Vehi Sheamda

Talk to the Hand

Listen to Me, O Ya'akov, Yisrael, whom I have called: I Am He; I AM the First and I AM the Last. My own Hand laid the foundations of the earth, and My Right Hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together...Draw near to Me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there." And now the L-rd G-D has sent me, and his Spirit. This says the L-RD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Yisrael: "I AM the L-RD your G-D, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go." ~ Yeshayahu 48:12-13,16-17

From Heaven?

This article, by Giulio Meotti, is absolutely essential reading. I can’t believe we’re actually seeing things this clearly already. Though, this is only the beginning.

It’s as though Christianity and Islam are two circles in a Venn Diagram of ignorance. Where they overlap, Israel is portrayed as a ravenous monster that must be usurped, dethroned and destroyed by any means necessary. And, somehow, with each passing day, latest headline, and conference aim, it appears that these circles are steadily drawing closer to each other - signaling a near, if not complete, alignment at some point.

For years, I didn’t see it coming to this, and now I can see no other way. The hour is fast approaching, and in many ways is already upon us, when those within Messianic Judaism, and all other like-minded communities, will be required to draw very clear and solid distinctions between themselves and these others that, through their sheer blindness, only facilitate the aspirations of our adversary. The true disciples of Yeshua will treasure the opportunity to stand firmly with their Jewish brothers and sisters – against all of our common foes. Though our enemies are certainly numerous, G-d stands with us.

“And it will happen in that day that I will make Yerushalayim a very heavy stone for all people; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” ~ Zechariah 12:3

Keep

The L-RD appeared to Yitzhak and said, "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Avraham, your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because Avraham obeyed My voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." ~ Genesis 26:5

Which of G-d's commandments, statutes and laws did Avraham keep?

Do you fit in?

A Christian asked, "Where exactly do Messianic Jews fit in as far as the End Times are concerned?" and "Do they count as Israel or as the Church?" I'm tempted to point out that those mentioned in Revelation 12:17 don't exactly sound like the average church group to me, but instead, I ask, "Do Messianic Jews “fit in” at all? Must they “fit in”, necessarily? And why? Who chooses the container in which we must fit? Do the plans of G-d always (or ever) fit into our neat, tidy, eschatological theories, compartments and such? Will many, just like those in the first century, be too wrapped up in their own misunderstandings to discern the things that unfold in the days to come? Then, I try to relax a bit.

While we’re asking; where, actually, does the “church” fit in? I mean, even Rav Shaul referred to these things as a “mystery”, did he not? Perhaps it's the other groups that need to “fit in”. It might sound crazy, but let's not lose sight of the facts. Messiah Yeshua came solely to Israel. His disciples later carried the message of salvation to the surrounding nations and outsiders. Maybe they are the ones who are unable to accurately find their place. Just a thought, but that would explain why we were given Romans 11, no?

People have always been quite fond of pointing out what words aren't in scripture - and in this instance, you'll find I'm no different. If you consider the fact that the word “church” is found nowhere in the original scriptures, but is used as a translation of the word ἐκκλησία – the ekklesia, or the “called out assembly”, it begs the question; is it possible that even our nomenclature has contributed to massive distortions in understanding? Let me present it this way; the word “church” is from the old English word “cirice”, which is from the ancient Germanic word “kirika”, which, strangely, is from the Greek word κυριακὴ, which means “of the L-rd”, but is not even the word used to refer to this assembly in the Greek text originally. So, why the change? It's not as though English speakers wouldn't have understood the word "assembly". Why substitute it with a tri-translated distortion? Does taking what was once referred to as the “called out assembly”, and re-naming it the “church”, cause it to appear that those who are not the “church” are not “of the L-rd”?

Breath

"By the Word of the L-RD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host." ~ Psalm 33:6

"..then the L-RD G-d formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." ~ Genesis 2:7

"Thus says the L-RD G-d to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live... So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army." ~ Ezekiel 37:5,10

"And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." ~ John 20:22

Q&A

Q: Are you here, G-d?

A: I AM.

Q: Where?! I can't see You...

A: Where I told you I would be. Look directly in front of you.

Q: But I still don’t see You!

A: You’re looking right at Me.

Tikkun

KOEOY Media - Tikkun Poster

UPDATE: Tikkun prints are now available in 16x20 format.
They're full color on matte paper and turned out beautifully.
Mail me (koeoy.blog[at]gmail[dt]com) for details if you'd like to purchase one.

Sulam

"Jacob's Ladder" Albert Houthuesen 1966 
What might it have sounded like?

Hold fast.

Thus says the L-RD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon My salvation will come, and My deliverance be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the L-RD say, "The L-RD will surely separate me from His people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." For thus says the L-RD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose the things that please Me and hold fast My covenant, I will give in My house and within My walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. "And the foreigners who join themselves to the L-RD, to minister to Him, to love the Name of the L-RD, and to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast My covenant, these I will bring to My Holy Mountain, and make them joyful in My House of Prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a House of Prayer for All Peoples." The L-rd G-D, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, "I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered." ~ Yeshayahu 56:1-8

His Face

"For just a moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid My Face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the L-RD, your Redeemer. "This is like the days of Noach to Me: as I swore that the waters of Noach should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the L-RD, having compassion on you. ~ Yeshayahu 54:7-10

In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone gathers against you, it is not from Me; whoever stirs up strife and attacks you shall fall because of you. ~ Yeshayahu 54:14,15

Now!

"Yonah the Prophet had to suffer a tempest at sea and three subsequent days in the belly of a whale before he woke up and returned to Hashem with all his heart. Must we also, Heaven forbid?

As I'm writing this article, flood waters are rising in New York City despite the fact that Hurricane Irene has been degraded to a tropical storm. And, on the other side of the Atlantic, rockets fired from Gaza are still falling in the South of Israel, despite the fact that there's supposed to be a ceasefire.

Despite the fact... Are we starting to understand that we don't run the show? Is anyone foolish enough to see that our fate is not in our own hands?"

Five

"Five things brought about the redemption of the Israelites from Egypt: 
(1) The sufferings of the people 
(2) their repentance; 
(3) the merits of their ancestors 
(4) the expiration of the time fixed for their captivity 
(5) the mercy of their G-d. 
These same causes will operate towards the realization of Israel's Messianic hopes and lead to the last redemption through Messiah." ~ Deuteronomy Rabba 2

Wait

Zion says, "The L-RD has forsaken me. My L-RD has forgotten all about me. But G-d says, "Can a woman forget the child that she nursed, would she show no compassion to her own son? Even if she could forget, I could never and will never forget you. Look, I have carved you into the palms of my hands. The walls of your city are always in front of me." ~ Isaiah 49:15-16

Matan Torah!

Hag Shavuot Sameach!

Yom Yerushalayim

URGENT

From: Air Force Commander 050800

To: All Units

The Egyptian enemy has risen to exterminate us. The IAF, the clenched fist of the IDF, received the order to lead the battle. And so begins the third leg in the battle for our survival.

As in 1948 and 1956 the enemy is coming from all directions.

The spirit of past heroes goes with you into battle. Let the memory of Joshua, King David's warriors, the Maccabees, and the soldiers of the 1956 Sinai war, be the source of your inspiration. They will give you the strength to crush the Egyptian enemy who threatens our nation. With a decisive victory we will secure peace for ourselves, our children and future generations.

Soar and swoop down on the enemy, bomb them to rubble, remove their fangs, and scatter them in the desert so that the People of Israel may live eternally secure in their homeland.

General Mordecai Hod

!!!הר הבית בידינו

Hurry, my Redeemer!

Hasten, O Friend divine, to Your House serene. We may have strayed from the right path, but we have paid the price in every type of pain. You L-rd are our defense and hope. Each day we wait for Your grace to redeem us and make us a watered garden.

Hasten, O Friend, to our sacred temple. Our sins have mounted high, but see us bound in chains. You are our Holy Redeemer. To You we bring our earnest plea to turn to us in favor and make us free.

Hurry, my Love!

Hasten, O Friend divine, to the city of Your presence. Though we have broken Your covenant, return in mercy to the temple of Your love. Fulfill the promise of deliverance. Renew Your city in joy. Make her an object of rejoicing once again.

Hasten, O Friend, to Your temple of peace. Though we have strayed from Your path, look upon us with favor and help a people afflicted and harassed. Make an end to anger. Shelter them beneath the wings of Your love.

Hurry, Friend!

Hasten, O Friend divine, the time of our love's renewal. Return to us in mercy. The wicked kings of the heathen lands have all but consumed us. Uproot and destroy them from our midst. Restore Your city and make us a people of song again. May the hour of our Redeemer draw near.

Hasten, O Friend, the time of redemption promised by the prophets. Lift from us the darkening shadows. Raise up and exalt a people that have long known insult and bestow on them wisdom, to teach and to cleanse the many nations. Reveal Your saving might. Proclaim the hour of redemption.

Today's Special

We are commanded to be salt and light. We are told that if we have become ineffectual, like salt that has lost it's savor, we're good for little more than to be trampled underfoot. We are commanded to reveal our light before men - not conceal it - and to be cities atop hills, illuminating the shadowy valleys below. I want to do that - and I want to learn from others that are doing it - it's why I'm here. Unfortunately, many don't share this sentiment (and a few of them have internet access) so I took my e-mail off my profile. As much as I'd prefer that folks post in the comment section (so that we all might learn something from it), some insist on "questioning" me privately. Few of these things are in the form of questions, though. Still others post comments only to delete them a few hours later. Why would you do that? Thing is, I would still relish it if they were actually seeking a discussion, but it's less enjoyable if they just envision themselves as part (or head) of some theological task force. For the sake of the light, I'd like to take just a minute to address a common misconception that stems from that centuries-long slow drift that needs to be cleared up. I'll make it brief.