Hezekiah’s Passover

Joseph F. Dumond

Isa 6:9-12 And He said, Go, and tell this people, You hear indeed, but do not understand; and seeing you see, but do not know. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back, and be healed. Then I said, Lord, how long? And He answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land laid waste, a desolation, and until Jehovah has moved men far away, and the desolation in the midst of the land is great.
Published: Apr 28, 2016

News Letter 5852-011
The Shemitah Year
The 21st day of the 2nd month 5852 years after the creation of Adam
The 2nd Month in the Seventh year of the Third Sabbatical Cycle
The 3rd Sabbatical Cycle after the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Earthquakes, Famines and Pestilence

The Year of letting the land rest
The Sabbatical year that begins at Aviv 2016 to Aviv 2017
The 35th Day of Counting the Omer

April 30, 2016

 

Shalom to The Royal Family of Yehovah,

“Announcements”

Ephraim and Ramona Frank are authors of “The Firstborn Factor” and founders of B’ney Yosef Congress. Residents of Israel, the Franks will share their knowledge on topics such as Israel and her two houses as well as Torah principles concerning the firstborn. All are welcome to join us for the day. Shalom and blessings…

Ephraim Frank author of the First Born factor 

Join Us On April 30th At 10:30 AM at Lamlash Hall 421608 Concession 6 north from Grey RD 4 just off Grey RD 3 on your left

Here is a map to get there.

Contact John for more info 519.665.7344, Maranatha Fellowship, Hanover, ON

 


 

“Unexpected Blood Moon April 22, 2016”

On April 22, 2016 I was sent a skype message that my friends Jasmine & Alex Dietzsch were looking at a blood moon.

Shalom, Joseph. We observed an orange full moon tonight very low above the horizon around 7:30pm local Bali time at the southeastern hemisphere. Thought it might be of interest.

I posted this on Facebook hoping others could also see this and I went to look myself but the skies here were overcast. I then was sent the following picture from the tallest building in the world by Cathy Hougnon who said it was red when she saw it and was amazed by it. She was atop the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, UAE.

We then were sent the following picture from The North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota, by Sue Bob Kruse showing the Orange Blood Moon. It is a blood moon but just another shade of it. ( Sorry missing image)

The amazing thing is that these three witnesses and the two pictures show us that Yehovah has sent us another warning. He knows the confusion that has come this year about the Barley and the start of Passover. Even though we had a partial Blood Moon at Passover in March; one that NASA knew was coming, Yehovah has sent another blood moon warning on the second Passover, which many are using as their first Passover in 2016; one NASA did not know was coming.Having said that, I urge you all to once again watch and refresh yourself with our teaching on the Blood Moon. We are the only people telling you about them in 2016. We speculated that Passover would be in March and sure enough we had three witnesses confirm the Barley was indeed Aviv on March 27, the day the wave sheaf was to be offered. And we had a partial blood moon, what is called a dark moon which is a warning of famine coming. The blood moon is warning of war that is coming.

In 2015 we had the invasion of Europe by the Muslim hordes and then we see daily reports from Europe of the citizens being attacked, and women raped and murdered by these people. Watch our teaching as we show you how the four horsemen are already riding right now and are so obvious that many of you do not even see it.

We have another partial blood moon, which will be a dark moon, coming at the beginning of the Feast of Sukkot this September.

Shavuot will be Sunday May 15, 2016

The Feast of Yom Teruah or The Feast of Trumpets is Sunset Friday, Sept. 2, 2016 to Sunset Saturday Sept. 3, 2016, but the sighting of the moon this night is uncertain. It could be a difficult sighting. So All the fall Holy Days could potentially be one day later. We are going to post both dates.

The Feast of Trumpets is either Saturday Sept 3rd or Sunday Sept 4th beginning at sunset the night before.
Atonement will then be 10 days later on Monday Sept 12th or Tuesday Sept 13th again both beginning the evening before at sunset.
The Feast of Sukkot is 5 days after Atonement and will be on Saturday Sept 17th or Sunday Sept 18th beginning the evening before at sunset.
The Eighth Day will be on Saturday Sept 24th or Sunday Sept 25th beginning the evening before at sunset.

A blood moon will be seen on Sept 16, 2016

“GoDaddy is impressed with our views”

We have been asking you to stand with us and support the efforts we are putting forward each week, each month for the past 10 years. We have other projects we are working on and hope to soon announce. Many people come to our site to learn a various number of subjects. Many new people come each day and each week. Many promise to support us and then forget about us until the next week. Most people take and never give. GoDaddy sent us this note today to let us know we are getting quite a lot of traffic these days.

Your blog, Sighted Moon, appears to be getting more traffic than usual! 328 hourly views – 31 hourly views on average.

We are asking you, each of you, to be part of the team. We have asked for volunteers and a few have stepped up. They are currently working with me to launch our newest project. We have asked for your financial donations and very few step forward to do this. If I have challenged you to think and to study out the facts then awesome, please help us to do that with others. If you have others teaching you about the Blood moons in 2016 or the Sabbatical and Jubilee years at the right time or the curses of Lev 26 for not keeping them, then please support them. But I know of none that are doing that. None except Sightedmoon.com. There are some who copycat and undermine our teachings. So again I am asking you to support our efforts and be part of the team teaching these truths to the world in these end times. Be part of the team from now until the end of this age.

 


“The Barley Report for Those Keeping Passover in April, 2016”

As all of you know this year has been a controversial year for us due to the barley positions of many.

I have been repeatedly asked if I was now going to recant my decision for having declared the New year in March. My answer to that has been and remains categorically NO I will not recant. We had three qualified witnesses all state the barley at the end of the 12th month was in the dough stage. Nehemiah Gordon, who was one of those three witnesses, also said it was in the dough stage. All three said that the barley would be aviv and ready for the wave sheaf day on March 27, 2016. Even Nehemiah Gordon went out on March 27 and confirmed the Barley was indeed ripe and ready for the wave sheaf that day. But for him it was not aviv at the end of the 12th month so he declared it adar bet.

So based on these three witnesses and especially my friend Nehemiah’s own words and testimony we declared March as the 1st month with Passover on March 25, 2016, beginning the night before, knowing that the barley would ripen in to wave sheaf ready barley in 10 days time and we had over 16 days.

Now here we are at the date for the second Passover and many of you have said this is in fact for you the first Passover. It has been a very difficult year for us to reconcile the barley this year and for many of you the decision has been hard to make. So going with the crowd was easier to do. I understand. I am not faulting anyone this year. I believe Yehovah made it this way on purpose. We are being sifted. Do not forget our article about grieving the Holy Spirit and do not now anger Yehovah by showing a lack of love or concern for our brethren. I do these news letters because of my love for the brethren, even if they do not like the things I am putting forward.

This year a man in Jerusalem has planted and been watching the barley in his garden and in the parks and fields around his home in Jerusalem. On Friday April 22, 2016 he posted the following report on the barley that he has witnessed and how he came to his conclusions. I share that report with you now from Gilbert Ashendorf.

Update on the Barley in Jerusalem – I know many are interested in the status of the barley as the Passover holiday is almost here. The above picture was taken on Friday, April 22, 2016 and I will give the usual disclaimer that the barley in the south of the country usually ripens earlier than Jerusalem and the barley in the north usually ripens later. As of today, about 40% of the barley in Jerusalem has already ripened and would have been harvested by this date, about 50% is ripe now and ready for harvest, and about 10% is still abib. How do I get these figures? I take 10 random samples in each of 4 separate locations (hillsides, parks, empty lots) and average them out and round out to the nearest 5%. Because of the long, cool, and rainy winter, the barley was unusually late this year and ripened very unevenly. Last year the barley in Jerusalem was abib by March 18 and ripe by April 1. (I use the 60% figure to determine if a field is abib or ripe). This year the barley in Jerusalem was abib by April 7 and ripe by April 15. I planted a small patch of barley in a park near my house this year so I could watch its development not mixed in with all the weeds and other plants as happens with the wild barley. My little patch is among the slowpokes and is still abib. Chag Semeach Pesach L’kulam – A Happy Passover to Everyone.

I want to point out two things Gilbert has said. The first is

I will give the usual disclaimer that the barley in the south of the country usually ripens earlier than Jerusalem and the barley in the north usually ripens later.

And the second is

As of today, about 40% of the barley in Jerusalem has already ripened and would have been harvested by this date, about 50% is ripe now and ready for harvest, and about 10% is still abib.

The barley ripens earlier in the south than in Jerusalem. And as of April 22, about 40% of the barley in and around Jerusalem was already aviv. So the barley south of Jerusalem was ripe earlier and now gone to seed. In Nehemiah’s video of March 27, 2016 he stated the barley was already going to seed on that date. This area was south of Jerusalem.

We are commanded in Lev 23 to bring the first fruits. Not the mid fruits or the last fruits. We are commanded to bring Yehovah the FIRST FRUITS. It has a very significant meaning to it and we need to be aware of that meaning to understand.

Lev 23:10  Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.

The word first fruits is in the hebrew;

H7225    re’shyth   ray-sheeth’

From the same as H7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically a firstfruit): – beginning, chief (-est), first (-fruits, part, time), principal thing.

H7218    ro’sh    roshe

From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literally or figuratively (in many applications, of place, time, rank, etc.): – band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief (-est place, man, things), company, end, X every [man], excellent, first, forefront, ([be-]) head, height, (on) high (-est part, [priest]), X lead, X poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.

When you begin to harvest the barley, it is on that very same day that is when you begin to count the 7 weeks to Shavuot. WHEN YOU BEGIN TO HARVEST and that was not done until the FIRST FRUITS were WAVED ON WAVE SHEAF DAY. You are not allowed to harvest it and store it up and then consume that after the wave offering. No, you make the wave offering of the very first fruits on wave sheaf day and only then can you begin the count and at the same time the harvest of first fruits.

Last week we told you about the Tombstone of Hannah and how they had kept the Passover before the Equinox on March 18 in 439 C.E. Did you read that and did you understand the importance of that one tombstone?

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.

You can only put the sickle to the grain when you are making the wave offering and once you have made the wave offering, then you can begin the harvest. Not before.

Imagine if you will if this was applied to the real purpose of the wave offering. If you could begin the harvest before the wave sheaf day. Then many of the saints would have been coming out of the grave years and centuries before Yehshua did. They would be alive but they could not go to heaven. They would be set aside and not able to do anything. Like the barley until the wave sheaf day. Then when Yehshua came out of the grave these Saints such as Enoch would finally get to go to heaven with the Messiah having been standing on the sidelines for about 3000 years.

1Co 15:20  But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruit of those who slept.

No, all those Saints before Yehshua came out of the grave with Yehshua who was the first of the first fruits. Those Saints came out with Him having remained asleep all that time until then. This is the meaning of this wave sheaf day. You do not harvest anything before that day. They did come back to life after the Sabbath, after Yehshua came out of the grave but they did not ascend until He did on that Sunday Morning at 9 AM. They were not here waiting for years or millennium or harvested before the day the first fruits was cut.

Mat 27:51  And, behold! The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And the earth quaked, and the rocks were sheared, 52  and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose, 53  and coming out of the tomb after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Much of the barley, 40% in Jerusalem itself, would have reseeded.

Let me now quote from Nehemiah’s own wall about the state the barley must be in. I have learned so much from Nehemiah and this year has been a trying year for all of us.

Aviv and the Harvest

The month of the Aviv is the month which commences after the barley has reached the stage of Aviv. 2-3 weeks after the beginning of the month the barley has moved beyond the stage of Aviv and is ready to be brought as the “wave-sheaf offering” (Hanafat HaOmer). The “wave-sheaf offering” is a sacrifice brought from the first stalks cut in the harvest and is brought on the Sunday which falls out during Passover (Chag HaMatzot). This is described in Lev 23:10-11,

“When you come to the land which I give you, and harvest its harvest, you will bring the sheaf of the beginning of your harvest to the priest. And he will wave the sheaf before Yehovah so you will be accepted; on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest will wave it.”

From this it is clear that the barley, which was Aviv at the beginning of the month, has become harvest-ready 15-21 days later (i.e by the Sunday during Passover). Therefore, the month of the Aviv can not begin unless the barley has reached a stage where it will be harvest-ready 2-3 weeks later.

That the barley must be harvest-ready 2-3 weeks into the month of the Aviv is also clear from Dt 16:9 which states:

“From when the sickle commences on the standing grain you will begin to count seven weeks.”

From Lev 23:15 we know that the seven weeks between Passover (Chag Hamatzot) and Pentecost (Shavuot) begin on the day when the wave-sheaf offering is brought (i.e. the Sunday which falls out during Passover):

“And you shall count from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day you bring the sheaf of waving; they will be seven complete Sabbaths.”

Therefore, the “sickle commences on the standing grain” on the Sunday during Passover, i.e. 2-3 weeks after the beginning of the month of the Aviv. If the barley is not developed enough so that it will be ready for the sickle 2-3 weeks later, then the month of the Aviv can not begin and we must wait till the following month.

It should be noted that not all the barley ripens in the Land of Israel at the same time. The wave-sheaf offering is a national sacrifice brought from the first fields to become harvest-ready. However, the first-fruit offerings brought by individual farmers can vary in ripeness anywhere from “Aviv parched in fire” to fully ripe grain which may be brought “crushed” or “coarsely ground”. This is what is meant in Lev 2:14,

“And when you bring a first-fruit offering to Yehovah; you shall bring your first-fruit offering as Aviv parched in fire or crushed Carmel” (Carmel is grain which has hardened beyond Aviv to the point where it can be “crushed” or “coarsely ground”).

All of the above passages have been translated directly from the Hebrew and it is worth noting that the King James translators seem to have only understood the various Hebrew agricultural terms very poorly. In Lev 2:14 they translated Carmel as “full ears” and “Aviv” as “green ears” whereas in Lev 23:14 they translated Carmel as “green ears”!

In summation, barley which is in the state of Aviv has 3 characteristics:

  1. It is brittle enough to be destroyed by hail and has begun to lighten in color (it is not “dark”).
  2. The seeds have produced enough dry material so it can be eaten parched.
  3. It has developed enough so that it will be harvest-ready 2-3 weeks later.

Note that Nehemiah says the barley will be ready 2-3 weeks later just as he himself reported on March 27, 2016.

It is our position that the Barley was indeed aviv and ready for wave sheaf day on March 27, 2016. The very first fruits of the land. We understand the confusion and stress our decision has caused many of the brethren. We also understand why many have opted for the Passover in April. We do not condemn you for doing this. We applaud the many who this year finally took it upon themselves to study out why we need barley and the various stages that goes through before becoming aviv. We encourage you to read the article below on Hezekiah’s Passover.

 


 

“Laws of the Shemitah Year”

Again I am going to share with you the commandments for the Sabbatical year, maybe each week until you have it memorized. The Sabbatical year began with the sighting of the moon on the evening of March 10, 2016.

1)  Do not plant

2) Do not harvest

Lev 25:3  You shall sow your field six years, and you shall prune your vineyard six years, and gather in the fruit of it. 4  But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest to the land, a sabbath for Jehovah. You shall neither sow your field, nor prune your vineyard. 5  You shall not reap that which grows of its own accord of your harvest, neither gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It is a year of rest to the land.

3) You can eat what grows on it’s own.

Lev 25:6  And the sabbath of the land shall be food for you, for you and for your servant, and for your slave woman and for your hired servant, and for your stranger who stays with you, 7  and for your cattle, and for the beast that is in your land, shall all the increase of it be for food.

4) Stock up on food in the 6th year.

Lev 25:20  And if you shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow nor gather in our increase! 21  Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.

5) Forgive any debts people owed to you by Sukkot.

Deu 15:1  At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. 2  And this is the manner of the release. Every man who has a loan to his neighbor shall release it. He shall not exact it from his neighbor, or from his brother, because it is called Jehovah’s release. 3  You may exact it from a foreigner, but your hand shall release that which is yours with your brother,

6) Read the Torah out loud at Sukkot so all can hear it being read.

Deu 31:10  And Moses commanded them, saying: At the end of seven years, at the set time of the year of release, in the Feast of Tabernacles, 11  when all Israel has come to appear before Jehovah your God in the place which He shall choose, you shall read this Law before all Israel in their hearing. 12  Gather the people, men and women and the little ones, and your stranger who is within your gates, so that they may hear and that they may learn and fear Jehovah your God, and be careful to do all the words of this Law, 13andthat their sons who have not known may hear and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over Jordan to possess it.

And by now you should also have completed all your obligations to the widows, orphan, and Levites from your tithes for the 6th year that is now past.

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. 29  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.

Ask Yehovah to bless you for having completed this task and then ask Him to bless your efforts as you keep the Sabbatical year and keep your food safe from decay or flood or hydro blackouts and from scavengers like rodents. Ask Him to protect it and to bless you for keeping His commandments.

Deu 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), 13  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. 14  I have not eaten of it in my mourning, neither have I putany 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. 15  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. 16  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. 17  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. 18  And Jehovah has taken you today to be His peculiar people, as He has promised you, and to keep all His commandments, 19 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.

May Yehovah bless each and every one of you for keeping the Sabbatical year commandment and breaking the curses that are upon our nations because we have not kept them in the past.

 


 

“Hezekiah’s Passover”

I had spent about 8 hours working on this week’s teaching last week. Before I had saved it, I hit the wrong button and deleted it all. I did not have time to research it all again this week. Hopefully I can get it ready for next week. I was sent the following article by one of our readers and I found it to be such a wise article I had to share it.

 

Hezekiah’s Passover

Posted on April 21, 2016 by K. Gallagher

The Strength of YHWH

The name Hezekiah comes from the root chazak which means “YHWH strengthens” or “The strength of YHWH”. You are probably familiar with this term if you follow the weekly Torah Portions. At the end of each book of Torah, there is a traditional chant that is recited. It is:“Chazak, chazak v’nitchazek”, which means, “Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened”. What I hope to answer in this post is how King Hezekiah demonstrates YHWH’s chazak or strength in the Passover.

King Hezekiah was one of the few righteous kings to reign in the southern kingdom of Judah. You can read about this fascinating man in 2 Kings 18-20, Isaiah 36-39, and 2 Chronicles 29-32. Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah all prophesied during his reign. Hezekiah tore down the high places, destroyed the bronze serpent, rebelled against the king of Assyria, was miraculously restored to health, cleansed the Temple, and restored the observance of Passover. I’d love to explore all these aspects, but for the sake of space and time, we will focus on his restoration of Pesach (Passover).

Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. (2 Kings 18:1-2)

King Hezekiah was the son of wicked King Ahaz. (2 Kings 16) But he is also known by his mother, Abi or Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. The Word of YHWH classifies people by their paternal lineage; while, maternal lineage is rarely given. Interestingly, several of the kings of Judah and Israel are identified by both their father and mother. King Hezekiah is one of them as you can see in the verses above.

Avi (Abi) means “my father” or “fatherly”. She is called Aviyah (Abijah) in 2 Chronicles 29:1, which has the similar meaning of “YHWH is my Father”. I find this fascinating since Hezekiah’s earthly father was wicked. It’s as if the text (in Hebrew) is hinting at his strong motherly role model, Avi. She was “like a father” to Hezekiah because she pointed him to our true heavenly Father, YHWH.

While Hezekiah was far from perfect (as we all are), he was a restorer and nurturer to all Israel. His invitation to Passover revealed a tender heart not just toward YHWH, but also toward his brothers and sisters. Instead of giving the wayward people a strict or harsh “fatherly” correction or direction, he opened his arms wide in gentleness and mercy, which are “motherly” traits. We can learn a thing or two from King Hezekiah about proper (Spirit-led) Passover observance.

If you’ve ever wondered or even speculated about the proper protocol in keeping YHWH’s Passover, King Hezekiah’s example must not be overlooked. I have witnessed too many people deny others the opportunity to participate in the Seder simply because the person in question fails to meet some perceived standard or expectation. While said “standard” might be based on Scripture, it is more often than not based on a private interpretation, tradition, or the preference of man — rather than on Spirit and Truth.

The following is a rather long quote, but its context sets the stage for Hezekiah’s Passover. I encourage you to read the entire passage.

Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month, since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem. Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly.  

So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed. The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria.

“Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see. “Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you. “For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.” (2 Chron. 30:1-9 NASB)

King Hezekiah tried to unify the people by inviting ALL of the tribes to a Passover service in Jerusalem. In his letter to the people, Hezekiah urges Judah and Israel to return to YHWH and His true sanctuary. He reminds them of the great compassion and grace of YHWH. Oh, that we would have a heart like this for our brothers and sisters! Hezekiah knew that the people were nowhere near where they should be in regards to obedience; and yet, he still invited his brethren to this monumental meal of the covenant. You see, it was more important, a weightier matter if you will, that the people simply COME at his invitation.(Does this remind you of Yeshua?)

Sadly, many mocked the king and his messengers.

So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulunbut they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD. (2 Chron. 30:10-12)

Many from the northern kingdom of Israel could not imagine joining themselves with the southern kingdom of Judah. After all, they had their own places of worship, priesthood, and calendar. Why would they heed to the call of brother Judah? Thankfully, the hearts of some were pricked and they “humbled themselves” and went to Jerusalem. Can this be compared to anything we see happening in our “movement” today? I believe so.

While it’s true that many (in the church) mock those of us that desire to return to the Old Ways, there are also those in OUR midst that scorn the House of Judah and their traditions. Many follow the way of the northern kingdom of Israel and set up on their own houses of worship in (a figurative) Dan and Bethel. They also create their own calendars and make priests from those that they find fit in their own eyes. (1 Kings 12:25-33) The pride that comes from this type of self-righteousness creates huge rifts between them and the Church and also between them and the Jewish people. Thus, you will hear them mocking either or both of these groups to scorn. Instead of mirroring the prideful hearts of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Zebulun in the above verses, let’s HUMBLE ourselves and come to the Passover with Judah.

Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly. They arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the brook Kidron. Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD. They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites. (2 Chron. 30:13-16)

Those that heeded the call of Hezekiah removed all of the false altars (high places –especially in their minds/hearts) from Jerusalem before sacrificing the Pesach lambs. They did this in the second month because the people had not gathered in the first month, nor had a sufficient amount of priests consecrated themselves to serve in the House of YHWH. The following verses explain the Torah regulations about observing Passover in the second month (Passover is so imperative that there is a “second chance” to celebrate it):

“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If any one of you or of your generations becomes unclean because of a dead person, or is on a distant journey, he may, however, observe the Passover to the LORD. ‘In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. ‘They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it. ‘But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and yet neglects to observe the Passover, that person shall then be cut off from his people, for he did not present the offering of the LORD at its appointed time. That man will bear his sin. (Num. 9:10-13)

Adding to Torah? Compromisers?

Notice that neither the people nor the priests actually met the requirements for the second Passover. Those from the northern tribes had not been on a long “journey” and many obviously were unclean on account of death (dead bodies).

For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to consecrate them to the LORD. For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselvesyet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed.

For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” (2 Chron. 30:17-19)

What was the remedy for those that “ate the Passover otherwise than (Torah) prescribed”? Our tenderhearted King PRAYED for the people. You aren’t going to find a precedent for this in the Torah, and yet Hezekiah did so anyway. He was far more concerned that the people return to YHWH and keep the covenantal Passover meal than he was for strict observance. I don’t believe that Hezekiah was snubbing his nose at YHWH’s Word, nor do I believe that he was a compromiser. I also don’t believe that his actions were “adding to” the Torah. Yet sadly, many in our midst today would have accused Hezekiah of all of these things and more. What we should concern ourselves with is YHWH’s response:

So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (2 Chron. 30:20)

Instead of acting by the strictest judgment of His Torah, YHWH extended mercy to the people. In other words, according to the Torah, the people deserved to be “cut off” from Israel and to bear the full weight of their sins. The wages of sin is death; and thus, the holy Torah would judge them as guilty. But YHWH heard Hezekiah’s heartfelt prayer and HEALED the people. He CHOSE to exercise mercy and compassion toward the people even while they reeked of death. This is the SPIRIT of the Torah.

In light of the Torah commandments of Passover and this very real example of a Passover restoration, how do you suppose that YHWH expects us to deal with those that desire to eat of the Passover “other than what is prescribed”? Do we judge them based on the strictest sense of the Law? Or do we extend mercy and compassion unto them and pray for healing and complete restoration? While it is clear what the Torah says, we also have a very real example of what YHWH Himself did for Hezekiah. I believe cases like this are written so that our sword of Spirit and Truth remains balanced. It is vital that we understand righteous judgment AND divine mercy. For our Elohim is both!

Those that have been forgiven much, love much. (Luke 7:36-50) Can you even imagine the immense joy that was experienced at Hezekiah’s Passover? Beloved, we CAN have this same zeal!

The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day after day with loud instruments to the LORD. Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the LORD. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD God of their fathers. (2 Chron. 30:21-22)

Adding Even More to the Torah?

The people were so overwhelmed with the joy that comes from forgiveness and unity that they decided to celebrate the feast of Passover (Unleavened Bread) for an additional seven days.

Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy. For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves. All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. (2 Chron. 30:23-25)

It seems as though this story once again challenges us to find the Spirit of the Torah rather than the Letter. Both matter a great deal. The decision of the assembly to add an additional seven days to the feast of Unleavened Bread wasn’t frowned upon by the Almighty. Instead, we are told that their voices were heard in Heaven.

So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven. (2 Chron. 30:26-27)

Perfect Before Pesach?

As you can see, the priests and the people did not come to the Passover table perfect. They had sin that had to be dealt with and many other areas where improvement was needed. But, if we think back to the original Exodus, this shouldn’t surprise us. The children of Israel were in the same boat before YHWH brought them out of Egypt. In fact, we could say the same thing about us. If we lose sight of what the Pesach meal really represents and begin demanding that others be “perfect” in order to celebrate this memorial, we become the ones that are “adding to the Torah”. Yet, that’s what I see happening all over the place.

While the false altars were removed from Jerusalem before Hezekiah’s Passover, the rest of the cities in the kingdom (where most of them lived) were still inundated with idols. And even still, YHWH received the people. It wasn’t until AFTER they had celebrated Unleavened Bread for two weeks that the rest of the kingdom was cleaned up. (2 Chron. 31:1)

Passover is the gateway, the bloody door of the covenant. It is the beginning of “our beginning” with YHWH through Yeshua. We are immature at our first Passover. We still carry baggage and junk and possibly a lot of leavenedcrumbs that we must LEARN to identify and remove. This is a process and a practice. We don’t say the old adage “practice makes perfect” for no reason. We say it because it is TRUE.

Can you imagine demanding that a very beginner piano student play a perfect concerto? That’s ridiculous, yes? Well, so is demanding others to meet an expectation that they have no training for. There must be a starting point. On our Abba’s calendar, that place is Passover. He wants all the whosoevers at His Table — even the immature little children (spiritual babies included).

This requires a great deal of humility and even more mercy and compassion from those that are older (spiritually). The stricter things can be learned as they mature in the Torah. For now, go and make disciples of all nations. Be patient with those that want to sit at the feet of the Master. Give them a safe place to study, grow, and wrestle with the Word. If they fall down as they are learning to walk (Torah), don’t write them off, pick them up and offer a helping hand!

This is real godly “chazak” or strength. This is where Hezekiah excelled in the Spirit of Adonai. He strengthened his brothers and their unity. He reverted Jerusalem back into a safe womb where life could grow and mature.

The entire purpose of the Passover is to TEACH the CHILDREN, so go and do so!

 

Chag Sameach Passover!

 


 

“Counting the Omer”

WEEK SIX

Day Thirty-Six
Yehovah, the Judge
Psalm 94:12-23

Today is the first day of the sixth week of seven weeks. Today is the thirty-sixth day of the counting of fifty days from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath.

Psa 67:1 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. Selah. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples thank You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Psa 94:12 Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Jehovah, to teach him out of Your Law; 13 that You may give him rest from the days of trouble, until the pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For Jehovah will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. 15 But judgment shall return to righteousness; and all the upright in heart shall follow it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? 17 Unless Jehovah had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. 18 When I said, My foot slips; Your mercy, O Jehovah, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me Your comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with You, which frames mischief by a law? 21 They gather themselves against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. 22 But Jehovah is my defense; and my God is the rock of my refuge. 23 And He will bring on them their own iniquity, and He will cut them off in their evil. Jehovah our God shall cut them off.

 

Day Thirty-Seven
A Song of Praise
Psalm 95:1-7

Today is the second day of the sixth week of seven weeks. Today is the thirty-seventh day of the counting of fifty days from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath.

Psa 67:1 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. Selah. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples thank You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Psa 95:1 Oh come, let us sing to Jehovah; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to Him with psalms. 3 For Jehovah is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength of the hills is also His. 5 The sea is His, and He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before Jehovah our maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice,

 

Day Thirty-Eight
Yehovah, the Supreme King
Psalm 96:1-13 (14)

Today is the third day of the sixth week of seven weeks. Today is the thirty-eighth day of the counting of fifty days from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath.

Psa 67:1 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. Selah. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples thank You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Psa 96:1 Oh sing to Jehovah a new song; sing to Jehovah, all the earth. 2 Sing to Jehovah, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all people. 4 For Jehovah is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols; but Jehovah made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7 Give to Jehovah, O families of the people; give to Jehovah glory and strength. 8 Give to Jehovah the glory due to His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. 9 O worship Jehovah in the beauty of holiness; fear before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, Jehovah reigns; and the world shall be established; it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples in uprightness. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness of it. 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; then shall all the trees of the forest rejoice 13 before Jehovah; for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth; He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.

 

Day Thirty-Nine
Yehovah, the Ruler of the World
Psalm 98:1-9

Today is the fourth day of the sixth week of seven weeks. Today is the thirty-ninth day of the counting of fifty days from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath.

Psa 67:1 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. Selah. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples thank You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. 

Psa 98:1 A Psalm. O sing to Jehovah a new song; for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have saved for Him. 2 Jehovah has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has unveiled to the eyes of the nations. 3 He has remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of Jehovah. 4 Make a joyful noise to Jehovah, all the earth; breakout, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing to Jehovah with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of a horn make a joyful noise before Jehovah, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it; the world, and those who live in it. 8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together 9 before Jehovah; for He comes to judge the earth; with righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples in uprightness.

 

Day Forty
Yehovah, the Supreme King
Psalm 99:1-9

Today is the fifth day of the sixth week of seven weeks. Today is the fortieth day of the counting of fifty days from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath.

Psa 67:1 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. Selah. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples thank You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Psa 99:1 Jehovah reigns; let the peoples tremble. He sits between the cherubs; let the earth quake. 2 Jehovah is great in Zion; and He is high above all the peoples. 3 Let them praise Your great and fearful name; it is holy. 4 The king’s strength also loved judgment; You established uprightness; You worked judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Praise Jehovah our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy. 6 Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel among those who called on His name; they called on Jehovah, and He answered them. 7 He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar; they kept His testimonies and the ordinance that He gave them. 8 You answered them, O Jehovah our God; You were a God who forgave them, though You take vengeance for their deeds. 9 Praise Jehovah our God, and worship at His holy hill; for Jehovah our God is holy.

 

Day Forty-One
The Love of Yehovah
Psalm 103:1-22

Today is the sixth day of the sixth week of seven weeks. Today is the forty-first day of the counting of fifty days from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath.

Psa 67:1 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. Selah. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples thank You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

 Psa 103:1 A Psalm of David. Bless Jehovah, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless Jehovah, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; 3 who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; 4 who redeems your life from ruin; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; 5 who satisfies your mouth with good; your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 Jehovah works righteousness and judgment for all who are pressed down. 7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. 8 Jehovah is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and rich in mercy. 9 He will not always chasten, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is His mercy toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father pities his children, Jehovah pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our form; He remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and its place shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness is to sons of sons; 18 to those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember to do His Commandments. 19 Jehovah has prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless Jehovah, O angels of His, who excel in strength, who do His command, listening to the voice of His Word. 21 Bless Jehovah, all His hosts, ministers of His who do His pleasure. 22 Bless Jehovah, all His works in all places of His rule; bless Jehovah, O my soul.

 

Day Forty-Two
Yehovah & His People (Part VI)
Psalm 105:1-11

Today is the seventh day of the sixth week of seven weeks. Today is the forty-second day of the counting of fifty days from the day of the waving of the Omer on the morrow after the Sabbath. Today is Sabbath, the sixth Sabbath of seven Sabbaths. Today completes the sixth week of seven weeks.

Psa 67:1 To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. May God be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. Selah. 2 So that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples thank You. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations on earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Psa 105:1 O give thanks to Jehovah; call on His name; make known His deeds among the people. 2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; talk of all His wonderful works. 3 Glory in His holy name; let the heart of those who seek Jehovah rejoice. 4 Seek Jehovah and His strength; seek His face evermore. 5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, 6 seed of His servant Abraham, sons of Jacob His chosen. 7 He is Jehovah our God; His judgments are in all the earth. 8 He has remembered His covenant forever, the Word which He commanded to a thousand generations; 9 the covenant which He made with Abraham, and His oath to Isaac; 10 and He confirmed it to Jacob for a Law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;

 

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