Let's get down
to the brass tacks as the old saying goes. Yahshua personally appeared to one
named Shaul of Tarsus. He was born of the tribe of Benjamin (Ro. 11:1), taught
by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), of the Pharisaic persuasion (Phil. 3:5).
Yahshua, according to His promise, poured the Holy Spirit
out upon His disciples on the day of Pentecost raising up the assembly of the
New Covenant (Acts 2). Saul is first mentioned in Acts 7 being present at the
stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58). He not only consented to Stephen’s death, but
began to brutally persecute the New Testament Assembly (Acts 8:1, 9:1-2).
He obtained letters of authority from the high priest to
go to Damascus to bring any of Yahshua’s disciples bound to Jerusalem for
judgment (Acts 9:2). But while on the road to Damascus, he had a life changing,
life altering experience of the most immense magnitude. A bright light shone
from heaven and he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why persecute thou
me?” Acts 9:3-4.
He witnessed to King Agrippa, “My manner of life from my
youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the
Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the
most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am
judged for the hope of the promise made of Elohim unto our fathers: Unto which
promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving Elohim day and night, hope to come.
For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be
thought a thing incredible with you, that Elohim should raise the dead? I verily
thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of
Yahshua of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints
did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and
when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them
oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly
mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities,” Acts 26:4-11.
What is Paul admitting here? Isn’t he admitting that he
was previously known among the Jews to be one of the most knowledgeable,
righteous and upright men among them? But isn’t the admission here also the
fact that even though he knew the Scriptures, was one of the most successful as
far as living by them, he was ignorant, blind as to how they applied to Yahshua
the Messiah, even to the point of casting Yahshua’s disciples into prison and
putting them to death? Isn’t the crux of the matter the point that even though
he was thoroughly schooled in the Scriptures, and was considered as one of the
most righteous disciples of Moses, he was still spiritually blind!?
He continues to witness, “Whereupon as I went to
Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O
king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun,
shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all
fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew
tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against
the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Master? And he said, I am Yahshua whom
thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a
minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those
things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee
from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their
eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto
Elohim, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them
which are sanctified by faith that is in me,” Acts 26, 12-18.
Who would he have to be delivered from? The people of
Israel, and the Gentiles to whom he was being sent! What was he being sent to
witness of? THE FAITH THAT IS IN YAHSHUA!!!!
Continuing
with Paul, “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly
vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout
all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and
turn to Elohim, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews
caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained
help of Elohim, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great,
saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should
come: That the Messiah should suffer, and that he should be the first that
should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the
Gentiles,” Acts 26:19-23.
A CHOSEN VESSEL
Yahshua told Saul/Paul that He appeared to him in order to
make him a minister of the things that he had seen and would see.
Yahshua appeared to Ananias in a vision instructing him to
go seek Saul of Tarsus out in Damascus, but Ananias resisted reminding Him that
Paul had done much evil to the assembly in Jerusalem, and was now come with
letters from the high priest to bind the believers that call on His name. But
Yahshua told him, “Go thy way: for he
is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and
kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must
suffer for my name's sake,” Acts 9:15-16.
Yahshua told Saul/Paul that he was chosen to be a minister
of His. He witnessed to Ananias that he was a chosen vessel. LISTEN!!!!! LISTEN
TO YAHSHUA!!!!! Don’t be like the Pharisees who trusted in themselves that
they were righteous, but denied the very One Who was sent to be the Savior and
Redeemer of all mankind! Modern day Judaism continues to resist and deny
Yahshua! Many of our own people have a problem with Saul/Paul and his writings.
If you have been called to the truth, to the true names of Yahweh and Yahshua,
to the New Covenant, New Testament, then you need to know and understand the
writings of Paul, not reject them!
The Apostle Peter witnessed, “And account that the
longsuffering of our Sovereign is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul
also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in
all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things
hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they
do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction,” 2 Pet. 3:15-16.
Peter admits that some of the things that Paul has written
are difficult to understand. He says that the unlearned wrest them to their own
destruction. But what about those who supposedly are learned? What about the
Pharisees, which is modern day Orthodox Judaism, and also the Christian scholars
and teachers? Don’t these people study the Scriptures, seeking to learn from
them so they can teach others? Why is there such a wide and deep chasm between
the two that can’t be crossed? Why is there such a wide and deep chasm between
the assemblies, Judaism, and Christianity?
Judaism rejects Paul, and the New Covenant. Christianity
embraces Paul, but wrests his writings to destruction, and few in the assemblies
really understand his writings. Many are deeply focused on the Torah, but avoid
Paul, or even contradict him and his writings! I have heard people in Messianic
Judaism, and even in the assemblies proclaim that if there is a difference
between the Torah and the New Testament, the Torah rules! What this really means
is that there is a matter that seems to contradict and there is no understanding
to complement the two, so go to the Torah and reject the New Testament.
SOME EXAMPLES
The Torah commands, “And Yahweh spake unto Moses and to
Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are
the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the
beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew
the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the
cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because
he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the
hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto
you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he
cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and
their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you,” Lev. 11:1-8.
It also commands, “And whatsoever man there be of the
house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any
manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood,
and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the
blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your
souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I
said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall
any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever man there be of
the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which
hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out
the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh; the
blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of
Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh
is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off,” Lev. 17:10-14.
In accordance with Leviticus chapters 11 and 17, we are
forbidden to eat the flesh of any animal that doesn’t chew the cud, and divide
the hoof. We are also forbidden to drink blood. Yet Yahshua declared, “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his
blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat
indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my
blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him,” Jn. 6:53-54.
The eating of human flesh, and drinking of blood is
expressly forbidden in the Torah, yet Yahshua says that we must eat His flesh
and drink His blood if we are to have life. This seeming contradiction has
tripped up a goodly number of people who just couldn’t complement the two. How
can this difference be reconciled?
We can eat the flesh of cattle, sheep, and goats because
they are clean animals according to the Torah. Yahshua is the Lamb of Elohim,
“The next day John seeth Yahshua coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of Elohim, which taketh
away the sin of the world,” Jn. 1:29.
Yahshua also told the people of His day, “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father
giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of Elohim is he which
cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto
him, Master, evermore give us this bread. And Yahshua said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst…. I
am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are
dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat
thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any
man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is
my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world,” Jn. 6:32-35, 48-51.
Yahshua administered the symbols of the new Passover to
His disciples in the last night of His life on earth in the flesh, “And as
they were eating, Yahshua took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it
to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and
gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my
blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day
when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom,” Mt. 26:26-29.
We eat of His flesh as His portrayal of the Lamb of
Elohim, and the true bread from heaven. We drink of His blood as the fruit of
the vine. These are spiritual principles. The people that Yahshua was witnessing
to during His day were looking at things on a natural, carnal, physical level.
Therefore, they couldn’t understand Him, even though they were greatly and
deeply versed on the Scriptures. While Christianity, and the brethren in the
assemblies do partake of the Passover symbols, there is still the perversion of
Christianity, and also a lack of understanding Paul not only in Christianity,
but also in the assemblies.
THE MYSTERIES
Yahshua came speaking in parables about the mysteries of
the kingdom of heaven. His disciples asked Him, “And the disciples came, and
said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” Mt. 13:10.
Yes! Why did He speak to them in parables? “He answered
and said unto them, Because it is given unto you
to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but
whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore
speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear
not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,
which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye
shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and
their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any
time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For
verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see
those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things
which ye hear, and have not heard them,” Mt. 13:11-17.
Do you get what He is saying here? Even the prophets and
righteous men of old didn’t understand the things that are made available to
those who truly know and understand Yahshua today! They couldn’t be understood
until Yahshua came to do the prophesied work that they all spoke of, and even
since that time only a few have been given the true understanding!
Herein is the key to understand Paul! He is writing about
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven! He is writing about the Scriptures on a
spiritual level, which those on the physical plane simply can’t understand!
Here is what he revealed, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among
them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of
this world, that come to nought: But we
speak the wisdom of Elohim in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which Yahweh ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes
of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the
Sovereign of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which Yahweh hath
prepared for them that love him. But Yahweh hath revealed them unto us by his
Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of Elohim. For
what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
Even so the things of Elohim knoweth no man, but the Spirit of Elohim. Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of Elohim;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of Yahweh. Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of Elohim: for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” 1 Cor.
2:6-14.
So, let’s skim through Paul’s writings just to see how
many times he mentions “mystery”:
Ro. 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be
ignorant of this mystery,
lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened
to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Ro. 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you
according to my evangel, and the preaching of Yahshua the Messiah, according to
the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret
since the world began.
1 Cor. 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of Yahweh in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom,
which Yahweh ordained before the world unto our glory.
1 Cor. 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers
of the Messiah, and stewards of the mysteries of Elohim.
1 Cor. 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed.
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure
which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 3:3 How
that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;
(as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of the Messiah)
Eph 3:9 And to
make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid
in Yahweh, who created all things by Yahshua the Messiah:
Eph 5:32 This
is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning the Messiah and the assembly.
Eph 6:19 And
for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to
make known the mystery
of the evangel,
Col 1:26 Even
the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To
whom Yahweh would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is the Messiah in
you, the hope of glory:
Col 2:2 That
their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all
riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of Elohim, and of the
Father, and of the Messiah;
Col 4:3 Withal
praying also for us, that Yahweh would open unto us a door of utterance, to
speak the mystery of the Messiah,
for which I am also in bonds:
1Ti 3:9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a
pure conscience.
1Ti 3:16 And
without controversy great is the mystery
of righteousness: Elohim was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,
seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received
up into glory.
Re 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my
right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of
the seven assemblies: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven
churches.
Re 10:7 But in
the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of
Elohim should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the
prophets.
Are you beginning to understand why Paul is misunderstood?
If you have a problem understanding the writings of Paul, it is because he is
writing of spiritual things that are mysteries and you are looking at them on a
physical, carnal level, or plane. If you deny Saul/Paul, then you are denying
the One Who chose and sent him to publish the truths about the Messiah, and the
New Covenant.
JH
The Kaf is the eleventh letter of
the Hebrew alphabet and looks like this k/k/K in the Pictorial, Paleo, and Modern Hebrew
respectively. It also represents the number twenty (20).
The word kaf means the curved, or hollow of
the hand, the palm, or the foot, the sole.
It can also mean spoon, handle, pan, dish, or container
full of valuable of contents. Pictorially, it has to do with an open
hand, or it can have to do with the sole of the foot.
This letter also serves as a prefix, and also a suffix. As a prefix, it
means; as, like, when, at, about, or according to.
For instance, the Hebrew word for “king” is melek (klm/$lm Pictorial and Modern Hebrew respectively).
With a kaf as a prefix klmk/$lmk the word would give the idea, as, or
like the king, about, or according to the king.
When utilized as a suffix to a noun, it means “your.” kklm/$klm would be your king.
It is interesting that the previous letter yod/yud (y),
that we focused on in the last issue, is the picture of a hand or arm (i/y/y) which equals to the number 10 because it is
the tenth letter. However, it is spelled dwy
in Hebrew, which if we add the numerical value of each letter, the sum total is
20. [d = 4, w = 6, y =
10; 4+6+10= 20]
The number “ten” has to do with so many things, but the most important
“ten” has to do with Yahweh’s righteous law. Without law, there is nothing
but chaos, confusion, destruction. Before Yahweh ever brought forth the physical
creation, there had to be law.
Robert M. Haralick observes, “The eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet
is K, spelled pK. Numerically K has the value of 20. It has a final form $, which can take the value of either 20 or
500. Now 20 is the value of dwy,
the spelling of the letter y.
Thereby, we learn that K
is responsible for holding,
covering, and letting
flow the light of y,
the energy intelligence of spirituality. Since it has the numerical value of 20,
K is the projection of the
energy consciousness of B
(beit, the second letter), the energy
intelligence of container, into time and conditioned physical existence. Thus, K is the flow of spirituality within the
container.” The Inner Meaning of the Hebrew Letters, p. 163.
Isn’t this amazing!? The beit
(b/b/b) is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet,
equal to the number two (2), and is the first letter of Scripture (Gen. 1:1)
which began the creation account! The beit
is the picture of a house, tent, temple, family. The house, or tent is the
container from which everything flows. The Father (ba/ba [Ab]), remains in the house while
the Son goes forth to do the Father’s work!
The kaf (k/k/K) equals to 20, which is two multiplied by ten
(2 x 10 = 20). Ten is the number for ordinal perfection, so the work of the
house (beit/b/b/b = 2) is perfect (yod (i/y/y = 10) because it is always done by law.
The kaf is spelled kaf peh pk/pk/pk. The numerical value of the peh is 80. Thus, the combined value of the kaf (pk/pk/pk) is 100 which is ten times ten (10 x 10 = 100
[ordinal perfection multiplied by itself]).
Eight is the number for new beginnings. The peh
(p/p/p) is the picture of a mouth. One’s words
issue from the mouth. Yahshua is the word of Yahweh, “In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. The same was in the
beginning with Elohim. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made….He was in the world, and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him
not,” Jn. 1:1-3, 10-11.
Praise Yahweh with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument
of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play
skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of Yahweh is right; and all his works
are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of
the goodness of Yahweh. By the word of the Yahweh were the heavens made; and all the host of
them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of
the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the
earth fear Yahweh: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For
he spake, and it was
done; he commanded, and it stood fast,”
Psa. 33:1-9.
The peh, being the picture of a
mouth, and representing the number 80 reveals the power of Yahweh, according to
His word that goes forth from His mouth by His breath (spirit), to bring forth
the “new heavens and new earth! (Rev. 21:1)
Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh somewhat confirms this idea by writing, “The two
letters of the full spelling of the kaf, pk,
are the initial letters of the two words xk
(kach), ‘potential,’ and l[wp (puwal),
‘actual.” Thus, the kaf hints at the power latent within the spiritual realm
of the potential to fully manifest itself in the physical realm of the actual.
G-d must create the world continuously; otherwise creation would instantaneously
vanish. His potential is therefore actualized at each moment. This concept is
referred to as l][pnb l[]wph xk,
‘the power to actualize potential ever-present within the actualized’.” (The Alef-Beit p. 168)
Yahshua was the One Who was actualized from the spiritual realm to the
physical realm! This is the statement of Hebrews 1:3, “Who being the
brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all
things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high…”
SOLE OF THE FOOT
Yahweh told Yahshua son of Nun, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore
arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do
give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole (kaf) of your foot shall tread upon, that have I
given unto you, as I said unto Moses,” Josh. 1:2-3.
This, of course, applied to the land of Canaan which was the land of
promise, but Yahweh initially promised Abram/Abraham that his seed would be as
the stars of heaven in number (Gen. 15), and that Sarah would bear the seed of
the covenant and royalty (Gen. 17).
Yahweh is utilizing Judah and Israel for that very purpose. He allowed them
to fall away and to be taken into captivity for the very purpose of fulfilling
His word. He did judge Israel and Judah sending them into captivity so that
wherever the sole (kaf)
of their foot treads, it will belong to them. This is a great mystery that few,
if any, understand.
Read the prophets carefully. Even though Yahweh decrees judgment, even the
harshest of judgment on Israel, He always promises to yet have mercy upon them.
The sole of Israel’s feet have trodden throughout the whole earth so that
when the kingdom appears, it will belong to them, and will be under their rule.
THE HAND (-S)
The Pictorial Kaf
looks like an open hand (k).
This would have to do with a friendly greeting, which the American Indians
utilized, or a handshake of greeting, friendship, or even when making a deal
such as a covenant, etc.. But it also has to do with the ability to work.
Jacob told Laban, “Except the Elohim of my father, the Elohim of Abraham,
and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now
empty. Elohim hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands (kaf), and rebuked thee yesternight,” Gen.
31:42.
The Proverbs 31 woman is revealing, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For
her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in
her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with
her hands (kaf). She is like the merchants'
ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth
a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands (kaf) she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her
loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her
merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands (kaf) to the spindle, and her hands hold the
distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her
hands (kaf) to the needy,” vv. 10-20.
The saints are to be Yahshua’s wife. We can learn some great lessons from
this proverb concerning how we should arrange our own lives in order to
faithfully serve Him.
The Psalmist declares, “Blessed is every one that feareth Yahweh; that
walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands (kaf): happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well
with thee,” 128:1-2.
Not only should we work with our hands, but we should worship with them,
“My hands (kaf) also will I lift up unto
thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes,”
119:48
“Yahweh, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when
I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense;
and the lifting up of my hands (kaf)
as the evening sacrifice,” Psa. 141:1-2.
I have also highlighted “as incense” because kaf
also has to do with a spoon, and the incense was placed in a spoon (kaf) before burning it on the coals of the altar
of incense in the sanctuary. Therefore, we should lift our hands (kaf) in prayer
to Yahweh realizing that the incense and the fragrant cloud made by it
represents the prayers of the saints (Rev. 8:4).
GLORY AND COVERING
Moses requested, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will
make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh
before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew
mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for
there shall no man see me, and live. And Yahweh said, Behold, there is a place
by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my
glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover
thee with my hand (kaf)
while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand (kaf),
and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen,” Ex. 33:22.
The point is that it is important to be covered by the hand (kaf) of Yahweh, which is Yahshua the Messiah, so
we can see His glory. The Hebrew word for glory is kavowd (dwbk)
begins with a kaf.
The incident of Lazarus’ sickness and death was brought about so the
people of Yahshua’s day could see the glory (dwbk)
of Yahweh, “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of
Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Master with
ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Master, behold, he whom thou lovest
is sick. When Yahshua heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but
for the glory of Yahweh, that the Son of Elohim might be glorified thereby,”
Jn. 11:1-4.
Lazarus is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Eleazar which means El is
my help. Yahshua revealed his glory (dwbk)
as the One Who has power over the grave which is our only help to be delivered
from its power.
THE THRONE
Yahshua is soon to be crowned as the King of kings, and Sovereign of
sovereigns (Rev. 19:16). He told the people of His day, “….the Son of man
shall come in his glory (dwbk),
and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne
of his glory(dwbk),” Mt. 25:31.
Amazingly, the Hebrew word for throne is kicce/kisay
(ask). It begins with a kaf. When Yahshua returns in His glory, the power
of His throne will grow and increase to cover the earth! (Isa. 2:1-5; Dan.
2:34-45)
Here is the problem, the present god of this world is the serpent Satan (2
Cor. 4:4). He has the power to give authority to whomsoever he will (Mt. 4:8-9;
Lk. 4:5-6). He is a liar and the father of it (Jn. 8:44). Lies produce chaos and
confusion. He would be the earth’s present king. Once again, king in Hebrew is
melek (klm).
The mem (m) is a picture of water which
has to do with chaos, or the seas of the earth, or even spirit. The lamed (l)
is the rod of authority, or the shepherd’s rod. The kaf
(k)
is the picture of the open hand, the hollow of the hand, or the hand that
covers.
Presently, the rod of authority (l)
is in the hand (k)
of the dragon serpent Satan for chaos (m).
When Yahshua returns as King of kings, the rod of authority (l) will be in His hand (k) for the spirit (m) of righteousness, peace,
rest, and true prosperity. This is the difference between the two kings.
THE PRIESTHOOD
The Hebrew word for priest is cohen
(nek/nhk). The priesthoods of men are under the sway
and influence of Satan, the god of this world, therefore their teachings and
doctrines are perverted and corrupted. This also applies to the Levitical
priesthood (read the book of Malachi).
Yahshua is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek means
“King of righteousness.”
In Israel, the priesthood was given to the tribe of Levi, but the office of
the king was given to Judah. Yahshua was a descendant of King David of Judah so
that the office of the king would belong to Him. But He was previously the
heavenly High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. He emptied Himself of that
glory, honor, distinction in order to become a man and offer the perfect
sacrifice, as is the job of the high priest. He is the offering, the sacrifice,
the High Priest, and the King of kings. Therefore,
He is the One Who has the power to bring the offices of King and High Priest
into one perfect administration!
CROWN
One of the Hebrew words for “crown” is keter
(rtk/rtk). Michael Monk writes that there are three
crowns, the crown of priesthood, the crown of kingship, and the crown of Torah,
but a fourth one, the crown of a good name—is superior to them all (The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet,
p. 133).
He goes on to say that there were three vessels in the tabernacle, and the
temple that had golden crowns all around; the ark of the covenant, alluding to
the Torah; the table of showbread, alluding to kingship; the crown of the golden
altar, alluding to the crown of priesthood. But there was a fourth golden
vessel, that even though it didn’t have a physical crown, typified the crown
of a good name. That vessel was the menorah.
King Solomon said, “a good name is better than good oil,” Eccl. 7:1.
These stipulations can only apply to Yahshua the Messiah about Whom the Torah
was written (Jn. 5:39-47), is the King of kings (Rev. 19:16), is High Priest
after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6), and has a name above every name (Eph.
1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-10).
Only the best of oil was allowed to be burned in the Menorah. Its light
filled the sanctuary. But beyond that, Yahshua, along with the Father, will be
the light of the New Jerusalem, “And I saw no temple therein: for the
Sovereign Yahweh Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no
need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of Yahweh
did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which
are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring
their glory and honour into it,” Rev. 21:22-24.
It is through Yahshua that we also can receive a crown! Paul writes,
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Master, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his appearing,” 2 Tim. 4:8.
James writes, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is
tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Master hath promised to
them that love him,” Jas. 1:12.
Peter also writes, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away,” 1 Pet. 5:4.
Wow! A crown of righteousness, a crown of life, a crown of glory! These are
chief and precious gifts that we receive in, by, and through Yahahua!
Yahshua warns, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown,” Rev. 3:11.
That is the lesson of the kaf,
from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head. May you be blessed to
understand it in Yahshua!
JH
