends, strives’

2 – יְדַעְיָה Yeḏayah – Strong’s H3048 which means, ‘יהוה has known’

3 – חָרִם Ḥarim – Strong’s H2766 which means, ‘dedicated’

4 – שְׂעֹרִים Se’orim – Strong’s H8188 which means, ‘barley’

5 – מַלְכִּיָּה Malkiyyah – Strong’s H4441 which means, ‘my king is יהוה’

6 – מִיָּמִן Miyyamin – Strong’s H4326 which means, ‘from the right hand’

7 – הַקּוֹץ Haqqots – Strong’s H6976 which means, ‘the thorn’

8 – אֲבִיָּה Aḇiyah – Strong’s H29 which means, ‘Yah is my father’

9 – יֵשׁוּעַ Yĕshua –Strong’s H3442 which means,  ‘saved, deliverance’

10 – שְׁכַנְיָה Sheḵanyah  – Strong’s H7935 which means, ‘dweller with Yah, Yah has taken up His dwelling’

11 – אֶלְיָשִׁיב Elyashiḇ – Strong’s H475 which means, ‘El restores’

12 – יָקִים Yaqim – Strong’s H3356 which means, ‘He will raise’

13 – חֻפָּה Ḥuppah – Strong’s H2647 which means, ‘canopy’

14 – יֶֽשֶׁבְאָב Yesheḇaḇ – Strong’s H3428 which means, ‘dwelling of the father’

15 – בִּלְגָּה Bilgah – Strong’s H1083 which means, ‘cheerfulness, with a smile’

16 – אִמֵּר Immĕr – Strong’s H564 which means, ‘he has said’

17 – חֵזִיר Ḥĕzir – Strong’s H2387 which means,  ‘swine’

18 – הַפִּצֵּץ  Happitstsĕts – Strong’s H6483 which means, ‘to break, that is broken or shattered’

19 – פְּתַחְיָה Pethaḥyah – Strong’s H6611 which means, ‘freed by Yah’

20 – יְחֶזְקֵאל Yeḥezqěl  – Strong’s H3618 which means, ‘El strengthens’

21 – יָכִין  Yaḵin  – Strong’s H3199 which means, ‘He will establish’

22 – גָּמוּל Gamul – Strong’s H1577 which means, ‘weaned’

23 – דְּלָיָהוּ Delayahu – Strong’s H1806 which means, ‘Yah has drawn’

24 – מַעַזְיָה  Maʽazyah – Strong’s H4590 which means, consolation of יהוה’

As we consider these names as representing the priesthood who is appointed to the office in their service for coming into the House of יהוה, and recognising that we enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, we are able to see the fullness of the purity of worship being given to the Creator and Redeemer who sits on the Throne! As we consider the order of these names and relate their meanings we are able to also identify the work of Messiah, which causes us to realise the due praise that we are to bring unto Him, as a royal and set-apart priesthood, that has been given access, by His Blood, to come to the throne of favour!!!

The 24 names could render for us the following:

It is יהוה who contends, strives or fights for us, for יהוה has known, and has dedicated the barley, by which we can declare that ‘my King is יהוה’, who from the Right Hand took the thorn, for Yah is our Father who saves and delivers those who dwell, and remain in Him. Elohim restores and He will raise a canopy, a dwelling of the Father, with great cheerfulness. He has said that the swine shall be broken and shattered; and those who are freed by יהוה, Elohim strengthens, for He will establish the weaned ones that יהוה has drawn unto Himself, for this is the consolation and comfort of יהוה for His appointed priesthood!

While being dead in our trespasses, we were made alive in Messiah, and it is by favour that we have been delivered and have been raised up and made to sit together in the heavenlies in Messiah, unto whom we give all praise and esteem, forever and ever! (Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2)

These 24 elders around the throne also gives us 3 significant pictures that represent us as Elohim’s chosen and elect priesthood:

a) They were seated – this speaks of an entering into His rest  and being content and completely satisfied in Him – and we continue to enter Elohim’s rest as symbolised by our guarding of the Sabbath, each and every week, as we work out His completed work in us and are able to diligently walk as joyful overcomers that are victorious in Messiah, having been seated with Him in heavenly places!

b) They were dressed in white robes – we know that Scripture is very clear on the white robes representing righteousness, which is our continued obedience to the guarding of His commands – for we have become the righteousness of Elohim in Messiah, and we are therefore required to keep our garments clean as we worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

c) They wore crowns – this speaks of ruling and reigning – we are kings and priests who shall rule and reign with Messiah, for which we are now ambassadors who are to be proclaiming the coming reign, and living according to that reign in our individual lives, as a pure fragrance of sweet continual offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice. For the faithful, there remains the reward of receiving this crown (fullness) of righteousness in the Master, when our deliverance is made complete at His return!

Timotiyos Bet/2 Timothy 4:8 “For the rest, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Master, the righteous Judge, shall give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all those loving His appearing.”

Around the throne were also 4 living creatures, who were in the centre closer to Elohim and they resemble both the keruḇim that Yeḥezqěl saw as well as the seraphim of Yeshayahu/Isaiah 6. Interestingly the number of the earth or creation is understood as being 4, and so these special creatures may, in one sense,  symbolise Elohim’s creation and be related to His covenant with Noaḥ. The faces parallel the covenant statement we read just now in Berěshith/Genesis 9:13; with Noaḥ paralleled with the face of a man; the birds with the face of an eagle, the livestock with the face of an ox and the wild animals with the face of a lion. These creatures were full of eyes, signifying the wisdom of Elohim; and they proclaim His set-apartness. They are also heavenly reminders that Elohim has a covenant with His creation and that He rules His creation from His throne. The image of the rainbow as discussed enhances this imagery and thought. We can be sure to know that no matter what happens or what terrible judgements will fall on the earth, Elohim is and will be faithful to keep His Word, aměn!

Other studies of the four faces have been described as the fourfold picture of יהושע  Messiah given in the Besorah accounts. Mattithyahu/Matthew is seen as the royal message of the King as illustrated by a lion. Marqos/Mark emphasises the strength and servant aspect of the Master’s ministry, illustrated by the ox. Luqas/Luke presents Messiah as the compassionate Son of man (the face of a man), and Yoḥanan/John magnifies the deity of Messiah, the Son of Elohim and is illustrated as an eagle that sours above all, seeing all.

Another study has also further described these faces as symbolically representing the character of יהושע  Messiah:

a) Full of eyes – speaks of His wisdom and knowledge, b) Lion – speaks of His royalty and headship, c) Ox – speaks of His strength and service, d) Man – speaks of His intelligence, e) Eagle – His speed and swiftness – in His service.

4 – OUT OF THE THRONE – STORM SIGNALS (verse 5)

These flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder are indications that a storm is coming and is an awesome reminder of Elohim’s power. We see later in Ḥazon/Revelation that these signals are repeated during judgement and always proceed from the throne of Elohim. Today many often only look at the rainbow and don’t like to think of Elohim as a Elohim of judgement; as they neglect to see the rainbow and the storm signals coming from His throne. Yes Elohim is most certainly an Elohim of favour, but as Romiyim/Romans 5:21 says, His favour reigns through righteousness. Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of His throne, and it is in righteousness and justice that He rules and reigns! Those who disregard the need to walk in righteousness and neglect His Torah and do not worship in spirit and truth will certainly be on the wrong side of the fierce storm that shall arise from His throne!

5 – BEFORE THE THRONE – LAMPS AND A SEA (verses 5-6)

The seven lamps are the seven spirits or sevenfold spirit, which conveys to us completeness and is the Set-Apart Spirit of Elohim. The pure sea of crystal symbolises Elohim’s Set-Apartness. The crystal firmament described in Yeḥezqěl’s vision in 1:22 is similar and described as awesome, and this is the foundation of Elohim’s throne – His Set-Apartness. The Sea of glass also pictures for us the completeness of His Word, upon which we are to stand, having been washed and cleansed as a ready Bride! The sea of glass also represents stability, purity and clarity that His Word brings in refining us as a set-apart priesthood. The chaos of sin has been calmed and in Him we are now able to stand and remain standing amidst the battles of life, and give Him the due praise!

6 – PRAISE TO THE THRONE!

Ḥazon/Revelation is filled with hymns of praise and in essence is the emphasis of the Book, when you consider that Yoḥanan wrote this book to encourage people who were going through suffering and persecution, and here in these two chapters we see an amazing display and example for us of praise. In Chapter 4 Elohim the creator is praised and in Chapter 5 Elohim the Redeemer. Acknowledging the Creator is the first step toward trusting the Redeemer. Romiyim/Romans tells us that sinful man tends to worship created things instead of the Creator and that is idolatry. We need to worship the Creator, Aměn! As we worship the Creator in spirit and truth we are equipped to be bold in our declaration of who our Redeemer is!

This worship of our Creator and Redeemer is critical for us, His treasured possession and  royal, set-apart priesthood, and here in verse 11 we are given a wonderful revelation into who the Creator is! The song of the 24 elders proclaim, “You are worthy O יהוה, to receive esteem and respect and power, for You have created all…”

The Greek has the term κύριος Kurios –Strong’s G2962  which means, ‘Master’, which the Scriptures has translated as יהוה, as the clear reference is being made here to Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 29:11 where Dawiḏ is proclaiming praise unto יהוה:

“Yours, O יהוה, is the greatness, the power and the comeliness, the pre-eminence and the excellency, because of all that is in the heavens and in the earth. Yours is the reign, O יהוה, and You are exalted as head above all.”

The Greek text continued to discard the Name of יהוה, as they followed the Rabbinic influence of not speaking the Name, and in their translations they used Kurios as a substitute where יהוה would have been clearly used, based on the evidence of the clear references made to the Tanak (O.T.). The Aramaic however does give us an ever better translation here and expands on this brilliant revelation of Messiah! In the Aramaic the phrase is rendered in Aramaic-English new Testament as ‘our Master (Y’shua) and Elohim’, which is transliterated from the Aramaic as מרן ואלהן – ‘maron va’elahin’ – ‘our Master and our Elohim’.

Why this is important for us to take note of here is that we are able to see a clear reminder of the confession of T’oma after the resurrection of our Master when He saw יהושע Messiah:

Yoḥanan/John 20:27-28 “Then He said to T’oma, “Bring your finger here, and see My hands. And bring your hand and put it into My side – and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And T’oma answered and said to Him, “My Master and my Elohim!”

In the Greek text the two words ‘Kurios (Master) and Theos (Elohim) is used, and in the Aramaic-English New Testament T’oma’s declaration is written as ואלהי מרי – ‘mari va’elahi’ – “My Master and My Elohim”. From these texts we are able to further confirm that the One Yoḥanan saw on the throne and the One who the elders worship is our Master and our Elohim – this is יהושע Messiah! With the worship being given to יהוה by the four living creatures who proclaim His set-apartness day and night, and with the elders who bow and praise our Master and Elohim, who is clearly identified as יהושע Messiah, we have here a wonderful revelation in Ḥazon/Revelation that יהוה and יהושע are One – our One True Master and Elohim, who sits on the Throne!!!

Further proof of this worship being given to יהושע as Master and Elohim is in the type of worship that the elders bring. In verse 10 we are told that the 24 elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and bow before Him who lives forever!

The Greek word translated as ‘bow’ is προσκυνέω ‘proskuneō’ – G4352 means ‘to kneel down before as an act of reverence’ and comes from two words – πρός ‘pros’ – H4314 ‘to, at, toward, unto’ and κυνέω ‘kuneō’ which means ‘to kiss’ and so ‘proskuneō’ literally means, to kiss toward someone, to throw a kiss in token of respect or homage.  The idea or picture one gets is to kiss the hand as the word ‘kuneō’ is a probable derivative of κύων ‘kuōn’  which means ‘dog’, meaning ‘to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand’.  This really struck me as we see the attempt that the enemy has done at gaining the worship of the masses – think about how so many are enslaved into having to bow before the ‘pope’s’ or any catholic priest’s extended hand and kiss (lick) the hand of their assumed ‘master’!  Or how about the millions that ‘kiss’ the toe of the statue of ‘St. Peter’ which is in fact the pagan image of a pagan mighty one called Jupiter! We are to worship only One – and that is יהוה – not any man, woman, image or any other false mighty one! We are not to ‘kiss the hand’, so to speak, of another in subjection to enslavement – but we are to humble ourselves and show respect and reverence toward יהושע our Master – we are to worship Him Alone!

The appointment of Yosĕph as ruler in Mitsrayim is a picture of Messiah, whose hand we kiss!

Berěshith/Exodus 41:40 “Be over my house, you yourself, and at your mouth all my people shall kiss – only in the throne I am greater than you.”

The word translated as ‘kiss’ is נָשַׁק nashaq – Strong’s H5401 and means, ‘to kiss, do homage, show respect and affection for, acknowledge’ and this word can have the understanding of ‘fastening together, be in array (dressed accordingly)’.

To ‘kiss’ here clearly speaks of that which we submit under and show respect to, as being the proper authority under which we walk and obey. In Hoshěa/Hosea 13 there is a clear rebuke for those who engage in idolatrous worship

Hoshěa/Hosea 13:2 “And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves moulded images from their silver, idols according to their skill, all of them the work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the men who slaughter kiss the calves!”

The rebuke here in Hoshěa for the men who slaughter must kiss the calves is a very clear message to a rebellious and backsliding people – as the message is clear to those who will not trust in יהוה, but will rather walk in their own reasoning, must go ahead and kiss their calves – see if that will help you!!!

We are not to ‘kiss the calves’ and be fastened together to abominable images or practices of false worship, but we are to rather ‘kiss the Son’ and pay homage and proper respect to our Redeemer and King, as we are dressed in His Torah, and find our refuge in Him.

Tehillim/Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest He be enraged, and you perish in the way, for soon His wrath is to be kindled. Blessed are all those taking refuge in Him.”

The wrath of the Son is the wrath of the Father, and our refuge is in Elohim – who is ONE!

Tehillim/Psalm 118:8-9 “It is better to take refuge in יהוה than to trust in man. 9  It is better to take refuge in יהוה than to trust in princes.”

WE WORSHIP THE REDEEMER (Chapter 5)

The focus of worshipping the Creator shifts to worshipping the Redeemer and here in Chapter 5 we see a seven sealed scroll that could not be read until opened by the One who is worthy. יהושע  Messiah alone is worthy and able to open the scroll because He has triumphed over sin and death, aměn! Yoḥanan wept because there was no one who could open the seals and this meant that Elohim’s redemption plan for mankind could not be completed; and then an elder came and told him not to weep; and he was told to look up and see the One who is worthy. Through יהושע  Messiah’s earthly life, death and resurrection we are now able to enter into true worship that is described here in this book – and that is to worship at the throne of Elohim, being made a kingdom of priests in His Blood. Yoḥanan look up to see the Lion of the Tribe of Yehuḏah and when he looks he sees the Lamb who was slain. What was being revealed here in this vision was the clear knowledge of who the Redeemer is – The Redeemer is the Creator – The one who sits on the throne is the Lamb.

Three tiles are given to יהושע  Messiah here: 1)The Lion of the tribe of Yehuḏah – which speaks of His Authority and Royalty. 2) The root of Dawiḏ – which means He brought David and his line into existence. As far as humanity is concerned יהושע  had his roots in Dawiḏ, but as far as His deity is concerned, יהושע  is the root of Dawiḏ. How יהושע  could both be Dawiḏ’s Master and son was a problem that יהושע  presented to the Pharisees and they could not answer Him. 3) the Lamb – as I mentioned, Yoḥanan turns to see the Lion and he sees the Lamb! Interestingly יהושע  is described as a Lamb at least 28 times in Ḥazon/Revelation. The choirs sing “Worthy is the Lamb”, and the assembly (That is the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah together as one) is the Bride of the Lamb. This Lamb has 7 horns symbolising perfect strength and power, and the perfect sacrifice that brings redemption! The Lamb is a picture of His first coming to us as Saviour and Redeemer in humble submission, who alone was worthy to stand up and pay the redemption price for our sin; and the Lion is a picture of His second coming as Judge and King in His mighty power.

 As we consider what Yoḥanan saw and wrote for us, we are able to understand our need to be praising our Mighty Creator and Redeemer, for that is what we were created for!

There are over 20 different songs in the Book of Ḥazon/Revelation, and this is a book that is filled with more about worship than any other book in the Renewed Writings (N.T.)! We are to worship Him in spirit and in truth, for He is worthy to be worshipped in song and service – let us learn from what Yoḥanan saw in heaven – and be ever praising our Master and  Elohim here and now!

We are made to worship – if your worship has been slack – determine today to make it better – choose each day to worship Him as you walk with Him and witness for Him. I encourage you all to stay in the Word daily and worship Him with your all, with your whole life forever. From Berěshith/Genesis to Ḥazon/Revelation we see our Creator and Redeemer as The Lamb, The Lion and our Master and Elohim, Aměn!

CREATED TO WORSHIP OUR MASTER AND ELOHIM!

Let us function as we, the created should – for now is the time for true worshippers to worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

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!

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 6:10 “For the rest, my brothers, be strong in the Master and in the mightiness of His strength.”

In Sha’ul’s letter to the assembly at Ephesos, these were the words that he wrote just before giving the clear instructions of putting on the armour of Elohim in order to continue to remain steadfast and stand courageous in the daily battles of life that the true set apart and built up ones of Messiah face. This call to be strong and very courageous in the mightiness of the strength of our Master and King, יהושע Messiah, is still being shouted out to each and every one of us, who are being built up in Him. Tonight I want us to be encouraged to remain steadfast in possessing a complete and sound courageous faith in יהושע Messiah, in whom we put all our trust; and in the process ensure that we are encouraging and building each other up in the most set-apart faith! I love to read and learn from many of the true mighty men that we see being written about in Scripture, as the examples of their lives are clearly able to teach and train us in righteousness, as well as reprove and rebuke us if need be, as we look intently into the Word of Elohim. As we, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house and set-apart priesthood that is able to offer up acceptable spiritual slaughter offerings through יהושע Messiah, we need to continually be on guard against the wickedness and corruptness that surrounds us on a daily basis. To remain steadfast as ones who are being built up as a set-apart priesthood amidst a wicked world, requires great courage to stand firm; and to help us and encourage us to be strong and courageous I want us to look at a man who was one of Dawiḏ’s mighty men, one who was numbered among the 30 of his finest brave ones, in a message tonight called,

“THE COURAGE OF THE BUILT UP ONES!”

Please turn with me to Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 11:22-25 (Read).

The man that I want to focus a little on tonight is Benayah. This was one of Dawiḏ’s mighty men who displayed great courageous faith in the face of some pretty intense life threatening battles. In the Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, the word ‘courage’ is defined as, “mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger or hardship”, and it implies, “a firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty”. It is the brave heart that displays true courage, and Benayah being a son of a brave man certainly displayed some brave courage, from which we can learn a great deal.

As we look at the meaning of the names mentioned here, as well as some key Hebrew words, we are able to clearly identify how we too are to stand firm in our daily lives, and recognise the enemy that lurks around us, always seeking to devour us at any given moment! The name בְּנָיָה Benayah – Strong’s H1141 means, ‘Yah has built up’, which comes from the two Hebrew words: 1) יה – ‘Yah’ – Strong’s H3050 which is the contracted Name of יהוה, and 2) בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129 meaning, ‘to build, besieged, construct, fortify, rebuild’. A word that is derived from this root word, through the meaning to build, is אֶבֶן eḇen – Strong’s H68 meaning, ‘stone, corner stone, differing weights, plumb line’. We are therefore able to see how it is יהוה who builds us up as living stones; and being built up in Him, we are able to stand strong and stand firm in any circumstance, with the full assurance that the Rock upon which we stand will stand firm and not be moved or shaken!

Benayah was the son of יְהוֹיָדָע Yehoyada – Strong’s H3077 which means, ‘יהוה knows’, which is made up from two words: 1) יהוה – Strong’s H3068 and 2) יָדַע  yada – Strong’s H3045 meaning, ‘to know, to acknowledge, clearly understand, to perceive, distinguish and discern’, and this verb can also render the ability to know by experience, and while we recognise that יהוה certainly ‘knows’ all things, we also realise that in terms of יהוה knowing those who take refuge in Him, or that He knows those who are His, there is a deeper intimacy being expressed by the clear experience of a faithful and fruitful relationship between the Creator and His Created beings, that follow and adhere to His clearly prescribed ways for functioning as they should, by being faithfully obedient to His instructions for living set-apart lives unto Him!

Timotiyos Bet/2 Timothy 2:19 “However, the solid foundation of Elohim stands firm, having this seal, “יהוה knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the Name of Messiah turn away from unrighteous-ness.”

This one who was built up by יהוה, and known by יהוה, was the son of a brave man from Qaḇtse’ĕl. The Hebrew word translated here as ‘brave’ is חַיִל  ḥayil – Strong’s H2428 which means, ‘strength, efficiency, wealth, army, ability, capability, excellence’ and comes from the root word חִיל  ḥil – Strong’s H2342 which means, ‘to be firm, strong, endure, prosper’. This is the same word that is used to describe the ‘able’ men that Mosheh’s father in law instructed him to seek out! While many ought to be ‘able’ and ‘brave’, given the length of time that they have been walking according to the Torah, sadly the fruit of their lives proves otherwise and they are simply not qualified to be classed and ‘brave’ or ‘able’, when we all should be, as we make our firm stand in Messiah!

In the Hebrew ancient pictographic symbols the word for ‘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 one in the body of Messiah is the one who truly represents what it means to be separated as a living stone, and 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!

Benayah was not only a brave and able warrior in Dawiḏ’s army, he was a leader who led by example, expressing true courage and bravery in any situation!

The place קַבְצְאֵל Qaḇtse’ĕl – Strong’s H6909 means, ‘El gathers, El assembles’, and comes from two words: 1) אֵל el – Strong’s H410 which means, ‘Mighty, power, shortened form of Elohim – Mighty One’ and 2) קָבַץ qaḇats – Strong’s H6908 which means, ‘to gather, collect, assemble, meet, brought together’. This word is used a number of times in reference to the gathering of the remnant Yisra’ĕl to Her Beloved Husband and King:

Diḇre haYamim Aleph 11:1 “And all Yisra’ĕl came together to Dawiḏ at Ḥeḇron, saying, “See, we are your bone and your flesh.”

On the day that the Ark of the Covenant was returned and set up in the tent that Dawiḏ had built, he gave thanks and prayer to Elohim and part of this prayer is:

Diḇre haYamim Aleph 16:34-36 “Give thanks to יהוה, for He is good, For His kindness is everlasting! 35 And say, “Save us, O Elohim of our deliverance; And gather us together, And deliver us from the gentiles, To give thanks to Your set-apart Name, And boast in Your praise.” 36 Blessed be יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl From everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, “Aměn!” and praised יהוה.”

What we are able to clearly see from the names and place being mentioned here in the introduction of this mighty brave one of Dawiḏ, is that our need to be gathered together and be known by יהוה, as we obediently gather on His Appointed Set-Apart Times, is critical in our being built up in Him, and equipped and able to be brave and courageous amidst the battles we face each and every day!

Benayah was the son of Yehoyaḏa, who was the leader of the priests who joined Dawiḏ at Ḥebron, and so we know he was from the tribe of Lĕwi  – לֵוִי  – Strong’s H3878 – ‘joined to’, and we are further able to see the clear shadow picture of  royal priesthood of Messiah which speaks of those who are joined to and brought near by the blood of the Messiah, and are able to stand firm and be courageous!

I love reading of the great faith these seemingly little known characters display. This guy killed the two strongest men in Moaḇ;  and he killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day; and he also killed a 7 ½ foot Mitsrian with his own spear! A man who many would think was nuts, yet Scripture refers to his actions as great exploits and he was held in high honour and promoted. Benayah remained faithful to Dawiḏ and displayed great courage and consistency in character. He won a name among the 3 mighty men, and was more esteemed that the 30, and Dawiḏ set him over his court! This is a powerful picture of those who overcome and stand firm in being true able and brave ones, shall be made a supporting post in the Dwelling Place of Elohim:

Ḥazon/Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I shall make him a supporting post in the Dwelling Place of My Elohim, and he shall by no means go out. And I shall write on him the Name of My Elohim and the name of the city of My Elohim, the renewed Yerushalayim, which comes down out of the heaven from My Elohim, and My renewed Name.”

Benayah was a man that was built up by יהוה, and was able to be brave and fight the good fight of faith. Sha’ul , in his farewell speech to the assembly at Ephesos said this:

Ma’asei/Acts 20:32 “And now, brothers, I commit you to Elohim and to the word of His favour, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those having been set apart.”
It is the Word of Elohim that is able to build us up and cause us to stand firm, and our need to gather on His Shabbat furthers strengthens us as true brave set apart ones of the Most High!

As we consider some of these great exploits of Benayah, we are able to learn a great deal in identifying the very same battles we face today, in a metaphoric sense!

1 – He struck 2 lion-like Moaḇites

The Moaḇites were a nation who lived at the time on the borders of Yisra’ĕl. They were related to the Yisra’ĕlites – remember Lot, when he fled with his two daughters from Seḏom and hid in a cave, and his daughters thought that they would never marry and have children so they both got their father drunk and had sex with him; and so both had children from their father. The one was Ben-Ammi – father of the Ammonites and the other was Moaḇ, father of the Moaḇites – the people who Elohim said they were never allowed to ever be associated with, and no children from these two would enter into the congregation of Yisra’ĕl until the 10^th generation. The people of Moaḇ could be a picture for us today of that which represents the “flesh” – or can even refer to our selfish life, or our sinful nature. Throughout Scripture Moaḇ is often a picture of the flesh – picturing to us everything involving uncontrollable life to physical lust – from addiction to alcohol to addictive lifestyles which involve self-gratification. Here Benayah struck down two of the best men of Moaḇ. We are to strike down these things in the flesh that are to have no part in our lives. These two men were ‘lion-like’, which is very interesting, as this simply means that they were very highly esteemed and powerful men among the Moaḇites, yet we are also able to be reminded here that the devil too is like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour! We are to strike down that which is of the flesh and that which tries to ensnare us and devour us!

Qolasim/Colossians 3:5 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry.”

We are to put to death the flesh and its lusts! The people of Moaḇ tried to stop the children of Yisra’ĕl from reaching their promised land – their future – their possibilities; which you can read about in Bemiḏbar/Numbers 22-25, and the Moaḇite women seduced the Yisra’ĕlites into immorality and pagan worship; and Elohim caused 24,000 to die by a plague. Moaḇ represents that which tries to stop you fully walking in Elohim’s promises. We are to walk in the Spirit, controlled by the Spirit and not the flesh.

2 – He struck a lion in a pit on a snowy day

Listen, the devil is our enemy behind most of battles that we face; but what I am referring to here is that battle of the lies that the enemy throws at you and tries to destroy your faith, peace and joy in the Truth.

Picture the scene here – Benayah goes down into a pit and kills a lion! Kind of a reckless act don’t you think? Well when you understand the symbolic picture it shows us here then we rather say it is a courageous and bold act of faith conquering brilliance. Lions do not usually leave their pit – which means it is him or you! The lion here is pictured as the devil, our enemy – the one who seeks to devour us.

Kěpha Alep/1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, watch, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the belief, knowing that the same hardships are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

Benayah was certainly alert and self-controlled. He went down and killed the lion – if you don’t kill your spiritual enemies they will kill you! Kěpha tells us that our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a vicious lion looking for someone to eat up. The lion is the most dangerous of the 3 enemies Benayah faced. An average lion weighs anywhere between 180 – 250kg, is 3 ½ feet tall and 9 feet long from nose to tail. Just one swift blow from its paw can smash the human skull, which is one of the strongest bones in the human body. With its jaws a lion can bite through any bone in the human body. A lion’s eyesight is 5 times better than a human’s 20/20 vision. Benayah not only met a lion in a pit – which quite frankly is the worst possible place – a place of no escape – but it was also on a snowy day. Just imagine – a cold, wet and snowy day and you are in a pit with a lion. Benayah’s feet must have been unsteady on the snowy / icy surface, his hands possibly red with numbness from the cold – no thermals in those days! This was a dark cold isolated day – the worst place, worst circumstances and Benayah was victorious – he won!

You know these kind of life threatening conflicts we face, when the enemy is there like a lion ready to devour, rarely take place on the days you feel good and are full of life and confidence in יהוה. These moments come on what could be called ‘cold days’, ‘hard days’, or ‘snowy days’ or ‘stormy days’ – come on we have all had them – more often that we would care to! It is those days that are dark and gloomy and you don’t feel like fighting off the devil and his lies, possibly because you may be down and discouraged and feeling uncertain, and lacking in your spiritual zeal – days when you go down in to a ‘pity party’ for one so to speak!  You know when you get sucked into one of those “oh I am not good enough” days, guess what – guess who is there in the pit you go down into – the devil, like a lion just waiting to eat you up with lies, making you feel worthless and sorry for yourself – trying to discourage you and disarm you of your faith. Well we need to learn from Benayah – rise up and fight the good fight – holding on to the bold confession of faith. If the devil can destroy your ‘now’ by reminding you of your ‘past’, he will reckon that you will not be able to go forward to your tomorrow and not step into your future! Those things that seek to destroy your present – your present joy and peace in יהוה will not leave uninvited – you must destroy that lion. Like I said Benayah went down into the pit – this shows great courageous faith – for he was on the offensive and as we know the offensive weapon in our spiritual armour is the Word – the Sword of the Spirit. Benayah was skilled and trained and utilised his knowledge combined with courageous faith to destroy the lion. We are to be skilled in the Word of יהוה, having been given authority in His Name to come against the devil and destroy his works. Benayah was not caught off guard – he went down, took an offensive weapon and killed the lion. Are you courageous like Benayah or do you find yourself running scared in fear of the enemy?

Two enemies Benayah defeated – The cunning and devious attacks of the devil and the wiles and limitations of the flesh; and now for the third enemy he faced:

3 – He killed a Mitsrian giant

This was a tall Mitsrian – somewhere between 7 ½ – 8 feet tall!

Here we can identify our battle against the dogmas and traditions of man, that have been so forcefully and intricately weaved into our culture! The tall Mitsrian represents for us the world and its systematic forms of worship that seeks to control and enslave the masses into a weaved scheme of deceit!

In the Mitsrians hand was a spear like a weavers beam – this was a huge javelin like spear, while in Benayah’s hand there was a staff! The Hebrew word used for ‘weaver’ אָרַג arag – Strong’s H707 which means, ‘weave, woven’, which means to interweave a thread or yarn in a certain pattern and density. We know that in Scripture that the fine linen garments speak of the ‘righteousnesses’ of the set-apart ones, and so our true walk in the Master should be one where we are clothed in His Word that has been finely woven into our lives. While this is true, we recognise that the enemy too wants to weave in his own counterfeit clothing that he presents as true, which may have a display of elaborate works yet are without the submission of walking in obedience to the commands! Benayah had a staff in his hand, which is the Hebrew word שֵׁבֶט sheḇet – Strong’s H7626 and means, ‘rod, staff, branch, shaft’ and is a symbol of authority and rulership, and is also translated as ‘sceptre’ in referring to the rule and authority of Messiah, the Sent One, in whom we have all authority!

What we can learn from this is that we are able to destroy the weaving of the world’s ways by taking our stand of faith in the Authority of the Word being active in our lives!!! Benayah wrenched the spear out of the giant Mitsrians hand, and this also carries the understanding of ‘plucking out, putting off or tearing away’! This teaches us that we, by the authority of the Word being active in our lives, have the ability to tear away the weaving thread of the world’s lies and traditions that have held us captive for so long! If we do not guard to keep the Sabbath or any other Feasts and commands of Elohim, we will stand empty handed before the giant system of man-made traditions and lies, and be unable to tear off that which is weaved into our very being, yet if we hold fast to the commands, guard the Sabbath and walk confidently in complete obedience to the commands of our King, then the worlds ways will have no way of being interwoven into our lives!

So many today are still struggling to ‘defeat’ the giant system of man-made dogmas and traditions as they fail to have in their hand a firm grip on the Truth and authority of the Word that leads, and the Torah that lights our path!

 The story of Benayah is a extremely fascinating and inspiring one and so as we look to learn from the life of a mighty warrior let us today stand up and put to death the flesh, resist the devil and not be conformed to the pattern of this world – for then we too can and will have such great exploits as Benayah, son of Yehoyaḏa had.

Qolasim/Colossians 2:6-8 “Therefore, as you accepted Messiah יהושע the Master, walk in Him, 7 having been rooted and built up in Him, and established in the belief, as you were taught, overflowing in it with thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one makes a prey of you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary matters of the world, and not according to Messiah.”

What battles and struggles are you facing? Are you battling against the flesh? Are you wrestling against man-made philosophies and the deceit of vain traditions that your family is still trying to impose on you, or are you wrestling against your identity in Messiah that the enemy tries to diminish through guilt and lies? Are you being built up in Messiah by guarding His Word, guarding His Shabbat and proclaiming His praises, or has life’s struggles in the flesh, the enemies lies and the worlds ways of compromise got you empty handed and without a firm grip on the truth? We must learn from the example of this mighty able and brave man of Elohim who was a mighty warrior of the beloved king!

Remember the one יהוה builds is chosen, royal and set-apart – that is you – now live like it and kill any fears with courageous faith in His perfect love which drives out all fear – as you walk in total love – that is obedience to His commands – with great precision and perfection – being a mighty brave and able one of the Most High – this is a call for THE COURAGE OF THE BUILT UP ONES to be firmly established as we proclaim the reign of Messiah to come!!

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!

Tehillim/Psalm 147:1 “Praise Yah! For it is good to sing praises to our Elohim. For it is pleasant – praise is fitting.”

Praise Yah – sing praises – for praise is fitting!!! 3 times in this verse we see the word ‘praise’, with each one being a different Hebrew word. The Hebrew word used for the first ‘praise’ here is הַלְלוּ  – ‘halelu’ which is from the root word הָלַל halal Strong’s H1984 which means, ‘to shine; to be boastful; to be clear; to make a show; to rave; be foolish; to celebrate; praise, cheer, brag or extol, i.e., extol the greatness or excellence of a person, object or event.’

The 2^nd Hebrew word translated as ‘praises’ in the above verse is זָמַר  zamar – Strong’s H2167 meaning, ‘to make music (in praise of Elohim), sing praises’. This word carries with it the idea of ‘striking with the fingers’, and more properly meaning ‘to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument’. In other words this is not difficult to see that this clearly can give the meaning ‘to make music’, accompanied by the voice and therefore celebrate or praise in song and music. This is such a wonderful picture for me, as it gives reference of making music and singing songs unto יהוה with the aid of instruments. The 3^rd Hebrew word translated as ‘praise’ in Tehillim/Psalm 147:1 is תְּהִלָּה tehillah Strong’s H8416 means, ‘praise, or a song of praise’ and comes from the word הָלַל halal. To Praise Yah is ‘good, pleasant and fitting’!!! These 3 words also help us get greater clarity on the need for us to praise our Mighty Elohim of Hosts! The Hebrew word translated as ‘good’ is טוֹב  toḇ – Strong’s H2896 and carries the meaning, ‘pleasant, good, agreeable, beautiful, to be pleasing, done well’. In the true understanding of this word   טוֹב  toḇ we can see that it may best be translated in most cases as ‘functional’ – to praise Yah is a very ‘functional’ action of the created toward the Creator! The Hebrew word translated as ‘pleasant’ is נָעִים na’iym – Strong’s H5273 which means, ‘pleasant, delightful, lovely, surpass in beauty’. Not only is it a functional thing to praise יהוה, but it is also something that surpasses beauty!!! The Hebrew word translated as ‘fitting’ is נָאוֶה naveh – Strong’s H5000 which means, ‘comely, lovely, becoming, fitting’, and is thought to come from either נָאָה na’ah – Strong’s H4998 which means, ‘to be comely or befitting, be at home’, or from the root נָוֶה naveh – Strong’s H5116 which means, ‘habitation, dwelling, pasture, meadow, who remains, abode of shepherd or flocks’.  What we can see here, as we understand these words, is that to ‘praise’ Yah is not only lovely and beautiful, functional and pleasing, it is where we feel at home – in other words, our praise should come from a complete place of comfort, and a secure boasting of who our Mighty Master, Redeemer and King is! How many of you love to sing in the shower or sing when you are alone, all because you are ‘comfortable’ in your environment? Well, that is what praise for יהוה should be, wherever we are – we should ‘feel at home’ in our confident boasting of beautiful praise for יהוה our Elohim! Now that you should understand the words being expressed here, let me ask you how your praise of Yah is – is it good, pleasant and fitting, or has it been the complete opposite and non-existent? Everything that has breath praise Yah – and make a bold boast of his comeliness and esteem, aměn!

Ok, now that we have established a little on what praise for Yah is, I would like us to dig deeper into a very wonderful Psalm of Praise, in a message called, ‘PRAISE YAH!’. To do that please turn with me to Tehillim/Psalm 111 (Read)

Tonight we are going to look at a whole lot of words and word pictures as we dissect this wonderful Psalm of praise for our Master יהוה. You will see in your Scriptures that this Tehillah/Psalm has in its 10 verses, the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphabet in bold before each statement or boasting praise! From Aleph to Taw, and it is with this framework in mind that I want us to see how exciting this Tehillah/Psalm of praise for Yah is! Each phrase or line in the Hebrew begins with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, and therefore this could be simply expressed as an ‘alphabetic song of praise for יהוה’. Having said that I want to go through each letter of the Alphabet and its corresponding line or phrase that is being sung, in order for us to see the power and fullness of why praise for יהוה is ‘good, pleasant and fitting’.

The first letter in the Hebrew Alphabet is the letter – א – and is known as ‘aleph’. In this Tehillah/Psalm we do not see the Aleph as the first letter being used, but rather we see the term – הַלְלוּ יָהּ – ‘HalleluYah’ being written first, before the Alphabetical song of praise begins, and so in many ways this  הַלְלוּ יָהּ – ‘HalleluYah’ or ‘Praise Yah!’ could best be understood as a title for this Tehillah/Psalm 111. So as we look at this Psalm we are able to glean from this the ‘Aleph to Taw’ of praise for יהוה, who is the first and last!

Ḥazon/Revelation 1:8 “I am the ‘Aleph’ and the ‘Taw’, Beginning and End,” says יהוה “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

As we look at each phrase with the corresponding letter of the Alphabet that begins the statement, I will also be showing you the corresponding Hebrew pictographic letter from the ancient script, which will further help us understand the power of this boastful praise for יהוה.

Let’s begin…

Verse 1 – Aleph and Bet  

א – Aleph – I thank  יהוה with all my heart!

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is אוֹדֶה – ‘odey’ which comes from the root word יָדָה yadah – Strong’s H3034 and literally means ‘to throw, shoot or cast, to confess, laud with praise, extol, i.e., make a public confession of the attributes and acts of power of a person’ and comes from the word יָד yad – Strong’s H3027 which means ‘hand’ and so the expression of giving thanks is understood in the Hebrew as ‘extending the hands in praise’ – that is why Sha’ul tells us in Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 2:8 that men everywhere should lift up their hands that are set-apart in prayer – our expression of giving thanks with the extended hands that are set-apart is in our willing obedience to working unto Elohim (extending the hand) in all we do – and at the same time giving Him esteem and praise. Giving thanks is not a silent matter and it must be seen in our work ethic too, as our actions may often speak louder than words! With the Torah of Elohim written on the tablets of our heart – our giving thanks to Him with all our heart is a bold declaration of our loving-commitment to walking in total obedience and guarding to do all He has commanded us! This is the beginning of our praise for יהוה!

The ancient script has this letter א (Aleph) pictured as  which is ‘the head of an ox’ and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’, as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled! יהוה is the beginning of our strength, and our ability to be strong and not be afraid is in יהוה, who has become our deliverance:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 12:2 “See, Ěl is my deliverance, I trust and am not afraid. For Yah, יהוה, is my strength and my song; and He has become my deliverance.”

How are you giving thanks? Is your boastful praise of our Deliverer done with complete trust and confidence in the One who makes us strong? And are you being ‘led forth in praise of Yah!’?

ב  – Bet – In the company of the straight and of the congregation.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is בְּסוֹד – ‘b’sod’– which comes from the root word סוֹד sod – Strong’s H5475 which means, ‘council, circle, company, assembly, fellowship, secret counsel, intimacy with El’.

The ancient script has this letter ב (Bet) pictured as  which is 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.

Here we are able to see how important praise is in the assembly or gathering of the set-apart ones!!! It is in the assembly of the ‘straight’, where we are able to give a unified praise in our boasting of the goodness of יהוה. The Hebrew word for ‘straight ones’ is יְשָׁרִים – ‘y’shariym’ which is the plural derived from the root word יָשָׁר  yashar – Strong’s H3477, and means, ‘right, straight, upright and righteous’. A derivative of this word is יְשֻׁרוּן Yeshurun – Strong’s H3484, which is used 4 times in Scripture, and is used as a symbolic name for Yisra’ĕl, in describing Her perfect character in being the true upright one, being knit together as One in Messiah, as the Dwelling Place/Tent of the Most High!

Tehillim/Psalm 35:18 “I give You thanks in the great assembly; I praise You among a mighty people.”

Verse 2 – Gimel and Dalet

ג – Gimel – Great are the works of יהוה.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is גְּדֹלִים – ‘g’doliym’ – which comes from the root word גָּדוֹל gadol – Strong’s H1419 and means, ‘great, highest, mighty, marvellous’, and Dawiḏ says in:

Shemuʼĕl Bet/2 Samuel 7:22 “You are great indeed, O Master יהוה. For there is none like You, and there is no Elohim but You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

We serve a great Ěl who must be greatly praised!!!

The ancient script has this letter ג (Gimel) pictured as  – which is ‘a foot’  and carries the meaning to ‘walk, gather, carry’, as clearly referring to the functions of a foot; and it can also give the meaning of a gathering of people, and we know that ‘feet’ in Hebrew speaks of one’s walk and ability to keep the Feasts of יהוה, and represents one’s ‘walk!

The Feasts of יהוה picture for us His Great works, as we are able to remember to celebrate His Great work of redemption as we guard to keep His Appointed Times/Feasts as commanded. Those who do not guard to keep and celebrate His feasts are unable to know His Great Works!

In speaking of those who overcome the beast and his mark, we see in;

Ḥazon/Revelation 15:3 “And they sing the song of Mosheh the servant of Elohim, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvellous are Your works, יהוה Ěl Shaddai! Righteous and true are Your ways, O Sovereign of the set-apart ones!”

ד – Dalet – Searched for by all who delight in them.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is – דְּרוּשִׁים – ‘d’rushiym’ – which is written in the plural from the root word דָּרַשׁ  darash – Strong’s H1875 which means, ‘to resort to, seek out, ask, avenge, consult, investigate, search carefully, make inquiry, question’.

This word carries more than simply just to take a quick peek, but rather emphasises the need to be digging deep in seeking out carefully and with great diligence, through consultation, and asking. When we are told to ‘seek’ first the Kingdom – we must recognise that this is not an instruction that gives the notion that you look at it and now that you have seen it you can go on your merry way – NO! To seek His Kingdom requires hard work and discipline each and every day.

The ancient script has this letter ד (Dalet) pictured as  which is 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 in terms of understanding the door of the Tent of Appointment as being the only means of access into the Assembly of Elohim. When we consider that יהושע Messiah is The Door, then we further see our need to continually be looking at Him, and praising Him as we diligently are serving in spirit and truth, guarding to do all His commands – as we look continually into the perfect Torah of Freedom and not forget what we look like! We are told that we should seek and shall find, and knock and it will be opened for us, and our seeking and knocking is in our searching the Great works of יהוה, as we guard our duty of coming to the Door of His Appointed Times, including His weekly Sabbaths, which opens up for us a very satisfying discovery of His great works!

Yoḥanan/John 10:9 “I am the door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture.”

Tehillim/Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His Name.”

Verse 3 – Hey and Waw/Vav

ה – Hey – Splendour and greatness are His work.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is – הוֹד hod – Strong’s H1935 which means, ‘splendour, honour, majesty, authority, beauty’.

Ḥaḇaqquq/Habakkuk 3:3 “Eloah comes from Tĕman, and the Set-apart One from Mount Paran. Selah. His splendour shall cover the heavens, and His praise shall fill the earth.”

His Splendour will fill the earth – and what a sight that will be!!! The splendour of His perfect work will be seen by all!!!

The ancient script has this letter ה (Hey) pictured as , which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’. The Hebrew word “hey” means “behold”, as when looking at a great sight. This word can also mean “breath” or “sigh” as when one sighs in amazement when looking at a great sight. 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!

Our praise of יהוה and the splendour and greatness of His work is fitting for us who lift up our hands in fervent praise!

ו – Waw/Vav – And His righteousness stands forever.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is וְצִדְקָתוֹ – ‘v’tsidqatho’ meaning ‘and His righteousness’, with the letter ‘ו’ (waw) at the beginning of the word being translated as ‘and’. The root of this word is צְדָקָה tsedaqah – Strong’s H6666 meaning, ‘righteousness, righteous acts, merits, righteous deeds’ and one of my favourite verse says it so plainly:

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.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 12:28 “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.”

Tehillim/Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your Torah is truth.”

The ancient script has this letter ו (waw/vav) 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’. It is by the work of Messiah, in His own Blood, that has secured for us His Covenants of promise, to which we are added to; and His righteousness stands forever secured in Him!

Verse 4 – Zayin and Ḥet

ז  – Zayin – He has made His wonders to be remembered.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is זֵכֶר zeker  – Strong’s H2143 which means, ‘a memorial. Remembrance, memory, remembered’, which is from the root verb זָכַר ‘zaḵar’ H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be mindful, or bring to remembrance’.

The ancient script has this letter ז  (Zayin) pictured as , which is a mattock (a sharp digging tool such as an axe or pick) and carries the meaning of ‘a weapon or tool that cuts’. A mattock would be a tool that was also used to dig up the soil so that seed could be planted. As we continue to remember to guard His Sabbath and His Appointed Times, and remembering to keep His commands, we are able to break up the tillable soil of our hearts and allow His Word to be worked in us, allowing His Word to cut away any dross or weeds that arise and allow the fruit of righteousness to spring forth!

Hoshěa/Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap according to kindness, break up your tillable ground, it is time to seek יהוה, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”

The Feast of Pěsaḥ and Matzot shall also be for us a sign on our hands and a ‘reminder’ between our eyes! Our remembrance to keep his weekly Sabbath reminds us of the fullness of His work that shall be competed on the 7^th day (7^th Millennium), and there still remains an entering into that rest, hence our need to remember His work and that there remains a Sabbath keeping for the people of Elohim – something that has to be worked in us who have come out of the centuries of lies and traditions of falsehood!

ח – Ḥet – יהוה shows favour and is compassionate

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is חַנּוּן – ‘ḥanun’ – Strong’s H2587 which means, ‘favourable, gracious’ and comes from the root verb חָנַן ḥanan – Strong’s H2603 meaning, ‘show favour, be gracious to, dealt graciously with, given to them voluntarily, shown favour’.

Qorintiyim Bet/2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, “My favour is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, then, I shall rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah rests on me.”

The Greek word translated as ‘sufficient’ is ἀρκέω arkeō – Strong’s G714 which is a primary verb meaning, ‘to assist, suffice, content, enough, satisfied, defend, ward off’ and is thought to be related to the Hebrew word אָדַר aḏar – Strong’s H142 meaning, ‘majestic, glorious’  – through the idea of ‘raising a barrier’. This is a very powerful picture here in relation to this Psalm of praise as we see:

The ancient script has this letter ח (ḥet) pictured as , which is 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’

His favour is sufficient for us, and is extended to us on the basis of His Covenant relationship with His called out Bride, who are secured in the precious Blood of Messiah that separates us from being ‘outside’, but are able to boldly come to the throne of favour, in order to receive compassion, and find favour for timely help.

Verse 5 – Tet and Yod

ט  – Tet – He has given food to those who fear Him

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is טֶרֶף tereph – Strong’s H2964 which means, ‘prey, food, meat, spoil’.

Yoḥanan/John 6:35 “And יהושע said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall not get hungry at all, and he who believes in Me shall not get thirsty at all.”

יהושע is the Bread of Life and He feeds us our lawful bread, He fills us and fills our baskets with good!

The ancient script has this letter ט (Tet) pictured as , which is ‘a container made of wicker or clay’. Containers were a very important item among the nomadic Hebrews. They were used for storing grains and other items. Wicker baskets were used as nets for catching fish. The meanings of this letter are ‘basket, contain, store and clay’. We as clay, do not ask the Potter why He made us the way we are, we simply recognise that He is the One who fills that which He made, for which we give Him all praise, as we walk in the fear of Elohim!

י  –  Yod – He remembers His covenant forever.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is יִזְכֹּר – ‘yizkor’ meaning ‘He remembers’ and comes from the root verb we have already discussed – זָכַר ‘zaḵar’ H2142 with the י  (Yod) rendering who it is that remembers – and it is HE – that is יהוה. His Covenant has been established by the working of His Outstretched Arm and Hand – which will never be forgotten, for His Arm and Hand that has been revealed through the life, death and resurrection of Messiah will dwell with us forever – forever to be remembered!!!

The ancient script has this letter י  (yod) pictured 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!

Tehillim/Psalm 105:8 “He has remembered His covenant forever, the Word He commanded, for a thousand generations”

Tehillim/Psalm 143:5 “I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your works; I ponder on the work of Your hands.”

By His established Feasts we are able to remember His Covenant forever:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me.”

Verse 6 – Kaph and Lamed

כּ  – Kaph – He has shown His people the power of His works.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is כֹּחַ koaḥ – Strong’s H3581 which means, ‘strength, power, might, ability’.

He has shown His Mighty Right Hand and revealed the power of His works!!!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 43:1 “Who is this coming from Edom, with garments of glowing colours from Botsrah, who is robed in splendour, striding forward in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”

The ancient script has this letter כּ (Kaph) pictured as , which is ‘an open hand’, and 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, picturing our praise to the One to whom we submit.

Yoḥanan/John 20:27-28 “Then He said to T’oma, “Bring your finger here, and see My hands. And bring your hand and put it into My side – and do not be unbelieving, but believing. 28 And T’oma answered and said to Him, “My Master and my Elohim!”

ל – Lamed – To give them the inheritance of the nations

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is לָתֵת – ‘latheyth’ which is from the root verb נָתַן Nathan – Strong’s H5414 which means, ‘to give, put, set, ascribe, devote, give over, deliver up’, with the לָ (lamed) being a preposition meaning ‘to’.

The ancient script has this letter ל (Lamed) pictured as , which is 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. יהוה has not only revealed His Hand, He is the One who leads us into the wilderness where He can speak to our heart and we can call Him our Husband and give Him all the praise that is due to His Name (Hoshěa/Hosea 2:14)!!!

Miḵah/Micah 7:14 “Shepherd Your people with Your rod, the flock of Your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest, in the midst of Karmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gil’ad, as in days of old.”

Verse 7 – Mem and Nun

מַ – Mem – The works of His hands are truth and right-ruling.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is מַעֲשֵׂי – ‘ma’asei’ which is from the root מַעֲשֶׂה maaseh – Strong’s H4639 meaning, ‘works, deeds, acts, labour’ and here it is referring to the works of יהוה. As we understand the work of His hands through the power of His Word, done in truth and right-ruling, we are able to see how it is only by His mighty works that we are able to be cleansed and restored to the Truth, in His Blood!

The ancient script has this letter מַ (Mem) pictured as , which is ‘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. And so we are able to see that by the works of His Hands, we are drawn out of many muddied waters and cleansed to serve and worship Him in perfection and truth!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.”

נ – Nun – All His orders are trustworthy

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is נֶאֱמָנִים – ‘neyeymaniym’ which is from the root word אָמַן  aman – Strong’s H539 which means, ‘confirm, support, establish, faithful, believe’.

The ancient script has this letter נ (Nun) pictured as , which is a ‘sprouting seed’ and gives the idea of continuation or an offspring or an heir, speaking of that which sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy.

It is through the life, death and resurrection of Messiah (The Seed) that the trustworthy Word of Elohim has been established and confirmed. Messiah told us that He came to establish and fully proclaim the Torah, not to destroy it – He came to confirm and fully proclaim the life we too are able to have in Him, through the resurrection power that now lives in us! His word brings us back to Elohim and revives us, giving us newness of life and sure promise of eternity!

The Word of Elohim is our life (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 32:47), and His instructions bring us back to life!

Tehillim/Psalm19:7 “The Torah of יהוה is perfect, bringing back the being; the witness of יהוה is trustworthy, making wise the simple”

Verse 8 – Samek and Ayin

ס  – Samek – They are upheld forever.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is סְמוּכִים – ‘s’muḵiym’ and is from the root word סָמַךְ samaḵ – Strong’s H5564 which means, ‘to lean, lay, rest, support, uphold, sustain’, and can also carry the meaning, ‘to grab hold of’.

Tehillim/Psalm 119:116 “Support me according to Your word, that I might live; and put me not to shame because of my expectation.”

It is by the Word of Elohim that we are supported and upheld, that we might live and praise His Mighty Name! We are to ‘grab hold of’ His commands and cling to Him in total trust; in order that we do not fall, and find ourselves leaning on our own understanding!

The ancient script has this letter ס (Samek) pictured as , which is a thorn and has the meanings of ‘pierce and sharp’ and can also carry the meaning of ‘a shield’, as thorn bushes were used by shepherds to build a wall to enclose their flock in the night against the attack of predators. Another meaning would be ‘to grab hold of’ as a thorn is a seed that clings to hair and clothing. The Word of Elohim is sharper than a doubled edged sword and when we find that we do not grab hold of His word and allow His Word to be our shield of faith, we may find ourselves being pierced through with sin and compromise! Our praise we have for our Master is that in Him we are upheld forever, for He is the shield of our Help, as He Himself took the crown of thorns upon His head, bearing our sin and shame that we may be found to be shielded in Him! And now we are firmly equipped in our Master to establish His Torah in our lives, firmly grabbing hold of His commands:

Romiyim/Romans 3:31 “Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.”

ע  – Ayin – Performed in truth and straightness.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is עֲשׂוּיִם – ‘asuyim’ which comes from the root word עָשָׂה  asah – Strong’s H6213 meaning, ‘to do, work, make, produce, to act with effect, to observe, to bring about, institute’ and can also mean, ‘celebrate’. The orders of יהוה are straight, rejoicing the heart, and His orders are ‘performed’ in straightness – that is too say that there is no cutting corners with His orders. They are observed in complete truth, and produce in us the ability to truly celebrate His deliverance with joyous praise; and our need to have our eyes fixed on the truth are of critical importance, especially in our ability to praise Him with all our heart!

The ancient script has this letter ע (Ayin) pictured as , which is an ‘eye’ and carries the meaning ‘to watch, pay attention, take heed, look’ in the understanding of ‘keeping one’s eye on something’ and illustrates the importance of what one sets their eyes upon. We are to fix our eyes upon the Prince and Perfecter of our faith and guard His commands with great joyous celebration for His great works! When our eyes are fixed on the Truth – the very thing we love, we will not be swayed by wrong paths and not let our eyes be lured to lawlessness and sin, but rather serve in perfection and truth:

Tehillim/Psalm 119:127-128 “Therefore I have loved Your commands more than gold, even fine gold! 128 Therefore all Your orders I count as right; I have hated every false way.”

Verse 9 – Pey and Tsadi and Qoph

פ  – Pey – He sent redemption to His people.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is פְּדוּת peduth – Strong’s H6304 which means, ‘ransom, division, redemption’. The Word made flesh was sent to redeem us, and in Him we have redemption through His blood, for He came to redeem us from all lawlessness, and cleanse us to be a people for His possession. His Word returns not empty but accomplishes all it has been sent for.

The ancient script has this letter פ (pey) pictured as , which is an ‘open mouth’ and carries the meaning of ‘speak and blow’ from the functions of the mouth, and can also have the meaning of ‘scatter’ by blowing. In representing the mouth it can also picture the lips of a mouth, which are the ‘edges of the mouth’, and can also refer to things with edges, such as a sword or beard! His word endures forever and by His Word He has sent us redemption, and as we remember Him in all our ways, we guard His Word and praise Him greatly!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 24:18 “But you shall remember that you were a slave in Mitsrayim, and that יהוה your Elohim redeemed you from there. Therefore I am commanding you to do this word.”

צִ  – Tsadi – He has commanded His covenant forever

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is צִוָּה – ‘tsuvah’, which comes from the root word צָוָה  tsavah – Strong’s H6680 which means, ‘to lay charge (upon), give charge to, command, order, appoint, commission, ordain’.

The ancient script has this letter צִ (Tsadi) pictured as , which is ‘a man on his side’, and it can represent the act of lying on one’s side in order to hunt or chase, when crouching in concealment, as well as laying one’s self down for another. We can also see how this can represent that which comes forth from the side! This can also picture for us a fish hook, giving us the meaning of ‘hunt or fish’. His Covenant is forever and in Him having laid down His life for us, He calls us and commissions us to go and make taught ones of the nations, as we too become fishers of men!

ק  – Qoph – Set-Apart and awesome is His Name

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is קָדוֹשׁ qadosh – Strong’s H6918 which means, ‘set-apart, consecrated’, and His Name is to be forever praised:

Tehillim/Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Name of יהוה is praised.”

This verse together with the one we are looking at makes great sense when understanding the letter ק (Qoph) in the ancient text.

The ancient script has this letter ק (Qoph) pictured as , which is a ‘horizon’ and depicts the elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well as eternity. His Set-Apart Name is to be praised forever!

Verse 10 – Resh and Shin and Taw

ר – Resh – The fear of יהוה is the beginning of wisdom

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is רֵאשִׁית  rěshith – Strong’s H7225 which means, ‘beginning, chief, first fruits, foremost’ and comes from the primitive root word ראֹשׁ rosh – Strong’s H7218 which means, ‘head, beginning, top, chief’.

The ancient script has this letter ר (Resh) pictured as , which is ‘the head of a man’ and carries the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the chief.

Our true life of praise unto יהוה, our Head, begins when we fear Him, He is the beginning of our strength and true praise entails a true fear of the One who is Chief over us!

שֵׂ – Sin – All those doing them have a good understanding

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is שֵׂכֶל seḵel – Strong’s H7922 which means, ‘insight, discretion, prudence, wisdom’. It is through continual meditating upon the Word and the doing of the Word that we gain understanding and insight and are able to rightly divide the truth.

The ancient script has this letter שֵׂ (Sin) 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.

As we ‘chew on’, that is to meditate upon, the Word of Elohim, we are made wise and gain good understanding in our being ‘doers’ of the Word!

ת  – Taw – His praise is enduring forever.

The Hebrew word that begins this phrase is תְּהִלָּתוֹ – ‘t’hillato’ which is from the root word תְּהִלָּה tehillah Strong’s H8416 means, ‘praise, or a song of praise’ and comes from the word הָלַל halal Strong’s H1984 which we discussed at the beginning, and means, ‘to shine; to be boastful; to be clear; to make a show; to rave; be foolish; to celebrate; praise, cheer, brag or extol, i.e., extol the greatness or excellence of a person, object or event.’

From start to ‘forever’ our boasting in our Master must endure forever!!!

The ancient script has this letter ת (Taw) pictured as , which is a picture of ‘crossed sticks’ which means ‘to seal or covenant’ or ‘mark’ or ‘sign’. This also pictures the two Houses of Yehuḏah and Yisra’ĕl being brought together as One in Messiah – the purpose for which He came! His Covenant with His Bride has been secured in His Blood and we have been sealed by the Set-Apart Spirit for the day of redemption.

This is in a nutshell a Psalm that expresses the Aleph to Taw of praise – or rather, the praise that is due to our Master, Redeemer and King, The Aleph and Taw – יהושע Messiah!!! I hope that your praise for our great and Awesome King has been stirred – stirred to be bold and stirred to be ‘good, pleasant and fitting!’.

Tehillim/Psalm 147:1 “Praise Yah! For it is good to sing praises to our Elohim. For it is pleasant – praise is fitting.”

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!

(for future reference, please see the ancient Hebrew Alphabet chart below)

Tonight I want to briefly discuss what it truly means to be a chosen people! And so in a short message tonight called, “THE CHOICE OF THE CHOSEN!” I want us to be encouraged and equipped in the Good News of us being a chosen people, and the responsibilities that come with being chosen!

I have no central or theme passage that I will be working from tonight, but will be utilising various verses from Scripture in order for us to grasp the concept of being chosen!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a set-apart people to יהוה your Elohim. יהוה your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a treasured possession above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”

This verse is referred to by Kěpha in his first letter, as he reminds us of this very fact that we are a chosen people, in:

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light, 10 who once were not a people, but now the people of Elohim; who had not obtained compassion, but now obtained compassion.”

SET-APART – CHOSEN – TREASURED POSSESSION!!!

While we all may know and be able to recite these verses, I often wonder how much we actually understand what this means and entails for us!

Once we were ‘nobodies’, and now we are not just simply a ‘somebody’, but rather, we are the chosen people of Elohim!

A people He has chosen and called out of darkness into His marvellous Light – but for what purpose some may ask?

To be a people for Himself!!!

He does not want to share us with another, and so He chose us for Himself.

So much so, that we are totally different to the world and those who still walk around in darkness, for we are a set-apart people!

The Hebrew word for ‘set-apart’ is קָדוֹשׁ qaḏosh – Strong’s H6918 meaning, ‘consecrated, set-apart’ – and a Set-Apart nation implies just what it says – we are to be in a league of our own – so different from the world that it is clearly seen!!! This can only happen if we actually hear-guard and do all Elohim has commanded us to do, without debating and reasoning why we should not – as the world does!

The Greek word for ‘set-apart’ is ἅγιος hagios – Strong’s G40 and its fundamental idea is one of ‘separation, consecration, and devotion to the service of Elohim’, sharing in Elohim’s purity and abstaining from the defilement of the flesh, by being clothed in and walking in righteousness, that is from Elohim!

To ‘consecrate’ means ‘to make or declare to be set-apart and be devoted to a purpose with the deepest irrevocable dedication’.

We as a chosen, set-apart and royal priesthood unto Elohim, declare and make our lives solely devoted to the purpose of serving and worshipping יהוה our Elohim, and as we have certainly learnt through the Torah portions of ‘drawing near’ to Elohim, that we can only do so by the Blood of Messiah as we are continually being set-apart in Him through an on-going process of being sanctified as a people for a possession.

Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 “For this is the desire of Elohim: your set-apartness! – that you should abstain from whoring, 4 that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in set-apartness and respect, 5 not in passion of lust, like the gentiles who do not know Elohim, 6 not to overstep and take advantage of his brother in this matter, because the Master is the revenger of all such, as we indeed said to you before and earnestly warned. 7 For Elohim did not call us to uncleanness, but in set-apartness.”

The Hebrew word for ‘treasured possession’ is סְגֻלָּה segullah – Strong’s H5459 meaning ‘valued possession or property’. This could also be expressed as “My uniquely valued and guarded treasure above all the nations”!

How awesome is that!!!

A hearing, guarding and doing people are the uniquely valued and guarded treasure of יהוה’s; that is to say that He holds us firmly in His hand and never takes His eyes off of us; and He guards us continually so as to never let us go, for we are extremely valued and precious to Him.

When outsiders look at us they may see it as being locked away in a box, thinking that we ‘have to do’ things that are not required by them and claim erroneously that we have lost our rights and are ‘under law’ so to speak – but it is not so – we are kept secure and safe and are a prized possession.

True overcomers in Messiah are His ‘segullah’!!!

In the Greek the word used for ‘a possession’ is περιποίησις peripoiēsis – Strong’s G4047 which means, ‘purchased possession, preservation, acquisition, peculiar, property’.

We, as a set-apart people unto Elohim, have been sealed with Set-apart Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession!

Peculiar and set-apart – that is to be completely different to the rest! How different are you to the rest of the world?

What makes us set-apart and a peculiar treasured possession, is that we have been chosen by Elohim to be His own.

The Hebrew word for ‘chosen’ is בָּחַר baḥar – Strong’s H977 and means, ‘to choose, choicest, selected, preferred’, and this word is used to express that choosing which has ultimate and eternal significance.

We see in Scripture how יהוה chooses a people, certain tribes, specific individuals, and a place for His Name; and in all these cases service and obedience is at the heart of the choosing.

Thus, יהוה chose Yisra’ĕl to be set-apart and thereby to serve as His witness among the nations.

His choosing us has eternal significance!!! His choice is forever!!!

The expected response of the chosen is loving obedience and complete commitment in uncompromised service to the One who has chosen us!

Yoḥanan/John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He might give you.”

יהושע makes it very clear to us here, in Yoḥanan/John 15, that we did not choose Him, but He chose us – and our acceptance to His choosing, implies that we understand and acknowledge our needed response, which is to obey, and in doing so, we relinquish, and forfeit, all ‘choice for self’ – simply because we accept our choosing and realise that we are no longer our own, but rather, that we belong to Him who has purchased us with His own Blood – hence, we are called The Chosen!

While this may seem fairly obvious at first glance, and it should; what we do find is that many do not recognise the consequence of their acceptance of the great choosing of Elohim upon their lives, for they simply continue to make ‘bad choices’ that render their garments defiled before the One who has chosen us and clothed us with His righteousness!

יהוה’s ‘choosing’ of Yisra’ĕl was not because of being bigger and better than other nations!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 7:7-8 “יהוה did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more numerous than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples, 8 but because of יהוה loving you, and because of Him guarding the oath which He swore to your fathers, יהוה has brought you out with a strong hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim.”

יהוה’s loving-commitment to His oath that He swore to Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq and Ya’aqoḇ is what has caused us to be a people that are ‘chosen’ in the Beloved!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 10:14-16 “See, the heavens and the heaven of heavens belong to יהוה your Elohim, also the earth with all that is in it. 15 “יהוה delighted only in your fathers, to love them. And He chose their seed after them, you above all peoples, as it is today. 16 “And you shall circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and harden your neck no more.”

Because of His great love for our fathers, He chose their seed – that is us, and because of His choosing us, He expects us to walk humbly before Him and cut away the foreskin of our heart, rolling away the reproach of wickedness and sin that breeds therein; and be stiff-necked no more!

Because of His lovingly-committed choice for us, we too must respond by making the clear choice to serve Him and cling to Him with our all:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I have called the heavens and the earth as witnesses today against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore you shall choose life, so that you live, both you and your seed, 20 to love יהוה your Elohim, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him – for He is your life and the length of your days – to dwell in the land which יהוה swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya’aqoḇ, to give them.”

We, the chosen, are called to choose life! The Torah is our life! And in choosing life, we choose to love, obey and cling to Elohim by guarding His Torah that leads us in the Way of Set-Apartness!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 32:45-47 “And when Mosheh ended speaking all these words to all Yisra’ĕl, 46 he said to them, “Set your heart on all the words with which I warn you today, so that you command your children to guard to do all the Words of this Torah. 47 “For it is not a worthless Word for you, because it is your life, and by this Word you prolong your days on the soil which you pass over the Yardĕn to possess.”

The Words of this Torah is not worthless – it is our life!

The Living Word – The Word made flesh – יהושע Messiah – is our life!!!

In Speaking of יהושע Messiah, Sha’ul tells us in:

Romiyim/Romans 10:6-7 “But the righteousness of belief speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens?’ ” – that is, to bring Messiah down; or, 7 “ ‘Who shall descend into the abyss?’ ” – that is, to bring Messiah up from the dead.”

Sha’ul was quoting from:

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.”

יהושע Messiah is the One who came down, and He is the One who came up from the dead and He has made His Word – His Torah – alive in us, in order that we, the chosen, can live set-apart lives unto Him!

יהושע Messiah is our life – and we choose Life!!!

That being said, we must recognise the clear consequences of such a choice – for by choosing יהושע Messiah, we are in fact choosing to love, obey and cling to His Torah!!!

Sadly, there are many who do not understand this, and think that they have a choice not to obey!

While Yisra’ĕl, being chosen, did not cling to יהוה and His Torah, יהוה’s loving commitment to His oath stands firm forever and after a new generation had passed over the Yardĕn, Yehoshua called for this chosen nation to make a choice, as he says in his closing speech:

Yehoshua/Joshua 24:14-15 “And now, fear יהוה, serve Him in perfection and in truth, and put away the mighty ones which your fathers served beyond the River and in Mitsrayim, and serve יהוה! 15 “And if it seems evil in your eyes to serve יהוה, choose for yourselves this day whom you are going to serve, whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But I and my house, we serve יהוה.”

The call is clear – fear יהוה and serve Him in Truth, however if you think that it is evil to do so, then choose today who you are going to serve!

The ‘choice’ to serve who you want to, is given to those who have not fully accepted the ‘choosing’ of Elohim!

For those who have fully accepted and responded to the clear ‘choosing’ of Elohim, are called to fear Him and serve Him in perfection and truth, and in that acceptance the responsibility is clear – put away all falsehood and idolatry, that leads to death!

What I am trying to make clear here is that when we have understood the clear ‘choosing’ of Elohim, there is actually no more ‘choosing’ that we get to do, when it comes to fearing and serving in perfection and truth!

In our understanding of the difference between ‘good’ and ‘evil’, we have discussed in the past that the difference between the two is the difference between being ‘functional’ or ‘dysfunctional’.

The Hebrew root word for ‘good’ is טוֹב toḇ – Strong’s H2896 and carries the meaning, ‘pleasant, good, agreeable, beautiful, to be pleasing, done well’.

In the true understanding of this word טוֹב toḇ we can see that it may best be translated in most cases as ‘functional’, for when יהוה said in Berěshith/Genesis 1:31 that when He saw all that He had made, that He said it was very good.

What He saw was His creation functioning properly and working the way it should and this is why it was ‘good’.

The opposite to טוֹב toḇ (good) is evil which is Hebrew is רַע ra – Strong’s H7451 meaning, ‘bad, evil, wicked, harmful’. The tree of knowledge in the garden was of טוֹב toḇ (good) and רַע ra (evil)!

Just as we understand that טוֹב toḇ represents that which is ‘functional’, we can then see that רַע ra represents that which is ‘dysfunctional’, which simply put speaks of that which reveals and abnormal and unhealthy lifestyle that is not functioning as it should.

We may often think something is good, yet if it is not ‘functional’ according to the plumb line of the Torah of יהוה, then we had best be careful to consider our steps!

Understanding this then further helps us grasp the reality of how so many make their own choices to do as they please, especially when true obedience and the serving of יהוה in perfection and truth is seen as dysfunctional in their eyes!!!

We have heard people say that the keeping of Sabbath ‘will not work for them’ as it is inconvenient, and therefore they choose to follow an inherited system of lies, deception and dysfunction over the Truth!

This simply reveals that they have not fully acknowledged nor accepted יהוה’s ‘choosing’!

By our acceptance of His choosing us, we by default clearly ‘choose’ to ‘pick up the Torah and guard to do it’!

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 17:40 “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose for himself five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.”

With Dawiḏ being unarmed in the world’s eyes, he went and picked up five smooth stones from the wadi and drew near to Golyath. This is a powerful picture of how we are able to be more than overcomers in Messiah, as we face great and dangerous battles on a daily basis.

We too, with the staff in our hand – symbolic of the Authority of Messiah, have by our acceptance of His redemption over our lives, chose on the day we called on Him for our deliverance, to guard to do all He has commanded us – and this is our armour in which we stand firm, being dressed in His clear instructions of righteousness, to be worn by His set-apart and chosen forever!

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.”

Tehillah/Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is righteousness forever, and Your Torah is truth.”

If righteousness is forever (which it is, as is written clearly for us), and if it is righteousness for us to guard the commands (which it is, as is written clearly for us), and the Torah is Truth (which is it, as is written clearly for us) – then we are to walk in the Torah forever!!!

How can it be done away with – sadly many have chosen to serve falsehood, for it seems evil in their eyes to serve יהוה.

Tehillim/Psalm 25:12 “Who, then, is the man that fears יהוה? He teaches him in the way he should choose.”

The one who truly fears יהוה meditates upon His Torah day and night and is taught in the way He has chosen to walk!

Dawiḏ proclaims in:

Tehillah/Psalm 119:30 “I have chosen the way of truth; Your right-rulings I have held level.”

Tehillah/Psalm 119:173 “Your hand is a help to me, for I have chosen Your orders.”

When we have firmly accepted His choosing of us, we are able to understand how His Hand is our Help and by choosing Him, we see how His right-rulings keep us level headed and able to stand firm!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Greek word for ‘chosen’ is ἐκλεκτός eklektos – Strong’s G1588 which means, ‘chosen, elect, favourite, picked out’. The Greek word for ‘called’ is κλητός klētos – Strong’s G2822 and means, ‘called, invited (to a banquet)’, and so we are able to see how the wedding invitation has gone out to many, yet as in the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, יהושע Messiah tells us how many are too busy with their own agendas, and were found not worthy. The command was then given to go and find whoever they could. The banquet was full and when the Sovereign came in, the one who was not properly dressed was thrown out!

Today, there are many who simply refuse the invitation and acceptance to the choosing of Elohim, while some hear the call, yet refuse to acknowledge the expected requirements of being dressed in Righteousness, as they have hated the instructions of Elohim and cast His words behind them – they shall be cast out – all because they ‘chose’ for themselves that serving Elohim is evil!!!

The choice of the chosen is clearly made, upon the acceptance of His choosing!

This being said, it is then very clear that our ability to choose how we are to serve is not optional. The only choice we are given after our being chosen, is to choose to serve another, if fearing and serving Elohim is evil and dysfunctional in our eyes!

I wonder how many people who claim to fear יהוה and serve Him in perfection and truth, still think that they have a choice in how they are to serve Him?

Think about it for a moment:

Being chosen, do we have a choice on ‘how’ we obey? NO!

Being chosen, can we choose to ignore His dietary requirements on what we can or cannot eat? NO!

Being chosen, can we (as men) choose to shave our beards just because we may prefer a smoother look? NO!

Being chosen, can we choose on how or when we feel like tithing? NO!

Being chosen, can we choose not to forgive others? NO!

Being chosen, can we choose not to gather on יהוה’s Appointed Times? NO!

I could go on and on, yet, what I am trying to point out here, is that by us being a set-apart, chosen and treasured possession of Elohim, we who desire to love, obey and cling to Him and serve Him with our all, have no choice in deciding whether we want to do what is commanded or not – our choice to obey was made the day we accepted His choice for us!

The choice of the chosen has been made! Have you changed your mind? Have you found yourself in a situation where you have chosen to compromise? Have you found yourself reasoning away obedience by claiming a right to make your own choices?

NOW HEAR – YOU CHOSEN SERVANTS OF יהוה – be faithful witnesses of His Truth as you guard to do all He commands us; and walk in righteousness as you walk in His Torah, meditating on it day and night; and as you walk in and stay in Him – walk as יהושע Messiah did.

He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit says! Are there any forms of idolatry in your life that needs to be destroyed? Are there some things that you have fashioned with your own thoughts and choices, only to find that you have been chasing after that which is as ‘the feeding on ashes’, and is worthless and empty? Hear the urgent call to hear the One who formed you and follow Him and serve as a chosen one should!

יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face to you and give you Shalom!

Tehillah/Psalm 120:5 “Woe to me for I have sojourned in Qĕḏar, I have dwelt among the tents of Qĕḏar!”

This verse in Tehillah/Psalm 120 is in a song of degrees that begins with the psalmist declaring how he cried out in his distress and יהוה answered him, and this is the first of 15 Psalms that are titled as ‘a song of degrees’, and are believed to have been Psalms that were sung by pilgrims as hymns of approach, as they would go up to Yerushalayim. There is certainly a great deal we can learn from the many magnificent Psalms that are able to help us identify with our sojourning here, as strangers awaiting for the Reign of the Heavens to come and be firmly established here on earth. When I read this verse I considered the wording herein and could relate to the frustration that this Psalmist, and many faithful, must have felt as they endured under intense hardships and struggles. The recognition here of the severe woe for having sojourned in Qĕḏar and having dwelt in Qĕḏar is clear, yet what is this song teaching us? Qĕḏar was situated far to the north of Yisra’ĕl, in Asia Minor by the Black Sea. This was a very long distance from Qĕḏar, which was a region of Arabian desert southeast of Yisra’ĕl! So what does this mean? Geographically, the psalmist could not have dwelt simultaneously in both of these regions that were so far apart from one another, and so herein lies a great metaphoric use of these terms in order to teach us why his situation was one of great woe!

The word translated as ‘woe’ is אוֹיָה oyah – Strong’s H190 which is a strong interjection, which is a word or phrase used in exclamation, meaning ‘woe’ and comes from the primary interjection אוֹי oy – Strong’s H188 which means, ‘woe’  and is a passionate cry of grief or despair! So what was this cry of grief and despair? The Hebrew word for ‘sojourned’ is primitive root verb גּוּר gur – Strong’s H1481 meaning, ‘to sojourn, abide, dwell, reside’, and the noun derived from this and often translated as ‘foreigner’ is גֵּר ger – Strong’s H1616 which means, ‘a sojourner, alien, immigrant, stranger’.  Kěpha appeals to us as ‘strangers and pilgrims’ to abstain from fleshly lusts which battle against our life (Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:11), and the Greek word for ‘stranger’ is πάροικος paroikos – Strong’s G3941 which means, ‘stranger, foreigner’, and is the word used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak) of this Tehillim! Living as strangers and abstaining from fleshly lusts we need to recognise the severe ‘woe’ in sojourning and dwelling in Qĕḏar and Qĕḏar. Mesheḵ – מֶשֶׁךְ  – Strong’s H4902 means, ‘drawing out’ and comes from the primitive root verb מָשַׁךְ mashaḵ – Strong’s H4900 which means, ‘to draw away, drag away, bore, deferred, delayed’, and the word Qĕḏar – קֵדָר  – Strong’s H6938 means, ‘dark’ and comes from the root verb קָדַר qaḏar – Strong’s H6937 which means, ‘to be dark, become dark, grow black, mourn, mourning’.

Why I have mentioned all these words and terms is simply to show us how we too should hear the ‘woe’ of sojourning in darkness, so to speak, and drawing out our need to walk in obedience and abstain from fleshly lusts!

When understanding this psalmists prayer for deliverance from “false lips” and “a treacherous tongue” (v2.) we can see that to say that one is living is these places is to say that the attacks he is experiencing are so severe that it feels like he is living in the midst of hostile barbarians, who have the real influence of drawing many away from pure obedience and causing the called out set-apart ones to be pressured by the darkness that surrounds them!

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Master. Walk as children of light”

We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Master – and this is what we need to be reminded of on a daily basis – that there is a severe woe for dwelling in darkness and drawing out our need to shine the light of the Truth and walking as children of light! One of the toughest things for us, as children of light, is to keep shining the light of the Truth in the darkened effect of sin and lawlessness, destruction and ruin! When bad things happen to us, we often are unable to understand or explain the ‘why’, yet we need to be encouraged to keep our lamps filled and shine as true sons and daughters of the Most High Elohim! Tonight in a message called, ‘A MESSAGE FOR THE BLESSED!’ I want to encourage us all to persevere and endure, even under the most extreme and crippling circumstances, and do our utmost in shining the Light of our Master in all we say and do!

Please turn with me to Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 45 (Read).

This chapter is a bit of a flashback from a chronological point of view, yet herein lies a very powerful and encouraging call for the blessed of Elohim to run this race that has been set before us with perseverance, for our reward in the Heavens in great!

In this chapter Baruḵ is given the assurance and promise of  יהוה’s protection, for being faithful in his service to Yirmeyahu. And here in this chapter Yirmeyahu is told to give Baruḵ a clear message – a message that he needed to hear – after all he had certainly seen a lot of suffering and pain that he and Yirmeyahu had faced for walking in the Truth of יהוה. The message to Baruḵ is contained in verses 4-5, while in verse 3 we see Baruḵ expressing his own feelings of hurt and despair, which caused the response of  יהוה being given to this blessed servant of the Most High!

Yirmeyahu – יִרְמְיָהוּ H3414 means, ‘Yahweh has appointed/Yah loosens’.

Baruḵ – בָּרוּךְStrong’s H1263 means, ‘blessed’, and he was the son of נֵרִיָּה Neriyyah – Strong’s H5374 which means, ‘lamp of Yah’.

What we are able to see here in this short and powerful chapter is that these words given to Baruḵ, are words that are also given to us – for these are the appointed words of יהוה for the blessed children of Light!

These words came in the 4^th year of Yehoyaqim, the son of Yoshiyahu. יְהוֹיָקִים Yehoyaqim – Strong’s H3079 means, ‘יהוה raises up’, and יאֹשִׁיָּהוּ Yoshiyahu – Strong’s H2977 – ‘whom יהוה heals’, and herein lies another powerful truth – for יהוה raises up those who He heals!!!

In the chronological setting here we can understand some of the frustration that Baruḵ was expressing. It was Pharaoh Neḵo that set up Yehoyaqim to reign in the place of his brother Yeho’aḥaz, who Pharaoh had taken to Mitsrayim where he died. Yehoyaqim gave Pharaoh silver and gold and exacted silver and gold from the people of the land to give to Pharaoh Neḵo. During his reign Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar sovereign of Baḇel came up, and Yehoyaqim became his servant for three years, after which he rebelled against Neḇuḵaḏnetstsar. He reigned for 11 years, after which יהוה sent against him the Chaldeans, Arameans, Mo’aḇites and Ammonites to destroy Yehuḏah and remove Yehoyaqim from His presence for all the wickedness and evil he had done according to the sins of Menashsheh.

Times were not going well for Yehuḏah at the time of this word of יהוה that was given to Baruḵ from Yirmeyahu, and Baruḵ was certainly expressing the anguish and despair he was seeing and experiencing, and in many ways he had hit a low point in his life. He had seen much corruption, wickedness and possibly even faced some terrible circumstances himself, as he had been wearied with his sighing!!!

Have you ever been tired of sighing, especially when sighing about all the terrible things you are witnessing, and even going through yourself – so much so that you have no more words to express your heartbreak and despair?

He had grown tired of moaning – have you ever felt  like this? What about when some bad stuff happens to you, or when bad stuff that might not happen directly to you, yet you face the clear effects of it!

Just like Baruḵ, many are growing tired today, tired of all the nonsense that they see and hear; tired of all the compromise; tired of all the pain and toil that they are going through; tired of what may seem to be unjust or unfair circumstances that they are facing; and tired of some of the terrible things that are happening to them! And in his great cry of woe to יהוה, יהוה answers him with a the promise of a great reward despite the harshness of the times that were upon them. In a nutshell we are able to learn, as Baruḵ did back then, that in these last days everyone is going to suffer – even the wealthy and influential – and even those who have been obedient!!! We are not to think that we shall be exempt from the harshness of the times:

Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes 9:1-2 “For all this I took to heart, even to search out all this: that the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of Elohim. No man knows whether love or hatred awaits him. 2 It is the same for all: One event to the righteous and to the wrong; to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean; and to the one slaughtering and to the one not slaughtering. As is the good one, so is the sinner; the one swearing as the one fearing an oath.”

Righteous or wrong – no man knows whether love or hatred awaits him, and while we recognise this reality we see further in this chapter:

Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes 9:8 “Let your garments be white at all times, and let your head lack no oil.”

No matter what we go through – no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in – no matter how harsh the times get – no matter how much we are wronged – no matter how unfair things may seem – we must let our garments of righteousness be white at all times and not let our heads lack oil!!! Our lamps must be filled as a ready Bride who has kept herself from fleshly lusts and the corruptions of the wickedness in the world!

Evil is coming on all flesh, yet we who guard His commands and keep ourselves from becoming defiled in the flesh, will be given the reward of eternal life, as a prize for our faithful endurance through all!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 2:18 “For in what He had suffered, Himself being tried, He is able to help those who are tried.”

What are you being tried in? Are you letting Messiah help you to stand firm and be steadfast in Him as you cling to Him?

Have you been downcast of late? In Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 7:6 Sha’ul tells us that Elohim encourages the downcast, that is – He calls to the downcast and encourages, comforts and exhorts them to continue in Him!

Galatiyim/Galatians 6:9 “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not grow weary.”

Under some intense times, יהוה was encouraging Baruḵ to be steadfast in his faithfulness, and He tells him that it was not time to seek great matters for himself – in other words it was not time for him to be seeking wealth, fame and fortune and trying to build for himself a secure and safe lifestyle – because harsh times were coming upon all – yet the reward for faithfulness is the prize of life!!!

The Hebrew word translated as ‘prize’ is שָׁלָל shalal – Strong’s H7998 which means, ‘a prey, spoil, plunder, booty’, and typically spoil, plunder or booty was received as a result of a victory over the enemy in war – so herein we see the victory we have in יהושע Messiah, our Great Husband Redeemer and King, in whom we shall have life and life abundantly, as we walk in the triumphant procession of His victory over death, so that we may enter into His rest and dwell with Him forever!

The message to the blessed children of light is clear – do not grow weary in your steadfastness!!!

In this short message, I simply wanted to inspire some much needed encouragement and hope that we, as blessed set-apart ones of Elohim, ought to be reminded of, so that we do not lose heart and grow weary with sighing due to all the wickedness and terrible things that we see and face each and every day. We live in a world that is filled with corrupt and wicked people who do bad things –and we, as blessed children of light, must live as children of light and be filled with overcoming praise, with the full assurance in our hearts of the sure and blessed hope we have in יהושע Messiah, who encourages the downcast and despairing.

Baruḵ was in many ways depressed and restless within himself and this reminds me of the words of the psalmist in:

Tehillah/Psalm 42:11 “Why are you depressed, O my being? And why are you restless within me? Wait for Elohim: for I shall yet thank Him, the deliverance of my face, and my Elohim.”

The Hebrew root word used here in this Tehillim that is translated as ‘wait’ is יָהַל yaḥal – Strong’s H3176 which means, ‘to wait, wait expectantly, have hope’ and implies the hope that is the solid ground of expectation for the righteous.

Tehillah/Psalm 147:11 “יהוה takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who wait for His kindness.”

While we can certainly see a severe ‘famine’ for the True Word in the world today, we have the sure ‘hope’ in יהוה that He shall keep us alive and deliver our beings from the grips of death, for the second death shall have no power over those who are in Messiah!

Tehillah/Psalm 37:1-3 “Do not fret because of evil-doers, do not be envious of the workers of unrighteousness. 2 For they soon wither like grass, and fade like green plants. 3 Trust in יהוה, and do good; dwell in the earth, and feed on steadfastness.”

What, if anything, has possibly caused you to be wearied with sighing, and have you found yourself in a place where you cannot seem to find that rest and shalom you show earnestly desire! Well hear the message to the blessed from our Master יהוה of Hosts and run so as to obtain the prize:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it.”

Pilipiyim/Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of Elohim in Messiah יהושע.”

Oh blessed son/daughter of Elohim Most High – be the children of light you have been called to be, and so walk in the light as He is in the light so that we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Messiah cleanse us from all sin!

THE MESSAGE FOR THE BLESSED is clear – do you hear it!

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!

Shabbat Shalom all,

As you will all know very well, that I love to dig into the meanings of the original Hebrew words, as it gives us greater insight into seeing the Word become so much more alive for us, enabling us to further understand the true life that we find in Scripture. What I also find very interesting to look at, from time to time, is not only the meaning of the words and their roots, but also digging even deeper into their ancient pictographic form, where each letter is depicted as an individual picture that, in itself, can carry some very powerful insight, especially when seeing the groupings of these picture forms being used to spell out the words we read. While there is always the danger of possibly seeing more into some words than meets the eye, what I love about the study of the ancient Hebrew words, is that we can find their substantive meaning very clear, when the witness and evidence of the text which we are reading provides for us the clear context of our interpretation of the pictographic letters. Tonight I want to show you a few names or words in Scripture, as seen in their early pictographic form. My message tonight is called, “WORD PICTURES IN THE ANCIENT SCRIPT”!

We will begin tonight by looking at Aḇram, to whom the Covenant promise of being the father of many nations was given.

Berěshith/Genesis 17: 1-7 “And it came to be when Aḇram was ninety-nine years old, that יהוה appeared to Aḇram and said to him, “I am Ěl Shaddai – walk before Me and be perfect. 2 “And I give My covenant between Me and you, and shall greatly increase you.” 3 And Aḇram fell on his face, and Elohim spoke with him, saying, 4 “As for Me, look, My covenant is with you, and you shall become a father of many nations. 5 “And no longer is your name called Aḇram, but your name shall be Aḇraham, because I shall make you a father of many nations. 6 “And I shall make you bear fruit exceedingly, and make nations of you, and sovereigns shall come from you. 7 “And I shall establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be Elohim to you and your seed after you.”

It is here that we see Aḇram’s name being changed to Aḇraham, and so I would like us to look at his name in its pictographic form:

אַבְרָם Aḇram – Strong’s H87, means, ‘exalted father’ which is pictured as:

  – this is first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is called ‘aleph’ and in the ancient script is pictured as, ‘the head of an ox’, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!

    – this is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is called ‘bet’ which in the ancient script is pictured as 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.

    – this is the letter ‘resh’- which in the ancient script is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and carries the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the chief.

    – this is the letter ‘mem’,  which in the early script 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.

The head and strength of the House, is the mighty chief

The name of Aḇraham, reveals for us, through the pictographic form of his name, just who our head and Chief of a Covenanted people is! As we read above, his name was changed from Aḇram to Aḇraham:

אַבְרָהָם Aḇraham – Strong’s H85 means, ‘father of a multitude, chief of multitude’ which is pictured with an additional letter ‘הָ’ (the letter hey), and is pictured in the ancient text as:

The extra letter that was added to his name:

     – this is the Hebrew letter ‘hey’, which in the ancient script is pictured as a ‘man standing with his arms raised out’. The Hebrew word “hey” means “behold”, as when looking at a great sight. This word can also mean “breath” or “sigh” as when one sighs in amazement when looking at a great sight. 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!

The Name of Aḇraham now reveals who our Head and Chief is!!! The Covenant of Elohim is established through the revelation of יהושע Messiah who offered Himself for all, who is the seed to which the promises were spoken to Aḇraham, and pictured through Yitsḥaq, who was offered on the slaughter place unto Elohim:

Galatiyim/Galatians 3:16 “But the promises were spoken to Aḇraham, and to his Seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Messiah.”

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 11:17-19 “By belief, Aḇraham, when he was tried, offered up Yitsḥaq, and he who had received the promises offered up his only brought-forth son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Yitsḥaq your seed shall be called,” 19 reckoning that Elohim was able to raise, even from the dead, from which he received him back, as a type.”

What is worth taking note of when considering to whom the Covenant Promises were given, and to whom they were not, we are able to recognise this clear division of those who walk according to the flesh and those who walk in the Spirit. As we look at another two names in Scripture – both who were born to Aḇraham – we are able to see one who would represent a people of the Covenant promises spoken to Aḇraham and his Seed, and one who would not. In these two names we are able to identify the fate of those who walk according to the flesh and shall die, as opposed to those who walk according to the Spirit and live:

Romiyim/Romans 8:1 “There is, then, now no condemnation to those who are in Messiah יהושע, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Romiyim/Romans 8:5-8 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the matters of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the matters of the Spirit. 6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 Because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim, for it does not subject itself to the Torah of Elohim, neither indeed is it able, 8 and those who are in the flesh are unable to please Elohim.”

Romiyim/Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live.”

Let us first look at יִשְׁמָעֵאל Yishma’ĕl – Strong’s H3458 which means, ‘El hears, my El hears, El hears me’, and in the ancient script his name is pictured as:

   – 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 letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as ‘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.

  – this is the letter ‘mem’,  which in the early script 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.

  – this is the Hebrew letter ‘ayin’, which is pictured as an ‘eye’ and carries the meaning ‘to watch, pay attention, take heed, look’ in the understanding of ‘keeping one’s eye on something’ and illustrates the importance of what one sets their eyes upon.

 – this is first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is called ‘aleph’ and in the ancient script is pictured as, ‘the head of an ox’, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!

    – 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.

When looking at Yishma’ĕl’s name in the pictographic form we can see how he represents those who walk in the flesh and despise the authority of Elohim, and in doing so their works of the flesh will see them being destroyed before Elohim!

Looking at this pictographic form the following verses becomes clear:

Berěshith/Genesis 16:11-13 “And the Messenger of יהוה said to her, “See, you are conceiving and bearing a son, and shall call his name Yishma’ĕl, because יהוה has heard your affliction. 12 “And he is to be a wild man, his hand against everyone and every one’s hand against him, and dwell over against all his brothers.” 13 And she called the Name of יהוה who spoke to her, “You are the Ěl who sees,” for she said, “Even here have I seen after Him who sees me?”

Clearly pictured in his name, is the one whose hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him – and this Elohim sees! Pictured through Yishma’ĕl, we can see the picture of strife that would come between those who walk according to the flesh and those who walk in the Spirit!

As we look at Yitsḥaq’s name, we can see the true difference of a people of the Covenant Promise:

יִצְחָק Yitsḥaq – Strong’s H3327 means, ‘He laughs’, and in the ancient script is pictured as:

   – 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 ‘tsadey’, which is pictured in the ancient script as ‘a man on his side’, and it can represent the act of lying on one’s side in order to hunt or chase, when crouching I concealment, as well as laying one’s self down for another. We can also see how this can represent that which comes forth from the side! This can also picture for us a fish hook, giving us the meaning of ‘hunt or fish’.

   – 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’.

  – this is the Hebrew letter ‘quph’, which is pictured in the ancient script as a ‘horizon’ and depicts the elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well as eternity.

The meaning of his name carries a powerful picture of how יהוה, through the work our His hands, ‘laughs at His enemies’.

Tehillim/Psalm 2:4-7 “He who is sitting in the heavens laughs, יהוה mocks at them. 5 Then He speaks to them in His wrath, And troubles them in His rage, saying, 6 “But I, I have set My Sovereign on Tsiyon, My set-apart mountain.” 7 “I inscribe for a law: יהוה has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have brought You forth.”

When we recognise that Yishma’ĕl was a man of the bow, a hunter, then Yitsḥaq’s name, as pictured in the ancient text can have a twofold meaning, depending on ‘which side of the wall’ you are on! His name could represent for us: The outstretched arm and hand of Elohim, who as a man, laid down His life in the flesh, in order to establish His Covenants of Promise, for all eternity. We who were once far off from the Covenants of Promise have been brought near by the Blood of Messiah, who was pierced in His side, and established His secure promises for us who are built up in Him. Yitsḥaq’s name can also picture for us a severe warning and rebuke for those who walk according to the flesh, as we can see that the works of the hunter shall be cut off for all time!

The life of Yitsḥaq is a clear shadow picture of יהושע Messiah, by the sacrifice that Aḇraham was asked to make of Yitsḥaq, in offering up His son to Elohim, who established His Covenant with Aḇraham and promised His blessing upon Him for not withholding his son.

Berěshith/Genesis 22:15-18 “And the Messenger of יהוה called to Aḇraham a second time from the heavens, 16 and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares יהוה, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 that I shall certainly bless you, and I shall certainly increase your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore, and let your seed possess the gate of their enemies. 18 “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

As a people who walk according to the Spirit, we are able to have full confidence in our Master, High priest and King, and are now able to faithfully serve our Master in the priestly order of Malkitseḏeq!  Malkitseḏeq was the ‘King of Shalĕm’, who Aḇraham was blessed by, and who Aḇraham paid tithes to – and is a clear shadow picture and reference to יהושע Messiah, our eternal Creator, Redeemer and King, who has no beginning or end!

This king of Shalĕm came out to the sovereigns valley to meet with Aḇram after his victory of Keḏorlaʽomer and the sovereigns who were with him, and brought Aḇram bread and wine and blessed him. מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Malkitseḏeq – Strong’s H4442 means, ‘my king is righteous’ which comes from the two words: מֶלֶךְ Meleḵ – Strong’s H4428 meaning, ‘king’ and צֶדֶק tseḏeq – Strong’s H6664 which means, ‘righteous, just, righteousness’, and so here we have a picture of Messiah – our High Priest and King who by His own blood has provided us with the True Bread and Wine which we partake of in the Pěsaḥ meal and recognise how He has delivered us from the enemies hand and defeated death at the grave, removing the curse of the Torah, which is death, and nailing it (death) to the stake!

מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Malkitseḏeq – Strong’s H4442 which means, ‘my king is righteous’, in the ancient script looks like this:

   – this is the letter ‘mem’,  which in the early script 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.

     – 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.

   – this is the Hebrew letter ‘kuph’, which is pictured as ‘an open hand’, and 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, picturing our praise to the One to whom we submit.

   – 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 ‘tsadey’, which is pictured in the ancient script as ‘a man on his side’, and it can represent the act of lying on one’s side in order to hunt or chase, when crouching I concealment, as well as laying one’s self down for another. We can also see how this can represent that which comes forth from the side! This can also picture for us a fish hook, giving us the meaning of ‘hunt or fish’.

  – this is the letter ‘dalet’- which in the ancient script 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 in terms of understanding the door of the tent of appointment as the only means of access.

  – this is the Hebrew letter ‘quph’, which is pictured in the ancient script as a ‘horizon’ and depicts the elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well as eternity.

From these 7 letters we can see how Messiah has indeed become High Priest forever in the order of Malkitseḏeq, and the individual pictures of this High Priest and King of Shalĕm can render for us the meaning of: The nations that are led by the Hand, and submit to, the One who lay down His life for us, for He is the Door to eternal life in Him! Or

The Mighty Righteous King to whom we submit and give our praise, has revealed His Outstretched Arm and Hand, and is the One who laid down His life for us, giving us access to eternal life with Him!

We, as children of the promise, are equipped to give our lives as a daily living sacrifice unto Elohim, as we faithfully submit to and walk in His commands!

Galatiyim/Galatians 4:28-31 “And we, brothers, as Yitsḥaq was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the female servant and her son, for the son of the female servant shall by no means be heir with the son of the free woman.” 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female servant but of the free woman.”

 Children of the Promise are children of the free woman – this is a clear lesson on how we walk according to the Torah of Freedom, for the it was the children of the free woman that went to Mount Sinai to receive the Covenant of Marriage from Elohim! Those who say there is no need for Torah observance, are misled in their understanding, for those without the Torah are children of the slave woman, and can never serve as a royal priesthood in the order of Malkitseḏeq.

These are just a couple of the names I wanted to show you tonight, and in closing I want to show you one more word – a word that is often dodged as a sensitive topic, yet when we understand that which Aḇraham, our father in the faith did, and look at this in its ancient pictographic form, we are able to get greater confidence and clarity on being faithful in our loving-commitment toward our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah. The word I am referring to is ‘tithes’. The Hebrew word for ‘tithes’ is מַעֲשֵׂר ma’aser – Strong’s H4643 – ‘tenth part, tithe’. We read in Berěshith/Genesis 14:20 that Aḇram gave Malkitseḏeq a tenth/tithe of all. We also read in:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 7:4-6 “Now see how great this one was, to whom even the ancestor Aḇraham gave a tenth of the choicest booty. 5 And truly, those who are of the sons of Lĕwi, who receive the priesthood, have a command to receive tithes from the people according to the Torah, that is, from their brothers, though they have come from the loins of Aḇraham, 6 however, the one whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Aḇraham, and blessed the one who held the promises.”

The Lĕwitical priesthood and its functions serve as a type or picture of how we now serve in the order of Malkitseḏeq, as tithes are still valid, and are given to those whom Messiah has appointed to serve and teach in equipping and building up of the body of Messiah unto maturity in Him. Let us look at this word in its ancient form:

מַעֲשֵׂר ma’aser – Strong’s H4643 – ‘tenth part, tithe’ in the ancient script look like:

   – this is the letter ‘mem’,  which in the early script 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.

   – this is the Hebrew letter ‘ayin’, which is pictured as an ‘eye’ and carries the meaning ‘to watch, pay attention, take heed, look’ in the understanding of ‘keeping one’s eye on something’ and illustrates the importance of what one sets their eyes upon.

   – this is the letter ‘sin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as ‘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.

    – this is the letter ‘resh’- which in the ancient script is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and carries the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the chief.

From this pictographic description of this word we can see the following:

The nations have seen the destruction of the Head/first born!

יהוה told Aḇraham that He would make him a great nation, and then asked Aḇraham to sacrifice his only son (Yitsḥaq was the ‘only son’ according to the Promise). The word for ‘tithe’ can in many ways picture Aḇraham (the great nation), seeing the destruction of the first son (the son of the promise). Understanding this picture, we can also see how the tithe can in many ways represent the act that was reciprocated by Elohim, in part, due to Aḇraham’s obedience, and so Elohim ‘gave of  Himself’ as seen in His ‘Outstretched Arm and Hand’ as revealed through the ‘firstborn of all creation’ – יהושע Messiah – The Right Hand of Elohim! At the death of Messiah on the stake, the nations saw the destruction of Elohim’s firstborn, who is the head of all creation! Aḇraham ‘tithed’ to Malkitseḏeq, after having been blessed by him, and Aḇraham’s grandson, Lĕwi, got credit for it, as he received ‘tithes’ from the rest of the nation! Bearing in mind that Lĕwi means ‘joined to’, we see how we have become a royal priesthood, having been grafted in and joined to the Body of Messiah by His own Blood, and can therefore faithfully give back to Him, our all! 

Let us therefore look at Lĕwi in the ancient script to get a better understanding of the authority under which we are led, having been joined to our Head and King, יהושע Messiah – who has, by His own blood secured for us His Covenant Promises in Him, having worked redemption through Him taking the punishment of death on a stake, having nailed death to the stake, giving all who call upon Him the ability to be joined to Him, as Head, High Priest and King, making us, who are in Him, a royal priesthood that are able to serve in Him Spirit and Truth and walk with confidence in the Spirit, putting to death the flesh!

Lĕwi – לֵוִי – Strong’s H3878 meaning, ‘joined to’, and in the ancient script looks like:

     – 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.

      – this is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as 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 form slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.

   – this is the Hebrew 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!

By the Blood of Messiah we have been joined to Him and submit under His Authority, by His securing for us as a priesthood in His Covenant, through the work of His Hand

What better reason can you think of, regarding being faithful with your tithes and offerings, than to simply understand the true work of Messiah, and how יהוה Himself came down and blessed us in giving us of Himself, causing us to be a people who have been joined to Him, and in response give your all, in complete obedience, with ‘tithes’ simply being the beginning of the active obedience to which the body of Messiah faithfully responds to!

In understanding just a few of the Word pictures we are able to dissect in the Scriptures, we can be encouraged to be a joyful people who have been called out of darkness into the Marvellous Light of our High Priest and King, and as children of the Promise who walk according to the Spirit, we can with great joy give our Father in the Heavens the praise that is due to His Name!

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!

Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:2-4 “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance. 4 And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught.”

When people hear this verse they may recognise and even acknowledge the truth of these words, yet often struggle to actually see the “counting of the trials they fall into”, as something that should be seen as “all joy”. While it is certainly true that no trial may seem pleasant at the time of the trial, what we do recognise is that as we endure through the trials we can count them as all joy, knowing that we have a sure hope of being perfected in righteousness, as we endure and are steadfast until the return of our Master and King, יהושע Messiah, when our deliverance will be made complete. We are told in:

Pilipiyim/Philippians 2:12-13 “So that, my beloved, as you always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much rather in my absence – work out your own deliverance with fear and trembling, 13 for it is Elohim who is working in you both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.”

We each have the individual responsibility of working out our own deliverance, as we walk in Messiah and obey His commands, and are not moved by trials, doubts or worries of this life! To be successfully fruitful in working out our deliverance, we need to understand how important endurance is! In a message tonight called, ‘POSSESS YOUR LIVES BY ENDURANCE!’, I want us to simply be encouraged to keep on standing firm in our complete obedience to Elohim, knowing that as we fight the good fight of our belief, that our labour in the Master shall not be in vain!

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Master, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Master.”

The title of this message came straight from a verse in Luqas/Luke 21, which simply says:

Luqas/Luke 21:19 “Possess your lives by your endurance!”

It is these words that I want to focus on in recognising how important it is for us to live in complete set-apartness with great joy, even amidst the most crippling circumstances we may find ourselves in, or even as we live set-apart lives being surrounded by the increasing wickedness and evil in the world!

It is here in this Chapter 21 of Luqas/Luke that יהושע Messiah was encouraging His Talmidim to not be alarmed at the increasing depravity and wickedness in the world, as well as not to be afraid of any persecution that might come against the faithful remnant who walk steadfast in righteousness. Let us read Luqas/Luke 21:5-36 (Read)

As we sit here and reflect on what is going on in our time, we can be more sure today that the return of יהושע is closer than ever before, and it is very interesting to see many of the signs that יהושע speaking of taking place before our very eyes. We are living in a time where people are running this way and that, and knowledge is on the increase at such an alarming rate – I mean you buy a computer today and next month or even next week it is almost old!!! What is very sobering for me is that while knowledge is on the increase, it seems harder and harder for most people to find the knowledge of יהוה our Elohim. What do I mean? Well, why is it easier to learn how to be a doctor, or to study to be a banker, or to learn more about what we would like in life, than it is to learn and study to live in Elohim and to hear His Word? It is hard for the majority to live for Elohim, when they have so much worldly stuff going on in their lives. In other words, it is hard to live for Elohim when you are living for yourself. We know the Word says that in the last days men will become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of Elohim! The desire to satisfy self increases as the desire to please Elohim decreases and I believe that as we see this happening, we need to take heed of these signs and certainly die to self and draw close to יהוה the Living Elohim – The Elohim of Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq and Yisra’ĕl! How many of you, at times, allow the desires and cares for the things of this world to become your forethought? So much so that they consume your thoughts and you become stressed out, overwhelmed and ineffective for Elohim?

I want to also ask you, how easy is it to run after Elohim when you find yourself running after the cares of the world? You can’t do it!!! Elohim said you can’t – you cannot serve two masters!!! You either run after things of the world or after Elohim, or if you find yourself stressed out, overwhelmed and chasing after things that don’t satisfy you may just miss our Master יהושע Messiah when He comes again!!! I would like for us all to hear and take heed of the words of יהושע that He was speaking to His disciples on the last days, and His instructions to them then, and to us today, as to how we are to conduct our lives in great anticipation and hope of His imminent return.

In this message that יהושע was giving to His Talmidim (disciples) shortly before the Pěsaḥ, where He would be delivered up, He encouraged them to stand firm in the Truth of His Word, and made them realise that times will get really tough and this called for endurance. The warning to be awake and watchful is clear, as יהושע said that many would come in His Name and say ‘I AM’ – we know that there is only One ‘I AM’, and those who are not sober, alert and watchful may find themselves being deceived by falsehood! With the signs of wars and fightings and earthquakes and scarcity of food and deadly diseases, all reaching greater heights than ever before, we can certainly recognise the signs of the times.

True believers will be hated because of the Name of יהושע Messiah – and this we are also seeing happening more and more! His Name declares who the true Saviour and Deliverer of Yisra’ĕl is – יהוה is our Deliverance – and because of His Name the true remnant will be hated!!! In fact there is even a hatred toward us who call upon the Name of יהוה, by the religious Pharisees of our day, who have denied that Messiah has come in the flesh, and refuse to acknowledge this fact that יהוה is the מוֹשִׁיעַ  ‘Moshiyah’. For more on this please see the article I wrote called, “YHWH our Saviour!” at:

https://atfotc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=512:yhwh-our-saviour&catid=9&Itemid=313

While it is true that some of the faithful remnant shall be put to death and delivered up to authorities, even by their own families, we see the clear promise in verse 18 that not even a hair on our head shall be lost at all. This is a clear promise of the assurance we have in our Head, our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah; and therefore we do not need to be afraid of those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the being, for our covering in Messiah gives us the promise of everlasting life where the second death has no power over those who are in Him and are raised at the first resurrection, when He comes again!

This is where we come to verse 19: POSSESS YOUR LIVES BY ENDURANCE!

The Greek word translated as ‘possess’ is κτάομαι ktaomai – Strong’s G2932 which means, ‘to possess, acquire, gain, obtain, purchase’. The Greek word translated as ‘endurance’ is ὑπομονή hupomonē – Strong’s G5281 which means, ‘a patient enduring, steadfastness, perseverance, a remaining behind’, and this word comes from the Greek word ὑπομένω hupomenō – Strong’s G5278 which means, ‘to stay behind, to await, endure’, which comes from the two words: 1) ὑπό hupo – Strong’s G5259 which means ‘under, in subjection to’, and 2) μένω menō – Strong’s G3306 and means, ‘to stay, abide, remain, stand’ – this word is the word used in Yoḥanan/John 15 where we are told to ‘stay in, remain in’ Messiah! As faithful talmidim (disciples) of Messiah, we recognise that while He ascended to the Most Set-Apart Place, where He continually intercedes for us as our High Priest, we who are here, and have ‘remained behind’, need to endure and be steadfast in staying in Him as we walk in subjection to His clear Torah. The Greek word translated as ‘lives’ is ψυχή psuchē – Strong’s G5590 which means, ‘breath, soul, heart, mind, life, being’, which is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ ‘nephesh’ H5315 which is ‘a soul, a living being, the inner being of a man’.

A more literal rendering of this verse 19 from Luqas/Luke 21 could be expressed in English as,

“In your patience/endurance you shall win your life/soul!”

Tehillim/Psalm 27:14 “Wait on יהוה, be strong, and let Him strengthen your heart! Wait, I say, on יהוה!”

The Hebrew word translated here as ‘wait’ is קָוָה  qavah – Strong’s H6960 meaning, ‘to wait for, eagerly wait, expect, hopefully waiting’ and carries the intensity of being commanded to look eagerly for the soon return of our Light, Saviour and Refuge in who we continually trust and praise and are taught by; for when we wait on יהוה our strength is renewed – and waiting on יהוה requires our active response to who He is, with great intensity.

In the LXX (Septuagint – Greek Translation of Tanak) the Greek word used here for ‘wait’ is the word we have already discussed – ὑπομένω hupomenō – Strong’s G5278 – which reflects an active endurance of running with fervency the race set before us, in complete obedience to our soon coming King!

Tehillim/Psalm 37:7-9 “Rest in יהוה, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man doing wicked devices. 8 Abstain from displeasure, and forsake wrath; do not fret, also to do evil. 9 For evil-doers are cut off; but those who wait on יהוה, they shall inherit the earth.”

יהושע continues to teach His talmidim how wicked and corrupt the world will continue to become, telling them that these are birth pains of His return, and the nearness of His reign to come. In making this very clear, He instructs us to take heed against falling for worldly matters! To take heed implies being watchful and awake, and guarding obedience so as to not fall from one’s steadfast position in the truth! Many fall from steadfastness because of compromise, as they do not take heed to themselves and watch their thoughts, words and actions, when distractions come at them from all angles! In other words – they get distracted, and as a result lose sight of living completely set-apart lives unto our Master! We must be on guard that we do not, for even a fleeting moment, get distracted from our set-apartness!

Distractions occur when we allow our hearts to become weighed down by gluttony, and drunkenness, and worries of this life! The warning against falling for these distractions are clear – the Day of יהוה will come suddenly upon those who did not take heed against such distractions!

Be awake, sober and alert, with your eyes wide open and fixed on the Truth, to ensure that you are not deceived!

The Greek word translated here as ‘gluttony’ is κραιπάλη kraipalē – Strong’s G2897 which means, ‘drunken nausea, over abundant supply, disgust caused by excess, wasteful expenditure’.

The problem that so many battle with today is the sickening need for an over abundant supply of materialistic stuff, that does not satisfy at all. This actually makes people sick, yet they are driven by the gluttonous need to have in excess, which is a clear danger for those who are not watchful and awake to the times!

You see if we are not careful, we may easily find ourselves weighed down by excess, excess of stuff – be it materialism, the need for more, never being satisfied or content, always seeking more, of stuff that doesn’t matter. This word also carries with it the understanding of having a headache or becoming sick from overindulgence! Why do we chase after stuff that just gives us headaches? If we are not watchful, we can get caught in the trap of living without hope, trying to find the next fix now. This is a warning to pay attention that we do not make ourselves sick from an unhealthy lifestyle, a lifestyle without the Word being the primary source!

The Greek word translated as ‘drunkenness’ is μέθη methē – Strong’s G3178 which means, ‘drunkenness, intoxication’, and is pretty much self-explanatory, yet the drunkenness that is also being clearly warned against here, is the maddening adulteries of the whore and here lawless teachings, for the Greek word derived from this root is the word μεθύω methuō – Strong’s G3184 which means, ‘to be drunk, get drunk’ and this word is used metaphorically in describing those who are made drunk with the wine of the great whore:

Ḥazon/Revelation 17:2 “with whom the sovereigns of the earth committed whoring, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her whoring.”

Drunkenness can lead to addiction, and addiction can become a problematic enslavement to the one caught in any such addictions, be it to the drinking of alcohol, or taking drugs, or even being addicted to materialism and hobbies that cause your focus to be shifted away from our Master, as they get weighed down with the need for more, thinking they cannot live without that which satisfies the flesh!

יהושע is saying, if you are not careful you could be weighed down by other things that will cause you to become addicted to and not have the strength to live without! Drunkenness causes one to lose focus and the capacity to think clearly – there are many things in this world that can cause us to lose focus and not think clearly about the ways of our Master and Elohim!

The Greek word translated as ‘worries’ is μέριμνα merimna – Strong’s G3308 which means, ‘cares, worries, anxieties’.

יהושע tells us in the Parable of the sower and the seed, that the worries/cares of this life choke out the word. This happens to the seed sown among thorns, which pictures those who hear the Word, but the worries of life choke it out!

The sad reality is that most of us allow anxieties to consume us and when this does, then the very Word that has been deposited gets choked out – now think about this choking  – it is not a nice experience!!! Worries choke out the good deposit. We are to be on guard and watch, and be careful for this not to happen! How many of you have worries? Just think about it, we all have bills, we have bills, bills, bills – sometimes we even dread looking in the post box. People have credit card debt that look like car loans and boy you going to work long to pay that off! You begin to panic and think about your job/work, and think:

“is it good enough? I need another job, more money, got to work harder, how can I get promoted? Will I even keep this job, what happens if I don’t make target, what if I lose my job – how am I going to…?” Sound familiar!!!

Concerns or anxieties may not be money related, and they may even be people related, which can often cause some to think things like,

“What do people think of me? Nobody takes me seriously? Nobody cares what I have to say? Nobody is interested in me?” Does that sound familiar!!!

We can often find ourselves getting so consumed with anxiety over what people may or may not think of us, and it is crazy. How about the cares of the world? You may get sucked in to seeing all the bad news or the propaganda on the news and get so caught up in fear about what is going on and how everything is a conspiracy! You see when these anxieties over money, relationships, and cares of the world etc. grip you, then you very quickly will lose sight of the hope we have in יהושע Messiah.

We are cautioned against the things that can weigh our hearts down as a result of not taking heed to be a watchful and sober remnant! In telling us this, יהושע was encouraging us to not be deceived, distracted or frightened, which comes to those who are asleep and are not growing in the Knowledge of our Master and Elohim!

Some of us may have found ourselves having been weighed down by these things in times past, and some may even be weighed down right now! Well, here יהושע gives us the clear solution to not getting trapped and weighed down by the things of the world and the hunger for that which does not last!

He tells us in verse 36 that we are to WATCH – PRAY – STAND!

WATCH

The Greek word translated as ‘watch’ is ἀγρυπνέω  agrupneō – Strong’s G69 and means, ‘to be sleepless, wakeful, alert, keep watch’ as it comes from the two Greek words: 1)  ἀγρεύω agreuō – Strong’s G64 which means, ‘to catch, take by hunting’ and ὕπνος  hupnos – Strong’s G5258 meaning ‘sleep, deep sleep’ it also carries the understanding of ‘being under, put under, in a hypnotic state’.  In fact we get our English word ‘hypnosis’ from this word. Hypnosis is a trance-like state that resembles sleep but is induced by a person whose suggestions are readily accepted by the subject!

In Greek mythology ‘Hypnos’ was the personification of sleep and was the Greek mighty one of sleep whose palace was in a dark cave there the sun never shines and at the entrance there were poppies and other hypnotic plants. The Roman equivalent to this pagan mighty one was ‘Somnus’ from which the English word ‘insomnia’ is derived – ‘in..’ meaning ‘no or to not’ and ‘somnus’ meaning sleep!

What יהושע is telling us here is to not be caught being put under a hypnotic spell of lawlessness – and we must watch out and be on guard against this at all times – do not for a moment let your mind be caught by the distractions of the worries of this age, and the deceit of riches, and the desires for other matters, which will choke out the breath of life in you and cause you to be under the hypnotic spell of lawlessness!

PRAY

Prayer – what more can I say – you cannot have a life without prayer. This word prayer here is this passage is actually plural and not singular, and so it is referring here to the body – the bride. We are to be praying for each other and with each other unto Him. Recovery from addictions is never an individual act – yes it is done by individuals but they need the whole group’s encouragement and participation in helping them press through to victory. This kind of prayer shows our need for others, and how we are to pray for each other – as we are obedient to pray through the storms and the battles, strengthening each other in prayer – for this it is vital for the body – to pray. We are to pray every day; and through the parable of the persistent widow, יהושע showed His disciples that they were to always pray and not give up! In Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 5:17 Sha’ul tells us to pray without ceasing and in Pilipiyim/Philippians 4:16 he tells us to pray about everything. Pray – Pray – Pray!!! Prayer and supplications are always to be done with thanksgiving, as we hold steadfast in our hope and trust we have in Messiah! True fervent prayer is birthed out of a true lovingly committed relationship with our Master, as we continually are engaged in speaking to Him constantly over every matter, in our own lives and the lives of our fellow believers! A strong prayer life, builds our complete trust in our Master and Elohim, and we are further equipped with His joy that strengthens us! In the battles of life we are to continually be engaged in fervent discussion with our Master, giving heed to His clear instructions for living reverently in this age, as we His sheep hear His voice and follow Him!

STAND

The Greek word used here for ‘stand’ is ἵστημι histēmi – Strong’s G2476 which means, ‘to make to stand, to stand firm, be established, stand upright, stand ready and prepared, be of a steadfast mind, to uphold and sustain the authority of something’, and is also the word used in Eph’siyim/Ephesians 6 where we are told to ‘stand’ firm in the armour of Elohim, and so we can clearly see that this ‘standing’ is an equipped standing in that the required dress code (that of righteousness – which is to guard to do all the commands) is adhered to and is functional in being a faithful set-apart priesthood that is able, as good stewards with that which He has given us, to stand before our High Priest and King – יהושע Messiah!

In light of the times in which we live, we are to take heed that we are not deceived – this means we need to spend more time getting to know the Word, and by doing this we are not to be frightened, for we know that if we stay in the Word, by guarding to do His Word, then we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free from being weighed down by worldly distractions that only enslave those who are not awake and watchful!

In Yeshayahu/Isaiah 7 when Retsin, the sovereign of Aram, came up against Yerushalayim and could not prevail against it, he set up camp in Ephrayim and when this was reported to the House of Dawiḏ, Aḥaz and the rest of the people were moved like the shaking of trees in a strong wind. Yeshayahu was sent, with his son, to go and tell Aḥaz to be calm and not fear, for that which the foreign kings had spoken against them would not stand; and in verse 9 the word of יהוה was very clear – If you do not believe you are not steadfast!!! This is a very powerful word for us today, as the same root word is used twice in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 7:9 for ‘believe’ and ‘steadfast’ – and this is the root word אָמַן  aman – Strong’s H539 which means, ‘confirm, support, be established, be faithful,, stand firm, trust, be certain, believe’.

In fact when you look closer at the tense of each, then we see the simple truth of what is being expressed here in this play on words! The word is used in the causative tense when translated as ‘believe’ which can render the meaning as, ‘to stand firm, to trust, be certain, believe in’, and the second time it is written in the passive reflexive action rendering the meaning as, ‘to be established, made firm, verified’. What we see here is that those who do not actively “possess their lives by endurance”, will not be found to be standing firm at the end!

As we carefully consider these clear words of our Master, my encouragement to you today is simply this, POSSESS YOUR LIVES BY ENDURANCE!

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!

Shabbat shalom all,

Naḥum/Nahum 1:7 “יהוה is good, as a stronghold in the day of distress. And He knows those who take refuge in Him.”

As I was reading Naḥum this week, this verse really stood out for me, as the words, “…And He knows those who take refuge in Him.”, started me thinking about these very clear and sobering words! As I began to meditate on this reality of יהוה knowing those who take refuge in Him, I started to dig a little deeper into this thought of being known by יהוה. In a brief message tonight called, “TO KNOW – AND BE KNOWN BY – יהוה!”, I simply want to look at a number of verses that should cause us to assess our own lives, on a daily basis, in order to ensure that we ‘know יהוה’ and are also ‘known by יהוה’. Today there are so many people who will loosely say words like, “He knows my heart” or, “He knows me”, when they are referring to Elohim; and more often than not, these words are usually expressed as a kind of excuse to living lawless lives when being confronted with the need to walk in the Truth and follow the Torah. Many will even say that they know Elohim, yet do they really???

The Hebrew word for ‘knows’ is יָדַע yada – Strong’s H3045 meaning, ‘to know, to acknowledge, clearly understand, to perceive, distinguish and discern’, and this verb can also render the ability to know by experience, and while we recognise that יהוה certainly ‘knows’ all things, we also realise that in terms of יהוה knowing those who take refuge in Him, or that He knows those who are His, there is a deeper intimacy being expressed by the clear experience of a faithful and fruitful relationship between the Creator and His Created beings, that follow and adhere to His clearly prescribed ways for functioning as they should, by being faithfully obedient to His instructions for living set-apart lives unto Him!

The Hebrew word used here for ‘refuge’ is חָסָה ḥasah – Strong’s H2620 which means, ‘to seek refuge, have hope, put trust in (Elohim)’, which further expresses a deeper intimate relationship of one who fully trusts in and relies upon יהוה, by holding on the sure hope of deliverance to be made complete, as they work out their deliverance with fear and trembling, by walking wholeheartedly in the clear Torah of Elohim!

יהוה chose Yisra’ĕl to be a people for Himself, not because they were more numerous that other peoples, but because of His loving-commitment to Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq and Ya’aqob with whom He established the sure Covenants of Promise! Despite this clear choosing, Yisra’ĕl continually rejected the need to walk in set-apartness, and chose to follow after the ways of the world. The nation that was chosen to be a light to the nations, did not shine the light of the Truth and as a result were unable to clearly make known to the nations who יהוה is. Despite Yisra’ĕl’s claim to ‘know’ יהוה, while they were clearly walking in rebellion to His commands, יהוה made it clear that despite their lips service, their actions proved that they did not ‘know’ Him!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 1:3-4 “An ox knows its owner and a donkey its master’s crib – Yisra’ĕl does not know, My people have not understood.” 4 Alas, sinning nation, a people loaded with crookedness, a seed of evil-doers, sons acting corruptly! They have forsaken יהוה, they have provoked the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, they went backward.”

In this rebuke given to a rebellious and apostate people, it is made clear that even an ox ‘knows’ its owner and a donkey knows its master’s crib, yet Yisra’ĕl do not know יהוה. Here this word ‘know’ is also the Hebrew word יָדַע yada – Strong’s H3045 and implies the ability to respond to and recognise the Master’s voice.

Yoḥanan/John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

To ‘know’ יהוה implies the clear ability to ‘hear’ His voice and guard to do what He commands, for then He shall know His own!!!

Tehillim/Psalm 98:2 “יהוה has made known His deliverance; His righteousness He has openly shown Before the eyes of the nations.”

יהוה has made known His deliverance!!! He has done this through His Mighty Outstretched Arm and Hand!

The Hebrew word for ‘hand’ is יָד yad – Strong’s H3027 and is a primitive root which is translated as, ‘hand, command, authority, power, tenons, side’, and the primary meaning of this noun is “the terminal part of the arm used to perform the functions of a man’s will.”. We are able to therefore understand in the Hebraic mind-set that one’s hand symbolises what one does or one’s ‘works’.

He has made known His Deliverance, and this HE made known through the flesh of יהושע Messiah, who is the Outstretched Arm and Hand of Elohim, and He is the Door, through which we enter into the fullness of knowing יהוה and being known by Him, as we, the sheep of His pasture, listen careful to the Master’s voice and follow Him in loving obedience, for He has brought us a deliverance which we are to work out with fear and trembling, as we obey His voice and guard to do all He commands!

So many today vainly claim that they ‘know’ Elohim, yet He does not ‘know’ them and they clearly do not follow Him, as they do whatever is right in their own eyes!

Tehillim/Psalm 1:6 “For יהוה knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wrong comes to naught.”

In this Tehillim, which clearly teaches us the blessing of meditating on the Torah day and night, and not walking in falsehood, it ends with the assurance of being known by יהוה as one walks in righteousness! The Hebrew word translated as ‘way’ is דֶּרֶךְ dereḵ – Strong’s H1870 which means, ‘way, road, distance, journey’ and is from the word דָּרַךְ daraḵ – Strong’s H1869 which means, ‘to tread or march’; and so speaks of our walk, and every step that we take – and our ‘ways’ we are to commit to יהוה:

Tehillim/Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to יהוה, and trust in Him, and He does it.”

As we stay in the Master and He stays in us, we are well equipped to walk even as He walked, as we meditate day and night on His Torah and guard to do all that He commands; and when we obey and walk according to His Word, our ways – that is our walk of obedient faith in the Master – please Him.

While many today claim to ‘know’ Elohim, their refusal to submit to walking in the Torah and guarding His commands, and their refusal to keep His Appointed Times, simply reveals their lack of knowledge of who Elohim is, and unless they seek Him in order to know Him and walk in Him, will sadly find themselves being rejected by the One who they thought they knew!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7: 21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. 22 “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ 23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!”

יהושע then proceeded to tell the parable of the one who ‘hears’ His Words and ‘does’ them will be a wise man who builds on the rock!!!

Repeatedly we find throughout the historical records contained in Scripture that both the Houses of Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah were often guilty of not ‘hearing’ and acknowledging their Master’s voice, but instead were feeding themselves on pagan traditions rather than the truth – which is a clear mirror image of what we see happening today by many, and more specifically by the church who operate not on the Rock of Truth but rather on the twisted application of man-made and man-driven dogmas rooted in pagan worship – those who follow false tradition over truth are those that do not know Him, and He will declare He never knew them!

We are to pursue to know His word, seeking it out and discern and rightly handle the truth:

Hoshěa/Hosea 6:3 “So let us know, let us pursue to know יהוה. His going forth is as certain as the morning. And He comes to us like the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth.”

Despite the need to continually be pursuing to ‘know’ יהוה, so many quickly turn aside to falsehood as they do not ‘know’ the right-ruling of יהוה:

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 8:7 “Even a stork in the heavens knows her appointed times. And a turtledove, and a swallow, and a thrush observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the right-ruling of יהוה.”

Yeshayahu was told to go and speak to a rebellious people:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 6:9 “And He said, “Go, and you shall say to this people, ‘Hearing, you hear, but do not understand; and seeing, you see, but do not know.’”

Hearing but not hearing, seeing but not ‘knowing’ – that is the state of so many today!

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 20:20 “And set apart My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, to know that I am יהוה your Elohim.”

This verse carries great insight for us, in that it clearly instructs us to set-apart יהוה’s Sabbaths, for that would be a sign between us and Him, in order to ‘know’ that He is יהוה our Elohim. I have often said that Sabbath is in many ways a door or entrance point in getting to know יהוה as we should, for it is on His set-apart day that we learn to know Him, as an assembled body of Messiah, that is being made ready as an adorned Bride!

Those who reject the Sabbath and its needed observance, as commanded, will never be able to ‘know’ יהוה, no matter how much they claim to ‘know’ Him!

This also reminds us, that none should simply assume to ‘know’ Him just because they understand the importance of Sabbath, while at times they compromise the set-apartness that is called for in guarding the gates on the Sabbath! By that I mean that there are some who will seemingly keep the Sabbath, yet find that they compromise by doing their own pleasures on the Sabbath before it ends!

There are also many who have ‘tasted’ the joy of proper Sabbath keeping, yet have found themselves having gone back to the dogmas of man and have sadly ended up neglecting the need to keep the Sabbath at all! This is very sad, as some begin to ‘know’ יהוה, yet in their continued pursuit of growing in their ‘knowledge’ of Him, they grow weary through the pressures of the world and turn away from pursuing to ‘know’ Him, and stop keeping the Sabbath, while erroneously assuming that they ‘know’ יהוה and are ‘known’ by Him!

Galatiyim/Galatians 4:9 “But now after you have known Elohim, or rather are known by Elohim, how do you turn again to the weak and poor elementary matters, to which you wish to be enslaved again?”

When we guard to do what He commands and walk in righteousness we have the assurance of being known by Elohim:

Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 2:19 “However, the solid foundation of Elohim stands firm, having this seal, “יהוה knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the Name of Messiah turn away from unrighteous-ness.”

To ‘name the Name of Messiah’ carries with it the clear responsibility of turning away from unrighteousness! There are some today who may even name the True Name of Messiah, yet their lives reveal that they have not turned away from unrighteousness, as they ignore the need to guard His commands. The other day we went into a shopping mall and were walking behind a couple, only to be shocked by what we saw! On the back of the ladies neck was a tattoo with the Name of Elohim in Hebrew lettering, as follows: רפה יהוה – YHWH Rapha, which renders that יהוה is Healer! I found this disturbing that someone would tattoo the Name of the Creator on their body, when the clear command in the Torah is to not put tattoo marks on our bodies (Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19:28). No while many may assume that this has been done in ignorance, we need to first recognise that this person has obviously discovered the Name of Elohim and actually seen it in the Hebrew font, yet in their vain attempt at trying to show that they think they ‘’know’ Elohim, the fact that they tattoo their body with His Name clearly shows that they do not know Him!

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3-5 “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. 4 The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 8:3 “But if anyone loves Elohim, this one is known by Him.”

To love Elohim, gives us the sure promise that we are known by Him! Sadly many do not ‘know’ what love for Elohim is:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:3 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy”

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:8 “The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love.”

The Greek word used for ‘know’ in Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John is γινώσκω ginōskō – Strong’s G1097 which means, ‘to perceive, to learn, to come to know, comprehend, understand, recognise, learn to know, get a knowledge of’. As we sit under the instructions of our Creator and Redeemer, we learn to know Him and get a knowledge of who He is and come to know how we are to live in obedience to His clear Torah. There are so many liars out there today who claim to know Elohim, yet they have no knowledge of His Torah at all, as they refuse to sit and learn His Word – how can they know Him!!! It is one thing to claim that you know Him, yet whether we know Him or not is seen in the fruit of our obedience to His commands, and all will be clearly revealed when He returns – as many will come running claiming they know Him, yet will be rejected!

Those who ‘know’ יהוה, by pursuing to know Him, and are guarding His commands in living completely set-apart lives, are known by Him. Aḇraham was ‘known’ by יהוה, because of his obedience in training up his children in righteousness:

Berěshith/Genesis 18:19 “For I have known him, so that he commands his children and his household after him, to guard the way of יהוה, to do righteousness and right-ruling, so that יהוה brings to Aḇraham what He has spoken to him.”

I submit to you that just as I have already mentioned that the Sabbath is a door to ‘knowing’ יהוה, yet without ‘knowing’ His Name, we cannot pursue to ‘know’ Him! It was the revelation of His Name to Yisra’ĕl in Mitsrayim that caused them to ‘know’ the Elohim of their deliverance! In Mosheh’s discussion with Elohim, he was told in:

Shemoth/Exodus 6:3 “And I appeared to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya’aqoḇ, as Ěl Shaddai. And by My Name, יהוה, was I not known to them?”

Here יהוה made it clear that He was known to Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq and Ya’aqoḇ by His Name! And it was the revelation of His Name that would cause them to call on the only Name that saves, for everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה shall be delivered!

There are so many who claim to ‘know’ Elohim, yet they do not even know His Name, and they refuse to receive Him by His Name:

Yoḥanan/John 5:43 “I have come in My Father’s Name and you do not receive Me, if another comes in his own name, him you would receive.”

יהושע came in the Father’s Name, for His Name means, יהוה is our deliverer/ יהוה is Salvation!

So many refuse to receive Him and walk as He commands, yet they receive another false messiah who comes in his own name and according to tradition, preaches and proclaims lawlessness!

Many today make their vain boasting in their assumed wisdom and their assumed understanding of Scripture, yet their boasting is in vain, as their rejection of the need to walk in the Torah and call upon, praise and proclaim the Name of יהוה, shows that they do not ‘know’ Him:

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 9:24 “but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am יהוה, doing kindness, right-ruling, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” declares יהוה.”

יהוה delights in righteousness and right-ruling (in the earth), and so should we who make our boast in Him, who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light, as we understand and know Him through the clear obedience of guarding His commands and living set-apart lives!

Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 “For this is the desire of Elohim: your set-apartness! – that you should abstain from whoring, 4 that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in set-apartness and respect, 5 not in passion of lust, like the gentiles who do not know Elohim”

We are clay vessels, that have through the Blood of Messiah been made into vessels unto value in the House, as we continue to serve Him and His body in complete set-apartness!

We are to continually possess our vessels in set-apartness, lest we find ourselves in the place where we are found to not have ‘known’ Elohim, for the fate of those who do not know Him is clear:

Tas’loniqim Bět/2 Thessalonians 1:8 “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know Elohim, and on those who do not obey the Good News of our Master יהושע Messiah”

So many profess to know Elohim, but in their works they deny Him!!! Their works are works of falsehood and lies that have been handed down through vain traditions and dogmas of man

Titos/Titus 1:16 “They profess to know Elohim, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”

In commissioning His Talmidim (disciples) to go to the lost sheep of Yisra’ĕl and proclaim the Kingdom reign in Mattithyahu/Matthew 10, יהושע was instructing them on how they ought to go in courage and complete trust in Him, and that while they would be hated for His Name’s sake, they should not fear man, and He warned them that if they denied Him before men would be denied before the Father who is in the heavens. Sha’ul tells us in Timotiyos Bět/ 2Timothy 2:12 that if we endure, we shall reign with Messiah, however if we deny Him, He will deny us!!!

To endure and not deny Him, implies that we ‘know’ Him and walk in His Word and obey His Torah and proclaim His Kingdom Reign. To disregard the need to hear-guard and do His commands and walk according to His Torah and keep His Sabbaths and Appointed Times will receive the clear rebuke and rejection of not having been known by Him, as I mentioned earlier from Mattithyahu/Matthew 7!

We shall be known by our fruit! Does the fruit of your life reflect the clear message of one who ‘knows; Elohim and as one who is ‘known’ by Elohim?

As we consider the need – TO KNOW – AND BE KNOWN BY – יהוה – may this brief message cause you to daily consider your ways, that you may truly be found to know Him and be known by Him.

In this call to pursue to ‘know Elohim’ let us hold fast to the sure hope of being ‘known by Him’, as we diligently guard to do all He commanded us to do and express our true loving commitment in living set-apart lives unto Him who calls us to ‘know Him’. So when you are asked, or even ask yourself on a daily basis, ‘Do I know, and am I known by יהוה?’ may you consider carefully your how you live, and make your bold and confident confession of יהוה our Elohim – as you let your life declare your knowledge of Him, with the full assurance of being known by Him!

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; and may He take great pleasure in you as you walk in the fear of Him, eagerly awaiting His return!

As we continue to stay in our Master, יהושע Messiah, through our loving-commitment in guarding to do all He has commanded us, we have the full assurance that He will stay in us, enabling us to bear much fruit. All through Scripture we are given repeated metaphoric pictures of trees and their fruit, that can either relate to the life of one who is a true servant of the Most High, or to one who is not! We are clearly told that each tree is known by its own fruit! Being firmly grafted into יהושע Messiah, and firmly planted in Him, we are to guard our lives from being cut off, by walking in and bearing the peaceable fruit of righteousness; and Scripture is very clear on what righteousness is for us:

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.”

When יהושע Messiah came, He proclaimed the clear Besorah of His mission as outlined in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 61 – for He came to bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim release to prisoners , proclaim the acceptable year of יהוה. This Messiah read from the scroll of Yeshayahu and He stopped midway and rolled up the scroll and gave it back. That which He did not read was the purpose for His first coming… for when He comes again the rest of Yeshayahu/Isaiah 61 will be fulfilled, when He comes in the day of the vengeance of our Elohim, and comfort all who mourn. In verse 3 we are given the sure promise of those who guard His Word:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 61:3 “to appoint unto those who mourn in Tsiyon: to give them embellishment for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. And they shall be called trees of righteousness, a planting of יהוה, to be adorned.”

What I want to highlight here, for purposes of tonight’s message is that we shall be called ‘trees of righteousness, a planting of YHWH, to be adorned’! In a message tonight called, “TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!”, I would like to dig a little deeper into the picture of us being rooted in, and built up in our Master יהושע Messiah, and assess whether or not we are in fact bearing the true fruit of righteousness that we have been called to do! To do this I will be taking a closer look at the Terebinth tree that we often see in Scripture and learn from the various locations that are attached to the Terebinth, and their locations and events that took place near or by them.

The word ‘terebinth’ is used in the ISR Scriptures 1998 translation 23 times, being translated from 3 different Hebrew words that have very similar meaning. The first times that we find the word ‘terebinth’ is in:

Berěshith/Genesis 12:6 “And Aḇram passed through the land to the place of Sheḵem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. At that time the Kenaʽanites were in the land.”

This is translated as ‘terebinth’ 9 times from the Hebrew word אֵלוֹן eylon – Strong’s H436 which means, ‘terebinth, oak, mighty’, which is prolonged from אַיִל ayil – Strong’s H352 which means, ‘terebinth, chief, pillar, door post, ram’.

The other word that is translated as ‘terebinth’ 13 times is אֵלָה eylah – Strong’s H424 which also means, ‘terebinth, oak’ and is the feminine of אַיִל ayil. While some may debate whether these words mean, terebinth or oak, what we recognise from Scripture is that these Hebrew words give clear reference to a very strong and very durable tree, that has a sturdy structure as well as an extensive root system that enables the tree to remain green, even during a drought! This strong tree is known to grow up to 12m high and due to its root system can sprout up from a stump after having been cut down which, as we will see, is used as a picture in Scripture!

In Yeshayahu/Isaiah 61:3, as quoted above, the Hebrew word translated as ‘trees’ is אַיִל ayil – Strong’s H352, and the Hebrew word translated as ‘righteousness’ is צֶדֶק tseḏeq – Strong’s H6664 which means, ‘righteous, just, righteousness’. The word translated as ‘planting’ is מַטָּע matta – Strong’s H4302 which means, ‘a place or act of planting, plantation, where it was planted’, and comes from the root verb נָטַע nata – Strong’s H5193 which means, ‘to plant, establish, fix, fasten’. When Messiah comes again and His reign is established here in earth, we who are in Him, shall be firmly planted and called trees of righteousness! As ambassadors of the Kingdom to come, we recognise how we are to be firmly planted in His word as strong trees of righteousness. In Scripture we find many agricultural word pictures that are used to describe man, and Dawiḏ tells us what the faithful, who meditate on the Torah day and night, will be like:

Tehillim/Psalm 1:3 “For he shall be as a tree planted by the rivers of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither, and whatever he does prospers.”

In this verse the Hebrew word translated as ‘tree’ is עֵץ ets – Strong’s H6086 meaning, ‘trees, wood , timber, staff’, which is primarily the basic term in Scripture for trees and wood products. While this is the most common word for trees, we see how the picture or reference to man, as metaphorically referred to as trees, gives us insight into how we, as righteous trees in the field of the world, ought to be praising Elohim and bringing esteem to Him in all we do:

Tehillim/Psalm 96:12-13 “Let the field exult, and all that is in it. Let all the trees of the forest then shout for joy, 13 at the presence of יהוה. For He shall come, for He shall come to judge the earth. He judges the world in righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.”

Tehillim/Psalm 104:16 “The trees of יהוה are satisfied, The cedars of Leḇanon which He planted”

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who cling to her:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 3:18 “She is a tree of life to those taking hold of her, and blessed are all who retain her.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is winning lives is wise.”

The goal of our faith is the deliverance of lives and as we walk in righteousness, we are able to bear the fruit of winning the lost, as we proclaim and present to them, through our own lives, pure and true righteousness and obedience to the Word!

The Hebrew word used here for ‘planted’ is שָׁתַל shathal- Strong’s H8362 which means, ‘to transplant, planted’, which in itself carries a great picture for us in understanding the great and mighty work of our Master, who ‘transplants’ us into His Pure root, after having been far off due to sin! This word is used 10 times in Scripture, and once again pictures for us the effect of being firmly rooted and grounded in love, which is being rooted in Messiah and guarding to do all He commands as a pure expression of our love for Him!

Tehillim/Psalm 92:13 “Those who are planted in the House of יהוה flourish in the courts of our Elohim.”

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in יהוה, and whose trust is יהוה. 8 “For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and does not see when heat comes. And his leaf shall be green, and in the year of drought he is not anxious, nor does he cease from yielding fruit.”

Our continued trust in יהוה causes us to be ‘transplanted’ into His satisfying root system, and be able to sustain the pressures of the heat of trials that blow across our lives!

Yisra’ĕl was planted in a good land, and positioned to bear much fruit and shine the light of the Truth of Elohim to the nations, yet they failed to do this:

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 17:8 “It was planted in a good field by many waters, to bring forth branches, and to bear fruit, to be a splendid vine.”

This was part of a stern rebuke to a rebellious House that had neglected to stay rooted in love!

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 17:10 “See, it is planted, is it going to thrive? Would it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it – wither in the beds where it grows?”

In יהוה’s loving-commitment to His Covenant, He promises to ‘transplant’ a remnant of the rebellious House that withered under the heat of persecutions, temptations and trials:

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 17:22-23 “Thus said the Master יהוה, “And I shall take of the top of the highest cedar and set it out. And I Myself shall pluck off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23 On the mountain height of Yisra’ĕl I plant it. And it shall bring forth branches, and bear fruit, and become a big cedar. And under it shall dwell birds of every sort, in the shadow of its branches they shall dwell.”

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 19:10 “Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the waters, a bearer of fruit and branching, because of many waters.”

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 19:13 “And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.”

A nation who had been delivered from bondage out of Mitsrayim, and planted in a good land, rebelled and as a result were plucked out and planted in the Wilderness!

 What we can learn from these passages I have mentioned is that we must do our utmost in ensuring that we continue to meditate on the Torah of Elohim, day and night, and walk not in wrong counsels, as we guard to do all He commands, lest we find ourselves being cut off due to unrighteousness and compromise.

Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:13 “But He answering, said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be uprooted.”

This was in response to the hypocritical Pharisees who accused the talmidim (disciples) of Messiah of breaking the traditions of the elders and not washing their hands before eating! יהושע was making it clear here that those who hold fast to traditions and forsake the commands of Elohim are those who put on an outward show and draw near to Elohim with their lips, yet their hearts are far from Him, and teach as teachings the commands of men. These hypocrites are not the righteous ones, and they will be uprooted!

The picture of being firmly rooted trees is a vital and very practical lesson for us to understand in guarding our obedience to Elohim. I would now like us to look a little deeper at the Hebrew words that I have already mentioned, and are translated as ‘terebinth’ or ‘oak’, in order to help us recognise how we are to be true trees of righteousness, as we look at the locations of these specifically mentioned Terebinth trees:

I have already mentioned the first reference to a terebinth tree, which was in Berěshith/Genesis 12:6.

This was where יהוה appeared to Aḇram! יהוה physically made Himself visible to Aḇram at this terebinth tree, which was at ‘Moreh’ – מוֹרֶה Moreh – Strong’s H4176 means, ‘teacher’, and it was here at this Mighty Tree that Aḇram met His Teacher :

Iyoḇ/Job 36:22 “See, Ěl is exalted by His power; who is a Teacher like Him?”

The term ‘Moreh’ is used 3 times in Scripture; the other times we see this word being used is when Mosheh was  giving reference to Yisra’ĕl of this very location where Aḇram had met יהוה, as a marker of where they would proclaim the blessing and curses on Mount Gerizim and Ěyḇal, when they had crossed the Yardĕn! (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 11:30). This also can remind us that we, who have ‘crossed over’, and understand the clear blessings and curses of Scripture will keep our eyes on our Good Teacher and Master, יהושע Messiah:

Yoḥanan/John 13:13 “You call me Teacher and Master, and you say well, for I am.”

The 3^rd time we see this word מוֹרֶה Moreh being used is in Shophetim/Judges 7:1, when Giḏ’on was encamped at the

fountain of Ḥaroḏ, while Miḏyan was on the north of them, by the hill of Moreh. Ḥaroḏ comes from the root word חָרַד ḥarad – Strong’s H2729 which means, ‘trembling, to be terrified, frightened, afraid’. This in itself carries a great encouragement for us, especially when we understand the full story of Giḏ’on, who overcame huge terrifying obstacles and frightening enemies, as he fixed his eyes and trust on יהוה. Here we recognise that in the face of danger and terrifying circumstances, which in Scripture is often represented as coming from the north, we are able to face the battles and struggles as long as we have the hill of Moreh in our sights – meaning that we have our eyes on our Mighty Teacher and His clear instructions that gives us confidence and faith to stand and fight the good fight of faith!

We have a Teacher of Righteousness – and as good, faithful students we must take careful heed to hear, guard and do all He teaches us through His Word – then we will be equipped to face the tough battles in life!

The second place we see a reference being made to a ‘terebinth tree’ is at מַמְרֵא Mamrĕ – Strong’s H4471 which means, ‘strength or fatness’. This word is used 10 times and was the location where Aḇram moved to and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ, which was in Ḥeḇron, and it was here that he also built an altar to יהוה. Mamrĕ was an Ammonite who had made a covenant with Aḇram. It was here that we see in Berěshith/Genesis 18:1 that יהוה once again physically made Himself visible and appeared to Aḇraham. Aḇraham was ‘sitting’ at the ‘tent door’ of his tent  by the terebinth trees of Mamrĕ; and the root word used for ‘sitting’ is יָשַׁב  yashaḇ – Strong’s H3427 meaning, ‘sit, dwell, remain, abide, inhabit, sitting still’ and a modern word derived from this word, which is translated as ‘school’, is ‘yeshiva’. And ‘sitting/ dwelling’ in the Hebraic mind-set is an idiom for learning; and it is at the Master’s Feet that we come and sit and drink of His Pure and Clear Living Water and get great clarity and insight and strength to sojourn with joy! The idea of sitting in the Hebrew mind-set is to learn, and not to simply sit and vegetate, but rather sit and pay attention to the instructions of their teacher. Aḇraham is clearly pictured for us as a great example of a man who meditated on the Word day and night and was so focused on the Master יהוה, making himself readily available for יהוה to make Himself visible to His faithful servant and friend! It was here that Aḇraham ate a meal with יהוה and two Messengers, just before judgement over Seḏom and Amorah was passed and delivered!

This location also gives us great insight in understanding our need to be attentive students of our Mighty Teacher, יהושע Messiah, and love to come together on His Sabbaths, in order to sit and learn and be strengthened in His Word that leads us in righteousness, and enjoy the fellowship of a good meal too! It is when we gather, as diligent talmidim, that He makes Himself visible to us through His Word and strengthens us as we grow in our knowledge and understanding of who He is.

This was also the place where Yitsḥaq dwelt, when Ya’aqob came to him before he died at 180 years of age. (Berěshith/Genesis 35:27-28)

Moreh = Teacher and Mamrĕ = Strength – for it is as we submit to our Good Teacher and fix our eyes on Him and submit to hearing, guarding and doing His Word, that we are equipped to stand and fight, as His joy strengthens us and renews us!

The third location that we see in Scripture being ‘marked’ by a ‘terebinth tree’ is צַעֲנַנִּים Tsa’ananniym – Strong’s H6815 which means, ‘removings’, and is the plural of the word צָעַן tsa’an – Strong’s H6813 which means, ‘to wander, travel, taken down’.

It is in Yehoshua/Joshua 19:33 where we are told that this place formed part of the borders of Naphtali – נַפְתָּלִי  – Strong’s H5321 – whose name means, ‘wrestling’. This place is also used in Shophetim/Judges 4:11 where Ḥeḇer, of the children of the father-in-law of Mosheh, had come to after separating himself from the Qĕynites, before Baraq and Deborah went up and destroyed Sisera. This terebinth at צַעֲנַנִּים Tsa’ananniym was beside קֶדֶשׁ Qedesh – Strong’s H6843 which means, ‘set-apart place’. What we can learn from this terebinth tree location is that, we who have been called out of darkness and are a set-apart people of Elohim, will recognise how we have all wrestled with the removal of our old ways, and all the vain inherited traditions and lies. Therefore, as we live set-apart lives, we must remove all falsehood and compromise, in order to truly live set-apart lives unto our Mighty Teacher and Master!

The 4^th place we find a terebinth tree being mentioned as a key marker or location is at שְׁכֶם Sheḵem – Strong’s H7927 which means, ‘back or shoulder’. It was here at Sheḵem that Ya’aqoḇ dug a well – the well where יהושע met the Shomeroni woman and so opened the door for the return of the lost sheep of Yisra’ĕl!

It was also here at the terebinth at Sheḵem that the masters of Sheḵem set up Aḇimeleḵ, the son of Giḏ’on, as their king, after he had killed his 70 brothers! (Shophetim/Judges 9:6).

It was also here at Sheḵem that Ya’aqob buried the idols under the terebinth tree. A very eventful place indeed, one that typically presents to us the clear choice of who we will serve and follow. יהושע Messiah is our Master, Teacher and King and the rule is on His shoulders, yet Sheḵem teaches us that there is always a false system and rule that many sadly choose to follow. After Aḇimeleḵ was set up as king of Sheḵem, Yotham went and proclaimed a clear parable of trees from Mount Gerizim as a witness against the leaders at Sheḵem. Aḇimeleḵ ruled Yisra’ĕl for 3 years, after which he was killed when a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and crushed his skull. He then asked his armour bearer to kill him, lest it would be said a woman killed him – and so Elohim repaid Aḇimeleḵ for the evil of killing the 70 sons of Giḏ’on. Why I am sharing this with you is simply to show how the enemy will certainly have a way of getting many to follow him, and with the 70 sons of Giḏ’on being killed by him, we are given a picture of how the enemy has done his utmost to defile the nations, yet shall be destroyed at the end. 70 is a significant number in representing the fullness of the nations, as we are reminded that generations of Noaḥ’s sons, after the flood, were 70 in number; and we are also reminded how it was 70 elders who ate a meal on Mount Sinai with יהוה when the Covenant was given to the chosen and called out nation, who were to be a light to the nations. יהושע Messiah also sent out the 70 taught ones, two by two, ahead of Him into every city and place where He was about to go, so that they would ‘prepare the way’ as they went  to go and proclaim the Besorah of His Kingdom, which is another picture of how we as faithful talmidim and pure trees of righteousness, are called to go and prepare the way for His soon return, and proclaim the Besorah of His Kingdom!

We must choose to follow the Righteous King, by guarding His Word and bearing each other’s burdens on our shoulders, and so fulfil the Torah!

There was another ‘terebinth tree’ in Sheḵem that is mentioned in Shophetim/Judges 9:37, and was a place where witchcraft was performed and sought after. In the Scriptures we are told that the people were coming from the ‘Diviners terebinth tree’. The Hebrew word for ‘diviners’ is מְעוֹנְנִים –‘meon’niym’ – which is the plural of the word עָנַן anan – H6049 meaning ‘fortune telling, soothsaying, magicians, practising witchcraft’ as well as ‘to make something appear or to cloud over and act covertly and observe times of witchcraft’.

This is a lesson for us that we are to not allow any form of witchcraft or magic in our lives, for as we live in the world we are not of the world and must not follow after the world’s ways, as this has not been appointed for us:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 18:13-14 “Be perfect before יהוה your Elohim, 14 for these nations whom you are possessing do listen to those using magic and to diviners. But as for you, יהוה your Elohim has not appointed such for you.”

Miḵah/Micah 5:12 “And I shall cut off witchcrafts out of your hand, and let you have no magicians.”

The 5^th site I want to highlight for you in terms of the location of a terebinth tree being mentioned is at Ophrah:

Shophetim/Judges 6:11 “And the Messenger of יהוה came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Yo’ash the Aḇiʽezerite, while his son Giḏ’on threshed wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the eyes of the Miḏyanites.”

גִּדְעוֹן Giḏ’on – Strong’s H1439 means, ‘hewer, one who chops down’, and he certainly was a very courageous man who chopped down and destroyed the abominable Asherah pole and  altar of Ba’al that his father had.

It was here at the terebinth tree in Ophrah, where Giḏ’on lived, that the Messenger of יהוה appeared to Giḏ’on and called him a mighty brave one. Giḏ’on, of course, engaged in a discussion with the Messenger of יהוה, and discussed his doubts and fears, and challenged Him by asking that if יהוה was with them, then why were bad things happening to them, as they had been suffering under the oppression of the Miḏyanites. Giḏ’on is told to go in his strength, for he would save Yisra’ĕl, and he responds with the fact that he was just a small guy from Menashsheh, and was the least in his father’s house. With these physical facts, in his own eyes, of him being the smallest in his father’s house, he asked the Messenger of יהוה how he was to or with what he would save Yisra’ĕl – and the answer was very simple and yet very clear – He would do so because יהוה was with him!!! Because יהוה was with him he would destroy the Miḏyanites, as one man! This is a very practical truth we all need to hear amidst the most daunting circumstances in our lives!!! If יהוה is with us, then we have the full assurance of walking in victory! Giḏ’on still finding this a little hard to take in, he asks for a sign and then proceeds to prepare an offering for יהוה. Giḏ’on was told to put the meat and bread on the rock and pour out the broth, which he did, and the Messenger of יהוה touched the meat and unleavened bread with His staff and fire went up from out of the rock and consumed the offering, and the Messenger of יהוה went from his sight. In total awe of having seen the Messenger of יהוה face to face, he feared that he would die, and he was told to take courage for he would not die; and then Giḏ’on built an altar there and called it יהוה Shalom. This was certainly a mighty event that took place under a terebinth tree! We can see great picture of Pěsaḥ being given here, through the offering that he prepared and set on the rock, and we are also able to see how we too can be filled with the Shalom of יהוה, as He lifts His face up to us and gives us His Shalom when we prepare our hearts to seek Him and walk in His clear word, accepting His work of redemption and guard to keep his Appointed Times as instructed. The Shalom of יהוה enables us to stand firm in the face of great dangers, as we offer up our lives as a daily living sacrifice and give Him our all – for then we too would be strong and courageous to chop down those things that are abominable in יהוה’s eyes – and have the courage to tear down the lies and vain traditions of our fathers!

The 6^th location of a terebinth tree that I want to mention is at תָּבוֹר Taḇor – Strong’s H8396 which means, ‘mound’.

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 10:3 “And you shall pass on from there, and beyond, and shall come to the terebinth tree of Taḇor. And three men going up to Elohim at Bĕyth Ěl shall find you there, one bearing three young goats, another bearing three loaves of bread, and another bearing a skin of wine.”

After having anointed Sha’ul as king, Shemuʼĕl told Sha’ul that he would be met at the terebinth tree by three men who were on their way to Bĕyth Ĕl, and he was to receive from them 3 goats, 3 loaves of bread and wine – which is another picture of the cycles of the Feasts of יהוה, that confirms our calling and identity in our True King! This was a confirmation of the prophesy of Shemuʼěl to Sha’ul, and it was after this event that Sha’ul received the Spirit of Elohim. Later we know that the Spirit departed from Sha’ul because of his rebellion and disobedience. This location can therefore clearly picture for us the vital need for us to be guarding the Sabbaths and Feasts of יהוה, lest we find ourselves without His Spirit dwelling in us! With the 3 men having 3 goats, 3 loaves of bread and a skin if wine, we are quickly reminded how the metaphoric picture behind these 3 men and their gifts of provision point us toward the ‘3 times a year’ every male was to go up to Yerushalayim and perform the Festivals of יהוה! This reminds us how important it is for us, in guarding the sure promise of the hope we have in Messiah, that we are to keep His Feasts with joy! The location of this terebinth tree also gives us the assurance of the providence of יהוה and the urgency with which we must guard His Appointed Times and not take our set-apart calling for granted.

In Scripture we also are told that Aḇshalom’s head got caught in a great terebinth tree, and Yo’aḇ thrust 3 spears through his heart while he was still hanging alive in the terebinth tree (Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 18)

We are also told of the young prophet who had gone and delivered a strong message of rebuke to Yaroḇ’am, and then went on his way as instructed by Elohim. He stopped off and rested under a terebinth tree on his way home, where he was enticed into breaking the clear instructions of Elohim, through the trickery of twisted words of a false prophet, which ultimately got him to be mauled by a lion! (Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 13) – for more on this event please see my sermon called, “A KING, 2 PROPHETS, A LION AND A DONKEY!” (under sermons 2013 on our website)

What we can learn from this Terebinth tree is that we must be sober and alert, for the enemy is like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour! This young prophet was tired and weary and had stopped to rest under a terebinth tree; and here we can be cautioned in regards to our ‘resting’ in our Master!  When we are tired and weary, that is when we need to be on the highest alert, and not neglect our ‘entering into the true rest of our Master’, as we do not neglect the gathering of the set-apart ones as some are in the habit of doing, due to weariness and tiredness! When we are tired and weary we must do our utmost to be gathering, lest we find ourselves being led astray in a moment of weakness!

We are called to be set-apart and planted as tree of righteousness whose leaves do not fade when the heat comes. When compromise and disobedience creeps in, the tree begins to fade as the fruit of righteousness begins to becomes less and less, until there is not fruit – and this was the rebuke given to a rebellious Yisra’ĕl in:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 1:30 “For you shall be as a terebinth whose leaf fades, and as a garden that has no water.”

Compromise and any form of idol worship will cause the source of your strength to fade and be proven wrong when the heat comes! The sad tragedy is that for so many who do not realise that they are fading because the heat has not come, will find that when the heat comes, it will be too late to repent!

יהוה does give us assurance of a faithful remnant that shall return like a terebinth that has been cut down, with only a stump that remains – for the set-apart seed is its stump – and Messiah has restored life to the root!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 6:13 “But still, there is a tenth part in it, and it shall again be for a burning, like a terebinth tree and like an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. The set-apart seed is its stump!”

Trees were often places of significance to the ways and practices of the abominable worship rites of the nations and יהוה makes it clear that all idol worship will be destroyed! Today the world worships the Christmas tree – and this too will be destroyed:

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 6:13 “And you shall know that I am יהוה, when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols.”

Sadly we find that many find comfort in the ‘shade’ of their false trees, and in the process are simply whoring after idols:

Hoshěa/Hosea 4:13 “They slaughter on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills, under oak and poplars and terebinth, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit whoring, and your brides commit adultery.”

While we recognise some very significant events that take place under or around a terebinth tree, we also recognise that there is also the clear danger of following after strange mighty ones, which are not mighty ones at all, yet through traditions and lies, have caused many to seek their refuge, strength and shelter under the trees of falsehood, as they are rooted in nothing more than shallow dogmas of man, that will prove false when the heat of the wrath of  יהוה comes!

When the fire of His wrath does come, those who are truly planted in יהושע Messiah and remain in Him, will find their continued strength from Him and their leaves and covering will not fade when His heat comes upon the sons of disobedience!

As we consider the analogy of trees in Scripture – let me ask you if you have truly been ‘transplanted’ by Elohim, having been grafted in by the Blood of Messiah, and are staying in Him to be a true ‘TREE OF RIGHTEOSUNESS’ that is daily being adored by His beautiful Word? Perhaps you have been facing some fierce and seemingly life threating battles of late – then be like Giḏ’on and present yourselves as a daily living sacrifice, and never take your eyes off of our Good Teacher and King –for then your leaf will never fade – you mighty brave one!

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!