Shabbat Chazon–Our Hope for Salvation and Redemption–Thoughts and Reflections on Isaiah 1:1-27

by | Jul 21, 2023 | Blog

Shabbat Shalom Saints of the Most High on this balmy, but sublime Sabbath in the DFW. I’m Rod Thomas. Hoping, trusting, and praying that this teaching finds you well and blessed.

As this teaching is being recorded and posted, 7/22/23, the 4th day of our 5th biblical calendar month, it is what orthodox, Hassidic Jews call “Shabbat Chazon.” In Hebrew, it is the Sabbath of Vision.

Because I found the message of Yesha’Yahu’s (aka Isaiah’s) vision to be so powerful and applicable for us today, I was led by the Ruach to forego thoughts and reflections on Torah Reading 93 this go round.

It is the Sabbath before the 9th of Av. And in case you are unfamiliar with the Jewish memorial day of Tisha B’Av (or the 9th of Av), it is held as the day when Temples 1 (aka Solomon’s Temple) and 2 (aka Zerubbabel’s Temple) were destroyed. Yes, our Jewish cousins contend that both Temples were destroyed, the first by the Babylonians, the second by the Romans, on the 9th day of the Babylonian named Month of Av (i.e., this 5th month of Yah’s sacred calendar year).

Jewish sages established this memorial day (i.e., a tradition; not a mandated Feast or set-apart day of Yah) to prepare the hearts and souls of religious Jews to receive Tisha B’Av. These sages taught that God’s people, the righteous, orthodox Jew that is, on this day are being granted a vision of the 3rd Temple by the Holy One of Yisra’el (their reference to Daniel 10:7). And the vision of the 3rd Temple that God grants the righteous Jew comes to them, not so much in a classic, visual sense. But the vision is manifested in the soul of that religious one (a reference to Talmud, Megillah 3a).

It is that vision that provides the pious one the spiritual wherewithal to move beyond their “present state of galut” (insert link to Chabad article).

The Hebrew term “galut” means “exile” or “diaspora.”

So, when the religious Jew finds him/herself free of his/her “galut,” spiritually speaking, he/she will be at a place in their spiritual journey to participate or be a part of God’s great redemption of the nation, which includes the rebuilding of the Temple (aka Mishkan).

This visionary concept, looking towards next week’s memorial of Tisha B’Av (aka the 9th of Av), was metaphorically described as follows:

“A father once prepared a beautiful suit of clothes for his son. But the child neglected his father’s gift, and soon the suit was in tatters. The father gave the child a second suit of clothes; this one, too, was ruined by the child’s carelessness. So, the father made a third suit. This time, however, he withholds it from his son. Every once in a while, on special and opportune times, he shows the suit to the child, explaining that when the child learns to appreciate and properly care for the gift, it will be given to him. This induces the child to improve his behavior until it gradually becomes second nature to him—at which time he will be worthy of his father’s gift” (Chassidic master Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev metaphorically explaining Shabbat Chazon; chabad.org).

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With these ideas in mind, let’s examine some of the central themes that are attached to Shabbat Chazon by way of the assigned Haftarah of Yesha’Yahu/Isaiah 1:1-27.

These 27 verses are some of the most powerful indictments against the nation that turned away from Yehovah and His holy and righteous ways, Yehudah/Judah. As well as it leaves the indicted ones with a hope for an acquittal from and by the Holy and Righteous Judge of Creation.

Yet this passage of Holy Writ holds for us who dwell in modern-day Western nations, in particular those of us who dwell in the United States of America, a most sobering message and call for repentance and teshuvah to the Elohim whose wisdom established this land as the platform from which His eternal Words of Truth, redemption, and salvation would reach the nations of the world. We too as a special people, as well as this nation as a whole, would be wise to heed Yah’s indictment and acquittal of Yisra’el through the prophet while we still can.

1:1-4. Yehudah had been entrusted with the oracles of Yehovah (reference Romans 3:2). And it is here in these first-4 verses that Yehovah lays forth His case against her before the Court of Heaven (vs. 2). And Yehovah proceeds to accuse Yehudah of being a rebelliou8s child, despite Yah having been a nurturing Father unto her. So rebellious is this child that she has, according to her Father, become lower than His child’s domesticated animals (vs. 3). For at least the domesticated animals of His child know and respond appropriately to their owner. The evil and corrupt child Yehudah, however, has all but forsaken her loving Father and Master. In so doing, Yehudah is provoked into anger toward His rebellious child (vs. 4).

Are we who once referred to ourselves as a “people of the Book;” “a Judeo-Christian nation;” a “Christian nation” any different from the accused, corrupted, evil child of Yehovah? Are we not as the Psalmist and the Prophet described as a people who like sheep have all gone astray with everyone turning to his/her own way (Psalm 119:176; Isaiah 53:6). And as a result Yah is about to level charges against us before the Court of Heaven. We who have fallen into the habit of calling that which Yehovah has deemed good evil, and that which Yah has deemed evil good? Have not the so-called places of worship (aka churches) of this land become nothing more than zest pools of pagan and humanistic filth, hosting so-called drag shows; instead of delivering the Word of Yah and Yah’s instructions in righteousness, delivering humanistic dribble; hiding behind our 501c3’s as licenses to abandon our original mandate to make disciples for our Lord and Savior Yeshua Messiah. Indeed, judgment is coming to this nation, and the court is about to go into session.

1:5-15. The whole of the nation is corrupted: From the lowliest member all the way up to the nation’s government and religious leaders. There is then no goodness to be found in any, save but “a very small remnant” (vs. 9). Sadly, there has been no attempt whatsoever by the people to straighten up and fly right, despite the many warnings and beatings they’ve received as a nation over the years (vss. 5, 7-8).

Yah then compares Yehudah to Sodom and Gomorrah, who if not for that very small previously mentioned remnant, have been utterly decimated as those two ancient cities were (reference Genesis 19).

Question: Who and where is that small holy and righteous remnant today that is, through their petitions, intercessions, and obedience to Yah and His ways, staying, at least for the moment, Yah’s holy and righteous judgment and wrath against America? Certainly not the Church Triumphant. But maybe the remnant is composed of those who keep Yah’s commandments and possess the witness/testimony of Yahoshua HaMashiyach (Revelation 12:17). I believe this to be so.

Yah then asks the religious leaders of Yehudah, why they persist in performing His mandated sacred worship services and rituals in the midst of their persistent and ongoing rebelliousness (vss. 10-11). And Yah confesses to them that He sees right through their fakeness; their hypocrisy; their lies and deceptive ways. And He declares to the court that He has had His fill of them (vss. 11-15).

Yah also mentions to the court how the once faithful city of Yerushalayim has now fully compromised her holy and righteous charter of being a light to the nations (vs. 22; cf. Romans 2:19). The religious leaders have completely subverted justice and have openly entertained evil (vs. 23). Thus, the holy things of Yah (i.e., those offerings which Yah set aside and called holy–reference last week’s Parashah, 92, entitled “God’s Requirements for Holiness in Worship“), were now polluted and defiled (entirely unacceptable to Yah); the priesthood has also become defiled through selfishness and rebelliousness (vs. 23).

My God, is this not a clear snapshot of this present-day’s nation and of her corrupted and evil government and religious institutions? Indeed it is! It’s all polluted and utterly defiled.

Allow me to ask you this beloved: Has not the Church Triumphant today and in the recent past done the same, if not worse than the rebellious child Yehudah? Indeed she has. And she continues to do so as of this posting.

But as it was with her ancient counterpart, Yehudah, Yah has had His fill with this so-called woke, Christian nation that many of us presently reside in. And at some point here, real soon, the protections once afforded her, because of the presence and fruit of the righteous remnant I just alluded to, are going to be summarily lifted and she is going to be sorely stricken (vs. 5). How and what that looks like, only Yah truly knows.

1:16-20; 24-27. And so after stating His most solid case against His rebellious child Yehudah before the Court of Heaven, Yah’s mercy and love is suddenly brought forward for all of Creation to behold, with a prescription for his acquittal:

  1. Purify his soul–on an individual and national level–before Yehovah and cease in his wicked ways (vs. 16).
  2. Start doing that which Yah has deemed as good.
  3. Restore the rule of righteous law.
  4. Cease oppressing the righteous and poor of the nation.
  5. Eliminate favoritism/partiality in the legal system such that they begin rendering righteous judgments in accordance with the principles of the Torah.
  6. Support and attend to the plight of the widow (vs. 17).

And then Yah encourages His evil, wayward son, Yehudah, to simply listen to reason. And in so doing, Yah extends to His prodigal son the framework and the simple terms of a plea deal, even an acquittal:

(18) Come now, and let us reason together, says Yehovah: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (19) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land (Cepher).

But Yah follows up His plea deal with a stern warning that if he, Yehudah, were to reject His offer, the nation will be brought down by a destroyer nation (vs. 20).

Yah realizes, however, that His evil, corrupted son is not going to accept the terms of His plea deal and that he in and of himself was incapable of fulfilling the terms of the deal. Thus Yah notes that He is going to have to do the heavy lifting for Yehudah by stepping in and cleaning the nation up Himself. Not unlike that which He does for every soul who turns to Him and enters into a covenant relationship with Him through the Person and Ministries of Yahoshua Messiah.

Unfortunately, despite Yah doing the heavy lifting for Yehudah, the nation would end up receiving the punishment he deserved.

Nevertheless, in His heavy lifting for Yehudah, and all of Yisra’el for that matter, Yehovah promises:

  1. To ultimately deal with His and Yehudah’s enemies (vs. 24; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:25).
  2. To restore His son, Yehudah, back to his former right standing above all the world’s nations and before the Court of Heaven. His son’s righteous reputation would ultimately be restored (vs. 25).
  3. To restore His son’s righteous governing and religious institutions (vs. 26).
  4. To restore Yerushalayim’s righteousness by reinstituting the rule of Torah therein (vs. 27).

Indeed, this ultimate hope–this vision of Yesha’Yahu if you will–shall be brought about by Yahoshua HaMashiyach when He returns and inaugurates and establishes His Millennial Kingdom in Yerushalayim (Daniel 2:44; Revelation 20:4-6).

Practical Messianic Halachah

Will we as Yah’s holy and righteous remnant have the courage to receive and obediently respond to Yesha’Yahu’s vision/Chazon? Not for the purposes of building a 3rd Temple mind you. But for purposes of remaining steadfastly in the gap; making disciples for our Master Yeshua Messiah; living by our Faith; and occupying until our Master returns (Luke 19:13).

So may the hope of Yesha’Yahu’s vision on this Shabbat, in conjunction with the work of Father’s Holy Spirit operating within each of us who are truly called by His Name, fuel our love for Him and for our fellow man.

Shabbat shalom. Shavu’atov. Until next time fellow saints in training.

God’s Requirements for Holiness in Worship–Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 92

by | Jul 14, 2023 | Blog, Podcasts

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

Greetings, Saints of the Most High, on this sizzling but beautiful Sabbath in the DFW.

 

These are my thoughts and reflections on this week’s Torah Reading, which happens to be the 92nd reading of our 3-year Torah Reading cycle. Given its contents, I’ve entitled this “God’s Requirements for Holiness in Worship.”

 

This reading is contained in Leviticus 22:1-23:44. We will discuss just chapter 22, but we will not go into 23. Chapter 23, as you may recall, goes into great detail about the Torah around the mandated set-apart days of Yehovah. Given that we’ve posted so much content as it relates to this subject of the set-apart days of Yah, I would encourage you, if you are so led, to put into the search function of https://themessianictorahobserver.org whatever set-apart day you’re interested in. But for our discussion today, we’ll be looking at this question of holiness as it relates to the elements of worship.

 

I pray this discussion will bless you and enhance your walk in Messiah.

 

Central Premise–Sacred Offerings (aka qodeshiym) vs. Profane (aka yehalelu) affecting Yehovah’s “Holy Name” (aka shem qodshi). There is a direct correlation between “holiness” (i.e., the holy things of Yehovah) and the “holy offerings” rendered unto Yehovah by the people. These come together contextually as they relate to the officiating Levitical priests’ state of ritual purity.

 

Special Note: Whenever we come across the wording in the Hebrew Torah of “holy things of Yah,” it references all qualified offerings to be rendered unto Yehovah at the Brazen Altar.

 

When one encounters the holy things of Yehovah in a state of ritual uncleanness, they are effectively profaning the holy name of Yehovah. A state of uncleanness (aka, ritually impure; impure) was defined by Yehovah throughout the previous readings of Leviticus. In fact, Yah prohibited His priests from even coming into His presence in a state of ritual impurity/uncleanness, thus the warning against unclean priests “encroaching upon the sacred.”

 

Recall that certain burnt offerings were divided between the offerer, his family, and the officiating Levitical priests. For the offering to be accepted by Yah, the offerer, and the officiating Levitical Priests had to be ritually clean. Especially the Levitical Priests, who, for them to partake in that meal, the food from that divvied-up offering deemed as holy (aka qodeshiym) by Yehovah, even the priestly consumers of the meal had to be ritually clean/pure. Why? Because the meal was holy! And to consume the meal in a state of ritual uncleanness served to profane (i.e., pollute or contaminate) both the substance of the meal and the name and authority of Yehovah Elohim.

 

Torah teacher and writer Tim Hegg of Torah Resources, touches upon another aspect of uncleanness that had nothing to do with officiating priests rendering unto Yehovah offerings and then partaking in the offerings in a state of ritual uncleanness. He brings up the very real possibility of evil-hearted priests taking advantage of the people’s sacred offerings to have their offerings properly rendered unto Yehovah. In other words, there may be certain evil-hearted priests who might seek to personally profit from the various offerings they officiated over or to even steal those offerings. In such occasions, those rendered offerings would also be profaned and nullified by the evil actions of unscrupulous priests. And certainly, Yah was not having any of that.  In fact, Yehovah stipulated that the Levites were to possess no inheritance or real property. Yah told Aharon:

 

(20) Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Yisra’el.  (21) And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Yisra’el for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation…(23) But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations that among the children of Yisra’el, they have no inheritance. (24) But the tithes of the children of Yisra’el, which they offer as an heave offering unto Yehovah, I have given to the Levites to inherit: Therefore, I have said unto them, among the children of Yisra’el they shall have no inheritance (Numbers 18; KJV).

 

Thus, the priesthood would be prohibited from gaining personal wealth from handling and dispensing the holy things of Yehovah.

 

This scenario recalls the situation of the money changers who operated in and around the Temple during Yeshua’s day. These were no doubt associated with the Jewish religious leadership establishment that was overseeing worship at the Temple. We know that many of those same religious leaders were wealthy and owned material possessions that they no doubt received through selling the worship of Yehovah in one form or another. The Sadducees were essentially the first-century Levitical priests of Yeshua’s day. And because these were unfaithful and disobedient to their charge as Yah’s chosen intercessors, their entire line was “cut off” from before Yehovah! Yikes!

 

When you think about it, that was a terrible situation that is echoed even today in religiosity, where certain so-called church leaders have grown wealthy beyond reason through their selling of the Word of Yehovah.

 

The Levitical Priests were meant to foreshadow the Person and Ministry of Yeshua Messiah, who Himself was perfect, both ritually and spiritually pure/clean. He was qualified in every sense to be the world’s atoning sacrifice and officiate as the High Priest in the heavenly Mishkan, offering our prayers, praise, worship, and petitions unto Yehovah. Praise Yah from Whom all blessings flow!

 

“Being Cut-off from Before Yehovah”

 

To profane the offerings/the holy things of Yehovah incurred a heavy price upon the one who profaned the offering: They would be cut off from Yah’s presence.  For a priest to be cut off from the presence of Yah meant that he was no longer permitted to function and serve in the esteemed Tabernacle service. To function in the esteemed Tabernacle service meant that the priest operated and served in the presence of Yehovah. Contrast transgressions against the Torah for ritual purity for the non-priests of the nation: The penalty was for them to be “cut off from their kin or their people.”

 

We should not overlook that the unclean priest who would dare to encroach upon the holy offerings of Yah (i.e., to partake of the holy offerings of Yehovah in a ritually impure state) would only suffer personal alienation from Yehovah. Many Torah teachers believe that the penalty for transgression of this mitzvah could involve Yehovah personally meting out judgment and even wrath upon the offender. I believe both forms of penalties are likely, especially given that in most cases, only Yehovah would know the true cleanliness of each officiating and partaking priest. Thus, the thought of Yehovah cutting a priest off from His presence seems to be a very personal retributive active by the Almighty against the guilty priest.

 

Levitical Priest Clean-up

 

The logical question that comes to mind in this reading is, given the inevitable event that each priest would come into a state of ritual impurity/uncleanness at some point in their service, how did they get cleaned up and restored back to service? Well, turns out that the prescription for priestly clean-up was quite simple: They would be expected to step aside unilaterally and temporarily from service in anticipation of getting cleaned up (22:4-8; cf., Midrash Rab. Numbers 10:8). This act of separating oneself from priestly service and from the people is referred to as “nazar,” which means to “separate oneself,” “to withdraw,” and even “to fast” (T. Hegg; “Studies in the Torah-Leviticus,” pg. 156). According to Hegg, “nazar” is the Hebrew root word for “natzir,” from which we get “Nazarite.” You may recall that a Nazarite took a vow of service unto Yehovah, and part and parcel of that Nazarite vow was for him to abstain from certain carnal practices and things such as consumption of alcoholic beverages and cutting their hair until their vow was fulfilled.

 

But having withdrawn from service and from the people and from partaking of the meals provided for them by Yehovah through the sacrificial system for a brief period, they would be afforded the opportunity to get cleaned up and be restored to their priestly duties.

 

Let’s not overlook the reality that the worshiper (i.e., the offerer) would be required to also be in a state of ritual purity to worship at the Tabernacle properly. So, the same expectation was placed upon every worship when they became ritually unclean/impure: They needed to separate themselves from the place of worship and get cleaned up as quickly as possible.

 

Yehovah always provides a way back home for His chosen ones, doesn’t He? However, priests and worshipers are expected to be in a state of cleanliness to serve and worship properly. Ignoring this requirement was to transgress Yah’s Torah (i.e., commit sin), profane Yah’s holy offerings, and die due to their sinful actions (22:9).

 

The remainder of chapter 22 in our reading today goes into moderate detail as it relates to Yah’s requirement that it be in a perfect physical state for it to be accepted by Him. From there, Yah provides specifics on the humane treatment of all sacrifices and the time constraints imposed upon the people for consumption of the resulting sacrificial meals. He wraps up this section by reiterating the importance of adhering to His exacting requirements when transacting the holy things (i.e., the offerings and sacrifices) unto Yehovah to avoid profaning His holy name and to ensure that He was “sanctified among the people of Yehovah” (22:31-33; ESV).

 

Practical Modern-Day Halachah Application

 

What does this say about us today, who are aspiring priests in the upcoming Kingdom of Yehovah? Our horsepower, so to speak, comes from our accessibility to the throne-the very presence of Yehovah–that was and is made possible through the Person and Ministries of Yeshua Messiah. To be cut off from Abba Yah’s presence is to make null and void a Netzer’s truest purpose in the world and for the world tomorrow.

 

When we come to faith (i.e., when we enter a true and substantive relationship with the Almighty), we are cleansed through the Person and Ministries of Yeshua Messiah. Allegorically, we are issued a dazzling set of holy garments. However, it becomes the disciple of the Messiah’s responsibility to maintain that initial cleanliness and to keep their holy garments clean and white.

 

Bear in mind, beloved, I’m not talking about the modern Netzer maintaining a state of ritual purity. That ritual purity as outlined in Torah applied specifically to one being in an acceptable state of cleanliness, making worship at the Tabernacle and Temple permissible. We’re not talking about that form of ritual purity here. Here we’re talking about simply being cleansed and free from sin and having one’s heart and mind in a circumcised state that makes true worship of Yah–that which is in Spirit and in Truth–possible. You see, Yah will not tolerate sin in His presence, nor will He tolerate the presence of sin in our relationship with Him. So, we are expected to be clean from sin by (1) no longer sinning when the Holy Spirit convicts us. (2) confessing our sins to Yehovah, repenting of that sin, and asking Yah’s forgiveness. And then stop sinning and resume walking blamelessly in His ways. Resisting sin. Avoiding situations where we may be led to sin. And so forth. Why? Because sin profanes; it pollutes; it contaminates our praise; our worship; our prayers; our petitions; and even our covenant relationship with Yehovah. For our praise and worship and prayers and so forth are holy unto Yehovah when they are rendered unto Elohim from one who is pure of heart and who is undefiled.

 

To think that we can simply live whatever hellish life we want to after coming into faith with the Almighty and not being liable for being cut off from Him is to be naive at best. Yah will only tolerate foolishness on our part for so long before He ultimately decides to cut us loose. And no Kingdom-bound, kingdom-minded believer wants any part of that. So, our Torah reading certainly should give us spiritual cause to pause and ensure that we are always in a state of cleanliness. Yah will not receive our worship, praise, petitions, and prayers if we remain unclean. So, let’s always assess our state of purity before Yehovah. Seek the Spirit’s help to spotlight any and all areas and incidents of filth that so easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1).  Open ourselves to the Spirit’s leading in helping us keep our garments dazzling white and undefiled (Revelation 3:4; 16:15).

 

When it comes to rendering unto Yehovah that which belongs to Him–those things that are holy unto Him such as our tithes and offerings, our worship and praise, and our service to Him, in addition to being in a spiritually and physically clean state, it falls to each of us to ensure that we render unto Him the very best that we have, every aspect of such elements of worship must be perfect and without defects. He gave us and continues to give us His very best, and it falls to us to reciprocate and render unto Him our very best.

 

Unfortunately, many people of faith simply go through the motions to render unto Yehovah elements of worship that are less than perfect. In fact, most folks render unto Yah half-hearted elements of worship (e.g., meager offerings and partial tithes; half-hearted praise and worship efforts; less than transparency in their prayers and petitions, often with personal agendas overriding what should be the true aim of that form of worship; and of course, self-serving elements of worship that serve to enrich the individual at whatever personal level suites them such as receiving accolades, fame, and fortune for their service and worship). If our worship is to be accepted by Yah, every element of our worship must be as spiritually perfect as Yah has made possible.

 

So, when we come before Yehovah, even in our intimate times of prayer (i.e., intercessory and petitions), it is vitally important that we critically assess our motives, the state of our hearts, and the purity of our walk (i.e., undefiled by sin) so that our worship may be accepted of Yah and that He receives the glory and honor that He so richly deserves. The Holy Spirit (aka, Ruach HaKodesh) will help us with these things. We simply need to “let go and let Yah” do His thing in us. Anything lacking in us and in our offering must be corrected as soon as it is noticed or revealed to us. Then, and only then, will our worship be accepted of Yah.

 

When looking at these readings each week, it is highly important that we bear in mind that the contents contained therein always, in one way or another, point us toward Yeshua. The content of these readings provides the Kingdom-minded/Kingdom-bound disciple a prophetic shadow picture of the good things that our Master has brought us, and they paint for us a beautiful portrait of His Person and Ministries (Hebrews 10:1; 8:5). Not only was Master the perfect offering and sacrifice to atone for our sins and to bring us into a right relationship with the Creator of the Universe, but He also serves in the heavenly Temple (aka the heavenly Mishkan) as our perfect and sinless High Priest (aka, our Cohen HaGadol) on our behalf (Hebrews 5:6; 6:20; 7:17).

 

Thus, when everything is spiritually and physically in place and in order, we can, as the writer of Hebrews proclaimed, “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16; KJV).

 

Shabbat Shalom Saints, until next time, may you be abundantly blessed and have an overcoming week in Yeshua Messiah.

 

Becoming and Existing as Priests of God-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 91

by | Jul 8, 2023 | Blog, Podcasts

Greetings beloved of Yehovah on this steamy, but beautiful Sabbath here in the DFW.

This week’s Torah Reading is the 91st Reading of the 3-year reading cycle. It is contained in the 21st Chapter of the Book of Leviticus and entails the exclusive and exceeding righteous requirements for becoming and existing as a Levitical Priest of Yehovah.

As we did last Shabbat, we dug into our archives and are bringing to you this week a teaching I did on this reading about 3 years ago entitled “Living the Life of a Priest of God.”

I think the content of this teaching and of this reading, despite there being no actively operating Levitical Priesthood, is very much relevant and applicable today. This so-called woke and inclusive society zeitgeist that seems to have captured the hearts and imaginations of both liberal and conservative souls alike, has served to erase from the minds and hearts of society the cruciality of holiness, righteousness, and obedience to a moral people.

The inception of the Levitical Priesthood was that it would be an exceedingly righteous intermediary/intercessory entity between the Creator of the Universe and His set-apart people. Consequently, in order for this entity to properly fulfill its intermediary/intercessory role, the order had to be holy in every facet of its being, just as Yehovah is holy. There was to be no compromise.

As is the case with almost every aspect of Torah, the Levitical Priesthood serves as an example of the exceeding righteousness that our Master Yahoshua Messiah is requiring of His disciples in order for them to serve Him and His coming Kingdom. Being Kingdom-minded and bound, we as Yah’s chosen ones are destined to be a Kingdom of Priests (Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Contrary to the thinking of most, however, our training to fill that role in Yah’s coming Kingdom begins NOW! And what better time than in the here and now to study and learn of the exacting and exceeding righteous requirements of being a set-apart priest of the Holy One of Yisra’el?

So, I pray that this replay of my teaching on this Torah Portion will not only bless you but equip us all to assume our destiny in the Malchut Elohim.

Until next time beloved, may you be most blessed fellow saints in training. Shabbat Shalom!

Remaining Set-Apart in the Midst of this Evil and Adulterous Generation-Rebooting my Thoughts and Reflections of Torah Reading 90

by | Jul 1, 2023 | Blog, Podcasts

Shabbat Shalom

Greetings beloved, on this glorious set-apart day from the DFW. My sincerest hope, trust, and prayer is that this reboot of Torah Reading 90 will be a tremendous blessing to you in these troublesome times were living.

This Week’s Reading as a Reboot

This week’s reading is contained in Leviticus/Vayiqra 19:1-20:27.

I posted a teaching on this reading back in 2019. I entitled it “Being Holy in the Midst of an Evil and Adulterous Generation.” And as I considered whether I should write and post a fresh blog on this reading, I felt led to go ahead and repurpose this discussion.

Are We Living in the End Times?

I fervently believe that as we progress into what I believe to be the End Times, these Readings are indeed for such a time as these.

This reading is extremely pertinent to any with a heart, mind, and soul that is even remotely interested in walking in the Creator’s instructions in righteousness. Why?

Picking-up Where the Church Dropped the Ball

The Church Triumphant has miserably failed in her Messiah-given mandate to make disciples of every nation and people on this planet. In so doing, she was commanded to teach the nations what Yahoshua taught them through His set-apart apostles. To be a perpetual resource and reference for righteous living and to herald the coming Malchut Elohim (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Scourge of Woke Ideology

Today, the moral compass by which most of the Bible-influenced nations of the world once lived has been replaced by today’s abominable “woke” ideology. Sadly, that which Yah established as good is overwhelmingly accepted as bad or evil. And that which Yah established as bad or evil is now accepted by many as good (Isaiah 5:20). Thus, I fear that the Western world has irreversibly crossed the Rubicon, leaving behind true “wokeness” that comes only through Yehovah’s eternal words of truth and righteousness.

Yeshua’s Mandate to His Disciples

Master proclaimed that we, His disciples, are intended to be salt and light to this sick and dying world (Matthew 5:13-16). And so, as we learn of Yah and His ways each week through our reading and study of His instructions in righteousness and walk out these instructions in Spirit and in Truth as He modeled and taught us, we actively do that which the Church has so miserably failed to do.

Beloved, we don’t have to become renowned expositors and preachers of Yah’s Word in order to fulfill the Master’s Gospel mandate for His set-apart ones unless Yah has selected us to do so. For most of us, we are simply called to live/walk in the Faith that He has called us to (Habakkuk 2:4) and reflect the love of the Creator and His Son to all who come into our sphere of influence. More so, we are to remain set apart in the midst of this evil and adulterous generation.

Let’s Us Who are Called by Yah’s Name Persist in Being Set-Apart

My intent in rebooting this post for you on this Shabbat is not so much to inform you as I’m certain that those who are drawn to this ministry website are already very much aware of the instructions contained in this reading. Moreover, my reason for this reboot is to encourage us all to, as the world doubles down in walking in their perverse ways, double down in the righteousness that Yah has called His elect ones to walk in. In a nutshell: Be holy as He is holy (Leviticus/Vayiqra 20:7; 1 Peter 1:14-15).

And with that, here is “Being Holy in the Midst of an Evil and Adulterous Generation.”

Shabbat Shalom Beloved.

Conforming to God’s Ways in the Midst of Present Day Wokeness: Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 89

by | Jun 24, 2023 | Blog

Greetings from the DFW on this warm but glorious Shabbat. We commenced the 4th month of Yah’s sacred calendar year earlier this week, and we’re trusting in His keeping mercies as we progress throughout the month.

These are my thoughts and reflections on the 89th reading of our 3-year Torah Reading cycle. It is contained in Leviticus 18: 1-30.

It is one of the more direct and to-the-point readings of the Torah, dealing primarily with forbidden marriages and sexual relationships and the worship of Molech.

Almost 3-years this day, I did a teaching on this reading that I believe, if you are so led to read or listen to, will sum up well that which Abba Yah puts forth to us in today’s reading. It is entitled: “Torah’s Forbidden Sexual Relationships.” So, this week, I have been led to put the link to that teaching here for your reference as opposed to my repeating much of that content and reinventing the wheel, so to speak. I trust and pray that you will be blessed by this teaching.

But before I leave you with that post, let me just say that these weekly readings are so pertinent to us, especially today, as “wokeness” attempts to drown out Yah’s eternal words of truth and righteousness.

Although the general themes of this reading fall within the categories of forbidden marriages and sexual relationships and prohibitions against child sacrifice to Molech (shocking that Yah would have to prohibit such a terrible thing, huh), we clearly see the United States today in critical and terrible transgressing of Yah’s commandments regarding these categories.

Yah was concerned for His bride’s wellbeing, having just brought them out of Egypt and now leading them to the promised land of Canaan. Egypt and Canaan were the most morally corrupted, pagan nations in the world at that time. The nation had just come out of Egypt/Mitsrayim, brought with them terrible pagan worship practices that Yah had to purge out of them while positioning them to reject the equally terrible pagan worship practices they would encounter going into taking possession of Canaan. The nation whom He chose to establish a covenant-marriage relationship with, Yisra’el, would not continue in the ways of their former taskmasters, nor would they be permitted to adopt the ways of the Canaanites that He would flush out of the land.

Regarding this, Abba Yah to our ancient cousins: (2) I Am Yehovah your El. (3) After the doings of the land of Egypt/Mitsrayim, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do, and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. (4) [But rather] ye shall do My judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein, [for I AM] Yehovah your El. (5) Ye shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments: which if a man does, he shall live in them: I AM Yehovah (chapter 18; KJV modified).

The world in which our ancient cousins were existing back in the day was rife with paganism that disgusted Yehovah. As His bride, Yah sought to make it abundantly clear that Yisra’el belonged exclusively to Him. And because she belonged exclusively to Him, she was required to keep only His instructions. In so doing, they would be distinguished among the nations of the known world as His set-apart people. They would image and glorify Yehovah before the nations and be a light to the world.

Most people, in particular those who profess faith in the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov, see the instructions contained in this and other readings as utterly outmoded or antiquated, having absolutely no relevance to them. But these fail to see the overriding point behind these instructions in righteousness. For Yah is separating His children from the peoples of this world by way of how they conduct themselves. The world possesses its own set of statutes and judgments (just as the Egyptians and Canaanites). Unfortunately, the world’s statutes and judgments run contrary to those of Yehovah. But worse, the world’s ways–i.e., their statutes and judgments and ordinances–tend to be abominable to Yehovah. And because Yah’s children are to be holy/perfect as He is, they are compelled to despise the ways of the world. Thus, they walk contrary to the ways of the world. And in their walking contrary to the ways of the world, they glorify and image Yehovah in the world.

Much of the abominable ways of the world, even the world today, with ancient Egypt and Canaan being clear references, are derived from forms of idolatry or pagan worship: Yes, even the prohibited marriages and sexual relationships were linked to idolatry. And because these nations were so steeped in abominable paganism, Yehovah vowed to have them purged from the land.

The United States, once the beacon of hope for the world in terms of her being entrusted, I believe, with the Word of Yehovah just as Yisra’el was, has forfeited her blessing. In every category of evil outlined in our reading here today, she is found guilty and wanting:

Idolatry: Her people worship “wokeness,” climate change; COVID; politics; decadence and entertainment and technology; violence; and so much more.

Sexual Deviance: Her people have embraced wholly the LGBTQ+ agenda, and in so doing, she has engaged herself in abominable idolatrous sexual sins.

Child Sacrifice: Her people are complicit in child trafficking, and through her lust and demand for abortion–killing the unborn–she effectively is deep in the worship of Molech.

I believe that this nation’s days are very much numbered. The United States has become no different than its predecessor Canaan. And thus, she is subject to Yah’s wrath and judgment. We see clear signs of this already:

  • Foreign nationals, many of whom are military-age men, coming into this nation at her unprotected borders and melding into the fabric of this nation. What are their ultimate intentions?
  • The United States enemies, such as China, are conducting spying operations against her.
  • The world’s nations are demanding that she give over her sovereignty to foreign governing bodies.
  • Unfettered violence, in particular violence perpetrated by young people, in many of the nation’s liberal cities.
  • Young people dropping dead for inexplicable reasons.
  • The nation’s food supplies are being purged.
  • The average citizen with limited means is being forced into poverty.
  • The church triumphant has become all but persona non grata.
  • The justice system has become weaponized and made into an unrecognizable two-tiered system, used to target any and all who oppose the idolatrous ways of the nation’s elite.
  • And so forth.

Indeed, if it hasn’t started already, judgment is right at this nation’s door.

But we, who are redeemed of Yehovah, have been called, despite the distress that we see occurring all around us, to walk/live by our faith (Habakkuk 2:4). We are not to succumb to and adopt the ways abominable, idolatrous ways of this so-called “woke” world as the emasculated church has done. We must become that light and salt to this sick and dying world that Yeshua our Master has called us to be (Matthew 5:13-14).

May these sobering words incite us to double down in our commitment to the true Faith once delivered. Let us stay informed of the happenings about us, but also, let us always be “Kingdom-focused” and always in search of Yah’s righteousness. May Yah’s Kingdom come and His Will be done, here on earth, as it is in heaven. Maranatha beloved.

Shabbat Shalom, Shavu’tov, and may you be most blessed fellow saints in training. Take care.