In Matthew 24 Yeshua/Jesus was answering His disciples questions about the end of the age.
He warned them that they would hear of wars and rumors of wars but not to be troubled or afraid.
His words ring true today to all who declare they are His disciples. We are in a season of hearing about wars that threaten the stability of nations and the destruction of peoples lives. It may not be right on our doorstep at this exact moment but somewhere it is on the doorstep of our brothers and sisters in Messiah. This is a time for us to intercede for them not only for their safety but also for the will plan and purposes of our Heavenly Father to be fulfilled.
There are many scriptures that we lean on in times of unrest, war and violence,Psalms 23 and 91are favorites and there are those that encourage us, reminding us that He is in control and He is our protection. InProverbs 18:10, we read of this security: He is our strong tower and we are to run into Him. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and are safe.”
Another well known promise can be found in
Psalm 139:5 HEB:אָח֣וֹר וָקֶ֣דֶם צַרְתָּ֑נִי וַתָּ֖שֶׁת עָלַ֣י NAS:You have enclosed me behind KJV:Thou hast beset me behind and before,
The different translations have various words for beset:
enclosed, hem in,
go before, hedged me,
all around me.
The Hebrew Word here for
beset
is
tsur or tzur or tsuwr
צוּר
Strongs # 6696 tsuwr
tsuwr: To bind, besiege, confine, cramp
Original Word: צוּר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tsuwr
Pronunciation: tsoor
Phonetic Spelling: tsoor
KJV: adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags
Word Origin: [a primitive root] to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)
A primitive root; to cramp, i.e. Confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile) — adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags.
As a noun, this is what Moses struck to get water out of a rock.
It is also used for a fortress or fortified city.
The word for
behind is ‘achor
which has the idea of
behind or past,
and the word
qedem means:
to go forward.
That Hebrew word ends with the letter m, which in Hebrew has to be a closed mem, pointing to the hidden or unknown, as is our future. This expression achor vaqedem in this verse, expresses past and future. So we could say that:
in my past and future, my Heavenly Father.. tsur – besets me.
The word tsur is used as a verb here and is in a qal perfect form. It is best expressed as:
you have entrenched me or fortified me.
So we could say,
in my past and in my future you have already fortified or entrenched me.
4692 matsor or matsur: Siege, stronghold, fortress, entrenchment
Original Word:מָצוֹר Part of Speech:Noun Masculine Transliteration: matsowr Pronunciation: maw-tsore’ or maw-tsoor’ Phonetic Spelling: maw-tsore’ KJV:besieged, bulwark, defence, fenced, fortress, siege, strong (hold), tower NASB:siege, besieged, defense, fortified, fortress, rampart, siegeworks Word Origin:[from H6696 (צּוּר – To bind)]
1. something hemming in…
any seamstress will know that a hem on a garment protects the material by stopping the edges from fraying.
2. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers) 3. (abstractly) a siege 4. (figuratively) distress 5. (subjectively) a fastness
Or matsuwr {maw-tsoor’}; from tsuwr; something hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a fastness — besieged, bulwark, defence, fenced, fortress, siege, strong (hold), tower.
When David looked at the unrest in the nation, it was not too encouraging; a generation later there was civil war there. The Assyrians were a threat to their peace and safety and there was also to the throne itself when Davids son turned on him and he had to run for his life with a price on his head.
David faced the compounding pressures and fears of being a king every day, but when he woke in the morning, he was reminded that YHVH had
sur..
fortified him, entrenched him or hedged him.
That hedge or fortress was around him in the past
and it was around him right at that moment
and would continue to be around him in his future.
We too can depend on this promise for ourselves and our families.
In the next part of the verse David says
You laid your hand upon me.
The word
laid
in Hebrew is
7896 shith: To put, place, set, appoint, make
Original Word: שִׁית Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: shiyth Pronunciation:sheeth Phonetic Spelling:sheeth
KJV: apply, appoint, array, bring, consider, lay (up), let alone, X look, make, mark, put (on), + regard, set, shew, be stayed, X take
... 6447. pas Strong’s Concordance pas: palm (ofthehand)
Original Word ... פַס
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: pas
Definition: palm (ofthehand)
NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin
(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to pacac; the palm (of the hand, as being spread out) —
The verse literally says:
You have set me in the palm of your hand.
Interestingly the ancient Hebrew did believe that a persons heart was in the palm of the hand, and if we think like that, David was saying that
he would not fear or live in dread of the future,
for he is sheltered in the heart of God.
With recent events occurring and conflicts escalating for many the future is terrifying and uncertain. There are reports of riots and mass shootings and people fear going to school or special events. There are also threats of terrorists with weapons of mass destruction, destroying water supplies or releasing a biological weapon and we could spend all day worrying and fretting anxiously over the future.
Or…
we can be like David whose faith and eyes are on our Heavenly Father and say:
My past, present, and future is entrenched in You and should a disaster happen, You will tsur /fortify me because I will be sheltered in the hollow of Your hand and resting in Your heart.
1. the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree)
2. (figuratively) power
From kaphaph; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power — branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
Psalm 139:5 HEB: וַתָּ֖שֶׁת עָלַ֣י כַּפֶּֽכָה׃ NAS: And laid Your hand upon me. KJV: and laid thine hand upon me. INT: and laid and your hand
Messiah warns us that… Men’s hearts will fail them with fear.
In a sense, we are getting a taste of the fear and dread that David felt, the realization that within 24 hours our comfortable lifestyle, our abundance of food, water, and health could suddenly change.
Our Heavenly Father has granted us all the privilege of protection and we need to realize that when we are sheltered in the palm of His hand or in His heart, there is no need to be fearful. We have been hemmed in. Remember this concept comes from the Hebrew word tsuwr, which is often used of a military siege or fortification.
Verse 5 in Psalms 139speaks profoundly about our Heavenly Father’s omnipresence and the comfort that comes with this truth because it expresses the idea that He surrounds us on all sides.
You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past.
It profoundly illustrates His deep love and care for us, the imagery stirs up feelings of safety, security, and intimate connection with Him, expressing His presence and protection.
In Phil 4:7 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that [a]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall [b]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amplified.
His promises to garrison, guard and keep us in times of trouble..these are the ones that we firmly take hold of.
Weymouth New Testament And then the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in union with Christ Jesus.
When we keep our eyes on Yeshua/Jesus and look into His face and hear His heart, the fears of and things in this world grow strangely dim… in the light of His glory and grace.
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
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