Click the link below for easy PDF reading with the Paleo Hebrew Words: HaMisparim_LaDebarim_Messiah_Teaches_the_Shema_v_5pt0
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The Messiah Teaches The Shema
dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems
echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema
one YHWH our Elohim YHWH Israel Hear
Shema Yisrael, YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is one.
And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-51
The Hebrew word “shema/emS ” means “hear.” In our opening text, this word serves as a call to hear the Eternal Word of YHWH, the Elohim of Yisrael. It is a call to hear and obey the King of Yisrael from a heart of love—not from a lukewarm heart acting out of a sense of mere moral duty, and not from an even colder heart motivated by an outward show of religious obligation or arrogant self-exaltation steered by the self-supremacy people so often feel due to baseless pride. If Yahushua taught us to uphold the Eternal precepts of the Age-Abiding Torah (and He did2), then those who castigate such a life of loving obedience, by calling it “legalism,” are setting forth their Messiah as a senseless imposter before all the world.
s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
The present study is a series of meditations about the importance of this word, shema/emS, and its significance as seen in the Foremost Commandment in all of the Torah. The Mashiach/Messiah was (and still is) the splendor of His people Yisrael and a Light to enlighten the Gentiles in the Torah of YHWH.3 And now that He has walked among us as the Unblemished Lamb, that great Light from the Torah of YHWH continues to shine forth from the Spirit of the Mashiach in the Heavens.4 In this article, the Spirit reveals how our Mashiach/mSyh 5 both observed and taught the importance of all of the Torah on those many occasions He spoke of and referred to the Shema. We will see that there were many instances in which Yashua taught His listeners the importance of this Greatest Command—a commandment which has the most preeminence over and above all of the other commandments in the Torah. We begin, though, by pondering the time the Messiah set forth the Shema as the greatest commandment in the entirety of Scripture.
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a 1
Jewish tradition divides this Commandment into two separate parts: “The Shema” (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the “V’havta” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Since the Messiah made no such division (teaching the entire text embodies the single, greatest commandment), we will refer to both verses as “the Shema.” 2 Matthew 5:17-20 3 Luke 2:32, John 14:15, 15:10, Romans 2:13, 3:31 4 2Corinthians 3:12-18 5 “Mashiach” is the transliteration for the Hebrew word, mSyh, the word meaning “anointed,” and often translated as “Messiah.” 2
The Greatest Commandment
We have far more than one record of the Messiah teaching us to uphold the Greatest and Most Preeminent commandment in all of the Torah, but we begin by pondering His words on that most obvious occasion. Yahushua the Messiah came to bring life and immortality to light through the Good News,6 and it is His very words which reveal to us the preeminent love for YHWH which He desires to be burning in the hearts of all of His people: And Yahushua answered him,
“The first of all the commandments is, ‘Shema (Hear) Yisrael YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is one: And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.’ ” Mark 12:29-30
We may see and imply many things from these words of Yahushua spoken on this all important matter: 1. Loving YHWH and putting Him first (above all else) is the preeminent commandment. Absolutely nothing is more important, including our own lives.7 2. With these words, the Messiah was clearly teaching and upholding the ageabiding authority/perpetuity of all of the Torah! And showing the Shema to be the preeminent commandment of the Pentateuch8 not only teaches us the ongoing validity and immutability of the entire Torah across the immense time span of 1000 generations,9 but it further indicates how every other commandment was intended to be walked out in everyday practice: the Word of YHWH is to be upheld because of a believer’s love for the Most High and his/her gratitude for the great and enduring chesed/lovingkindness which the Most High has bestowed upon each of us. And in relation to this all-important point, the general Christian world seems painfully oblivious to the stark difference between obedience and legalism:
Upholding the Torah out of love for YHWH is baruch obedience that touches eternity while attempting to keep His commandments out of a heartless religious obligation and an arid sense of duty can only be legalism and, oftentimes, self-exaltation.
To reword what someone else has so wisely said:
6 1Timothy 1:10 7 Daniel 3:8-28 8 (the Five Books of Mosheh/Moses) 9 The Torah will be in effect until time immemorial—until heaven and earth pass away. Matthew 5:18, 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 16:17, 21:33 3
Keeping the Torah without the Spirit of love is legalism. In contrast, the supposition one is walking in the Spirit of love—all the while one is refusing to uphold the commandments of the Torah—is both disobedience and self-deception. And neither of these states will be acceptable for anyone who aspires to inherit reward10 and splendor11 by entering into the Millennium Kingdom of YHWH at the First Resurrection:12 A person will not attain to the classification of those who overcome—the classification of called, and chosen, and faithful13—apart from having upheld the Torah in the Spirit of love.14
Thus, in setting forth the Shema as absolutely preeminent, the Messiah teaches us it is only through love—the love which our hearts are directing towards YHWH—that we may uphold every other Torah commandment.
The Shema was set forth as the Preeminent Commandment of the Torah because truly keeping it will also lead to us truly keeping every other commandment. Somehow, people abide under the idea that mistakenly concludes true, authentic love for YHWH abrogates/abolishes/ends the Torah; but this is a completely baseless and unscriptural supposition: Through the Shema, the Messiah taught that true love for YHWH will result in us keeping His Torah and its Ageless Decrees—all of which are pulsating with infinite wisdom, with immense light, and with enduring, life-giving love.
The secret of the Shema15 tells us it is only through love for the Most High that we may keep the commandments of YHWH in a way that pleases Him. We must desire to hear His Voice with the advanced intention16 of permanently obeying whatever He says/reveals/teaches us:
Teach me, YHWH , the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end. Psalm 119:33
10 2Peter 1:10-11 11 Romans 2:6-7,10 12 1Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 3:7-14 13 Revelation 17:14 14 Romans 2:13, 3:31, 1John 5:1-3, Matthew 5:17-20 15 Remember: “Shema” means “hear.” 16 Daniel 1:8, Ezra 7:10. Contrast: 2Chronicles 12:14,Psalm 78:8, 4
I have not departed from Your judgments: for You have taught mePsalm 119:102
I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.Psalm 119:125
While the truth of hearing with a view to obey is seen in many places throughout the Word of YHWH,17 the misparim/numbers of the Shema also make this important concept even more abundantly clear.
The Misparim/Numbers of the Shema: Drawing Near With Our Hearts. YHWH does not want a people who draw near to Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. Through the prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah), YHWH said it like this: 13 Therefore, the Sovereign has said, Because this people have drawn near with their mouth, and with their lips have honored Me, but their heart they have removed far from Me, and so their reverence for Me has become a commandment of men, in which they have been schooled. 14
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.18 Isaiah 29:13-14
The above truth indicates this: If we are following the commandments of men (in contrast to following the commandments of hwhy given in His Torah), then that is part of what constitutes having hearts that are far from Him. Because He rebuked the man-made, Jewish traditions of His day, the Messiah spoke of this very thing: 3 And He answered and said to them,
Why do you also transgress the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition? 4 For Elohim said, “Honor your father and your mother,” and, “He that speaks evil of father or mother, let him die the death.” 5 But you say, “Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, that wherewith you might have been profited by me is Corban,”19 6 he shall not honor his father. And you have made void the Word of Elohim because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, well did Yeshayahu prophesy of you, saying, 8 “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 But in vain do they worship Me, 17 Exodus 20:6/Deuteronomy 5:10 > John 14:15, 21
18This perfectly describes America, as well as many other nations of today, since our leaders (and people) have all forsaken the Torah of YHWH and are, thus, left with no wisdom to rule in a way that brings about a prevailing peace and prosperity.
19 (“Corban” is a Hebrew word describing a gift given to Elohim) 5 teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.” Matthew 15:3-9 Many fail to recognize that, with this encounter, the Messiah was fully upholding the authority of the Torah and the commandments of Elohim as He rebuked the religious leaders of the Jewish community for setting forth their own teachings that contradicted the Torah.
The Messiah would do the same today (even among those who express faith in Him) as there are so many entrenched traditions that have no basis in Scripture. These traditions have made the Torah of YHWH of no effect and of no importance in the hearts of the people. Yet the Messiah taught the Torah and spoke of its unending Authority20 across the 1000 generations prophesied to exist on the earth.21 Thus, we see more of the importance behind the Shema—the Preeminent Commandment that enjoins us to fulfill the Torah by walking in love for YHWH and His Word. For YHWH Himself has indicated it is those who keep His commandments who are expressing the love for Him which He desires: … and showing chesed/lovingkindness unto thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments. Exodus 20:6
Our love for YHWH is expressed through keeping His commandments. And when uttering the Shema, above all things, we should certainly be drawing near to YHWH with our hearts. The revelation which Ruach Elohim22 gives through the Hebrew misparim/numbers in this regard is not only absolutely stunning, but it gives us yet more understanding of a number of very relevant Scripture texts.
Just below, readers will see the first six words of the Shema and above each word is the misparim (in red/RIGHT) and the place value (in blue/LEFT):
← ← ← 13/13 26/26 48/102 26/26 64/541 50/410
dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems
echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema
(is)one YHWH our Elohim YHWH Israel Hear
While much more will be said about these numbers later, for now, readers will note the sum of the red numbers is the misparim/gematria value of the entire sentence, and that this total value is 1118:23 13 + 102 + 26 + 541 + 410 = 1118
Amazingly enough, the factors of 1118 are as follows:
20 Matthew 5:17-20, 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33 21 Exodus 3:14-15, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 105:8 22 (the Spirit of Elohim/Power) 23 Readers are invited to confirm all misparim and place values using the charts which appear at the end of this study.
6 1 , 2 , 13 , 26 , 43 , 86 , 559 , 1118
Three of the above factors are highlighted in red because three of the words in the first line of the Shema24 have that very same misparim value. In the case of 13 and 26, three of the six words have one or the other misparim value:
← ← ← 13 = (4) d + (8) x + (1) a = dxa = echad = one
← ← ← 26 = (5) h + (6) w + (5) h + (10) y = hwhy = YHWH
To better explain wnyhla/Elohenu having a base word which equals 86,
“wnyhla/Elohenu” means “our Elohim” and the Hebrew title,
“Myhla/Elohim,” has a misparim of 86:
← ← ← 86 = (40) M + (10) y + (5) h + (30) l + (1) a = Myhla = Elohim
Another Hebrew word which has this very same misparim is the world-famous exclamation of praise,
“Hallelu-Yah:” ← ← ← 86 = (5) h + (10) y + (6) w + (30) l + (30) l + (5) h = hywllh = Hallelu-Yah
This is so because, while “Elohim” is a title for YHWH that conveys His indescribable power to perform and create, the word “Hallelu-Yah” is an utterance of praise by which we sing and praise that very power.
This is the power revealed in and through His Qadosh Name.25 Thus, the two words are quite related and their number value being the same is an amazing and inspired result! So with 13, 26, and 86 being factors of 1118, the Spirit is calling our attention to ponder these words and their special relationship to loving yhwh with the whole heart as we draw near to Him with sincere, loving reverence. Not coincidentally, Tehillim 86 has some very relevant things to say over keeping/fulfilling the Shema by honoring YHWH with and in our hearts, the very thing that the Messiah teaches26 to all those who have ears to hear:
10 For You are great, and do wondrous things: You are Elohim alone. 11 Teach me Your way, YHWH; I will walk in Your truth: Unite my heart to fear Your Name. 12 I will praise You,YHWH my Elohim, with all my heart; and I will magnify Your Name for evermore. Tehillim/Psalms 86:10-12
That these things would be written in Psalm 86 is not at all coincidental: This is the prayer of a believer who wishes to fulfill/keep the Shema and readers will note numerous similarities between the wording in these lines and the wording seen in 24 (the base word in the case of wnyhla/Elohenu)
25 Psalm 21:13 26 Matthew 15:3-9 7 Deuteronomy 6:4-5. This also makes it clear that when Kepha (Peter) instructed the believers to set apart YHWH Elohim in their hearts, he (like Isaiah27 and like the Messiah) was teaching them to uphold the Shema:
But set apart YHWH Elohim in your hearts, and always be ready to give an answer to everyone asking you a reason concerning the expectation that is in you, with meekness and fear. 1Peter 3:15, ISRV
28Speaking forth the Shema, by faith, is a significant part of setting apart YHWH Elohim in our hearts. Through proclaiming the Shema, we set our love upon YHWH and exalt His Name, even as the Spirit has inspired to be written in the 91st Psalm:
Because he has set his love upon Me,29 therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My Name.30 Tehillim/Psalms 91:14
Proclaiming the Shema and Taking Upon Ourselves the Yoke of the Kingdom
In many rabbinic teachings, we see the ages-old understanding that a loving, reverent, and sincere speaking forth of the Shema is regarded as taking upon oneself the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven.
31 So important is this segment of Scripture that many Jews not only recite it twice a day but also on their deathbed. And historically, many of our Jewish brothers have made the Shema their last utterance when about to face an untimely death—either through a final moment of valor/heroism which would certainly end their life, or when a persecutor was about to inflict one’s demise.32 Since the Shema’s relationship to the Yoke of the 8 Kingdom
27 Isaiah 8:1328 See the end-note reference to the ISRV Scriptures. 29 Deuteronomy 6:5 30 Deuteronomy 6:4 31 In regard to the Yoke of the Kingdom, see the following websites: • http://www.whyisrael.org/2011/03/26/what-is-the-shema/ • http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0021_0_21286.html • http://www.whyisrael.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/what-is-the-shema.pdf (a longer, pdf version of the very first site given above) • http://bibloscope.com/content/shema • http://biblequestion.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/alfred-edersheim-on-the-kingdom-of-heaven-and-the-yoke-ofchrist/ • http://skipmoen.com/2011/04/18/reading-the-shema/ • http://www.inner.org/613-mitzvot/shema.pdf • http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/kahn/archives/eikev71.htm • http://www.aish.com/tp/i/m/48910692.html • http://www.alfassa.com/shema.html 32 • http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_shema_mean_in_judaism
8 is generally not known (or its importance is not fully realized and acknowledged) among most believers—and we speak of those who recognize Yahushua was (and still is) the Messiah—it is key for readers to study the Internet information given in the footnote on this matter. See the websites given in the previous footnote; and upon reading the material seen at those places, our main point of emphasis should be repeatedly seen and acknowledged, even if you find other rabbinic statements which strike you as obscure, unscriptural, or even unverifiable:
Faithful believers who proclaim the Shema should be aware that they are, by Emunah (Faith), taking upon themselves the Yoke of the Kingdom.
If the previous statement could be proven to be a mere tradition of men it should most certainly be rejected. However, our study will show that the Messiah of Yisrael also understood this to be the case: A sincere, loving, and reverent proclamation of the Shema, in faith, is taking upon ourselves the Yoke of the Kingdom. And we will see even the Messiah upheld the direct connection between speaking, proclaiming, and upholding the Shema and taking upon oneself the Yoke of the Kingdom of Elohim. Since Yahushua the Messiah of Yisrael taught this very thing relative to the Shema, we will see the importance of this Kingdom-Yoke is an absolute truth and not merely a man-made Jewish tradition!33 What we are saying will become yet more evident as the study now progresses into the next section.
The Shema: Seeing and Entering the Kingdom WhenYahushua spoke to Nakdimon/Nicodemus, He indicated that to inherit reward and greatness in the world/age to come, a believer in the Elohim of Yisrael must both see and enter the Kingdom; while both aspects are ultimately fulfilled in those who partake in the First Resurrection, seeing and entering indicate a significant progression which must officially begin during our earthly sojourn. We will see the Shema is an essential part of beginning the process, per the words of the Messiah Himself:
1 But there was a man from among the Pharisees, his name Nakdimon, a ruler of the Yahudim; 2 he came to Him by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You have come from Elohim, a teacher, • http://www.jewishpub.org/product/9780827607132/the-shema
33 Remember: the Messiah rebuked any Jewish traditions of His time which were merely man-made doctrines that failed to uphold the Torah. We now have a commendable and righteous Jewish-Israeli tenet which He did not rebuke because it upholds the Torah!
9 for none can do these signs that You do unless Elohim is with him. Yahushua answered and said to him, Amein, amein, I say to you, unless any one is born from above he cannot see the Kingdom of Elohim. 4 Nakdimon said to Him, How can a man be born being old? Can he enter a second time into the womb of his mother and be born? Yahushua answered, Amein, amein, I say to you, unless any one is born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Elohim. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, it is needful that you should be born from above. 8 The wind blows where it will, and you hear (shema) its voice, but know not from where it comes and where it goes: thus is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:1-8 We will show that when the Messiah spoke of seeing the Kingdom and entering the Kingdom, His reference was to nothing less than the Shema—the Commandment which Yahushua taught to be the Greatest of all in the Torah.
Notice from the Hebrew words given below, the Masoretic text of Deuteronomy 6:4 shows the ending letters of the first and last words of the manuscript were rendered by the scribes to be considerably larger than the other letters in the text:
dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems
echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema
one YHWH (is) our YHWH Israel Hear one (is) Elohim
Yet the AYIN (e) and the DALET (d) are letters with very special meanings relative to our present topic of study; these two letters are the key to understanding the words of the Messiah:
1. The letter AYIN (e) not only represents the eye, but in the Hebrew language, the letter AYIN is pronounced in the same way as the word for eye: AYIN ( Nye : ahyeen); this is, undoubtedly, where we get our pronunciation/derivation for the English word “eye.”
2. The letter DALET (d) not only represents a door, but in the Hebrew language, the letter DALET is pronounced nearly the same way as the Hebrew word for door: DELET (tld).
Do our readers already see where this is going? The Spirit reveals that wheYahushua spoke of seeing34 and entering35 the Kingdom,36 He was speaking of 34 John 3:3 35 John 3:5 36 John 3:3-8 10 nothing less than the Shema, since the large AYIN (e) spoke of the eyes and seeing (or having sight) and the large DALET (d) signified the door:
dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems
echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema
one YHWH our Elohim YHWH Israel Hear
Also notice when the Messiah spoke of the Shema and taking upon oneself the Yoke of the Kingdom, He inferred one who is born of the Spirit hears the Voice of YHWH: The wind blows where it will, and you hear (shema) its voice, but know not from where it comes and where it goes: thus, is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8
This, of course, was another contextual reference to the Shema and to being a son of Abraham—the patriarch who walked by faith and who heard the Voice of YHWH. And having heard the Voice of YHWH across a lifetime of faithfulness, we read these words which the Most High spoke over Abraham’s resulting life of love-driven obedience: Because that Abraham obeyed My Voice, and kept My charge: My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. Genesis 26:5
Because Abraham kept the Shema—because he continually heard the Voice of YHWH—he also kept the other commandments of Elohim! And it is only those who walk in the commandment-keeping faith37 of Abraham who are heirs according to the Promise.38
The Shema teaches us that Elohim is—that He exists—and that our ears must be open to His Word and His directives. As we hear His Voice and believe/act upon His Word, our spiritual sight is then acquired, gained, augmented: 39 We see the Eternal King and His Eternal Kingdom.Then we are joined to YHWH,40 by EMUNAH(faith), and become one (echad)41 with Him.
While we have not yet fully entered the Kingdom, this does grant us citizenship in that Kingdom42 as we have now been spiritually translated into a new, spiritual realm.43 Then it is a question of living a lifetime of faithful service by which YHWH determines the measure of our heavenly 37 Acts 24:14, Matthew 5:17-20, Romans 2:13, 3:31, 16:26, 1John 5:1-5, Reveleation12:17, 14:12, 22:14 38 Galatians 3:7,9 39 (all depending on how new/old is our walk/sojourn to the Kingdom) 40 Isaiah 56:3, Zechariah 2:11 41 1Corinthians 6:17 42 Philippians 3:20 (“conversation” per KJV means “citizenship”) 43 Colossians 1:13 11 reward:
How great/abundant will our entrance into His Kingdom on Earth be, and what will any individual believer inherit/possess in that Kingdom? Our entrance can be abundant or it can be meager.44 That there will be significant differences in reward is a Kingdom-fact not generally taught, but this will be an absolute reality in the Resurrection based on the level of one’s faithful service to YHWH in this life.45 The Requirement for Having Ears That Hear.
Who are those blessed ones that will hear His Voice? Who are those who will hear the Voice of His Spirit saying, “This is the way, you walk in it?”46 And how do we acquire ears that will hear?
The only ones who will hear His Voice are those that hold forth His Name as Qadosh/Swdq, 47 for YHWH only reveals Himself in fullest measure to those who desire to honor Him and to walk in His ways.
Note, first of all, the Hebrew word for “emS/shema”—the Hebrew word meaning “hear”—has a misparim value of 410: ← ← ← (mv) 410 = (70) e + (40) m + (300) S = emS = shema = hear
So we momentarily pause to ponder the heart attitude, and the mind set, of those who reverently hold forth YHWH and His Name as absolutely Qadosh/Swdq:
Exalt YHWH our Elohim, and worship at His set apart hill; for YHWH our Elohim is Swdq/qadosh. Tehillim/Psalms 99:9
He sent redemption to His people: He has commanded His covenant for ever:
Swdq/qadosh and awesome is His Name. Tehillim/Psalms 111:9
We have said those who are blessed to hear His Voice are those who reverently hold forth the Name of YHWH as qadosh/Swdq, for such an attitude prepares the heart to see the salvation of Elohim.
48The saying is true and worthy of all acceptance. In confirming this, the Hebrew word “Swdq/qadosh/set apart,” like the word for “hear/shema/emS,” has a misparim value of 410:
← ← ← (mv) 410 = (300) S + (6) w + (4) d + (100) q = Swdq = qadosh
The relationship between these words is not at all coincidental:
44 2Peter 1:10-11 45 Luke 19:11-26 46 Isaiah 30:21 47 The Hebrew word “Swdq/qadosh” has the meaning of “set apart;” it is the word customarily translated as “holy.” 48 2Chronicles 12:14/Jeremiah 11:8, Psalm 50:23, 78:8 (See Darby as well as Young’s Literal Translation), 12 Those who draw near to His Throne of favor and who exalt YHWH as qadosh (410) will, like Abraham,49 be blessed to hear (410) His Voice.
The Hebrew numbers confirm to us the requirement set forth for those who would hear His Voice and subsequently see and enter His Kingdom of Light.
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Because the Messiah was without sin, He fulfilled the Shema perfectly and the Spirit opened His ear to hear the Voice/Spirit of YHWH every morning:
The SovereignYHWH has given me the tongue of the learned,
that I should know how to speak a word in season to a
weary one: He awakens morning by morning;
He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.
Isaiah 50:4
Morning by morning,50 the Messiah drew near to hear the Voice of YHWH; and because He heard, Yahushua also saw what the Father we should ponder this statement in more detail.
You Are My Witnesses
In the Masoretic text, the enlarged letters of the Shema not only call our attention to the importance of the first and last words of this opening line, but when the two letters are joined, the pair also forms a word in the Hebrew language:
dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems
echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema
one YHWH our Elohim YHWH Israel Hear
As His people, we are honored with the indescribable privilege to proclaim the Shema and to be a witness to the Unity and Sovereign Supremacy of the Elohim of Yisrael. In Hebrew, the word for “testimony,” or “witness,” is “eyd” (de), and readers will see that is the word formed by the enlarged letters of the Shema:
74 = (4) d +(70) e = de = eyd = testimony = witness
So when YHWH declared to all Yisrael that the nation was to be His witnesses to the world, He was referring to nothing less than the Shema; and this is quite clear from the context of the following Scriptures:
49 B’reshit/Genesis 26:4-5 50 Mark 1:35, Psalm 5:3, 88:13, 119:147, 130:5-6, Isaiah 26:9 51 John 5:19 13
You are My witnesses,52 says YHWH , and My servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no Elohim formed, neither shall there be after Me. Isaiah 43:10
I have declared, and I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange elohim among you: therefore, you are My witnesses, says YHWH , and I am Elohim. Isaiah 43:12
Do not fear, neither be afraid: have I not declared to you of old, and shown it? And you are My witnesses: Is there an Elohim besides me? Yes, there is no Rock; I know not any. Isaiah 44:8
Imagine a nation filled with millions of individuals that daily proclaim (in millions of places), “Shema Yisrael YHWH Elohenu, YHWH echad” … all witnessing (de) to the Supremacy of our Elohim as they proclaim His Sovereign Rule/Kingdom. So it is that YHWH declares our nation, Yisrael, to be His witnesses! Through proclaiming the Shema and through having hearts that authentically uphold it, we are His witnesses (de). Yet while we are to witness this Unity among ourselves, the intent of YHWH has always been for Yisrael to show all nations the wisdom of His ways 53— the wisdom of the ancient paths revealed in His Age-Enduring Torah.54 And YHWH, who changes not,55 has never retracted this worldwide intent and purpose!
Thus, He decreed the Shema (and all of the Torah) would be proclaimed and taught through the Messiah and His followers!
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
Remember, the overriding theme of the Shema is the Sovereign Rule of YHWH, the Oneness of His Name over all things, and the love/allegiance we are to have for Him because of that Supremacy. The Messiah, thus, held forth the Shema as He taught the supremacy of love:
34 A new commandment I give unto you, that you
love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love
one another. 35 By this shall all men know that you are
My talmudim, if you have love one for another.
John 13:34-35
Proclaiming the Shema and Taking Upon Ourselves the Yoke of the Kingdom
53 Deuteronomy 4:5-7, Numbers 14:21, 1Kings 4:30-34, Psalm 22:27-28, 65:2, 72:11,19, 86:9, Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:9, 66:22-23, Micah 4:1-3, Habakkuk 2:14, Revelation 15:4 54 Mishle/Proverbs 3:1-8, 7:1-5, 1Kings 4:30-34 55 Malachi 3:6 14
Many make the mistake of thinking that “new” means something to be contrasted with what was “old”—as though the two are opposites. But Yahushua the Messiah had already made it clear that the Shema—to love YHWH with all the heart, soul, and mind—was the Greatest Commandment of the Eternal Torah.
And in the very same breath, He had shown the Second Greatest Commandment to be loving one’s neighbor as oneself.56 So what was new about the Messiah’s teaching in this matter?
The newness came as He showed forth His living Example of the love and humility by which we are to walk in fulfilling “the old.” The apostle John wrote likewise, indicating that nothing of the Law and Prophets—that which had been “from the beginning”—would ever been removed:
7 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which you heard. 1John 2:7 With these lines, John spoke of the Torah—the Word of Elohim that takes us back to the very beginning: In the beginning, created Elohim the heavens and the earth … B’reshit/Genesis 1:1 Then John continues and shows how, in the Messiah, this old commandment is to be fully upheld in a new and living way: 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. 9 He that says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness even until now. 10 He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1John 2:7
This conveys the same meaning of old and new as taught by the Messiah. The “new” is designed to help us finally keep the “old” in the way YHWH has always intended. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is now writing His Torah on our hearts and minds as YHWH has always longed to do:
8 For finding fault with them, He says, Behold, the days come, says YHWH , when I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisrael and with the house of Yahudah: 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant,
56 Matthew 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-31 15
and I regarded them not, says YHWH . 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisrael after those days, says YHWH : I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:57 and I will be to them an Elohim, and they shall be to Me a people… Hebrews 8:8-10
And after being resurrected, Yahushua would later indicate that His followers should take forth His love into all the nations as His witnesses:
But you shall receive power, when Ruach ha’Qodesh has come upon you: and you shall be My witnesses (de) in Yerushalayim, and in all Yahudah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 Walking in love, teaching the Shema, and teaching all of the Torah, these men would continue to be a witness (de) to all the nations as they stood for the Unity of the Elohim of Yisrael.
These leaders would be teaching the nations to observe all that the Messiah had commanded them and those teachings would certainly include the Shema58—the Foremost Commandment—along with all of the Eternal Torah which Yahushua fully upheld.59 18 And eSwhy came, and spoke to them, saying,
All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and teach all nations, immersing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Set Apart Spirit. 20 Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, amein. Matthew 28:8-20
Like Yisrael of old, these men/women were to be witnesses! They were to be examples of the Messiah’s love as they upheld the Shema and taught all the nations the Age-Abiding Torah of YHWH.
So we see the plan of YHWH to bring all nations into His Israeli worship—and to use all Yisrael as His witnesses—has never changed. And central to this is His Eternal Torah that will remain the Constitution of His Kingdom across all 1000 generations60—reaching into a time which is many thousands of years in the future from the present day.
57 Ezekiel 36:26-27, Isaiah 51:7-8, Psalm 40:8 58 Matthew 22:34-38, Mark 12:28-30 59 Matthew 5:17-20 60 Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 105:8 16
The Door of Vertical and Horizontal Unity:
Entering the Kingdom All of this brings us to the importance of unity … echad … oneness. Some people strive to have Vertical Unity while taking little or no thought for walking in a way that will bring horizontal unity. They are Vertically pious and place their intent on serving the Most High, but take little or no thought for having authentic love and humility towards their neighbor and fellow man. You may have passed such people on the street and found they acted as though you did not exist. Still others strive to have horizontal unity—seeming to reach out in love and to serve others— but through their rejection of the Torah, they absolutely fail to understand the humility that hwhy requires of them for obtaining Vertical Unity.61 They place their intent on serving their neighbor/fellow man yet take no thought for having authentic love and humility towards the Most High. But the Shema teaches that both aspects of love-inspired unity are of significant importance for those who would inherit greatness in the Kingdom. Vertical and horizontal unity go far beyond the usual thoughts people have of merely being pleasant to everyone and maintaining a positive demeanor while doing our best to love and serve them. Perhaps we cannot understand unity until we have seen its antithesis: What does the opposite of unity look like? We will see disunity either opposes the Supremacy of hwhy and His Oneness with His people, or it opposes the oneness which hwhy has established, via His Torah, to create peace and order within a society. t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a It is not coincidental the DALET (d)—the Door—is set on the word, dxa/echad, meaning one/unity. If we fail to unify, then we will fail to enter through that special Door (d); we will fail to enter in and partake in the Millennial Kingdom: Many will fail to inherit greatness and reward in the Millennial Kingdom due to their lack of authentic love; they will have failed to maintain both Vertical and horizontal unity. Yet the Shema teaches both. This is why eSwhy—when declaring the Shema to be the Greatest Commandment in the Torah—then proceeded to say the Second Greatest Commandment is like the Foremost and Greatest: loving one’s neighbor as oneself is in the same spirit as the Shema. 61 Compare Micah 6:8 and Deuteronomy 10:12. Micah was teaching Yisrael that, to walk humbly with our Elohim, we must be upholding His Torah. Disregard for His Torah is the definition which hwhy Himself gives for pride/arrogance. See Psalm 119:21, 51, 69, 78, 85, 122, Isaiah 13:11 17 28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And eSwhy answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, Yisrael; hwhy our Elohim, hwhy is one. 30 And you shall love hwhy your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like it, even this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself: there is no other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said to him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one Elohim; and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love a neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when eSwhy saw that he answered discreetly, he said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of Elohim.62 Mark 12:28-34 John wrote likewise of the two, foremost commandments: If a man says, I love Elohim, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that does not loves his brother whom he has seen, how can he love Elohim whom he has not seen? 1John 4:20 We believe John (and all Hebrews) knew about the Door of Unity and we believe they also knew how this word dxa/echad—being composed of certain letters— also had a special meaning: dxa echad/unity As we pondered earlier, the letter DALET (d) represents a door, and the present study has already shown this Door—the door which is opened to those who love hwhy —is our entrance into the Kingdom. Yet take notice of the Hebrew word formed in front of the door: xa ach/brother The Shema speaks of Vertical Unity, of our love and devotion to hwhy; but it does not omit a strong statement over the importance of horizontal unity. Since Elohim is One, then He is one with our brothers; and if we wish to be one with hwhy, then 62 Another text which shows the Messiah knew and taught the connection between truly upholding the Shema and entering the Kingdom of Elohim. 18 we must strive to be one with them. The first murderer did not walk in unity and, in his open rebellion, Cain even had the audacity to ask hwhy the now famous question: Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:9 For those who desire to walk in unity/echad/oneness with the Most High, the Shema certainly teaches we are to be our brother’s keeper. But unity means far more than just “being nice” to others: Unity must be understood in relation to the Torah. Thus, we should ponder the opposite of unity as it relates to the Word of hwhy. And upon doing this, it will become very clear why love and unity are so interrelated. Notice how each of the Ten Words relates to unity and how violating them brings about disunity: Five Commandments appeared on each of the Two Tables of Stone. A synopsis of each command on the First Table is seen below: I. No other elohim before Me. II. No images of false worship. III. Do not to profane the Qadosh Name of hwhy. IV. Uphold the qadosh/set apart Shabbat and honor the qadosh Presence of hwhy in this Day. V. Honor your father and your mother. The First Table of the Ten Commandments relates to love for hwhy. Those who violate any of these commandments break the oneness/unity which hwhy wants with His people:63 But your iniquities have separated between you and your Elohim, and your sins have hidden the face from you, that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 When Yisrael turned aside to idolatry, they were joined to false gods and this broke their unity with hwhy Elohim. That the Fifth Commandment relates to parents and children further shows how the family unit is so important in the True Worship of the Elohim of Yisrael. Honor for parents translates into honor for hwhy and His Name.64 Dishonoring parents breaks the parent-child unity which hwhy wishes to see within a family. 63 Isaiah 56:3, Zechariah 2:11, 1Corinthians 6:17 64 Malachi 1:6 19 When one breaks any of the commands on the Second Table, is very evident how disunity occurs. A synopsis of each command on the Second Table is seen below: VI. You shall not murder. VII. You shall not commit adultery. VIII. You shall not steal. IX. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. X. You shall not covet … Let us ponder unity and disunity as they relate to the horizontal commandments given on the Second Table: VI. You shall not murder. Murder brings on an unjust death. Yet what did James write about how death occurs? “For as the body without the spirit is dead” … James/Ya’acov 2:26 Does murder, then, break the unity/oneness of the body and the spirit? It does. And breaking the unity between body and spirit equals death. VII. You shall not commit adultery. What about adultery? Does adultery break the unity between and man and his wife? It does. And violations of marital unity have caused an immeasurable amount of human pain and suffering across the millennia. VIII. You shall not steal. Does stealing break the unity between and man and his possessions? It does. And ownership is an important concept in the Torah. IX. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Does bearing false witness break the unity between and man and his reputation? It does. And in a legal system which advocates both corporal and capital punishment, the results could be weighty, if not fatal. But since a good name is to be chosen above great riches,65 bearing false witness is stealing something from a man that is even more valuable than his money. X. You shall not covet … Does coveting break the unity in a person’s mind between what he or she presently has and what that one wrongfully desires? It does. Did not Solomon write that what the eyes see is better than what the heart desires? And does coveting break the unity in a person’s mind so that there is no longer trust in the emunah, or faithfulness, in the Most High Elohim? It does. 65 Mishle/Proverbs 22:1 20 Given the above contemplations, it is now rather clear how disunity either opposes the Supremacy of hwhy and the Oneness He wants with His people, or else it opposes the unity which hwhy has established to create peace and order within the Kingdom of all those who are living in subjection to His Torah. As we have seen, the misparim for echad is 13: 13 = (4) d +(8) x +(1) a = dxa = echad = one/unity In closing, it is not a coincidence that “echad” adds to 13, and that 13 is only half of the misparim for the Qadosh Name: 26 = (5) h + (6) w +(5) h +(10) y = hwhy= YHWH Oneness (13) is incomplete if it is only expressed towards our fellow man (as is common today in many religions). And oneness (13) is incomplete if only expressed towards our Heavenly Father (as is common today with so many who seek to walk with the Most High and yet have little or no love and humility towards their fellow man). We are not setting apart His Name66 unless we become expressions of His unity and unless that unity is Vertical—directed toward our Creator and Redeemer—as well horizontal—directed toward our fellow man. The psalmist wrote: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.”67 If we express true love/unity (13) towards our Heavenly Father and true love/unity (13) towards our fellow man, it is only then that we will begin to be the greatest expression of His Qadosh Name (since 13 + 13 = 26); and it is only then that we will be a living testimony to the atonement that Messiah came to bring to all as He fulfills His ministry to take away the sins of the world.68 The Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye Having studied the Shema and its large, peculiar letters, it should now be more evident why King Shelemo/Solomon wrote of “the hearing ear and the seeing eye:” The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, hwhy has made even both of them. Proverbs 20:12 A more literal rendering from the Hebrew text would be as follows: The ear hears, and the eye sees: hwhy has made even the two of them. Proverbs 20:12 66 Matthew 6:9-10, 1Peter 3:15 67 Psalm 119:2 68 John 1:29,36, 12:32, Ephesians 1:9-10, Colossians 1:19-20 21 And one might rightly wonder why Shelemo wrote: … “the hearing ear and the seeing eye.” Why did he not place vision before hearing: …“the seeing eye and the hearing ear?” One would especially think this to have been the case since nearly everyone in our days would place far more value on the ability to see than on the ability to hear! But this was not the case: Solomon set the hearing ear before the seeing eye. We believe King Shelemo/Solomon wrote by the Spirit and that he presented hearing and sight in the order given for more than just one reason. Recall the enlarged AYIN ( e ) on the Hebrew word for “hear” which has been written in the Masoretic text of Deuteronomy 6:4: emS shema/hear. As previously indicated, the letter AYIN ( e ) represents the eye and, thus, “seeing,” “sight,” and “vision.” So the Spirit is telling us that the ability to see—to truly see—will only come if we first have the ability to hear! Hearing comes before seeing; thus, seeing is quite connected to hearing! In Mishle/Proverbs 20:12, we not only believe King Shelemo/Solomon wrote by the Spirit but that, as he did so, the wise ruler of Yisrael was referring to nothing less than the Shema itself: Spiritual sight/insight/vision will not be ours unless we first have ears to hear. And let us ponder those incidents which we have all surely encountered: Have you ever been in (or witnessed) a discussion/argument with someone and, although knowing you (or the proponent of a view/idea/fact being presented) were 100% correct, found that the opposing person was absolutely unable to see? Figuratively speaking, you could even say the opposing party was blind! But why was the other person unable to see/perceive and to understand your point of view? Why were they blind? Was it not because he or she was unable and/or unwilling to truly hear what you were saying? We could rightly say, then, a lack of hearing results in blindness! And Ya’acov/James warned how people can be absolutely blinded by the anger that closes their ears; he wrote of this phenomenon when stating that man’s anger creates within him the inability to hear: 22 19 You know, my beloved brothers, but let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for man’s anger works not the righteousness of Elohim. James 1:19-20 The unrighteous anger of man blocks the ears and closes the eyes. Would you, then, agree with hwhy that hearing has to come before seeing? And is it any wonder, then, that the very first word of the Greatest Commandment in all of the Torah is the word “emS/shema/hear”? Sight is extremely important, but without the ability and the willingness to truly hear, we will also have eyes that are blind: we will be absolutely unable to see.69 t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a As he wrote by Ruach ha’Qodesh,70 we believe Yeshayahu/Isaiah also referred to the Shema in still another text found in the scrolls attributed to him: Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, that brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name; by the greatness of His might, and for that He is strong in power, not one is lacking! Isaiah 40:26 Once we have bowed in reverent humility before the Most High, and once we have fulfilled the Shema by giving ourselves to hear His Voice, we can then lift up our eyes on high and see more of His greatness. Notice the first three Hebrew words of the text for “Lift up your eyes on high:” ← ← ← warw Mkynye Mwrm wav and see your eyes on high lift Sequentially pulling off the first letter of the first three words (appearing above in blue), we see formed the Hebrew word “shema/emv:” emv shema/hear. The Spirit shows us time and again that those who truly wish to see must first be willing to draw near to hwhy with a reverent, loving submission that burns in a heart ready to hear and obey His Word. Blessed be His Name and blessed be the One who reveals the ancient paths of peace and rest revealed in His awesome Word. 69 Psalm 115:5,8, Revelation 3:16-17 70 The Spirit of hwhy. 23 “The Commandment” (Singular) is the Shema In Deuteronomy 6:1, the Word of hwhy introduces us, in advance, to the Shema by referring to it as “the Commandment:” 1 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which hwhy your Elohim commanded to teach you, that you may do them in the land where you go to possess it: 2 that you may fear hwhy your Elohim, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you—you, and your son, and your son’s son—all the days of your life: and that your days may be prolonged. Deuteronomy 6:1-2 Of course, only a few lines later, we read “the Commandment”—the Shema in Debarim/Deuteronomy 6:4-5—along with the statutes and judgments that immediately follow it. Because the Messiah recognized the Shema as the Commandment, as the Preeminent Command in all of the Torah, we are not surprised to see the emissaries making reference to this pivotal teaching as well. Sha’ul wrote to Timothy about the telov/telos/goal of “the Commandment:” But the goal of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned … 1Timothy 1:5 We notice here the love spoken of is three-fold—just like the three facets of love seen in the Shema: 1. With all your heart: … out of a pure heart … 2. With all your soul: … a good conscience … 3. And with all your might: … and sincere faith …. Later, as the letter nears it close, Sha’ul then exhorts Timothy to take hold of ageabiding life. In so doing, Sha’ul once more mentioned the Shema as he enjoined Timothy to keep “the Commandment” until the very end: 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the age-abiding life, whereunto you were called, and did confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the sight of Elohim, who gives life to all things, and of the Messiah eSwhy —who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession—14 that you keep the commandment without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Sovereign eSwhy the Messiah, 15 which in its own times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Sovereign of sovereigns; 16 who only has immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal, amein. 1Timothy 6:12-15 24 Writing to the Romans, Sha’ul also indicated that “the Commandment” (the Shema) was to result in the obedience of faith among all the nations: 25 Now to him that is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of eSwhy the Messiah, according to the revelation of the secret which has been kept in silence through times eternal, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal Elohim, is made known to all the nations unto obedience of faith: 27 to the only wise Elohim, through eSwhy the Messiah, to whom be the splendor for ever, amein. Romans 16:25-27 Upholding the Shema: Many Will See and Fear The Shema teaches us we cannot fear until we see and that we cannot see until we hear! To see the Kingdom of Elohim, just what is it that we must see? What must be before our eyes? The unrighteous contrast provides us with the answer: The transgression of the wicked declares within my heart: “There is no fear/dxp/pachad of Elohim before his eyes.” Tehillim/Psalms 36:1 The word for fear is dxp/pachad and it means “dread,” or “fear.” We will say considerably more about this word in just a moment. But because the lawless do not hear, they also cannot see: They cannot see the fear of Elohim. Referring to the Shema, Sha’ul wrote likewise: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of Elohim: I speak this to your shame. 1Corinthians 15:34 But to understand the fear of hwhy and to find the knowledge of Elohim, we must first fulfill/keep the Shema: We must incline our ears to wisdom. So wrote Shelemo: 1 My son, if you will receive my words, and lay up my commandments with you; 2 so as to incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry after discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of hwhy , and find the knowledge of Elohim. Mishle/Proverbs 2:1-5 Hearing the Voice of hwhy is the beginning of fearing Elohim and walking before Him in reverence. And notice how similar are the Hebrew words for see and fear in these texts: 25 ← ← ← wnyhlal hlht sdx rys ypb Ntyw to our praise new a song in my And He Elohim mouth gave ← ← ← hwhyb wxjbyw waryyw Mybr wary in YHWH and trust and many they will fear see ~ Tehillim/Psalms 40:3 ~ waryyw Myqydu waryw and the and they fear righteous will see Translated: … “and the righteous will see and fear” ~ Tehillim/Psalms 52:6 ~ While the Hebrew root words for “see ( har )” and “fear ( ary )” are slightly different, readers will notice when they are placed in the manuscript, per Inspired Hebrew grammar, all the letters are the same (while not identical, both words are composed of all the same letters: w – y -r – a ). If we hear/shema, then we may also see; and only if we see may we then fear. Yet apart from honoring the Name of hwhy and His Oneness/Supremacy/Preeminence, we will not hear, nor will we see, nor will we fear. The Fear/Dread of hwhy : Even the Demons Believe and Shudder A superficial contemplation of the Shema may not engender the fear/dread of hwhy that actually emanates from the Inspired lines of this all-important and most Preeminent segment of Scripture. But Ya’acov/James was referring to the Shema when he wrote: You believe that hwhy is One? You do well! Even the demons believe, and shudder! James 2:19 In speaking this rebuke, Ya’acov was correcting the believers for their evident lack of the fear/dread that even demons possess.71 Sha’ul wrote likewise: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of Elohim: I speak this to your shame. 1Corinthians 15:34 The Shema also teaches us the Preeminent things related to the knowledge of Elohim. Recall that the enlarged AYIN (e) and DALET (d) are letters which form the word “eyd” (de), meaning “witness,” or “testimony:” 71 Sha’ul wrote likewise! 26 dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema one YHWH our Elohim YHWH Israel Hear But the reversing the enlarged AYIN (e) and DALET (d), the resulting Hebrew word is the masculine form of the word “dey-ah” (ed), meaning “knowledge:” Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge (ed)? Job 37:16 So while speaking the Shema makes us witnesses ( de ) of the Supreme Rule of the Most High, it also reminds us to grow in the knowledge ( ed ) of Elohim. And this is an infinite sojourn of a magnificent and unending scope. Knowledge! The True Knowledge of Elohim! We just saw how, in Proverbs 2, Solomon wrote that knowledge leads to fear; even so, we provide this text once more asking readers to notice that we must first hear before we may then fear: 1 My son, if you will receive my words, and lay up my commandments with you; 2 so as to incline your ear to wisdom,72 and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry after discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of hwhy , and find the knowledge of Elohim. Mishle/Proverbs 2:1-5 Yet, in our days, increasingly many lack the dread that says we better not toy with the Word, the will, and the ways of the Most High. But the fear/dread of hwhy knows the reality of the line that asks a most obvious question: You, fearful are You, and who may stand in your sight when once you are angry? Tehillim/Psalms 76:6 The implied answer is: “Absolutely no one!” And the immediate implication of this question is the additional statement: “You do not want to see Him when He gets angry!” The Messiah was the Qadosh One73 of Yisrael who ultimately fulfilled the Shema in His perfect Life of upholding the Torah and leaving us an Example in which to 72 (“Incline your ear” equals shema/hear) 73 Isaiah 41:14 27 walk.74 And did demons shudder in dxp/pachad/fear/dread before the Messiah— the One who was/is the Word—the Shema—made Flesh?75 So it is not coincidence that both words (qadosh and shema) add to the same value in Hebrew; it is by Providential Design: ← ← ← 410 = (300) S + (6)w + (4) d + (100) q = Swdq = qadosh = set apart ← ← ← 410 = (70) e + (40) m + (300) S = emS = shema = hear From Echad (dxa ) to Pachad (dxp ) So why do the demons believe that hwhy is One and subsequently shudder in fear and dread before Him? The Hebrew word for fear/dread is dxp/pachad and its misparim is 92: ← ← ← (mv) 92 = (4) d + (8) x + (80) p = dxp = pachad = fear/dread hwhy really calls for our attention with this word since its place value is 29—the reversal, or mirror image, of 92, its misparim: ← ← ← (pv) 29 = (4) d + (8) x + (17) p = dxp = pachad = fear If we see (e) that the Oneness/Unity/dxa/Echad of hwhy cannot be challenged—that His sovereign will permeates and overrides all persons, all actions, all circumstances, and all things He has created76—and if we see (e) that His wrath is upon all those who oppose and rebel against that Unity/(dxa), then we will also understand this fear/dread. And amazingly enough, this actually describes how we may derive the Hebrew word dxp/pachad—the word which refers to this fear and dread. If sight (e) is added to dxa/echad/oneness/unity, the result is dxp/pachad/fear/dread: d x a (echad) + e (eye/seeing/sight) ======= d x p To fully explain the above, if we “add” ALEPH/a = 1 with AYIN/e = 16, we arrive at PE/p = 17: 1 + 16 = 17 (ALEPH/a = 1) + (AYIN/e = 16) = (PE/p = 17) 74 1Peter 2:21, 1John 2:4-6 > John 14:15, 15:10 75 Mathew 8:28-29, Mark 1:23-28, Luke 4:31-36. Was there a relationship between the dread/terror which these demons had before the Qadosh Seed, the Messiah, and the fact that he was also the Shabbat/Sabbath in the Flesh? Read on! 76 Romans 8:31-39 28 So even by this inspired literary result, the Spirit is teaching us more about the importance of hearing, seeing, and fearing: Seeing (e) the importance of unity (dxa/echad)—by seeing how Vertical and horizontal unity are both essential (and quite interrelated) in the Kingdom of Elohim—we will then know the fear/dread of hwhy because we will also know and recognize that the Most High will simply not allow His Unity to be opposed for any great length of time.77 If we see the Unity/Supremacy/Purpose of hwhy to be unassailable and unchallengeable, then we will also have dxp/pachad (fear/dread) before Him; for absolutely nothing will stand in the way of His sovereign will;78 and those who do oppose Him will surely suffer His vengeance and retribution: 9 Know therefore that hwhy your Elohim, He is Elohim, the faithful El, who keeps the covenant and the chesed/lovingkindness with those that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations, 10 and repays those that hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him that hates Him: He will repay him to his face. Deuteronomy 7:9-10 And those who have seen the retribution of hwhy also have dxp/pachad (fear/dread) before Him: They know the results are not pleasant when His anger and wrath are finally stirred up to avenge His Land and His people; as we have already read: You, fearful are You, and who may stand in your sight when once you are angry? Tehillim/Psalms 76:6 Through the secret of the Shema, we are to have/maintain the fear/dread before hwhy that sees and knows He will not long allow His Word to be challenged by those in rebellion against His Eternal Torah; and when He does arise in anger, the nations will tremble in fear before Him: Put them in fear, hwhy : Let the nations know themselves to be but men. Selah Tehillim/Psalms 9:20 But hwhy is the true Elohim; He is the living Elohim, and an everlasting King: at His wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to abide His indignation. Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 10:10 77 Deuteronomy 7:9-10 78 Proverbs 21:30 29 So the Shema teaches us we cannot fear until we see and that we cannot see until we hear! The transgression of the wicked declares within my heart: “There is no fear/dxp/pachad of Elohim before his eyes.” Tehillim/Psalms 36:1 We will show this fear is especially connected to the Shabbat, the Day which hwhy will most surely defend. Nechemyah/Nehemiah knew the dread of hwhy and His imminent wrath upon those who forsake his Shabbat. The Dread/Terror of hwhy and the Shabbat To review once more, fear/dxp/ pachad has a misparim of 92 and a place value of 29: ← ← ← (mv) 92 = (4) d + (8) x + (80) p = dxp = pachad = fear ← ← ← (pv) 29 = (4) d + (8) x + (17) p = dxp = pachad = fear The Spirit reveals part of the significance here relates to the Shabbat, since Psalm 92 was inspired to be “A Psalm, a Song for the Day of the Shabbat.”79 When Nechemyah castigated the men of Yahudah for working on the Shabbat, he spoke to the nobles of the dread/fear of hwhy and the great evil that already come upon the city of Yerushalayim for their historical profaning of the Day: 15 In those days I saw in Yahudah some treading wine presses on the Shabbat, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the Shabbat Day: and I testified in the day in which they sold provisions. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the Shabbat to the children of Yahudah, and in Yerushalayim. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Yahudah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Shabbat Day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our Elohim bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Yisrael by profaning the Shabbat? 19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Yerushalayim began to be dark before the Shabbat, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Shabbat: and I set some of my servants at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Shabbat Day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Yerushalayim once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge you about the 79 And the dread of hwhy is conveyed in this Psalm as well. See Psalm 92:6-9 30 wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more on the Shabbat. 22 And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Shabbat Day. Remember me, my Elohim, in this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your chesed. Nechemyah 13:15-22 There is certainly a connection with the dread (92) of hwhy, and His wrath that is to be brought on those who spurn His Torah; and the Shabbat is pivotal to the whole dynamic between observing versus profaning His Word and ways.80 Severe were the warnings which Jeremiah gave before the captivity relative to keeping the Shabbat,81 and severe were the warnings which Nechemyah gave afterwards. Fearing This Great and Awesome Name: What is the Result? Yet another text in the Five Books of Mosheh refers to the Shema and it also indicates that truly fearing the Name of hwhy will result in Yisrael upholding the precepts of the Torah: 58 If you will not observe to do all the words of this Torah that are written in this book, that you may fear this magnificent and fearful Name, hwhy your Elohim, 59 then hwhy will make your plagues wonderful, and the plagues of your seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60 And He will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you were afraid of; and they shall cleave to you. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this Torah, them will hwhy bring upon you, until you are destroyed. 62 And you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because you did not hearken to the voice of hwhy your Elohim. Deuteronomy 28:58-62 If we fulfill the Shema by daily/continually seeking to hear the Voice of hwhy, we will also be found honoring His Name and keeping His Torah. This conveys the very same thing seen in the life of Abraham: Because the patriarch heard the Voice of hwhy, he subsequently kept the charge of hwhy: His commandments, His statutes, and His laws.82 Such is the call for all who would walk in the steps of Abraham and enter the Kingdom with reward and greatness.83 hwhy Will Be King Over All the Earth The Shema states that hwhy is the One and only Elohim. Understanding this, we also see a Zechariah prophecy which refers to the Shema being upheld, worldwide, when hwhy reigns from Mount Tziyon as King over all the earth: 80 Ezekiel 22:26 81 Jeremiah 17:19-27 82 Genesis 26:4-5 83 Romans 4:12, Matthew 5:17-20 31 And hwhy shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall hwhy be one, and His Name one. Zechariah 14:9 Of course, this Scripture provides us with a direct connection between the Shema and the exaltation of hwhy as King over All things. In that day, hwhy will be the only one and His Name the only one. This provides a very clear explanation as to why it is not a stretch of the imagination to believe speaking forth the Shema is also recognizing the one and only King; and thus, proclaiming the Shema is/should be submission to His Rule and constitutes taking upon oneself the Yoke of the Kingdom. The Commandment of the Eternal Elohim, the Eternal King When he wrote to the Romans about “the commandment of the Everlasting Elohim,” to what was Sha’ul referring? 25 Now to Him that is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of eSwhy the Messiah, according to the revelation of the secret which has been kept in silence through times of ages past, 26 but is now manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the Eternal Elohim, is made known to all the nations for the obedience of faith: 27 to the only wise Elohim, through eSwhy the Messiah, to whom be the splendor age-abiding, amein. Romans 16:26-27 We believe the Shema is “the commandment of the Eternal Elohim.” And having just mentioned fulfilling the Shema in an earlier part of his letter to Timothy, Sha’ul once more connected this Foremost Commandment84 with the Eternal, Age- Abiding King: 17 Now, unto the King of the Ages––incorruptible, invisible, Elohim only wise—be honor and splendor, to the ages of ages, amein. 1Timothy 1:17 Recall that the Shema identifies with the Kingdom of Heaven. But how is this so, unless it also reveals the King? And in what light is our King, thus, revealed? We look, once more, at the first line of the Shema: dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema one YHWH (is) our YHWH Israel Hear one (is) Elohim 84 (i.e., the Shema) 32 As was previously mentioned, the Hebrew word formed by the enlarged AYIN (e) and DALET (d) is the word “de/eyd,” meaning “testimony,” or “witness.” Yet with a different vowel pointing, these same two letters form a word that means perpetual, beyond, eternity: de = ad = for ever, beyond, perpetuity King David exalted hwhy and His perpetual Kingship: hwhy is King for ever (Mlwe) and ever (de): the nations are perished out of His land. Tehillim/Psalms 10:16 And hwhy proves and shows forth His Kingship because He is the eternal, everexisting Mighty One, reigning on High: For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity (de ), whose Name is qadosh: I dwell in the high and qadosh place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Yeshayahu/Isaiah 57:15 When we speak forth the Shema, we are proclaiming the Kingship of the One who inhabits the Aes. And because He inhabits eternity, hwhy is the Eternal King. Blessed be His Name. Teaching the Shema as the Preeminent Commandment Proved that eSwhy was (and is) the Mashiach/Messiah! It is a matter of such great, prophetic significance and amazement that describing it is really beyond words. When the Mashiach came forth proclaiming the Kingdom of Elohim, that He would be teaching the Shema to be the preeminent commandment actually provides us with yet another proof He was, indeed, the long-awaited Anointed One of hwhy and the King of Yisrael. Recall, once more, that the misparim for the Hebrew word “emS/Shema/Hear” is 410: ← ← ← (mv) 410 = (70) e + (40) m + (300) S = emS = shema = hear So the first word of the greatest Torah commandment is “Shema” and adds to a misparim value of 410. And this is where the Inspired and Elohim-Breathed Word of the Most High becomes so very amazing! In Hebrew, the title “Mashiach” means “Anointed.” As many will already know, this is the word which we translate into English as “Messiah.” But let us look at the misparim value (mv), the place value (pv), and the full value (fv) of this Hebrew word: 33 ← ← = xySm = Mashiach = Anointed/Messiah ← ← ← (mv) 358 = (8) x + (10) y + (300) S + (40) m ← ← ← (pv) 52 = (8) x + (10) y + (21) S+ (13) m ================= (fv) 410 But 410 is the misparim value (mv) of the word, “Shema.” So the full value (fv) of the Hebrew word “xySm/Mashiach/Messiah” points directly to the Shema and the One who had/has ears to hear the will of the Father and to do it!85 The Messiah taught us the Torah and He taught us the preeminence that walking in love must have in fulfilling it; and so, eSwhy taught the preeminence of the Foremost Commandment, even the Shema. That His title of “Mashiach” would contain this very number (410 = Shema) is simply beyond description. Blessed be the Name of hwhy, Who alone does wonderful things! He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear Having pondered the many times and the many ways in which eSwhy taught the importance of the Shema, it should now be rather evident that when He spoke of having “ears to hear,” the Messiah was, once more, directing the hearts of those who would be faithful to uphold this Preeminent Commandment by loving hwhy, the Father: He that has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15 He that has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13:9 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.86 He that has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:4387 As the woman at the well said, when the Messiah comes, He will declare to us all things.88 Also note the following: We have in this prophecy another text by which the Messiah is directly connecting the Shema to overcoming and entering the Kingdom of Heaven/Elohim! Those who keep the Shema, those who have ears to hear, will be those who overcome; and it is they who will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of the Father. We move on to still other texts in which the Messiah is directing us toward the Shema. 85 Isaiah 50:4-6, John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38 86 Daniel 12:3 87 Another text directly linking the Shema with the Kingdom! 88 John 4:25 34 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies: To him that overcomes, to him I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of Elohim. Revelation 2:7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies: He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies: To him that overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he that receives it. Revelation 2:17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies … Revelation 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22 And we have seen how central the Shema is to the teachings of all of the prophets of Yisrael, including the first servant-leaders who followed the Messiah and then taught others of His ways. Sha’ul, Kepha/Peter, and Ya’acov/James89 all set forth the Shema as Preeminent. As we end our study, for those who desire to have ears that hear the Voice/Spirit of the Most High Elohim, absolutely nothing compares to fasting-derived meekness and humility.90 Fasting and prayer will open one’s ears to hear the Voice of the Spirit as does nothing else. For it is only through fasting and prayer may we seek and find hwhy with the whole heart.91 In Hebrew, the misparim for “Mwu/tsōme/fasting” is 136: ← ← ← (mv) 136 = (40) M + (6) w + (90) u = Mwu = tsōme = fasting/fast Yet this value of 136 is also the misparim for the Hebrew word which means “voice,” lwq/kol: ← ← ← (mv) 136 = (30) l + (6) w + (100) q = lwq = kol = voice 89 James 2:19 90 Zephaniah 2:3 91 Jeremiah 29:13 35 As Yeshayahu/Isaiah wrote, we should be fasting to cause our voice to be heard on high92 (not fighting for our rights through horizontal strife and contention93). That is certainly a major part of what the Spirit would teach us with this most direct and obvious number connection. But even more importantly, we should be fasting to keep, fulfill, and uphold the Shema, the Preeminent Commandment in all of Scripture: We should be fasting (136) and praying to seek for ears that are open—for ears that will hear—so that, like Abraham, we will hear and obey the Voice (136) of hwhy Elohim of Yisrael. Doing so conveys the love towards hwhy that He desires from each of us. May all of our readers so seek and find Him. His Name is great in Yisrael! C.P. 6/2012 – 12/23/2012 t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a The author of this study is a Messianic writer who ministers the Word of hwhy , in part, through free articles provided to feed the Messiah’s sheep worldwide. He believes the Spirit reveals the Hebrew misparim/numbers—as given in the inspired Aleph-Beit—provide us with the Most High’s very own Commentary on His Eternal Word. t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a PC Personal Copyright 2012-2013, by the author. Version 5.0: 11/27/2013 This document may be freely copied and distributed if it is left unaltered and in its entirety. It must also be given away without cost to recipients, and it may not be included in any publication without the author’s written permission. hwhy El Shaddai will rebuke anyone who copies these truths for republication and/or who subsequently attempts to reproduce and sell them. Isaiah 55:1-2, Micah 3:11, 1Peter 5:2 92 Isaiah 58:4 93 Isaiah 58:4 (“you fast for strife and contention”) 36 We believe most copyrights have been abused worldwide in religious circles as false shepherds and other merchants feed on the sin of the people. These many abuses have filled the worship house of hwhy with money changers who hinder True Worship by robbing and oppressing the poor.94 Many have turned reverence and the worship of hwhy into a means of great, personal gain.95 We assert such things were never meant to be.96 Hence, this copyright is intended to allow for free distribution of the Word of hwhy with the following, minimal limitations: • This document may be copied and distributed (or freely printed in its pdf format after being downloaded from the Internet): 1. If it is left unaltered. 2. If it is left in its entirety. 3. And if it is given away at absolutely no cost. Matthew 11:5, Luke 4:19, Galatians 2:10 • Neither this article, nor any portion of this article, may be included in any publication which is sold. This stipulation applies regardless of the nature of the organization or the nature of its sales, meaning: profit or nonprofit. Further, whether an organization’s publication is of a religious nature, or otherwise, this stipulation still applies. • With the exception of our first stipulation (i.e., the one specified under the first bullet point giving permission to photocopy the work in its entirety), publishing any portion of this work without the author’s written permission is strictly prohibited. For other free documents which are offered to provide encouragement and edification from the Word of hwhy, please refer to the following websites: http://www.scribd.com/yhwh26echad13/documents http://www.yahuyahweh.org/iah t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a The Gospel of Shalom To obtain a free copy of the book, The Gospel of Shalom, as well as many spiritual songs of immense edification by Renalee Colon, see the following website: http://www.wheretheglorywalks.com/ t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a 94 Zechariah 7:10 95 Micah 3:11, 1Timothy 6:5-10, 1Peter 5:2 96 Isaiah 55:1,2, Mark 11:15-17 37 An Excellent Translation of the Scriptures “ISRV” is an acronym which means: “INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE RESEARCH VERSION.” If this acronym has been used in the current document, it is to indicate we have quoted a Scripture text from the excellent translation produced by the INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE RESEARCH. These believers have published a most helpful, edifying version of the Word of hwhy which is entitled “The Scriptures.” For those wishing to make further inquiry, the ISR website address is: http://www.isr-messianic.org t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a “The ALEPH-BEIT Place Value and Misparim Charts” appear on the following page >> 38 The ALEPH-BEIT Place Value and Misparim Charts (All Charts are Read From Right to Left) ← ← ← Misparim Value (MV) Place Value (PV) Name Letter 1 …….………………… 1 ……………….. ALEPH ………… a 2 …….………………… 2 ……………….. BEIT …………… b 3 …….………………… 3 ……………….. GIMEL ………… g 4 …….………………… 4 ……………….. DALET ………… d 5 …….………………… 5 ……………….. HE ……………… h 6 …….………………… 6 ……………….. VAV …………… w 7 …….………………… 7 ……………….. ZAYIN …………… z 8 …….………………… 8 ……………….. CHET …………… x 9 …….………………… 9 ……………….. TET ……………… j 10 …….………………… 10 ……………… YOD ……………… y 20 …….………………… 11 ……………… CAPH …………… K, k 30 …….………………… 12 ……………… LAMED ………… l 40 …….………………… 13 ……………… MEM …………… M, m 50 …….………………… 14 ……………… NUN …………… N, n 60 …….………………… 15 ……………… SAMECH ………… o 70 …….………………… 16 ……………….. AYIN ……………. e 80 …….………………… 17 ……………… PE ……………… P, p 90 …….………………… 18 ……………… TZADE ………….. U, u 100 …….……………… 19 ……………… KOF …………….. q 200 …….……………… 20 ……………… RESH …………… r 300 …….……………… 21 ……………… SHIN, SEEN ……… s, S 400 …….……………… 22 ……………… TAV ……………… t A letter’s place value, or what some people call the ordinal value, is simply obtained by finding its numerical order, or position, within the ALEPH-BEIT. So, from first to last, we have ALEPH = 1 while TAV = 22. Below are provided more compact Place Value and Misparim Charts which readers may wish to print and cut out so you may more readily confirm the calculations in this document as well as finding the MV or PV of any Hebrew word. ————————— PLACE VALUE (PV) CHART ———————– ← ← ← (11) k (10) y (9) j (8) x (7) z (6) w (5) h (4) d (3) g (2) b (1) a ← ← ← (22) t (21) S (20)r (19) q (18) u (17) p (16) e (15) o (14) n (13) m (12)l ——————————————————————————————— —————————MISPARIM VALUE (MV) CHART ———————– ← ← ← (20) k (10) y (9) j (8) x (7) z (6) w (5) h (4) d (3) g (2) b (1) a ← ← ← (400) t (300) S (200)r (100) q (90) u (80) p (70) e (60) o (50) n (40) m (30)l ———————————————————————————————
53 Deuteronomy 4:5-7, Numbers 14:21, 1Kings 4:30-34, Psalm 22:27-28, 65:2, 72:11,19, 86:9, Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:9, 66:22-23, Micah 4:1-3, Habakkuk 2:14, Revelation 15:4 54 Mishle/Proverbs 3:1-8, 7:1-5, 1Kings 4:30-34 55 Malachi 3:6 14 Many make the mistake of thinking that “new” means something to be contrasted with what was “old”—as though the two are opposites. But eSwhy the Messiah had already made it clear that the Shema—to love hwhy with all the heart, soul, and mind—was the Greatest Commandment of the Eternal Torah. And in the very same breath, He had shown the Second Greatest Commandment to be loving one’s neighbor as oneself.56 So what was new about the Messiah’s teaching in this matter? The newness came as He showed forth His living Example of the love and humility by which we are to walk in fulfilling “the old.” The apostle John wrote likewise, indicating that nothing of the Law and Prophets—that which had been “from the beginning”—would ever been removed: 7 Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which you heard. 1John 2:7 With these lines, John spoke of the Torah—the Word of Elohim that takes us back to the very beginning: In the beginning, created Elohim the heavens and the earth … B’reshit/Genesis 1:1 Then John continues and shows how, in the Messiah, this old commandment is to be fully upheld in a new and living way: 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in Him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. 9 He that says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness even until now. 10 He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and knows not where he goes, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1John 2:7 This conveys the same meaning of old and new as taught by the Messiah. The “new” is designed to help us finally keep the “old” in the way hwhy has always intended. In the New Covenant, the Spirit is now writing His Torah on our hearts and minds as hwhy has always longed to do: 8 For finding fault with them, He says, Behold, the days come, says hwhy , when I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisrael and with the house of Yahudah: 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, 56 Matthew 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-31 15 and I regarded them not, says hwhy . 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisrael after those days, says hwhy : I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts:57 and I will be to them an Elohim, and they shall be to Me a people… Hebrews 8:8-10 And after being resurrected, eSwhy would later indicate that His followers should take forth His love into all the nations as His witnesses: But you shall receive power, when Ruach ha’Qodesh has come upon you: and you shall be My witnesses (de) in Yerushalayim, and in all Yahudah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 Walking in love, teaching the Shema, and teaching all of the Torah, these men would continue to be a witness (de) to all the nations as they stood for the Unity of the Elohim of Yisrael. These leaders would be teaching the nations to observe all that the Messiah had commanded them and those teachings would certainly include the Shema58—the Foremost Commandment—along with all of the Eternal Torah which eSwhy fully upheld.59 18 And eSwhy came, and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and teach all nations, immersing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Set Apart Spirit. 20 Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, amein. Matthew 28:8-20 Like Yisrael of old, these men/women were to be witnesses! They were to be examples of the Messiah’s love as they upheld the Shema and taught all the nations the Age-Abiding Torah of hwhy. So we see the plan of hwhy to bring all nations into His Israeli worship—and to use all Yisrael as His witnesses—has never changed. And central to this is His Eternal Torah that will remain the Constitution of His Kingdom across all 1000 generations60—reaching into a time which is many thousands of years in the future from the present day. 57 Ezekiel 36:26-27, Isaiah 51:7-8, Psalm 40:8 58 Matthew 22:34-38, Mark 12:28-30 59 Matthew 5:17-20 60 Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 105:8 16 The Door of Vertical and Horizontal Unity: Entering the Kingdom All of this brings us to the importance of unity … echad … oneness. Some people strive to have Vertical Unity while taking little or no thought for walking in a way that will bring horizontal unity. They are Vertically pious and place their intent on serving the Most High, but take little or no thought for having authentic love and humility towards their neighbor and fellow man. You may have passed such people on the street and found they acted as though you did not exist. Still others strive to have horizontal unity—seeming to reach out in love and to serve others— but through their rejection of the Torah, they absolutely fail to understand the humility that hwhy requires of them for obtaining Vertical Unity.61 They place their intent on serving their neighbor/fellow man yet take no thought for having authentic love and humility towards the Most High. But the Shema teaches that both aspects of love-inspired unity are of significant importance for those who would inherit greatness in the Kingdom. Vertical and horizontal unity go far beyond the usual thoughts people have of merely being pleasant to everyone and maintaining a positive demeanor while doing our best to love and serve them. Perhaps we cannot understand unity until we have seen its antithesis: What does the opposite of unity look like? We will see disunity either opposes the Supremacy of hwhy and His Oneness with His people, or it opposes the oneness which hwhy has established, via His Torah, to create peace and order within a society. t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a It is not coincidental the DALET (d)—the Door—is set on the word, dxa/echad, meaning one/unity. If we fail to unify, then we will fail to enter through that special Door (d); we will fail to enter in and partake in the Millennial Kingdom: Many will fail to inherit greatness and reward in the Millennial Kingdom due to their lack of authentic love; they will have failed to maintain both Vertical and horizontal unity. Yet the Shema teaches both. This is why eSwhy—when declaring the Shema to be the Greatest Commandment in the Torah—then proceeded to say the Second Greatest Commandment is like the Foremost and Greatest: loving one’s neighbor as oneself is in the same spirit as the Shema. 61 Compare Micah 6:8 and Deuteronomy 10:12. Micah was teaching Yisrael that, to walk humbly with our Elohim, we must be upholding His Torah. Disregard for His Torah is the definition which hwhy Himself gives for pride/arrogance. See Psalm 119:21, 51, 69, 78, 85, 122, Isaiah 13:11 17 28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And eSwhy answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, Yisrael; hwhy our Elohim, hwhy is one. 30 And you shall love hwhy your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like it, even this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself: there is no other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said to him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one Elohim; and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love a neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when eSwhy saw that he answered discreetly, he said to him, You are not far from the Kingdom of Elohim.62 Mark 12:28-34 John wrote likewise of the two, foremost commandments: If a man says, I love Elohim, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that does not loves his brother whom he has seen, how can he love Elohim whom he has not seen? 1John 4:20 We believe John (and all Hebrews) knew about the Door of Unity and we believe they also knew how this word dxa/echad—being composed of certain letters— also had a special meaning: dxa echad/unity As we pondered earlier, the letter DALET (d) represents a door, and the present study has already shown this Door—the door which is opened to those who love hwhy —is our entrance into the Kingdom. Yet take notice of the Hebrew word formed in front of the door: xa ach/brother The Shema speaks of Vertical Unity, of our love and devotion to hwhy; but it does not omit a strong statement over the importance of horizontal unity. Since Elohim is One, then He is one with our brothers; and if we wish to be one with hwhy, then 62 Another text which shows the Messiah knew and taught the connection between truly upholding the Shema and entering the Kingdom of Elohim. 18 we must strive to be one with them. The first murderer did not walk in unity and, in his open rebellion, Cain even had the audacity to ask hwhy the now famous question: Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:9 For those who desire to walk in unity/echad/oneness with the Most High, the Shema certainly teaches we are to be our brother’s keeper. But unity means far more than just “being nice” to others: Unity must be understood in relation to the Torah. Thus, we should ponder the opposite of unity as it relates to the Word of hwhy. And upon doing this, it will become very clear why love and unity are so interrelated. Notice how each of the Ten Words relates to unity and how violating them brings about disunity: Five Commandments appeared on each of the Two Tables of Stone. A synopsis of each command on the First Table is seen below: I. No other elohim before Me. II. No images of false worship. III. Do not to profane the Qadosh Name of hwhy. IV. Uphold the qadosh/set apart Shabbat and honor the qadosh Presence of hwhy in this Day. V. Honor your father and your mother. The First Table of the Ten Commandments relates to love for hwhy. Those who violate any of these commandments break the oneness/unity which hwhy wants with His people:63 But your iniquities have separated between you and your Elohim, and your sins have hidden the face from you, that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2 When Yisrael turned aside to idolatry, they were joined to false gods and this broke their unity with hwhy Elohim. That the Fifth Commandment relates to parents and children further shows how the family unit is so important in the True Worship of the Elohim of Yisrael. Honor for parents translates into honor for hwhy and His Name.64 Dishonoring parents breaks the parent-child unity which hwhy wishes to see within a family. 63 Isaiah 56:3, Zechariah 2:11, 1Corinthians 6:17 64 Malachi 1:6 19 When one breaks any of the commands on the Second Table, is very evident how disunity occurs. A synopsis of each command on the Second Table is seen below: VI. You shall not murder. VII. You shall not commit adultery. VIII. You shall not steal. IX. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. X. You shall not covet … Let us ponder unity and disunity as they relate to the horizontal commandments given on the Second Table: VI. You shall not murder. Murder brings on an unjust death. Yet what did James write about how death occurs? “For as the body without the spirit is dead” … James/Ya’acov 2:26 Does murder, then, break the unity/oneness of the body and the spirit? It does. And breaking the unity between body and spirit equals death. VII. You shall not commit adultery. What about adultery? Does adultery break the unity between and man and his wife? It does. And violations of marital unity have caused an immeasurable amount of human pain and suffering across the millennia. VIII. You shall not steal. Does stealing break the unity between and man and his possessions? It does. And ownership is an important concept in the Torah. IX. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Does bearing false witness break the unity between and man and his reputation? It does. And in a legal system which advocates both corporal and capital punishment, the results could be weighty, if not fatal. But since a good name is to be chosen above great riches,65 bearing false witness is stealing something from a man that is even more valuable than his money. X. You shall not covet … Does coveting break the unity in a person’s mind between what he or she presently has and what that one wrongfully desires? It does. Did not Solomon write that what the eyes see is better than what the heart desires? And does coveting break the unity in a person’s mind so that there is no longer trust in the emunah, or faithfulness, in the Most High Elohim? It does. 65 Mishle/Proverbs 22:1 20 Given the above contemplations, it is now rather clear how disunity either opposes the Supremacy of hwhy and the Oneness He wants with His people, or else it opposes the unity which hwhy has established to create peace and order within the Kingdom of all those who are living in subjection to His Torah. As we have seen, the misparim for echad is 13: 13 = (4) d +(8) x +(1) a = dxa = echad = one/unity In closing, it is not a coincidence that “echad” adds to 13, and that 13 is only half of the misparim for the Qadosh Name: 26 = (5) h + (6) w +(5) h +(10) y = hwhy= YHWH Oneness (13) is incomplete if it is only expressed towards our fellow man (as is common today in many religions). And oneness (13) is incomplete if only expressed towards our Heavenly Father (as is common today with so many who seek to walk with the Most High and yet have little or no love and humility towards their fellow man). We are not setting apart His Name66 unless we become expressions of His unity and unless that unity is Vertical—directed toward our Creator and Redeemer—as well horizontal—directed toward our fellow man. The psalmist wrote: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.”67 If we express true love/unity (13) towards our Heavenly Father and true love/unity (13) towards our fellow man, it is only then that we will begin to be the greatest expression of His Qadosh Name (since 13 + 13 = 26); and it is only then that we will be a living testimony to the atonement that Messiah came to bring to all as He fulfills His ministry to take away the sins of the world.68 The Hearing Ear and the Seeing Eye Having studied the Shema and its large, peculiar letters, it should now be more evident why King Shelemo/Solomon wrote of “the hearing ear and the seeing eye:” The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, hwhy has made even both of them. Proverbs 20:12 A more literal rendering from the Hebrew text would be as follows: The ear hears, and the eye sees: hwhy has made even the two of them. Proverbs 20:12 66 Matthew 6:9-10, 1Peter 3:15 67 Psalm 119:2 68 John 1:29,36, 12:32, Ephesians 1:9-10, Colossians 1:19-20 21 And one might rightly wonder why Shelemo wrote: … “the hearing ear and the seeing eye.” Why did he not place vision before hearing: …“the seeing eye and the hearing ear?” One would especially think this to have been the case since nearly everyone in our days would place far more value on the ability to see than on the ability to hear! But this was not the case: Solomon set the hearing ear before the seeing eye. We believe King Shelemo/Solomon wrote by the Spirit and that he presented hearing and sight in the order given for more than just one reason. Recall the enlarged AYIN ( e ) on the Hebrew word for “hear” which has been written in the Masoretic text of Deuteronomy 6:4: emS shema/hear. As previously indicated, the letter AYIN ( e ) represents the eye and, thus, “seeing,” “sight,” and “vision.” So the Spirit is telling us that the ability to see—to truly see—will only come if we first have the ability to hear! Hearing comes before seeing; thus, seeing is quite connected to hearing! In Mishle/Proverbs 20:12, we not only believe King Shelemo/Solomon wrote by the Spirit but that, as he did so, the wise ruler of Yisrael was referring to nothing less than the Shema itself: Spiritual sight/insight/vision will not be ours unless we first have ears to hear. And let us ponder those incidents which we have all surely encountered: Have you ever been in (or witnessed) a discussion/argument with someone and, although knowing you (or the proponent of a view/idea/fact being presented) were 100% correct, found that the opposing person was absolutely unable to see? Figuratively speaking, you could even say the opposing party was blind! But why was the other person unable to see/perceive and to understand your point of view? Why were they blind? Was it not because he or she was unable and/or unwilling to truly hear what you were saying? We could rightly say, then, a lack of hearing results in blindness! And Ya’acov/James warned how people can be absolutely blinded by the anger that closes their ears; he wrote of this phenomenon when stating that man’s anger creates within him the inability to hear: 22 19 You know, my beloved brothers, but let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for man’s anger works not the righteousness of Elohim. James 1:19-20 The unrighteous anger of man blocks the ears and closes the eyes. Would you, then, agree with hwhy that hearing has to come before seeing? And is it any wonder, then, that the very first word of the Greatest Commandment in all of the Torah is the word “emS/shema/hear”? Sight is extremely important, but without the ability and the willingness to truly hear, we will also have eyes that are blind: we will be absolutely unable to see.69 t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a As he wrote by Ruach ha’Qodesh,70 we believe Yeshayahu/Isaiah also referred to the Shema in still another text found in the scrolls attributed to him: Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, that brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name; by the greatness of His might, and for that He is strong in power, not one is lacking! Isaiah 40:26 Once we have bowed in reverent humility before the Most High, and once we have fulfilled the Shema by giving ourselves to hear His Voice, we can then lift up our eyes on high and see more of His greatness. Notice the first three Hebrew words of the text for “Lift up your eyes on high:” ← ← ← warw Mkynye Mwrm wav and see your eyes on high lift Sequentially pulling off the first letter of the first three words (appearing above in blue), we see formed the Hebrew word “shema/emv:” emv shema/hear. The Spirit shows us time and again that those who truly wish to see must first be willing to draw near to hwhy with a reverent, loving submission that burns in a heart ready to hear and obey His Word. Blessed be His Name and blessed be the One who reveals the ancient paths of peace and rest revealed in His awesome Word. 69 Psalm 115:5,8, Revelation 3:16-17 70 The Spirit of hwhy. 23 “The Commandment” (Singular) is the Shema In Deuteronomy 6:1, the Word of hwhy introduces us, in advance, to the Shema by referring to it as “the Commandment:” 1 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which hwhy your Elohim commanded to teach you, that you may do them in the land where you go to possess it: 2 that you may fear hwhy your Elohim, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you—you, and your son, and your son’s son—all the days of your life: and that your days may be prolonged. Deuteronomy 6:1-2 Of course, only a few lines later, we read “the Commandment”—the Shema in Debarim/Deuteronomy 6:4-5—along with the statutes and judgments that immediately follow it. Because the Messiah recognized the Shema as the Commandment, as the Preeminent Command in all of the Torah, we are not surprised to see the emissaries making reference to this pivotal teaching as well. Sha’ul wrote to Timothy about the telov/telos/goal of “the Commandment:” But the goal of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned … 1Timothy 1:5 We notice here the love spoken of is three-fold—just like the three facets of love seen in the Shema: 1. With all your heart: … out of a pure heart … 2. With all your soul: … a good conscience … 3. And with all your might: … and sincere faith …. Later, as the letter nears it close, Sha’ul then exhorts Timothy to take hold of ageabiding life. In so doing, Sha’ul once more mentioned the Shema as he enjoined Timothy to keep “the Commandment” until the very end: 12 Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the age-abiding life, whereunto you were called, and did confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the sight of Elohim, who gives life to all things, and of the Messiah eSwhy —who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession—14 that you keep the commandment without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Sovereign eSwhy the Messiah, 15 which in its own times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Sovereign of sovereigns; 16 who only has immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal, amein. 1Timothy 6:12-15 24 Writing to the Romans, Sha’ul also indicated that “the Commandment” (the Shema) was to result in the obedience of faith among all the nations: 25 Now to him that is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of eSwhy the Messiah, according to the revelation of the secret which has been kept in silence through times eternal, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal Elohim, is made known to all the nations unto obedience of faith: 27 to the only wise Elohim, through eSwhy the Messiah, to whom be the splendor for ever, amein. Romans 16:25-27 Upholding the Shema: Many Will See and Fear The Shema teaches us we cannot fear until we see and that we cannot see until we hear! To see the Kingdom of Elohim, just what is it that we must see? What must be before our eyes? The unrighteous contrast provides us with the answer: The transgression of the wicked declares within my heart: “There is no fear/dxp/pachad of Elohim before his eyes.” Tehillim/Psalms 36:1 The word for fear is dxp/pachad and it means “dread,” or “fear.” We will say considerably more about this word in just a moment. But because the lawless do not hear, they also cannot see: They cannot see the fear of Elohim. Referring to the Shema, Sha’ul wrote likewise: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of Elohim: I speak this to your shame. 1Corinthians 15:34 But to understand the fear of hwhy and to find the knowledge of Elohim, we must first fulfill/keep the Shema: We must incline our ears to wisdom. So wrote Shelemo: 1 My son, if you will receive my words, and lay up my commandments with you; 2 so as to incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry after discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of hwhy , and find the knowledge of Elohim. Mishle/Proverbs 2:1-5 Hearing the Voice of hwhy is the beginning of fearing Elohim and walking before Him in reverence. And notice how similar are the Hebrew words for see and fear in these texts: 25 ← ← ← wnyhlal hlht sdx rys ypb Ntyw to our praise new a song in my And He Elohim mouth gave ← ← ← hwhyb wxjbyw waryyw Mybr wary in YHWH and trust and many they will fear see ~ Tehillim/Psalms 40:3 ~ waryyw Myqydu waryw and the and they fear righteous will see Translated: … “and the righteous will see and fear” ~ Tehillim/Psalms 52:6 ~ While the Hebrew root words for “see ( har )” and “fear ( ary )” are slightly different, readers will notice when they are placed in the manuscript, per Inspired Hebrew grammar, all the letters are the same (while not identical, both words are composed of all the same letters: w – y -r – a ). If we hear/shema, then we may also see; and only if we see may we then fear. Yet apart from honoring the Name of hwhy and His Oneness/Supremacy/Preeminence, we will not hear, nor will we see, nor will we fear. The Fear/Dread of hwhy : Even the Demons Believe and Shudder A superficial contemplation of the Shema may not engender the fear/dread of hwhy that actually emanates from the Inspired lines of this all-important and most Preeminent segment of Scripture. But Ya’acov/James was referring to the Shema when he wrote: You believe that hwhy is One? You do well! Even the demons believe, and shudder! James 2:19 In speaking this rebuke, Ya’acov was correcting the believers for their evident lack of the fear/dread that even demons possess.71 Sha’ul wrote likewise: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of Elohim: I speak this to your shame. 1Corinthians 15:34 The Shema also teaches us the Preeminent things related to the knowledge of Elohim. Recall that the enlarged AYIN (e) and DALET (d) are letters which form the word “eyd” (de), meaning “witness,” or “testimony:” 71 Sha’ul wrote likewise! 26 dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema one YHWH our Elohim YHWH Israel Hear But the reversing the enlarged AYIN (e) and DALET (d), the resulting Hebrew word is the masculine form of the word “dey-ah” (ed), meaning “knowledge:” Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge (ed)? Job 37:16 So while speaking the Shema makes us witnesses ( de ) of the Supreme Rule of the Most High, it also reminds us to grow in the knowledge ( ed ) of Elohim. And this is an infinite sojourn of a magnificent and unending scope. Knowledge! The True Knowledge of Elohim! We just saw how, in Proverbs 2, Solomon wrote that knowledge leads to fear; even so, we provide this text once more asking readers to notice that we must first hear before we may then fear: 1 My son, if you will receive my words, and lay up my commandments with you; 2 so as to incline your ear to wisdom,72 and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry after discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures: 5 then you will understand the fear of hwhy , and find the knowledge of Elohim. Mishle/Proverbs 2:1-5 Yet, in our days, increasingly many lack the dread that says we better not toy with the Word, the will, and the ways of the Most High. But the fear/dread of hwhy knows the reality of the line that asks a most obvious question: You, fearful are You, and who may stand in your sight when once you are angry? Tehillim/Psalms 76:6 The implied answer is: “Absolutely no one!” And the immediate implication of this question is the additional statement: “You do not want to see Him when He gets angry!” The Messiah was the Qadosh One73 of Yisrael who ultimately fulfilled the Shema in His perfect Life of upholding the Torah and leaving us an Example in which to 72 (“Incline your ear” equals shema/hear) 73 Isaiah 41:14 27 walk.74 And did demons shudder in dxp/pachad/fear/dread before the Messiah— the One who was/is the Word—the Shema—made Flesh?75 So it is not coincidence that both words (qadosh and shema) add to the same value in Hebrew; it is by Providential Design: ← ← ← 410 = (300) S + (6)w + (4) d + (100) q = Swdq = qadosh = set apart ← ← ← 410 = (70) e + (40) m + (300) S = emS = shema = hear From Echad (dxa ) to Pachad (dxp ) So why do the demons believe that hwhy is One and subsequently shudder in fear and dread before Him? The Hebrew word for fear/dread is dxp/pachad and its misparim is 92: ← ← ← (mv) 92 = (4) d + (8) x + (80) p = dxp = pachad = fear/dread hwhy really calls for our attention with this word since its place value is 29—the reversal, or mirror image, of 92, its misparim: ← ← ← (pv) 29 = (4) d + (8) x + (17) p = dxp = pachad = fear If we see (e) that the Oneness/Unity/dxa/Echad of hwhy cannot be challenged—that His sovereign will permeates and overrides all persons, all actions, all circumstances, and all things He has created76—and if we see (e) that His wrath is upon all those who oppose and rebel against that Unity/(dxa), then we will also understand this fear/dread. And amazingly enough, this actually describes how we may derive the Hebrew word dxp/pachad—the word which refers to this fear and dread. If sight (e) is added to dxa/echad/oneness/unity, the result is dxp/pachad/fear/dread: d x a (echad) + e (eye/seeing/sight) ======= d x p To fully explain the above, if we “add” ALEPH/a = 1 with AYIN/e = 16, we arrive at PE/p = 17: 1 + 16 = 17 (ALEPH/a = 1) + (AYIN/e = 16) = (PE/p = 17) 74 1Peter 2:21, 1John 2:4-6 > John 14:15, 15:10 75 Mathew 8:28-29, Mark 1:23-28, Luke 4:31-36. Was there a relationship between the dread/terror which these demons had before the Qadosh Seed, the Messiah, and the fact that he was also the Shabbat/Sabbath in the Flesh? Read on! 76 Romans 8:31-39 28 So even by this inspired literary result, the Spirit is teaching us more about the importance of hearing, seeing, and fearing: Seeing (e) the importance of unity (dxa/echad)—by seeing how Vertical and horizontal unity are both essential (and quite interrelated) in the Kingdom of Elohim—we will then know the fear/dread of hwhy because we will also know and recognize that the Most High will simply not allow His Unity to be opposed for any great length of time.77 If we see the Unity/Supremacy/Purpose of hwhy to be unassailable and unchallengeable, then we will also have dxp/pachad (fear/dread) before Him; for absolutely nothing will stand in the way of His sovereign will;78 and those who do oppose Him will surely suffer His vengeance and retribution: 9 Know therefore that hwhy your Elohim, He is Elohim, the faithful El, who keeps the covenant and the chesed/lovingkindness with those that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations, 10 and repays those that hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack to him that hates Him: He will repay him to his face. Deuteronomy 7:9-10 And those who have seen the retribution of hwhy also have dxp/pachad (fear/dread) before Him: They know the results are not pleasant when His anger and wrath are finally stirred up to avenge His Land and His people; as we have already read: You, fearful are You, and who may stand in your sight when once you are angry? Tehillim/Psalms 76:6 Through the secret of the Shema, we are to have/maintain the fear/dread before hwhy that sees and knows He will not long allow His Word to be challenged by those in rebellion against His Eternal Torah; and when He does arise in anger, the nations will tremble in fear before Him: Put them in fear, hwhy : Let the nations know themselves to be but men. Selah Tehillim/Psalms 9:20 But hwhy is the true Elohim; He is the living Elohim, and an everlasting King: at His wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to abide His indignation. Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah 10:10 77 Deuteronomy 7:9-10 78 Proverbs 21:30 29 So the Shema teaches us we cannot fear until we see and that we cannot see until we hear! The transgression of the wicked declares within my heart: “There is no fear/dxp/pachad of Elohim before his eyes.” Tehillim/Psalms 36:1 We will show this fear is especially connected to the Shabbat, the Day which hwhy will most surely defend. Nechemyah/Nehemiah knew the dread of hwhy and His imminent wrath upon those who forsake his Shabbat. The Dread/Terror of hwhy and the Shabbat To review once more, fear/dxp/ pachad has a misparim of 92 and a place value of 29: ← ← ← (mv) 92 = (4) d + (8) x + (80) p = dxp = pachad = fear ← ← ← (pv) 29 = (4) d + (8) x + (17) p = dxp = pachad = fear The Spirit reveals part of the significance here relates to the Shabbat, since Psalm 92 was inspired to be “A Psalm, a Song for the Day of the Shabbat.”79 When Nechemyah castigated the men of Yahudah for working on the Shabbat, he spoke to the nobles of the dread/fear of hwhy and the great evil that already come upon the city of Yerushalayim for their historical profaning of the Day: 15 In those days I saw in Yahudah some treading wine presses on the Shabbat, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the Shabbat Day: and I testified in the day in which they sold provisions. 16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the Shabbat to the children of Yahudah, and in Yerushalayim. 17 Then I contended with the nobles of Yahudah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Shabbat Day? 18 Did not your fathers thus, and did not our Elohim bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Yisrael by profaning the Shabbat? 19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Yerushalayim began to be dark before the Shabbat, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Shabbat: and I set some of my servants at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Shabbat Day. 20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Yerushalayim once or twice. 21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge you about the 79 And the dread of hwhy is conveyed in this Psalm as well. See Psalm 92:6-9 30 wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no more on the Shabbat. 22 And I commanded the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Shabbat Day. Remember me, my Elohim, in this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your chesed. Nechemyah 13:15-22 There is certainly a connection with the dread (92) of hwhy, and His wrath that is to be brought on those who spurn His Torah; and the Shabbat is pivotal to the whole dynamic between observing versus profaning His Word and ways.80 Severe were the warnings which Jeremiah gave before the captivity relative to keeping the Shabbat,81 and severe were the warnings which Nechemyah gave afterwards. Fearing This Great and Awesome Name: What is the Result? Yet another text in the Five Books of Mosheh refers to the Shema and it also indicates that truly fearing the Name of hwhy will result in Yisrael upholding the precepts of the Torah: 58 If you will not observe to do all the words of this Torah that are written in this book, that you may fear this magnificent and fearful Name, hwhy your Elohim, 59 then hwhy will make your plagues wonderful, and the plagues of your seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60 And He will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you were afraid of; and they shall cleave to you. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this Torah, them will hwhy bring upon you, until you are destroyed. 62 And you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because you did not hearken to the voice of hwhy your Elohim. Deuteronomy 28:58-62 If we fulfill the Shema by daily/continually seeking to hear the Voice of hwhy, we will also be found honoring His Name and keeping His Torah. This conveys the very same thing seen in the life of Abraham: Because the patriarch heard the Voice of hwhy, he subsequently kept the charge of hwhy: His commandments, His statutes, and His laws.82 Such is the call for all who would walk in the steps of Abraham and enter the Kingdom with reward and greatness.83 hwhy Will Be King Over All the Earth The Shema states that hwhy is the One and only Elohim. Understanding this, we also see a Zechariah prophecy which refers to the Shema being upheld, worldwide, when hwhy reigns from Mount Tziyon as King over all the earth: 80 Ezekiel 22:26 81 Jeremiah 17:19-27 82 Genesis 26:4-5 83 Romans 4:12, Matthew 5:17-20 31 And hwhy shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall hwhy be one, and His Name one. Zechariah 14:9 Of course, this Scripture provides us with a direct connection between the Shema and the exaltation of hwhy as King over All things. In that day, hwhy will be the only one and His Name the only one. This provides a very clear explanation as to why it is not a stretch of the imagination to believe speaking forth the Shema is also recognizing the one and only King; and thus, proclaiming the Shema is/should be submission to His Rule and constitutes taking upon oneself the Yoke of the Kingdom. The Commandment of the Eternal Elohim, the Eternal King When he wrote to the Romans about “the commandment of the Everlasting Elohim,” to what was Sha’ul referring? 25 Now to Him that is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of eSwhy the Messiah, according to the revelation of the secret which has been kept in silence through times of ages past, 26 but is now manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the Eternal Elohim, is made known to all the nations for the obedience of faith: 27 to the only wise Elohim, through eSwhy the Messiah, to whom be the splendor age-abiding, amein. Romans 16:26-27 We believe the Shema is “the commandment of the Eternal Elohim.” And having just mentioned fulfilling the Shema in an earlier part of his letter to Timothy, Sha’ul once more connected this Foremost Commandment84 with the Eternal, Age- Abiding King: 17 Now, unto the King of the Ages––incorruptible, invisible, Elohim only wise—be honor and splendor, to the ages of ages, amein. 1Timothy 1:17 Recall that the Shema identifies with the Kingdom of Heaven. But how is this so, unless it also reveals the King? And in what light is our King, thus, revealed? We look, once more, at the first line of the Shema: dxa hwhy wnyhla hwhy larvy ems echad YHWH Elohenu YHWH Yisrael Shema one YHWH (is) our YHWH Israel Hear one (is) Elohim 84 (i.e., the Shema) 32 As was previously mentioned, the Hebrew word formed by the enlarged AYIN (e) and DALET (d) is the word “de/eyd,” meaning “testimony,” or “witness.” Yet with a different vowel pointing, these same two letters form a word that means perpetual, beyond, eternity: de = ad = for ever, beyond, perpetuity King David exalted hwhy and His perpetual Kingship: hwhy is King for ever (Mlwe) and ever (de): the nations are perished out of His land. Tehillim/Psalms 10:16 And hwhy proves and shows forth His Kingship because He is the eternal, everexisting Mighty One, reigning on High: For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity (de ), whose Name is qadosh: I dwell in the high and qadosh place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Yeshayahu/Isaiah 57:15 When we speak forth the Shema, we are proclaiming the Kingship of the One who inhabits the Aes. And because He inhabits eternity, hwhy is the Eternal King. Blessed be His Name. Teaching the Shema as the Preeminent Commandment Proved that eSwhy was (and is) the Mashiach/Messiah! It is a matter of such great, prophetic significance and amazement that describing it is really beyond words. When the Mashiach came forth proclaiming the Kingdom of Elohim, that He would be teaching the Shema to be the preeminent commandment actually provides us with yet another proof He was, indeed, the long-awaited Anointed One of hwhy and the King of Yisrael. Recall, once more, that the misparim for the Hebrew word “emS/Shema/Hear” is 410: ← ← ← (mv) 410 = (70) e + (40) m + (300) S = emS = shema = hear So the first word of the greatest Torah commandment is “Shema” and adds to a misparim value of 410. And this is where the Inspired and Elohim-Breathed Word of the Most High becomes so very amazing! In Hebrew, the title “Mashiach” means “Anointed.” As many will already know, this is the word which we translate into English as “Messiah.” But let us look at the misparim value (mv), the place value (pv), and the full value (fv) of this Hebrew word: 33 ← ← = xySm = Mashiach = Anointed/Messiah ← ← ← (mv) 358 = (8) x + (10) y + (300) S + (40) m ← ← ← (pv) 52 = (8) x + (10) y + (21) S+ (13) m ================= (fv) 410 But 410 is the misparim value (mv) of the word, “Shema.” So the full value (fv) of the Hebrew word “xySm/Mashiach/Messiah” points directly to the Shema and the One who had/has ears to hear the will of the Father and to do it!85 The Messiah taught us the Torah and He taught us the preeminence that walking in love must have in fulfilling it; and so, eSwhy taught the preeminence of the Foremost Commandment, even the Shema. That His title of “Mashiach” would contain this very number (410 = Shema) is simply beyond description. Blessed be the Name of hwhy, Who alone does wonderful things! He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear Having pondered the many times and the many ways in which eSwhy taught the importance of the Shema, it should now be rather evident that when He spoke of having “ears to hear,” the Messiah was, once more, directing the hearts of those who would be faithful to uphold this Preeminent Commandment by loving hwhy, the Father: He that has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15 He that has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 13:9 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.86 He that has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:4387 As the woman at the well said, when the Messiah comes, He will declare to us all things.88 Also note the following: We have in this prophecy another text by which the Messiah is directly connecting the Shema to overcoming and entering the Kingdom of Heaven/Elohim! Those who keep the Shema, those who have ears to hear, will be those who overcome; and it is they who will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of the Father. We move on to still other texts in which the Messiah is directing us toward the Shema. 85 Isaiah 50:4-6, John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38 86 Daniel 12:3 87 Another text directly linking the Shema with the Kingdom! 88 John 4:25 34 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies: To him that overcomes, to him I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of Elohim. Revelation 2:7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies: He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. Revelation 2:11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies: To him that overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he that receives it. Revelation 2:17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies … Revelation 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22 And we have seen how central the Shema is to the teachings of all of the prophets of Yisrael, including the first servant-leaders who followed the Messiah and then taught others of His ways. Sha’ul, Kepha/Peter, and Ya’acov/James89 all set forth the Shema as Preeminent. As we end our study, for those who desire to have ears that hear the Voice/Spirit of the Most High Elohim, absolutely nothing compares to fasting-derived meekness and humility.90 Fasting and prayer will open one’s ears to hear the Voice of the Spirit as does nothing else. For it is only through fasting and prayer may we seek and find hwhy with the whole heart.91 In Hebrew, the misparim for “Mwu/tsōme/fasting” is 136: ← ← ← (mv) 136 = (40) M + (6) w + (90) u = Mwu = tsōme = fasting/fast Yet this value of 136 is also the misparim for the Hebrew word which means “voice,” lwq/kol: ← ← ← (mv) 136 = (30) l + (6) w + (100) q = lwq = kol = voice 89 James 2:19 90 Zephaniah 2:3 91 Jeremiah 29:13 35 As Yeshayahu/Isaiah wrote, we should be fasting to cause our voice to be heard on high92 (not fighting for our rights through horizontal strife and contention93). That is certainly a major part of what the Spirit would teach us with this most direct and obvious number connection. But even more importantly, we should be fasting to keep, fulfill, and uphold the Shema, the Preeminent Commandment in all of Scripture: We should be fasting (136) and praying to seek for ears that are open—for ears that will hear—so that, like Abraham, we will hear and obey the Voice (136) of hwhy Elohim of Yisrael. Doing so conveys the love towards hwhy that He desires from each of us. May all of our readers so seek and find Him. His Name is great in Yisrael! C.P. 6/2012 – 12/23/2012 t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a The author of this study is a Messianic writer who ministers the Word of hwhy , in part, through free articles provided to feed the Messiah’s sheep worldwide. He believes the Spirit reveals the Hebrew misparim/numbers—as given in the inspired Aleph-Beit—provide us with the Most High’s very own Commentary on His Eternal Word. t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a PC Personal Copyright 2012-2013, by the author. Version 5.0: 11/27/2013 This document may be freely copied and distributed if it is left unaltered and in its entirety. It must also be given away without cost to recipients, and it may not be included in any publication without the author’s written permission. hwhy El Shaddai will rebuke anyone who copies these truths for republication and/or who subsequently attempts to reproduce and sell them. Isaiah 55:1-2, Micah 3:11, 1Peter 5:2 92 Isaiah 58:4 93 Isaiah 58:4 (“you fast for strife and contention”) 36 We believe most copyrights have been abused worldwide in religious circles as false shepherds and other merchants feed on the sin of the people. These many abuses have filled the worship house of hwhy with money changers who hinder True Worship by robbing and oppressing the poor.94 Many have turned reverence and the worship of hwhy into a means of great, personal gain.95 We assert such things were never meant to be.96 Hence, this copyright is intended to allow for free distribution of the Word of hwhy with the following, minimal limitations: • This document may be copied and distributed (or freely printed in its pdf format after being downloaded from the Internet): 1. If it is left unaltered. 2. If it is left in its entirety. 3. And if it is given away at absolutely no cost. Matthew 11:5, Luke 4:19, Galatians 2:10 • Neither this article, nor any portion of this article, may be included in any publication which is sold. This stipulation applies regardless of the nature of the organization or the nature of its sales, meaning: profit or nonprofit. Further, whether an organization’s publication is of a religious nature, or otherwise, this stipulation still applies. • With the exception of our first stipulation (i.e., the one specified under the first bullet point giving permission to photocopy the work in its entirety), publishing any portion of this work without the author’s written permission is strictly prohibited. For other free documents which are offered to provide encouragement and edification from the Word of hwhy, please refer to the following websites: http://www.scribd.com/yhwh26echad13/documents http://www.yahuyahweh.org/iah t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a The Gospel of Shalom To obtain a free copy of the book, The Gospel of Shalom, as well as many spiritual songs of immense edification by Renalee Colon, see the following website: http://www.wheretheglorywalks.com/ t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a 94 Zechariah 7:10 95 Micah 3:11, 1Timothy 6:5-10, 1Peter 5:2 96 Isaiah 55:1,2, Mark 11:15-17 37 An Excellent Translation of the Scriptures “ISRV” is an acronym which means: “INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE RESEARCH VERSION.” If this acronym has been used in the current document, it is to indicate we have quoted a Scripture text from the excellent translation produced by the INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE RESEARCH. These believers have published a most helpful, edifying version of the Word of hwhy which is entitled “The Scriptures.” For those wishing to make further inquiry, the ISR website address is: http://www.isr-messianic.org t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a “The ALEPH-BEIT Place Value and Misparim Charts” appear on the following page >> 38 The ALEPH-BEIT Place Value and Misparim Charts (All Charts are Read From Right to Left) ← ← ← Misparim Value (MV) Place Value (PV) Name Letter 1 …….………………… 1 ……………….. ALEPH ………… a 2 …….………………… 2 ……………….. BEIT …………… b 3 …….………………… 3 ……………….. GIMEL ………… g 4 …….………………… 4 ……………….. DALET ………… d 5 …….………………… 5 ……………….. HE ……………… h 6 …….………………… 6 ……………….. VAV …………… w 7 …….………………… 7 ……………….. ZAYIN …………… z 8 …….………………… 8 ……………….. CHET …………… x 9 …….………………… 9 ……………….. TET ……………… j 10 …….………………… 10 ……………… YOD ……………… y 20 …….………………… 11 ……………… CAPH …………… K, k 30 …….………………… 12 ……………… LAMED ………… l 40 …….………………… 13 ……………… MEM …………… M, m 50 …….………………… 14 ……………… NUN …………… N, n 60 …….………………… 15 ……………… SAMECH ………… o 70 …….………………… 16 ……………….. AYIN ……………. e 80 …….………………… 17 ……………… PE ……………… P, p 90 …….………………… 18 ……………… TZADE ………….. U, u 100 …….……………… 19 ……………… KOF …………….. q 200 …….……………… 20 ……………… RESH …………… r 300 …….……………… 21 ……………… SHIN, SEEN ……… s, S 400 …….……………… 22 ……………… TAV ……………… t A letter’s place value, or what some people call the ordinal value, is simply obtained by finding its numerical order, or position, within the ALEPH-BEIT. So, from first to last, we have ALEPH = 1 while TAV = 22. Below are provided more compact Place Value and Misparim Charts which readers may wish to print and cut out so you may more readily confirm the calculations in this document as well as finding the MV or PV of any Hebrew word. ————————— PLACE VALUE (PV) CHART ———————– ← ← ← (11) k (10) y (9) j (8) x (7) z (6) w (5) h (4) d (3) g (2) b (1) a ← ← ← (22) t (21) S (20)r (19) q (18) u (17) p (16) e (15) o (14) n (13) m (12)l ——————————————————————————————— —————————MISPARIM VALUE (MV) CHART ———————– ← ← ← (20) k (10) y (9) j (8) x (7) z (6) w (5) h (4) d (3) g (2) b (1) a ← ← ← (400) t (300) S (200)r (100) q (90) u (80) p (70) e (60) o (50) n (40) m (30)l ———————————————————————————————
