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| Emor |
| Written by Bill Bishop |
Vayikra 21:1-24:23(Please take the time to read the portion completely as this "reflection" is designed to be a life application of only a small part of the Torah portion and is not an in depth commentary, nor does it normally touch the scheduled corresponding Haftorah and Brit Chadashah readings)Shalom Friends, Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (24) and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (25) not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. What are our "own assemblies?" Have you ever asked yourself that in connection with biblical definitions? Now I know that all those who are reading this who have not yet grasped the concept that we are either Israel, or we are part of the worldly, pagan, nations, will have a hard time answering this question. Once again we must look to the author of our lives. The Creator of all we see and all we don't see. YHVH says in Vayikra 23:2; "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'YHVH's appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations--My appointed times are these: Let's investigate further. Appointed time = Moed Pictographically (Paleo-hebrew) we see an eye and a tent door- meaning to see the door or witness. Convocation So we cab see the idea that YHVH is proposing for His people is an assembly where we witness something. So the next logical question is "What do we witness?" I propose that what we witness is YHVH Himself. Exo 25:22 "There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel. Meet- Moedah appointed time/ witness. YHVH is saying that He wants to meet (witness) with us at these times when we are supposed to be assembled together, or convocated. Lev 23:3 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to YHVH in all your dwellings. Lev 23:5-7 'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is YHVH'S Passover. (6) 'Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to YHVH; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. (7) 'On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work. Lev 23:16&21 'You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to YHVH. (21) 'On this same day you shall make a proclamation as well; you are to have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. It is to be a perpetual statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations. Lev 23:24 "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. Lev 23:27 "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to YHVH. Lev 23:34-35 "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to YHVH. (35) 'On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. I think we can clearly see that these are the times when YHVH wants to meet with us. They are special. They are set apart; they are Holy. OK I hear some of you saying "But Yeshuah changed that when he said; Mat 18:20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." I couldn't agree more, not that He changed anything, but that when we are gathered in His "authority", which is what this hebrew-ism means, He is there with us. I would like to point out that Yeshuah also said Joh 5:43 "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. Yeshuah always did what He was given from the Father to do, because He and the Father are one. (Deut. 6:4, John 10:30) His desire from the beginning is that we "meet" with him on a daily basis. Gen 3:8 They heard the sound of YHVH Elohim walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of YHVH Elohim among the trees of the garden. YHVH walked with his creation daily to fellowship or witness, which is the interaction that He desired to have with us. This is why we find the commandment for the daily oblation, so that He might daily have a witness with us. Exo 29:38,39&42 "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two one year old lambs each day, continuously. (39) "The one lamb you shall offer in the morning and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight (42) "It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before YHVH, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. So what remains to be answered? When the author of Hebrews wrote to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, was he talking of some man made Miqra or was he speaking of the Holy, set apart times designated by our Creator? I'll leave that for you to decide. Shalom in Yeshuah, Bill |