2/02/2018

A Messianic Perspective on Human Sexuality – Marriage and the Feasts of YHVH.

This article can be read before you study this week's Torah portion below, as it is giving a perspective  as seen from the Bridegroom and bride in connection with the Appointments of YHVH. (''The bride must make herself ready for her bridegroom" - Yeshua the Lamb of Elohim that came with a Pesach so that his Bride can submit herself to Him as her Master and will come back again for his Bride that has prepared herself for her Bridegroom.)

Gen 1:27  And Elohim created the man in His image, in the image of Elohim He created him – male and female He created them.
Gen 1:28  And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them, “Bear fruit and increase, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over all creatures moving on the earth.”

The very first commandment YHVH gave man was to “bear fruit and increase” This clearly implies that men and women were created to engage in sexual intercourse and many other creative activities to fill the world with other human beings in all manner of YHVH honouring creative abundance.
It is rather ironic that when man first sinned their first response was to cover their genitals with fig leaves.
What happened when man disobeyed YHVH? The evidence of the fragmentation in human relationships and destruction of our planet remain the ongoing legacy of humanity.
BUT YHVH so loved the world that He gave His only brought forth Son – Yahshua Ha Mashiach – to restore mankind- and we killed him.
BUT He is coming back to bring perfection and redemption.
Today we see in spite of all the so-called education and religious teaching and instruction on human sexuality, there remains a profound ignorance and deep lack of understanding and abuse on this issue?

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.

Maybe it is time to look again at the very foundation of human sexuality and what the Torah has to say on this issue:
Gen 2:18  And יהוה Elohim said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, I am going to make a helper for him, as his counterpart.”
Gen 2:19  And from the ground יהוה Elohim formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
Gen 2:20  So the man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field. But for the man there was not found a helper for him, as his counterpart.
Gen 2:21  So יהוה Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept. And He took one of his ribs,(angular organ – “tsela”) and closed up the flesh in its place.
Gen 2:22  And the rib(tsela) which יהוה Elohim had taken from the man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
Gen 2:23  And the man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one is called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of man.”
Gen 2:24  For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Gen 2:25  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, yet they were not ashamed.

I want to draw your attention to two interesting Hebrew words – Strongs 6763 – “tselah” meaning “rib”, and Strongs 6106 “etsem” meaning “bones, substance or essence.”

Parashat 41 Portion 120 B’Midbar 28:1-29:40 Ezekiel 45:13-20 Hebrews 9:11-14


Blessing for the Torah:

Bar’chu et YHVH ha-m’vorach, 
Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach l’O’lam va-ed!
Baruch ata YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam
asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim, 
v’na-tan lanu eht Torah-to.
Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

(Bless YHVH the blessed One; 
Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One for all eternity.
Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim, 
King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among 
all the peoples and have given us your Torah.)

    This Torah portion “Pinchas” is referred to as the “zot chukat ha torah” (19:2)(31:21) – this is the essence of all the Torah.

    Num 28:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
     Num 28:2  “Command the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them, ‘Take heed to bring My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet fragrance to Me, at their appointed time.’

“Command the sons of Yisrael and say to them – My offerings (that which causes you to draw near to Me) My bread – My fire – a fragrance of tranquility – You are to guard these offerings of Mine at their appointed time.”

Neglecting this provision is certain death and separation from His Presence.

Heb 10:28  Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses.
Heb 10:29  How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour?
Heb 10:30  For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says יהוה.” And again, “יהוה shall judge His people.”
Heb 10:31  It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.

These offerings and appointments with YHVH lead form the very essence of His relationship (Marriage) with His People – Yisrael.

See article for more explanation on each Appointment as seen from another perspective:  “A Messianic Perspective on Human Sexuality – Marriage and Feasts of YHVH”

Isa 54:5  “For your Maker is your husband, יהוה of hosts is His Name, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl is your Redeemer. He is called the Elohim of all the earth''.

Now follows a list of these offerings and their “bridal connections:”

Tamid – A continual reminder that our Bridegroom redeemed and gave his life for his Bride.

Num 28:3  “And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you bring to יהוה: two male lambs a year old, perfect ones, daily, a continual burnt offering ( olah tamid).

The Torah does not say at what exact time these offerings were made. The Mishnah and other sources indicate that one lamb was offered in the morning around 9am (the Third hour) and the other one around 3pm (the Ninth hour) in the afternoon  - (in Hebrew time the morning time of a day was counted from 6 in the morning. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Hebrew day is from sunset to sunset, consisting of evening and night part, and day part. In the Gregorian calendar a day starts and end at midnight).
We see that these offerings were given at about the same time that Yahshua was impaled and eventually died on the execution stake.

Mar 15:25  And it was the third hour,(around 9am) and they impaled Him.
Mar 15:33  And when the sixth hour came, darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
Mar 15:34  And at the ninth hour(around 3pm) יהושע cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Ěli, Ěli, lamah sheḇaqtani?”1 which is translated, “My Ěl, My Ěl, why have You forsaken Me?” Footnote: 1In Hebrew - “Eli, Eli lamah azaḇtani” - as per Ps. 22:1.

Num 28:4  ‘The one lamb you prepare in the morning, and the other lamb you prepare between the evenings, (from earliest interpretations as described in historical books and by the Pharisees, ''between the evenings" was taken as between midday and sunset which makes it the NInth hour (3pm)
Num 28:5  with one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil,

Ephah - An ancient Hebrew unit of dry volume measure, equal to a “bath” or to one-tenth of a homer. It is approximately equal to 22 litres.  Exo 16:36  And an omer is one-tenth of an ĕphah.

Hin - A unit of liquid measure used by the ancient Hebrews equal to about four liters.

We also need to realize that the responsibility of these offering was upon the Priests – Kohanim.

Num 28:6  a continual burnt offering which was offered at Mount Sinai for a sweet fragrance, an offering made by fire to יהוה,
Num 28:7  and its drink offering, one-fourth of a hin for each lamb. Pour out the drink to יהוה as an offering in the set-apart place.
Num 28:8  ‘And the other lamb you prepare between the evenings. As the morning grain offering and its drink offering, you prepare it as an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה.

Sabbaths – First of the Musaf Offerings.
Num 28:9  ‘And on the Sabbath day two lambs a year old, perfect ones, and two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, with its drink offering,
Num 28:10  the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering with its drink offering.

Rosh Chodesh.
Num 28:11  ‘And on the beginnings of your months you bring near a burnt offering to יהוה: two young bulls and one ram, and seven lambs a year old, perfect ones;
Num 28:12  three-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;
Num 28:13  and one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour, mixed with oil, as a grain offering for each lamb, as a burnt offering of sweet fragrance, an offering made by fire to יהוה.
Num 28:14  ‘And their drink offering is half a hin of wine for a bull, and one-third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering for each month throughout the months of the year,
Num 28:15  and one male goat as a sin offering to יהוה is prepared, besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

Pesach.
Num 28:16  ‘And in the first month, on the fourteenth day, is the Passover of יהוה,
Num 28:17  and on the fifteenth day of this month is a festival. For seven days unleavened bread is eaten.
Num 28:18  ‘On the first day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.
Num 28:19  ‘And you shall bring near an offering made by fire as a burnt offering to יהוה: two young bulls and one ram, and seven lambs a year old, perfect ones they are for you,
Num 28:20  and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil. Prepare three-tenths of an ĕphah for a bull, and two-tenths for a ram.
Num 28:21  ‘Prepare one-tenth of an ĕphah for each of the seven lambs,
Num 28:22  and one goat as a sin offering, to make atonement for you.
Num 28:23  ‘Prepare these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
Num 28:24  ‘According to these you are to prepare the food of the offering made by fire daily for seven days, as a sweet fragrance to יהוה. It is prepared besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.
Num 28:25  ‘And on the seventh day you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.

Shavuot
Num 28:26  ‘And on the day of the first-fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to יהוה at your Festival of Weeks (Shavuot), you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work.
Num 28:27  ‘And you shall bring near a burnt offering as a sweet fragrance to יהוה: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs a year old,
Num 28:28  with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ĕphah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
Num 28:29  one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,
Num 28:30  one male goat to make atonement for you,
Num 28:31  perfect ones they are for you. Prepare them with their drink offerings, besides the continual burnt offering with its grain offering.

Yom Teruah.
Num 29:1  ‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work, it is a day of blowing the trumpets for you.
Num 29:2  ‘And you shall prepare a burnt offering as a sweet fragrance to יהוה: one young bull, one ram, seven lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:3  and their grain offering: fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ĕphah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,
Num 29:4  and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,
Num 29:5  and one male goat as a sin offering, to make atonement for you,
Num 29:6  besides the burnt offering with its grain offering for the New Moon, the continual burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their right-ruling, as a sweet fragrance, an offering made by fire to יהוה.

Yom Kippur.
Num 29:7  ‘And on the tenth day of this seventh month you have a set-apart gathering, and you shall afflict your beings, you do no work.
Num 29:8  ‘And you shall bring near a burnt offering to יהוה, a sweet fragrance: one young bull, one ram, seven lambs a year old, perfect ones they are for you,
Num 29:9  and their grain offering: fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ĕphah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
Num 29:10  one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,
Num 29:11  one male goat as a sin offering, besides the sin offering for atonement, the continual burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

Sukkot.
Num 29:12  ‘And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. And you shall observe a festival to יהוה seven days,
Num 29:13  and you shall bring near a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones they are,
Num 29:14  and their grain offering: fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ĕphah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams,
Num 29:15  and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs,
Num 29:16  and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Num 29:17  ‘Then on the second day: twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:18  and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the right-ruling,
Num 29:19  and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
Num 29:20  ‘And on the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:21  and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the right-ruling,
Num 29:22  and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Num 29:23  ‘Then on the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:24  and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the right-ruling,
Num 29:25  and one male goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Num 29:26  ‘Then on the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:27  and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the right-ruling,
Num 29:28  and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Num 29:29  ‘Then on the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:30  and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the right-ruling,
Num 29:31  and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Num 29:32  ‘Then on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:33  and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the right-ruling,
Num 29:34  and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

Shemeni Atzeret.
Num 29:35  ‘On the eighth day you have an assembly, you do no servile work,
Num 29:36  and you shall bring near a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a sweet fragrance to יהוה: one bull, one ram, seven lambs a year old, perfect ones,
Num 29:37  their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the right-ruling,
Num 29:38  and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Num 29:39  ‘These you prepare to יהוה at your appointed times, besides your vowed offerings and your voluntary offerings, as your burnt offerings and your grain offerings, as your drink offerings and your peace offerings.’ ”
Num 29:40  And Mosheh spoke to the children of Yisra’ĕl according to all יהוה had commanded Mosheh.



Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan lanu Toraht-emet, v’chay-yeh o’lam nata-b’tochenu. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you Yahweh, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Ameyn