Friday, January 12, 2018

Torah Portion - January 12, 2018

Weekly Torah Studies


Today's Torah Reading: Genesis 10


Today's 
Torah
Portion: 
The Hebrew Alphabet: Yod


Yod: The “Atom” of the Consonents

The letter Yod is the 10th letter of the Aleph-Bet, having the numeric value of 10. The pictograph for Yod looks like an arm or hand, whereas the classical Hebrew script is constructed of a single tag upward, a kotz downward, and a middle portion. Yod is the most frequently occurring letter in the Scriptures as well as the smallest of the letters.

Suspended in mid-air, Yod is the smallest of the Hebrew letters, the “atom” of the consonants, and the form from which all of the other letters begin and end:
 
In Jewish tradition, Yod represents a mere dot, a divine point of energy. Since Yod is used to form all the other letters, and since God uses the letters as the building blocks of Creation, Yod indicates God's Omnipresence.

In fact, the word יוֹד (yod) itself depicts something of the geometry of Creation. It begins with the Yod itself, as a dot, and then moves downward, from the divine toward the created order to form Vav (the "hook" of creation). Finally it moves outward in the horizontal realm as Dalet (the "doorway" of creation). This can better be seen with the illustration on the left.

Since Yahshua upholds the world by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3), and Yod is part of every Hebrew letter (and therefore every word), Yod is considered the starting point of the presence of God in all things - the "spark" of the Spirit in everything.

Yod: The Letter of Humility


The letter Yod, being the smallest of the letters, is also a picture of humility. Yod can be seen as a mark of humility in the text that says Moses was "the most humble man" upon the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3):


The Jewish scribes say that an extra Yod is inserted in the word ana (meaning humble or meek) to emphasize the humility of Moses.

Israel is likewise called the "smallest of the nations" (Deuteronomy 7:7) and is considered a type of Yod before the great nations of the earth:

"for you are the smallest of the peoples."





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):


An Overview of this Week's Torah Studies:
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) Make and wear blue tzit tzits on the edges of your clothes to help you remember to be faithful and obedient to YHWH. (In Bible times, this Statute was understood to be meant the men, for women did not wear the tzit tzits).
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) Preach and publish YHWH’s Law, putting it on the prominent places of your home and proclaiming it in the city.
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) Gather and read the whole Torah at the Feast of Tabernacles every Sabbatical year (seventh year). (26) Keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the place which YHWH selects and finds acceptable.
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) Kings (we are all kings – Revelation 5:10), under YHWH, must begin their service by writing out a personal copy of the Torah, which they are to study and read from daily, all their days.
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) Build the Holy House (Sanctuary) of YHWH so that He will dwell with you. (This is not a literal building of a physical temple. This building is first and foremost a spiritual one...  We are the temple of YAH, and His people are His Temple – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 & 1 Peter 2:5).
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) Never set up an Asherah (which is another name for Easter) pole, icon or “Happy (Easter)” items, sun-god images, columns or memorial stones. These things should not in any way be joined to the altar (the worship) of YHWH.
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) Do not worship or revere any empty “gods,” nor make carved gods, nor set up pillars or memorials to false deities. Do not bow down to nor worship any false god of any kind, for they are all conceited imaginings.
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) Do not teach or entice anyone to worship false gods, nor allow anyone to come into the Body of Yahweh enticing others to false worship. Idolatry and its teachings must be destroyed.
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.”  

Daily Bible Reading - January 12, 2018

Today's Reading:

Luke 11:1-28

Genesis 19

Psalm 12

 

Listen to the Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading:

One of the most important things the Saviour taught is how to pray. In fact, the Bible tells us that God characterizes His Church (His people, no matter what denomination) by their prayers. His House is called - not a house of preaching or teaching (although these are good and important things) - His House is called the House of Prayer (Matthew 21:13).



Considering how vitally important prayer is to our spiritual lives, I'd like to focus on Christ's prayer lesson, found in today's reading - Luke 11:1-4.

We all know that prayer is vitally important. Prayer is spiritual breathing!

James 6:16 “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

1 Peter 3:12  “For the Eyes of Yahweh are over the righteous, and His Ears are open unto their prayers: but the Face of Yahweh is against them that do evil.” 

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  

Sadly, when we're totally honest, many Christians find prayer boring. They may not come out and say that praying is boring, but when you suggest communing with God for a whole hour on our knees, the reaction ranges from shock to: “I can’t spend a whole hour PRAYING! I wouldn’t have any idea of what to SAY for that long? What am I supposed to DO for THAT LONG? Wow! If I can concentrate on praying for 10 MINUTES, I’m doing good!”

Don't get me wrong! The reason I can write about this is that I've been there! I understand what that's like. But that's not where we want to be. And it's certainly not where God wants us to be. So, let me share with you some of what God helped me to see, to bring me out from behind that "I-don't-know-how-to-commune-with-God-for-any-serious-length-of-time" road-block.  

First, I needed an attitude adjustment. What do you call a human friend, who you can only stand to spend 10 minutes with? Of course you would quickly correct me…  If I can only stand to spend 10 minutes with a person – that person is definitely NOT my friend! There is no friendship, where there is no willing investment of time. In fact, if we are good friends with someone and then, for one reason or another, no longer spend time with them, we are no longer friends – only strangers with memories from a past friendship.


So the first attitude needing adjustment is our desire for God.  Our prayer life comes alive in living color, when we spend the time communing with our Heavenly Father because we WANT to BE WITH HIM!  

Not only is prayer a vital part of communing with God, it is the vehicle He uses to bring about deliverance, healing and conversion. How can we be bored with prayer, when we understand that through it, we get to meet with the Almighty and see some of what God will accomplish through it? 


 So, with that motivation in place, let's now consider HOW to pray in a meaningful and effective way. Certainly, Christ taught us how to pray by giving us the famous "Lord's Prayer". But, it wasn't meant only as a memorized prayer that we should just pray over and over again. Yes, we pray it - repeating it frequently. But, if we prayed even this perfect prayer, over and over again, it would soon lose its meaning to us and become just an empty repetition (Matthew 6:7). The Saviour didn't mean for us to only pray this same prayer over and over again. He was giving us a PRAYER RECIPE.

So, incorporating the elements of this prayer recipe will help us remix our own prayer-life, even breaking through the 1-hour prayer barrier! Here's how:

Start off by planning to spend a whole hour with God in prayer. During this hour, you'll be including all the elements of prayer to keep it meaningful throughout. In fact, I think you'll find (as I do) that it's actually not hard to pray for as long a whole hour - rather you'll find the hour too short! Really! Try it!

1. FIVE MINUTES: PRAISE GOD

To start off your hour of prayer with God, spend the first 5 minutes in praising Him. Honor Him for Who He is to you - personally. In Christ's prayer recipe, He demonstrated this ingredient by saying,
"Our Father, Who Art in Heaven..."

Praise God for His Names (Yahweh, El Shaddai, Elohim, the Almighty, my Salvation, King of kings, Heavenly Father, etc), Character (He is loving, merciful, gracious, etc...), and great Works. Seek to bless HIM by your praises!
Praise Him for things that are on your mind right now. Praise Him for one special thing He has done in your life in the past week. Praise Him for His goodness to your family. Seek to bless God (isn't it an amazing thought that WE might be empowered to bless GOD?) during your prayer time! Ask Him to help you be a blessing to HIM!

Psalm 145:1-3  “…I will bless the Lord (Yahweh) at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

2. FIVE MINUTES: WAITING

Next, is the waiting period. Spend this time prayerfully waiting on God. Let Him pull together reflections for you. Ask Him to impress you of anything specific He wants to tell you or desires you to do during this prayer time. Like Samuel, say, “Speak, Father, Thy servant heareth.” Make a note of any sins He impresses you to confess, tasks He asks of you to do, or any other things He communicates to you in this time.

Psalm 27:14  "Wait on Yahweh: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

3. FIVE MINUTES: CONFESSION

The next 5 minutes is for confession of sin. Ask God to show you anything in your life which might be displeasing to Him. Ask Him to point out attitudes that are wrong, as well as specific acts for which you have not yet made a prayer of confession. Now confess that and claim 1 John 1:9 so that you might be cleansed and your prayers empowered, and then pick up and read the Word. (Read and personally claim Psalm 51:1-19). In Christ's prayer recipe, He demonstrated this ingredient by saying, "forgive us our debts (sins)..."
1 John 1:8-9  "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

4. FIVE MINUTES: READ FROM THE WORD

Next, it’s time to read from the Bible. The Bible is spiritually compared to "Bread". Reading the Word of God is spiritually eating. Choose a portion of today's reading - like the Psalm for today, for example. Use E-sword to look up any words you think may have deeper meaning. In Christ's prayer recipe, He demonstrated this ingredient by saying, "give us this day our daily bread (physical AND spiritual food)"
Psalm 119:11 "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might (have strength) not sin against Thee."

5. FIVE MINUTES: PETITION

Next, it’s time to present your petitions to God. This is the time for you to present your requests for yourself and others, praying through your prayer list or personal prayer needs on behalf of yourself and others.
Hebrews 4:16  "Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  

6. FIVE MINUTES: INTERCESSION

Do spiritual warfare in intercessory prayer for those on your prayer list, who are under attack. The following is a spiritual warfare prayer that is Scripturally formulated for maximum effect. It is found in my husband's and my book titled, Keys to Living Like You've Been Saved. Fill in the blanks and pray this prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, in prayer I now come before Your Throne because of Your wonderful invitation in Hebrews 4:16, where You have invited me to come boldly before Your throne to find grace and help in time of need.  Thank You for this promise and this invitation. I do indeed seek Your grace and help on behalf of _________________.

He/she does not realize it, but he/she is under attack from the enemy in the area of _____________________. Thus, I come to You heavenly Father to pray and intercede for _____________ today. It may be that _____________’s own choices of friends or influences is giving Satan the legal right to attack as heavily as he is. Thus, as Hosea prayed for Gomer, I ask that You place a hedge of thorns around ________________.  Cause the path of sin and all unholy influences to become a source of irritation to ________________. May he/she not find peace or comfort on this destructive path.

Satan, where you are working to destroy ________________, in the Name and Blood of Jesus (Yahshua) Christ, I bind and rebuke you and command you to take your hands off of him/her. Your legal rights to destroy ______________ are cancelled by the fact that I claim the sacrifice and victory of Jesus (Yahshua) on ___________’s behalf against you.

Heavenly Father, I ask that You will anoint _______________’s eyes with eyesalve that he/she may have    spiritual discernment to recognize the spiritual battle that is going on. Please take the demonic scales from his/her eyes at this moment. May he/she have wisdom to recognize his/her need of You. Please pour out Your spirit upon ______________ in a mighty way just now to convict of sin and lead this precious one back into a right relationship with You. Because of Christ’s sacrifice on ___________’s behalf I claim His victory on the Cross for him/her. I ask that Your Holy Spirit will have all legal rights because of Christ’s sacrifice to work in a powerful way upon ________________’s mind.  Draw _______________ to You in any means You see fit and most  effective.  Please spare nothing, but rather do all that heaven can do to save ______________________ from this and all demonic strongholds and influence to the saving of his/her soul.

Thank You for hearing and answering this prayer. In Jesus' (Yahshua’s) Name I ask it, Amen.


7. FIVE MINUTES: PRAY THE WORD

You are now halfway through the hour of prayer. Now its time to pray the Word. To do this, start praying the Scriptures…  You may choose to pray the famous prayer of Jabez  Or you may pray a section of Psalm 119. Psalm 119 lends itself beautifully to prayer expression. (For example, pray Psalm 119:38-46). Whatever your pray from the Bible, personalize it. Ask God for the Promises in His Word for yourself, specifically.
Psalm 119:38-40  "Stablish (establish) Thy Word unto Thy servant (me), who is devoted to Thy fear (I reverence and worship You). Turn away my reproach (my shame) which I fear: for Thy Judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after Thy Precepts: quicken me (make me spiritually alive) in Thy Righteousness."

8. FIVE MINUTES: GIVE THANKS

Spend the next five minutes in thanksgiving. Give thanks to God for specific blessings and answered prayers in your life.
Philippians 4:6   "Be careful (filled with care, or worried) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  

9. FIVE MINUTES: SING!

Spend the next five minutes in singing praises to God. Take your hymnal and sing a prayer song, sing a praise song, sing a song regarding witnessing... God loves to hear you sing - whether or not you feel you have a good voice. Let it be a time of praise in song! (Psalm 59:17)
1 Chronicles 16:8-10  "Give thanks unto Yahweh, call upon His Name, make known His Deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous Works.  Glory ye in His holy Name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek Yahweh."

10. FIVE MINUTES: MEDITATE UPON THE WORD

At 50 minutes into your hour, meditate on some aspect of the Word which you found personally meaningful. Ask God to speak through His Word. Choose a verse in today's reading (or another meaningful Bible Promise, or Torah portion) and prayerfully consider it and its meaning. Copy the verse onto a 3x5 card so you can carry it with you to meditate on it throughout the day as well. Work to memorize it.
Psalm 119:97  "...O how love I Thy Law! It is my meditation all the day."

11. FIVE MINUTES: LISTEN

Your hour is nearly complete. Spend this next 5 minutes in listening prayer, desiring to hear God Speak. Spend time merging the things you have read from the Word, the things you have prayed, the things you have thanked God for, the things that you have been singing, and see how your Heavenly Father brings them all together to speak to you in a personal way. (This can take some practice, so don't feel discouraged if you do not get a full blessing from your first few attempts.)
John 10:27  "My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

12. FIVE MINUTES: PRAISE GOD

Just as you started with praise and blessing to God, end with praise and blessing to Him.

Praise the Almighty for the time you have had to spend with Him. Praise Him for the impressions that He has given you. Praise Him for the prayer requests He raised up in your mind. Praise Him through Psalm 103:1-13:
Psalm 103:1-13  "... Bless the Yahweh, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Bless Yahweh, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. 
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.  The Yahweh executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known His Ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel. Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the Heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.  Like as a father pitieth his children, so Yahweh pitieth (watches over with tender care) them that fear Him."
 Congratulations! You have just spent a whole hour in meaningful prayer! For an amazing boost in your spiritual life - do this everyday!