YHVH Shamah! He Dwells With Us!

"I was glad when they said to me, 'The house of YHVH! Let's go!'
Our feet were already standing at your gates, Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
Yerushalayim, built as a city fostering friendship and unity.

The tribes have gone up there, the tribes of YHVH, as a witness to Israel,
to give thanks to the name of YHVH.
For there the thrones of justice were set up, the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for shalom (peace) in Yerushalayim;
may those who love you prosper.
May shalom be within your ramparts, prosperity in your palaces.

For the sake of my family and friends, I say, 'Shalom be within you!'
For the sake of the house of YHVH our God, I will seek your well-being."
Psalm 122


YHVH Shamah.

The personal name of Elohim (YHVH) combined with one of His attributes, Shamah (which means is there), is an amazing picture and assurance of the truth of the one true God's desire to dwell with His creation, His people.

Starting with the very first letter of the Word of YHVH and going through to the very last promise in Revelation, He shows us His desire to dwell in intimacy with His people.


Beresheet (Genesis) 1:1 begins with "In the beginning..." In fact, that is what the Hebrew name of the book means - "beresheet" means "in the beginning" and is the first word of the Scriptures. As you can see, "beresheet" begins with the Hebrew letter "bet" which means "house" (Hebrew reads from right to left). So even the first letter of the first word of YHVH's Word to us is talking about a dwelling place. Then He creates for us a dwelling place! And He desires to live with us in that dwelling place!

In the beginning, YHVH made mankind in His own image, and He walked with them in the garden that He created for them. He gave them instructions on how to have a full relationship with Him. He let them know what His standards were. They didn't keep His instructions, but even in their sin against Him, YHVH clothed them in a sacrifice of life-blood (the animals killed for clothing). From that point on until today and into eternity, YHVH has given His people instructions for dwelling fully in relationship with Him. Yet even in the midst of sin and rebellion, He has not rejected us but has given us everything we need to be made right with Him.

One of the most amazing things about YHVH Shamah is that He has chosen to dwell with us! During the dedication speech for the Temple of YHVH in Jerusalem, King Solomon reminded the people of this incredible fact…YHVH dwelling with us! “But can God actually live on the earth? Why, heaven itself, even the heaven of heavens, cannot contain you; so how much less this house I have built? Even so, YHVH my God, pay attention to your servant’s prayer and plea, listen to the cry and prayer that your servant is praying before you today, that your eyes will be open toward this house night and day – toward the place concerning which you said, ‘My Name will be there’…” 1 Kings 8”27-29
(Read more about what Solomon said about the dwelling place of YHVH in 2 Chronicles 6.)

And where exactly is this place where YHVH chose as the dwelling place of His Name? “You are to come to the place where YHVH your God will put his Name. He will choose it from all your tribes; and you will seek out that place, which is where he will live, and go there.” Deuteronomy 12:5
Where is this place?
“In Y’hudah (Judah) God is known; his Name is great in Israel. His tent is in Shalem (Yerushalayim), his place is in Tziyon.” Psalm 76:1-2

And where exactly within Yerushalayim and Tziyon has He chosen?

Ezekiel, in 43:7, was given a vision of the Temple in Yerushalayim: "'Human being, this is the place for My throne, the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel, both they and their kings, will never again defile My holy Name.'"If you read chapters 40-47 of Ezekiel, you can see the entire vision of this Temple, which is still to come.

After the Garden of Eden, where YHVH walked with man, and before YHVH's Temple was established in Yerushalayim, YHVH's presence was with His people day and night in a pillar of cloud and fire as He led them on their journey. In Exodus 25, YHVH instructed Moses to make Him a sanctuary, a tabernacle, a Set-apart Dwelling Place. "'Tell the people of Israel to take up a collection for me....They are to make me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. You are to make it according to everything I show you....You are to make a cover for the ark out of pure gold....Inside the ark you will put the testimony that I am about to give you. There I will meet with you. I will speak to you from above the ark-cover, from between the two keruvim (cherubim) which are on the ark for the testimony, about all the orders I am giving you for the people of Israel.'"

Solomon built the first permanent Temple, the dwelling place that YHVH commanded him to build. It was destroyed by the Babylonians. And YHVH moved on the heart of the Persian King Koresh (Cyrus)to allow the Jews to return to Yerushalayim and rebuild the Temple. King Koresh even paid for it! "Here is what YHVH says, 'I say of Koresh, "He is my shepherd, he will do everything I want. He will say of Yerushalayim, 'You will be rebuilt,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"'"
(Isaiah 44:28; see also Ezra 1)
Concerning YHVH's command to rebuild His Temple, Nechemyah (Nehemiah) reminded YHVH of His own promise to Moses, "'But if you return to me, observe my mitzvot and obey them, then, even if your scattered ones are in the most distant part of heaven, nevertheless, I will collect them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for bearing my Name.'" (Nechemyah 1:9)

So the Dwelling Place of YHVH was built as a permanent dwelling for the second time, and yet this second Temple was destroyed in AD 70.
Is that the end of YHVH's dwelling with His people?

NO!!!

It is true that Yeshua Himself is the Temple (John 2:19), and it is true that as believers we are the temple of YHVH (1 Corinthians 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16). These two facts are so important and are an integral part of YHVH's plan for dwelling eternally with His people!

But does all of this mean that YHVH no longer has place for or need of His Chosen Dwelling Place in Yerushalayim?

As I search YHVH's Word, I see that this is not the case at all!

Jeremiah speaks of "in those days" (the day of the Lord, the end of time): "says YHVH, 'In those days, when your numbers have increased in the land, people will no longer talk about the ark for the covenant of YHVH - they won't think about it, they won't miss it, and they won't make another one. When that time comes, they will call Yerushalayim the throne of YHVH. All the nations will be gathered there to the name of YHVH, to Yerushalayim. No longer will they live according to their stubbornly evil hearts.'" Jeremiah 3:16-17.

Yeshua Himself, the Eternal Living Temple of YHVH, spoke passionately, lovingly and prophetically of Yerushalayim in Luke 13:34-35: "Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused! Look! God is abandoning your house to you! I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of YHVH!'"

Paul reminds us in Hebrews 12 how it is that YHVH through Yeshua dwells with us forever in His heavenly city: "On the contrary, you have come to Mount Tziyon, that is, the city of the living God, heavenly Yerushalayim; to myriads of angels in festive asembly; to a community of the firstborn whose names have been recorded in heaven; to a Judge who is God of everyone; to spirits of righteous people who have been brought to the goal; to the mediator of a new covenant, Yeshua; and to the sprinkled blood....Now, he has made this promise: 'One more time I will shake not only the earth but heaven too!' And this phrase, 'one more time,' makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain. Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverance and fear. For indeed, 'Our God is a consuming fire!'"

And finally, in Revelation, John tells us about the revealed New Yerushalayim, YHVH's heavenly city where He will dwell with His people forever!
To the angel of the Messianic believers in Philadelphia is written, "I will make him who wins the victory a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of my God and the name of my God's city, the new Yerushalayim coming down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name." (Revelation 3:12)

In Revelation 11:19, we are given a glimpse of heaven during the events of the end of time: "Then the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the Ark of the Covenant was seen in his Temple...."

And no greater picture of our eternal dwelling place is given anywhere else other than in Revelation 21! "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, 'See! God's Sh'khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, YHVH SHAMAH (God-with-them), will be their God.'...One of the seven angels approached me and said, 'Come! I will show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb.' He carried me off in the Spirit to the top of a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God....I saw no Temple in the city, for YHVH, God of heaven's armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb....The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Its gates will never close, they stay open all day because night will not exist there, and the honor and splendor of the nations will be brought into it."

YHVH Shamah...YHVH IS THERE! For eternity, His dwelling place is with His people!

This gives me renewed insight into the command to
"Pray for the peace of Yerushalayim"!
It also gives me even deeper understanding of YHVH's timeless commands, mitzvot, and guidelines for His people living in relationship with a Holy God, YHVH Shamah.

In His Eternal Presence,

Gina

Yeshua...With Healing In His Wings

A Look at Malachi.

Adonai Tz'vaot says, "But to you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings..." Malachi 4:2

"A woman who'd had a hemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the fringe (really tzitzit) on his robe. For she said to herself, 'If I can only touch his robe, I will be healed.' Yeshua turned, saw her and said, 'Courage, daughter! Your trust has healed you.' And she was instantly healed." Matthew 9:20-22

Recently, a friend from my church was at a Bible study and heard something that got her curiosity going. When she emailed me about it, my curiosity was also stirred up! The question is about the two scripture references above in Malachi and Matthew and about how they are related.

The simple answer is that the verse in Malachi is a reference to Yeshua the Messiah, and the verse in Matthew demonstrates his healing power.

However, those who know me know that I am seldom satisfied with the short "simple answer" when it comes to the truth of YHWH's Word! And you are right...I am not satisfied with this short answer! There is far too much richness and truth to be discovered about our God if we just dig into this a bit more.

Let me begin with the fact that Yeshua was Jewish, and He kept the Torah (YHWH's Word, which Yeshua IS, so of course He would KEEP it!). Because He was Torah-observant (not Rabbinical-observant), Yeshua would have followed the command (mitzvah) to wear a reminder of YHWH's Torah as a twisted or braided tassel (tzitzit) on each corner of His garment. He possibly would have been wearing a tallit (prayer shawl) with tzitziyot (plural for tzitzit). Whether or not He was wearing a tallit at all times, He definitely would have been wearing tzitziyot on His covering garments. This was commanded in several places (Numbers 15:38-40, Deuteronomy 22:12) by YHWH as a constant reminder to keep His commandments, His Torah, for all His people throughout all generations.

This tallit, or similar covering garment, has four corners which look like wings, and in fact the tallit is sometimes referred to as the "arba kanfot" which means "four wings". Each wing or corner has a tzitzit which hangs down past the regular garment and is visible as a constant reminder to obey YHWH.

When we know this simple basic fact of a life lived within the Torah of YWHW, a new and deeper understanding of the verse in Malachi begins to unfold!
"But to you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its WINGS."
When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem of Yeshua's garment, she was actually touching the tzitzit on the wing of His tallit, and she was healed in His Righteousness! She was healed through her faith in the Living Word Yeshua, healed when she followed the Word and took hold of it (the Word here represented by the tzitzit)!

As exciting as this is, I cannot stop here...there is so much more to this verse than just reference to physical healing that comes from trusting and obeying Yeshua as the Living Word. Reading the rest of Malachi reveals so much more regarding YHWH's faithfulness as a covenant-keeping God, so much more of His sovereignty and mercy, so much more of His eternal plan for His people!

From the first verse of this book, YHWH states that He is speaking this prophecy directly to Israel through Malachi (1:1). Adonai begins by proclaiming His love for Israel (1:2). He tells Israel that His greatness is known beyond their borders (1:5), from the farthest east to the farthest west (1:11,14). He chastises Israel, as a father chastises His son, because they have scorned Him and not followed Him with their hearts. YHWH reminds His son Israel that His covenant with Levi was one of life and peace, one of fear and awe, one of honesty and uprightness and turning away from sin (2:4-6).

YHWH warns Israel that because of their sin and turning away from Him, He will curse them and make them contemptible before all the world. He warns, "If you won't listen, if you won't pay attention to honoring my Name, then I will send the curse on you." (2:1-2) YHWH continues with "You have wearied YHWH with your words. Yet you ask, 'How have we wearied Him?' By saying that anyone who does wrong is good from YHWH's perspective, and that He is delighted with them." (2:17) Is this the end of hope for Israel (or for Gentiles)? NO! YHWH is a covenant-keeping God!

Directly after this, Yeshua (YHWH is Salvation!) enters the scene!! Chapter 3 begins with news that is horribly-terrifying and tremendously-great at the same time: "'Look! I am sending my messenger to clear the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple. Yes, the messenger of the covenant, in whom you take such delight - look! Here he comes,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot.
But who can endure the day when He comes?
He will be like a refiner's fire...testing and purifying the silver...the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver, so that they can bring offerings to YHWH uprightly....'Then I will approach you for judgment; and I will be quick to witness against...those who don't fear me,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot." (3:1-5)

Yes, it is a terrifying thing to fall on our faces in the presence of Holy YHWH. Who can stand? Who can survive? Is there really hope? NO! There is no hope in our ability to do anything to please YHWH or live up to His standard!

The only hope is in His faithfulness as a covenant-keeping God. Israel's only hope is in the Redeemer, the Purifier, the Refiner, Yeshua the Salvation, who brings us back to YHWH!

"'But because I, YHWH do not change, you sons of Jacob will not be destroyed....Return to Me, and I will return to you,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot." (3:6-7)
"Then those who feared YHWH spoke together: and YHWH listened and heard. A record book was written in His presence for those who feared YHWH and had respect for His name. 'They will be mine,' says Adonai-Tzva'ot, 'on the day when I compose my own special treasure.'" (3:16-17)

Once more YHWH speaks of the Day of Judgment, the terrible day when all will burn and nothing will be left but what is of Him (4:1).
And then comes the promise we started wtih: "but for you who fear MY Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings..." !!!
This is the promise of the Messiah Yeshua for the chosen people of Israel! In the end, Israel will return to their Adonai and repent and know the truth of Yeshua! This is why this verse is so exciting to me...it IS about healing, but so much more than just physical healing!!

Israel, from now until the end, will experience the fulfillment of this prophecy and also what Paul said in Romans 11...
"stoniness, to a degree, has come upon Israel, until the Gentile world enters in its fullness; and that it is in this way that all Israel will be saved. As the Tanakh (Old Testament) says, 'Out of Tziyon will come the Redeemer; he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob and this will be my covenant with them,...when I take away their sins.'" (Paul is quoting Isaiah 59:20-21 here.)

YHWH is Faithful! He speaks of His eternal faithfulness and restoration in so many places in His word. In Isaiah 62, Israel herself, through Jerusalem, is associated with the Light, Righteousness and Salvation of Adonai. "The nations will see your vindication and all kings your glory. Then you will be called by a new name which YHWH himself will pronounce. You will be a glorious crown in the hand of YHWH....You will no longer be spoken of as 'Abandoned' or your land be spoken of as 'Desolate'; rather you will be called 'My-Delight-Is-In-Her' and your land 'Married', for YWHW delights in you." (2-4) RESTORATION!! HEALING!!

(So many places in the Word speak of this important and exciting truth! Some others to study are Isaiah 30:26, Ezekiel 11 and 36, Isaiah 49:5-6,Luke 2:26-32, and many others.)

Finally, in Revelation 21, all of this comes together - the Lamb IS the LIGHT and the SALVATION, and we dwell forever with Him and with YHWH in the new Jerusalem!!! Israel (with hearts turned to the Messiah) and the Gentile believers in Messiah together as the Bride! RESTORATION!! HEALING!!

This is so exciting! I can't wait to see this happen!
And I will never again look at the commandment of wearing tzitziyot in the same way. What rich meaning YHWH puts into every part of His Torah, His mitzvot, His Word! No wonder He is so serious about our following and obeying His Word with all of our hearts!

In the Restoration and Healing of our Salvation, Yeshua...

Gina

Why I Am Celebrating Yeshua in Chanukkah This Year...

Yeshua spoke to them, saying, "I am the LIGHT of the world. He who follows me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of life." John 8:12

Today (at sunset) begins the 8 day celebration of Yahweh's faithfulness to His people, the Festival of Dedication, the Festival of Lights...Chanukkah. This is my first year to celebrate this festival (and actually, it's my first year to celebrate all of Yahweh's appointed times...what an incredible year it has been!).

Many people might question why I have chosen to celebrate these feasts and festivals. My answer is simple. I have read and re-read in the Word of Yahweh that these feasts are commanded throughout all generations. I am no longer taking only part of His Word and applying it to my life. I want to obey ALL of His Word, from Genesis to Revelation. I want Him to write His Word on my heart in every way. I want my relationship with Yahweh to be what HE desires and commands, rather than the tradition and teachings that come from man.

Is it true that I no longer celebrate Christmas?
Yes.

I have read enough about the pagan origins, date, traditions of Christmas...I have read enough of Yahweh's Word that warns His people about adopting the pagan traditions of worship. I am convinced that since Christmas is NOT in the Word (Yeshua was not born on December 25th...He was most likely born during Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles around September) and since what is commanded in the Word is to observe Yahweh's appointed Feasts throughout all generations, and since Yeshua Himself did NOT celebrate Christmas (he wouldn't have because it was a pagan holiday), and since Yeshua Himself DID celebrate Chanukkah (see John 10:22), then this is what I want to do too!

We have this popular saying and acrostic in Christian circles: WWJD (What Would Jesus Do). I am discovering more and more that the traditions I have embraced are NOT what He would do or did do. I truly want to be a follower of Him, a disciple. I want to follow His commands...ALL of them. Yeshua is the Living Word, from beginning to end. I want to give honor to my Redeemer and Savior by obeying every part of Him.

So, what exactly is Chanukkah? Is it a commanded feast? Is it in the Bible?

Chanukkah is not a commaded feast in the Old Testament like others such as Pesach (Passover), Feast of Unleavened Bread, Sukkot, etc. Chanukkah is a celebration that Jewish people of Yahweh have observed since an event that happened in 165 BC. Since this event happened in the 400 year period between the Old and New Testaments, it is not recorded in Scripture. It is, however, recorded in historical books.

Basically, in 168 BC, Jerusalem and the Jews were conquered by the Hellenist Syrians, who took over the Temple, dedicated it to the worship of Zeus, and desecrated it by sacrificing pigs (and other attrocities). The Jews who resisted at all were persecuted and killed, so some Jews went along with these attrocities. The other Jews who were committed to keeping Yahweh's commandments and cleansing His land and people of forbidden idolatry decided to fight back against the Syrians. For three years they fought, and finally regained possession of the Temple in 165 BC.

They cleaned out the Temple and repaired the broken and missing items. They held a dedication ceremony for the restoration of the Temple and wanted to light the eternal flame of the Menorah. However, they only had enough oil to last one day, and it would take 8 days to prepare the oil properly. Yahweh provided another miracle by providing just enough oil each day to keep the Menorah lit for 8 days until more oil was ready.

This is why this celebration is called Festival of Dedication and Festival of Lights!

Let's look at some important sections of Scripture....

1. Regarding the importance Yahweh places on His Temple:

Exodus 25:8-9... YHWH said to Moses: "The people of Israel are to make me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. You are to make it according to everything I show you - the design of the tabernacle and the design of its furnishings. This is how you are to make it."

Exodus 40:34,35,40... "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of Yahweh filled the Tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud remained on it and the glory of Yahweh filled the Tabernacle....For the cloud of Yahweh was above the Tabernacle during the day, and fire was in the cloud at night, so that all the house of Israel could see througout all their travels."
(read the whole chapter)

Leviticus 26:11-12 (to Israel) "I will put my Tabernacle among you, and I will not reject you, but I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people."
(read the whole chapter)

1 Kings 5:3,5 (said by Solomon regarding building the first Temple for Yahweh) "You know that David my father was not able to build a house for the name of Yahweh his God...so now I intend to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, in keeping with what Yahweh said to David my father 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, will be the one to build the house for my name.' "

1 Kings 8:10-11 (Solomon prays to dedicate the Temple to Yahweh) "When the cohanim (priests) came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of Yahweh, so that, because of the cloud, the cohanim could not stand up to perform their service; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of Yahweh."
(read the whole chapter to see the relevance of Solomon's prayer)

2 Chronicles 6 (another chapter with Solomon's important prayer...includes Yahweh's plan for foreigners/gentiles)

Ezekiel 37 (important prophetic scripture, not yet completed...proof that Yahweh's Temple is still important in ways we cannot imagine. Proof that Israel will know her Yahweh in His Temple. Who is the Temple?)
"I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give to them, increase their numbers, and set my sanctuary among them forever. My home will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. The nations will know that I am Yahweh, who sets Israel apart as holy, when my sanctuary is with them forever." (vs 26-28)

Zechariah 6:12,13,15 (Yeshua is the Temple!) "Yahweh Tz'vaot says 'There is coming a man whose name is THE BRANCH. He will sprout up from his place and rebuild the Temple of Yahweh. Yes, he will rebuild the Temple of Yahweh, and he will take up royal splendor, sitting and ruling from his throne....Those who are far away will come and help rebuild the Temple of Yahweh."

Matthew 12:6 Yeshua said, "I tell you, there is in this place something greater than the Temple."

John 2:15-21 "(Yeshua) knocked over the money-changers' tables and said 'Get these things out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market.' So the Judeans asked him, 'What miraculous sign can you show us to prove you have the right to do all this?' Yeshua answered them, 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.' The Judeans said, 'It took 46 years to build this temple, and you're going to raise it in three days?' But the "temple" he had spoken of was his body."

John 10:22-24 (Yeshua celebrated Chanukkah! Read the rest of the chapter to see the importance of what he said about Himself during this Festival of Lights.) "Then came Chanukkah in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Yeshua was walking around inside the Temple area, in Solomon's Colonnade. So the Judeans surrounded him and said to him, 'How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us publicly!' "

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Don't you know that you people are God's temple, and that God's Spirit lives in you? So if anyone destroys God's Temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple."

2 Corinthians 6:16-17 "What agreement can there be between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God - as God said, 'I will house myself in them...and I will walk among you. I will be their God, and they will be my people.' Therefore, Yahweh says, 'Go out from their midst; separate yourselves; don't even touch what is unclean. Then I myself will receive you. In fact, I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters' says Yahweh Tz'vaot."

Ephesians 2:19-22 "So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's family. You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yeshua the Messiah himself. In union with him, the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God!"

Revelation 7:14-17 "He told me, 'These are the people who have come out of the Great Persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the Blood of the Lamb. That is why they are before God's throne. 'Day and night they serve him in his Temple, and the One who sits on the throne will put his Sh'khinah upon them. They will never again be hungry; they will never again be thirsty; the sun will not beat down on them, nor will any burning heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them, will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.'"

Revelation 11, 14, 15, 16 (Yahweh's Temple is the place from where the judgments and seals come.)

Revelation 21:22-27 "I saw no Temple in the city (New Jerusalem), for Yahweh, God of heaven's armies, is its Temple, as is the Lamb. The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine on it, because God's Sh'khinah gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Its gates will never close, they stay open all day because night will not exist there, and the honor and splendor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure may enter it, nor anyone who does shameful things or lies; the only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."


2. Regarding the Menorah, Light, and Yeshua:

Genesis 1:3-4 "Then God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light. God saw that the light was goodd, and God divided the light from the darkness."

Exodus 25:31,37 (part of Yahweh's commands for his Tabernacle) "You are to make a Menorah of pure gold. Make seven lamps for the Menorah, and mount them so as to give light to the space in front of it."

Exodus 27:20 (regarding the Menorah lamp in the Tabernacle, as instructed by Yahweh) "You are to order the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pounded olives for the light, and to keep a lamp burning continually."

2 Samuel 22:29 (David's prayer of praise for Yahweh's strength and protection...read the whole chapter and also Psalm 18.) "For you, Yahweh, are my lamp; Yahweh lights up my darkness."

Psalm 132:13,14,17 "For Yahweh has chosen Tziyon (Zion), he has wanted it as his home. 'This is my resting-place forever, I will live here because I so much want to....I will make a king sprout there from David's line and prepare a lamp for my anointed one."

Psalm 27:1 "Yahweh is my light and salvation; whom do I need to fear? Yahweh is the stronghold of my life; of whom should I be afraid?"

Psalm 36:9 "For with you (Yahweh) is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."

Psalm 43:3 "Send out your light and your truth; let them be my guide; let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the places where you dwell."

Isaiah 42:6,7 "I, Yahweh, called you righteously, I took hold of you by the hand, I shaped you and made you a covenant for the people, to be a light for the gentiles, so that you can open blind eyes, free the prisoners from confinement, those living in darkness from the dungeon."

Isaiah 60:1-3,19 "Arise, shine (Jerusalem), for your light has come, the glory of Yahweh has risen over you. For although darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the peoples, on you Yahweh will rise; over you will be seen his glory. Nations will go toward your light and kings toward your shining splendor....No more will the sun be your light by day, nor will moonlight shine on you; instead Yahweh will be your light forever and your God your glory."
(read the whole chapter)

Matthew 4:16 (about Yeshua) "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; upon those living in the region, in the shadow of death, light has dawned."

Luke 2:27-32 "Prompted by the Spirit, (Simeon) went into the Temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, Simeon took him in his arms, made a blessing to God, and said 'Now Yahweh, according to your word, your servant is at peace as you let him go; for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu'ah (salvation), which you prepared in the presence all peoples - a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel."

John 1:1,4,5,9 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not supressed it....This was the true light, which gives light to everyone entering the world."

John 12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who trusts in me might not remain in the dark."

Acts 26:22-23 (spoken by Paul) "I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moses said would happen - that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Gentiles."

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For it is the God who once said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has made his light shine in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of the Messiah Yeshua."

Ephesians 5:8 "For you used to be darkness, but now, united with the Lord, you are light. Live like children of the light."

1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, the King's cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Revelation 22:5 (in the New Jerusalem) "They will need neither the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because Yahweh, God, will shine upon them. And they will reign as kings forever and ever."



Isn't it exciting to read about the rich meaning this Festival of Dedication/Festival of Lights holds for us as believers in Yeshua the Messiah and the hope it gives for those who do not yet believe?!

Perhaps you too will see the truth of Yeshua's light dwelling with us forever in the simple but profoundly-important celebration of Chanukkah this week.

In the LIGHT of the world, the Temple of Yahweh, Yeshua HaMashiach,
Gina

Psalm 119...A Beginning Place for Truth in HIS WORD!

"Your Word continues forever, Adonai, firmly fixed in heaven; your faithfulness through all generations; you established the earth, and it stands." Psalm 119:89-90

Hello from Mexico!

Recently I have had some telling conversations with a few people who have expressed to me that they or someone else have had concerns about this new direction I seem to be going in my beliefs and in my journey with Yahweh through His Son Yeshua. This "new" journey actually began for me many years ago with some compelling questions. It wasn't until 5 or 6 years ago that I seriously began to search for answers to these questions. And it wasn't until the last 2 or 3 years that I actually made the decision to ACT on the answers that I knew were from Yahweh! So, even though this "new" journey isn't really that new, I realize that I haven't outwardly shown this journey to many people, who might now be surprised at this supposed "sudden departure" from the "tried and true ways" of Christianity.

In my upcoming blog posts, I will be addressing some of these questions and the answers I have found and am still finding as I open my heart more and more to Yahweh's truth and seek Him alone.

The general question that I have had many times over the last 5 or 6 (or more) years is this:

"What if those things I have known and trusted regarding my faith and my beliefs about God and a relationship with Him have been wrong?"

Now, before you think that I am abandoning my God or my relationship with Yeshua, and before you think that I have begun to believe there is any other way of relationship with Yahweh outside of Yeshua, let me put your mind at ease. I have no doubt that the only way to have a relationship with Yahweh is through His Son Yeshua, the Living Word.

I do not think that EVERYTHING I have heard or been taught or known in my Christian walk is wrong. But I do think that MANY teachings and traditions that I have heard and embraced and accepted are not actually according to the complete Word of Yahweh but are actually from man and have been twisted subtly (and not so subtly) by the enemy who desires to keep us from the TRUTH of Yahweh.

For those of you who have ever had a similar life experience, you know how very hard it is to come to a realization that what you have "known" and accepted as truth is actually not truth, and in reality could be going directly against the Word of Yahweh. This experience has really shaken me over a period of years...and that is a good thing (although very hard at the same time)!

The primary Truth I have come to see, the Truth that governs every other sub-question I have, is this:

The WORD of Yahweh is true for His people. The COMPLETE WORD is true for His people. Every part of His Word is still for His people today. If we are believers in Yeshua, then we have been grafted into the people of Yahweh, and we are to OBEY His commandments, His Torah...every part of it!

Everything else, every specific detail of my new life immersed in obedience to the Word of Yahweh, hinges on this one Truth. I cannot examine the Scriptures with an open heart and open eyes and mind and not see that Yahweh does not change. He has made covenants with His people. He has given commandments to His people, instructions on how to live. Yeshua is the LIVING WORD! He did not come to abolish or do away with the Torah of Yahweh! He IS the Torah of Yahweh! He is the fullness of the Word of Elohim!


Psalm 119 is one of the first places this question came to my mind.
If you have ever read Psalm 119, you know that it is unique in several ways. It is an acrostic using every letter of the Hebrew alefbet (alphabet). Every section features a different Hebrew letter, and every line of that section begins with that letter (in Hebrew). And every part of all 176 verses of Psalm 119 is about obeying the mitzvot, commands, precepts, laws, Torah, instructions, rulings, WORD of Yahweh.

I grew up attending a Christian church from my very earliest childhood. We memorized Psalm 119:11 when I was kindergarten: "I treasure your Word in my heart, so that I won't sin against you." And all during my teen years, we sang a song directly from Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path." We learned the Ten Commandments from my earliest memory. We even had the Ten Commandments in public school when I was in the first grade.

Now, the questions for me came when I read the rest of Psalm 119. It is hard to ignore the fact that many times Christians ignore part of the TORAH, the commandments of Yahweh.

Psalm 119:4-5 says "You laid down your precepts for us to observe with care. May my ways be steady in observing your laws. Then I will not be put to shame, since I will have fixed my sight on all your mitzvot."
And in verse 21, "You rebuke the proud, the cursed, who stray from your mitzvot."

And in verses 33-34, "Teach me, Adonai, the way of your laws; keeping them will be its own reward for me. Give me understanding; then I will keep your Torah."

And in verses 51-53, "Though the arrogant scorn me completely, I have not turned away from your Torah. Adonai, I keep in mind your age-old rulings; in them I take comfort. Fury seizes me when I think of the wicked, because they abandon your Torah."

And in verses 71-72, "It is for my good that I have been humbled; it was so that I would learn your laws. The Torah you have spoken means more to me than a fortune in gold and silver."

And in verses 103-104, "How sweet to my tongue is your promise, truly sweeter than honey in my mouth! From your precepts I gain understanding; this is why I hate every false way."

And in verses 118-119, "You reject all who stray from your laws, for what they deceive themselves with is false. You discard the wicked of the earth like slag; this is why I love your instruction."

Verse 137, "You are righteous, Adonai; and your rulings are upright."

Verses 142 & 144, "Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and your Torah is truth. Your instruction is righteous forever; give me understanding, and I will live."

The message in this Psalm is hard to ignore. Yahweh is serious about His people obeying His commands...ALL of them! From the beginning of His Word, in Genesis when he gave instructions to the first people, through to the covenants and Torah given to His people Israel, through to Yeshua's life and ministry, through to the early church, Yahweh has not changed and Yeshua is the LIVING WORD!

If Yahweh did not want His people to obey His Torah after the coming of Yeshua, then why do the New Testament writers quote, refer to, or allude to the Word of Elohim in the Old Testament at least 1,000 times (some sources say up to 4,000 times)? If Yahweh did not want believers in Yeshua to obey His Torah, then why did Yeshua obey and keep the Torah in every way? Why did Yeshua say this in Matthew 5:17-19? "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven."

Yeshua, according to John chapter 1, was the WORD in the beginning, and all things came to be through Him. This Word became human and lived among us. In Revelation 19, the name by which Yeshua is called is THE WORD OF GOD. In John 5, Yeshua says that the Torah bears witness to Him, and that if people really believed Moses's writings in the Torah, then they would believe Yeshua as well, because it was about Yeshua that Moses was writing. Later in John 8, Yeshua says "If you obey what I say, then you are really my disciples, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
If Yeshua is the LIVING WORD of Yahweh, then He is the complete WORD, from beginning to end. If we obey what He says, then we will know the truth, learn from Him, and have relationship with Him.

Isaiah 40:8 says "The grass dries up, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever." Peter quotes this again in 1 Peter 1:24-25 and adds, "morever, this Word is the Good News which has been proclaimed to you."There are so many other scriptures throughout the WORD of Yahweh that support the truth that we are to obey His commands...ALL of them. It is worth researching and digging into much deeper!


So how does this change my life?

Briefly (and to save more for future posts), I have decided to no longer celebrate things that are not commanded by Yahweh and that have their origins in pagan idolatry. This includes Christmas and Easter. Instead I am learning more about Yahweh's appointed Feasts, commanded by Him to be observed by His people throughout all generations (that's me). Last year was the first year that I began to observe His command to keep Shabbat (Sabbath, Saturday) holy and set aside for Him as a resting day. My life has become so much richer as I see the implications and symbolism in His command to set apart this day. I still attend my church on Sunday, but that is only because that is the day they meet. Otherwise, I spend time with my Abba from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday in obedience to His Word, sometimes meeting with other believers to worship and study His Word...sometimes just resting with Him and delighting in Him.

This year is the first year I have celebrated the appointed Feasts. What a picture of Messiah they present! What a picture of Yahweh's timeline for past and coming events in His biblical calendar! What an amazing picture of His covenants with His people! I can't believe I have waited this long in my life to obey and observe this part of His Word.

I have begun to eat the foods that Yahweh laid out in His Word and stay away from those that He said to stay away from.

I have chosen to use the personal name for Elohim that He revealed and said to use: Yahweh. (If you read the intro section of just about any version of the Bible, you will discover that somewhere along the way, men removed the name of Elohim, Yahweh, from the Bible and replaced it with LORD or Adonai.) And I have chosen to use the proper Hebrew name for the Messiah, Yeshua or Yahushua, because the meaning of His real name is so important...it means "YHWH saves" and it includes the name of Elohim, showing that Yeshua and Yahweh are one.

I know there are more changes in my life that are still to come. I want to know and obey the complete Word of Yahweh. There is a difference between observing the Torah of Yahweh and observing the Rabbinical or even Christian traditions of man. I choose to observe the Torah, the Prophets, the Living Word of Yeshua.

Now, once again, I know that this is a huge jump for many people. It was for me. And I know it can cause some alarm and concern...it can bring up some strong reactions in people. It did in me.

If you would like to do some digging for yourself, I have put some helpful links in the Link Menu on the right side of this blog. Check out "Torah Resource" and "Bible Truth". I have also included a link for the version of the Bible I have been using in this blog - the Complete Jewish Bible. More than anything, it has been helpful for me to read the Word (both Testaments) with spiritual and fleshly eyes that are willing to be changed from tradition to truth. Yahweh's Word has been shining in dark places in my life, and I ask Him daily to show me more of the Truth of living in Him.