Zion's Voice

Torah Portion for 17th May - 23rd May

Torah Portion         -   Numbers 1:1 to 4:23

Haftarah Portion   -    Hosea 2:1 -22

“Bamidbar”

Special to God

This is one of those passages which is easily skipped because there seems to be little to learn .. unless you are a statistician !!

Interestingly, after the detail of the commandments and instructions for various matters given in Leviticus, we now return to the chronological history of the Israelites. (did you know that of the 39 books in the Hebrew Scriptures, you need read only ELEVEN to get the whole of the chronology of their history from Abraham to about 400 years before Yeshua arrived on this earth)**

We are “In the Widerness” in the second year of the ‘journeying’s’ following the exodus from Egypt,, the tabernacle has been built and is functioning BUT according to the count of the men who are ‘able to go to war’ and boys, from one month old to 20 years, there must have been close to 2 million people there by this time. Organising a crowd of that size is difficult and complex. That is what part of this passage is about. The detail is there for anyone who wants to read it.

During this operational task of taking the census, we are told that each of the family groups were identified and numbered. Each individual was noted, and earmarked for a task to be accomplished in the LORD’s service. The precision of the numbering and the importance of each one was identified.

This is even more notable in the numbering of the Levites. Those specially assigned to duties associated with the Tabernacle.

Picture the scene if you can. When the Tabernacle was moved from one place to another at God’s direction, they would ‘break camp’ in an orderly manner. First the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun, then the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad, 337,800 men plus all their wives and children. Next the 22,000 Levites carrying the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Last, the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin, with the tribes of Dan, Asher and Napthali, 265,700 men plus all their wives and children.

Go on, TRY to imagine it !!!  It’s amazing.

And if you think the terrain was easy to walk, plan a visit to Jordan and Israel .. and marvel. Those folk were fed EVERY DAY, they had water EVERY DAY, their sandals did not wear out. (but they grumbled about it).

What a mighty God we serve.

There is so much more to be learned from this seemingly boring list of numbers. And finally, remember this. Almighty God tells us:

“I am the LORD, I do not change” Malachi 3:6

In Deuteronomy 28:18 He described them as His special people. And in Titus 2:14 He describes US as His special people. He knows us by name, ALL of us.

So praise Him.

“O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your Name in all the earth” Psalm 8

Shabbat Shalom

RS

** For those interested, the ELEVEN books of the Hebrew Scriptures are:-

Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, the 4 books of Kings, Ezra and Nehemiah (The last two being ONE combined book in the Hebrew Scriptures)

Torah Portion for 10th May - 16th May

Torah portion -  Leviticus 25:1 to 27:34

Haftarah portion -  Jeremiah 16:19 to 17:14

‘Behar’     (On Mount Sinai)

The main topic beginning this week’s portion is the Year of Jubilee.

This is a relatively simple concept, given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, for the restitution of land back to its original ‘owner’. But it has proven to be an exceptionally difficult matter to practise.

In Hebrew, a “shemittah year” occurs every seventh year. 2015 is such a year. The land is allowed to rest. It is effectively a Sabbath rest for the land. God made provision for the farmer by multiplying the harvest of the sixth year so they had food enough for the ‘resting’ year.

After seven such “shemittah” years”, come the “yovel” in Hebrew. The year of Jubilee. In effect a Sabbath of Sabbaths for the land. More than that, it is a year of release for the land. It is returned to its original ‘owner’. Slaves are permanently released (In Hebrew there are two words for ‘liberty’. They are “hafesh” and “d’ror”. In Leviticus 25:10 it is the “d’ror” that is used. It means permanence, completeness. The word “hafesh” has a temporary characteristic in its meaning) from slavery. Monetary debts are forgiven. It is a year of social justice for Israel. No-one is allowed to retain wealth obtained by land speculation in the previous 50 years etc.

In practice, however, the Rabbi’s determined that, according to the Talmud, this law of Jubilee only applied as long as the entire land of Israel was occupied by the Israelites! So when a portion of the tribes went into exile, that law elapsed. In fact it is doubtful that the law of Jubilee has ever been properly observed.

This lack of observance of both “yovel” and “shemittah” caused both Ezekiel and Jeremiah to predict terrible destruction in the land. This is evident from reading of the Haftarah portion this week.

So that provides a background.

Let us now see an interesting link to Messiah Yeshua in this Torah portion. It comes in the matter of “d’ror” liberty …  permanent liberty.

In Isaiah 61:1 we have a Messianic proclamation.

In Luke 4:14-21 we have Yeshua confirming that He is the One to whom Isaiah was referring.

The word used for liberty in Isaiah 1 is the same “d’ror” that was intended to be practised in the “yovel” (Jubilee Year). The Israelites missed substantial blessing when they neglected the observance of “yovel” and “shemittah” .

Almighty God, Father of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, in His love, mercy and grace sent His only Son, Yeshua, to proclaim and provide the liberty which God wants His people to enjoy. Let us pray that as this Torah portion is read in Synagogues this week, there will be blessing beyond our imagination as people contemplate the message of “yovel”.

In the Gaza war of 2014, a kibbutz on the border with Gaza, had harvested the land early in trying to get an extra crop in before the commencement of the “shemittah”. In the normal course that land would have remained a metre high with a wheat crop. Hamas had planned a grotesque attack on that kibbutz on Rosh Hashanna 2014 by emerging from their tunnel in the middle of that field, which they expected to be high with wheat. Because the field was bare, they were readily spotted as they emerged from the tunnel and the kibbutzniks were spared a horrifying experience. That is a modern day blessing of “shemittah” observance.

What a blessing. Hallelujah.

Shabbat shalom.   

RS                                                                                                                               

Torah Portion for 3 May - 9 May, 2015

Leviticus 21:3 to 24:23

Each week there are lessons, reminders, encouragements and even chastisements. Almighty God, in His love, wisdom and grace, speaks to each person according to ones relationship with Him.

It would be a worry if one received NOTHING from the reading of His Word !!  If the reading were mechanical, even legalistic.

Leviticus 23 contains the well-known declaration of the “mo’edim”, the “appointed times” of the Lord. Within our churches today they are often perceived as ‘Jewish Festivals’, consigned to antiquity, even obsolete.

But Almighty God called them “MY FEASTS” in Leviticus 23:2. They are described as being ‘a statute forever throughout your generations’. They are festivals observed by Yeshua, by the disciples in the early church, by Paul. No-where in the Scriptures are they superseded by any other festival.

In effect, God was saying to the people “these are the times when I will be there, I want you to come and meet with me”. Once every week on Shabbat, then another seven times in the year for a stated number of days.

These Holy (set apart) Festivals were prophetically significant in the life, death and resurrection of Yeshua (Passover), as well as the giving of the Torah on Mt Sinai and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). Many also see that the next set of festivals (Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles) are prophetic of the return to this earth of Yeshua.

However, in Leviticus 23:22, we have a strange looking verse which appears to have nothing at all to do with these “appointed times”. They are a repetition of the commandment in Leviticus 19:9,10. This activity of “gleaning” reminds us of Ruth, the Moabitess, a gentile who joined herself to the people of God.

In terms of timing, sitting as it does between those festivals already completed in Yeshua, and those which speak of His future return, is it possible that this verse, referring to ‘the poor and the stranger’ is talking about the time of the gentiles? Which when completed will herald the return of Yeshua?

There is, of course, a more simple explanation. That God is here reminding us all of an obligation we have as believers in Him to extend our hand to those in need.

Did you know that a principal reason for tithing was the caring for the :-

“Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat (freely) and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand, which you do.” Deut 14:29

So then, it appears that this act of caring for those in need is part and parcel of what God intended, He commanded it. IF that is an ”appointed activity”, consider carefully how best to respond.                         

Shalom and Blessings

RS

Bible says that as Christians and follower of Yeshua, we are called to pray for the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem, hence we should have the Joy of Going to the House of the Lord

PSALM 122

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet have been standing
Within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem is built
As a city that is compact together,
4 Where the tribes go up,
The tribes of the Lord,
To the Testimony of Israel,
To give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For thrones are set there for judgment,
The thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls,
Prosperity within your palaces.”
8 For the sake of my brethren and companions,
I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God
I will seek your good.

As followers of Yeshua we are called upon to be watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem

ISAIAH 62:1-7

For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace,
And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory.
You shall be called by a new name,
Which the mouth of the Lord will name.
3 You shall also be a crown of glory
In the hand of the Lord,
And a royal diadem
In the hand of your God.
4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken,
Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate;
But you shall be called Hephzibah,[a] and your land Beulah;[b]
For the Lord delights in you,
And your land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marries a virgin,
So shall your sons marry you;
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So shall your God rejoice over you.

6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
They shall never hold their peace day or night.
You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent,
7 And give Him no rest till He establishes
And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.