saturday or sunday

Thought for Today: Sunday January 15:

Conflict, discontent, and unhappiness plague people everywhere. But suppose a cure could be found for all humanity’s sicknesses. It would cause a world-wide stampede! The most thrilling news in the world is, that there is a cure! YHVH has provided the medicine – and that Medicine is Moshiach. Through Him, all our sins are forgiven and by Ruach HaKodesh within us, our lives can be changed and renewed. Our souls can know Peace – a Peace that is not dependant on outward circumstances. This cure was provided thousands of years ago with the death and resurrection of Yeshua Moshiach. Allow Him to work daily in your life, changing you to make you more like Him.

SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 07

THE LEADERS’ GIFTS

GIFTS FROM THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL

From Numbers 7:1-47

On the same day that Moses set up the tabernacle, anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings and anointed and consecrated the altar and its utensils, the leaders of Israel, those who were leaders of the tribes and were in charge of the census, brought gifts to Adonai. There were six covered wagons, each pulled by two oxen. Each leader gave one ox and every two leaders gave a wagon. The leaders presented the gifts to Adonai at the entrance to the tabernacle. Accept the gifts and use the wagons in the service of the tabernacle, Adonai told Moses. Give them to the Levites to use as they think best. Moses gave the wagons and oxen to the Levites. He presented two wagons with four oxen to the men of Gershon and four wagons with eight oxen to the men of Merari, under the direction of the priest Ithamar, Aaron’s son. The men of Kohath did not get wagons because the sacred items they were in charge of had to be carried on their shoulders. That same day, when the altar was anointed, the leaders brought dedication gifts and put them before the altar. Let each leader offer his gifts on a different day, Adonai told Moses. And let these be for the dedication of the altar.

On the first day Nahshon the son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

COMMENTARY

LIFE THEY LEFT BEHIND: LUXURY TABLEWARE IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Paper, plastic, stoneware and on special occasions, porcelain and china; that’s what people in the modern world use for dishes and tableware. But the wealthy Egyptians served their daily fare in dishes that look almost like works of art to modern eyes. Goblets, plates and pitchers were often made of silver. Dishes and vessels were sometimes beautifully wrought from gold. Mined stone was carved by hand into fine vessels for food and also for the storage of oils, ointments and perfume. Those made from a translucent white stone called alabaster were especially beautiful. The Egyptians loved turquoise and lapis lazuli, a dark velvet-blue stone they imported from Afghanistan. But even the Egyptians thought those stones were too precious to make into vessels, so craftsmen imitated them instead. They used coloured glass and earthenware covered with coloured glazes; called faience; and made vessels that looked very much like turquoise and lapis lazuli. Messages and outdoor scenes were often engraved on the outside of tableware. Scenes were painted on the insides as well. Sometimes a vessel was shaped like a hieroglyph that meant something in particular. A vase with a spout on one side stood for good wishes, singing and praise, for instance. A slender flared vase was a symbol of the Egyptian goddess Bast. Other vessels could be shaped like flowers, pomegranates or other fruits. With all of the beautiful dishes, the ancient Egyptians had the same problem as modern folks; someone had to wash them!

If I'm wrong correct me.

Shalom, all praises ❤️

Fear is a fundamental element of the human condition. Too often, our fears paralyze us, or leave us vulnerable to the manipulation of others. What happens, though, if we view our fears as instruments in our Creator's hands? Could He possibly make something beautiful out of them?

https://thebarkingfox.com/2023..../01/14/the-steppings

 

thebarkingfox.com

The Steppingstone of Fear - The Barking Fox

Fear is a fundamental element of the human condition. Too often, our fears paralyze us, or leave us vulnerable to the manipulation of others. What happens, though, if we view our fears as instruments in our Creator’s hands? Could He possibly ma

SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 06

A SPECIAL VOW

THE NAZIRITE VOW

From Numbers 6

When a man or a woman takes a vow to become a Nazirite, separating himself to Adonai, he must separate himself from wine and strong drink, Adonai Instructed Moses. During the period of separation to Adonai, the Nazirite must not eat or drink anything from the grapevine; no wine, grape juice, grapes or raisins; not even the skins or seeds of the grapes. During the period of separation, the Nazirite will not cut his hair, but will let his hair grow to show his holy vows to Adonai. During the time of his vow, he will not go near a dead body, even though it is his father, mother, brother or sister. If someone dies suddenly in his presence and defiles him in that way, the Nazirite shall shave his head seven days later, on the day of his purification. On the eighth day, the next day, he will bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the door to the tabernacle. To atone for the man’s defilement, the priest will offer one bird as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. On that day the man will let his hair grow again and renew his vows. The vows will begin again, for the previous days of the vow do not count. The man must also bring a year-old male lamb for a guilt offering because the man’s separation was defiled. When the period necessary for consecration has ended, the Nazirite will offer a flawless year-old lamb as a burnt offering to Adonai at the entrance to the tabernacle. He will also offer a flawless year-old ewe lamb as a sin offering and a flawless ram as a peace offering. Along with a cereal and drink offering, he will present a basket of unleavened bread, cakes made with fine flour mixed with olive oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil. At the entrance to the tabernacle the Nazirite will shave the hair which he grew as a sign of his consecration and then burn this hair in the fire under the peace offering. Then the priest will place the cooked shoulder of the lamb, one unleavened cake from the basket and one unleavened wafer in the hands of the Nazirite. He will lift the man’s hands with all these things in them and wave them back and forth before Adonai as a sign that they are offered to Him. These are a holy portion for the priest to keep, as well as the breast of the wave offering and the shoulder of the heave offering. When this ceremony is finished, the Nazirite may drink wine again, for he has fulfilled his vow. These are the Laws for a Nazirite and his ceremony at the end of his period of consecration. He must also bring any other offering which he promised when he vowed to become a Nazirite. Adonai also said to Moses, tell Aaron and his sons this blessing with which they are to bless the people of Israel. This is what they shall say,

[Adonai bless you and keep you. Adonai make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. Adonai look favourably upon you, and give you peace.]

Aaron and his sons will call My Name and blessings upon the people of Israel and I will bless them.’’

COMMENTARY

THE NAZIRITE VOW

People often make promises and take vows they never keep. That was just as true thousands of years ago as it is today. For as short a time as thirty days or for as long as a lifetime, a person could take the Nazirite vow and devote himself to YHVH by swearing three things.

1 -- He promised not to eat grapes or anything made from grapes; wine, juice, grape vinegar or raisins. He was also to avoid all strong drink.
2 -- Every Nazirite could not cut his hair or shave for as long as the vow lasted. That made him very easy to recognize.
3 -- No Nazirite could come near the body of a dead person, no matter who it was; not even his own mother and father.

If a Nazirite accidentally came into contact with a dead body, he had to make a sacrifice, cut off his hair and bury it and start the period of his vow all over again. If his hair was cut accidently, he was set back thirty days in his vow. Only accidentally drinking a product of the grape brought about no penalty. But if a Nazirite deliberately broke any of the vows, he was whipped once for each one he broke. When the set time period was over, the end of the vow was marked by a special offering at the temple. A sacrifice had to be made of two rams, an ewe, ten unleavened cakes of flour and ten unleavened wafers sprinkled with oil, along with other meat and drink offerings. The head and beard would be shaved and the hair burned in the fire with the meat offering. A person could take the Nazirite vow for a lifetime. A father could make it for his son before he was thirteen. Samson’s mother gave him to YHVH before he was even born. As the story is related in the Bible, he broke the vow three times.

First, Samson killed thirty men; and made himself unclean by contact with their bodies.
Secondly, he drank wine at his own wedding feast.
Thirdly, after telling the secret of his YHVH-given strength to Delilah, his hair was cut and he lost his sight, strength and freedom.

The prophet Samuel and John the Baptist were two other life-long Nazirites. Even the apostle Paul was a Nazirite for a brief time.