The MESSIAH and the TORAH
המשיח והתורה
A most amazing Scripture appears in the book of Job:
Take please the Torah from His mouth,
And lay up His Words in your heart.
קַח נָא מִפִּיו תּוֹרָה וְשִׂים אֲמָרָיו בִּלְבָבֶךָ
Job 22:22 יוב כב:כב
The word “take” קַח as it is used here carries with it the implied meaning of “to grab, or to catch.”
Another word that is used in Hebrew that has a similar connotation is the word “tophes” טופס.
This means “to take it eagerly and with alacrity.”
The second Hebrew word that is used in the above Scripture is the word nah נָא. This word means “to beseech or implore” but it also can carry the connotation of pleasantness or delight.
This means that the Torah when it enters a person’s heart is pleasant.
His Words are pleasant when they are kept in your belly,
And they will be established together on your lips.
כִּי נָעִים כִּי תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ יִכֹּנוּ יַחְדָּו עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ
Proverbs 22:18 משלי כב:יח
The Torah is a tree of life, and all her ways are pleasant.
She is a tree of life to those who grab her with force,
And those who hold on to her are blessed.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר
דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם
Proverbs.5:17-18 משלי יז-יח
The Torah also imparts wisdom and knowledge, and it is pleasant to the soul.
When wisdom comes into your heart and knowledge shall be pleasant to your soul.
כִּי תָבוֹא חָכְמָה בְלִבֶּךָ וְדַעַת לְנַפְשְׁךָ יִנְעָם
Proverbs 2:10 משלי ב:י
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
וּבְדַעַת חֲדָרִים יִמָּלְאוּ כָּל הוֹן יָקָר וְנָעִים
Proverbs 24:4 משלי כד:ד
The Torah is light to the eyes.
For a commandment is a candle, and the Torah is light, and disciplining rebukes are the ways of life
כִּי נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֹרָה אוֹר וְדֶרֶךְ חַיִּים תּוֹכְחוֹת מוּסָר
Proverbs 6:23 משלי ו:כג
Keep my commandments and live, and my instruction like the apple of your eyes.
שְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתַי וֶחְיֵה וְתוֹרָתִי כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינֶיךָ
Proverbs 7:2 משלי ז:ב
The Torah imparts life and health.
My son, hearken to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not depart from your eyes; guard them within your heart,
for they are life for those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
בְּנִי לִדְבָרַי הַקְשִׁיבָה לַאֲמָרַי הַט אָזְנֶךָ
אַל יַלִּיזוּ מֵעֵינֶיךָ שָׁמְרֵם בְּתוֹךְ לְבָבֶךָ
כִּי חַיִּים הֵם לְמֹצְאֵיהֶם וּלְכָל בְּשָׂרוֹ מַרְפֵּא
Proverbs 4:20-23 משלי ד:כ-כג
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
צוּף דְּבַשׁ אִמְרֵי נֹעַם מָתוֹק לַנֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּא לָעָצֶם
Proverbs 16:24 משלי טז:כד
The Torah adds length of days and years of life and peace.
My son, forget not My instruction, and may your heart keep My commandments,
for they shall add length of days and years of life and peace to you.
בְּנִי תּוֹרָתִי אַל תִּשְׁכָּח וּמִצְוֹתַי יִצֹּר לִבֶּךָ
כִּי אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ
Proverbs 3:1-2 משלי ג:א-ב
So the Torah is taken from the mouth of HASHEM.
From this we see that the Torah is not only the words that Moses received from HASHEM at Mount Sinai, but it is the INSTRUCTION that proceeds from the mouth of HASHEM.
Indeed, HASHEM did not only give Moses the Torah at Mount Sinai, but He also gave Moses the Torah when He spoke with Moses from between the cherubim over the Mercy Seat in the Holy Place that was inside the Tabernacle that Israel had erected and completed in the wilderness.
When Moses would come into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him, he would hear the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the covering which was over the Ark of Testimony, and He spoke to him.
וּבְבֹא משֶׁה אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶת הַקּוֹל מִדַּבֵּר אֵלָיו מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל אֲרֹן הָעֵדֻת מִבֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרֻבִים וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו
Numbers 7:89 במדבר ז:פט
But the Torah is not only the Torah given by HASHEM to Moses. We see that Abraham our father had the Torah before Moses. This is evident when HASHEM speaks to Isaac.
And there was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine that had been in the days of Abraham, and Isaac went to Abimelech the king of the Philistines, to Gerar.
And the Lord appeared to him, and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land that I will tell you.
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and I will bless you, for to you and to your seed will I give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham, your father.
And I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and I will give your seed all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will bless themselves by your seed,
Because Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My Torahs.”
וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ מִלְּבַד הָרָעָב הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר הָיָה בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם וַיֵּלֶךְ יִצְחָק אֶל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּים גְּרָרָה
וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהֹוָה וַיֹּאמֶר אַל תֵּרֵד מִצְרָיְמָה שְׁכֹן בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אֹמַר אֵלֶיךָ
גּוּר בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וְאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ וַאֲבָרֲכֶךָּ כִּי לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת כָּל הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת הַשְּׁבֻעָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ
וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת זַרְעֲךָ כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְנָתַתִּי לְזַרְעֲךָ אֵת כָּל הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל וְהִתְבָּרֲכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ
עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקֹלִי וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמַרְתִּי מִצְוֹתַי חֻקּוֹתַי וְתוֹרֹתָי
Genesis 26:3-5 בראשית כו:ג-ה
We see therefore that the TORAH is the INSTRUCTION that HASHEM speaks through His HOLY SPIRIT רוח הקודש . This is evident when HASHEM instructed Moses to take the seventy elders and place them around the Tabernacle.
HASHEM spoke to Moses and placed the Spirit of the LORD upon the seventy elders,
and they prophesied.
Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said, and he assembled seventy men of the elders of the people, and stood them around the Tent.
The Lord descended in a cloud and spoke to him, and He increased some of the Holy Spirit that was on Moses, and bestowed the Holy Spirit on the seventy elders. And when the Holy Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and they did not cease.
וַיֵּצֵא משֶׁה וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל הָעָם אֵת דִּבְרֵי יְהֹוָה וַיֶּאֱסֹף שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ מִזִּקְנֵי הָעָם וַיַּעֲמֵד אֹתָם סְבִיבֹת הָאֹהֶל
וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה | בֶּעָנָן וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלָיו וַיָּאצֶל מִן הָרוּחַ אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו וַיִּתֵּן עַל שִׁבְעִים אִישׁ הַזְּקֵנִים וַיְהִי כְּנוֹחַ עֲלֵיהֶם הָרוּחַ וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ וְלֹא יָסָפוּ
Numbers 11:24-25 במדבר יא:כד-כה
There are some people who associate the Torah with ONLY the first five books
or the Chumash חומש. But the Torah is not limited and goes beyond the Chumash חומש.
It can occur in a moment. We must do as Job says, and take it, or catch the words דברים as HASHEM SPEAKS, and lay up His Words אמריו in our heart.
HASHEM spoke to Samuel, and Samuel had to catch the words from the mouth of HASHEM.
And the Lord continued to call Samuel for the third time; and he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am -Hineni, for you called me.” And Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth.
And Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down. And it shall be, if He will call you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, O Lord, for your bondsman is listening.’ “And Samuel went and lay down in his place.
And the Lord came and stood, and He called as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
וַיֹּסֶף יְהֹוָה קְרֹא שְׁמוּאֵל בַּשְּׁלִישִׁת וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל עֵלִי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנְנִי כִּי קָרָאתָ לִי וַיָּבֶן עֵלִי כִּי יְהֹוָה קֹרֵא לַנָּעַר
וַיֹּאמֶר עֵלִי לִשְׁמוּאֵל לֵךְ שְׁכָב וְהָיָה אִם יִקְרָא אֵלֶיךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ דַּבֵּר יְהֹוָה כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ עַבְדֶּךָ וַיֵּלֶךְ שְׁמוּאֵל וַיִּשְׁכַּב בִּמְקוֹמוֹ
וַיָּבֹא יְהֹוָה וַיִּתְיַצַּב וַיִּקְרָא כְפַעַם בְּפַעַם שְׁמוּאֵל | שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל
דַּבֵּר כִּי שֹׁמֵעַ עַבְדֶּךָ
I Samuel 3:8-10 שמואל א ג:ח-י
The Spirit of the LORD רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים was upon Samuel, and the Spirit of the LORD רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים came upon Samuel’s school of prophets, and they that were in the school prophesied.
And Saul sent messengers to take David, and he saw the company of prophets prophesying and Samuel was standing as head over them; and the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they too prophesied.
וַיִּשְׁלַח שָׁאוּל מַלְאָכִים לָקַחַת אֶת דָּוִד וַיַּרְא אֶת לַהֲקַת הַנְּבִיאִים נִבְּאִים וּשְׁמוּאֵל עֹמֵד נִצָּב עֲלֵיהֶם וַתְּהִי עַל מַלְאֲכֵי שָׁאוּל רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ גַּם הֵמָּה
I Samuel 19:20 שמואל יט:כ
When Isaiah saw HASHEM in His glory, he heard the voice of HASHEM. When Isaiah responded, HASHEM send a fiery coal from the altar which touched Isaiah’s lips, and circumcise them, and Isaiah prophesied.
In the year of the death of King Uzziah, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, and His train filled the Temple.
And I said, “Woe is me for I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and amidst a people of unclean lips I dwell, for the King, the Lord of Hosts have my eyes seen.
And one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal; with tongs he had taken it from off of the altar.
And he caused it to touch my mouth, and he said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity shall be removed, and your sin shall be atoned for.”
And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am-Hineni; send me.”
בִּשְׁנַת מוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת אֲדֹנָי ישֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָּׂא וְשׁוּלָיו מְלֵאִים אֶת הַהֵיכָל
וָאֹמַר אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי כִּי אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי וּבְתוֹךְ עַם טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי יֹשֵׁב כִּי אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת רָאוּ עֵינָי
וַיָּעָף אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׂרָפִים וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה בְּמֶלְקָחַיִם לָקַח מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ
וַיַּגַּע עַל פִּי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נָגַע זֶה עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְסָר עֲוֹנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר
וָאֶשְׁמַע אֶת קוֹל אֲדֹנָי אֹמֵר אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח וּמִי יֵלֶךְ לָנוּ וָאֹמַר הִנְנִי שְׁלָחֵנִי
Isaiah 6:1,5-8 ישעיה ו:א,ה-ח
The Messiah המשיח moved at all times, continually ONLY by the Torah that He heard from the mouth of HASHEM.
And a shoot shall spring forth from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall sprout from his roots.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
And he shall be animated by the fear of the Lord, and neither with the sight of his eyes shall he judge, nor with the hearing of his ears shall he chastise.
And he shall judge the poor justly, and he shall chastise with equity the humble of the earth
וְיָצָא חֹטֶר מִגֶּזַע יִשָׁי וְנֵצֶר מִשָּׁרָשָׁיו יִפְרֶה
וְנָחָה עָלָיו רוּחַ יְהֹוָה רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה רוּחַ עֵצָה וּגְבוּרָה רוּחַ דַּעַת וְיִרְאַת יְהֹוָה
וַהֲרִיחוֹ בְּיִרְאַת יְהֹוָה וְלֹא לְמַרְאֵה עֵינָיו יִשְׁפּוֹט וְלֹא לְמִשְׁמַע אָזְנָיו יוֹכִיחַ
וְשָׁפַט בְּצֶדֶק דַּלִּים וְהוֹכִיחַ בְּמִישׁוֹר לְעַנְוֵי אָרֶץ וְהִכָּה אֶרֶץ
Isaiah 11:1-4a ישעיה יא:א-ד
Notice that the Messiah המשיח does not judge by the sight of His natural eyes, not by the hearing of His natural ears. He only judges by the Torah which He hears from the mouth of HASHEM.
When Samuel went to anoint the king from among the sons of Jesse, he did not choose by the sight of his eyes, but only by the Torah Word that proceeded from the mouth of HASHEM.
And Samuel did that which the Lord had spoken, and he came to Bethlehem, and the elders of the city hurried toward him, and one said, “Is your coming peaceable?”
And he said, “Peaceable. I have come to slaughter (a sacrifice) to the Lord. Prepare yourselves, and you shall come with me to the sacrificial feast.” And he prepared Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrificial feast.
And it was, that when they came, and he saw Eliab, that he said, “Surely, before the Lord is His anointed.”
And the Lord said to Samuel, “Look not upon his appearance, or the height of his stature, for I have rejected him, for it is not as man sees, (what is visible) to the eyes, while the Lord sees into the heart.”
And Jesse called to Abinadab, and he presented him before Samuel, and he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”
And Jesse presented Shammah, and he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”
And Jesse presented seven of his sons before Samuel; and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the young men?” And he said, “The youngest still remains, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we shall not sit down until he comes here.”
And he sent and brought him, and he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes, and handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”
And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forth, and Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
וַיַּעַשׂ שְׁמוּאֵל אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה וַיָּבֹא בֵּית לָחֶם וַיֶּחֶרְדוּ זִקְנֵי הָעִיר לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁלֹם בּוֹאֶךָ
וַיֹּאמֶר | שָׁלוֹם לִזְבֹּחַ לַיהֹוָה בָּאתִי הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ וּבָאתֶם אִתִּי בַּזָּבַח וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת יִשַׁי וְאֶת בָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא לָהֶם לַזָּבַח
וַיְהִי בְּבוֹאָם וַיַּרְא אֶת אֱלִיאָב וַיֹּאמֶר אַךְ נֶגֶד יְהֹוָה מְשִׁיחוֹ
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל אַל תַּבֵּט אֶל מַרְאֵהוּ וְאֶל גְּבֹהַּ קוֹמָתוֹ כִּי מְאַסְתִּיהוּ כִּי | לֹא אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה הָאָדָם כִּי הָאָדָם יִרְאֶה לַעֵינַיִם וַיהֹוָה יִרְאֶה לַלֵּבָב
וַיִּקְרָא יִשַׁי אֶל אֲבִינָדָב וַיַּעֲבִרֵהוּ לִפְנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם בָּזֶה לֹא בָחַר יְהֹוָה
וַיַּעֲבֵר יִשַׁי שַׁמָּה וַיֹּאמֶר גַּם בָּזֶה לֹא בָחַר יְהֹוָה
וַיַּעֲבֵר יִשַׁי שִׁבְעַת בָּנָיו לִפְנֵי שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל יִשַׁי לֹא בָחַר יְהֹוָה בָּאֵלֶּה
וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל יִשַׁי הֲתַמּוּ הַנְּעָרִים וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד שָׁאַר הַקָּטָן וְהִנֵּה רֹעֶה בַּצֹּאן וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל יִשַׁי שִׁלְחָה וְקָחֶנּוּ כִּי לֹא נָסֹב עַד בֹּאוֹ פֹה
וַיִּשְׁלַח וַיְבִיאֵהוּ וְהוּא אַדְמוֹנִי עִם יְפֵה עֵינַיִם וְטוֹב רֹאִי וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה קוּם מְשָׁחֵהוּ כִּי זֶה הוּא
וַיִּקַּח שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת קֶרֶן הַשֶּׁמֶן וַיִּמְשַׁח אֹתוֹ בְּקֶרֶב אֶחָיו וַתִּצְלַח רוּחַ יְהֹוָה אֶל דָּוִד מֵהַיּוֹם הַהוּא וָמָעְלָה וַיָּקָם שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ הָרָמָתָה
I Samuel 16:4-13 שמואל א טז:ד-יג
The wisdom of the flesh, the five senses, is often opposed to the wisdom of the Torah which proceeds from the mouth of HASHEM. The wisdom that the Spirit of G-d רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים breathes is SUPRA-NATURAL, meaning that it is above and beyond the natural realm, and it is beyond the reasonings of the natural mind that are derived from the natural realm. The superiority of the Torah’ wisdom is demonstrated by the Scripture:
By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made,
and with the Spirit of His mouth, all their host.
בִּדְבַר יְהֹוָה שָׁמַיִם נַעֲשׂוּ וּבְרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל צְבָאָם
Psalm 33:6 תהלים לג:ו
The Spirit of G-d רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים searches the deep things of G-d, as the spirit of a man searches the deep things of a man. These things cannot be known by external or natural means.
The “wisdom” of the natural mind, its constructs, decisions, logic, and deductions, makes the wisdom of HASHEM appear to be foolish. This is the wisdom of the Gentiles who walk contrary to the wisdom of HASHEM. This is the wisdom of the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the modern day nations – the goyim גוים and the unbelievers.
But HASHEM says that His wisdom will prevail.
The Lord frustrated the counsel of nations; He put the plans of people to naught.
The counsel of the Lord shall endure forever; the plans of His heart to all generations.
Praiseworthy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people that He chose as His inheritance
יְהֹוָה הֵפִיר עֲצַת גּוֹיִם הֵנִיא מַחְשְׁבוֹת עַמִּים
עֲצַת יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם תַּעֲמֹד מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבּוֹ לְדֹר וָדֹר
אַשְׁרֵי הַגּוֹי אֲשֶׁר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו הָעָם | בָּחַר לְנַחֲלָה לוֹ
Psalm 33:10-12 תהלים לג:י-יב
The enmity of the five senses, or the wisdom of the natural mind, is epitomized in the war of Greek culture against the Torah. The Greeks sought after the natural wisdom, and the principles and culture that proceeded from it. They exalted it above the wisdom of the Torah, and sought to annihilate the Jewish culture that centered on the wisdom of the Torah. HASHEM raised up the Maccabeans and the Hasmonean kings to stop their onslaught.
The wisdom of the natural man tends to idolatry. It is abhorrent to the wisdom of the Torah. The wisdom of the Torah was not made known to them. The pride of the Gentiles is the root of anti-Semitism.
HASHEM tells His words to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
He did not do so to any nation, and they did not know His judgments. Hallelujah!
מַגִּיד דְּבָרָיו לְיַעֲקֹב חֻקָּיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו לְיִשְׂרָאֵל
לֹא עָשָׂה כֵן | לְכָל גּוֹי וּמִשְׁפָּטִים בַּל יְדָעוּם הַלְלוּיָהּ
Psalm 147:19-20 תהלים קמז:יט-כ
The Messiah Yeshua ישוע המשיח refused to walk after the natural mind, and the natural man and the natural senses. He said “I only do what I see the Father do first. I do nothing of myself.”
He walked totally by the Torah. As the Messiah המשיח, what sets Yeshua ישוע apart as the greatest of all the rabbis is that He never once transgressed the Torah!
Walking and being led by the Holy Spirit of HASHEM is walking by FAITH, which is doing the works of HASHEM. It is not doing the works of the natural man, which happens when an individual walks led only by his or her five natural senses and does not hear or pay attention to the VOICE of HASHEM. קול יהוה Those natural works are vanity הבל. They will be burned up and come to nothing.
For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His deeds are with faith.
כִּי יָשָׁר דְּבַר יְהֹוָה וְכָל מַעֲשֵׂהוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָה
Psalm 33:4 תהלים לג:ד
The Messiah Yeshua ישוע המשיח sat upon the Mount of Olives with His disciples, beholding the splendor and the glory of the Temple בית המקדש. He prophesied its destruction by faith, and the Galoot גלות – the scattering of Israel by the Romans among the Gentiles, and the period of the Gentile age תקופת גוים.
He foretold by faith that men and women would worship HASHEM by the Spirit of the LORD, and not just in Jerusalem or Samaria.
He also prophesied by faith the return of Israel to the Land of Israel ארץ ישראל and the end of the Gentile Age. At the end of this age is the coming of the Kingdom of G-d מלכות אלוהים and the destruction of the Gentile kingdoms. This is referenced by the dream that HASHEM gave to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon and was interpreted by Daniel the prophet.
That image had a head of fine gold, its breast and its arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of brass.
Its legs were of iron, and its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay.
And while you were looking at the image, behold, a stone appeared, and it was being hewn without the use of hands, and it struck the feet of the image, the feet of iron and clay, and crumbled them.
Then the iron, the clay, the copper, the silver, and the gold crumbled and collapsed together with a great noise, and they were like chaff from the threshing floors of the summer, and the wind carried them off, and no place was found for them, and the stone that struck the image became a huge mountain and filled the entire earth.
הוּא צַלְמָא רֵאשֵׁהּ דִּי דְהַב טָב חֲדוֹהִי וּדְרָעוֹהִי דִּי כְסָף מְעוֹהִי וְיַרְכָתֵהּ דִּי נְחָשׁ
שָׁקוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזֶל רַגְלוֹהִי מִנְּהֵין דִּי פַרְזֶל וּמִנְּהֵין דִּי חֲסָף
חָזֵה הֲוַיְתָ עַד דִּי הִתְגְּזֶרֶת אֶבֶן דִּי לָא בִידַיִן וּמְחָת לְצַלְמָא עַל רַגְלוֹהִי דִּי פַרְזְלָא וְחַסְפָּא וְהַדֶּקֶת הִמּוֹן
בֵּאדַיִן דָּקוּ כַחֲדָה פַּרְזְלָא חַסְפָּא נְחָשָׁא כַּסְפָּא וְדַהֲבָא וַהֲווֹ כְּעוּר מִן אִדְּרֵי קַיִט וּנְשָׂא הִמּוֹן רוּחָא וְכָל אֲתַר לָא הִשְׁתְּכַח לְהוֹן וְאַבְנָא| דִּי מְחָת לְצַלְמָא הֲוַת לְטוּר רַב וּמְלָאת כָּל אַרְעָא
Daniel 2:32-35 דניאל ב:לב-לה
The following comparisons illustrate the dichotomy between walking in the Spirit of the LORD רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים in the wisdom of the Torah, and walking in the flesh in the wisdom of the natural man.
- Wisdom of the Spirit of G-d רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים in the Torah from the mouth of HASHEM תורה מפי יהוה is ALWAYS victorious. The wisdom of the flesh, the natural man, usually ends in defeat. Example:
And one of his servants said, “No, my master, the King, but Elisha the prophet who is in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
And he said, “Go and see where he is, and I will send and take him.” And it was told to him saying, “Behold he is in Dothan.”
And he (the king of Syria or Aram) sent to Dothan horses and chariots and a great army; and they came at night and surrounded the city.
And arising early in the morning, the young man who was the servant of the man of God, opened his eyes and looked, and behold an army with horses and chariots was surrounding the city. And the young man said to Elisha, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
And he said, “Have no fear, for those who are with us are more numerous than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes and let him see.” And the Lord opened the lad’s eyes and he saw, and behold the mountain was full of fiery horses and chariots around Elisha.
וַיֹּאמֶר אַחַד מֵעֲבָדָיו לוֹא אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי אֱלִישָׁע הַנָּבִיא אֲשֶׁר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל יַגִּיד לְמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר תְּדַבֵּר בַּחֲדַר מִשְׁכָּבֶךָ
וַיֹּאמֶר לְכוּ וּרְאוּ אֵיכֹה הוּא וְאֶשְׁלַח וְאֶקָּחֵהוּ וַיֻּגַּד לוֹ לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה בְדֹתָן
וַיִּשְׁלַח שָׁמָּה סוּסִים וְרֶכֶב וְחַיִל כָּבֵד וַיָּבֹאוּ לַיְלָה וַיַּקִּפוּ עַל הָעִיר
וַיַּשְׁכֵּם מְשָׁרֵת אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים לָקוּם וַיֵּצֵא וְהִנֵּה חַיִל סוֹבֵב אֶת הָעִיר וְסוּס וָרָכֶב וַיֹּאמֶר נַעֲרוֹ אֵלָיו אֲהָהּ אֲדֹנִי אֵיכָה נַעֲשֶֹה
וַיֹּאמֶר אַל תִּירָא כִּי רַבִּים אֲשֶׁר אִתָּנוּ מֵאֲשֶׁר אוֹתָם
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל אֱלִישָׁע וַיֹּאמַר יְהֹוָה פְּקַח נָא אֶת עֵינָיו וְיִרְאֶה וַיִּפְקַח יְהֹוָה אֶת עֵינֵי הַנַּעַר וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה הָהָר מָלֵא סוּסִים וְרֶכֶב אֵשׁ סְבִיבֹת אֱלִישָׁע
I Kings 6:12-17 מלכים א ו:יב-יז
- Wisdom of the Spirit of G-d רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים or the Torah from the mouth of HASHEM תורה מפי יהוה takes possession of the Land of Israel ארץ ישראל. The wisdom of the flesh, the natural man, is timid and afraid, and draws back, and does not take possession of the land ארץ ישראל Example:
Caleb silenced the people to [hear about] Moses, and he said, “We can surely go up and take possession of it, for we can indeed overcome it.”
But the men who went up with him said, “We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.
They spread an [evil] report about the land which they had scouted, telling the children of Israel, “The land we passed through to explore is a land that consumes its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of stature.
There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, descended from the giants. In our eyes, we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes.
Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had scouted the land, tore their clothes.
They spoke to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land we passed through to scout is an exceedingly good land.
If the Lord desires us, He will bring us to this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
But you shall not rebel against the Lord, and you will not fear the people of that land for they are [as] our bread. Their own protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”
וַיַּהַס כָּלֵב אֶת הָעָם אֶל משֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר עָלֹה נַעֲלֶה וְיָרַשְׁנוּ אֹתָהּ כִּי יָכוֹל נוּכַל לָהּ
וְהָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר עָלוּ עִמּוֹ אָמְרוּ לֹא נוּכַל לַעֲלוֹת אֶל הָעָם כִּי חָזָק הוּא מִמֶּנּוּ
וַיֹּצִיאוּ דִּבַּת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תָּרוּ אֹתָהּ אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר עָבַרְנוּ בָהּ לָתוּר אֹתָהּ אֶרֶץ אֹכֶלֶת יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ הִוא וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר רָאִינוּ בְתוֹכָהּ אַנְשֵׁי מִדּוֹת
וְשָׁם רָאִינוּ אֶת הַנְּפִילִים בְּנֵי עֲנָק מִן הַנְּפִלִים וַנְּהִי בְעֵינֵינוּ כַּחֲגָבִים וְכֵן הָיִינוּ בְּעֵינֵיהֶם
וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן וְכָלֵב בֶּן יְפֻנֶּה מִן הַתָּרִים אֶת הָאָרֶץ קָרְעוּ בִּגְדֵיהֶם
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר עָבַרְנוּ בָהּ לָתוּר אֹתָהּ טוֹבָה הָאָרֶץ מְאֹד מְאֹד
אִם חָפֵץ בָּנוּ יְהֹוָה וְהֵבִיא אֹתָנוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת וּנְתָנָהּ לָנוּ אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הִוא זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבָשׁ
אַךְ בַּיהֹוָה אַל תִּמְרֹדוּ וְאַתֶּם אַל תִּירְאוּ אֶת עַם הָאָרֶץ כִּי לַחְמֵנוּ הֵם סָר צִלָּם מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וַיהֹוָה אִתָּנוּ אַל תִּירָאֻם
Numbers 13:30-33, 14:6-9 במדבר יג:ל-לג, יד:ו-ט
- Wisdom of the Spirit of G-d רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים or the Torah from the mouth of HASHEM תורה מפי יהוה ALWAYS accomplishes its goal. The wisdom of the flesh, the natural man, fails often and almost never accomplishes its goal. Example:
Therefore, say to the children of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will take you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will save you from their labor, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
And I will take you to Myself as a people, and I will be God to you, and you will know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
I will bring you to the land, concerning which I raised My hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you as a heritage; I am the Lord.’ “
The Egyptians chased after them and overtook them encamped by the sea every horse of Pharaoh’s chariots, his horsemen, and his force beside Pi hahiroth, in front of Ba’al Zephon.
Pharaoh drew near, and the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold! the Egyptians were advancing after them. They were very frightened, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.
They said to Moses, Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us to die in the desert? What is this that you have done to us to take us out of Egypt?
Isn’t this the thing [about] which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Leave us alone, and we will serve the Egyptians, because we would rather serve the Egyptians than die in the desert.
לָכֵן אֱמֹר לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי יְהֹוָה וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מִתַּחַת סִבְלֹת מִצְרַיִם וְהִצַּלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מֵעֲבֹדָתָם וְגָאַלְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בִּזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבִשְׁפָטִים גְּדֹלִים
וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לִי לְעָם וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הַמּוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם מִתַּחַת סִבְלוֹת מִצְרָיִם
וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת יָדִי לָתֵת אֹתָהּ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב וְנָתַתִּי אֹתָהּ לָכֶם מוֹרָשָׁה אֲנִי יְהֹוָה
וַיִּרְדְּפוּ מִצְרַיִם אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיַּשִּׂיגוּ אוֹתָם חֹנִים עַל הַיָּם כָּל סוּס רֶכֶב פַּרְעֹה וּפָרָשָׁיו וְחֵילוֹ עַל פִּי הַחִירֹת לִפְנֵי בַּעַל צְפֹן
וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם וְהִנֵּה מִצְרַיִם | נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד וַיִּצְעֲקוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יְהֹוָה
וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל משֶׁה הֲמִבְּלִי אֵין קְבָרִים בְּמִצְרַיִם לְקַחְתָּנוּ לָמוּת בַּמִּדְבָּר מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לָּנוּ לְהוֹצִיאָנוּ מִמִּצְרָיִם
הֲלֹא זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְמִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר חֲדַל מִמֶּנּוּ וְנַעַבְדָה אֶת מִצְרָיִם כִּי טוֹב לָנוּ עֲבֹד אֶת מִצְרַיִם מִמֻּתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר
Exodus 6:6-8, 14:9-12 שמות ו:ו-ח, יד:ט-יב
- The Torah is the supernatural wisdom חכמה of HASHEM, and it goes against and is contrary to the works of the flesh and the greed of man.
Some examples:
- The Jubilee היובל – giving back all of the land.
- Not reaping the corners of your field, or glean your vineyard.
- The Smittah שמיטה Letting Jewish servants go free at the end of seven years, and sending them away with abundance of goods.
- Giving the son of the hated wife, if he is the firstborn of all the children, all the inheritance of the firstborn.
- If you have a physical fight with your neighbor, and he is injured by you in the fight, you have to pay all of his hospital and his doctor bills until he is well enough to go on his way. You have to do this even if you think he was wrong, and you were right.
- Wisdom of the Spirit of G-d רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים or the Torah from the mouth of HASHEM תורה מפי יהוה can be extremely odious and offensive to the natural man. This can be a stumbling block and incomprehensible to a man who walks after only his five senses. Example:
The Messiah of Israel המשיח ישראל must be executed upon a Babylonian-Roman execution stake – a cross – in order to redeem His people Israel. עם ישראל
However HASHEMSAYS:
Seek the Lord when He is found, call Him when He is near.
The wicked shall give up his way, and the man of iniquity his thoughts, and he shall return to the Lord, Who shall have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts [higher] than your thoughts.”
דִּרְשׁוּ יְהֹוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב
יַעֲזֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ וְאִישׁ אָוֶן מַחְשְׁבֹתָיו וְיָשֹׁב אֶל יְהֹוָה וִירַחֲמֵהוּ וְאֶל אֱלֹהֵינוּ כִּי יַרְבֶּה לִסְלוֹחַ
כִּי לֹא מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶם וְלֹא דַרְכֵיכֶם דְּרָכָי נְאֻם יְהֹוָה
כִּי גָבְהוּ שָׁמַיִם מֵאָרֶץ כֵּן גָּבְהוּ דְרָכַי מִדַּרְכֵיכֶם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתַי מִמַּחְשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם
Isaiah 55:6-9 ישעיה נה:ו-ט
The Messiah is the REDEEMER הגואל . He redeems Israel from ALL her iniquities. To accomplish He had to shed His blood, because the Torah says that there is no remission or cleansing of sins and iniquities without the shedding of blood.
For the soul of the flesh is in the blood, and I have therefore given it to you [to be placed] upon the altar, to atone for your souls. For it is the blood that atones for the soul.
כִּי נֶפֶשׁ הַבָּשָׂר בַּדָּם הִוא וַאֲנִי נְתַתִּיו לָכֶם עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְכַפֵּר עַל נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם כִּי הַדָּם הוּא בַּנֶּפֶשׁ יְכַפֵּר
Leviticus 17:11 ויקרא יז:יא
And again it is written:
We all went astray like sheep, we have turned, each one on his way, and the Lord smote Him with the iniquity of us all.
כֻּלָּנוּ כַּצֹּאן תָּעִינוּ אִישׁ לְדַרְכּוֹ פָּנִינוּ וַיהֹוָה הִפְגִּיעַ בּוֹ אֵת עֲוֹן כֻּלָּנוּ
Isaiah 53:6 ישעיה נג:ו
As the Messiah Yeshua המשיח ישוע said:
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE חיי עולם
The Lord said to Moses, “Make yourself a fiery serpent and put it on a pole, and let whoever is bitten look at it and live.
Moses made a brass snake and put it on a pole, and whenever a snake bit a man, he would gaze upon the brass snake and LIVE.
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל משֶׁה עֲשֵׂה לְךָ שָׂרָף וְשִׂים אֹתוֹ עַל נֵס וְהָיָה כָּל הַנָּשׁוּךְ וְרָאָה אֹתוֹ וָחָי
וַיַּעַשׂ משֶׁה נְחַשׁ נְחשֶׁת וַיְשִׂמֵהוּ עַל הַנֵּס וְהָיָה אִם נָשַׁךְ הַנָּחָשׁ אֶת אִישׁ וְהִבִּיט אֶל נְחַשׁ הַנְּחשֶׁת וָחָי
Numbers 21:8-9 במדבר כא:ח-ט
HALLELUJAH! הַלְלוּיָהּ