YHVH's counsel

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 is My son, My first–born” (Ex.4:22). YHVH has remained true and consistent to His word.  Knowing this fact is vital to our faith, because had He not stayed faithful to 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. They also which erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine” (Is. 29:22-24).

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.  2^nd 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. 2^nd 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

An Article from Deut. 29 and 30

Letter 197 (Nitzavim)                                                                   19/09/03

In the Torah reading of NITZAVIM  (Deut. 29:10 – 30:20) we find the chosen people standing before YHVH.  They have just received another covenant (Deut 29: 1) and awesome commands which enumerated the consequences of obedience and disobedience (the blessings and the curses).  But were they ready for the final oath that would catapult them into something so fearful, yet so promising as this covenant with the Elohim of their fathers?  The conditions were clear, and so was their inherent weakness (which would make meeting the requirements almost impossible).

How could YHVH subject these men, women and children to such laws, when He already knew that they were born of the “sin nature”, and would thus miss the mark of Torah and suffer the consequences?  Moshe said to them:  “Yet to this day YHVH has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear” (Deut. 29:4). How unfair it all seemed, or was YHVH concealing His plan in the darkness of the “mystery of iniquity” (2^nd Thes.2:7, also Eph.2:1-2)? 

A MATTER OF THE HEART

“YHVH has not yet given you...” In this short phrase we see that YHVH holds Himself responsible for the future success, or failure, of His plan.  Even after the flood YHVH declared that, “man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21).  Because of this inherent condition, Moses, under the anointing of the Holy One, begins to prophecy the destiny of the Hebrew people:  “And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations, where YHVH your God has driven you…” (Deut. 30:1). Before the Children of Israel had a chance to prove themselves, or even to make any kind of free will choice, YHVH already knew what would happen to them, because of the condition of their heart.

As mentioned, YHVH had made Himself accountable regarding the covenant that He made with the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, a covenant replete with blessings of land and fruitfulness that would multiply and spread to all nations.  But this covenant (‘of Moav’), issued before entering the land was conditional.  Standing before YHVH, they are looking toward the land that they are about to enter, the land of milk and honey promised to their forefathers.  However, the conditions for remaining in the land are now hanging over their heads like a seething prophetic refining pot. "But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess” (Deut. 30:17-18).  It was as if YHVH was using this conditional covenant as a tool to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant, and preparing the way for an even greater promise.

YHVH KNOWS...

History reveals that YHVH was true to His word, even though the potential consequences of the Moav Covenant may be interpreted as negative and even disastrous (abounding in curses and not blessings).  Some may even venture to condemn the generations of our forefathers for failing to live up to the righteousness of Torah.  YHVH, aware of these weaknesses, built into the Sinai Covenant the sacrificial system for atonement and forgiveness of sin to be in effect year after year throughout the cycles of the feasts.  But did the Sinai Covenant take care of the condition of the heart?  Obviously we would have to answer: “no, it did not”. In fact, it did the very opposite, revealing the corruptness of the heart.  Yeshua pointed out this condition, as recorded in the Gospel of Mark: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (7:21-23).  This is why Yeshua describes the religious man as a white washed tomb. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.  Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Mat. 23:27-28).

How was YHVH going to have a People that would become a holy nation (Ex. 19:6), and be His witness (Isa. 43:10,12)? As Moses continues to prophesy we are given one of the first glimpses into the mystery of the will of YHVH (ref. Eph. 1:9-10), and into a covenant that would once and for all deal with the condition of the heart:  “YHVH your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deut. 30:6).  A door of hope was left open; the destiny of the people was sealed by the prophetic word. The irrevocable calling upon them as YHVH’s people could not fail.  YHVH said: “I WILL”, thus leaving no doubt that it was not going to be by the will of man, nor by might, nor by power but by the Spirit of the infallible Word/Torah of YHVH.

THE FINAL COVENANT REVEALED

The seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was called out for YHVH’s namesake, called and chosen to be His firstborn (Ex. 4:22, Jer. 31:9), and, yes, to become YHVH’s possession and inheritance (Deut. 32:9). YHVH was not obligated to take care of them because of who they were. Their seed would become His witness and light to the nations because of His name, and the love that He had for their forefathers (Acts 1:8).

The prophet Ezekiel reiterated these same promising words many years later: “Therefore say to the house of Israel, this is what YHVH Elohim says:  ‘It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.  I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them.  Then the nations will know that I am the Lord’, declares YHVH Elohim, ‘when I show myself holy in you before their eyes.  For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my Torah.  You will live in the land I gave your forefathers, you will be my people, and I will be your God’” (Eze 36:22-28).

Through His covenant-relationship with Israel, YHVH was literally putting His head, His “Godship”, His name (nature) on the “chopping block” of humanity.  If He would not have been faithful to carry out His word, His covenant promises, to His people, especially to Abraham, then our faith and trust in Him would be to no avail, and the bible would simply be a book of bad jokes.

Step by step and line upon line God was setting the stage for the final covenant that would accomplish His purpose for the ages. It would be a blood covenant of grace and mercy, a covenant that would embody, fulfill and absorb all the previous covenants. This covenant would include a divine act of circumcising the heart, changing our very nature, in order for us to be able to love YHVH our Elohim with all our heart and with all our soul, and keep the commandments and live.  This future covenant guaranteed life, because of the unconditional, unchanging, unfailing love and faithfulness of the God of Israel.

STANDING

Standing before YHVH is often seen as a time of consecration and sanctification, therefore just as our forefathers stood before YHVH, let us stand before this portion of His word, examining its prophetic past and its reality and fulfillment for today.  May we conclude and say ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ to a Father who is sovereign, just, faithful and true` who keeps covenant and shows mercy; who gives grace and truth through His Redeemer – Messiah Yeshua - who gave His life not only for us but TO us.

Surely, we who have received the grace of the New Covenant, having a circumcised heart that we may understand, eyes to see the reality of the Kingdom of YHVH and ears to hear His Word, can agree with the statement from this week’s portion: “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’  No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deut. 30:11-14).

Ephraim