EXPLAIN THE HOUSE TO THE HOUSE! Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43:10—27

Shalom all,

As part of the readings for this week’s Torah portion from Shemoth/Exodus 27:10-30:20, we will also be reading the passage from Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43:10-27, which fits perfectly in line with the clear theme that Shemoth/Exodus deals with, in describing the pattern, design and function of the Tabernacle.

Therefore, I am once again sending out a message called, ‘EXPLAIN THE HOUSE TO THE HOUSE!’, where I expand on this passage from Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43:10-27, in order to ‘explain’ the significance, of us recognising how we, who are living stones that are being built up in Messiah, are the Dwelling Place/House of Elohim and therefore, highlight the importance of us knowing the clear rules of the House and make sure that we are following the pattern that has been given to us through the Torah of Elohim!

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys the Dwelling Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart, which you are.”

As we go through this passage from Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43:10-27 and the instructions that Yeḥezq’ěl was given, we are to be equipped in the understanding of the clear need for us, the Dwelling Place of Elohim, to be set-apart!

Let us therefore, take a look through this valuable passage of Scripture.

Verse 10:

Explain the House to the house of Yisra’ěl, and when they are ashamed of their crookednesses, they shall measure the measurements!

What יהוה was basically telling the prophet to do here, was to ‘show the House to the house’, so that they can see how much they had deviated from the pattern!!!

In other words, it could be understood for us today as:

A lifting up of the mirror of the Word to the people, in order to let them see how different they are, when measured up to what the Word calls for – which is:

our set-apartness!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘explain’ comes from the root word נָגַד nagaḏ – Strong’s H5046 which means, ‘make known, announce, declare, publish and stand out boldly in opposition’, and it is written in the ‘hiphil’ verb tense, which expresses ‘the causative action’ of the verb and highlights that he was ‘to cause’ the declaration of the design of the House, to be made known to the house, making sure that the house heard what the House is all about!

The Hebrew root word for ‘house’ is בַּיִת bayith – Strong’s H1004 which means, ‘house, home, armoury, building’, which in the ancient pictographic script. looks like this:

Beyt – בַּ:

This is the letter ‘beyt’ (בֵּ), which in 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, and it is the Dwelling Place of the Most-High, that we are, as living stones, being built up in Messiah.

Yod – יִ:

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

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!

HIS ‘FLOOR PLAN’ FOR HIS CREATION, IS SEALED BY HIS COVENANTS OF PROMISE BY THE WORK AND AUTHORITY OF HIS MIGHTY OUTSTRETCHED ARM AND HAND, AND, AS LIVING STONES, WE ARE BEING BUILT UP IN HIM, BECOMING HIS DWELLING PLACE!

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 2:19-22 “So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with 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.”

We need to be looking intently into the mirror of the Word and not forget what we look like, but be doers of the Word and follow the clear instructions and commands of the House!

When the House is properly explained, we are enabled to see any flaws that are in our lives, which shall cause us to become ashamed of any deviations from the clear design and pattern of the House, so that we can be washed in the Word, in order to be renewed and restored to being built up as a set-apart House!

Sha’ul said that he did not know what sin was, except through the Torah and that he would not have known what covetousness was if the Torah had not said ‘do not covet’! (Romiyim/Romans 7:7)

So, we need to House to be explained to us in order for us to highlight our need to be washed from any shame, caused by lawlessness and sin!

The prophet was told to explain the House to the house, so that they ‘shall be ashamed of their crookednesses’!

They had to be shown how crooked they were, against the clear design and pattern of the House!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘ashamed’ comes from the root verb כָּלַם kalam – Strong’s H3637 which means, ‘to be humiliated, ashamed, brought to dishonour, disgraced, rebuked, embarrassed, insulted’ and can also be understood as meaning, ‘put to shame’.

The reason for explaining the House, was to put the crooked house to shame!

When one is brought to shame or humiliated, it is as a result of having that which has been done in error, being exposed against the standard of what one should have been doing!

Today, there are so many people who are refusing to ‘be ashamed of their lawlessness’ and, as a result, they resist being rebuked, and brought to dishonour, for their abominable acts of false worship, as they continue to hold so tightly to their corrupted traditions and simply refuse to change their ways, as a result of stubbornness and pride!

יהוה resists the proud but gives favour to the humble!!!

As we consider this picture of having the House explained, in order for the house to be ashamed, I am reminded of the words that Ya’aqoḇ wrote in:

Ya’aqoḇ/James 4:4-10 “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with Elohim? Whoever therefore intends to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Elohim. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose? Does the Spirit which dwells in us intensely crave unto envy? 6 But He gives greater favour. Because of this He says, “Elohim resists the proud, but gives favour to the humble.” 7 So then subject yourselves to Elohim. Resist the devil and he shall flee from you. 8 Draw near to Elohim and He shall draw near to you. Cleanse hands, sinners. And cleanse the hearts, you double-minded! 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Master, and He shall lift you up.”

When one is ashamed of crookedness and sin, then a proper process of humbling oneself before our Master can truly begin.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘crookedness’ comes from the root word עָוֹן avon – Strong’s H5771 meaning, ‘iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity, blame, perversity, depravity’, which comes from the root verb עָוָה avah – Strong’s H5753 which means, ‘to twist, bend, distort, make crooked, pervert’.

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore I judge you, O house of Yisra’ĕl, every one according to his ways,” declares the Master יהוה. “Repent, and turn back from all your transgressions, and let not crookedness be a stumbling-block to you.”

The stumbling block of crookedness, is a big stumbling block for so many and herein lies the awakening call to return to יהוה.

This was a call to repent and not let crookedness be a stumbling block, showing us that the clear call was to guard loving-commitment and truth, in order that their crookedness could be pardoned!

It is a blessing when crookedness no longer becomes a stumbling block in one’s path!

By that, I mean that it is truly a blessing to walk in the Truth and not have the stumbling blocks of the twisted and perverse teachings of man, that seek only to nullify the commands of Elohim and cause people to misrepresent the House that they claim to be a part of!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘stumbling block’ in Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 18:30 is מִכְשׁוֹל miḵshol – Strong’s H4383 which means, ‘a stumbling, a means or occasion of stumbling, obstacle’, and comes from the root verb כָּשַׁל kashal – Strong’s H3782 meaning, ‘stumble, totter, stagger, bring down, failing, weakening’, and is used to describe the ‘weak knees’, in:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 35:3 “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the weak knees.”

In the parable of the Sower, we take note of what our Master said about the seed that falls on rocky places:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:20-21 “And that sown on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived, and when pressure or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”

The Greek word that is translated here as ‘stumbles’ is σκανδαλίζω skandalizō – Strong’s G4624 which means, ‘to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way upon which another may trip and fall’, and metaphorically can mean, ‘to offend’.

It also carries the meaning, ‘fall away, led into sin, stumble, to cause another or be caused to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey’.

Some people stumble under pressure due to hands that are weakened by deceit when persecution comes and then quickly compromise.

Rocky hearts that have no ability to let the Word take root in their lives and quickly stumble when pressure and persecution, BECAUSE OF THE WORD, arises.

This Greek word σκανδαλίζω skandalizō – Strong’s G4624 comes from the root word σκάνδαλον skandalon – Strong’s G4625 which means, ‘a snare, stumbling block, offense’, and it is this word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) for ‘stumbling block’ in:

Tehillah/Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those loving Your Torah, and for them there is no stumbling-block.”

What we can therefore see, from these words in Tehillah/Psalm 119, is that those loving the Torah of Elohim, can be likened to those who are represented by the good soil, as they hear the Word, understand it, by doing it, and bear much fruit of obedience, along with the assurance of a complete shalom!

Sadly, most people are not ashamed of their crookednesses, which is largely due to the fact that they are not being shown the House, or better put… they are not being shown the correct pattern and design of the House!!!

Ear tickling soothsayers are not explaining the House to the house, so to speak, which means that most, who claim to be believers today, are not being shown the design of the House of Elohim, as they are not being taught the Torah of Elohim, which expands on the design and functionality of the Tabernacle, Temple and House of Elohim, which we are!

Yeḥezq’ěl was not to tickle their ears, he was to cause them to hear and make them know the House and its design and function!

Today, as warned by Sha’ul to Timotiyos, most are not able to bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they are heaping up for themselves teachers that are tickling the ear and preaching what they want to hear, in order to justify their crookedness!

Today, the ear ticklers are not explaining the House to the house, as they have, by the corrupted traditions of man, thrown out the need to know the House and its design and laws!

By that I mean, that they while they may recite certain passages from the Tanak (O.T.), they are not teaching the clear need for people to be submitting to the proper obedience of guarding to do the Torah, as they simply excuse it away as a ‘interesting history lesson, so to speak, while lacking the urgency of seeing that the clear pattern of the House is NOT being explained and taught, as it should!

When people are shown the House, and it is explained to them, then, if they have ears to hear, they will be cut to the heart and repent, by measuring the measurements!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘measure’ is מָדַד maḏaḏ – Strong’s H4058 which means, ‘to measure, survey’ and the Hebrew word that is translated as ‘measurements’ is תָּכְנִית toḵnith – Strong’s H8508 which means, ‘sum, measurement, pattern, proportion’ and this comes from the primitive root verb תָּכַן taḵan – Strong’s H8505 which means, ‘to regulate, measure, estimate, weigh, ponder’, and, in essence, the basic meaning of this root verb can also be understood as meaning, ‘gauge’, which is, “to estimate a thing by comparing it with a standard”.

The first time that we see this word תָּכַן taḵan – Strong’s H8505 being used in Scripture, is in the prayer that Hannah prayed, as seen in:

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:3 “Do not multiply words so proudly, proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for יהוה is an Ěl of knowledge, and by Him deeds are weighed.”

We also see this word תָּכַן taḵan – Strong’s H8505 being used in the following verses:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but יהוה weighs the spirits.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 21:2 “All a man’s ways are right in his own eyes, but יהוה weighs the hearts.”

This verse in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 21:2 continues the theme of verse 1, in that it makes it clear that יהוה knows, and is in total control of, the thoughts, motives and plans that are in the heart of man.

Many may deem that whatever they do, is right in their own eyes, yet the question is whether their ways actually line up with the clear Truth, and plumb line, of יהוה and His perfect Word!

How are people, who refuse to hear the Torah of Elohim, estimating their actions of a self-justified/man-made traditional justification of their assumed righteousness, which is no righteousness at all?

When people are doing what is right in their own eyes, it shows that their eyes are not fixed on the Truth and therefore, they wilfully neglect to submit to walking in the clear instructions of the Torah.

In the time of the Judges, we take note that when there was no sovereign in Yisra’ĕl, everyone did what was right in their own eyes!

Shophetim/Judges 17:6 “In those days there was no sovereign in Yisra’ĕl – everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Shophetim/Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no sovereign in Yisra’ĕl – everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

This was a clear breaking of the Torah, as we see what was commanded to Yisra’ĕl before entering in to the Promised Land:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 12:8 “Do not do as we are doing here today – each one doing whatever is right in his own eyes.”

From various accounts in Scripture, including the records of the kings, we are able to clearly recognise that the ways that are right in a man’s eyes, are often ways that are not right in יהוה’s eyes, and it is therefore necessary that we keep our hearts properly weighed, by the Word of Elohim.

While man’s ways might be right in his own eyes, the question is whether they are right in the eyes of יהוה!

Shelomoh uses the word ‘hearts’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 21 as opposed to ‘spirits’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16, and what he is showing us is that it is the inner being of a man that יהוה measures and weighs!

So many people are doing whatever they deem right in their own eyes and ignorantly claim that they are not at fault in any way by using the phrase, “Elohim knows my heart!”, when excusing away the mirror of Truth to their compromised ways!

While this saying is actually true, for Elohim does indeed ‘know our hearts’, what is clear is that man himself does not always know his own heart, nor does he know the heart of others!

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 7:9-10 “The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it? 10 “I, יהוה, search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

This verse makes it very clear – the heart is crooked and while many may think that their ways are clean and upright, it is only יהוה that can search the heart and weigh each one’s spirit against the clear plumb line of His Word!

Man looks at the eyes but יהוה looks at the heart (Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 16:17).

We would do well to take heed to this clear parable of wisdom that Shelomoh is presenting to us here, as we must never simply assume that all our ways are clean and right, without having looked intently into the mirror of the Word and be measured up by the clear and upright standard of true righteousness and set-apartness that is called for.

We must be on guard against the deception of man’s own estimation of clean and upright!

Galatiyim/Galatians 6:3 “For if anyone thinks himself to be somebody, when he is not, he deceives himself.”

The way to guard against any form of deception is to become doers of the Word:

Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:22 “And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only,deceiving yourselves.”

When people are not being doers of the Word, they are simply deceiving themselves and are unable to properly reckon or estimate their lives against the clear standard of the Truth and therefore, in deception, the seek out many who will tickle their ears to sooth their accepted lawless behaviour, that they deem to be right in their own eyes!

The clear question that would be clearly answered, when the house was shown, and explained, the design of the House, was whether or not the Torah of Elohim was in their heart!

It is the same question that needs to be answered today, especially as we see so many doing what they deem to be right in their own eyes, while clearly their walk deviates from the clear way of set-apartness and obedience to the Torah, that is prescribed for the True House of Elohim!

Is His Torah on our hearts and in our mouths, or not?

The measurement of our deeds, or works, shall be done by the clear plumb-line of the Torah of Elohim and our obedience to it, not by the amount of works or deeds that may be considered as good, in our own eyes or by our own estimations, or even those that are determined by man-made traditions that have set aside the need to obey the Torah!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 30:11-16 “For this command which I am commanding you today, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far off. 12 “It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ 14 For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it. 15 See, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil, 16 in that I am commanding you today to love יהוה your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands, and His laws, and His right-rulings. And you shall live and increase, and יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in the land which you go to possess.”

As one considers the clear need for the Torah to be upon our hearts, we recognise that people’s hearts get exposed through their actions and reveal whether the Torah of Elohim is in their hearts and mouths or not!

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’; and 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!

In the ancient 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:

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.

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!

יהוה knows what is in our hearts, while we may not; and He tests our hearts in order to see if we will obey Him or not:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 8:2 “And you shall remember that יהוה your Elohim led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, prove you, to know what is in your heart, whether you guard His commands or not.”

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 10:12-13 “And now, Yisra’ĕl, what is יהוה your Elohim asking of you, but to fear יהוה your Elohim, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, 13 to guard the commands of יהוה and His laws which I command you today for your good?”

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 11:18 “And you shall lay up these Words of Mine in your heart and in your being, and shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 30:14 “For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it.”

The reason I am quoting all these verses, is to show that ‘it is a heart thing’ and the Word must be in our hearts and mouths, and not just a false rendering of a corrupted lips service that has no heart or follow through with obedience and submission to doing the commands with joy!

Guarding the good treasure and deposit of the Truth in our hearts will keep us from sinning and being lawless!

Tehillah/Psalm 119:11 “I have treasured up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

We are called to walk humbly before Elohim, and this is seen in the joyful submission to being led forth by the commands of Elohim as we, His House, are being built up in Him; and any resistance to this, as seen through pride and a hardened heart, is a severe problem, for pride deceives:

Oḇaḏyah/Obadiah 1:3 “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose dwelling is high, who says in your heart, ‘Who shall bring me down to the ground?’”

As we let the Truth dwell in our hearts, we will guard to do all to the esteem of our Master and Elohim, and anything that that does not esteem Him, whether in word or deed, we must not do:

Qolasim/Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master יהושע, giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.”

It’s a heart thing, and we who have heard the voice of our Master and Elohim, must receive His Word into our heart and go and proclaim the Reign with our words and the corresponding actions of obedience that reveal that His Word is in fact on our hearts.

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 3:10-11 “And He said to me, “Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. 11“And go! Come to the exiles, to the children of your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה,’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.”

May we also hear these words and go and proclaim as we should – for it’s a heart thing!

How is your heart?

Has it been defiled through sin and the deceit of lawlessness?

Wash your heart and keep it clean as you HEAR, GUARD and DO all He has commanded us to (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25)!

יהוה weighs the hearts and this we would do well to remember, for then we will be well equipped to make sure that we guard the good treasure He has put in our hearts, by guarding to do His Word!

Oh, how The House needs to be explained to the house!!!

For the rules of the House are to be in the heart of the House, so that the House is properly built up!

He who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says!

Let us continue to see what our Master says to Yeḥezq’ěl!

Verse 11:

And since they shall be ashamed of all that they did, make known to them the design of the House and its structure, and its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its laws, and all its forms and all its Torot. And write it down before their eyes, so that they observe its entire design and all its laws, and shall do them.

Since they shall be ashamed!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘since’ is אִם im – Strong’s H518 which is a conditional participle or primary conjunction which renders, ‘if, though, either, neither, when, since, whenever’.

The basic meaning of this word is “if” and this meaning can be seen in most of its occurrences and it usually occurs in conditional clauses, which we are able to see very clearly here!

If they are ashamed of all their crookednesses that they have done, then make known to the design of the House!

In other words, after having explained the House to the House and having revealed the depravity of crookedness, when the shame of sin and lawlessness causes them to look intently into the mirror of the Word, then make know the design of the House!

In other words, go into detail and expand on the design and its function!

To those who humbly acknowledge their sin, in the face of the Truth of the Word that has been declared, let them hear the design of the House and all its details!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘known’ is יָדַע yaḏa – Strong’s H3045 and means ‘to acknowledge, clearly understand, to perceive, distinguish and discern’ and implies the ability to respond to and recognise the Master’s voice and this verb can also render the ability to know by experience.

It is written here in the ‘hiphil’ verb tense which is the ‘causative tense’ and so, the prophet is told to make known the design of the House to those who have humbly repented of their sin, due to them being ashamed of their sin!

Cause them to know!

Only those who are actually ashamed of their crookedness and sin, can be ‘caused to know the design and function of the House’ and then, begin to ‘know’ Elohim and be ‘known by Him’!

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

Many erroneously claim to know the Master, yet they shall simply be rejected by Him, as not being known by Him, due to their workings of lawlessness!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!”

The Greek word that is translated as ‘lawlessness’ is ἀνομία anomia – Strong’s G458 which means, ‘lawlessness or lawless deeds, unrighteousness’ and comes from the word ἄνομος anomos – Strong’s G459 which means, ‘lawless or without law, transgressors’.

Many translations try to hide this truth, by not translating this word as ‘lawlessness’, but rather translate it as ‘evil’ or ‘sin’ or ‘iniquity’, which, under the intoxicated dogmas of man, is not being understood by most as it should be; for, as I have previously mentioned, Scripture clearly tells us that ‘sin is lawlessness’.

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:4 “Everyone doing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”

The Greek word that is translated as ‘sin’ is ἁμαρτία hamartia – Strong’s G266 which means, ‘sin, failure, miss the mark, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong’, and also carries the meaning of, ‘wandering from the law of Elohim, violate the law of Elohim’.

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 3:4 spells it out very plainly for those who seem to miss the fact that to not walk in the Torah is sin! It is as though Yoḥanan was spelling out this fact very bluntly and straightforward for those who struggle with a Greek mind-set and see no need to walk in the Torah – well right here in the Greek it is clear – If you are lawless (that is to walk contrary to the Torah) then you are indeed sinning!

Sin is lawlessness: ἁμαρτία hamartia is ἀνομία anomia!

We also take note of the words we see in:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:17-19 “All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death. 18 We know that everyone having been born of Elohim does not sin, but the one having been born of Elohim guards himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of Elohim, and all the world lies in the wicked one.”

When we guard righteousness, we are guarded against the deception of the lawless one!

The Greek word that is translated as ‘unrighteousness’ is ἀδικία adikia – Strong’s G93 which means, ‘unrighteousness, iniquity, wrong, deed violating law and justice’.

Ok…so… unrighteousness is sin – ἀδικία adikia is ἁμαρτία hamartia – that is pretty clear!

That means that:

unrighteousness is lawlessness, which is sin.

The reason I am expanding on these root words, is for the clear purpose of explaining what Scripture is clearly teaching us, yet, through false ear tickling corrupted perversions of man-made theologies that have set aside the need to have the Torah heard, explained and observed, deception has caused many to be led astray in thinking that what they doing in their own eyes is right, while clearly their ways do not measure up as being in line with The Torah of Elohim and His perfect Way!

Yeḥezq’ěl was clearly told to make known design of the House and its structure and its entrances and exits!

This is very clear – teach people the design of the House and how they are to come in and go out!

So many people do not know how to do this and they lack the ability to come in to the presence of the Master at His Appointed Times, revealing that they have no clue about the design of the House, its structure and its entrance and exits!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘design’ is צוּרָה tsurah – Strong’s H6699 which means, ‘form, design, fashion’ and is used 4 times in Scripture, with all 4 being used in this verse of Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 43:11, which tells us that the clear emphasis that is being made here, is on the design being made known!

We are the Dwelling Place of The Most-High, and if we do not know His design for us then we will be unable to have His presence dwell in our midst!

As we go through the Torah, each week on the Sabbath, we learn the very clear design of the House, and when looking at the design of the Tabernacle and all its parts and function, we are enabled and equipped to learn how we are to draw near to our Master and be built up in Him, as His Set-Apart House!

What is worth taking note of, as we expand on the explanation of the House that we are being built up in Messiah as, is that this word צוּרָה tsurah – Strong’s H6699 which means, ‘form, design, fashion’, comes from the root word צוּר tsur – Strong’s H6697 which means, ‘rock, cliff, stones, strength, block of stone, boulder’.

The reason that I am mentioning this, is that we can begin to understand the design a little better, then we recognise how we, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, on the Rock of our Deliverance, יהושע Messiah!

Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 22:2-3 “And he said, “יהוה is my rock and my stronghold and my deliverer. 3 “My Elohim is my rock, I take refuge in Him, My shield and the horn of my deliverance, My high tower and my refuge. My Saviour, You save me from violence.”

The first ‘rock’ that we see here, in the above passage, is translated from the root word סֶלַע sela – Strong’s H5553 and is written as סַלְעִי sal’aiy which means, ‘my rock’, while the second ‘rock’ is translated from the root word צוּר tsur – Strong’s H6697 which is written as צוּרִי tsuriy which means, ‘my rock’.

Dawiḏ declared that not only was he delivered from a dirty destruction, but that he was positioned firmly upon a sure foundation – upon the Rock of deliverance!

That Rock, metaphorically, was Messiah, as we take note of Sha’ul’s words in:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 10:4 “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed, and the Rock was Messiah.”

Therefore, when we consider the design of the House, we are further equipped to recognise who the Head of the House is, for He is not only our Head, but He is the sure foundation of our belief, as He is the chief corner-stone!

I have already quoted this passage from Ephesians, at the beginning of this message, but find it fitting to do so again, as we consider the design, exits and entrances of the House!

The Greek word that is translated as ‘chief corner-stone’ is ἀκρογωνιαῖος akrogōniaios – Strong’s G204 which is only used here in the Renewed Writings, but is also once in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak), in:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am laying in Tsiyon a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a settled foundation. He who trusts shall not hasten away.”

The Hebrew word for ‘corner-stone’ is פִּנָּה pinnah – Strong’s H6438 and is also used in:

Tehillah/Psalm 118:22 “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone.”

When we do not know the design of the House, we shall not be able to know, or be known by, the Builder of the House!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrew 3:4-6 “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all is Elohim. 5 And Mosheh indeed was trustworthy in all His house as a servant, for a witness of what would be spoken later, 6 but Messiah as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the boldness and the boasting of the expectation firm to the end.”

The Builder of the House is our Rock!

The first time we see this root word סֶלַע sela – Strong’s H5553 being used in Scripture, is in:

Bemiḏbar/Numbers 20:8 “Take the rod and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aharon. And you shall speak to the rock before their eyes, and it shall give its water. And you shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their livestock.”

Here, in Bemiḏbar/Numbers 20:8, when Mosheh was told to ‘speak’ to ‘the Rock’, we are able to see a powerful picture in play, as we look back at the first time that Mosheh was told to ‘smite the Rock’, 38 years before, as seen in:

Shemoth/Exodus 17:6 “See, I am standing before you there on the rock in Ḥorĕḇ. And you shall smite the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people shall drink.” And Mosheh did so before the eyes of the elders of Yisra’ĕl.”

Two events, of similar nature, took place 38 years apart, yet what was now different?

Well firstly, there is the simple truth of obeying the Word of Elohim versus not obeying, and the relevant consequences that come from the choice to obey or not to obey.

Yet, what we need to also ask is, ‘why did יהוה tell Mosheh to speak to the Rock the second time and not smite it, as he did 38 years before?’.

I believe that there is a great lesson contained herein for us, as we look at the Hebrew wording that is used here and dig further back by looking at the ancient pictographic symbols that give us the word for ‘rock’, and more specifically, the phrase:

THE ROCK

In Bemiḏbar/Numbers 20:8 the Hebrew word used for ‘rock’ is סֶלַע sela – Strong’s H5553 and is different to the Hebrew root word used for ‘rock’ in Shemoth/Exodus 17:6, which is the root word צוּר tsur – Strong’s H6697 which means, ‘rock, cliff, stones, strength, block of stone, boulder’.

We are also able to see how it is here in Shemoth/Exodus 17:6 that it is the first time that this word is used in Scripture.

So, we have two accounts of water coming forth from The Rock, after the people grumbled for lack of water, and both times we see a new Hebrew word being introduced to us for the first time!

Two words that carry similar meanings, and throughout the rest of Scripture we are able to find them being used interchangeably for ‘rock’, with some verses even having both words used together, as seen in Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 22:2-3, as well as in:

Tehillah/Psalm 18:2 “יהוה is my rock and my stronghold and my deliverer; My Ěl is my rock, I take refuge in Him; My shield and the horn of my deliverance, my high tower.”

In order to get a better understanding of why two different words are used on the two different occasions of water coming forth from The Rock in the wilderness, we need to look at these words in their ancient pictographic form.

Let us then look at this term ‘The Rock’ when we take note that ‘the Rock’ is a clear reference and shadow picture of יהושע Messiah.

The first word used in Shemoth/Exodus 17:6 for ‘The Rock’ – הַצּוּר hatsur in the ancient pictographic script looks like this:

Hey – הַ:

The meaning of the letter is ‘behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation’ from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!

Tsadey – צּ:

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

Waw/vav – וּ:

The Ancient picture for this letter is , is pictured as a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.

Resh – ר:

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

As we consider this first word used in Scripture for ‘The Rock’, when looking at the ancient pictographic letters we are able to render the following meaning when understanding that the prophetic shadow picture of Messiah, The Rock in who we find strength and Living Waters:

BEHOLD, THE ONE WHO SHALL LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US AND SECURED FOR US THE COVENANT, IS OUR ELOHIM AND HEAD.

The second word we find being used in reference to The Rock that was struck in the Wilderness, here in Bemiḏbar/Numbers 20:8 is הַסֶּלַע ‘hasela’, and in the ancient pictographic script looks like this:

Hey – הַ:

This letter is used to express ‘The’, and the original pictograph for this letter is , a man standing with his arms raised out. The Modern Hebrew and original name for this letter is “hey”. The meaning of the letter is ‘behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation’ from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!

Samek – סֶּ:

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!

Lamed – לַ:

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

Ayin – ע:

the ancient script has this letter is pictured as , which is ‘an eye’ and represents the idea of ‘seeing and watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’, as the eye is the window of knowledge.

As we consider this word that is used in Scripture for ‘The Rock’, when looking at the ancient pictographic letters, we are able to render the following meaning when understanding, that this is the prophetic shadow picture of Messiah, The Rock in who we find strength and Living Waters:

BEHOLD, THE ONE WHOM WE FIX OUR EYES UPON

IS THE ONE WHO WAS PIERCED FOR US,

ENABLING US TO GRAB HOLD OF HIS TRUTH

AND CLING TO HIS WORD THAT SECURES US IN HIM,

AS WE ARE LED UNDER THE AUTHORITY

OF THE EASY YOKE OF HIS TORAH!

As we therefore consider the clear picture that these two words for ‘The Rock’ show us, we are able to recognise the True source of our strength and sustenance, as we look to our Rock, Refuge and Good Shepherd: our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, in whom we are being built up, as living stones and a spiritual House!

What is worth taking note of here, is how we are able to see the difference between the two words that were almost given 40 years apart!

Messiah, having gone into the Wilderness for 40 days and then being struck for us when He lay down His life for us, became the sacrifice for our sins and in Him, the Rock of our Deliverance, we have a High Priest and intercessor to whom we can come and confess our sins, with the full assurance that He shall cleanse us from our sin and set us firmly upon the Rock:

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Only those who are standing on the Rock of our Deliverance, by guarding the Rules of the House, and meditating on its design and function, adhering to the Torah of Elohim, shall be revealed as true sons of Elohim!

BACK TO YEḤEZQ’ĚL:

THE EXITS AND ENTRANCES:

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘exits’ is מוֹצָא motsa – Strong’s H4161 which means, ‘a place or act of going forth, source, spring, exit, proceed, starting place’, which comes from the root verb יָצָא yatsa – Strong’s H3318 which means, ‘to go or come out, brought, came, go forth, depart, go forward, proceed’.

This verb יָצָא yatsa – Strong’s H3318 is used to describe how it is יהוה who ‘brought us out’:

Shemoth/Exodus 20:2 “I am יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery.”

The Hebrew root word used for ‘brought’ is יָצָא yatsa – Strong’s H3318 which means, ‘to go or come out’ and here it is written in the ‘Hiphil’ form which usually expresses a ‘causative action’ of a simple verb and so can be rendered as, ‘to cause to go out or come out, to deliver, to lead out’.

This is possibly יהוה’s most frequent description of His relationship to Yisra’ĕl, His Bride!!!

It is on Shaḇuoth that we are commanded to remember that we were slaves in Mitsrayim, and that we shall guard His laws, for we are His Bride that He has redeemed and has written His covenant on our hearts!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 16:12 “And you shall remember that you were a slave in Mitsrayim, and you shall guard and do these laws.”

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 not call to 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!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘entrances’ is מוֹבָא moḇa – Strong’s H4126 which means, ‘a coming in. entrance’.

What is clearly being highlighted here, is how the ‘making known of the House and its design’, includes us knowing that it is יהוה who brought us out and caused us to exit enslavement to sin and caused us to enter into His Covenants of Promise, by His Blood!

When we learn the exits and the entrances and guard to do all He commands us, then we have the full assurance that our coming in and going out will be in peace!

Make known ALL the design!!!

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

Why I am emphasizing this word for ‘all’, is because it is just that – ALL – not just some and not even 99%, but ALL! Some people like to pick and choose what parts of the Word they want to keep and what they do not like they quickly disregard as being applicable and relevant.

After Mosheh had read the Book of the Covenant ALL the people said:

“All that יהוה has spoken we shall do, and obey.”

We shall do and obey!!!

This is the collective commitment of a unified Bride – to HEAR – GUARD and DO the Word of Elohim!

For more on the Hebrew and Greek words that are rendered as HEAR, GUARD and DO please see the article called, ‘HEAR-GUARD-DO! It’s what we do!’ which can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the articles menu or by simply clicking on the following link: https://atfotc.com/hear-guard-do/

Make known all its laws!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘laws’ comes from the root word חֻקָּה ḥuqqah – Strong’s H2708 which means, ‘ordinances, custom, manner, something prescribed, an enactment, statute, fixed order’, and is the feminine of חֹק ḥoq – Strong’s H2706 meaning, ‘something prescribed or owed, boundary, allotment, portion, ordinance, statute’.

This word חֻקָּה ḥuqqah – Strong’s H2708 comes from the primitive root verb חָקַק ḥaqaq – Strong’s H2710 which means, ‘to cut, inscribe, hack, engrave, decree, carve, sceptre, lawgiver’.

In essence, we get the clear understanding of a ḥuqqah as being a ‘law cut in stone’, which means that it is set and fixed!

Tehillah/Psalm 119:16 “I delight myself in Your laws; I do not forget Your word.”

There are so many today, who have turned away from the fixed laws of Elohim and due to the falsehood of corrupted man-made theologies, that have attempted to nullify the need to guard the laws and right-ruling of Elohim, they stand guilty as being lawless and are acting wickedly before Elohim!

יהוה is the same yesterday, today and forever and His laws and right-rulings remain firmly in place and any attempt at nullifying the need to guard to do His laws and right-rulings is simply a severe act of wickedness, which, if not rectified, will lead to the punishment of death!

Make known all its Torot!

The Hebrew word תּוֹרָה torah – Strong’s H8451 means, ‘utterance’, ‘teaching’, ‘instruction’ or ‘revelation’ from Elohim’.

Other definitions include: ‘information that is imparted to a student; direction; body of prophetic teaching; instruction on Messianic Age; body of priestly direction’, and this comes from the primitive root verb יָרָה yarah – Strong’s H3384 which means, ‘to shoot, throw, instruct, direct, teach’, which therefore can give us the understanding of ‘Torah’ to mean the following:

TO AIM OR POINT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION and MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION

This root word is used 219 times in 213 verses, and what is worth taking note of, is that this word is used 25 times in Tehillah/Psalm 119, which is a very powerful Psalm that celebrates the true essence and functionality of the Torah of Elohim!

We fix our eyes on יהושע Messiah – The Living Torah – The Word made flesh – and walk in Him!

Therefore, what we can clearly see here is that there are two aspects to the word תּוֹרָה torah – Strong’s H8451:

1) Aiming or pointing in the right direction and

2) Movement in that direction.

The Torah gives us our ‘direction’ and bearings as we sojourn here, looking forward to the sure and promised hope of the return of our King and Teacher of Righteousness!

In other words, it means that:

‘You aim or point in the right direction and you move in that direction’.

You can see that this meaning is way different as to how many understand the ‘burden’ that is typically associated with the word ‘Law’.

It is also interesting and wonderful for me how the word תּוֹרָה torah – Strong’s H8451 clearly reveals the Messiah!

Let me show you how.

The original language spoken and written by Hebrews, is referred to as Ancient Hebrew Script which consisted of an alphabet of pictographic symbols that each rendered its unique meaning, which later developed into the ‘middle script’ or Paleo-Hebrew and then into what is known as ‘Biblical Hebrew’, as we have it available for us today; and though the Hebrew Language went through a number of changes, we are able to discern the original symbols, or pictures, that were used which actually resembled their meaning.

Each symbol or picture carried a meaning or meanings and when symbols were collectively put together, they would spell a word that carried a meaning or clear description.

The Hebrew word תּוֹרָה torah – Strong’s H8451 is a combination of four symbols:

(Remember that Hebrew is read from right to left):

In the ancient pictographic script, it is written as follows:

And in the Biblical Hebrew text it is written as follows:

תּוֹרָה

From right to left the four letters are as follows:

Taw/Tav – תּ:

The ancient script has this letter as which is pictured as two crossed sticks, and can represent for us the meaning of, ‘seal, covenant, mark or sign’; as this once again points to the complete work of Messiah by 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’ – that is – the beginning and the end of all creation!

Waw/Vav – וֹ:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is a ‘peg or tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.

Resh – רָ:

The ancient script has this letter written 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. It means ‘top’, as in the top or head of a body and ‘chief’, as in head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the people.

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’. The meaning of the letter is “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”, from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out.

It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!

When we consider these pictographic symbols and their meanings, we can clearly see by the word rendered as ‘Torah’ the wonderful work of Messiah, who secures for us the Covenant in His own Blood that brings the two houses (Yehuḏah and Yisra’ĕl) – the two sticks – together!

It could best be rendered in a powerful testimony of the work of Messiah as follows:

BEHOLD THE MAN, MESSIAH OUR HEAD,

WHO BY HIS OWN BLOOD RENEWED THE COVENANT,

NAILING TO THE ‘STAKE’ THAT WHICH WAS WRITTEN AGAINST US,

AND SECURED THE COVENANT IN ORDER THAT

THE TWO STICKS CAN BE BROUGHT BACK TOGETHER IN HIM,

WHOM WE PRAISE

Other definitions based on this word could also render:

‘What comes from the man nailed to the ‘cross’ or upright pole’

and

‘Behold the man who secures the covenant’

and

‘To a cross is nailed the highest, it is revealed in Torah’

Wow – how awesome is this!!!

Now – does this sound like a heavy law???

Not at all!!!

This description or definition does not make me think of fines or of a judge or of punishment or even of prison!

יהושע tells us that His yoke is easy – His yoke is His Torah (that is – His instructions and teaching)!

The Torah is NOT a worthless word to us – it is our life, as we see being made very clear to us, in:

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

Understanding then, that sin (חַטָּאָה ḥatta’ah – Strong’s H2403) means ‘to miss the mark or target’, it is so very clear that the Torah (instructions and commands) become very vital to us, if we do not want to miss the purpose and fulfilment of our life or ‘miss the mark’.

Remember, the term ‘Torah’ can give us the understanding of ‘aiming in the right direction and moving in that direction’.

Sha’ul describes this as fixing our eyes on יהושע – the author and perfecter of our faith.

We aim our sights at יהושע, lock them in and run with perseverance that which has been marked out.

Sin is ‘missing the mark’ and ‘running off the mark’, as you take your eyes off of יהושע!!!

The Torah is the way to aim and go, in Him!

Understanding then, the very misunderstood term ‘Torah’, it could therefore be more accurately defined as:

THE INSTRUCTIONS OF ELOHIM, FOR HIS SET APART PEOPLE, AS WAS GIVEN THROUGH MOSHEH AND REVEALED BY THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF THE MESSIAH: יהושע

The Torah came through Mosheh on Stone Tablets and then through the flesh in Messiah יהושע!

No more on stone, now on flesh!!!

The Word became flesh!

The Torah contains instructions, guidance and direction for those who desire to live righteous, set apart lives in accordance with the will of Elohim, which יהושע show us by walking in Him.

Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as יהושע did (Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:6).

How did יהושע walk? He walked according to Torah!

After having explained the House to the house, Yeḥezq’ěl was told to write it all down before their eyes so that they observe its entire design and all its laws and shall do them!

We need the written Word to be set before our eyes, so that we can see it, read it, hear it and obey it by doing what is commanded!

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

We are to exercise great care over His Torah!

When used in combination with other verbs, the meaning of שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 can be understood as ‘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.

Another aspect of this word, carries the meaning of having to ‘guard carefully and tend to’ or ‘take care of’.

When one takes care of a valued possession, then the utmost diligence is exercised in ensuring that it is protected at all costs and it is taken care of, through the correct maintenance and observance of its functional requirements, in order to keep it in tact.

And so, it is with the Torah – we must guard it in our hearts and exercise it diligently, keeping ourselves free from the clutter, or weeds, of wickedness.

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:

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

This also carries for us the picture of washing, as we understand the function of water being that which cleanses us and sustains us, showing us how we are washed and sustained by the Living Waters of the Word! This letter also can represent any liquid, especially blood!

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, 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.

This observing is not simply a corrupt observation with the eyes but it requires the correct response of obedience to doing what is to be guarded and observed, hence the call to ‘do’ them!

The Hebrew root word for ‘do’ is עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213 which means, ‘to do, work, make, produce, ta act with effect, to observe, to bring about, institute’ and can also mean, ‘celebrate’.

HEAR – GUARD and DO!!!

That is what we, as The House of Elohim are to be doing!!!

Verse 12:

This is the Torah of the House: Upon the mountaintop, all the boundary of it, all around, is most set-apart. See, this is the Torah of the House.

This verse in Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43 is possibly one of the most significant verses we will see, as it clearly makes the announcement of what the Torah of the House is!!

The Torah of the House = SET-APARTNESS!!!

Tehillah/Psalm 93:5 “Your witnesses have been very trustworthy. Set-apartness befits Your house, O יהוה, forever.”

After having praised יהוה for His Kingship and His Might, the psalmist closes with great praise for יהוה’s established order and governance, as He declares the trustworthiness of the witnesses of יהוה, that makes it abundantly clear what is fitting for His House – and that is set-apartness!

In the Hebrew text, the last words of this Tehillah/Psalm 93:5 could be taken to mean, “יהוה (is) forever and ever,”, similar to verse 2 which states that יהוה is “from everlasting”.

This Psalm makes it clear, from the beginning to the end, that יהוה reigns!

He is from everlasting and He is forever!

He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and His standard does not change!

Set-apartness always has been, and always will be, that which befits His House!

יהוה, who lives in His House, among His people, has spoken His unchanging Word, which clearly teaches us that those who desire to dwell in His House, know that set-apartness is an unchanging requirement, hence His very clear and loud call for His Bride to come out from that which is not set-apart and take heed to be separate!

What is also very clear, in this verse 12 of Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43, is the declaration of what The Torah of the House is, and it is given between the repetition of this phrase, placing emphasis on recognising what the Torah of the House is, so that the hearer does not neglect to know what is the Torah of the House.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘see’, that is used before the repeated phrase, “this is the Torah of the House”, is הִנֵּה hinneh – Strong’s H2009 which means, ‘Lo! Behold! Look! See!’, which is the prolonged form of the word הֵן hen – Strong’s H2005, which is an interjection that demands attention and is mainly used to emphasise the information that follows.

Having declared ‘this is the Torah of the House’ and then expressed what it is, the interjection of הִנֵּה hinneh – Strong’s H2009 is used to get one’s attention, by making it abundantly clear that:

‘THIS IS…. The Torah of House’.

While it may sound like I am repeating myself, it is done so with good intention, in order to get your attention, as we embrace what the Torah of the House is!!!

With the design, and form, of the House of Elohim being made clear, along with the Torah of the House, we are able to learn the vital lessons, needed for us today, as we recognise that we are being built up as a spiritual House:

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:5 “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.”

יהוה personally interpreted these visions for Yeḥezqěl, thus emphasising even more, how important these visions of the Millennial Temple were.

These visions contained the fulfilment of promises of the restoration of the House of Elohim, in which He would come and dwell among His people forever and be the place of His throne, as His return would be permanent!

As we consider this sure hope that we have in our Master and Elohim, we recognise that this carries great significance for us here today, as we sojourn as faithful ambassadors of His coming reign, having His Spirit dwelling in us, as the pledge of our inheritance!

We are the House of Elohim!

Sha’ul, when writing to Timotiyos, expressed that the reason for his writings was that Timotiyos should know how to behave in the House of Elohim:

Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 3:14-15 “I am writing you this, expecting to come to you shortly, 15 but if I delay, that you might know how you should behave in the House of Elohim, which is the assembly of the living Elohim – a strong support and foundation of the truth.”

In these visions given to Yeḥezqěl, he was told that upon the mountain and all the boundary of it all around is most set-apart! What is basically being told to us is that the entire House of Elohim is most set-apart!!!

The Hebrew phrase that is translated as ‘most set-apart’ is:

קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים

qoḏesh qoḏeshiym

This is a phrase that is used for the Most Set-Apart Place, in the Tabernacle, as well as the offerings that were most set-apart to יהוה.

This qoḏesh qoḏeshiym can be described as:

“THE SET-APARTNESS OF THE SET-APART”!!!

And what we take note of, in the visions given to Yeḥezqěl, is that it is not only the Most Set-Apart Place that is most set-apart now but the entire house and all its boundaries is most set-apart!!!

This is a wonderful picture for us, in our ability in understanding and recognising how we, as a set-apart royal priesthood, are to live set-apart lives that are actually, ‘most set-apart’, as all our boundaries are most set-apart!

Our whole life is to be most set-apart to יהוה, and not just part of it.

We cannot be part-time partakers of set-apartness but must give our all and be most set-apart!

THIS IS THE TORAH OF THE HOUSE:

COMPLETE SET-APARTNESS!!!

The law of the house is set-apartness, and while I am repeatedly mentioning this, I am doing so, in order to emphasise the reality of this important fact!

What we must remember, is that there is no true set-apartness without a ‘separateness’ from the world, so to speak!

While we are to be faithful sojourners in this world, we recognise that we are to live set-apart lives! Lives that are not of this world, yet live in it!

And the only way to do that is to follow the Torah of the House and be most set-apart!!!

We are not to hide the Light of the Truth in us, because we are not of this world, but rather we are to shine the light of the Truth, in proper set-apartness that does not fade!

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 11:45 “For I am יהוה who is bringing you up out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. And you shall be set-apart, for I am set-apart.”

We are to be set-apart in guarding to eat what is permitted and distinguish between the clean and the unclean.

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘Be set-apart, for I יהוה your Elohim am set-apart.”

The verses that follow this command, give us further insight, in regards to our set-apartness, as each one should fear his mother and father, guard the Sabbaths and not turn to idols nor make any moulded image!

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 20:7-8 “And you shall set yourselves apart, and shall be set-apart, for I am יהוה your Elohim, 8 and you shall guard My laws and do them. I am יהוה, who sets you apart.”

We do not do what the world does, and these words came after the severe warning against those who offer their offspring to Moleḵ, or one who turns to mediums and spiritists!

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 1:13-16 “Therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, set your expectation perfectly upon the favour that is to be brought to you at the revelation of יהושע Messiah, 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance, 15 instead, as the One who called you is set-apart, so you also should become set-apart in all behaviour, 16 because it has been written, “Be set-apart, for I am set-apart.””

What we must never neglect to know, is that the Torah of the House is set-apartness, which means that there can be no half measures, so to speak, that are mixed with compromised ways that are falsely being accepted as being set-apart!

While we may acknowledge and understand this, what we all must do, on a daily basis, is look into the mirror of the Word and assess our lives, making sure that we do not walk away and forget what we look like, as we make sure that we are doing our utmost to reflect the proper pattern, design and form that the Word of יהוה teaches us to look like, and what He expects us to be!

WHAT DOES THE MIRROR REFLECT?

As we each examine ourselves, by looking intently into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, we are able to walk in the blessing of Elohim, as long as we guard to do what the Torah teaches us:

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.”

One of the biggest questions, we ought to be asking ourselves, as we assess our own lives, and work out our own deliverance with fear and trembling, is whether we are properly observing that which is being taught in the Word, and therefore, we need to be able to honestly asses our lives, as we ask ourselves if we are observing the law of the House, which is to be most set-apart in all we do!

“Do I live set-apart as I should?”

Many ways to further our own assessment, before the mirror of the Word, is to ask questions that will invoke an honest response, such as:

Are my ways different to the world and those who are of the world, that are around me each and every day?

Are my thoughts and actions different to the world and the way those of the world think and act?

Do I find that I feel totally at home when in the company of unbelievers or am I vexed by their sin and lawlessness?

Am I just one of the crowd or am I a functional part of the remnant Bride who sets Herself apart and shines her set-apartness amidst a wicked generation, or is my light put out by compromise to appease the company I am in?

These are only a few, of many ‘assessment type’ questions, that any set-apart believer should ask themselves, from time to time, in order to check if they are, in fact, living set-apart, according to the Word.

What must also be carefully checked, is whether your estimation of your set-apartness is actually in line with the Torah of the House, or have you found yourself justifying your own assumed set-apartness, in order to suite your own needs and desires, by discarding a thorough inspection and turning a ‘blind eye’ to what may be deemed small and insignificant matters?

No matter is small, in our Master’s eyes, especially when we read in Mattithyahu/Matthew 12 that for every idle word, that men speak, they shall give an account on the day of judgement!

The MAIN QUESTION we must ask ourselves is:

“Am I set-apart?”

And in asking this, we can also ask ourselves:

“Am I living unto Elohim with my entire being, loving Him with all my heart, soul and strength, or do I find myself allowing subtle compromises to the Truth to settle in and stain my called for set-apartness?”

Any deviation from complete set-apartness, is simply breaking the Torah of the House!

Ask yourself the following:

“Am I truly using all my talents, time, thoughts, words and my entire substance of who I am, to the esteem of my Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah?” and “What am I living for?”

“Am I living for the next big financial breakthrough or promotion, or am I living unto יהוה my Elohim?”

“Am I making a pretence to live for Elohim, or am I, after all assessments, see that I am actually living to self?”

“Do I put others ahead of myself?”

Pilipiyim/Philippians 2:3-4 “doing none at all through selfishness or self-conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each one should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Please bear with me, as I present all these assessing questions, that can, at times, feel as though they are pressing a little deeper than we may care to entertain, as I am simply presenting the need for us to be openly able to assess our lives, before the mirror of the Word, in order to ensure that we are never taking anything for granted, but are rather being sober in our estimation of the Truth, and its proper application in our daily lives.

“Am I, at times, no different to Ḥananyah and Shappirah, who pretended to give their all, yet kept back part of the price?”

Thinking of these two, that are written of in Ma’asei/Acts 5, we recognise a vital picture lesson on cost and one’s ability to truly count the cost and give your all.

At this point of our vital assessment, through this message, let me ask you this:

“What price, if any, do you find hard to pay?”

Have you carefully considered the need to count the cost of forsaking all, taking up your stake and following our Master and Elohim, and, in essence, considered the cost of obeying the Torah of the House, which is set-apartness?

Or, in terms of what we are speaking about in this message, have you truly counted the cost and recognised the full price of being Most Set-Apart?

Or, do you find that fleshly ambitions and worldly relationships often hinder your ability to recognise the full price that is to be counted on a daily basis?

יהושע Messiah came to fully proclaim the Torah and the prophets, and in revealing to us the practical application of how we are to walk and live as He did, He proclaimed and revealed, through His life, death and resurrection, what is means to be Most Set-Apart!

He clearly expressed a deeper, and higher, understanding of the Spirit of the Torah, that teaches us what it means to be most set-apart.

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:6 “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.”

Have you ever assessed your life, by simply asking yourself the following?

“Am I, by my declaration of staying in Him, walking, even as he walked?”

The Torah of the House is NOT too high a standard for us to live by, for Messiah Himself is the Good Shepherd and Teacher of Righteousness that came to show us how to walk in complete set-apartness before Him!

And by coming in the flesh, and subjecting Himself to His Torah, He set before us His perfect example and the pattern for His House, which we are, in order to follow and obey the Torah of the House, which is to be most set-apart!

Once again, while this may sound repetitive, and it is so for good reason, we must take heed to hear the Torah of the House, with hearing ears, and in doing so, recognise that our Master is a jealous Elohim, who commands our set-apartness!

He does not suggest it – He commands it! The reality is that if I find, in any way, that I am not walking in complete obedience to His Word, then I am simply being disorderly and breaking the Torah of the House!

At this point in our assessment, and understanding, of the Torah of the House, it is important to recognise the bearings of the House.

That is to say, the manner in which one conducts oneself and the typical characteristics that display the Torah of the House, being guarded in one’s life.

Joy and contentment in all circumstances, unity, loving-commitment, responsibility and accountability to the rest of the House, are but a few things that bear the marks of the Torah of the House being properly guarded!

When each part of the House/Body is doing its share, by maintaining the Truth in love and causing growth in the body, then the Torah of the House is being observed and pursued by all!

Ya’aqoḇ asks the simple question:

Ya’aqoḇ/James 4:1 “Where do fightings and strivings come from among you? Do they not come from your pleasures that battle in your members?”

Fightings and strivings do not come from a House that is being most set-apart, therefore when there are strivings and fightings among the House, then the Torah of the House is being neglected by some, hence the vital need for all parts of the House to guard the Torah of the House and live set-apart lives, and be careful to take heed of Sha’ul’s words in:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 5:9-13 “I wrote to you in my letter not to keep company with those who whore. 10 And I certainly did not mean with those of this world who whore, or with the greedy of gain, or swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone called ‘a brother,’ if he is one who whores, or greedy of gain, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler – not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But Elohim judges those who are outside. And put away the wicked one from among you!”

In essence, what Sha’ul is clearly teaching here is this:

KEEP THE HOUSE MOST SET-APART!!!

Divisions and fightings are often the result of some who have unconquered lusts and desires for self, with no regard for one’s fleshly actions and the consequences thereof, toward others!

When the Torah of the House is maintained by all, unity will be clearly visible, and the blessing of pleasant dwelling together, will be the result:

Tehillah/Psalm 133:1-3 “See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity – 2 like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aharon, running down on the collar of his robes – 3 like the dew of Ḥermon, that comes down on the mountains of Tsiyon. For there יהוה commanded the blessing, life forever!”

From His mountain He commands the blessing of life forever, and this is what being most set-apart shall be rewarded with!

Without set-apartness no man shall see Elohim, as we see written in:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all, and pursue apartness without which no one shall see the Master.”

The term ‘set-apartness’, in Hebrew, comes from the root word קֹדֶשׁ qoḏesh – Strong’s H6944 – and it means ‘apartness, consecrated, dedicated, that which is dedicated and separated unto יהוה’.

The word is really self-explanatory and carries with it great weight, in its identification of truly setting something or someone apart from another, with a clear distinction of being marked as separate and apart from the rest.

Set-apartness/apartness, in the Greek, comes from the word ἁγιασμός hagiasmos – Strong’s G38 which means, ‘consecration, sanctifying’, and the noun, is the word ἅγιος hagios – Strong’s G40.

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

Due to the ‘perfect’ and ‘complete’ work of our Messiah and King, we are able to be perfect, and most set-apart, before Elohim, for that is what we are called to – to set-apartness!

And having been grafted into the Covenants of Promise, by the Blood of Messiah that cleanses and washes us, we are now called to be a called–out people, who are ‘perfecting’ set-apartness, in the fear of Elohim!

How then are we to ‘perfect’ our set-apartness in the fear of Elohim?

By walking in THE PERFECT TORAH!!!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 7:1 “Having, then, these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting set-apartness in the fear of Elohim.”

We are to pursue and perfect set-apartness!

The Greek word for ‘pursue’ is the verb διώκω diōkō – Strong’s G1377 which means, ‘to put to flight, pursue, persecute’, and also carries the meaning, ‘to follow after’ or, ‘to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing’ or, ‘earnestly endeavour to acquire’ and can also mean, ‘to suffer persecution’!

We see this root word being translated as ‘persecuted’, in the following verse:

Timotiyos Bět /2 Timothy 3:12 “And indeed, all those wishing to live reverently in Messiah יהושע, shall be persecuted.”

Pursuing set-apartness will bring on persecution – and knowing this reality, the question is:

“Will I obey the Torah of the House and be most set-apart?”

One could, in many ways, state that the opposite of pursuing apartness would be to forsake apartness, and we are commanded to not forsake the Torah, which includes not forsaking the Torah of the House!

To ‘not forsake’, implies a proper pursuit of that which is be perfected!

The Greek word that us used for ‘perfecting’ is ἐπιτελέω epiteleō – Strong’s G2005 which means, ‘to complete, accomplish, finished, perfected, performing’, and therefore, we recognise that we are in a race that we must complete, realising that it is Messiah, in us, that causes us to pursue and perfect set-apartness, as we stay in Him and walk, even as He did!

Many might claim that they have not neglected the Torah of the House, while they ‘sit on the fence’, so to speak, and legalistically tick off their boxes of assumed obedience and minimum responsibility required for set-apartness, yet they lack the fruit of being MOST SET-APART, and it becomes clearly evident when they find themselves in the midst of those who are being zealous, in their pursuit of being most set-apart!

We need to embrace the heart of the psalmist who wrote:

Tehillah/Psalm 119:29-33 “Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favour me with Your Torah. 30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your right-rulings I have held level. 31 I have clung to Your witnesses; O יהוה, do not put me to shame! 32 I run the way of Your commands, for You enlarge my heart. 33 Teach me, O יהוה, the way of Your laws, and I observe it to the end.”

How fit are you, in your pursuit of apartness?

Are you running the way of the commands of Elohim?

Are you running with exceeding joy and fervency, to the esteem of יהוה, or have you, at times, found that you have parked yourself in a position that no longer pursues apartness, because of a lack of breath, as the result of the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other non-set-apart matters, that have come and choked out the very word of life from your being, leaving you short of breath?

When one gives way to the pursuit of apartness, and slacks off due to compromise, and becomes lazy and idle in duty, neglecting the proper gathering and fellowship, and neglecting the proper daily meditating and study of the Word, then what happens?

Well, what may come first is the heartburn of compromise, that eats away at one’s inner most being, that will lead to envy and strife that can cause divisions in the House, after which, contentions may arise and false doctrines be entertained and believed, due to the slackened pursuit of set-apartness, while assuming to maintain a self-constructed image of apartness, that does not line up perfectly with the plumb line of the Torah!

What may happen as a result of this, is that the infected ones, who have neglected the Torah of the House, and have strayed from the pursuit of apartness, will find the following creeping into their lives: lethargy, inactivity and conformity to worldliness and, if not corrected, will lead to a losing of their first love for Elohim and the House/Body of Messiah, causing them to turn away from true love for Elohim, which is to obey His commands! Here, the Torah of the House is clear – set-apartness!

When one drifts from pursuing apartness, the House often experiences diminished gatherings, as the desire to be joined in unity, by some, grows colder and colder, to the point where they assume that they can walk a set-apart life on their own, thus deceiving themselves into thinking they do not need help, instruction or fellowship with others.

To do this, is a breaking of the Torah of the House!

Taking set-apartness for granted through the lack of a proper pursuit, can cause one to end up being alone and discarded, hence the need to ensure that the zeal for the pursuit of apartness never fails or fades!

As we consider this Torah of the House, let us all take heed to secure our fervent obedience to the Torah of the House and be most set-apart in all matters!

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

Romiyim/Romans 14:19 “So, then, let us pursue the matters of peace and the matters for building up one another.”

Set-Apartness befits His House and the Torah of the House is set-apartness!

How set-apart are you?

Let us hear, guard and do the Torah of the House, as we pursue, and perfect, set-apartness together, as a body that is being built, up as living stones, in our Master!

The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘boundary’ in Yeḥezq’ěl/Ezekiel 43:12 is גְּבוּל geḇul – Strong’s H1366 which means, ‘border, boundary, territory, landmark’.

We take note of a clear curse for moving boundaries given to us in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 27:17 “Cursed is he who moves his neighbour’s boundary.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Aměn!’”

We are also told in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:10 “Do not move the ancient boundary, and do not enter the fields of the fatherless”

The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘move’ is סוּג sug (soog) – Strong’s H5472 which means, ‘backslider, to move away, backslide, turn away, remove’, and we are therefore clearly instructed not to run back or remove the ancient boundary!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘ancient’ is עוֹלָם olam – Strong’s H5769 which means, ‘long duration, antiquity, continual, all successive, everlasting, forever, permanent, unending, perpetual’, and clearly represents for us that which pertains to an unlimited duration of time, with a focus of no anticipated end!

Bemiḏbar/Numbers 24 deals with the boundaries commanded by Mosheh that were to be given to the children of Yisra’ĕl when they entered the Promised Land.

Before we go into the Land, יהוה defines our boundaries!

We all need ‘boundaries’ and it is a fact that children who have no boundaries are more likely to end up breaking the law and possibly be imprisoned, as a result of their parents not putting boundaries down when they were growing up! Boundaries are good for us and keep us safe!

In actual fact, ‘boundaries’ that are set by יהוה show us that He loves us.

When we consider the application of this chapter for us, in a practical sense, we must recognise that the good boundaries that we have been given, are through His commands.

Tehillah/Psalm 16:6 “Boundary lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, a good inheritance is mine.”

And if we love Him, we shall obey His commands!

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

His boundaries are commanded through Mosheh (The Torah) and revealed by the life, death and resurrection of Messiah (The Living Torah)

Verses 12-17 give us the measurements of the slaughter-place, and what is worth taking note of here is that the Hebrew word that is translated as ‘slaughter-place’ is מִזְבֵּחַ mizbeaḥ – Strong’s H4196, which comes from the root verb זָבַח zaḇaḥ – Strong’s H2076 meaning, ‘to offer a sacrifice, sacrificed’.

Tehillah/Psalm 4:5 “Offer slaughterings of righteousness, and trust in יהוה.”

Here, in this Psalm, the verb that us translated as ‘offer’ is the word זָבַח zaḇaḥ – Strong’s H2076, from which we get the noun that is translated as ‘slaughterings’, which is זֶבַח zeḇaḥ – Strong’s H2076.

We ‘offer’ up our lives as a living ‘sacrifice’ with joy and thanksgiving, and we take note that with the זֶבַח zeḇaḥ offering, there is to be a pure expression of appreciation:

Tehillah/Psalm 107:22 “And let them bring slaughterings of thanksgiving, and relate His works with rejoicing.”

Tehillah/Psalm 116:17 “I bring You a slaughtering of thanksgiving, and call upon the Name of יהוה.”

In these two verses, we again see the two root words being used, and so we can begin to understand the following texts:

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.”

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:1-5 “Having put aside, then, all evil, and all deceit, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil words, 2 as newborn babes, desire the unadulterated milk of the Word, in order that you grow by it, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Master is good. 4 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.”

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 2:15 “Because we are to Elohim the fragrance of Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

In verse 3 of Tehillah/Psalm 84 the psalmist declares how ‘even the sparrow and swallow has found a home’; and in essence, declares how blessed it is for anyone who has made יהוה their Dwelling Place and place to rest and find shelter.

Tehillah/Psalm 84:3 “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she has put her young ones – Your slaughter-places, O יהוה of hosts, my Sovereign and my Elohim.”

The sparrow has found a home and the swallow have made a nest where she puts her young ones by the ‘slaughter-places’ of Elohim!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘Your slaughter-places’ is מִזְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ – mizbeḥotheyḵa – which is the plural of the root word מִזְבֵּחַ mizbeaḥ – Strong’s H4196 meaning, ‘slaughter-place, altar’, which comes from the root verb זָבַח zaḇaḥ – Strong’s H2076 meaning, ‘to offer a sacrifice, sacrificed’.

We know that in the Tabernacle and temple there were two ‘slaughter-places’: the slaughter-place of bronze which was used for the burnt offerings, which was positioned between the gate and the bronze laver; and the golden slaughter place of incense, which was in the Set-Apart Place, before the veil that separated the Most Set-Apart Place from the Set-Apart place, was used for the burning of incense.

The picture here of the birds having made their homes and nests by the slaughter-places of Elohim, carries a clear picture of how we are to ‘be at home’ in our ability to offer up our lives as a daily living offering and be steadfast in praying in all circumstances – the very thing that this psalmist yearned and longed to be doing at all times!

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

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

In verse 15 we see the English word ‘hearth being used twice.

The first Hebrew word that is translated as ‘hearth’ is הַרְאֵל harel – Strong’s H2025 which comes from the two root words:

1) הַר har – Strong’s H2022 which means, ‘hill/mountain’ and

2) אֵל el – Strong’s H410 which means, ‘Mighty, power, shortened form of Elohim – Mighty One’

The second Hebrew word that is translated as ‘hearth, slaughter place hearth’, in verse 15 and is again used in verse 16, is the word אֲרִאֵיל ariel – Strong’s H741 which comes from the two root words:

1) אֲרִי ari – Strong’s H738 which means, ‘lion’ and

2) אֵל el – Strong’s H410 which means, ‘Mighty, power, shortened form of Elohim – Mighty One’

There may be the picture of a play on words here, with the slaughter place hearth being described as the mountain of El and the Lion of El, highlighting the perfect sacrifice that our Master and Elohim, The Lion of the Tribe of Yehuḏah, came to be, so that we can be lifted up, in Him, be cleansed and be able to ascend the most set-apart mountain of Elohim!

In verse 16 we are told that the slaughter place is 12 cubits long and 12 cubits wide!!

This is a powerful picture of the redemption of the entire body of Yisra’ĕl – that is, the body and bride of Messiah, the 12 tribes of Yisra’ěl, that are grafted into the High Priest and King!!!

In verses 18-27 Yeḥezq’ěl is give the laws for the slaughter-place, which highlights the complete preparation, cleansing and setting–apart of the slaughter-place, in order for it to be ready and functional, before Elohim!

The ascending offerings and sin offerings that were to be brought were to be brought by the Lěwites who are of the seed of Tsaḏoq.

The name צָדוֹק Tsaḏoq – Strong’s H6659 means, ‘righteous’ and the Hebrew name לֵוִי Lĕwi – Strong’s H3881 means, ‘joined to’.

Once again, we are able to see a prophetic shadow picture of the royal priesthood of Messiah, who are the righteous ones that have been joined to Him, and serve as priests forever, in the order of Malkitseḏeq.

Verse 27 tells us that at the end of 7 days cleansing and ordination of the slaughter-place, the 8^th day would usher in the ability to bring in the necessary ascending offerings and peace offerings.

Once again, we are able to recognise the prophetic language being given here, in that we take note that at the end of the 7 days (7 Millennia) the renewed Heavens and earth with be established and be ready for ascending offerings and peace offerings to be brought.

The 8^th day is a picture of the age to come, the renewed heavens and earth, where our Master and Elohim will dwell with us forever!

What this teaches us today, as we understand the Torah of the House and the law of the slaughter-place, is that we are to be most set-apart and we are to be the daily living offering that we are called to be, in preparation for the age to come, as we cleanse ourselves, now, in the proper pursuit of complete set-apartness and hold fast the clear Torah of the House and guard the Covenants of Promise that we have been grafted in to, by the Blood of Messiah, having been joined to Him as a royal, set-apart, righteous priesthood and spiritual house that offers up spiritual slaughter offerings continually!

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.”

The Greek word that is used for ‘slaughter offering’ is θυσία thusia – Strong’s G2378 which means, ‘a sacrifice’.

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

As called–out and cleansed chosen ones, we do not just offer ‘some’ of our life, but rather we offer up our whole life/being – that is – all that we are and all that we have to give – always giving the best we have to give – continually!

The Greek word that is used here for ‘well-pleasing’ is εὐάρεστος euarestos – Strong’s G2101 which means, ‘acceptable, pleasing, well-pleasing’.

Romiyim/Romans 14:17-18 “For the reign of Elohim is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Set-apart Spirit. 18 For he who is serving Messiah in these matters is well-pleasing to Elohim and approved by men.”

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Master. Walk as children of light 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth – 10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Master.”

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 13:20-21 “And the Elohim of peace who brought up our Master יהושע from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you perfect in every good work to do His desire, working in you what is pleasing in His sight, through יהושע Messiah, to whom be esteem forever and ever. Aměn.”

The reason for highlighting these verses, is to simply show a few passages of Scripture that make it very clear, how the righteous know what is pleasing to the Master; as we take note that when we walk in righteousness, and guard to do all He has commanded us to, we then find that pleasing Him becomes a very joyous and pleasing thing to do!

When the House is explained to the House and its design and laws are made known, the diligent hearer and doer of the Word, will do what is pleasing to the Master, presenting their bodies daily as a well-pleasing living offering, in their presentation of the reasonable worship that is due to our Most-High Master and Elohim!

The House has been explained to the House! It’s design and laws have been made know! Have you been listening?

THE TORAH OF THE HOUSE IS:

TO BE MOST SET-APART!

In closing, I thought it best to leave you with the ancient pictographic rendering of the word for set-apart, which we known is קֹדֶשׁ qoḏesh – Strong’s H6944 which means ‘apartness/ consecrated/ dedicated/ that which is dedicated and separated unto יהוה’, and comes from the primitive root verb קָדַשׁ qaḏash – Strong’s H6942 which means ‘to be set-apart, consecrated, purified, dedicated’ and is rendered as follows in the ancient pictographic letter/symbols:

Quph – קֹ:

This is the letter ‘quph’, which is pictured as , and is a ‘horizon’ and depicts the elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting.

It therefore carries the meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well as eternity and speaks of continual adherence to the Appointed Times.

Dalet – דֶ:

This is the letter ‘dalet’ which is pictured as , which is a ‘tent door’. It can also have the meaning of a back-and-forth movement, as one goes back and forth through a tent door and so speaks of an access point. It can also carry the meaning of ‘dangle’ or hanging as the tent door would hang from the roof pole of the tent.

It speaks a great deal in terms of understanding the door of the tent of appointment as the only means of access. And we also know that Messiah is ‘The Door’, for we only are able to have access into the Kingdom through Him!

The commands are also to be written on the doorposts teaching us to remember to guard the commands of Elohim as we go out and come in, so that our going out and coming is in peace!

Shin – שׁ:

Looking at the rendering of the Hebrew noun קֹדֶשׁ qoḏesh – Strong’s H6944 and verb קָדַשׁ qaḏash – Strong’s H6942 in the pictographic form that renders set-apartness or to be set-apart, we are able to see what this clearly implies as we take note that these words can render for us the following meaning:

CONTINUALLY COMING TO THE DOOR OF APPOINTMENT

TO MEDITATE ON THE WORD!

Our ability to be properly set-apart involves our ability to properly meditate on the Word on a daily basis as well as making sure that we do not neglect the set-apart Appointed Times that are clearly commanded as ‘set-apart gatherings’, which are All the Appointed Times of יהוה, as outlined and instructed in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23, which includes the weekly Sabbath!

May this brief message, on explaining the House to the house, stir you to fervently assess your walk and be committed to being most set-apart unto our Master and Elohim, and let’s all be continually reminded to guard the Torah of the House, always, as we pursue apartness and run in the way of the commands of Elohim – for the rules of the House are on our hearts!!!

As true taught ones of the Master, who have been commanded by the Master to go and make taught ones of the nations, teaching them to guard to do all that He has commanded us, will you too go and:

EXPLAIN THE HOUSE TO THE HOUSE!

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