22nd of the 13th month 2019/2020
Shalom all,
Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the being. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both being and body in GěHinnom.”
Today, we can all see the effects of the world, at large, being driven by fear and panic, which has certainly impacted mankind on a global scale.
As we see the progression of an increasing paranoia and despair gripping many, we begin to see a sobering reality of a misguided fear that is being embraced, which will cause them to be destroyed by the One that they are to truly fear, as their eyes and ears have wilfully turned away from properly hearing and seeing the Truth, having rejected the Good News and been led astray by a falsehood that walks contrary to the Torah and commands of our Master and Elohim.
Where has the fear of יהוה gone?
Despite the many warnings that are given in The Word of Elohim, most do not have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, as the Spirit and the true remnant Bride are calling many to come out of the depravity of lawlessness that is being promoted by the whore.
As we consider the current state of mass panic that the world is embracing right now, we are able to see how some of the effects that are being seen today, are clearly warned about in Scripture. Warnings of what will come about due to the continued disobedience to the Truth of The Word of Elohim.
Herein lies the call to repentance, for certainly… the reign of the heavens draws near!
Yoḥanan the Immerser, who was likened to being Ěliyahu that must come first…. gave a clear warning call for all to repent, and this same warning call is being given today, as the spirit of Ěliyahu, which calls for a clear choice on who one will serve, is being declared.
And this warning is being made loud and clear – the reign of Elohim draws near, repent and believe the Good News, lest you share in the sins of the whore and are set aside for judgement!
Mattithyahu/Matthew 18:8-9 “And if your hand or foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be thrown into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be thrown into the fire of GěHinnom.”
Our hands, feet and eyes, metaphorically speak of our work, walk and sight, which are all to be in the clear sync of set-apartness, guarding against all forms of wickedness and the depravity of lawlessness and sin.
When one’s hands, feet and eyes are operating in the required standard of complete set-apartness, then a fear of that which can kill the body does not cripple one’s ability to be a trustworthy ambassador of the coming reign of our great Saviour and King.
The path in which you walk, what you put your hands to and what you set your eyes upon, will determine whether you are headed for destruction of for life.
In a clear call for repentance, I would like to take a closer look at a passage in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26:14-46, in a message called, ‘WARNING AGAINST DISOBEDIENCE AND A CALL TO REPENTANCE!’.
As I was going through this passage this week, I was certainly gripped with the reality of seeing some of these warnings being poured out in the world at this time and hence, the urgency at which we are to examine ourselves and make sure that we are not being disobedient and at risk of being destroyed, but are rather, clinging to our Master, in complete set-apartness, walking even as He walked, with our eyes firmly fixed on Him, given us the much needed confidence and belief to possess our lives by endurance, during these darkened days, and not be held captive to the increasing panic and fear that the lawless are being gripped by, due to the clear effects of these warning that have begun to be poured out in a clear call for repentance!
Please read Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26 before continuing with this message.
This chapter begins with a very clear command to not make any idols and warns against any form of falsified worship, along with the clear instruction and command to guard the Sabbaths of יהוה!
We do not need to look too far today, to see how many people, who profess to be believers, have discarded the need to guard the Sabbath and have fallen away to the misleading depravity of a lawless sun-day worship system of the whore.
With this in mind, we are able to recognise that clear validity of the warnings that we find within this chapter, being very evident in our day, as this is the result of the clear disobedience of so many, who claim to know Elohim, yet in their works of lawlessness, they deny Him!
In verses 3-13 we are given the clear promise of complete provision, peace, victory in battle, fruitfulness and a constant renewal, when we walk in the Laws and commands of Elohim, by doing them! In other words, we have this assurance of complete shalom when we become doers of the Word and not just hearers only!
In verse 3 we are given a clear introduction to a very clear conditional clause that is being set forth.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘if’ is אִם im – Strong’s H518 which is a conditional participle or primary conjunction, which renders, ‘if, though, either, neither, when, whenever’.
The basic meaning is “if” and this meaning can be seen in most of its occurrences and usually occurs in conditional clauses, which we are able to see very clearly here!
If you obey… then… you will have provision, protection, victory, fruitfulness, constant renewal!
Now that is certainly something to be grasped and understood, because if this conditional clause is set here for the resulting actions of obedience, then it is safe to say that there is also a clear conditional clause being set forth for the resulting actions of disobedience, which we see being set forth in verses 4-39. Then in verses 40-46 we are once again given a clear condition ‘if…then’ clause for responding correctly to the call to repent!
It is the section from verse 14 to the end of this Chapter that I would like to expand a little upon, for the purposes of this message, in light of what we see happening in the world today.
In verse 14-39 we come to the section that outlines the reality of what will happen when His people do not obey Him!
Much of what I will be sharing in this message can also be found in our Torah commentary notes on this chapter, and this message is therefore done with the purpose of addressing the much needed call for repentance that must be proclaimed by the faithful remnant bride, to a lost and broken world that is being held enslaved by lawlessness and sin.
In verse 14, the opening words of this section of warnings, are ‘But if you will not obey Me’, which is written in the Hebrew text as follows: וְאִם־לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ לִי – ve’im-lo tish’me’u li
The Hebrew word for ‘not’ is לאֹ lo – Strong’s H3808 which is used as a primitive adverb that means, ‘not, no, never, neither’.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘obey’ is תִשְׁמְעוּ – tish’me’u, which comes from the root word שָׁמַע shama – Strong’s H8085 which is often translated as ‘hear’, and does not just mean ‘hear, obey’, but rather it means, ‘to listen with attention, comprehend and discern, give heed to what is being spoken’.
This highlights that true obedience can only be done when one is properly paying attention the hearing of the Word and giving heed to what is being spoken, in order to do what is being commanded. In other words, this word implies having ears to hear.
The conditional clause, with its clear warnings against not hearing, is clearly set forth, teachings us that when we do not have ears to hear, guard and do the Word, as commanded, then we will pay the price for not obeying!
Belief comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Elohim, and we take note that proper hearing involves the proper doing, because one has heard!
So many people today reject the need to guard the Sabbaths of Elohim and hear what the Torah teaches, as they prefer to have their ears tickled by a falsehood that promotes the delusion of lawlessness as being acceptable, under a banner of an assumed ‘grace’ that they claim has replaced ‘law’.
Here, in the opening of the section of the resulting actions of not having ears to hear, our Master and Elohim makes it abundantly clear that if we turn our ears away from the proper hearing of His Torah and commands, in order to do His Word, then we will find ourselves facing the effects of such disobedience!.
If we do not obey Him and do not do all these commands!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘do’ in this conditional clause of ‘do not do’ is תַעֲשׂוּ – ta’asu which comes from the root word עָשָׂה asah – Strong’s H6213 which means, ‘to do, work, make, produce, to act with effect, to observe, to bring about, institute’ and can also mean, ‘celebrate’, which I think is very fitting, as it is truly a great ‘joy’ TO DO the laws and right-rulings as prescribed!
So many people today think that it is a huge burden to do what is commanded, yet that is so far from the truth! When we diligently observe, and guard to do, all He commands us to do, it is a great joy and a delight and not heavy at all!
The perfect Torah of freedom is like a mirror for us – and in looking intently into it, we are able to see if we are, in fact, listening and doing or not:
Ya’aqoḇ/James 1:22-25 “And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, 24 for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like. 25 But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.”
We ‘guard to do’ all He commands, in order that we may live and take possession of that which יהוה has planned for us, and have the assurance of walking in the perfect shalom of our Master, giving us complete provision, peace, protection, victory in battles and the ability to bear fruit that lasts, being constantly renewed by His Word that strengthens us to stand and fight the Good fight and not fear the threat of destruction, because of disobedience!
In verse 15 we see some words that speak of outright disobedience, as the conditional warning is being set forth – let us therefore take a look at these:
REJECT
This verse starts of by saying that ‘if you reject my laws’ and the Hebrew word that is translated as ‘reject’ is תִּמְאָסוּ – tim’asu, which comes from the root word מָאַס mâ’as – Strong’s H3988 which means, ‘reject, completely abhor, despise, refuse, cast away’.
To reject His Laws takes a clear choice to despise and refuse to obey; and today so many people have cast away His Torah, as they render it null and void in their hearts and, as a result, they do not realise the consequences that this rejection of His laws will bring upon them, lest they repent.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘my laws’ is בְּחֻקֹּתַי beḥuqqotai and renders the meaning, ‘in my laws’, and this word comes from the root word חֻקָּה ḥuqqah – Strong’s H2708 which carries the meaning of, ‘something prescribed, an enactment, a statute, fixed pattern, fixed order, appointed, ordinance’, and comes from the primitive root verb חָקַק ḥaqaq – Strong’s H2710 which means, ‘to engrave, cut in, inscribe, decree’.
To stay in the Master, we are to stay in His laws! If we do not stay in His laws, by guarding to do them, then we are not staying in Him and as a result, are rejecting His laws, which means that we are rejecting Him!
We are to ‘guard’ and ‘keep’ the regulations and decrees of יהוה, that has been perfectly inscribed or ‘cut in’ – That is – His ‘WRITTEN WORD’.
Shemoth/Exodus 24:4 “And Mosheh wrote down all the Words of יהוה, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve standing columns for the twelve tribes of Yisra’ĕl.”
There was NO ORAL TORAH alongside that which Mosheh wrote down, and he wrote ALL the Words of יהוה, and so, we do not guard and keep man-made oral laws that have since thus been written down as a set of rules and regulations, in the form of catechisms from Christianity and the Talmud and Mishnah of Rabbinic Judaism; but rather, we guard to do all the Written Word of יהוה.
These ‘laws/rulings’ speak of those very statutes that have been prescribed and they are a fixed order that remains in effect permanently.
We see that we are to ‘walk’ in His ‘laws’; and if His Words, that He has prescribed, remain in effect permanently, which they do, then we are to walk in them permanently!
Those who reject His laws, have no right to recite them!!
Tehillah/Psalm 50:16-17 “But to the wrong Elohim said, “What right have you to recite My laws, or take My covenant in your mouth, 17 “While you hated instruction and cast My Words behind you?”
The Hebrew word that is used in this verse for ‘cast’ is שָׁלַךְ shalaḵ – Strong’s H7993 which means, ‘cast away, throw down, throw away, fling’.
A very true picture of many people today, who claim to take His Covenant in their mouth, so to speak, while they have clearly ‘cast away’ or ‘rejected His instruction and His Word, as seen by their refusal to do His Word!!!
The Hebrew root word for ‘reject’ – מָאַס mâ’as – Strong’s H3988 – is also found in the clear words that are given in Hoshěa/Hosea, which tells us how so many have rejected the Truth and are dying for lack of knowledge:
Hoshěa/Hosea 4:6 “My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children.”
Reject, refuse, despise or cast away any of the Words of Elohim and He will reject, refuse and cast you away from His presence, on the day when many will claim to have done great deeds in His Name, yet will be rejected for being lawless, by their clear rejecting of His commands and instructions to walk in His Torah!
LOATHES
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘loathes’ is תִּגְעַל – tig’al which comes from the root word גָּעַל gâ‛al – Strong’s H1602 which means, ‘abhor, loathe, reject, defiled’.
To abhor something means to hate it and to hate His instructions, is totally against the clear command to walk in Him and love Him.
Love for Elohim is to guard His commands – if we are not guarding His commands and doing them, then we are in danger of not loving Him, but are then hating Him!!!
If our being loathes His commands…!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘being’ is נֶפֶשׁ nephesh – Strong’s H5315 which is ‘a soul, a living being, the inner being of a man’.
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 6:5 “And you shall love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.”
I have highlighted the obvious here… we are to love יהוה with all our being, not let our being loath Him! Loathing His right-rulings is loathing Him, as we take not that love for Him is to obey His commands!
Yoḥanan Aleph/1 John 5:3-4 “For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy, 4 because everyone having been born of Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the overcoming that has overcome the world: our belief.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘My right-rulings’ is מִשְׁפָּטַי – mishphatiy which comes from the root word מִשְׁפָּט mishpat – Strong’s H4941 which means, ‘judgement, ordinance, regulations’ and comes from the root word שָׁפַט shaphat – Strong’s H8199 which means, ‘to judge, govern, rule, pronounce judgement, give law’.
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 33:22 “for יהוה is our Judge, יהוה is our Lawgiver, יהוה is our Sovereign, He saves us”
There is only One who gives us the Law, by which we must live and by which we are governed and these judgements and right-rulings and regulations given by Him, we must love to DO and not loathe!!!
BREAK
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘break’ comes from the root word פָּרַר pârar – Strong’s H6565 and means, ‘to break, frustrate, annul, do away with, nullify, make void, cease’.
Wow, when we see the clear understanding of this word, then we see how so many people today have clearly broken His Covenant, when they make it void and nullify it with a false ‘grace’ message!
This root word פָּרַר pârar – Strong’s H6565, we see being used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 119:126 “It is time for יהוה to act! For they have broken Your Torah.”
In the Hebrew text, this verse is written as follows:
עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיהוה הֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ
Eth la’asoth laYAHWEH hepheru torateḵa
This verse is one of 8 that begin with the letter ‘עֵ’ (ayin) – verses 121-128, and with the ancient pictographic script having this letter depicted as an eye, we are able to recognise the clear warning against taking our eyes off of the Torah of Elohim, for to do so is to take our eyes off of Him!
We are to have our eyes fixed on His Torah so that we do not find our eyes causing us to stumble.
Mishlĕ/proverbs 7:1-3 “My son, guard my words, and treasure up my commands with you. 2 Guard my commands and live, and my Torah as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
We are to guard His Torah as the apple of our eye!
The phrase, ‘as the apple of your eye’, in written in the Hebrew text as follows:
כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינֶיךָ – ki’eyshon ayneyḵa
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘apple’ is אִישׁוֹן ishon – Strong’s H380 which means, ‘the pupil of the eye, middle’ and comes from the root word used for ‘man’ which is אִישׁ ish – Strong’s H376.
We see Ya’aqoḇ being described as being the apple of the eye of יהוה, in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 32:10 “He found him in a wilderness, and in a wasted, howling desert. He encompassed him, He made him understand, He watched over him as the apple of His eye.”
The phrase, ‘as the apple of His eye’, is a Hebraic expression, which portrays the intensity of one’s focus on one’s beloved!
This is a very powerful statement, which shows us how focused יהוה is on His called out, chosen ones. This could also be literally rendered as ‘the little man of the eye’, whereby we are able to, by the intensity of His focus upon us, see our reflection in the pupil of His eye – as an expression of an ability to look intently into the mirror of His Word and not forget how we look and how we ought to look, as we become doers of the Word and not just hearers only!
This instruction to guard the Torah as the apple of our eye, is very clear – we are to be so intently focused on His Torah, and guard His commands, so that we may live, and we do this by ‘fixing our eyes’ on Messiah, our Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief:
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 12:1-2 “We too, then, having so great a cloud of witnesses all around us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, 2 looking to the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, having despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.”
We are told to be ‘looking’ to Messiah – and as we can see from verse 1, is that, in order to be able to properly ‘look’ at Messiah, we need to throw off and lay aside every weight and sin that easily entangles us, so as to be able to properly run with endurance.
We are to be looking intently at our King, as we run faithfully as servants of the Most-High Elohim!
Many are trying to run, yet they find themselves getting tired and unable to endure the hardships and persecutions that comes, as a result of set-apart living amidst a crooked generation!
The question that you need to ask yourself, as you take an eye test, so to speak, is:
“What are you looking at?”
Are you looking at Messiah?
If we are not looking to our Master, Saviour, Elohim and King then our eyes may be dangerously looking at that which cannot save us!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to those who go down to Mitsrayim for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, nor seek יהוה!”
This is a severe woe that is given to those who are not looking to יהוה, the Set-Apart One of Yisra’ĕl!
In the section from Tehillah/Psalm 119: 121-128 we see an urgent cry from the psalmist, being given unto יהוה, for help, as he asks to be rescued from his enemies and affirms his love for the Torah and states that he has done right-ruling and righteousness and further seeks to be continually taught by Elohim in order to grow in his understanding of the witnesses of Elohim and in this verse he calls for יהוה to rise up and act against the wrong who have broken His Torah!
Back to Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26:16-46
What is very clear from Scripture, is that when anyone, who claims to be of Messiah, casts away, rejects or nullifies the Torah and clear instructions of Elohim, then the following verses in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26 will be rendered, as the result of such wilful ignorance!
As we go through the verses, which present a clear description of the effects of not obeying, we can and must urgently realise the need for us to be a loving, obeying people!
Why would anyone want to reject, despise, defile or cast away that which leads us, guides our path, protects us and strengthens us, in Messiah???
In the verses that follow the ‘if’ you break, reject or loath His commands, we see 5 clear warnings being given, with the effects of what will happen if one continues to walk contrary to His Word.
Warning 1 – verse 16-17
Sudden alarm, wasting disease and inflammation, destroying the eyes and consuming the life!
This is very descriptive and it is meant to be, so that the true hearer of the Word will take heed of this warning and be on guard against disobedience and the rejection and loathing of the Torah and commands of Elohim
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘sudden alarm’ is בֶּֽהָלָה behalah – Strong’s H928 which means, ‘dismay, sudden terror, ruin, calamity’, and comes from the root word בָּהַל bahal – Strong’s H926 which means, ‘to disturb, terrify, tremble’ and is used in:
Tehillah/Psalm 90:7 “For we have been consumed by Your displeasure, and by Your wrath we are alarmed.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘wasting disease’ is שַׁחֶפֶת shaḥepheth – Strong’s H7829 which means, ‘consumption, wasting disease’, and is also understood as the ‘wasting disease of the lungs’, which, in a manner of speaking, speaks about that which consumes our breath and we recognise that without breath we shall waste away and die!
This word is what struck me again this week, especially as we consider the effects of the wasting disease that is being experienced all around the world.
A wasting disease that primarily attacks the respiratory system and, in a manner of speaking, is sucking the life of so many!
This word שַׁחֶפֶת shaḥepheth – Strong’s H7829 is only used twice in Scripture.
Here, in this section of Wayyiqra/Leviticus that we are looking at, as well as in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 28:22 “יהוה strikes you with wasting disease, and with inflammation, and with burning, and with extreme heat, and with the sword, and with blight, and with mildew. And they shall pursue you until you perish.”
This forms part of the curses for disobedience, that we see being given in a clear description of what will happen when one obeys and when one does not.
So, in terms of the wasting disease that we see being a part of a curse for disobedience, we are able to have the Torah giving us the 2 witnesses of this being a clear result for disobedience.
This, in many ways, should be able to answer many who are questioning that which we see happening in the world today!
Think about it for a moment…. What we see happening, with the very clear and present danger of a wasting disease that is attacking the respiratory system, is that it is being seen along with a sudden alarm and panic, as many are in deep dismay and terror.
The clear resulting effects for disobedience, being poured out, is evident in our day!
This should certainly be a huge wake up call for many to repent.
The question is… will they have ears to hear or will they be consumed in their panic and suffer the effects of losing their breath as they refuse to turn back to יהוה?
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘inflammation’ is קַדַּחַת qaddaḥath – Strong’s H6920 which means, ‘fever’, and comes from the root קָדַח qadaḥ – Strong’s H6919 which means, ‘to be kindled, burn’, which we find in:
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 32:22 “For a fire was kindled in My wrath and burns to the bottom of She’ol, and consumes the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of mountains.”
The kindled fire, of the wrath of Elohim, is coming upon the sons of disobedience and when we consider these words, we need to be sober in our estimation of how we are to walk upright before our Master and Elohim, and we take careful note of the Master’s words, which I quoted at the beginning of this message and will repeat, for emphasis:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the being. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both being and body in Gehenna.”
Mattithyahu/Matthew 18:9 “And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be thrown into the fire of Gehenna.”
Mal’aḵi the prophet says the following:
Mal’aḵi/Malachi 4:1-2 “For look, the day shall come, burning like a furnace, and all the proud, and every wrongdoer shall be stubble. And the day that shall come shall burn them up,” said יהוה of hosts, “which leaves to them neither root nor branch. 2 “But to you who fear My Name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. And you shall go out and leap for joy like calves from the stall.”
Here, in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26, we are further instructed that any sowing that is done in disobedience to walking according to the Torah, will be done in vain and יהוה will set His face against you and those who hate you will rule over you and you will flee in fear when no one is pursuing you!
This is self-explanatory – not the kind of position any of us want to find ourselves in!
None of us want to be in a state of panic or distress or depression – yet, we see that these factors grip so many around the world today, as people are even terrified of things that do not exist!
All as a result of rejecting and despising the Torah!
One of the effects of disobedience, is the fact that the eyes become darkened to see the Truth and so the sinner/lawless do not see their own disobedience, which in turn will cause so many to be groping around in the dark, so to speak, thinking that they are in the light and find that what they have sown will simply have been in vain.
It makes me think of the words that so many will cry out on ‘that day’:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 7:22-23 “Many shall say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’ 23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!”
You would think that one warning should be enough and not only that, but having already been warned with these 5 warnings, beforehand, you would think that after seeing the effects of the first warning being clearly evident, that repentance would surely be seen.
Sadly, this is not the case, as many are not turning to יהוה but are simply continuing in their depravity and lawlessness, trusting in the flesh!
With this 1st warning, we are able to see how our Master also warns us about seeing these things and how this is the beginning of birth pains.
Mattithyahu/Matthew 24:6-8 “And you shall begin to hear of fightings and reports of fightings. See that you are not troubled, for these have to take place, but the end is not yet. 7 “For nation shall rise against nation, and reign against reign. And there shall be scarcities of food, and deadly diseases, and earthquakes in places. 8 “And all these are the beginning of birth pains.”
Scarcities of food, deadly diseases and earthquakes in places! He goes on to warn us against many false prophets that will rise up in these days and lead many astray!
Sha’ul warns us against the ear ticklers and smooth talkers and reminds us that the coming if the lawless one will be with many signs and wonder and working of miracles!
We should be on guard against being led astray by those who lead one away from obeying the Torah, for it is the Torah that we are to fix our eyes upon, all the more as we see the Day of יהוה drawing near!
Timotiyos Bet/2 Timothy 4:2-4 “Proclaim the Word! Be urgent in season, out of season. Convict, warn, appeal, with all patience and teaching. 3 For there shall be a time when they shall not bear sound teaching, but according to their own desires, they shall heap up for themselves teachers tickling the ear, 4 and they shall indeed turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.”
As the true remnant bride of Messiah, we are to be on guard against falling away from steadfastness in Him and in standing firm in His Torah, having the assurance of His complete protection and shalom, we are to be bold in making these warnings known, as we convict, warn, appeal and teach the Truth!
Our Master warned us in Mattithyahu/Matthew 24, that when we begin to see these things happening, the love of many will become cold, which highlights how many will not hear the call to repent and stand in the belief, but will follow the masses and turn their ears away from the Torah and therefore end up lacking in their belief as they fall prey to the sudden alarm and panic that grips the lawless!
Luqas/Luke 21:9-11 “But when you hear of fightings and unrests, do not be alarmed, for these have to take place first, but the end is not immediately.” 10 Then He said to them, “Nation shall rise against nation, and reign against reign. 11 “And there shall be great earthquakes in various places, and scarcities of food and deadly diseases. And there shall be horrors, and great signs from heaven.”
In this Chapter of Luqas, we see our Master giving us clear instructions against falling prey to the way the world reacts to the clear signs of the effects of disobedience being poured out, but that we are to be bold in our witness of His Truth and not be afraid of what we should speak, as His Spirit will give us the wisdom that we are to speak, as a true witness, and in doing so, we are to possess our lives by endurance, even though we may be hated by most!
When we stay in our Master, by being obedient, as already mentioned, we shall have the assurance that we shall be kept safe in Him!
Luqas/Luke 21:18-19 “But not a hair of your head shall be lost at all. 19 Possess your lives by your endurance!”
The encouragement that not a hair of our head shall be lost, is a clear picture of not being in a state of panic and fear and not worrying as the nations do, when we see all these birth pains beginning to take place!
The Greek word that is translated as ‘possess’ is κτάομαι ktaomai – Strong’s G2932 which means, ‘to possess, acquire, gain, obtain, purchase’.
The Greek word translated as ‘endurance’ is ὑπομονή hupomonē – Strong’s G5281 which means, ‘a patient enduring, steadfastness, perseverance, a remaining behind’, and this word comes from the Greek word ὑπομένω hupomenō – Strong’s G5278 which means, ‘to stay behind, to await, endure’, which comes from the two words:
1) ὑπό hupo – Strong’s G5259 which means ‘under, in subjection to’, and
2) μένω menō – Strong’s G3306 and means, ‘to stay, abide, remain, stand’ and this word is the word that is used in Yoḥanan/John 15, where we are told to ‘stay in, remain in’ Messiah!
As faithful talmidim (disciples) of Messiah, we recognise that while He ascended to the Most Set-Apart Place, where He continually intercedes for us as our High Priest, we, who are here, and have ‘remained behind’, need to endure and be steadfast in staying in Him, as we walk in subjection to His clear Torah.
The Greek word that si translated as ‘lives’ is ψυχή psuchē – Strong’s G5590 which means, ‘breath, soul, heart, mind, life, being’, which is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ nephesh – Strong’s H5315 which is ‘a soul, a living being, the inner being of a man’, which we have already discussed.
A more literal rendering of this verse 19 from Luqas/Luke 21 could be expressed, in English as follows:
“In your patience/endurance you shall win your life/soul!”
Tehillim/Psalm 27:14 “Wait on יהוה, be strong, and let Him strengthen your heart! Wait, I say, on יהוה!”
The Hebrew word translated here as ‘wait’ is קָוָה qavah – Strong’s H6960 meaning, ‘to wait for, eagerly wait, expect, hopefully waiting’ and carries the intensity of being commanded to look eagerly for the soon return of our Light, Saviour and Refuge in who we continually trust and praise and are taught by; for when we wait on יהוה our strength is renewed – and waiting on יהוה requires our active response to who He is, with great intensity.
In the LXX (Septuagint – Greek Translation of Tanak) the Greek word that is used here for ‘wait’ is the word that we have already discussed – ὑπομένω hupomenō – Strong’s G5278 – which reflects an active endurance of running with fervency the race set before us, in complete obedience, to our soon coming King!
Tehillim/Psalm 37:7-9 “Rest in יהוה, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man doing wicked devices. 8 Abstain from displeasure, and forsake wrath; do not fret, also to do evil. 9 For evil-doers are cut off; but those who wait on יהוה, they shall inherit the earth.”
יהושע continues to teach His talmidim how wicked and corrupt the world will continue to become, telling them that these are birth pains of His return, and the nearness of His reign to come.
In making this very clear, He instructs us to take heed against falling for worldly matters!
To take heed, implies being watchful and awake, and guarding obedience, so as to not fall from one’s steadfast position in the truth!
Many people fall from steadfastness because of compromise, as they do not take heed to themselves and watch their thoughts, words and actions, when distractions come at them from all angles!
In other words – they get distracted, and as a result, they lose sight of living completely set-apart lives unto our Master, all because of the effects of disobedience that they see in the flesh!
We must be on guard that we do not, for even a fleeting moment, get distracted from our set-apartness!
Distractions occur when we allow our hearts to become weighed down by gluttony, and drunkenness, and worries of this life!
The warning against falling for these distractions are clear – the Day of יהוה will come suddenly upon those who did not take heed against such distractions!
Warning 2 – verse 18-20
If the first effects of disobedience do not cause one to turn back, due to ‘blindness’, as a result of casting away His commands and they still choose to disobey the commands, then יהוה says that He will punish the rebellious 7 times more for their sins/lawlessness!
The Hebrew word that is used here, in verse 18, for ‘punish’ comes from the root verb יָסַר yasar – Strong’s H3256 which means, ‘to discipline, admonish, correct, teach, chastise, reprove’.
Not only will the rebellious walk in a state of panic, distress and depression – but their stubbornness to humble themselves and submit, will grow and they will find themselves slaving away, in order to try to make ends meet, only to find that their toil and labour will be in vain!
In verse 19, the use of bronze and iron are clear pictures that we see being used throughout Scripture, in terms of stubbornness and pride, which only results in a fruitless life of a stiff-necked person!
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 48:4 “Because I knew that you were hard, and your neck was an iron sinew, and your forehead bronze.”
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 6:28 “All of them are rebels of rebels, walking as slanderers. They are bronze and iron, all of them are corrupters.”
One of the effects of rebellious living is a stiff neck and a clear stubbornness to repent.
Warning 3 – verse 21-22
Things will just get worse; the more people refuse to obey.
Tehillah/Psalm 7:10-13 “My shield is upon Elohim, who saves the upright in heart. 11 Elohim is a righteous judge. and Ěl is enraged every day, 12 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 Hebrew root word that is used here for ‘contrary’ in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26:21 is קְרִי qeri – Strong’s H7147 which means, ‘in opposition, hostility, contrary, perversely, hostile encounter’.
The more one refuses to repent and obey, the more the hostility toward the Truth becomes greater and a decision to walk totally contrary to the Truth, becomes a stand point for so many.
Many people say today, “I will not walk in that way… you are trying to put me under law and I refuse!’.
This is a clear-cut choice that has resulted in disobedience leading to stubbornness and then a flat-out refusal to submit!
The result of this, is that Elohim will remove all that has competed with Him for our affection and commitment and priorities.
In Ḥazon/Revelation we are given the clear imagery of the stubbornness of people refusing to repent, even after many have been killed by plagues/wasting diseases!
Ḥazon/Revelation 9:20-21 “And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship the demons, and idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood, which are neither able to see, nor to hear, nor to walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their drug sorceries, nor of their whoring, nor of their thefts.”
In the warning given to the assembly in Thyatira, we are told what will happen to those who do not repent:
Ḥazon/Revelation 2:21-22 “And I gave her time to repent of her whoring, and she did not repent. 22 See, I am throwing her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction, unless they repent of their works.”
Those who continue to follow the whoring rebellious spirit of Izeḇel, which is a spirit of falsehood and lawlessness, will be thrown into great affliction, unless they repent!
The reason for me highlighting these verses at this time, is to show the reality that the majority will refuse to repent, despite them seeing the plagues and diseases and distress being poured out on mankind!
Warning 4 – verse 23-26
If one still refuses to turn back, then once again Elohim will strike the rebellious 7 times more for their sins.
It is at this stage, that I want to make it clear that each time we see the term ‘7 times’, we see that this is a just and righteous punishment, as it is ‘for your sins’.
יהוה is just – He does not punish for nothing!
Tehillah/Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and right-ruling are the foundation of Your throne; loving-commitment and truth go before Your face.”
If one still walks contrary to His commands and still refuses to be instructed by Him, then He will walk contrary to you!
So many people still refuse to accept that sun-day is not the Sabbath and wilfully refuse to be instructed by His Torah and, as a result, will find that Elohim shall walk contrary to them, and He will bring against them a sword – that is – His Word, that will execute vengeance and send forth that which has been written.
Our Master יהוה always rules rightly according to His written Word.
Notice, in verse 25, how He says that ‘you shall gather in your cities’.
The result of this continued disobedience will cause many to gather themselves together in an assumed place of safety; and this is where He will strike them with pestilence – there is no hiding from יהוה!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 10:28-30 “Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour? 30 For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says יהוה.” And again, “יהוה shall judge His people.”
In verse 26 we see the effect of famine, when supply is cut off!
10 women will bake bread in 1 oven – there will be no need for many ovens, as there will be so little bread to bake.
This is also a picture of the sending of a famine for His word!
Amos 8:11 “See, days are coming,” declares the Master יהוה, “that I shall send a hunger in the land, not a hunger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the Words of יהוה.”
The result of continued disobedience, will result in a hunger in the land, for a hearing of the True words of Elohim, as many will continue in their whoring and never be satisfied, as they build their own little kingdoms and empires, while the House of יהוה is in ruins!
Ḥaggai/Haggai 1:6-7 “You have sown much, but brought in little; eat, but do not have enough; drink, but you are not filled with drink; clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7 Thus said יהוה of hosts, “Consider your ways!”
Miḵah/Micah 6:14 “You shall eat but not be satisfied, and your inside be empty. And you shall store up but not save, and what you save I shall give to the sword.”
Hoshěa/Hosea 4:10 “And they shall eat but not be satisfied, they shall whore but not increase, for they have stopped obeying יהוה.”
This is certainly a time where people are being called to CONSIDER THEIR WAYS!!!
You would certainly think that after all of these warnings being brought about, that many would repent, yet we are able to see, once again, the picture of the stubbornness to repent, as seen in:
Ḥazon/Revelation 16:9-11 “And men were burned with great heat, and they blasphemed the Name of Elohim who possesses authority over these plagues. And they did not repent, to give Him esteem. 10 And the fifth messenger poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his reign became darkened. And they gnawed their tongues from pain. 11 And they blasphemed the Elohim of the heaven for their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their works.”
Once thing that we need to recognise and acknowledge, is that Elohim is in total control and it is He who possesses authority over the plagues that are poured out as a result of disobedience!
Warning 5 – verse 27-33
If after all these warnings and punishments, people still refuse to obey, then once again they will be punished justly for their sins – 7-fold – that is to say that they will receive a complete punishment, as before!
We see the effects of total disobedience and a casting away of His commands – verse 29 gives a gruesome picture of how they will eat each other’s flesh – the flesh of one’s own family!
All of these woes—even this one in verse 29 – took place when Yisra’ĕl’s cities were under siege by their enemies. יהוה was not exaggerating.
What we must understand, is that the devil did not do all of this to Yisra’ĕl; it was as a result of יהוה’s judgment, which is a very sober warning to us, as we re-enter His Renewed Covenant.
This is a picture of the completion of His wrath and this ought to awaken us to obedience!
Ěḵah/Lamentations 4:10-11 “The hands of the compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became food for them in the destruction of the daughter of my people. 11 יהוה has completed His wrath, He has poured out His burning displeasure. And He kindled a fire in Tsiyon, and it consumed her foundations.”
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 5:10 “Therefore fathers are going to eat their sons in your midst, and sons eat their fathers. And I shall execute judgments among you and scatter all your remnant to all the winds.”
When we consider these horrific pictures, of the fullness of the wrath of Elohim being poured out, we can also begin to understand the woe that יהושע gave concerning ‘those days’ or the last days, so to speak, as the wrath of יהוה is poured out, in:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 24:19 “And woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing children in those days!”
Those nursing children – will we see a repeat of this severe punishment being poured out, when mothers will eat their young?
When one considers all the effects of disobedience, then we can further understand Sha’ul’s appeal that is given to us, in:
Qolasim/Colossians 3:5-7 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these the wrath of Elohim is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you also once walked when you lived in them.”
The result of the continued disobedience and rebellion of Yisra’ĕl, resulted in the words given in verse 33 of Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26, for Yisra’ĕl was scattered among the nations.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘scatter’ comes from the root word זָרָה zarah – Strong’s H2219 which means, ‘scatter, fan or winnow’, which we also read about, and understand the effect of such, in the Book of Hoshěa, which shows us how this word, for scatter, also carries the meaning of sowing, and therefore, we see that while we, as a rebellious people, have been scattered abroad, we know that, because of this scattering, there will be a harvest of many, from the ends of the earth, who shall repent and return to the Covenants and Promise, as they are grafted in by the Blood of Messiah and walk in His Laws and Guard His Commands!
This is happening today, as we speak!
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 31:10-11 “Hear the word of יהוה, O gentiles, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Yisra’ĕl gathers him, and shall guard him as a shepherd his flock.’ 11 “For יהוה shall ransom Ya’aqoḇ, and redeem him from the hand of one stronger than he.”
The effect of the scattering, is that the Promised Land receives the rest it should.
In verse 34-35 we see how יהוה clearly told Yisra’ĕl that they would be disobedient and that He would do all of these words that He has written, and while being warned of their disobedience beforehand, they still neglected to obey and guard His commands.
We must learn from this today, as we too have His Word set before us as a witness, and we must diligently hear, guard and do all His commands and not be found to be facing the damaging effects of the details that we see being written in this chapter, from verse 14-33; but rather, be a people who can live daily with the shalom, protection and favour of Elohim, as described in verses 3-13, amidst the clear signs of the curses being seen upon those who disobey and therefore, be strengthened to hold on with great perseverance and steadfastness, the courage and strength of Messiah, who lives in us by His Word and causes us, who stay in Him, to walk humbly before Elohim!
In Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26:36 we see the effect of not being under the shadow of the Almighty; as we see the effect of those who do not call upon His Name and walk in His ways – for even a leaf will cause them to be flee, as they are consumed with faintness of heart!
In Diḇre haYamim Aleph/1 Chronicles 14 we read of the account when Dawiḏ faced some very intense battles and had learnt from previous mistakes, and how he was to call upon and inquire of יהוה in all circumstances, which resulted in a great ability to trust in and rely upon יהוה of hosts.
And in verse 15 of that chapter, we see the instruction for Dawiḏ, to go out to battle, would be when he heard the sound of the stepping on the top of the mulberry trees, for Elohim would go before Him and destroy the Philistines!!!
This is a great lesson for us who walk in His laws and guard His commands – we shall not fear when we hear the sounding of a leaf, but rather, we shall continue to trust in and rely upon יהוה of Hosts, who fights for us!
True repentance – verse 40-42
With יהוה there is always hope and those who confess their crookednesses will find favour with Him. One of the key aspects that I see being brought forth very clear, in these verses, is the fact that we need to recognise, not only our own crookedness and disobedience, but also that of our fathers!
Neḥemyah/Nehemiah Chapter 1 is a great illustration of obeying these instructions and receiving the clear promises contained herein. (please read Neḥemyah/Nehemiah 1).
We need to acknowledge that we have inherited lies and that our fathers have walked in error too – this is critical, in bringing about a true restoration of being able to walk humbly before Elohim and guard ourselves from falling back to erroneous teachings, that has led so many generations astray!
Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 16:19 “O יהוה, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them.”
This is exactly what is happening today, as many of us have truly discovered that we have, in fact, inherited lies and the ability to acknowledge this, is key to returning back into the joy of walking in the Covenants of Promise by the Blood of Messiah!
We need to right the wrong, so to speak, by walking in the Torah, as opposed to continuing in the errors of our fathers and allow the effects of such to continue!
We need to acknowledge the uncircumcision of our hearts and recognize that which is due, because of our wickedness and sin.
When we do that we come to recognize and realise how great the Love of Elohim is toward us, in seeing that He would offer up His own life to pay for our sins/lawlessness.
We humbly accept the punishment for our crookedness – which is death and that by the Blood of Messiah, we are raised to new life as we are immersed in Him and our hearts are circumcised, with His Torah being penned on our hearts in order that we may walk in it, having it now in our hearts and mouths, to do it!
Acknowledgement of the crookedness of our fathers, will bring a great release to so many, who for so long struggle with the concept of having been lied to!
When we recognize and confess the error of our fathers, we will be further strengthened to go back to the Covenants of Promise, given to our fathers who walked in the ways of Elohim!
This verse highlights the clear call to repent and return to יהוה and confess the crookednesses that have caused many to walk contrary to יהוה!
Hoshěa/Hosea 14:1-2 “O Yisra’ěl, return to יהוה your Elohim, for you have stumbled by your crookedness. 2 Take words with you, and return to יהוה . Say to Him, “Take away all crookedness, and accept what is good, and we render the bulls of our lips.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘stumbled’ comes from the root verb כָּשַׁל kashal – Strong’s H3782 meaning, ‘stumble, totter, stagger, bring down, failing, weakening’, and is used to describe the ‘weak knees’ in:
Yeshayahu/Isaiah 35:3 “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the weak knees.”
In the parable of the sower, we take note of the seed that falls on rocky places:
Mattithyahu/Matthew 13:20-21 “And that sown on rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived, and when pressure or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
The Greek word that is translated here as ‘stumbles’ is σκανδαλίζω skandalizō – Strong’s G4624 which means, ‘to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way upon which another may trip and fall’, and metaphorically can mean, ‘to offend’.
It also carries the meaning, ‘fall away, led into sin, stumble, to cause another or be caused to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey’.
Some people stumble under pressure, due to hands that are weakened, by deceit, when persecution comes, and then quickly compromise.
Rocky hearts that have no ability to let the Word take root in their lives and quickly stumble when pressure and persecution, BECAUSE OF THE WORD, arises.
This Greek word σκανδαλίζω skandalizō – Strong’s G4624 comes from the root word σκάνδαλον skandalon – Strong’s G4625 which means, ‘a snare, stumbling block, offense’, and it is this word that is used in the LXX (Septuagint – Greek translation of the Tanak – O.T.) for ‘stumbling block’ in Tehillah/Psalm 119:165.
Tehillah/Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those loving Your Torah, and for them there is no stumbling-block.”
Isn’t it interesting to take note, of how so many today, who refuse to walk in the Torah, also have the stumbling block of not knowing the name of יהוה, or how those who refuse to let go of false titles and corrupted names, that are rooted in pagan worship, actually reject the need to guard the Torah! The stumbling block of crookedness, is a big stumbling block for so many and herein lies the awakening call, to return to יהוה.
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘crookedness’ comes from the root word עָוֹן avon – Strong’s H5771 meaning, ‘iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity, blame, perversity, depravity’, which comes from the root verb עָוָה avah – Strong’s H5753 which means, ‘to twist, bend, distort, make crooked, pervert’.
Yeḥezqěl/Ezekiel 18:30 “Therefore I judge you, O house of Yisra’ĕl, every one according to his ways,” declares the Master יהוה. “Repent, and turn back from all your transgressions, and let not crookedness be a stumbling-block to you.”
This was a call to repent and not let crookedness be a stumbling block, showing us that the clear call was to guard loving-commitment and truth in order that their crookedness could be pardoned!
It is a blessing when crookedness no longer becomes a stumbling block in one’s path!
By that I mean, that it is truly a blessing to walk in the Truth and not have the stumbling blocks of twisted and perverse teachings of man, that seek only to nullify the commands of Elohim!
In another Tehillah we see the psalmist declaring the following:
Tehillah/Psalm 130:3-4 “O Yah, if You should watch crookednesses, O יהוה, who would stand? 4 But with You there is forgiveness, that You might be feared.”
It is a blessing to receive the forgiveness for our perverted crooked ways and therefore must recognise how important it is to guard righteousness and have no crookedness imputed/reckoned to us!
Tehillah/Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless יהוה, O my being, and all that is within me, bless His set-apart Name! 2 Bless יהוה, O my being, and do not forget all His dealings, 3 who forgives all your crookednesses, who heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with kindness and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desire with the good, your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘forgives’ is סָלַח salaḥ – Strong’s H5545 which means, ‘to forgive, pardon, spare’, which is the same root word used in Tehillah/Psalm 25:11 for ‘pardon’!
Tehillah/Psalm 25:11 “For Your Name’s sake, O יהוה, You shall pardon my crookedness, though it is great.”
Sha’ul understood this blessing being declared here in this contemplative poem, as we see in:
Romiyim/Romans 4:7-8 “Blessed are those whose lawlessnesses are forgiven, and whose sins are covered, 8 blessed is the man to whom יהוה shall by no means reckon sin.”
Lawlessnesses forgiven, sins covered and no sin reckoned – what a blessing!!!
Our Master redeemed us from lawlessness, as Sha’ul writes to Titos, in:
Titos/Titus 2:11-14 “For the saving Gift of Elohim has appeared to all men, 12 instructing us to renounce wickedness and worldly lusts, and to live sensibly, righteously, and reverently in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed expectation and esteemed appearance of the great Elohim and our Saviour יהושע Messiah, 14 who gave Himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people, His own possession, ardent for good works.”
We have been redeemed from ALL lawlessness and have been cleansed, so that we are now equipped and enabled to walk in the Torah, and not continue in lawlessness, lest we find that the warnings being given to us in Wayyiqra/Leviticus become a curse operating in our lives because of disobedience!!!
When we truly recognise, and acknowledge, that we have stumbled in our crookednesses and have been led astray, through the twisted and corrupt teachings of lawlessness, we are then equipped to understand the mighty redeeming work of our Master and what He has done for us.
When we fully grasp the forgiveness that our Master extends to us then we should be urgent in our return to Him, as we turn completely away from every stumbling block of crookedness!
Verse 42 tells us that when we do repent and confess our crookednesses and the crookednesses of our fathers, that יהוה will remember His Covenant with our ancestors!
And what is interesting here, is that the order is reversed: as we it being given as Ya’aqoḇ, Yitsḥaq, and Aḇraham, as opposed to what we normally see in Scripture, when referring to the Elohim of Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq and Ya’aqoḇ and so, what we see from this reading of the covenants, in a ‘backwards’ sense, we understand that we are moving back to our true roots and can pick up where our faithful ancestors left off.
Verse 43 – They loathed My laws!
Hoshěa/Hosea 8:12 “I have written for him numerous matters of My Torah – they were regarded as strange.”
Many today regard the Torah as ‘strange’ and as a result they ‘loathe’ the laws of Elohim, and this will simply result in being abandoned, if they do not repent!
The Hebrew root word that is translated here as ‘strange’ is זוּר zur – Strong’s H2114 which means ‘strange, stranger, adulterer, adulterous, enemy’, and is the word that is used to describe the ‘strange’ fire that the two sons of Aharon brought before Elohim, and were struck dead.
Aharon’s sons, who brought strange fire, represent for us those who worship in a strange way.
And by that, I mean that they are not worshipping in Spirit and Truth, but are doing whatever is right in their own eyes, while expecting to benefit from the blessings that are contained in Scripture. Blessings are the result of obedience, whereas disobedience brings about the curses, if one does not repent!
Verse 44 reminds us that יהוה shall not reject us, nor loathe us and He will not break His Covenant! The very things He warns His called-out children to not do: Reject – Loathe – Break!
These things He does not do; and so therefore, let us be as He is and make sure that we do not: Reject – Loathe – Break His Laws or Commands!
In a call to repentance, being made very loud and clear, in the face of the reality of the birth pains of the last days being made evident, through the sudden alarm and deadly diseases that are gripping the lawless, let us be on guard against any form of crookedness and be bold in our stand of set-apartness, declaring His coming reign and calling people to come out of the whoring and depravity of lawlessness, calling people to return to יהוה and find refuge and shelter in the Most-High!
As one reads the book of Hoshěa/Hosea, we are able to see a very powerful reflection of the message of the Good News being proclaimed, as we can identify with the journey of a backslidden people, who have been called to return to a lovingly-committed Elohim and Saviour.
This last chapter in Hoshěa/Hosea, begins with the clear call being given to Yisra’ěl, to return to יהוה, showing us that they had departed from Him!
This is made clear, as we see that Yisra’ěl had stumbled in their crookedness and, as a result, had turned away from serving יהוה and had stumbled in crookedness and sin!
The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘return’ is שׁ֚וּבָה shuḇa, which comes from the root word שׁוּב shuḇ – Strong’s H7725 which means, ‘to turn back, return, repent, recover’.
In the ancient pictographic letters, the root word שׁוּב shuḇ – Strong’s H7725 looks like this:
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.
Waw/Vav – וּ:
This is the Hebrew letter ‘waw’ or ‘vav’ which in the ancient script is pictured as 
, which is a peg or ‘tent peg’, which was used for securing or tying down of the tent or other items. The possibility of it having a Y-shape is to show that it prevents the rope from slipping off. The root meaning of this letter is ‘to add, secure or hook’.
Beyt – ב:
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.
When we understand the combination of these pictures, as rendering a returning or recalling to mind, we are able to recognise that the teeth, which speaks of a ‘pressing’, and the picture of the peg that secures, and the house which speaks of dwelling, we are able to understand this representing the following:
THE WORD THAT SECURES THE HOUSE!
When we acknowledge the call to return to the true House of Elohim, we can also then recognise from this pictographic lettering, in terms of this word rendering ‘a return’, the following:
THE SECURE DWELLING PLACE THAT IS TO BE RETURNED TO
This word, in the ancient form, can also represents for us the following:
RETURNING TO THE SECURE HOUSE WHERE WE ARE FED,
AS WE MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF THE HOUSE
True repentance can only be done when one returns to obeying the Word that secures us as His Set-Apart Dwelling Place.
So many people today, may claim to be a part of the House of Elohim, yet they continue in crookedness and simply reveal that they are being foolish and are building on sand and have not had their feet set upon the solid Rock of Deliverance, for they have not truly returned to Elohim!
Returning to Elohim involves an acknowledgment that one has been wrong, and this is sadly where so many continue to stumble in crookedness, so to speak, as they refuse to accept that the falsehood and futility of the traditions, that they have been religiously following, are indeed wrong and need to be repented of!
This call for Yisra’ěl to return to יהוה, highlights a clear call, back to covenant and when one understands their true identity in Messiah, then a true return to obedience can be lived out, in serving and worshipping our Master and Elohim, in Spirit and Truth.
As we consider the severe warnings that are given to us in Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26, for disobedience, along with the wonderful promises of provision, peace, victory in battles, abundance of fruit and a constant renewal in the Truth, let us be firm in our ability to keep shining the light of the Torah of Truth, amidst a dark, wicked and adulterous generation, knowing that we are safe in our Master’s Hand and need not fear that which is poured out on the disobedient ones who refuse to repent!
Does your life represent one that has truly returned to יהוה?
If so, then great… make sure that you never turn away again!
Be a trustworthy servant, in calling others to return, by being a good example of one who has returned, being the fragrance of Messiah wherever you are, as you hear, guard and do His Word, with exceeding joy and complete shalom and not in fear of the chaos that has gripped the world at this time!
Our Master is coming soon, and those who have not returned will be rejected as not being known by Him, due to their lawless behaviour! But those who have responded to the call, will be a part of the True Remnant Bride that will be lifted up and gathered to be with Him forever! A bride that can walk in the complete shalom, right here and now, amidst the panic and fear that grips the lawless ones.
Yoḥanan/John 16:33 “These words I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have pressure, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
After declaring very plainly to His taught ones, who He is, and what was about to happen, He encouraged them with these words. These words are to be continual encouraging words to us too…. Especially as we face many pressures and endure extreme hardships, for we know that our Master is coming soon and being strengthened and empowered by His Spirit, we can be steadfast, in our need to stay in Him, so that He stays in us and be more than overcomers through Him!
His equipping Word gives us peace and causes us to endure the pressures of this world, as long as we stay in Him and guard to do all He has commanded us!
Iḇ’rim/Hebrews 3:12-13 “Look out, brothers, lest there be in any of you a wicked heart of unbelief in falling away from the living Elohim, 13 but encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceivableness of sin.”
Wayyiqra/Leviticus 26 sets before us very clearly, the blessing for obedience and the curses for disobedience.
This is a warning against disobedience and a call to repentance, that is being made today!
He who has ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, let them give ear and guard to do all our Master commands, with much joy and strength in Him, not worrying as the nations do, but standing steadfast in Him and not being shaken!
Mishlĕ/Proverbs 10:30 “The righteous is never shaken, while the wrong shall not dwell in the earth.”
As you see the beginning of the birth pains our Master spoke of, may you be encouraged in the comfort and strength we have to stay in our Master, and not be afraid of what we see happening nor be moved by the delusion of the lawless, as we are reminded of the sure promises we have in our Master!!!
Shemoth/Exodus 15:26 “And He said, “If you diligently obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim and do what is right in His eyes, and shall listen to His commands and shall guard all His laws, I shall bring on you none of the diseases I brought on the Mitsrites, for I am יהוה who heals you.”
Deḇarim/Deuteronomy 7:15 “And יהוה shall turn away from you all sickness and put on you none of the evil diseases of Mitsrayim which you have known, but He shall put them on all those who hate you.”
I will close with the words of Kěpha:
Kěpha Bet/2 Peter 3:17-18 “You, then, beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the delusion of the lawless, 18 but grow in the favour and knowledge of our Master and Saviour יהושע Messiah. To Him be the esteem both now and to a day that abides. Aměn.”
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!