4th of the 7th month 2018/2019
Shalom all,
Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 35:20-24 “After all this, when Yoshiyahu had prepared the House, Neḵo sovereign of Mitsrayim came up to fight against Karkemish by the Euphrates. And Yoshiyahu went out against him. 21 And he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, sovereign of Yehuḏah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am fighting, for Elohim commanded me to make haste. Leave Elohim alone, who is with me, lest He destroy you. 22 However, Yoshiyahu would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself to fight against him, and did not listen to the words of Neḵo from the mouth of Elohim, and came to fight in the Valley of Meḡiddo. 23 And the archers shot at Sovereign Yoshiyahu. And the sovereign said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded. 24 And his servants took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Yerushalayim. And he died, and was buried in one of the burial-sites of his fathers. And all Yehuḏah and Yerushalayim were mourning for Yoshiyahu.”
Just over a week ago a precious brother, friend and fellow soldier in Messiah asked me about the events around the death of Yoshiyahu, the 15th king of the House of Yehuḏah, and this led me into digging a little deeper into the valuable lessons we can learn from the accounts that lead to this king who brought about major reforms in the land.
In a message called, TRUE CONTINUAL SEEKING LEAVES NO PLACE FOR DISGUISE! I would like to expand on these closing events of Yoshiyahu’s life as the foundation for this message, and highlight the clear dangers of not being continual seekers of Elohim.
In order to grasp the proper context of the passage that I have quoted, from Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 35:20-24, let me first give a brief overview of the life of this king of Yehuḏah!
Yoshiyahu was 8 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 31 years in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name was Yeḏiḏah the daughter of Aḏayah of Botsqath. He did what was right in the eyes of יהוה, and walked in all the ways of his father Dawiḏ, and did not turn aside, right or left. In the 8th year of his reign he began to seek the Elohim of his father Dawiḏ. In the 12th year he began to cleanse Yehuḏah and Yerushalayim from the high places, and the Ashĕrim, and the carved images, and the moulded images. They broke down the altars of the Ba’als in his presence, and the sun-pillars which were above them he cut down. And the Ashĕrim, and the carved images, and the moulded images he smashed, and ground them up and strewed it on the graves of those who had offered to them. He burned the bones of the priests on their slaughter-places as prophesised over 250 years before when the command of Elohim rebuked the wicked king of the House of Yisra’ěl, Aḥaḇ, as written in:
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 13:1-2 “And see, a man of Elohim went from Yehuḏah to Běyth Ěl by the word of יהוה, while Yaroḇ‛am was standing by the slaughter-place to burn incense. 2 And he cried out against the slaughter-place by the word of יהוה, and said, “O slaughter-place, slaughter-place! Thus said יהוה, ‘See, a son is to be born to the house of Dawiḏ, Yoshiyahu is his name. And on you he shall slaughter the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones be burned on you.’”
Yoshiyahu cleansed Yehuḏah and Yerushalayim, and in the cities of Menashsheh, and Ephrayim, and Shimʽon, as far as Naphtali, in their ruins all around. He broke down the slaughter-places and the Ashĕrim, and ground the carved images into dust, and cut down all the sun-pillars throughout all the land of Yisra’ĕl, and returned to Yerushalayim.
In the 18th year of his reign the Torah was found and after hearing the Torah he tore his garments and removed all the abominations from the land. He made all who were present in Yisra’ĕl diligently serve יהוה their Elohim. All his days they did not turn away from following יהוה Elohim of their fathers.
Yoshiyahu diligently sought Elohim and made the necessary changes needed in order to bring about a proper reform and return to true obedience before the face of Elohim. He was also told the following:
Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 34:27-28 “Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Elohim when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your garments and wept before Me, I also have heard,” declares יהוה. 28 See, I am gathering you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your burial-site in peace, so that your eyes would not see all the evil that I am bringing on this place and its inhabitants.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the sovereign.”
What a powerful word that he was given! The promise of peace and the guarding against seeing the evil that יהוה brings upon the wicked, in His wrath, is made secure in those who stay in the Master!
Deviate from the Master’s way and you may just find yourself in severe danger of destruction!
As we consider these words given to Yoshiyahu and the death he faced, we are able to learn a very sobering lesson against any deviation from true obedience and the continual seeking that is required of true worshippers of Elohim!
In Chapter 35 of Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles we are told that Yoshiyahu performed the Pěsaḥ to יהוה in the 18th year of his reign and that this Pěsaḥ was something special!!!
Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 35:18 “There had not been a Pěsaḥ performed in Yisra’ěl like it since the days of Shemuʼěl the prophet. And none of the sovereigns of Yisra’ěl had performed such a Pěsaḥ as Yoshiyahu performed, with the priests and the Lěwites, and all Yehuḏah and Yisra’ěl who were present, and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim.”
Can you imagine, just for a moment, how spectacular this Pěsaḥ must have been! Yet, the passage that I began this message with, says… “After all this…”
So, ‘after all this…’ – after all of the wonderful reforms that were done… after all the wicked and abominable worship had been destroyed… after all the land had been cleansed… after all of the obedient joyful celebration of performing the Pěsaḥ … after all this, when Yoshiyahu had prepared the House… we come to the events that record that which led to his death! From these events we are able to glean great insight in understanding how it is of vital importance that we do not, for a moment, neglect to seek our Master and Elohim in all matters!
The account we have here in Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 35:29-30 gives us a little more detail than that which we find in:
Melaḵim Bět /2 Kings 23:29-30 “In his days Pharaoh Neḵo sovereign of Mitsrayim went up against the sovereign of Ashshur, to the River Euphrates. And Sovereign Yoshiyahu went out to him, and he killed him at Meḡiddo when he saw him. 30 And his servants conveyed his body in a chariot from Meḡiddo, and brought him to Yerushalayim, and buried him in his own burial-place. And the people of the land took Yeho’aḥaz son of Yoshiyahu, and anointed him, and set him up to reign in his father’s place.”
As we look a little closer at the account of the events that led up to Yoshiyahu’s death, in Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 35:29-30, we are able to see that Pharaoh Neḵo, the king of Mitsrayim, was on his way to fight against Karkemish by the Euphrates, which was a Hittite capital which was situated on the Euphrates river, northeast of Yisra’ěl! In other words, Pharaoh Neḵo was not coming to fight against Yehuḏah, but was merely passing through to go against the Hittites that were dwelling far above Yisra’ěl! He told Yoshiyahu that he wasn’t coming to fight against him, but was going north as Elohim had commanded him.
Yoshiyahu then disguises himself, which he should not have done, and goes out to fight against Pharaoh Neḵo, without seeking יהוה!!!
It is these last acts of Yoshiyahu that I want us to take a closer look at, along with other examples that we can find in Scripture, whereby we must take heed of the lesson against doing what is right in our own eyes and never relying on ‘yesterday’s obedience’ to be that which keeps you standing today!
Yoshiyahu, having just made some major reforms in cleaning up the land and the people, did not guard the need to seek יהוה, when seeing Pharaoh Neḵo coming up with his army and despite Pharaoh Neḵo telling him that he wasn’t coming to fight against Yehuḏah, Yoshiyahu took matters into his own hands and disguised himself!
When you are not being who you are supposed to be then you just might end up getting caught in the crossfire of battles that you were never to be in. Yoshiyahu disguised himself and went to pick a fight against Pharaoh Neḵo, who he saw as a threat against Yehuḏah and their renewed cleansed ways, and did it his own way without inquiring of יהוה. As a result, he got shot by archers and died and there was a huge lamenting that took place for this king who did a great deal in restoring proper worship and obedience unto יהוה.
Yirmeyahu the prophet also lamented for Yoshiyahu and a law was made in Yisra’ěl regarding the lamentations for this young king who destroyed false worship within Yehuḏah!
I often think that the details of the events which led to his death are overlooked, yet they carry such vital lessons for us, teachings us that we can never assume that just because we have been obedient that we can win various battles of life under a disguised appearance! By that I mean that we cannot stand and fight the good fight of the faith if we are not truly being the light and salt that we are called to be and are not guarding the garments of righteousness at all times!
This very obedient king made the error of changing his appearance and thought that by doing so he could gain victory! This king, who had walked in the ways of his father Dawiḏ, not turning to the right or left…. turned…for a moment… and in doing so, he turned to doing something evil by disguising himself and going out to fight when he shouldn’t have!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in יהוה with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 know Him in all your ways, and He makes all your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear יהוה and turn away from evil.”
Due to a fear of the enemy Yoshiyahu did not listen to the words of Neḵo from the mouth of Elohim and as a result, he was wise in his own eyes and did not trust in יהוה but leaned on his own understanding. And this, straight after having had such a great Pěsaḥ!!! This in itself is a valuable lesson for us, as we can recognise that the Feast of Pěsaḥ is a clear representation and reminder to us of the deliverance that our Master has brought and done for us, yet we can never have a wicked mind-set that things that once we are delivered and redeemed that we can do as we please!!! We must work out our deliverance with fear and trembling, which requires a continual seeking of Elohim in all we do!
The Hebrew root word that is translated as ‘disguised’ is the primitive root verb חָפַשׂ ḥaphas – Strong’s H2664 which means, ‘to search, examine, think out, devise, test, dsiguise’ and here, it is written in the ‘hithpael’ verb tense, which is the reflexive verb tense that can render the meaning of, ‘to disguise oneself, let oneself be searched for’. In other words, the tense that this is written in can highlight for us the attitude of one doing this, to be one of ‘seek or find me if you can’, knowing that one’s appearance has been disguised, making it difficult or impossible to be found, hence the understanding of disguising one appearance in order to not be found or found out!
This was a huge mistake for Yoshiyahu! He should never have disguised himself and gone out to fight! He did this simply because he did not listen to Elohim…. Because he did not seek Elohim… but just did what he thought was right in his own eyes!
In the Hebrew text, the reflexive form (hithpael) of this root verb חָפַשׂ ḥaphas – Strong’s H2664 is written here in Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 35:22 as הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ – hithḥappes.
This root verb חָפַשׂ ḥaphas – Strong’s H2664 is used 23 times in 20 verses, and of these 23 times it is written in the ‘hithpael’ verb tense as הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ – hithḥappes 5 times. As we consider the other 4 uses of this form, we are able to expand upon the lesson of guarding against disguising oneself and making sure that we seek Elohim in all we do!
Let us know look at the other 4 passages where the word הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ – hithḥappes is used:
Melaḵim Aleph/1 Kings 22:30 “And the sovereign of Yisra’ěl said to Yehoshaphat, “Let me disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the sovereign of Yisra’ěl disguised himself and went into battle.”
The sovereign of Yisra’ěl that is being referred to here was Aḥaḇ, the 7th king of the of the house of Yisra’ěl who had married Izeḇel, the daughter of Ethbaʽal, sovereign of the Tsiḏonians. He served Baʽal and built an altar for Baʽal in the house of Baʽal, which he had built in Shomeron. He made an Ashĕrah, and did more to provoke יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl than all the sovereigns of Yisra’ĕl before him.
Yehoshaphat, the king of the House of Yehuḏah, had made peace with Aḥaḇ and went out with him to battle against the king of Aram. Aḥaḇ disguised himself and ended up being shot by an enemy archer and he died. When his body was brought to Shomeron and buried, his chariot was washed at Shomeron and the dogs licked up his blood, according to the Word of יהוה which had been spoken!
This account is also recorded in:
Diḇre haYamim Bět/2 Chronicles 18:29 “And the sovereign of Yisra’ěl said to Yehoshaphat, “Let me disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” And the sovereign of Yisra’ěl disguised himself, and they went into battle.”
The wicked king Sha’ul also disguised himself, as seen in:
Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 28:8 “And Sha’ul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please divine for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name.”
After having put away the mediums and the spiritists of the land, he wanted to find one that he could go and use divination to call up Shemuʼěl the prophet who was dead. He changed his garments in order to disguise himself.
The 5th time we see the word הִתְחַפֵּ֔שׂ – hithḥappes being used, is in:
Iyoḇ/Job 30:18-19 “By great exertion is my garment changed – it girds me as the collar of my coat, 19 throwing me into the mud, and I have become like dust and ashes.”
Here in the words of Iyoḇ, the Hebrew word יִתְחַפֵּ֣שׂ – yithhappes is translated as ‘changed’ and is the imperfect ‘hithpael’ verb tense of the root word חָפַשׂ ḥaphas – Strong’s H2664.
As we consider the powerful lessons we are able to learn from the entire accounts of that which Iyoḇ went through, we are able to recognise the heartfelt cry that he is giving here, when trying to explain his agony! He was basically saying that due to great trials and force his garments had changed… in other words, he was saying that the state in which he was in, due to the sickness and pain he had suffered, was not who he was! That which his friends had now seen was not who he is – the suffering he experienced had changed him to the point of not being recognisable!
As we consider these words of Iyoḇ, we are able to recognise how damaging trials and persecutions can be and take note that trials and persecutions, or the battles of this life, can cause one to be in danger of resorting to disguising one’s appearance! We must therefore learn the importance of guarding our garments of righteousness and cling to יהוה! Do not let pain and suffering, trials and persecutions, change your light of set-apartness that you are to keep shining in a dark and depraved world! In other words, do not disguise yourself and do not change your garments of righteousness, but keep them guarded and clean at all times! This we can only do if we are continually seeking יהוה in all!
Dawiḏ understood this:
Tehillah/Psalm 34:4 “I sought יהוה, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
Fears are what often causes people to try to figure things out in their own way and sadly, in the process, they neglect the need to seek יהוה, resulting in a change in their garments! By that I mean that without seeking יהוה one’s appearance changes, as the disguise of self and the fleshliness of doing what is right in one’s own eyes is seen, rather than a trusting reliance upon יהוה, in complete set-apartness, guarding to do all he commands!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘seek’ in Tehillah/Psalm 34:4 is דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 which means, ‘to resort to, seek out, ask, avenge, consult, investigate, search carefully, make inquiry, question’. Now when we see that this word carries more than simply just 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.
Mattithyahu/Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the reign of Elohim, and His righteousness, and all these matters shall be added to you.”
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 every day. A word that is derived from דָּרַשׁ darash is מִדְרָשׁ miḏrash – Strong’s H4097 means, ‘a study, record, writings or story, commentary’. A ‘miḏrash’ 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!
We take note of the words that Shelomoh was clearly told by Dawiḏ when he was to become king:
Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Shelomoh, know the Elohim of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a pleasing life, for יהוה searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you do seek Him, He is found by you; but if you forsake Him, He rejects you forever.”
This Hebrew word דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 can also carry the understanding of seeking out and learning information that was not previously known and it implies having a relationship! By that I mean that the information that is sought out is done so through proper requests and petitions and the information sought out is then carefully pondered upon and thought about, with a focus to think seriously and long about its meaning and ramifications that are expressed. In other words, this kind of seeking can only be done with the proper attention and concentration that is required to grasp and meditate on in order to apply what is sought after and learnt!
This word דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 is a verb that expresses an action of a careful attention and due diligence that is required in order to gain the knowledge sought after.
In the ancient pictographic script, the Hebrew word דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 which means, ‘to resort to, seek out, ask, avenge, consult, investigate, search carefully, make inquiry, question’, looks like this:
Dalet – דָּ:
In the ancient script this letter is pictured as , which is a ‘tent door’. It can also have the meaning of a back and forth movement, as one goes back and forth through a tent door and so speaks of an access point. It can also carry the meaning of ‘dangle’ or hanging as the tent door would hang from the roof pole of the tent. It speaks a great deal in terms of understanding the door of the tent of appointment as the only means of access. We also recognise that יהושע Messiah is The Door, and whoever enters through Him, shall be saved, and shall go in and shall go out and find pasture.
The commands are also commanded to be put on our doorposts as a continual reminder that we are to guard His commands, as we go out and come in, submitting under the authority of The Door, through which we have been given access to being built up as a spiritual House for Elohim.
Resh – רַ:
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!
Shin – שׁ:
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.
Looking at these pictographic letters that make up the root word דָּרַשׁ darash we can, in terms of the command to seek יהוה and His strength, recognise that we are to come to The Door of the Head and ‘eat’ the Word, so to speak!
AT THE DOOR OF THE HEAD IS THE WORD!
When we gather together as commanded, on the Sabbaths and Appointed Times of Elohim then we are able to come and delight ourselves in Him as we meditate on His Word and Submit to our Head, which is Messiah, guarding to do all He has commanded us to, knowing that our coming in and going out shall be in peace!
Those who are not coming to The Head at The Door of Appointment are not truly seeking The Word! Those who neglect to guard the Sabbaths and Feasts of יהוה are not seeking Him as they should and therefore have not properly heard the command to seek. Hearing they hear but do not understand!
There is another Hebrew word that is also translated as ‘seek’, as seen in:
Tehillah/Psalm 40:16 “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your deliverance always say, “יהוה be exalted!””
Those who are not seeking יהוה, in a disguised attempt at set-apartness, can never be properly equipped to always say, יהוה be exalted! To always say, יהוה be exalted, one’s obedience must be consistently pure, for when one is doing what is right in their own eyes they are exalting self above יהוה, revealing a lack of humility as the pride of sin is exposed!
The Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘seek’ is בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 which means, ‘to seek, aim, search, look, inquire’, and it is written in the ‘piel’ form which expresses an ‘intensive or intentional action’ and could therefore be expressed as, ‘seek earnestly or seek the face, seek to find, demand, desire, ask’, and this kind of ‘seeking’ is an intense seeking with a purpose!
It is also used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 27:8 “To my heart You have said, “Seek My face.” Your face, יהוה, I seek.”
We who stay in the Master and walk in integrity are to seek (בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245) יהוה and His righteousness with great intensity and desire to please Him.
How earnestly are you seeking יהוה?
When looking at this Hebrew root word in its ancient pictographic form we are able to grasp a clearer picture of what this kind of seeking entails.
In the ancient pictographic script this word בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 which means, ‘to seek, aim, search, look, inquire’, looks like this:
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. 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!
Quph – ק:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘quph’, which is pictured in the ancient script as – – which is a picture of ‘the sun at the horizon’ and depicts the elements of ‘time’, as it pictures the sun in its rising and setting. It therefore carries the meaning of ‘circle’ or ‘to go around’, representing for us both, appointed cycles or times as well as eternity. It also is understood as the ‘gathering of the light’ as has the understanding of that which is ‘continual’ and signifies a continued pattern that is faithfully repeated.
Shin – שֵׁ:
This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as , which is a picture of ‘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. Understanding the concept of eating our daily bread, as we meditate on the Torah day and night, we also see this picture rendering for us the meaning of ‘The Word’.
When we consider this pictographic rendering of the Hebrew word בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 in terms of ‘seeking’ then we are able to see the meaning that is clearly expressed through this word, as it can render for us the following:
DWELLING CONTINUALLY IN THE WORD!
I do think that this clearly expresses what proper seeking Elohim and His righteousness entails!
How earnestly are you seeking Elohim and His righteousness? Are you dwelling continually in His Word? By ‘dwelling continually in His Word’ I do not mean being buried in the reading of His Word for 24 hours with no time for anything or anyone else, but rather that one’s life is continually centred around His Word, which entails a proper diligent reading, studying and seeking and then the proper practical application of the Word that is studied in all you do! Dwelling continually in His Word means that all that you think, say or do is done in the Name of יהושע. Dwelling in His Word involves a proper understanding of how we are living stones that are being built up in Messiah and therefore recognise that we are no longer our own and to seek our own ways would be a foolish thing done in pride!
The Hebrew word בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 can also carry the meaning of, ‘desire, consult, discover, call upon’ and therefore implies that this kind of seeking is done in order to try to learn information about an object or person and implies a diligent procurement of the information required. Those who have no desire for Elohim do not seek Him and are not interested in discovering and learning more about Him.
While we take note that בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 and דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 are synonyms of each other, we also recognise that there is a difference between the two.
Yes, they both mean ‘seek, inquire, consult, search out’, yet as we have noted, these two actions give us a better understanding of what true seeking of Elohim and His Righteousness entails as we recognise that we are called to dwell continually in the Word and in the process of doing this we are called to earnestly study and learn in order to grow!
בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 implies the eagerness and desire while דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 suggests care and intentionality in the process of looking for something; and we see both of these words being used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 105:4 “Seek יהוה and His strength; seek His face always.”
This verse could be paraphrased as follows:
“Carefully search for יהוה and His strength; continually and eagerly seek His face.”
We see these two words being used in Mosheh’s warning against turning away from יהוה:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 4:29 “But from there you shall seek יהוה your Elohim, and shall find, when you search for Him with all your heart and with all your being.”
In the context of these words of Mosheh we are able to take heed of the warning against turning away from יהוה and in this verse we are able to recognise two clear actions that will keep us from turning away and cause us to remain faithful and trustworthy ambassadors of His reign and recognise how we have all, from a scattered state, been able to seek Him and find Him and search for Him with all our heart, because of the Blood of Messiah, our Master and Elohim!!!
‘Seek’ and ‘search for’! Same, same… but different! What? Well, we know that these are certainly synonyms yet we also recognise that they differ in their application. As already discussed, we take note that that to “search for” is a verb that expresses an action of a careful attention and due diligence that is required in order to gain the knowledge sought after, which is the word דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875, which calls for intense discipline in study and learning.
To ‘seek’, which is the Hebrew word – בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245, carries the understanding of seeking something that exists or is believed to exist, in order to obtain it!
In other words, we could say that בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 is not only about knowledge but it is about possession!
In other words, it is about earnestly seeking יהוה with intensity and passion, making Him your Elohim through a deepened personal and intimate relationship!
Both of these kinds of seeking are required to stay true to the word and stand firm in the Truth!
True seeking requires both בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 and דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875, collectively working together on a continual basis. When we earnestly exercise a בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 kind of seeking then we are able to recognise Him as our True personal Elohim, Master and Saviour!
Seeking Him with intense passion, in order to know Him, will cause you to search for Him with all your heart.
True seeking collectively implies a cognitive investigation and a digging deeper into understanding the One who is sought after with your all!
Mosheh gives us a couple of actions here in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 4:29:
Firstly, we must submit to Elohim and seek to make Him our supreme and complete ruler in all we do – that is that we are to seek Elohim to be our Head and Strength and Ruler in every thought, word and deed!
When we do this, we will be careful about what we do!
Secondly, we must make time to study His Word and therefore make time to know our King’s Word and Deeds, so that we can faithfully follow Him and be perfectly built up in Him!
Many people claim that they do not have time to be in the Word and often find various excuses as to why they cannot find the time to be in the Word and study it on a daily basis. When anyone says this, it simply highlights the fact that they are not truly seeking and searching for Elohim and, as a result, they reveal that Elohim is not that important to them, which in turn will cause them to have no interest in the interests of others and simply highlights that they are walking in pride, as they are so self-consumed and seek only after their own interests and desires, according to the flesh!
Qolasim/Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Master in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Master יהושע, giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.”
You will take note of the language being used here in Qolasim/Colossians, as the ability to make sure that whatever you do, whether in word or deed, is done in the Name of the Master יהושע, the Word of Messiah must ‘dwell’ in you!
As mentioned, by the pictographic rendering of בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 – ‘Dwelling continually in the Word!’ – then – if whatever we do, whether in word or deed, or even thought, cannot be worthy of being done in the Name of the Master יהושע then it should not be done! For if it is, then we are simply seeking our own interests and not His will and that which pleases Him!
Do you earnestly seek and search for Elohim?
In a severe rebuke giving for false and compromised worship יהוה makes it clear that He will stretch out His hand against any who have not sought for Him or inquired of Him:
Tsephanyah/Zephaniah 1:4-6 “And I shall stretch out My hand against Yehuḏah, and against all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, and cut off every trace of Baʽal from this place, the names of the idolatrous priests, with the priests, 5 and those bowing down to the host of the heavens on the house-tops, and those bowing themselves, swearing by יהוה and swearing by Malkam; 6 and those who turn away from following יהוה, and who have not sought יהוה or inquired of Him.”
Here we see both words בָּקַשׁ baqash – Strong’s H1245 and דָּרַשׁ darash – Strong’s H1875 being used.
Many may claim to know Elohim yet they are not seeking Him with all their heart, as their compromised lifestyles reveal this as their ‘mixed worship’ highlights that they have not sought יהוה as He should be, as He is NOT Elohim to them in every area of their lives! If He was then they would not do half of the things that they do; and in the process they have no inclination of inquiring of Him through the necessary study and meditation of His Torah that is required on a daily basis.
It is all about seeking Him always! How are you seeking? Have you found that you too have made the mistake that Yoshiyahu made and in the process, you have simply disguised yourself and did whatever you thought was right in your own eyes instead of simply seeking יהוה?
TRUE CONTINUAL SEEKING LEAVES NO PLACE FOR DISGUISE!
There are many today who are disguising themselves as being believers yet the fruit of their lives highlight that there is no consistency in bearing fruit worthy of repentance and reveal that they are not being filled with the fruit of righteousness! Many are claiming to be believers based on what they have done in the past yet their present actions do not reflect that which they claim witness to of their past, showing that they have simply disguised themselves thinking that they are ok, yet are not as they are not guarding righteousness at all time and compromise set-apartness by mixing!
As we consider the importance of continually seeking יהוה, and the dangers of not doing so, let us make sure that we do not find ourselves being exposed as one who had disguised their assumed claim of righteousness by not consistently guarding the Truth at all times!
Do not let pressures and trials, pain and suffering, or the battles of this life that war against you, cause you to neglect the need to be properly seeking יהוה which ends up in you doing what is right in your own eyes and causes your much needed set-apartness to be disguised and destroyed due to the folly of compromise, because of the fear of properly taking a firm stand in the Master and fighting the good fight!
A trustworthy servant stands firm, stays in the Master and seeks Him continually with their all!
Despite having made huge reforms and experiencing great victory in the revelation of the Truth, Yoshiyahu took His eyes off of יהוה and sought to defeat the fear of fleshly battles his own way and disguised himself as he turned away from seeking יהוה as he had always done, just for a moment, and suffered a premature death as a result!
Let these events be an important reminder, allowing them to teach and instruct you in righteousness, so that you are always ready to give a sure answer for the hope you have in the Master, as one who guards righteousness at all times and as one who is always looking to the Prince and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע Messiah!!!
As you consider the passages that we have looked at and as you look intently into the mirror of the Word, what do you see in your own life? Have your found that your eyes have strayed, at times, from looking intently to our Master and Elohim, due to the intensity of the battles that rage within and without and as a result you made some dubious choices that were based on a premature reflexive action toward the hardships and trails that you were facing, instead of properly seeking help from our Master and Elohim?
May you be strengthened in the Truth as you do your utmost at presenting yourself before the Master as a workman approved… one who knows how to handle the Truth in all circumstances and not let circumstances cripple and disguise your ability to shine as the True light that you are called to be!
Do not let past victories cause you to think that you do not need to seek Elohim in everything and never assume that you can walk without the light and lamp of His Torah, but rather stay in the light as He is in the light and seek Him always as you meditate on His Word day and night, for then you will walk upright and be able to stand and embrace the victory of deliverance each and every day, never to be disguised in any way but rather shining bright the light of the Truth!!!
Do not allow the disguise of false traditions of man that are taught as teachings cause you to be wrongly dressed and exposed as being one who is disguised by falsehood, but rather keep your garments of set-apartness clean as you guard to do all that our Master commands! Now to do that you need to be one who seeks Him with your all, in all!!!
TRUE CONTINUAL SEEKING LEAVES NO PLACE FOR DISGUISE!
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!