Tag: Hope

Our Heavenly Father Knows And Sees

We all need encouragement and never more than in these days of uncertainty. Our feet need to be firmly planted on the Rock of our Salvation. We should be in a position of unshakeable faith in our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, abiding in Him and keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Him and not on the issues and circumstances in the world around us.

Matthew 6:31-33

31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.…

Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

We turn to familiar scriptures to comfort and strengthen our faith, scriptures that give us confidence our Heavenly Father knows what is happening and sees our situations as is not taken by surprise. He knows our future and sees our heart of trust depending on Him to protect us and lead us through our troubles. He ensures that the testing and trial of our faith is never above what we can handle. 1Cor. 10:13 No trial has overtaken you that is not distinctively human; and God is faithful; · he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear, but with the trial will also provide the way through, so that you will be able to endure it.

Among the many promises in scripture there is one in

Psalm 139:5: “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.”

This verse has been translated in a number of ways…

but what does the Hebrew say… literally?

Behind and before You take hold of me and You have laid upon me Your Hand.

Breaking down the Hebrew words in this verse gives us a wider understanding of the thoughts behind Davids statement:

achor: Back, behind, backward

Original Word: אָחוֹר
Part of Speech: substantive
Transliteration: achowr
Pronunciation: a-khor
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-khore’)
KJV: after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-)hind(-er part), time to come, without
NASB: back, backward, rear, afterward, away, backs, behind
Word Origin: [from H299 (אֲחִירַע – Ahira)]
afterward, back part hereafter, hinder part, time to come, without
(hence, adverbly) behind, backward (also, as facing north) the West

אָחוֹר (’achor) occurs about forty-one times, functioning adverbially (“back, backward, behind”) and as a noun (“rear, hinder part”). Scripture uses it both literally—describing spatial orientation—and metaphorically—expressing retreat, apostasy, concealment, shame, and divine protection.

Assurance of victory: Prayer trusts God to make spiritual adversaries retreat

ṣar·tā·nî

Psalm 139:5
HEB: אָח֣וֹר וָקֶ֣דֶם צַרְתָּ֑נִי וַתָּ֖שֶׁת עָלַ֣י
NAS: You have enclosed me behind
KJV: Thou hast beset me behind and before,
INT: behind and before have enclosed and laid and

6924 qedem: East, ancient times, antiquity, front, before

Original Word: קֶדֶם
Part of Speech: noun masculine; adverb; noun
Transliteration: qedem
Pronunciation: keh’-dem
Phonetic Spelling: (keh’-dem)
KJV: aforetime, ancient (time), before, east (end, part, side, -ward), eternal, X ever(-lasting), forward, old, past
Word Origin: [from H6923 (קָדַם – meet)]

  1. the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity)

    2. often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)

The Strongs word 6696 in Hebrew for beset is

tsur or tsuwr:

To bind, besiege, confine, cramp

Original Word: צוּר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tsuwr
Pronunciation: tsoor
Phonetic Spelling: (tsoor)

The verb צוּר (Strong’s 6696) portrays the purposeful act of hemming in—whether by an enemy army, by difficult circumstances, or by the Lord Himself. Its roughly thirty-six occurrences fall largely into military narratives, covenant warnings, wisdom reflections, and prophetic oracles. The word’s range moves from hostile siege to benevolent encirclement, revealing the Lord’s sovereign control of both judgment and protection. Strong’s Hebrew 6696 presents siege not merely as an ancient military tactic but as a theological instrument revealing the Lord’s righteous judgment, protective care, and redemptive purpose. Whether depicting armies at city walls or God’s hand surrounding His own, the verb summons every generation to covenant faithfulness and confident trust in the One who alone controls the boundaries of distress and deliverance.

KJV: adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags

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

 Indicating Sovereign control: God employs siege to discipline or to shelter, demonstrating mastery over human warfare.
2. Covenant accountability: Siege fulfills covenant blessings or curses, linking military events to spiritual realities.
3. Protective encirclement: For the faithful, being ‘hemmed in’ signifies safety within God’s providence.
4. Eschatological preview: The transition from judgment to protection anticipates the consummate security of God’s people in the Messianic age.

When believers feel confined by trials, Psalm 139:5 invites them to interpret the hemming in as God’s purposeful care rather than mere limitation.
• Intercession for Nations: Biblical sieges warn modern societies that persistent rebellion invites divine discipline; prayer should therefore combine repentance with appeal for mercy.
• Spiritual Warfare: Christians may build “siege works” of prayer and Scripture against strongholds of sin (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:4), appropriating the constructive use of the verb.
• Hope in Christ: Just as Zechariah foresaw God’s encampment around His house, believers rest in the risen Christ who “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), the ultimate assurance that no hostile encirclement can prevail.

Fortified – tsur צ ור  is also used for a fortress or fortified city.   

As noted, the word for behind is ‘achor which has the idea of behind or past, and the word qedem means to go forward. That word ends in Hebrew with a closed letter mem, which indicates the hidden or unknown, as is the future which is yet to unfold. The words “‘achor vaqedem” expresses both the things that are behind us in the past and whatever is ahead of us in our future. This is very encouraging as it confirms to us that our Heavenly Father tsur /besets us/ encloses us, in a protective way both in our past and future.

The word tsur is used as a verb in this verse and is in a qal perfect form. Qal Perfect 2 masculine singular – shut up, enclose:  And can be expressed as

you have entrenched me or fortified me.

Or simply:

In my past and in my future you have already fortified or entrenched me. 

In Davids situation there was unrest in the nation and the future was not too bright; there were threats from the Assyrians and to his own throne when his son revolted and David had to flee from his kingdom with a price on his head.  David daily faced the ever increasing pressures of being a king, but when he woke up in the morning not knowing what would happen, he was reminded that our Heavenly Father had fortified him, entrenched him and as noted, another expression for sur is hedged him. That hedge or fortress was around him in his past and it was around him in the present and would continue to be around him in the future.  

David then says: You laid your hand upon me. Here the word laid /tasheth is actually in a future tense and means to place or set.  

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]

“You will set me in – kap·pe·ḵāh -.your hand

3709 kaph: Palm, hand, hollow, sole

Original Word: כַּף
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
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

The verse literally says:

You have set me in the palm of your hand. 

or

We are sheltered in the hollow of His hand.

Recall from previous posts that back in those days, they believed a persons heart was in the palm of the hand; so with this in mind, David was saying that he will not fear or live in dread of the future, because he is sheltered in the heart of his Heavenly Father. 

Peoples fears of the future are increasing with negative news reports fueling those anxieties, and we could spend all day worrying and fretting over the uncertainty of what may or may not happen; or we can be like David who said:  My past, present, and future is hemmed in, enclosed, entrenched, sheltered in You.  If any disaster happens, You will tsur – fortify me. I will be sheltered in the hollow of Your hand or I will be resting in Your heart whatever comes, You already know and see all my past present and future.

Don’t look at the world and all the problems and allow fear to rise in your mind, look to Jesus/Yeshua, the author and finisher of our faith.

Our Heavenly Father knows and sees…

and will never leave us nor forsake us. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of the world will grow strangely dim in the light of His Glory and Grace; and let the true shalom, the peace that passes all understanding fill our hearts and minds and dwell in us richly.

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.

Are We Melancholy Pelicans & Bereaved Sparrows?

6 I am like a melancholy pelican or vulture of the wilderness; I am like a [desolate] owl of the waste places.

7 I am sleepless and lie awake [mourning], like a bereaved sparrow alone on the housetop.

Psalm 102:6-8

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. Bible Gateway.com

There are many references to birds all through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. They are part of our Heavenly Fathers creation and He feeds them.

 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 6:26

These were Jesus/Yeshuas’ own words which are of great encouragement to us.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matt 10:29-31

There are also many English idioms using birds.

Our idiom

It’s for the birds.

Means: Worthless, useless, not to be taken seriously, no good.

This phrase often describes something that is only acceptable to people who are less intelligent or more gullible than oneself.

So why are these particular birds used by the Psalmist?

What is he trying to convey, and how does it apply to believers today?

In these 2 verses he mentions

a pelican or vulture, an owl and a sparrow.

We know from 2Tim. 3:16 that …

All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Amplified Bible 16&17

…He is trying to tell us something and it’s not to be taken lightly; it’s our Fathers’ Word to us on how to live the life of a believer and disciple. It is never worthless or useless because it is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness –

A bird in the midst of desolation becomes a striking image of loneliness and distress.

The word rendered “pelican” –

קאת qâ’ath –

6893 qaath:  קָאַת

Original Word: קָאַת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: qaath
Phonetic Spelling: kaw-ath’

The Hebrew name of this bird is generally understood to mean “the vomiter” (From the Hebrew qohʼ, “to vomit”). And is supposed to have been a name given to the pelican from the idea of regurgitating, as it brings up the shells and other substances which it has swallowed too quickly.

The translators of the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate versions identified the Hebrew word with the “pelican.”

The word occurs in the following places, where it is rendered “pelican:” Leviticus 11:18; Deuteronomy 14:17; and in Isaiah 34:11; Zephaniah 2:14, where it is rendered “cormorant.” 

It’s listed among the birds designated as ‘unclean’ in the Mosaic law. Lev. 11:13, 18; Deut. 14:11, 12, 17.

There is one place where the Hebrew word:

liq·’aṯ   is used for the pelican.

לִקְאַ֣ת

liq·’aṯ

Pelican; or, as some translate bittern, as the same word is translated, Isaiah 34:11 Zephaniah 2:14.

It is a solitary and mournful bird, as also is the owl. 

I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

Always mourning in solitude and casting out fearful cries.

I am like a pelican of the wilderness,…. It may be so called, to distinguish it from another of the same name that lives on the waters; which has the name of “pelican” in Greek; however, it seems to be a bird of solitude, and the Psalmist compares himself to it.

According to references, it is an Egyptian bird, that inhabits the desert of the river Nile, this is where the name of Canopus Aegyptus comes from. 

As to the Pelican. Leviticus 11:18. Some scholars say: “It has been objected that the pelican is a water-bird, and cannot, therefore, be the kâath of the Scriptures—“the pelican of the wilderness”—as it must of necessity starve in the desert; but a midbar (wilderness) is often used to denote a wide open space, cultivated or uncultivated, and is not to be restricted to barren spots destitute of water; moreover, as a matter of fact, the pelican after filling its huge pouch with fish, molluscs, etc., often retires to places far inland, where it consumes what it has captured. It breeds on the great sandy wastes near the mouths of the Danube. The expression ‘pelican in the wilderness,’ in the psalmist’s imagery, is a true picture of the bird as it sits in apparently melancholy mood with its bill resting on its breast.

Isaiah 34:11; Zephaniah 2:13, 14.

The Bible encyclopedia gives this insight on the Scriptures: “When the pelican is gorged with food, it often flies away to a lonely place, where it takes a melancholy attitude.”

He compares himself to solitude-loving birds which haunt desolate places and ruins, uttering weird and mournful cries. Isaiah 34:11; Zephaniah 2:14 (A.V. cormorant).

One observer recalls,

“this was certainly the most sombre, austere bird I ever saw….

It gave one the blues merely to look at it. David could find no more expressive type of solitude and melancholy by which to illustrate his own sad state. It seemed as large as a half-grown donkey, and when fairly settled on its stout legs, it looked like one. The pelican is never seen but in these unfrequented solitudes, and to this agree all the references to it in the Bible.”

(Heb. kaath , sometimes translated “cormorant,” as ( Isaiah 34:11 ; Zephaniah 2:14 ) though in the margin correctly rendered “pelican”), a voracious waterbird, found most abundantly in tropical regions. It is equal to the swan in size. It has a flat bill fifteen inches long, and the female has under the bill a pouch capable of great distention. It is capacious enough to hold fish sufficient for the dinner of half a dozen men.

The young are fed from this pouch, which is emptied of the food by pressing the pouch against the breast. The pelicans bill has a crimson tip, and the contrast of this red tip against the white breast probably gave rise to the tradition that the bird tore her own breast to feed her young with her blood. The flesh of the pelican was forbidden to the Jews. Leviticus 11:18 . 

The pelican is one of the largest of the flying birds, attaining a length of over 1.5 m (5 ft), with a majestic wingspread of 2.5 m (8 ft) or more.

The yellowish beak is long and hooked, and the large elastic pouch beneath is scarcely noticeable when empty.

Heavy and lumbering on land, the pelicans are strong, graceful fliers and have been known to have their nesting places as much as 100 km (60 mi) from the places of their fishing. They are superb fishers, and their webbed feet enable them to maneuver swiftly in the water.

The pelican’s most distinctive feature is the large elastic pouch extending beneath its long beak.

The pelican plunges with open bill into a school of small fish. The pouch serves as a scoop, taking in the fish and often several quarts of water as well. When the bird comes to the surface the water runs out the sides of the bill and the fish are gulped down. They are never stored in the pouch.

Publications show that the pelican feeds its young by regurgitating partly digested food from its stomach, even bringing up whole small fishes when the young birds have attained sufficient size. The parent bird opens its beak and allows the young to poke into the vast throat, prodding for the regurgitated food.

Thus, the Hebrew name aptly fits the pelican.

When the pelican is gorged with food, it often flies away to a lonely place, where it takes a melancholy posture, with its head sunk on its shoulders, so motionless that it might be mistaken from a distance for a white stone. The bird assumes this attitude for hours at a time, thus befitting the melancholy inactivity to which the psalmist David refers when he illustrates the poignancy of his grief by writing that “I do resemble the pelican of the wilderness.” Ps. 102:6

So if we are ever lonely and melancholy, remember we might also resemble a pelican!​

Here “wilderness” does not necessarily connote a desert, but simply an area away from human habitations, perhaps a swamp. During certain seasons, swamps in the northern Jordan valley are still the home of pelicans.

The pelican shows a distinct preference for uncultivated places, where it will not be disturbed by man. There it nests and hatches its’ young and retires after fishing. Because of this fondness for lonely, desolate places, the Bible uses this bird as a symbol of utter desolation. To symbolize Edom’s coming desolation, Isaiah foretold that the pelican would take possession of that land. Isa. 34:11. Zephaniah prophesied that pelicans would dwell among the pillar capitals of Nineveh, indicating total ruin and absence of humankind. Zeph. 2:13, 14.

The pelican is a high diver, although this may be difficult for one to believe when observing them on land.

Trying to walk about on his short, stout legs, the pelican is ungainly and awkward and his gigantic bill, with the large elastic pouch hanging beneath, only adds to his funny appearance.

In the air however, the picture is entirely different as he is extremely graceful, and at great heights exhibits a power and dignity equaled only by the eagle. His five-foot white body and eight/ten-foot wingspan make him spectacular in flight with apparently minimal effort.

The reference to flying and the ease of flight,

gives us an image of the believer

who encounters struggle on the ground

but when aloft in the spirit,

we are seated with Him in the heavenlies,

and we will find that the walk is much easier.

קאת construct of קאת

or קאת from קאה,

vid., Isaiah,

at Isaiah 34:11-12,

according to the lxx, is the pelican,

and כּוס is the night-raven or the little horned-owl.

In the second line,

I am become as an owl in desolate places.

I am like an owl of the desert –

The owl is a well-known bird which dwells in solitudes and old ruins, and which becomes, alike by its seeking such places of abode, by its appearance, and by its doleful cry, the very emblem of desolation.

Owl in Hebrew: khôs. Leviticus 11:17.

The bird is identified with the owl by the Hebrew in this passage, which should be rendered, owl of the ruins. Some, however, would identify this bird with the pelican, since khôs means cup, rendering as “the pelican, even the pouch-bird.”

The owl is called by the Arabs “mother of ruins,” and

“in the tombs or on the ruins, among the desolate heaps which mark the sites of ancient Judah, on the sandy mounds of Beersheba, or on the spray-beaten fragments of Tyre, his low wailing note is sure to be heard at sunset.” Tristram’s Nat. Hist. of the Bible, p. 194.

I am like an owl of the desert; or “of desert places“; in the Tigurine version; it is translated “the little owl” in Leviticus 11:17.

It delights to be on old walls, and in ruined houses, and cares not to consort with other birds, and it makes a hideous sorrowful noise.

Aelianus speaks of a bird of this sort in India, which has a large crop like a sack; and the Hebrew word “cos” here used signifies a cup or vessel, from whence it may have its name; and which he says makes a very disagreeable noise, to which the psalmist may compare the voice of his groaning.

 Psalm 102:5.

or an owl of the desert

CJB

I am like a great owl in the desert, I’ve become like an owl in the ruins.

Always mourning in solitude and casting out fearful cries.

And that he resembles or, is like them.

1819  dā·mî·ṯî – resemble, am like.

Psalm 102:6 
HEB: דָּ֭מִיתִי לִקְאַ֣ת מִדְבָּ֑ר הָ֝יִ֗יתִי
NAS: I resemble a pelican of the wilderness;
KJV: I am like a pelican of the wilderness:
INT: resemble A pelican of the wilderness have become

דּמה obtains the signification: to be like, equal, to be flat, even, and to spread out flat. They are both unclean creatures, which are fond of the loneliness of the desert and ruined places.

It is to such a wilderness, in loneliness and ruination, the psalmist has found himself. No doubt the words, hideous sorrowful noise of fearful cries, described the deep groaning at his condition. Many know that place, where no words suffice to describe our inner turmoil and distress. When we cry out to the Lord He always hears us and will comfort our waste places.

For the LORD will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Isaiah 51:3 NKJV

As children grafted-in to spiritual Israel, this promise is for us.

Clean and Unclean Animals
…17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, 18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, 19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.…

Leviticus 11:13
Additionally, you are to detest the following birds, and they must not be eaten because they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,
Leviticus 11:17
the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,
Leviticus 11:19
the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.
Deuteronomy 14:17
the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant,

Ps 102 :6I am like a [mournful] [a]vulture of the wilderness; 

I am like a [desolate] owl of the wasteland.

7I am sleepless and lie awake [mourning], 

I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.

[a] 6 Lit pelican, or some kind of desert bird.

Leviticus 11:18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

So, it is to this

melancholy attitude of lonely desolation

that the Psalmist refers when he says,

“I am like a pelican of the wilderness” Psalm 102:6,

and it is also to its’ habit of building in deserted places.

Although believers may have such experiences, they are not to overwhelm us or cause us to remain in them. We are to learn from them and grow in our relationship with our Heavenly Father; and furthermore be better equipped to help others who are still struggling through personal wildernesses. 

Sparrow

Psalm 102:7

KJ21

I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop.

ASV

I watch, and am become like a sparrow That is alone upon the house-top.

AMP

I am sleepless and lie awake [mourning], I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop.

AMPC

I am sleepless and lie awake [mourning], like a bereaved sparrow alone on the housetop.

KJV

I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.

He passes the nights without sleep

שׁקד: to watch during the time for sleep,

and is therefore like a bird sitting feeling lonesome

upon the roof, whilst all in the house beneath are sleeping.

His grief is that his enemies reproach him as one forsaken of God.

You are worth more than many sparrows.

Mt 10:29-31; Lu 12:6, 7

Sparrows are a symbol of hope.

Like the sparrows, we are to have hope in the Lord

and overcome grief and find comfort.

The Greek word strou·thiʹon is a diminutive form meaning:

any small bird,

but was used especially as applying to sparrows.

A variety of common house sparrow

(Passer domesticus biblicus) is abundant in Israel.

Small brown and gray birds, the sparrows are noisy and gregarious, chirping and twittering, fluttering from their perch on a housetop, tree, or bush to the ground and back again. Their diet consists chiefly of seeds, insects, and worms. The Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis, is also common, especially in the northern and central areas of Israel.

The only direct references to sparrows in the Bible are found in a statement that Messiah Jesus made during His third visit to Galilee which He restated approx. a year later in Judea. He pointed out that two sparrows sell for a coin of small value [literally, an assarion, worth less than five cents] or, if bought in quantities of five, for two coins of small value, Messiah stated that, though these small birds were counted as of such little worth, yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge and not one of them is forgotten. He then encouraged His disciples to be free from fear, and assured them, You are worth more than many sparrows. Matt. 10:29-31; Lu. 12:6, 7.

For many centuries, sparrows have been sold in Middle Eastern markets. As food, they were plucked and roasted on wooden skewers like shish kebabs.

An ancient inscription of Emperor Diocletian’s tariff law (301 C.E.) shows that of all the birds used for food, sparrows were the cheapest.​—Light From the Ancient East, by A. Deissmann, 1965, pp. 273, 274.

Although the sparrow appears in the Hebrew Scriptures in the KJV Ps. 84:3; 102:7 and in other translations, the Hebrew term so rendered: tsip·pohrʹ, is evidently a generic term referring to small birds in general and not specifically identifying the sparrow.

“I am like an owl of the desert; I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.” 

The context of these verses is that of the suffering servant, crying out to God for salvation as his enemies surround him. This could be said to be a pretty good description of some believers today as both political and social forces try to suppress the Church. False religions and counterfeit spirituality creeps into members lives as they linger in leaving Babylon/the world and delay in obeying the call to come out from among them and be ye separate. 

Strife, division and arguments arise from within, putting folks in opposition to one another; however, the Scriptures assure us of two things.  First, that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the Church. Matt 16:18.  We should continually remind ourselves that the Church exists to reach the lost with Messiahs’ message of salvation; we do not need to save the institution of the Church and its’ many denominations.  Secondly, that according to Col.2:15 Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach, has already disarmed and triumphed over the demonic forces, having made a public spectacle of them.

The world is not our home and those who identify with its’ systems will continue to stir up fear, violence and anger; but we who call ourselves by Messiah’s Name, are invited to share in the joy and peace/shalom, of His Spirit of Holiness, knowing that God has already judged; and will judge once more on the last day.  Vengeance is mine, I will recompense’ says the Lord. Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19. 

Like an owl in the desert,

we must wait and watch as our enemies surround us. 

But there is no need to despair, for

God is with us… Isaiah 7:14; Matt 1:23.

Are any of us melancholy pelicans,

bereaved sparrows,

or desolate owls?

Feeling vulnerable or abandoned?

Circumstances may have brought us to compare ourselves to these birds; and if they have, our Heavenly Father has already prepared the remedy and the solution. We are to place our trust and hope in Him. We are to look up and focus on the Lord.

We are to trade our sadness, our melancholy for His joy;

our loneliness for His presence

our desolation for His promises which are always yes and amen.

This is the great exchange of 2 Cor. 5:21.

It is the good news that

lifts burdens,

gives joy and

restores strength.

Martin Luther called this

the great exchange,

where our sin is credited to Jesus/Yeshua and the earned righteousness of Jesus/Yeshua is credited to:

all who call upon the name of the Lord.

Rom. 10:9, 13; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9.

Where Adam brought death through his rebellion,

Messiah, Jesus Christ earned eternal life for all believers…

The Great Exchange, whereby Jesus Christ went to the grave in our place, while we receive by faith the credit for His righteous life… 

He died that we might live eternally…

He has given us restored fellowship for our rebellion and independence…

A new heart and new spirit for our hearts wicked iniquities…

His righteousness for our sins…

Power to live victoriously instead of defeat by the power of sin…

Gods’ glory for our shame…

His blessings and His spirit for the curse of sin and death…

We have exchanged His Healing for our sickness…

His riches for our poverty…

Hope replaces sorrow and regret…

Joy and peace for anxiety…

Adoption as sons, family in exchange for rejection and fear.

This is a positive statement to confess out loud:

According to Col. 1:28… I am complete in Christ/Messiah. Jesus/Yeshua has given me restored fellowship, new heart desires, His righteousness, power over sin, His glory, His Holy Spirit, health, prosperity, hope, joy, peace, adoption into His family and eternal life.

In times of loss, separation, betrayal, abandonment and the grief that follows, we should turn to the One who knows more than anyone how we are feeling.  As the bereaved sparrow David mentions, he endures the loss, and turns in a hopeful attitude towards the future. We are to turn to Messiah and to hope in the Lord, Who is the anchor of our soul where the pain is deepest. He bore our sorrows, our pains and our griefs. He was betrayed and abandoned by those who He loved and had in turn declared their undying love for Him. For the joy that was set before Him to be restored into His Father’s presence, He has offered all that He paid for – to us.

We have a hope and a future Jeremiah 9:11. The plans He has for us are for good, for a positive and victorious outcome. Whatever the situation you’re in, He knows. As we trust in Him with all we have and lean not to our own understanding, He will direct our paths and restore unto us the joy of our salvation; replacing the loneliness with His loving presence.

Those who feel like the owl who is desolate and solitary will find companionship in the friend Who is also our brother as well as Savior, Lord and King. He walks with us and converses with us knowing already the intimate longings of our hearts. He is the One who will never leave us nor forsake us, the friend that sticks closer than a brother and will never stab us in the back. His love Is unconditional and all encompassing and never fails or changes. With Him by our side we are never alone or desolate.

And as with the sparrows, not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Fathers’ knowledge or consent. He knows and is in overall control of everything so, there is no need to fear anything.

If we are identifying today with the melancholy pelican, just feeling ‘plain down in the dumps‘, depressed and wanting to pull the covers over our heads and hibernate until next spring. There is a risen Savior and He is it to stay. Jesus/Yeshua is the answer to melancholy, to sadness, sorrow which has to flee when we call upon His Name. His is the Name above every other name. He is the Prince of Peace, our Sar Shalom, where no melancholy or depression can overshadow us; and as we declare Him sovereign in our lives, His Blood cleanses us and washes away all oppression and the shadows that bring it. The light of His glory and grace will dispel all darkness that tries to overwhelm our tender hearts and bruised souls.

He was bruised and beaten for us. He was mocked and rejected by those He came to save. All sadness and sighing flee away as we look to Him, the author and finisher of our faith. The restorer of our souls and the resurrector of our spirits. There is no other name by which men must be saved and when we receive all that He has for us, our joy will be full and our strength restored, so we can persevere and run the race to the finish.

So even if we have been a melancholy pelican,

a desolate owl,

or a bereaved sparrow;

today we can receive or renew all those promises

contained within that

great exchange.

See I have made all things new… Rev. 21:5

and

fear not you are worth

MUCH more

than many sparrows.

Shalom shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

You are loved, appreciated and prayed for

… and…

it’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are 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

You Are Greatly Loved and You Are Not Alone!

At certain times of the year it is easier to feel more isolated and alone especially at seasons when tradition has family members come together.

Many are restricted for various reasons; health, economic, location, all factor in, and changes in personal circumstances make staying where you are the only option.

MMM invites all visitors, subscribers, family and friends to join together in prayer for those who are hurting, sad, grieving, without a home, without a job. There is without doubt not a single one of us that has not experienced at least one, if not all, of the above.

Always remember that you are NOT EVER alone

for Jesus/Yeshua Himself said

I will never leave you nor forsake you even to the end of the age.

It may not always feel that way but it is His Truth.

He said I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you.

He comes in the presence of His Holy Spirit, His Ruach,

to breathe His

Light

Love

Life

Hope and Comfort

into your life and situation.

Know that your brethren around the world are experiencing similar events.

Trust Him, put all your faith and hope in Him –

it will not be misplaced.

You are all prayed for daily and 

love and encouragement

are sent on the wings of His lovingkindness

and tender mercies

to surround, guard and keep you.

Roll your burden onto the Lord and believe Him to lead you every step of the WAY – because He has already been in your tomorrow and knows you and He can handle it.

You are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,

do not fear nor be dismayed

He loves you with an everlasting love

and this physical life with its tests, trials and hardships

is soon to pass;

and we will rejoice with exceeding great joy

at the vision before us… of joy unspeakable and full of glory,

when we shall behold Him

face to face.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen

Jude 24 & 25    

This scripture reads that we are presented before the presence of His glory and the exceeding joy is His !!!! He is so delighted that we are there…that we made it home .. Wow !

December 25th on the Gregorian Calendar is just a date.

Messiah abides with us and in us every day.

The kingdom of the heavens is within us.

We can rejoice at His 1st coming every day

because of that:

we are His,

forgiven,

redeemed by His precious blood;

and patiently waiting

with oil lamps filled

and wicks trimmed

for our bridegroom to return for us….

Soon and very soon there is going to be a wedding and we are going to see the King!

As you read the following list of countries which span the globe and cover every time line;

know that in every one listed are our spiritual family members reading the same list and by His Holy Spirit we are connected even though we cannot see one another we are united in Him….

Be comforted and encouraged as we pray for one another  –

soon, time will be no more….

and behold He will make all things new.

Then, the tears and fears of all the years will be dissolved in His presence forever…..

You are greatly loved more than you can imagine….

Shalom shalom family….

Father in the Name above all names …Yeshua HaMashiach Jesus the Messiah we thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will do.We thank you for our salvation and for filling us with Your Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh. We love You with all of our hearts and praise your Name for you alone are worthy to receive all power and honor and glory.

Be with the broken hearted and comfort those mourning and grieving. Surround each one with your true Shalom that passes understanding and fill each heart and mind with your unconditional love. Let all isolation, rejection and loneliness flee from before your presence as your joy becomes our strength and fills every cell of our being.

As we hide under the shadow of Your wings in the cleft of the Rock of our Salvation, bring healing to each one in whatever area is needed. Feed the hungry Father, house the homeless and clothe those in need.. You are the great Provider and need-meeter. Above all bring sweet sleep to all who are tired and weary and give them the Rest that you promise in Your Word. 

Thank you that where any 2 of us agree You are there, watching over Your Word to perform it and it will not return to You void but will accomplish what You send it forth to do.

We give you praise and thank you in Jesus/Yeshuas name..

amein – el melek ne’eman. God is a faithful King.

Please don’t leave this page without assurance in your heart that He loves YOU…

It’s all about Life and Relationship,

NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE if you know the One

who the shepherds were told had come?

YOU CAN BE CERTAIN..

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.

 

The Secret of O’gehn of Tiqvah PART 2

In Titus 1:2,

The HOPE of our future salvation not only ANCHORS us to wait on God in present storms…

BUT

Read that again…

HOPE was BEFORE the beginning of Time!

Wow! – It’s inseparable from Him because the structure of its’ components are eternal.

King James Bible
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Berean Study Bible
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Unto the hope of life everlasting, which God, who lieth not, hath promised before the times of the world: 

Young’s Literal Translation
upon hope of life age-during, which God, who doth not lie, did promise before times of ages,

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s chosen ones and [to lead and encourage them to recognize and pursue] the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness, 2 based on the hope and divine guarantee of eternal life, [the life] which God, who is ever truthful and without deceit, promised before the ages of time began, 3 and at the appointed time has made known His word and revealed it as His message, through preaching, which was entrusted to me according to the command of God our Savior.

Amplified 1:1-3

When trouble comes all words are often Help! and Please!

And occasionally why? and why me?!

The Psalmist teaches that along with petition there is to be a multitude of praise… So which comes first HOPE or praise?

But I will continually

wait

with

HOPE

under the wings

and add to all Gods praise.

Psalms 71:14 – 16

Our understanding mind may agree in mental assent, but how do we apply His Word to our lives?

Where ever there is a lack, that is the place to start.

The goal is… continually wait with hope.

Both of these increase as we use our mouths, (the paleo Hebrew letter P, PEY is a pictograph of a mouth), to confess His righteousness and salvation. Giving Him praise and thanks.

Though they are beyond numbering, we are to recount them all day long. It is in this way we increase our HOPE, as there is no such thing as praising God too much.

Empty praise deflates hope.

The key is to let Praise build up our HOPE, and then respond to the HOPE we have increased, by praising Him some more.

He alone is worthy of praise and as we recall His righteousness, we will be able to come into His might with courage, in the same way as David encouraged himself in the Lord.

This strength comes from Him alone. It’s not our strength and only with His, can we persevere and overcome.

Endurance is not gained by simply crying out to Him.

The difference is in having the fortitude, endurance and patience to praise Him even in the worst of circumstances and to keep adding to that praise. Ps 150:6 and 

As we turn to Him, Adonai-Elohym whether in joy or sorrow, our HOPE is always increased and with it faith is too. And our love for all that He is, is embodied in Him. For we know we can trust and hope in the man that died for us.

Psalms 148:7-14  and All of creation is always declaring to us God’s glory.

Hope is the spiritual essence of encouragement.

 

In Hebrews 6:19 – Notice another important point – as well as This

Hope – Tikvah- תִּקְוָה 

we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

The second part of the verse tells us this very important point… it is one which enters within the veil,

This one is hope and it, hope, enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain!

The hope, this anchor, enables us to

go beyond the veil which is now

torn in two

from TOP to bottom

and we can enter in to the inner sanctuary..

the Holy of Holies’/Kodesh haKodashim…

which contained ‘the ark of the covenant’.

Now in fulfillment of both the promise and the oath to Abraham taken by God that it would come to pass, we have been invited to this place that was never accessible before.

This is because Jesus/Yeshua went before us and operates as our High Priest before God having made atonement for us. What began in the wilderness Mishkan was concluded when from the cross, Jesus/Yeshua said.

It is finished. 

 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23).

The reason we can enter boldly into the Holy of Holies is because Yeshua/Jesus is there -shammah – waiting to welcome us.

His Blood has removed all traces of sin making us clean (Hebrews 7:27; 8:11-12; 9:26; 10:10, 12, 14, 18).

As High Priest, He makes intercession before the Father on our behalf. (Hebrews 7:16, 25: 9:24; 10:19-21).  

He eternally holds the rank after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6; 7:16, 24, 28) and has fulfilled the promise made to Abraham that through his Seed a great nation would be born (Galatians 3:16-17).

https://www.minimannamoments.com/a-mystery-how-messiah-takes-blue-and-red-threads-to-make-purple-people/ .

He is the Dalet. John 10:7-9

The Door through the torn veil…

As grafted in believers, we are the result of that promise.

All of this combined gives us the HOPE needed to enter into God’s presence.

This is the ANCHOR for our soul keeping us steadfast and secure no matter what life holds.

The HOPE behind the curtain is not only an ANCHOR for our soul, it also gives us assurance for our salvation; because He is that present and eternal High Priest after the order of Melki Zedek. 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/why-was-the-priest-in-the-water-conclusion-of-the-mystery/

HOPE enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, Hebrews 9:7.

But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

This hope this anchor, ushers us into the very presence of God, through the DALET-door Jesus/Yeshua Himself, which He made in the tearing of that veil between the realms and into the Fathers presence behind the torn veil/door in the Holy of Holies. 

There were many regulations that first had to be met. The High Priest did not enter in with confidence. In fact, the High Priest had to take a censer of coals and incense with him so the smoke would cover the mercy seat to shield him from seeing it, lest he die (Leviticus 16:12-13).

This was Holy Ground because Gods’ Presence was there, His shekinah glory. šekīnah

שכינה

The Shekinah is also mentioned (in Hebrew prayers) as an angelic essence of God. The two very similar common expressions regarding this angelic essence are “ta-chat kan-fey ha-she-chi-na,” (under the wings of the Divine Presence) and “al kan-fey ha-she-chi-na,” (on the wings of the Divine Presence). 

The divine presence of God actually descends into the physical world to dwell among humans. The original Hebrew word for this “divine presence” is the shekinah (שכינה).

Now, we have a HOPE,

an ANCHOR,

that brings us into the very presence of God, and an ANCHOR,

by it’s definition, keeps us

securely connected,

fastened, moored to Him.

 עוֹגֶן noun

support, assistance, hold, sustenance, countenance

לְעַגֵן     verb

o hold, hold, keep, possess, maintain tie, bind, connect, relate, bond

attach, add, enclose, join, append

The WAY was opened up and was

paved by Messiah

and unlike Israel’s High Priest,

we are able to enter boldly!

 “Let us then approach the throne of grace chen with confidence, so that we may receive mercy racham and find grace chen to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Everything is connected!

For more on all these subjects and connections click links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/mysteries-and-miracles/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-mystery-of-solomons-chok-part-2/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/are-we-boxed-in/

This was God’s throne and place of the letting down of wings

where the ark of His covenant with His Blood on the Kapporet /Mercy seat/ throne/throne/presence,

is the set apart/HOLY place that we enter in by Grace/Chen. (Remember the deeper meaning of grace/chen…)

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-secret-of-the-letting-down-of-wings/

 

Hebrews 6:19-20. HOPE enters the inner sanctuary of CHEN behind the curtain and the Hebrew writer tells us that HOPE in the eternal life, is an anchor for us in the stormy seas of this life.

When darkness seems to obscure His face, we are to REST in His Eternal and Unchanging GRACE – Chen.

In every storm and through all the rough weather we encounter in our journey the anchor of HOPE holds firm within the veil where we are enveloped in His presence.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/because-10/

This is the place/ha makem of His true shalom and where we will meet face to face, the Sar Shalom/Prince of Peace and the Captain of our Salvation.

Joshua as an Old Testament type of Messiah, is the Captain who leads Israel into the Land, (and brought salvation to Rahab and her household the scarlet thread of HOPE a prophetic picture of Messiahs’ Blood.)

Yeshua/Jesus is the Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10), who brings believers today into His promised Rest.

A captain is one among a group who leads the others to achieve an objective. 

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 C. S. Bible (Heb. 4:8, 9; Acts 20:32; 26:18).

As well as the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Strong’s Hebrew: 5387.

נָשִׂיא (nasiy’) captain

As our Captain and familiar with fishing men and their boats; we can see that an anchor would be an appropriate picture, in terms of being an Early Christian Symbol.

לְעַגֵן of תִּקְוָה,

anchor of hope

Furthermore having HOPE will give us COURAGE:

The same courage Rahab had and because of it, her future in the lineage of Messiah was secured!

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab” (Matthew 1:5). 

Then Ruth and Boaz had Obed – who was the father of Jesse – who was the father of King David.

Two women, Rahab and Ruth, who were genetically close to King David, were definitely not in God’s sacred Israelite bloodline. Rahab was King David’s great, great grandmother. Ruth was King David’s great grandmother. The gentile/heathens were included even then!

18 Having HOPE will give you COURAGE. You will be protected and will rest in safety. 19 You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help. 20 But the wicked will be blinded.  Job 11:18 NLT

Strong’s Hebrew: 553. אָמַץ (amets) — to be stout, strong … and

אֹמֶץ

while the English word courage comes from the Latin word cor meaning heart; (so that courage might be also be called heartedness,)

the Hebrew word

אומץ

might best be defined as

willingness to take action.

A related word is מַאֲמָץ – effort.

It is a uniquely strong and powerful descriptor of “courage” that comes from God.

Chazaq 2389

Original Word: חָזָק
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chazaq
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-zawk’)
Definition: strong, stout, mighty

אומץ

 אָמַץ

Transliteration: amets
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-mats’)
Definition: to be stout, strong, bold, alert

This statement,

HOPE will give you COURAGE,

is simple, so simple that we can mentally agree to it and dismiss it as simply common sense,

but in reality there is something tremendously powerful here!

First, we need to look at Hopelessness which is the opposite and makes us discouraged.

Interestingly scientists are now discovering that all depression can be sourced to hopelessness or helplessness, and we see once again that the Word of God clearly gives us the pattern of human behavior before finally science catches up.

In many areas of our lives we can lack the courage to make decisions. How can we get that courage? HOPE!

We must remember the hope of heaven,

the hope of Yeshua/Jesus’ return.

The hope that God’s Word is truth

and all His promises are proven trustworthy in our lives.

Truth – אֶמֶת – eh-MEHT
Strong’s Hebrew: 571. אֱמֶת (emeth) — firmness, faithfulness …
The Rabbis pointed out that the Hebrew word for truth 
– אֶמֶת (eh-MEHT) –
begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, א, continues with one of the two middle letters, מ, and ends with the last letter, ת.
This Biblical Hebrew word therefore encompasses the gamut of reality!
The word for real is אֲמִתִּי (ah-mee-TEE).
In Hebrew, the word for truth, emet (אֱמֶת), contains the first, middle, and the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, indicating that…
truth encompasses all things and endures from the beginning (א) to the end (ת)!

This is the measure of HOPE that we have!

Because the word HOPE in Hebrew actually means to expect or, have some sort of expectation. This means we aren’t merely hoping it to be completed.

We’re 100% expecting it to be completed.

There should be no doubt anywhere in our mind concerning the Lord’s promises to us.

Meaning Of The Word Hope In Greek:

Elpizo– this verb means to hope. The verb is followed by three prepositions:
  1. eis- “on”. Ususally translated “in” and used in John 5:45:
“Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust.“
  1. epi- “on”. Found in Romans 15:12, “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
  2. en- “in”.
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
-1 Corinthians 15:19
These prepositions express that Messiah is the sphere and element where this ‘hope’ is placed. Since hope is a verb, those who walk in this hope are considered “hopeful” and have a character of hope.
Elpis- to anticipate, usually with pleasure.
As a noun it means, “favorable and confident expectation, a forward look with assurance.”
Elpis refers to the future and the unseen such as in Romans 8:24-25: “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
Elpis is found over 50 times in the New Testament. The apostle Paul was constantly talking about anticipating future events with joy, such as in these scriptures:
“And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.”
-Acts 26:6
“For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
-Galatians 5:5
“if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
-Colossians 1:23
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.“
-Romans 5:1-
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power“
-Ephesians 1:17-19

HOPE is a purifying power.

According to 1 John 3:3: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

and since the term HOPE in Greek means anticipation, in order to get a deeper understanding of them, we could read all of these scriptures replacing those particular words.

This would change our perspective on these scriptures and how we see it.

Paul was constantly talking about expecting or waiting with absolute certainly for the Lord’s promises.

God, the God of HOPE. Certainly, the Lord isn’t an undecided being. Instead, He’s extremely trustworthy and can be relied on. When we place our HOPE in God, we shouldn’t feel unsure of His actions and intentions. Here we can see exactly what the scriptures mean when it mentions the word HOPE.

The ANCHOR of our soul keeps us connected:

Romans 12:12; 1Thessalonians 5:8; Hebrews 6:18,19.
I would have fainted- unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Ps 27:13

 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! American Standard Version
[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living. The Complete Jewish Bible
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. English Standard Version
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, Berean Study Bible

 

Jesus/Yeshua IS the ANCHOR To Our Soul.

He is our anchor and He holds us even through the darkest of nights, the roaring of the raging seas and in our hour of temptations.

Give all your troubles to Jesus/Yeshua who is the author and the finisher of our faith, (Hebrews 12:2,) because through Him we can have abundant HOPE, and (Psalm 31:24.  Be of good courage.)

Then that hope becomes an anchor for our souls. 

The main reason we need an anchor is to keep from drifting into things that would destroy us, especially during storms. Abraham had his storms as he waited on God.

Faith in God and in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach, is the main anchor that we must have in our lives, to hold us fast, during times of social turbulence and wickedness, that seem to be everywhere today. This faith, this HOPE, this anchor, must be more than that of the generic dictionary definition.

The anchor of our souls is not a rope hanging in the air, waiting for our weak hands to grasp and hold. That would be no security, the links that hold us are unbreakable. 

The anchor of our soul is as solidly bound to us as it is to heaven.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love. 1 Corinthians 13:13.

 If faith, hope, and love are the things that last forever, it becomes clear that these are the things we should pursue with our lives:

Faith

אמונה – emunah

There are a number of Hebrew words used in the Old Testament which are related to faith or believing in God. These are: aman, batah, mibtah, hasah, galal, mahseh, yahal, rechats and emunah.

The Hebrew word aman means believe, trust in, rely upon, believe in, have faith or be faithful trust, have belief, believe, to be certain.

And love/emunah/aman

is the greatest because

Faith/אמונה – emunah

and Hope/Tikvah – תִּקְוָה 

can only work by love/Ahava/emunah/aman, and only show themselves by love/אהבה Ahava (Ah-ha-vah.)

Love is as the undivided perfection of sevenfold light.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/what-does-the-mysterious-roy-g-biv-reveal-about-ahavah/

The Hebrew word for “Love” is Ahava (Ah-ha-vah.)

But, love is more than just a word. 

It is an emotion that involves action and in Israel, where Hebrew is the national language, love is also a way of life!

Strong’s Hebrew: 157. אָהַב (aheb) — to love

The Hebrew has two main words for love, ahab and hesed.

Love in ahab sense is the closest to the English meaning and is usually refer to the love between people (husband and wide, parent and child, friends) or of people toward God. More rarely, it may also refer to the love of God toward people.

 

Recall that Faith and HOPE are precious stones of one color, (see part 1) as a ruby and a sapphire; but love, as He has been showing us throughout the scriptures, is a diamond of many facets.

HOPE in Hebrews is a faithful or persistent HOPE, and love is a faithful or enduring love. All three rely on the faithfulness of God.

Strong’s Hebrew: 3176. יָחַל (yachal) — to wait, await

יָחַל

Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-chal’)

the Hebrew word תִּקְוָה, ‘tiqvah’ meaning ‘hope’, and another is

towcheleth- expectation, hope.

 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes,

it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12.

When HOPE comes to fruition

it is

a tree of life

When Yeshua the HOPE of our salvation came to fruition at Calvary, The Father’s Desire, He became the tree/cross of LIFE to the world.

The HOPE deferred finally came

tiquah- expectation; hope was fulfilled.

 The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. Proverbs 11:23.

We will finally get to eat of that eternal fruit as overcomers! 

2:7 To him that overcometh, to him will I give to

eat of the tree of life,

which is in the Paradise of God.

Webster’s Bible Translation.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Greek: tree
ξύλου (xylou)
Noun – Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong’s Greek 3586: From another form of the base of xestes; timber; by implication, a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance.

of life
ζωῆς (zōēs)
Noun – Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong’s Greek 2222: 

Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence.

From zao; life.

His wooden cross was and is

the Hope

the

tree of life

to those perishing..

this is the Hope and that

Hope is for now,

for today, we won’t need it in heaven.

For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. 

For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. 1Cor. 13:10-12 AMP.

Hosea 6:3 (KJV). 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

And then we will KNOW…

HOPE is a golden cord connecting us there –  it helps us stand firm and strong. It’s the support to our weary arms, legs and head when tests and trials and spiritual buffeting is abounding; and when it does, GRACE CHEN does much more abound.

That place/ha makem of safety.

This journey through life is UPHILL, and HOPE lifts our viewpoint from the path where the next foot step will fall, carefully placed so we do not trip or slide off the narrow mountain trail/Way.

HOPE lifts our head and then we see the view from the high road, for its’ destination is the glory of His Heavens/shamayim. And when our focus is on the goal, we consider the condition of the road we travel with less significance.

Rough or smooth matters much less, yet He still requires our focus to be on two things. One is HOPE and the second, He never leaves nor forsakes us – He is ever present – Jehovah Shammah.

The hope of the heavens/shamayim, and the Kingdom thereof,

Hope thou in God – faith is the evidence of things hoped for.

Romans 5:5 now HOPE does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

We are a blessed people we have the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, of the living God living in our hearts; and our faith in Him, gives us HOPE that that love shed abroad in our hearts, can be counted on to sustain us as long as we need it to.

There are times in every believers life that our humanity rises up with questions.

Has God forgotten me?

For all who have failed, fallen, sinned, all who have lost people and things and wondered at the events unfolding all around.

There is a HOPE to be found in an unusual person…in Zicharayah!

When Israel’s sins where so great, having turned from God, broken the covenant, rejected His ways, persecuted his prophets, did and celebrated what was the evil, (ra – out of harmony with God), and lifted/given their children as sacrifices on the altars of foreign gods. They had every reason to believe that their days as a nation were over, exile from their homeland which was destroyed, they sat and wept by the river, by the waters of Babylon remembering…

After many years in exile, a remnant returned to the land of Israel, only to find it a wasteland and Jerusalem in ruins. They were hindered at every effort in trying to rebuild it. They were discouraged and felt like God had forgotten them because of their unfaithfulness…

until a baby was born.

He was called Zicharayah, who would grow up to become the prophet sent to them in their days of discouragement and sorrow. Zicharayah is the Hebrew spelling of Zechariah which is more familiar to us.

Strong’s Hebrew: 2148.

זְכַרְיָה

(Zkaryah) — Zachariah

זְכַרְיָה

Strong’s Hebrew: 3050.

יָהּ (Yah)

 the name of the God of …

However it has a special meaning;

the yah

יָהּ

(yaw)

of the name means

God –YHVH/YHWH

Yahweh   יְהוָֹה   (yeh-ho-vaw’)

Strongs 3068

And the Zichar means

remembers or

has remembered.

Hebrew origin, meaning

“Yahweh remembers.”

It comes from the Hebrew word

zakhar, meaning to remember,

and yah,

one of the names of the Hebrew God.

This child was the sign in flesh and blood that He/God has remembered them even in their greatest fall and darkest times through sins of disobedience.

Even when they had forgotten God, He had not forgotten them.

He upheld His covenant, remembered His promises and with love and tender mercies He did not give up on Israel but encouraged them that they would be restored.

The prophet called ‘God has remembered,’ came with a message that they were to rebuild Jerusalem; and that it would be to this rebuilt Jerusalem that the Messiah would come, and He did.

Here is the key for all who have failed, fallen, sinned, who have lost and questioned in discouragement and dismay. Our answer is Zicharayah… remember his name and when we feel God has forgotten and abandoned us …Zicharayah.

It is a reminder of His promise, He has not forgotten us and when we repent and return to Him, His faithfulness to us will always be greater than our sins.

This is the reality and true meaning of the HOPE of the Bible.

Faith, Hope and Love – Zicharayah!

Believe/Faith

we are anchored/Hope

to Him in

indestructible Love

because

He has not forgotten us –

Zicharayah

– in truth –

He has remembered us.

Lee lee shoo ah!

the children of Israel sang this after they saw His act of deliverance through the Reed Sea in Ex 15:2.

The Lord is my strength and my song He has become my salvation.

We could say something like…

Zicharayah lee lee shoo ah yachal o’gehn tikvah!

God has remembered my salvation waiting (with hope)!!

is this our song too?

If not Please don’t leave this page without the knowing in your heart that your

HOPE is in Him

and you can say with all His Family

‘Mishpachah’

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa

You are my salvation,

Lee lee shoo ah,

You saved me from death from myself from my enemies and from hidden danger.

No one is like you Lord….Jeremiah 10:6

 For thou art my hope (tikvah), O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. (Ps. 71:5)

SHALOM SHALOM

Still not certain?

YOU CAN BE..

Make sure 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 greatly loved and precious in His sight.

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.