Psalm 28:1, The pit. The Hebrew word for pit is bor meaning “a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or prison), cistern, dungeon, fountain, pit or well.” This word obviously refers to a deep hole in the ground. Bor is also a poetic Hebraism that can refer to a place of deep human despair and hopelessness as well as to the grave or, in Hebrew, sheol. The grave is where the wicked will eventually end up as the next few verses of this psalm indicate. But as this psalm goes on to tell us in verses six through nine, YHVH delivers his people from the wicked and their ultimate fate, which is to end up in the proverbial the pit or the grave. In fact, this is the fate of all those who do not place their trust in YHVH’s Redeemer, Yeshua the Messiah, who he is the saving refuge of his people (v. 8) forever (v. 9)!
Psalm 28:8, He [i.e. YHVH] is the saving [Heb. Yeshua] refuge/strength of his anointed. The context in which this verse sets like a jewel in a bezel reads,
YHVH is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. YHVH is their strength, and He is the saving [Yeshua] refuge of His anointed. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also, and bear them up forever. (Ps 28:7–9)
This verse is loaded with prophetic implications that obviously point to Yeshua the Messiah; it even contains the name personal of the Messiah. Apart from these allusions to Yeshua that scream to us from a mountain top pointing to pointing to his role as our Redeemer or Savior, Shepherd, as well as our strength and joy, it is interesting to note that this verse refers to YHVH’s people as “His anointed.” The Hebrew word here, no surprise, is mashiycah from which the word messiah derives. This word means “consecrated” or “sanctified, blessed, made holy, made sacred, hallowed, set apart or dedicated to Elohim.”
If you have been redeemed by Yeshua the Messiah, then this describes who you are. Ponder over the implications of this reality and then ask yourself the following questions: Have I embraced and incorporated in myself a consecrated mindset,that is, do I view myself in these terms? Does my life reflect the reality of how YHVH views me and what he calls me? Now consider how this may change your whole outlook about yourself, how you live and act, and how you view other redeemed believers around you.
Psalm 29
Psalm 29:3–9, The voice of YHVH. These verses list the seven attributes of the voice of YHVH.
YHVH voice is over the waters. That is to say, it is over the peoples of the earth.
YHVH’s voice is powerful.
YHVH’s voice is majestic, splendorous, glorious or full of honor.
YHVH’s voice breaks the cedars and makes them skip like a calf. That is to say, it makes humble the proud and it brings joy.
YHVH’s voice divides the flames of fire. This brings to mind the divine empowerment that came upon the saints in the book of Acts chapter two on the day of Pentecost—the wind and fire or the voice and Spirit of Elohim, which shows us that he is both Spirit and truth, and that we must worship him through both these aspects of who he is (John 4:23–24).
YHVH’s voice shakes the wilderness. That is to say, in the wilderness of one’s life, it upsets the status quo of our carnal existence and challenges us to grow spiritually.
YHVH’s voice makes the deer give birth and strips the forest bare. That is to say, it brings forth life and it reveals his hidden truth and that is often hidden inside of our personal spirit or conscience, which YHVH wants to bring forth like a river of life to bless us and those around us (John 7:38).
Psalm 31
Psalm 31:20, Secret place…presence…pavillion. Secret place means “shelter or hiding place” and presence is panyim meaning “faces or presence” of Elohim. Pavillion is “sukkah.” In this set-apart and private place, one not only finds communion with Elohim, but a refuge from “the strife of tongues [Heb. lashon] or the evil tongue of our accusers and persecutors. The secret presence of YHVH is our personal “God bubble” in which to escape the strife caused by evil-does around us, and to find the peace of YHVH in his presence.
Psalm 32
Psalm 32:6, In a time. There are times, from man’s perspective, it seems when YHVH can’t be found.
David, the author of this psalm, was a literal shepherd of sheep as we all know. This is something that both David and I had in common. This is because I lived on sheep farm from age six to 24, and like David, it was my duty to care for the sheep. We can learn a lot about ourselves and other people when we hang out with sheep. Being a shepherd makes the Bible come alive, since YHVH Yeshua likens his people to sheep, and he is our Good Shepherd who cares for us (John 10:11, 14).
During my time on the family farm, it was my responsibility to care for the sheep including feeding them twice daily, caring for the lambs, protecting the sheep from predators, keeping the gates and fences that surrounded them in good conditions, cleaning their barns, helping the ewes give birth as needed, tending to sick and wounded sheep, leading them from pasture to pasture, shearing them, and finally, butchering them. I have wrestled with sheep, chased them, led them, fed them, fondled them, sheared them and even butchered them. I loved the sheep that were under my care, and to this day, decades later, I still feel a deep, visceral love in my gut when the thought of sheep come to my mind. Whenever I have the opportunity to be around sheep, if they are tame,you will find me out with them fondling their heads and scratching them behind their ears.
Later, I married and became the father of four children and had the opportunity to shepherd my own flock of human sheep. After that, my wife and I started a congregation which I pastored or shepherded (as I like to say) for 18 years where I shepherded “sheeple.”
Here are a few of my reflections on literal sheep and caring for them and how they are like YHVH’s people (or “sheeple”).
Sheep are defenseless. About all they can do is run from a predator, and they are not fast runners. They will run until they tire out, and then will simply fall down exhausted becoming a hapless victim. When a ewe feels threatened, especially when she has lambs, she will look at you in the eye and stomp her hoof determinately in the ground as it to say, “Don’t come any closer, or I will…do something to you, but I don’t have a clue what….” It is all show, for there is nothing she can do, but hope to out run her attacker. In reality, it’s a pitiful and hopeless situation.
Sheep are not the most intelligent animal on the farm nor the dumbest, but are somewhere in the between goat and turkeys. Of the animals we had on our farm, our sheep dog was the most intelligent, then the goats, followed by cattle and lastly the sheep. After that came the fowl. In order of intelligence were geese, pigeons, chickens, ducks and the stupidest of all were the turkeys. Frankly, the ducks didn’t seem much smarter, at least to me. Chickens are not much better.
Sheep are skittish. If they don’t know you, they will not allow you to approach them, but will run off. If they know and trust you, they will allow you to come up to them, or they will come up to you when you call them—especially if they think you have food (e.g. grain). At night, when it was dark and they could not see you, I could walk among them and they would not run away. I would simply let them hear my voice, and they were immediately at ease. This reminds me of the Bible verses where Yeshua, the Good Shepherd said that his sheep here his voice and he calls them by name (John 10:3, 16, 27).
Sheep will happily and trustingly follow their shepherd whom they know and trust. I trained the sheep to following me from one pasture to another while shaking a bucket of grain. They would follow me single file wherever I led them. There was always a lead sheep—usually the oldest, tamest and smartest ewe. The other sheep knew and trusted this matriarch, and she knew and trusted me knowing that I would lead her to a good pasture. Similarly, Yeshua raises up trusted leaders (shepherds) among his people who have earned their trust, and they follow the leader as he or she follows Yeshua. This is what Paul asked of the saints in Corinth: “Follow [or imitate] me as I follow [or imitate] Messiah,” (1 Cor 11:1).
Sheep are smelly. Their wool gets all manner of pasture debris (e.g. sticks, dirt and whatever else) caught in it, and they are unable to clean themselves. A sheep pelt (minus the sheep) is not easily cleaned. With the help of much soap and rubbing by hand, it takes a long time to get all of the dirt out that has accumulated since the sheep was last shorn, which occurs once a year—usually in the spring. When the pelt gets wet, it takes days to dry out, since thick wool holds a lot of moisture. This is why Gideon used a wet then a dry sheep fleece as a miraculous test to prove the veracity of the Heavenly Messenger’s word to him (Judg 6:36–40).
Sheep lead well, but they drive badly. As already noted, sheep will follow a trusted shepherd wherever he leads them. However, if you try to drive a flock of sheep (without the aid of well-trained sheep dogs), each one will flee frantically in as many directions as there sheep. This reminds me of the Bible verses that says without a loving shepherd to lead them, YHVH’s people, like sheep, will scatter (Zech 13:7; Matt 26:7). Sheep need a shepherd, even as we need trusted human leaders, and ultimately Yeshua is the head or Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4) of us all.
Without a shepherd, sheep will wander. Though I was the shepherd of our flock of sheep, we had fences to keep the sheep contained, so they would not wander. Fences also prevent predators from getting in with the sheep. Similarly, without Yeshua and his Torah-Word to lead, guide and protect us, we, as his sheep, will also go astray, for as we read, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way,” (Isa 53:6). Yeshua’s word is like a fence that protects us from the destructive forces of sin, as well as those who would prey on us and lead us astray (e.g. false teachers and shepherds, and Satan himself, who comes as an angel of light to lure us away from the safe pastures of YHVH’s ways of Truth and righteousness that lead to everlasting life).
In times Bible times, shepherds carried a rod and staff. The rod was a weapon to club predators who might attack the sheep. The staff was to guide and direct the sheep—to keep them in line while moving them from place to place. On our farm, our rod was a gun that we kept at the door, which we used on occasion to protect our sheep from attacking dogs. Our staff were our fences and barns that kept the sheep contained.
When brought into a new pasture, sheep will gorge themselves with so much fresh grass that sometimes their stomachs will bloat and they will become sick. Invariably, our sheep would get the runs from all the green grass and their rear ends were a greenish mess! As crass as this may sound, I saw the same thing happen many times while pastoring YHVH’s sheeple. People would leave the mainstream Christian church in malnourished, virtually starved condition because they had not been fed well from the whole Word of Elohim including his Torah. About all they knew was that Jesus loved them and that they were saved by his grace. Once the treasures of Torah and the Old Testament were opened up to them, they would gorge themselves on the wonderful knowledge contained there and, in turn, forget about Yeshua and his loving grace. As a result, they would start to eat and devour one another and become spiritually sick. Sheeple can become messed up pretty quickly when fed an unbalanced biblical diet. In some Hebraic circles, this proclivity has given rise to the pejorative term “Messyanics” or “Messy Antics” instead of Messianics.
Sheep love to be fondled and scratched on the head and behind the ears. Domesticated animals, like sheep, are YHVH’s gift to humans. One of YHVH’s first commands to Adam and Eve was to tend and keep the garden and then to care for and name the animals. Most of our animals (except the chickens) all had names. I grew up around animals, and even our farm animals (we always had a hundred or more of them at any one time) became my pets. I loved them as it was my job to care for them every morning and evening, from birth until the time we had to butcher them to feed our family. Many animals crave for and thrive on human affection and respond affectionately when loved and fondled. We can all relate to household pets like dogs and cats, but sheep, goats and cattle thrive on human affection as well. So do chickens. Have you ever picked up, cradled a hen in your arms while petting it? The sweetest and most mellifluous will flow forth from them as evidence of their happiness. There was much love and affection exchanged between myself and the animals I cared for on the family farm. They looked me as their protector and provider. Their dependence on me was evident, for if I slept in and failed to get up early enough to feed them in the morning, the farm would erupt with a chorus of mooing, baahing to inform me that I was derelict in my dutie.
Sheep trust their shepherd. I could move freely among the sheep day or night without them fearing me. This was not true of strangers.
Sheep know the voice of their shepherd even in the night darkness when they cannot see who the person is. As already noted, one word from me, and they were immediately at peace. Similarly, those of us who have a personal relationship with Yeshua, our Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4) have learned to know, trust and long to hear his voice to guide and comfort us as we navigate the rough seas of this life.
Sheep require a fair amount of care to keep healthy. Their hooves have to be trimmed. They need shearing and deworming. Sometimes they need help giving birth to their young. From time to time and mother will reject its newborn lamb, and so the lamb has to be hand fed until it is able to feed on grass. I had to suckle motherless lambs many times. We would actually bring them into our warm house and keep them there until their wool had grown sufficiently, so that they could endure the cold weather outside without a mother to snuggle up against.
A shepherd always has to be alert to potential predators attacking his sheep. Even though we had fences and barns for the sheep’s protection, we still kept a watchful eye over them day and night. My bedroom was in the attic of the old farmhouse that my grandfather had built in the early 1920s. I always slept with the window open not only for fresh air, but so that I could hear any worrisome sounds coming from the sheep pasture below. We kept a goat a amongst the sheep who wore a bell. If I heard the goat’s neckbell ringing, this alerted me to the fact that the sheep were running—something that they normally wouldn’t be doing at night. Instantly, I was up, dressed, and downstairs where I would grab the gun, the flashlight and run out the door with our border collie dog right behind me to check on the sheep. A few time while giving birth to a lamb at night, a ewe would beginning bleating in pain. This was our clue that she needed our help. I would wake up my mom and we would run down to the sheep pasture to perform midwifery service to the ailing ewe. To this day, I tend to be a light sleeper, and often awake at the slightest sound as a result of years of sleeping with one ear open listening for worrisome sounds coming from the sheep pasture. Similarly, the ears of YHVH are open to the cries of his people who diligently seek him.
Lambs are like puppies—very sweet and lovable. What person doesn’t love a puppy? YHVH loves his spiritual lambs, as well, in ways that we are unable to fully fathom and appreciate. After all, let’s not forget that he gave his only begotten Son to be the Lamb of Elohim slain from the foundation of the world to redeem sinful humans. That’s you and me!
This is the old farmhouse Natan grew up in. The open window belongs to Natan’s bedroom. I kept it open at night, so I could hear if there was any problem among the sheep in the pasture that needed my immediate attention..
During the time of the judges, the nation Israel was languishing under oppressive foreign powers, yet on numerous occasions, YHVH mercifully sent them a savior to deliver them and through miracles and against overwhelming odds, Israel defeated its oppressors and the nation was brought to a new spiritual level. During this time, YHVH raised up powerful leaders, some of whom were prophets, to lead his people in national spiritual revival and to defeat their oppressive enemies. Most of these leaders were men, but when no man would step forward, he would use women to deliver his people. Deborah, a fiery woman of Elohim, was such a leader.
I have encountered no better description of Deborah the prophetess than this one found in a dusty old book in my library:
Deborah—what a strong solitary ray of light strikes from her story and song, upon the peaks of the past! A mother in Israel, the wise woman of her neighborhood, curing diseases, deciding differences, perhaps, at times, conducting the devotions of her people—how little was she, or were they, aware of the depth which lay in her heart and in her genius. It required but one action and one strain to cover her with glory. In her, as in all true women, lay a quiet fund of strength, virtue, and courage, totally unsuspected by herself.…The Great Spirit, seeking for a vent through which to pour a flood of ruin upon the invaders of Israel, found this woman sitting under her palm tree, on the mountain side, and she did his bidding.…The calm matron becomes the Nemesis of her race, and the mantle of Miriam falls on her shoulders, and the sword of Joshua flames her hand. [Her] prophetic fury sinks not, till the enemy of her country is crushed, and till she has told the tidings to the earth, to heaven, and to all after-time. And then like a sword dropped from a hero’s side, she quietly falls back into her peaceful solitude again.…How wonderful are the gust which surprise and uplift men, and women too, into greatness—greatness before unknown, and terrible even to themselves. (The Bards of the Bible, p. 98, by George Gilfillan, 1851)
The story of Deborah often brings up the question concerning the role of women among YHVH’s people. Proponents of women in leadership roles point to Deborah as a champion to their cause. Those who decry any sort of women leadership within the Christian church often blush when the example of Deborah is brought up, and are quick to add that she was a one-time exception to this rule. What does the Bible say about women leadership among believers?
As proof that on numerous occasions, YHVH raised up to prominent leadership roles among his people, please note the following examples as Batya Wootten points out in her book, Mama’s Torah—the Role of Women:
Miriam was a prophetess and coworker with her brothers Moses and Aaron in leading Israel (Mic 6:4).
YHVH used the daughters of Zelophehad to help instruct Moses, and on the basis of their wisdom, the Torah was amended (Num 27:1–11).
Huldah was a prophetess and an advisor to King Josiah (2 Kgs 22:11–20).
Queen Esther helped to write law (Est 9:29).
Phoebe was a deacon or minister within the spiritual body of early Messianic believers (Rom 16:1–2).
Junia along with Andronicus, her husband, are listed as apostles (Rom 16:7).
Priscilla and Aquila were a husband and wife ministry team and pastored a congregation that met in their home. There are times when the Scripture even records Priscilla’s name first. She was evidently a dynamic leader, along with her husband (Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19).
The women in Corinth prayed and prophesied publicly (1 Cor 11:5–6).
Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9).
A nucleus of women developed a congregation at Philippi (Acts 16:12–15,40).
Wootten then deduces from the biblical record that “believing communities should be aligned with biblical patterns of the Scripture. And while it clearly depicts a pattern of male leadership, is also clearly shows female participation” (ibid. p. 37).
In light of the example of Deborah we must ask the question: will YHVH’s plans and purposes be put on hold or thwarted simply because there is no person of the male gender to fulfill those plans? For example, can he who spoke through the mouth Balaam’s donkey, and who, Yeshua declared, could raise up rocks to declare his praises not also use women as he so chooses, when there lacks male leadership for the job? At the very least, could he not use women in powerful and instrumental ways to assist men in fulfilling the purposes of Elohim?
Judges4:4,Deborah the prophetess. Deborah is but one of a number of women prophets or, more correctly, prophetesses that are mentioned in the Bible. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron was the first prophetess mentioned (Exod 15:20). Huldah the prophetess ministered in the time of righteous King Josiah (2 Kgs 22:14; 2 Chron 34:22). The wife of Isaiah the prophet was also a prophetess making them a prophetic team (Isa 8:3). Noadiah the prophetess ministered in the time of Nehemiah (Neh 6:14). She must have been notable, since other prophets, presumably male, are listed along with her, but she is the only one whose name is mentioned. There was also Anna the prophetess who ministered near the temple and recognized the young Yeshua to be the Messiah (Luke 2:36). Philip the evangelist had four daughters who also prophesied (Acts 21:9). Beyond that, Joel the prophet predicted that a time would come when both men and women would prophecy (Joel 2:28). Peter recognized that this prophecy was, at least, in part fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17). Joel’s prophecy was also likely fulfilled in the church at Corinth where everyone was allowed to prophecy, presumably both men and women, for the purpose of edifying the brethren (1 Cor 14:29–33), and Paul refers to them all as “prophets” (1 Cor 14:29, 32).
The wife of Lapidoth (KJV).TheArtScrollTanach has translated this phrase as “a fiery woman” since the Hebrew word lapid means torch. This implies that Deborah was energetic and decisive. The Jewish sages teach that Lapidoth is but another name for Barak since both names connote flashes of lightning, and therefore are used interchangeably (The ArtScroll Rubin Edition Joshua/Judges Commentary, p. 137). If the sages are correct, then Deborah was assisting her husband, Barak. He was the military leader of Israel, while she was the spiritual leader. Does this shake your paradigm about the role of women in biblical societies? Many times fiery women are labeled and branded as persona non grata. Is this a fair thing to do if they are women who walk in and uphold biblical standards of righteousness, and who honor and defer to male headship, if there is righteous male headship worthy of honor?
Often Barak is viewed as a reluctant, even cowardly military leader. Is this a fair assessment? Didn’t he display great faith when he heeded the Word of Elohim through Deborah, and furthermore abandoned the strategic high ground when attacking the enemy on the plain where the enemy’s chariots would be most advantageous? If Barak and Deborah were husband and wife, what does this story teach us about husbands and wives not only respecting, but heeding each other’s counsel, and then working together as a team? Who knows, YHVH may be using your wife or husband to speak to you right now!
Judging Israel at that time. Not only was Deborah a prophetess, but she acted as a judge—a de facto head leadership position in Israel at that time when there was not central leadership or government.
Judges4:11, 17,The children of Hobab. This is another name for Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, the priest of Midian, who was a righteous man and a descendant of Abraham. Thus, the children of Hobab and the Israelites were blood related cousins and possibly fellow believers in the Elohim of Abraham. Perhaps this is why Jael was willing to kill Sisera, the heathen enemy of Israel. Because of family and, possibly, spiritual ties, despite her people being at peace with Israel’s enemies, who was will to kill Sisera out of family loyalty and devotion to Elohim.
Judges4:14,Deborah said to Barak. Deborah, on the instructions of Elohim, commissioned Barak to go up with his army to fight Sisera with his 900 chariots of iron. This required great faith and human boldness on Barak’s part, for this would be like lightly armed infantry soldiers in our day going up against tanks. Yet armed with a prophetic word from Elohim and faith, Barak obeyed. Had Barak been a sexist, he would have dismissed the prophetesses words and not secured the victory for Israel. If Barak was the wife of Deborah (see notes at verse 4), then the lesson here is that men should listen to their godly wives. If they were not married, then men still need to listen to the counsel of godly and Spirit-led women.
Judges 1:2,Judah shall go up. Elohim has traditionally used the tribe of Judah (from which come the Jews) as the leader of the other eleven tribes of Israel. For example, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, Judah was the first of the twelve tribes to break camp and lead the way to the next camp (Num 2:9; 10:14). At times, YHVH instructed Judah to lead the way into battle (e.g., Judg 20:18). From Judah came the kings of Israel including the Messiah,who is the Lion (or King) of the Tribe of Judah (Gen 48:8–12; Ps 78:68–72; Heb 7:14; Rev 5:5). Jerusalem, the capital of Israel was located in the area of Judah. In the regathering of the tribes of Israel back to the Promised Land as numerous Bible prophecies predict will occur in the end times and on into the millennial reign of Yeshua, the Jews will be the first to return to the land of Israel as we have seen occurring in recent history in the rebirth of what is currently known as “the (Jewish) State of Israel.”
Judges 1:28–7,Jerusalem. The Jews temporarily took possession of Jerusalem, but quickly lost it to the Canaanites (v. 21). David eventually retook it and made it the capital of Israel several hundred years later. By this time, the Canaanites had fortified the city to such an extent that it could not easily be taken by a frontal attack.
Judges 1:12,Caleb. Caleb, the native Canaanite, was grafted into the tribe of Judah. (See notes at Num 13:16.)
Judges 1:20,Sons of Anak. The Anakim were the remnants of the satanic nephilim of Genesis 6:2–4, or the giants that inhabited the Promised Land, and which YHVH instructed the Israelites to annihilate.
Judges 1:21,The Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem. After quickly taking Jerusalem from the Canaanites (v. 8), the Israelites promptly lost it again. The Israelites were generally overwhelmingly victorious in the their battles against the Canaanites while taking possession of the Promised Land, but not always. In this case, the took and then quickly lost Jerusalem. This teaches us that, even with Elohim on our side, sometimes our battles against our enemies is not always immediately conclusive. We have to struggle a while before we eventually come out on top. Our enemies could be financial, marital, human relationship, health, familial or other issues.
Judges 1:27–36,[Did not] drive out. As we move in to the Promised Land of our spiritual inheritance, even with Elohim on our side, our battles against the world, the flesh and devil are not always immediately conclusive. Sometimes the immediate victory that should be ours eludes us. For example, sometimes saints die before their time due to sickness, but the will achieve the ultimate victory when they receive their glorified body and full spiritual inheritance at the resurrection of the righteous dead and the second coming of Yeshua.
Judges 2
Judges 2:1, 4,Angel of YHVH. Yeshua is speaking to us to day through his word and Spirit to make no alliances with the world, tear down the pagan altars in our lives all in preparation to be his bride.
Judges 2:2,Make no covenant. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. This can only lead to one to spiritual compromise and accommodation with the world, the flesh and the devil and lead one away from YHVH. This includes business partners, marriage partners and other voluntary close relationships where a saint is not in complete control of a situation and is thus potential subject to the influence of those who do not follow biblical standards.
Tear down their altars. We cannot go out into the world and tear its altars, but we can tear down the altars to pagan gods in our churches and our lives today.
Psalm 18:20, 24,Reward me according to my righteousness. The Bible not only teaches that there is a righteousness that is imputed to the saints, that is, the righteousness of Yeshua, but that there is also a works-based righteousness that is a result of the good works of the saints himself that will form the basis for his eternal rewards. Yeshua alludes to this in Matt 5:19–20 as does John in Rev 19:8 (see also Matt 16:27; Rom 2:6; 2 Cor 5:10; Eph 6:6; 1 Pet 1:17; Rev 2:23; 19:12 22:12).
Psalm 18:25–27,With the merciful. To one degree or another, Elohim responds to humans in the same manner they respond to him both positively and negatively. Our relationship with him has a cause and effect component to it—we reap what we sow. This is a form of heaven’s reality discipline upon humans to ultimately, hopefully, bring them to Elohim.
Psalm 19
Overview of Psalm 19
This psalm contains three sections that show a wonderful and logical progression from the greater (Elohim) to the lesser (man),that is, from the macro level downward to the micro level. At first appearance, these three sections may seem unrelated, but upon second glance, each section actually flows logically into to the next revealing some deep mysterious truths about YHVH Elohim’s plan of redemption for humans.
Section one (vv. 1–6) describes the creation of Elohim, which points to the glory of YHVH Elohim, the Creator. It concludes by describing the sun, which is the physical light of the world, and which is like a bridegroom in his full glory emerging from his private chambers about to marry his bride. Moreover, the physical universe is governed by physical laws, which keep it functioning in an orderly manner.
Section two (vv. 7–11) describes the glorious attributes of the Torah-law of Elohim, which reveals the character of the Creator, and it shows man what his response should be to the Almighty upon viewing the glories of his creation. Man is to worship the Creator, not the creation. When followed, the Torah helps to keep man’s life structured in a way that brings order, blessing and causes his life to function smoothly, even as the universe is structured and ordered by Elohim and functions smoothly because of his physical laws.
A Torah lifestyle is also how the saint of Elohim is a spiritual light to the world (Deut 4:6).
Moreover, as the sun’s light pierces the physical darkness of the world, the light of the Torah brings the spiritual light of Elohim into the world along with bringing many benefits to the obedient person including a blessed life.
Section three (vv. 12–14) explains what happens when the light of Elohim’s Torah shines into the darkness of a one’s life as it exposes the hidden dark areas of sin. It also shows man how to walk blamelessly before and in a right relationship with Elohim, his Creator.
This psalm then ends by stating that YHVH is man’s strength and redeemer. This is another way of saying that man is morally and spiritually weak and needs redemption from the consequences and the power of sin.
Thankfully, YHVH has the answer to this problem: he is man’s strength and Redeemer. Yeshua the Messiah is man’s Redeemer and as the sun is the physical light of the world, Messiah is the spiritual light of the world (John 1:6–9; 8:12). Elsewhere, Scripture even calls Yeshua the Sun of Righteousness (Mal 4:2), and, in his glorified state, his face shines like the sun in its full strength (Rev 1:16).
And ultimately, when a person follows the Torah through a relationship with Yeshua the Redeemer, one will eventually be raised to glory and shine like the stars in heaven (Dan 12:3; Matt 12:43), for they will be like Yeshua (1 John 3:2). HalleluYah!
Psalm 19:7–9,The Torah of YHVH. Listed here are the seven attributes of the Torah and the corresponding blessings for Torah-obedience. These are:
The Torah is perfect resulting in converting the soul of man from spiritual darkness to spiritual light.
The Torah is sure (i.e., to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; to render or be firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain) imparting wisdom to simple people.
YHVH’s Torah is right (or straight) bringing joy to a person.
Elohim’s Torah is pure (or beloved, choice, clean and clear) light bringing one spiritual enlightenment.
The Torah that engenders the fear of YHVH (which is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge [Ps 111:10; Prov 1:6; 9:10]) is pure and last forever (it has neverbeen done away with!).
The Torah is true (i.e., stability, certainty, truth and trustworthiness).
The Torah is righteous (i.e., right or just).
These are the seven attributes of YHVH Elohim’s Torah-law. Why is it important to know these? Because they give us an insight into the fundamental character of Elohim. That is to say, the Torah is an extension of the very character, heart, mind, will and personality of our Creator. This is why it is patently absurd and borderline, if not totally, blasphemous to declare that the Torah-law that YHVH revealed to his people through the patriarchs and eventually in a codified form to Israel through Moses has been done away with! The perfect and immutable character of Elohim cannot be changed, annulled, improved on or abridged in any way. Make no mistake, for anyone to think that this is possible is simply a manifestation of one’s sinful arrogance, impudence, rebellion, defiance and puerile impudence against the Almighty. Elohim will never tolerate any effort of man to impugn his character. Those who do so will be judged accordingly—especially those who teach YHVH’s people these false traditions of man by which the Word of Elohim has been made of none effect.
Psalm 19:13,Great [much] transgression. Is this to be contrasted with “small or little transgression”?
Psalms 22–24
A Prophetic Messianic Trilogy. Psalms 22, 23 and 24 form a prophetic trilogy pointing to the circumstances surrounding the death (Psalms 22 and 23), resurrection (Psalm 23) and enthronement of Yeshua as King over Israel (Psalm 24). Psalm 24 shows how a person can ascend the “mountain” of Elohim and come into the presence of our Father in heaven. This psalm also presents the Messiah as YHVH and as the doorway to righteousness and salvation for those who seek him. He is the only way to the Father in heaven, if one will only open the door of one’s heart and let him come into one’s life.
Psalm 22
Psalm 22:1–7,You forsaken me…enthroned in the praises. When it seems that Elohim has forsaken us and the heavens seem like brass, this is the time to praise Elohim, and his presence will come. It is also the time to recall and even remind him of all the good things that he has done for us in times past (vv. 4–5). This is despite the fact that the brutish and abusive behavior of others against us often makes us feel as low as a worm (vv. 6–7). Praising and trusting in Elohim at such times is counter intuitive to the natural human mind. It is in such times that one is inclined to cease believing in their Creator and, to one degree or another, forsake him and or abandon their faith altogether. Yet at these times, this is when the faithful saint seeks the Almighty all the more, even as Yeshua did while in praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and while hanging on the cross—the very thing to which this psalm prophetically pointed. For it is verse one of this psalm that Yeshua quoted while hanging on the cross dying. He was telling us that we was the fulfillment of the prophecies contained in this psalm. In fact, this psalm has several prophetic referential touch points to Yeshua’s last moments just prior to his ignominious death. They are:
Joshua 22:24,For fear. The eastern tribes of Israel constructed the altars along the banks of the Jordan River out of a fear of Elohim, and not because of idolatry. If everything that we do is based on our reverential as well as our dread fear for Elohim (these are the two aspects of the true biblical fear of Elohim), then we will be less likely to commit sin, that is, to stray from his commanded ways. This is because, as the Scripture elsewhere teaches us, the fear of Elohim is basis or beginning of both wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge is the revelation of YHVH’s divinely revealed Truth, and wisdom is the proper and use and application of that knowledge in our daily life.
Joshua 23
Joshua 23:7,Make mention. Here Joshua forbids the mention of the names of pagan deities by the Israelites, yet, ironically, the translators of the Bible, in the same verse, mention two names that were applied to pagan deities long before being used in reference to the Elohim of the Bible. They are: Lord and God.
Joshua 23:10,One man of you shall chase a thousand. See notes at Lev 26:8.
Joshua 23:12,Make marriages with them. In the Torah, and elsewhere in Scripture, we find many such warnings against the saints intermarrying with unbelievers. For example, Paul warns the saints in Corinth (and us), “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Messiah with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of Elohim with idols? For you are the temple of the living Elohim. As Elohim has said: ‘I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM. I WILL BE THEIR Elohim, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.’ Therefore ‘COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE SEPARATE, SAYS THE LORD. DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN, AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU,”’ (2 Cor 6:15–17). In this present generation of general lukewarmness and a Laodicean attitude among most Christians, where a watered down gospel is being preached, coziness with the world is now acceptable. The problem is that in a marriage situation, being unequally yoked with an unbeliever, or even being married to someone who is not as zealous as you are can result in untold friction and conflict in a marriage—something that a wise person will avoid at all cost. The continual bad influences of an ungodly spouse may even corrupt the righteous spouse and cause them eventually to fall away spiritually. As Paul warned elsewhere, “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits,” (1 Cor 15:33).
Joshua 24
Joshua 24:15,As for me and my house. This is one of the most popular verses in the Bible, and many people have posted this passage from Joshua on placards near the doors to their houses. But what does it mean to serve YHVH Elohim? Many people claim Yeshua (Jesus) as their Savior, but when it comes to him being their Master (or Lord), well, that is another thing. To a large degree, many if not most Christians are still the lord of their own lives serving themselves. If the Bible (the Word of Elohim of whom Yeshua became the Living Word) commands them to do this or that, they filter it through their own thinking (as Adam and Eve did when tempted to disobey Elohim and eat of the forbidden fruit, thus committing the first sin), and they decide whether they want to obey or not. In many cases, they refuse to obey the Word of Elohim because they decide, for one reason or another, that it does not suit them. In this case, Yeshua is not the Master of their life and they are, in reality, not serving him but are serving their own carnal natures.
Joshua 24:19,You cannot serve YHVH. The carnal, non-Spirit filled, individual (e.g. the children of Israel) cannot serve or obey Elohim in their own strength and power. The children of Israel demonstrably proved this point while wandering in the wilderness for forty years. But since Yeshua sent his Set-Apart (or Holy) Spirit to live inside of this disciples (that is you and me), we are now without excuse, for it is the Spirit that empowers us to obey Elohim, when it writes his laws on our hearts.
He is a holy El. What is YHVH Elohim’s chief attribute? Most Christians have been taught that it is love, for Scripture tells us that Elohim is love (1 John 4:16). But while love is an important attribute of Elohim’s character, it is not his chief attribute. Holiness is. This we know because the spirit beings in heaven who surround Elohim’s throne are continually shouting, “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa 6:3 and Rev 4:8).
Holy is the Hebrew word kadosh meaning “pure, undefiled, separate and set apart.” Pure and undefiled from what? From the pollution and defilement of the world, the flesh and devil; Elohim is totally without sin.
Moreover, the Bible declares that without holiness, no one will see Elohim or come into his presence (Heb 12:14). What is the biblical definition of holiness? It is much more than just what many churches teach it is: not swearing, not drinking, not going to movies or dancing, and the like. Holiness involves obeying the commandments of Elohim (Num 15:40; Deut 28:9).
From the beginning of the Bible to the end and in many ways, YHVH commands his people to become holy as he is holy (Lev 11:44–45; 19:2). Being holy by obeying YHVH’s Word is whole lot more than simply following the man-made dictums of ones religious organization. The rules and regulations of most churches are more like the entrance requirements to join and maintain membership in an exclusive country club, not the requirements for entrance into the family and kingdom of YHVH Elohim! This is not a popular message in most churches. This is because, as Yeshua declared, “[N]arrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:14).
Joshua 24:21,No but we will serve him. Many people want to serve Elohim, and even claim to do so, but do not. Similarly, many Christians claim to serve or obey Yeshua, but in reality do not or only do so partially or only to the degree that they want to. They operate under self-delusion. Their words say one thing, while their actions paint a completely different picture. No one obey’s Elohim perfectly, which is why we need his grace and the imputed righteousness of Yeshua to be credited to our spiritual bank account, so to speak. But this is no excuse not to obey his commandments as best we can with our whole hearts. This issue of obedience will come to a critical head at the judgment seat of Yeshua when the actions of all humans, including the saints, will be judged, for everyone must pass be judged before being granted either eternal life or eternal death (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10; Heb 9:27). The Torah-law of Elohim will be the standard by which all will be judged (Matt 5:19; John 12:48 cp. 2 Cor 5:10). This will be a day of great revelation, for in that day, many Christians will think that their religiosity will have guaranteed them a place in the kingdom of Elohim will be deemed insufficient in the eyes of Elohim because of their lack of obedience to his Word which will judge them (see Matt 7:21–23 and Rev 3:14–21).
Joshua 24:22–24,You are witnesses against yourself. Many humans are well-meaning in their desire to serve Elohim, but when the pressures of temptation and persecution from the world, the flesh and the devil come their way, their resolve to be faithful to Elohim eventually crumbles and they give in. Joshua knew that because of man’s innate, downward-bent carnal nature, it is difficult, if not impossible, for anyone to remain faithful to Elohim and his Word for very long. Moreover, Joshua knew the Israelites better than they knew themselves. After all, he was only one of two individuals from the generation that was born in Egypt to make it into the Promised Land. The rest perished in the wilderness because of their doubt, unbelief in Elohim and their general sinfulness. The sad truth is that Joshua correctly and the people’s inability to remain faithful to Elohim when he prophetically predicted, “You cannot serve YHVH,” despite the people’s objections to the contrary (vv. 21–22). Biblical history records that the Israelites only ever remained faithful to YHVH for brief periods of time usually lasting no more than 30 or 40 years. For example, some of the most righteous Jewish kings produced some of the most wicked and pagan sons, who completely turned their backs on Elohim and led Israel into total apostasy and evil practices that were often worse than the heathen nations around them. This is a warning to us all: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall!” (1 Cor 10:12).
Joshua 24:27–28,Joshua let the people depart…inheritance. At the end of his or her life, all that a righteous and faithful leader of Elohim (whether they are a parent, pastor or in some other position of spiritual power and influence) can do is to is to encourage those people over which he has influence to obey Elohim and to warn them of the consequences if they do not. After that, he must leave the people as he departs the scene. The proverbial ball is now in people’s court, and it is up to them whether they will follow the leader’s wise counsel or not; each individual has to make his or her own choice in such matters. From that point on, each person will reap what he or she sows, and they will inherit the fruits of their actions whether good or bad.
