Your Daily Slice

Nisan 15             

MY Shepherd

“יהוה is my shepherd …” (Ps 23:1)

Psalm 23 is probably the most well-known Psalm found in the pages of the Scriptures, yet for the most part, folks have no inclination of the wealth found in the words of these verses.  I have been reluctant to write anything concerning this well-loved Psalm, as it seems there are whole BOOKS dedicated to taking this Psalm apart.  And yet, I wanted to see for myself what it is all about.

“My” and “mine” are words of possession, of ownership.  When I make a declaration of this nature (my husband, my child, my home, and my Elohim), it reveals that I have chosen to identify with the particular subject, in this case, it is YHWH our Elohim.  I have chosen YHWH to be my Elohim, and I have chosen to cleave to Him and His ways.

There is, however, much more stated here.  The Hebrew word that is translated as “shepherd” is the word râ‛âh (Strong’s #H7462), and I very much enjoy the interpretation given by Jeff Benner in his Ancient Hebrew Lexicon: 

“The pictograph r is a picture of the head of a man, the o is a picture of the eye. Combined these mean "man watches". The shepherd closely watched over his flock, often they are his only companions.”[1]

What a beautiful picture of our ABBA Father!  Our Creator is the one who “watches over us, as we are His companions.

Much of the land in Wyoming is owned by the government (BLM, NFS, as well as state agencies), and both cattle and sheep ranchers will lease sections of land to pasture and feed their livestock on.  When I first arrived in the state of Wyoming (1973), it was not unusual to see flocks of sheep numbering in the thousands, with several sheep-herders (and their dogs) tending to them.  It was the responsibility of these sheep-herders to watch over the sheep, protect them, care for them, and diligently provide for them adequate pastures and water.  And this was a full time, 24/7 job.

When I choose to make the statement “יהוה is my shepherd”, I am recognizing and accepting His care for me, a sheep.  And I am placing my complete trust in Him, knowing that He will never leave me, or abandon me (Deu 4:31; Heb 13:5).  AMEIN!

“I am the good shepherd. And I know Mine, and Mine know Me …” (John 10:14 ISR)

©2018

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[1]Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible; Copyright © 2006Ancient Hebrew Research Center Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible ISBN: 1589397762 Author: Jeff A. Benner

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 14

The Love That Never Fails

This evening, at sundown, marks the beginning of the eight day Feast of what is known as the Feast of Pesach, or Passover (see Exodus 12:14-20; Leviticus 23:1-8), which actually combines Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  This is a special time for those of us who observe; we do this (keep Pesach/Unleavened Bread) in remembrance of Him (see 1Cor 11:23-25).

“Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].”  (1Cor 13:8 Amp)

Love is not just a feeling, it begins as a choice.  We choose, as an act of our will, whether we will walk and live “in love”, or whether we will not.  In reality, love has nothing to do whether other people love us or not, it has everything to do with our choice under any and all circumstances.

Elohim, the Eternal God, the Creator of the universe, choose to love the nation of Israel, and call them His own.  He has established a covenant with this nation, a covenant that, in legal language, is sewn up tight and binding, but has yet to be fulfilled in its entirety.  Because of the love that He has for His people, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob delivered a nation of over 3 million slaves into freedom, from death into life, accepting the sacrificial blood of the Passover Lamb.  This event is still celebrated annually at the Feast of Passover (see Ex 12).

Centuries later, in fulfillment of more promises that YHWH our Elohim made, another Sacrificial Lamb died.  By His own choice, Messiah Yeshua gave up His life to redeem and ransom ours – amazing love, oh, what sacrifice! (see John 10:15-18).  Added to this is the fact that Yeshua “gave up” His life at the Feast of Passover – at the exact time the lambs were being slain for the Feast.  Yeshua is the completed Passover Lamb.  Because “LOVE NEVER FAILS”, we can now stand in His love, delivered from the corruption of Egypt and the world, and reunited with our Heavenly Father.

"This is my command: that YOU keep on loving each other JUST as I have loved you. No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends, IF you do what I command you.”  (John 15:12-14 CJB, emphasis mine)

“By this we have known love, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers ... My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in DEED and in TRUTH.” (1John 3:16, 18 ISR, emphasis mine)

©2018

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 13

Unity

“A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1 TLV)

The original city of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) was built upon one certain hill, what many believe is the same “Mount Moriah” where Abraham and Isaac went through the ultimate testing, known as the Akeidah, or the “binding of Isaac” (see Gen 22:2), and also the same place where Solomon built the first temple (see Chr 3:1).  Because of its elevation, we find verses throughout the Scriptures speaking of going “up to” Yerusahalayim (Isa 2:3; 37:14; Mic 4:2; Mat 20:17-18; Luke 2:42).  We also know from the Scriptures that all the men of Yisra’el were commanded to go to Yerushalayim three times a year, to observe certain feast days (Pesach/Unleavened Bread, Shavuot, Yom Kippur.  See Ex 23:14-17).  There are some Bible scholars that believe that the certain Psalms known as “The Songs of Ascents” (or Degrees, Psalms 120 - 134) were sung by those travelers as they “went up” to the city of Elohim, in obedience to the command[1].

What better time to sing of unity among all who would be gathered together in the city, than during the times of the High Holy days.  As we stand at the threshold of the Feast of Pesach, and the days of Unleavened Bread, may we purpose in our hearts to lay aside all of our differing opinions, and embrace with joy the unity we enjoy as children of the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Amein.

©2018

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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Songs-of-Ascent.html

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 12

Elohim’s Instruction

“Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.”  (Pro 4:13 Amp)

One of the definitions listed for the word “instruction” by Noah Webster, is “Precepts conveying knowledge”[1].  We can therefore reason that instruction, should we attend to it, will eventually reward us with knowledge.

However, the Hebrew word that is used here in the opening verse is the word mûsâr (Strong’s #H4148), and includes with instruction the sense of discipline, correction, and if necessary, chastisement.   According to our Father and Creator, all of these are required ingredients in obtaining knowledge, something that is not standard procedure in our modern school system today.

We can therefore surmise that the instructions and wisdom we are in need of are those that flow from our Master’s hand:

 “For Adonai gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He stores up common sense for the upright, is a shield to those whose conduct is blameless, in order to guard the courses of justice and preserve the way of those faithful to him.”  (Pro 2:6-8 CJB)

The instructions of our Elohim, together with the accompanying discipline and correction, should be a treasure that we guard, because it is the only road to success and life.  Another word translated from the Hebrew as “instruction” is tôrâh (Strong’s #H8451), and most often refers to the first five books of our present day Bible.  Torah can also be understood as “divine instructions in righteous and moral living”, which would fit very well with our opening verse.

I am reasonably sure most of us can think of examples of individuals that do not receive instructions well – those who are in positions of ministry would label such people as one with an “unteachable spirit”.  Unfortunately, this is a very dangerous place to find oneself in; the Word of our Elohim repeatedly warns those who continually defy knowledge and instruction, of both spiritual and physical death (see Pro 5:23; Hos 4:6).

“Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not forget and do not turn back from the words of my mouth. Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend, and protect you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation).”  (Pro 4:5-7 Amp)

Abba Father, we come to You, this day, and we seek the wisdom that is from above, the wisdom that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, full of mercy and good fruits.  We seek the wisdom that is Yeshua, who was made the wisdom from Elohim.  We seek the instruction that comes only from Your hand and Your Torah, and the knowledge and understanding that comes from the Ruach haKodesh.  We diligently study to show ourselves approved, and we thank You, that You are opening wide the eyes of our understanding, that we might behold wonderful things from Your Torah!  In the Name of Yeshua of Nazareth we pray!  Amein!

©2018

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[1] American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 11

MY MEDITATION

“Let the words of MY mouth and the meditation of MY heart Be pleasing before You, O יהוה, my rock and my redeemer.”  (Ps 19:15 ISR, emphasis mine)

Noah Webster defines “meditation” as “the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind; serious contemplation”[1].  The question is, therefore, what are we meditating on?  What do we spend our time thinking on, rehearsing in our minds, daydreaming as the clouds drift across the sky?  Do we encourage ourselves, as David did, in our Elohim (1Sam 30:6)?  Do we remind ourselves of the faithfulness of our ABBA Father to His Word, that He watches over His Word to perform it (Isa 14:24; Jer 1:12; Ezl 12:25)?  What are we depositing in our hearts, what is our greatest treasure?

“The good person produces good things from the store of good in his heart, while the evil person produces evil things from the store of evil in his heart.  For his mouth speaks what OVERFLOWS from his heart.” (Luke 6:45 CJB, emphasis mine 

What comes out of our mouths – the words that we speak – reveals what our thought life is, whether it is healthy or not.  A life victorious in Messiah Yeshua begins first with the thought patterns in our minds; are we rehearsing victories or defeats? There are an estimated 7700 promises contained in the Word of Elohim for us to meditate on, to contemplate, to chew on, if you will, like a dog with a bone.  Each individual promise is victory, it is life, and it is indisputable – more sure than anything that you can touch or feel, for they are all signed with the blood of our Messiah King.

“This book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, and YOU shall meditate on it by day and by night, so that you shall be on guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall prosper your way, and then you shall act wisely.” (Jos 1:8 JPS, emphasis mine)

“My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.” (Ps 49:3 Amp)

©2018

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[1] American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 10

Unity

“… until we all come to the unity of the BELIEF …” (Eph 4:11, 13 ISR, emphasis mine)

Ireland has been the home of one of the longest religious wars in the history of the “church”.  Protestants against Catholics, and vice versa, it seems that none of them can doctrinally agree, and probably never will.  However, according to our opening verses, agreeing doctrinally is relatively unimportant; we are to unite according to our emunah, our trust, belief, and faith.

We can agree that we believe in the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He is the eternal, everlasting, and only true God.  We can also agree in the belief that He is the Creator of everything there is, and that His Word is absolute truth.  We can unite in our agreement of our Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth, and His finished work of redemption.  And then we can come into agreement concerning the future day of reckoning of all mankind, a day that is fast approaching.

It is not up to us, individually, to try to change someone’s doctrine that they have believed is correct for all of their lives.  That is not our job description.  We are called to be His light to a lost and dying world, and if it is at all possible, “let us pursue the things of peace, and the things for building up one another.” (Rom 14:19)

©2018

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 9

Built up              

“…to the work of service to a BUILDING UP of the body of the Messiah” (Eph 4:12 ISR, emphasis mine)

I always think of an athlete when I read this portion of Scripture.  The path to being a successful athlete requires dedication and commitment, with no room for compromise.  Many athletes will have one or more trainers, assisting him, or her, to reach the goal that is aimed at.  These trainers are, in effect, “building up” the athlete, all in preparation to be the best that one could possibly be.

The Greek word that is translated here is the word oikodomē (Strong’s #G3619), and is also translated as edifying, or edification.  Noah Webster, in his wonderful Dictionary, defines “edification” as “a building up, in a moral and religious sense; instruction; improvement and progress of the mind, in knowledge, in morals, or in faith and holiness.”[1]  It would appear that the mission of those anointed and appointed to any of the five-fold ministry gifts is that of instructing and improving all of us, in order that we might progressively grow in knowledge and wisdom in the ways of our Creator. 

As stated by the Apostle Paul – Rav Sha’ul – those of us who claim to belong to the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are all part and parcel of one another, and make up what is called “the body of Messiah” (see Rom 12:4-21).  A body cannot be a functioning body if its members are all scattered off somewhere, playing Lone Ranger and running around with Tonto.  Only as we come together, committed to the “building up” of one and another, will the body function as our Father has intended. 

“For indeed the body is not one member but many … But now Elohim has set the members, each one of them, in the body, even as He pleased … Elohim blended together the body, having given greater respect to that member which lacks it [honor, or seemliness], that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same concern one for another.”  (1Cor 12:12, 18, 24-25 ISR, insert mine)

©2018

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[1] American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 8

Service

“And He Himself gave some … to the work of SERVICE …” (Eph 4:11-12 ISR, emphasis mine)

“His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of MINISTERING …” (Eph 4:12 AMP, emphasis mine)

When a young adult joins any branch of the armed forces, that individual is required to go through a period of training, where they are taught the basic skills needed for their time in the military.  Those that qualify may go on to more intense training, further equipping them for the specialized positions they will be in.  Additional in-depth knowledge of the “tools of their trade”, the weapons required of them, is also taught, and taught again, that each one of these enlisted persons has much more than a passing knowledge of which end of a rifle is which.

So also it is with our different agencies of law enforcement.  Most states in our nation have their own form of “Police Academy”, where men and women learn from those with more knowledge and experience what is what.  And let us never forget the motto of our police force:  To Protect and to Serve.

As it is in the natural, so also it is in the spiritual:  for those of us who are walking this Torah walk, we too are learning from those with more knowledge and experience.  Does this make our “instructors” any better than we are?  In one sense, it does, for they have already travelled this road that we are just embarking upon.  The accumulation of all of the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that those found in the five-fold ministries have stored up deserves all of our respect and honor.

If our “instructors” are doing their job, then we too are being taught to “protect and serve”.  Torah is all about the sanctity and preservation of life, and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Lev 19:18).  Only as we absorb the instruction and teachings that are needed are we able to go and do what our Creator desires for us to do:

“Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (Jam 1:27 ISR)

©2018

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 7

For The Perfecting

“And He Himself gave some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers FOR THE PERFECTING of the set-apart ones …” (Eph 4:12-13 ISR, emphasis mine)

It is not my purpose, in this essay (and the ones to follow) to examine and define what each one of the five-fold ministries are; there are, literally, volumes written about each one of these ministry gifts, and no, not all of them are accurate.  Rather, I wish to examine what is the purpose of these ministry gifts, what is their function, what are they to accomplish – what is their reason for being part of the body of Messiah.  And contrary to what many have been taught, they are not for self-exaltation.

Many translations read – in our opening verses – “equipping” instead of “perfecting”, and both words are acceptable.  When we have all of the equipment that is needed, we are complete, lacking nothing.  The same is true of the state of being perfect:  nothing can be done to improve that which is perfect and complete.  And I would venture to say that none of us are there yet.

How do we reach this place of being fully equipped and perfect?  We can only do so by submitting to those “anointed and appointed” ministers that our Creator has placed in our lives, and by absorbing their teachings and instructions.  Have we reached the place of completion as yet?  I know that I have not.  If that is the case with all of us, then I would suggest that those who minister in these positions still have a very important function within the assembly of Messiah.

Or perhaps we have reached the place where we feel that we no longer need a particular teacher or minister.  A phrase that has always been popular is the one where “the Ruach is my teacher; I have no need for any other.”  Aaaaah, but one of the lessons to be learned here is how to live in a covenant community, submitting one to another – a lesson that can never be walked out in a “Lone Ranger” setting.

As we approach this time of Passover/Unleavened Bread, it may be an ideal occasion for examining the relationships we have with those in leadership.  Are we learning and gleaning all that they have to offer, or are we letting it go in one ear and out the other?  Are we truly striving for perfection with what we are learning, or are we so callous as to believe we have already arrived?  Are we studying to show ourselves approved (2Tim 2:15), or are we finding fault with everything that is being presented to us?

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Messiah, greets you, always wrestling for you in prayers, so that you stand perfect and complete in all the desire of Elohim.” (Col 4:12 ISR)

©2018

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 6

Come Out

“Come out of her midst, My people! And let EVERYONE DELIVER HIS BEING from the burning displeasure of יהוה.”  (Jer 51:45 ISR, emphasis mine)

“And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, LEST YOU SHARE IN HER SINS, and lest you receive of her plagues.” (Rev 18:4 ISR, emphasis mine)

I learned very early in my relationship with my Creator that there are certain responsibilities that were mine, in essence, I owned them.  It was, and is, my responsibility to learn of my Elohim, of His ways, His Word, His will and wishes toward me.  It is my responsibility to learn His Torah, and apply it to my life, not merely the hearing, but the doing also (Sh’ma, Deu 6:4).  And it is my responsibility to recognize when I have left the path that I am expected to walk upon, and accept the consequences of my actions.

When I continue to participate in those practices that are not leasing to my Elohim, I can expect there to be repercussions of my behavior.  Not only is this a promise that “I can take to the bank”, but it is biblical law of nature:  for every cause, there is an effect, what you sow, that will you also reap.  We see this in the life of King David:  because of the murder he orchestrated of Uriah the Hittite (the cause, see 2Sam 11:14-17), murder and violence was ingrained in his offspring (the effect, see 2Sam 12:9-12).

Straddling a fence becomes very uncomfortable after a period of time, both in the physical as well as in the spiritual.  To be honest with you, I believe the Father deliberately makes it that way, forcing us to make a choice of “whom we will serve” (see Jos 24:14-15).  However, as we find in the opening verses, it is ultimately our own decision which side of the fence we land on, whether we will share in the sins of those who practice “lawlessness” (Torah-lessness), or move forward into the kingdom of our Elohim. 

Is there really any choice?

“And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said, “I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.” Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says יהוה, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you.  And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says יהוה the Almighty.”” (2Cor 6:16-18 ISR, emphasis mine)

©2018

Your Daily Slice

Nisan 5

Forgiveness

“Who is an Ěl like You – taking away crookedness and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He shall not retain His wrath forever, for He Himself delights in kindness.  He shall turn back, He shall have compassion on us, He shall trample upon our crookednesses! AND YOU THROW ALL OUR SINS INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA!” (Mic 7:18-19 ISR, emphasis mine)

The mother of my first husband was a very bitter, vindictive, unforgiving woman.  When I met my future in-laws for the first time, the two of them had not spoken to each other in over a year, all the while residing within the same house.  This sad state of affairs was all because the husband had said (or done) something that had made the wife angry.  And from what I learned, this was not the first time she had imposed this type of punishment on her husband.  When my then mother-in-law died, some years later, she was all but confined to a wheel chair from arthritis, her hands so crippled that she could not write her name, and with other physical problems involved as well.  Yet the things she held close to her heart were the many “grudges” she hled against people that had “done her wrong”, and she took these grudges with her into the grave.

Unforgiveness and bitterness are a cancer that will eat you alive, both physically and spiritually.  Brethren, when it comes right down “to where the rubber meets the road”, unforgiveness has its root in pride, and this is something our Elohim cannot tolerate in His kingdom.  When we choose to not forgive someone an offense, a wrong done, a hurt suffered, we set ourselves up as judge, jury, and executioner of the one that did the wrong to us, and that is a position reserved for our Creator.  Basically, we are pushing YHWH our Elohim off of His throne, saying “I will handle this one …”

Has someone done something to you as horrible as what people have done to the Father, in that they tortured, slaughtered, and executed Yeshua, the Son of Elohim?  Are we not continually, in our self-sovereignty, rejecting the love and care of our Elohim, believing that we can tend to ourselves better than He can?  And yet, our Father chooses to forgive.  Are we so much better and bigger than our Elohim that we cannot (or will not) forgive another that is made in His image?  Our Elohim knows the bondage of unforgiveness; it is one of the reasons for our Messiah’s death, to free us from this bondage (see Acts 5:30-31; Acts 26:18).  The key, however, to receiving our own forgiveness from the Father, is to first forgive others what they have done …

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father shall also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither shall your Father forgive your trespasses.”  (Mat 6:14-15 ISR)

Once we choose to release forgiveness, then we have first and foremost restored our relationship with our Creator.  As we persevere in this forgiveness – and it may not be easy – it will allow Elohim to act in our behalf, because now our heart is in right relationship with Him.  In this case, I do know what I am talking about:  I had to learn to walk in forgiveness toward this mother-in-law, and her son, the one that I called “husband”.  My first husband was extremely abusive, even tried to kill me several times, but my ABBA was faithful, and delivered my children and I out of the lion’s mouth.  But first, I had to walk in forgiveness before He did so.

“Be forebearing one to another, and be forgiving one to another, and if a man has concerning his neighbor a complaint, as the Messiah forgave you, thus also you forgive.” (Col 3:13 HRVS, emphasis mine)

©2018