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Is God’s Law A Burden? (Part 4 of 4)

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This post is the last in a four-part series about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God. Read and digest all that it claims about the Law of God and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? or does it describe it as quite different than that? Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 119:137-176

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Tsadhe.

     137Righteous are You, O LORD,
And upright are Your judgments.

      138You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness
And exceeding faithfulness.

      139My zeal has consumed me,
Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.

      140Your word is very pure,
Therefore Your servant loves it.

      141I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.

      142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.

      143Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight.

      144Your testimonies are righteous forever;
Give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph.

     145I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!
I will observe Your statutes.

      146I cried to You; save me
And I shall keep Your testimonies.

      147I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I wait for Your words.

      148My eyes anticipate the night watches,
That I may meditate on Your word.

      149Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your ordinances.

      150Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
They are far from Your law.

      151You are near, O LORD,
And all Your commandments are truth.

      152Of old I have known from Your testimonies
That You have founded them forever.

Resh.

     153Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
For I do not forget Your law.

      154Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word.

      155Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Your statutes.

      156Great are Your mercies, O LORD;
Revive me according to Your ordinances.

      157Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.

      158I behold the treacherous and loathe them,
Because they do not keep Your word.

      159Consider how I love Your precepts;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness.

      160The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

Shin.

     161Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your words.

      162I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil.

      163I hate and despise falsehood,
But I love Your law.

      164Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

      165Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.

      166I hope for Your salvation, O LORD,
And do Your commandments.

      167My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.

      168I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.

Tav.

     169Let my cry come before You, O LORD;
Give me understanding according to Your word.

      170Let my supplication come before You;
Deliver me according to Your word.

      171Let my lips utter praise,
For You teach me Your statutes.

      172Let my tongue sing of Your word,
For all Your commandments are righteousness.

      173Let Your hand be ready to help me,
For I have chosen Your precepts.

      174I long for Your salvation, O LORD,
And Your law is my delight.

      175Let my soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your ordinances help me.

      176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

Just to reflect on a few of the things God’s word says about the law in today’s scripture: Your word is very pure and therefore your servant loves it, Your law is truth, Your commandments are my delight, I will observe Your statutes, I meditate on Your precepts, the wicked are far from Your law, revive me according to Your ordinances,  every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting, I love Your law, I praise You because of Your ordinances, those who love Your law have great peace and do not stumble, all Your commandments are righteousness, Your law is my delight, Your ordinances help me

None of this sounds like the description of a burden, or something I can’t wait to get rid of, which is how many Christians describe or talk about following the law. It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more… both in their original context and about how they still apply to my life today. Psalm 119, if we let it, can really be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us to know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously, to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some of the elements of the law (e.g., ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified, while there is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught just because we can’t do it perfectly? If we do, what then will be our standard?

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Peace / Rest, Sabbath / Rest, Traditions / Holidays

Rest Is an Act of Faith (Exodus 16:22-36)

Do you trust God enough to stop working for one day each week?

Key Verse:
“See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day.” —Exodus 16:29 NASB

Background Context:
In Exodus 16:1–21, God responded to Israel’s complaints by providing manna from heaven. Each day the people gathered exactly what they needed, learning to depend upon God for their daily provision.

Now in Exodus 16:22–36, God introduces another lesson. He instructs the people to gather twice as much manna on the sixth day and to rest on the seventh. In doing so, God teaches His people that trusting Him includes not only working when He says work, but also resting when He says rest.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 16:22-36

The Sabbath Observed

      22Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26“Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.”

      27It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions? 29“See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30So the people rested on the seventh day.

      31The house of Israel named it manna, and it was like coriander seed, white, and its taste was like wafers with honey. 32Then Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded, ‘Let an omerful of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread that I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omerful of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations.” 34As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the Testimony, to be kept. 35The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36(Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.)

Reflection on Exodus 16:22–36:

One of the most important things to understand about the Sabbath is that it did not begin at Mount Sinai. It did not originate with Moses or with the nation of Israel. The Sabbath traces all the way back to creation itself. Genesis 2:2–3 tells us that after completing His work, God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and sanctified it. God certainly did not need rest, but He established a pattern for mankind and set apart the seventh day as something holy and special.

As Israel traveled through the wilderness, God intentionally taught them to honor what He had established from the beginning. Before He ever spoke the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, He was already teaching His people about the Sabbath. This is significant because it shows that the Sabbath was not merely an afterthought or a temporary provision. God wanted His people to learn to trust Him, and one of the ways He taught that lesson was through rest.

The Israelites had spent generations as slaves in Egypt. Slaves do not determine their own schedules. Slaves work when they are told to work, and their value is often measured by their productivity. God was teaching His people a different way of life. They were no longer Pharaoh’s servants. They belonged to Him.

For six days they were to gather manna. On the sixth day they were to gather twice as much. Then on the seventh day they were to rest. The lesson was simple but profound: God would provide enough. They did not need to gather manna on the Sabbath because God had already supplied what they needed. Observing the Sabbath therefore became an act of trust. Would they believe that God had truly provided enough? Would they trust Him enough to stop working?

Some did not. Despite God’s clear instructions, some people went out on the seventh day looking for manna and found none. The Lord responded by asking, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions?” The issue was not simply collecting food. The issue was whether the people trusted God’s provision and were willing to obey His instruction.

This same principle remains relevant today. Many people struggle with rest because they fear falling behind. We convince ourselves that there is too much to do, too much responsibility, or too many demands on our time. Yet the Sabbath reminds us that our security does not come from endless effort. It comes from God. The Israelites could gather manna seven days a week if they wanted, but if God did not provide it, their efforts would accomplish nothing.

Centuries later, Yeshua reinforced God’s purpose for the Sabbath when He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). God did not create the Sabbath because He needed something from us. He created it because we need it. We need time to rest, time to worship, time to focus on our relationship with Him, and time to invest in our families and the things that truly matter.

Some claim that the Sabbath is no longer relevant, yet we find Yeshua regularly observing it. Luke 4:16 tells us that it was His custom to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath. We likewise see the apostles continuing to gather, teach, and worship on the Sabbath throughout the book of Acts. Whatever traditions may have developed over the centuries, the Scriptures consistently present the Sabbath as a blessing rather than a burden.

Perhaps the greatest lesson of Exodus 16 is that Sabbath requires faith. It requires us to acknowledge that God can accomplish more through our obedience than we can accomplish through our striving. The same God who provided enough manna on the sixth day is the God who continues to provide for His people today. When we rest according to His design, we declare our trust in Him as our provider.

The Sabbath is not ultimately about what we stop doing. It is about remembering who God is. It is a weekly reminder that the Creator still reigns, that He is faithful to provide, and that we can trust Him completely.

Application:

  • Remember that God established the Sabbath at creation, long before Sinai.
  • Trust God’s provision enough to set aside regular time for rest and worship.
  • View the Sabbath as a gift from God rather than a burden.
  • Spend time studying what Scripture teaches about God’s purpose for the Sabbath.
  • Use times of rest to strengthen your relationship with God and your family.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for creating the Sabbath as a gift and blessing for Your people. Help me to trust You enough to rest and to remember that You are my provider. Teach me to embrace the rhythms You established from the beginning and to find joy in spending dedicated time with You. Strengthen my faith to trust Your provision rather than relying solely on my own efforts. Thank You for Your faithfulness and care. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Guide, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Psalms

Is God’s Law A Burden? (Psalm 119, Part 3 of 4)

This post is the third in a series of 4 about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God.

Read and digest all that it claims about the Law of God, and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? Or does it describe it as quite different than that?

Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 119:89-136

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Lamedh.

89Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.

      90Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands.

      91They stand this day according to Your ordinances,
For all things are Your servants.

      92If Your law had not been my delight,
Then I would have perished in my affliction.

      93I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have revived me.

      94I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.

      95The wicked wait for me to destroy me;
I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.

      96I have seen a limit to all perfection;
Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem.

      97O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

      98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.

      99I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.

      100I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.

      101I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.

      102I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.

      103How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

      104From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Nun.

     105Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

      106I have sworn and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.

      107I am exceedingly afflicted;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word.

      108O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
And teach me Your ordinances.

      109My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your law.

      110The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.

      111I have inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the joy of my heart.

      112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even to the end.

Samekh.

     113I hate those who are double-minded,
But I love Your law.

      114You are my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Your word.

      115Depart from me, evildoers,
That I may observe the commandments of my God.

      116Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.

      117Uphold me that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Your statutes continually.

      118You have rejected all those who wander from Your statutes,
For their deceitfulness is useless.

      119You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Your testimonies.

      120My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.

Ayin.

     121I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.

      122Be surety for Your servant for good;
Do not let the arrogant oppress me.

      123My eyes fail with longing for Your salvation
And for Your righteous word.

      124Deal with Your servant according to Your lovingkindness
And teach me Your statutes.

      125I am Your servant; give me understanding,
That I may know Your testimonies.

      126It is time for the LORD to act,
For they have broken Your law.

      127Therefore I love Your commandments
Above gold, yes, above fine gold.

      128Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything,
I hate every false way.

Pe.

     129Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul observes them.

      130The unfolding of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.

      131I opened my mouth wide and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.

      132Turn to me and be gracious to me,
After Your manner with those who love Your name.

      133Establish my footsteps in Your word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

      134Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.

      135Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.

      136My eyes shed streams of water,
Because they do not keep Your law.

Reflecting on a few things God’s word says about the law in today’s scripture: forever you word is settled in heaven, I would have perished if Your law had not been my delight, You have revived me by Your precepts, oh how I love Your law!, Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, Your words are sweeter than honey, Your word is a lamp unto my feet, teach me Your statutes, give me understanding, I love Your commandments above gold, I esteem all Your precepts, the unfolding of Your word brings light and gives understanding to the simple, I longed for Your commandments

None of this sounds like the description of a burden, or something I can’t wait to get rid of, which is how many Christians describe or talk about following the law. It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more… both in their original context and with regard to how they still apply to my life today.

Psalm 119, if we let it, can really be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us to know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously, to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some of the elements of the law (e.g., ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified, while there is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught just because we can’t do it perfectly?

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Psalms, Submitted / Servant

Is God’s Law A Burden? (Psalm 119, Part 2 of 4)

This post is the second in a series of 4 about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It was written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God.

Read and digest all that it claims about the Law of God and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? or does it describe it as quite different than that?

Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 119:41-88

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Vav.

     41May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD,
Your salvation according to Your word;

      42So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Your word.

      43And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I wait for Your ordinances.

      44So I will keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.

      45And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.

      46I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings
And shall not be ashamed.

      47I shall delight in Your commandments,
Which I love.

      48And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments,
Which I love;
And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Zayin.

49Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.

      50This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.

      51The arrogant utterly deride me,
Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

      52I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O LORD,
And comfort myself.

      53Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
Who forsake Your law.

      54Your statutes are my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.

      55O LORD, I remember Your name in the night,
And keep Your law.

      56This has become mine,
That I observe Your precepts.

Heth.

57The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.

      58I sought Your favor with all my heart;
Be gracious to me according to Your word.

      59I considered my ways
And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

      60I hastened and did not delay
To keep Your commandments.

      61The cords of the wicked have encircled me,
But I have not forgotten Your law.

      62At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You
Because of Your righteous ordinances.

      63I am a companion of all those who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.

      64The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

Teth.

65You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD, according to Your word.

      66Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.

      67Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.

      68You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.

      69The arrogant have forged a lie against me;
With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.

      70Their heart is covered with fat,
But I delight in Your law.

      71It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

      72The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh.

     73Your hands made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

      74May those who fear You see me and be glad,
Because I wait for Your word.

      75I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

      76O may Your lovingkindness comfort me,
According to Your word to Your servant.

      77May Your compassion come to me that I may live,
For Your law is my delight.

      78May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie;
But I shall meditate on Your precepts.

      79May those who fear You turn to me,
Even those who know Your testimonies.

      80May my heart be blameless in Your statutes,
So that I will not be ashamed.

Kaph.

     81My soul languishes for Your salvation;
I wait for Your word.

      82My eyes fail with longing for Your word,
While I say, “When will You comfort me?”

      83Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget Your statutes.

      84How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?

      85The arrogant have dug pits for me,
Men who are not in accord with Your law.

      86All Your commandments are faithful;
They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!

      87They almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.

      88Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.

Just to reflect on a few of the things God’s word says about the law: I trust in Your word, I will keep Your law continually forever and ever, I will walk at liberty because I seek Your precepts, I shall delight in Your commandments which I love, I will lift up my hands to Your commandments which I love, I have remembered Your ordinances and comfort myself, Your statutes are my songs, I shall give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances,  the earth if full of Your lovingkindness teach me Your statutes, I delight in Your law, and better than gold and silver.

None of this sounds like the description of a burden, or something I can’t wait to get rid of, which is how many Christians describe or talk about following the law. It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more… both in their original context and with regards to how they still apply to my life today. Psalm 119, if we let it, can really be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us to know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some of the elements of the law (e.g. ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified while there is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught just because we can’t do it perfectly?

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Psalms

Is God’s Law A Burden? (Psalm 119, Part 1 of 4)

This post is the first of a series of 4 about Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is written originally in Hebrew in a literary style that begins with one section after another, each with the next letter of the aleph-bet (Hebrew alphabet). It is beautiful and passionate. It focuses on the law of God. Read and digest all that it claims about the law of God, and then ask yourself, does it describe the law as burdensome? difficult? harsh? Or does it describe it as quite different than that?

Does it make sense that the Christian church has completely turned its back on the law of God? Even today, the church continues to turn its back further and further on even the last remaining of the 10 commandments. Some pastors now even want to define God’s instruction to “love each other”. Let us explore what scripture says rather than what others may teach that it says.

Put aside what you think you know about the law from those who do not understand it and listen to how it is described by one who understood it well and loved our heavenly Father very deeply. Don’t worry for now about what the full content of “the law” is, but instead let us just try to understand better if scripture reveals it to be burdensome or something else.

Perhaps we start with what Yeshua said about the law and then proceed to the first part of Psalm 119. All of the law is based on loving God and loving others. The law shall not pass away before heaven and earth pass away.

Matthew 22:34-40

  34But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38“This is the great and foremost commandment. 39“The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40“On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Yeshua also clearly stated that He did not come to abolish the law and that heaven and earth shall pass away before the law. He emphasized that we are not to annul even the least of these commandments.

Matthew 5:17-19

  17“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19“Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

With this in mind, that Yeshua said the law is not abolished nor does any of it pass away until heaven and earth pass away, and that the law is based on loving God and loving one another, let us read through and try to fully digest what else His word says about the law in Psalm 119. Due to the length of this Psalm, and the fact that I want you to be able to reflect meaningfully on the content, I will break it up into a series of posts. Obviously, you can read the whole thing by clicking the embedded link to Psalm 119 below.

Psalm 119:1-40

Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.

Aleph.

     1How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the LORD.

      2How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.

      3They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.

      4You have ordained Your precepts,
That we should keep them diligently.

      5Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!

      6Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look upon all Your commandments.

      7I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.

      8I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!

Beth.

     9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.

      10With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

      11Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

      12Blessed are You, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

      13With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

      14I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

      15I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.

      16I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

Gimel.

     17Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.

      18Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.

      19I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.

      20My soul is crushed with longing
After Your ordinances at all times.

      21You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,
Who wander from Your commandments.

      22Take away reproach and contempt from me,
For I observe Your testimonies.

      23Even though princes sit and talk against me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

      24Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.

Daleth.

    25My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.

      26I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.

      27Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.

      28My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.

      29Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your law.

      30I have chosen the faithful way;
I have placed Your ordinances before me.

      31I cling to Your testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!

      32I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will enlarge my heart.

He.

     33Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end.

      34Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart.

      35Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

      36Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain.

      37Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Your ways.

      38Establish Your word to Your servant,
As that which produces reverence for You.

      39Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Your ordinances are good.

      40Behold, I long for Your precepts;
Revive me through Your righteousness.

To reflect on a few of the things God’s word says about the law… you could add quite a few more even from this first section of Psalm 119: righteous, blessed, do not be ashamed, teaches me, meditate on it, do not forget it, do not go astray from it, keep statutes, pure, treasured, rejoice, delight…

The law sounds wonderful as described here. It is not a burden from which we need to be set free, as so many teach today. If it were, would not Yeshua have said so? Yeshua would have told us the law was abolished or obsolete. The law described here is something which helps us, something in which we can rejoice and delight, something we can treasure. It is not followed out of obligation or for salvation any more than obeying any other instructions of Yeshua.

It sounds like a beautiful set of instructions from the Lord, which I want to understand more, both in their original context and with regard to how they still apply to my life today. Psalm 119, if we let it, can be a testimony for the law of God as a wonderful gift and guide that helps us know how God thinks we should live and what He values. Obviously, to fully understand the depths of what is in the law and how it may still apply, we need to study the Torah (1st 5 books of the Bible).  Some elements of the law (e.g., ceremonial law) can no longer be carried out as God specified. There is no temple and no Levitical priesthood, but that should not discourage us from understanding and following God’s law as much as we can. Should we walk away from doing as Christ taught and demonstrated just because we can’t do it perfectly? Is that how we would teach our children to approach our guidance to them?

For many, this is difficult to consider, as it contradicts so much of what is taught in churches today. However, we must decide what is the unchanging record of God’s instruction… the Bible or the word of man?  We can be sure that Yeshua referred to the scriptures as the source of truth for the law of God, not the laws of the Pharisees.

The Torah is a great place to start for any Christian, many of whom have been taught to really focus only on the New Testament. Spoiler alert… if the New Testament is the building, the Old Testament is the foundation that holds it up. They are not contradictory, but rather complementary.

Pray with me that our Creator and Father would open our eyes, and the eyes of His followers around the world, that we may behold wonderful things from His law. Give us understanding, that we may observe His law and keep it with all our heart.

To learn more:

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Peace / Rest, Sabbath / Rest, Traditions / Holidays

Remember the Sabbath

Sabbath can be a very interesting topic to study within the Bible. YHWH had a lot to say to his people about the Sabbath. In fact, a seventh-day rest is recorded from the beginning, with the example of YHWH as he completed creation. We can also perhaps see where Sabbath rest foreshadows the rest we find in Yeshua as Messiah, for it is through him and his death and resurrection that we are saved. We need not try to be made righteous through our works, though our works should still be righteous. We can also see the foreshadowing of the rest we find when we die and go to be with the LORD, and also when the LORD returns and begins his millennial reign on Earth. Further, the Sabbath is a part of the holy days of YHWH set out in Leviticus 23 and was intended to be part of our relationship with him, and was intended to help us.

Sabbath is rich in meaning, but unfortunately, today most Christians act as if Sabbath is obsolete and has no meaning. I have seen it disappear in my lifetime. Where businesses were shut down for the Sabbath in the past, albeit on Sunday, now most are open. People no longer rest but rather remain very busy on basically every day of the week. People go about their agenda in their own way. They have lost the Sabbath.

My family and I rediscovered the Sabbath in recent years and have started setting it aside as a day of rest. It is a significant change and may even seem inconvenient at times as you adjust, but it is genuinely worthwhile to pursue. It is important to YHWH, and he created it for our benefit rather than his own.

We can, and perhaps should, have a robust discussion about how to celebrate Sabbath today, but let us take time today to simply review some of what YHWH has said and demonstrated about Sabbath. Once we help to establish its importance, I encourage each of you to continue studying Sabbath and seeking to begin living it in your own lives. Keep growing and learning on this subject. There is much that has been lost for which we should endeavor to recover.

A good and simple place to start as you read through scripture is to recognize that the main theme is that his people should not work and should not cause others to work on the Sabbath. It is to be kept as a sign of our covenant with him, and he created it for us. Interestingly, I can not find instructions specifically to go to synagogue or temple (or church) on the Sabbath day; however, it was clearly an accepted custom that even Yeshua demonstrated.

YHWH set an example for us from the very beginning as part of creation to observe a day of rest on the seventh day, after our work has been done.

Gen 2:1-2       1Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

Did YHWH say anything about when his people should stop celebrating the Sabbath?

Exod 31:16-27 16‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

YHWH gave guidance to his people to work in the first six days and rest on the seventh, which is consistent with his example during creation. (The seventh day would be Saturday by our current calendar.) He also instructed us not to cause others to work.

Exod 20:8-22    8“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

Leviticus 23:3    3‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.

YHWH intended us to recognize Sabbath even during pressure to get work done or accomplish an important task (like handling Yeshua’s body after he was crucified).

Exod 34:21    21“You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.

Luke 23:54-56     54It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

YHWH intended the rest to be more than just not doing the work for which we get paid. One can have quite an engaging dialogue in defining “work”, recognizing that some of the literal activity which YHWH specifically called out in scripture could arguably not really feel like work in today’s environment/technology. (e.g., lighting a fire, etc.) He also specified not buying things offered for sale on the Sabbath

Nehemiah 10:31 31As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

When does Sabbath begin?

Leviticus 23:32 32“It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”

This would be consistent with the Hebrew calendar observed by God’s people in Biblical times, where a day started with sundown and ended with sundown. In today’s calendar, this would be Friday night at sundown through Saturday night at sundown. (Learn more at Hebrew4Christians.com or 119Ministries.com.)

Is Sabbath casual or important to YHWH? You can probably already tell it is important based on how much YHWH had to say about it to his people and the fact that he set the example during creation.

Exod 20:8    8“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

Ezekiel 20:20 20‘Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

Deuteronomy 5:12    12‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.

Exodus 31:13      12The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14‘Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Tell the Israelites, “Surely you must observe my Sabbaths, for this will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

Why is the Sabbath important to YHWH?

Exod 31:17 17“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

What example did Yeshua set for proper observance of the Sabbath?

Luke 4:16  16And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

Matthew 12:9-15

      9Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 10And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. 11And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12“How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. 14But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

      15But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all,

John 9:13-14   13They brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 14Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

Mark 2:23-28       23And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads of grain. 24The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; 26how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” 27Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28“So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

In order to make the Sabbath day a day of physical rest, we must prepare ahead of time. The sixth day was referred to as the day of preparation.

Exodus 16:5 5“On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Exodus 16:22-26       22Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26“Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none.”

Mark 15:42-43   42When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

Luke 23:54-56     54It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

For whose benefit is the Sabbath? Man or God?

Mark 2:27   27Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

We should prayerfully reflect on what the Lord has to say about the Sabbath and how we should observe it still today. Invest time to continue studying and begin trying to adjust your lifestyle to incorporate Sabbath. Don’t be overwhelmed trying to “get it all right” and do so overnight. Instead, allow yourself to learn and apply, and then continue to learn more and apply that, and so on.

I am convinced the Lord is pleased when his people pursue living according to his instruction by pursuing something in our lives as important as the Sabbath.

Some additional resources to consider:

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to embrace Your concept of Sabbath joyfully. Give me the courage to turn away from the world’s ways and toward Yours. Thank You for creating Sabbath for us! Amen. 

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Revelation, Through Prophets

The Law and the Prophets Still Testify (Revelation 11:1-14)

Have you ever noticed how often the Bible points back to the same message through different people, generations, and covenants?

Key Verse:
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” —Matthew 5:17 NASB

Background Context:
In Revelation 11:1–14, John describes the ministry of the two witnesses who proclaim God’s message before being killed and ultimately raised by God.

Many interpretations exist regarding the identity of these witnesses. Some understand them as two future individuals. Others see symbolic significance in their ministry. One perspective explored by Bill Cloud in his four-part teaching series on the two witnesses through Shoreshim Ministries is that Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets—two foundational witnesses that have testified to God’s truth throughout Scripture.

Whether one ultimately agrees with every aspect of that interpretation or not, the connection between Moses, Elijah, the Law, the Prophets, and the testimony of Messiah provides a rich opportunity for study and reflection.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 11:1-14

The Two Witnesses

      1Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2“Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. 3“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

      7When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

      11But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

      14The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

Reflection on Revelation 11:1–14:
One of the most fascinating aspects of Scripture is how often God repeats His message through multiple witnesses.

Throughout the Bible, God consistently establishes truth through testimony.

In Revelation 11, we encounter two witnesses who proclaim God’s message to the world.

Many believers immediately ask:

“Who are they?”

While that is a worthwhile question, another important question is:

“What do they represent?”

Moses and Elijah are frequently associated with this passage because their ministries share striking similarities with the works performed by the witnesses. But beyond the miracles, they also represent something larger.

Moses is commonly associated with the Law.

Elijah is commonly associated with the Prophets.

Together they represent the testimony of God’s Word.

This pattern appears repeatedly throughout Scripture.

When Yeshua was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, Moses and Elijah appeared with Him (Matthew 17:1–8). This was not random.

The Law and the Prophets were bearing witness to the Messiah.

Yeshua Himself repeatedly emphasized this connection.

In Matthew 5:17, He declared that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.

In Luke 24:27, after His resurrection, He explained how the Scriptures testified concerning Him.

Again and again, Scripture presents a unified testimony.

The Law points to Him.
The Prophets point to Him.
The Gospel reveals Him.

This is one reason Revelation 11 is so powerful.

Whether the two witnesses are understood solely as future individuals or also as representing God’s ongoing testimony through the Law and the Prophets, the central message remains the same:

God has never been without a witness.

From Moses.
To Elijah.
To the prophets.
To John the Baptist.
To the apostles.
To believers today.

God continues to testify concerning:

  • His holiness
  • His truth
  • His call to repentance
  • and His Messiah

Another beautiful theme emerges when we consider the Law and the Prophets together.

Many people attempt to separate what God has joined.

Some focus on truth while neglecting faith.

Others focus on faith while neglecting God’s instruction.

Yet throughout Scripture, God presents a unified message.

The Law reveals His character and standards.

The Prophets call people back to faithfulness.

Messiah fulfills and perfectly embodies both.

The testimony is not divided.

It is united.

This is why studying Scripture deeply matters.

Difficult passages like Revelation 11 should encourage us to dig deeper, compare Scripture with Scripture, and seek to understand how God has woven together one consistent story from Genesis to Revelation.

The more we study, the more we see that the Bible is not a collection of disconnected books.

It is one testimony pointing to one God and one Messiah.

And that testimony continues today.

As followers of Yeshua, we are called to join that witness—not merely knowing God’s truth, but living it and proclaiming it faithfully.

Application:

  • Study Scripture as one unified narrative that points to the Messiah.
  • Look for how the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel work together rather than against one another.
  • Develop the habit of digging deeper into difficult passages instead of avoiding them.
  • Remember that God has consistently provided witnesses to His truth throughout history.
  • Commit to being a faithful witness of God’s truth in your own generation.

For additional study, consider Shoreshim Ministries’ four part series about the two witnesses.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for the consistent testimony You have given throughout Your Word. Help me to study diligently and to see how the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel all point to Your truth and to Messiah. Give me wisdom as I seek to understand difficult passages and strengthen me to be a faithful witness in my own generation. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Sabbath / Rest, Seeking God, Traditions / Holidays

The Deep Roots and Rich Significance of Pentecost

Pentecost is not just a date on the Christian calendar—it’s a celebration of the moment the Holy Spirit made a transformative entry into the lives of the early believers.

Beyond its historical significance, Pentecost connects deeply with the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot, a time celebrated by our Jewish forebears to mark the wheat harvest and traditionally, the giving of the Torah at Sinai. This dual significance enriches our understanding and invites us to explore how ancient traditions illuminate our modern faith experiences.

Body: Pentecost and Its Biblical Roots:
Acts 2 captures the dramatic arrival of the Holy Spirit, a pivotal moment that transformed ordinary followers of Christ into powerful witnesses of His gospel. This event is not just a miraculous narrative; it’s a fulfillment of a promise and a continuation of a legacy that began with the observance of the Feast of Weeks.

Connecting Old and New Testaments:
The Feast of Weeks, celebrated seven weeks after Passover, was originally a harvest festival but also came to be associated with the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. Similarly, Pentecost, falling 50 days post-Resurrection, marks not only the indwelling of the Holy Spirit but also a new kind of harvest—a harvest of souls and the spread of God’s word across nations.

The Cultural and Scriptural Significance:
As recorded in Leviticus Leviticus 23:15-21, Leviticus 34:22-24, and Numbers 28:26-31, the Feast of Weeks was a time of offering and holiness, a theme that transcends into the celebration of Pentecost with the offerings of the early church’s first fruits in faith and community. The scriptural mandate for a holy convocation and cessation from labor mirrors our call to reflect, celebrate, and revere this holy day.

Contemporary Observance and Application:
Today, as we embrace Pentecost, it’s crucial to reflect not only on the historical and spiritual implications but also on the personal call to each believer. The Holy Spirit’s descent is a reminder of our empowerment to live out the gospel, to be active participants in the ministry of reconciliation, and to foster a community bound by love and driven by divine purpose.

Call to Action:

  1. Reflect and Pray: Spend time in Acts 2 and the related Old Testament scriptures. Ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding and connection to this historic and spiritual event.
  2. Celebrate Thoughtfully: Observe Pentecost as a day of spiritual renewal and commitment. Consider how you can incorporate elements of both the Feast of Weeks and Pentecost in your personal and communal worship.
  3. Study and Share: Dive deeper into the significance of the Feast of Weeks and its New Testament fulfillment. Share these insights with your community to enrich your collective appreciation and celebration of Pentecost.
  4. Live Empowered: Let the reality of the Holy Spirit’s dwelling within you inspire you to live boldly and lovingly as a witness of Christ’s love and power.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we remember Pentecost, we thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, who empowers, guides, and transforms us. Help us to hold sacred the deep roots of this day, drawing from the rich history of Your workings among Your people. May we live out the truths of Your Word with passion and integrity, continually seeking Your wisdom and spreading Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Learn More: You can study more about the creators calendar using sites like Hebrew4Christians.com, MessianicLight.com, or Psalm119Ministries (select Time: Our Creators Calendar to see collection of videos available). You can learn about what the scripture says about these holy days, when they occur, why God told us to celebrate Shavuot, and traditions.

There is some debate amongst different sources as to the date of the Passover and thus Shavuot/Pentecost each year. Don’t let this discourage you from getting started celebrating and studying God’s holy days.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Hope, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Seeking God, Teachable, Traditions / Holidays

A Call to Gratitude and Action (Resurrection and First Fruits)

When we devote time to prayer and study of YHWH’s word and ask him to show us the full depth of his word, the Spirit often does just that. We must be willing to let go of traditions of men that we have learned and seek out the traditions of YHWH. I have previously written about my transition away from celebrating Easter in the tradition of the church and culture of today, which includes a number of pagan influences, towards celebrating Passover, which aligns with reinforcing our relationship with YHWH as he previously instructed his people to celebrate. To state the obvious, Yeshua celebrated Passover and I will follow Him.

Without getting into full study here, I do not take this to mean that we perform animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10), but rather seek to celebrate or memorialize Passover by remembering how YHWH led his people out of slavery in Egypt by his might and power. Now, we also have more reason to celebrate Passover as Yeshua was sacrificed during Passover as our Passover lamb, setting us free from slavery to sin and death. We have much reason to celebrate indeed!

As we look to his resurrection, study indicates that it actually took place during the Biblical celebration of first fruits. Once again, YHWH shows that he will use his holy appointed days to reinforce and amplify the meaning of his relationship with his people.

I have included a brief article from Ligonier Ministries about First Fruits and resurrection below.

“You shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statue forever throughout your generations” (v. 14). – Leviticus 23:9–22

Passover was not the only spring festival celebrated under the covenant, for the Israelites also commemorated the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. The Feast of Firstfruits actually took place during the week-long Passover celebration (Lev. 23:4–8), on the first day after the Sabbath that occurred in the midst of the week (vv. 9–11). Pentecost occurred fifty days after that Sabbath (vv. 15–16) and marked the culmination of what started at the Feast of Firstfruits.

As its name indicates, the Feast of Firstfruits marked thanksgiving to God for the firstfruits of the harvest — in this case, the grain and cereal harvested in the spring in ancient Palestine. At this festival, the Israelites offered the very first sheaf of the harvest and were not allowed to eat anything from the crop until they gave its initial portion to the Lord (vv. 9–14). This required a great deal of faith on the part of the Israelites, as they would be giving the offering of firstfruits at a time when not much was ready to be harvested. They had to trust God that He would indeed provide the fullness of grain that had yet to come forth, something that from a human perspective was far from certain given the people’s utter dependence on the right amount of rainfall and so forth to give the best crop.

Somewhere around AD 30, the firstfruits of an even greater harvest issued forth, for it was on the first day after the Sabbath that occurred in the midst of the Passover celebration that Jesus rose from the dead (Matt. 28:1–10). Lest there be any doubt that His resurrection fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits, Paul tells us explicitly that Christ is the firstfruits of those who will be raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:20–23). Just as the firstfruits offered to God under the old covenant anticipated the fuller harvest to come, the resurrection of Jesus anticipates the bodily resurrection of His people first promised under the old covenant (Job 19:25–27).

Fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits was the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (from the Greek term pentekostos, or fiftieth), which was the grand celebration at the end of the grain harvest. On this occasion, the offerings of food and animals to the Lord were more lavish (Lev. 23:15–22), an appropriate way to thank Him for the tremendous bounty He had provided. Tomorrow we will look at Pentecost in more detail.

Coram Deo

Paul says Jesus was raised for our justification (Rom. 4:25), and so we often celebrate Jesus’ resurrection as proof that our sins have been fully atoned for and that we are now declared righteous in God’s sight. This is entirely appropriate, but we should also remember that our Lord’s resurrection is proof positive that we who trust in Him will be raised in like manner at the last day and dwell with Him bodily in a new heaven and earth.

Passages for Further Study

Numbers 28:26–31
Proverbs 3:9–10
Acts 2:1–4
2 Thessalonians 2:13

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please open my eyes to the wonderful ways of Your law and instruction. Help me to fully experience Your ways in celebrating and honoring You. Thank You that You provide for Your people. Thank You for raising up Christ as first fruits of the promised resurrection. Thank You for the hope this brings to those of us who believe, even when times may be difficult. There are none like You. You are truly worthy of praise and honor.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Arrogance, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Murder, Submitted / Servant, Thankfulness, Traditions / Holidays

Choosing Your Path in the Shadow of the Cross: A Reflection on True Discipleship

As we approach the season of Passover and Unleavened Bread, we’re reminded of their significance not only to our faith’s heritage but directly to Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) and His early followers. These celebrations, deeply rooted in the liberation of God’s people, were observed by Jesus Himself, marking crucial moments in the narrative that led to His crucifixion and glorious resurrection. The Gospel of Mark, detailing events leading up to this pivotal climax, doesn’t just recount a historical timeline; it invites us to reflect deeply on our personal journey of faith.

Mark 14 presents us with two distinct responses to Christ’s presence on Earth. On one hand, we see the religious leaders, outwardly paragons of piety, secretly plotting to kill Jesus, the embodiment of God’s love and salvation walking among them. Contrastingly, a woman, known as a sinner, approaches Jesus with a heart of worship, anointing Him with costly perfume in a profound act of devotion and humility.

This juxtaposition challenges us to discern between mere outward religiosity and genuine, heartfelt devotion to God. It urges us first to look inward, examining our own approach to our faith and relationship with God. Are we merely wearing a cloak of holiness to gain the approval of others, or are we pursuing a genuine, transforming relationship with Jesus?

Mark 14:1-11 starkly illustrates the choices laid before us. The religious leaders’ intent on murder versus the woman’s act of love sets a clear distinction between using religion for one’s ends and living out a true discipleship characterized by humility and sacrifice.

(Summarized and continued after the scripture)

Mark 14:1-11

Death Plot and Anointing

1Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him; 2for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people.”

3While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. 4But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5“For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. 6But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. 7“For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 8“She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 9“Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. 11They were glad when they heard this and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

Being a disciple of Jesus means more than just holding a title; it’s about being a learner and follower, continuously seeking to mold our lives after His example. It’s about recognizing that true holiness doesn’t come from external appearances or positions within the church but from a heart fully surrendered to God.

As we ponder the path of discipleship, we face critical questions. Will we distance ourselves from Jesus, allowing pride, selfishness, or deceit to rule our hearts? Or will we choose to serve Him genuinely, embracing humility and faithfulness, even when faced with misunderstanding or scorn from the world?

The way we respond to Jesus’s invitation to follow Him shapes our journey with the Father, influencing our experience of His love and the depth of our personal relationship with Him.

Let us pray together for the grace to choose wisely and faithfully:

Father, illuminate our understanding with the truth of Your Word. Guard our hearts against the deceit of mere religious performance. Guide us to a sincere and humble walk with You, free from self-deception and pride. Grant us the courage to live as true disciples, fully surrendered to Your will, radiating Your love and grace in every aspect of our lives. May our journey reflect a deep, joyful submission to You, drawing others to Your light. Amen.

This reflection invites us to consider deeply our response to Christ’s call to discipleship. As we observe Passover and Unleavened Bread this year, let’s embrace these holy days as opportunities to draw closer to Jesus, to celebrate our liberation from sin, and to commit anew to walking in His ways.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.