MEM

There is sufficient Scriptural proof of a priestly calling for all believers in Messiah (Christ) as their High Priest (See MEM issue 130).

One of the aspects of the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth entails believers being granted the promised roles of king and priest in His Kingdom. But how often have we stopped to examine what specific responsibilities we will have as governors and leaders in God’s Kingdom?

Dale Cresap (edited) - Leaders: What are the qualifications of a leader in the Kingdom of God? Yeshua (Jesus) said, The gentiles love to exert authority over one another and be recognized for their offices, but it is not to be so among you (Luke 22:25-30). Do you look for certain qualities in a leader, such as shrewdness, decisiveness, and communication skills? These skills may be helpful but Yeshua selected leaders without them. How do you select leaders when the values of the Kingdom are to become childlike and be a servant? His Kingdom is one of love.

Matt 4:17 … Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (NAS unless indicated, bolding added)

Luke 11:2 … "When you pray, say: 'Father, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come…

The Messiah is our High Priest
Hebrews 3:1 KJV Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and HIGH PRIEST of our profession, Christ Jesus

Believers in Messiah are a Kingdom of Priests
1Pet 2:9 NJB But you are a chosen race, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people to be a personal possession to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

What will happen when His Kingdom comes?
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; …they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him…

It will be a hands on Kingdom

Isa 61:4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations, And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations… 6 But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God…

Matt 5:1 And when He [Yeshua] saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Yeshua laid out the basic by-laws of His government; how they (and we) should prepare and conduct ourselves. It is called "The Sermon on the Mount." Therefore it is incumbent upon each of us to study Matthew chapters 5, 6, & 7 (Also Luke 6) and understand; if one does not understand ask the Master …

Matt 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 And He answered and said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted… 16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

Rev 5:10 NJB and made them a line of kings and priests for God, to rule the world.

1Cor 10:11 Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Israel was called a kingdom of priest (His redeemed people from Egypt)

Exodus 19:5 Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary) … as priests; they were under God's immediate government, and the tendency of the laws given them was to distinguish them from others, and engage them for God as a holy nation. Thus all believers are, through Christ, made to our God kings and priests (Rev. 1:6), a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 1 Pet. 2:9.

The Levitical priesthood was to act as teachers of the law (Dt. 33:10; Mal. 2:7) and as judges (Dt. 17:9). They were to be experts in distinguishing clean and unclean, sacred and profane (Lev. 10:10). They were to offer incense, symbolic of their intercession on behalf of the children of Israel (Joel 2:17).

1Cor 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, matters of this life?

Heb 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God… 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Deut 4:5 "See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me… 6 So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? 8 Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

James 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

Lydia Maria Child: - "The cure for all the ills and wrongs, the cares, the sorrows, and the crimes of humanity, all lie in the one word "love". It is the divine vitality that everywhere produces and restores life."

Deut 6:4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! 5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your sons 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.

1Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails…

Hebrew kohen; Greek hiereus. There are four characteristics of the priest. He was

All the elect saints … called to be priests unto God (1Pe 2:5; 1Pe 2:9), and being transfigured shall reign with Christ as king priests (Rev 1:6; Rev 5:10; Rev 20:6).

In the Levitical arrangements the office of the priesthood … the family of Aaron. Their duties were manifold (Ex. 27:20, 21; 29:38-44; Lev. 6:12; 10:11; 24:8; Num. 10:1-10; Deut. 17:8-13; 33:10; Mal. 2:7). They represented the people before God, and offered the various sacrifices prescribed in the law.

A type of Messiah; it was a shadow of which the body is to Christ. The priests all prefigured the great Priest who offered "one sacrifice for sins" "once for all" (Heb. 10:10, 12).

The term "priest" is indeed applied to believers (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6). All true believers are now "kings and priests unto God." As priests they have free access into the holiest of all, and offer up the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, and the sacrifices of grateful service from day to day.

ISBE: (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)*

(kohen), "priest," "prince," "minister":

A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things… and who acts as mediator between men and God. It was in virtue of the priestly functions that the chosen people were brought into near relations with God and kept therein.

In short, the priest was the indispensable source of religious knowledge for the people, and the channel through which spiritual life was communicated.

No others that ever bore the name or discharged the office rank with these, save, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom they were distinguished types. The ordinary priests and the Levites depended for their official existence on Aaron (as we depend on Messiah). Apart from him they would not be priests. The priesthood of Christ was typified by both. The office is summed up and completed in Him. In the Epistle to the Hebrews the priesthood of both these men is combined and consummated in Christ. But let it be noted that while He is of the order of Melchizedek He exercises the office after the pattern of Aaron. He perfects all that Aaron did typically, because He is the true and the real Priest, while Aaron is but a figure.

The Hebrew priests in no wise interfered with the conscience of men. (Nor should we)

The High Priest…

Nor was he to come in contact with death. (Lev 21:10; Lev 21:11). For he was the representative of life. Death did not exist for him, in so far as he was a priest. God is the Ever-Living, the Life-Giving; and His priest," [Yeshua] had to do with life alone.

John 3:15 that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.

… that he might understand the word of Yahweh and interpret it to the people. Sacrificial blood, the blood of atonement, is here, as everywhere else, the foundation for saints and sinners, for priests and ministers alike, in all their relations with God.

Type and Archetype:

The priests of Israel were but dim shadows of the one Great Priest of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

William G. Moorehead

AmTrac: (American Tract Society Bible Dictionary)

The priesthood of Christ is the substance and truth… Christ, the everlasting priest according to the order of Melchizedek, abides forever; whereas the priests according to the order of Aaron were mortal, and therefore could not continue long, Heb 7:1-28. The Lord, to express to the Hebrews what great favors he would confer on them, says he would make them kings and priests, Ex 19:6; and Peter repeats this promise to Christians, or rather, he tells them that they are in truth what Moses promised to Israel, 1Pe 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6. Every Christian offers himself a spiritual sacrifice, "acceptable to God through Jesus Christ;" but in the Christian church, there is no priest to make expiation for sin by a sacrifice but Christ alone, Heb 9:11-26.

• Present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:17)
• Offer up the Sacrifice of praise (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Psalm 50:23; Hebrews 13:15)
• Walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 66:2; James 4:6-10; 1Peter 5:5-6)
• Prepare to be judges - study the Torah of YHVH (1Cor 6:1-2; Dan 7:18-22; Lu 22:30)
• To be teachers - (Start by teaching our children) (Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 78:5-8)
• Study the instruction to the churches (i.e. Rev 2 and 3; to Timothy and Titus etc.)
• Love Elohim and one another (Matthew 22:37-40; John 13:34-35)
• Keep the commandments (John 14:15; Matthew 25:34-40; 1John 2:3-5; 5:2-3)
• Seek YHVH with all your heart (Deut 4:19-21; 1Kings 8:48-50; Mat 6:33; Pro 2:1-9)
• Don’t worry - Pray (Philippians 4:6-9; Eph 6:18; Col 4:2; 1Thess 5:17-18; Jude 1:20-21)
• Trust YHVH (Pro 3:5-6; 16:3; Jer 33:3; Mt 7:7-8; Ps 55:22)

Overwhelmed about being a potential king or priest in the Kingdom of God. Do not be; but rejoice - there are many tasks, many positions, in the body and we have been placed there for the good of all in this special task.

1Cor 12:12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. (See 1Cor chapters 12 and 13)

1Cor 12:27 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? …

A list of many of the duties of the Levitical priest are in a separate section. Maybe one of these will fit your talents. The Psalmist said, For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10 KJV

Believers in Messiah will be fittingly prepared for their position by the grace of Elohim.

Next issue - a real example of a governor (prince or minister) and priest ruling, as we might.

(* editing is done to shorten length - you are encouraged to read the full commentary where applicable)

Priests - called to dispense justice with wisdom

Proverbs 8:12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate. 14 Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.

Rev 5:10 KJV And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

YHVH You are preparing us to reign with the One that says " Prov. 8:14 … I am understanding, power is mine. 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice." Renew our mind.

"Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility." Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Ruling and Reigning with Yeshua is indeed a great responsibility. We need to accept it in light of the calling whereby He has called us.

Yeshua - we accept Your calling for service in Your Kingdom.

1. Which person did Yeshua (Jesus) call a fox?
2. What is the theme of 1 Corinthians 15?
3. Where did Abraham go to offer Isaac as a burnt offering?
4. In the full armor of God, what is represented by the helmet?
5. What was the sixth plague that God placed on Egypt?
6. Which disciple was a tax collector?
7. Who said, "All this I will give you if you bow down and worship me"?

(Lessons from humility and death to self.)

"Humility and death are in their very nature one: humility is the bud; in death the fruit is ripened to perfection" Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray is referring to the death of self and is confirming what Yeshua said about the seed that must die in order to produce fruit.

John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

While we yet live we must die to self that the life of Yeshua may be seen in us. Our life, our behavior must reflect the humility that produces sons of God.

Rom 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Master, our priesthood responsibility is to humbly offer our self-nature as a living sacrifice to You.

When we realize the sad state of affairs in today’s church are we moved like Nehemiah? Nehemiah, a Jewish captive, was a very high official in the Persian Empire. Some believe that Nehemiah was a priest, others of the kingly line of David. We do know that he ruled in Judea (Jerusalem) as a governor. What might we glean from his prayer to YHVH?

Nehemiah 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire."
Nehemiah 1:4 Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:5 And I said, "I beseech Thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open to hear the prayer of Thy servant which I am praying before Thee now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Thy servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against Thee; I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against Thee and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses. 8 Remember the word which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.' 10 And they are Thy servants and Thy people whom Thou didst redeem by Thy great power and by Thy strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech Thee, may Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant and the prayer of Thy servants who delight to revere Thy name, and make Thy servant successful today, and grant him compassion before this man." Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

What a prayer - what dedication - what zeal to be heard by the Eternal Creator and Redeemer.

YHVH, may we repent and humble ourselves, as Nehemiah, when we come before You.

How does God feel about issues we face today?

What can each person you meet teach you? Everyone has strengths and weakness. Some people may teach you patience because you have to deal with their weakness, others grace, others true nuggets of wisdom and others peace and joy in the midst of the storm. Every person is valuable in your life - to make you better, to change you and shape you to be a better servant and child of God. If you respond and react to them correctly then you can learn. If you forget God’s presence in you, and your old flesh man takes over, you will lose the lesson.  You might also sin, and thus cause someone else to learn patience and grace from you.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)

Material in this section is based on various prayer diaries.

THE ANSWERS ARE BELOW


1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires. The second is full of assassins with loaded guns. The third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?


2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?


3. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away?


4. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday?


5. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious as to just how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is highly unusual though. Study it and think about it, but you
still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!

 

I grew up with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen before they had a name for it. A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. 

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away.

I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. 

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. 

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. 

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return… So... While we have it..... It’s best we love it.... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken......... And heal it when it's sick. 

This is true. For marriage....... And old cars..... And children with bad report cards..... And dogs with bad hips.... And aging parents...... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with. 

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special........ And so, we keep them close! 

Computer Issues? Call the Computer Technical Support Team - they have heard it all.

Tech support:    What kind of computer do you have?
Customer:    A white one...
Tech support:    Click on the 'my computer' icon on the left of the screen.
Customer:    Your left or my left?

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Customer:    Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can't print. Every time I try, it says 'Can't find printer'.  I've even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can't find it..

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Tech support:    What's on your monitor now, ma'am?
Customer:    A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me at the 7-11.

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Customer:   My keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech support:   Are you sure it's plugged into the computer?
Customer:   No. I can't get behind the computer.
Tech support:    Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back.
Customer:    OK
Tech support:   Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer:  Yes
Tech support:   That means the keyboard is not plugged in.

****************************

Customer:   I can't get on the Internet.
Tech support:   Are you sure you used the right password?
Customer:   Yes, I'm sure. I saw my colleague do it.
Tech support:    Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer:   Five dots.

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Tech support:    What anti-virus program do you use?
Customer:   Netscape.
Tech support:   That's not an anti-virus program.
Customer:   Oh, sorry... Internet Explorer…

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Customer:    I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears.

A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer.
Tech support:   Are you running it under windows?
Customer:   'No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine.'

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Have a good day!

Here is a partial list of important task of the priests with Scripture references - Consider how this list might apply to those who serve our High Priest Yeshua the Messiah - are we ready to serve?

• Teach the law Lev 10:11; De 24:8; 27:14; 31:9-13; 33:10; Jer 2:8; Mal 2:7
• Teach the people. (Leviticus 10:8-11)
• Serve as judges to resolve controversy. (Deut. 21:5)
• Offer sacrifices. (Exodus 29:38-42; Le 1:4-17; 2:2,16; 3:5; Ezra 6:20; Heb 10:11)
• Assess impurity. (Leviticus 13-15)
• Bless the people. (Numbers 6:22-27)
• Bless God (Deuteronomy 10:8)
• Keep the tabernacle. (Numbers 3:38; 4;16)
• Take care of the altar (Leviticus 6:8-13), the lamps, and the showbread (Lev 24:1-9)
• Continue the sacred fire. (Leviticus 6;12-13)
• Blow the trumpets. (Numbers 10:1-10)
• To designate subordinate priests for duty (Num 4:19 1Sa 2:36)
• To officiate in consecrations of Levites (Num 8:11-21)
• To have charge of the treasury (2Ki 12:10 22:4 2Ch 24:6-14 34:9)
• To burn incense (Ex 30:7, 8 1Sa 2:28 1Ch 23:13)
• To place shewbread on the table every Sabbath (Le 24:8)
• To offer for his own sins of ignorance (Lev 4:3-12)
• Day of Atonement (Ex 30:10 Le 16:1 ... Heb 5:3 9:7, 22, 23)
• Judicial (Num 5:15 De 17:8-13 1Sa 4:18 Ho 4:4 Mt 26:3, 50, 57, 62 Ac 5:21-28 23:1-5)
• To count the people (Num 1:3)
• Officiate at the choice of a ruler (Num 27:18, 19, 21)
• Distribute the plunder of war (Num 31:26-29)
• To offer the first-fruits (Lev 23:10,11 De 26:3,4)
• To act as scribes (Ezra 7:1-6 Ne 8:9)
• Pronounce benedictions De 21:5; 2Ch 30:27
• Light the lamps in the tabernacle Ex 27:20, 21; 2Ch 13:11; Le 24:3, 4
• To furnish a quota of wood for the sanctuary Ne 10:34
• Responsible for the sanctuary Num 4:5-15; 18:1, 5, 7
• Be present at and supervise the tithing Ne 10:38
• Examine lepers Lev 15:31
• Officiate in the Holy Place Heb 9:6
• Chiefs of Levites Num 3:9, 32; 4:19, 28, 33; 1Ch 9:20
• To act as magistrates Num 5:14-31; De 17:8-13; 19:17; 2Ch 19:8; Ezekiel 44:23, 24
• To encourage the army on the eve of battle De 20:2-4
• To carry the ark of the covenant Joshua 3; 4:15-18 In battle 1Sa 4:3-5
• They offered morning and evening sacrifices with a meat and drink offering at the tabernacle door (Exodus 29:38-44; 27:20, 21; Lev, 24:2; 2 Chr. 13:11)
• They were always ready to do the priestly office for any worshipper (Lev. 1:5; 2:2, 9; 3:11; 12:6; 1 Sam. 2:13)
• The priest administered the water of jealousy (Num. 5:11-31)
• Declared clean or unclean, and purified ceremonially, lepers (Lev. 13; 14; Mark :44)
• Offered expiatory sacrifices for defilements and sins of ignorance (Lev. 15)
• The priest as "messenger of Jehovah of hosts" taught Israel the law, and his "lips" were to "keep knowledge" (Mal. 2:7; Lev. 10:10, 11; Deut. 24:8; 33:10; Jer. 18:18; Hag. 2:11; 2 Chr. 15:3; :7-9; Ezek. 44:23,24)
• They blew the "alarm" for marching, with the long silver trumpets which belonged to them in a special way (Num. 10:1-8); two if the multitude was convened, one if a council of elders and princes (Num. 10:10)
• the priest announced the beginning of solemn days and days of gladness, and summoned all to a penitential fast (Joel 2:1,15)
• An appeal lay to them in controversies (Ezek. 44:24; 2 Chr. :8-10; Deut. 17:8-13); so in cases of undetected murder (Deut. 21:5)

Michael Boldea Jr.

Love reduces friction to a fraction

Our greatest triumph is rising every time we fall

Grandchildren certainly brighten up the home. They never turn off the lights!

Middle age is the awkward period of life when Father Time starts catching up with Mother Nature

Anything on the menu that you can’t pronounce, you probably can’t afford

Money isn’t everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch

Think all you speak, but do not speak all that you think

 
How we value something determines the time, energy, and money we invest in it. There was a time when our society valued the household far more than today. While we may claim that we value family and home, how we spend our time contradicts what we say. The pursuit of career, the accumulation of things, and the love of self have taken over the importance of building strong and healthy families. … I don't know why we have chosen to give ourselves over to the busy-ness of business and accumulation of things over and against investing in family life.
 
Our misconstrued perceptions over what in life is of true value stems from how we perceive God. God asks the question "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? (Jeremiah 2:5; ESV). The people of Israel knew the reality of God, yet they went after other things that they perceived as valuable, but were actually worthless. The picture here is of someone examining something and discovering a flaw, thus rendering the thing worthless as far as they were concerned. But what could that flaw be that God's people would turn from him?
 
I wonder how many people turn from God because of a wrong they perceive in him. This may be due to the way God is misrepresented by others. Other times we may draw wrong conclusions about God based on a misinterpretation of life events. Perhaps who God is offends us, because he doesn't meet our expectations or fulfill our preferences.
 
Whatever the reason, our inaccurate perceptions of God's value will result in our valuing worthless things. But notice that it doesn't stop there. When we value what is worthless, we ourselves become worthless. Made in God's image, we are of great value. God intended that we would live our lives in service to him and that we would be the reflection of all he is. But if we fail to rightly value he who is of greatest value, we ourselves become worthless, no longer able to fulfill the purpose to which we were made.
 
Thankfully through what the Messiah Yeshua has done for us, we can be restored to that purpose. It is not too late to realize the worthlessness of the worthless things we value and begin to value those things that are of true value, beginning with God himself.

*(This document was edited for length)

To honor, respect, obey, and rejoice in YHVH brings great reward. Ah, to know His covenant.

Blessed be YHVH (Genesis 14:20 And blessed be God Most High…)

1. Herod - Luke 13:31-32

2. The resurrection of Christ and the dead - 1 Corinthians 15:3-56

3. A mountain in the land of Moriah - Genesis 22:2

4. Salvation - Ephesians 6:13, 17

5. Boils - Exodus 9:8-12

6. Matthew - Matthew 10:3

7. Satan - Matthew 4:9-10