The Covenant of Mercy

The Covenant of Mercy

by | Feb 9, 2017 | Uncategorized

Ancient Hebrew is based on letters that form word pictures. Hebrew words are created by joining pictures to illustrate the meaning of the word. The Hebrew word for covenant, berit, is a wonderful example of this.

Berit is formed by the Hebrew letters – bet, reysh, yood, and tav. Reading right to left it looks like this:
covenant

 

בּ  bet

 House is the word picture for bet, It can also mean the temple or house of God.

ר  reysh

 Head is the word picture for reysh. It can also mean a person or the highest.

י  y00d

 Hand is the word picture for yood. It also means work or deed.

ת  tav

 Sign is the word picture for tav. It can also mean seal or cross.

In the four letters that make up the Hebrew word picture for covenant, we see that those in the house should have on their head and hand a sign. In Messiah, we are called to be the temple or house of the living God, and there should be a sign on our head and hand that we are in Covenant with the Holy One of Israel. What is one of the signs of the Covenant? It is the annual celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

This [eating matzah] is done because of that which the LORD [Yahweh] did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto you and upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes [head] that the LORD’S law [Torah] may be in your mouth: for with a strong hand has the LORD brought you out of Egypt . (Exodus 13:8-10)

The Scriptures teach, that as His covenant people, His Word is to be within us, in our mouths and in our hearts.

…And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes [head].(Deuteronomy 6:6-8)

Take time to meditate on the meaning of berit and the eternal truths that are embedded in the beauty of the Hebrew language. Encourage your children to memorize the Word, to hide it in their hearts. Being in covenant with the Holy One has incredible promises for those who believe. Here are just a few delicious samples for you, and all your household of faith, to taste and see that His Covenant of Mercy is good:

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations… (Deuteronomy 7:9)

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But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children. To such as keep His covenant and to those that remember His commandments to do them. (Psalm 103:17-19)

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him…As for Me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD; My spirit that is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of you seed’s seed, says the LORD, from henceforth and forever.(Isaiah 59:19-21)

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people. And has raised up a horn of Salvation for us in the house of His servant David. As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; (Luke 1:68-72)

Teaching our children and our children’s children the commandments of God, connects us with the Covenant Community of Israel. Doing so out of love for Messiah Yeshua, unites us in His Kingdom, and causes us to bear good fruit. A household of faith, set apart, dedicated, and in covenant with the true and living God of Israel brings heavens mercy down upon us.

O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keeps covenant and shows mercy unto Thy servants, that walk before Thee with all their hearts. (2 Chronicles 6:14)

The Holy One of Israel, Yahweh, keeps His covenant and mercy to those that love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations (Deuteronomy 7:9 and Daniel 9:4). Imagine the benefit this has toward us, and our children’s children! Selah.

#Mercy #Covenant #Yeshua #Chesed #Rachamim

STAND FIRM

STAND FIRM

by | Feb 2, 2017 | Uncategorized

Have you ever felt a struggle that is going on, one that human reason or strength will not prevail over, a battle that feels as though it is a fight for life and death? Are you weary in the waiting for the answer to come from Adonai? Here is a message, given to me a couple of weeks ago, from a humble prophet of Messiah Yeshua:

“God has heard your cry. You have been praying specifically about something for a long time, and He has heard your prayers. You are to STAND FIRM. Don’t move to the left or the right. Watch Him work. Reach out and touch His Right Hand by faith. It is all going to be well. It is all well, in Jesus’ Name.”Stand firm.jpg

One of my all-time favorite strategic encounters with the Holy One of Israel is the battle that King Jehoshaphat fought when the Moabites and Ammonites came against the Kingdom of Judah. It looked like the assignment set against the Jewish people was one that would annihilate them. Therefore, Jehoshaphat called a fast, and the people assembled at the Temple courts to pray.

“Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem…He said, ‘Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your Hand, and no one can stand against You…We will cry out to You because of our distress, and You will hear and deliver…For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.'”(2 Chron. 20:5-10 CSB)

Yahweh’s answer to the King’s prayer was given by the Holy Spirit through a man, Yahaziel, whose name means God sees:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the Salvation [Yeshuah] of the LORD. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them for Yahweh is with you.

Then Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD to worship Him.” (2 Chron. 20:17,18 CSB)

The lesson to learn is that God Sees your struggle, and He Knows the battle of the assignment set against you and your family. He will fight for you, by the Power of His Right Hand. He will bring the deliverance, His SALVATION, in His time. The best way you and I can fight is to stand in faith, and fall face down in worship.

God did not abandon His people in ancient times, and He will not abandon us today. Just as He did for His people in the days of King Jehoshaphat, He will do for again for us. His strategies never fail.

“Belief in Yahweh your God, and you will be established, believe in His prophets, and you will succeed. Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the LORD and some to praise the splendor of His holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing:  ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for His faithful love endures forever.’

The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, the helped destroy each other.” (2 Chron. 20:20-23 CSB)

Let us continue to fight the good fight of faith, believing that Adonai sees and knows and that He will fight the battle for us. He can cause our enemies to turn on themselves. Those destroyers, who come to wreak havoc, will submit to their own devices. They will reap the destruction that they have sown. God is faithful to save His own.

If you are struggling to keep the faith during the great trials and testings of life, The New Covenant Scriptures are full of encouragement for the battle at hand:

“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men [be courageous], be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13 NASB)

Put on the Full Armor..”Stand firm then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed…” (Eph. 6:14 BSB)

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Cor. 15:58 NIV)

Fight the good fight of faith, because precious souls are in the balance.  Our Savior, Messiah Yeshua, the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls, will fight for us. It is His Battle and He has already overcome all the works of the enemy. Therefore, if you are called to the front lines, Praise Him!

#TheBattleBelongsToTheLORD #StandFirm #Overcome #AdonaiWillFightForYou