Shavuot

As the Jewish people celebrate the giving of Torah on Shavuot, (and Christians celebrate Pentecost, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) I thought it appropriate to share this: 

 " Hebrew names don’t just have a meaning and a numerical value; every letter also has a pictogram, so every name and word have pictures that tell another story and give another message. How incredible this is. 

All the law (Hebrew: Torah: instruction of God) points to Jesus of Nazareth. Even the very word Torah points to Jesus.

4 Hebrew letters: 1st letter is depicted by a cross, 2nd letter is “nails”, 3rd letter is the pictogram for “The Highest One” and the final letter’s pictogram means “Behold.”

So we have, “On the cross was nailed the Highest One. Behold!” Behold, the Highest One was nailed to a cross- for you. Torah. I hope every time you hear that word, you will remember to Behold the Highest one nailed to the cross.

"Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of your law." Psalm 119:18" (part transcript from a sermon I heard. ) 

(I find this fascinating!) 

"In Genesis 1:1, beginning with the first occurrence of the Hebrew letter tav {ת ,{counting 49 

letters the second letter of 'Torah' appears, counting 49 more letters the third letter appears, 

counting 49 more letters the fourth letter appears-- Torah {תורה {is spelled out using every 

50th letter of the text. 

Beginning with Exodus 1:1, Torah is spelled out the same way; every 50th letter beginning 

with the first appearance of the Hebrew letter tav {ת .{

Leviticus does not have 'Torah' encoded, but has YHVH {God's name,} {יהוה {spelled out 

beginning with the first appearance of the Hebrew letter yod {י {and counting forward every 

8th letter (Note: the number 8 

represents new life, resurrection) 

Numbers and Deuteronomy both have 'Torah' encoded in the initial verses of the books, but in

Numbers 'Torah' is spelled out in reverse order using 50 letter intervals. In Deuteronomy, 

'Torah' is also spelled out in reverse order at 49 letter intervals beginning in the 5th verse." (I've adapted this from a pdf I found.) 

So, the Law points to God. It is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The LORD Jesus is the only Man who ever lived who never broke God's laws, but He was crucified for our sins. His perfection has paid the price for you and I to be accepted by the Father when we turn away from our sins and choose wholeheartedly to follow and trust Him.

"He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." Proverbs 28:13

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." John 16:13-15.

If the law had not been given we wouldn't realise our need of the Saviour. 

Another poem by Robert M. Mccheyne &...

"When Israel knew not where to go,
God made the fiery pillar glow;
By night, by day, above the camp
It led the way - their guiding lamp;
Such is Thy Holy Word to me
In day of dark perplexity.
When devious paths before me spread,
And all invite my foot to tread
I hear Thy voice behind me say -
"Believing soul, this is the way,
Walk thou in it." O gentle Dove,
How much Thy holy law I love!
My lamp and light
In the dark night.

When Paul amid the seas seemed lost
By Adrian billows wildly tossed,
When neither sun nor star appeared,
And every wave its white head reared
Above the ship, beside his bed
An angel stood, and "Fear not" said.
Such is Thy holy word to me,
When tossed upon afflictions's sea;
When floods come in unto my soul,
And the deep waters o'er me roll,
With angel voice Thy Word draws near
And says, "Tis I, why shouldst thou fear?
Through trouble great My saints must go
Into their rest, where neither woe
Nor sin can come; where every tear
From off the cheek shall disappear,
Wiped by God's hand." O gentle Dove,
How much Thy holy law I love!
My lamp and light
In the dark night.

When holy Stephen dauntless stood
Before the Jews, who sought his blood,
With angel face he looked on high,
And wondering, through the parted sky,
Saw Jesus risen from His throne
To claim the martyr as His own.
Angelic peace that sight bestowed,
With holy joy his bosom glowed.
And while the murderous stones they hurled
His heaven wrapt soul sought yonder world
Of rest. "My spirit, Saviour, keep,"
He cried, he kneeled he fell asleep.
Such be Thy holy Word to me
In hour of life's extremity!
Although no more the murdering hand -
Is raised within our peaceful land -
The Church has rest, and I may ne'er
Be called the martyr's crown to wear:
Yet still, in whatsoever form
Death comes to me, in midnight storm
Whelming my bark, or in my nest,
Gently dismissing me to rest,
O grant me in Thy Word to see
A risen Saviour beckoning me.
No evil then my heart shall fear
In the dark valley. Thou art near!
My trembling soul and Thou, my God,
Alone are there; Thy staff and rod
Shall comfort me. O gentle Dove,
How much Thy holy law I love!
My lamp and light
In the dark night."

(1838.) 

Would you agree things seem dark all around the world? Those who trust the Lord Jesus have the privilege to look to Him and His Word. He is willing to direct our steps if we are willing to obey Him. 

Adoniram Judson said," the future is as bright as the promises of God." I believe the Eternal state will be far more glorious than we can comprehend. 

Let's keep our affections on the things of Heaven, eagerly awaiting our Saviour's return. 

Christ has redeemed us

How precious is this truth that Christ has redeemed us! He paid a very high price to make us His own dear children!

3 verses that jumped out at me from this morning's reading.

Aren't you glad that the earth is full of His mercy? 

and that His words give light (and life!)

and that His righteousness is everlasting!

Who knows which Psalm these are from?

(No prizes, just curious.)

Pondering Perfection

So, I've been thinking about this a bit recently and did a quick search on the things Scripture calls perfect.

And I've needed to remind myself over and over again that these things will always be true.
God's Ways and Will may not always seem perfect to us, but perhaps that's because we aren't yet!

I was amazed by the amount of times Scripture references people having a perfect heart.

I'm nowhere near there yet, but by His grace, He will "perfect that which concerns me". Psalm 138:8
and " being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Philippians 1:6.
Amen!