Month: March 2009

  • Pictures from the recent storm and note about accident

    In the Amish community there was a horrible accident Sun. eve. A pickup truck lost control on the 340 and went into the other lane hitting another pickup sideways on the drivers side. Amish boys were driving both trucks. (Some of the Amish boys get vehicles before they join church) Two Amish brothers age 18 & 19 were killed. They live in the same area, Nickle Mines, as where the Amish school shootings took place. The family is really broken up as you can imagine. It is said the mother of these boys is the one that put the Heartland Hymnbook together , a very popular hymnbook with the young people. the paper said they were on their way to a volleyball game and hymn sing.

    now on to the photos of the storm the other night.

    There was a twister…plus a lot of damage because of the huge hail. One car lot had all the cars totaled because of the hail. Keep all the families affected by this in your prayers please.

    Shalom

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  • O Elohim, You are my Ěl and I earnestly seek You

    Psalms 63:1-11  A psalm of David, when he was in the desert of Y’hudah: O God, you are my God; I will seek you eagerly. My heart thirsts for you, my body longs for you in a land parched and exhausted, where no water can be found.  (2)  I used to contemplate you in the sanctuary, seeing your power and glory;  (3)  for your grace is better than life. My lips will worship you.  (4)  Yes, I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.  (5)  I am as satisfied as with rich food; my mouth praises you with joy on my lips  (6)  when I remember you on my bed and meditate on you in the night watches.  (7)  For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice;  (8)  my heart clings to you; your right hand supports me.  (9)  But those who seek to destroy my life -may they go to the lowest parts of the earth.  (10)  May they be given over to the power of the sword; may they become prey for jackals.  (11)  But the king will rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will exult, for the mouths of liars will be silenced.

    David recognizes that Adonai is in control of his life, and out of that relationship fellowship is born.

    life – chay – life (abstract emphatic); life; sustenance, maintenance

    How precious is Adonai’s grace to you? Is it better than life?

    Many times we have so much material things, so much outwardly, but spiritually speaking we are dry. David was satisfied in Adonai, he was refreshed in Adonai.

    Problems arise when we don’t follow close behind Adonai, and David found that out first hand. But as we stick by Adonai, He will uphold us and strengthen us.

    James 4:7-10  Therefore, submit to God. Moreover, take a stand against the Adversary, and he will flee from you.  (8)  Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!  (9)  Wail, mourn, sob! Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom!  (10)  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

    David could praise Adonai in the wilderness based on Adonai’s love, not his circumstances. Measure Adonai’s grace in your life.  Is it worth more than life to you? If not, perhaps you need to take some more time to look at Adonai’s love for you.

    Ephesians 3:17-21  so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting. Also I pray that you will be rooted and founded in love,  (18)  so that you, with all God’s people, will be given strength to grasp the breadth, length, height and depth of the Messiah’s love,  (19)  yes, to know it, even though it is beyond all knowing, so that you will be filled with all the fullness of God.  (20)  Now to him who by his power working in us is able to do far beyond anything we can ask or imagine,  (21)  to him be glory in the Messianic Community and in the Messiah Yeshua from generation to generation forever. Amen.

    Romans 8:35-39  Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War?  (36)  As the Tanakh puts it, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long, we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”  (37)  No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us.  (38)  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming,  (39)  neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.

    Luke 7:36-50  One of the P’rushim invited Yeshua to eat with him, and he went into the home of the Parush and took his place at the table.  (37)  A woman who lived in that town, a sinner, who was aware that he was eating in the home of the Parush, brought an alabaster box of very expensive perfume,  (38)  stood behind Yeshua at his feet and wept until her tears began to wet his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her own hair, kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.  (39)  When the Parush who had invited him saw what was going on, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what sort of woman she is, that she is a sinner.”  (40)  Yeshua answered, “Shim`on, I have something to say to you.” “Say it, Rabbi,” he replied.  (41)  “A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed ten times as much as the other.  (42)  When they were unable to pay him back, he canceled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?”  (43)  Shim`on answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “Your judgment is right,” Yeshua said to him.  (44)  Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim`on, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house — you didn’t give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair!  (45)  You didn’t give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet!  (46)  You didn’t put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet!  (47)  Because of this, I tell you that her sins — which are many! — have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.”  (48)  Then he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”  (49)  At this, those eating with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this fellow that presumes to forgive sins?”  (50)  But he said to the woman, “Your trust has saved you; go in peace.”

    Do you find yourself identifying more with the sinner woman or with Shim`on the Parush?

    Shalom

  • Post number one leading up to Pesach/Passover

    Passover — Pesach

    Jewish Year 5769: sunset April 8, 2009 – nightfall April 16, 2009

    Exodus 12:14-17  “‘This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate as a festival to ADONAI; from generation to generation you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation.  (15)  “‘For seven days you are to eat matzah – on the first day remove the leaven from your houses. For whoever eats hametz [leavened bread] from the first to the seventh day is to be cut off from Isra’el.  (16)  On the first and seventh days, you are to have an assembly set aside for God. On these days no work is to be done, except what each must do to prepare his food; you may do only that.  (17)  You are to observe the festival of matzah, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you are to observe this day from generation to generation by a perpetual regulation.

  • UPDATE!!!!! FOUND!!!!!!! (Pray for this family)

    UPDATE!!!!!!!   He was found at a Truck Stop in Savannah Georgia. He was walking around in a daze. His Pastor and another guy from the church are there with him and they are having him checked out at the hospital before sending him home.
    Praise Adonai!!!!!!!!!!

    Please pray for this man and his family. He has memory issues and is missing. His wife is very very worried about him.

    He has been missing for three days from his North Knox County home in TN.

    John Faull, 44, was last seen by his wife about 10 p.m. Tuesday at their residence on Harbor Cove Drive.

    Faull suffered a head injury that causes him memory lapses.

    His ATM card was used Thursday in Macon, Ga.

    He might be driving a 1995, dark green, two-door, SVX Subaru. The car carries a license tag bearing 901-DCZ.

    He is described as white, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing about 165 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. There is a picture of him above.

    I don’t normally ask for stuff like this but, please recommend this and help get the word out and help his family find him.

    Here are two news articles about it….. number 1 and number 2

    UPDATE FROM HIS SISTER IN LAW:

    He actually used his ATm card again yesterday and it was around the corner from the gas station that he was spotted the day before. we are hoping his car broke down- it was old or that maybe he is staying there. There is a police officer that used to work in Macon Georgia and is now a Knoxville Police officer so he is taking a group of men from their church down to search for him. He also has contact with the authorities down there. Let’s hope that they get there in time and are able to bring him home.

    Another update 3/30:

    He is now in Savannah Georgia. He used the atm card last tonight. They are thinking he might be there possibly because he was in the Air Force before the navy and might be checking it out, but not sure at this point. At least we know that is is still alive, that his car is still running. Keep the prayers coming. This is hopeful because they heard nothing for almost 3 days.
  • My soul waits in silence for G-d alone

    Psalms 62:1-12 For the leader. Set in the style of Y’dutun. A psalm of David: My soul waits in silence for God alone; my salvation comes from him.  (2)  He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I won’t be greatly moved.  (3)  How long will you assail a person in order to murder him, all of you, as if he were a sagging wall or a shaky fence?  (4)  They only want to shake him from his height, they take delight in lying with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. (Selah)  (5)  My soul, wait in silence for God alone, because my hope comes from him.  (6)  He alone is my rock and salvation, my stronghold; I won’t be moved.  (7)  My safety and honor rest on God. My strong rock and refuge are in God.  (8)  Trust in him, people, at all times; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Selah)  (9)  Ordinary folks are merely a breath and important people a sham; if you lay them on a balance-scale, they go up both together are lighter than nothing.  (10)  Don’t put your trust in extortion, don’t put false hopes in robbery; even if wealth increases, don’t set your heart on it.  (11)  God has spoken once, I have heard it twice: strength belongs to God.  (12)  Also to you, Adonai, belongs grace; for you reward all as their deeds deserve.

    rock – tsuwr – rock, cliff

    A warrior out in the open field had to keep his guard up. But a warrior who was in an impregnable fortress could get some rest.

    Some people say nice things to you to your face, but inside they’re cursing you.

    Adonai will give to us the faith we need to go through trials and as we look to Him our faith will grow, we shall not be moved or shaken by them!

    1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the right time he may lift you up.  (7)  Throw all your anxieties upon him, because he cares about you.

    Power belongs to who? Man? Wealth? Intellect? No, it belongs to Adonai and not only does power belong to Him, but also love, mercy that He extends to us. And through it all, He will reward us for our faithfulness.

    What do you expect from Adonai? Do you expect Him to answer all your prayers the way you want?

    What do you do when Adonai doesn’t answer your prayers the way you hoped for? Do you run to some plan B that you came up with?

    Some people trust in bad things and bad men, others trust in good men. Neither have the answer.

    We need to keep trusting Adonai.

    Shalom

  • Poor Stray Dog

    My husband is still outside trying to rescue the poor thing.

    Shalom

  • Parshah Tzav Scripture and Study – Leviticus 6:1-8:36

    Parshah Tzav – Leviticus 6:1-8:36 (in the Hebrew/Jewish Torah…..6:8 -8:36 in the KJV/NIV/RSV/ESV Bible)
    Torah Reading for Week of Mar 29-Apr 4,2009 – Nissan 4-10 5769

    Leviticus 6:8-8:36  (6:1) And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  (9)  (6:2) Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law of the burnt-offering: it is that which goeth up on its firewood upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereby.  (10)  (6:3) And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.  (11)  (6:4) And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.  (12)  (6:5) And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereby, it shall not go out; and the priest shall kindle wood on it every morning; and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall make smoke thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.  (13)  (6:6) Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.  (14)  (6:7) And this is the law of the meal-offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, in front of the altar.  (15)  (6:8) And he shall take up therefrom his handful, of the fine flour of the meal-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meal-offering, and shall make the memorial-part thereof smoke upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD.  (16)  (6:9) And that which is left thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat; it shall be eaten without leaven in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.  (17)  (6:10) It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of My offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as the sin- offering, and as the guilt-offering.  (18)  (6:11) Every male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as a due for ever throughout your generations, from the offerings of the LORD made by fire; whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.  (19)  (6:12) And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  (20)  (6:13) This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half thereof in the evening.  (21)  (6:14) On a griddle it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in; in broken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD.  (22)  (6:15) And the anointed priest that shall be in his stead from among his sons shall offer it, it is a due for ever; it shall be wholly made to smoke unto the LORD.  (23)  (6:16) And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly made to smoke; it shall not be eaten.  (24)  (6:17) And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  (25)  (6:18) Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying: This is the law of the sin-offering: in the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed before the LORD; it is most holy.  (26)  (6:19) The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it; in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.  (27)  (6:20) Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in a holy place.  (28)  (6:21) But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken; and if it be sodden in a brazen vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water.  (29)  (6:22) Every male among the priests may eat thereof; it is most holy.  (30)  (6:23) And no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire.  (7:1)  And this is the law of the guilt-offering: it is most holy.  (2)  In the place where they kill the burnt-offering shall they kill the guilt-offering: and the blood thereof shall be dashed against the altar round about.  (3)  And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof: the fat tail, and the fat that covereth the inwards,  (4)  and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the lobe above the liver, which he shall take away by the kidneys.  (5)  And the priest shall make them smoke upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD; it is a guilt-offering.  (6)  Every male among the priests may eat thereof; it shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.  (7)  As is the sin-offering, so is the guilt-offering; there is one law for them; the priest that maketh atonement therewith, he shall have it.  (8)  And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt-offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt-offering which he hath offered.  (9)  And every meal-offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is dressed in the stewing-pan, and on the griddle, shall be the priest’s that offereth it.  (10)  And every meal-offering, mingled with oil, or dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as well as another.  (11)  And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which one may offer unto the LORD.  (12)  If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour soaked.  (13)  With cakes of leavened bread he shall present his offering with the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving.  (14)  And of it he shall present one out of each offering for a gift unto the LORD; it shall be the priest’s that dasheth the blood of the peace-offerings against the altar.  (15)  And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.  (16)  But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a freewill-offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offereth his sacrifice; and on the morrow that which remaineth of it may be eaten.  (17)  But that which remaineth of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.  (18)  And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings be at all eaten on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it; it shall be an abhorred thing, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.  (19)  And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire. And as for the flesh, every one that is clean may eat thereof.  (20)  But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.  (21)  And when any one shall touch any unclean thing, whether it be the uncleanness of man, or an unclean beast, or any unclean detestable thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, that soul shall be cut off from his people.  (22)  And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  (23)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: Ye shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat.  (24)  And the fat of that which dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of beasts, may be used for any other service; but ye shall in no wise eat of it.  (25)  For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men present an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.  (26)  And ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.  (27)  Whosoever it be that eateth any blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people.  (28)  And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  (29)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: He that offereth his sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the LORD shall bring his offering unto the LORD out of his sacrifice of peace-offerings.  (30)  His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire: the fat with the breast shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before the LORD.  (31)  And the priest shall make the fat smoke upon the altar; but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.  (32)  And the right thigh shall ye give unto the priest for a heave-offering out of your sacrifices of peace-offerings.  (33)  He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.  (34)  For the breast of waving and the thigh of heaving have I taken of the children of Israel out of their sacrifices of peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons as a due for ever from the children of Israel.  (35)  This is the consecrated portion of Aaron, and the consecrated portion of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when they were presented to minister unto the LORD in the priest’s office;  (36)  which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that they were anointed. It is a due for ever throughout their generations.  (37)  This is the law of the burnt-offering, of the meal-offering, and of the sin-offering, and of the guilt-offering, and of the consecration-offering, and of the sacrifice of peace-offerings;  (38)  which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to present their offerings unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.  (8:1)  And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:  (2)  ‘Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bullock of the sin-offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;  (3)  and assemble thou all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting.’  (4)  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the tent of meeting.  (5)  And Moses said unto the congregation: ‘This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded to be done.’  (6)  And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.  (7)  And he put upon him the tunic, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.  (8)  And he placed the breastplate upon him; and in the breastplate he put the Urim and the Thummim.  (9)  And he set the mitre upon his head; and upon the mitre, in front, did he set the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.  (10)  And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.  (11)  And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the laver and its base, to sanctify them.  (12)  And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.  (13)  And Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and girded them with girdles, and bound head-tires upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.  (14)  And the bullock of the sin-offering was brought; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock of the sin-offering.  (15)  And when it was slain, Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the remaining blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.  (16)  And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses made it smoke upon the altar.  (17)  But the bullock, and its skin, and its flesh, and its dung, were burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses.  (18)  And the ram of the burnt-offering was presented; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.  (19)  And when it was killed, Moses dashed the blood against the altar round about.  (20)  And when the ram was cut into its pieces, Moses made the head, and the pieces, and the suet smoke.  (21)  And when the inwards and the legs were washed with water, Moses made the whole ram smoke upon the altar; it was a burnt- offering for a sweet savour; it was an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.  (22)  And the other ram was presented, the ram of consecration, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.  (23)  And when it was slain, Moses took of the blood thereof, and put it upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.  (24)  And Aaron’s sons were brought, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot; and Moses dashed the blood against the altar round about.  (25)  And he took the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right thigh.  (26)  And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat, and upon the right thigh.  (27)  And he put the whole upon the hands of Aaron, and upon the hands of his sons, and waved them for a wave-offering before the LORD.  (28)  And Moses took them from off their hands, and made them smoke on the altar upon the burnt-offering; they were a consecration-offering for a sweet savour; it was an offering made by fire unto the LORD.  (29)  And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave-offering before the LORD; it was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration; as the LORD commanded Moses.  (30)  And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.  (31)  And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons: ‘Boil the flesh at the door of the tent of meeting; and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded, saying: Aaron and his sons shall eat it.  (32)  And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.  (33)  And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting seven days, until the days of your consecration be fulfilled; for He shall consecrate you seven days.  (34)  As hath been done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make atonement for you.  (35)  And at the door of the tent of meeting shall ye abide day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not; for so I am commanded.  (36)  And Aaron and his sons did all the things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

    Outline of This Week’s Parashah:
    — 6:1(8) The Law of the Elevation or Burnt (Olah) Offering
    — 6:7(14) The Meal or Grain (Minchah) Offering
    — 6:17(24) The Sin (Chatat) Offering
    — 7:1 The Guilt (Asham) Offering
    — 7:11 The Thanksgiving (Todah) or Peace (Shelamim) Offering
    — 7:19 Eating in a State of Contamination
    — 7:22 Fat and Blood Not to Be Eaten
    — 7:28 The Parts of the Offering to Be Burned and Those Given to the Priests as Gifts
    — 8:1 Consecration of Aaron and His Sons for the Priestly Service in the Tabernacle

    Linen britches. The Jewish rabbis teach that every Israelite should be a human temple. If he is set apart (kadosh), then his temple is kadosh; if he sins he contaminates it. This is consistent with the teachings of the apostles (Romans 12:1–2, 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; 1 Peter 1:14–16, Ephesians 6:10–18).

    Most of us have too casual a view of sin: something a righteous and set-apart HaShem (G-d) hates and calls an abomination (Ps 5:5; Prov 6:16–19). Sin will damn us eternally (Ezek 18:4,20; Rom 6:23). Sin sentenced Yeshua to a hideous death on the cross in our place.

    The rabbis teach that in the world to come (olam haba) after Messiah’s coming, and after the establishment of His eternal kingdom, a perfect world will exist without sin, therefore eliminating the need for the atonement offering. The Thanksgiving Offering will continue as a means to thank HaShem and to offer praise to Him. What does this teach us about what our attitude of gratitude toward HaShem should be? How grateful are you? How much of your prayer time is spent in thankfulness and gratitude versus the Wants: gimme this and gimme that? We are commanded to give thanks to HaShem for all things (Eph 5:20; 1 Thess 5:18; Col 3:17). Have you disciplined yourself to be grateful to HaShem for all things? The good and the bad that happens. Find His blessing in everything, and let His joy and heart of gratitude penetrate your heart and mind in all circumstances? Let your light shine in such a way as to confound the natural mind of man and to cause those around you to wonder at your source of inner strength, joy, love and light. To do so adds health to your body
    and years to your life.

    What did Yeshua teach about those who would leave their gift at the altar, but whose hearts were impure due to offense they had with their brother? Did the Father accept such a gift? (See Matt 5:23–24.) HaShem says in Hosea 6:6, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of Elohim more than burnt offerings.” In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says that all religious activities, head knowledge and spiritual giftedness is meaningless and valueless in the eyes of the Father if not accompanied by a heart of love. Why do you keep HaShem’s commands? Out of duty and legalism or out of love and faith? When you offer up your religious service to HaShem (praise and worship, devotions, Torah-obedience, good deeds to others, etc.), do you have impure thoughts of bitterness, anger, or resentment against your neighbor? If so, repent and allow HaShem’s love to cleanse your heart so that you can offer up a pure, undefiled and acceptable sacrifice to him.

    Shalom

  • Hear my cry

    Psalms 61:1-8  For the leader. With stringed instruments. By David: Hear my cry, God; listen to my prayer.  (2)  From the end of the earth, with fainting heart, I call out to you. Set me down on a rock far above where I am now.  (3)  For you have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the foe.  (4)  I will live in your tent forever and find refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Selah)  (5)  For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.  (6)  Prolong the life of the king! May his years go on for many generations.  (7)  May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever! Appoint grace and truth to preserve him!  (8)  Then I will sing praise to your name forever, as day after day I fulfill my vows.

    If you are overwhelmed today, you are not alone.  You are not unique. David went through times of deep depression. Elijah was used to do great miracles, yet fleeing from Jezebel he became greatly depressed and wanted to quit (1Ki. 19).

    We all get overwhelmed by so many things. For some of us it might be problems in our relationships.  For others it’s troubles at work.  For some it might be finances.  Some of us have lost a loved one.  Some may be struggling with illness.

    David looks back on HaShem’s past help to strengthen him in the present situation that he finds himself in.

    The wings might refer to the wings found in the tabernacle, the wings of the cherubim on the Ark. They were over the mercy seat – the throne of grace. This was the place where God would meet with man.

    Exodus 25:20-22  The k’ruvim will have their wings spread out above, so that their wings cover the ark, and their faces are toward each other and toward the ark-cover.  (21)  You are to put the ark-cover on top of the ark. “Inside the ark you will put the testimony that I am about to give you.  (22)  There I will meet with you. I will speak with you from above the ark-cover, from between the two k’ruvim which are on the ark for the testimony, about all the orders I am giving you for the people of Isra’el.

    The focus now is the praise of HaShem and not the situation. The Psalms often begin in despair and end in joy as the Psalmist gets re-focused and puts things in the proper perspective. When we go through a difficult time, cry out to HaShem those things that are upon your heart, and as you get re-focused and rest upon the Rock, praise will then flow from your life!

    How do we get from being overwhelmed to praising HaShem? For David, the answer was in prayer.

    Prayer isn’t your last resort, it’s your best resort.

    Mathew Henry wrote, “Weeping must quicken praying, and not deaden it.”

    Yeshua was a man of Prayer. In His greatest time of difficulty, when His heart was overwhelmed, He prayed.

    Luke 22:39-46  On leaving, Yeshua went as usual to the Mount of Olives; and the talmidim followed him.  (40)  When he arrived, he said to them, “Pray that you won’t be put to the test.”  (41)  He went about a stone’s throw away from them, kneeled down and prayed,  (42)  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, let not my will but yours be done.”  (43)  There appeared to him an angel from heaven giving him strength,  (44)  and in great anguish he prayed more intensely, so that his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.  (45)  On rising from prayer and coming to the talmidim, he found them sleeping because of their grief.  (46)  He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you won’t be put to the test!”

    Is your heart overwhelmed?  Don’t sleep.  Pray.

    Shalom