COUNT TO SHAḆUOTH – A PREPARATION OF THE HEART – At the Foot of the Covenant Ministries

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30^th of the 2^nd month 2022/2023.

Shalom Covenant Family,

The abundant favour and shalom of our Master יהושע Messiah be with you all.

This coming 1^st day will be DAY 50!!!

This coming 1^st day is the Feast of Weeks!!!

This coming 1^st day is… Shaḇuoth!!!.

As we are now in the last week before Shaḇuoth, having counted 6 completed Sabbaths and are on our way to counting 7 completed Sabbath, at the end of this week’s Shabbat, with today being Day 44 of our count to Shaḇuoth, I thought it best to once again send a brief message, as I usually do each year, on this Feast of Shaḇuoth and the clear instructions that we are given in regards to this Feast of יהוה, in order that a true and proper preparation of one’s heart takes place, before coming ‘before the face of יהוה and celebrating this great rejoicing Feast as a true Bride should..

Yes… we have now come to the last week of our commanded counting of 7 COMPLETED SABBATHS, from the waving of the sheaf of the first (Omer rěshiyth) on the morrow after the Sabbath during The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matzot), to this coming Shabbat being the 7^th Shabbat of our count, as written to us in:

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:15-17 “And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. 16 ‘Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to יהוה. 17 ‘Bring from your dwellings for a wave offering two loaves of bread, of two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour they are, baked with leaven, first-fruits to יהוה.”

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:9-12 “Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 10 “And you shall perform the Festival of Shaḇuoth to יהוה your Elohim, according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as יהוה your Elohim blesses you. 11 “And you shall rejoice before יהוה your Elohim, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lĕwite who is within your gates, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are in your midst, at the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell. 12 “And you shall remember that you were a slave in Mitsrayim, and you shall guard and do these laws.”.

Each year, I like to highlight some of the key words, and their meanings, from these two passages that I have just quoted from, concerning this Feast that we are going to be celebrating this coming 1^st day, in order for us to get a clearer understanding of the significance of this wonderful Feast that we are counting to..

Instead of sharing this message on the day of Shaḇuoth itself, I find that it is best to prepare this message and send it out as a preparation for the Feast, so that when we do get to come together, on Shaḇuoth, before the face our Master, that we all are well equipped and properly prepared to celebrate and guard this Feast, as we are instructed to..

As I do each year, I will once again be showing you a few of the Hebrew words and their meanings, along with the ancient pictographic rendering of these words, in order to shed some wonderful insight into the perfect work of our Master and Elohim.

And with that, the clear look at our responsibility, as a Bride that is making Herself ready, for the soon return of our Coming Husband, Redeemer and King, יהושע Messiah..

Most of us have typically understood this day as being the day called ‘Pentecost’, which is a word that comes from the Greek word πεντηκοστή pentēkostē – Strong’s G4005, which is an ordinal number that means, ‘fiftieth’..

In Hebrew, this day is known as שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, which is the plural of the word שָׁבוּעַ shaḇua – Strong’s H7620 which means, ‘a period of 7 (days, years)’, and comes from the denominative root verb שָׁבַע shaḇa – Strong’s H7650 which means, ‘to swear, exchange oaths, take an oath, vow’.

It is from this root verb that we get the Hebrew word for ‘seven’, which is the word שֶׁבַע sheḇa – Strong’s H7651..

Having said that, we recognise then, that this is, in a manner of speaking, the Feast of Oaths or Feast of Sevens, or, better understood as, ‘THE FEAST OF WEEKS’, where we are able to joyfully celebrate the Covenants of Promise, that we were once excluded from, being in the world and without any expectation and without Elohim, but have now, in יהושע Messiah, been brought near, and grafted in to these Covenants of Promise, by His precious blood! .

We have not only been brought near, by His blood, as celebrated by the blood of the Passover Lamb that was slain, but in celebrating this Feast of Oaths/Sevens/Weeks, we are able to come together and rejoice in the fact that His Covenants of Promise have now been written upon our hearts, giving us a firm expectation in our Master, as we work out our deliverance, each and every day, with fear and trembling! .

Once we were a people who had no expectation and were without Elohim, but now, in Him, our expectation is secure – and that is certainly something to celebrate and give praise unto our Master for!!!..

Sha’ul reminds us of this, in:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2:11-22 “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. 14 For He is our peace, who has made both one, and having broken down the partition of the barrier, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity – the torah of the commands in dogma – so as to create in Himself one renewed man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and to completely restore to favour both of them unto Elohim in one body through the stake, having destroyed the enmity by it. 17 And having come, He brought as Good News peace to you who were far off, and peace to those near. 18 Because through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the set-apart ones and members of the household of Elohim, 20 having been built upon the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, יהושע Messiah Himself being chief corner-stone, 21 in whom all the building, being joined together, grows into a set-apart Dwelling Place in יהוה, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of Elohim in the Spirit.” .

In our proper preparation, regarding the celebration of this great day, I want to expand on a few of the Hebrew words that are used in the commands, from Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:15-17 and Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:9-12, regarding this day that we are counting to. .

As I have already, said, I do this each year, and for good reason too… as we must never forget what we are celebrating, so that we are equipped to continually guard the Covenant, that He has now written upon our hearts, by diligently guarding to do His Word, with great joy and thanks, in all circumstances!!!

While I have often shared this on the actual day of the Feast, this year I am sharing this ahead of the Feast, as I did last year, in order to make available the clear reminder of a correct preparation of the heart.

We have found in the past that some come to this Feast without the proper preparation that is required and after having explained and taught what the Feast is about, many have said that would have liked to have known what was required before the actual day of the Feast, so that they could have been better prepared!.

So I am doing as I did last year, by sending this message out a few days before the Feast, giving all who read this, ample time to go through these instructions that we are given in Scripture and have their hearts correctly prepared to celebrate the Feast as commanded, with great joy, and while many of you may have heard or read what I am presenting again, it is for the clear purpose of reminding us to be prepared to come before the Master’s face with great rejoicing and praise for His Name and His perfect work that He has done and begin in us, so that we can be a Bride prepared!.

Let us therefore take a closer look at some of the key Hebrew words that we find being used in the clear instructions for this Feast!

The first Hebrew word that I would like to show you is, of course, the word שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth; and as we look at this word, in the ancient pictographic text, we are able to glean a powerful understanding as to our reason for rejoicing!.

In the ancient pictographic script, the word שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth which means, ‘sevens, oaths’, looks like this:.

Shin – שָׁ:

This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as, , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and this also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth, as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food. This can give us the meaning of WORD or Words..

Beyt – בֻ:

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..

Ayin – ע:

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!..

Waw/Vav – וֹ:

This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying down of 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’.

Taw – ת:

The ancient script has this letter as which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can represent for us ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work of Messiah in the renewal of the Covenant in His Blood that brings the two Houses of Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah together in Him, as One, for He is not only the ‘aleph’, but is also the ‘taw’ – the beginning and the end of all creation!.

When we look at these pictographic symbols of the word שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, we can see a wonderful message being made clear, through this Feast, as it can render for us the following meaning, in terms of the requirements of the Covenants of Oaths, being secured by the Blood of Messiah, by which we have now been sealed, by His Spirit:.

THE WORD OF THE HOUSE

HAS BEEN MADE KNOWN AND SEEN (WORD MADE FLESH)

IN ORDER TO SECURE US AND SEAL US

(FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION)!.

In order for us to get to this Feast Day of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, we are, as you all know, commanded to COUNT TO 50, from the day of the waving of the sheaf of the first – the omer rěshiyth, which takes place on the morrow after the weekly Shabbat during Matzot! .

In other words, we take note that our Master and Elohim requires us to be a people who can count.

Yes… we are to be a ‘counting people’, and as we understand, from Scripture, we are continually reminded that we are to know ‘how to count’, or else we may be in great danger of being in a place of not understanding His great plans for us..

We are all able to see how He has taught us to count to 3, which, I remind you, we were previously unable to do, when we were enslaved by many false traditions that we were brought up in, under a veil of confusion and a mixed corruption of profane worship.

Having been set free from that enslavement, in order to understand and properly count, we fully understand the 3 Days and 3 nights that our Master was in the heart of the earth!!! .

He also taught us to count correctly to 7, in order to keep His Shabbat and so, we establish the sign that He has given between us and Him forever, as we see being made clear in:

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 20:12 “And I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, to know that I am יהוה who sets them apart.”

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

People who do not remember to keep the Sabbaths of יהוה, simply reveal that they cannot count, as one should and, as a result, they can never grasp the joy of the true bond of a Covenant relationship with our Creator, Redeemer, Husband and King!

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23 clearly sets forth for us all of the Appointed Times and are proclaimed as Set-Apart gatherings, as the Sabbaths are. Therefore, in our proper guarding of the Sabbaths, we are to guard ALL of our Master’s Appointed Times!.

Now that we can count to 3 and 7 – it does not stop there – as we learn to take a great step forward in our counting ability, by being able to count to 50!

All of these are very important numbers, from a Scriptural point of view, and they are numbers that any child of Elohim ought to be able to correctly count to, as they all point us toward our Master’s work of Redemption and Deliverance for us!.

Counting requires a concentrated effort and it requires a daily choice of choosing life over death and blessing over curse. And the joy that this responsibility brings, must result in our alert ability to call many out of darkness – for we know the times – after all, we can now count, aměn!!!.

The Hebrew word that is used for ‘count’, in our instruction to count 50 days to שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, comes from the root word סָפַר saphar – Strong’s H5608 which means, ‘to score, mark as a tally, record, inscribe, recount, celebrate, commune’.

This root word is used 161 times in the Tanak (O.T), also being translated into English as, ‘tell, told, number, tell me, declared, numbering’. .

This Hebrew word סָפַר saphar – Strong’s H5608 is the denominative root verb of the noun סֵפֶר sepher – Strong’s H5612 which means, ‘a missive, document, writing, book, scroll, letters’, and is used to describe the Book of the Torah!.

As we consider the clear importance of this commanded ‘counting period to 50’, we recognise how this is a great season that teaches us to continually be a ‘counting people’, who daily ‘count the cost’ of following our Master and Redeemer, יהושע Messiah. .

And to be faithful in being a ‘counting people’, we need to realise that we cannot do this without the Word of Elohim – as we are to meditate on His Torah day and night and allow this סֵפֶר sepher or Book of the Torah to lead us each and every day:

Yehoshua/Joshua 1:8 “Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely.”.

If we do not count, we cannot be cleansed!

To “count”, means to reflect on where we are and repent of our sin and be filled with the Good News of the Kingdom. .

When we see these symbols of the Hebrew root word סָפַר saphar – Strong’s H5608, as written in the ancient pictographic script, we get a wonderful picture of what true cleansing entails, when we ‘count’ as we should: .

Samek – סָ:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is a thorn and has the meanings of ‘pierce and sharp’ and can also carry the meaning of ‘a shield’, as thorn bushes were used by shepherds to build a wall to enclose their flock in the night against the attack of predators.

Another meaning would be ‘to grab hold of’ as a thorn is a seed that clings to hair and clothing.

The Word of Elohim is sharper than a doubled edged sword and when we find that we do not grab hold of His Word and allow His Word to be our shield of faith, we may find ourselves being pierced through with sin and compromise!

Our praise we have for our Master is that in Him we are upheld forever, for He is the shield of our Help, as He Himself took the crown of thorns upon His head, bearing our sin and shame that we may be found to be shielded in Him! It can also give a meaning of ‘turning’, for it is the thorn that turns us away from danger to that which is secure..

Pey – פָּ:

This is the letter ‘pey’, which is pictured as , which is an ‘open mouth’ and carries the meaning of ‘speak and blow’, from the functions of the mouth, and can have the meaning of ‘scatter’ by blowing. It can also mean sword or beard as in things with edges, as well as a region in depicting a place with edges or boundaries. It also can represent that which has been spoken forth from the words of one’s mouth, as being established!.

Resh – ר:

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

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

When seeing the construct of this word for count in its ancient form we have a clear picture of how cleansing entails true repentance through being able to correctly count and relate the Truth to others!

This ancient grouping of letters can carry various meanings for us, and in terms of being a people who count and who relate the Truth of the Word to our children, we realise that this can only be done when we:

GRAB HOLD OF THE WORD

OF THE HEAD!.

This picture, in terms of counting, teaches us that our shield and refuge is in our Head and Master, who teaches us through His Word to number our days and we recognise the following:

When we bring our sins (pictured by the thorn) and confess them (open mouth) to יהושע our Messiah (head of a man); then He is the one who cleanses us! .

As we count the cost of following our Master, and surrender and submit our lives to His Word that leads us, we then recognise how we are to be hearers and doers of His Word and not simply hearers only!.

“Doing” the Word implies a proper obedience, that does what the Master commands us to do and here, at שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, we are commanded to:

PERFORM

the FESTIVAL OF WEEKS

to YAHWEH.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘perform’, comes from the root word עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213 which means, ‘to do, work, make, produce, to act with effect, to observe, to bring about, institute’ and can also mean, ‘celebrate’, which I think is very fitting, as it is truly a great ‘joy’ TO DO the laws and right-rulings, as prescribed! .

So many today, think that it is a huge burden to do what is commanded, yet that is so far from the truth – for, when we diligently observe and guard to do all He commands us to do, it is a great joy and a delight and is not heavy at all!

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:2-4 “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, 4 because everyone having been born of Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the overcoming that has overcome the world: our belief.”

When we are counting as we should, and doing His Word, we shall be like the wise who build on the Rock!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock”

The Greek word translated as ‘does’ is ποιέω poieō – Strong’s G4160 which means, ‘to make, do, accomplish, keep, work, acts’.

A derivative of this word is ποιητής poiētēs – Strong’s G4163 which means, ‘a doer, a maker’, and is seen in:

Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:22-25 “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.”

The Greek word that is translated as ‘doing’ (of the Torah) is also a derivative of ποιέω poieō – Strong’s G4160 and is the word ποίησις poiēsis – Strong’s G4162 which means, ‘deed, making, doing, performing, in his doing (in the obedience he renders the law)’. .

These verses are very clear, in telling us that the true hearer of the word guards it and performs it, as his obedience renders the law under which he submits!

We are to be doers of the Word and not just hearers only!.

A derivative of this root word עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213 is the word מַעֲשֶׂה ma’aseh – Strong’s H4639 which means ‘a deed, work or acts, accomplishments’.

The Acts of the Apostles speaks of the deeds or acts that the Apostles did and records their ‘acts’ of obedience.

Our obedience, in ‘doing’ or ‘performing’ this Feast, as well as all our Master’s Sabbaths and Feasts, should be evidenced with great commitment and joy!.

We shall be known by our fruits, based on our proper reverence and submission to our Master, which shall be evidenced in our “acts of obedience”, as we walk in righteousness, guarding to do all He has commanded us to do, all the time!!! .

The obedience of celebrating The Feasts of יהוה, as commanded, is a declaration of our active belief that causes us to overcome and stay in Messiah!.

As we consider this root verb word עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213, in terms of our need to ‘perform’ this Feast and be doers of the Word, we recognise that we can only be proper doers, if we are, in fact, looking intently into the Word, and when we see this word, in the ancient pictographic script, we gain further understanding of what it is to be a proper doer of the Word!.

In the ancient pictographic script, the verb עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213 which means, ‘to do, work, make, produce, to act with effect, to observe, to bring about, institute, celebrate’ looks like this:.

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..

Sin – שָׂ:

This is the letter ‘sin/shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as: , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth, as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp! It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food..

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, as well as ‘praise’ through the lifting up of our hands in complete awe and surrender..

When looking at this word עָשָׂה asah in the ancient pictographic form, we are able to further understand how critical it is for us to be doers of the Word and so perform and do that which is instructed for us to do. From this picture we can see the meaning of: .

LOOKING AT THE WORD

THAT HAS BEEN REVEALED!.

This teaches us that we shall be unable to DO or PERFORM the Word if we are not looking intently at the Word!

Ok… so now that we have learned the need to count diligently… and have come to the last week of counting to שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, we clearly commanded to PERFORM this Feast!.

This word עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213 is translated as ‘fit’ in:

Melaḵim Bět/2 Kings 24:16 “And all the mighty brave men, seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths, one thousand, all who were strong and fit for battle, these the sovereign of Baḇel brought to Baḇel into exile.”

While this is an account of Yerushalayim being exiled, we take note here that all the mighty and brave and fit were taken to Baḇel.

Why I highlighted this verse, is to point out the expression of men that were ‘fit’ for battle, and what this teaches us, is that we, who are to be fit and dressed in the armour of Elohim, must be fit for battle – and the reason we need to be armed in the Torah, is so that we can stand and after having done all, keep standing, which requires us to be fit in our reverence for our Master and His Word! .

Many people are unable to keep standing, as they are not fit in the Torah, and therefore, the ability to be properly dressed in the armour of Elohim becomes too hard and as a result, they fall away!

Counting to Shaḇuoth and having a prepared heart, can, in many ways, represent for us the ability of being fit for the reign of Elohim, as we guard to DO His Word, as commanded, through a proper counting!.

As we look intently into the clear instructions that are given to us, in regards to the proper performing the Feast of Shaḇuoth, we take note that a key component of our performing this Feast, is one of rejoicing!

Yes… you heard it….

REJOICING!!!.

The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘feast’ is the noun חַג ḥag – Strong’s H2282 which means, ‘a festival, feast, sacrifice, festival gathering, solemnity’, which comes from the root verb חָגַג ḥagag – Strong’s H2287 which means, ‘to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrimage, celebrate a feast, observe a feast, dance’..

This word חַג ḥag – Strong’s H2282 which means, ‘a festival, feast, sacrifice, festival gathering, solemnity’, in the ancient pictographic text looks like this:.

Ḥet – חַ:

The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolize protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside.

Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, and separated from’.

As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall, having been separated from the world and built up in the master! .

Gimel – ג:

This is the letter ‘gimel’, which in the ancient script in pictured as – –which is ‘a foot’ and carries the meaning to ‘walk, gather, carry’, as clearly referring to the functions of a foot; and it can also give the meaning of a gathering of people, and we know that ‘feet’ in Hebrew speaks of one’s walk and ability to keep the Feasts of יהוה, and represents one’s ‘walk’, and therefore also pictures for us the idea of ‘gathering’..

This word, in its ancient pictographic form, can have the meaning of: .

SEPARATED GATHERING.

This teaches us the necessity of being gathered together as commanded, in order to properly celebrate and perform the Feasts of יהוה.

The performing of this Feast is a formal observance of this event, done so with great joy, and can even be done with dancing!!!.

This Feast is also a ‘solemn event’, reminding us that this is not just some regular get together, but rather, it is a formal occasion that calls for our utmost respect, attention and reverent observance!

And this is what all His Feasts are to be for us, which includes the weekly Sabbath!

The Feasts of יהוה, which includes His Sabbaths, are separated gatherings and cannot be properly performed alone!.

We are joyfully equipped to gather on our Master’s Appointed Times, and are to collectively remember and celebrate our Master’s great love for us:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2:4-7 “But Elohim, who is rich in compassion, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah – by favour you have been saved – 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Messiah יהושע, 7 in order to show in the coming ages the exceeding riches of His favour in kindness toward us in Messiah יהושע.”.

In celebration of His great loves for, we are commanded to rejoice before יהוה..

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘rejoice’ comes from the root word שָׂמַח samaḥ – Strong’s H8055 which means, ‘to rejoice, be glad, be joyful, delight in and be elated’, and can also carry the meaning ‘to brighten up’, giving us the picture how we are to carry His joy, as the light of the world, and let praise and rejoicing abound! .

A derivative of the verb שָׂמַח samaḥ – Strong’s H8055 is the adjective שָׂמֵחַ sameaḥ – Strong’s H8056 and carries the meaning, ‘glad, joyful, merry, pleased, rejoicing’. .

In the ancient pictographic script, these words שָׂמַח samaḥ – Strong’s H8055 and שָׂמֵחַ sameaḥ – Strong’s H8056, both look like this:.

Shin – שָׂ:

It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food.

This pictograph can give us the meaning of WORD or Words....

Mem – מַ:

The ancient pictographic 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!

This letter can also represent any liquid, especially blood!.

Ḥet – ח:

The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a cutting off of those who are outside.

Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’.

As a tent wall, we are also able to recognise the picture of living stones being built up to make a complete wall or dwelling place, having been separated from the world and built up in the master!.

When looking at this word, in its pictographic form, in terms of our command to rejoice, we are able to see why we are able to rejoice, as we recognise the following:.

THE WORD THAT WASHES US,

HAS SEPARATED US AND SECURED US!.

This is a clear reason to rejoice, is it not?

For as long as we allow the Word to wash us and keep us clean, we are able to confidently make our boast in Elohim, as we make our boast in Him, whom we praise and rejoice in, as we are built up as living stones in the Master; living stones that offer up our lives, as a daily living offering, with rejoicing praise and giving thanks for all! .

This Feast of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth has a clear commanded call for a formal observance of this event, done so with great joy, and even with dancing!!!.

The text, in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:11, further emphasises this, by giving us more insight into how we are to keep this Feast, as it tells us that we ‘shall rejoice before יהוה our Elohim’, which, in the Hebrew text, is written as follows:

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ לִפְנֵי יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ

vesamaḥta liphney YAHWEH Eloheyḥa.

This can literally render the following meaning:

AND YOU SHALL REJOICE IN/BEFORE

THE FACE OF YAHWEH YOUR ELOHIM.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘before’ is the word לִפְנַי liphnay – Strong’s H3942 which means, ‘before, to the face of’, which is constructed from the prepositional prefix (to or for or in) and the Hebrew word פָּנֶה paneh or פָּנִים paniym – Strong’s H6440 which means, ‘face, faces’, hence the understanding of ‘in/before the face’..

Rejoicing in the face of יהוה

This is a great celebratory command – and it is one that is to be carried out with great enthusiasm and joy!

There is absolutely NO GRUMBLING ALLOWED!!!

I hope you can see why it is important to have the necessary preparation for this Feast, making sure that hearts are equipped to rejoice…. NO GRUMBLING AT ALL! .

Rejoicing ‘in the face’, or ‘before the face’, of יהוה, is done as a great expression of praise and thanksgiving, for His loving-kindness and favour; and as we celebrate that which He has given us, through the Blood of Messiah, we certainly do have much to celebrate, and a part of the preparation for this Feast, is also to simply be reminded of this fact!.

When understanding this expression ‘before the face of יהוה, in terms of it being a rejoicing and joyous occasion, I am reminded of Dawiḏ, who danced before the face of יהוה:

Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 6:14 “And Dawiḏ danced before יהוה with all his might. And Dawiḏ was wearing a linen shoulder garment.”

This event took place as they were bringing back the Ark of יהוה to Yerushalayim.

The Ark had been captured by the Philistines some 60 years before, and they kept it for 7 months after returning it to Yisra’ĕl, because יהוה had plagued all the cities that the Philistines had sent the Ark of יהוה to.

The Ark of יהוה was taken to the house of Aḇinaḏab in Qiryath Yeʽarim, after 70 people died in Bĕyth Shemesh, for foolishly looking into the Ark, when it returned from the Philistines.

Some 60 years later, Dawiḏ went to fetch the Ark of יהוה, and Uzzah was struck dead for touching the Ark, which caused Dawiḏ to place it in the House of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom, and after 3 months He went to fetch it and bring it back, with great rejoicing!

We are told that Dawiḏ danced ‘before’ יהוה, which is the same expression that we see being used in the command to rejoice ‘before’ יהוה at Shaḇuoth! .

Why I am mentioning this, is to emphasise the need for us to be a rejoicing people, and a people who are ready to dance before, or in, the face of יהוה our Elohim, and not being worried about what others may say about our rejoicing before the face יהוה! .

The Hebrew word that is used to describe Dawiḏ’s ‘dancing’, comes from the root word כָּרַר karar – Strong’s H3769 which means, ‘dance, whirl’.

This word is only used twice in Scripture and both of these times it is used in reference to Dawiḏ’s dancing on this day!

The other time that we see it being used, is two verses later, as follows:

Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 6:16 “And it came to be, when the ark of יהוה came into the City of Dawiḏ, that Miḵal, daughter of Sha’ul, looked through a window and saw Sovereign Dawiḏ leaping and dancing before יהוה, and she despised him in her heart.”.

Dawiḏ was filled with such joy, in celebrating the presence of יהוה being returned to Yerushalayim, that he danced with all his might, and did not worry what onlookers would have to say!

Those who are unwilling to rejoice with us, will possibly despise us, as we rejoice in the face of our Elohim, by joyfully guarding His Feasts and Appointed Times!

Dawiḏ was dancing and leaping! .

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘leaping’ comes from the root word פָּזַז pazaz – Strong’s H6339 which means, ‘to be supple or agile, made strong, leaping’, and this word also implies, ‘one’s physical abilities to accomplish an intended task’!

We see this root word פָּזַז pazaz – Strong’s H6339 only being used twice in Scripture and it is also used in reference to the blessing on Yosĕph, as seen in:

Berěshith/Genesis 49:24 “But his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty One of Yaʽaqoḇ – from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Yisra’ĕl”.

Being made strong and able to leap with great joy!

This concept reminds me of the verse that we see in:

Ḥaḇaqquq/Habakkuk 3:18-19 “Yet I exult in יהוה, I rejoice in the Elohim of my deliverance. 19 יהוה the Master is my strength. And He makes my feet like those of deer, and makes me walk on my high places. To the chief singer with my stringed instruments.”.

The Hebrew word that is translated as exult comes from the root word עָלַז alaz – Strong’s H5937 which means ‘exult, rejoice, triumph, be jubilant ’and this word, in the Hebrew, describes an emotion of joy which finds expression in singing and shouting and is a natural response of the faithful, as we see in Tehillah/Psalm 149:

Tehillah/Psalm 149:1-5 “Praise Yah! Sing to יהוה a new song, His praise in an assembly of lovingly-committed ones. 2 Let Yisra’ĕl rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Tsiyon exult in their Sovereign. 3 Let them praise His Name in a dance; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre. 4 For יהוה takes pleasure in His people; He embellishes the meek ones with deliverance. 5 Let the lovingly-committed ones exult in esteem; let them sing aloud on their beds.”

Praise – Exult – Dance and Sing Aloud to יהוה!

Sing His praise in an assembly of lovingly-committed ones.

These are all very powerful words that illustrate the intensity in which we are to praise יהוה, our Elohim, and sadly, we find that the ability to praise Him in this way can often be a tough challenge for most, as they go through the daily grind of trying to make ends meet; and very quickly they often find their ability to praise our Maker fading away, until praise unto Him becomes a ‘thing of the past’; and all of this while the heat of His displeasure is most certainly heating up for an Appointed Time, of which the majority are foolishly unaware of. .

This root word עָלַז alaz – Strong’s H5937 means to be in an intense state of great joy and contentment and this is how those who embrace the Truth – we exult in יהוה!.

Have your hands been made strong in the Master and are you ready to exult in יהוה and sing His praise in the assembly of lovingly-committed ones?.

As true taught ones of Messiah, our answer should be a resounding YES!.

Now then, having been trustworthy and faithful on counting to Shaḇuoth, we have the privilege of being gathered in His Name, in order to celebrate and rejoice before the face of our Master and perform this celebratory Feast together, with great joy!.

While this may sound obvious, many still battle with the ‘HOW TO’ part of faithfully observing this Feast.

So then, with that being said, let me answer the question:

HOW ARE WE TO PERFORM THIS FEAST?

Besides making sure that we are rejoicing, the text in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:10-12 gives us more insight, as to a significant part of the ‘how’ we are to come and rejoice before the face of our Master! .

Firstly, we are told that we are to perform this Feast to יהוה our Elohim, ‘according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as יהוה your Elohim blesses you’! .

Other translations render this as,

‘with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as יהוה your Elohim blesses you’. .

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘according to’ or ‘with the tribute’ comes from the root word מִסָּת missath – Strong’s H4530 which means, ‘sufficiency, enough, tribute, full amount, proportion affordable’..

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘voluntary offering’ comes from the root word נְדָבָה neḏaḇah – Strong’s H5071 which means, ‘voluntariness, freewill offering, volunteer freely, willingly’ and comes from the word נָדַב naḏaḇ – Strong’s H5068 which means, ‘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.”.

These words speak 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 exulting 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!.

Therefore, we are able to see a clear part of the ‘HOW TO’ of keeping this Feast, being clearly explained, which is:

YOU BRING WITH YOUR HAND

A SUFFICIENT VOLUNTARY OFFERING!.

One’s ‘hand’ speaks of that which you do, or that which you have been equipped and enabled to work with, and this Feast therefore, calls for one’s hand to be moved, to bring a tribute unto יהוה – a tribute that is in accordance to His blessing upon your life! .

So, in terms of the quantity or quality of the tribute that one brings before the face of יהוה, with their hand, can be answered in the ability of answering the question of:.

HOW HAS YAHWEH

BLESSED YOU?.

This is a Feast where you get to show the answer to this question, by the voluntary offering of your hand, according to how He has blessed you!.

To do so ‘voluntarily’, is to do so with great joy and not under compulsion:

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 9:7 “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not of grief or of necessity, for Elohim loves a joyous giver.”.

Therefore, the measure of one’s tribute is in accordance to one’s recognition of the blessing of The Master upon one’s life, and this is a critical part of the ‘how’ we are to keep this Feast ‘before His face’!

Each one therefore, should give the tribute as he purposes in his heart, as a reflection of the blessing of Elohim upon one’s life in recognition of all that He has done for you..

We are further instructed to not come empty handed before the face of the Master, as seen in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:16-17 “Three times a year all your males appear before יהוה your Elohim in the place which He chooses: at the Festival of Matzot, and at the Festival of Shaḇuoth, and at the Festival of Sukkot. And none should appear before יהוה empty-handed, 17 but each one with the gift of his hand, according to the blessing of יהוה your Elohim which He has given you.” .

In a nutshell, this is a commanded voluntary offering, which is brought as each one deems to be sufficient, according to the measure of their own estimation of יהוה’s blessing upon their lives.

What we must recognise when looking at the instructions regarding this Feast, as well as all of the Feasts of our Master, is that these instructions should never be manipulatively used to guilt anyone into giving, but should rather be taught correctly, in order for hearts to be properly prepared unto obedience before the Master.

This is not about putting on a show before others, but it is about a reflection of one’s ability to appropriate a prepared heart–driven voluntary offering of thanksgiving, for what our Master has done in one’s life.

We are reminded very clearly that יהוה sees the heart, and the command for none to appear before יהוה empty handed is clear!.

At the beginning of our count to Shaḇuoth, the waving of the sheaf of the first, or the first of the first (omer rěshiyth), that was brought before the face of Elohim and waved, was done as a declaration of a complete trust and belief in our Master’s provision, before a harvest would begin.

And now, here at Shaḇuoth, one gets to bring a tribute of the celebration, in celebration and remembrance of what יהוה has done!

This is a Feast where we remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim and celebrate what our Master has done for us, bringing and offering that is determined by one’s estimation of the Master’s blessing on their life!.

In Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:16 we are told that a new grain offering was to be brought on Shaḇuoth and the Hebrew word that is used for ‘grain offering’ is מִנְחָה minḥah – Strong’s H4503 which means, ‘a gift, tribute, meal offering, present’..

The ‘minḥah’ offering does not always require blood and it is most frequently referred to as the ‘grain offering’, which represents the gift being offered, that was a gift that has been prepared by the hands of the one bringing the gift, and was given to the High Priest, to present before יהוה.

From this, a remembrance portion was taken from the offering and offered up to יהוה, and the rest was set-apart for the priests only. .

At Shaḇuoth we wave two loaves of bread, symbolically, as the ‘wave offering’ – and this offering of bread, that is waved, is baked with leaven – and this is the ‘Bikkurim’ to יהוה!!! .

Many have often mistaken the waving of the sheaf of the first, which we celebrated at the start of our counting to 50, as being the Feast called Bikkurim, yet, on Shaḇuoth, we acknowledge that this is the Feast of Bikkurim!.

The Hebrew term ‘Bikkurim’ is found in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:17, where we are commanded to wave the two loaves of bread on Shaḇuoth, as the word that is used in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:17 for ‘first fruits’ is not רֵאשִׁית rěshiyth – Strong’s H7225.

The word רֵאשִׁית rěshiyth – Strong’s H7225 is the word that is translated as first-fruits, in the command to wave the sheaf of the first fruits, on the morrow after the Sabbath during Matzot (Unleavened Bread), but at Shaḇuoth, that which is translated as first fruits is the word בִּכּוּרִים bikkurim – Strong’s H1061 which means, ‘first fruits, early ripened thing, ripe fruit’, and comes from the root verb בָּכַר baḵar – Strong’s H1069 which means, ‘to bear new fruit, to constitute as first born’...

So, while the omer rěshiyth, that is the sheaf of the first fruits, is waved on the morrow after the weekly Sabbath during Matzot, it is 50 days later, on Shaḇuoth, that we, in fact, wave the בִּכּוּרִים bikkurim – Strong’s H1061, which is the first fruits and not just the sheaf of the first!!! .

Therefore, when the sheaf of the first is waved, 50 days prior to Shaḇuoth, the commitment to come and wave the Bikkurim has already been declared before the face of יהוה. .

By belief, the sheaf of the first is waved 50 days prior and then, on Shaḇuoth, the produce of that belief, is seen in the obedient action of bringing the first fruits and the voluntary offering to יהוה, according to one’s hand, in an acknowledgment of His complete blessing, protection and provision!.

However, we take note that no portion of this offering was burnt on the slaughter place, for a remembrance offering, for no leaven was to be burnt in an offering unto יהוה, and this leaven that was in the bread being waved, is a picture of the ‘good leaven’ of the Kingdom that has permeated the whole body of Messiah, as the old leaven of sin has been cleansed and washed away!

Luqas/Luke 13:20-21 “And again He said, “To what shall I compare the reign of Elohim? 21 “It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until it was all leavened.”

This parable teaches us that these three (3) measures of flour, that leaven had been hidden in, until all is leavened, is a great picture of the three (3) times a year, when all men were to go up to Yerushalayim to celebrate the Feasts of יהוה, which collectively would cover all seven (7) Feasts; and this wave offering of the ‘Leavened bread’ at Shaḇuoth, is a clear picture of the establishment of a ‘renewed’ Covenant, sealed in the Blood of Messiah and confirmed by the outpouring of His Spirit, so that the 3 witness together – that is the water, blood and spirit – which can also represent the 3 measures of flour:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5: 6-8 “This is the One that came by water and blood: יהושע Messiah, not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the Truth. 7 Because there are three who bear witness: 8 the Spirit, and the water, and the blood. And the three are in agreement.”.

In the ancient pictographic script, the word מִנְחָה minḥah – Strong’s H4503 which means, ‘a gift, tribute, meal offering, present’, is pictured as:.

Mem – מִ:

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.

Nun – נְ:

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 will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy, and can carry the meaning of ‘new life or renewal, rebirth’..

Ḥet – חָ:

The ancient script has this letter as which is a ‘tent wall’, and carries a meaning of ‘SEPARATION’, as a tent wall separates two halves of the tent; or it can also reflect the outside walls that separate the people inside from that which is outside and so can also symbolise protection and security to those inside, while picturing a ‘cutting off’ of those who are outside. Hence this letter can mean ‘established, secure’ as well as ‘cut off, separated from’.

As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall, having been separated from the world and built up in the master!.

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’.

This word can also 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!.

As we look at this word in the understanding of a gift offering or tribute, we can see how this can represent our joy in bringing our lives daily before our Master and Redeemer, as a daily living sacrifice; for here in the ancient script, we can see by this Word the Truth of how:

WE, WHO ARE IMMERSED IN MESSIAH, HAVING DIED TO SELF, ARE RAISED TO NEW LIFE IN HIM TO BECOME A PART OF HIS BODY, THAT IS – HIS TABERNACLE, AS PICTURED BY THE TENT WALL, IN ORDER TO OFFER UP THE DAILY PRAISE DUE TO HIS NAME!!!.

This can also be understood as:

BY THE BLOOD OF MESSIAH, WE (HIS BODY) HAVE BEEN WASHED, RENEWED AND SEPARATED UNTO HIM AND WE SUBMIT AND GIVE OUR LIVES AS A DAILY LIVING OFFERING!.

The minḥah clearly pictures for us today, how we are to be a ‘daily living offering’; and with it being a ‘new’ minḥah, we also recognise that, from the Hebrew word for ‘new’, being חָדָשׁ ḥaḏash – Strong’s H2319 which means, ‘new, new thing, something new’ and in its primitive root form means, ‘to renew, repair, restore’, we are to be continually reminded, as Sha’ul teaches us in Romiyim/Romans 12:1-2, to offer our lives as a daily living offering and be transformed by the ‘renewing of our minds’. .

In the LXX (Septuagint) – which is the Greek translation of the Tanak (O.T.), the Greek word that is used here for the ‘grain offering’ or minḥah is the Greek word θυσία thusia – Strong’s G2378 which means, ‘a sacrifice’.

Now, what is very powerful for us to take note, is that this Greek Word is used in several texts and when we see this, we can understand what Sha’ul, and Kěpha and the early emissaries were teaching us in regards to the minḥah, still being applicable to us each and every day! .

This word θυσία thusia – Strong’s G2378, is seen in:

Romiyim/Romans 12:1 “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.”

Verse 2 continues and tells us to ‘renew’ our minds – so this clearly pictures for us the ‘new grain offering’..

We also see in:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Messiah also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and an offering to Elohim for a sweet-smelling fragrance.”

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 11:4 “By belief, Heḇel offered to Elohim a greater slaughter offering than Qayin, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, Elohim witnessing of his gifts. And through it, having died, he still speaks.”.

And again, we see in:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 13:15 “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a slaughter offering of praise to Elohim, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.”.

And then Kěpha tells us in:

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.”.

What we can certainly see, is that Sha’ul and Kěpha knew that the grain offering (minḥah) was a picture of how we too must continue to bring our daily tribute/gift to Elohim and the esteem of His Mighty Name, as a royal and set-apart priesthood!.

We are to offer ourselves daily – not just once – but daily!

As a called out and cleansed chosen one, I do not just offer ‘some’ of my life, but rather, I offer up my whole life/being – that is: all I am and all I have to give – giving always the best I have to give – continually! .

THE WAVE OFFERING:

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘wave offering’ comes from the root word תְּנוּפָה tenuphah – Strong’s H8573 which means, ‘wave offering’.

This describes ‘the offering that was lifted up and waved and presented before יהוה’, in a figurative way of giving it, or releasing it fully, to יהוה; and this carries great significance for us, as we too need to realise that our lives are to be lifted up as a wave offering before יהוה.

And that includes everything that we have, as we lift up our hands, in the declaration that all we have is presented to יהוה; and that we now belong to Him, having been bought at a price and betrothed by the Blood of the Lamb! .

We have been sealed with His Set-Apart Spirit of promise, who is the pledge of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “But He who establishes us with you in Messiah and has anointed us is Elohim, 22 who also sealed us, and gave the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” .

On שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth we wave the two loaves of Bread, which represent the secure promise of the two Houses of Yehuḏah and Yisra’ĕl being brought together as one, in the Hands of our Redeemer, High Priest and King.

It is also symbolic of the two tablets of the witness of the Ten Words, that the entire nation of Yisra’ĕl heard in the Wilderness, which were then written on stone as a witness, but now, it has been written upon our hearts. .

With the first two stones having been broken by Mosheh, when he came down and saw the perverted worship in the camp, he was required to make two new stones like the first, upon which יהוה would, again, write the 10 Words.

This was a powerful shadow picture of the renewal that we celebrate on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth!

With Yisra’ĕl, a called out, chosen and betrothed Bride, who broke her marriage vows and covenant with יהוה; יהוה was already declaring His promised provision, by Mosheh having to make two stones like the first, that יהוה had made, and upon which יהוה would once again write His 10 words! .

This prophetically declared that the very Word of Elohim would be made flesh and come down, in order to be broken for us, by taking on the form of the flesh, in order to redeem us from the sinful nature, and ‘make new’ the true witness of His Covenant seal and pledge over us, as His called out and chosen Bride in Messiah, who has now made it possible for His Torah to be written upon the fleshly tablets of our hearts, by His Spirit through the Blood of Messiah!.

The ‘wave offering’ celebrates the promise of renewal or rather the making of a renewed covenant.

In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word תְּנוּפָה tenuphah – Strong’s H8573 which means, ‘wave offering’, looks like this:.

Taw – תְּ:

Nun – נ:

Waw/Vav – וּ:

Pey – פָ:

It also can represent that which has been spoken forth from the words of one’s mouth, as being established – ‘The Spoken Word’!.

Hey – ה:

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

Therefore, we can see that the wave offering of the two loaves on Shaḇuoth is a proclamation of that which has been renewed, made new, and by the rendering of these pictures, we can see that it declares to us: .

THE COVENANT OF LIFE

HAS BEEN SECURED

BY THE REVEALED WORD

WHO IS TO BE PRAISED!.

or:.

BEHOLD THE SEAL OF THE COVENANT

THAT IS RENEWED AND SECURED

BY THE WORD WHO WAS LIFTED UP

AND WHO IS TO BE PRAISED!.

Or:

BEHOLD THE COVENANT

HAS BEEN RENEWED

AND WE HAVE BEEN ADDED AND SECURED

BY THE REVEALED WORD

WHO IS TO BE PRAISED!.

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 31:31-33 “See, the days are coming,” declares יהוה, “when I shall make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’ĕl and with the house of Yehuḏah, 32 not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares יהוה. 33 “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”.

These verses are quoted in Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 8, and what we celebrate, on Shaḇuoth, is this very promise that has been given by יהוה, our Mighty Elohim – for His Torah is now upon our hearts!!! .

At Mount Sinai, 3000 died as a result of rebellion and on this day of Shaḇuoth, at Mount Tsiyon, and the renewal of the Covenant, sealed by the outpouring of the Spirit, 3000 were added to the number of the body – representing for us a complete restoration of death to life, which His Word proclaims for us who call upon His Name and guard to do His commands!

For we who stay in Messiah, possess the witness of Messiah and are guarding the commands of Elohim!

Messiah has renewed the Covenant in His own Blood and in doing so, He secured for us the promise of everlasting life, sealing us by His Spirit and He continually intercedes for us, as He lifts us up as our High Priest, equipping us to be the wave offering of set-apartness and a true faithful Bride!.

שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth celebrates our Marriage/Betrothal with our Kinsman Redeemer, יהושע Messiah, and the account of Ruth and Boaz is a very powerful and great shadow picture of us being redeemed and betrothed to the King!.

It was around the Feast of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth that Ruth lay herself at Boaz’s feet, in order to ask for his protection, and in the same way, we come to the feet of the Messiah, the very Bread of Life, and receive His protection.

Bo‘az gave her enough food for her and Na‘omi to see them through until he returned from making arrangements to redeem them together.

This is very symbolic for us, as it is through יהושע Messiah, Our Redeemer, that we are given His Spirit and Word to see us through while He is away making final arrangements for our complete redemption..

We have looked at 7 words in the ancient pictographic script, that are used in the instructions regarding the Feast of Shaḇuoth: .

1 – שָׁבֻעוֹת – SHAḆUOTH (SEVENS/OATHS/WEEKS)

2 – סָפַר – SAPHAR (COUNT)

3 – עָשָׂה – ASAH (PERFORM)

4 – חַג – ḤAG (FEAST)

5 – שָׂמֵחַ – SAMEAḤ (REJOICING)

6 – מִנְחָה – MINḤAH (GRAIN OFFERING)

7 – תְּנוּפָה – TENUPHAH (WAVE OFFERING) .

All of these words are certainly ancient pictographic pictures to remember!

I would like us to look at another Hebrew word that I also feel is very clearly pictured prophetically in this Feast, despite it not being used in the instructions for this Feast. .

That word, is the Hebrew word יוֹבֵל Yoḇel – Strong’s H3104 which means, ‘a ram, ram’s horn (a wind instrument) or trumpet’, and is also translated as ‘jubilee’, as it is used to mark, or signal, the year of release, which would be every 50^th year, which is prophetically pictured through the counting of 49 days, with Shaḇuoth being the 50^th day, upon which the Spirit was poured out and the promise of release was sealed upon the hearts of the body of Messiah!.

In the ancient pictographic script this word Yoḇel – יוֹבֵל – Strong’s H3104 looks like this:.

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!

Waw/Vav – וֹ:

Beyt – בֵ:

Lamed – ל:

The ancient script has this letter as , and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction, and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to bring back by Authority. .

As we consider this word in terms of the announcement of the release that our Master and Elohim came to proclaim, we are able to see the following:.

THE WORK OF THE ARM AND HAND OF YAHWEH

SECURES THE HOUSE OF THE SHEPHERD!.

With the House of the Shepherd being secured by the work of our Master, we have the ability to hold fast to the expectation that we have in Messiah, as we faithfully wait for the His soon return, at the sounding of the Trumpets of Elohim..

The Yoḇel sounded long on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, in the Wilderness of Sinai, when Yisra’ĕl heard the voice of יהוה speaking the 10 Words of the Marriage Covenant, and on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, in Yerushalayim, there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, as the Spirit of Elohim was poured out on the believers who were gathered to celebrate this Feast!.

We are the Dwelling Place of Elohim, which has been secured by the work of His Outstretched Arm and Hand and we are no longer slaves to sin, but are sons and daughters of the Most–High Elohim!

Galatiyim/Galatians 4:6-7 “And because you are sons, Elohim has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir of Elohim through Messiah.”

On Shaḇuoth, we gather together and celebrate the assurance that we have in Elohim, being a secured Dwelling Place, where He will soon come and dwell in the midst of!.

And on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, we collectively celebrate our betrothal to Him, having been sealed, with His Spirit in our hearts, giving us the ability to be the continual daily living offering that counts the cost of following our Redeemer, equipped to perform the set-apart service of a faithful priesthood that rejoices in our Master and King!.

שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth marks the celebration of the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit, that we are able to receive by belief, through the Blood of Messiah, being made one in Him.

Our responsibility, as a called out and chosen Bride, is to walk steadfast in being a daily living offering, and offering up our lives as a voluntary sacrifice, giving Him, who has redeemed us, our all in all – so that we do not grieve the Set-Apart Spirit, but guard the good deposit by complete obedience to the Torah of our Redeemer and King..

This Feast is often referred to as ‘THE BREAD FEAST’, as we recognise the significance of the waving of the two loaves of Bread, which represents us, as a body, together in Messiah, being waved as an acceptable Bride, and Dwelling Place, of Elohim..

As we prepare to enjoy and celebrate this Bread Feast of Weeks, may we be reminded of the sure and promised hope of His soon return and hold fast to that which we have been brought near to… which is His covenants of Promise!.

May we continue to be faithful and trustworthy, as a Bride who makes Herself ready – for all of us that are preparing to be gathered before His face on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, in celebration of this great Feast, have said the ‘I do’..

Therefore, let us remember our ‘Marriage vows’ and live accordingly, as we walk by His Torah/Marriage covenant that is now written upon the fleshly tablets of our heart, sealed by His very breath – His very Set-apart Spirit.

He has given us all we need to walk according to the Spirit, through complete obedience and observance of His Torah and commands, possessing the witness of our Mighty Master, as we display our belief through our works of obedience!.

In Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:12 we are given further insight in ‘how’ we are to keep this Feast, and in doing this, it helps us embrace the true heart of voluntarily giving with rejoicing!

We are told to:

‘Remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim and we shall guard and do these laws’..

The Hebrew root word for ‘remember’ is זָכַר zaḵar – Strong’s H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be mindful, or bring to remembrance’, from which we get the word זִכָּרוֹן Zikkaron – Strong’s H2146 which means, ‘memorial, commemoration or remembrance’.

We are to remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim!

In other words, we remember that we were once not a people, but now are a people of Elohim! .

We were bought at a price, by the Blood of Messiah, our Passover Lamb; and this call to remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim, is for the clear purpose of remembering who we are NOW, in Messiah!.

We were once a people who were enslaved to the world and were held fast under the heavy burdens of the false dogmas and vain traditions of man, but now, we have been delivered from the house of bondage and set free, in order to obey the True Master of all creation! .

This verse is very clear, in telling us to remember that we were once a slave in Mitsrayim, so now we shall obey the Torah!!!

You were once lawless –

but now having been redeemed –

you shall obey!!!.

It was on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth that the children of Yisra’ĕl heard the voice of יהוה from Mount Sinai and entered into a Marriage Covenant with the Most–High; and after hearing the Ten Words, they said to Mosheh that they would die if they continued to hear the voice of יהוה and said that Mosheh should hear the rest and come and tell them the commands and instructions, which they said they would guard to do! .

They too, had been delivered from slavery, and on Shaḇuoth, were called to be a ready bride that would guard the Marriage Covenant! .

We know that this did not happen and after Messiah came to die for us, and set us free from our sin and enslavement to the world, we too come now to שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, where we remember that were once nations in the flesh, without Messiah, and were once excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ĕl and were once strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world, but now, in Messiah יהושע, we who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. .

With this remembrance, is the clear reminder that we are to guard and do His Word!

Romiyim/Romans 6:17-18 “But thanks to Elohim that you were servants of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.”

WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE TO SERVE!.

We have been set free from sin and enslavement to sin and lawlessness, in order to serve in righteousness – which is: to guard to do all that He commands us to! .

The Feast of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth is a time to remember and rejoice in our freedom, and we are reminded that are not to use our freedom as a cloak for evil, but rather: to serve Elohim:

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:15-16 “as free, yet not using your freedom as a cloak for evil, but as servants of Elohim.”

Galatiyim/Galatians 5:13 “For you, brothers, have been called to freedom, only do not use freedom as an occasion for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”.

Shaḇuoth marks the celebration of the Torah now being written upon our hearts and we who were once enslaved, now have a law to live by – praise יהוה!

His Torah is to be upon our heart, so that we are equipped to love Him with all our heart, as seen through our complete surrender to walking in submission to the commands of our Elohim and Good Shepherd..

The Hebrew word for ‘heart’ is לֵב leḇ – Strong’s H3820 which means, ‘inner man, mind, will thought’, or is often also written as לֵבָב leḇaḇ – Strong’s H3824 which means, ‘inner man, heart, mind, understanding’.

Our hearts are to be healthy!!! It is a heart thing!

What is interesting to take note of here is that these two letters for ‘heart’ in the ancient Hebrew pictographic Script make it clear that the rule and authority of Elohim is to be upon our hearts, giving us a healthy heart!.

In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word לֵב leḇ – Strong’s H3820 looks like this:.

Lamed – לֵ:

The ancient script has this letter as , and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction, and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to bring back by Authority.

Bet – ב:

In terms of these two pictures, representing the ‘heart’ or the inner man and the will and thoughts of man, we are able to see that a pure heart is one that submits to the authority of the Good Shepherd, having been grafted into His Body, that is the Tabernacle of Elohim, which in Messiah we now are.

It can clearly be expressed as:.

THE RULES OF THE HOUSE.

And in recognising this, we see that we, as legitimate sons and daughter of the Most-High, that have been grafted in by the Blood of Messiah, have upon our hearts His Torah, under which we submit to walking in – for His Torah are the rules of His House, which He has written on the fleshly tablets of our hearts!.

Even with the word for heart being expressed as לֵבָב leḇaḇ, we are able to see in the ancient text a second ‘bet’ (house), showing us the clear picture of the True authority for both Houses of Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah, that collectively make up the entire body of Messiah, or Tabernacle of Elohim, which we now are! .

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:5-6 “And you shall love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might. 6 “And these Words which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart”

To love Elohim with all your heart implies that His commands are written upon your heart, for true love for Elohim is to guard His commands; and if one does not think upon or meditate upon His Torah in order to walk in it, then it shall be very clear that the Truth is not in them!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘all’ comes from the root word כֹּל kol – Strong’s H3606 which means, ‘whole, all, entire, every, continually’.

This word is pictured in the ancient pictographic text as follows:..

Kaph – כֹּ:

The ancient form of this letter is – meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’.

The meaning behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission.

This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!.

Lamed – לַ:

The ancient script has this letter as , and is pictured as a ‘shepherd’s staff’, can give the meaning of ‘to or toward’ and can represent that which pushes or pulls a flock in a direction, and can speak of authority or a yoke that is used to lead and guide, as well as the ability to bring back by Authority. .

When considering this pictograph for the word that means, ‘all, complete, whole’, we are able to recognise how important it is for us to be ‘all in’, so to speak, being completely submitted to working the good works of obedience, under the complete authority of our Master and Good Shepherd!.

TAMED UNDER THE YOKE

SUBMITTED TO THE AUTHORITY.

People will give their all to that which they have been submitted under and so we recognise how important it is for us to give our all to serving under the easy yoke of our Master, יהושע Messiah, who is our Good Shepherd!..

It was on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth that the taught ones in Yerushalayim received the Spirit that they were told to wait for; and so, we rejoice in the assurance that we have, as having received a spirit of adoption – and we now have a Father who loves us and has set us free from sin and lawlessness!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now יהוה is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of יהוה is, there is freedom.”.

יהושע tells us in Yoḥanan/John 8 that if we stay in His Word then we are truly His taught ones and we shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set make us free, for if the Son makes us free, we will be free indeed! .

Free to obey – for His Spirit is given to us as a pledge and assurance that we are His:

Romiyim/Romans 8:15-16 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim”.

We who have turned to the Master and have had the veil of deception removed from our eyes are now able to look intently into His Torah – a Torah of Freedom – and not be hearers only but also doers of His Torah of Freedom!

Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:25 “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.”.

Remembering that we were slaves in Mitsrayim and having been delivered from bondage to sin and lawlessness, we are reminded to not go back to that which we have been delivered from:

Galatiyim/Galatians 5:1 “In the freedom with which Messiah has made us free, stand firm, then, and do not again be held with a yoke of slavery.”

Do not go back to Mitsrayim!!!

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’ĕl, nor seek יהוה!”

We do not shrink back but press on, in the Truth, as we fix our eyes on our Master, by staying in His Word and guarding the Torah, with joy! .

This Feast of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth is not only a historical event that took place in the desert, or in Yerushalayim.

This is His Appointed Time – a Feast that has been fulfilled by the work of יהושע Messiah and it shows us how we are to walk and live, before יהוה each and every day, and therefore, it is a Feast that we remember to keep with great joy, in a bold acknowledgment of what He has done for us, shown by the gift of our hand before His face!.

REMEMBER!

This is a big part of properly celebrating this great day of Shaḇuoth! .

It is with this call to ‘remember’ in mind, that I would like us to take a look at one more word, in its ancient pictographic form… and that is, of course, the Hebrew word זָכַר zaḵar – Strong’s H2142 which means ‘to remember, or be mindful, or bring to remembrance’, which is pictured as follows:.

Zayin – זְ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as , which is a mattock (a sharp digging tool such as an axe or pick) and carries the meaning of ‘a weapon or tool that cuts, farming instrument’. A mattock would be a tool that was also used to dig up the soil so that seed could be planted. This picture clearly pictures a tool that is used to work and therefore can also render for us the meaning of work or a work that is done, and more specifically, the harvest that is brought forth!.

Kaph – כְ:

The ancient form of this letter is – meaning ‘the open palm of a hand’. The meaning behind this letter is ‘to bend and curve’ from the shape of a palm as well as ‘to tame or subdue’ as one has been bent to another’s will (under their hand), as an open hand symbolises submission. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch from the curved palm shape. The hand also speaks of one’s work, or under whose hand you submit and obey!.

Resh – ר:

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

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

As we consider this root word that is understood as ‘remember’, in its pictographic form, we are able to glean the following:.

THE HARVEST IS

WORKED BY OUR HEAD!.

This is such an awesome picture for us to consider, in our remembering that we were slaves in Mitsrayim, with the acknowledgment and acceptance that we shall guard the Torah of our Master and Elohim!

There are a number of powerful images that we can glean from this root word, in its pictographic form, as we take note that the harvest has been secured by the work of the Hand our Elohim, our Head, יהושע Messiah! .

This is exactly what we are celebrating on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth!

Our Head and Saviour has worked redemption for us and He is the Master of the harvest!

This day calls for us to remember that we were once slaves to sin and destruction, but now, we are free and ready to serve, as workers in the harvest. .

In our remembrance, we recognise that He, who has begun a good work in us, shall perfect it until the day of יהושע Messiah, Our Head and Master of the Harvest, who is coming for His redeemed and ready Bride!.

This call to remember, is a call to not turn back to old ways, but to keep our eyes fixed on our Head and be diligent in working out our deliverance with fear and trembling, not shrinking back, but pressing forward in great joy, as we fix our eyes upon Him, working unto Him and being His workers in His harvest field!.

We, as ambassadors of His reign have a clear commission to go and make taught ones, and in our remembrance that we are no longer slaves but servants, we also must remember that the harvest is ripe!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 9:37-38 “Then He said to His taught ones, “The harvest truly is great, but the workers are few. 38 “Pray then that the Master of the harvest would send out workers to His harvest.”.

This day of remembrance must remind us of the work that is still to be done!

Yoḥanan/John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months, and the harvest comes’? See, I say to you, lift up your eyes and see the fields, for they are white for harvest – already!”

These words are extremely important for us to remember, as we take note that we are now in the 3^rd month and from the 3^rd month to the 7^th is what…4 months!!! .

From Shaḇuoth to Yom Kippur, when the harvest will be gathered, is 4 months and in our remembrance, we should not sit back and wait for better days, as we have a clear mandate and commission to work the fields!.

This picture of remembrance teaches us to not give up!!

Luqas/Luke 9:62 “But יהושע said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the reign of Elohim.”

This pictographic rendering of the word that means ‘remember’, teaches us that we are to put our hand to the plough and keep our eyes on our Head!

This is how we remember that we were once slaves, so that we remember who we are now, in Him, our Head!

And this is what we celebrate on this day of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, in remembrance of His work of deliverance over your life! .

This remembrance causes us to be reminded that we are a set-apart and royal priesthood that guards the Torah of our Mighty Master.

You shall remember that you were a slave in Mitsrayim and you shall guard and do these laws!

We have already taken a look at the Hebrew root word for ‘do’, which is ‘asah’, and I also want to highlight the Hebrew word for ‘guard’..

The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘guard’ comes from the word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 and carries the meaning, ‘keep watch, observe, perform, protect, pay attention’, and the basic idea of the root of this word is ‘to exercise great care over’. .

When one is ‘guarding’ something, being ‘awake’ and alert is imperative or else the risk of a theft or loss of possessions are high.

When used in combination with other verbs, it can have the meaning of, ‘do carefully or diligently’, i.e., perform carefully by paying strict attention as to what must be done, as it expresses the careful attention to be paid to the obligations of a covenant, to laws, statutes, etc..

What is interesting and worth taking note of, is the frequent use of the word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 in the Torah.

It is used 148 times in 139 verses in the Torah –

15 times in 15 verses in Berěshith/Genesis,

25 times in 24 verses in Shemoth/Exodus;

16 times in 16 verses in Wayyiqra/Leviticus;

19 times in 19 verses in Bemiḏbar/Numbers and

73 times in 65 verses in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy!!! .

With Deḇarim/Deuteronomy being seen as the ‘second reading of the Torah’, as it was the instructions given to the new generation, we can see why there is a greater emphasis on the use of שָׁמַר shamar to the generation that was about to enter into the Promised Land! .

As we look at the Hebrew word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 which means, ‘keep, watch, present, attend to, pay close attention, guard’, in the ancient pictographic form, we are able to identify what true guarding entails..

Shin – שָׁ:

This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as, , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp!

It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food...

Mem – מַ:

We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture.

Resh – ר:

The ancient script has this letter ‘resh’ as – – and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and has the meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first. Top, as in the top or head of a body and chief, as is head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the people.

Considering these pictographs that render the word that means to guard carefully, we are able to identify how we are to:

MEDITATE ON

THE WASHING OF OUR HEAD.

In Sha’ul’s letter the believers in Ephesos, he instructed Husbands to love their wives, as Messiah loved us:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:25-28 “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.”.

It is through His Word that He washes us, and therefore, we are able to identify the cleansing that His Blood brought to us, giving us the ability to properly meditate on the cleansing that the Word of our Head brings, by guarding to do all He instructs us to do.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 7:1 “My son, guard my words, and treasure up my commands with you.”

As we guard His Torah, and exercise great care over our need to walk upright, we will be protected against the delusion of the lawless! .

Why I am highlighting this, is to make it very clear that in order to properly watch, and be on guard against being led astray, we need to be properly guarding the Word of Elohim, by paying attention to it, as we hear, guard and do what the Word commands!.

To watch (guard), as we should, we need to know the Word, which takes proper study and daily meditation of the Word and those who are not interested in knowing the Word set themselves up to be an easy target for being led astray by the delusion of the lawless.

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3 “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands.”.

The Greek word that is translated as ‘guard’ in the above verse is τηρέω tēreō – Strong’s G5083 which means, ‘to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard, to one in the state in which he is, to observe, to hold fast’..

This is a verb which clearly implies an action that is required rather than a passive nullification of the need to observe.

It comes from the word τηρός tēros which is a ‘guard’, and we know that a guard cannot guard correctly if they are not alert and watchful!.

Figuratively, this word τηρέω tēreō – Strong’s G5083 means, ‘obey, fulfil a duty, precept, law or custom, and to perform watchfully’.

To guard the instructions of the One we know implies an active obedience to what we hear Him speak and instruct and be diligent to be watchful over His clear Words!.

Let us see the verse that follows:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:4-7 “The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked. 7 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.”.

In preparation for שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, we are reminded that on this day, as you remember who you NOW are in Messiah, is a day where you can now appropriate your remembrance, as you present a ‘HARVEST OF YOUR HAND TO THE HEAD’, by presenting a voluntary offering of your hand before the face of יהוה, in accordance to how He has blessed you! .

HOW HAS YAHWEH

BLESSED YOU?.

The harvest of your hand to Him, our Head, declares the ‘how’!

These pictographic words that I have presented to you today, are certainly wonderful ancient pictures to remember, helping us to be prepared to celebrate with understanding, this great day of Shaḇuoth!.

It is on the day of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth that we also wave the two loaves of Bread before יהוה, symbolising the two Houses of Yehuḏah and Yisra’ĕl, coming together as a perfect Bride – a body being made whole through the Blood of Messiah – rid of sin and filled with the Good News – His Torah – that has permeated the entire batch and is now presentable as a Bride ready for her King; as a body/community of Believers living in unity in His Word and are so mixed in to each other, living as One..

שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth is also considered as being a reference to the ‘First trumpet’, as the announcing of the betrothal is sounded, and is connected with the marriage union between יהוה and His people!

The Last trumpet will sound on Yom Kippur, when our Husband, Master, Redeemer and King shall come out of the Most Set-Apart Place to trample the winepress and destroy His enemies, and then gather His Bride to Himself! .

It is on Yom Teruah that we hear the sound of the awakening blast and have a ‘remembrance of Teruah’ – that is: a remembrance of the Trumpet sound of Shaḇuoth, declaring that we are betrothed and that we, The Bride of Messiah, had better be ready, dressed and have our lamps filled with oil!.

It is on שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth that we celebrate the renewal of the Marriage Covenant and how we are now called to stay in the Word and guard to do His laws, for this is how we live set-apart lives unto the Master and declare our love for Him!.

As we prepare for this Feast, we are able to consider the powerful events that took place on this day – the first שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth, after the ascension of Messiah, where the Spirit of Elohim was poured out on those who were gathered for the celebration of Shaḇuoth and were all with one mind in one place. .

They saw tongues of fire and there was a mighty sound from heaven, and the pouring out of His Spirit of promise was made evident, by what was witnessed by all who were gathered, and as a result, as a I mentioned earlier, 3000 were added to the body that day, as Kěpha declared to those who asked what they needed to do – to which he responded:

“repent and be immersed in the Name of יהושע Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Set-Apart Spirit”

This promise is to as many as יהוה our Elohim shall call!.

This day of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth marks the celebration of this gift that we are able to receive by belief, through the Blood of Messiah, being made one in Him.

Our responsibility, as a called out and chosen Bride, is to walk steadfast, in being a daily living offering, and offer up our lives as a voluntary sacrifice, giving Him, who has redeemed us, our all in all!.

As you prepare to enjoy this up-and-coming Bread Feast of Weeks, before the face of our Master, may you be completely prepared do so with much rejoicing, in a celebratory remembrance of His wonderful work that He has done..

This is a day to rejoice, Bride of Messiah, and to perform this Feast with great rejoicing and the voluntary offering of your hand, remembering that you are no longer a slave to sin, but have been set free from sin, in order to serve the Living Elohim!.

As we look forward to this day and do the wave offering of the Bread, as a symbol of the wonderful work of our Master, let us rejoice and celebrate this Feast day, in complete unity in the Master!.

We know that man looks at the eyes, but יהוה looks at the heart and so, in recognising this fact, let that which is in your heart be evidenced before His face, as you come before His face and present the wave offering of your voluntary offering, done so with great cheerfulness and joy and not under compulsion… for our Master loves a joyful giver. .

Do not be like Ḥananyah and Shappirah that lied to the Set-Apart Spirit and were struck for the deception on their heart, but let this day of שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth be a rejoicing celebration of your thanks unto יהוה, expressed through the voluntary offering of your hand, as we come together and celebrate our marriage with our Messiah, aměn! .

See you all on… שָׁבֻעוֹת Shaḇuoth.

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