Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 20
Call ME


“He will call on ME, and I will answer him.”  (Ps 91:15 CJB, emphasis mine)

Some years ago, we received a phone call, late in the evening, from our oldest daughter.  While on her way into town (40 miles away), she had blown a tire on her car, and, unfortunately, she had no spare tire with her.  Robin knew immediately who to phone for help, had the assurance of who would come to her assistance, and rescue her from the predicament that she was in.  Her Daddy is her ‘kinsman-redeemer’ (Ruth 3:12) by right of the blood relationship that they have, and when she calls on him, her dad answers her.  Occasionally he says ‘no’ to her requests, but he always answers her.

Because of the relationship we now have with our Abba Father (through our acceptance of the complete and finished work of our Messiah Yeshua, as well as our obedience to Elohim and His Word), Yahweh is our ‘kinsman-redeemer’, just as my husband is to our daughter.  We now have the privilege of calling out to our Father, our Creator, our El-Shaddai, our Adonai Yir’eh, and know that in some way, He will answer us.  That is His promise to us.  And He is not a man, that He should tell lies (Num 23:19).
 

“In my distress [when seemingly closed in] I called upon the Lord and cried to my God; He heard my voice out of His temple (heavenly dwelling place), and my cry came before Him, into His [very] ears.”  (Ps 18:6 AMPC)



©2018

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 19
Devotion


"BECAUSE he loves me, I WILL rescue him; BECAUSE he knows my name, I WILL protect him.  (Ps 91:14 ISR, emphasis mine)

As we study this well-loved Psalm, I perceive that this verse (91:14) is the focal point and summary of everything.  It is imperative that we stay fixed, permanent, un-shakable in our relationship with our Creator, taking up permanent residence in the “secret place in the Most High”.  From our position under the “shadow of His wings”, all our attention must be on our Creator; it should be strong, and fixed upon our Elohim, our God, the Mighty God.

Because we choose to stay in this position, Abba Father says that we will know His name, and His authority.  However, our Father has many names that He can claim as His.  And only as we know Him closely, with a ‘devoted attachment’, can we begin to understand these names of our Creator.   Yes, He IS Abba Father, but He is also El Elyon, the Most High God (Ps 9:2).  He is Adonai Yir’eh, the Master who will see to it, the One who provides (Gen 22:14), and He is also El-Shaddai, the All Sufficient God (Gen 17:1).  Our God is El Olam, the Everlasting Elohim (Ps 90:1), the Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6), and El Rachum, the God of Compassion (Deu 4:31).  He is the Elohim Chayim, the Living Elohim (Deu 5:26; John 6:69), and He is our Melek Hakavod, our King of Glory (Ps 24:7-10; Rev 21:22-24).

He is Redeemer, Deliverer, Companion, Friend, Brother, Advocate, Guide, Helper, Teacher, and the fourth man in the fire when the chips are down.  Only as we begin to know our Elohim, to understand the many sides of His character and names, and to love Him for who He is, will we trust Him, and know that He is not only able to deliver us, but very willing to do so.


“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and UNDERSTANDS My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and RELIES ON ME, KNOWING I WILL NEVER FORSAKE HIM, NO, NEVER].  (Ps 91:14 AMPC, emphasis mine)


©2018

Monday, November 26, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 18
Underfoot


“You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample UNDERFOOT.”  (Ps 91:13 AMPC, emphasis mine)

At one time, during its long and fascinating history, the Tower of London was home to its own private ‘Menagerie’, or zoo.  During the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century, the Menagerie was opened to public viewing, and boasted an assorted population of lions, tigers, bears, leopards, elephants, hyenas, and other exotic animals.  There is a story told of one particular lion, who had a loud and fiercesome roar, and would invariably let it sound out when the corridors and sidewalks were the most crowded.  Visitors were assured that his cage was secure, that no, he could not escape, and that yes, he was properly fed and not hungry.  And besides all of that, he was also missing most of his teeth.

We are told in the Word of our Elohim that our “enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1Pet 5:8 CJB, emphasis mine).  Similar to the lion in the cage, our enemy can roar all he wants to, but he has few teeth, which leaves him little to chew with.  He only has what ‘meat’ we are foolish enough to give him (by fear and/or intimidation), or what he can successfully deceive us into giving him.

When an attack does come, our line of both offense and defense is our deliverance and redemption; we are bought and paid for by the blood of Messiah Yeshua, and our lives are not our own.  As long as we stay in right relationship with our Abba Father, through obedience to His Torah, our adversary, the ruler of this world will find nothing in us and can have no power over us (John 14:30).  

When we choose to live by emunah, faith, trust and belief in our Creator, nothing comes into our lives without first being filtered through our Father’s hands.  In other words, whatever our circumstances may be, our Creator has allowed us to be in just such a situation, to test us and to prove us (see Deu 8:2; Ex 20:20).  Despite what our external situation appears to look like, we must always remember where our home is: “in the secret place of the Most High”.


“I lift up my eyes to the hills; Where does my help come from?  My help comes from יהוה, Maker of the heavens and earth.  He does not allow your foot to be moved; He who watches over you does not slumber.  See, He who is guarding Yisra’ĕl Neither slumbers nor sleeps.  יהוה is your guard; יהוה is your shade at your right hand.  The sun does not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.   יהוה guards you from all evil; He guards your being.  יהוה guards your going out and your coming in Now and forever.” (Ps 121 ISR)


©2018

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Your Daily Slice


Carry You


“They bear you up in their hands, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”  (Ps 91:12 ISR)

Ancient Jewish wisdom suggests that the reason angels try to prevent us from ‘tripping on a stone’ is so we will not fall into sin and wrong-doing.  The Scriptures teach us that the angels of Elohim are “ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation” (Heb 1:14, AMPC).  We learn also that angels respond to the Word of our Elohim (Ps 103:20) and hasten to obey the Word when it is spoken in faith. 

We also find the blunt admonition written for us in our Father’s Word concerning the ‘wages of sin’ that are equal to death (Rom 6:23).  How awesome, and how very humbling the concept is then, that our Abba Father would send forth His angels to assist us, help us, and aid us that we not sin.

May we always remember whose angels these are.  Our Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is THE one to receive praise and thanksgiving for their help and assistance, not the angels themselves, for they are merely created beings.  And let it be constant in our minds that we cannot expect, demand, or assume this kind of angelic protection if we are not willing to walk in the path of obedience and trust, clinging with child-like faith to our Elohim and Creator, living in the “secret place of the Most High.”


“The angel of Adonai, who encamps around those who fear him, delivers them.”  (Ps 34:7 CJB)

“Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble.” (Pro 3:23 AMPC)


©2018

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 16
Armed Guards


“For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [OF OBEDIENCE AND SERVICE].”  (Ps 91:11 AMPC, emphasis mine)

It has been more than 30 years ago that this particular incident happened, yet I remember it like it was yesterday.  A neighbor had brought her children (who were of similar ages to mine) over to play for the afternoon and returned later that same afternoon to pick them up.  When my friend (and her children) were loaded up in her older model Jeep Cherokee (late ‘60’s or early ‘70’s model?), I and my daughter Karen (about 6 years old at the time) were standing at the vehicle windows saying our farewells.  Karen was leaning in the window of the backdoor, talking with her young friend, while I talked with mine, the mom. 

As we said goodbye, both of us moms assumed that Karen had heard us, and had backed away from the vehicle; unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.  Consequently, as my friend stepped on the accelerator, the forward motion of the Jeep caused Karen to fall, throwing her one leg under the vehicle.  Before any of us had a chance to react, the rear tire had run over my daughter’s knee. 

Karen’s dad picked her up and carried her to the house, placing her on her bed.  By this time, her knee was bigger than a basketball.  A complete and total shalom settled over all of us – even Karen - (thank You, Abba!), and we knew that Karen was all right.  All of us there – my neighbor friend included – were born-again believers in Yeshua as our Messiah and believed in the “laying on of hands for healing” (see Jam 5:14), which is what we did.  We all felt led to wrap the knee in ice and cold compresses to control the swelling, and wait on our Creator, which is again what we did.  As Karen lay talking with her friends, we could physically see the swelling disappear.

Later that night, Elohim dropped this particular verse, (Psalm 91:11), into my spirit, with the admonition that there had been an angel standing next to Karen the entire time.  Yes, the Jeep ran over her knee, but because of the angel standing there, her knee was not completely crushed, and nothing was broken.  To this day, I believe that the angel picked up the rear end of the heavy, older model Jeep, in order that the full weight of it would not crush my daughter’s knee, doing damage that could have lasted the rest of her life.

May I strongly point out to you that our opening verse IS conditional.  You cannot expect and assume to have this kind of protection 24/7 if you are not willing to walk in the “way of obedience and service”, as it states above.  And the longer that you choose to dwell in the “secret place of the Most High”, the more willing, the more eager, the more you will desire to be obedient, and to serve …


“Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?”  (Heb 1:14 AMPC)


©2018

Friday, November 23, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 15
No Evil


“Because YOU have made יהוה– My refuge, the Most High – YOUR dwelling place, No evil befalls you, And a plague does not come near your tent” (Ps 91:9-10 ISR, emphasis mine)

As we move with ever increasing acceleration toward the day of Messiah Yeshua’s return, we can see clearly expanded, and amplified, evil of every sort exploding in the world around us.  Sexual perversions unimaginable, extreme violence that is now a common occurrence, as well as the many natural disasters that are happening on a daily, almost hourly schedule:  all of this adds up.  We find many warnings throughout the Word of our Elohim of what will take place, yet here, in this opening verse, we have a promise of protection and shelter from anything that could, or would, come at us.

However, our Creator can do very little until we first choose to make Him our refuge, our habitation, our permanent address through a relationship of close intimacy and obedience.  In modern day terminology, this has become known as recognizing and accepting our Creator, Father, and Elohim, and embracing Yeshua of Nazareth as our Messiah and Redeemer.  We then must choose to do teshuva, repenting and forsaking (turning away from) our past life, followed by ‘walking out’ the evidence (or fruit) of our new life by obedience to Yahweh’s divine instructions in righteous and moral living, His Torah. 

As we proceed in this ‘walk’, we then, by faith, may appropriate all the promises of Elohim, like this one above.  Yes, the condition is that we must also choose to stay in the “secret place of the Most High”.  And even if the enemy tries to ‘side swipe’ us with a surprise attack, our Father promises us that everything is overruled for good, for “all things work together for good to those who love Yahweh, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28, emphasis mine). 


“But יהוה is MY defense, And my Elohim the rock of my refuge ...” (Ps 94:22 ISR, emphasis mine)

“But whoever listens to me dwells safely, And is at ease from the dread of evil.” (Pro 1:33 ISR)



©2018

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 14
Spectator


“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.  Only a SPECTATOR shall you be [yourself INACCESSIBLE in the secret place of the most high] as you witness the reward of the wicked.”  (Ps 91:7-8 AMPC, emphasis mine)

In 2Kings chapters 18 and 19, we find the account of an amazing deliverance worked by one angel, at the command of our Creator.  The King of Assyria, Sennacherib, had sent a great army against Hezekiah, the Hebrew King of Judah, and was determined to defeat him.  Hezekiah was a man who loved the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and was devoted to serving Him.  As the city of Jerusalem lay surrounded and besieged by this vast army, Sennacherib’s general sent an insulting letter to King Hezekiah, demanding the complete surrender and submission of Judah to Assyria.  Hezekiah takes this letter to the “House of Yahweh”, spreads it out before our Creator and King (2Kin 19:14), and seeks out our Elohim for divine intervention.  The result?

“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of YHWH went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand [185,000]; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.” (2Kin 19:35 HRVS, insert mine)

This same deliverance is available to those of us who, by choice and obedience, remain fixed in the “secret place of the Most High”.  We live in a place of perfect quarantine, of separation, and sanctification, and nothing comes our way without first passing through the hands of our Creator.   We are surrounded by the loving arms of our Abba Father, our El Gibbor, our Mighty GOD, and nothing, not one thing, is too difficult for Him.


“Thus says YHWH, the King of Yisra’el, and his Redeemer YHWH Tzva’ot {Lord of Hosts}: I am the first, and I am the last, and beside Me there is NO Elohim.  And who, as I, can proclaim—let him declare it, and set it in order for Me—since I appointed the ancient people?  And the things that are coming, and that shall come to pass, let them declare.  Fear you not, neither be afraid; have I not announced unto you of old, and declared it?  And you are my witnesses.  IS THERE AN ELOHIM BESIDE ME? Yes, there is no Rock; I know not any." (Isa 44:6-8 HRVS, emphasis and insert mine)


©2018

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 13
Not Afraid


“You are NOT AFRAID of the dread by night, Of the arrow that flies by day, of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Of destruction that ravages at midday.” (Ps 91:5-6 ISR, emphasis mine)

It is imbedded in our human nature to be afraid of what we cannot see, and darkness can hide many ugly things.  But there are also many attacks and ambushes, that appear out of nowhere, in the brightness of day; we all have a ‘blind side’ that our enemy is well aware of.  These attacks come in every shape and form, and their single purpose is to pull us away from believing, and trusting in, our Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

However, our Heavenly Father, our El-Shaddai, our ALL-Mighty God, is the all-encompassing shield surrounding us at all times, 24/7.  He is the impregnable, impenetrable fortress, the ultimate weapon of defense.  Because we choose, with obedience, to take up permanent residence in the “secret place of the Most High”, we will not be afraid, and we know that Yahweh our Elohim will sustain us (Ps 55:22).


יהוה is my light and my deliverance; Whom should I fear? יהוה is the refuge of my life; Whom should I dread?  When evil-doers come against me To eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, They shall stumble and fall.  Though an army encamps against me, My heart does not fear; Though battle comes up against me, Even then I would be trusting.” (Ps 27:1-3 ISR)

“When you lie down, you will NOT be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”  (Pro 3:24 CJB, emphasis mine)



©2017

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Your Daily Slice


His Truth


“…His truth is a shield and armour.”  (Ps 91:4 CJB)

Along with our residency in the “secret place” of the Most High, also comes intimacy. The more time we spend in this safe haven, the more we will know Him, our Elohim, and the more He will reveal to us the depths of His Word.  The more we understand His Word, the more we will desire both the written Word, and the living Word, Messiah Yeshua.

But with the intimacy comes accountability.  This is true of any relationship, and it is much more so with our Abba Father, our Heavenly Husband, our Creator and King. We cannot claim to love someone, want to live with them in closeness and intimacy, and not be willing to be obedient and accountable.  When we choose to walk in this obedience, from within this secret place, we find we are encircled with this “shield of truth” that sets us free.  However, it is only the truth that you know (personally and intimately), that will set you free.


“… If you OBEY what I say, then you are really my talmidim {disciples}, you will KNOW the truth, and the TRUTH will set you free."  (John 8:31-32 CJB, emphasis and insert mine)

“Yeshua said to him, I am THE way and truth and life.  No man comes to my Father except by me.  If you know me you also know my Father.  And from now on you know Him ...”   (John 14:6-7 HRVS, emphasis mine)

“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Torah is truth.” (Ps 119:142 HRVS)


©2018

Monday, November 19, 2018

Your Daily Slice


KISLEV 11
Covering


“He COVERS YOU with His feathers, And under His wings you take refuge …” (Ps 91:4 ISR, emphasis mine)

During the early colonial times here in the United States, a marriage custom arose when clergymen were few and far between.  The custom came to be known as “Jumping over the Broom”: when a couple had participated in this act, they were considered married, until such time as a minister was available to legalize the already accomplished deed.  Many such marriages never did have the benefit of a clergyman, yet the marriage in question was still considered just as legal and binding as if it had been blessed by clergy.

It was of especial interest to find the expression in ancient Hebrew - “to spread one’s wings over” - means to legally take a wife.  Tied in together with this phrase is the fact that the corner of the tallit, the Jewish prayer shawl, is often referred to as “a wing”[1]. The picture you are being given in the opening verse is that of a man, placing his prayer shawl over a woman, to declare her as his wife.  What a parallel of the loving care of our Heavenly Bridegroom this reveals!!

In chapter three of the Book of Ruth, we have the beautiful story of the kinsman redeemer.  Following extensive directions given by Naomi (verses 3, 4), Ruth spends the night sleeping at the bottom of Boaz’s bed. When he awakens in the middle of the night, and discovers her there, he asks her who she is, and why is she there.  Her reply?

“I am Ruth your maidservant. Spread your wing [OF PROTECTION] {your tallit} over your maidservant, for you are a next of kin.”  (Ruth 3:9 AMPC, emphasis and insert mine)

Years before her great-grandson was to write the words to Psalm 91, Ruth understood the meaning of being “covered by the wings of the El-Shaddai”, the All-Mighty Elohim.  She saw the significance of this in her relationship with Boaz, in the shelter, security and protection that was to be found under those wings.  And for us, there is much to be found waiting for us in that “secret place of the Most High”…


“For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.  My whole being follows hard after You and CLINGS CLOSELY TO YOU; Your right hand upholds me.” (Ps 63:7-8 AMPC, emphasis mine)



©2018


[1] The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament, Copyright2003 by AMG Publishers