Topic: “…the Gospel preached beforehand to ABRAHAM…”
Gen 12:3b; Gal 3:8,9
“Verily, verily (truly, truly) your father Abraham (who was also a prophet) rejoiced to SEE My DAY (as would the prophet, king David, later – Ps 110:1,4; Is 55:1-3; Acts 13:34) : and he SAW it and was glad…before Abraham existed, I Am”
Jn 8:56,58
Amazing how 2024 and the calculation of every foregoing year since that “Day” (Atonement and Resurrection) which Abraham saw, is due to the Sacrifice of the “Seed” for Whom the Land, covenanted to Abraham, was made an inheritance forever (Gen 13:15; 17:8; Matt 11:27; Gal 3:16).
So there’s more common cause, more explanatory bond between the Gospel and the Hebrew Scriptures, than is ever advertised by most pulpits, to their detriment and shame, and to the detriment of their followers (1 Tim 4:16; 2 Peter 3:16-18).
For anyone to imagine that the Torah (rock [fem.] of wisdom) does NOT have the pre-eminence (as the foundation of Yeshua’s teachings – Matt 7:24,28,29; Acts 24:14), authority, range, capacity and the power to reprove, correct doctrine, eliminate error, increase knowledge of God and His everlasting covenant, and thereby refine understanding of the Gospel and New Covenant which is often SUPERFICIAL and thereby misleading when taught ONLY from the New Testament, makes a fundamental error of judgment (Rom 3:20b; 15:4; 1 Cor 10; 2 Tim 3:14-17).
For example, Rom 10:9-13 is an abridgement of Deut 11:26-32 AND not just 30:14-20, but ALL of Deut 30, which like 2 Jn vs 5&6 (which is taken from Deut 30:10,11), require that we always consult the ROOT CONTEXTS to discern what the Spirit is intending to communicate IN FULL, about behaviour which, for us to be “wholly sanctified” (1 Thess 5:23), needs to be in keeping with our confession of faith in the Messiah (Acts 26:18,20), as LORD (Master), not just as Saviour (Jn 5:24; 8:51; Rom 10:9)
Using that as a point of entry into this week’s Portion, which we can be certain will show us things the church hasn’t taken as seriously as it should, such as meticulous management of holy time and resources (Deut 14:22-29; 15); the purging of all trace of idolatry and harlotry as in Deut 12:2,3,8,30b-32; 13:16-18; and/or has long since rejected (such as the prudent dietary definitions of edible food, to keep us healthy, as in Deut 14; and the Appointments of perpetual holy traditions in Deut 16), let’s further consider the above allegation that the New Testament Books are insufficient (not in their length and content, but for breadth of understanding) to fully illuminate the Mind of Christ and will of God to us, and therefore, without proper attention to the 75% of the Bible from which the Gospel was originally proclaimed and taught, but which most Christians generally de-emphasize, FALL SHORT, without detailed cross-referencing of the Torah and the Prophets, OF THE INSTRUCTION we need in order to know what WHOLEHEARTED CONSECRATION entails (Deut 6:4,5; 12:28; 13:4; Mk 12:28-32).
So let’s look at another case, by considering the far-reaching impact of comprehensive understanding of the mystery of GALATIANS 3:8,9, which can only be gleaned from seamless study of the full counsel of God’s Word.
As you read this, keep in mind that it was the same Paul who wrote Rom 2:13-27 (Paul boasting in instinctive Gentile observance of God’s laws, versus Jewish hypocrisy) AND Rom 11:11b (reminding us of our call to “provoke the Jew to envy”) so as not to “boast against the natural branches” (Rom 11:18), through willing obedience to the righteousness of the law being fulfilled in us by the Spirit, to prove that being saved by grace through the Blood of the “Messiah our (and their) Passover” has made overcoming sin (which is transgression of the law – 1 Jn 3:3,4) a delightful holy vocation because in Christ, the yoke of heaven’s commandments has been made easy, because of the enabling power of His indwelling Spirit acting on souls now inclined to want to walk in the light, to be AS HE IS (Matt 11:29,30; Lk 6:40; Rom 2:13-16; 6:12-22; 7:22,25; 8:4-14; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 4:17; 5:3).
The Gospel pre-announced to Abram BEFORE he became Abraham, affirming that salvation in Abraham’s Seed, the Messiah, is by adoption in the household of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen 12:3; 28:14; Lk 1:33; Eph 2:11,12), is the MEANS for fulfilment and consummation of the LORD’s overarching vision of Zion.
Zion is the vision of Jerusalem perfected in Christ and Israel as a nation thereby raised to its ideal, impeccable, more glorious “latter House” state, as “heirs of the world” in Christ, destined to again be noble “Yesurun” (‘Jacob,’ excelling in mercy and truth) upon restoration of the throne of the kingdom of David and Solomon to Jerusalem – Deut 32:10-18; 33:26-29; Is 9:6,7; 44:1-3; Jer 33:14-26; Micah 4:8; Mk 11:10; Acts 1:6,7, by the perfection of the beauty of holiness in a chaste virgin remnant, through the Gospel (Ps 50:2,5,23; Jer 31:4,31-36; Haggai 2:7-9; Lk 1:33; 2 Cor 7:1; 11:2; Heb 12:14,28; 1 Peter 1:13-17)
In Gal 3:8,9, Paul is not only defining the IDENTITY of the church as the forever Hebrew ‘kahal/ekklesia'(“general assembly and church,” originating as the household of “Abram the Hebrew”) of the House of Jacob the firstborn (Gen 14:13; Ex 4:22,23; Lk 1:33; Eph 2:11,12; Heb 12:23; Rev 21:12), but is describing the mutual and reciprocal KINGDOM OBLIGATIONS of Jews and Gentiles once justified by faith for adoption as the believing remnant of the Israel of God, as regenerated seed of Abraham (Rom 3:31; 11:17-29; Gal 3:29; 6:16)
Peter, who along with his joint-leaders of the Jerusalem mother- church, James and John, who all together were first to receive Paul, to hear, PEER-REVIEW and confirm Paul’s Gospel (Gal 1:11,12; 2:1-9), sternly warns us to be vigilant, to take a decisive stand against those who “twist” (“wrest; torture”) Paul’s words, to describe, publish and proclaim a different gospel, especially by distortion of PROFOUND passages like Gal 3:8,9 that require deep understanding by careful application of the Berean test, for Scripture to explain itself (Acts 17:11; 2 Peter 3:16-18).
Profound, because in effect, as we’ll see, Gal 3:8,9 is describing the Gospel as the ‘bridge’ between the constitution at Sinai, of Israel as YHWH’s elect holy nation and church Ex 19:5-8; 24:7,8; Acts 7:38, and the assimilation of a “mixed multitude” (now including us) as an elect remnant from the nations, to THEIR (the House of Jacob’s) mission and calling as YHWH’s witnesses (Is 43:1-11; 44:1-8), and therefore to THEIR nation and its commonwealth (Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 3:6), through THEIR church, as described in 1 Peter 2:1,9,10, which fully explains Rom 11 and Eph 2:11-19; 3:1-10.
Peter confirms that the purpose of the church in being YHWH’s witnesses to save a remnant of humanity, is actually to help ‘rebuild fallen virgin Israel’ in Christ (Jer 31:4 through Rom 11:11,31), to prepare a virgin bride consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, to make the “great (and mighty) nation” promised to Abram in Gen 12:2,3 and 18:18,19 (in which all the nations will be blessed in him and his Seed) the HOLY nation of prophecy (Ex 19:5-8; 1 Peter 2:9,10; Rev 5:9,10), for Israel to fulfil its destiny as “the holy people” (Is 62:11,12) as witnesses forever to the One God’s Majesty, and to the incomparable wisdom of His laws, as the full and final assurance of hope for enduring personal and national well-being, as a faithful remnant of mankind’s ULTIMATE REALITY (Deut 4:5-8; Is 2:2-4; 60-62).
What is so powerful about Gal 3:8,9 is its highlighting of the fact that there is no redemption to be found OUTSIDE the ‘ark’ of the church of the dynastic household of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, strategically named the House of Jacob (the name Jacob RETAINED over Israel – Is 66:22, to represent our ongoing wrestling for perfection through the process of sanctification, as overcomers) with which the Kingdom of heaven is becoming synonomous, as the household of YHWH, as our sanctification more and more closely resembles Yeshua’s sanctification by the Truth (Haggai 2:7-9; Matt 8:11,12; 24:34-37; Jn 17:17,19; Lk 1:33; Rom 15:16-18; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 2:19).
Isaiah 51:1-11, a snapshot of the call of Abraham and of his purpose as progenitor of the people of Zion, teaches us that acceptance of “everlasting salvation” with Israel (Is 45:17-25), is acceptance of heaven’s mandate to learn, know and “follow after righteousness” by learning Instruction (Torah) to skilfully apply the laws of God as righteous Abraham did to lay hold on eternal life (Gen 26:5; 1 Tim 6:11-14; 2 Tim 2:5,15), to be proficient in the Way of YHWH (verses 1,4,6,7,11), OR WE ARE NOT OF THE SAME VOCATION (to “go and sin no more” – Jn 8:11,12) AND FAITH AS FAITHFUL ABRAHAM (Eph 4:5).
Deeply implicit in Gal 3:8,9’s offer of life to Gentiles through justification by faith, is the blessing in Gen 12:3; 22:18 and 27:29 promised to the nations for attending to the two-fold Gentile debt of comfort and mercy to the Jew, which is to
1) reciprocate for SPIRITUAL blessings received, by both praying for them and helping meet their MATERIAL needs (Ps 122:6-9; Rom 11:31; 15:27; 1 Cor 16:1-4; 2 Cor 8&9 see Amplified Bible);
AND
2) to “provoke them to envy” of our relationship with their God (which they know ultimately rests on our faithfulness to cleave to Him by keeping covenant) through OUR zeal to master the “right ways” “(ma’agalei tzedek” : paths of righteousness) of Torah, by the Spirit (Matt 5:17-19; 6:9,10; Rom 3:31; 8:4-14; 2 Tim 2:5,11) as proof that Jesus is the Messiah, because Jewry know that their Messiah couldn’t possibly be anyone other than the champion of the Torah and the Prophets, because they are the plumbline of all truth (Ps 23:3; Matt 5:19; Acts 24:14; Rom 2:6-26; 3:31; 11:11).
Included in the second part of our obligations (above) to Israel as our adopting nation, is acknowledgment and advocacy of their Scriptural Land boundaries (e.g. Gen 17:8; Nu 23:9; Deut 1-3; Ezek 47:13-23), because the holy border of Israel is both an inalienable covenant of PROMISE to the holy-nation-designate (Ex 19:5-8; Ps 105:6-11; Eph 2:12; 1 Peter 2:9,10) AND law for the church, because YHWH’s everlasting land covenant with Abraham, confirmed through Moses and Jesus (Gen 12:1-7; 13:15; 15:4-21; 17:8; Ex 6:2-9; Rom 15:8) is “a law to Jacob (and to his seed forever),” which includes us by adoption (Gen 28:13,14; Ps 105:10; Lk 1:33).
Jacob who, having seen the Angel of YHWH face to face, became the prince before YHWH (Gen 32:24,28,30), is amongst the great cloud of witnesses, no doubt monitoring our allegiance to his House, which as Abraham’s household, is the “household of God,” “the same body” into which we’ve been taken to be “one fold,” as members of the everlasting covenant as seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Is 29:22-24; Matt 8:11,12; Lk 1:33; Jn 10:16; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 3:6; Heb 13:20,21).
Furthermore, our being willing to lay down OUR lives for the reputation of this one-and-only Messiah and God His Father; and for the saving grace of this, ISRAEL’s Gospel (Besorah Tovah) of sanctification under grace, in order not to offend and profane the Name and holiness of the God Who was and is Jacob’s Helper (Ps 146:5; Jn 4:22; Rom 9:4,5; Heb 10:10,12-14; 12:14,28), will doubtless help accelerate Jewish salvation by destroying the enmity and resistance which the ill-reputation of a different gospel and its different Jesus (caused by OUR enmity towards God by resisting Torah study – Rom 8:6,7; 2 Tim 3:14-17) has built up over generations, hindering them from running into Yeshua’s Arms of love to experience the fullness of Deity (Eph 3:16-21).
The prejudiced, partial, modified, inaccurate, incomplete, uncircumspect gospel that more often than not monopolizes the pulpit, is creating a ‘perfect storm,’ for exclusion from the spotless and holy bride, of those who do not “know righteousness” because their hearts are NOT “in His law” because they act as if it were “abolished” by contradicting Yeshua (Is 51:6b,7; Matt 5:17-19), and crippled by false doctrine, subvert their souls by excusing themselves from the sanctifying work of the Spirit by not searching out and braving the narrow path by which to attain the crown of righteousness, to enter life (Matt 7:13-27; 2 Tim 4:3-8).
We are to study Torah to “fully know doctrine,” to be holy, to be “made wise for consummation of salvation” (2 Tim 3:10,4-17; Heb 12:14), because Torah (in conjunction with the Prophets) constantly reiterates the fact that the blessing and the curse are a reality, necessitating relationship with the Father by “cleaving” to Him in obedience (Deut 13:4) to produce fruit of obedience to all His will, as proof of repentance (Acts 26:18,20), to keep the curse at bay.
We deceive ourselves if we think that Friendship with God is conferred on those who cheapen the cost of salvation by misrepresenting the SCOPE of grace in its complete relation to faith AND law, necessary to conform us to the image of the LORD to be recignized by Him (Jn 15:3-15; Rom 2:13; 3:20; 8:4,29; 1 Tim 1:8-11; Heb 12:14,15,28; James 2:21-26)
As it is written:
“Wherefore we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, LET US HAVE GRACE whereby we may serve God ACCEPTABLY, with REVERENCE and GODLY FEAR” (Is 8:13,14,16,20; Mal 1:6; Heb 12:28, compare Acts 10:35; Rom 12:1,2; 15:16-18; 2 Cor 5:9-11; Phil 2:12-15; 1 Peter 1:13-17; Rev 14:6,12)
We dare not “fail” THAT provision of mercy and grace to eventually physically SEE the LORD (Heb 12:14,15; 1 Peter 1:13-17; 1 Jn 2:28,29; 4:17; Jude vs 21).
Why?
Because we’re learning that the “HEAVENLY VISION (received by Paul directly from Yeshua, and which underlies Gal 3:8,9 and) to which Paul was NOT DISOBEDIENT” (Acts 26:15-19), was Paul’s teaching of the “fellowship of the MYSTERY of the Messiah” in Eph 3 and Col 1, that the PREMISS (presupposition) of the “one new man” (Eph 2:15; 3:6) which is the MEANS by which the great Kingdom vision of Zion (Jerusalem/Israel) as the perfection of beauty will be accomplished (Ps 50:2), is that both Jew and Gentile (justified by faith) in the “one (Hebrew) fold” (Is 49:5-8; 55:5; 56:1-8; Eph 2:15; 3:6), “set apart for inheritance amongst them that are SANCTIFIED BY FAITH…”, are to UNIFY and maintain the UNITY of the House of Jacob, and thereby the FULLNESS OF THE BLESSING of the Gospel upon the House of Jacob, as its heirs (Ps 133:1), by keeping “THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT” by keeping “the unity of the (one) faith” (1 Cor 1:10; Eph 4:3,5,13-15) by magnifying sound doctrine by magnifying Torah to make it honoured by obedience to the faith, for “Christ in us the hope of glory” to be fulfilled as “Israel My glory,” as Israel’s co-heirs (Haggai 2:7-9; Is 42:21; 46:13; Lk 2:32; Rom 1:5; 3:31; Eph 4:5,11-14,23,24; Col 1:27).
True Christianity is on an entirely different level, intellectually, because only the Mind of Christ could have conceived such a Plan (Is 64:4; 1 Cor 2:7-16).
Thank You Father, in Yeshua’s Name, for the revolution in revelation You always stand ready to share with those who labour in Torah to learn to appreciate the nuances of Your thinking, committed to “making Your Name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Thy Presence,” by serving the need for final reformation (Is 64:1-5; Jer 16:19; 2 Thess 2:3; 2 Tim 4:3).
Topic: Deuteronomy, the backdrop to the NEW COVENANT PROMISE to Israel, of Deut 33:26-29
Deuteronomy contains much SOBERING INFORMATION for Israel and the church (the “general assembly and church of the firstborn (Jacob)” belongs to Israel, of course, as its Kahal/Ekklesia, it being the Abrahamic household of God – Lk 1:33; Acts 7:38; Eph 2:11,12,19; 5:26,27), particularly the warning sounded through the Song of Moses (Deut 31:19 – 43:44) and confirmed by all the Prophets, that Israel’s (and therefore the church’s) WORST DAYS are ahead (for the refinement of their and our faith and character by purging and purification by fire, like gold and silver, for our perfection through trials of the heart producing proof of experience in the practice of “obedience to righteousness” as testimony – Rom 6:12-22; 2 Cor 3:14-16) as the Beast system is allowed to emerge and BRIEFLY PREVAIL (since we’re assured “the gates of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL” (Gen 22:17b; Dan 11:28-45; 12:1,7-10; Jer 30:6-11; Zech 13:8,9; Matt 16:18; Rev 11&12).
Briefly prevail, until the “sign of the Son of Man,” the Messiah, “appears in heaven,” announcing the Return, to the Mnt of Olives, of Yeshua, satan’s dreaded Nemesis, “all the tribes of the earth seeing Him coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” “in thy (Israel’s) help (for Israel’s final redemption)” as Immanu El (God with us), this time triumphant as Incarnate “God of Yeshurun” (God of PROVEN VIRGIN ISRAEL), to receive the former kingdom of Israel as His inheritance (Deut 33:26; Dan 7:13; Micah 4:1-8; 7:8-20; Matt 24:30; Acts 1:6,7), “as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West” (Matt 24:27), by 1) gathering His spotless, holy and blameless bride into the “Refuge” of His “everlasting arms,” “even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings” (Deut 33:27; Matt 23:37; 25:10-12); 2) “thrusting out the enemy before thee (Israel)” as “the Shield of thy help” and “the Sword of thy excellency,” destroying the nations laying siege to Jerusalem, to defeat “the Father of lies” at Armageddon (for Israel’s enemies to “be found liars unto thee” – Deut 33:27,29; Zech 14); 3) casting both beast and the false prophet alive into the lake of fire; and 4) chaining satan in the Abyss (bottomless pit), sealed by a thousand year sentence (Rev 19:11-21; 20:1-3), before completing Israel’s consolation for Second Exile, by “raising up the fallen Sukkah of David” (Amos 9:11-15; Acts 15:14-17), by restoring Jerusalem’s crown (the fallen monarchy of the dynasty of David) and therefore the nation, to its greatest ever moral authority, precedence and power, as “chief of nations,” as a global Theocracy, by His ascent to the Throne as Son of David to rule the House of Jacob, the “heirs of the world,” forever, with the nations as their inheritance (Ps 2:7-12; 59:13; 122:5; Is 9:6,7; Jer 31:7; 33:14-23; Mk 11:10; Lk 1:32,33; Rom 4:13,16).
And so, within the ever-closer-at-hand millennial frame of Davidic kingdom time (Mk 11:10; Rev 11:15), AFTER YHWH has “poured all His fierce anger upon the nations and kingdoms which He will have gathered and assembled” (Zeph 3:8) by putting “hooks in their jaws” (Ezek 38:4) to judge their attitude and posture towards Zion/Ariel (Ps 129:5-8; Is 29:7,8; 30:27-33; Zech 14), by allowing satan to dare them to annihilate “the rod of His inheritance” (Deut 32:8,9; Is 51:22,23; 60:12; Jer 10:16; Rev 16:12-16), Israel will “THEN live in safety, ALONE…” (Nu 23:9; Deut 33:28), significantly downsized by radical purging (“I will take out of the midst of thee” – Zeph 3:11) of anything idolatrous, blasphemous, abominable, contemptible and defiling (amongst the criteria for exclusion from the New Jerusalem – Rev 21:27), including anything anti Semitic, anti Torah and anti Zionist, as the most decisive object lesson there’ll EVER BE, that “loving one’s neighbour as oneself” is NOT a political policy sanctioning open borders for indiscriminate influx (which is illegal migration under Divine law) of unqualified foreign nationals with no apparent compatibility and intention of assimilating and preserving the prevailing domestic national heritage, an untouchable historically curated culture which is an axiom (comprising faith, family, community, language, shared history and nationality) of identity and stability, a Creation principle underpinning GENUINE DIVERSITY of nationhood and patriotism (Jer 12:14-17; Zeph 3:11-20)
Before that can happen, the HARD LESSON of the Song of Moses, which testifies against Jerusalem and Israel to this day (Deut 31:19-22; Rev 11:8b), demanding the return to God of a repentant remnant “devoted to the fear of God” as their “treasure,” in full consecration (Deut 31:19-22; Ps 119:38; Is 8:13,14,16,20; 33:2,6,14-24; 44:22; Mal 1:6), MUST BE LEARNT.
Following on from that, another sobering fact is that the Messiah is returning to CONFIRM SALVATION in those who “have NOT SEEN (Yeshua), yet have LOVED and BELIEVED in Him, with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8) and who have therefore ALREADY returned to God by faith, in perfect repentance through the Name of His Son, for “reconciliation with the Father for iniquity” (because as Heb 9:28 states, He’s “not returning to deal with sin,” but to receive and establish His bride, to “anoint the Most Holy” [i.e. commission a Temple for Himself] and receive the Davidic Kingdom of Israel, to reign over the House of Jacob forever – Is 9:6,7; 60:13; Jer 33:14-26; Ezek 43-48; Dan 9:24; Lk 1:32,33); and who, sealed with the firstfruits of the “Holy Spirit of promise” as the “down-payment on their redemption as a purchased possession,” for entrance into the eternal inheritance of the Everlasting Kingdom, for having believed and “worked the righteousness” of the truth of the Gospel (Acts 10:35; Eph 1:13,14; 2 Peter 1:3-15), are “looking for Him and His mercy unto eternal life” by “keeping themselves in the love of God” on the narrow path by being occupied learning the Way, by receiving “instruction in righteousness” to FAITHFULLY KEEP COVENANT as the apple of their eye (Prov 7:1-3; Matt 5:19,48; 12:50; Lk 17:9,10; 19:13; 2 Tim 4:13-17; Rev 12:17; 14:6,7,12).
It is an irrevocable, absolute condition, that for Yeshua to be released from the Right Hand of the Majesty (His Father), necessitates His Father hearing the voice of THEIR (the redeemed’s) pleas for His return (Matt 23:39; Heb 11:3) to vindicate the birthright of, and bring redemption to the physical nation of Israel, His vineyard (Ps 80:7-19), through physical deliverance from all their enemies (Lk 1:68-79; Zech 14; Rev 19:11-18), for THEM (whose names are found written in the Book of Life on His return – Dan 12:1) to be the nation’s true heirs (the “other [Messianic] husbandmen” of Matt 21:41,43,44), as true sons, tested and proven worthy of escape from the second death, to be “heirs of the world” (Is 59:20,21; 43:25; 44:22; Matt 21:38-44; Lk 20:35; 26:31; Rom 2:13; 3:31; 4:13,16; Acts 20:21; Heb 9:28; 12:4-29; Jude vs 21; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Jn 2:28,29; Rev 20:6).
In short, the LORD Yeshua as Immanu El (“God and Saviour” Incarnate – Is 45:17-25; Titus 2:13; 1 Jn 5:20) is returning to take a surviving remnant of Israel from Whom YHWH, their Husband at Sinai (Jer 2:2), had been separated by their iniquities, but who will have been reconciled and made complete in Yeshua by a true conversion to “the Way of YHWH” pioneered by Abraham (Gen 18:18,19; Acts 24:14; Col 2:10-12) through their own Besorah Tovah (Glad Tidings), as His ‘rebuilt fallen virgin Israel,’ His longed-for reconciled bride (Is 43:24-28; 44:21-26; 54:5-8; 55:1-13), to whom an ingrafted bridal remnant FROM THE NATIONS, will be JOINED (Is 14:1; Jer 31:4,31-36; Matt 25:10-12).
The RELATIVE SMALLNESS of the final remnant of Israel, reiterated so often in the Gospels, because of the tall cost of genuine discipleship (Is 1:9; Lk 14:16-35; Rom 9:27-29; 11:5,14), is a PROPHETIC CERTAINTY, which is why the curse of ‘Israelitis’ (absorption with Israel without reference to the hard facts and cold impartiality of covenant reality) is a mortal threat to Israel, “for they are not ALL Israel, who are OF Israel” (Rom 9:6,7) because the redemptive line (salvation genealogy) is definitively consummated in Yeshua as the singular “Seed” of Abraham (Gen 13:15; 17:8; Gal 3:16), the “Shepherd and (Corner)Stone of Israel” Whom most of Israel has “disallowed” as both “Prince and Saviour” (Acts 5:31; 1 Peter 2:6-8), PREFERRING their own conception of the identity and office of the Son of David by stoutly denying the Sacramental nature of His Sacrificial journey to the Cross, necessitated by being delivered up to Crucifixion for Israel’s and the world’s offences as Propitiation (Appeasement as our Substitute) for our sins, to be raised for our justification (Rom 4:25; 1 Jn 2:2), thereby insisting, AGAINST MOSES AND THE PROPHETS (Acts 26:22,23), on what the Messiah was NOT predestined to be, for Israel and the world, thereby disqualifying themselves from the promise given at Sinai, by “judging themselves unworthy of the promise of everlasting life” (Gen 49:24; Acts 13:45,46; Ex 19:6/1 Peter 2:9,10).
The New Covenant promise of Deut 33:26-29
DEUTERONOMY, the constant reminder to every generation, to be tightly “bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God” (1 Sam 25:29) “as a girdle (belt) cleaveth to the loins of a man” (Jer 13:11), meaning, to actively “enter into covenant” by being FAITHFUL to keep covenant, in order to “enter into the oath” (“meet the condition”) to be regarded as His special treasure (Ex 19:5,6; Ps 50:5; Deut 28:1,2,9,10; 29:12-15; Mal 3:16-18; Heb 5:9; 10:36; 1 Jn 2:17), “cleaving” to the Almighty by walking in obedience, to show we both know and love Him (Deut 11:22; 30:20; Jn 14:21-23; 15:10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 5:3), is the major backdrop to the NEW COVENANT PROMISE to Israel, of DEUT 33:26-29 (related to Balaam’s visions in Nu 23:9,10,23,24; 24:4-9,16-23) so distinctively framed in triumphal language, because for Jacob to be the perfection of “JUDGMENT (judicious decisions and behaviour) and MERCY” (two core attributes of holiness, along with “truth and righteousness,” identified with the letters of the syllables YH and WH respectively, which together ‘unify’ the Memorial Name [the Tetragrammaton], YHWH) as POETIC “YESHURUN” (the idealized House of Jacob, in Deut 33 verse 26, corresponding to “the Israel of God” in Gal 6:16), to rise to “latter house” glory in exemplary sonship, for pre-eminence as the “great and mighty” holy nation prophesied in Gen 12:2; Ex 4:22,23; 19:5-8 and Deut 26:5 along with its capital Jerusalem (the coming Hebrew capital of the world, “the praise of all the earth” as “Princess of the Provinces” (Deut 4:5-8; Is 60-62; Haggai 2:7-9; Lam 1:1), there must be acceptance of the Blood of the salvation-rescue provision of the Glad Tidings (Is 52:6-15; 53:1-12), and of the corresponding terms and conditions of the more stringent call to sanctification (the highest ever bar of holiness) enjoined (prescribed) to us under the New Covenant of the House of Judah and the House of Israel (i.e. the House of Jacob), through acceptance of Yeshua the Messiah as both LORD (Prince, Master/Teacher) and Saviour (Acts 5:31), for the “pouring out of His Spirit upon the seed of Jacob, and His blessing on Jacob’s offspring,” through the baptism of repentance in His Name for the remission of sins (Acts 4:12; 5:31; 17:26-31) and belief in His Resurrection as “the sure mercies of David” (Ps 85:9,10; Is 44:1-8; 55:1-5; Ezek 36; Mk 16:16; Acts 13:32-39)
The HOLY IDEAL that “Yeshurun” in Deut 33:26 represents, as Scriptural code for “Zion” as “the perfection of the beauty (of holiness),” for the completeness of whose well-being we pray (Ps 50:2; 122:5-9; Heb 12:14; 3 Jn 2), is not merely an APPROXIMATION of the image of the Messiah which is the goal of the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9), but the high call to FULLY RETURN to God by leaving no stone unturned to recover and retain our original innocence (imputed to us as the righteousness of God), by EXACTLY REPLICATING HIS IMAGE (Rom 8:29) in ourselves, through our ongoing sanctification by the Spirit through obedience to all the truth in word and in deed, in reverence and Godly Fear, to be “offerings acceptable to God” (Gen 1:26; Acts 10:35; 20:25-32; Rom 15:16-18; Col 1:28,29; 4:12; Heb 12:14,28).
Which is why it is dead-accurate to say that “the IMAGE and LIKENESS of God” which we are to become, in Christ, by “putting on Christ” by Him being fully “formed in us” by the Spirit, through our precisely following His example (Gal 4:19; Eph 5:10,15-17), is a PORTRAIT of “the Way” (comprising “the paths of the righteousness”) (Ps 23:3; 1 Jn 2:3-6), which is why it is so damaging to our “hope of glory” (full assurance of which requires “going on to perfection” of our walk to “finish the race” by “keeping the faith” – Rom 2:6-1; 1 Cor 9:24-27; Col 1:21-23,27-29; 2 Tim 4:3-8; Heb 6:1-12), when we fail to find the narrow path, and “go out of the Way” by wandering onto the destructive broad path, and “fail grace” by failing to repent and amend our ways, to be holy (Heb 12:14,15). Deuteronomy constantly emphasizes the need to pay attention to this process of sanctification.
The goal of the Gospel is for a remnant of humanity to grasp the fact that because VIRTUE in its many forms (traits, the building blocks of character) is ACQUIRED FROM BEING DOERS and not just hearers of the precepts of God, which we need to seek, to “walk at liberty,” “undefiled, in the Way” (Ps 119:45; Is 28:9-12; Rom 2:13; Heb 5:11-14; James 1:22-25), “the image and likeness of the Godhead” (the Divine Nature) of which the Messiah is the “express image” (Gen 1:26; Heb 11:1-3; 2 Peter 1:1-15), is the perfect composite of the effect of aiming to be “a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:11-14) through Spirit-led application of the “holy, just, good, spiritual laws of God,” which is essential to make our individual contributions to “the unity of the faith,” which “delighting in” “after the inward man,” for His laws to be written on our hearts, will PROVE invaluable in turning us “from darkness to light, from the power of satan to God, “from disobedience, to the wisdom of the just,” if we’re “to receive an inheritance amongst those who are sanctified by faith which is in Me (Yeshua)” (Acts 26:18-20; Rom 7:7-16,22,25; 2 Tim 3:14-17; Heb 5:11-14; 8:8-12; 10:16).
The CLIMAX of Deuteronomy, which develops all the way FROM CHAPTER 26 with the reiteration in verses 16-19 of the solemn Ex 19:5-8 pledge at Sinai of covenant allegiance to the Kingship and yoke of heaven’s decrees, THROUGH various dire prophetic warnings between chapters 28 and 32 (which include descriptions of the Holocaust, caused by fatal indifference towards YHWH’s vision of Zion – ‘Berlin is our Jerusalem’), about Israel’s end-days’ diminution due to curses for continued backsliding (about which Israel and the church are in denial), TO Chapter 34’s hidden prophetic reference, in JOSHUA’S succession to Moses, to YESHUA’s Rulership of the final remnant, forever, draws us inexorably (as a logical necessity) toward the description in Deut 33:26-29, of Israel’s FINAL STATUS as a Messianic remnant nation.
So with Sukkot (Tabernacles, the Bridal Feast in the millennium) imminent, this is perhaps the best time to offer to help crystallize understanding of the TIGHT RELATIONSHIP that exists (ultimately for YHWH’s “friend” Abraham’s sake, please note – see Gen 18:18,19) between “the several MYSTERIES of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” of which we are all “stewards,” as “ministers of Christ” (Matt 13:11; 1 Cor 4:1,2), as is so powerfully illustrated by the connection between
1) the MYSTERY of “the GOSPEL PREACHED BEFOREHAND TO ABRAHAM” (Gen 12:3; Gal 3:8,9), which is that Gentiles, justified by faith, would bless Israel and find blessing ingrafted amongst the remnant of the Tribes of the House of Jacob as seed of “Abram the Hebrew” (Gen 14:13) by adoption by the God of Jacob as Hebrews, in Christ, with full rights AND OBLIGATIONS of sonship as joint-citizens of heaven (Is 45:4; Matt 6:9,10; Gal 3:29; Eph 1:3-6);
2) the MYSTERY of the “ONE NEW MAN” (Jew and Gentile united in the Messiah, jointly upholding their integrity by keeping the “one faith,” of one mind and judgment, fully knowing doctrine as Paul did, to preserve “the unity of the faith” by being in agreement upon sound doctrine – 1 Cor 1:10; Eph 4:1,5,11-14; 2 Tim 3:10,14-17; 4:3-8) in “the SAME body (the “people of inheritance” dating back to Deut 4:20),” namely, the eternal House of Jacob – Is 56:1-8; Lk 1:33, to which the “mixed multitude” of Egyptian and other Gentile exiles assimilated in the wilderness, on Exodus – Ex 12:38), of which a “Nazarene” branch, thought of by many as being a “sect,” but actually, the true extension (into eternity, through the Redemption in the Blood of the Messiah Whose “Day” Abraham as prophet, rejoiced to “see” – Jn 8:56,58) of the dynastic household of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, called “the Way” (which Abraham’s “Seed,” the Messiah, would both embody and teach to perfection – Gen 18:19; Lk 20:21; Gal 3:16) renewed through the new birth through the Hebrew New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34) typified as the “good, natural olive tree” – Lk 1:33; Acts 7:38; 24:5,14; Rom 11:17-29; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 3:6), to
3) fulfil “the FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY of the Messiah” (Gal 3:8,9; Eph 3:4-6; Col 1:26-29), Israel’s prophesied expansion by the grafting-in of a Gentile demographic, primarily to “provoke the Jew to jealousy” as a debt of mercy (Deut 32:21b; Rom 11:11,31) by our willingness and obedience not only to explain Christ Crucified when opportunity arises, but to adopt the universal Hebrew heritage of Torah (Instruction in the Way of righteousness) as the apple of our eye (Prov 7:1-3; Heb 10:16) to display skill in the Word of righteousness made possible as an easy yoke, by the Spirit (Deut 33:2,4; Is 2:2-4; Matt 11:29,30; Rom 2:14-26; 3:31; 11:11; 2 Tim 3:14-17; 1 Jn 5:3), thereby
4) fulfilling the MYSTERY of “ZION, the perfection of beauty (of holiness),” by “Christ (“remaining forever”) in us” by our walking after the Spirit, following after righteousness, by walking in the steps of HIS obedience, to likewise “establish Torah by faith” – Rom 3:31 to “keep the Way of YHWH” (Gen 18:19; Lk 20:21; Acts 24:14), for “the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in us” – Rom 8:4-14; Heb 5:8,9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29) to produce the sanctification by the Spirit (perfection of character, precept-upon-precept, “from glory to glory,” through purification of our souls by obedience, to mirror the image of Christ) necessary to “do nothing AGAINST the truth” (which would divide the household of God and rob the blessing of Ps 133) for Him (in us) to be “the Hope of glory” of the “latter House” of Jacob (Is 46:13; Haggai 2:7-9; Lk 1:33; 2:32; 2 Cor 3:18; 7:1; Eph 2:11,12,19; Col 1:25-29; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13-15; Heb 12:14,28; 1 Peter 1:2,13-17,22).
The “Mystery of the Messiah” in Eph 3 and Col 1 explains the paradox of the alarming Is 1:9; Zech 13:8,9 and Matt 7:13,14 and 25:10-12 range of projections of Israel’s final remnant being “very small,” or “few,” while Jeremiah’s prophecy in Jer 30:19 seems contradictory: “…I will multiply them and they WILL NOT BE FEW; and I will also glorify them, and they shall NOT BE SMALL”
So which is it?
We have all under-estimated the coming toll of misery, ruin and death, which will be caused by broken fences inviting the curse, through prejudice, presumption, dissent, compromise, complacency, ill-manners and rebellion, all most likely, the consequences of refusal of correction, by the stubbornness of wilful ignorance.
In Jer 30:19, the prophet is describing the NET RESULT of AGGREGATING the Israelite and Gentile remnants, the harvest of salvation being the combination of “little Israel” and its inheritance of a considerably larger remnant from amongst the vast multitudes in the nations (Deut 1:11; Is 54:3), which disguises the make-up of the final demographics which would validate Matt 7:13,14’s warning that only “few” will find the narrow path which leads to life.
Israel’s greatest gift TO THE FATHER is belief in His promise that “the Hope of (the greater) glory” of Israel as the “latter House of Jacob” through “the Messiah Yeshua in THEM” (Is 46:13; Haggai 2:7-9; Lk 1:33; 2:32; Col 1:27) will catapult Israel to pre-eminence and shalom-shalom by sealing the world’s submission to His One and only true Mono-Theism (Deut 6:4,5; Ps 67; Is 45:21-23; Zech 14:9; 1 Tim 1:16; 6:15,16), which makes their MOST CRITICAL NEED, to have the greatest possible defence against harm in these perilous latter days of Noah (Rev 3:10), as well as assurance of hope of a future in the millennial kingdom and on the New Earth, their acknowledgment of the eternal life which is theirs in Yeshua (1 Jn 5:11,12) as their “everlasting salvation,” through the spotless Blood of His Jerusalem Passover Sacrifice as their Korban Pesach (the “Messiah their Passover” Lamb of God) providing them the transformational New Covenant Mikvah (baptism) of repentance for the remission of their sins, for the “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (making their complete sanctification possible by the washing of the water of the Word – Eph 5:26,27; 1 Thess 5:23), for “the face of the earth to be renewed” (tikkun ha olam) by their manifestation to Creation as ‘benei B’rit,’ true sons of the everlasting covenant (Heb 12; 13:20,21), by “transfiguration of their human nature from glory to glory” into the image of the Son of God, all of which was foreshadowed by the first Passover and their baptism into Moses, in the Sea (Ps 104:30; Is 45:21-23; Rom 8:18-22; 1 Cor 5:7,8; 10:1-4; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 5).
It is only to those who accept the witness of Scripture, that “Christ (fully) formed in us” (Gal 3:27; 4:19) is the ULTIMATE REALITY, that the promise of Deut 33:26-29 (that Israel will “dwell in safety alone,” “the heavens dropping dew,” and their birthright massively vindicated with merciless Divine force, so that “thine enemies (be) found liars unto thee”), is made.
Matthew and Revelation (11&12) confirm that Israel’s spiritual condition is no better today than it was before Yeshua’s birth; during His ministry; or between His Ascension and the destruction in 70AD of the Second Temple and the nation’s dispersion in Second Exile.
It’s a fallacy that because Messiah has visited them, that an as-yet unsaved Jew is not bound by the Abrahamic covenant (which the New Covenant confirms), to desire a pure heart and clean hands, to serve God in truth and righteousness, in the quest for true holiness (Ps 24; Eph 5:23,24)
Stephen’s rebuke in Acts 7:51,53, for their resistance of the Holy Spirit and departure from the Way of YHWH in rebellion against YHWH’s instruction to them through Abraham (Gen 18:18,19; Jn 8:39); and Yeshua’s own indictments against Israel’s backsliding (Matt 23; Jn 5:45-47; 7:19), STAND TODAY.
There is no evading an “irrevocable call” to be light to the nations (Deut 4:5-8; Is 2:2-24; 49:5-8; Rom 11:11-15,25-29).
Return from Exile (voluntary or forces) is brought to pass with great grace (easily misconstrued), but always without relaxation of the obligation to cleave to and honour the ways of God, upon which life itself depends (Ps 119:77; Deut 4:4-8,39,40; 30:1-6; 32:46,47).
The Exiles of seventy and then two thousand years, like the four decades of Exodus, are apprenticeships in the Way, to possess, have dominion, and thrive IN SAFETY, in the Land.
Israel’s suffering is never gratuitous.
Deuteronomy is the summary of the Torah pattern for favour with God and man, in His Land.
Given Israel’s mission of sanctity as Torah Or (Light) to the world, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that honouring the call to repentance, is their lifeblood (Matt 3:2,8-10).
Their New Covenant promises them greater accomplishment of holiness, to be “as their Master,” Yeshua, by the Spirit, to “be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:19,48; Lk 6:40), but until their personal day of salvation dawns, they will be held accountable to the faith they profess, through the teachings on sanctification of the Judaism which is their tradition, by default.
To a man, the Torah nation (Ex 19:5-8; Deut 4:5-8) must mend fences and cease profaning the everlasting covenant, by returning wholeheartedly to Torah (in the light they have) until receiving Yeshua, its Foundation and “the Fountain of Living Waters,” as their Firstlove, “the Hope of Israel,” to fully know doctrine by honouring Yeshua Who ‘fully preached Torah’ (filled Torah to the full’), as Moses’ successor as Teacher (Deut 4:27-40; 18:18,19; 30:1-14; Jer 17:13; Matt 5:17-19; Acts 21:20; 1 Cor 3:11).
As people reborn of water and of the Spirit who ideally, by NOT showing partiality in the law (i.e. by considering all God’s precepts of equal value, to establish all His will, by faith – Matt 5:19; Rom 3:31), ought to be “quick of understanding” (Is 11:1-3; Jn 3:5,6; 1 Cor 2:6-16), Deuteronomy is an invitation to consider the fearsomeness of what the implications for Israel and the world would be, of NOT TAKING the NEW COVENANT seriously, by noticing how every observation made in the Book of Deuteronomy (which is written to continually tilt us towards full consecration – Deut 4:39,40; 6:23-25; 7:9-15; 32:46,47) is based on the premiss that Israel (which will never cease to be a nation, albeit in greatly reduced numbers, as 2 Sam 7:23-29; Is 1:9,25-28; Jer 31:31-36; Zech 13:8 – 14:11 and Rom 9:27-29 foresee) WILL recognize and accept the Gospel call to become “heirs of the righteousness which is of faith,” by justification by the Blood, to perfect their personal sanctification through covenant-keeping under grace (by the Spirit, under the covering of the Blood) (Rom 11:23-29; Heb 12:14,28,29) to honour the vision of Zion (the matrix of holiness as the fulcrum of the identity of all true sons, “all of whose springs are in thee”) as “the perfection of beauty” (Ps 50:2,5,23; 87:1-7), to graduate to the more glorious ministry of the Spirit, to transition into their eternal, exalted custodial role as “chief of nations” as the glorious latter House of Jacob (Deut 26:16-19; 28:1-14; Jer 31:7,10,17,31-36; Haggai 2:7-9; 2 Cor 3:8-18; Jn 17:17,19) through the restoration, to Jerusalem, of the throne of the monarchy of the dynasty of David to his seed, the risen Yeshua, their Messiah, “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the RESURRECTION from the dead” as “the SURE MERCIES of David” (Ps 2:7-12; Rom 1:3,4), as David’s LORD (Ps 110; Acts 13:32-39).
Our prayer therefore is that their “Glad Tidings” (Is 52:5-15; 53:1-12) will “have free and full course and be glorified” (2 Thess 3:1) by more than merely “some” (Rom 11:14) or a “few” (Is 1:9; Matt 7:13,14; Rom 9:27-29) being “accounted worthy” of eternal life (Lk 20:35), because of the impact of the revelation that RECONCILIATION BY JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN GOD (by which their father Abraham was reckoned righteous, to THEN “walk before YHWH and be perfect” – Gen 17:1; 26:5) through the repentance and forgiveness given to them in Yeshua as their Ransom from sin, to facilitate and ACCELERATE their ages-old pursuit of the perfection of holiness to fulfil their love for Torah (Instruction in righteousness), through the POWER OVER SIN which His Death and mikvah (immersion) of regeneration by water and spirit provide, to overcome the challenges of refinement by “salting by fire” (Matt 1:21; 3:11,12; Mk 9:49,50; Acts 5:31; Rom 6:6,7; 8:2-4; 1 Peter 1:2-9,13-22; 4:12-18), is the MOTHERLODE (main, golden vein) of “the promise of life (and immortality)” (2 Tim 1:1,10) through “the call to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3-15) which should rightly inspire multitudes of YHWH’s people to leap to accept the offer of full assurance of “the hope of glory” (personal and national) of which “the Messiah in them,” the “mystery of the Messiah” (Col 1:26-29), will be surety, by the “seal of His Holy Spirit of promise,” as they “abide in the Vine” by the power of His Spirit (which they historically resisted – Acts 7:51,53), to “remain forever” inscribed for Life (Jn 15:3-15; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29) to be sure to attain final redemption as His purchased possession (Eph 1:13,14; Heb 6:1-12), to usher in “everlasting righteousness,” in fulfilment of their elect nation’s Torah mission of sanctity (of individuals, nations and the earth) as YHWH’s witnesses to truth and righteousness, to “seal up vision and prophecy” (Deut 4:5-8; Is 2:2-4; 43:1-11; 44:1-8; Dan 9:24)
Moses ends his life at 120 years, with this final counsel (Deut 32:45-52). Yeshua, Who taught Moses by His Spirit (Is 63:11-14; 1 Cor 10:1-4), and was sent to magnify Torah by preaching it ‘to the full’ (Is 42:21; Matt 5:17-19), paraphrases Deut 32:47 in Matt 19:16,17; 28:20; Lk 10:25-28 leaving no-one an excuse for “failing grace,” by failing to satisfactorily “come out and be separate,” by sanctification by the commandments, to be holy, in order for their names to “remain forever” written in the Book (Acts 10:35; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 12:14,15,28; 1 Peter 1:13-22; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29)
For all this, to YaH be the glory, in Yeshua’s Name.
An immediate response to this Portion would be to say, that what leaps off its pages, from Deut 11:21, is that any so-called ‘prosperity gospel’ that ELIMINATES TORAH as its foundation in Yeshua the Messiah, Who explicitly rejects the notion of its abolition (Matt 5:17-19; Rom 3:31), is as far removed from the truth, and from the Fear of God, and therefore from the Almighty’s master-vision, of “Zion, the perfection of beauty” (Ps 50:2), as it is possible to conceive.
Besides being the consummation of Jerusalem’s calling through its crowning as the restored house, throne and kingdom “(sukkah) of David” (Amos 9:11-15; Mk 11:10; Acts 15:14-17), “Zion” is a metaphor for raising humanity to its most noble state of existence through reconstitution of civilization in the unique covenant rules-based array of virtues given in God’s love, TO MAKE LIFE AN ART through the beauty and power of Torah’s pallette of traits of the Divine Nature being imprinted on the soul, for translation of Torah ideals into reality through the Presence and power of the Spirit (Rom 8:29; 2 Peter 1:1-13)
Only accepting our HERITAGE of training in discernment, which Torah (the only guarantee of pure doctrine) alone provides, can BURN OUR BRIDGES TO BABYLON, by willing exposure to the conflagration of fiery extinction of our error, unbelief and rebellion, for the purging necessary, in the increasing heat of the crucible of refinement of human MOTIVE and UNDERSTANDING in the finishing school of the Spirit, to “do nothing against the truth” (2 Cor 13), for satan to “have nothing in [common with] us” (Deut 33:2,4; Jn 14:30).
This is the promised THIRD baptism, the baptism of FIRE by trials of the heart, as Abram suffered on Moriah to prove His Fear of God (Gen 22), and as Yeshua suffered in Gethsemane, as the greatest test of love, in all eternity (Matt 3:11; 26:38-44; Lk 12:50; Acts 14:22; Rom 5:3-5; 1 Peter 1,4,5).
Because Torah is interlaced throughout the New Testament, it’s only the inspired “one new man,” the Torah-wise remnant civilization of true worshippers in Spirit AND IN TRUTH (not prejudiced against Torah), comprising that future universal kingdom civilization (Is 60-62; Zech 14:9; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 1 Peter 2:9,10; Rev 5:9,10; 11:15) that will appreciate and safeguard the prophesied “everlasting righteousness” (Dan 9:24) that alone guarantees mankind’s survival.
Snared in human tradition by looking back and returning to worldly ways (Jer 16:19; James 4:4,5; 2 Peter 2:20-22), is the innate, unregenerate, unreformed, Adamic WEAKNESS of untutored, undisciplined souls who in conceit and arrogance, show contempt for Instruction in righteousness BY NOT LETTING THE LAW SHOW THEM THEIR SIN in order to remorsefully humble themselves in ongoing repentance, to renounce and convert from error to return fully to God (Rom 3:20; 1 Tim 1:8-11)
We are not guilty of transgression and iniquity, only if we’re not INSULTING the Spirit of grace, by not FAILING grace by not FALLING short of Torah (the mark of Christlikeness), by NOT “going out of the Way,” because sin which is Lawlessness, means to ‘fall short of the mark’ (2 Tim 2:19-26; Heb 6:1-11; 10:26-39; 12:14,15,28; 1 Jn 3:3,4).
There is warning upon warning in Scripture that there is no acknowledgment of those who continue wilfully limiting their obedience to a standard that falls beneath the range of the duties of sonship that define loyalty to God and His covenant (Lk 17:9,10; Heb 13:20,21).
We are not redeemed to redesign the pattern for holiness, to stay within the limits of our comfort.
Deut 11:13-22 exposes the flaws in the prosperity teaching of Replacement Theology by proving that the full counsel makes MATERIAL blessing CONDITIONAL upon unequivocal consecration to the necessity for refinement by “sanctification wholly, spirit, soul and body,” by dedication to purification of the soul by obedience, to be made wise for salvation (Deut 28:1-14; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Tim 3:14-17; 1 Peter 1:13-17,22; 3 Jn 2).
3 Jn 2 clearly prioritizes the soul (moral education, for sanctification by discipleship of the soul in the truth of the commandments) above personal gratification
3 John 2-5 King James Version
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, EVEN AS THOU SOUL PROSPERS.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest IN THE TRUTH.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children WALK IN TRUTH.
Attaining that degree of purity (equivalent to our Saviour’s) by transfiguration (Lk 6:40; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 3:3,4), to be glorified with Yeshua, is rendered futile by prejudice against, and denial and dismissal of Torah as the plumbline of truth and righteousness.
That is what will disqualify us from being taken seriously as disciples of Yeshua and Paul, and by showing contempt for the narrowness of the Way, raises a severe question mark over our likely fate (Matt 5:17-20; Acts 24:14; 1 Cor 9:24-27).
Anyone who recognizes the richness of the origin of our faith in our Hebrew spiritual heritage (Jn 4:22; Rom 9:4,5), ought to know that the relationship between a devout Jew and his God’s Torah is meant to rebuke the SKIN-DEEP familiarity with the Hebrew Scriptures that characterizes most of the church.
To understand the relevance of Deuteronomy to the Books of the New Covenant, it would therefore be wise to note that the ENTIRE Bible is considered to be the “law of Truth” (and of righteousness which produces “true holiness” as Yeshua forms Himself in us – Zech 8:8; Mal 2:5-7; Gal 4:19; Eph 4:23,24)
So when we allow our “eyes to be opened,” to get a grip on large canvasses of historical narrative like Deuteronomy, and recognizing the scale of its gravitas, find ourselves exclaiming, Oh, LORD, “I behold the wondrous things out of Thy law” (Ps 119:17,18), we are paying the LORD the highest compliment and inviting Him to “deal bountifully with us that we may live, and KEEP His Word,” because frankly, no-one rejecting the truth (which would have no foundation in Christ if we stripped out the laws of God – Rom 8:6,7), can justify continuing living (Ps 119:71,73,77,92).
Which is why we should be very interested in WHY, WHAT is contained in and taught in certain chapters that FOLLOW ONE ANOTHER, either in the Hebrew Scriptures or the New Testament (which are inextricably related), is found there, such as Rom 9-11 (our adoption in the House of Jacob to “provoke THEM to jealousy” to fulfil THEIR irrevocable purpose-in-election as YHWH’s primary witnesses – Is 44:1-8; Rom 11:11,31) following Rom 8 (esp. vs 4-23,29 – our need to walk after the Spirit by submitting to sanctification by the commandments, for the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in us as it was in Christ, in order to be conformed to the image of Christ); and Is 52-53 (the Crucifixion, which gives us power over sin, because sin is transgression of the law) following Is 51 (espec. vs 1-11), the call of Abram to instruct his household, which would eventually become Israel, in Torah (Instruction in righteousness) as “the Way of YHWH” which Yeshua, “Whose Day Abram saw,” would embody and demonstrate – Jn 8:56; Acts 24:14; 1 Jn 2:3-6, to be perfected in holiness to be worthy heirs of Zion – Gen 18:18,19; 26:5; Ps 50:2; Is 35:8-10; 2 Cor 7:1.
Our heavenly Father’s commandments are the reason we were born, to PRESERVE us in Christ once reconciled to the Father by grace, for sanctification by the Spirit (Ps 119:73; Acts 26:18,20; Rom 15:16-18; 2 Thess 2:13-15; Jude vs 1).
Deuteronomy, a powerhouse of affirmation of pure doctrine, continues this week to consistently, insistently and intensively remind us in passage after passage (e.g. Deut 7:12-15; 8:1-11; 9:10-12; 10:1-4,12-17; 11:1-9,13-22) that since we from the nations are the latter day “mixed multitude,” assimilating to the more glorious “latter House” of Jacob (Ex 12:38; Gen 28:14; Lk 1:33; Eph 2:11,12; Heb 12:23), Israel’s Exodus was very much the pattern for OUR SANCTIFICATION TOO (as Gentile Kennezite Caleb’s adoption amongst Judah, showed), as redeemed, righteous co-heirs of Israel.
This is due to the wilderness journey having been our adopting nation’s FORMATIVE TRAINING in the ways of God, for its eventual role as exemplary “heirs of the world” (Deut 4:5-8; Rom 4:13,16), to again raise up Jerusalem, YHWH’s “Footstool” (Lam 2:1), and a “virgin bride of Israel,” this time in Christ (Jer 31:4,31-34; Matt 25:10-12), through obedience to walk as He walked, in His expanded and more refined interpretation of Torah (Deut 18:18,19; Is 42:21; Matt 5:19; Acts 3:22,23; 1 Jn 2:3-6).
In practice, so shall Jerusalem finally become “the faithful City,” “the City of righteousness” “redeemed with judgment (7000 deaths, to save the City – Rev 11:13) and her converts with righteousness,” as ideal “Zion, the perfection of beauty,” AFTER “destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners together, and the consumption of those who forsake the LORD” (Ps 50:2; Is 1:25-27), to be “a praise in the earth” (Is 62:6,7) as bearer of the Titles “Princess of the Provinces” (Lam 1:1), and “YHWH TZIDKENU” (“YHWH our Righteousness” – Jer 33:16, also a Title of the Messiah – Jer 23:6), hence the advice to us all in Ps 137:5,6 – “If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem MY HIGHEST JOY.”
This is why even in Paul’s day collections were taken for the needy evangelical Jerusalem saints (e.g. 1 Cor 16:1-3; 2 Cor 8&9) as a debt to Israel for the Gospel and the Scriptures (Rom 11:31; 15:27)
The call to “enquire after the welfare (eternal and temporal) of Jerusalem,” which is the literal meaning of Ps 122:6-9 which obviously entails prayer, is ultimately for our Father’s vision of Zion as the impeccable future Hebrew Capital of the world, to be fulfilled as the cornerstone of His Complete plan of Redemption of man and Creation, for the reconciliation and unification “of all things which are in heaven and on earth in the Messiah” (1 Cor 15:22-28; Eph 1:10; Col 1:20), as Precious Cornerstone of the “coming Kingdom of our father David” (Mk 11:10; 1 Peter 2:9,10; 2 Peter 1:1-12) which will be the fulfilment of God’s promise to David’s dynasty, of an eternal Monarchy in Jerusalem (2 Sam 7:16,23-29; Ps 122:5; Is 9:6,7; Amodls 9:11-15; Dan 7:13,14) which the Messiah-Son of David, having fulfilled His first assignment as Ransom for our sin (Is 53; Matt 1:21), would inherit by ‘undoubted succession’ by having been Resurrected as “the sure mercies of David” (2 Sam 7:16; Ps 89; Is 55:1-5; Jer 33:14-16; Lk 1:32,33; Acts 13:32-39).
Full and Final Redemption of Israel as a NATION, as well as of ALL CREATION, is impossible unless the LORD’s vision of Zion is fulfilled, because it is a Jerusalem mother church of the House of Jacob which must recall Yeshua to earth (Matt 23:37-39, Lk 1:33).
No wonder, therefore, that Jerusalem’s destruction is an imperative (the goal of Armageddon and Gog & Magog), if satan is to ever have his way.
YHWH’s promise of its defence makes that implausible – the LORD holds the world and god of this world in derision, at the very thought (Ps 2; Is 29:1-7; 30:18-33; 31:4-9; 32:15-20; 33:17-24; Zech 1:12-21; 8; 9:5-17; 12-14(
The great English poet William Blake (1757-1827) evidently wrote the magnificent anthem “Jerusalem” with this revelation in mind, applying it to England, hoping it would remain true to the faith of the Realm, or if disrupted by any means, fight the good fight to recover its heritage to regain its stature as a sheep nation in the orbit of Israel’s Zion, and doing so quite legitimately on the premise that all nations were created to seek the LORD and that their national redemption would likewise hinge to greater or lesser extent on the spiritual integrity of their CAPITAL CITIES for which Jerusalem is intended to be untouchable as heaven’s aspirational standard, reflecting the purity and grandeur of Zion above.
Hence the poem/anthem’s conclusion,
“Bring me my bow of burning gold! Bring me my arrows if desire! Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold! Bring me my chariot of fire!
I WILL NOT CEASE from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Till we have ‘built’ Jerusalem In England’s green and pleasant land”
There seems little reason to doubt that theory, given what satan has already done to sever London from the root of the natural olive tree (Rom 11), and by way of illegal alien invasion, cast a very dark shadow over the nation’s very identity.
So much is quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures in the New Testament, that it’s astonishing that anyone should feel uncomfortable venturing into the seventy five percent of the Bible which is the Hebrew Scriptures.
484 passages from the Hebrew Scriptures are cited a total of 695 times in the New Testament, with extensive quotes from Deut amongst them.
Of the 404 verses in Revelation, 278 are direct quotes from the root Scriptures in the Torah and the Prophets, which is why Paul declared to Governor Felix: “But this I confess to you, ‘I worship the God of my fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe EVERYTHING that accords with the Torah and EVERYTHING written in the Prophets” (Acts 24:14), which is why we know that the Berean test (Acts 17:11; 2 Cor 13:1,5; 2 Tim 3:14-17) is the ONLY INFALLIBLE TEST of accuracy of interpretation.
By design of our Father, wanting to make us impartial in the Scriptures (not favouring any part of the Bible over any other part, as Israel did – Mal 2:9b), it’s only by a diligent comparison of precepts in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament (Rom 3:20b; 1 Tim 1:8-11) that we can discern the full extent of our covenant responsibilities, as duties of sonship (Lk 17:9,10), and firmly establish the laws of God by faith (Rom 3:31), to establish the “everlasting covenant” for the praise of YHWH’s glory (Matt 6:9,10; Heb 13:20,21).
Colossians 1:27, the mystery concept of “Christ IN us, the hope of glory” (i.e. Christ in us to refine and mature us for us to be “presented perfect in Christ Jesus” – Col 1:28,29), relates to the “fellowship of the mystery of the Messiah” in Eph 3:1-10, which in turn refers to “the Gospel preached beforehand to Abraham” (Gen 12:3b; Gal 3:8,9), as the hope of ISRAEL’S glorification (Is 46:13; Lk 2:32b) apparently dependent to a large extent upon OUR justification by faith through Yeshua’s Atonement for His Spirit to be the seal of our redemption as a “purchased possession,” in the expectation that all who are saved by grace and grafted in to Israel (the House of Jacob), will obediently receive “Instruction in righteousness” to “keep the unity of ‘the faith’ ” by following the same doctrine in order for the “one fold” to be undivided (1 Cor 1:10), to attract the full measure of the blessing of the Messianic Gospel (Ex 15:16; Ps 133:1; Eph 1:13,14; 4 11-14).
It will be this uncompromising, united, purified church (Eph 5:26,27; Col 1:21-23,28,29; 1 Peter 1:22), conversant with the detailed requirements of Matt 28:20 which will require Torah study, which will be the springboard for the final harvest in this age.
This will become clearer as you consider the fact that the DEFINITION of being “IN Christ,” by abiding in the Vine, found in passages such as Jn 15:3-15; Rom 7:25-8:3; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29, is always faithfulness to keep covenant by obeying the commandments for our sanctification by the Spirit, in all the will of God, to be conformed to the image of Yeshua for our restoration to the image of the Godhead, lost in Eden (1 Cor 7:19; 11:1,2; Col 1:21-23,28,29; 4:12; 1 Thess 4:1-3a; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13-15).
Eph 3:1-10 and Col 1:27 are therefore a vital revelation of our function as co-heirs.
The two cross-references describe the endtime role of an ingrafted fully consecrated Messianic remnant from the NATIONS, brought to FULLNESS OF UNDERSTANDING of the “everlasting covenant” (not so much fullness as a NUMERIC quantity, since we know “few” will find the narrow path – Rom 11:25b), enthusiastically immersed and fully versed in Torah (like the original Jerusalem church in Acts 21:20; Heb 13:20,21) “striving for masteries” of the Way, to be “dead with Christ” to sin (2 Cor 5:9-11; 2 Tim 2:5,11), to “provoke Israel to jealousy” (Rom 2:14-24,26,27; 11:11) to help catapult them to shalom-shalom and pre-eminence, and into their own great calling through their own Gospel (Jer 31:7; Jn 4:22).
Ours is the only faith, the only Mono-Theism that UNITES HEAVEN AND EARTH through the beauty of the holiness produced by the righteousness of the “perfect, holy, just, good, spiritual” laws of the Creator of heaven and earth, being “fulfilled in us” by the Spirit, “precept by precept” (Matt 6:9,10; Jn 14:21-23; 15:3-15; 1 Jn 2:3-6), for the “conversion of our souls” (“from disobedience, to the wisdom of the just”) for us to “walk at liberty, undefiled in the Way” (Ps 19:7; 119:1,45; Is 28:9-12; Jn 8:31-36,51; Acts 24:14; Rom 2:13; 3:31; 6:12-22; 7:7,12-26,22,25; 8:4-14; 12:1,2).
So if we were to pause and properly reflect on the truth, by using the gift of sanctified Biblical reasoning to make careful comparison of Scriptures, we’d SURELY have to AGREE that if Torah can produce “days of heaven on earth” to bless and exalt ISRAEL to pre-eminence as “My son, even My firstborn” (Ex 4:22,23; Deut 4:5-8; 11:21; 26:16-19), the enviable righteousness of Torah’s laws MUST HAVE SIMILAR POTENTIAL to exalt ANY nation mired in the reproach of sin (Prov 14:34), if it seeks to be joined to Israel and its commonwealth through their Gospel’s mission of sanctification and unification through the Blood of the Lamb (Deut 6:4,5; Is 14:1; Eph 2:15; 1 Thess 5:23), to help accelerate Israel’s salvation, to reach for their own extremely high calling in the Spirit (Is 2:2-4; 14:1; 49:5-8; Acts 17:26-31; Rom 1:5; 3:31; 4:1,5,11-14,23,24; 8:4-14; 15:16-18; Eph 2:11,12).
One thing’s for sure, like spending time in God’s Presence early in the day (that “one thing is needful” Lk 10:38-42), no amount of time spent studying Torah to be made a perfect man or woman (Ps 101; Acts 24:14; Eph 4:11-14; 2 Tim 3:14-17), will ever fail to bring one closer to that noble goal.
Deut 1-7 includes a reminder that righteous Abraham who had a vision of Zion, the perfection of beauty, became YHWH’s friend by working righteousness, as we too are to do, in the Fear of God, if we are to die “the death of the righteous,” in covenant, in Christ (Gen 26:5; Is 51:1-11; Matt 8:11,12; Jn 15:3-15; Acts 10:35; Phil 2:12-15)
First, then, we should note that as YHWH’s “friend” (by proving his Fear of God – Gen 22), Abraham was “shown” and “was glad” and “rejoiced” at the prospect of the glorious consequence of his call AND of the Messiah, his Seed’s, call (Gen 18:19; Gal 3:16), described as Yeshua’s “Day” (Jn 8:56), namely, the outcome of His Crucifixion and Resurrection (“the sure mercies of David” – Is 55:1-5; Acts 13:32-39) being the restoration of the Kingdom (“former royal dominion”) to Israel (Micah 4:1-8; Acts 1:6,7; Mk 11:10) and His succession to the restored Monarchy of the dynasty of David (Ps 89; Is 9:6,7; Jer 33:14-26) for Zion’s eventual rise to undisputed pre-eminence as Capital of the purified Israel of God (Is 1:25-27; 4; 60-62; Zeph 3:7-20; Zech 9-14), and Hebrew Capital of the world under the Reign of Yeshua the Messiah over the entire world through the House of Jacob, FOREVER (Ps 2:7-12; 59:13; Is 24:23; 28:5; 62:7; Micah 7:8-20; Lk 1:32,23; Gal 6:16).
The correlation in Is 51:1-11 between Abram’s CALL as an heir of righteousness to be “the father of us all” (Rom 4:16), and the FUTURE HOPE OF ISRAEL as “chief of nations” through exaltation of Zion through their New Covenant (Is 33:17-24; Jer 31:7,10,17,31-36; 32; 33), is strongly established in Is 51.
Zion NARROWLY defined, is Jerusalem, “the City of the Great King” destined, as Heaven’s touchstone, to be the stepping stone, as it were, to the “New Jerusalem” which will manifest integrating heaven and earth, at the end of the millennial Kingdom era (Is 33:20; Matt 5:35).
BROADLY defined, to cater to Zion’s presiding role over all the territory covenanted to the future House of Jacob (Gen 15:4-21), Zion logically includes the nation Israel, “the glory of all lands” (Ezek 20:6b), by virtue of Jerusalem being the “Footstool” of the Almighty (Lam 2:1) as the Eminent Place of the thrones of David (Ps 122:5) and thereby, the earthly Throne of the King of Kings as Son of David (Mk 11:10; Lk 1:32,33).
Deut 4:32-44, prophesied by the Almighty to Abram in Gen 15:13-16; Ex 6:3-8, and part-fulfilled in Ex 12:40-42 and 15:11-17, is the vision of Zion which is to be exalted as the perfection of the beauty of holiness (Deut 26:16-19; Ps 50:2; Is 51:1-11; 60-62), as the climax of YHWH’s miraculous New Covenant work of transfiguration and sanctification of “one new man” “from glory to glory,” into the Character of Christ through masteries of the righteousness of the Way of YHWH of which Abraham was a pioneer (Gen 18:18,19; 26:5; Is 35:8; Jn 10:16; Acts 24:14; Rom 3:31; 8:4-14; 29; 2 Cor 3:18; Eph 2:15; 3:6; 2 Tim 2:5,11)
It bears mentioning here that whereas the great gift of our Torah heritage (which is the Constitution of Israel given at Sinai – Ex 19:5-8; Deut 4:5-8, for our detailed Instruction in truth and righteousness – Deut 33:2,4; Jn 5:46,47; Acts 24:14; 2 Tim 3:14-17) is the BEDROCK of the sanctification (in both senses: set apartness AND purification) of NATIONS, for “glorious liberty” to enjoy reflecting on, celebrating, being inspired by, building upon and being comforted and kept stable by a common cultural heritage, in covenant relation with the Israel of YaH as sheep nations (Matt 25; Rom 9-11; Gal 6:16) by “making affinity with” (being joined to) Israel as “chief of nations,” through their commonwealth (Ex 4:22,23; Deut 32:8,9,43; Is 14:1; 49:5-8; 55:5; Jer 31:7; Zech 2:8-12; Lk 1:33; Eph 2:11,12); GLOBALISM, on the other hand, is hell-bent on destroying the influence of the best of mankind’s history.
This is the diabolical anti-Christ formula for identity-theft by ‘cultural cleansing,’ by counter-cultural coup d’ etat (by any means, including forced illegal alien immigration), for dissolution and subjugation of nations to supra-national tyranny.
Globalism is the perversion of the Creation ethos.
It detests and is enraged by the Messianic millennial vision of restoration of Greater Israel (Gen 15:7-21; Deut 11:22-24), and of a constellation of sheep nations (Gen 35:11; Matt 25), willingly submitted to governance by the returning Messiah as Ruler forever of the more glorious latter House of Jacob, on David’s restored Throne (Is 9:6,7; Amos 9:11-15; Mk 11:10; Lk 1:32,33; Acts 15:14-17) as Proxy for “the Father of our LORD Yeshua the Messiah of Whom the whole family which is in heaven and on earth is named” (Eph 3:14,15), acknowledging their gift of life and their debt to Zion for salvation (Ps 14:7; Rom 15:27), proudly seeing themselves as radiating out from Zion, the hub of the millennial Kingdom, from the soon-to-be faithful “City of righteousness” on a hill (the epicentre and microcosm of the Kingdom of heaven on earth – Deut 11:18-25; Is 1:25-28), as salt and light, bathing the world in the light of Torah wisdom learnt at the feet of the Jewish Saviour (Is 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-8; Jn 4:22).
Everything we read of Israel’s example as a nation-in-training in Deut (Deut 4:33-40; 7:6-12), signifies the planned uniqueness of nationhood and servant-hearted, holy nationalism, through nation-building upon shared experience of the authenticity and efficacy of the virtues and values of Mono-Theistic, Judaeo-Christian heritage, and by having common cause with Zion, as a life-and-death covenant bond (Ps 129:5-8; 132:11-18; Is 24:23), as the inspired civilization that will bury all current efforts to destroy it.
Globalism’s intent is not just to mutilate and censor or embargo the Word of God, but to hollow-out all trace of righteousness from every culture on earth, to create an homogeneous idolatry, to sell out the entire world to satan.
For this reason, unless Jerusalem, YHWH’s Footstool (Lam 2:1), is cleansed to become “the perfection of beauty,” as the prime example on earth, of the holiness of God Himself (Ps 50:2; Is 4; 6:1-3; 1 Peter 2:13-17), the world cannot be saved to the uttermost; the EARTH cannot be REGENERATED; and the great potential in the unique purpose in predestination of every person and every nation, cannot be realized (Eph 1:11)
Only Torah, which created and established the Universe, can sustain it; and that’s Jerusalem’s principal role (Is 2:2-4; 24:3-6,23; 59:20,21; chapters 60-62)
Which is why the final revival, which has to be reformation-based, for the church to return completely to YHWH, is most likely to begin in Jerusalem, the ‘Eminent Place,’ according to the Joel 2:28-32/Acts 2 Shavuo’t/Pentecost pattern.
So we read the Torah to appreciate our heritage of miraculous potential for global unity in diversity within the kingdom-nation and commonwealth of Israel, ultimately to be expressed through fulfilment of the heavenly vision of “the mystery of Christ” as “one new man” (Jew and Gentile united in Israel’s Messiah by the one faith of old, renewed by the New Covenant of Judah and Israel, as the Nazarene branch of Judaism, called “the Way” which the Pharisees called a sect – Acts 24:5,14; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 3:1-10; 4:5), as “the Gospel preached beforehand to Abraham” and his dynasty (Gen 12:3b; 17:5,6; 35:9-15; 28:14; 35:11; Gal 3:8,9).
We are called to obediently feast on (be “nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine” in) the eternal Torah (1 Tim 4:6; 2 Tim 3:14-17) for our discernment of DISTINCTIONS great and small, to instantly recognize “seducing spirits and doctrines of devils” (1 Tim 4:1; 2 Tim 4:2,3) to be ever- increasingly refined until our “transfiguration from glory to glory,” to mirror the image of Christ, is complete (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18).
Until then, Creation is at risk (Rom 8:18-22).
THAT discipline, is the basis of genuine discipleship.
We are so blessed to know how to navigate life, especially the perilous waters of inevitable endtime tribulations (Acts 14:22; Rev 1:1; 3:10) by recognizing the “narrow” path which is defined by what it means to be under Jesus’ “yoke” (of Kingship AND of the commandmenT to keep the commandmentS – 2 Jn vs 5&6), as our Master, counting Him worthy of honour by doing all the Father’s will so that the Name of His Father and His doctrine are not blasphemed, thereby saving us from the folly of worldly ignorance of vital distinctions (Mal 1:6; Matt 11:27-30; Col 4:12).
Matt 11:27-30 is so neglected – that the Heir of all things (“all things are delivered unto Me”) rightly DEMANDS (because our having His Spirit leaves us no excuse for not resisting error) that we honour and Fear Him (Mal 1:6) by not deviating from His doctrine, which includes many precepts from the past (see the terrible warning in 2 Jn vs 5&6,9-11)
Amongst the wealth of wisdom hidden for us, especially in Deuteronomy, frequently quoted by Yeshua (Matt 13:41-45,52; Acts 24:14; 2 Tim 3:14-17), are the essential reminders in Deut 6:25 & 7:9-12, of the BILATERAL everlasting covenant of willing obedience, “to do and obey” the everlasting marriage contract equally binding upon us, as Israel’s inheritance in the House of Jacob, due to unanimous agreement with the Word, “returned to YHWH” (by Israel newly constituted as the holy nation of prophecy, our adopting nation), at Sinai (Ex 19:8), in obedience to YHWH’s instruction to Abraham, to do his part to help ensure that Torah would be honoured by his household AFTER HIM, in whose household of faith we are (Is 56:1-8; Gal 3:29), so that every promise prophesied to Abraham might be fulfilled (Gen 18:18,19; 26:4,5; Ex 19:5-8; 24:7,8; 29:12-15; Is 54:3; 56:1-8; Rom 3:31; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; Heb 13:20,21; 1 Peter 2:9,10).
Our every action is tried by that momentous agreement to the criteria for righteousness, to which we actively became party, when making our good confession before witnesses, when professing Yeshua (Jesus) as LORD and Master (Matt 5:19; 28:20; Rom 10:9-13)
Like Israel in antiquity, every one of us has a “pedigree” by virtue of our lineage and our contribution to (or detraction from) our heritage (Nu 1&2). In whatever way we enhance our heritage and legacy according to Scripture, is called ‘Kiddush HaShem,’ familiar to us as “Hallowed be Thy Name.”
This is how Israel was to enlarge the footprint of holiness on their landed inheritance, and we are to do the same in whatever country we call home, wherever we are domiciled.
The ultimate purpose of the Gospel is to reclaim the earth from its dreadful defilement and vitiation (corruption and impairment) by man’s sin (Is 24:3-6; Rom 8:4-23)
According to the pattern (Acts 1:8), it will be through resurgence of Jewish evangelism, that Jerusalem will again be the epicentre of the plan to purify a bride for the Lamb (Is 4), because the redemption of a remnant of mankind to inherit the world, hinges on the rebuilding in Christ, of “fallen virgin Israel” through their New Covenant (Jer 31:4,31-36; Rom 4:13,16), for a remnant bride from the nations to be joined to THEM as Israel’s inheritance (Is 54:3; Rom 11), and as joint-heirs by adoption as seed of Abraham, with Yeshua as Ruler of the House of Jacob, forever (Matt 25:10-12; Lk 1:33; Rom 8:16,17; Gal 3:8,9,29)
The purpose of translating Torah ideals into reality by obedience to the precepts of the law of truth (Ps 119:1,45; Is 28:9-12; Matt 5:19; Rom 3:31), is to “add excellent majesty,” not to OURSELVES (as king Nebuchadnezzar did, in Dan 4:36,37), but to the Kingdom of heaven, while further sanctifying ourselves and our households in pursuit of the perfection of holiness (2 Cor 7:1).
Bearing in mind that Deuteronomy is the recapitulation (broad summary) of the Torah, it’s highly significant for these latter days of Noah, marked by more rapid reversal of Second Exile (Is 11:10-12; Matt 24), that as we comb through Deut 1 through 7, we detect a marked increase in the pace and urgency of YaH’s summons to all who have ears to hear (as our Father again does throughout the New Testament), to LEARN to KEEP the Covenant requirements, to “reveal the righteousness” of God (passivity cancels sonship, since faith without works is dead) by purging and purifying themselves by submission to the Spirit, to overcome temptation to sin, to “be YE holy, because I am holy” (Lev 1 Peter 1:13-17; Rom 1:17; 2 Tim 2:20,21; 1 Jn 2:28,29; 3:7,10; Rev 2:5,26; 3:10-22)
This call (including the deadly serious warning, in Rev 18:4,5) is going out simultaneously to Jewry and to the Gentile church in the farthest reaches of the world (the Hebrew diaspora as Deut 4:27-31; 30:1-8 show), while within Israel, it is especially targeting our Father’s highest endtime priority, His Eternal City Jerusalem (Zion/Ariel/Princess of the Provinces – Ps 129:5-8; 137:5-7; Is 1:26,27; 4:1-6; 29:1-8; Lam 1:1; Matt 5:35), currently the horribly polluted (“spiritually called Sodom and Egypt” – Rev 11:18b) heart of the heartland of Israel (the “Land of Moriah,” later Judaea, in which according to Gen 22, Abraham proved his Fear of YaH by binding Isaac to an altar on Mnt Moriah), the Promised Land TWICE blood-covenanted to the House of Jacob (Gen 15:4-21; Rom 15:8), as the God of Jacob’s fundamental holy-nation-designate (Ex 19:4-8; Nu 23:9; Deut 32:8,9,43; Ps 105:8-11), on account of His unshakeable, unbreakable bond of love with the fathers (Deut 4:33-40; Rom 11:25-29).
Genesis 22 King James Version
22 v 1″And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2 And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the LAND OF MORIAH; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of”
No other faith but the “one faith” which is man’s highest vocation (Eph 4:1-5) can unite heaven and earth, because only “the ordinances of heaven and earth” (Jer 33:25; Matt 6:9,10; 1 Cor 11:1,2) that define relationship through Yeshua the Messiah, between the “God of the Hebrews” as Father of Creation (“God of the spirits of all flesh”), and mankind, HIS “offspring” (Acts 17:26-31; Eph 3:14,15), can ultimately forge a perpetual state of shalom-shalom
Every PHASE of warning in the Hebrew Scriptures in the forty year long Exodus, is applicable to us, by the law of parallels (1 Cor 10).
Here is a sample from Deut chapters 1-7 : Deut 4:1-24,33-40; 5:1-22,28-33; 6:1-19,24,25; 7:6-12.
What WE especially need to heed, is the fact that it is the COMBINATION of our will power (our willingness to be made willing) and the will and enabling power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, that will make US overcomers of error unbelief and rebellion (Prov 7:1-3; Phil 2:12-15; Heb 10:16); and that every call to learn the Fear of God (Deut 4:10; 5:29; 6:13), to respect the grace which is available to help us be conscientious covenant- keepers (overcomers of sin which is transgression of the law – 1 Jn 3:3,4), is a call to repentance, to return to God in a particular area of disobedience (Is 44:22; Heb 5:9; 12:14,15,28; 2 Peter 3:9-18; Rev 14:6,7,12).
The golden rule is that REITERATION is not necessarily REPETITION.
Context usually makes that plain.
In other words, the onus (the burden of proof of repentance, through obedience to co-operate with the refining process of sanctification, by the Spirit), is not entirely upon the Holy Spirit, as many suppose (Acts 5:32; 26:18,20).
We have a direct and ever-present, immediate responsibility as a personal role in the reciprocal covenant agreement (Deut 7:9-12; 2 Chr 15:2), by which we are to “establish the laws of God, by (the obedience of) faith” (Rom 3:31; 16:26; Heb 13:20,21), as evidence of true conversion for full assurance of hope of EVERLASTING salvation as true sons (Is 45:17-25; Heb 6:1-12; 12: all), to attain the crown of life.
That requires that we attain the crown of righteousness by being righteous at all times (Ps 106:3; Deut 6:25; 2 Tim 4:3-8; 1 Jn 3:7,10), because consummation of salvation (“salvation to the uttermost”) is dependent upon being “accounted worthy” of final redemption (resurrection to life, to escape the second death) (Lk 20:35; Jn 5:24,28,29; Rom 2:6-13; 8:4-23; Rev 20:6).
This is why Deut 6:25 says:
King James Version
25 And it shall be our righteousness, IF we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us”
Many don’t like to hear that, because they’re unwilling to differentiate between salvation by grace, from sin & the power of sin; and the sacrifices necessary to be “wholly sanctified, spirit, soul and body,” to meet the criteria of Eph 1:4,5; 4:1,11-15,23,25; 5:26,27; Col 1:21-23,28,29; 2:6; 3:9,10; 4:12, to be a duly and acceptably prepared, spotless and holy bride (2 Cor 5:9-11; Rev 19:7-9)
They refuse it seems, to acknowledge the crucial distinction between free entry into the race, and the “counting of the cost” of the personal cross each of us has to bear, to FIND, navigate and endure the narrow path to the end, to enter eternal life (Matt 7:13-27; Lk 12-14; 1 Cor 9:24-27)
Tragically, through wilful ignorance (disinclination to want to know) which is synonomous with wilful disobedience (rebellion) (1 Sam 15:22,23), “many” refuse to see the relevance of Acts 7:51,53 to US, and commit the very sin (resisting the Holy Spirit and being at enmity with God) that caused Israel “not to continue in My covenant, so I regarded them not (gave them over to the curse)” (Rom 8:4,6-14; Heb 8:9b).
It is nonsense to claim that Israel did not have access to the Spirit. The Spirit of YHWH led Abraham (Gen 17:1) and Moses (Is 63:11-14).
There’s no difference between Deut 7:9-12, and the condition for meeting the test of the ‘Shema’ (Hear O Israel) in Mk 12:28-32. Namely, keeping the commandments that comprise Matt 22:36-39, because “all the Law and the Prophets (neither of which Jesus has abolished), “hangs” on the two umbrella SUMMARIES OF THE JOINT LOVE COMMAND, in the two paragraphs of the ‘Shema.’
As long as they hang like voluptuous low-hanging fruit, they’ll be pertinent to and decisive in the Spirit’s leading of true sons to abide in the Vine (Matt 5:17-19; Jn 15:3-15; Rom 8:4-14; 1 Jn 2:3-6)
All who belong to the House of Jacob through adoption, by justification by faith (Lk 1:33; Rom 4), are partakers of THEIR promises, which are CONDITIONAL (Deut 28:1-14).
Because the Gospel is concealed in the Torah, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Torah teaches that justification is by faith (weren’t Noah and Abram both “heirs of the righteousness which is of faith”?) (Rom 4; Heb 11:7), for sanctification (observance of the precepts of the “paths of righteousness” that comprise the Way) (Deut 6:25; Ps 23:3) to decide whose names will not be blotted out, but “remain forever” (1 Thess 5:23; Heb 12:14; 1 Jn 2:3-6,27,28,29; Rev 3:2-6).
The New Covenant Atonement (providing acquittal, absolution, cleansing and remission of sins, and the power to overcome sin) and faith in the Resurrection, provided the means to classify and separate wise from foolish virgins (Matt 25:10-12; Acts 13:32-39; 2 Cor 11:1,2)
Enjoy your exploration of the rest of the great Book of Deuteronomy.
There’s grace aplenty, for it to reveal secrets of wisdom to light our path (Deut 29:29; Ps 119:96-104; Heb 12:28).
Commentary on Numbers 22-25. Theme verse: “He (Jacob) shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters (Gen 28:14; Is 29:22-24; Matt 8:11,12; Lk 1:33). And his King (“the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel” “from “the Mighty One of Jacob” – Gen 49:24) shall be higher than Agag, And His kingdom shall be exalted (forever)”
Topic: Zion’s Incubation in the Wilderness – Balaam’s vision
Our Father has a dream
It is called “Zion, the perfection of beauty” (Ps 50:2).
Salvation came out of Zion, and for those who keep covenant, salvation leads to Zion (Ps 53:6; Is 35:8-10; 51:6-11)
This is the paramount “mystery of the kingdom of heaven” that encompasses all else (Matt 13:11).
It will be unfolded in greater and greater precision in the days immediately ahead, because all of history will soon be resolved through its fulfilment, first in the millennial Kingdom, then in the New Jerusalem, whose Hebrew identification with the remnant of the Twelve Tribes of the House of Jacob and their co-heirs from the nations, is fixed forever (Rev 21:12)
The wilderness encounters with YHWH which every consecrated believer (seeking the integrity, authenticity and power with God, of true sons) is called to, for “salting with fire” (episodes of refinement like silver and gold, by trials of the heart) for character formation (Christ formed in us) as preparation for acceptance in Zion (Rom 5:3-5; 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; Gal 4:19; 1 Peter 1:4-9; 4:12-18; 5:6-12), is patterned on Israel’s Exodus.
Rising like a colossus in the narrative of the vicissitudes of Israel on their wilderness road to sanctification to be worthy to enter their promise (a type of OUR ongoing call to repentance and purification by obedience – Lk 20:35; Acts 10:35; 1 Thess 5:23; 1 Peter 1:13-17,22), is the beauty of YHWH’s prophetic vision of Zion (faithful remnant Israel’s EXALTATION as the coming global Messianic Kingdom of David – “and his [Jacob’s] seed shall be in many waters”) as “ISRAEL MY GLORY” in “latter house” purity and honour in their Land of “milk and honey” – Gen 28:14; Nu 24:2-9; 24:17-24; Is 46:13; 60-62; Jer 31-33; Haggai 2:7-9; Ezek 36; Mk 11:10; Lk 1:33; Rom 11:15,25-29).
It was glimpsed in the Spirit (as a layered vision, like Ps 89, of present and FUTURE actuality, as in Nu 22:9,10 | Deut 33:28 – “…the people SHALL dwell alone”) by ambivalent Balaam the seer, as he surveyed the orderliness of and Divine footprint upon the martially arranged camp of the House of Jacob from three vantage points (Nu 22:41; 23:14; 23:28) while sensibly stifling the instinct to curse them (Gen 2:2,3; Nu 22:7,8) which would eventually get the better of him and cost him his life (Nu 31:8), AND eternal life (thereby immortalizing his treachery, in selling-out and entrapping Israel in idolatry and fornication by the spirit of seduction, as “the doctrine of Balaam” – Nu 25; 31; Jude vs 11; Rev 2:14), by relapsing onto the BROAD path which disqualified him from “the death of the righteous” HE’D AT FIRST COVETED when admiring the favour of the Most High upon the House of Jacob (Nu 23:10; Matt 7:13-27).
There are few warnings in Scripture as graphic, perplexing and disturbing as Balaam’s backsliding to destruction on the broad path, despite the privilege of having experienced being an instrument of blessing and being shown that the purpose of Creation was Israel’s vindication as the dynasty and kingdom-nation the Almighty would forever call His own and make His Messianic Throne (Ex 19:5-8; Is 9:6,7; 60-62; Micah 4:1-8; Lk 1:32,33; Acts 1:6,7; Rev 21:12).
Balaam’s default ministry setting was bondage to DIVINATION, and while he initially resisted the occult (Nu 22:7; 24:13), it overpowered him. Because unlike Paul in Rom 7:22-25 in whose heart covenant truth was already settled, established by faith (Rom 3:31), the war within compromised, hypocritical Balaam’s members was stacked in favour of pride and self-interest, so he lost the competition between good and evil, to assign honour WHERE HONOUR IS DUE (Mal 1:6).
The tragic irony was that Balaam was cursed by ignoring his own prophecy (Nu 24:8,9).
At first, he responded favourably to YHWH “keeping him back from (the) great honour” of the kind that Balak and the spirit of this world were posturing to endow upon him (Nu 24:10-13).
His last prophecy would prove to be his last invitation to serve the Living God (Nu 24:14-25). We might say that it was his epitaph, because of what transpired between Nu 24:25 and 25:1 onwards, which was his doing.
Are we any less prone to temptation? Not at all. Are we any more temptation-resistant? Only if we’ve let the Holy Spirit build a firewall of the Presence around about us by being constant in the Spirit through obedience to the covenant as inward AND external proof that we treasure our vocation of holiness (Matt 28:2; Acts 5:32; 26:18,20; Rom 8:4-14; Eph 4:1,11-14; Heb 6:4-9; 12:14).
The Almighty offers no “hope of full assurance to the end” (Heb 6:1-12) to ‘dipstick’ believers. The worshippers He seeks, are those who “esteem His Word more than their necessary food,” and seek daily immersion in His Presence and counsel, continually resorting to Him for the insight and moral strength to walk as Yeshua walked, “devoted to His Fear” by being “valiant for the truth” at all costs, to be “as He is,” as measured by His rigid criteria for righteousness and purity (Lk 6:40; Rom 15:16-18; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29; 3:3-10).
All the prophecies over Abraham’s life will be fulfilled in due course, due to the existence of a faithful Torah-wise remnant of the House of Jacob (the ideal unification of civilization as a unified reborn humanity, reckoned “in Abram,” “in Jacob,” “in Christ”) meeting the conditions for enduring blessing (Gen 12:3; 18:9; 28:14; Deut 28:1-14; Rom 8:4.22; Gal 3:9; 2 Tim 3:14-17), with EXPANSION of the commonwealth of Israel “to the uttermost parts of the earth” (Gen 17: ; 35:9-11; Ps 2:7-12; 82:8; Zech 2:10-12) for the miracle of reconciliation and unification in Christ “of all things which are in heaven and which are on earth,” to be accomplished in Him as Ruler forever of the latter House of Jacob, His Father’s and His household (Haggai 2:7-9; Lk 1:33; Eph 1:10; 2:11,12,19; Col 1:20).
That, in turn, will fulfil God’s vision of Zion (the ultimate purpose of Creation) as the perfection of the beauty of holiness (Ps 50:2; Is 35:10-12; 51:1-11), for “everlasting righteousness” to reign for an eternity of eternities to come, in a “single new” (“one new”) global, Hebraic Kingdom civilization inspired and ruled forever out of the House of Jacob by Jesus as the “Star out of Jacob and Sceptre risen out of Israel” (Nu 24:17), on the restored Throne of David in Jerusalem as Hebrew world capital which is why we are to bless Israel, by believing in the restoration of their “former royal dominion” as the inevitable outcome of their irrevocable order- and purpose-in-election; and pray for the shalom-shalom (perfect and constant peace) of Jerusalem, which is to be “preferred by us above our chief joy” (Gen 12:2,3; Ex 19:5-8; Ps 59:13; 137:5-7; Is 9:6,7; 60-62; Micah 4:1-8; Mk 11:10; Lk 1:32,33; Acts 1:6,7; Rom 11:11-15,23-29)
It was with THIS vast Hebraic vision of God in mind: the catalytic vision of all of Creation redeemed through Christ Crucified, for washing, cleansing, justifying, purging, purifying, sanctifying and glorification of an impeccable remnant of humanity, for “the earth to be filled with the KNOWLEDGE of God as the waters cover the seas” (Is 11:9,10; Rom 8:4,18-23,29,30; Matt 28:20; 1 Cor 6:6-12), that in Acts 26:19 Paul declares “whereupon, O king Agrippa, I WAS NOT DISOBEDIENT TO THE HEAVENLY VISION.” As a “Hebrew of Hebrews” Paul had full knowledge of the visionary promises to Israel in the Torah and the Prophets (e.g. Nu 23:9,10; Is 28:5,6; 33:17-24; 60-62; Jer 31-33). None of this, though, would be possible were it not for the origin of the church in the loins of Abram and his household (Is 51:1-7), which became “the congregations from the fountain of Jacob” (Ps 68:26) SUBSEQUENT to formal constitution of “the congregation of the people” as the church/ekklesia/kahal of YaHWeH at Sinai (where the nation and wilderness church of Israel were synonomous as His “people of inheritance” – Deut 4:20; Acts 7:38) through the giving of the ‘Ketubah’ (the eternal marriage covenant of Ten Words, summed up by the ‘Shema’ [‘Hear O Israel…”] of Deut 4:10-14; 6:4,5; Lev 19:18/Matt 22:36-40/Mk 12:28-32), for the prophesied outpouring of the Spirit which occurred on the SAME Feast (Shavuo’t) in Jerusalem (‘Pentecost’ is Greek) (Deut 30:6; Is 44:2,3; Ezek 36:24-29), to RENEW the everlasting Abrahamic (Gen 12-17) and Davidic covenants (2 Chr 13:5) through the New Covenant (hence Heb 13:20,21), to complete the promise to Israel of the MEANS to accomplish “masteries” of Torah as it was fully preached (not abolished) by Jesus, to be an everlasting light to the nations “like life from the dead” (Is 2:2-4; Lk 2:32; Acts 15:14-17; Rom 11:15; 2 Tim 2:5; Rev 21:12 etc) namely, by the CROSS and the RESURRECTION as “the sure mercies of David” (Is 55:1-5; Acts 13:32-39) providing for the destruction of sin in the flesh through regeneration and circumcision of the heart (Rom 6:6,7; 8:2-4; Col 2:10-13); and the all surpassing enabling power (exousia) of the INDWELLING SPIRIT to overcome the power of sin (Acts 2:30-33; 1 Cor 6:12; Eph 1:19; 3:20; 2 Tim 2:5), for hearts to be purified, to serve YHWH in truth, to be exalted as “Israel My glory” (Is 46:13; Jer 31:7,31-36; Lk 2:32)
[Acknowledgment: Thank You Father for the grace to have scribed this in Your honour as a pen apostalate, so that Your Son may be glorified, for all of this is HIS inheritance, and ours, in Him through the grace of our adoption by You, for ingrafting into the House of Jacob, Your Abrahamic household, as THEIR inheritance, to be their co-heirs, as “one new man” united in You through the one faith seated in one law of truth – Ex 12:49; Is 45:4; 54:3; Lk 1:33; Rom 3:31; 8:15-17; 11; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 4:5]
“For unto us was the Gospel preached (justification by faith for entry into the race by grace, but eternal life CONDITIONAL upon REMAINING in Christ by “sanctification wholly, spirit, soul and body” by obedience to the faith, precept by precept, through the Spirit, as proof of repentance, to be holy – Acts 26:18,20; Rom 1:5; 1 Cor 9:24-27; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13,14; Heb 5:9; 12:14,28; 1 Peter 1:2,13-17,22; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29), AS WELL AS UNTO THEM…”
A Commentary on Deut 7:12 – 11:25 :
It’s tempting to imagine that Israel did NOT HAVE the Holy Spirit (whereas Is 63:8-14 proves He was “WITHIN Moses,” and Stephen testified in Acts 7:51-54 that they RESISTED the Spirit), and that in practice, the promises that close this Portion (11:18-25) were beyond Israel’s reach, because, we surmise, the condition stated in the opening text (Deut 7:12) was too burdensome to fulfil.
Not so!
They were no more burdensome THEN, than NOW. In fact, the yoke of Heaven’s decrees (Matt 6:9,10) is FAR BROADER today, because Y’shua-Jesus was sent to “MAGNIFY” Instruction (‘fill Torah to the full’ – as anticipated by Moses – Deut 18:18,19; Acts 3:22,23) to put us (and the nations) in awe of its Wisdom (Deut 4:5-8; Is 2:2-4), to make it honourable for the sake of His Father’s righteousness (Is 42:21; Matt 5:17-20,48; 11:29,30; 28:20; I Jn 5:2&3; 2 Jn vs 5&6).
They COULD HAVE circumcised their hearts but were DISINCLINED to do so for lack of appreciation of the BEAUTY of “TRUE (AUTHENTIC) holiness (sanctification by the commandments),” which is the crux of “EVERLASTING salvation” at any time in history (Is 45:17-23; Eph 4:23,24; Heb 12:14,28).
So it is the core purpose of the New Covenant to CANCEL the historic disinclination to work righteousness, by disposing of the congenitally adversarial Adamic nature by supernatural heart circumcision, to “condemn sin in the flesh” (Acts 10:35; Rom 6:1-22; 8:3) to restore THE FEAR OF GOD, which by Divine design is acquired by learning righteousness by learning the commandments, to understand them by doing them (Ps 111:10; Eccl 12:13; Deut 4:10; 5:29; 10:12-17; 17:19,20; Heb 8:8-13; Rev 14:6,7,12).
By so doing, meeting the terms of separation, to walk as Jesus did in all His Father’s ways as proof of our Love AND Awe of Him, to BE righteous and pure as He is, to be able to claim that we both know and love Him (Lk 6:40; Jn 14:15,21-24; 15:3-14; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 3:3-10; 4:17).
In other words, the Gospel and its unique regenerative baptism of repentance for the remission of sins to facilitate crucifixion of our unregenerated nature, to “walk in Christ” (Mk 16:16; Col 2:6,9-13; Titus 3:5), is the ultimate remedy for lawlessness, to make “everlasting righteousness” a future reality (Dan 9:24; Rom 8:4-14; Gal 3:27).
This we can achieve and is an ongoing process of sanctification we must allow the Holy Spirit to complete, by having the spirit of our minds renewed by the truth, and our souls transfigured from glory to glory to be conformed to the Messiah’s image (2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:23,24; 5:26,27; Col 3:9,10; 2 Thess 2:13-15), for the beauty of holiness (the light and purity of the innocency of absolute set apartness on the narrow path – Ps 24:3-6; 29:2; Matt 7:13-27; Jn 14:30) to CAPTIVATE us, to win us over to wholehearted covenant-keeping, as proof of repentance from sin which is transgression of the law (Acts 20:25,32; 26:18,20; 1 Jn 3:4)
The Fear of God – the Sure Path to Humility and Understanding
Commentary: Deut 3:23 – 7:11; Is 40:1-26
We dealt last week with Moses’ punishment by YHWH’s refusal to allow him to cross the Jordan as Israel’s leader, due to his temper having flared previously, causing him to reinterpret and disobey an explicit instruction on how to produce water from a rock to hydrate the nation. The indictment was that by fumbling and fudging the instruction, Moses had “believed Him not;” had “rebelled against the commandment;” and had thereby failed “to sanctify the Memorial Name in the eyes of the congregation” (Nu 20:7-13; 27:12-23).
That is known as “Chilul HaShem” (profaning the Memorial Name of the Most High), as opposed to “Kiddush HaShem” (Sanctify/Hallow the Name).
Any of us can fall into this trap at any moment, which would be especially wicked if we’ve allowed ourselves to be “made merchandise of” by deceitful teaching, to have a negative attitude to YHWH’s Instruction (His commandments and His Voice directions).
There are two issues here:
Moses had just turned 120, the age limit established at the time of the Flood (Gen 6:3), and that is a plausible reason for him not being kept alive (Deut 34:7), and
If we discount that factor, which we should, because there’s no indication in the narrative that that was the decisive consideration, we are left with the conclusion that we’re being taught how great a premium God places on obedience not just by leaders, but by anyone, to every one of His precepts, a principle clearly proven in Eden in Adam’s rebellion against just one instruction
This Portion of Instruction (Torah), which in Deut 4:2,6-8 sends a red alert to Protestantism to stop its dangerous hypocrisy, claiming the Bible as final authority, yet “adding to and diminishing the Scriptures” with human doctrine and tradition, draws our attention to the NECESSITY for the twin characteristics of LOVE and AWE to be matured together, to produce the ideal “Israel of YHWH” (Lk 1:33; Gal 6:16) which requires mastering the call to glory through holiness, principally through the righteousness of the virtues of mercy and justice as the rule of faith (Ps 101:1; Matt 23:23; 2 Peter 1-11), to FULLY INHERIT all the patriarchal promises, as noble “Yeshurun” (Deut 33:26-29).
One of the CHIEF revelations of Scripture is that the Holy Fear of YHWH (summarized inadequately as just ‘ Awe,’ and which is not accidentally, “the BEGINNING of wisdom”), is LEARNED FROM THE COMMANDMENTS (Deut 4:10,13,15; 5:29) and is the general antidote to PRIDE, SELF-WILL, ERROR and COMPLACENCY, which are bedfellows.
Understanding, in turn, is acquired by DOING the commandments (Ps 111:10).
Which means that although the commandments are always the test of a faithful, legitimate son (Heb 5:9; 10:26-39; 12:1-29), the underlying purpose of the holy laws of God needing to be engraved on our hearts by the Finger of YHWH (Heb 8:8-13; 10:16) is to teach us wisdom to experience life which is truly life, which He offers in proportion to our degree of submission to the sanctifying work of the Spirit, Who was sent to lead us into, and to instruct us in, ALL truth (Ps 119:98-100; Jn 17:17,19).
We are seriously misinformed and potentially fatally deceived, if we’re discouraged from spotting the correlation between passages such as Ps 119:4-6,29,127,128 and 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29, as follows:
“Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy commandments DILIGENTLY (so that our ways will be directed in keeping with Your covenant). THEN shall I not be ASHAMED when I respect all Thy commandments (to learn to abide in You)…THEREFORE I love Thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. THEREFORE I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things (as right and proper); and (as a consequence) I hate every FALSE (lying) way “
“He who says I KNOW Him but doesn’t keep His commandments, is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him (so that the love of God CANNOT BE PERFECTED, resulting in NO ASSURANCE of being “in Him”)…And now, little children, abide (remain) in Him (through obedience to righteousness) so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ASHAMED (as covenant breakers) at His coming. If ye know He is righteous, ye should know that everyone who DOES RIGHTEOUSNESS (will be acknowledged as being) born of Him”
So those of us who ignorantly resist timeous correction, which is nothing less than loving overtures by the Spirit to draw our attention for Him to teach us the finer brushstrokes of the covenant to rid us of inevitable defilement by ignorance of what constitutes sin (Ps 119:1,38,45; Rom 3:20b), shoot ourselves in the foot.
The Almighty has so designed, constructed and “ordered the everlasting covenant in every part” to bring salvation to completion by meeting the terms of separation for eligibility for the first resurrection (2 Sam 23:5; Rom 8:4-23; Heb 13:20,21), that from “these least” to the chiefest commandments (which include Shabbat, the compass setting for “true holiness”), loving His laws AS DAVID DID, cannot fail to bring us into the full experience and reward, of His perfect will (Matt 5:19; Rom 12:1,2; Eph 5:10,15-17; Col 4:12).
There is nothing more harmful that prejudice against and disdain for “the paths of righteousness” (Ps 23:3) which comprise the “law of Truth” (Mal 2:6) which most pulpits barely touch on.
It is only through obedience to the yoke of the commandments (Matt 6:10; 11:27-29; Mk 12:28-34; 1 Jn 5:2&3), that we proclaim YHWH’s Supreme Kingship and Oneness and fulfil the mission of sanctity to which we’re called as co-heirs of the House of Jacob as a witness of the love and majesty of the God of Jacob (Lk 1:33; 1 Peter 1:13-17).
Anti-Torah Christians serve the anti-Christ’s agenda which is to trick believers into defiling themselves through disobedience through wilful ignorance, to incur the righteous God’s penalties (1 Cor 3:17).
MEEKNESS (humility) and LOWLINESS (modesty), which are prized character traits of the Divine Nature, are never taught independently of the checks and balances which the Fear of God (Reverential Awe producing awareness of the imperative need for obedience, and the certainty of reproof and punishment) impresses on one’s soul (Lk 1:48-52).
The redeemed from the nations are bound by the “everlasting covenant” to submit to sanctification by the Spirit to prove the sincerity of their repentance (Acts 26:18,20; 2 Thess 2:13-15; Heb 13:20,21) by allowing the Holy Spirit to purge and cleanse them by the “washing of the water of the Word” (Eph 5:26,27), to purify them by teaching them the supreme moral law by showing them how to apply the TEN Words of the marriage covenant given to us all on Sinai (Deut 4:10,13,14), and the FOUR Levitical table fellowship regulations in Acts 15:20, making FOURTEEN fundamental proofs of loyalty to the God of the one faith (Eph 4).
We have outstanding rôle models, first in David whose intense love for God’s precepts (Ps 1; 19; 23; 119) should shake us out of our poisoned view of law, and the resulting complacency-riddled state into which we’ve been seduced; then we have the Son of David, Whose perfect Personal obedience is the ultimate challenge to our faith, to embrace perfection of covenant behaviour as reasonable, possible and necessary (Lk 6:40; Rom 11:1,2; Eph 4:11-14; Col 1:28,29; 4:12; 2 Tim 3:14-17; 1 Jn 3:3).
David treated God’s laws as creative opportunities for his mind to be furnished with wisdom and understanding and for his heart to be purified for his soul to be fashioned into the likeness of the heart of God (Ps 111:10; 119:96-105; Jn 10:35).
As a type of Messiah, we can confidently emulate the passion for a lawful walk, that made honourable David so deserving of the tribute : “I have FOUND David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, who shall fulfil ALL My will” (Acts 13:22).
We’ll come no-where close to matching David’s (or Abraham’s) legacy of faithfulness (Gen 18:18,19; 26:5), unless we put passages like Ps 101 in our mouths and live what we say.
Those who say the “everlasting covenant” is NOT both spiritually AND intellectually challenging (Deut 4:23,24; Heb 13:20,21), are following a different gospel and a different spirit.
As an illustration, no-one is authorized to teach a convert, that eternal life is UNCONDITIONAL.
Rev 3:2-6,16 is sufficient proof.
The rule (obedience to the faith) was set for the body of the Messiah in Ex 19:5-8 when Israel was incorporated as a nation, and has been continually reinforced ever since.
It is “willingness and obedience” (the test of faith & faithfulness) that settles who will finally be acknowledged as YHWH’s “people of inheritance” (Deut 4:20) – we have to “enter into the covenant and into His oath (to make us His special treasure)” by covenant-keeping (Deut 7:9-15; 28:1,2, 9,10; 29:12-15; Heb 2:1-3; 5:9; 12:25-29)
Even Paul, the mighty exponent and proclaimer of doctrinal purity (Eph 4:11-14; 2 Tim 3:10,14-17), did not claim “full assurance of hope” ’till its CONFIRMATION in his life close to the end of his walk, when his examination of his walk agsinst the Scriptural benchmarks, by the witness of the Holy Spirit with his spirit (2 Cor 13:5), VINDICATED his hope by AFFIRMING that he had finally attained the goal of his “labour” in the Word by “striving for masteries” of “the Way” to be “dead with the Messiah” to all sin which is lawlessness (1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Cor 5:9-11; 2 Tim 2:5; 1 Jn 3:3-10).
Only then could he ASSUREDLY CLAIM to have “fought the good fight” against deception and temptation, to have “finished the race” by having “kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:3-8).
ONLY THEN could he confidently anticipate being crowned with the “crown of righteousness,” to appropriate the promise of entry into the Everlasting Kingdom, to escape from the second death by being “accounted worthy” of the first resurrection with “the blessed,” who are “holy and blameless” (Matt 19:16-26; 25:10-12; Lk 10:25-29; 20:35; 21:36; Eph 1:4,5; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 3:9-18; Rev 20:6).
Read Phil 2:13-15 & 3:10-17; 1 Peter 1:2,4-9,13-17,22 for confirmation that the salvation of the soul is the GOAL of “obedience to the faith” under trial by salting with fire (Mk 9:39; 1 Peter 1:4-9) by which we are transfigured from glory to glory, precept-by-precept, into the express image of God, to REMAIN in Christ by walking lawfully after the Spirit (Jn 15:3-14; Rom 1:5; 8:4-15,29; 16:26; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17)
Oversimplification and distortion of the facts by naysayers who rashly dispute the DECISIVE rôle which God’s commandments and ordinances play, under grace (Rom 2:13; 3:31; 1 Cor 7:19; 11:1,2), in shaping true sons who serve Him acceptably (Heb 12), will not pass unnoticed.
The “excellent laws” of the Kingdom of heaven (Matt 6:10) given for our sanctification, to mold our behaviour to match our imputed righteousness, as proof of repentance (Ps 15; 24; 106:3; Acts 26:18,20; 1 Jn 2:28,29; 3:7,10) with the perfection of holiness in mind (Rom 2:6-15, 26; 6:12-22), are given in order to replicate “pillar” households with the vision and knowledge of “the Way,” for the Spirit to navigate a REMNANT of the redeemed in these perilous latter days of Noah (Matt 7:13,14,21-27; 24:35-37), towards realization of “the promise of life” and immortality, on the narrow path (Rom 2:14-15,17,18,26; 3:31; 7:12-16; Phil 1:9-11; 1 Tim 1:1,10; 1 Peter 4:17,18; Rev 3:10-12; 12:17; 14:6,7,12)
ALL God’s commandments are truth and righteousness (Ps 119:172), so that once we’re reconciled by faith, as law becomes love as love becomes law (Jn 14:21-24; 1 Jn 5:3), those commandments BECOME our righteousness (as our righteousness is “revealed” through them in word and deed by walking as Jesus walked – Rom 1:17; 15:16-18; 1 Jn 2:3-6), to “BECOME our life in Him, and the length of our days” (Deut 6:24,25; 30:19,20; 32:47; Prov 4:13).
In the end, as it is written: “He will justify the righteous (i.e. justify His faith in our bona fides in calling Him Master) to reward us according to our righteousness” (1 Kings 8:23,32; Jn 5:24-29; Rom 2:6-13; James 2:8-26).
“Walking before Him with all our hearts” is synonomous with keeping covenant with Him by keeping His commandments, to abide (remain) in the Vine (1 Kings 8:23; Jn 15:3-14; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17).
Doctrinal consistency and continuity are unbroken from Genesis to Revelation.
Over and over He reminds us that He “keeps covenant and mercy with those who keep His covenant” (Deut 5:2-22,29; 7:9-15).
The church has all but forgotten, or has dismissed the phrase “covenant keeping” with thinly veiled contempt, in favour of a PHILOSOPHY of grace that has little or nothing to do with maturing souls “unto a PERFECT man, unto the measure of the Stature of the FULLNESS of Christ,” in perfect agreement with Him, in doctrine, which is what “the unity of ‘THE FAITH’ ” means (Eph 4:11-14)
If anyone is really sincere about knowing what RESPONSE our Father expects to His commandments through which we are to learn the Fear of God which is essential to keep us on the narrow path, to do all His will (Eccl 12:13; Matt 12:50; Rev 14:6,7,12), we should probably look LONG AND HARD at Mal 1:6
“A son honours his father and a servant his master. If then I be (not just a father, but) FATHER (of the family of heaven and earth – Eph 3:14,15), WHERE is MY Honour; and if I be (not just any master, but) MASTER (of all, as you confessed I am – Rom 10:9), WHERE is MY Fear? saith the LORD of hosts…since ye have not sought the law from My Mouth (as Job – Job 22:21-25; 29:1-6 and Abraham – Gen 26:5 did) nor kept My ways but have shown partiality (bias against law by misinterpreting what it means to be “under grace” and “under law”) (your carnal mind at enmity against Me because it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be; and yet you CLAIM to be “in” Me and led by My Spirit (Mal 1:6; 2:5-9; Rom 3:20b; 7:7,12-16,22,25 – 8:4,6,7,14).
HONOUR and submission, in the Fear of God, has a SOUND, best heard on high, by the phrases “YHWH Echad” (from “Hear O Israel, YHWH your/our ELOHIM is YHWH, the One-and-only” God) (Deut 6:4,5), and for emphasis “Ein od,” “there is none other/none else beside Him” (in Deut 4:35,39 Is 40:25).
The great Proclamations of the Supreme Sovereignty and Unity of Israel’s God and His indivisible two-part composite love command (Matt 22:35-40; Mk 12:28-34); and of our awesome respect for Him and His ways unashamedly summed up as “FEAR of God” (Reverence and Godly Awe – Is 8:13,14,16,20), has a corresponding “CONVERSATION” (holy covenant lifestyle), to be learned in detail and maintained at all costs, to avoid mixing Zion and Babylon (Ps 50:5,23; 2 Peter 2&3; Rev 18:4,5 KJV).
This week’s Portion is setting us up to finally be convinced that anyone who preaches a guaranteed, UNCONDITIONAL offer of eternal life, is an emissary of satan, because anyone who denounces the laws of the Spirit of life that bring rest, refreshing and liberty (Ps 119:45; Is 28:9-12; Jn 8:31-36; James 1:22-25; 2:8-12), as irrelevant to sanctification for final redemption, for the liberation of Creation from its bondage to corruption by man’s defilement by lawlessness, “has NO LIGHT in them” (Ps 104:30; Is 8:13,14,20; Rom 8:4-23; Rev 12:17; 14:6,7,12).
A Perspective on Deuteronomy 1-3, taking a long view of History
The Synergy of the Ages
Isaiah 41:4; 43:10,11; 44:6-8; Rev 1:17,18
“Who hath wrought and done it, CALLING THE GENERATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING? I the LORD, the First, and with the Last; I am He”
Psalm 145:4
4 “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts”
Ecclesiastes 1:4
4 “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever”
As seed of Abraham by adoption (Rom 11; Gal 3:29), we’re ALL members of the “everlasting covenant” (‘chaverim B’rit’) through faith in the Hebrew Glad Tidings (Gospel) of the ﹰﹰLORD Y’shua-Jesus as Saviour, and soon returning King of Jacob (Is 41:21,27; 52:5-10,13-15; 53; Lk 1:32,33; Jn 4:22; Rom 9:4,5; Heb 13:20,21), as ingrafted members of the everlasting household of the dynasty of Abraham and David which is the household of YHWH, the God of the Hebrews (Lk 1:33; Eph 2:11,12,19).
To honour God and our ancestry through whom He chose to give us life, and to avoid desecrating the brick and mortar of our homes which He’s given us to minister peace to us (as a safe refuge and sanctuary of rest and nurture of fine values and aims), we are to learn how to “behave ourselves wisely, in a perfect way,” to “walk within our homes with perfect hearts” by being instructed out of His good laws (Job 22:21-27; Ps 94:12,13), to ‘square’ every aspect of our lives with His everlasting covenant which is “ordered (with certainty to be absolutely reliable) in all things (in every part)” for our ultimate good as well as for the good of others (2 Sam 23:5; Ps 50:5,23; 101; Rom 3:31; Col 1:28,29).
This is critically important because the righteous legacy of faithful households is the foundation of righteous nation-building (nations which “keepeth the truth”), without which there is no hope for personal or national well-being (2 Chr 7:14; Prov 14:34; Is 26:2,3).
There is a far tighter relationship between the three sub-divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Torah; the Writings; and the Prophets) and the Books of the New Testament (“the New Covenant of the House of Judah and the House of Israel” – Jer 31:31-34), than most Christians have been led to believe.
In Deut 1:3-5, we discover how, by recitation to the “church of the House of Jacob in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38; Is 14:1; Rom 11 – to which WE’RE joined through the Hebrew New Covenant by adoption through baptism into Y’shua-Jesus), just before having to ascend Mt Abarim/Pisgah to die and not enter Israel’s set apart Landed inheritance (Nu 29:7-13; 27:12-14; Deut 3:24-29 – as the penalty for just one episode of impatience, irritation and disobedience), Moses REITERATES (recapitulates) the righteous laws of the coming Kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6,7; Mk 11:10) which the nation and their co-heirs would have to keep as PROOF of love for God (Lk 1:33; 1 Jn 5:2&3), to ensure continuous possession and blessing (Deut 4:10,13,14; 26:16-19; 27:1-26) – HOLY LAWS ratified by the New Covenant along with “the promises to the fathers” (Rom 3:31; 15:8); precepts which will one day distinguish Israel as “chief of nations” (Is 2:2-4; 28:9-12; Jer 31:7,10,17; Micah 4:1-8; 7:8-20; Haggai 2:7-9; Lk 1:33; 2:32) by the RIGHTEOUSNESS of those Godly laws (e.g. Deut 27:15-26); and Israel, by their WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING of those immutable laws based on the Ten Words (Ex 34:27,28,32; Deut 4:5-8,10-14) which, as anticipated by Moses in Deut 18:18,19, Y’shua-Jesus would “magnify” by ‘filling them to the full’ (fully expounding them by enlarging upon them) from first principles in the Torah, as illustrated in the sample Sermon on the Mnt (Is 42:21; Matt 5:17-20; Acts 3:22,23; Rom 3:31).
In a parallel act, as His final Word in Matt 28:18-20, just before His Ascension, the Resurrected Messiah confirms the importance of His Torah-grounded teachings, for His disciplers to “fully know doctrine” (“all things whatsoever I have commanded you”) (e.g. 2 Tim 3:10,14-17), to be WORTHY of the vocation of disciplers of nations, in order not to inadvertently lead them into error and apostasy (1 Tim 4:16).
Matt 28:20 therefore contains an implicit warning that His Presence is not to be presumed upon.
He’s with those who are with Him by being ‘all in’ as covenant devotees, through the Spirit, in the holy Fear of God (Deut 7:9-15; 29:12-15; 2 Chr 15:2; Ps 50:5,23; 119:29,38,45,94-105; Rom 8:4-14; 1 Peter 1:13-17,22).
He’s with us for as long as we demonstrate good faith by “following on to know Him” (Hosea 6:1-3) by continuing in His Word (Is 64:5; 1 Jn 2:3-6), to eradicate all error and unbelief that would distort and bring discredit upon the Gospel and His Holy Name (Rom 2:6-13,26; James 1:25).
We see evidence of redeemed, righteous ABRAHAM’s zeal for Torah (Instruction in righteousness) before our very eyes in the New Covenant, in the love for God by his household (the House of Jacob, his seed, the proclaimers-in-chief of the ‘Shema/Hear’ – Mk 12:28-32; Eph 2:11,12,19) PROVEN by delight in His laws as the apple of their eye (Prov 7:1-3), taken to heart to renew the spirit of the minds of the thousands of redeemed Jews in whose faithfulness to the covenant, Peter James and John boasted in the LORD, including Paul (Acts 20:21-24; Rom 7:12-16,22,25).
All those mentioned in Acts 20:21 were “weaned from spiritual milk” by imitating the delight in obedience to “precept-upon-precept, line-upon-line” (Is 28:9-12), of their LORD and Saviour (Ps 40:7,8), as we too are urged to do “through the Spirit” (Rom 3:31; 8:4-14; 1 Cor 7:19; 11:1,2; 2 Thess 2:13-15).
Their zeal for Torah (“Instruction in righteousness”) and conversely, for the means to accurately define sin to be convicted of both, by the Spirit, when walking wide of the mark in worldliness (Jn 16:8), WAS IN DEADLY EARNEST.
It had to be, to be sure to IDENTIFY unrighteousness (sin, which is lawlessness) to know what ‘falling short of the mark’ comprises (Rom 3:20,31; 2 Cor 13:1,5; Phil 3:8-17; 2 Tim 3:14-17), to accurately discern the boundary between the narrow and broad paths, in order to “win the Messiah” by winning “the crown of righteousness” in a well run and finished race (1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Tim 4:3-8).
Their zeal for the knowledge of Father and Son by acquiring deeper and deeper revelation- knowledge of their WAYS (1 Cor 15:34; Jn 12:44-50; 1 Jn 2:3-6) sprang from deep gratitude for the remission of their “sins that were PAST” (Rom 3:25); and in anticipation of mercy and grace for the cleansing of the unrighteousness of any UNINTENTIONAL RELAPSES into sin (1 Jn 1&2) by the sprinkled Blood of “the Messiah our Passover” through Whose forgiveness their transgressions were “blotted out” and forgotten (Ps 103:12; Is 43:25; 44:22) by justification by faith in His Blood and Resurrection, “from all things from which they could not be justified (and your conscience purged and cleansed) by the law given through Moses” (Acts 13:39).
THAT’s why righteous Abraham, as “father of us all,” set the example of what it means to “walk before Me and be thou perfect,” by learning “the Way of the LORD” (Gen 17:1; 18:18,19; 26:5; Matt 5:19,48), which Jesus AS “the Way, the Truth and the Life,” demonstrates to us to perfection for us to “see the Son” as our Rôle Model of righteousness (1 Jn 3:7) through close attention to the Word (Lk 20:21; Jn 6:40; Acts 24:14; 1 Jn 2:3-6).
Those thousands of Pentecostal Jewish believers were under no illusion how “great a salvation” the setting aside of the “first” system, to admit the “second” (Heb 10:9), meant in practical and spiritual terms, to produce unprecedented peace of mind (“My peace I give you…”) through “hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and bodies cleansed with pure water” (Jer 31:33,34; Heb 9:14; 10:9-11,14,22).
That erasure of guilt was never possible under the former annual system of repetitive atonement for sin that couldn’t provide the ABSOLUTE REMISSION and therefore the COMPLETE REDEMPTION AND EVERLASTING RELEASE enabled by the sprinkling of Heaven’s Mercy Seat by the infinitely better Atonement by the spotless Blood of the Jerusalem Passover Sacrifice of the Messiah as the Lamb of God (Heb 9:12; 10:1-4).
The redeemed firstfruits of Israel weren’t about to “neglect so great a salvation” (Heb 2:1-3), as so many Christians from the nations have done, as prey of disinformation, through suppression of truth and proliferation of gross misconceptions of the delicate balance between law and grace in the genuine full counsel, both of which are needed to bring us to the goal of perfection of faith in obedience to the faith (Rom 1:5,16:26: James 2), for the purification of our souls by covenant-keeping, for the “transfiguring of our (fallen human nature), from glory to glory” (2 Cor 3:18), to bear the “express image” of YHWH in Christ (Rom 8:4,29; Heb 1:1-3), to restore our identity (“in Our Image and after Our Likeness”) which was forfeited by the corruption of Adam’s character (Gen 1:26).
Adam was created innocent, but erred in spirit and lost his innocence through disrespect for the righteousness of God’s law.
We were made CLEAN by the Word of faith (Jn 15:3), and had Adam’s original innocence attributed to us as the Righteousness of God, when we were reborn.
When we were baptized by full immersion, even the Divine Nature (mature Godly character) was imputed to us, for us to safeguard and develop through ongoing covenant obedience which is the womb of stable, virtuous character (Gal 3:27; 4:19).
We can just as easily lose it all, by treating His commandments as irrelevant or inconsequential, and thereby compromising Christ’s character in us and not remaining in His love (Jn 15:4-14).
No wonder we have to contend with and for Phil 2:12,13, in fear and trembling.
Adam was banished from Eden (Gen 3:22-24). We can just as easily be banished from the final Eden, the New Jerusalem, for diminishing and neglecting the laws of life through which liberty is assured to covenant keepers (1 Tim 1:8-11; James 2:8-12; Rev 22:14,15)
The multitude of reborn Jews in Acts 20 were well aware that being SEALED FOR IMMORTALITY by the “firstfruits of the Spirit” was a rescindable, revocable covenant provision in the event of GRIEVING the Spirit by resistance to truth and therefore, persistent lack of co-operation in the essential preparatory work to enter “the Everlasting Kingdom,” which requires mastering the righteousness of God’s ways (“striving for masteries”), to attain “true holiness” (the prize of the high calling that crowns us with full assurance of hope) in order to reign virtuously with Christ in glory (2 Cor 5:9-11; Eph 1:13-15; 4:23-30; 2 Tim 2:5; 2 Peter 1:1-11; 3:9-18).
At the very least, they all knew that the sublime absolutism of the Supreme Moral Code of the Ten Words (the ‘Ketubah,’ or Marriage Covenant for a virgin bride) “given in commandmenT” (Ex 20; 34:32; Deut 30:10,11; 2 Jn vs 5&6), is given as an INDIVISIBLE ORDINANCE (Is 24:5), and that all who dissent and disturb and DIVIDE that unity, “have no light in them,” for lack of the Fear of God, for halfhearted study of the terms of separation for true sonship (Is 8:13,14,16,20; 29:13; Heb 12; Rev 14:6,7,12).
Torah ratified by the New Covenant cannot be broken (Jn 10:35). Those who break the chain of obedience from antiquity, break faith. Breaking the marriage covenant by arrogantly disputing Ex 20:8-11’s claim to the seventh day as the one-and-only Holy Sabbath of the one faith (Eph 4), is beyond reckless
Woe therefore, to anyone who through WILFUL ignorance or complacency boasts against the natural olive tree and its branches, by continuing to defy the true Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment (Matt 12:8; Heb 1-4,6,9-11), thereby both misusing and polluting Shabbat (Is 56:6; 58:13) by calling “the first day of the week” the ‘Christian Sabbath,’ to try to justify keeping the doctrine and tradition of men.
James confirms this principle of integrity of faith & faithfulness as a joint-obligation, in his reference to “the Royal Law” (which comprises the Fifth to Tenth commandment), in James 1:22-25; 2:8-26.
Every day is therefore potentially “a day of salvation,” in that we are to “work out our own salvation in fear and trembling” in reverence and Godly Awe, rightly fearful of “NEGLECTING so great a salvation” and thereby FORFEITING its offer of “escape” from the second death, by “FAILING the grace” (by which we were purchased back/ Ransomed from darkness by the redemption which is in the Blood of Y’shua-Jesus) available to “work righteousness” as proof of faithfulness “worthy of repentance” (Ps 15; 24; 106;4; Acts 10:35; 26:18,20; Heb 5:9; 10:26-31,36-39), to attain HIS PURITY, by sanctification by the commandments, to overcome sin which is lawlessness, to win “the crown of righteousness,” to lay hold on eternal life (Lk 20:35; 21:36; Acts 10:35; Rom 2:13,26; 3:31; 15:16-18; Phil 2:12,13; 2 Tim 4:3-8; Heb 2:1-3; 3 12:14,15,28; 1 Peter 1:2,14-17,22; 1 Jn 2:28,29; 3:3-10)
All of which is summarized by John Wesley, as follows:
“The righteousness of Christ is necessary to ENTITLE us to Heaven (by surnaming and adoption); personal holiness (sanctification by being doers of righteousness, to be pure as the LORD is pure – 1 Jn 3:3,4,7), to QUALIFY us for it”
Every one of us represents a family and a history and heritage that dates back to the creation of Adam.
Therefore, every one of us has cause to ‘raise our Ebenezers’ to the LORD in thanksgiving for bringing US, and therefore our particular family LINE in our family TREE, “thus far,” helping us and keeping us alive under grace, to receive correction of worldly ways, to LEARN “the everlasting covenant” and God’s ways, to abide in the Vine, to walk in the light in order to acquire Godly virtue to “behave ourselves wisely in a perfect way” like David (Ps 101; Acts 13:22), to attain the holiness without which “no-one will see the LORD” (Ps 119:17,18,77,78; Jn 15:3-15; Phil 3:10-17; Col 1:21-24,28,29; Heb 12:14; 1 Jn 1-3; 2:3-6)
“Then Samuel took a STONE and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He NAMED it EBENEZER, saying, “THUS FAR the LORD has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12)
Ebenezer is only mentioned three times in the Bible. By definition, Ebenezer means “STONE of HELP”
Y’shua-Jesus is “the Shepherd and STONE of Israel” (Gen 49:24; 1 Peter 2:6) Who is our “God and Saviour” (Is 45:21; Titus 2:13), the God of HELP to Jacob (Ps 146:5), Incarnate as the Word-made-flesh, as the Messiah through Whom our trust and hope is in God (1 Peter 1:20,21).
He has become our Ebenezer.
The background of the meaning and significance of Ebenezer begins in 1 Samuel 4 with Israel and the Philistines.
In one of the most poignant passages in the Bible (2 Sam 7:18-29, a ‘must read’), David offers ‘an Ebenezer’ to God for protecting, nurturing and endowing his family lineage with holy vision and the great grace to see it fulfilled by his royal dynasty in time to come, as “the coming (Messianic) Kingdom of our father David” (2 Sam 7:18-21,23-29; Is 9:6,7; Mk 11:10), just as He has vision from heaven, and corresponding purpose and plans for US, to prosper and not to harm US (Jer 31-33; Eph 1:11; 3:20; 3 Jn 2).
Our lives were and are still lived ‘on credit’ under grace (“But by the grace of God I am what I am…” – 1 Cor 15:10), under covering of the Holy Spirit and the Blood and baptism that remitted our sins, in the solemn expectation that we would return to the One God and Saviour by adoption as children, to be holy and blameless PRACTITIONERS of His righteousness, because the Almighty God and King of Jacob no longer allows ignorance of the knowledge of God to pass unnoticed (Is 41:21,27; Acts 17:26-31; 1 Cor 15:34; Titus 2:11-15).
As Job correctly discerned in Job 10:14 :
“If I sin, then Thou markest me, and Thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity (unless I return and repent to be guiltless)”
“But if ye will not do so…be sure your sin will find you out” (Nu 32:23).
Sin is a serious matter in the life of a household, a lineage and a nation (Prov 14:34; 1 Jn 1-3).
If we refuse to obtain “the knowledge of sin” AND of righteousness by study of God’s “holy, just, good, spiritual laws” (Rom 3:20b; 7:7,12-16; 1 Cor 15:34; 1 Tim 1:8-11; 2 Tim 3:14-17), we’ll inevitably sin and not necessarily recognize the need to repent, thereby entrenching defilement of our temples of God’s Spirit, which in the end could spell destruction on the broad path (1 Cor 3:17).
Not keeping our repentance up-to-date, is potentially spiritual suicide.
There’s a reason why our God is pre-occupied with the spiritual PURITY of the “pedigree” of the lineage of His dynastic patriarchal household (Num 1:18,52; 2:2; 1 Jn 3:3-10; Lk 1:33; Gal 3:29).
Moses ‘saw’ Israel domiciled in their Land, as Balaam had done by vision, from Pisgah (Nu 23:14; Deut 3:27).
But whereas, after showing signs of being faithful to the One God of Jacob, Balaam was destroyed by rebellion (through treasonous counsel to Israel’s enemies by which he forfeited “the death of the righteous” – Nu 23:9,10; 31:8; Heb 6:4-8; Rev 2:14), Moses’ virtually impeccable track record of righteousness would, on balance, pose no threat to his salvation and inheritance of the Land, in future.
He’s even visited the Land in the interim, on the highest Kingdom business (Lk 9:28-36).
YHWH’s pre-occupation with RIGHTSTANDING in “the paths of righteousness” (Ps 23:3; Lk 20:21; Acts 10:35; 1 Jn 2:28,29; 3:7,10) is reflected in Moses’ being unctioned by the Holy Spirit “on THIS side of the Jordan, in the land of Moab,” to proclaim “ALL that YHWH had given him ‘in commandmenT’ (i.e. as an indivisible whole), for the generation who were about to cross over into their inheritance to UNDERSTAND THE TERMS OF SEPARATION, as we too are required to do (Deut 1:3-5; 12:28-32; 30:10,11; 34:27,28,32; Matt 28:20; Rom 3:20b,31; 2 Cor 6:14-18; James 4:4,5; 2 Jn vs 5&6).
In short, the earth, not just Israel, was created to support a RIGHTEOUS population.
Perversion of righteousness by rebellion (i.e. ‘changing the ordinance’ – Is 24:3-6), turns the earth AGAINST humanity.
Israel’s ENLARGEMENT many times over in future (Gen 22:16-18; Deut 1:10,11; Jer 33:22-26), would depend on ratification of their New Covenant through which “the mystery of the Messiah” would be the incorporation of a remnant (a latter-day “mixed multitude” – Ex 12:38) from the nations, responding to “the call to glory and virtue” (the vocation of holiness/mission of sanctity – Eph 4), to be one with the House of Jacob, the natural olive tree, as “one new man” (Is 14:1; 54:3; 55:5; Rom 11; Eph 2:11,12,15,19; 3:1-10; 2 Peter 1:3-11).
Our intimate connectivity with history through the synergy of spiritual faithfulness and integrity, is in the receiving of the BATON of righteousness and its corresponding blessings, PASSED DOWN as a heritage and testimony by Godfearing forebears who comprise the great cloud of witnesses (Deut 7:9; 2 Chr 15:2; Heb 12).
Every generation since the birth of Seth and Enos (when, following the disgrace of Adam, “men began to call upon the Name of the LORD” – Gen 4:25,26), has had an equal opportunity through the mercy of God which made inheritance of His righteousness by faith, an open offer (e.g. Enoch, Noah and Abram), to be RESCUED from the curse of the Adamic nature, because the curse and the blessing operate in CYCLES (curses filling any vacuum caused by unGodliness) – curses “to the third and fourth generation” of those who disregard the Almighty, needing to be stopped in their tracks for mercy and blessings to continue for “a thousand generations of those who love and obey His commandments” (Ex 20:5,6; Deut 7:11-15).
How?
By our corrupted, impaired, compromised human nature being voluntarily TRANSFIGURED (“if you’re willing and obedient” – Is 1:19) into the Divine Nature/Holy Character (2 Cor 3:18; 2 Peter 1:4), to contribute (by sharing His holy traits) to the advancement of the righteousness of the Kingdom of YHWH (Matt 6:33) which one day soon, due to the “consumption” of the wicked by Judgment of their iniquity, transgression and sin, will triumph over all unrighteousness and be vested, as an “everlasting” reality (Dan 9:24).
Everyone of us was born in the image of fallen Adam (Gen 5:1; Ps 51:5).
The New Covenant makes a way where there seemed to be no way, to undo six thousand years of degeneration of the human spirit, through our regeneration by water and Spirit through baptism (burial) into Y’shua’s Death, to be raised to moral resurrection through exercise of righteousness by the Spirit (Heb 5:11-14), to be perfect to be “as He is,” even now (Lk 6:40; Rom 6; Eph 4:11-30; 2 Tim 3:14-17; Titus 3:4-8; 1 Jn 4:17).
We all look forward to that Day of everlasting righteousness which will begin with the inauguration of the millennial Kingdom age after vindication of Israel’s inheritance of all of Canaan in the battle of Armageddon, when the Monarchy of the second Kingdom of the dynasty of David, is restored to Jerusalem as an everlasting Theocracy, for our LORD Y’shua-Jesus to Reign over the earth forever as Ruler of the House of Jacob (Ps 59:13; Is 9:6,7; Micah 5:2; Lk 1:32,33; Mk 11:10).
The spiritual drama of Israel’s Passover redemption followed by their re-education in “the Way (of YHWH)” under grace in the wilderness (foreshadowing our walk to freedom through obedience to the faith – Jn 8:31-36,51; Rom 1:5; 6:12-22; James 1:22-25; 2:8-12) for a remnant to be qualified to enter into and possess the promised Land, is the PATTERN for “everlasting salvation” (Is 45:17-23; Phil 2:6-9) and access to the ETERNAL inheritance, restricted to those who “choose life” (Deut 30) by being faithful to adhere to the narrow path to be “chaste virgins” (1 Cor 11:1,2; Col 1:28,29; Heb 5:9; Rev 17:14).
We ‘spy the land’ and YHWH’s promise of “hope and a future,” by meditating the spiritual meat in Torah Instruction as even Abraham “the father of us all,” did (Gen 26:5; Rom 4; Heb 5:11-14), which confirms again and again that OUR pre-occupation, for the love of God (1 Jn 5:2&3), is to learn His ways at all costs (Lk 14), to find the liberty (rest and refreshing) promised to those who obey His precepts in the holy Fear of God (Ps 119:1,45; Is 28:9-12; Heb 12:14,28; Rev 14:6,7,12).
Every family TREE is a mixture of Godliness and unGodliness (Lk 12:49-53).
The generational threads of lineage are a portrait of righteous opportunities gained or lost.
The goal of course, is household salvation followed by CONSTANCY in sanctification by the commandments, to finish the race by keeping the faith (Rom 1:5; 1 Thess 4:1-3a; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13-15; 2 Tim 4:3-8).
History is the process of winnowing the wheat (Matt 3:12; Mk 9:49).
History is therefore best explained by the ebb and flow of righteousness.
History will culminate in iniquity reaching its vilest depths in these latter days of Noah (Matt 24:37), for “everlasting righteousness” to VINDICATE obedience to the revealed will of God, and faith in Y’shua (Rev 12:17; 14:12).
The baton of righteousness is therefore a precious legacy (the greatest parents can leave us) upon which each generation is expected to build with diligence as an act of honouring parents while they’re still alive, but especially, posthumously (Eph 6:2,3), to fulfil its obligation to be a link in the chain of redemption of mankind and the Universe (Rom 8:4-23).
Perhaps the greatest proof of this conclusion, is the destruction of an entire generation in the wilderness (Nu 14), for treating the righteousness of YHWH with contempt, by provoking Him ten times, as if once wasn’t one too many!
An entire link was removed FROM the chain, to PRESERVE the chain.
Attainment of the eternal inheritance is therefore a GENERATIONAL PROJECT of “perfection of holiness” (Matt 5:19,48; Lk 6:40; 2 Cor 7:1).
One way or another, each ancestral pathway in the vast gene pool of civilization, feeds into its downstream, like the headwaters of a river, for the redeemed in every generation to be accounted for as co-heirs with Israel in the House of Jacob (Lk 1:33; Rom 11), to whose Twelve Tribes we’ll ultimately assimilate, for access to the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:12), just as the “mixed multitude” did in the Exodus (Ex 12:38), to be accepted with Israel, to cross the Jordan to partake of their promise, to jointly possess their inheritance (Rom 15:8,27).
This is why we’re learning to distinguish between covenant precepts on the one hand, and doctrines, traditions and commandments of MEN, on the other (Is 29:13; Mk 7:6,7,9,13; Col 2:8,22).
Each of the generations which the Creator-Father of all the family which is in heaven and earth has “brought forth,” has had its own challenge to be restored to favour with Him, AND TO RETAIN THAT FAVOUR.
Israel’s trials in the wilderness illustrate the necessity to know and to keep covenant, to RETAIN one’s sanctification without which no-one will see the LORD (Deut 7:9-15; Rom 15:16-18; Heb 12:14,28; 13:20,21; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29).
Deut 1-3 also alerts us to the resistance and discouragement from darkness which inevitably awaits those who “wait for God’s mercy” to bring us into the eternal inheritance (Deut 2&3; 1 Peter 1:13,14; Jude vs 21).
Obedience is required, to the end, or we shall not be overcomers of resistance to our acquiring holiness, to endure in faithfulness, to the end (Matt 24:13; 1 Peter 1:14-17)
That is the main message of Revelation
HalleluYaH for the beauty of Holiness (“be ye holy because I am holy”), which must be OUR greatest quest or we are not of His Spirit.
Just as He was, so we too, as “the sons of God,” are to be declared to be so, “with power according to the Spirit of HOLINESS, by our resurrection from the dead” (Rom 1:3,4; 8:4-23; 1 Jn 3)
The Rôle of VIRTUE, in business conducted and projects built” ‘by My Spirit,’ says the LORD, ‘NOT (carnally) by Might, nor by Power” (Ezra 5:2; Zech 4:6; Rom 8:6,7; 2 Peter 1:3,5,10,11).
Dive with us into Deut 8:17,18 (the principal Word to business) to see what the Hebrew reveals in verse 18, in the words: “koach la’asot chai’l,” which were spoken by the One “Who “called us by and to His own Glory and VIRTUE (moral excellence)” (2 Peter 1:3).
We’re going to discover that the right perspective to have of business is that every day we’re given breath to engage in what we believe is our life’s work (Mk 13:34: Eph 1:11), is a step towards being brought to “the unity of the faith” through “the knowledge of the Son of God, to be a perfect man in the measure of the STATURE of the FULLNESS of (God in) Christ (the Messiah)…” (Job 8:20-22; Ps 101; Eph 3:19; 4:11-14), ESPECIALLY in BUSINESS.
This is the promise of Ps 90:17 and Rom 3:31 in the words: “And let the beauty and delightfulness and favour of YHWH be upon us. Confirm and establish the work of our hands – yes, the work of our hands LORD, please establish it”; and “Do we then by faith make the Law of no effect (in the lives of the redeemed), overthrow it and make it a dead letter? Certainly NOT! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law” (confirmed by Jn 14:15,21-24; Rom 2:13; 7:22,25; 8:4; James 1:22-25; 2:8-26; 1 Jn 2:3-6).
Immersion in study of the laws of the Kingdom from Genesis to Revelation (Ps 119; Matt 5:19; 13:44,45,52), which includes the Masterbuilder’s wisdom, understanding and knowledge which is from above (Ps 127:1; Prov 3:19-21; 24:3,4; James 1:5-7,22-25; 3:17,18) to master living “in but not OF the world,” in commerce, is vitally necessary because that which is called the knowledge of the world will be found more often than not to make men CUNNING, not GOOD.’
The revolutionary truth, is that instead of business being a daily eight hour plus DETOUR and exemption from serious spirituality, it’s actually intended to be the greatest CONSISTENT DEMONSTRATION of ‘Applied Faith,’ to the Gospel’s call to “live and walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:25), to REVEAL the righteousness of God in action (Ps 106:3; Rom 1:17; 15:16-18).
A little thought will persuade you that OF our experience of life in the range of activity that generally occupies us during a sample week, our VOCATIONS and all they demand of us are the most intensive and extensive challenge to the application of Biblical principle
Just as Adam was given care of Eden, we are engraved in the Palm of God’s Hand, to CARE for and be exemplary STEWARDS of the entire resource-base of Creation, not just of the Earth, His Footstool (so watch out Elon Musk), and everything DERIVED from it by application of health, imagination, insight, knowledge, reasoning & experience, enthusiasm, physical and emotional energy and effort, time and money.
We speak about “getting down to business,” and about pursuing closures of deals and expediting plans and their strategies, as “the business end of things,” but the term “business” isn’t breathed even once, anywhere in the Scriptures, except by convention, not by translation from the original tongues.
Beware of words that name, because descriptors are satan’s last refuge of deceit, the malevolent political chicanery of the coinage of ‘Palestine’ (Palestina of the Plishtim of the Plain of Philistia) being amongst the most profoundly damaging instances, to belief in the truth, by the occult art of dissimulation, as a “hiding place” of truth (truth smothered by the camouflage of cognitive conditioning revising the world’s perception of history) (Is 28:16,17)
‘Business’ is no different.
That noun’s etymology (linguistic origination) is Old English ‘bisiģnis,’ from ‘bisiģ’ (feminine) which means ‘busy,’ to which -ness was added as a suffix.
But ‘bisigness’ USED TO mean ‘solicitude,’ a noble, compassionate term, the state of being solicitous (implying complaisance, the inclination/willingness and desire to help) meaning, as a matter of principle (i.e. under compunction), to show regard (interest or concern) and considerateness by being anxious/alarmed and concerned about something or someone.
One of the greatest examples in Scripture would be Ps 122:6-9 where “Shaalu shalom Yerushalayim'” in verse six literally means “Enquire after the well-being of Jerusalem.”
Only a shadow of these properties of probity, unselfishness and consolation in that Old English word, have survived the passage of time, in today’s common colloquial useage of the word.
Now, generally, the meaning ascribed to ‘business,’ though primarily with commercial connotations, includes anything ‘marked by activity,’ in which one is more or less ‘constantly and fully occupied’ (on any day of the week, the true Sabbath being almost universally disregarded, and the false sabbath no more than an extension of the Babylonian business week), ‘actively pursuing an occupational interest’ whether lay or professional.
The focus on organizational ethos, perks, efficiency, speed, worldly business doctrine and operating philosophies, competitive advantage at almost all costs, profit maximization vis a vis market share penetration, self-actualization (self-made success) and arising from that, to greater or lesser extent, economic fame, with only some socially responsible sacrifice budgeted, for the common good, skewed more and more by man-pleasing WOKE- agenda-sensitivities now a pressing consideration to hold one’s relative market position, are all markers of ‘business’ in our proud, materialistic covetousness- and idolatry-prone twenty first century’s race between the desperate urgency of Biblical education (to avoid being brainwashed by the hectic, internet- enabled rush for carnal head-knowledge), and utter disaster as the wages of sin (Dan 12:4; 2 Thess 1:8-10; 1 Peter 4:17-19; Rev 6-19).
Much of which is cultural absorption of Babylonian principles and concepts which to the un-anointed, aren’t OBVIOUSLY the OPPOSITE of what being “led by the Spirit” to “walk after (i.e. in the Way of) the Spirit,” entails (Lk 20:21; Rom 8:4-14; Gal 5:24,25), the core tenet of which being WAITING on and for, and Hearing God (Prov 8:32-36; Matt 17:5; Acts 3:22,23) meaning that “he that believeth shall NOT MAKE HASTE,” or we conduct ‘business’ after the flesh, not with the mind of Christ through direction and empowerment by the Spirit (Rom 8:1,9,14).
As the months go by and the birthpains of the millennial age begin to bite, many will be forced by humbling circumstances to start pealing away the layers of encrustation of their minds by prejudice and error inherited by tradition and peddled with great sophistication as necessary for success, to turn from disobedience to the wisdom of Rev 3:10 to find Divine protection and assurance (Jer 16:19; Lk 1:17; 1 Tim 6:11-14; Heb 5:11-14; 6:1-11).
Running the spiritual race to win the crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:3-8), “remembering the Name of the LORD our God” (Deut 8:18; 1 Cor 9:24-27), isn’t even close to the worldly definitions of goal-setting and executing priorities as most do, “trusting in chariots and horses” on the broad path (Ps 20:5-8; Matt 7:13,14).
Isaiah 28:16-18 King James Version
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious corner Stone (Gen 49:24; 1 Peter 2:1-11), a sure foundation: he that believeth shall NOT MAKE HASTE
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall SWEEP AWAY THE REFUGE OF LIES, and the waters shall overflow the HIDING PLACE
18 And your COVENANT WITH DEATH shall be DISANNULLED, and your AGREEMENT WITH HELL shall not stand…”
You’ll notice how by operating by the Spirit, by waiting on and for God, Isaac was led to create PHENOMENAL wealth (“an hundred-fold” – Gen 26:12-14), to further establish the promises made to Abraham and his seed (Gen 12:1-7; Rom 15:8), to establish the law of inheritance (cut in the blood covenant God made with Abraham – Gen 15:7-21; Ps 105:8-11) in the eyes of the nations (e.g. Abimelech in Gen 26:3,4,11,16,26-33, king of the Philistines whose territory, the coastal plain of Philistia, is modern- day Gaza which belongs to Judah – Zeph 2:4-7).
This is the ulterior motive/purpose of our call to obedience to the Spirit, in Acts 5:32 & Rom 3:31.
We’re not to be about solely creating wealth in our workaday business life, but by doing it in such a way (His way, according to “THE Way if YHWH” that made Abraham very rich – Gen 13:2; 18:18,19; 24:34,35) that it ADVERTISES the ways, means, well-being, provision and obligations of the COVENANT (Heb 13:20,21; 3 Jn 2), to help prepare the world for the epic rollover from satan’s hegemony, to Y’shua-Jesus’ PHYSICAL Reign on Earth as the Greater David and Solomon, with Israel glorified as the reinstated Royal hub (“former/’first’ royal dominion” – Is 46:13; Micah 4:8; Lk 1:32,33; 2:32; Acts 1:6,7) of the Hebrew commonwealth of YHWH (Ps 57:13), for global government of the nations from Jerusalem, as Hebrew Capital of the age to come (HaBirah ha’Ivrit shel ha’olam haBa) (Is 9:6,7; Micah 4:1-8; 7:8-20; Mk 11:10; Eph 2:11,12; Rev 11:15). . We’ve all received grace through the Great Apostleship of Christ, to be “obedient to the faith” in ALL we think say and do (Rom 1:5).
Business STEMS from the dominion mandate in Gen 1:26, and as we submit to walk “the paths of righteousness” (Ps 23:3) to be conformed back to the image of the Living God our Creator-Redeemer-Sanctifier, by learning and living life according to the pattern of “the Way” which Jesus showed us, to be cleansed and sanctified by His Holiness en route to our finish line (Lk 20:21; Rom 8:29; 1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Tim 2:5; 4:3-8; 1 Jn 2:3-6), business has the potential to significantly affect the extent and pace of redemption of the entire Creation, from its bondage to corruption by defilement by mankind’s sin (Rom 8:4-14,18-22).
Jews, who are called to spearhead ‘the repair of the world’ (tikkun ha olam) are God’s greatest demonstration of His commercial gifting, and within THEIR prayer tradition (which has become ours as their co-heirs, “cleaving to the House of Jacob” – Is 14:1; Rom 11) is a prayer (below) which describes the potential catalytic rôle of those who have “the power to get wealth” :
“Through repentance, may I be cleansed and sanctified through Your Holiness from on high, (my soul purified from any uncleanliness, to serve You in truth and righteousness), so that through me, through decisions and actions true to Your covenant (Rom 3:31; Heb 13:20,21) and worthy of a vessel of honour (Rom 9:21; 2 Tim 3:20,21), there may flow a rich stream of regeneration and renewal through ALL WORLDS You have made (Matt 19:28; Acts 3:21; Heb 1:1-3; 11:3), to rectify Your WHOLE CREATION from dross and defect, for all things to be imbued with Your sublime Holiness (set apartness for glory) through the “everlasting righteousness” of which we are Your witness nation” (Ps 104:30; Is 44:1-8; Dan 9:26; Lk 1:33; 1 Jn 3:7).
ANY business decision which is CONTRARY to and which DIMINISHES the wisdom of the liberating precepts of “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” which underpins the “everlasting covenant” (Ps 119:45; Matt 5:19; James 1:22-25; Heb 13:20,21), is morally reprehensible and anti-Christ, because WORLDLY CONDUCT of business originates in pride and the love of money, in satan’s commerce and mismanagement of his fiduciary responsibilities, in heaven (Is 13:12-17; Ezek 28:13-19).
Business becomes covetousness very easily.
When we DISREGARD THE LAW OF TRUTH by corrupting and holding the holiness of the covenant in contempt, thereby “profaning the holiness of the LORD,” as in the past (Mal 2:5-12; Heb 10:26-39), we bring shame upon the very brick and mortar (“for the stone shall cry out from the wall”) and timber of our own homes (“and the beam out of the timber shall answer”), making all we own “a proverb and a byword” to the LORD and others (Hab 2:6,9-11).
It’s significant that so many references to breaches of private homes by breach of covenant, occur in the Prophets (e.g. Jer 9:19; Amos 3:6-15; 6:8-11; Nahum 2:6; Zeph 3:7).
It’s as if God has made the report-back to Himself by and from the houses we call home, the decisive test of our spiritual condition, like the soil of Sodom and Gomorrah that cried out to God for deliverance from the sins of sodomy, pride and selfishness (Gen 18:20,21; Rom 8:21,22).
Our homes are meant to be oases of righteousness that minister (serve) delight, contentment, security and peace to us, not cesspools of uncleanness and idolatry that CONDEMN us.
Science says matter has intelligence and memory. What worldliness we entertain and pick up and bring home as contamination of our spirits, souls and bodies (undoing 1 Thess 5:23), doesn’t go unnoticed!
The WORST POSSIBLE thing we could say “in our hearts” about our achievements, would be:
“…MY power and the might of MY hand hath gotten ME this wealth” (Deut 8:17)
We know what trouble king Nebuchadnezzar brought upon himself when he did just that, a form of idolatry
30 The king spake, and said, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of MY power, and for the honour of MY majesty? 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, ‘O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee’ 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, UNTIL YOU ACKNOWLEDGE that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever HE will”
(Dan 4:30,31)
The BIBLICAL fathers of the faith, whose humility and integrity our God commends and commemorates, were wise to that self-reliant, self-appraising, solipsistic, prideful human fault – the revolting culture of ‘me and mine.’
Abraham (a Gentile Iraqi who was already a Hebrew by responding to the call as “Abram,” as are we, by crossing over from death to life – Gen 14:13; Jn 5:24; Gal 3:29) and his Hebrew seed Isaac and Jacob, were highly favoured, iconic entrepreneurs, amongst many other superlative firstborn abilities in their anointed gift sets as in “to every man according to their SEVERAL ability” (Matt 25:15,29).
Their giftedness would become known as the product of the ‘mishpat bachor,’ the irrevocable anointing of the consecrated true heir to the birthright of the firstborn male,” which is a double-portion of grace for “excellency of dignity and excellency of power” (Gen 49:3) which distinguishes the House of Jacob to this day as the remnant elect nation of Ex 19:5-8; Lk 1:33, the natural branches whose unique order- and purpose-in-election is irrevocable, and agsinst whom we are not to boast, on account of God’s love for their fathers (Rom 11:18,29-31).
Few of us were ever told that Abraham is the pioneer of “the Way of the LORD” (Gen 18:18,19; 26:5) the detail of which Jesus, the Seed of Abraham (Gal 3:16) ‘filled to the full’ (refined by amplification) (Matt 5:17-20) on original instructions from His Father through Abraham (Gen 18:18,19).
No coincidence therefore that “the one faith” into which we have been adopted amongst Jacob (Gen 28:14; Is 29:22-24; Lk 1:33; Rom 11; Eph 2:11,12,19), is more accurately defined as the Messianic Nazarene Way (Acts 24:5,14), than as Christ-ianity.
So the three fathers’ curiously wonderful economic dominion, each under very different circumstances, was no accident, but a reward for “walking before God” to “be perfect” by keeping covenant, to sanctify the Name of the One God, as the pattern for us (Gen 15:1; 17:1; Deut 4:39; Matt 5:19,48; 6:9,10).
In other words, the combination of faith in YHWH, and the VIRTUE of the fathers whose promises of inheritance of the nations and of the Universe as a Hebrew reality (Is 54:3; Matt 19:28-30), Jesus was sent to confirm (Rom 15:8), are the BASIS of their extraordinary testimony which included economic dominion (Gen 1:26).
The Gospels teach us that there are times when it will be prudent to be “as SHREWD as a serpent and HARMLESS (and by implication, as INNOCENT and GENTLE) as a dove” or, for that matter, a lamb, since Jesus’ essential quality of gentleness, we’re told, was evident to all (Matt 10:16).
This seems like an extreme contradiction in terms.
Not necessarily.
The ‘shrewdness’ of YHWH is in an entirely different class.
Matthew 10:16,24,25 and Lk 6:40 which call us higher to be “as our Master,” alert us to the need to always rely exclusively on Divinely INSPIRED, usually counter-intuitive direction (at the risk of our thought process seeming stupid to the world), so that “the Cross of Christ should NOT be deprived of its force and emptied of its power and nullified and made of NO EFFECT,” because “wisdom from above” RELEASES the power of God to “destroy the wisdom of the wise, the learning of the learned, the sophistry of philosophers, the cleverness of the clever, and bring to nothing, the discernment and understanding of the logician and debater (and worldly business genius)” BECAUSE to create testimony for Himself, “God makes foolish the wisdom of this world” by demonstrating that what SEEMS to be the “weakness” and “foolishness of God,” is certain to “confound the wisdom of men” and eclipse their mortal strength (1 Cor 1:17-30).
Deut 8:5,6,16-18 sheds light on what His expectations are of a businessman, namely, unswerving conscientious living for righteousness (Ps 15:1-5; 106:3; Acts 10:35; Rom 6:12-22; 15:16-8; 1 Peter 2:24), to be holy, under the guidance of the HOLY Spirit in the timeless moral law (Job 22:21-27; Rom 2:13; 3:31; 8:4-14; 1 Cor 7:19; Heb 12:14,28; 1 Peter 1:13-17; 2 Jn vs 5&6).
Instinctively, we ought to know that in that maxim about the serpent and the dove, SHREWDNESS/cunning must be GOVERNED and therefore justified BY THE CRITERION OF HARMLESSNESS (as in “do thy neighbour no harm”) if we’re not to be tripped up by “friendship with the world” by TAKING, rather than petitioning God to provide His way, in His timing (James 4:2-5), or we “fail grace” by not remaining innocent (Heb 12:14,15), by not reflecting the heart, mind and therefore the image of Christ (1 Cor 2:16; Rom 8:29).
It’s all to easy to CONFUSE and EXCUSE presumption, as bearing one’s cross (Matt 16:24-27).
It’s impossible to fulfil “the call to glory and VIRTUE” (2 Peter 1:3) by meeting the Biblical test of virtue, without the patience and longsuffering needed to remain in the joy of the LORD in a state of thanksgiving (Eph 5:20; 1 Thess 5:16-18; Heb 13:16) when our knowledge of the everlasting covenant quickened by the Spirit (Heb 13:20,21) points to circumstances requiring that we FORBEAR, and DEFER PERSONAL GRATIFICATION to serve a higher good, hence the axiom: “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning (or, an inheritance gained early), but the end thereof shall NOT BE BLESSED” (Prov 20:21).
This goes hand-in-hand with the judgment of God on the matter, that instititutionalized competition (any form of structural rivalry such as markets are, for those who don’t know how to relate to and sanctify them, by their being unredeemed, in and of the world) is demonic (James 3:13-16), reflecting the economic philosophy and practices of Mammon (1 Tim 6:3-19).
Gain is not equivalent to Godliness unless we “strive for masteries” of Godliness, with CONTENTMENT (1 Tim 6:5,6; 2 Tim 2:5 & Heb 13:5), which requires considerable faith and patience to maintain integrity by “holding to the covenant” (Is 56:6).
Overtly competing for market share is covetousness.
But if one is led by the Spirit in the vision and ways of God, to fulfil our personalized purpose- in-predestination in the commanded work received from the Son of Man as our vocation (Matt 25:14,15,23; Mk 13:34,35; Rom 8:4-14; Eph 1:11; 3:20), a business need never PERCEIVE itself as having competitors and act as if it itself were a competitor, because daily, early, Spirit-led prayer and guidance (waiting on God “more than watchmen wait for the morning” to receive the “certain rate” of spiritual manna at daybreak/sunrise – Ex 16:4-23; Prov 8:32-36; Is 50:4,5) will carve out success and a living BY THE SPIRIT, and NOT by carnal power and by might (Zech 4:6).
Few of us have even BEGUN to tap into the great grace described by that promise.
There should never be a ‘fight’ for market share through perception of others as adversaries in a culture of suspicion and espionage.
That would hardly be conducive to loving one’s neighbour as oneself and “preferring others” and “looking out for the well-being and prosperity of others” (without anxiety, knowing that a man reaps what he sows); and without that, we vitiate the promises and relapse into “the ways of the Gentiles”
We have a choice: “prosper in the world” (Ps 73:12), operating in worldly paradigms, or prosper through steady application of the covenant (constancy in the commandments – ), to “put on the new man which after God (God’s own image) is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Rom 8:29; Eph 4:23,24), to be in but not of the world, to attract the favour reserved for true sons who’ve paid the price (Lk 14:27,33; Heb 12).
There’s no reward for supplanting Biblical tradition.
YHWH’s economy is extremely time-sensitive, because in the roots of the Hebrew New Covenant with which the Gospel must agree (Jer 31:31-34; Acts 17:11; 24:14), responsibility is given in particular to firstborn male believers, to lead the community in “the Way of the LORD” as Abraham (who knew the original and only Sabbath) did (Gen 18:18,19), for Israel and their commonwealth to keep the Almighty’s Own Appointments Holy (Ex 23:12-17).
God’s ‘Sabbatical economy’ (‘kalkalah ha Shabbat ha mechabedet’ – the Biblical economy of Zion which is bounded/bookended by the perpetual, sanctified and blessed Genesis 2:2,3 Sabbaths, NOT Roman/Protestant Sunday counterfeits) in which Israel flourishes from Sat-Friday mid afternoon as the pre-eminent start-up economy, from the Biblical first day of the week to the sixth day of the week, carries the overflow of the incomparable blessing (Is 58:14) which is upon the Fourth Commandment (Ex 20:8-11; 31:13,16; Is 56:6; 58:13,14; 66:22-24; Mk 2:27,28; Heb 4:1-11).
So look at the following gem, hidden in the Bible’s most powerful statement about ANY FORM OF ENTERPRISE:
“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God, for it is HE Who giveth thee power/s (ability, insight, access, creativity, holy inventive power/witty wisdom – Prov 8:12; 10:22) to get wealth VIRTUOUSLY (chai’l being a compound noun binding the concept of virtue to tangible wealth and visa versa, which is why Hebrew teaching is so deep and very compact)” : in Hebrew, virtuous holy power (Koach Kadosh) to get wealth is “Koach Kadosh la’asot CHAI’L”
Chai’l is the same Hebrew word used to describe the ideal, righteous, enterprising wife and mother (a type of the wife of the Lamb) in the prophetic eulogy in Prov 31:10-29 spoken over the mother by her admiring and loving husband, in the seventh day-Sabbath eve dinner liturgy, the untransferable, unchangeable Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment (Ex 20:8-11) that the church arrogantly abandoned by betraying the Word and the Apostles by following Rome’s counterfeit on “the first day of the (official Biblical working) week,” the result of Rome’s influence by Hellenism which is offended by the depths, purity and clarifying power of Biblical Hebrew tradition symbolized by the Shabbat covenant sign (Ex 31:13; Acts 16:20,21; 2 Thess 2:15).
Friday evening-Saturday evening according to Genesis (“there was evening, and morning…” because God’s days are not measured from midnight to midnight as pagan culture has done) forever being the TRUE Sabbath “made for man(kind)” (Mk 2:27,28) INDEPENDENTLY of the Jewish people, before there was a Judah-ite (Jews descended from Abraham’s grandson Jacob’s son Judah) as so much as a twinkle in Abraham’s eye!
The unique sanctity and double-portion of shalom-shalom of the foreordained, DESIGNATED Shabbat, makes it the antithesis of slavery to sin and therefore, the blessed, true 24 hr Intermission of the Biblical weeks, the EXACT SEVENTH on which our Maker refreshed HIMSELF, for it to be our first imitation of God (Eph 5:1,10; Heb 4:1-11), as the everlasting sign of our sanctification by the Father, for preservation in the Son (Jude vs 1) as a covenant in its own right WITHIN the “everlasting covenant” (Ex 31:13,16; Is 56:6; Heb 13:20,21).
See how Shabbat is conspicuously singled out in Is 56:6-8 a prophecy to the endtime church in general and to believers from the nations in particular:
“Also the sons of the stranger (i.e. foreigners as in Jn 10:16; Eph 2:11,12,19) that join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him and to love the Name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one who KEEPETH the Sabbath (Is 58:13,14; 66:22-24; Matt 12:8) from polluting it, AND who takes hold of My covenant (Heb 8:8-12; 13:20,21)…”
So Shabbat is not just WITHIN “the everlasting covenant” as a whole, but due to the singular pedigree of its unique sanctity as the cornerstone legacy-precept through which all the promises made to Abraham (whom Malki Tzedek most likely blessed on Shabbat – Gen 14:18-20) will be fulfilled (Is 58:14; Gal 3:16) as it perpetually orders the Divine procession of time (Ex 31:16), it is the ‘holy hinge’ within the MARRIAGE COVENANT of Ten Words, together with the related Fifth Commandment (Lev 19:1-3; Eph 6:1-3), where Shabbat, the greatest “covenant of promise” – Is 58:14, is implied, from Eph 2:12.
Shabbat which, incidentally, is the ordinance providing statutory protection for the earth (Is 24:5), is given to man (Mk 2:27,28) to MARVEL at the distinction between Creation-from-nothing on Shabbat and creation-from-something, as He blesses HIS Sun-Frid post- and pre-Sabbatical working week to empower those who keep HIS Shabbat intact and holy, with the Holy KOACH (see definition above and below) to be creatively industrious in BY FAR the most significant ways, in the UNLIMITED promise of Deut 8:18; Is 58:13,14.
For what purpose in particular?
To remind us from Is 33:20/Lam 1:1-5/Matt 5:35; 12:8 that “Jerusalem (“the Princess of the Provinces”), the City of OUR Solemnities,” YHWH’s Splendour, the Dwelling Place of Right(eousness)” (Ps 137:5,6; Is 1:26-27; Zech 2:12; 8:2,3,8) that weekly demonstrates Shabbat by TOTAL LOCKDOWN OF ITS ECONOMY according to the commandment, to meet the two chief requirements for the Messiah to enter His City on His white stallion (Jer 17:19-27; Neh 13:15-22; Matt 12:50; 23:39; Rev 19:11-13), is a challenge to the ENTIRE WORLD and its CAPITALS to anticipate Sunday being CANCELLED as a sabbath, and forever relegated to nothing more than the head (Yom Rishon) of the working week (Is 66:22-24), for despising God’s rulings.
Neither will it ever again be be coined as ‘our (weekly) Resurrection day’ which is yet another Gentile fiction, since the covenant ordains only an official ANNUAL rememberance of the Resurrection, on the “Feast of Firstfruits” (Bikkurim) which falls during the seven days of the Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread which Jesus has commanded us to keep, through Paul’s Gospel which was endorsed by James, Peter and John (Gal 2; 1 Cor 5:7,8)
If there are those who STILL wonder why such an issue is being made of Shabbat in the context of Deut 8:18, it’s because reform (repair of breach – Is 58:12-14) must precede lasting revival since disobedience never goes unnoticed because breach of the economic ban which is the CORE of the commandment pollutes the holiest of commandments (Ex 20:8-11; Is 56:6 KJV; Jer 17; Neh 13), and because the Fouth Commandment wasn’t broken even by Jesus’s closest handmaidens, even in His death, despite the best intentions (Lk 23:54-56; 24:1), because it is the ‘threshold covenant’ (Ex 31:16; Matt 12:8) that provides the first answer to Ps 42:2,4 (to settle which church is serving the truth, to avoid falling into apostasy), which tests our loyalty to God and our commitment to sanctification by the Spirit by belief of the truth (2 Thess 2:13-15).
It should be the first decision after baptism (which secures our adoption), to set one’s course on the NARROW path, for “full assurance of hope, to the end” (Matt 7:13-27; Heb 6:11).
Wilfully ignorant breach of Shabbat is breach of ALL Ten Commandments because they’re given AS ONE, “in commandmenT,” for the REDEEMED to be fully obedient (Ex 34:27,28,32; Matt 5:19; 28:20; Rom 3:31; 2 Jn vs 5&6; James 2:8-12).
We’d be making a fatal mistake if we imagine that the Sabbath issue is inconsequential.
Breach is an invitation to be “cut off” for “not continuing in the LORD’s kindness,” by boasting against the covenant and Israel its chief steward (Jer 31:31-34; Rom 9:4,5; 11:18,22,29).
The Father is DEFERRING judgment to allow us ample time for repentance and course-correction (Is 42:14; 48:9; 57:11; 2 Peter 3:9-18) so we are not destroyed.
The reality is that God is ‘giving all things on collateral.’ He is extending credit like a shopkeeper. He will call in the debt. Though our certificate of debt (record of wrongs; bill of charges) was nailed to the Cross, again “going out of the Way” by falling back under the power of sin (Rom 3:12; 1 Cor 6:12; Gal 2:17,18) exposes us anew to sanction by the curse of the law of sin and death.
God keeps a perfect record of our deeds and ultimately, when the Books that determine whether our names remain forever in the Book of Life, are opened (1 Jn 2:3-6,17; Rev 3:2-6; 20:12), we will have to pay the price because “our sin,” which is transgression of the law, “WILL find us out” (Nu 32:23).
Unlike Israel (historically held to the highest moral standards – Nu 14:22-37; Acts 5:1-11), because WE from the nations are not punished IMMEDIATELY for our misdeeds, we who don’t put fear of sin before wisdom, may be tempted to believe that that grace is justifying our UNSOUND doctrine
DISPUTING the Word and holding truth in CONTEMPT, is always REBELLION (1 Sam 15:22,23), the surest way to subvert one’s own soul and impose one’s own limitations (Ps 78:8,40,41; 107:11).
If you’re still sceptical, look up Tuesday in any reputable dictionary with historical depth, and it will be defined as the THIRD day of the week. Even a child could put two and two together!
Facts argue their own rebuttal.
There can therefore be no doubt that Shabbat is a ‘logical necessity,’ meaning a truth that will outlast its naysayers, because Sunday, the ADVERSARY’s trumped-up OPPOSITE of Shabbat, is inconceivable if one has truly set one’s heart and mind on historical accuracy and doctrinal purity.
“A false interpretation will inevitably betray itself” (Trench)
As the first Biblical mention of holiness AND the first commandment for mankind (not just Israel) framed in Scripture (Gen 2:2,3), Shabbat, the jewel of the moral law as the ‘Prologue’ to God’s perpetual Holy Convocations, is the locomotive of highest national attainments, as PER CAPITA Jewish economics proves
Despite its relatively tiny size, not much larger than New Jersey, and its population (9m) not much bigger than New York City (8,5m), Israel has become a global technological and entrepreneurial powerhouse. The recent Bloomberg Innovation Index, an annual ranking of countries that measures performance in research and development, technology education, patents and other marks of technological prowess, listed Israel at #5 in the world.
On a per capita basis, Israel’s economy – which produced some $500 billion last year – grew 4.4% versus an OECD average of 2.6%.
That, of course, is all due to God’s mercy and grace (Is 42:14,15; 48:9; 57:11), not due to their own righteousness (Rom 10:1-3), and for their sake, Israel’s remarkable success must not lull them into deadly complacency, because their rejection of their Messiah and their wandering away from many of the righteous laws by which they are yet to be known as a wise nation (Deut 4:5-8; Is 2:2-4), will soon bring the worst ever “time of Jacob’s trouble” upon them (Jer 30; Dan 12; Zech 9-14; Matt 24; Lk 21), to “vex” them until they believe the Report (Is 28:19; 53:1-6 KJV) that the Lamb of Is 53 (verses 8-11) is their Incarnate God and Saviour, as it is written in Is 7:13,14; 45:17-25, and expounded more fully in Phil 2:6-15 & Titus 2:11-14 in their own New Covenant writings (Jer 31:31-34).
Since, as YHWH’s Personal Testimony-in-Chief as Creator-Redeemer (Ex 20:8-11; Deut 5:12-15), the covenant of SHABBAT is the PORTAL (Ps 25:10,14) to the deepest understanding of the Everlasting Gospel (Rev 14:6,7,12), Everlasting Salvation (Is 45:17-25), the Everlasting Covenant (Heb 13:20,21) AND the Everlasting Kingdom (2 Peter 1:11), it is indisputably the crown of the moral theme running throughout Scripture, continuing unbroken into the millennial age and beyond, on the New Earth (Is 66:22-24).
So we dare not defile ourselves and Creation (Is 24:5; 1 Cor 3:17; 7:19) by condoning continuing attempts to justify “changing the ordinance” to nullify THIS covenant, by the PRESUMPTION that Sunday is acceptable to the Legislator of the Sinai marriage covenant as a SUBSTITUTE or RIVAL sabbath – our “LawGiver and Judge” being Pre-Incarnate Jesus, “the Shepherd and (Cotner)Stone of Israel” (Gen 49:24) Who shadowed (followed) Israel in the wilderness as the spiritual Rock from which they drank (1 Cor 10:1-4).
Speaking of which, it was MORAL POWER, not brute force, that raised Jesus for our justification (Rom 4:25)
Moral power is defined by VIRTUE, which defines true and faithful sons who worship in Spirit and in Truth (Heb 12)
The Purity of uncompromised morality PROJECTS power (Mk 5:30; Lk 6:19; 8:46).
Impeccable character can’t BUT raise the dead.
Those who did so yet weren’t yet as pure as the Master (1 Jn 3:3,4), had to have purity imputed to them by grace, to do so, in the hope that they would continue in “the Way” of Holiness, having their character steadily refined to become perfect, to be “as the Master” (Matt 5:48; Lk 6:40)
Business is not a separate specie of sonship. Christian morality and ethics aren’t compartmentalized. Righteousness is as universal and absolute as Truth itself, which is why they are matched (Zech 8:8).
Moral power is likewise available to dignify and raise up formidable, magnanimous Christian business-people who devote themselves to learning the Fear of God (Deut 4:10; 5:29; 7:9-15; 13:4; Ps 34:11) by learning the qualities of virtue (uprightness/righteousness, purity, honour, fairness, justness, honesty, probity, integrity, goodness, scrupulous, trustworthy, unsullied, blameless) from study of “precept by precept” (Is 28:9-12; Matt 5:19; Rom 3:20b,31; 1 Cor 7:19; 11:1,2; 2 Thess 2:15), to release the fruits of the Spirit by UNLEARNING “the way/s of the heathen/Gentiles” (Jer 10:2), to remain undefiled by sin, to obtain irrefutable testimony to establish God’s covenant which He swore to the fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, so that by learning to keep “the Way of YHWH,” “He may bring upon ABRAHAM that which He hath spoken of (prophesied over) him.”
Boadly speaking, that vast prospective blessing is prophecy that we from the nations will indeed become “heirs of the world” amongst the House of Jacob, Abraham’s dynasty in which Jesus emerged in the house of David, to rule the House of Jacob forever on the Throne of David He will soon restore to Jerusalem (Gen 18:18,19; Deut 8:18; Ps 119:1,38,45; Is 9:6,7; 28:9-12; 33:6; Mk 11:10; Lk 1:32,33; Rom 1:3,4; 3:20b,31; 4:13-16; Rev 14:6,7,12).
The vocational gifting and cognitive capacities and leanings granted, for each of us to be so different (1 Cor 4:7), to make a difference, find provision, and ‘get ahead’ economically, is justified (like life itself) only if we renew the spirit of our minds to conduct life and our economic activity VIRTUOUSLY, to vindicate and “establish” the greatness and beauty of the holiness of the “everlasting covenant,” as the only way to navigate life, to receive the crown of righteousness and the crown of life (Ps 119:17,53,77; Matt 7:13-27; Rom 12:1,2; Eph 4:23,24; 2 Tim 4:3-8; Heb 13:20,21).
The Passion of Christ for US, is meant to be translated into zeal (passion) on OUR part to “count the cost” of bearing our crosses, in pursuit of perfection of holiness (= set apartness by obedience to precept – Rom 2:13,26; 6:12-22; 8:4-14; 2 Cor 7:1), through the knowledge and application of “the Way” of the Kingdom of which Jesus is the Cornerstone as the Living Torah (=Instruction/Word), or we have neither HEARD and nor “SEEN,” nor LOVE or KNOW Him (Job 42:5; Matt 7:21-24; 17:5; Lk 6:40; Jn 5:24; 6:40; Acts 3:20,21; 21:20; Rom 3:31; 1 Jn 3:3-10; 5:2&3
If we miss this, we miss the architecture of the complete plan of redemption, namely :
Because YHWH created the entire Universe for the House of Jacob/Israel (Is 54:3; 55:5; Lk 1:33; Rom 9-11), its progenitor – righteous, law-abiding, covenant-keeping Abraham (Gen 18:18,19; 26:5), has been made the FULCRUM, in Christ, of the ENTIRE plan for redemption of humanity and the universe, which is why we’re defined as his seed (Gal 3:29).
All we’re being asked to do in the love of God (Mk 12:28-34; 1 Jn 5:2&3) to fulfil our duty to keep “the Way” (Eccl 12:13; Ps 103:17,18; Gen 18:19; Lk 12:47-53; 17:7-10), is therefore ultimately for the sake of the FOUNDING fathers of the faith, whom He loves (Deut 4:37-39; Rom 11:29), not ‘the church fathers’ who’ve done so much to lead the enlarged House of Jacob (Lk 1:33, Rom 11) into apostasy, through Rome.
So the challenge is to search out the PRECEPTS (not just the promises), to keep the SCRIPTURAL identikit of VIRTUE before our eyes as the plumbline for a chaste virgin bride, for God’s laws to be written on our hearts by Holy Spirit, to make them the apple of our eye, just as they are to Jesus our LawGiver and Judge (Ps 40:7,8; Prov 7:1-3; Jn 5:28,29; 2 Cor 11:2; Col 1:21-23,28,29; Heb 8:8-12; 10:16; James 1:22-25; 2:7-26).
In all the Bible accounts, baptism is ministered with great urgency (e.g. Acts 22:16).
“Now” means now.
Jesus’ own immersion, our pattern, obviously the highest priority, as He said: “Suffer it to be so NOW, for THUS it becometh us to fulfil ALL righteousness” (Matt 3:15,16).
In other words, becoming “an heir of the righteousness which is of faith” is contingent upon FORGIVENESS which is contingent upon fulfilling the ordinance of a believer’s baptism of REPENTANCE, without which there cannot be REMISSION of sins.
Being born again (Jn 3:3-7) is clearly equated with salvation as the OUTCOME of both believing (through a good confession before witnesses as per Rom 10) AND receiving “the WASHING of regeneration and renewal by the SPIRIT” (Titus 3:5) through the New Covenant baptism of repentance for the remission of sins as proof of the sincerity of repentance and commitment to learning “the Way,” to keep covenant (Lk 20:21; Rom 3:31; Heb 13:20,21).
After all, baptism is the grace for ADOPTION, which through supernatural heart circumcision (during our crucifixion through burial with Christ) which “puts off the body of the sins of the flesh” (Col 2:11) to “condemn sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3), PREDISPOSES us to be willing and obedient to the Spirit (Acts 5:31,32) for the holy, just, good, spiritual laws of God to be written on our hearts as the apple of our eye (Prov 7:1-3; Rom 7:12-16; Heb 8:8-12; 10:16), for “the righteousness of the law to be fulfilled in us” in word and deed as it was in Jesus (1 Jn 2:3-6) through the Presence and power of the Holy Spirit, “to fulfil all righteousness” – as Jesus said (Matt 3:15; Acts 10:35; Rom 2:13,26; 3:31; 7:22,25; 8:3-14; 15:16-18; 1 Jn 2:3-6,17,28,29; 3:3-10).
No-one can abide in the Vine without baptism into the Kingdom, in water and Spirit, to be made clean (Jn 15:3-14; 1 Peter 3:21; Heb 10:22).
The Divine EXCHANGE of the Divine Nature for the sin nature, by imputation of righteousness, occurs during baptism (Gal 3:27; Rom 6:4-7), which is why salvation is formalized THEN AND THERE, according to the pattern for redemption in the Passover and Exodus, whereby Israel, saved by grace through the Passover Blood of sprinkling, was redeemed from their adversary to be raised to newness of life, through baptism into Moses in the Sea (1 Cor 10:1-4).
Just so, we are the elect through sanctification of the Spirit unto both obedience and sprinkling (1 Peter 1:2).
Had Israel not been baptized in the Sea, their enemy would have destroyed them.
Their baptism foreshadows ours.
Ignoring the revelatory pattern in the Hebrew Scriptures, will condemn us to the consequences of being on the broad path, by default (Matt 7:13,14).
In YHWH’s mercy, baptism is not a suggestion!
Had Israel not been baptized in the Sea, their arch enemy would have destroyed them.
Their baptism foreshadows ours.
Ignoring the revelatory pattern in the Hebrew Scriptures, will condemn us to the consequences of being on the broad path, by default (Matt 7:13,14).
In YHWH’s mercy, baptism is not a suggestion!
More’s the pity that it’s so often delayed and/or treated as a subordinate procedural principle.
The LORD’s own ministry having OF NECESSITY to have BEGUN WITH HIS IMMERSION to be revealed (“made manifest”) to Israel (Matt 3:13-17; Jn 1:29-34), as a critically important sanctification issue (Jn 17:17,19), should get our attention.
The eunuch had the right idea, sharing the Holy Spirit’s great sense of urgency (Acts 8:36).
In fact, Providentially, Philip appeared on the scene under direction by the Angel of YHWH (Acts 8:26-40) expressly for the purpose of establishing the eunuch in this, the first step of righteousness, towards sanctification “wholly,” “spirit, soul and body” (Rom 15:16-18; 1 Thess 5:23), having believed Is 53 (Acts 8:32-38).
That cameo, like many others in Scripture, such as Acts 16:30-33 and 22:16, leaves no-one with an excuse for interpreting baptism as separate from salvation.
Baptism is as important to us, as the Ark to Noah, and the staff of YHWH, to Moses, for the salvation escape of the House of Jacob through the Sea
