BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR
A VOICE FOR YHVH IN THE WILDERNESS
From Luke 3:1-6; Matthew 3:4-6
The story of John’s work begins fifteen years after Tiberius Caesar had become the Roman emperor. At that time, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea and Herod Antipas was ruler of Galilee. Herod’s brother, Philip, ruled over the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis and Lysanias ruled over Abilene. The high priests in Israel were Annas and Caiaphas. While John was living in the wilderness, YHVH sent a message to him. Obedient to YHVH, John took that message throughout the country near the Jordan River, telling the people to turn away from their sin, seek YHVH’s forgiveness, and be baptized. Seven hundred years earlier, Isaiah had written this about John, [A voice will cry out in the wilderness and say: Build a road for YHVH! Make it a straight and level road, filling the valleys, levelling the hills, and giving it a smooth surface. When the road is built, the Moshiach will come forth with salvation from YHVH.] John wore unusual clothing, garments made of camel’s hair, with a wide leather belt about his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. The people of Jerusalem and Judea, as well as the neighbours around the Jordan, came out to hear John preach. Many of them confessed their sins, and were baptized in the Jordan River.
JOHN’S MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE
From Luke 3:7-18
This is the kind of message that John gave to the people who came to hear him:
[You are like a brood of snakes! You want to escape hell but you don’t want YHVH! Is that why you came to be baptized? Do you want others to believe that you have turned away from sin? Then you must show your change by the way you live. Don’t brag that Abraham is in your family tree. That won’t help you get to YHVH! YHVH could turn these stones into descendants of Abraham. But they would not be YHVH’s followers any more than you. The sharp edge of YHVH’s judgment is lifted high above you, ready to cut you down like a rotten tree. Fruitless trees deserve to be cut down and thrown onto the fire.]
[Then what should we do?] the people asked. [How can we show others that we have turned away from sin?] [Do you have two coats?] John asked. [Give one to a poor person. Do you have more than enough food? Share it with the hungry.] There were tax collectors among the crowd. They, too, had come to be baptized. [How can we show that we have turned away from sin?] they asked. [Do your work honestly,] he answered. [Don’t collect more money from people than you should.] The soldiers also asked how they might show that they were giving up their sins. [Stop forcing people to give you money,] John told them. [Learn to live on the money you earn.]
SOMEONE GREATER THAN I
From Luke 3:15-18
People were anxious for the Moshiach, YHVH’s Son, to come, so they began to wonder about John the Baptist. Could he be the Moshiach? Was he the one they had waited for so long? [No,] John told them. [I baptize you, but only with water. Someone is coming who is far greater than I. He is so great that I am not good enough to bend down and loosen his sandal strap. He will baptize you with Ruach HaKodesh, who will burn away the impurity in your life. Like a thresher, He will separate the worthless chaff in your life from that which He wants to keep, burning the chaff with a fire that never goes out.] Warning and pleading with the people, he preached to them the Good News about the coming Saviour
COMMENTARY
JOHN’S AUDIENCE
The people who came to hear John the Baptist preach in the wilderness formed a strange congregation. Many of them shared little in common. The preacher himself presented a unique appearance, dressed as he was in garments of camels’ hair, with a wide leather belt around his waist. Who were these people? Not everyone there wanted to be baptized. Many came out of simple curiosity. There were rumours that John was the prophet Elijah returned from the dead. His rugged clothing and his diet of locusts and honey reminded many of the Old Testament prophet. The Roman soldiers were there under orders to prevent the crowd that followed John from becoming unruly. Caesar did not want him to start a revolution against the Roman government. The religious leaders also came to see that John did not start a revolution, but they were concerned about a religious revolt, not a political uprising. The Sadducees and Pharisees were afraid John would preach a message that would turn people away from their synagogues and the temple.
Thought for Today: Tuesday October 14
Haydn, the great musician, was once asked why his church music was so cheerful. He replied: “When I think upon YHVH, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen, and since YHVH has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.” Haydn discovered the secret to lasting joy: “I think on YHVH Elohiym” – when we turn our minds and hearts to His Power and His Love for us, we cannot help it to be joyful.
Reading Job this morning, it dawned on me that twice Satan appears before YHWH amongst the sons of YHWH when they presented themselves before YHWH. This is found in Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-7.
Not once is he kicked out or asked as to why he is present with the other sons.
I always understood that Satan was a created being and therefore came into existence through the will of YHWH, but does this mean that Satan is a son of YHWH and therefore part of the heavenly council?
Does that then also mean that he got his inheritance in Deut 32:8-9 as one of the sons?
“Oh everyone who thirsts, come to the waters! And you who have no silver, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without price. Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread, and your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is excellent, and let your being delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, so that your being lives. And let Me make an everlasting covenant with you, the trustworthy mercies of Dawiḏ. See, I have given Him as a witness to the people, a Leader and a Commander for the people. See, a nation you do not know you shall call, and a nation who does not know you run to you, because of YHWH your Elohim, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, for He has adorned you. Seek YHWH while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near. Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to YHWH, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much!”
“And on the last day, the great day of the festival, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.’ As the Scripture said, ‘out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water.’”
“I, Yeshua, have sent My messenger to witness to you these matters in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of Dawiḏ, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And he who hears, let him say, ‘Come!’ And he who thirsts, come! And he who desires it, take the water of life without paying!”
Hoshana Rabbah Sameach!
Hoshana Rabbah is the Great Day of the Feast and is the seventh and last day of Chag Hasukkoth.
It is not a High Sabbath, so cooking and work are permitted.
As the last day of the Feast, it is the most joyful and celebratory of all.
In Temple times, during each day of the Feast, a procession was made around the altar of sacrifice during which psalms were sung and the lulav, a bundle of palm, myrtle, willow and an etrog (Vayyiq’ra.23:40), were waved and beaten.
On Hoshana Rabbah, seven circuits were made around the altar and the great water-pouring ceremony was held in anticipation of the fall rains.
It is said that a person has never witnessed true joy in worship until he has seen first-hand the water-pouring on Hoshana Rabbah.
Readings: Bemidbar (Numbers) 29:26-34; Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:1-13; Yochanan (John) 7:37-39; Chazon (Revelation) 21:1-7 & 22:1-21.
(Bemidbar 29:26-34)
Then on the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones, and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the judgment, and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual ascending offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Then on the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones, and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the judgment, and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual ascending offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
Then on the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs a year old, perfect ones, and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the judgment, and one goat as a sin offering, besides the continual ascending offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
(Yeshayahu 55:1-13)
Oh everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. And you who have no silver, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without price.
Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread, and your labor for what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is excellent, and let your being delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, so that your being lives. And let Me make an everlasting covenant with you, the trustworthy mercies of Dawiḏ.
See, I have given Him as a witness to the people, a Leader and a Commander for the people.
See, a nation you do not know you shall call, and a nation who does not know you run to you, because of YHWH your Elohim, and the Set-apart One of Yisra’ěl, for He has adorned you.
Seek YHWH while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near.
Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to YHWH, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares YHWH.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so is My Word that goes forth from My mouth – it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for.
For with joy you go out, and with peace you are brought in – the mountains and the hills break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field clap the hands.
Instead of the thorn the cypress comes up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle comes up. And it shall be to YHWH for a name, for an everlasting sign which is not cut off.
(Yochanan 7:37-39)
And on the last day, the great day of the festival, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink.
As the Scripture said, out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water.
And this He said concerning the Spirit, which those believing in Him were about to receive, for the Set-apart Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet esteemed.
(Chazon 21:1-7 & 22:1-21)
And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more.
And I, Yoḥanan, saw the set-apart city, renewed Yerushalayim, coming down out of the heaven from Elohim, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the heaven saying, See, the Booth of Elohim is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself shall be with them and be their Elohim.
And Elohim shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying. And there shall be no more pain, for the former matters have passed away.
And He who was sitting on the throne said, See, I make all matters new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and trustworthy.
And He said to me, It is done! I am the Aleph’ and the Taw’, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I shall give of the fountain of the water of life without payment.
The one who overcomes shall inherit all this, and I shall be his Elohim and he shall be My son.
And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb.
In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And no longer shall there be any curse, and the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads.
And night shall be no more, and they shall have no need of a lamp or the light of the sun, because YHWH Elohim shall give them light. And they shall rule forever and ever.
And he said to me, These words are trustworthy and true. And YHWH Elohim of the set-apart prophets has sent His messenger to show His servants what has to take place with speed. See, I am coming speedily! Blessed is he who guards the words of the prophecy of this book.
And I, Yoḥanan, saw and heard these matters. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the messenger who showed me these matters.
And he said to me, See, do not! For I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who are guarding the words of this book. Worship Elohim.
And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. He who does wrong, let him do more wrong; he who is filthy, let him be more filthy; he who is righteous, let him be more righteous; he who is set-apart, let him be more set-apart. And see, I am coming speedily, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according to his work. I am the Aleph’ and the Taw’, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those doing His commands, so that the authority shall be theirs unto the tree of life, and to enter through the gates into the city. But outside are the dogs and those who enchant with drugs, and those who whore, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and all who love and do falsehood. I, Yeshua, have sent My messenger to witness to you these matters in the assemblies. I am the Root and the Offspring of Dawiḏ, the Bright and Morning Star.
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And he who hears, let him say, Come! And he who thirsts, come! And he who desires it, take the water of life without paying! For I witness to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, Elohim shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and out of the set-apart city, which are written in this Book. He that bears witness of these matters says, Yes, I am coming speedily. Aměn. Yes, come, Master Yeshua!
The favor of our Master Yeshua Messiah be with the set-apart ones. Aměn.
FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – B’REISHYTH:
In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.
And the earth came to be formless and empty, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of Elohim was moving on the face of the waters.
And Elohim said, “Y’hy Or” and light came to be.
And Elohim saw the light, that it was excellent. And Elohim separated the light from the darkness.
And Elohim called the light ‘day’ and the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, one day.
Shalom, friends,
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B'reishyth (Genesis 1:1-6:8) - Min Hazaqen Commentary
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New metal song about... Can you tell what it's about?
I am the Plan א
by Dr Garth Grenache
and his Uncanny Valley Orchestra
2025:10:14
https://youtube.com/shorts/LG4....DZ511s78?si=khIZH8q8
I am the plan
I am the man
Yah gave me clout
But some did doubt
I fought the beasts
Persia and Greece
Your prince did hold
We two were bold
The mystery
They knew not me
Pierced foot and hand
Yet I do stand
They look into
My life in you
And so they learn
I’m Wisdom true
Then they’ll arise
And war in skies
Dragón they’ll cast
Then he’ll be fast
Goyim he’ll lead
Against thy seed
Yerushalem
I’ll fight for them
Prevail I shall
And cast in hell
And all shall see
That Yah sent me
We’ll rule as one
I am the Son
I am the plan
I am the man
Tomorrow is actually the two year anniversary of the attack on Israel. The 8th day (of Sukkot) is called Shemini Atzaret. It's a day that marks the gateway between this world (the olam ha ze) and the world to come (the olam ha ba). Israel was attacked on that day and it is fitting the hostages were released today, so the reunion can happen on Shemini Atzaret. Praise YHVH in the Name of His Son Yeshua that this nightmare is over. Let's pray that this can be the beginning of a lasting peace so the Palestinians and the Israelis can learn the gospel, that the Son of God has come and will return in glory. That we look forward to the ultimate Shemini Atazaret when we enter eternity.
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