L'ahavat Torah: For Love of Torah

Saved in Childbearing

2010-01-31T15:18:00.000-08:00

First Timothy chapter 2, verses 11-15 has always been a mystery and a struggle to many commentators. The interpretations have been many! But I have not seen a Jewish one yet, until now. Since my wife is pregnant with our 7th child, I wanted to dig into this scripture once again. What I found will surprise you!

First the text from the KJV:

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection, but I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Now a literal translation:

Let the woman/wife learn/understand in stillness (keeping one's seat) with all subordination/obedience, but I do not allow a woman/wife to teach, nor to act of oneself/dominate over the man (her husband), but to be in stillness. For Adam was first formed, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman/wife being deluded/cheated was in the violation. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved/delivered/protected in childbirth/maternity if they continue in faith and charity and purification with self-control.

It is the word "purification with self-control" that point us to the Jewish Laws of Family Purity (Taharat haMishpacha). Notice the words "she shall be saved...if they continue...in purification with self-control". This is a reference to the Laws of Family Purity which revolve around the woman's monthly cycle and the applicable Laws of Purification as found in Leviticus. The writer to the Hebrews also refers to these laws in passing in Hebrews 13:4:

Marriage [is] honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Yes, God tells us what to eat, when to rest and when to come together with our spouses. These laws are not easy to follow in a self-indulgent generation such as ours, but God provides these laws to nurture non-physical intimacy between spouses, amplify our coming together, and to teach us about Messiah and the Church.

For more information of the Laws of Family Purity please read:

Total Immersion: A Mikvah Anthology by Rivkah Slonim

Waters of Eden by Rabbi Aryel Kaplan, of Blessed Memory

The Apostate

2010-01-27T20:34:00.000-08:00

In the Artscroll Chumash commentary, in Parshah Bo, it says an "alienated person" may not partake of the Passover (Seder). An alienated person is then defined as someone who is not Jewish, or an "apostate".

An apostate is defined as someone who: worships idols, desecrates the Sabbath, or denies the validity of any of the Torah's commandments.

This reminded me of something Rabbi Paul said in his second letter to Thessalonica. In reassuring those of the Way that the Mashiach would not come until several things happened first, he wrote that there was to be a "falling away". The Greek word here transliterated is apostasy. With a Jewish filter, we see that the apostasy of the Last Days will include: the worshipping of idols, the desecration of the Sabbath, and the denial of the validity of Torah commandments!

Joseph: A Double Type

2009-12-27T00:25:00.000-08:00

The parallels between Joseph and our Messiah Yeshua are many and obvious…

Joseph was closer to his father than his brothers.

Joseph served his father directly while his brothers did everything else.

Joseph spent his time with the concubines’ children who were looked down upon.

Joseph was sent to his brothers to serve them, but instead they planned to kill him.

Joseph was separated from his father.

Joseph was given over to the Gentiles.

Joseph was reigning over Gentiles long before his brothers knew it.

Joseph revealed himself to his brothers in a personal way to verify his identity.

After studying the Torah Portion this week, Vayigash, it became apparent that Joseph also foreshadowed another future figure, the Anti-Messiah/Christ!

Whoa Nelly! You might say, but hold your judgment until I’m through. Here are some comparisons between Joseph and the future world leader:

Joseph took advantage of the famine to profit his master, the Pharaoh.

Joseph had control over the food supply.

Joseph used this control to gain control over the people until they owned nothing. The people became government workers, and Pharaoh owned all the property and livestock.

Joseph set the tribe of Israel up and accused them of crimes they did not commit.

Joseph manipulated the tribe of Israel to get what he wanted.

Joseph saw himself (because of his dreams) as the rightful ruler over Israel, though this right belonged to Judah.

These comparisons imply further insights into prophetic fulfillment:

The Anti-Messiah will be Jewish, but will look like a Gentile

The Anti-Messiah will do whatever it takes to get all of Israel into his dominion.

The Messiah will look for Israel’s repentance (for rejecting him) to be complete

This repentance will be finally demonstrated by Israel’s intercession to offer themselves up for someone else, perhaps Christians

False Customs, Part Two

2009-12-26T00:17:00.000-08:00

Here is some information that may cause many to reflect on how they practice the observation of this mitzvah. Rabbinical Judaism has some interesting insights on how to obey this mitzvah.

First, you are to wear the tzitzit on the corners of your garment. Tying them to clothing or belt loops is not obedience, but creating your own commandment. It would be better not to wear them at all.

Second, tzitzit are to be white with a thread of blue. While this may seem like rabbinic mumbo-jumbo, the teaching behind it testifies of our Messiah, Yeshua. (see Revelation 19:10) The blue dye, techelet, was made by crushing snails and using their blood to make the dye. This had to be done in caves because the dye was red and only turned blue when exposed to light. In other words this dye only became royal blue when it emerged from the cave. Our Messiah became Lord of all, King of kings when he emerged from the cave/tomb.

The dye was made in the city of Luz. Oddly enough, the Jews have named a bone in the body by the same name.

"Luz (Hebrew: 'לוז') is the name of a small bone in the human body, at the top of the spinal column (the seventh cervical vertebra) or at the base of the spinal column (the coccyx). Jews believe that this is the bone from which the body will be rebuilt at the time of resurrection, and share the belief that this bone does not decay." (Wikipedia) Again, we have the theme of resurrection.

Third, the manufacturing process of this dye was lost at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple. Jews believed this judgment was not just coincidental. It is also said that the Temple was destroyed because of the gross wickedness of that generation. (Which included the killing fo their Messiah) Jewish tradition teaches that the dyeing process will return with the coming of the Messiah. Though this process has not been officially recognized by Jewish authorities, many Jews are wearing blue in their white tzitzit in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah and the resurrection of the dead.

Finally, how this applies to believers in Yeshua: we are dead in him, we cannot obey the Torah, but the Torah-obedient Messiah lives in us and lives out the Torah through us. (Galatians 2:20) We look at our tzitzit and know that his resurrection life flows through us, (Romans 6:4) and we look forward to the final resurrection when we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:20)

A New Look at an Old Parable

2009-12-23T02:26:00.000-08:00

Luke 10:25-37

And, behold, a certain teacher of the Torah stood up, and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

He said unto him, “What is written in the Torah? How do you read?”

And he answering said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

And he said unto him, “You have answered right: do this, and you shall live.”

But he, willing to show himself righteous, said unto Yeshua, “And who is my neighbor?”

And Yeshua answering said, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, “Take care of him; and whatsoever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.”

“ Which now of these three, do you think, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He that showed mercy on him.”

Then said Yeshua unto him, “You go, and do likewise.”

As I was reading a commentary from http://www.aish.com/ I came across this interesting fact and teaching:

The Hebrew word “Shechina” comes from the word : shachen” which means “neighbor”. It is through divine revelation provided by the Shechina that God becomes our neighbor. The Shechina and the Temple go hand in hand.

As we look at the Torah Teacher’s response in Luke, we see him quote the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-9. (This is the central prayer in Judaism.) Yeshua agrees with his answer. Not being satisfied and still trying to test Yeshua he asks him “Who is my neighbor?” Though Yeshua answers with a parable, it is interesting to note he does not directly answer the man’s question. In the end, he does not say, “Whoever needs mercy”. He turns it around with a question, “Which now, of these three, do you think, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?” The point is this, when you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you become like Him and are merciful to those needing mercy. “…for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God,… And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”
Deuteronomy 5:9-10

What is the common denominator in what Yeshua tells the teacher? DO! Do love God! Do love your neighbor! What do these look like? Show mercy!

Now, what does my quote from Aish.com have to do with Yeshua’s conversation with the Torah Teacher? Let’s look at the bigger picture:

Was the Presence of God (the Shechina) in the second Temple? I don’t know, but Yeshua was. “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure [unto him]. John 3:34

The Shechina in the Messiah was present yet this teacher did not know it. When he came to his House, the Temple, they did not know it. God becomes our neighbor through the Shechina. God was present as a neighbor through the Messiah. The Messiah was present to bring people back to the knowledge of God. He did not reside in the Temple, because he was not welcome there. “He came unto His own, and His own received him not.” John 1:11 He went out into the country, to the highways and byways and taught the people on the hills and by the seashores.

“Which now..was neighbor?” The Shechina was neighbor. The Shechina was in Messiah “reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them”. (2 Cor. 5:19) This is mercy. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Now, you go, and do likewise!

False Customs, Part One

2009-12-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

Having written the previous rant, I thought I should give some examples of where some have strayed, thinking themselves to be wise, they became fools!

Among “Messianics”, mainly Gentiles, there have arisen many customs contrary to rabbinical law (halakhah) and the Oral Torah. While they think they know better, they have showed their contempt towards Judaism and their lack of knowledge concerning the Torah.

I will start by examining three “customs” some Messianics practice which are contrary to Torah.

Part One: Tzitzit: Who should wear them?
Part Two: Tzitzit: How should they be worn?
Part Three: What is blotting out the Name?
Part Four: What is Kosher?

Among Messianics we see women wearing tzitzit, a practice that is sometimes found even among Reform Jewish women. To examine this custom, one does not even need to look at Halakhah to find the answer, a little knowledge of Hebrew grammar will suffice. (Scripture quotations are from the KJV )

Numbers 15

37 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

Below are the literal definitions from the Hebrew:

v. 38 “children of Israel” : beni: sons (of Israel)

v. 38 “they make”: v’asu, where “u” is the vowel form of “vav” suffixed onto the end of “aseh”, “to make”, to show it is addressed to “males”, plural

v.38 “they put”: v’nataenu, where “u” is the vowel form of “vav suffixed onto the end of “naten”, “to give”, to show it is addressed to “males”, plural

39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

Again the definitions from the Hebrew:

“ye may look”:v’ritem: “tem” as the suffix showing male plural past tense, so literally it should be “You (males) have looked”

“remember”: v’zkartem: “you (males) have remembered”

“do”: v’asitem: “you (males) have done”

“ye seek”:taturu: “you seek”; male plural present because of the prefixed “tav” and the suffixed “vav”: “you (males) seek”

With the above definitions in mind, it is easy to see how women wearing tzit-tzit violates the Torah mitzvah below:

Deuteronomy 22:5

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Again, in the second mention of this mitzvah, by looking at the verb prefixes and suffixes, it is easy to see what the Lord wants:

Deuteronomy 22:12

Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest [thyself].

“thou shall make” :ta-aseh: where “ta” is the tav prefixed onto “aseh”, “to make”, to show it is addressed a singular male

“thou coverest”: tekaseh: where “te” is the “tav” prefixed onto “kasah”, “to cover”, to show it also is addressed to a singular male

My heart is for those sincere believers who have been led astray by Messianic teachers. That is why it is important to follow the faith as practiced by those to whom it was given. Rather than provoking them to jealousy, we show contempt for the things of God we do not yet understand.

Reinventing the Wheel

2009-12-17T00:23:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me how so many “Messianics” after finding out that the Torah is still relevant, that the Feasts and Sabbath Days are still memorials and holy convocations, etc. ..how they then think they have the right to re-invent Judaism!

Now these beloved Gentiles would not claim to be reinventing Judaism, they would avow that they are returning to a Biblical faith that Christianity and Judaism have missed, misinterpreted, or even strayed from.

They pick and choose from the Talmud like it was a buffet smorgasboard. They pick what they like and they leave what they don’t like, or don’t understand. The problem is they do not have a sophisticated pallet. It was trained in Christendom. Their approach to scriptures is superficial. They seldom get past the literal interpretation of scripture unless some Gematria tickles their fancy.

This is nothing more than residual anti-semitism! Having taken a Hebrew class they now intend to teach the Masters of the Hebrew Torah what it means. They heap to themselves teachers who are accountable to no one, experts at nothing yet critical of the rabbis of Judaism.

This problem is much easier to see when you consider what it would be like if a Westerner suddenly embraced Buddhism. Would they come into Buddhism and tell the Buddhists they knew more about achieving Nirvana than the Buddhists? Would they dare to tell the Buddhists how to interpret their scriptures? Or what traditions were correct and which were incorrect? Mind you, all this super-knowledge is done without knowing Chinese, Sanskrit or the Pali language! So using the English translations, they pretend they are the new sevants of Buddhism. Hmmm… In this light such an approach to any religion is nonsense, yet this is what is being done every day by Messianics all over the world.

To see what infants we are in this arena, here are the requirements an Orthodox boy has to meet by the time of his Bar Mitzvah: (feel free to check off any you have accomplished!)

Be completely familiar with the prayer book (siddur)

Be able to participate in all religious services (in Hebrew)

Have studied and kept the basic laws concerning observance of the Sabbath

Have studied and kept the basic laws concerning the festivals

Have studied and performed the prayers and blessings for all occasions

Have studied and kept the laws pertain to charity

and acts of loving-kindness towards others

Have completed the study of the Torah, being familiar with Rashi,

Rambam and other rabbinical commentaries

Have studied the books of the early prophets

Have studied selected chapters from the Mishnah

Have a good start on studying the Gemara

All of the above include a knowing how to speak, read and write Hebrew

These Messianics have enthusiasm! They have a committment to truth! But God will not bless ignorance. God blesses those who love His Torah! He will not bless contempt for the elders of His people.

I have been learning Hebrew Roots for over seven years and I cannot claim to be where this Bar Mitzvah preppie is! Admittedly, I have read some unusual stuff from the rabbinical minds and when I do, I put it on a shelf. Often, later, when I find out the “why” it all makes sense.

Why is this such a hot-button for me? Because I see God's people being robbed of a rich inheritance. An inheritance bought by the blood of Yeshua! The Torah is not "the letter of the law", yet many refuse to let go of those literal letters. The Torah is a living manifestation of the Life of God. It is a Tree of Life and the Oral Torah is its fruit. If you do not know the tree you will not taste and consequently not be able to enjoy its fruit. By knowing the tree and its Gardener you will recognize its fruit and enjoy its delights. If you know the tree but suspect the fruit, can it be said that you trust in the Gardener?

The study of Torah is the study of Yeshua! He is the Living Torah! And anything that is derived from Torah reflects him!

Fulness of the Gentiles?

2009-12-09T01:35:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, I used to think the “fullness of the Gentiles” was the time when all the Gentiles that were going to be saved would end, the last Gentile to be saved would be saved and that chapter of God’s plan would be over. It would be Israel’s turn again. The Temple would be rebuilt, they would start up the sacrificial system again, etc.

I was wrong. My mistake was in interpreting the passage according to a preconceived doctrinal position, namely, dispensationalism. What I should have done was look at it through Hebrew eyes and a Hebrew mindset as revealed in the Torah!

Please consider the following:

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”
Romans 11:25

What is the "fulness of the Gentiles"?

In Parsahas Va’eira (Genesis 6:2) we read in the Chumash that after Moses had come to Pharaoh with his initial request for the release of the Children of Israel, Pharaoh increases the workload upon them. So Moses cries out to God. About this the rabbis say:

The reason Moses’ arrival in Egypt was followed by an immediate intensification of the slavery was that the Egyptians could not be punished until their “measure of sin” was full, for God was patient even with the wicked. By his cruel decree to deny straw to the hapless slaves (5:7), Pharaoh had reached his nadir and so the process of the Exodus could now begin.

Thus, God’s response to Moses was that, far from coming to Egypt in vain, his arrival expedited the process of the Exodus. (Mizrachi) p. 318 Artscroll Chumash

Another passage in Genesis 15:16 teaches the same principle: “And the fourth generation shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite shall not yet be full until then”.

The Chumash commentary again sheds light:

“It would be four generations after the beginning of the Egyptian exile, and the Amorites— representing all of the Canaanite nations—will have accumulated enough sin to deserve expulsion.

The latter condition was necessary because God does not punish a nation until its “measure of sin is full”. (Rashi) P. 69 Artscroll Chumash

So, in conclusion, I now believe it is not the fullness of Gentile salvation we are waiting for, but a fullness of Gentile iniquity! (which seems closer anyway!)

Sanctifying the Name: Kiddush Hashem

2009-11-02T02:50:00.000-08:00

Artwork by Ruth Taylor Jacobson

entitled "Kiddush Hashem"

Kiddush Hashem (Hebrew: קידוש השם‎; “sanctification of the name [of God]”) is a precept of Judaism as expressed in the Torah for any Jew: “To sanctify His Name” Leviticus 22:32, and conversely not to bring dishonor or shame to God’s name which is known as Chillul Hashem: “Not to profane His Name” Leviticus 22:32.

Thus any action by a Jew that brings honor, respect, and glory to God is considered to be a Kiddush Hashem, whereas any behavior or action that disgraces, harms or shames God and his Torah is regarded as a Chillul Hashem which means a “desecration of God.”

This can be accomplished by living a life of obeying HaShem's Commandments, as found in the Torah, rendering all aspects of life no longer "profane," but raising them to the level of the "holy", as he or she interacts with their spouse, children, family members, business associates, community members, friends, and with HaShem Himself in the manner and spirit built by the Divine Author into the Torah.

Another way to be categorized Kedoshim, is if someone is killed for the simple reason of being Jewish, even if not given the opportunity to convert, or otherwise disassociate with the Jewish faith. Thus, the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust, only because they were Jews, are considered Kedoshim.

The ultimate act of Kiddush Hashem is when a Jew is prepared to sacrifice his life rather than transgress any of God’s three cardinal sins: Serving idols (belief in another religion), committing certain sexual acts (such as incest or adultery), or committing murder.

http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/jl.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiddush_Hashem

Is saying “Hashem” instead of the Tetragrammaton “blotting out the name”?

No, there is no scripture forbidding the “blotting out” of God’s name (because it can’t be done). The Bible only speaks of God himself being able to blot out a name, such as:

Deuteronomy 9:14: Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.

Deuteronomy 29:20: The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of Adonai and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

2 Kings 14:27: And Adonai said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

Revelations 3:5: He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Therefore man does not have the power to “blot out” anyone’s name! Saying “Hashem” instead of the Name is just a way to sanctify His Name, ie. Keep it holy and not use it in everyday speech. Yeshua said his disciples would “know God’s name”, but that does not mean they would profane it by using it in a common way. We say “Hashem”, but we think of His actual name, thereby meditating upon it in our hearts.

David and the Torah

2009-10-26T03:23:00.000-07:00

King David's Tomb adorned with crowns from three Torah scrolls

smuggled to Israel by Jewish communities destroyed in the Holocaust

It is an unfortunate thing that the word "law" is used for the Hebrew word "torah" in the Bible. The word "torah" means instruction or direction and its root word means "to throw, shoot (arrows), cast, or pour. So considering this you have the picture that "torah" means "instruction in how to throw, shoot, cast or pour". This makes even more sense when you consider the Hebrew word for "sin", chata", which means "to miss the mark". If you don't want to "miss the mark", learn Torah, learn how to "hit the mark"!

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Messiah Yeshua." Phillipians 3:13,14

With that definition in mind I have all the verses from the Psalms (except Psalm 119 which has 25 instances of the word "torah" alone) and have translated "law" as "Torah". Many believers long to be like David "a man after God's own heart" and yet they do not value the Torah that David loved. Review the following and see if you can relate to David.

1:2: "But his delight is in the Torah of the LORD; and in his Torah does he meditate day and night."

19:7: "The Torah of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple."

37:31: "The Torah of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide."

40:8: "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yes, thy Torah is within my heart."

78:1: "Give ear, O my people, to my Torah: incline your ears to the words of my mouth."

78:5: "For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a Torah in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born;
who should arise and declare them to their children:
7: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation;
a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9: The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10: They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his Torah;
11: And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them."

89:30: "If his children forsake my Torah, and walk not in my judgments;
31: If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32: Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33: Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34: My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
35: Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
36: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37: It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah."

94:12: "Blessed is the man whom thou chasten, O LORD, and teach him out of thy Torah;
13: That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be dug for the wicked."

105:42: "For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43: And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44: And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
45: That they might observe his statutes, and keep his Torahs. Praise ye the LORD."

("Torahs" in the plural? See my previous post on "Oral Torah")

Just as the Days of Noah...

2009-10-24T00:27:00.000-07:00

This week's Torah Portion, Noach (Noah) has been Genesis 6:9-11:32 and Jewish believers and Lovers of Isreal are studying this portion, trying to plumb the depths of it. Lately, I've been enjoying the free online commentaries of Aish.com. It never fails when I read these to remember something our Messiah said or something Paul said and so on. This week it was the above quote from the famous discourse Adonai Yeshua delivered when his disciples asked him about the Temple:

But of that day and hour knoweth no one,

no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

But just as the days of Noah,

so shall be also the Presence of the Son of man .

Matthew 24:26,27

Here are portions of the article I read called "The Sin of the Flood Generation" and "The Relation to Theft": (Please be advised the subject matter includes reproductive issues, parental supervision may be warranted)

"THE SIN OF THE FLOOD GENERATION

The Midrash (ancient Jewish commentary) informs us that the sin of the flood generation was pouring out their seed in vain. The intense joy and pleasure programmed by God into the romantic/sexual relationship was a direct consequence of its association with the creation of life. A relationship that provides the emotional cement that ensures the endurance of the relationship needed to nurture human life deserves to be infused with all the joy and pleasure inherent in life itself.

To take only the pleasure and joy inherent in this relationship and cast aside the creation of life is an act of spiritual perversion. All these Torah sources that associate the Flood with sexual perversity are expressing a single common thesis; the people of the flood generation established romantic/sexual relationships solely for the intense physical/psychological gratification they offer. As far as making use of the powerful bonds created by such relationships to create and nurture new life, they felt that the less people there were in the world, the more resources and therefore the more enjoyment was available per person.

As the sexual/romantic relationship became separated from the ideas of procreation and nurturing, it ceased to matter whether such relationships were heterosexual, or whether they violated the human taboos against cohabitation with close blood relatives. Measured purely in terms of pleasure and joy there is no reason to prefer any particular romantic relationship over any other. The cultural bias towards heterosexuality and the taboos against cohabitation with close relatives are based on the association between romance and procreation. When you separate romance from procreation the Divine energy contained in the romantic bond is considered "spilled out in vain."

The pre-flood world is incredibly reminiscent of the orientation of our own society towards human sexuality. We are also focused on the reduced quality of life associated with large numbers of children; as a society we are marrying in steadily decreasing numbers increasingly later in life, and having fewer and fewer children. As our social focus on bearing and rearing children lessens, our social tolerance and even positive advocacy of relationships that are defined by the Torah as deviant abominations steadily increases. Sexual orientation becomes a matter of individual taste and is entirely separated from moral considerations.

THE RELATION TO THEFT

To appreciate the influence that the bringing of sacrifices (Noah's post-flood) can have on all this, we must next consider the issue of theft. The Talmud (Sanhedrin, 108a) states that the sin that prompted God to finalize the edict of the Flood was the crime of theft, a total lack of appreciation of the sanctity of what belongs to another. How does the sin of theft relate to the lack of sexual mores?

(Talmud Brochot, 35b): R' Chanina taught; whoever takes enjoyment from the world without reciting a blessing ... steals from God and from Israel. Every enjoyment the world offers is actually a Divine blessing. Accepting enjoyment by reciting a blessing before the taking renders the taking permissible.

To comprehend the thesis behind this passage of Talmud we have only to consult our 'cup' image once again. (See full article) The acknowledgment of the blessing is the cup, or container into which Divine blessing can be poured. Taking enjoyment without offering acknowledgment amounts to theft because it deprives God of the cup or container in which He can pour His blessings.

Harnessing the happiness afforded by romantic relationships to produce more human beings is the spiritual equivalent of reciting a blessing. In the consummation of fruitful relationships there is recognition of the source and purpose of the joy of life, the same sort of recognition that is the essence of all the blessings we recite. The consumption of romantic relationships in the way God intended has the marvelous effect of converting human pleasure into a source of Divine blessing."

I have to agree with Rabbi Noson Weisz, "The pre-flood world is incredibly reminiscent of the orientation of our own society towards human sexuality. " We are near His return, "watch and pray that you enter not into tempatation!"

You can read the full article and others at: http://www.aish.com/tp/i/m/48909627.html

The Oral Torah Part One

2009-10-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Many will read this out of curiosity. Many will read this looking for an argument. My hope is that you come to value the Jewish people and their heritage as I have. Please read the following with an open mind.
(I have posted my Bible study results in the form of a Q & A discussion instead of an essay. The numbers with the "G" in front of them are numbers from the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as found on Blue Letter Bible dot com. and represent the Greek root words used in the text. The "H" means a Hebrew word where I could make a clear association. I show the root of the root if there is one as it often sheds light on the word being studied.)

THE ORACLES OF GOD: THE ORAL TRADITION

1. Romans 3:1 "What advantage then hath the Jew? …"

“advantage”: (G4053: perissos) more eminent, more remarkable

G4053=H3499+H3148

H3499: yeter: an overhanging, an excess, superiority, remainder

Translated: the “rest of something…” or “the remainder of something”

Literally: the cords which hold the tent to the stakes; or the string of a bow; or the bridle of a horse

H3499 from H3498: to jut over, exceed; to excel, to abound, persevere

H3148: yowter: over & above

2. What are the Oracles of God?

Romans 3:2 "Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."

“committed”: G4100: pisteuo: verb form of “pistis” faith: confided, given by faith

“oracles”: G3051: logion: noun form of “logios”: meaning “learned in letters”

“logios” is the adjective form of “logos”; the spoken word

G3051=H "khoshen": H2833: the breastplate of the High Priest holding the Urim & Thummim through which G-d would speak to him

3. Who did God give them to? Acts 7:37,38

"This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:"

4. Who should teach them?

1 Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, [let him speak] as the oracles of God; if any man minister, [let him do it] as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

NAS “if any man speaketh, [speaking] as it were, oracles of God;”

5. What is the requirement for those who teach the Torah of Yeshua?

Hebrews 5:12 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."

6. What was Paul’s advise to the Thessalonians?

2 Thessalonians 2:15 "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

G3862: “traditions”: of the body of precepts, esp. ritual, which in the opinion of the later Jews were orally delivered by Moses and orally transmitted in unbroken succession to subsequent generations, which precepts, both illustrating and expanding the written law, as they did were to be obeyed with equal reverence

“by word": logos: spoken word; orally

“by epistle”: written

7. But isn’t “oracles” referring to what was said that was then written down? No, the term used for that is “scriptures”.

The sriptures, ie. spoken words of the prophets written down:

Matthew 26:56a "But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."

The words of Moses and the prophets, written down:

Luke 24:27 "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

The Star of David

2009-10-19T03:13:00.000-07:00

Synagogue wall in Capernaum

Recently some friends told us that they had “found out” that the Magen David, the Star of David was originally a cult or pagan symbol. This post is for them.

The Magen David (shield of David, or as it is more commonly known, the Star of David) is a universally recognized symbol of Judaism today, but it is actually thought to be a relatively new Jewish symbol.

Here are some meanings and origins:

1. It is the shape of King David's shield. Its association with King David comes mostly from Jewish legend. For instance, there is a midrash which says that when David was a teen he fought the enemy King Nimrod. David's shield was composed of two interlocking triangles attached to the back of a round shield and at one point the battle became so intense that that the two triangles were fused together. David won the battle and the two triangles were henceforth known as the Shield of David.

2. It is a picture of David’s name. If you look at the ancient Hebrew which was the Paleo-Hebrew you can then see what the Shield of David really means. David's name in Hebrew is spelled Dalet-Vav-Dalet. Take the Vav out and then you got 2 Dalet's. Now in the Paleo-Hebrew the Dalet is a triangle so basicly the Shield of David is a Dalet intertwined with a Dalet which makes of David's name in Hebrew.

3. It represents God’s sovereignty. The middle letter "Vav" means six - The six pointed star. The six-points symbolize that God rules over the universe and protects us from all six directions: North, South, East, West, Up and Down. King David used this symbol in the battlefield on his shield as a symbol of God’s sovereignty.

4. It is (David’s) a nickname for God. In the Babylonian Talmud the Star of David is used as a nickname of God: "Bless you (Baruch Ata) the Star of David." (see Psalms 3:3, 28:7, 33:20, 59:11)

5. It’s Gematria: The Gematria (numerical value) of the word "Magen" has the number 93 ("Mem" = 40, "Gimel" = 3 and "Nun" = 50). In Gematria you can add the digits of a number and the sum of those numbers can have significance. So it is in this case. If you take the number 93 and view it as 9 plus 3, it equals 12, like the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The word "David" has the number 14 ("Dalet" = 4, "Vav" = 6 and "Dalet" = 4). If you take the number 14 and view it as 1 plus 4, it equals 5. The five is the number for the fifth letter in Hebrew, which is "Hey," the letter for Adonai (God).

6. It signifies the number seven. According to Judaic sources, the Star or Shield of David with its six points plus the center.

7. It is a Messianic symbol. "There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel" (Numbers 24:17)] is about King David.

8. God and the Jews: The two overlapping triangles, God reaching down and the Jews reaching up.

9. The Twelve Tribes: There are twelve sides on the star.

Here is some of its chronology:

The Star of David symbol first appeared on a Jewish seal dating from 700 B.C. found in the ancient city of Sidon (a port city in Lebanon).
On a wall of a room, Megiddo 9 BCE
On a seal belonging to Joshua b. Asayahu, Sidon, 7 BCE
On jar handles found by archeologist Sukenik, Israel, 1 BCE
In a synagogue, Capernaum, 3 CE
On a Jewish tombstone, Taranto, 3 CE
On a rock excavated at a synagogue, Eshtamoa, 3 CE
The phrase "Magen David" was first mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud. The great Rabbi Bar-Shila said: The tefillah (prayer) grows a horn of salvation, the Haftarah - Magen David.
The Star of David is pictured in the oldest surviving complete copy of the Masoretic text, the Leningrad Codex, dated 1008.
The earliest known Jewish text to directly mention the symbol is Eshkol Ha-Kofer by the Karaite Judah Hadassi, in the mid-12th century CE.
In the 17th century, it became a popular practice to put Magen Davids on the outside of synagogues, to identify them as Jewish houses of worship in much the same way that a cross identified a Christian house of worship.

The Magen David gained popularity as a symbol of Judaism when it was adopted as the emblem of the Zionist movement in 1897.

Because of its legendary connection with David, ancestor of the Messiah, it was regarded as a messianic symbol by German Jews. On Sabbath Eve they would light a star-shaped brass oil lamp called a Judenstern (Jewish star), emblematic of the idea that Shabbat was a foretaste of the Messianic Age.

Today, the Magen David appears on the flag of the state of Israel, and the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross is known as the Magen David Adom.

Now all of the above is interesting, but I’ve left out the most significant reason that proves this symbol is not occultic or pagan, but prophetical and profound.

A "Messianic Seal" from Jerusalem has been rediscovered after 2,000 years. This ancient symbol was found on Mount Zion.

It is believed to have been created and used by the Jewish believers who called themselves Nazarenes. Three companies -- Olim Creative Products of Tiberias, News About Israel (NAI) of Jerusalem, and Christian Floral Delivery of Colorado -- jointly announced the discovery of this ancient symbol, which has been copyrighted by NAI. It consists of three separate but integrated symbols: a menorah at the top, a Star of David in the middle, and a fish at the bottom. In each of the renditions of the three-part symbol the star is created by interlacing the stand of the menorah with the tail of the fish. The Messianic Seal was found etched or inscribed on eight ancient artifacts. The artifacts were presented to Ludwig Schneider, editor in chief of NAI's magazine Israel Today, in 1990. They came from Tech Otecus, an elderly monk who lived as a hermit in the Old City of Jerusalem. Otecus said that in the 1960's he had personally excavated about 40 artifacts bearing the Messianic Seal from an ancient grotto located in the immediate vicinity of the Upper Room on Mount Zion. What was once the main entrance to the grotto is now covered with a jail-like heavy wire mesh enclosure. Its door, leading down into the ancient mikveh, is tightly secured with a heavy chain and lock. According to Schneider, the last remaining entry to the grotto was sealed shortly after he excitedly told the priests at the local monastery about the discovery of the Messianic Seal. Schneider photographed eight artifacts which were given to him by Otecus, and showed the pictures to the curator of the Israel Museum. "When he had carefully studied my pictures," Schneider recalled, "the curator immediately promised me that these artifacts and their unique symbol were an important find. He told me that the museum already had seen other artifacts bearing the same three-part symbol from some other sources he did not specify."

According to Bob Fischer, president of Olim Creative Products and co-author with local historian and artist Reuven Schmalz of their book, The Messianic Seal of the Jerusalem Church, the ancient three-part symbol has, since 135 AD, been suppressed by various Israeli groups or agencies, such as the Israel Museum and Orthodox rabbis in the Old City of Jerusalem. According to Fischer, at least two of the eight artifacts were obviously ceremonial pieces which may well have been used by James the Just, the brother of Jesus, who is said to be the first bishop of the church, or perhaps even by one or more of the Twelve Apostles.

One of the eight artifacts is a brick-sized block of well-worn local marble. This piece bears an etched version of the Messianic Seal with a Tav (the last letter in the Paleo-Hebrew alefbeit that looks exactly like a sign of the cross) in the eye of the fish symbol, as well as the ancient Aramaic lettering proclaiming the use of this artifact as a stand to hold a vial of anointing oil. The ancient Aramaic is transliterated as, "La Shemen Ruehon" (For the Oil of the Spirit). Another of the eight artifacts is a small, almost intact, vial which could well have sat on top of the marble stand.

Sources:
http://www.starofdavid.co.il/article.php?id=6&title=StarofDavidSecret-TheSecretofYourStarofDavid
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/star.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_David
http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/starofdavid.htm
http://star-of-david.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html
http://www.menorah.org/starofdavid.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_Star_of_David
http://www.ka-gold-jewelry.com/p-articles/star-of-david.php
http://www.threemacs.org/themes/jewish/answers.htm
http://www.flyingchariotministries.com/thestarofdavid.htm

Not My People? Part Four

2009-10-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Middle Wall of Partition

Greek Inscription from the Middle Wall

Paul…” refers to an actual wall in the temple at Jerusalem, beyond which no one was allowed to pass unless he were a Jew, the balustrade or barrier which marked the limit up to which a Gentile might advance but no farther. Curiously, this middle wall of partition had a great deal to do with Paul's arrest and imprisonment, for the multitude of the Jews became infuriated, not merely because of their general hostility to him as an apostle of Christ and a preacher of the gospel for the world, but specially because it was erroneously supposed that he had brought Trophimus the Ephesian past this barrier into the temple (Acts 21:29), and that he had in this manner profaned the temple (Acts 24:6), or, as it is put in Acts 21:28, he had `brought Greeks into the temple and polluted this holy place.' In the assault which they thereupon made on Paul they violently seized and dragged him out of the temple-dragged him outside the balustrade. The Levites at once shut the gates, to prevent the possibility of any further profanation, and Paul would have been torn in pieces, had not the Roman commander and his soldiers forcibly prevented.

The actual boundary line was not the high wall with its gates, but a low stone barrier about 5 ft. in height, which ran round at the bottom of 14 more steps. The middle wall of partition was called Coregh, and was built of marble beautifully ornamented.

The Court of the Gentiles formed the lowest and the outermost enclosure of all the courts of the sanctuary. It was paved with the finest variegated marble. Its name signified that it was open to all, Jews or Gentiles alike. It was very large, and is said by Jewish tradition to have formed a square of 750 ft. It was in this court that the oxen and sheep and the doves for the sacrifices were sold as in a market. It was in this court too that there were the tables of the money-changers, which Christ Himself overthrew when He drove out the sheep and oxen and them that bought and sold in His Father's house. The multitudes assembling in this court must have been very great, especially on occasions such as the Passover and Pentecost and at the other great feasts, and the din of voices must oftentimes have been most disturbing. As already seen, beyond this court no Gentile might go.

In the year 1871, while excavations were being made on the site of the temple by the Palestine Exploration Fund, M. Clermont-Ganneau discovered one of the pillars which Josephus describes as having been erected upon the very barrier or middle wall of partition, to which Paul refers. This pillar is now preserved in the Museum at Constantinople and is inscribed with a Greek inscription in capital or uncial letters, which is translated as follows:

NO MAN OF ANOTHER NATION TO ENTER WITHIN THE FENCE AND ENCLOSURE ROUND THE TEMPLE, AND WHOEVER IS CAUGHT WILL HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME THAT HIS DEATH ENSUES

While Paul was writing the Epistle to the Ephesians at Rome, this barrier in the temple at Jerusalem was still standing, yet the chained prisoner of Jesus Christ was not afraid to write that Christ had broken down the middle wall of partition, and had thus admitted Gentiles who were far off, strangers and foreigners, to all the privileges of access to God in ancient times possessed by Israel alone; that separation between Jew and Gentile was done away with forever in Christ.

If Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians in 60 or 61 AD, then the actual barrier of stone remained in its position in the Court of the Gentiles not more than some 10 years, for it was thrown down in the burning of the temple by the Roman army. And out of those ruins a fragment has been excavated in our own day, containing the very inscription threatening death to the Gentile intruder, and reminding us that it is only in Christ Jesus that we now draw nigh unto God, and that we are thus one body in Christ, one new man. Christ has broken down the middle wall of partition, for He, in His own person, is our peace."

Quoted from John Rutherfurd as entered at:

www.bible-history.com/isbe/P/PARTITION,+THE+MIDDLE+WALL+OF/

Not My People? Part Three

2009-10-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

No Longer Gentiles

1 Corinthians 12:2 “You know that you were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as you were led.”

Notice how “Gentiles” are led to dumb idols, but as the apostle says in Romans 8:14 we march to a different drum. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Again though Paul shows in the beginning of Ephesians chapter 2 how we are saved by grace, it is works that we are saved unto.

Ephesians 2:10: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
11: Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by that which is called the “Circumcision” in the flesh made by hands;
12: That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the Covenants of Promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13: But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ.
14: For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15: Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16: And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were near.
18: For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19: Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the Household of God;
20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner Stone;
21: In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22: In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

If it isn’t obvious, let me point out what Paul said about believers:

in time past we were Gentiles;
we were without Christ;
we were strangers; we are made near (to what or whom? Keep reading);
he has made Isreal and us one;
we are no longer strangers and foreigners;
fellow citizens with the saints;
and of the Household (“household”: belonging to a House; related by blood, kindred) of God!

Not My People? Part Two

2009-10-09T16:48:00.000-07:00

Fulfillment

Hosea's Tomb

Now we will look more closely at the fulfillment of these prophecies and what it says about God’s people today.

We will look at Romans chapter 9 where Paul explains the election of God. How the promise did not come upon all the seed of Abraham, but only through Isaac. This is the gospel in a nutshell, that Moshiach would come through Isaac, and those who believe become the Children of Abraham.

18: Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.

19: Thou will say then to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?

20: Nay but, O man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus?

21: Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22: What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24: Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25: As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26: And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

27: Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (Isaiah 10:22)

The subject people is revealed in 24, “us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles”. Then he explains that the fulfillment of Hosea’s prophecy has come to pass. The people who became “Not my people” and “No mercy” have now come again into people-hood and received mercy. This is Israel. We are Israel. We were scattered only to be regathered. Those of us who heard the Messiah’s call, returned to Him and became again His people.

Then Paul turns to Isaiah who agrees with Hosea. Both prophets say this group who returned will “be as the sand of the sea”. This is the promise given to Abraham and its fulfillment! After being tested to offer his only son, God speaks to him through a messenger:

Genesis 22:15: And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16: And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy Seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18: And in thy Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.

Because of the obedience and faith of Abraham, we are called Israel.

But let every word be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses:

1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Peter quotes Hosea telling us that we are the People who were Not a People, we were the ones without mercy upon whom God has now shone mercy!

For those doubters who might say Peter was writing to Jewish believers, look at his introduction:

1: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

A “stranger” in Judaism is a convert, a former Gentile, who follows the God of Israel. Notice Peter calls us “elect”, a term which Paul uses in Romans to explain God’s mercy to Israel/us in the Latter Days.

For scriptures concerning the One Head of Hosea 1:11, please see Ephesians 1:22, 4:15; Colossians 1:18, 2:10,19; 1 Peter 2:7

Not convinced? Part Three to come!

Not My People? Part One

2009-10-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

(For Scott Ben David)

Seed Sown

Jezreel

God uses Hosea the Prophet’s life as an allegory of His judgments upon the House of Israel, Ephraim and the House of Judah and their eventual reconciliation to Himself. Hosea is told to name his children by prophetic names that detail the fall and rise of God’s people. At this time, we will look at the names of his second child, a daughter, and his second son.

1:6: And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the House of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

(Lo-ruhamah means “No-Mercy”)

7: But I will have mercy upon the House of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

So here we have a prophecy telling us that the House of Isreal will be taken away but Judah will be saved, in the sense that they will not be taken away.In fact, they will be saved supernaturally.

(Notice Judah is saved, why? Because Messiah would come from that tribe)

8: Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

9: Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

(Lo-Ammi means “Not My People”)

So the people of God become a group called Not My People, and this is significant, because the prophecies detailing their return have been in front of us all along, and we knew them not!

10: Yet the number of the Children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

How does a people made into Not My People become as numerous as the “sand of the sea”? How does this same people become “sons of the living God”?

11: Then shall the Children of Judah and the Children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves One Head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the Day of Jezreel.

2:23: And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

Going back to Jezreel, Hosea’s firstborn, his name means “God sows”. God sows Israel unto Himself in the earth. Yeshua said, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.” John 12:24

God sows Israel into the earth with the expectation that He will reap a harvest!