Tag: House of Judah

Ruth, Jordan and the Balm of Gilead

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a blog and the first couple posts jumped out at me.  They spoke directly to some areas where the Father has been teaching me.  The beauty of this blog is that it is a sabra telling her story of ministry to the heart of God and a wound that we unwittingly exacerbate by picking sides.

I pray you will take the time to not only read the first three posts in Orna Grinman‘s current series, but also take the time to peruse her blog.  Read her story, and pray for this dear sister that is on the cutting edge of healing and restoration for kol Israel!

And, as a side note….  I am so excited that during Sukkot she is going to be the guest of Ani Yosef one evening to come and share with us!  I can’t wait!!

Here are those three posts:

Part 1: Crossing Over – A Hebrew

Part 2: You Look Like a Ruth

Part 3: It is Being Produced Again

May Abba bless you as you absorb and ponder what HE is speaking about the region!!

This quote is a KEEPER!!

Friend and co-author Al McCarn has just reviewed Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler’s groundbreaking (ground shaking?) Ten From the Nations.  I highly recommend the review, but especially want to share a quote that is worthy of framing!

“…those who persevere in reading and studying even when the subject matter is uncomfortable tend to come out much better in the end – smarter, wiser, more tolerant, and better able to cooperate with others in the interest of a greater good.”

Truth requires reading and studying hard subject matter, sometimes even things to which we may be strongly opposed.  Be willing to pursue truth, even the uncomfortable parts!

Back to Basics: Reflecting on the New Covenant

I woke this morning pondering the New Covenant, and once coffee was made and poured, I sat to reread it.  I was draw to begin reading at Jeremiah 30:18 to be reminded of the context and who the players are.  This is a good opportunity for us to go back to the basics.

Christian theology centers on the New Covenant.  We recognize Yeshua/Jesus as declaring that He is instituting this New Covenant, but we do not pursue the matter to a full understanding of the implications.  So, let’s take a few minutes and be reminded of what Scripture says it means to be part of the New Covenant.

First, Yeshua and Paul’s use of the term,

Luke 22:17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

I Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Christendom hangs its proverbial hat on these verses, but the vast majority, pastors included, do not know Continue reading “Back to Basics: Reflecting on the New Covenant”

Stumbling Toward Jerusalem

Our home fellowship had a rousing discussion yesterday as we dug into the Torah portion (Lev. 9-11) and the Haftarah (Ez. 36:16-38).  In the midst of the Haftarah, I had an ‘a ha!’ moment.  Walk with me as we consider something very important in the restoration of Israel.

Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the jerusalemmtolivesdescent3-800heathen, whither ye went.

23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 THEN will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

While I have often focused on the knowledge that God is going to do this for HIS name’s sake and this closely parallels the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31, which we’ll discuss in a minute, this time as we read Continue reading “Stumbling Toward Jerusalem”

Until The Two Become One (Must read, by Ken Rank)

Following is a terrific article by Ken Rank explaining the Two Stick Prophecy of Ezekiel 37, a passage that is largely overlooked by theologians in its significance.

Until the Two Become One

by Ken Rank

What the herders did not see before them was their brother. In fact, before Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, they had spent at least many hours with him, dining, being entertained, and also being berated and yet they saw only an Egyptian. To anyone who joseph-brothersmight have been standing at a distance, looking upon Joseph and that family of herders, being able to see that they were family would likely have been impossible.

The Prophet Ezekiel gives us a similar end-time picture in that we have two players who might just as well stand in such contrast. In chapter 37, verse 16, where we read the following:

“And you, son of man, take a stick and write on it, For Judah and for his companions, the sons of Israel. And take another stick and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel, his companions.”

What is easy to miss in the above verse is that Ezekiel takes two blank sticks that represent people and he is to identify who the two sticks are. The first he determines as Judah and those who are joined with Judah. The second stick is said to be for Joseph, but a stick that is Ephraim, and it includes the House of Israel and those joined to Israel. So we have a lot going on in this one verse. Most scholars believe that these two sticks represent the Whole House of Jacob, what was once a great nation that divided into two Kingdoms, Judah and Israel. But why the use of those names?  Continue reading at United2Restore

Global Reading of Shema Prayer Announced for Monday

Yesterday, I received an email alerting me to a global initiative to pray the Shema at 9 p.m. Jerusalem time (2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time).  I encourage readers here to participate in solidarity with Brother Judah as we call on the Holy One of Israel.

IMG_20150520_090553276A personal note on the Shema:  while this is a recitation of Scripture and a declaration of our Elohim (God), this has also become a commandment that I make into the spiritual realm that surrounds me as I declare to All Israel to Shema, HEAR!!  As often as you pray/declare the Shema, remember that you are making a statement to All Israel and the spiritual realm around you as well as our King hears and presses this forward to the ears of those yet deaf!

Here is a link to the article on Breaking Israel News:

Global Reading of Shema Prayer Announced for Monday Amid Growing Crisis Around World

A Matter of the Heart!!

Lately, I have been marking instances of ‘heart’ in the Tanakh, or ‘old’ Testament.  My specific reason is that on so many occasions, in conversations with others regarding the importance of Torah in our day, I am told that it is written on our hearts by the New Covenant, therefore, we do not have to worry about or try to keep it.

The very root of that thought is contrary to the New Covenant, so we need to demonstrate briefly that the New Covenant is not yet fulfilled before addressing the ‘heart’ of the matter.  The New Covenant says,

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
    I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
    though I was a husband to[a] them,[b]”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
    after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law (Torah) in their minds
    and write it on their hearts. Continue reading “A Matter of the Heart!!”

Thank you, Judah!!

I wrote, in a very recent post , “Are there some things very special about Judah that we need to acknowledge?  Absolutely!! ”

Interview-Thank-You-NotesEven as I wrote it, I was thinking of a few things I am very thankful to my brother Judah, or the Jews, for.  Only later did I think, “I’m not sure I’ve ever said ‘thank you’ publicly!”

Indeed, all mankind has much to thank the Jews for as a cursory look at Nobel Winners will reveal a wildly disproportionate number of winners that are of Judaic decent.  Countless inventions, scientific findings, technologies, etc are directly attributable to those of Jewish descent.

But this is more personal.  As a believer Continue reading “Thank you, Judah!!”