Water of His WORD BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING ---Roly Buys--- 1
Amanda Buys Spiritual Covering This is a product of Kanaan Ministries, a non-profit ministry under the covering of: Roly, Amanda s husband for more than thirty-five years. Pastor Edward and Dalene Gibbens Vanderbijlpark South Africa There is no copyright on this material. However, no part may be reproduced and/or presented for personal gain. All rights to this material are reserved to further the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ ONLY. For further information or to place an order, please contact us at: P.O. Box 15253 27 John Vorster Avenue Panorama Plattekloof Ext. 1 7506 Panorama 7500 Cape Town Cape Town South Africa South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 21 930 7577 Fax: 086 681 9458 E-mail: kanaan@iafrica.com Website: www.kanaanministries.org New Office hours: from 1 April 2017 Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 2 PM Kanaan International Website Website: www.eu.kanaanministries.org 2
Parashah Emor Speak Week 31 This week s portion comes from Leviticus 21:1-24.23; Ezekiel 44:15-31; and Matthew 5:38-42; Galatians 3:26-29. Summary The portion covers a number of Commandments that apply only to the priests such as who they may marry, that they may not be involved in death, that a Levite who has a blemish may not bring offerings. The portion also list the blemishes which disqualifies an animal to serve as an offering We then review the Feasts of God in some detail and complete the portion with an interesting story where a man is stoned after blaspheming. AN INVITATION FROM THE KING We have a series of passages that will describe four major Feasts or sets of Feasts, which we should endeavor to understand and consider the implementation thereof. The portion is an open invitation for Sons and Daughters (including those adopted by virtue of the completed work of Y shua) of Abraham, to attend a Feast in the Father s House. The times are designated, they are fixed by YHVH. You cannot just change them as you feel fit. The place is designated - the Tabernacle in today s terms: the Tabernacle is made up of Living Stones. The order of the proceedings are designated and set out clearly in this portion in very simple steps. 3
**NUGGET!** You see, it s His Feast, at His set time, and at His set place the Tabernacle (in the physical, this would have been Jerusalem). Leviticus 23:2 Tell the people of Isra el: The designated times of ADONAI which you are to proclaim as holy convocations are My designated times. We can take some time to look at the spiritual meaning of each Feast, at exactly what we are expected to do, and according to which protocol we should follow to be invited in, and then to understand where we would be seated at the Festival Table. But first, we must understand the criteria that would qualify us to be allowed in. You see, some churches teach that we are covered by grace, and for this reason there are no norms or standards of behaviour that are required / applicable. It s strange to hear this kind of teaching it s so contrary to basic human behaviour and good manners. Almost everyone who receives any invitation reads the requirements Dress: Smart casual, or black tie Time: 19:00 for 19:30 Place: The grandest Hotel in town No one would think to arrive at 23:00 in shorts and t-shirt on the beach and still expect to find everybody waiting for them would they? If that is true for the worldly functions, how much more so should it be for a function arranged by the King of the Universe? YOU ARE A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD We have previously seen how the first-born of each family would serve in the Tabernacle. Unfortunately, as a result of the episode with the Golden Calf, this calling was placed on hold for a while; it was replaced by the order of Levi, until a Mediator of a better / everlasting Covenant could come: Y shua, the Messiah. 4
It s important to recognize that the Order of Levi was NOT the first to perform priestly functions. A pre-aaronic priesthood existed, where individuals took on a priestly function (Exodus 19:22, 24 - see also the example of Noah / Job who offer sacrifices, and Abraham who builds an ALTAR long before the time of Levi.) When the Order of Levi was instituted it took the following format: The high priest: Aaron (Exodus 31:30) The ministerial priests: his two sons (two were killed, Exodus 28:21) The Levites: as officers in the temple (Exodus 19:6) I submit that the Order of Melchizedek, under the leadership of Y shua, follows precisely the same pattern, after the resurrection of the Messiah and the institution of the Living Stone Tabernacle. The Great High Priest - Y shua (Hebrews 3:1) The elders (Romans 15:16) The Living Stone priests (1 Peter 2: 5, 9) As further proof of this common connection, let us look at the following: We see the priests in the Tabernacle offering incense in golden bowls (Numbers 7:84-86). In the Heavenly Tabernacle we find 24 elders holding golden incense bowls, which contain the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8). **NUGGET!** We have the same structure, we have the same functions the only difference is that we serve in a perfect Covenant the Order of Melchizedek. Why would this new Order be better? Simply said, man always has the tendency to favour the old-man inclination and does not have the ability to live in absolute purity Man, as priest, tries to the best of his ability. However, our Messiah can, and does, do more than His best His Service is perfect. And therefore the new Order is perfect. Hebrews 8:4-6 Now if He were on earth, He wouldn t be a Cohen at all, since there already are cohanim offering the gifts required by the Torah. But what they are serving is only a copy and shadow of the Heavenly original; for when Moshe was about to erect the Tent, God warned him, See to it that you make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain. But now the work Yeshua has been given to do is far superior to theirs, just as the Covenant He mediates is better. For this Covenant has been given as Torah on the basis of better promises. 5
Within the boundary of the Order of Melchizedek, and while we serve in a Tabernacle of Living Stones, as defined in: 1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Him through Yeshua the Messiah. And while Y shua acts as our Great High Priest in this new Order, Hebrews 7:21 but Yeshua became a Cohen by the oath which God swore when He said to Him, ADONAI has sworn and will not change His Mind, You are a Cohen forever. AND with the empowering of the Holy Spirit, we can serve the KING and our community with a greater degree of Purity. You are a priest!!! James 1:22-25 Don t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it! For whoever hears the Word but doesn t do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But if a person looks closely into the perfect Torah, which gives freedom, and continues, becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work it requires, then he will be blessed in what he does. THE MENORAH Nothing reveals man s heart and GOD s purpose more that the image of the Menorah. From the moment that GOD (YHVH) issues the Commandment that man is to bring fresh oil to keep the lamp burning, until the picture of Messiah standing in amongst the seven Menorahs representing the Body in the Book of Revelation. We see the glow of the light from the lamp Keep in mind; the priest had a purpose. Hebrews 8:3 For every cohen gadol is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so this Cohen Gadol too has to have something He can offer. Let us summarize A priest must have something to offer and as we read the analysis below you will realize that a life that is sacrificed, will be poured out in deeds / actions / works 6
We, as priests, are such a lamp. The Menorah has equal number of arms and lamp-cups on each side, the Menorah is always in balance. We, as priests, are always to be in balance. Let us look at the two sides of a priest in balance (a) WE ARE TO BE FOCUSED IN THE LIVING What could this mean? All deeds that do not please GOD (YHVH) are death. All actions that reflect the gifts of the Holy Spirit, or an act of obedience to GOD (YHVH), or loving my neighbour, are LIFE. Leviticus 21:1 Speak to the cohanim, the sons of Aharon; tell them: No cohen is to make himself unclean 1. We wear a head-piece on which is written Holy unto GOD (YHVH). We are to search the Scriptures for Truth, We are to set benchmarks of righteousness, We expand on the majesty of the WORD of GOD (YHVH), We are dressed in Holy Garments that are bright and clean. Leviticus 8:12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aharon s head and anointed him, to consecrate him. Moshe brought Aharon s sons, clothed them with tunics, wrapped sashes on them and put headgear on them, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. (b) WE WEAR THE BREASTPLATE, WITH THE STONES OF EACH TRIBE ON OUR CHEST Priesthood in the Physical Bring sacrifice in the outer court Bring oil for the lamp in the Holy Place Serve God once a year Priesthood in the Spiritual Offer our bodies as Living Sacrifices Renew our minds Release light and life Through the Holy Spirit daily We understand that the tribes / Body of Messiah are made up of different groupings of people, who have been empowered / gifted to achieve different goals, all of whom are necessary to enter in the New Jerusalem and make up the Tabernacle of Living Stones. We weep over those who break His Commandments, and we comfort those who are wounded. We guard GOD (YHVH) s Commandments and Feasts, by studying His WORD and keeping these Feasts as the Holy Spirit leads. We seek purity in prayer and worship. 7
We guard GOD (YHVH) s WORD by keeping the truth of the WORD visable at all times, by never compromising our lifestyle. We formulate our understanding of GOD (YHVH) s intent for us, based entirely on the Truth of the WORD. We make sure that no concepts are added or deleted from the Bible. We seek to teach /educate / role-model the difference between purity and impurity. Ezekiel 44:23-24 They are to teach My people the difference between holy and common and enable them to distinguish between clean and unclean. 24 They are to be judges in controversies, and they are to render decisions in keeping with My rulings. At all My designated festivals they are to keep My laws and regulations, and they are to keep My shabbats holy. We seek to reveal GOD (YHVH) s Heart to all in need. To reach out with compassion to those who are broken, and who despair. We seek to reveal the full extent of the concept of unconditional love. Such is the role-model of Y shua, Whose walk on earth impacts the prostitute, the beggars, the tax-collectors. We seek to reveal a lifestyle of honesty, integrity, the willingness to pursue justice for all, and the desire to be a peacemaker. For that reason, like the priest of old that stripped bare in front of the people, we are willing to become transparent, where nothing is hidden. We are prepared to sanctify our ears / hands / and feet so that we can go where the Holy Spirit leads. We seek to forgive those who have caused us hardship. We habour no grudges, and we seek to see the good in all people. Please take note of the two sides of the Menorah. We do not represent the Glory of GOD (YHVH) unless our lives and ministry are in balance. You can see that it s easy to be one or the other but GOD (YHVH) wants us to pursue justice AND mercy. Somehow our efforts at priesthood are only acceptable to GOD (YHVH) when we can present both sides of the Menorah. If I only have the gifts for one side of the Menorah, then my life partner must have the other side / gifts in order for our worship to be a reflection of in His Image. The Levitical Order came through a family lineage. By the act of putting on the priestly 8
robe, they became the office of the priesthood. Their actions, unfortunately, that were role-modelled for us in so many cases, often did not match GOD s benchmark / plan. For example, there were times that they took the ARK to war, without consulting with GOD (YHVH). Earthly man, in his own strength, will often allow his ego / old man to control. Such is the example of king Hezekiah. He realises that the people have fallen into sin. He sets about cleaning out the land, destroying all of the pagan altars, defining a new regime where GOD (YHVH) alone would be worshipped. However, this lifestyle of Godly king and priest, does not last long. Very soon he allows his riches to make him a proud man. And equally soon afterwards he no longer spoke of the miracle which GOD (YHVH) did for him. Suddenly, it s ALL, AND ONLY about me!!!! We too, become unholy / common. Just in case we do not believe this particular Bible story, we read that a seal of this king has just recently been found in Jerusalem. Makes you think 2 Chronicles 32:25-29 However, Hizkiyahu did not respond commensurately with the benefit done for him, because he had grown proud; thus he brought anger on himself and on Y hudah and Yerushalayim as well. But Hizkiyahu then humbled himself for his pride, both he and the people living in Yerushalayim, so that ADONAI s anger did not strike them during Hizkiyahu s lifetime. Hizkiyahu had vast riches and great honor. He provided himself with storage places for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles; also storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine and olive oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock and pens for the flocks. He provided cities for himself and purchased flocks and herds in abundance, for God had made him extremely wealthy. WE HAVE A DESIGNATED PLACE We are called to celebrate these Feasts at the place where the Tabernacle resides. At the very beginning, the Tabernacle was made up of all of the children of Israel that kept the Passover meal in their homes. 9
After the Order of Levi was instituted, the designated place became the Tabernacle at each of the sites where they stopped over in the wilderness. At some point in time, the Tabernacle reached Jerusalem, and this became the permanent residence, and therefore the place to keep the Feasts. Peter tells us that we, the sons / daughters of Abraham, together, make up a new Tabernacle. In addition, we are restored as priests and must function as such in this Tabernacle - a community of believers made up of Living Stones, with Messiah as the Corner Stone. It is wherever a group of Commandmentkeeping believers gathers. 1 Peter 2: 5-6 You yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Him through Yeshua the Messiah. This is why the Tanakh says, Look! I am laying in Tziyon a Stone, a Chosen and Precious Cornerstone; and whoever rests his trust on it will certainly not be humiliated. WE HAVE A TABERNACLE In an earlier portion we studied how the wilderness Tabernacle was prepared, sanctified, and anointed for its purpose. This Tabernacle would move wherever the cloud / fire would indicate. And the tribes would live in a defined order all around the Tabernacle. GOD (YHVH) became the center of their existence (Leviticus 8:10, 35-36). Leviticus 9:22-24 Aharon raised his hands toward the people, blessed them and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering and the peace offerings. Moshe and Aharon entered the tent of meeting, came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of ADONAI appeared to all the people! Fire came forth from the presence of ADONAI, consuming the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. Y shua came to restore all things back to the original plan. We know that the physical Tabernacle is an image of the real one. Y shua will live, die and be resurrected, so that He can enter the New Priesthood as the perfect Sacrifice, and Advocate for mankind. We see that He serves as the Great High Priest, in the Heavenly Tabernacle. 10
Hebrews 8:5-6 But what they are serving is only a copy and shadow of the Heavenly original; for when Moshe was about to erect the Tent, God warned him, See to it that you make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain. But now the work Yeshua has been given to do is far superior to theirs, just as the Covenant He mediates is better. For this Covenant has been given as Torah on the basis of better promises. Hebrews 9:11-14 But when the Messiah appeared as Cohen Gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), He entered the Holiest Place once and for all. And He entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of His own Blood, thus setting people free forever. For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; then how much more the Blood of the Messiah, who, through the Eternal Spirit, offered Himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God! The Holy Spirit comes to live with us, within the confines of the Tabernacle made of Living Stones. So we literally have GOD (YHVH) as High Priest and GOD (YHVH) as Holy Spirit, coupling us to the Father in Heaven. SO IF WE ARE PRIESTS, IN A LIVING STONE TABERNACLE, CONNECTED TO THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST, SHOULD WE NOT CELEBRATE GOD S FEASTS? The Feasts are worth a separate study on their own, and should not be crammed into a short Torah portion (Leviticus 23:1-44) All I want to do is highlight some spiritual principles. So how would an adopted son / daughter of Abraham act? 11
ON SHABBAT - Celebrate a day of rest - Spend time with the family - Spend time in God s creation to appreciate how good GOD (YHVH) is - Bless the family in WORDS and Deeds - Do good deeds to those in need ON PASSOVER - Celebrate seven days of rest - Hold a family meal and share about the miracle of redemption - Eat the unleavened bread, and consider where you have allowed malice and wickedness to come into your life - Repent, bring restitution, and reconnect with the values of sincerity and truth ON SHAVUOT / PENTECOST ON SUKKOT / TABERNACLES - Celebrate a 1 day feast - Study the beauty of marriage review all that GOD (YHVH) intended that marriage should be - Evaluate your marriage against this benchmark, restore the broken fences, renew your vows to one another, and then, invite God to once again become the Senior Partner in this Covenant - Restore the marriage robe remove the spots and wrinkles - Celebrate eight days of this Feast - We must build a booth; reflecting our understanding that GOD (YHVH) s Covenant of protection and provision will remain in place thorough all of the years. - Consider the depth and the beauty of intimacy, and of the unity of man and wife. - Celebrate with great JOY A SHORT DETOUR An interesting story creeps into the end of this portion which needs further study. A man of mixed linage; the Father is an Egyptian and the mother is from the tribe of Dan we are not told whether the man came out of Egypt at the Exodus or whether he stayed behind; we are also not informed exactly what the cause of the fight was. So in many respects we do not have all of the facts when we draw conclusions from this story. Lev 24:10-11 There was a man who was the son of a woman of Isra el and an Egyptian father. He went out among the people of Isra el, and this son of a woman of Isra el had a fight in the camp with a man of Isra el, in the course of which the son of the woman of Isra el uttered the Name [Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh] in a curse. So they brought him to Moshe. (His mother s name was Shlomit the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) An important phrase to consider is this he went out amongst the people of Israel 12
Let us look at the HEBREW WORDS of meaning: Strong s 3318 Out Strong s 8432 Tavek To go out, come out, exit, go forth, (Qal), to go or come out or forth, depart, to go forth (to a place), to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something), to come or go forth (with purpose or for result), to come out of. (Hiphil) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out, to bring out of, to lead out, to deliver. (Hophal) to be brought out or forth. This is made clear for us with the use of the word Tavek Midst, middle, into, through (after verbs of motion), among (of a number of persons), between (of things arranged by twos), from among (as to take or separate etc). We can see here that for some or other reason, he deliberately was leaving, or was being taken out of the camp. We are told that he is exiting from the people in other words disassociating himself from the set-apart group. We can therefore draw the conclusion that he was either rejected by the people, or had been mocked so that he wanted to leave, or that he had been a troublesome character that was no longer welcome; either way - it sets some form of context to the discussion. The question arises What does blaspheme and use GOD (YHVH) s Name in a curse really mean? and Why was the consequence so severe? Let us try The word fight can be misleading, this does not seem to be an ordinary squabble although one meaning of the word can mean the simple difference of opinion between two young children where the one boy pulls at the other one s locks of hair. A more likely explanation is found in the other meanings where we see this idea come forth to wage war, to contend, to strive. The Gesenius-Lexicon takes this concept further explaining that to fight means to strip off the garment of someone to draw the sword from its sheath, to strip the inhabitants from the land, and finally to be laid waste or desolate. It now appears likely that this was a battle for survival and that this man lost. Let us now turn to the actual curse and how Strong s develop the following idea: Strong s 5344 blaspheme Strong s 7043 curse - that the man used words that pierce / perforate the very meaning of the community / of the idea of a set-apart people / of GOD (YHVH) s Choice of this nation as a special people on one hand while on the other, - he dishonours GOD (YHVH) / makes GOD (YHVH) to be despicable / makes GOD (YHVH) to be insignificant / or reckons GOD (YHVH) to be light (of little consequence). 13
We are reminded of another incident where people thought that they were equal to, or unique, or better than GOD (YHVH). It's the story of the tower of Babel. In that story there is also a serious consequence, but in this case the people merely tried to make GOD (YHVH) to be equal to themselves there is no evidence that they tried to curse to pierce through the Image of GOD (YHVH) and so they are merely placed into the middle of confusion and separated. David knows the Majesty of YHVH. He describes this majesty for us in Psalm 8 (and we would do well to recognise this majesty and makes sure that our WORDS record His GLORY daily). Psalm 8: For the leader. On the gittit. A Psalm of David: Psalm 8:2-10 ADONAI! Our Lord! How glorious is Your Name throughout the earth! The fame of Your majesty spreads even above the heavens! 3 From the mouths of babies and infants at the breast You established strength because of Your foes, in order that You might silence the enemy and the avenger. 4 When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your Fingers, the moon and stars that You set in place 5 what are mere mortals, that You concern Yourself with them; humans, that You watch over them with such care? You made him but little lower than the angels, You crowned him with glory and honor, You had him rule what Your Hands made, You put everything under His Feet sheep and oxen, all of them, also the animals in the wilds, the birds in the air, the fish in the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 10 ADONAI! Our Lord! How glorious i s Y o u r N a m e throughout the earth! HAFTORAH This portion in Jeremiah speaks about the holiness and integrity that required from someone who is called to be a priest. Although these words are penned in the time of the Levites, and we today understand that we are following in the Order of Melchizedek, the principles remain the same. In addition, the lessons of the time remain valid - Priests who are double minded, and who allow foreign influences to affect their vision, will be removed from service in the Tabernacle. 14
Ezekiel 44:15-16 However, the cohanim, who are L vi im and descendants of Tzadok, who took care of My sanctuary when the people of Isra el went astray from Me they are the ones who will approach Me and serve Me; it is they who will attend Me and offer Me the fat and the blood, says Adonai ELOHIM. 16 They will enter My sanctuary, approach My table to minister to Me and perform My service. Unless each generation of believers raises the standard of Holiness and succeeds in delivering communities from pagan / evil ways, we will see that the NEXT generation is weaker in Godly character than the previous one. Yet, we have this Promise from GOD (YHVH), irrespective of the times that we live in, we are able, with the power of the Holy Spirit to rise up and change the spiritual dimension in our day. A FINAL THOUGHT In the middle of these Feasts, with all of the food, music and dancing, the celebrating AND the intimacy with GOD (YHVH) in our Tabernacle of Living Stones, we are challenged!!! Have you created an opportunity for the poor? Have you left something for them to harvest so that they also can bring a wave offering of thanksgiving? Leviticus 23:22 When you harvest the ripe crops produced in your land, don t harvest all the way to the corners of your field, and don t gather the ears of grain left by the harvesters; leave them for the poor and the foreigner; I am ADONAI your God. We should live as a community, think like a community, and in it all, reflect the glory of GOD (YHVH). 15
Priestly Blessing Y varekh kha YHVH v yishmerekha. May YHVH bless you and keep you. Ya er YHVH panav eleikha vichunekka. May YHVH make His Face shine on you and show you His favour. Yissa YHVH panav eleikha v yasem l kha shalom. May YHVH lift up His Face toward you and give you peace. In this way they are to put My Name on the people of Israel, so that I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27 16