Weekly Torah Studies
Today's Torah
Portion:
The Hebrew Alphabet: Hey
Spiritual Meaning of the Hey
Hey = 5 and is the H of Hebrew (pronounced by exhaling the breath)
·
Hey is
the Hebrew letter for BREATH, SPIRIT and GRACE.
·
Hey is
the first letter in the Hebrew world HINNEH (behold), suggesting something
important is following, which can only be viewed and fully appreciated through
the Holy Spirit. As in: “Behold the Bridgegroom cometh!” Matthew 25:6 and
“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” John 1:29 &
36.
There are two Hey’s in God’s Holy Covenant Name: YHWH.
They show us that He
BREATHED life into us in the beginning, and will again BREATHE Eternal Life
into us. It also takes the Presence of the Holy Spirit in us to truly praise
YHWH – which is shown by the Hey’s in
HalleluYAH!
Hey represents God's Creative
Power
"By the Word of Yahweh were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the Breath of His Mouth" (Psalm 33:6). In the Talmud (Menachot 29b) it is said that the "breath of His mouth" refers to the sound of the letter Hey - the outbreathing of Spirit.
"By the Word of Yahweh were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the Breath of His Mouth" (Psalm 33:6). In the Talmud (Menachot 29b) it is said that the "breath of His mouth" refers to the sound of the letter Hey - the outbreathing of Spirit.
In the fifth word of Genesis 2:4,
the Hey appears smaller than usual.
This draws attention to the fact
that the heavens and the earth were created, by YHWH’s Hey… the Word of YHWH,
Who breathed forth creation.
YHWH changed the names of His people- adding the Hey- to signify the
indwelling of His Spirit and Grace (Genesis 17:5 & 15):- ABRAM became ABRA-H-AM
- SARAI became SARA-H
Prefixive Hey
Hey functions as the definite article in Hebrew, a sort of demonstrative that points to the object and makes it concrete and definite. Thus (ish), a man, becomes (ha-ish), THE MAN (the Spirit in a man makes him new into the LIVING Image of Yahshua THE MAN.
Hey functions as the definite article in Hebrew, a sort of demonstrative that points to the object and makes it concrete and definite. Thus (ish), a man, becomes (ha-ish), THE MAN (the Spirit in a man makes him new into the LIVING Image of Yahshua THE MAN.
Suffixive Hey
Adding a Hey at the end of a noun "feminizes" it or allows it to be "fruitful" and reproductive – another work of the Holy Spirit in the life.
Adding a Hey at the end of a noun "feminizes" it or allows it to be "fruitful" and reproductive – another work of the Holy Spirit in the life.
Hey and Teshuvah
Since Hey is formed from Dalet and Yod, it can also be a picture of returning to God by means of the transforming power of the Spirit. Opening the door of the heart then is a picture of the Spirit of God indwelling the believer.
Since Hey is formed from Dalet and Yod, it can also be a picture of returning to God by means of the transforming power of the Spirit. Opening the door of the heart then is a picture of the Spirit of God indwelling the believer.
The Hey Signifies the Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life, Symbolized
by the Holy Anointing Oil
The Holy Anointing Oil,
significant of the Holy Spirit,
was made up of 5 parts (5 is the number hey): Myrrh, cinnamon, sweet calamus,
cassia, and olive oil (Exodus 30:23-25). These ingredients reveal the meaning
of the hey and the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
MYRRH
•
myrrh (as distilling in drops, and also as bitter)
•
“Indeed,
all who desire to live godly in Messiah Yahshua will be persecuted”
Spiritual
Significance of the Myrrh
Myrrh symbolizes suffering, trials, tribulations,
and afflictions. The church of Smyrna is known as the “Suffering Church”. This
makes sense when one realizes that the name “Smyrna” comes from myrrh.
Suffering and persecution is something that Yahshua experienced. In fact
we are told that suffering was such an integral of Yahshua’s life that,
“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered”
(Hebrews 5:8). And just as He was given the gift of myrrh by Wise Men, so we
too, who are set apart for His holy use and anointed as priests, are to receive
the gift of myrrh (suffering) from the hand of the Master. It is not done to
destroy us, but to teach us obedience.
CINNAMON
• "qinnamown" meaning "to erect,
cinnamon bark as in upright rolls"
Spiritual
Significance of the Cinnamon
The second ingredient of the holy anointing oil was
"sweet cinnamon". Sweet denotes the savour to God that is pure and
holy, not that of a natural sweetener as honey, but that of cinnamon.
"Cinnamon" is the Hebrew "qinnamown"
meaning "to erect, cinnamon bark as in upright rolls". The sweet
cinnamon speaks of the upright life, which we are enabled to live, through the
Holy Spirit’s Grace and indwelling Power.
SWEET CALAMUS
•
"Calamus" is the Hebrew
"qaneh" meaning "a reed (for measuring)."
Spiritual
Significance of the Calamus
"Calamus" is the Hebrew "qaneh" meaning "a reed
(for measuring)." The Law of YHWH is represented here. "And there was given me a reed like unto
a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and
the altar, and them that worship therein." (Revelation 11:1). The
measuring rod, by which we are measured (judged) is the Law of YHWH, as it says
in James 2:12. The Calamus is present in the anointing oil to remind us to
live in obedience to the Holy Law, by Yah’s Grace.
CASSIA
•
Cassia in Hebrew is qiddah, meaning shriveled rolls. It is
from the root word which means to bend the body or neck in deference, or to bow
down.
Spiritual
Significance of the Cassia
Cassia is from the root word which means to bend the
body or neck in deference, or to bow down. Cassia signifies humility and
reverence for the Most High. As it says in Job 28:28 and Psalm 111:10, fearing
YHWH is the beginning of wisdom. Also in 2 Chronicles 34:27, we see that
humbling ourselves before YHWH is a vital part of prayer. Our prayers are only
acceptable when presented with a humble and contrite spirit.
OLIVE OIL
•
Olive oil is from the Hebrew word zayith, meaning “illuminating oil.”
Spiritual
Significance of the Olive OilIt represents the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life. This is the fifth ingredient in anointing oil. We are only able to be set apart for holy use, serving as Heavenly priests, when we have the indwelling Presence of YAH’s Spirit.
This Week's Torah Studies: (Statutes 21-40)
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 21-40, which are summarized below. Happy studying!
Statute 21-22 Summary:
(21) Bind (write) the Torah upon your
hands (actions). (22) Bind (write) the Torah upon your mind (thoughts).
Deuteronomy 6:8 “And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”
Statute 23 Summary:
(23)
Numbers 15:38-40 “Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the Commandments of YAHWEH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all My Commandments, and be holy unto your God.”
Statute 24 Summary:
(24)
Deuteronomy 6:9 “And thou shalt write them (YHWH’s Commands see Deut. 6:4-6) upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”
Statute 25-26 Summary:
(25)
Deuteronomy 31:10-12 “And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the Feast of Tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before YAHWEH thy God in the place which He shall choose, thou shalt read this Law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear YAHWEH your God, and observe to do all the words of this Law.”
Statute 27 Summary:
(27)
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 “And it shall be, when he (a new king) sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this Law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear Yahweh his God, to keep all the words of this Law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the Commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”
Statute 28 Summary:
YHWH has made His Law readily available to us, so that
there is no excuse for not knowing and obeying it. Therefore, (28) we are to turn to
YHWH with all our hearts and souls and obey His Commandments and Statutes.
Deuteronomy 30:10-14 “If thou shalt hearken unto the Voice of Yahweh thy God, to keep His Commandments and His Statutes which are written in this book of the Law, and if thou turn unto Yahweh thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the Word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.”
Statute 29 Summary:
Recognizing that everything you have
(home, food, money, etc…) is from YHWH, (29) thank YHWH for everything He has given
to you, regularly and often, lest you be tempted to think you got it by your
own prowess or strength.
Deuteronomy 8:10-14 “When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless Yahweh thy God for the good land which He hath given thee. Beware that thou forget not Yahweh thy God, in not keeping His Commandments, and His Judgments, and His Statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget Yahweh thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”
Statute 30 Summary:
(30)
Exodus 25:8-9 “And let them make Me a Sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show thee, after the Pattern of the Tabernacle, and the Pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”
Statutes 31 Summary:
(31) Reverence YHWH in His Holy Sanctuary,
on His Holy Sabbaths.
Leviticus 19:30 “Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My Sanctuary: I Am Yahweh.”
Statute 32 Summary:
(32)
Deuteronomy 16:21-22 “Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of Yahweh thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which Yahweh thy God hateth.”
Statute 33 Summary:
(33)
Leviticus 26:1 “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I Am Yahweh your God.”
Statutes 34 Summary:
(34) Do
not spend time wishing about, or consider worshiping, nor speak the names of
false gods. Their character, authority, or honor have no place in you.
Exodus 23:13 “And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.”
Statutes 35 Summary:
(35)
Deuteronomy 13:12-15 “If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which Yahweh thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you. Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.”
Statutes 36-37 Summary:
If a dear friend or family member comes to you to entice or pressure you
into a practice that glorifies satan (purposely not capitalized), (36) do not
listen or fall prey to the enticement. (37) Do not protect, cover for, or go
easy on someone who encourages you to worship the devil in such ways.
Deuteronomy 13:6-8 “If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him.”
Statutes 38-40 Summary:
(38) Destroy
idols with fire. Do not desire or take any valuable parts of the idol that is
being destroyed. (39) Do not bring any abominable objects into your home. (40) Abhor all
abominations and abominable objects.
Deuteronomy 7:25-26 “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to Yahweh thy God. Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”
