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We are a chosen generation
a royal priesthood according to 1Peter 2:4-10.
But what does that really mean?
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; verse 9.
By reading the whole verse we understand there is a specific reason for these titles. We have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light and reading further in context: 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.…
Being part of a chosen generation is not just about privilege and status; it also comes with responsibilities. We are called to reflect our Heavenly Father’s love within our communities and to others. As we acknowledge this role, we can look to the scriptures that remind us just what the Royal Priesthood was and the conditions that had to be met for being a priest. Modern images of a priest are very different from the days of Moses and the calling of the very first priesthood.
Leviticus 21 gives us the origins of the Levitical Priesthood and the commandments given by the Lord through moses.
Recall Jacobs 12 sons. Jacob became known as Israel when God changed his name, His sons became the 12 tribes of Israel. Levi was one of the 12 who had 3 sons. They were named
Gershon meaning exile
Kohath meaning assembly and
Merari meaning bitter.
These 3 became heads of the clans of the Levites. (Gen. 46:11;Ex 6:16-26). From among the Levites, Levis great grandson Aaron and his descendants were chosen to be His priests (Num.17:1-10). The choice was possibly because Moses was reluctant to speak to Pharaoh when first told to rescue his people from Egypt.
What we may not have realized is that there are 3 classes within the structure of Hebrew society.
The Kohen, the Levite and the Israelite.
Only the kohanim/priests, are physical descendants of Aaron and given the priestly duties of offering sacrifices/korbanot. The other descendants of Levi were assigned roles to help in the care and maintenance of the tabernacle/mishkan. These duties included carrying certain vessels, taking down the mishkan and reassembling it when they moved camp, etc. Only the Kohanim were allowed to do the priestly service or perform avodah on behalf of Israel the people. This means that the Kohanim are a part of the tribe of Levi and that while every Levite is an Israelite, meaning they are a descendant of Israel/Jacob, not every Levite who is a descendant of Levi is a Kohen or descendant of Aaron. See chart.
So what does this mean concerning our original question of why were they chosen?
One word will answer that question:
Loyalty
The tribe of Levi was chosen to serve in the Mishkan because of their loyalty to the Lord God of Israel during times of threat, temptation and danger. This was clear when they refused to be any part of the sin of the golden calf and instead killed 3000 of the rebellious participants. Aarons descendants were also rewarded with being Kohanim/priests, because of their loyal service with Moses as they made their Exodus from Egypt. Because the Kohanim were set apart (ecclesia), for direct service to the Lord, there were special responsibilities and additional restrictions that applied to them but not to the rest of the Levite clan. One example was they were not to touch a dead body or they would be considered unclean for service at the Mishkan; they would be considered tamai and would need to be ceremonially purified by water mixed with ashes from a red heifer. (This is the reason for the red heifer being in the news where Israel is concerned. It is unnecessary because Messiah has replaced the need for any sacrifice by His own substitutionary death and has become our High Priest, therefore the priesthoods original calling to offer sacrifices for the peoples sin is no longer required.)
Other restrictions included prohibitions regarding the customs of the pagan nations and rules concerning marriage of a kohen/priest. The function of these directives and instructions is twofold:
to promote holiness
and
to keep from profaning the Name of Adonai.
These two are also requirements for any believer, follower and disciple of Messiah today.
Chillul HaShem –Means – desecration of God’s Name.
This is referring to anything that gives our Heavenly Father, the Torah, or the Hebrew people of Israel a bad name or a bad reputation. Some of the Hebrew sages say that Chillul HaShem refers to sinning in such a way as to desecrate the Name of The Lord including murdering someone serving and worshipping other gods or having intimate relationship with a forbidden individual. An Israelite is required to die rather than commit such sins and those who do dishonor the Lord by refusing to give up their lives. This means when faced with the choice of committing one of these sins or being executed, the individual should choose death or else he commits Chillul HaShem. Also if a non Israelite commands an Israelite to commit a sin before the presence of 10 or more of his peers he must also let himself be killed rather than to obey an evil command..
Kiddush HaShem means sanctifying the Name
…which in turn, means that
we honor the Name of the Lord by giving up our lives.
Isn’t that what we do when we ‘give our lives to Jesus/Yeshua?’
It’s therefore the exact opposite of Chillul HaShem. Every time an Israelite recites the Shema, (Deut. 6:4, the individual affirms that they would rather die than to deny the wonderful Name of The Lord. The sages say that if one is about to give up their life for the Lord, he may not think that the Lord God will save him from death in this situation, but must expect to die.
This may explain why in Daniel 3 when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were faced with Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace; they didn’t presume that the Lord would save them but rather fully expected to give up their lives for the sake of Kiddush HaShem.
So how does this apply to us today? If we read scripture as just old testament History of a nation not our own it has no meaning to us and we will not apply any of the lessons to our lives. We are here to learn to choose righteousness over sin, to discern good over evil, to love the Lord our God with our whole being and others as ourselves we are to preach the good news of the gospel of the kingdom. We are to be spiritual light in the darkness pervading this earthly realm. Our scripture from 1 Peter 2 states that the believer in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus though rejected by men is made part of the living Temple/Sanctuary/Mishkan of the Lord; made part of a holy priesthood, the kedoshim – His Holy Ones in order to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to the Father.
Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is the Rosh Pinnah – the cornerstone. Psalm 118:22. The believer is now chosen by our Heavenly Father to be – a treasured people- am segulah. We are called out to proclaim the greatness of Him Who delivered us, from darkness of sin and death to the light of truth and everlasting life through His grace and Mercy. Peter finishes by applying Hosea 2:23 directly to the believer.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.…
Once again, the personal application of the Word of our Heavenly Father to our lives is very clear and here is the condition. IF we want to retain the titles of being a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, then we must abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against our souls. As His, am segulah- treasured people, our conduct must be exemplary, reflecting all that our beloved Messiah calls us to be. In all this John 15:16 speaks loud and clear He chose us….
and all that He asks of us is the same that He asked of the Levite Kohanim – Loyalty –
This is our calling – the calling of the ecclesia – the called apart ones. John makes it clear and simple in Rev. 12:11. They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.
We often refer to loyalty as faithfulness, Ruth is one of many examples.
The loyalty in our Heavenly Fathers covenant that we are part of, assures us of our future in His presence; as we who are His chosen, serve Him as part of the Royal spiritual priesthood. Remembering to be loyal to Him and to the requirements of that calling.
Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART 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. Amen
As we remember Shavuot/Pentecost, the giving of Torah, Covenant, and the giving of Fathers Holy Spirit/ Ruach haKodesh, renewed Covenant; we may ask who are the kedoshim and what are the requirements to be one?
At the time of the first Shavuot, the children of Israel were called to be holy. Leviticus 19:1-2.
This was so they could enter into a relationship with the Holy One of Israel. Lev. 19 focuses on identifying a code of holiness, one that contained guidelines and restrictions regarding practical ethics; more than all the precious portions of the Torah.
In our desire for freedom and a life under grace in modern Christianity, we have neglected the need for personal holiness. Oftentimes we disregard the need for the reverential respect we should be showing towards our Heavenly Father Who is Holy, also to our Messiah Who is Holy and to Ruach HaKodesh, Whose very Name is Holy. If we are to have Him abide in us should we not be a prepared holy vessel?
The disciples counted the Omer from Pesach/Passover to Shavuot/Pentecost, 49/50 days, waiting, preparing themselves to receive the promise. Every year along with every Jewish male they followed the Moedim, especially the ‘shalosh regalim’, the 3 moed to be present in Jerusalem. This year the Joel 2:28-32 prophecy was fulfilled in their sight, the Fathers’ Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh and Messiahs promise to be with them and us always began and has not diminished.
So what is holiness?
In the Hebrew the word kedushah comes from the root k d sh,
קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qof, dalet, shin) [sounds like k’desh/k’dosh]
The root word kodesh actually means “to consecrate”
and also means:
sanctity or set apartness. Strong’s 6918, 6944)
There are other words in Hebrew that use this root and include kadosh-holy, Kiddush-sanctifying the wine, kaddish-sanctifying the Name, kiddushin-the ring ceremony at a marriage, and so on. Kadosh means the realm of the sacred that is completely separate from all that is sinful and profane.
As noted in Is.59:15 it is elevated, lofty and beyond all comparison and entirely unique, Is. 40:25; entirely righteous, Is. 57:16 and in Psalm 99:3 glorious and awesome. (We have reduced this word awesome to a descriptive term for everyday usage when its root is in holy fearfulness, the sort that men fall face down on the ground and cannot move). Full of light and power, Isaiah 10:7.
Holiness and our Heavenly Father cannot be separated and it is His Name –
The Holy One blessed be He – Ha kadosh barukh hu.
The concept of what is said and meant as holy, is clearly a differentiation in realms. The realm of the holy is completely set apart from the common, the habitual everyday, or the profane. It is unique, awe-inspiring, can be dreadful, terrible, awful, as noted in Ps. 68:35 and Nehemiah 1:5. Our Heavenly Father as the Holy One is completely unique, sacred, distinct, and set apart as the only One of His kind, there is nothing and no one like Him. He alone is to be adored and worthy of true worship because He alone has no equal, no peers; He is without any rivals and His relationship to the world is as its Creator, Lord and King. Only He is eternally and infinitely known to Himself as, I Am That I Am. Ex.3:15.
Holiness by implication is more than an indifferent separation but it’s separation from that which is common, mundane and evil. Holiness implies absolute moral goodness and perfection and it’s impossible that the Holy One could agree with sin because this would destroy the distinction between the profane and the holy and undermine the very nature of holiness itself. That which is Holy, is in direct opposition to the profane and our Father must reject, hate and oppose that which violates the holy and sacred.
In Gen. 1:4, one of the first acts in the creation was the separating of heavenly light from spiritual darkness, suggesting that the realm of the holy which is represented by the divine light, is completely different from the world with its imperfections; however His Holy presence could be seen within the world as long as its integrity was not compromised. For people relating to our Heavenly Father, holiness describes a state of consecration which is achieved by set-apartness, ethical separation from profane culture which is rampant in this fallen world.
For them to be fit for a relationship with God, there were various commandments given through which the children of Israel were sanctified, set apart, to be kadosh-holy.
Because our Father is not just transcendent but is also immanent – that is He fills all of His creation, those who are called into His presence must be holy themselves. This holiness results in sanctification achieved through the obedience to His commandments, which included doing certain things and not doing certain things. There were also decrees given to further separate them from the customs and profanity of the nations that surrounded them. Because the Lord is Holy the Israelites could not be in relationship with Him if they took part on idolatrous and profane practices. They were called to be separate from all that was unholy. Lev. 11:44-45. The call to holiness was based on the fact that they were Gods possession because He had separated them from the nations. Lev. 20:26. We are also called to come apart and be separate because He has saved us out of this worlds systems.
The list includes:
Honoring parents and keeping Shabbat,
ish immo ve’aviv tira’u, ve’et-shabtotal tishmoru. Lev. 19:3.
Honoring the Lord by abstaining from idolatry,
al-tifnu el-ha’elilim, veilohel masekhah lo ta’asu lakhem Lev. 19:4.
Leaving gleanings of your harvest to the poor,
Lo te’khaleh pe’at sadekha
Not cursing others– lo-tekaliel cherish ve’lifnei iver titein mikhshol
and judge them favorably – be’tzedek tishpot amitekha.
Avoid gossip – lo-telekh rakhil be’ameykha
We must not hate our brother – lo tisna et-achikha bilvavekha
But love him as yourself – ve’ahavta le’re’akha kamokha
as Messiah referred to in Luke 10:29-37.
Although we are redeemed by the Blood of Yeshua/Jesus and His grace and mercy sustains us, we are to keep His commandments; and those just listed are not impossible to do. If you love Me keep my commandments. John 14:15 He did not come to abolish or do away with Torah Matthew 5:17 He came to complete it and show us how to live it correctly without all the human additions and doctrines of demons. Matthew 23:4
This command to be Holy as He is Holy, is not a suggestion, and it’s echoed in 1Peter 1:16 and 1Corinthians 6:19; this is relevant to those who consider themselves redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, Messiah Yeshua haMashiach. Many are believers and followers, however not many are true disciples. We are without doubt in the end of this age and as spiritual darkness increases and evil is emboldened, we as the light of this world are called to a higher standard. To be a witness of His gospel, our personal testimony and lifestyle must reflect the standards given by the very Savior, Lord and King in Whom we say we believe and trust. We are to be His kedoshim, His Holy ones, to be Holy as He is Holy.
The call to holiness is without compromise and is based on the hope that will be fulfilled at the revealing of Messiah at His second coming. Paul outlines the same moral constraints that mark a separated- called out people of God, the ecclesia. Believers in Messiah are to be free from the sin that saturates the culture around us and in particular free from sexual immorality, which is actually idolatry. We must remember that a believer, a follower, a disciple of Yeshua/Jesus is not exempt from the call to personal holiness, since the Lord God of Israel is the same yesterday, today and forever and He is Holy, Kadosh,
…we are to be Holy- Kadosh,
His Kedoshim.
Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART 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. Amen.
This scripture is not often used as a sermon reference.
You what you sow is not made alive unless it dies and that which you sow you sow not the body that will be but bare grain. 1 Cor 15:36-37.
They first have to become seeds of death before they can become seeds of life.
Our bodies, physical corruptible bodies, will finally be sown in death, yet they’ll be raised to incorruptible life. They’ll be sown in dishonor but raised to glory; sown a natural body and then raised a spiritual one.
But until that Day, the day of the resurrection of the dead, we are faced with taking up our cross, daily dying to self, the self centered life. Only then will our lives in Messiah come alive today, that we may reap tomorrow the harvest of new life in Him.
It’s sad to say but many believers are slow and often reluctant to give up our lives for Him; though we desire and long to walk as He and His disciples/apostles walked in the ways of salvation, power, miracles and peace. However, we are somewhat unwilling to give up our lifestyles, to sacrifice them for the sake of living His.
We allow strings of our past to remain attached as we try to build our new life inside the old structure. Doing this, results in us placing and restricting Messiah to a corner we have kept for Him; and then we choose a convenient time when it suits us, in our schedule, to consult Him for what we need. This should not be..
As long as we keep Him confined in one area of the life we have constructed for ourselves we’ll never be made alive in Him.
Learning Hebrew and discovering meanings to words and phrases is wonderful but unless we get the foundational life of obedience and total commitment to The Father, according to His ways, commandments and ordinances, which are His directions for living a holy life set apart for Him; all else is not important in comparison. We must keep our priorities in godly order, or we will miss the mark of the prize of the high calling.
It doesn’t matter how much we sow in prayer and hope, asking the Lord to free us from troubles, to destroy our enemies and bring change to our situation….’ What we sow will not be made alive unless it dies’.
It’s not until we are willing to die daily to who we used to be – especially to the parts of the old us and the old life we’d really like to keep – the life in Messiah of fruitfulness will always be out of reach.
If we are to live in Messiah we must sow ourselves in death into that grave, we are to leave everything . Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies’…
If we die with Him, we’ll be raised with Him,
identified with his death and
the fellowship of His sufferings.
Many don’t like that line in the scripture Phil. 3:10
identified with his death and
the fellowship of His sufferings;
because we are really wanting to hear pleasant words of comfort, wealth, blessings and a life of ease and prosperity without problems. A life of ease and luxury is not what Messiah promised us and so, we are looking for the wrong lifestyle. We are to leave everything of the old life both good and bad, to walk away from it, just as the disciples did.
‘Sowing not the body that will be but bare grain’.
What we compromise to keep we will inevitably lose. And furthermore, we don’t yet know what we will become, or who we really are. 1 John 3:2.
The body that will be, grows from the seeds sown in nakedness – no facades, no baggage, no compromise and no expectations; except that we will be quickened, made alive in Messiah. What kind of fruit will we bear and what kind of harvest will we reap? As long as we remain ‘alive to ourselves’, what kind of life will it be, or can it be …’unless it dies? ‘
So many believers simply add Jesus/Yeshua to their already existing lives and fit everything neatly into a ‘Christian package’; with church attendance and prayer meetings, bible studies and volunteer good works. It’s a preformed, denominational calendar of weekly events. Nowhere in the new or old testament is there such a format. Our heavenly Fathers Appointed times, His Moedim, are clear. Western Christianity formed mostly from Roman Catholic influence, has developed its own religious traditions, doctrines and agendas; this is not in line with a New Testament Messianic lifestyle. We are to live ‘in the world‘ but ‘we are not of it’ John 17:14-16. We are to leave the world and it ways and lifestyles behind, just as they left Egypt, which is a type of the world. But we don’t, we just seem to incorporate Christianity into how we live and absorb it into our life routines. That’s not what we are called to do/become. Jesus/Yeshua Himself said in Luke 14:26-33. whosoever does not hate….. cannot be My disciple. The influences of the systems of the world are demonic in their foundations. Tempting Messiah he said: I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory, he said. For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. Luke 4:6. Clearly they belong to the devil for the time being, until they become the kingdoms of our God and His Christ.. Rev. 11:15.
Make no mistake, these kingdoms and governmental systems are influencing and exercising control over our lives more and more. We must not be of this world, even though we are obliged to obey some of its rules and regulations. Our Heavenly Fathers’ Kingdom of the Heavens is within us and we must allow every attribute of Kingdom living to penetrate our lives, and show forth outwardly that which is growing within from the godly seed that was sown in our hearts. 1Peter 2:9.
Remember the word disciple/talmid, cannot be separated from discipline, obedience in walking the walk/halak. This walk is daily dying to self will, self centered choices and self aggrandizement; and indeed every selfish introspective lust and desire of our rebellious flesh. We are given time, a whole lifetime, to prepare our hearts and lives and we are encouraged and cautioned to be ready…let’s not put off until tomorrow what we can put right today.
These posts may seem repetitive and that’s because His word is unchangeable, it’s the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8. It is established in and for eternity. Psalm 119:89. Don’t let the enemy of our souls distract us from what we know is truth, wherein is freedom granted by His merciful grace. The clock is ticking and we may not have the time we think we have.
Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART 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. Amen
Believers agree that the Bible is the Word of our Heavenly Father and Yeshua/Jesus was and is the Word made flesh. This means the Word is alive, i.e. the Bible is a Living book. This explains why even when we read the scriptures daily and think we remember what it says, we can suddenly see/read something we never saw before. Fathers Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes and reveals a nugget of wisdom and a depth of understanding into a portion of His Word that enhances our faith and increases our knowledge of Who He is; and in turn adds to the development and intimacy of our loving relationship with Him.
If we are following the weekly Parashat in the annual reading through Torah, included below are some crusts, crumbs and nuggets we may have missed on our initial reading of these verses in Leviticus chapters 14 and 15. The Torah portion is called Metzora = cleansing of infected ones.
The theme of Leviticus is how sinful man draws near to a Holy God. We know of course that because Messiah came, He has made the Way for us to approach our Heavenly Holy Father; however it is helpful to know and see how the instructions given to the children of Israel were a foreshadowing of Messiah Himself. These instructions and Ways were known in detail to the Israelites and when Messiah came, those alive at the time saw these prophetic fore-shadowings fulfilled.
In Lev. 14:1-7, we read about the process.
The meaning of the cleansing process:
Two live birds = two birds represent Yeshua/Jesus and a sinner.
One bird is to be slaughtered = the bird that is killed represents Yeshua/Jesus Who died to set us free of the bondage of sin.
Earthen vessel = The earthen vessel is not a vessel of brass, shows that this is not a judgment against the sinner. (In the Bible brass represents judgment.)
Living water = living water represents His Holy Spirit/Ruach haKodesh Who would be given in more fullness after Messiah’s death. He shows us our need to be saved.
Live bird = The live bird having been set free after having the blood and living water applied, displays the freedom from the bondage of sin, through the blood of Yeshua/Jesus and the Taval/baptism (where His Holy Spirit descended). He died so that we can live.
Cedar Wood = Cedar wood is not affected by attacks of insects, they are repelled by it. The adversary cannot take us out of the protective hand of our Heavenly Father, he is repelled by His presence.
Hyssop = Hyssop was used to put the blood on the door posts and lintel at the first Passover. It was also used to give Messiah when He was on the tree/cross. Both of these events saved us from death. David says in Psalm 51:7 purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Crimson thread = the crimson thread saved the physical lives of Rahab and her whole family, Joshua 2:18-19. This, points to the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Crimson thread was made using a dye from a worm. Psalm 22:6-8 But I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh Me to scorn they shoot out the lip they shake the head saying He trusted on Yahweh that He would deliver Him let Him deliver Him seeing He delighted in Him.
For more on the ‘worm’ – click link below.
Immerse his clothing shave off all his hair and immerse himself in water and become pure. = This act of removing hair from the body is an indication of the removing of pride and arrogance from our lives. Many have never had their heads shaved and some experience this when entering the military and it has a profound effect on individuals attitude. This was the practice against the Jews during the holocaust.
He must live outside his tent for seven days. This possibly indicates that the fullness of inclusion into the Kingdom of the Heavens is after the thousand-year reign when the new heavens and a new earth are established.
Why did they have to do this strange ritual? For us looking back, we see the meaning but for them it was a ‘chok’, beyond the range of human reason. Some of the sages speculated that the cedar represents pride, as it is one of the grandest of trees, (Cedars of Lebanaon). whereas the hyssop represents humility, as it is one of the most common and lowest lying of branches. The consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests at the Mishkan, which indicate the full restoration of the metzora back to the community. The scarlet thread represents Jesus/Yeshua because His blood holds everything together and makes atonement possible.
For more on ‘chok’- click link below.
In verse 5, and the priest shall command that one of the birds is to be killed in an earthen vessel over running water.
Running water = living water. Water that is not still and prone to become stagnant but a spring of water that continually flows fresh with life giving benefits. This is significant because Yeshua spoke of Himself as Living Water in John 4:7—10 She would have known the scriptures well, and understood that He was the long awaited Messiah and why she immediately rushed to tell everyone in her town that He had come.
The third stage of purification in Lev. 8:24,
instructs the applying of blood
to the right ear,
thumb of the right hand
he big toe of the right foot;
it is the same process as the inauguration of the priests.
This shows us that the one being cleansed is committing to
hear only wholesome talk,
perform and be occupied with only righteous deeds and
only go to places where our Heavenly Father, Yeshua/Jesus and His Holy Spirit are honored.
The next scriptures in Leviticus speak of the cleansing from Tzaraat and the need to call for a Temple Priest to come and examine the individual. The priest was to prescribe the remedy and also be the one to declare the person clean. Now, when we read in Luke 17:11-19; of the 10 men with Leprosy/tzaraat and Yeshua/Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priest. This had never happened before without the prescribed process. Verse 32. Only Messiah our High Priest, can cleanse this condition.
When the 10 men with Tzaraat went to the Temple after Messiah had cleansed them, it was a proclamation to the Priesthood that Messiah had come. Never before had 10 men with tzaraat been cleansed at one time. It is possible that no one had been cleansed before without the precise instructions being followed. This may also have been a sign that the uncleanness of the 10 tribes had been forgiven, and they were being called back to Messiah. We have known of the need to say thank you for what the Lord has done for us yet we sometimes miss another meaning from the Torah which Messiah came to complete.
One last point to ponder.
Lev. 15:19-28 speaks about a woman’s ‘niddah’, the time of separation each month. There is a related scripture and event described in Mark 5:21-43.
We have heard many sermons on these verses The woman was healed of the plague of an unending time of impurity having had this condition for 12 years; and it could point to what Messiah came to do for the 12 Tribes of Israel (His Bride). He came to end their time of separation (niddah) from the Father and bring healing for their relationship with their Creator. The little girl who was 12 years old, who was brought back to life; could point to the fact that the 12 tribes (bride), were separated from the Heavenly bridegroom Yahweh and had a judgment of death on them. Yeshua/Jesus death would allow them to be brought back under the renewed covenant as Paul talks about in Romans chapters 6 &7.
It was the prerogative of the Lord God of Yisrael to touch those afflicted with tzaraat and heal them based on their teshuvah/repentance; and in like manner Messiah came into the leper colony of humanity, to heal those who cried out to Him. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and His love reaches down to those who are afflicted and oppressed because of their uncleanness. If we call upon Him He will touch us and restore us to fellowship with our Heavenly Father. He is just waiting….
Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
It’s all about Life and Relationship,
NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.
NOT SURE?
YOU CAN BE..
SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART 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. Amen
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