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Today we
say:
“Blessed
are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,
Who has
sanctified us by His Word, and instructed us to count the Omer:
Today is
6 days of the Omer.”
Today is the last day that we may have no leaven.
Vayhi Bachatzi /
It was at midnight
SCRIPTURES (should be read first)
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Nisan 17, 5762 / March 30, 2002
Third Day of the
Feast of Unleavened Breads
Today is Resurrection Shabbat!
Shabbat shalom! This Nisan 17 is the weekly Sabbath day, the
same as when Yeshua was raised from the tomb.
Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of a fish
before being vomited out onto the shore; concerning this Yeshua said, ".
. . for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the fish's belly,
so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of
the earth." The third night was past. This was the third day!
Using a challenge to His Sabbath day healings, Yeshua foretold
His resurrection in parable, saying: "What man shall there be among
you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit, on the
Sabbath day will he not lay hold of it and lift it out?" God was
among them; the Lamb of God was in a pit for a three-day Sabbath; God
lifted Him out on the Sabbath. Our healing from sin was a Sabbath day
healing!
Yeshua left the linens, just as they had
been folded about His body and head, in the sealed tomb. The Matzah-Man
slipped out for a quiet walk toward Galilee.
The next morning, before sunrise on the
first day of the week, two women would come to the sealed tomb to embalm
Yeshua’s body, not knowing that He was gone. |
Nisan 21, 5765 / April 30, 2005
Nisan 21, 5768 / April 26, 2008
Seventh Day of the Feast of Unleavened Breads
Today is the "Day of Faith"!
Today is an annual Holy Day – the Seventh Day of the Feast of
Unleavened Breads (Exodus 12:16, Leviticus 23:8, Numbers 28:25), and a
rehearsal day, commonly called the Day of Faith:
·
It is an
anniversary of Noah and his family being saved by faith when the rest of
the world were drowned in the flood.
·
It is the day
Israel was saved by faith when the Egyptian army was drowned in the Red
Sea.
The Talmud teaches that some had faith to jump off the banks before the
waters parted, and landed on dried seabed, while others entered after
seeing the parted waters. All had greater faith after crossing and
seeing the Egyptians killed (Exodus 14:31).
·
It is the
Torah’s required day for a mikvah (Numbers 19:16-19), after which
“doubting Thomas” could touch Yeshua and believe (John 20:24-29).
Three kinds of faith are distinguished in the Hebrew Bible:
·
Emunah
b'moach -
Intellectual faith (belief in a fact or historical event - such as
Yeshua's crucifixion).
·
Emunah
b'lev - Faith of
the heart (trusting one's safety or security to something - such as
salvation by Yeshua's work).
·
Emunah
b'evarim - Faith
that encompasses one's entire being (the controlling factor of one's
thoughts and activities).
The seven-day Feast of Unleavened Breads
begins with the Passover Seder and ends with the Day of Faith – the
first two annual Holy Days. |
Exodus
Yahweh struck the firstborn in every
Egyptian family with death. This was His stated purpose before Moses first went
to the Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21-23). Now the Hebrews were paid for their years of
forced labor, in silver and gold and clothing – spoiling the Egyptians – and
they were thrust out of Egypt with all of their families and herds and
belongings. (V.51) “And on that same day Yahweh brought the sons of Israel
out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.”
There were about 600,000 adult men
(v.37), which would represent an estimated three million people, leaving Egypt.
At the Pasover seder, we are
taught that we are all to consider ourselves as having come out of Egypt at
this time. By the Passover sacrifice of Yeshua, we were delivered from sin.
(See the Haggadah – Parable of the Four Children.)
Having lived in Egypt, they were
partakers of Egyptian idolatry. Soon after leaving, they would use their gold to
make a calf idol. But later, they would learn to serve God with their wages, and
give generously toward building the Tabernacle.
(V.37) Now the sons of Israel
journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, from the “Treasure City” to the
“Temporary Dwellingplace”. The total population, including women, children, and
elderly, was about three million. They were a mixed multitude of all nations.
Some would insist that the Biblical
Festivals and Sabbaths are only for the “Jews” (a more accurate term would be
the “Hebrews”). The issue seems to be: who qualifies under God’s Covenant?
Gentile believers are partakers of the Abrahamic Covenant (Ephesians 3:6). The
Apostolic Writings (NT) clearly teach that the Festivals and Sabbaths are for
all believers.
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When (during creation week)
was man created? (See Genesis 1:26-31.)
When was the Sabbath created?
(See Genesis 2:1-3.)
Was man created for the
Sabbath, or was Sabbath created for man? (See Mark 2:27.)
If (1) man was the last
creation on the sixth day, and (2) the Sabbath was created immediately
afterward, and (3) the Sabbath was created for man, then for what man
was the Sabbath created? Only for the “Jew” who did not exist until 3000
years later? And for whom did God bless and sanctify (set apart) the
Sabbath (Genesis 2:3) – for Adam (man) or only Abraham’s distant future
descendants?
“Let no man (neither Jew nor
or Roman) condemn you (Colossian gentile believers) . . . for practicing
. . . (Biblical) Festivals or Sabbath days, which are prophetic shadows
of what is to come – Messiah Himself, the body casting the shadow”
(Colossians
2:16-17). |
(Revelation 18:4) “And I heard
another voice from heaven, saying,‘Come out of her, my people, that you may not
participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues’”.
“Babylon” obviously represents a center for idolatrous religion and a great
commercial center. It has been often equated with Rome, because that city rules
over nations in religious matters, and is famous as a city of seven hills. It
has also been equated with a renewed literal Babylon in Iraq, as well as several
other places.
What seems clear here, is that we
should stay clear of idolatrous religious systems, and not be too tied to this
world’s commercial/financial structure. The Psalmist says (Psalm 49:5-6):
“Why should I fear in days of adversity, when the iniquity of my foes surrounds
me, even those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the abundance of their
riches?” While our (US) money says, “In God we trust”, we are a nation that
trusts in money – for sustenance, for health, for pleasure, for security, for
pride, etc. Our schools (from grade schools to the biggest universities) were
instituted primarily for Bible instruction, ethics, and skills; they are now
based on money-making instruction and pleasure instruction, with ethics left out
and the Bible teaching being forbidden.
Those who are too poor tend to
dishonesty, and those who are too rich tend to forget God and trust in riches.
“Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion,
lest I be full and deny Thee and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ Or lest I be in want and
steal, and profane the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:8-9). I have seen some
who come from poor families, then become prosperous, become possessed with
staying prosperous. And I have seen some from richer families, who look down on
those who aren’t interested in their style of living. It is no crime to be rich,
but it is sin to seek to be rich – for riches to be one’s motivation,
that which consumes one’s efforts. “Those who want to get rich fall into
temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men
into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9).
Paul said that he had known both
poverty and plenty, and knew how to handle both. “Godliness with contentment
is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).
We were not redeemed by the Passover
Lamb to stay a slave to Egypt. We still have time to seek God’s way, and to make
His service our motivation for life. We can still repent from using our wages of
gold to make idols, and use our talents for the furtherance of the Kingdom.
As God said for His people in Moses'
time to come out of Egypt, He is now saying of Babylon, "Come out of her My
people!" We must leave this world's "Treasure City" for the "Temporary
Dwellingplace" where God leads us to our eternal home.
(Isaiah 21:11)
"Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?"
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This Commentary being
expanded for coming Sabbath |
Readings:
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who chose us from among all peoples by
giving us Your Torah.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
(Vayhi bachatzi halaylah vaYahweh
hichah chal-b’chor b’eretz Mitzraim /
Now it came about at midnight that Yahweh
struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.)
Reader 1* Amen. 29
Now it came about at midnight that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land
of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn
of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. 30
Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and
there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not
someone dead.
Reader 2* Amen. 31
Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, "Rise up, get out from
among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship Yahweh, as you
have said. 32 "Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have
said, and go, and bless me also." 33 The Egyptians urged the people,
to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We will all be dead."
Reader 3* Amen. 34
So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls
bound up in the clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the sons of Israel
had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the
Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 36
and Yahweh had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that
they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
Reader 4* Amen. 37
Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred
thousand men on foot, aside from children. 38 A mixed multitude also
went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of
livestock. 39 They baked the dough which they had brought out of
Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they
were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any
provisions for themselves.
Reader 5* Amen. 40
Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty
years. 41 And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the
very day, all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt. 42
It is a night to be observed for Yahweh for having brought them out from the
land of Egypt; this night is for Yahweh, to be observed by all the sons of
Israel throughout their generations.
Reader 6* Amen. 43
Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover: no
foreigner is to eat of it; 44 but every man's slave purchased with
money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it. 45 "A
sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it. 46 "It is to be
eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of
the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. 47 "All the
congregation of Israel are to celebrate this. 48 "But if a stranger
sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to Yahweh, let all his males be
circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a
native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
Reader 7* Amen. 49
"The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among
you." 50 Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as Yahweh
had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that same day Yahweh brought
the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living
Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
______________________
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who selected good prophets, delighting
in their words which were spoken truthfully.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the
Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,
and the prophets of truth and
righteousness."
Isaiah 21:11
Reader 8* Amen. The oracle
concerning Edom. One keeps calling to me from Seir, "Watchman, how far gone is
the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?"
Psalm 49 (To be sung.) For
the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
Hear this, all peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together. 3 My mouth
will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding. 4
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp. 5
Why should I fear in days of adversity, when the iniquity of my foes surrounds
me, 6 even those who trust in their wealth
and boast in the abundance of their riches? 7 No man can by
any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him-- 8 for
the redemption of his soul is costly, and he should cease trying forever--
9 that he should live on eternally, that he should not undergo decay.
10 For he sees that even wise men die; the stupid and the senseless alike
perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inner thought is
that their houses are forever and their dwelling places to all generations; they
have called their lands after their own names. 12 But man in his pomp
will not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This is the
way of those who are foolish, and of those after them who approve their words.
Selah. 14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their
shepherd; and the upright shall rule over them in the morning, and their form
shall be for Sheol to consume so that they have no habitation. 15 But
God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah.
16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his
house is increased; 17 for when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not descend after him. 18 Though while he lives he
congratulates himself – and though men praise
you when you do well for yourself – 19
he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.
20 Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts
that perish.
Revelation 18:1-24
Reader 9* Amen. 1
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great
authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. 2 And he cried
out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has
become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a
prison of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 "For all the nations have
drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth
have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have
become rich by the wealth of her sensuality." 4 I heard another voice
from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not
participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; 5 for her sins
have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6
"Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her
deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. 7
"To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same
degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as a
queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.' 8 "For this
reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and
she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who
judges her is strong.
Reader 10* Amen. 9
"And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived
sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of
her burning, 10 standing at a distance because of the fear of her
torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one
hour your judgment has come.' 11 "And the merchants of the earth weep
and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more-- 12
cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and
purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of
ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and
marble, 13 and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and
frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and
sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. 14
"The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious
and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. 15
"The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a
distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16
saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple
and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; 17
for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and
every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood
at a distance, 18 and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her
burning, saying, 'What city is like the great city?' 19 "And they
threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying,
'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her
wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'
Reader 11* Amen. 20
"Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because
God has pronounced judgment for you against her." 21 Then a strong
angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
"So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be
found any longer. 22 "And the sound of harpists and musicians and
flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no
craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill
will not be heard in you any longer; 23 and the light of a lamp will
not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not
be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth,
because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. 24 "And in her
was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on
the earth."
"Blessed are You, Yahweh
our God, King of the Universe,
Rock of Ages, righteous
throughout all generations.
You are the faithful God,
promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,
for all Your words are true
and righteous.
Faithful are You, Yahweh
our God, and faithful are Your words,
for no word of Yours shall
remain unfulfilled;
You are a faithful and
merciful God and King.
Blessed are You, Yahweh our
God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."
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