In Proverbs there are many helpful instructions for believers covering almost every area of our lives. It is a perfect daily reading for every month with 31 chapters! It is often called the book of wisdom being written mostly by Solomon who was known as the wisest man who ever lived. 1Kings 4:29-34.
In 1Kings 10 we are told that the queen of the south/Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because of his reputation; and so did many others from far and wide.
He had insights from the Lord because wisdom is what he asked for in relation to being able to rule Gods people with righteous judgments. 1Kings 3:1-15.
There is a scripture in Proverbs 27:6 which says
Faithful are the wounds of a friend but deceitful are the kisses of the enemy.
What are these wounds?
It takes grace to give Godly correction; and it takes greater grace to receive it. Unlike David, in 2 Samuel 12 who accepted Nathan’s correction and humbled himself when confronted with his issues, many people will not.
Wounds of a friend– Pats’ai‘ohav פצעי אוהב
Proverbs 27:6: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of the enemy.”
Today, with life’s unending difficulties and pitfalls, it causes many to be stressed out, and at times wondering when it will all stop. We should remember that Paul encouraged us all that without patience and faith, it is impossible to please God? Hebrews 11:6.
If we ‘know’ something, then clearly we don’t need faith to believe and wait for an answer. Faith is needed when we don’t understand what is happening to us or our loved ones, when there seems no rhyme or reason for the problems; or when there seems to be one thing after another piled on top of each other with no space to even come up for air. We can always look and find there are those worse off than wherever our situation is. Natural disasters that are happening worldwide, are leaving devastation and causing chaos for thousands, many with little hope of assistance or recovery. We often use our idiom of, ‘it never rains but it pours.’
These are the crises times when we need strong faith in our Heavenly Fathers ability to intervene and come to our aid and rescue us.
Maybe we can handle one, maybe two trials but when these hard testings come one right after the other, there is a choice to either begin to curse God or to hold tighter onto Him. Job being the prime example.
Strong faith is built up over time, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word. Romans 10:17. We must have His Word planted deep within our very being. Just as muscles are built up by hard, tough exercise, we must exercise and strengthen our faith muscles long before we find ourselves in any crisis.
In the Hebrew text of Proverbs 27:6
At the beginning of the verse there is an interesting word, amen or faithful. So it reads:Faithful or amen are the wounds of a friend.
נֶ֭אֱמָנִים
Proverbs 27:6 HEB:נֶ֭אֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵ֣י אוֹהֵ֑ב NAS:Faithful are the wounds of a friend, KJV:Faithful [are] the wounds of a friend; INT:Faithful are the wounds of a friend
[אָמַן] verb confirm, support
aman: to confirm, support
Original Word: אָמַן Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aman Phonetic Spelling: aw-man’ Definition:to confirm, support
We are more used to hearing amen spoken out to indicate that we are in agreement or so be it. It is very similar to aman = support or confirm, with only the vowel different.
It is more usual for us to read that commentators interpret this proverb as saying that, the helpful, truthful, honest comments and advice that come from a friend can sometimes hurt and wound our feelings even when they are true.
It may be advice on dress code, personal hygiene or other habits that are antisocial; and even comments concerning our spiritual wellbeing or sinful, unacceptable behavior. These friendly bits of advice are much preferred from one who loves us, than from someone who just agrees with us just to please us.
In reality the essence of this verse is, that even through all the difficulties being faced, we hear the words that our hope and trust are in our Heavenly Father. Jesus/Yeshua said He will never leave nor forsake us, especially in the midst of these troubles; this indicates the individual is remaining amen or faithful to God.
In declaring our faith in His ability to sustain us and be with us through every situation, test and trial, we bring joy to our Heavenly Fathers heart.
The word for faithful or amen has the idea of:
supporting, true, staying, and faithful.
To be faithful to God means:
that we are staying with Him no matter what.
God can deliver us from the fiery furnace, but if He doesn’t, let it be known that we will still be faithful to Him. Daniel 3:18-28.
This verse in Proverbs tells us something about the nature of faithfulness.Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
Original Word: פָצַע Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: patsa Phonetic Spelling: paw-tsah’ Definition: to bruise, wound by bruising
Word Origin a prim. root emasculated* (1), one (1), wounded (1), wounding* (1).
To be emasculated is what happens to a eunuch
A eunuch is one who voluntarily goes under the knife.
The Hebrew word rendered as friend here is an unusual word to use for friend. It is the word ahav, aheb or oheb which is the word for love. Some examples in scripture where this word is used are below.
Recall letters v and b are interchangeable in Hebrew and the vowels a,e,i,o,u, are added for pronunciation as there are only consonants in the Hebrew alefbet.
Original Word: אָהַב Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aheb Phonetic Spelling: aw-hab’ Definition:to love
This is in a ‘construct form’ in the Hebrew language and its sentence construction: link below
https://biblehub.com/hebrewparse.htm
and would be rendered as:
the loving one.
So we could read this as:
the loving one who voluntarily allows himself to be injured.
Does this description remind us of someone?
Let’s be quite honest, none of us would willingly volunteer to go into a time of trouble unless we are helping someone we love. If it were possible, many parents would willingly volunteer to take on their child’s illness or sickness, if it would heal them and prevent their suffering. There are many wartime testimonies of soldiers who have voluntarily laid down their lives for the sake of their friends, their brothers and sisters in arms. Stories of bravery, courage and self sacrifice are seemingly more common in times of life threatening crises for family and loved ones. Is it possible that this verse in Proverbs is making a reference to something even deeper in a subtle way? It may be a bit of a stretch, however we saw that we could read this as:
the loving one who voluntarily allows himself to be injured.
We know for certain that in the eternal plan of the ages, our Heavenly Father sent His son Yeshua/Jesus into this world. He did have to come to earth to be wounded and to die and He did this as a voluntarily act for our sake out of pure love. We are no doubt all familiar withJohn 3:16.
Is it possible that this 6th verse in Proverbs 27 is revealing something about Messiah’s death on calvary’s tree that we may not have thought of or even considered? We know from scripture and all the prophetic declarations throughout the TaNaKH that there are many reasons why Yeshua/Jesus had to suffer and die on the cross. However, here is one more reason, revealed in this verse and that was that He wanted to declare theamen or the faithfulnessof His love. He became: the loving one who voluntarily allows Himself to be injured.
He is also showing us and teaching us, that He used His time of crisis in a positive way; as an opportunity to show His faithfulness to us. Surely we shouldn’t offer Him anything less, even though we may get wounded in the process? But that wound is just a way to show our love to God. He told His disciples in John 15:15, I no longer callyouservants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called youfriends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. If we are His disciples then we too are His friends and He is our friend. Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
This week is the moed of Sukkot; links below for detailed posts on this wonderful 7th Appointed Time of our Heavenly Father. Our Season of Rejoicing!
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
2 for a tabernacle was prepared, the first, in which was both the lamp-stand, and the table, and the bread of the presence — which is called ‘Holy;’ 3 and after the second vail a tabernacle that is called ‘Holy of holies,’ 4 having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid all round about with gold, in which [is] the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant, 5 and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly. 6 And these things having been thus prepared, into the first tabernacle, indeed, at all times the priests do go in, performing the services, 7 and into the second, once in the year, only the chief priest, not apart from blood, which he doth offer for himself and the errors of the people, 8 the Holy Spirit this evidencing that not yet hath been manifested the way of the holy [places], the first tabernacle having yet a standing; 9 which [is] a simile in regard to the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which are not able, in regard to conscience, to make perfect him who is serving, 10 only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances — till the time of reformation imposed upon [them] 11 And Christ being come, chief priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands — that is, not of this creation — 12 neither through blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, did enter in once into the holy places, age-during redemption having obtained; 13 for if the blood of bulls, and goats, and ashes of an heifer, sprinkling those defiled, doth sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of the Christ (who through the age-during Spirit did offer himself unblemished to God) purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The self sacrifice necessary to atone for our sins is far beyond what any of us are able, or willing to do. It would take every drop, every ounce of blood in our bodies to cover even our own sins much less the sins of another, and what good would such atonement be if we lost our lives in the process. Adonai’s justice might be satisfied but His mercy would go unfulfilled.
On this day the holiest of all holy days, the day of the Atonements, is always on the 10th day of the 7th month, Yom haKipuriym is a Shabbat shabaton, a day to stop from all kinds of work and to rest completely. This day occurs only once a year and the observance begins the previous evening. Unlike the other feasts the main focus of this one is to deny oneself or afflict ones soul. As the high priest performs the atonements for himself, the altar, the tabernacle and the whole community of Israel, the people participate through their non participation because not only are the people not allowed to come near the holy place on this day but we are to deny our own existence. We are to stop ‘being’ on this day by not even satisfying basic needs e.g. food and drink.
The haCohen haGadol is expected to do this, to make atonement for the sins of the people through the shedding of innocent blood. Yet no matter what he does, no matter how much life in the blood, that he can withdraw from the sacrificed bodies of the innocent animals; the flow will eventually stop and it will never ever be enough. The Only One who can sympathize with our weaknesses, yet is apart from sin, (4:15), is the Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. He has come as our haCohen haGadol of ‘the coming good things’. He alone could enter the greater and more perfect tabernacle…neither through the blood of goats and calves but through his own innocent blood. Atonement has been made and Messiah has obtained age enduring redemption for us. Justice is satisfied and mercy fulfilled once and for all. In Messiah there will always be enough atoning blood.
We are to humble ourselves on remembering Messiah, the day when He denied Himself for us; it is an appointed time when we are to deny ourselves and remember what He did that we can never accomplish on our own. He has placed His Blood on the mercy seat.
The mercy seat was the ornate “lid/covering”, the kapporet, for the ark of the covenant, made with the designs of cherubim upon it. The blood of sacrifice was sprinkled upon it for the forgiveness of Israel’s sin on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 25:17-22).
As our Heavenly Father looked down into the ark, He saw the symbols of Israel’s sin, rebellion and failure, but when the blood of sacrifice was applied to that kapporet/mercy seat, the blood of the sacrifice covered the sin of Israel from His sight.
This is how He can look upon each of us in our sinful flesh, He sees the Blood of His Son Jesus/Yeshua which covers us and our sin.
The priests always went into the first area of the tabernacle, to perform the services as appointed, they went daily into the holy place to tend the menorah/lamp stand and replace the showbread.
The second part of the Tabernacle/Mishkan and later the Temple in Jerusalem/Yerushalayim before it was destroyed in 70A.D. is sometimes knows as the “holy of holies”. This area was entered only once a year by the high priest alone, on the Day of Atonement.
His entrance into the Holy of Holies was not for fellowship or to speak with the Father, but only for the purpose of atonement, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people.
These sins of ignorance, were the specific aim of the Day of Atonement. It was assumed that individuals known sin would be taken care of through the regular sin offerings and the daily sacrifices.
We should remember that in this respect, Messiahs’ work is far greater than the work done on the Day of Atonement, because His sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to atone for both the sins we do in ignorance and sins that we know of.
In verse 10 The Way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing, the old had to pass away before our Heavenly Father’s new Way could be revealed.
As believers we are cleansed, including our consciences, however this is not so we can live unto ourselves but rather to serve the living God. The Greek word translated serve here is latreuo, which speaks of ceremonial, priestly service.
We should keep in mind that from now on we are to ‘serve the living God’; the kind of service meant here is not that of a slave or servant to his master, but a worshipful service such as priests give unto the Lord God. We that have been redeemed and sanctified by Messiah are to offer to Him the worship of a royal priesthood, presenting prayers, thanksgivings, acceptable to Him.
Like Pesach, YomhaKipuriym finds fulfillment in our Messiah Yeshua/Jesus. As both our High Priest and our sacrifice, He atoned for us once and for all and is continually making intercession for us before our Heavenly Father. He does not need to make sacrifices for Himself and for us year after year in order to atone for our sins, it has already been accomplished forever.
Our self denial on this day therefore does not cause, help or improve our atonement but allows us to become very aware of our own mortality, our sin and our need for atonement. At the same time it causes us to think on and appreciate on some tiny level the sacrifice that Messiah made as He denied His own life on our behalf.
The sanctity and holiness of this day cannot be overstated and though we may find great joy in our eternal atonement in the Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, this is a day for remembering that atonement in such a way that will be very hard to forget. We are to be thoughtful, repentant, humble and die to ourselves. On Yom Kippur/ Kipuriym we are to remember that we live and breathe only because the Father so chooses and that by His choice He has the power to take it away as well.
These are the themes we are to keep in the forefront of our minds because without the sacrifice of Jesus/Yeshua we are truly dead; but through Messiahs atoning blood and His intercession, we are truly alive forevermore. As ardent, faithful followers of the Way, each and every day should be a day when we remember how we are saved, sanctified, redeemed and forgiven; not one should pass without our grateful, hearts releasing praises filled with thanksgiving to the One to Whom we owe everything.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
We are now part of the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands Yeshua/Jesus, as our High Priest, ministers in a superior sanctuary, the very throne room in the Heavenlies.
Links below for earlier posts containing more details on this subject:
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
Malachi3:1“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple;
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Is 40:3
Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” Amos 4:12
Jonah 1:17 And the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah was to prepare the people of Nineveh for Gods’ judgment, he was to tell them to repent. When Jonah was disobedient then the Lord became a way preparer, to bring Jonah back to what he was supposed to be doing.
Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! Joel 2:9.
Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand though they are a rebellious house. Ezek. 12:3.
Noah was a way preparer
In obedience to the Lords directive, he
prepared the ark to make a way to survive the flood.
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Heb. 11:7.
Moses was a
way preparer
in Ex. 14:1-32 preparing the way for freedom from Egypt by way of the reed/red sea.
And the Lord God Himself was again a
way preparer,
Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
Ex. 23:20.
Joshua and Caleb were way preparers. Going before the Israelites to cross the Jordan into the promised land. Joshua 3.
John the Baptist was a way preparer for Yeshua/Jesus.
Matthew 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The disciples were sent out in twos, they were way preparers for Jesus/Yeshua. In Luke 10:1 After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.
The apostles being sent out, were way preparers for Yeshua/Jesus and the gospel of His Kingdom. Luke 9:1-10 First it was the Twelve Apostles:
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness
later he calls the Seventy in chapter 10:1-24.
In Matthew 28:16-20 and Luke 24:44-53
The great commission calls all believers and disciples to be
way preparers.
The 2 witnesses in Revelation 11:13-19
are
way preparers
for the second coming of Messiah.
All Way Preparers are to be
awake, alert, ready, they are to be watchful.
1 Corinthians 16:13
Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong.
How many times did Messiah say to watch? Here are a few:
Watch with me one hour Matthew 26:40-45.
Watch and pray.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42-51.
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44.
Rom. 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Luke 12:47.
The Way Preparer for Messiah.
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Eph. 6:15.
Those scribes in John’s day who were familiar with the TaNaKH, the Torah, Writings and the Prophets, sent a delegation to ask John two questions.
John 1:21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”?
This was referring to Malachi’s prophecy that the prophet Elijah will come as a messenger before the appearance of the Messiah.
in Malachi 4:5. See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.
And in
Is. 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
To this day Jews around the world still set out a cup of wine for Elijah at Passover /Pesach, in participation of his arrival as the forerunner the
way preparer of the Messiah.
The second question was are you the prophet. John 1:21. This referred to Moses/Moshe prophecy that God would send a prophet like me. Deuteronomy 18:15 – 19 I willraiseupforthemaProphet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
Clearly people knew the prophecies, another example is when we read of the time Philip talked with Nathanael. John 1:45 He said we have found him of whom Moses in the Law/torah and also the prophets wrote Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph.
After Yeshua/Jesus fed the 5000 the people began to ask if this was the prophet who is to come into the world. John 6:14. Then Peter identified Yeshua/Jesus as the prophet in Acts 3:22, 23.
Stephen before the Sanhedrin declared that Yeshua/Jesus was the promised Messiah. Acts 7:37 – 38. This is that Moses……
From the beginning there have been
way preparers.
Abraham was a way preparer leaving his homeland and becoming the father of faith and through him came Isaac Jacob Israel his Sons and the 12 tribes.
Joseph was a way preparer for the children of Israel giving them a safe place in the years of famine in Egypt.
Moses was a way preparer for the children of Israel to be released from Egyptian bondage. He was also a way preparer towards the promised land.
Reading through the Scriptures there are many heroes and heroines of faith who were way preparers for those who would come after. How many others can you find? John is one of many and with the spirit of Elijah as Messiah referred to him.
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Matthew 11:14
Then the disciplesunderstood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist. Matthew 17:13
All the disciples were way preparers, going into the villages prior to Messiah arriving there. All the apostles and believers were way preparers. Go into all the world and preach…… whereas all those. written of in the TaNaKH way preparers were for Messiahs 1st coming, those in the Brit Chadashah are way preparers for His 2nd Coming/ return. Paul was a way preparer for the Gentiles to be reached with the gospel of the kingdom and to be grafted into the true vine, spiritual Israel. The one who brought us the way is Messiah Himself, Yeshua of Nazareth. He said I am the way the truth and the Life. The first believers were known as followers of the Way.
Yeshua/Jesus Himself is the way preparer for us to be reconciled to a Holy God Who we will be united with eternally. From Jesus/Yeshuas’ command ‘to go’, we too are way preparers; our mission field is right where we are. It is time we move out.
Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Johns answer was from Isaiah 40:3,that he was a voice of one crying out in the wildernesssent as a way preparer to bear witness to the Messiah, Yeshua, Who was there present in their midst.
In Acts, Peter’s message is recalled when he spoke at Solomons portico, he was quoting from Deuteronomy 18:18 – 19 and he identified Jesus/Yeshua as the prophet like unto Moses.
Are you a way preparer?
Maybe it is time to find out?!
The days in which we are living are described in
Matthew 24 and in Luke 21:9-36 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. …
Part of being a way preparer is carrying and giving the appropriate message given by His Holy Spirit, which is fitting for the time and season.
Are we giving meat in due season?
Mathew 24:45
To give them meat (τὴν τροφὴν, their food) in dueseason.
The message for this time is that it must be meat in due season. Why? Because it is to feed the believers from the Word of God.
It was a direct reference to
Ps. 145:15-21.
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
The Lord God is moving and He wants us to be way preparers and providers of spiritual meat in due season.
It is time to move and get into the front ranks and hold our position. We must never flinch. Can our Heavenly Father be sure that we will never turn cowardly and flee? He promises to sustain us in dangerous positions. He is well able to keep us there and adequately supply every need by His grace.
“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1Pet 1:13.
Peter urges believers to prepare their minds for action and to be disciplined in their thinking. This preparation includes setting our hope fully on the grace to be received when Messiah returns. It emphasizes the need to focus our thoughts, aligning them with God’s promises and remaining alert and ready for His coming.
“In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.” Prov. 13:16.
Preparation involves acting with knowledge and discernment.
The prudent person carefully considers their actions and plans, while the fool recklessly displays their ignorance. This verse in Proverbs, reminds us of the significance of acquiring knowledge, seeking wisdom, and acting accordingly.
Being well-prepared requires understanding and thoughtfulness, avoiding foolishness and its consequences.The Bible emphasizes the importance of preparation in various contexts, offering guidance on both spiritual and practical aspects of life. Preparation is often linked to concepts such as wisdom, diligence, and foresight. Moses, was given detailed instructions by God to prepare the tabernacle and its furnishings with meticulous precision. Exodus 25-31. This shows the significance of being prepared to serve God as Daniel did, with a spirit of excellence, always offering our best work.
Joseph’s wise preparations during 7 years of abundance allowed Egypt to survive seven years of famine. Genesis 41. Proverbs frequently extols the virtues of planning, diligence, and foresight in all aspects of our lives.
As we have noted John was a way preparer,
but what does the phrase
That wisdom is justified by all children?
mean in
Luke 7:33, 35. For John the Baptist came neithereatingbreadnordrinkingwine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
John was a ascetic,
(definition: avoiding physical pleasures and living a simple life, often for religious reasons:)
He practiced strict denial as a means of physical and spiritual discipline; but why would his refusal to eat bread and drink wine lead the Pharisees to believe he was a demon possessed man?
We would say of a nun or monk who lived such a lifestyle that they were very godly people in leading lives of denial.
Interestingly in the Aramaic language
not eating bread and drinking wine
is an ancient idiom/ or expression:
la ekal la khma shetha khamea
and literally translated reads:
not consuming food and drinking the juice of fruits.
To say an individual consumes food and drinks the juice of fruits is like saying in English: we have lunch with friends at our favorite cafe, pub or bistro. This idiom is an expression of:
hospitality or interacting socially.
John the Baptist literally came out of the wilderness simply to preach, baptize those who repented of their sins and then went back into the wilderness. He didn’t interact with people socially or have lunch with with them, he didn’t live what was considered a normal life of those days. Yeshua/Jesus was not like John in that He came and lived among the everyday people so that He could minister to them.
Matthew 9:10-17, Mark 2:15-22, Luke 5:29-39
He interacted with them socially and often went to ‘sinners’ homes to eat, and this is why it was written:
He came eating and drinking.
There are those who say this scripture was to endorse the fact that Messiah actually drunk alcoholic drinks and even got drunk. To spin this from the expression/ idiom, would amount to setting our own Western thought and Greek mindset into an Aramaic idiom. Those who desire to drink alcohol and want it to be acceptable, use it to support their personal lifestyle; but it is far from the intent of the passage. We are not to twist the scriptures to make it fit how we want to live a compromised lifestyle and not feel guilty.
The word for wine in Greek used here is: Oinon which could mean: both fermented and unfermented wine and the Greek word doesn’t differentiate between them. However, Yeshua/Jesus spoke in a Aramaic Galilean dialect, and that language does have different words for fermented and unfermented wine; and the word used was khamea , which is a reference to unfermented juice from some fruit. It was not necessarily the fruit of grapes, it could have been apples, oranges, grapefruit, melon etc. The key is that it is unfermented, or non-alcoholic, meaning: the sugar content in the fruit had not turned into alcohol. It would seem that Messiah Yeshua/Jesus was mocking those accusing Him by saying in our vernacular: Look, the Son of Man comes drinking non alcoholic drinks with publicans and sinners and you accuse Him of being drunk?
Today we might say: you sit down in a social setting with all kinds of sinners drinking lemonade or Pepsi and people think you’re getting drunk with them?
The last phrase of the same scripture is:
but wisdom is justified by all her children.
What does that mean?
We must stop trying to understand with our western Greek/English mindset and try to understand the Eastern Oriental concept of wisdom. In English the word wisdom is always used positively however, in the eastern semitic mind, it can have both a positive and negative connotation. Sometimes in Aramaic the word wisdom which is: khekmtha, can idiomatically, have the expression of meaning stupidity, which is just the opposite. In the same way people in the west will say ‘that was such a bad movie, it was wicked’ really meaning, it was very good and extremely exciting!
Messiah was using a similar Aramaic idiom/expression in this scripture and it is quite likely He was inferring: because your arguments are so ridiculous it’s a clear indication of your stupidity. The reference to all her children has the meaning: whatever is the offspring from the parent or the original. It is in the same way we would say, a chip off the old block or the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. If the source is wise the offspring/children will be wise but if then the offspring/children are stupid… like begets like.
Yeshua /Jesus was the ultimate way preparer when He said
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Rom. 10:13.
and so was our Heavenly Father
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.
David wrote in the23rd Psalm.A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
John 14:22 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Today we are way preparers for Yeshua/Jesus and the gospel of His Kingdom. We are to go into all the world and tell people to prepare themselves for the soon return of our Messiah; to prepare the way for the Lord….
Then he said to his disciples, ‘Theharvestisplentiful, but the laborers arefew; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’Matthew 9:27 Luke 10:2.
It’s time not only to pray for more laborers but to become one,
a way preparer…
Shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
a memorial of blowing of trumpets [shofars], an holy convocation (KJV);
a signaled holy gathering (Jay P. Green rough translation);
a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation (NAS);
a memorable acclamation, a holy gathering (Jay P. Green smooth translation);
a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar (CJB);
and a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation (ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash/ASEC).
In Numbers 29:1, there’s a 2nd, and only other, reference to Yom Teruah in the Torah, where the Hebrew name for this day is translated into English as:
a day of blowing the trumpets [shofars] (KJV and Jay P. Green smooth translation);
a day for blowing trumpets [shofars] (NAS);
a day of blowing the shofar (CJB); a day of shofar sounding
it is Yom Teruah – the day of shouting an alarm.
(The 1st day of the 7th month)
A memorial of trumpet based on Numbers 29:1,the biblical name for the fourth feast isThe Day of Trumpets or more literally, Yom Teruah, which is a direct translation from the original Hebrew.
Each month True Israel/Yisra’El is commanded to sound their shofars, and the priests are to blow their silver trumpets.
“Blow the trumpet /shofar at the time of the new moon, at the full moon on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Yisra’El, A law of the God of Jacob.” Ps. 81:3-4
“Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the slaughters of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am YHWH your God.” Num. 10:10
The reason for Yom Teruah being a day of shouting and alarm is: “There are only 10 days left” for the wicked to repent of their wickedness and join themselves to True Israel/Yisra’El. Throughout the year the monthly reminder, the warning cry, has been blown; the 7th month is coming and soon it will be too late to repent. So now is the time!
Sunset on Wednesday, 2nd October is the Gregorian calendar date for 2024. 29 Elul on the Hebrew calendar and Rosh Hashanah on 1 & 2 Tishri is Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October. This is also the Civil New Year in Israel. 5785.
The Appointed Times of our Heavenly Father paint a picture of what we can expect to occur in these last days. However, mistakenly believing that any one of them has reached its’ complete fulfillment and therefore does not have any influence on future events, may be spiritually shortsighted. Our ways and thoughts are not the same as the Creator of the Universe. Who said:
“Whom will He teach knowledge? And whom will He make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” Isa. 28:9-10
Obviously babies cannot understand the message, it is rather for those who are mature in His word.
Our Father’s message for His people is the same beautiful message that the man on the mountain in Isa 52:7brought, or that of John the Baptist, Jesus/Yeshua and Paul, which was simply: “the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, REPENT and believe the good news; our God reigns!”
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion,“ your Elohim (lawmaker, judge) reigns! ” Isa 52:7
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying,‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ ” Mat 3:1-2
“Now after John was put in prison, Yeshua/Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying; ‘ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of Elohim is athand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’ “Mar 1:14-15
True Yisra’El
Understanding the message and the Appointed Times/feasts cannot be done without understanding who True Israel/Yisra’El really is, and who they are not. There is a distinction between the state of Israel/the country, those who follow the laws of a man-made government with its statutes etc. And True Isreal/Yisra’El, those who have repented, left the king and kingdom of their birth and have started to learn and to do our heavenly Father’s statutes, judgments and ordinances and have now come into covenant with Him at Passover/Pesach.
To understand the Appointed Times/feasts of the Lord/YHWH, we must be aware that there is a difference between the 2 types of people who live in His kingdom.
One type is the Ger:
When a person repents and turns from their ways and the ways of the world, to follow Gods ways, they become a Ger. This means that the individual is no longer a citizen in any other kingdom on earth; they and their families have joined themselves to True Israel/Yisra’El becoming citizens of that holy nation, or commonwealth, through repentance and the next step would be a public declaration of that separation by water immersion (that is what was originally understood by baptism). The Ger then keeps all the statues, judgments and ordinances that True Israel/Yisra’El does.
“You shall have the same law for the stranger [Ger] and for one from your own country [Ezrach]; for I am YHWH, your God.” (Lev 24:22)
“One law shall be for the native-born [Ezrach] and for the stranger [Ger] who dwells among you .” Exodus 12:49
The Ger has left the country of their first birth and joined themselves and their families to the holy, but now invisible, nation of True Israel/Yisra’El. When the Pharisees asked Messiah when the kingdom of heaven would come, His reply was,
“The kingdom of heaven/God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of Elohim is within you.” Luke 17:20-21
The kingdom is within us when we repent and join ourselves to True Israel/Yisra’El.
The 2nd is the Ezrach
Each year the Ger has the opportunity to become:
‘as one born in the land’.
Whether or not the individual has ever even seen the land of Israel. This was the case with all those who ate of the Pesach/Passover back in Egypt, they became as ‘one born in the land’ even though the majority of them had never even seen it and never would.
In Exodus 12:48, the instructions for the Passover as concerned the Ger reads:
“And when a stranger /Ger dwells with you and wants to keep the Pesach/Passover to YHWH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall become as a native of the land [an Ezrach]; for no uncircumcised person shall eat it.” Exodus12:48.
Passover/Pesach is the only feast where we as Gerim; which are those who have joined themselves to True Israel/Yisra’El by repentance and baptism; may now actually become ‘as one born in the land.’ This person/the new Ezrach; is True Israel/Yisra’El because they have eaten of the Pesach/Passover lamb and placed the blood on their doors. They are now the ones that are ‘Born from above‘ as Messiah said we all must be. The Ezrach are the people who are born, a second time, into a “spiritual” kingdom, the land of their second birth.
The Appointed Times of the Lord/feasts of YHWH are first on an individual basis for Israel/Yisra’El and then on a corporate basis. The Spring Appointed Times/feasts are for the individual and the Fall/Autumn Appointed Times/ feasts are for the corporate body of True Israel/Yisra’El.
Except for one Sukkot every 7 years, only Israel/Yisra’El seed and the males who dwell with them attend the feasts of the Lord.
“Three times a year all thy males זכורך , za·kur’] shall appear before YHWH, thy God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Deut. 16:16 and Exodus 34:23
The Appointed Times of the Lord/ feasts of YHWH are not for everyone. They are only for True Israel/Yisra’El and those who have joined themselves to Israel/Yisra’El by coming into covenant with our Heavenly Father/YHWH! So we see from the scriptures that the Appointed Times of the Lord/the feasts of YHWH is not simply or exclusively a ‘Jewish’ cultural observation!
What does Scripture tell us about this festival and what commandments are given regarding it?
What are we to do and when are we to do it?
Looking at this moed and discovering what Scripture has to tell us about it, we should consider that the very same Creator God our Heavenly Father, Who granted favor and mercy by sending His Son to atone for our lawlessness, will send that same Son again to defeat His enemies and judge the world.
In the words of King David:oh, God, please “open our eyes that we might behold wonderful things from your Torah”and see our returning Messiah in this moed. Scripture was given to mankind to speak of Him and we should listen and hear its voice… His voice… especially during His appointed times.
What Scripture Says About Yom Teruah
Yom Teruah [יום תרועה,
Strong’s #3117 + Strong’s #8643] means
“day [of the] shout”.
“Speak unto the Bnei Yisra’El, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Shabbaton, a zikhron teru’ah mikra kodesh. Ye shall do no melekhet avodah therein; but ye shall offer an offering made by eish unto YaHuWaH.” Wayyiqra/Leviticus 23:24-25
Although translated as trumpet, teruah is not an actual trumpet as Westerns know it. Rather, it is a type of sound made with a ram’shorn: a shofar. A shofar is a ram’s horn that is hollowed out and used as a musical instrument. It is ‘played’ by blowing and vibrating pursed lips much like a modern brass instrument like a trumpet or trombone.
The NASB adds the words “of trumpets” in this passage. Teruah is used in Scripture to describe both the sounding of a shofar as well as people shouting; (e.g. the “great shout” mentioned in Joshua 6:5 when the walls of Jericho fell, is the Hebrew word teruah).
“And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the keren hayovel, when ye hear the sound of the shofar, Kol HaAm shall shout with a teruah gedolah; and the Chomat HaIr shall fall down, and HaAm shall go up every ish charging straight in.” Yehoshua/Joshua 6:5
There are a number of reasons to sound the shofar aside from this festival. Two of the most common reasons given in Scripture are: the arrival of a king or the anointing of a king. For example: 2 Samuel 15:10, 1 Kings 1:34, 1 Kings 1:39, 2 Kings 9:13.
All of these mention a shofar being sounded as a person is anointed and proclaimed king. So, too, we can recognize the King who reigns over all Kings, when we hear the shofar being sounded on Yom Teruah.
Finding Messiah in Yom Teruah… as in His return.
After the spring moedim (Pesach, Chag HaMatzot and Shavuot) comes a long, hot, and dry summer in the Land of Yisra’El. But the moedim return in the Fall/Autumn and with them comes relief from the heat with cooler weather.
Like the spring moedim that foretold Messiah’s first coming, Yom Teruah marks the beginning of the fall festivals that foretell His second coming. In this moed we can see Messiah returning with a great trumpet blast and vanquishing His enemies in preparation for Judgment Day and the Day of Atonement.
The blessings of the moedim return with Yom Teruah which is the Feast of Trumpets, the first of the fall moedim.
Prophecy speaks of the Great Trumpet that will herald the return of the Messiah King following the long, hot, and dry centuries since His appearing.
We noted above that the Greek word used in the Septuagint for teruah was salpiggon (“trumpets”, singular salpigx). This word is used in the writings of the apostles eleven times including these prophetic passages:
“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.” Mattithyahu/Matthew 24:30-31
“And then will appear the Ot Ben Adam (the Sign of the Son of Man) in Shamayim. All the tribes of kol haaretz (all the earth) will see the Ben HaAdam Mashiach and his Bias, his Coming, on the ananim of Shamayim (clouds of glory of Heaven) with gevurah (power) and great kavod (glory). Mashiach will send his malachim with a loud blast of the Shofar, and the malachim will gather together Mashiach’s Bechirim from the four winds, from one end of Shamayim to the other.” Mattithyahu/Matthew 24:30-31
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
“Hinei! I speak a sod (mystery) to you: we will not all sleep the sleep of the Mesim, but we will all be changed. In a rega (moment), in the wink of an eye, at the last shofar blast. For the shofar will sound, the Mesim (dead ones) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For it is necessary for this perishable nature to put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature to put on the immortal.” Kehilah in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
For the Master Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of Elohim, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Master in the air, and so we shall always be with the Master. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“For Yahusha Himself, at the signal, at the bat kol /voice, of the Sar HaMalachim (the Archangel), and at the shofar blast of YaHuWaH, shall come down from Shamayim, and the Mesim in Mashiach shall stand up alive in the Techiyas HaMesim first. Then [next in sequence], we who are alive and who have been left behind simultaneously with them shall be snatched up in the ananim (clouds) to meet Yahusha in the air. And so always with Yahusha we shall be.” Kehilah in Thessalonika I 4:16-17
The day or the hour?
Yom Teruah is the only moed that falls on the first day of the month. All of the other moedim fall on a day that is well into the month: the fourteenth, the tenth, fifty days after Passover, etc.
It seems that Messiah Himself pointed to Yom Teruah as the day of His return using this well-known condition?
“And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Mattithyahu/Matthew 24:31-36
“Mashiach will send his malachim with a loud blast of the Shofar, and the malachim will gather together Mashiach’s Bechirim from the four winds, from one end of Shamayim to the other. And from the etz teenah (fig tree), learn its parabolic lesson: when its branch has become tender already and sprouts leaves, you know that Kayitz (Summer) is near; thus also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the very doors. Omein, I say to you, that this dor (generation) will by no means pass away until all these things come about. Shamayim vHaAretz will pass away, but my Dvar will by no means pass away. But concerning that day and hour, no one has daas, not the malachim of Shamayim, but only HaAv (the Father) of me.” Mattithyahu/Matthew 24:31-36
Messiah uses a parable of a fig tree to indicate that there will be signals/signs of the season of His return. Then He uses an expression that points to Yom Teruah, the day of the shofar blast that announces the arrival of the King! We should be aware of the time and the seasons and stay alert and spiritually ready for Him. He tells us:
“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. Luqas/Luke 12:35-38
A verse in Revelation says we cannot know the time of the Messiahs’ return. These are the words of the Master, Himself:
So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. Rev 3:3.
Here Messiah is speaking to the believers in Sardis whom He declares to be “dead” Rev 3:1. It is these dead believers who, if they do not “wake up”, will be surprised at His coming.
Messiah uses common phrasing that points to the only well-known day of which “no man knows the day or the hour” to liken to His return, that being Yom Teruah.
When the shofar sounded in ancient Israel, it signaled that heaven and earth were about to meet, that divine power, the supernatural forces of heaven was about to break into the mundane affairs of men. It signaled that great things were about to happen.
Below are briefly the historical roots of our faith, the present relevance for believers and prophetic end-time implications.
looking at the following:
Yom Teruah or the day of blowing/shouting,
the shofar blasts prophetically,
the summer months between the spring feast of Shavuot/Weeks /Pentecost
and the fall feast of Yom Teruah
are a spiritual picture of what is often called the ‘Church Age,’ which is the period of time from the Feast of Pentecost/Shavuot in Acts 2 until the return of Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah at the end of the age and lasting for approximately 2000 years. For many, especially those living in a hotter climate, summer is a time of weariness and fatigue due to the excessive heat. In the same way, many believers have fallen asleep or are growing spiritually weary while waiting for the return of the Messiah. Jesus/Yeshua discusses this issue in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25, who all grew weary and fell asleep awaiting the coming of the Bridegroom /Jesus/Yeshua.
This all changes on the 1st day of the 7th month of the biblical Hebrew calendar, when away in the distance the sound of a shofar blast suddenly pierces the atmosphere and wakes up those who have fallen asleep. Not only does this blast on the shofar signal the beginning of the 7th month when the new crescent moon is sighted, (the day and hour that no man knows); but it seems that it announces the return of the Bridegroom (Messiah) coming for His bride (the redeemed saints). As in the parable, the cry went forth that the bridegroom was coming and all woke up to prepare for His arrival. In these end days, that cry is going forth even now for all to hear, to awake and to prepare for the arrival of Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah.
In the biblical calendar, the visible sighting of the crescent new moon always marks the beginning of the month and is announced by the shofar blast Ps 81:3. Likewise, on the first day of the seventh month of the biblical calendar, the arrival of the new moon, called Rosh Chodesh, when the shofar sounds it marks the beginning of Yom Teruah. This is the first day of the fall/autumn moed/festival/harvest season and is the time when the call goes out for the spiritually sleepy to wake up, and to hear the voice of the Lord, to be invigorated by the breath or voice of the shofar, which is symbolic of His prophetic Word going forth across the earth in the last days.
The ram’s horn shofar is bent into a curved shape and it represents the repentant, humble hearts, of both the one blowing and those hearing. This is the season for the righteous to get right with the Father and bend our hearts in humility before Him and shake ourselves out of spiritual lukewarmness and instead to wake up to spiritual action and preparation. The fall/autumn Appointed Times/Moedim, point to last days events that will occur at some point in time in the very near future. It’s a time to be refreshed by the breath of God, His Ruach HaKodesh, and to be aware of a time of new beginnings. Let’s allow Him to breathe on us, to revive us and empower us as we enter into this prophetic season, and as every day we prepare ourselves so that when the moment comes for each of us, we are ready to meet our Savior, Lord, King and Redeemer, Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, in the air.
Yom Teruah also begins a season that prophetically speaks of war and battle, in ancient times in Israel, the shofar was a weapon of warfare, and in the last days it will be used again as such. It was used to call Israel to battle, to defeat her enemies with Gods’ help. The shofar was also used to proclaim victory after the battle was won and to worship our Heavenly Father who had given them the victory. Israel’s fight against her enemies still continues on even in these end times and no more obvious than right now. The enemies of the redeemed Israelites, us, are mostly spiritual, being the world, the flesh and the devil.
James 3:15; Ephesians 2:2–3.
Through faith in Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah who defeated death, hell and the grave, we can have victory over death, sin, the devil and this world.1 Cor. 15:51–57; Rom. 8:27; 1 John 4:4; 5:4; Rev. 12:11.
As we hear the sound of the shofar calling us to rise up from our spiritual slumber, our Heavenly Father is telling His people to be the over-comers He has called us to be, so that we may be worthy to partake of the glories of his eternal kingdom.
Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21.
Yom Teruah is also the time of the reaping of the summer harvest. Spiritually speaking, this period will be the time of the reaping of the righteous to their reward Rev. 14:4. and the harvest of the wicked to the great winepress of Elohim’s wrath Rev. 14:14-20
It is the time of the resurrection of the dead in Messiah Yeshua at the end of the tribulation, Matt. 24:29 and the beginning of the Lord God’s wrath being poured out upon the nations. Joel 3:11-13. This begins the wrath of God pictured by Yom Kippur /the Day of Atonement, which occurs 10 days after Yom Teruah; before which time the dead saints will have been resurrected and given their spiritual, glorified bodies.
During the month of Elul, our focus has been on repentance/teshuvah, restoration and preparation for the coming of the Messiah. In order to repent one must understand that Scripture defines sins as the violation of our Heavenly Father’s Torah, or instructions or teachings in righteousness 1 John 3:4.
The letter Sin or chet in Hebrew, loosely means:
a failure in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Our goal should be to continually move closer to Him, but chet is behavior that causes us to move away from Him.
If our Heavenly Father requires His people to turn away from sin and turn to righteousness, which is called repentance, then what is involved in repentance?
Repentance or teshuvah in Hebrew, means: to return.
In the biblical context, it means:
to return to Elohim”and to behavior He requires of us, in other words, return to obedience to his commandments.
While we deeply regret having moved away from the Father, we must not despair, for He has provided the WAY for us to return to Him promising us that when we repent, He forgives without delay.
The shofar’s blowing is a call to awaken out of spiritual sleep, lethargy, stagnation, slumber and to repent of sin. No man knows the day or the hour of the new moon’s arrival each month, however, according to scripture, one who is alert can certainly know the season and year. Sadly, human tendency is to grow weary in waiting, and begin to slack off in one’s obedience to the Lord’s righteous commands. When the new moon is sighted and the shofar sounds, this is the signal for those who are slumbering to wake up, for hope to arise in our hearts. This is time for renewal and spiritual revival to occur and action to be taken to put off sin and to draw closer spiritually to our Heavenly Father.
The awakening sound of the shofar blast is the Hebrew word teruah
Strong’s G8643, see Lev 23:24 and Num 29:1 where the phrase
blowing of trumpets is teruah), which means:
the shout or blast of war, alarm, alarm of war, war cry, signal, and sound of tempest.
Teruahderives from the Hebrew root word ruahmeaning:
alarm, signal, sound or blast of the shofar, to raise a shout.
The name Yom Teruahcould therefore have several literal meanings:
“the day of the shout,
the day of the war alarm
or the day of the shofar blast.”
When we understand the significance of this day from a biblical stand point, we realize that Yom Teruah is:
a day of shouting with exultant joy or
as a shriek in alarm, or
a day of shofar blowing.
Shofars were blown in biblical times to rally the people together, to alert the people in time of war, to warn the people, or as an instrument, along with shouts, to express the people’s joy, or to praise the Lord God.
Yom Teruah prophetically involves all these concepts, it’s a day when God’s people will shout with joy as they gather to meet Yeshua in the air, after having been bodily resurrected at the sound of the last shofar blast, but it is also a time of alarm and shrieking on the part of the wicked; because a time of war and terror are brought on by the judgments and are about to come upon the earth.
Additionally, Yom Teruah is:
a day of new beginnings or renewal,
to wake up from lethargy and slumber, to be broken out of that sleepy, comfort zone state and to be awakened to action.
Again, remember the ten virgins of Matthew 25 who slept in anticipation of the bridegroom’s arrival? When the shout went forth that he was coming they were all awakened. Some were prepared to go into the marriage supper of the bridegroom and some were not. Our Bridegroom is Yeshua.
Take to heart the full ramifications of its’ spiritual and prophetic implications. If we consider ourselves to be part of the bride of Yeshua, then we will want to let the message of Yom Teruah sink deeply into our hearts and adjust our lives accordingly.
For more on Rosh Hashanah and the Fall moedim links are on Homepage under the section titled:
7 FESTIVALS/APPOINTED TIMES/FEASTS
Shalom and shanah tova mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
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