A TIME TO "RETURN" UNTO THE LORD, BUT WHY A "RETURN"?
This might not be the average Bible or Torah study I send out, but since it is a special season, I thought I might share it so readers can grow in knowledge and understanding of God's Word and biblical culture.
Today, some cultures use two or more calendars to govern events, days, weeks, and months. There is a Messianic calendar that has both the lunar Hebraic months and the Gregorian solar days and months. We are in the month of August now, by the solar calendar, yet we are also in the month of "Elul" by the Hebraic lunar calendar. Today is August 23, and it is also the 10th day of Elul.
In Messianic Judaism, the month of "Elul" is a month of reflection and introspection, a time of soul-searching and meditation on our own relationship with God. We ask ourselves, "Where do we fall short?" "Where have we failed?" Have I failed God? Lacked faith? How about our relationship with our own families? wives? husbands? children? Do we need to make amends? Get right with our families? With friends? With God? This month is set aside as the time to do just that, but in reality, ANYTIME is right to "get right" with the LORD. each month has 30 days, including "Elul" which culminates in Rosh HaShanah (The Day of the Trumpets) but 10 more days are also allotted for repentance and soul-searching leading to "Yom Kippur" (The Day of Atonement) in which we remember the time when the High Priest came into the Holy of Holies once a year, and the time to remember when our LORD and Savior was nailed to the Cross of Calvary to pay the price of sin once a forever.
Why do we need to "return?" Well, it all started in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, and they hid themselves amongst the trees in the Garden of Eden. The LORD asked, "Adam, where are you?" (As if he didn't know where they were). Yet the question might be more intense, more profound. "Where are YOU in your relationship to ME?" Yes, they were made in God's perfect and sinless image, and now they are stained with sin, a corrupt image (a solid sinful shadow of flesh). The word "image" in Hebrew is "Tzelem" (meaning shadow) So, sin passed to all humanity, yet Jesus/Yeshua paid the price of that sin, yet we need to "Return" and "seek his face" because even as born-again believers, we still fall short and commit sin, and therefore, be aware of that and "return" in "repentence" (Teshuvah) and get right with our Heavenly Father.
The word "Elul" has the acronyms that form the phrase "I AM my beloved, and my beloved is mine" (from Song of Solomon 6:3) "Ani l'dodi, v'Dodi Li) We can see the King looking at his bride or beloved with pure love, and also, the other way around, the bride looking at her beloved with pure love. Yet the bride has faltered, has played the harlot, and therefore must RETURN (Shoov) and seek "forgiveness and restoration) with her beloved bridegroom. Does this not describe all of us? There are four points to remember in "Teshuvah"
1, Realization: that we are conscious of our error and waywardness; 2. Repentance: pain and hurt in our hearts, knowing we have gone away. 3. Abandon sin and not continue in it: Like Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more." 4. Restoration: seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God and with our loved ones.
Here are some Bible verses that speak of "returning to God"; Jeremiah 24:7; Hosea 6:1; Zechariah 1:3; Isaiah 55:6-7; Joel 2:12-13; Malachi 3:7; Acts 3:19;
What is the practical application we can use? Evaluate our personal life through prayer and meditation to see where we have fallen short
Ask for forgiveness and also "forgive" those who have wronged us. Resolve disputes and heal relationships. Return to serious Bible study and prayer. Use our spiritual gifts.
It is customary to read the following Psalms during the 40 "Days of Awe," as these days are sometimes called: Psalms 27 and 145. Thank you for letting me share this with you. Remember, if you want to comment, make sure they are positive and uplifting.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Now, I would like to continue with our weekly Torah/Bible study. We are looking at Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19. In these chapters, there are 27 positive commandments and 47 negative commandments. 27 "do" and 47 "don't do." My question is: how many of these commandments are still for this day and age? Many will say, "We are NOT under the commandments of the Law" or "Those commandments were for then, not now," but really? Let's just look at some of them:
“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost, and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself." (22:1-3)
For today too? How many neighbors have lost their cats and dogs and wish that someone would find them and return them? quite a few. Have you ever lost a wallet? Wouldn't you want it returned to you?
;"If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet." (22:4)
Back then, donkeys and oxen were beasts of burden and animals of transportation. Today we use cars and trucks. If your car broke down on the highway, wouldn't you want someone to come and help you? Or maybe call "roadside assistance." In Germany, it is the LAW, to render assistance; it is called the "Good Samaritan Law." Help, especially an elderly lady who needs to change a flat tire.
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: but thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days. (22:6-7)
This reminds us of the chicken coop and the hen house. The farmer or poultry person goes in, and when the hen is not on the nest, goes and collects the eggs. For today?
“When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it. 22:8
Here in Central America, quite a few houses are built with flat roofs, so it makes sense to build a fence on top of the roof. In ancient times, this was the manner of construction, so people could go up on the roof and rest in the cool of the evening and not worry about falling off the roof. It also reminds us of the WORD of God being a "fence" to keep us from "falling off into sinful ways." In other countries, very few houses have flat roofs.
"You are not to muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain" (25:4). The animal has the right to a "lunch break"; so do employees!
"You must include a trowel with your equipment, and when you relieve yourself, you are to dig a hole first and afterwards cover your excrement" (23:13)
This is talking about an Army on the move and camped out in the field, yet it is the same today, and it makes common sense. In the Army, it is called a "cathole latrine." Many beaches have "Port-a-Johns," yet in isolated areas, common sense is to dig a hole and then bury. Flies carry germs and contaminate food, yet if the waste is buried, they can not. God knew about germs way before man did. These are just a few of the "common sense" commandments from this Bible study. Read chapters 21-25 and if you think about it, quite a few of these commandments (though not all of them) make sense to follow even today.
I will be in Miami, FL from Sept 8-Oct 27, to visit family, so, if you live there or know someone I can visit, let me know. I won't be able to write articles during this time
This might not be the average Bible or Torah study I send out, but since it is a special season, I thought I might share it so readers can grow in knowledge and understanding of God's Word and biblical culture.
Today, some cultures use two or more calendars to govern events, days, weeks, and months. There is a Messianic calendar that has both the lunar Hebraic months and the Gregorian solar days and months. We are in the month of August now, by the solar calendar, yet we are also in the month of "Elul" by the Hebraic lunar calendar. Today is August 23, and it is also the 10th day of Elul.
In Messianic Judaism, the month of "Elul" is a month of reflection and introspection, a time of soul-searching and meditation on our own relationship with God. We ask ourselves, "Where do we fall short?" "Where have we failed?" Have I failed God? Lacked faith? How about our relationship with our own families? wives? husbands? children? Do we need to make amends? Get right with our families? With friends? With God? This month is set aside as the time to do just that, but in reality, ANYTIME is right to "get right" with the LORD. each month has 30 days, including "Elul" which culminates in Rosh HaShanah (The Day of the Trumpets) but 10 more days are also allotted for repentance and soul-searching leading to "Yom Kippur" (The Day of Atonement) in which we remember the time when the High Priest came into the Holy of Holies once a year, and the time to remember when our LORD and Savior was nailed to the Cross of Calvary to pay the price of sin once a forever.
Why do we need to "return?" Well, it all started in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, and they hid themselves amongst the trees in the Garden of Eden. The LORD asked, "Adam, where are you?" (As if he didn't know where they were). Yet the question might be more intense, more profound. "Where are YOU in your relationship to ME?" Yes, they were made in God's perfect and sinless image, and now they are stained with sin, a corrupt image (a solid sinful shadow of flesh). The word "image" in Hebrew is "Tzelem" (meaning shadow) So, sin passed to all humanity, yet Jesus/Yeshua paid the price of that sin, yet we need to "Return" and "seek his face" because even as born-again believers, we still fall short and commit sin, and therefore, be aware of that and "return" in "repentence" (Teshuvah) and get right with our Heavenly Father.
The word "Elul" has the acronyms that form the phrase "I AM my beloved, and my beloved is mine" (from Song of Solomon 6:3) "Ani l'dodi, v'Dodi Li) We can see the King looking at his bride or beloved with pure love, and also, the other way around, the bride looking at her beloved with pure love. Yet the bride has faltered, has played the harlot, and therefore must RETURN (Shoov) and seek "forgiveness and restoration) with her beloved bridegroom. Does this not describe all of us? There are four points to remember in "Teshuvah"
1, Realization: that we are conscious of our error and waywardness; 2. Repentance: pain and hurt in our hearts, knowing we have gone away. 3. Abandon sin and not continue in it: Like Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more." 4. Restoration: seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God and with our loved ones.
Here are some Bible verses that speak of "returning to God"; Jeremiah 24:7; Hosea 6:1; Zechariah 1:3; Isaiah 55:6-7; Joel 2:12-13; Malachi 3:7; Acts 3:19;
What is the practical application we can use? Evaluate our personal life through prayer and meditation to see where we have fallen short
Ask for forgiveness and also "forgive" those who have wronged us. Resolve disputes and heal relationships. Return to serious Bible study and prayer. Use our spiritual gifts.
It is customary to read the following Psalms during the 40 "Days of Awe," as these days are sometimes called: Psalms 27 and 145. Thank you for letting me share this with you. Remember, if you want to comment, make sure they are positive and uplifting.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Now, I would like to continue with our weekly Torah/Bible study. We are looking at Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19. In these chapters, there are 27 positive commandments and 47 negative commandments. 27 "do" and 47 "don't do." My question is: how many of these commandments are still for this day and age? Many will say, "We are NOT under the commandments of the Law" or "Those commandments were for then, not now," but really? Let's just look at some of them:
“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost, and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself." (22:1-3)
For today too? How many neighbors have lost their cats and dogs and wish that someone would find them and return them? quite a few. Have you ever lost a wallet? Wouldn't you want it returned to you?
;"If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet." (22:4)
Back then, donkeys and oxen were beasts of burden and animals of transportation. Today we use cars and trucks. If your car broke down on the highway, wouldn't you want someone to come and help you? Or maybe call "roadside assistance." In Germany, it is the LAW, to render assistance; it is called the "Good Samaritan Law." Help, especially an elderly lady who needs to change a flat tire.
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: but thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days. (22:6-7)
This reminds us of the chicken coop and the hen house. The farmer or poultry person goes in, and when the hen is not on the nest, goes and collects the eggs. For today?
“When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it. 22:8
Here in Central America, quite a few houses are built with flat roofs, so it makes sense to build a fence on top of the roof. In ancient times, this was the manner of construction, so people could go up on the roof and rest in the cool of the evening and not worry about falling off the roof. It also reminds us of the WORD of God being a "fence" to keep us from "falling off into sinful ways." In other countries, very few houses have flat roofs.
"You are not to muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain" (25:4). The animal has the right to a "lunch break"; so do employees!
"You must include a trowel with your equipment, and when you relieve yourself, you are to dig a hole first and afterwards cover your excrement" (23:13)
This is talking about an Army on the move and camped out in the field, yet it is the same today, and it makes common sense. In the Army, it is called a "cathole latrine." Many beaches have "Port-a-Johns," yet in isolated areas, common sense is to dig a hole and then bury. Flies carry germs and contaminate food, yet if the waste is buried, they can not. God knew about germs way before man did. These are just a few of the "common sense" commandments from this Bible study. Read chapters 21-25 and if you think about it, quite a few of these commandments (though not all of them) make sense to follow even today.
I will be in Miami, FL from Sept 8-Oct 27, to visit family, so, if you live there or know someone I can visit, let me know. I won't be able to write articles during this time
