Delrifkah: Thought FOR TODAY

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Our life is a vessel formed for two functions; one is to hold, the other
is to pour.

WHAT PASSOVER IS (Part 2 of 2)
Everything was ready for GOD to speak. A LITTLE BABY, a LAMB, was born
in a stable. HE was the first-born, an unblemished male. It was a
perfect place for this LAMB to appear, and it seemed that the ALMIGHTY
was making HIS purpose known to those who loved HIM and wanted to know
HIM, those whose eyes were fixed on the COMING ONE. This LAMB was
gently laid in a manger where animals come to feed. There among the
other newborn lambs this LITTLE BABY gave HIS first cry. Then angels
spoke to men and one was heard to say — "You shall call HIS NAME
YESHUA (JESUS)" for it is HE WHO will save HIS people from their sins."
[Matthew 1. 21]

Time passed quickly and in three-and-a- half-years from the beginning of
HIS ministry, a group of people had gathered and followed HIM to
Jerusalem. The crowd was greatly excited with HIS coming — shouting
and rejoicing! At last, THE COMING ONE, THE KING had arrived to
deliver them! No one noticed the shepherds leading the sheep from the
Tower of the Flock in the small town of Bethlehem toward Jerusalem. It
was the 10th day of Nisan, when they were "each one to take a lamb for
themselves.. .an unblemished male." As the LAMB entered the Gates of
Jerusalem led by a throng of people, the Passover lambs were being led
into Jerusalem in preparation for the Passover Feast. Everyone knew
that the way to be redeemed was to sacrifice a lamb, as the prophets had
called HIM, "your REDEEMER, the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL" — but they had
forgotten.

The ONE in WHOM dwelt all the fullness of deity in bodily form was
facing the Serpent (Satan) — preparing to destroy his evil works.
The blood sacrifice had been a symbol of this final,
once-for-all- sacrifice which would redeem mankind from the curse of sin
and death. Utterly defenseless, like a lamb led to the slaughter,
MESSIAH YESHUA offered HIMSELF as a ransom, an offering, a sacrifice for
sin and sinners. This PASSOVER VICTIM became the SACRIFICE of the NEW
COVENANT which was for all men.

The LAMB died, wearing a crown of thorns! Men placed a sign over HIS
head on the Altar\Cross "JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS" — it
appeared in the languages of all peoples. The heavens rolled up and
darkness covered the earth. A strangeness beyond understanding existed,
nothing like it had ever happened before.

On the first LORD'S DAY, a GREATER LIGHT began to dawn. The time was
right, heaven and earth were prepared. History records that the Temple
was destroyed and has never been rebuilt, the priesthood ended,
sacrifices could no longer be offered, and genealogical records were
destroyed…and the scattering of the people was total. The ancients
had demanded that the COMING ONE present proper credentials; moreover
after the great dispersion in AD 70, it would have been impossible.

The LAMB OF GOD, standing on the altar as if slain, described as
innocent, meek and mild, represented the emblem most suited to the
MESSIAH OF ISRAEL. There were many types of sacrifices in the OLD
COVENANT, most were due and belonged to GOD ALMIGHTY. All the lambs
that had been slain from Moses to MESSIAH YESHUA, lambs without number,
were always men's lambs. They were men's provision for sin. But this
LAMB was unique, this LAMB was different, this LAMB was GOD'S LAMB,
GOD'S PROVISION. This BELOVED, HIGHLY TREASURED ONE was voluntary, this
was GOD giving of HIS OWN.

All Passover sacrifice lambs were to be the firstborn, without blemish
or spot, whose blood was to be applied to the doorways as protection
from the Angel of Death.

YESHUA ha'MASHIACH was the FIRSTBORN LAMB, from the line of David,
without sin, beyond reproach, WHOSE blood over our hearts and lives will
protect us from GOD'S righteous judgment. Through the applied blood of
GOD'S PERFECT PASSOVER LAMB we are spared again — and for all time,
and granted new life and freedom in the Promised Land.

Our LOVING HOLY GOD sacrificed HIS ONLY LAMB on the Altar of the Cross.
Those wooden beams became the doorpost for the world's home whereon the
LAMB'S blood was spilled. GOD promised to "Pass Over" us from HIS
Judgment of Death as we are willing to stand under its protection. This
is what we remember and why we celebrate Passover year-after-year; and
spiritually, day-by-day. We are a blessed people in that our LORD GOD,
CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE left us such festivals to remember HIM by until
HE comes again. Thank YOU, LORD GOD for such amazing grace and
magnanimous love!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
There is light and joy, gladness and honor for all of GOD'S people
as we bid farewell to Sabbath ha'Gadol, may the HOLY ONE bless and
fill you with HIS Holy Commandments and call us to occupy ourselves with
the LIFE-GIVING WORDS OF TORAH. And, may your ever-growing faith grant
you the privilege to witness and experience the marvelous miracle of
being delivered from the yoke of slavery to sin.
Blessings to each of you this Passover/Resurrecti on Season and always.
Wishing you a blessed week filled with the sweetness of Sabbath.
Shalom!

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Inside each of us is a Pharaoh — inside every Pharaoh is a slave
— inside every slave is a Moses.

WHAT PASSOVER IS (Part 1 of 2)
From the beginning of time OMNIPOTENT GOD has been saying to men, "There
is no way to approach ME except by coming with a lamb." Sacrifice was
ordained by our HOLY LORD GOD and instituted by HIM in the beginning.
Adam and Eve had never seen death, they didn't know what it was like.
When they disobeyed the MASTER CREATOR, HE sacrificed a lamb to make a
covering for them to hide their nakedness. ["Lambs will provide you with
clothing." —Proverbs/Mishle 27. 26 Tanakh, Kethuvim]

When the ALMIGHTY ONE tested Abraham, HE said, "Take now your son, your
only son, whom you love, Isaac; and go to the Land of Moriah and offer
him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will
tell you." And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it
on Isaac, his son, and the two of them walked on together. Isaac
questioned his father, "Where is the lamb for the offering?" Abraham
replied —"GOD HIMSELF will provide the LAMB for the burnt offering,
my son." [Genesis/Bereshith 22. 2, 7 – 8] Abraham laid Isaac on the
wood on the altar and raised his hand to slay him — but the LORD
ETERNAL sent HIS Angel to stop the sacrifice and provided a substitute,
a ram caught in the thicket by its horns.

Abraham's descendants through Isaac became a great nation. In the land
of Egypt, the FAITHFUL PROVIDER said to HIS servant, Moses — "The
LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This shall mark for
you the beginning of months; it shall be the first of the months of the
year for you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel and say that on
the tenth of this month each of them shall take a lamb to a family...a
lamb to a household. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a yearling
male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep
watch over it until the fourteenth day of this month; and all the
assembled congregation of the Israelites shall slaughter it at twilight.
They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and
the lintel of the houses in which they eat it...and THE BLOOD SHALL BE A
SIGN FOR YOU ON THE HOUSES WHERE YOU LIVE; AND WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD I
WILL PASS OVER YOU. For I will go through the land of Egypt on that
night, and will strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt,
both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute
judgments — I am the LORD. Now this day will be a memorial for all
the children of Israel, and you shall celebrate it as a FEAST to the
LORD throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent
ordinance." [Exodus/Shemot 12]

One day, the ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN GOD called to Moses: "Come up to ME on
the mountain — and Moses entered the midst of the cloud." When he
returned his face shone because of his time spend with the GOD OF
HEAVEN. The Law of the ETERNAL ONE had been revealed to man. This Law
was personally engraved by the LORD SUPREME. The LOVING GOD OF
CREATION, WHO is holy, had set forth requirements that must be met
before HE could show mercy. Sin must be punished, either in person or by
a substitute. Lambs, goats, and rams were Israel's substitutes. The
law was given to lead us to The LAMB. The MOST HIGH GOD accepts us by
means of the PERFECT SACRIFICE on the Altar (the Cross of Calvary).

Prophets began to appear, they urged that sacrifice is not just a ritual
— a vain repetition, but is a matter of the heart! It was meant to
be an outward expression of inner intentions. It was the "SPIRIT"
within which gave it all its value. GOD ALMIGHTY looks at the
intentions of the heart. HE was heard to say, "What are your multiplied
sacrifices to ME? I have had enough...I take no pleasure in the blood of
bulls, lambs or goats...bring your worthless offerings no longer...your
hands are full of bloodshed... "Wash yourselves clean! Put away your evil
doings from MY sight. Cease to do evil; learn to do good. Devote
yourselves to justice; rebuke the oppressor; uphold and defend the
orphan; show charity to the widow...Come! let us reach an understanding;
though your sins are like crimson, they can be turned snow-white; though
they are red as dyed wool, they can become like fleece." [Isaiah
(Yeshayah) 1. 16 - 18 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

Little by little the prophets understood.. .ONE DAY ALMIGHTY GOD WAS
GOING TO SEND HIS OWN SPECIAL LAMB IN PLACE OF ALL THE LAMBS AND
SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS — "We all went astray like sheep, each going
his own way; but the LORD visited upon HIM (YESHUA OF NAZARETH) the
guilt and iniquity of all of us, HE was maltreated, yet HE was
submissive. HE did not open HIS mouth; like a sheep being led to
slaughter, and a lamb silent before its shearers, HE did not open HIS
mouth — but the LORD was pleased to crush HIM, putting HIM to grief
that through HIM the LORD'S purpose might prosper — by HIS knowledge
the RIGHTEOUS ONE, MY SERVANT will justify many, as HE will bear their
iniquities. HE made HIMSELF an offering for guilt." [Isaiah (Yeshayah)
53 Tanakh, Nevi'im] The LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH, the REDEEMER,
COMFORTER OF ISRAEL, the HOLY ONE bore the sins of many on HIMSELF. How
can we help but thank and praise the WONDROUS ANOINTED ONE, JESUS the
BELOVED SON OF GOD!

. . . to be continued

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
Welcome Sabbat ha'Gadol! —The Great Sabbath refers to the Final
Redemption of MESSIAH YESHUA being ushered in by the Prophet Elijah:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the
Great & Terrible Day of the LORD."
The celebration of Passover should serve to remind us of our departure
from the past and our commitment to obey GOD all the way to HIS Promised
Land in holiness and integrity of life. The Passover Seder is one of the
most meaningful experience you can enjoy and should be a tremendous
opportunity to express our overwhelming gratitude for ALMIGHTY GOD'S
goodness and grace to us, and to renew our commitment to walk in loving
obedience all the days of our lives. [Special haf-TORAH reading: Malachi
3 & 4]
"Happy Passover" to our precious family of friends. L'Chayim ...To
Life!
Our Love, Rabbi Del & Rifkah

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Reason explains the darkness, but it is not a light.

THE TEN PLAGUES (Part 2 of 2)
"The LORD said to Moses — Early in the morning present yourself to
Pharaoh and say to him — Thus says the LORD, the GOD of the Hebrews:
Let MY people go to worship ME. For at this time I will send all MY
plagues upon your very heart, and on your servants and on your people
that you may know there is none like ME in all the earth." [Exodus
(Shemot) 9. 13 - 14 Tanakh, Torah] "Nevertheless I have spared you for
this purpose: in order to show you MY power, and in order that MY NAME
may be declared throughout the earth. Yet you continue to exalt yourself
over MY people, and do not let them go." [Exodus (Shemot) 9. 16 - 17
Tanakh, Torah]

So, the plagues continued...

Plague of Boils came when Moses sprinkled ashes of the furnace towards
heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. The furnace refers to the one which was
used to bake bricks to build the cities for Pharaoh. It stood as the
symbol of oppression of the Jews; and now from the very symbol of
oppression, ashes were taken that resulted in an oppression on the
Egyptians. With the ashes of the furnace sprinkled, all were smitten
with boils.

The three gods affected were Sekhmet, a goddess with the body of a woman
and head of a lioness, was to have power over epidemics, both to Cause
and/or Stop — it could do neither! Serapis was the god of healing.
Imhotep, was the god of medicine. These all failed and could not
terminate the plague!

Plague of Hail & Fire This plague mixture was against four Egyptian
gods:
1. Shu was the sky god, son of Ra, the son god. {In Hebrew, ra means
evil.}
2. Nut, the sky goddess of fertility, sister and wife of Osiris,
represented as wearing cow's horns and a solar disk on her head. These
could not stop the Fire & Hail of ALMIGHTY GOD.
The result of the plague was fourfold: First, it killed every man in
the field. Second, it killed every beast in the field. . .
3. Seth was the god of agriculture.
4. Isis, the goddess of agriculture.
Neither of these gods were able to save the flax and barley crops!
Third, this plague smote every herb of the field. Fourth, it broke
every tree of the field.

Plague of Locust came to destroy everything still left in the field and
even entered the houses. Seth and Isis, the god and goddess of
agriculture are the two gods affected in this plague. Neither could
save the growing crop from the locust.

The Plague of Darkness lasted 3 days and was of such a thickness it
could be felt, severely affecting the equilibrium; no one was able even
to stand in such darkness.

The god's affected were: Ra, the sun god who had two forms — either
with the body of a man and head of a ram, or the body of a man and the
head of a goose. Khepre, a sun god with the body of a man and head of a
beetle. Harakhte, the sun god with a man's body and head of a hawk.
Aton, a sun-disk god. Horus, the winged sun disk god who was the son of
Osiris and Isis, also having a hawk head. Atum, the god of the setting
sun. Thoth, the moon god. Nut, the sky goddess. Shu, the sky god.
All nine were powerless against the Plague of Darkness!

Death of the Firstborn was the final plague and affected four gods of
Egypt.
Min, the god of protection and reproduction. Isis, the goddess of
procreation and reproduction.
Hathor, the goddess who was believed present at the birth of a child.
Apis, the firstborn bull, a sacred bull, the second Apis bull to die
within these ten plagues.

None of these could protect the firstborn from the FINGER OF THE
ALMIGHTY ETERNAL GOD OF HEAVEN! "It has been clearly demonstrated and
you have been shown to know that the LORD alone is ELOHIYM; there is
none beside HIM." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4. 35 Tanakh, Torah] Assuredly,
YEHOWAH GOD is the only SOVEREIGN LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem!
May your ever-growing faith grant you the privilege to witness and
experience the marvelous miracle of being delivered from the yoke of
slavery to sin. May this Passover serve as a reminder that obedience is
better then sacrifice! "Shalom! ...Blessed Pesach to each of you!"

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Ignorance is arrogance.

THE TEN PLAGUES (Part 1)
"Has any god ever tried to go and take for himself one nation from the
midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a
mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by awesome power, as the LORD
your GOD did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? To you it was
shown, clearly demonstrated, that the LORD alone is GOD; there is none
other besides HIM." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4. 34 - 35 Tanakh, Torah]

The Ten Plagues were inflicted upon the land of Egypt by the HOLY ONE
because of Egypt's enslavement of the Jewish people. The OMNISCIENT
CREATOR GOD OF HEAVEN promised Avram (Abraham), "I will make of you a
great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you
shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you; but, whoever
curses you, I will curse." [Genesis (Bereshith) 12. 2 - 3 Tanakh, Torah]

There were four specific purposes why TRUE & LIVING ALMIGHTY ONE,
blessed be HE, brought these Ten Plagues upon Egypt: The First was to
show that the MIGHTY GOD OF ISRAEL is the only GOD. The Second was to
show the foolishness of idolatry. The Third was to punish Egypt for
their curse upon the Israelites. The Fourth was to free Israel.

Pharaoh was also considered to be a god in human form and the plagues
proved that he was not much of a god after all. In addition, one of the
most important and controlling casts in the Egyptian society was the
priesthood of Egypt, and the plagues affected these priests likewise.

Plague of Blood was on waters of Egypt found in rivers, streams, pools,
and ponds; it included the water in the vessels themselves. The vessels
were made of wood and stone � the common idiom for idolatry �
wood and stone; indicating these were used for the purpose of a drink
offering to the gods of Egypt. The Egyptians shed Jewish blood, and now
blood was given them to drink. This plague affected seven Egyptian gods:
The Nile River, Khnum, the guardian of the Nile; Hapi, the spirit of
the Nile; Osiris, for whom the Nile River was his bloodstream; Sepek, a
crocodile god who had the body of a man and the head of a crocodile;
Neith, the protector of the large fish; and Hathor, the protector of the
major fish.
All these so-called gods failed!

Plague of Frogs Two gods were affected by this plague: Hapi again, who
controlled the alluvial deposits of the Nile to make the land fertile
� the sound of frogs usually meant a time for rejoicing because it
meant the Nile receded and the land was fertile. The Egyptian priests
and magicians copied this plague and caused an even greater disaster.
The goddess Heqt, having the body of a woman and the head of a frog was
the symbol of resurrection and fertility. These gods were useless!

Plague of Mixture {lice, dog flies, vermin, gnats, and swarms of
numerous pests} The two gods affected in this plague were Uatchit, the
god of insects; and Seb, the god of the earth who was to protect from
lice.

The priesthood of Egypt was also affected in that it was noted for its
purity and cleanliness. However, they were forced to shave their body of
all hair, including the eyebrows to avoid this plague; but the intensity
of the swarms still was found on their bodies.

Plague of Flies The Egyptian god affected in this plague was Beelzebub,
the "lord of the flies" who controlled the fly population � he could
do nothing!

The Hebrews twisted the name BeelzeBUB � calling the name, BeelzeBUL
which fittingly means "lord of the dung heap."

Plague of Murrain (a disease in cattle) had an affect on four gods of
Egypt � Apis, the sacred bull of the god Ptah, a firstborn bull
always kept in the open; Mnevis, the sacred bull of god Ra, the god of
the city Helipoplis, also a firstborn kept in the open; Hathor, who had
the body of a woman and head of a cow, the protector of the cows and the
goddess of love, beauty, music, and joy; Knom, the ram god who had the
body of a man and head of a ram. Unsurprisingly, these idolatrous gods
failed, all the cattle and rams in the field died! Those inside a barn
or building were spared. . . for now, but more plagues are to come.

...to be continued

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
We greet you and wish you abundant blessings for the up-coming Passover
Season and always!
FATHER GOD demonstrated HIS extreme view of the importance of Passover
in setting the date as the "beginning of the year" � the first of
the Feasts of the LORD. This date (season) is prominent and setting the
precedence for redemption which points us to MESSIAH YESHUA, THE
REDEEMER OF THE WORLD. May your ever-growing faith grant you the
privilege to witness and experience the marvelous miracle of being
delivered from the yoke of slavery to sin.
May this Passover serve as a reminder to obey the HOLY ONE completely
and HE will bring us into the Promised Land. May we faithfully enjoy the
tremendous opportunity of expressing our gratitude for the ALMIGHTY'S
goodness and grace. Daily, let us renew our commitment to walk in loving
obedience all the days of our lives.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Kindle not the coal of a sinner lest you be burned with the flame of his
fire.

BE CONTENT
"And HE (MESSIAH YESHUA) said to them, take heed, and beware of
covetousness; for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the
things which he possesses." [Luke 12. 15]

The sin of covetousness has been the most troubling sin of the human
race since Eve, and the ALMIGHTY CREATOR made a law concerning it —
"You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet
your neighbour's wife, or his male or female slave, or his ox or his
ass, or anything that is your neighbour's. " [Exodus (Shemot) 20. 17
Tanakh, Torah]

The Apostle Paul even made the statement, "The love of money is the root
of all evil." [1 Timothy 6. 10] "For no covetous man, who is an
idolater has any inheritance in the Kingdom of JESUS and of GOD."
[Ephesians 5. 5]

In consideration of such warnings, the CHRIST-like one should extremely
and extra cautiously beware of covetousness. One of the distressing
characteristics predicted for the "last days" is a great increase of
covetousness, even among professing CHRISTians. "In the last days —
men will be lovers of themselves, covetous — having a form of
godliness, but denying its power." [2 Timothy 3. 1 - 2, 5]

It is grievous and disturbing to see so many modern Christian Movements
promoting and marketing a prosperity cult teaching that gain is
godliness. They give emphasis to positive mental attitude, self-help,
creative visualization, and various other supposed spiritual
psychotherapies. These present-day false teachers and their prosperous
life-styles have deceived multitudes of their coveting followers into
thinking they have the divine right to material prosperity. And these
false, rebellious teachings are fatally leading many to serve the god of
mammon. "For rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft; defiance and
stubbornness like the sin of idolatry" [1 Samuel/Shemuel Alef 15. 23],
and the NEW COVENANT tells that "covetousness. ..is idolatry."
[Colossians 3. 5] "No one can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and
despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon." [Matthew 6. 24]

Selfish greed or covetousness is the accurate picture that characterizes
men of the last days. The Apostle Paul warns: "But know this, that in
the last days perilous times will come — for men will be lovers of
themselves, lovers of money — lovers of pleasure rather than lovers
of GOD, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such
people turn away!" [2 Timothy 3. 1 - 5]

The genuine and accurate CHRISTian measure is: "Let your conduct be
without covetousness; BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YOU HAVE, for
MESSIAH HIMSELF has promised — I will never leave you nor forsake
you." [Hebrews 13. 5] HE is the ALL-SUFFICIENT ONE, what else do we
need?

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
JESUS, greetings in HIS WONDERFUL NAME!
Oh come let us adore HIM, CHRIST THE LORD! Worship the KING WHO is
worthy of all our praises and give HIM glory!

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
May GOD bless and keep you! May GOD watch over you in kindness! May
GOD grant you a life of good health, joy and peace.

MANIFEST LIFE
The GREAT OMNIPOTENT CREATOR GOD anointed holy men of Israel to write
down HIS promises. There are many pictures of the only ONE SUPREME
PERSON WHO was to come, YESHUA, the MESSIAH OF ISRAEL, the SAVIOUR of
the world. We can see HIM on every page of the TORAH — the LAW OF
GOD. Every incident or person which is mentioned in the OLD COVENANT
points to the HOLY & TRUE ONE and in some way brings out a greater
revelation of HIM.

Also in the NEW COVENANT we read how YESHUA ha'MASHIACH referred to the
TANAKH (OLD COVENANT) many times as pictures of HIMSELF. After the LORD
JESUS had been resurrected from the grave and was walking with two of
HIS disciples on the road to Emmaus, HE lovingly rebuked them for their
sadness over HIS crucifixion. "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to
believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the CHRIST to
have suffered these things and to enter into HIS glory?" [Luke 24. 25 -
26] The risen LORD said to them — "These are the words which I
spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be
fulfilled which were written in the LAW OF MOSES (TORAH) and the
PROPHETS (Nevi'im) and the PSALMS (Kethuvim —WRITINGS) concerning
ME." [Luke 24. 44]

The LORD JESUS rebuked them for not believing all the prophetic pictures
of HIMSELF. Then HE continued speaking to them repeating what the
prophets said — "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, HE
expounded to them in all the SCRIPTURES the things concerning HIMSELF."
[Luke 24. 27]

"All SCRIPTURE" referred to the TANAKH (OLD COVENANT), as there was no
NEW COVENANT written until about twenty years after the BELOVED SAVIOUR
was crucified and resurrected. Over and over again we find the words
— "it is written" or "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophets" or "as the SCRIPTURE says" or "according to the
SCRIPTURE."

Only JESUS fits into all the details of prophecy of the MESSIAH. HIS
conception and birth would be like no other because it would be of a
miraculous nature. Isaiah and Jeremiah both write that the MESSIAH was
to have a HUMAN and DIVINE nature. Isaiah states that the ANOINTED ONE
would be a CHILD born to Israel and would be called "THE MIGHTY GOD, THE
PRINCE OF UNLIMITED PEACE." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 9. 6 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
Jeremiah says HE would be righteous and be called by the name "YEHOWAH
TSIDQENUW (the LORD our VINDICATOR/RIGHTEOU SNESS)." [Jeremiah (Yirmeyah)
23. 6 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

In the Psalms, David writes of MESSIAH'S death, resurrection, and coming
again. Daniel, Isaiah and others prophesied that YESHUA was to come to
atone for the iniquities of the people and to bring in everlasting
righteousness. "He was despised, shunned by men, as ONE WHO hid HIS
face from us, as a leper; HE was despised, we held HIM of no account.
Yet it was our sickness that HE was bearing...our suffering that HE
endured. We accounted Him plagued, smitten and afflicted by GOD; but HE
was wounded because of our sins, HE was bruised and crushed because of
our iniquities. HE bore the chastisement that made us whole and gives us
peace...and by HIS stripes and bruises we were healed. Out of HIS
anguish and labor HE shall see the arm of the LORD, HIS vindication; HE
shall be satisfied enjoying it to the full through HIS devotion. MY
RIGHTEOUS SERVANT makes the many righteous, it is their punishment,
their iniquities that HE bears." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 53. 4 - 5, 11
Tanakh, Nevi'im]

There are many, many other SCRIPTURES we haven't space to quote but will
end by quoting Peter's message to his Jewish brethren as it is still a
message to my Jewish people today and all my Gentile friends:
"The GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the GOD of our fathers,
glorified HIS SERVANT JESUS, WHOM you delivered up and denied in the
presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let HIM go.
But you denied the HOLY ONE and the JUST, and asked for a murderer to
be granted to you, and killed the PRINCE OF LIFE, WHOM GOD raised from
the dead, for which we are witnesses.
And HIS NAME, through faith in HIS NAME, has made this man strong, whom
you see and know. Yes! the faith which comes through HIM has given him
this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also
your rulers, but those things which GOD foretold by the mouth of all HIS
prophets, that the CHRIST would suffer, HE has thus fulfilled.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing may come from the PRESENCE (paniym —
faces) of the LORD, and that HE may send JESUS CHRIST, WHO was preached
to you before, WHOM heaven must receive until the times of restoration
of all things, which GOD has spoken by the mouth of all His holy
prophets since the world began.
For Moses truly said to the fathers — The LORD your GOD will raise
up for you a PROPHET like me from your brethren. HIM you shall hear in
all things, whatever HE says to you. And it shall be that every soul who
will not hear THAT PROPHET shall be utterly destroyed from among the
people. Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as
many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the
prophets, and of the covenant which GOD made with our fathers, saying to
Abraham — And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be
blessed.
To you first, GOD, having raised up HIS SERVANT JESUS, sent HIM to
bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." [Acts
3. 13 - 26]

To believe the words of the Jewish prophets of old and accept JESUS as
your REDEEMING MESSIAH will assure you of Eternal Life — to refuse
or deny HIM will assure you of Eternal Damnation. Choose now! It's time
to seek the LORD!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
O ROCK OF ISRAEL, redeem those who are oppressed and deliver those who
are persecuted. Praised and adored are YOU, our REDEEMER, the HOLY ONE
OF ISRAEL. Eternal is YOUR power, O LORD, YOU are mighty to save.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.



Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Peace is not a season, it is a way of life.

VOICE BEHIND
"Then shall your light burst through like the dawn and your healing
spring forth speedily; your VINDICATOR shall march before you; the
PRESENCE OF THE LORD shall be your rear guard. Then, when you call, the
LORD will answer; when you cry, HE will say — Here I am." [Isaiah
(Yeshayah) 58. 8 - 9 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

Not only does our LOVING SAVIOUR go before us on life's journey, HE also
protects behind us. Like the SHEKINAH GLORY CLOUD of old, HE is a LIGHT
to lead by day and a PILLAR OF FIRE behind us to guard by night.

ALMIGHTY GOD'S glory, like the GLORY CLOUD in the wilderness, is the
faithful believer's REAR GUARD as he advances. The CLOUD was identified
also as "THE ANGEL OF GOD" WHO both "went ahead the camp of Israel" then
"took up a place behind them." [Exodus/Shemot 14. 19] We have this
gracious assurance, "For you will not depart in haste, nor will you
leave in flight; for the LORD is marching before you, the GOD OF ISRAEL
is your REAR GUARD." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 52. 12 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

IF we listen, we can also hear HIS LIFE-GIVING WRITTEN WORD, both in HIS
leading ahead and directing our steps behind. "Whenever you deviate to
the right or to the left, your ears will hear the command from behind
you — This is THE WAY, follow it!" [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 30. 21 Tanakh,
Nevi'im] This was how it was with the Apostle John on the Isle of
Patmos: "I was in the SPIRIT on the LORD'S Day, and heard behind me a
GREAT VOICE, as of a trumpet." [Revelation 1. 10]

With the TRUSTWORTHY- INFALLIBLE GUIDE going before us and an
INVINCIBLE-UNCONQUE RABLE GUARD behind us, why should we hesitate to
follow the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH? HE "guides me in right paths
as befits HIS NAME" and promises to "renew my life." [Psalms/Tehillym
23. 3] If only we would prepare our hearts, the promises for the
righteous from our FAITHFUL GOD are endless and our lives would be
brighter than the noonday and none could make us afraid because the HOLY
ONE is our HOPE & STAY (CONFIDENCE) , our EVER-PRESENT HELP.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
If a sacrifice does not accompany good deeds it is meaningless. Watch
and pray....the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA our KING is coming soon; the signs
are everywhere!
We magnify and sanctify YOUR GREAT NAME, O LORD GOD; may YOUR Kingdom be
established speedily and in our time for our eyes long to see YOUR face!

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.



Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
If you have put your trust in money or gold, you have been unfaithful to
GOD MOST HIGH.

THE WISDOM OF FEAR
"And unto man HE (GOD) said — Behold! The fear of ADONEY, that is
wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. " [Job (Iyob) 28. 28
Tanakh, Kethuvim]

To truly understand what it is to have reverential fear of the LORD GOD,
would be to have a profound awe (anxious dread, terrified – a word
reserved for the HOLY LORD GOD alone!), intense awareness of the MIGHTY
ONE'S complete abhorrence of sin, as well as HIS omniscience and
omnipresence, and living in light of the certainty of standing in front
of this MOST HOLY ALL-KNOWING JUDGE at the Judgment Seat. It means
unquestioning belief in GOD'S WRITTEN WORDS OF TRUTH and undeserved gift
of salvation.

To fear the LORD also means "the beginning (best part) of
knowledgeÂ…to hate evil...prolongs lifeÂ…a stronghold (of
confidence) and a refugeÂ…a fountain of life, enabling one to avoid
deadly snares and be rewarded with a satisfied life" thereby producing
true "contentment and riches, honour and life everlasting. " [Proverbs
(Mishle) 1. 7a; 8. 13; 10. 27; 14. 26–27; 19. 23; 22. 4 Tanakh,
Kethuvim] But, "fools despise wisdom, discipline and instruction. "
[Proverbs (Mishle) 1. 7b Tanakh, Kethuvim]

When the MASTER DESIGNER created man, HE told him that "of every tree of
the Garden you are free to eat; but as for the Tree of Knowledge of Good
& Evil, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall
die." [Genesis (Bereshith) 2. 15 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Unfortunately, Adam
and Eve sought wisdom in the Tree of Knowledge instead
[Genesis/Bereshith 3], then hid themselves in fear because of that
gained knowledge. No longer sinless, but naked and ashamed with a death
sentence pronounced.

The Psalmist affirmed, "The beginning (first part) of wisdom is the fear
of YEHOWAH; all who practice it gain sound understanding. Praise of HIM
is everlasting. " [Psalms (Tehillym) 111. 10 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Fear is
the key to wisdom that leads to understanding. "The LORD will be the
stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;
reverence for the LORD is his treasure." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 33. 6
Tanakh, Kethuvim] "The SPIRIT OF THE LORD shall rest upon HIM (YESHUA,
the ROD from the stem of Jesse), the SPIRIT of wisdom and understanding,
the SPIRIT of counsel and might, the SPIRIT of knowledge and of the
reverential fear for the LORD." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 11. 2 Tanakh,
Kethuvim]

"The fear of the LORD is pure, abiding forever; the judgments of the
LORD are true, righteous altogether, more desirable than gold, than much
fine gold; sweeter than honey, than dripping of the comb. Moreover by
them YOUR servant is warned, in obeying them there is much reward."
[Psalms (Tehillym) 19. 9 - 11 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Reverence for and
obedience to the LORD GOD brings riches now in addition to life
everlasting — O such glorious riches and unfathomed joy!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
As we bid farewell to Shabbas, our prayer is that GOD, WHO separates the
holy from the secular, forgive our sins, guide our life, fill our
upcoming week with HIS DIVINE PRESENCE. May the GOD OF HOPE fill you
with all joy and peace as you trust in HIM, so that you may overflow
with hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. Have a wonderful week
expecting great blessings from our Wonderful LORD GOD. Be sure to
brighten others with encouragement and a joyful smile! Enjoy some of the
sweetness of Sabbath throughout your week days! Go with GOD.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Duty is a matter of the mind. Commitment is a matter of the heart.

THEIR OWN DEVISES
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were
cold or hot; but because you are lukewarm I will vomit you out of MY
mouth. Because you say — I am rich, have become wealthy, and have
need of nothing — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable,
poor, blind and naked." [Revelation 3. 14 - 17]

The AMEN, THE FAITHFUL & TRUE WITNESS spoke these words to the angel of
the church of Laodiceans. The LORD MESSIAH YESHUA wants us to know that
just because we are attending a church or belong to a church group does
not mean that we are doing HIS commands and that we belong to HIM!
JESUS, the Anointed ONE, counseled the who-so-ever will to come to HIM
for cleansing and acquire HIS riches. "I counsel you to buy from ME
gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that
you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be
revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."
[Revelation 3. 18] "Ho! All who are thirsty, come for water, even if
you have no money, Come, buy food and eat! Yes, come! buy wine and milk
without cost, without price." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 55. 1 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

Man's nature, however, is to go their own way instead of believing and
obeying the MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE. Then, they blame and curse the
SOVEREIGN ONE for not rescuing them from a situation. However, the
warning has always been given, for HE has already said, "Obey MY VOICE
that I may be your GOD, and you may be MY people; walk only in the way
that I have commanded you, that it may go well with you. Yet they did
not listen or gave ear; they followed their own counsels, the
willfulness of their evil hearts. They have gone backward, not forward."
[Jeremiah (Yirmeyah) 7. 23 - 24 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

GOD MOST HOLY does not and will not force anyone to follow HIM. HE
gives freedom of choice and allows everyone to make their own choice,
allowing them go after their willful heart, and follow their own
desires. "For they are a nation void of sense, lacking in all
discernment. Were they wise, they would think upon this, that they would
consider their latter end!" [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 32. 28 - 29 Tanakh,
Torah] "But MY people would not hear MY VOICE, Israel would not obey
ME. So I let them go after their own stubborn heart, that they might
follow their own devices." Yet, the hearts cry of the HOLY ONE is still
— "Oh, that MY people would listen to ME, that Israel would follow
in MY paths!" [Psalms (Tehillym) 81. 11 - 13 Tanakh, Kethuvim] "Oh,
that they had such a heart in them that they would fear ME and always
keep all MY commandments! " [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 5. 29 Tanakh, Torah]

It would do well to remember that "many are called, but few are chosen"
[Matthew 22. 14] and "all the ways of a man seem right to his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the hearts. To do what is right and just is more
desired by the LORD than sacrifice." [Proverbs (Mishle) 21. 2 - 3
Tanakh, Kethuvim] True followers of the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH are
empowered with RUWACH ha'QODESH (the HOLY SPIRIT) and are HIS "called,
chosen and faithful." [Revelation 17. 14] And the BLESSED COMFORTER OF
GOD HIMSELF bears witness with our spirit that we are children of GOD,
"and if children, then heirs — heirs of GOD and joint heirs with
CHRIST." [Romans 8. 16 - 17]

Obedience leads to righteousness. "Sow righteousness for yourselves;
reap in mercy according to goodness; break up your fallow ground for it
is time to seek the LORD so that you may obtain a teacher (the fruits)
of righteousness. " [Hosea (Hoshea) 10. 12 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Since, the
ALMIGHTY OMNISCIENT CREATOR knows our heart, we must be real with HIM
and not given to do our own hypocritical inclinations, tendencies and
preferences. . .the MASTER'S is first!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
Man is given choices to act out in this world; but the junctions and
highways have been set in place by the CREATOR. We have an AWESOME GOD,
and HE is on the Throne ruling over the affairs of men. HE is worthy of
all our praise and worship, even in these difficult times.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
The voice of rejoicing and salvation are in the tents of the righteous.

KOSHER KID
"The choice first-fruits of your soil you shall bring to the HOUSE OF
YEHOWAH ELOHEY. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk. For you
are a people consecrated to the LORD your GOD." [Exodus (Shemot) 23. 19;
34. 26; Deuteronomy/ Devarim 14. 21 Tanakh, Torah]

ALMIGHTY GOD does not say anything about eating meat and milk together,
only the kid was not to be boiled in its mother's milk. CHRIST-like- ones
are not to follow the practices of the heathen nor do at all as they do.
"Do not worship the LORD your GOD in like manner." [Deuteronomy
(Devarim) 12. 4 Tanakh, Torah]

History teaches that at the time of harvest, the heathen would seethe
(boil) a kid in its mother's milk and sprinkle the broth in a peculiar
mystical way over their trees and gardens to make them more fruitful for
the next year. This offering, on the part of the idolaters, shows the
faith they placed in their gods and of the feasts which was observed in
their honour. In the RAS SHAMRA TABLETS it is stated that "if one
desired favor with a deity he should boil a kid in its mother's milk and
present it to the deity!" [Joseph R. Free's —Archeology & The
Bible.]

We are commanded against worshipping other gods (false—misleading as
they be), we are not even to mention their names. "Be on guard
concerning all that I have told you. Make no mention of the names of
other gods; they shall not be heard on your lips." [Exodus (Shemot) 23.
13 Tanakh, Torah] We are to keep the commands of the ONLY TRUE
ALL-POWERFUL GOD, and nothing is to enter into our observances that
would even hint at idolatry.

CREATOR GOD repeatedly, over-and- over, and time-after-time commands HIS
people: "You shall have no other gods besides ME." [Exodus (Shemot) 20.
3 Tanakh, Torah] All faith and obedience is to be directed to the GREAT
& MIGHTY GOD of Heaven. Now, as in times past, GOD'S people who are
saved through MESSIAH YESHUA, our BLESSED REDEEMER & SAVIOUR, are not to
follow the ways of the heathen or gods of the world.

Man's traditions must be avoided entirely. ALMIGHTY GOD'S HOLY WORD
must be followed completely, then we will have an abundant life now and
receive treasures of eternal joy with HIM and ever rejoice in the
blessings of our LORD GOD.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
Good Sabbath! Those who keep the Sabbath and call it a delight shall
rejoice in GOD'S Holy Kingdom; the people that make the seventh day
holy, even all of them shall be satiated and delighted with GOD'S
goodness, seeing that they did find pleasure in holiness and called it
the desirable of days, in remembrance of the ALMIGHTY'S creation.
May your Sabbath Day be for good and for blessing, for joy and for
gladness, for salvation and comfort, for sustenance and maintenance, for
life and peace, for pardon of sin and forgiveness of iniquity. Blessed
are YOU, O LORD, WHO sanctifies the Sabbath, for Israel and all YOUR
children from every nation, tribe and tongue.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Faith uses its strength to develop trust.

SUFFERING MESSIAH/TRIUMPHANT LORD
"I AM the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END — says the
LORD, WHO is and WHO was and WHO is to come, the ALMIGHTY." [Revelation
1. 8]

There are seven "I AM" statements that occur in Revelation, the last
book of the HOLY BIBLE. And, all are declarations by the GLORIFIED
CHRIST JESUS, speaking of HIS ultimate victory.

The Psalms also have seven statements of the LORD YESHUA, but they are
vastly different I am statements, all speaking prophetically of
MESSIAH'S sufferings. These are in four of the wonderfully fulfilled
MESSIANIC Psalms, all written 1,000 years before JESUS' birth, yet each
Psalm mentioned is fulfilled by the LORD JESUS CHRIST in the NEW
COVENANT.

"But I AM a worm, less than human; scorned and reproached by men,
despised of the people." [Psalms (Tehillym) 22. 6 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Job
states it this way, "How much less man, a worm, the SON OF MAN, a
maggot." [Job (Iyob) 25. 6 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Here MESSIAH YESHUA is
compared to a mother scarlet worm who dies that her young may live, and
in so doing, gives off a scarlet fluid which protects and nourishes her
young.
"I AM poor and needy." [Psalms (Tehillym) 40. 17 Tanakh, Kethuvim]
"I AM a stranger to My brothers, an alien to My kin." [Psalms (Tehillym)
69. 8 Tanakh, Kethuvim]
"I AM poor, lowly and sorrowful full of pain." [Psalms (Tehillym) 69. 29
Tanakh, Kethuvim]
"I AM like a lone bird upon a rooftop." [Psalms (Tehillym) 102. 7
Tanakh, Kethuvim]
"I AM withered like grass." [Psalms (Tehillym) 102. 11 Tanakh, Kethuvim]

In contrast to these lonely sufferings of MESSIAH, there are the glories
that shall follow. Five of the seven I AM's of Revelation proclaim the
same great truth— "I AM the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the FIRST and the
LAST." [Revelation 1. 8, 11, 17; 21. 6; 22. 13]

The SELF-EXISTING ONE, the I AM, YEHOWAH, the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH
WHO created all things (ALPHA) one day will triumph and make all things
new forever (OMEGA). The two other wonderful testimonies proclaim —
"I AM HE WHO lives, and was dead, and behold, I AM alive forevermore.
Amen — And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." [Revelation 1.
18] "I AM the ROOT and the OFFSPRING of David, the BRIGHT and MORNING
STAR." [Revelation 22. 16]

This same JESUS, the GREAT I AM, is THE ONE WHO is coming back soon to
judge the living and the dead, and set up HIS Kingdom. "I charge you
therefore before GOD and the LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO will judge the
living and the dead at HIS appearing and HIS Kingdom." [2 Timothy 4. 1]
Are you ready???

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
May our lips ever declare praises to our KING, HELPER, SAVIOUR and
SHIELD for HIS loving kindness is mighty over us.
"For the mountains shall depart and the hills be shaken, but MY kindness
shall not depart from you; nor MY covenant of peace and friendship be
removed — said the LORD, WHO has mercy on you, and takes you back in
love." [Isaiah/Yeshayah 54:10 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
We cannot put our sins behind us until we are ready to face them.

ALTOGETHER LOVELY
"His mouth is most delicious and sweet, all of him is delightful. He is
altogether lovely. Such is my beloved. Of this kind is my darling, my
friend, O maidens of Jerusalem." [Song of Songs (Shir ha'Shirim) 5. 16
Tanakh, Kethuvim]

The Song of Songs is essentially a beautiful poetic story of marital
love. In part, it is a allegory picturing the love between the LORD
JESUS and HIS church, "which HE purchased with HIS own blood." [Acts 20.
28] All the beauties of MESSIAH YESHUA are seen in this "Love Song."

Only of YESHUA THE NAZARENE can it truly be said that "HE is altogether
lovely." Of all human lips and tongues, "HIS mouth is most sweet" for
"no man ever spoke like this MAN." [John 7. 46] Even those who
rejected HIS love "marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of
HIS mouth." [Luke 4. 22] In one of the great MESSIANIC PSALMS, the
psalmist foretold, "grace is poured from YOUR lips" showing that HE
would be "fairer than all men." [Psalms (Tehillym) 45. 2 Tanakh,
Kethuvim]

"The fairest of women" [Song of Songs/Shir ha'Shirim 5. 9] gives her
declaration concerning her beloved, stating that he is "brilliant white
and stained ruddy, preeminent among ten thousand." [Song of Songs/Shir
ha'Shirim 5. 10] This must apply in the fullest sense only to the very
GOD OF CREATION dwelling in irresistible light and yet becoming a
SACRIFICIAL LAMB to redeem HIS beloved. HE is both OMNIPOTENT GOD and
DYING SAVIOUR, yet HE is also our PERFECT, LOVELY FRIEND. "Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."
[John 15. 13] Yet the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL laid HIS life down for us
while we were HIS enemies. "When we were enemies we were reconciled to
GOD through the death of HIS SON, much more, having been reconciled, we
shall be saved by HIS life." [Romans 5. 10]

No wonder after such a testimony, the maidens of Jerusalem exclaimed in
joy, "Where has your beloved gone…that we may seek him with you?"
[Song of Songs (Shir ha'Shirim) 6. 1 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Our BELOVED has
gone "to prepare a place" for us and has promised to come again and
receive us to HIMSELF, so that where HE is, we may be also. Amen!! [John
14. 2 - 3] Even so, come LORD JESUS my ADORED ONE — that our joy
and hope will be fulfilled when we behold YOU, the ONE WHO is ALTOGETHER
LOVELY.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
Draw me nearer to YOU, LORD GOD with the breath of love, swiftly shall I
come to stand within YOUR radiance that I may attain that sweetness of
all intimacies.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
To seek wisdom in old age is like a mark in the sand; to seek wisdom in
youth is like engraving on stone.

ZION BUILT UP
"For the LORD has built up Zion; HE has appeared in all HIS glory."
[Psalms (Tehillym) 102. 16 Tanakh, Kethuvim]

The LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT is going to do the building of Zion. This not
only refers to the Great City, Jerusalem, but to the Jewish people.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come! And the GLORIOUS PRESENCE
(KABOD) OF THE LORD has shone upon you! Behold! Darkness shall cover the
earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but upon you the LORD will shine,
and HIS GLORIOUS PRESENCE (KABOD) be seen upon you." [Isaiah (Yeshayah)
60. 1 - 2 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

Ezekiel was also given a prophecy of the building up of Zion. The
ALMIGHTY GOD OF HEAVEN gave him a vision of the "valley of dry,
disconnected bones." It was humanly impossible for these bones to live,
but the LORD GOD told Ezekiel to preach to them. At the preaching of
the LIFE-GIVING WORD, the bones came together; the HOLY ONE put sinew
and flesh on them, then the SPIRIT OF GOD was put into them causing them
to stand upright and live again. The BELOVED MASTER described these
bones as the "whole house of Israel." Though dead, HE caused them to
come up out of their graves from every land where HE had scattered them.

"Prophesy and say to them: Thus said the LORD GOD — I am going to
open your graves and lift you out of the graves, O MY people, and bring
you to the land of Israel. I will put MY SPIRIT (RUWACH — BREATH)
into you and you shall live again, and I will set you upon your own
soil. Then you shall know that I the LORD have spoken and have acted
— declares the LORD." [Ezekiel (Yehezke-El) 37. 12, 14 Tanakh,
Nevi'im] "I am going to take the Israelite people from among the
nations they have gone to and gather them from every quarter, and bring
them to THEIR OWN LAND. I will make them a single nation in the land, on
the hills of Israel, and one KING (MESSIAH YESHUA) shall be KING of them
all. Then they shall be MY people, and I will be their GOD." [Ezekiel
(Yehezke-El) 37. 21 - 23 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

The ALMIGHTY ETERNAL GOD is the only "Giver" of breath and spiritual
life — that life comes exclusively through faith in the PROMISED ONE
OF GOD, MESSIAH YESHUA the LORD. The only way either Jew or Gentile can
come out of their "graves of spiritual death" and receive eternal life
is to recognize and accept YESHUA ha'MASHIACH — JESUS THE RISEN
CHRIST — is THE ONE WHO was promised by GOD to come to Israel —
THE KING in Zion. The GREAT GOD OF ISRAEL promised that ONE KING will
rule "in that day" when Zion would be built up.

Will you be one of HIS people? Will you let this MAJESTIC SOVEREIGN
KING rule in your life now and be your LORD for eternity? The KEEPER OF
THE VINEYARD is coming soon to gather HIS people to HIMSELF!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
Do not forget you position in this world — we are travelers passing
through focusing on reaching a more lofty and meaningful destination.
This world is like a lobby before the World to Come; prepare yourself in
the lobby so that you may enter the Banquet Hall where our permanent
residence is with the HOLY LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.



Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
What GOD does to us is based on what HE finds in us.

IN SEARCH OF MESSIAH
The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY is not a man that HE could lie and when HE makes a
promise, HE will keep it. The RIGHTEOUS ONE says what HE means and
means what HE says! In the TANAKH (OLD COVENANT) we read many
prophecies concerning the coming MESSIAH. OMNIPOTENT GOD anointed holy
men of Israel to write these promises and there is much said of this ONE
SUPREME PERSON WHO was to come. The "CENTRAL FIGURE" of the HOLY
SCRIPTURES is the MESSIAH OF ISRAEL, the SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD. We see
HIM on every page of GOD'S Law. Every incident or person that is
mentioned in the OLD TESTAMENT points to the PIERCED ONE in some way to
bring out a greater revelation of HIM.

In the NEW COVENANT also we read how JESUS THE MESSIAH, referred to the
TANAKH many times as picturing HIMSELF. After HE had resurrected from
the grave and was walking with two of HIS disciples on the road to
Emmaus, HE lovingly rebuked them for their sadness over HIS crucifixion:
"Then HE said to them — O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe
in ALL THAT THE PROPHETS HAVE SPOKEN! Ought not the CHRIST to have
suffered these things and to enter into HIS glory?" [Luke 24. 25 - 26]
The LORD JESUS rebuked them for not believing all the prophetic pictures
of HIMSELF. Then HE continues speaking to them repeating what the
prophets said, "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, HE
expounded to them in all the SCRIPTURES the things concerning HIMSELF."
[Luke 24. 27]

Notice, the MESSIAH said —ALL the SCRIPTURES — speak of HIM.
The "SCRIPTURES" to which HE referred to was the TANAKH (the entire OLD
COVENANT). There was no NEW TESTAMENT at that time, it didn't appear
until some years after YESHUA was crucified and was resurrected.

Studying the NEW COVENANT, you would find there are 190 references to
the TORAH (Five Books of Moses); 101 references to the KETHUVIM
(WRITINGS); and 104 references to the book of Isaiah and 30 references
to the Minor Prophets. In all, there are 639 references or quotes from
the TANAKH in the NEW COVENANT. Over and over again, you will find the
words: "it is Written" or "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the Prophets" or "as the SCRIPTURE says" or "according to the
SCRIPTURES."

Any open-minded, unbiased Jew (or Gentile) will be convinced beyond a
shadow of a doubt that there is only ONE PERSON in all the Universe who
can possibly fit into all the details of prophecy of the MESSIAH found
in the HOLY BIBLE, GOD'S INFALLIBLE WRITTEN WORD.

Daniel tells of MESSIAH'S coming before the second destruction of
Jerusalem. Moses declared that the MESSIAH was to appear while Judah
"held the Scepter" as the royal tribe of Israel. The Sanhedrin was the
law-making body of Judah before they were dispersed. Micah, the Jewish
prophet, writes that MESSIAH was to come from the line of David. Moses
writes HE must be a descendant of Abraham. The Jewish prophet, Isaiah,
declares that the LORD would give a supernatural sign concerning the
conception of the ANOINTED ONE. HIS conception and birth would be like
no other as it would be of a miraculous nature. Jeremiah and Isaiah
both write that the MESSIAH was to have a Human and a Divine nature.
Jeremiah says HE would be righteous and would be identified as, "THE
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. " [Jeremiah (Yirmeyah) 23. 6 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
Isaiah declares that the COMING SAVIOUR would be a "CHILD" born to
Israel and would be called "WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, ETERNAL
FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE" [Isaiah/Yeshayah 9. 6] and that authority was
settled on HIS shoulders.

If you object to the fact that MESSIAH will be both "HUMAN" and "DIVINE"
— study again the TANAKH and discover that OMNIPOTENT CREATOR GOD
appeared in HUMAN form to Abraham, to Jacob, to Manoah, to Joshua and
others. Many SCRIPTURE portions relate this fact of the HUMAN and the
DIVINE in the PERSON of JESUS THE CHRIST.

Daniel, Isaiah, and others prophesied that the ANOINTED ONE was to come
to atone for the iniquities of the people and to bring in everlasting
righteousness. In the Psalms, David writes of MESSIAH'S death,
resurrection and coming again. And there are many more portions of the
TANAKH, which speak of HIM. However, one must conclude that Peter's
message of 2,000 years ago to his own Jewish brethren is still a message
to our Jewish people today:

"But those things which GOD foretold by the mouth of all HIS prophets,
that the CHRIST would suffer, HE has thus fulfilled. — Repent
therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that
times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD, and that HE
may send JESUS CHRIST, WHO was preached to you before, WHOM heaven must
receive until the times of restoration of all things, which GOD has
spoken by the mouth of all HIS holy prophets since the world began. For
Moses truly said to the fathers — The LORD your GOD will raise up
for you a PROPHET like me from your brethren. HIM you shall hear in all
things, whatever HE says to you. And it shall be that every soul who
will not hear that PROPHET shall be utterly destroyed from among the
people. — Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who
follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are
sons of the prophets, and of the covenant that GOD made with our
fathers, saying to Abraham — And in your seed all the families of
the earth shall be blessed. — To you first, GOD, having raised up
HIS SERVANT JESUS, sent HIM to bless you, in turning away every one of
you from your iniquities." [Acts 3. 18 - 26]

Today, will you believe the words of the Jewish prophets and accept the
LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH as your SOON-COMING KING?

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
MOST HOLY ONE, YOU are blessed beyond all hymns, praises and
consolations that may be uttered in this world. May peace abundant
descend from heaven with life for us and to all Israel. Amen

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.



Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Man shows his true relationship to GOD by his actions.

THE INVISIBLE GOD
"No one has seen GOD at any time. The ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO is in the
bosom of the FATHER, HE has declared HIM." [John 1. 18]

The GLORIOUS LORD GOD is present everywhere in HIS creation, so HE is
necessarily invisible anywhere. HE is "the KING eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only wise GOD." [1 Timothy 1. 17] ALMIGHTY GOD is
omnipresent and omnipotent and HE can manifest HIMSELF in tangible,
visible form when HE so chooses. And at various times throughout the
ages, GOD has made HIMSELF known. Pointing out just a few times the
ETERNAL ONE appeared to men: The LORD GOD was with the two angels who
appeared to Abraham, in the form of men, before continuing on to Sodom
and Gomorrah. [Genesis/Bereshith 18] Then in Mount Sinai, "Moses,
Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders of Israel saw the GOD OF ISRAEL:
under HIS feet there was the likeness of a pavement of sapphire, like
the very sky for purity. Yet HE did not raise HIS hand against the
leaders of Israel; they beheld GOD, and they ate and drank." [Exodus
(Shemot) 24. 9 - 11 Tanakh, Torah]

Obviously, the PERSON they saw was GOD'S ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON WHO was
manifest visibly. The LORD JESUS CHRIST is "the IMAGE of the INVISIBLE
GOD, the FIRSTBORN of every creature." [Colossians 1. 15] In some
marvelous way beyond human comprehension, the OMNIPRESENT, INFINITE GOD
has on occasion taken on the appearance of a human being with the
intended purpose of conveying a specific revelation or to accomplish
some divine purpose. Such manifestations are called theophany and each
has been implemented by the SON OF GOD, the WORD, in Pre-Incarnate Form.
"And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld HIS glory,
the glory as of the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the FATHER, full of grace and
truth." [John 1. 14]

Then, the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD became the ETERNAL SON OF MAN.
"Concerning the WORD OF LIFE — the LIFE was manifested, and we have
seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that ETERNAL LIFE which was
with the FATHER and was manifested to us — that which we have seen
and heard we declare to you." [John 1. 2]

YESHUA ha'MASHIACH became as we are so HE could save us, as befitting a
PERFECT SAVIOUR! The LORD JESUS is our KINSMAN WHO fulfilled the Law
that declares, "if one of your kinsman being in straits, sells himself
to the stranger (we sold ourselves to sin), after he is sold he may be
redeemed again — ONE OF HIS KINSMEN shall redeem him." [Leviticus
(Vayikra) 25. 47 - 48 Tanakh, Torah] How very much our COMPASSIONATE,
DEVOTED REDEEMER loves us and became our BELOVED KINSMAN giving HIMSELF
as a RANSOM that we might be free. Thank YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER for
JESUS, YOUR PERFECT GIFT!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
As we bid farewell to Shabbas, our prayer is that the HOLY ONE, WHO
separates the holy from the secular, forgive our sins, guide our life,
fill our upcoming week with HIS DIVINE PRESENCE; and that some of the
sweetness of Sabbath be present throughout your week day! Go with GOD.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.

Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
What others teach you — that is for you to discover!

CITIES OF REFUGE
"The LORD said to Joshua: Speak to the Israelites saying — Designate
the cities of refuge — about which I commanded you through Moses
— to which a manslayer who kills a person accidentally or
unintentionally, may flee. They shall serve you as a refuge from the
blood avenger." [Joshua (Yehoshua) 20. 1 - 3 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

"So they set aside Kedesh in hill country of Naphtali in Galilee,
Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba — that is
Hebron — in the hill country of Judah. And across the Jordan, east
of Jericho, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the tableland, from
the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad; and Golan
in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh." [Joshua (Yehoshua) 20. 7 - 9
Tanakh, Nevi'im; Numbers/B'Midvar 35. 9 - 14]

These cities and tribes of Israel are appropriately named, both for
their immediate purpose and, in a spiritual application, they are a
picture showing the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH as the SAVIOR & REDEEMER of
sinners:

Kedesh — translates to Holy Place. The LORD MESSIAH YESHUA is the
ULTIMATE REFUGE, the HOLY PLACE, in the New Jerusalem, for the LAMB is
the Temple of it. "I saw no Temple in it, for the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and
the LAMB are its Temple." [Revelation 21. 22]

The name Naphtali means "wRESTling" . . . in MESSIAH YESHUA alone do we
have true rest, perfect rest.

Shechem — signifies strong shoulder (back) or comfort. JESUS is our
STRONG SHOULDER and our COMFORT when we flee to HIM for refuge, the "arm
of the LORD" through WHOM the mighty hand and outstretched arm of
ALMIGHTY GOD has been revealed. Comfort for the heart and lasting
peace come from MESSIAH YESHUA alone, "Peace I leave with you, MY peace
I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." [John 14. 27]

"Doubly fruitful" is rendered Ephraim. The LORD JESUS came "that they
may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." [John 10. 10]

Kirjath Arba/Hebron — is translated association, fellowship. We
who are born anew in YESHUA ha'MASHIACH have been called unto the
fellowship of loving service to the ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD MOST HIGH.
"GOD is faithful, by WHOM you were called into the fellowship of HIS
SON, JESUS CHRIST our LORD." [1 Corinthians 1. 9]

Judah means celebrated or praised. JESUS CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS is
the "LION OF JUDAH" — the EXALTED PRAISE of the whole world. "I
will declare YOUR NAME to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I
will sing praise to YOU." [Hebrews 2. 12]

Bezer — interprets to gold ore, remote fortress, strong hiding
place. Our life is hid in YESHUA ha'MASHIACH. "For you died, and your
life is hidden with CHRIST in GOD." [Colossians 3. 3] KING JESUS is
our life!

Reuben is rendered "behold a son." This directs our attention to the
GREATER SON, our LORD JESUS. The angels announced HIS birth in
Bethlehem; of HIM the prophet Isaiah penned, "A CHILD is born, a SON is
given." [Isaiah/Yeshayah 9. 6] THE VOICE from heaven declared, "This
is MY BELOVED SON, in WHOM I am well pleased." [2 Peter 1. 17] And
most precious, "GOD so loved the world that He gave His oNLY bEGOTTEN
SON." [John 3. 16]

Ramoth in Gilead — is rendered heights or rocky region. "From the
end of the earth I will cry to YOU; when my heart is faint, YOU lead me
to the ROCK that is high above me. For YOU have been my REFUGE, a TOWER
OF STRENGTH against the enemy." [Psalms (Tehillym) 61. 2 - 3 Tanakh,
Kethuvim] When we are hidden in our LORD YESHUA, ALMIGHTY GOD makes us
to sit in the heavenlies "and raised us up together, and made us sit
together in the heavenly places in CHRIST JESUS." [Ephesians 2. 6]

Gad or troop, raider at their heel. The SEED (JESUS) of woman crushed
the enemy, Satan, with HIS heel. "HE shall crush your (Satan's) head,
and you shall bruise HIS (YESHUA'S) heel." [Genesis (Bereshith) 3. 15
Tanakh, Torah] Victory is always the LORD'S!

Golan in Bashan — their captivity, their rejoicing, fruitful. In
the LORD JESUS, we are free from sin and death. "When HE ascended on
high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." [Ephesians 4. 8]

Manasseh, cause to forget was so named by Joseph in Egypt. ALMIGHTY
GOD, the KING & RIGHTEOUS JUDGE declares: "For all of them, from the
least of them to the greatest, shall heed ME — declares the LORD.
For I will FORGIVE their iniquity, and REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."
[Jeremiah (Yirmeyah) 31. 34 Tanakh, Nevi'im] "When MY people, who bear
MY NAME, humble themselves, pray and seek MY favor, and turn from their
evil ways, I will hear in MY heavenly abode and forgive their sins and
heal their land." [2 Chronicles (Dibre Hayamin Bet) 7. 14 Tanakh,
Kethuvim] At that time, the LORD GOD ETERNAL will forget our sins and
"hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea." [Micah (Michah) 7. 19
Tanakh, Nevi'im]

The MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE, the FIRST and the LAST is "forgiving
iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of HIS
heritage. HE does not retain HIS anger forever, because HE loves mercy
and graciousness! " [Micah (Michah) 7. 18 Tanakh, Nevi'im] There is none
like our CREATOR GOD.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
Good Sabbath — the rest of love freely given — a rest of truth
and sincerity — a rest in peace and tranquility, in quiet and safety
— a perfect rest in which you find favor. We bow the head and bend
the knee and magnify the KING of kings, the HOLY ONE, praised be HE.
Amen!
This is the day the LORD has made, we will rejoice and we will be glad
in it. Have a peaceful, enriching Shabbat with the deliberate intention
of blessing someone else.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.

Web Page: http://delrifkah. homestead. com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
If you are proved wrong, you gain much — you learn the truth.

GIRDLE OF TRUTH
"Put on the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that
you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
STAND." [Ephesians 6. 11, 13]

It is essential, all of ETERNAL GOD'S protective covering must be worn
by HIS servants, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places." [Ephesians 6. 12]

TRUTH is an article of the ALMIGHTY ONE'S armor. "Stand therefore,
having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of
righteousness. " [Ephesians 6. 14] "Justice shall be the girdle of HIS
loins, and faithfulness the girdle of HIS waist." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 11.
5 Tanakh, Nevi'im] The girdle was designed to gather the clothing
securely for ease of movement in motion for battle.

INTEGRITY is your faithfulness toward the LIVING GOD. RIGHTEOUSNESS is
doing what is right in sight of the HOLY & TRUE ONE; together with
truth, we are well equipped in our protection against the lies of the
Devil. "He (the Devil) is a LIAR" and does not live "in the truth,
because there is no truth in him." [John 8. 44] These lies would trip
us up, if accepted. The strength of that wicked swindler is in his
craftiness which he uses to "deceive the whole world." [Revelation 12.
9] We are fore-warned by Paul that the Devil, the father of lies, is
able to disguise himself and his demons as "ministers of righteousness. "
[2 Corinthians 11. 15]

We must "Beware! — lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and
empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic
principles of the world, and not according to CHRIST." [Colossians 2. 8]
We must guard against being deceived with "persuasive words" [Colossians
2. 4]; or from being "tossed to-and-fro and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
deceitful plotting." [Ephesians 4. 14] Or from "departing from the
faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a
hot iron" [1 Timothy 4. 1-2] as the SPIRIT OF GOD expressly says that
some will in the latter times.

Our defense against each of these potential disasters is Truth. Truth
is the essence of the strength of YESHUA ha'MASHIACH, the LORD WHO is
"TRUTH" in HUMAN FORM [John 14. 6], WHO wholly fulfilled HIS FATHER'S
command. [John 12. 46 - 50]

This "Truth" is confirmed by the HOLY SPIRIT. "When the SPIRIT OF TRUTH
has come, HE will guide you into all truth; for HE will not speak on HIS
OWN authority, but whatever HE hears HE will speak; and HE will tell you
things to come. HE will glorify ME, for HE will take of what is MINE and
declare it to you. All things that the FATHER has are MINE. Therefore I
said that HE will take of MINE and declare it to you." [John 16. 13 -
15] And, the WORD OF GOD will "sanctify them by YOUR TRUTH. Your WORD
is Truth." [John 17. 17]

We are to be doers (active, live-wirer, achiever, go-getter, assertive)
of the WORD willing to "walk in the truth." [3 John 3] Truth is
revealed in our behavior, "He who does the truth comes to the light,
that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in GOD."
[John 3. 21] The more we know the WORD OF GOD and walk in it, the
more we walk in truth.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
O GOD, WHO alone is all good, WHOSE mercies fail not; WHOSE
loving-kindnesses never cease, we have all our hope and trust in YOU.
We bless YOU, our SALVATION and our HELP, our GOD to WHOM thanksgiving
is due. We are ever grateful that YOU dwell in us! HE, MESSIAH YESHUA
will lift the people and prove that HIS WORD & Law are valid. Be
perfect that you may have boldness in the Day of Judgment.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.

Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared
to what lies within us.

CRY FROM THE CROSS
"MY GOD, MY GOD, why have YOU abandoned (Hebrew: `azab —
forsaken, left, refuse) ME? Why so far from delivering ME and from MY
roaring? [Psalms (Tehillym) 22. 1 Tanakh, Kethuvim]

This is one of the most remarkable prophetic chapters ever written
describing in detail the awful suffering of YESHUA ha'MASHIACH the LORD
JESUS on the cross a thousand years prior to it happening. This was the
heart-shattering cry of the SUFFERING SERVANT during the supernatural
dreadful darkness when even HIS HEAVENLY FATHER turned HIS back on HIM.
Why could such a thing be, when HE had always been "holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners" even though HE had been "tempted and
tested in all points as we are, yet without sin." [Hebrews 7. 26; 4. 15]

The Reason — Because GOD THE FATHER "made HIM, WHO knew no sin, to
be sin for us; that we might become the righteousness of GOD in HIM" [2
Corinthians 5. 21] as the HOLY ONE'S "eyes are too pure to look upon
evil, and cannot look on wickedness and wrongdoing." [Habakkuk 1. 13
Tanakh, Nevi'im]

The FATHER'S BELOVED, ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON willingly allowed HIMSELF to be
offered as the PERFECT & UNBLEMISHED SACRIFICIAL "LAMB OF GOD WHO takes
away the sin of the world." [John 1. 29] "And the LORD has laid on HIM
the iniquity of us all" even though "HE was oppressed, afflicted and
maltreated, yet HE was submissive, opened not HIS mouth. Though HE had
done no injustice and had spoken no falsehood." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 53.
7, 9 Tanakh, Nevi'im] So the weight of all the world's sin was
transferred to the shoulders of the RIGHTEOUS SAVIOUR. The LORD MESSIAH
YESHUA carried the burden we could not carry and died so we could live
victoriously.

What an amazing transaction — JESUS suffered and died for our sins
so we could be set free to enjoy the fruits of HIS perfect righteousness
eternally! Like Paul, we can now say, "I have been crucified with
CHRIST; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the SON OF GOD, WHO
loved me and gave HIMSELF for me." [Galatians 2. 20]

"For the love of CHRIST compels usÂ…that those who live should live
no longer for themselves, but for HIM WHO died for them and rose again."
[2 Corinthians 5. 14 - 15] May we live for HIM, blessed be HE, WHO
died for us!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
MOST HOLY LORD GOD, infinite as is YOUR power even so is YOUR love. YOU
manifested it through YOUR people Israel and those YOU who are called by
YOUR NAME. By laws and commandments, by statutes and ordinances YOU led
us in the way of righteousness and brought us to the LIGHT of truth.
Therefore at our lying down and our rising up, we will meditate on YOUR
Teachings and find in YOUR laws true life and length of days. O that
YOUR love may never depart from our hearts. Praised are YOU, O LORD, WHO
has revealed YOUR love throughout all generations — we worship YOU
and sing YOUR praises!

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
The fly that buzzes the loudest is often the first to be swatted.

MIGHTY WIND
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but
cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is
born of the SPIRIT." [John 3. 8]

There has always been a connection between the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD and
the wind. Beginning at creation when the SPIRIT OF GOD was moved over
the surface of the waters in preparation for the CREATOR'S creative
work. [Genesis/Bereshith 1. 2] Then the MASTER DESIGNER used the winds
to help dry up the flood waters "ELOHIYM made a wind to pass over the
earth, and the waters subsided." [Genesis/Bereshith 8. 1] As a powerful
life-giving force, the wind in Ezekiel's vision was instructed,
"Prophesy to the wind (Hebrew: Ruwach - breath, spirit), prophesy, O
mortal! Say to the wind, Thus said the LORD GOD —Come, O BREATH,
from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live
again. — I prophesied as HE commanded me. The breath entered them,
and they came to life and stood up on their feet, a vast multitude."
[Ezekiel (Yehezke-El) 37. 9 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

There was a "Sound of a Mighty Wind" accompanied by "Tongues of Fire" on
the day of Pentecost, as the disciples first received the outpouring of
the HOLY SPIRIT. The "wind" became "tongues" in the mouths of all the
disciples as they spoke the wonderful works of ALMIGHTY GOD, in every
language on the face of the earth. Thus everyone heard and understood
in their own native language. [Acts 2. 1 - 12] The result of the
outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT was "boldness" and "power" to be witnesses
of MESSIAH YESHUA in the face of the very ones who had called for the
LORD JESUS' death.

The wind brought great hardship to Job, "Suddenly a great and mighty
wind from the wilderness. It struck the four corners of the house so
that it collapsed upon the young men, and they are dead." [Job (Iyob) 1.
19 Tanakh, Kethuvim] OMNIPOTENT GOD, the POSSESSOR OF HEAVEN & EARTH
also sends the wind to bring about judgment, "Thus said the LORD OF
HOSTS — 'I am going to break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their
strength. And I shall bring four winds against Elam from the four
quarters of heaven, and scatter them to the four winds. There shall not
be a nation to which the fugitives from Elam do not go. I will break
Elam before their enemies…MY flaming wrath will bring disaster upon
them." [Jeremiah (Yirmeyah) 49. 35 - 37 Tanakh, Nevi'im] There is a
peculiar unpredictability about the wind, yet the LORD our SHIELD &
EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD is in control of it, "After these things I saw
four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four
winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the
sea, or on any tree." [Revelation 7. 1]

Just as the wind obeys the MASTER'S command, so the believer should
be moved by the SPIRIT OF GOD to wholly do HIS will. And, as we ask,
the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA will teach us to delight in HIS Law as we are
led by THE COMFORTER, His HOLY SPIRIT.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
YOURS, O LORD, is the greatness and the power, the glory and the
victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the
earth are YOURS; YOURS is the Kingdom, O LORD, and YOU are exalted as
head above all. Praised be the LORD to WHOM all praise is due for ever
and ever! Praised be YOU, O LORD our GOD, RULER of the world, WHO has
chosen us from among all peoples and has given us YOUR Law. Thank YOU
for redeeming us, forgiving us, and cleansing us from all our sins. Let
us not be moved from YOUR path of righteousness we pray, Amen!

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah. homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
When we witness GOD'S hand in a coincidence, it is what you should call
a miracle.

ALEF-TAF
"I, the LORD, WHO was FIRST and will be the LAST as well." [Isaiah
(Yeshayah) 41. 4 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

The Hebrew word for first is "ri'shown" and for last is "acharown."
When the term "first and last" is used it also includes that which is in
between. The first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, aleph and
taf, are combined and this combination is found hundreds times in HOLY
SCRIPTURE; and every WORD OF GOD is in its appropriate position. The
MIGHTY & HOLY CREATOR is declaring HIS NAME — "ALEF-TAF."

The GREAT GOD OF HEAVEN & EARTH gives HIS NAME — "ALEF-TAF" to
JESUS, HIS ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON! "Thus says the LORD, the KING OF ISRAEL,
and HIS REDEEMER, the LORD OF HOSTS: 'I am the FIRST and I am the LAST,
and there is no GOD but ME." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 44. 6 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
Hence, the LORD GOD and HIS REDEEMER (YESHUA ha'MASHIACH) both have the
same NAME: ALEF-TAF, the FIRST and the LAST!

"I will fill the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem with
the SPIRIT of Grace and Compassion; then they shall lament to ME about
those who are slain; they will mourn and wail because of HIM as one
mourns for his only son, and show bitter grief because of HIM as one
grieves for a firstborn." [Zechariah (Zecharyah) 12. 10 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
It is the DIVINE ALEF-TAF, the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH, WHO is promising
to pour out the SPIRIT on the House of David; then HE affirms that HE is
the PIERCED ONE WHO has been slain! "Behold, HE is coming with clouds,
and every eye will see HIM, even they who pierced HIM. And all the
tribes of the earth will mourn because of HIM. Even so, Amen"
[Revelation 1. 7] "Then the sign of the SON OF MAN will appear in
heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will
see the SON OF MAN coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory." [Matthew 24. 30]

"I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END" says the LORD,
WHO is and WHO was and WHO is to come, the ALMIGHTY." [Revelation 1. 8]
"And behold, I am coming quickly...I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the
BEGINNING and the END, the FIRST and the LAST." [Revelation 22. 12 - 13]

Yes, the PIERCED ONE is the ALEF-TAF, the ALPHA-OMEGA (the first and
last letters of the Greek alphabet which corresponds with the Hebrew,
Alef-Taf). YESHUA ha'MASHIACH, the REDEEMER OF ISRAEL is the FIRST and
the LAST! GOD has already declared this to be HIS NAME!

Here is an interesting consideration: The ancient SINAI SCRIPT pictures
the ox as the first letter and the cross as the last letter. The ox
was the animal of sacrifice and many were killed on the altars in Jewish
worship as commanded by the HOLY ONE. Not only was this first letter
drawn in the shape of an ox, but the name of the letter (Alef) signifies
the type of animal.

The last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, TAF expresses a sign or symbol.
In the ancient writings, this letter was pictured as an X or cross! In
the legal systems, if a person could not write their name, they affixed
a mark or cross instead. This sign or signature of the cross stands for
the name as well as for the person who made it. The LORD MESSIAH YESHUA
is the SACRIFICIAL OX (ALEF) WHO died for our salvation, and HE made HIS
signature, CROSS (TAF), with HIS OWN blood — the Sign that
represents HIS NAME and HIS PERSON forever!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
Have many warm, richly blessed days as we celebrate the ties of love and
faith that bind us through MESSIAH YESHUA, the GOD of our Salvation. May
the GLORIOUS HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL ever be praised for HIS continuing mercy
and loving kindness.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
When you are at one with the CREATOR, there is no better place for you
to be.

NAME OF THE LORD
"GOD said to Moses — I Am that I AM (Hebrew: EHYAH 'ASHER EHYAH).
Thus shall you say to the Israelites — I Am sent me to you." [Exodus
(Shemot) 3. 14 Tanakh, Torah]

This unique name of GOD (EHYAH) was given to stress the truth that HE is
timeless, that HE is "THE ETERNAL, SELF-EXISTING ONE." In using the
words "I AM" — YESHUA ha'MASHIACH identifies HIMSELF with the
COVENANT PERSONAL NAME OF THE LORD in the OLD COVENANT. The Jews
recognized HIS claim to DEITY when HE said, "Before Abraham was (born),
I Am" [John 8. 58]; and they took up stones to stone HIM to death,
considering it as blasphemy, which by Law was punishable by death.
[Leviticus/Vayikra 24. 15; John 8. 24 & 58 — "if you believe not
that I AM (He), you shall die in your sins."]

As the great I AM, the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH, is GOD THE CREATOR, and
HE has revealed HIMSELF to us under many beautiful symbolic names. "I
AM" appears eleven times in the GOSPEL OF JOHN (including the verse
above), each intensely rich with spiritual depth of meaning:
"I Am HE" — the MESSIAH. [John 4. 26] JESUS, the ANOINTED MESSIAH
meets our need for a DIVINE SAVIOUR & BLESSED REDEEMER.
"I Am the BREAD OF LIFE, THE LIVING BREAD OF HEAVEN" [John 6. 35, 51]
— meeting our soul-hunger.
"I Am the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THE LIGHT OF LIFE" [John 8. 12] —
meeting our darkness.
"I Am the DOOR of the sheep" [John 10. 7] — meeting our ACCESS to
ALMIGHTY GOD.
"I Am the GOOD SHEPHERD, WHO gives HIS life for HIS sheep" [John 10. 11]
— meeting our helplessness.
"I Am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE" [John 11. 25] — meeting our
death.
"I Am your MASTER & LORD" [John 13. 13] — meeting our dependence on
a HIGHER AUTHORITY, the ONE WHO created us.
"I Am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE" [John 14. 6] — meeting our
need of salvation.
"I Am the TRUE VINE" [John 15. 1] — meeting our need of union with
HIMSELF for life and sustenance.
"I Am JESUS OF NAZARETH" [John 18. 5] — meeting our need of a
KINSMAN REDEEMER, SAVIOUR, THE DIVINE GOD/MAN.

This magnificent self-affirmation of the LORD JESUS saturates and
permeates HOLY SCRIPTURES from its first use, "I Am a SHIELD to you;
your EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD" [Genesis/Bereshith 15. 1] to its final
occurrence "I Am the BRIGHT & MORNING STAR." [Revelation 22. 16] All
these beautiful qualities of YESHUA'S character help us to pray more
fervently "that GOD may be all in all." [1 Corinthians 15. 28] Without
HIM, we can do nothing! With HIM, nothing else is needed!

Interesting Footnote: According to a Rabbinical tradition, JESUS stole
the true pronunciation of the SACRED NAME from the TEMPLE SCROLL and
inserted it in HIS thigh. To them, this was the reason for HIS
supernatural power. How significant then is the revelation of CHRIST
JESUS coming in glory as related in Revelation 19:16 in connection with
this tradition, for on His thigh will be a name written: "The KING of
kings, and LORD of lords!"

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
How greatly Almighty GOD must have loved us, to create us in HIS IMAGE;
yet even greater love did the HOLY ONE , blessed be HE, show us in
making us conscious that we are created in the DIVINE IMAGE. Then, by
HIMSELF dying to redeem what HE so loved. [The Mishna]

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Set aside your will for the sake of the MASTER'S will.

SIGNATURE OF GOD
"In the beginning ELOHIYM created the heavens and the earth." [BOOK OF
CREATION — Genesis (Bereshith) 1. 1 Tanakh, Torah]

In the physical first creation, the TRIUNE GOD (ELOHIYM is a plural
word) stamped HIS signature of "three." In the universe HE created,
there are. . .
Three Times: Past – Present - Future
Three Views: Earth – Sea - Sky
Three Great Kingdoms: Animal – Vegetable - Mineral
Three Parts of Man: Spirit – Soul - Body
Three Forms Matter Can Assume: Solid – Liquid - Gas
Three Colors To One Ray of Light: Blue – Red – Yellow

The Tabernacle in the Wilderness [Exodus/Shemot 25 - 40] as a picture of
the New Creation, also has this numerical signature of the DIVINE RULER.
[Luke 24. 27 — again the signature. Three sections of SCRIPTURE in
the OLD COVENANT: Torah (Law), Nevi'im (The Prophets), Kethuvim (Psalms
& Writings)] Man was created in the image of GOD THE MASTER, the
AUTHOR & FINISHER, and is composed of spirit, soul, and body. Likewise,
this Holy Structure has three main parts: The Holy of Holies, the Holy
Place and the Outer Court.

The Holy of Holies represents GOD THE FATHER — GOD'S HOLY PRESENCE
and HIS Throne Room. The Holy Place, GOD THE SON, pictures Heaven and
Heaven's provisions. The Court, tells of GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT — it
shows earth and the judgment for sin. Each part in itself manifests the
GOD-HEAD.

These rooms, collectively and individually, describe the LORD JESUS.
They also tell of the believer in YESHUA ha'MASHIACH as well. . .
The Holiest represents the spirit, or GOD-conscious part of man. It is
the innermost shrine, the Holy of Holies of the SPIRIT where the Law of
GOD is deposited. [Ephesians 3. 16]

The Holy Place symbolizes the soul, man's self-consciousness. This is
the soul or mind, the "holy place" where the lamps are lighting up the
understanding, where the bread is for nourishment and the incense for
DIVINE fellowship.

The Court is significant of the body, that which is world-conscious in
man; the external side of his being, that which is seen and recognized
by all as the actual person and where it is cleansed, clothed and
consecrated for service. [2 Corinthians 5. 1, 4 — used
metaphorically of the body as the tabernacle of the soul. Peter speaks
about his body as "his tabernacle" in 2 Peter 1. 13 - 14]

The believer is to be a true Tabernacle of Witness for GOD. We are to
be an "active testimony" in this world to the LORD YESHUA, if we are to
come into "THE PROMISE" which MESSIAH gave to all who would believe in
HIM: "You shall receive power when the HOLY SPIRIT has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to ME." [Acts 1. 8] And, "when the HELPER
(the HOLY SPIRIT, the COMFORTER) comes, WHOM I shall send to you from
the FATHER, the SPIRIT OF TRUTH WHO proceeds from the FATHER, HE will
testify of ME (JESUS, the BELOVED REDEEMER)." [John 15. 26]

ALMIGHTY GOD, CREATOR & MASTER DESIGNER of Heaven and Earth wants us to
see and know HIS "Triune Signature" in all HIS creation; for all these
things were given that you may know and believe.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
As we bid farewell to Shabbat, may the ALMIGHTY ONE, WHO separates the
holy from the secular, forgive our sins, guide our life, and fill our
upcoming week with HIS DIVINE PRESENCE. Refresh yourself and others
through HIS wisdom & discernment, love & kindness — that you
continue to experience some of the sweetness of Sabbath daily.
"Tov Shavua — Have a good week!" We carry you in our hearts —
thus, you are in our daily prayers!

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.



Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
You must control your evil inclinations that temptation may not master
you.

DIETARY LAWS
ALMIGHTY GOD instructs the children of Israel in HIS Laws concerning
their diet. They were forbidden to eat the flesh of animals whose
"hoofs are not cloven; those who do not chew the cud (horses, swine,
camel, etc.)" — fish that "lack fins and scales (shrimp, octopus,
crabs, lobster, etc.)" — birds "of prey (carrion, vulture, owl,
etc.)" — and all creeping things and insects "except for certain
types of locusts." [Leviticus/Vayikra 11; Deuteronomy/ Devarim 14]
Note: There was a difference between Clean and Unclean animals even
before the Law. At the time of the flood Noah was to take Seven of every
Clean animal, male and female; and Two each of the Unclean animals, male
and female. — Genesis/Bereshith 7

Even of the clean animals permitted for food, certain parts were
forbidden: The Blood [Deuteronomy/ Devarim 1. 23], the Fat
[Leviticus/Vayikra 3. 3 - 5; 7. 23], and in Jewish custom, the Hind
Quarter because it contains the sciatic nerve. The hind quarter is
avoided as food because the ANGEL OF THE LORD touched Jacob's thigh
muscle when he was allowed to wrestle with Him. Genesis 32 tells the
story and concludes: "That is why the children of Israel to this day do
not eat the thigh muscle that is on the socket of the hip, since Jacob's
hip socket was wrenched at the thigh muscle." [Genesis (Bereshith) 32.
32 Tanakh, Torah]

These dietary laws were given to the Israelites primarily for hygienic
reasons to bring to their attention the importance of being clean and
holy in the sight of the ETERNAL GOD. Their difference from other
people was not only to be in their religious worship, but also in their
eating habits. The HOLY ONE explained this conclusively and definitely:
"You shall not draw abomination upon yourselves through anything that
swarms; you shall not make yourselves unclean...you shall sanctify
yourselves and be holy, for I am HOLY. Neither shall you defile
yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth…you
shall be holy, for I am HOLY. These are the instructions concerning
animals, birds, all living creatures that move in water, and all
creatures that swarm on earth, for distinguishing between the unclean
and the clean, between the living things that may be eaten and the
living things that may not be eaten." [Leviticus (Vayikra) 11. 43 - 47
Tanakh, Torah]

The primary reason for giving these food laws to Israel was to sanctify
(set apart) them or to make a difference between them and the heathen
[Deuteronomy/ Devarim 12. 2 - 3; Leviticus/Vayikra 11. 44]; they are to
be a holy people to GOD MOST HIGH.

CREATOR GOD called some animals and fish clean and some unclean to teach
lessons by the very nature of these animals and fish. The Divided Hoof
shows separation. An animal with divided hoofs can climb to high
places. The people of GOD are to be like the clean animal —
separated from the worldly system to climb the high mountains of
spiritual victory!

The Fins are for propulsion, to swim against the current, to stay off
the mud below. The people of GOD are to be like the clean fish with
fins; refuse to slide along in the mud or to drift with the tide, but
swim against the current. Scales (Hebrew: qasqeseth — coat of mail)
on the clean fish are for protection against muddy waters and any
contamination. GOD'S people are to be like the clean fish with scales,
though in the world, protected against all the filth of the world,
encased in a "coat of mail."

GOD ALMIGHTY commanded HIS people only to eat the meat of those animals
who "chew the cud." The HEBREW TEXT translates "chewing the cud" as
"reflect, think, to muse, to ponder, to meditate." This is a mark of
the sanctified life — "to chew the cud" — the WORD OF GOD —
is to be meditated upon day and night.

There is significance also in the command of the ETERNAL ONE which
prohibits fat and blood. Jewish custom, not GOD'S Law forbids the hind
quarter of animals which were clean for food. Blood, because the life
of flesh is in the blood. [Deuteronomy/ Devarim 12. 23; Leviticus/Vayikra
7. 26; 17. 10 - 11] The fat, because the fat belonged to the LORD.
[Numbers/B'Midvar 18. 17; Leviticus/Vayikra 3. 16] The sinew (that
shrank), because the HOLY ONE touched the human strength of Jacob in
wrestling with him. [Genesis/Bereshith 32. 32]

In all this we see that Blood represents LIFE; Fat symbolizes ABUNDANCE,
Sinew signifies STRENGTH — and all belongs to the LORD GOD! It is
only by the cleansing blood of the ANOINTED ONE, YESHUA ha'
MASHIACH, that we can stand clean (kosher) before the MOST HIGH. Thank
YOU, LORD GOD!

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
Celebrating & Welcoming Shabbat! Of old YOU did rest on the seventh day;
YOU therefore blessed the Sabbath. For every work of YOUR hand praises
YOU; YOUR redeemed bless you at all times. Blessed be the LORD, the
MAKER, the LIVING GOD and EVERLASTING KING — for from old you have
given YOUR servants the abundance of YOUR mercies and YOUR loving
kindnesses. YOU are above all gods, executing great judgment. YOU are
KING over all the earth, you are ONE LORD, and YOUR NAME is ONE.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.

Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Learn a lot from teachers, even more from your colleagues . . .and the
most from your pupils.

THE GUIDING EYE
"Let ME instruct you and teach you which way to go; let ME offer
counsel; I will guide you with MY eye." [Psalms (Tehillym) 32. 8 Tanakh,
Kethuvim]

The title, "Maskil (Hebrew, meaning instruction) " is the heading for
Psalm 32 showing the blessedness of forgiveness. This Psalm contains
David's personal testimony of intense soul-searing conviction following
his awful sin with Bathsheba, with whom he committed adultery; and
Uriah, her husband, whom David had murdered in battle so he could have
Bathsheba as his wife.

David said that his "limbs had wasted away" and that ALMIGHTY GOD'S
"hand lay heavy on me" [vs. 3 - 4] until finally "I acknowledged my sin
to YOU and did not cover up my guilt" and "YOU, LORD forgave the guilt
of my sin." [v. 5] Once a sinner has confessed in true repentance,
there is real forgiveness and cleansing, and the happiness of salvation
is restored. Now they are born-anew and now they are saints.
Therefore, David could begin his Psalm with "Blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered over!" [Psalms
(Tehillym) 32. 1 Tanakh, Kethuvim] The word "blessed (Hebrew: 'esher)"
means happy and the only way to relieve guilt and depression is by
confession of sin, genuine repentance, and then by restitution to anyone
injured by the sin, if possible, and committing to live wholly for
CREATOR GOD.

Truly, this is sensible and reasonable instruction! The MOST HIGH GOD,
the HEAVENLY FATHER, desires HIS children not to be "as the senseless
horse or mule whose movement must be curbed by bit and bridle forcibly"
[v. 9]; but to be so in tune with GOD'S HOLY WRITTEN WORD and HIS will
that HE can guide them gently and quietly, like a parent who teaches
(directs) an obedient and loving child merely by the look in their eye.
"Thus says the LORD, your REDEEMER, the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL — I the
LORD am your GOD, instructing you for your own benefit. WHO leads you by
the way you should go." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 48. 17 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

"Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear HIM and hope in HIS
unfailing mercy and wait for HIS faithful care to deliver their soul
from death, to sustain them from famine." [Psalms (Tehillym) 33. 18
– 19 Tanakh, Kethuvim] The happy (blessed) life is the one of
obedience to the guiding eye of the LORD & MASTER ARCHITECT.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
Zey ha'yom asaw ADONAI, nagilah ve-neesmechah voh — This is the
day the LORD has made, we will rejoice and we will be glad in it!
Grace, mercy and peace will be with you from GOD THE FATHER and the LORD
MESSIAH YESHUA, in truth and love.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
People who think they are more important than others have forgotten what
is important.

CRY OF GOD'S HEART
"Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would revere ME and
follow all MY commandments, that it may be well with them and with their
children forever!" [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 5. 29 Tanakh, Torah]

To know the MERCIFUL GOD OF HEAVEN, we must "listen!" He tells us, "I
am the FIRST, and I am the LAST as well." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 48. 12
Tanakh, Nevi'im] And we must "believe" believe that HE is the only
GOD and love HIM alone. "Hear, O Israel! the LORD, our GOD, the LORD is
ONE! You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your might." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 6. 4 - 5
Tanakh, Torah]

ALMIGHTY GOD, in HIS tender compassionate kindness, desires, "if only MY
people would listen to ME, that they would obey ME and follow MY paths!"
[Psalms (Tehillym) 81. 13 Tanakh, Kethuvim] Instead, the nations are
void of counsel and there is no understanding in them. The people
utterly corrupted themselves with evil and have turned aside from the
LORD'S commands, even denying HIS existence. Our sins are done in the
open for all to see; and in belligerent, hostile, defiance we have
provoked the RIGHTEOUS ONE to anger.

Our response to the SOVEREIGN LORD should be to "Listen to (HIS) counsel
and accept discipline in order that you may be wise in your latter days.
Many designs are in a man's mind, but it is the LORD'S plan that stands
and will be accomplished. " [Proverbs (Mishle) 19. 20 - 21 Tanakh,
Kethuvim] The HOLY ONE declares, "When MY people who bear MY NAME
humble themselves, pray, and seek MY face and turn from their evil ways,
I will hear in MY heavenly abode and forgive their sin and heal their
land." [2 Chronicles (Dibre Hayamin Bet) 7. 14 Tanakh, Kethuvim]

As we earnestly obey, the GENTLE MASTER will "teach us to number our
days rightly" so we will gain a heart of wisdom and HE will have
compassion on us. [Psalms/Tehillym 90. 8 - 13] "What does the LORD
your GOD demand of you? Only this, to revere the LORD your GOD, to walk
only in HIS paths, to love HIM, and to serve the LORD your GOD with all
of your heart and soul." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 10. 12 Tanakh, Torah]
"Obey the VOICE OF THE LORD your GOD, to keep HIS commandments and HIS
statutes which are recorded in this BOOK OF THE TEACHING." [Deuteronomy
(Devarim) 30. 10 Tanakh, Torah] IF we love HIM, this is something we
will want to do, not something we have to do.

The LOVING LORD GOD promises that "you will find HIM, IF only you seek
HIM with all your heart and soul." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4. 29 Tanakh,
Torah] Those who have a tender heart to seek the BLESSED SAVIOUR and
humble themselves before HIM, HE will give them the understanding to
acknowledge "that I am the LORD. They shall be MY people and I will be
their GOD when they turn back to ME with their whole heart." [Jeremiah
(Yirmeyah) 24. 7 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

Both Jews and Gentiles can receive the POWER OF GOD and the WISDOM OF
GOD, in MESSIAH YESHUA. [1 Corinthians 1. 24] Nehemiah was a good
example for everyone with a heart for the LORD to follow — "he read
from the BOOK OF THE TEACHING OF GOD each day from the First to the Last
day." [Nehemiah (Nechemah) 8. 18 Tanakh, Kethuvim] If one were wise,
they would contemplate their eternal worth and redeem the time. "Oh
that they were wise, they would think upon this, they would consider
their Latter End." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 32. 29 Tanakh, Torah] LORD,
bind us closer to YOU and keep us strong.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
...
We praise YOU, MOST HOLY LoRd and ask that YOUR PRESENCE be manifest to
us in all YOUR works, so that reverence for YOU may fill the hearts of
YOUR creatures. May all the children of men bow before YOU in humility
and unite to do YOUR will with one heart, that all may acknowledge that
YOURS alone is the power, dominion and majesty; and that YOUR NAME is
exalted above all. LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, help us daily to break down the
barriers which keep us from YOU: falsehood & faithlessness, callousness
& selfishness, injustice & hard-heartedness. Amen

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.



Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Staying alive is not the same thing as living with a purpose.

READINESS, A COMMAND
"Sanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts, and always be ready to give a
defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame
you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in CHRIST may be
ashamed." [1 Peter 3. 15 - 16]

Peter is urgently advising the pilgrims in the world of the importance
of being prepared with answers for the increasingly growing hostility
toward the only True Faith in MESSIAH. Opposition to CHRISTians requires
an ability to defend the faith and conduct. Peter is encouraging
believers to be ready to do so in an intelligent and gracious way. [1
Peter 3. 13 - 16] Three times he reminds us that we will suffer, but it
should be for righteousness sake and not as a result of sinful behavior.
[1 Peter 3.17; 2.20; 4.15-16]

The Apostle Paul's testimony was of his confidence that, "He who has
begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of JESUS CHRIST;
just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you
in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and
confirmation of the GOSPEL, you all are partakers with me of grace."
[Philippians 1. 6 - 7] Continuing by saying, "knowing that I am
appointed for the defense of the GOSPEL." [Philippians 1. 17] Stressing
the vital importance of defending the GLORIOUS GOSPEL affirming his
determination to defend the GOSPEL and reminding his fellow CHRISTian
brother that they also are participants in its defense.

These facts are sufficient to show that the GOOD NEWS does need
defending by those who embrace it. Defense or apologetics refers to a
formal, carefully structured defense, speaking of a careful, scientific
presentation of arguments defending the GOSPEL from its enemies.

The SAVING GOSPEL of the LORD YESHUA ha'MASHIACH encompasses HIS
great works of creation, incarnation, atoning death, triumphant
resurrection, and soon-coming Kingdom was under attack in Paul's
days, just as it is today. We urgently need to be prepared to give an
effective defense wherever and whenever needed.

Several passages in the OLD COVENANT encourage the believer to be
standing up for righteousness: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning
(best part) of knowledge." [Proverbs (Mishle) 1. 7 Tanakh, Kethuvim]
"The heart of the righteous studies (Hebrew: hagah � rehears,
ponder, meditate, mourn, mutter) to answer." [Proverbs (Mishle) 15. 28
Tanakh, Kethuvim] "The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the
answer of the tongue is from the LORD." [Proverbs (Mishle) 16. 1 Tanakh,
Kethuvim]

Readiness is a command, not an option. CHRIST-like- ones will suffer,
but our faith should not waver counting it a privilege to share the
knowledge and the suffering of our LORD and helping others to overcome
their bitter and disquieted attitude, replaced it with dependency on and
confidence in GOD MOST HIGH. When the MESSIAH, JESUS THE CHIEF SHEPHERD
& OVERSEERER of believers appears, those who know HIM will be glorified.
Thus, it behooves us to study and use CHRISTIAN evidences diligently in
our witness.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
We thank YOU, O GOD, for YOUR providence which keeps the spirit of
truth, justice and peace alive in the hearts of men. We pray for YOU to
instill us with holy zeal to work in the cause for which it was
established. May we live in freedom everywhere and unite us to sing a
new song of salvation and deliverance. Impart YOUR blessing, O GOD on
our homes that they be a refuge for weary souls; and grant the blessing
of liberty, justice and peace to all YOUR children now and in the hard
and dark days to come. In YOU alone is found strength in trouble, light
in darkness, and hope in adversity. Amen!

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.
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