TRUE SONSHIP GUARDS THE COMMANDS! ADOPTED TO OBEY! – At the Foot of the Covenant Ministries

17^th of the 5^th month 2021/2022.

Shalom family,

As I was reading the accounts contained in both of the books of Shemuʼěl/Samuel, I was again gripped by the clear difference that we are able to see, between that which comes as a result of obedience versus the results, or product, of disobedience.

Then one verse kept sticking in my head, and I was once again reminded of how we are able to truly recognise who are true sons and daughters of Elohim and who are not.

Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 2:12 “And the sons of Ěli were sons of Beliya’al – they did not know יהוה.”.

The sons of Ěli were Ḥophni and Pineḥas:

The name חָפְנִי Ḥophni – Strong’s H2652 means ‘pugilist’, and the definition of a pugilist is regarded as a person who fights with his fists, or a professional boxer; and the name of פִּינְחָס Pineḥas – Strong’s H6372 means, ‘mouth of brass’. .

This, of course, is not the same Pineḥas who rose up in zeal for יהוה and put to death the couple who whored in the camp – that was Aharon’s grandson.

This Pineḥas, the son of Ěli, was not zealous for יהוה – he was more zealous for himself and his own comforts, while using his position of authority to satisfy his own fleshly desires..

These two sons of Ěli, who were supposed to be serving as faithful priests of Elohim, and by bloodline were of the Lĕwitical priesthood, yet here they were called ‘sons of Beliya’al’, and the text further explains why they were called ‘sons of Beliya’al’ and not regarded as ‘sons of Elohim’ – and it was because they did not know יהוה!!! .

This verse carries a very powerful and clear warning, to those who think that they are sons of the Most–High, while their actions reveal otherwise.

In a message called, ‘TRUE SONSHIP GUARDS THE COMMANDS – ADOPTED TO OBEY!’, I would like us to be reminded how we, as true sons and daughters of the Living Elohim, are to be ardent in our obedience in guarding the commands of our Creator and King..

Here we have a very clear verse, that shows us that physical bloodline does not necessarily make you a true son of Elohim. .

When I refer to son or sonship, in reference to our relationship toward Elohim, I am collectively speaking of both male and female children (or sons and daughters) of the Most–High, as the Hebrew word for son is בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121, which is used over 5000 times, and is not exclusively used as a reference to the male offspring of human parents.

It is also used idiomatically for children generally, as well as for descendants, i.e., grandsons; and is also used for people or items belonging in a category or group of people, for example, sons of prophets. .

We are also able to recognise that, in Scripture, the term בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121 often specifies an intimate relationship between a father and his children. .

We see the plural of this word בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121, which is בָּנִים baniym, being translated as ‘children’ in:

Tehillah/Psalm 103:13 “As a father has compassion for his children, so יהוה has compassion for those who fear Him.”.

In the ancient pictographic Hebrew alphabet, the word בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121 looks like this:.

Beyt – בֵּ:

This is the letter ‘beyt’ (בֵּ), which in the ancient script has this letter as , which pictures a tent floor plan and means, ‘house’ or ‘tent’. It represents family and the importance of those who are inside the tent as opposed to the tent structure itself and is the Dwelling Place of the Most-High, which we are, as we are as living stones being built up in Messiah..

Nun – ן:

This is the letter ‘nun’ (ן), which in the ancient text is pictured as a , which is a ‘spouting seed’, and gives the idea of ‘continuation or an offspring or an heir’, speaking of that which sprouts forth will be the heir of the promise of continuation, and represents one’s life expectancy..

The combined meaning of these two letters means:

THE CONTINUING OF THE HOUSE.

The term בֵּן ben – Strong’s H1121 comes from the primitive root verb בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129 which means, ‘to build, besieged, construct, fortify, rebuild, establish a family, build up’, and a derivative of this word is the Hebrew word אֶבֶן eḇen – Strong’s H68 which means, ‘stone, corner stone, differing weights, plumb line’, and gives us a better understanding of how we are being built up as ‘living stones’ in Messiah, as Kěpha describes in:

Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 2:4-5 “Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.”.

When we consider how we are being built up as living stones in our Master, and are the Dwelling Place of Elohim, we see that we can only be built up in the One who is to be praised, and can only be built up according to His wisdom – the wisdom that He has already made clear and by which all is made, for wisdom has already ‘built Her house’.

In other words, the design and pattern and function has been given and the continuing of the House of Wisdom can only be done according to Her standards as set forth in the Word of Elohim!.

This gives fuller meaning and clarity to us when we look at the word for built in the ancient text: בָּנָה banah – Strong’s H1129 which means, ‘to build, besieged, construct, fortify, rebuild, establish a family, build up’, therefore, in the ancient pictographic script, it looks like this:.

You will notice that there is one additional letter that is added here to this word that differs from the word for ‘son’.

This additional letter is the letter: .

Hey – ה:

The ancient script has this letter pictured as , which is ‘a man standing with his arms raised out’.

The Hebrew word letter “hey” means “behold, breath, sigh”, as when looking at a great sight, and can also give the understanding of ‘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!.

Recognising the clear pictures of this word we can see that the continuing of the House of Elohim, that He has built by His wisdom, is only made possible by the One who is to be

praised – that is: our Head, יהושע Messiah!!!.

Sonship, in Scripture, is not always regarded to being a natural position based on physical bloodline, but rather, sonship of Elohim is that which is conferred to us by an act of Elohim. Sonship should not be understood as an assured sonship, based on natural descent or merit; but rather it is based on Elohim’s extended favour and mercy that is received by belief in Messiah!

And He extended His great loving-commitment toward His Covenants of Promise, by coming in the flesh in order to redeem us, and to restore to favour all unto Himself – so that we, who were once estranged and enemies in the mind by wicked works, could be completely restored to favour in the body of His flesh through death, and be presented set-apart and blameless before Him, having received an adoption as ‘sons of the Living Elohim’ – if indeed we continue in the belief, not being moved or shaken in our fully committed loving obedience to His commands, as obedient and trustworthy sons (and daughters)!..

When we consider how the sons of Ěli, who by physical bloodline could be regarded as children of Elohim, were actually regarded as sons of Beliya’al, because they did not know יהוה, we are clearly warned in not being presumptuous in our daily walk, by overstepping the clear boundaries of the Torah and think that we can do however we please, by casting His instructions aside. .

The Hebrew word בְּלִיַּעַל Beliya’al – Strong’s H1100 means, ‘worthlessness, destruction, wicked, wickedness’, and comes from two words:

1) בְּלִי beliy – Strong’s H1086 which means, ‘failure, wearing out, without, lack of, corruption’, which comes from the root word בָּלָה balah – Strong’s H1086 which means, ‘to fail, become old, wear out, decay, consume’; and

2) יַעַל ya‘al – Strong’s H3276 which means, ‘to confer or gain profit or benefit’. .

When understanding this concept and term of בְּלִיַּעַל Beliya’al – Strong’s H1100, as derived from these two words, we see that these two foolish sons of Ěli, Ḥophni and Pineḥas, were unrestrained and unconcerned, as to how they gained benefits or profits for self, showing no regard for the Torah of Elohim at all!

As a result of not fearing יהוה, they became arrogant and thought that they could do whatever they wanted to and however they wanted to and get away with it..

In understanding their names, as meaning those who ‘fight with the fists’ and ‘mouth of brass’, we can see how stubborn these two were, in their words and deeds, as they clearly blasphemed the Name of יהוה, with their falsehood and pride, using their position for self-gain and, in one aspect, they could be described as being ‘brawlers who were greedy for filthy gain’ – the very thing that Sha’ul told Titos that an overseer should not be, as seen in:

Titos/Titus 1:7 “For an overseer has to be unreprovable, as a managing one of Elohim, not self-pleasing, not wroth, not given to wine, no brawler, not greedy for filthy gain”.

NO BRAWLER:

The Greek word that is translated as ‘brawler’ is πλήκτης plēktēs – Strong’s G4131 which means, ‘a striker, a bruiser, ready for a blow’ as well as, ‘a pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person’ and figuratively, it represents one who is a reviler and by reproach and unbraiding language, wounds the conscience of brother, being a vicious and contentious person..

Genuine children of the belief in Messiah guards their tongues and refrain from reproaching and reviling others in a vicious and contentious manner..

NOT GREEDY FOR FILTHY GAIN:

The Greek word that is translated as ‘greedy for filthy gain’ is αἰσχροκερδής aischrokerdēs – Strong’s G146 which means, ‘shamefully greedy, greedy for money, indecent or dishonorable gain’

While this is a clear characteristic of set-apart leadership, as Kěpha also warns against the corrupt shepherds who use people for their own gain, we take note that a genuine child of the belief is to never be greedy for filthy gain!.

Doing things right, without cutting corners, is the correct way that a genuine child of the belief ought to behave and in the process, we are to be on guard against the love of money, which is a root of all kinds of evil and causes some to stray from the belief.

Our lives are be without the love of money as we are to be satisfied with what we have in The Master, who knows what we need and richly supplies all our needs according to His perfect kindness!.

These 2 guys were wicked, worthless, destructive and sought only their own profit, with no care or regard for others; and for this they both were killed in one day, after which their father also died, on that same day after hearing that the Ark of Elohim had been captured. .

By their clear actions, these wicked and worthless priests showed that they did not know יהוה, for their disregard for the Torah of Elohim was clearly evident, and in verse 17 of Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel 2, we are told that their sin was very great before יהוה, for they despised the offering of יהוה.

The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘despised’ comes from the root word נָאַץ na‘ats – Strong’s H5006 which means, ‘to spurn, treat with contempt, blaspheme, despise, scorn’, and it is used in:

Tehillah/Psalm 10:13 “Why do the wrong scorn Elohim? He has said in his heart, “It is not required.”

Those who disregard the commands of Elohim, blaspheme Him and despise His offerings – especially when they say, regarding the Torah, that ‘it is not required’!

This is a very clear picture of so many today, who think that they have a right to the blessings of יהוה, and even assume to have a position of authority and claim to be children of Elohim, yet they are not – simply because they do not know Him!.

The Hebrew word used here for ‘know’ is the word יָדַע yada – Strong’s H3045 which means, ‘to acknowledge, clearly understand, to perceive, distinguish and discern’ and implies the ability to respond to and recognise the Master’s voice and follow His commands.

Dawiḏ instructed his son Shelomoh, in Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 28:9, that he was to ‘know’ the Elohim of his father, and further expands on the implications of ‘knowing’ Elohim – and that is: that he was to serve Elohim with a perfect heart and a pleasing life..

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 that is translated as ‘knows/know’, is also from the Hebrew word יָדַע yaḏa – 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.”.

Our reasonable worship unto Elohim – that which is well pleasing to Him – is to be a living sacrifice and live set-apart lives, as we faithfully obey His voice – for then we are able to faithfully declare that we know Him!.

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!!! .

To know His voice implies that one is able to know the sounding and take heed of what is coming, making sure that they hear His voice and follow Him!

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!

Those who ‘know’ יהוה, by pursuing to know Him, and are guarding His commands in living completely set-apart lives, are known by Him.

Aḇraham was ‘known’ by יהוה, because of his obedience in training up his children in righteousness:

Berěshith/Genesis 18:19 “For I have known him, so that he commands his children and his household after him, to guard the way of יהוה, to do righteousness and right-ruling, so that יהוה brings to Aḇraham what He has spoken to him.”.

The sons of Beliya’al are liars and the truth is not in them!

So many people may claim to ‘know’ Elohim, yet they have no regard for His Torah – and by a clear Scriptural definition, they are simply LIARS and the truth is not in them.

It does not matter how big their gatherings are, in their attempts at claiming a falsified worship that assumes to ‘know’ Elohim, while His commands they have cast aside, for the Spirit of Elohim is not in their midst!!!.

Qorintiyim Bět/2 Corinthians 6:15 “And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya’al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?”

As we consider these words that Sha’ul wrote to the assembly at Corinth, we recognise how clear his call was to the believers back then, and is still very clear to us here today.

And that is, as followers of Messiah, we must be on guard against being influenced or corrupted by that which does not follow our Master and Elohim; and the urgency of this call to come out and be separate is still sounding very loud and clear..

What is ‘beliya’al’?

It is only used once in the Renewed writings, and the Greek term Βελιάρ Belial – Strong’s H955 means, ‘wickedness, worthlessness’, and is considered, in the Greek, as an epithet for the devil. .

As we hear the call to come out and be separate, we must recognise the urgency for total set-apartness, and not be found to be having any agreement with that which is beliya’al!

The Torah was given through Mosheh, and revealed through the life, death and resurrection of יהושע Messiah, our Good Teacher whom we follow wholeheartedly!

Those of ‘beliya’al’ do not do so; and as we can see from the two root words that בְּלִיַּעַל beliya’al comes from, the term ‘beliya’al’ can be better understood as, ‘failure to profit, failure to do what is best’, and ultimately marks one who ‘fails to follow יהוה’, by refusing to submit to walking wholeheartedly in His commands!.

A true son of Elohim – a true believer – is one who guards the commands, having the love of Elohim being perfected in him.

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! .

A synonym of this word γινώσκω ginōskō – Strong’s G1097is the Greek word οἶδα oida – Strong’s H1492 which also means, ‘to have seen or perceived, hence: to know, to have regard for’, and this word is used in the negative sense, when Messiah declares to those who think that they know Him and think that what they have been doing is right, that He does not know them:

Luqas/Luke 13:25-28 “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Master, Master, open for us,’ and He shall answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you shall begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 “But He shall say, ‘I say to you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness.’ 28 “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Aḇraham and Yitsḥaq and Ya’aqoḇ and all the prophets in the reign of Elohim, and yourselves thrown outside.”.

There certainly will be a weeping and a gnashing of teeth, when the lawless see those to whom the Covenants of Promise were given, and to whom sonship belongs, and see that the lawless are not sons of Elohim, regardless of physical bloodlines!!!.

The characteristics of sons of Beliya’al, are not only seen in having a disregard for the Torah of Elohim, but they also will seek to divide and draw people away from serving the Beloved King as we should. .

After Dawiḏ mourned the death of his son Aḇshalom and was returning to his home in Yerushalayim, there was a division among Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah and there was a man of Beliya’al, whose name was Sheḇa, the son of Biḵri, a Binyamite, who came and blew a shofar and said that they had no part in Dawiḏ and told Yisra’ĕl to go to their tents; and many followed this man of Beliya’al, which shows us just how powerful and influential liars can be.

And it is no different today, as we see masses who turn aside from clinging to our Beloved King and follow the corruption of inherited lies and are giving ear to worthless liars that tickle people’s ears with what they want to hear.

This man Sheḇa was hunted down and eventually had his head cut off by the people of the city that he tried to hide in. .

The wicked and worthless will often take advantage of the confused – that is: those who are still caught up in ‘Baḇelon’, so to speak!

Baḇelon, in Hebrew, is the word בָּבֶל Baḇel – Strong’s H894, which was the name of the site where יהוה confused the language of all the earth, and it comes from the verb בָּלַל balal – Strong’s H1101 which means, ‘to mingle, mix, confuse, confound’ and so בָּבֶל Baḇel can best be understood as meaning, ‘confusion (by mixing)’. .

Confusion certainly does arise when the True and pure Word is mixed with man-made doctrines, dogmas, theologies and traditions that aspire to build for themselves a ‘tower’ of self-identification!

The word אוֹן On – Strong’s H204 was the name of a city in Mitsrayim, which bordered Goshen, and was the centre of sun-worship, where Poti-Pherah lived – as he was a priest of On and was the father-in-law of Yosĕph. .

Now, when we hear the term Baḇelon, we are further able to understand the concept of the need for so many to come out of the lies and confusion of sun-worship, which many are being led astray into, by submitting to be under the influence of the sons of Beliya’al who are teaching as teachings the commands of men!.

In the instructions regarding the release of debts, we are warned in:

Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 15:9 “Be on guard lest there be a thought of Beliya’al in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is near,’ and your eye is evil against your poor brother and you give him naught. And he shall cry out to יהוה against you, and it shall be a sin in you.”.

We must be on guard to not have any wickedness or worthlessness in our hearts, that causes us not to forgive our debtors, and be in danger of the Father not forgiving our debts, as we are reminded in the parable of the unforgiving servant and the fate of the wicked in:

Mattithyahu/Matthew 18:34-35 “And his master was wroth, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So also My heavenly Father shall do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” .

Therefore, we also see another characteristic of the sons of Beliya’al – as they hold grudges and do not forgive debts, whereas the sons of Elohim forgive as often as needed, when one comes and repents, even if they come over and over – even up to seventy times seven!!!.

In the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak) the rendering of Beliya’al is written in the context of being lawless, and a couple of the Greek words that are used for Beliya’al are:

1 – λοιμός loimos – Strong’s G3061 which means, ‘pestilence, plague, malignant, troublemaker, mischievous person, a pest’, which helps us better understand the Torah of leprosy in the house in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 14 where the infected stones are removed and thrown outside the city in an unclean place!

This word is used in Shemuʼěl Aleph/1 Samuel in describing Ḥophni and Pineḥas.

The wicked malignant troublemakers shall be cast outside where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth..

2 – παρανομέω paranomeō – Strong’s G3891 which means, ‘to transgress the law, violation of the law’ and is used to describe Sheḇa, the man who led many away from Dawiḏ.

It is from two words:

1) παρά para – Strong’s G3844 which is used as a primitive participle meaning, ‘from besides, by the side of, by, besides, near’, and

2) νόμος nomos – Strong’s G3551 which means, ‘that which is assigned, law, laws, principle’..

3 – ἄφρων aphrōn – Strong’s G878 which means, ‘without reason, foolish, unwise’ and is used in:

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 19:28 “A witness of Beliya’al scorns right-ruling, and the mouth of the wrong ones devours wickedness.”

This Greek word is also used in:

Luqas/Luke 12:20 “But Elohim said to him, ‘You mindless one! This night your life shall be demanded from you. And who shall own what you have prepared?’”

This was in the parable of the rich man, whose land yielded well and the response to the rich man who thought he could store up for himself and enjoy life, as it were.

Lukas/Luke 11:40 “Mindless ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?”

These were the words of Messiah to the Pharisees, who make the outside of the cup clean but their inward parts are full of greed and wickedness.

Those who are only interested in themselves and put on an outward show of worship are mindless fools and sons of Beliya’al!.

We are not called to be sons of Beliya’al but rather, we are called to be sons of the Living Elohim!!!

And while we were once in darkness and without Elohim in the world, we have been adopted to obey!

Hoshěa/Hosea 1:10 “Yet the number of the children of Yisra’ĕl shall be as the sand of the sea, which is not measured nor counted. And it shall be in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they shall be called, ‘You are the sons of the living Ěl.’”

The sons of Beliya’al are those who live according to the flesh, but we who live according to the Spirit are sons of Elohim:

Romiyim/Romans 8:13-16 “For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim”.

We have received a spirit of adoption as sons, and the Greek word for ‘adoption’ is υἱοθεσία huiothesia – Strong’s G5206 which means, ‘adoption as sons’ and comes from a presumed compound of υἱός huios – Strong’s G5207 which means, ‘son, attendant’ and τίθημι tithēmi – Strong’s G5087 which means, ‘to place, lay-up, lay aside, establish, set, appointed, destined, set down’, and as sons of Elohim we know that He has laid up His good treasure in our hearts – that is: His Word..

When we understand adoption and the clear choice that Elohim has made, in calling us to Himself as sons, we further understand how awesome our responsibility is, in serving Him with great joy, as our belief is seen in our good works – that is: in obedience to His Torah!

Galatiyim/Galatians 3:26-29 “For you are all sons of Elohim through belief in Messiah יהושע. 27 For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah. 28 There is not Yehuḏite nor Greek, there is not slave nor free, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Messiah יהושע. 29 And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Aḇraham, and heirs according to promise.”.

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 1:4-5 “even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be set-apart and blameless before Him in love, 5 having previously ordained us to adoption as sons through יהושע Messiah to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His desire”.

True sonship embraces the guarding of His commands, while ‘assumed sonship’ that does not, will be proven false, and Messiah was very vocal to the outwardly religious traditionalists, who claimed to have a right to the inheritance, while they neglected to obey the commands of Elohim.

Yoḥanan/John 8:41-47 “You do the works of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of whoring, we have one Father: Elohim.” 42 יהושע said to them, “If Elohim were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from Elohim, and am here. For I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 “Why do you not know what I say? Because you are unable to hear My Word. 44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you wish to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 “And because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 “Who of you proves Me wrong concerning sin? And if I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 “He who is of Elohim hears the Words of Elohim, therefore you do not hear because you are not of Elohim.”.

All may claim to ‘know’ Elohim, yet few are truly ‘known’ by Him and we know that we know Him when we guard His commands and His Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of Elohim – for once were not, but now are, having been adopted to obey and serve Him with joy!.

As we realise that Scripture gives us clear evidence and examples of those who had assumed a sonship but were rejected, may we be sober in our judgement of our own lives, in accordance to the true plumb line of His Torah, and rejoice that He ordained for us to be adopted as sons through Messiah, and share in the wonder of the inheritance of the set-apart ones of Elohim.

And in acknowledging this on a daily basis, let us be warned to not fall to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes or the pride of life, so as to diligently guard ourselves from all hypocrisy and lies, so that we may walk in the Truth and worship the Father in Spirit and Truth..

It is all about identity and who we are, as a Covenant people, set-apart for Elohim. Sometimes there are those who sadly forget their identity, for a moment, and forget the price that Messiah paid for our adoption, and find themselves displaying wickedness and worthlessness and engage in things that do not profit. And when doing this, they put themselves at a risk of selling their adoption right for the things of the flesh – all for a fleeting moment of passion of lustful desires and wants.

This message is simply a call to guard against such moments, for we are not sons of Beliya’al but sons of the Living Elohim and what part do the sons of Elohim have with the works of Beliya’al? NONE!!!..

Have you found yourself ‘fighting’ against doing what you ought to do, as you find your hands doing that which you should not, or have your words been harsh towards others and have allowed your anger to get you to fight until you get your own way (kind of like a Ḥophni and Pineḥas)?

Have you sided with the lawless and agreed with them, either through word or deed, showing by your words or actions that it is ok to not cling to the Beloved with your all, as your own lives, at times, do not line up with a perfect heart of obedience (like Sheḇa, son of Biḵri)?

Then hear this very clear call to sonship – that is: the call to hear-guard and do our Father’s commands, who in His great love for us adopted us to serve Him with our all – for this is our reasonable worship before Him..

Romiyim/Romans 8:12-17 “So then, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of Elohim. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim, 17 and if children, also heirs – truly heirs of Elohim, and co-heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him, in order that we also be exalted together.”

TRUE SONSHIP

GUARDS THE COMMANDS!

ADOPTED TO OBEY!.

Mishlĕ/Proverbs 8:32 “And now, listen to me, you children, for blessed are they who guard my ways.”

The call here, in this verse, is very loud and very clear – NOW LISTEN!!!

The phrase that is translated as ‘and now’, is written in the Hebrew as: וְעַתָּה ve’attah, which comes from the word עַתָּה attah – Strong’s H6258 which means ‘now, at this time’ and with the conjunction of the letter – וְ – ‘waw’ in front of the word, it renders it as ‘and now’ or ‘but now’..

The literal rendering of the beginning of this verse, is:

“And now, children, you listen to me”

וְעַתָּה בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי

veattah ḇaniym shimau-liy.

The Hebrew root word for ‘listen’ is 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’.

Here, it is written in the active voice, which is a very clear command to ‘listen up’.

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 reason to have ears that hear attentively is clear – blessed are those who guard the ways of Elohim!

You can only truly guard that which you are paying attention to and be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only!

In order to obey His voice, as obedient children, we have to be listening to, and paying attention to, His voice.

What you are listening to is what you will follow and obey!

Who you are obeying can be answered by what one is paying attention and lending their eyes and ears to!.

The pictographic rendering of the root word שָׁמַע shama – Strong’s H8085 gives us a wonderful confirmation of this, as we see this root word being pictured as follows:.

Shin – שָׁ:

This is the letter ‘shin’ which in the ancient script is pictured as, , which is ‘two front teeth’ and carries the meaning of ‘sharp or press, chew or devour’; which is what the teeth do, and also speaks of the sharpened word that comes forth from the mouth as the teeth ‘chew’ or ‘meditate’ on the Truth, making what comes forth pure and sharp!

It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food..

Mem – מַ:

We are also able to understand this letter as representing the nations, for the nations are often likened to the seas in Scripture.

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

Ayin – ע:

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.

As we consider this root word שָׁמַע shama – Strong’s H8085, which carries the meaning to not just simply obey, but rather, to ‘listen with attention, comprehend and discern, give heed to what is being spoken’, we are able to see the following being depicted in this image:.

THE WORD THAT WASHES THE EYE.

It is our Master, who is The Word made flesh, that came to cleanse for Himself a Bride, and as a lovingly-committed husband, He washes us through His Word, as we continue to look to Him and give proper attention to hearing what He commands.

What is very clear, is that what one looks at is typically what they will end up giving their ears to. If you are looking to the Master, you will not obey His voice!.

The Greek word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak) for ‘obey/hear’ is ἀκούω akouō – Strong’s G191 which means, ‘hearing, listen, give heed, understand’.

Kěpha teaches us that we are to be as obedient children, as we wait for our Master to come:

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

The Greek word that is translated here in Kěpha Aleph/1 Peter 1:13 as ‘obedient’ is ὑπακοή hupakoē – Strong’s G5218 which means, ‘obedient, obedience, obey’, and this comes from the root word ὑπακούω hupakouō – Strong’s G5219 which means, ‘to listen, attend to, obey, heed, become obedient, to submit to’ and this comes from the two Greek words:

1) ὑπό hupo – Strong’s G5259 which means ‘under’ and further means ‘to be controlled by or in subjection to’; and

2) ἀκούω akouō – Strong’s G191 meaning, ‘hearing, listen, give heed, understand’. .

In other words, we clearly see from the Greek text, that the one who obeys the Master is one who is in subjection to the hearing of His commands, and diligently gives heed to obey and understand, by making sure his ears are open to hear the Master’s voice!

Those who are true sons and daughters, have ears to hear as they give proper attention to the voice of our Master, who has adopted us as His own, in order to properly guard His commands!.

The Hebrew word for “guard” is שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 which literally means ‘keep, watch, present, attend to, pay close attention, guard’ and the basic idea of the root of this word is ‘to exercise great care over’.

We are to exercise great care over His Torah! .

When used in combination with other verbs the meaning 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..

What is interesting and worth taking note of, is the frequent use of the word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 in the Torah.

It is used 148 times in 139 verses in the Torah –

15 times in 15 verses in Berěshith/Genesis,

25 times in 24 verses in Shemoth/Exodus;

16 times in 16 verses in Wayyiqra/Leviticus;

19 times in 19 verses in Bemiḏbar/Numbers and

73 times in 65 verses in Deḇarim/Deuteronomy!!! .

With Deḇarim/Deuteronomy being seen as the ‘second reading of the Torah’, as it was the instructions given to the new generation, we can see why there is a greater emphasis on the use of שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 to the generation that was about to enter into the Promised Land!.

As we look at the Hebrew word שָׁמַר shamar – Strong’s H8104 which means, ‘keep, watch, present, attend to, pay close attention, guard’, in the ancient pictographic form, we are able to identify what true guarding entails..

Shin – שָׁ:

It also carries the understanding of consuming or destroying – as teeth do to food..

Mem – מַ:

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

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

Resh – ר:

The ancient script has this letter ‘resh’ as – and is pictured as ‘the head of a man’ and has the meaning of the head of a man as well as chief, top, begging or first. Top, as in the top or head of a body and chief, as is head of a tribe or people as well as the one who rules the people..

Considering these pictographs that render the word that means to guard carefully, we are able to identify how we are to:

MEDITATE ON THE WASHING

OF OUR HEAD.

In Sha’ul’s letter the believers in Ephesos, he instructed Husbands to love their wives, as Messiah loved us:

Eph’siyim/Ephesians 5:25-28 “Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it, 26 in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, 27 in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might be set-apart and blameless.”.

It is through His Word that He washes us, and therefore, we are able to identify the cleansing that His Blood brought to us, giving us the ability to properly meditate on the cleansing that the Word of our Head brings, by guarding to do all He instructs us to do, as obedient children of the Most-High..

TRUE SONSHIP

GUARDS THE COMMANDS!

ADOPTED TO OBEY!.

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!..