24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 Forwhoeverwantsto savehislifewill loseit,butwhoeverloseshislifefor My sakewill findit. 26 What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?…
Matt 16:25 AMP. or whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].
Also in Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Mark 8:35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
In Revelation 12:11 Messiah again speaks of not loving our physical earthly lives above Him. And they loved not their lives unto the death –
Meaning that they did not so love their lives that they were unwilling to die as martyrs. They did not shrink back when threatened with death, but remained firm in their attachment to their Savior, and left their sacrificial death as a testimony to the truth and power of faith.
In the well known chapter of Hebrews 11:33 where the heroes and heroines of faith/trust/batak are recorded. Verse 33 says who by faith [that is, with an enduring trust in God and His promises] subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions…
Closed the mouths of lions,
is a reference to Daniel and the story we are quite familiar with.
The following historical information may not only be of interest but help to explain the reason for the strong faith exhibited by Daniel in the lions den and his 3 companions who were thrust into the fiery furnace. Both are extra-ordinary accounts of faith filled men whose lives were lived in exile and under tight control of idol worshippers.
Many in the west are unfamiliar with any government /royal kingdom that operate under strict rules with penalties that include death/torture for breaking the conditions by which all citizens and or foreigners in exile there, are to live their lives. Regimes that enforce unrighteous regulations are notably those who serve false gods and not the true living Creator of the universe. Many of these so called gods are the fallen angels who followed Lucifer and are still, like their master, deceiving the masses into false religions, idol and demon worship; an ongoing issue recorded all through the Bible.
Like Daniel and the 3 who did not fail their testing times, we are to stand firm on what we know to be the Way the Truth and the Life. Scripture warns us that times are at hand when every persons faith will be tested.
When faith is tested, we can expect to be tempted, however we can also expect to be strengthened; even when it brings out our shortcomings and inadequacies. In this respect, testing is a positive and good thing because it allows us to see where our lives need improvement. Only when our beliefs are tested can we truly know ourselves and if we are principled men and women of integrity; and that He is our Father and we are truly His children.
Matthew 4:1-11
The story of Messiahs’ testing/temptation, shows how the Son of God/Son of Man was to fulfill His calling by only using His power in obedience to His Heavenly Father’s purposes and plans; and we are encouraged that “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“…we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5.
Testing proves the quality of our faith and of our character, by confirming the integrity of our beliefs and values; thus building confidence in our Heavenly Father and imparting to us a greater strength of resolve.
We know that there will be times when we will be put to the test and have to stand strong in our faith in Him. When that time comes, we must remember His promise to us to be strengthened and that He will be with us.
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7.
Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:3
Going from the verse in Hebrews 11:33 to the Book of Daniel 3:8-30, readers are introduced to three young men: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
This account takes place about 600 years before Messiah was born during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who besieged Jerusalem and took captive into exile, many citizens of Israel. Among them were four young men from the tribe of Judah who, after they were living in captivity, they were given new names. Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was renamed Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was named Abednego.
As well as being fellow Hebrew captives, they were also Daniels’ friends. The four young Hebrews soon proved themselves to be exceptionally wise, they found favor with King Nebuchadnezzar when Daniel was found to be the only man capable of interpreting one of his troubling dreams. The king placed him in a high position serving as chief governor over the whole province of Babylon, including over all of the wise men of the land. Then at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as Daniel’s advisors.
These brave believers in the Most High God held on to their faith even when threatened with death by fire. Their lives serve as inspiration for those whose faith is challenged or those who face persecution, torture and hardship for their beliefs.
But why were they so courageous?
Why did they not try to save their own lives?
Sometimes martyrdom fulfills the Father’s plan and other times divine intervention better accomplishes His purpose.…
The lesson for believers is that we must be ready and willing to serve the Lord whether in life or by physical death.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a huge golden image built as a symbol of his power and glory. He then commanded his people to bow down and worship this image whenever they heard the sound of his musical herald.
Those who disobeyed the order would be thrown into an immense, blazing furnace.
According to classical historians, Nebuchadnezzar was, the man responsible for making Babylon one of the wonders of the ancient world, and was credited with building the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Interestingly ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ seemingly wasn’t his name, because the second ‘n’ was apparently an error?
His Babylonian name was Nabū-kudur-usur, if so, he should be called Nebuchadrezzar. The ‘mistake’, supposedly by author of the Book of Daniel, has become the most frequently known name by which the Babylonian king is now referred to.
Nebuchadnezzar, like most absolute rulers, insisted on his subjects coming to the gold statue of himself and paying homage to it, and by association, to worship Nebuchadnezzar himself.
Because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego worshipped only the One True God, they refused to bow down to the false idol and by association to the king.
3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
For some reason, Daniel is not on the list, so he avoids this punishment, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are summoned to appear before the king; yet, they remained courageous in the face of Nebuchadnezzar’s demand to bow down in front of the golden statue. They said:
Daniel 3:16-18: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer you in this matter. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But even if he does not, let it be known to you O King, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Not only did they refuse to bow down to his idol, but they just call him ‘Nebuchadnezzar‘ not prefixing it with ‘King’, and they did not finish what they said with ‘live forever;’ and the letter ‘O’ in most translations is not there in the original Aramaic. Their reply was, lo chashechin and in the KJV it’s translated as: “we are not careful to answer you.” which is basically the meaning of lo chashechin saying in a blunt fashion: “we do not need to answer you.” In a way it’s a disrespectful answer, like saying,
“I don’t have to answer to you.”
But note they add the word pitegam
which is rendered:
on this matter.
Pithegam is not a matter but a decree, a demand or command.
The word matter is pithegam which is: a decree.
The three Hebrews were not defying the king in everything, only in this specific decree. There is a lesson for us here, that when we are living under leadership that is not in line with scripture, we are only obligated to obey unless it is in directly against the command of our Heavenly Father.
When Nebuchadnezzar heard that the three Hebrews had refused to worship his idol he was furious. He summoned them and would normally have had them cast into the furnace immediately, but instead he gave them a second chance. However, by doing this, he gave himself a challenge in front of everyone; was he going to face disgrace and embarrassment by backing down to their God?
The three young Hebrews may have known that Nebuchadnezzar respected their God, which in turn may explain the attitude toward him. What the young men told Nebuchadnezzar was, “If our God is able, He will deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire.” The next word should read as then, not and. Then he will deliver us from your hand /or your power.
The word deliver is shazav
which means: to rescue,
but in this form, it would really be inciting the king because they were saying: If our God is able he can rescue us from the fire, then we will really be rescued from your power…. or in other words:
If our God is able he can rescue us from the fire we’ll never have to submit to your power and it will prove who’s really in charge.
Then they added a final insult to the one who dared to defy their God. But even if He doesn’t choose to rescue us, we are still not going to worship your gods.
For the three men the emphasis was not that they were confident that they would be saved from the fire, but rather on their commitment that they wouldn’t bow down to any other god/idol.
All through the history of the ecclesia, right to the present day there are Christian believers similar to these three young Hebrew men who took their stand in faith for God, but they’re not delivered. Many have been thrown to lions, burned at the stake, tortured, shot, hung, beheaded and many other horrors. Just as the 3 Hebrews, they stood strong saying: “My God can rescue me, but even if He doesn’t, I am not about to deny Him.” Have we ever had to face such a decision, or maybe we are about to?
Nebuchadnezzar was furious and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were bound and cast into the flames. The blast from the flames was so hot, it killed the soldiers who had put them in.
Then he was amazed marveled at what he saw:
“But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25, ESV
Calling the men to come out of the furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged unharmed, and not even a hair on their heads was singed and their clothing didn’t even smell of smoke.
This made such a huge impression on Nebuchadnezzar that he made a declaration saying:
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Daniel 3:28, ESV
Due to the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the King made a decree that the rest of the Israelites in captivity were now to be protected from harm and that they were guaranteed freedom of worship; furthermore they all three received a royal promotion.
The most important fact is that being Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish, they were forbidden by the Ten Commandments to worship any ‘graven image’, because it is a form of idolatry, these men could not in good conscience kneel before the Babylonian king’s statue. There are rare instances within Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish law that mandate an individual to sacrifice their own life rather than engage in something that violates the commandments written in the scriptures.
They were still determined to die rather than bow to the idol, even if God did not raise them from the dead.
Yehareg ve’al ya’avor
“Let him be killed rather than transgress”
refers to the requirement to give one’s life rather than transgress a law.
Although ordinarily one is permitted to transgress halakha when a life is in danger, certain situations require an individual to give one’s life.
There are three sins for which one is always required to die rather than transgress:
idolatry
sexual misconduct such as incest, adultery, homosexuality, or bestiality
murder
Adultery and idolatry are also excluded; according to most authorities, a person must give up their life rather than violating these prohibitions. The Talmud (not scripture) also says that if the violation would be public — and especially if it’s a time when the ruling authorities are seeking to get Jews to violate the Torah’s commandments — one must give up your life rather than commit even the smallest infraction.
The first exception, idolatry, is extrapolated from Deuteronomy 6:5 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might,” meaning that one should even surrender one’s life rather than serve any divinity aside from God.
For us the meaning of the story of the fiery furnace is that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship a graven image/idol of the Babylonian king, for the simple clear reason that God forbids it; and for their faith and loyalty, they are saved from the oven or furnace. The story also reveals God’s power directly to Nebuchadnezzar and offers a moral lesson to everyone living under tyrannical regimes and also to those rulers who would try to set themselves up higher than the One True Living God.
In chapter 6 we read of Daniel also defying a kings decree.
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
Praying 3 x a day refers to the 3 daily requirements:
shacharit the morning prayer
minchah the afternoon prayer
and ma’aariv the evening prayer
These date back to the time of the patriarchs and are referenced in Daniel 6.
Apparently the king Darius Daryavesh the Mede didn’t want to deliver Daniel over to the lions. Daniel would have been in his 80’s. However the new Persian law forced him to deliver Daniel up to his accusers since no decree or edict once issued by the king could be revoked. Verses 15/16 15 Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” 16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.
Has anyone ever wondered why the importance of the lions?
Why a lion pit?
Below is a picture that shows King Darius’s son Artaxeres II standing before the figure of the goddess Anahita riding on a lion.
Anahita is the Sun God of ancient Persia and the protector of Persia. (Persia is modern day Iran.)
Mithras, or the lion is the symbol of the Persian identity depicting strength and unity.
That unity was very important as the Persian Empire was made up of many conquered nations, but each conquered nation shared in the governmental structure of the Persian Empire.Daniel was one of its three presidents who was a prince of the Judean Empire.
The lion symbolized the strength of the Persian Empire and it’s this strength that would maintain the united Empire together with the conquered nations. They believed that there was strength and power in unity. For this unity to be kept, all those who were a part of it had to agree and worship one primary god and in this case Anahita was picked and the picture shows her riding on the lion.
The Lion and Sun Motif of Iran
On the left is King Artaxerxes II he is facing the goddess Anahita who sits on top of a lion.
In the background to Anahita can be seen the clear display of the sun which is a representation of the ancient Iranic god Mithras, the sun emanates 21 rays, the same symbol which is used by varous ancient Iranic cults among the Kurds of Iran, Iraq and Turkey. The 21 rays related to the festival date of Mehregan (Festival of the Sun-god Mithra) which takes place from the 16th to the 21st of Mehr of the Iranian calendar.
If anyone violated or placed another god above Anahita, they would have to face the wrath of the lions and this is the reason why the lion’s den was kept.
These lions were kept to punish anyone who desecrated the authority of the reigning god or goddess.
That is why it was so easy to set Daniel up and get King Darius to sign the proclamation that no one could worship any other god than Anahita!
This was not simply a battle in the physical realm but it was in the spiritual realm too. If Daniel survived being thrown into the lion’s den, it meant that the whole religious order, if not the existing governmental structure of the kingdom would be under threat. This is the reason why King Darius ordered everyone to worship Jehovah, Daniels’ God. All the elite of Darius’ kingdom witnessed their sun god Anahita challenge Daniels God Jehoveh and there was no comparison. At the same moment he was thrown into the lion’s den, Daniels’ God Jehovah supernaturally
closed the mouths of the lions.
Research shows and scripture suggests that there must have been very many lions in there.
This is because the servants of Anahita were thrown into the same den afterwards and they with their families numbered almost 300 and the Bible says they were devoured before they hit the ground!
Once in the lion’s den is it a possibility Daniel, who in his wisdom, understood the secrets of God, exercised some scriptural dominion, (Genesis), over the lions and they became docile and full of shalom?
However one thing is certain, King Darius knew that Daniel had a personal relationship with the Creator God of the universe; and not only that Daniel would be protected by this God Jehovah but also because this God clearly loved Daniel. This was a great deal more than could be said for false goddess Anahita, who did nothing to either save or protect her servants when they were thrown to the lions.
It appears King Darius was so impressed with Daniels dedication to God that he adds something very revealing. He said that
God will deliver him.
The Aramaic word used here for deliver is shazav
which means
to rescue or deliver,
but it is a deliverance made out of love and affection!
Scripture records that King Darius is really saying,
‘that if your God loves you so much, He will not let you suffer this fate.’
It could be true to say that sometimes God will not only deliver us out of a trial because He loves us, but He will also act to protect His Name and good reputation revealing what kind of Righteous and Loving God He is.
Both Daniel and the 3 Hebrew youths were very aware of the fact that they had all been raised to know and keep the 10 commandments; and to not deny the living God, nor to bow in worship to any other idol even unto their own death.
We need to understand the Hebraic mindset and that they were prepared to die, having no fear. They were full of faith in Gods’ ability for the outcome, whatever that may be.
They trusted their Heavenly Father that because they had been faithful in their obedience to His commandments, to not to bow and worship any idol; that He would either deliver them from the lions and fire by a miracle, or raise them from the dead if they burned or were mauled. Or, they would simply die and be in His presence. Either way was win-win situation for them all.
Belteshazzar/Daniel, Hananiah/Shadrach, Mishael/Meshach, and Azariah/Abednego is what every one of us is going to need in the days that lie ahead, and starting today, not in somewhere off in the distant future.
We need to ask ourselves the very serious questions..
Do we truly love Him?
Are we keeping His commandments? because…
“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.
John 14:15
And echoed by Messiah in
Mark 12:30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” John 14:21
That includes those given in Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Are we loving our lives more than Him?
Is our faith unshakable unto death?
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God; we need to stay in His Word and remain strong in the Lord and the power of His might. NOW is the hour of preparation, keep your lamps filled family, and keep your eyes on Him the author and finisher of our faith…keep looking up for our redemption our deliverance and our exodus is drawing very nigh!
Messiah is coming
He is even at the door….
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם,
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.
God commanded the people to bring a sheaf of the harvest (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:10).
The Hebrew word for ‘sheaf’ is omer. An omer is defined as ‘a measure of dry things, containing a tenth part of an ephah.’
The definition of an omer being a tenth part of an ephah is found in Exodus (Shemot) 16:36. An ephah contains 10 omers of grain.
It is usually translated as ‘sheaf’, a bundle of stalks of grain.
An omer is a dry measure of ancient Israel, one tenth of an ephah.
The value of an Omer.
An Ephah is an ancient Hebrew unit of dry volume measure, equal to a bath or to one-tenth of a homer. It is approximately equal to 22 litres, supposed to be equal to two pecks and five quarts. (Ten ephahs make one homer.)
Strongs #6016 AHLB#2554 (g) 1358 (a) Nm
Here is a picture of an ephah container
Three times a year God commanded the people to come to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) to celebrate the festivals of Passover (Pesach), Pentecost (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Sukkot).
All three of these festivals are agricultural harvest festivals. Passover (Pesach) is the barley harvest. Pentecost (Shavuot) is the wheat harvest. Both of these festivals are first fruits harvests before the final harvest that was to come at the end of the year during the festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which is the fruit harvest.
The OMER LINKS PASSOVER TO SHAVUOT
Leviticus/Vayikra 23:15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that ye brought the omer of the wave offering; seven Shabbatot shall be complete:
Counting The Omer refers to the forty-nine day period between the second night of Passover, (Pesach) and the holiday of Pentecost, (Shavuot). This period marks the beginning of the barley harvest when, in ancient times, the Israelites would bring the first sheaves to the Temple as a means of thanking God for the harvest. The word, ‘omer’, literally means ‘sheaf’ and refers to these early offerings.
While Passover/Pesach celebrates the initial liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, Pentecost/Shavuot marks the culmination of the process of liberation, when the Israelites became an autonomous community with their own laws and standards.
Counting up to Shavuot/ Pentecost, which is also the date of receiving of the 10 commandments at Sinai and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, reminds us of this process of moving from a slave mentality to a more liberated one.
Make each day count..
Teach us to number our days that we might gain a heart of wisdom.
Every day counts, if we count every day! The seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot provide for us an ideal time for introspection and spiritual progress. An opportunity to reflect upon our own souls and burnish our divine image, a time of inner transformation.
The great illumination of ‘instant’ freedom that was experienced on the Passover/Seder night so often seems to pass us by. Slaves yesterday, free men today, we simply haven’t the vessels to be able to absorb the great chesed – loving kindness – and enlightenment that God had blessed us with. For this we have Sefirat HaOmer – the counting of the days of the Omer, that prepares us gradually for the great re-illumination of God’s light – receiving Torah on Mount Sinai.
Forty-nine days that can change your world: The forty-nine days between Passover and Shavuot, (between leaving Egypt and receiving Torah at Sinai), are days laden with challenging spiritual potential. The opportunity for growth and transformation is ours for the taking. We must count our days and make our days count!
The Waving of the Omer
Likewise, the Scriptures also reveal that the offering of the Firstfruits: ‘the Waving of the Omer’ is a picture of the resurrection of the Messiah, as well as our own future resurrection. (1Cor 15:20-23; Rom 8:23; James1:18).
During the feast of unleavened bread, barley was the crop that was being harvested, so that is what would have been brought. What was significant was that this was the very first of the crop and expresses commitment to God and thanksgiving to Him for His provision.
As they waved the omer before the Lord and began counting the days between this firstfruit offering and the next firstfruit of the 2nd harvest at Pentecost/Shavuot It became known as counting the omer.
The One Redeemed by the Passover Lamb is maturing and counting the days until her betrothal to Messiah.
A OMER IS A TENTH OF AN EPHAH Exodus 16:36 Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.
A SHEAF REPRESENTS a person or a group of people – Genesis 37:5; Genesis 37:7
The journey from leaving Egypt (a type of the world) consists of a time of preparation to meet with the Elohim of Israel at Mount Sinai.
COUNTING THE OMER REPRESENTS GROWING IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY – to as believers Ephesians 4:14; Ephesians 4:15
The spiritual journey consists of:
THE OMER WAS THRESHED (BEATEN) REPRESENTS HUMILITY Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 41:15
MOUNT SINAI REPRESENTS HUMILITY
THE HUMBLE WILL BE EXALTED
Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 18:4, Matthew 23:12; Philippians 2:8; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Elohim, that he may exalt you in due time:
FIRE REPRESENTS REFINEMENT AND PURIFICATION Psalm 12:6; Zechariah 13:9, Malachi 3:3
FIRE REPRESENTS THE TRIALS OF OUR FAITH – 1 Peter 1:7, James 1:2 James 1:3, James 1:12
THE OMER WAS TOSSED IN THE WIND – OMER TOSSED TO THE WIND REPRESENTS EVERY KIND OF DOCTRINE – Ephesians 4:8; Ephesians 4:11; Ephesians 4:13; Ephesians 4:14
THE OMER WAS GROUND INTO FINE FLOUR: REPRESENTS REFINEMENT, PURIFICATION AND BEING MADE WHITE (RIGHTEOUS)- Isaiah 48:10; Daniel 12:10; Revelation 3:5
John 13:16-17 ‘And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever. The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.’
After the Children of Israel left Egypt, 49 days passed before they received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Tradition teaches that each of these days was necessary for the Children of Israel to refine themselves and be worthy of this gift. On each day they examined and corrected another of their inner traits and qualities. There were 49 in all.
These forty nine traits were comprised of seven basic attributes. Each of the seven contained all of the other seven, thus comprising forty nine.
Hebraic sources tell us that the soul of man includes these seven Basic Attributes: * Love/Kindness (Chessed) * Vigor/Discipline (Gevurah) * Beauty/Harmony/Compassion (Tiferet)* Victory/Endurance/Determination (Netzach) * Humility/Devotion (Hod) * Foundation/Bonding/Connection (Yesod) * Majesty/Dignity (Malchut)
The above are also found in the New Testament/Brit HaDasha, these same virtues were spoken about in 1 Peter and Galatians and 1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5:22-26 22
The Ruach HaKodesh/The Holy Spirit will only reside in clean holy vessels. This is the time where we need to examine ourselves and prepare ourselves to be filled or refilled by the Ruach HaKodesh. A time to reflect on our relationship with Him and prepare our hearts for The Feast Of Pentecost/Shavuot.
When Yeshua told the disciples/talmidim to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh. The disciples/talmidim, were waiting for the promise of the Father and preparing themselves to receive the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, they were also preparing themselves to receive the Torah in their hearts, just as the children of Israel received the Torah at Mt. Sinai. They were preparing to become vessels for the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh and to receive the power of Messiah in their lives for the purpose of being witnesses of Messiahs love to the World .
While they were waiting the disciples were not just sitting around doing nothing, they were counting the Omer, as they had done every year, examining their lives in preparation to receiving the gift of the Ruach Ha Kodesh on Shavuot that Yeshua promised them would come. This year would be the literal fulfillment of the Feast.
All of Jesus’s/Yeshua’s post resurrection appearances occurred within the days of the Omer count.
God is looking for FRUIT to abound in our lives. Galatians 5:22.
Our place, like Mary, is to be sitting At The Feet Of Our Master Jesus/Yeshua receiving His teaching.
These 7 virtues are a perfect picture of Jesus/Yeshua our Messiah and it is His desire that we be conformed to His image by the power of Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh. A blessed time for us to grow more spiritual fruit in our lives and die more and more to the works of the flesh so that He will be glorified in the Life He Has given us.
Developing some of the attributes of God in our lives, e.g. Loving kindness, Justice, Beauty and Harmony. Constancy, Splendor, Sovereignty, Foundation and Connection.
We are to count 50 days, including the Day of Firstfruits, to the day after the 7th weekly Sabbath, which is Shavuot (Pentecost) (Leviticus 23:15-16).
Notice the scriptures deal mostly with the Holy days of Yom Habikkurim, the ‘counting of the omer,’ and Shavuot.
The counting of the omer can only be understood in the context of the Biblical calendar that is lunar based.
We are given more detail as the scriptures say “begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain,” (Deuteronomy 16:9). This further illustrates the theme of the Day of Firstfruits being the day when the firstfruits of barley is reaped from the field using a sickle.
Pentecost is the Greek word for 50. In Hebrew it is Shavuot pronounced Sha-voo-ote. In (Luke 6:2 and John 5:1) it is also called the feast of weeks because of the counting.
Counting the days between them ties the two first fruits harvests together, just as Jesus ties His resurrection, as sentient and the giving of the immersion of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost/ Shavuot /the feast of weeks.
In one respect, the 50th is the uncountable number. The Omer period lasts for 50 days – yet only 49 are to be counted. The counting of 49 automatically leads to the arrival of the 50th. This elevated state was reached at Sinai. It truly surpassed everything that came before it. It was on the 50th day, Shavuot, that the union between Israel and God, like a marriage, (a covenant), was solemnized.
With this act the Israelite nation supernaturally transcended worldly existence to become one with God. Israel achieved this unity when they arrived at Sinai to encamp in a unified state: like a single person with a single heart. The names of the 12 Tribes of Israel, which were engraved upon the Stones worn by the High Priest/Kohen Gadol, have a total of 50 letters, merged as one entity with their Creator. Such amazing grace!
2 other alternative ways to count the Omer are: every day read one of the 49 parables in the gospels: see
or simply count each day and remember to count our blessings and name them one by one.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
(Full text of song at bottom of page.)
Yet how often do we really do that?
In today society counting blessings is often more related to the things we own, worldly possessions etc., however, Jesus tells us in Luke 12:15 that a man’s success is not measured by such. Our sophisticated society and culture has altered our thinking and reasonings and in doing so has dulled our sensitivity to how to keep a childlike quality in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Remaining simple in a childlike faith and humble in attitude is a key to total trust in Him and His ability to provide for us, instead of our puffed up declarations of, I did it my way in my own strength.
The devastating weather this spring has brought sadness, loss and suffering to many around the world, while praying for those affected by the storms, it’s comforting to remember that whatever happens, we are in His hands and that our souls/spirits ultimately belong to Him; Ecc 12:7; and that we should not neglect to: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Psalms 103:2 – and to give thanks unto the LORD; for [He is] good: because His mercy [endureth] for ever. Psalms 118:1-18 for when we go through hardships; Is 43:2 confirms He is with us. As we trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own natural understanding. Prov 3:5 He will never leave us nor forsake us and He will restore those whose trust is in Him.
~
This post is part of the 4 Spring Festivals of Gods Appointed Seasons and should be read in conjunction with the previous posts all available at https://www.minimannamoments.com/ More Post links at the bottom of page.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—*money cannot buy [*wealth can never buy]
In Matthew 16:24-26
Anahita is the Sun God of ancient Persia and the protector of Persia. (Persia is modern day Iran.)
The value of an Omer.
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