The Heart of a Worshiper

 This morning, during my daily morning worship, the Lord began to speak to me concerning the heart of a worshiper. He took me, by the Spirit, to Bethany, which was a little village just over the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem, during the time of our Lord Jesus.  Here lived three siblings, Lazarus and his two sisters: Martha and Mary.  We find this story in the gospels of both Luke and John.  

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42

Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.  For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.  Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.  John 12:1-9

Martha had the heart of a servant. She wanted everything to be just right for the great Rabbi and all of his guests. I have often cooked for other people and have found myself becoming anxious because it seems that everything won't get done at the appointed time. You may have one pot cooking on the stove while the meat is on the grill and another dish in the oven. While concerning yourself with one, you remember the other is about to burn and you must stir it and then one completes its cooking time and starts to get cold while the bread is still baking for another 5 minutes. It can become stressful. And in the midst of all this, you want the table to be set nicely, with napkins folded properly and each eating utensil in its proper place. This is what Martha was experiencing when she went to Yeshua (Jesus) and asked Him, "Tell my sister to help me." Yeshua did not rebuke her for serving, but He explained to her that Mary had chosen the higher thing, that of worship. 

What I have discovered in life is, one can be serving God with all their heart and still be weighed down with burdens, stress, and anxieties of life. But when one comes into that place of worship, suddenly you are carefree. It doesn't matter what life's circumstances are. There is only one focus. 

Earlier in the week, while on my job, I had many tasks to do and very little time to accomplish it. I found myself multitasking and by the end of my day, I was so stressed and anxious! But on Wednesday morning, during my time of prayer and worship, the Spirit of the Lord came and lifted me up. Suddenly, I began singing in the Spirit about having "an undivided heart, that I might fear Your Name." I sang that all morning, and found myself so much lighter than I had been all week. It wasn't that my tasks were less. Rather, my heart was not divided. My only task in the day was to worship the Lord and while I was worshiping Him as my only task, everything else took second place. 

 Now, I want to comment on the portion from John where Mary took the pound of spikenard and anointed Yeshua's feet. Notice how the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. I imagine that everyone in the house left smelling like spikenard, that day. While singing in the Spirit, this morning, the Holy Spirit showed me Song of Solomon 1:3, "Because of the fragrance of Your pleasant oil, Your Name is as oil poured out, this is why the maidens love You." [Author's Translation] Yeshua was the fulfillment of this verse. While Mary was anointing the feet of the Messiah, she also was being perfumed with the smell. She, of all people, smelled most like Yeshua that day. The smell was on her hands and in her hair. She probably smelled that way for the rest of the week. And when we sit at the feet of the Messiah and worship him, we to begin to smell like Him. Now thanks be to God, which always causes us to be victorious in the Messiah, and makes us manifest the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere we go. For we are a sweet fragrance of Messiah, to them which are saved and to those who perish. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 [Author's Translation]

David prayed, "Let my prayer be set forth before You as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Psalm 141:2

Prayers for Europe

 To all my Ukrainian and Russian readers, I pray that God grant you grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of war! And to each and everyone else, let us hold up our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer. 

The Fear of the LORD

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:

 and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding. 

Proverbs 9:10 

 

1)Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man that fears the LORD, that delights greatly in His commandments. 2)His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3)Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endures forever: 4)Unto the upright there arises a light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5)A good man shows favor, and lends: he will guide his affairs with discretion. 6)Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in the everlasting remembrance. 7)He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8)His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. 9)He has dispersed, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor. 10)The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 112:1-10

In verse one, the Hebrew word for blessed is ASH'REI which means How fortunate or blessed is... This whole chapter enumerates the benefits of one who FEARS the LORD.

 

Jesus instructed His disciples, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear Him, which after He has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say unto you, Fear Him. Luke 12:4-5  And while reading this, we would only have a fear of God that is not reverent, rather only fear that causes one to be afraid to do anything - good or bad for God. However, the Messiah didn't stop there. He went on to say, Are not two sparrows sold for one penny, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. Also, I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. Luke 12:6-10

In context, we see that the fear of the LORD is not constantly afraid of a vengeful and wrath God who is ready to strike us dead when we disobey. Rather, we see a loving Father who knows every detail about our life, even down to the number of hairs on our body. And He loves us so much, that we walk in reverent fear, that we not offend Him. When an earthly father has a positive relationship with his children, they are not afraid of him, rather they don't want to cause pain to their father by being disobedient. And when a righteous man has this relationship with his Heavenly Father, his Father in heaven abundantly bless him, for, The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

Commentary on Proverbs 3:5-6

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and lean not to your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

and He shall direct your paths. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart:

• Put all your confidence in Him
• Rely solely and totally on Him.
• Cast all your worries, anxieties, fears, aspirations, expectations, everything on Him.

Trust is security. It's like the clip that a mountain climber uses to secure him to the repelling rope. And when you are secure in the LORD, then your heart will not fear. But your trust can only be in Him. The first commandment God gave when He gave Moses the ten commandments was: You shall have no other gods before Me. “Before Me” in Hebrew literally translates “Before My face”. The first several commandments, in fact, deal with idolatry and worshiping other gods. I have known people who claim to be God-fearing believers, but they also dabble in other religions and pagan practices. They believe that God is OK with this. However, this is equivalent to spiritual adultery or fornication. God wants all of your heart.

 

Lean not on your own understanding:

• Don't put any stock in your own ideas.
• Your wisdom is foolish to God.
• The way you perceive is biased.
• Your thoughts are not My thoughts.

When I began to meditate on this line, I could see an old man in need of cane to support him while walking. However, instead of leaning on a very solid walking stick, he was leaning on a hollow reed. There is no support in a hollow reed and if you lean upon it, it will break and cause you to fall. This is what happens when we trust our on reasoning or perception.

In all your ways acknowledge Him:

• In everything you do, your business, your hobbies, your words, recognize Him.

To know someone in the ancient Hebrew meant an intimate acquaintance. I have had the privilege of being in close proximity of renowned people, but I could not say that I Know them. However, their spouses or children, even personal assistants could say that they Know them. They know what makes that person happy or sad, what makes them angry or what foods they like or dislike. There are a number of great people's lives I have studied and while I think I would know them, I can only know them through the stories of others that knew them. But with God, we can KNOW. First, we read His Word and the eye-witness accounts of others, but if you are born-again (that means you have been born of the Spirit of God), then you spend time in the Presence of God and you will know Him.

And He shall direct/level your paths:

• Your feet won't stumble on uneven ground.
• He will guide you with His eye (Psalms 32:8)
• When your ways please the LORD, he will make even your enemies to be at peace with you. (Proverbs 16:7)
• The way of the righteous is made plain. Proverbs 15:19

The book of Proverbs teaches that the way of the transgressor is hard. I have found myself determined to do something in life that was not God's will for me. The sad part of it is, I knew it wasn't God's will for me. However, due to God giving us free-will, He allowed me to go on the path of my choosing, but it was very unpleasant. When we walk in the perfect will of God, there may be difficulties along the way, but it is a path that is plain. He goes before us and fills in the potholes.

In the early years of the church, a work was written called the Didache. It was more or less a manual on how to be a Christian. It's opening line is “there are two ways, one of life and one of death” Proverbs 15:24 says, “The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.” Jesus taught the disciples that He is the Way of life in John 14:6. He is the Way that pleases God. Choose Him.

My prayer for each of you is that you will choose the Way of Life.

Jonathan Hollis 

updated Translation to Psalm 119: 109

 Psalm 119:109: My soul is in my palm continually, but Your Line I did not forget.

 

If you have read previous posts of mine, you will note that the word for soul is occasionally understood as appetite or desire. The word for soul in Hebrew is NEFESH. It is widely used in a sense to encompass appetite, desire, lust, the mind, pleasure either negatively or positively. The ancient Hebrews often referred to 'afflicting the soul' which meant to abstain from food. Hence our soul is the part of our being that is responsible for desires delights and affections. “He satisfieth the hungry soul with goodness – Ps 107:9” https://torahgoy.blogspot.com/2015/07/praying-shema.html

Therefore, I have amended this verse to read: 

My desire is in my palm continually, but Your Line I did not forget.

The Way Into the Throne Room of God

Today, as I was singing in the Spirit, I looked down at where my devotional NIV Bible had fallen open and the title of the devotion was “The Path is Open, but you must take the Step”. I sensed it was the presence of God letting me know this was His voice. The Holy Spirit directed me to the verse in Hebrews, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV) Then He took me to John 14, “Thomas said unto Him, 'Lord, we don't know where You are going, so how can we know the way?'” Jesus answered, 'I am the Way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really knew Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.'” (John 14:5-7 NIV) I am reminded how the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians, “For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18 NIV)

The way in to the Throne of God has been opened for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but we have to take a hold of His atonement by faith. Good works will not get us in. Believing a creed or some religious practice will not get us in. Only through trusting in the works of Jesus our Messiah, are we allowed access to the Father. You can't get in by trusting in the pope, a prophet, Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, transcendental meditation, Shamanism, paganism nor any other religion or “spiritual practice”. The only way to God is through faith in Jesus Christ and He said, “ He that comes to me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

Psalm 119 - Translation by Jonathan Hollis

 Aleph:

 How blessed are those whose way is perfect, who walk in the Line of the LORD!

How blessed are those who guard His eye-witness reports, wholeheartedly they seek Him!

Also, they have not done iniquity, in His Ways they have walked.

You have directed Your charges to be guarded diligently.

Oh, that You would established my ways to guard Your boundaries!

Then I will not be ashamed when I gaze at all Your directions.

I will give thanks to You in an upright heart, when I study Your right decisions.

Your boundaries I will guard, O, forsake me not utterly.

Bet:

How can a young man purify his path? By guarding Your Word.

Wholeheartedly I sought You, do not let me stray from Your directions.

Your Word have I concealed in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Blessed are You, O LORD, teach me Your boundaries.

With my lips have I recounted all the decisions of Your mouth.

In the way of Your eye-witness reports I rejoiced, as much as in all wealth.

Of Your charges I speak, and I look at Your paths.

In Your boundaries I engross myself, I will not forget Your Word.

Gimel:

Bestow upon Your servant, that I should live, that I may guard Your Word.

Uncover my eyes, that I may perceive wonders from Your Line.

A stranger am I in the earth, hide not Your directions from me.

Crushed is my soul with love for Your decisions at all time.

You rebuked the proud who are cursed, who stray from Your directions.

Remove from upon me disgrace and contempt, for Your evidence I have safeguarded.

Although princes did sit and speak against me, Your servant meditates on Your boundaries.

Also, Your eye-witness reports are my primary focus, the men of my counsel.

Dalet:

Cling to the dust has my soul; resuscitate me according to Your word.

My ways have I recounted and You answered me, teach me Your boundaries.

Cause me to understand the way of Your charges, that I may meditate Your wonders.

Melt does my soul from sorrow, preserve me according to Your Word.

The way of lying remove from me, and with Your Line favor me.

The way of faithfulness I have chosen, Your decisions I have laid down.

I have clung to Your eye-witness accounts, O LORD, put me not to shame.

In the way of Your directions I will run, for You will broaden my heart.

Hey:

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your boundaries, and I will safeguard it unto the end.

Grant me understanding that I may safeguard Your Line, and guard it wholeheartedly.

Lead me on the beaten path of Your directions, for that is my desire.

Incline my heart toward Your eye-witness reports and not to greed.

Avert my eyes from seeing worthlessness; in Your ways cause me to live.

Confirm for Your servant Your Word concerning awe of You.

Avert my disgrace which I dreaded, for Your decisions are good.

See, I crave for Your charges, in Your justice may I live.

Vav:

And come to me may Your compassion, O LORD, Your salvation according to Your Word.

And I shall offer to those who scorn me an answer, for I have trusted in Your Word.

And remove not from my mouth utterly the Word of truth, because for Your decisions I hoped.

And I will guard Your Line continually, forever and ever.

And I will walk in broad ways, because Your charges I have sought.

And I will speak of Your eye-witness accounts before kings, and I will not be ashamed.

And I will focus all my attention on Your directions that I love.

And I will lift my hands to Your directions which I love, and I will meditate in Your boundaries.

Zayin:

Remember the Word to Your servant, by which You made me hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word resuscitated me.

The proud scoffed at me exceeding greatly, but from Your Line I did not go astray.

I remembered Your decisions of old, O LORD, and I was comforted.

I have been frozen in terror because of the wicked who forsake Your Line.

Music to me were Your boundaries, in the house where I dwell.

I remembered in the night Your Name, O LORD, and I guarded Your Line.

All this came to pass for me because Your charges I guarded.

Chet:

My share is the LORD, I have declared to guard Your Word.

I have entreated before You with my whole heart; give me grace according to Your declaration.

I considered my ways and returned my feet to Your eye-witness reports.

I hastened and I did not delay to guard Your directions.

Bands of evil men robbed me, but Your Line I did not forget.

At midnight I arise to thank You for Your right decisions.

A friend am I to all who are in awe of You, and to those who guard Your charges.

Your compassion, O LORD, fills the earth; Your boundaries, teach me.

Tet:

Good have You done to Your servant, O LORD, according to Your Word.

Good reasoning and knowledge teach me, for I have been faithful to Your directive.

Before I was afflicted I erred; but now Your Word I guard.

Good are You and You do good, teach me Your boundaries.

Smeared upon me lies have the proud, but I wholeheartedly safeguarded Your charges.

Thickened as fat did their heart, but for me Your Line is my primary focus.

Good for me that I was afflicted, so that I might learn Your boundaries.

Better for me is the Line of Your mouth than thousands in gold and silver.

Yud:

Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Your directions.

Those who are in awe of You shall see me and rejoice, because in Your Word I hoped.

I know, O LORD, that just are Your decisions, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

Let it be, I pray, that Your compassion comforts me, according to Your promise to Your servant.

Come may Your mercies upon me, so that I may live, for Your Line is my primary focus.

May shamed be the proud, for with lies have they dealt with me, but I will meditate in Your charges.

May they return to me – those who are in awe of You and who know Your eye-witness accounts.

May my heart be perfect in Your boundaries, so that I will not be ashamed.

Caph:

Crave Your salvation does my soul; for Your Word I hoped.

Crave do my eyes Your promise, saying: When will You comfort me?

For I have been like a wineskin in the smoke, Your boundaries I did not forget.

How many are the days of Your servant? When will You carry out on those who chase me Your sentences?

Dig pits for me did the proud, which is not in accordance with Your Line.

All Your directions are faithful; lies they chase me: Help me!

Almost destroyed am I in the earth, but I did not forsake Your charges.

In accordance with Your compassion give me life, and I will guard the evidence of Your mouth.

Lamed:

Forever, O LORD, Your Word is fixed in the heavens.

From generation to generation is Your faithfulness, You established the earth and it stands.

To fulfill Your decisions they stand to this day for all Your servants.

Had not Your Line been my main focus, then I would have perished in my affliction.

Never will I forget Your charges, for through them You have given me life.

Yours I am, save me, for Your charges have I sought.

Against me have bound the wicked to destroy me, but Your eye-witness accounts I contemplate.

To every accomplishment I have seen an end, but broad is Your directions exceedingly!

Mem:

O how I love Your Line! It is my meditation all day long.

More than mine enemies, I am made wiser by Your directions, because it is ever with me.

From all my teachers I grew wise, for Your eye-witness accounts are a meditation for me.

From elders I gain understanding, because Your charges I have safeguarded.

From every evil path I restrained my feet, so that I might guard Your word.

From Your decisions I did not revolt: for You have taught me.

How sweet to my palate is Your Word, more than honey to my mouth!

From Your charges I get understanding, therefore I hate every path that is deceptive.

Nun:

Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my footpath.

I have sworn, and I will fulfill, to guard Your just decisions.

Afflicted am I exceedingly; O LORD, cause me to live in accordance with Your Word.

The voluntary offering of my mouth accept with favor please, O LORD, and Your decisions teach me.

My desire is in my palm continually, but Your Line I did not forget.

The wicked laid a snare for me, but from Your charges I did not stray.

I have taken as my heritage Your eye-witness reports, forever, for the joy of my heart are they.

I have inclined my heart to do Your boundaries, forever, to the end.

Samekh:

The double-minded I hate, but Your Line I love.

My hiding place and my shield are You, in Your Word do I hope.

Depart from from me, you evildoers, and I will safeguard the directions of my God.

Uphold me according to Your promise that I may live, and shame me not in my hope.

Support me that I may be saved, and I will gaze in awe at Your boundaries continually.

You have weighed all who stray from Your boundaries, for lying is their deceit.

As trash, You have purged all the wicked of the earth: therefore I have loved Your witnesses.

Bristling from fear of You did my flesh, and Your decisions I respected.

Ayin:

I have done what is just and right, do not abandon me to those who oppress me.

Be the insurer for Your servant for good; do not let the proud oppress me.

My eyes crave Your salvation, and for Your promised justice.

Deal with Your servant according to Your compassion, and Your boundaries teach me.

Your servant am I, grant me understanding, so that I may know Your eye-witness reports.

It is time for You to act, LORD; they have erased Your Line.

Therefore I have loved Your directions more than gold, even fine gold.

Therefore of all Your charges all is just! Every path of lying I have hated.

Pey:

Wondrous are Your eye-witness reports, therefore my soul has safeguarded them.

The opening of Your words enlightens, giving understanding to the simple.

My mouth I opened wide and panted, for Your directions I crave.

Turn to me and favor me, as is Your practice to those who love Your Name.

Order my footsteps in Your Word, and let no iniquity dominate me.

Redeem me from oppression by man, and I will guard Your charges.

Your face cause to shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your boundaries.

Streams of water run down mine eyes, because they did not guard Your Line.

Tzaddi:

Just are You, O LORD, and just are Your decisions.

Your eye-witness reports You have directed are right and exceeding faithful.

Consumed me has my zeal, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.

Refined is Your Word extremely, and Your servant loves it.

Young am I and despised, Your charges I do not forget.

Your justice is an everlasting justice, and Your Line is truth.

Distress and anxiety have befallen me, Your directions are my primary focus.

Just are Your eye-witness reports forever, grant me understanding that I may live.

Kuph:

I have called wholeheartedly, answer me, O LORD; Your boundaries I will safeguard.

I called You; save me, and I will guard Your eye-witness reports.

I preceded the dawn and I cried out; for Your Word I hoped.

Preceded did mine eyes the night-watches, to meditate Your Word.

My voice hear in accordance with Your compassion; O LORD, in accordance with Your decisions may I live.

Draw near do the pursuers of evil plans; from Your Line they are far.

Close by are You, O LORD, and all Your directions are true.

From the past, I gained knowledge from Your eye-witness reports, for from eternity You established them.

Resh:

See my affliction and deliver me, for Your Line have I not forgotten.

Defend my case and redeem me, for Your Word, resuscitate me.

Far from the wicked is salvation, for Your boundaries they sought not.

Your mercies are abundant, O LORD; as is Your decision resuscitate me.

Many were my pursuers and my distressors, but from Your eye-witness reports I did not turn away.

I saw the traitors and I was disgusted with them, because Your Word they guarded not.

See that Your charges I have loved, O LORD, in accordance with Your compassion resuscitate me.

Your first utterance is truth, and for Eternity is every decision of Your justice.

Shin:

Princes have chased me without cause, but from Your Word my heart has feared.

Rejoice do I over Your Word, as one who finds abundant treasure.

Lies have I hated and abhorred it; Your Line I love.

Seven times a day I have praised You because of Your right decisions.

Abundant peace to those who love Your Line, and there is not a stumbling block for them.

I hoped for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your directions I have done.

Guard did my soul Your eye-witness reports, and I loved them exceedingly.

I have guarded Your charges and Your evidence, for all my ways are before You.

Tav:

Approach may my prayer before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your Word.

Let my supplication come before You: deliver me according to Your Word.

Utter praise shall my lips when You teach me Your boundaries.

Proclaim shall my tongue Your Word, for all Your directions are fair.

May Your hand help me, for Your charges I have chosen.

I crave Your salvation, O LORD, and Your Line is my primary focus.

May my soul live, and it shall praise You, and Your decisions will help me.

I have strayed like a sheep that is lost; seek out Your servant, for Your directions I have not forgotten.

Psalm 119 - Introduction to translation - Word Study

 Law – Torah (Strong's #8451) Pronounced TOHR'ah. Meaning law, direction, instruction, custom, ruling or teaching.

The root word for Torah is Yarah (Strong's #3384) and has the meaning of casting or throwing as in shooting an arrow or throwing out the trash. Because the root Moreh (Strong's #4175) is usually translated as teaching, this gives this word Torah a similar meaning in most translation. However, I have a difference of understanding. This word, Moreh also has the meaning of an archer.

When I lived in Jerusalem many years ago, I learned the phrase, "Yesh Tor". In modern Hebrew, this means, "There is a line." The reason I had to learn it is, people would attempt to "Jump the cue" or "break in line" and this would be the phrase to let them know they had to "get in line". I have heard many different definitions for the Hebrew word TORAH which is often translated law, teaching, instructions, etc. But the Word "Line" fits my vocabulary best. One can understand this word picture as shooting an arrow. The direct LINE the arrow goes from the bow to the target is TORAH. And when one sins, the definition for sin is "missing the mark".

Commandments – Mitzvah (Strong's #4687) Pronounced Mitz'VAH. Meaning an order or cammand. It comes from the root word Tzavah (Strong's #6680) meaning give a charge, set in order, send a messenger, I.E. to direct. I chose to translate this word as Directions, as when a father is teaching his son how to do something, he gives him directions.

Testimonies – Edut (Strong's #5707) Pronounced e'duwt. A testimony, witness

Eye-witness reports – Whenever I read this phrase, my mind goes back to the story of Joshua and Caleb and the ten spies. We find this story in the book of Numbers, chapter 13. The twelve spies were tasked with the responsibility of going into the land of Canaan to scope out the land. 10 of the spies brought back an “evil report”, however Caleb and Joshua brought a “good report”. Both reports were “eye-witness reports/accounts”.

When God gave directions concerning convicting someone of a deadly sin, He said that the sentence would only stand with the testimony of two or three witnesses. No matter what part of the Bible you are reading, you are reading the “eye-witness accounts.” When reading the four Gospels, you are reading the “eye-witness reports” of those who saw first hand the works of our Lord Jesus. Although Mark may not have been physically present, he was probably the scribe for Peter's account. Luke, too, may not have been physically present, but he, too, was a scribe for direct accounting of our Lord's work and with all four Gospels, we have eye-witness reports that agree to our Lord's working. Luke was definitely a first-hand “eye-witness” to the things recorded in the book of Acts.

Statute - Chukkah (Stong's # 2708) = the Ch is pronounced gutterally in the back of the throat like the ch in Bach and the whole word rhymes with Hukkah. The meaning is statute, ordinance, limit, enactment, something prescribed. A beautiful example of this word is found in Proverbs 8:29: “when he gave the sea its BOUNDARY so the waters would not overstep his command...” NIV

Notice the wording here is boundary or a limit that has been set. The word Chukkah is translated as boundary. So we can see from the picture here that God's statutes are His boundaries. Another Hebrew word that means Boundary is Gibul (Pronounced = Gee'bull) (Strong's #1366) and it is used in a similar way in Psalm 104:9 describing God's boundary for the sea: “You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.” NIV. This same word (Gibul) is used in Exodus 19, when God commands Moses to tell the people to sanctify themselves for three days and put a BOUNDARY around the mountain so that man nor beast might cross over and touch the mountain as God descends upon it.

When you read the word Statutes, or in my translation, Boundaries, picture guardrails on the side of the road to prevent you from going over the cliff or ravine, should you veer from the path. 

 

Precept - Piqqud (Stong's # 6490) Pronounced Pi'kood. thing appointed, charge, Other variations of this word in Hebrew mean “oversight, ward, supervision, responsibility” This was a word I struggled with, to find the right translation. At first, I thought about Wards and Guardians, but it didn't flow, especially when David said he would “guard Your guardians” or “Guard Your wardians”. I also thought about how often a supervisor follows guidelines given by the main boss, and I like the word “guidelines”, but it didn't translate adequately. So, I settled on the word “charges” and it shows “responsibility of the supervisor/guardian or ward”

Judgment – Mishpat (Strongs's #4941) Pronounced Mish'POT. Meaning: a verdict, a sentence, a ruling, or a vindication. I arrived at my translation of this word based on these definitions. A judgment is God's decision concerning a matter or His sentence passed over someone judged guilty of a crime or sin.

Psalm 119 Introduction - Beginning the Journey

Over the past several years, Psalm 119 has become one of my favorite chapters of the book of Psalms. I learned to read it through in Hebrew and have read it through in Hebrew more than a hundred times, probably. I have yet to commit it to memory in Hebrew, however, I have been able to translate it using a number of different sources, including other Jewish and English translations. 

In Hebrew, the Psalm is written as an acrostic poem -- the first letter of each verse begins with the letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet (alphabet). Only, Psalm 119 assigns 8 verses to each letter. For instance it would be like this if were an English poem with eight lines beginning with A and so forth:

All God's children love God and each other.

Better a friend nearby than a far-away brother.

Christ is the answer and not another.

Also, another interesting find about this Psalm is that every verse uses a synonym for God's Word, i.e. Commandments, statutes, laws, precepts, Word, testimonies. There are only two exceptions to this: verses 37, 90.

I have always struggled with this Psalm because of the use of the legalistic words. The Jewish sages have discouraged non-Jews from reading this Psalm, as they believe it "damages the soul" (Maimonides).  However, after reading through this Psalm so many times, I began to see it as a pathway or journey.  King David often used terms about a Pathway or roads in reference to God. In fact, the relationship between God and His servants was often referred to as "walking with God." You can refer to earlier posts that I made on this subject. 

The words used began to make since for me. For instance, instead of Commandments, I saw the word as Directions, or signposts along the way. I saw the statues as guardrails and precepts as the posted speed-limits which are all for our safety. When I lived in Jerusalem many years ago, I learned the phrase, "Yesh Tor". In modern Hebrew, this means, "There is a line." The reason I had to learn it is, people would attempt to "Jump the cue" or "break in line" and this would be the phrase to let them know they had to "get in line".  I have heard many different definitions for the Hebrew word TORAH which is often translated law, teaching, instructions, etc.  But the Word "Line" fits my vocabulary best.  One can understand this word picture as shooting an arrow.  The direct LINE the arrow goes from the bow to the target is TORAH. And when one sins, the definition for sin is "missing the mark". 

                            \.........                                                                                      ______________/_____________

The Torah is the straight line in the previous diagram is the pathway that leads to life. The broken line is the way of evil, lying and falsehood.

In the following post, I will share my translation of Psalm 119.  Here is a list of words that I have translated from the original Hebrew:

Commandments: DIRECTIONS

Statutes: BOUNDARIES 

Law: LINE

Precepts: CHARGES

 Testimonies: EYE-WITNESS REPORT/ACCOUNT or EVIDENCE

Judgements: DECISIONS or SENTENCES

Righteous/ness: JUSTICE or RIGHT

Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles

 “‘But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of Adonai seven days; the first day is to be a complete rest and the eighth day is to be a complete rest^. On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches and river-willows, and celebrate in the presence of Adonai your God for seven days.  You are to observe it as a feast to Adonai seven days in the year; it is a permanent regulation, generation after generation; keep it in the seventh month.  You are to live in sukkot [booths] for seven days; every citizen of Isra’el is to live in a sukkah [booth] so that generation after generation of you will know that I made the people of Isra’el live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am Adonai your God.’”

Leviticus 23:39-43 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

In the fall of the year, on the full moon of the month, just a few days following Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the feast of tabernacles (Chag Sukkot in Hebrew) is observed. This was one of the 3 feasts in which God commanded the sons of Israel to go up to Jerusalem to celebrate. This feast was celebrated in a less structured way even by the patriarchs and other Oriental peoples. It was a harvest feast, or the Feast of Ingathering, when the farmers and vinedressers all gathered to celebrate the bringing in of the last crop of the year. 

The word: Sukkot is a plural Hebrew word which means Tabernacles or booths. The singular form of this word is Sukkah.  The first mention of this word is found in Genesis 33:17: And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths (SUKKOT) for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. The next time this is mentioned is after the children of Israel have left Egypt:  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth...Exodus 12:37

This celebration is to be one filled with joy and rejoicing.  In Deuteronomy 16:14, God commanded that you are to REJOICE in the feast: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.

The Feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated in the new heavens and new earth. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16

David referred to God's sukkah in a number of Psalms:

He made darkness His secret place; His sukkah round about Him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.Psalm 18: 11

For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His sukkah, in the secret of His tent shall He hide me.  Psalm 27:5

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of Thy presence from the pride of men: Thou shalt keep them secretly in a sukkah from the strife of tongues. Psalm 31:20

And then we find when the Jewish people were restored back to the land of Israel after their dispersion to Babylon, that they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, as commanded by Moses: 

On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law.

  They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.

 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.  Nehemiah 8:13-17 NIV

In John, the seventh chapter, we find that Yeshua's (Jesus) family was going from the Galilee down to Jerusalem for the Feast and invited Him to go. This was the Feast of Tabernacles. However, He instructed them to go on without Him, but He came along later. Halfway through the seven day celebration, Yeshua went into the Temple and began teaching the people. The people were amazed that He taught with such wisdom, even though He didn't have formal learning, as did their religious leaders. And finally, on the last day of the Feast, we find that the Jewish people were celebrating a ceremony called Hoshana Rabba. According to Chabad.org (an Orthodox Jewish Website), "The seventh day of Sukkot is called Hoshana Rabbah, and is considered the final day of the divine “judgment” in which the fate of the new year is determined. It is the day when the verdict that was issued on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is finalized."

According to MyJewishLearning.org, "Every day of the year, after the sacrifice was burned, an offering of wine was poured on the altar. During Sukkot, there was also a water libation (nisukh hamayim). Some have suggested that it was a folk rite, an inducement for rain made by pouring out water at the season’s onset, transformed by the rabbis into a symbolic Temple ritual. Each morning of Sukkot, the priests went to the pool of Siloah (Silwan) near Jerusalem to fill a golden flask. Shofar blasts greeted their arrival at the Temple’s Water Gate. They then ascended and poured the water so that it flowed over the altar simultaneously with wine from another bowl. When the priest was about to pour the water, the people shouted “Raise your hand!” because of an incident that occurred in a previous year: The high priest Alexander Jannaeus (103‑76 B.C.E.) showed contempt for the rite by spilling the water at his feet, a transgression for which worshippers threw their citrons at him."

What we hear Yeshua saying in the Temple,  Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking!  Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!^" (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who trusted in him were to receive later — the Spirit had not yet been given, because Yeshua had not yet been glorified.) John 7:37-39 CJB

The pictures here are of my sukkot (booths) that I have constructed over the years.