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The Torah portion for this week is called ‘mishpatim’ – מִּשְׁפָּטִים which is the plural of the root word מִּשְׁפָּטִ ‘mishpat’ – Strong’s H4941which means ‘right-ruling or judgement, ordinances, regulations’ and comes from the primitive root verb שָׁפַט shaphat – Strong’s H8199 which means, ‘to judge, govern, rule, pronounce judgement, give law’.

There is only One who gives us the Law by which we must live and by which we are governed; and these judgements and right-rulings and regulations given by Him, we must DO!!!

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 33:22 “for יהוה is our Judge, יהוה is our Lawgiver, יהוה is our Sovereign, He saves us”.

After having heard יהוה speak the “Ten Words”, Yisra’ěl then asking Mosheh to hear from יהוה all that they were to receive, as instructions, and that they would do all that he would come and speak to them!

These are the right-rulings, or further instructions, that Mosheh came to deliver to the nation of Yisra’ĕl.

This further expands on the words that they had heard and expresses the rules for proper righteous living, as a nation. These ‘mishpatim’ are what we could call the ‘legal procedures’ or firm rulings that are non-negotiable!

In other words, this was how the community would be ruled and how any issues that would arise could be dealt with, in a prescribed way that is just and fair.

These are what we could call the ‘social laws’, that clearly teach us how to get on with each other and how we are to behave and how we are to live, according to how we have been created to be in יהושע.

Tehillah/Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and right-ruling are the foundation of Your throne; loving-commitment and truth go before Your face.”

Tehillah/Psalm 97:2 “Clouds and darkness all around Him, righteousness and right-ruling are the foundation of His throne.”

What we see here, is that righteousness and right-ruling/justice are the foundation of His throne!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘foundation’ comes from the root word מָכוֹן maḵon – Strong’s H4349 which means, ‘a fixed or established place, dwelling place, habitation, foundation’, which comes from the primitive root verb כּוּן kun – Strong’s H3559 which means, ‘ready, steadfast, established, firm, set up, determined, prepared’.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘righteousness’ is צֶדֶק tseḏeq – Strong’s H6664 which means, ‘righteous, just, righteousness’..

We are told in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 16:12 that a throne is established in righteousness and we therefore recognise, and acknowledge, that the throne of our Master and Elohim has been established, in righteousness; and therefore, as we are clearly called to walk in, and follow, our righteous Elohim and King, we recognise how we are to walk in righteousness, which is according to the clear right-rulings that He has given us through His Word!

These ‘mishpatim’, and righteousness, are the foundation of His Throne and this is ‘how’ He rightly rules His people.

It is of vital importance that we understand the rules which shows us how-to live in community; for these right-rulings guide us on how to form community, how to rule community and how we are to practically live together as children of the Most-High!

Our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, is our righteous King and as we stay in Him, we subject ourselves to His kingdom rules, in order to make sure that we are properly built up, in Him, as living stones, on the Rock and firm foundation of our belief!

We have a Righteous Judge and King!.

As a people who walk according to the Spirit, we are able to have full confidence in our Master, High priest and King, and are now able to faithfully serve our Master in the priestly order of Malkitseḏeq!

Malkitseḏeq was the ‘King of Shalĕm’, who Aḇraham was blessed by, and who Aḇraham paid tithes to – and is a clear shadow picture and reference to יהושע Messiah, our eternal Creator, Redeemer and King, who has no beginning or end!

This king of Shalĕm came out to the sovereign’s valley to meet with Aḇram after his victory of Keḏorlaʽomer and the sovereigns who were with him, and brought Aḇram bread and wine and blessed him..

The name מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Malkitseḏeq – Strong’s H4442 means, ‘my king is righteous’ which comes from the two words:

1) מֶלֶךְ Meleḵ – Strong’s H4428 meaning, ‘king’ and

2) צֶדֶק tseḏeq – Strong’s H6664 which means, ‘righteous, just, righteousness’!.

And so, here in the name of Malkitseḏeq, we have a clear and powerful picture of Messiah – our High Priest and King, who, by His own blood, has provided us with the True Bread and Wine, which we partake of in the Pěsaḥ meal and recognise how He has delivered us from the enemies hand and defeated death at the grave, removing the curse of the Torah, which is death, and nailing it (death) to the stake!.

The Hebrew word מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק Malkitseḏeq – Strong’s H4442 which means, ‘my king is righteous’, is pictured in the ancient pictographic script, as follows:.

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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. Knowing this letter represents ‘water’, we are also able to see how this can render for us the meaning of ‘washing’ or ‘cleansing’..

Lamed – לְ:

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..

Kaph – כִּ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as – – which is a picture of an open palm of a hand and can symbolise that to which submission is given – ‘under the hand’. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch, from the curved palm shape, picturing our praise to the One to whom we submit..

Yod – י

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

This also reveals to us a stretched-out arm and hand..

Tsadey – צֶ:

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’..

Dalet – דֶ:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as 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..

Quph – ק:

In the ancient script this letter is pictured as , 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. This can very well picture for us ‘consistency’ in guarding the commands without compromise, as we do not neglect to adhere to the commands of the House!.

From these 7 letters, we can see how Messiah has indeed become High Priest forever, in the order of Malkitseḏeq, and the individual pictures of this High Priest and King of Shalĕm, can render for us the meaning of:.

THE NATIONS THAT ARE LED BY THE HAND, AND SUBMIT TO, THE ONE WHO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US: FOR HE IS THE DOOR TO ETERNAL LIFE IN HIM!

Or

THE MIGHTY RIGHTEOUS KING TO WHOM WE SUBMIT AND GIVE OUR PRAISE, HAS REVEALED HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARM AND HAND, AND IS THE ONE WHO LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US, GIVING US ACCESS TO ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM!.

We, as children of the promise, are equipped to give our lives as a daily living sacrifice unto Elohim, as we faithfully submit to and walk in His commands and right-rulings!.

These מִּשְׁפָּטִים – mishpatim are the ‘boundaries’ by which we are to rightly judge the clear standards of obedient community life and we do not judge our children, one another or anything else, outside of these clearly prescribed boundaries!.

In contrast to the laws of our nation, which are constantly changing in order to remain ‘culturally relevant’, the laws/right-rulings of the Torah are unchanging and eternal, for His Word does not change! And that is why we can fully trust in and rely upon His unchanging Word..

The wisdom of יהוה, that is found in the Torah, is so boundless that it is applicable to all situations in all environments. The “re-New-ed” Covenant is not a “new” set of instructions, but rather, it is a new location, so to speak, of where the Torah would be written, having been renewed in the blood of Messiah:

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 31:33-34 “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, declares יהוה: I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. 34 And no longer shall they teach, each one his neighbour, and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know יהוה,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares יהוה. “For I shall forgive their crookedness, and remember their sin no more.”.

These verses are quoted in:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:16-17 “This is the covenant that I shall make with them after those days, says יהוה, giving My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them 17 and, their sins and their lawlessnesses I shall remember no more.”

There is nothing ‘old’ about His Covenant and sadly the misinterpreted terms of ‘old’ and ‘new’ covenant has hindered so many from grasping the need to hear the words of this very living covenant, that was renewed in the Blood of Messiah.

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 8:8 “For finding fault with them, He says, “See, the days are coming,” says יהוה, “when I shall conclude with the house of Yisra’ĕl and with the house of Yehuḏah a renewed covenant.”

This verse makes it clear – יהוה shall conclude (that is to fully complete) with ALL Yisra’ĕl – the 2 houses – Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah – a RENEWED covenant!

יהוה does not break covenant – but we did and He has renewed it!!!

The Greek word that is used here for ‘renewed’, which is often translated as ‘new’, is καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537 which means, ‘new, fresh, of a new kind, unprecedented’.

This verse is written in the Greek text as follows:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 8:8 “μεμφόμενος γὰρ αὐτοῖς λέγει· ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, λέγει Κύριος, καὶ συντελέσω ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον ᾿Ιούδα διαθήκην καινήν”.

What we must understand here, is that, in the Greek, this word καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537 does not mean ‘new’, as in ‘brand new’ and never having existed, but rather, it means that it is ‘new’, in its quality and not in its time!

The Greek word νέος neos – Strong’s G3501 means, ‘new, young’ and this word expresses that which is ‘new’ in time and reflects that which could be described as ‘brand new’ and not having been or existed before; whereas the Greek word καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537 denotes that which is not new in time, but is new as to the form or quality..

The Greek word νέος neos – Strong’s G3501 represents something as being chronologically new.

It denotes that which just came into being, whereas the Greek word καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537 denotes that which is qualitatively new or different.

It denotes that which is not necessarily new in time, but that which has existed for some time.

Then a change occurs in its quality or character, however slight, that makes it different, qualitatively, from what it was before.

This difference in quality makes it new, in the sense of καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537.

This difference makes it new, not in time, but in quality.

In other words, something could be a hundred years old and acquire a new and different quality, and it would be considered new in the sense of καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537..

I hope that you are understanding this, as it is vitally important for us to understand that the Covenant that we have been brought near to by the Blood for Messiah is a καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537 covenant, in that it is from of old, but has a new quality in that it is now not with the blood of bulls and goats, but rather the covenant that יהוה made with Yisra’ĕl is καινός kainos – Strong’s G2537 through the Blood of Messiah – and this was His Promise to us!

Verse 2 –

The first right-ruling that is given, is in regards to slavery – yet Yisra’ĕl had been set free from slavery!

This verse speaks of when you buy a ‘Hebrew’ servant.

This is not ‘slavery’ to a foreigner, but is speaking of a ‘servant’ within Yisra’ĕl.

One would become a servant of another if you needed to get out of debt and sold yourself to serve out that debt and therefore, you became the property of the one to whom you have been sold.

A Hebrew servant was not seen as a slave, in the way that they were slaves in Mitsrayim, but rather, were seen as one of the family that had to serve, as a servant, until they could be released from their duty or service.

The right-ruling given here, is that the servant would serve for 6 years and then be allowed to go free in the 7^th.

Being a slave in Aḇraham’s house was better than the condition of most other free men in his time. 

Think about the parable of the Prodigal son who realised that is was better for the slaves in his father’s house than for him as a slave in a pig sty, being enslaved to a foreigner!

While saying this, we must still realise that being a Hebrew servant was not taken lightly, because he was agreeing to do whatever his buyer would tell him to do for 6 years..

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 7:23 “You were bought with a price, do not become slaves of men.”

We were bought at a price – יהושע paid the price for us and now we are His bondservants and must not become the slaves of men, by selling ourselves into their hands, due to debt and enslavement to sin!

A slave would sell himself to pay off his debt – יהושע has paid our immeasurable debt – a debt that we could never work off – He paid in full – in order that we can be set free from the world and slavery to man and faithfully serve Him as a faithful servant. A Hebrew servant refers to one who has crossed-over and therefore does not refer to those who were captured in war etc..

Verse 3-4 – go out as you came in

If a servant got married with a wife given to him by his master while he was a slave, he could not leave with her!!!

This would have been a harsh lesson for slaves who were not their own!.

Verse 5-6 – I Love my Master

If a servant truly says ‘I love my master, my wife and my children, let me not go free’…. Then he shall serve him forever!

This is a profound statement being made here. One that we make, as true servants of Messiah, of our Master!

When we too have made the good confession and declare our love for our Elohim and Saviour then we serve Him forever – yet there was something that was to happen – let us see how that applies to us today!.

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

I Love my master, wife, children… notice that his master comes first and it is the same with us today:

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

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

Love for our Master comes first!!!

This does not in any way diminish our love for our spouse or children but reflects the true nature of our love that without such fervent love for our Master we are truly unable to show complete love in service to our family – but love for Him must always be our primary focus that will cause us to flow with a genuine love for others!.

In a declaration of our love for our Master – here it says, ‘if a servant truly says’!

This is vital for us to understand, as there are many today who say they love Elohim, yet their love is not expressed in obedience to His instructions and is not made vocally with a loud voice of faith!

This love speaks of a true and complete commitment to Him.

Those who claim to ‘stay’ in His house yet do not love Him by obeying Him; could then more appropriately classed as thieves and not as servants!.

This is a call for voluntary service – we have been bought at a price and it is for freedom that He has set us free, yet we choose to be His bondservant!

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

True love for our Master is seen in our submission and obedience to His commands!

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

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:11 “Beloved ones, if Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:19-21 “We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love Elohim,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one not loving his brother whom he has seen, how is he able to love Elohim whom he has not seen? 21 And we have this command from Him, that the one loving Elohim should love his brother too.”

The Greek word that is used here for ‘love’, here in Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:11, 19-21, is the verb ἀγαπάω agapaō – Strong’s G25 which means, ‘to love, welcome and entertain, be fond of, to be contented at or with a thing’..

While many may think that they know what love means, Scripture makes it very clear to us what ‘the love for Elohim’ is:

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

The Greek noun that is derived from the root verb ἀγαπάω agapaō – Strong’s G25 is ἀγάπη agape – Strong’s G26 which means, ‘brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence, love feasts’, which is translated as ‘love’ in Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:3.

This noun, ἀγάπη agape – Strong’s G26, is used 9 times in the 13 verses of Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 13!!!.

The Hebrew equivalent to ἀγάπη agape – Strong’s G26 is the noun אַהֲבָה ahaḇah – Strong’s H160 and comes from the root verb אָהֵב aheḇ – Strong’s H157 meaning. ‘to love, dearly loved, friend, friends, lover’..

Qorintiyim Aleph/ 1Corinthians 13 speaks of what love is, and makes it very clear that walking in love is THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY!

It is not simply a feeling or an emotion, as love is an action and the goal of the commands is love!

Love for Elohim, and love for our neighbours, are what the Torah and Prophets hang upon!

Please note that the Torah and the Prophets have not been “hung” and put to death!

Elohim forbid – No!

They hang on them – so that we are able to properly carry out and uphold His Torah, by walking in the love for Elohim and love for one another through total obedience to what has been written and instructed for us in His Torah and the prophets.

THE GOAL IS LOVE – this symphony of characteristics that we are to ensure we are doing our utmost at adding to our belief, as given by Kěpha, begins with belief and ends with love.

As we also consider that the fruit of the Spirit begins with ‘love’, then we can clearly summarise that our called-for walk of set-apartness, begins and ends with love, for love never fails!.

As we build on our faith in Messiah, we get to exhibit Him in our daily lives by being the salt and light of the earth as we do our utmost to continually add these qualities to each other in order to walk in love!

An obedient and active love that begins with the gift of belief we have been generously given, having escaped the corruption in the world, caused by lust, and continues to grow in order to be the ready and prepared bride for her returning Husband and King!

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

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

The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘love’, in Shemoth/exodus 21:5, is אָהַבְתִּי ahaḇtiy, which comes from the root word אֵהָב ahaḇ – Strong’s H157 and an interesting side note, is that the numerical value for this root word for love is ‘8’ – which, as we know, speaks of ‘fullness, complete and everlasting’!

Simply put, ‘love’ means ‘commitment’, and is not simply an emotional feeling of fondness, but it is an expressed commitment of the required action of obedience, with complete loyalty being shown to the One that the servant truly loves.

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

When a servant truly says:

This phrase speaks of one making a clear and definite declaration and choice, with the intent for others to hear it! If this be the case:

Bring him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl!

Now, let me make it clear that we do not pierce people’s ears today, but let us look at the process that was instructed, as this teaches us some vital lessons, on our complete confession and submission, as a servant unto our Master and Elohim..

Bring him to the door

יהושע tells us, in Yoḥanan/John 10:7, that He is the door of the sheep.

We who declare our love for our Master, who has bought us at a price, we come to Him and declare our desire to forever belong to Him.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘bring’ comes from the root word נָגַשׁ nagash – Strong’s H5066 which means, ‘to draw near, approach, come closer’ and it is written in the ‘hifil’ verb tense, which is the ‘causative form’, which highlights the causative action of the servants declaration of his love for his master!

Our declaration of true love for our Master should cause us to draw near to Him, reflecting an alignment of the declaration of our words with the proper acts of obedience!

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The Greek word that is used here in the LXX (Septuagint) for ‘bring’ is the word προσάγω prosagō – Strong’s G4317 which means, ‘bring near, lead to approach’, and this word helps us understand the clear significance of the DAY OF COVERINGS, as we are reminded that it is through the Blood of Messiah that we are enabled to draw near to Elohim and be cleansed as a Bride that is ready for Her returning Husband.

This Greek word is translated as ‘bring’, in:

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 3:18 “Because even Messiah once suffered for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to Elohim, having been put to death indeed in flesh but made alive in the Spirit”

The day of YOM HAKIPPURIM signifies the complete working of our Master’s blood that causes us to be able to draw near to Him is complete set-apartness and Truth!.

Messiah is Elohim and He is The Door that we are caused to draw near to, in our bold acknowledgement and declaration of our love for Him!!!.

Doorpost

Gates and doorposts are symbolic of the place where we are reminded of the right-rulings of Elohim, for it was at the gates of the city that the judges would sit and rightly rule the people, and it is on the door posts of our homes that we are to write the commands to remind us in our going out and coming in that we are to guard the commands of Elohim!

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘doorpost’ is מְזוּזָה mezuzah – Strong’s H4201 which means, ‘doorpost, gate post’.

This word is used 19 times in the Scriptures and is used for the gateposts of the city of Azzah (Gaza), which Shimshon carried away together with the gate, which is a symbolic picture of the authority of the enemy being carried away and being destroyed!

This word is used for the gateposts of the Tabernacle court, as well as the gateposts of the Temple that Shelomoh built, as well as those described by Yeḥezqěl in referring to the Millennial Temple..

In Shemoth/Exodus 12:7,22-23 we see how the Yisra’ĕlites applied the blood of the lamb to the doorposts of their homes. This word is also used to describe a servant who declared his love for his master after being released in the 7^th year.

If the servant desired to stay then he would be brought to the doorpost and his master would pierce his ear and the servant would belong to his master forever! We are also instructed to write the commands on our doorposts, as seen in:

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

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

While we can certainly see that the term מְזוּזָה mezuzah – Strong’s H4201 means doorpost, what we find today is that some people market, and sell, what they call a ‘mezuzah’, and what they are selling is a small handmade item that has a piece of paper rolled up inside with some of the commands written on them, and this they say can be attached to the doorposts of one’s home. While the idea may sound inviting, what we take note of here, is that the Hebrew word mezuzah simply means ‘doorpost’ and everyone has doorposts, and they do not need to buy a marketed product, but rather, just simply obey the Word and write the commands on their doorposts.

This can be done in many creative ways while not neglecting the command, as we have taken the 10 words of Elohim in Hebrew and written them with a wood burning tool on the doorposts of our front door, which certainly causes a great number of discussions that can be an opening for many to come to know the commands of our Elohim, while at the same time always being a reminder to our whole family that we are to always guard His commands, and that He protects of going out and coming in!.

Pierce the ear

Piercing the ear, speaks of the ability to hear and allow His word to be heard as it is, even as it pierces!

Too many today who claim to be servants of Messiah only want their ears ‘tickled’ and not ‘pierced’ with the Truth.

The piercing of the ear with an awl at the doorpost would be symbolic of the servant now belonging to the house and be submitted to the authority of the house. So many today are unwilling to submit to authority like this!

If they do not like what they ‘hear’, they, all too quickly, rush off to find another assembly, where they will hear what they like, yet never show true commitment and submission!

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

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

Our relationship to יהוה begins with the command to “hear“, so the ear is the appropriate place to bear this reminder of whom we have chosen to belong to.

To commit to the house means to commit to the rulings of the house, which are written on the doorposts—to say, “I hear what you are saying and will guard to do all I hear!”

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

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

The piercing of the ear to the doorpost, where the Torah is written, shows us the commitment to the commands of the House and to The Master יהושע who is the door, and was pierced for our transgressions! And it is to Him that we are to listen to and make our bold choice, to commit to living in obedience to Him – the Living Torah!.

He who has ears – that is – he who has ears that are ‘pierced’ and that have committed, by choice, to follow Messiah – let Him hear His right-rulings and live by them!

We must beware of ear ticklers, who have the appearance of a door worth going to, yet there are no commands upon them – and those seeking to simply have their ears tickled rather than pierced will gladly listen to a lawless doorpost!

A servant who declares his love for his Master, would have his ears pierced at the door and therefore turn his ear to his master, so to speak, while one who did not love his master would turn his ear away!.

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

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

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

As one looks intently into the mirror of the Word of Elohim, a question that many should to be asking themselves is whether they are having their ears tickled or pierced!.

The Greek word that is translated as ‘tickling’ is κνήθω knēthō – Strong’s G2833 which means, ‘to scratch, itch’ and is used only in Sha’ul’s letter to Timotiyos, being used as a metaphor for having the desire, or itch, to hear something that is soothing and pleasant to the ears!

Those who refuse to submit to the Torah of Elohim will seek out teachers that will soothe their itching ears with deception and lies..

Sha’ul warned Timotiyos that a time would come when this would happen, yet we also see this pattern being displayed by a rebellious people in the days of Yeshayahu when he was told to write the following down:

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

People who refuse to hear the Torah of יהוה seek out those who will speak to them what is smooth and prophesy deceits and not what is right!

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘smooth’ comes from the root word חֶלְקָה ḥelqah – Strong’s H2513 which means, ‘smooth part, smoothness, flattery, pleasant words’, and comes from the root verb חָלַק ḥalaq – Strong’s H2505 which means, ‘to be smooth, or being deceitful, and also means to flatter or seduce’.

This word also carries the understanding of, ‘giving misleading opinions or thought about what is true, often encouraging wrong behaviour’.

This root verb חָלַק ḥalaq – Strong’s H2505 is used to describe the smooth and flattering words of the strange woman in:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 28:9 “He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.”.

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

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

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

He hears the prayers of the righteous!.

The righteous are those who walk in and guard righteousness, and we are clearly told what righteousness is for us, in:

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

As servants of the Master who have been bought at a price and have declared our love for our Master we acknowledge and confess that we are now bondservants of the Most-High and shall serve Him forever:.

Sha’ul was a servant of Messiah:

Romiyim/Romans 1:1 “Sha’ul, a servant of יהושע Messiah, a called emissary, separated to the Good News of Elohim”

Ya’aqoḇ, the half-brother of Yahushua was a servant of Messiah:

Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:1 “Ya’aqoḇ, a servant of Elohim and of the Master יהושע Messiah, to the twelve tribes who are in the dispersion: Greetings.”

Kěpha was a servant of Messiah:

Kěpha Bět/2 Peter 1:1 “Shimʽon Kěpha, a servant and emissary of יהושע Messiah, to those who have obtained a belief as precious as ours by the righteousness of our Elohim and Saviour יהושע Messiah”

Yehuḏah was as servant of Messiah:

Yehuḏah/Jude 1:1 “Yehuḏah, a servant of יהושע Messiah, and brother of Ya’aqoḇ, to those who are called, set-apart by Elohim the Father, and preserved in יהושע Messiah”.

As a servant of יהושע Messiah we declare our commitment to hear – guard and do!

Timotiyos Bět /2 Timothy 2:24 “And a servant of the Master should not quarrel but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient when wronged”.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 44:1 “But now hear, O Ya’aqoḇ My servant, and Yisra’ĕl whom I have chosen.”

The Hebrew phrase that is translated as ‘but now hear’, is written as follows – וְעַתָּה שְׁמַע – ‘v’attah shama’ – where we see the following root words being used:

1) עַתָּה attah – Strong’s H6258 which means ‘now, at this time’ and with the conjunction of the letter – וְ – ‘waw’, it renders the meaning ‘and now’ or ‘but now’, and here, the emphasis on the call to ‘hear now’ is very clear, as the word that is translated as ‘hear’ is

2) the root word שָׁמַע ‘shama’ – Strong’s H8085, which carries the meaning to not just simply to hear, but rather to ‘listen with attention, comprehend and discern, give heed to what is being spoken’..

Understanding our need to be a people who are listening attentively, and giving heed to His Word, in a time when most are not, let us recognise that this is certainly the time to ‘now’ be a hearing and discerning and obeying people!

The call to hear, is given to His called out and chosen servants who have ears to hear..

The root word that is used here, in the Hebrew, for servant is עֶבֶד eḇeḏ – Strong’s H5650 which means, ‘servant, slave, bondservant’, and, as a child of Yisra’ĕl, which we have become by the Blood of Messiah, we are servants of יהוה:

Wayyiqra/Leviticus 25:55 “Because the children of Yisra’ĕl are servants to Me, they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Mitsrayim. I am יהוה your Elohim.”.

The Hebrew word עֶבֶד eḇeḏ is used 800 times in the Tanak (O.T.) and is used as a noun and comes from the primitive root verb עָבַד aḇaḏ – Strong’s H5647 meaning, ‘to work, serve, observe, do the work, cultivate, worship’ and carries the understanding of ‘expending considerable energy and intensity in performing a task or function’ – in other words – ‘giving it your all’!.

In the ancient pictographic script, the words עֶבֶד eḇeḏ – Strong’s H5650 and עָבַד aḇad – Strong’s H5647 are pictured as follows:

Ayin – עֶ:

The original pictograph for this letter is and is pictured as ‘an eye’ and represents the idea of ‘seeing and watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’, as the eye is the window of knowledge

Beyt – בֶ:

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

Dalet – ד:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as 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..

When we look at this word, in the ancient script for a servant, or one who serves, we can see that it speaks of:

ONE WHO WATCHES AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE!.

And this is what our Master calls us to do!!!

And when we consider that יהושע Messiah is The Door, then we further see our need to continually be looking at Him and praising Him as we diligently are serving in spirit and truth, guarding to do all His commands – and this is how we too keep watch over the House/Body of Messiah with true joy!

The equivalent Greek word for servant is δοῦλος doulos – Strong’s G1401 and is translated as, ‘slave, servant, bondservant, bondslaves – both men and women’.

In the Greek mind-set, where there is the service/duty of a ‘doulos’ (slave), and obedience required by a slave, the right of self-government is seen to be set aside and another’s takes precedence of one’s own, with the thinking that you have no right to govern self as another governs you by their standards.

Now, while we must understand that the Greek city state was very dependent upon the ‘service’ of its citizens – they gave ‘service’ with all their powers and often even with life itself; however, what is repudiated in the Greek mind, is ‘service’ after the manner of the ‘doulos’; who not only has absolutely no possibility of evading the tasks that have been laid upon him, but he also has no right of personal choice, but must rather do what another would have done and refrain from doing what another would not have done!

In the ‘doulos’ the free Greek world always sees its own antitype – and in the ‘doulos’ the concept of performing the duties of a slave it sees the perversion of its own nature of freedom. Hence the Greek mind-set can only reject and scorn the slightest resemblance to that of a slave.

With the ‘Greek concept’ of Elohim, there is in fact no place for this word ‘doulos’ being used as an expression of religious relationship and service..

So, in essence, what I am trying to tell you is simply this – to the Greek mind, serving according to the manner of a ‘doulos’ is not on – they will serve, yes, as long as it fits in with their needs and they are in agreement with the requirements; and in doing so may even respond saying,

“I will do what you ask, if it makes sense to me and I can fit it in to my way of thinking”;

and naturally, the Greek mind-set will resist the concept of

“I will submit and obey and do what you command, even if I do not understand”..

I find this very fascinating, as it certainly begins to uncover and explain the resistance by so many to submit and serve Elohim according to His Torah!

One of the major reasons for this resistance of the concept of ‘doulos’ is that this word δοῦλος doulos – Strong’s G1401 comes from the word δέω deō – Strong’s G1210 which means, ‘to bind, tie, put in chains, prisoner’.

Certainly, this concept of seeming ‘enslavement’ is greatly rejected by the Greek mind-set who claims its own freedom and understandably rejects the notion to be commanded to obey the Torah!

I clearly remember being sharply rebuked by a man, a few years ago, who plainly stated that whenever I would say, “You must do…” or “You have to…” in any message that I gave, he would resist that ‘tone’ and reject the instruction and say that I cannot tell him that he must do anything!!!

Well, now I have come to understand just how the effect of Greek thinking has penetrated many minds in their approach to the Truth and, as a result, refuse to become true servants, or a ‘doulos’, of Messiah!.

Now, while this word or concept is greatly rejected by a Greek mind-set, we see in the Greek text very clearly that this word is used 127 times in the Renewed Writings (N.T.)

In fact, we are told that Messiah took the form of a ‘doulos’:

Pilipiyim/Philippians 2:7 “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and came to be in the likeness of men.”

In the Hebraic mind-set, becoming a bondservant of Messiah is not a burden, in fact, it is a burden to not become one, and we recognise that we are no longer our own and that He has bought us at a price and we have made the choice to serve. He makes it clear for us – choose life or death – we choose life and with that choice comes the responsibility to live as He commands and give an account of how we have lived and managed His property when He returns..

When we make the choice to become a bondservant of Messiah forever, we are in a way relinquishing our own ‘right to choose’ any other options to serving in our own manner or way of understanding as we accept by choice to submit and obey whatever He commands us to!

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

It is to the ‘doulos’ of Messiah, that the Ḥazon/Revelation of Messiah has been given, in order to show us what must take place speedily (Ḥazon/Revelation 1:1); and it is the ‘doulos’ of Messiah that is sealed on the forehead (Ḥazon/Revelation 7:3); and it will be the ‘doulos’ of Messiah that will serve Him (Ḥazon/Revelation 22:3)..

As we recognise who our Master is then may we be a people who recognise that we have chosen to serve and we are to be found serving with great joy and not be found to be lazy in our duty and responsibility that He has given us as He has given us all collectively many talents for which He expects a 100% harvest of fruitfulness back. How are you serving the Master, while He has gone on a journey?

Have you been struggling with the Greek mind-set of resistance to submit and obey to the Master’s will or do you embrace the true Hebraic mind-set of our faith in Messiah, our Master and are giving your all?

You cannot serve Elohim and mammon!!!.

We are no longer ‘slaves/servants’ or a ‘doulos’ of sin, but have been set free from sin so that we are now a ‘doulos’ (still a servant/slave) to righteousness and we must serve our Master with our all – the very thing Sha’ul speaks about in Romiyim/Romans 6 – he was, among other things, explaining the different mind-set approaches to being a ‘doulos’!!!

Romiyim/Romans 6: 16-18 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves servants for obedience, you are servants of the one whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 17 But thanks to Elohim that you were servants of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became servants of righteousness.”

You are a ‘doulos’ of the one you obey, even if it of self, but we who were a ‘doulos’ of sin, obeyed from the heart that form of teaching!!!

What is written upon our hearts?

The Torah – we have obeyed the teaching of the Torah – the very Word we have been entrusted with as a ‘doulos’ of The Master and are now free from sin, equipped to be a good and faithful ‘doulos’ of righteousness, which is to guard to do all our Master commands us to do!!!.

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, receiving an unshakeable reign, let us hold the favour, through which we serve Elohim pleasingly with reverence and awe”.

BACK TO SHEMOTH/EXODUS 21

Verse 7-11 – female slave

Here we see the protection of the female, who is given as a servant or is engaged – she must not be neglected in any way at all.

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 15:17 tells us that a female servant can have her ear pierced too, just as the male servant.

Verse 7 tells us that when a man sells his daughter as a servant she does not go free as male servants do – this was possibly due to the reason he would sell his daughter to eventually become the recipient’s wife which explains verse 8. If she has become displeasing in his eyes she shall be ransomed and not sold off!!

יהושע ransomed us – an enslaved bride who had been deceived, and was sold into slavery!

Verse 9 – if she was engaged to her master’s son, she would be treated as a daughter and if his son took another wife, then she would still be cared for and not have her marriage rights diminished. He would be required to supply here food, clothing and shelter or else she could go free.

We have been engaged to the Son and our marriage rights are preserved in Him as יהושע clearly tells us that we are not to worry about what we shall eat, what we shall wear or where we shall sleep!!!

Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” .

Verse 10-11 – If ‘he’ – that is ‘the son’ takes another wife, then the marriage rights of the first woman to whom he had been engaged shall not be diminished, and if he does not give her food, clothing and shelter then she is free to leave without silver.

What we see here is a shadow picture of a sure promise of our betrothal to the Master – for He Himself tells us not to worry about food, clothing and shelter, for He has bought us and redeemed us, giving us full assurance of His complete provision forever! His Word does not fail, and therefore we need never fear having to leave His presence without redemption!.

Verse 12-14 – if you murder you will be put to death!

The Hebrew word translated here, in verse 12, as ‘strikes’ is –נָכָה naḵah – Strong’s H5221 which means ‘strike, make physical contact with a blow, cause the destruction of an object, strike with the mouth of the sword, kill’.

Pre-meditated murder was punishable by death, but if you killed by accident then a place of refuge would be a place to flee to where right-ruling would decide whether the killer was guilty of murder or not!

Cities of refuge were allocated when they entered the Promised Land where an accused murderer could flee to and be kept safe for trial.

In the Promised Land, 48 cities were to be given to the Lěwites and 6 of those were to be cities of refuge for a man-slayer to flee to.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘refuge’ comes from the root word מִקְלָט miqlat – Strong’s H4733 meaning, ‘refuge, asylum’.

This noun denotes the place of refuge from the ‘revenger of blood’ and is used 20 times in Scriptures and is always used in connection with the cities that were appointed to provide asylum for those guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

The one who is guilty of murder was to be put to death, while initially those not guilty of homicide could seek asylum at the altar, while those who killed with premeditation should be dragged from the altar and executed!

If someone was guilty of acting presumptuously against his neighbour in order to kill him by treachery, he could not even find refuge at the slaughter place of the Most-High!.

Verse 15 – Respect your father and mother and do not strike them!

Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 1:8-9 “And we know that the Torah is good if one uses it legitimately, 9 knowing this: that Torah is not laid down for a righteous being, but for the lawless and unruly, for the wicked and for sinners, for the wrong-doers and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers”

Striking your father or mother is a serious offense and is classed with the most wicked of offenses, for which the Torah will come down upon you greatly!.

The Hebrew word for ‘mother’ is אֵם em – Strong’s H517 and means, ‘mother, point of departure’.

This word is used 202 times and is always used to express mother, except for once when it is used in:

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 21:21 “For the sovereign of Baḇel shall stand at the parting of the way, at the fork of the two ways, to practise divination. He shall shake the arrows, he shall ask the household idols, he shall look at the liver.”

Here the word that is used primarily for ‘mother’ is translated here as ‘the parting’, meaning the ‘source of departure’, and in a clear metaphoric sense we are able to see that the sovereign of Baḇel standing at ‘the parting’ of the way in order to practice divination and witchcraft is a clear picture of departing from the source of nourishment and training of a mother in order to resort to abominable matters that will cause a mother grief!.

Ḥawwah is figuratively referred to the אֵם em (mother) of all living in Berěshith/Genesis 3:20.

Deḇorah is referred to as the אֵם em (mother) of Yisra’ĕl in Shophetim/Judges 5:7 in a time when leadership had ceased, and she arose as a mother!.

The term ‘mother’, is also used figuratively, in describing a city as a mother to its inhabitants and the clear rebuke that is given to her for causing her inhabitants to turn away from the right ruling of Elohim is very clearly expressed. (Yeshayahu/Isaiah 50:1 // Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 16:44 // Hoshěa/Hosea 2:2).

As one studies the contexts in which this term for mother – אֵם em – is used we are able to glean some further insight as to the role and duties of a mother, as portrayed both literally and figuratively in The Word!.

A mother is:

A comforter:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 66:13 “As one whom his mother comforts, so I comfort you. And in Yerushalayim you are comforted.”

 A Teacher:

The Hebrew word used for ‘seek’ is דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 means, ‘to resort to, seek out, ask, avenge, consult, investigate, search carefully, make inquiry, question’.

Now, we see that this word carries more than simply just to take a quick peek, but rather emphasises the need to be digging deep in seeking out carefully and with great diligence, through consultation, and asking..

When we are told to ‘seek’ first the Kingdom – we must recognise that this is not an instruction that gives the notion that you look at it and now that you have seen it you can go on your merry way – NO!

To seek His Kingdom requires hard work and discipline each and every day. Here we are being clearly instructed to ‘seek’ יהוה and His strength. We need to ‘seek’ Him and this implies an inquiry after knowledge, advice, and insight into any situation or circumstance we find ourselves in..

A word that is derived from דָּרַשׁ darash is מִדְרָשׁ miḏrash – Strong’s H4097 means, ‘a study, record, writings or story, commentary’.

A ‘midrash’ speaks of the ability to search out something and often refers to that which is written to teach, and later became known as a Hebrew word relating to the in-depth study of the word, often done together.

The point is that we are to be a people who are earnestly growing in wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures so we can remember what we look like when we look intently into the mirror of His Word!

Ěḵah/Lamentations 3:25 “יהוה is good to those waiting for Him, to the being who seeks Him.”

The Hebrew word used for ‘right-ruling’ is מִשְׁפָּט mishpat – Strong’s H4941 – ‘judgement, ordinance, regulations’ and comes from the word שָׁפַט shaphat – Strong’s H8199 – meaning, ‘to judge, govern, rule, pronounce judgement, give law’.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 33:22 “for יהוה is our Judge, יהוה is our Lawgiver, יהוה is our Sovereign, He saves us”

There is only One who gives us the Law by which we must live and by which we are governed and these judgements and right-rulings and regulations given by Him we must DO!!!.

Reprove the oppressor:

The Hebrew word used here for ‘reprove’ is אָשַׁר ashar – Strong’s H833 meaning, ‘to go straight, go on, advance, blessed’, and when written in the ‘piel’ form can carry the meaning, ‘to go straight, lead on, set straight, righten, correct and reprove’..

The Hebrew word for ‘oppressor’ is חָמוֹץ ḥamots – Strong’s H2541 which means, ‘ruthless, oppressed’, which comes from the primitive root verb חָמֵץ ḥamets – Strong’s H2556 – which means, ‘to be sour or leavened, or that which is leavened’.

In other words, we are to set straight and correct that which has been leavened through sin and falsehood and remove the leaven of sin from our midst!.

Defend the fatherless:

The Hebrew word used here for ‘defend’ is שָׁפַט shaphat – Strong’s H8199 meaning, ‘judge, to judge, to govern, rule, ruler, execute judgement’..

The Hebrew word translated as ‘fatherless’ is יָתוֹם yathom – Strong’s H3490 which means, ‘fatherless, orphan’.

The commands are very clear – act as a proper law-giver and judge for those who do not have a father to do so!

Help the fatherless to have proper government of Torah exercised in their lives and be the one to rule them and judges them as a father, who is head of the home, would!.

Plead for the widow:

The Hebrew word used here for ‘plead’ is רִיב riḇ – Strong’s H7378 meaning, ‘to strive, contend, argue, complain, find fault, quarrel’, and in the tense that it is written in it also carries the understanding/meaning of conducting a legal case or lawsuit..

The Hebrew word used here for ‘widow’ is אַלְמָנָה almanah – Strong’s H490 which means, ‘widow, desolate house, desolate place’, and comes from the word אַלְמָן alman – Strong’s H488 which means, ‘forsaken, widowed’, which comes from the root verb אָלַם alam – Strong’s H481 meaning, ‘put to silence, to bind, become speechless’..

What is clear here is the need to restore to doing what is good and right in יהוה’s eyes is to strive and contend for those who have been forsaken and put to silence as they have no authoritive voice that is able to speak and contend on their behalf!.

Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:27 “Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 7:5-7 “For if you truly make your ways and your deeds good, if you truly do right-ruling between a man and his neighbour, 6 if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other mighty ones to your own evil, 7 then I shall let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.”.

The orphan, generally associated with the sojourner and the widow, is the object of special concern.

The quality of one’s devotion is measured by how one treats the widow and the orphan. Justice is especially due to them:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 24:17 “Do not twist the right-ruling of a stranger or the fatherless, nor take the garment of a widow.”.

Often the stranger, fatherless, widow or poor were overlooked and neglected and rulings were made that excluded them from receiving a fair right-ruling and such ‘twisting’ of the Torah is sin! Many will try to ‘twist’ the Word to suite themselves and as a result they do not recognise that it is to their own destruction..

The Torah makes it very clear that there is only One Torah for all and it applies to all and no partiality can be made, lest the rich end up oppressing the poor and needy through twisting right-ruling and giving them no ability to be rightly defended by the Truth!

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 24:19-21 “When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, do not go back to get it. Let it be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow, so that יהוה your Elohim might bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 “When you beat your olive trees, do not examine the branch behind you. Let it be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean behind you. Let it be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.”

Here, in these 3 verses, we see that provision is clearly made for the stranger, fatherless and widow.

Once barley was harvested, or olives and grapes were gathered, the farmer was not permitted to go back and glean over his fields again, but was to leave it for the needy of the land and this would, in fact, be a further provision for them that worked on your land, remembering that we are not slaves anymore but take care of each other in all we do..

The fatherless, stranger and widow that worked in the field would also have ‘payment’ from the field, so to speak, and this shows יהוה’s clear provision for all, with the clear instruction that would guard against the sin of greed and lust!.

Bo’az kept this command and in fact made a special effort to go beyond this command by purposefully bundling a leaving for Ruth much to glean; and we see that because of this we see how Ruth and Na’omi was provided for:

Ruth 2:16 “Rather, draw out from the bundles for her, and leave it for her to glean, and do not restrain her.”.

This gleaning of the field and not going back over it again for self is a picture of the true testing of one’s heart towards those in your midst that do not have.

And we can even recognise the principle of how when we make much available for others that much will be given back as Elohim blesses the work of your hands!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “And this: He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he who sows on blessing shall also reap on blessing. 7 Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not of grief or of necessity, for Elohim loves a joyous giver. 8 And Elohim is able to make all favour overflow toward you, that you, always having all you need in every way, have plenty for every good work.”.

Yoḥanan Aleph/ 1 John 3:16-18 “By this we have known love, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his tender affections from him, how does the love of Elohim stay in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”.

We are able and called to do as commanded here as we remember that we were slaves and have been bought at a price and recognise that Messiah laid down His life for us, showing us that we too ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and be earnest in our caring for one another..

Having the poor and needy among us always, gives us the opportunity to express true love and obedience to His Torah as we do not neglect the stranger, the fatherless or the widow in our midst..

Taking care of the widows and orphans is a clear command and blessings come as a result of walking in obedience to this command.

In the literal sense, when there is a widow or orphan among us who is not properly cared for and they cry out against us, we may suffer the consequence of our families becoming fatherless..

Metaphorically, in the spiritual sense, if husbands forsake their responsibilities in their own homes, toward their wives and children, they are indeed making them spiritual widows and orphans, and when they cry out against the injustice, יהוה’s anger will burn against us..

The Word makes it very clear that lives will be taken for any acts of injustice against widows and orphans, and harshness against the poor will lead to poverty in our own lives.

This is a very sobering thought that we ought to carefully consider as it is very clear as we go through these right-rulings that how we treat our families and those around us affects our very lives..

There are sadly far too many widows and orphans in our midst today, even though the husband or father may be physically still alive – spiritually he is dead and absent, and we as community are to take care of those spiritual widows and orphans too, while doing our utmost to get the husband and father to take up his mandated role as designated by יהוה..

The Greek word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint) for ‘widow’ is χήρα chēra – Strong’s G5503 and we see Sha’ul giving Timotiyos some very clear and detailed instructions, in regards to widows and the called for care for true widows, as seen in:.

Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 5:3-16 “Respect widows who are truly widows. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to treat their own house reverently, and to repay their parents. For this is good and acceptable before Elohim. 5 And she who is truly a widow, and left alone, trusts in Elohim and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. 6 But she who is living in luxury is dead while she lives. 7 And command these matters, in order for them to be blameless. 8 And if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the belief and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Do not enrol a widow unless she is over sixty years of age, having been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the feet of the set-apart ones, if she has assisted the afflicted, if she has closely followed every good work. 11 But refuse the younger widows, for when they become headstrong against the Messiah, they desire to marry, 12 having guilt because they set aside their first belief. 13 Moreover, they learn to be idle, going about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, speaking what is improper. 14 So I resolve that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, giving no occasion to the adversary for reviling. 15 For already some have turned aside after Satan. 16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let such assist them, and do not let the assembly be burdened, in order to assist those who are truly widows.”.

From our more in-depth look, at the need to defend the fatherless and plead for the widows, we are able to recognise how important it is for us, as a functioning body of Messiah, to be properly aware of the expected responsibilities that the body has, toward those who do not have the ability to defend or plead for themselves, as they lack the proper authoritive role in the home that is supposed to be governed by the Torah of Elohim!.

And true widows and orphans do not, nor are they designed to, have the capacity to be the authoritive figure in the home, for which the command is clear – make sure that widows and orphans are judged, and governed rightly and that they are given assistance in having their voices heard in order for their needs to be met so that they too can function, not as forsaken, but as true loved ones of the Most High!.

These right-rulings for community living are crucial and will help us stay healthy is we abide by them:

Galatiyim/Galatians 5:14-15 “For the entire Torah is completed in one word, in this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 And if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”.

Verse 25 –

The command to take care of the poor, widows and orphans is followed by the clear instruction to not take advantage of a brother in need. When you lend him money, do not charge interest – this does not show love and concern but rather is selfish for self-gain as today many see lending money as an opportunity to make more rather than being able to help your brother when it is in your capacity to do so now!

Luqas/Luke 6:30-35 “And give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away what is yours do not ask it back. 31 “And as you wish men should do to you, you also do to them in the same way. 32 “And if you love those loving you, what favour have you? For sinners, too, love those loving them. 33 “And if you do good to those doing good to you, what favour have you? For even sinners do the same. 34 “And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive back, what favour have you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 “Rather, love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting none in return. And your reward shall be great, and you shall be sons of the Most High. Because He is kind to the thankless and wicked ones.”.

Tehillah/Psalm 15:1-5 “יהוה, who does sojourn in Your Tent? Who does dwell in Your set-apart mountain? 2 He who walks blamelessly, and does righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. 3 He has not slandered with his tongue, He has not done evil to his neighbour, nor lifted up a reproach against his friend; 4 in whose eyes a reprobate one is despised, but he esteems those who fear יהוה; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 he has not put out his silver at interest, and has not taken a bribe against the innocent. He who does these is never moved.”.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 28:8 “He who increases his possessions by interest and profit gathers it for him who shows favour to the poor.”.

Verse 26-27

יהושע tells us that if someone takes our outer garment, that we should not withhold our inner garment as well, for this will cause a true brother to be ashamed of what he has done and rise to the occasion of obeying this command..

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 6:7 says that we are already at fault when we have lawsuits among us – why not be wronged or cheated. If we take a pledge from our brother who owes us something and he does not have the means to sleep or eat and has no food, while we sit in the comfort and luxury of abundant provision, we should not withhold the only means he has to survive and return it by night and let him come in the day and again return it at night!

This would facilitate the one who owes you money to work at paying you back so that he does not have to come each day and give you a pledge. By all means make a way for him to pay back but do not allow him to be unable to be covered at night!.

On another perspective, the Torah can be seen as our outer garment and that which covers us while we may walk in dark and perilous times and we should not cause our brother to throw off the keeping of Torah, in order to pay off his debt! We must ensure that justice and right-ruling are upheld and maintained on every level!

Verse 28

Do not revile an elohim or curse a ruler of your people.

The word used here can also refer to judges – so the instruction here is clear – do not make light of those who are your leaders and do not curse them!.

Showing any form of disrespect toward those whom יהושע has appointed over us breaks down community and spreads like yeast that infects!

The word is clear on how you are to deal with an accusation against an elder.

Timotiyos Aleph/1 Timothy 5:19 “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.”

Mattithyahu/Matthew 18:15-17 “And if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him, between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 “But if he does not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be established.’ 17 “And if he refuses to hear them, say it to the assembly. And if he refuses even to hear the assembly, let him be to you like a gentile and a tax collector.”

It also tells us to not revile Elohim, nor those He has placed over you!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:21 “My son, fear יהוה and the sovereign; do not mingle with those who change”.

Verse 29 – Do not delay to give

The instruction is clear – do not procrastinate about giving your tithes and your first fruits – for when you do you will neglect it altogether!

Too many wait to settle all their bills and then see what is left to give; and יהוה says do not delay..

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘delay’ comes from the root verb אָחַר aḥar – Strong’s H309 which means, ‘to remain behind, tarry, delay, defer, slack, hesitate’.

This word is translated as ‘staying long’ in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:30 when describing those who have contentions, complaints, hurts, woes and sorrows.

They are the ones who ‘stay long’ at the wine and get drunk, so to speak, trying to drown their arrows and complaints away and neglect to face up to what must be faced and done.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 23:29-30 “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who feels hurt without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those staying long at the wine, those going in to search out mixed wine.”.

The reason for me highlighting these verses and expanding on the idea of ‘delaying’ is to simply highlight a clear problem that many people face today, as they are delaying obedience, as they stay long at that which confuses and corrupts.

The term that is used for mixed wine, is believed to be wine that is mixed with herbs or spices and represents a concoction or cocktail of sorts. From a figurative point of view, we can see how this can refer to mixed theologies that many are staying long at and becoming drunk in, as they are no longer able to rightly divide the Truth and separate the set-apart from the profane as they become drunk on lawless wormwood teachings of the whore..

Due to corrupted mixed theologies of falsehood that are being taught as teachings of man that are to be followed, many are delaying the obedience to give as they are required to, as they are not putting יהוה first but are simply seeking out ways to delay what is necessary and excuse it away under an assumed reason they deem to be valid enough for them, when it clearly goes against the instructions of Elohim..

Let me set forth a simple example:

If someone has R10, 000.00 and they know that they ought to give at least R1, 000.00 and, in the process of contemplating their giving, they delay to give it, for various reasons, and then find themselves having to quickly pay all their expenses and are left, with say, R1, 500.00! It then becomes a lot harder to give the R1, 000.00, after having delayed the required obedience to giving, as it would now only leave them with R500.00 and so, when seeing what little is left, they would probably hesitate to give, thinking they cannot afford to and, in effect, walk in rebellion.

Delayed obedience is simply disobedience!

Do not delay – enough said!.

CHAPTER 23

Verse 1 & 7 – do not bear false witness

Verse 1 tells us very clearly that we are not to bring a false report.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘false’ is שָׁוְא shav – Strong’s H7723 and means, ‘falsehood, lies, emptiness, worthlessness’, and is also a word that is translated in Scripture as ‘nought’..

We take note that the first time that this word is used, is in the command to not bring the Name of Elohim to ‘nought’, which is what the false prophets and dreamers of dreams are doing, through their false teachings and deceitful traditions that nullify the need to seek יהוה and guard His commands and walk in His teaching and instruction!

Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 10:2 “For the household idols spoke emptiness, the diviners saw falsehood, and relate dreams of deceit, they comfort in vain. Therefore they have wandered about like sheep. They are afflicted, for there is no shepherd.”

As a result of idolatry, that has been highly promoted by false prophets and diviners of evil, many have wandered away from the truth and are left stranded without a Shepherd who is able to properly keep them from falsehood if they simply follow the Good Shepherd and stay away from ear tickling falsehood..

Tehillah/Psalm 26:4 “I have not sat with men of falsehood, nor do I enter with pretenders.”

To ‘sit’ is Hebrew is often used as an idiom for learning and what becomes clear here is that we are not to learn the worthless ways of the world, but we are to sit at the Master’s feet and learn His ways so that we can walk in complete set-apartness before Him!.

STOP LEARNING FROM FALSE SOURCES

THAT NULLIFY, AND BRING TO NOUGHT, THE TORAH!.

This root word שָׁוְא shav – Strong’s H7723 can also be a reference to idol worship, which is performed in the lifting up, and celebrating the pagan rooted feasts of, sun-worship, which is a partaking of the table of demons; and we cannot partake of the Table of the Master and the table of demons!

Those who lift up their lives to falsehood and the traditions of lies, are unable to enter into the presence of יהוה, due to a defiled heart and dirty hands and feet, and therefore the workers of lawlessness will be cast outside where the dogs and idolaters are!

Do not lie and speak falsehood against another – do not even entertain thoughts of falsehood toward another and do not support or entertain false rumours.

Most of the things that we hear, are often not as they should be as they are being falsely presented to us through second-hand parties and we are to be careful what we do with what we hear!

Even if what is being said is true – what right do we have to spread it!!!.

When we entertain false reports and spread them, we are, in a way, putting our hand with the wrong in order to be a malicious witness!

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘ruthless’ comes from the root word חָמָס ḥamas – Strong’s H2555 which means, ‘violence, wrong, malicious’.

What is interesting to take note of, is that the Arabic term ‘hamas’ is the term used of the Islamic militaristic terrorist group which uses politics and violence to achieve its goals!

When people turn aside from the Torah, their lives inevitably resort to a violent and malicious stand against the need to walk according to the Torah and bring a malicious witness against others!

Tehillah/Psalm 101:5 “Him who secretly slanders his neighbour I cut off; I do not tolerate one who has a haughty look and a proud heart.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 19:9 “A false witness does not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies perishes.”

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 24:8 “Do not witness against your neighbour without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.”

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, having put off the false, speak truth, each one with his neighbour, for we are members of one another.”.

In the ‘10 Words’, we take note of that which clearly commands the following:

Shemoth/Exodus 20:16 “You do not bear false witness against your neighbour.”

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘false’ comes from the root word שֶׁקֶר sheqer – Strong’s H8267 which means, ‘deception, disappointment, falsehood, lies’, and this comes from the root verb שָׁקַר shaqar – Strong’s H8266 which means, ‘to do or deal falsely, lie’.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 6:19 “A false witness breathing out lies, and one who causes strife among brothers.”

This verse from Mishlĕ/Proverbs 6 forms part of a list of 6 things that יהוה hates and the phrase. ‘A false witness breathing out lies’ is written in the Hebrew as follows:

יָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים עֵד שָׁקֶר – ‘yaphiyḥa k’aḇiym eḏ shaqer

This could literally be rendered as ‘a false testimony that is spoken by lying’ or, ‘the breath of lies that witness falsely’.

This phrase comes from the following root words:

1) פּוּחַ puaḥ – Strong’s H6315 which means, ‘to breathe, blow, speak, utter, puff, snort’.

This word is used 15 times in the Tanak and primarily the verb means to ‘breath, blow’ in the negatives sense of “to utter” lies or be utterly deceitful.

2) כָּזָב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3577 which means, ‘a lie, falsehood, deceptive thing, deception’, and comes from the primitive root verb כָּזַב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3576 which means, ‘to lie, be a liar, fail, told lies, deceive, disappoint’.

3) עֵד eḏ – Strong’s H5707 meaning, ‘a witness, evidence’ and comes from the root word עוּד uḏ/ooḏ – Strong’s H5749, which means, ‘to return, go about, repeat, do again, encircle, supports’.

4) שֶׁקֶר sheqer – Strong’s H8267 which means, ‘deception, disappointment, falsehood, lies’, and comes from the root verb שָׁקַר shaqar – Strong’s H8266 which means, ‘to do or deal falsely, lie’..

We are to be a good and truthful witness of Messiah as we speak Truth and walk in the Truth.

Any departure from this clear standard of thinking, walking and speaking truth will render one as being a false witness breathing out lies.

Many want to give testimonies of how Elohim has done great things for them, while the Truth is not in them, as they have disregarded His Torah!

This is a huge warning against the lawless who assume to bear the witness of Elohim in their lives, and this יהוה hates!

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We are to hold fast and possess the witness of יהושע Messiah AND guard the commands of Elohim! Possessing a witness of Messiah without guarding the commands of Elohim, will render your witness false, for your witness does not breathe out life, but rather lies!

We are to be ambassadors of the coming reign, and in doing so we are to bear witness of His Truth in our lives!

The question is – are you a true witness or are you a false one?

While many may claim to know Elohim and claim to walk in His Torah, their daily lives may often render them being a false witness, as they conform to the world and fall prey to the influence of others!

Have you found yourself telling others that you are a taught one or follower of Messiah, while you are in fact compromising in your walk – for then you are a false witness breathing out lies – and this is an abomination to יהוה. We are also to be on guard about bearing false witness against our neighbour!

Do not speak lies about another – do not gossip and slander another – for if you do you are being a false witness that is breathing out lies!.

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and displeasure, and uproar, and slander be put away from you, along with all evil. 32 And be kind towards one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as Elohim also forgave you in Messiah.”

The Greek word used here for ‘slander’ is the noun βλασφημία blasphēmia – Strong’s G988 which means, ‘slander, abusive language, blasphemy’, and comes from the adjective βλάσφημος blasphēmos – Strong’s G989 means, ‘slanderous, speaking evil, abusive, reproachful, reviler’..

You do not have to look too far to see many evil speaking and abusive slanderers!

What is very sad, is that you will even find people like this among claiming believers!

When understanding that ‘blasphemy’ speaks of a clear irreverence toward Elohim, we must recognise the danger of speaking against our brothers, who are a part of the Bride of Elohim, lest we find that we are being found to show little respect toward the body of Messiah!.

Sha’ul makes it clear to Titos that he was to remind those he taught to not be slanderers!

Titos/Titus 3:1-2 “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 not to slander anyone, not to be quarrelsome, to be gentle, showing all meekness to all men.”

The Greek word used here for ‘slander’ is the verb βλασφημέω blasphēmeō – Strong’s G987 which means, ‘to slander, speak lightly or profanely of set apart things, hurl abuse, dishonour’.

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The Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines ‘slander’ as:

1) “the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation”, and

2) “a false and defamatory oral statement about a person”

In recognising how we are not to be a false witness we learn that the opposite is true, in that we are to be a trustworthy witness!!!

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 1:10-16 “A trustworthy witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.”

This parable contrasts the trustworthy witness with the false witness!.

The Hebrew word for ‘trustworthy’ is the word אֵמוּן emun – Strong’s H529 which means, ‘faithful, faithfulness, trustworthiness’, which comes from the root word אָמַן aman – Strong’s H539 which means, ‘confirm, support, be established, be faithful,, stand firm, trust, be certain, believe’.

A word that is derived from the root אָמַן aman – Strong’s H539, is the Hebrew word for ‘truth’, which is אֱמוּנָה emunah – Strong’s H530 which means, ‘firmness, steadfastness, faithfulness, stability, trust, truthful’.

We serve a faithful and trustworthy Elohim – and in Him we find true stability, as we stand upon the Rock of Truth!.

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

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Aleph – אֱ:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘the head of an ox’, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!.

Mem – מֶ

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

Waw/Vav – וּ:

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

Nun – נָ:

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

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is a ‘man standing with his arms raised out’. This word can mean “behold, look, breath, sigh and reveal or revelation”; from the idea of revealing a great sight by pointing it out. It also carries for us the meaning of surrender, as we lift up our hands and submit to יהוה as we lift our hands in praise, declaring His authority under which we humbly submit!.

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

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

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

The Hebrew word translated as ‘witness’ is עֵד eḏ – Strong’s H5707 meaning, ‘a witness, evidence’ and comes from the root word עוּד uḏ/ooḏ – Strong’s H5749, which means, ‘to return, go about, repeat, do again, encircle, supports’.

When we consider these two root words in the ancient pictographic script we can glean further insight regarding a true witness!.

The Hebrew root word עֵד eḏ – Strong’s H5707 meaning, ‘a witness, evidence’, in the ancient pictographic script looks like this:

Ayin – עֵ:

The original pictograph for this letter is and represents the idea of ‘seeing and watching’, as well as ‘knowledge’. as the eye is the ‘window of knowledge’..

Dalet – ד:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as 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..

Combined these two letters mean:

SEE THE DOOR

When we consider that יהושע Messiah is The Door, then we further see our need to continually be looking at Him and praising Him as we diligently are serving in spirit and truth, guarding to do all His commands – as we look continually into the perfect Torah of Freedom and not forget what we look like!

This word comes from the root word עוּד uḏ/ooḏ – Strong’s H5749, which means, ‘to return, go about, repeat, do again, encircle, supports’, which is another great practical lesson in understanding how we are to continually be meditating on the Word of Elohim, as we also find ourselves repeating the cycle of studying His Torah each week, doing it again and again!.

In the ancient pictographic script this word עוּד uḏ/ooḏ – Strong’s H5749 has an additional letter and is written as follows:

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As you will notice, this word has the extra letter in the middle:.

Waw/Vav – וּ:

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

The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’. It is by the work of Messiah, in His Own Blood, that has secured for us His Covenants of promise, to which we are added to; and His righteousness stands forever secured in Him!.

This further strengthens our understanding of our need to be looking to the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע Messiah, The Word made flesh, who now sits on high!

For He is the Perfect Witness of the Word that was made flesh and came to secure for us the Renewed Covenant in His Own Blood, that we may be added to Him and be secured of everlasting life, as we guard His commands and stay in Him and be trustworthy witnesses of who he is as we guard the commands and bear the witness of Messiah!.

יהושע Messiah is the Trustworthy witness:

Ḥazon/Revelation 1:5 “and from יהושע Messiah, the trustworthy witness, the first-born from the dead, and the ruler of the sovereigns of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood”.

We are called to be true and trustworthy witnesses of our Master and Elohim as we guard His commands and possess His witness:

Ḥazon/Revelation 14:12 “Here is the endurance of the set-apart ones, here are those guarding the commands of Elohim and the belief of יהושע.”

Those who do not bear the witness of Messiah and guard His commands will stand condemned as the Truth will witness against them!.

Another word derived from this root word, is the word that is used to describe the Ark of the ‘witness’, which is the Hebrew word עֵדוּת eḏuth – Strong’s H5715 which means, ‘testimony, witness, ordinance, warning’, and once again, as we look at the ancient form of this word we continue to get further ‘witness’ of the Word of Elohim, as it is pictured as:.

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As you will see that there is once again another letter used here, which is:

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!.

It was on the lid of atonement of the Ark of the Witness that blood was to be sprinkled upon on Yom Kippur, which was a shadow picture of the complete work of Messiah, who by His own Blood entered the Most Set-Apart place in the Heavens to make atonement for sins, and He continually intercedes for us who stay in Him and are waiting for Him as we possess His witness, unto deliverance, when He shall come again apart from sin!.

Why I am sharing this with you, is so that you can get a better understanding from a True Hebraic Scriptural perspective the witness that stands against those who are disobedient and are following corrupted man-made practices that are rooted in pagan worship rites, and have despised His Word, versus the true trustworthy witness that guards the commands of our Master!.

A Trustworthy Witness does not lie!

The Hebrew word for ‘lie’ here in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 14:5 is כָּזָב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3577 which means, ‘a lie, falsehood, deceptive thing, deception’, and comes from the primitive root verb כָּזַב kazaḇ – Strong’s H3576 which means, ‘to lie, be a liar, fail, told lies, deceive, disappoint’.

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 15:29 “Moreover, the Eminence of Yisra’ĕl does not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”

The Hebrew word that is used for ‘lie’, in this verse, is the root verb שָׁקַר shaqar – Strong’s H8266 which means, ‘to do or deal falsely, lie’...

Verse 2 – Stand for Truth

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 1:10-16 “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause. 12 “Let us swallow them alive like the grave, and entirely, like those going down to the pit. 13 “Let us find all precious goods, let us fill our houses with spoil. 14 “Cast in your lot among us, let us all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; 16 for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.”.

All too often you may hear the term – they all can’t be wrong – and the sad reality is, ‘oh yes they could be’, or to put it even more bluntly, ‘Oh yes they are!’.

Don’t follow a crowd to do evil – that is as simple and plain as it is put, however the definition of evil seems to be what is clouding many a people’s judgement..

In Hebrew, the word for ‘evil’ is based on the root word רַע ra – Strong’s H7451 meaning, ‘bad, evil, wicked, harmful’. This word is often expressed in the feminine as רָעָה ra’ah – Strong’s H7463 which is from the same as רֹעַ roa – Strong’s H7455 which means, ‘badness, evil’, and this is very interesting as we see it sounds the same as the Hebrew word used to give the meaning of ‘see’, yet is spelt with a difference of one letter – and in fact at root level we can even notice how evil and shepherd uses the same letters!.

The difference between רָעָה ra’ah (evil, wickedness, shepherd) and רָאָה ra’ah (see, observe, pay attention) is the middle letter – with ‘evil’ containing the letter – ‘עָ’ – ‘ayin’ and ‘to see’ contains the letter ‘אָ’ – ‘aleph’.

This should be a clear ‘wakeup call’ for us to see how things may sound correct and at times may even be written with the same letters, yet may cause us to ‘look’ at what is wrong!

Many of our father’s teachings and ways may sound good and true yet when tested against the measuring stick of the Torah we find that most of what we inherited was in fact not good at all and what we must learn is that corrupt practices spoil our relationship with יהוה!.

The masses that are streaming to huge stadiums and venues to hear a sun-day message that will seemingly tickle their ears and has twisted truth in that they are not instructing people to obey the Torah, is evil – it is just not presented as such yet is evil and wicked in the eyes of Elohim – do not follow the crowds!!!

The danger of following the masses that are wilfully submitting to traditions while forsaking the commands is that you will end up turning aside what is right – that is to do what Elohim has commanded us to and excuse it away as no longer applicable. This is the message of the crowds – do not be enticed by it!.

Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter in through the narrow gate! Because the gate is wide – and the way is broad – that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in through it. 14 “Because the gate is narrow and the way is hard pressed which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The Greek word that used to describe the ‘wide’ gate that leads to destruction is πλατύς platus – Strong’s G4116 which means, ‘broad street, broad way’, which is the word that used in the LXX (Septuagint) and translated as ‘square’, in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 7:12 “Now in the street, now in the square, and at every corner she lurks.”

The whore will not miss an opportunity to catch the fool who wanders the streets! She is everywhere and it is not hard to find her as she lurks at every corner, ready to lure a weary traveller!

The whore is in the wide gate – accepting all who will fall for her trickery and entertaining seductions!.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘square’ comes from the root word רְחֹב reḥoḇ – Strong’s H7339 which means, ‘a broad open place, plaza, square, market’, and highlights for us just how wide and broad the way to destruction is, as we see the false worship being so widely advertised as being acceptable to the masses.

The Greek word used here in Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:13 for ‘broad’ is εὐρύχωρος euruchōros – Strong’s G2149 which means, ‘broad, spacious’, and is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the ‘Tanak’ – O.T.) in the following verse:

Hoshěa/Hosea 4:16 “For Yisra’ĕl is stubborn, like a stubborn calf. Would יהוה now feed them like a lamb in a broad place?”

The Hebrew word that translated here as ‘broad place’ is the noun מֶרְחָב merḥaḇ – Strong’s H4800 which means, ‘a broad or roomy place, large field’, and comes from the root verb רָחַב raḥaḇ – Strong’s H7337.

So many people are walking in the wide and broad way that leads to destruction and assume that are getting fed with truth while it is clear that the True Way is the narrow way!.

The Greek word translated here as ‘hard pressed’ comes from the root word θλίβω  thlibō, – Strong’s G2346 which means, ‘to press or afflict, to distress, suffer affliction’, and in the literal sense can mean, ‘to squash, press, hem in, rub, harassed’, and also can be understood as being ‘narrow or hard pressed’ and the Greek word translated as ‘narrow’ is στενός  stenos – Strong’s G4728 which means, ‘narrow (space or passage) as a result of obstacles standing close about)’.

In other words, the true path of life is very narrow, and often it will feel like the pressure of so many obstacles of destruction that are pressing hard against us, are doing their best to cause us to not enter in, as we are continually hard pressed on every side – yet as faithful followers of Messiah, we are not crushed!

What becomes very clear through Scripture is that the wide-open way that allows people to do as they feel is a destructive way that leads to death!.

We must not say what the majority wants to hear or assume it is right just because the majority agrees.

No one’s opinion but יהוה’s counts! Yehoshua and Kalěḇ were an excellent example of obedience to this command. We must not even be swayed by persons we respect if they are opposing the Torah or one of our brothers..

Verse 3 & 6 – Don’t show favour to the poor in his strife or turn aside right ruling

When a poor man is going through strife – right-ruling is fair and just and just because a man is in a poor position or is weak does not cause him to get favour should he have done something contrary to the Word – he is as guilty as the next!

The Hebrew word for poor could also be rendered as weak or slack or lazy; and so often is the case where a lazy one or one who is weak in the faith trues to get off of what he should be accountable and responsible for.

We are to walk in wisdom without partiality – it is the same right-rulings for all!.

Ya’aqoḇ/James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

Tehillah/Psalm 82:2 “How long would you judge perversely, and show partiality to the wrong? Selah.”

This could also instruct us not to support the case of one who is the wrong and they have no strong evidence to back themselves up with – as the Torah makes it clear that a case with only one witness is no case at all!!!.

Verse 4-5 – Love your enemies

Mattithyahu/Matthew 5:43-48 “You heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those insulting you and persecuting you, 45 so that you become sons of your Father in the heavens. Because He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those loving you, what reward have you? Are the tax collectors not doing the same too? 47 “And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Are the tax collectors not doing so too? 48 “Therefore, be perfect, as your Father in the heavens is perfect.”

Notice here, that יהושע says that ‘You have heard it said…’ – it was not written that you are to hate your enemy – this was added and was ‘said’ as part of the man-made ‘oral torah’!

He breaks their wicked man-made instructions to hate your enemy and says we are to love and bless and do good to those who hate you… this will show us as sons of our Father in Heaven!.

Who is your enemy here, in these verses of Shemoth/Exodus 23:4-5?

It may be referring to someone within your own camp who has something against you; not, for example, the Amalĕqites, with whom יהוה has sworn eternal enmity.

יהוה will deal with outsiders and their evil deeds.

This is referring to enemies within Yisra’ĕl—someone whose personality just does not mesh well with yours, or someone with whom you may be competing.

How many of you have a hard time helping someone you know and you just can’t get along with them due to a personality clash or some other reason – that in fact may just reveal the need for you to do some searching of heart and make right!.

All these right-rulings are the way we are to govern ourselves as a community and adhere to fair and just right-rulings that applies to all and be careful to not twist righteous words, do not take bribes or slander another and receive the sojourner – rules for righteous living!

Tas’loniqim Aleph/1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Keep back from every form of wickedness.”.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 33:15-16 “He who walks righteously and speaks what is straight, he who rejects the gain of oppressions, who keeps his hands from accepting bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil – 16 he shall inhabit the heights; strongholds of rocks be his refuge. His bread shall be given him, his water be steadfast.”.

Verse 23:10-12 – Sabbath laws

Here we see once again the importance of the Sabbath, which is not only weekly but flows into the cycle of a Sabbath year where it is regarded as an agricultural Sabbath in the land of Yisra’ĕl, letting the land rest – the very thing Yisra’ĕl did not do and were sent into captivity for 70 years for breaking the command to keep the Sabbath years of rest in the Promised Land..

The 50th year is known as the Yoḇel (Jubilee) – that is after 7 Sabbath years where debts were released and prisoners released – known as the year of freedom and this all points forward, as a shadow of good things to come, to when we enter His Sabbath rest (the 7^th Millennium).

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘rest’ is שָׁבַת shaḇath – Strong’s H7673 which means, ‘to cease, desist, rest, observe, observe the rest, put an end’, which expressed as a causative action can be understood as meaning, ‘to cease or put an end to, remove, exterminate, destroy, cause to desist from’; and the intensive form of this root verb, is the word שַׁבָּת Sabbath – Strong’s H7676 which specifically refers to ‘the’ Sabbath’, as in ‘the’ 7^th day of the week..

The Hebrew word used here for ‘seventh’ is שְּׁבִיעִי – Strong’s H7637 ‘shâbiy`iy’ which simply means seventh.

What seventh? The word for ‘day’, in Hebrew, is יוֹם yom – Strong’s H3117 meaning, ‘day, time, continually, day (as in a 24-hour period)’.

Elohim completed His work on the 7^th day and then rested on it!.

The Greek word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint) of Shemoth/Exodus 23:12 for ‘rest’ is ἀνάπαυσις anapausis – Strong’s G372 which means, ‘a cessation, rest, cease’ and this root word is used 5 times in the Renewed Writings (N.T.), one of which we take note of the words of our Master, in:

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

The reason for me highlighting these words of our Master is to simply pint out how it is of vital importance that we obey His commands, which are not heavy and take up His easy yoke that gives us rest!

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

Keeping His Sabbath, along with the proper guarding of all His commands, expresses a proper love for Elohim and those who neglect to keep the Sabbath as commanded are actually reflecting a hatred towards Elohim, making themselves an enemy of Elohim as they befriend themselves with the ways of the world that does not rest on the Sabbath!.

Twice, this root word ἀνάπαυσις anapausis – Strong’s G372 is used by our Master, in referring to unclean spirits that have gone out of a man and are seeking rest.

The other two times this root word is used in the Renewed Writings is in Ḥazon/Revelation: once when describing how the four living creatures that are around the Throne of Elohim, do not cease, day or night, saying, “Set-apart, set-apart, set-apart, יהוה Ěl Shaddai, who was, and who is, and who is coming!”; and then again in describing those who receive the mark of the beast, as having no rest!.

When understanding these various accounts of the use of the Hebrew and Greek words relating to rest and Sabbath, we take note how it is extremely important for us to guard the Sabbath, lest we find ourselves marked by the beast and have no rest!

We are also told very clearly in:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 4:4-11 “For somewhere He has said thus about the seventh day, “And Elohim rested on the seventh day from all His works,” 5 and in this again, “If they shall enter into My rest…” 6 Since then it remains for some to enter into it, and those who formerly received the Good News did not enter in because of disobedience, 7 He again defines a certain day, “Today,” saying through Dawiḏ so much later, as it has been said, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Yehoshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim. 10 For the one, having entered into His rest, has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim rested from His own. 11 Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.” .

You cannot get any clearer than this passage that highlights for us that there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim, although it has sadly been twisted into teaching that this ‘Sabbath rest’ being spoken of, only refers to the millennial reign.

The Greek word that is used here for ‘Sabbath-keeping’ is Strong’s G4520 – σαββατισμός ‘sabbatismos’ – which literally means ‘a Sabbath keeping’ or ‘Sabbath observance’ and is very clear in its instruction for us today; and that is: to keep Sabbath is still of vital importance – after all it is an everlasting sign for us – a sign that will prove to be a critical dividing factor in showing who truly worships Elohim and who does not!.

The weekly Sabbath-keeping is for us not only a sign, but it is also the first of His Commanded Appointed times according to Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:1-2.

יהוה has given us this day as a sign of His everlasting covenant and what we must therefore also realise is that the enemy will always have a counterfeit sign in seeking any means at luring people into the delusion of false worship, making people believe that they are in fact worshipping the Creator when clearly they are in error by having the wrong ‘sign’ of their worship.

The Greek word that is translated as ‘rest’ in Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 4:11 is κατάπαυσις katapausis – Strong’s G2664 which means, ‘rest, repose’ and comes from the two root words:

1) κατά kata – Strong’s G2596 which is a preposition which carries the meaning, ‘down, against, according to’ and

2) παύω pauō – Strong’s G3973 which means, ‘to cease, leave, refrain, no longer stirred by its incitements and seductions’..

The sad reality, is that many today are not guarding to keep the Sabbath and are not entering into the rest of Sabbath, as they are unable to refrain from the incitements and seductions of the world!

Sabbath-keeping is vital for us, as it is a sure sign of us ‘ceasing’ from our own works, our own ways and words!!!.

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 58:13-14 “If you do turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My set-apart day, and shall call the Sabbath ‘a delight,’ the set-apart day of יהוה ‘esteemed,’ and shall esteem it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, 14 then you shall delight yourself in יהוה. And I shall cause you to ride on the heights of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Ya’aqoḇ your father. For the mouth of יהוה has spoken!”.

When looking at the word שַׁבָּת Sabbath – Strong’s H7676 in the ancient pictographic text we recognise the importance of our proper observance of His Sabbaths as we see the following being rendering in the pictographic letters:.

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Shin – שַׁ:

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..

Beyt – בָּ:

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..

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!.

We can see from the rendering of the word שַׁבָּת Sabbath – Strong’s H7676 in the ancient pictographic lettering, the following:.

THE WORD OF THE HOUSE IS SEALED.

This emphasises how the Sabbath is a clear sign that we are the House of Elohim, for it is His Word that marks us and the sign of that mark is our proper observance of His Sabbaths!

If we do not guard to keep and observe His Sabbaths then we are not sealed, nor are we guarding His Covenant that His Blood causes us to be grafted in to; and the one who does not observe the Sabbaths of Elohim shall be cut off from His Everlasting Covenants of Promise and note enter His rest!.

Verse 13 – make no mention!

Do not make mention of other mighty ones – do not even let them be heard from your mouth!

This is a sobering truth, that we are learning to heed today as we constantly make sure that we no longer have the names of false mighty ones that we inherited as lies – be it false titles and names for יהוה and יהושע, as well as the names of the months and days of the worldly calendar – something that is being cleansed off of our lips as we surrender to and submit to יהוה’s calendar and Appointed Times!.

In English, we are naming pagan mighty ones more often than we realise it.

The days of our week are named after Roman mighty ones, and the concepts of fate, destiny, chance, luck, fortune, and even the word “good”, all stem from not only the names but the ideas of pagan deities. 

A good book to read is ‘Come Out of Her My People!” by C.J. Koster as he has a well presented and well researched book on many of the words we use loosely today and how we are to truly come out of Babylon’s system of worship and even speech!

This verse makes it clear that we are not to even be heard from our mouths – a challenge in itself – but one we must not set aside but rather do our utmost to have our lips refined with His pure tongue that He is restoring on His people!

This does not mean that we do not read their names aloud if they appear in Scripture – it is speaking of using their names as part of our daily lives and actions and giving them more than what they are due and the idea here is to make sure we distance ourselves far away from the idols themselves!.

Verse 14-19 – Keep יהוה’s Feasts His way

Here in verse 14 and 17 we see the words, “Three times in the year” giving reference to when Yisra’ĕl were instructed to keep the Feasts יהוה by every male having to appear before the Master יהוה.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘times’ in verse 14 is רֶגֶל regel – Strong’s H7272 and means ‘a foot/feet or to walk’, and speaks of one’s obedience to walking according to His commands and obeying his call to keep His Feasts as commanded.

The Feasts were not limited to just 3 but rather all His Feasts were/are grouped in three – Pěsaḥ and Matzot were the one time you would celebrate in the 1^st month; Shaḇuoth the second time in the 3^rd month and in the 7^th month – Yom Teruah (Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Atonement) and Sukkot (Tabernacles) being the 3^rd time. The term ‘celebrate’ in the Hebrew carries the implication of dancing and literally to dance in a circle or cycle – speaking that we keep this cycle every year with great rejoicing. Three is also symbolic of stability as a 3-legged stool is the most stable..

In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word רֶגֶל regel – Strong’s H7272 is written as follows:.

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Resh – רֶ

The ancient script has this letter 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 an is head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the people..

Gimel – גֶ:

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

Lamed – ל:

In the ancient script this is pictured as , which is pictured as 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, as well as be submitted under the Authority of the Good Shepherd!

When looking at these pictographic letters, in terms of understanding our needed obedience to keeping the Feasts of יהוה, we are able to clearly understand the message in these, as:

IN OUR WALK OF OBEDIENCE, WE GATHER AS COMMANDED,

AS WE ARE LED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF OUR HEAD

The beginning of our walk of obedience is to submit under the authority of our Good Shepherd and guard His Appointed Times of gathering!.

In verse 17 the word for ‘times’ is Strong’s H6471 – פַּעַם ‘pa‘am’ – means ‘a beat, foot, step’ and can also be expressed as how one ‘conduct one’s life, formally – one’s walk, step or footstep, i.e., the patterns of behavior as a figurative extension of a stepping of a foot forward’.

We keep these cycles with joy, as we press on forward and do not turn back but always moving forward in His cycle.

His Feasts are our rehearsals and we are to be diligent in rehearsing according to His set forth instructions, for in it lies His complete plan of redemption for which we continue to walk in faithfully.

His feasts are in a way a sure roadmap that ensures the Bride’s complete preparation and are eternal appointments for every generation that are prophetic in nature helping the Bride be led in Truth to her wedding with the Master!

Coming into these celebrations, with Mosheh’s’ writings and the Sabbath as our guides, leads the Bride to her wedding, preparing her every step of the way to that special day..

These Feasts are also called paths of right ways or paths of righteousness.

When the Feasts are not celebrated or honoured, the Bride can be unprepared and may even miss her own wedding day!

One of the key factors of these Feasts is the clear instruction to not come empty handed before יהוה!

Our thanks are not complete until we put our hand to them and do something to demonstrate our gratefulness. And a thanks offering is above and beyond the required offerings.

Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk – this is not a command to not mix milk and meat, which is erroneously taught in Judaism, but rather, it is a clear instruction to not do as the pagan nations do, as this was a common practice of their ritual fertility worship by the nations of Kenaʽan.

The clear picture is do not worship and offer up worship the way the nations do – He has his set instructions – obey them!!!.

Verse 20-21 – יהושע

These verses are a beautiful prophetic picture of יהושע, who has the Name of יהוה in Him!

The Name of יהושע means יהוה is our Saviour!!!

There is absolutely no way that the Name of יהוה is found in a Hellenised name of ‘Jesus’, and this we must understand – for in these verses, it is very clear that we are to listen to יהושע and obey His voice!

There is a clear difference, in what is portrayed as a Greek Jesus versus the Hebrew יהושע, so to speak.

In the discovery of the Hebrew manuscripts of Mattithyahu/Matthew, there has been revealed a clear and distinct difference in the message that is being presented in the Hebrew than that which has been widely accepted for years in the Greek text..

Yehoshua who led Yisra’ĕl into the Promised Land is a prophetic shadow picture of Messiah whom we are to listen to and obey as He will destroy our enemies and lead us into His Promises!

The Hebrew word that is translated here for ‘Messenger’ is מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ – Strong’s H4397 means, ‘messenger, envoy, ambassador’.

Many have tried to argue away that the ‘Messenger’ of יהוה is another person and not יהוה Himself. Is this true, or are these assumptions being made through erroneously taught beliefs that have a crippling way of interpreting the text according to inherited beliefs, rather than understanding and interpreting the text in its original construction and meaning?

Let us look at some critical texts, that can often be misinterpreted, and even seem contradictory, when wrongly viewed..

The Messenger of יהוה – מַלְאַךְ יהוה – ‘Mal’aḵ YAHWEH’:

מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ – Strong’s H4397 means, ‘messenger, envoy, ambassador’.

The first time we see this word being used is used in conjunction with יהוה in:

Berěshith/Genesis 16:7 “And the Messenger of יהוה found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur”

Who was this that met Hagar in the wilderness?

Was it יהוה, or was it simply an ambassador of יהוה?.

The Hebrew word מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ is found also in Phoenician, and is a nominal construction from the root לאך (la’aḵ) of which there are no examples in Hebrew (Arabic, la’aḵa means, “to send with a commission”).

The basic element of meaning, in the nominal, is that of one who is sent. In the BDB (Browns Driver Briggs Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon) we are able to see that the word מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ comes from the child root לאך (la’aḵ). The term ‘messenger’ is often an inadequate term for the range of tasks carried out by the various uses of מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ in the Tanak (O.T.).

This word occurs 214 times in 197 verses, and is used to describe one who would:

a) carry a message;

b) perform some other specific commission;

c) to represent more or less officially the one sending him.

This term is used both of natural men, as well as ‘supernatural’, as in ‘messenger of יהוה’.

When used in reference to the ‘Messenger of יהוה’, as seen in a number of passages, it is often difficult to differentiate between The Messenger and יהוה Himself.

The One who speaks or acts, i.e., יהוה or the מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ, is obviously one and the same person.

When the reference is to Elohim apart from man, יהוה is used; when Elohim enters the apperception of man, the מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ is introduced.

We can therefore see that when Elohim hears the cry of Hagar, the מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ of יהוה calls to her, and יהוה Elohim opens her eyes!.

As we look at the Hebrew word for מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ, we are able to gain some great insight from its child root – לאך (la’aḵ) in the ancient pictographic script, which would be pictured as follows:

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Lamed – ל:

In the ancient script this is pictured as , which is pictured as 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, as well as be submitted under the Authority of the Good Shepherd!.

Aleph – א:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘the head of an ox’, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!.

Kaph – ך:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as – – which is a picture of an open palm of a hand and can symbolise that to which submission is given – ‘under the hand’. This also can picture for us a palm or palm branch, from the curved palm shape, picturing our praise to the One to whom we submit..

From this root we are able to see how the messenger would describe the person bringing a specific message, as the staff/authority of the strength of the yoke or message that is brought by the hand of the sent one!.

Therefore, the מַלְאָךְ Mal’aḵ is ‘the one who walks for another’.

This can be one who walks for another man, or it can be used for the One who walks for Elohim!

FOR MORE ON “THE MESSENGER OF יהוה”, PLEASE SEE THE ARTICLE ON OUR WEBSITE UNDER THE FOLLOWING LINK:

https://atfotc.com/the-messenger-of/

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Verse 22 – we are to diligently obey His voice

The word used for ‘obey’ is from the primitive root word שָׁמַע shama – Strong’s H8085 which carries the meaning not just simply to hear, but rather to ‘listen with attention, comprehend and discern, give heed to what is being spoken’.

Understanding our need to be a people who are listening attentively and giving heed to His Word in a time when most are not let us recognise that this is certainly the time to now be a hearing and discerning and obeying people!.

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

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

The perfect Torah of freedom is like a mirror for us – and in looking intently into it we are able to see if we are in fact listening and doing or not:

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

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

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

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

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

Doing the Word involves a proper loving of one another as the body covers and protects each other from the falsehood and trickery of those who claim to know Elohim yet deny Him in their confession and works!.

We ‘guard to do’ all He commands in order that we may live and take possession of that which יהוה has planned for us.

The word used for ‘guard’ is שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 meaning, ‘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 is ‘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..

We guard to do all He ‘speaks’, which is the Word, for the word for ‘speak’ is דָּבַר daḇar – Strong’s H1696 meaning, ‘to speak, command, counsel, declare, proclaimed, converse, warn, threaten, promise’.

Yoḥanan/John 14:15 “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.”.

Yoḥanan/John 14:21-23 “He who possesses My commands and guards them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him.” 22 Yehuḏah – not the one from Qerioth – said to Him, “Master, what has come about that You are about to manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 יהושע answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him.”

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:25-26 “Take heed not to refuse the One speaking. For if those did not escape who refused the warning on earth, much less we who turn away from Him from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”.

Verse 23 – The Messenger goes before us!

יהושע Messiah has gone before us and He provides for us the Way, as He will lead us and take us into the Promised Land, when he comes again!

This was a land that was inhabited by 7 other nations or peoples who were stronger than Yisra’ĕl, yet here is the clear promise of the Messenger going ahead of them and cutting off the nations who were in the Land of Promise!.

6 of these 7 nations that lived in the promised Land are mentioned here, and we can learn a great deal from the meanings of each of these names, giving us a powerful picture of the victory we have in Messiah who fights for us and destroys that which hinders our walk in Him, as long as we remain in Him and follow Him!.

Amorites – אֱמֹרִי Emori – Strong’s H567 – meaning, ‘cave dwellers’ and comes from the word אָמַר amar – Strong’s H559 which means, ‘utter, say, speak’ and can represent for us as meaning “boasters”.

The Amorites, or Emori, were the biggest and strongest people in Kenaʽan.

They were the ‘mountain people’, which speaks of the heights and gives us a picture of the tall ones or renowned ones – that is – people who love self-exaltation.

They are the prominent speakers or rather the ‘big mouths’ and ‘know it all’s’.

They desire knowledge just to be superior to others and we know that ‘just’ knowledge without true application simply puffs up and pride becomes the result. Isn’t pride the strongest of strongholds within each of us? Love builds up and love for Elohim is to guard to do all He commands – so love in action that builds is the correct application of knowledge.

Watch out for the ‘smooth talkers’ and the big talkers!

Amorites is a picture also of those who are arrogant and boastful in their speech, which always challenge everyone and want the last say and simply speaks of a form of rebellion.

How is your speech? Do you always want to be right, because you think you know it all?

Kill any pride that may set in, quickly before it takes root!.

Ḥittites – חִתִּי Ḥitti – Strong’s H2850 – meaning “sons of Ḥěth” or “terror”.

So, the name carries also the meaning of fear, and the effects of fear imposed by the enemy can be terror, being tormented, depression and deceit. What we must do in conquering the enemy is clear – we must first conquer fear.

The Ḥittites speak of that which uses deceit into causing us to be afraid and terrorise us into doing what they want or they motivate people to follow through fear tactics!.

The church has certainly succeeded in many ways in this regard as it has motivated people to follow the broad path of Christianity by using the prospect of escaping hellfire and judgement if they do not, and so they teach and give a gross picture of many who will be poked forever by a hot fork – this is a lie – read Revelation and see what happens – those who are not written in the Book of Life are thrown into the fire and are consumed – gone forever – this is the second death.

Death is death – how can you be dead and still be ‘alive’ being ‘punished through eternal punishment!!!

Terror is used as a tactic.

Deceit is also a major part of what this nation represents and we know just how the Church has turned the favour or ‘grace’ of Elohim into a licence to sin or be lawless – they have distorted the ‘Besorah’, which is the “Good News’ for a false grace ‘gospel’ – where gospel actually means to place one under a spell and in so doing they teach people to search the Word to see what they can get out of it as opposed to seeking what Elohim requires of them!

So, we must conquer fear of the enemy by walking in the Truth by faith in Elohim!

What ‘fears’ do you have – fear of failure – fear of lack – fear of others? Be strong and courageous as you put your trust in יהוה!!!.

Perizzites – פְּרִזִּי Perizzi – Strong’s H6522 – means ‘belonging to a village’ or ‘rustic village’ and can mean ‘having a breach in the wall’.

In understanding that a village can give reference to being a small place, we get the picture here of having a limited vision, laziness or low self-esteem and no boundaries.

The effects of this can result in isolation, division, separation, independence and becoming disconnected..

Many who carry this spirit are divisive and do not want any form of confrontation.

They will also struggle to submit to any form of authority and will strive to do their own thing.

This is not the design of Elohim for His body – we are to be knitted together in unity in Him and when there is a breach in the wall – that is when someone has let their guard down and fallen into sin they should not isolate themselves and run away but should seek refuge with the rest of the body.

We are to be repairers of breaches and restore honesty and justice in our relationships and our boundaries have fallen for us in pleasant places – that is we have His Torah to walk in and we must remain in the pleasant boundaries of His Torah!.

Kenaʽanites – כְּנַעֲנִי Kena’ani – Strong’s H3669 – and from its roots can mean, ‘zealous, lowlands people, brought down, defeated or made low’.

It represents for us a resorting to a low life in respect to addictions and perversions and exaggerations. Seḏom and Amorah are portrayed as Kenaʽanite cities and we know all the low life stuff that went on there!.

This also pictures for us the battle against depression and anxiety and hopelessness. Are you struggling with anxiety and have little hope? Destroy it with faith in the One who knows what you need and do not worry – throw off anxiety and keep your eyes fixed on the Blessed hope we have in Messiah!

They also represent those who seek to gain something for themselves by means of being people pleasers.

They are people pleasers and will resort to very low and degrading means in order to do that. Herod’s daughter ‘danced’ here way to receiving what she wanted in getting Yoḥanan the immerser head cut off, by pleasing the fleshly sense of Herod.

She ‘prostituted herself to get her way and this is what this spirit will do – cause you to resort to low life actions in order to get what you want as well as to please others as you do not want to feel out! We are to please Elohim not be man-pleasers!.

Ḥiwwites – חִוִּי Ḥivvi – Strong’s H2340 – meaning “villagers” and were known as “the dwellers of the high place” whose capital was on Mt. Ba’al Hermon (Strong’s H1179, meaning “lord of destruction”).

We must tear down the high places of false worship in our hearts..

Yeḇusites – יְבוּסִי Yeḇusi – Strong’s H2983 – sons of Yebus – Strong’s H2982, which comes from the word בּוּס bus – Strong’s H947 meaning ‘threshing, trample, trodden down, desecrate and utterly reject’.

This speaks plainly to rebellion and what it brings about in people.

These are the threshers – those who are supposed to separate the wheat from the chaff – but here we get the picture of the suppression of spiritual authority in fellow believers – in other words they refuse to submit to authority that יהוה has ordained and reject instruction from those whom יהוה has called to speak His Word.

They represent those who will always criticise and break down all forms of community advancement and adherence to Torah principles.

How are you at submitting to authority, especially authority of those that יהוה has appointed? We would do well to not rebel – we know what happened in the Wilderness!!!.

Verse 24 – serve no other mighty ones!

Kenaʽanite worship involved several practices that included cult prostitutes and child sacrifice and they were to eradicate all form of pagan worship so as to not be enticed into bowing down to their pagan ways.

We are to totally eradicate sin in our lives so as to not be tempted in to bowing down to it and falling prey to its sinful and lustful desires that can kill us!.

We have already discussed the importance of not serving other mighty ones, and here, we further see the command to not ‘bow down’ to the mighty one’s of the nations, and the Hebrew word for ‘bowed’ is שָׁחָה shaḥah – Strong’s H7812 which means, ‘to bow down, to prostrate oneself before another, to humbly beseech, to do or show reverence, and to do or show obeisance’. Obeisance means ‘a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission as well as to acknowledge the superiority of another’.

This word is also translated as ‘worship’, on many occasions, and reflects the true nature of our life of worship, which is in total submission to our Master and King, as we humbly bow our lives before Him in reverence and respect, acknowledging His authority in every way, as we walk in total obedience to His Torah/Word.

Our worship is only to be unto יהוה our Elohim – and to Him alone!!!.

Break down their pillars – this speaks of ‘standing stones’ that were often used as phallic symbols, to signify the places of pagan worship!

Today, we see this, in the form of steeples that are placed outside of most church buildings and establishments – this is none other than abominable Nimroḏ symbolism of fertility worship unto a pagan mighty one and this we are to break down!!!

The root word behind “pillars” is “to firmly establish”..

Metaphorically, then, this refers to anything that is: “written in stone” for a pagan religion, whether it is based on the same Scriptures or not.

Anything pagan religions have firmly established, is not merely to be ignored but attacked and destroyed, like the keeping of pagan rooted Feasts that have nothing to do with יהוה Appointed Times!

The church has syncretised pagan forms of worship with the Truth and this is not acceptable to יהוה and must be smashed and broken down!!!.

Overthrow them and break them down!

The Hebrew word translated as ‘overthrow’ is הָרַס haras – Strong’s H2040 which means, ‘throw down, break or tear down, pull down, utterly overthrow’..

In the LXX (Septuagint – Greek Translation of the Tanak) the Greek word used here for ‘overthrow’ is καθαιρέω kathaireō – Strong’s G2507 which means, ‘tear down, pull down, dethroned’ and is used in:

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 10:4-6 “For the weapons we fight with are not fleshly but mighty in Elohim for overthrowing strongholds, 5 overthrowing reasonings and every high matter that exalts itself against the knowledge of Elohim, taking captive every thought to make it obedient to the Messiah, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

We must be prepared to ‘tear down’ anything that exalts itself in our lives, against the knowledge of Elohim – this is a clear call to be sober, alert and watchful, and constantly meditating upon the Torah so that we are able to discern, even our thoughts and take captive that which is not of Elohim!.

The Hebrew word translated as ‘break down’ is שָׁבַר shaḇar – Strong’s H7665 which means, ‘break in pieces, crush, shatter’, and the Greek word used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek Translation of the Tanak) for ‘break down’ is συντρίβω suntribō – Strong’s G4937 which means, ‘break in pieces, crush’, and is used in:

Romiyim/Romans 16:20 “And the Elohim of peace shall crush Satan under your feet shortly. The favour of our Master יהושע Messiah be with you. Aměn.”

Herein lies the clear assurance and promise given in Shemoth/Exodus 23:24!!!

Messiah will crush and overthrow all that has exalted itself against the Most-High – and we are therefore warned and commanded to not bow down to falsehood and lies but overthrow vain reasonings that nullify the need to walk in obedience!.

Verse 25 – Bread and water shall be blessed!

Serve יהוה and your bread and water will be blessed!

The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘bread’ is לֶחֶם leḥem – Strong’s H3899, meaning ‘bread, meal, provision, food’.

We also know that bread in Scripture is a picture of a Torah obedient community:

Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 10:17 “Because there is one bread, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

We also take note that Messiah is the Bread of Life that came down from above in order to provide for us the needed sustenance for life in Him, and therefore we must take note of this clear warning against laziness, as we are to make sure that we are firmly established in Him as we prepare ourselves daily as a Bride that is making Herself ready, by making sure that we eat of our daily lawful bread – that is we must never neglect to read and meditate daily on the Torah of Elohim, lest we become lazy and lack proper wisdom to function as we should in Him!.

So many people are being fed ‘lawlessness’ and are not being properly nourished in the Truth and will find themselves lacking the proper sustenance to endure in set-apartness, while the righteous echo this prayer each day by asking Elohim for their lawful bread, which implies a cry for Elohim, the Good Shepherd and Teacher to feed us His Word, teach us His Truth and lead us in the Way which leads to life by walking in righteousness as we guard to do all He commands us to through His clear Word that is tried and trustworthy!

Messiah taught us to pray this way when he gave us a pattern and not a recital of how we ought to pray when His taught ones asked Him how they should pray:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is the way you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart, 10 let Your reign come, let Your desire be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us today our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lead us into trial, but deliver us from the wicked one – because Yours is the reign and the power and the esteem, forever. Aměn.’”.

The call for His reign to come and be down here, and asking for daily bread, is the same as asking for our lawful bread and the cry to not be led into trial and that we be delivered from the evil one, which is the similar pattern of asking to have falsehood and lies to be far removed from us.

And the declaration of the reign and power and esteem is יהוה’s, also echoes the reality of not denying Him and seizing His Name, through misrepresentation, which we see being taught to us through the prayer of Mishlĕ/Proverbs 30:9!

We also recognise that it is His Word – our Lawful Bread – that separates us and washes us, so that we can be properly built up in Him, as His House!.

We can only truly serve יהוה when we are ‘eating His Bread’ and are being properly nourished to serve Him within His Body! Bread in Scripture is a picture of community in Messiah – The True Living Bread that came from Heaven and water is often the picture of the Torah – that which washes us and cleanses us and keeps us clean so that we may enter the Set-Apart place as a royal priesthood unto Elohim!.

When we consider this word לֶחֶם leḥem – Strong’s H3899, which means, ‘bread, meal, provision, food’, in the ancient pictographic script, we are able to recognise the true cleansing and separation from wickedness that His Word does, as we submit under the authority of His Word, in order to be built up as His house!.

In the ancient pictographic script, we see the root word לֶחֶם leḥem – Strong’s H3899 pictured as follows:

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Lamed – לֶ:

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..

Ḥet – חֶ

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

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

As a tent wall we are also able to recognise the picture of stones being built up to make a complete wall, and represents a ‘boundary’, or better understood as our ‘boundaries’ in recognising the need to walk within the boundaries of the Torah and not step outside of that which has been prescribed for us!.

Mem – ם

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

As we consider these pictographs that render the meaning of bread, provision, we are able to recognise, in terms of our lawful bread that our Master has given us all we need for life and reverence, and that as we submit under the authority of His Word, being led by our Good Shepherd, we are separated and built up in Him, though the washing of His Word!

His Word is our Food that separates and cleanses us as His Bride!.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD BUILDS US UP AND CLEANSES

or

THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD THAT SEPARATES AND CLEANSES.

When we recognise the value and importance of the daily lawful bread that we are to eat, we see how important it is for us to meditate on His Torah, day and night, so that we can live clean and set-apart lives! Neglecting to do so will cause one to not know who He, The Good Shepherd, is!.

Community and Torah, go hand in hand – where one is lacking, sickness or ‘weaknesses’, may have a way of settling in. There are many today who have the Torah, while neglecting to be a part of a community; while there are others who are trying to establish community, without the Torah!

They go hand in hand and I firmly believe that this is what is being established in these last days, as the Bride must make herself ready, as a community, walking the right-rulings laid out for righteous living, as laid out in the Torah (instructions) of יהוה.

The Torah cannot be walked out alone – community is essential to living the Torah life and true community or the Body of Messiah cannot be lived out without His Torah!.

The promise is clear – when we get these two critical essentials working in harmony then He will drive sickness away from us and His Word will establish us in being a healthy body or Bread without the yeast of sin/lawlessness!

The Hebrew root word used here for ‘blessed’ is בָּרַךְ baraḵ – Strong’s H1288 and means, ‘to abundantly bless’ and literally carries the meaning, ‘to kneel or bow down, to show respect, to bring a gift to another while kneeling out of respect’.

Understanding that our source and fountain of life in in Messiah, who is the Living Waters that has come down from above to abundantly bless us, let us look at this word in the ancient pictographic script:.

The ancient pictographic script, has the Hebrew word for bless – בָּרַךְ baraḵ – Strong’s H1288 pictured as:.

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Beyt – בָּ:

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

Resh – רַ:

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

Kaph – ךְ:

The ancient pictographic script has this letter pictured as – – which is a picture of an open palm of a hand and can symbolise that to which submission is given – ‘under the hand’.

Once again, we are able to clearly see who it is who blesses us –

THE HOUSE/ASSEMBLY OF ELOHIM IS BLESSED AS THE HEAD/ CHIEF COMES AND EXTENDS HIS OPEN AND REVEALED HAND TO HIS OWN!.

In Bemiḏbar/Numbers 6:22-27 יהוה spoke to Mosheh and told him to tell Aharon how he was to bless the children of Yisra’ĕl, and by this יהוה would put His Name on us as He Himself would bless us.

Bemiḏbar/Numbers 6:24-26 “יהוהbless you and guard you; 25 יהוהmake His face shine upon you, and show favour to you; 26 יהוהlift up His face upon you, and give you peace.” .

In the Hebrew text, this blessing it is written as follows:

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This can be transliterated as:

Yeḇareḵ’ḵa YAHWEH veyishmereḵa

Ya’er YAHWEH panav eyleyḵa viyḥunne’ḵa

Yissa YAHWEH panav eyleyḵa veyasem leḵa shalom.

יהוה spoke to Mosheh and told him to tell Aharon how he was to bless the children of Yisra’ĕl, and by this יהוה would put His Name on us as He Himself would bless us..

Let us take a closer look at the words of this ‘blessing’ and get a further understanding to it powerful meaning:

1 – BLESS – is the Hebrew word – בָּרַךְ baraḵ – Strong’s H1288 and means, ‘to abundantly bless’ and literally carries the meaning, ‘to kneel or bow down, to show respect, to bring a gift to another while kneeling out of respect’.

2 – GUARD/KEEP – in the Hebrew is שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 – ‘keep watch, preserve, guard, protect’.

3 – FACE – comes from the root word – פָּנִים paniym or פָּנֶה paneh – Strong’s 6441 – ‘face, faces, appearance, presence’ and can also carry the understanding of the presence or wholeness of being.

4 – SHINE – אוֹר ‘or’ – Strong’s H215 – ‘light (noun) and give light or shine (verb) – bring illumination’.

5 – FAVOUR – חָנַן ḥanan – Strong’s H2603 – ‘merciful, favour’ and also carries the meaning of providing protection.

6 – GIVE –שׂוּם suwm – Strong’s H7760 – ‘to put, to place, to set; set down in a fixed and arranged place’

7 – PEACE – שָׁלוֹם shalom – Strong’s H7965 – ‘wholeness, completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, health, prosperity, well-being, safety, protection’, and comes from the primitive root שָׁלֵם shalem – Strong’s H7999 which means, ‘to be complete or sound, rewarded, make full restitution’..

7 powerful words that are contained in this blessing, as commanded by יהוה.

One that not only blesses us and puts His Name upon us, but also wonderfully expresses His marvellous love and compassion for us and what He does for us, through His blessing us as He, in a sense, has ‘bowed down/ come down and given us the gift of life, through His own, as he promises to guard and protect us and keep us safe in Him..

This blessing in light of the understanding of the meaning of these 7 words could be expresses in English as follows:.

יהוה WILL KNEEL BEFORE YOU PRESENTING GIFTS AND WILL GUARD YOU WITH A HEDGE OF PROTECTION.

יהוה WILL ILLUMINATE THE WHOLENESS OF HIS BEING TOWARD YOU BRINGING ORDER AND HE WILL BEAUTIFY YOU.

יהוה WILL LIFT UP HIS WHOLENESS OF BEING AND LOOK UPON YOU AND HE WILL SET IN PLACE ALL YOU NEED TO BE WHOLE AND COMPLETE..

Verse 26-33

When we become a faithful Torah community, we see what He promises to do!

In these verses, we see the term ‘I shall’ being used in the ISR Scriptures 2009 edition 7 times:

I shall – fill the number of your days – we will have life and life abundantly!

I shall – send My fear before you – our enemies will fall before us and we will walk in safety

I shall – send My hornets before you to drive out your enemies

I shall – not drive them out immediately – Use the enemy to prepare a place for us

I shall – drive them out little by little – He does that with us – step by step as we walk in obedience so too do we grow!

We do not always get it all right straight away – we learn as we grow each week in His Torah – that we hear every Sabbath!

I shall – set your border – He has set our boundaries in good places – His Word keeps us secure and safe and He has set us our boundaries in which we are to walk as is written out for us in His Torah – guidelines for community living!

I shall – give the enemy into our hand to drive out – He will strengthen us to conquer sin and eradicate it from our lives and community!.

Rules for set-apart living – it is very clear – we are to not partake of what the world partakes, according to the lusts of the flesh, but rather we are to walk according to the Spirit!

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya‘al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.”17 Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you. 18 “And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says יהוה the Almighty.”

CHAPTER 24 – Covenant Confirmed!

With the instructions and right-rulings being clearly given for community, we now see how יהוה tells Mosheh to come up with Aharon, Naḏaḇ, and Aḇihu and 70 of the elders. Mosheh would go up further while they would stay at a distance!

The number 70 here, is very specific as it represents how the Covenant is with the House of Ya’aqoḇ as 70 was the number that came in to Mitsrayim:

Berěshith/Genesis 46: 27 “And the sons of Yosĕph who were born to him in Mitsrayim were two beings. All the beings of the house of Ya’aqoḇ who went to Mitsrayim were seventy.”.

It was not just the tribe of Lĕwi being represented here, as the elders represented the entire nation and I am very sure that they were extremely nervous going up that mountain – going where they never expected to go, especially after hearing the 10 Words after which they had asked that they do not hear the voice of Elohim any longer lest they die and that they would listen to all Mosheh would tell them.

And now, here they are ascending the mountain – to a point that is – and they must have been rather fearful of what was about to happen!!!

This is a great lesson on leadership that calls for true leaders to stand up and take risks that others would not necessarily take and not always wait for someone else to take the first step of obedience but rather should be the ones who lead the way for others to follow – Sha’ul says follow me as a I follow Messiah – he led the way – great leadership skills willing to break ground by faith in walking in total obedience!.

These men came to worship Elohim, on behalf of the entire nation – a huge responsibility indeed and what we can take from this is that when we step out in obedience and are willing to stand up for truth may we realise that what we do in obedience to living uncompromised is always beneficial for the entire body of Yisra’ĕl!.

The names used here, give us a great clue as to how to come near to Elohim:

Mosheh = drawn; Aharon = ‘light bringer’; Naḏaḇ = ‘generous’; Aḇihu = ‘he is my father’:

We are able to come near Elohim because of Him who has drawn us out and we are immersed through the water, washed and redeemed by the light bringer who is generous to us in giving us abundant life, adopted as children who can now draw close as He is our Father!!!

This is another wonderful confirmation of the fact that יהוה and יהושע are One!

Who is the Light Bringer? יהושע, our High Priest is:

Yoḥanan/John 9: 5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

He also tells us that He and the Father are One and if we have seen Him we have seen the Father!

He is also called Father of Continuity or Everlasting Father:

Yeshayahu/Isaiah 9:6 “For a Child shall be born unto us, a Son shall be given unto us, and the rule is on His shoulder. And His Name is called Wonder, Counsellor, Strong Ěl, Father of Continuity, Prince of Peace”.

Verse 3 we see once again the united voice of the Bride nation saying the “I DO”, as the elders said with one voice ‘we shall do all that יהוה has spoken’!.

Verse 4-8 – There is no oral Torah – Marriage Covenant established!!!

Mosheh wrote down ALL the Words of יהוה!

Everything spoken by יהוה has been written down.

After writing the Covenant out, Mosheh built a slaughter place and set up 12 standing columns for the 12 tribes of Yisra’ĕl and the covenant was confirmed through the Blood of the slaughtering’s.

This was a foreshadow of the Blood of Messiah that would ultimately establish the Covenant with His Bride..

Mosheh took the blood of the slaughtering’s and sprinkled half on the slaughter place, then read the Covenant to Yisra’ĕl, to which they all said once again, “All that יהוה has spoken we shall obey and do”, after which he sprinkled the rest of the blood on the people – a foreshadow of the Blood of Messiah:

Luqas/Luke 22:20 “Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you.”.

We have the Word of Elohim – written down for us!

Timotiyos Bet/2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.”

Our Master and Elohim, יהושע Messiah, tells us that man shall not live on bread alone but by every word of Elohim (Luqas/Luke 4:4).

The Greek word for ‘all’ is πᾶς pas – Strong’s G3956 meaning, ‘all, everything, continually, every kind, everyone’ and what ‘all’ entails is literally just that – ALL – everything!!!.

We are to live by ALL the Word of Elohim – from Berěshith/Genesis to Ḥazon/Revelation and we are clearly warned not to add or take away from it!.

Verse 7 – The Book of the Covenant

The Hebrew phrase that is translated as ‘book of the covenant’ is written as סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית – sepher haberiyth, which comes from the two root words:

1) סֵפֶר sepher – Strong’s H5612 which means, ‘a missive, document, writing, book, scroll, letters’, and is used to describe the Book of the Torah!

This word comes the primitive root verb סָפַר saphar – Strong’s H5608 – meaning, ‘to score, mark as a tally, record, inscribe, recount, celebrate, commune’.

This root word is also translated as ‘count’ in our instruction to count 50 days to Shaḇuoth!

The root word סָפַר saphar – Strong’s H5608 is used 161 times in the Tanak (O.T), also being translated into English as, ‘tell, told, number, tell me, declared, numbering’..

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

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

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

If we do not count, we cannot be cleansed!

To count means to reflect on where we are and repent of our sin..

The word סָפַר saphar (spelt from right to left is with a סָ – samek, פַ – pey, ר – resh).

Now when we see these symbols as written in the ancient script we get a wonderful picture of what true cleansing entails when we ‘count’:.

THE ANCIENT FORM OF WRITING THE WORD “COUNT/RELATE/TELL” – SAPHAR!

 

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Samek – סָ:

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

The Word of Elohim is sharper than a doubled edged sword and when we find that we do not grab hold of His Word and allow His Word to be our shield of faith, we may find ourselves being pierced through with sin and compromise! Our praise we have for our Master is that in Him we are upheld forever, for He is the shield of our Help, as He Himself took the crown of thorns upon His head, bearing our sin and shame that we may be found to be shielded in Him! It can also give a meaning of ‘turning’, for it is the thorn that turns us away from danger to that which is secure..

Pey – פָּ:

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

Resh – ר:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is ‘the head of a man’ and carries the meaning of ‘top, beginning, first, chief’, as in being the top of the body or the head of a tribe and the one who rules; and also speaks of possession or inheritance that is decided by the chief. Our true life of praise unto יהוה, our Head, begins when we fear Him, for He is the beginning of our strength, and true separated praise entails a true fear of the One who is Chief over us!.

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

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

GRAB HOLD OF THE WORD OF THE HEAD!.

This picture, in terms of counting, teaches us that our shield and refuge is in our Head and Master, who teaches us through His Word to number our days and we recognise that When we bring our sins (pictured by the thorn) and confess them (open mouth) to יהושע our Messiah (head of a man); then He is the one who cleanses us! .

2) בְּרִית beriyth – Strong’s H1285 which means, ‘covenant, confederacy, alliance, pledge, treaty, constitution, ordinance, agreement’.

Primarily we take note that this term is used to describe the agreement or constitution that is established between Elohim and man, and such ordinances are accompanied by a sign or pledge..

This noun is believed to come from the root verb בָּרָה barah – Strong’s H1262 which means, ‘to eat, choose’, which gives us a better understanding in terms of a ‘Covenant Meal’ where eating together establishes the covenant between the parties!.

For more on this please see the article called, ‘UNDERSTANDING COVENANT!’ which can be found on our website (https://atfotc.com) under the articles menu or by clicking on the following link:

https://atfotc.com/understanding-covenant/.

This promise to be a covenant people was made clear to the entire nation of Yisra’ĕl as they stood at Mount Sinai and were about to enter into the Marriage Covenant and become the Bride of יהוה!.

The Hebrew word for covenant – בְּרִית beriyth – Strong’s H1285 in the ancient pictographic text, looks like this:

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Beyt – בְּ:

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.

We also recognise that the House/Dwelling Place of Elohim is the body of Elohim that is built up as living stones in our Master, יהושע Messiah.

A house/tent speaks of your family and to whom you belong and under whom you submit and adhere to, as the House of Elohim has clear instructions for those in the House! The Light (that is His Word) is for those in the House!.

Resh – רִ:

The ancient script has this letter 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 a head of a tribe or people; as well as the one who rules the people.

Every House has a head of the home, and all in the House submit to the instructions of the One who is head of the home, listening to and obeying the words that the Head speaks!.

Yod – י:

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

And this letter also pictures for us the outstretched Arm and working Hand of Elohim that is not too short to save!.

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!

As we consider this word for ‘covenant’ – בְּרִית beriyth – Strong’s H1285 – in the ancient pictographic text then we are able to understand the clear assurance that we have, as the House or Dwelling Place of Elohim!.

THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE HAS, BY HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARM AND HAND, SECURED FOR US AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, BY SEALING IT IN HIS OWN BLOOD!.

While we certainly recognise and understand that there are many facets to the Covenant that our Creator has made and established with His chosen and called out priesthood, we recognise that our Master and Elohim does not break Covenant and He remains lovingly-committed to His ‘Covenants of Promise’ with Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq and Ya’aqoḇ.

As a covenant people of Elohim, we are to guard to do all His commands as we express our love to Him in complete loving-commitment to the Covenants of Promise that we have been grafted into!.

The Word of Elohim is the fullness of the Book of the Covenant and we are to read, study and meditate upon it in order to guard to do what is written therein, living as faithful ambassadors that have been grafted in to the Covenants of Promise by the Blood of Messiah!.

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

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

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 and quickly disregard as being applicable and relevant.

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/.

Verse 8 – The blood of the covenant!

After reading the Book of the Covenant and all the people declaring their obedience to do what is written, we see Mosheh taking some of the blood from the offerings that were offered up and sprinkled it on the people and said to the people, “See, the blood of the covenant which יהוה has made with you concerning all these words”.

It was here that the covenant was instituted by blood, for where a covenant is blood is necessary!

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 9:16-20 “For where a covenant is, it is necessary for the death of the covenanted one to be established. 17 For a covenant over those dead is firm, since it is never valid while the covenanted one is living. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was instituted without blood. 19 For when, according to Torah, every command had been spoken by Mosheh to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which Elohim commanded you.”.

The offerings that were made here in order to have the covenant instituted shadow pictured the work of Messiah, by whose blood we have been caused to enter into the Covenants of promise and able to have our conscience sprinkled, in order that we may draw near to our Master:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:19-23 “So, brothers, having boldness to enter into the Set-apart Place by the blood of יהושע, 20 by a new and living way which He instituted for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the House of Elohim, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our expectation without yielding, for He who promised is trustworthy.”.

We know from Scripture that ‘life is in the blood’ and the Hebrew word for ‘blood’ is דָּם dam – Strong’s H1818 which means, ‘blood, bloodguilt, bloodshed’..

In the Ancient Hebrew alphabet the word דָּם dam – Strong’s H1818 which means, ‘to be red, ruddy’, looks like this:

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Dalet – דָּ:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as 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..

Mem – ם:

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

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!.

When you combine these two pictures together we can see the meaning, ‘the moving back and forth of water” or the “flowing of blood“.

The life of all flesh is in its blood! Blood is not a dead thing… without blood we have no life! We recognise that without the Blood of Messiah being shed for us we have no life! And it is by the Blood of our Master and Elohim that we have been declared right, and as we stay in Him we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Romiyim/Romans 5:9)..

The Hebrew word for man, אָדָם Aḏam – Strong’s H120 which means, ‘man, mankind, human, person’, has the letter ‘aleph’ (אָ) before the letters ‘dalet’ (דָ) and ‘mem’ (ם). In the ancient script the Hebrew word אָדָם Aḏam looks like this:.

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Aleph – אָ:

The ancient script has this letter as and is pictured as ‘the head of an ox’, and represents ‘strength’, meaning ‘muscle’ as the ox is the strongest of the livestock animals. This also carries the meaning of ‘yoke’, as an ox is placed in a yoke in order to plough or pull a heavy load in the right direction. This can also picture for us the ‘red heifer’ sacrifice that יהושע Messiah fulfilled!.

Here we are able to see that the ‘strength’ of man is from the Aleph, who is also the Taw, for יהוה is the Aleph and the Taw – the Beginning and the End, our Mighty Elohim, by whose Blood we have life, and life abundantly. The favourable gift of Elohim, through the Blood of Messiah has overflowed to many!.

Messiah instituted His Covenant with His own blood and He declared this at the last Meal He had with His taught ones:

Marqos/Mark 14:22-24 “And as they were eating, יהושע took bread, having blessed, broke it, gave it to them and said, “Take, eat, this is My body.” 23 And taking the cup, giving thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood, that of the renewed covenant, which is shed for many.”.

It is at the Feast of Pěsaḥ where we partake in His Body and Blood and remember the Covenants of promise that we have been grafted in to, for without His provision we are unable to have any life!

Yoḥanan/John 6:51-56 “I am the living bread which came down out of the heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever. And indeed, the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” 52 The Yehuḏim, therefore, were striving with one another, saying, “How is this One able to give us His flesh to eat?” 53 יהושע therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Aḏam and drink His blood, you possess no life in yourselves. 54 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood possesses everlasting life, and I shall raise him up in the last day. 55 “For My flesh is truly food, and My blood is truly drink. 56 “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood stays in Me, and I in him.”.

Verse 9-11 – Covenant established with a meal!

Mosheh, Aharon, Naḏaḇ and Aḇihu and the 70 elders went back up the mountain and saw the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl – this was none other than יהושע himself – and they ate and drank with Him!

This is a clear picture of how our partaking in the Pěsaḥ Meal causes us to be firmly established in the Covenants of Promise and highlights the importance of being completely obedient in guarding the Sabbaths and Feasts of יהוה!

Eating a meal together, was the common way to seal and establish a covenant in the ancient world – that is why Sha’ul makes it clear for us to be careful with whom we share a meal with.

Eating together is an act of intimacy and יהוה’s prescribed feasts are expressions of our commitment to His covenant. This includes our weekly Shabbat meal that we share – these meals are shared with יהוה, so we must bring Him our best..

When the 70 elders went up to eat and drink with our Master and Elohim, they saw Him and were not destroyed!

As they looked, they saw under His feet a paved work of sapphire stone – this is a most beautiful precious stone of blue colour which is symbolic of His Torah, as we are reminded that it is blue that we are to have on the fringes of our garments (Tzitzit), which are to remind us of His Torah!.

The blue sapphire is also a picture of the heavens which is blue and is a witness before us as heaven and earth are witnesses before us whereby, we see here that He Himself came down to earth and now we have at the Covenant establishment through a meal both heaven and earth bearing true witness to the Covenant!.

The word sapphire also comes from a root word that means ‘inscribe’ and is related to the Hebrew word for book: ‘sepher’, which can also be translated as ‘recounted’; and so, in essence the picture we have here is that the sealing of this Covenant as written down is now established by the very Word of Elohim..

The Hebrew word for ‘saphire’ is סַפִּיר sappiyr – Strong’s H5601 which is a sapphire gemstone and this word comes from the verb סָפַר saphar – Strong’s H5608 which means, ‘to score with a mark as a tally or record, to inscribe, to count, declare, number, tell’..

What is a very interesting picture for us to take note of here is that the סַפִּיר sappiyr stone was the one that was used on the breastplate of the High Priest to signify the tribe of דָּן Dan which means ‘judge’, and here we are clearly able to see how these 70 elders came and sat at the table of THE JUDGE!

Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of His throne, and this sapphire represents the complete authority which Elohim exercises over His creation!.

Furthermore, we also see in Scripture that the Throne of יהוה is described as being like a ‘sapphire’:

Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 1:26 “And above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone. And on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man high above it.”

We see here a wonderful picture of that which is sealed up in His Sure Covenant that we His body will are joined to Him who sits on the throne where יהושע is the Head and His feet are His Festivals and Kingdom, upon which He stands as righteousness and justice are the foundations of His Throne..

Another picture we can take from Scripture as we look at this word סַפִּיר sappiyr is that it was also one of the stones in the Breastplate of The High Priest as being in the second stone in the second row.

Now, when one looks at the breastplate, as we have seen through our torah portions in Shemoth, we see that the names of the 12 tribes were put on the two stones of the shoulder garment in order of their birth, according to the engraving of a signet, and so too we see that the names were to be put on these stones also according to the engravings of a signet and therefore, I firmly believe that the order on the breastplate would also be as it was on the stones of the shoulder garment – in order of their birth.

Having said this, we can conclude that the sapphire stone would have been engraved with the tribe name of Dan, which means ‘judge’. A clear picture when we put all these pieces together which shows how יהוה is truly a righteous judge who rules according to His Written Word!.

Verse 12-18 – Mosheh goes up and receives the tablets of stone

Mosheh goes up with Yehoshua, who is a shadow picture of Messiah, and speaks a clear message to us that wherever we find the Torah, we will find Messiah – for the Torah leads us to Him!

Mosheh then goes up further with Yehoshua and the elders are told to wait for them to return and that Aharon and Ḥur are there for them if they need to have any matters sorted out.

This is a wonderful instruction for us too as His Faithful Bride waiting for His return – The Living Torah has ascended as is coming again – and while we wait we are to be a light bearer dressed in white linen of righteousness that He has given us through His Word. Ḥur means ‘white linen’!.

Those who looked on saw Mosheh go into the cloud that to them was like the appearance of fire – they may have thought that Mosheh had died! This was not so to Mosheh and how true this picture is for us today – those who look from the outside reckon that the Torah looks as though it will burn us alive.

Christians say that it will kill us while they build for themselves a counterfeit cloud of a false grace that claims that you only have to believe and not do anything – this is nothing more than a dead faith and then the Fire of יהוה will consume those who are opposed to entering in to His Covenant!.

The real cloud, of the presence of יהוה, teaches us how to live, when we do what it says, through what we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste and when the words become alive in us, we embrace His יהוה’s presence among us.

Yes, there will be some parts of us that are indeed burned up, but only the useless dross, after which we end up refined and purer. It does consume us, but with life, not death, once we enter into it and continue walking in it..

What we are to do, while we wait for יהושע to come again, is to be the salt and light – be light bearers with our lamps full of oil and keep our garments white through living the Right Way!.

We are His Bride – Live like It!

Let us close with a passage from Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:

Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:18-29 “For you have not drawn near to a mountain touched and scorched with fire, and to blackness, and darkness and storm, 19 and a sound of a trumpet, and a voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that no further Word should be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot through with an arrow.” 21 And so fearsome was the sight that Mosheh said, “I exceedingly fear and tremble.” 22 But you have drawn near to Mount Tsiyon and to the city of the living Elohim, to the heavenly Yerushalayim, to myriads of messengers, 23 to the entire gathering and assembly of the first-born having been enrolled in heaven, and to Elohim the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 and to יהושע the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better than the blood of Heḇel. 25 Take heed not to refuse the One speaking. For if those did not escape who refused the warning on earth, much less we who turn away from Him from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”27 And this, “Yet once more,” makes clear the removal of what is shaken – as having been made – so that the unshaken matters might remain. 28 Therefore, receiving an unshakeable reign, let us hold the favour, through which we serve Elohim pleasingly with reverence and awe, 29 for indeed, our Elohim is a consuming fire.”.

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