שמע ישראל יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד
Hear intelligently with attention and interest, comprehend and obey, O Yisra'el, יהוה our 'Elohiym is יהוה alone!
–Dabariym [deuteronomy] 6:4 His Name Tanakh**
You Will Keep the Shabbath; For It Is Qodesh to You
The Command
Many groups and peoples allege to honor the Shabbath, claiming it for themselves and, somehow, twisting it up and around as to be their exclusive provenance. Most xtians, as all are aware, consider "sun"-day the "day of the lord." A small, almost imperceptible, number of xtians actually meet on 'Saturday' as does the splinter messianity movement. But the vast majorities do as the xtian movement has always done, which is to make their rules up as they go along regardless of the thought of יהוה. So many people seem to believe His will to be more of a "suggestion," than an actual command or requirement. They neither do an in-depth study of the Towrah in the bastardized English versions nor do they make even a minor attempt to search out the 'Ibriy (Hebrew), being loathe to read the writings of the people who were first given the writings at Har Çiynay (Mount Sinai), also known as Har Choreb (Mount Horeb). Being ignorant of Hebrew and having no desire to learn the language of יהוה most are perfectly willing to rely on an ear-tickling story from the replacement (new) testament body of works; viewing their sabbath through blood-rose colored glasses as the new-and-improved-free-for-all "lord's day."
Many people (sadly, even those who believe they truly seek to find יהוה) often have trouble discerning even the very basics of His instructions on the subject of rightly honoring and obeying Him in observance of the Shabbath. Most seem to feel that as long as they do not "punch a time clock" at the work place they have fulfilled the essence of His mitsuah (instructions), but then have a free-for-all day of cooking, cleaning, shopping, television and day-trips to "forsake not to congregate," or visit some Towrah inspired 'bassetball' [sic] game rather than set aside this most important day (and set of days, when you remember His Feast days) to יהוה. A day so very important to Him the Towrah points out that He, Himself, observes the seventh day.
Bere'shiyth [genesis] 2:2-3:
2. And on the seventh day 'Elohiym had been finished with His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
3. And 'Elohiym blessed the seventh day, and made it Qadash (Hebrew H6942 קדש kaw-dawsh to be or to make set apart– from the common or from evil); because He made Shabbath from all His work which 'Elohiym had created and made.
The Hebrew phrase in verse three above "from all His work" is in the Hebrew מ:כל -מלאכת:ו (m:kol - from the all mela'kat(h)-oo - from the work of him). It quite literally means He stopped everything. His expectations of us are as high as for Himself, desiring that we cease those things which we desire to do or which yield us something physical, financial, emotional or quasi-spiritual. We are to give our attention, our thoughts, our nephesh (soul) and our entire contemplative inner-being, as well as our outer being up to יהוה. We cease from "doing our thing" and seek Him through study of the Tanakh.
יהוה tells us that He set this day apart from other days for our benefit and He reminds the House of Yisra'el in several places through out the Tanakh of the Shabbath day's importance to Him and our own well being. יהוה made it perfectly clear to His first-born son Yisra'el that the Shabbath day is also considered one of the covenantal signs between us (The 'Ibriym (Hebrews) and יהוה, regardless of what foreign religionists may try to tell us). He even includes the land itself and has pointed out the dire consequences in ignoring these instructions.
We see again in Shemoth [exodus] (exodus) 16 יהוה becomes exasperated with Yisra'el as some members of the tribe go out to gather Man (pronounced mawn'; manna is incorrect) on the Shabbath even though they have already been told there would not be any to find. Already having been instructed to gather two days worth for themselves and their families on the sixth day, they ignore His word causing Him to question Mosheh as to how long the people will "...refuse to keep My mitsuah and My Towrah?" In 29 He says to Mosheh: "See, for יהוה has given you the Shabbath, therefore He gives you on the sixth day the bread of two days; sit and be still in the lodging place, you and yours, settle and remain in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." In Shemoth [exodus] 20:8 יהוה warns us to "Mark and remember and speak about the Shabbath day, to keep it Qadash." and in verse ten tells us that neither we nor our families, servants, visitors or even our cattle (beasts of burden; i.e. equipment - vehicles) are to do anything of our own ways. We are not to work or play. Verse 11: "For that reason יהוה blessed the Shabbath day, and made it Qadash."
In Shemoth [exodus] 23
10. And six years you will sow seed in your land, and will gather in the increase of it:
11. But the seventh year you will let it rest and lie fallow; that the poor of your people may eat: and what they leave the beast of the field will eat. In like manner you will deal with your vineyard, and with your olive yard.
12. Six days you will do your work, and on the seventh day you will rest; that your ox and your ass may have contentment and ease, and your maidservant's son as well as the sojourner, may be refreshed.
In Shemoth [exodus] 31 יהוה is clear in His regarding of the Shabbath (keeping it) as if 'one' is/has arrived to the mark or place and signal of obedience to יהוה. Without this covenantal signal you are not 'marked' as one of His and are cut off from Him (vs. 13-14). This is to be done by the sons of Yisra'el throughout the generations of His people (v. 13) on pain of death (v. 14-15) forever. Verse 16 ends with the Hebrew word 'Owlam (H5769 עולם oo-lawm') which is defined literally as time out of sight and mind. יהוה reiterates this thought in verses 16 and 17.
Shemoth [exodus] 31
12. יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying:
13. Speak you also to the sons of Yisra'el, saying: Surely you will hedge about, as with thorns, and guard and protect My Shabbaths: for it is as the arrival of one to the mark and a signal between Me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am יהוה Who makes you Qadash.
14. You will keep the Shabbath; for it is Qodesh to you: everyone that wounds, breaks or dissolves it will surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on that day that soul will be cut off from among his people.
15. Six days will work be done, but on the seventh day is a Shabbath of quiet rest, Qodesh to יהוה: whoever does any work on the Shabbath day, he will surely be put to death.
16. Therefore the sons of Yisra'el will keep the Shabbath, to observe the Shabbath throughout their generations, for a covenant beyond the field of vision of time and space.
17. It is as the arrival of one to the mark and a signal between Me and the sons of Yisra'el beyond the field of vision of time and space: for in six days יהוה made Heaven and Earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.
18. And He gave to Mosheh, when He had made an end of words with him upon Har Çiynay, the two Tablets of the Testimony; those Tablets of stone, written with the finger of 'Elohiym.
Verse 13 (above) leaves no mistake that יהוה considers this to be a permanent arrangement, not a trifling suggestion to be adhered to if there is no 'big game' on television or some frothing-at-the-mouth human sacrifice worshiper tells you differently. Nowhere does He give any man, group or man-made religion permission to enact any changes. He is pretty forth rite about the subject
Observing the Shabbath (among other acts of obedience) marks the observer as one of His! Violators lose their birth-right ("...that nephesh will be cut off from among his people.") and no foreign nation can claim supremacy over His chosen who do keep His word. Every xtian who claims 'the law is nailed to a tree (done-away with)' calls יהוה a liar, for (v.14): "...everyone that wounds, breaks or dissolves it will surely be put to death." Modern xtianity and the spin-off messianity movement both have dissolved His day. The xtian by both switching it and dirtying it with work and 'regular business,' as well as by dedicating it to something other than mighty יהוה Himself. The off-shoot 'Ibriy pretenders do keep the day, but also dedicate to that which is not יהוה, as well as spend time in 'forsaking not the gathering' parties where pagan NT teachings abound and wash over the Toiwrah of יהוה. Pretenders one and all!
Shemoth [exodus] 35:2 and 3 reminds us, yet again, of His expectations going on to note that we must not "kindle a fire." It would be well to remember that the process of building a fire at the time the Towrah was given was a time consuming, often difficult and somewhat messy and dirty affair. Can one's thoughts ultimately be on יהוה and His Towrah while involved in the lengthy procedure of setting up a fire? First we gather twigs and branches then dig a hole and make a pyre, add some moss or leaves. Being diligent 'Ibriym we have lined the top of this hole with rocks to guard against the spread of fire to our surrounding neighbors camps, houses or the land-at-large. Then the task of striking of the flint and rock together to spark the fire begins. After considerable time, if all goes well, we get a small flame which leads to much huffing and puffing and moss stuffing. There was no lighter fluid, lighters or even newspaper to stuff into the flames.
Not a lot of quiet contemplation of His ways going on; not a lot of Towrah studied or learned. See also: Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 19:30 and 23:3.
Further instruction comes to us via Dabariym [deuteronomy] . In Chapter five we get another reminder to keep Shabbath (v.12). In verses 13-15 יהוה reminds us, not only should make sure we and our households are not violating Shabbath (14) but that as former slaves under the harshness of the Mitsriy (Egyptians) we need to remember who brought us up to freedom and why. We honor יהוה by keeping Him (and no other!) first and foremost in our thoughts and in the way we conduct ourselves, as well as by teaching our households to do the same. This is the emphasis– the "weight" of being a "treasured nation"– the House of Yisra'el. Not only to set ourselves rightly before the face of יהוה 'Elohiym, but to be examples not just to those around us; our immediate families, friends and neighbors– but to the world at large.
Yowm Kippuwr
יהוה has given us many feasts, with their different connotations, each having a 'high Qodesh' day of their own which יהוה considers to be a Shabbath. Yowm Kippuwr is one such time– a Shabbath to יהוה as well. On the tenth day of the seventh month we are to remember Him and His ways and our own short-comings through self-affliction and inner-pain. Yowm Kippuwr is a day to look deep within our nephesh (our breath of life - souls) and to somberly (and honestly) be troubled by our failings before the face of יהוה. Yowm Kippuwr is a day we fast and pray while sitting quietly and alone; a day between us and יהוה to ruminate on our short comings, both accidental and purposeful; from those times when we inadvertently missed His High Mark, those times we never even bothered and, far worse, those times we deliberately went awry of His word. No gatherings, no brother-hood group sessions, no spousal-refreshment, no chat room klatches to whine about starving– just us, alone, before the face of יהוה; a day to be observed 'Owlam– forever; until time out of sight. (Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 16:29-31 and 23:27 - 32).
The Land
Even in times of harvest, a major and arduous undertaking for an agrarian nation bereft of modern machinery, He commanded that the Shabbath day be marked and set-aside for Him. Six days are for working and playing but "...in plowing time and in harvest you will rest." (Shemoth [exodus] 34:21). Even the land itself is to be given a seventh-day (i.e. year) rest: the Shemittah. Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 25:2-6 יהוה tells us to allow the land to go fallow– to neither sow (plant) the fields nor prune (reap) the vineyards; verse 4– But in the seventh year will be a Shabbath of cessation from exertion for the land, a Shabbath to יהוה you will neither sow your field, nor prune your vineyard. We rely on יהוה to provide excess in the previous, as well as the following year which is the whole point in the Towrah (and Tanakh) as a whole; reliance on our only Melek (king) יהוה 'Elohiym, the Creator of all things! The year of Yowbel (יובל - the showphar blast and the remembrance it represents), or jubilee, is 49 shabbath-rests (plus one). Where all Hebrew land reverts to the original family ownership, slaves are freed, debts released and the Kingdom is renewed at a starting point instituted by the mercies of יהוה. Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 26:2 points out that יהוה considers all of His Shabbaths to be "reverencing" and a showing to Him of our acknowledgement of His (and no other) supremacy over our lives and over all of creation (Dabariym [deuteronomy] 6:4). Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 26:3-13 describes the support יהוה will give the House of Yisra'el (and the sojourner) if we follow His ways. Five will pursue a hundred and a hundred will pursue ten-thousand and He will remain amongst us and be our 'Elohiym. But if we disobey Him and do not listen (v. 14) and consider His decrees loathsome, thereby annulling the covenant He will do as much to us in return (v. 15). The rest of the chapter, up to verse 43 gives a harsh and dire description of the punishments, curses and burdens our own failures will bring upon us, as we so well deserve, through the vengeful hand of יהוה for disobedience.
The Greco-Romanistic western gowyiym religionists of xtianity and messianity claim they are the replacement of Bayith Yisra'el, yet in Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 26:44-45, יהוה our 'Elohiym says He will not forget us. Even though we are banished to the lands of our enemies and subjugated by them for our rebellion and iniquities, in all things, in all places across the globe and at all times He will remember us:
Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 26:44-45
44. And yet, despite, for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject nor be revolted by them, neither will I detest or reject them, to obliterate them utterly, and to break My covenant with them; for I am יהוה their 'Elohiym;
45. But I will remember, for their sakes, the covenant of their ancient ancestors, those whom I brought out of the land of Mitsrayim in the very eyes of the nations that I might be their 'Elohiym: I am יהוה!
"For I am יהוה their 'Elohiym!" Many of the prophets have espoused this theme and promise from יהוה to the House of Ya'aqob (House of Yisra'el); yet part of this is incumbent on our full return to His Shabbath (as well as the rest of His ways). Howshea' [hosea] 6:1-3 (Howshea' 14:2 - which see!); Yow'el [joel] 12 (read all) and Zekaryahuw [zechariah] 1:16; 8:3; 10:8-9 to name a mere handful (since this article is actually on the Shabbath). But the point here is this: We (the House of Ya'aqob-Yisra'el) get cut off by our disobedience and our return to Him causes Him to remember us. Who said so? He did!!
Reminders
He has given plenty of reminders to His people, as well as those who would seek to sojourn and learn to follow His ways, through His many prophets. Yesha'yahuw [isaiah] jogs our memories, even yet again, telling us that not only are we Yisre'eliy to repent and return to יהוה's ways but that the stranger who joins us (not replaces) is to be accepted by us. We are not to treat the voluntary convert to יהוה's Towrah as lower or second -class! If the sojourning stranger (non-bloodline) accepts the Towrah of יהוה and acknowledges Him, and no other, as 'Elohiym over all the earth– over all of creation, we are to treat them as one of us. There shall be one Towrah for all (Shemoth [exodus] 12:48-49; 20:10; 23:9-12 - Va'iyqrah [leviticus] 16:29; 17:12-15; 18:26; 19:10 and 33-34; 23:22; 24:16 and 22; 25:35-37 Bemidbar [numbers] 9:14; 15:15-16, 26, 29 and 30; 19:10; 35:15 - Dabariym [deuteronomy] 1:16; 10:18-19; 14:21 and 29; 16:11 and 14; 23:7; 24:14-21; 26:11-14; 27:19; 28:43; 29:11 and 31:12; as well as almost countless references in the rest of the Tanakh).
Yesha'yahuw [isaiah] 56:
THUS says יהוה, Keep and observe justice; do rightness and correctness; for My deliverance and freedom from trouble is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed.
2. Joyful is the man that does this, and the son of man that holds it fast; that obstinately seizes the Shabbath to keep from opening a wedge and dissolving it, keeping his hand from doing something dysfunctional, wrong, evil or wicked.
3. Do not allow or be the cause of the foreigner that has joined himself to יהוה, to speak, saying: יהוה will surely separate me from His people; neither let the barren ones say: Behold, I am a dry tree.
4. For this says יהוה of the barren ones that keep My Shabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and hold fast My covenant:
5. To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
6. Also the foreigners that join themselves to יהוה, to serve to Him, and to love the Name of יהוה, to be His servants, everyone that keeps the Shabbath to keep from opening a wedge and dissolving it, and holds fast My covenant;
7. Even them will I bring to My Qodesh mountain, and make them joyful in My House of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted upon My altar; for My House will be called a House of Prayer for all people.
8. The Sovran יהוה, who gathers the outcasts of Yisra'el, says: Yet will I gather others to Him, besides His own that are gathered.
and
Yesha'yahuw [isaiah] 58:13
If you turn away your foot because it is the Shabbath, refraining from bringing about your own needs and pleasures on My Qodesh day; calling the Shabbath luxurious enjoyment, and the Qadowsh of יהוה honorable; and will honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:
14. Then will you delight yourself in יהוה; and I will make you to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Ya'aqob your father: for the mouth of יהוה has spoken it.
Yesha'yahuw [isaiah] 66:23 tells us: And it shall come to pass, [that]...all flesh (who?) comes before the face of יהוה...from one new moon to another (meaning all the time, as in– forever). There are several instances in the Tanakh that state that all the earth will follow / worship יהוה. Everyone will eventually serve יהוה. Everyone will eventually keep His feast days. Everyone will eventually keep His Shabbath. Everyone will eventually keep His Towrah. Everyone!
In Yirmeyahuw [jeremiah] chapter 19 יהוה again castigates us, His people– the House of Yisra'el, with warnings to observe (Hear intelligently with attention and interest, listen and obey, יהוה our 'Elohiym). Again, He reminds us to hear His words (vs. 20-21) and "beware of our souls..." that we do not carry burdens (observe our ways and desires) from our houses, to or from the 'city gates' (work places, parties, playgrounds, etc, etc.), or do any manner of work on His Qodesh Shabbath. He exacts the same promise in chapter 42 (and other places). The prophet Yechezqe'l [ezekiel] (called Son of Man by יהוה over 65 times) has a lot to tell Yisra'el concerning this subject see chapter 20 especially.
Zekaryahuw [zechariah] 14:16-19 tells us that the nations that come against Yisra'el and Yeruwshalem will eventually all come to keep Çukkowth (sukkot / Tabernacles) to worship "the King, יהוה of armies." Nothing is said anywhere about any other gods, semi-human or otherwise, other than their utter destruction at the hand of יהוה, and that Yisra'el is not to turn to the right nor to the left to serve them (Dabariym [deuteronomy] 5:30-33; 17:11).
Dabariym [deuteronomy]28:
14. And will not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
15. But it will come to pass, if you will not listen to the voice of יהוה your 'Elohiy, to observe to do all His commandments and his statutes which I command you this day that all these curses will come upon you, and overtake you.
[See the rest of Dabariym [deuteronomy]28:16-69 for some pretty severe punishments which יהוה warned us about ahead of time; and the gowyiym (foreign) nations were quite joyously up for imparting upon us.]
Zekaryahuw [zechariah] 14:
16. And it will come to pass and to be that all who are left over of all the nations that came invading Yeruwshalem will go up each and every year to worship the King, יהוה of armies, and to keep the observance of the Feast of Çukkowth.
17. And it will be that whichever of all the families of the earth will not go up to Yeruwshalem to worship the King, יהוה of armies, there will be no rain upon them.
18. And if the family of Mitsrayim does not go up, and come not, neither will it be upon them; there will be the plague with which יהוה will strike the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Çukkowth.
19. This will be the punishment of Mitsrayim, and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Çukkowth.
The prophet Nechemyah [nehemiah], upon returning to Yehuwdah from the court of 'Artachshasta', took note of the people "treading the winepresses" and gathering and loading grain sheaths, figs, grapes, wine and other burdens on the Shabbath. There were merchants of the implanted-foreigners (the Tsoriy - Tyrians) who continued to entice the Yehuwdiy, even after the prophet ordered the gates to be closed before the start of every Shabbath. They 'lodged' outside the walls hoping the people would sneak out and do business. So faithful was Nechemyah [nehemiah] that he threatened to send a force against them. How glad would יהוה be if we had the same passion and enthusiasm for His day? We, who often cannot finish cooking our nine course (where's the beef?) sabbath pig-outs on time. So what we passed the sun-down by eight lousy seconds! He knows we meant to make it!
So, now what? How do we...what do we...???
Dabariym [deuteronomy] 10:
12. And now, Yisra'el, what does יהוה your 'Elohiy require of you, but to fear יהוה your 'Elohiy, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve יהוה your 'Elohiy with all your heart and with all your soul,
13. To keep the commandments of יהוה, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your right?
Dabariym [deuteronomy] 13:1
THEREFORE the whole of the words that I command and enjoin to you, hedge about as with thorns, guard, protect, attend and accomplish it; do not add, cause to add nor increase; neither take from to diminish, restrain, withdraw from it or do away with it.
and
Dabariym [deuteronomy] 7:
17. You will hedge about as with thorns, guard, protect and attend to the commands of יהוה your 'Elohiy, and to his testimonies, enactments and appointments, which He has constituted and enjoined to you.
18. You will do what is straight and right in the eyes of יהוה; that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the right land which יהוה swore to your fathers,
I have been stunned on more than one occasion by the pious statement "I don't think about [the lordy] I just love him." WHAT? יהוה tells us regularly to think, contemplate, research and study the Towrah / Tanakh. Truly, I can not recall a place in His writings requiring us to be 'emotional' towards Him or the writings. Let us remember to give our full attention and intellect to יהוה. Dabariym [deuteronomy] 6:4 (as well as literally hundreds of places in the Tanakh) tells us to use our intelligence and to obey Him. Never a mention is made about blowing PVC showphar [great gravy], whispering in an awed-some-like [sic] voice or feeling oh so ooey-gooey about His Towrah or the Tanakh.
Dabariym [deuteronomy]5:
AND Mosheh called to all Yisra'el, saying to them: Hear intelligently with attention and interest, listen to and obey, O Yisra'el, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day that you may learn them, and observe to do them.
2. יהוה 'Elohiym made a covenant with us in Choreb.
Several times Bayith Yisra'el promised to obey and serve יהוה in all He desired of us. The stranger who desires to 'sojourn' among us and know יהוה must obey as well; this is not (and never was) a suggestion.
Shemoth [exodus] 19:
7. And Mosheh came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which יהוה commanded him.
8. And all the people answered together, saying: All that יהוה has spoken we will do. And Mosheh reported the words of the people to יהוה.
and
Shemoth [exodus] 24:
7. And he took the Çepher HaBriyth, and read in the audience of the people: and they said: All that יהוה has spoken we will do, and be obedient.
and
Dabariym [deuteronomy]5:
27. Go you near, and hear all that יהוה 'Elohiym will say: And speak you to us all that יהוה 'Elohiym will speak to you; and we will hear it, and do it.
28. And יהוה heard the voice of your words, when you spoke to me; and יהוה said to me: I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to you: they have well said all that they have spoken.
29. Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!
These verses in this article are by no means all inclusive. There are so very many places in the Towrah (and the Tanakh) where יהוה commands, even demands our total uncompromising obedience. No excuses and no other gods (bloody or otherwise) will do. No flesh-drinking, no blood-eating (pretend or otherwise) will suffice. Who will you choose to believe and obey? יהוה 'Elohiym or some elitist, put himself on a pedestal man? Good luck with that!
It seems simple enough, so why all the muss and fuss? Why so many divergent ways of 'offered worship' and so many differing observances of His days? In a word– disobedience. We so often choose our own way because, well, it is our own way. It can seem so feely-good to us to believe we serve יהוה by driving an hour, or even three or four hours, to 'forsake not the gathering together.' But is this what יהוה truly wants? Or is obedience a much better way to serve Him? How much Towrah can we truly learn, weaving in-and-out of the hordes of people rushing to 'do their thing' on the roadways?
So many excuses because there is so little real desire to be in tune with the Creator. Pretty much everybody "wants to live forever...walk on golden streets" and be a "king and priest," in order to rule over others (you're not the boss of me, but you wait...I'm gonna be a king and boss you one day). But what of יהוה? If we are not to be trusted to refrain from cooking, cleaning, discussing the wedding plans of our children, the weather, phoning the internet-chat-room-priest-prophet-wannabe, filling the gas tank, checking the mail, riding ATV's, learning the Towrah from NASCAR or those 'aspecial' life's lessons of team work from basketball or football, calling the bookie, removing tomorrow's gottahavethatbeef from the freezer, vacuuming the potato chips off of the floor of the den, transferring the laundry from the washer to the dryer, painting over the crayon marks, giving the visitors the house-hold tour, sorting the now dry laundry, calling our daughter long-distance (what her have no phone on thursday?) and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on...oh my! Oh My! What can יהוה trust us for? To rule a city? To rule a province To rule the earth? To build the universe up? To replace His only son Yisra'el? Not hardly!
Can one's thoughts ultimately be on יהוה and His Towrah while involved in the lengthy procedure of setting up a fire? Vacuuming up those spilled potato chips (again?) week after week, rather than, oh, I don't know– refrain from letting the little one haul the whole bag around making a mess each and every week? It isn't the little ones's fault, he or she doesn't know any better. It's your fault! If we can not figure out that possibly, just possibly, we could skip the chips one day a week (EEEEEEEEEEK!) or just give the little tyke one! at a time, can we be able to rule a universe? Not hardly!
Too difficult to remember not to plan out the weekly garden planting on Shabbath, but look out gamma-psi epsilon4867 quadrant...here we come? Not hardly! Too impossible to plan a light and quick meal and (יהוה forbid!) forgo our huge and involved "where is that durned side-of-beef?" 66.375 course so-very-special-can't-do-with-out-it (but not mandated by יהוה) sabbath dinner and brudder-hood get together? Rule alongside יהוה? Sit on His throne ove Bayith Yisra'el? Enter into the Qodesh Qodeshiym place? Not hardly!
Our Melek (king) יהוה desires a contrite heart and the spirit of willingness to listen to His voice speaking to us, now, through His Towrah. He wants a full-of-richness of high moral character relationship and a closeness of trust with each of us. He desires so much to tell us about the potential He sees in us, which we so often can not see in ourselves. How can we hear that loving whisper if we inundate our lives with noise and the constant go, go, go, of our selfishness? How can we be in tune to the needs and sorrows of others? I know a man who plies his children with all the latest toys and electronic gadgets yet can not get them to play with him for long because of his insulting mouth and his need to dominate and win, win, win at all cost. He will not stop till he has overwhelmed and methodically trounced everyone. Whether it is the Shabbath or any other day of the week, how can we even show Him we desire greatness of high moral character if we can not even take one 'day off' to give our full attention to Him?
Sadly, even the 'pretenders' to the throne of Yisra'el can not seem to comprehend the full meaning of His will in this. So often the act of 'not punching a time clock' seems to suffice in their eyes as long as they wear those strings. A 'Duh' I dint earn no money attitude of self-rightness seems to pervade the 'grafted-in' community. Sigh.
Rule a throne over Bayith Ya'aqob? Rule a throne over the House of Yisra'el? Not Hardly!
Howshea' [hosea] 14:
2. O Yisra'el, return to יהוה your 'Elohiy; for you have fallen by your iniquity.
3. Take words with you, and return to יהוה: say to Him: Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is right: we will deliver the offering of our lips as for bulls.
4. 'Ashshuwr will not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands: you are our gods; for in You the fatherless finds mercy.
5. I will heal their waywardness; I will love them without restraint; for My anger is turned away from him.
First obedience, then repentance when we mess it all up and then obedience again, as we deliver our words to יהוה seeking forgiveness "...for in [Him] the fatherless finds mercy."
יהוה is the ultimate source of mercy and blessings, yet He truly wants us to be worthy of them. Worthy, not only in the sense– "oh, goody, lookit what I want!" But in the ability to handle the responsibility of all He desires for us rather than relying on someone else to "pay for our transgressions." Yechezqe'l [Ezekiel] 18:4 tells us that יהוה claims all nephesh (נפשׁ our soul) as belonging to Him– the father's and the son's. יהוה clearly states in Yechezqe'l [Ezekiel] 18:19:
Yechezqe'l [Ezekiel] 18:19:
Yet say you: Why? Does he not bear, the son, the iniquity of the father? When the son does justice and rightness, and has kept all My enacted scheduled times, to hedge about, as with thorns, and guard and protect them so to do them, he will surely live.
No mention of a human-sacrifice– only obedience to His way!
Yechezqe'l [Ezekiel] 18:20:
The nephesh that goes astray and misses the mark, that self will be put to death and die. A son shall not lift or bear up the perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of the father. And a father shall not lift or bear up the perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of the son. The justice, virtue and rightness of the principled will be upon him, and the wicked guilt of the one that leaves the correct path will be on him.
Fairness and honor over respecter-ship of person. Keeping our word and building up whenever we can rather than tearing someone down. Make a deal that causes someone to go to great lengths and expense? Refuse to break that deal you made, in favor of some other deal with a friend or family member you like better, thereby refusing to cause hurt– financial or otherwise. Let us show compassion rather than having to be the 'crack-on' god. Remember our own infirmities as we make fun of others' (have you looked at yourself in a mirror lately– huh goofy?). Tell the truth when it helps, or protects or lifts-up and let us endeavor to keep silent when damage could be the end result...
Read the Towrah.
Keep Shabbath for it is Qadash before יהוה.
Hear intelligently with attention and interest, comprehend and obey, O Yisra'el, יהוה our 'Elohiym is יהוה alone!
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