“The law of YHWH [is] perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of YHWH [are] steadfast, Making the simple wise, The precepts of YHWH [are] upright, Rejoicing the heart, The command of YHWH [is] pure, enlightening the eyes, The fear of YHWH [is] clean, standing for all time, The judgments of YHWH [are] true, They have been righteous—together... In keeping them [is] a great reward.”” (Psa 19:7-11, LSV)
Better than gold.
Do you want your soul refreshed?
How do we refresh our soul? Caffeine? Yoga? 30 Day Challenges? Well, repentance did it for me. I speak to my fellow Christian. Do you remember when you first humbled yourself in the sight of this man Jesus? Do you remember putting trust in the promise of eternity with the Creator of the Universe?
It’s almost mind blowing. He spoke the world into existence. Also, He died to reach out and save my life from death itself.
The perfect God did not create an imperfect Torah. His instructions are a part of His gift (inheritance) to His children.
This is why I celebrate.
I once was lost, but now I’m found. When I was lost, I had no direction. I had no “way.”
Now that my Jesus brought me back into His flock, I need His Rod and His Staff to guide me and keep me away from danger.
Many people will tell you that the “Law of Moses” is bad news, that it should be avoided at all costs.
I tell you, I was there, I thought like that. I spoke like that. But God’s Word says that Torah is more precious than gold and that it is sweeter than honey. God promises me that if I seek Torah, there is great reward.
Do you ever feel like evil is closing in like the bad guys in a 70’s Karate movie?
When Trouble Surrounds…
We must remember two things from today’s scripture in Psalm 119:150-151.
God is near.
The evil ones are far from God and His law.
God Is Near.
“The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it”
Deuteronomy 30:14
“The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach)”
Romans 10:8
When the evil people of your community come against you… When your trusted institutions (media, government, medicine) seek your harm… When mythical levels of secret forces mock your way of life and attempt to round you up and push you away…
Your Father is near. He is with you and He is in you. Hear His words, feel His breath (spirit) in your very lungs. Read His Word (living and powerful) out loud to draw near and to provide a barrier, an offence to the lawless ones. Remember His angels are here to. He commissions them to stand for our cause. Halleluyah.
Though they threaten, they are lost
The evil ones are the walking dead, slowly encroaching upon your space. Do not give them your mind, your soul, your strength. Those belong to your King (Deut. 6). They are focused but they are lost.
Jerks will be jerks. Without God’s ways in their hearts, the sinners will do sinner’s stuff. They will be trusted, in a way, to be untrustworthy. Don’t take your eyes off your God. Don’t let your heart cheer for their demise.
Pray for those who persecute you.
Do it now. It is super important to take every available moment to use your weapon. The time is short. You may see that Cruella DeVille turn into a meek child of God. Pray salvation, pray Deliverance. Pray the revival will come. You and I were outside God’s will and Kingdom, outside His rescuing grace. Now we need to serve as a lifeguard.
Using wisdom, of course. Let’s love our neighbors.
Prayer
Father in Heaven, sometimes I feel that I’ve known you forever. Sometimes I forget that I lived in a state of being unsaved from my sin. Let me have compassion on the very people who come after me. Bring them to mind in my prayer closet. Hear me when I pray. I pray for my protection and favor in all interactions. Keep us from their evil and their games. If they can be saved, let them turn to you. Amen.
Simply put, the pull of Torah is a lifeline to keep us from destruction.
Torah gives us a hope. Torah gives us something to cling to. Will we go through the life of a disciple without a rope, without a lifeline?
If it was so wretched, I would not crave it.
If you’ve been told that Torah is burdensome, you’ve been lied to. The scripture says that His commandments are NOT a burden. They are to be loved. As Jesus is to be loved, we are to love His instructions.
It is because of that love, we are sustained during affliction, famine, disease, and destruction. We can be held up from the death of the sinners.
It is a Tree of Life
Cling to that central root of the olive tree. If you were grafted on, do not push off. Do not be as one who is pruned off the tree. Live and learn from the Yeshua (salvation) of your soul.
Prayer:
Thank you Oh Father of fathers. Thank you King of kings. You have sent me a lifeline. You sustain me in persecution and distress. Keep your servants in your Way. Help us cling to your lifeline. Help us wander not away. Give us strength to pursue the truth. Thank you that there is joy, and not pain in Torah. Amen.
“May Your compassion come to me that I may live, For Your law is my delight.” — Psalm 119:77
Am I a broken record.
If so, I’m a true record, even in my brokenness. In my life, as gracious Father let me repent and be made new, I was brought to my knees. I was at a point that if I knew one thing, I could at least go to paradise with that one thing in my brain. At least I know that God’s law is truth.
Why do I keep saying Torah is a gift, Torah is a benefit, Torah is, simply good? Because the Bible keeps saying it. God keeps saying it. It wouldn’t be repeated so much if it was insignificant or detrimental.
Halleluyah. I can be like a tree planted by the river. I can bear fruit, even as an old crickety dad.
Compassion is undeserved. Life is borrowed. We have zero life in ourselves. We get breath from God. He is the author of life. He is the giver of life through His loving compassion. And our God has given us a way to live. That way is in Torah. Why would I be like the one who walks in the counsel of the ungodly? Why listen to scornful? I guarantee, demons and deceptive spirits do NOT like God’s principles for living.
Do you like, do you delight in Torah?
this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:3
We don’t understand every precept instantly. Let’s be like the new converts in the time of the Jerusalem council. Let’s start following Messiah, then read through and incline our ears to Torah as we go.
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
Acts 15:19-21
First Things First
As Mike Sundin of One In Messiah, Tallahassee points out. Modern churches don’t really teach the first part of the Jerusalem council conclusions. Take a look and ask yourself if you’ve been taught to be careful of any of these food guidelines.
What about verse 21? Are you hearing the Torah each week? The new converts from Paganism (former gentiles) in that time were being taught Torah. It is not warned against. It is not important, or even possible to make sure a pagan is fully observant before coming to Messiah – entering into the fellowship of Israel.
Let them come to Messiah and turn from immorality, then learn as they go. We all do this. Unless we tell ourselves that Torah dishonors YHWH.
I found Messiah, but many years later, I found His delight in Torah. Guess what. Still not perfect. Good thing I didn’t hold off until I was perfect.
But I know YHWH. I breathe His spirit in my lungs. The Messiah is in me and I am in Him. His Torah is a delight. And this won’t be the last time I tell you that.
Prayer:
Father, I love you and delight in your presence. Thank you for rest, and health. Thank you for shalom in your Way. Keep me inside your compassion and love. I do not call your ways a burden. I call it a delight. Dwell in me and let me forever be in your faith and provision. Amen.
Some people delight in their riches, in their Feasts, in their pretend kingships. We are so blessed to have the richness of Messiah and His Torah.
Their heart is covered with fat, But I delight in Your Torah.
Psalm 119:70
And he replied: Go and say to this people: Listen carefully, but do not understand! Look intently, but do not perceive! Make the heart of this people sluggish (literally: fat), dull (literally: heavy) their ears and close (literally: blind) their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and their heart understand, and they turn and be healed.
Isaiah 6:9-10
In this passage, I believe fatness of heart is contrasted again, with an obedient spirit to God’s Torah.
Cure For A Fat Heart
What is a fat heart? Well, as I understand, it’s not like a heavy heart. It’s one that is satisfied and not in need of any nurishment. Self satisfied or even self-satiated.
We would not want a fat heart because we wouldn’t see that we need the Bread of Life. The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well did not have a fat heart. She was hungry and she found Messiah face to face.
If you have been where she was, with a hungry heart, you likely had that moment where you realized, “I need a Savior. I need Messiah. I need Him to open my eyes as well.”
Then, you invited Him in. How amazing. We are so blessed to not have a fat heart. We are so blessed to hear from the mouth of God through His Torah. What a delight it is to partake.
Communion is a visual representation of our receiving of the Bread of Yeshua and the saving blood. Next time you have kiddish (communion) think about the fruit of the vine (grape juice) first as a representation of his washing of sins. Then the bread which sustains us as we walk in His Way. Halleluyah!
Here is a long (really long) study of this term as well as “hardened heart” and more. By the way, it’s long. Can you tell I have ADD (or AMG attention multiplication gift)?
John Oswalt writes: “The faculties of perception and response (eyes, ears, and heart) will be dulled and apathetic,” and “A ‘fat heart’ speaks of a slow, languid, self-oriented set of responses, incapable of decisive, self-sacrificial action.”
Scielo.org
Don’t let your heart get fat. You have Torah. Let it be the lamp that leads your path as you follow Messiah the true King.
Prayer:
Father, King of my heart, creator of the world. I worship you. Thank you for the delight of Torah. You have given it to your chosen seed. Thank you Father for your matchless grace, for saving me through the blood of Yeshua. Bless your Name. Please feed me with the bread of Messiah.
Let the world do what they do. Let it not bring pain to my family. I pray for the famine. Let them see that they need Messiah. Amen.
According to the Word of God, it is the wicked, the guilty ones, who forsake His Torah.
David expressed a burning that seized him because of that lawlessness.
Sometimes I know the feeling.
I think we are too much on the defensive these days. Lawlessness has become a thing off popular culture. It has become the norm in many (mostly urban) strongholds across the USA.
But we see it in school boards and city councils in small towns too. The guilty ones, the wicked ones, have achieved a level of authority in many places.
It is wake-up time (or a few exits past it) for a follower of Messiah. We need to be busy, busy, not just taking things back, but jailing the law of the land breakers and keeping the vigilance.
Much to be said of such things
There’s no time for this post to wake up the masses. But I can ask you a question or two. What do you feel when you see lawlessness/torahlessness? Are you immune to a burning in your soul? Or does zeal spark up a flame?
How do you pray? Do you simply pray that everyone will be saved? Accept Jesus? That would be fine. Some are coming to repentance. Or do you pray for Justice? Biblical prayers for Justice abound.
He is YHWH Elohaynu: his judgments are in all the earth.
TEHILLIYM (PSALMS) 105:7 את CEPHER
Many times, when the psalmist asks for Justice, he’s speaking of his times but also of a prophetic time in the future when the Messiah embodies one of His end times roles. Judge.
And He uses a sword.
Use that sword now.
The sword of the Messiah is the Words of His mouth. As He left, he willed something to His apostles. That thing is the very Breath (Spirit) of YHWH in our lungs and in our presence, walking with us and the authority of ambassadors. We can speak the actual words of God.
That is what Jesus did, and the Devil and his spirit slaves (demons) had to flee.
You and I wrestle with the spirit realm. It would be best to to three things to be mighty warriors.
Learn about the armor of God
Draw closer to the Breath of YHWH within.
Use his Sword. Speak it with true faith and authority.
Simple – Not Simple
Which side are you on. Sometimes it takes a thief to discover the truth.
What?
Have you been stolen from? Have you been mocked or hurt deeply in your emotions by a loved one, a long time friend? You have been robbed of your trust. You have also seen the light.
Our national leaders, some of our neighbors, some family, friends, even pastors have robbed us.
They speak lies to us and even about us.
Step Back
I believe the Father provides a refuge for us if we step back into safety as we identify the spiritual enemies. And await His charge.
You are not alone.
You are strong because the Breath of God is in you. You are powerful because the blood of Yeshua and His DNA is at your core. And you are victorious because you wield the mighty Sword of His Word. Stronger than the demons weapons.
Prayer
Father in Heaven, we worship you, the maker of heaven and earth. Hosannah. Come save us. Father I receive your helper. I receive your Breath into my lungs, into my temple. Give me guidance and strength through your mighty Word. Lead me in the paths of righteousness and restore my strength in the mighty name of YESHUA. Give me zeal enough for each day and give me compassion enough to perceive when your gospel is working it’s good work. Thank you for your Torah. May I never be one who is guilty, who seeks evil and torahlessness. May the blood of YESHUA cleanse me and make me more than whole. Amen.
For amein I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one yod or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:18 Cepher
David agrees with Jesus again. He must have known the Messiah would be pro Torah and that the Torah was for all time. Jeremiah knew it. Paul, yes, Paul, knew it.
Sorry, but if He didn’t he would be guilty of preaching a new gospel. He even warned against that.
even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.
Galatians 1:8
Why wouldn’t David want forever? Why wouldn’t he choose liberty-freedom?
Why give back a gift?
In the covenant, there is an agreement. The same applies with the old covenant and the new (renewed) covenant. God’s part + our part. The part about the new covenant that most people misunderstand, is all of it.
But this shall be the covenant that I will cut with the house of Yashar’el; After those days, says Yahuah, I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 31:33 Cepher
The “who.” Israel. Are you in? Or out?
Torah – in our hearts. Have you accepted or rejected Torah.
He will be our God, and we will be His people.
There is a new Kingdom which is the renewed throne of David (Messiah Ben David). We will be there. However, those who accept the inheritance of Salvation but rejecting Torah in our hearts puts us in an interesting class of believers according to the Messiah.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:19 Cepher
David was forgiven, and He is considered Great.
The LORD has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed Him ruler of His people.
1 Samuel 13:14
When I run, I challenge myself to go farther and run more efficiently. I’m happy to see the finish line. I’m glad to reach the goal. But if my goal is to only be at the finish line, I could take a car, or a bus, or a boat. But if the walk (or run) is part of the journey, I know that each step was made with my feet, through the power of God. If I took a golf cart, no one’s giving me a medal. Some people might even call me a thief or at least dishonest to myself and everyone else.
Messiah is the gate. We must, of course, come to YHWH through Messiah. If not, we are a thief or a liar. Once I have come to Him, I want His Torah. And I want all of Him, forever.
Prayer:
Father, please forgive me through your grace through your Son. I receive my inheritance of Salvation and I long to be in your presence in your house. I receive your instructions, I receive your feast and cherish your wisdom and light to carry me on the path.
Let me not stray. Keep me from evil that I may dwell in your New Jerusalem. Amen.
Yay Torah! 