Author: 1gratefulheart

Wars And Rumors Of Wars

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 91 are favorites and there are those that encourage us, reminding us that He is in control and He is our protection.  In Proverbs 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)

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind up, cast, distress, fashion,

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.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

צוּר verb confine, bind, besiege (Late Hebrew id., wrap (rare); Aramaic צוּר besiege, beleaguer); —

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

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

besieged, bulwark, defense, fenced, fortress, siege, strong hold, tower

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.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin from tsur
Definition siege enclosure, siege, entrenchment
NASB Translation besieged (3), defense (1), fortified (1), fortress (1), rampart (1), siege (17), siegeworks (1).

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

NASB: set, make, put, laid, made, lay, demanded
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

 in a future tense and means: to place or set.  

“You will set me in your

Strong’s Hebrew: 3709. כָּף (kaph) —

… hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot) …

Strong’s Hebrew: 3028. יַד (yad) — hand 

This is not the word yad for hand but is built upon that word. 

This is more specific and means the palm of the hand. 

Strong’s Hebrew: 6447. פַּס (pas) — palm (of the hand)

... 6447. pas Strong’s Concordance pas: palm (of the hand)

Original Word ... פַס

Part of Speech: Noun Masculine

Transliteration: pas

Definition: palm (of the hand)

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.

3709 kaph 

kaph: Palm, hand, hollow, sole

Original Word: כַּף
Transliteration: kaph
Pronunciation: kaf
Phonetic Spelling: kaf
KJV: branch, + foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon
NASB: hands, hand, pan, sole, pans, palm, soles
Word Origin: [from H3721 (כָּפַף – bowed down)]

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

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

branch, foot, handful hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole,

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 139 speaks 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.

Is There Such A Thing As A Sin That Cant Be forgiven?

For centuries people have lived in fear of committing this

unpardonable or unforgivable sin

and many have given up hope believing they have done so.

There are many teachings on this subject and many different opinions depending on which denomination or doctrine people adhere to.

Some examples are: the Roman Catholic Church follows the teachings of Thomas Aquinas who listed six sins against the Holy Spirit which are:

Despair – believing your sin is too great to be forgiven,

Presumption – trying to obtain pardon without repentance,

Resistance – to known truth,

Envy – of a brother’s spiritual good,

Impenitence – the specific purpose of not repenting and

Obstinacy – clinging to your sin so long you become immune to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

Calvin summed it up by stating a generally accepted view, which is: that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is resisting the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.  

Billy Graham suggested that

“If you are worried that you committed the unpardonable sin you haven’t done it yet.”  

Meaning that if you are worried or concerned about it then it shows that the Holy Spirit is still at work in you. 

It really does not matter what we choose to believe as an interpretation, because it will not change truth; it only matters what the Word tells us. Scripture always confirms itself and never contradicts. So looking at Matthew 12:31 in Messiahs own words and keeping them in context, we will have a clear answer.

Matthew 12:31:  “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”

The Aramaic reads:

31 Because of this, I say unto you, that the sons of men {i.e. mankind} will be forgiven all their sins, and their blasphemies, but, the blasphemy that is against The Rukha d’Qudsha {The Spirit of Holiness} will not be forgiven the sons of men {i.e. mankind}.

Here for those who are interested are links to both the

Holy Aramaic Scriptures and

A Dictionary of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic of the Byzantine period (Dictionaries of Talmud, Midrash, and Targum).

https://theholyaramaicscriptures.weebly.com/matthews-gospel.html

https://archive.org/details/a-dictionary-of-jewish-palestinian-aramaic-of-the-byzantine-period-dictionaries-

2 links for free download as pdf.

https://ia902307.us.archive.org/34/items/a-dictionary-of-jewish-palestinian-aramaic-of-the-byzantine-period-dictionaries-/A%20Dictionary%20of%20Jewish%20Palestinian%20Aramaic
%20of%20the%20Byzantine%20period%20%28Dictionaries%20of%20
Talmud%2C%20Midrash%2C%20and%20Targum%29.pdf

A Dictionary of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic of the Byzantine period (Dictionaries of Talmud, Midrash, and Targum)

First, what does blasphemy really mean?

Webster’s dictionary defines it as:

the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for a deity.  

This should give us pause for thought as many people have to some degree done this.

Blasphemy means: reviling God.

In Hebrew it is known as birkat hashem, literally

“blessing [euphemism for cursing] the Name [of God].”

The one guilty of this offense is called a 

megaddef – blasphemer.

In the two main passages in the Bible

Leviticus 24: 10-23 and I Kings 21: 8-13

 the penalty for this offense is stoning to death.

Does it mean to insult God, or does it mean to curse God?

According to the Gospels of

Matthew 26: 63-6 and Mark 14: 53-64

Yeshua/Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin on a charge of blasphemy.

In Greek the word is blasphemia and is clearly where we get our English word blasphemy from.

The word means:

abusive or scurrilous language

and it also means:

to call something good as bad and bad as good;

and by that definition, probably, most people have committed blasphemy.  

As discussed in previous posts, Messiah spoke the Aramaic language and in Aramaic Midrashic Literature the word appears as godpha and literally means: to cut, scrape or hollow out.

It is used for scraping out a clay dish while forming it, in order to reduce its thickness. In this context it would mean: scraping, and cutting our Heavenly Father out of our life, removing every memory or thought of Him permanently. 

In the Targumim Dictionary it states that it was used as a metaphor to give a picture that expressed the idea of: ‘Worshipping idols to impair the supremacy of the Divine Name”.  

Another way to give its meaning is, when His Ruach haKodesh/Spirit of Holiness is convicting a person of sin, this individual would say that they don’t want anything to do with Him or the free gift of Salvation that is offered through Messiahs death.

The definition of this word is the sum of what most scholars refer to, which is: the continual rejection of the Holy Spirits work of conviction, and when His Spirit of Holiness becomes so grieved, He will cease in His efforts with that person; and as Romans 1:28 warns us, He will give them over to their sin. There comes a point when He will give you your free will choice and leave you alone.  

Here are some definitions in connection with

Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-30; & Luke 12:10.

By attributing the powers of Yeshua/Jesus to Satan, the Pharisees had rejected the Holy Spirit work, noted in

Luke 11:20 as ‘the finger of God’.

They made His Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit unholy, they called His Holy Spirit unclean, Mark 3:22,30.

Yeshua/ Jesus was anointed with His Heavenly Father’s Holy Spirit to perform miracles, recorded in

Matthew 12:18; Luke 4:18, Acts 10:38.

His Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin by His works/miracles and by His words/inspired preaching and teaching, according to John 16:8–11.

To reject Yeshua/Jesus’ and the Father’s Holy Spirit works and words, is to reject the only means by which man can be saved. When a person blasphemes, literally to speak hurt, to speak against or slander someone and rejects the person of the Fathers Holy Spirit, he is left without the means for divine forgiveness. Scripture tells us there is no other means for conviction and conversion. Rejecting the way of salvation means there is no hope of salvation in this world, referring to the TaNaKH/Old Testament ages and that which is to come; referring at that point to Pentecost/Shavuot, which for us we look back to. Those who reject Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah can be forgiven as were the Jews and Paul as recorded in

Acts 26:9; Romans 11:5, 23; 1 Timothy 1:13.

If a person rejects the works and the words of His Holy Spirit there is nothing left for our Heavenly Father to offer.

Sin is serious apostasy by genuine believers and only those who are truly born-again could commit sin. This unforgivable sin consists of unusually malicious, willful rejection and slander against the Holy Spirits work attesting to Messiah, and attributes that work to satan.

Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”

Matthew 12:24 and Luke 11:15 Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But men among them said, “This one exorcises devils by Beelzebub the Chief of devils.”

Luke 12:10“And everyone who will say a word against The Son of Man shall be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes The Spirit of Holiness, it will not be forgiven to him.”

1422 geduphah: Reproach, Blasphemy, Reviling

Original Word: גְּדוּפָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: gduwphah
Pronunciation: gheh-doo-fah’
Phonetic Spelling: ghed-oo-faw’
Definition: Reproach, Blasphemy, Reviling
Meaning: a revilement derived from the root גָּדַף (gadaph/godpha), which means to revile or to blaspheme. While there is no direct one-to-one correspondence in the Greek New Testament for “geduphah,” the concept of blasphemy is captured by the Greek word βλασφημία (blasphemia), Strong’s Greek Number 988. This term is used in the New Testament to describe similar acts of speaking against God or sacred things.

In summary, geduphah is a term that encapsulates the act of revilement or blasphemy, emphasizing the importance of reverence and respect for the divine in biblical teachings.

The word geduphah is used in the context of expressing disdain or contempt, particularly in relation to sacred or divine matters. It is often associated with blasphemy or irreverent speech against God. The term geduphah appears in the Hebrew Bible to describe acts of blasphemy or revilement, particularly against God. It is a noun form that captures the essence of speaking or acting in a manner that shows disrespect or contempt for the divine.
In the Old Testament, blasphemy was considered a serious offense, often punishable by severe consequences. The use of geduphah underscores the gravity of such actions and the importance of maintaining reverence for God and sacred matters.The concept of geduphah is closely related to the broader biblical theme of honoring God with one’s words and actions. It serves as a warning against the dangers of irreverence and the need for a respectful attitude towards the divine.The term is not frequently used in the Hebrew Bible, but its presence highlights the cultural and religious emphasis on the sanctity of God’s name and the prohibition against speaking against it.

Numbers 15:30 
HEB: יְהוָ֖ה ה֣וּא מְגַדֵּ֑ף וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ
NAS: that one is blaspheming the LORD;
KJV: or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD;
INT: the LORD one is blaspheming shall be cut person

Ezekiel 20:27 
HEB: ע֗וֹד זֹ֚את גִּדְּפ֤וּ אוֹתִי֙ אֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם
NAS: your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously
KJV: Yet in this your fathers have blasphemedme, in that they have committed

1442 gadaph: To revile, to blaspheme, to reproach

Original Word: גָּדַף
Transliteration: gadaph
Pronunciation: gah-daf’
Phonetic Spelling: gaw-daf’
Definition: To revile, to blaspheme, to reproach
Meaning: to hack, revile blaspheme, reproach 

A primitive root; to hack (with words), i.e. Revile — blaspheme, reproach. 

G987 (βλασφημέω, blasphēmeō): To speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme.
G2635 (καταλαλέω, katalaleō): To speak against, to slander.
G3949 (λοιδορέω, loidoreō): To revile, to abuse verbally.

These Greek terms share a similar semantic range with גָּדַף, encompassing ideas of blasphemy, reviling, and abusive speech, and are used in the New Testament to describe actions that are similarly condemned as disrespectful and irreverent.

The verb גָּדַף (gadaph) is used in the context of blasphemy or reviling, often directed against God or sacred things. It conveys a sense of speaking contemptuously or abusively. The Hebrew verb גָּדַף (gadaph) appears in the Old Testament in contexts that involve blasphemy or reviling, particularly against God. This term is used to describe actions that are considered deeply disrespectful and offensive, often involving speech that is contemptuous or abusive. The act of גָּדַף is seen as a serious offense, reflecting a heart attitude that is rebellious and irreverent towards the divine.

In the Berean Standard Bible, the term is translated in contexts that highlight the severity of blasphemous actions. For example, in Leviticus 24:11, the son of an Israelite woman blasphemes the Name, and the community is instructed to bring him to justice. This underscores the gravity of the act and the communal responsibility to uphold the sanctity of God’s name.

The use of גָּדַף in the Hebrew Bible serves as a warning against the dangers of irreverence and the importance of maintaining a respectful and reverent attitude towards God. It reflects the broader biblical theme of honoring God with one’s words and actions, recognizing the power and holiness of His name.

To sum up; blasphemy against the Fathers Spirit of Holiness/RuachhaKodesh is a willful closing off of one’s heart and mind to YHVH’s truth, persistently attributing His Spirit’s work to a source of evil and rejecting His call to repentance.

Blasphemy against His Holy Spirit is attributing to the devil what has clearly been done by the Fathers Spirit of Holiness.

It is considered a persistent and unrepentant refusal to acknowledge the divine source of His work, especially as revealed through the Ruach ha Kodesh. It goes beyond mere words or actions and involves a hardened heart that rejects the work of conviction; this ends up as a seared conscience and is therefore unredeemable. It is not simply cursing God’s Name or momentary doubt, it’s a persistent, hardened rejection of the Spirit’s work in revealing Messiah.

Those that do commit this sin, were never His in the first place but as Messiah teaches in the parable in Matthew 13:24-43 tells us, they were tares and not wheat, and to depart from Him He never knew them.

If He never knew them they were never His.

Matthew 27:22-23.

In John 6:39 Yeshua/Jesus says He will not lose one of those whom the Father gave Him.

Here is what the One who sent me wants me to do [L the will of him who sent me]: I must not lose even one whom God gave me, but I must raise them ALL on the last day.

Rest assured that if we truly belong to Him, then we will not ever commit this unforgivable/unpardonable sin. Believers can have confidence in their salvation, knowing of a certainty that Messiah will not lose any of those given to Him by His Father. 

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.

A Grain Of Wheat?

Having counted from the Omer,

50 days are now fulfilled and we are again at

שָׁבוּעוֹת/Shavuot/Pentecost.

The cycle of life, both physical and spiritual, continues and as we remember the reason for this Appointed Time /Moed/מוֹעֵד/Festival.

As well as rejoicing in the fulfillment of prophecy recorded in Acts by the outpouring of His Spirit of Holiness; let us take the time to examine our lives and see if our lives truly are a grain of wheat.

Brief summary of the Spring Moedim.

In Leviticus 23, there are two different Hebrew words that translate feast. The first word is Mo-ahd, and is often translated appointed time. Mo-ahd means to set an appointment, as in a set time or season, for a specific assembly or festival. The plural form of mo-ahd is moedim. This particular word for feast refers to the weekly Sabbaths and all the Levitical Holy Days.

Mo-ahd also has a root meaning:

to repeat, and can mean

a signal as appointed beforehand.

There are things that are to be repeated each time the preset appointed time has come. For example: When there is an anniversary, the signals or signs that this date has come is to have a celebration, usually repeated every year. It is the same with the Father’s Appointed Times. The feasts are signals and signs to help us know what is on the heart of the Lord. There’s a large difference in how believers observe the Spring moedim (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost). These holidays have been fulfilled in the life of Yeshua/Jesus.

In dying on the cross, Yeshua fulfilled the first two festivals. Passover deals with redemption through the death of a lamb. Unleavened Bread is about removing leaven/sin.

The death of the Lamb of God /Passover,

paid the price for our indebtedness and gave us

freedom from sin (Unleavened Bread).

Yeshua’s resurrection from the grave fulfilled the festival/moed of First Fruits. This holiday deals with offering YHVH the first of the produce.

1 Corinthians 15:20  “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep

Finally, Pentecost /Shavuot was fulfilled in Acts 2 upon the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Shavuot/Pentecost deals with the seal of covenant relationship with God as the people received the Law on Mt. Sinai. Yeshua gave us the promise of His Ruach haKodesh/ Spirit of Holiness.

Ephesians 1:13 says, In him you also… were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. His Holy Spirit living inside of us is the fulfillment of Shavuot.

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24-26

His statement conveys a powerful and enduring message about life, death, resurrection and transformation. Yeshua/Jesus was speaking in response to the request of a group of Greek seekers, however the time for meeting people and talk had come to an end.

Messiah uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat to illustrate a deeper spiritual truth, because one of the key realities of the Kingdom of the Heavens is that

life springs forth from death. 

Yeshua/Jesus was telling those with ears to hear, that the hour had come for Him to be glorified, and that meant He was to die….

…like a kernel of wheat.

He compared His death to

a grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies,

but produces much fruit.

He uses this metaphor to explain the need

to lose one’s life for His sake and the gospel’s.

John 12:24-26

If a grain of wheat….

Are we a generation of the undead?

Because if a grain of wheat falls to the ground and

does not die

it abides alone.

We are nourished daily by His Word, we eat and we drink in the comforting presence of His Holy Spirit/Ruach haKodesh.

We grow, flourish, and seek to please our Lord and Master. We humble ourselves before our maker, bowing in worship, praise and thanksgiving.

We have been delivered from death forever through the atoning blood sacrifice of the Son, and yet the life we live is lost as long as we remain alive to our old ways and to our self-serving lifestyle.

Has the grain of wheat reached its goal and final destiny?

After standing among the ripened stalk, once it is cut down and bound for the threshing floor, will it attain its full potential if it falls to the ground unnoticed, just laying there, and doing nothing?

Like the grain of wheat, we too have a destiny in Messiah, and it is certain that we will die one way or another; and we cannot go on to fulfill the purpose of our life in Messiah/Christ unless we die to self…. but if we, as that seed, do die, we will bear much fruit.

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

As disciples of Messiah we must be

more than fallen grain

because He teaches us that…

He who loves his life will lose it and he who hates his life in this world to life age enduring will keep it.

If all we have become is mature, great looking, immaculate stalks of wheat, we have failed to fulfill our final destiny and goal in Messiah. Growing and maturing in Him is not the ultimate goal, it is and always has been a process, a means to an end. Our end then is to die to ourselves so that we may live for Messiah.

By yielding to His process in us, as we, the old us, decays in the ground like the seed, being tended to by the Master Farmer, our life will bear much fruit. Only in this death will we live and that happens when we give ourselves away to serving others, in turn producing a new crop of grain that will soon be ripe for the harvest.

Messiah teaches us that if anyone serves Him,

let him follow me and where I am there also my servant will be.

John 12:26

Yeshua/Jesus was the first to die and He was also the first to bear fruit, us, we are the fruit; and that includes every one who trusts in Him from that resurrection day until He returns. As we serve Him, let’s accept the invitation to follow and be with Him, including being buried with Him in His death and as much as we are raised from the dead in His life. Let’s no longer be the undead following Him, those who are still abiding alone and yet failing to live, by not pouring into others the resurrection life that was given for us.

Let us serve the master, not so that our Heavenly Father will honor us, but instead let’s fall to the ground and die, so that we will finally be the generation that bears much fruit.

We must allow him to make us useful so that we will be

more than a fallen grain of wheat

and let Him show us how to follow Him into death of self that we may finally live the life we have been raised with Him to live.

For new readers there are many posts on Shavuot which can be accessed from homepage.

Chag same’ach.

(pronounced: KHAHG sah-MAY-ach)

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.

Are You A Jeshurun – Ysehurun?

In reading the scriptures there are many names we may not be familiar with, one of those is

Jesurun or Ysehurun/ ישׁהרנ.

Who exactly is Jeshurun ישׁרונ ?

The name is only referenced four times in the TaNaKH/Old Testament and most scholars agree that it’s a term of endearment that our Heavenly Father uses for Yisrael/Israel.

Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5; 33:26 and Isaiah 44:2.

Deuteronomy 32:15: “But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked. Thou are waxen fat and thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness, then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation.”

Isaiah 44:1 But now listen, O Jacob My servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. 2 This is what the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you says, ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And Jeshurun (Israel, the upright one) whom I have chosen.

In Deuteronomy 33:5, it is used to describe the ideal kingship of God over Israel: “So the LORD became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, together with the tribes of Israel.”

Translations from Aramaic: Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD that made you and formed you from the womb and helped you: Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and you, Israel, whom I have chosen.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH who made you, and he formed you in the womb, and he helped you: “Do not be afraid, my Servant, Yaqob, and Israel, whom I have chosen

These and other translations are available free of charge on biblehub.com

Jeshurun means: straight or upright.

3484 [e]
wî·šu·rūn
וִישֻׁר֖וּן
and you Jeshurun

3484 Yeshurun: Yeshurun

Original Word: יְשֻׁרוּן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yshuruwn
Pronunciation: yeh-shoo-ROON
Phonetic Spelling: yesh-oo-roon’
Definition: Yeshurun
Meaning: Jeshurun

There is no direct Greek equivalent for Jeshurun in the Strong’s Concordance, as it is a specific Hebrew proper noun used uniquely in the context of the Old Testament. However, the concept of Israel as YHVH’s chosen and beloved people is echoed in various Greek terms related to the ecclesia and the people of YHVH in the Brit Chadashah/New Testament.

The term Jeshurun appears in the Hebrew Bible as a symbolic name for Israel, emphasizing the nation’s ideal character as upright and righteous before YHVH and it is used in a few key passages to highlight Israel’s special relationship with Him. Jeshurun is a poetic and affectionate name for the nation of Israel/Yisrael.

The root word for Jeshurun is yashar 

which means: to be upright or righteous.

Derived from the root word יָשַׁר (yashar),

meaning “to be upright” or “straight.”

From 3474 yashar; upright; yashar:

To be straight, right, upright, pleasing

Original Word:יָשַׁר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: yashar
Pronunciation: yah-SHAR
Phonetic Spelling: yaw-shar’
Definition: To be straight, right, upright, pleasing
Meaning: to be straight, even, to be, right, pleasant, prosperous

The name Jeshurun underscores the ideal of Israel as a people chosen by YHVH to live in righteousness and faithfulness; it has the idea of one mindedness with Him. It serves as a reminder of the nation’s calling to embody uprightness and to maintain a covenant relationship with YHVH and is used when He wants to express His affection for Israel/Yisrael.

As we often find when we study the scriptures, there are many interpretations as to what or who the writer is referring to in the word Jeshurun. Some commentators say it is simply a poetic reference to Israel, however the Rabbis teach that the word Jeshurun is a reference to the noblest and best among us; because the word itself comes from the root word yashar which means to be upright or righteous. I Peter 2:5 talks of the priesthood of all believers and we should read it with the understanding that this isn’t just a reference to those in leadership positions, it is a reference to all of us; true believers as His disciples fit the description or definition of a Jeshurun.

The word is spelled with the letters: Yod, Shin and Resh which suggest being filled with the fire of the Fathers Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit, and representing an individual whom the Father has chosen, with special favor to do something in particular for Him. It could be that many readers have had that feeling; that our Heavenly Father has given special favor on their lives and placed on them a call from His Holy Spirit to carry out some specific work? In that case, He has called you Jeshurun.

Jeshurun is also used in a context of rebuke, where Israel/Yisrael, having grown prosperous, is warned against forsaking YHVH: “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; you grew fat, thick, and sleek—he abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.”

Deuteronomy 32:15 starts off with the name Jeshurun and says that this beloved of God had: waxed fat and kicked.

What is our Heavenly Father talking about…

waxing fat and kicking?

Israel, Jeshurun became fat and disrespectful both physically and spiritually. He is saying to them: You have become fat, overfed, stuffed, gorged! They abandoned the One who made them and prospered them and treated the rock of their salvation shamefully. 16 They made him furious because they worshiped foreign gods and angered him because they worshiped worthless idols. 17 They sacrificed to demons that are not God, to gods they never heard of.

Do we treat our Heavenly Father as some instant wish answering genie, demanding all our dreams to come true?

He is our Heavenly Father, One with Whom we have a love relationship and not a ‘give me what I want now’ relationship.

We all know how parents will pay special attention to a newborn baby giving it everything it wants, however as the child grows older, much of that attention ceases as they must learn to find their own way. This is often the case with new believers and as we grow older in our relationship, the attention which we first received may not seem to be the same. Our Father wants us to look beyond ourselves and see the needs out there in a world that is lost and in darkness.  Sadly we become so used to constant attention, that, like those who grew fat and start kicking, when we are not getting an immediate answer to our prayers. Many times we become too attached to the blessings of our Heavenly Father rather than to Him.

Anyone who has any farming experience will know that a well-fed animal, whether a cow/horse/pig/chicken etc., will grow insolent, rebellious and demanding and could well end up kicking or biting their owner if they’re not careful. The animal becomes spoiled and demanding, which is a meaning behind this verse. We too can grow fat and lazy with our Father’s blessings and then when He removes one, we begin to cry, complain and kick. This results in self serving behavior, which is contrary to everything our Savior taught and the results are like that of the well fed livestock. Sadly these traits are some of the dangers of spiritual apathy, our Heavenly Father is simply pointing to our selfishness and we too could end up like Jeshurun, self-absorbed and proud.

In truth each one of us is given special favor from the Father and He has endowed all of us with something special, so we have no need to boast or feel smug. We all serve a unique role in the body of Messiah and no one is more important or special than anyone else.

In taking a closer look at the Hebrew letters in the word for Jeshurun, there is what is called ‘the shadow of the letters’, like an opposite view point or a negative meaning of the Yod, Shin and Resh. This could indicate that we can become unstable and not securely grounded in Him when we allow worldly carnal passions to take us over and influence our decisions and lifestyle. There’s a danger to receiving the Fathers natural blessings in that, we become too attached to them. Would we be able to say what Job did? “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”  Job 1:21.

We become too attached to the physical blessings that reflect the prosperity of the world and being successful, e.g. high wages, a house, a car etc., rather than to our Heavenly Father Himself. Perhaps that beautiful house, car etc., was given to us for a special purpose beyond ourselves.

Even though we allow ourselves to become fat, and then kick and scream when we are forced out of our comfort zone, our Heavenly Father still calls us Jeshurun. Despite all our self-centered, selfish demands, we are still His children and He loves us.

In Isaiah 44:2, Jeshurun is used in a comforting promise of YHVH’s care: “This is the word of the LORD your Maker, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.”

He is patient with us and eventually we stop kicking and screaming and begin to appreciate the One that we have forsaken; and to once again deeply respect Him by repenting of our rebelliousness and appreciating all that He has done for us as the Rock of our salvation.

It’s time to be about our Father’s business and not building our own little kingdoms and then having a breakdown when something interrupts our comfortable lifestyle.

As a last thought, Deuteronomy 33:26 praises YHVH’s unique relationship with Yisrael/Israel:

There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun who rides the heavens to your aid, and the clouds in His majesty.

As His Jeshurun we are looking to the heavens for that same

rider of the clouds, our help, our refuge and strength.

Let’s not be those Jeshurun who have grown fat and kicked against the Father like a spoiled child, but be the Jeshurun who are straight, right, upright, and pleasing to our Messiah as we continue looking unto Him the author and finisher of our faith because every day our full redemption draws closer.

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.