Shalom all,

Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 22:19 “Now, give your heart and your being to seek יהוה your Elohim. And rise up and build the set-apart place of יהוה Elohim, to bring the ark of the covenant of יהוה and the set-apart vessels of Elohim into the house that is to be built for the Name of יהוה .”

The words that I have just quoted above truly gripped me this week, as I meditated on the clear call that Dawiḏ was giving, in his instructions to his son, Shelomoh, along with all the rulers of Yisra’ěl!

In this Chapter 22 of Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles, Dawiḏ gave a clear charge to all who would take part in building the Temple and encouraged them to be diligent. In his charge to his son, Shelomoh, in verses 6-16, we see Dawiḏ first explain to his son why he was not going to build the Temple, as he had shed too much blood, and therefore the task had now fallen to his son, Shelomoh, the man of peace. He then encourages Shelomoh to obey יהוה and build a magnificent temple for Him. And then from verse 17-19 Dawiḏ calls the rulers of the Yisra’ěl and commands them to give their all in seeking יהוה, so that the necessary building can get done, in order to bring the ark of the covenant of יהוה into the house that was to be built for the Name of יהוה!

There was certainly a big task at hand, as the excellence of the House for the Name of יהוה, certainly called for a complete dedication by all who were to be a part of its building. As we consider these words, we can recognise the same clear call, and encouraging admonition, to display complete dedication in seeking יהוה with our all, as we are being built up as living stones, in Messiah!

It is with that thought in mind that I would like to take a closer look at these words of Dawiḏ from Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 22:19 and assess how you are responding to the call to giving your all to seek יהוה.

The Hebrew root word translated as ‘now’ is the adverb עַתָּה attah – Strong’s H6258 which means ‘now, at this time’, placing the clear emphasis of a call to attentively hear “NOW”, along with the resulting action of listening as we should!!! This call to hear and respond correctly was not a suggestion or something that could be left until another time, but rather it was intended to get the immediate action required.

So many people ‘put off’ the required obedience to the Word of Elohim, as they would rather be seeking to satisfy their own desires or fleshly needs and disregard the urgent call to seek יהוה with their all…NOW!

A repeated concept or phrase we see in Scripture, is ‘he who has an ear let him hear…’, which simply calls for ardent hearers to pay attention and obey what is being commanded. Many turn their ear away and are simply those who are those who are classed as being those who are ‘hearing but do not understand’! As trustworthy servants of Elohim, we are called to HEAR – GUARD and DO all His Word teaches and commands, and we take note that a proper understanding of His Word develops as we guard to do what we hear. Those who are hearing and not understanding are those who are not doing what is required, and therefore, they are not hearing the ‘NOW’ aspect of the urgency to hear, guard and do! We also take note that Scripture teaches us to be in guard against hardened our hearts when hearing the Truth, as we are told in:

Tehillah/Psalm 95:7-8 “For He is our Elohim, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice: 8 do not harden your hearts as in Meriḇah, and as in the day of Massah in the wilderness”

Dawiḏ makes it clear to us that we, as the people of Elohim, are to not close our ears to the clear voice of Elohim, and the use of the phrase, ‘Today, if you would hear His voice: do not harden your hearts…’, teaches us that we should not put off what we have clearly heard today, for what some would deem to be another ‘more convenient time’! Today… when we hear… then respond correctly!!! This same urgency of hearing the call to seek יהוה …NOW…and not later… is what Dawiḏ is saying here to all who would be involved in building the House for the Name of Elohim!

Sha’ul reminds us that, as believers, we are the House of Elohim, and Kěpha teaches us that we are being built up as living stones; and therefore, we need to recognise that this call that Dawiḏ is giving here, in Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 22:19, is a call that is still very much alive today… and all who hear these words, need to have ears to hear the ‘NOW’ call being given, and not harden their hearts, but rather have hearts that are prepared to seek יהוה with their all!

How do you respond to the Word of Elohim? Do you harden your hearts or do you prepare them?

In a Psalm of Asaph, we see the call being given to give ear to the Torah and obey, we see the call to not be stubborn and rebellious, like previous generation:

Tehillah/Psalm 78:8 “And not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation which did not prepare its heart, whose spirit was not steadfast to Ěl.” 

A stubborn and rebellious generation did not prepare their hearts and were therefore not steadfast to Elohim!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘prepared’ comes from the root word כּוּן kun – Strong’s H3559 which means, ‘ready, steadfast, established, firm, set up, determined, prepared’, , and it is written in the ‘hiphil active’ tense which can carry the meaning of, ‘to establish, set up, accomplish, so, make firm, provide’. This root word is also used in:

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 7:3 “And Shemuʼěl spoke to all the house of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “If you return to יהוה with all your hearts, then put away the foreign mighty ones and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts for יהוה, and serve Him only, so that He delivers you from the hand of the Philistines.”

These words of Shemuʼěl to Yisra’ĕl back then was very clear, and are still very much alive and clear to us today – the way to ‘prepare’ your hearts for יהוה, in order to serve Him only, is to return to Him with ALL your heart – that means that a prepared heart is a heart that has put away all false and foreign worship practices and any form of idolatry and compromise!  

Preparing your ways before יהוה is vital for us to be able to stand firm upon our Master and Elohim, the Rock of our deliverance! So many lack a proper preparation and are therefore unable to boldly stand in the Truth as they do not know or understand the Truth due to a lack of preparation.

Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 5:12 “And Dawiḏ knew that יהוה had established him as sovereign over Yisra’ĕl, and that He had exalted His reign, because of His people Yisra’ĕl.”

Here the root word כּוּן kun is being translated as ‘established’, and what we see here is the bold confidence that Dawiḏ had in recognising who it is that ‘establishes’ him in the reign! It is יהוה who establishes the steadfast and firm in heart, for they are those who have firmly settled in their hearts to follow Him completely, without wavering from a steadfast position of set-apartness in Messiah!

No matter what you have or have not responded to in the past… the clear call being given here in the Word of Elohim, through the words of Dawiḏ, is to have the ‘NOW’ moment of listening and obeying! More specifically, this is a call to seek יהוה with your all! How will you respond? How have you been responding? How urgent will you be in having ears to hear and understand?

When we consider the vital need for the Body of Messiah to be about His business, we can be reminded of the clear rebuke that was given to a backsliding Yisra’ěl, in Ḥaggai/Haggai, as they were more concerned with building up their own lives and securing for themselves their own fleshly desires, that the House of Elohim was in ruins:

Ḥaggai/Haggai 1:4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, and this House be in ruins?”

Hear what the next verse says:

Ḥaggai/Haggai 1:5 “And now, thus said יהוה of hosts, “Consider your ways!” 

Notice here in verse 5 the ‘And now’ phrase being given. The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘And now’ is וְעַתָּה – v’attah, which comes from the root word עַתָּה attah – Strong’s H6258 which means ‘now, at this time’, as already mentioned, along with the conjunction of the letter – וְ – ‘waw’ which renders it as, ‘and now, so now’ or ‘but now’…. This said יהוה of Hosts!!! The voice of יהוה was speaking…. And it was NOW that they had better listen!

Shemoth/Exodus 19:5-6 “And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine – 6 ‘and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
These verses make it very clear – for us to truly be a treasured possession of the Most-High, we are to make sure that we obey His voice and guard His Covenant.

The compound title יהוה צְבָאוֹת – ‘יהוה tseḇaoth’ means, ‘יהוה of Hosts’ and the word ‘Hosts’ comes from the word צָבָא tsaḇa – Strong’s H6635 which means, ‘army, war, warfare, battle, conflict, host (of organised army)’, which comes from the root verb צָבָא tsaḇa – Strong’s H6633 meaning, ‘to wage war, perform, fight, serve, mustered, gone to war’.

The Commander and Chief of the heavenly Hosts has spoken… have you and are you listening?

He says: CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!!!

The phrase, ‘consider your ways’ is written in the Hebrew as follows:

שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם עַל־דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם

It is transliterated as: siymu leḇaḇḵem al–darḵeyḵem

This collective call being given to a rebellious and stubborn people who had neglected to build the House of Elohim, could literally be translated as ‘SET YOUR HEARTS ON YOUR WAYS’, as we can break this phrase down from eth following root words:

1) שִׂים siym – Strong’s H7760 which has the meaning, ‘set, ordain, establish, direct, appoint, determine, bring to pass, constitute, put or lay upon’

2) לֵבָב leḇaḇ – Strong’s H3824 which means, ‘inner man, heart, mind, understanding’.

3) עַל al – Strong’s H5921 – translates as ‘in, on, upon, over, by’ and is used as a preposition (in the sing. or pl. often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following)

4) 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.

Therefore, the term ‘consider your ways’ could be translated from the Hebrew, in a more literal sense as, ‘SET YOUR HEART ON YOUR WALK’.

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.”

After Mosheh spoke the words of the song till its completion to the entire assembly of Yisra’ĕl, he further encouraged all Yisra’ĕl to set their hearts on the words of warning and how critical it was for them to command their children to guard the words of the Torah – for the Torah is not a worthless word – it is our life!!!

In the command to ‘set’ their hearts on all these words of warning, we can see that Mosheh was making it very clear that they were to allow their hearts to be directed by these words and let these words be established in their heart, so that they would not falter in their walk of obedience! This word can also render the understanding of ‘setting something down in a fixed place’ – in other words they were not to let their hearts be moved by the temptation to rebel – and these words of the Torah would help them to do just that! The Torah of Elohim helps us set our heart on our walk, and carefully consider our ways, as we seek יהוה with all our heart and all our being!

Dawiḏ calls for all those who would hear him to give their heart and their being to seek יהוה.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘give’ in Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 22:19 comes from the root verb נָתַן Nathan – Strong’s H5414 which means, ‘to give, put, set, appointed, delivered, given, placed’. It is from this word that we get the plural term נְתִינִים Nethinim which means, ‘given ones’.  

What Dawiḏ is clearly commanding here is that we are to ‘set, give’ our hearts and beings to seeking יהוה.

If you have to honestly assess your own life right now, how much time have you actually set, or given, to seek יהוה your Elohim! In comparison to other things that you have perhaps set your heart on, how does it compare to the giving of your heart and being to יהוה?

The Hebrew word for ‘seek’ is דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 which means, ‘to resort to, seek out, ask, avenge, consult, investigate, search carefully, make inquiry, question’. Now when we see that this word carries more than simply just 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.

Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the reign of Elohim, and His righteousness, and all these matters shall be added to you.”

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 every day. A word that is derived from דָּרַשׁ darash is מִדְרָשׁ miḏrash – Strong’s H4097 means, ‘a study, record, writings or story, commentary’.  A ‘miḏrash’ speaks of the ability to search out something and often refers to that which is written to teach, and later became known as a Hebrew word relating to the in-depth study of the word, often done together. The point is that we are to be a people who are earnestly growing in wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures so we can remember what we look like when we look intently into the mirror of His Word!

We take note of the words that Shelomoh was clearly told when by Dawiḏ when he was to become king:

Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Shelomoh, know the Elohim of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a pleasing life, for יהוה searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you do seek Him, He is found by you; but if you forsake Him, He rejects you forever.”

This Hebrew word דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 can also carry the understanding of seeking out and learning information that what not previously known and it implies having a relationship! By that I mean that the information that is sought out is done so through proper requests and petitions and the information sought out is then carefully pondered upon and thought about, with a focus to think seriously and long about its meaning and ramifications that are expressed. In other words, this kind of seeking can only be done with the proper attention and concentration that is required to grasp and meditate on in order to apply what is sought after and learnt!

This word דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 is a verb that expresses an action of a careful attention and due diligence that is required in order to gain the knowledge sought after.

Tehillah/Psalm 119:2 “Blessed are those who observe His witnesses, who seek Him with all the heart!”

Tehillah/Psalm 119:10 “I have sought You with all my heart; let me not stray from Your commands!” 

True seeking is done with all one’s heart! The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘all’ is כֹּל kol – Strong’s H3605 which means, ‘whole, all, everything, entire, throughout, wholehearted, perpetual, completely, continually’, and comes from the primitive root verb כָּלַל kalal – Strong’s H3634 which means, ‘to complete, perfect, perfected’.

Why I am emphasizing this word for ‘all’ is because it is just that – ALL – not just some and not even 99%, but ALL!

Seeking יהוה with all our heart implies that we are truly seeking first His kingdom and in doing so we ought to recognise that the first sets the tone for what follows. By that I mean that when we are seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness then the foundation of what we seek is established and leaving no room for seeking an alternative way that seeks to satisfy the corrupt desires of the flesh, but rather seeks to put יהוה and His Word first in all we say and do!

What we often need to ask ourselves, when looking intently in to the mirror of the Word and desiring to keep our path clean is, “What am I seeking first?” and “Am I seeking יהוה with all my heart or has my seeking been a half-hearted effort that actually does not produce the proper fruit of righteousness?”

If you are not seeking יהוה with all your heart and all your being, then you are not about His business and are not building as the Master Builder instructs His body to build, but are simply busy building self, which has no lasting foundation!

Seeking יהוה with your all, equips you to rise up and build!!!

The root word used here for ‘rise up’ in Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 22:19 comes from the root verb קוּם qum – Strong’s H6965 which means, ‘to arise, stand up, stand’ and in the tense that this is written in, we see that it is in the active voice and is a clear command, which renders the clear meaning of, ‘to rise, to become powerful, to stand firm, to maintain oneself, to be established, endure’.

Heart and minds that are properly set on seeking יהוה, are hearts and minds that are established in the Master and are equipped to stand, and after having done all, continue to stand, and when one has feet that are firmly planted in the Truth, meditating on the Torah of Elohim, night and day, then you will be able to be prosperous in being built up as a living stone in the Master and able to build the set-apart place of Elohim, which you are!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘build’ in Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 22:19 comes from the root word בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129 which means, ‘rebuild, establish a family, build up’.

Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, as indeed you do.”

Tehillim/Psalm 127:1 “If יהוה does not build the house, its builders have laboured in vain. If יהוה does not guard the city, the watchman has stayed awake in vain.”

We can only build His way – and that is to walk according to His Torah – which is spiritual and we are to walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:3-4 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established 4 and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

We know that in Scripture, wisdom is often a reference to the Torah or instructions of Elohim, and so He has given His clear building plans that we are to labour according to – any other way is simply vain labour! By the Torah (instructions) of Elohim the house is built and by the ‘doing’ of these instructions that brings understanding it is firmly established upon the Rock. Building contrary to the Torah is vain labour!

Kěpha aleph/1 Peter 2:4-5 “Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.”

The question we must ask ourselves, in light of the huge and awesome task that is before us, is whether we are indeed building His House or are we about building our own? The prophet Ḥaggai is a very powerful book for us today as it addresses this very issue:

Ḥaggai/Haggai 1:4-5 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, and this House be in ruins?” 5 And now, thus said יהוה of hosts, “Consider your ways!”

4 Times in Ḥaggai we are told to ‘consider’ – twice to ‘consider our ways’ and twice to ‘consider from this day forward’, and that same call to ‘consider our ways from this day forward’ is still being proclaimed loud and clear, as long as it is called today! The foundation has been laid – Messiah the chief cornerstone! Man’s rebellion destroyed the Dwelling Place of Elohim, which they had turned into a den of robbers, and Messiah said that He would raise it up in three days – speaking of the Dwelling Place of His Body! He came to establish and restore the True Tabernacle/Dwelling Place of the Most-High – His House built by His Hands!!!

The question we all must ask ourselves is “How greatly do you value His House?”

When you value His House, which you are, then you will make sure that all falsehood is destroyed! And this will take courage and strength, which comes from Elohim and His Word!

When we earnestly seek יהוה with our all, we will find Him… and this promise is clearly given to us in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 4:29 “But from there you shall seek יהוה your Elohim, and shall find, when you search for Him with all your heart and with all your being.”

The root word for ‘seek’ here is the Hebrew word בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 which means, ‘to seek, aim, search, look, inquire’, and it is written in the ‘piel’ form which expresses an intensive or intentional action and could therefore be expressed as, ‘seek earnestly or seek the face, seek to find, demand, desire, ask’, and this kind of ‘seeking’ is an intense seeking with a purpose!

Dawiḏ says in:

Tehillah/Psalm 63:1 “O Elohim, You are my Ěl; I earnestly seek You; My being has thirsted for You; My flesh has longed for You In a dry and thirsty land without water.”

Dawiḏ starts off by declaring who is Elohim and who was His Elohim and he then declares that He earnestly seeks יהוה! “I earnestly seek You!” – Can you declare this honestly – do you earnestly seek יהוה? Bearing in mind that Dawiḏ was in one of the toughest times of his life – and he was earnestly seeking יהוה! The Hebrew word used here for ‘earnestly seek’ is – שָׁחַר shaḥar – Strong’s H7836 which means ‘to long for, diligently seek, strongly desire something with a focus on a relationship with that which you seek’ and is an intensive verb which denotes that is requires exceeding effort and from this we get the noun of the word which means, ‘at dawn, early, daybreak’. Therefore, it is safe to say that what Dawiḏ was actually declaring here was, “I rise early to diligently seek you”. The LXX (Septuagint) translates this as ‘I rise early for you’. What we have here is the picture of ‘seeking early’ as having the connotation of great diligence – “I am seeking you really diligently” – not with half measures!!! And this he would do ‘early’, while it was still dark, at the breaking of dawn!!! How many of you can say that? Most of the time the majority of people cannot even get out of bed early on a good day! What about when you are in a tight spot, when things are all messed up and your circumstances look dismal – getting up early to seek יהוה is, for most, not even a consideration! What we recognise in this proverb is that the whore will earnestly seek her foolish prey, and will certainly seek those who are in a tight spot and smooth talk them into her home and seduce them with lies and falsehood! If you are not earnestly seeking יהוה, then be warned that the whore will be earnestly seeking you!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘find’ comes from the root verb מָצָא matsa – Strong’s H4672 – ‘to attain, find, locate, discover’.

With the concept of being able to find something reveals that it needs to be sought after, not that it is lost but that it needs to be discovered and learnt. While in many ways the Word was lost to us while being right in front of us, we thank יהוה for opening our eyes that we may seek and find!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 7:15 “Therefore I came out to meet you, to earnestly seek your face, and I found you.”

How earnestly are you seeking יהוה? How many times do you find yourself in a state of running around like a chicken without a head or going in circles over an issue or situation and do not know what to do? How earnest is your seeking יהוה and His Righteousness?

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who earnestly seek me do find me.”

He loves those who love Him – and a major part of loving Him is ‘seeking’ Him; because to love Him is to do what He has instructed us to, so how will we know how to love Him if we do not seek out what His instructions are???

The Hebrew word here for ‘love’ is אֵהָב ahaḇ – Strong’s H157 and an interesting side note is that the numerical value for this word for love is ‘8’ – which speaks of ‘fullness, complete and everlasting’!

We are to give our full attention to seeking our Elohim with all our heart, soul and mind – anything less would not render true love, but may rather cause one to end up forsaking Him, rather than loving Him.

As you take time to carefully consider these words and take time to look intently into the mirror of the Word and consider your ways, how set is your heart and being on seeking יהוה? Are you being firmly established in His Word and are building as you should, or have you found yourself drifting away with no sure footing on the truth, due to compromise that you have allowed to settle in because of a stubbornness of heart and mind?

Have you SET YOUR HEART ON YOUR WALK?

Our Master is coming soon, and He is coming for His Ready Bride! How ready are you? Hear these word of Dawiḏ today and make the right response in order to rise up and build, as you work out your deliverance with fear and trembling, before our Master יהוה of Hosts!

NOW, GIVE YOUR ALL TO SEEK YAHWEH!!!

He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says….!

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

Shalom all,

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 62:10-12 “Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Lift up a banner for the peoples! 11 See, יהוה has proclaimed to the end of the earth: “Say to the daughter of Tsiyon, ‘See, your deliverance has come; see, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.’” 12 And they shall be called, “The Set-apart People, the Redeemed of יהוה.” And you shall be called, “Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.””

This clear call to ‘pass through’, ‘prepare’, ‘build up’, ‘remove’ and ‘lift up’, is given to a returning Bride that has faithfully responded to the call to come out and be separate. The Good News of the deliverance of the redeemed has come and this now requires our proper response!

What is worth taking note of here is that the term ‘pass through, pass through’ is written in the Hebrew as עִבְר֤וּ עִבְרוּ֙ – iḇru iḇru and is written twice for the clear emphasise of the action that is required. This word that is repeated twice comes from the root word עָבַר aḇar – Strong’s H5674 which means, ‘to pass over, pass through, cross over’, and it is from this word that we get the word – עִבְרִי Iḇri – Strong’s H5680 which in English is ‘Hebrew’ and means, ‘the one from beyond, the one who crossed over’.

Aḇram was the first person, in Scripture, to be called a ‘Hebrew’ (Berěshith/Genesis 14:13) and we recognise this term was given to him by his ‘crossing over’ of the Euphrates River, when leaving his father’s house and going into the Promised Land, at the clear call and instruction of Elohim!

So, what we declare to the world, through our walking in the righteousness of Messiah, by walking according to His Torah, is that we are ‘Hebrews’ – that is, we are ones who have ‘crossed over’, so to speak; as יהוה, the Elohim of the Hebrews, has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light:

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:9 “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”

Our ‘passing over’ or becoming a ‘Hebrew’ entails our ability to clearly listen to the commands of Elohim and guard TO DO THEM!!

Here in this victorious call of deliverance, the redeemed of יהוה are called to pass through the gates; and we can do this because of the work of redemption that our Master has worked for us, giving us the ability, through His Blood, to be set free from bondage to sin, come out and be separate and be built up in Him as living stones, for we, the redeemed, are the dwelling place of the Most-High! Having been called out of darkness into His marvellous light, we are called to walk as children of light and no linger walk in the darkness of sin and destruction; and in recognising this, we need to be armed in the Truth and be sober and alert as we fix keep watch and fix our eyes on the Prince and Perfecter of our faith!

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

Yoḥanan/John 8:12 “Therefore יהושע spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of life.”

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of יהושע Messiah His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

As we walk in the Light, we recognise that in order to do so in complete perfection of set-apartness and truth, we are to let His Word light our path, for His Torah is a light for our path and a lamp for our feet, emphasising to us our need to meditate on His Torah day and night, in order to make our way prosperous. This we can only do when our eyes are properly fixed on our Master, in order to be people that can properly pass through… or better yet, be true Hebrews!!! In the letter to the Hebrews, we find the following words, which are fitting for what we are looking at here:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:1-2 “We too, then, having so great a cloud of witnesses all around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, 2 looking to the Prince and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, having despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.”

We are to be ‘looking to the Prince and Perfecter of our belief’!!!

We are told to be ‘looking’ to Messiah – and, as we can see from the verse before this one, in order to be able to properly ‘look’ to Messiah, we need to throw off and lay aside every weight and sin that easily entangles us and run with endurance – looking intently at our King as we run faithfully as servants of the Most-High Elohim!

Many are trying to run, yet find themselves getting tired and unable to endure the hardships and persecutions that comes as a result of set-apart living amidst a crooked generation! The question that you need to ask yourself as you take an eye test so to speak is, “What/Who are you looking at/to?” Are you looking to Messiah?

The two words used here for our Messiah are:

‘Prince’ – ἀρχηγός – archēgos – Strong’s G747 – translates as ‘prince, captain, chief leader and author’ and describes ‘one that takes the lead in anything and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer’.

‘Perfecter’ – τελειωτής – teleiōtēs – Strong’s G5051) – this is the only place this Greek word and denotes a ‘finisher, completer, perfecter’ and describes ‘one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith’. This is a description given only to יהושע Messiah who has become the supreme model for us to follow.

The Greek word for ‘looking’ is ἀφοράω – aphorao – Strong’s G872 and means ‘to look/ to turn eyes away from all other things and fix them on something’; and metaphorically speaking it means, ‘to fix the mind upon/ give full attention/ looking intently upon/ to take heed’; and it also means, ‘to consider carefully, attentively look at’ as it comes from the two Greek words: 1) ἀπό  apo – Strong’s G575 which is a preposition and participle that means, ‘from, away from, at, in, to’ and 2) ὁράω  horaō – Strong’s G3708 which means, ‘to see, perceive, attend to, take heed, see with the mind, beware, to see as in becoming acquainted with by experience’.

We are to look to Messiah and careful consider our ways; and we are at the same time to ensure that are eyes are not looking elsewhere as we ‘take heed’ of the corrupt teachings of man-made dogmas and traditions that lead people astray. We are to also take heed not to get consumed by materialism, as Messiah warns us against these in:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 16:6 “And יהושע said to them, “Mind! And beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

Luqas/Luke 12:15 “And He said to them, “Mind, and beware of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the excess of his possessions.”

The word ‘mind’ in both these warnings given is the word ὁράω horaō – take heed, be watchful that you do not fall prey to the corruption of man’s rules and regulations regarding a form of worship that runs contrary to the Truth and watch out that you don’t get sucked into the need to gain possessions – because your life does not consist in the excess of possessions! Seeing and watching is what we are to be doing as we are to guard ourselves and take heed not to be led astray and end up falling away under the delusion of the lawless!

As we consider the clear instruction given, in the letter to the Iḇ’rim (Hebrews), we can see how we are to be have our eyes fixed upon our Master and His Word in order to properly pass through!

The Hebrew word for ‘pass through’: עִבְר֤וּ iḇru and the Hebrew word of ‘Hebrew’ – עִבְרִי Iḇri – both come from the root word עָבַר aḇar – Strong’s H5674, which, in the ancient pictographic script, is written as follows:

Ayin – עָ:

The original pictograph for this letter is  and represents the idea of ‘seeing and watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’. as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’, and can also render the concept of knowledge revealed!

Beyt – בַ:

The ancient script has this letter as , which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’ or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed to the tent structure itself.

Resh – ר:

The Ancient picture for this letter is , ‘the head of a man’. This letter has the meanings of ‘head or man’ as well as ‘chief, top, beginning or first’.

From this pictographic rendering of one who passes/crosses over, we take note that the meaning given here can be understood as:

LOOKING TO THE HOUSE’S HEAD

Or

THE EYES OF THE HOUSE ARE ON THE HEAD

Messiah, is the Head of the Body, that is us, the assembly; which are being up in Him, as living stones that keep their eyes on the Head of the House!

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:4-5 “Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.”

Looking at the pictographic rendering of ‘pass through’ and ‘Hebrew’, we are able to recognise the secure work our Master has done for us:

The pictographic of the word עִבְר֤וּ iḇru – pass through looks like this:

The extra letter that is used at the end of this word is the letter:

Waw – וּ:

The ancient pictographic form of this letter 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’.

From this we can see how our ability to properly pass through has been secured, as long as we keep our eyes on the Head of the House!

The pictographic of the word עִבְרִי Iḇri – Hebrew looks like this:

The extra letter that is used at the end of this word is the letter:

Yod –  י:

The ancient script has this letter as  which is ‘an arm and hand’ and carries the meaning of ‘work, make, throw’, from the primary functions of the arm and hand, and it also represents worship or giving thanks in the extending of hands as a gesture of this. The work of one’s hands is the basic meaning of this letter!

As true Hebrew’s we have our eyes fixed on the Head of the House, because of His work of redemption, as we look to the revealed arm of Elohim! To whom has the arm of יהוה been revealed? To those who turn to the Master the veil has been removed and are able to properly see the deliverance that our Head has secured for us, giving us the strength to look to Him and pass through the gates!

We are to pass through the gates! This is where our journey of being built up begins, allowing us the ability to properly prepare the way, build up, remove and lift up, as instructed!

The Hebrew word for ‘gates’ comes from the root word for ‘gate’, which is שַׁעַר sha’ar – Strong’s H8179 meaning, ‘gate, door, entrance’, which comes from the root verb שָׁעַר sha’ar – Strong’s H8176 which means, ‘to think, split open, reason out, calculate, reckon, estimate’. Anyone entering into the city gates would be clearly acknowledging their submission to the rules and laws of the city they were entering. In fact, the ancient gates were a kind of check point as well as where proper execution of the laws of the city were administered, teaching us to recognise that we who desire and long to enter into the gates of the kingdom of Elohim must acknowledge, submit to and abide by His Torah and commands.

The door posts of our homes/gates are where we are to write the commands of Elohim, and anyone who passes through our gates must adhere to His standards! Once again, judgement is done according to the right-ruling of the city or house! And in our case, it is according to the Word of Elohim which is written upon the doorposts of our hearts and homes, as we are the dwelling place of the Most-High!

Entering through the gates is the proper place to enter, and we know that any other attempt at gaining entry into a city, other than through its prescribed gates, would be trespassing and be punished.

The Greek equivalent that is used in the LXX (Septuagint) for ‘gates’ is the root word πύλη pulē – Strong’s G4439 and this word is used in describing the narrow gate that we are to strive to enter through:

Luqas/Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, because many, I say to you, shall seek to enter in and shall not be able.”

The city gates can also be understood as being the ‘door’ or entrance point and we know that Messiah is the Door who has prepared the way for us to enter in to His Covenants of Promise, and any attempt at entering in through another way is a thief!

Yoḥanan/John 10:1-2 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up by another way, that one is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”

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.”

‘Entering in’ or ‘Passing through’ His gates are to be done with great joy and boldness in declaring proper praise and submission to our Master and Elohim.

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

True Hebrews praise and enter with thanksgiving as we bless the Name of יהוה, our Saviour, in all we do, hence our need to give thanks always!

Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the desire of Elohim in Messiah יהושע for you.”

When our eyes are properly fixed upon our Head, יהושע Messiah, then we can be joyfully equipped to pass through the gates and be about proclaiming His coming reign, as we make ourselves ready and prepare the way for His soon return!

While all has been prepared by our Master, we have a huge responsibility of ‘preparing the way’ for His soon return! It was a common custom in ancient times for people to be sent on ahead of their king’s journey so that they could level the roads and make them passable for their king, and we see this Greek word ἑτοιμάζω hetoimazō – Strong’s G2090 being used in:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 3:3 “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Yeshayahu, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of יהוה, make His paths straight.’”

The Greek word used here for ‘prepare’ is ἑτοιμάζω hetoimazō – Strong’s G2090 which is a verb that means, ‘to prepare, get ready, make arrangements’, and comes from the root ἕτοιμος hetoimos – Strong’s G2092 which means, ‘prepare, ready, ready at hand, prepared, accomplished’.

This is a quote from Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40:3, and the Hebrew word translated as ‘prepare’ is פָּנָה panah – Strong’s H6437 which means, ‘to turn, turn towards a direction’, and in order for us to ‘turn towards a direction’ we must ‘turn from’ another direction! We must learn to ‘turn our backs’ on many things that we picked up in the enslavement of Mitsrayim and all its inherited lies and dogmas of man, especially after the hearing of the Torah, in recognition of where and what we are heading for! A derivative of this word פָּנָה panah is פָּנֶה paneh or פָּנִים paniym – Strong’s H6440 meaning, ‘face, faces’.

What we see here is the need to hear the clear invitation and call of our Master and literally ‘turn our faces toward יהוה’; and keep our eyes fixed on יהושע and walk in Him, as we guard to do all He commands us!

As we turn our faces toward Elohim and fix our eyes upon Him, we are to build up the highway!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘highway’ in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 62:10 is מְסִלָּה mesillah – Strong’s H4546 which means, ‘a highway, course, courses, paths, steps’, and comes from the root word סָלַל salal – Strong’s H5549 which means, ‘to lift up, build, exalt, prize, esteem highly’, which is the root word that is used twice in a row and translated as ‘build up, build up’. The highway that is to be built up is a clear reference to the ‘main way’ that is to be walked upon; and we recognise the clear reference to a highway of Elohim, being that which refers to a steadfast walk of set-apartness where there is no compromise found!

Another noun that comes from סָלַל salal – Strong’s H5549 and is translated as ‘highway’ is מַסְלוּל maslul – Strong’s H4547 and we see this word being used in:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 35:8 “And there shall be a highway, and a way, and it shall be called “The Way of Set-apartness.” The unclean does not pass over it, but it is for those who walk the way, and no fools wander on it.”

The highway of the straight is the Way of Set-Apartness!!!

Understanding this makes it clear and obvious that the highway of the straight, upon which no fools wander on it, is a way that keeps one upright and able to properly turn away from all evil, and the one who guards himself to keep himself on the highway, the way of set-apartness, turns away from all evil!

In order to pass through the gates, prepare the way and build up a highway, we need to remove the rubble out of our lives and then lift up a banner to the peoples… in other words, we are to make know the Kingdom Reign and shine the light of His Truth as we raise the proper banner of praise unto our Master Deliverer and King!

Tehillah/Psalm 60:4 “You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it might be lifted up because of the truth. Selah.”

Messiah is our banner, as He had to be lifted up and impaled for our sin, just as Mosheh lifted up the serpent in the Wilderness (Yoḥanan/John 3:14); and was exalted and given the Name above every Name (Pilipiyim/Philippians 2:9). The Hebrew word for ‘banner’ is נֵס nes – Strong’s H5251 which means, ‘a standard, ensign, signal, sign, banner, distinguishing mark’, and is the word translated as ‘pole’ for that which Mosheh put the bronze serpent on.

In Yeshayahu/Isaiah 11:10 we are told that the Root of Yishai would stand as a banner to the people; and this banner would be given for the nations to gather the outcasts of Yisra’ĕl and assemble the dispersed of Yehuḏah – the very work of Messiah our Banner who has by His sacrifice made it possible for us to be accepted in the Beloved, and be a set-apart nation in whom He can take great pleasure!

Shemoth/Exodus 17:15 “And Mosheh built an altar and called its name, יהוה Nissi”

This altar was built after the victory Yehoshua had over Amalěq, and the sure promise given to us that יהוה would fight for us from generation to generation as we walk under His Banner of praise!

While I have simply expanded on the words found in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 62:10-12, what I am presenting to you is more than just a few definitions, but rather, in doing so, I am highlighting our need to be a people who understand what passing through the gates entails and how our ability to do so is only because of eth great redemptive work of deliverance that our Master has brought us, through His life, death and resurrection, proving for us the only way to set-apartness, for which we have a huge responsibility in proclaiming as we live in perfect set-apartness before our Master and Elohim! Passing through the gates is a very powerful picture of our ability to come boldly to the throne of favour and bless our Mighty Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, in all we do!

Gates carry a wealth of insight for us, when we diligently search and seek the Truth, through a proper daily study and meditation on His Word; and it is with that in mind that I would like to take a closer look at the gates that are mentioned in the Book of Neḥemyah/Nehemiah!

The name Neḥemyah: נְחֶמְיָה Strong’s H5166 means ‘יהוה comforts’. He was the son of Ḥaḵalyah –  חֲכַלְיָה Strong’s H2446 which means, ‘whom יהוה enlightens or wait for יהוה’. He was the cupbearer to the king of Persia, with whom he had found favour and who was granted the task of returning to, and rebuilding the walls of, Yerushalayim. Since we are exiles who have crossed over from darkness into the marvellous light of Elohim, and earnestly wait for His return, we recognise that the story of Neḥemyah is not only a historical one, but is also an instructive one, teaching us a great deal on how we are to be about our Master’s business, as we recognise that as we faithfully wait for our Master and Elohim, He is the One who enlightens us and comforts us in the midst of distressing times, teaching us to be fully armed in the Truth, as we are being built up as living stones!!!

Yerushalayim had been destroyed and the walls and gates had been broken down and burned and Yehuḏah had been exiled to Baḇelon for 70 years. With Neḥemyah, Ezra and others being able to return to Yerushalayim in order to rebuild its walls, we are able to be encouraged and comforted in the sure promises we have in our Master; and in order to continue with the theme of this message on our need to heed the call to ‘pass through the gates’, I would like to take a closer look at the gates that are mentioned in Neḥemyah, as they each carry some valuable nuggets of faith equipping truth for us who are preparing the way for our Master’s return!

In Neḥemyah/Nehemiah Chapter 3 there are 10 gates that are mentioned, with each gate having a very unique name, from which we are able to learn some great insights from, in helping understanding the work of deliverance our Master has done and our required response in our need to work out our deliverance with fear and trembling, before the face of our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah!

Let us therefore explore these gates that are mentioned in Neḥemyah/Nehemiah:

Before looking at each gate, it is worth taking note of the words we see Neḥemyah speaking to those who opposed the rebuilding:

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 2:20 “And I answered them, and said to them, “The Elohim of the heavens, He shall bless us and let us, His servants, rise and build, but you have no portion or right or remembrance in Yerushalayim.”

This bold answer of faith stirred the true faithful servants to rise up and build, knowing the clear blessing of Elohim that is on the trustworthy and faithful!

1 – THE SHEEP GATE:

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:1-2 “And Elyashiḇ the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate. They set it apart and set up its doors, even as far as the Tower of Me’ah they set it apart, as far as the Tower of Ḥanane’ěl. 2 And at his hand the men of Yeriḥo built. And at his hand Zakkur son of Imri built.”

This Chapter 3 begins with the first gate that is mentioned and it is no coincidence that the first gate to be mentioned in the SHEEP GATE! The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘sheep’ comes from the root word צאֹן tson – Strong’s H6629 which means, ‘small cattle, sheep, goats, flock’.

This first gate prophetically proclaims redemption, and more importantly, it prophetically proclaims who our Redeemer is! What you should be able to notice here is that it was the high priest who rose up with his brothers and built the sheep gate! Do you see this? The high priest built the sheep gate!!! The name of the high priest was אֶלְיָשִׁיב Elyashiḇ – Strong’s H475 which means, ‘El restores’! How awesome is that!!! The high priest, whose name meant, ‘El restores’ built the sheep gate! This is a clear shadow picture of יהושע Messiah, our High Priest, who has restored His Covenant, giving us access through His Own Blood, for He is the Good Shepherd that lay down His life for the sheep! His sheep know His voice!

This gate was the gate that they brought the lambs and sheep to be slaughtered! This gate is mentioned in:

Yoḥanan/John 5:2 “And in Yerushalayim at the Sheep Gate there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bĕyth Zatha, having five porches.”

It was at this gate that the pool of Bĕyth Zatha was located, commonly known in English as ‘Bethesda’ from the Greek word Βηθεσδά Bēthesda – Strong’s G964 which means, ‘house of mercy’ or ‘flowing water’, thought to come from the two root words: 1) בַּיִת bayith – Strong’s H1004 meaning, ‘house, home, armoury, building’, often pronounced as ‘beyth’ and 2) חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ – Strong’s H2617 which means, ‘goodness, kindness, deeds of devotion, loving-commitment, faithfulness’.

It was here at this gate that Messiah healed a man who had been sick for 38 years. It was at this pool that the waters would, at a certain time, be stirred, and those who were blind, crippled and paralysed, would come and wait for the stirring of the waters that would be done by a messenger and whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, would be healed. Knowing that this man had been waiting a long time, as he never made it to the waters first, יהושע Messiah heals this man, extending His healing hand of mercy to a broken and sick man!

This sheep gate, that the high priest built up, was set-apart and set up as far as the tower of מֵאָה Me’ah – Strong’s H3968 which means, ‘100 hundred’, to the tower of חֲנַנְאֵל Ḥanan’ěl – Strong’s H2606 which means, ‘El has favoured’ or, ‘El has mercy’ coming from the two root words: 1) חָנַן ḥanan – Strong’s H2603 meaning, ‘show favour, be gracious to, dealt graciously with, given to them voluntarily, shown favour’ and 2) אֵל Ěl – Strong’s H410 which means, ‘Mighty, power, shortened form of Elohim – Mighty One’.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘tower’ comes from the root word מִגְדָּל migdal – Strong’s H4026 which means, ‘tower, podium, watchtower’, and comes from the root verb גָּדַל gaḏal – Strong’s H1431 – and this root word is used 115 times in the Tanak and has the meaning, ‘to grow up, become great, to cause to be large, magnify, boast, lift up, promote’, and is often used as a word to express praise for יהוה.

The reason for me highlighting these two towers that are mentioned here is to expand on the prophetic picture that is related to the building up of this sheep gate that the high priest did. We know that the Name of יהוה is a strong tower:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 18:10 “The Name of יהוה is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.”

These two towers that are mentioned here, in regards to the setting up of eth sheep gate, highlights the loving-commitment of our High Priest and King, who shows His mercy for the lost sheep! With the one tower meaning 100 and the other meaning the mercy/favour of Elohim, we can be reminded of the parable that Messiah gave of the Shepherd who lost a sheep:

Luqas/Luke 15:3-6 “And He spoke this parable to them, saying, 4 “What man among you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 “And having found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 ”

This parable highlights a shepherd who had 100 sheep and how he would go after one that was lost, until it was found! This is a lesson on the sure favour/mercy/grace that our Good Shepherd has for His lost sheep, which He came to save!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:24 “And He answering, said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ěl.”

The high priest Elyashiḇ, along with his brothers, set the sheep gate apart and set up its doors! Messiah is the Door!

Yoḥanan/John 10:2 “But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”

Yoḥanan/John 10:7 “יהושע therefore said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” 

The building of the wall and its gates began at the sheep gate and this teaches us the vital lesson of how our deliverance begins at the setting up of the entrance into the set-apart Covenants of Promise, which was only made possible by the Blood of the Lamb.

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2:11-13 “Therefore remember that you, once nations in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the circumcision’ made in the flesh by hands, 12 that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ěl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world. 13 But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.”

It is only by the Blood of Elohim, our Good Shepherd, that we are able to be restored to favour and be built up in Him as living stones. While sin had caused a destruction the gates and walls, our High Priest and King restored His gates by which we can enter in and be established to praise Him.

This SHEEP GATE proclaims the wonderful work of deliverance that our Mighty Good Shepherd has done for us, and as sheep that know His voice, we must enter in with thanksgiving!

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

The Greek word that is translated as ‘hear’ comes from the root word ἀκούω akouō – Strong’s G191 which means, ‘hearing, listen, give heed, understand’.

Those who have ears to ear, obey, while those who shut their ears to the Truth are disobedient!

The Greek word translated as ‘follow’ in Yoḥanan/John 10:27 is ἀκολουθέω akoloutheō – Strong’s G190 which comes from: Α, α alpha – Strong’s G1 which is the first letter of the Greek language and is used here as a participle of union, along with the word κέλευθος keleuthos – which means, ‘a road, or way’ and therefore this word ἀκολουθέω akoloutheō expresses the intention to ‘follow closely or going behind someone who leads the way’ or ‘to attend, to accompany, to go with or follow a teacher’.

To follow Messiah is not for those who just want to go for a stroll to see what happens – it is a commitment to walk and live as He walked and lived as a perfect example for us to follow! You cannot follow the Master if you are not girded about with truth and have not put on righteousness, as you will be unable to walk as He walked!

The setting up of the SHEEP GATE highlights the clear Truth that our Master has set up the way and it is now time for His sheep to hear, guard and do!!!

2 – THE FISH GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:3-5 “And the sons of Hassena’ah built the Fish Gate, who laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts and bars. 4 And at their hand Merěmoth son of Uriyah, son of Qots, strengthened. And at their hand Meshullam son of Bereḵyah, son of Meshěyzaḇ’ěl, strengthened. And at their hand Tsaḏoq son of Ba‛ana strengthened. 5 And at their hand the Teqowites strengthened, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Master.”

This second gate that is mentioned – the FISH GATE – teaches us the lesson of how we are to be about the work of our Master, in proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. Messiah said that He would make His taught ones ‘fishers of men’ and as we look at some of the names that are mentioned here, we can see how important it is for us to be doing what our Good Shepherd has instructed, as this gate speaks to us a huge lesson on taking seriously the commission to go and make taught ones of the nations!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 4:18-20 “And יהושע, walking by the Sea of Galil, saw two brothers, Shim‛on called Kěpha, and Andri his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I shall make you fishers of men.” 20 And immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”

This FISH GATE presents to us the mirrored question of whether we have left all to follow our Master, or are we still holding on to things that we should have let go of? Let us take a look at the names mentioned here in Neḥemyah:

It was the sons of הַסְּנָאָ֑ה – Hassena’ah that built this gate. His name means, ‘the thorny’.

Next to him was מְרֵמוֹת Merĕmoth – Strong’s H4822 which means, ‘elevations’, and he was the son of אוּרִיָּה Uriyyah – Strong’s H223 which means, ‘flame of Yah, light of Yah’, who was the son of קוֹץ Qots – Strong’s H6976 which means, ‘thorn’.

Next to him was מְשֻׁלָּם Meshullam – Strong’s H4918 which means, ‘friend/man of peace’, ad he was the son of בֶּרֶכְיָה Bereḵyah – Strong’s H1296 which means, ‘Yah Blesses’ who was the son of מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵל Meshěyzaḇ’ěl Strong’s H4898 – ‘El delivers’.

Next to him was and צָדוֹק Tsaḏoq – Strong’s H6659 which means, ‘righteous’, who was the son of בַּעֲנָא Ba’ana – Strong’s H1195 which means, ‘in affliction’.

And with them were the Teqowites, or in Hebrew, the תְּקוֹעִי Teqo’iy – Strong’s H8621 which means, ‘trumpet blast’.

Glancing through the names of the men that are listed here we can learn the truth of how we are to shine the light of Elohim amidst a dark world, knowing that we serve a Mighty Elohim who blesses and delivers the righteous, in affliction, as long as we are elevation/lifting up the pure fire/light of Yah, who has taking the thorns of sin upon Himself, so that we can be delivered from bondage to go and call others to deliverance and make taught ones of the nations! The term ‘strengthened’ is used here at this gate and continues to be used with the rest of the gates mentioned here in Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3, highlighting for us how we are to be strengthened in the Good Shepherd as we pass through the gates and shine His light, amidst the thorny dark world!

The Hebrew word for ‘strengthened’ comes from the root word חָזַק ḥazaq – Strong’s H2388 and carries the meaning, ‘to grow firm, fasten upon, strengthen, take hold of’ and can have the concept of, ‘grasp between your ears’. In Scripture, we are repeatedly told to be strong and courageous! When we ‘grasp between our ears’ what we ought to, then יהוה will strengthen us to be ‘courageous’, which is the root word – אָמֵץ amats H553 – means ‘to be alert both physically and mentally, be fully alert – awake and not asleep, be steadfast’.

Be strong and courageous is a term we have come to know, especially when we reflect on the book of Yehoshua – well it is these two words that are being used each time – חָזַק ḥazaq and אָמֵץ amats

What we can learn from this is that for us to be ‘strong and courageous’ in Messiah, we need to ‘grow firm’ in the Torah and have the commands of Elohim fastened upon our hearts as we take hold of the Truth and walk in it with boldness, being fully alert and steadfast in walking in the Truth. And it is through the ‘command/s’ of the Torah (Mosheh) that we are commissioned, appointed and strengthened ‘in’ Messiah! While we recognise that in order to be strengthened to build as we should, and give ear to the Torah of Elohim, we recognise that there are some who stubbornly refuse to hear and obey! This gate also warns us against idleness, arrogance, pride and laziness! We are told that the nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their master! Those who know the trumpet blast sound of our Master, and guard to keep His Sabbaths and Feasts, know how to hear, guard and do, while those who shut their ears are idle and lazy and will be rejected from entering into the reign!

Tehillah/Psalm 89:15 “Blessed are the people who know the sounding! They walk, O יהוה, in the light of Your face.”

Refusing to give one’s shoulder is an expression which highlights one’s stubbornness to accept the easy yoke of our Master.

Mattithyahu/Matthew 11:29-30 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your beings. 30 “For My yoke is gentle and My burden is light.” 

This Fish Gate highlights for us the need to be humble servants that do not neglect the duty of guarding the Torah and are strengthened in the Word, equipped to shine, while being on guard against the thorns of the flesh that try to steal our time away from the Master’s work and call on our lives.

3 – THE OLD GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:6-12 “And Yehoyaḏa son of Pasěaḥ and Meshullam son of Besoḏeyah strengthened the Old Gate. They laid its beams and set up its doors, and its bolts and its bars. 7 And at their hand Melatyah the Giḇ‛onite, and Yaḏon the Měronothite, the men of Giḇ‛on and Mitspah, strengthened the official seat of the governor beyond the River. 8 At his hand Uzzi’ěl son of Ḥarhayah, one of the goldsmiths, strengthened. And at his hand Ḥananyah, one of the perfumers, strengthened. And they restored Yerushalayim as far as the Broad Wall. 9 And at their hand Rephayah son of Ḥur, ruler of half the district of Yerushalayim, strengthened. 10 And at their hand Yeḏayah son of Ḥarumaph strengthened, even opposite his house. And at his hand Ḥattush son of Ḥashaḇneyah strengthened. 11 Malkiyah son of Ḥarim and Ḥashshuḇ son of Paḥath–Mo’aḇ strengthened another section, and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 And at his hand Shallum son of Halloḥěsh ruler of half the district of Yerushalayim strengthened, he and his daughters.”

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘old’ is יְשָׁנָה Yeshanah – Strong’s H3466 which is the feminine of the word יָשָׁן yashan – Strong’s H3645 which means, ‘old’ and this comes from the root verb יָשֵׁן yashen – Strong’s H3462 meaning, ‘to sleep (figuratively to die), to cause to sleep’. With this in mind, we can recognise a pattern in these gates being repaired here, as we take note that having been redeemed to serve, we must put to death the things of old that have no place in the life of a true Hebrew. That means that the ‘old man’ of eth flesh must die, in order for the new man to shine forth! We are to put to death the things of the flesh and have the proper authority of our Master, whose yoke we put on, established in our lives! Passing through this gate emphasises a throwing off all that hinders and not looking back put putting one’s hand to the plough!

It was at this gate that the official seat of the governor was strengthened, which is a great shadow picture of how the true and proper authority of our Master is to be properly restored… and while His seat is strengthened here te the old gate, we take note that His seat of authority is from the beginning!

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:7-8 “Beloved, I write no fresh command to you, but an old command which you have had from the beginning. The old command is the Word which you heard from the beginning. 8 Again I write you a fresh command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light now shines.”

What we can learn from these words is pretty clear – The Word of Elohim does not change… the command is now fresh in the renewing of eth Covenant… yet it is still the old command! The old is fresh, in Messiah, because now, in Him, the true light of the old shines brightly!!!

One thing we have come to learn over the years is that the more we study and meditate on the Torah of Elohim, and more specifically, the more we study what has been termed as ‘The Old Testament’, the more we are able to understand the renewed writings, which has been labelled as ‘The New Testament’!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:52 “And He said to them, “Therefore every scholar taught in the reign of the heavens is like a householder who brings out of his treasure matters, renewed and old.”

In a parable of wineskins, our Master highlights how, we cannot put new wine into old wine skins, yet we recognise the goodness of the old, which renews!

Luqas/Luke 5:36-39 “And He also spoke a parable to them, “No one puts a piece from a fresh garment on an old one, otherwise the fresh one makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the fresh one does not match the old. 37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the new wine shall burst the wineskins and run out, and the wineskins shall be ruined. 38 “But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new wine, for he says, ‘The old is better.’” 

What we must remember here is that this is a parable, intended to teach us so that we can grasp the Truth. While this parable may appear to contradict itself as it highlights how the old wineskins cannot take the new wine as it needs new wineskins, yet the old is still better! What is being emphasised is the fact that Messiah did not come to do away with the Torah and the Prophets, but rather that it is only in Him that one is able to enjoy the old and be clothed in the newness of the Spirit of His Word, without discarding His Word, for only in Him, as a renewed man, can we hold the renewal of His Truth, which is from of old and never fades!

This gate can therefore teach us to put to death the ‘old’ self, yet at the same time, not discard what many have termed ‘the old’ and as a result have sadly cast the Torah behind them!

Qolasim/Colossians 3:8-10 “But now, also put off all these: displeasure, wrath, evil, blasphemy, filthy talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have put off the old man with his practices, 10 and have put on the new one who is renewed in knowledge according to the likeness of Him who created him”

4 & 5 – THE VALLEY GATE & THE DUNG GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:13-14 “Ḥanun and the people of Zanowaḥ strengthened the Valley Gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts and bars – and a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. 14 And the Dung Gate was strengthened by Malkiyah son of Rěḵaḇ, ruler of the district of Běyth Hakkerem. He built it and set up its doors, its bolts and bars.”

I have put these two gates together, not because they are the same gate, but simply because they are mentioned in the same verse, and as we can see… each of these gates highlight for us great lessons in our much-needed walk of set-apartness in Messiah.

The picture of a valley can have numerous lessons for us, and possibly one of the most predominant ones is that of ‘decision making’, along with the idea of the full assurance of the blessed comfort and support of the Master, for those who call upon His Name and stay in Him as they walk, even as He walked!

A valley can be a picture of being in a low point in one’s life and we need to take comfort in the Word of Elohim that can light our path through the dark valleys!

The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘valley’ comes from the root word גַּיְא gay – Strong’s H1516 which can mean, ‘a valley, steep valley, narrow gorge’, and is also used in:

Tehillah/Psalm 23:4 “When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Herein lies another very powerful lesson for us today! The name of the man who strengthened the valley gate was חָנוּן Ḥanun – Strong’s H2586 which means, ‘favoured, gracious’, and comes from the primitive root חָנַן ḥanan – Strong’s H2603 meaning, ‘show favour, be gracious to, dealt graciously with, given to them voluntarily, shown favour’. There are so many who are walking in ignorance of the truth today, and while they claim to be ‘under grace’, their disregard for the Torah and complete observance of the commands of Elohim, reveal that they show no regard for the needed submission to the Beloved King’s instructions. In the valley we need the Rod and Staff of our Master and Elohim to comfort us and guide us!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘rod’ in Tehillah/Psalm 23:4 is שֵׁבֶט sheḇet – Strong’s H7626 and means, ‘rod, staff, branch, shaft’ and is a symbol of authority and rulership and the Hebrew word that is translated as ‘staff’ is מַשְׁעֵנָה mashenah – Strong’s H4938 which means, ‘staff, support’ and is understood as being a rod, cane, i.e., a sturdy, about shoulder-height, often personalized, stick branch of a tree, with many uses, including herding, punishing by striking, a support for walking on rough terrain or with weak legs, etc.

In our preparation for our coming King, we are to be comforted with the encouragement of the valleys being raised and the high places being made low:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40:1-5 “Comfort, comfort My people!” says your Elohim. 2 Speak to the heart of Yerushalayim, and cry out to her, that her hard service is completed, that her crookedness is pardoned, that she has received from the hand of יהוה double for all her sins. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of יהוה; make straight in the desert a highway for our Elohim. 4  Let every valley be raised, and every mountain and hill made low. And the steep ground shall become level, and the rough places smooth. 5  And the esteem of יהוה shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see it. For the mouth of יהוה has spoken.” 

Many have regarded this as being the start of the second part of Yeshayahu with the first 39 chapters dealing with impending judgement and from chapter 40 onwards we see the clear promise of deliverance that יהוה Himself will bring to those who call and wait upon Him, by repenting and returning to the Redeemer of Yisra’ĕl and walking in His ways.

Yisra’ĕl was in captivity and while the threat of destruction hovered over their heads, here in this chapter there is an encouraging call to the chosen of Elohim to take heart because the promise of sure deliverance was coming!

In verse one we see the repetition of the word ‘comfort’, which here, in Hebrew, we see the following phrase being written: נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ עַמִּי – “naḥamu,naḥamu, ami” – “comfort, comfort, My people…” The repetition of the word used for ‘comfort’ is for emphasis and this word is from the root word נָחַם naḥam – Strong’s H5162 which means, ‘to comfort, console, to be comforted’ and also can express the meaning, ‘to be sorry, to be moved, have compassion, suffer grief, repent’. The original root often seems to reflect the idea of ‘breathing deeply’; hence the physical display of one’s feelings, usually of sorrow, compassion or comfort.  It can therefore mean to breathe deeply with sorrow for your sin, or to breathe deeply as you comfort and console someone. 

In Scripture we see that the majority of the times that נָחַם naḥam is used and translated as ‘repent’ actually refers to Elohim’s repentance and not man’s. Man’s repentance is most frequently indicated by the word שׁוּב shuḇ – Strong’s H7725 which means, ‘to turn back, return, repent, recover’, meaning to turn away from sin and turn back to Elohim and follow in His ways.

The term ‘naḥamu’ which is a derivative of נָחַם naḥam can give the understanding of ‘to cause to breathe again’ – in other words it is יהוה Himself that would bring the ‘recovery of breath’, and this is His comforting words to His people – and in a sense, could render the encouragement of knowing that Elohim Himself is declaring to a people in exile,

“I am bringing you a recovery of breath”. This recovery of breath that was surely needed is sufficient for His people to get strengthened and prepare the way for His soon return!

The Master יהוה continually called Yisra’ĕl to return, yet they continually turned a deaf ear and did their own thing and He made it clear to Yisra’ĕl in:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 30:15 “For thus said the Master יהוה, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, “In returning and rest you are saved, in stillness and trust is your strength.” But you would not,”

While Yisra’ĕl would not return we certainly see the clear message given here: In returning and rest you are saved and in stillness and trust is your strength! The word in Hebrew for ‘returning’ is שׁוּבָה shuḇah which means, ‘retirement, withdrawal, repentance, returning’ and comes from the word we have already discussed as the word used for man’s repentance – שׁוּב shuḇ – Strong’s H7725 which means, ‘to turn back, return, repent, recover’. The word used for ‘rest’ is נַחַת naḥath – Strong’s H5183 meaning, ‘quietness, rest’ and comes from the root verb נוּחַ nuaḥ – Strong’s H5117 which means, ‘to rest, cause to rest, set down, leave, depart from’; and the Name of the man who found favour in יהוה’s eyes is derived from this root: Noaḥ – נֹחַ – Strong’s H5146 whose name means, ‘rest, comfort’ as already mentioned.

In turning back to Elohim in true repentance and having turned away from wickedness and self, entering into His rest as we walk in His clear instructions we are saved.

The ‘comfort’ being proclaimed here is also a clear call to repentance in order to find the necessary breath needed to be a voice in the wilderness as the spirit of Ěliyahu must first come again before Messiah returns and this is the spirit that proclaims righteousness and the call to repentance – just as Noaḥ did to a wicked generation!

Ma’asei/Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and turn back, for the blotting out of your sins, in order that times of refreshing might come from the presence of the Master”

The Greek word for ‘refreshing’ is ἀνάψυξις anapsuxis Strong’s G403 and means, ‘recovery of breath, refresh’ and we see that when we repent and turn back to The Master we may receive a recovery of breath – His Word giving us our very life that we may live and breathe and praise His Name – for everything that has breath praise יהוה!

We see another Hebrew word, in Scripture, being translated as ‘valley’, where we also are able to identify with the picture of a valley being a place of needing to make the urgent decision to choose to follow our Good Shepherd:

Yo’ěl/Joel 3:14 “Crowds, crowds in the valley of decision! For the day of יהוה is near in the valley of decision.”

The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘valley’ is עֵמֶק emeq – – Strong’s H6010 which means, ‘valley, lowland, open country’ and comes from the primitive root verb עָמֹק amoq – Strong’s H6009 which means, ‘to make deep, to be deep, be profound’.

The Valley gate teaches us the urgent need for many to ‘dig deep’ and make the right choice to follow the True Shepherd of Yisra’ĕl and not be held captive in the valley of indecisiveness and be comforted that the Torah of our Master is the very Rod and staff that will lead, guide and light our path out of the valley of the shadow of death!

The next gate that is mentioned is THE DUNG GATE, which is certainly very fitting, as we take note that in making the correct decision to follow our Master and pass through the gates, we need to get rid of all the DUNG!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘dung’ comes from the root word אַשְׁפֹּת ashpoth – Strong’s H830 which means, ‘an ash heap, refuse heap, dunghill, ash pit’. This was the refuse gate, as it was through this gate that the trash was taken out of Yerushalayim, and near this gate was the valley of Hinnom, which is where the wicked practice of sacrificing children to Moleḵ took place.

Outside this Dung gate you would have 3 valleys that would actually come together, and at the end of the 3 valleys would be the place where all the refuse was burnt, and was called the Valley of Hinnom, also known as ‘GěHinnom’, from the two words: 1) גַּיְא gay – Strong’s H1516 which can mean, ‘a valley, steep valley, narrow gorge’, and 2) הִנֹּם Hinnom – Strong’s H2011 which means, ‘lamentation’.

This place represented the place of death and the burning away of all that is to be destroyed and our Master warned against the judgement and death sentence of GěHinnom:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be thrown into the fire of GěHinnom.” 

Mattithyahu/Matthew 23:33 “Serpents, brood of adders! How would you escape the judgment of GěHinnom?”

Luqas/Luke 12:5 “But I shall show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after killing, possesses authority to cast into GěHinnom. Yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

While we recognise the clear judgement that is coming, when the wrath of the fire of Elohim will consume all who are against Him, we also take note that no matter how much ‘dung’ you have had in your life, and no matter how deep in your own trash you have sunk down in to, our Master’s arm is not too short to save, as He lifts the needy out of the dunghill:

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:8 “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the dunghill, to sit with princes, and make them inherit a throne of esteem. For the supports of the earth belong to יהוה, and He has set the world upon them.”

The name of the man who strengthened the dung gate was מַלְכִּיָּה Malkiyyah – Strong’s H4441 which means, ‘my king is יהוה’, and he was the ruler of בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם Beth Hakkerem – Strong’s H1021 which means, ‘house of the vineyard’, which is very fitting in the prophetic picture of our Master and King being the ‘ruler of the Vineyard’ – for He is the Vine and we are the branches!

We can therefore learn a great deal in recognising the importance of calling upon the Name of יהוה, the Mighty King who can lift the needy from the dunghill.

Yo’ěl/Joel 2:32 “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה be delivered. For on Mount Tsiyon and in Yerushalayim there shall be an escape as יהוה said, and among the survivors whom יהוה calls.”

The Dung Gate reminds us of our need to be a people who call upon the Name of יהוה and acknowledge Him as our King, submitting to all His commands, keeping our lives clean and clear of all that profanes His Name and making sure that we stay far from the trash heaps of the sin that leads to the destructive fiery judgement of the second death!

6 – THE FOUNTAIN GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:15 “And the Fountain Gate was strengthened by Shallun son of Kol-Ḥozeh, ruler of the district of Mitspah. He built it and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts and bars – also the wall of the Pool of Shelaḥ by the Sovereign’s Garden, as far as the stairs going down from the City of Dawiḏ.” 

The Fountain Gate was located near the pool of   שִׁלֹחַShiloaḥ – Strong’s H7975 which comes from the primitive root שָׁלַח shalaḥ – Strong’s H7971 which means ‘to send or to bring forth’ or ‘send forth’, and this was one of the principle sources of water supply to Yerushalayim that originated from the ‘Giḥon’ spring which emptied into this pool. גִּיחוֹן Giḥon – Strong’s H1521 means, ‘bursting forth’ and comes from the primitive root word גִּיחַ giaḥ – Strong’s H1518 which means, ‘to break forth, gush forth, labour to bring forth, draw up, take out’. Scripture speaks of the river called Giḥon, that Ḥizqiyahu the king channelled as a water supply for Yisra’ĕl, which enabled them to endure and withstand an Assyrian siege.

Messiah commanded the man who was born blind to go and wash in this pool:

Yoḥanan/John 9:7 “And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Shiloaḥ” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came seeing.”

The Greek word that is used here is Σιλωάμ Silōam – Strong’s G4611, a word that means ‘sent’.

The taught ones of Messiah asked if it was because this man’s sin or his parents sin that he was born blind and Messiah said that it was neither, as it was for the sole purpose of manifesting the works of Elohim and declaring that Messiah is the Light. He then proceeded to spit on the ground, make clay with the saliva and then put it in the man’s eyes, after which he instructed the man to go and wash in the pool of Shiloaḥ.

What many fail to recognise here in this miracle of sight being given to a man born blind, was that Messiah defied the sick and twisted oral traditions that had been set up as laws, while He never broke His Torah!

This took place on a Sabbath and the Pharisees accused Messiah of not guarding the Sabbath, as He, according to their oral traditions, had broken their man-made Sabbath laws, which among other things, specifically prohibited one from spitting, making clay and putting spit or wine in another’s eye on the Sabbath! Messiah comes against these three ridiculous man-made laws, while announcing that He is Master of the Sabbath and that He is the Fountain of Life that was sent to bring sight to the blind! He deliberately broke 3 rabbinic laws while establishing the clear authority of His Torah, which proclaims the Messiah, as being the Light and Fountain of life!

The command for the man born blind to go and wash in the pool that is called sent, highlights the prophetic announcement of the washing the Fountain of Life brings to a blind and broken people!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘fountain’ in Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:15 is עין ayin – Strong’s H5869 which means ‘eye, sight, fountain’, and is often used to depict the spiritual faculties, as when Aḏam and Ḥawwah sinned their ‘eyes’ were opened and they lost their innocence and were aware of their nakedness, both physical and spiritual. Eyes can be blinded to the Truth of the Torah of Elohim through compromise and sin, and eyes can be opened by Elohim, and we are told in Tehillah/Psalm 19:8 that the commands of Elohim enlighten the eyes!

At the command of Elohim, this man that was born blind in a sin-filled world, received sight, as that which had blinded him from birth had now been washed and restored to its original function.

This man was born blind for this purpose of revealing the One who opens the eyes and washes away that which has blinded man!

This FOUNTAIN GATE teaches us that we need our eyes to be enlightened with the Truth and when we turn to the Master the veil of lies and deception is taken away so that we are able to see clearly and know Him. What we notice here in this huge miracle that took place near this Fountain Gate, is that the man had to obey the command to wash in order for his sight to be restored! The miracle was not in the breaking of oral traditions but rather in the obedience to the commands of Elohim, which highlights the need for us to strip away all that is false and obey the Torah of Elohim, so that our eyes are equipped to fully see His Truth and the revelation thereof!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 3:14-16 “But their minds were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant is being read, that same veil remains, not lifted, because in Messiah it is taken away. 15 But to this day, when Mosheh is being read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 And when one turns to the Master, the veil is taken away”

Many have twisted these words of Sha’ul into thinking that by reading the Torah of Mosheh and walking according to the Torah, a veil remains, yet this is NOT was he is saying here. In fact, it is the opposite… those who deny Messiah, have a veil over their minds when they read the Torah! When we turn to the Master and acknowledge that יהושע is יהוה in the flesh, then the veil is taken away and our ability to properly understand and walk in the Torah that we are to meditate day and night upon, becomes abundantly clear, as our eyes and enlightened with the Light ofHis Truth!

יהושע is The Fountain of Life and our only source of healing! In Tehillah/Psalm 36 Dawiḏ gives a very clear contrast between the wicked and the righteous and he declares to Elohim:

Tehillah/Psalm 36:9 “For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”

The Hebrew word for fountain is מָקוֹר  maqor – Strong’s H4726 meaning, ‘a spring, fountain’ and comes from the root קוּר  qur – Strong’s H6979 which means, ‘to dig’ and we know we are to dig and seek out His kingdom and His righteousness – the question is whether people have found the True well of LIFE and are sitting and learning at it or are they drinking from a muddied counterfeit?

The Hebrew word for life is  חַי ḥay – Strong’s H2416 and means, ‘life, alive, living, flowing, fresh, running’.

With יהוה is the FOUNTAIN OF LIFE!!!

Tehillah/Psalm 68:6 “Bless Elohim in the assemblies, יהוה, from the fountain of Yisra’ĕl.”

When we come to the FOUNTAIN OF LIFE and gather when we should, as an obedient flock who know His voice, then that Water of Life becomes a fountain in us as our lives are changed and our speech is renewed enabling us to bring life and healing to the nations!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10:11 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wrong.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 13:14 “The Torah of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one away from the snares of death.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of יהוה is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16:22 “Understanding is a fountain of life to him who has it, But the disciplining of fools is folly.”

יהושע is The Living Torah and our source of Life, or rather He is the Life of the Torah – and when we drink of Him – the FOUNTAIN OF LIFE begins to flow out of us as we gain understanding, and walk in the fear of יהוה by walking in the Torah, and our speech becomes a flowing source of life!!!

What gives us our ability to be built up as living stones in the Master, is our continued obedience to walking in that which is our life – His Torah!

Ḥazon/Revelation 21:6 “And He said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘Aleph’ and the ‘Taw’, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I shall give of the fountain of the water of life without payment.”

When we remain in Him as continually drink of His Living Water as we keep rank and gather at the Appointed Times and are nourished and refreshed by the Living Water of His Word we too become a deep source of His wisdom as His Word becomes an everlasting stream:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 18:4 “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.”

If we forsake Him and allow His water to become muddied then He will dry up the fountain; and we see this clear prophetic warning given in Hoshěa when the crookedness of Ephrayim is being rebuked:

Hoshěa/Hosea 13:15 “Though he bears fruit among his brothers, an east wind comes, a wind from יהוה comes up from the wilderness, and it dries up his fountain, and his spring becomes dry – it plunders a treasure of all desirable objects. 16 “Shomeron is held guilty, for she has rebelled against her Elohim – they fall by the sword, their infants are dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.”

A dried-up fountain for rebellion – and that was what Shomeron was guilty of, and at Sheḵem יהושע comes to bring a call of restoration restore a lost Bride at Shomeron and in effect He ‘opened the fountain’ so to speak as a prophetic shadow picture of what was to come!

Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 13:1 “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of Dawiḏ and for the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, for sin and for uncleanness.”

 This ‘fountain’ being spoken of here is a reference to a flow of blood in a woman during her monthly cycle or after childbirth, but also it is speaking of a wellspring that gushes out when opened up.

And in the context of the previous chapter it relates to the piercing of יהושע (Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 12:10 – where they will look on Him whom they have pierced!), after which blood and water flowed from His side (Yoḥanan/John 19:34), as it relates to the purification and cleansing of Yisra’ĕl from her uncleanness, as the FOUNTAIN OF LIFE brings forth the LIVING WATERS that heal, restore and cleanse a lost and broken Bride!

This FOUNTAIN GATE was strengthened by שַׁלּוּם Shallum – Strong’s H7967 means, ‘retribution, recompense’, the son of כָּל־חֹזֶה Kol-chozeh – Strong’s H3626 which means, ‘all seeing’. This is certainly fitting for us, as we recognise the miracle that took place at this gate, of the sight that our Master brought to the man born blind, for in Him alone is there just retribution and recompense for sin!

The FOUNTAIN GATE teaches us to be urgent in our turning away from all falsehood and turn to the Master and have our eyes opened to the Truth that washes away all the filth of sin and lawlessness!

With this in mind, it is fitting that we take note of the next gate that is mentioned in Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:

7 – THE WATER GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:26 “Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel as far as opposite the Water Gate toward the east, and on the projecting tower.”

It was at this gate where the Giḥon spring originated, as discussed above, where we take note that the water that came forth from the Giḥon spring went to the pool of Shiloaḥ, which was located near the Fountain Gate!

This Water Gate represents to us our ability in passing through the waters, after having turned to the Master, and so between this Water Gate and the Fountain Gate we can collectively recognise our need for immersion (baptism) in the Name of יהושע, as well as our need to be continually immersed in the Word that washes us and keeps us clean!

The Hebrew word that is used for ‘water’ is מַיִם mayim – Strong’s H4325 and is often understood to carry the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture for us that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. Waters can also represent that which cleanses us, and can picture for us His Word that washes us and keeps us clean! The promise that He is with us as we pass through the waters is made clear when looking at the ancient pictographic rendering of this word, which is as follows:

Mem – מַ: and final mem – ם:

The ancient script has this letter as  and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. Knowing this letter represents ‘water’, we are also able to see how this can render for us the meaning of ‘washing’ or ‘cleansing’.

Yod – יִ:

The ancient script has this letter as  which is ‘an arm and hand’, and carries the meaning of ‘work, make, throw’, from the primary functions of the arm and hand, and it also represents worship or giving thanks in the extending of hands as a gesture of this. The work of one’s hands is the basic meaning of this letter! And this letter also pictures for us the outstretched Arm and working Hand of Elohim that is not too short to save!

When looking at this word in its pictographic form and then hearing the clear promise given to us in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 43, we are able to clearly see that the Outstretched Arm and Hand of Elohim is with us in the midst of the waters. He is with us to protect us and to cleanse us with His Word!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 43:1-3 “But now, thus said יהוה, your Creator, O Ya‛aqoḇ, and He who formed you, O Yisra’ěl, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name, you are Mine. 2 “When you pass through the waters, I am with you; and through rivers, they do not overflow you. When you walk through fire, you are not scorched, and a flame does not burn you. 3 “For I am יהוה your Elohim, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ěl, your Saviour; I gave Mitsrayim for your ransom, Kush and Seḇa in your place.”

The is נְתִינִים Nethinim – Strong’s H5411 which were the ‘temple servants’ or ‘given ones’, dwelt opposite this gate. They were the ones who served in the temple and often did menial tasks yet their lives were given over to service in the temple under the hand of the Lěwites.

Our Master gave of Himself, in order to give to us that which He had promised to Aḇraham; and in turn, we too are enabled, by His favour through the Blood of Messiah, to ‘give’ ourselves totally over to Him, as a daily living sacrifice, serving Him with our all, in complete set-apartness.

This gate teaches us what our immersion in the Name of יהושע Messiah entails, as we die to self and are raised to newness of life, filled with His Spirit, having been cleansed and set-apart in order to serve faithfully as His trustworthy ambassadors!

In order to do this, we are to allow His Word to wash us, for He is our Husband that washes His Bride with His Word!

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:22-27 “Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Master. 23 Because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Messiah is head of the assembly, and He is Saviour of the body. 24 But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in every respect. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it, 26 in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, 27 in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might be set-apart and blameless.”

Our Mighty Husband, Redeemer and King, gave Himself for us, in order to set us apart and cleanse us with the washing of water by His Word; and our response is made clear: we are to subject ourselves to Him, our Master and keep clean, through the washing that the Word brings!

The Nethinim dwelt in Ophel as far as opposite the water gate toward the east! The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘east’ is מִזְרָח mizraḥ – Strong’s H4217 meaning, ‘place of sunrise, east, eastern, place of breaking forth’, and comes from the primitive root word זָרַח zaraḥ – Strong’s H2224 meaning, ‘to rise, come forth, arise’.

The east also speaks of that which is ancient or from old, and this would be a reminder of the clear promise given and covenant made with Aḇraham, which would be fulfilled in Messiah – the second Aḏam!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 41:2 “Who raised up the righteous one from the east, called him to His foot, gave the nations before him, and made sovereigns submit to him? He gave them as the dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow.”

That which Mosheh would look toward would be fulfilled in Messiah, and we can learn a great lesson here in that the Torah (Mosheh) is our trainer unto Messiah:

Galatiyim/Galatians 3:24-25 “Therefore the Torah became our trainer unto Messiah, in order to be declared right by belief. 25 And after belief has come, we are no longer under a trainer.”

The term ‘we are no longer under a trainer’ does not imply that we do not need to follow the Torah, but rather that we now have no excuse not to follow the Torah, as it ‘trains’ us unto Messiah, equipping us to fully walk in Messiah – The Living Torah, and without the Torah we would have no ‘trainer’ as it were. Sadly, many misinterpret these verses and think that the Torah is no longer applicable, yet this is not so! We need the Torah to show us our need for a Saviour and without the Torah we have no means of having ‘faith’ being established in doing the good works prepared beforehand for us.

The Water gate teaches us that we are to walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, as water is often used as a metaphor for the Spirit of Elohim! Walking according to the Spirit, simply means that we are to walk according to the pattern which comes from above and not according to the corrupted earthly pattern of man, typified as being that of the flesh! The circumcision that we receive, at our immersion, is that which is does from above, not by the hands of men! We therefore recognise our need to follow the clear pattern of the Torah of Elohim, which was given through Mosheh and revealed through the life, death and resurrection of Messiah!

Mosheh was shown the clear pattern of the Heavens and told to make exactly according to the pattern above! That pattern has not changed, for Elohim does not change, and therefore our need to be washed by that which is from above teaches us our need to immerse ourselves into the Word of Elohim and be a Bride that is being daily washed in her faithful preparation for her returning King!

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 1:22-25 “Now that you have cleansed your lives in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned brotherly love, love one another fervently with a clean heart, 23 having been born again – not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible – through the living Word of Elohim, which remains forever, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, and all the esteem of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, 25 but the Word of Elohim remains forever.” And this is the Word, announced as Good News to you.”

Without water grass, plants and flowers wither and fall away! In Berěshith/Genesis 2:5 we are told that there was no shrub of the field, nor had any plant sprung up because Elohim had not yet sent rain and there was no man to till the ground! Without water nothing can grow and this is a clear prophetic picture of our need to have His Word be the Waters that cleanse us and keep us clean!

It was at this Water Gate that Neḥemyah and Ezra gathered all Yisra’ěl to hear the Torah!

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 8:1 “And when the seventh new moon came, the children of Yisra’ěl were in their cities. And all the people gathered together as one man in the open space that was in front of the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Torah of Mosheh, which יהוה had commanded Yisra’ěl.”

This highlights the clear lesson of the importance of hearing, guarding and doing the Torah, and that to walk according to the Spirit does not set aside the submission and subjection to the Torah that is clearly required by all who call upon the Name of יהושע Messiah and are immersed in Him!

8 – THE HORSE GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:28 “Beyond the Horse Gate the priests strengthened, each opposite his own house.” 

The Hebrew word for ‘horse’ is סוּס sus – Strong’s H5483 and carries a very clear symbol of power and strength, in Scripture. This can have both positive as well as negative connotations, as we take note that we are not to put our trust in horses and chariots but that we are to trust in יהוה. The ultimate picture of strength in battle is seen in the return of our King, The Word of יהוה, who is coming on a white horse!

Ḥazon/Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw the heaven opened, and there was a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Trustworthy and True, and in righteousness He judges and fights. 12 And His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns, having a Name that had been written, which no one had perceived except Himself – 13 and having been dressed in a robe dipped in blood – and His Name is called: The Word of יהוה. 14 And the armies in the heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations. And He shall shepherd them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Ěl Shaddai. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS AND MASTER OF MASTERS.”

It was at this Horse Gate that Athalyah was killed:

Melaḵim Bět/2 Kings 11:16 “So they took hold of her, and she went by way of the horses’ entrance to the sovereign’s house, and was put to death there.”

עֲתַלְיָה Athalyah – Strong’s H6271 means, ‘afflicted of Yah’

Athalyah was the mother of Aḥazyahu, who reigned for one year in Yerushalayim and walked in the ways of the house of Aḥaḇ and did evil in the eyes of יהוה, for his mother counselled him to do wrong. Athalyah was the granddaughter of Omri, and daughter of Aḥaḇ and Izeḇel, and she was the wife of Yehoram, the sovereign of the House of Yehuḏah. After he was killed by Yěhu, his mother rose up and destroyed all the offspring of the reign of the House of Yehuḏah, expect for the baby Yo’ash, who was hidden for 6 years while Athalyah reigned as queen.

In his seventh year, Yo’ash began to reign, after Athalyah was put to death and Yo’ash did what was right in the eyes of יהוה, all the days of Yehoyaḏa the priest! (please take time to read of these accounts in Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 22-24)

Why I am mentioning this story, is to highlight the lesson we can take from this Horse Gate; and that is that anything/anyone that exalts itself/themselves above יהוה will be destroyed!

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

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to those who go down to Mitsrayim for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Set-apart One of Yisra’ěl, nor seek יהוה!”

Miḵah/Micah 5:10 “And it shall be in that day,” declares יהוה, “that I shall cut off your horses out of your midst, and I shall destroy your chariots.”

In a song of deliverance that was sung by Mosheh and all Yisra’ěl, after the Yisra’ĕlites crossed through the Sea of Reeds, we take note of the words that were sung:

Shemoth/Exodus 15:1 “Then Mosheh and the children of Yisra’ěl sang this song to יהוה, and spoke, saying, “I sing to יהוה, for He is highly exalted! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”

The horse and it’s rider He has thrown into the sea! Notice here that the horse is mentioned before the rider, as the horse in Scripture is often likened to that which represents strength, and the relying on one’s natural strength and power instead of upon יהוה.

Hoshěa/Hosea 14:3 “Ashshur does not save us. We do not ride on horses, nor ever again do we say to the work of our hands, ‘Our mighty ones.’ For the fatherless finds compassion in You.”

Our victory song is certainly in praise and esteem of יהוה our Elohim who has caused us to overcome the flesh and cause us to trust not in ourselves, but rather put our whole trust in Him.

9 – THE EAST GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:29 “ After them Tsaḏoq son of Imměr strengthened opposite his own house. After him Shemayah son of Sheḵanyah, keeper of the East Gate, strengthened.” 

The Hebrew word for ‘east’ is מִזְרָח mizraḥ – Strong’s H4217, as already discussed with regards to the Water Gate, which we do not need to repeat. I do however, want to highlight another significant lesson we can take from this East Gate, which we are able to do so when looking at the words in:

Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 31:14 “And Qorě son of Yimnah the Lěwite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the voluntary offerings to Elohim, to distribute the offerings of יהוה and the most set-apart gifts.”

It was at this EAST GATE where the voluntary offerings were kept and distributed from!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘voluntary offering’ comes from the root word נְדָבָה neḏaḇah – Strong’s H5071 meaning, ‘voluntariness, freewill offering, volunteer freely, willingly’ and comes from the word נָדַב naḏaḇ – Strong’s H5068 meaning, ‘to incite, impel, make offerings willingly, volunteers’.

Tehillah/Psalm 54:6 “Voluntarily I slaughter to You; I praise Your Name, O יהוה, for it is good.”

Tehillah/Psalm 119:8 “Please accept the voluntary offerings of my mouth, O יהוה, and teach me Your right-rulings.”

This speaks of our willing choice to offer up our lives in wholehearted devotion to serving our Master – and to do so voluntarily is a great expression of our joy in loving Him as we should, with praise and thanksgiving. This speaks of our eagerness and willingness to freely offer up our lives as a living offering and incite others to do so too!

The voluntary offerings were offerings that were beyond the tithes, contributions and vowed offerings, and were as they are called: ‘voluntary’; and while these offerings were not mandated as a strict requirement, we see that the provision of this acceptable offering to יהוה reflects the call to go beyond the call of duty, teachings us that we too are to go beyond the ‘minimum requirements’, as we voluntarily give our all unto Elohim!

It is believed by some that this East Gate may have been the same gate that is called ‘Yapha’, which means, ‘beautiful’, in:

Ma’asei/Acts 3:2 “And a certain man, lame from his birth, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the Set-apart Place which is called Yaphah, to ask alms from those entering into the Set-apart Place”

While this man, wo was lame from birth, sought alms, Kěpha gave him more than what money can buy – the Good News, as we see from the following:

Ma’asei/Acts 3:6-8 “But Kěpha said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do possess, this I give you: In the Name of יהושע Messiah of Natsareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And taking him by the right hand he lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones were made firm. 8 And leaping up, he stood and walked, and went in with them into the Set-apart Place, walking and leaping and praising Elohim.” 

This East Gate was certainly one of the most ornate and important gates as it led to the Tempe courtyard, and it is through this gate that Messiah enters!

Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 46:12 “And when the prince makes a spontaneous ascending offering or spontaneous peace offerings to יהוה, the gate facing east shall be opened for him. And he shall prepare his ascending offering and his peace offerings as he did on the Sabbath day. And he shall go out, and after he goes out the gate shall be shut.”

Notice how it is at this gate that the spontaneous offerings shall be brought and the gate opened for the Prince!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘spontaneous’ is נְדָבָה neḏaḇah – Strong’s H5071!!!

While the Jews look forward to Messiah entering through this gate, they failed to acknowledge that He already did, when He came riding on a donkey and gave freely of Himself for us all and the next time HE is coming, He is coming on a horse, riding on the clouds!

This EAST GATE teaches us that in Messiah we are fully equipped to give our lives as a daily living offering, for this is our reasonable worship before Elohim!

Romiyim/Romans 12:1-2 “I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.”

10 – MIPHQAḎ GATE

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:31 “After him Malkiyah, one of the goldsmiths, strengthened as far as the house of the Nethinim and of the merchants, opposite the Miphqaḏ Gate, and as far as the going up of the corner.”

The Hebrew word מִפְקָד Miphqaḏ – Strong’s H4662 means, ‘command, appointed place’ and comes from the root word פָּקַד paqaḏ – Strong’s H6485 and carries the meaning, ‘to attend to, call up, muster, appoint, number, call to account, charge’. A derivative of this root word is the term פִּקּוּד piqqud – Strong’s H6490 which means, ‘precepts, commandments, statutes, regulations’.

This gate could give us an understanding of being a gate of inspection, especially as we look intently into the mirror of the Word and meditate on His Torah day and night! Meditating on the orders of Elohim implies a proper inspection of one’s life, as measured by the clear commands and regulations of the Word of Elohim. A proper meditation of the orders of יהוה will bring about a sober assessment of where one’s walk is in terms of the required set-apartness that is called for and sadly many choose to be ignorant of the orders of יהוה so that they can continue in their compromised lifestyles and vainly assume that their path is being kept clean, yet they have no ability to actually keep it clean and will sadly perish through a lack of knowledge that they wilfully choose not to seek and meditate upon!

When we properly meditate on the order of Elohim then we will certainly regard His ways!

The Hebrew word מִפְקָד Miphqaḏ – Strong’s H4662 is translated as ‘appointed place’ in:

Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43:21 “And you shall take the bull of the sin offering, and shall burn it in the appointed place of the House, outside the set-apart place.”

Is it possible that this was the appointed gate that Messiah was brought out of and suffered at?

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 13:11-12 “For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the Set-apart Place by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 And so יהושע also suffered outside the gate, to set apart the people with His own blood.”

This Miphqaḏ Gate highlights the clear lesson on the Appointed Times of our Master, which includes all His Sabbaths and Feasts, by which we are equipped to faithfully enter into His rest. Our ability to pass through the gates relies on our obedience in guarding His Sabbaths and Feasts, lest we are found to b e rejected for works of lawlessness, trying to enter in through some other way that is not prescribed!

This gate reminds us that the commands of Elohim are to be guarded and our true reflection of love for Him can only be seen in our obedience to His commands! Rejecting His Sabbaths and Feasts and rejecting to walk in His Torah will leave one unable to be counted worthy of entering in!

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and guard His commands. 3 For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy”

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:24-27 “And let us be concerned for one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging, and so much more as you see the day coming near. 26 For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins, 27  but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents.”

The Miphqaḏ Gate reminds us to be a people who count the cost and are counted worthy to serve as they guard the Torah of Elohim and guard to keep His Sabbaths and Feasts, offering their lives up as a voluntary daily offering!

These are the 10 gates mentioned in Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3, and what is worth taking note of in this chapter is that the last verse ends with the SHEEP GATE – emphasising the lesson that clearly declares that our journey of passing through the gates begins and ends with יהושע Messiah, our Good Shepherd, the First and the Last!!!

There are 2 more gates that are mentioned in Neḥemyah/Nehemiah, and we are able to learn some vital lessons from these too:

11 – THE GATE OF EPHRAYIM

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 8:16 “So the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, and in their courtyards and in the courtyards of the House of Elohim, and in the open space of the Water Gate and in the open space of the Gate of Ephrayim.”

After Yisra’ĕl had heard the Torah for the first time, the heads of the father’s houses, with the priests and Lěwites were gathered to Ezra, in order to study the Torah and they discovered that they were to keep the Feast of Sukkoth and all obeyed and made booths everywhere, including the open space in front of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephrayim. There are certainly a number of prophetic parallels that one can deduce from these accounts, especially as we consider how many are coming to the knowledge of the Truth and after hearing the Truth for the first time, as it should be heard, are obeying!

The Name Ephrayim – אֶפְרַיִם – Strong’s H669 means, ‘doubly fruitful’, for Elohim had caused him to be very fruitful in Mitsrayim! The name of Ephrayim is often used to reference the remnant lost 10 tribes of Yisra’ĕl that are returning to the truth (especially in the Book of Hoshěa/Hosea); and his name gives us great encouragement that shows us how we are able to bear much fruit under the severe pressures and trials of life, knowing that in our scattered state, in Messiah we are able to bear much fruit that lasts.

In the last two verses of Hoshěa /Hosea we see the clear truth that Ephrayim must be done with idols and idol worship and therefore cut off the head/leading of compromised truths and walk in the clear straight Torah of Elohim:

Hoshěa/Hosea 14:8-9 “What more has Ephrayim to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after him. I am like a green cypress tree, your fruit comes from Me.” 9 Who is wise and understands these words, discerning and knows them? For the ways of יהוה are straight, and the righteous walk in them, but the transgressors stumble in them.”

The remnant faithful and fruitful will be the ones who put to death the works of darkness and shine the light of the Truth, while the fearful and lazy will stumble and fall!

Romiyim/Romans 13:12 “The night is far advanced, the day has come near. So let us put off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

In order to properly pass through the gates, we are to bear the fruit of righteousness, walking according to the Spirit as we submit to and obey all our Master’s commands! Chapter 8 in Neḥemyah/Nehemiah highlights for us a wonderful pattern of a true retuning to obedience as one has ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, guarding to do all according to the clear right-ruling of Elohim!

12 – THE GATE OF THE PRISON

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 12:39 “and above the Gate of Ephrayim, and above the Old Gate, and above the Fish Gate, and the Tower of Ḥanan’ěl, and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. And they stood still at the Gate of the Prison.”

This last gate teaches us the power of deliverance that our Master has brought to us through His death and resurrection! The court of this gate is mentioned in Chapter 3, between the Fountain Gate and the Water Gate:

Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 3:25 “Palal son of Uzai strengthened opposite the corner, and on the tower which projects from the sovereign’s upper house that was by the courtyard of the prison. After him Peḏayah son of Parosh.”

 The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘prison’ is מַטָּרָה mattarah – Strong’s H4307 which means, ‘a guard, ward, prison, guardhouse, target’.

It is possible that it was in this court that Yirmeyahu was shut up in prison:

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 32:2 “Now at that time the army of the sovereign of Baḇel besieged Yerushalayim, and Yirmeyahu the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the sovereign of Yehuḏah.”

It was while he was imprisoned here that the word of YHWH came to him, instructing him to buy a field!

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 32:8 “So Ḥaname’ěl my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of יהוה, and said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Binyamin, for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption. Buy it for yourself.’ And I knew that this was the word of יהוה.”

I would like to expand a little on this chapter of Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 32, as it will assist in our ability to recognise how our Master has purchased us with His Own Blood and caused us to be set free from the prison of sin and darkness, giving us strength to hold fast until He comes – for if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!

חֲנַמְאֵל Ḥaname’ěl – Strong’s H2601 means, ‘El is gracious, El favours, El has favoured’, and שַׁלּוּם Shallum – Strong’s H7967 means, ‘retribution, recompense’. עֲנָתוֹת Anathoth –Strong’s H6068 means, ‘answers to prayer’. With the meaning of these names and this location of this field we are able to see a very powerful message that comes through the Word of יהוה, and that is that with Elohim, who favours, there is retribution and recompense in a clear answer to prayer.

Retribution can have the meaning of ‘the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment’, and we see that the gracious Elohim who hears our prayers, answers our prayers and shall dispense both the reward for obedience as well as the punishment for disobedience!  Yehuḏah was about to go into 70 years of captivity for being disobedient and not letting the land have its Sabbath rests, and in the midst of this very trying time, there is a sure promise and hope that is given to the prayers for the righteous ones, as this promise is expressed practically through the actions of Yirmeyahu. Yirmeyahu would be told to ‘buy’ the field, and the Hebrew word translated as ‘buy’ is קְנָא qena – Strong’s H7066 which means, ‘to acquire, buy, purchase’, and corresponds to the word קָנָה qanah – Strong’s H7069 which means, ‘to acquire, buy, purchase, get, recover’. We see this word being used in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth and do not sell it – Wisdom and discipline and understanding.”

The instruction is clear – get wisdom! And what we must recognise here is that it will cost you!

Messiah has paid the cost for our deliverance, yet we must count the cost of following hard after Him and seeking Him with all our heart!

This was indeed a clear picture of ‘faith in action’!!! It was not enough for Yirmeyahu to simply be teaching and proclaiming the Truth – he had to live it out and let his faith/belief be clearly seen in his actions. Picture the scene for a moment: here you have Yirmeyahu who was clearly being a faithful prophet of Elohim and while he continually warned the people of the wrath of Elohim, they rejected his words and locked him up. Now this same prophet who was proclaiming a captivity that was about to happen went and bought a field! For many this would have seemed strange as he was telling everyone that they were about to be exiled for 70 years and here Yirmeyahu was buying a field as his right for redemption to do so was validated by his cousin. Think about it for a moment – would Yirmeyahu live another 70 years? What good would the field be to him? Yet with this clear action of obedience to the Word of Elohim, we see a practical parable being displayed in action! His actions certainly got the attention of the people, and in a manner of speaking he ‘put his money where his mouth was’!!! יהוה spoke and He confirmed His Word through Ḥaname’ěl! His Word is confirmed to us by His favour, or better put – His favour is confirmed to us by His Living Word!!!

Dawiḏ says in:

Tehillah/Psalm 119:58 “I have sought Your face with all my heart; show me favour according to Your word.”

In verse 8 Yirmeyahu says, ‘… And I knew that this was the Word of יהוה’.

Once again picture the scene: this courageous prophet who had been locked up may have had some doubts about hearing from יהוה, especially as it wouldn’t have made any sense to buy a field in a land that was about to be taken away by foreigners. By birth right Yirmeyahu was eligible to perform the duty of kinsman redeemer, and so he does what he is asked, having been assured and confident that this was indeed the Word of יהוה. Yirmeyahu was strengthened by the Word of יהוה and proceeded with great confidence, even when it may have looked like a hopeless situation!

The actions here of Yirmeyahu can speak many valuable lessons to us indeed, especially as we consider that we too must act in obedient faith to His Word, even in what may seem to be the most hopeless of situations! Never let circumstances deter you from doing what the Word so clearly instructs and is confirmed in the hearing of the Truth that brings faith/belief! What we are also able to recognise here is a classic shadow picture of our Kinsman Redeemer, יהושע Messiah, who came in the flesh in order to become our legitimate Kinsman Redeemer who legally has the right to redeem the field – that is the world! In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, who is the likeness of the invisible Elohim, the first-born of all creation and legal Redeemer!

Yirmeyahu bought the field for 17 sheqels of silver, signed the deed and sealed it!

This purchase of the field as the right of redemption in the face of exile and destruction teaches us the power of the great work of redemption that our Master came and brought us when He came in the flesh in order to redeem us from the corruption and wickedness of sin, with the sure promise that our inheritance waits for us and has been sealed by His Blood! In verse 7 the Hebrew word for redemption is גְּאֻלָּה  geullah – Strong’s H1353 and simply means, ‘redemption, right of redemption, redemption rights’ and is the passive participle of the primitive root word גָּאַל ga’al – Strong’s H1350 meaning, ‘to redeem, act as kinsman, avenge, buy back, claim, redeemer, avenger of blood,  rescue’. This word is also used to refer to our Redeemer in the form of גֹּאֲלִי ga’ali meaning, ‘my Redeemer’ as in:

Iyoḇ/Job 19:25 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and as the Last shall rise over the dust”

In Tehillah/Psalm 103 Dawiḏ reminds us not to forget the dealings of יהוה – as He Has Redeemed our life from destruction!

The deed was signed and sealed! The Hebrew word used here for ‘sealed’ is the primitive root verb חָתַם ḥatham – Strong’s H2856 which means, ‘to seal, affix a seal, seal up’, and it is from this root that we get the Hebrew noun for ‘seal’, which is חֹתָם ḥotham – Strong’s H2368 which means, ‘a seal, signet ring’. Why I mention this is that we can be reminded that the names of the 12 tribes of Yisra’ĕl were to be engraved on the shoham stones of the High Priest’s garments, like the engraving of a signet – חֹתָם ḥotham! The Greek word used here in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) of this verse in Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 32:10 for ‘sealed’ is σφραγίζω sphragizō – Strong’s G4972 which means, ‘to seal, put a seal on, set’, and we gain a better understanding of what these actions of Yirmeyahu shadow picture for us when recognising the work of redemption that our Master has done for us and the price His blood has paid for us to have the seal of our inheritance secured in Him!

Here are a couple of verses where we can find this word and get a better picture in terms of what we are reading tonight:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 1:13-14 “in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your deliverance, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Set-apart Spirit of promise, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His esteem.”

In Sha’ul’s introduction to the believers in Ephesos he was making clear that we not only have through יהושע Messiah, redemption and forgiveness, but that we have also been sealed with the Set-Apart Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession is fulfilled at His second coming!!!

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Set-apart Spirit of Elohim, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Yirmeyahu, after having signed and sealed the deed of purchase for the field, went and gave it to Baruḵ son of Neriyyah, son of Maḥsĕyah, in the presence of his cousin and many witnesses who too had signed the deed of purchase before all the officials who sat in the court of the guard where Yirmeyahu was being held prisoner!

Baruḵ – בָּרוּךְStrong’s H1263 means, ‘blessed’, and he was the son of נֵרִיָּה Neriyyah – Strong’s H5374 which means, ‘lamp of Yah’, which was the son of מַחְסֵיָה Maḥsĕyah – Strong’s H4271 which means, ‘Yah is a refuge, Yah is a shelter’.

These names carry a very powerful message for us too, as we consider how Baruḵ was a faithful scribe to Yirmeyahu, as we see by their names the clear message that: ‘BLESSED IS THE LAMP OF YAH, FOR YAH IS A REFUGE’. We are clearly told in Scripture that the Name of יהוה is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and are safe (Mishlĕ/Proverbs 18:10). In Ḥazon/Revelation we are clearly told that the Lamb, which is יהושע Messiah, is the Lamp, and it is in Him that we are sealed and find our shelter and refuge in times of distress, having the full assurance that our redemption draws near!

Yirmeyahu commanded Baruḵ, according to the Word of יהוה of Hosts, to take both deeds – the sealed one and the open one – and put them in an earthen vessel, so that they remain many days!!! Many days indeed – at least another 71 years as this was 1 year before the exile would take place!

In this clear instruction we are once again given some very powerful pictures indeed! With the two copies of the deed being placed in an earthen vessel we are able to see a picture of the two tablets of stone that were placed in the Ark of the Covenant, which in turn clearly pictures for us the clear words of His Covenant being placed upon our hearts and sealed with His Spirit! One sealed and one open also teaches us that while His word is sealed and is secured in the Master, it is not hidden from us, but it is on our hearts and in our mouths to do it, for He has revealed His Word to us through the life, death and resurrection of Messiah, our Kinsman Redeemer!

We are the earthen vessels upon which He has set His seal and entrusted us with His Word, for many days! Days that we are to endure and hold firm our calling and inheritance in the Master!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 4:6-10 “For Elohim, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts for the enlightening of the knowledge of the esteem of Elohim in the face of יהושע Messiah. 7 And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power might be of Elohim, and not of us – 8 being hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; being perplexed, but not in despair; 9 being persecuted, but not forsaken; being thrown down, but not destroyed; 10 always bearing about in the body the dying of the Master יהושע, that the life of יהושע might also be manifested in our body.”

This treasure is our title deed to our inheritance in His land – that is the earth and everything in it, for it belongs to Him and He has redeemed it by His Blood, and the assurance we have in Him is that the meek shall inherit the earth – an inheritance that awaits the faithful set-apart ones who endure until the end! We are the very earthen vessels in which He has placed His Words, which must remain for many days and be preserved in righteousness! Under the right conditions, documents can be kept in earthen vessels for a very long time, as the Dead Sea scrolls that were found are a testimony of this fact, teaching us that we too have this treasure of His promises in earthen vessels!

What I found very interesting is that the Greek word used here for ‘treasure’ is θησαυρός thēsauros – Strong’s G2344 which means, ‘treasure, storehouse, magazine, repository’, and refers to, ‘the place in which good and precious things are collected and laid up’. The English word ‘thesaurus’, in general use, is a reference work that lists words grouped together according to similarity of meaning (containing synonyms and sometimes antonyms). The main purpose of such reference works is to help the user “to find the word, or words, by which [an] idea may be most fitly and aptly expressed”.

Do you see what treasure we have been given – it is not just some random words, but the very living Words of our Master that He has put in us, in helping us ‘find’ the proper words and actions that can be most fitly applied to every situation!

He has put His thesaurus in us, so to speak!!! His Word is so powerful that it enables us to rightly divide and discern the Truth so that we can behave and live as true set-apart ones in complete righteousness, even whilst we are in exile and are faithfully enduring, looking for the blessed expectation and esteemed appearance of the great Elohim and our Saviour יהושע Messiah!

יהוה made it very clear to Yirmeyahu that houses and fields would once again be bought in this land, and this was the sure sign that He was giving to them, through the obedient actions of this courageous prophet who was imprisoned in the court guard and facing exile!

After having signed, sealed and delivered the documents to Baruḵ, Yirmeyahu prayed to יהוה, and began his prayer by focusing on the incomparable greatness and excellency of יהוה, declaring that nothing is too hard for יהוה! He proclaims great and mighty are the works of יהוה of Hosts, who by His great power and outstretched arm He made the heavens and earth, and shows loving-commitment to thousands and repays the crookednesses of fathers into the bosoms of their children after them. He praised Elohim for His might and power, for with a strong Hand and Outstretched Arm He brought Yisra’ĕl out of Mitsrayim and gave them the land promised to Aḇraham! He then acknowledges the fact that Yisra’ĕl had sinned and did not obey the voice of Elohim nor walk in His Torah, and did not do what was commanded.  This was the reason they were in the position they were in, with exile facing them in the face and the wrath of Elohim being ready to be poured out through the sword, famine and plague about which they had been warned! Yet despite all of this that was happening and about to happen, Yirmeyahu confirms his faith in Elohim by saying that he did what he was commanded and bought a field in the city that was being taken captive! יהוה then confirms the words of this powerful prayer of praise to Yirmeyahu by asking Him a clear rhetorical question, “Is there any matter too hard for me?”.

Yirmeyahu, while certainly declaring this truth in his prayer, would have certainly been strengthened and encouraged by these words of יהוה, for I am sure that he would have been reminded of the first time that we see יהוה saying these words, when He said them in:

Berěshith/Genesis 18:14 “Is any matter too hard for יהוה? At the appointed time I am going to return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah is to have a son.”

These were the words that יהוה spoke to Aḇraham after Sarah had laughed when hearing that she would have a child! יהוה made it clear that she would have a child at the appointed time spoken by Him, and this too would have been an urgent reminder to Yirmeyahu, as he heard these same words that would give him the full assurance that the Word of יהוה never fails, as His loving-commitment endures forever!

He then continues on and confirms to Yirmeyahu what was going to take place, yet promised that He would gather His people back to this land and put His fear in their hearts and that fields and houses would indeed be bought in this land again, therefore the deed of purchase that Yirmeyahu signed, sealed and delivered to be kept in an earthen vessel for many days was a sure sign and proof of this clear promise! These people had the prophetic word made certain through the clear actions of Yirmeyahu and this called for an endurance of many days! We too have this full assurance of the prophetic words of our inheritance in our Master made certain and would do well to endure and keep shining the light of this Truth amidst a dark and depraved world!

Kěpha made this clear to us in his second letter:

Kěpha Bět/ 2 Peter 1:19-21 “And we have the prophetic word made more certain, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture came to be of one’s own interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the desire of man, but men of Elohim spoke, being moved by the Set-apart Spirit.”

As we consider the event that took place here in Yirmeyahu we are able to grasp more clearly the full assurance we have in our Great Kinsman Redeemer, who has put His treasure in our hearts and set His seal upon us, so that we can continue shining the light of this truth, knowing that no matter is too hard for our Mighty Master and Elohim, יהוה of Hosts!

Our Master and Elohim, Redeemer and King, יהושע Messiah has purchased the field and in His Blood our inheritance is secured! How are you living? Have you counted the cost and ‘sold all you have’ in order to ‘buy that field’? Have you found the pearl of great price – that entrance into the reign, and have forsaken all to follow the One who has paid the price of the field? Or have the current circumstances that you have found yourself in caused you to remain chained in bondage to the things of the flesh and have been unable to see the truth that nothing is too hard for Elohim?

I hope that this message tonight stirs in you the belief/faith that Yirmeyahu displayed, by being a doer of the word and not just a hearer only! He was not just a proclaimer but he showed his belief in works of obedience to the Word, despite the impending exile and his captive state of being held prisoner!

Yirmeyahu could faithfully depend upon the Word of יהוה, even if he did not know or fully understand how it would be physically accomplished! Yerushalayim was going to be burned because of the idolatry of יהוה’s called out one’s, yet Yirmeyahu could put full confidence in the Word of יהוה, and this we can learn a  great deal from, as we have the Word made sure for us in the life, death and resurrection of our Master, giving us the sure promise and seal of our inheritance, in His Blood, by which we are grafted into His Covenants of Promise!

The field has been purchased and our inheritance has been secured – how are you living? Is your faith clearly seen in your daily actions of obedience or have you allowed an enslaved mind-set to cause you to doubt the sure promises of Elohim, promises that are yes and aměn in Messiah?

I trust and pray that by this very real and practical parable, as portrayed through the actions of Yirmeyahu, it will stir in you the clear confidence, hope and courage to endure many days as you have this treasure of His Truth in your earthen vessel! You are the salt and light of the world. The Lamp of Yah is in you and may you not hide that lamp but be as Giḏ’on’s men who had a clay vessel with a light in it in one hand and a shofar in the other, and at the command of Giḏ’on broke their vessels and let the light shine while blowing the shofar, and brought about a complete destruction of the enemy, by the Hand of Elohim, which you can read about in Shophetim/Judges 7!

The pictures of the shofars, the jars and the torches can give us a great lesson of how we are to be overcomers in יהושע Messiah, as we read in:

Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 2:19-22 “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.” 20 But in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some unto value and some unto no value. 21 If, then, anyone cleanses himself from these matters, he shall be a vessel unto value, having been set apart, of good use to the Master, having been prepared for every good work. 22 And flee from the lusts of youth, but pursue righteousness, belief, love, peace with those calling on the Master out of a clean heart.”

We who have cleansed ourselves from all unrighteousness shall be a vessel unto value, having been set-apart and of good use to our Master! Messiah came in the flesh and defeated sin, and He calls us to walk as He walked, and this will take the clear responsibility of a true remnant to break off the things of the flesh, and surrender totally into the hands of our King, becoming a vessel unto value that holds firm the true witness of Messiah and guards the commands of Elohim.

May we all learn from the committed and faithful actions of obedience displayed by Yirmeyahu! There was still much pressure and hardship that he would face and have to endure, yet what would have certainly been a strengthening assurance to him was the sure Word of יהוה, and the promise of His Word made certain through the clear promise of this sealed deed of purchase that was to be kept in an earthen vessel many days! While we too will face many pressures and persecutions, let us hold fast the wonderful seal of our inheritance as we guard His treasure that is in us with great joy and an expectation that will not fail!

Back to the Gate of the prison!

The reason for the expansion of Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 32 is simply to highlight the Good News of how our Master has redeemed us from the prison of sin and death!

When our Master was hear He stood up and proclaimed the following words from:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Master יהוה is upon Me, because יהוה has anointed Me to bring good news to the meek. He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound 2  to proclaim the acceptable year of יהוה…”

Then He rolled up the scroll, ending before announcing the vengeance of Elohim to come! Our Master proclaimed release and this gives us the freedom to walk in the Torah of Freedom and not be bound by sin, giving us the ability to also release those who are indebted to us!!!

The Prison Gate teaches us about release and forgiveness, and that we are to forgive others as He has forgiven us – for we are a redeemed people!

12 Gates: THE SHEEP GATE – THE FISH GATE – THEH OLD GATE – THE VALLEY GATE – THE DUNG GATE – THE FOUNTAIN GATE – THE WATER GATE – THE HORSE GATE – THE EAST GATE 0 THE MIPHQAḎ GATE – THE GATE OF EPHRAYIM – THE GATE OF THE PRISON

 12 uniquely named gates that collectively teach us and remind us of the deliverance that our Master has worked for us, giving us a clear choice to respond faithfully and enter in, or refuse to hear and be cast out!!!

In the vision that Yoḥanan was given of the renewed heavens and earth, the new Yerushalayim which he saw descending out of the heaven from Elohim, had 12 gates:

Ḥazon/Revelation 21:10-13 “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the set-apart Yerushalayim, descending out of the heaven from Elohim, 11 having the esteem of Elohim, and her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal, 12 and having a great and high wall, having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve messengers, and names written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the children of Yisra’ěl: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.”

Ḥazon/Revelation 21:21 “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls – each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was clean gold, like transparent glass.” 

Each gate was a giant pearl! When I see this, I am reminded of eth parable our Master gave, in:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:44-46 “Again, the reign of the heavens is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man having found it, hid, and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the reign of the heavens is like a man, a merchant, seeking fine pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

The Greek word used in the LXX (Septuagint) for ‘found’ is εὑρίσκω heuriskō – Strong’s G2147 which means, ‘to find, get, obtain, learn, discover, understand’, and we see this word used in:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.”

So many ‘wannabe-believers’ are not willing to ‘seek and find’ the great pearls of wisdom in the Word of Elohim, and when wisdom is brought forth by another, the lazy and ignorant usually pass off the one bringing the message of great Truth as being puffed up with too much knowledge. יהוה tells us that His people are perishing for lack of knowledge, and this is because they are not seeking His knowledge, and will therefore never find it, although they erroneously claim to have found the truth as they hold fast to ear tickling teachings of man that are taught as commands while they do not even know what the word of Elohim actually says! To those who find His words because they are earnestly seeking Him, they will be life and healing to them! What we take note of here is that this parable of the reign of the heavens being described as one pearl of great price being found, speaks of the actual “finding of the entrance to the Reign”, as we take careful note of the description of the New Yerushalayim as described in Ḥazon/Revelation, where we are told that it has 12 gates and each gate is a giant single pearl, upon which the names of the 12 tribes of Yisra’ĕl are written!

The pearl of great price – is a clear parable lesson about seeking the Truth and finding it, which causes the true and earnest seeker to sell all he has in order to secure the pearl, and in so doing they are securing entrance into the set-apart place of the Most-High, as they work out their deliverance and redemption with fear and trembling! This is a lesson on counting the cost and knowing that the gift of life, that is the right of entrance into His eternal presence, will cost you your all, and because He gave His all, He has freely given us access to His gates; and as Ḥazon tells us – it is not all who shall have access but rather:

Ḥazon/Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city.”

Those doing His commands are given access through the ‘pearl’ gates of the set-apart city, while outside are the idolaters, whores, murders and those who love falsehood! Our right of entrance has been purchased by the Blood of Messiah, and therefore the gift of entrance is available to all who are cleansed in His Blood and stay in Him, by walking in and guarding to do all His commands!

As we consider the gates that we have looked at in Neḥemyah, as well as the pearl gates of the new Yerushalayim, we are presented with the clear choice of life or death – entrance or exit, so to speak!

In order for us to enter through the gates of the city we are to make sure that we are guarding His commands, and gleaning from the 12 gates in the book of Neḥemyah/Nehemiah, we realise that it is only TRUE HEBREWS that can:

PASS THROUGH THE GATES!

Please note that I am not saying that there are 24 gates, for there are only 12… the names of the 12 gates in the Book of Neḥemyah/Nehemiah give us a great prophetic message of the perfect work of deliverance that our Master and Elohim has worked for us, and in the renewed Yerushalayim that comes from above the names of the gates are of the 12 tribes of Yisra’ěl – that represents and declares the complete and delivered body of Messiah. 

May you be strengthened and equipped in the Word that washes us and sets us apart for service, and be caused to be able to pass through the gates as faithful children of the Most-High, who has gone before us and leads us, as long as we stay in Him!

Having ‘metaphorically’ passed through the 12 gates of Neḥemyah, we can, with great expectancy, look forward to entering through the gates into the renewed city of Yerushalayim, when our Master, Husband and King comes to fetch His Ready and prepared Bride, who has Her eyes fixed on Him!!!

PASS THROUGH THE GATES!

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

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!

Shalom all,

As I was reading through Romiyim/Romans 10, I was gripped by the sobering reality of how so many are not believing the report of the Good News, and so in a message called, “WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?”, I would like to take a closer look at the passage from Romiyim/Romans 10:13-21 and expand on what Sha’ul is writing about here.

The key verse that drove me to put this message together, was verse 16, which states:

Romiyim/Romans 10:16 “However, not all obeyed the Good News. For Yeshayahu says, “יהוה, who has believed our report?”

With this verse as the base for this message, I want to take a closer look at what Sha’ul is actually addressing here, in order to understand the same dilemma that we are facing today – and that is that so many are refusing to obey the Good News and not believing the report of this Good News!

This verse begins with the word, ‘however’, which has also been translated as ‘but’ in other translations, and the Greek word that is used here for ‘however’ is ἀλλά alla – Strong’s G235 which is used as a conjunction that joins the phrases together and can give the meaning of, ‘otherwise, on the other hand, however, but, indeed, nevertheless, rather’. This tells us that the statement being made here that not all have obeyed the Good News, is not because the Good News has not been announced but rather, that despite the Good News being announced many have not obeyed it!

In verse 13 Sha’ul quotes from Yo’ěl/Joel 2:32 making it clear that ‘everyone who calls upon the Name of יהוה shall be saved.’ He then proceeds to make the point that how will anyone be able to call upon the One who saves if they have not believed in Him! Belief in יהוה is critical to being able to call on Him and be saved! But how can anyone believe in Him if they have never heard who He is, and how will anyone hear who He is if no one is proclaiming His Name! How will anyone proclaim His Name if they have not been sent?

As taught ones of the Most-High, we have been called to go and make taught ones and be ambassadors of His coming reign. We who bring His Name to the nations, bring the Good News of deliverance, yet not all will believe you!

We are called to call upon His Name and make know His deliverance!

Tehillah/Psalm 96:2 “Sing to יהוה, bless His Name, proclaim His deliverance from day to day.”

Tehillah/Psalm 105:1 “Give thanks to יהוה! Call upon His Name, make known His deeds among the peoples.”

His Name is key to deliverance and any attempt at bringing His Name to nought through false traditions that have changed His Name or supressed the speaking of His Name, have simply cut of the Good News of deliverance!

The Greek word that is translated as ‘proclaiming’ in Romiyim/Romans 10:14 is κηρύσσω kērussō – Strong’s G2784 which means, ‘to be a herald, proclaim, preach, preaches, proclaiming, announce in an official capacity, tell, announce publicly, proclaim with the goal to persuade’. Understanding the meaning of this word we are able to expand our understanding on how we, as faithful and trustworthy ambassadors of Messiah, are to be publicly proclaiming the Good News of Deliverance and make known who the deliverer is, as we announce this Good News in the official capacity as taught ones of our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah.

How will anyone proclaim if they have not been sent? The Greek word that is translated as ‘sent’ in verse 15 comes from the root word ἀποστέλλω apostellō – Strong’s G649 which means, ‘to send forth, set-apart and send out (on a mission), ordered to go to a place appointed, send away’, and is a technical term for the sending of a messenger with a special task.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 6:8 “And I heard the voice of יהוה, saying, “Whom do I send, and who would go for Us?” And I said, “Here am I! Send me.””

In the Hebrew, the word translated here as ‘send’ is שָׁלַח shalaḥ – Strong’s H7971 – ‘to send, dispatch’, and in the Septuagint the Greek word ἀποστέλλω apostellō – Strong’s G649 is used. The reason for me highlighting the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word for ‘send’ is to show that are we to be bringing the Besorah (Good News) to a people who need to taste and see that יהוה is Good and that in Him and Him alone, we find our deliverance/salvation through the His Revealed Arm: יהושע Messiah!

יהושע ‘sent’ – ἀποστέλλω apostellō – the 12 out with the clear instruction to go to the ‘lost sheep of Yisra’ĕl’!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:5-6 “יהושע sent these twelve out, having commanded them, saying, “Do not go into the way of the gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Shomeronites, 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ĕl.”

Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:16 “See, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Mattithyahu/Matthew 15:24 “And He answering, said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ĕl.”

יהושע Himself clearly stated that He too had only come on an appointed mission – to redeem the lost sheep of Yisra’ĕl, and this is the message we have been given to go and proclaim and declare: the Besorah (Good News) that יהושע is Messiah and He is our deliverer and He is the One who will take us as His Ready Bride forever. There are many who need to hear the Besorah (Good News) and we, as disciples/talmidim of Messiah, are tasked with the responsibility of being ‘sent forth’ to proclaim the Good News, and encouraging one another with the good report of the Truth.

What Truth? That יהוה Himself came to save!!!

Not all have obeyed the Good News!!! What Good News? What or who have they not obeyed?

The Greek word translated as ‘obeyed’ in Romiyim/Romans 10:16 is ὑπακούω  hupakouō – Strong’s G5219 which means, ‘to listen, attend to, obey, heed, become obedient, to submit to’ and comes from two Greek words: ὑπό hupo – Strong’s G5259 which means ‘under’ and further means ‘to be controlled by or in subjection to’; and the second word is ἀκούω akouō – Strong’s G191 meaning, ‘hearing, listen, give heed, understand’.

Those who have ears to ear, obey, while those who shut their ears to the Truth are disobedient!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 5:9 “And having been perfected, He became the Causer of everlasting deliverance to all those obeying Him”

This verse is speaking of our Deliverer – יהושע Messiah, who became the ‘causer’ of everlasting deliverance – to who???

ALL THOSE OBEYING HIM!!!

This is a very important statement of truth being made here – it is only to those who are obeying Him, that He actually becomes the ‘causer of everlasting deliverance’ to!

In other words, we clearly see from the Greek, the one who obeys the Master, is one who is in subjection to the hearing of His commands, and diligently gives heed to obey and understand, by making sure his ears are open to hear the Master’s voice!

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

The ‘Causer of Life and Deliverance’ has spoken, and His Word stands forever – the question that ought to be asked today, is whether the sheep are listening and obeying, or are they putting off what is being instructed, for another day!

The ‘Causer of deliverance’ is יהוה!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 45:17 “Yisra’ěl shall be saved by יהוה with an everlasting deliverance. You are not to be ashamed nor hurt, forever and ever.”

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:7-8 “Let me recount the loving-commitments of יהוה and the praises of יהוה, according to all that יהוה has done for us, and the great goodness toward the house of Yisra’ěl, which He has done for them according to His compassion, and according to His many loving-commitments. 8 And He said, “They are My people, children who do not act falsely.” And He became their Saviour.”

Can you see the Good News being declared here? יהוה declares that He ‘became their Saviour’!

Messiah ‘became’ the ‘Causer of everlasting deliverance’ – to who? To those who obey and do not act falsely!!!

The Greek word translated as ‘became’ is γίνομαι ginomai – Strong’s G1096 which means, ‘to come into being, to happen, to become, accomplish, begin to be, come into existance’.

This Greek word is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak (O.T.)) in the verse from Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:8 that we looked at:

Isa 63:8  και^{G2532 CONJ} ειπεν^V-AAI-3S ουχ^{G3364 ADV} ο^{G3588 T-NSM} λαος^{G2992 N-NSM} μου^{G1473 P-GS} τεκνα^{G5043 N-NPN} ου^{G3364 ADV} μη^{G3165 ADV} αθετησωσιν^{G114 V-FAI-3P} και^{G2532 CONJ} εγενετο^{G1096 V-AMI-3S} αυτοις^{G846 D-DPM} εις^{G1519 PREP} σωτηριαν^{G4991 N-ASF}

What we clearly recognise here is the wonderful prophetic language of Yeshayahu being fully proclaimed in the letter to the Hebrews, in clearly declaring who the ‘causer of salvation’ is. There is only ONE ‘Causer’ of Salvation/Deliverance!!!

I would like to point out the reason that I am mentioning these verses from Yeshayahu: we take note that the Greek word that is translated as ‘deliverance’ in Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 5:9 is the word σωτηρία sōtēria – Strong’s G4991 which means, ‘deliverance, salvation’, and comes from the word σωτήρ sōtēr – Strong’s G4990 which means, ‘a saviour, deliverer’, which is from the word σῴζω sōzō – Strong’s G4982 which means, ‘to save, restore, make whole, heal’.

This Greek word σωτηρία sōtēria – Strong’s G4991 is, as you can see above, used in the LXX of Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:8, in translation of the Hebrew word for ‘Saviour’, which we will take a brief look at:

In order to expand on this, let us take a closer look at this verse:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:8:

ISR Scriptures 1998 Edition:

“And He said, “They are My people, children who do not act falsely.” And He became their Saviour.”

Hebrew OT with Strong’s #:

ויאמר^H559  אך^H389  עמי^H5971  המה^H1992  בנים^H1121  לא^H3808  ישׁקרו^H8266  ויהי^H1961  להם^H1992  למושׁיע׃^H3467

Hebrew Bible: Anderson-Forbes analysed text:

וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ־עַמִּי הֵמָּה בָּנִים לֹא יְשַׁקֵּרוּ וַיְהִי לָהֶם לְמוֹשִׁיעַ׃

In the Hebrew OT with Strong’s numbers the root word that is referenced for ‘their Saviour’ is יָשַׁע yasha – Strong’s H3467 which means, ‘deliver, brought salvation, saviour, saves’. What one recognises when studying the Word and doing so by digging into the original Hebrew and Greek texts, we often gain our understanding from the root verb that expresses the action being done. While this is extremely important in gaining clarity and insight into the text, we must also be aware that the root word in itself cannot always give you the fuller meaning behind the language of the text that is to be read. The root word can vary in its meaning based on the tense of the verb and the person involved in doing the action, as well as who the action is being done to.

When most study the Word, and use some very valuable tools that are available for free for all to use, such as E-Sword, what they may not realise is that when doing word studies, they are only seeing the root without the tense and structure of the expanded word from the root which it comes.

While this verse in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63 gives us the reference to the root verb יָשַׁע yasha – Strong’s H3467, we take note that the full word being written in the Hebrew here is לְמוֹשִׁיעַ – which is transliterated as, ‘lemoshiya’, which is the construct of the word מוֹשִׁיעַ – moshiya, with the letter ‘לְ’ (lamed) in front, which renders the structure as meaning ‘to/for’… ‘their Saviour’, as the term before this word – לָהֶם – ‘lahem’ which means, ‘their’.

Here we are told that יהוה ‘became’ their Saviour! The Hebrew word for ‘became’ comes from the root word הָיָה hayah – Strong’s H1961 which means, ‘to be, to become, to be in existence’. It is written in the ‘qal active’ verb tense which can also render, ‘to occur, come about, come to pass, to become, to be instituted, to be established’. This is a very powerful verse, for it clearly states that Elohim ‘becomes’ or is ‘established’ as being the Saviour of those who do not act falsely!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 43:11 “I, I am יהוה, and besides Me there is no saviour.”

Below is the text as seen in E-Sword from the HOT+ (Hebrew Old Testament with Strong’s numbers):

 Isa 43:11  אנכי^H595  אנכי^H595  יהוה^H3068  ואין^H369  מבלעדי^H1107  מושׁיע׃^H3467

Now for most fervent seeking Torah observant followers today, who are not Hebrew speaking, the Hebrew language is not necessarily fully understood or able to be read and understood as it should be. Therefore, tools such as the Strong’s dictionaries come in very handy and enable us to learn more and more of what the text is declaring. As you can see above with the numbers that are given by each word, these numbers relate to the root word of the word and not the full word itself. The vowel pointings are also not displayed. In the Hebrew text with vowel pointings this verse can be read as:

אָנֹכִי אָנֹכִי יהוה וְאֵין מִבַּלְעָדַי מוֹשִׁיעַ׃

As you will notice above, the last word in the Hebrew text of this verse, you can see the Strong’s number that is given – and that is the word we have just discussed – H3467 – יָשַׁע – yasha. What you can see here is that the last word is constructed with more letters than just יָשַׁע – yasha. It is the word:

מוֹשִׁיעַ

Transliterated this word is expressed as: ‘Moshiya’, and the morphology of this word is written in the following structure: ‘verb, hifil, active, pure noun participle, masculine, normal’ – to put it simply, it is a masculine noun that causes an action!

The tense of the action is in the ‘Hifil’ tense which indicates the ‘causative sense’ of verbs. Iin other words, the subject of the stem in the Hiphil, causes the object of that verb to act as subject, in the idea expressed by the stem.

What is being expressed here is that יהוה is the ‘causer’ of Salvation/Deliverance!

When looking at this word, without all the technicalities, I was immediately struck with an awesome revelation that is often hidden under the veil of traditional thought processes of interpretations, rather than just the pure childlike faith of reading the text as is. When one reads this, it is made clear – there is NO ‘MOSHIYA’ besides יהוה!

We know that יהוה is the Saviour and there in none beside Him, yet He is not ‘Saviour’ to all – why? Because there are so many who continue to ‘act falsely’ and reject the need to cling to יהוה, fear Him and walk in His ways and guard His Torah.

Therefore, it is clear that, to those who call upon His Name, and turn away from falsehood and lies and repent of lawlessness and sin, and walk in the Truth, יהוה becomes their Saviour/Deliverer.

In other words, He becomes to those who turn back to Him, the ‘Causer of deliverance’!

Hear what I am saying here! Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:8 is clearly revealing to us the fact that יהוה became the מוֹשִׁיעַ – moshiya (Saviour – σωτηρία sōtēria – Strong’s G4991); and in Iḇ’rim/Hebrews we are clearly told that יהושע has become the σωτηρία sōtēria (Saviour – מוֹשִׁיעַ – moshiya)!!!

What I am putting before you here, is simply this: יהוה is our Messiah!!!

For more on this clear declaration of the Good News, please see the article: יהוה OUR SAVIOUR; יהוה OUR MESSIAH which can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the articles menu, or by simply clicking on the following link:

https://atfotc.com/index.php/2012-04-19-08-30-28/view/512-yhwh-our-saviour

Let’s get back to Romiyim/Romans 10

In verse 16 Sha’ul quotes from Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:1, yet he does not quote the whole verse, for he is clearly presenting the issue at hand, which is that many are not believing the Truth of who the Messiah is!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:1 “Who has believed our report? And to whom was the arm of יהוה revealed?”

In challenging those who claimed to be believers, Sha’ul quotes half of this verse, knowing that most would know the rest or be reminded to go and recall what is written in Yeshayahu as the report that was not being believed was that the arm of יהוה had been revealed – for יהושע Messiah is the Causer of Salvation and many have not believed nor have they obeyed the Good News!!!

What is the Good News?

The Greek word that is translated as ‘Good News’ is εὐαγγέλιον euaggelion – Strong’s G2098 which is a noun that comes from the verb εὐαγγελίζω euaggelizō – Strong’s G2097 which means, ‘to announce or bring good news, preach the good news’.

For the purposes of this message I will highlight a number of verses which bring to light what the Good News is, or rather who the Good News is about and in doing so, make it abundantly clear how important it is for us, as proclaimers of the Good News, to be making sure that we make our bold declaration of the Good News accompanied with complete obedience to the Torah of Elohim! I want to highlight 6 verses from the Book of Acts, which clarifies what the Good News is:

Ma’asei/Acts 5:42 “And daily in the Set-apart Place, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and bringing the Good News: יהושע the Messiah!”

Ma’asei/Acts 8:35 “And Philip opening his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, brought to him the Good News: יהושע!”

Ma’asei/Acts 10:36 “He sent the word to the children of Yisra’ěl, bringing the Good News: peace through יהושע Messiah! He is Master of all.”

Ma’asei/Acts 11:20 “But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, bringing the Good News: the Master יהושע!”

Ma’asei/Acts 15:35 “And Sha’ul and Barnaḇa continued in Antioch, teaching and bringing, with many others also, the Good News: the Word of יהוה!”

Ma’asei/Acts 17:18 “And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some were saying, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange mighty ones” – because to them he brought the Good News: יהושע and the resurrection!”

From the verses mentioned above, it is abundantly clear that יהושע Messiah is The Good News! But what about יהושע Messiah makes Him the Good News? Well, that He is the causer of salvation – that is to say – that יהושע is יהוה our Saviour! This message of Good News is what many disobeyed – as they did not believe the report that the arm of יהוה had now been revealed!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘believed’ in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:1 comes from the primitive root verb – אָמַן aman – Strong’s H539 which means, ‘confirm, support, establish, faithful, believe’. In Berěshith/Genesis 15:6 we are told that Aḇraham believed and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, of which Sha’ul writes about in:

Galatiyim/Galatians 3:6-9 “Even so Aḇraham “did believe Elohim, and it was reckoned unto him as righteousness.” 7 Know, then, that those who are of belief are sons of Aḇraham. 8 And the Scripture, having foreseen that Elohim would declare right the nations by belief, announced the Good News to Aḇraham beforehand, saying, “All the nations shall be blessed in you,” 9 so that those who are of belief are blessed with Aḇraham, the believer.”

In Berěshith/Genesis 15 we are given the account of the day that יהוה made a Covenant with Aḇraham, promising him that his seed would be as the stars of the heavens, and Aḇraham believed this God News! When יהוה made the Covenant with Aḇraham, Aḇraham prepared the necessary sacrifices as commanded and was then put to sleep. Now, in a typical ancient covenant making process, both parties would have to walk bare foot through the blood of the animals that had been cut in two, which was typically known as ‘the blood path’, and each party would proclaim the conditions of the covenant, while also declaring the blessings and curses of the covenant that was being entered in to.

In this process, they would exchange robes and weapons in order to declare their commitment to a complete provision and protection for each other and if any party broke that covenant then their blood would be spilled, just as the animals that were used in the covenant process were. Here, in the covenant making process between יהוה and Aḇraham, Aḇraham did not walk through ‘the blood path’ – as he was put to sleep and then a pillar of fire came down and passed through the sacrifices.

In effect, what was happening was that יהוה was declaring that day that when the children of Aḇraham break their covenant with the Almighty, that He Himself would come down and walk the blood path and pay the price, shedding His Own Blood, in order to restore the Covenant, which He does not break! That is the Good News!!!

What is worth taking note of is that a word that is derived from the root אָמַן aman – Strong’s H539, is the Hebrew word for ‘truth’, which is אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 which means, ‘firmness, steadfastness, faithfulness, stability, trust, truthful’. We serve a faithful and trustworthy Elohim – and in Him we find true stability, as we stand upon the Rock of Truth! His belief was reckoned to him as righteousness! Abram was a trustworthy and faithful man who guarded the commands of elohim and walked in righteousness, remaining steadfast and firm in the Truth!

When looking at אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 in the ancient pictographic script we are able to learn the clear characteristic of trustworthiness, as it looks like this:

Aleph – אֱ:

The ancient script has this letter as  and 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!

Mem – מֶ

The ancient script has this letter as  and is pictured as ‘water’, and also carries the meaning of ‘chaos’ (from the storms of the sea) and can also picture that which is mighty or massive as well as the unknown. We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture. This also carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being that which cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the Living Waters of the Word!

Waw/Vav – וּ:

The ancient script has this letter 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’.

Nun – נָ:

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

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is a ‘man standing with his arms raised out’. This word can mean “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!

In the understanding of this word אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 representing for us ‘trustworthiness’, we can clearly see from these pictures the following:

THE COMPLETE AND SURE STRENGTH OF OUR MASTER WHO WASHES US AND SECURES FOR US THE PROMISE OF EVERLASTING LIFE, AS WE SUBMIT TO HIM AND PRAISE HIM WITH OUR ALL.

Our ability and strength to remain trustworthy servants comes as we allow The Word of our Master to wash us and secure us in Him, as we walk in total submission to Him, with hands lifted high in continual praise of our Master and Elohim.

Those who are of the belief (belief in the Good News that יהוה has become the Saviour) are blessed with Aḇraham, the believer!!! His Arm has been revealed!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:1-3 “Who has believed our report? And to whom was the arm of יהוה revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or splendour that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should desire Him – 3 despised and rejected by men, a man of pains and knowing sickness. And as one from whom the face is hidden, being despised, and we did not consider Him.”

Yoḥanan/John 12:37-40 “But though He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Yeshayahu the prophet might be filled, which he spoke, “יהוה, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of יהוה been revealed?” 39  Because of this they were unable to believe, because again Yeshayahu said: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they should not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and turn, and I should heal them.”

The Arm of יהוה is a key concept and picture in Scripture, which speaks of His mighty strength and power that is manifested in the working of His deliverance for His people. The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘arm’ comes from the root word זְרוֹעַ zeroa – Strong’s H2220, which means, ‘arm, shoulder, strength, power’ and this root word is used 16 times in the Book of Yeshayahu/Isaiah and of those 16 times we see that 14 times it is used in 13 different verses, in direct reference to the Arm of יהוה, and we can quickly run through them:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah:

30:30 “And יהוה shall cause His excellent voice to be heard, and show the coming down of His arm, with raging wrath and the flame of a consuming fire, with scattering, downpour and hailstones.”

33:2 “O יהוה, show us favour, for we have waited for You. Be their arm every morning, our deliverance also in time of distress.”

40:10 “See, the Master יהוה comes with a strong hand, and His arm rules for Him. See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”

40:11 “He feeds His flock like a shepherd, He gathers the lambs with His arm, and carries them in His bosom, gently leading those who are with young.”

48:14 “All of you, gather yourselves, and hear! Who among them has declared these? יהוה has loved him. Let him do His pleasure on Baḇel, and His arm be on the Chaldeans.”

51:5 “My righteousness is near, My deliverance shall go forth, and My arms judge peoples. Coastlands wait upon Me, and for My arm they wait expectantly.”

51:9 “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of יהוה! Awake as in days of old, everlasting generations. Was it not You who cut Rahaḇ apart, and pierced the Crocodile?”

52:10 “יהוה shall lay bare His set-apart arm in the eyes of all the nations. And all the ends of the earth shall see the deliverance of our Elohim.”

53:1 “Who has believed our report? And to whom was the arm of יהוה revealed?”

59:16 “And He saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no intercessor. So His own arm saved for Him, and His righteousness upheld him.”

62:8 “יהוה has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength, “No more do I give your grain to be food for your enemies, nor do sons of the foreigner drink your new wine, for which you have laboured.”

63:5 “And I looked, but there was none helping, and I was astonished that there was none upholding. So My own arm saved for Me, and My wrath upheld Me.”

63:12 “who led them by the right hand of Mosheh, with His comely arm, dividing the water before them to make for Himself an everlasting Name.”

In these verses, we clearly see the pointing to יהושע Messiah as being the revealed, Set-Apart Arm of יהוה, who will judge the people, and gather the lambs as our Good Shepherd and He is the King for whom we wait!

In Yeshayahu/Isaiah, whose name means ‘Salvation of יהוה’, we find in 13 verses, the clear pointing to what יהוה’s Arm brings about for us and it was a nice picture for me to take note that 13 we know in Hebrew is the numerical value for the Hebrew term ‘eḥaḏ’ which means ‘ONE’, as in: יהוה our Elohim is One; and so it is fitting to see in the book of Yeshayahu/Isaiah, which declares ‘by name’ that salvation is of יהוה, that the salvation and deliverance of יהוה has revealed His Own Arm, by the life, death and resurrection of Messiah! When He comes again – His Arm (Messiah) will be laid bare before the eyes of all the nations and the ends of the earth shall see His deliverance and The Branch will be revealed as He shall be called יהוה צִדְקֵנוּ – YAHWEH tsiḏ’kenu – YAHWEH our Righteousness!

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 23:5-6 “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall raise for Dawiḏ a Branch of righteousness, and a Sovereign shall reign and act wisely, and shall do right-ruling and righteousness in the earth. 6 “In His days Yehuḏah shall be saved, and Yisra’ěl dwell safely. And this is His Name whereby He shall be called: ‘יהוה our Righteousness.’”

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘revealed’ in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:1 is גָּלָה galah – Strong’s H1540 and means, ‘to uncover, remove, to be uncovered, to reveal oneself’.

We know that the esteem of יהוה will be revealed to all flesh:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40:5 “And the esteem of יהוה shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see it. For the mouth of יהוה has spoken.”

The Good News of peace – the Good news of the good is the clear report that THE WORD OF יהוה has been revealed!

As I have already said, most today would not argue the fact that יהושע Messiah is THE WORD OF יהוה, yet some will quickly reject that clear revelation that THE WORD OF יהוה is the physical revelation and appearance of יהוה in human flesh! This is clearly the Good News that is to be proclaimed and Sha’ul warns against another good news being brought:

Galatiyim/Galatians 1:6-9 “I marvel that you are so readily turning away from Him who called you in the favour of Messiah, to a different ‘Good News,’ 7 which is not another, only there are some who are troubling you and wishing to pervert the Good News of Messiah. 8 However, even if we, or a messenger out of heaven, bring a ‘Good News’ to you beside what we announced to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone brings a ‘Good News’ to you beside what you have received, let him be accursed.”

Hear what Sha’ul is saying here: if anyone brings a different Good News let him be accursed! Anyone who does not confess and acknowledge the revelation of יהושע Messiah – The Good News – THE WORD OF יהוה – let him be accursed! There are many today who may declare that יהושע Messiah is THE WORD OF יהוה yet they somehow fail to recognise that by saying this they are declaring that He is יהוה is His revealed form to man!

Many have gone out and presented a different good news, denying that יהושע is Master and Elohim – that is to say that יהושע is יהוה our Saviour!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 11:4 “For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you put up with it well enough!”

Sha’ul was rebuking them for putting up with a different Good News, and so many are doing the same today as they deny that יהושע is Master and Elohim. It is only by the Spirit that one is able to confess that יהושע is Master:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 12:3 “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of Elohim says יהושע is a curse, and no one is able to say that יהושע is Master except by the Set-apart Spirit.” 

What Sha’ul was making very clear here is that no one is able to say that יהושע is Master, except by the Set-Apart Spirit! In other words, if you cannot say that יהושע is Master then what spirit is in you and causing you to not be able to say it? The Aramaic English New Testament gives us some insight that confirms what I am presenting in this article as this verse 3 reads as follows:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 12:3 “I therefore explain to you, that there is no man that speaks by the Spirit of Elohim, who says that יהושע is accursed, neither can a man say that Master יהוה is יהושע, except by the Ruach haKodesh.”

This is clearly a simple yet very powerful statement indeed, and very beautiful as well. This is perhaps the most powerful statement of belief that we can find in all of Sha’ul’s letters. A declaration of such magnitude as this most certainly demands the proper study and seeking out of the original Hebrew and Aramaic texts in order to fully comprehend the fullness of such a bold statement and revelation, that can only come by the Set-Apart Spirit!

In the Aramaic New testament with Hebrew letters we see this verse as:

מטל הנא מודע אנא לכון דלית אנש דברוחא דאלהא ממלל ואמר דחרם הו ישוע ואפלא אנש משכח למאמר דמריא הו ישוע אלא אן ברוחא דקודשא܂ 

I have highlighted the phrase that stands out for us in the Aramaic, rendering that Master יהוה is יהושע.

דמריא הו ישוע אלא –which is transliterated as: demaryah hu Yeshua elah; and what this is literally telling us, from the Aramaic text that has been written in Hebrew letters, is that “Master יהוה is יהושע Elohim” – and no one can say this except by the Set-Apart Spirit!!!

The Aramaic term that is used for יהוה is ‘MarYah’, rendering for us “Master יהוה”.  דמריא – ‘deMarYah’ is literally ‘The Master Yah’, and in the Aramaic text of the Tanak (O.T.) we find that ‘MarYah’ is used everywhere the Name of  יהוה is written in the Hebrew!

Another example in the Renewed Writings is seen in:

Pilipiyim/Philippians 2:10-11 “that at the Name of יהושע every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that יהושע Messiah is Master, to the esteem of Elohim the Father.”

Textus Receptus Greek New Testament with Strong’s Numbers: Pilipiyim/Philippians 2:11

και^{G2532 CONJ}  πασα^{G3956 A-NSF}  γλωσσα^{G1100 N-NSF}  εξομολογησηται^{G1843 V-AMS-3S}  οτι^{G3754 CONJ}  κυριος^{G2962 N-NSM}  ιησους^{G2424 N-NSM}  χριστος^{G5547 N-NSM}  εις^{G1519 PREP}  δοξαν^{G1391 N-ASF}  θεου^{G2316 N-GSM}  πατρος^{G3962 N-GSM}

The Greek word used here for Master is κύριος kurios – Strong’s G2962, clearly showing us in the Greek text that the Messiah is Master, and this every tongue will confess!!!

In the Aramaic New testament with Hebrew letters we see this verse from Pilipiyim/Philippians 2:11 as:

וכל לשן נודא דמריא הו ישוע משיחא לשובחא דאלהא אבוהי

Here, we again see this phrase: דמריא הו ישוע – ‘deMarYah hu Yeshua’, rendering for us the clear message what every tongue will confess, and that is that “The Master יהוה is יהושע”!!!

What is made very clear when looking at either the Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek texts is that there is One Master and Elohim, and this confession of who one’s Master and Elohim is, is of utmost importance and vital for the True Bride to stand up and declare who Her Master is! We must also remember that the Greeks used κύριος kurios in their translation of the Hebrew text for both the term Master as well as the proper Name of יהוה, which confirms the rendering of these two examples I have listed, that even in the Greek we can see that the understanding is clear by rendering to us that יהושע is יהוה our Saviour, Master and Elohim!

Sha’ul tells us in Romans 10 that not all have obeyed the Good News and quotes Yeshayahu to make his point and then in verse 17 he tells us that belief comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Elohim! In other words, the Word of Elohim proclaims the Good News – that יהוה is the causer of Salvation! He is not only the causer of all that exists, He is the Saviour of all who call upon His Name! The Torah, the Prophets and Tehillim (Psalms) speak of Messiah. After His resurrection, Yahushua Messiah said this to His taught ones, when He appeared to them and they doubted that it was He:

Luqas/Luke 24:44 “And He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all have to be filled that were written in the Torah of Mosheh and the Prophets and the Tehillim concerning Me.”

The Word of Elohim declares who יהוה is, and many have not believed the report as they have rather held fast to false reports that have denied who יהושע is! Those who do not turn to the Master remain veiled in unbelief:

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “And indeed, if our Good News has been veiled, it has been veiled in those who are perishing, 4 in whom the mighty one of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the enlightening of the Good News of the esteem of Messiah, who is the likeness of Elohim, does not shine on them.”

We proclaim the Good News of the Good: That the esteem of יהוה has been revealed to us in the face of יהושע Messiah:

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 4:5-6 “For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Messiah יהושע the Master, and ourselves your servants for the sake of יהושע. 6 For Elohim, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts for the enlightening of the knowledge of the esteem of Elohim in the face of יהושע Messiah.”

When one turns to the Master the veil of unbelief is taken away!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 4:12-16 “Having then such expectation, we use much boldness of speech, 13 and not like Mosheh, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Yisra’ěl should not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant is being read, that same veil remains, not lifted, because in Messiah it is taken away. 15 But to this day, when Mosheh is being read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 And when one turns to the Master, the veil is taken away.”

Kěpha warns us that those who do not obey the Good News await a severe judgment!

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 4:17-18 “Because it is time for judgment to begin from the House of Elohim. And if firstly from us, what is the end of those who do not obey the Good News of Elohim? 18 And if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where shall the wicked and the sinner appear?”

In Romiyim/Romans 10:21 Sha’ul quotes Yeshayahu/Isaiah 65:2 in order to highlight how hard hearted and disobedient are those who refuse to hear and acknowledged the Good News by denying that יהושע is יהוה our Saviour, Master and Elohim! The Good News has been revealed and many are continuing to disobey this through ears that have been shut by falsehood and vain traditions, despite the loud proclamation that His Word declares!

Who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of יהוה been revealed? This same question is being asked today, just as it was at the time of Sha’ul’s letter to the Romans! Believe it or not! Belief comes by hearing the Word of Elohim, yet many have shut their ears to the Truth in order to set aside the need for them to obey as instructed, yet what they do not realise is that a fierce judgment is coming upon the sons of disobedience!

As true and faithful ambassadors and proclaimers of the Good News of the Kingdom, we are to have our feet prepared with the Good News of peace:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 6:15 “and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace”

This, ‘having feet fitted with the preparation of the Good News’, is a part of being properly dressed in the armour of Elohim, clothed in righteousness as we guard to do all that He has commanded us and always ready to give a reason for the hope we have in our Master, Elohim and Saviour

How ready are your feet? How sure footed are you in the Good News? Are your feet firmly stationed upon the Rock of our Deliverance? There is only One Rock! On what Rock do you stand?

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:2 “There is no one set-apart like יהוה, for there is no one besides You, and there is no rock like our Elohim.”

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 44:6-8 “Thus said יהוה, Sovereign of Yisra’ěl, and his Redeemer, יהוה of hosts, ‘I am the First and I am the Last, besides Me there is no Elohim. 7 And who is like Me? Let him call and declare it, and lay it before Me, since I appointed the everlasting people. And the events that are coming and those that do come, let them declare these to them. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid. Have I not since made you hear, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there an Eloah besides Me? There is no other Rock, I know not one.’” 

The Mighty Arm of יהוה has been revealed!!!

WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?

In closing, I would like to present the Name that saves:

The Name of יהוה is derived from the root word הָיָה hayah – Strong’s H1961 which means, ‘to be, to become, to be in existence’, and when Elohim spoke to Mosheh He said, “I AM that which I AM”, and told Him to tell the Yisra’ĕlites that the I AM had sent him. (Shemoth/Exodus 3:14)

I AM THAT WHICH I AM – in Hebrew is – אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה – eyeh asher eyeh – The word ‘eyeh’ comes from the root word הָיָה hayah – Strong’s H1961; and the word אֲשֶׁר asher – Strong’s H834 is a primitive pronoun that means, ‘who, which, that, that which’ and is a marker of a relative reference to an entity, event, or state. The first ‘eyeh’ is written as a proper noun, singular, masculine, while the second ‘eyeh’ is written in the qal active verb tense and in essence we see Elohim making it clear here to Mosheh that “The One who exists is the One who causes to exist, or gives existence” or “The All existing One is the One who gives existence”

Literally speaking it can render, “I AM the One who causes to be”, or “I AM the One who brings into being”, as well as “I AM the life-giver, the giver of all existence”, and “I AM the ever living self-consistent and unchangeable One”.

This however is not The Name of Elohim, but was rather an explanation that would lead up to the revelation of His Name, which is clearly declared as: יהוה – Strong’s H3068 which is derived from the root word הָיָה hayah – Strong’s H1961.

When we say the Name of יהוה we are proclaiming that it is the ‘I AM’ who gives existence and that He is the One who causes me to be! יהוה is our Creator and He has formed us!

The Name of יהוה – Strong’s H3068 is pictured in the ancient script as follows:

Yod – י

In the Ancient Script, this is the letter ‘yad or yod’ which is pictured as –  – which is the picture of an arm and hand and carries the meaning of ‘work, make, throw’ from the primary functions of the arm and hand and also represents worship or giving thanks in the extending of hands as a gesture of this. This also reveals to us a stretched-out arm and hand.

Hey – ה

The ancient script has this letter as  and is pictured as a man standing with his arms raised up and out as if pointing to something, and in essence carries the meaning of ‘behold’ as in when looking at something very great. It can also have the meaning to ‘breath’ or ‘sigh’ as when looking at a great sight and having your breath taken away so to speak! It also has the meaning of revelation or to reveal something by pointing it out.

Waw – ו

The ancient pictographic form of this letter is , which is a peg or ‘tent peg’ or nail, 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’.

In the pictographic representation of the Name of Elohim we are able to clearly see how He, the All Existing One, revealed Himself to His Creation through His Outstretched Arm and Hand. The two pictures of the man and the peg in between them also gives us insight as to how He would come and reveal Himself in the form of a man and secure the Covenants of promise, and in this we are able to see the two comings of Messiah.

BEHOLD THE OUTSTRETCHED ARM OF THE ALL EXISTING ONE SHALL COME AND SECURE HIS COVENANT AND REDEEM US IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH HIS HOUSE FOR WHICH HE IS COMING AGAIN!

The correct grammatical way to pronounce the Name of יהוה is ‘YAHWEH’. For more on this please see the article I wrote called, “Grammatical study from Scripture on confirming the pronunciation of the Name of יהוה” which can be found under the articles menu on our site (https://atfotc.com) or by simply clicking on the following link:

https://atfotc.com/index.php/2012-04-19-08-30-28/view/678-grammatical-study-from-scripture-on-confirming-the-pronunciation-of-the-name-of

The Name יהושע (Yahushua) comes from two words: The Name of יהוה – Strong’s H3068 and the root verb יָשַׁע yasha – Strong’s H3467 meaning, ‘to deliver, save, salvation’.

The Mighty Arm of יהוה has been revealed!!!

WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?

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!!!

Shalom all,

Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear, 4 and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.”

The time that Sha’ul warned Timotiyos about is certainly upon us, as we recognise how so many just love to get their ears tickled by falsehood and lies, in order to feel good about themselves. As I began to ponder on these words, I could not help but consider the danger of having one’s ear tickled. If ears are not to be tickled then what? Well, the answer is fairly simple! Have them pierced!!! What? Now I am not talking about body piercings here but rather the concept of having one’s ears pierced rather than tickled, especially as we consider what is written in the Torah, where we see the following:

Shemoth/Exodus 21:5-6 “And if the servant truly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children, let me not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him before Elohim, and shall bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl. And he shall serve him forever.”

We this this instruction being repeated in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 15:16-17 “And it shall be, when he says to you, ‘I do not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, because it is good for him with you, 17 then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Do the same to your female servant.”

In a brief message called, “TICKLED OR PIERCED? TIME TO ASSESS ONE’S EAR!” I would like to explore the clear contrast of ears that are being tickled versus ears that have been pierced, metaphorically speaking of course!

In order to do that I want to take a closer look at some of the Greek and Hebrew words that are used in the above passages, along with other relevant verses and words, so that a proper assessment can be done by all, when looking intently into the mirror of the Word and make sure that, as followers of Messiah, we have chosen to have our ear pierced with His Word in order to be His faithful servant forever!

As we look at Sha’ul’s words, we take note that he equates the ears that are being tickled to those who shall not bear sound teaching! In other words, they do not want to hear the Truth and will rather hear a twisted version of the Truth that fuels their justification for compromised standards. The Greek word that is translated as ‘bear’ comes from the root word ἀνέχομαι anechomai – Strong’s G430 which means, ‘hold oneself up against, to hold oneself upright, put up with, bear with, endure, suffer’, and the Greek word that is translated as ‘not’ is οὐ – ‘ou’ – Strong’s G3756 which is an adverb that simply means ‘no’ or ‘not’. People who want their ears tickled lack endurance as they cannot hold oneself up to the standard of set-apartness that the Word of Elohim calls us to pursue!

The time that Sha’ul was speaking of is certainly upon us as we take note of how true his words to Timotiyos are, especially as we are able to easily recognise how sound teaching is scoffed at and most are turning their ears to that which feeds their own fleshly desires and causes them to vainly justify their lawlessness and compromised lifestyles as something that they deem acceptable according to their own standards, while the clear standards of Elohim are set aside or excused away as being something irrelevant and inconvenient!

In the Greek text the word that is translated as ‘sound’ is ὑγιαίνω hugiainō – Strong’s G5198 which is a verb that means, ‘to be sound, to be safe and sound, to be whole, to be healthy’, and is also used in the Greek as a metaphor for believers whose opinions are free from any mixture of error. In other words, it is used as a metaphor to describe how pure, clean, healthy and sound the witness and speech of true believers are! True believers listen to sound teachings and speak sound words as they do not lie or twist truths to satisfy the desires of the flesh and, in a sense, do not speak with a ‘fork-tongue’!

One’s speech can often give away what they have been listening to! How is your speech? What are you allowing your ears to hear?

This Greek word for ‘sound’ – ὑγιαίνω hugiainō – Strong’s G5198 – comes from the primitive root word ὑγιής hugiēs – Strong’s G5199 which means, ‘sound, whole, healthy, restored, normal’.

The word ὑγιαίνω hugiainō – Strong’s G5198 can be understood as describing something that is healthy and physically well. It is from this word that we are able to recognise the English word ‘hygiene’ which was derived in the 1670s from the French word hygiène, but ultimately comes from these Greek words that we are discussing.

According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the English word ‘hygiene’ is defined as follows:

1) A science of the establishment and maintenance of health

2) Conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health

I think that the meaning of this word is very clear as it represents that which is good for your health and includes the necessary practices required to stay healthy!

With this understanding we are able to get better insight into the words of Sha’ul as we consider how sick most are today and are in need of good health! While this may be literally true, what I am talking about is how sick most are when it comes to their knowledge and application of the Truth!

Sha’ul warned Timotiyos to withdraw from those do not agree with the “sound” (ὑγιαίνω hugiainō – Strong’s G5198) words of our Master:

Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 6:3-5 “If anyone teaches differently and does not agree to the sound words, those of our Master יהושע Messiah, and to the teaching which is according to reverence, 4 he is puffed up, understanding none at all, but is sick about questionings and verbal battles from which come envy, strife, slander, wicked suspicions, 5 worthless disputes of men of corrupt minds and deprived of the truth, who think that reverence is a means of gain – withdraw from such.”

We are to ‘hold fast’ to the ‘sound words’:

Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 1:13 “Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in belief and love which are in Messiah יהושע.”

Those who do not want to hold fast to the sound teaching of our Master, by refusing to hear, and submit to, the Torah of Elohim, will prefer to have their lawless and lustful desires met by gathering around themselves false teachers that will tickle their ears!

The Greek word that is translated as ‘desires’ in Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 4:3 comes from the root word ἐπιθυμία epithumia – Strong’s G1939 meaning, ‘lust, desire, lust after, desiring what is forbidden, deep desire and longing for, coveting’; and this comes from the word ἐπιθυμέω epithumeō – Strong’s G1937 which means, ‘desire, covet, lust, seek that which is forbidden’ and is translated as ‘lusts’ in

Galatiyim/Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you desire to do.”

How many of you have found yourself looking at or seeking things that you know you should not! This can cause sin, and bring a breach in the wall which can affect the entire assembly!!! What happens when you are seeking that which you should not and do not get it? You grumble and complain! And when people grumble and complain about someone telling them that they need to properly hear, submit to and obey the Torah they will grumble and complain about it and then, in order to satisfy their lawless mindset, they will heap up for themselves teachers that tickle their ears, in order to make themselves feel better about their ‘assumed self-righteous lifestyles’!

What is so interesting to take note of is that those who love to have their ears tickled, do so by so many various teachings that reinforce their lawless state or rather fuel their assumption that proper hearing, guarding and doing of the Torah is no long necessary!

The Greek word that is translated as ‘tickling’ is κνήθω knēthō – Strong’s G2833 which means, ‘to scratch, itch’ and is used only in Sha’ul’s letter to Timotiyos, being used as a metaphor for having the desire, or itch, to hear something that is soothing and pleasant to the ears! Those who refuse to submit to the Torah of Elohim will seek out teachers that will soothe their itching ears with deception and lies. Sha’ul warned Timotiyos that a time would come when this would happen, yet we also see this pattern being displayed by a rebellious people in the days of Yeshayahu when he was told to write the following down:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 30:8-11 “And go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it on a scroll, that it is for a latter day, a witness forever: 9 that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who refuse to hear the Torah of יהוה, 10 who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right. Speak to us what is smooth, prophesy deceits. 11 “Turn aside from the way, swerve from the path, cause the Set-apart One of Yisra’ěl to cease from before us.” 

People who refuse to hear the Torah of יהוה seek out those who will speak to them what is smooth and prophesy deceits and not what is right! The Hebrew word that is translated hear as ‘smooth’ comes from the root word חֶלְקָה ḥelqah – Strong’s H2513 which means, ‘smooth part, smoothness, flattery, pleasant words’, and comes from the root verb חָלַק ḥalaq – Strong’s H2505 which means, ‘to be smooth, or being deceitful, and also means to flatter or seduce’. This word also carries the understanding of, ‘giving misleading opinions or thought about what is true, often encouraging wrong behaviour’.  This root verb חָלַק ḥalaq – Strong’s H2505 is used to describe the smooth and flattering words of the strange woman in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 7:5 “To guard you against the strange woman, against the foreigner who flatters with her words.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 7 emphasises that the way to guard against the smooth and flattering words of deceit, of the whore, is to guard the commands!

How sad it is today to see how so many have been seduced in following ‘misleading opinions’ and are being ‘encouraged to be disobedient’ by the ‘smooth talkers’ – beware of the smooth talkers! And even more importantly – do not be a smooth talker – be a truth talker!

The wisdom of Elohim will protect us from the ear tickling words of the adulterous whore that is leading so many astray.

And we are clearly told in Yeḥezqěl that the flattering (חָלַק ḥalaq) divination will be done away with, as the Word of יהוה will the Word that is heard and adhered to:

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 12:24-25 “For no longer is there to be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Yisra’ĕl. 25 “For I am יהוה, I speak. And the word which I speak is done. It is no longer deferred. For in your days, O rebellious house, when I speak the word I shall do it,” declares the Master יהוה.’”

Sadly, we find that most people love deceit and love to be tickled with lies.

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 5:31 “The prophets have prophesied falsely, and the priests rule by their own hand, and My people have loved it so. And what are you going to do at the end of it?”

Sha’ul warns us against those who cause people to stumble through flattery and smooth ear tickling words:

Romiyim/Romans 16:17-18 “Now I call upon you, brothers, watch out for those who cause divisions and stumbling, contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such ones do not serve our Master יהושע Messiah, but their own stomach, and by smooth words and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.” 

The Greek word used here for ‘smooth’ is χρηστολογία chrēstologia – Strong’s G5542 which means, ‘smooth speech, fair speaking’, and the Greek word used for ‘flattering speech’ is εὐλογία eulogia – Strong’s G2129 which means, ‘praise, blessing, flattering speech’. Many of today’s Christian teachers speak words that could be described as being ‘fair and flattering’, and will certainly sound very soothing to the ears of their listeners and captivate the innocent through deception, as their fair and smooth words are more often than not contradictory and do not line up with the clear Torah of Elohim, and people are perishing for lack of knowledge, as the flattering words that are spoken to them are not equipping them at all, but are rather soothing their appetites in accepting a lawless religion that walks under the banner of a falsified grace! If one does not guard the Torah and walk in it, proper discernment with be lost and deception is inevitable! The false worship system will lead many astray with “Christology” and “eulogies” that sound very flattering, while they are far removed from the truth, praising people with smooth words while their actions of obedience are clearly non-existent!

With many smooth words the whore forces and impels her hearers to be seduced by her flattery and invitation to join her on her bed of whoring! Most Christian teachers, pastors and ministers today are nothing more than motivational speakers who flatter their hearers with smooth and seductive words and easily catch the simple ones who lack heart and do not understand nor have knowledge of the Set-Apart One!

Ok, I think that we can get the clear picture of what Sha’ul warns us about, when highlighting the dangers of ear tickling messages that are being sought after by those who refuse to submit to the proper hearing of the Truth! When I say, ‘proper hearing’, I mean a hearing and doing of the Word of Elohim, for to only hear and then not do reveals a lack of true belief/faith! We are to be doers of the word and not only hearers!

Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:21-25 “Therefore put away all filthiness and overflow of evil, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your lives. 22 And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, 24 for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like. 25 But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.”

Romiyim/Romans 2:13 “ For not the hearers of the Torah are righteous in the sight of Elohim, but the doers of the Torah shall be declared right.”

Let us carefully consider the words of our Master:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:21-27 “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!’ 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock, 25 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them, shall be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand, 27 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat on that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.” 

Those who work lawlessness are those who seek out teachers that will tickle their ears into believing that they do not need to hear, guard and do the Torah of Elohim; and as a result, will be rejected by our Master, despite their claim of knowing Him!

Let us therefore consider what it means to have our ears pierced with the Truth as opposed to having them tickled with deceit and lies. To do that we need to learn from the Torah, what it means to have our ear pierced and so, let me repeat the verse I quoted at the beginning from:

Shemoth/Exodus 21:5-6 “And if the servant truly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children, let me not go out free,’ 6 then his master shall bring him before Elohim, and shall bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl. And he shall serve him forever.”

From these verses we see that if a servant truly says ‘I love my master, my wife and my children, let me not go free’… then he shall serve him forever! This is a profound statement being made here. One we make, as servants of Messiah, of our Master! When we too have made the good confession, and declare our love for our Elohim and Saviour then we serve Him forever – yet there was something that was to happen – let us see how that applies to us today!

Firstly, we must note the clear order being shown here:

I Love my master, wife, children… what we must notice from these words here is that the servant puts his master comes first and it is the same with us today:

Luqas/Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and his own life too, he is unable to be My taught one.”

Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Love for our Master comes first!!! This does not diminish in any way our love for our spouse or children, but rather it reflects the true nature of our love; that without such fervent love for our master we are truly unable to show complete love in service to our family – however, love for Him must always be our primary focus that will cause us to flow with a genuine love for others! In a declaration of our love for our Master, יהושע Messiah, we must take note of what it says; for it says here, ‘if a servant truly says’.

This is vital for us to understand, as there are many today who say that they love Elohim, yet their love is not being expressed in complete obedience to His instructions and it is not made vocally with a loud voice of faith! This love of a servant that truly says, speaks of a true and complete commitment to Him.

Those who claim to ‘stay’ in His house yet do not love Him, by obeying Him, are thieves and not servants! This is a call for voluntary service – we have been bought at a price and it is for freedom that He has set us free, yet we must choose to be His bondservant!

Romiyim/Romans 10:9-13 “That if you confess with your mouth the Master יהושע and believe in your heart that Elohim has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, and so is saved. 11 Because the Scripture says, “Whoever puts his trust in Him shall not be put to shame.”12 Because there is no distinction between Yehuḏite and Greek, for the same Master of all is rich to all those calling upon Him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the Name of יהוה shall be saved.”

“When a servant truly says”, speaks of one making a clear and definite choice with the intent for an everlasting commitment and for others to hear it too! This teaches us that we are not to be ‘undercover agents’, so to speak, but rather we are to be bold ambassadors that are faithfully proclaiming our Master’s coming reign, both in word and deed!

If this be the case (that the servant truly says I love my master), then we see the instruction that is made clear, telling us to ‘Bring him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl’! Now, let me make it clear that we do not pierce people’s ears today, yet we can glean the significance of these actions and correct response to the instructions given for a committed choice to serve. Let us look at these instructions and see how we too can ‘come to the door and have our ears pierced in order to be our Master’s bondservants forever:

Bring him to the door – יהושע tells us in Yoḥanan/John 10:7 that He is the door of the sheep. We who declare our love for our Master, who has bought us at a price, come to Him and declare our desire to belong to Him forever. Coming to The Door (that is Messiah) is a bold acknowledgment of who our Master is and that we recognise that there is no other way for us to enter into service unto Him and be grafted into His Body, by His Blood, for He has been pierced for our transgressions. Let us take a brief look at the words of our Master from Yoḥanan/John 10 and see the use of His words in the parable of the Door:

Yoḥanan/John 10:1-9 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter through the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up by another way, that one is a thief and a robber. 2 “But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 “The doorkeeper opens for him, and the sheep hear his voice. And he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 “And when he has brought out his own sheep, he goes before them. And the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 “And they shall by no means follow a stranger, but shall flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 יהושע used this figure of speech, but they did not know what He had been saying to them. 7 יהושע therefore said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 “I am the door. Whoever enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture.”

Obeying the Master, who is the Door, entails a proper hearing of His voice which entails a proper guarding and doing of His Torah and anyone who simply seeks to have their ears tickled by messages of lawlessness are not true servants but are simply thieves that are trying to enter into the reign of our Master by some other means!

Doorpost – Gates and doorposts are symbolic of the place where we are reminded of the right-rulings of Elohim, for it was at the gates of the city that the judges would sit and rightly rule the people, and it is on the door posts of our homes that we are to write the commands, in order to remind us in our going out and coming in that we are to guard the commands of Elohim, having the full assurance that we shall go in and go out in peace, finding pasture for our beings!

The Hebrew word used for ‘doorpost’ is מְזוּזָה mezuzah – Strong’s H4201 which means, ‘doorpost, gate post’. This word is used 19 times in the Scriptures and is used for the gateposts of the city of Azzah (Gaza), which Shimshon carried away together with the gate, which is a symbolic picture of the authority of the enemy being carried away and being destroyed! This word is used for the gateposts of the Tabernacle court, as well as the gateposts of the Temple that Shelomoh built, as well as those that are described by Yeḥezqěl in referring to the Millennial Temple. In Shemoth/Exodus 12:7,22-23 we see how the Yisra’ĕlites applied the blood of the lamb to the doorposts of their homes. This word is also used to describe a servant who declared his love for his master after being released in the 7^th year. If the servant desired to stay then he would be brought to the doorpost and his master would pierce his ear and the servant would belong to his master forever!

We are also instructed to write the commands on our doorposts, as seen in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:9 “And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 11:20 “and shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”

While we can certainly see that the term מְזוּזָה mezuzah – Strong’s H4201 means ‘doorpost’, what we find today is that some people market and sell what they call a ‘mezuzah’, and what they are selling is a small handmade item that has a piece of paper rolled up inside with the commands written on them, and this can be attached to the doorposts of one’s home. While the idea may sound inviting, what we take note of here is that מְזוּזָה mezuzah simply means ‘doorpost’ and everyone has doorposts, and they do not need to buy a marketed product, but rather they just need to obey the Word and write the commands on their doorposts. This can be done in many creative ways while not neglecting the command, as we have taken the 10 Words of Elohim in Hebrew and written them with a wood burning tool on the doorposts of our front door, which certainly causes a great number of discussions that can be an opening for many to come to know the commands of our Elohim, while at the same time always being a reminder to our whole family that we are to always guard His commands, and that He protects of going out and coming in!

Pierce the ear – A piercing of the ear speaks of the ability to have one’s ears open to hear and allow His word to be heard as it is, even as it pierces! Too many today who claim to be servants of Messiah only want their ears ‘tickled’ and not ‘pierced’ with the Truth. The piercing of the ear with an awl at the doorpost would be symbolic of the servant who declared his love for his master now belonging to the house and wilfully be submitted to the authority of the house.

So many today are unwilling to submit to authority like this! If they do not like what they ‘hear’ they all too quickly rush off to find another assembly where they will hear what they like, yet never show true commitment and submission!

The piercing of the ear would show a permanent decision that could not be reversed.

The Hebrew word used here for ‘ear’ is the word אֹזֶן ozen – Strong’s H241 which means, ‘an ear, hear, attentive, closely, recite, reveal’ and comes from the root verb אָזַן azan – Strong’s H238 which means, ‘to give, ear, listen, pay attention, perceived by ear’, and while this also carries the meaning to listen and listen attentively, it literally means to ‘cup the ear’ – in other words give your complete attention and be obedient to take it all in.

Our relationship to יהוה begins with the command to “hear“, so the ear is the appropriate place to bear this reminder of whom we have chosen to belong to. To commit to the house means to commit to the rulings of the house, which are written on the doorposts— and to say, “I hear what you are saying and will guard to do all I hear!”

Tehillah/Psalm 40:6 “Slaughtering and meal offering You did not desire; You have opened my ears; burnt offering and sin offering You did not ask for.”

He has opened our ears, so that we can hear and obey!

The piercing of the ear to the doorpost, where the Torah is written, shows us the commitment to the commands of the House and יהושע who is the door, was pierced for our transgressions and it is to Him we listen and make our choice to commit to living in obedience to – for He is the Word made flesh, bringing us the True life that is in the Torah! The Torah is not a worthless word for us, for it is our life!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 32:45-47 “And when Mosheh ended speaking all these words to all Yisra’ěl, 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.” 

He who has ears – that is – ears that are ‘pierced’ and that have committed, by choice, to follow Messiah – let Him hear His right-rulings and live by them! We must beware of ear ticklers who have the appearance of being a messenger of the true a door, yet the door that they are presenting has no commands upon them – and those seeking to simply have their ears tickled, rather than pierced, will gladly listen to a lawless doorpost! A servant who declares his love for his Master would have his ears pierced at the door and therefore turn his ear to his master, so to speak, while one who did not love his master would turn his ear away!

To turn one’s ear away from hearing the Torah is to turn one’s ear away from the hearing of the clear and vital instructions of Elohim. Those who do this seek out false teachers who will tickle their ears with things they want to hear, in order to continue in their lawless desires of the flesh and in the process, they reject the clear Truth of the Torah of Elohim that is to be heard and obeyed!

Refusing to hear the Torah of Elohim and guarding to do what His Torah instructs will result in one’s prayers not being heard, as we also take note of the clear rebuke given to s stubborn people who refused to listen to the Torah:

Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 7:11-13 “But they refused to listen, and they shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears from hearing. 12 “And they made their hearts like flint against hearing the Torah, and the words, which יהוה of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from יהוה of hosts. 13 “And it came to be: as He called and they did not hear, so let them call, but I shall not hear,” said יהוה of hosts.”

Those who turn away from the hearing of the Torah, which implies a hearing and a guarding to do what is heard from the Torah, are being vain in their attempted prayers, for their prayers are an abomination to יהוה!

Those who hear, guard and do the commands of Elohim are heard by Elohim:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we guard His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 15:29 “יהוה is far from the wrong ones, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

If we are not hearing Him, then He will not hear us! He hears the prayers of the righteous! The righteous are those who walk in and guard righteousness, and we are clearly told what righteousness is for us, in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25 “And it is righteousness for us when we guard to do all this command before יהוה our Elohim, as He has commanded us.”

In order for us to properly assess one’s ear we need to take careful consideration of how we are supposed to be properly listening to the Word of Elohim and be faithful doers of His Word, as opposed to having one’s ears tickled with deceit and be found to be rejected as being lawless!

There is a clear difference between having ears that have been pierced with the Truth versus those that have and continually seek to be tickled with deceit that has been disguised as truth!

Having ears that are pierced requires a dedicated commitment to serve, and doing so we recognise that as trustworthy servants of Messiah, we are to be listening to, and guarding to obey, all that our Master has commanded us to do

Having one’s ears pierced is made in an active response to His great love that He has poured out for us.

Ears that are simply being tickled have no care for the much-needed obedience and therefore have no true allegiance to a called for obedience of the true sons and daughters of Elohim, yet they want to have the soothing sound of belonging to the House, without the required responsibility of being a bondservant forever!

Tickled ears are with those who are ‘hearers only’, while pierced ears are with those who are hearers and doers of the Word! Many love to hear the ‘sweet sound of the truth’ yet fail to do what it says, and we take note of the words that were spoken to Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel, in:

Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 33:30-33 “As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses. And they speak to each other, each saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from יהוה.’ 31 “And they come to you as people do, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them. For with their mouth they show much love – their hearts pursue their greedy gain. 32 “And see, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a beautiful voice and playing well on an instrument. And they hear your words, but they do not do them. 33 “And when it comes – see, it shall come – then they shall know that a prophet has been in their midst.” 

Can you see from these words how the same thing is happening again today? Many love to hear the Truth being spoken, and they will even compliment true servants that our Master has appointed to teach and equip, yet they will not do what they are being taught and instructed to do! All because they just want to have their ears tickled and are only interested in satisfying their own desires, which highlights another clear attribute of those who seek to have their ears tickled. And that is that they are simply being selfish and lack the ability to serve, showing that their refusal to have their ears pierced simply reveals how there are being driven by pride, arrogance and selfish desires, which are not the qualities or attributes of one who has had his ears pierced and are bondservants of Messiah forever!

To pierce or bore a servants’ ear was a very significant ceremony that was purely intended to be done as a mark of permanent servitude and was calculated to impress the servant with the duty of always hearing all of his master’s orders and obeying them punctually, without fail! It marked a position that was to be held forever!

It is from these pictures of obedience that we are able to learn how we too are to turn to the Master יהושע Messiah and have our ears pierced with His Truth, marking us as faithful and trustworthy servants that will hear, guard and do His Word forever!

What we must also take heed of is that even though we may have had our ears pierced (metaphorically speaking of course), we must never assume that we can take for granted our new position in Him as a license to be lawless and sin!

Pierced ears must stay committed to obedience! As we consider the clear difference between ears that are tickled versus those that have been pierced, we also take note of the dangers of having ears that have once been pierced becoming ears that resort to being tickled, being lured away by fleshly desires and the maddening adulteries of a whore that speaks only lies!

I have already quoted a verse from Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 7:11-13 which highlights how Yisra’ěl had ‘stopped their ears from hearing’, which shows that they once did hear yet had stopped and had gone from being one’s with pierced ears to ones who sought to have them tickled with falsehood in order to satisfy their own selfish desires! In doing so, “they made their hearts like flint against hearing the Torah, and the words, which יהוה of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets.”

Hardened hearts want their ears tickled and not pierced!

How are you ears?

TICKLED OR PIERCED? TIME TO ASSESS ONE’S EAR!

A phrase that we see our Master asking is, ‘he who has ears to hear, let him hear’.

How are your ears? Are they earnestly ready to hear and be committed to the hearing, guarding and doing of the commands of Elohim or do you find that you prefer to seek out the hearing of that which agrees with a compromised lifestyle that you are unwilling to change?

Have you found that, even though you have had your ears pierced with the truth, you have drifted away, become dull of hearing and therefore began to seek out ear tickling messages that do you no good?

It is time for members of True Remnant Bride of Messiah to assess their ears and urgently hear the ear-piercing call to come out and be separate, lest they be found to be rejected as being lawless and not known by the Master!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 6:11-12 “And we desire that each one of you show the same eagerness, to the entire confirmation of expectation until the end, 12 in order that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through belief and patience inherit the promises.”

After issuing a clear warning against falling away from the Truth, the writer of this letter encourages the readers to be steadfast in showing a true eagerness for the Truth and be on guard against the dangers of becoming sluggish.

The Greek word that is translated as ‘sluggish’ is νωθρός nōthros – Strong’s G3576 which means, ‘sluggishness, slow. Lazy, slothful, dull’ and this word is only used twice in the Renewed Writings (N.T.), both of which are found in the letter to the Iḇ’rim/Hebrews. The other verse in this letter where we see this word being used in in:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 5:11 “concerning whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.”

The writer was telling was telling his audience that they had become dull of hearing, and the Greek word νωθρός nōthros – Strong’s G3576 is translated here as ‘dull’.

They had become lazy in their hearing of the Truth and as a result they could not receive the meat/solid food of the Word, as they needed milk all over again, showing that they were inexperienced and immature! The danger of this is that they could never go on to perfection; and sadly, we take note that many who have tasted the Good News yet grow sluggish in their hearing and become lazy often fall away. In chapter 6 the danger of this dullness is made clear as we see that it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, having tasted the Good Word and been partakers of the set-apart spirit, to be renewed to repentance! We must not become sluggish in hearing! Hear what the Spirit is saying to the assembly! When you grow lazy in hearing the Word you become malnourished and lose your senses and become deaf, unable to hear the Truth any longer! Let us not become deaf but rather go on to perfection by showing the same eagerness as we did when our Master called us out of darkness into His marvellous light!

This Greek adjective νωθρός nōthros – Strong’s G3576 is a derivative of the root word νόθος nothos – Strong’s G3541 which means, ‘a bastard, illegitimate children’ and is used in:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:8 “But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.”

The Greek word for ‘sluggish’ – νωθρός nōthros – Strong’s G3576 – is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 22:29 “Do you see a man who is skilled in his work? He does stand before sovereigns, He does not stand before obscure ones.”

The one who is skilled and always ready to serve is one who will stand before sovereigns and not before obscure ones!

What Shelomoh is telling us here is that the one whose work is of a high standard is the one who will get promoted. This parable ought to encourage us to strive for a high standard of workmanship, especially as we recognise that whatever we do, we work unto the Master and should therefore never be slack or idle in duty. In fact, this word that is used here for ‘skilled’ gives us a completely opposite picture to the one who is idle and slack, and emphasises one who prioritises his responsibilities and does his utmost to give his best all the time! This must be the true quality of a set-apart one of the Master in all they do!

As we consider this saying may we all be urgent in our pursuit of apartness for then we shall stand before our Mighty Elohim and King!

Romiyim/Romans 12:9-11 “Let love be without hypocrisy. Shrink from what is wicked, cling to what is good. 10 In brotherly love, tenderly loving towards one another, in appreciation, giving preference to each other; 11 not idle in duty, ardent in spirit, serving the Master”