Letter 199 (YHVH”s counsel) 10/10/03
“The counsel
of YHVH stands for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. Blessed
is the nation whose Elohim is YHVH; and the people whom He has chosen for His
own inheritance” (Ps.
34:11-12). “For YHVH'S portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His
inheritance” (Deu. 32:9). “For I am YHVH, I change not; therefore you
sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Mal.3:6). What encouraging words
for those of us who have seen and experienced personally the fulfillment of
Malachi 4:6 “And He will turn the hearts of the fathers [Patriarchs] to the children [their progeny/seed], and the hearts of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse"!
We now have no doubt about the faithfulness of YHVH, His loving-kindness
and His tender mercies. We also have the
advantage of understanding the “counsel” of YHVH as it refers to this
generation of His nation (“inheritance”).
Even the head of the first church in Jerusalem, James, addresses his
letter to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad, and speaks to them about
a Father of light who has no variation or shadow of turning (see James 1:1,
17). James then continues with these
words: “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of
truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures”
(James 1:18). Is this “exercise of His
will” going to be contrary to the promises that He made to our
forefathers? Is He now going to
establish a lie, by choosing another inheritance?
YHVH said that “Ephraim is My
first born [first fruit]” (Jer. 31:9), and “Israel Israel His covenant-bride, and had
gone out after another nation, we would have an adulterer for a husband. Likewise, if we preach another bride and
another inheritance, we become a false witness; “A false
witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall not
escape” (Pro. 19:5). Even the commandments tell us not to bear false witness,
especially against God. We, of the
redeemed remnant of the lost sheep of the House of Israel, are to sing a new song;
“Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with aloud noise. For the word of
YHVH is right; and all his works are done in truth” (Ps. 33:3-4).
What works?
“Therefore
thus says YHVH, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob
shall not now be ashamed;, neither shall his face now wax pale. But when he
sees his children, the work of Mine hands, in the midst of him, they
shall sanctify My name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the
Elohim of Israel
Do we fully understand the
responsibility that comes with knowing who we are, and what our purpose here on
earth should be? We are the first-fruit
of the new creation order, called to be the servant administrators of YHVH’s
kingdom here “on earth as it is in heaven”.
His order in humanity has never changed. It was decreed that Japheth
will dwell in the tent of Shem, not visa versa. However, within the “tent of
Shem” there is also the order of the first-born. The Patriarchs were the ones
to inherit this “tent”, which houses YHVH’s presence. Therefore for humanity to
come into the “presence”, the tent has to be fully restored.
As we celebrate the Feast of Succot this year let us
remember who we are, as the first-born is a type of “Succah” (temporary
dwelling place of the Most High). As such, we are exhorted to purge and
cleanse ourselves that we might be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for
the Master’s use and prepared unto every good work. We are to flee youthful lusts and follow
righteousness, faith, love, peace and call on YHVH with a pure heart (ref. 2nd Tim 2:21-22). Before Joshua
brought our forefathers across the Jordan into the land, he asked the
people to sanctify themselves: “Sanctify
yourselves: for tomorrow YHVH will do wonders among you” (Josh 3:5).
I sometimes wonder if the reason why YHVH is not doing wonders among us
is because these vessels are not yet fit for the Master’s use.
In the days of Nehemiah the Torah
was read during the entire Feast of Succot, and was celebrated with much joy
and feasting. But on the last and eighth day (Hoshana Rabbah), they sanctified
themselves with fasting, sackcloth and earth upon their faces. They read from the Torah one fourth of the
day, and the rest was spent in repentance and worship (ref. Neh. 8-9).
“On the last day, the eighth day
[Hoshanan Rabbah], that great day of the
feast [of Succot], Yeshua stood and
cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who
believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of
living water’" (John 7:37 -38).
The Holy One of Israel is working
today in the area of sanctification, and those who are responding in obedience
are receiving healing and deliverance in ways that are almost
unprecedented. YHVH is preparing us
today to be, as mentioned above, the administrators of the new creation life,
which will flow out of our innermost being.
He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the
indwelling Spirit of Holiness (ref. 2nd peter 1:3), therefore we can
walk in newness of life and in the more excellent way.
I am reminded of an old song we
used to sing in ‘days of old’ at fellowship meetings. Here are some of its verses:
There’s a river of life flowing
out of me,
Makes the lame to walk and the
blind to see,
Opens prison doors sets the
captives free,
There’s a river of life flowing
out of me.
Spring up O well within my soul…
Spring up O well and make me
whole…
Ephraim
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