Tuesday, November 13, 2012

The second nation


Letter 196  (The second nation)                                                                       12/09/03

In letter 191 (the second stick/tree), I pointed out that after having gathered the first stick/tree or nation of Judah, YHVH is now in the process of gathering the tree/nation “of Joseph in the hand of Ephraim and all Israel”.   I suggested that the government of this second nation is not like that of Judah (at this point in time), but is based on the rule and reign of the Son of David/Son of God, Yeshua Ha-Mamashiach

It is taking a special work of YHVH, through the Messiah, for the nation of Joseph, in the hand of Ephraim and all Israel, to be gathered again. This nation was declared to be “not My people”, and the ones that YHVH had “no mercy” on (Hos. 1:6,9).   Paul calls this etz/tree the “wild olive branch” reminding its ‘members’ not to boast, as they only stand by faith: “And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear” (Rom. 11:17-20). Neither Abraham nor Sarah could boast in their flesh at the birth of their son Isaac, as his emergence into life was a miracle just as it is written: “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence(1 Cor. 1:27-29). 

The northern house of Joseph/Ephraim (or the ten lost tribes) became the lump of clay that was made into vessels of dishonor. They were the “foolish, weak, despised and which are not”, as mentioned above.  However, “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump [Jacob] to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” (Rom 9:21). By identifying the subject of the preceding statement with the same people whom Hosea (1:10) was addressing, the apostle reveals a mystery that we are not to be ignorant of (see Rom. 11:25). “As He says also in Hosea, ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved; and it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, “You are not My people,” there they shall be called sons of the living God" (Rom. 9:25-26). YHVH gave Ephraim/Israel over to wrath (that is, sin and death), just as He did to the rest of the sons of disobedience, or the heathens. “Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience, among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph 2:2-3).

Paul also describes Israel’s plight in Romans chapter one: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened; professing to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:18; 21-22).   Even though these words may pertain to all humanity, the expression “those who knew God” is a reference to those who “knew” the truth (Torah) but suppressed it in unrighteousness.  Who were the ones “who knew God”?  These scriptures are very similar to others, such as in Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 78 and 106 etc. that speak of Israel 

Peter, addressing his letter to “not My people”, describes them as foreigners or aliens in the nations. The Greek words that are used here are very revealing“Peter, an apostle of Yeshua the Messiah, to the strangers [or aliens - parepidemos] scattered [diaspora] throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect [eklektos] according to the foreknowledge [prognosis] of God the Father” (1 Peter 1:1-2).

In last week’s letter I pointed out that the apostles had no reference for the new covenant revelation, other than the Tanach.  Keeping this in mind, let us examine the Greek words and see if there is a connection between the Tanach and the terminology used in Peter’s introductory statement.  “Parepidemos (Strongs 3927) is one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there alongside the natives, or sojourning in a strange place.  Who were the ones living outside of their own territory, who were actually aliens alongside the heathens?   Where did they come from?  The next word indicates that they were a dispersed (diaspora #1290) people.  In chapter 2, Peter, quoting from the Prophet Hosea, calls them “not my people”. Who were scattered or dispersed among the nations?  Peter, like Paul, uses another Greek word to describe them, “eklektos” (#1588), which is an elect or chosen nation. They were the ones that the word “prognosis” (#4268) was applies to. That is, YHVH had foreknowledge of them, or had pre-arranged their sowing into the nations and then put His life and light in them that they might be a blessing and a light to the rest of humanity.  Again, I must ask, where did the apostles get such notions, other than from knowing about those to whom the promises were given in the first place?   

Let me reiterate, the second/nation is not like Judah’s.  Peter, quoting from the Torah, calls this people, “a holy nation and a royal priesthood” (Ex 19:6; 1 Pet. 2:9). He then follows it up with a quote from Hosea 1:10; 2:23, reaffirming their ancestral identity. In other words, he is describing a nation set apart for holiness; a body of people that have the life and nature of their Elohim in them.  Paul also refers to them in his letter to the Corinthians, as the “temple of the living God”, and then quotes from Leviticus 26:12 “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people” (2 Cor. 6:16). They are to manifest His righteousness through faith in the finished work of the crucified Messiah.  This will also be the future destiny of the House of Judah, but YHVH must first fulfill the prophesies that have to do with Judah’s present circumstances: “For YHVH will visit His flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as His royal horse in the battle… they shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because YHVH is with them, and the riders on horses shall be put to shame.  I will strengthen the house of Judah”, and I will save the House of Joseph (Zech. 10:3,5-6).

Ephraim

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