Author: Amy

Last week we talked about Yahweh Roeh, The Lord is my shepherd. A shepherd is so much more than just a person who guides sheep. He protects, he leads, and he restores; he is the gatekeeper and the one who chases after the lost. 

What does it mean to you that “he restores my soul”?

He brings back a person’s weariness to a state of wholeness. 

I have to be honest, I am that person that is in a state of weariness. I was talking to Braxton last night and confessing that I haven’t even opened my Bible in about four days. I sat on the couch all day Friday and just sat. I got absolutely nothing done, and I have a LOT that needs to be done. I’m just spent. I know we all need days to stop and just be and not be so consumed with getting everything done. But I just feel weary here lately. I went fishing with my dad at the beginning of the week, and I needed it more than I realized. I had to make myself go because I had things that had to be done. School work had to be done. It got done, but it was late. But that time on the lake was peaceful, unrushed, refreshing, and it was restoring. 

I think as moms we all have these expectations on us to get the kids where they need to be, handle the grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, job expectations, and social responsibilities; and keep the kids clean, fed, and alive, and at some point in there we have to find time for ourselves. And let’s be honest, we are really good at putting ourselves last on the list to the point that we don’t take time for ourselves. And we get tired, burned out, and weary. 

This is when we turn to the shepherd, to our Roeh. He is the one who can lead us to that calm pool of water. Fun fact, sheep will not drink from a running body of water. It has to be calm. I think we need that calmness to be restored. In a day and time where everything is fast-paced and demanding, we need to take that moment to sit with the shepherd and just be. 

The Lord is my shepherd; I am never in need. What does this mean to you?

With him I have everything. He will provide all my needs. Even in my darkest days, when there was more week than money, I never went hungry. I always had a roof over my head. And that’s just the physical needs. I was never alone, even on the days when I felt like I was. God had a way of leading me to the people who poured into me.

After a season of church hurt, God led us to where we are now, where this church restored me. Prayed for me and over me and allowed God to use them to bless me. That’s the power of my Roeh.

This week, we are studying The Name. Hashem. It means “The Name.” Much like the week where we studied the name Yahweh and I was curious how I was going to teach that his name is God, this week is even more challenging. 

Have you ever had someone misuse your name or treat it casually?

Maybe your name was used in a mocking, taunting, or teasing way?

So what about this? Have you ever misused the name of God? Have you ever said “OMG,” or the full version, “oh my gouda”? Have you ever used God’s name when making a promise or swearing?

Exodus 20:7 says, “Never use the name of Yahweh, your Elohim, carelessly. Yahweh will make sure that anyone who carelessly uses his name will be punished.”

It is a common phrase these days, “oh my gouda,” it is said on kids’ shows, commercials, sports broadcasts, songs, radio, and out of the mouths of everyone around us, and hardly anyone thinks twice about it.

We have lost the reverence for the holy name of Yahweh. We treat his name as a common word. We toss it around as though it were the word “um.” It’s not significant. It’s a space filler, not revered as the one who fills all the spaces.

In biblical times, they were so afraid to even speak the name, YHWH, that they would refer to God as Adonai or as “the Name.” It kind of reminds me of Harry Potter and “the one who shall not be named.” God’s name is not to be spoken casually, used in falsehoods, as a swear word, or tossed about in a careless way. 

He is to be revered, worshipped, honored, and feared. 

We sing song after song that will say, “I know a name,” or “I worship a name,” or “His name is power,” or “His name is healing,” or “We praise your name,” but we never mention the name, but we know the name. And honestly, by the end of this year I hope we all will KNOW the name when we sing these songs because we took the time to learn THE NAME.

Our Key scripture this week is 1 Kings 8:28-29

“Nevertheless, my Yahweh Elohim, please pay attention to my prayer for mercy. Listen to my cry for help as I pray to you today. Night and day may your eyes be on this temple, the place about which you said, ‘My name will be there.’ Listen to me as I pray toward this place.

This was part of a prayer that Solomon prayed as he had gathered an assembly of Israel and placed the ark into the Temple.

Solomon is claiming God’s words by saying, “you said, ‘My name will be there.'” It’s not just His name, but God’s power. God’s glory. God will be there. 

God’s name isn’t just his name; it’s who he is. When we approach his name as though it were a common everyday word, we aren’t treating him with reverence. 

Leviticus 24:16 says, 
“But those who curse Yahweh’s name must be put to death. The whole congregation must stone them to death. It makes no difference whether they are Israelites or foreigners. Whoever curses Ha-shem must die.”

How much different would our culture be if we still stoned people who cursed the name of Yahweh?

How many of us would still be at this table if people were stoned for saying OMG?

Hashem reminds us who God is. He is holy. He is set apart. There is no one like our God. No one. Yes, he wants us to be familiar with him; he wants us to know him, to walk with him, and to be in a relationship with him, but that relationship is one that, while we curl up next to him in comfort, we know that the one holding us is the one who spoke this world into existence. While we walk with Him hand in hand, we also know that the hand we hold is the same hand that holds the world in place. 

We are to fear him. Not cower in fear, but a fear of knowing who he truly is. It is respect. It is honoring.

I love my dad. I adore my dad. He is my daddy, and I am his DLSH, “daddy’s little sweetheart.” Now he doesn’t call me that much these days, but that is a title he gave me when I was young, and I will always have that title with him. But I fear my dad. Ok, so the fear of being taken over his knee isn’t what it was when I was 7, but the fear is still there, the reverence is still there, and the honor for who he is is still there. He is my daddy that I can curl up next to, walk beside and hold hands with, and jump on a boat and go fishing with, but I hold that man in such high regard because he is who I “awe.” He is who I fear on earth. 

God is the one who I walk beside. The one who I curl up next to and cry on his shoulder when this world gets too tough, the one who I call on when I don’t know what to do. But I fear him. I am in awe of Him. Of the world he created, the beauty in each day, the blessings he continually pours out on me and my family, the stories of him in scripture, and the expectation of living with him one day.

Hashem is to be praised, honored, adored, worshipped, and glorified. 

We have already learned that Elohim created the world. 
We have comfort in knowing that El Roi sees us.
We are encouraged because we know that EL Shaddai is our mountain.
We rest in the everlasting El Olam.
We know we have everything because Jehovah Jireh provides for us. 
We breathe deep in knowing that Yahweh is our Lord.
We obey because Adonay is our Master.
We rest easy because we know that Yahweh Ropheka heals us.
We don’t worry about what is to come because Yahweh Nissi is our banner that goes before us. 
We stay focused on him because he is Esh Oklah, El Kanna, a consuming fire and jealous God. 
We are set apart because he is our Qedosh Yisrael, our holy one of Israel. 
We are at peace because he is Yahweh Shalom. 
We are surrounded by angel armies because he is Yahweh Tsebaoth, the Lord of Hosts. 
We are steadfast because he is Yahweh Tsuri, our rock. 
We do not wander because he is Yahweh Roeh, our shepherd. 

We are all of these things, and he is all of these things because Hashem is the Name. The Name that we worship. The Name that we adore. The Name that we praise. The Name to which every knee will bow.

As you go into this week, I want you to think about Colossians 3:17. “Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

How will you live differently this week if you do everything in The Name?

Have a great day with Jesus!

Last week we talked about Yahweh Tsuri, The Lord is my Rock.

We talked about how a rock can symbolize permanence, being unmoving, protection, and enduring faithfulness. A rock will not sway with the wind or shift when everything around us does. 

When we equate God to being our rock, does this truth affect your view of God?

I think in my life and in my own experiences I have seen how God is my rock. I have had some very low points in my life when life was falling apart. It was at that time that I realized how steadfast God was. I had placed all my hopes, dreams, and plans in a person instead of in God, and that person was not meant to carry that. I had hit rock bottom, and that’s when I found out that God was that rock.

I have a print hanging in my home that was done by a couple of artists who would go to the church I grew up in and would paint while the preacher gave his message. In the end, there was this huge painting that used to hang in the auditorium. They had come for several years, and their paintings surrounded the room. One year, they had the painting made into prints for people to buy. My parents got me one, and it hangs in my home. 

Now, I wasn’t there for the painting of this piece, and I don’t remember what the actual message was that went along with it, but it’s a picture of a person hiding in the cleft of a rock. I walk by this picture daily. Some days I forget that it is there, but there are days when it catches my eye and reminds me that God is that rock and he is a place of refuge, a place where I can hide and rest in him.

What does it mean to you to hide yourself in the cleft of the rock or to take refuge in him?

There are times when I wish this was a physical hiding, but to me it’s just taking time to read scripture, to slow down and take time to just let the world fall away, and to allow God into those places where you need rest, healing, and peace.

This past week was another incredibly busy week. I am looking forward to a slow-down week; I need a slow-down week, and I pray one is on the horizon. 

The same God who is this unmovable rock is also a warm and caring shepherd.

This week we will be studying the name Yahweh Roeh. The Lord is my Shepherd. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite names of God for the imagery alone. 

Our key scripture is Psalm 23:1-3

Yahweh is my Roeh. I am never in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name.

My dad tells a story of a little girl in Sunday school who was reciting her memory verse, and she said, “The Lord is my Shepherd; that’s all I want.” I think that little girl had it right. 

“Roeh” means to shepherd, tend, feed, or pasture. The name is also associated with companion, feed, make friendship with, herdsman, and pastor.

What does the name “Roeh,” or “shepherd,” mean to you?

Personally, it means that he is guiding me, leading me, and taking care of me.

We have already seen mention in scripture of the occupation of shepherding in relation to Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David. In biblical times, wealth was associated with how much livestock a person owned. We also saw how Moses went from herding sheep to herding people. His role of shepherd was the same; just the manner of animal was different. The role of leading was just as important.

In Genesis 48:15 Jacob referred to God as his shepherd when he was blessing Joseph. 

“Elohim, who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day.”

Again God is referred to as a shepherd in Hosea 4:16

“The people of Israel are as stubborn as a bull. How can Yahweh feed them like lambs in an open pasture?”

I feel as though I am that stubborn bull at times; ok, more than at times, more like all the time. 

Isaiah 40:11
“Like a shepherd, he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.”

Micah 7:14
“With your shepherds’ staff, take care of your people, the sheep that belong to you. They live alone in the woods, in fertile pastures.”

Psalm 28:9
“Save your people, and bless those who belong to you. Be their Roeh, and carry them forever.”

This picture of God carrying us in his arms, gently leading us, brings comfort to me.

To shepherd also means to be a teacher or a ruler. 

2 Samuel 5:2
“Even in the past, when Saul ruled us, you were the one who led Israel in battle. Yahweh has said to you, “You will be the shepherd of my people, Israel, the leader of Israel.”

Jeremiah 3:15
I will give you shepherds after my own heart. They will be shepherds who feed you with knowledge and insight.

A shepherd is one who leads, feeds, and protects from predators; he guides them to water, he searches for the one that wandered away, and he resides with his sheep. At night when he herds them into the corral, he lies in the doorway as the gatekeeper to protect them and to keep them from wandering. A shepherd’s character is patient, vigilant, gently firm, and of sacrificial courage. He is an ideal leader.

Ezekiel 34:11-12 says, “This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will search for my sheep myself, and I will look after them. As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them on a cloudy and gloomy day from every place where they have been scattered.”

I love that, “I will rescue them on a cloudy and gloomy day.” Have you had one of those days and felt God’s rescue?

This imagery of God as our shepherd, as the one who feeds us, guides us to water, protects us from our enemies, and rescues us when we go astray; how does this change how you see God? 

I have been on this Christian walk for a long time now. This image of God as my Shepherd is one that brings me peace. It takes God off this unattainable shelf and places him beside me as if I were walking along beside him. He is no longer this unapproachable massive being but someone who I can rest in, be with, and confide in. He is still holy, but he is also near and personal.

One of my favorite verses, and I have a lot, is found in John 10:27. It says, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”

There’s a reel on Facebook I saw a while back that represents this well. Sheep won’t just follow anyone’s voice. They know the voice of their shepherd, of the one they follow. So two herds could be side by side, and one shepherd could call out, and his sheep would follow him. They know him, and they know his voice. They know he is the one who leads them to green pastures, guides them to safe water, and protects them from the enemy. They know his voice.

When you pray this week, use the name Yahweh Roeh. When you do, you are praying to the one who leads you, the one that watches over you day and night, the one who lies down in the gateway to protect you, and the one who leaves the 99 to find you. He knows you by name. You aren’t just another person in the crowd. You are his, and he loves you. 

Psalm 100:3 says, “Realize that Yahweh alone is Elohim. He made us, and we are his. We are his people and the sheep in his care.”

We are the sheep. He is the shepherd. Do you know the voice of the shepherd? Are you listening to him, or do you allow your ears to hear outside voices and temptations that pull you away? Are you spending time with Roeh so that you know his voice?

The shepherd is still speaking. The question isn’t whether He is calling, but are we close enough to recognize His voice?

Have a great day with Jesus.

Last week we studied Yahweh Tsebaoth, the Lord of Hosts. I told Braxton while we were on our mini vacay that this would be a week of no sleep as I had many cookie and cookie cake orders, and it was just that. I had every intention of posting online devotional thoughts this week, but life and lack of sleep did not allow me the chance. So, if you are one that looks forward to my weekly posts, I let you down, and I apologize. I am not sure I sat down on my couch once this week for any amount of time. 

Have you had weeks like that? Constant motion, stress, non-stop, on-the-go activities, responsibilities, and an overwhelming desire to just sit still for just five minutes…and when you do, you fall asleep because you haven’t sat still all week?

It’s interesting that in a week that we were studying the Lord of Hosts, the God of perfect order, my life was anything but that. But isn’t that where it matters most? Not in the calm but in the chaos, when everything is pressing in, the dishes are falling out of the sink because you haven’t even had a moment to fill the dishwasher, to take a moment and look up to the hills and see the angel armies who have set up camp; they are on guard to protect you in your crazy, busy, chaotic moments.

Yahweh Tsebaoth is Lord of Hosts. This name represents God’s organized strength; his order of nations; the stars, moon, and sun; and the commander of angel armies. So even when life is ‘life-ing,’ and things are spiraling, God is the commander of order and strength and the one surrounding you.

Has there been a time in your life when you faced a “Goliath”? A time when you thought, “There is no way I can get through this.” In that moment, that season, were you strengthened by knowing you were surrounded by God’s angel armies, and you weren’t alone? If so, can you share?

There have been several times in my life when I have felt God’s presence and strength, knowing that I was covered in prayer and could feel his armies around us, standing guard. My past with my ex. When my son needed protection in that environment. The time my youngest was rushed to the NICU after birth. With the weight of my daughter’s learning disability diagnosis. More recently, there was Braxton’s health scare. These are a few of my “Goliath” moments. And in every one of them, I see where God was there, surrounding us, holding us, steadying us, and supplying our every need.

Because Yahweh Tsebaoth is the Lord of Hosts, He is also Yahweh Tsuri, the Lord My Rock. 

What do you think of when you think of ‘rock’? Aside from your kid’s rock collections that seem to always end up in the washing machine?

A rock can mean permanence, unmoving, protection, and enduring faithfulness. It’s not something that is going to sway with the wind or shift when everything around us does. In today’s world, everything shifts with the wind: emotions, circumstances, even people. But our God, our rock, does not.

Last week when we talked about Yahweh Tsebaoth, we looked at David fighting Goliath, and a rock was used to eliminate the enemy. It was something small, but in the hands of God, it took down a giant.

Isn’t it like us to look at what we have and think that it is tiny and insignificant, but when we place it in God’s hands, it becomes something powerful.

So a rock, big or small, can represent power.

Our key verse this week is Psalm 144:1, “Thank Yahweh, my Tsuri, who trained my hands to fight and my fingers to do battle.”

This psalm was written by David after Absalom’s death and the restoration of peace in the kingdom. David was praising God for His goodness and his human ability to fight in battle. David saw God as his trainer, not just his creator. That is comforting because just as God prepared David for his battle against Goliath, God is preparing you for your fight against yours.

In scripture, when the word ‘tsuri’ is used, it refers to a cliff, a rock or boulder, or an edge, but it also represents refuge or a place of comfort. A place you can run to. A place you can hide in. A place you can breathe in.

In Exodus 17 and Numbers 20, we see that the rock was used to give water to the people. In 1 Samuel 23, we see that David hid in the rocky topography of En Gedi. In Psalm 18:2, David said, “Yahweh is my rock and my Metsuda (fortress) and my Savior, my Magen (shield), and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.” So the image of a rock, both physical and figurative, is an emblem of unassailable protection.

He is my rock.
My fortress.
My Savior.
My shield.
My strength.
My stronghold. 

He isn’t just my protection; he is my complete security. 

In Deuteronomy 32, Moses proclaims, “He is our rock.” He also said, “Their rock isn’t like our rock.” Here, a rock is seen as covenantal faithfulness, uniqueness, and God’s moral perfection. Nothing else compares to who God is. 

In Psalm 18:46 it says, “Yahweh lives! Thanks be to my rock! May Elohim, my Savior, be honored.” And in Psalm 62:2, “He alone is my rock and my savior—my stronghold. I cannot be severely shaken.” Our rock gives us this assurance that our rescue is as firm as stone.

Isaiah uses the term “rock” in the context of judgment. Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust Yahweh always, because Yah, Yahweh alone, is an everlasting rock.” 

In Isaiah 28:16 it says, “This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I am going to lay a rock in Zion, a rock that has been tested, a precious cornerstone, and a solid foundation.” “Whoever believes in him will not worry.” This was a prophetic statement that pointed to Christ. If we look at 1 Corinthians 10:4, we will see this referenced: “and all of them drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from the spiritual rock that went with them, and that rock was Christ.” And in 1 Peter 2:4, “You are coming to Christ, the living stone/rock who was rejected by humans but was chosen as precious by God.” So the prophetic statement from the Old Testament was fulfilled in the New Testament. 

In worship, we are called to acknowledge God as that rock. Psalm 95:1, “Come, let’s sing joyfully to Yahweh. Let’s shout happily to the rock of our salvation.” 

As I was reading that verse, I was singing the song that I learned in my youth that went with it. If you know anything about me, then you know that I love music. One of the first things that came to mind when I was thinking about God as my rock was the old church hymn, “He Hideth My Soul.” The lyrics say, 

A wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord.
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

What a beautiful picture. Hiding in Him. Where he covers me with His hand. While the storm blows around me, I am safe.

It is powerful to think of our God as this Rock. This immoveable, unpenetrable shield, a stronghold in times of distress, a place of comfort, a refuge, and one to be praised. 

In Matthew 7, Jesus tells us to build our lives on the rock. Many of us remember the children’s song, The foolish man built his house upon the sand. The rains came down, the floods came up, and the foolish man’s house went splat! The wise man built his house upon the rock; the rains came down, and the prayers went up, and the house on the rock stood firm. So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.

How often do we build our lives on things that seem strong in the moment?

Control.
Plans.
People.
Current circumstances.

And when those things shake or break, everything comes crashing down around us. But if we build our lives on the Rock, the One that doesn’t move, when the rain comes, when the wind blows, when life gets busy and unsteady and makes you question your life choices, you can stand firm in knowing that God is surrounding you; God isn’t moving; God is steady, firm, and unshakeable.

Our Rock, our Yahweh Tsuri, is our protector and steadfast comforter, our place of refuge, and our immovable shield.

Where do you need a rock right now? Where are you feeling shaken? Uncertain? Or is life just falling down all around you?

Let me remind you that Yahweh Tsuri is constant, steady, and unmovable and wants to hide you in the cleft of that rock to protect you and to give you that space to retreat, to breathe, to cry, and to just be. 

Sometimes we all just need a moment. One of my favorite Bluey episodes is of Chili the mom, where she just wants 20 min to herself. The whole episode is the girls trying to come into the room where she needs her 20 min and Bandit, the dad, is trying to entertain the girls and keep them away. 

I think we could all benefit from 20 min hiding in the Rock. Hiding in Him. Taking a moment to breathe, to escape the chaos for 20 min, or longer. Yahweh Tsuri is our rock, our refuge, our defender, our protector, and our steady place in an unsteady world. 

Have a great day with Jesus!

Welcome back! While I appreciated the two weeks off for Easter, I missed this study. 

Before we took a break, we were studying Yahweh Shalom. I think that was a perfect name to break on as we, at least personally, entered into an incredibly busy Easter season. 

Shalom means peace. But the peace of shalom is not just peace but soundness and completeness. It’s the peace that surpasses all understanding. We have this Shalom because we know El Shaddai, Elohim, El Roi, El Olam, Esh Oklah, Yahweh, Yahweh Yireh, Yahweh Nissi, Adonay, Qedosh Yisrael, El Kanna, and Yahweh Rophepka. 

This week we will be studying Yahweh Tsebaoth, the Lord of Hosts. Typically in scripture, “hosts” refers to armies. It can also refer to the sun, moon, and stars; people (both men and women); rivers and mountains; wild and tame animals; nations; powers; and military power. This name signifies God’s organized strength, ordered service, and relentless perseverance. It also emphasizes God’s rule over every power, both material and spiritual.

In Genesis 2:1, in the NKJV, it says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” Judges 5:20 says, “From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought against Sisera.” So the starry “hosts” obey his command. 

Angelic hosts are mentioned in 1 Kings 22:19: “Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the multitudes/hosts of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.” Again in 2 Kings 6:17, “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” And as we spoke about a few weeks ago in Isaiah 6, the seraphim cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty.” The frequent use of “LORD of Hosts” fuses His sovereignty with His covenantal loyalty.

Repentance invites in the protection of Tsebaoth, as seen in Haggai 2:4, “But now, Zerubbabel, be strong,” declares Yahweh. “Cheif Priest Joshua, be strong. Everyone in the land, be strong,” declares Yahweh. “Work, because I am with you, declares Yahweh Tsebaoth.”

Yahweh Tsebaoth ignites hope. Isaiah 13:4, “Listen to the noise on the mountains. It is like the sound of a large army. It is the sound of kingdoms and nations gathering together. Yahweh Tesbaoth is assembling his army for battle.”

The name first appears in 1 Samuel 1:3 when it starts the story of Samuel’s birth. Elkanah and Hannah would go each year to Shiloh and worship Yahweh Tsebaoth, the Lord of angel armies. In verse 11, “She made this vow, ‘Yahweh Tsebaoth, if you will look at my misery, remember me, and give me a boy, then I will give him to you for as long as he lives. A razor will never be used on his head.”

Yahweh Tsabaoth is not just a commander of armies, but he is the leader of all mankind, the instiller of hope, and the covenantal promise. 

If we jump forward to 1 Samuel 17, the baby that Hannah had prayed for has been born, raised in the temple, was a judge for the people of Israel, and has appointed a king, Saul, for Israel because of their demands. Saul messed up and turned his back on God, so God took his approval away and gave it to David. Now here we are; David’s brothers are out in the field with the army and trying to fight the Philistines. The Philistines were on one hillside and the Israelites were on the other. There was a ravine between the two. 

Goliath, who was ten feet tall, would come out decked out in armor that weighed over 125 lbs and taunt the Israelites. He stood head and shoulders above the Israelites. They were scared of this guy, and I can’t say that I blame them. Goliath was calling on them to send out their best warrior to fight him with the agreement that if they defeated him, then they would become slaves of the Israelites. 

David was tending to the sheep while his brothers were off fighting the battle. David would go back and forth from the battle field to report to his dad how they were doing. On this day, Jesse, David’s dad, was sending some food by way of David. He got there as the Isrealites were gearing up to go to the screaming match between them and the Philistines. This had gone on for 40 days. 

When Goliath stepped out, the Israelites would run in terror. David, witnessing what was going on, asked, “What will be done for the man who kills the Philistine and gets rid of Israel’s disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should challenge the army of Elohim Chay?” (Which means Living God.)

David’s oldest brother got upset that he was asking this question. I am sure there’s some sibling rivalry going on. Then David steps up and says, “Don’t worry, I got this.”

So an army full of qualified men won’t go fight this guy, but David comes up and says, “Hang on, let me go take care of this for you.” Saul takes one look and says, “You’re just a boy.” 

David, full of confidence, says, “Well, I take care of the bear and the lion when they attack my sheep. I got this!”

At this point, I feel like Saul is exasperated with the situation. He has been taunted and yelled at and watched his men run in fear for 40 days. Up walks this kid who has the confidence of a giant and says, “God and I are about to handle this guy; just watch.” David isn’t just confident in his abilities; he is confident in God’s ability.

David picked up 5 smooth stones, put them in his bag, took out his slingshot, and walked to the battlefield. The outcome was already decided before David ever stepped a foot on the field. Goliath has shieldbearers that walk in front of him. They all get a good look at David and instantly despise him. Goliath hollered, “Who am I that you come to attack me with sticks?”

Then “David told the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Yahweh Tsebaoth, the Elohim of the army of Israel, whom you insulted. Today Yahweh will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head. And this day I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals. The whole world will know that Israel has an Elohim.”

Then we know how this story ends. David took out one stone, slung it, and it hit Goliath’s forehead. He fell to the ground. David took Goliath’s sword and cut his head off. 

In this passage, the name of Yahweh Tsebaoth is used as a name of power. 

Yahweh Tsebaoth reminds us that we do not face anything alone. Whether we are facing a physical battle, mental battle, relational battle, or spiritual battle, we are not alone. The same God that commands the stars, who is surrounded by angel armies, and who delivered David from Goliath, is the same God who goes before us today. 

Braxton and I, and several others that have confided in us, have been facing some pretty strong spiritual battles lately. When you pray to Yahweh Tsebaoth, you are calling on the angel armies to surround you, to fight for you, and to strengthen you. Exodus 14:14 is one of my most favorite verses; it says, “The Lord will fight for you if you will just be still.” Being able to be still when you need to fight is knowing that Yahweh Tsebaoth is with you. It’s looking up to the hills and seeing the angel armies surround you when you feel abandoned. 

He is our sovereign hope. Psalms 46:7 says, “Yahweh Tsebaoth is with us. The Elohim of Jacob is our stronghold.”

So when the battle feels overwhelming, when fear rises, or when the weight of life feels too heavy, we don’t have to strive in our own strength. We can be still, knowing that the Lord fights for us. We can lift our eyes—not to the size of the opposition, but to the greatness of our God.

This week, let us walk forward with confidence, not because of what we are capable of, but because of who Yahweh Tsebaoth is. He is our defender, our strength, and our hope—and the battle belong

Have a great day with Jesus!

As I was thinking about shalom this morning, I was reminded of the troubles of the Israelites. The Israelites’ journey from Abraham to the Exodus was filled with ups and downs. It was a story of a people from its inception through prosperity, slavery, and deliverance. It was a telling of God’s love and abiding with his chosen people. It was also a fulfillment of a covenant with one man, Abraham. In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses gives an account of the Exodus, the trials, struggles, victories, and promises that the Israelites experienced. One thing to note, though, is that God never promises “peace,” at least not as how we see “peace.” 

The Israelites still faced trials. They still faced temptations. They even encountered battles. They had to face giants and take the land that God promised them. But the key element is all of these things is that Yahweh Shalom was with them. They had the confidence that they would and could overcome because they had GOD on their side. And as long as they worshipped God alone, he stayed with them. 

If you read the book of Joshua, you will see a passing of leadership from Moses to Joshua and the promise of the people to follow the commands that Joshua gives. The people are reminded again that if you continue to follow God, you will win in battle. They are in the process of taking the land that God has for them, the land that God promised them. He never said that the land would be uninhabited or that they would be handed the “keys to the city” on arrival. It was theirs for the taking; all they had to do was step out in faith, trust God, and follow his commands, and the victory would be theirs. 

A funny thing about the Israelites is that they often got caught up in what others were doing and shifted their focus from God to self-interests and other idols. And THAT is when turmoil sets in. 

Shalom was no longer apparent. Things did not go their way, and the enemies started having the victory. When they repented and turned back to God, then they were reconciled to God, and the peace that only God could give would return. 

Remember, our God is El Kanna (jealous God). He is jealous FOR the worship we give. He wants us FOR him. 

Joshua says in chapter 24:25, “Choose this day who you will serve; as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”

When we are devoted to God, our El Kanna, we experience His peace, His Shalom. He is our Yahweh Shalom. When we are in Him, we have His gift of peace. Just like the Israelites, we will face trials, struggles, and battles, but when Yahweh Shalom is with us, we have peace despite the junk around us. 

What stands out to me with the Israelites is that the peace was never tied to the quietness or events of their lives. It was about walking with God. When they were focused on God, they had peace, confidence, and courage. When they wandered away from God, they lost all of those things. 

The battles of our lives are the same. When we are focused on God, the mess doesn’t seem as messy or as burdensome; when we focus on the mess, we get overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed.

Follow Joshua’s invitation: “Choose this day whom you will serve.”

Will you choose to be devoted to El Kanna and rest in the peace of Yahweh Shalom?

Shalom is not found in perfection but in the presence of Yahweh.

Have a great day with Jesus!

When we think of peace as the world sees it, then we think of the absence of conflict. But what about the times when we are in the middle of conflict. Maybe the climate in our home is one that is lacking peace. Maybe we have lost trust in our spouse, or perhaps the kids are straying down a path that has us concerned, or possibly one of us has lost their job and things are tense in the home and you’re not sure how you will survive this season.

Where is the peace then?

Maybe if you take a moment and stick your toes in the sand and watch the waves roll in, you will find some peace. Or perhaps you can go take a walk in the woods and look out over the mountaintops, then you will feel peace. What if you had the chance to take a long hot bubble bath and relax for a couple of hours?

Would you have peace then?

Chances are you would, for a moment, but the chaos would return, the stress would still linger, and the confrontation would still be there. The peace you need and the peace you are looking for is the peace, or the shalom, that comes from God. 

Galatians 5:6 tells us, “As far as our relationship with Christ Yeshua is concerned, what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.” And then in vs 22-23, “But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Shalom is a gift. It is not something that we obtain. That gift is given to us through relationship with God. 

I have faced trials in my life, ones that I didn’t think I could find a way out of, and some I wasn’t walking with God that closely and in those I felt no peace. Only turmoil, stress, and total frustration.

However, as I have gotten older and worked on my relationship with God, when I have faced a mountain I have had that peace. That shalom that only comes from walking in step with Him. That shalom is indescribable. It’s just there. Holding you like a warm blanket. It’s whispering in your ear that no matter what you face, God’s peace will sustain you.

I pray you have that peace today. I pray that you are walking with God and experience that peace that only comes from Yahweh Shalom. 

Have a great day with Jesus!

Last week talked about Qedosh Yisrael, Holy One of Israel. I spent the week posting about what it means to be holy. 

What does it mean to you to be holy?

To me, it means being set apart. Living differently than the world lives. Walking with God daily and following His commands and trying to live for Him.

So this week we will be studying Yahweh Shalom, The Lord is Peace.

What is peace?

For many of us, it’s calm, it’s the absence of war or conflict. 

“Shalom” is more than the English word “peace”; it means completeness, soundness, welfare, prosperity, good health, happiness, and rest. It is a conventional harmony. The word “shalom” was used about 237 times in the Old Testament, and it describes a right relationship with God, neighbor, and creation. 

The first time “shalom” is used is in Genesis 15:15 when Elohim is telling Abram, “You can know for sure that your descendants will live in a land that is not their own, where they will be slaves, and they will be oppressed for 400 years. But I will punish the nation they serve, and after that they will come out with many possessions. But you will die in shalom/peace and be buried at a very old age.”

The only time Yahweh Shalom is used is in Judges 6:24.

In Judges 6, we see that the Israelites have disobeyed God, and he has turned them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites were too strong, so they were hiding out in the mountains and in caves. During this time a Messenger of Yahweh, or Jesus before he was Jesus, the capital LORD, appears to Gideon, who is hiding out, and says, “Yahweh is with you, brave man.”

Gideon responded with, “Excuse me, sir! But if Yahweh is with us, why is all this happening to us? Where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? They said Yahweh brought us out of Egypt, but now he has abandoned us.”

Yahweh turned to him and told him that he, Gideon, would be the one to rescue Israel. 

Gideon, again, responded with, “Excuse me, sir! How can I rescue Israel? Look at my whole family. It’s the weakest one in Manasseh. And me? I am the least important member of my whole family.”

Yahweh replied, “I will be with you. You will defeat Midian as if it were only one man.”

At this time Gideon asked for a sign. He asked the Messenger of Yahweh to stay put until he could bring him a gift. Gideon made up some unleavened bread and brought out a pot of broth and some meat and brought it out to him. The Messenger told Gideon to take the meat and the bread and put it on a stone and then pour the broth over it. 

Then the Messenger of Yahweh touched the meat and the bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared up from the rock and burned the meat and the bread. If you remember a couple of weeks ago when we talked about Esh Oklah, here we see the fire again.

Then the Messenger of Yahweh disappeared. Gideon realized who he was talking to and said, “Adonay Yahweh! I have seen the Messenger of Yahweh face to face!”

The LORD said to Him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die!”

“So Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh. He called it Yahweh Shalom.”

Gideon seems a bit frustrated, maybe even sarcastic, at the initial meeting of the Messenger because this Yahweh he grew up hearing about has seemed to have abandoned them, and now this Messenger appears and says that Yahweh is with him and wants Gideon to deliver the Israelites. Gideon asks for a sign, receives the sign, realizes he is in the presence of God, and God says, “Peace! Do not be afraid!” and Gideon built the altar to Yahweh in reference to that peace. The name Yahweh Shalom is given during a time of fear when the Israelites were being oppressed. 

Yahweh Shalom is more of a title than a name. God IS peace, IS completeness, and He brings security. 

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties.” 

Philippians 4:4-7 says, “Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace/SHALOM, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Yeshua.”

Numbers 6:26 says, “Yahweh will look on you with favor and give you peace/SHALOM.”

God made a covenant of peace with Levi as it’s recorded in Malachi 2:5-6: “I promised Levi life and peace. He lived with me in peace and honesty and turned many people away from sin.”

Covenant shalom isn’t a feeling. Covenantal peace is the evidence of an established relationship with God, one that is anchored by obedience and trust in his promises. 

We have often heard of Israeli or Jewish people who will say “shalom” as a greeting. In 1 Samuel 1, when Hannah was pouring out her heart to God, Eli told her, “Shalom,” or “Go in peace.” In 1 Samuel 20:42 Jonathan told David to “Go in peace!” or Shalom. So when you say “Shalom” as a greeting, you aren’t saying hello or goodbye,  you are wishing wholeness over one’s life. 

Shalom has moral implications. Isaiah 32:16-17 says, “The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness will live in the fertile field. The fruit of his righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.” And Isaiah 48:22 says, “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.” So shalom is both a gift and a demand of God’s people.

So the shalom that quieted Gideon’s fear is the same peace that comforted Hannah and is the same peace that is promised to us to guard our hearts and our minds. This shalom is what flows out of those who are anchored in Christ. It’s not just the absence of conflict, but the steadiness to stand when life is hitting hard. It’s the trust in knowing that Yahweh Shalom is with us, holding us, and giving us a quiet confidence and a calling to justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

As we study Yahweh Shalom this week, ask yourself, “Where is God trying to bring peace in my life?” and “Where do I need to trust him more deeply? ”. 

May God’s peace be with you this week. Shalom.

Deuteronomy 28 is a chapter of blessings and curses. I honestly think we should start telling people, I wish Yahweh would “strike you with hemorrhoids, sores, and itching that won’t go away” (Deuteronomy 18:27, seriously, go read it!) when they upset us. Biblical insults are kinda funny when you think about it. But the curses are the curses that Yahweh would bring upon the Israelites if they did not follow his commands and laws. 

However, if they would faithfully follow his commands and laws, he said that they would be “Yahweh’s holy people, as he promised you with an oath” (Deuteronomy 28:9). Sunday, we talked about what it meant to be holy. We said that it meant being set apart, acting like you are set apart, and living like you are set apart. 

Being holy is in faithfully following his commands and laws. It’s in walking in step with God and having a relationship with him. I know I say this a lot, but this is something that I somehow missed for many, many years. Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. I want you to KNOW GOD. Get to know him on a personal level. 

Yes, he is holy and reverent, and we should fear him and approach him in awe. But I also think that God wants us to talk with him, embrace him, walk with him, and meet with him over a cup of coffee. He should be as familiar to us as our next breath. To become holy as he is holy, we need to know him so that we can become like him.

Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.” 

This is what it means to be set apart, different from the world, going against the flow. Is your life a life that looks like you are set apart? Do your actions point others to Christ? Do your words match those of the world of those who reflect the Savior? 

If you can’t say it or do it inside the church building, then why are you doing it outside the church building? 

Now I have to be honest. After I wrote that last sentence, I stopped, closed my laptop, and went and talked to Braxton. I had to spend some time mulling that one over. Are there things I do and say that aren’t ok to do and say inside the church? I’m not talking about wearing a hat or a swimsuit to church; those are obvious things. I’m talking about my everyday language and habits. When I speak outside the four walls of the church building, is it obvious to others that I am set apart? When I face a difficult situation, is my response one that shows that I am different? When my child isn’t picked for the team, do others see my reaction as a person who has God in their heart? Or what about when I am driving, and traffic is proving to be less than ideal, am I acting in a way that would signify that I am holy?

(I can honestly say no to the last one. Not even gonna pretend I am the most patient driver. But I normally have my kids in my truck with me, so I have to watch myself because they are watching me.)

As Moses was delivering all these remembrances, blessings, and curses, he concluded with, “Pay attention to all these warnings I’ve given you today. Then you will command your children to faithfully obey every word of these teachings. Don’t think these words are idle talk. They are your life!” 

These words are your life! Are we living as though God’s words are our life? Are we feasting on His word daily? Are we allowing Him to sustain us through the good and the bad, or are we praising him on the mountaintop and forgetting him in the valley?

This phrase struck me to my core. I don’t want to just read the Bible; I want to ingest the Bible. I want the word of God to be a part of my make-up, my DNA, the lifeblood that runs through me. No, I don’t want to be a “holy roller,” and I hope I never appear to be “holier than thou”; that is NOT what I meant. I want His words to be my life. I want His words to be the breath I breathe, to speak them over and to my children, to pray them in my home, and to live them with my life. 

Isn’t that what it means to be holy as he is holy? Wouldn’t that cause me to be ‘set apart’? I don’t want to live as the world lives. (I’ve seen how the world lives, and they are a little crazy.) I want to be holy as he is holy because that is what he has called me to be. 

Maybe the question isn’t ‘are we following his commands?’ Maybe the question should be, do we know him well enough to WANT to?

Have you ever noticed that married couples that have been together for years start to look more like each other? In the same way, the more time you spend with God, the more you get to know him, and the more you look like him, act like him, and talk like him, the more you are ‘set apart.’ 

Becoming holy isn’t just about a behavior modification; it’s about a heart transformation. 

“These words are your life” isn’t just about what we read or something we quote. It’s something we live, breathe, and speak in our homes, in our conversations, and in our reactions and responses. 

At the end of the day, if we take the time to think about who all saw us, we will realize that our children are watching us, our neighbors are watching us, and so are classmates, coworkers, ball field fans, and grocery store clerks. 

I don’t want God to be my afterthought; I want Him to be my first thought when the world starts pressing in. That’s what it means to be holy, to be set apart. To reflect the one from whom we are made. 

And that is what He is calling us to.

Have a great day with Jesus!

In my personal study and chronological Bible reading plan, I finished reading Deuteronomy today. Earlier in our studies, we saw how much Abraham grew in his faith from when he passed off his wife as his sister and tried to take matters into his own hands to fully trusting in God when asked to offer his son as a sacrifice. Today, I saw the culmination of Moses’ life as he died and was buried by God. If you remember when we talked about Esh Oklah, consuming fire, we talked about Moses and approaching this burning bush. God asked Moses to go to Pharaoh, and Moses started digging in his heels in protest and had a list of reasons as to why he couldn’t do what God was asking him to do. 

But I want to pause at that burning bush for just a moment. Esh Oklah was present in that bush, but the bush was not burning up. However, when Moses stepped forward, “Elohim said, ‘Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is HOLY ground.”

Holy ground. 

Now, I am sure that many people and animals had walked all over where that bush was long before Esh Oklah used it for heart-calling purposes. But at this moment, this ground was HOLY. There wasn’t anything special about that ground. The dirt was just dirt, and the bush was just a bush until Yedosh Qisrael showed up. The ground wasn’t holy because of what it was—it was HOLY because of WHO was there.

In Joshua 5:13-15, it says, “When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you one of us or one of our enemies?” He answered, “Neither one! I am here as the commander of Yahweh’s army.” Immediately, Joshua bowed with his face touching the ground and worshiped. He asked, “Sir, what do you want to tell me?” The commander of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is holy.” So Joshua did as he was told.”

Again we see, where the presence of God is, the ground is holy.

But why are they asked to remove their shoes?

Well, what do our shoes have on them? I mean, do we really want to think about it? Dirt, gravel, that pile of something you stepped in and didn’t mean to step in, and now your whole house stinks because you didn’t realize you stepped in it….. yeah. Let’s just take our shoes off. 

If the shoes we wear represent the messes we literally walk through and the junk we step in, then it’s understandable why God wants us to remove them when we are in his presence. Take off the stuff that is weighing you down. Feet to earth. 

(Did you know that when you walk barefoot in the grass, your mood lifts, your blood pressure lowers, and you can reduce stress? Funny how the act of removing our shoes and physically connecting with Elohim’s creation can do that, huh?)

But let’s also look at John 13. Before Jesus went to the cross to take on all our sin, he removed the sandals of his disciples and washed their feet. He humbled himself, removed the shoes of the ones who had walked with him, the one who would deny him, and the one who would betray him, and washed their feet. He removed the dirt, the junk, and the crud. He removed the barrier between them and himself as they were in his presence. (And yes, there is a different message in that passage about serving one another, but I thought the imagery was a great picture of our God and his holiness.)

While we can remove the physical dirt (i.e., our shoes), it is Jesus who removes the unseen dirt.

Qedosh Yisrael is holy. His presence is holy. We cannot be in his presence covered in the filth of this world. This, I believe, is why he is calling us to be holy. 

Deuteronomy 34 is the recording of the death and burial of Moses. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight never failed, and his physical strength never wavered. God buried him in the valley of Moab, and no one knows where his grave is. Vs10-12, “There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh dealt with face to face. He was the one Yahweh sent to do all the miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to his whole country. Moses used his mighty hand to do all the spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds that were seen by all the Israelites.”

Do you remember the Moses who didn’t want to go to Pharaoh? The one who stuttered and stammered and protested against what God was asking him to do? The one who begged Adonay to send someone else?

There has never been another like him. 

Yahweh dealt with him face to face. 

He was the one Yahweh sent. 

I have to admit, I teared up. My emotions welled up inside of me. I have questioned God and what he has asked me to do. I have dug my heels in in protest. But if God can take a stuttering shepherd who had to run for his life in fear and turn him into a man that he dealt with face-to-face, I can only imagine what he can do with me if I allow him to. 

When I die, will it be said of me that there was no other like me? Will the mark I make on this earth leave a lasting impact? Will my legacy of faith be such that people will remember me as one who loved God?

Maybe the first step isn’t striving harder but surrendering sooner and taking off my shoes and realizing I’ve been on holy ground all along.

Have a great day with Jesus.

Last week we talked about Esh Oklah, El Kanna—consuming fire, jealous God. This was spoken by Moses in Deuteronomy 4:24. He was reminding the children of Israel of all they had been through since leaving Egypt, as well as reminding them of their actions and God’s responses. As Moses was reminding them not to have any other god or idol other than Him, he said, “Yahweh your Elohim is Esh Oklah, El Kanna.” “The LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

Why do you think the Lord said that his name is El Kanna, jealous God?

I think it is a reminder that he wants our total devotion, worship, and adoration. He has, does, and will pursue us because he wants us WITH him. He is jealous FOR us. 

Malachi 3:2-3 says “But who will be able to endure the day he comes? Who will be able to survive on the day he appears? He is like a purifying fire and like a cleansing soap. He will act like a refiner and a purifier of silver.” What does it mean to you that he is a “purifying fire, a refiner and purifier of silver”?

To me it tells me that he holds me when I am going through trials that are meant to refine me and burn away the impurities/sin in my own life. He is molding me into what he needs me to be. 

This week we will be studying Qedosh Yisrael, which means Holy One of Israel. I will admit, like a lot of these names, I look at it and wonder how I am going to teach this name. We have studied other names whose characteristics point to God’s holiness. This name, itself, means Holy. He is holy, his name is holy. 

Qidosh Yisrael is described to us in Leviticus 19:2. Yahweh is speaking to Moses and giving him instructions for how the Israelites are to live. Yahweh says, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel; Be holy because I, Yahweh your Elohim, am holy.” However, the first time the name is used is in 2 Kings 19:22 when the Assyrians were threatening Jerusalem and mocking God. King Hezekiah brought the letters from the Assyrians to the temple and prayed to God. God’s response was delivered through the prophet Isaiah and Yahweh said, “My dear people in Zion despise you and laugh at you. My people in Jerusalem shake their heads behind your back. Whom are you defying and slandering? Against whom are you shouting? Who are you looking at so arrogantly? It is Qedosh Israel!”, The Holy One of Israel.

So God himself is saying that he is Holy. 

If I asked you to describe God, how would you describe him?

We would probably say all powerful, all knowing, omnipotent, forgiving, loving, creator, etc. 

There are three places in scripture that use the statement “GOD IS”. 

John 4:24- “GOD IS a spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

1 John 4:7-8-”Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. The person who doesn’t love doesn’t know God because GOD IS love.”

1 John 1:5-”This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you; GOD IS light, and there isn’t any darkness in him.”

He is all of those things BECAUSE he is Holy. None of that can exist without his holiness. 

In Isaiah 6, Isaiah is explaining a vision of God’s majesty. He said, “Angels were standing above him. Each had six wings: With two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They called to each other and said, “Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh Tseboath! The whole earth is filled with his glory. Their voices shook the foundations of the doorposts, and the temple filled with smoke.”

Now this scene shows that the angels are declaring his holiness. And it’s not like they just say one time “Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh Tseboath”, no it is being repeated, constantly. Picture yourself in a superbowl stadium in the middle of the game and everyone starts shouting “Holy, holy, holy”. Its in stereo, its repetitive, its a declaration of his holiness, of who he is. It’s not a question, its a statement. 

But what does it mean to be holy?

Webster defines it as “exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness”. Humanly it means to be “set apart”. In scripture it is scared. 

Braxton’s chair is holy. That is his chair. He is the only one “allowed” to sit in it. It is set apart, it is “holy”.  Don’t tell him I said that.

Now, because God is holy, there is nothing imperfect in God. God can do everything except one thing. He cannot lie, he cannot sin because he is Holy.

In Exodus 19, two months after the Israelites came out of Egypt, they came to the desert of Sinai. This is where Yahweh called Moses up onto the mountain and talked to him. Yahweh said, You have seen all the things that I did in Egypt and how I carried you out. “If you carefully obey me and are faithful to the terms of my promise then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, even though the whole world is mine. You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.”

Moses took this to the leaders of the Israelites and they all agreed that they would follow God. So Yahweh told them that he is coming to them in a cloud so that THEY WOULD HEAR HIM SPEAK with you and will always believe you. They had two days to get ready. In those two days they had to wash their clothes and “they must set themselves apart as holy.”

Now, I don’t think I will ever be set apart as holy because I still have laundry needing to be washed, folded, and put up and it’s been way more than two days. 

What is said here is confirmed in Deuteronomy 5 after Moses is recalling to the Israelites when God gave their ancestors the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, in verse 22 he said, “These are the commandments Yahweh spoke to your whole assembly on the mountain. He spoke in a loud voice from the fire, the cloud, and the gloomy darkness. Then he stopped speaking. He wrote the commandments on two stone tablets and gave them to me.”

So Moses wasn’t the only one who heard the laws being given by God despite what our childhood Bible lessons taught us. They all heard it. Also, it wasn’t just the ten commandments written on those stone tablets, but all the rules and laws that God said to them. 

In order to be holy, we must be sinless. In Genesis 3:8 it says that “In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard Yahweh Elohim walking around in the garden. So they hid from Yahweh Elohim among the trees in the garden.”

So before sin entered into the world, God walked alongside us, his creation. It was sin that separated us from him. He could no longer be physically with us because his holiness won’t allow him to be in the presence of sin. However, God already had a plan for this, in Genesis 3:21 it says, “Yahweh Elohim made clothes from animal skins for the man and his wife and dressed them.”

Where do animal skins come from? Do you think the animals took them off to share with Adam and Eve?

No. They were sacrificed. 

Then we see in Genesis 4 that Cain and Abel also made sacrifices to God and Cain killed Abel because of jealousy. 

So we see God’s plan to restore us to him in the first few chapters of the Bible. Because of God’s holiness he cannot be in the presence of sin. Jesus on the cross took on all that sin and God turned his back on him as recorded in Mark 15:34, “At three o’clock Yeshua cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” Which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

So, back to our key verse, Leviticus 19:2, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel: Be holy because I, Yahweh your Elohim, am holy.”

How do we become holy? How do we become set apart?

We become holy by having a relationship with God. We develop a consistent prayer life. We spend time in scripture. We obey what God laws and what he tells us to do. We practice confession and repentance. We replace selfishness with love, patience, kindness, mercy, and truth. We live in a community of believers. We grow together in faith and love. We live set apart. We act set apart. 

2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, dear friends, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and live a HOLY life in the fear of God.”

So if we remember that Elohim created us, El Roi sees us, El Shaddai is our Almighty, El Olam is eternal, Yahweh Yireh provides for us, Yahweh is our LORD, Adonay is our Master, Yahweh Rophe is our healer, Yahweh Nissi is our banner, Esh Oklah is a consuming fire, El Kanna is a jealous God, then it is easy to recognize Qedosh Yisrael as the HOLY One. (Yes there will be a test at the end of the year. You have been warned.)

God calls us to be holy, not because he wants to make life harder for us, but because he wants us to live with HIM. It’s all about relationship.

In the beginning He walked with God in the garden. Sin was the separator, the thing that keeps us from God. He never stopped pursuing us. He never stopped wanting us to be with him. He made a way. In the Old Testament it was animal sacrifices. In the New it was Jesus. 

The sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross made the way for us to be holy. “Be holy because I am holy” is an invitation. An invitation to walk with Him. An invitation to live differently. To speak differently. To act differently. 

Qedosh Yisrael is calling us to live “set apart”. 

Have a great day with Jesus!