His Story Is In His Name -Josiah

June 28, 2025

The story of Josiah

is also a cautionary tale

which is still relevant today.

It can be found in 2 Kings 22–23 and 2 Chronicles 34–35.

Josiah was the 16th King of Judah from

approximately 640 to 609 B.C.

2 Kings 22:2 introduces Josiah by saying,

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.”

The scripture then presents Josiah as the last God-fearing monarch of the Davidic line before the Babylonian exile, whose reign marks the final bright outburst of covenant faithfulness in Judah.

יאשׁיהו

Josiah’s name means: the one through whom God heals.

It comes from a Semitic root ‘ashah,

meaning: one who supports.

It is also closely related to the word ‘ashur

which is the root word for Assyria,

the whole story of Josiah is told through his name.

In the Hebrew, JOSIAH jō sī’ ə יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ;

and in Greek: LXX ̓Ιωσίας, G2739,

The meaning is: may the Lord support or heal.

Name of a king of Judah, son of Amon and Jedidah.

Yoshiyyah or Yoshiyyahu: Josiah

Original Word: יאֹשִׁיָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Yo’shiyah
Pronunciation: yo-shee-YAH-hoo
Phonetic Spelling: yo-shee-yaw’
KJV: Josiah
NASB: Josiah, Josiah’s
Word Origin: [from the same root as

H803 (אֲשׁוּיָה – Work) and H3050 (יָהּ – LORD)]

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Josiah

Or

yo-she-yaw’-hoo;

from the same root as ‘ashuwyah and Yahh;

founded of Jah;

see HEBREW ‘ashuwyah

see HEBREW Yahh

Through Josiah YHVH

healed His nation

and it was Josiah who

supported God’s mission and call upon Israel.

Josiah was the last of the good kings in Judah and was considered to be a righteous king, unlike many of his forefathers. Josiah was the son of King Amon and the grandson of King Manasseh, both of them wicked kings of Judah. However, Josiah was a godly king and known as one of the world’s youngest kings; He came to power at the age of 8 and ruled for 38 years after his father King Amon was assassinated.

His father, Amon, a short-lived and idolatrous king who worshipped idols, 2 Kings 21:19–26; was wicked, as were the Jewish kings and their culture for generations before him. Eventually, Amon’s own servants killed him. Josiah’s grandfather, Manasseh, was no better his long apostasy had filled Jerusalem with blood, as recorded in 2 Kings 21:16.
His sons names were Johanan, Jehoiakim (Eliakim),

Shallum (Jehoahaz),

and Zedekiah (Mattaniah).

1 Chronicles 3:15.

King Josiah became the King of Judah at the age of 8.

He not only served the YHVH, he loved Him and through the influence of his Godly mother, he destroyed all the idols.

He experienced a spiritual awakening at age 16. “He began to seek the God of his father David” 2 Chronicles 34:3.

There is an interesting comparison here of zeal for the Lord at an early age. At 8 years old Josiah sat on David’s throne; likewise Messiah Yeshua/Jesus at 12 was found in His Father’s house, about His Fathers business, discussing spiritual matters. Luke 2:49.

In the 18th year of his reign,

Josiah raised money to repair the temple,

It was during the project and making reparation that a life changing discovery was made…..

Hilkiah, the High Priest/Cohen haKadol,

found

the Book of the Law/the Torah scroll

that had been hidden away.

“the Book of the Law of the LORD given through Moses”

2 Chronicles 34:14-15.

Shaphan reading the law before Josiah.

Shaphan in Hebrew: שפן, means “hyrax”,

son of Azaliah,

is the name of a scribe or court secretary mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible.

Josiah sent a delegation of royal officials to seek out Yahweh’s will and they went to find Huldah, a prophetess in Jerusalem. Huldah’s prophetic words confirmed the authenticity of the Book of the Law/Torah and warned of impending judgment on Judah for their disobedience. Huldah the prophetess gave the king’s men this message from YHVH:

disaster would strike the nation because they had forgotten God and instead worshiped idols.

2 Chronicles 34:2.

Huldah’s prophecy to Josiah lines up with the rest of Scripture regarding judgment and mercy. She foretells that Judah will face consequences for sin, yet, reassures the king of personal peace.

Huldah authenticated the discovered scroll and exhorted Josiah to humble himself. 2 Kings 22:18-19.

She affirmed that judgment on Judah was inevitable but delayed because Josiah’s heart was tender before the LORD,

2 Kings 22:15-20

and she assured him that his humility had moved YHVH to delay that judgment.

Josiah held Huldah’s prophecy in high regard. He followed the instructions which were read out and assembled the people at the Temple in Jerusalem.

It was a delay of judgment but not cancellation of it. Josiah’s reforms stayed God’s wrath, 2 Kings 22:20; yet did not abolish the consequences of generations of sin, teaching that personal righteousness does not automatically protect an unrepentant nation.

Until the copy of the Torah was discovered Josiah’s understanding of doctrine and theology was incomplete; yet even before it was found, Josiah had a heart that was tender and submissive/rakak to YHVH.

Operating in her intellectual and spiritual gifts, Huldah was a true helper/ezer, as she came to the aid of her king and nation. The answer Huldah gave to Josiah is still valid today, humanity is condemned; but each one of us can accept salvation in an individual and personal way. Because of this prophetic directive, Josiah decided to help as many people as possible to accept salvation and seek the Lord.

When Shapan, the secretary, read the Torah scroll to Josiah, and he listened to the horrifying words of coming judgment, he tore his clothes, in an outward sign of mourning and repentance, humbling himself before YHVH.

2 Chronicles 34:19; 2 Kings 22:10–11.

King Josiah called for a time of national repentance and covenant renewal.

“The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant”. 2 Kings 23:3.

The Law was read to the people of the land, and a covenant was made between the people and the Lord and a young king who led his nation towards spiritual awakening and renewal, led the people back to the Word of God and brought a great revival to the land.

When Scripture’s authority was rediscovered, and the impact of the Torah Instructions/Law’s given in public reading; it underscores the sufficiency and binding authority of written revelation on both the ruler/king and the people to whom it was read.

Many reforms followed.

The temple was cleansed from all objects of pagan worship,

and the idolatrous high places in the land were demolished.

Josiah was 20 when this purge of idolatry took place.

2 Chronicles 34:3–7.

Altars, Asherah poles, carved images, and molten images were ground to powder and scattered on the graves of their worshipers. The destruction of the altar at Bethel and the disinterring of the bones of the idolatrous priests’ fulfilled the unnamed prophet’s prediction made some 300 years earlier.

1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 23:16.

Cleansing the house of YHVH is a prophetic mirror image of Messiah’s cleansing the Temple in Jerusalem recorded in

Matthew 21:12-13.

There is a great encouragement for us in the fulfillment of the prophecy against Bethel, which confirms the reliability of earlier prophetic words; and further illustrates that divine promises often come to fruition following long periods of apparent delay and seeming denial. 2Peter 3:9.

Delay and denial by our Heavenly Father is not a form of punishment or indifference, but rather a divine strategy for our growth and transformation. It is a way for Him to teach us patience, and that patience undergirds our faith to support and strengthen it. They are divine preparations. He sees what we cannot see and whatever He does is with our best interests in mind, so we need to trust His perfect timing, stay faithful in the waiting, and be ready for His sudden move in our lives.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.

Joseph waited 13 years

Abraham waited 25 years

Moses waited 40 years (twice)

Joseph waited 30 years…

If our Father is making us wait….

we are in good company!

Josiah was a righteous and reformative king of Judah who not only re-instituted the worship of Yahweh but also restored the observance of the Appointed Time/Moed of Pesach/Passover.

2 Kings 23:2–23.

In 2 Chronicles 35:18-19 we are told

it was the greatest Pesach/Passover

since the days of the judges.

Also recorded in 2 Kings 23:23
HEB: שָׁנָ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ נַעֲשָׂ֞ה הַפֶּ֧סַח
NAS: year of King Josiah, this Passover
KJV: of king Josiah, [wherein] this passover
INT: year of King Josiah was observed Passover

The Pesach/passover of Josiah, 2 Chronicles 35, became the definitive guideline for later Moedim celebrations. All Israel and Judah participated in it, initiating a desire to restore unity in the fractured identity of the 12 tribes/sons of Jacob/Israel.
The priests and Levites returned to the Mosaic order recorded in 2 Chronicles 35:2-6.
The king personally donated 30,000 lambs and goats and 3,000 cattle, 2 Chronicles 35:7, reflecting royal stewardship in worship.

This sacrificial generosity in the Pesach/Passover foreshadows the greater King who supplies Himself as the Lamb.

The writer of these chronicles placed great emphasis on these events which reveals that:

spiritual renewal involves both right doctrine, which is the Torah Instruction/Teaching/ Laws and Ordinances;

and right practice, obedience to the Torah instructions by celebrating the 7 Appointed Times of The Lord/ His Moedim.

Josiah also removed mediums and witches from the land.

Recorded in

2 Kings 23:24&25.

HEB: וּבִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בִּעֵ֖ר יֹֽאשִׁיָּ֑הוּ לְ֠מַעַן הָקִ֞ים
NAS: Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums
KJV: and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away,
INT: Jerusalem removed Josiah might confirm

“Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”

YHVH’s wrath would later come upon Judah due to the evil King Manasseh had done, 2 Kings 23:25, but the judgment was delayed because of Josiah’s godly life and leadership.

2 Kings 22:20.

However, at the end of his life, Josiah feared the Assyrians would make an alliance with Egypt, and would regain their position as a world power and then come against Judah. Even when YHVH spoke through the Egyptian general Necho to stand down, Josiah still fought the battle the Lord had told him not to fight. After a lifetime of walking with YHVH and trusting Him to lead and guide him, he could not trust the Lord in the matter with the Assyrians; and took his army to stop the Egyptians. During the battle that ensued, Josiah was killed.

Sadly it was Josiah’s fear of Assyria that caused him to act in the flesh, he began to look at the circumstances in the natural and by trying to fix it in his own strength and it proved to be his downfall.

When Josiah died his two sons fought over the throne. The youngest Jehoahaz, seized the throne but 3 months later Necho the Egyptian general deposed him. Necho set his brother Jehoaiakim, whose name means: whom God has set up, as a puppet king for Egypt who ruled another 11 years. He is described as a ruthless tyrant in Jewish historical literature. Judah was eventually led into captivity by the Babylonians having never returned to the Lord.

King Josiah, was a man who loved the Lord with all his heart, who helped to start revival in the land and bring his people back to YHVH; then after 38 years of ruling Judah, at age 46 the Lord, took him home. He could have served the Lord for many more years, but he failed at the end of his life. In one of his greatest tests, Josiah didn’t trust YHVH even after so many years of faithful service.

Josiah died in the battle at Megiddo in in 609 B.C.

2 Kings 23:29-30.

II Chronicles 35:22: “Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.”

Above, the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho.

King Josiah was buried in Jerusalem in his own tomb,

and his son Jehoahaz took the role of king.

2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 32 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done. 33 Now Pharaoh Necho put him in prison at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and he imposed on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. 34 Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there. NKJV.

There is much we can learn from Josiah’s life that is very positive:

First, Josiah shows the influence a person can have from a very young age, even children have enormous potential to live for God and to have great impact.

Secondly, Josiah lived a life fully committed and obedient to YHVH and was blessed for it. He chose total commitment.

There was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, according to all the Law of Moses. 2 Kings 23:25.

Josiah models wholehearted obedience that engages the entire covenant of Deuteronomy 6:5.

Thirdly, Josiah responded properly to the Father’s Word. By the time he became king, the Scriptures had long been neglected, and Josiah’s heart was broken by the failure of his people to honor that Word. Josiah had Scripture read to the people and made a commitment to live by it.

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken . . . I also have heard you,’ declares the Lord. 2 Kings 22:19.

Josiah son of Zephaniah, hosted the crowning of the high priest Joshua with a symbolic crown, Zechariah 6:10-14, linking Josiah’s house with messianic expectation.
New Testament writers carry forward the reforming king’s line through Matthew’s genealogy of Messiah Yeshua/Jesus in Matthew 1:10-11, marking him as a crucial link in redemptive history.

Josiah is mentioned in the genealogy of Yeshua/Jesus:

When we face real trials that test our faith and trust in our heavenly Father, we are many times strongly tempted to trust in the arm of the flesh, rather than in Him. There is a great lesson to be learned that even after many years of faithful service, there may be times when we really can’t see how He will intervene in our situation, it is in those times that we must be aware of what happened to Josiah. Even after a lifetime of trusting and serving YHVH, he let fear overtake him, he relied on the arm of the flesh and he failed. For every believer it does not matter how many years of service and of trusting our Heavenly Father and of seeing His power work in and through our lives; the enemy is always lurking in the shadows, and he knows our weaknesses. We should never pride ourselves that we have made it, or are beyond temptation, because while we are in this flesh body we are still vulnerable to attacks, no matter how many years we have trusted in our Lord and Savior. We must always be on guard no matter how strong we think we are and how big our faith is, and we must resist in Messiahs name and not give in, no matter how strong the temptation is to lean on the arm of the flesh. 1Peter 5:8 Be sober minded and alert our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Reader you are not alone neither in your times of trial nor in reality. The truth is our Fathers Holy Spirit is with you to comfort, strengthen and uphold you, He will guide you through and deliver you from the hand of the enemy. He is the God of the impossible. Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?

Jeremiah 32:27…

and your breakthrough is here,

the Lord of Breakthroughs

or

the Lord who bursts through

1 Chronicles 14:10-11….

stand fast, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord today. Exodus 14:13, for today is the day of salvation …For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2.

and He watches over His word to perform it….Jeremiah 1:12.

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.

This Is A Season Of Joy

October 7, 2023

This Season of Joy

שִׂמְחָה – simchah: joy, gladness, mirth

is the Eighth Day Assembly.

7^th month 22^nd day – Torah portion Vayikra 23:36 39.

Vayikra means “And [He] called” and it is found in Leviticus 1:1

The culmination of Sukkot /Tabernacles/Booths –

Immediately following the 7 day feast of sukkot is the closing moed/appointed time of the year, called:

yom haSh’miyniy Atzaret or

Shemini Atzeret

שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת ‎—”Eighth [day of] Assembly”

This year it is on 7^th October.

The commands for this day are very simple

do no regular work, rest and assemble.

In short the 8th day is a time to say good bye to sukot and the past year’s mo’adiym.

It’s a time to rest and reflect but also a time to look forward to the future because in just 6 short months it all starts over again.

Though this moed is often dismissed as being insignificant it can be an extremely meaningful time if we allow it to be. We are encouraged to look back at the journey we will have completed but also to look forward to the times that lie ahead.

The following day is known as Simchat Torah where this extra biblical jewish holiday celebrates the word of God.

Rejoicing in the Torah.

This year it is the 8^th October.

Click links below for more details:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/tag/yom-hashmiyniyatzaret/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/endings-are-simply-new-beginnings/

The Mo’adiym are so much more than times to practice any Hebrew /Jewish traditions, or days to ponder what they indicate prophetically without actually participating in them. The Mo’adiym/Appointed times of the Lord, offer us a special opportunity to allow His Spirit to disciple us; as we walk in the ways of the Son towards maturity and our full potential in Messiah. These are times to learn and develop our usefulness for the Fathers Kingdom.

As we devote ourselves to living out the fullness in the meanings of the Mo’adiym, those who are of Israelite descent will more fully understand their calling as the people chosen by our Father. Chosen that is, to tell the world about Him and His redemptive plan for all who choose to believe in His Messiah. For those who are already believers in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus, they will draw closer to Him becoming more effective and victorious disciples for Him.

As we walk through the Mo’adiym/Appointed Times each year, it is an opportunity allow His Spirit to plant into us the deep truths that each moed/Appointed Time is designed to help us remember. This is so that the Father may bring in a bountiful harvest through us, for His glory and for the name of His Son, our Savior master Lord and soon returning King…the Messiah Yeshua/Jesus.

in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28

These Mo’adiym/Appointed Times were set in place for the children of Israel to follow as an annual life cycle of preparation for the unfolding plan of the ages. Prophetic in nature and so full of meaning, they are an essential aid to more fully understanding and appreciating all that was completed and fulfilled in Messiah’s time on the earth. His statement that He did not come to abolish or do away with the (law) teaching and instructions of his Father but to complete and to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17. And furthermore, it was to show us how to live a life according to His Fathers and His words; and not all the added restrictive laws and doctrines inspired by demonic, unclean spirits and added by men. Matthew 23:4. All the extra laws and rules that were given to the people not only overburdened them but caused them to be controlled by corrupt leadership.

The season of our rejoicing this weekend is that of

rejoicing in His Word and the freedom it has brought to our lives;

and on the 8^th day reminds us of the hope of our salvation being completed.

Yeshua Messiah, His Word made flesh, dwelt /tabernacled among us and then sent His Spirit to be with us, to abide within us always, even to the end of this age; when He will return in all His Glory and forever tabernacle with us in fullness. Revelation 21:3-8

The 8^th day rejoicing is coming as the reign of Messiah for 1000 years. Until then we have His Spirit of Holiness dwelling, abiding, tabernacle-ing within. We rejoice in His Word living in us, making us alive.

The promise for us all is looking unto Jesus, Messiah, the Word; Who is the author and finisher of our faith. Heb. 12:2

This years feasts, fasts, His Appointed Times, the Mo’adiym are completed. These are more than prophetic pictures of Yeshua/Jesus, they are set in the calendar as a reminder to His chosen ones; and are calling us to un-compromised devotion to only Him and by our obedience, our lives are changed. Not only are they an annual reminder of the Father’s miraculous history with the children of Israel, but also the story of our lives in Christ/Messiah are embedded within them.

They teach us about who we are supposed to be in Him; and we are led into a deeper walk with Him as we take the time to learn of them and their meanings. By our obedience and faithfulness to be a doer and as He told us to ‘learn of Me’; Matthew 11:29. He, through His Word, makes us into His disciples so that in turn we might share His truth that will make others free.

For every believer in Yeshua/Jesus Messiah, this Season of Joy שִׂמְחָה – simchah: joy, gladness, mirth is ongoing and we can rejoice continually and not just on one day of the year: for we are the sheep of His pasture and

He is the shepherd. John 10:14

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Ps.100:3 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation. Ps.79:13

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.

WHY WAIT?

June 4, 2022

The disciples/talmidim were instructed to

tarry/wait

in the city of Jerusalem/Yerushalayim.

Luke 24 :49.

qavah is Hebrew for wait

לַחֲכוֹת

Tarry/wait/qavah in the city.

More Hebrew words for wait

verb לַחֲכוֹת await, hang on

verb לְהַמתִין await, hold on

verb לְיַחֵל hope, expect, look forward to

verb לְמַתֵן wait, moderate, slow down, temper, tone down

לחכות wait

להמתין wait

please wait a moment – בבקשה חכה רגע

Strong’s Hebrew: 6960. קָוָה (qavah) — wait

qavah: wait

Original Word: קָוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: qavah
Phonetic Spelling: kaw-vaw’
Definition: to wait for

KJV: Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed:

INT: Indeed who wait not will be ashamed. Psalm 25:5

HEB: יִשְׁעִ֑י אוֹתְךָ֥ קִ֝וִּ֗יתִי כָּל־ הַיּֽוֹם׃

NAS: of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.

KJV: of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

INT: of my salvation for wait all the day. Psalm 25:21

There are a few words in Hebrew for wait.

In Isaiah 40:31 we learn that those who

wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.

This wait is qavah

which is a twisting or binding.

It is the word used for making rope and the ancient method of making rope is still used today.

Hundreds of thin strands of fabric, each one alone could easily be broken, but when tightly bound together they form a rope that cannot be broken.

We may here recall the scripture:

A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Ecclesiastes 4:12.

In some weddings, a three-cord braid is included as part of the ceremony, here the three cords that are not easily broken represent Our Heavenly Father, the bride and the groom.

So in Isaiah 40:31 this waiting is just not sitting back, doing nothing, it is a process of binding/blending/melding/merging ourselves with the Father and the more we bind ourselves to Him, the stronger we become.

In Isaiah 30:18, however, he uses a different word for wait.

which is the word chakah this is a:

patiently waiting,

like someone waiting for a train.

However, this word is in a Piel or imperfect form,

so it has the meaning of:

a continuing process, it is patiently waiting.

יָחַל verb Niph`al – wait;
Pi`el – await (compare Late Hebrew יִחוּל expectation);
to Niph`al – Perfect feminine singular – נחֲלָה in Ezekiel 19:5
also
Imperfect: וַיִּיָּ֫חֶל in Genesis 8:12 + 1 Samuel 13:18 וַיּחֶל;

and
wait: Genesis 8:12 and he waited yet seven days.

WAITING – CHAKAH – the Hebrew letters:
חכה – Cheth Kap Hei.

The word chakah is spelled:

Chet, Kap/Kaph, Hei/Hey.

The Chet indicates:

moving to a higher level,

something like:

waiting in line and then moving forward.

Our Father is patiently allowing us to go through our human/carnal ways, trying to satisfy all our needs by ourselves; then all of a sudden He appears next in line.

Here we find the next letter in the word for

waiting – chakah

which is the letter Kap/kaf

this has the picture word for:

the palm of the hand.

This shows us that all this time our Father has been holding out His hands in order to receive us; and finally after years of searching for answers, we ask Him to come into our lives.

The 3rd Hebrew letter in the word

to wait, chakah, is Hei

and is akin to:

the conclusion of His waiting, entering His presence which is filled with all of His graciousness and mercy.

Isaiah 30:18 tell us about it:

blessed are those who chakah (wait) for Him.

Our chakah is not in the sentence construction/parts of speech as a Hebrew Piel or imperfect form, it is a Hebrew Qal participle (a word formed from a verb (e.g., going, gone, being, been) and used as an adjective or noun.

This means in others words:

blessed are those who

have been waiting for God.

Without realizing it we have been waiting for Him all the time; we just did not know or understand it. At least our Father’s waiting has been in the Hebrew (Piel Imperfect sentence construction) as in: He is waiting

rather than a (Piel Perfect) form which would say

He has waited.

Why is this important?

Because for us this means,

He hasn’t given up, He is still waiting.

If that were in the form of

He has waited,

then, He would have given up a long time ago

and we would be without hope.

Another Hebrew word is

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

yachal: to wait, await

Original Word: יָחַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: yachal
Phonetic Spelling: yaw-chal’

In the following versions of Luke 24:49

English words used are:

remain and tarry

Berean Literal Bible
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But you, remain in the city until that you should be clothed with power from on high.”

King James Bible
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Amplified Bible
Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”

מט .הִּנֵהָאֹנכִיׁשֵֹלַחֵאתֲאׁשֶרִהְבטִיַחלָכֶםָאִב יוְַאּתֶםהֹוחִילּוּבָעִירְירּוׁשָלִַיםעַדִּכי

-ִתלְּבְׁשּועֹזמִָּמרֹום:

Hee•ne ano•chi sho•le•ach et asher hiv•ti•ach la•chem Avi ve•a•tem ho•chi•loo ba•eer Ye•roo•sha•la•yim ad ki-til•be•shoo oz mi•ma•rom.

This must have been an extremely stressful time immediately following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus/Yeshua. There was much unrest in the city which was filled with 1000’s of people who had travelled there for the Spring Meodim/Appointed Times of Passover/Pesach; which was one of the 3 annual Shalosh Regalim. Passover/Pesach/הַפֶּסַח, Pentecost/Shavuot/שבועות & Tabernacles/Sukkot/סוכות.

Though they are called Feasts by many, the correct Hebrew translation is Rehearsal Pattern because it is a rehearsal. It was/is a practice for the real thing to come, similar to rehearsals prior to a wedding ceremony; and why they were required to be in Jerusalem precisely at those times. We looked at this in previous posts.

This had been a momentous time; unlike any other previous year and the turmoil following those events had made the talmidim/disciples and followers of Messiah further targets for those who had plotted to kill Him.

On the road to Emmaus, one of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are You the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in recent days?”

verse 18.

Luke 24:13-24

In verse 25: Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, how slow are your hearts to believe all that the prophets have spoken!…

This was confirming that HE WAS the fulfillment of Gods’ prophetic plan of redemption.

Luke 3:16
John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John 1:26
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

John 1:33
I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. Acts 1: 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6

5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”…

Strong’s Greek: 4037. περιμένω (perimenó) 1 Occurrence

Acts 1:4 V-PNA
GRK: χωρίζεσθαι ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν
NAS: Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father
KJV: but wait for the promise
INT: to depart but to await the promise

לחכות ל wait for

לחכות wait

The length of time they were told to wait was not just for a couple of days, it was for the next 49 days until Pentecost/Shavuot.

Yeshua/Jesus had said He had come to fulfill the Torah which has the Moedim/Appointed Times of the Lord as pivotal to the annual cycle of Israeli life.

We miss the full revelation of what Messiah accomplished as we in our western christianity and calendar festivals, jump from Passover/Resurrection Sunday (which we have called easter), to Christmas. There is a very precise sequence of Appointed Times/Moedim, whose meanings were prophetic in nature in their annual rehearsal for fulfillment in Messiahs’ life.

What was the purpose of this waiting?

He told them they would be

endued with power from on high

but why did they have to wait so long?

What does it mean for us?

The purpose of waiting is part of our training as talmidim/disciples.

It is for us to get into the right relationship to meet the requirements of our Heavenly Father and His Will not ours. Once those needs /requirements for being His child /disciple are met then He will open the doors and make the WAY clear for us to GO and DO and fulfill His will, plan and purposes.

One thing we should have learned during our 49 day walk/halak, it is this; we cannot artificially accelerate the growth of our crops and we cannot force them to produce out of season!

We need to see that we are not in control and being impatient will only cause frustration.

It will also choke the seeds and prevent them from bringing forth the harvest; which will result in us being impatient farmers with only barren and unfruitful fields. We must bear the fruit of patience if we are to grow in Messiah, without it we become impatient, impetuous, unsatisfied and are always looking for a future we cannot change. This is sad because it means we are ignoring what we have been blessed with today in the here and now.

Our training is accomplished by the power of His Spirit/Ruach within us, as we are also

endued with power from on high!

and for what?

To be witnesses to Him.

We must allow our lives to be slowly and continually transformed by the indwelling life of His Son; which is the ultimate purpose and goal ..that Jesus/Yeshua be exhibited in us.

This Shavuot/Pentecost, let’s be in an attitude of waiting after our days of preparation, and allow Him to do the necessary work in us and then He can fill us again. Just as we recharge batteries and continually refill our cars’ tanks with fuel, we need to be-being filled with His Spirit – continuously.. to go on being filled not just one time. Meaning to completely surrender our life and give Him full control. Ephesians 5:18 commands that we be filled with the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 the command is given, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” Paul gives the simple principle when he says, “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature” Gal. 5:16. The important experience of becoming a Spirit-filled disciple results in the progressive sanctification of a believer in Messiah. The result will be that the individual will manifest the fruit of the Spirit as stated in Galatians 5:22-23,

The 49 days leading up to Pentecost/Shavuot is a time of looking at our own lives and allowing God to do His work in us so He can work through us.

Hebrews 10:9 Behold I have come to do your will O God.

Jesus/Yeshuas life was one of obedience to His Father and He said Follow Me; so we are to be obedient to His/our Fathers will also.

We must take the time to be continually filled up or we will have nothing to pour out. If all we are doing is seeking to be blessed personally, we are missing the point of servanthood. We are blessed to be a blessing – freely we have received, freely we give. If we are always taking in/receiving, and not giving out, we will stagnate like the waters of a pool with no outflow; then we will become like the Dead sea and not a sea of Galilee. Living waters flow continually, that is what flowed through Messiah and what we are to release to others. Let Him pour into us so we can pour out.

For Them…?

The time of waiting was not a new thing for the disciples as every year the counting of 7 weeks or 49 days from the Omer following Peasch/Passover to Shavuot/Pentecost/Weeks was part of the Spring Feasts/Moedim/Appointed Times of the Lord which they followed every year.

Leviticus 23:1-2 God introduces His Moedim/Appointed Times when He begins by declaring to Moses

My appointed times are these….

This statement makes clear that these Moedim/Appointed Times, originate with our Heavenly Father, they cannot be claimed to have been appointed by any nation, including Israel. While they were initially given to the children of Israel for them to observe as their calendar/way of life, they are just as applicable to the followers of Messiah today.

Many have grown up believing that the Jewish Feasts have nothing to do with the New Testament body of Messiah – the ecclesia, the called apart ones. A few have grown up trying to take back the feasts and celebrate them, while rediscovering Christianity’s Hebrew Heritage. Some have never heard of the Feasts at all, however there are a growing number who are interested in what the Moedim/Appointed Times/Feasts of the Lord, have to impart to us prophetically.

Questions for us are: why are we ignoring what the Father has instructed us to do and why are we only understanding and remembering 2 of the 7?

We have the benefit of the completed Word of God so we can study His plan of redemption; and one of the ways in which He prophetically revealed His big picture plan, is through the Appointed Times/Moedim/Feasts of the Lord. Approximately 4000 years ago, God commanded His people to gather in sacred assembly for very specific celebrations – His Feasts.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.” (Leviticus 23:1-2)

If we are not aware of the Moedim/Appointed Times when we read that verse, we do not understand the whole picture.

God commanded a yearly remembrance of each of His Holy convocations. The Hebrew word for sacred assembly or holy convocation is miqra, which carries the meaning of a dress rehearsal. Every time these festivals are celebrated, it is a visual and spiritual aid to remind humanity of the prophetic plan of God.

Prior to each feast’s fulfillment, it points forwards to Messiah.

During each feast’s fulfillment, it points directly at Messiah.

Subsequent to each feast’s fulfillment, it points backwards to Messiah.

These seven appointed times are collectively called the mo’edim and are detailed in Exodus 12-13, Leviticus 23, Numbers 28-29 and Deuteronomy 16. Together, they represent the Fathers’ entire redemptive plan from Messiah’s death through His millennial rule.

This is what Yeshua/Jesus was referring to in Matthew 5:17-18 when He said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law/teaching till all is fulfilled.”

Because the common western understanding of fulfill

means done away with,

Christians have believed that Yeshua/Jesus meant the prophetic pictures pointing to Him are now no longer needed. This is not what He meant, because to Jewish rabbis at that time, the word that is translated into English as

fulfilled was understood to mean:

the true or correct interpretation of Scripture,

while the word destroy meant: to give a false or incorrect interpretation.

Yeshua/Jesus was telling them that:

He did not come to do away with the Hebrew Scriptures/or destroy i.e. lead them astray by false teachings

Rather, He was:

the human embodiment of their true meaning and spiritual reality.

Again we can see other reasons for the WAITING…

First it was for their own preparation and

second because Messiah was not yet glorified.

As soon as He was glorified Acts 2:33 tells us:

therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the father the promise of the Holy Spirit/His Spirit of Holiness He poured out this which you now see and hear.

The second reason is in the statement in John where he clearly tells us in 7:39..

for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This is not the case for us today because His Spirit of Holiness/Ruach haKodesh, has been given and Messiah is glorified; our waiting is not dependent on the promised future outpouring; but rather on our own spiritual condition/preparation, to receive what is readily available.

We know from scripture that the influence and power of His Spirit were at work before Shavout/Pentecost because He was upon individuals, prophets, priests and kings of the Old Testament; and in some instances, He filled them with His Spirit: e.g. both John the Baptists parents. Luke 1:41

However, once Messiah was glorified in His ascension, His Spirit of Holiness/RuachHaKodesh, came into the world in an unrestricted way and has been here for the last 2000+ years. It is critical that we believe and receive this revealed truth that He is indeed here in our midst; and within each believer who welcomes His presence, influence and power. He will not force His presence upon us but patiently waits for us to invite Him in as we yield to His offer.

The attitude of receiving and welcoming His Spirit into our lives is to be the continual attitude of a believer. When we receive His Spirit we receive His life/chaim which revives us, imparting the same resurrection life that raised Him from the dead, which will quicken us and make us alive in Him. Romans 8:11

As our ascended Messiah He is able to give New Life.

It’s not the so termed, baptism of His Holy Spirit, that changes people, but it is the power of the risen Messiah coming in to dwell in our lives that changes us through His Holy Spirit working from the inside out. We sometimes have a tendency to separate things that the New Testament/Brit Chadashah does not separate. The termed, baptism of His spirit of Holiness, is not an experience apart from Jesus/Yeshua – it is the real and living evidence of the risen Messiah. He has given us chaim/life everlasting and full of glory.

John 17:3 This is eternal life that they may KNOW You

it’s something that begins at new birth and never ends….

We often speak of types and shadows in the scriptures…

The giving of the Torah (teaching/law) at Sinai was the type/shadow

that was fulfilled at Shavuot/Pentecost.

Sinai marked the birth date of the dispensation of Torah/Teaching/Law, and involved great displays of God’s power through thunderings, lightning, fire and the sound of His reverberating voice.

The fulfillment at Shavuot/Pentecost was the giving of the Spirit of the Law to the followers of the Mashiach/Messiah.

Shavuot/Pentecost, marks the birth date of the ecclesia/church/called apart ones, and what some term as the dispensation of Grace.

This occasion was also accompanied with great displays of God’s power through fire and a sound like a mighty rushing wind. According to Ephesians 4:30, from this point onward, His Ruach HaKodesh/Spirit of Holiness dwells within each follower and seals the Body of Messiah for the day of redemption.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

The gift of tongues is simply the Holy Spirit giving us the supernatural ability to speak in a foreign tongue/language that we have no knowledge or ability to speak out on our own.

There are two types of tongues He can give us. One is a tongue of this earth; e.g., if our native language is English, then He can give us the ability to speak in Chinese, Japanese, or Spanish, etc. For the simple reason we may be in that country or with people who speak that language and will understand it.

The other type of tongue that He can give us is a tongue direct from heaven, a heavenly language that is not of this earth. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that there are tongues of angels.

Whichever it is, it will be a foreign language that we will not be able to speak out on our own, and only His Holy Spirit’s supernatural transmission of this language out of our spirits will give us the ability to be able to speak it using our voice.

Whatever tongue Holy Spirit gives us, we will be able to use it all the time, whenever we want. It will be our own personal, private, prayer language between us and the Lord.

One thing to remember with this gift is that for the most part, we may never know or understand what we are praying about when we operate in this gift, however we can pray to interpret what the Lord has spoken through us.

The Bible tells us that we will be speaking out “mysteries,” and only the Father and His Holy Spirit will know exactly what the prayer is about on any given occasion.“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)

Here we are told clearly that they were ALL filled and spoke in other tongues… which was the physical evidence of His Spirit in them, there were no exceptions and so we can expect the same today, and includes all the other gifts of His Spirit as in

The Word of Knowledge

The Word of Wisdom

The Gift of Prophecy

The Gift of Faith

The Gifts of Healings

The Working of Miracles

The Discerning of Spirits

Different Kinds of Tongues

The Interpretation of Tongues

our Father has not changed..

He is the same yesterday today and forever. Heb.13:8

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) Here we see the sealing by His Spirit to enable us to continue our walk.

It is interesting that the Father waited 50 days after Messiahs’ resurrection, (10 days after His Ascension) before He sent His Holy Spirit. As our Father is precise in all His details it is without doubt because He was waiting for the Appointed Time/Shavuot/Pentecost. He is never early and He is never late in fulfilling His promises.

The other symbol of His Spirit and presence is FIRE.

From the Ex.3:2 burning bush, to the pillar in the wilderness, to the outpouring in Jerusalem …

our God is a consuming FIRE Heb.12:29

and as Malachi states like a refiners fire.

In Malachi 3:1-4, the prophet declares the

imminent return of the Lord

and with it,

His holy judgment of refining fire.

We are all too well aware that being a follower of Messiah does not spare us from experiencing testings, trials, conflict and trouble; and the process of refinement is one that He continually applies to our lives.

This fire is Holy Fire – Esh Kadosh/qadosh. אש קדושה

The Fire that cleanses, refines and purifies; it burns up all that is not acceptable to the Father and also speaks of His power so that like Jesus/Yeshua, we may work the works of Him who sends us. John 9:4, for greater works than these will you do. John 14:12.

BUT as always, there is a condition, an IF …

We have to be willing..

we have to lay down our lives, our plans and allow Him to be sovereign in our lives.

The choice is ours…His offer is there for whosoever will… The events of Acts 2 includes the

empowering

of His spirit

and the imparting of His boldness to proclaim the good news of Messiah’s Kingdom. The boldness of the fire like Jeremiah* had.

Are we truly on fire for God? .. or

are we just barely glowing embers, dying without the breath of His Spirit … we need the mighty rushing wind of Shavuot to blow on and re-ignite the fire.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/bones-of-fire-and-graffiti/

Holy Spirit of Truth is certainly God, however, He is not the Person of Yeshua/HaMashiach/Jesus Christ. The scriptures seem to indicate that it was the Father who sent the Holy Spirit – “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) And then Messiah says – “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

The early spring Appointed Times/Moedim: (Pesach/Passover, Chag haMatzot /Unleavened Bread, Bikkurim/Firstfruits); were fulfilled in order, all in the same year, through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach. When we look at the harvest times, Yeshua/Jesus and the many saints that were resurrected with Him, were the barley harvest. Notably, the ripeness of the barley is what decides if a new year can begin, or if a leap month, called Adar2, needs to be added to the calendar. This is always taken into account when the date of the late spring feast – Pentecost/Shavuot is calculated.

Pentecost/Shavuot experienced at least a partial fulfillment in the same year the three spring feasts were fulfilled. As we already noted, 50 days after Firstfruits/Bikkurim, or 10 days after Yeshua/Jesus’ ascension, His Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh, descended upon the Jewish believers waiting in Jerusalem. Partial fulfillment in that He has been indwelling and sealing believers ever since, until the day of their redemption –

as He said, we are to

look up for your redemption draweth nigh,

so it is not yet completed!

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

Since Holy Spirit is God, He is omnipresent, everywhere at the same time.

Pentecost/Shavuot marks the time of the wheat harvest in Israel.

As we have walked through the spring Appointed Times/Moedim, we can see a picture of our own walk with Messiah.

At Pesach/Pasover we are reminded of being set free from the bondage of sin and death, then during the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Matzah week, we have the opportunity to practice our unleavenedness; and rejoice in our saviors Resurrection as Firstfruits from the dead. Then as we count from the Omer we are like the wheat crops growing towards maturity, ultimately designed to become an abundant harvest for Him.

During this season of counting we can focus on certain spiritual themes such as: sowing, growing, increase, being fed and nourished by the Father and being mindful of how we are growing toward maturity in Messiah. By examining our ways we discover if they are truly aligned, submitted and conformed to His.

This is why we are to WAIT on the Lord, for His power to fill us and enable us to be witnesses unto Him; this is how He goes with us, and will always be with us, and will never leave us nor forsake us.

Isaiah 30:18: “And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted that he might be merciful upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment, blessed are all that WAIT for him.”

Like the farmer who waits for the precious fruit of the earth, we too have to wait for God to mature us and grow us. Part of our being mature in Messiah, is knowing when to put our hand to the plough and work hard but also knowing that when we have done all we can do then it is time to WAIT/CHAKAH. We must ask ourselves if we have been listening/hearing to His call and responding by doing that which He has required of us?..We must walk and work in maturity and continue to be patient, stabilize our hearts because the coming of the Master draws near. James 5:7-8

Let’s be mindful of the season we are in…..

on each of us..

For those new to the site previous posts linked below cover more detail on Shavuot/Pentecost..

https://www.minimannamoments.com/2-x-3000-a-marriage-made-in-heaven/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/shavuot-2-x-3000-a-marriage-made-in-heaven-conclusion/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-look-of-shavuot/

Shavuot 2022 begins Saturday, June 4 at sunset and ends Monday, June 6 at nightfall.