27th of the 2nd month 2015/2016
Shabbat Shalom,
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.”
In a brief message tonight called, ‘DO NOT GRIEVE THE SET-APART SPIRIT’, I want us to be reminded how critical it is for us to fix our eyes on our Master and walk in His Way, guarding ourselves against the dangers of turning to the left or the right!
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “And you shall guard to do as יהוה your Elohim has commanded you – do not turn aside, to the right or to the left. 33 “Walk in all the way which יהוה your Elohim has commanded you, so that you live and it be well with you. And you shall prolong your days in the land which you possess.”
As I was compiling the commentary on Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10 these past couple of weeks, I found myself coming to an abrupt halt as I meditated on the danger of grieving the Set-Apart Spirit of Elohim. Tonight I want to briefly share with you some very valuable insight into understanding how quickly one can be found to be grieving the Set-Apart Spirit, the very thing that Sha’ul was clearly instructing us not to do.
The Greek word that is used here for ‘grieve’ is the verb λυπέω lupeō – Strong’s G3076 which means, ‘to grieve, to distress, cause sorrow, offend’, and this comes from the word λύπη lupē – Strong’s G3077 which means, ‘pain of body or mind, grief, sorrow’. The Greek word for ‘sealed’ is σφραγίζω sphragizō – Strong’s G4972 which means, ‘to seal, put a seal on, set’, and comes from the word σφραγίς sphragis – Strong’s G4973 which means, ‘seal, signet’, and is also used to describe the seal or mark of Elohim on the foreheads of His called out ones, as we see that those who do not have the seal of Elohim shall be in danger of great harm, as seen in:
Ḥazon/Revelation 9:4 “And it was said to them that they shall not harm the grass of the earth, or any green matter, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of Elohim upon their foreheads.”
In Scripture we come to understand a great deal about the importance of being sealed and how we are to guard the seal and assurance of deliverance by staying in our Master. This Greek word for ‘seal’ – σφραγίς sphragis – Strong’s G4973 – is used 11 times in the LXX (Septuagint), as the equivalent to the Hebrew word חֹתָם ḥotham – Strong’s H2368 which means, ‘a seal, signet ring’. Why I am mentioning this is so that we can be reminded of the clear instructions that were given regarding the garments of the High Priest, and how the names of the 12 tribes of Yisra’ĕl were to be engraved on each of the stones, like the engraving of a signet – חֹתָם ḥotham, that were to be set in the breastplate, according to each tribe. The two shoham stones that were to be set in settings of gold and put on the shoulder pieces of the shoulder garment of the High Priest, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Yisra’ĕl, were also to be engraved, like the engraving of a signet; and the plate of clean gold that was on the turban of the High Priest was to be engraved like the engraving of a signet with the words – SET-APARTNESS TO יהוה.
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 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.”
The Greek word for ‘redemption’ is ἀπολύτρωσις apolutrōsis – Strong’s G629 which means, ‘to release on payment of ransom, a release effected by payment of ransom, redemption’, which comes from two words – ἀπό apo – Strong’s G575 which is a preposition that carries the meaning, ‘from, away from, against’, and λύτρον Lutron – Strong’s G3083 which means, ‘ransom’, which comes from the primary verb λύω luō – Strong’s G3089 which means, ‘to loose, release, dissolve, annul, break, take off, untie’. Messiah came to redeem us and take off the heavy burdens of false traditions and lies, so that we can take up His easy yoke, walking Him and have the full assurance of our redemption to made complete when He comes again, by sealing us with His Set-Apart Spirit of promise.
Being sealed with the Set-Apart Spirit we must realise the clear responsibility we have in working out our deliverance with fear and trembling, as we do our utmost to not grieve the Spirit by which we have been sealed, and who is the pledge of our inheritance!
Why I am mentioning various Greek and Hebrew words is to highlight for us the clear importance of our need to be sober, alert and watchful as we walk set-apart lives amidst a wicked and adulterous generation! As the Day of יהוה draws nearer and nearer we are able to clearly see the depravity of man betting worse, as the love of many is certainly growing cold and the pressures of daily living and the ability to makes ends meet is getting increasingly harder. Recognising the signs of the times, the very perilous times we are living in, we take note that the Day draws near and we should not be alarmed at that which must take place, but be strengthened in the Word to stand steadfast and not be moved, as we guard the sealing of our inheritance with our all, by not turning to the right or to the left but walking straight in the Way of our Master and Elohim!
With Sha’ul giving this clear instruction to not grieve the Spirit, we must take note that there is a danger of actually doing it, or else he would not have instructed this and given the clear warning to ensure we do not grieve the Spirit who has sealed us!
While studying Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10, I started to get a clearer understanding of the very real danger of what causes grief and then tied up the reality of how so many people today are grieving our Master.
The Greek root word for ‘sorrow’ – λύπη lupē – Strong’s G3077 – is used in the LXX (Septuagint) in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10, in the following verse:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10: 10 “He who winks with the eye causes sorrow, and one with foolish lips falls.”
The Hebrew word for ‘sorrow’ is עַצֶּבֶת atstseḇeth – Strong’s H6094 which means, ‘hurt, injury, pain, trouble, sorrow’, and comes from the root verb עָצַב atsaḇ – Strong’s H6087 which means, ‘to hurt, pain, grieve, distort, displease’.
Before I go on to explain what a winking eye speaks of, let me first tell you about the sorrow that it causes! This causes hurt, pain, grief, injury! Having said that we see the warning that Sha’ul is giving, as he is clear in his letter to the believers at Ephesos that they must not hurt, injure or cause the Set-Apart Spirit pain and grief. As we consider the danger of doing this, we are giving some clear insight as to what grieves the Spirit as we take note of the first time that this Hebrew root verb is used. The first time we see this root verb עָצַב atsaḇ – Strong’s H6087 being used is in:
Berěshith/Genesis 6:6 “And יהוה was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”
יהוה was grieved in His heart! That in itself is something to stop and think about for a moment!
A very sobering thought indeed, as we see here that He was sorry that He had made man on the earth!
The word used for ‘sorry’ is נָחַם naḥam – Strong’s H5162 and in written in the ‘niphal’ tense which can express the meaning, ‘to be sorry, suffer grief, to be moved, repent have compassion’, and can also have the meaning of ‘console, to comfort, to be comforted’. 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 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. What this highlights for us here is that יהוה took a deep breath and sighed, and was filled with intense grief and sorrow for making man. What could cause such sighing and sorrow? We only have to look at the preceding verse to get a clear answer:
Berěshith/Genesis 6:5 “And יהוה saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
The wickedness of man had gotten to the point where it was very clear that every inclination of the thoughts of a man’s heart was only evil continually! This grieved יהוה. Mankind had turned away from Elohim and only had evil in their hearts!
This grieved יהוה so much that He wanted to wipe out all flesh, yet there was a man who found favour in His eyes – and that was Noaḥ! נֹחַ Noaḥ – Strong’s H5146 means, ‘rest, comfort’ and comes from the primitive root נוּחַ nuaḥ – Strong’s H5117 meaning, ‘to rest, abandon, give comfort, settle down and remain’. His name speaks of the rest we enter in יהושע Messiah upon salvation, and as we look at the accounts of the life of Noaḥ we can learn some very vital lessons of faith and obedience. This righteous man was perfect amidst a depraved and wicked generation! In many ways we can see a very powerful picture here, as we consider the state of grief that יהוה was in. He ‘breathed deeply and sighed’ being sorry that He made man and then Noaḥ found favour in His eyes! With the use of נָחַם naḥam showing us that יהוה was sorry and in many ways was not at all comforted by the depravity of man, a righteous and perfect man whose name means comfort and rest finds favour with יהוה! As we consider that the last days will be as the days of Noaḥ, we are cautioned against causing יהוה grief and sorrow, and recognise that it is only by His favour that we are able to enter into His rest, as we submit to Him and stay in Him, having been sealed by His Spirit, for the day of redemption!
We see this word נָחַם naḥam being used in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort, comfort My people!” says your Elohim.”
“ 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.
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 brings us the ‘recovery of breath’, as these words to Yisra’ĕl could express the clear message that Elohim was saying to His people and can be understood as saying the following: “I am bringing you a recovery of breath”.
The ‘comfort’ being proclaimed here in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40:1 is also a clear call to repentance, in order to find the necessary breath that would be needed to be a voice in the wilderness (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 40:3), as the spirit of Eliyahu 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!
It is in these last days that we certainly see a need for a recovery of breath, so to speak, as we recognise how many are grieving יהוה through their lawlessness and increased depravity and wickedness!
In Acts we are given a clear remedy for depravity!
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 can receive a recovery of breath – and be greatly comforted by His Word that equips us for life in Him so that we may live and breathe and praise His Name – for everything that has breath should praise יהוה!
It takes a proper diligent hearing to clearly guard to do what His instructions tell us to and be filled with His Spirit/Breath/Word that He puts in those who turn back to Him, by which we are sealed for the day of redemption.
Knowing that we have been sealed, I could best express the clear urgent warning that needs to be made clear today:
DO NOT BREAK THE SEAL!!!
How does one break the seal? When you stray from His clear instructions you can be in severe danger of being found to be without the seal of Elohim when the severe torturous wrath of יהוה will be unleashed on the earth at the sound of the fifth messenger!
We take note that there were many a time that Yisra’ĕl grieved Elohim in the desert, as they rebelled against His Word and they flattered Him with their mouth and lied to Him with their tongue, for their heart was not steadfast with Him, and they were not true to His covenant.
Tehillah/Psalm 78:40 “How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert!”
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:10 “But they rebelled and grieved His Set-apart Spirit, so He turned against them as an enemy, and He fought against them.”
Rebellion grieves His Set-Apart Spirit! The Hebrew word for ‘rebelled’ is מָרָה marah – Strong’s H4784 which means, ‘to be contentious, rebellious, bitter, disobedient’.
The Torah is to be upon our heart and here we see how Yisra’ĕl had a rebellious and backsliding heart – a heart that was filled with wickedness and deceit, instead of the Torah! The danger of stubbornness and rebellion being in one’s heart, is that you risk the severe danger of being bitten by the rebellious and stubborn whore, who lurks the streets!
Many have been captivated and ensnared to walking in stubborn rebellion, as they have fallen for the wicked schemes of the whore, under which many of us were born, as a result of our fathers being stubborn and rebellious!
Having recognised that our fathers inherited lies, we have responded to the comforting call to repent and return to Elohim and walk in His Torah, being washed and cleansed in His Blood and sealed by His Spirit, with the clear warning to not grieve His Spirit through rebellion and disobedience!!!
In a warning against rebellion we can come back to that which causes sorrow or grief, as we read from Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10:10, which I will read again:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10: 10 “He who winks with the eye causes sorrow, and one with foolish lips falls.”
In this verse Shelomoh continues to describe the resulting actions of the wrong. He who winks with the eye is referred to as being a man of beliya’al in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 6:13, and to us how the corrupt and wicked will ‘wink with the eye, make signals with his feet and point with his fingers’. All of which describes or represents for us sinister body language, and can often reflect actions that contradict the words they speak. The man of beliya’al may tell you one thing but his actions reveal another. The wicked will also develop signs and signals that other wicked companions will understand and acknowledge what is being said beyond the words that is being spoken!
Our yes must be yes and our no must be no, anything beyond this is of the devil! How do your words and actions line up when mirrored against the true plumb-line of the Torah? Have you developed certain looks and signals that are saying the opposite to what you mean? If so, come out and have no agreement with such sinister body language!
The Hebrew word translated as ‘winks’ is קָרַץ qarats – Strong’s H7169 which means, ‘to nip, pinch, compress, wink’, and refers to a ‘pinching together’, and is applied to describing that which is done to eyes, lips and clay.
At its root it is associated with an “insidious malicious gesture”.
Tehillah/Psalm 35:19 “Let not my lying enemies rejoice over me; or those who hate me without cause wink their eyes.”
Winking may not often express the true meaning for us, as this root word better represents for us a deceitful and malicious look! This idea is further supported by the verse we see in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16:30 “Winking with his eye to plot perversity, moving his lips he shall bring about evil.”
The clear intent here is to depict a harsh man whose eyes are closed to others’ troubles and who bars (compresses) his lips in hard cruelty.
To ‘wink with the eye’ can therefore represent for us those who turn away from seeing the clear needs of others!
The perverse and wrong will easily and deliberately shut their eyes from being witness to the urgent needs of the poor and fatherless. This is something we all must be on guard against as we must not be found to be ‘winking our eyes’ at the pressing needs of other, especially when it is in our ability to help!
A winking eye causes sorrow as the need that could have been met is not!
This ‘winking with the eye’ is not limited to meeting needs of others, but also encompasses the reality of what so many are doing today, as it can also represent for us a selfishness and pride that can often be the cause of many who will ‘turn a blind eye’ so to speak and not do what is required or expected of them. In pure rebellion and disobedience to the Truth many turn their eyes, ears and mouths away from the proper hearing, guarding, doing, meditating and speaking of the Torah of Elohim, which… grieves the Spirit of Elohim! The Torah is to be upon our hearts and in our mouths, to do it!
יהוה was grieved in His heart over the depravity of man, and when we see the sorrow and grief that this caused our Creator, we are cautioned against causing that sorrow due to ignorance and wilful neglect of living set-apart lives and walking in His commands. This winking of the eye can further be understood at how many turn a blind eye toward the truth and quickly turn aside to compromising their walk; and what we need to be soberly reminded of here is how that grieves our Creator deeply!
When we are able to match these relevant Greek and Hebrew words we are clearly warned against turning a blind eye towards the clear commands, instructions and Torah of Elohim, lest we find that we are grieving the Set-Apart Spirit of Elohim!
Shelomoh makes it clear here in this proverb – the one who winks with the eye causes sorrow, and the one with foolish lips falls. What we take note of here is that the one who turns their ears and eyes away from the Torah and so easily speaks foolishly against the Torah of Elohim, will fall because they do not have the seal of Elohim upon their foreheads!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 3:17-18 “And with whom was He grieved forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter into His rest, but to those who did not obey?”
The Greek word used here for ‘grieved’ is προσοχθίζω prosochthizō – Strong’s G4360 which means, ‘to be sorely angered, be angry with’, and we find this word used in the LXX (Septuagint) in:
Tehillah/Psalm 95:10-11 “For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘They are a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’ 11 “As I swore in My wrath, ‘If they enter into My rest…’ ”
The Hebrew word used here for ‘grieved’ is קוּט qut – Strong’s H6962 which means, ‘loathe, to feel a loathing, be grieved, detest’. The Hebrew word translated as ‘go astray’ is תָּעָה ta’ah – Strong’s H8582 which means, ‘to err, deceived, go astray, misled, wander, wandered’.
This is a severe warning for us to take heed of, as what we see in Scripture is clear – if you go astray you will not enter into the rest of Elohim, just as the rebellious generation in the Wilderness did not enter into the Promised Land.
Going astray, being misled, being rebellious and disobedient is what grieves our Elohim, and this we are severely warned against, in order that we are securely sealed in Him for the day of redemption that draws near!
May we hear and do the words of Sha’ul to Timotiyos in:
Timotiyos Bět/2 Timothy 1:14 “Watch over the good deposit that was entrusted to you, by the Set-apart Spirit dwelling in us.”
The Greek word used here for ‘watch over’ is φυλάσσω phulassō – Strong’s G5442 which means, ‘to guard, watch, keep, observe, obey and keep orders’, which we also see being translated as ‘watching over’, in:
Luqas/Luke 11:28 “But He said, “Blessed rather are those hearing the Word of Elohim and watching over it!”
I have mentioned many Greek and Hebrew words tonight, with the simple goal of echoing the command to not grieve our Creator, Redeemer, Elohim and King, who has wonderful sealed us by His Set-Apart Spirit!
DO NOT GRIEVE THE SET-APART SPIRIT
Hear the clear call and watch over the good deposit that has been given to us, in complete set-apartness!
Have you found, as you look intently into the mirror of the Word, that you have been guilty of grieving our Master and Elohim? Perhaps, at times you have turned a blind eye or turned a deaf ear, to the proper and complete hearing, guarding and doing what you ought to, as a set-apart one of the Most High? Have you found yourself turning to the left or right in a state of panic when times get tough and compromise seems to be the easier option, and quickly forgotten His Word?
Have you turned a blind eye to complete obedience by compromising a proper Sabbath keeping or neglecting to follow His clear Torah and instructions in all matters, be it with physical actions, attitudes and words?
Hear the call of our Great Comforter who brings a recovery of breath to the weary, and turn from all wickedness and compromise and fix your eyes on the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע Messiah and turn not back to grievous ways, but walk in the Truth and guard the seal of His Spirit that is in you. These days are as the days of Noaḥ, where unrighteousness is increasing at an alarming rate. Let us be found, like Noaḥ, as ones who are walking in perfect righteousness and find our rest and comfort in Him who Comforts us in every way, for He has given us the refreshing breath of His Spirit, the Comforter and Helper who teaches us His ways!
Do not wink the eye at the Truth and grieve the Spirit, but declare as Dawiḏ did:
Tehillah/Psalm 119:16 “I delight myself in Your laws; I do not forget Your word.”
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!