Weekly Torah Studies
Today's Torah
Portion:
The Hebrew Alphabet:
Reysh (continued)
Reysh (continued)
As we saw yesterday, the twentieth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called “Reysh” (pronounced “raysh”) and has the sound of “r” as in “rain”.
Spiritual Meaning of the Resh
Reysh = R and 200 and means “HEAD”, “CHIEF”, “MASTER”, “PRINCE”, “COMMANDER” and “POVERTY”.
The meanings of Reush are all exalted, but one: “Poverty”. Though this last definition may seem contrary to the others, it reminds us that if we allow ourselves to be our own MASTERS, we will suffer spiritual poverty.
Reysh symbolizes the HEAD and HIGHEST – what is MOST IMPORTANT and has the HIGHEST AUTHORITY in the life.
Reysh: The
Blessings of Submission Under Yah’s
Authority
Yahweh’s
Protection is a gift which He longs to give to each of His children. The Bible
reveals the key to having His guidance and protection, continually. Submission
under Heavenly Authority is the surprising key to receiving Yahweh’s Protection. This is the lesson
and message of the letter Resh. “Let every
man be subject unto the higher powers, For there is no power but of God; the
powers that be are ordained of God,” (Romans 13:1).
The Bible symbol of
the “wings of an eagle” teaches us about protection under God’s authority in
our lives. The “eagle’s wings” is a Hebrew idiom which appears twenty times in
Scripture. Although generally associated with God’s protection of His people,
there is more. We sing, “Under His wings
I am safely abiding,” without realizing that the promise implies the
responsibility of submission. In Psalms
91 we find this symbolism used to express the promise for our abiding: “He who
dwells…shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” We must choose to come under the protection
and authority of the Eagle, a metaphor for our Heavenly Father who protects and
shelters His own.
·
“His
feathers,” – is from the same root as the Hebrew Name of God, meaning “The Almighty.”
·
“Under” – refers to submission to Authority
·
“His wings” –
were seen above the Ark of the Covenant, as cherubim, and representing
protection to those who obey the instruction within and submit under His
Authority.
Thus, it is those who submit to the authority of
the Almighty who are protected “under His wings.” Under the sheltering Presence of God, we will
mount up on high, according to Isaiah 40:31.
Satan is well aware of this protection given to
those who love and obey God, as shown in Job
1:9,10: Doth Job fear God for naught?
Hast not Thou made an hedge and all about him… and all that he hath, on every
side?”
Many metaphors are used in Scripture to describe
God’s authority and protection, but none more often than the symbol of being
“under eagle’s wings.” Under His authority (wing), we will not trust the arm of
flesh, but will abide in the “shadow of the Almighty.” When facing temptations
and trials, we will find our refuge “under His wings,” as we submit to His
authority in our lives. When we are perplexed, He will carry us through the
clouds to the place where we can see more clearly His purpose for us. By
remaining close to Him for comfort, guidance, and protection, we abide “in the
shadow of the Almighty.” We are in submission to His authority.
One key
part of remaining submitted under Yahweh’s
Authority is remaining submitted to the human authorities in our lives. This is
because Yahweh has ordained a command
structure over each of us, involving other people. In the Beginning, God
created mankind in His image and told our first parents to have dominion over
the earth. This was the first time God delegated authority to man, as it says
in Genesis 1:27-28.
“So God created man in His own image... male and female created He
them. And God blessed them, and God said
unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:
and have dominion… over every living thing that moveth upon the earth,”
Genesis 1:27-28.
God also
established a “chain of command” in human authority under Him; which He expects
His children to respect, obey, and submit under. There is a Heaven-ordained authority
structure in the home, the Body of Christ, and in society.
For example, in the
home, both parents have authority to instruct and command the children under
God. (Ephesians 6:1). But, God has
ordained that the husband be the highest human authority, as the Bible says
in Ephesians 5:22-23:
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even
as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body.”
All
humans, in positions of authority are only able to hold this post because it is
allowed by God. Submission to the human authorities in our lives is submission
to God. And we cannot abide under Heaven’s protective Wings unless we remain
under the authority structure God established.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is
no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever
therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that
resist shall receive to
Submission
under godly authority is a living demonstration of faith. The connection between submission under the
Heaven-appointed “chain of command” and living faith is revealed in the Bible
story of the Centurion with the sick servant (Matthew 8:5-13).
The
centurion beseeched the Saviour to heal his sick servant, yet said he was
unworthy for Yahshua to come to his home to do it. He then explained the
human chain-of-command and revealed his own understanding of submission under
the authority. Within this framework of under-standing, the centurion asked
Christ to simply say the Word, and his servant would be healed. This Roman
Centurion understood that God exercises His power and protection, through a
chain of command, just as did the government of Rome. Yahshua was amazed at the man’s comprehension of godly authority.
He said this understanding of Heaven’s chain-of-command demonstrated great
faith.
“When Yahshua heard
it, He marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have
not found so great faith, no, not in Israel,” Matthew 8:10.
Submission under godly
authority is a choice. The one who submits must choose to do so (Joshua 24:15).
The word “submission” is important to understand. In 1 Peter 2:13, the Greek, the word “submit”
is:
ὑποτάσσω (hoop-ot-as'-so)
It is used in the middle voice,
which indicates that the one doing the submitting participates both in the
action (submission) and in the results of the action (obedience). Submission also carries the military connotation
of “lining up under.” This concept can be seen in our military today. Our involvement in the military is voluntary,
but once we choose to enlist, or “line up under” that authority, there are
binding obligations upon us, and we must obey.
By choosing to line up under
Heaven-ordained authority it shows that we understand several important,
Biblical principles:
·
GOD
is the supreme Ruler over all, 1 Timothy 6:15.
·
GOD
ordained all human authority, Romans 13:1.
·
GOD
is the One who establishes those in authority over us and influences their
decisions, Proverbs 21:1.
·
GOD
doesn’t force us to get under His Authority or the authority of those He
establishes for us during our lifetime, Joshua 24:15.
·
GOD
uses these powers and authorities to work His ultimate will.
Because God is in control over our
lives, so long as we remain submitted under His chain of authority, these
authorities will be used of God to accomplish His good purpose our lives.
Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Here are a few of the many benefits:
·
Things
will go well for you, Ephesians 6:2-3
·
You
will have a long life, Ephesians 6:1-3
·
Discernment
will be gained, Proverbs 15:5.
·
You
will be given clear direction, Proverbs 6:20-22.
·
You
will be protected from evil people, Proverbs 6:23-24.
·
You
will obtain a good report, Hebrews 13:17.
·
You
will avoid fear of condemnation, Romans 13:5.
·
The
Lord will be pleased with you, Colossians 3:20.
·
You
will not blaspheme God or His Word, 1 Timothy 6:1.
·
You
will receive the reward of God’s inheritance, Colossians 3:23-24
It is
only when we live in submission to Yahweh’s
Supreme Headship, the message of the letter Reysh,
that we have the full ability to cry out to Yahweh
for His Protection and Deliverance.
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This Week's Torah Studies: (Statutes 61-80)
The Torah studies are provided in two formats for your convenience. The first option (below) is the blank worksheets for this week, which will allow you to print out the worksheets and hand-write the studies yourself. If you have less time, you may wish to read/print my completed Statute studies. The completed worksheets are the second option (below):
This week we will be studying Statutes 61-80, which are summarized below. Happy studying!
Statute 61-62 Summary:
(61) The priests are to burn incense before Yahweh (which represents prayer–Revelation 8:3-4) every morning and every evening. (62) The lamps (which represents our witness – Matthew 5:14 – being filled with Yahweh’s Spirit and abiding in YAH) are to be dressed every morning and freshly lit every evening.
Exodus 30:7-8 “And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.
Exodus 30:7-8 “And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before Yahweh throughout your generations.
Statute 63-64 Summary:
(63) The fire on the Altar of Burnt Sacrifice (representing the Cross) is always to be kept burning, day and night. (64) Priests are to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon it to Yahweh.
Leviticus 6:12-13 “And the fire upon the altar (of burnt sacrifice) shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.”
Statute 65 Summary:
(65) Yahshua was the One Who laid aside the white “linen” of His perfect righteousness, put on my filthy robes and suffered for me outside the “camp.” It is by His humiliation and atonement that I am made clean and accepted by Heaven. This work of the Saviour is to bring about true repentance and sorrow for sin. The priest carried the ashes outside the camp to cause the people to think about the Saviour’s work of redemption. This is statute of remembrance. By beholding, we become changed. We are to cogitate Calvary daily.
Leviticus 6:10-11 “And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.”
(See also Hebrews 13:11-13) (Also note: ashes was a mark or token of grief, humiliation, or penitence - Nehemiah 9:1, Job 42:6)
Statute 66-68 Summary:
(66) We are not to allow anything unclean to come into the heart or home where Yahweh dwells. We are not to allow leprosy into our hearts or homes. Spiritually, leprosy is reprobation (because we lose our ability to perceive guilt when we choose to justify ourselves rather than repent from sin) (John 3:19-20). (67) We are not to allow an issue into our hearts or homes. Spiritually, the issue is pining or wasting away; as in being unthankful, embittered, or complaining (1 Corinthians 10:10). (68)We are not to allow our hearts or homes to be defiled by the dead. Spiritually, death is following lusts and fleshly desires (Hebrews 9:14).
Numbers 5:2-3 “Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.”
Statute 69 Summary:
(69) The priests of Yahweh are first to be sanctified in order to fill this role. Then they are set apart for holy use. (See Revelation 5:10).
Leviticus 21:8 “Thou shalt sanctify him (the priest of Yahweh) therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I Yahweh, which sanctify you, am holy.”
Statute 70 Summary:
(70) The priests of Yahweh are to be spiritually clothed in special garments for glory and beauty (see Ezekiel 16:14 and Ephesians 6:11-18).
Exodus 28:2-4, 40 “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office… And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.”
Statute 71-72 Summary:
(71) Yahweh’s people are to never practice fortunetelling, nor have anything to do with magic. (72) Yahweh’s people are to never eat anything with the blood.
Leviticus 19:26 “Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.”
Statute 73-78 Summary:
(73) Yahweh’s people are to belong to Him wholly and completely, without any divided or competing affections. This is what it means to be perfect with Yahweh. (74) Godly parents are never to alienate their children, transitioning them in crossing over to the devil. (75) Yahweh’s people are to not consult sorcerers, nor practice sorcery. (76) Yahweh’s people are not to practice magic, nor consort with magicians. (77) Yahweh’s people are not to practice witchcraft, nor consult witches. (78) Yahweh’s people are not to consult with demon spirits, nor consort with those who do so.
Deuteronomy 18:10-13 “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto Yahweh: and because of these abominations Yahweh thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with Yahweh thy God.”
Statutes 79-80 Summary:
Yahweh’s people are to dress in a way that clearly reveals their gender. (79) Men are not to dress like women. (80) Women are not to dress like men.
Deuteronomy 22:5 “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto Yahweh thy God.”
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