Re'eh

Parasha Re’eh

Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17

Please pray following

Prayer before reading

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah,

I pray for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit of Knowledge and

The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parasha

That the Truth of Torah may

Come forth. Amen

This Torah Portion Re’eh is the 47 Portion of the Torah cycle and the forth in Deuteronomy it begins with: “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse.” Since the sin of Adam and Eve, everything in the world has become a mixture of good and evil, positive and negative, light and darkness, right and wrong.

Today we look at every situation and every person from the point of view of good or bad. This means that at any moment, we are making a choice to connect to the light or the darkness, what is good or bad in everyone and in every thing. Whatever mode we choose it is the dominant mode in our lives.

As believers we need to understand that it is impossible for us to see anything outside of ourselves that we did not first awaken within ourselves, for the fruit we manifest is the result of the inward programming of our mind. Yahushua and Moses was two of the greatest persons who ever lived, but if someone wanted to; they could find all sorts of faults about them.

Unfortunately, all the time Moses spend perfecting his ego in the wilderness, many Yisraelites still find fault with him. But what was the Children of Yisrael actually doing? They were awakening their own darkness, which was connecting to the shell of darkness around Moses, which all of us have.

Take this idea a step further, it turns out that how we view the world and the people around us, actually influence what happen next. If we choose to focus on the positive in a person, for instance, we not only connect ourselves to the Light of the CREATOR, we also awaken the positive energy in that person as well. When we only see the negative in a person, we cause darkness and separation in that person and in ourselves.

The Talmud says that the nature of the world is cyclical: The Light we reveal through an action of giving away money will come back to us in a positive way. In the Book of prophets, we read that whenever King Saul went to seek Samuel the Prophet so that Samuel could pray for him, King Saul would always ask what he could give Samuel.

The Talmud reiterates this point: If a person is having difficulties, he should ask a righteous person to pray for him. But if a person does not first give something to the righteous person, the prayers of that righteous person cannot have an effect.

Every difficulties we experience in our lives fall into three categories: Family, life and sustenance. The reason we lack Light in these area is because we have somehow cut ourselves off from the blessing through our negative actions.

How can we correct this? We do it through prayer, and that the prayer of a righteous person is especially effective.

When anyone blesses a righteous person with something that is important to him or her, for most people this is money; through the righteous person, the giver is able to be connect to the essence of that righteous person.

On this Shabbat of Re’eh, we are reminded that we make a powerful choice every time we decide if a person or situation is good or bad. When we put ourselves on the side of the good, we can further tip the scale by giving our money and our prayers.

Here Moses concludes his general exhortations to obedience; and his management by objective seems to be very affecting, and such as one would think, should have encourage them to strive for maturity. This exhortation should have left everlasting impressions upon them, which would never be forgotten. The Book of Deuteronomy is the police man of the Torah, It contains the curses of the Laws that stands against us, and the blessing of the laws that stands with us.

Deu 11:26 ‘See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: - He sums up all his arguments for obedience in two words, the blessing and the curse, that is, the rewards and the punishments, as they stand in the promises and the threatening, which are the great authority of the law.  Taking hold of hope and fear, those two handles of the soul, by which it is caught, held, and managed.

These two; the blessing and the curse, יהוה set before them and us that is. יהוה explained to us, that we might know them; Moses enumerated the particulars contained both in the blessing and in the curse, that they might see more fully, how desirable the blessing was, and how dreadful the curse the policeman was.

 He confirmed to us, that we might believe them, made it evident to us, by the proofs HE produced of HIS own commission, that the blessing was not a fool’s paradise, nor the curse a nuisance, but that both were real declarations of the purpose of YAHVEH concerning them.

 Moses is charging us to choose which of these two choices they would have, so does every good spiritual leader, when dealing with the people.

These two possibilities can be found in Deu 28: 1- 14; 15 - 68., the blessing and the curse. 

Deu 11:27 the blessing, when you obey the commands of יהוה your Elohim which I command you today; - Moses was informing the people as he is informing us today, to be careful on what terms we stand with The Almighty EL. If we be obedient to HIS Laws, we may be sure of a blessing. Duet 28:¹ “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the YAHVEH EL ELYON, to observe carefully all HIS commandments which I command you today, that YAHVEH EL ELYON will set you high above all nations of the earth. ²“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of YAHVEH EL ELYON: ³“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. ⁴“Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the producer of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. ⁵“Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ⁶“Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

⁷“YAHVEH will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. ⁸“YAHVEH will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which YAHVEH EL ELYON is giving you. ⁹“YAHVEH will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of YAHVEH EL ELYON and walk in His ways. ¹⁰“Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of YAHVEH, and they shall be afraid of you. ¹¹“And YAHVEH will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which YAHVEH swore to your fathers to give you. ¹²“YAHVEH will open to you HIS good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. ¹³“And YAHVEH will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of YAHVEH EL ELYON, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. ¹⁴“So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Deu 11:28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commands of יהוה your Elohim, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other mighty ones which you have not known. - But, if we be disobedient, we may be as sure of a curse. Say you to the righteous (for YAHVEH has said it, and the entire world cannot unsay it) that it shall be well with them: but woe to the wicked, it shall be ill with them. Due 28:¹⁵ “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of YAHVEH EL ELYON, to observe carefully all HIS commandments and HIS statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: ¹⁶“Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. ¹⁷“Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ¹⁸“Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. ¹⁹“Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.

Deu 11:29 ‘And it shall be, when יהוה your Elohim has brought you into the land which you go to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ěyḇal. - He appoints a public and solemn proclamation to be made of the blessing and curse which he had set before them, upon the two mountains of Gerizim and Ebal.

We have more particular directions for this solemnity in ch. 27:11, etc., and an account of the performance of it, Jos. 8:33, etc.

It was to be done, and was done, immediately upon their coming into Canaan, that when they first took possession of that land they might know upon what terms they stood. The place where this was to be done is particularly described by Moses, tough he never saw it, which is one circumstance among many that evidences his divine instructions.

It is said that near the plain, or oaks, or meadows, of Moreh, which was one of the first places that Abraham came to in Canaan; so that in sending them there, to hear the blessing and the curse, YAHVEH reminded them of the promise he made to Abraham in that very place, Gen. 12:6, 7.

Deu 11:30 ‘Are they not beyond the Yardĕn, toward the setting sun, in the land of the Kenaʽanites who dwell in the desert plain opposite Gilgal, beside the terebinth trees of Moreh? - The mention of this appointment serves one purpose. For the encouragement of their faith in the promise of YAHVEH, that they should be masters of Canaan. Do it (says Moses) on the other side Jordan, for you may be confident you shall pass over Jordan. When we pass over Yarden River spiritually, we are entering the Holy of Holies, we are coming into our inheritance, full maturity; curse will we be if after such a long journey, we are still prone to sin.

Deu 11:31 ‘For you are passing over the Yardĕn to go in to possess the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, and you shall possess it and dwell in it, - The institution of this service to be done in Canaan, the promise Land, was an assurance to them that they should be brought into possession of it, and a token like that which YAHVEH gave to Moses (Ex. 3:12): You shall serve YAHVEH upon this mountain. We are entering into the Land not for a picnic, but to possess the Land, which has been set aside for us. When we return to the Heavens and see the place that will be our home, we will uproot those squatters who are in the Land, and their possession will be given to us.

Deu 11:32 and shall guard to do all the laws and right-rulings which I am setting before you today.’ - It serves for an engagement upon them to be obedient, that they might escape that curse, and obtain that blessing, which, besides what we had already heard, they must shortly be witnesses to the solemn publication of. "You shall observe to do the statute and judgments, that you may not in that solemnity be witnesses against yourselves.’’

Statutes are acts, decrees, ruling, edict, announcement, proclamation, While Judgments relates to: sentences, conclusion, and decisions. In others words obedience is mandatory.

Is there a two-tier system in Shamayem, is there one set of law for the Yisraelites and one for the Gentiles, as those who believe in Judaism preaches.

So those who choose not to follow the Sabbath and the Feast days of Leviticus 23, cannot guard the laws and right-rulings!

Chapter 12

Moses in this chapter comes to the particular statues which he had to give as a charge to Yisrael, and he begins with those which relate to the worship of YAHVEH, and particularly those which explain the second commandment, about which YAHVEH is in a special manner jealous. 

I.             They must utterly destroy all relics and remains of idolatry verse 1-3.

 

II. They must keep close to the tabernacle verse 4, 5. The former precept was intended to prevent all false worship, the latter to preserve the worship YAHVEH had instituted. By this latter law,

1. They are commanded to bring all their offerings to the altar of YAHVEH, and all their holy things to the place which he should choose verse 6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 18, 26 - 28. 

2. They are forbidden, in general, to do as they now did in the wilderness verse 8–11, and as the Canaanites had done verse 29–32, and, in particular, to eat the Kadosh ”holy” things at their own houses verse 13, 17, 18, or to forsake the instituted ministry verse 19.

3. They are permitted to eat flesh as common food at their own houses, provided they do not eat the blood verse 15, 16, and again, verse 20–26.

Deu 12:1  “These are the laws and right-rulings which you guard to do in the land which יהוה Elohim of your fathers is giving you to possess, all the days that you live on the soil. - From these great original truths given in Torah, that there is a Mighty-One “God” whose name is YAHVEH, and that there is a oneness among the gods in the Heavens, from these great fundamental laws. That the King of those gods is to be worshiped, and He only, and that therefore we are to worship no other Mighty One before HIM.

This is the first commandment or principles, and the second is a guard upon it, or a hedge about it. To prevent the worshiping of the wrong gods, we are forbidden to worship the true EL in such a way and manner as they do the false gods.

We are admonish to worship YAHVEH, and are commanded to observe the instituted, the ordinances of worship outline in the Torah, that we may adhere to the proper object of worship.

For this reason Moses is very specific in his exposition of the second commandment. What is contained in this and the four following chapters mostly refers to that.

These are statutes and judgments which they must observe to do.  In the day we enter our rest and prosperity, when we should be masters of Canaan. We must not think that our spiritual growth or journey is instituted by our own works.

In the years of our spiritual journey, and our joy in the places of our affliction; when we come to possess our good land, we must keep up the worship of YAHVEH in Canaan as well as we did during our wilderness journey.

When we have grown up spiritually in comparison to when we are children; when we are full of business as well as when we have nothing else to do. All the days, as long as you live upon the earth. While we are here in our state of trial, we must continue in our obedience, even to the end, and never neglect our duty, nor grow weary of well-doing.

Deu 12:2 “Completely destroy all the places where the nations which you are dispossessing served their mighty ones, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. – The double form of the verb “you shall utterly destroy” indicates that idols must be destroyed totally. That is why it is not sufficient merely to chop down an Asherah, or idolatrous tree, even its roots must be removed from the ground.

Deu 12:3 “And you shall break down their altars, and smash their pillars, and burn their Ashĕrim with fire. And you shall cut down the carved images of their mighty ones and shall destroy their name¹ out of that place. Footnote: ¹The names of the gentile deities (mighty ones). -  Not only should the idol themselves be removed, believers were not even to refer to them by their proper names. Instead, they should use derogatory nickname for them.

Deu 12:4 “Do not do so to יהוה your Elohim, - This verse commanded us not to used or transfer the same type of worship used in idolaters into the worship of YAHVEH; no the same song or instruments. We should not take a secular song and converted it to HIS parse and worship, You shall not do so to YAHVEH your EL, that is, "you must not think to do honor to HIM by offering sacrifices on mountains and hills, erecting pillars, planting groves, and setting up images; no, you must not indulge a luxurious fancy in your worship, nor think that whatever you like, that it will also please YAHVEH: He is above all gods, and will not be worshiped as other gods are.

We must do nothing that will degrade the Name of YAHVEH. Meaning that the nations should not look at us and say what kind of god you serve. There is only one YAHVEH, but many gods, we should not call HIM god or Gods, we should used HIS SACRED Name יהוה.

Deu 12:5 but seek the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His Name there, for His Dwelling Place, and there you shall enter. – Having previously mentioned the place that YAHVEH would choose, a term that always refers to the Temple.

Moses was alluding to another resting place of YAH’S Shechinah the Tabernacle. Unlike the Canaanites who brought their offerings wherever they chose, believer must do so only in the place and manner designated by יהוה.

The Tabernacle of Shiloh, in the Provence of Ephraim, stood for 369 years, before the erection of the Temple. The principle of the Tabernacle is the only way to approach a Holy Elohim; we cannot do it any other way.

Deu 12:6 “And there you shall take your burnt offerings, and your offerings, and your tithes, and the contributions of your hand, and your vowed offerings, and your voluntary offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock. - This verse enumerates the animal and agricultural offering that must be brought to the Temple. The Elevation offerings are those that are burned completely at the Altar, and feast-offerings are peace-offerings that are generally shared with the family and guest of the one bringing the offering.

The two terms together are frequently used as generic terms for all types of animal and fowl offerings. Here, Moses referred to the offerings that are required by the Torah at the end of the verse he added those that individuals brings voluntary, either by vowing to do so or by doing so without accepting a prior obligation.

In this context, the tithes are the animal tithes that are brought as offering, Leviticus 27:3 and the second tithes from crops. What we raise up with our hands refers to the first fruit. 

Deu 12:7 “And there you shall eat before יהוה your Elohim, and shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which יהוה your Elohim has blessed you. – When we worship יהוה we should do so gladly. The extent of our offerings should be commensurate with the prosperity יהוה has given us.

This applies to all area of life. One should give to charity, apportion time to Torah study and community work, and be active in the education of the children according to how much יהוה have blessed us.

A wealthy person has not fulfilled his obligation merely by giving more than who have less, and those who have been blessed with the ability to teach, lead or decide difficult problems must do more that those who has less ability.

Deu 12:8 “Do not do as we are doing here today – each one doing whatever is right in his own eyes¹. Footnote: ¹See Jud. 17: ⁶In those days there was no king in Yisrael; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. & 21: ²⁵In those days there was no king in Yisrael; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. - Because of the strange proneness there was in the hearts of the people to idolatry and superstition, and the danger of their being seduced by the many temptations which they would be surrounded with.

Deu 12:9 “Because you have not yet entered the rest and the inheritance which יהוה your Elohim is giving you. - Because of the great use which the observance of this appointment would be off to them, both to prevent the introducing of corrupt customs into their worship and to preserve among them unity and brotherly love, that, meeting all in one place, they might continue both of one way and of one heart.

Deu 12:10 “But you shall pass over the Yardĕn, and shall dwell in the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you to inherit, and He shall give you rest from all your enemies round about, and you shall dwell in safety. - It is promised here that when they were settled in Canaan, when they had rest from their enemies, and dwelt in safety, YAHVEH would choose a certain place, which HE would appoint to be the centre of their unity, to which they should bring all their offerings.

Deu 12:11 “And it shall be, that unto the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell there, there you are to bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your offerings, and your tithes, and the contributions of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to יהוה. – In this verse we are instructed to bring our various offering to the place where His Name dwells. Not every place that says that they are a church, really meets with יהוה approval.

If the church is not set up according to the pattern of the Tabernacle, then it is not YAHVEH’S Assembly. In the kingdom to come, we must bring our offering to the assign place of worship, as we bring our tithes to the Temple.

Deu 12:12 “And you shall rejoice before יהוה your Elohim, you and your sons and your daughters, and your male servants and your female servants, and the Lĕwite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you. - There you shall eat before YAHVEH, and rejoice in all that you put your hands unto; and again, you shall rejoice before YAHVEH, you, and your sons, and your daughters.

 That what we do in the service of יהוה and to His feast days given for our benefit. Those who sacrifice to יהוה on His appointed Time are welcome to eat before HIM, and to feast upon their sacrifices: HE sups with us, and we with HIM, Rev. 3:20.

If we glorify יהוה, with our blessings, we edify ourselves, and cultivate our own spirit. Through the grace of יהוה, and the increase of our knowledge and faith, the faithfulness of our devoted affections, and the confirming of gracious habits and resolutions, our sacrifice are accepted.

This is how the soul is nourished. The Feast for יהוה should be done with holy joy and cheerfulness. You shall eat and rejoice, again and again.

 Whenever we approach YAHVEH we must come rejoice. It is the will of יהוה that we should serve HIM with gladness; none displeased HIM more than those that covered HIS altar with tears. Mal. 2:13.

See what a good Master we serve, who has made it our duty to sing at our work. Even the children and servants must rejoice with us, before יהוה.

That is the services of true religion, that it will be a pleasure to us, and not a task or drudgery. They must carry away with them the grateful relish of that delight which they found in communion with יהוה; they must rejoice in all that they put their hands unto.

Some of the comfort which they must take with them into their common employments; and, being strengthened in soul, whatever, they did they must do it heartily and cheerfully.

This holy pious joy in יהוה and HIS goodness, with which we are to rejoice evermore, would be the best preservative against the sin and snare of vain and carnal mirth and a relief against the sorrows of the world.

Deu 12:13 “Guard yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see, -  The Feast day of Leviticus 23 must not be celebrate any were. The disciples ask Yahushua “were must we go and keep Passover”, Matthew 26:17.

Deu 12:14 except in the place which יהוה chooses, in one of your tribes, there you are to offer your burnt offerings, and there you are to do all that I command you. – Matthew 27:¹⁸ And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. ¹⁹So the disciples did as Yahushua had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

Deu 12:15 “Only, whatever your being desires you shall slaughter and eat, according to the blessing of יהוה your Elohim which He has given you, within all your gates. The unclean and the clean do eat of it, of the gazelle and the deer alike. – A feast day, for example the Feast of Tabernacle, we can kill whatever we desire from our flock and we and our friends may enjoy ourselves, even the unsaved may join in. They might see our celebration and decide to join the perfect religion.

Deu 12:16 “Only, the blood you do not eat, pour it on the earth like water. – Since the essence of life is in the Blool, the warning is repeated here to avoid the consumption of any blood related product. If the life of the animal is in the blood by consuming the blood is it possible that we are taking on the nature of the animal that is slain.

The moment the blood stop flowing through the vein, the soul leaves the body. Life then is depending on the flow of the blood to the cells, two minutes after the blood stop flowing, oxygen deprivation starts. When we consume blood of another animal, we are in essence taking on the nature of that animal.

Deu 12:17 “You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or of the firstlings of your herd or your flock, or of any of your offerings which you vow, or of your voluntary offerings, or of the contribution of your hand. – The subject here is the second tithes, the only tithes that can be eaten. The first tithes was given to the priest, this tithe was for the people who were not well off, and the priest also.

The Feast of Tabernacle is one such celebration, were we share of our blessing with our invited guest.

The firstborn male of the Cows, sheep and goat are holy from birth and, if no blemish is found on them, they must be brought as an offering. If a blemish is found it is then given to the Priest as a gift, which may also be slaughter and eaten anywhere.

The term in this verse, your offering, this refers to peace and thanksgiving offering. Elevation-offering are burn on the Altar.

Deu 12:18 “But eat them before יהוה your Elohim, in the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lĕwite who is within your gates. And you shall rejoice before יהוה your Elohim in all that you put your hands to. – We must celebrate Sukkoth with our family at the place where our Father have chosen for us. We must also invite the Levites.

          What this verse is elucidating is that when we are having a party, or any celebration, even a barbecue, we must invite the Priest or in our case the Pastor.

Deu 12:19 “Guard yourself that you do not forsake the Lĕwite as long as you live in your land.  – In general term, the Pastor must be supported at all times.

Deu 12:20 “When יהוה your Elohim enlarges your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘Let me eat meat,’ because you long to eat meat, you eat as much meat as your being desires. – In this verse we see an ethical dimension to this phrase. That one should not indulge in luxurious living unless יהוה has broadened our boundaries and enable us to afford it.

Deu 12:21 “When the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to put His Name is too far from you, then you shall slaughter from your herd and from your flock which יהוה has given you, as I have commanded you, and you shall eat within your gates as much as your being desires. – If taking your portion to the temple is too far, we may celebrate the Feast at our homes with our friends.

They are allowed to eat common flesh, but not the flesh of their offerings, in their own houses, wherever they dwelt. What was any way devoted to YAHVEH they must not eat at home, verse 13, 17. But what was not so devoted they might kill and eat of at their pleasure, verse 15.

This permission is again repeated, verse 20–22. It should seem that while they were in the wilderness they did not eat the flesh of any of those kinds of beasts that were used in sacrifice, but what was killed at the door of the tabernacle, and part of it presented to YAHVEH as a peace-offering, Lev. 17:3, 4.

But when they came to Canaan, where they must live at a great distance from the tabernacle, they might kill what they pleased for their own use of their flocks and herds, without bringing part to the altar. This allowance is very express, and repeated, lest Satan should take the occasion to draw us from that law which forbade the eating of their sacrifices at their own houses, to suggest to them, as HE did to our first parents, hard thoughts of YAHVEH, as if HE grudged them: You mayest eat whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.

Today we do not make any blood sacrifice, for Yahushua is our only Sacrifice, yet when we kill a lamb or goat for a festive occasion the principle to giving a portion to the priest still stands.

Deu 12:22 “Only, as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you are to eat of it. The unclean and the clean persons alike eat of it. - The unclean person, who might not eat of the holy things, yet might eat of the same sort of flesh when it was only used as common food. The distinction between clean persons and unclean was sacred, and designed for the preserving of the honor of their holy feasts, and therefore must not be brought into their ordinary meals.

This permission has a double restriction: They must eat according to the blessing which YAHVEH had given them, verse 15. It is not only our wisdom, but our duty, to live according to our estates, and not to spend above what we have. As it is unjust on the one hand to hoard what should be laid out, so it is much more unjust to lay out more than we have; for what is not our own must needs be another’s, who is thereby robbed and defrauded.

Deu 12:23 “Only, be firm not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, do not eat the life with the meat. -  Only be strong infers that since Moses had to issue this decree, it must have been a problem for people to eat blood in those days. If Moses had to exhort Yisrael to avoid blood, which is repugnant, how much more so he had to strengthen people resolve to avoid forbidden activates that are truly tempting.

Deu 12:24 “Do not eat it, you pour it on the earth like water. - Between these two extremes let wisdom find the mean, and then let watchfulness and resolution keep it. They must not eat blood verse 16, and again, verse 23: Only be sure that You eat not the blood verse 24), you shall not eat it; and verse 25, you shall not eat it, and that it may go well with thee. When they could not bring the blood to the altar, to pour it out there before YAHVEH, it still belonging to him, they must pour it out upon the earth, since it is not belonging to them.

Because it was the life, and therefore, as an acknowledgment, belonged to him who gives life, and, as an atonement, belonged to him to whom life is forfeited. One reason why they were forbidden such a strict policy of eating of blood was to prevent the superstitions of the old idolaters about the blood of their sacrifices, which they thought their demons delighted in, and by eating of which they imagined that they had communion with them.

Deu 12:25 “Do not eat it, that it might be well with you and your children after you, when you do what is right in the eyes of יהוה. – In this verse we are admonish to do what is right. One should refrain from eating blood not because we find it disgusting, but because we wish to do what is right in the eyes of יהוה.

The same apply to all the commandments. While it is commendable to look for intellectual or emotional justification to perform the commandments, these are only aids, but should never become the main reasons for obedience to the Torah; the essential intention must be to obey יהוה.

Deu 12:26 “Only, the set-apart gifts which you have, and your vowed offerings, you are to take up and go to the place which יהוה chooses. – Whether they are required guilt or sin-offering of offerings that we have undertaken voluntarily, it is your responsibility to transport them to the Temple.

Deu 12:27 “And you shall make your burnt offerings, the meat and the blood, on the altar of יהוה your Elohim. And the blood of your offerings is poured out on the altar of יהוה your Elohim, and you eat the meat. – The blood (dahm) of our feast-offering shall be poured upon the Altar of  יהוה. Blood of all offering must be poured on the Altar, as prescribe by Torah.

Regarding the flesh, elevation-offering is to be completely burn on the Brazen Altar, while most of the flesh of the feast-offering, such as peach and thanksgiving-offering must eaten by the one and his guest who is having the celebration.

Deu 12:28 “Guard, and obey all these words which I command you, that it might be well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of יהוה your Elohim. – In this verse we see the general principles of observance, how to safeguard and hearken. Moses taught the people the process of spiritual accomplishment.

First we must learn to safeguard what we have learned, meaning that we must review the laws so that the Torah becomes a part of us, Jer 31:33; Hebrew 8:10.

That we might not stumble when trials arise. With that accomplish they can hearken, perform the commandments properly. In this verse we are also admonish to observe all the words of the Commandments, whether obviously important or minor, they should be equally obeyed.

Every commandment is the Words of יהוה and human beings cannot know their order of importance.

We are admonish here to always do what is right and good. A person who has total faith in יהוה will not hesitate to deal generously with opponents, for we know that יהוה  will see to us what we deserved, what we are entitled to, in one way or another.

What is fair? In litigation, you should agree to arbitration and compromise, and be willing to be generous to our opponent by not asserting the full extent of the law.

Deu 12:29 “When יהוה your Elohim does cut off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, - When Father YAHVEH cuts them of, like a limb of a tree is cut off, we must deposed of that which has being rejected. We must not be like a dog who returns to its own vomit.

Deu 12:30 guard yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire about their mighty ones, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their mighty ones? And let me do so too.’¹ Footnote: ¹See also 18:9, Lev. 18:3, Jer.10:2, Ezek. 11:12 & 20:32, Eph. 4:17, and 1 Peter 4:3 – Lest we be attracted by their ways of worship. We sometime want to bring Christian praise and worship into our assembly, yet we all know that they worship idol. Yet we embrace their means of praise and worship.

After we saw that יהוה had destroyed them, we should have realized that there was nothing we could learn from them.

Clearly, the generations closest to the defeat of the Canaanites would not be tempted to imitate, but with the passage of time, people unfamiliar with the past might be tempted to resort to the ancient practices of the natives. Believers are forbidden to adopt the practices of idolaters into their own service.

Deu 12:31 “Do not do so to יהוה your Elohim, for every abomination which יהוה hates they have done to their mighty ones, for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their mighty ones. – A true believer must not use the same form or mode of worship that were used to worship Idols when we are worshiping the True and Living Elohim.

Deu 12:32 “All the words I am commanding you, guard to do it – do not add to it nor take away from it.¹ Footnote: ¹See also 4:2, By definition perfection cannot be improved upon, so for one to add to or subtract from the Commandment of the Torah, is an unacceptable implication that YAH’S Torah is lacking.

This negative commandment forbids anyone, to add an eleven commandment or leave out the forth as many do today. He charges them to keep YAH'S commandments, to do them, to keep and do them, to perform the covenant. Hearing must be in order to doing, knowledge in order to practice.

YAH’S commandments were the way they must keep in, the rule they must keep to; they must govern themselves by the moral precepts, perform their devotion according to the Divine ritual, and administer justice according to the judicial law. He concludes his discourse with this repeated charge: You shall keep HIS statutes and HIS Commandments which I command thee. What are laws made for, but to be observed and obeyed?  Prov. 30: ⁶ Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar., Rev. 22:¹⁸ For testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, YAHVEH will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, YAHVEH shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Chapter 13

Moses is still teaching the people the necessary subject concerning the peril of idolatry. In the close of the former chapter he had cautioned them against the peril that might arise from their predecessors the Canaanites.

In this chapter he cautions them against the rise of idolatry from among themselves; they must take heed lest any should draw them to idolatry.

I.             By the pretense of prophecy verse 1-5. 

II.           By the pretense of friendship and relation verse 6–11.

III. By the pretense of numbers verse 12–18. But in all these cases the temptation must be resolutely resisted and the tempters punished and cut off.

Deu 13:1  “When there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he shall give you a sign or a wonder, - Moses followed his earlier prohibition against copying the gentiles practices by stressing that believers must take care to observe the entire Torah as it is written to us.

In this verse he is saying to be careful on those who seek to improve on Torah by adding new commandments runs the risk that human intelligence considers an honor to יהוה may be an abomination to יהוה.

A prophet is one who instructs the people to return to the ways of Torah. He is also a person who is capable of doing signs and wonders. John was called the greatest prophet, yet he never made one prediction. His only message was for us to make straight the way of YAHVEH the Kingdom is at hand. Meaning, return toיהוה  ways, the Messiyah will be here soon.

He may seem to have all the right moves, and says what you want him to say, however.

Deu 13:2 and the sign or the wonder shall come true, of which he has spoken to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other mighty ones – which you have not known – and serve them,’ – Even false prophets can do signs and wonders. However, the true test is, are they drawing you away from Torah. This is what Constantine did to the Church; he came with an olive branch, offering to make peace with the church, never to prosecute them ever again. But there was one condition, do not Judahize, meaning, do away with the Shabbat day and the feast days, making the Sunday the new Sabbath day.

To the counsel of Nicaea, this was indeed a sign and wonder. They were not going to be prosecuted anymore, and now they were going to be the religion of choice for the Romans Empire. This was unheard off, just a few years ago, when some of those very same church leaders had to run for their lives.

Deu 13:3 do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for יהוה your Elohim is trying you to know whether you love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being. – This verse seems to indicate that יהוה allow this false prophet to come into the church and tempt us to see if we will love Him with all your heart. I was with a church once who was keeping Passover on the wrong day and the wrong time, and when I said I will not join you in your celebration, I was severally scowled. Torah cannot be compromise for anyone.

False Prophets will come with all kinds of calculation; I just used the new moon to determine the beginning of each month.

Deu 13:4 “Walk after יהוה your Elohim and fear Him, and guard His commands and obey His voice, and serve Him and cling to Him. – We must follow the Elohim whose name is יהוה , He alone we must obey. His Words is written in the Torah, when Yahushua was being tested, He used the Word “it is Written”.

Deu 13:5 “And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams is put to be put to death, because he has spoken apostasy against יהוה your Elohim – who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim and redeemed you from the house of bondage – to make you stray from the way in which יהוה your Elohim commanded you to walk. Therefore you shall purge the evil from your midst. - Even if the prophet word comes to past, it is forbidden to obey his commandment. As to why YAHVEH would permit a charlatan to perform a word, a miracle or a prediction, an accurate occurrence, the Torah explains that יהוה is testing us.

This verse seems to indicate that this prophet is someone who had been establish as a true prophet and later his reputation to claim that YAHVEH wants the people to violate Torah. Anyone who tells us that the laws were nail to the cross is one such person.

Deu 13:6 “When your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own being, entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other mighty ones’– which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, -  An enticer is usually do their work in seclusion, but the death penalty applies even if the attempt was done in public. I wonder if Adam knew this when He obey Eve.

Deu 13:7 of the mighty (gods) ones of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth – The temptation is supposed to be private: he will entice thee secretly, implying that idolatry is a work of darkness, which dreads the light and covets to be concealed, and in which the sinner promises himself, and the tempter promises him, secrecy and security.

Concerning the false gods proposed to be served. The tempter suggests that the worshiping of these gods was the common practice of the world; and, if they limited their adoration's to an invisible Deity, they were singular, and like nobody, for these gods were the gods of the people round about them, and indeed of all the nations of the earth.

Deu 13:8 do not agree with him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pardon him, nor spare him or conceal him, - It is our duty to prefer YAHVEH before the best friends we have in the world. We must not, in complaisance to our friends, break YAH’S law: "You shall not consent to him. Nor go with him to his idolatrous worship, no, not for company, or curiosity, or to gain a better interest in is affections.’’ It is a general rule, if sinners entice thee, consent You not, Prov. 1:10. 

Deu 13:9 but you shall certainly kill him. Your hand is first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people, - We must not, in compassion to our friends, obstruct the course of YAH’S Will. He that attempts such a thing must not only be looked upon as an enemy, or dangerous person, whom one should be afraid of, and swear the peace against, but as a criminal or traitor, whom, in zeal for our sovereign MASTER, HIS Crown and dignity, we are bound to inform against, and cannot conceal without incurring the guilt of a great misprision: You shall surely kill him.

By this law the persons enticed were bound to the seducer, and to give evidence against him before the proper judges, that he might suffer the penalty of the law, and that without delay, which the Jews say is here intended in that phrase, as it is in the Hebrew, killing You shall kill him.

Neither the prosecution nor the execution must be deferred; and he that was first in the former must be first in the latter, to show that he stood to his testimony: "Thy hand shall be first upon him, to mark him out as an anathema, and then the hands of all the people, to put him away as an accursed thing.’

Deu 13:10 and you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage. - The death he or she must die from was that which was looked upon among the Hebrew as the severest of all deaths. He must be stoned: and his accusation written is that he has sought to thrust them away, by a kind of violence, from YAHVEH they God. Those are certainly our worst enemies, that would thrust us from YAHVEH, our best friend; and whatever draws us to sin separates between us and God, is a design upon our life, and to be resented accordingly.

Deu 13:11 “And let all Yisra’ĕl hear and fear, and not again do any such evil matter as this in your midst. – The gravity of this offense is such thay entices punishment that must be as public as possible, to serve as a deterrent for others.

Deu 13:12 “When you hear someone in one of your cities, which יהוה your Elohim gives you to dwell in, saying, - Anywhere that we live if someone try to entice us this is what we must do.

Deu 13:13 ‘Some men, sons of Beliyaʽal, have gone out of you midst and led the inhabitants of their city astray, saying, “Let us go and serve other mighty ones” ’ – mighty ones whom you have not known – It is supposed to be done by the generality of the inhabitants of the city, for we may conclude that, if a considerable number did retain their integrity, those that were guilty were to be destroyed, and the city was to be spared for the sake of the righteous in it; for YAHVEH will not the Judge of all the earth for not doing right? No doubt HE will.

They are supposed to be drawn to idolatry by certain men, or women the children of Belial, people that would endure no yoke (so it signifies), neither fear YAHVEH nor regard man, but to shake off all restraints of law and conscience, and are perfectly lost to all manner of virtue; these are those that say, "Let us serve other gods,’’ that will not only allow, but will countenance and encourage, our immoralities.

Belial is put for the devil (2 Co. 6:15), and the children of Belial are his children. These withdraw the inhabitants of the city from them; for a little of their leaven, when it is entertained, will soon leavens the whole lump.

Deu 13:14 then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And see if the matter is true and established that this abomination was done in your midst, - You must seek out and investigate - The cause is ordered to be tried with a great deal of care. You shall esquire and make certain. They must not proceed upon scanty evidence, or take the information by hearsay, but must examine the proofs, and not give judgment against them unless the evidence was clear and the charge fully made out. YAHVEH HIMSELF, before HE destroyed Sodom, is said to have come down to see whether the crimes were according to the report, Gen. 18:21. In judicial processes it is requisite that time, and care, and pains, be taken to find out the truth, and that search be made without any passion, prejudice, or partiality.

Deu 13:15 you shall certainly smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, putting it under the ban, and all that is in it and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. - If the crime was proved, and the criminals were incorrigible, the city was to be wholly destroyed. If there were a few righteous men in it, no doubt they would remove themselves and their families out of such a dangerous place, and then all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, must be put to the sword, all the spoil of the city, both shop-goods and the furniture of houses.

Deu 13:16 “And gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, before יהוה your Elohim. And it shall be a heap forever, never to be built again. - All the spoil of the city, included the treasures and the furniture of houses, must be brought into the marketplace and burned, and the city itself must be laid in ashes and never built again.

Deu 13:17 “And none of that which is put under the ban is to cling to your hand, so that יהוה turns from the fierceness of His displeasure and shall show you compassion, love you and increase you, as He swore to your fathers, - The soldiers are forbidden, upon pain of death, to convert any of the plunder to their own use. It was a devoted thing, and dangerous to meddle with, as we find in the case of Achan. YAHVEH enjoins this severity of show what a jealous Elohim HE is in the matters of HIS worship, and how great a crime it is to serve other gods. Let men know that YAHVEH will not give HIS glory to another name, or HIS praise to graven images.

Deu 13:18 when you obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim, to guard all His commands which I command you today, to do what is right in the eyes of יהוה your Elohim. - "Fear not the’’ (says Moses), "YAHVEH will multiply you the more; the body of your nation will lose nothing by the letting out of this corrupt blood.’’ Lastly, though we do not find this law put in execution in all the history of the church (Gibeah was destroyed, not for idolatry, but immorality), yet for the neglect of the execution of it upon the inferior cities that served idols god himself, by the army of the Chaldeans, put it in execution upon Yerushalayim.

The head city, which, for is apostasy from YAHVEH, was utterly destroyed and laid waste, and lay in ruins seventy years. Though idolaters may escape punishment from men, yet YAHVEH our El will not suffer them to escape HIS Righteous Judgments. The renewed Covenant speaks of communion with idolaters as a sin which, above any other, provokes YAHVEH to jealousy, and dares HIM as if we were stronger than HE, 1 Co. 10:21, 22.

Chapter 14

Moses in this chapter teaches us, to distinguish ourselves from our neighbors by a singularity, 

1.    In their mourning verse. 1, 2.

2.    In their meat verse 3–21.

3.    To devote ourselves unto YAHVEH, and, in token of that, to give him our dues out of our estates, the yearly tithe, and that every third year, for the maintenance of our religious feasts, the Levites, and the poor verse 22, etc.

Deu 14:1 “You are the children of יהוה your Elohim. Do not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead, - If I am a child of YAHVEH, does this not make me an Elohim? We as gods are not allowed to cut ourselves for the dead, nor shave or head in mourning for them. These are the practice of the Canaanites.

Our special relationship to יהוה does not permit us to follow the detestable practices of the Amorites, as children of יהוה we should understand that with the end of life here on earth, the soul remain intact and must give an account of its knowledge and practices of Torah.

Therefore, despite the natural grief we feel at the loss of a love one, believers should not be so terrified by death that they would mutilate their body.

Such behavior is fitting only for those to whom death is a chilling end. It should be clear, however, that it is normal and proper to weep and mourn the loss of a dead one.  

Deu 14:2 for you are a set-apart people to יהוה your Elohim, and יהוה has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a treasured possession above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. –  "We are a holy people, separated and set apart for יהוה to devoted to HIS service, designed for HIS praise, governed by a holy law, graced by a holy tabernacle, and the holy ordinances relating to it.’’ YAH’s people are under the strongest obligations to be holy, and, if they are holy, we are indebted to the grace of יהוה that makes us so. YAHVEH has set them apart for HIMSELF, and qualified them for HIS service and the enjoyment of HIM, and so has made us holy to Himself.

How are we to distinguish ourselves by a sober singularity from all the nations that were about us? And, יהוה having therefore advanced them, let us not them debase themselves by admitting to the superstitious customs of idolaters, and, by making ourselves like them, put ourselves upon the level with the Ammonites. We must be the children of YAHVEH your EL; so the Seventy read it, as a command, that is, "Carry yourselves as becomes the children of יהוה, and do nothing to disgrace the honor and forfeit the privileges of the relation.’’ In two things particularly they must distinguish themselves.

                                                                          

Deu 14:3 “Do not eat whatever is abominable. – Whatever is forbidden by EL YAHVEH is an abominable food, food such as: pork, lobster, and food with blood in it.

Deu 14:4 “These are the living creatures which you do eat: ox, sheep, and goat, - These are the Animals the Torah enumerates, the only ten species of Kosher land animals that have split hooves and chew their cud, and the few animals that are non-kosher because they have only one of these quality. These verses contain the first three clean animals.

Deu 14:5 deer, and gazelle, and roebuck, and wild goat, and mountain goat, and antelope, and mountain sheep. – This verse contains the next seven clean animals.

Deu 14:6 “And every beast that has a split hoof divided in two, chewing the cud, among the beasts, you do eat. – The term the beast relate to the human nature. Those human nature that posses the characteristic of a split hoof, meaning separate walk, and who chew their cud, those who go over Torah a second time after they have been feed. They are consider to be a clean animal.

How do we acquire a separate walk? By accepting Messiyah Yahushua as our Savor, we are separated or consider holy to Father YAHVEH.

When a sheep eats grass, it find a comfortable place and bring up what it has just eaten and go over it with a fine-tooth comb, so-to-speak, making sure it get at what it can possible get from Scripture.

That is why we are admonished to be like the Beriheans and search scripture to see if it were so.

Deu 14:7 “But of those chewing the cud or those having a split hoof completely divided, you do not eat, such as these: the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit, for they chew the cud but do not have a split hoof, they are unclean for you.  – The term eat also mean to take to oneself. Meaning the practice of these animals we must not adopt. Every animal display a certain mannerism, also know in humans as character traits.

Deu 14:8 “And the pig is unclean for you, because it has a split hoof, but does not chew the cud. You do not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses. – The nature of a pig, is an animal that eats anything that is place in front of it, it does not stop to discern if what it is eaten is appropriate. Many believers today easily adopt man made laws as doctrine, because Pastor tells them so, without checking to see if it is the Written Word.

There is another group of people who chew their cud, they spend a lot of time studying Torah, but they do not believing in Yahushua, therefore, they do not have a separate walk. They are Rabbinic Judaism, the ones who Yahushua often butt heads. We are not to follow or adopt their ways of thinking, or even partake in their bible study. They do not ask for the Spirit of Understanding, therefore they will never receive the Spirit of Knowledge, must less walk in the Spirit of Wisdom.

Deu 14:9 “These you do eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales you do eat. - A fin is a surface used to produce lift and thrust or to steer while traveling in water, air, or other fluid media. Fish scales are dermally derived, specifically in the mesoderm. This fact distinguishes them from reptile scales paleontological. The earth is made up on about 75% water. Those of us who are able to propel ourselves through the waters under the Heavens, to separate ourselves are the ones who will overcome this world. The water under the earth is the teachings of man, verses the water from Heavens the teaching of Torah.

Deu 14:10 “And whatever does not have fins and scales you do not eat, it is unclean for you. - Concerning fish there is only one general rule given, that whatsoever had not fins and scales (as shell-fish and eels, besides leeches and other animals in the water that are not proper food) we must label them as unclean and forbidden foods.

Deu 14:11 “Any clean bird you do eat, - No general rule is given concerning fowl, but those are particularly mentioned that were to be unclean to them, and there are few or none of them which are forbidden here, that are now commonly eaten; and whatsoever is not expressly forbidden is allowed. Of all clean fowls you may eat. Here are the further forbidden birds.

If we should do a study on the nature of the following birds we would discover the spiritual nature that each bird exemplify, these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

 

 Deu 14:12 but these you do not eat: the eagle, and the vulture, and the black vulture, - these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

Deu 14:13 and the red kite, and the falcon, and the buzzard after their kinds, - these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

Deu 14:14 and every raven after its kind, - these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

Deu 14:15 and the ostrich, and the nighthawk, and the seagull, and the hawk after their kinds, -

Deu 14:16 the little owl, and the great owl, and the white owl, - these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

 Deu 14:17 and the pelican, and the carrion vulture, and the fisher owl, - these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

Deu 14:18 and the stork, and the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat. – these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

Deu 14:19 “And every creeping insect that flies is unclean for you, they are not eaten. – these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

Deu 14:20 “Any clean bird you do eat. - these are the spiritual nature we must be very careful to avoid.

Deu 14:21 “Do not eat whatever dies of itself. Give it to the stranger who is within your gates, to eat it, or sell it to a foreigner. For you are a set-apart people to יהוה your Elohim. Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. - They are further forbidden, First, To eat the flesh of any creature that died of itself, because the blood was not separated from it, and, besides the ceremonial uncleanness which it lay under (from Lev. 11:39), it is not wholesome food, nor ordinarily used among us, except for the stranger.

If it is not good enough for us, why is it good for the stranger? For YAHVEH said so! This carries a lot of possible argument. One is we are require to love our neighbor, and our neighbor is a fellow believer who live beside us, when we were in the Wilderness.

Those this means that there is one rule for the gentiles and one rule for us. This seems to say so. A holy people cannot eat certain things while an unholy people may do so. Should we lie to a brother who loves us as we love him, Can we lie to a stranger who do not have our best interests at heart. I would say yes.

Consider WWII Germany 1940, a Jewish family came to your house and ask for protection, an hour later the Nazi solder came by and ask if there are ant Jews in the house. Do we tell the truth to the evil empire of do we save the brother?

I would false information to the Nazi, to save my brother. If a fellow believer came by and ask if there were any Jews here, I would tell him or her, yes! For I know they would not turn them over to the authorizes.

                                                                                                                 

Deu 14:22 “You shall tithe without fail all the yield of your grain that the field brings forth year by year. – As believers we must tithe the increase of our hand, regardless of what we do for a living. We have here a part of the statute concerning tithes. The productions of the ground were twice tithed, so that, putting both together, a fifth part was devoted to YAHVEH out of their increase, and only four parts of five were for their own common use; and they could not but own they paid an easy rent, especially since YAH’S part was disposed of to their own benefit and advantage.

The first tithe was for the maintenance of their Levites, who taught them the good knowledge of YAHVEH, and ministered to them in holy things; this is supposed as anciently due, and is entailed upon the Levites as an inheritance, by that law, Num. 18:24, etc.

But it is the second tithe that is here spoken of, which was to be taken out of the remainder when the Levites had had theirs.

We are charged in this verse to separate it, and set it apart for YAHVEH: You shall truly tithe all the increase of the seed. The Levites took care of their own, but the separating of this was left to the owners themselves, the law encouraging them to be honest by reposing a confidence in them, and so trying their fear of YAHVEH.

They are commanded to tithe truly, that is, to be sure to do it, and to do it faithfully and carefully, that YAH’S part might not be diminished either with design or by oversight. We must be sure to give YAHVEH his full dues out of our estates; for, being but stewards of them, it is required that we be faithful, as those that must give an account.

Deu 14:23 “And you shall eat before יהוה your Elohim, in the place where He chooses to make His Name dwell, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and of the firstlings of your herds and your sheep, so that you learn to fear יהוה your Elohim always. - In works of piety, for the first two years after the year of release. They must bring it up, either in kind or in the full value of it, to the place of the sanctuary, and there must spend it in holy feasting before YAHVEH. The end of this law we have: That You mayest learn to fear YAHVEH thy EL always; it was to keep them right and firm to their religion, By acquainting them with the sanctuary, the holy things, and the solemn services that were there to performed.

Deu 14:24 “But when the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to bring the tithe, or when the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to put His Name is too far from you, when יהוה your Elohim is blessing you, - If we were a Almond farmer and we lived far away, we may sell the Almonds and bring the money instead. Our El is not an Elohim who is not a reasonable El.

Deu 14:25 then you shall give it in silver, and shall take the silver in your hand and go to the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses. -  If they could do it with any convenience, they must bring it in kind verse 23; but, if not, they might turn it into money verse 24, 25, and that money must be used to purchase food to feast upon before YAHVEH. The comfortable cheerful using of what YAHVEH has given us, with temperance and sobriety, is really the honoring of YAHVEH with it. Contentment, holy joy, and thankfulness, make every meal a religious feast. When they read the appointed feast of Torah, it would do them good to see the observance of in the tabernacle; it would make a deeper impression upon society, which would keep them out of the snares of the idolatrous customs.

Note it will have a good influence upon our constancy never to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, Heb. 10:25. By the comfort of the communion of saints, we may be kept to our communion with YAHVEH, by using the Moadim in the most pleasant and delightful services of YAHVEH. Let them rejoice before YAHVEH, that they may learn to fear HIM always.

Deu 14:26 “And you shall use the silver for whatever your being desires: for cattle or sheep, for wine or strong drink, for whatever your being desires. And you shall eat there before יהוה your Elohim, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. – This is the feast of Tabernacle or Sukkoth, when we must have a big party and invite the poor among us. If we choose to use money to buy offering, it must be a peace-offering of rejoicing.

Deu 14:27 “And do not forsake the Lĕwite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. - The more pleasure we find in the ways of religion the more likely we shall be to persevere in those ways. One thing they must remember in their pious entertainments, to bid their Levites welcome to them. You shall not forsake the Levites: "Let him never be a stranger to thy table, especially when we celebrate before YAHVEH.’’ Any time we are having even a birthday party, we must not forget to invite the Pastor.

Deu 14:28 “At the end of every third year you bring out all the tithe of your increase of that year and store it up within your gates. – This law speaks of another tithe every three year. If someone has failed to distribute any of his tithes during the three-year cycle, he must delivered all of them to the proper recipients by Pesach of the forth year. This commandment to give a little to the poor, at the end of every three year.

Deu 14:29 “And the Lĕwite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, shall come and eat and be satisfied, so that יהוה your Elohim does bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. – The Levites and the widow. The Torah lists people who are more likely than others to be poor, but any indigent person is eligible.

Chapter 15

In this chapter Moses gives orders, 

I.         Concerning the release of debts, every seventh year verse 1-6, with a caution that this should be no hindrance to charitable lending verse 7–11.

 

II.       Concerning the release of servants after seven years’ service verse 12–18.

 

III. Concerning the sanctification of the firstlings of cattle to YAHVEH verse 19, etc.

Deu 15:1 “At the end of every seven years you make a release of debts. - A law for the relief of poor debtors, such (we may suppose) as were in debt. Every seventh year was a year of release, in which the ground rested from being tilled and servants were discharged from their services.

Among other acts of grace, this was one, that those who had borrowed money, and had not been able to pay it before, should this year be released from it; and though, if they were able, they were afterwards bound in conscience to repay it, yet thenceforth the creditor should never recover it by law.

Deu 15:2 “And this is the word of the release: Every creditor is to release what he has loaned to his neighbor, he does not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the release of יהוה. - Many good expositors think it only forbids the exacting of the debt in the year of release, because, no harvest being gathered in that year, it could not be expected that men should pay their debts then, but that afterwards it might be sued for and recovered: so that the release did not extinguish the debt, but only stayed the process for a time.

 The reasons of this law are; to put an honor upon the sabbatical year: Because it is called YAHVEH’s release. That was YAH’S year for their land, as the weekly Sabbath was YAH’S day for themselves, their servants, and cattle; and, as by the resting of their ground, so by the release of their debts, YAHVEH would teach them to depend upon his providence. This year of release typified the grace of the gospel, in which is proclaimed the acceptable year of YAHVEH, and by which we obtain the release of our debts, that is, the pardon of our sins, and we are taught to forgive injuries, as we are and hope to be forgiven of YAHVEH.

Deu 15:3 “Of a foreigner you could require it, but your hand is to release whatever is owed by your brother. - But others think it was a release of the debt for ever, and this seems more probable, yet under certain limitations expressed or implied. It is supposed that the debtor was an Yisraelite (an alien could not enjoy the benefit of this law) and that he was poor, that he did not borrow for trade or purchase, but for the subsistence of his family, and that now he could not pay it without reducing himself to poverty and coming under a necessity of seeking relief in other countries, which might be his temptation to revolt from YAHVEH. The law is not that the creditor shall not receive the debt if the debtor, or his friends for him, can pay it; but he shall not exact it by a legal process.

Deu 15:4 “Only, there should be no poor among you. For יהוה does greatly bless you in the land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you to possess as an inheritance, - It was to prevent the falling of any Yisraelite into extreme poverty: so the margin reads, To the end there shall be no poor among you, none miserably and scandalously poor, to the reproach of their nation and the pure religion, the reputation of which they ought to preserve.

YAH’S security is here given by a divine promise that, whatever they lost by their poor debtors, it should be made up to them in the blessing of YAHVEH upon all they had and did.

Let them take care to do their duty, and then YAHVEH would bless them with such great increase that what they might lose by bad debts, if they generously remitted them, should not be missed out of their stock at the year’s end. Not only, YAHVEH shall bless thee, verse 4, but he doth bless thee, verse 6.

Deu 15:5 only if you diligently obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim, to guard to do all these commands which I am commanding you today. - It is altogether inexcusable if, though YAHVEH had given us abundance, so that we have not only enough but to spare, yet we are rigorous and server in our demands from our poor brethren; for our abundance should be the supply of their wants, that at least there may not be such an inequality as is between two extremes, 2 Co. 8:14.

Deu 15:6 “For יהוה your Elohim shall bless you as He promised you. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And you shall rule over many nations, but they do not rule over you. - They must also consider that their land was YAH’S gift to them that all their increase was the fruit of YAH’S blessing upon them, and therefore they were bound in duty to HIM to use and dispose of their estates as HE should order and direct them.

Lastly, if they would remit what little sums they had lent to their poor brethren, it is promised that they should be able to lend great sums to their rich neighbors, even to many nations, and should be enriched by those loans. Thus the nations should become subject to them, and dependent on them, as the borrower is servant to the lender, Prov. 22:7. To be able to lend, and not to have needed to borrow, we must look upon as a great mercy, and a good reason why we should do good with what we have, lest we provoke YAHVEH to turn the scales.

Deu 15:7 “When there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, within any of the gates in your land which יהוה your Elohim is giving you, do not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, - Here is a law in favor of poor borrowers, that they might not suffer damage by the former law. Men would be apt to argue, If the case of a man be so with his debtor that if the debt be not paid before the year of release it shall be lost, it were better not to lend. "No,’’ says this branch of the statute, "You shall not think such a thought.’’

 It is taken for granted that there would be poor among them, who would have occasion to borrow, and that there would never cease to be some such objects of charity, and that there would never cease to be some such objects of charity verse 11: The poor shall never cease out of thy land, though not such as were reduced to extreme poverty, yet such as would be behind-hand, and would have occasion to borrow; of such poor he here speaks, and such we have always with us, so that a charitable disposition may soon find a charitable occasion.

In such a case we are here commanded to lend or give, according to our ability and the necessity of the case: You shall not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand. If the hand be shut, it is a sign the heart is hardened; for, if the clouds were full of rain, they would empty themselves, Eccl. 11:3. Bowels of compassion would produce liberal distributions, Jam. 2:15, 16.

Deu 15:8 for you shall certainly open your hand to him and certainly lend him enough for his need, whatever he needs. – As believers we shall not only stretch out thy hand to the poor to give him something, but You shall open thy hand wide unto him, to lend him sufficient.

Sometimes there is as much charity in prudent lending as in giving, as it obliges the borrower to industry and honesty and may put him into a way of helping himself.

 We are sometimes tempted to think, when an object of charity presents itself, we may choose whether we will give anything or nothing, little or much; whereas it is here an express precept verse 11, I command thee, not only to give, but to open thy hand wide, to give liberally.

Deu 15:9 “Be on guard lest there be a thought of Beliyaʽal in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is near,’ and your eye is evil against your poor brother and you give him naught. And he shall cry out to יהוה against you, and it shall be a sin in you. - Here is a admonition against that objection which might arise against charitable lending from the foregoing law for the release of debt.

Beware that there be not a thought, a covetous ill-natured thought, in thy Belial heart, "The year of release is at hand, and therefore I will not lend what I must then be sure to lose.

Lest thy poor brother, whom You refuses to lend to, complain to YAHVEH, and it will be a sin, a great sin, to us. The law is spiritual and lays a restraint upon the thoughts of the heart. We mistake if we think thoughts are free from the divine cognizance and check.

That is a wicked heart indeed that raises evil thoughts from the good law of YAHVEH, as theirs did who, because YAHVEH had obliged them to the charity of forgiving, denied the charity of giving.

 We must carefully watch against all those secret suggestions which would divert us from our duty or discourage us in it. Those that would keep from the act of sin must keep out of their minds the very thought of sin.

When we have an occasion of charitable lending, if we cannot trust the borrower, we must trust YAHVEH, and lend, not  hoping for nothing again in this world, but expecting it will be recompensed in the resurrection of the just, Lu. 6:35; 14:14.

 It is a dreadful thing to have the cry of the poor against us, for YAHVEH has his ear open to that cry, and, in compassion to them, will be sue to reckon with those that deal hardly with them.

Deu 15:10 “You shall certainly give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this reason יהוה your Elohim does bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. - Here is a command to give cheerfully, whatever we give in charity: "Thy heart shall not be grieved when You givest. Be not slow to part with thy money on so good an account, nor think it lost; grudge not a kindness to the brother; and distrust not the providence of YAHVEH, as if you should not want that yourself which You gives in charity.

But, on the contrary, let it be a pleasure and a satisfaction of the soul to think that we art honoring YAHVEH with thy substance, doing good, making thy brother easy, and laying up for thyself a good security for the time to come. What You do, do freely, for YAHVEH loves a cheerful giver,’’ 2 Co. 9:7.

Deu 15:11 “Because the poor one does not cease from the land. Therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall certainly open your hand to your brother, to your poor and to your needy one, in your land.’ - Here is a promise of a recompense in this life: "For this thing YAHVEH thy EL shall bless thee.’’ Covetous people say "Giving undoes us;’’ no, giving cheerfully in charity will enrich us, it will fill the barns with plenty (Prov. 3:10) and the soul with true comfort, Isa. 58:10, 11.

Deu 15:12 “When your brother is sold to you, a Heḇrew man or a Heḇrew woman, and shall serve you six years, then let him go free from you in the seventh year. - A repetition of the law that had been given concerning Hebrew servants who had sold themselves for servants, or were sold by their parents through extreme poverty, or were sold by the court of judgment for some crime committed. The law was that they should serve but six years, and in the seventh should go out free, Compare Ex. 21:2. If the year of jubilee happened before they served out their time that would be their discharge.

When we as a mature believer finds someone who is in debt to sin and we help him to achieve spiritual maturity which is six years, after he has completed the required time, we must let him go freely.

Deu 15:13 “And when you send him away free from you, let him not go away empty-handed.  – When we let him go, we should not let him go empty handed. Let him go with a few servants so that he can make an inheritance for himself. It is sad for a mature believer to enter the kingdom without a disciple.

Deu 15:14 “You shall richly supply him from your flock, and from your threshing-floor, and from your winepress. With that which יהוה has blessed you with, give to him? – If I should have an large assembly and one of my disciple complete his sixth days of creation, I would allow him to take some of my people and start an assembly of his own. This is what we should call church planting.

Deu 15:15 “And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Mitsrayim, and יהוה your Elohim redeemed you. Therefore I am commanding you this word today. - YAH’S Yisrael were a free people, and must not be compelled to perpetual slavery; thus are YAH’S spiritual Yisrael called unto liberty. The sixth days of Creation are the stage of our spiritual development, design to make us into a perfect man on the end of the sixth day. On the seventh day we should be free from all the desire of the flesh.

After all we have been through to achieve the sixth days of creation, we must never forget were we came from, we must never forget that we are spiritual beans sent here to achieve or prove our obedience and faithfulness to the Father יהוה.

Deu 15:16 “And it shall be, when he says to you, ‘I do not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, because it is good for him with you, - If that person after they have reach maturity, and have the right to go on their own, but still decided to remain and help you in your ministry, we should not refused them.

Deu 15:17 then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Do the same to your female servant. – The key word in this verse is forever. The hole in the ear is a sign that we are under the authority of a master forever.

Deu 15:18 “Let it not be hard in your eyes when you send him away free from you, for he has been worth a double hired servant in serving you six years. And יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in all that you do. – When a person experience their sixth Torah cycles, and have built their Menorah, and have become the Ark of the Covenant, they are now a mature believer, who is worthy of a double portion.

In gratitude to their disciple a master should not grudge the advancement of his disciple. "Grudge not giving him a little out of your abundance, for he has been worth a double hired servant unto thee.

Deu 15:19 “Set apart to יהוה your Elohim all the first-born males that come from your herd and your flock. Do not work with the first-born of your herd, nor shear the first-born of your flock. - Here is a repetition of the law concerning the firstborns of their cattle that is if they were males, they were to be sanctified to YAHVEH .

In remembrance of, and in thankfulness for, the sparing of the first-born of Yisrael, when the first-born of the Egyptians, both of man and beast, were slain by the destroying angel (Ex. 13:2, 15); on the eighth day it was to be given to YAHVEH (Ex. 22:30), and to be divided between the priest and the altar, Num. 18:17, 18.

An addition to that law, for the further explication of it, directing them what to do with the firstlings; That were males: "You shall do no work with the male firstlings of the cow, nor shear those of the sheep’’.

Deu 15:20 “You and your household are to eat it before יהוה your Elohim year by year in the place which יהוה chooses. – For the feast of Tabernacle a first born lamb must be slaughter.

Deu 15:21 “But when there is any defect in it, lame or blind, or has any evil defect, do not slaughter it to יהוה your Elohim. – Very offering that is offered if it is an first born, it cannot have any defect. But what must they do with that which was blemished, ill-blemished?  Male or female, it must not be brought near to the sanctuary, nor used either for sacrifice or for holy feasting, for it would not be fit to honor YAHVEH with, nor to typify Messiyah, who is a Lamb without blemish;

Deu 15:22 “Eat it within your gates – the unclean and the clean alike – as the gazelle, and as the deer. – When the defective lamb is slather, anyone may eat of the meat. Yet it must not be reared, but killed and eaten at their own houses as common food,

Deu 15:23 “Only, do not eat its blood, pour it on the ground like water. - Only they must be sure not to eat it with the blood.

Chapter 16

In this chapter we have,

I.                  A repetition of the laws concerning the three yearly feasts; in particular, that of the Passover verse 1-8.

II.                That of Pentecost verse 9–12.

III.              That of tabernacles verse 13–15. And the general law concerning the people’s attendance on them verse. 16, 17.

 

IV.              The institution of an inferior magistracy, and general rules of justice given to those that were called into office verse 18–20.

III.        A caveat against groves and images verse 21, 22.

Much of the communion between YAHVEH and HIS people Yisrael was kept up by a series of religion preserved in the nation, by the three yearly feasts, the institution of which, and the laws concerning them, we have several times met with already; and here they are repeated.

Deu 16:1  “Guard the month of Aḇiḇ, and perform the Passover to יהוה your Elohim, for in the month of Aḇiḇ יהוה your Elohim brought you out of Mitsrayim by night. - The law of the Passover, represent a great spiritual mystery that falls in the middle of the first Hebrew month Abib.

 Though one week only of this month was to be kept as a festival, yet their preparations before must be so solemn, and their reflections upon it and improvements of it afterwards so serious, as to amount to an observance of the whole month.

The month of Abib, is determine by the sighting of the new Barley harvest and the New Moon. When the barley turns white it is a called aviv, or abib, ready to be harvest.

It is a special order from YAHVEH, in remembrance of the deliverance of Yisrael out of Egypt, mark the beginning of their year (Ex. 12:2), which before was reckoned to begin in September or October. This month they were to keep the Passover, in remembrance of their being brought out of Egypt by night.

Deu 16:2 “And you shall slaughter the Passover to יהוה your Elohim, from the flock and the herd, in the place where יהוה chooses to put His Name. – Today we do not kill a lamb anymore, for El Yahushua our Messiyah is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. What is requiring of us today is to pay the cost of the lamb, and apply the Blood.

Deu 16:3 “Eat no leavened bread with it. For seven days you eat unleavened bread with it, bread of affliction, because you came out of the land of Mitsrayim in haste – so that you remember the day in which you came out of the land of Mitsrayim, all the days of your life. – We should not eat Matzos because of the offering that commemorates the exodus from Egypt.

The unadorned, unflavored nature of unleavened bread is a reminder of the affliction that our forefathers endure in Egypt, and also of the haste in which the Egyptian force them to leave the country when the time came for their redemption.

It took the People seven days to reach their next spiritual objective, the crossing of the Red sea. It is similar to our water baptism, seven days after our born again experience.

Passover represent the day we got saved, the next seven days is the time spend removing the old sinful nature, this is the old leaven we are told to get read off.

Leven represent that nature that causes us to become aggravated when we become heated. This time every year is when the Believer looks at ourselves and removes that old nature, never to be renewed again.

Deu 16:4 “And no leaven should be seen with you in all your border for seven days, neither should any of the meat which you slaughter in the evening on the first day stay all night until morning. – The action of removing the leaven from our homes is similar to the removal of the spiritual Leaven or the Holy Spirit removing that sinful nature that often plagues the believer’s life. This is the process of sanctification.

After six times through this we will get to a place spiritually, were there will be no more spiritual leaven found in us.

Deu 16:5 “You are not allowed to slaughter the Passover within any of your gates which יהוה your Elohim gives you, - Today we no longer sacrifice a Lamb, for Yahushua is our Passover Lamb.

Deu 16:6 but at the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell, there you slaughter the Passover in the evening, at the going down of the sun, at the appointed time you came out of Mitsrayim. – The lamb was sacrifice on Calvary. Today we begin to roast the lamb at sundown going into the 14 of the First Month Abib. This verse gives three conflicting times for the observation of the Passover-offering.

1. The afternoon when the sun goes down,

2, the evening of the Seder, and

3, the time of the departure the next morning, when the nation march out.

These three times represent three different facet of the commandment.  The sacrifice service was performed in the afternoon, the flesh of the sacrifice was eaten at night, and the people march out in the morning.

Deu 16:7 “And you shall roast and eat it in the place which יהוה your Elohim chooses, and in the morning you shall turn and go to your tents. – This verse implicitly teaches us that Passover must be an all night affair. Then we may go to our respective house.

Deu 16:8 “Six days you eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is a closing festival to יהוה your Elohim – you do no work. - For sixth day after the Passover celebration we are to eat the unleavened bread of Torah. This Torah does not cause our flesh to get aggravated when we are pressured, or going through the fire, it will not cause us to boil-over so-to-speak.

Deu 16:9 “Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. – Since Passover is not an holy day, the grain may be harvested on the day part of the 14 and brought to the Temple for the next day which is an holy-day.

We must count 50 day from the day after Passover or 7 weeks the day after the holy day, to Pentecost the next wheat harvest.

Deu 16:10 “And you shall perform the Festival of Weeks to יהוה your Elohim, according to the voluntary offering from your hand, which you give as יהוה your Elohim blesses you. – They must bring an offering unto YAHVEH. It is here called a tribute of a free-will-offering. It was required of them as a tribute to their Sovereign Lord and owner, under whom they held all they had; and yet because the law did not determine the quantum, but it was left to every man’s generosity to bring what he chose, and whatever he brought he must give cheerfully, it is therefore called a free-will offering. It was a grateful acknowledgment of the goodness of YAHVEH to them in the mercies of these barley-harvests now finished, and therefore must be according as YAHVEH had blessed them. Where YAHVEH sows plentifully he expects to reap accordingly.

Deu 16:11 “And you shall rejoice before יהוה your Elohim, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lĕwite who is within your gates, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are in your midst, at the place where יהוה your Elohim chooses to make His Name dwell. – This verse is obviously talking about the feast of tabernacle, and who we are supposed to invite. Infarct every time we have a party, we are supposed to blow our Shofar and invite the priest and friend who live close to us.

We must rejoice before YAHVEH. Holy joy to the heart and soul a thankful praises, which are as the language and expression of holy joy. They must rejoice in their receiving’s from YAHVEH, and in their returns of service and sacrifice to him; our duty must be our delight as well as our enjoyments.

Deu 16:12 “And you shall remember that you were a slave in Mitsrayim, and you shall guard and do these laws. - They should have even their servants to rejoice with them, "for we must remember that we were bond-man, and should have been very thankful if taskmasters would have given thee some time and cause for rejoicing; and the EL did bring thee out to keep a feast with gladness; therefore be pleasant with thy servants, and make them easy.’’

It should seem, that those general words, You shall observe and do these statutes, are added here for a particular reason, because this feast was kept in remembrance of the giving of the law upon Mount Sinai, fifty days after they came out of Egypt; now the best way of expressing our thankfulness to YAHVEH for his favor to us in giving us his law is to observe and do according to the precepts of it.

Deu 16:13 “Perform the Festival of Booths for seven days after the ingathering from your threshing-floor and from your winepress, - They must keep the feast of tabernacles. Here is no repetition of the law concerning the sacrifices that were to be offered in great abundance at this feast (which we had at large, Num. 29:12, etc.), because the care of these belonged to the priests and Levites, who had not so much need of a repetition as the people had, and because the spiritual part of the service, which consisted in holy joy, was most pleasing to YAHVEH, and was to be the time of the Birth of Messiyah Yahushua, of which this feast was typical.

Deu 16:14 and you shall rejoice in your festival, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lĕwite, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates. - Observe what stress is laid in this verse: You shall rejoice in thy feast, and, because YAHVEH shall bless thee, You shall surely rejoice, verse 15.

It is the will of יהוה that HIS people should be a cheerful people. If those that were under the law must rejoice before יהוה, much more must we that are under the grace of the renewed covenant, which makes it our duty, not only to rejoice in our feasts, but to rejoice evermore, to rejoice in YAHVEH always. The rejoicing that the Messiyah has born on this day.

When we rejoice in יהוה ourselves we should do what we can to assist others also to rejoice in HIM, by comforting the mourners and supplying the necessitous, that even the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow may rejoice with us. See Job 29:13.

We must rejoice in יהוה, not only because of what we have received and are receiving from HIM daily, but because of what HE has promised, and we expect to receive yet further from HIM: because HE shall bless thee, therefore You shall rejoice. Those that make יהוה their joy may rejoice in hope, for HE was faithful  to delivered what HE had promised, the Birth of Messiyah Yahushua.

Deu 16:15 “For seven days you shall observe a festival to יהוה your Elohim in the place which יהוה chooses, because יהוה your Elohim does bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be only rejoicing! – This is the time when Yahushua was born. He came to tabernacle among us on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacle and was Circumcise on the eight day of the same feast, fulfilling the spiritual implication of the feast. That is why He was born in a Succoth or a make shift hut, were the animals live.

The dwelling place we are called to live in for seven days is of the same nature as a make shift house for the animals.

Deu 16:16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before יהוה your Elohim in the place which He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and at the Festival of Weeks, and at the Festival of Booths. And none should appear before יהוה empty-handed, - The laws concerning the three solemn feasts are summed up, as often before, Ex. 23:16, 17; 34:23. The general commands concerning them are:

 That all the males must then make their personal appearance before YAHVEH, that by their frequent meeting to worship YAHVEH, at the same place, and by the same rule, they might be kept faithful and constant to that holy religion which was established among them.

No one must appear before YAHVEH empty-handed, but every man must bring some offering or other, in a sign of a dependence upon YAHVEH and gratitude to HIM. YAHVEH was not unreasonable in HIS demands; let every man but give as he was able, and no more was expected. The same is still the rule of charity, 1 Co. 16:2. Those that give to their wealth shall be accepted, but those that give beyond their wealth are accounted worthy of double honor (2 cor. 8:3), as the poor widow that gave all she had, Lu. 21:4.

Haftarah

Isaiah 44:11 – 45:5

Isa 45:11 Thus said יהוה, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, and his Maker, “Do you ask Me about My sons what is to come? And about the work of My hands do you command Me? -  The people of YAHVEH were in captivity, which reconciled themselves to the Will of YAHVEH in their affliction and were content to wait HIS time for their deliverance, are here assured that they would not wait in vain.

They are invited to enquirer concerning the issue of their troubles. The Holy One of Yisrael, and His Maker, Though He does not allow them to strive with Him, yet encourages them, to consult HIS word.

"Ask of me things to come; have recourse to the prophets and their prophecies, and see what they say concerning these things. Ask the watchmen, what of the night? Ask them, how long?’’ Things to come, as far as they are revealed, belong to us and to our children, and we must not be strangers to them.

To seek unto HIM by prayer: "Concerning MY sons and concerning the work of MY HANDS, which is for them to submit to the will of their Father, the will of their potter, do you command me, not by way of prescription, but by way of petition.

Be earnest in your requests, and confident in your expectations, as far as both are guided by and grounded upon the promise.’’ We may not strive with our Maker by passionate complaints, but we may wrestle with Him by faithful and fervent prayer.

My sons, and the work of My hands, commend to Me (so some read it), bring them to Me and leave them with Me. See the power of prayer and its prevalence with ME: You shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am; what would you that I should do unto you? Some read it with an interrogation, as carrying on the reproof verse 9, 10:

Do you question Me concerning things to come? And am I bound to give you an account? And concerning My children, even concerning the work of MY HANDS, will you command ME, or prescribe to ME? Dare you do so? Shall any teach YAHVEH knowledge, or give law to HIM? Those that complain of YAHVEH do in effect assume an authority over HIM.

Isa 45:12 “I have made the earth, and created man on it. I, My hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded. - They are encouraged to depend upon the power of YAHVEH TSEBAOTE when they are brought very low and are utterly incapable of helping themselves. Their help stands in the name of  YAHVEH TSEBAOTE,  who made heaven and earth, which HE mentions here, not only for HIS own glory, but for their comfort.

The earth shall contribute, to the restoration of the kingdom of the Heavens, by producing mature sons to replace those who rebel. YAHVEH created both, the heavens and the earth for HIS purpose therefore both is at HIS command.

He made the earth, and created man upon it, for it was intended to be a habitation for man, Ps. 115:16. He has therefore not only authority, but wisdom and power sufficient to govern man here on this earth and to make what use HE pleases of him.

His hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their hosts He commanded into being at first, and therefore still governs all their motions and influences. It is good news to YAH’s Yisrael that their EL is the Creator and Governor of the world.

Isa 45:13 “I have stirred him up in righteousness, and all his ways I make straight. He builds My city and lets My exiles go, not for price nor reward,” declares יהוה of hosts. -  In this verse we are told what YAHVEH would do for them, that they might know what to depend upon; and this shall lead them to expect a more glorious future and redemption, of whom, and of which, Cyrus and their deliverance by him were types and figures.

Liberty shall be proclaimed to them, Cyrus is the man that shall proclaim it; and, in order unto, YAHVEH will put power into his hands: I have raised him up in righteousness, that is, in pursuance and performance of my promises and to plead my people’s just but injured cause.

YAHVEH will give those who reach maturity success in all their enterprises, particularly that against Babylon: I will direct all his ways; and then it they follows it YAHVEH will prosper him, for those who overcome are under a divine direction.

YAHVEH will make plain the way of those whom HE desire to employ as rulers in the Heavens. Two things Cyrus an example of a perfect son must do for YAHVEH: Yerushalayim is YAH’s city, which is now in ruins, and he must rebuild it, that is, he must give orders for the rebuilding of it, as one third of the Kingdom is in rebellion, it must be restored.

Yisrael is YAH’s people, but they are now captives, and he must release them freely and generously, not demanding any ransom, nor compounding with them for price or reward. As Messiyah Yahushua is anointed to do that for poor captive souls which Cyrus was to do for the captive Jews, to proclaim the opening of the prison to those that were bound (ch. 61:1), enlargement from a worse bondage than that in Babylon.

Isa 45:14 Thus said יהוה, “The labor of Mitsrayim and merchandise of Kush and of the Seḇaites, men of size, come over to you and they are yours. They walk behind you, they come over in chains, and they bow down to you. They make supplication to you, saying, ‘Indeed, Ěl is in you, and there is none else, no mighty one. -  Provision shall be made for those who come to us from the world. They came out poor and unable to bear the expenses of their return and re-establishment; and therefore it is promised that the slaves of Egypt and other nations should come over to them and be theirs.

Cyrus a type of Messiyah, having conquered those countries, out of their spoils provided for the returning Jews; and he ordered his subjects to furnish them with necessaries (Ezra 1:4), so that they did not go out empty from Babylon any more than from Egypt.

Those that are redeemed by Messiyah Yahushua shall be provided for, but also enriched. Those who the Spirits YAHVEH stirs up to go to the heavenly Zion may depend upon him to bear their charges. The world is theirs as far as it is good for them.

Proselytes shall be brought over to them: Men of stature shall come after thee in chains; they shall fall down to thee, saying, surely YAHVEH is in thee. This was in part fulfilled when many of the people of the land became Jews (Esther 8:17), and said, We will go with you, humbly begging leave to do so, for we have heard that YAHVEH is with you, Zec. 8:23.

The restoration would be a means of the conviction of many and the conversion of some. Perhaps many of the Chaldeans who were now themselves conquered by Cyrus, when they saw the Jews going back in triumph, came and begged pardon for the affronts and abuses they had given them, owned that YAHVEH was among them and that he was YAHVEH alone, and therefore desired to join themselves to them.

But this promise was to have its full accomplishment in the Messiyanic Assembly, when the Gentiles shall become obedient to Torah and deed to the faith of Messiyah(Rom. 15:18), as willing captives to the Messiyanic Assembly (Ps. 110:3), glad to wear her chains, when an infidel, beholding the public worship of Messiyanic, shall own himself convinced that YAHVEH is with them of a truth (1 Co. 14:24, 25) and shall assay to join HIMSELF to them, and when those that had been of the synagogue of Satan shall come and worship before the church’s feet, and be made to know that YAHVEH has loved her (Rev. 3:9), and the kings of the earth and the nations shall bring their glory into the gospel Yerushalayim, Rev. 21:24. It is good to be with those, Though it be in chains, that have YAHVEH with them.

Isa 45:15 Truly You are Ěl, who hide Yourself, O Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, Savior! -  They are taught to trust YAHVEH further than they can see him. The prophet puts this word into their mouths, and goes before them in saying it: Verily, You are a El that hides thyself.

YAHVEH hid HIMSELF from them when HE brought them into the trouble, hid Himself and was wroth, ch. 57:17. Though YAHVEH be HIS people’s EL and Savior, yet sometimes, when they provoke HIM, he hides himself from them in displeasure, suspends HIS favors, and lays them under HIS frowns: but let them wait upon the Lord that hides his face, ch. 8:17.

When Messiyah Yahushua was on the stake and darkness fell for three hours, YAHVEH was in essence hiding HIMSELF from Yahushua, because He took upon Himself the sins of the world.

He hid Himself when He was bringing them out of the trouble. When YAHVEH is acting as Yisrael’s EL and Savior commonly HIS way is in the sea, Ps. 77:19. The salvation of the Messiyanic Assembly is carried on in a mysterious way, by the Spirit of the YAHVEH TSEBAOTE working on men’s spirits (Zec. 4:6), by weak and unlikely instruments, small and accidental occurrences, and not wrought till the last extremity; but this is our comfort, Though YAHVEH hide HIMSELF, we are sure HE is the EL of Yisrael, the Savior. See Job 35:14.

Isa 45:16 They shall be put to shame, and even be humiliated, all of them – the makers of idols shall go away together in humiliation. - They will all the worshippers of other gods, those who chooses to disregard the Sabbath: Those who are makers of idols, not only who frame them, but who make gods of them by praying to them, shall be ashamed and confounded, when they shall be convinced of their mistakes and shall be forced to acknowledged that the EL of Yisrael is the only true Elohim, and when they shall be disappointed in their expectations from their idols, under whose protection they had put themselves.

They shall go to confusion when they shall find that they can neither excuse the sin nor escape the punishment of it, Ps. 97:7. It is not here and there one more timorous than the rest that shall thus shrink, and give up the cause, but all of them; Though they appear in a body, Though hand join in hand, and they do all they can to keep one another in countenance, yet they shall go to confusion together. Bind them in bundles, to burn them.

What a sad state for our Christian brothers, when they find out that the CREATOR name is not God, but YAHVEH EL ELYON and HIS sons name is not Jesus by Yahushua.

Isa 45:17 Yisra’ĕl shall be saved by יהוה with an everlasting deliverance. You are not to be ashamed nor hurt, forever and ever. -  In this verse we are assured that those who trust in YAHVEH shall never be made ashamed of their confidence in HIM. Now that YAHVEH was about to deliver them out of Babylon HE will directed them by HIS prophet.

We must look up to Yahushua as the author of their salvation: Yisrael shall be saved in Messiyah Yahushua. Not only their salvation shall be wrought out by His power, but it shall be treasured up for them in His grace and promise, and so secured to them. They shall be saved in Him; for His name shall be their strong tower, into which they shall run, and in which they shall be safe.

To look beyond this temporal deliverance to that which is spiritual and has reference to another world, to think of that salvation by the Messiyah which is an everlasting salvation, the salvation of the soul, a rescue from everlasting misery and a restoration to everlasting bliss. "Give diligence to make that sure, for it may be made sure, so sure that you shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. You shall not only be delivered from the everlasting shame and contempt which will be the portion of idolaters (Dan. 12:2), but you shall have everlasting honor and glory.’’

There is a world without end; and it will be well or ill with us according as it will be with us in that world.

Those who are saved with the everlasting salvation shall never be ashamed of what they can accomplish nor what they will suffer in the process of coming to maturity. They will suffered in the hopes of a better covenant; for it will so far outdo their expectations as to be a more abundant reimbursement.

Even to the returning captives they too have a share in this most wonderful of promise; yet YAHVEH tells them that they shall not be confounded, but shall have assurance forever. Those who are confounded as penitents for their own sin shall not be confounded as believers in YAH’s promise and power.

We are set apart forever to cleave to YAHVEH, and never to desert HIM, never to distrust HIM. What had been often inculcated before is here again repeated, for the encouragement of HIS people to continue faithful in HIM, and to hope that HE would be so to them: I am YAHVEH, and there is none else. In YAHVEH we serve and trust in is EL alone appears by the two great lights, that of nature and that of revelation.

Isa 45:18 For thus said יהוה, Creator of the heavens, He is Elohim, Former of earth and its Maker, He established it, He did not create it to be empty, He formed it to be inhabited: “I am יהוה, and there is none else. -  It appears by the light of nature; for HE made the world, and therefore may justly demand its homage: "Thus saith EL YAHVEH, that created the heavens and formed the earth, I am YAHVEH EL ELYON, the sovereign Lord of all, and there is none else.’’

The gods of the heathen did not do this, nay, they did not pretend to do it. YAHVEH here mentions the creation of the heavens, but enlarges more upon that of the earth, because that is the part of the creation which we have the nearest view of and are most conversant with.

That HE Created it. It is not a result of evolution it is a deliberate plan of Elohim, but cast into the most proper shape and size by Infinite Wisdom.

That HE alone can fixed it. When HE had made it HE established certain principle in it, founded it on the seas, (Ps. 24:2), hung it on nothing (Job 26:7) as at first He made it of nothing, and yet made it substantial an hung it fast, poised by its own weight.

That HE fitted it for use, and for the service of man, to whom HE designed to give it. He created it not in vain, merely to be a proof of HIS power; but HE formed it to be inhabited by the children of men, and for that end HE drew the waters off from it, with which it was at first covered, and made the dry land appear, Ps. 104:6, 7.

Let it be it observed here, to the honor of YAH’s wisdom, that HE made nothing in vain, but intended everything for some end and fitted it to answer the intention.

If any man proves to have been made in vain, it is his own fault. It should also be observed, to the honor of YAH’s goodness and his favor to man, that he reckoned that not made in vain which serves for his use and benefit, to be a habitation and maintenance for him.

Man was not made to be firewood’s, man was created to be gods, Ps. 82:⁵ They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. ⁶I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. ⁷But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. ⁸Arise, O YAHVEH, judge the earth: for You shalt inherit all nations.

Isa 45:19 “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I have not said to the seed of Yaʽaqoḇ, ‘Seek Me in vain.’ I am יהוה, speaking righteousness, declaring matters that are straight. -  It appears by the light of revelation. As the works of YAHVEH abundantly prove that HE is EL ELYON alone, so does HIS word, and the discovery HE has made of HIMSELF and of HIS mind and will by it. HIS oracles far exceed those of the Pagan deities, as well as his operations.

The preference is here placed in three things: All that AHVEH has said is plain, satisfactory, and just. In the manner of the delivery of it is plain and open: I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth.

The Pagan deities delivered their oracles out of dens and caverns, with a low and hollow voice, and in ambiguous expressions; those that had familiar spirits whispered and muttered (ch. 8:19); but YAHVEH delivered HIS law from the top of Mount Sinai before all the Thousands of Yisrael, in distinct, audible, and intelligible sounds.

Wisdom cries in the chief places of concourse, Prov. 1:20, 21; 8:1-3. The vision is written, and made plain, so that he who runs may read it; if he be obscure to any, they may thank themselves. Messiyah pleaded in HIS own defense what YAHVEH says here, In secret have I said nothing, Jn. 18:20.

In the use and benefit of it was highly satisfactory: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, who consulted these oracles and governed themselves by them, Seek you me in vain, as the false gods did to their worshipers, who sought for the living to the dead, ch. 8:19.

This includes all the gracious answers that YAHVEH gave both to those who consulted HIM, HIS word is to them a faithful guide and to those that prayed to HIM. The seed of Jacob are a praying people; it is the generation of those that seek him, Ps. 24:6. And, as he has in his word invited them to seek him, so he never denied their believing prayers nor disappointed their believing expectations.

He said to them, as HE is saying to us today, seek you me in vain; for, if he did not think fit to give them the particular thing they prayed for, yet HE gave them such a sufficiency of grace and such comfort and satisfaction of soul as were equivalent.

What we say of winter is also true of prayer, It never rots in the skies. YAHVEH not only gives a gracious answer to those that diligently seek him, but will be their bountiful rewarder.

In the matter of it was incontestably just, and there was no iniquity in it: I EL YAHVEH speak righteousness, I declare things that are right, and consonant to the eternal rules and reasons of good and evil. The heathen deities dictated those things to their worshipers which were the reproach of human nature and tended to the extirpation of virtue; but YAHVEH TSIDKENU speaks righteousness, dictates that which is right in itself and tends to make men righteous; and therefore he is YAHVEH, and there is none else.

Isa 45:20 “Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the gentiles. No knowledge have they who are lifting up the wood of their carved image, and pray to a mighty one that does not save. -  For the conviction of idolaters, to show them their folly in worshiping gods that cannot help them, and neglecting a EL that can. Let all that have escaped of the nations, not only the people of the Jews, but those of other nations that were by Cyrus released out of captivity in Babylon, let them come, and hear what is to be said against the worshiping of idols, that they may be cured of it as well as the Jews, that Babylon, which had of old been the womb of idolatry, might now become the grave of it.

Let the refugees assemble themselves and come together; YAHVEH has something to say to them for their own good, and it is this, that idolatry is a foolish thing, upon two accounts:

It is setting up a refuge of lies for themselves: They set up the wood of their graven image; for that is the substratum. Though they overlay it with gold, deck it with ornaments, and make a god of it, yet still it is but wood. They pray to a god that cannot save; for he cannot hear, he cannot help, he can do nothing.

How do those disparage themselves who give honor to that as a god which cannot, as a god, give well to them! How do those deceive themselves who pray for relief to that which is in no capacity at all to relieve them! Certainly those have no knowledge, or are brutish in their knowledge, who take so many pains, and do so much penance, in seeking the favor of a god that has no power.

Isa 45:21 “Declare and bring near, let them even take counsel together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has declared it from that time? Is it not I, יהוה? And there is no mighty one besides Me, a righteous Ěl and a Savior, there is none besides Me. -  It is setting up a rival with YAHVEH, the only living and true EL: "Summon them all; tell them that the great cause shall again be tried, Though once adjudged, between YAHVEH and Baal.

Bring them near, and let them take counsel together what to say in defense of themselves and their idols. It shall, as before, be put upon this issue: let them show when any of their gods did with any certainty foretell future events, as the EL of Yisrael has done, and it shall be acknowledged that they have some color for their pretensions. But None of them ever did; their profits were lying prophets; but I YAHVEH have told it from that time, long before it came to pass; therefore you must own thee is no other EL besides me.’’

None besides YAHVEH is fit to rule. HE is a just EL, and rules in justice, and will execute justice for those that are oppressed.

None besides is able to help. As HE is a just Elohim, so HE is the Savior, who can save without the assistance of any, but without whom none can save. Those therefore have no sense of truth and falsehood, good and evil, no, nor of their own interest, that set up any in competition with him.

Isa 45:22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am Ěl, and there is none else. – For the comfort and encouragement of all YAH’s faithful worshipers, whoever they are. HE alone can justify us, HE alone can deliver us, and HE alone can sanctify us.

 Those that worship idols pray to gods that cannot save; but the EL of Yisrael says it to all the ends of the earth, to HIS people, Though they are scattered into the utmost corners of the world and seem to be lost and forgotten in their dispersion, "Let them but look to me by faith and prayer, look above instruments and second causes, look off from all pretenders, and look up to me, and they shall be saved.’’

It seems to refer further to the conversion of the Gentiles that live in the ends of the earth, the most distant nations, when the standard of the gospel is set up. To it shall the Gentiles seek. When Messiyah Yahushua is lifted up from the earth, as the brazen serpent upon the pole, he shall draw the eyes of all men to him.

They shall all be invited to look unto him, as the stung Yisraelites did to the brazen serpent; and so strong is the eye of faith that by divine grace it will reach the Savior and fetch in salvation by him even from the ends of the earth; for HE is EL, and there is none else. Two things are here promised, for the abundant satisfaction of all that by faith look to the Savior: That the glory of the EL they serve shall be greatly advanced; and this will be good news to all YAHVEH’S people that, how much would they and their names are depressed, YAHVEH will be exalted.

Isa 45:23 “I have sworn by Myself, a word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, so that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue swear. – This is confirmed by an oath, that we might have strong consolation: I have sworn by myself (and YAHVEH can swear by no greater, Heb. 6:13); the word has gone out of my mouth, and shall neither be recalled nor return empty; it has gone forth in righteousness, for it is the most reasonable equitable thing in the world that HE who made all should be MASTER of all, that, since all beings are derived from him, they should all be devoted to him.

HE has said it, and it shall be made good, I will be exalted, Ps. 46:10. HE has assured us, that HE will be universally submitted to, that the kingdoms of the world shall become his kingdom. They shall do HIM honor, Unto ME every knee shall bow; and they shall bind themselves by an oath of allegiance to HIM, Unto YAHVEH every tongue shall swear.

This is applied to the dominion of our Messiyah Yahushua, Rom. 14:10, 11. We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Messiyah Yahushua and give account to HIM, for it is written, As I live, saith YAHVEH, every knee shall bow to ME and every tongue shall confess to YAHVEH; and it seems to be referred to, Ps. 2:9, 10.

If the heart be brought into obedience to Messiyah, and made willing in the day of his power, the knee will bow to him in humble adoration and addresses, and in cheerful obedience to his commands, submission to HIS disposals, and compliance with his will in both; and the tongue will swear to him, will lay a bond upon the soul to engage it forever to him; for he that bears an honest mind never startles at assurances.

That he will be universally sought, and application shall be made to HIM from all parts of the world: Unto YAHVEH shall men of distant countries come, to implore HIS favor. Unto thee shall all flesh come with their request, Ps. 65:2. When Messiyah was lifted up from the earth, he drew all men to him.

 That it will be to no purpose to make opposition to him. All that are incensed against HIM, that rage at his bonds and cords, the nations that are angry because he has taken to himself his great power and has reigned, that have been incensed at the strictness of his laws, the success of his gospel, and the spiritual nature of his kingdom, they shall be ashamed; some shall be brought to a penitential shame for it, others to a remediless ruin.

One way or other, sooner or later, all that are uneasy at Messiyah’s government and victories will be made ashamed of their folly and obstinacy. Blessed be YAHVEH for the assurance here given us that, whatever becomes of us and our interests, YAHVEH will reign forever!

Isa 45:24 “One shall say, ‘Only in יהוה do I have righteousness and strength’ – he comes to Him. And all those displeased with Him shall be put to shame.  -  In this verse we learn that the welfare of all souls shall be effectually secured: Surely shall one say, and another shall learn by his example to say the same, so that all the seed of Yisrael, according to the Spirit, shall say, and stand to it.

That YAHVEH has a sufficiency for them and that in Messiyah there is enough to supply all their needs: In YAHVEH is all righteousness and strength (so the margin reads it); he is himself righteous and strong.

HE can do everything, and yet will do nothing, but what is unquestionably just and equitable. HE has also capable to supply the needs of those that seek to HIM and depend upon HIM, upon the equity of HIS providence and the treasures of his grace; we may say, not only "HE has it,’’ but, "In HIM we have it,’’ because HE has said that HE will be to us a EL.

In EL YAHVEH the captive Jews had righteousness (that is, grace both to justify, deliver, and sanctify their afflictions to them and to qualify them for deliverance) and strength for their support and escape.

In Messiyah Yahushua we have righteousness to recommend us to the good-will of YAHVEH towards us, and strength to begin and carry on the good work of YAHVEH in us. He is the fountain of both, and on him we must depend for both, must go forth in his strength, and make mention of his righteousness, Ps. 71:16.

That they shall have an abundant bliss and satisfaction in this. The people of the Jews shall in YAHVEH be justified before men and openly glory in their EL. The oppressors reproached them, loaded them with calumny, and boasted even of a right to oppress them, as abandoned by their EL; but, when YAHVEH shall work out their deliverance, that shall be their justification from these hard censures, and therefore they shall glory in it.

Isa 45:25 “In יהוה all the seed of Yisra’ĕl shall be declared right and boast. ” -  All true Messiyanic, that depend upon Messiyah for strength and righteousness, in him shall be justified and shall glory in that.

First, All believers are the seed of Yisrael, an upright praying seed.

Secondly, The great privilege they enjoy by Messiyah Yahushua is that in Him, and for His sake, they are justified before EL YAHVEH, Messiyah being made of YAHVEH to them righteousness. All that are justified will own it to Messiyah, nor could they be justified by any other; and those who are justified shall be glorified.

Thirdly, The great duty believers owe to Messiyah is to glory in Him, and to make their boast of Him. Therefore, He is made all in all to us, that whose glories may glory in YAHVEH; and let us comply with this intention.

Chapter 46

EL YAHVEH, by the prophet here, designing shortly to deliver them out of their captivity, prepared them for that deliverance by possessing them with a detestation of idols and with a believing confidence in YAHVEH, even their own EL. 

Let them not be afraid of the idols of Babylon, as if they could in any way obstruct their deliverance, for they should be defaced verse 1, 2;

But let them trust in that EL who had often delivered them to do it still, to do it now verse 3, 4. 

Let them not think to make idols of their own, images of the EL of Yisrael, by them to worship him, as the Babylonians worship their gods verse 5-7.

Let them not be so foolish verse 8,

But have an eye to EL YAHVEH in HIS word, not in an image; let them depend upon that, and upon the promises and predictions of it, and YAH’s power to accomplish them all verse 9–11.

And let them know that the unbelief of man shall not make the word of YAHVEH of no effect verse 12, 13.

Isa 46:1  Bĕl has bowed down, Neḇo is stooping, their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. That which is carried is burdensome, a burden to the weary. -  That the false gods will certainly fail their worshipers when they have most need of them. Bel and Nebo were two celebrated idols of Babylon. Some make Bel to be a contraction of Baal; others rather think not, but that it was Belus, one of their first kings, who after his death was deified.

As Bel was a deified prince, so (some think) Nebo was a deified prophet, for so Nebo signifies; so that Bel and Nebo were their Jupiter and their Mercury or Apollo. Barnabas and Paul passed at Lystra for Jupiter and Mercury. The names of these idols were taken into the names of their princes, Bel into Belshazzar’s, Nebo into Nebuchadnezzar’s and Nebuzaradan’s, etc.

These gods they had long worshiped, and in their revels praised them for their successes (as appears, Dan. 5:4); and they insulted over Israel as if Bel and Nebo were too hard for YAHVEH and could detain them in captivity in defiance of their god.

Now, that this might be no discouragement to the poor captives, YAHVEH here tells them what shall become of these idols, which they threaten them with. When Cyrus takes Babylon, down go the idols.

It was usual then with conquerors to destroy the gods of the places and people they conquered, and to put the gods of their own nation in the room of them, ch. 37:19. Cyrus will do so; and then Bel and Nebo, that were set up on high, and looked great, bold, and erect, shall stoop and bow down at the feet of the soldiers that plunder their temples. And because there is a great deal of gold and silver upon them, which was intended to adorn them, but serves to expose them, they carry them away with the rest of the spoil. 

The carriers’ horses, or mules, are laden with them and their other idols, to be sent among other lumber (for so it seems they accounted them rather than treasure) into Persia. So far are they from being able to support their worshippers that they are themselves a heavy load in the wagons, and a burden to the weary beast.

Isa 46:2 They have stooped, they have bowed down together, they were unable to deliver the burden, but they themselves went into captivity. - These idols cannot help one another: They stoop, they bow down together. They are all alike, tottering things, and their day has come to fall. Their worshipers cannot help them: They could not deliver the burden out of the enemy’s hand, but themselves (both the idols and the idolaters) have gone into captivity.

Let not therefore YAH’s people be afraid of either. When YAH’s ark was taken prisoner by the Philistines it proved a burden, not to the beasts, but to the conquerors, who were forced to return it; but, when Bel and Nebo have gone into captivity, their worshipers may even give their good word with them: they will never recover themselves

Isa 46:3 “Listen to Me, O house of Yaʽaqoḇ, and all the remnant of the house of Yisra’ĕl, who are borne from the belly, who are carried from the womb: -  A true EL will never fail HIS worshipers: "You hear what has become of Bel and Nebo, now hearken to me, O house of Jacob!  Am I such a god as these? No; Though you are brought low, and the house of Yisrael is but a remnant, your El has been, is, and ever will be, your powerful and faithful protector.’’

Let YAH’s Yisrael do him the justice to own that HE has been kind to them, careful of them, tender over them, and has all along done well for them. Let them own, that HE bore them at first: I have made.

 Out of what womb came they, but that of HIS mercy, and grace, and promise? He formed them into a people and gave them their constitution. Every good man is what YAHVEH makes him.

That YAHVEH bore them up all along: You have been borne by ME from the belly, and carried from the womb. YAHVEH began to do them good, as soon as they were formed into a nation, when as yet they were very few, and strangers. YAHVEH took them under a special protection, and suffered no man to do them wrong, Ps. 105:12–14.

In the infancy of their state, when they were not only foolish and helpless, as children, but forward and peevish, YAHVEH carried them in the arms of HIS power and love, bore them as upon eagles’ wings, Ex. 19:4; Deu. 32:11.

Moses had not patience to carry them as the nursing father does the sucking child (Num. 11:12), but EL YAHVEH bore them, and bore their manners, Acts 13:18. And as YAHVEH began early to do them good (when Yisrael was a child, then I loved him), so he had constantly continued to do them good: HE had carried them from the womb to this day. And we may all witness for YAHVEH that he has been thus gracious to us.

We have been borne by him from the belly, from the womb, else we should have died from the womb and given up the ghost when we came out of the belly.

We have been the constant care of his kind providence, carried in the arms of his power and in the bosom of his love and pity. The new man is so; all that in us which is born of YAHVEH is borne up by him, else it would soon fail. Our spiritual life is sustained by HIS grace as necessarily and constantly as our natural life by HIS providence.

The saints have acknowledged that YAHVEH has carried them from the womb, and have encouraged themselves with the consideration of it in their greatest straits, Ps. 22:9, 10; 71:5, 6, 17.

Isa 46:4 even to your old age, I am He, and even to grey hairs I carry! I have made and I bear, and I carry and rescue. – In this verse the spiritual reassuring continues. EL YAHVEH went on to say that He will do to them the kindness He promise, He will never leave them.

He that was their first will be their last; he that was the author will be the finisher of their well-being: "You have been borne by me from the belly, nursed when you were children; and even to your old age I am he, when, by reason of your decays and infirmities, you will need help as much as in your infancy.’’

Yisrael were now growing old, so was their covenant by which they were incorporated, Heb. 8:13. Gray hairs were here and there upon them, Hos. 7:9. And they had hastened their old age, and the calamities of it, by their irregularities. But YAHVEH will not cast them off now, He will not fail them when their strength fails; HE is still their EL, HE will still carry them in the same everlasting Arms that were laid under them in Moses’s time, Deu. 33:27.

HE has made them in HIS image and owns HIS interest in them, and therefore HE will bear them, HE will bear with their infirmities, as they grow in grace and bear them up under their afflictions: "Even I will carry and will deliver them.

 I will now bear them upon eagles’ wings out of Babylon, as in their infancy I bore them out of Egypt.’’ This promise to aged Yisrael is applicable to every aged Yisraelite. YAHVEH has graciously engaged to support and comfort HIS faithful servants, even in their old age: "Even to your old age, when you grow unfit for business, when you are compassed with infirmities, and perhaps your relations begin to grow weary of you, yet I am HE, HE that I am, he that I have been, the very same by whom you have been borne from the belly and carried from the womb.

Since YAHVEH is Perfect, He does not change, as human we are not perfect, so it is essential for us to change. You change, but I am the same. I am HE that I have promised to be, HE that you have found ME, and I am HE that you would have ME to be. I will carry you, I will bear, will bear you up and bear you out, and will carry you on in your way to perfection and carry you home at last.’’

Isa 46:5 “To whom do you liken Me, and compare Me and make Me similar, that we should be alike? – The deliverance of Yisrael by the destruction of Babylon (the general subject of all these chapters) is here insisted upon, and again promised, for the conviction both of idolaters who set up false rivals with YAHVEH, and of oppressors who were enemies to the people of YAHVEH.

For the conviction of those who made and worshiped idols, especially those of Yisrael who did so, who would have images of their EL, as the Babylonians had of theirs?

He challenges them either to frame an image that should be Thought a resemblance of HIM or to set up any being that should stand in competition with HIM.

To whom will you liken me? It is absurd to think of representing an infinite and eternal Spirit by the figure of any creature whatsoever. It is to change HIS truth into a lie and to turn HIS glory into shame. None ever saw any similitude of HIM, nor can see his face and live.

To whom then can we liken YAHVEH? ch. 40:18, 25. It is likewise absurd to think of making any creature equal with the Creator, who is infinitely above the noblest creatures, yea, or to make any comparison between the creature and the Creator, since between infinite and finite there is no proportion.

Isa 46:6 “They pour gold out of the bag, and weigh silver on the scale. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a mighty one. They fall down, they also bow themselves. - He exposes the folly of those who made idols and then prayed to them. They were at great charge upon their idols and spared no cost to fit them for their purpose: They lavish gold out of the bag; no little will serve, and they do not care how much goes, Though they pinch their families and weaken their estates by it.

How does the profuseness of idolaters shame the niggardliness of many who call themselves YAH’s servants but are for a religion that will cost them nothing! Some lavish gold out of the bag to make an idol of it in the house, while others hoard up gold in the bag to make an idol of it in the heart; for covetousness is idolatry, as dangerous, Though not as scandalous, as the other.

They weigh silver in the balance, either to be the matter of their idol (for even those that were most foolish had so much sense as to think that YAHVEH should be served with the best they had, the best they could possibly afford; those that represented him by a calf made it a golden one) or to pay the workmen’s wages. The service of sin often proves very expensive.

Brit Chadasha

First John 4:1-6, 2:18-25

In this chapter the apostle exhorts to try the spirits verse 1, gives a note to try by verse 2, 3), shows who are of the world and who of YAHVEH verse 4-6, urges Messiyanic Believers love by divers considerations verse 7–16, describes our love to YAHVEH, and the effect of it verse 17–21.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved ones, do not believe every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of Elohim, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. -  The apostle, having said that YAH’s dwelling in and with us, we may be known by the Spirit that HE hath given us, intimates that that Spirit may be discerned and distinguished from other spirits that appear in the world; and so here,

He calls the disciples, to whom HE writes, to caution and scrutiny about the spirits and spiritual professors that had now risen. To caution: "Beloved, believe not every spirit; regard not, trust not, follow not, everyone who pretender to have the Spirit of YAHVEH, or every professor of vision, or inspiration, or revelation from YAHVEH.’’

Truth is the foundation of simulation and counterfeits; there had been real communications from the divine Spirit, and therefore others pretended thereto. YAHVEH will take the way of HIS own wisdom and goodness, Though it may be liable to abuse; HE has sent inspired teachers to the world, and given us a supernatural revelation, Though others may be so evil and so impudent as to pretend the same; every pretender to the divine Spirit, or to inspiration, and extraordinary illumination thereby, is not to be believed.

Time was when the spiritual man (the man of the Spirit, who made a great noise about, and boast of, the Spirit) was mad, Hos. 9:7. 2. To scrutiny, to examination of the claims that are laid to the Spirit: But try the spirits, whether they be of YAHVEH. YAHVEH has given of HIS Spirit in particular the Spirit of Truth in the Spirit of YAHVEH, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Authority, the Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of EL YAHVEH. In these latter ages of the world, it is available to all but not to all who profess to come furnished therewith; to the disciples is allowed a judgment of discretion, in reference to the spirits that would be believed and trusted in the affairs of the Torah.

A reason is given for this trial: Because many false prophets have gone out into the world. There being much about the time of our Savior’s appearance in the world a general expectation among the Jews of a Redeemer to Yisrael, and the humiliation, spiritual reformation, and sufferings of the Savior being taken as a prejudice against him, others were induced to set up as prophets and Messiyahs to Yisrael, according to the Savior’s prediction, Mt. 24:23, 24. It should not seem strange to us that false teachers set themselves up in the church: it was so in the apostles’ times; fatal is the spirit of delusion, sad that men should vaunt themselves for prophets and inspired preachers that are by no means so!

1Jn 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of Elohim: Every spirit that confesses that יהושע Messiyah has come in the flesh is of Elohim, - He gives a test by which the disciples may try these pretending spirits. These spirits set up for prophets, doctors, or dictators in religion, and so they were to be tried by their doctrine; and the test whereby in that day, or in that part of the world where the apostle now resided (for in various seasons, and in various churches, tests were different), must be this: Hereby know you the Spirit of YAHVEH, Every spirit that confessed that Messiyah Yahushua has come in the flesh (or that confessed Messiyah Yahushua that came in the flesh), is of YAHVEH. Messiyah Yahushua is to be confessed as the Son of YAHVEH, the eternal life and Word that was with the Father from the beginning; as the Son of YAHVEH that came into, and came in, our human mortal nature, and therein suffered and died at Yerushalayim.

He who confesses and preaches this, by a mind supernaturally instructed and enlightened therein, does it by the Spirit of YAHVEH, or YAHVEH is the author of that illumination. On the contrary, "Every spirit that confessed not that Messiyah Yahushua has come in the flesh (or Messiyah Yahushua that came in the flesh and was made perfect) is not of YAHVEH.

1Jn 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that יהושע Messiyah has come in the flesh is not of Elohim. And this is the spirit of the anti-Messiyah which you heard is coming, and now is already in the world. – YAHVEH has given so much testimony to Messiyah Yahushua, who was lately here in the world, and in the flesh (or in a fleshly body like ours), Though now in heaven, that you may be assured that any impulse or pretended inspiration that contradicts this is far from being from heaven and of YAHVEH.’’

The sum of revealed religion is comprehended in the doctrine concerning Messiyah, His person and Office. We see then the aggravation of a systematic opposition to Him and it. And this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.

It was foreknown by EL YAHVEH that the Antichrists would arise, and the anti-Messiyanic spirits which oppose the Spirit of truth; it was foreknown also that one eminent anti-Messiyah would arise, and make a long and fatal war against the Messiyah, and His institution, one who will honor the kingdom of this world.

This great anti-Messiyah would have his way prepared, and his rise facilitated, by other less Anti-Messiyah, and the spirit of error working and disposing men’s minds for him: the anti-Messiyanic spirit began even in the apostles’ days. Dreadful and unsearchable is the judgment of YAHVEH, that persons should be given over to an anti-Messiyah spirit, and to such darkness and delusion as to set themselves against the Son of YAHVEH and all the testimony that the Father hath given to the Son! But we have been forewarned that such opposition would arise; we should therefore cease to be offended, and the more we see the word of Messiyah fulfilled the more confirmed we should be in the truth of it.

1Jn 4:4 You are of Elohim, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.¹ Footnote. - In these verses the apostle encourages the disciples against the fear and danger of this seducing anti-Messiyah spirit, and that by such methods as these:

He assures them of a more divine principle in them: "You are of YAHVEH, little children, 5:4. You are YAH’s little children. We are of YAHVEH. We are born for YAHVEH, taught by the Holy Spirit, anointed of YAHVEH, and so secured against infectious fatal delusions. YAHVEH has HIS chosen, who shall not be mortally seduced.’’

HE gives them hope of victory: "And have overcome them. You have overcome these deceivers and their temptations, by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us, and there is good ground of hope that you will do so still and that upon these two accounts:’’

"There is a strong preserver within you: Because greater is the Holy Spirit that is in you than he that is in the world. The Spirit of Truth which is the Spirit of YAHVEH dwells in us, and that Spirit is more mighty than men of devils.’’ It is a great happiness to be under the influence of the Holy Ghost. Isaiah 11: ² The Spirit of YAHVEH shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of EL YAHVEH.

"You are not of the same temper with these deceivers. The Spirit of YAHVEH, the Spirit of Truth hath framed your mind for the Kingdom of the heavens; but they are of the world. The spirit that prevails in them leads them to this world; their heart is addicted thereto; they study the pomp, the pleasure, and interest of the world: and therefore speak they of the world; they profess a worldly Messiyah and savior; they project a worldly kingdom and dominion; the possessions and treasures of the world would they engross to themselves, forgetting that the true Redeemer’s kingdom is not of this world.

1Jn 4:5 They are of the world, therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. -  This worldly design procures them proselytes: The world heareth them. They are followed by such as themselves: the world will love its own, and its own will love it. But those are in a fair way to conquer pernicious seductions who have conquered the love of this seducing world.’’ Then he represents to them that Though their company might be the smaller, yet it was the better; they had more divine and holy knowledge: "He that know YAHVEH hearth us. He who knows the purity and holiness of YAHVEH, the love and grace of YAHVEH, the truth and faithfulness of YAHVEH, the ancient word and prophecies of YAHVEH, the signals and testimonials of YAHVEH, must know that tee Holy Spirit is with us; and He who knows this will attend to us, and abide with us.’’

1Jn 4:6 We are of Elohim – the one knowing Elohim hears us. He who is not of Elohim does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of the Truth and the spirit of the delusion. – He that is able to start to built their Menorah is well furnished with natural spiritual instinct will have the Spirit of Understanding of Torah, and the Spirit of Wisdom the ability to walk according to Torah.

He that build their Menorah using the sixth days of creation know YAHVEH, for in them is the Spirit of knowledge. As, on the contrary, "He that is not of YAHVEH hear not us. He who knows not YAHVEH regards not us. He that is not born of YAHVEH (walking according to his natural disposition) walks not according to knowledge. My people perish for the lack of Knowledge.

The further anyone is from Messiyah, the further they are from YAHVEH and HIS faithful servants; and the more addicted persons are to this world the more remote they are from the spirit of Messiyah. Therefore, we have a clear distinction between us and others: Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. This doctrine concerning the Savior’s person leading you from the world to YAHVEH is a signature of the Spirit of truth, in opposition to the spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is the more likely is it to be of YAHVEH.’’

Chapter 2

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that the anti-Messiyah is coming, even now many anti-Messiyahs have come. This is how we know that it is the last hour. - Here is, a moral prognostication of the end time; the end is coming: Little children, it is the last hours. Some may suppose that the apostle here addresses the first rank of Messiyanic again; the juniors are most apt to be seduced, and therefore, "Little children, you that are young in the Messiyanic faith, take heed to yourselves that you be not corrupted.’’

But it may be, as elsewhere, a universal appellation, introduction of an alarm to all Messiyanic: "Little children, it is the last time; our Jewish polity in church and state is hastening to an end; the Mosaic institution and discipline are just upon vanishing away; Daniel’s weeks are now expiring; the destruction of the Hebrew city and sanctuary is approaching, the end whereof must be with a flood, and to the end of the war desolations are determined,’’ Dan. 9:26. It is meet that the disciples should be warned of the haste and end of time, and apprised as much as may be of the prophetic periods of time.

The sign of this last time: Even now there are many Antichrists, many that oppose the person, doctrine, and kingdom of Messiyah. It is a mysterious portion of providence that anti-Messiyah should be permitted; but, when they have come, it is good and safe that the disciples should be informed of them; ministers should be a watchmen to the house of Yisrael.

Now it should be no great offence nor prejudice to the disciples that there are such anti-Messiyah: one great one has been foretold: As you have heard that antiiMessiyah shall come.

The generality of the Messiyanic Assembly have been informed by divine revelation that there must be a long and fatal adversary to Messiyah and the Messiyanic Assembly, 2 Th. 2:8–10.

No wonder that there are many harbingers and forerunners of the great one: Even now there are many anti-Messiyah, the mystery of iniquity already worked. They were foretold also as the sign of this last time. For there shall arise false Messiyahs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect, Mt. 24:24.

These were the forerunners of the dissolution of the Jewish state, nation, and religion: Whereby we know it is the last time. Let the prediction that we see there has been of seducers arising in the world fortify us against their seduction.

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have stayed with us but in order that it might be made manifest that none of them were of us. -  Some account of these seducers or Antichrists. They were once entertainers or professors of apostolic doctrine: "They went out from us; they depart from the truth, from our company and communion;’’ possibly from the Messiyanic Assembly as stated in Acts 15:1,

Certain men came down from Judea, and taught the brethren, etc. The purest Assembly may have their apostates and revolvers; the apostolic doctrine did not convert all whom it convinced of its truth, the Apostle kept the Sabbath, after 324 the Church became the State religion of the Roman empire and did away with the sign that we are YAHVEH People, Exodus 31:¹²  And YAHVEH spoke to Moses, saying, ¹³“Speak also to the children of Yisrael, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am YAHVEH who sanctifies you.

"They were not inwardly such as we are: But they were not of us; they had not from the spirit obeyed the form of sound doctrine delivered to them; they were not of our union with Messiyah the head who keep the Sabbath.’’

The reason upon which it is concluded that they were not of us, were not what they pretended, or what we are, and that is their actual defection: "For, if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us to keep the Sabbath; had the sacred truth been rooted in their hearts it would have held them with us; had they had the anointing from above, by which they had been made true and real Messiyah, they would not have turned anti-Messiyah.’’

Those that apostatize from religion sufficiently indicate that, before, they were hypocrites in religion: those who have imbibed the spirit of gospel truth have a good preservative against destructive error. The reason why they are permitted thus to depart from apostolically doctrine and communion, that their insincerity may be detected:

 But this was done (or they went out) that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. The Messiyanic Assembly knows not well who are its vital members and who are not; and therefore the Assembly, considered as internally sanctified, may well be styled invisible.

Some of the hypocritical must be manifested here, and that for their own shame and benefit too, in their reduction to the truth, if they have not sinned unto death, and for the terror and caution of others.

You therefore, beloved, seeing to know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, etc., 2 Pt. 3:17, 18.

1Jn 2:20 And you have an anointing from the Set-apart One, and you know all. -  This verse defines Isaiah 11:³ And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the YAHVEH: For the Set Apart Spirit will lead us into all things.

1Jn 2:21 I did not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no falsehood is of the truth. -  I wonder if the Counsel of Nicaea did know the truth? For if they did would they have accepted the invitation of the Pagan Roman Kingdom and forsake the Feast days. Those of us who know the truth, because we have experience the 1^st day of Creation and have learn to separate light from darkness, truth from lies.

1Jn 2:22 Who is the liar, except the one denying that יהושע is the Messiyah? This is the anti-Messiyah, the one denying the Father and the Son. -  The apostle further implies and arraigns these seducers who had newly arisen. They are liars, egregious opposes of sacred truth: Who is a liar, or the liar, the notorious liar of the time and age in which we live, but he that denied that Yahushua is the Messiyah?

The great and pernicious lies that the father of lies, or of liars, spreads in the world, were of old, and usually are, falsehoods and errors relating to the person of Messiyah. There is no truth so sacred and fully attested, but some or other will contradict or deny it. That Yahushua of Nazareth was the Son of YAHVEH had been attested by heaven, and earth, and hell. It should seem that some, in the tremendous judgment of YAHVEH, are given up to strong delusions.

Who then is a liar? It is anyone who deny the Written Word. Rahab the Harlot made an inaccurate statement, but she did not lie. She never spoke against the Word. A lying spirit will always speak against the Word. Remember what the serpent said to Eve, the first lie ever told in Torah. “You will not surely die,” after EL YAHVEH says if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will die.

1Jn 2:23 No one denying the Son has the Father. The one confessing the Son has the Father as well. – by denying the Son we deny the Word, for the Son is the Word made flesh. By denying the Word, we deny the terms of our perfection. If we deny the Word we are denying the ability to become a son of YAHVEH.

The whole purpose of the Word is to produce many Sons for the Father. By denying the Word we are denying the Order of Melchizedek, those who will rule and reign with Messiyah Yahushua.

1Jn 2:24 As for you, let that stay in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning stays in you, you also shall stay in the Son and in the Father. -  Here the apostle advises and persuades the disciples to continue in the old doctrine at first communicated to them, this is the Torah: Let that therefore abide in you which you have heard from the beginning.

Truth is older than error. The truth concerning Messiyah the Order of Melchizedek, that was at first delivered to the saints, is not to be exchanged for novelties. So sure were the apostles of the truth of what they had delivered concerning Messiyah, and from Him, that after all their toils and sufferings they were not willing to relinquish it. The Messiyanic truth that if followed that will Create more perfect son according to the Order of Melchizedek, those who will rule and reign with Messiyah, and holy priesthood.

This exhortation is enforced by these considerations: From the sacred advantage they will receive by adhering to the primitive truth and faith. They will continue in the holy union with YAHVEH and Messiyah: If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son and in the Father. It is the truth of Messiyah abiding in us that is the means of establishing the Order of Melchizedek in us. The Son is the medium or the Mediator by whom we are created into the Order of Melchizedek united to the Father. What value then should we put upon gospel truth!

1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that He has promised us: everlasting life. – This is the promise YAHVEH has promise us, that when a son walk upright in righteousness, he will become one of the prince of righteousness as Melchizedek is famous for.

1Jn 2:26 I have written this to you concerning those who lead you astray.-  From the design of the apostle’s writing to the people. This letter is to fortify them against the deceivers of all the age: "These things have I written to you concerning those that seduce you, and therefore, if you continue not in what you have heard from the beginning, my writing and service will be in vain.’’

We should beware lest the apostolically letters, lest the whole scripture of YAHVEH, should be to us insignificant and fruitless. I have written to him the great things of my law (and my gospel too), but they were counted as a strange thing, Hos. 8:12.

In the beginning of this Parasha, I ask you to pray a special prayer. I am not asking you to believe me, but through the Spirit of Understanding examine every word careful, less you are deceiver by empty word. My desire is to become one who will be found worthy to be in the Order of Melchizedek, I hope this will be your goal also.