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INSIGHTS FROM THE WORD

Foods at the Passover Seder

INSIGHTS FROM THE WORD

A Covenant To Be G-d’s Priests

In Exodus 19:5-6, G-d told the Israelites who were gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive the Davarim (Ten Commandments), “Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples…and you will be a kingdom of cohanim (priests) for me, a nation set apart.”

            Even before G-d’s words to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, scripture shows that G-d desired each man to lead (and be a priest for) his family. The man’s purpose was to see that his family obeyed G-d’s commands. At the time of the first Passover, G-d commanded Moses [in Exodus 12:1-28] that on the tenth day of the first month (Nisan), each man is to take a lamb or kid for his family. The man was to determine that his lamb was without blemish. Then, he was to slaughter the lamb on the 14^th of Nisan and put its blood on the doorposts of their house to protect the firstborn son from death.

After the Israelites' firstborn sons were saved from death at the first Passover, G-d said in

Exodus 13:1,  “Set aside for me all the firstborn. Whatever is first from the womb among the

peoples of Israel, both of humans and of animals, belong to me.” In Numbers 8:5-19, the Levites

were taken from among the Israelites. They were presented before G-d and the people were to lay

their hands on them. The Levites now belonged to G-d in the place of the firstborn sons. They were

to serve G-d’s priests - Aaron and his sons – in the tabernacle.

[Exodus 28:1-43] When Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the stone tablets with the Davarim written on them, G-d also gave Moses instructions for making the priestly garments that Aaron would wear in his office as High Priest. Exodus 29:1-45 lists directions that G-d gave Moses on how to anoint Aaron and his sons as priests. G-d said in Exodus 29:9, “The office of cohen (priest) is to be theirs by a permanent regulation.”

 [Exodus 32:1-29] The people in the camp came to believe that Moses would not return, so they asked Aaron to give them gods (idols). Aaron took the people’s gold jewelry and made a golden calf from it. When Moses descended from the mountain carrying the Davarim, he saw the people dancing before the golden calf. Moses threw down the tablets and they shattered at the base of the mountain. He ground the golden calf to powder, scattered the gold on water, and made the people drink it. Then, Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and shouted, “Whoever is for the L-rd, come to me!” All of the men in the tribe of Levi rallied around him. That day 3,000 people died before G-d stopped the Levites.

G-d showed that he had chosen Aaron and Aaron’s descendants to be His priests when He

gave Moses instructions in Exodus 28 and 29 on how to make the priestly garments and how

to anoint Aaron and Aaron’s sons for His service; however they were not anointed as priests

until after the incident with the golden calf.

[Leviticus 8:1-36] All of the Israelites assembled at the entrance of the tabernacle. There, Aaron and his sons were washed with water. The special garments for the High Priest were put on Aaron. Moses took anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it. He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head to consecrate him as priest. Animal sacrifices were made on the altar of burnt offering in the tabernacle courtyard. Moses then took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar. He sprinkled it on Aaron and his clothing, and on Aaron’s sons and their clothing. Aaron and his sons were commanded to remain (day and night) at the entrance to the tabernacle for 7 days until the consecration was completed; thus they would not die.

Aaron’s 4 sons were Nadav, Avihu, El’azar, and Itamar. In Leviticus 10:1-7, soon after they were anointed as priests, Nadav and Avihu each took a censer, put fire and incense in it and offered unauthorized fire before G-d. Because of their disobedience, fire came forth from the presence of Adonai and consumed Nadav and Avihu. Their close relatives (Aaron, and his 2 remaining sons - El’azar and Itamar) were commanded not to mourn for them.

Leviticus 1:1 - 7:38 describes in detail how the priests were to make guilt offerings, sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings for the people’s sins before the L-rd. There were also regular, daily animal offerings made. Special offerings were to be made on the Sabbaths, at new moons, and on feast days. Perhaps the most important offerings were made on Yom Kippur when the High Priest made atonement for the people’s sins committed during the previous year.

[Numbers 20:23-29; 33:38-39] G-d said that Aaron could not enter the Promised Land because he had disobeyed G-d. Moses was commanded to take Aaron and Aaron’s son El’azar, and to go up Mount Hor. Moses was to remove the priestly garments from Aaron and put them on El’azar. Aaron died there on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites had left the land of Egypt. Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor. Then Moses and El’azar came down from the mountain. The Israelites mourned Aaron for 30 days.

[Numbers 25:6-9] The Israelites began to make sacrifices to false gods and G-d’s anger blazed up against them. Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you is to put to death those in his tribe who worship Ba’al. Then, an Israelite brought a Midianite woman to be his wife. Pinchas (the son of El’azar) took a spear and thrust it into both the man and the woman. Pinchas’s action ended the L-rd’s punishment, but 24,000 people had died. Adonai said, [in Numbers 25:12-13], “I am giving him (Pinchas) my covenant of shalom (peace), making a covenant with his and his descendants after him that the office of cohen will be theirs forever. This is because he was zealous on behalf of his G-d and made atonement for the people of Israel.”

Some of the priests who came after Pinchas feared G-d and sought to please Him. Others did not. Often, what influenced the attitudes and behaviors of the priests was the character of the High Priest they served.

In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter spoke to the Messianic believers, saying, “But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim (priests), a holy nation, a people for G-d to possess.” This statement shows that the office of priest has returned to those who held it in Genesis and the beginning of Exodus. Each man is to be a priest before G-d. It is his responsibility to see that he and his family follow G-d’s will for their lives.

Yeshua is our High Priest. If we keep our eyes on Him, then we will be priests who are pleasing to G-d. Hebrews 8:1 says, “We do have just such a cohen gadol (High Priest) as has been described. And he does sit at the right hand of haG’dulah (the Greatness) in heaven. There, He serves in the Holy Place, that is, in the true Tent of Meeting, the one erected not by human beings but by Adonai.”

[Revelation 1:6] Believers are able to be G-d’s priests because Yeshua shed His blood on the execution stake. Believers are not only priests, but are the temple of G-d’s Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 2:5 tells believers, “You yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim (priests) set apart for G-d to offer spiritual sacrifice acceptable to him through Yeshua the Messiah.”

Copyright October 2001                              TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL “Insights From the Word”

INSIGHTS FROM THE WORD

The Importance of Praising G-d

The American holiday of Thanksgiving started as a harvest festival based on the Biblical feast of Sukkot. Consequently, during Thanksgiving, people often focus on their abundance of food. There is a danger that the focus of the holiday becomes the things we are thankful for instead of the G-d who gives us all good things. Some families make it a point at Thanksgiving to thank G-d for the many ways He has blessed them in the past year. This is a good tradition, but we should not stop there.

Thanks are usually given for something a person does for us or for others. A dictionary definition of the word “thank” is “saying that one is pleased and grateful for something given or done”. Believers should also praise G-d. Praise goes beyond actions and acknowledges the being or character of the one being praised. Dictionary definitions for “praise” are: 1) saying that a thing or person is good; 2) words that tell the worth or value of a thing of person; 3) worship in words or song.

It is important that each believer praise G-d for who He is. G-d is the Creator of the earth and of every person who has ever lived on it. G-d gives us life and sustains us each day. We would not exist or be the people we are without G-d.

Yeshua teaches us to praise G-d!

In Matthew 6:9-13, the L-rd’s Prayer that Yeshua gave to His disciples starts with words of praise toward G-d, saying, “Our Father I heaven! May your Name be kept holy.” This is followed with examples of how to properly ask G-d to meet personal needs, but the end of the L-rd’s Prayer returns to focus on praising G-d with the words “For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.”

Praising G-d is not just for the good times!

In Acts 16:12-40, Sha’ul (Paul) and Silas were preaching the Good News about Yeshua near Philippi when they commanded evil spirits to come out of a slave girl. The girls owners became angry and dragged Sha’ul and Silas into court. Then, they were flogged and put in prison. Sha’ul and Silas had been through bad times and could anticipate more bad times, but they did not let their circumstances influence them. They praised G-d with no strings attached. They didn’t demand that G-d deliver them from prison. G-d intervened to change their circumstances. Around midnight, Sha’ul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to G-d while the other prisoners listened attentively. Suddenly, there was a violent earthquake which shook the prison. All of the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer came to see what had happened, Sha’ul and Silas witnessed about Yeshua.

The Bible teaches when, where, and how to praise.

            In the King James Bible, the word “praise” is used 153 times in the book of Psalms alone. Mention is made of the many people who have praised or should praise G-d. Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise Adonai (the L-rd).” G-d can be praised in different ways and with many instruments. Each of the 7 Hebrew words translated “praise” in the King James Bible describe a different way to praise G-d. How each believer praises G-d at a given time will be influenced by his personality and by the circumstance he finds himself in. Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other. Sing to the L-rd and make music in your heart to him. Always give thanks for everything to G-d the Father in the name of our L-rd Yeshua the Messiah.” Even more important than how we praise G-d is when we praise G-d. We should praise G-d at all times and in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks for this is what G-d wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.”

Praising G-d is a believers responsibility!

            As believers, we should thank G-d for all He does for us, but we should do more than that. It is our responsibility as children of G-d to praise G-d for who He is. Positive purposes are achieved when a believer praises G-d.  Our words of praise are a testimony to others of the greatness of G-d. Unbelievers may seek a salvation relationship with G-d because of what we say. Also, the person praising G-d is encouraged by his own words. The greater our G-d is in our own eyes, the less we will be discouraged when trials come against us. Our words of praise show our belief and desire that G-d’s Spirit overcome the evil in the world.

Temple Shalom Yisrael “Insights From the Word”         Copyright November 2003

INSIGHTS FROM THE WORD

The Importance of Praising G-d

The American holiday of Thanksgiving started as a harvest festival based on the Biblical feast of Sukkot. Consequently, during Thanksgiving, people often focus on their abundance of food. There is a danger that the focus of the holiday becomes the things we are thankful for instead of the G-d who gives us all good things. Some families make it a point at Thanksgiving to thank G-d for the many ways He has blessed them in the past year. This is a good tradition, but we should not stop there.

Thanks are usually given for something a person does for us or for others. A dictionary definition of the word “thank” is “saying that one is pleased and grateful for something given or done”. Believers should also praise G-d. Praise goes beyond actions and acknowledges the being or character of the one being praised. Dictionary definitions for “praise” are: 1) saying that a thing or person is good; 2) words that tell the worth or value of a thing of person; 3) worship in words or song.

It is important that each believer praise G-d for who He is. G-d is the Creator of the earth and of every person who has ever lived on it. G-d gives us life and sustains us each day. We would not exist or be the people we are without G-d.

Yeshua teaches us to praise G-d!

In Matthew 6:9-13, the L-rd’s Prayer that Yeshua gave to His disciples starts with words of praise toward G-d, saying, “Our Father I heaven! May your Name be kept holy.” This is followed with examples of how to properly ask G-d to meet personal needs, but the end of the L-rd’s Prayer returns to focus on praising G-d with the words “For kingship, power and glory are yours forever.”

Praising G-d is not just for the good times!

In Acts 16:12-40, Sha’ul (Paul) and Silas were preaching the Good News about Yeshua near Philippi when they commanded evil spirits to come out of a slave girl. The girls owners became angry and dragged Sha’ul and Silas into court. Then, they were flogged and put in prison. Sha’ul and Silas had been through bad times and could anticipate more bad times, but they did not let their circumstances influence them. They praised G-d with no strings attached. They didn’t demand that G-d deliver them from prison. G-d intervened to change their circumstances. Around midnight, Sha’ul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to G-d while the other prisoners listened attentively. Suddenly, there was a violent earthquake which shook the prison. All of the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer came to see what had happened, Sha’ul and Silas witnessed about Yeshua.

The Bible teaches when, where, and how to praise.

            In the King James Bible, the word “praise” is used 153 times in the book of Psalms alone. Mention is made of the many people who have praised or should praise G-d. Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise Adonai (the L-rd).” G-d can be praised in different ways and with many instruments. Each of the 7 Hebrew words translated “praise” in the King James Bible describe a different way to praise G-d. How each believer praises G-d at a given time will be influenced by his personality and by the circumstance he finds himself in. Ephesians 5:19-20 says, “Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other. Sing to the L-rd and make music in your heart to him. Always give thanks for everything to G-d the Father in the name of our L-rd Yeshua the Messiah.” Even more important than how we praise G-d is when we praise G-d. We should praise G-d at all times and in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks for this is what G-d wants from you who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.”

Praising G-d is a believers responsibility!

            As believers, we should thank G-d for all He does for us, but we should do more than that. It is our responsibility as children of G-d to praise G-d for who He is. Positive purposes are achieved when a believer praises G-d.  Our words of praise are a testimony to others of the greatness of G-d. Unbelievers may seek a salvation relationship with G-d because of what we say. Also, the person praising G-d is encouraged by his own words. The greater our G-d is in our own eyes, the less we will be discouraged when trials come against us. Our words of praise show our belief and desire that G-d’s Spirit overcome the evil in the world.

Temple Shalom Yisrael “Insights From the Word”         Copyright November 2003

G-d commanded His people in Leviticus 23:24-25

“In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete

rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar

(ram’s horn trumpet). Do not do any kind of ordinary work, and bring an offering

made by fire to Adonai (the L-rd).”

            This yearly feast is called “Rosh HaShanah” (“Head of the Year”) or “Yom Teruah” (“Feast of Trumpets”). It is observed on the first day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Numbers 29:1 tells that ram’s horn shofars were blown to gather the people together to worship. When the shofars were blown all regular work was stopped. Numbers 29:2-5 tells of special animal sacrifices that were offered to G-d by the priests in tabernacle worship. Rosh HaShanah and the following days until Yom Kippur were to be a time for repentance of sins and for restoration with G-d.

            One of the traditions observed on the afternoon of Rosh HaShanah is the “tashlich”. [The Hebrew word “tashlich” means “thou shalt cast into the seas.”] For the tashlich ceremony, people gather at a body of “mayim hayim” (“living” or flowing water) such as an ocean, a lake, or a stream. They cast breadcrumbs (or sometimes pebbles) into the water. This tradition comes from Micah 7:19 which says, “…You (G-d) will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Casting the breadcrumbs into the water symbolizes repentance and a desire for G-d to forgive the person’s sins. The “tashlich” ceremony is a yearly part of Rosh HaShanah celebration, but as believers we know that G-d removes sins permanently when a person repents of his sins and accepts Yeshua as his Savior. As we watch the bread crumbs float farther and farther away in the water, we are reminded of Psalm 103:12 which says, “He (G-d) has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west”

            The Rosh HaShanah custom of “tashlich” reminds us of the story of Yeshua’s immersion in water in Matthew 3:1-17. John the Baptist’s call for the people to repent of their sins and be immersed in the “mayim hayim” of the Jordan River likely happened about the time of Rosh HaShanah. The many people who answered John’s call to be immersed were desiring for their sins to be cast away just as the bread in the “tashlich” ceremony is swept away by the water. Yeshua was without sin and did not need to repent, but by his actions He showed that it is necessary to follow G-d’s commands as given in His Word or by His prophets. When a believer follows Yeshua’s example and is immersed in water, he is “buried” in the water;  he then arises to show that his sins were symbolically washed away and he is a new creature in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

            On the eve of Passover, the father of the family hunts for “leaven” crumbs, takes them outside, and burns them in a fire. Both casting crumbs in the water during the “tashlich” ceremony and burning the “leaven” at Passover symbolize a desire to be free from sin. In Matthew 3:11 John said, “…He (Yeshua) will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and in fire.” When a person accepts salvation through Yeshua, the leaven (sin) in his life is “judged” and “burned up” by G-d. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Get rid of the old hametz (leaven) so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach (Passover) lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed.”

Temple Shalom Yisrael       Insights From the Word”           Copyright September 1998

Yeshua Our Righteousness, Our Priest, & Our Sacrifice

Adonai said to Moshe, “The tenth day of this seven month is Yom Kippur; you are to have a holy

convocation, you are to deny yourselves, and you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai.

You are not to do any kind of work on that day because it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you

before Adonai your G-d. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day is to be cut off from his people;

and anyone who does any kind of work on that day, I will destroy from among his people. You are not to

do any kind of work; it is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live.” 

                                                    Leviticus 23:26-31 (Complete Jewish Bible)

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is the most solemn of the Jewish feasts. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10^th day of Tishri (the seventh month of the Jewish calendar). From the first day of Elul (the sixth month) to Yom Kippur, Jewish people search their hearts and repent for sins they have committed during the last year. The Days of Awe (the 10 days from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur) especially are a time of fasting and fear when people hope that G-d will forgive their sins.

Genesis 3:8 tells us that G-d walked in the Garden and fellowshipped with Adam and Eve. When they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, this relationship was broken. G-d desired to restore his relationship with man. He chose the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be His people. In Leviticus 20:26, G-d told Moses, “You people are to be holy for me; because I, Adonai, am holy; and I have set you apart from other peoples so that you can belong to me.” G-d gave Moses the Davarim (10 Commandments) and other laws in the Torah (5 books of Moses). These laws give G-d’s people a standard of how to please G-d. Even with the Law to guide them, G-d’s people failed at times to obey G-d and to be righteous before Him. Under the Old Covenant, grace (unearned favor) was necessary to allow people to be close to G-d. With His New Covenant, G-d used grace to make it possible for man to be righteous. Romans 3:23-25 tells us, “All have sinned and come short of earning G-d’s praise. By G-d’s grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous before Him, through the act redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that was accomplished by the Messiah Yeshua. G-d put Yeshua forward as the kapparah (atonement) for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death.”

The commands on how to observe Yom Kippur in Leviticus 23:26-31 were part of the Law that G-d gave to Moses. Yom Kippur was the only day the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. The High Priest went into the Most Holy Place to offer blood sacrifices in atonement for the sins of the Jewish people. While the High Priest was making these sacrifices no one else could be in any part of the tabernacle.

On Yom Kippur the High Priest showed his desire for righteousness. Before he entered the Most Holy Place, the High Priest washed his whole body several times. He washed his hands and feet at other times during the day. This was a symbol of his desire to be righteous. Most days, the High Priest wore colorful robes; however when he offered the special Yom Kippur, he wore special clothes made of white linen which also symbolized his desire to be righteous. As the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place, the people waited outside the courtyard in fearful anticipation to see if G-d accepted the sacrifices. Today, many Jews fast for the 24-hour period from sundown on 9 Tishri to sundown on 10 Tishri to show their desire for G-d to forgive their sins committed during the past year. Messianic believers do not need to wait in fear at Yom Kippur. They know their sins were atoned for once-and-for-all by Yeshua’s death on the cross. Messianic believers know that they have been cleansed from sin. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we acknowledge our sins, then, since He is trustworthy and just, He will forgive them and purify us from all wrong doing.”

The Israelite priests, chosen by G-d from the tribe of Levi, were Aaron and his descendants. The priests’ job was to offer sacrifices and to intercede for the people before G-d. On Yom Kippur, the High Priest went into the Most Holy Place, which he could only enter on that one day. There, the High Priest offered the special sacrifices commanded as atonement for the sins of the priests and the people. Hebrews 4:14 tells us that Yeshua was chosen by G-d to be our High Priest. Yeshua was from the tribe of Judah instead of from the tribe of Levi, and is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Yeshua lives forever unlike the priests descended from Aaron, so we need no other priest but Yeshua. Hebrews 4:15 explains that Yeshua can sympathize with men’s weaknesses because he was tempted, as we are tempted, even though He did not sin. Because Yeshua is our High Priest, we can confidently approach the throne of G-d [Hebrews 4:16].

Leviticus 16:2-22 lists special animal sacrifices that were made at Yom Kippur to show a desire for atonement from sin. A blood sacrifice was necessary for forgiveness of sins. One offering the High Priest made was a young bullock as a sin offering for the priests. Blood from the bull was taken and sprinkled on the Mercy Seat and Veil in the Most Holy Place. Two 1-year-old goats were also brought to the tabernacle. Lots were cast and the goat “for the L-rd” was chosen. This “innocent “ goat was sacrificed. The High Priest went into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled the blood of the innocent goat on the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Covenant and on the Veil. The High Priest then took off his linen clothes and washed his body. He put on his colorful robes again. The sins of the people were put upon the other goat. This “goat for Azazel” was led into the wilderness away from the people.

[“Azazel” is the Hebrew word that is translated “scapegoat” in the KJV. The word “Azazel” actually is the

Hebrew word for wilderness, but is also used as a title for a demon. When scripture talks of the goat for

Azazel that takes away the sins of the people, it shows us that Yeshua takes our sins far away from us. The

“goat for Azazel” was not a sacrifice , but was a testimony of G-d’s forgiveness of the people’s sins.]

On Yom Kippur having a High Priest qualified to make offerings before G-d was not enough. An acceptable sacrifice must be made. As our High Priest, Yeshua needed to have a sacrifice to offer. He offered himself as a pure sacrifice without sin. Hebrews 9:11-14 tells us that Yeshua sprinkled His blood in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle in heaven. Aaron and his descendants needed to make their Yom Kippur sacrifices to atone for sin year after year. Yeshua only needed to make His sacrifice once to forever destroy haSatan’s power over death.

Scripture commands us to observe Yom Kippur year after year, but we do not have to observe it in fear. Zechariah 8:19 tells us that the fast days are to become times of joy, gladness, and cheer for the house of Judah. This happens when the L-rd makes a new covenant with His people and writes His Law on their hearts. [Jeremiah 31:31-34]

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL     “Insights From the Word”    Copyright October 1999

Coming Out of the Fire . . .

[Daniel 3:1-4:3] N’vukhadnetzar, the king of Babylon, commanded all of his officials to fall down and worship a 90 feet high and 9 feet wide gold statue he had made when they heard the sound of the horn and other instruments. The king commanded that whoever did not bow down to the gold statue would immediately be thrown into a blazing hot furnace. Hananyah, Misha’el and Azaryah - 3 officials who had been brought from Israel as boys to serve the king - refused to bow down to the gold statue. [King N’vukhadnetzar had renamed these men Shadrakh, Meishakh and Aved-N’go.] The king asked Shadrakh, Meishakh and Aved-N’go, “Is it true that you neither serve my gods nor worship the gold statue I set up?”  They answered, “If our G-d, whom we serve, is able to save us, He will save us from the blazing hot furnace and from your power. But even if He doesn’t, we want you to know that we will neither serve your gods nor worship the gold statue which you have set up.” The 3 men were bound and thrown into the fire. When King N’vukhadnetzar looked into the furnace, he said, “Look! I see 4 men, not tied up, walking around there in the flames, unhurt; and the fourth looks like one of the gods!” When Shadrakh, Meishakh, and Aved-N’go emerged from the furnace, they didn’t even smell of smoke.

Yom HaShoah (Day of Remembrance) on the 27^th of Nisan is a yearly remembrance of the many Jewish people who were killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust during the years of 1939-1945. The Nazis themselves kept detailed records to show that 6 million Jews died during this time. The persecution and death of the Jews was organized. Jewish people in the territories controlled by Hitler’s armies were forced to leave their homes and were herded into “ghettos” established in each city. There they were subjected to crowded conditions, hunger (sometimes starvation), and hard work. The people who survived this treatment were shipped to work or death camps. Many people were killed as soon as they arrived at the camps because they were no longer healthy enough to do the hard work expected of them. Those who survived to enter the camps were often worked to death or executed at a guard’s whim. The only crime that led to this punishment was to be born Jewish.

In Luke 3:16-17, Yochanan (John the Baptist) said, “…He (Yeshua) will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire. He has with Him his winnowing fork to clear out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but He will burn up the straw with unquenchable fire!” In this verse, the fire represents spiritual judgment. Yochanan was referring to the time when G-d will judge each person on if he has received G-d’s Son Yeshua as his personal Savior. Fire is also used to show that each person will be judged on the work he has done for G-d. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 says, “Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. But each one’s work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire – the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.”

In the story about Shadrakh, Meishakh, and Aved-N’go, the blazing furnace they were threatened with represented a physical danger. However, if they had accepted the king’s offer to bow down to the golden statue to avoid this sentence of death, they would have faced a spiritual “fire” when they worshipped the idol instead of only worshipping the 1-true G-d. Victims during the Nazi Holocaust also faced both a physical fire & a spiritual fire.  Unlike Shadrakh, Meishakh, and Aved-N’go, the Nazi’s Jewish victims did not have a choice on whether to enter the physical fire – the ghettos or the death camps. They were judged on their racial heritage and not on their walk with G-d. Jewish believers were put in the camps with those who had not yet accepted Yeshua as Savior. What each Jewish victim had a choice about was whether he stayed close to G-d or not. We hear stories of how Jewish people in the work camps or death camps did not surrender their right and responsibility to worship G-d. In some cases Torah scrolls or Bibles were smuggled into the camps so that

G-d’s people could study His word. Some people managed to find the supplies to celebrate Passover under the German’s noses. Others were bold enough to say Kaddish for loved ones or friends who had died. The Kaddish not only is a memorial to the dead, but a prayer that glorifies G-d. In many cases, we will never know what they chose, but enough stories remain to give us hope that we will see many of our Jewish brothers and sisters – the victims of Hitler’s hate against a whole people – in heaven.

. . . And Into the Fire Again

            Six million Jewish people died in Nazi work camps and death camps as victims of Hitler’s hate for the Jewish people, but a remnant survived. Their homes and property were gone so many chose to start a new life in the Promised Land. After all, this was the only place where they were welcome – or were they? Most times, when Jewish refugees arrived in Israel, the boats were stopped by British forces and the Jewish refugees were sent to detention camps in Cyprus. They were treated better in the detention camps than in the Nazi camps, but they were not free to leave. The British only allowed a few Jewish people to enter the Promised Land each year. Then, even before the British troops left Israel in 1948, Arab countries attacked Jewish settlements to gain more territory than the United Nations had granted the Arabs. When Israel declared itself a nation on the 5^th of Iyyar, all Jewish people were free to immigrate to Israel. They left the detention camps in Cyprus and sailed to Israel. When they arrived in Israel – instead of safety – they found they were in danger of being shot or bombed by Arab planes. As soon as the refugees got off the boat, all able-bodied men were sent to the front to fight in Israel’s War for Independence. Many of these men did not even speak enough Hebrew to understand their officers’ commands.

With G-d’s help, Israel defended its right for survival in the War for Independence and in many wars since then. Praise G-d, Jewish people now have a homeland and a chance to live their life for G-d!

Pray that G-d continues to defend Israel against her enemies.

Pray that all Israelis (and all Jewish people) will find the only thing that will defeat the hopeless many of them live under – salvation and an alive relationship with a Living G-d.

Temple Shalom Yisrael          “Insights From the Word         Copyright May 2003

G-d’s Promises Are True

            Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) takes place on the 5^th day of Iyar. This annual holiday celebrates Israel’s declaration of statehood made on May 14^th, 1948. The Israelites’ claim to the land of Israel dates from approximately 2, 000 B.C. when G-d promised the land that is now the country of Israel to Abram (later called Abraham) and his descendants.

            G-d spoke to Abram, a man who lived in the city of Haran. [In Genesis 12:1-3] G-d told Abram, “Get yourself out of your country, away from your kinsmen, and away from your father’s house and go to the land I will show you.’” G-d promised Abram, “(If you obey me) I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and I will make your name great; and you are to be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you…and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”

            In obedience to G-d’s command, “Abram took his wife Sarai, his brother’s son Lot, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, as well as the people they had acquired in Haran; then they set out for the land of Canaan and entered the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land to the place called Shechem. The Canaanites were then in the land. Adonai appeared to Abram and said, `To your descendants I will give this land.” [Genesis 12:5-7]

            Abram’s and Lot’s possessions became too great for them to live together so they divided their possessions, each going in a different direction. After Lot had moved away from Abram, G-d said to Abram [in Genesis 13:14-15] “Look all around you from where you are, to the north, the south, the east, and the west. All the land you see, I will give to you and your descendants forever.”

            Later [in Genesis 22:17-18] G-d repeated His promise to Abram (now Abraham) saying, “I will most certainly bless you; and I will most certainly increase your descendants to as many as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand on the seashore…and by your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed – because you obeyed my order.”

            [In Genesis 26:3-4] G-d made the same promise to Abraham’s son Isaac, saying, “Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you because I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants. I will fulfill the oath which I swore to Abraham your father – I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, I will give all these lands to your descendants, and by your descendants all the nations of the earth will bless themselves.” G-d made it clear that Isaac had not earned this blessing. [In Genesis 26:5] G-d said, “All this is because Abraham heeded what I said and did what I told him to do – he followed my mitzvoth, my regulations and my teachings.”

            Isaac and his wife Rebecca had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. When they were born, G-d told Rebecca, “The older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob.” Through deceit, Jacob received the blessing that Isaac, their father, intended to give to Esau. To protect Jacob from Esau’s anger, Isaac and Rebecca sent Jacob to his Uncle Laban’s house in Haran. [In Genesis 28:4] Before Jacob left, Isaac knowingly blessed him saying, “And may He (the L-rd) give you the blessing which He gave Abraham, you and your descendants with you, so that you will possess the land you will travel through, the land G-d gave to Abraham.”

            G-d Himself blessed Jacob twice. The first time was [in Genesis 28:13-15] when Jacob was sleeping at Bethel on his journey to his Uncle Laban’s house. Jacob dreamed that he saw a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven and the angels of Adonai going up and down on it. “Then suddenly Adonai was standing there next to him; and He said, `I am Adonai, the G-d of Abraham your grandfather and the G-d of Isaac. The land on which you are lying, I will give to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth…I will never leave you until I have done what I have promised you’” The second time G-d gave Jacob this blessing was after Jacob had returned to the land of his father. G-d commanded Jacob and his family to return to Bethel (the place G-d first spoke to Jacob). They purified themselves for G-d and Jacob built an altar to G-d at Bethel. There, G-d told Jacob [in Genesis 35:12-13] “I am El Shadai. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation, indeed a group of nations, will come from you; kings will be descended from you. Moreover, the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you.”

            Throughout Biblical history, Abraham’s descendants were exiled from the land. Each time, G-d returned a faithful remnant of Jews to the land of Israel. G-d promises [in Jeremiah 31:31-36] that, only if the sun, the moon, and the stars cease to follow the laws that govern them, will the offspring of Israel stop being a nation in His presence forever. G-d also says that, only if the sky above can be measured and the foundations of the earth be fathomed, will He reject all the offspring of Israel. G-d promises to make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah by putting His Torah within them and writing it on their hearts.

            TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL “Insights From the Word”                   Copyright  May 2001

Wrong Month, Right Heart

“You are to observe the festival of matzah, for on this very day I brought your divisions

out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you are to observe this day from generation to generation

by a perpetual regulation.”   Exodus 12:17

[2 Chronicles 29:1-36] The people of Judah had turned away from worshipping ADONAI and ADONAI’s

Temple had fallen into disrepair. In the first month of the first year of his reign, King Hizkiyahu (Hezekiah)

reopened the doors of ADONAI’s temple in Jerusalem and repaired them. Hizkiyahu told the cohanim

(priests) and the L’vi’im (Levites), “Consecrate yourselves. Consecrate the House of ADONAI the G-d

of your ancestors and remove the filth from the Holy Place.” After the Temple was cleaned and

consecrated, the people again offered animal sacrifices to G-d on the altar and sang praises to G-d.

[2 Chronicles 30:1-27] For years, few people had continued to obey G-d’s commands in Torah to observe Pesach (Passover) and the Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread). King Hizkiyahu (Hezekiah) issued a decree that all people throughout Judah and Israel should come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pesach to ADONAI the G-d of Israel. Hizkiyahu’s message to the people said, “Yield yourselves to ADONAI. Enter His sanctuary which He has made holy forever and serve ADONAI your G-d so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.” King Hizkiyahu and his officials decided that they would celebrate Pesach in the second month this year. They could not observe Pesach in the first month as Torah commanded because enough cohanim had not yet consecrated themselves. Celebrating Pesach in the second month also gave all of the people time to come to Jerusalem.

      People came to Jerusalem from all over Judah to celebrate Pesach and the feast of Matzot in the second month of the year. Many people in northern country of Israel laughed at the messengers and made fun of them, but some people were humble enough to come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. They slaughtered the Pesach lamb on the 14^th day of the second month. The L’vi’im were responsible for slaughtering the Pesach lambs and consecrating them to ADONAI on behalf of everyone who had not yet consecrated themselves. [In 2 Chronicles 30:18-19] Hizkiyahu prayed for the people “May ADONAI who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking ADONAI, the G-d of his ancestors, even if he hasn’t undergone the purification prescribed in connection with holy things.” [2 Chronicles 30:20 says] ADONAI heard Hizkiyahu and healed the people.

            The people celebrated the festival of Matzot for 7 days with great joy. Every day, the L’vi’im and the cohanim sang praised ADONAI with singing and musical instruments. Each day they ate and made many peace offerings to G-d. Then, the whole assembly decided to celebrate for another 7 days. There was great joy in Jerusalem. There had been nothing like this in Jerusalem since the time of Shlomo (Solomon).

            King Hizkiyah, the cohanim, the L’vi’im, and the people were not consecrated to ADONAI in the first month of the year. Rather than offend G-d because of this, they chose to celebrate Pesach in the second month instead.  G-d blessed them for worshipping Him with the correct attitude. The way in which Hizkiyahu and G-d’s people celebrated Pesach and the Feast of Matzot teaches us about what G-d expects from us. There is never an excuse for disobeying G-d’s Law, but the attitude and the way we obey the Law is most important. If we want to continue to receive G-d’s blessings, we must worship and serve G-d in the way He commands and with the correct attitude. John 4:24 says, “G-d is Spirit; and worshippers must worship Him spiritually and truly.”

Temple Shalom Yisrael       Copyright April 2004

Yeshua - A Savior For All Times

            The story in the book of Esther of how Mordecai was used by G-d to save his people gives some beautiful parallels to how Yeshua (Jesus) brought eternal salvation so all people.

            Mordecai followed the Torah (G-d’s Law) and refused to bow to Haman even though his action meant disobeying the king. Yeshua also told of the importance of  following the Torah when He said in Matthew 5:17-19 that He came to fulfill Torah not to abolish it.

            Haman resolved to kill Mordecai on the execution stake. [The Hebrew word that is translated “gallows” in the King James Version means “tree”. The Perians were the ones who invented crucifixion] Then after a 3 day fast, Mordecai’s life was restored to him and Haman was killed on the execution stake instead of Mordecai. Yeshua died on the execution stake and arose after being in the grave 3 days. We, as believers, can learn from Mark 8:34-38 which tells us to let our selfishness die and take up our cross to follow Messiah. The execution stake Yeshua died on has become a rallying point for Believers in Messiah as we celebrate Yeshua’s victory over death.

            After Haman’s death, Mordecai became ruler in Persia, second only to the king. Yeshua, G-d’s Son, is ruler in heaven over the whole world as He sits at the right hand of G-d the Father.

            Mordecai saved his people from death by writing a new law that allowed them to fight against their enemies. We are told in Romans 8:1-2 that those who are in Yeshua are set free from the law of sin and death. By being led by G-d’s Spirit and using His Word, Believers can have the victory over Satan.

            Esther 8:15-17 tells that after Mordecai was raised to be ruler under the king, many people from other nations became Jews and worshipped the one-true G-d because fear of G-d’s people seized them.. John 1:29 tells us that Yeshua is the  Lamb of G-d who takes away the sins of the  whole world (not just the sins of the Jewish people). Just as Mordecai was the hero or savior for his people in the time of Esther, Yeshua is the Savior of ALL PEOPLE for ALL TIMES.

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL      “Insights From the Word”                      Copyright March 1998

A Perfect & Heavenly King

            When we read the story of Purim in the book of Esther, some of King Ahasuerus’s privileges and powers remind us of our Heavenly King and the role he has in our lives.

King Ahasuerus became angry with Queen Vashti and sent messengers throughout the kingdom to bring beautiful women to the palace to replace her. Esther was one of these young women who were brought to the palace. When Esther was sent to the king, he was pleased with her and chose her to be his new queen.

King Ahasuerus removed Vashti as queen because of anger. Even when G-d becomes angry, He keeps the promises He has made to His people if they will obey Him. The only time that a person is removed from G-d’s presence is by that person’s choice. When G-d’s people repent of their sins and return to Him, G-d welcomes them back. G-d has made a covenant with His people and He will keep it. Jeremiah 31:34-35 says, “This is what Adonai says, who gives the sun as light for the day, who ordained the laws for the moon and stars to provide light for the night, who stirs up the sea until its waves roar…`If these laws leave my presence,’ says Adonai, `then the offspring of Israel will stop being a nation in my presence forever.’” Unless the world itself ceases to exist, G-d will keep His covenant with His people.

            The king made a man named Haman his most important official. The king ordered all of the people to bow to Haman. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman because of what is written in the Torah [in Exodus 20:3], which says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Mordecai knew Haman was not YHVH and he would not bow to anyone but YHVH.

            When Mordecai would not bow to him, Haman became mad. Haman had a wooden pole erected on which to execute Mordecai. Haman also went to the king and told him, “There is a particular people (the Jews) scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. There laws are different from those of every other people; moreover they don’t observe the king’s laws. It doesn’t befit the king to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, have a decree written for their destruction.” [Esther 3:8-9 CJB] The king gave his signet ring to Haman and said, ‘”Do with these people as seems good to you.” Haman ordered the king’s secretaries to write a decree and send it to the king’s officials in every province of his kingdom “to destroy, kill and exterminate all Jews”.

One reason that Haman was angry with Mordecai and the Jewish people was because they were different from any other people. Throughout history, G-d’s people, the Jews have stood out from the other people because they were different in the ways they worshipped G-d, their diet and their lack of idols. Today, it is a witness to unbelievers when followers of Yeshua stand out as different from the world in their modest dress, their G-dly actions, and the way they worship G-d.

G-d (our King) challenges us to dare to stand out among the people as the Jews of Esther’s and Mordecai’s time did.

            When Mordecai heard about Haman’s plan, he asked Esther to petition the king to save the Jews from Haman’s attempt to exterminate them. At first Esther was afraid to go to see the king so she sent a message to Mordecai asking that all of the Jews in the city fast for 3 days. On the third day, Esther put on her queen’s robes and went to see the king. Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet in her room. After they ate, she invited them to come back the next day for another banquet. After the second banquet, Esther begged the king to stop Haman from killing the Jews.

            The king did as Esther asked. Haman was executed on the wooden pole on which he had planned to kill Mordecai. The king permitted Esther and Mordecai to send messages all over his land telling the Jews to kill anyone who tried to murder them. The next day the Jews had a feast to celebrate their victory over the people who had tried to kill them. The king gave Haman’s estates to Esther, and Mordecai was made the king’s most important official in place of Haman.

Sometimes they must be patient, but G-d blesses and rewards those people who obey and serve Him. Mordecai overheard 2 of the king’s officers plot to murder the king. Mordecai told Esther and the king’s life was saved. All of this was written in the king’s daily journal. Then, the matter seemed to be forgotten until [in Esther 6:1-12], the king couldn’t sleep so he ordered the daily journal brought and read to him. The king asked what reward had been given to Mordecai for his service. The answer was “nothing.” The king told Haman to reward Mordecai by leading him through the city on the king’s horse, wearing the king’s robe. Haman was to call out, “This is what is done for a man whom the king wants to honor.” After Haman was executed and the Jews were save, Mordecai was rewarded when Esther put him in charge of Haman’s estates that the king had given her. Mordecai was also made the king’s chief official in place of Haman.

            In King Ahasuerus’s kingdom, the laws were irrevocable. Once a law was written, it could not be changed. Even when Haman had been executed, the law he had written encouraging people to murder the Jews could not be repealed. To save the Jews, a new law had to be written.

            G-d’s Torah (Law or Word) is also irrevocable and unchangeable. When man sins and breaks G-d’s Law, there must be punishment for that sin. The punishment for disobeying G-d’s Law is death. The only thing that changes is who receives the punishment for the sin. During the Old Covenant, each time G-d’s people realized that they had sinned, they took the proper animal sacrifice to be burned by the priest on the altar at the tabernacle. The animal’s blood atoned for the sin and men did not have to die. Then, G-d sent Yeshua to become the perfect, permanent blood-sacrifice for men’s sins when Yeshua died on the execution stake and arose on the third day. Yeshua’s News Covenant of forgiveness for sins did not change the Torah. Yeshua himself said in Matthew 5:17-18, “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.” Death is still the punishment for sin. To receive forgiveness and escape the death that is the penalty for our sins, we must acknowledge that Yeshua is G-d’s Son and that He died in our place. Then, we receive salvation and eternal life in heaven with Yeshua.

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL “Insights From the Word”  – Copyright March 2001

HANUKKAH

Believers Stand Firm To Worship G-d

 “What more should I say? There isn’t time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets; who, through trusting, conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, received what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weaknesses turned to strength, grew mighty in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead resurrected; other people were stretched on the rack and beaten to death, refusing to be ransomed, so that they would gain a better resurrection. Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned. They were stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword; they went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground! The world was not worthy of them!”        Hebrews 11:32-38

Hanukkah (The Feast of Dedication) is an 8-day celebration that starts on the 25^th of Kislev. Hanukkah celebrates the dedication of the new altar in the temple in Jerusalem by Judah Maccabee and his followers.

In 175 B.C.E. King Antiochus of Syria came to Jerusalem. He killed many people and destroyed many buildings in the city. The king tried to stop the Jewish people from worshipping the L-rd. He wanted them to worship pagan gods of the Greeks. King Antiochus sacrificed a pig on the altar in the temple, making the altar unclean. The king’s officers also were sent to every city and village. They tried to force people to sacrifice pigs on altars to false gods. The key elder in the town was offered a chance to become the “king’s friend” if he was willing to participate in a meal involving the eating of pork. Becoming a “king’s friend” was no small thing. The “king’s friend” was no longer under the obligation to pay taxes to the area government. The temptation to become a “king’s friend” and violate the Law of G-d was very real.

The scripture Hebrews 11:32-38 quoted above doesn’t just refer to Old Testament saints, but also refers to some of the martyrs during the time of the Maccabees. Some of the phrases used in this portion of Hebrews are direct quotes from the historical books of Maccabees written about Judah Maccabee’s and his followers’ fight against the Greeks. In Second Maccabees chapter 6 verses 18-31, there is a story of a 90-year-old Jewish man named Eleazar. Eleazar was one of the foremost teachers of the Law and he was willing to die rather than live disgraced. He was forcibly given the flesh of a pig to eat and he chose to spit it out rather than disobey the Law of G-d. Those in charge of the meal (because of their longstanding friendship with Eleazar) offered to secretly provide him with kosher meat to eat instead of the pig meat. He, however, refused to be party to this deception. Eleazar didn’t want others to follow his example and thereby fall into the sin. Because Eleazar refused to eat the flesh of the pig, he was beaten and then executed.

In Second Maccabees chapter 7, there is a story of a mother and her 7 sons, who were encouraged to eat the flesh of a pig by King Antiochus. Antiochus tortured them with whips and scourges to persuade them. One of the sons, acting as a spokesman said, “What are you trying to find out from us? We are prepared to die rather than break the Law of G-d.” The king in his rage had this brother mutilated and murdered in front of his brothers and mother. One by one each of the other 6 sons and their mother refused to eat the flesh of a pig and thus identify himself with the pagan Greeks. They, too, were murdered in a grisly fashion.

The story of Hanukkah is not just a story about the Maccabees dedication of the new altar in the temple after the pagans had defiled the previous altar. It is also the story of men and women willing to die for their G-d rather than compromise with the gods of this world. Many other people throughout history have had to make the same choice. Accounts of believers who have faced death and imprisonment rather than betray their G-d can be read in books such as The Foxes’ Book of Martyrs and Their Blood Cries Out (by Paul Marshall). Even in our “Christian nation” of America, believers sometimes have to choose to make a stand for G-d. Recently, there were accounts of a young man named John Reyes in Lynchburg, Virginia who was sentenced to 6 months in jail for standing on a public sidewalk and telling people abortion is wrong.

We, as believers, need to be willing to stand out and be different from the pagan world we live in. We are challenged to follow the teachings of our Messiah and to daily answer the question, “What would Yeshua do? ”

Take a stand for G-d rather than compromise with the world!

Temple Shalom Yisrael “INSIGHTS FROM THE WORD” Copyright December 1999

A Holy Altar, Atonement, & a New Life

            The historical book of 1 Maccabees 4:36-59, tells that, once the Syrian troops were driven from Jerusalem, Judas Maccabee and his followers went to the temple. There, they cleaned and restored the temple. The Syrians had profaned the altar for burnt sacrifices in the temple courtyard so the Maccabees pulled down the old altar and stored its stones in a special place. Next, they took unhewn stones (as Exodus 20:24-26 commanded) and built a new altar in place of the old one. On the 25^th of Kislev in the year 148 B.C.E, the people offered animal sacrifices and dedicated the new sacrifice altar. They made a law that commanded people to celebrate the dedication of the new temple altar each year for 8 days, starting on the 25^th of Kislev. Today, this holiday is known as Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication). The Hebrew word vfbj (Hanukkah) means “dedication, initiation, or consecration”.

Throughout much of Biblical history, altars and blood sacrifices played an important part in man’s attempt to be righteous before G-d. The first Bible account of a person offering an animal sacrifice to G-d is in Genesis 4:4 when Abel brought the firstborn of his sheep as an offering to G-d. G-d was pleased with Abel, so He accepted Abel and his offering. Genesis 8:20 tells that Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings from every clean animal and every clean bird on the altar soon after he left the ark. One of the ways Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshipped G-d was to build altars to G-d.

[Numbers 7:1-89] One year after the Israelites fled from Egypt, they first set up the tabernacle G-d had commanded Moshe to have built and placed its furnishings in their proper places. Moshe anointed the tabernacle and the furnishings with oil. Then, the leaders of the 12 tribes brought offerings for the dedication of the altar.

[2 Chronicles 7:1-5] G-d allowed King Solomon to build a temple in Jerusalem as a place where all Jews could come to worship G-d. When the work on the temple was completed, King Solomon and the people offered burnt offerings and animal sacrifices to dedicate the temple and its furnishings to G-d.

There are similarities between King Solomon’s dedication of the temple and Hanukkah - the Maccabees’ dedication of the new altar in the temple.

1.      All of Israel participated. – [2 Chronicles 5:2-3] King Solomon gathered the Israelite leaders and all of the people in Jerusalem to dedicate the temple and its altar. Judas Maccabee had the whole army clean the temple. When the work was done, all of Israel gathered to dedicate the altar.

2.      There was great rejoicing. - [2 Chronicles 5:11-14] When Solomon dedicated the temple, the priests & Levites gathered at the east side of the sacrifice altar. Levites played cymbals, lutes and lyres as they sang praises to G-d. 120 priests blew trumpets. When the Maccabees dedicated the new altar, they praised G-d with the music of zithers, harps, and cymbals.

3.      The altar was dedicated. – [2 Chronicles 7:5, 9] King Solomon dedicated the temple and the sacrifice altar to G-d. The Maccabees dedicated the new altar to G-d and offered a burnt sacrifice on it on the 25^th of Kislev.

4.      They offered animal sacrifices. – [2 Chronicles 7:5,7] King Solomon offered 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep as a sacrifice to G-d when he dedicated the temple. There were so many animal sacrifices that they were burned in the center of the courtyard because they would not fit on the sacrifice altar. The book of Maccabees tells that a burnt offering was made on the new altar after it was dedicated to G-d.

5.      The celebration took 8 days. –[2 Chronicles 7:8-10] King Solomon and the Israelites celebrated the dedication of the temple and its altar for 7 days; then on the 8^th day they held a solemn assembly. This dedication took place during the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishri. The Maccabees celebrated the dedication of the new sacrifice altar for 8 days.

6.      G-d’s Glory fell. - [2 Chronicles 5:13-14; 7:1-2] As King Solomon and the people praised G-d and offered animal sacrifices, the Glory of G-d filled the temple so that the priests could not stand to perform their services.  The book of Maccabees tells that when the altar was dedicated, people fell prostrate before G-d. They praised G-d for the victory He had given them.

A path stretches between the first animals offered as a blood sacrifice to G-d and Yeshua’s death on the execution stake. The animal sacrifices made in Genesis, and later on the altars in the tabernacle and the temple, showed man’s repentance of his sins and his desire to be right standing before G-d. The blood of the animals sacrificed on the altar covered up sin, but did not take the sin away. Hebrews 9:11-14 & 10:14 tell us that this was changed by Yeshua’s death. Because Yeshua was without sin, He became the perfect blood sacrifice that made permanent atonement for all men’s sins. The execution stake was the altar Yeshua’s blood was shed on. [The wooden execution stake reminds us of the wood used to burn the animal sacrifices offered as a pleasing odor to G-d.] After Yeshua died, his body was laid in a tomb, but He didn’t stay there. On the third day after His execution, Yeshua resurrected from the dead. Forty days later, He went to heaven to be with G-d.

Yeshua’s sacrifice is valid in each person’s life if he has accepted Yeshua as his personal Savior and L-rd. The outer sign of this inner change brought about by the blood of Yeshua is that the believer’s life shows his desire to obey G-d’s commands.

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL  “Insights From the Word”        Copyright December 2002

Praise the L-rd with all your being

            “Hallel” is one of the 7 Hebrew words that is translated “praise” in the King James Bible. The Hebrew word “hallel” means “ to rave about or to be clamorously foolish.” When you “hallel” the L-rd, you are telling how wonderful He is and are clamorously foolish in praising the L-rd. One example of where “hallel” is translated “praise” is in Psalm 150 which encourages everyone who breathes to praise the L-rd with trumpet, lute, harp, timbrel, and dance. 2 Samuel 6:12-17 tells the story of how David was so excited about the Ark coming to Jerusalem that he danced before the L-rd in only his under robe. His praise was “clamorously foolish” or “hallel”.

            During the feast times of Passover and Sukkot, Psalms 113-118 were sung by the people. These psalms were called “The Hallel”. The people in Jerusalem likely would have been singing “The Hallel” “clamorously” to the L-rd when Yeshua made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The words  “Hosanna, baruch ha ba bashem Adonai” (translated “L-rd save us now! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the L-rd) quoted in Matthew 21:9 are from Psalm 118:25-26, a portion of these seasonal psalms. It is likely the “Hallel” [mentioned in Matthew 26:30- Jewish New Testament] that the disciples sung as they went with Yeshua to the Mount of Olives was Psalms 113-118.

            When David danced before the L-rd as the Ark entered Jerusalem, his wife Michal was embarrassed by his behavior. In the same way, the Pharisees did not think it was appropriate that the people sang “clamorous” praises at the top of their voices as Yeshua entered Jerusalem. Yeshua answered the Pharisees by saying that if the crowd keep silent the very stones themselves would shout. [Luke 19:39-40]

            It is wonderful when we believers use our freedom in the L-rd to praise Him loudly and without restraint so that the rocks do not have to cry out.

Praise – G-d’s Recipe For Success

“In everything give thanks for this is what G-d wants from you

who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

The Bible gives many examples of times when G-d’s people were confronted with a problem that they could not

begin to solve. When the people called to G-d for help and praised G-d, G-d responded by giving a great victory

Step 1: PRAISE G-D WHEN YOU SEE THE PROBLEM.

[2 Chronicles 20:1-30] King Y’hoshafat was told that a huge army including the people of Mo’av and Amon was coming to fight against Y’hudah. Y’hoshafat was frightened, but he didn’t panic. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Y’hudah. People came from all the cities of Y’hudah to seek G-d’s help against their enemies. Y’hoshafat stood in the courtyard in the Temple and said, “Adonai, G-d of our ancestors. You alone are G-d in heaven. You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. In Your hand are power and strength so that no one can withstand you.” Y’hoshafat reminded G-d that the Israelites had obeyed G-d and not killed the people of Mo’av and Amon when the Israelites came out of Egypt. Y’hoshafat told G-d, with the people listening, that the people were helpless without G-d. There was no way they could defeat their enemies without G-d. Y’hoshafat pleaded, “Our G-d! Won’t you execute judgment against our enemies? For we haven’t strength enough to defeat this huge horde coming against us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Step 2: PRAISE G-D WHEN G-D TELLS YOU THE ANSWER.

Then, the Spirit of G-d came upon the prophet Yachzi’el who told them, “Adonai has said, `Do not be afraid or distressed by this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but G-d’s.” The people were told that they were to go to meet the enemy army, but they would not need to fight the battle. The prophet said, “Stand still and see how Adonai will deliver you! Go out against them, for Adonai is with you.” Y’hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground while the people fell down before Adonai to worship Him. The Levites stood and praised G-d at the top of their voices.

Step 3: PRAISE G-D WHEN YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH THE ANSWER.

            The next morning, King Y’hoshafat told the people, “Trust in Adonai your G-d and you will be safe.”  Y’hoshafat appointed singers to go ahead of the army and give praise to Adonai. As Y”hudah’s army marched – singing and praising G-d -  toward where the enemy army was waiting, Adonai brought a surprise attack against the people of Amon, Mo’av and Mount Se’ir. The enemy soldiers began to kill each other. When Y’hoshafat and Y’hudah’s army arrived at the battlefield, expecting to see a huge enemy army, all they saw were corpses lying on the ground. Not one enemy soldier had escaped.

Step 4: PRAISE G-D AFTER THE PROBLELM IS SOLVED. (when G-d has given the victory!)

            It took the army of Y’hudah 3 days to collect the valuables belonging to the enemy soldiers who had come to attack Y’hudah. Then, on the fourth day, they gathered in the Valley of B’rakhah [blessing] to praise G-d. Y’hoshafat joyfully led the army back to Jerusalem, rejoicing because G-d had defeated their enemies. In Jerusalem, they went to the Temple to praise G-d. The people in the kingdoms around Y’hudah fell into a panic when they heard of the victory G-d had given Y’hudah. There was peace during the rest of Y’hoshafat’s rule over Y’hudah.

            Sometimes, the difficulties in our lives seem as frightening as the horde of enemy soldiers that Y’hoshafat and the people of Y’hudah faced. Other times, our problems may only seem as large as a squad of soldiers. No matter what we face, our responsibility is to praise G-d. Then, G-d will tell us what we are to do. Whatever G-d asks us to do, praising G-d will make the task much easier.

STEP 1: Praise G-d when any frightening or confusing situation occurs.

STEP 2: Praise G-d when He tells you what to do.

STEP 3: Praise G-d as you obey and do everything He asks you to do.

STEP 4: Praise G-d – privately and publicly – for all victories He brings in your life and your walk with Him.

As G-d told the people of Y'hudah, “The battle is not yours but G-d’s.”

Yeshua Our Righteousness, Our Priest, & Our Sacrifice

Adonai said to Moshe, “The tenth day of this seven month is Yom Kippur; you are to have a holy

convocation, you are to deny yourselves, and you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai.

You are not to do any kind of work on that day because it is Yom Kippur, to make atonement for you

before Adonai your G-d. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day is to be cut off from his people;

and anyone who does any kind of work on that day, I will destroy from among his people. You are not to

do any kind of work; it is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live.” 

                                                    Leviticus 23:26-31 (Complete Jewish Bible)

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is the most solemn of the Jewish feasts. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10^th day of Tishri (the seventh month of the Jewish calendar). From the first day of Elul (the sixth month) to Yom Kippur, Jewish people search their hearts and repent for sins they have committed during the last year. The Days of Awe (the 10 days from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur) especially are a time of fasting and fear when people hope that G-d will forgive their sins.

Genesis 3:8 tells us that G-d walked in the Garden and fellowshipped with Adam and Eve. When they sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, this relationship was broken. G-d desired to restore his relationship with man. He chose the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be His people. In Leviticus 20:26, G-d told Moses, “You people are to be holy for me; because I, Adonai, am holy; and I have set you apart from other peoples so that you can belong to me.” G-d gave Moses the Davarim (10 Commandments) and other laws in the Torah (5 books of Moses). These laws give G-d’s people a standard of how to please G-d. Even with the Law to guide them, G-d’s people failed at times to obey G-d and to be righteous before Him. Under the Old Covenant, grace (unearned favor) was necessary to allow people to be close to G-d. With His New Covenant, G-d used grace to make it possible for man to be righteous. Romans 3:23-25 tells us, “All have sinned and come short of earning G-d’s praise. By G-d’s grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous before Him, through the act redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that was accomplished by the Messiah Yeshua. G-d put Yeshua forward as the kapparah (atonement) for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death.”

The commands on how to observe Yom Kippur in Leviticus 23:26-31 were part of the Law that G-d gave to Moses. Yom Kippur was the only day the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. The High Priest went into the Most Holy Place to offer blood sacrifices in atonement for the sins of the Jewish people. While the High Priest was making these sacrifices no one else could be in any part of the tabernacle.

On Yom Kippur the High Priest showed his desire for righteousness. Before he entered the Most Holy Place, the High Priest washed his whole body several times. He washed his hands and feet at other times during the day. This was a symbol of his desire to be righteous. Most days, the High Priest wore colorful robes; however when he offered the special Yom Kippur, he wore special clothes made of white linen which also symbolized his desire to be righteous. As the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place, the people waited outside the courtyard in fearful anticipation to see if G-d accepted the sacrifices. Today, many Jews fast for the 24-hour period from sundown on 9 Tishri to sundown on 10 Tishri to show their desire for G-d to forgive their sins committed during the past year. Messianic believers do not need to wait in fear at Yom Kippur. They know their sins were atoned for once-and-for-all by Yeshua’s death on the cross. Messianic believers know that they have been cleansed from sin. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we acknowledge our sins, then, since He is trustworthy and just, He will forgive them and purify us from all wrong doing.”

The Israelite priests, chosen by G-d from the tribe of Levi, were Aaron and his descendants. The priests’ job was to offer sacrifices and to intercede for the people before G-d. On Yom Kippur, the High Priest went into the Most Holy Place, which he could only enter on that one day. There, the High Priest offered the special sacrifices commanded as atonement for the sins of the priests and the people. Hebrews 4:14 tells us that Yeshua was chosen by G-d to be our High Priest. Yeshua was from the tribe of Judah instead of from the tribe of Levi, and is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Yeshua lives forever unlike the priests descended from Aaron, so we need no other priest but Yeshua. Hebrews 4:15 explains that Yeshua can sympathize with men’s weaknesses because he was tempted, as we are tempted, even though He did not sin. Because Yeshua is our High Priest, we can confidently approach the throne of G-d [Hebrews 4:16].

Leviticus 16:2-22 lists special animal sacrifices that were made at Yom Kippur to show a desire for atonement from sin. A blood sacrifice was necessary for forgiveness of sins. One offering the High Priest made was a young bullock as a sin offering for the priests. Blood from the bull was taken and sprinkled on the Mercy Seat and Veil in the Most Holy Place. Two 1-year-old goats were also brought to the tabernacle. Lots were cast and the goat “for the L-rd” was chosen. This “innocent “ goat was sacrificed. The High Priest went into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled the blood of the innocent goat on the Mercy Seat over the Ark of the Covenant and on the Veil. The High Priest then took off his linen clothes and washed his body. He put on his colorful robes again. The sins of the people were put upon the other goat. This “goat for Azazel” was led into the wilderness away from the people.

[“Azazel” is the Hebrew word that is translated “scapegoat” in the KJV. The word “Azazel” actually is the

Hebrew word for wilderness, but is also used as a title for a demon. When scripture talks of the goat for

Azazel that takes away the sins of the people, it shows us that Yeshua takes our sins far away from us. The

“goat for Azazel” was not a sacrifice , but was a testimony of G-d’s forgiveness of the people’s sins.]

On Yom Kippur having a High Priest qualified to make offerings before G-d was not enough. An acceptable sacrifice must be made. As our High Priest, Yeshua needed to have a sacrifice to offer. He offered himself as a pure sacrifice without sin. Hebrews 9:11-14 tells us that Yeshua sprinkled His blood in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle in heaven. Aaron and his descendants needed to make their Yom Kippur sacrifices to atone for sin year after year. Yeshua only needed to make His sacrifice once to forever destroy haSatan’s power over death.

Scripture commands us to observe Yom Kippur year after year, but we do not have to observe it in fear. Zechariah 8:19 tells us that the fast days are to become times of joy, gladness, and cheer for the house of Judah. This happens when the L-rd makes a new covenant with His people and write His Law on their hearts. [Jeremiah 31:31-34]

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL     “Insights From the Word”            Copyright October 1999

If Anyone Is Thirsty

John 7:37-38 [CJB] says, “On Hoshana Rabbah*, the last day of Sukkot, Yeshua told the people,

`If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in me,

as the Scripture say, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!’”

Yeshua’s words, “If anyone is thirsty,” imply that the gift Yeshua is offering was for everyone, but that each person must admit that he or she had a need. Then, Yeshua said, “Let him keep coming to me and drinking.” This shows that a person must continue to seek Yeshua for his need; it is not enough to ask once and then forget the request. Yeshua continued, saying “Whoever puts his trust in me.” We must have trust (faith) that G-d can take care of our needs or we will not recognize that He has blessed us when He does meet our needs. Yeshua ended his statement by saying, “Rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being.” Yeshua’s words must have puzzled many of His listeners. They were familiar with rivers and streams where the water came from the earth, but “rivers of living water flowing from inside a person” was a new concept.

In John 7:39 [CJB] Yeshua explained what He meant by “living water flowing from his inmost being.” Yeshua said He was talking about “the Spirit, who those who trust in Him were to receive later - the Spirit had not yet been given because Yeshua had not yet been glorified.” [In John 14:16] During Yeshua’s last Passover Seder with His disciples, Yeshua referred to this Spirit when He promised the disciples  “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever.” The disciples could not receive this Comforting Spirit until Yeshua had died on the execution stake, arisen from the dead, and been glorified when He went to heaven to be with G-d. Just before Yeshua ascended to heaven to be with G-d, Yeshua commanded the 11 disciples [in Acts 1:4-5], “Wait for what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. For Yochanan (John) used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh! (Holy Spirit)” The disciples received the promised Ruach HaKodesh in Acts 2:1-3. “The festival of Shavu’ot (Pentecost) arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them.”

G-d desires to “tabernacle” (live) within each person. The “rivers of living water” is the presence of G-d’s Spirit inside each believer. This Spirit is the Comforter that Yeshua promised to send to His disciples. When the believer feels alone or fearful, he can say, “I am not alone. G-d’s Comforter is with me.” The next step is for the believer to say, “I can do all things through Messiah who gives me power.” [Philippians 4:13] With these thoughts in mind, the believer can truly hear G-d’s word and serve Him as G-d desires.

“The Spirit and the Bride say, `Come!’ Let everyone who hears say, `Come!’

And let anyone who is thirsty, come let anyone who wishes, take the water of life free of charge.” Revelation 22:17

* [“Hoshana” means “L-rd save us now”. Rabbah means “great”. When the word “Rabbah” is added to “Hoshana”, it becomes a plea. We are saying, “L-rd save us now! We really mean it, L-rd!]

                  TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL – “Insights From the Word”                               SEPTEMBER 2002

Simchat Torah – Rejoicing of the Law

Simchat Torah is on the 23^rd day of Tishri, just after Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) ends. Simchat Torah is a day of great celebration. This is the day when the last Torah reading [Deuteronomy 34:10-12] for the past year is finished. The first Torah reading [Genesis 1:1-3] for the coming year is read on this same day.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 commands us to love the L-rd our G-d, to impress His commands on our hearts, and teach them to our children. This is especially observed on Simchat Torah. A special effort is made to encourage the children to show love and respect for the Law G-d gave to His people.

The Torah scroll(*) in Its beautiful cover is taken out of the Torah Ark. The Torah is processed around the synagogue 7 times. [On Sabbath, the Torah is processed around the synagogue only 1 time.] The congregation follows the Torah in Its path around the room, praising G-d and rejoicing. Men kiss the edge of their tallits (prayer shawls) and touch the Torah’s cover to show respect and love for G-d’s Law. A person may also touch the Torah cover with a siddur (prayer book), a Bible, or a hand. The person then kisses what he used to touch the Torah cover.

Since G-d commands in the second commandment [Exodus 20:4] that man should not have any graven images, traditionally in a synagogue, the Torah is treated as if it were the Presence of G-d Himself. The Torah reminds believers of G-d the Father (the giver of the Torah) and of the Word Made Flesh (Yeshua the Messiah) who fulfilled the Torah. G-d sent His Son Yeshua to be the Savior and a Light to the world. In Matthew 5:17, Yeshua said, “Don’t think that I (Yeshua) have come to abolish the Torah or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.” Yeshua went on to say [in Matthew 5:18], 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 – until everything that must happen has happened.”  There will be an even greater rejoicing (than on Simchat Torah) when all people accept that Yeshua is the fulfillment of the Law.

In Jeremiah 31:31-33, G-d promised to write the Torah (Law) on each believer’s heart. Hebrews 8:10 tells us that G-d did indeed put the Law on our hearts and write it on our minds. The Torah tells what sin is, but does not give man the power to obey G-d. The Law written on his heart and the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life makes it possible for a believer to follow G-d’s commands and live according to G-d’s Word.

Copyright TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL             “Insights From the Word                        OCTOBER 2000

Rosh HaShanah – A Time To Blow the Shofar

            The first day of the Jewish month Tishri is called Rosh HaShanah (Head of the Year). However, in Leviticus 23:23-25, the word “Rosh HaShanah” is not mentioned. Instead this feast is called “Hag HaShofarot” (Feast of Trumpets). Though Tishri is the 7^th month, tradition declares that the first of Tishri was the day that the l-rd completed the creation of the universe; thus it is celebrated as the New Year. The feast is probably better called by its Biblical name because of the significance the shofar (ram’s horn trumpet) has had throughout Jewish history. According to the Rabbis, the shofar was created for the welfare of Yisrael (Israel). Accounts involving the shofar are seen throughout the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.

Isaac’s life was saved by the sacrifice of a ram whose horn was caught in a thicket on Mount Moriah [Genesis 22:11-14]. We too are saved because of a substitutional sacrifice made by the L-rd Yeshua on Mount Moriah.

            The Torah was given with the sound of the shofar [Exodus 19:16-20]. The L-rd used the shofar sound to get the attention of the people of G-d and to remind them of the need to hear and obey the Words of the L-rd. Yeshua said in Matthew 7:24 that, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who builds his house on bedrock.”

The shofar blast has been used throughout the history of Yisrael to call the army to battle. A complete victory over the city of Jericho was won by Yisrael when 7 priests blew 7 shofars as the people of Yisrael marched around the city [Joshua 6:8-9]. The book of Revelation also describes a time when 7 shofars will sound on the Day of the L-rd. This will be a prelude to the final battle and the final victory for the L-rd.

            Yisrael and the world, according to Zechariah 9:14, will be advised of the arrival of the Messiah by the sound of the shofar. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 indicates that the L-rd’s return for His bride will be preceded by the sound of the shofar. John the Apostle said in Revelation 1:10, “I came to be in the Spirit on the day of the l-rd and I heard behind me a loud voice like a shofar.”

The L-rd uses visual and audio aids to emphasize the Word of G-d and that we should obey His Word. A shofar has 1 or more twists. When a person visually sees these twists, he is reminded of the need to come before the L-rd humbly with a broken and contrite spirit. When the shofar is sounded, it is an audible reminder of the need to obey the Word of the L-rd.

Temple Shalom Yisrael            “Insights from the Word”            Copyright October 1997

Tashlich  - A Remembrance of Sins Forgiven

G-d commanded His people in Leviticus 23:24-25,

“In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering,

a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar (ram’s horn trumpet).

Do not do any kind of ordinary work, and bring an offering made by fire to Adonai (the L-rd).”

            This yearly feast is called “Rosh HaShanah” (“Head of the Year”) or “Yom Teruah” (“Feast of Trumpets”). It is observed on the first day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Numbers 29:1 tells that ram’s horn shofars were blown to gather the people together to worship. When the shofars were blown all regular work was stopped. Numbers 29:2-5 tells of special animal sacrifices that were offered to G-d by the priests in tabernacle worship. Rosh HaShanah and the following days until Yom Kippur were to be a time for repentance of sins and for restoration with G-d.

            One of the traditions observed on the afternoon of Rosh HaShanah is the “tashlich”. [The Hebrew word “tashlich” means, “thou shalt cast into the seas.”] For the tashlich ceremony, people gather at a body of “mayim chayim” (“living” or flowing water) such as an ocean, a lake, or a stream. They cast breadcrumbs (or sometimes pebbles) into the water. This tradition comes from Micah 7:19 which says, “…You (G-d) will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Casting the breadcrumbs into the water symbolizes repentance and a desire for G-d to forgive the person’s sins. The “tashlich” ceremony is a yearly part of Rosh HaShanah celebration, but as believers we know that G-d removes sins permanently when a person repents of his sins and accepts Yeshua as his Savior. As we watch the bread crumbs float farther and farther away in the water, we are reminded of Psalm 103:12 which says, “He (G-d) has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west”

            The Rosh HaShanah custom of “tashlich” reminds us of the story of Yeshua’s immersion in water in Matthew 3:1-17. John the Baptist’s call for the people to repent of their sins and be immersed in the “mayim chayim” of the Jordan River likely happened about the time of Rosh HaShanah. The many people who answered John’s call to be immersed were desiring for their sins to be cast away just as the bread in the “tashlich” ceremony is swept away by the water. Yeshua was without sin and did not need to repent, but by his actions He showed that it is necessary to follow G-d’s commands as given in His Word or by His prophets. When a believer follows Yeshua’s example and is immersed in water, he is “buried” in the water; he then arises to show that his sins were symbolically washed away and he is a new creature in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

            Another custom also reminds us of forgiveness of sin. On the eve of Passover, the father of the family hunts for “leaven” crumbs, takes them outside, and burns them in a fire. Both casting crumbs in the water during the “tashlich” ceremony and burning the “leaven” at Passover symbolize a desire to be free from sin. In Matthew 3:11 John said, “…He (Yeshua) will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and in fire.” When a person accepts salvation through Yeshua, the leaven (sin) in his life is “judged” and “burned up” by G-d. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Get rid of the old chametz (leaven) so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach (Passover) lamb, the Messiah has been sacrificed.”

Temple Shalom Yisrael                “Insights From the Word”                                Copyright September 1998

Coming Out of the Fire . . .

[Daniel 3:1-4:3] N’vukhadnetzar, the king of Babylon, commanded all of his officials to fall down and worship a 90 feet high and 9 feet wide gold statue he had made when they heard the sound of the horn and other instruments. The king commanded that whoever did not bow down to the gold statue would immediately be thrown into a blazing hot furnace. Hananyah, Misha’el and Azaryah - 3 officials who had been brought from Israel as boys to serve the king - refused to bow down to the gold statue. [King N’vukhadnetzar had renamed these men Shadrakh, Meishakh and Aved-N’go.] The king asked Shadrakh, Meishakh and Aved-N’go, “Is it true that you neither serve my gods nor worship the gold statue I set up?”  They answered, “If our G-d, whom we serve, is able to save us, He will save us from the blazing hot furnace and from your power. But even if He doesn’t, we want you to know that we will neither serve your gods nor worship the gold statue which you have set up.” The 3 men were bound and thrown into the fire. When King N’vukhadnetzar looked into the furnace, he said, “Look! I see 4 men, not tied up, walking around there in the flames, unhurt; and the fourth looks like one of the gods!” When Shadrakh, Meishakh, and Aved-N’go emerged from the furnace, they didn’t even smell of smoke.

Yom HaShoah (Day of Remembrance) on the 27^th of Nisan is a yearly remembrance of the many Jewish people who were killed by the Nazis in the Holocaust during the years of 1939-1945. The Nazis themselves kept detailed records to show that 6 million Jews died during this time. The persecution and death of the Jews was organized. Jewish people in the territories controlled by Hitler’s armies were forced to leave their homes and were herded into “ghettos” established in each city. There they were subjected to crowded conditions, hunger (sometimes starvation), and hard work. The people who survived this treatment were shipped to work or death camps. Many people were killed as soon as they arrived at the camps because they were no longer healthy enough to do the hard work expected of them. Those who survived to enter the camps were often worked to death or executed at a guard’s whim. The only crime that led to this punishment was to be born Jewish.

In Luke 3:16-17, Yochanan (John the Baptist) said, “…He (Yeshua) will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire. He has with Him his winnowing fork to clear out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but He will burn up the straw with unquenchable fire!” In this verse, the fire represents spiritual judgment. Yochanan was referring to the time when G-d will judge each person on if he has received G-d’s Son Yeshua as his personal Savior. Fire is also used to show that each person will be judged on the work he has done for G-d. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 says, “Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. But each one’s work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire – the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.”

In the story about Shadrakh, Meishakh, and Aved-N’go, the blazing furnace they were threatened with represented a physical danger. However, if they had accepted the king’s offer to bow down to the golden statue to avoid this sentence of death, they would have faced a spiritual “fire” when they worshipped the idol instead of only worshipping the 1-true G-d. Victims during the Nazi Holocaust also faced both a physical fire & a spiritual fire.  Unlike Shadrakh, Meishakh, and Aved-N’go, the Nazi’s Jewish victims did not have a choice on whether to enter the physical fire – the ghettos or the death camps. They were judged on their racial heritage and not on their walk with G-d. Jewish believers were put in the camps with those who had not yet accepted Yeshua as Savior. What each Jewish victim had a choice about was whether he stayed close to G-d or not. We hear stories of how Jewish people in the work camps or death camps did not surrender their right and responsibility to worship G-d. In some cases Torah scrolls or Bibles were smuggled into the camps so that

G-d’s people could study His word. Some people managed to find the supplies to celebrate Passover under the German’s noses. Others were bold enough to say Kaddish for loved ones or friends who had died. The Kaddish not only is a memorial to the dead, but a prayer that glorifies G-d. In many cases, we will never know what they chose, but enough stories remain to give us hope that we will see many of our Jewish brothers and sisters – the victims of Hitler’s hate against a whole people – in heaven.

. . . And Into the Fire Again

            Six million Jewish people died in Nazi work camps and death camps as victims of Hitler’s hate for the Jewish people, but a remnant survived. Their homes and property were gone so many chose to start a new life in the Promised Land. After all, this was the only place where they were welcome – or were they? Most times, when Jewish refugees arrived in Israel, the boats were stopped by British forces and the Jewish refugees were sent to detention camps in Cyprus. They were treated better in the detention camps than in the Nazi camps, but they were not free to leave. The British only allowed a few Jewish people to enter the Promised Land each year. Then, even before the British troops left Israel in 1948, Arab countries attacked Jewish settlements to gain more territory than the United Nations had granted the Arabs. When Israel declared itself a nation on the 5^th of Iyyar, all Jewish people were free to immigrate to Israel. They left the detention camps in Cyprus and sailed to Israel. When they arrived in Israel – instead of safety – they found they were in danger of being shot or bombed by Arab planes. As soon as the refugees got off the boat, all able-bodied men were sent to the front to fight in Israel’s War for Independence. Many of these men did not even speak enough Hebrew to understand their officers’ commands.

With G-d’s help, Israel defended its right for survival in the War for Independence and in many wars since then. Praise G-d, Jewish people now have a homeland and a chance to live their life for G-d!

Pray that G-d continues to defend Israel against her enemies.

Pray that all Israelis (and all Jewish people) will find the only thing that will defeat the hopeless many of them live under – salvation and an alive relationship with a Living G-d.

Temple Shalom Yisrael             “Insights From the Word   Copyright May 2003

FEBRUARY 2003

Yeshua - A Savior For All Times

            The story in the book of Esther of how Mordecai was used by G-d to save  his people gives some beautiful parallels to how Yeshua (Jesus) brought eternal salvation so all people.

            Mordecai followed the Torah (G-d’s Law) and refused to bow to Haman even though his action meant disobeying the king. Yeshua also told of the importance of  following the Torah when He said in Matthew 5:17-19 that He came to fulfill Torah not to abolish it.

            Haman resolved to kill Mordecai on the execution stake. [The Hebrew word that is translated “gallows” in the King James Version means “tree”. The Perians were the ones who invented crucifixion] Then after a 3 day fast, Mordecai’s life was restored to him and Haman was killed on the execution stake instead of Mordecai. Yeshua died on the execution stake and arose after being in the grave 3 days. We, as believers, can learn from Mark 8:34-38 which tells us to let our selfishness die and take up our cross to follow Messiah. The execution stake Yeshua died on has become a rallying point for Believers in Messiah as we celebrate Yeshua’s victory over death.

            After Haman’s death, Mordecai became ruler in Persia, second only to the king. Yeshua, G-d’s Son, is ruler in heaven over the whole world as He sits at the right hand of G-d the Father.

            Mordecai saved his people from death by writing a new law that allowed them to fight against their enemies. We are told in Romans 8:1-2 that those who are in Yeshua are set free from the law of sin and death. By being led by G-d’s Spirit and using His Word, Believers can have the victory over Satan.

            Esther 8:15-17 tells that after Mordecai was raised to be ruler under the king, many people from other nations became Jews and worshipped the one-true G-d because fear of G-d’s people seized them.. John 1:29 tells us that Yeshua is the  Lamb of G-d who takes away the sins of the  whole world (not just the sins of the Jewish people). Just as Mordecai was the hero or savior for his people in the time of Esther, Yeshua is the Savior of ALL PEOPLE for ALL TIMES.

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL            “Insights From the Word”              Copyright March 1998

Enter Into G-d’s Presence

            Purim (the Fast of Esther) is a Jewish holiday that falls on the 14^th of Adar, the 12^th month in the Jewish calendar. [This year Purim will fall on March 18^th.] Purim is celebrated yearly as a remembrance of the time when G-d used Esther and Mordecai to intercede for the Jewish people so they could be saved from death.

            The story of Purim is told in the Old Testament book of Esther. Jews had been taken into captivity by the king of Babylon; years later, Persians conquered the Babylonian empire. One of the rulers of Persia, King Ahasuerus gave a banquet in the third year of his reign. His wife refused to come when he sent for her, so acting on advice, the king sent messengers to bring women to the palace so he could choose a new wife. One of the women brought to the palace was a Jew named Esther. After Esther had finished a year of beauty treatments, the king saw her. He came to love her and made her his queen.

A man named Haman, one of the king’s advisors, made a plot to kill all of the Jews in the Persian kingdom. Queen Esther’s cousin Mordecai heard about Haman’s plan and sent a message to Esther. Mordecai urged Esther to go to the king and beg him to stop Haman. At first Esther did not want to go to the king.  She sent back a message to Mordecai saying, [Esther 4:11] “All the king’s officials, as well as the people in the royal provinces, know that if anyone man or woman approaches the king in the inner courtyard without being summoned, there is just one law - he must be put to death - unless the king holds out the gold scepter for him to remain alive” Then Esther decided G-d wanted her to go talk to the king. Esther sent a message to Mordecai asking that he have all of the Jews in the city fast for 3 days and nights. Then Esther would go to talk to the king. [Esther 5:5 says,] “On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the king’s hall, across from the entrance to the hall. The king saw Esther the queen standing in the courtyard, she won his favor; so the king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.” The king offered to grant the queen’s wishes up to half of his kingdom. Esther invited the king and Haman to her rooms for a banquet. After they had eaten, she invited them to come back the next day for another banquet. After the second banquet Esther begged he king to stop Haman from killing the Jews. The king did as Esther asked. Haman was executed on the wooden pole he had planned to kill Mordecai on. A letter was written and sealed with the king’s seal that allowed the Jews to fight back against those who tried to kill them.

Esther stood in the inner courtyard opposite the king’s hall. She would be put to death unless the king had mercy on her and held out his golden scepter to her. The inner courtyard Esther stood in reminds us of the Holy Place of the temple in Jerusalem. Only G-d’s priests, the descendents of Aaron, could go into the Holy Place without fear of death. The priests went into the Holy Place to minister to G-d by burning incense and keeping the golden menorah filled with oil. Only the High Priest could go past the Veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. He could only enter the Most Holy Place on one day of the year (Yom Kippur) to bring blood from the animal sacrifices. When Yeshua died on the execution stake for our sins, the Veil that was between G-d (the Most Holy Place) and man was removed forever, so anyone can enter into God’s presence if he has accepted Yeshua as his Savior. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Therefore let us confidently approach the throne from which G-d gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.” Not only may believers approach G-d, but He desires that we approach Him. All believers are G-d’s priests and are to approach Him to minister to Him. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, the King’s priests, a holy nation, a people for G-d to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” G-d desires that we minister to Him through our praises, our prayers, and how we help others in His name. We can have confidence to enter into the very presence of G-d without fear because Yeshua made this possible through His perfect sacrifice.

            TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL            “Insights From The Word”              Copyright March 1999

The King’s Beloved Bride

“Let us rejoice and be glad! Let us give him the glory!

For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself,

fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear.” Revelation 19:8

            Purim and the book of Esther tell the story of a young woman named Esther (also known as Hadassah) who pleased the king of Persia and was made his queen. This story also foreshadows a much greater King (Yeshua) and His chosen Bride (the Body of Messiah).

King Achasuerus ordered his servants to search throughout the kingdom and to bring good-looking young women to the king’s palace. After the young women had received beauty treatments, the king would make the one who pleased him his new queen. Many young women were brought to the king’s palace. It must have seemed like chance that one of the young women chosen was Esther, the cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, a Jew living in the city of Shushan. Esther’s inclusion in the group of young women who were brought to the palace and the king’s choosing her as his queen was not chance at all. It was part of G-d’s plan to save His people, the Jews, from death. When Mordecai urged Esther to beg the king to save the Jewish people from death [in Esther 4:14], Mordecai told Esther, “Who knows whether you didn’t come into your royal position precisely for such a time as this.”

Believers cannot choose of their own will to belong to G-d. The choice is G-d’s. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim (priests) a holy nation, a people for G-d to possess.” In John 15:16, Yeshua told His disciples, “You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask form the father in my name He may give you.”

Esther could not choose when she went to the king. First, Esther (and each of the young women) received 12 months of beauty treatments. They were given 6 months of treatment with oil of myrrh and 6 months of treatment with perfumes and other cosmetics. Then, Esther had to wait until she was sent to the king.

[Acts 1:4; 2:1-4] As believers, we cannot choose what gifts G-d will give us or when He will give them. Before Yeshua returned to heaven, He told His disciples that they were to wait in Jerusalem for the gift G-d promised to give them. They did not know what the gift was or how long they would have to wait. The disciples obediently waited in Jerusalem until they  received the promised gift when the Holy Spirit came upon them in the Upper Room.

Often oil is used to represent G-d’s Holy Spirit. Believers need to be “immersed” in the “oil” of the Holy Spirit. G-d gives us the “oil” of the Spirit, but we need to spend time with him to keep our “oil” renewed and fresh.

The story in Matthew 25:1-13 is an example of this. Ten bridesmaid took their lamps and went to

meet the bridegroom. The bridegroom was late so they all fell asleep. In the middle of the night,

the bridegroom came. Five bridesmaids did not have enough oil. When they finally got to the

wedding, feast, the door was shut.

When each young woman finished her year of beauty treatments and was ready to go to the king, she was given whatever she wanted to take with her. This probably included fine clothes and materials, jewels, and gold. Esther didn’t ask for anything other that what the king’s officer advised her to take.

[Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:11-13] G-d gives His people spiritual gifts. These gifts help us to minister to people in G-d’s name. Believers should not tell G-d what gifts they need; instead they should let Him choose. We receive the best when we let G-d choose. One of the most important gifts G-d gives a believer is “robes of righteousness”. Revelation 19:8 says, “The Lamb’s bride has been given fine linen to wear.” [“Fine linen” represents the righteous deeds of G-d’s people.]

G-d made Esther queen of Persia for His purposes. One result was that Esther’s life was saved. Also, the lives of all Jewish people throughout the Persian Empire were saved In Esther 7:3, Esther told the king, “If it pleases the king, then what I ask be given me is my own life and the lives of my people.” A decree was written and sent throughout the kingdom that the Jews could fight against anyone who attacked them. Another result of Esther’s actions was that people who were not Jewish were saved spiritually. When the decree was published saying that Jews could fight their enemies, many people in the land became Jews, (thus worshipping the one-true G-d) because fear of the Jews overcame them. [Esther 8:17b]

The first result of a person’s becoming a part of the Bride of Messiah is that the new believer in Yeshua is freed from the penalties of sin and receives eternal spiritual life. The believer also becomes a witness to others (through his life and his testimony) that they should each ask Yeshua to be his personal Savior and L-rd. Through G-d’s Holy Spirit; all people can become the Bride of Messiah.

“For I am not ashamed of the Good News, since it is G-d’s powerful means of bringing salvation to everyone who keeps on trusting, to the Jew especially,

but equally to the Gentile.”    Romans 1:16

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL            “Insights From the Word”  –  Copyright February 2002

FEBRUARY 2003

INSIGHTS FROM THE WORD

Seek Intimacy With G-d

As believers, we often hear teachings on the gifts G-d gives us including the spiritual gifts. We are encouraged and feel loved that G-d cared for us so much that He gave us these wonderful gifts to help us live a believing life. We should feel loved. Each person is created in love by a loving Heavenly Father. What we often don’t understand is that G-d’s giving gifts to a person doesn’t make a relationship. A relationship is giving and receiving. A relationship takes two. Each of G-d’s people must give of himself to G-d if the person is to have a personal relationship with his Father G-d.

[1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-13] G-d gives a variety of spiritual gifts to believers such as wisdom, the ability to pray for people to be healed, and the ability to do miracles. Other people are given the talents to work for G-d as apostles, prophets, preachers, shepherds, counselors, comforters, or teachers. Romans 12:3-5 tells believers not to get an exaggerated idea about our own importance because G-d has given us these gifts. A believer doesn’t receive a spiritual gift from G-d because of his own abilities or hard work, but because G-d chooses to give the gift to him. 1 Corinthians 12:4 & 7 says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit gives them… Moreover, to each person is given the particular manifestation of the Spirit that will be for the common good.” The purpose G-d gives spiritual gifts to believers is so that they can use the gifts to help others.

            Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. They are listed separately, but just as easily, all of the spiritual fruit can be seen as the result of being filled with G-d’s love. If a believer is filled with G-d’s love, he will be able to share G-d’s love with others. The believer will also be filled with joy and peace that comes from letting G-d guide his life. Having Yeshua as our Savior makes us able to be faithful servants for G-d and to have self-control over our thoughts and desires. A believer will be able to show patience, kindness, goodness, and humility to others better than someone who doesn’t have G-d’s love within him. When a believer is filled with G-d’s love and the fruit of the Spirit, his life is a witness to other people and will encourage them to make Yeshua their Savior and L-rd. John 15:8 says, “This is how my Father is glorified – in your bearing much fruit, this is how you will prove to be my talmidim (disciples). Similarly, in John 13:35, Yeshua told his disciples, “Everyone will know that you are my talmidim by the fact that you have love for each other.”

[Acts 2:1-47] On the day of Shavuot (Feast of Weeks or Pentecost) after Yeshua’s resurrection, Yeshua’s followers were filled with the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and spoke in languages that they had not learned. In this way, they preached about Yeshua to Jews from all over the known world who were in Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot. That day, three thousand people accepted Yeshua as Savior and were immersed in water. The new believers didn’t scatter, but stayed together to learn from the apostles, and to continue to pray and fellowship together. Believers who had more than enough food, clothing, and shelter helped others who were poorer. Acts 2:46-47 tells us that the early believers continued to worship daily in the temple courts. They also met in homes to eat and fellowship together. The result of this was, “day after day the L-rd kept adding to them those who were saved.” The early believers didn’t make it their life’s work to evangelize others. Instead, they concentrated on having a daily relationship with G-d. G-d used the witness of their strong relationship with Him to draw others to Him. The lesson we learn from this is -

Don’t seek (work for) spiritual gifts. Gifts and signs will follow people who serve G-d.

Don’t work to grow spiritual fruit. Healthy spiritual fruit is evident in those who know and serve G-d.

Seek intimacy with G-d!

FEBRUARY 2003

DECEMBER 2002

INSIGHTS FROM THE WORD

Praise – G-d’s Recipe For Success

“In everything give thanks for this is what G-d wants from you

who are united with the Messiah Yeshua.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

The Bible gives many examples of times when G-d’s people were confronted with a problem that they could not

begin to solve. When the people called to G-d for help and praised G-d, G-d responded by giving a great victory

Step 1: PRAISE G-D WHEN YOU SEE THE PROBLEM.

[2 Chronicles 20:1-30] King Y’hoshafat was told that a huge army including the people of Mo’av and Amon was coming to fight against Y’hudah. Y’hoshafat was frightened, but he didn’t panic. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Y’hudah. People came from all the cities of Y’hudah to seek G-d’s help against their enemies. Y’hoshafat stood in the courtyard in the Temple and said, “Adonai, G-d of our ancestors. You alone are G-d in heaven. You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. In Your hand are power and strength so that no one can withstand you.” Y’hoshafat reminded G-d that the Israelites had obeyed G-d and not killed the people of Mo’av and Amon when the Israelites came out of Egypt. Y’hoshafat told G-d, with the people listening, that the people were helpless without G-d. There was no way they could defeat their enemies without G-d. Y’hoshafat pleaded, “Our G-d! Won’t you execute judgment against our enemies? For we haven’t strength enough to defeat this huge horde coming against us. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Step 2: PRAISE G-D WHEN G-D TELLS YOU THE ANSWER.

Then, the Spirit of G-d came upon the prophet Yachzi’el who told them, “Adonai has said, `Do not be afraid or distressed by this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but G-d’s.” The people were told that they were to go to meet the enemy army, but they would not need to fight the battle. The prophet said, “Stand still and see how Adonai will deliver you! Go out against them, for Adonai is with you.” Y’hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground while the people fell down before Adonai to worship Him. The Levites stood and praised G-d at the top of their voices.

Step 3: PRAISE G-D WHEN YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH THE ANSWER.

            The next morning, King Y’hoshafat told the people, “Trust in Adonai your G-d and you will be safe.”  Y’hoshafat appointed singers to go ahead of the army and give praise to Adonai. As Y”hudah’s army marched – singing and praising G-d -  toward where the enemy army was waiting, Adonai brought a surprise attack against the people of Amon, Mo’av and Mount Se’ir. The enemy soldiers began to kill each other. When Y’hoshafat and Y’hudah’s army arrived at the battlefield, expecting to see a huge enemy army, all they saw were corpses lying on the ground. Not one enemy soldier had escaped.

Step 4: PRAISE G-D AFTER THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. (when G-d has given the victory!)

            It took the army of Y’hudah 3 days to collect the valuables belonging to the enemy soldiers who had come to attack Y’hudah. Then, on the fourth day, they gathered in the Valley of B’rakhah [blessing] to praise G-d. Y’hoshafat joyfully led the army back to Jerusalem, rejoicing because G-d had defeated their enemies. In Jerusalem, they went to the Temple to praise G-d. The people in the kingdoms around Y’hudah fell into a panic when they heard of the victory G-d had given Y’hudah. There was peace during the rest of Y’hoshafat’s rule over Y’hudah.

            Sometimes, the difficulties in our lives seem as frightening as the horde of enemy soldiers that Y’hoshafat and the people of Y’hudah faced. Other times, our problems may only seem as large as a squad of soldiers. No matter what we face, our responsibility is to praise G-d. Then, G-d will tell us what we are to do. Whatever G-d asks us to do, praising G-d will make the task much easier.

STEP 1: Praise G-d when any frightening or confusing situation occurs.

STEP 2: Praise G-d when He tells you what to do.

STEP 3: Praise G-d as you obey and do everything He asks you to do.

STEP 4: Praise G-d – privately and publicly – for all victories He brings in your life and your walk with Him.

As G-d told the people of Y'hudah, “The battle is not yours but G-d’s.”

                                                                                                                                                                                          TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL NOVEMBER 2002

NOVEMBER 2002

HANUKKAH – DEDICATE YOUR ALTAR TO G-D

            Hanukkah (“Feast of Dedication”) is a Jewish feast that is not mentioned at all in the Old Testament. In fact, the only place in the Bible that we read about the feast of Hanukkah is in John 10:22-23. There, Yeshua is in Jerusalem during the celebration of the Feast of Dedication. The question may arise, “Exactly what item is being dedicated at the Feast of Dedication?”

            “Hanukkah” is a Hebrew word that means “dedication”. Scripture mentions 2 events where “hanukkah” (dedication) occurred. The first time the word “hanukkah” is mentioned in Scriptures is in Numbers chapter 7. In this particular  scripture, the 12 tribes of Israel are giving gifts over the course of 12 days to dedicate the burnt sacrifice altar in the tabernacle to the L-rd. The Hebrew word “hanukkah” is mentioned again in Scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:8-9 when the sacrifice altar in Solomon’s temple was dedicated to the L-rd. This dedication took a period of 8 days. In the Scriptures, the majority of the times when the word “hanukkah” is used, what is being dedicated is the altar of sacrifice.

            The Feast of Dedication, originated by the Maccabees, celebrates a third dedication of an altar. This was the altar of burnt sacrifices in the temple built by Zerubbabel. Between the times of the Old and New Testaments, the nation of Israel was occupied for a period of time by the Greeks. During this time, Judaism was outlawed by the occupying government. Jews were forbidden to study the Torah and to offer sacrifice to the L-rd in the temple. In fact, the occupying government desecrated the altar in the temple by offering a sacrifice of a pig (an unclean animal). They also erected an idol of Zeus in the temple. The Jewish people, led by the Maccabees , rebelled against the oppressors. Eventually the Maccabees reclaimed Jerusalem and the temple. They tore down the desecrated sacrifice altar and replaced it with an altar dedicated only to the L-rd. Taking their cue from 2 Chronicles 7, the Maccabees spent 8 days dedicating the new altar. When the Maccabees tore down the old altar, they did not want to throw the stones away because these stones had once been used for holy purposes. The stones were put in a room in the temple until a prophet would tell them what to do with the stones. Eventually, a prophet did come and tell them what to do with the stones. His name is Yeshua. Yeshua told that not one stone of the entire temple would be left on top of another.

            Now, a Believer worships the L-rd in a temple not made with human hands. That temple is his body. Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that the Believer’s physical body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The scripture further states in Romans 12:1 that the Believer is to present his physical body to the L-rd as a living sacrifice, as his logical temple worship. The lesson we learn from the Hanukkah season is that each Believer must dedicate his altar in his personal temple to the L-rd.

The G-d Who Keeps His Covenant - "I Will Never Reject My People"

            Many times we think of the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication) as an isolated event. In reality, Hanukkah is a small part of the history of G-d’s people and of the Promised Land that He gave to them.

            During the reign of Rehoboam (King Solomon’s son), Judah was split into 2 kingdoms. The 10 northern tribes rebelled and became the kingdom of Israel. The territories of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were all that remained in the kingdom of Judah.

Because of the people’s sins and idol worship, the kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians conquest in 722 B.C.E. Many people were taken to Assyria, where they were assimilated. G-d allowed the kingdom of Judah to survive until 597 B.C.E when Nebuchadnezzar conquered it, causing Judah to come under Babylonian control. Judah’s nobles and many of its prominent citizens were taken captive to Babylon. The Temple treasures were also taken to Babylon. In 585 B.C.E., the Judeans rebelled and the Temple was destroyed.  Most of the remaining citizens were taken into captivity in Babylon.

Their exile could have discouraged the people from Judah. Jeremiah (one of G-d’s prophets during this time) gave them a promise from G-d.  Jeremiah 29:10-11 says, “For here is what Adonai says, `After Babylon’s seventy years are over, I will remember you and fulfill my good promise to you by bringing you back to this place. For I know what plans I have in mind for you’, says Adonai, `plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future.’” G-d also promised, through Jeremiah, that He would never reject His people. Jeremiah 31:35-37 tells us, “This is what Adonai says, who gives the sun as light for the day, who ordained the laws for the moon and stars to provide light for the night, who stirs up the sea until its waves roar – Adonai Tzva’ot [L-rd of heaven’s armies] is his name. `If these laws leave my presence,’ says Adonai, `then the offspring of Israel will stop being a nation in my presence forever.’ This is what Adonai says, `If the sky above can be measured and the foundations of the earth be fathomed, then I will reject all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,’ says Adonai.” In these verses G-d was stating that only if our world (and the whole universe) ceased to exist would He reject the people who worshipped Him.

G-d did bring His people back to their Land. The Babylonians were defeated by the Medes and the Persians in 539 B.C.E.  King Cyrus issued a command that all Judeans living in Persian territories could return to their homes. Several groups of Judeans did return. Those who returned to Judea were ruled by governors who held office under the Persian kings. In time, they rebuilt the city walls of Jerusalem and the Temple. The rebuilt temple was dedicated to G-d in 516 B.C.E. This was the formal end to the 70 years of exile.

Alexander the Great’s armies conquered the Persian Empire in 331 B.C.E. When Alexander died, his empire was divided among his generals. At first, the Judeans were given some freedom and autonomy. Then, in 175 B.C.E, Antiochus IV came to the throne. He attempted to unite his kingdom by forcing the conquered people to adopt the Greek language, culture, and religion instead of continuing to follow their own religion and customs.

As a part of this plan, King Antiochus sacrificed a pig on the altar of burnt offerings in the courtyard of the Temple. He also sent officers to every city and village to force people to worship Greek, pagan idols.

Many times, conquerors are successful in getting people to worship the conqueror's gods (idols), but the Judeans remembered how G-d has kept His promise to return them to their homes.  Because of G-d's faithfulness in keeping this promise, they could trust G-d's promise in Jeremiah 31:35-37.  They were willing to do anything they could to remain a nation who worshipped the one-true G-d.

A small number of Judeans were willing to fight for the right to worship G-d as the Torah commanded. When soldiers came to their village of Modin and ordered them to sacrifice a pig, a priest named Mattathias and his 5 sons killed the soldiers. Others who wanted to worship G-d were encouraged by this and joined them. When Mattathias died, his son Judas the Maccabee became the new leader. After 3 years of fighting, Judas Maccabee’s men drove King Antiochus’s soldiers from Jerusalem. The Maccabees went to clean the Temple. Because a pig had been sacrificed on the altar, it was no longer clean to make sacrifices to G-d so a new sacrifice altar was made. The new altar was dedicated to G-d on the 25^th of Kislev in 164 B.C.E.

            There are many spiritual lessons we can learn from Hanukkah. One lesson is that, like the Maccabees, we should always trust G-d’s promise in Jeremiah 31:35-37and believe that G-d will never reject His people. G-d’s people are the Jews and all who truly worship the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah.

TEMPLE SHALOM YISRAEL   “Insights From the Word”                    Copyright December 1997