Why Did Yeshua, Abruptly

Closed the Book?

Behar:

        Once again tornados rumbled through the southeast this past weekend, killing twenty - three people, and leaving a path of destruction in it's wake. In light of this, I searched the news wires, looking for any news out of the Middle East that occurred that day, concerning Middle East's peace talks and found none.

           I say this, because every time, the United States does anything negative in regards to the state of Israel, the shoe drops so to speck. So, how can I explain this past weekend's weather?

        Well, these band of tornados more than likely weren't connected, with President Bush's foreign policy towards Israel. Though we all know that President Bush is currently pressuring Israel, to forfeit half of Jerusalem, to the Palestinians for a Palestinian State. Add to this fact, that foreign policy, isn't conducted through the media. So, who can say, given that President Bush is currently pressuring Israel that something shady, didn't happen this past Saturday, in regards to Israel.

       That said, the conflict in the Middle East is rooted in one nagging question, who owns the land? The Palestinians claim that it's their land saying, they have been occupying the land for centuries. They disregard the scriptures by stating, the Jewish people have not had a presence in the land, until recently. Consequently they say any claims to the land by the Jewish people, is ill founded. On the other hand the Jewish people, claim they have always had a presence in the land stating. David founded Jerusalem, centauries before the word Palestinian, was even introduced.

         So, who really owns the land? Well this week's torah portion, "behar, on Mount Sinai" {Lev 25:1 - 26:2 } answers this lingering question, once and for all. Because G-d's word states, "the land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me." Lev 25:23

       Back in my younger days, I used to do a bit of title work. I mention this fact, because one could view {Lev 25:23 } as a document of ownership, a deed. So, according to G-d's word, the land belongs to the Lord period, end of the debate!

         That said, often a deed may have some specific request, of the hair, or tenant. I alluded to this fact, because the Jewish people are tenants, because the Lord gave the land to them to possess, not own! {Num 33:53 }

        Back to specific request, of the tenant. The Lord as rightful owner, made known some of His specific requests of the children Israel in Lev 25 .

         Upon a closer look at {Lev 25:23 ,}one of the Lord's stipulation states, "the land can never be sold." Meaning the title can never be transferred, out of the Lord's name. Implying the tenants, the Israelites can't sell or give away, what is rightfully the Lord's.

        However Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert, at the urge of President Bush is currently doing just that. According to reports, not only is Olmert giving away the entire West Bank, he is giving away half of Jerusalem as well. This in spite of the fact, the Lord's stipulation states otherwise.

        Moving on in this week's torah portion, the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai saying, "speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD." Lev 25:2

         The Lord instructed the Israelites to keep the Sabbath holy, long before they entered into the Promise Land. Why is this meaningful? Well the Sabbath, was to be observe as a perpetual, {never - ending} covenant, throughout the generations. {Ex 31:6} No matter where His people maybe. How does this apply to the Gentiles?

          When you believed in Yeshua as your Lord and Savor. You become adapted sons, heirs of Abraham's. {Gal 3:7} Hebrews, making you, His chosen people. Thus, the Lord expect you as well, to observe this never - ending covenant no matter, where you live. Why?

       Well, in a society that doesn't observe the Sabbath, nor does it believe the Lord created the heavens and the earth. "The Sabbath is a sign between the Lord and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed." Ex 31:17

        That's why, when the Sabbath came, you could find Yeshua in a synagogue, teaching. {Luke 13:10 , 4:15} Because it was a sign that Yeshua and the Father, who are the One and the same, {John 10:30} created the heaven and the earth.

          Moses went on to say, "six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the LORD. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard."  Lev 25:3-4

          Just as we are commanded to work for six days, but on the seventh day, we are to rest. So, too, the Lord commanded the land of Israel, to be till for six years. However the seventh years, no plow should till the soil, it was to rest. This law is commonly referred to as "the shmi'tah year."

          For six years, they were to cultivate and till the soil, but the seventh years. The land was to lay to rest. Thus, one could view this law, as being a reminder, the Almighty made the heavens and the earth in six days and on the seventh day, He rested from His labor. Gen 2:3

              "Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove."  Ex 23:10-11

        Not only did the Lord command, the land be laid to rest on the seventh year. But any fruit or crop yielded by the land during the seventh year, wouldn't to be gathered ether, because the Lord appointed it for the poor, and the animals that tilled the soil. Lev 25:6 - 7

         So, unlike our welfare system that encourage laziness. If a person was to sorry, to gather the produce in the field, he wouldn't eat. Hence, the poor benefitted, from this law.

          That said, can you think of one of Yeshua's teaching that is thematically related to the shmi'tah year? Remember Yeshua said, "give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38

          Now preachers loves to allude to this verse in regards to tithing, but what they fail to discern, is this verse is thematically related, to the shmi'tah year? And here's how?

           If a farmer observed, the shmi'tah year. The Lord promised that the land would yield an abundant crop, the sixth year, to offset the shmi'tah year.{Lev 25:21} When the land was laid to rest.{ Lev 25:19} You could depict the abundant crop of the sixth year then, as being press down, shaken together, running over. In turn that's how {Luke 6:38}is thematically related to the shmi'tah year, which is found in the law. Yet, we are told, the law was done away with.

       According to the sages, "what happened to the fathers, will happen to the sons." Thus can you think of a passage in the book of Genius that is thematically related to the abundant crop of the sixth year ? Lev 25:21

          Remember after Pharaoh had revealed his dream to Joseph. Joseph intrepid his dream as being, seven years of an abundant harvest, followed by seven years of famine.

          So, the Lord promised a bumper crop so large that, it would sustain Egypt through the famine, for seven years. Making this passage related to the sixth year, in which He promised to do the same.

           Expounding on the fact the Israelites, weren't permitted to till the land the seventh year, or Shmi'tal year. {Lev 25:4} The logical question they would asked would be, what shall we eat the seventh year? {Lev 25:20} Can you think of an event we have already covered, that is thematically related to this question?

        Remember when the children of Israel complained, for not having any food in the wilderness?{Ex 16:2} The Lord provided them, with manna from heaven. In return they were instructed, to gather the manna for six days. Though, the Sabbath, is a day of rest. In turn they were instructed, to gather twice as munch on the sixth day, for the Sabbath. Ex 16:22

          In light of this Yeshua said, "most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." John 6:32-33

         By providing the Israelites with daily bread for six days and double the portion on the sixth day for the Sabbath. Which of the commandments is the Lord teaching? Not only was the Lord teaching them, the importance of observing the Sabbath. He is also teaching them, He is the source of "the bread of life." Why do I say this? Well Yeshua said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." John 6:41

             Before we leave the question, what we will eat the seventh year? It should be pointed out that the Lord poised this question, within the law.

          If you say, "what shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?" Lev 25:20

Why is this significant?

         Well can think of a parable of Yeshua's that is thematically related to this question, in the gospels? It's "consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?" {Luke 12:24 }

        As the Lord promised with the people; with food the Shmi'tah year. The Lord sustains the ravens. Further stressing the fact that Yeshua, is "the bread {source} of life."

       Spiritually specking, the sages depict human history as a seven-millennia week, consisting of 6,000 years of labor, leading into the millennium kingdom. I mention this fact, because "the shmi'tah year" embodies the millennium kingdom. When mankind will rest from his' labor.

        If you don't think, the Almighty views the Shmi'tah year as very important. {2 Chron.36:21} attests to the fact that the Babylonian captivity was the Lord's judgement on the Israelites, for failure in observing the Shmi'tah years.

          Moses then went on to say, "you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years.

Lev 25:8

        Simply put seven shmi'tah years, which equates to 49 years, usher in the year of Jubilee. The fiftieth year was called the "yoveil" which translated is "Jubilee."

        Though the twist is the Hebrew calendar, is based on lunar months. In turn when the Temple was standing, the Sanhedrin was in charge of counting the years to ensure its accuracy.

        That said, the arrival of the year of Jubilee, was to be proclaimed by the blast of the shofar, {ram's horn} which was at the beginning of the 49^th year. {Lev 25:8 - 9 , Num 35:4 } During the year of Jubilee, slaves that were shackled, were set free. {Lev 25:17 } Possessions which were lost, were return to the debuted. {Lev 25:14 } Then like "the shmi'tah year" during the year of Jubilee, the land was laid to rest, no plowing or harvesting. Lev 25:11

         Lets revisit the fact that the Almighty instructed, the year of Jubilee, was to be proclaim by a blast of a ram's horn. Can you think of a passage that is thematically related to {Lev 25:10 } which state, a blast of a shofar announced the arrival of the year of Jubilee?

         Remember when Isaac had freely submitted, and was laying bound on the alter. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "here I am." {Gen 22:10-11 } Then the angel stated, "do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld our son, your only son, from Me." Gen 22:12

       Then scriptures state Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram , and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. {Gen 22:13 }

        Now that I have briefly touched on Abraham, binding of Isaac. Lets see how this event, is thematically related to {Lev 25:10 } and the blast of the shofar, heralding in the year of Jubilee.

           Though it should be noted once again that a shofar, was made from a ram's horn. That said, note the ram in {Gen 22:13} seemly appeared out of nowhere, caught in the thicket. I'm tempted to explain to you why, the ram appeared out of no where, but I won't. I will say, it's relates to Yeshua.

         The fact that the ram's horns, were entangled in the thicket, is noteworthy. Because of this fact, the ram in is thematically related to {Lev 25:10 .} However wait, because there's even more!

        Remember during the year of Jubilee, the servants were set free. {Lev 25:40 } That said, remember when Abraham spotted the ram, caught in the thicket. I presume he then turned and set Isaac free.

Thus, as the blowing of the shofar, led to the servants' freedom. The ram caught in the thicket by his horns, led to Isaac's freedom. In turn the ram's horn, shofar foreshadow Yeshua, who came to set the captives free.{Isa 61:1 } But wait, there's still more!

            Yeshua stated, "if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me." {John 5:46 } With that said, Moses wrote the first five books in the bible, which includes the law, in which several people states, are done away with. Though, if the law was done away with. Then why, do women still suffer through birth pains? Gen 3:15

         Returning to my point, if Moses wrote the law, then according to Yeshua. Moses wrote of Him, right? So, what event in the gospels, is thematically related to the ram, being caught in the thicket?

           After the Roman solder had scourged Yeshua. They then proceeded to place a "crown of thorns," on Yeshua's head. {Matt 27:29 , John 19:2 } Making "the crown of thorns," thematically related to the ram, caught in the thicket. Which is thematically related to the law.

          Do you see how it all fit, like a jigsaw puzzle. If you take away the law, then you thrown away a vital piece of the puzzle that pictures yeshua.

          In closing what passage in the gospels is thematically related, to the Jubilee year? Well Yeshua returned to Nazareth, where He was raised. And "as was His custom, went to the synagogue on a Sabbath" {Saturday.} Once there He stood up and read, "the Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4: 16 - 21

          It should be noted, Yeshua's statement is clearly thematically related, to the Jubilee year. So, Yeshua's statement, was a reference to the law.

         Yeshua in reeding, read from the following passage. The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound. {Isa 61:1 } You should bear this fact in mind, because we will return to it later.

        Though, remember during the Jubilee year, all of the servants were set free. {Lev 25:40 } In light of this, what phase in this passage is related to the Jubilee year? It's "to proclaim liberty to the captives." Yet, we are told, Yeshua done away with the law. When in fact He was teaching the law.

       Moving on Yeshua stated, "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." {John 8:32 } Why is Yeshua's statement meaningful?

       Well just as the servants were set free from bondage, during the year of Jubilee. Yeshua came to set us free, from the bondage of sin. Why do I say this? Yeshua went on to state, "therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36-37

          Remember after John baptized Yeshua, "the spirit descended on Him." {John 1:32} Why is this significant? Well the spirit of the Lord came on Yeshua, to preach to the poor, to heal the broken hearted and to set the captives free. Which is what the prophet Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would do, upon His coming in Isa 61:1

          However Isaiah went on to state Yeshua would, "proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn." {Isa 61:2 } Although, upon the reading the first verse, Yeshua abruptly closed the book, then sat down. Why didn't He read the second verse?

           When Yeshua came, He preached to the poor, healed the broken hearted and to set the captives free from sin. That said, it should be pointed out "the day of vengeance," is "a day of wrath" which is in the future.{Zeph 1:15} I mention this fact, because the reason why, Yeshua didn't read {Isa. 61:2} He didn't come, to fulfill this portion. Because again "the day of vengeance," is a day of wrath," that will be fulfilled, during His second coming. How do I know?

           When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "how long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Rev 6:9-10

Explaining why, Yeshua after reading {Isa 61:1 } abruptly closed the scroll, then sat down.

A footnote: For those who I met on Pal talk, I was force into downloading the newest version. However I'm not the brightest person in the world, because I forgot my password. Which entailed me, signing on under a new nickname, it's "torah teacher." With that I said,

        May the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you. May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." Num 6:22- 26

                He is my defense; I shall not be moved. Ps 62:2