AV 7, 5769 Third Day Yom Shlee'shee
He who Seeks Finds from First Fruits of Zion
Thought for the Week
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10) (Luke 11:9-10)
Commentary
But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
Moses warned the children of Israel that if they strayed from the Torah and worshipped idols, God would exile them from the land of Israel and scatter them among the nations. Nevertheless, He would not abandon them. Moses says that a person only needs to repent and seek the LORD. "You will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29). Similarly, Yeshua teaches, "He who seeks, finds" (Luke 11:10). If we earnestly seek God and reach out for Him, He will not hide Himself from us.
We should never congratulate ourselves as if we have already attained the goal. A person should always regard himself as a seeker of God. "Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually" (Psalm 105:4). The prophet Amos tells us, "Seek the LORD that you may live" (5:6).
Even if we have found the way to God through the person of His Son, Yeshua, this is only the beginning of the quest, not the end. The real life of faith is an ongoing pursuit of the LORD. The contrite heart continues to seek God each day and continually cries out:
I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 63:1; 42:1-2)
Seeking God is the pursuit of righteousness. "Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, who seek the LORD" (Isaiah 51:1), the prophet says. In another passage he clearly states that seeking the LORD entails repentance:
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7)
The one who seeks finds, but what if a person does not seek? It is possible to go through life in a state of numb self-contentment, continually distracted by the things of the world. "They do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!" (Isaiah 31:1).
One often sees children brought up in religious families who seem to nurture a bored disinterest toward God and the things of the kingdom of heaven. Their faith is an inherited faith that has never taken root. They have no desire to seek God for themselves, and they quickly fall away from faith. There are also the lost in the world who do not have enough knowledge of God to know to seek Him. As believers, we need to encourage everyone to seek the LORD
A FEW WORDS FROM ME...gloria....what did I think when I read this? I think of the 'church' and how it is. I am talking about that great body of people who go to a service at a church..any denomination on any given sunday. I believe so many love the LORD..I did...when I was under all that false teaching...under the pagan ways of the church....but I see that so many are reading the words being put out to them. The truth and they read them and might post a 'like' on Facebook or make a comment but they are not seeing the truth. They read but do not digest it or something would happen with in them and they would come out of the religious hypocracy that has been handed down to them for 1700 years.
What am I saying to you? If you are in a church that holds its services on a sunday and calls that sabbath...or it might say it's the LORD's day and this took the place of the Father's Sabbath and if that church teaches you about Christ's mass and Easter and any of the other handed down pagan days then you need to recoginse that there is a way...the Way of YHWH. It is the old way..the old path. It is the path of Yeshua. Who is Yeshua? He is the Son of YHWH! He is Torah!
You may be doing a mighty work for ADONAI but quit straddling the fence...come on over to His Way.
I only say this because I want the best for you.
With love to you in and through Yeshua...His servant, gloria
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
For A Better Life
Tammuz 28,5769 Second Day-Yom Shaynee
Well, again,. I haven't written in a while. I did write another blog the other day but felt the leading not to publish it just yet. ADONAI IS so good!
When I started my journey into the Way of God, I did it without teacher and men of God around me. I didn't know where it was leading me except I KNEW it was ALL from Father. I had been seeking a deep walk with Him all of my life...with some straying of of His path, here and there. But, no matter what I was doing or where I was, I always felt His hand upon me. So, He led me into His Sabbath and His Feasts and Festivals and His Torah. It didn't happen over night...it was a process.
The first Holy Day of Elohim that we observed and celebrated was Shavuot...day of Pentecost for the Christian world. This was before I observed Shabbat or had started studying His Torah. And even though I didn't know how, according to Jewish teachings I listened to ADONAI and did as He said.
I knew enough to bake two loaves of bread to wave before Him. And we did some wonderful praying. He instructed me to bake two chickens..but to leave one covered and take all the meat from the bone of the other. During the meal, everyone kept saying how the chicken tasted like turkey and there was so much meat. That one chicken did not run out ....it seemed to have an unending amount of meat! It fed the whole family and kept feeding till everyone was full and there were leftovers. AND we had not touched the other chicken! I am telling this so you will understand that His Way is the best way.
You can go your whole life in the Christian world, be under a good man of God, praying, worshipping, praising but if you are following the way of man....the way of the pagan church...if you are celebrating a Sunday sabbath, Christmas, Easter, and any of the other myriad of holidays that the way of paganism has laid before those who desire to walk with God, then you need to pray and pray some more and seek God about observing and celebrating His Sabbath and His Holy days and times.
There is coming a day, a time, when He is going to require that His Commands be followed. To have salvation in Yeshua is the begining but He says to study and show yourself approved. Read what He says..read with understanding....Yeshua is Torah....He is the complete Word of God and He came to fill us full of Torah.
I will not say that the road is an easy one to follow. It is hard to give up a whole lifetime of holidays and have to put memories into perspective but when you come into the understanding that all you have been taught since the begining of the Catholic church has been half-truths and lies, then you 'see' the bigger picture.
Yes, the Protestants came away knowing that salvation only comes from our Yeshua haMashiach and there is no Biblical reason for the sacrements and such and Mary is not to be worshipped but so much was retained. Some early Protestants got away completely and did not follow the pagan christmas celebrations and the other pagan aspects of this pretender church but it has sneaked its way back in. There is news of some Protestants who are allowing lent and other days of that church to be in their churches. And some have started following the way of it in belief they can reach God. God will not be mocked.
No one can make you follow the Way of God. This has to be your choice. To make you would be as the Pretender church who persecuted and killed those who did not follow its ways. That is NOT the Way of God. You have free will and He respects it. But, He has set those around and about who will continue to preach about His way...just as Yeshua came and left His Apostles and followers to tell the people there is a better way.
I will tell you I did not give up church all together at first. As I came into His Way and observed and celebrated His Sabbath, I continued going to sunday services,. NOT AS A SABBATH, NOOOO, but as a day to worship which could be any day of the week. He is to be worshipped and praised everyday. My pastor, at the time, was a Godly man who observed Shabbat and did not celebrate the pagan days, although most of his congregation did. He did say as some do, that to observe Christmas and Easter was to do so as a memorial to our LORD. I remember at one Easter, when he said that he looked straight at me as if to get confirmation that it was alright. I had not come completely out of the pagan and was teetering on the fence. Now, I would not even be in a Easter service. So I remember just nodding at him as if to say, yes, it is just a memorial. LORD forgive me for being blinded back then!
I say to you, you can go to sunday services IF you can keep the Sabbath separate from it. And if you can refrain from the pagan holidays that are celebrated in these churches. BUt if the struggle is too much, come out. Come to the Way of God and see that it is good.
I love you and want the best for you and if the LORD had not laid this upon my heart I would not have written it.
The following tips are from a friend and they are marvelous. We can all live by these. And if we begin to incorperate a few into our lives I believe we will reap the benefit.
God Bless YOU!
With love to YOU in and through Yeshua our Savior and soon coming King...His servant, gloria
40 Tips for a Better Life
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.
7. Make time to practice meditation and prayer . They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. GOD heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey, I'm thinking of ya!
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please forward this to everyone you care about.
May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more!
Well, again,. I haven't written in a while. I did write another blog the other day but felt the leading not to publish it just yet. ADONAI IS so good!
When I started my journey into the Way of God, I did it without teacher and men of God around me. I didn't know where it was leading me except I KNEW it was ALL from Father. I had been seeking a deep walk with Him all of my life...with some straying of of His path, here and there. But, no matter what I was doing or where I was, I always felt His hand upon me. So, He led me into His Sabbath and His Feasts and Festivals and His Torah. It didn't happen over night...it was a process.
The first Holy Day of Elohim that we observed and celebrated was Shavuot...day of Pentecost for the Christian world. This was before I observed Shabbat or had started studying His Torah. And even though I didn't know how, according to Jewish teachings I listened to ADONAI and did as He said.
I knew enough to bake two loaves of bread to wave before Him. And we did some wonderful praying. He instructed me to bake two chickens..but to leave one covered and take all the meat from the bone of the other. During the meal, everyone kept saying how the chicken tasted like turkey and there was so much meat. That one chicken did not run out ....it seemed to have an unending amount of meat! It fed the whole family and kept feeding till everyone was full and there were leftovers. AND we had not touched the other chicken! I am telling this so you will understand that His Way is the best way.
You can go your whole life in the Christian world, be under a good man of God, praying, worshipping, praising but if you are following the way of man....the way of the pagan church...if you are celebrating a Sunday sabbath, Christmas, Easter, and any of the other myriad of holidays that the way of paganism has laid before those who desire to walk with God, then you need to pray and pray some more and seek God about observing and celebrating His Sabbath and His Holy days and times.
There is coming a day, a time, when He is going to require that His Commands be followed. To have salvation in Yeshua is the begining but He says to study and show yourself approved. Read what He says..read with understanding....Yeshua is Torah....He is the complete Word of God and He came to fill us full of Torah.
I will not say that the road is an easy one to follow. It is hard to give up a whole lifetime of holidays and have to put memories into perspective but when you come into the understanding that all you have been taught since the begining of the Catholic church has been half-truths and lies, then you 'see' the bigger picture.
Yes, the Protestants came away knowing that salvation only comes from our Yeshua haMashiach and there is no Biblical reason for the sacrements and such and Mary is not to be worshipped but so much was retained. Some early Protestants got away completely and did not follow the pagan christmas celebrations and the other pagan aspects of this pretender church but it has sneaked its way back in. There is news of some Protestants who are allowing lent and other days of that church to be in their churches. And some have started following the way of it in belief they can reach God. God will not be mocked.
No one can make you follow the Way of God. This has to be your choice. To make you would be as the Pretender church who persecuted and killed those who did not follow its ways. That is NOT the Way of God. You have free will and He respects it. But, He has set those around and about who will continue to preach about His way...just as Yeshua came and left His Apostles and followers to tell the people there is a better way.
I will tell you I did not give up church all together at first. As I came into His Way and observed and celebrated His Sabbath, I continued going to sunday services,. NOT AS A SABBATH, NOOOO, but as a day to worship which could be any day of the week. He is to be worshipped and praised everyday. My pastor, at the time, was a Godly man who observed Shabbat and did not celebrate the pagan days, although most of his congregation did. He did say as some do, that to observe Christmas and Easter was to do so as a memorial to our LORD. I remember at one Easter, when he said that he looked straight at me as if to get confirmation that it was alright. I had not come completely out of the pagan and was teetering on the fence. Now, I would not even be in a Easter service. So I remember just nodding at him as if to say, yes, it is just a memorial. LORD forgive me for being blinded back then!
I say to you, you can go to sunday services IF you can keep the Sabbath separate from it. And if you can refrain from the pagan holidays that are celebrated in these churches. BUt if the struggle is too much, come out. Come to the Way of God and see that it is good.
I love you and want the best for you and if the LORD had not laid this upon my heart I would not have written it.
The following tips are from a friend and they are marvelous. We can all live by these. And if we begin to incorperate a few into our lives I believe we will reap the benefit.
God Bless YOU!
With love to YOU in and through Yeshua our Savior and soon coming King...His servant, gloria
40 Tips for a Better Life
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.
7. Make time to practice meditation and prayer . They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. GOD heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey, I'm thinking of ya!
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please forward this to everyone you care about.
May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sacrifice/Obedience
Tammuz 21, 5769 Second day Yom Shaynee
Blessed be the LORD our God, Creator and King of the universe.
In Second Samuel 24:17....David says to ADONAI..."I have sinned, I have done wrong".
ADONAI, thru Gad tells him, "Go set up an altar to ADONAI on the threshing floor of Aravnah the Y'vusi. So David did as ADONAI had ordered. Aravnah sees the king coming and lays prostrate before him, asking why the king has come. David tells him he has come to buy the thrashing floor to build an altar to ADONAI. Aravnah offers it to David for nothing, as a gift...but David insists on buying it....."I refuse to offer ADONAI my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing".
What do I have to give You, LORD? What do I have?
"You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your rescources."
How many times have you beaten yourself up because you have felt you didn't have anything to offer the LORD? I think we all feel this way. I look at myself and I wonder why He even puts up with me.
What am I willing to sacrifice to You? What do You truly want from me?
And the LORD says to me..."You are not as you should be. You are not as I want you to be. You cannot do as I desire and do as you want. Don't you see your afflictions are coming from the place within you that has not come under My authority? Wait upon Me. Do not run with your mouth open and your tongue wagging."
'ADONAI is good, and He is fair; this is why He teaches sinners the way to live, leads the humble to do what is right and teaches the humble to live His way. All ADONAI'S paths are grace and truth to those who keep His covenant and instructions.'
Examine me, ADONAI, test me, search my mind and heart, for Your grace is there before my eyes, and I live my life in Your truth. Teach me Your Way, O ADONAI, lead me in a straight path. You are my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in You. Your anger lasts only a moment but your favor lasts a lifetime.
'Obedience brings favor. Favor brings blessing. Fasting and prayer brings deliverance. Forgiveness brings power.'
Yes, this is what You have said to me. But, my strength fails me because of my affliction and my bones grow weak. I cry out to You!
'The eyes of ADONAI watch over the righteous and his ears are open to their cry.
The righteous cry out and ADONAI hears. He saves you from all your troubles. ADONAI is near those wih broken hearts; He saves those whose spirit is crushed. The rightwous person suffers many evils but ADONAI rescues him out of them all.
Adonai looks out from heaven; He sees every human being; from the place where He lives He watches everyone living on earth. He Who fashioned the hearts of them all and understands all they do.'
Do you want a long life to see good things? If you do then keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceiving talk; turn from evil, do good; seek peace, go after it!
Through Yeshua we have received redemption..our salvation is sure...but He said..."Take My yoke...it is easy....the burden is light."
What was He talking about? The Torah. The Torah is spoken of as a yoke but it is not a burden. It is not chained around your neck pulling you down..no...it is a gift..a manual from God. It cantains all His instruction for our lives.
We are afflicted and burdened by life's everyday trials and tribulations. Some have more to bear than others and yes, some days are just worse than others but Who do we trust? We are to trust in our Elohim...our ADONAI.
I can keep trying to find the right sacrifice to set before my KIng but what does He say? What does he truly want?....Does ADONAI delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of ADONAI? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed orders is better than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom and his tongue speaks what is just.
The Torah of his God is in his heart; his footsteps will not falter
May you be blessed today. As always I only want what is best for you. Psalm 119 is all about Torah and how important it is to all of us who believe in ADONAI. If Yeshua is your Savior, if you call upon His name then you MUST start taking His Torah seriously. God has not changed! He is the same today, yesterday and forever. Do you want to understand how our Father wants us all to live?....study His Torah...which is the Word....and the Word became flesh.....Torah is Yeshua!
With love to you in and through Yeshua...His servant, gloria
Psalms Chapter 119
א אַשְׁרֵי תְמִימֵי-דָרֶךְ-- הַהֹלְכִים, בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה. 1 ALEPH. Happy are they that are upright in the way, who walk in the Torah of ADONAI.
ב אַשְׁרֵי, נֹצְרֵי עֵדֹתָיו; בְּכָל-לֵב יִדְרְשׁוּהוּ. 2 Happy are they that keep His testimonies, that seek Him with the whole heart.
ג אַף, לֹא-פָעֲלוּ עַוְלָה; בִּדְרָכָיו הָלָכוּ. 3 Yea, they do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.
ד אַתָּה, צִוִּיתָה פִקֻּדֶיךָ-- לִשְׁמֹר מְאֹד. 4 Thou hast ordained Thy precepts, that we should observe them diligently.
ה אַחֲלַי, יִכֹּנוּ דְרָכָי-- לִשְׁמֹר חֻקֶּיךָ. 5 Oh that my ways were directed to observe Thy statutes!
ו אָז לֹא-אֵבוֹשׁ-- בְּהַבִּיטִי, אֶל-כָּל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 6 Then should I not be ashamed, when I have regard unto all Thy commandments.
ז אוֹדְךָ, בְּיֹשֶׁר לֵבָב-- בְּלָמְדִי, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 7 I will give thanks unto Thee with uprightness of heart, when I learn Thy righteous ordinances.
ח אֶת-חֻקֶּיךָ אֶשְׁמֹר; אַל-תַּעַזְבֵנִי עַד-מְאֹד. 8 I will observe Thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly. {P}
ט בַּמֶּה יְזַכֶּה-נַּעַר, אֶת-אָרְחוֹ-- לִשְׁמֹר, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man keep his way pure? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.
י בְּכָל-לִבִּי דְרַשְׁתִּיךָ; אַל-תַּשְׁגֵּנִי, מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ. 10 With my whole heart have I sought Thee; O let me not err from Thy commandments.
יא בְּלִבִּי, צָפַנְתִּי אִמְרָתֶךָ-- לְמַעַן, לֹא אֶחֱטָא-לָךְ. 11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.
יב בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה-- לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 12 Blessed art Thou, O LORD; teach me Thy statutes.
יג בִּשְׂפָתַי סִפַּרְתִּי-- כֹּל, מִשְׁפְּטֵי-פִיךָ. 13 With my lips have I told all the ordinances of Thy mouth.
יד בְּדֶרֶךְ עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ שַׂשְׂתִּי-- כְּעַל כָּל-הוֹן. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
טו בְּפִקּוּדֶיךָ אָשִׂיחָה; וְאַבִּיטָה, אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ. 15 I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.
טז בְּחֻקֹּתֶיךָ אֶשְׁתַּעֲשָׁע; לֹא אֶשְׁכַּח דְּבָרֶךָ. 16 I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word. {P}
יז גְּמֹל עַל-עַבְדְּךָ אֶחְיֶה; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה דְבָרֶךָ. 17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with Thy servant that I may live, and I will observe Thy word.
יח גַּל-עֵינַי וְאַבִּיטָה-- נִפְלָאוֹת, מִתּוֹרָתֶךָ. 18 Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Torah.
יט גֵּר אָנֹכִי בָאָרֶץ; אַל-תַּסְתֵּר מִמֶּנִּי, מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 19 I am a sojourner in the earth; hide not Thy commandments from me.
כ גָּרְסָה נַפְשִׁי לְתַאֲבָה-- אֶל-מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ בְכָל-עֵת. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thine ordinances at all times.
כא גָּעַרְתָּ, זֵדִים אֲרוּרִים-- הַשֹּׁגִים, מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, that do err from Thy commandments.
כב גַּל מֵעָלַי, חֶרְפָּה וָבוּז: כִּי עֵדֹתֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי. 22 Take away from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept Thy testimonies.
כג גַּם יָשְׁבוּ שָׂרִים, בִּי נִדְבָּרוּ-- עַבְדְּךָ, יָשִׂיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ. 23 Even though princes sit and talk against me, thy servant doth meditate in Thy statutes.
כד גַּם-עֵדֹתֶיךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי-- אַנְשֵׁי עֲצָתִי. 24 Yea, Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counsellors. {P}
כה דָּבְקָה לֶעָפָר נַפְשִׁי; חַיֵּנִי, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust; quicken Thou me according to Thy word.
כו דְּרָכַי סִפַּרְתִּי, וַתַּעֲנֵנִי; לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 26 I told of my ways, and Thou didst answer me; teach me Thy statutes.
כז דֶּרֶךְ-פִּקּוּדֶיךָ הֲבִינֵנִי; וְאָשִׂיחָה, בְּנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ. 27 Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts, that I may talk of Thy wondrous works.
כח דָּלְפָה נַפְשִׁי, מִתּוּגָה; קַיְּמֵנִי, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 28 My soul melteth away for heaviness; sustain me according unto Thy word.
כט דֶּרֶךְ-שֶׁקֶר, הָסֵר מִמֶּנִּי; וְתוֹרָתְךָ חָנֵּנִי. 29 Remove from me the way of falsehood; and grant me Thy Torah graciously.
ל דֶּרֶךְ-אֱמוּנָה בָחָרְתִּי; מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ שִׁוִּיתִי. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; Thine ordinances have I set [before me].
לא דָּבַקְתִּי בְעֵדְוֹתֶיךָ; יְהוָה, אַל-תְּבִישֵׁנִי. 31 I cleave unto Thy testimonies; O LORD, put me not to shame.
לב דֶּרֶךְ-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אָרוּץ: כִּי תַרְחִיב לִבִּי. 32 I will run the way of Thy commandments, for Thou dost enlarge my heart. {P}
לג הוֹרֵנִי יְהוָה, דֶּרֶךְ חֻקֶּיךָ; וְאֶצְּרֶנָּה עֵקֶב. 33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of Thy statutes; and I will keep it at every step.
לד הֲבִינֵנִי, וְאֶצְּרָה תוֹרָתֶךָ; וְאֶשְׁמְרֶנָּה בְכָל-לֵב. 34 Give me understanding, that I keep Thy Torah and observe it with my whole heart.
לה הַדְרִיכֵנִי, בִּנְתִיב מִצְוֹתֶיךָ: כִּי-בוֹ חָפָצְתִּי. 35 Make me to tread in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
לו הַט-לִבִּי, אֶל-עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ; וְאַל אֶל-בָּצַע. 36 Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
לז הַעֲבֵר עֵינַי, מֵרְאוֹת שָׁוְא; בִּדְרָכֶךָ חַיֵּנִי. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in Thy ways.
לח הָקֵם לְעַבְדְּךָ, אִמְרָתֶךָ-- אֲשֶׁר, לְיִרְאָתֶךָ. 38 Confirm Thy word unto Thy servant, which pertaineth unto the fear of Thee.
לט הַעֲבֵר חֶרְפָּתִי, אֲשֶׁר יָגֹרְתִּי: כִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ טוֹבִים. 39 Turn away my reproach which I dread; for Thine ordinances are good.
מ הִנֵּה, תָּאַבְתִּי לְפִקֻּדֶיךָ; בְּצִדְקָתְךָ חַיֵּנִי. 40 Behold, I have longed after Thy precepts; quicken me in Thy righteousness. {P}
מא וִיבֹאֻנִי חֲסָדֶךָ יְהוָה; תְּשׁוּעָתְךָ, כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ. 41 VAU. Let Thy mercies also come unto me, O LORD, even Thy salvation, according to Thy word;
מב וְאֶעֱנֶה חֹרְפִי דָבָר: כִּי-בָטַחְתִּי, בִּדְבָרֶךָ. 42 That I may have an answer for him that taunteth me; for I trust in Thy word.
מג וְאַל-תַּצֵּל מִפִּי דְבַר-אֱמֶת עַד-מְאֹד: כִּי לְמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ, יִחָלְתִּי. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I hope in Thine ordinances;
מד וְאֶשְׁמְרָה תוֹרָתְךָ תָמִיד-- לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. 44 So shall I observe Thy Torah continually for ever and ever;
מה וְאֶתְהַלְּכָה בָרְחָבָה: כִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ דָרָשְׁתִּי. 45 And I will walk at ease, for I have sought Thy precepts;
מו וַאֲדַבְּרָה בְעֵדֹתֶיךָ, נֶגֶד מְלָכִים; וְלֹא אֵבוֹשׁ. 46 I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed.
מז וְאֶשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר אָהָבְתִּי. 47 And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved.
מח וְאֶשָּׂא-כַפַּי--אֶל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר אָהָבְתִּי; וְאָשִׂיחָה בְחֻקֶּיךָ. 48 I will lift up my hands also unto Thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in Thy statutes. {P}
מט זְכֹר-דָּבָר, לְעַבְדֶּךָ-- עַל, אֲשֶׁר יִחַלְתָּנִי. 49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto Thy servant, because Thou hast made me to hope.
נ זֹאת נֶחָמָתִי בְעָנְיִי: כִּי אִמְרָתְךָ חִיָּתְנִי. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word hath quickened me.
נא זֵדִים, הֱלִיצֻנִי עַד-מְאֹד; מִתּוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא נָטִיתִי. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision; yet have I not turned aside from Thy law.
נב זָכַרְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ מֵעוֹלָם יְהוָה; וָאֶתְנֶחָם. 52 I have remembered Thine ordinances which are of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself.
נג זַלְעָפָה אֲחָזַתְנִי, מֵרְשָׁעִים-- עֹזְבֵי, תּוֹרָתֶךָ. 53 Burning indignation hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake Thy Torah.
נד זְמִרוֹת, הָיוּ-לִי חֻקֶּיךָ-- בְּבֵית מְגוּרָי. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
נה זָכַרְתִּי בַלַּיְלָה שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה; וָאֶשְׁמְרָה, תּוֹרָתֶךָ. 55 I have remembered Thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have observed Thy Torah.
נו זֹאת הָיְתָה-לִּי: כִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי. 56 This I have had, that I have kept Thy precepts. {P}
נז חֶלְקִי יְהוָה אָמַרְתִּי-- לִשְׁמֹר דְּבָרֶיךָ. 57 HETH. My portion is the LORD, I have said that I would observe Thy words.
נח חִלִּיתִי פָנֶיךָ בְכָל-לֵב; חָנֵּנִי, כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ. 58 I have entreated Thy favour with my whole heart; be gracious unto me according to Thy word.
נט חִשַּׁבְתִּי דְרָכָי; וָאָשִׁיבָה רַגְלַי, אֶל-עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 59 I considered my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies.
ס חַשְׁתִּי, וְלֹא הִתְמַהְמָהְתִּי-- לִשְׁמֹר, מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 60 I made haste, and delayed not, to observe Thy commandments.
סא חֶבְלֵי רְשָׁעִים עִוְּדֻנִי; תּוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 61 The bands of the wicked have enclosed me; but I have not forgotten Thy Torah.
סב חֲצוֹת-לַיְלָה--אָקוּם, לְהוֹדוֹת לָךְ: עַל, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous ordinances.
סג חָבֵר אָנִי, לְכָל-אֲשֶׁר יְרֵאוּךָ; וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי, פִּקּוּדֶיךָ. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that observe Thy precepts.
סד חַסְדְּךָ יְהוָה, מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ; חֻקֶּיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Thy mercy; teach me Thy statutes. {P}
סה טוֹב, עָשִׂיתָ עִם-עַבְדְּךָ-- יְהוָה, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O LORD, according unto Thy word.
סו טוּב טַעַם וָדַעַת לַמְּדֵנִי: כִּי בְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ הֶאֱמָנְתִּי. 66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge; for I have believed Thy commandments.
סז טֶרֶם אֶעֱנֶה, אֲנִי שֹׁגֵג; וְעַתָּה, אִמְרָתְךָ שָׁמָרְתִּי. 67 Before I was afflicted, I did err; but now I observe Thy word.
סח טוֹב-אַתָּה וּמֵטִיב; לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me Thy statutes.
סט טָפְלוּ עָלַי שֶׁקֶר זֵדִים; אֲנִי, בְּכָל-לֵב אֶצֹּר פִּקּוּדֶיךָ. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me; but I with my whole heart will keep Thy precepts.
ע טָפַשׁ כַּחֵלֶב לִבָּם; אֲנִי, תּוֹרָתְךָ שִׁעֲשָׁעְתִּי. 70 Their heart is gross like fat; but I delight in Thy Torah.
עא טוֹב-לִי כִי-עֻנֵּיתִי-- לְמַעַן, אֶלְמַד חֻקֶּיךָ. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, in order that I might learn Thy statutes.
עב טוֹב-לִי תוֹרַת-פִּיךָ-- מֵאַלְפֵי, זָהָב וָכָסֶף. 72 The Torah of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. {P}
עג יָדֶיךָ עָשׂוּנִי, וַיְכוֹנְנוּנִי; הֲבִינֵנִי, וְאֶלְמְדָה מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 73 IOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments.
עד יְרֵאֶיךָ, יִרְאוּנִי וְיִשְׂמָחוּ: כִּי לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי. 74 They that fear Thee shall see me and be glad, because I have hope in Thy word.
עה יָדַעְתִּי יְהוָה, כִּי-צֶדֶק מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ; וֶאֱמוּנָה, עִנִּיתָנִי. 75 I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.
עו יְהִי-נָא חַסְדְּךָ לְנַחֲמֵנִי-- כְּאִמְרָתְךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ. 76 Let, I pray Thee, Thy lovingkindness be ready to comfort me, according to Thy promise unto Thy servant.
עז יְבֹאוּנִי רַחֲמֶיךָ וְאֶחְיֶה: כִּי-תוֹרָתְךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי. 77 Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; for Thy Torah is my delight.
עח יֵבֹשׁוּ זֵדִים, כִּי-שֶׁקֶר עִוְּתוּנִי; אֲנִי, אָשִׂיחַ בְּפִקּוּדֶיךָ. 78 Let the proud be put to shame, for they have distorted my cause with falsehood; but I will meditate in Thy precepts.
עט יָשׁוּבוּ לִי יְרֵאֶיךָ; וידעו (וְיֹדְעֵי), עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 79 Let those that fear Thee return unto me, and they that know Thy testimonies.
פ יְהִי-לִבִּי תָמִים בְּחֻקֶּיךָ-- לְמַעַן, לֹא אֵבוֹשׁ. 80 Let my heart be undivided in Thy statutes, in order that I may not be put to shame. {P}
פא כָּלְתָה לִתְשׁוּעָתְךָ נַפְשִׁי; לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי. 81 CAPH. My soul pineth for Thy salvation; in Thy word do I hope.
פב כָּלוּ עֵינַי, לְאִמְרָתֶךָ-- לֵאמֹר, מָתַי תְּנַחֲמֵנִי. 82 Mine eyes fail for Thy word, saying: 'When wilt Thou comfort me?'
פג כִּי-הָיִיתִי, כְּנֹאד בְּקִיטוֹר-- חֻקֶּיךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 83 For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke; yet do I not forget Thy statutes.
פד כַּמָּה יְמֵי-עַבְדֶּךָ; מָתַי תַּעֲשֶׂה בְרֹדְפַי מִשְׁפָּט. 84 How many are the days of Thy servant? When wilt Thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
פה כָּרוּ-לִי זֵדִים שִׁיחוֹת-- אֲשֶׁר, לֹא כְתוֹרָתֶךָ. 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which is not according to Thy Torah.
פו כָּל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֱמוּנָה; שֶׁקֶר רְדָפוּנִי עָזְרֵנִי. 86 All Thy commandments are faithful; they persecute me for nought; help Thou me.
פז כִּמְעַט, כִּלּוּנִי בָאָרֶץ; וַאֲנִי, לֹא-עָזַבְתִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but as for me, I forsook not Thy precepts.
פח כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה, עֵדוּת פִּיךָ. 88 Quicken me after Thy lovingkindness, and I will observe the testimony of Thy mouth. {P}
פט לְעוֹלָם יְהוָה-- דְּבָרְךָ, נִצָּב בַּשָּׁמָיִם. 89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, Thy word standeth fast in heaven.
צ לְדֹר וָדֹר, אֱמוּנָתֶךָ; כּוֹנַנְתָּ אֶרֶץ, וַתַּעֲמֹד. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations; Thou hast established the earth, and it standeth.
צא לְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ, עָמְדוּ הַיּוֹם: כִּי הַכֹּל עֲבָדֶיךָ. 91 They stand this day according to Thine ordinances; for all things are Thy servants.
צב לוּלֵי תוֹרָתְךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי-- אָז, אָבַדְתִּי בְעָנְיִי. 92 Unless Thy Torah had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
צג לְעוֹלָם, לֹא-אֶשְׁכַּח פִּקּוּדֶיךָ: כִּי בָם, חִיִּיתָנִי. 93 I will never forget Thy precepts; for with them Thou hast quickened me.
צד לְךָ-אֲנִי, הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי: כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ דָרָשְׁתִּי. 94 I am Thine, save me; for I have sought Thy precepts.
צה לִי קִוּוּ רְשָׁעִים לְאַבְּדֵנִי; עֵדֹתֶיךָ, אֶתְבּוֹנָן. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me; but I will consider Thy testimonies.
צו לְכָל-תִּכְלָה, רָאִיתִי קֵץ; רְחָבָה מִצְוָתְךָ מְאֹד. 96 I have seen an end to every purpose; but Thy commandment is exceeding broad. {P}
צז מָה-אָהַבְתִּי תוֹרָתֶךָ: כָּל-הַיּוֹם, הִיא שִׂיחָתִי. 97 MEM. O how love I Thy Torah! It is my meditation all the day.
צח מֵאֹיְבַי, תְּחַכְּמֵנִי מִצְוֹתֶךָ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם הִיא-לִי. 98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
צט מִכָּל-מְלַמְּדַי הִשְׂכַּלְתִּי: כִּי עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ, שִׂיחָה לִי. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; for Thy testimonies are my meditation.
ק מִזְּקֵנִים אֶתְבּוֹנָן: כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי. 100 I understand more than mine elders, because I have keep Thy precepts.
קא מִכָּל-אֹרַח רָע, כָּלִאתִי רַגְלָי-- לְמַעַן, אֶשְׁמֹר דְּבָרֶךָ. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, in order that I might observe Thy word.
קב מִמִּשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לֹא-סָרְתִּי: כִּי-אַתָּה, הוֹרֵתָנִי. 102 I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances; for Thou hast instructed me.
קג מַה-נִּמְלְצוּ לְחִכִּי, אִמְרָתֶךָ-- מִדְּבַשׁ לְפִי. 103 How sweet are Thy words unto my palate! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
קד מִפִּקּוּדֶיךָ אֶתְבּוֹנָן; עַל כֵּן, שָׂנֵאתִי כָּל-אֹרַח שָׁקֶר. 104 From Thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. {P}
קה נֵר-לְרַגְלִי דְבָרֶךָ; וְאוֹר, לִנְתִיבָתִי. 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
קו נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי וָאֲקַיֵּמָה-- לִשְׁמֹר, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 106 I have sworn, and have confirmed it, to observe Thy righteous ordinances.
קז נַעֲנֵיתִי עַד-מְאֹד; יְהוָה, חַיֵּנִי כִדְבָרֶךָ. 107 I am afflicted very much; quicken me, O LORD, according unto Thy word.
קח נִדְבוֹת פִּי, רְצֵה-נָא יְהוָה; וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי. 108 Accept, I beseech Thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Thine ordinances.
קט נַפְשִׁי בְכַפִּי תָמִיד; וְתוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 109 My soul is continually in my hand; yet have I not forgotten Thy law.
קי נָתְנוּ רְשָׁעִים פַּח לִי; וּמִפִּקּוּדֶיךָ, לֹא תָעִיתִי. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me; yet went I not astray from Thy precepts.
קיא נָחַלְתִּי עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם: כִּי-שְׂשׂוֹן לִבִּי הֵמָּה. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
קיב נָטִיתִי לִבִּי, לַעֲשׂוֹת חֻקֶּיךָ-- לְעוֹלָם עֵקֶב. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes, for ever, at every step. {P}
קיג סֵעֲפִים שָׂנֵאתִי; וְתוֹרָתְךָ אָהָבְתִּי. 113 SAMECH. I hate them that are of a double mind; but Thy Torah do I love.
קיד סִתְרִי וּמָגִנִּי אָתָּה; לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי. 114 Thou art my covert and my shield; in Thy word do I hope.
קטו סוּרוּ-מִמֶּנִּי מְרֵעִים; וְאֶצְּרָה, מִצְוֹת אֱלֹהָי. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers; that I may keep the commandments of my God.
קטז סָמְכֵנִי כְאִמְרָתְךָ וְאֶחְיֶה; וְאַל-תְּבִישֵׁנִי, מִשִּׂבְרִי. 116 Uphold me according unto Thy word, that I may live; and put me not to shame in my hope.
קיז סְעָדֵנִי וְאִוָּשֵׁעָה; וְאֶשְׁעָה בְחֻקֶּיךָ תָמִיד. 117 Support Thou me, and I shall be saved; and I will occupy myself with Thy statutes continually.
קיח סָלִיתָ, כָּל-שׁוֹגִים מֵחֻקֶּיךָ: כִּי-שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִיתָם. 118 Thou hast made light of all them that err from Thy statutes; for their deceit is vain.
קיט סִגִים--הִשְׁבַּתָּ כָל-רִשְׁעֵי-אָרֶץ; לָכֵן, אָהַבְתִּי עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Thy testimonies.
קכ סָמַר מִפַּחְדְּךָ בְשָׂרִי; וּמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶיךָ יָרֵאתִי. 120 My flesh shuddereth for fear of Thee; and I am afraid of Thy judgments. {P}
קכא עָשִׂיתִי, מִשְׁפָּט וָצֶדֶק; בַּל-תַּנִּיחֵנִי, לְעֹשְׁקָי. 121 AIN. I have done justice and righteousness; leave me not to mine oppressors.
קכב עֲרֹב עַבְדְּךָ לְטוֹב; אַל-יַעַשְׁקֻנִי זֵדִים. 122 Be surety for Thy servant for good; let not the proud oppress me.
קכג עֵינַי, כָּלוּ לִישׁוּעָתֶךָ; וּלְאִמְרַת צִדְקֶךָ. 123 Mine eyes fail for Thy salvation, and for Thy righteous word.
קכד עֲשֵׂה עִם-עַבְדְּךָ כְחַסְדֶּךָ; וְחֻקֶּיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי. 124 Deal with Thy servant according unto Thy mercy, and teach me Thy statutes.
קכה עַבְדְּךָ-אָנִי הֲבִינֵנִי; וְאֵדְעָה, עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 125 I am Thy servant, give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies.
קכו עֵת, לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיהוָה-- הֵפֵרוּ, תּוֹרָתֶךָ. 126 It is time for the LORD to work; they have made void Thy Torah.
קכז עַל-כֵּן, אָהַבְתִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ-- מִזָּהָב וּמִפָּז. 127 Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold.
קכח עַל-כֵּן, כָּל-פִּקּוּדֵי כֹל יִשָּׁרְתִּי; כָּל-אֹרַח שֶׁקֶר שָׂנֵאתִי. 128 Therefore I esteem all [Thy] precepts concerning all things to be right; every false way I hate. {P}
קכט פְּלָאוֹת עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ; עַל-כֵּן, נְצָרָתַם נַפְשִׁי. 129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul keep them.
קל פֵּתַח דְּבָרֶיךָ יָאִיר; מֵבִין פְּתָיִים. 130 The opening of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
קלא פִּי-פָעַרְתִּי, וָאֶשְׁאָפָה: כִּי לְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ יָאָבְתִּי. 131 I opened wide my mouth, and panted; for I longed for Thy commandments.
קלב פְּנֵה-אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי-- כְּמִשְׁפָּט, לְאֹהֲבֵי שְׁמֶךָ. 132 Turn Thee towards me, and be gracious unto me, as is Thy wont to do unto those that love Thy name.
קלג פְּעָמַי, הָכֵן בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ; וְאַל-תַּשְׁלֶט-בִּי כָל-אָוֶן. 133 Order my footsteps by Thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
קלד פְּדֵנִי, מֵעֹשֶׁק אָדָם; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה, פִּקּוּדֶיךָ. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, and I will observe Thy precepts.
קלה פָּנֶיךָ, הָאֵר בְּעַבְדֶּךָ; וְלַמְּדֵנִי, אֶת-חֻקֶּיךָ. 135 Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy statutes.
קלו פַּלְגֵי-מַיִם, יָרְדוּ עֵינָי-- עַל, לֹא-שָׁמְרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ. 136 Mine eyes run down with rivers of water, because they observe not Thy Torah. {P}
קלז צַדִּיק אַתָּה יְהוָה; וְיָשָׁר, מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ. 137 TZADE. Righteous art Thou, O LORD, and upright are Thy judgments.
קלח צִוִּיתָ, צֶדֶק עֵדֹתֶיךָ; וֶאֱמוּנָה מְאֹד. 138 Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.
קלט צִמְּתַתְנִי קִנְאָתִי: כִּי-שָׁכְחוּ דְבָרֶיךָ צָרָי. 139 My zeal hath undone me, because mine adversaries have forgotten Thy words.
קמ צְרוּפָה אִמְרָתְךָ מְאֹד; וְעַבְדְּךָ אֲהֵבָהּ. 140 Thy word is tried to the uttermost, and Thy servant loveth it.
קמא צָעִיר אָנֹכִי וְנִבְזֶה; פִּקֻּדֶיךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 141 I am small and despised; yet have I not forgotten Thy precepts.
קמב צִדְקָתְךָ צֶדֶק לְעוֹלָם; וְתוֹרָתְךָ אֱמֶת. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Torah is the truth.
קמג צַר-וּמָצוֹק מְצָאוּנִי; מִצְוֹתֶיךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי. 143 Trouble and anguish have overtaken me; yet Thy commandments are my delight.
קמד צֶדֶק עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם; הֲבִינֵנִי וְאֶחְיֶה. 144 Thy testimonies are righteous for ever; give me understanding, and I shall live. {P}
קמה קָרָאתִי בְכָל-לֵב, עֲנֵנִי יְהוָה; חֻקֶּיךָ אֶצֹּרָה. 145 KOPH. I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O LORD; I will keep Thy statutes.
קמו קְרָאתִיךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה, עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 146 I have called Thee, save me, and I will observe Thy testimonies.
קמז קִדַּמְתִּי בַנֶּשֶׁף, וָאֲשַׁוֵּעָה; לדבריך (לִדְבָרְךָ) יִחָלְתִּי. 147 I rose early at dawn, and cried; I hoped in Thy word.
קמח קִדְּמוּ עֵינַי, אַשְׁמֻרוֹת-- לָשִׂיחַ, בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ. 148 Mine eyes forestalled the night-watches, that I might meditate in Thy word.
קמט קוֹלִי, שִׁמְעָה כְחַסְדֶּךָ; יְהוָה, כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ חַיֵּנִי. 149 Hear my voice according unto Thy lovingkindness; quicken me, O LORD, as Thou art wont.
קנ קָרְבוּ, רֹדְפֵי זִמָּה; מִתּוֹרָתְךָ רָחָקוּ. 150 They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; they are far from Thy law.
קנא קָרוֹב אַתָּה יְהוָה; וְכָל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֱמֶת. 151 Thou art nigh, O LORD; and all Thy commandments are truth.
קנב קֶדֶם יָדַעְתִּי, מֵעֵדֹתֶיךָ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם יְסַדְתָּם. 152 Of old have I known from Thy testimonies that Thou hast founded them for ever. {P}
קנג רְאֵה-עָנְיִי וְחַלְּצֵנִי: כִּי-תוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 153 RESH. O see mine affliction, and rescue me; for I do not forget Thy Torah.
קנד רִיבָה רִיבִי, וּגְאָלֵנִי; לְאִמְרָתְךָ חַיֵּנִי. 154 Plead Thou my cause, and redeem me; quicken me according to Thy word.
קנה רָחוֹק מֵרְשָׁעִים יְשׁוּעָה: כִּי חֻקֶּיךָ, לֹא דָרָשׁוּ. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not Thy statutes.
קנו רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהוָה; כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ חַיֵּנִי. 156 Great are Thy compassions, O LORD; quicken me as Thou art wont.
קנז רַבִּים, רֹדְפַי וְצָרָי; מֵעֵדְוֹתֶיךָ, לֹא נָטִיתִי. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; yet have I not turned aside from Thy testimonies.
קנח רָאִיתִי בֹגְדִים, וָאֶתְקוֹטָטָה-- אֲשֶׁר אִמְרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁמָרוּ. 158 I beheld them that were faithless, and strove with them; because they observed not Thy word.
קנט רְאֵה, כִּי-פִקּוּדֶיךָ אָהָבְתִּי; יְהוָה, כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי. 159 O see how I love Thy precepts; quicken me, O LORD, according to Thy lovingkindness.
קס רֹאשׁ-דְּבָרְךָ אֱמֶת; וּלְעוֹלָם, כָּל-מִשְׁפַּט צִדְקֶךָ. 160 The beginning of Thy word is truth; and all Thy righteous ordinance endureth for ever. {P}
קסא שָׂרִים, רְדָפוּנִי חִנָּם; ומדבריך (וּמִדְּבָרְךָ), פָּחַד לִבִּי. 161 SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of Thy words.
קסב שָׂשׂ אָנֹכִי, עַל-אִמְרָתֶךָ-- כְּמוֹצֵא, שָׁלָל רָב. 162 I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
קסג שֶׁקֶר שָׂנֵאתִי, וַאֲתַעֵבָה; תּוֹרָתְךָ אָהָבְתִּי. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood; Thy Torah do I love.
קסד שֶׁבַע בַּיּוֹם, הִלַּלְתִּיךָ-- עַל, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 164 Seven times a day do I praise Thee, because of Thy righteous ordinances.
קסה שָׁלוֹם רָב, לְאֹהֲבֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ; וְאֵין-לָמוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל. 165 Great peace have they that love Thy Torah; and there is no stumbling for them.
קסו שִׂבַּרְתִּי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה; וּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי. 166 I have hoped for Thy salvation, O LORD, and have done Thy commandments.
קסז שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי, עֵדֹתֶיךָ; וָאֹהֲבֵם מְאֹד. 167 My soul hath observed Thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
קסח שָׁמַרְתִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ, וְעֵדֹתֶיךָ: כִּי כָל-דְּרָכַי נֶגְדֶּךָ. 168 I have observed Thy precepts and Thy testimonies; for all my ways are before Thee. {P}
קסט תִּקְרַב רִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה; כִּדְבָרְךָ הֲבִינֵנִי. 169 TAU. Let my cry come near before Thee, O LORD; give me understanding according to Thy word.
קע תָּבוֹא תְּחִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ; כְּאִמְרָתְךָ, הַצִּילֵנִי. 170 Let my supplication come before Thee; deliver me according to Thy word.
קעא תַּבַּעְנָה שְׂפָתַי תְּהִלָּה: כִּי תְלַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 171 Let my lips utter praise: because Thou teachest me Thy statutes.
קעב תַּעַן לְשׁוֹנִי, אִמְרָתֶךָ: כִּי כָל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ צֶּדֶק. 172 Let my tongue sing of Thy word; for all Thy commandments are righteousness.
קעג תְּהִי-יָדְךָ לְעָזְרֵנִי: כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ בָחָרְתִּי. 173 Let Thy hand be ready to help me; for I have chosen Thy precepts.
קעד תָּאַבְתִּי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה; וְתוֹרָתְךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי. 174 I have longed for Thy salvation, O LORD; and Thy Torah is my delight.
קעה תְּחִי-נַפְשִׁי, וּתְהַלְלֶךָּ; וּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ יַעְזְרֻנִי. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee; and let Thine ordinances help me.
קעו תָּעִיתִי-- כְּשֶׂה אֹבֵד, בַּקֵּשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ:
כִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant; {N}
for I have not forgotten Thy commandments. {
Blessed be the LORD our God, Creator and King of the universe.
In Second Samuel 24:17....David says to ADONAI..."I have sinned, I have done wrong".
ADONAI, thru Gad tells him, "Go set up an altar to ADONAI on the threshing floor of Aravnah the Y'vusi. So David did as ADONAI had ordered. Aravnah sees the king coming and lays prostrate before him, asking why the king has come. David tells him he has come to buy the thrashing floor to build an altar to ADONAI. Aravnah offers it to David for nothing, as a gift...but David insists on buying it....."I refuse to offer ADONAI my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing".
What do I have to give You, LORD? What do I have?
"You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your rescources."
How many times have you beaten yourself up because you have felt you didn't have anything to offer the LORD? I think we all feel this way. I look at myself and I wonder why He even puts up with me.
What am I willing to sacrifice to You? What do You truly want from me?
And the LORD says to me..."You are not as you should be. You are not as I want you to be. You cannot do as I desire and do as you want. Don't you see your afflictions are coming from the place within you that has not come under My authority? Wait upon Me. Do not run with your mouth open and your tongue wagging."
'ADONAI is good, and He is fair; this is why He teaches sinners the way to live, leads the humble to do what is right and teaches the humble to live His way. All ADONAI'S paths are grace and truth to those who keep His covenant and instructions.'
Examine me, ADONAI, test me, search my mind and heart, for Your grace is there before my eyes, and I live my life in Your truth. Teach me Your Way, O ADONAI, lead me in a straight path. You are my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in You. Your anger lasts only a moment but your favor lasts a lifetime.
'Obedience brings favor. Favor brings blessing. Fasting and prayer brings deliverance. Forgiveness brings power.'
Yes, this is what You have said to me. But, my strength fails me because of my affliction and my bones grow weak. I cry out to You!
'The eyes of ADONAI watch over the righteous and his ears are open to their cry.
The righteous cry out and ADONAI hears. He saves you from all your troubles. ADONAI is near those wih broken hearts; He saves those whose spirit is crushed. The rightwous person suffers many evils but ADONAI rescues him out of them all.
Adonai looks out from heaven; He sees every human being; from the place where He lives He watches everyone living on earth. He Who fashioned the hearts of them all and understands all they do.'
Do you want a long life to see good things? If you do then keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceiving talk; turn from evil, do good; seek peace, go after it!
Through Yeshua we have received redemption..our salvation is sure...but He said..."Take My yoke...it is easy....the burden is light."
What was He talking about? The Torah. The Torah is spoken of as a yoke but it is not a burden. It is not chained around your neck pulling you down..no...it is a gift..a manual from God. It cantains all His instruction for our lives.
We are afflicted and burdened by life's everyday trials and tribulations. Some have more to bear than others and yes, some days are just worse than others but Who do we trust? We are to trust in our Elohim...our ADONAI.
I can keep trying to find the right sacrifice to set before my KIng but what does He say? What does he truly want?....Does ADONAI delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of ADONAI? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed orders is better than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom and his tongue speaks what is just.
The Torah of his God is in his heart; his footsteps will not falter
May you be blessed today. As always I only want what is best for you. Psalm 119 is all about Torah and how important it is to all of us who believe in ADONAI. If Yeshua is your Savior, if you call upon His name then you MUST start taking His Torah seriously. God has not changed! He is the same today, yesterday and forever. Do you want to understand how our Father wants us all to live?....study His Torah...which is the Word....and the Word became flesh.....Torah is Yeshua!
With love to you in and through Yeshua...His servant, gloria
Psalms Chapter 119
א אַשְׁרֵי תְמִימֵי-דָרֶךְ-- הַהֹלְכִים, בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה. 1 ALEPH. Happy are they that are upright in the way, who walk in the Torah of ADONAI.
ב אַשְׁרֵי, נֹצְרֵי עֵדֹתָיו; בְּכָל-לֵב יִדְרְשׁוּהוּ. 2 Happy are they that keep His testimonies, that seek Him with the whole heart.
ג אַף, לֹא-פָעֲלוּ עַוְלָה; בִּדְרָכָיו הָלָכוּ. 3 Yea, they do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.
ד אַתָּה, צִוִּיתָה פִקֻּדֶיךָ-- לִשְׁמֹר מְאֹד. 4 Thou hast ordained Thy precepts, that we should observe them diligently.
ה אַחֲלַי, יִכֹּנוּ דְרָכָי-- לִשְׁמֹר חֻקֶּיךָ. 5 Oh that my ways were directed to observe Thy statutes!
ו אָז לֹא-אֵבוֹשׁ-- בְּהַבִּיטִי, אֶל-כָּל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 6 Then should I not be ashamed, when I have regard unto all Thy commandments.
ז אוֹדְךָ, בְּיֹשֶׁר לֵבָב-- בְּלָמְדִי, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 7 I will give thanks unto Thee with uprightness of heart, when I learn Thy righteous ordinances.
ח אֶת-חֻקֶּיךָ אֶשְׁמֹר; אַל-תַּעַזְבֵנִי עַד-מְאֹד. 8 I will observe Thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly. {P}
ט בַּמֶּה יְזַכֶּה-נַּעַר, אֶת-אָרְחוֹ-- לִשְׁמֹר, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man keep his way pure? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.
י בְּכָל-לִבִּי דְרַשְׁתִּיךָ; אַל-תַּשְׁגֵּנִי, מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ. 10 With my whole heart have I sought Thee; O let me not err from Thy commandments.
יא בְּלִבִּי, צָפַנְתִּי אִמְרָתֶךָ-- לְמַעַן, לֹא אֶחֱטָא-לָךְ. 11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee.
יב בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה-- לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 12 Blessed art Thou, O LORD; teach me Thy statutes.
יג בִּשְׂפָתַי סִפַּרְתִּי-- כֹּל, מִשְׁפְּטֵי-פִיךָ. 13 With my lips have I told all the ordinances of Thy mouth.
יד בְּדֶרֶךְ עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ שַׂשְׂתִּי-- כְּעַל כָּל-הוֹן. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
טו בְּפִקּוּדֶיךָ אָשִׂיחָה; וְאַבִּיטָה, אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ. 15 I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.
טז בְּחֻקֹּתֶיךָ אֶשְׁתַּעֲשָׁע; לֹא אֶשְׁכַּח דְּבָרֶךָ. 16 I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word. {P}
יז גְּמֹל עַל-עַבְדְּךָ אֶחְיֶה; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה דְבָרֶךָ. 17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with Thy servant that I may live, and I will observe Thy word.
יח גַּל-עֵינַי וְאַבִּיטָה-- נִפְלָאוֹת, מִתּוֹרָתֶךָ. 18 Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Torah.
יט גֵּר אָנֹכִי בָאָרֶץ; אַל-תַּסְתֵּר מִמֶּנִּי, מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 19 I am a sojourner in the earth; hide not Thy commandments from me.
כ גָּרְסָה נַפְשִׁי לְתַאֲבָה-- אֶל-מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ בְכָל-עֵת. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto Thine ordinances at all times.
כא גָּעַרְתָּ, זֵדִים אֲרוּרִים-- הַשֹּׁגִים, מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, that do err from Thy commandments.
כב גַּל מֵעָלַי, חֶרְפָּה וָבוּז: כִּי עֵדֹתֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי. 22 Take away from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept Thy testimonies.
כג גַּם יָשְׁבוּ שָׂרִים, בִּי נִדְבָּרוּ-- עַבְדְּךָ, יָשִׂיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ. 23 Even though princes sit and talk against me, thy servant doth meditate in Thy statutes.
כד גַּם-עֵדֹתֶיךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי-- אַנְשֵׁי עֲצָתִי. 24 Yea, Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counsellors. {P}
כה דָּבְקָה לֶעָפָר נַפְשִׁי; חַיֵּנִי, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust; quicken Thou me according to Thy word.
כו דְּרָכַי סִפַּרְתִּי, וַתַּעֲנֵנִי; לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 26 I told of my ways, and Thou didst answer me; teach me Thy statutes.
כז דֶּרֶךְ-פִּקּוּדֶיךָ הֲבִינֵנִי; וְאָשִׂיחָה, בְּנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ. 27 Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts, that I may talk of Thy wondrous works.
כח דָּלְפָה נַפְשִׁי, מִתּוּגָה; קַיְּמֵנִי, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 28 My soul melteth away for heaviness; sustain me according unto Thy word.
כט דֶּרֶךְ-שֶׁקֶר, הָסֵר מִמֶּנִּי; וְתוֹרָתְךָ חָנֵּנִי. 29 Remove from me the way of falsehood; and grant me Thy Torah graciously.
ל דֶּרֶךְ-אֱמוּנָה בָחָרְתִּי; מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ שִׁוִּיתִי. 30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; Thine ordinances have I set [before me].
לא דָּבַקְתִּי בְעֵדְוֹתֶיךָ; יְהוָה, אַל-תְּבִישֵׁנִי. 31 I cleave unto Thy testimonies; O LORD, put me not to shame.
לב דֶּרֶךְ-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אָרוּץ: כִּי תַרְחִיב לִבִּי. 32 I will run the way of Thy commandments, for Thou dost enlarge my heart. {P}
לג הוֹרֵנִי יְהוָה, דֶּרֶךְ חֻקֶּיךָ; וְאֶצְּרֶנָּה עֵקֶב. 33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of Thy statutes; and I will keep it at every step.
לד הֲבִינֵנִי, וְאֶצְּרָה תוֹרָתֶךָ; וְאֶשְׁמְרֶנָּה בְכָל-לֵב. 34 Give me understanding, that I keep Thy Torah and observe it with my whole heart.
לה הַדְרִיכֵנִי, בִּנְתִיב מִצְוֹתֶיךָ: כִּי-בוֹ חָפָצְתִּי. 35 Make me to tread in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
לו הַט-לִבִּי, אֶל-עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ; וְאַל אֶל-בָּצַע. 36 Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
לז הַעֲבֵר עֵינַי, מֵרְאוֹת שָׁוְא; בִּדְרָכֶךָ חַיֵּנִי. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in Thy ways.
לח הָקֵם לְעַבְדְּךָ, אִמְרָתֶךָ-- אֲשֶׁר, לְיִרְאָתֶךָ. 38 Confirm Thy word unto Thy servant, which pertaineth unto the fear of Thee.
לט הַעֲבֵר חֶרְפָּתִי, אֲשֶׁר יָגֹרְתִּי: כִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ טוֹבִים. 39 Turn away my reproach which I dread; for Thine ordinances are good.
מ הִנֵּה, תָּאַבְתִּי לְפִקֻּדֶיךָ; בְּצִדְקָתְךָ חַיֵּנִי. 40 Behold, I have longed after Thy precepts; quicken me in Thy righteousness. {P}
מא וִיבֹאֻנִי חֲסָדֶךָ יְהוָה; תְּשׁוּעָתְךָ, כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ. 41 VAU. Let Thy mercies also come unto me, O LORD, even Thy salvation, according to Thy word;
מב וְאֶעֱנֶה חֹרְפִי דָבָר: כִּי-בָטַחְתִּי, בִּדְבָרֶךָ. 42 That I may have an answer for him that taunteth me; for I trust in Thy word.
מג וְאַל-תַּצֵּל מִפִּי דְבַר-אֱמֶת עַד-מְאֹד: כִּי לְמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ, יִחָלְתִּי. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I hope in Thine ordinances;
מד וְאֶשְׁמְרָה תוֹרָתְךָ תָמִיד-- לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. 44 So shall I observe Thy Torah continually for ever and ever;
מה וְאֶתְהַלְּכָה בָרְחָבָה: כִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ דָרָשְׁתִּי. 45 And I will walk at ease, for I have sought Thy precepts;
מו וַאֲדַבְּרָה בְעֵדֹתֶיךָ, נֶגֶד מְלָכִים; וְלֹא אֵבוֹשׁ. 46 I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed.
מז וְאֶשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בְּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר אָהָבְתִּי. 47 And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved.
מח וְאֶשָּׂא-כַפַּי--אֶל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר אָהָבְתִּי; וְאָשִׂיחָה בְחֻקֶּיךָ. 48 I will lift up my hands also unto Thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in Thy statutes. {P}
מט זְכֹר-דָּבָר, לְעַבְדֶּךָ-- עַל, אֲשֶׁר יִחַלְתָּנִי. 49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto Thy servant, because Thou hast made me to hope.
נ זֹאת נֶחָמָתִי בְעָנְיִי: כִּי אִמְרָתְךָ חִיָּתְנִי. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word hath quickened me.
נא זֵדִים, הֱלִיצֻנִי עַד-מְאֹד; מִתּוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא נָטִיתִי. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision; yet have I not turned aside from Thy law.
נב זָכַרְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ מֵעוֹלָם יְהוָה; וָאֶתְנֶחָם. 52 I have remembered Thine ordinances which are of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself.
נג זַלְעָפָה אֲחָזַתְנִי, מֵרְשָׁעִים-- עֹזְבֵי, תּוֹרָתֶךָ. 53 Burning indignation hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake Thy Torah.
נד זְמִרוֹת, הָיוּ-לִי חֻקֶּיךָ-- בְּבֵית מְגוּרָי. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
נה זָכַרְתִּי בַלַּיְלָה שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה; וָאֶשְׁמְרָה, תּוֹרָתֶךָ. 55 I have remembered Thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have observed Thy Torah.
נו זֹאת הָיְתָה-לִּי: כִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי. 56 This I have had, that I have kept Thy precepts. {P}
נז חֶלְקִי יְהוָה אָמַרְתִּי-- לִשְׁמֹר דְּבָרֶיךָ. 57 HETH. My portion is the LORD, I have said that I would observe Thy words.
נח חִלִּיתִי פָנֶיךָ בְכָל-לֵב; חָנֵּנִי, כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ. 58 I have entreated Thy favour with my whole heart; be gracious unto me according to Thy word.
נט חִשַּׁבְתִּי דְרָכָי; וָאָשִׁיבָה רַגְלַי, אֶל-עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 59 I considered my ways, and turned my feet unto Thy testimonies.
ס חַשְׁתִּי, וְלֹא הִתְמַהְמָהְתִּי-- לִשְׁמֹר, מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 60 I made haste, and delayed not, to observe Thy commandments.
סא חֶבְלֵי רְשָׁעִים עִוְּדֻנִי; תּוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 61 The bands of the wicked have enclosed me; but I have not forgotten Thy Torah.
סב חֲצוֹת-לַיְלָה--אָקוּם, לְהוֹדוֹת לָךְ: עַל, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous ordinances.
סג חָבֵר אָנִי, לְכָל-אֲשֶׁר יְרֵאוּךָ; וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי, פִּקּוּדֶיךָ. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that observe Thy precepts.
סד חַסְדְּךָ יְהוָה, מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ; חֻקֶּיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Thy mercy; teach me Thy statutes. {P}
סה טוֹב, עָשִׂיתָ עִם-עַבְדְּךָ-- יְהוָה, כִּדְבָרֶךָ. 65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O LORD, according unto Thy word.
סו טוּב טַעַם וָדַעַת לַמְּדֵנִי: כִּי בְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ הֶאֱמָנְתִּי. 66 Teach me good discernment and knowledge; for I have believed Thy commandments.
סז טֶרֶם אֶעֱנֶה, אֲנִי שֹׁגֵג; וְעַתָּה, אִמְרָתְךָ שָׁמָרְתִּי. 67 Before I was afflicted, I did err; but now I observe Thy word.
סח טוֹב-אַתָּה וּמֵטִיב; לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me Thy statutes.
סט טָפְלוּ עָלַי שֶׁקֶר זֵדִים; אֲנִי, בְּכָל-לֵב אֶצֹּר פִּקּוּדֶיךָ. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me; but I with my whole heart will keep Thy precepts.
ע טָפַשׁ כַּחֵלֶב לִבָּם; אֲנִי, תּוֹרָתְךָ שִׁעֲשָׁעְתִּי. 70 Their heart is gross like fat; but I delight in Thy Torah.
עא טוֹב-לִי כִי-עֻנֵּיתִי-- לְמַעַן, אֶלְמַד חֻקֶּיךָ. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, in order that I might learn Thy statutes.
עב טוֹב-לִי תוֹרַת-פִּיךָ-- מֵאַלְפֵי, זָהָב וָכָסֶף. 72 The Torah of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. {P}
עג יָדֶיךָ עָשׂוּנִי, וַיְכוֹנְנוּנִי; הֲבִינֵנִי, וְאֶלְמְדָה מִצְוֹתֶיךָ. 73 IOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments.
עד יְרֵאֶיךָ, יִרְאוּנִי וְיִשְׂמָחוּ: כִּי לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי. 74 They that fear Thee shall see me and be glad, because I have hope in Thy word.
עה יָדַעְתִּי יְהוָה, כִּי-צֶדֶק מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ; וֶאֱמוּנָה, עִנִּיתָנִי. 75 I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.
עו יְהִי-נָא חַסְדְּךָ לְנַחֲמֵנִי-- כְּאִמְרָתְךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ. 76 Let, I pray Thee, Thy lovingkindness be ready to comfort me, according to Thy promise unto Thy servant.
עז יְבֹאוּנִי רַחֲמֶיךָ וְאֶחְיֶה: כִּי-תוֹרָתְךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי. 77 Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; for Thy Torah is my delight.
עח יֵבֹשׁוּ זֵדִים, כִּי-שֶׁקֶר עִוְּתוּנִי; אֲנִי, אָשִׂיחַ בְּפִקּוּדֶיךָ. 78 Let the proud be put to shame, for they have distorted my cause with falsehood; but I will meditate in Thy precepts.
עט יָשׁוּבוּ לִי יְרֵאֶיךָ; וידעו (וְיֹדְעֵי), עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 79 Let those that fear Thee return unto me, and they that know Thy testimonies.
פ יְהִי-לִבִּי תָמִים בְּחֻקֶּיךָ-- לְמַעַן, לֹא אֵבוֹשׁ. 80 Let my heart be undivided in Thy statutes, in order that I may not be put to shame. {P}
פא כָּלְתָה לִתְשׁוּעָתְךָ נַפְשִׁי; לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי. 81 CAPH. My soul pineth for Thy salvation; in Thy word do I hope.
פב כָּלוּ עֵינַי, לְאִמְרָתֶךָ-- לֵאמֹר, מָתַי תְּנַחֲמֵנִי. 82 Mine eyes fail for Thy word, saying: 'When wilt Thou comfort me?'
פג כִּי-הָיִיתִי, כְּנֹאד בְּקִיטוֹר-- חֻקֶּיךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 83 For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke; yet do I not forget Thy statutes.
פד כַּמָּה יְמֵי-עַבְדֶּךָ; מָתַי תַּעֲשֶׂה בְרֹדְפַי מִשְׁפָּט. 84 How many are the days of Thy servant? When wilt Thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
פה כָּרוּ-לִי זֵדִים שִׁיחוֹת-- אֲשֶׁר, לֹא כְתוֹרָתֶךָ. 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which is not according to Thy Torah.
פו כָּל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֱמוּנָה; שֶׁקֶר רְדָפוּנִי עָזְרֵנִי. 86 All Thy commandments are faithful; they persecute me for nought; help Thou me.
פז כִּמְעַט, כִּלּוּנִי בָאָרֶץ; וַאֲנִי, לֹא-עָזַבְתִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but as for me, I forsook not Thy precepts.
פח כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה, עֵדוּת פִּיךָ. 88 Quicken me after Thy lovingkindness, and I will observe the testimony of Thy mouth. {P}
פט לְעוֹלָם יְהוָה-- דְּבָרְךָ, נִצָּב בַּשָּׁמָיִם. 89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, Thy word standeth fast in heaven.
צ לְדֹר וָדֹר, אֱמוּנָתֶךָ; כּוֹנַנְתָּ אֶרֶץ, וַתַּעֲמֹד. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations; Thou hast established the earth, and it standeth.
צא לְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ, עָמְדוּ הַיּוֹם: כִּי הַכֹּל עֲבָדֶיךָ. 91 They stand this day according to Thine ordinances; for all things are Thy servants.
צב לוּלֵי תוֹרָתְךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי-- אָז, אָבַדְתִּי בְעָנְיִי. 92 Unless Thy Torah had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
צג לְעוֹלָם, לֹא-אֶשְׁכַּח פִּקּוּדֶיךָ: כִּי בָם, חִיִּיתָנִי. 93 I will never forget Thy precepts; for with them Thou hast quickened me.
צד לְךָ-אֲנִי, הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי: כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ דָרָשְׁתִּי. 94 I am Thine, save me; for I have sought Thy precepts.
צה לִי קִוּוּ רְשָׁעִים לְאַבְּדֵנִי; עֵדֹתֶיךָ, אֶתְבּוֹנָן. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me; but I will consider Thy testimonies.
צו לְכָל-תִּכְלָה, רָאִיתִי קֵץ; רְחָבָה מִצְוָתְךָ מְאֹד. 96 I have seen an end to every purpose; but Thy commandment is exceeding broad. {P}
צז מָה-אָהַבְתִּי תוֹרָתֶךָ: כָּל-הַיּוֹם, הִיא שִׂיחָתִי. 97 MEM. O how love I Thy Torah! It is my meditation all the day.
צח מֵאֹיְבַי, תְּחַכְּמֵנִי מִצְוֹתֶךָ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם הִיא-לִי. 98 Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
צט מִכָּל-מְלַמְּדַי הִשְׂכַּלְתִּי: כִּי עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ, שִׂיחָה לִי. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers; for Thy testimonies are my meditation.
ק מִזְּקֵנִים אֶתְבּוֹנָן: כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי. 100 I understand more than mine elders, because I have keep Thy precepts.
קא מִכָּל-אֹרַח רָע, כָּלִאתִי רַגְלָי-- לְמַעַן, אֶשְׁמֹר דְּבָרֶךָ. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, in order that I might observe Thy word.
קב מִמִּשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לֹא-סָרְתִּי: כִּי-אַתָּה, הוֹרֵתָנִי. 102 I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances; for Thou hast instructed me.
קג מַה-נִּמְלְצוּ לְחִכִּי, אִמְרָתֶךָ-- מִדְּבַשׁ לְפִי. 103 How sweet are Thy words unto my palate! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
קד מִפִּקּוּדֶיךָ אֶתְבּוֹנָן; עַל כֵּן, שָׂנֵאתִי כָּל-אֹרַח שָׁקֶר. 104 From Thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. {P}
קה נֵר-לְרַגְלִי דְבָרֶךָ; וְאוֹר, לִנְתִיבָתִי. 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
קו נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי וָאֲקַיֵּמָה-- לִשְׁמֹר, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 106 I have sworn, and have confirmed it, to observe Thy righteous ordinances.
קז נַעֲנֵיתִי עַד-מְאֹד; יְהוָה, חַיֵּנִי כִדְבָרֶךָ. 107 I am afflicted very much; quicken me, O LORD, according unto Thy word.
קח נִדְבוֹת פִּי, רְצֵה-נָא יְהוָה; וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי. 108 Accept, I beseech Thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Thine ordinances.
קט נַפְשִׁי בְכַפִּי תָמִיד; וְתוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 109 My soul is continually in my hand; yet have I not forgotten Thy law.
קי נָתְנוּ רְשָׁעִים פַּח לִי; וּמִפִּקּוּדֶיךָ, לֹא תָעִיתִי. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me; yet went I not astray from Thy precepts.
קיא נָחַלְתִּי עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם: כִּי-שְׂשׂוֹן לִבִּי הֵמָּה. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
קיב נָטִיתִי לִבִּי, לַעֲשׂוֹת חֻקֶּיךָ-- לְעוֹלָם עֵקֶב. 112 I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes, for ever, at every step. {P}
קיג סֵעֲפִים שָׂנֵאתִי; וְתוֹרָתְךָ אָהָבְתִּי. 113 SAMECH. I hate them that are of a double mind; but Thy Torah do I love.
קיד סִתְרִי וּמָגִנִּי אָתָּה; לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי. 114 Thou art my covert and my shield; in Thy word do I hope.
קטו סוּרוּ-מִמֶּנִּי מְרֵעִים; וְאֶצְּרָה, מִצְוֹת אֱלֹהָי. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers; that I may keep the commandments of my God.
קטז סָמְכֵנִי כְאִמְרָתְךָ וְאֶחְיֶה; וְאַל-תְּבִישֵׁנִי, מִשִּׂבְרִי. 116 Uphold me according unto Thy word, that I may live; and put me not to shame in my hope.
קיז סְעָדֵנִי וְאִוָּשֵׁעָה; וְאֶשְׁעָה בְחֻקֶּיךָ תָמִיד. 117 Support Thou me, and I shall be saved; and I will occupy myself with Thy statutes continually.
קיח סָלִיתָ, כָּל-שׁוֹגִים מֵחֻקֶּיךָ: כִּי-שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִיתָם. 118 Thou hast made light of all them that err from Thy statutes; for their deceit is vain.
קיט סִגִים--הִשְׁבַּתָּ כָל-רִשְׁעֵי-אָרֶץ; לָכֵן, אָהַבְתִּי עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross; therefore I love Thy testimonies.
קכ סָמַר מִפַּחְדְּךָ בְשָׂרִי; וּמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶיךָ יָרֵאתִי. 120 My flesh shuddereth for fear of Thee; and I am afraid of Thy judgments. {P}
קכא עָשִׂיתִי, מִשְׁפָּט וָצֶדֶק; בַּל-תַּנִּיחֵנִי, לְעֹשְׁקָי. 121 AIN. I have done justice and righteousness; leave me not to mine oppressors.
קכב עֲרֹב עַבְדְּךָ לְטוֹב; אַל-יַעַשְׁקֻנִי זֵדִים. 122 Be surety for Thy servant for good; let not the proud oppress me.
קכג עֵינַי, כָּלוּ לִישׁוּעָתֶךָ; וּלְאִמְרַת צִדְקֶךָ. 123 Mine eyes fail for Thy salvation, and for Thy righteous word.
קכד עֲשֵׂה עִם-עַבְדְּךָ כְחַסְדֶּךָ; וְחֻקֶּיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי. 124 Deal with Thy servant according unto Thy mercy, and teach me Thy statutes.
קכה עַבְדְּךָ-אָנִי הֲבִינֵנִי; וְאֵדְעָה, עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 125 I am Thy servant, give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies.
קכו עֵת, לַעֲשׂוֹת לַיהוָה-- הֵפֵרוּ, תּוֹרָתֶךָ. 126 It is time for the LORD to work; they have made void Thy Torah.
קכז עַל-כֵּן, אָהַבְתִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ-- מִזָּהָב וּמִפָּז. 127 Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold.
קכח עַל-כֵּן, כָּל-פִּקּוּדֵי כֹל יִשָּׁרְתִּי; כָּל-אֹרַח שֶׁקֶר שָׂנֵאתִי. 128 Therefore I esteem all [Thy] precepts concerning all things to be right; every false way I hate. {P}
קכט פְּלָאוֹת עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ; עַל-כֵּן, נְצָרָתַם נַפְשִׁי. 129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul keep them.
קל פֵּתַח דְּבָרֶיךָ יָאִיר; מֵבִין פְּתָיִים. 130 The opening of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
קלא פִּי-פָעַרְתִּי, וָאֶשְׁאָפָה: כִּי לְמִצְוֹתֶיךָ יָאָבְתִּי. 131 I opened wide my mouth, and panted; for I longed for Thy commandments.
קלב פְּנֵה-אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי-- כְּמִשְׁפָּט, לְאֹהֲבֵי שְׁמֶךָ. 132 Turn Thee towards me, and be gracious unto me, as is Thy wont to do unto those that love Thy name.
קלג פְּעָמַי, הָכֵן בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ; וְאַל-תַּשְׁלֶט-בִּי כָל-אָוֶן. 133 Order my footsteps by Thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
קלד פְּדֵנִי, מֵעֹשֶׁק אָדָם; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה, פִּקּוּדֶיךָ. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, and I will observe Thy precepts.
קלה פָּנֶיךָ, הָאֵר בְּעַבְדֶּךָ; וְלַמְּדֵנִי, אֶת-חֻקֶּיךָ. 135 Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy statutes.
קלו פַּלְגֵי-מַיִם, יָרְדוּ עֵינָי-- עַל, לֹא-שָׁמְרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ. 136 Mine eyes run down with rivers of water, because they observe not Thy Torah. {P}
קלז צַדִּיק אַתָּה יְהוָה; וְיָשָׁר, מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ. 137 TZADE. Righteous art Thou, O LORD, and upright are Thy judgments.
קלח צִוִּיתָ, צֶדֶק עֵדֹתֶיךָ; וֶאֱמוּנָה מְאֹד. 138 Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness.
קלט צִמְּתַתְנִי קִנְאָתִי: כִּי-שָׁכְחוּ דְבָרֶיךָ צָרָי. 139 My zeal hath undone me, because mine adversaries have forgotten Thy words.
קמ צְרוּפָה אִמְרָתְךָ מְאֹד; וְעַבְדְּךָ אֲהֵבָהּ. 140 Thy word is tried to the uttermost, and Thy servant loveth it.
קמא צָעִיר אָנֹכִי וְנִבְזֶה; פִּקֻּדֶיךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 141 I am small and despised; yet have I not forgotten Thy precepts.
קמב צִדְקָתְךָ צֶדֶק לְעוֹלָם; וְתוֹרָתְךָ אֱמֶת. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Torah is the truth.
קמג צַר-וּמָצוֹק מְצָאוּנִי; מִצְוֹתֶיךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי. 143 Trouble and anguish have overtaken me; yet Thy commandments are my delight.
קמד צֶדֶק עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם; הֲבִינֵנִי וְאֶחְיֶה. 144 Thy testimonies are righteous for ever; give me understanding, and I shall live. {P}
קמה קָרָאתִי בְכָל-לֵב, עֲנֵנִי יְהוָה; חֻקֶּיךָ אֶצֹּרָה. 145 KOPH. I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O LORD; I will keep Thy statutes.
קמו קְרָאתִיךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי; וְאֶשְׁמְרָה, עֵדֹתֶיךָ. 146 I have called Thee, save me, and I will observe Thy testimonies.
קמז קִדַּמְתִּי בַנֶּשֶׁף, וָאֲשַׁוֵּעָה; לדבריך (לִדְבָרְךָ) יִחָלְתִּי. 147 I rose early at dawn, and cried; I hoped in Thy word.
קמח קִדְּמוּ עֵינַי, אַשְׁמֻרוֹת-- לָשִׂיחַ, בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ. 148 Mine eyes forestalled the night-watches, that I might meditate in Thy word.
קמט קוֹלִי, שִׁמְעָה כְחַסְדֶּךָ; יְהוָה, כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ חַיֵּנִי. 149 Hear my voice according unto Thy lovingkindness; quicken me, O LORD, as Thou art wont.
קנ קָרְבוּ, רֹדְפֵי זִמָּה; מִתּוֹרָתְךָ רָחָקוּ. 150 They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; they are far from Thy law.
קנא קָרוֹב אַתָּה יְהוָה; וְכָל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֱמֶת. 151 Thou art nigh, O LORD; and all Thy commandments are truth.
קנב קֶדֶם יָדַעְתִּי, מֵעֵדֹתֶיךָ: כִּי לְעוֹלָם יְסַדְתָּם. 152 Of old have I known from Thy testimonies that Thou hast founded them for ever. {P}
קנג רְאֵה-עָנְיִי וְחַלְּצֵנִי: כִּי-תוֹרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 153 RESH. O see mine affliction, and rescue me; for I do not forget Thy Torah.
קנד רִיבָה רִיבִי, וּגְאָלֵנִי; לְאִמְרָתְךָ חַיֵּנִי. 154 Plead Thou my cause, and redeem me; quicken me according to Thy word.
קנה רָחוֹק מֵרְשָׁעִים יְשׁוּעָה: כִּי חֻקֶּיךָ, לֹא דָרָשׁוּ. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not Thy statutes.
קנו רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהוָה; כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ חַיֵּנִי. 156 Great are Thy compassions, O LORD; quicken me as Thou art wont.
קנז רַבִּים, רֹדְפַי וְצָרָי; מֵעֵדְוֹתֶיךָ, לֹא נָטִיתִי. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; yet have I not turned aside from Thy testimonies.
קנח רָאִיתִי בֹגְדִים, וָאֶתְקוֹטָטָה-- אֲשֶׁר אִמְרָתְךָ, לֹא שָׁמָרוּ. 158 I beheld them that were faithless, and strove with them; because they observed not Thy word.
קנט רְאֵה, כִּי-פִקּוּדֶיךָ אָהָבְתִּי; יְהוָה, כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי. 159 O see how I love Thy precepts; quicken me, O LORD, according to Thy lovingkindness.
קס רֹאשׁ-דְּבָרְךָ אֱמֶת; וּלְעוֹלָם, כָּל-מִשְׁפַּט צִדְקֶךָ. 160 The beginning of Thy word is truth; and all Thy righteous ordinance endureth for ever. {P}
קסא שָׂרִים, רְדָפוּנִי חִנָּם; ומדבריך (וּמִדְּבָרְךָ), פָּחַד לִבִּי. 161 SHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause; but my heart standeth in awe of Thy words.
קסב שָׂשׂ אָנֹכִי, עַל-אִמְרָתֶךָ-- כְּמוֹצֵא, שָׁלָל רָב. 162 I rejoice at Thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
קסג שֶׁקֶר שָׂנֵאתִי, וַאֲתַעֵבָה; תּוֹרָתְךָ אָהָבְתִּי. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood; Thy Torah do I love.
קסד שֶׁבַע בַּיּוֹם, הִלַּלְתִּיךָ-- עַל, מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ. 164 Seven times a day do I praise Thee, because of Thy righteous ordinances.
קסה שָׁלוֹם רָב, לְאֹהֲבֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ; וְאֵין-לָמוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל. 165 Great peace have they that love Thy Torah; and there is no stumbling for them.
קסו שִׂבַּרְתִּי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה; וּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי. 166 I have hoped for Thy salvation, O LORD, and have done Thy commandments.
קסז שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי, עֵדֹתֶיךָ; וָאֹהֲבֵם מְאֹד. 167 My soul hath observed Thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
קסח שָׁמַרְתִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ, וְעֵדֹתֶיךָ: כִּי כָל-דְּרָכַי נֶגְדֶּךָ. 168 I have observed Thy precepts and Thy testimonies; for all my ways are before Thee. {P}
קסט תִּקְרַב רִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה; כִּדְבָרְךָ הֲבִינֵנִי. 169 TAU. Let my cry come near before Thee, O LORD; give me understanding according to Thy word.
קע תָּבוֹא תְּחִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ; כְּאִמְרָתְךָ, הַצִּילֵנִי. 170 Let my supplication come before Thee; deliver me according to Thy word.
קעא תַּבַּעְנָה שְׂפָתַי תְּהִלָּה: כִּי תְלַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. 171 Let my lips utter praise: because Thou teachest me Thy statutes.
קעב תַּעַן לְשׁוֹנִי, אִמְרָתֶךָ: כִּי כָל-מִצְוֹתֶיךָ צֶּדֶק. 172 Let my tongue sing of Thy word; for all Thy commandments are righteousness.
קעג תְּהִי-יָדְךָ לְעָזְרֵנִי: כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ בָחָרְתִּי. 173 Let Thy hand be ready to help me; for I have chosen Thy precepts.
קעד תָּאַבְתִּי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה; וְתוֹרָתְךָ, שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי. 174 I have longed for Thy salvation, O LORD; and Thy Torah is my delight.
קעה תְּחִי-נַפְשִׁי, וּתְהַלְלֶךָּ; וּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ יַעְזְרֻנִי. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee; and let Thine ordinances help me.
קעו תָּעִיתִי-- כְּשֶׂה אֹבֵד, בַּקֵּשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ:
כִּי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ, לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant; {N}
for I have not forgotten Thy commandments. {
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
LOVE OR LUST?
15 Tammuz, 5769
Growing Each Day
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski
Blessed are You, O God, King of the Universe, Who created everything for His glory (The Marriage Ritual).
The surging divorce rate in recent years is appalling. While the Torah indeed provides for dissolving a relationship, there has never been in Jewish history anything like the current number of failed marriages.
Perhaps the problem stems from the partners' primary goals as they enter marriage. In Western civilization, what is called "love" has been accepted as the cornerstone of marriage. Unfortunately, this "love" too often refers to an attraction for the partner because of how he or she can gratify the other's physical and emotional needs. If this primary goal is not adequately met, the cement of the relationship disintegrates, and secondary factors alone cannot maintain it.
In the past, the primary focus of a marriage was the establishment of a family. [The first mitzvah found in the Torah is be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).] While physical and emotional needs were important, they were not primary, but secondary. Hence, when problems of this nature did develop, the relationship was still held together by the primary binding forces, and these secondary problems could be rectified and resolved.
Today I shall ...
... try to realize what the true primary goals of my relationship with others should be.
What does this say to you my Friends? Again and again, we hear that the divorce rate is on the rise. How much further can it go? Will it eventually rise hire than marriages?
Back in the old days, you got marrried and no matter what was going on you stayed together. Now days, when one looks at the other wrong, get a divorce. But, let me be clear, I am not saying everyone should stay together....NO! I know that there are marriages that are not made in Heaven! Mine is a prime example.
I have been married going on 37 years. Yes, a very long time. How many happy years?.....let's see.....hmmmmm, well, I'll give at least a couple of years a good nod. Or maybe we should say were there any happy days in there.
My marriage is together by the grace of God. He gives me the strength to carry on, otherwise I don't think I could handle it. The past five years this marriage has been completely under the hand of God. He has controlled a very big part of it....but it does get out of hand occasionally.
My husband and I are definately two people who should have never been together. But, you are thinking, sometimes opposites attract and make good marriages. Yes, sometimes they do but that is when both the opposites have a common goal and family comes first.
My husband had an attitude, as Dear Abby put it, "he was a marrried man living a single life". But, through it all we stayed together. Was it the for the best? I don't know. I do believe our lives would have been completely different. Who knows what could have happened? But we cannot live in the past. I do not dwell on it...I am always truthful about it but I do not sit and have a pity party.
I have said to my son, "Don't listen to your heart. Listen to your head." He is thinking again about leaving his wife and for all it is worth, she is not leaning on changing her ways and they are not going to have any children so for me, I believe it would be for the best.
He was on a road that was completely different than where he is at now. He was attending church, helping in a ministry where he worked on people's cars and I believe the LORD had someone for him. But he fell for a woman not of the LORD.
We will pray and let the LORD deal with this.
My daughter and her husband renewed their wedding vows. They both wanted to do this and I have to say, there were those of us who weren't truly on board with it. I am quite confidant that they will be together a long time but again, this is another marriege not made in Heaven! There has been a lot of foolishness and adultry and abuse...from both of them.
There is one BIG thing that bothers me. Because of this view on marriage now a days, so many young people do not get married when they conceive a child. Back in the day, you "had" to get married. Now, its a choice...abortion or raise the baby yourself. So many first borns are discarded because of the foolishness of the young. "Oh they will ruin their lives with a baby, they are too young!" But it's ok to have an innocent baby murdered!
The teaching below is wonderful! It is by Yomi F. Opeola and it addresses the sacrifices of the first borns. We have got to understand that it is more than just mere killing of the unborn...we are sacrificing these firstborn of God to the devil!
As always I only want the best for you!
With love to you in and through Yeshua our Savior and soon coming King....His servant, gloria
Abba Father, I thank you this day for your abundant blessings and for enlightening the eyes of our understanding regarding the Feast and the principles of Firstfruits; in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach, Amen! Amen! Amen!
While in college, my minor was in Anthropology. In those days, I love to spend hours in the library just to learn more about different cultures. My favorite was the eastern culture. I was always intrigued and fascinated by the Jewish culture particularly.
Later on, when I became regenerated and born again by God’s spirit, it dawned upon me that hasatan (satan) has a counterfeit for every true doctrine, principle and precept that originated from the true God, Elohim! Also, I soon learned that every culture has a form of truth that is either twisted or perverted by satan. In Africa, certain ritual and festivals are openly offered to pagan gods and therefore when I became a believer it was easy to discern the error and vanity of such practices. However, here in America or other civilized western societies run by charitable secret societies (The Masons ET all), it is not quite as blatant and therefore takes a spiritual "Sherlock Holmes" to detect. A general rule of thumb is that a good counterfeit resembles the original. One thing is certain in every country, the secret to hasatan’s success lies in the secrecy of his clandestine moves! So, if this study seems offensive to some, it probably is. Pardon me, if you will! I waited for years to publish this as you’ll soon learn. Now, I can wait no longer; there’s too much at stake. I tremble for we must all appear someday before the Great King, Yeshua, at the Bema judgment seat. This one thing I have desired all my days, that is to serve and worship my King at his earthly throne in Jerusalem! As for me, the time to kiss and tremble at His feet is now, so I pray you will at least read it and meditate upon the truths presented and may the Holy Spirit give us all an answer of peace!
Eph. 6:12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers (kos-mok-rat'-ore, the one- world rulers) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
THE NEW YAMS FESTIVAL!
I remember as a young boy back home in Nigeria among the Yoruba and Ibo tribes we have the festivals of the new yam! This was a harvest feast at beginning of the Yam harvest, to celebrate and give thanks to god for a bountiful harvest. It was often filled with food, dancing and palm-wine drinking coupled with spiritual offerings to the gods of harvest. This ancient practice of firstfruits is not necessarily evil unless the worship or offerings are ignorantly given to a pagan god or deity as was the case with my culture and many other pagan cultures around the globe.
The Feast of Firstfruits was originally mandated by YHVH, The LORD, the rightful owner and king of the universe. He alone demands and deserves the firstfruits and firstborn of all according to Psalm 24!
Exodus 13:1-2, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
Notice that in the above verse, God did not just command but demanded that whatever opens the womb of man or beast is his. To this effect, God pronounces Blessings for obeying and Curses for disobeying the commandment of firstfruits. In order that man may be properly instructed in His ways, God instituted the Feasts. The Feast of Firstfruits is my focus in this study. Satan, God’s arch enemy, also desires your firstfruits. Why? It is simple. Whoever gets your firstfruits is your god. And so, there’s a spiritual warfare going on since the beginning even to this present time. This could be called "The battle of firstfruits or firstborn!" In fact, the first recorded battle was recorded in Exodus on the night of the Pesach (Passover). God commanded and demanded that Pharaoh let his people (His firstborn) go. Pharaoh, acting for hasatan refused because he wanted them for himself. Pharaoh learned the hard way that God means what He says and says exactly what He means. But Pharaoh was stubborn. God unleashed some of the most gruesome plagues and the devil’s chief aim was defeated. What follows thereafter was the mandate for the Feasts of the LORD! Now, can you see why there is more to the Feast of Firstfruits than truly meets the eyes?
Again, it bears repeating as I have said time and time again; the feasts of the LORD, YHVH (The Blessed One) reveal the multi-faceted blueprint of God’s plan to redeem his people, Jews and Gentiles, from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light. The Feasts (Moedim) are literally God’s appointed times to meet and celebrate with us. These festival times also known as holy convocations highlight the major workings of Yeshua in the role of the Kinsman Redeemer in the Spring Feasts. In the Torah, whoever is the kinsman redeemer is also the Avenger of blood! Therefore, Yeshua must come back to fulfill this role as well. This is detailed for us in the books of Isaiah and Revelation. If the concept of the Kinsman Redeemer sounds foreign to you please read the book of Ruth especially in the account of Boaz as the wealthy Jew who redeemed his gentile bride and she became fully adopted into Israel as expostulated by Rav Shaul ( Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:5-10. Likewise, Yeshua has redeemed us and adopted us into the commonwealth of Israel. However, he comes back as the Avenger of Blood in the Fall Feasts to avenge and restore all things. Yes assuredly, he will avenge every innocent blood shed from the times of Abel to present day "Hinnom Valley" of Wichita, Kansas. Remember, the Prophet Yeshuyahu (Isaiah) hinted at this in his proclamation in the sixty-first chapter regarding "…the day of vengeance of our God".
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. Isaiah 61:1-2.
How do we know this is talking about the Messiah? Well, the answer can be found in the words of Yeshua, himself, when he quoted the same passage at the opening of his ministry with the deliberate omission of the phrase: "the day of vengeance of our God". You’ll notice that in the above scripture, the phrases: "The acceptable year of the LORD" and "The Day of Vengeance of our God" are separated by a "coma" only, and joined by the word: "and" which is a conjunction. However, when Yeshua publicly declared the spiritual mandate of His Ministry in Luke 4:18, he purposely stopped in the middle of the sentence and did not pronounce: "The day of vengeance". Why? This is because, he had not yet come to proclaim and execute the Day of Vengeance of our God. HalleluYAH! When this realization hits you it will fill your eyes with contrite tears of gratitude as it did mine the first time. You see, Yeshua willingly made himself "The Acceptable" offering for all our sins in that acceptable year. He is the Great Kinsman’s Redeemer that redeems God’s promised people from the destroyer. And, at the appointed time he will execute the day of Vengeance of our God at his second coming. And then we shall forever be with the Lord in his glorious Messianic kingdom. Come quickly Yeshua, HaMashiach (Lord Jesus)!
In the meantime God has instituted these endless cycles of feasts to help us to rehearse and live out the awesome plans and purposes of the Father till Shiloh comes.
WHY OFFER FIRSTFRUITS TO YHVH (THE LORD)?
The short answer is that God commanded and demanded it! And they are His and His alone!
Exodus 13:1-2, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
This phrase: "it is mine" is in the possessive case and is the only usage of its kind in the entire tanak (Old Testament). It is the Hebrew phrase: awh y:l (Li hu)! The construction of this phrase in the Hebrew caused me to pay closer attention, so I called up Rabbi Richard Segal (Leader of my local congregation) for some deeper insight. Sure enough, according to the grammatical construct in the Hebrew, there is a "y,yod" separating the "Li" and "Hu". Richard goes on to explain that it amplifies the possessive case. Therefore, he believes the NASB translation has a truer rendition of this verse. So, here it is in the New American Standard.
Ex. 13:2, Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to me; awh y:l (Li hu)!.
WOW! It is such a powerful possessive expression that it is used this way only once in the entire bible. It is almost like the Father is saying "This firstborn is mine, and therefore no man or spirit or angel or any other creature may touch or lay claim to him. And if you do, you take an opposition stand against God! Achan did this in Jericho (Which was a kind of firstfruit city of the promised-land) Joshua 7:10-26. And it wrought destruction in his life! Why? That is because the firstfruit is like a two-sided coin, if you give it to God, it heaps blessings, upon the rest of the fruits of the womb and so much more. However, if you or anything touches it; it will heap untold misery and ultimately, destruction upon your life until proper redemption or restitution is made! Joshua understood this principle very well. To gain deeper insight on this, read the book of Joshua especially the first ten chapters. Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul) was another great man that operated and taught about the principles of firstfruits. In fact, all but two of the eight usages of firstfruits in Brit Hadasha (New Testament) were quoted by the Apostle Paul in reference to the Gentile church. So, understand and know that this principle carries over into the New Testament as well. Interestingly, the principle of firstfruit is referenced more in the New Testament than tithing.
Though, some bible scholars teach that Tithing and Firstfruits are the same, I disagree. In 2Chronicles 31, the children of Israel prospered under Zedekiah because they operated on all three: Tithes, Offerings and Firstfruits!
1Co 16:15, I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
As Christians we must embrace all of God’s word from Genesis to Revelation. This commandment is all through the scripture from Exodus to Revelation and has dual application for both Jews and Gentiles. On the one hand it addresses our need to offer to God rightfully the firstfruits of all our produce or harvest and on the other hand it covers also the firstfruit of the womb (firstborn) as well of both man and beasts. In fact, in the Brit Hadasha (The New Testament) it’s used more in this regard.
1Co 15:23, But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Jas 1:18, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
The truth of the matter is that if you don’t offer your firstfruits or firstborn to the Great Kinsman Redeemer, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), the destroyer (Hasatan) will steal, kill or abort your firstfruits and cheat you of your blessings of firstborn. The blessing of firstfruit is the "promise of more to come". There are thirty two instances of the word firstfruits in the scripture and eight of those are in the New Testament so this is not just an Old Testament concept. The mandate for the Feast of Firstfruits (bikkurim in Hebrew) is found in Leviticus 23:10-12, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it, and ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
The Feast of Firstfruits proclaims and rightfully acknowledges the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel as the sovereign owner and ruler of the earth and all the fullness therein. This feast is unique in that there’s an added blessing associated with the feast. And it is called the Blessing of the firstfruits. Yeshua promises abundant Blessings to the man or woman that offers the firstfruits of all his substance. Conversely, failure to adhere to the principles of firstfruits has brought about untold curses and judgment upon any individual, family or entire nation that ignores it.
Joshua 7:11-12, Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing…therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
For years I have attempted to write this article but never really was able to until now. Let me explain what I mean. Some years back, The Holy Spirit put a burden on my heart to go to the Abortion clinic also known as Tiller’s Clinic on the east part of town. Prior to this time, I had very little knowledge about abortion. So, early one morning I went there to pray, and my life was never the same! I arrived there and met Pastor Philip Wood and a few faithful prayer warriors. Philip asked if I had ever been there before and I said, no. He decided to give me a tour of the place. I tried so hard to keep my cool but to no avail. My eyes were drowned in my tears! I started to go to the clinic regularly to pray two or three times per week. About three months later, it was impressed upon my heart to go and march around the abortion clinic seven times and rebuke the spirit of Molech! At this time, I must confess, I had little knowledge of Molech but went anyway that cold and bitter morning. Here is the mystery of it all! While walking around, it was so cold that I had to pause every so often to warm my hands. On one of these occasions, I paused by the drainage valley behind the clinic. The words: "Hinnom Valley" came to mind very strongly, so I took out my pocket pc and wrote it down so that I could research it later. I kept walking! Now, about the sixth time going around encompassing the clinic and the valley; the words: "Firstfruits" came to mind and then I got it! By the time I walked around the seventh time, I was speaking in tongues like a house on fire. Then the Lord, Yeshua revealed to me that the spirit of Abortion was the spirit of Molech of our age and that the valley behind Tiller’s clinic was like "The Hinnom Valley", then I became spiritually energized. Thus, this teaching entitled: "Abortion! And the Offering of Firstfruits" was conceptualized that morning. Armed with this new revelation, I ran home to begin a study that took about three years to be brought forth! You see, Mr. Tiller, much like Achan has brought a curse upon the city of Wichita. We too like Joshua and the children of Israel must therefore ourselves remove the accursed things from our midst. And God will remove this dark spiritual cloud that hangs over the city.
ABORTION AND THE CURSE OF MOLECH!
After years of research on my own on the subject of Abortion and its spiritual implications on a society, I am convinced beyond a shadow of doubt that the sin of abortion is as the sin of Molech in fact both are operated by the same evil spirits in high places. Now, I don’t believe that these young girls (16yrs to 24yrs old) have any idea they were aborting the firstfruits of their wombs (in most cases). But, I thank God for the blood of Yeshua! It covers a multitude of sins. If we will humble and confess our sins, He’s faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us (from blood stains) from all unrighteousness. HalleluYAH! Please understand that writing this expose has become the hardest thing for me to write because I tremble with much trepidation before YHVH (The Blessed One) as I do not want to glorify any other than Yeshua, my Lord. Certainly, this is not to put anyone into condemnation but to cause you and me to fall on our faces in humility and repentance before God. Amen? Look, it is a spiritual battle!
Fortunately, if you’re a believer in the Messiah all he wants is Teshuva (Repentance). But, let me assure you are not a believer in the Messiah if you have ever counseled a young girl directly or indirectly to get an abortion, please don’t rationalize it away in your pride because it will haunt you and the girl and everyone else involved. It is wickedness and it’s an abomination because it robs God of the one thing that is uniquely his, firstfruits! What must you do? First, you need to confess your sins and accept the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Messiah) as Lord and Master by confessing and believing in Him as your Savior! Rom. 10:9-10. Then, you’re born again! Then find a bible believing church or Messianic congregation for discipleship and growth.
1. PLAGUES OR TERMINAL DISEASES!
Studies after studies have shown that in our world today the rate of cancers and other terminal diseases is unprecedented in history of mankind. While it’s true that we are living longer but the quality of life is not golden for most of the aged. Far too many are committed to institutionalized living at the sunset years of life due to poor health. Why?
Num 8:17, 19b, For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself…that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children
of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
2. SPIRITUAL CURSE UPON A CITY OR NATION!
Abortion can cast a spiritual curse upon families, cities or nations.
To illustrate my point, let’s take a look at the tragic story of Achan in Joshua 6:18 – 7:10. There are many salient points and spiritual elements in this story that one can easily write a book. First of all, the story centers on the first military conquest of Yeoshua (Joshua) in the promised-land. This very prosperous and well fortified city was won practically without a battle.
Joshua 6:17 ¶ And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live.
3. LACK OF FRUITFULNESS IN ALL ENDEAVORS!
Those that willfully chose not to honor God with the firstfruits of all their increase will suffer will not prosper spiritually or financially! The number one key to prosperity in life is to honor and acknowledge that YHVH (The LORD) is the owner and source of all wealth. (More about this later under the subtitle, The Eight Principles of Firstfruits later)
Prov. 3:9, Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
4. EVIL SHALL COME UPON THEM!
Jeremiah 2:3, Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
Jer. 32:35, And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Milton writes of the pagan god Molech in Paradise Lost below.
"First, Moloch, horrid King, besmeared with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents’ tears;
Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud,
Their children’s cries unheard that passed through fire
To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite
Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain,
In Argob and in Basan, to the stream
Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such
Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart
Of Solomon he led by fraud to build
His temple right against the temple of God
On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove
The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence
And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell."
- Paradise Lost, i. 391-405
Sources: Smith's Bible Dictionary, Philadelphia, A. J. Holman, Co., Revised Ed., p. 205
Jordan, Michael, Encyclopedia of Gods, New York, Facts On File, Inc. 1993, p. 168
Molech, (or Molek) was the chief god of the Phoenicians, and Canaanites, mentioned as the god of the Ammonites. The victims were slowly burned to death in the outstretched arms of this idol, which were metal, hollow and could be heated on the inside. Some say they fell into the fire below. Manaseh offered his son to Molech. Solomon erected an altar to this god on one of the summits of Mount Olivet.
1Kings 11:7-8, Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
This idol worshipping continued there and in Tophet until Josiah abolished it and defiled the altars of Molech and Baal shortly before Babylonian captivity. I believe this act uniquely endeared King Josiah to the Father’s heart that even the prophet Jeremiah mourned and lamented grievously with all of Israel at his death. Boy oh boy, how badly we need more "Josiahs" today!
1Kings 23:10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
We need Godly leaders like Josiah to charge and infuriate God’s people against this evil and insidious spirit of Molech in our cities today. Yes, this evil spirit is alive and well in America today chiefly in the form of abortion. Yes, abortion may not be seemingly as gory and despicable as the offering of young, helpless babies in fiery arms of Molech, the elements are eerily similar and the result the same: termination of life! It’s just that in our modern day era of technological sophistication, we perform this horror in clandestine, well lit rooms of abortion clinics, as our firstfruits seeds pass through the laser fire of modern day Molech!
Oh, yes in our selfish reasoning we call it choice, or a woman’s right or this or that! How about God’s right? And amazingly the statistics are the same for Christians and unbelievers alike in this gross atrocity and violation of his Torah. God have mercy on us! Clearly, the judgment has already begun in the house of God. And yet very few are making the spiritual connection. Admittedly or not there is a dark and ominous correlation between abortion and the rate of breast cancer, prostrate cancer and other reproductive diseases amongst prevalent Christians.
Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Of course, in the course of researching for this article I was not shocked to discover that the overwhelming majority of people committing abortion are young girls with no previous birth. This confirms undoubtedly that abortion is a ploy of the enemy to kill and destroy the firstfruits of their womb. Furthermore, I was able to unearth a lot of statistics associated with the evil ramifications of abortion on a young woman’s body, soul, mind and spirit. Nevertheless, Planned Parenthood and their hordes of highly trained priests would have us believe that abortion is a good thing. No, don’t buy their lies. The truth of the matter is that abortion opens up a woman’s inner chamber to diseases, abortion traumatizes and abortion kills! And that’s exactly what the Planned Parenthood and their sponsors want. Yes, make no mistake about it; their main goal as stated by their founder, Margaret Sanger, is to reduce the world population of the unfit and undesirables elements of society. Abortion is just one of the many strategies employed by the world rulers, the "Cosmo Krateros" in their diabolical plan to ultimately reduce the world population by two-third!
1Cor. 11:31-32, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Remember God’s chastisement is to engender in our hearts true "Teshuva"; a genuine repentance and a complete turn around! However, if we refuse and rebel through gain-sayings and rationalization and apathy, then we shall be destroyed by the sword!
In Proverbs chapter three, the bible clearly links the offering of firstfruits with abundance and fruitfulness. Could abortion, which is a violation of this divine principle affect the fruitfulness of a woman’s womb? Again, the purpose of this study is not to put anyone in condemnation but rather to invoke a godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance. I honestly now believe the sin of abortion has reached a national crisis. The blood of the innocents no doubt cries out for justice. And we are all guilty for allowing this evil abomination in our midst. So, in a sense we all need to humble ourselves and repent for the sin of our nation so that God may heal our land. We need to cleanse ourselves from the spirit of Molech which is the spirit of abortion. In 1993, a researcher by the name of Joel Brind presented his thesis at the Association of Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change held in Milwaukee, WI.
Among his findings were four major health risks associated with abortion in regards to a woman’s productive organs.* There is an 800% increase in breast cancer for women less than 18 years old who have an abortion after the eighth week of pregnancy. * On average there is an 80% increase in breast cancer if the woman has an abortion before a live birth. * Risk of breast cancer increases with the number of abortions. * Women who have an abortion before a live birth and develop breast cancer have a greater possibility of having a faster growing tumor with a poorer cure rate than women who have not had an abortion.
While such studies point out the delicate balance God has placed between creation and the observance of biblical laws, the risk of disease should not be viewed solely as a personal judgment from God, however. The mere fact that one increases the chance of individual harm through unbiblical activity only proves that God's laws were intended first and foremost for our spiritual and physical protection. God loves each one of His children and it hurts Him when we take the life of the weakest and innocent through abortion. Jesus invites everyone to live in accordance with His Word, which is "health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones" and have life more abundantly, John 10:10
Prov.3:7-9, Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.
For those that may have been involved directly or indirectly in this sin of Molech or abortion there is forgiveness and complete cleansing through the blood of Yeshua. According to John 1:9, Yeshua is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us if we confess our sins.
1John 1:9-10, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF FIRSTFRUITS!
I am indebted to Rich Marshall (the author of the book, "God @ work") for first opening up my eyes to these truths at a local Vineyard Church here in Wichita, many years ago. Thank you Richard, may God continue to bless and prosper your ministry. For more info about Rich Marshal, visit his website at: www.godisworking.com . Now, I am certain there more truths regarding firstfruits than just these, however these are the ones that I have found to be most prominent.
1. Firstfruits Are Commanded and Demanded by God!
Only God by virtue of his ownership of the heaven and earth has any legitimate claim over all there is. And He has all things, yet in some special and unique way, He wants us to acknowledge that by giving to God that which rightfully belongs to Him. Will you honor Him with your firstfruits? Then proclaim loudly: awh y:l (Li hu)!
Exodus 13:2, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine awh y:l (Li hu)!
2. Firstfruits Must Be First Of Its Kind!
Here are some examples of firstfruits; it is really easy once you purpose in your heart to live a firstfruit lifestyle. If you are a farmer your first crops that season will be your firstfruits; if you are mother your firstfruit is your first son that opens your womb. Now, scripturally a child begins at conception in the womb not at birth. In fact, it has now been medically proven that at conception, the cell contains a unique DNA that contains all the genetic code for this baby. God called Jeremiah while he was still in his mother’s womb. John the Baptist was anointed as a child while in his mother’s womb; Luke 1:15
Accordingly, Aben Ezra & Kimchi. commented on Ps.24, Ver. 1. The earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof] The whole universe, all the terraqueous globe, both land and water, and the circumambient air, and all that is therein; the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, all plants and vegetables that spring out of the earth, and metals and minerals in the bowels of it; all which are the riches of the Lord the earth is full of, #Ps 104:24; see #Ps 50:10-12.
3. FirstFruits Must Honor God!
When you wake up in the morning to a new day, do you immediately give praise and honor to YHVH, The Creator of the universe? The God in whose hand thy breath is Dan.5:23 Or are you much too busy with your ministry or your office work? Your first waking moments of each day offer tremendous opportunity to honor God through praise and thanksgiving. Prov. 3:9-10, 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. This is perhaps the key verse among thirty-two or more verses that promise abundance and prosperity upon those that have so cultivated the principles of firstfruits that to them it has become a lifestyle. Notice the phrase: "All thine increase", it implies everything. The culminating result is a life of abundance in areas of life. Mark 1:35
4. Firstfruits Must Not Be Touched or Claimed Until Offered!
Yeshua as our firstfruits offering to the Father was not to be touched until after he had first presented himself before the Father in heaven.
Joh 20:17, Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. There are serious consequences for holding on to the firstfruits rather than consecrating them to God! Joshua 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
5. Purposed For Destruction!
Yeoshua (Joshua) was perplexed! They had just suffered a major defeat and destruction from the enemy at Ai and Yeoshua fell on his face! In his bewilderment, he ponders, "Why would God allow them to conquer a bigger and much fortified city like Jericho and then allow such destruction of his people in the hands of little city of Ai?" God’s response: Joshua 7:10
Rom. 11:16, For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. When properly applied it sanctifies and blesses the rest of your increase, Prov.3:9
6. They Are The Promise or Token Of More To Come!
Yeshua is the best example of this by being firstfruit of the resurrection from the dead. By his resurrection on the third day as prophesied, it is an infallible proof and promise that we too shall be raised up when He comes back for his own at His second coming. HalleluYAH! 1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
7. The Offering Of Them Consecrates The Whole Or The Rest!
Rom. 11:16, For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. When properly applied it sanctifies and blesses the rest of your increases, Prov.3:9.
8. They Are Always Given To The Priest or Pastor!
Le 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest.
Shalom Aleichem (Peace be unto you)
Yomi F. Opeola
(B.I.F.A.M)
Growing Each Day
Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski
Blessed are You, O God, King of the Universe, Who created everything for His glory (The Marriage Ritual).
The surging divorce rate in recent years is appalling. While the Torah indeed provides for dissolving a relationship, there has never been in Jewish history anything like the current number of failed marriages.
Perhaps the problem stems from the partners' primary goals as they enter marriage. In Western civilization, what is called "love" has been accepted as the cornerstone of marriage. Unfortunately, this "love" too often refers to an attraction for the partner because of how he or she can gratify the other's physical and emotional needs. If this primary goal is not adequately met, the cement of the relationship disintegrates, and secondary factors alone cannot maintain it.
In the past, the primary focus of a marriage was the establishment of a family. [The first mitzvah found in the Torah is be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).] While physical and emotional needs were important, they were not primary, but secondary. Hence, when problems of this nature did develop, the relationship was still held together by the primary binding forces, and these secondary problems could be rectified and resolved.
Today I shall ...
... try to realize what the true primary goals of my relationship with others should be.
What does this say to you my Friends? Again and again, we hear that the divorce rate is on the rise. How much further can it go? Will it eventually rise hire than marriages?
Back in the old days, you got marrried and no matter what was going on you stayed together. Now days, when one looks at the other wrong, get a divorce. But, let me be clear, I am not saying everyone should stay together....NO! I know that there are marriages that are not made in Heaven! Mine is a prime example.
I have been married going on 37 years. Yes, a very long time. How many happy years?.....let's see.....hmmmmm, well, I'll give at least a couple of years a good nod. Or maybe we should say were there any happy days in there.
My marriage is together by the grace of God. He gives me the strength to carry on, otherwise I don't think I could handle it. The past five years this marriage has been completely under the hand of God. He has controlled a very big part of it....but it does get out of hand occasionally.
My husband and I are definately two people who should have never been together. But, you are thinking, sometimes opposites attract and make good marriages. Yes, sometimes they do but that is when both the opposites have a common goal and family comes first.
My husband had an attitude, as Dear Abby put it, "he was a marrried man living a single life". But, through it all we stayed together. Was it the for the best? I don't know. I do believe our lives would have been completely different. Who knows what could have happened? But we cannot live in the past. I do not dwell on it...I am always truthful about it but I do not sit and have a pity party.
I have said to my son, "Don't listen to your heart. Listen to your head." He is thinking again about leaving his wife and for all it is worth, she is not leaning on changing her ways and they are not going to have any children so for me, I believe it would be for the best.
He was on a road that was completely different than where he is at now. He was attending church, helping in a ministry where he worked on people's cars and I believe the LORD had someone for him. But he fell for a woman not of the LORD.
We will pray and let the LORD deal with this.
My daughter and her husband renewed their wedding vows. They both wanted to do this and I have to say, there were those of us who weren't truly on board with it. I am quite confidant that they will be together a long time but again, this is another marriege not made in Heaven! There has been a lot of foolishness and adultry and abuse...from both of them.
There is one BIG thing that bothers me. Because of this view on marriage now a days, so many young people do not get married when they conceive a child. Back in the day, you "had" to get married. Now, its a choice...abortion or raise the baby yourself. So many first borns are discarded because of the foolishness of the young. "Oh they will ruin their lives with a baby, they are too young!" But it's ok to have an innocent baby murdered!
The teaching below is wonderful! It is by Yomi F. Opeola and it addresses the sacrifices of the first borns. We have got to understand that it is more than just mere killing of the unborn...we are sacrificing these firstborn of God to the devil!
As always I only want the best for you!
With love to you in and through Yeshua our Savior and soon coming King....His servant, gloria
Abba Father, I thank you this day for your abundant blessings and for enlightening the eyes of our understanding regarding the Feast and the principles of Firstfruits; in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach, Amen! Amen! Amen!
While in college, my minor was in Anthropology. In those days, I love to spend hours in the library just to learn more about different cultures. My favorite was the eastern culture. I was always intrigued and fascinated by the Jewish culture particularly.
Later on, when I became regenerated and born again by God’s spirit, it dawned upon me that hasatan (satan) has a counterfeit for every true doctrine, principle and precept that originated from the true God, Elohim! Also, I soon learned that every culture has a form of truth that is either twisted or perverted by satan. In Africa, certain ritual and festivals are openly offered to pagan gods and therefore when I became a believer it was easy to discern the error and vanity of such practices. However, here in America or other civilized western societies run by charitable secret societies (The Masons ET all), it is not quite as blatant and therefore takes a spiritual "Sherlock Holmes" to detect. A general rule of thumb is that a good counterfeit resembles the original. One thing is certain in every country, the secret to hasatan’s success lies in the secrecy of his clandestine moves! So, if this study seems offensive to some, it probably is. Pardon me, if you will! I waited for years to publish this as you’ll soon learn. Now, I can wait no longer; there’s too much at stake. I tremble for we must all appear someday before the Great King, Yeshua, at the Bema judgment seat. This one thing I have desired all my days, that is to serve and worship my King at his earthly throne in Jerusalem! As for me, the time to kiss and tremble at His feet is now, so I pray you will at least read it and meditate upon the truths presented and may the Holy Spirit give us all an answer of peace!
Eph. 6:12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers (kos-mok-rat'-ore, the one- world rulers) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
THE NEW YAMS FESTIVAL!
I remember as a young boy back home in Nigeria among the Yoruba and Ibo tribes we have the festivals of the new yam! This was a harvest feast at beginning of the Yam harvest, to celebrate and give thanks to god for a bountiful harvest. It was often filled with food, dancing and palm-wine drinking coupled with spiritual offerings to the gods of harvest. This ancient practice of firstfruits is not necessarily evil unless the worship or offerings are ignorantly given to a pagan god or deity as was the case with my culture and many other pagan cultures around the globe.
The Feast of Firstfruits was originally mandated by YHVH, The LORD, the rightful owner and king of the universe. He alone demands and deserves the firstfruits and firstborn of all according to Psalm 24!
Exodus 13:1-2, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
Notice that in the above verse, God did not just command but demanded that whatever opens the womb of man or beast is his. To this effect, God pronounces Blessings for obeying and Curses for disobeying the commandment of firstfruits. In order that man may be properly instructed in His ways, God instituted the Feasts. The Feast of Firstfruits is my focus in this study. Satan, God’s arch enemy, also desires your firstfruits. Why? It is simple. Whoever gets your firstfruits is your god. And so, there’s a spiritual warfare going on since the beginning even to this present time. This could be called "The battle of firstfruits or firstborn!" In fact, the first recorded battle was recorded in Exodus on the night of the Pesach (Passover). God commanded and demanded that Pharaoh let his people (His firstborn) go. Pharaoh, acting for hasatan refused because he wanted them for himself. Pharaoh learned the hard way that God means what He says and says exactly what He means. But Pharaoh was stubborn. God unleashed some of the most gruesome plagues and the devil’s chief aim was defeated. What follows thereafter was the mandate for the Feasts of the LORD! Now, can you see why there is more to the Feast of Firstfruits than truly meets the eyes?
Again, it bears repeating as I have said time and time again; the feasts of the LORD, YHVH (The Blessed One) reveal the multi-faceted blueprint of God’s plan to redeem his people, Jews and Gentiles, from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light. The Feasts (Moedim) are literally God’s appointed times to meet and celebrate with us. These festival times also known as holy convocations highlight the major workings of Yeshua in the role of the Kinsman Redeemer in the Spring Feasts. In the Torah, whoever is the kinsman redeemer is also the Avenger of blood! Therefore, Yeshua must come back to fulfill this role as well. This is detailed for us in the books of Isaiah and Revelation. If the concept of the Kinsman Redeemer sounds foreign to you please read the book of Ruth especially in the account of Boaz as the wealthy Jew who redeemed his gentile bride and she became fully adopted into Israel as expostulated by Rav Shaul ( Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:5-10. Likewise, Yeshua has redeemed us and adopted us into the commonwealth of Israel. However, he comes back as the Avenger of Blood in the Fall Feasts to avenge and restore all things. Yes assuredly, he will avenge every innocent blood shed from the times of Abel to present day "Hinnom Valley" of Wichita, Kansas. Remember, the Prophet Yeshuyahu (Isaiah) hinted at this in his proclamation in the sixty-first chapter regarding "…the day of vengeance of our God".
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn. Isaiah 61:1-2.
How do we know this is talking about the Messiah? Well, the answer can be found in the words of Yeshua, himself, when he quoted the same passage at the opening of his ministry with the deliberate omission of the phrase: "the day of vengeance of our God". You’ll notice that in the above scripture, the phrases: "The acceptable year of the LORD" and "The Day of Vengeance of our God" are separated by a "coma" only, and joined by the word: "and" which is a conjunction. However, when Yeshua publicly declared the spiritual mandate of His Ministry in Luke 4:18, he purposely stopped in the middle of the sentence and did not pronounce: "The day of vengeance". Why? This is because, he had not yet come to proclaim and execute the Day of Vengeance of our God. HalleluYAH! When this realization hits you it will fill your eyes with contrite tears of gratitude as it did mine the first time. You see, Yeshua willingly made himself "The Acceptable" offering for all our sins in that acceptable year. He is the Great Kinsman’s Redeemer that redeems God’s promised people from the destroyer. And, at the appointed time he will execute the day of Vengeance of our God at his second coming. And then we shall forever be with the Lord in his glorious Messianic kingdom. Come quickly Yeshua, HaMashiach (Lord Jesus)!
In the meantime God has instituted these endless cycles of feasts to help us to rehearse and live out the awesome plans and purposes of the Father till Shiloh comes.
WHY OFFER FIRSTFRUITS TO YHVH (THE LORD)?
The short answer is that God commanded and demanded it! And they are His and His alone!
Exodus 13:1-2, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
This phrase: "it is mine" is in the possessive case and is the only usage of its kind in the entire tanak (Old Testament). It is the Hebrew phrase: awh y:l (Li hu)! The construction of this phrase in the Hebrew caused me to pay closer attention, so I called up Rabbi Richard Segal (Leader of my local congregation) for some deeper insight. Sure enough, according to the grammatical construct in the Hebrew, there is a "y,yod" separating the "Li" and "Hu". Richard goes on to explain that it amplifies the possessive case. Therefore, he believes the NASB translation has a truer rendition of this verse. So, here it is in the New American Standard.
Ex. 13:2, Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to me; awh y:l (Li hu)!.
WOW! It is such a powerful possessive expression that it is used this way only once in the entire bible. It is almost like the Father is saying "This firstborn is mine, and therefore no man or spirit or angel or any other creature may touch or lay claim to him. And if you do, you take an opposition stand against God! Achan did this in Jericho (Which was a kind of firstfruit city of the promised-land) Joshua 7:10-26. And it wrought destruction in his life! Why? That is because the firstfruit is like a two-sided coin, if you give it to God, it heaps blessings, upon the rest of the fruits of the womb and so much more. However, if you or anything touches it; it will heap untold misery and ultimately, destruction upon your life until proper redemption or restitution is made! Joshua understood this principle very well. To gain deeper insight on this, read the book of Joshua especially the first ten chapters. Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul) was another great man that operated and taught about the principles of firstfruits. In fact, all but two of the eight usages of firstfruits in Brit Hadasha (New Testament) were quoted by the Apostle Paul in reference to the Gentile church. So, understand and know that this principle carries over into the New Testament as well. Interestingly, the principle of firstfruit is referenced more in the New Testament than tithing.
Though, some bible scholars teach that Tithing and Firstfruits are the same, I disagree. In 2Chronicles 31, the children of Israel prospered under Zedekiah because they operated on all three: Tithes, Offerings and Firstfruits!
1Co 16:15, I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
As Christians we must embrace all of God’s word from Genesis to Revelation. This commandment is all through the scripture from Exodus to Revelation and has dual application for both Jews and Gentiles. On the one hand it addresses our need to offer to God rightfully the firstfruits of all our produce or harvest and on the other hand it covers also the firstfruit of the womb (firstborn) as well of both man and beasts. In fact, in the Brit Hadasha (The New Testament) it’s used more in this regard.
1Co 15:23, But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
Jas 1:18, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
The truth of the matter is that if you don’t offer your firstfruits or firstborn to the Great Kinsman Redeemer, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), the destroyer (Hasatan) will steal, kill or abort your firstfruits and cheat you of your blessings of firstborn. The blessing of firstfruit is the "promise of more to come". There are thirty two instances of the word firstfruits in the scripture and eight of those are in the New Testament so this is not just an Old Testament concept. The mandate for the Feast of Firstfruits (bikkurim in Hebrew) is found in Leviticus 23:10-12, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it, and ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
The Feast of Firstfruits proclaims and rightfully acknowledges the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel as the sovereign owner and ruler of the earth and all the fullness therein. This feast is unique in that there’s an added blessing associated with the feast. And it is called the Blessing of the firstfruits. Yeshua promises abundant Blessings to the man or woman that offers the firstfruits of all his substance. Conversely, failure to adhere to the principles of firstfruits has brought about untold curses and judgment upon any individual, family or entire nation that ignores it.
Joshua 7:11-12, Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing…therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
For years I have attempted to write this article but never really was able to until now. Let me explain what I mean. Some years back, The Holy Spirit put a burden on my heart to go to the Abortion clinic also known as Tiller’s Clinic on the east part of town. Prior to this time, I had very little knowledge about abortion. So, early one morning I went there to pray, and my life was never the same! I arrived there and met Pastor Philip Wood and a few faithful prayer warriors. Philip asked if I had ever been there before and I said, no. He decided to give me a tour of the place. I tried so hard to keep my cool but to no avail. My eyes were drowned in my tears! I started to go to the clinic regularly to pray two or three times per week. About three months later, it was impressed upon my heart to go and march around the abortion clinic seven times and rebuke the spirit of Molech! At this time, I must confess, I had little knowledge of Molech but went anyway that cold and bitter morning. Here is the mystery of it all! While walking around, it was so cold that I had to pause every so often to warm my hands. On one of these occasions, I paused by the drainage valley behind the clinic. The words: "Hinnom Valley" came to mind very strongly, so I took out my pocket pc and wrote it down so that I could research it later. I kept walking! Now, about the sixth time going around encompassing the clinic and the valley; the words: "Firstfruits" came to mind and then I got it! By the time I walked around the seventh time, I was speaking in tongues like a house on fire. Then the Lord, Yeshua revealed to me that the spirit of Abortion was the spirit of Molech of our age and that the valley behind Tiller’s clinic was like "The Hinnom Valley", then I became spiritually energized. Thus, this teaching entitled: "Abortion! And the Offering of Firstfruits" was conceptualized that morning. Armed with this new revelation, I ran home to begin a study that took about three years to be brought forth! You see, Mr. Tiller, much like Achan has brought a curse upon the city of Wichita. We too like Joshua and the children of Israel must therefore ourselves remove the accursed things from our midst. And God will remove this dark spiritual cloud that hangs over the city.
ABORTION AND THE CURSE OF MOLECH!
After years of research on my own on the subject of Abortion and its spiritual implications on a society, I am convinced beyond a shadow of doubt that the sin of abortion is as the sin of Molech in fact both are operated by the same evil spirits in high places. Now, I don’t believe that these young girls (16yrs to 24yrs old) have any idea they were aborting the firstfruits of their wombs (in most cases). But, I thank God for the blood of Yeshua! It covers a multitude of sins. If we will humble and confess our sins, He’s faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse us (from blood stains) from all unrighteousness. HalleluYAH! Please understand that writing this expose has become the hardest thing for me to write because I tremble with much trepidation before YHVH (The Blessed One) as I do not want to glorify any other than Yeshua, my Lord. Certainly, this is not to put anyone into condemnation but to cause you and me to fall on our faces in humility and repentance before God. Amen? Look, it is a spiritual battle!
Fortunately, if you’re a believer in the Messiah all he wants is Teshuva (Repentance). But, let me assure you are not a believer in the Messiah if you have ever counseled a young girl directly or indirectly to get an abortion, please don’t rationalize it away in your pride because it will haunt you and the girl and everyone else involved. It is wickedness and it’s an abomination because it robs God of the one thing that is uniquely his, firstfruits! What must you do? First, you need to confess your sins and accept the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Messiah) as Lord and Master by confessing and believing in Him as your Savior! Rom. 10:9-10. Then, you’re born again! Then find a bible believing church or Messianic congregation for discipleship and growth.
1. PLAGUES OR TERMINAL DISEASES!
Studies after studies have shown that in our world today the rate of cancers and other terminal diseases is unprecedented in history of mankind. While it’s true that we are living longer but the quality of life is not golden for most of the aged. Far too many are committed to institutionalized living at the sunset years of life due to poor health. Why?
Num 8:17, 19b, For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself…that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children
of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
2. SPIRITUAL CURSE UPON A CITY OR NATION!
Abortion can cast a spiritual curse upon families, cities or nations.
To illustrate my point, let’s take a look at the tragic story of Achan in Joshua 6:18 – 7:10. There are many salient points and spiritual elements in this story that one can easily write a book. First of all, the story centers on the first military conquest of Yeoshua (Joshua) in the promised-land. This very prosperous and well fortified city was won practically without a battle.
Joshua 6:17 ¶ And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live.
3. LACK OF FRUITFULNESS IN ALL ENDEAVORS!
Those that willfully chose not to honor God with the firstfruits of all their increase will suffer will not prosper spiritually or financially! The number one key to prosperity in life is to honor and acknowledge that YHVH (The LORD) is the owner and source of all wealth. (More about this later under the subtitle, The Eight Principles of Firstfruits later)
Prov. 3:9, Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
4. EVIL SHALL COME UPON THEM!
Jeremiah 2:3, Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
Jer. 32:35, And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Milton writes of the pagan god Molech in Paradise Lost below.
"First, Moloch, horrid King, besmeared with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents’ tears;
Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud,
Their children’s cries unheard that passed through fire
To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite
Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain,
In Argob and in Basan, to the stream
Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such
Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart
Of Solomon he led by fraud to build
His temple right against the temple of God
On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove
The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence
And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell."
- Paradise Lost, i. 391-405
Sources: Smith's Bible Dictionary, Philadelphia, A. J. Holman, Co., Revised Ed., p. 205
Jordan, Michael, Encyclopedia of Gods, New York, Facts On File, Inc. 1993, p. 168
Molech, (or Molek) was the chief god of the Phoenicians, and Canaanites, mentioned as the god of the Ammonites. The victims were slowly burned to death in the outstretched arms of this idol, which were metal, hollow and could be heated on the inside. Some say they fell into the fire below. Manaseh offered his son to Molech. Solomon erected an altar to this god on one of the summits of Mount Olivet.
1Kings 11:7-8, Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
This idol worshipping continued there and in Tophet until Josiah abolished it and defiled the altars of Molech and Baal shortly before Babylonian captivity. I believe this act uniquely endeared King Josiah to the Father’s heart that even the prophet Jeremiah mourned and lamented grievously with all of Israel at his death. Boy oh boy, how badly we need more "Josiahs" today!
1Kings 23:10 And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.
We need Godly leaders like Josiah to charge and infuriate God’s people against this evil and insidious spirit of Molech in our cities today. Yes, this evil spirit is alive and well in America today chiefly in the form of abortion. Yes, abortion may not be seemingly as gory and despicable as the offering of young, helpless babies in fiery arms of Molech, the elements are eerily similar and the result the same: termination of life! It’s just that in our modern day era of technological sophistication, we perform this horror in clandestine, well lit rooms of abortion clinics, as our firstfruits seeds pass through the laser fire of modern day Molech!
Oh, yes in our selfish reasoning we call it choice, or a woman’s right or this or that! How about God’s right? And amazingly the statistics are the same for Christians and unbelievers alike in this gross atrocity and violation of his Torah. God have mercy on us! Clearly, the judgment has already begun in the house of God. And yet very few are making the spiritual connection. Admittedly or not there is a dark and ominous correlation between abortion and the rate of breast cancer, prostrate cancer and other reproductive diseases amongst prevalent Christians.
Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Of course, in the course of researching for this article I was not shocked to discover that the overwhelming majority of people committing abortion are young girls with no previous birth. This confirms undoubtedly that abortion is a ploy of the enemy to kill and destroy the firstfruits of their womb. Furthermore, I was able to unearth a lot of statistics associated with the evil ramifications of abortion on a young woman’s body, soul, mind and spirit. Nevertheless, Planned Parenthood and their hordes of highly trained priests would have us believe that abortion is a good thing. No, don’t buy their lies. The truth of the matter is that abortion opens up a woman’s inner chamber to diseases, abortion traumatizes and abortion kills! And that’s exactly what the Planned Parenthood and their sponsors want. Yes, make no mistake about it; their main goal as stated by their founder, Margaret Sanger, is to reduce the world population of the unfit and undesirables elements of society. Abortion is just one of the many strategies employed by the world rulers, the "Cosmo Krateros" in their diabolical plan to ultimately reduce the world population by two-third!
1Cor. 11:31-32, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Remember God’s chastisement is to engender in our hearts true "Teshuva"; a genuine repentance and a complete turn around! However, if we refuse and rebel through gain-sayings and rationalization and apathy, then we shall be destroyed by the sword!
In Proverbs chapter three, the bible clearly links the offering of firstfruits with abundance and fruitfulness. Could abortion, which is a violation of this divine principle affect the fruitfulness of a woman’s womb? Again, the purpose of this study is not to put anyone in condemnation but rather to invoke a godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance. I honestly now believe the sin of abortion has reached a national crisis. The blood of the innocents no doubt cries out for justice. And we are all guilty for allowing this evil abomination in our midst. So, in a sense we all need to humble ourselves and repent for the sin of our nation so that God may heal our land. We need to cleanse ourselves from the spirit of Molech which is the spirit of abortion. In 1993, a researcher by the name of Joel Brind presented his thesis at the Association of Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change held in Milwaukee, WI.
Among his findings were four major health risks associated with abortion in regards to a woman’s productive organs.* There is an 800% increase in breast cancer for women less than 18 years old who have an abortion after the eighth week of pregnancy. * On average there is an 80% increase in breast cancer if the woman has an abortion before a live birth. * Risk of breast cancer increases with the number of abortions. * Women who have an abortion before a live birth and develop breast cancer have a greater possibility of having a faster growing tumor with a poorer cure rate than women who have not had an abortion.
While such studies point out the delicate balance God has placed between creation and the observance of biblical laws, the risk of disease should not be viewed solely as a personal judgment from God, however. The mere fact that one increases the chance of individual harm through unbiblical activity only proves that God's laws were intended first and foremost for our spiritual and physical protection. God loves each one of His children and it hurts Him when we take the life of the weakest and innocent through abortion. Jesus invites everyone to live in accordance with His Word, which is "health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones" and have life more abundantly, John 10:10
Prov.3:7-9, Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.
For those that may have been involved directly or indirectly in this sin of Molech or abortion there is forgiveness and complete cleansing through the blood of Yeshua. According to John 1:9, Yeshua is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us if we confess our sins.
1John 1:9-10, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
THE EIGHT PRINCIPLES OF FIRSTFRUITS!
I am indebted to Rich Marshall (the author of the book, "God @ work") for first opening up my eyes to these truths at a local Vineyard Church here in Wichita, many years ago. Thank you Richard, may God continue to bless and prosper your ministry. For more info about Rich Marshal, visit his website at: www.godisworking.com . Now, I am certain there more truths regarding firstfruits than just these, however these are the ones that I have found to be most prominent.
1. Firstfruits Are Commanded and Demanded by God!
Only God by virtue of his ownership of the heaven and earth has any legitimate claim over all there is. And He has all things, yet in some special and unique way, He wants us to acknowledge that by giving to God that which rightfully belongs to Him. Will you honor Him with your firstfruits? Then proclaim loudly: awh y:l (Li hu)!
Exodus 13:2, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine awh y:l (Li hu)!
2. Firstfruits Must Be First Of Its Kind!
Here are some examples of firstfruits; it is really easy once you purpose in your heart to live a firstfruit lifestyle. If you are a farmer your first crops that season will be your firstfruits; if you are mother your firstfruit is your first son that opens your womb. Now, scripturally a child begins at conception in the womb not at birth. In fact, it has now been medically proven that at conception, the cell contains a unique DNA that contains all the genetic code for this baby. God called Jeremiah while he was still in his mother’s womb. John the Baptist was anointed as a child while in his mother’s womb; Luke 1:15
Accordingly, Aben Ezra & Kimchi. commented on Ps.24, Ver. 1. The earth [is] the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof] The whole universe, all the terraqueous globe, both land and water, and the circumambient air, and all that is therein; the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, all plants and vegetables that spring out of the earth, and metals and minerals in the bowels of it; all which are the riches of the Lord the earth is full of, #Ps 104:24; see #Ps 50:10-12.
3. FirstFruits Must Honor God!
When you wake up in the morning to a new day, do you immediately give praise and honor to YHVH, The Creator of the universe? The God in whose hand thy breath is Dan.5:23 Or are you much too busy with your ministry or your office work? Your first waking moments of each day offer tremendous opportunity to honor God through praise and thanksgiving. Prov. 3:9-10, 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. This is perhaps the key verse among thirty-two or more verses that promise abundance and prosperity upon those that have so cultivated the principles of firstfruits that to them it has become a lifestyle. Notice the phrase: "All thine increase", it implies everything. The culminating result is a life of abundance in areas of life. Mark 1:35
4. Firstfruits Must Not Be Touched or Claimed Until Offered!
Yeshua as our firstfruits offering to the Father was not to be touched until after he had first presented himself before the Father in heaven.
Joh 20:17, Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. There are serious consequences for holding on to the firstfruits rather than consecrating them to God! Joshua 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
5. Purposed For Destruction!
Yeoshua (Joshua) was perplexed! They had just suffered a major defeat and destruction from the enemy at Ai and Yeoshua fell on his face! In his bewilderment, he ponders, "Why would God allow them to conquer a bigger and much fortified city like Jericho and then allow such destruction of his people in the hands of little city of Ai?" God’s response: Joshua 7:10
Rom. 11:16, For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. When properly applied it sanctifies and blesses the rest of your increase, Prov.3:9
6. They Are The Promise or Token Of More To Come!
Yeshua is the best example of this by being firstfruit of the resurrection from the dead. By his resurrection on the third day as prophesied, it is an infallible proof and promise that we too shall be raised up when He comes back for his own at His second coming. HalleluYAH! 1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
7. The Offering Of Them Consecrates The Whole Or The Rest!
Rom. 11:16, For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. When properly applied it sanctifies and blesses the rest of your increases, Prov.3:9.
8. They Are Always Given To The Priest or Pastor!
Le 23:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest.
Shalom Aleichem (Peace be unto you)
Yomi F. Opeola
(B.I.F.A.M)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
