Natan’s Commentary on Psalms 65 to 68

Posted on by
1

Psalm 65

Psalm 65:3, Atonement. (Heb. kaphar) YHVH will provide covering or expiation (by sacrifice) for our transgressions. Forgiveness of sin involves not just a judicial decree from a judge, but the idea of atonement as well; that is, a penalty price has to be paid, the scales of justice have to be balanced. For every crime a price must be paid, restitution must be made. Biblically, this is how forgiveness works.

Psalm 65:5, Your awesome deeds in righteousness. How does YHVH answer our prayers? In many ways. But one of those ways is through performing awesome deeds of righteousness or through providential or divinely orchestrated circumstances that occur in the life of the saint. The saint is wise to watch for these, so that he can give YHVH praise and thanks for them.

Psalm 65:7, Seas…people. Seas is a poetic Hebraism for people. In this case, verse eight implies that the people who “dwell in the farthest parts” are those who are the furthest away from Elohim spiritually.

Psalm 66

Psalm 66:18, If I regard iniquity. Iniquity is the Hebrew word aven meaning “trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol.” Anything in our lives that comes before our relationship with Elohim is an idolatrous stronghold to us and blocks our ability to serve, hear and obey Elohim. It hinders our relationship with him, takes us away from him, and thus blocks our prayers from being heard by him.

Psalm 67

Psalm 67:1–2, Face to shine…that your way. In analyzing this biblical passage, let’s apply some mathematical logic and discover the wonderful place to which it leads us. It’s a place that’s higher and better than any other! Here we go…

YHVH’s face or countenance shines like the sun in its full strength (Rev 1:16). He is the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2). The sun is the greater light that shines in the darkness of this world (Gen 1:16). The physical sun points to and is a representation of Yeshua who isn’t the greater light, but the Greatest Light that shone on this earth before the physical sun was created on the fourth day, and will shine once again on the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:23) as he shone on the first three days of creation (Gen 1:3). 

Presently, Yeshua is the Light of the world (John 8:12) that is contained in his Torah-Word, which is truth, and which is revealed by the Spirit of Elohim (John 16:13) to those who humbly and repentantly seek it like little children (Matt 18:3–4). 

Moreover, Yeshua is the Word of Elohim that was made flesh (John 1:1, 14), and he is a spiritual light that shines in the darkness of this world to show men the way out of the darkness and to his Father in heaven (John 1:4;–5; 8:12, 9:5 cp. 14:6) who himself dwells in supernal light (1 Tim 6:16; Dan 2:22; 1 John 1:5; Jas 1:17). 

Light in the Scriptures is also a metaphor for truth (John 3:21) and the Torah (Prov 6:23 cp. Ps 119:142, 151). Light is also a metaphor for the Word of Elohim (Ps 119:105). Yeshua was and is that Word (John 1:1, 14). 

Now let’s go back to Psalm 67:1–2. When Elohim causes his face to shine on us, we will be blessed and receive his mercy (verse 1). The result will be that we will know his ways and his salvation, which is Yeshua (salvation is the Hebrew word Yeshua in verse 2). 

Can the truth of Elohim’s word be any clearer than this? When we understand these simple biblical truths, and humbly submit ourselves to them and walk in the light of this glorious truth, our lives will be in perfect alignment or in sync with the plumb line of YHVH’s laser light-like truth. This puts us on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life, and it places us in the middle of YHVH’s river of life (Ps 1:3) that flows from his throne and a tree of life (Prov 3:18 cp. Ps 1:3, read vv. 1–6 for context). 

This spot is where it’s at—the sweet spot of life (see Ps 1:1–6)! Yet men are so hard-hardhearted, stiffnecked, rebellious and arrogant that they refuse to see these simples truths because they love the darkness of their sin and refuse to come to the light of Yeshua (John 3:19–20). 

Those of you who are privileged to have the light of YHVH’s countenance shining on you, give him the glory he deserves for his wonderful merciful grace in your life, and take a moment to offer up a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving!

Psalm 68

Psalm 68:4, YAH. According to TWOT, Yah (Strong’s H3050; TWOT 484b) is a contraction of YHVH (Strong’s H3068, see TWOT 484b) and is found some 50 times in the Tanakh. Many names in the Tanakh contain this abbreviated form of YHVH (Yehovah) including Yehonatan and Yehoshaphat. Hebrew scholar, Nehemiah Gordon, agrees that Yah is the abbreviated form of His name YHVH, but he states that it derives an ancient practice of taking the first and last letter of a word to express an abbreviation. So the first and last letters of YHVH produce the abbreviation Yah (from an article entitled “The Pronunciation of the Name”). Yah is found in several other scriptures as well including Isa 12:2; 26:4; 38:11.

Psalm 68:5, Mountain of Bashan. Bashan is in the region of Mount Hermon, and the mountain mentioned here the same mountain. This was the mountain of the Gen 6 illicit angelic incursion into the affairs of mankind and where the Gates of Hell existed that was the opening of the abyss from which the fallen angels or demons entered and exited. Hermon is the tallest mountain the entire region at must under 10,000 feet high. No wonder Satan wants his seat of government to be there, since mountains in the poetic language of Scripture are often a metaphor for seats of government.

 

Shabbat Fellowship & Bible Study on Zoom

Posted on by
Reply

Donna Nash is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.  


Shalom Everyone!  So this is what a Zoom invitation looks like.  As you can see, the link is not highlighted here so you have to copy and paste it in your browser.  It does however have ID numbers should folks with landlines want to dial in.  


I am also going to include the original invite link at the bottom of this page just in case you don’t like to copy and paste.  Click and it goes straight to the Zoom launch.  Share with other like-minded believers and many blessings in Yeshua!  We look forward to seeing you Saturday.

Topic hint:  Costly Faith


Shabbat FellowshipTime: Dec 4, 2021 02:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84330488099


Meeting ID: 843 3048 8099One tap mobile+13126266799,,84330488099# US

(Chicago)+19292056099,,84330488099# US (New York)
Dial by your location        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)Meeting ID: 843 3048 8099Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keEB4C4LkM

Invite Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84330488099

James and Donna NashOpen Door Missions International                                       

(910)713-5554 http://www.opendoormissionsinternational.org

Romans 12:2  “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 

 

The C0v!d Coverup Unmasked

Posted on by
13

On November 30, 2021, radio talkshow host Dr. Michael Savage interviewed Elizabeth Lee Vliet, MD, who has practiced medicine in three states (Arizona, Texas and Virginia) for 35 years. This is one of the most comprehensive yet succinct analysis of the issues surrounding the COVID pandemic that I have ever heard. The interview lasts for only about 30 minutes, and I urge everyone to listen to it and to pass it one to those you know who have ears to hear.

Here are Dr. Vliet’s credientials: https://www.truthforhealth.org/about-us-truth-for-health-foundation/

Savages interview with Dr. Vliet begins at 35.35 in the podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-michael-savage-show/id635045292?i=1000543521860

In this interview, Dr. Vliet reveals the following about the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • The US government’s incentive payments to US hospitals for COVID-19.
  • According to the inventor of the PCR test used to check for COVID, the PCR test was not meant to be used as a diagnostic test for COVID (but a qualitative test only), and has been used incorrectly as a diagnostic test throughout the pandemic.
  • Many hospitals are setting the COVID testing thresholds higher so that it leads to a greater number of false positive tests for COVID.
  • There is a US government bonus payment for each positive COVID diagnoses that hospitals make as instituted by CMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) as legislated by the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020) by the US Congress. This allows hospitals to receive Federal funds for helping to fight COVID, yet incentivized unscrupulous hospitals to receive a financial bonus for every positive COVID diagnosis they make.
  • Hospitals are given a 20 percent bonus on every COVID admission from Medicare on the entire hospital bill (around $100,000 per patient) if the hospital uses Remdesivir to treat COVID patients instead of ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine.
  • In the Anthony Fauci NIH (National Institute of Health) funded ebola trials, Remdesivir had more than a 50 percent mortality rate plus kidney and liver damage. Knowing that data, in May of 2020 Fauci still declared that Remdesivir is the U.S.’s legal standard for COVID illness.
  • US hospitals under mandate from the US government are using the wrong drug protocols for treating COVID patients resulting in staggeringly high death rates.
  • In Texas, it has been revealed that once a COVID patient receives Remdesivir and is put on a ventilator, 85 percent of the patients died. Hospitals have never had this kind of a death rate for any treatment before.
  • Remdesivir is toxic to the kidneys and liver and after five days the kidney damage goes up and the body can’t handle fluids. Fluids then back up in the lungs, the heart is compromised preventing the blood from being oxygenated necessitating the patient going on the ventilator where, according Texas hospital data nearly 85 percent of patients subsequently die.
  • SMS pays hospitals a bonus to administer COVID vaccines. The more vaccines the more money the hospital makes.
  • The COVID vaccines are experimental vaccines unlike any other vaccine in history. They received no longterm clinical testing data, only several months of clinical testing data, no longterm safety studies.
  • The COVID vaccines are brand new technologies using gene therapy agents and meet the FDA specifications for gene therapy drugs.
  • For years, the spike protein in the COVID vaccine has been known to have toxicity to humans.
  • The MRNA and DRNA lipid nanoparticles coatings of this vaccine infiltrate the ovaries and testes in several animal species that have been studied over ten years. Thus there is known damage related to this technology that is unique to this vaccine that was never present in other vaccines in the past. The COVID vaccine is not a traditional vaccine, but a brand new gene-therapy technology that drive across the brain-blood and the placental barrier.
  • Usually, traditional vaccines take 2 to 5 years of testing before they are approved by the US government. Gene therapy agents take 5 to 15 years of testing. The current COVID vaccines were approved in only several months.
  • The COVID vaccines have a higher risk of death and complications than any vaccine in the history of vaccines. This is born out in the data from VAERS (the US government’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) and from other countries (e.g. Europe, the UK, Israel, etc.).
  • Health complications and deaths from the COVID vaccines are unpredictable and there is no clear data to determine who will be adversely affected or not.
  • The US government has suppressed medical data that came out in July 2020 for early COVID treatment protocols that kept 85 to 90 percent of the people out of the hospital. This information was prevented from reaching the public.
  • Hospitals and health care systems are firing medical doctors who use alternatives COVID treatment protocols other than what the US government mandates.
  • Cloth masks are largely ineffective at stopping the nanoparticles of the virus, which can easily pass through weavings of the fabric like mosquito flying through a chainlink fence.

For more information about COVID from Dr. Vliet, go to https://www.truthforhealth.org

For COIVID home treatments, go to https://www.truthforhealth.org/patientguide/patient-treatment-guide/

 

Psalms 2 and 64 on “Conspiracy Theories”

Posted on by
3

Psalm 64

Psalm 64:2, Secret plots of the wicked. When in human history have the wicked—those who hate YHVH—not been hatching up secret plots and conspiracies in an attempt to overthrow YHVH plans and laws and to destroy those who represent his rule of law and kingdom on this earth? 

Satan, YHVH’s arch enemy and the one ultimately behind these plots, kicked off this cosmic struggle between the forces of darkness and light, good and evil in the Garden of Eden at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, when he enticed the first humans to join him in rebellion against haven’s mandates.

This never-ending tug of war between heaven and hell for world domination will culminate in the end times when “rulers [will] take counsel together [i.e., a conspiratorial plot] against YHVH and his Anointed [i.e., Yeshua the Messiah]” (Ps 2:2) in an effort to “break their bands [of YHVH’s rule of law as expressed in the Torah and the Prophets of the Bible] in pieces and cast their cords from us,” (Ps 2:3). Of course, YHVH will laugh in derision or mock and ridicule them for their hubris, and pour his wrath out upon them (Ps 2:4) prior to Yeshua’s second when heaven will place King Yeshua on his holy hill in Zion (Ps 2:6) to rule over the world as King of kings. The book of Revelation prophetically chronicles how this struggle will culminate, even as Psalm two predicts.

All this is to say that the secret plots of the wicked have been going on since man has been on this earth, and they continue to go on to this day. The government-media complex propagandistically derisively refers to this devilish plots as “conspiracy theories” as if to obfuscate their existence and to divert the masses’ attention away from them, but this does not change the fact the wicket of been hatching secret plots to overthrow YHVH and his people since the beginning, even as the Bible clearly shows.

What Does the Bible Say About So-Called“Conspiracy Theories”?

For as long has humans have been on earth, people have formed groups and conceived plans to consolidate resources and riches to rule over other people, forcefully if necessary, for the love of money, power and sexual gratification. It was true when the Bible was written, and it is true today because human nature has never changed from then until now.

The notion that governments and many other organizations are always open and transparent with the people that they supposedly represent or oversee is a belief only for the naive and ignorant. If this were so, then why do governments possess “intelligence agencies” and why do secret organizations exist whose membership is reserved only for certain privileged people and which have elaborate initiation rituals along with penalties if the organization’s secrets are revealed?

Continue reading →
 

Natan’s Commentary on 1 Samuel 16 to 20

Posted on by
5

1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:5, Then he sanctified/consecrated. Heb. qadash/שﬢק meaning “prepare, dedicate, be separate, be set apart, to be honored, be treated as sacred. According to the TWOT, qadash connotes that which belongs to the sphere of the sacred, and is thus distinct from the common or profane. As a verb, it refers to the act which this distinction is made.

What was involved in this process of sanctification? We may gain a clue from Exodus 19 where YHVH tells the Israelites to sanctify themselves at the foot of Mount Sinai in preparation for their encounter with him as they receive the ten words/commandments and enter into a spiritual marital relationship with him (Ezek 16:8–12). As part of the sanctification process, Moses instructed the people to wash their clothes and to restrain from sexual relations with their wives (Exod 19:10,15,22), and to establish strict protocols with regard to approaching YHVH (verses 12, 13, 21, 23, 24). In addition, YHVH established elaborate ceremonies for consecrating or sanctifying the Levites and priests in preparation for service in to him in the tabernacle (e.g., Exod 28:41; 29:44), the offerings (e.g., Exod 29:27, 36), the tabernacle furnishings (e.g., verse 37, 44; Lev 8:11) and the people (verse 44). 

In brief, to become sanctified involves a process by which an individual or object is made ready and then set-apart to enter into the presence of or service to YHVH Elohim. When something or someone is made qadash, they are brought out of the sphere of the mundane or earthly and into that sphere which belongs to the divine or sacred. 

1 Samuel 16:7, Outward appearance … heart. Scripture instructs the saint to make judgments on the basis of two things: the fruits or actions that proceed from one’s life (Matt 7:15–20) and on righteousness (John 7:24). Fruits involve analysis based on the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 22–25), which is the evidence of one’s spiritual walk. Righteousness is defined by one’s obedience to YHVH’s Torah-Word (Ps 119:172). One’s outward appearance may be spectacular, but his heart may be dark and the fruits and actions of his life may be anything but good.

1 Samuel 16:11, The youngest…keeping the sheep. The youngest children in the biblical family often was consigned to tending the sheep. Once he grew older and stronger, his help was needed along side the father in more physically demanding work of tilling, sowing, and harvesting the crops (Manners and Customs, p. 148; Social World of Ancient Israel, p. 41).

1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:26, 36. Uncircumcised Philistine. This was not an ethnic slur. Rather, to refer to someone as uncircumcised was a Hebraism that simply meant that one did not have a covenantal relationship with YHVH Elohim, and thus was out of relationship with him and not under his divine protection.

1 Samuel 17:34–35, When a lion…struck it. The shepherds rod was like a policeman’s club. It was made of hard wood with a knob at the end, or it had knob nails driven into it to make it a better weapon (Manners and Customs, p. 149).

1 Samuel 17:40, Five smooth stones. Goliath had four sons (2 Sam 21:22). David had a stone for Goliath and each of his four sons. Moreover, Israel is an extremely rocky land, thus “bullets” for slings are abundant. 

1 Samuel 17:45–47, I come to you in the name YHVH of hosts. David recognized that this was more than a physical battle; it was a spiritual one. The Israelites were fighting the enemies of Elohim. As such, David summoned heaven’s help in defeating Goliath, and pitted the forces or hosts of heaven against the legions of demons that were empowering the Philistines by lifting up and having faith in the name or reputation of YHVH to help him to fight the enemy.

1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18:1, Jonathan loved him. Some perverted minds have attempted to see in this a homosexual relationship between Jonathan and David, thus justifying, in their minds, the sin of homosexuality. This is not only sad, but it is a sick twisting of the Scriptures. What these lost and lonely souls seem to miss is that there is a level of love that is totally altruistic, selfless and a self-sacrificing that can exist between two people that is totally non-sexual, and that can even far surpass sexual or romantic love. This is similar to the love that Elohim had for the world when he gave his Son as a sin sacrifice for it (John 3:16), and the love that he had for each of us while we were yet sinners (Rom 5:8), and the same love that one has when he lays down his life for another person (John 15:13). This is the same love that Yeshua had when he went to the cross for each of us (John 10:11, 15; Rom 5:6–8; Eph 5:2).

1 Samuel 18:10, The evil/distressing spirit from Elohim. As a form of judgment against his backslidden servants, YHVH at times sends out deluding evil (demonic) spirits in hopes to torment them (2 Thess 2:11; Ezek 14:3; Isa 66:4). In that they have rejected him and turned to rebellion (which is as the sin of witchcraft, 1 Sam 15:23), he will turn them over to the powers of the dark side where they can experience the full expression and corresponding consequences of their evil passions and sinful appetites. Under the spiritual delusion of tormenting spirits, perhaps the rebellious backslider will awaken to the reality of his fallen state and will repent and return to YHVH. Similarly, Paul turned over to Satan the man in Corinth who was engaged in sexual immorality “for the destruction of the flesh” resulting in the man’s eventual repentance and restoration to the body of believers in that city (1 Cor 5:1–13 cp. 2 Cor 2:5–13). 

Saul…prophesied. Saul prophesied (Heb. naba). Naba can refer to the prophetic utterances of both true and false prophets. When Saul was under the influence of the Spirit of Elohim he prophesied by the Spirit. When under the influence of an evil spirit, he “raved” (NAS). Saul may be a picture of modern Torahless prophets in the Christian church who sometimes prophesy and sometimes rave out of their own emotions and carnal mindedness or from the influences of an evil spirit.

1 Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:13, Image. Heb. terephiym is an idolatrous image.

1 Samuel 19:20–24, Saul and his servants prophesy. Though Saul and his servants were under the influence of an evil spirit, when they came under the influence of the Spirit of Elohim, they would prophesy by the Spirit. Many people in the Christian church claim to be prophets, though they are only walking partially in accordance with YHVH’s Torah-Word and partially following the rudiments of this world or pagan church traditions that violate the Torah-word of Elohim. These prophets are like Saul, who was at times under the influence of the spirit of this world or the dictates of their own hearts and at other times under the influence of the Spirit of Elohim. Like the carnal prophets who are condemned by Jeremiah, they prophesy a mixture of truth and error.

1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:5, 18, 24, 27, 34. New moon. How did David know that the next day was new moon day? Was this because he was able to calculate ahead of time when the new moon was going to occur? No. The answer is quite simple. A lunar cycle lasts for 29.5 days. This means that some months will be 29 days long and some will be 30 days long, since it’s impossible to have half-days. How did David know that the next day would be the new moon day? Simply this. Biblical months are based on the lunar cycle. A lunar cycle can’t have more than 30 days. A lunar cycle month is either 29 or 30 days long. If one has reached day 30 of a month and the new moon still isn’t visible because the sliver is too faint to see, or because there’s cloud cover or haze blocking it from being seen, then the observer automatically knows that the next day, by default, will the first day of the next month. Sometimes one sees the new moon after 29 days. Sometimes it is seen after 30 days either because they sited it, or because, even though it wasn’t visible and since a month can’t have any more than 30 days, the next day (day 31, if you will) becomes the default start of the new month. Obviously, in the story of David, the new moon hadn’t been sited on day 30, and so he knew that the next day was, by default, the beginning of the new month.

The idea that, because the time between conjunction and visible sliver can last one to three day, proves that Saul was feasting or celebrating the new moon during this interval is speculation. Nothing in any Jewish historical sources that I have studied state either that the ancient Hebrews calculated the new moon from the conjunction, or that if they did they celebrated the interval time between the conjunction and the sliver. So when 1 Sam 20:27 and 34 speak of the second day of the month, we have to believe that they were feasting for a couple of days after the sliver was first spotted.

1 Samuel 20:41, Kissed [Heb. nashaq] one another. Nashaq means “to put together, kiss, to touch gently.” This is the same word used in Proverbs 27:6 referring to the deceitful or superficial kisses of an enemy (like the kiss of Judas, Yeshua’s betrayer), as well as the tender or affectionate kisses of lovers (Song 1:2; 8:1; Prov 7:13). The concept of touching gently can be seen in the use of this word where the wings of cherubim kiss or touch each other in Ezekiel’s vision (Ezek 1:3). Kissing as special sign of affection was common among family members (Ruth 1:1) and among fellow countrymen (2 Sam 15:5). It was also done as a sign of respect (1 Sam 10:1; 2 Sam 19:39). Even today in many parts of the world, friends greet each other with a kiss on the cheek. On four occasions, Paul closes his epistles with instructions for the saints who will be reading his letters to greet each other with a holy kiss (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thess 5:26). If there is a “holy kiss”, then logic demands that there must be an unholy kiss as well. Because of the deep loving friendship and spiritual relationship that David and Jonathan shared, their kiss would have been one of mutual respect and affection, and not an unholy kiss.

 

Natan’s Commentary on Psalms 59 to 63

Posted on by
1

Psalm 59

Psalm 59:9, I will wait for you. When a righteous person suffers for righteousness sake (and not because of any sin he has committed, vv. 3–4), the saint, because of his strong scruples and sense of right and wrong, desires immediate justice upon his enemies. Yet because his life is in YHVH’s hands, he looks to the courts of heaven to render justice when the all wise and all knowing Almighty, who sees the end from the beginning and lives outside of time, determines is the best time to do so. For this reason, the saint must learn to wait on YHVH to avenge him for the wrongs committed against him. 

Waiting to see one’s desire upon one’s enemies (v. 10) is an aspect, though a difficult one, of the faith walk. Through it all, the saint never takes his eyes off of his merciful Elohim, who is his defense. He never loses his spiritual, heavenward focus and never ceases to sing praises his Creator every day (vv. 16–17). 

The act of praising Elohim and expressing faith in the knowledge that heaven will ultimately render justice, even while one is in the midst of persecution at the hands of the wicked is a major differentiating factor between the saint and the heathen. 

All humans suffer, but not all have the faith and hope that heaven will reward them in due time by seeing justice served on one’s enemies. 

Never forget that the concept of “enemies” may encompass more than just other humans; it may include such things as suffering because of material and financial privation, trying circumstances, ill health and ultimately death, generational curses or simply the stress and duress of living in a fallen world that is under the control of the devil and his sinful minions. 

Regardless of who our “enemies” may be, the saint is promised deliverance from them all in due time. This is because YHVH promises to “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on [him], Because he trusts in YHVH]” (Isa 26:3).

Psalm 60

Psalm 60:12, Through Elohim. Sometimes YHVH avenges our enemies through us. If this is the case, we must make certain that we are fighting his wars, his way and on his terms, and not our way often out of our own impetuosity and wounded egos using our own methods and strength to accomplish our desires upon our enemies (see Zech 4:6; Ps 127:1).

Psalm 61

Psalm 61:2, Rock that is higher. When our heart affections and spiritual focus is on something that is higher, loftier and more solid and substantial than ourselves, then our focus will naturally be higher than ourselves and we will be elevated in all areas of our lives as a result. 

Conversely, when our focus is on something that is at the same level or lower than ourselves, then we will sink to that level. 

This is a fundamental difference between following or worshipping Baal (the world, flesh and the devil) versus following or worshipping Elohim: the former is the downward path that leads to spiritual death and separation from Elohim, while the latter is the upward path that leads to Elohim and eternal life in his presence. 

The choice is ours as to which path we will take. Every day we are faced with many small and sometimes large decisions as to which direction we will go. Choose wisely and do the right thing by choosing the path that will bring blessing and life!

Psalm 61:4, Tabernacle…shelter of your wings. Over the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant were the over-shadowing wings of the two cherubim, which was the representative of Elohim’s throne and glorious Presence on earth (see Isa 37:16; Ezek 10:1–22; 11:22–23). It was in this place of intimate worship before the “Rock that his higher than me” (verse 2) that David sought shelter or refuge and deliverance from his enemies (verse 3). 

Biblical phrases such as, “under the shadow of your wings” is a Hebraism meaning “before YHVH in the place and state of worship” (also see Pss 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:7; 91:1, 4). 

It was also in this place—between the cherubim—that Moses heard the voice of Elohim (Num 7:89), and that David would see the power or might strength and glory or manifest presence of Elohim in a prophetic, ecstatic or spiritual vision (Ps 63:2).

As saints of YHVH Elohim, we can come into his presence, that is, into this actual throne room (as represented by the holy of holies in the Tabernacle of Moses through our spiritual relationship with Yeshua our Messiah, Master and Savior.

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Yeshua, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of Elohim, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb 10:29–22)

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

Psalm 62

Psalm 62:1, Salvation [Yeshua]. To the delight of disciples of Yeshua the Messiah, his appears several times in this chapter some 1,000 years before his birth. What does this psalm teach us about his cameo appearance in these prophetic references?

Verse 1—We learn that Yeshua (the Hebrew word meaning “salvation” comes from Elohim). The source of salvation is not from this earth or men—only from heaven. Yeshua is coming, and in the mean time, his people must wait silently or in quiet trust for him.

Verse 2—Elohim is a rock (or boulder) and our salvation. Here we learn that Yeshua is Elohim and that he is not only our spiritual rock, but is like giant rock or actually a boulder to his people. He is their only rock and salvation; there is none other.

Verse 6—As we wait patiently or silently for Elohim alone (and not on anything or anyone else), who is our salvation, our expectance or hope is only on him (v. 5). Only he is our rock (not anything else including money, other people, power, position, influence, material goods, good health, physical strength, education, our mental abilities, philosophies of men or occult powers), for only he is our rock or boulder or the source of our solidity, our salvation (or Yeshua) and our defence from everything or everyone that comes against us.

Psalm 62:2, 6, Salvation. Heb. Yeshua.

 

Are the Imprecatory Psalms at Odds With Yeshua’s Command to Love One’s Enemies?

Posted on by
2

Psalm 58

Psalm 58:1–11, Overview of an imprecatory psalm. 

Psalm 58 like many of the other imprecatory (from imprecation meaning “a spoken curse”) psalms expresses the extreme and overwhelming frustration, nay, the animus or antipathy that the righteous child of Elohim often viscerally feels toward the wicked evildoers that surround him, and the strong and yearning desire that one has for heaven to render judgment against those who hate all that is good. Is it a bad thing for righteous people to hate wickedness? 

Is it sinful for YHVH’s saints to desire justice from the heavenly courts for the wrongs committed against them by their wicked, evil-doing and God-hating enemies? More importantly, are the imprecatory psalms opposed to Yeshua’s teaching to love one’s enemy? While this may appear to be the case, and many Christian Bible teaches aver this to be so, we will answer these questions, and upon closer examination, see that these imprecatory psalms express some deeper spiritual truths that are consistent with the totality of Scripture and are actually in line with the teachings of Yeshua. In analyzing this subject, we will use Psalm 58 as our launch pad into examining a larger subject suggested by the imprecatory verbiage found in biblical psalmic literature.

At the outset of this discussion, let’s establish one important fact. The author of the fifty-eighth psalm knows a basic Bible truth that is found in both the Old and New Testaments. It is that judgment against one’s enemies is ultimately in the hands of Elohim (Deut 32:35, 43; Ps 94:1–2; Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30); it is the Almighty who will arise and tread down and scatter one’s enemies (Ps 60:12; 68:1). In the mean time, however, while waiting for Elohim to act, the earth reels and struggles under the heavy and constant attacks of the wicked, and the psalmist cries out to Elohim to render judgment against the ungodly (Ps 58:6), which Elohim will eventually do. At that time, the righteous will rejoice (Ps 58:10). The time when heaven will balance the scales of justice cannot come soon enough for the oft persecuted and downtrodden saints, for it will be then when YHVH will reward the righteous and judge the wicked when he comes from on high (Ps 58:11). 

Continue reading →