23rd of the 8th month 2020/2021
Shalom all,
Tehillah/Psalm 17:1 “A prayer of Dawiḏ. Hear righteousness, יהוה, listen to my cry; give ear to my prayer, from lips without deceit.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘prayer’ is תְּפִלָּה tephillah – Strong’s H8605 and comes from the word פָּלַל palal – Strong’s H6419 which means ‘to intercede, intervene, make supplication, and judgement made favourable’ and in essence carries the meaning ‘to apply to a judge for a favourable decision’.
Here, in this ‘prayer’, Dawiḏ is seeking the favour and protection of Elohim against his enemies and those who were seeking his life; and he was asking that יהוה listens to his cry and gives ear to his prayer – a prayer and earnest request that was coming from lips without deceit!
In our earnest plea, as beloved children of the Most-High, we too make our cry unto יהוה each and every day, yet we must recognise and learn that our prayers must come from lips without deceit!
Dawiḏ was a king that taught us the need to have lips and hearts that are in sync with the purity of righteousness, and when Dawiḏ was asking יהוה to hear his prayer, from lips without deceit, he was also making it clear that his heart was not far from Elohim, but rather, his words reflected the true condition of his zealous heart for יהוה, for he too prayed that his prayer for protection, would also come from a pure and undefiled heart!
It is this word ‘deceit’ that I want us to look at a little more closely in this message, as we recognise the need to be on guard against any form of deceit, be it from that which we hear and learn from, as well as that which we say and do!
In a message called, ‘THE DECEITFUL DANGER OF DECEIT!’ I want us to look at a passage from Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 9 (Read)
At the beginning of this chapter, we see how Yirmeyahu is lamenting for the faithlessness and folly of the people.
People who had rejected the Word of יהוה, and were facing some severe punishment and judgement from Elohim.
Yirmeyahu was really broken up about the twisted wickedness and deceit that he saw all around, and recognises that all his tears would not be enough to intercede for this people, though he would weep more if he could!
In his desperate cry, he makes it clear that he would have preferred to run away from all of this nonsense and hide out in the Wilderness in a lodging place for sojourners – if he had one that is! How often do you feel like this?
How often do you feel like you would much rather run away and get away from all the junk people get up to today?
Yirmeyahu called the people adulterers and an assembly of treacherous men!
Pretty harsh words indeed, yet this was the state of the nation who had rejected the Torah of יהוה!
The Hebrew root word for ‘adulterous’ is נָאַף naaph – Strong’s H5003 which means, ‘to commit adultery, adulterer, adulterers, adulteress’ and it is written in the ‘piel form’, which expresses the intensive or intentional action and figuratively this word renders the meaning of, ‘idolatrous worship’.
Yisra’ĕl had adulterated themselves through the idolatrous worship of the false pagan ones of the nations, as well as in their vain attempts at worshipping יהוה according to the ways of the nations, which he strictly prohibits:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 18:9 “When you come into the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, do not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘treacherous’ is בָּגַד bagaḏ – Strong’s H898 which means, ‘to act or deal treacherously, act deceitfully, faithless, transgressor’ and this verb is used to denote unfaithfulness in several different relationships; and it is used in connection with unfaithfulness in marriage – and more specifically how Yisra’ĕl had acted treacherously toward Elohim:
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 3:20 “But indeed as a wife betrays her husband, so have you betrayed Me, O house of Yisra’ĕl,” declares יהוה.”
This word בָּגַד bagaḏ – Strong’s H898 also carries the literal meaning of ‘to cover (with a garment)’, bringing about the figurative meaning of ‘acting covertly’.
And today, this is how we see so many that have transgressed the Covenant, acting covertly – and that is through the cover up of lies and the dogmas and traditions of man, that so many people hold fast to, while forsaking true obedience to the commands of Elohim.
People who act covertly ‘speak with a bent tongue’!
Yirmeyahu tells us here, that these treacherous adulterers bend their tongue like a bow!
The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘bend’ is דָּרַךְ daraḵ – Strong’s H1869 as is written in the ‘hiphil active’ tense, which renders the meaning, ‘to tread down, to tread (bend with the foot) a bow, to cause to go, lead, march tread’.
What is interesting to take note of here, is that a derivative of this word is the word we clearly understand as that which represents our ‘walk’, and that is the word דֶּרֶךְ dereḵ – Strong’s H1870 which means, ‘way, road, distance, journey’.
The words of the treacherous adulterers will arm themselves with words that are often so powerfully used to lead astray so many; and herein lies our earnest need to carefully consider our ways on a daily, or even a moment by moment basis!
The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘bow’ is קֶשֶׁת qesheth – Strong’s H7198 which means, ‘bow, archer, arrows’ and comes from the primitive root קָשָׁה qashah – Strong’s H7185 which means, ‘to be hard, severe or fierce, stiffened’, in the original sense of the primitive root word קוּשׁ qosh – Strong’s H6983 which means, ‘to lay bait, ensnare’, and this is what the wicked words of the treacherous adulterers do, to those who are not considering their ways before Elohim – they ensnare, in order to lead astray!
The wicked bend their tongue like a bow, armed and ready to shoot out falsehood and lies!
With this wicked state of this adulterous nation, we see, in verse 3, how there was only falsehood, and not truth, that was prevailing upon the earth!!!
There was no longer a nation, who was called to be a light to the nations, being that actual light, as their actions and words were as false as the nations!
In the process, they were proceeding from evil to evil.
With this proceeding from evil to evil – we see the clear reality of how they had not known יהוה.
Despite Yisra’ĕl’s claim to ‘know’ יהוה, while they were clearly walking in rebellion to His commands, יהוה made it clear that despite their lip service, their actions proved that they did not ‘know’ Him!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 1:3-4 “An ox knows its owner and a donkey its master’s crib – Yisra’ĕl does not know, My people have not understood.” 4 Alas, sinning nation, a people loaded with crookedness, a seed of evil-doers, sons acting corruptly! They have forsaken יהוה, they have provoked the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, they went backward.”
In this rebuke, given to a rebellious and apostate people, it is made clear that even an ox ‘knows’ its owner and a donkey knows its master’s crib, yet Yisra’ĕl do not know יהוה.
Here, this word ‘know’ is also the Hebrew word יָדַע yaḏah – Strong’s H3045 and implies the ability to respond to and recognise the Master’s voice.
Yoḥanan/John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
To ‘know’ יהוה implies the clear ability to ‘hear’ His voice and guard to do what He commands, for then He shall know His own!!!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 2:3-5 “And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands. 4 The one who says, “I know Him,” and does not guard His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever guards His Word, truly the love of Elohim has been perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 8:3 “But if anyone loves Elohim, this one is known by Him.”
To love Elohim, gives us the sure promise that we are known by Him!
Sadly, many do not ‘know’ what love for Elohim is:
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:3 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy”
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 4:8 “The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love.”
The Greek word that is used for ‘know’, in Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John, is γινώσκω ginōskō – Strong’s G1097 which means, ‘to perceive, to learn, to come to know, comprehend, understand, recognise, learn to know, get a knowledge of’.
As we sit under the instructions of our Creator and Redeemer, we learn to know Him and get a knowledge of who He is and come to know how we are to live in obedience to His clear Torah.
There are so many liars out there today, who claim to know Elohim, yet they have no knowledge of His Torah at all, as they refuse to sit and learn His Word – how can they know Him!!!
It is one thing to claim that you know Him, yet whether we know Him or not, is seen in the fruit of our obedience to His commands, and all will be clearly revealed when He returns – as many will come running, claiming they know Him, yet will be rejected!
Those who claim to ‘know’ Elohim, while they show a clear disregard for His Torah and the needed obedience to His commands, are simply filled with deceit!
Yirmeyahu goes on to tell us that everyone should beware of his neighbour and not trust any brother!
In this cry and complaint of the treachery and folly of the people, Yirmeyahu is lamenting over their circumstances, and he had certainly had enough of all the lies and deceit that was proceeding from these adulterous people who claimed to know Elohim.
In speaking of the wrongdoers and workers of wickedness, Dawiḏ tells us the following, in:
Tehillah/Psalm 64:3-4 “Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, a bitter word, 4 to shoot in ambush at someone blameless, they shoot at him suddenly and do not fear.”
The treacherous just love to shoot out accusative words at the blameless, and will do it without notice!
The state of the land was crippling, to say the least, as everyone was deceiving his neighbour, and no one was speaking the truth.
Lies and hypocrisy was the state of this people!!!
A lie cannot exist on its own, as it has to be a twist or deception of something truthful that has been spoken!
Here, these people were bending the truth, and today we recognize how hard it is for so many to come out of the ‘lies’ of our fathers, who through years of falsehood and treachery, have caused the masses to believe the lies rather than the truth!
In verse 5 we see it being said very clearly – that they had taught their tongue to speak falsehood!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘taught’ is לָמַד lamaḏ – Strong’s H3925 which carries the meaning, ‘to exercise in, learn, instruct, teach, train’.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘falsehood’ is שֶׁקֶר sheqer – Strong’s H8267 which means, ‘deception, disappointment, falsehood, lies’.
These people had actually ‘taught’ themselves, that is to ‘exercise themselves and be trained in’, falsehood and lies!!!
This is pretty much the state of the church and Christianity today – teaching, instructing and training people in deception and falsehood!
This is why so many people act falsely – rendering themselves as not true people of Elohim, for the people of Elohim do not act falsely:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 63:8: “And He said, “They are My people, children who do not act falsely.” And He became their Saviour.”
Under the misguided teachings of falsehood and lies, the sure result is that there will be a people who speak and do that which they are taught, while those who are true hearers and doers of the truth, and sit and learn at the feet of the Master, shall speak and do what He teaches, through His Living Word!
In verse 6, the very sobering reality of what Yirmeyahu was living among, was made very clear indeed!
He was living in the midst of deceit, and it was through deceit that they had refused to know Elohim!!!
Deceit is a dangerous thing – for it is through deceit that many do not know Elohim, while reckoning to themselves that they do!
יהוה loathes a man of deceit:
Tehillah/Psalm 5:6 “You destroy those speaking falsehood; יהוה loathes a man of blood and deceit.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘deceit’, here in Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 9:6, is מִרְמָה mirmah – Strong’s H4820 which means, ‘deceit, treachery, dishonesty, falsehood’, and also is used in Amos 8:5 with reference to those who couldn’t wait for the Sabbath to be over, so that they could trade and falsify their scales by deceit!
Amos 8:4-6 “Hear this, you who are swallowing up the needy, to do away with the poor of the land, 5 saying, “When does the New Moon pass so that we sell grain, and the Sabbath so that we trade our wheat, to make the ĕphah small and the sheqel large, and to falsify the scales by deceit, 6 to buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the chaff of the wheat?”
False measures are an abomination to יהוה.
There is no reward for ‘half’ obedience or for lukewarm obedience – your either obey or you do not, for there is no partiality with Elohim.
His Word is the same yesterday, today and forever and to assume a differing scale, is an abomination to Him.
Many today have falsified their obedience by adapting a standard that they have devised for themselves in order to justify any subtle compromises to walking in the perfect Truth!
Shelomoh also tells us, in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 14:8, that ‘the folly of fools is deceit’!
This root word מִרְמָה mirmah – Strong’s H4820 is also used in:
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 26:24-26 “He who hates, pretends with his lips, and lays up deceit within him; 25 though he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Hatred is covered by deceit. His evil is disclosed in the assembly.”
What verse 24, here in Mishlĕ/Proverbs 26, is saying is that the one who hates, gives a vain lip service and his heart is filled with deceit; which is the total opposite as to what should be in the heart!
There are many who claim to be worshipping Elohim, yet their works show that they are actually denying Him!
Titos/Titus 1:16 “They profess to know Elohim, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”
When Dawiḏ asked the question of who may go up into the mountain of יהוה, he tells us in:
Tehillah/Psalm 24:4 “He who has innocent hands and a clean heart, who did not bring his life to naught, and did not swear deceivingly.”
Obedient hands, an undefiled heart and no deceitful words – that is who may ascend the mountain of יהוה!
So many people today, will swear that they follow the Master and walk in His Torah, while their actions show a clear breaking of obedience when they compromise in the smallest things – and that is deceit!
In these last days, when deceit is all around, we recognise how small the true remnant of Elohim’s Bride is, and as יהוה restores a clean lip unto the remnant few, they will call on the Name of יהוה and serve Him with one shoulder, and we are told in:
Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 3:12-13 “But I shall leave in your midst an oppressed and poor people, and they shall trust in the Name of יהוה. “The remnant of Yisra’ĕl shall do no unrighteousness and speak no falsehood, nor is a tongue of deceit found in their mouth. For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, with none to frighten them.”
No tongue of deceit found in their mouths!!!
Let no deceit be found in you, is a clear message we all need to hear in these last days – for the deceitful danger of deceit can cause us to be slain with the wrongdoers and workers of wickedness, the treacherous and adulterers, who do know יהוה, nor love Him as they do not guard His commands!
Deceit causes one to refuse to know Elohim, and deceit is a very dangerous and poisonous thing – as it will cloud your judgement and your ability to think straight!
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 3:10-11 “For “He who wishes to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit, 11 let him turn away from evil and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it.”
The Greek word that is used here for ‘deceit’ is δόλος dolos –Strong’s G1388 which means, ‘a bait, craft, deceit’.
יהושע Messiah tells us, in Marqos/Mark 7:22, that deceit is one of the defiling things that comes out of a man’s heart!
What I find interesting to take note of here, is that the Greek word for ‘servant’ is δοῦλος doulos – Strong’s G1401 and is translated as, ‘slave, servant, bondservant, bondslaves – both men and women’, a very similar sounding word with only one additional letter – ῦ – and this can certainly help us realise how fine a line it is between being a true faithful servant of the Most-High, in which there is found no deceit and being one in which there is deceit!
In Yoḥanan/John 1:47 when יהושע saw Nethanĕ’l coming toward Him, He said of Nethanĕ’l:
“See, truly a Yisra’ĕlite, in whom is no deceit!” – what a powerful compliment to receive, yet what we can learn from this is very clear:
The name נְתַנְאֵל Nethanĕ’l – Strong’s H5417 means, ‘given of Ěl’, and here was a faithful servant who knew the Scriptures and when he heard the voice of Messiah, He knew the voice of the true Vine and Master and King:
Yoḥanan/John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
The time was ‘ripe’ and while most did not recognise Messiah, this ‘given one of El’ did – Messiah found a faithful servant in whom there was no deceit!
This is encouraging for us, in showing us that it does not matter how blind the masses are, we whose eyes have been opened, can still guard His commands, sit and learn under the hand of our Master and have no deceit in us… the question is when He does come again… shall He find you walking in faith or in deceit!!!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘deceives’ is verse 5 of Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 9 is הָתַל hathal – Strong’s H2048 which means, ‘to deceive, mock’!
So many people today show a clear mockery toward the truth, as their actions of a taught falsehood, show that they are under the power of a destructive deception that has twisted and falsified the truth – so much so, that most do not even ask if what they are doing is a lie or not!
In speaking of those who lack true knowledge and understanding, we see in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 44:20 “Feeding on ashes, a deceived heart turns him aside, and he does not deliver his being, nor says, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
Today, we find how so many people are deceived to the point where they are unable to even ask the simple question of whether their actions and beliefs are based on truth or twisted traditions!
Because of the increase of deception, יהוה makes it clear, in verse 7, what He was going to do to this deceived and deceitful people – He was going to refine them and try them.
This is a clear action of His great loving-commitment toward His Covenants of promise!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘refine’ is צָרַף tsaraph – Strong’s H6884 which means, ‘to smelt, refine, test, tried’, and we see this word being used in:
Shemuʼěl Bět/2 Samuel 22:31 “The Ěl – His way is perfect; the Word of יהוה is proven; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.”
The one thing we can be sure of, is that the Word of יהוה is proven and trustworthy!
We are able to fully trust His Word – for it is the only ‘word’ that can be trusted.
How many times have you found that the words of friends, families, colleagues and even strangers have failed to meet up with what they spoke?
How many times has your word failed – your words and promises to friends, families, colleagues and strangers?
The Word of יהוה never fails!!!
The Hebrew root word translated as ‘try’ is בָּחַן baḥan – Strong’s H974 which means, ‘to examine, try, test’:
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 17:10 “I, יהוה, search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Our obedience to His commands is tried and tested as we sojourn here, and walk as true ambassadors of His coming kingdom.
Refined and tried – are those whom will call on His Name:
Zeḵaryah/Zechariah 13:9 “And I shall bring the third into fire, and refine them as silver is refined, and try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My Name, and I shall answer them. I shall say, ‘This is My people,’ while they say, ‘יהוה is my Elohim.’”
The objective of this judgement, upon a deceitful people, was a purification and not a complete destruction, yet we know that those who are stubborn to His Word refining and trying them, shall be destroyed and given as food for the birds and the beasts!
Judgement was clearly being declared upon a people who had forsaken the Torah of Elohim and had not obeyed His voice, nor walked according to it!
They may have been hearers, yet they were hearers alone and not doers of His Word, as they had gone after the wicked teachings of their fathers who had taught them to follow the Ba’al’s!
It is for this reason that Elohim scattered the tribes and herein lies the call for a mourning and lamentation!!!
This was not a time for any to boast in his own wisdom, but rather if anyone would boast they should boast of this: That he understands and knows יהוה!
There were not many who could actually boast as such; and today it is no different, yet the world boasts that they know Elohim, while their boasting is clearly in vain!
There is a time coming when all flesh shall be judged, whether you have been circumcised in the flesh or not!!!
Circumcision of the flesh is of no value, as Sha’ul reminds us in:
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 7:19 “The circumcision is naught, and the uncircumcision is naught, but the guarding of the commands of Elohim does matter!”
יהוה looks at the heart and this is where deceit lies!!!
This was the state of a deceitful Yisra’ĕl – they were uncircumcised in heart!
In verse 24, יהוה clearly makes it known that He shows loving-commitment with those He is in Covenant with, and as I have previously mentioned, what we find in Scripture, is that the Hebrew word for ‘loving-commitment’ חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ is used only where there is a prior relationship bond, be it through family, marriage or kinship, and it is used in regards to a bond or relationship that produces in the bond itself a requirement or an obligation for action, where both parties share חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ and can expect from each other and even demand in a sense reciprocal responsibilities, and so חֶסֶד ḥeseḏ is not a free gift, as it is based on a covenant relationship that is given to us as a gift!
We therefore have a clear responsibility to walk in our Master and Redeemer and ensure that we forsake not loving-commitment!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 3:3 “Let not loving-commitment and truth forsake you – bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart”.
In a time where falsehood and lies, and the dogmas and traditions of man are taught to the masses as truth, we must be on guard against the very powerful deceptive dangers of deceit itself!
Qorintiyim Aleph/1 Corinthians 3:18 “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish, so that he might become wise”
Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these the wrath of Elohim comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
In a world where deceit seems to be the modus operandi of the majority, we need to be aware against falling into the same trap where deceit is spoken from our lips!
The true remnant Bride must guard Her mouth and speak truth, always!
Be honest with others, be honest with yourself and most of all be honest with Elohim, for Him you cannot deceive!
If you have done wrong, be honest – own up – do not deceive up, so to speak!
Let me ask you – ‘how often have you found that you have acted or spoken in deceit?’
And before you answer too quickly by saying “never”, think for a moment – ‘Have you ever strayed from being completely and totally honest?’ – there is no such thing as a ‘white lie’, when walking in the Truth!
Often, when the pressures of this world come upon us, the pressure to compromise can become very strong indeed; and sadly, in this case, there are times when many people act in deceit, in order to cover up their stubbornness and sin, and act covertly in trying to ‘cover up’ their compromise through the wicked cloak of deceit.
One can deceive oneself, and even deceive others, but we can never deceive Elohim – for He sees what is going on in the heart!
In the process of deceit, through self-justification, many do not even regard themselves as guilty of deceit, as their ability to measure up against the true plumb-line of the word is jaded through deceit!
How often have you found yourself having promised to do something, only to find that you quickly and easily forget and neglect to do that which you said you would?
That is deceitful behaviour!!!
Has there ever been times when you have deceitfully lied to your neighbour and brothers, especially about what you have been, or have not been doing, especially when justifying your own actions of neglect toward the Truth?
Many times people will have deceit on their lips, when telling others the reason or reasons for not complying with the clear simplicity of the Truth, as they so desperately cling to and refuse to let go of the deceitful traditions of men, that are taught as truth, and in the process, they stubbornly defend their own deceit, regarding their own deceitful words as acceptable truth!
This we are to be warned against, for the deceitful danger of deceit is very wicked and destructive, and hazardous to the life of a called out set apart one!
My question to you tonight is simply this – “is there any deceit in your life?”
Let there not be!
We are told in Scripture, that the deceitfulness of wealth chokes out the Word!
Has the deceit of wealth caused you to stray from feeding on the Word and breathing in the fear of יהוה?
Have you allowed compromise to the Truth, in any way, to cause you to deceitfully justify your actions as seemingly lawful, yet deep down when looking intently into the mirror of the Word you may actually find elements of deceit!
It is time for the True Bride and the True worshippers of Elohim to worship in Spirit and Truth! Let no deceit be found in you – if there has been – come clean and confess to our Master and let Him cleanse you and heal you, so that you can boast that you understand and know Him, as you faithfully guard His commands and love Him with all your heart, all your being and all your might!
Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:1-3 “Having put aside, then, all evil, and all deceit, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil words, 2 as newborn babes, desire the unadulterated milk of the Word, in order that you grow by it, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Master is good.”
Kěpha tells us, that as cleansed obedient ones who have put aside these things, we are to be as new-born babes that are so hungry for the Truth that we make sure that we never miss a meal, so to speak, as we eat our ‘daily bread’ and are sustained by the purity of the Word of Elohim that causes us to grow up in Messiah!
We are to ‘desire’ the ‘unadulterated milk of the word’!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘desire’ is ἐπιποθέω epipotheō – Strong’s G1971 which means, ‘to yearn, long for, greatly desire, pursue with love, have great affection for’ and comes from the two root words:
1) ἐπί epi – Strong’s G1909 which is a preposition that can render the meaning, ‘upon, on, about, over’ and
2) ποθέω potheō which means, ‘to yearn or long for’.
The Greek word that is used here for ‘unadulterated’ is ἄδολος adolos – Strong’s G97 which means, ‘pure, genuine, guileless, unmixed, unadulterated’ and comes from two Greek words:
1) α alpha – Strong’s G1 which is the first letter in the Greek alphabet that is used as a negative prefix, and
2) δόλος dolos –Strong’s G1388 which means, ‘a bait, craft, deceit’, which we have already discussed in detail.
NO DECEIT!!!
We are to have an absolute love, affection and desire for the Word of Elohim, which is pure and is not mixed or corrupted by the deceit of man-made traditions, that have wickedly and deceitfully set-aside the Torah of Elohim!
Kěpha utilises this image of a new-born that desires to have its mother’s milk and sadly many have lost the intense love and hunger for the Truth and, as a result, have fallen prey to twisted words of man, that have corrupted the Truth, leaving them with a mixed and muddied concoction of lies and deceit, which can never cause any to properly grow in the Master!
So many people ought to be mature and eating meat, yet still lack milk, so to speak, as they have not grown in set-apartness, simply due to a lack of love for Elohim!
Love for Elohim is this: that we guard His commands, yet many who set aside the need to guard to do the Torah of Elohim, and choose a substituted counterfeit, can never grow as they should and have, in effect, lost their first love, despite all the works that they may claim to do!
The root word the word מִרְמָה mirmah – Strong’s H4820 that we looked at earlier, comes from the primitive root verb רָמָה ramah – Strong’s H7411 which means, ‘to beguile, betray, deal treacherously with’.
Some of the nouns that are derived from this root verb are used to describe one who is ‘lazy or idle’. The noun רְמִיָּה remiyyah – Strong’s H7423 which means, ‘deceit, treachery, slothful, slack, idle’ is derived from this verb too.
In a Psalm of Dawiḏ, we see him express some very clear words regarding those who practice deceit, and see the noun רְמִיָּה remiyyah – Strong’s H7423 being used!
Tehillah/Psalm 101:7 “He who practises deceit does not dwell in my house; he who speaks lies does not stand in my presence.”
Dawiḏ stresses that the one who practices deceit or speaks lies would not dwell in his house!
He was setting a clear standard in regards to the company that he kept!
What we can therefore see here, is that the one who has idle or has lazy hands, acts defiantly, as they refuse to submit to doing what is commanded.
We are clear told in Wayyiqra/Leviticus to not steal, lie or deceive one another:
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 19:23 “Do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive one another.”
The Hebrew word that is used here for ‘deceive’ is the verb שָׁקַר shaqar – Strong’s H8266 which means, ‘to do or deal falsely, lie’
Practising deceit and speaking lies and falsehood will keep you out of the House of Elohim!!!
Qolasim/Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to each other, since you have put off the old man with his practices”
Liars perish and shall not stand in the presence of the king!
The devil is a liar and has been from the beginning, and he too will perish!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 19:9 “A false witness does not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies perishes.”
The warning given in Scripture is very clear – Beware of speaking falsehood and making people feel at ease in their sin, under a misrepresented grace message!
The deceitful danger if deceit is what we are to be on guard against, making sure that we are not found to be foolish and lazy and without oil, but rather, may be found to be true servants that are worshipping the Master in Spirit and Truth, cling to His Word and guarding to do all that He commands, so that we are not deceived by the folly and dangers of deceit!
While we may feel like Yirmeyahu, at times, and want to run to the wilderness and hide out in a lodge, we can’t!!!!
We need to shine the light to a dark and deceitful people, and therefore, our responsibility is huge, as talmidim of the Most-High, who has called us to make taught ones of the nations!
Let us teach them truth and not falsehood and deceit, even if it means that you stand alone and many despise you – shine that light of Truth and let not the deceitful danger of deceit catch you in your ways, as you walk in the Master and stay in Him, aměn!
While many are bending their tongues like a bow, twisting the Truth, we are to be reminded that our Master is coming to destroy the wicked and treacherous, deceitful liars, as he breaks their bow and has His bow set as a witness that He is coming again.
In Ḥannah’s prayer of thanksgiving, in Shemu’ĕl Aleph/1 Samuel 2, we see her declaring how יהוה breaks the bow of the mighty:
Shemu’ĕl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:2-4 “There is no one set-apart like יהוה, for there is no one besides You, and there is no rock like our Elohim. 3 “Do not multiply words so proudly, proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for יהוה is an Ěl of knowledge, and by Him deeds are weighed. 4 “Bows of the mighty are broken, and those who stumble shall be girded with strength.”
Ḥannah could have a rejoicing heart, a strengthened stand and a mouth full of praise all because she had rejoiced in the deliverance of יהוה!
Ḥannah was secure and set-apart in יהוה, and for this reason she could rejoice, giving her the ability to exult in praise and be strengthened to declare His might.
How about you?
Are you welling up with exulting joy inside as you recognise and acknowledge who your Master and Elohim is?
Are you being strengthened in Him who fights for you, and are you boldly declaring His coming reign?
Or have disappointments, discouragements and worries of this age choked out your joy and strength, leaving you speechless and without breath?
As one meditates on this prayer of Ḥannah we ought to be stirred and awakened to a proper exulting praise and declaration of who our One true Master and Elohim is, giving us courage and strength to stand armed in His Truth.
In Shemu’ĕl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:2, Ḥannah made it very clear that there is no one like יהוה – there is no one besides Him and there is no Rock like Him!
In Shemu’ĕl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:3, Ḥannah was basically making it known, that the wrong should not boast in their folly, and those who had previously mocked her with very proud words, should not do so any longer, for anyone who mocks another before the matter has ended does not think straight and does not have their values where they ought to be!
The enemy always speaks to soon, and we should not get flustered by this, for we know our inheritance is secure in our Master and therefore, our shield of faith must be held up, through obedience, in order to withstand the fiery darts of the proud boasters who try to discourage us from running the race set before us, by spewing out deceit and lies!
Ḥannah then clearly declared that יהוה knows all and we know that Messiah makes it clear, that every idle word men speak, they shall give an account of it in the day of judgment.
In Shemu’ĕl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:4 she says that the bows of the mighty are broken and the weak shall be girded with strength!
The Hebrew root word that is used here for ‘bows’, in Shemu’ĕl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:4 is קֶשֶׁת qesheth – Strong’s H7198 which means, ‘bow, archer, arrows’, which is the word that I have already mentioned, earlier in this message, when highlighting how the deceived bend tehri tongue like a bow and speak falsehood and lies.
This root word קֶשֶׁת qesheth – Strong’s H7198 is also the word that is used for ‘rainbow’ in Berěshith/Genesis 9, as יהוה set His ‘rainbow’ in the cloud, as a sign of His Covenant between Him and the earth, when He declared that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood, and never again would all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and the sign of this covenant, would forever be the rainbow.
יהוה set His ‘bow’ in the cloud!
From this understanding, we see a wonderful picture of the great mercy of יהוה, who has basically ‘put’ His fierce and severe arrow in the cloud.
The rainbow would forever be a sign for us, that His mercy endures forever and we who follow after Him, and walk in Messiah, need never fear His bow or arrow that has been drawn for those appointed for destruction:
Tehillah/Psalm 7:12-13 “If one does not repent! He sharpens His sword, He bends His bow and makes it ready, 13 And He has prepared for Himself instruments of death, He makes His arrows hot for pursuers.”
The sign that He has set in the heavens is therefore a two-fold sign – firstly, it is a witness of His loving-commitment toward the righteous who are hidden from His wrath, while at the same time, it is a witness and warning against the wicked – a clear warning that His bow is ready for the day of His wrath!
It is also a great sign for us who are ‘in’ Messiah, for no matter how big or strong the bow of the enemy may seem, and no matter how many arrows the enemy tries to shoot at us, the enemy’s bow and arrows cannot match that of our Supreme Master and King – יהוה of Hosts!
So, the next time that you see a rainbow in the sky, be reminded of the Everlasting Covenant Promise of salvation, between יהוה and Yisra’ĕl!
Also be strengthened in the fact that the enemy’s bows are broken by our Master and King!
We are to be on guard against the deceitful danger of deceit and not be like those who are clinging to deceit!!!!
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 8:5-8 “Why then has this people, Yerushalayim, turned away in a continual backsliding? They cling to deceit, they refuse to turn back. 6 “I have listened and heard – they do not speak right. No man has repented of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ They all turned to their own course, like a horse rushing into battle. 7 “Even a stork in the heavens knows her appointed times. And a turtledove, and a swallow, and a thrush observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the right-ruling of יהוה . 8 “How do you say, ‘We are wise, and the Torah of יהוה is with us’? But look, the false pen of the scribe has worked falsehood.”
Here, we are able to get a very vivid picture of what we see happening today, as many are also clinging to deceit and refuse to turn back to walking in obedience to the Torah of Elohim, as the false pens of many scribes and translators have worked falsehood, deceiving many with a ‘lawless grace’!
The deceit that most are clinging to, has caused them to not know the right-rulings of Elohim and in deceit they make the vain excuse, ‘but it has been done away with’!
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 14:14 “Then יהוה said to me, “The prophets prophesy falsehood in My Name. I have not sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own heart.”
Not only had the false pens of the scribes worked falsehood, the prophets were prophesying falsehood in the Name of יהוה, which He had not sent, spoken to or given command to.
They just simply prophesied false visions from the deceit of their own hearts!
This is happening today, as we see so many false prophesies and visions being given, when יהוה has not spoken!
Many will use the Word of Elohim deceitfully, in order to push their false visions of an assumed peace and their false messages do not line up with the clear pattern of Scripture!
Sadly, so many people are deceived, as they simply follow what they are told and are unable to rightly divide the truth and discern against deceit, for they do not know the right-rulings of Elohim, because the false prophets and false teachers and false shepherds have muddied the waters and taught deceit, treachery and falsehood!
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 23:26-27 “Till when shall it be in the heart of the prophets? – the prophets of falsehood and prophets of the deceit of their own heart, 27 who try to make My people forget My Name by their dreams which everyone relates to his neighbour, as their fathers forgot My Name for Baʽal.”
The deceit that is coming forth from the hearts of false prophets and false teachers continue to cause people to forget the Name of יהוה – for Ba’al!!!
The Hebrew word בַּעַל ba’al – Strong’s H1167 means, ‘owner, lord, master, land owner’, and at its root form it means, ‘to marry, rule over, husband’.
We also take note that the name בַּעַל Ba’al – Strong’s H1168, as it is used in this verse from Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 23:27, was the name of a Phoenician deity and as a name it can be rendered from the Hebrew into English as ‘The Lord’!!!
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 18:21 “And Ěliyahu came to all the people, and said, “How long would you keep hopping between two opinions? If יהוה is Elohim, follow Him; and if Baʽal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”
If we translate the Hebrew of the highlighted text correctly into English, we would better have the following:
If יהוה is Elohim, follow Him; and if The Lord, follow him.
For many people, this may seem offensive, yet to the true hearer and doer of the Truth, this is a sobering reality, of what the false and deceitful traditions of man has done, in causing many to not know Elohim and, in doing so, they have forgotten the Name of יהוה, which highlights how the deceived have forgotten who it is who actually causes them to be!
Tehillah/Psalm 119:118 “You have made light of all those who stray from Your laws, for falsehood is their deceit.”
In a Psalm that gives resounding praise for the Torah of Elohim we are able to clearly see from this verse that falsehood is the deceit of those who stray from יהוה’s laws!!!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘falsehood’ comes from the root word שֶׁקֶר sheqer – Strong’s H8267 which means, ‘deception, disappointment, falsehood, lies’, which we have already discussed, when looking at Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 9:5, and this comes from the root verb שָׁקַר shaqar – Strong’s H8266 which means, ‘to do or deal falsely, lie’.
Ěḵah/Lamentations 2:14 “Your prophets have seen falsehood and folly for you, and have not shown you your crookedness, to turn back your captivity. But their visions for you are false and misleading messages.”
Through the many false and misleading messages of deceit, we are able to see how so many have actually begun to teach themselves to speak falsehood; a falsehood that has been so ingrained in them, as we are able to see through the mirror of the example, given to us in all of these verses that I have highlighted, in regards to deceit!
We are to make sure that we are doing the desire of Elohim, which is our set-apartness and in doing so we are to be on guard against the deceit of lawlessness, which is presented with a lot of power, signs and wonders of falsehood!
Tas’loniqim Bět/2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, 10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved.”
Lawlessness is promoted by the deceit of unrighteousness!
What I mean by that is that many are falling prey to the deceit of unrighteousness that promotes that observance of the Torah and commands of Elohim is no longer valid. We know that Scripture clearly defines for us what righteousness is:
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.”
With righteousness being clearly defined for us, as the guarding of the commands, we are then able to clearly understand that unrighteousness involves defiance toward the guarding of the commands and therefore, promotes lawlessness and is sin!
So many are revelling in the deception of lawlessness and have no concept or idea of the severe punishment that is coming upon the unrighteous.
Deceit is falsehood disguised as truth and very threatening to those who have no knowledge of Elohim, due to their adherence to teachings of lawlessness and what we are to make sure, as set-apart treasured ones of the Most-High, is that we put off the false and put on the Truth and be dressed in righteousness with the full armour of Elohim being the only true dress code that guards against deceit.
Above all, we must make sure that no deceit is found on our lips, as we are to make sure that we meditate on the Torah, day and night, in order for us to be firmly planted in our Rock, Messiah, who is the Truth!!!
As we contemplate on the blessing of the deliverance that our Master has worked for us and consider the blessing of the forgiveness and cleansing He brings through His Word that does not change nor fail, let us make sure that there is no deceit in us, as we continue to pursue apartness before the face of our Mighty Master and Elohim, Husband and King, יהושע Messiah!!!
THE DECEITFUL DANGER OF DECEIT!
Do not be fooled by it!
Be wise servants, who have their lamps filled with oil and are dressed in righteousness, and perfecting set-apartness, before the face our Master and Elohim!
יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face upon you and give you shalom!