Category Archives: torah studies

Hebrew studies, torah studies

ELUL, A DAVID KIND OF PRAYER…

It was through the 50 days of continuos prayer of the disciples, that the Church was birth out at Pentecost. It was through prayer that David birth out the Kingdom, and left the Psalms as a legacy to the faith.

Prayer is All About Us.

You’ve heard me say before that prayer is about becoming a “miraculous marksman in the spirit realm.” Prayer is target oriented. We have to find our voice in prayer and become very specific, developing a targeted prayer strategy.

We each deal with our good inclination and our evil inclination

The difficulty with prayer, is that prayer makes you feel vulnerable, even in the privacy of your own self. Prayer is self examination and self examination is very uncomfortable. What will our prayers reveal about our own character and nature?

Initially, we may begin by bringing many outside concerns before the throne, but in the end, we wind up seeing inwardly. It is the inward man or woman…. our inward soul that we come to face.

We face our own souls and we face our own hearts, even in our prayers for others.

Judging oneself is an inescapable process of prayer.

Before arriving at the heart of prayer, we have to navigate pass our flesh, our pride, our idle thoughts and vain imaginations. In the beginning, all of this may feel like a spiritual obstacle course of sorts. If that is the case for you, I encourage you to press in. You are on the right course.

Pressing in means, that we have to find the strength to fight the distractions that bombard our mind. We have to wake up, and deal with our inner most thoughts and emotions that attempt to derail our soul from advancing and elevating toward GOD.

Keep this thought in mind when you struggle to stay in prayer longer than your usual 10 or 15 minutes?… longer than your usual 60 minutes?….. longer than your usual 2-3 hours?

What revelation will I discover if I press further in to prayer? What will I prevent myself from knowing if I tap out too soon?

The Full Measure and Stature of Christ Jesus…

Prayer opens our hearts to see into our own image and likeness. I have heard many people give reasons why this level of examination is sufficient for them. But, to be IN CHRIST, our goal is to attain toward the image and likeness of GOD.

Many times we hear each other say, we want to get into a higher place in GOD… or we want to achieve that next level in GOD. It can be found in pressing pass that place of normalcy in prayer. In many ways, we can come to set our own individualized customs and traditions and limitations in prayer.

The daily rewards of breaking the boundaries, are awareness and sensitivity to the limitations of our own character and nature, and the desire to put on the character and nature of GOD.

tav
peh (pay)
lah’med
lah’med

… In this series of teachings on prayer, my goal is to communicate and demonstrate through scripture, that the most critical aspect of our prayer life is the time that we spend in solitude before GOD in prayer.

  • Not praying on the prayer line.
  • Not praying with the friend who called us for prayer.
  • Not praying with the prayer team.
    • THESE ARE SECONDARY TO OUR NEED FOR PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL TIME

This Next Level is a assessment of your personal, devotional, consecrated, dedicated, uninterrupted, I Will NOT allow anything to interfere with it…Prayer Time.

Consider this: For anyone that has traveled on an airplane, the safety instructions always caution you that in the event of a crisis, when oxygen bags are released, you place the oxygen on yourself first…then you assist the child or the person next to you that requires assistance.

We have to protect our own prayer life first before we can help anyone with theirs. We have to become prayer, before we can pray for others fervently and effectively.

Yes, we can get by without it. Of course we can. And yes, GOD is faithful even when we are not faithful in prayer.

But that’s a lower level that will not get you to the next level you are seeking, if you are really seeking it.

You have to be like David and become prayer!

That character and nature of GOD that we are striving for… comes with prayer. Prayer increases spiritual insight, discernment, revelation, healing anointing, and every gifting of GOD.

Storms are everywhere on the horizon, no matter where you look. Politically, environmentally, socially, economically, biologically…

What do you want to be your area of expertise in the anointing? You choose.

I Am Prayer!

“Ani tephillah” (ah-knee tuh-fee-lah)

David’s enemies were relentless and powerful. He was feeling oppressed and hemmed in. Yet, before he went on recounting his dilemmas, he stopped abruptly and proclaimed….

Yet, David knew something that had not even been spoken of in scripture yet…

That He had access to “POWER ABOVE ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY” and he proclaimed!

I am Prayer!

It’s like he stopped for a moment and remembered who he was, really!

He had a, “Don’t make me lay down here on the floor all night and pray!, ’cause I will do it!… kind of moment.

“I WILL REINVENT THIS ENTIRE SITUATION THROUGH PRAYER!”

“TAKE THIS MEMO, WRITE THIS DOWN AND POST IT IN EVERY PRINCIPALITY AND POWER, REGION, THRONE, DIMENSION, AND DOMINION…” KIND OF PRAYER!

“I WILL REACH BACK IN THE PAST AND MAKE EVERY CROOKED PLACE STRAIGHT, BY THE POWER OF GOD… KIND OF PRAYER!”

THE..NEITHER RAIN NOR DEW SHALL FALL, EXCEPT BY MY WORD…KIND OF PRAYER!

THE “IT’S ALREADY BEEN DONE…” KIND OF PRAYER!

THE..”IF I BE A WOMAN OF GOD, THEN ABC… XYZ SHALL OCCUR…” KIND OF PRAYER!

THE “IF I BE A MAN OF GOD, THEN ABC… XYZ SHALL OCCUR…” KIND OF PRAYER!

THE “RELEASE THE RAIN…”, KIND OF PRAYER!

THE “GOD WILL COME FOR MY WORD TO PERFORM IT”…KIND OF PRAYER!

THE “I COULD CARE LESS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE…” KIND OF PRAYER!

THE “I FORBID IT, IN THE NAME OF JESUS…KIND OF PRAYER!

THE “I WILL PRAY THE DEVIL BACK DOWN IN TO THE PIT OF HELL…” KIND OF PRAYER

IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

There is NOTHING that You Can Not Handle in Prayer!

WHERE WE ARE IN PRAYING THROUGH THE PSALMS THROUGH THE MONTH OF ELUL:

  • PSALMS 15-21 SUNDAY AUGUST 16
  • PSALMS 22-28 MONDAY AUGUST 17
  • PSALMS 29-35 TUESDAY AUGUST 18
  • PSALMS 36-42 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19
  • PSALMS 43-49 THURSDAY AUGUST 20
  • PSALMS 50-56 FRIDAY AUGUST 21
  • PSALMS 57-63 SATURDAY AUGUST 22
  • PSALMS 64-70 SUNDAY AUGUST 23

ELUL IS THE TIME TO CLEANSE ALL THE CLUTTER OUT OF OUR CLOSETS AND GET RID OF EVERY DEAD THING WE SHOULD NOT CARRY INTO OUR FUTURE IN 5781/2021.

IT’S TIME TO DEAL WITH ALL THE DEAD BAGGAGE. REPENT FROM EVERY BANNED BATTLE. SEEK GOD TO REPLACE EVERY HURT PLACE WITH LOVE, KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES.

FOR THESE REASONS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BOOK OF PSALMS.

This teaching is dedicated to my students. May you all arise to BECOME PRAYER!

In every spiritual battle you encounter, I pray that you exemplify the heart of David, stare the enemy head on and decree and declare, “I AM PRAYER!“

Posts Included in This Years Series on Prayer for Elul: 2020

Elul, May GOD Find You Praying Like David Prayed

Posts Included in LAST YEARS Series on Prayer for Elul: 2019

Cover Photo by: Rev. S.Madison, Tefillah in Hebrew

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Students/Subscribers have permission to print and share this information provided you do not use any of the teachings for profit or monetary gain of any kind. Please do not alter the material in any way. These conditions are subject to the additional term of giving full credit to torahisteaching.blog or Rev. S. Madison. Just send me an email to advise of your use of this material: torahbythesea@gmail.com Thank You.

torah studies, What is Torah

THE MESSAGE IN THE LETTERS OF TORAH, Part 3, the reish

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3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.           Isaiah 35:3-4

Today, we will continue with our exploration of the meaning of the letters that form the word, torah.

Today we examine the spiritual meaning of the reish, (pronounced ray’sh).

We are getting into the deeper things of GOD. At the deeper end of the pool you have to let go and float. If you start thinking too hard and begin to struggle with the physicality of it all, you will drown yourself. Nobody has to drown you. You can do it all by yourself.

I need to give you a disclosure here, before we continue…

The Bible is not directed to our physical nature. It was never meant to communicate with the flesh. The flesh can’t comprehend it anyway. For all intents and purposes, the only help we need with the flesh, is to tame it with the spirit.

The Bible was NOT given for the purpose of helping us to figure out, how to maneuver in the physical realm.

The Bible/torah was given to teach us how to maneuver in the spiritual realm, to teach us spiritual matters.

The Bible/torah was given to strengthen the weak hands. To teach us torah. Isaiah 35:3-4

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

We are studying torah, so that we can wield both hands with equal strength and power, in the spirit. The power of what we learned from our Christian Heritage and what we are learning from our Hebrew Heritage, will make us a triple threat!

I pray that you become Mightier Men and Women of Valor through your torah heritage!

RECAP:

Above are the 4 Hebrew consonants that create the word, torah. The modern Hebrew letters lay directly beneath the Paleo Hebrew Letters that give the impression of a halo above.

Torah is spelled with the, tav (t), vav (v), reish (r), hei (h).

THE VAV FUNCTIONS AS A CONSONANT AND A VOWEL:

The vav represents a consonant and the sound of 2 vowels in Hebrew, the ‘o’ as in doe, and the ‘u’ as in blue. The vav in torah has the ‘o’ sound. That little dot above the vav is our indication that the vav is pronounced with the ‘o’ sound as well. That little dot is called a nikkud.

The 3rd letter in Torah, is the reish, (pronounced ray’sh –roll the ‘r’ a little)

In the Ancient Paleo Hebrew , the letter reish takes the shape of the head, the back of a man’s head.
It is acceptable to pronounce it reish or rosh. Both pronunciations refer to the ‘R’ in Hebrew. But, why does the Hebrew Language use the back of a man’s head to express the ‘R’ sound?

There are many ways to see this. The curve at the back of the head symbolizes turning your back to the word of GOD, fighting against the things of GOD. With your back to GOD, there’s a willingness to accommodate the world, allowing one’s evil inclinations to run rampant and unrestrained. In this mode, man bends toward idolatrous values, he becomes a reish – dalet. (Remember: dalet is a Door, and the Door represents access in and out /in or out).

Seeing RED in Scripture

The reish – dalet (pronounced ‘red’) is an actual word in Hebrew. (Ref: Strongs #3381, yaw-rad). ‘red’ in Hebrew means, to go down, to descend.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves“

“Get thee down” is the word, ‘red’ in Hebrew. Red, is when your evil inclinations have taken over and man has succumbed to his baser instincts. Red, is a spiritual descent into a lower level. A descent from greatness.

Turning Your Back to GOD

Do you remember when Orpah showed Naomi the “back of her head”? (Ruth 1:14, 16) [This has also been referred to as ‘the back of her neck’]. Verse 16 employs the word, shuv, which means to turn back, or return. Orpah returned back to her country, her kindred and her fathers house, back to the ways of Moab. Ruth, on the other hand, implored Naomi to let her stay with her. Ruth attached herself to GOD and rejected the ways of Moab.

Going back to Moab was a spiritual descent. Staying connected to the GOD of Heaven, The GOD of Ruth, was a spiritual ascent. The word ‘red’ in Hebrew indicates that spiritual descent.

While speaking of this, I can’t help but think of that expression we have , “He/She was seeing red.” It just connects with what is going on spiritually with an angry person...seeing red. I think most of us have known this place, and for the most part, nothing good is happening spiritually! Clearly, seeing red, is a spiritual descent into darkness.

ROSH is the Head

Symbolically, Rosh represents the head, a person, being first. Reish is the Highest, the Repentant Man, The Beginning, a moral choice, Right or Wrong/ or Wickedness.

Remember, the word is a 2 edged sword. We make choices. Reish is a choice between greatness or degradation. Between, standing before GOD as the Head, the Leader, or being comfortable in compromise.

In the Ancient Hebrew, the reish asks the question, “What is the Highest?, What is the Most Important?” The scripture asks, that we do more than it is our duty to do! “If it is in your power to do good, do it!” (Ref: Eph 3:20, behavior in the image and likeness of GOD, Micah 6:8, Prov 3:27). This is the duty of the reish. Lead.

When reish is operating in it’s authority and headship, the reish draws strength from the covenant. The covenant has your back! (look at the word picture). The reish is the 20th letter of the aleph-bet and as you are learning, the letters carry numerical value, i.e., in this case, a gematria of 20.

Earlier, I said that the reish means beginning. Reish understands and thrives in beginnings and knows how to begin again. The reish is going to bring torah to the world. The 1st word in scripture is beh’rey’sheet, Genesis 1:1, In the Beginning. The word ‘Rey-sheet’ contains the reish. (reish is the root word in rey-sheet).

TORAH BEGINS WITH THE LETTER BEIT –b

Look closely and see, that GOD began the torah with the letter beit (B), which is the Hebrew word for ‘In’. (In (beh) – rey-sheet, = in the beginning).

GOD could have begun the torah with any word He wanted, any letter. He could have began the torah with an Aleph, representing who He is. Nevertheless, He chose a beit and GOD stands outside of the beit, before it, but hidden. In Hebrew, the beit represents the tabernacle. Let’s see what GOD is doing here behind the scenes.

GOD begins the very 1st teaching with the letter beit, with the tabernacle. If we are looking at this with our spiritual eyes, we see all of torah beginning with the tabernacle. And the beginnings of everything, the rey-sheet, flowing out of the tabernacle. (In (beh) – rey-sheet, = in the beginning).

GOD, THE TABERNACLE AND THE REISH

The rey-sheet is born by the Tabernacle. The rey-sheet is formed by the tabernacle. Only a reish can step out of the tabernacle. When we look back at the word torah, we see a similar pattern.

tav – vav- reish – hei

THE COVENANT, THE MESSIAH AND THE REISH

The vav is symbolic of the man, who steps out into the earth, in covenant with GOD and becomes the reish, the leader, the Head and not the tail, the Repentant Man, who is no longer willing to accommodate the world or his/her evil inclinations. The reish takes his/her position of authority and headship, and the reish leads us to…. the hei.

Amen.

God Bless You,

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Posts Included in This Series:

In order to access more teachings of this kind on the Hebrew Letters:

Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Students/Subscribers have permission to print and share this information provided you do not use any of the teachings for profit or monetary gain of any kind. Please do not alter the material in any way. These conditions are subject to the additional term of giving full credit to torahisteaching.blog or Rev. S. Madison. Just send me an email to advise of your use of this material: torahbythesea@gmail.com Thank You.

MY HEBREW HERITAGE, torah studies, What is Torah

THE MESSAGE IN THE LETTERS OF TORAH… Part 2, the vav

Today, we will continue with our exploration of the meaning of the letters that form the word, torah.  Today we examine the spiritual meaning of the vav.

RECAP:

Above are the 4 Hebrew consonants that create the word, torah. The modern Hebrew letters lay directly beneath the Paleo Hebrew Letters that give the impression of a halo above.

Torah is spelled with the, tav (t), vav (v), reish (r), hei (h). 

THE VAV FUNCTIONS AS A CONSONANT AND A VOWEL:

The vav represents a consonant and the sound of 2 vowels in Hebrew, the ‘o’ as in doe, and the ‘u’ as in blue. The vav in torah has the ‘o’ sound.  That little dot above the vav is our indication that the vav is pronounced with the ‘o’ sound as well.  That little dot is called a nikkud.

The 2nd letter in Torah, is the vav (V). In this instance, in the word ‘torah’, the vav carries the ‘O’ sound.

The Hebrew letter vav takes the shape of the tent peg or hook. In it’s Ancient Paleo Hebrew form, it resembles our letter Y. Although, I believe it is more accurate to say, that our letter ‘Y’, took the form of the Ancient Hebrew Letter vav.

If you were to visually, connect the two upper stems of the Y with a straight horizontal line, you would create a very nice picture of an ancient tent peg!

Symbolic Meaning of the vav

Vav is the word, ‘AND’ in Hebrew. The vav is a symbol of connection, a nail used to join something together. The vav means continuation; to add, to secure. The vav connects Divinity to Humanity, and our connection to God and each other.

The vav is a symbol of conjunction, completeness and timelessness. As you learn more about each Hebrew letter, you will see that the vav unites opposing concepts, people and ideas.

The Assignment of the vav Reflected in the aleph

Take another look at the word Adam. We discussed this word in great detail in the blog entitled; The Undiscovered Adam and the Unexplained Man, Part 2.

You will recall, the Aleph, the first letter in Adam is made of a vav (the slanted bar in the center with two yod’s on either side). Both yod’s are connected to the vav. One yod reaches upward toward the Heavens, and the other reaches downward towards the earth.

In the picture of the aleph, you see the work of the vav, connecting Heaven and Earth, the spiritual realm to the physical realm.

  • The vav connects the upper heavens to the lower heavens, connecting Heaven to Earth. In the aleph, we can see that the vav connects the spiritual realm to the physical realm.

Vav is the 6th letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet…

…and carries the Gematria of 6, (numerical equivalency of 6). Man’s connection to the number 6 is very important in the Hebrew. (See the list below)

  • God ceased His work of creation on the 6th day
  • Man was created on the 6th day.
  • When the Children of Israel left Egypt, they were six hundred thousand in number (Ex 12:37)
  • Christ hung on the cross for 6 hours (Mark 15:25, Luke 23:44)
  • The 600 thousand letters in the torah equivalent to the 600K children of Israel leaving Egypt. A letter of torah for each person delivered out of bondage.

The above examples reveal physical completion, redemption and transformation.

Many Infallible Proofs of the Significance of vav

  • The absence or presence of the vav determines the meaning of the verse. Ref Ex 18:1, Jether becomes Jethro when a vav is added at the end of his name, creating the ‘o’ sound.
  • Absence of the vav can signify a lack of virtue, character faults, etc.
  • The Addition of the vav can indicate pleasing character traits, indicate virtue and overcoming personal trials/tests.
  • There are 5 times in scripture when Jacob’s name is spelled with an extra vav. (Lev 26:42, Jer 30:18, 33:25-26, 46:27, 51:19) In each instance, Israel/Jacob is being redeemed.
  • In the Hebrew Bible (written in All Hebrew Letters) at the very center of the torah, called the belly (gachon), there is an enlarged vav. Lev 11:42. Appropriately enough, the word found in the very center of the torah is the word, gachon, (which means belly). The vav, which translates to our ‘o’ in English, is the letter in the center of the torah. Let me repeat that another way: At the belly of the torah, is the word gachon, which means belly and the ‘o’ in gachon marks the center of torah.
  • i.e. the first half and the last half of the torah is connected by a vav!

tav – vav- reish – hei

Torah begins with the tav, covenant. The 2nd letter, vav stands for connection.

The covenant which is connected to man by the nail. The man who bears the nail, He is the One that connects Heaven to Earth, the spiritual realm to the physical realm.

The vav is the symbol of the man that connects Heaven to Earth, whether that be Christ, by Himself… or Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!

Every believer, has the power to bring God’s Glory down into the Earth Realm. The vav is the symbol of mankind’s power to draw what we need from the Heavens and deposit it into the Earth. That’s torah.

Amen.

God Bless You,

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Posts Included in This Series:

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Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog All Rights Reserved.

Students/Subscribers have permission to print and share this information provided you do not use any of the teachings for profit or monetary gain of any kind. Please do not alter the material in any way. These conditions are subject to the additional term of giving full credit to torahisteaching.blog or Rev. S. Madison. Just send me an email to advise of your use of this material: torahbythesea@gmail.com Thank You.

torah studies, What is Torah

THE MESSAGE IN THE LETTERS OF TORAH… beginning with tav

In English, our letters have no meaning beyond the role they play to indicate the specific sounds that we apply to our language and to build and form our words.  In Hebrew, the letters retain a history and legacy of sound, ideas, concepts, thoughts and symbols, even number.  

Today, we will explore the meaning of the letters that form the word, torah.

Above are the 4 Hebrew consonants that create the word, torah. The modern Hebrew letters lay directly beneath the Paleo Hebrew Letters that give the impression of a halo above.

Remember, we move from right to left when reading in Hebrew.

Torah is spelled with the, tav (t), vav (v), reish (r), hei (h).  The vav is represents the sound of 2 vowels in Hebrew, the ‘o’ as in doe, and the ‘u’ as in blue. The vav in torah of course, takes the ‘o’ sound.  That little dot above the vav is our indication that the vav is pronounced with the ‘o’ sound as well.  That little dot is called a nikkud.

For those that are a bit more curious about the Hebrew letters, you may be asking yourself what that little dot is inside the letter tav.  That dot is called a dagesh and it tells us that the tav is to be pronounced with a hard ‘T’ sound.  Yes!  tav has 2 sounds, one hard and one soft.  The soft ‘T’ is similar to our ‘Th’ in English.  The little dash underneath the reish is also a nikkud, which represents the ‘a’ sound.

IMPORTANT: You don’t need to memorize any of the rules of grammar/diacritics, and I am being very generic in transmitting them because I feel it’s more important to reveal the concepts about the letters themselves, than it is right now, to speak in terms of rules of grammar.  You will hear me repeat this type of information so often, that you will absorb it by relationship rather than rigid teaching methods.  Let’s just have fun learning about the letters!

The slide below, has been adapted to retain the names of the letters, to make it easier for those who are new to Hebrew to follow along.

Let’s begin with the letter tav on the far right. As you can see, the tav originated in the form of a cross. The tav in Hebrew represents the covenant and the cross.

The cross you see there above the modern Hebrew letter for tav, also carries the meaning of, mark, sign, and seal. Torah begins with a ‘tav’, because torah is about keeping covenant with GOD. Even the word in Hebrew for truth, emet (which we must examine as well), begins with the aleph and ends with the tav.

There is your truth, my truth and GOD’s Truth. If the truth we tell, does not begin and end with GOD, and His Covenant, then that truth is incomplete, imperfect and flawed, like us. So, you see the truth as we define it in our dictionary and how GOD even spells it with His aleph-bet, are 2 completely different things.

I Am the Aleph and the Tav…

The tav is also the LAST Letter in the Hebrew aleph-bet. You will recall, the Aleph is the FIRST.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. –Rev 22:13

When Christ made this statement He was bearing witness/testifying that He was indeed, the messiah. This is one of the primary reasons a great majority of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes, so vehemently came against Him. He was claiming to be the one spoken of in the torah, in the Book of Isaiah.

The Book of Isaiah:

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he. –Isaiah 41:4

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. –Isaiah 44:6

Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. –Isaiah 48:12

Additional Testimony Recorded by John

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. –Rev 1:11

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last. –Rev 1:17

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; –Rev 2:8

Also Note: That the acts of the Kings as listed in the book of Chronicles, are listed from first to last.

A Greek/Western Mindset vs. Torah Mindset

From reading our KJV Bibles, naturally, we have learned this verse from the Greek perspective. Although I am aware that we have been taught for generations, that the New Testament was written only in Greek, I want you to bear with me a moment. I am also completely aware, that we were also taught for generations, that the Jews had lost their native language by the first century. This has been proven false as well, but I know the understanding is still out there, and that it is very difficult to shed false teachings.

With that in mind, let us just acknowledge and agree with documented history, which confirms that Jesus was a Jew. I have no doubt that He spoke both Aramaic and Hebrew. That being the case, it is not logical to assume that He abandoned His native language completely when He spoke. After all, He is born to Jewish parents, lived as a Jew, His ministry was to the Jews and He taught the torah from torah scrolls. He was not Roman or Greek, this we know as well.

I have studied and spoke many different languages over the years, but I still think in English. It is natural and instinctive to speak in your native language, even when you are in the presence of those who speak another language. It is particularly natural, to speak English when you are with the English, and Hebrew when you are with Hebrews.

Shifting from Alpha/Omega to aleph and tav

Jesus is speaking to His own people here, so it’s important for us to know, that He did not say that He was the, “Alpha and Omega”. Jesus was Jewish. What He said was, “I am the aleph and the tav, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

What we wrote down was the opposite, or rather a piece of the truth of what He said.

Our Alphabet runs from A to Z. The Hebrew Aleph-Bet runs from aleph to tav. Allow me to pause a moment and explain, why I have a tendency NOT TO capitalize when transliterating the Hebrew. There are no capital letters in Biblical/Modern Hebrew. All the letters are written in block format and there are no form of the letters that would be considered capital. In Modern Hebrew script, the same situation exist.

I like to think, that since the entire foundation of the Biblical Hebrew Language that was given to us by GOD, that every letter has equal footing and significance. Considering that character refinement, i.e., humility, is one of the foundational principles of GOD’s message, I don’t think that I am far off. Character is key and humility is the Essence of GOD.

Having said that, let’s add to the understanding that, the Hebrew language flows from aleph (ELOHIM) to tav (the CROSS). Every letter in between, reveals our prophetic journey that begins with GOD and ends at the Cross, by way of the Covenant. So, when Christ says, He is the aleph and the tav… He is identifying Himself (in the first century)as He is identified throughout the pages of the scriptures (Book of Isaiah), as the beginning and the end, the aleph and the tav.

To say, torah… the word must begin with a tav, as the covenant is the beginning and end of the torah. Torah is about Covenant. Torah is teaching us how to gain access to the Covenant. Torah must begin with the tav, because there is no access to GOD, His Thoughts, His Ways, His Wisdom, His Knowledge, His Son, without the Covenant.

Acceptance of the Covenant is our sign and seal that GOD is with us. “And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you…” –Gen 9:9

Suffice it to say, the even the word covenant in Hebrew (ber-eeth; 1285), begins with the letter beit (B) and ends with the tav (T). You can’t even say the word ‘covenant’ in Hebrew, the Language of GOD, without ending with the tav on the tip of your tongue!,

God Bless You,

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Copyright 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog

torah studies, Women

Because Mother’s Untangle The World…

There are 2 simple letters, mem(m) and hei (h) in Hebrew, that when put together, they spell the word MAH! (pronounced, maw).

Naturally, when studying any language, you will come across the word, “What?” I’ve studied many languages over the years, but I must say this word captured my attention because “What” in Hebrew is, Mah! I thought, “that is so sweet!”

As I learned more about the word “What” in Hebrew, this is what I found… Mah is the root of the word, mayim (mah-yeem) which in Hebrew means water/waters. You can imagine in ancient times, the seas were such a great mystery, even as they can be today. The waters represented the unknown, or unknown elements, and through time ‘mah’ became a way of asking, “Who?, What?, Where, When?, Why?, How?”

What I find so amazing about this little Hebrew word, is that it describes exactly what mom’s do. We answer, Who, What, When, Why, and How for all of our children as they grow up in the world. Mom’s are charged with the singular task of untangling the world for their children! Helping them understand why things are, the way they are… Answering the endless trains of, Why?’s, When?’s, Where?’s and What?’s

LORD, you really outdid yourself with that one! The entire time our sons and daughters were shouting through the house, “Mom!, Ma!, Maw!” There was always a,
“Who?, What?, Where?, When?, Why?, or How?”, right behind it!

We’ve All Been Speaking A Little Hebrew…

Imagine my surprise to discover that my son, and practically every child on earth has a remnant of GOD’s original language that has remained in all of us, this entire time!

Because I love language so much, I happened across a website that provides a brief list of the many different ways ‘mom’ is said in several different languages. I think you will find it interesting and fun! It’s called, ‘Mother’s Day in Different Languages’.

From their list you can see that the majority of names for ‘mom’ begin with the letter ‘M’. That can’t be a coincidence, right? There’s a certain sound attached to the call for one’s ‘mom’, that translates and transmits across cultures, languages and time.

What else do we know about the letter Mem in Hebrew?

The mem represents the seas, their power, the chaos and storms created by the oceans and the atmosphere. Just as the Word is a 2 edged sword, the ‘waters’ of mem have another side; the waters of torah, living waters, knowledge and wisdom. The open mem appears at the beginning or middle of a word, (any place but at the end of a Hebrew word). In the picture below, you can see a small opening at the bottom left hand side of the mem. This opening represents knowledge/wisdom that is revealed. Likewise, a closed mem indicates knowledge that is concealed.

Mah, begins with an open mem. In context with the word itself, ‘What’ is something that can be answered?… Mah answers with ‘Knowledge’ that can be revealed.

The mem has a gematria (numerical equivalency) of 40. Forty has a great deal of spiritual significance in scripture. Primarily, 40 represents time, transition and change. A few examples; Noah – 40 days and 40 nights, Moses – 40 days on Mt. Sinai, 40 days for embryo to form in the womb, 40 weeks to full pregnancy, 40 years in the wilderness to reach full understanding… “God has not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day” (Deut. 29:3-4), etc.; A few torah examples of transitioning from one level of reality/understanding to the next level.

The Hebrew Letter Hei – h

The letter hei means to behold! In ancient paleo Hebrew, the symbol for hei looks like a stick man with his hands held up in surrender!

In the hei, we find another example of torah. In the hei, this represents divine revelation, the breath of GOD (Ps 33:6), insight.

By the breath of GOD, His Holy Utterances, the world and all life was created, and by His breath we are sustained.

Mem and Hei, say What?

Considering that both letters, mem and hei convey the concepts of torah, and that once they are combined they express the meaning of, “What?” We see that only wisdom, knowledge and understanding can respond to the What, Where, When, Why and How’s of Life! …and the best and most complete answers, will contain the Word of GOD in them, i.e., torah will be in them.

That beautiful sound, Mah, Maw, Mama, is echoed across the globe. When our children call us on the phone, or yell “Maw” across the room, it’s not a country form of slang or merely a term of endearment. They are calling us by our motherly purpose…it’s what we do! We answer their questions and we untangle the world!

What other word combinations and meanings do you see in the combination of letters, mem – hei?

It need not be stated, but just in case….Dad’s as well field a multitude of questions from their children. It goes without saying. I just get a kick out of the fact that, the word “mah’ in Hebrew, sounds so much like a child calling it’s mother! I thought someone else out there might get a kick out of knowing this too!

Happy Mother’s Day! –Now Go Forth and Untangle the World! 🙂

I hope you hear a new thing, when you hear your name called, “Maw”

NOTE: The ‘T’ looking symbol that you see beneath the letter mem is called a ‘gamets’. It comes to us courtesy of the Masoretes, a 9th century group of scribes and scholars who invented a vowel system for the Hebrew Language. They took these steps out of concern, that over time, the ability to accurately pronounce the Hebrew words could potentially be lost. —Remember, the 22 Letters of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet are consonants, with no vowels.

More teachings related to this series:

Make a Window in the Ark

Copyright 2019 Rev. S. Madison torahisteaching.com

torah studies, Where There is No Man

THE Undiscovered ADAM and The Unexplained MAN, Part 2

“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” —Daniel 2:22

Shalom,

We are 45 minutes into this series and as promised, today I am going to bring you a few highlights regarding the Hebrew word ‘adam’.

Since the series began entitled, “Where There Is No Man, Be A Man” Parts 1-4, I have reiterated the quote many times…”In the place where there are no men, be a man.” Would you be surprised to know that this statement has it’s roots in scripture?

What else can we learn from this message? The objective is to discover not only, what character and nature of ‘man’ is required when a tough situation presents itself, but also, Who is this elect man among men? Plus our original question still remains on the table, “Why are there so many different Hebrew words for ‘man’?”

Below, we will discover that there is more information to be known about the Hebrew word, ‘adam’, and that the information is kept within the Hebrew letters themselves!

First, Adam…is a Human Being…

In Part 3 of “Where There Is No Man, Be A Man”, we saw ‘adam’ applied first in recognition of ‘man’ as a human being; a messenger of GOD and representative of mankind. In Gen 5:2, we saw the transition and evolution of ‘adam’ to his name.

‘adam’, is written with 3 Hebrew letters; aleph (A) – dalet (D) – closed mem (M).

Let’s begin by exploring one letter at a time.

The Aleph is Silent…

  • The Hebrew Aleph-Bet contains 22 letters; 5 of the 22 letters are written in what is known as a ‘Final Form’. The Final Form is a way of writing the letter differently, when it appears at the ‘end’ of a word.
  • All of the Hebrew Letters are Consonants (with few exceptions of letters that are now used as vowels since the time of the Masoretes).  
  • Aleph is silent in Hebrew.

You may recall from previous teachings, that the Hebrew letters convey; concepts, images, ideas, symbols and possess numerical values. As a result, there is a lot of valuable data packed into every single letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet, which translates to a great deal of data in each word. In short, the Hebrew Letters are treasure houses of information; a.k.a. the Hebrew letters are said to possess ‘inner meanings’; literally, spiritually, and numerically. Meanings that exist beyond words.

The Hebrew Letter Aleph – a

The Hebrew Letter Aleph, is the 1st letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet. The Gematria of the letter aleph, i.e., the numerical value of aleph is 1. One is unique and Indivisible. The Aleph is formed by the combination of 2 Hebrew letters, the vav (V) and 2 yods, (Y). Referring to the handout on the right, the vav is the vertical line which is slanted in the aleph, representing the partition between the upper firmament and the lower firmament. The yod’s are connected to the vav, positioned on either sides of the stem. One facing up (toward the Heavens), and the other facing down (toward earth). The Gematria of the vav is 6, and each yod has a numerical value of 10, for a total of 26.

Why Is The Number 26 Important?

The aleph is equivalent to the 4 Letter Name of GOD, Y-H-V-H, which also equals 26. (Y=10, H=2×5, V=6). A clear connection between GOD’s Name, Y-H-V-H and the Aleph is visible in their numerical equivalencies. Concepts and Connections in the Hebrew that would otherwise be invisible to us, can readily be seen in their numerical equivalencies. We will continue to keep an eye open to these connections as we continue to study from the Hebrew perspective.

In Paleo Hebrew, i.e., The Ancient Hebrew Script, The letter aleph was shaped in the form of an Ox head, representing strength, leadership, power. Aleph became the symbol representing God. Aleph symbolizes the Oneness of GOD, and His Sovereignty. Aleph represents Divinity, The Father, The Strong Leader of the House. Aleph is torah, the very thought of GOD. All of creation is a product of torah, Genesis 1. Which is why, even the letters are called, “the raw materials of creation.“

God spoke His Word into the atmosphere and the Word took physical form. Before GOD ever asked adam to look into the essence of every creature and call out their name, their true essence, GOD looked into the essence of His crowning achievement and called him adam, a human being.

It is only fitting that the human beings are given a name that begins with the the 1st letter of GOD’s Name, Elohim (spelled – aleph (A) – lamed (L) – hei (H) – closed mem (M). Mankind’s name begins, with its origins and reflection in GOD. The image and likeness of GOD is embedded in the very name He gave for mankind, and it begins with the aleph. Adam is God-Like in being and will be GOD’s representative and messenger on earth. God signed off on His Creation by adding His Name to our name.

Mankind, was created to be an aleph in the earth. Even our name carries our assignment.

The Hebrew Letter Dalet – d

The Dalet, connects us to the four stages of deliverance as outlined by GOD in The Book of Exodus 6:6-7. “I will Bring You Forth, Save You, Redeem You and Take You.” Amen.

The dalet (D) is the 4th letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet and carries a gematria of 4. Dalet is the door, and it’s name carries it’s designation. The doorpost reaches up and down and the lintel reaches right to left. The 4 directions of dalet extend north, south, east and west.

The root word of Dalet, (dal) alludes to the poor, with the gimel – the 3rd letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet pursuing the dalet in order to provide care, generosity and kindness.

Consider Abraham, whose name by the way, also begins with the aleph – the 1st letter of GOD’s Name. Abraham was called the Chariot of GOD, who brought GOD’s character and Nature down to Earth. Abraham pursued the poor. His tent doors were always open to provide hospitality, supplies, comfort and care. His deeds of righteousness were always carried out expeditiously and his kindness to others is legendary. Abraham exemplifies chessed to the poor… the kindness of GOD.

The dalet is the symbol of the door, the path, the way. Once we, as those reared up on New Testament teachings, hear these words, we definitely connect the dots and immediately recognize the parallels to Christ, Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life. The dalet symbolizes movement, the pathway, access in and out, because it is the door.

In the Ancient Paleo Hebrew symbol of the dalet, you can also see the representation of the curtain hanging from the rods in the tabernacle. The veil stands between the Holy place and the Holy of Holies. The dalet is the door (Christ, that stands between us and The Father). To accept the FAther, you must accept the Son. Once again, Every New Testament Bible Student/disciple beholds the image of the dalet and hears the scripture saying, “No one cometh unto the Father, but by me”. John 14:6

IN THE REPRESENTATION OF THE ALEPH (A) AND THE DALET (D) WE CAN ALREADY BEGIN TO SEE THE IMAGE OF CHRIST AS THE DOOR, STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF GOD, THE FATHER. DALET BEING THE DOOR, OUR PATHWAY TO GOD.

The Hebrew Letter Mem – m

The letter mem, (M) is the 13th letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet and has the same sound as our English letter, M.

In it’s ancient form, the letter mem was written in much the same way we would write it today, to represent waves of water. In fact, it carries the meaning of water (mayim), waves, liquid, or sea.

Notions of the sea carry with it the ideas of power, chaos and massiveness. These are concepts that are connected to the letter mem as well. The numerical equivalency of the Hebrew letter mem is 40. Traditionally, the letter mem represents water, nations, people, languages, and tongues. The letter mem has 2 forms, the open form and the closed form. The open form is said to represent the revealed truth and the closed mem represents what is concealed by GOD. In that context, the mem also symbolizes knowledge and wisdom.

Notice then, that ‘adam’ ends with a closed mem. —some truths remain concealed.

GOD, CHRIST AND THE NATIONS…

  • Adam

And the Door, standing squarely between GOD and the nations, a.k.a., GOD and the People.

You can also read the letters from aleph to mem as, The Father, who gave us His Son, the Door/Pathway from which all the nations have access to Him. The mem, the nations…none of which shall come to the Father, but by Christ, the Door! Whether we view it backwards or forwards, Christ is the Key to the Door!

DAM means BLOOD

Embedded in the word ‘adam’, is the word ‘dam’, which in English means blood. “The life is in the blood”, Lev 17:11.

GOD is attached, connected to the Blood. You can’t even spell the word for blood in Hebrew, without the concept of Christ as the door and the nations, as the people. You also see the message of the blood being applied to the doorpost to protect the people. Of course, our spilled blood cries out to GOD. GOD is attached to us, through the Blood.

Dam means life.

GOD (A) is Life… and the Life is in the Blood (D-M).

What Happens When You Remove the dalet?

  • Aleph – Mem (eem or eem-ma) spells Mother

If we remove the dalet from the middle of the word ‘adam’, we have a new word, ‘aleph-mem, which spells, ‘mother’ (517), pronounced ‘eem’ or ‘eemah’.

One more important thing that we don’t want to miss is that, in order to spell the word ‘mother’ in Hebrew, you have to include the 1st letter in GOD’s Name, aleph.

Aleph vs. Ayin

Ayin – Mem (ah’m) spells People

There are 2 Letter ‘A’s in Hebrew, the aleph which is a symbol of GOD and the ayin, which symbolizes the eye, sight, or insight. Ayin – mem forms another Hebrew word, ‘people’ (5971), which is also translated as flock, nation, men or folk; with 1868 occurrences in scripture.

People and Mankind are two different words (concepts) in Hebrew. In English, we use them interchangeably. In Hebrew they are completely separate words with distinct applications. Making distinctions of this sort is not one of the strengths of the Concordances, as terms and interpretations are lumped together.

To say people in Hebrew, you remove the dalet from ‘adam’ and the aleph becomes ayin. This indicates a different connection. One that lacks GOD and the Doorway.

When we follow the pattern in GOD’s language and you remove the dalet from adam, you either spell the word ‘am’, (eem) which means ‘mother’ or you create another word, ‘am’ (ah’m) which means people.

Mankind becomes People, with the removal of the dalet from the word adam.

When GOD is removed from the equation of Mankind, Hebrew doesn’t retain the Aleph, the symbol of GOD.

People have to choose GOD, they have to choose sight, or no sight. Insight or blind-sight. Mankind without the Door, without the Aleph (GOD)… we become, a people without GOD.

No wonder GOD’s word says, “My people perish for lack of knowledge”. When we sever the connection at the Door, there is no access to GOD, No Access to Knowledge, Wisdom or Understanding. No Torah, No Access.

The People Are One…

The Hebrew letters form the words of GOD’s message and they have much to teach us beyond the literal reading of the text. The Hebrew Aleph-Bet is able to transmit spiritual values, priorities, as well as another vision and level of the plan of GOD.

When we go back to the beginning and look at Genesis 11:6, When the People became One, without GOD...now we have a little more insight as to perhaps why this was such a dangerous thing.

GOD created us to be mankind. Mankind, are human beings who carry the image and likeness of GOD. Creating mankind, was the crowning achievement in the LORD’s creation masterpiece. If we lower ourselves to the level of a people without GOD, then we miss the mark and become a people who perish for lack of knowledge.

ADAM, embodies the Strength of GOD, The Power of GOD the Father, He is the First, The Beginning of Mankind. Adam carries the Name of GOD, The Image and likeness of GOD, The Word of GOD. ADAM’s name is a prophecy of the Messiah, Christ the Door, without whom, there is no access to GOD. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Through ADAM, the nations have access to the Door. All People, All Tribes, All Nations. Living Waters reside at the Door. If we drink of the Living Waters that He provides, we, the nations, shall never thirst again!

In the name ADAM, we see the legacy of mankind, The connection of GOD, The Aleph, David and Messiach. So much revelation and beauty in every word of Torah.

Every jot and tittle of the Word, carries the messages of GOD.

The messages of Heaven are conveyed down to the letters. Every word formed from the Letters of Fire, carries the teachings of GOD and is in line with the Word of GOD.

As you gain greater exposure to the messages conveyed in the letters, this knowledge will be at the forefront of your thoughts, even as you pray.

I pray that Your Words become infused with the evidence of things unseen and the substance of things hoped for, the products of another level of wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

My Pastor has always called the Hebrew Aleph-Bet, the Letters of Fire. I’m glad to know and share why.

Catch the Fire!

If you are following along in this series, please review the above material extensively and be prepared for the next teaching in this series. I will be building upon the information already presented in the series.

One of the most important concepts our torah’s studies provide to us is the realization that our words provide us access into the realms and dimensions that would be closed to us in the natural. Words have a very strong impact on all of our interactions. Therefore, we must measure our words carefully for the impact they have on others.

Our words allow us to draw forth something supernatural, from the natural world. Let’s repeat that: What we need most of all, is for our words to draw forth something supernatural, from the natural world/realm.

  • Quick Links to Teachings in this Series: The Undiscovered Adam….
  • Part 1 – 8 minutes The Undiscovered Adam and the Unexplained Man
  • ++Vocabulary: Our elevated understanding of Gods terminology.
  • Adam ~ human being, the crowning achievement of God; mankind, man.
  • Zakar ~ male, man, belonging to and in covenant with the GOD of Heaven.
  • ish ~ (Make note of the patterns you see in how GOD uses this word in scripture).
  • nephesh ~ (Make note of the patters you see in how GOD uses this word in scripture)
  • gul-go-leth ~ every man counted in the omer of manna, or for the 1/2 shekel of the sanctuary. The counting of heads for the poll.
  • ba’al ~ rulers, elders, lords who shall not defile themselves with the dead, other than immediate family.

Note to Students: Over the years my re-quoting of this saying has shortened to, “Where there is no man, be a man.” I apologize for any incoveneience this may have caused any of you. The actual full quote is as stated above in each teaching connected with this series. “In a place where there are no men, be a man.”

Thank You for your forgiveness for my adpatation of the saying.

God Bless You,

  • COPYRIGHT 2019, Rev. S. Madison, torahisteaching.blog
  • Republished September 2020, for The Month Elul