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WHAT IF YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER’S KEEPER? —READING THE BOOK OF JONAH ON Yom Kippur

SEPTEMBER 27TH – DAY OF ATONEMENT – on the 10th Day of the Year 5781

Reorient Yourself, Return, Recover, and Reposition Yourself for A New Beginning…

The Book of Jonah is one of my most favorite Books of the Bible. Probably because it’s so misunderstood.

In a few Christian circles, the Book of Jonah is often thought about as a biblical fairytale, a bible story of sorts. Jonah in the belly of the whale, building a fire and camping out until he decided to take up the mission he was asked to perform and GOD released him.

But there is much more to this teaching…

On Yom Kippur, the Book of Jonah is read in order to help us reorient ourselves back toward GOD. It is a splendid tool to help us reassess and reevaluate where we are spiritually. Are we on board with the things of GOD or just giving lip service?

Are we willing to follow the plan of GOD, or just do the pieces and parts of the job that suits our sensibilities? Just how much dying to self are we prepared to do?

The world may show little love toward us and our loved ones, the world is harsh and can be so very difficult and destructive… but are we still willing to love the world despite all of the wrongs that have been done to us?

Spiritually, what happens when we blame GOD for the ills of the world? Is there any damage? What happens spiritually, to us and/or the world, when we disobey GOD?

Jonah’s one act of obedience was able to save a nation. How much more, could our one act of disobedience, deny salvation to the nations?

What if you are your brother’s keeper?

Tomorrow, please read these 4 chapters in the Book of Jonah and mediate on the WORD. Examine the Book again in light of these questions above & below and discover a brand new depth of knowledge about yourself and the Book of Jonah.

  • How was Jonah introduced to us in scripture?
    • How did Jonah introduce himself to the men aboard ship with him?
  • How do you think GOD would introduce you to the world?
    • How would you introduce yourself?
    • Have you ever introduced yourself by your spiritual identity to anyone?
    • Have you ever considered it?
  • What was the turning point for Jonah? What made him decide to come up out from the belly of the whale?
  • What makes you decide to come back from a crisis?
  • Have you ever made camp in a bad situation? A situation of your own design or created by your own decision?
  • What fueled Jonah’s transition from the whale, and back into the world?
    • How did Jonah make it back?
    • Was Jonah ever in the belly of a whale?
  • Is there any point in time in the message that you detect that Jonah’s soul is in Jeopardy?
    • Remember Rule #1: Always keep your eyes on what is happening to the soul.
  • Is it alright for GOD to forgive those that you have not forgiven?
    • or to forgive those who you refuse to forgive?
    • Should GOD only forgive those that you feel are worthy of forgiveness?
  • If you were a prophet of GOD like Jonah, and GOD asked you to go to your worse enemy (the person or persons that have done you the greatest damage) in order to give them a Prophetic Word from Him, how long would do you think it would take you to comply?
    • I would do it immediately, without question; It would take me a few days… ; It would take me a while… ; or I don’t see myself doing it at all…
  • Who are you most reluctant to forgive?
    • Think personally, communally, globally
  • Have you forgiven those that have done you the most harm? Are you willing to?
  • Do you believe that unforgiveness damages the soul?
    • What damage can unforgiveness do to a soul?
    • What has unforgiveness done to your soul?
    • What damage did you see happening to Jonah?
  • How would it affect you if your mortal enemy heard the Word of GOD and responded with greater faith than your own people? or even you?
  • How would it affect you if your mortal enemy heard you preaching the Word of GOD and knew GOD was speaking, inspite of your resentment toward them?
  • What reason could there possibly be for GOD to extend blessings and opportunity for life,
    • to those that oppress you?
    • to those that have hurt you? or to those that have power over you?
  • Should you plead the cause of the unrighteous?
  • In the end of the Book, Jonah found himself in a place where he refused to forgive. The Assyrians had committed such atrocities to his people, he could not muster an ounce of love for this neighbor.
    • Do you only love the loveable?
    • Are you capable of having compassion on the unloveable?
    • How best can you demonstrate love for the unlovely?
  • We say/teach that GOD is love and that our faith is built on love… GOD says if we love Him, we must walk in love with others…
    • What must die/live in us for us to walk in love with those that hate us without a cause?
    • Is it possible to have enough compassion for those that hate us or mistreat us, that we can still minister to them the Word of GOD, in such a way that they will only see Him? Hear Him? Respond to His Word?
  • Does the prophet of GOD need salvation?
    • Or just the enemies of GOD?
  • Does the prophet of GOD need one time salvation?
    • or ongoing salvation?
  • Jonah realized that he was just unwilling to forgive the Assyrians?
    • What damage did he do to his own soul?
  • What do you think caused the Assyrians to hear the prophet of GOD, and believe the Word he spoke and turn toward GOD?
    • What will it take for your enemies on earth to look past you and actually hear the Word of GOD?
  • In the beginning of the book, Jonah sat down in the belly of a “prophetic” whale… in the end of the book, Jonah sat down under a gourd.
    • Jonah is delivered from the whale, but not the gourd. Why? What’s the distinction between the two?
    • In the end, did Jonah lose his salvation?
    • Was Jonah so resentful and so angry with GOD for having brought the Word of deliverance and redemption to his enemy that he could not move forward anymore?
  • Is GOD allowed to forgive your enemies?
  • Is it possible that Jonah could only follow GOD so far, and no further?
    • Was Jonah only willing to follow GOD as long as he agreed with His Choices?
    • or as long as he (Jonah) was serving those that he wanted to serve?
  • What damage will unforgiveness, anger, resentment, disappointment, etc do to your soul?
  • Why do you think Jonah would not repent of his spiritual condition and move forward?
  • What has the power to stop you from releasing your burdens to GOD and asking for forgiveness?
  • Who is entitled to the Word of GOD and His forgiveness?
    • …only those that you approve of?
    • or can GOD offer forgiveness to whomever He sees fit, without your pre-approval?
    • Do all the nations belong to GOD, or just the ones we like?
  • What is the one thing that can restore your soul back to its perfect spiritual condition??

These are just some of the questions the arise from the Book of Jonah. GOD provided answers to them all, in 4 brief, yet all inclusive chapters.

I urge everyone who reads this post, to take the time tomorrow and re-read the book of Jonah for the answers that are on the page and inside of you. After all, you are a living epistle of GOD.

What shall the Spirit of GOD write about you next year?

What shall you write of GOD & Man next year?

Don’t Allow This Year to be Sealed in Unforgiveness… The Choice is Yours Alone!

Related Posts:

Elul

ELUL, Deliver Us From Evil

…Preserve us from the violent man

September 5th: REVISITING PSALMS 140

ELUL, OUR 29 DAY BANQUET OF PRAYER… TO HONOR THE KING OF GLORY! ELUL, The Month of The Search… Praying The Lord’s Prayer IN HEBREW & ENGLISH

There’s annotation in the Book of Psalms – (Interlinear Translation, The Schottenstein Edition by Mesorah) that is prefaced before Psalm 140 that reads, “A person who feels powerless to combat the evil and deceit that threaten to engulf them must place his trust in GOD.”

It leads with a message that tell us, “The venom of a spider is under it’s lips, Selah. They spin webs with their deceitful tongue. Which paints quite the picture of the venomous foes we deal with on occasion. That person who puts on a pretense of working with you or getting along, only to strike in silence when unseen.

At the same time, our own tongues can be so unruly, so lethal… poison can also reside under our very own lips.

On the other hand, the snakes tongue passes through a notch on their lip. This allows for the tongue to pass out of their mouth without ever having to open their mouths. Mirroring another enemy that comes against us. One whose mouth we may never see open against us, but whose tongue is quick to strike and leaves a deadly trail of lies, innuendo, accusations, that undermine and destroy reputations.

Living so out of touch with nature, can place us at a great disadvantage. We could learn so much by watching the behaviors of various creatures, they could actually improve our wisdom and knowledge of mankind. At the very least, we can see parallels.

David captures these parallels in many of his songs, such as this one, which I believe are for the purpose of heightening our observations skills in order to increase our discernment. Nature is a useful tool for this purpose.

Let’s Pray.

PSALM 140

Deliver us, O Lord (YHVH), from the evil man: preserve us from the violent man;

2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

4 Keep us, O Lord (YHVH), from the hands of the wicked; preserve us from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow our goings.

5 The proud have hid a snare for us, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for us. Selah.

6 We said unto the Lord (YHVH), Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord (YHVH).

7 O God the Lord (YHVH), the strength of our salvation, thou hast covered our head in the day of battle.

8 Grant not, O Lord (YHVH), the desires of the wicked: further not their wicked devices; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

9 As for the head of those that compass round about us, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

Cause the heads of those who rise up against me, that spread deadly poison against my career, my reputation, my family, my name, my friends, etc. let them be buried by their own poison of their own wicked devices.

10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

12 We know that the Lord (YHVH) will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Those that live to serve wicked purposes, those that lie, deceive, evade truth have no cause to give thanks to You. Those that serve you with one side of their mouth and abuse Your People with the other side, are only deceiving themselves and those that follow them.

We ask you to release their prisoners LORD. Those that have been poisoned with lies, those that have been blinded by the pretense of loyalty, kindness, integrity, honor. Reveal the mischief in their hearts, for every noose they have hung for Your People, let them fall by the trap they have set for us (Book of Esther).

Save us from the violent and treacherous kind, that lay in wait. We give praise to You LORD, for You maintain the cause of the afflicted, and uphold the right hand of the poor. The righteous give thanks unto Your Name, and shall dwell in Your Presence Forever!

AMEN


	

	
	




	
	

				

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STRENGTHEN THE WEAK HANDS….Summary -Part 4

		

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Continued from Part 3





KEY POINTS SUMMARY —Recap of Exodus 17 Included





17 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.





2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?





3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?





4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.





5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.





6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.





7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?





8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.





9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.





10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.





11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.





12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.





13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.





14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.





15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:





16 For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.





Summary…





Key Points to Remember:





  • Names and Places: 
    • provide insight into the spiritual condition of the person, or places.
      • Take the time to look them up.  Contrast and Compare the information to the teaching you are studying/investigating.
      • amalek = 
      • Rephidim =










Exodus 1: 8 tells us that the children of Israel were made slaves because Pharaoh became afraid that they had become a threat to Egypt by reason of their numbers.





  • The disobedience of the children of Israel to the commandments of GOD, is what caused their descent into degradation. 
    • The Consequence: 430 years of slavery
  • The original plan was that they settle in the “best land. the land of Goshen.”   By “drifting” over into the ways and customs of the Egyptians, they opened the door to attack, i.e. slavery.
  • Tribe of Levi did not go into slavery in Egypt… they remained “dwelling in their tents” and enjoyed the protection of the anointing of GOD.





Sometimes, the best revelations you will find in scripture are right there hidden right under the, one layer down. right below the English word KJV chose to use an interpretation for the Hebrew.





prevailed vs. became mighty,  became stronger, 





were heavy vs. filled with Glory,  had become filled with





Send Judah First…





Also, remember when the children of Israel left Egypt, they were 600K on foot, plus the numbers of the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:37).  Nearly 1 million souls estimated.





“But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed (left like an army ready for battle) out of the land of Egypt.”  Exodus 13:18





Exodus 12:51 reminds us that, “the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.”





The Book of Numbers, Chapter 10, provides information on the formation of the Tribes (in their ranks and orders) as they left Mt. Sinai, confirming Judah was assigned the lead position.





13 “And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.  14  In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.” 





Dan was the Rear Guard…





25  “And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.”





You will recall, it was the tribe of Judah that guarded the cattle and all of the treasures and goods of Pharaoh.





Although the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, Judah were still warriors.





Attacking from behind meant you did’nt have to fight Judah. (One tactical advantage).





Actually, even the Egyptians forces strategy was to attack from behind and drive them into the sea.  GOD flipped the script, of course.





Remember, their ranks and orders from which they marched out of Egypt. 





The Tribe of Dan was their rear guard. Judah was in the forefront.





By this time, EVERYONE had heard of what the GOD of Israel had done to the Egyptians, Everyone!





The GOD of Israel was internationally known.





The Spiritual Audacity of Amalek…





Of all the possible nations that could have come out against them to prove their might, prove they were better than the Egyptians, prove they were better than Israel, prove they did not fear the GOD of Israel…





It was family!  Amalek, grandson of Esau, great Nephew of Jacob that came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 





8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.





Amalek came against the children of Israel when no other nation would dare.





We tend to read the scripture as if no other nations were around.  Egypt was a resource for every nation around them, keeping many people alive through the famine. There’s a high probability that the nation of Amalek was even fed in the famine by the wisdom of Joseph.





Pull out your Bible Maps again.  Notice that Amalek is occupying the territory that will belong to the Children of Israel, once they remember who they are in GOD!





Amalek has been living it up while the children of Israel were in captivity!  They are occupying land GOD never gave them.  GOD made it clear that Esau was to serve Jacob, not the other way around.





If the children of Israel make it to Sinai and receive their prophetic Word and the blessings of GOD, their next move is to come for the land GOD gave them.  





The children of Israel remembered their names (Exodus 1:1).  This was practically the only virtue they had left when in captivity.  





What they had forgotten was, their spiritual identity, their prophecy, their ability to decree and declare a thing… they forgot how to call out in prayer, they forgot about the power of agreement, they forgot about their strength in unity… 





They forgot how to operate in the power of GOD!





Your Prophecy is The Enemy’s Biggest Threat!





This is the enemy’s dilemma.   “If you remember who you are, you will know that I am illegally possessing your land.  If you ever get your mind back, and remember who you are in GOD, I will have to vacate your territory!”





Amalek is like that kindred spirit, that familiar spirit, that knows exactly who you are, while you may be oblivious to who they truly are!  You don’t see their jealousy, their envy, their flat out audacity to provoke GOD, while they try and keep you from everything that GOD has for you.





Scripture is calling the place, Rephidim… to clue us in to the fact that this fight with Amalek is due to a lazy spiritual condition…lack of prayer which causes a weakening of the hands.





Your hands are not just a symbol of strength in prayer…





Your Hands Contain Your Strength in Prayer.





Lack of prayer leads to bickering, bitterness, argumentation, anger, contention, strife…          the works!





lack of prayer – Weakens the Hands…  How do I know? 





9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.





10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.










11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.





  • held up = room (H7311) to exalt, to be high, rise up 
  • let down = noo-akh (H5117) to rest, allow to settle
  • prevailed = gaw-bar (H1396) to be strong or mighty, to be magnified, strengthened, to be made firm…





Raising our hands up..only looks like a surrender in the natural.  In the spirit, we are pulling down strength… we are reaching up and pulling down the glory of GOD.





When we raise our hands, we are exalting GOD, in the midst of being raised and lifted up!





When we lower our hands, and keep them down at our side, we are allowing our enemies the opportunity to rest, gather their strength–against us!  allowing them to settle in our land and in our territory.  





In the words of Rev. Rita, “That’s not good!”










12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.





  • heavy =  כָּבֵד kaw-vade (H3515) 
    • from the root word כָּבַד kaw-vad (H3513) to become fierce, filled with glory, glorified, filled with honor, weighty (with glory), rich, respected,  
      • glorious = כָּבוֹד  kaw-vode (H3519) glory, honour (-able), weight, honored, abundance,   
        • its root is also (H3513)





Moses hands became filled with the Glory.  Moses hands became Fierce!  Moses hands became filled with the weight of the Glory!  





Moses hands became filled with glory, honor, respect, filled with the abundance of GOD!





Are you seeing what happened with Moses’ Hands?





All we need to know at this point is….





Do you want Your Hands filled with the Weight of the Glory!





12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.





  • steady = emunah (H530) em-moo-naw  firm, steadfast
    •  from the Hebrew root word אָמַן aman (H539) trust, faith,  firm, support, belief
      • ref: (H540) אֲמַן trust 
      • ref: (H541) אָמַן  trust, see Isaiah 30:21 (appears only 1x in scripture)  “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand (aw-man), and when ye turn to the left.” 





“Moses Hands Became Filled with Faith & Trust…”





Moses hands became firm, steadfast, filled with faith and trust in GOD





12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.





AMEN.





13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.





  • discomfited = khaw-lash (H2522) to become weak, to prostrate oneself, to be overwhelmed 
    • appears only 3x in scripture, Isaiah 14:12, Job 14:10
      • ref: use in Job 14:10  = to waste away





Did  You See What Just happened?  





Amalek became weak and overwhelmed through the power of Moses’ prayer!





and let’s make note of the significance of the agreement of Hur and Caleb… as well.





14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.





–Write this in Your Book!





14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.





Rehearse this in Your Ears!





How do you think Lucifer weakens the nations?





“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”  Isaiah 14:12





This happens whenever we listen to the voice that tells us not to pray!





15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:





16 For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.










All of their moaning, and complaining brought them into a place of dryness and desolation.  A place where they will never find the anointing. 





And Then Came Amalek…










Posts Included in This Series on Prayer:









Strengthening the Weak Hands is a Priority:  Isaiah 35:3-5, Job 4:3-4, Zeph 3:16, Heb 12:12





Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com  KJV





 Photos by: 





  • Olivia Snow, Praying Hands Folded on Lap
    All of the above photo’s compliments of UNSPLASH.COM





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





Disclosure: I am of the belief that any and all teachings on scripture, especially those on prayer should receive prayer before passing them along to others. For this reason, I encourage everyone who reviews these teachings to saturate each one in prayer before sharing, distributing or reproducing them in any fashion. 





Anything that we hope to learn and accomplish through the Word of GOD must be born out of a spirit of prayer.  





Prayer is the root of all our spiritual training.  Study without prayer is futile.  GOD ask that we meditate on His Word day and night, because without a dedicated personal prayer life, we can do very little for GOD and Man.





May GOD always send you a confirming word so that you will know that these words are true.





GOD Bless You Always, 










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.




	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			Elul
		

			
ELUL, THE 12TH DAY OF PRAYER

		

			 		

	


		

		

Give Me Understanding and I Shall Live!





August 31th: TODAY WE ARE READING & PRAYING PSALMS 119-125





References:














Psalm 119 is one of the Psalms in scripture that is written in an acrostic form.  There are 176 verses divided into 22 stanzas, one for each of the 22 characters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza contains 8 verses and begins with with a letter of the Hebrew aleph bet in sequence.  Verse 1-8 begins with the letter Aleph, verse 9-16 begins with the letter Beit, etc.





Since we are about to enter into the Biblical New Year of 5781, with the ’80’s being the decade that we are in, let’s concentrate our prayers today on verses 129-144.





Peh is the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and has a numerical equivalency of 80.        The peh represents the mouth, speech, expression, to speak, proclaim, to open, an open word, i.e., prophecy.





Psalm 119 is presented below with each word that begin with the letter peh identified.          For those that are not familiar with the way in which this Psalm is written (in acrostic form) I thought it might be helpful to see why these 8 verses are so closely connected /associated with the letter peh.





Before we pray, read through the entire Psalm and see how the letter peh is emphasizes words that express speech.  In verse 1 we find that the very first word that begins with the letter peh is ‘wonder’ peh-lah; peh’la’oht is the plural form of peh-lah; our translation being, ‘wonderful’.  





It just so happens that if you look at the ending of peh’la’oht and allow it to stand on its own, you have the word, ‘light’.  Is, instead of just seeing the plural form, ‘peh’la’oht, you can see two words, peh’lah and owt; speech and light!





Doesn’t it stand to reason that ‘wonders’ would be formed from a combination of speech and light?  Can you imagine the impact, if your speech brought forth light?





GOD’s Word does exactly that!





Your testimonies, LORD are wonderful, they are Your speech and light to us!                              My soul is drawn toYour Word, by virtue of Your Light.  My soul shall keep them near, as precious treasures.  The entrance of Your WORD into my life, brought light! You gave me understanding as a gift.  You are the GOD that gives understanding to the humble, the innocent.. everyone who comes before You without guile in their heart.





Guide my footsteps LORD, that I may walk in your words.  Please LORD< do not allow my feet to go where wherever I want to go.  Take me to your house of study, take me to Your Torah!  





Frustration, provocation, anger, malicious behaviors, all do their utmost to take me off the path to Your Presence.  They pursue me steadily, to harass, cause mischief, distract– anything to pull me out of Your Presence, to get me in the flesh, to cause any type of situation that draws me away from the House of GOD, Your House of study, The place where I can hear from you.





But I yearn to be in the Beit Midrash (House of Study) with You.  Like David, my footsteps would go toward the torah.  No, I should run to the Tent to study and learn and restore my spirit.  You Word restores my soul, and prevents me from walking with my evil inclinations.





Evil can not follow into Your House.  Sin must lie at the door waiting, counting the minutes to I leave my place of peace, recovery and restoration.  





But I will run to the House of the LORD, where evil can not enter.  I shall be refueled and refreshed while sin will languish and perish outside the door.  All my thoughts are purified by Your Word. Nothing that is not of You can hold sway over me.  





Everything of this world that seeks to frustrate the plans You have for me LORD, draw them away from my path.  Allow me to revive myself again, in Your Word, make Your House of Study my habitation. 





Help me to walk with a sense of awareness of Your Presence and Your Word, greater than last year.  Like David I long for your instructions, your teachings, Your directions, Your Commands.





Turn Your Face toward me each day and be merciful to me, as You do for all that love Your Holy Name!  Order my steps, that iniquity will have no dominion over me, my family, my household, my friends, and all those that belong to me.





Deliver me from evil LORD and all those that practice it’s ways.  Speak LORD and darkness must fall away, light is revealed and revelation is open to us.  





Every WORD of torah is Your Name, every Word of scripture is a way to call to You on High! I Thank You LORD, that every WORD in Your Book, is a Name for Hashem, every verse of scripture paves the pathway to Your Throne Room.





Your WORD pulsates with Light and Life, and Truth.





Here I am LORD, in the House of Prayer and Study again!





AMEN










Psalm 119










129 Thy testimonies are wonderful (peh‘la’oht): therefore doth my soul keep them.





130 The entrance (peh‘tah) of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple (peh‘ta’yeem).





131 I opened (pah‘ar’tee) my mouth (peh), and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.





132 Look (p‘nay) thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.





133 Order my steps (peh‘a’my) in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.





134 Deliver (puh‘de-mee) me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts (pikkood).





135 Make thy face (puh-nay’kha) to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.





136 Rivers (pal’gay) of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law (torah).





137 Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.





138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.





139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.





140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.





141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts (pikkood).





142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law (torah) is the truth (eh’meth).





143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.





144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.





 





Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth (peh) : for thy love is better than wine.                          Song of Solomon 1:2






	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			BANQUET OF PRAYER, Elul, The Journey Back
		

			
SPIRITUAL BASICS: Increasing the Anointing in Your Life…

		

			 		

	


		

		

There are a number of ways to maximize the anointing in your life.  Simple and straightforward to explain, yet difficult to accomplish without a strong commitment to self-discipline.





For anyone that wants to increase the anointing over their life, they will have to equally increase their determination to die to self.  





And therein lies the rub…





For those who have been in my classes, you will have heard me speak often of my bootcamp training days in the anointing (which really never stops).  The biggest challenge for me was “not kicking against the pricks.”  Of course, dying to self is the critical first step we all must accept, in order to place ourselves in a position to walk in the anointing.  





The Yoke Shall Be Destroyed Because of The Anointing…    Isaiah 10:27





I would think that most of our Pastors have labored to teach us the meaning of Isaiah’s message—learning to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  





I’m fortunate enough to have had a grandfather who owned a farm, and I can remember him caring for the animals.  Leading his ox by the plow took minimal strength from my grandfather, because his ox was so adapted to the work, he practically led himself.





Obedience is a fundamental standard for qualification.





It was only when I relinquished the reigns, that the anointing was able to flow in my life.    In fact, this particular spiritual character flaw is the gage I use to assess whether or not I am resisting the WORD.  Being willful and resisting instruction will cause us to miss out completely on what GOD is doing.  





When I see my flesh getting in the way, I just stop and obey… I simply do, whatever it is I’m trying to resist doing.  When I’m paying close attention, I can catch myself and stop myself from engaging in small infractions… which in turn, prevent disobedience from escalating.  





Walking in the anointing means not resisting the small directional adjustments the LORD wants to make in our walk. 





Quickly Repent and Keep Moving Forward…





We each know when we are being willful, headstrong, defiant, difficult, etc.  Just stop.            Ask GOD for a better way.  We each know enough of GOD’s Word, in order to be able to respond in a more excellent way, or at the very least, recognize the type of behavior that displeases GOD and stop.  





Whenever we do what is personally difficult, but spiritually better for us and another person, that’s a small adjustment worthy of our time to make, in which we can then give honor GOD.  In taking this simple small step in dying to self, you will protect the anointing on your life and on the lives of others.   





Our Primary Objective, is Not to Grieve the Spirit of GOD.  





Our relationship with GOD becomes the principle thing.  What are we willing to do to please GOD and to preserve the flow of the anointing in our lives?  





GOD calls those who serve Him,  His personal possession (Ex 30:31 KJV).  





Have you set yourself aside for His personal use?   This would mean that we use all of our GOD given talents and abilities for Kingdom purposes.  





How can you serve the Kingdom of Heaven and lift the level of holiness?





Both our strengths and our weaknesses can be used for Heavens purpose.  Our strengths can be used to advance the Kingdom of Heaven, our weaknesses will help us to rely on the Spirit of GOD. 





Just a few more small measures we can take, to draw closer to GOD.  

	

	
	




	
	

				

			BANQUET OF PRAYER, Elul, Spiritual Maturity, The Journey Back
		

			
ELUL, ON THE 7TH DAY OF PRAYER

		

			 		

	


		

		

MOVING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH…





Ref: ELUL, The Month of The Search… Praying The Lord’s Prayer IN HEBREW & ENGLISH





Ref: ELUL, OUR 29 DAY BANQUET OF PRAYER…  TO HONOR THE KING OF GLORY!





It was 40 days journey from the brook Cherith to Mt. Horeb, when Elijah traveled there and lodged in a cave, when the word of the LORD came to him there… (1 Kings 17)





This prophetic prayer journey during Elul, will require 30 days to Rosh Hashanah- The Biblical New Year!





Our journey in prayer can be just as arduous in the spirit, as it was in the natural for Elijah, to arrive before GOD, in a place where we are believing to hear GOD’s Voice, clearer and sharper and better than ever before!





Today, we are reading and proclaiming Psalms 84-90 – August 26, 2020





Today, Dear LORD we stand before you longing to be in Your Tabernacles… to be once more in the Divine Courts of Our LORD.





Blessed are your beloved children – whose strength is in thee, and in their hearts are written Your Ways.  





All that weep and long for you have been given to me in prayer, their tears you have collected in a well, in Baca, the valley of tears.  Tears that were created in all their dry places, You will exchange these tears for rain.





We journey toward You in Elul, the Month of the search, until we reach you in the heights of Heaven by your Holy New Year.  Each prayer draws us closer, higher heights, where we shall spend days rejoicing in Your Courts.  Days that will be better to us than a thousand years!, for we are the Doorkeepers in the House of Our GOD.










Through his prayers, David taught us that You are our Sun and our Shield.  He told us that, “There is no good thing will you withhold from those that walk uprightly.”  Each day, may our prayers teach us, correct us, lead us and uphold us in our walk.  





We have purposed in our hearts and declared with our mouth, that we will not dwell in the tents of wickedness… We are turned, and headed for the tents of torah.





We cry out for the Living GOD.





Blessed are those that cry out for you!  Lavish our prayers for your people, all those that you have entrusted to us in prayer, favor them with blessings, abundance, protection and wisdom in their land.





Restore us, from every dry place where we are captive, open our eyes to the places where we have made camp in our captivity… shake us up LORD, in the places where we have become comfortable, entangled with familiar spirits, loose us LORD to see and to hear your call.










Fill our mouths with Your Words.  Make us to hear, even the children you anoint to speak wisdom in our ears, cause their words to ride upon the frequency of Your Voice, turn us Oh, LORD toward Your rivers of Living Water. Salvation is of the LORD.





Behold!  We stand at the door and knock!  Our heads dripping with dew, our clothes damp with the dew of Heaven.  We shall be relentless in our prayers LORD.  We shall give you no rest, until we see the performance of our prayers upon every friend, neighbor, loved one, friends, friend that we have taken up in the cover of our prayers.





We ask LORD, for their treasures to be released to them on earth.  May they each be open to receiving the Desires of Your Heart for them.  May their prayers gather all of the Good Gifts that You have ordained for them.  May they claim their gifts and callings, and pursue walking in them, wholeheartedly, earnestly, faithfully, with consecration and heartfelt devotion.





May our prayers united, allow us all to pass through Our LORD and King’s territory, safely.  Every obstacle and hinderance removed.  Their papers are in order and their documents approved by the King of Glory, witnessed by the Heavenly Court, signed by the Hand of GOD and delivered to all the provinces…





We dispatch Heavenly Chariots to escort each one through the Kings forest, we hold each one in prayer until they arrive at their divine appointment. We see angles round about them, in every place the sole of their foot shall tread. 





To every issue and concern, every problem or situation that arise in their path, we declare they shall meet every obstacle with the pages of scripture.. they shall look on the biblical calendar and note the date that GOD has given them the victory!





Their lives shall be a triumphant, their accomplishments recorded in Heaven.  Only the wise in heart shall know of them. Only the humble are allowed to see your prophets passing by. We thank GOD for every one of these lives we hold up in prayer!  They are the Goodness of GOD to us! 





Psalm 85:





Photo by Wendy van Zyl on Pexels.com





7 You have shown us Your Mercy LORD< You have granted us they salvation.





8 We will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints: and we will not turn to folly again.





9 Your salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our lands.





10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.





11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.





12 Yea, the Lord has given that which is good; and our lands are yielding the increase.





13 May our righteousness travel before Him, as we run before Our LORD, and stand the watch and pray;  May our consecration in prayer set us in the way of His steps.





The LORD Our GOD, never withholds a good thing from us!





AMEN





Note: 85:13- it was customary to honor the King by running before his chariot (1 Kings 1:5,   1 Kings 18:46, 1 Sam 8:11, 2 Sam 15:1)

	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			Elul, The Journey Back
		

			
ELUL, DAY 5

		

			 		

	


		

		

YOUR YOM HA ZIKARON IS ON THE HORIZON!





ELUL, The Month of The Search… Praying The Lord’s Prayer IN HEBREW & ENGLISH





Today’s Reading: Psalms 70-76





READING SCHEDULE:





PLACING THE SPOTLIGHT ON —PSALM 70





Over the past 4 Days, we have been reciting and praying the the Psalms as they are written in the KJV.  Let’s take a look at this Psalm from the viewpoint of a little more torah to gain insight into a few key items that shed more light on David’s Prayer.





There is a prelude to this Psalm that we don’t always find a consistency in the transition.          It begins: “To the Chief Muscician, A Psalm of David, To bring to remembrance:”  





Remembrance in Hebrew is a VERY BIG WORD:  (We only have a moment to take a brief snapshot of the meaning of zaw-kar.  But I assure you, GOD’s message of YOU being remembered is ever present).   





Embedded in the phrase le’haz’kir, is the word zaw-kar, meaning to remember.  





zaw-kar always connects you back to a Promise, to be remembered.  Whenever we receive even the smallest glimpse of this word in scripture- our ears should perk up!





In Exodus 12:14 we read: “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial (zaw-kar); and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.“





A ‘Yom Hazikaron‘





Numbers 10:9 says: “And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered   (zaw-kar) before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.”










The sounding the alarm and the Day of Remembrance go hand in hand.                                           The Day of Remembrance and the blasts of the trumpet are both associated with war.      David is in a strong battle and begins his song by affirming that the LORD will keep His Promise, to remember him in times of war, in times of difficulty.                                             David is sounding the shofar with his song of faith and praise. 





Isaiah 43:26  “Put me in remembrance: let us plead [judge] together:                                            declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”





In turn GOD asks that we put Him in remembrance of His Word regarding us!  Let’s sort it out, let’s judge the matter.  David takes all of his issues, concerns, problems, difficulties, battles, enemies, etc. etc.  David takes it all to GOD in Prayer.                                                           He does not lash out himself (he learned from that).  He does not gossip, murmur or complain to others.  He does not get mixed up in Loshon Hara (evil speech).  





David had to learn to bring all his cares before the LORD                                                                 and let GOD deal with His People!





Hasten, O God, to save me;
    come quickly, Lord, to help me.





2 May those who want to take my life
    be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
    be turned back in disgrace.
3 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
    turn back because of their shame.





                                                                                         Those who happily celebrate my distress.






4 But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”





5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
    come quickly to me, O God.





“I have no strength without you.                                                                                                                 I cannot move this army of enemies without your help.”






You are my help and my deliverer;
    Lord, do not delay.





GOD Remembers All of Your Battles… He Will Remember You                                                   and He Will Fight For the Righteous!





David never had to snip anyone’s garments again.  He learned how to yield his biggest weapon in the spirit  — By giving GOD’s children back to Him in prayer and supplication.    Because of this, he was able to keep his hands clean and his heart pure.  He only fought the wars of GOD – against GOD’s enemies.  He did not lay his hands (or the hands of his tongue)  on GOD’s Anointed.  Even when fighting the Philistines, the same torah principles applied- Wait on GOD. 





David had to keep All of his hands off of Saul.  David was serving and Saul was sinning, but Saul was still GOD’s anointed.  Our fights/battles with each other are not common, (they are not even allowed) which means we can’t handle them by secular means.  We can’t handle anything with secular methodologies.  





David Chose Prayer





Prayer was his weapon of choice.  David’s results were not always swift.  He prayed many a prayer. Yet, he found he won far more battles in prayer than he could have with his bare hands and a wicked tongue. 





I’m laboring the first week over these concepts, to really drive them home, because if we truly learn these principles as His Disciples, we can help so many people and change so many things with our prayers.  Principalities, Thrones, Powers, Dominions… will be swift work for you to pull down!





WE CAN NOT HAVE ONE FOOT IN AND ONE FOOT OUT!





Don’t get me wrong…some have muddled through speaking GOD’s Word with one side of their mouths and wickedness and/or cursings with the other side of their mouths. (Grace abounds) But, the people I know who desire a real walk with GOD… want to be able to do better, to do more!  They know they can do better.





…and they know they are not operating at full strength.  They know they They know much more is required of them.  They want to speak a Word and see it occur!  They really do.  But we can not have it both ways.  GOD is not double minded or unstable in all His Ways, and we can not be either!





His rules work.  We just need the self-discipline to follow through!





Believe me when I say, the Psalms are an invaluable tool to help you to train your spirit to get to where you want to be spiritually.  





Your Yom Hazikaron is Here!





Amen.















	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			BANQUET OF PRAYER, Elul, The Journey Back
		

			
ELUL, DAY 3  –YOU GOD, ARE MY GOD

		

			 		

	


		

		

REFERENCE:   Prayer Schedule: Our 29 Day Banquet of Prayer ELUL, OUR 29 DAY BANQUET OF PRAYER… TO HONOR THE KING OF GLORY!





HIGHLIGHTING PSALM 63 KJV





You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.





2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.





6 On my bed I remember you;
    I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
    I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
    your right hand upholds me.





9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
    they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword
    and become food for jackals.





11 But the king will rejoice in God;
    all who swear by God will glory in him,
    while the mouths of liars will be silenced.