I would like to share something of urgency, which God has put on my heart today.  Firstly though I need to do a little background on the Feast of Pentecost, which, so happens, is today.

Today (from sundown May 14-15) is the national observance of the Feast of Pentecost, or Shavuot, in Israel. Shavuot is considered to be the time when God gave Moses the Torah on Mount Sinai after the exodus from Egypt.  The giving of the Torah to Moses was by God Himself coming down to meet with him on the Mount in a cloud, accompanied by smoke and fire and a blast of God’s trumpet. This was to establish His covenant with His people and so Shavuot is celebrated as the biblical birth date of the nation of Israel.

The basic theme of Shavuot is “the harvest” and of giving thanks to God.  Passover marked the beginning of the Spring harvest and on the Feast of First fruits the first fruits of a sheaf of barley was required to be presented before the Lord, as a wave offering in thanksgiving for the harvest.  From the next day, seven weeks were counted until wheat harvest.  This is why Pentecost is also called the “Feast of Weeks”.

Why is this relevant to us?  Because God works by His prophetic calendar. In the year AD 30, on the day of Pentecost, something else of great importance was birthed.  At Passover Christ had died as the Lamb of God, at Feast of First Fruits He rose again, then 50 days after His resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost, the Church was born.

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  Acts 2:1-4

God once again used fire, wind and other demonstrations of the Holy Ghost to establish a covenant with His people.  This was also a time of great harvest, with many thousands of people being saved and brought into the Church at once.

So this leads to what the Holy Spirit has impressed on my heart this afternoon.  Over the centuries since the Church was born at Pentecost there have been other times of great harvest and the ingathering of souls.  As Peter said, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17, 18) Times of the outpouring of God’s Spirit have been recorded through history.  There was the Great Awakening traced to the Moravians in 1727, there was Whitefield in 1742, John Wesley in the 18^th century, Finney in the 1830’s, DL Moody in the late 19^th century, the Welsh revival in 1904, Asuza Street in 1906 – just to name a few.

But will God do it again? Will there be another time of a great outpouring of His Spirt, of revival, before the end of the age?  It is my wholehearted belief that it will be so.

(It is not my intention here to prove that God will once again bring revival.  I can recommend the following books if you would like to pursue this question further.  One is Leonard Ravenhill’s “Why Revival Tarries”, the other is “In the Day of Thy Power” by Arthur Wallis.)

The scripture that God impressed upon me today was this:

“And he said, ‘Thus says the Lord, make this valley full of ditches.  For thus says the Lord, you shall not see wind, neither shall you see rain, yet that valley shall be filled with water…” 2 Kings 3:16, 17

God required Judah and Israel to prepare for the coming outpouring of the water which He was to send by making the valley full of ditches.  This was so when the water came it would fall into these catchment areas and not simply run-off and be lost and wasted.  This is what God is speaking to His Church even in this day.   It is no secret that water can be a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible.  He is saying to prepare for the coming outpouring of the Spirit – by making ditches in the valley to catch the water as it flows through.

I guess the Israelites must have dug into the desert floor with some sort of spade instruments.  It can’t have been an easy task to make a valley “full of ditches”.  But while it was probably hard, it wasn’t impossible, and they did do it.

How do we make ditches today?  We need to dig into the hardness of human hearts with the instrument of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The hardness will be confronted with the power of the gospel and pride will be broken down when met with the Word of God.

Jesus said in Matthew 9:38 “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

God needs labourers to go out into the harvest once again and gather in the lost.   God needs us to warn them that without Him, they will die.  I am not being melodramatic.  One thing God impressed upon me today is His urgency to have sinners turn to Him.  He says :

“Say unto them, ‘As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Ezekial 33:11

This is serious.  If we truly believe that we are in the last days and if we truly believe that Jesus is coming back as the Lion of the tribe of Judah to judge the world in a Day of wrath, then we need to warn people.  It is God’s heart that none should perish.   But He has entrusted to us the precious task of preaching the gospel, of warning, of being watchmen.  And He actually, really expects us to do it. 

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for^[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. ⁹ But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.”  Ezekiel 33:7-9

This is not a call for an elite set of evangelists, or for someone with a special anointing, this is a call for every Christian.  Jesus Himself said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

I am sorry if this makes you uncomfortable or if it bursts your happy bubble, but God’s heart breaks for the lost every single day.  And ours should too.

Of course, the very first thing that occurs when we are confronted by a hard truth, me included, is our sense of inadequacy.  That I am unfit for the task, that I am too weak, too female, or too imperfect hits me most of the time.  But God says we are not inadequate, we are not incapable.  He has called us for this very reason and He will put His words in our mouths.

Listen to this:  Ninevah turned from their sin when Jonah got over himself and warned them of their impending judgment. 

They turned. 

And they lived.

God is calling for someone to “make this valley full of ditches” in these last days.  

Will it be you?

“The fact is, Christians are more to blame for not being revived, than sinners are for not being converted.  And if Christians are not awakened, they may know assuredly that God will visit them with His judgments.  How often God visited the Jewish church with judgments because they would not repent and be revived at the call of His prophets.”  Charles Finney

Includes the Golden Words of Yeshua…

15th May  2013

(John 9: 1-12) As Yeshua went on His way, He saw a man who had been born blind. ² His followers asked Him, “Teacher, whose transgression made this man to be born blind? Was it the transgression of this man or the transgressions of his parents?” ³ Yeshua answered, “The transgressions of this man or the transgression of his parents did not make him to be born blind. He was born blind so the work of God would be seen in him. ⁴ We must keep on doing the work of Him Who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no man can work.⁵ While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

⁶ After Yeshua had said this, He spit on the ground. He mixed it with dust and put that mud on the eyes of the blind man. ⁷ Then Yeshua said to him, “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.” (Siloam means Sent.) The man went away and washed. When he came back, he could see.

⁸ Neighbors and others had seen him begging. They said, “Is not this the man who sat and begged?” ⁹ Some said, “This is the one.” Others said, “No, but he looks like him.” But the man who had been blind said, “I am the man.” ¹⁰ They said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” ¹¹ He answered, “A Man called Yeshua made mud and put it on my eyes. Then He said to me, ‘Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.’ I went and washed and I can see.” ¹² Then they asked him, “Where is He?” He answered, “I do not know.”  

JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC

Text taken from the New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International Ask a Question? To leave Notes & Comments use form below: Want to ask a question?. need help or advice. Please Click here to find out more.

Includes the Golden Words of Yeshua…

Wednesday 15th May 2013

[MATT 24:4-14] ⁴ Yeshua said to them, “Be careful that no one leads you the wrong way. ⁵ Many people will come using My name. They will say, ‘I am Christ.’ They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. ⁶ You will hear of wars and lots of talk about wars, but do not be afraid. These things must happen, but it is not the end yet. ⁷ Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries. There will be no food for people. The earth will shake and break apart in different places. ⁸ These things are the beginning of sorrows and pains.

⁹ “Then they will hand you over to be hurt. They will kill you. You will be hated by all the world because of My name.¹⁰ Many people will give up and turn away at this time. People will hand over each other. They will hate each other.¹¹ Many false religious teachers will come. They will fool many people and will turn them to the wrong way. ¹² Because of people breaking the laws and sin being everywhere, the love in the hearts of many people will become cold. ¹³ But the one who stays true to the end will be saved.

¹⁴ “This Good News about the holy nation of God must be preached over all the earth. It must be told to all nations and then the end will come.

JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC

Text taken from the New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International Ask a Question? To leave Notes & Comments use form below: Want to ask a question?. need help or advice. Please Click here to find out more.

Parasha Bamidbar (In the Desert)
Order in the Camp, Your Specialized Mission. Finding God in the Desert

Psalm 147;2 The builder of Jerusalem is HASHEM; the outcast of Israel He will gather in. 3 He is the Healer of the brokenhearted, and the One Who binds up their sorrows. 4 He counts the number of the stars, to all of them He assigns names. 5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is beyond calculation.

–We begin a new ‘book’ of the Torah, Bamidbar which means in the Desert, also known as Numbers. The eternal words of Bamidar contain many ‘colorful’ episodes which are sure to keep even the most leisurely student engaged. Bamidbar begins with a number of Censuses. The members of the tribes are counted individually, each and every Jew passes in front of Moses and Aaron and presented proof of tribal descent. Even the humblest Jew stands before his two leaders, the prophet to whom God Almighty speaks to face to face as a friend, and HASHEM’s holy servant, appointed perpetually.
How awesome would it have been for someone who had heard the messages of Moshe transferred from one leader to the next, down the chain and finally to the “lay” person, in the “back” of the camp… 600,000 strong, aside from women and children…he heard the message, it was in his heart but now he is accounted for, personally, individually. God counted the nation at every significant turn because He loves it.
The fact that the people were counted as individuals proves the infinite worth of every Jew, of every child of God for that matter. If the purpose was sheer numbering, it would have been much more efficient to count the people ‘en masse’. Doing this would have caused the individual to become an insignificant member of the collective and would have obscured each personal responsibility to grow and contribute.
We will seek out the lessons in this sedra (parasha or portion) and try to uncover what it really means to grow in holiness, faith and relationship with the Lord.
From these texts we learn how each of us is unique, and precious to the Lord in our own right and capable as well as responsible for contributing to the ‘community’ of the Kingdom. The tribes once accounted for are arranged around the Tabernacle, demonstrating that the Presence of God was their rallying point and so too should be ours!

Bamidbar 1; 1 HASHEM spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after their exodus from the land of Egypt, saying: 2 “Take a census of the entire assembly of the children of Israel according to their families, according to their fathers’ household, by the number of the names, every male according to their headcount. 3 From twenty years of age and up- everyone who goes out to the legion of Israel- you shall count them according to their legions, you and Aaron. 4 And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household.

–Rosh=head; sum; top.
–Paqad=Muster; charge; appoint; count; number; reckon.
–This first portion of the census is taken from all males age twenty and up. This is a reckoning of all those capable of bearing arms. This is a count of all those who will go out into the legion of Israel, they are after all being led our by God into Canaan to conquer the territory and possess the Land. They are counted by their family name, this is more than a matter of numbers, this gives these men a new identity. Only a year prior they were slaves, now soldiers in an army led by the Lord.

Bamidbar 1;16 These were the ones summoned by the assembly, the leaders of their father’s tribes, they are the heads of Israel’s thousands. 17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by [their] names. 18 They gathered together the entire assembly on the first of the second month, and they established their genealogy according to their families, according to their fathers’ household, by the number of the names, from twenty years of age and up, according to their headcount. 19 As HASHEM had commanded Moses, he counted them in the Wilderness of Sinai.

–Qariy (kawree)=called ones; select; famous; renown.
–Naqab=specify; designate; appoint; name.
–Not only are the men passing before Moshe and Aaron to determine that they are capable of fighting for the promised land, but they have the opportunity to “bear” their heritage…to proclaim and prove their Tribal name. What pride a father or tribal head would hold in his heart as these men pass before him. On this day the promises to Israel, and the blessings on the deathbed of Jacob become alive all the more…for they have not perished in Egypt under the heavy bars of their tormentors, nor did they pass away as the legions of Pharaoh pursued them, they have not starved or withered on the journey to Sinai and now they are all here, the Twelve Tribes of Israel poised to make the eleven day journey to Canaan and to the Land flowing with milk and honey.

Bamidbar 1;44 These are the counting’s that Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel counted- twelve men, one man for his fathers’ household, were they- 45 these were all the counting’s of the Children of Israel, according to their fathers’ households, from twenty years of age and up, everyone who goes out to the legion in Israel: 46 All their counting’s were six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.

–My daughter and I enumerated the tribes in order from “strongest” (most sword-bearing men) to least “strong”= Judah (Praise) , Dan (Judge), Simeon (Heard), Zebulun (Dwell), Issachar (Wages), Naphtali (Wrestling), Reuben (See A Son),Gad (Fortunate), Asher (Happy), Ephiram (Fruitful), Benjamin (Son of the Right Hand), Manasseh (From a Debt).
-This is just something we worked up, its just from our hearts, not to be taken like a literal message from the text, but a WONDERFUL blessing all the same, may you be blessed by it:
In this order, the order of the count for the Legions of Israel set for a great battle…we get a glimpse into the future of our Conquering King and the Sword he will arrive with when he returns with his legions in the clouds!:
We see the Praise of the Judge Who has Heard, He Dwelt among us, bearing the Wages of our sin, he Wrestled with death and won, SEE THE SON! How Fortunate and Happy we are, how Fruitful he has made us…the Son of the Right Hand, will descend and make war…then claim his eternal crown, From a Debt he paid once and for all! May Yeshua be exalted!

–HEBREW: Micpar(mispar)=number; account; telling.
–GREEK: Arithmeo=to enumerate or count; number.

Genesis 41;49 Joseph amassed grain like the sand of the sea in great abundance until he ceased counting, for there was no number (micpar).

Exodus 23;25 You shall worship HASHEM, your God, and He shall bless your bread and your water, and I shall remove illness from your midst. 26 There shall be no woman who loses her young or is infertile in your land; I shall fill the number (micpar) of your days.

Job 5;6 For destruction does not emerge from the dust, nor does misery grow from the earth. 7 For man is born to weariness, while spiritual beings soar in flight. 8 However, I would beseech the Almighty and direct my words to God, 9 Who performs great deeds that are beyond comprehension, [and] wonders beyond number (micpar);…

Luke 12;6 Aren’t sparrows sold for next to nothing, five for two assarions? And not one of them had been forgotten by God. 7 Why, every hair on your heard has been counted (arithmeo)! Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

Revelation 7; 9 After this, I looked; and there before me was a huge crowd, too large for anyone to count (arithmeo), from every nation, tribe, people and language. They were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands; 10 and they shouted, “Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

–The counting of God’s precious ones is intimate and direct. It shows His overwhelming love in a cherishing way, a personal way…by name. He knows the number of hairs on your heard and He knows you are as individual, thus this Walk must begin with a personal initiative to find HASHEM.
What more fitting of a time to be contemplating this than now, as we near Shavouth. These “days that count”, the period of the Omer counting is nearing a close and that brings us to The Feast of Weeks, celebrating the giving of the Torah. All these days we have been walking from spiritual immaturity, slaves freshly liberated…to the pinnacle of Divine Revelation at Sinai…and we are almost there.
This Torah Portion of Bamidbar couldn’t be more perfect for our own spiritual preparation to relive the Sinai Revelation for our souls, to remind us that we are not just a blur among the masses.
This is the time of rebirth, at the Foot of the Mountain, at the Foot of the Throne as we await the return of our King…Rebirth for all human beings.
We must be searching for the specific, and specialized, unique path that God has carved out for us.
Move forward always looking for HASHEM on this journey, aided by Him…for the map has been etched into our very being. It is our job to relearn continually our particular path to the Torah, to Yeshua the Word made flesh…and by name, that path has been assigned to each of us…our own personal portion.
The Torah is for each one of us, specifically, we will find “it” on different routes, uncover “it” in a variety of paces and differing approaches and timings….but in this discovery we will unroll True Love, Awe, Commitment and Knowledge.
This is why we pray:
“Bless us our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance, for with the Light of Your countenance You gave us, HASHEM, our God, the Torah of Life and a love of kindness, righteousness, blessing, compassion, life and peace.
Grant us our share in Your Torah, and may we serve You there with reverence, as in the days of old and in former years.”
For with all of me, I know that the portion of weight of a single grain of sand of the eternal Word made Flesh, the Torah of Truth, is more than enough to sustain my soul in the abundance of joy and gladness for all eternity! So may it be my King.

Bamidbar 1;47 The Levites according to their father’s’ tribe were not counted among them. 48 HASHEM spoke to Moses ,saying, 49 “But you shall not count the tribe of Levi, and you shall not take a census of them among the Children of Israel. 50 Now you, appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, over all of its vessels and over everything that belongs to it. They shall carry the Tabernacle and all its utensils and they shall minister to it; and they shall encamp around the Tabernacle. 51 When the Tabernacle journey’s, the Levites shall take it down, and when the Tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall erect it, and an alien who approaches shall die.

–The next separation we see involving the Levites is here, there will be an accounting made of Levi but it is not to be done in the same way, among the Children of Israel. The Levites are appointed (paqad) over the Tabernacle and all of its vessels, they are in charge of its daily workings (ministering- Sharath) and when it journeys (naca) and encamps (chanah) they are in charge of tearing it down (yarad) and erecting it (quwm).
–Quwm= erect, set up; rise; accomplish; confirm; make; perform; ordain; establish; hold; strengthen.
The Levites have a mission, they have an identity, they have a purpose and an assignment. While bricks and mortar, blood, sweat and many tears were once their station in a strange land…they are now entrusted and charged to confirm what HASHEM had promised and ordained for mankind and for Israel from long before Noach left the ark. They now erect with faithful sweat the walls of God’s House, now it is tears of true repentance that flow as they wash their hands at the Laver before approaching to offer gifts to the Lord and make atonement for the people. Now, the blood is that of a pure offering, one which inhabits the guilt and transgression in exchange for a downcast soul. It is the Levites appointment to strengthen and enable the hope and faith in the unfailing promises that the Lord Quwm-established and eternally maintains. Layer upon layer, eternal covenants exhibited in the Center of the camp, the Tabernacle of HASHEM.

Genesis 9;11 And I will confirm (quwm) My covenant with you : Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I give between Me and you, and every living being that is with you, to generations forever: 13 I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

Genesis 17;7 I will ratify (quwm) My covenant between Me and you and between your offspring after you, throughout their generations, as an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you and to your offspring after you; 8 and I will give you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourns- the whole of the land of Canaan- as an everlasting possession; and I shall be a God to them.”

Exodus 6;4 Moreover, I established (quwm) My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojourning, in which they sojourned. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groan of the Children of Israel whom Egypt enslaves and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Therefore, say to the Children of Israel: “I am HASHEM, and I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt; I shall rescue you from their service; I shall redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I shall take you to Me for a people and I shall be a God to you; and you shall know that I am HASHEM your God, Who takes you out from under the burdens of Egypt. 8 I shall bring you to the land about which I raised My hand to give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I shall give it to you as a heritage- I am HASHEM.’”

Exodus 26;30 You shall erect (quwm) the Tabernacle according to its manner, as you will have been shown on the mountain.

Leviticus 26;9 I will turn My attention to you, I will make you fruitful and increase you; and I will establish (quwm) My covenant with you.

Psalm 24;2 For He founded it upon seas, and established (quwm) it upon rivers. 3 Who may ascend the mountain of HASHEM, and who may stand in the place of His sanctity? 4 One with clean hands and pure heart; who has not sworn in vain by My soul, and has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He will receive a blessing from HASHEM and just kindness from the God of his salvation.

–Not only are the Levites charged with safeguarding the actual Tabernacle, but they are to protect the people…to ensure that the people do not bring harm to themselves by coming to worship at inopportune times, in inappropriate manners, with unacceptable offerings or even with malice or derision in mind. The sword is never far from Levi, and the priests at the entrances and boundaries of the Tabernacle have to have had a means of defense to maintain order for the sake of the Tabernacle’s sanctity and safety of the people.
Armored priests, musicians, and Torah teachers…truly a Special Mission have the Levites.

Bamidbar 1;52 The Children of Israel shall encamp, every man at his camp and every man at his banner, according to their legions. 53 The Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony so that there shall be no wrath upon the assembly of the Children of Israel, and the Levites shall safeguard the watch of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.” 54 And the Children of Israel did everything that HASHEM commanded Moses, so did they do.

–Above any theme of this Torah portion we note ORDER in the Camp of the Lord. There is order in the counting and census taking; order in the arrangement of the encampment; order in the organization and banners of the tribes; order in their journeying; order in the erecting, dismantling, covering, carrying and traveling with the holy vessels and Sanctuary. This order is established in the camp to protect the people and the holy House of God and its sanctity and the designer and foreman, the overseer from on High, the drafter and Master planner…El Shaddai, God Almighty.

Bamidbar 2; 1 HASHEM spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “The Children of Israel shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Tent of Meeting shall they encamp.

–The Lord places us where He has designated, however uncomfortable to our flesh or unreasonable to our simple minds it may seem…He has purpose and design for exactly where we are and it is all according to His timing. As much as we might long to be nearer to distant relatives or friends, as deep as a feeling of void there is an our ‘desert’ places in life…His ways are always plotted for the very best produce in mind, and He will cause us to recognize the presence of fertile ground, give us the seed and water and warmth….and He will delight right along with us when someday, if we are faithful and patient and trust in Him completely, when we taste the sweet fruit of the handiwork He has established for us even in the most ‘barren’ of wastelands.
Psalm 55; 6 Fear and trembling penetrate me, and I am overcome with horror. 7 Then I said, “O that I had a wing like the dove! I would fly off and find rest! 8 Behold! I would wander afar; I would dwell in the wilderness, Selah.

Jeremiah 2;2 “Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus said HASHEM: I recall for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your following Me into the Wilderness, into an unsown land. 3 Israel is holy to HASHEM, the first of His crop; all who devour it will be held guilty; evil shall come upon them- the word of HASHEM.

Psalm 65;7 Who sets the mountains with His strength, Who is girded with might, 8 Who calms the roar of the seas, the roar of their waves and the multitude of regimes. 9 Inhabitants of the furthest ends are awed by your signs; with the outgoings of morning and evening You cause joyful praise. 10 You paid heed to the earth and watered it, You enriched it abundantly from God’s stream filled with water; You prepare their grain, for thus do You prepare it, 11 to abundantly water its ridges, settle its furrows; with showers You soften it, You bless its growth. 12 You crown the year of Your goodness, and Your paths drip with abundance. 12 They drip into desert pastures and the hills gird themselves with fodder, they shout joyfully, they even sing!

–The tribes were placed according to their fathers’ households and they encamped under the banner of their family Name. They were to take care of each other, upholding each other and lifting each other’s heads. Falling in line with the order of Gods arrangement they are like a well oiled machine, each able to work according to their own gifting, calling, mission and God ordained purposes. There is identity here among clan and in the dynasty of your ‘tribe’, we must stick together now more than ever. Taking the lead of the tribes in formation, moving, working, living and dying together for the sake of the Kingdom and for the glory and righteousness, honor and exaltation of our Master, our Head, our King and Savior…encamping and journeying forth from our place under the banner marked: Yeshua.

Bamidbar 2;17 “The Tent of Meeting, the camp of the Levites, shall journey in the middle of the camps; as they encamp so shall they journey, everyone at his place according to their banners.

II Corinthians 10;15 We do not boast about the area in which others labor; but our hope is that as your trust grows, we will be magnified in your midst in relation to our own area of work, so that we can go on to do even more, 16 namely, to proclaim the Good News in regions beyond you. Our hope is not to boast about the work already done by someone else. 17 So, let anyone who wants to boast, boast about ADONAI; 18 because it is not the one who recommends himself who is worthy of approval, but the one whom the Lord recommends.

I Chronicles 17;8 I was with you wherever you went- I cut down all your enemies before you and I gave you renown, like the renown of the great men of the land. 9 I shall yet secure a place for My people, for Israel; I shall plant it there and it shall dwell in its place so that it shall be disturbed no more….

–The Tabernacle is at the Center, although the tribes surround it and the Levites stand guard it is the power from within ‘the Center’, that strengthens and protects enabling victory. When Israel focused on the Center, they were victorious, when they ventured outside, to other nations, for help or protection they fell to their enemies. The Lord dwells within us to strengthen and protect us against the enemy, this doesn’t mean we won’t have to engage. but it is by walking in faith with our focus on God, the Center that we too are enabled to become victorious.

I Corinthians 15; 22 For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: the Messiah is the first fruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; 24 then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes to every authority and power. 25 For he has to rule until he puts all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be done away with will be death, 27 for, “He put everything in subjection under his feet.” But when it says that “everything” has been subjected, obviously the word does not include God, who is himself the one subjecting everything to Messiah. 28 Now when everything has been subjected to the Son, then he will subject himself to God, who subjected everything to him; so that God may be everything in everyone.

Bamidbar 2;33 The Levites were not counted among the Children of Israel, as HASHEM had commanded Moses. 34 The Children of Israel did everything that HASHEM had commanded Moses- so they encamped according to his families, by his fathers’ household.

–From http://www.torahresource.com, Torah Commentary 97: The sages give this explanation: Judah is to the East, the place from where the light comes each day. For Judah is the tribe of the Messiah. Rambam designates Issachar as the Tribe of the Torah, since tradition says Issachar produced scribes. Zebulun was known as a tribe of wealth. Thus, Zebulun supports those who study Torah, and Torah leads to the Messiah. Rueben symbolizes repentance (Gen 35;22). Gad symbolizes strength while Simeon needed atonement. It was therefore appropriate that Simeon be flanked by repentance and strength. Ephriam, Manasseh and Benjamin together represented strength, necessary for the harsh weather that enters the land from the West. The strength represented by these tribes is a necessary companion to Torah (Judah) and Repentance (Rueben). The North is symbolic of darkness, as is Dan, who allowed idolatry in the North under Jeroboam. To offset the darkness, God gave Asher (known for olive oil), and Naphtali, given a special blessing by Moses (Deut. 33;23). What can we learn from the arrangement of the tribes?
–Issachar and Zebulun were close to Moshe and Aaron in arrangement. Aaron and Moshe influenced their tribes in becoming leaders in Torah Study and Support of Torah Study. We are effected by our social climate. Those whom we surround ourselves with DO influence us. Because Issachar and Zebulun were surrounded by Moshe and Aaron, their values became Torah. As we choose our friends and the communities and circles we become a part of let us choose wisely realizing that they will influence us. There will be an effect on our values and aspirations and I pray that not only it be a good one, but that we all in turn influence others to trust in the eternal and living word of God and walk in the light of the Lord.

Matthew 5;14 “You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Likewise, when people light a lamp, they do not cover it with a bowl but put it on a lamp stand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. 17 Don’t think I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or stroke will pass from the Torah- not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bamidbar 3;1 These are the offspring of Aaron and Moses on the day HASHEM spoke with Moses at Mount Sinai: 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the firstborn was Nadab, and Abihu, Elazar, and Ithamar. 3 These were the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed Kohanim, whom he inaugurated to minister. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before HASHEM when they offered an alien fire before HASHEM in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; but Elazar and Ithamar ministered during the lifetime of Aaron, their father.

–All Priests are Levites, not all Levites are Priests. In other words, the Priesthood- Kohanim were all to be sons of Aaron, who is from the tribe of Levi. Not all the Levites are part of the Sacrificial and Temple services. Review the Torah Portion of Shemini for much more about Nabad and Abihu :

http://safeguardingtheeternal.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/parasha-shemini-eighth-becoming-holy-guardians-of-the-flame/

Bamidbar 3;5 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying, 6″Bring near the tribe of Levi and have it stand before Aaron the Kohen, and they shall serve him. 7 They shall safeguard his charge and the charge of the entire assembly before the Tent of Meeting, to perform the service of the Tabernacle. 8 They shall safeguard all the utensils of the Tent of Meeting and the charge of the Children of Israel, to perform the service of the Tabernacle. 9 You shall present the Levites to Aaron and his sons-presented, presented are they to him- from the Children of Israel. 10 You shall appoint Aaron and his sons and they shall safeguard their priesthood; and the alien who approaches will die.”

-We see here a repeating of the word netunim: presented, assigned. The Levites are presented to Aaron, presented they are presented to him. There are several reasons suggested, clearly the Torah wants to make known that the Levites are assigned to the Kohanim forever. The repetition could signify that this is an appointment for the present generation and for future generations. Everything that the Levites do is to be under the Priesthood.

Bamidbar 3;11 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying, 12″Behold! I have taken the Levites from among the Children of Israel, in the place of every firstborn, the first issue of a womb among the Children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. 13 For every firstborn is Mine: On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified every firstborn in Israel for Myself, from man to beast; they shall be Mine- I am HASHEM.”

–When God took His people out of the bondage of Egypt He had intended for each and every one of them to be a part of ministering to Him. His design was for ALL ISRAEL to be Kohanim.
*Exodus 19;5 And now if you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples, for Mine is the entire world. 6 You shall be to Me a kingdom of ministers and a holy nation.’
Before the golden calf, the designated youths of the twelve tribes were taking part in the offerings at Sinai.
*Exodus 24;4 Moses wrote all the words of HASHEM. He arose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.5 He sent youths of the Children of Israel and they brought up burnt-offerings, and they slaughtered bulls to HASHEM and feast peace-offerings to HASHEM. 6 Moses took half of the blood and placed it in basins, and half the blood he threw upon the altar. 7 He took the Book of the Covenant and read it in earshot of the entire people, and they said, “Everything that HASHEM has said, we will do and we will obey!”
After the sin of the golden calf. the Levites were separated as Gods’ faithful, it is said they did not take part in the idolatry and we know that they took on the tough job of exacting Gods’ punishment for those who would not “stand with HASHEM”.
The generation of the desert (Bamidbar) were dedicated, elevated yet they repeated the same failings and weaknesses time and time again. They were a generation of great knowledge yet they rose to a level of great incompetence. In our text the people are now poised to enter the Land, we too at this season of Shavouth are balanced in this tumultuous time with the opportunity to “get it right”.
The characteristics of the desert are parallel to the characteristics of the acquisition of Torah…the experience here can be humbling, harsh, foreboding…it is a place where we have to be very real. We have to accept the responsibility for ourselves, and encounter HASHEM, facing ourselves…and come to the core essence of our inner being…our heart and soul… ready to be a vessel for the King’s use and dedicated to His service.
In faithful matrimony, getting it right as opposed to after the “marriage” at Sinai…
here in the desert we can not be intellectually moved to find this relationship with our savior.
It is here that the Spirit truly moves us to that relationship.

Hosea 2;16 Therefore, behold, I will seduce her, and I will lead her to the desert and I will speak to her heart. 17 And I will give her her vineyards from there, and [make] the Valley of Achor (Troubling) in to a portal of hope; she will dwell there as in the days of her youth, and as on the day of her ascent from the land of Egypt. 18 And it shall be on that day- the word of HASHEM- that you will call [Me] Ishi (my husband) and you will no longer call Me Baali (my master). 19 I will remove the names of the Baalim from her mouth and they will not be mentioned again by their name. 20 And I will seal a covenant for them on that day with the beast of the field and the bird of the heavens and the creeping thing of the ground; I will banish bow and sword and warfare from the land; and I will lay them down in safety. 21 I will betroth you to Me forever; and I will betroth you to Me with righteousness, with justice, with kindness and with mercy; 22 and I will betroth you to Me with fidelity, and you will know HASHEM.

Bamidbar 3;14 HASHEM spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “Count the sons of Levi according to their fathers’ household, according to their families, every male from one month of age and up shall you count them.” 16 Moses counted them according to the word of HASHEM, as he had been commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi, by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
…32 The leader of the Levite leaders was Elazar son of Aaron the Kohen, the assignment of the guardians of the charge of the sanctity.
…38 Those who encamped before the Tabernacle to the front, before the Tent of Meeting to the east, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, guardians of the charge of the Sanctuary, for the charge of the Children of Israel; any alien who approaches shall die.
39 All the counting’s of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron counted by the word of HASHEM according to their families, every male from one month of age and up, were twenty-two thousand.

–This second part of the census involves the counting of Levites, from one month of age and up. This is an accounting of ‘viable’ Levites, those ‘fit’ for the redemption ceremony. At this time, before ultrasound and modern medicine, a baby was not considered ‘viable’ until the age of one month. This is because many babies did not live past the age of one month. This factor, as well as the other ‘bumps in the road’ so far from Egypt to now…makes it miraculous that the number from the first census post Egypt (600,000) is so close to the current numbering (603,550). Our King is the God of life! He will assign us to our station, He will lead us through the desert, He will lavish us with the water that gives life…His eternal word the expression of His adoration for us.

Isaiah 43;15 I am HASHEM, your holy One; the Creator of Israel, your King. 16 Thus said HASHEM, He Who made a way through the Sea and a path amid the mighty waters, 17Who brought out chariot and horse, army and force, which all lie together, never to rise, extinguished and snuffed out like a piece of [burning] flax: 18 Do not recall former occurrences and do not contemplate earlier events. 19 [For] behold, I am bringing forth a new [miracle]! Now it will sprout, you will surely know it: I will make a road in the desert and in the wilderness rivers. 20 The beast of the field will honor Me- the jackals and the ostriches- for I have put water in the desert and rivers in the wilderness, to provide drink for My chosen people, 21 this people which I fashioned for Myself that they might declare My praise.

Bamidbar 3;40 HASHEM said to Moses, “Count every firstborn male of the Children of Israel from one month of age and up, and take a census of their names. 41 You shall take the Levites for Me- I, HASHEM- in place of every firstborn of the Children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of every firstborn of the animals of the Children of Israel.” 42 Moses counted- as HASHEM had commanded him- every firstborn of the Children of Israel. 43 Every firstborn male according to the number of their names, from one month of age and up, according to their numbers, was twenty-two thousand, two hundred and seventy-three. 44 HASHEM spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Take the Levites in place of every firstborn of the Children of Israel, and the livestock, and the Levites shall be Mine, I am HASHEM. 46 And as for the redemptions of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the Children of Israel who are in excess of the Levites; 47 you shall take five shekels each according to the headcount, in the sacred shekel shall you take; the shekel is twenty geras. 48 You shall give the money to Aaron and his sons, as redemptions of the additional ones among them.” 49 Moses took the money of the redemption from those who were in excess of the redemptions of the Levites; 50 from the firstborn of the Children of Israel he took the money: one thousand, three hundred and sixty-five in the sacred shekels. 51 Moses gave the money of the redemptions to Aaron and his sons according to the word of HASHEM, as HASHEM had commanded Moses.

Bamidbar 4; 1 HASHEM spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, according to their families, according to their fathers’ household; 3 from thirty years of age and up, until fifty years of age, everyone who comes to the legion to perform work in the Tent of Meeting.

–This third counting in the census is of the Levites age thirty to fifty. This is an accounting of those whom are able bodied, who will be able to perform the work of the Tabernacle. God wants to know, who He can count on. Who will get the job done? Just as the people provided the materials to make the Tabernacle and gave them freely with great anticipation of this purpose, so too we are to supply the ‘materials’ to build a life fit for His dwelling. Our growth in holiness is not entirely “God’s Work”. How so? He supplies us with all things in the first place and everything is from Him, the work of our Redemption IS entirely by His mercy and His forgiveness and His work (that of Yeshua). Our personal growth in holiness needs to be active and individually responsible. Once redeemed, God expects His redeemed child to grow in holiness through a cooperative effort between God and the one He fashioned and recreated after His own image. Our obedience is essential to the realization of His designs. This design must rest at the center of our existence and as He leads us to journey we must lovingly care for His vessels of service, and move according to the instructions He alone gives.

Colossians 3;1 So if you were raised along with the Messiah, then seek the things above, where the Messiah is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Focus your minds on the things above, not on things here on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is your life, appears, then you too will appear with him in glory! 5 Therefore, put to death the earthly parts of your nature- sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is a form of idolatry); 6 for it is because of these things that God’s anger is coming on those who disobey him. 7 True enough, you used to practice these things in the life you once lived; 8 but now, put them all away- anger, exasperation, meanness, slander and obscene talk. 9 Never lie to one another; because you have stripped away the old self, with its ways, 10 and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in fuller and fuller knowledge, closer and closer to the image of its Creator.

Isaiah 43;1 And now, thus says HASHEM, your Creator, O Jacob; the One Who fashioned you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called [you] by name; you are Mine. 2 When you pass through water, I am with you; through rivers, they will not wash you away; when you walk through fire, you will not be singed, and no flame will burn you.

Bamidbar 4;4 “This is the work of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting: the most holy. 5 When the camp is to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come and take down the Partition-curtain and cover the Ark of the Testimony with it. 6 They shall place upon it a tachash-hide covering, and spread a cloth entirely of turquoise wool over it, and adjust the staves. 7 Upon the Table of the show-bread they shall spread a cloth of turquoise wool and place it upon the dishes, the spoons, the pillars, and the shelving-tubes; and the constant bread shall remain on it. 8 They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet wool and cover it with a cover of tachash hide, and emplace the staves. 9 They shall take a cloth of turquoise wool and cover the Menorah of illumination, and its lamps, and its tongs, and its spoons, and all the vessels of its oil, with which they minister to it. 10 They shall place it and all its utensils into a cover of tachash-hide, and place it on a pole. 11 Upon the Gold Altar they shall spread a cloth of turquoise wool, and cover it with a covering of tachash-hide, and emplace its staves. 12 They shall take all the utensils of service with which they serve in the Sanctuary and place them in a cloth of turquoise wool, and cover them with a covering of tachash-hide, and place them on the pole. 13 They shall clear the ash from the Altar and spread a cloth of purple wool over it, 14 they shall place upon it all the utensils with which they minister upon it: the fire pans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins- all the utensils of the Altar- and spread over it a covering of tachash hide, and emplace its staves.

–We journey and He is there, He WILL help us but we must do the walking in obedience as He leads in the order He has assigned according to His timing with reverence and pride that we are the redeemed children of the King. When we face a battle with the enemy He will fight for us but we must engage…not run or look for outside assistance.

Isaiah 41;10 Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I have strengthened you, even helped you, and even sustained you with My righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who become angry with you will be shamed and humiliated; those who fight with you shall be like nothingness and shall perish. 12 The men who struggle with you, you shall seek them but not find them; the men who fight you, they shall be like nothingness and naught. 13 For I am HASHEM, your God, Who grasps your right hand, Who says to you: ‘Fear not, [for] I help you!’

Deuteronomy 3;22 You shall not fear them, for HASHEM, your God- He shall wage war for you.

Deuteronomy 31;6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid and do not be broken before them, for HASHEM, your God- it is He Who goes before you, He will not release you nor will He forsake you.” 7 Moses summoned Joshua and said to him before the eyes of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall come with this people to the Land that HASHEM swore to your forefathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 HASHEM- it is he who goes before you; He will be with you; He will not forsake you; do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.” 9 Moses wrote this Torah and gave it to the Kohanim, the sons of Levi, the bearers of the Ark of the covenant of HASHEM, and to all the elders of Israel.

Bamidbar 4;15 “Aaron and his sons shall finish covering the holy and all the holy utensils when the camp journeys, and then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry, so that they not touch the Sanctuary and die. These are the burdens of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting. 16 The charge of Elazar son of Aaron the Kohen is the oil of illumination, the incense spices, the meal-offering of the continual offering, and the anointment oil- the charge of the entire Tabernacle and everything in it- of the Sanctuary and its utensils.
17 HASHEM spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “Do not let the tribe of the Kohathite families be cut off from among the Levites. 19 This shall you do for them so that they shall live and not die: when they approach the Holy of Holies, Aaron and his sons shall come and assign them, every man to his work and his burden. 20 But they shall not come and look as the holy is inserted, lest they die.”

–What is your specialized mission? Where do you camp in accordance with Gods’ order? What will you discover about your identity in the deserts of life? Will you be willing to submit to the authority of your Father, even as Yeshua has and will at the end, when the enemy closes in? When you are poised to enter your land of promise, will you make the journey easily remaining under the designated banner of your heritage or wander for forty years? At this time as we recall the Spirit being poured out, may we ask that the fire rest on us…that we too learn to be guardians of the charge of the Lord, keeping the fire burning! May we renew our vows as if we stood at mount Sinai, receiving our own personalized portion of the Eternal Torah of Truth…and seek God continually and say: ” Everything that HASHEM has said, we will do and we will obey!”

John 1;44 Philip found Natan’el and told him, “We’ve found the one that Moshe wrote about in the Torah, also the Prophets- it’s Yeshua Ben-Yoseph from Natzeret!”

Isaiah 42;21 HASHEM desired for the sake of righteousness that the Torah be made great and glorious.

Jeremiah 31; 32 For this is the covenant that I shall seal with the House of Israel after those days- the word of HASHEM- I will place My Torah within them and I will write it onto their heart; I will be God for them and they will be a people for Me.

John 14;15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands; 16 and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 17 The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees nor knows him. You know him, because he is staying with you and will be united with you. 18 I will not leave you orphans- I am coming to you. 19 In just a little while, the world will no longer see me; but you will see me. Because I live, you too will live. 20 When that day comes, you will know that I am united with my Father, and you with me, and I with you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me, and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and will love him and reveal myself to him.

–Blessed are You Lord our God, King of universe
You alone have planted among us life eternal,
Blessed are You, Lord our God, gracious Giver of the Torah.

Our God and the God of our forefathers, please, bestow upon us, O HASHEM, our God, the blessing of Your appointed Festivals for life and for peace, for gladness and for joy, as You desired and promised to bless us. Sanctify us with Your commandments and grant us our share in Your Torah; satisfy us with Your goodness and gladden us with Your Yeshua, Your Salvation, and purify our heart to serve you sincerely.
And grant us a heritage, O HASHEM, our God- with gladness and with joy- the appointed Festivals of Your holiness, on this day of the Festival of Shavuos, and may Israel and all your children who sanctify Your Name, rejoice in You.
Blessed are You, HASHEM, Who sanctifies Israel and the festive seasons.
In Yeshua’s name, Amein.

–Lord Almighty, draw me near to Your truth. Place goodness upon my heart and teach me to remove all the clothing I used to don in my old life…I am new, because of Your work…and because of Your greatness I pray You will always grant me the strength to work to become a holy vessel for your use. Remove from me the desire to be placed in a camp You have not designated, tear from me any will that intends that I move in any direction You have not pointed me to. May all Your children find You and seek to find You more and more, may we all open our hearts to Your Torah and find more and more our Savior Yeshua on every page!
It is in his name I ask these things,
Amein.

Resources:
-The Complete Jewish Bible-David H. Stern
-The Stone Edition Tanach- artscroll
-Interlinear Scripture Analyzer
http://www.torahresource.com
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us
http://www.wisdomintorah.com
http://www.chabad.org
http://www.templeinstitute.org

     However, Shavuot has been attached, or anchored into the Exodus saga.  There are many commentaries and opinions on the question of “which day do we begin the count?”  The Torah only tersely states that the count is to begin after the Sabbath..  The mainstream of rabbinic opinion and Jewish practice is to consider the Passover to be the “Sabbath”, a rest day, and therefore the count begins on the next day.  Others have read it to mean what it says: from the next Sabbath after Passover.  In any case there is a clear connection made between what was once a purely agricultural holiday and the Exodus from Egypt.  (Similarly, there appears to have been an ancient festival of unleavened bread to which a newer meaning is overlaid; that we eat unleavened bread in recognition that the Israelites fleeing Egypt had no time to allow natural rising of leavened dough.) 

     The written Torah takes us no further in regard to Shavuot.  But there is a major addition made in its understanding through the Tradition that it was on this day that the Torah was given to Moses.  Much apocryphal writing exists on that theme, to which we shall turn to later.

     The Christian holiday of Pentecost is Shavuot.  It is well known that pente refers to fifty, and the holiday is the fiftieth day from Easter.  For Messianic Jews, an understanding of this day of Shavuot and its parallels with Pentecost can illuminate many levels of meaning.  One approach is through a deeper understanding of the Book of Ruth. 

    The Jewish Bible, (or Tanaach) contains the Torah (the five books of Moses), the Prophets, the Writings, and Poetry.  The Book Of Ruth is from the Writings.  Other Writings include Ester, (read at Purim), Lamentations, (Tisha b’av), The Song Of Songs (Shabbot within the week of Passover) and Ecclesiastes (Shabbot within Succoth). 

     The Book Of Ruth is read on Shavuot.  The mainstream consensus is that it was chosen because its plot unfolds within the time of the barley harvest, and Shavuot is celebration of that same first harvest.  (In The Land, barley is the first harvest and wheat is the next.  And only toward the end of the agricultural season comes the harvest of grapes and olives.)

     When Ruth is read quickly on the assumption that its only connection to Shavuot is that they both relate to the barley harvest, its profound symbolism and indeed prophetic qualities are completely missed.  Ruth has much to say to Messianic Jews. 

     Initially the book seems little more than a sweet story of loyalty and generosity.  It is not classified with the Prophets, but as Writings.  And yet there seems more to it than a mere source of homiletic exhortation. Something clearly messianic is being whispered between the lines. It is about David’s ancestry; and to a Messianic Jew that must say something about Messiah, whether Yeshua or One as of yet unrevealed.  The expectation of the Messiah is considered a cardinal tenet of faith according to Maimonides.  And of course in the daily prayers we pray for the Son of David to return to and restore Jerusalem.

     What might we find when we look closer at this book?   This Scroll, Ruth, is the story of the genealogy of David, and as said above, is read on Shavuot, the celebration of the first, the barley harvest.  Shavuot has also become linked with the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.  And in the B’rit Hadashah  (New Testament) it is on Shavuot that the Ruach HaKodesh (holy spirit) fills the group of believers and allows them to speak in the various tongues.  Jewish believers and believers from all the nations were present in “one place” (Acts2: 1-4) and yet were able to “hear the great things that God has done” in their own languages! So upon this Day of First Fruits the Holy Spirit invited the first Yeshua believers from the nations to become engrafted into God’s nation, Israel! 

     The Book Of Ruth is the story of the Moabite woman who somehow became the Great Grandmother of David and earned a whole book in the Tanaach to be named for her, and to be listed in the genealogy of Yeshua HaMoshiach. (Mt 1: 5)

The story of Ruth takes place “In the days when the Judges judged (ruled)”.  And because of a famine Elimelech his wife Naomi, and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion left Bethlehem-Judah.  All of these names have meaning.  Eli My God, melech King, so Elimelech means “God is my king”. We learn later in the text that Naomi means “pleasant”. Mahlon, and Chilion mean Sickly and Frailty, respectively.  And because of the famine they must leave Beit LeChem, (Bethlehem: ironically means house of bread).  Further, the family is called Ephratim  (that term reappears toward the end of the book and we will deal with it there.)  And they left to sojourn in the fields of Moab. 

     Elimelech died leaving Naomi and her two sons alone in Moab. The sons married two Moabite women.  The rabbinic commentators perform feats of contortion to circumvent the plain reading of Deuteronomy 23: 4. “No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted into the congregation of the lord; none of their descendents even in the tenth generation shall be admitted into the congregation of the lord, 5. Because they did not meet you with food and water on your journey after you left Egypt, and because they hired Balaam…to curse you”.  One such commentary claims that the taboo only included Moabite males since the term Moabitress is not in the commandment.  Many are content to say that this law in Deuteronomy was not known at this time and place.  I think it is ducking the issue, and if pursued the question may give answers that shed light on other points.  

     For a brief and uneventful ten years nothing of any import occurs in the story.  That “nothing” actually becomes the “something”, for both young men die, childless.  Their death following their father’s leaves Elimelech’s estate “intestate”, in need of a Redeemer.  As 4:7 later makes clear, when the Israelites came into their land it was divided by lot between the tribes, and then between the clan’s of the tribes and even to the males of the families.  Their allotment was to be considered adherent to their families, and passed from fathers to sons.  It could not be sold.  It could only be leased out if necessary but it had to be returned in the Jubilee years.  In this case, Elimelech’s holdings near Bethlehem had no male inheritors (when one considers the etymology of “intestate” the similarity is apparent!). Therefore it was in need of being redeemed.  The Redeemer was the male who had the right and/or obligation to take the land in the name of the deceased so that it would not pass out of his clan, or tribe, or out of Israelite ownership itself.  This becomes very important to the story later on!

    Back at the ranch, the mournful, lonesome trio of widows, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law, were in an untenable situation.  Naomi arose to leave Moab because she heard that the lord had remembered the people (exactly as Moses spoke to the Israelites in Egypt) giving them food (lehem as in Beit Le-hem, Bethlehem!).  As the three started on the road back to the Land of Judah, Naomi blessed her daughters-in-law for all their loving support and loyalty and told them to return to the homes of their mothers.  “May Adenoi deal as kindly with you as you have dealt with the deceased and me.” The girls cry and cling and desire to return to Judah with Naomi.  She reminds them that she is too old to have any more sons, and even if she miraculously married and conceived a son, could Ruth or Orpah wait for him to mature so as to fulfill the levirate marriage custom.  (Levirate marriage was the means for a man’s name and land allotment to be perpetuated if he died without male offspring.  His brother was obliged to take the widow and conceive a son to carry on his brother’s line.)

   Finally Orpah said good-bye and went back to the home of her mother.  Ruth did not.  Despite Naomi almost scolding her to do like Orpah and return to her people and her “gods”, Ruth declared her unshakeable commitment: “For where ever you go I will go, where you lodge, I will lodge, your people are my people and your God is my God.”  And she declares that nothing but death will separate her from Naomi.

    So Naomi quit arguing and the two continued on until they reached Bethlehem.  When they arrived there the city was in a tumult over them.  (“When he entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred. ‘ Who is this?’ they asked” MT 21:10-11.)   And the crowds asked, “is this Naomi?”

     And so returned Naomi with Ruth, the Moabite, …from the fields of Moab.  They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

     Chapter 2 begins with the narrator telling us that “And, Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a man of substance from the family of Elimelech whose name (was) Boaz.  Boaz means, “in him is strength”.  The narrator knows this, but the text seems to indicate that Ruth was unaware of this.  Ruth, the Moabite (again the book refuses to allow that fact to be swept under the rug), asks permission of Naomi to go and glean in the field.  It is very interesting that (1.) Naomi is aware of the Torah’s command, in Lev.23: 22 “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the lord your God.”  And interesting that (2.) this pasuk occurs immediately after the explicit instructions given for establishing the holy day of Shavuot! (Lev. 23: 15-21) Which just to remind, is the day on which this book is read! 

     So, Ruth goes and gleans in the field behind the harvesters.  When the harvesters pass and miss an ear of grain, or one drops to the ground, that ear is not to be harvested, but is to be left for the gleaners.  “And it happened that she came to the part of the field of Boaz.”  (I think we are meant to ask ourselves if she truly happened upon it, or perhaps planned to do so.)  And then coincidentally, Boaz, himself, the important man of the area, and from the family of Elimelech, happens to arrive at the fields, returning from Bethlehem, the regional center.  Boaz immediately blesses his workers (who were probably day-laborers and not people to whom important big shots to would typically defer!)  His workers blessed him in return, both using the name HaShem, the name of God associated with mercy.  (Previously, upon returning, Naomi tells the excited townsfolk not to call her Naomi (pleasant) but Bitter, because Shaddai had dealt bitterly with her.  Shaddai is the name of God in His attribute of strict Justice.)

     Boaz notices Ruth, and his foreman tells him that she is the Moabite girl (na’ra young woman, “lass”), who returned with Naomi.  He also tells how she asked if she might glean and then worked without rest almost the whole morning.  Boaz is impressed, perhaps by her beauty, her loyalty to Naomi, and her humility and willingness to work hard.  He speaks to Ruth “Hear me well my daughter” do not glean anywhere else; stay nearby and close to my female workers.  He makes it known to her that he has warned his male workers to keep their distance and that she is to feel free to drink from the jugs that his workers draw.  She falls on her face before him and humbly asks “Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take note of me, though I a foreigner?”  Boaz’s answer is worth repeating verbatim: “It was fully reported to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband; that you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth and went to a people whom you had not known yesterday or the day before that.  May HaShem repay your actions and may your reward be complete from HaShem the God of Israel, Whom you have come, to seek refuge under His wings.”

     He gave her roasted grain to eat and had her continue gleaning, though he made sure that his harvesters “missed” many ears of grain!   Ruth loyally returns to Naomi with an ephah of barley.  When Naomi learns from whom Ruth gleaned she says Baruch hu HaShem, (notably, no longer does she use the name Shaddai.)  “Blessed be the lord Who has not abandoned His kindness with the living and with the dead!”  And Naomi informs Ruth that Boaz is in fact a relative, one of “our” redeemers!  And she instructs her to stay close by his female workers and Ruth does so, and completes the barley harvest and then the wheat harvest as well.

     Chapter 3 begins after Ruth spent some time home with Naomi after the harvests were in.  Now the two women sit and Naomi sketches out a general plan to help Ruth find the contentment that she so very much deserves.  Basically the plan is direct and simple.  Ruth is to be bathed, perfumed and dressed in her best outfit.  She is to go down to the threshing floor where Boaz will be found. 

     Threshing floors are places of importance in Biblical stories.  Perhaps, because they must be open and level spaces they have been the sites of gatherings for various purposes.  Goren, Hebrew for threshing floor, HaAtad, the thorns, is the site where Joseph accompanied by his brothers, and Egyptian elders mourned Jacob’s death.  For seven days they mourned at the Threshing Field of Thorns, (Gen. 50: 10, 11).  More significantly, the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite was bought by David in order to build there an alter to the Lord, the future site of the Temple.  (2Sam 24: 18- 25.) We will return to this connection, for it pertains to the barley harvest as well!

     Enough with the threshing floors!  Back to the story: Naomi continues to coach Ruth in the wiles of seduction.  Let Boaz finish eating and drinking but do not let him see you.  Watch where he beds down and then you go, uncover his feet and lie down.  Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz will tell her what to do.  And Ruth says “All that you have said to me I will do”, and she does.

     Boaz ate and drank and merry was his heart.  And she came stealthily and uncovered his feet and she lay down.  In the middle of the night he “trembled and turned about and there was a woman lying at his feet”!  When asked she said “I am Ruth your handmaiden, you should spread your wing over your handmaiden for the redeemer are you”. 

     “May you be blessed by the lord, for your last act of kindness is better than the first inasmuch as you have not turned to young men, poor or rich.”  Boaz appreciates that the young and beautiful Ruth might have reasonably set her sights on other younger men.  Yet, for the sake of Naomi’s husband’s inheritance she is giving herself to Boaz.  He has no illusions and she has given him none to suggest otherwise.  Her first kindness, caring for Naomi in the tragic and lonely years in Moab, and loyally following her back to Bethlehem is superseded by her sacrifice of her youthful life to secure Elimelech’s portion.  In recognition of this Boaz echoes Ruth’s statement to Naomi “And now my daughter, do not fear.  All that you say I will do for you.” 

Ruth’s declaration of love and oath of allegiance to Naomi were not enough.  As commendable as that was it did not change her status of being a Moabite, and therefore being ineligible to marry an Israelite; and there is nothing in the story to supersede the direct statement in Deuteronomy that not even the tenth generation of Moabite is allowed to do so.  Rather than just accept that the author of Ruth was not knowledgeable of Deuteronomy, or that the Torah is imperfect I have been trying to reconcile this apparent contradiction. 

Elimelech died; (name= My God Is King).  Then Ruth’s and Orpah’s husbands (his sons) died.  Therefore Naomi’s land had no male heir.  Only since both of Naomi’s sons died without producing any children did their property revert to Naomi. And since Naomi was widowed their land in Moab was in need of being redeemed.  So Boaz redeemed Naomi’s property.  Ruth, who could not inherit, instead became inherited by Boaz with the land!  In the name of Yeshua are not the nations redeemed and engrafted into the tree of Israel?  And of course this book involving the barley harvest (first fruits), is read on Shavuot celebrating the first fruit, and states that Ruth also gleaned into the wheat harvest. 
Yeshua ate the Pesah Lamb with His disciples on the First Seder of Passover, recalled in Christendom as The Last Supper.  Although one can say He was like the Pesah Lamb, He could not be it, for he ate it!  But He was like another Lamb.  Leviticus 23: 9 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the Lord.
Every year there are debates about which “Sabbath” is the Sabbath of Lev. 23:11.  It is important, for it is from that day that the counting down to Shavuot begins. Ironically mainstream Jewish practice is to consider the 15^thof Nisan to be that Sabbath.  Many newly Torah Observant Messianics will count from the next seventh day Shabbot.  But if done with Jewish custom we will see that Yeshua was elevated, taken up off the cross before the sun set on the 15^th.  Jews count the Omer from the day Yeshua was elevated.  Yeshua is the Perfect Yearling Lamb given as and for the First Fruits!
Passover, and the First Seder begin as the light of Nisan 14 fades away into Nisan 15.  Yeshua finished the Seder, requested that the last of the Seder table Matzo (the Afikomen) and the last cup of wine be done in remembrance of him.  Returning to Gethsemane to sweat out the last night aware that in the morning his torment will ensue, it was still the 15^th.  When the Romans, brought by Judas Iscariot arrived to arrest Him it was the 15^th. 
So… perhaps Elimelech stands for Yeshua the suffering servant whose death initiates the story.  Yeshua the son of Mary, son of Israel would have affirmed the sentiment “My God is King” (Elimelech).  And despite Churchianity’s dogma, Yeshua never equated himself with God!  God is HIS king

Boaz, at the other end of the story, whose name means “With Power”, is the Messiah, The Lamb in Revelation, whose return at the end of history will be with power and glory.

Apart from his Teachings what else did Yeshua do!

14th May  2013

(John 9:13-34) ¹³ They took the man who had been born blind to the proud religious law-keepers. ¹⁴ It was the Day of Rest when Yeshua had made mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Again the proud religious law-keepers asked the man who had been born blind how he had been made to see. He answered them, “Yeshua put mud on my eyes. I washed and now I see!” ¹⁶ Some of the proud religious law-keepers said, “The Man Who did this is not from God because He worked on the Day of Rest.” Others said, “How can a transgressing man do powerful works?” They could not agree about Yeshua. ¹⁷ They spoke again to the blind man, saying, “What do you say about Him since He opened your eyes?” He answered, “He is One Who speaks for God.”

¹⁸ The Jews did not believe this man had been blind and had been made to see. They called his parents ¹⁹ and asked them, “Is this your son? Do you say he was born blind? How does he see now?” ²⁰ They answered, “We know this is our son and we know he was born blind. ²¹ But we do not know how it is that he can see now. We do not know who opened his eyes. He is old enough, ask him. He can tell you himself.” ²² His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had talked among themselves. They had agreed that the person who said that Yeshua was the Christ would be put out of the Jewish place of worship. ²³ That is why his parents said, “He is old enough, ask him.”

²⁴ The proud religious law-keepers asked the man again, who had been blind, to come. They said to him, “Give thanks to God. We know this man is a transgressor.” ²⁵ The man who had been blind said to them, “I do not know if He is a transgressor or not. One thing I know. I was blind, but now I can see.” ²⁶ They asked him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” ²⁷ He answered, “I have told you already. You did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His followers also?”

²⁸ The proud religious law-keepers became angry at him and said, “You are a follower of Yeshua. We are followers of Moses. ²⁹ We know God spoke to Moses. We do not know where this Man is from.” ³⁰ The man said to them, “This is strange! You do not know where He came from and yet He opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners. We know if anyone loves and worships God, and does what He wants, God listens to him. ³² From the beginning of the world no one has ever heard of anyone opening the eyes of a man born blind. ³³ If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything like this.”

³⁴ They said to him, “You were born in sin. Are you trying to teach us?” Then they put him out of the place of worship

JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC

Text taken from the New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International Ask a Question? To leave Notes & Comments use form below: Want to ask a question?. need help or advice. Please Click here to find out more.

Includes the Golden Words of Yeshua…

Tuesday 14th May 2013

[MARK 10:6-12] ⁶ From the beginning of the world, God made them man and woman. ⁷ Because of this, a man is to leave his father and mother and is to live with his wife. ⁸ The two will become one. So they are no longer two, but one. ⁹ Let no man divide what God has put together.”

¹⁰ In the house the followers asked Yeshua about this again. ¹¹ He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another is not faithful to her and is guilty of a sex act. ¹² If a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she is not faithful to her husband and is guilty of a sex act.” 

JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC

Text taken from the New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International Ask a Question? To leave Notes & Comments use form below: Want to ask a question?. need help or advice. Please Click here to find out more.

Elohim has promised us through His Son Yeshua Adoani that all who will place their faith and trust in the death and resurrection of Yeshua from the grave will be saved.  Matthew/Levi 3:2,  5:12,  Act 4:12,  Philippians 3:20,  Revelation 21:1.

When we have believed in these matters and die, (which is the natural process for all living things), we do expecting to get to Heaven. But there are conditions to be met in being a believer and following the teaching of Yeshua. At the end of the age Yeshua will return to gather the believers to Himself, but He will also restore the Kingdom of Ysra’el and reign on the earth for 1000 years.  Dani’el 7:9-10,  13-14,  Revalation 20:4-5.

We must notice that the Judgement of humanity has not yet occurred and that the decision of the Father of who goes to heaven has not been finalized.  Revelation 19:11-18.

Reblogged from franheal:

Yeshua:

Hello dear ones, Light of my Light, Love of my Love. I come before you today in humble reverence for your unyielding perseverance in this very important mission that you have consented to take on for the service of all. To watch you all has been enlightening to us all in the Celestial Realm. To see you spread your wings of divinity is music to our ears, salve to our souls.

Read more… 747 more words

To see “The Parable of Jonah” click this link:http://youtu.be/2c3tR6UVG6U

Stu Lowndes has amazing videos full of truth that I highly recommend.

Includes the Golden Words of Yeshua…

13th May  2013

John 8: 12-20  ¹² Yeshua spoke to all the people, saying, “I am the Light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will not walk in darkness. He will have the Light of Life.”

¹³ The proud religious law-keepers said to Him, “You are talking about Yourself. What You say about Yourself is not true.”

¹⁴ Yeshua said, “Even if I speak of Myself, what I am saying is true. I know where I came from and where I am going. You do not know where I came from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You say as a man would say if people are guilty or not guilty. I am not saying anyone is guilty. ¹⁶ But even if I did, it would be true. I am not alone. The Father Who sent Me is with Me. ¹⁷ It is written in your Law that when two men agree about something, it proves it is true. ¹⁸ I speak for Myself and the Father Who sent Me speaks for Me.”

¹⁹ The proud religious law-keepers asked Him, “Where is Your Father?” Yeshua said, “You do not know Me or My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

²⁰ Yeshua spoke these words near the money box while He taught in the house of God. No one put his hands on Yeshua because His time had not yet come. 

JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC

Text taken from the New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International Ask a Question? To leave Notes & Comments use form below: Want to ask a question?. need help or advice. Please Click here to find out more.

The YHWH flag used by many messianic jews

Pentecost is a day that is barely mentioned in most protestant and catholic churches. Unless you go to a pentecostal church you probably have never really celebrated pentecost. Even then the way the pentecostal churches celebrate this holy day is a disgrace. Pentecost and Savu’ot are the same holy day. It is a holy day that all christians should observe. The festival of the weeks is to be celebrated 49 days after the second day of passover. “The Counting of the Omer” 49 day countdown begins on the second day of passover. It is a festival that required pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was considered a high sabbath. This holy day is commanded in Leviticus 23:15-22 but I will just quote a few verses of that passage for time and space.

Leviticus 23:15-16, 21 KJV “15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.
21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.”

A cool drawing and royalty free photo showing a Torah scroll, the ten commandments and the first fruits.

The verses between 16 and 21 gives a lot of the technical aspects of this holy day. That is why I left them out. I do encourage you the reader to do more independent study on this topic. I included verse 21 for a reason even though it contains technical aspects as well. The last part of this verse says it will be a statue “forever” in all your dwellings throughout your generations. Keeping shavu’ot is a charge to be kept for all time. I know a lot of people who would argue that is just for jews but that is not the case. Certainly most professing christians would argue legalism with me to justify their sin but that is the same thing the Pharisees did to justify their unscriptural beliefs. As gentile christians are grafted into the house of Israel through Yeshua (Romans 11:18-20), they are to take part in this holy festival as well and keep it as commanded in the torah. The same way with passover. The hebraic jews referred to this day as shavu’ot but hellenistic jews referred to the day as pentecost. This holy day was celebrated in early church history as the birth of the church. The giving of the holy spirit coincided with shavu’ot the jewish festival of the giving of the torah.

Matthew 5:17 17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to complete.

Acts 2 records the giving of the holy spirit. It says the day of pentecost came. Pentecost was just the hellenistic jewish way of saying “shavu’ot”. So it could rightfully read “as shavu’ot was being celebrated they were all with one accord in one place.” That comes from verse one. Then it records in the following verses 2-6 the spirit descending on the multitudes and the gift of speaking in tongues being given through the spirit. This is totally different than a private prayer language. This was when everyone could understand everyone’s speech. There were devout men (jews and believers) from every nation there at the time. There was not a common language among all of these believers as hebraic jews refused to speak greek. Hebraic jews during that time would claim “it is better to feed your young swine than to speak greek”. There was many sects at this event and many other languages. Those people were there for shavo’ut because shavu’ot required a pilgrimage to Jerusalem as commanded in Exodus 23:14-17.

Verses 7-11 of chapter 2 in Acts records that the people were amazed and marveled at the miracle. It also gives a full list of the nations of the people in attendance. Respectfully there was not a true common language among all believers in attendance because language among jews was considered a sacred thing. If there was a common language that would have defeated the purpose of speaking in tongues. If that is the case the idea of a common language would go against YHWH and the holy scriptures. Some had a common language but not all of them. Language was sacred just like time was sacred and still is sacred in judaism. Even the sabbath day is a sacred time because YHWH blessed and made time holy before any other thing. The time of the death of Yeshua was sacred in time and space. That is the importance of the time and place of his death at passover shortly before sunset. The fact that time is holy is why YHWH and Yeshua sent the holy spirit down to the first century believers on shavu’ot. It is because time is holy and these sacred times and events should be observed until the end of time by all jews and those who profess the name of YESHUA HAMASHIACH (JESUS CHRIST)!

Sunflowers is a wonderful decoration for Shavu’ot!

This is something that most modern believers cannot wrap their minds around. This is because they do not view time as holy or “kodesh” the word that holy comes from. Kodesh means “set-apart”. (Set-apart meaning of special importance)

Verses 12-15 speaks of people being amazed and some were mocking and making fun of them calling them drunk but that was not the case. Peter stood up with the other 11 apostles and began speaking, it makes it clear they were not drunk for it was only about 9 am when it happened. Verses 16-21 speaks of how this event of the giving of the holy spirit fulfilled what the prophet Joel prophesied about. The rest of the chapter is Peter’s sermon and the number of believers in Yeshua increased by 3000 and after that day numbers were added daily to the believers. That is a day that we should rejoice on, the actual days of Shavu’ot falls this year 2013 between sunset on May 14 to sundown on May 16th.

Shavu’ot is a time to remember the giving of the Torah and the Holy Spirit

The modern day pentecost sunday is just a paganized version. Very few churches even give pentecost a special place in their churches. In other words they do not keep it as kodesh or holy. You will hear more about mothers and fathers day than pentecost in most churches. Even fewer celebrate it in a correct fashion. It should be days of remembrance. Days to celebrate and read the scriptures and discuss what the holy spirit is doing in our lives and how it makes our lives so much better! It should be a sacred time when we take off from work, spend time with fellow believers sharing in the joy of what our savior Yeshua has done for us! It should be a time to reflect on how wonderful both YHWH and Yeshua really are! It is okay to decorate the houses in spring time decorations and have a dairy social. This goes back to the tradition of eating dairy on shavu’ot because it is not kosher to mix dairy and meat together. It is a harvest festival after all. During the giving of the torah they were unable to kosher meat so they had manna and dairy. It is a tradition that is fun and wonderful. All christians should keep the hebrew holy days in mind and cast out the pagan holy days. Shalom my friends and have a wonderful Shavu’ot!

Includes the Golden Words of Yeshua…

13th May  2013

(John 9:35-41)  ³⁵ Yeshua heard that the proud religious law-keepers had put the man who had been healed out of the place of worship. He found the man and said to him, “Do you put your trust in the Son of God?” ³⁶ He said, “Who is He, Sir? Tell me so that I can put my trust in Him.” ³⁷ Yeshua said to him, “You have seen Him. He is talking with you.” ³⁸ He said, “I do put my trust in You, Lord.” Then he bowed down before Yeshua and worshiped Him.

³⁹ Yeshua said, “I came into this world to say what is right from wrong. I came so those who do not see might see, and those who do see might be made blind.” ⁴⁰ Some of the proud religious law-keepers who were with Him heard this. They said to Him, “Are we blind also?” ⁴¹ Yeshua said to them, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of transgressions. But because you say, ‘We see,’ you still are guilty of your transgressions. 

JAN/FEB/MAR/APR/MAY/JUN/JUL/AUG/SEP/OCT/NOV/DEC

Text taken from the New Life Version (NLV) Copyright © 1969 by Christian Literature International Ask a Question? To leave Notes & Comments use form below: Want to ask a question?. need help or advice. Please Click here to find out more.