Torah portion Shemini and Renewing the Fear of God

Torah Portion Shemini; Leviticus 9:1 - 11:47, its accompanying Haftarah 2 Samuel 6:1 - 7:17 and New Testament reading Mark 9:2 - 9:13. As I pondered the connection between the three readings, one feature stood out.

At first I saw that all three contained reference to Yehovah's dwelling among men. With Moses, he dwelt in the tabernacle, although from the text, it is clear that though he dwelt in the temporary structure of the tabernacle His desire is to dwell inside of us.

"These words shall be in your heart." Devarim 6:6.

If the words of Torah are in your heart, and Yeshua is the living Torah, by extension, once the words in your heart take on life by your obedience, Yeshua is in your heart.

The tabernacle was a temporary dwelling. The permanent dwelling is in our hearts.

David's experience in the 2 Samuel Haftarah reveals a problem that we still find. David was troubled that he lived in a house of cedar while Elohim lived in a tent. First problem. Elohim lived in a tent because that is where He told Moses and the Children of Israel the ark was supposed to be housed. Elohim never said He wanted a more permanent structure.

I think David missed the point that the permanent dwelling was to be in the heart.

David looked at the housing situation and came up with a logical, but worldly solution. Build a house as good or better than his own. I think David knew where Elohim wanted to dwell. The Psalms are replete with references to the indwelling of the Word, and the Spirit.

The second message of Shemini, and perhaps even more important is installing the fear of God.

Many modern believers have replaced the fear of God with the love of God. God is love, but He is also a Judge, a Man of War, and a jealous God. All three readings emphasize that the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a fearful God. Nadab and Abihu were consumed for not following Yehovah's instructions. Uzzah was killed because he touched the ark. While Nadab and Abihu's motives are unclear, Uzzah's intent was to keep the ark from falling. Intent didn't matter. Action did. And Uzzah died.

Pater was afraid when he saw Yeshua, Moses and Elijah together.

Fear of God keeps us on the straight path when other motivations fail us. In times of trial and temptation, a healthy fear of what God will do to us for disobedience can keep up from giving in even more than our love for Him.

It is the same type of fear we have for a good earthly father.

It is not that we are constantly fearful of abuse, but that we understand there are rules, and if we break the rules, we will suffer punishment. I think the idea that Christ took our punishment so we are now free to sin as much as we want without any consequences is misplaced. "Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? God forbid."

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:13-23)

The word translated as iniquity is anomia, without law. Yeshua is addressing people who prophesied in his name, cast out devils, and did wonderful works, but they were without law, the Torah. Sounds like a lot of our brothers and sisters who come into covenant with Elohim, and then turn their backs on His instructions in the Torah.

It is time to renew the fear of God among those who have made a covenant with Him. It is for their own good. Fear is a motivator to obedience. Eternal life is a gift, obedience is a way of life, and it takes work. That is why we are cautioned to "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."

Let’s End the Word of God Famine

I was talking with some fellow searchers after the way of God the other day. We discussed the prophecy that Amos shared that there will come a time when there will be a famine of the word of God. Let’s end it.

“’Behold, the days come,’ says Adonai Yehovah, ‘that I will send a famine in the land. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Yehovah. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east. They shall run to and fro to seek the word of Yehovah, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, ‘your god, O Dan, lives;’ and, ‘the manner of Beersheba lives;’ even they shall fall, and never rise up again.’” (Amos 8:11-14)

(I’m going to discuss the sin of Samaria and the manner of Beersheba next week. For now, let’s talk about the famine of hearing the words of Yehovah.)

The searchers I talked with visited a number of churches all across the nation. (They were following God’s leading, not searching for the word of God) What they saw and heard was that Christian churches from the east coast to the west all have one thing in common; they don’t teach the word of God.

Church pastors teach psychology, motivation, pop culture, and encouragement; but they aren’t teaching the word of God. They sometimes refer to a verse or two from the Tanakh (Hebrew name for the Torah, Prophets and Writings – the Old Testament – what New Testament writers refer to as Scripture) with an isolated quote, but they don’t teach the word. When they do use Scripture, they take it out of context, turn it on its head, and often say it means the opposite of what it originally meant.

It is not a new problem, but it has gained strength and popularity

If the word is light, and the lack of it is darkness, perhaps we are experiencing what Yeshua was talking about when he said,

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5)

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” What about when He isn’t in the world? Like now? David said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105) The word of God – the actual Scriptures – the Torah – is the light we have today. Yeshua is no longer here to instruct us personally, but the Torah is. Since churches no longer teach the Torah, where will you receive the light? Personal study. If you rely on a church, you will have no light and will sit for years, your whole life, in a pew in darkness.

That’s why I write this blog

So you, who are searching can find at least one place to hear the word of God and receive some light. Please don’t misunderstand me; I don’t think I am the only one teaching the word, there just aren’t many of us.

Christian churches recognize something is wrong

Pastors wonder what is wrong. Some say it is because we don’t have the anointing, others that we don’t have the love, others say we are under attack from the enemy.

The real answer is; we can’t see. “Where there is no vision (sight, revelation, oracle, Torah) the people perish: but he that keeps (guards protects, lives) the Torah, happy (blessed) is he.” (Proverbs 29:18)

Churches have abandoned the word, and the people are perishing

Our nation is filled with churches.

If pastors start teaching the Torah, the word of God, we would see a turn around. Instead of just using a verse from Scripture here and there to support what they’re teaching, they need to start teaching the whole word of God from the Torah, in context.

Pastors need to start instructing people to live God’s Torah. Governments or church programs will not solve the problems we face today. We need to teach the Torah, and allow the Holy Spirit through the washing of the water of the word of God forgive our sins and heal our land.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways (repent of sins – sin is transgression of the Torah (1 John 3:4), how can we know what sins we are committing unless we know what the Torah calls sin?); then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

“And (Moses) said to them, ‘Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this Torah. For it (the Torah) is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing (teaching and obeying the Torah) you shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.’” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

 Pastors, priests and preachers need to recognize that their childish church doctrines are a manmade gospel. They need to leave them behind and return to God’s instructions, the Torah.

Here you will find meat, not milk. The meat of God’s word, not the milk of manmade philosophies, motivational talk and psychology. Please come back and visit again soon.