 |
|
|
In Ancient Footsteps - Elul 2009 - Day 8 beginning at Sunset Empowering the Believer with Biblical Answers First Sabbath of Elul! Sabbath has arrived in the first week of Elul - It is time to Praise His Holy Name!
This beautiful prayer is recited by our Jewish brother throughout the word each and every day - and on Sabbath it takes on a special unique meaning. It is a reminder of the Covenant that Yahweh gave in the beginning of time ... and how they have treasured and kept the Law ~ or better said ~ the instructions for LIFE ~ throughout the ages. The Shema is a section of verses that is commanded to be recited twice a day, as it is stated explicitly in the Torah, "speak of them... when you retire and when you arise" (Deuteronomy 6:5-9). Yahovah is the same yesterday as He is today - He does not change, and He has complete control of absolutely everything in His creation. We need to remember that when one day is good and the next is filled with catastrophes. He is STILL the same God! At the final day of judgment - we will finally understand that what from our perspective looked 'bad' .. was actually for the 'good'! We were just looking at it from the wrong perspective. The Shema is said twice a day, once in the morning prayers and once in the evening prayers. After the 'Shema' one finishes with "you shall LOVE the Lord your G-d, with all YOUR HEART, with all YOUR SOUL, and with all your resources." So what does it mean to love an invisible unknowable God with ALL YOUR HEART? How does one actually do that? That is where the wonderful Hebrew Picture Language opens the doors of our understanding. The Hebrew word for heart is the Lamed and Vav .. Lev - and means 'emotions'. So when we love Him with ALL OUR HEART - it is with all that we are - all our desires, our emotions, everything we possess! How can one be commanded to LOVE?! Maimonides suggests that if we just looked into nature and contemplated his wondrous creation, we would be filled for love of Him. So as you celebrate this beautiful, blessed Sabbath, I hope you reflect on what it is to love the Lord with all your heart, your soul and your resources. Examine how you can better serve your Creator. Determine in your heart to let go of the worldly things that weigh you down and focus on the higher things above!
The Olive Tree called Israel
The Scriptures, which are the Torah of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings, teach us about the two houses of Israel. The Br’it Chadashah “fresh new covenant” likewise shows us about the two houses of Israel, which are Judah and Ephraim, inasmuch as the writings of the“fresh new covenant” must be in agreement with the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings of the original covenant. We see this need for agreement in 2 Timothy 3:16. "Who is Israel?"Abraham was called 'A Hebrew' (Gen.14:13). Please notice that - he was not called "Jewish." He was set apart as it is said in Genesis 14:13. Let's go on. In the story, Abraham begat Isaac - notice Isaac is not called Jewish either, but is a Hebrew as well. And Isaac begat Jacob - also a Hebrew. Now, with Jacob, the story changes a bit. This is where the name Israelite comes in. In Genesis 32:1-30 we see that Yahweh Himself changes this son's name from Jacob to Israel because he 'struggled with Elohim and persevered' So, in short, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...were all Hebrews. Jacob's name was changed to Israel and his descendants came to be known as 'Israelites'. Jacob had twelve sons, known as the twelve tribes of Israel. They are listed in Genesis 30:
AN important key to understanding Israel in prophecy is that after the time of Solomon God’s people were split into two nations, the house of Israel (ten tribes), and the house of Judah These two families are called the “two wives”(Jeremiah 3:6-14), “sisters” (Ezekiel 23:2), “two nations” (Ezekiel 37:22), and “two kingdoms.” (Ezekiel 37:22) They were the “two sons” of Christ’s parables, indicating their continuing separateness in His day. (Matthew 21:28-32; Luke 15:11-32) In fact, the first Scriptural mention of the Jews is in 2 Kings 16:6 where they were at war with Israel. Letters were written by the chief rabbis of the British Empire in 1918 and 1950, explaining that this division has continued to the present day, and that the Jewish people are descended only from the house of Judah. The house of Israel, sometimes called ‘Ephraim’ after its leading tribe, instead was conquered by Assyria in the 8th century, B.C. and scattered through the nations of the world. Continued tomorrow.... Elul Recipes -Fresh Cocktail! MINTED MELON AND GRAPE COCKTAIL~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
| In Ancient Footsteps Knowing the END from the BEGINNING info@inancientfootsteps.com |
|
Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad!
Throughout scripture it speaks of the two houses of Israel. Have you ever wondered if those two Houses meant anything to you? Well read the following scriptures and contemplate on them today. We'll go into more in the days ahead. But we need to find out who we are....and if we have an "IDENTITY CRISIS" then we need to rediscover our true identity!
(two tribes), as related in First Kings, chapter 12. This division continued, for God speaks of “the two families” whom He had chosen — Israel and Judah — and declares, “Thus says the Lord: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the ordinances of heaven and earth, then I will reject the descendants of Jacob [Israel] and David my servant [Judah] ...” (Jeremiah 33:24-26)