This week there is no Torah portion.
We are busy counting the “Omer” and amazingly this year there is a greater consensus over the numbering of the days due to the timing of “Pesach”
This same scenario may have existed after the death of our Master and the subsequent outpouring of the Ruach on the day of Shavout many years ago (Pentecost).
Once again we see the mercy of our Heavenly Father in not wanting anyone to miss the critical appointment of “Shavuot”
What does all of this really mean?
This time of the counting of the “Omer” could be pointing to the ingathering of the entire household of Israel. We need to remind ourselves that Yahshua originally was sent to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”
Mat 15:24 And He (Yahshua) answering, said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Yisra’ĕl.”
Sadly we misunderstand much of scripture because we don’t seek to understand the scripture in the context in which it was originally written.
Instinctively we understand that the outpouring of YHVH’s Ruach has much in every way to do with a great ingathering of the harvest of human souls. We know that no one is excluded from this harvest but we also know that there are certain conditions that need to be met in order to be included in this great harvest. We shall refer to these conditions as the “Torah of Return”The following prophecy given by Ezekiel speaks of a time when the Ruach (Spirit) of YHVH will once again be poured out upon a people who have been prepared to return to Israel forever.
Interestingly commentators believe that the “dry bones” are not only referring to a people waiting the first resurrection but this describes the condition of an end time people who desperately seek and long for the final outpouring of the Ruach of YHVH.
Eze 37:1 The hand of יהוה was upon me and took me out by the Spirit of יהוה, and set me down in the midst of the valley. And it was filled with bones.
Eze 37:2 And He made me pass among them, all around, and see, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and see, they were very dry.
Eze 37:3 And He said to me, “Son of man, would these bones live?” And I said, “O Master יהוה, You know.” (in Hebrew “yada ata”)
These same Hebrew words “you know” are also found in Revelation 7:13,14
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders responded, saying to me, “Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
Rev 7:14 And I said to him, “Master, you know.” And he said to me, “These are those coming out of the great distress, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Commentaries link this scripture in Revelation 7 to those of Ezekiel 37.
A commentary states “Our bones are dried,” etc. (Eze_37:11), and therefore not those who are deceased, nor even the spiritually dead, but those who have lost all hope of life.”
Could this be describing the condition of end time seekers after the truth who have become almost totally disillusioned by the prevailing state of religion and humanity including their own.
The Hebrew word for “bone” is “etzem” and also refers to the “essence” of something.
Psa 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones became old Through my groaning all the day.
Psa 32:4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My sap was turned into the droughts of summer. Selah.
Psa 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my crookedness I did not hide. I have said, “I confess my transgressions to יהוה,” And You forgave the crookedness of my sin. Selah.
And so YHVH calls the prophet to prophesy over this condition. Note this is not Messiah calling the dead back to life - it is the prophet trusting YHVH to send His Ruach to bring life back to an end-time generation of believers who have become greatly discourged.
This word may once again impart a life giving power to those who find themselves in the condition this prophecy describes.
Eze 37:4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and you shall say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of יהוה!
Eze 37:5 ‘Thus said the Master יהוה to these bones, “See, I am bringing into you a spirit, and you shall live.
This word is the Torah of YHVH illuminated by His Ruach that causes us to follow the Torah as Messiah taught.
Eze 37:6 “And I shall put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, and cover you with skin and put a spirit in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am יהוה.” ’ ”
Eze 37:7 And I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise, and there was a rattling. And the bones came together, bone to bone.
Eze 37:8 And I looked and saw sinews and flesh came upon them, and skin covered them, but there was no spirit in them.
Eze 37:9 He then said to me, “Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and you shall say to the spirit, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe on these slain, so that they live.” ’ ”
Eze 37:10 And I prophesied as He commanded me, and the spirit came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, a very great army.
Eze 37:11 And He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all the house of Yisra’ĕl. See, they say, ‘Our bones are dry, our expectancy has perished, and we ourselves have been cut off!’
Eze 37:12 “Therefore prophesy, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, O My people, I am opening your graves, and shall bring you up from your graves, and shall bring you into the land of Yisra’ĕl.
Eze 37:13 “And you shall know that I am יהוה, when I open your graves, O My people, and bring you up from your graves.
Eze 37:14 “And I shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall settle you in your own land. And you shall know that I יהוה have spoken, and I have done it,” declares יהוה.’ ”
Eze 37:15 And the word of יהוה came to me, saying,
Eze 37:16 “And you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it, ‘For Yehuḏah and for the children of Yisra’ĕl, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Yosĕph, the stick of Ephrayim, and for all the house of Yisra’ĕl, his companions.’
Eze 37:17 “Then bring them together for yourself into one stick, and they shall become one in your hand.
Eze 37:18 “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Won’t you show us what you mean by these?’
Eze 37:19 say to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am taking the stick of Yosĕph, which is in the hand of Ephrayim, and the tribes of Yisra’ĕl, his companions. And I shall give them unto him, with the stick of Yehuḏah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.” ’
This could be referring to the “fullness of the nations” or the “mello ha goyim” (Rom 11:25 and Gen 48:19) that will return to the land of Israel in the last days. I believe this could be part of the significance of counting the Omer.
Eze 37:20 “And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.
Eze 37:21 “And speak to them, ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I am taking the children of Yisra’ĕl from among the gentiles, wherever they have gone, and shall gather them from all around, and I shall bring them into their land.
Eze 37:22 “And I shall make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Yisra’ĕl. And one sovereign shall be sovereign over them all, and let them no longer be two nations, and let them no longer be divided into two reigns.
Eze 37:23 “And they shall no longer defile themselves with their idols, nor with their disgusting matters, nor with any of their transgressions. And I shall save them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and I shall cleanse them. And they shall be My people, and I be their Elohim,
Eze 37:24 while Dawiḏ My servant is sovereign over them. And they shall all have one shepherd and walk in My right-rulings and guard My laws, and shall do them.
“laws” are the “mishpatai and chukatai” My “mishpatim and my chukot”
Eze 37:25 “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Yaʽaqoḇ My servant, where your fathers dwelt. And they shall dwell in it, they and their children and their children’s children, forever, and My servant Dawiḏ be their prince forever.
Eze 37:26 “And I shall make a covenant of peace with them – an everlasting covenant it is with them. And I shall place them and increase them, and shall place My set-apart place in their midst, forever. (FOREVER AND EVER…)
Eze 37:27 “And My Dwelling Place shall be over them. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Eze 37:28 “And the gentiles shall know that I, יהוה, am setting Yisra’ĕl apart, when My set-apart place is in their midst – forever.” ’ ”
The prophet YoEl/Joel confirms an end time outpouring of the Ruach of YHVH. (note the circumstances that surround this end time outpouring)
Joe 2:1 … Let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble, for the day of יהוה is coming, for it is near:
Joe 2:2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains…..
Joe 2:27 “And you shall know that I am in the midst of Yisra’ĕl1, and that I am יהוה your Elohim and there is no one else. And My people shall never be put to shame. Footnote: 1See Isa. 24:23.
Joe 2:28 “And after this it shall be that I pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men dream dreams, your young men see visions.
Joe 2:29 “And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out My Spirit in those days.
Joe 2:30 “And I shall give signs in the heavens and upon the earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke,
Joe 2:31 the sun is turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה.
Remember when scripture is quoted out of context it becomes a “pretext”.
This past week I was in contact with a Messianic Jewish believer in Israel, this is what he has to say:
“It’s time to leave the Messianic Camp and follow YHVH out into the Wilderness.
Torah, as interpreted by Messiah Yeshua is our goal.
The Ruach has led me into ‘No Man’s Land.’ No Man’s Land’ is between Christianity, Judaism and Messianic Judaism. It recognizes Truth in all Camps and accepts it, but it also sees the defiling of the three Camps by their pagan and perverse practices. None of those Camps are a place for a follower of Messiah Yeshua.
The movement and the religious description just don’t describe what YHVH wants me to walk in. Why should I define and defile myself with a movement or group of people that, the majority of which, are anti-Torah? Why should I continue to call myself a Messianic Jew? The term has been railroaded by the majority of Messianic Jews who reject YHVH’s set apart Torah. I will retrain myself to say something like, ‘I’m a Jew who loves Messiah Yeshua and His Torah.” End quote.
He went on to personally inform me that believers like myself and himself were not welcome in Israel. In fact we are becoming increasing unwelcome in the three camps mentioned above
Let us turn our attention to the prophet Hoshea. He affirms this truth when declares that a set apart people will be called from the wilderness to return to the land.
Hos 2:14 “Therefore, see, I am alluring her, and shall lead her into the wilderness, and shall speak to her heart,
Our brother from Israel believes that in this wilderness we shall truly discover what is in our hearts and there we shall learn to sing a sweet song to YHVH, this can only happen in “no man’s land.” This is not going to be a movement of men.
The prophet Hoshea/Hosea has much to say to those of us who are not of the house of Yahudah (Yahudim/Jews) and are the grafted in ones of Israel in Messiah.
This prophetic word will help us understand our present condition and help us come to terms with the spiritual impurity of our past. Remember this was a word to Israel or the 10 Northern tribes that went into exile and are still dispersed and unaccounted for until this day. These following words describe our past as well as our destiny more than we realize.
Hos 1:2 The beginning of the word of יהוה with Hoshĕa. And יהוה said to Hoshĕa, “Go, take yourself a woman of whoring and children of whoring, for the land has utterly whored away from יהוה.”
Hos 1:3 So he went and took Gomer, daughter of Diḇlayim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Hos 1:4 And יהוה said to him, “Call his name Yizreʽĕl, for in a little while I shall revenge the bloodshed of Yizreʽĕl on the house of Yĕhu, and put an end to the reign of the house of Yisra’ĕl.
Hos 1:5 “And it shall be in that day that I shall break the bow of Yisra’ĕl in the Valley of Yizreʽĕl.”
Hos 1:6 And she conceived again and bore a daughter. And He said to him, “Call her name Lo-Ruḥamah, for no longer do I have compassion on the house of Yisra’ĕl so as to forgive them at all.
Hos 1:7 “But I shall have compassion on the house of Yehuḏah and save them by יהוה their Elohim, and not save them by bow or by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen.”
Hos 1:8 And she weaned Lo-Ruḥamah, and conceived and bore a son,
Hos 1:9 then He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people, and I am not for you.
Hos 1:10 “Yet the number of the children of Yisra’ĕl shall be as the sand of the sea, which is not measured nor counted. And it shall be in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they shall be called, ‘You are the sons of the living Ěl.’
When we return to the land the curse will be reversed. Note this blessing takes place in the same place where the curse came upon Israel – In the land.
Hos 1:11 “And the children of Yehuḏah and the children of Yisra’ĕl shall be gathered together, and appoint for themselves one head, and shall come up out of the earth, for great is the day of Yizreʽĕl!
Hos 2:17 “And I shall remove the names of the Baʽals from her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
Hos 2:19 “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me forever, and take you as a bride unto Me in righteousness, and in right-ruling, and kindness and compassion.
Hos 2:20 “And I shall take you as a bride unto Me in trustworthiness, and you shall know יהוה.
The above two verses are read as we attach the strap of the “tefilin” to our middle finger during our prayers.
In the last days Israel will once again seek YHVH and His Torah.
Hos 3:5 Afterward the children of Yisra’ĕl shall return, and seek יהוה their Elohim, and Dawiḏ their sovereign, and fear יהוה and His goodness, in the latter days.
Hos 4:6 “My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children.
Hos 4:17 “Ephrayim is joined to idols, let him alone.
Hos 4:18 “Their drink is sour, they have whored continually. Her rulers wildly loved shame.
Hos 4:19 “A wind has bound her up in its wings, and they are ashamed because of their slaughterings.
Hos 5:4 “Their deeds do not allow them to turn back to their Elohim, for the spirit of whorings is among them, and they do not know יהוה.
Note the third day (millennium) of our promised restoration.
Hos 6:1 ‘Come, and let us turn back to יהוה. For He has torn but He does heal us, He has stricken but He binds us up.
Hos 6:2 ‘After two days He shall revive us, on the third day He shall raise us up, so that we live before Him.
Hos 6:3 ‘So let us know, let us pursue to know יהוה. His going forth is as certain as the morning. And He comes to us like the rain, like the latter rain watering the earth.
Hos 6:10 “I have seen a horrible matter in the house of Yisra’ĕl: the whoring of Ephrayim is there, Yisra’ĕl is defiled.
Hos 6:11 “Also, a harvest is appointed for you, O Yehuḏah, when I turn back the captivity of My people.
Ephraim rejects YHVH’s Torah.
Hos 8:12 “I have written for him numerous matters of My Torah – they were regarded as strange.
Division and destruction await.
Hos 9:7 The days of punishment have come, the days of retribution have come. Yisra’ĕl knows! The prophet is a fool, the ‘man of the Spirit’ is mad, because of the greatness of your crookedness, and great is the enmity.
The promised restoration.
Hos 14:4 “I shall heal their backsliding, I shall love them spontaneously, for My displeasure has turned away from him.
Hos 14:7 “Those who dwell under his shadow shall return. They shall revive like grain, and blossom like the vine, and become as fragrant as the wine of Leḇanon.
Hos 14:8 “What more has Ephrayim to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after him. I am like a green cypress tree, your fruit comes from Me.”
Hos 14:9 Who is wise and understands these words, discerning and knows them? For the ways of יהוה are straight, and the righteous walk in them, but the transgressors stumble in them.
A word of warning to lone rangers and those who have become a law unto themselves and are accountable to no one, this return and inheritance is a joint inheritance and will be only given to those who know how to submit to righteous authority and are willing to lay down their lives for their fellow Israelites.
Finally hear the prophetic words in song from Michael Card.
Don't know what he sees in me
He is spirit, he is free
And I, the wife of adultery
Gomer is my name.
Simply more than I can see
How he keeps on forgiving me;
How he keeps his sanity
Hosea, you're a fool.
Chorus:
A fool to love someone like me,
A fool to suffer silently;
Though sometimes through your eyes I see
I'd rather be a fool.
The fondness of a father,
The passion of a child;
The tenderness of a loving friend
An understanding smile.
All of this and so much more,
You've lavished on a faithless whore
I've never known love like this before
Hosea, you're a fool.
Chorus:
A fool to love someone like me,
A fool to suffer silently;
Though sometimes through your eyes I see
I'd rather be a fool.
Bridge:
This God of yours would not have told
To lift a love that you couldn't hold;
And though time and time again I flee,
I'm always glad to see you coming after me!
Simply more than I can see,
How he keeps on forgiving me
The wife of adultery;
Gomer is my name.If this is not your testimony you are most probably not an Israelite.
You can listen to this song by connecting to the following site:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN3kWAcWfVsListen also to the words of Michael Card – Will you not listen.
Why ? A song that makes sense of all these things.
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