5th of the 7th month 2016/2017
Shalom,
Shemoth/Exodus 19:4-6 “You have seen what I did to the Mitsrites, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine – 6 and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation.’ Those are the words which you are to speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
These were the words that Mosheh was instructed to speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl and the people responded by saying, “All that יהוה has spoken we shall do”! The whole of Yisra’ĕl basically said the “I DO” of the Marriage Covenant, as it was after this that the entire nation was instructed to ‘get ready’ and given 2 days to be set-apart by washing their garments and be prepared on the 3rd day when יהוה would come down and speak ‘The 10 Words’ (10 Commandments) to His called out and chosen set-apart Treasured Bride!
The reason that I am mentioning this passage from Shemoth is simply as a reminder of what took place on the 3rd day after they were told to be washed, dressed and prepared, when the nation of Yisra’ĕl entered into a Marriage Covenant with the Almighty יהוה of Hosts! We are now in the 7th month of the year and in a couple of days it will be Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), which takes place on the 10th of the 7th month. It is from sunset of the 9th to sunset of the 10th that we guard to keep Yom Kippur, which we will look at shortly. We are currently in the period of 10 days between Yom Teruah (Day of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur, and it is on Yom Teruah that we are commanded to have a ‘remembrance of Teruah’, which highlights for us the need to remember the Marriage Covenant that we have been grafted in to by the Blood of Messiah, which further highlights for us the need to remember to guard the Covenant, through a proper diligent obedience to Elohim and be found, by our soon coming Husband and King, as a Bride that has prepared Herself, having been cleansed by His Blood and washed through His Word. It is on Yom Kippur that our Master and Elohim will come out of the Most Set-Apart Place in the Heavenly Tabernacle and come down to tread the winepress in His wrath and then gather His ready Bride unto Himself! Those who have not obeyed His voice and guarded His Word shall be cut off and separated for destruction, as pictured through the parable of the wheat and the darnel, where the darnel pictures the proud and lofty who have refused to submit to, and obey, His Word and as a result will be cut off and gathered into bundles that will be thrown into the fire, whereas the wheat pictures His faithful Bride who has washed and readied Herself for His return, by fearing יהוה and walking humbly before Him.
As we consider this period of 10 days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur we recognise the necessity of being a Bride that has diligently heard the voice of Her King and responded to the call to come out and be separated; making sure that she is ready and dressed in the righteous garments that are fitting for the Wedding Banquet of the King and His called out and treasured Bride.
In a message called, ‘OBEY AND GUARD AND BE NOT CUT OFF!’ let us be reminded of the urgency in which we are to faithfully respond to the clear call to come out and be separate; and continually obey the voice of our Elohim as we guard His Covenant with great zeal and joy, with the sure expectation and hope we have for our soon returning Husband and King.
“And now, if you will diligently obey My voice…”
In Hebrew this phrase is written as – אִם־שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ בְּקֹלִי – im–shamoa tishmeu bekoliy – which literally translates as: “If hearing, you shall hear”. This reminds me of how we see the term being used in Ḥazon/Revelation to the assemblies: “He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit says.” The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘And now’ is וְעַתָּה – v’attah, which comes from the root word עַתָּה attah – Strong’s H6258 which means ‘now, at this time’ and with the conjunction of the letter – וְ – ‘waw’ it renders ‘and now, so now’ or ‘but now’, placing the clear emphasis of a call to attentively hear NOW, along with the resulting action of listening as we should!!!
The Hebrew word translated as ‘if’ is אִם im – Strong’s H518 which is a conditional participle or primary conjunction which renders, ‘if, though, either, neither, when, whenever’. The basic meaning of this word is “if” and this meaning can be seen in most of its occurrences as it usually occurs in conditional clauses, which we are able to see very clearly here!
“IF you obey My voice… THEN YOU SHALL BE…”
The Hebrew word that is translated as, ‘then you shall be’ is וִהְיִיתֶם – vih’yiythem, which we once again see the use of the letter – וְ – ‘waw’ as a conjunction along with the root verb הָיָה hayah – Strong’s H1961 which means, ‘to be, exist, become, happen’, which is a verb written in the ‘qal, masculine, second person, plural’.
Why I am mention this is to highlight the resulting actions of obedience, for if we are obedient we will be, exist or cause to become: His Treasured possession. It is extremely important for us to understand this as it is through our proper response to His Word that we are caused to become and be His set-apart chosen people for a possession!
There is a clear conditional clause being expressed here and herein we are able to recognise the call given to all the assemblies in Ḥazon/Revelation, where it is made clear that “He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit says”.
This therefore clearly indicates that those who diligently obey the voice of Elohim will actually hear what His Spirit says and respond in the appropriate manner of obedience that is called for, and expected, from a called out and set-apart Bride of the Most High!
In this phrase, “And now, if you will diligently obey My voice…” we see that the root word שָׁמַע ‘shama’ is used twice in a row which translates as ‘diligently obey’. The Hebrew word שָׁמַע ‘shama’ – Strong’s H8085 does not just carry the meaning ‘to hear’ but rather, ‘to hear with attention and comprehend and discern and give heed to what is being spoken’.
The clear call being given here is to hear the depths of what is being spoken – that is to hear attentively to His voice and the Spirit that lies behind the letter! Now if people are not even listening to the letter, how are they ever going to hear what the Spirit says!!! So many people today claim to ‘hear the Spirit’ yet what they are hearing does not necessarily line up with the Word of Elohim, nor can that which they hear be tested and validated as true, according to the Word. Many today are claiming to receive knowledge simply ‘by revelation of the spirit’ alone, while that which they are ‘hearing’ does not always agree with the Word of Elohim and this we are seeing more and more, and what we take note of here in this call to hear, being given to a Bride that is betrothed to Elohim, is that if we diligently hear His voice… then we will be His called out Bride!
The Hebrew word for ‘voice’ is קוֹל qol – Strong’s H6963 which means, ‘sound, voice, noise, thunder, proclamation’, and comes from an unused root meaning, ‘to call aloud’. What is clear to us is that the VOICE of יהוה has been spoken and leaves the choice up to each individual of whether they will hear it or not – and by hearing I mean to hear it and respond to it by guarding to do what He commands!
In the ancient pictographic script the word קוֹל qol – Strong’s H6963 looks like this:
Quph – ק:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘quph’, which is pictured in the ancient script as – – which is a picture of ‘the sun at the 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. It also is understood as the ‘gathering of the light’.
Waw/Vav – וֹ:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying 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’ as well as ‘bind’.
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.
These letters combined can give the understanding of:
GATHERING TO THE SECURE STAFF OF THE GOOD ETERNAL SHEPHERD
When the shepherd called the sheep they swiftly came to him. The staff of the shepherd was his tool of authority. With it he would direct, discipline and protect the flock.
Our Good Shepherd’s voice has gone out and, by His Word that does not return empty, He has secured for us the ability to be brought back under His Authority, by His own Blood; and therefore we, as true set-apart children of Light, respond correctly as we hear His voice, submit to His Authority, take His easy yoke and guard His Torah and gather together, as we should on His Sabbaths and Feasts!
If you do not do this then you clearly have misunderstood or do not know the power of His Voice.
The voice of יהוה – is the voice of our Good Shepherd – ‘are you listening – are you following?’
Yoḥanan/John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
As we embrace this 7th month and His Feasts and hear the voice of יהוה, as given through His Torah and commands, I ask you, “how are you responding?”
He who has an ear let Him hear and know the Voice of the Good Shepherd and follow!
If you are not hearing and obeying as you should then you are putting yourself at risk of being cut off!
As people who attentively listen to the voice of Elohim and obey His Word, we learn how we are to guard His Covenant! With proper hearing comes the responsibility of a proper guarding, which is ‘TO DO’ what has been commanded, lest we are cut off and separated with those who have ears but are not hearing, as they clearly do not guard to do what the Word commands!
The Hebrew word for ‘guard’ is the word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 and carries the meaning, ‘keep watch, observe, perform, protect, pay attention’, and the basic idea of the root of this word is ‘to exercise great care over’.
As we guard the Covenant of Elohim by guarding 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, for this is our righteousness (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25)!
To watch, as we should, calls for us to make sure that we 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; and those who work lawlessness will be cut off!
What is an interesting factor that is worth taking note of is the frequent use of the word שָׁמַר shamar in the Torah.
It is used 139 times in the Torah – 15 times in Berěshith/Genesis, 24 times in Shemoth/Exodus; 16 times in Bemiḏbar/Numbers and 65 times in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy!!!
With Deḇarim/Deuteronomy being seen as the ‘second reading of the Torah’, as it was the instructions given to the new generation, we can see why there is a greater emphasis on the use of שָׁמַר shamar to the generation that was about to enter into the Promised Land! This teaches us how we too must place much emphasis on the guarding of the Word, lest we find that we are not found worthy to enter into the Reign of Messiah for lack of knowledge and discipline in the Word!
To properly guard the Word one has to be paying close attention in listening properly to the Word, for belief comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Elohim.
Having laid a basic foundation of our need to hear, guard and do, I would like to look at the consequences of not doing this, especially as we consider the season that we are in, with the 7th month well under way! With Yom Kippur just a few days away let us briefly take a look at what is commanded for this day:
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:27-32 “On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a set-apart gathering for you. And you shall afflict your beings, and shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה. 28 And you do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before יהוה your Elohim. 29 For any being who is not afflicted on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30 And any being who does any work on that same day, that being I shall destroy from the midst of his people. 31 You do no work – a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It is a Sabbath of rest to you, and you shall afflict your beings. On the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you observe your Sabbath.”
For more of an overview of Yom Kippur, please see the notes from the following messages which can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com):
1 – ‘YOM HAKIPPURIM – THE DAY OF COVERINGS!’ which can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the ‘sermons 2013/2014’ menu or by simply clicking on the following link:
https://atfotc.com/index.php/our-sermons/sermons-2013-2014/509-yom-hakippurim-the-day-of-coverings
2 – ‘COVERED AND CLEANSED – ANCIENT WORD PICTURES OF AN EVERLASTING COVENANT!’ which can be found on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the ‘sermons 2014/2015’ menu or by simply clicking on the following link:
https://atfotc.com/index.php/our-sermons/sermons-2014-2015/571-covered-and-cleansed-ancient-word-pictures-of-an-everlasting-promise
With the above two messages you will be able to gain an overview of Yom Kippur, while in this message I wanted to highlight a key consequence of not being a people that hear, guard and do the commands of Elohim; and what struck me this week, while meditating on the words from Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23 concerning Yom Kippur, was the words we see in verse 29, which is as follows: “For any being who is not afflicted on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people.”
The phrase that I want to highlight here is: “he shall be cut off” which is written in Hebrew as follows: וְנִכְרְתָה – veniḵrethah, which comes from the root verb כָּרַת karath – Strong’s H3772 which means, ‘to cut off, cut down, eliminate, kill, cut covenant’ and it is written in the ‘niphal’ verb tense which is the passive of the ‘qal’ verb tense and expresses the reflexive action, which has the clear meaning of being cut off or cut down or having failed. This expresses the reflexive action for disobedience and is a stern warning against having ears that do not hear!
It is this ‘being cut off’ or the real danger thereof that so many people are totally oblivious to as they are not listening attentively to the Word and are not guarding the Covenant! As I was looking at this phrase, “he shall be cut off’ I was once again reminded of how important it is for us to hear, guard and do the commands of Elohim, lest we find that we are cut off and destroyed by fire.
The Hebrew word root word כָּרַת karath – Strong’s H3772 is used well over 280 times in Scripture, yet in this form: וְנִכְרְתָה – veniḵrethah, it is written 18 times in 18 verses in the Tanak, with 16 of these being found with the Torah (Berěshith/Genesis to Deḇarim/Deuteronomy) and the other two times it is found in the prophets.
I thought it would be best to present a brief study on some of these verses in order to highlight the need for us to be a hearing people that guard the Covenant that we have been grafted in to as we continue to stay in the Master by obeying His voice so that we are not cut off and are destroyed!
The first time we see this root word כָּרַת karath – Strong’s H3772 being written in the form: וְנִכְרְתָה – veniḵrethah is in:
Berěshith/Genesis 17:13-14 “He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your silver, has to be circumcised. So shall My covenant be in your flesh, for an everlasting covenant. 14 “And an uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, his life shall be cut off from his people – he has broken My covenant.”
In Chapter 15 of Berěshith/Genesis we are able to see the Covenant that יהוה made with Aḇraham and in Chapter 17 in Berěshith/Genesis we are given the instructions that were commanded and to be obeyed as a ‘sign of the Covenant’, where every male child was to be circumcised and any male child who was not circumcised would be cut off, for they would have broken the Covenant. Without going in to greater detail on these instructions regarding circumcision and what it means for us today, in Messiah, what we do recognise is that any male that did not obey this command was to be cut off. What we must recognise, as the body of Messiah, is that we still adhere to this Torah, yet our circumcision is done not with the hands of men but is from above and when we are immersed in the Name of יהושע Messiah we receive a circumcision from above, causing us to be grafted in to the Covenants of Promise that we were once far off from.
For more on this topic as well as other key factors regrading Covenant, please see the article, “UNDERSTANDING COVENANT!” which can be found on our site under the ‘articles’ menu or by clicking on the following link:
https://atfotc.com/index.php/2012-04-19-08-30-28/view/653-understanding-covenant
Without going in to detail, which you can get more info on from the article that is linked above, what we must recognise is that when יהוה made Covenant with Aḇram, He made it while Aḇram was uncircumcised and then He gave him the ‘sign’ of the Covenant which would be to ‘THE SEED (singular)’! The Seed is Messiah, which Sha’ul teaches us clearly about in Romiyim/Romans. Every make child from the time of receiving the sign of the Covenant had to be circumcised at 8 days old until Messiah, The Seed, who would secure the ‘sign’ of the Covenant and at His death He would, by His Blood, cause us to enter in to Covenant, which we enter in to by being immersed into His Name. I therefore make it clear that this Torah is not nullified in any way but perfectly met in Messiah and our ability to guard this Torah is to ensure that anyone who desires to be a part of the Body of Messiah, eat the Pěsaḥ Meal and be grafted in to the Covenants of Promise, MUST be immersed in the Name of Messiah!!! In order to be grafted in, by the Blood of Messiah, to the covenants of promise that we were once far off from, one needs to repent and be immersed in the Name of יהושע Messiah, and we therefore understand that anyone who has not been immersed in the Name of יהושע Messiah cannot partake in the Passover Meal, as it is clear in the Torah that ‘no uncircumcised’ may eat of it (Shemoth/Exodus 12:48). Messiah makes it clear that unless we ‘eat of Him we have no part in Him’, making it clear that we are to be immersed in His Name in order to enter in to His Covenant and partake of the Covenant Meal of Pěsaḥ (Passover). There are so many today who claim to be of the body of Messiah yet they have not been immersed in His True Name, nor do they guard to keep the Feast of Pěsaḥ and Matzot (Unleavened Bread).
Having said that, let us take a look at another 2 verses where we see this word וְנִכְרְתָה – veniḵrethah being used:
Shemoth/Exodus 12:15 “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. Indeed on the first day you cause leaven to cease from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that being shall be cut off from Yisra’ĕl.”
Shemoth/Exodus 12:19 “For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, that same being shall be cut off from the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, whether sojourner or native of the land.”
In the above two verses that we see from Shemoth/Exodus 12 it is made very clear that anyone who does not guard the clear command to not eat any leaven during the 7 days of Matzot will be cut off! If you eat leavened bread during Matzot/Unleavened Bread you will be cut off!
For more on this Feats of Matzot/Unleavened Bread please see the notes of the message called, ‘EXTERMINATE THE LEAVEN AND NEVER LACK SALT!’ which can be seen on our site (https://atfotc.com) under the ‘sermons 2014/2015’ menu or by clicking on the following link:
https://atfotc.com/index.php/our-sermons/sermons-2014-2015/544-exterminate-the-leaven-and-never-lack-salt-a-brief-look-at-the-feast-of-unleavened-bread
What is very clear here, in the instructions regarding the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is that anyone who eats that which is leavened will be cut off. Another clear command given for this Feast is that unleavened bread MUST be eaten every day!
As we consider these clear instructions we are able to see a clear disregard for this Torah command through that which the modern church teaches and promotes, as they market the eating of ‘hot cross buns’ which contains yeast, which is a ‘leaven’ as it causes the bread to rise and is clearly forbidden in Scripture! Sadly many assume to be a part of the Body of Messiah, yet they do not keep Passover nor do they guard the commands for Unleavened Bread and as a result will be cut off!
This next verse highlights the importance of keeping the Sabbath!
Shemoth/Exodus 31:14 “And you shall guard the Sabbath, for it is set-apart to you. Everyone who profanes it shall certainly be put to death, for anyone who does work on it, that being shall be cut off from among his people. 15 ‘Six days work is done, and on the seventh is a Sabbath of rest, set-apart to יהוה. Everyone doing work on the Sabbath day shall certainly be put to death.”
In verse 15 we are told that in 6 days work is done and on the 7th it is a Sabbath of rest, set-apart to יהוה.
The word used in these verses for ‘work’ is מְלָאכָה melaḵah – Strong’s H4399 which means, ‘occupation, work, business, craftsmanship’ and comes from the word מַלְאָךְ malaḵ – Strong’s H4397 meaning, ‘a messenger, ambassador, envoy’. The Hebrew root word for ‘done’ is עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213 meaning, ‘to do, work, make, produce, ta act with effect, to observe, to bring about, institute’ and can also mean, ‘celebrate’. Verse 15 is very clear – DO NO WORK ON THE SABBATH – that is that you do not do your normal ‘occupation’ or trade, nor do anything in regards to your daily business and work related dealings that you would be involved in during the rest of the week!
Anyone who works on the Sabbath will be cut off and put to death!
So many today make vain excuses why they do not have to keep the Sabbath and for more on this please see the article I wrote called, “RESPONSE TO ATTACK ON SABBATH OBSERVANCE”, which can be found under the ‘articles’ menu on our site or by clicking the following link:
https://atfotc.com/index.php/2012-04-19-08-30-28/view/485-response-to-attack-on-sabbath-observance
This article was written as a response to an article that I had received called, “10 reasons why the “SABBATH” commandment was left out”, and I answers each ‘assumed’ reason.
What is very worrying to see today is how so many have no regard for obeying and guarding יהוה’s Sabbaths, which include His weekly 7th day and all His Feasts, and those who do not obey and guard His Sabbaths will be cut off!
In the next couple of examples we take note of that which will also cause one to be cut off:
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 7:20-27 “But the being who eats the flesh of the peace offering that belongs to יהוה, while he is unclean, that being shall be cut off from his people. 21 ‘And when a being who touches that which is unclean, of the uncleanness of man, or of the uncleanness of beast, or of any unclean swarming creature, and shall eat the flesh of the peace offering that belongs to יהוה, that being shall be cut off from his people.’ ” 22 And יהוהspoke to Mosheh, saying, 23 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Do not eat any fat, of bull or sheep or goat. 24 ‘And the fat of a dead body, and the fat of what is torn, is used for any purpose, but you do not eat it at all. 25 ‘For whoever eats the fat of the beast of which men bring as an offering made by fire to יהוה, even the being who eats it shall be cut off from his people. 26 ‘And do not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, of bird or of beast. 27 ‘Any being who eats any blood, even that being shall be cut off from his people.’ ”
In these 8 verses we see the root word כָּרַת karath – Strong’s H3772 being written 4 times in the form of וְנִכְרְתָה – veniḵrethah and it is very clear here what will cause one to be cut off.
In this chapter that is quoted from Wayyiqra/Leviticus 7 we take note that clear instructions are given in regards to the Torah of the slaughtering of peace offerings (verses 11-21).
The Peace offering speaks of our fellowship. Now that we have been atoned for and share in the Meal offering of Pěsaḥ, remembering our Messiah, we are now able to draw near to Elohim for now we have peace with Him!
Romiyim/Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been declared right by belief, we have peace with Elohim through our Master יהושע Messiah”
This offering represents our intimacy with Messiah and with one another as a body being knit together by Him!
The peace offering was to be eaten on the same day it was offered and none of it was to be left until morning. This clear instruction gives us a clear image of what the Pěsaḥ Meal is for us, as we have peace with Elohim through the Blood of Messiah, and know that in the instructions for Pěsaḥ that whatever is left of the lamb in the morning must be burned up!
Having said this we are able to get some insight into the reason why someone would be cut off when they eat the flesh of the peace offering while unclean!
Sha’ul teaches us in his letter to the Corinthians about how important it is for us to examine ourselves and make sure that we are clean before partaking in the Pěsaḥ meal:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 11:26-29 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Master until He comes. 27 So that whoever should eat this bread or drink this cup of the Master unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Master. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. 29 For the one who is eating and drinking unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Master.”
This text highlights for us the clear need to eat the Passover Meal in a clean state lest we find that we are cut off for doing so while still unclean!
In Wayyiqra/Leviticus 7:20-21 we see two verses warning us against this and in verse 25 we see the clear warning against eating the fat which belongs to יהוה and then in verse 27 we see the warning against eating blood!
The fat and blood are very important elements to יהוה and must not be brought into our bodies. Our bodies are living temples of יהוה and we are responsible for keeping them clean and keeping defilement far from us. This instruction is given to bless us and give us a long life. If we bring contamination into our temples, in disobedience to יהוה’s Word, then sickness, disease and even death may result. The choice is ours. Obedience brings the blessings whereas disobedience will get you cut off!
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19:7-8 “So if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable, it is not accepted, 8 and he who eats it bears his crookedness, because he has profaned the set-apart offering of יהוה, and that being shall be cut off from his people.”
The slaughtering of the peace offering may, if it was a vow or a voluntary offering, be eaten on the next day. However on the 3rd day is was not allowed to be eaten as this would render the offering to be regarded as unaccepted and would be regarded as unclean to him who brought it and anyone who ate of it would be guilty too!
This is perfect picture of the work of Messiah and the Appointed Times of Elohim. 2 days the peace offering would be acceptable to eat! יהושע, our High Priest, through His sacrifice and offering of Himself we have peace with Elohim and we are able to ‘eat’ of the flesh of this peace offering for 2 days only. Let me explain this wonderful picture being described here:
Kěpha tells us that we should not let one matter be hidden form us:
Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
Here is a wonderful clue into the great plan and appointed times of יהוה, for when this one matter is hidden from you then you will not understand His Plans and the fullness of His Word. However when understanding this then it makes great sense in that the Creation Week of 7 days, in itself, relates to us His plan for 7000 years and the sure promise of an eternal rest in Him! When understanding Creation we know clearly that ‘LIGHT’ came to be on the very first day and the LIGHT was good! On the 4th day He gave the appointment for the ‘lights’ and gave them for His Appointed Times (Feasts) and gave the rule in order to separate the light from the darkness. When we understand that which Kěpha tells us what should not be hidden from us, then we are able to clearly see how, יהושע, The LIGHT of the world, who was in the beginning, came and dwelt among us on the 4th day (4th Millennium) and through His sacrifice separated the light from the darkness and called us out of darkness into His marvellous light! Being our peace offering, we have been ‘clothed in Him’ and we have been permitted to eat of His Flesh for 2 days (5th and 6th Millennium). Anyone who is found to ‘eat’ or try to partake in sharing in His offering on the 3rd day (7Th Millennium) will bear his own crookedness for the peace offering is no longer accepted, as the 2 days are over! It is crucial for us to understand this, for we see the same picture being given at Mount Sinai when Yisra’ĕl was given ‘2 days’ to get ready and on the 3rd Day the were to be prepared to meet יהוה:
Shemoth/Exodus 19:10-11 “And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Go to the people and set them apart today and tomorrow. And they shall wash their garments, 11 and shall be prepared by the third day. For on the third day יהוה shall come down upon Mount Sinai before the eyes of all the people.”
2 Days to wash their garments and be prepared by the 3rd – this was the allocation for the Bride to prepare herself, for on the 3rd Day He came down before the eyes of all. This will once again happen, as we shall see that on the 3rd day (that is the 7th day or 7th Millennium) יהושע shall come down and every eye shall see Him and those who did not ‘eat of His flesh’ during the 2 days permitted will be found guilty and would bear their own crookedness, while those who have partaken in the Peace Offering of Messiah during the 2 days will be cleansed from all guilt and death shall no longer have mastery over them!
Let us look at more examples of the use of the Hebrew word: וְנִכְרְתָה – veniḵrethah:
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 22:3 “Say to them, ‘Any man of all your offspring throughout your generations who draws near the set-apart offerings which the children of Yisra’ĕl set apart to יהוה, while he has uncleanness upon him, that being shall be cut off from before Me. I am יהוה.”
This Chapter 22 of Wayyiqra/Leviticus highlights the need for a priesthood to be completely set-apart and not profane the Name of יהוה by treating the set-apart matters of Elohim as common.
The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘draw near’ is קָרַב qaraḇ – Strong’s H7126 which means ‘to come near, approach, appear, bring near, come forward, draw near’, which is primarily a sacrificial word and signifies the presenting of a sacrifice or offering to יהוה; and it is from this root verb that we get the Hebrew word for ‘offering’, which is קָרְבָּן qorban – Strong’s H7133. We are to draw near to Elohim, and He has given us His Sabbaths and Appointed Times where we can collectively, as His preparing Bride, draw near unto Him together as one! But woe to the one who draws near while he is unclean!
The Greek word used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak) in this verse for ‘draw near’ is ἐγγίζω eggizō – Strong’s G1448 which means, ‘to make near, come near, approach, draw near, come close’, and we see this word used in:
Ya’aqoḇ/James 4:8 “Draw near to Elohim and He shall draw near to you. Cleanse hands, sinners. And cleanse the hearts, you double-minded!”
Ya’aqoḇ was in essence giving us a reminder that we are to cleanse our hearts and minds when drawing near to Elohim and we learn how important it is for us to not bring in ‘uncleanness’ into fellowship but have hearts and minds that have been cleansed and set-apart unto Elohim. This in many ways is a warning against bringing in disruption, division and rebellion into the gathering of the set-apart ones on יהוה’s Appointed Times!
In fact we are to be on guard against any form of rebellion and division within the body and do our utmost to be at peace with all!
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 9:13 “But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and has failed to perform the Passover, that same being shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring the offering of יהוה at its appointed time – that man bears his sin.”
In this chapter we are given the instructions with regards to those who were unclean or had been on a long journey and were unable to eat the Pěsaḥ meal at the Appointed Time, as they were then permitted to perform the Pěsaḥ in the 2nd month. However, anyone who was not away on a journey or was clean and did not perform the Pěsaḥ at the right time would be cut off. This verse makes it very clear that anyone who fails to perform the Passover will be cut off!
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 15:30-31 “But the being who does whatever defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles יהוה, and that being shall be cut off from among his people. 31 ‘Because he has despised the word of יהוה, and has broken His command, that being shall certainly be cut off, his crookedness is upon him.’”
What is made abundantly clear in Scripture is the clear fact that there is no sacrifice for wilful sin, as the sin offering was required for unintentional sin that resulted from carelessness or laxness, teaching us the urgency we are to have when we come to the realisation that we have sinned, as we must repent immediately and turn to Messiah and confess to Him so that we may be cleansed. The being that does whatever defiantly reviles יהוה and shall be cut off because he has despised the Word of יהוה and broken His command!
The Hebrew phrase that is translated as ‘defiantly’ is בְּיָד רָמָה – ‘beyaḏ ramah’ which comes from the two root words: 1) יָד yaḏ – Strong’s H3027 and is a primitive root which is translated as, ‘hand, command, authority, power, tenons, side’, and the primary meaning of this noun is “the terminal part of the arm used to perform the functions of a man’s will.” We are able to therefore understand in the Hebraic mind-set that one’s hand symbolises what one does or one’s ‘works’.
2) רָמָה ramah – Strong’s H7411 is a verb that means, ‘to beguile, betray, deal treacherously with’. Some of the nouns that are derived from this root verb are used to describe one who is ‘lazy or idle’. The noun רְמִיָּה remiyyah – Strong’s H7423 which means, ‘deceit, treachery, slothful, slack, idle’ is derived from this verb too. What we can therefore see here is that the one who has idle or lazy hands acts defiantly, as they refuse to submit to doing what is commanded. The Hebrew phrase that is translated as ‘defiantly’ can therefore be understood as one who has a deceitful hand or one who ‘works deceit’, which can further be understood to be one who ‘works lawlessness’, and we know that those who ‘work lawlessness’ are not known by the Master and will be cast away and not enter into the reign of our Master and Elohim!
Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the heavens. 22 Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ 23 And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’”
What is clear in the Torah is that יהוה does not show partiality and therefore it does not matter whether the one who acts defiantly is a native born or a stranger! Whoever does whatever defiantly and works deceit ‘reviles’ יהוה and will be cut off! The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘reviles’ is גָּדַף gaḏaph – Strong’s H1442 which means, ‘to revile, blaspheme’, and is written in the ‘piel’ verb tense which expresses an intensive or intentional action! The verb ‘revile’ means, ‘to speak about (someone or something) in a very critical, abusive or insulting way’; and the word ‘blaspheme’ means, ‘to speak or address with irreverence’. The reason I am expanding on the meaning of these words is to highlight the clear reality of how there are so many today who are reviling יהוה and casting His Torah behind their backs by claiming that it is of no purpose any longer and lack a proper reverence for our Master and Elohim, as they scoff at the thought of walking according to the Torah and even speak very critical about it! They shall be cut off and told to depart from the Master!
We need to understand the urgency of walking steadfast and staying in the righteousness of Messiah as we meditate daily upon His Torah, for if we sin intentionally after coming to the knowledge of truth there remains no more sacrifice:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10: 26 “For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins”
There is no sacrifice for wilful sin!!!
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 19:13 “Anyone who touches the dead of a human being, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the Dwelling Place of יהוה. And that being shall be cut off from Yisra’ĕl. He is unclean, for the water for uncleanness was not sprinkled on him, his uncleanness is still upon him.”
Anyone who touches the dead of a human being and does not cleanse himself defiles the Dwelling Place of יהוה!
In Scripture we see that those who are in sin or who are lawless (that is to be without Torah) are in effect called “dead” as Ya’aqoḇ/James 2:26 tells us that belief without works is dead; so this can also be a picture of those who refuse to receive the provision that יהוה has made for all to return to the Covenants of Promise by the Blood of יהושע Messiah and reject the need to walk in the Torah.
As we come into contact with many ‘walking dead’, so to speak; and, in more ways than one, find ourselves ‘touching’ them, we better be sure to ‘cleanse ourselves’ so as to not defile the Dwelling Place of יהוה. Some of the ‘ways’ in which some may ‘defile’ His Dwelling Place today is by bringing in to the assembly all the bad attitudes and grumblings that they have picked up in the world and have not cleansed themselves from, by the renewing of their minds through the washing of His Word! When we come into the gathering of the set-apart ones with a defiled mind-set, for whatever reason, we bring defilement into His Dwelling Place and this we must not do. We have a huge responsibility to come together in a clean manner, making sure than we have cleansed ourselves and are able to be built up as living stones of the Dwelling Place of Elohim and not defile it, or else we may be cut off for our defilement!
Bemiḏbar/Numbers 19:20 “But the man who is unclean and does not cleanse himself, that being shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the set-apart place of יהוה – water for uncleanness has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.”
It is abundantly clear that the one who does not cleanse himself shall be cut off from the assembly. We are all called to work out our deliverance with fear and trembling and we are called to set-apartness and put off all that which defiles.
We have been given garments of righteousness and we are to keep our garments from any defilement! The fine linen (our garments) is the righteousnesses of the set-apart ones, and it is righteousness for us to guard to do all He has commanded us to (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:25), as we lovingly obey and guard to walk in the Torah of Elohim. If we do not diligently obey His voice and guard His Covenant then we may just be found to be incorrectly clothed and risk being thrown out and cut off:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 22:11-13 “And when the sovereign came in to view the guests, he saw there a man who had not put on a wedding garment, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not having a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the sovereign said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him out into the outer darkness – there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
This person in the above parable had ‘faith without works’ and did not have the true garments of fine linen that the Bride of the Lamb has:
Ḥazon/Revelation 19:7-9 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him praise, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife prepared herself.” 8 And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the set-apart ones. 9 And he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true words of Elohim.”
We have a wedding to get ready for and are to be cleanly dressed for; and as a Bride, who is properly preparing Herself, let us not neglect the need to keep clean and walk in His Torah as we allow His Word to continually wash us, giving us the clear ability to diligently obey His voice and guard His Covenant!
As we consider the use of the word וְנִכְרְתָה – veniḵrethah, in the examples that I have mentioned from the Torah, it becomes abundantly clear how urgent the True Remnant Bride must be in diligently obeying the Master’s voice and guarding His Covenant, and stay in our Master and Elohim so that we are not cut off for disobedience and lawlessness!
The last verse I want to highlight for the purposes of this message is from:
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 7:28 “But you shall say to them, ‘This is a nation that did not obey the voice of יהוה their Elohim, nor did they accept instruction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.”
This was a severe rebuke given to a rebellious people who had allowed the Truth to perish and be cut off from their lips!
As a result they did not accept any instruction and did not obey the voice of Elohim!
The Torah and Word of Elohim is not a worthless word, for it is our life and it is not far from us, as it is to be in our mouths and in our hearts – to do it! (Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 30:14)
As we draw closer to Yom Kippur – the Sabbath of Sabbaths – we must certainly examine ourselves and make sure that we diligently obey the voice of Elohim and guard His Covenant, in order that we can be the set-apart chosen priesthood and treasured possession that He has called unto Himself and covered by His own Blood.
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a set-apart nation, a people for a possession, that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light”
We are His treasured possession, His סְגֻלָּה segullah – Strong’s H5459 meaning ‘valued possession or property’!!!
For more on this, please see the notes of a message called, ‘SEGULLAH – TREASURED POSSESSION!’ which you can find on our site under the ‘sermons 2015/2016’ menu or by clicking the following link:
https://atfotc.com/index.php/our-sermons/sermons-2015-2016/640-segullah-treasured-possession
As the סְגֻלָּה segullah (uniquely valued and guarded treasure) of יהוה hear the call to do your utmost in diligently obeying His voice and guarding His Covenant, and have your lamp filled with oil as a wise maiden that awaits the return of Her King!
As we consider the danger and reality of being cut off as a result of disobedience, let us make sure that we are steadfast in being a faithful and trustworthy remnant that is continually hearing, guarding and doing the Torah and commands of Elohim, with much zeal and joy!
OBEY AND GUARD AND BE NOT CUT OFF!
He who has ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit says!!!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show you favour; יהוה lift up His face to you and give you Shalom!