News Letter 5858-002
The 6th Year of the 4th Sabbatical Cycle The 3rd Tithe Year
The 27th year of the 120th Jubilee Cycle
The 8th day of the 1st month 5858 years after the creation of Adam
The 4th Sabbatical Cycle after the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Sword, Famines, and Pestilence
1646 Days until the Two Witnesses
653 Days into the 2300 Days Started May 31st, 2020
March 12, 2022
Shabbat Shalom Royal Family of Yehovah,
Shabbat Zoom Meeting
There are many people in need of fellowship and who are sitting at home on the Sabbath with no one to talk to or debate with. I want to encourage all of you to join us on Shabbat, and to invite others to come and join us as well. If the time is not convenient then you can listen to the teaching and the midrash after on our YouTube channel.
What are we doing and why do we teach this way?
We are going to discuss both sides of an issue and then let you choose. It is the work of the Ruach (Spirit) to direct and to teach you.
The medieval commentator Rashi wrote that the Hebrew word for wrestle (avek) implies that Jacob was “tied”, for the same word is used to describe knotted fringes in a Jewish prayer shawl, the tzitzityot. Rashi says, “thus is the manner of two people who struggle to overthrow each other, that one embraces the other and knots him with his arms”.
Our intellectual wrestling has been replaced by a different kind of struggle. We are Wrestling with Yehovah as we grapple with His Word. It is an intimate act, symbolizing a relationship in which Yehovah and I and you are bound together. My wrestling is a struggle to discover what Yehovah expects of us, and we are “tied” to the One who assists us in that struggle.
Today, many say Israel means “Champion of God”, or better — the “Wrestler of God”.
Our Torah sessions each Shabbat teach you and encourage you to constantly challenge, question, argue against, as well as view alternative views and explanations of the Word. In other words, we are to “wrestle with the Word” to get to the truth. Jews worldwide believe that you need to wrestle with the Word and constantly challenge Dogma, Theology, and views or else you will never get to the Truth.
We are not like most churches where “The preacher talks and everyone listens.” We encourage everyone to participate, to question and to contribute what they know on the subject being discussed. We want you to be a champion wrestler of the Word of Yehovah. We want you to wear the title of Israel, knowing that you not only know but are capable to explain why you know the Torah to be true with logic and facts.
We have a few rules though. Let others talk and listen. There is no discussion about UFO’s Nephilim, Vaccines or conspiracy-type subjects. We have people from around the world with different world views. Not everyone cares who is the President of any particular country. Treat each other with respect as Fellow wrestlers of the word. Some of our subjects are hard to understand and require you to be mature and if you do not know, then listen to gain knowledge and understanding and hopefully wisdom. The very things you are commanded to ask Yehovah for and He gives to those who ask.
Jas 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him.
We hope you can invite those who want to keep Torah to come and join us by hitting the link below. It is almost like a Torah teaching fellowship talk show with people from around the world taking part and sharing their insights and understandings.
We start off with some music and then some prayers and it’s as though you were sitting around the kitchen back in Newfoundland having a cup of coffee and all of us enjoying each other’s company. I hope you will grace us with your company someday.
Sabbath March 12, 2022, the room will be open at 12:30 PM Eastern with singing and prayers until about 1:15 PM. You are all welcome to join and watch. It is not recorded. We will have our afternoon service after this. You are welcome to come and join us before during and after we are off the air.
We look forward to you joining our family and getting to know us as we get to know you.
Joseph Dumond is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Joseph Dumond’s Personal Meeting Room
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Septennial Torah Portion
If you go to Torah Portion at our archived section, you can then go to the 5th year which is the 5th year of the Sabbatical Cycle, the one we are in now, as we state at the top of every News Letter. There you can scroll down to March 12, 2022, and see that this Shabbat we could very well be midrashing about
Exodus 31
Isaiah 59-62
Proverbs 2
Acts 1
If you missed last week’s exciting discoveries as we studied that section you can go and watch past Shabbats on our media section.
COVID
It was just 2 years ago when WHO declared a worldwide pandemic on Passover on March 11, 2020. This past Sunday, March 6, 2022, two years after COVID first came on the world scene, worldwide deaths from the disease have just peaked at 6,001,907. The richest, most wealthiest nation in the world, the one with the most advanced medical resources, and all the advanced tech know how in the world, THE USA, has almost 1/6th of all deaths at 958,890.
Because I believe in Yehovah and understand there are curses for disobedience, I know this was and still is a plague against the USA. Those plagues can be read in Leviticus 26 and in Deuteronomy 28.
Yehovah promised to do the following for us if we obeyed.
Deu 28:1 And it will be, if you shall listen carefully to the voice of Jehovah your God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you today, Jehovah your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth.
Deu 28:13 And Jehovah shall make you the head, and not the tail. And you shall be always above, and you shall not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you today, to observe and to do them.
But we did not obey. So, now Yehovah warned us He was going to then do this to us.
Deu 28:43 The stranger within you shall get up above you very high, and you shall come down very low.
Deu 28:44 He shall loan to you, and you shall not loan to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.
Deu 28:45 And all these curses shall come on you, and shall pursue you and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.
Deu 28:46 And they shall be on you for a sign and for a wonder, and on your seed forever.
Deu 28:47 Because you did not serve Jehovah your God with joyfulness and with gladness of heart for the abundance of all things;
Deu 28:48 therefore you shall serve your enemies which Jehovah shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in the lack of all things. And he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.
Now you may be wondering how this is going to come about. The USA Dollar is supreme. The USA tells the SWIFT who to squeeze and who to kick out as the west just did with Russia.
Let me now share with you something that the west may not have seen coming, or maybe you have not considered. I cannot find a legitimate source for this quote. But it is on all those alternative sites which I abhor.
Vladimir Putin didn’t just invade the Ukraine on 24/02/2022, he officially ended the petrodollar system. How? Remember, Russians don’t do anything without a plan. They & China have been prepping for this moment for years & are now ready:
Russia has stated NATO expansion into Ukraine was a red line.
-They knew their invasion of Ukraine would be inevitable and would have strategized that the US/West’s response would be SWIFT $ system exclusions/sanctions.
-Reasonable to expect that Russia’s next step would have been to shut off oil/gas pipelines to Europe, as Russia has built up huge Yuan, gold & commodity reserves.
-This will cause massive price and supply disruptions (war level) to the western markets & monetary system.
– For years Russia & China have looked for ways to re-monetize gold & exit abuses of SWIFT system as a geo-political tool against them, but how to do it, how to exit, without West declaring it an act of aggression or war against West?
– This Ukraine invasion just accomplished that end for them. And the West is doing it themselves.
-Now, freed to declare themselves SWIFT system outcasts by the western govt hands, Russia can now say “we will turn oil pipelines back on, but not for dollars.”
– Russia then declares that Europe or anyone that wants Russian oil (as 3rd largest global producer) or Russian/Ukrainian wheat (1/4 of worlds production) must pay in gold, or use the ruble-yuan gold backed payment system.
– Their leverage as an oil producer (who cuts off supply) will cause almost immediate price shocks to the western world. A good part of the population could immediately be unable to heat their homes.
– Almost equal to the oil shock they’d cause is their ability to cause food shortages and price spikes through the disruption of wheat production.
-Unmentioned in all this is China. Who has been silent & not condemned Russia. That means silent approval & cooperation.
– China will act to soak up Russian production of oil and wheat to soften the blow to their “strategic partner”.
– This will again be through the Yuan-Ruble facility and at some point overtly-stated gold backing of that system by Russia and China.
– The West will of course declare those last two bullets as acts of global aggression and direct threats to the “world monetary system”.
– At this point that there will be a clear fracture of the world’s monetary system into 2 competing East/West structures, circling back to the initial point that the 50 year global petrodollar system has just officially been ended by Putin.
If the above analysis is indeed correct, then the threat 2 the petro – $ is no different 2 the time of Charles De Gaulle or Gaddafi, but on larger scale. They can’t remove Putin as easy as they did with previous leaders who challenged their fraudulent petro dollar monetary system.
Here is a reputable source that says China is considering partnering with Russia Gazprom.
China considers buying stakes in Russian energy, commodity firms
Any deal would be to bolster China’s imports as it intensifies its focus on energy and food security — not as a show of support for Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, sources said
Russian Banks Turn to China to Sidestep Cutoff From Payments Systems
Russian banks that have been cut off from global payments networks are turning to China’s state-owned UnionPay system as the country tries to sidestep boycotts by Western businesses for its invasion of Ukraine.
I would like to share an article from a few years ago as you approach Passover next week.
The Greatest Question
This week I was asked the greatest question about a scripture I have not paid much attention to.
Eileen Espinosa wrote me the following question this week. Let me tell you about Eileen and her husband. They came to the Feast in Falls Creek Falls when we recorded all those video teachings. Many people came up to me and wanted to talk to me. I could not remember names the first couple of days. About the 3rd or 4th day I saw this family at one of the group meals and I did not know them so I went over and began to talk to them. It was general talk and then after a few minutes, like maybe 20 I clued in as to who this very quiet couple were.
They were one of our early supporters and I did not put two and two together. Eileen has written me many times with many questions and never included her email address. But this week she hit the gold mine of questions and just had my head spinning and then me jumping up and down in joy. JUST WOW.
Again now let me update those of you who may not know why this is so great a question.
We have been teaching about the Saints who came back to life on wave sheaf day when Yeshua came out of the Grave and led a host of Saints with Him. We then go on to explain how this is going to happen again at Shavuot in 2033.
Mat 27:50 And crying again with a loud voice, Jesus released His spirit. And, behold! The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And the earth quaked, and the rocks were sheared, and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose, and coming out of the tomb after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Hello, Joe!
Could this “young man” in be one of the resurrected saints from Matt 27:52-53?
Mark 16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Young man” is also found in these scriptures, so he seems to be a human and not a heavenly messenger:
Here is what Mark 16:5 says
Mar 16:5 And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, clothed in a long white garment. And they were frightened. And he said to them, Do not be frightened. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen, He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him. But go tell His disciples and Peter that He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see Him, as He said to you. And they went out quickly and fled from the tomb. For they trembled and were amazed. Neither did they say anything to anyone, for they were afraid.
The word for young man is G3495 and means a young man under the age of 40. IT does not say He was an angel but a young man. A MAN NOT AN ANGEL!!!!! And that this man was clothed in white clothing. The women were afraid because they saw a “ghost”. So here right in Mark is evidence of one of the Saints coming back to life and was given a white Robe after coming back to life from the grave. It was a Man after all and not an angel.
In Mathew, it says an Angel sat on the stone that was rolled away.
Mat 28:1 But late in the week, at the dawning into the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, a great earthquake occurred! For coming down from Heaven, and coming up, an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the door and was sitting on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And the keepers shook for fear of him and became like dead men. And the angel answered and said to the women, Do not fear, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
Then in Luke, we are told that there were two men in shining robes.
Luk 24:1 And on the first of the sabbaths, while still very early, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And going in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And as they were much perplexed about it, it happened that, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid, and bowed their faces down to the earth, they said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again? And they remembered His words and returned from the tomb and told all these things to the Eleven and to the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the rest with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like foolishness, and they did not believe them. And Peter arose and ran to the tomb, and stooping down he saw the linens lying alone. And he went away wondering to himself at what had happened.
Go ahead and look up the word for man. It is not an angel!
Then when we look at John, he says there were two angels.
Joh 20:1 The first of the sabbaths Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, darkness still being on it, and she saw the stone taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him. Therefore Peter and that other disciple went forth and came to the tomb. So they both ran together. And the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the tomb. And stooping down he saw the linens lying, yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came following him and went into the tomb. And he saw the linens lying there. And the grave-cloth that was on His head was not lying with the linens, but was wrapped up in one place by itself. Therefore, then, that other disciple also went in, the one who came first to the tomb. And he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to themselves.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
But Mary stood outside of the tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting there, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him. And when she had said this, she turned backward and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek? Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, Sir, if you have carried Him away from here, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary! She turned herself and said to Him, Rabboni! (which is to say, Master!) Jesus said to her, Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I ascend to My Father and Your Father, and to My God and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things to her.
So now you can decide. Was it Angels or men that were in the Tomb and spoke with the women?
Here is what revelation says about the white robes.
Rev 6:9 And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Until when, Master, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to each one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until both their fellow servants and their brothers (those about to be killed as they were ) should have their number made complete.
A Great Multitude from Every Nation
Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palms in their hands. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb. And all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God, saying, Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying to me, Who are these who are arrayed in white robes, and from where do they come? And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have whitened them in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple. And He sitting on the throne will dwell among them. They will not hunger any more, nor thirst any more, nor will the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them and will lead them to the fountains of living waters. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.
This is what the Barley represented. It represented the Saints that would be raised from the grave on Wave Sheaf Day that same Sunday Yehshua rose and went to Heaven at 9 AM. This is so awesome and so amazing and we have here written records of MEN wearing white garments and, and, AND……
If you understand this then you will understand what the meaning of the next Wave Offering is that takes place at Shavuot when the First Fruits again will be offered up. I get so excited about this understanding. It is so amazing.
Taking Care of the Widows and Orphans
I wanted to let you all know that I have asked Dean & Patty Heckathorn along with Rose Treasure to help us serve our Widows and Orphans this upcoming year.
In the past, I have told you what to do and I did my own thing myself. I did not and do not want to be the go-between you helping the widows and them receiving your help. I did not want to be a bank or exchange. I just do not have the time nor did I want to be responsible if the money got lost and did not get forwarded on. I left that up to each individual. But by doing this some have not been blessed.
But this is an important subject and we all need help to make sure it is done. And to ensure it is done equitably there is a need for sightedmoon.com to become involved. Donations sent to sightedmoon.com marked for the widows and orphans will be set aside for that purpose and then distributed amongst them all evenly. This way the first name on the list does not get all the funds from those just picking a name from a list. But each widow or orphanage must be registered with Rose.
At the same time, this will also protect the widows from having to declare their status over and over to strangers and sharing their information publicly.
With the help of Dean, Patty, and Rose, we are here to assist you and we are going to do this together.
You can speak with myself or Dean Heckathorn at keystonegsd@cimtel.net or admin@sightedmoon.com
We want to take care of the widows and orphans that are part of our Shabbat services. You can still help those in your immediate family as well. I also want to ask those who are widows and anyone raising orphans to allow us to do this for them. I know you might not want to be reminded of the loss you have suffered, but we ask you to allow us to obey Yehovah’s commandments through you.
Are you Keeping the Third Tithe Year?
We have now begun the 1st month. I want to remind and ask you all, just how many of you have remembered the widows and the orphans this year thus far?
2022 is the 6th year of the Jubilee cycle. And anyone who has been reading our website for any time will know how to prove beyond all doubt when the Sabbatical and Jubilee years are. Once you have done that then you will know when the 3rd and the 6th year of the Sabbatical Cycles are.
Deu 14:28 At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay it up inside your gates. And the Levite, because he has no part nor inheritance with you, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are inside your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied, so that Jehovah your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
It is almost a guarantee that some smart as_ or should I say some clever person who does not want to obey Yehovah will write to me and say this is only speaking of the produce of the land. You are only to tithe of the produce that you grow. Since I am not a farmer I do not have to tithe.
So what they are saying is that only the farmers have to tithe, is that right?
Not one of these people has ever sent me ten bales of hay for every hundred they bailed. Nor have I ever received five bushels of tomatoes for the fifty they harvested. In fact, they never send me a tithe of their produce. They just send me their excuses for why they will not obey.
Let me say here right now, I have never considered myself or this ministry to be a Levitical priesthood. I have never considered it worthy of tithing to. Only the Levite is be given the tithes and they are given that tithe in order for them to maintain the Temple. We have no Temple today and we have no priesthood so you should not be tithing. But at sightedmoon.com we have expenses and goals and other ministries we are supporting in the Philippines and Africa and maybe soon India and Pakistan. So we do accept your donations to help do the work we are doing here. Recently we changed our position and said we are a legitimate source to tithe to as we are teaching you the Torah so that you can learn the laws of the Kingdom.
I also remember one year I brought my First Fruits offering to a local synagogue and presented it in front of the congregation. It was rhubarb and Asparagus. This was the only First Fruits I had at that time when Pentecost arrived that year. Everyone watching was wondering what was going on and the Rabbi also did not know what to think. But I presented my First Fruits offering as I was commanded.
What does this word “increase” mean?
H8393 (Brown-Driver-Briggs) hawbt tebu?’a?h
BDB Definition:
1) produce, product, revenue
1a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually)
1b) income, revenue
1c) gain (of wisdom) (figuratively)
1d) product of lips (figuratively)
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H935
H8393 (KJC) hawbt tebu?’a?h
Total KJV Occurrences: 42
increase, 23
Lev 19:24-25 (2), Lev 25:7, Lev 25:12, Lev 25:20, Num 18:30 (2), Deu 14:22, Deu 14:28, Deu 16:15, Deu 26:12, 2Ch 31:5, 2Ch 32:28, Neh 9:37, Job 31:12, Psa 107:37, Pro 3:9, Pro 14:4, Pro 18:20, Ecc 5:10, Isa 30:23, Jer 2:3, Eze 48:18
fruit, 7
Lev 23:39, Lev 25:3, Lev 25:21-22 (2), Deu 22:9, Jos 5:12, Pro 10:16
fruits, 6
Exo 23:10, Lev 25:15-16 (2), Lev 25:22, Deu 33:14, 2Ki 8:6
revenues, 3
Pro 15:6 (2), Pro 16:8, Jer 12:13
revenue, 2
Pro 8:19, Isa 23:3
gain, 1
Pro 3:14
H8393 (Strong) hawbt tebu?’a?h teb-oo-aw’
From H935; income, that is, produce (literally or figuratively): – fruit, gain, increase, revenue.
Total KJV occurrences: 42
As you can see from the scriptures below the same word Tebuah can and does also mean revenue.
Proverbs 15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
Jer 12:13 (Darby) They have sown wheat, and they reap thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and do not profit. Be ye therefore ashamed of your revenues, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.
Proverb 8:19
(ASV) My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.
(BBE) My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.
(Brenton) It is better to have my fruit than to have gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
(CEV) What you receive from me is more valuable than even the finest gold or the purest silver.
(Darby) My fruit is better than fine gold, yea, than pure gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
(DRB) For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
(ERV) What I give is better than fine gold. What I produce is better than pure silver.
(ESV) My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
(ESV+) My fruit is ?R16?better than ?R17?gold, even fine gold, and my yield than ?R18?choice silver.
(GNB) What you get from me is better than the finest gold, better than the purest silver.
(Greek NT INT+)
(GW) What I produce is better than gold, pure gold. What I yield is better than fine silver.
On my E-sword program, I am able to now pull up the Ancient Paleo Hebrew and for this word Tebuah which is as follows.
H7620 (Ancient Hebrew)
H7620 = AHLB# 2808 (d)
2808) Obs% (Obs% ShBAh) ac: Swear co: Oath ab: ?: Literally to seven oneself. A common practice was to make seven declarations when making an oath. This declaration can be making the oath seven times or doing seven things to show the sincerity of the oath. (eng: seven, an exchange of the s and sh)
H8393 (Ancient Hebrew)
H8393 = AHLB# 1024-J (i1)
1024) ab (ab BA) ac: Fill co: Void ab: ?: The filling of an empty space. This root is closely related to eb and ib.A) ab (ab BA) ac: Enter co: Entrance ab: ?: To fill a space by entering it.
I want you to notice that in the Beit which is the house it is the Aleph of Yehovah that fills that empty space.
Nf1) Eab% (Eab% B-AH) – Entrance: [freq. 1] |kjv: entry| {H872}
J) Afb% (Afb% BWA) ac: Fill co: Entrance ab: ?: To come or go into a space is to fill it. A void within oneself that desires to be filled.
V) Afb% (Afb% BWA) – Come: To fill a void by entering it. This can be understood as to come or to go. [A generic verb with a wide application meaning to come or go as a filling of a void] [freq. 2577] (vf: Paal, Hiphil, Hophal) |kjv: come, enter, go| {H935}
am) Afbm% (Afbm% M-BWA) – I. Entrance: A place of entering. II. West: The place where the sun enters the underworld. [df: awbwm] [freq. 24] |kjv: going down, entry, come, entrance, enter, in, west| {H3996}
if1) Eafbt% (Eafbt% T-BW-AH) – Filling: An increase of produce, usually of fruit. [freq. 42] |kjv: increase, fruit, revenue, gain| {H8393}
With this understanding, we should easily be able to understand that it is Yehovah who fills our empty space with HIs presence and His increase.
kf1) Eafbm% (Eafbm% M-BW-AH) – Entrance: A place of entering. [freq. 1] |kjv: entry| {H3997}
We are addressing those who claim that fruits only means crops and does not mean income. If you made $50,000 last year in wages then a tithe of that would be $5,000 that would not be able to be deducted as a taxable write off. There are no receipts when you give to the widows or the orphans or the stranger or the poor of the Levite. There is the simple satisfaction that you have kept the Torah of Yehovah and in doing your little bit you have helped the overall function of the Kingdom.
“the overall function of the Kingdom” how is my little part a blessing for the Kingdom. Read what you are told in Deut 26 when you do this one commandment. It says not that you will be blessed for doing your tithe but the Kingdom will be, the Nation of Israel. “Look down from Your holy dwelling, from Heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey. ”
Deu 26:11 And you shall rejoice in all the good which Jehovah your God has given to you, and to your house; you, and the Levite, and the stranger in your midst. When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow (that they may eat inside your gates and be filled), then you shall say before Jehovah your God, I have brought away the holy things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me. I have not broken Your commandments, neither have I forgotten. I have not eaten of it in my mourning, neither have I put any of it away for unclean use, nor have I given of it for the dead. I have listened to the voice of Jehovah my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look down from Your holy dwelling, from Heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey. Today Jehovah your God has commanded you to do these statutes and judgments. You therefore shall keep and do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have today said that Jehovah is your God, and that you would walk in His ways, and keep His statutes and His commandments and His judgments, and listen to His voice. And Jehovah has taken you today to be His peculiar people, as He has promised you, and to keep all His commandments, and to make you high above all nations which He has made, in praise and in name and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to Jehovah your God, even as He has spoken.
Here is a very severe warning from Yehovah to each of us.
Exo 22:21 You shall neither vex a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry. And My wrath shall become hot, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your sons fatherless.
One Tithe or Three Tithes? That is the Question.
I have come out of the Worldwide Church of God System where we were taught to have a 1st tithe for the work and a 2nd tithe just for you to keep the Feasts to their full with your family. I was also taught that you kept the 3rd tithe for the widows and orphans every three years. They did not have a specific year as they did not understand the Sabbatical year system
So as an individual do you keep 1 tithe and split that amongst all those involved or do you have 3 tithes, 30% to share between all those involved. I have done the 3 tithes which meant I was paying close to 60% in tithes and taxes. Even so, I managed to pay off my first house in just 6 years’ time.
Others say I have misunderstood this. I am going to share with you what I was sent that Nehemia teaches. You can then decide what you want to do. This is a selected transcript from Torah pearls.
Nehemia: So, we’ve got three passages that talk about tithing, and there are others, but three main passages. One is over in Leviticus, where it talks about giving the tithe to the Levite. The second one is verses 22 through 27, which talks about taking the tithe up to Jerusalem. And the third one is verses 28 to 29 of this chapter in Deuteronomy 14, or in mine it’s 28 or 29, which talks about at the end of every third year giving it to the poor, including the Levite, because he has no portion with you.
This has been interpreted in various ways. The rabbinical interpretation has been to say there are really two tithes. We’re talking about 20 percent – 10 percent goes to the Levite, the other 10 percent goes either for the pilgrimage, which is what it’s really talking about in verses 22 through 27. You have to appear three times a year for the pilgrimage, we’ll talk about that in the next chapter. You bring it to Jerusalem at that time, or wherever you come on the pilgrimage, and you spend it on your pilgrimage, on pilgrimage feasts. Then in the third year you give it to the poor and the Levites.
So that’s 20 percent, and the rabbis refer to that as the first tithe and the second tithe, and the second tithe essentially has a variation in the third year; it goes to an alternative purpose. There have actually been some groups who have said that no, it’s 30 percent every year, 30 percent – three tithes, 30 percent. And the third-year tithes, well, you just collect it for the first two years, and then at the end of the third year you give this accumulated three years’ worth of 10 percent to the poor and the Levite.
So those are two interpretations that are out there. A third interpretation, which is one I’m going to suggest here, is that all three are talking about the same 10 percent. To me, the proof that it’s all three are the same 10 percent is in verses 27 and 29, where it’s talking about the Levite, and it says, “For he has no portion and inheritance with you,” which is kind of strange because, according to the rabbinical interpretation, he sure does have a portion in inheritance; he’s got 10 percent.
Jono: Yeah.
Nehemia: In other words, why does he need my 10 percent that I use for my pilgrimage feasts if he’s got the 10 percent I gave him last week? Why does he need this part of the second 10 percent, if he’s already got the first 10 percent?
Jono: Fair enough.
Nehemia: Also, in verse 29, that’s even more clear, that he’s along with the poor. He’s got nothing, right? So, you’ve got to give him of that 10 percent. What I argue is that actually all three are talking about the same tithe and different things that are being done with this tithe. It’s being used for the pilgrimage and then part of it is being given to the poor and part of that is being given to the Levite.
Neh 13:10 And I saw that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; for the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each one to his field.
I am not going to debate and argue over this with you all now. Most of those who want to argue do so and never tithe a nickel. They just argue. If you believe you should take 10% and divi it up amongst the Levite and this work, the Widow, the Orphan and the poor, then great. Yehovah bless you for doing that. If on the other hand, you believe you are obligated to do a 1st, 2nd and 3rd tithe then do so and do not neglect your own family.
You are now keeping the Sabbath from Sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday. You are now keeping the Holy Days of Lev 23 according to the Barley being Aviv to begin the year and the crescent moon to begin the month. And you are now letting the land rest in the Sabbatical years, storing food for that Sabbatical year and forgiving the debts of those who own you as well as releasing your slaves at sukkot in the Sabbatical year. You are doing all of this to be in sync with Yehovah and obeying Him so you can be part of His kingdom. You need to tithe for the education of others and feeding of those who are acting as or like the Levitical priesthood, even though they are not proven to be so at this time. You need to tithe in order for the Kingdom of Yehovah to operate. This is the restoration process of all things.
Please study it and make a decision as to which way you are going to act and then follow through and do it. I know the world is economically a very scary place right now, but I am throwing my hat into Yehovah’s system and trusting Him to take of me while the world goes into turmoil.
Some say they will try it for a week or two and then see if they get any blessings. And if they do not see a ten-fold increase right away they quit. Read again now how Yehovah will bless you if you obey. He does not say He is going to give you ten-fold.
Robbing God
Mal 3:6 For I am Jehovah, I change not. Because of this you sons of Jacob are not destroyed.
Mal 3:7 From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from My statutes, and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says Jehovah of Hosts. But you say. In what way shall we return?
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, In what have we robbed You? In the tithe and the offering!
Mal 3:9 You are cursed with a curse; for you are robbing Me, the nation, all of it.
Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. And test Me now with this, says Jehovah of Hosts, to see if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you, and pour out a blessing for you, until there is not enough room.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke your devourer, and he shall not decay the fruit of your ground against you; nor shall your vine miscarry against you in the field, says Jehovah of Hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed; for you shall be a delightful land, says Jehovah of Hosts.
Mal 3:13 Your words have been strong against Me, says Jehovah. Yet you say, What have we spoken against You?
Mal 3:14 You have said, It is vain to serve God; and, What profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked as mourners before Jehovah of Hosts?
Mal 3:15 And now we are calling the arrogant blessed. Not only are the doers of wickedness built up, they also test God, and escape.
Mal 3:16 Then those fearing Jehovah spoke together, each man to his neighbor. And Jehovah listened and heard. And a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Jehovah, and for those esteeming His name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be Mine, says Jehovah of Hosts, for the day that I will make up My treasure. And I will pity them as a man has pity on his son who serves him.
Mal 3:18 Then you shall again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God, and him who does not serve Him.
I also want to point out something that many of you may have read over. You have robbed Yehovah, in not just your tithes, but also your offerings.
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, In what have we robbed You? In the tithe and the offering!
You are commanded to keep the Holy Days, and you are also commanded not to appear before Yehovah empty handed.
The Feast of Weeks
Deu 16:9 You shall count seven weeks to yourselves. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time you began to put the sickle to the grain.
Deu 16:10 And you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to Jehovah your God with a measure of a free-will offering of your hand, which you shall give according as Jehovah your God has blessed you.
Deu 16:11 And you shall rejoice before Jehovah your God, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your slave girl, and the Levite inside your gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, those among you, in the place which Jehovah your God has chosen to place His name there.
Deu 16:12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. And you shall be careful to do these statutes.
The Feast of Booths
Deu 16:13 You shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles seven days after you have gathered in your grain floor and your wine press.Deu 16:14 And you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male slave, and your slave-girl, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow inside your gates.
Deu 16:15 Seven days you shall keep a solemn feast to Jehovah your God in the place which Jehovah shall choose. Because Jehovah your God shall bless you in all your increase, and in all the works of your hands, therefore you shall surely rejoice.
Deu 16:16 Three times in a year shall all your males appear before Jehovah your God in the place which He shall choose: in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles. And they shall not appear before Jehovah empty,
Deu 16:17 but each with his gift in his hand, according to the blessing of Jehovah your God, which He has given you.
Yehovah is asking you for a free-will offering. A freewill offering is an offering that is your choice—you decide what to give. Note: It is not called a free-will offering, because you have a choice on IF you are going to give or not give, but only because you are deciding WHAT you are going to give, at each of the Festivals or other times. Your gift should be in proportion to the blessing Yehovah has given you. You are to bring it to the place of worship with rejoicing—cheerfully and joyfully. You should be writing down all the blessings you have had over the course of the year to remind yourself of His kindness towards you. Of what Yehovah has done for you so that you can appreciate what He has done in your life.
Yehovah has instructed us to come and worship Him with our offering and to do it joyfully as we celebrate His feast days with Him.
Deu 16:15 Seven days you shall keep a solemn feast to Jehovah your God in the place which Jehovah shall choose.
The word, translated “solemn” here means:
H2287 (Strong)
חָגַגchâgag
khaw-gag’
A primitive root (compare H2283, H2328); properly to move in a circle, that is, (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication to be giddy: – celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.
Yehovah promised—if you obey—to bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands. You are to give joyfully—in expectation of the upcoming blessing. Giving and joy go hand in hand.
Pay attention to Verse 16 where Yehovah says, you should not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Do not come to worship Yehovah with nothing in your hand. You can’t give what you don’t have, but…
…every man (and woman) is to give as he/she is able, according to the blessing of the Lord.
I know some of you will think I am just trying to make a money grab. Awesome. Don’t send me a dime. But do send it to Nehemia’s website, or Keith Johnson’s or Michael Rood’s site. They all keep the Holy Days similar to us although we currently differ on what is Aviv barley. But do stop robbing Yehovah.
God’s Special Women
Widows By Rick Railston
Did you know that 1 million new widows will join our ranks in 2017 in the United States?
Did you know that half will not be attending the church they attended with their husbands one year after becoming a widow?
Did you know the average age is 56?
God’s Special Women—Widows
By Rick Railston
September 4, 2010
One of the things that strikes me in the last six months or so, maybe a little longer is that we’ve had several new widows created in the Church. You know Marie Di Salvo lost Joe and Carol Tychen, a lady in our hometown—she’s in a different fellowship—but lost her husband Gene. And then Joyce Rau lost Lauren. And another lady in our town, who can’t come to services but watches DVD’s, Carol Robey, lost her husband Duncan here just a very short time ago. So again, we’ve had four new widows in the last several months. And then obviously, we can look back in months priors to that and over the last several years, there have been many widows created over the last several years.
And many of those widows are not going to be able to make it to the Feast this year—and that’s a sad thing—either through health or other causes beyond their control. But if you put yourself in a widow’s position, not being able to go to the Feast, that’s not an enviable thing. And they obviously wish they could be at the Feast.
And the fact is that older people, who are alone, have a very, very difficult existence today, particularly women. If they’re alone in this society, it can be very, very difficult because many have been deserted by their families. And many, if not most, have been deserted by their government. And if their families are not there and they’re out in the world, it’s a very difficult situation and they don’t have a lot of safety nets to help them. But this was prophesied in the Bible to occur to Israel in the latter days!
Let’s go to Ezekiel chapter 22 and see this prophecy. Ezekiel 22 and we’re going to read verses 23 through 25. Ezekiel 22 talking about a prophecy regarding widows in modern day Israel. Ezekiel 22 verse 23:
Ezekiel 22:23. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
24) “Son of man, say to her: (KJV)
Now that’s referring to Israel up in verse 18.
Ezekiel 22:24b. [You are] the land that is not cleansed, (KJV)
And boy, our land is not cleansed! It is ugly and dirty.
Ezekiel 22:24b. nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
25) There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the [middle] thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured [lives]; they have taken the treasure and precious things; (KJV)
Notice this last phrase!
Ezekiel 22:25b. they have made her many widows in the midst thereof [referring to Israel.] (KJV)
We know prophecy is dual. There is an early fulfilment and a latter fulfilment. There’s a physical fulfilment and a spiritual fulfilment. And certainly in the Church today in modern Israel, there have been many widows created. The fact is that most men die before the woman. The fact is that most men work themselves to death and leave their wives alone and then some, in many cases in the world, destitute—shouldn’t be in the Church, but in the world.
And the fact is that in the Church, many widows feel that once their husband dies, once they’re no longer a couple, somehow they feel that they have no value anymore. And that somehow they’re a burden on the Church or on society. And now that they’re alone, they can no longer contribute to the Church or serve the Brethren or certainly give tithes or offerings or whatever. And in the Church, it’s sad to say that too many in the Church—and I’m speaking the greater Church now all over the world—ignore the widows and ignore their plight and don’t feel for the widows or even give it a second thought of what they are going through.
So what we’re going to do in the sermon today is we’re going to answer three questions about widows. The first one and the most important we’re going to ask the question and answer it.
I. How does God view widows? Are widows second-class Christians? Are they just kind of kicked to the curb? Or does God have something else in mind for them?
The second question we’re going to answer is:
II. What is our responsibility as Church members, as brothers and sisters, what is our responsibility toward widows in the Church? Do we have a responsibility toward them? What does God say about that?
And then the third question we want to ask and answer is directed at the widows.
III. What are the responsibilities of the widows toward others in the Church? Do they just get a free pass and just kind of soak up things? Or are they isolated and all alone and don’t have any responsibilities? Or does God want them to have a certain role and fulfil a certain role in the Church today?
We’ll answer those three questions. And what I hope when we finish and when we’re through with that, we will learn a lot about God, by the way, He wants the widows treated. We will learn a lot about the nature of God and God’s love by how He wants widows treated and how He views widows.
Okay, let’s start off with the first question.
I. How does God view widows?
The fact is that widows are very, very special to God. He doesn’t kick them to the curb. He doesn’t ignore them. They are very special. Let’s go to Psalms 68 and verse 5. In fact, they are so special to Him; God says that “I am going to take care of them! I’m going to look out after them.” Psalm 68 and verse 5, I’m going to read it out of the NIV. Notice what Christ, the God of the Old Testament, says:
Psalm 68:5. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. (NIV)
And God understands that the widow and the infant and the fatherless child are the three most vulnerable groups in the Church because they cannot defend themselves. They cannot in most cases provide for themselves—the infant, the fatherless child, and the widow. And you will see over and over again in the Bible that God talks about those three and puts them together. Now we’re going to focus on widows, but you’re going to notice that the fatherless child is there too. And in many cases, the stranger is there too, the stranger in the land.
Now let’s look back at ancient Israel and we’re going to see through the Scriptures we’re going to look at, that God raised widowhood to a higher level than any other society in the history of mankind. I’ll say it again: God raised the status of widows or widowhood to a higher level than any other society that has ever existed. God says that the widows are special to Him and if they cry out to Him, He is going to hear.
Let’s go to Exodus chapter 22 and we’re going to read verses 22 through 24. Exodus 22 verses 22 through 24, notice what God says. He is very emphatic about this. He doesn’t pull any punches. And we need to take heed to what He says. Exodus 22 verse 22, He says:
Exodus 22:22. [You] shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23) If [you] afflict them in [anyway], and they cry [to] me, I will surely hear their cry; (KJV)
That’s a promise from God! Verse 24, notice what happens to somebody who afflicts the widow.
Exodus 22:24. And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; [to the point that] your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. (KJV)
God is that serious about taking care of the widows. And the widows who are listening to this, if you cry to God, you can rest assured that God will hear you!
God also says emphatically that He is going to provide for His widows. Let’s go to Deuteronomy chapter 24. Moses is giving Israel final instructions before they go into the Promised Land and before he dies. And in Deuteronomy 24, we’re going to read verses 19 through 22 and notice what he says, what Moses is instructing Israel to do regarding widows. Deuteronomy 24 verse 19:
Deuteronomy 24:19. When [you cut] down [your] harvest in [your] field, and [you have forgotten] a sheaf in the field, [He says, don’t] go [back to pick it up]: [He says, leave it there] for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: (KJV)
Those vulnerable three groups of people!
Deuteronomy 24:19b. that the Lord [your] God may bless [you] in all the work of [your] hands. (KJV)
If you allow some extra for the widow, God is going to bless you. That’s a promise! Verse 20:
Deuteronomy 24:20. When [you beat your] olive tree, (KJV)
We might relate it to apple trees out here today. He says:
Deuteronomy 24:20b. [you shall] not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. (KJV)
We have an apple orchard right across the street and those harvesters go through there and they will leave some apples on the trees. They’re just in a rush; they’re going fast. Lots of apples fall to the ground during the harvesting process. And we would be admonished today, “You don’t go back and go through it a second time. Just leave them.” Then the widows, the fatherless children can go through the fields and glean what’s left.
Verse 21:
Deuteronomy 24:21. When [you gather] the grapes of [your] vineyard, [you shall] not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
22) And [you shall] remember (KJV)
What are we supposed to remember?
Deuteronomy 24:22b. that [you were] a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command [you] to do this thing. (KJV)
So what He’s saying is “If you remember that you were in Egypt, what were you in Egypt? You were slaves.” And so God is drawing an analogy that the widow is like a slave. Meaning a slave is totally dependent on others for every aspect of their life. And widows are in that same category in many, many cases. That’s why those who have abundance need to set some aside or in the field leave some. Don’t go through the field a second time, but leave some to provide for the widows.
Let’s jump now to Psalm 146 and verse 9. Notice what He says. God’s attitude toward widows, how God views widows, and I hope the widows when they read these Scriptures are very encouraged by this. Psalm 146 verse 9, it tells us; it says:
Psalm 146:9. The Lord [preserves] the strangers [the foreigners]; he [relieves] the fatherless and widow: (KJV)
Now the word “relieve” is obviously translated “relieves” meaning to remove distress. But it also can be translated “restore.”
So what God is saying, He says: “I’m going to relieve the widows from any trouble. And I will restore them to what they need. I will provide for them.” He says:
Psalm 146:9b. but the way of the wicked he [turns] upside down. (KJV)
Widows have a very special place in the heart of God.
Now let’s go to Deuteronomy chapter 14 and here we read of something that God instituted in part directly just for widows! He cares about them so much; He loves them so much; He understands their plight so much that He has directed a special tithe for the widows. Deuteronomy 14, we’ll read verses 28 and 19.
Deuteronomy 14:28. At the end of three years (KJV)
Referring to what we commonly call the “Third Tithe.”
Deuteronomy 14:28b. [you shall] bring forth all the tithe of [your] increase the same year, and [shall] lay it up within [your] gates:
29) And the Levite, (because he [has] no part nor inheritance with [you],) and the stranger, and the fatherless, [and notice this] and the widow, which are within [your] gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; (KJV)
Now we know back in those days, the tithe was primarily in the form of produce or animals. And so, those were brought and distributed to the widows and the fatherless and the stranger. But just understand the widows were provided for because of the third tithe. And noting the end of that last verse, He says, “You do that”:
Deuteronomy 14:29b. that the Lord [your] God may bless [you] in all the work of [your hands] which [you do]. (KJV)
You want to be blessed, look after the widow. Take care of the widow and provide for the widow.
Now the third tithe provides for women with no husband so that they can rear their children at home. And the children then can be a benefit to society and not a detriment. Because we read all too often that there’s a single mom and this society forces her to work. And then she has latchkey children. And often as not, those children with nobody at home turn to gangs, turn to drugs, turn to alcohol, turn to crime, because there’s nobody there. And one of the benefits of the third tithe, it allows the mother, if she’s a younger widow, to stay at home and take care of her children.
And yet some widows feel guilty about taking the third tithe. They should not! It’s designed for them. It’s for them.
And the third tithe provides for elderly widows who can’t work, elderly widows who might be infirm. But these elderly widows have spent all of their lives contributing to society and so, therefore, it is not wrong for them to take some help and assistance from the society that they’ve contributed to or from the Church that they have contributed to could be for decades.
Now let’s look at an example in the Old Testament about the treatment of a widow. This is the example of Boaz in the Book of Ruth. Let’s go to Ruth now and we’re going to go to chapter 2 and we’re going to read verses 4 through 9 and then 15 and 16. I’m going to read it out of the New King James because it is easier to understand and more to the point. But understand that Ruth is a Moabitess. She’s not an Israelite. She came back to Israel with Naomi. Ruth 2 verse 4:
Ruth 2:4. Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to [his] reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!” (NKJ)
So obviously this says something about Boaz. He is a man of God. He cares about his employees. He cares about his workers in the field. He pronounces a blessing on them and they care enough and love him enough to respond in kind.
Verse 5:
Ruth 2:5. Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6) So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “[This] is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
7) “And she said [referring to Ruth], ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ (NKJ)
She wanted to provide for her mother-in-law and herself.
Ruth 2:7b. So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.” (NKJ)
Now notice Boaz’s response. Verse 8:
Ruth 2:8. Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close [to] my young women. (NKJ)
That says Boaz was concerned that if she went to another field, you never know something might happen to her. But he was confident that if she stayed in his fields with his employees that she would not be harmed and she would be taken care of.
Verse 9, notice this!
Ruth 2:9. “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap [meaning his reapers], and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? (NKJ)
That could have been a problem in another field. He says:
Ruth 2:9b. And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” (NKJ)
So he’s instructed the young men to give her water to provide for her.
Verse 15, remember she’s a Moabitess. She’s not a native Israelite. Verse 15:
Ruth 2:15. And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. (NKJ)
In other words, don’t just let her get the droppings, but let her go ahead and harvest right beside you and get some of the sheaves.
Verse 16:
Ruth 2:16. “Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” (NKJ)
So Boaz is even going above and beyond to take care of Ruth and her mother-in-law. And that’s an attitude that all of us in God’s Church with God’s spirit, which is the spirit of love, would do well to emulate. Again, we’re talking about how God views widows.
Let’s understand too that God is going to punish Israel, is punishing Israel for ignoring or taking advantage of widows. And this government down through the years is more interested in getting politicians re-elected than taking care of the people that need it. And the whole country is paying a price for this, as we all know.
Let’s go to Deuteronomy chapter 10. We’re going to read verses 17 and 18. God is very explicit—and we’re only covering a fraction of the Scriptures—but God is very explicit that you don’t take advantage of widows. You provide for them. You look after them. Deuteronomy 10 verses 17 and 18, again Moses is giving his final message to the nation of Israel.
Deuteronomy 10:17. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which [regards] not persons, nor [takes] reward: (KJV)
God cannot be bribed. God is not a respecter of persons. Verse 18:
Deuteronomy 10:18. He [does] execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, (KJV)
The NIV says of verse 18:
Deuteronomy 10:18. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, (NIV)
That means God has to know about the widow and know about what she needs and know about her cause and once He does, then He will defend her if she needs defending. And we don’t want to be on the receiving end of God’s wrath. This nation is and will be more so as time goes on.
Let’s jump to chapter 27 and read verse 19. Again, we’re just hitting the high spots. There are many other Scriptures that we could read. I’m going to read this out of the New King James. Notice what God says. He pronounces a curse on those who would mess around with a widow.
Deuteronomy 27:19. ‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due [to] the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’ (NKJ)
Justice, fairness, what is right! He said, “You are cursed if you pervert that!”
Deuteronomy 27:19b. And [then] all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ (NKJ)
Now, what does He mean there? Well, after crossing Jordan, Israel came to a valley and there was a mountain slope on each slide. And six of the tribes went on one side; six of the tribes went on the other side. And Moses in this chapter has the Levites down in the valley and they will make a statement. And this is one of the statements they make.
Deuteronomy 27:19. ‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ (NKJ)’
And they would do that. And then you read later on in the chapter, one side would pronounce a curse and the people would say “Amen.” The other side would pronounce a blessing and the people would say “Amen.”
And God made it very clear to the people lining this valley, like an amphi-theatre, they had to repeat those words. And when they said, “Amen”, they meant “So be it.” We understand. We’re going to obey this.
And so, God, once again, brought widows into that mix because of his concern and his love for them. Look at Isaiah chapter 10. We’re going to read the first three verses and then verses 5 and 6. Our Congress would do well to read this! Isaiah 10 verse 1:
Isaiah 10:1. Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
2) To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows [might] be their prey, and that they [might] rob the fatherless!
3) And what will [you] do in the day of visitation, (KJV)
There’s going to be a day of accounting. There’s going to be a day of reckoning. And he says:
Isaiah 10:3. And what will [you] do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will [you] flee for help? (KJV)
“The widows are looking to you for help. You’re not helping them. And I’m going to curse you and you’re going to have to answer for it. And when I do, who are you going to look to for help?” when the great God comes after you.
He says:
Isaiah 10:3b. to whom will [you] flee for help? and where will [you] leave your glory? (KJV)
Now I’ll just give you an example here of several years ago. We had a widow who when her husband was alive, they went to one of these certified financial planners and got their house in order and had a very comfortable retirement fund for both of them. Her husband had a stroke and died. And then once he died, this unscrupulous financial advisor came in while she was grieving, had her sign some papers that she didn’t read. She trusted in him. And he took every penny she had except for the house was paid for and a several year old car. Other than that she saw nothing!
Here this man did this—I got involved after the fact and was shocked to find out that this happened. And the family trusted this guy, but when he could not provide a monthly report of where the money was and where it was being used, all of a sudden red flags came up. And then the police were called in and ultimately the FBI was called in. And, as a result, this man spent several years in jail. He lost his wife; he lost his family; he lost his ability to work in that field forever. And frankly, that isn’t enough! And this world’s justice doesn’t do enough, but at least that man, at least in this life, started paying some of the penalty. Now he’ll have his chance later on.
And God provides for this widow to this day. She doesn’t live extravagantly, but she had a comfortable living as a widow.
But the fact is that the only conclusion you can draw from reading these Old Testament Scriptures is “Don’t mess with a widow!” And we need to all take that into account and into consideration. You don’t mess around with a widow. You want a curse, you want to have problems in your life, you don’t want to be blessed? Then start messing around with God’s widows because He’s going to get involved and He’s going to take care of them.
Now, what about the New Testament? What does the New Testament say? Did Christ say anything about widows?
Well, one of the very first examples is Christ praised a widow because He noted that she gave more than anybody else. I think you know the account. Let’s go to Mark chapter 12. If Christ didn’t love the widow, He would not pay attention to them. But He noticed right off a widow walking up to the place where they dropped in their money, this big metal bowl that rang and the more money you threw in the bottom of it, the more it would ring. And He noticed some important things. We’re going to read verses 41 through 44.
Mark 12:41. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (KJV)
You could hear the clanging and the banging and it was self-serving in that regard.
But notice verse 42:
Mark 12:42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, (KJV)
Two mites today would be one-quarter of one penny. Now that’s not much. It says:
Mark 12:42b. [and it makes] a farthing. (KJV)
Verse 43:
Mark 12:43. And he called unto him his disciples, (KJV)
Because He took note of the widow!
Mark 12:43b. and [He said] unto them, [Truly] I say unto you, That this poor widow [has] cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44) For all they did cast [out] of their abundance; (KJV)
After all the blessings and the abundance that they have, but He said:
Mark 12:44b. she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (KJV)
And so what He is saying is that widows should not feel like second-class Christians because they cannot give much. Even if they give a few cents or a few dollars, Christ said, “She cast in more, as a percentage of what she had, than all the rest of them combined!” God knows and God understands.
So this verse tells us a lot of things. It tells us Christ takes note of the widow. He understands what their plight is. He understands what their economic situation is. He understands what they’re giving. He understands their heart. And because of all that, He understands our widows today and He understands your plight and your situation. But please understand as Christ understands that because you can’t give much, that doesn’t mean anything! All it means is you’re giving of what little you have and Christ understands that and accounts for it accordingly. Christ knew back then and He knows today, He knows today of the widows’ plight and that the widows’ desire to give. So don’t feel like a second-class Christian if you can’t throw a pile of money into the pot or we put say our Holy Day Offerings back in the box at the back of the room. Don’t feel like a second-class Christian because you put in relatively speaking a little bit. Christ understands.
Now let’s also understand that widows in the New Testament Church were considered by God to be afflicted. Let’s go to James chapter 1 and read the very famous Scripture verse 27. James 1 and verse 27, James is getting across, he’s telling us “You want to know what pure religion is?” He says, “I’m going to tell you what pure religion is.” James 1 verse 27, he said:
James 1:27. Pure religion and undefiled (KJV)
Meaning: pure and clean!
James 1:27b. before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and [the] widows in their affliction, (KJV)
The New International says, “widows in their distress.”
The New King James says, “widows in their trouble.”
Because Christ and the Father and the apostles knew back then and we know today that being a widow is afflicting, is troublesome, can lead to great distress. Because widows, most often, can’t go out and earn a living. They have to rely on family. They have to rely on the government. They have to rely on the Church. And so, in many cases because of ill health, because of other circumstances, daily circumstances to them, daily chores to them are troublesome sometimes, distressing sometimes. We need to realize this and we need to act according.
If we visit the widows in their affliction, we will know what their afflictions are. We will be able, therefore, to help them and encourage them.
Because God was so concerned about the widows, he created an office just to look after them! Now this says a lot about God. He created an office to look out for the widows. Let’s go to Acts chapter 6. This is the account of the creation of the office of a deacon. Acts 6, we’ll read the first three verses. It says:
Acts 6:1. And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, (KJV)
And we all understand that in the early days in the Church, it was growing exponentially. Thousands sometimes were called at one time!
Acts 6:1b. the number … was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians (KJV)
Now what that means is it’s not talking about the Greeks. It’s talking about the Hellenists. And the Hellenists were Jews who adopted Greek culture and Greek language. So in Judah at that time and certainly in Jerusalem, the Jews were divided into two camps. Because you understand that the Greek culture spread through all the Middle East. The Romans conquered the Greeks. Jerusalem was conquered by the Romans. All of Judah was. And as a result, many Jews began to adopt Greek and Roman culture and to speak their language and to dress that way and to furnish their houses that way. And so they were in their lifestyle mimicked the Romans and the Greeks before them. Then there were other Jews that held to the traditions of the fathers.
And there were sometimes trouble between those two groups. The fact is that God called people out of both groups. So they come into the Church and now all of a sudden, the Jews and the Hellenists are rubbing elbows and there’s some friction. And so the complaint was:
Acts 6:1 continued. [there was murmuring of the Hellenists] against the Hebrews, because their widows [meaning the Hellenists’ widows] were neglected in the daily ministration. (KJV)
Meaning: passing out of food, passing out of clothing, looking after them. Verse 2:
Acts 6:2. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, [This isn’t a] reason that we should leave the [work] of God, and serve tables. (KJV)
Meaning: to pass out the food and to sort the clothes and all of that. Verse 3, we’re told, “‘Wherefore,’ because of this, we can’t devote ourselves to that but the need is there. There is a need to take care of the widows.”
Acts 6:3. Wherefore, brethren, look out [from] among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy [Spirit] and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (KJV)
Or: to do this job, or to fulfil this responsibility toward the widows. And so, a whole office was created to take care of the widows. Does that sound like God doesn’t care about the widows? Or Christ isn’t concerned about the widows? Well, of course not!
There are—I counted just very briefly—fourteen different Scriptures in the Bible that are severe warnings about not oppressing widows. God is very concerned about this. I mean does this all sound like God doesn’t recognize or care for the widows? Well, obviously not!
I. So, how does God view widows?
Summing up the First Point:
God hears widows. He has said that. God provides for widows. He has promised that. God says He will punish Israel for ignoring or taking advantage of widows. And part of the punishment we see on this country and other countries today, Israelite countries today, are a result of their attitudes toward the elderly and the widows. Christ praised a widow who gave more than all the others. And He took note of that! A widow is considered by God to be in affliction or to be in trouble and He created an office to look after them for that very reason.
So Point Number One:
I. God views the widows in a very special way. And He has elevated their care to the highest of levels.
Now, let’s go to the Second Point. This applies to all of us.
II. What is our responsibility toward widows in the Church? Has God just not said much about it? Or is God very specific about our responsibility toward widows in the Church?
If you look at all the Scriptures, it’s easy. They fall into three different categories of all the admonitions if you go through them and study them about our responsibilities—three categories of responsibilities.
The first—if you like to outline—it would be Point A, is that:
A. We must pray daily for them, for the widows.
Let’s go to Matthew chapter 6 and look at the outline for the prayer, the outline that Christ gave about how we should pray every day. Now while it specifically doesn’t mention widows, it obviously refers to them by implication. Matthew 6, we’re going to read verses 9 through 13. It says—Christ says:
Matthew 6:9. After this manner therefore pray [you]: Our Father which [is] in heaven, Hallowed be [Your] name.
10) [Your] kingdom come. [Your] will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (KJV)
So the prayer starts off in verse 9 by exalting God. And it’s always good when you kneel down to pray to exalt God first because it sets the stage of who He is versus who we are. And it establishes the difference and allows us to pray with humility.
And in verse 10, the first thing we should pray for is that God’s will is done and not ours. I’ve said that before. We pray for that in the Church, in the Pacific Church of God. We pray for that in our lives that we don’t do our will, our notions. We want to do God’s will and we have to keep our mind open to what God’s will is and that’s how we start the prayer. We want God to reveal to us what His will is for the things that we pray about.
Verse 11, notice this. He’s saying to people, individuals, on how they should pray, but He says:
Matthew 6:11. Give us this day our daily bread. (KJV)
Now, why would He do that? “Give us this day.” If it was about an individual, you would say, “Give me this day my daily bread.” But Christ didn’t say that. He said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” That means that we have to pray for others who need daily bread. Now, who else would need it more than a widow? So this tells us our prayers have to be about other people in addition to ourselves.
Verse 12:
Matthew 6:12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (KJV)
Again, praying for other people! People who have sinned against us, people we have sinned against, people who might oppress a widow, or, hopefully, someone that maybe a widow sinned against.
Verse 13:
Matthew 6:13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from [the] evil [one]: (KJV
We need to pray for others! And who would take advantage of a widow more than anyone but Satan? We know Satan in 1 Peter chapter 5—we won’t go there, but—we’re told that Satan our Adversary is a roaring lion. Now who does a lion go after? Goes after the stragglers. Goes after the weak. He doesn’t go into the middle of a gaggle of deer. He gets the ones who are weak and are straggling—the easy prey. The weak among God’s people, physically certainly, are certainly are widows. And we need to understand that and we need to pray for the widows that God would deliver them from the evil one, just as we pray for ourselves, and would deliver them from temptation or trial or test, just as we pray for ourselves.
And He goes on to say:
Matthew 6:13b. For [Yours] is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. (KJV)
“Us” means all of God’s children, but particularly the afflicted. Wouldn’t God want us to pray first for those who are in trouble or those who are afflicted? And He says throughout Scripture that the widows are considered to be afflicted. So we should pray for them as much, if not more, than any other category because of their affliction.
So the first thing we must do is pray daily for our widows.
Point B, the second we should do is:
B. We are commanded to fellowship with them.
We just read it in James chapter 1 verse 27. “Visit the widows and the fatherless in their affliction.” Now the reason that’s important is that widows tend to gather together. If there’s more than one widow in a Church area, they will often fellowship together, but widows need fellowship from people who are not widows. Widows need to be around young kids. Widows need to hold little babies. Widows need to talk to teenagers. Widows need to talk to young married couples. Widows need to talk to older couples, older individuals. They need contact with Brethren who are not like themselves. It opens their horizons and, as we’re going to see in a little bit that it blesses us because we can learn from widows. It’s very important.
Look at Job chapter 32 verse 7. A true saying! This relates directly about learning from older people, more experienced people. Job 32 and verse 7, this is a true saying.
Job 32:7. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. (KJV)
People who have been around a long time, especially widows who have lost their mates, widows today many of them lived through World War II, lived through the depression. They have stories to tell that most of us have never experienced. And we can learn a lot from widows. Andy Rooney, the commentator on “Sixty Minutes”, said, “The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.” The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person because of their experience and their knowledge. And it is amazing! You talk to a widow what you find out, what you learn, the experiences that she has had! We can learn from their life’s experiences.
Now I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gone to visit a widow with the object of cheering her up and encouraging her and 95% of the time, you’re the one that gets cheered up. You’re the one that gets encouraged and you come out bouncing away from the time with the widow feeling much more elevated, much more uplifted, much happier because you spent time with a widow. I gained more from the visit than they did! Happens all the time because they have so much to give and there is so much to learn from our widows. And you can do it on the Sabbath. You can do it at your place, or you can do it at their place, or you can do it over the telephone, but the point is that we have to fellowship with widows. It is very, very important. Do not leave them alone! Please don’t leave them alone.
And the third, Point C is:
C. We have to help provide for their needs.
Yes, the third tithe can help. Yes, the Church can help, but it’s on our backs too. Our responsibilities too to provide for whatever their needs might be. Let’s go to Isaiah chapter 1 and verse 16. God is condemning Judah here because they did not do that. Isaiah chapter 1 verse 16, this principle is about Judah but it still holds today. Isaiah 1 verse 16, it says:
Isaiah 1:16. Wash you, make you clean [Because they weren’t clean!]; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; (KJV)
In verse 16, he’s saying, “Okay I want you to stop doing evil.” But in verse 17, “I want you to go the other direction.”
Isaiah 1:17. Learn to do well; [to] seek judgment [or justice], relieve the oppressed, [provide justice for] the fatherless, [and] plead for the widow. (KJV)
Now this is addressed to the average Jew, but by principle, it’s addressed to the average Church member today.
The Hebrew word for “plead” is an interesting word. It literally means “to toss, to throw something.” And it would be used in a wrestling match. If you threw somebody to the ground in a wrestling match you would use this Hebrew word. It can mean “to grapple”, or by implication, it means “to defend.”
And it says, “You need to plead for the widow.” That means you need to go to battle for the widow. You need to fight for the widow. You need to struggle and grapple and wrestle for the widow. And, obviously, Judah did not do that and God was condemning them for that.
Now let’s go to 1 John chapter 3 and see a principle that applies to everyone but when we understand that widows are afflicted or in trouble, it should apply even more to them. 1 John chapter 3 verses 16 through 18, we’re told:
I John 3:16. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: (KJV)
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
Middle of verse 16:
I John 3:16b. we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (KJV)
That is a principle. Verse 17:
1 John 3:17. But whoso [has] this world’s good, and [sees] his brother (KJV)
Or we could say, “his sister, the widow”.
I John 3:17b. have need, (KJV)
And who has more need than a widow as we’ve already established?
I John 3:17 continued. and [shuts] up his bowels of compassion from him, (KJV)
John asks the question: How dwells the love of God in a person like that who looks on the needs of a widow and then just walks by? Doesn’t provide. How does the love of God reside in a person like that?
He goes on to say in verse 18:
I John 3:18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (KJV)
In what we do! So don’t just call up a widow, find out she needs something, and then say, “Have a nice day,” and hang up the phone. We have to go provide for the needs of that widow. We demonstrate the love of God in us by how we take care of the widows. I’ll say it again: We demonstrate the love of God in us by how we take care of the widows and those who are in need!
So our job is to provide for the widows. We have a responsibility to pray for them, to visit them, and to help provide for them. All of us as individuals!
Now let’s go to the Third Question that we were going to ask and answer today. And that is directed towards the widows.
III. What are the widows’ responsibilities toward others in the Church?
Based on everything we read should the widows just be a sponge and kind of lay back and receive the service of others with nothing to do themselves, with no responsibilities? That’s not what the Bible says. Yet, and conversely, though, some widows feel that because they receive service that they’re a burden on the Church and that they can’t serve. And God says, “No, you need to serve and there are certain ways you can serve.” So that’s what we’re going to talk about now, what are the duties of a widow, what does God want a widow to be doing.
Again, we have three that we’re going to talk about, three areas.
The first, Point A is that:
A. You have to trust in God for everything. Trust in God for all your needs.
Because widows learn very quickly that their only unwavering hope is in God because they have to trust in God for everything. Look at Jeremiah 49 and verse 11. This is an admonishment to the widows to trust in God. Jeremiah 49 and verse 11, we’re going to focus on the last part of the verse where it says:
Jeremiah 49:11. Leave [your] fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; (KJV)
But notice the last part of Jeremiah 49 verse 11, it says:
Jeremiah 49:11b. and let [your] widows trust in me. (KJV)
Let’s understand that the bottom line when the rubber meets the road, the widows must trust in God because He is the only one ultimately that will take care of him. We trust in God more than any human being and widows need to trust in God more than anyone.
I remember talking to a widow. She died a couple of years ago. And we were talking in her living room one time and she said—we were talking about getting groceries and how she gets her groceries and all. And she says, “You know I worry about things that I never used to worry about.” She was in her eighties and she could still drive. She was very careful when she drove but she could still drive. And I said, “Well, can you get your groceries okay?” And she says, “Well, I always go on Wednesday, but I start worrying about the weather several days before. And I worry especially if it’s in wintertime. You know can I get out? Are the roads going to be slick? Or is it going to snow the night before? Or is it going to be windy?” She says, “I worry and I stew and sometimes I don’t even sleep the night because I’m worried about the weather going out and doing my shopping. And then I worry about falling if it’s in the wintertime. And I worry about parking the car and is it going to get hit? Or is it going to get stolen? And then I worry is my house going to be okay when I come home?”
You know when we were young; you never used to worry about that. But as we get older, people generally tend to worry about things that they didn’t worry about before in part because they’ve had so much experience. They know that life can blow up in your face and they’ve seen it before!
But widows who are totally alone worry a lot about that. And the bottom line, we were talking about I said, “God is your only hope. When you’re out there in the car and all of a sudden you start skidding on the ice, God is your only hope. You can’t have a Church member come and magically appear at that moment in time.” And she says, “No, I’ve learned to trust in God for everything! Everything!”
And so, under Point A, widows learn very early on that for financial needs, for health, for transportation, for getting to Church, all of that, they trust in God. They have to trust in God.
Now the Church can help and should help. Let’s go to 1 Timothy chapter 5 and we’re going to read the first ten verses because Paul is instructing Timothy about serving the needs of widows.
And the King James calls them “widows indeed”. Modern translations say “widows who are really widows” and we’ll get into that distinction as we read this. I’m going to read it out of the New King James.
Understand Paul is writing to Timothy who is a young elder and he’s dealing with people who are old enough to be his parents and grandparents. And he’s giving him some instruction. Verse 1:
1 Timothy 5:1. Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, (NKJ)
And then he says:
1 Timothy 5:1b. [Exhort] younger men as brothers, (NKJ)
And he says in verse 2:
1 Timothy 5:2. [By implication, do not rebuke an] older [woman but appeal to her or exhort her as a mother], younger as sisters, with all purity. (NKJ)
In other words, have a clean mind and a clean heart. You’re there to serve them. You’re not there to get something from them.
Verse 3, notice what he says.
1 Timothy 5:3. Honor widows who are really widows. (NKJ)
The King James says:
1 Timothy 5:3. Honor widows that are widows indeed. (KJV)
Now what is he talking about? We’re talking about how the Church can help. He says:
1 Timothy 5:4. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home [meaning the children and the grandchildren] to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. (NKJ)
So, let’s understand that the first line of defence in the aid of a widow should come from her very own family—from her children, and, if she’s old enough, from her adult grandchildren. That’s what he’s saying here. So, he says if widows have family, then they’re not really widows indeed or really widows as far as the Church is concerned because we’re going to see the Church looks at a widow as somebody who is desolate, who has no family.
Verse 5:
1 Timothy 5:5. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, (NKJ)
Meaning she doesn’t have family nearby.
1 Timothy 5:5b. trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. (NKJ)
Now we’re going to note this because it says, “A widow who is alone is forced to trust in God and to get down on her knees and ask God for help night and day.”
He says:
1 Timothy 5:6. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. (NKJ)
Meaning, if the widow is there just to take and take and take, and is looking after only pleasure, he said, “She’s already going in the Lake of Fire. It’s just a matter of time before she gets there.”
Verse 7:
1 Timothy 5:7. And these things command, that they may be blameless. (NKJ)
Verse 9:
1 Timothy 5:9. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, (NKJ)
Now what is he talking about? He’s talking about the number of widows that the Church supports through third tithe, the number of widows who get aid from the Church. He says, “Don’t take somebody into that number who is under sixty.” Now we’re talking about widows. He says:
1 Timothy 5:9b. and not unless she has been the wife of one man,
10) well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, (NKJ)
Meaning: humble, not afraid of menial tasks.
1 Timothy 4:10b. if she has relieved the afflicted [served others], if she has diligently followed every good work. (NKJ)
So he says that widows indeed can come into the number if they’re above a certain age if they are truly alone and don’t have family and if they have a history of doing good works. So the Church then will help. But understand that as we read earlier on here that they’re on their knees day and night trusting in God because God is their ultimate hope.
And I’m here to tell you that we have had widows in the Church who have been the objects of theft by their children and by their grandchildren. That is horrible! The children and grandchildren weren’t in the Church. The widow was. And the widow calls up and says, “My son did this,” or “My grandson did that,” or “My granddaughter did this, took this from me, stole this from me.” And it’s sad. It is just unbelievable to think that near family would do that! It’s amazing!
But what I’m saying here in Point A that widows learn to trust God with everything, for everything. And they become much closer to God because their daily needs are provided by Him.
So, the first responsibility that a widow has is to trust in God. That means being close to God, praying, studying, fasting, being close to God.
The second one, Point B is:
B. Widows have an obligation by God to teach by their example.
To teach by their example! We just read it in verse 10. “Reported to do good works, brought up children, lodged strangers, washed saints’ feet, relieved the afflicted, diligently followed every good work.” Widows have a responsibility to set an example.
Now let’s go to Titus chapter 2 and we’re going to read verses 3 through 5. Paul is giving Titus some advice on widows and older women. Titus 2 verses 3 through 5, he’s talking about older women. Notice in verse 3:
Titus 2:3. The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as [becomes] holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, (KJV)
Now that’s not teaching the women not to drink. The word “sober” means to be sound-minded. In other words, don’t be flighty; don’t be frivolous. Be mature; be sound-minded.
Titus 2:4b. to love their husbands, to love their children,
5) To be discreet, chaste [not lewd], keepers at home, (KJV)
Not flitting around to the mall doing this and that; ignoring your family, ignoring your home.
Titus 2:5b. good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (KJV)
So widows by their example should be teaching that to others. And it’s not wrong for a widow to come up to a younger woman and put her arm around her and give some advice. It’s not wrong for that at all. But what it does, you see, is it gets the widows’ mind off themselves and their affliction and onto others how they might help.
Because I’m telling you if a widow—and I’ve seen this happen, not often—but if a widow gets her mind on herself and is home alone and is not reaching out and serving others, they can become selfish. They can become spoiled. They can become gossips. They can become judgmental and critical of others. And the net result is the widow is miserable! And that’s what happens to any of us when we turn inward. And particularly with widows, since they’re alone, there is a danger of just focusing on yourself and your problems and God is telling us, “Get your mind off yourself and serve other people. Teach by your example.”
That was Point B.
Point C is:
C. You need to dedicate yourself to spiritual service.
A widow needs to dedicate herself to spiritual service. And you could say, “Well, how can I spiritually serve? I can’t be a minister. I don’t have the health to go out and do all this other stuff.” Well, the one thing widows have is time. Widows have a lot of time.
Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 34. Notice a principle here. 1 Corinthians 7 and verse 34, Paul is saying:
1 Corinthians 7:34. There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin [one who has not been married]. [He says,] The unmarried woman [cares] for the things of the [Eternal], (KJV)
Now a widow is an unmarried woman.
1 Corinthians 7:34b. The unmarried [cares] for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: (KJV)
Because she has the time and she doesn’t have a husband.
1 Corinthians 7:34 continued. but she that is married [cares] for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (KJV)
So, widows, by definition, have the time and the focus to care for the things of God and to be holy in both body and in spirit.
Now let’s jump to Luke chapter 2 and look at the example of a prophetess whose name was Anna. We’re going to read verses 36 and 37 of Luke chapter 2. How would you like to be a widow and have your name written in Scripture to be there for an eternity? This woman did because of who she was and what she did. Luke 2 verse 36:
Luke 2:36. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of [Asher]: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; (KJV)
Typically they married in their late teens. And so she married somewhere sixteen to twenty—nineteen in there. And then she lived with this husband for seven years. Verse 37:
Luke 2:37. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, (KJV)
She’d been a widow for eighty-four years! Now you add eighty-four to the sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, plus the seven she was married to her husband. She was well over a hundred years old! But notice he said:
Luke 2:37. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (KJV)
She was at least a hundred and three! And she went to the Temple and she fasted and she prayed.
And so the spiritual service widows can render is this: All widows have the time to pray. Lots of time to pray! Widows should get in more prayer than just about anybody. Widows have the time to fast. Widows should fast often to stay close to God and to beseech God. Widows, because they don’t have a mate, now have this time and they can spend the time in fasting and in prayer. And if they’re eyes are good enough and their mental focus is good enough, obviously in study.
Many women—as some of us do even now—say, “I read a Scripture and five minutes later I can’t remember what I read.” And that’s common to a lot of us. And that means that there’s an extra burden to make sure that you focus your mind when you study. We talked to a widow last week and we’re getting her one of those giant Bibles with huge print because she just can’t see anymore.
And widows have the time to fast and to pray and to study. That is their spiritual service. They can teach. They can fast. They can pray, but above all, their job is to trust in God for everything they have. That is a widow’s responsibility.
So in conclusion—let’s wrap it up here—what we’ve learned is that widows are here and they are a benefit to the Church because of their spiritual service, but because we also have the opportunity to serve them and to obey God in doing so. There are tremendous opportunities for widows.
You set an example of faith. If widows have to trust in God for everything, what an example that is for the rest of us to see a widow trusting in God totally!
And widows can display great wisdom in their conversations with the rest of us—great wisdom, great knowledge—because we can learn a lot by their example and by what they’ve been through, by their history.
And we can learn from them by how they devote themselves to God and how they serve God and serve the Church in prayer and fasting and concern for the Brethren. We can learn a lot from widows.
So widows, understand you have a great potential for spiritual service.
We are here to learn from the widows, to serve the widows, and to honor the widows. And shame on us if we don’t! We need to do that. Taking care of a widow gets to the heart and core of our Christianity. If we can’t take care of widows, we can take care of anybody!
And so, certainly in the Pacific Church of God, we need to make it a mission, an absolute mission to take care of the widows in the Church.
We’ll close with two Scriptures here. Let’s look at a command from God—one more command about taking care of the widows. Let’s go to Zechariah chapter 7 and we’re going to read verses 8 through 10, a command from God concerning widows. Zechariah 7 verse 8:
Zechariah 7:8. And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying, (KJV)
Okay, this is God speaking directly to Zechariah. Zechariah’s writing it down. Verse 9 of Zechariah 7:
Zechariah 7:9. Thus [speaks] the [Eternal] of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment [or justice], and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother [or sister]:
10) And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother [or sister] in [his] heart. (KJV)
So we cannot oppress them. In fact, we have to do just the opposite.
Then God says if you ignore the widow, if you don’t take care of the widow, there’s going to be a severe penalty for you. Look at Malachi chapter 3 and verse 5, one final Scripture. Malachi 3 and verse 5, there is a day of reckoning coming and we don’t want to be on the wrong side of the reckoning. Malachi 3 verse 5:
Malachi 3:5. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against (KJV)
Now notice who God’s going to be a witness against. Not that He hasn’t been before but at the end of days, it could be even worse.
Malachi 3:5b. [I’m going to be a swift witness against] sorcerers, against the adulterers, against [those who lie] false swearers, against those that oppress the [following groups:] the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and [do not] fear me, (KJV)
He says those that oppress the widow, He says, “I am going to call you to judgment. You will pay”—nations, peoples, tribes, clans, churches, and individuals.
So the important thing, as we read here, is God places the oppression of widows right up there with breaking the Ten Commandments! He says, “False swearers, adulterers, sorcerers,” and so on. Oppressing a widow is right up there with them. We wouldn’t think of being a sorcerer, but oppressing a widow is right at that same level in God’s mind. So we need to heed.
And it also says how God feels about widows. He’s saying, “You oppress one of my ladies, you oppress one of my elderly widows, you start screwing around with them, I look at you as I would a sorcerer. I look at you as I would a murderer or somebody that’s just reprobate morally.” So we need to take heed about that.
So, what we’ve seen today, I hope, is a more clear picture of our great God. Because if we examine how God views widows, what does that say about God? It tells us that God really cares for those who are helpless. God really cares for those who are oppressed. God really cares for those who can’t help themselves. And He has set up mechanisms and offices and commandments to take care of those.
Well, what does that say about the love of God? It says that God has His mind off of Himself and on others! God cares about His children and He especially cares about the children that are the most vulnerable, that are the weakest, and the most helpless as we’ve seen—fatherless children, infants, but especially the widow!
So what does it teach us about God? A lot about God’s love for His Family and His children! And so, what we need to do is be thankful that we have a God that loves and provides for this special, special group of people in the Church—our widows!
Transcribed by kb October 19, 2010
Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again? And they remembered His words and returned from the tomb and told all these things to the Eleven and to the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the rest with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like foolishness, and they did not believe them.
If these are men, resurrected men, how would they know what Yeshua said to the disciples in Galilee? Will our resurrected bodies have full knowledge of everything that has happened in history? Will we be omniscient?
My son performed the Pidyon HaBen when my first grandson was born, he purchased those silver sheckles and gave them to his Rabbi, who forwarded them to someone in Israel. (i don’t know who)
Joseph,
This is wonderful news that the widows will be taken care of! I have wondered about this necessary corporate concern for some time.
Lucinda Robinson
Shabbat Shalom Lucinda, we have always promoted the third tithe years since we learned the Sabbatical and Jubilee years in 2005. This will be the 6th one since we discovered these awesome truths. I want to encourage everyone to take part in them so as not to be cut off from reaping the blessings of obeying them.
Many look for and want to claim the double portion in the 6th year but they neglect this obligation that they are to perform which is also in the 6th year. The blessings come in many forms and are not always preceded by a dollar sign.
Greetings Joseph. I’ve always wondered why the Scriptures say just “the third year” and not “the third and sixth years” for giving the Third Tithe. I realize this was the teaching of the WCG and similar groups: that both years were meant. How do the Karaites interpret this. I came out of an organization in which the office staff were considered “modern-day Levites.” Sadly, it seems most of the Third Tithe it collected ended up being used to give them bonuses, whereas poor widows and orphans went neglected.
Shabbat Shalom Steve, It has been a long time. Glad to see you back again. I am not like those groups that like to line their pockets. I have paid my own way since day one. And for many years I funded this work with my own funds when there were no donations. I never asked for tithes until this year. And I only suggested we tithe faithfully to fulfill the command to build the Kingdom.
To lump me in with what others do in this world is not fair. To paint every as evil because some have abused this before. For that purpose, we have asked for three other people to monitor and look after this and for it to be out of my hands in part.
Let’s look at where we are told the 3rd year.
Deu 14:28 At the end of three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year, and shall lay it up inside your gates.
Deut 26:12 When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow (that they may eat inside your gates and be filled),
Amo 4:4 Come to Bethel and transgress; to Gilgal and multiply transgressing at Gilgal. And bring your sacrifices for the morning, your tithes for three years.
As you know we count a Sabbatical Cycle as 7-years, which repeats, in another 7-year count. So when I read it to count every three years then I read it as counting 3 years and then counting the next three years in a series of 7. So for me, it says every 3rd and 6th year in a Sabbatical Cycle.
What do the Karaites do? I do not know. Most of them believe the Sabbatical Cycle is only for in the land of Israel and when others do that, they then relieve themselves of any responsibility of looking after the widows.
So if I am wrong in my understanding of every 3rd year, then I hope to err on being generous, rather than being found cheap and not taking care of the widows.
People do not have to send us the tithe for the widows. They can give it directly to them themselves. Just do it. I am only offering a facility to give and to protect the widows from having their information out their for undesirables taking advantage of it.
Do keep in touch.
Shalom Joe – thank you for interesting topics this week
Question : when we read the description of those in heaven – seen by John – both groups represent matyrs. Must admit i never saw this until a few months ago .
Now we have been taught that all believers would rise at the last trump , described by Paul – first the dead , then we who are alive .
In my understanding of end times , i’m sure those still alive at the last trump , would as true believers , be matyrs in the tribulation .
But what i also never saw , is what John tells us further about these matyrs . Rev 20 : 4 they came to life – and reigned with Yahusha for a thousand years . 20 : 5 THE REST OF THE DEAD , DID NOT COME TO LIFE UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE COMPLETED .
How do you see this . Is the matyrs rewarded by given the chance to reign with Yahusha during the 1000 years ?
I’m truly pleased to have been blessed by the Sabbatical year teaching – always wondered when to start , and turning 66 this year – Yahuah has blessed me in thst this would be my 22nd cycle .
Take care and God bless .
Shabbat Shalom Niel, our book The Mystery of the Jewish Rapture deals with this subject. In fact, we have many articles on our site that address this.
There are the 144,000 and the innumerable multitude who will serve Yehovah day and night. There are those who will rule here on this earth for the millennium under King David. There are also those who survive the tribulation but are not yet called who will have to come to learn torah. These need to be taught by those who will be in the King Davids realm. There are also the Gog and MAgog people who will rise up at the end of the 7th Millennium to fight against King David and Jerusalem.
There is enough here to debate and study for the next 1000 years. But for now, my job is just to educate the people about where we are in the Jubilee cycle and about what is now coming.
Greetings again. I’m by no means suggesting you would wrongly use tithe funds sent to your ministry. Im sorry if you misunderstood me.
Sadly, not all ministries desire to serve YHWH first, and one must be discerning in these matters. I know of a “Torah observant” group that requested that its members turn in any excess 2nd Tithe funds at the end of Sukkot. Seems to me that group revealed where its true love lie: with the love of money. For shame!
Its very sad thing widows orphans and foreigners. How does an individual tithe directly to these people? They are in every city, how can tithing to some website that doesn’t offer physical services benefit them? I am asking sincerely not being disrespectful to any website.
Shabbat Shalom Adam, If you have widows in your own family then take care of them. We are urging that that those who do not have widows or orphans that you know of then, send your tithes for them to us and we will distribute them to the Widows in our group who attend Sahbbat with us. We will also send the tithes to those orphans which we are also attached to through our teachings to them for the past number of years.
Yes they are in every city and around the world. Yet they are not taken care of by society. So we are attempting to do it with those in our faith in our own group. We will start here and we hope our example will spread to other groups and to the whole world. But we know this will only happen when Yehovah’s Kingdom is set up. We are called to be preist and Kings in that Kingdom. As such we must begin to practice and begin to keep and teach those laws NOW while we can.
If you do not have widows or orphans in your own family then send your tithes for them to us clearly marked as tithes for the widows and we will spread it to our list of people that we have in our group today.
Wow, not just a semester but more than a years worth of teaching in this newsletter! Great truths and explanation. I’m excited about keeping Passover again and praying for Fathers guidance as to whom to share with. Very thankful for the care you give to the widows and orphans and sad that I don’t know of any churches or ministries that are caring for their own or others. Bless you Bro Joe.
Shabbat Shalom!
I am in agreement with you about the meal Yeshua had with His disciples being a “last supper” (seudah maphsehket) instead of the Passover meal.
I didn’t read the following addressed in this newsletter so I will ask it now. How does one explain the passages in Matt 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22 in which they all three use language such as “go and prepare the passover” and “so that we may eat the passover”?
Matt 26 and Mark 14 even goes so far to say that the disciples came to Yeshua on the first day of Unleavened Bread (15th of Aviv) to ask Him “where do you want us to prepare the passover so you can eat?”
This seems to bring confusion.
What a great blessing to read about the information given about the Saints who rose with Yeshua this week. It is so easy to read over things in scripture when we already have preconceived ideas of what we think is given in them already. Seems that likely YeHoVaH is giving these things for our faithfulness to His calendar. So timely seeing the season we are in presently. Love this carrot. Very exciting
It does seem that the more truth is revealed to us, the further it separates us from the other groups. So be it.
Great article. Thank you, Joseph.
Love out to the brethren from NS Canada