RSEA.D. Week 120

• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 28:1 – 29:40
• Prophets (P): Ezekiel 45:13-20
• Apostolic (A): Hebrews 9:11-17
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 35:1-20

Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

• Numbers 28:1-31 Offerings for Daily, Shabbat, New Moons, Pesach + Festival of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits + Shavuot  
  1. Numbers 28:1-2; Through Mosheh, the sons of Israel (B’nei Yisrael) are commanded, “You will” guard YHWH’s offering, His bread for His offerings made by fire, as a pleasant aroma to YHWH, in his appointed time (בְּמוֹעֲדוֹ b’moado “in his appointed time”)
     1. Numbers 28:3-8 Daily, continual offering (2 male lambs + burnt offering +  grain offering + libation offering) 
        1. “This is the offering made by fire which you will bring to YHWH: male lambs a year old, perfect ones, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering…” (Numbers 28:3)
        2. “one lamb in the morning, and you will do the other lamb at evening” (Numbers 28:4)
           1. “one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering…” (Numbers 28:5) Approximately 10 cups
              1. “…mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil” (Numbers 28:5) Approximately 1/2 gallon or 8 cups
           2. “Its libation offering will be the fourth part of a hin for each lamb” (Numbers 28:7) – Approximately 1/2 gallon or 8 cups
              1. “You will pour out a libation offering of strong wine to YHWH in the holy” (Numbers 28:7)
                 1. שֵׁכָר shechar (H7941) literally means “to be drunk” or filled with intoxicating drink. In Ancient Israel, שֵׁכָר shechar only refers to wine from grapes and not other forms of strong or intoxicating liquor such as beer or wine from dates. [see strong wine tooltip]
        3. “…It is a continual burnt offering which was done in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma…” (Numbers 28:6, cf. Exodus 29:38-42)
     2. Numbers 28:9-10 On the Sabbath day (4 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + libation offering)
        1. “Two male lambs a year old, perfect ones” (Numbers 28:9)
           1. “and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering” (Numbers 28:9)
           2. “mixed with oil, and its libation offering” (Numbers 28:9)
              1. fourth part of a hin for each lamb” (Numbers 28:7)
        2. “This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation offering” (Numbers 28:10)
     3. Numbers 28:11-15 New Moons (2 young bulls, 1 ram, 7 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + libation offering + 1 male goat for a sin offering)
        1. In the head of your new moons, you will bring a burnt offering to YHWH: (Numbers 28:11)
           1. two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, perfect ones, (Numbers 28:11)
              1. for each bull “three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering” (Numbers 28:11) Approximately 30 cups or ~2 gallons
                 1. “mixed with oil” (Numbers 28:11) Approximately 1.5 gallons or 24 cups
              2. for the one ram “two tenth parts of fine flour for a grain offering” (Numbers 28:12) Approximately 20 cups
                 1. “mixed with oil” (Numbers 28:12) Approximately 1 gallon or 16 cups
              3. to every lamb “one tenth part of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering to every lamb, as a burnt offering of a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to YHWH. (Numbers 28:13) Approximately 10 cups (cf. Numbers 28:5)
           2. Their libation offerings will be: (Numbers 28:14)
              1. half a hin of wine for a bull, Approximately 1 gallon or 16 cups
              2. the third part of a hin for the ram, Approximately 0.6 gallons or 9.5 cups
              3. and the fourth part of a hin [of wine]^(DSS) for [each]^(DSS) lamb Approximately 1/2 gallon or 8 cups (cf. Numbers 28:7) 
           3. This is the burnt offering of every new moon throughout the new moons of the year. (Numbers 28:14)
              1. Also, one male goat for a sin offering to YHWH will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation offering. (Numbers 28:15)
                 1. חַטָּאת chatat (H2403) comes from the root חטּ chat which means to measure with a cord (cf. 1 Kings 7:15). In ancient times when shooting an arrow or other object to a target, the distance that one misses was measured with a cord. Therefore, to sin (חֱטָא cheta H2398) is to miss an intended target. חַטָּאת chatat is translated as “failure” in Jeff Benner’s Mechanical Translation of the Torah.
     4. Numbers 28:16-31 Pesach + Festival of Unleavened Bread (Matsah) + First Fruits + Shavuot (Weeks) 
        1. In the first new moon, on the fourteenth day of the new moon, is YHWH’s Pesach. 17 On the fifteenth day of this new moon will be a festival.
           1. Festival = חָג chag (H2282) literally means “to gather in a circle” because the participants of a festival would gather together with joy (שִׂמְחָה simcha H8057) to feast and dance in a circle. (cf. Exodus 5:1; Exodus 10:9; 1 Samuel 30:16 (chagag H2287); Psalms 42:4 (chagag H2287); Ezra 6:22)
        2. “Unleavened bread will be eaten for seven days. In the first day will be a holy convocation. You will do no work of service” (Numbers 28:17-18)
           1. מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה melekhet avodah (H5656 +H4399) literally means “work of service”
           2. 2 young bulls, 1 ram, 7 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + 1 male goat for a sin offering (cf. Numbers 28:11-15)
              1. “You will bring an offering made by fire, a burnt offering to YHWH: two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. They will be perfect ones” (Numbers 28:19, cf. Numbers 28:11)
                 1. “with their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil. You will do three tenths for a bull, and two tenths for the ram. You will do one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs” (Numbers 28:20-21, cf. Numbers 28:11-13)
                 2. “and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.” (Numbers 28:22, cf. Numbers 28:15)
              2. Same grain offering and sin offering as for New Moons, no specific libation offering
              3. “You will do these in addition to the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. Like these you will do daily, for seven days, the bread of the offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to YHWH. (Numbers 28:23)
                 1. It will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation offering.” (Numbers 28:23-24)
              4. “On the seventh day you will have a holy convocation. You will do no work of service.” (Numbers 28:25)
                 1. מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ miqra qodesh (H4744 + H6944) is most often translated as “holy convocation” or “holy meeting.” However, מִקְרָא miqra comes from the word קְרָא qara (H7121) which means to proclaim, call out, recite, or read. The word miqra has also been translated to mean “a public reading of Scripture.” This is demonstrated in Nehemiah 8:8; “They read in the book, in the Torah of Elohim, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood in the reading (miqra)” and Joshua 8:34-35, “Afterward he read (qara) all the words of the Torah, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the Torah. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua didn’t read (qara) before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the sojourners who were among them.”
           3. Topic Study at https://thecord.life/topic/pesach/
        3. First Fruits, Shavuot (Weeks) cf. Leviticus 23:15-21
           1. “Also in the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to YHWH in your Weeks (שָׁבֻעֹת shavuot H7620), you will have a holy convocation. You will do no work of service” (Numbers 28:26, cf. Leviticus 23:15-21)
              1. Not to be confused with the “sheaf of the wave offering” in Leviticus 23:15 which begins the 50 day counting to Shavuot (Pentecost means “50th” in Greek) but is not mentioned as an actual festival celebration which some call the “Feast of Firstfruits” or the day Yeshua resurrected.
              2. Also a festival (Exodus 23:14-16; Deuteronomy 16:16)
              3. Topic Study at https://thecord.life/topic/shavuot/
           2. Numbers 28:27-31 2 young bulls, 1 ram, 7 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + 1 male goat for a sin offering (cf. Numbers 28:11-15)
              1. “You will bring a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to YHWH: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; 28 and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for each bull, two tenths for the one ram, 29 one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs; 30 and one male goat, to make atonement for you.” (Numbers 28:27-30)
                 1. Same grain offering and sin offering as for Pesach and New Moons; no specific libation offering
              2. “Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you will do them and their libation offerings. See that they are perfect ones.” (Numbers 28:31; cf. Numbers 28:11-15)
• Numbers 29:1-40 Offerings for Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot
  1. Numbers 29:1-6 Yom Teruah (Day of Shouting)
     1. In the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon, you will have a holy convocation; you will do no work of service. It is a Day of a Shout to you.
        1. Called Zikhron Teruah (Remembrance of a Shout) in Leviticus 23:24
           1. Not called a “festival”
        2. Topic Study at https://thecord.life/topic/teruah/
        3. 1 young bull, 1 ram, 7 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + 1 male goat for a sin offering
           1. “You will do a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to YHWH: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, perfect ones; and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil:
              1. three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the ram, and one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs; and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;” (Numbers 29:2-5)
              2. Same grain offering and sin offering as for Pesach, New Moons, and Shavuot; no specific libation offering
              3. 1 young bull instead of 2 like the previous three appointed times (cf. Leviticus 28:11,19,27)
        4. “in addition to the burnt offering of the new moon with its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering with its grain offering, and their libation offerings, according to their judgments, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to YHWH.” (Numbers 29:6)
  2. Numbers 29:7-11 Yom haKippurim (Day of the Atonements)
     1. “On the tenth day of this seventh new moon you will have a holy convocation.” (Numbers 29:7)
        1. “You will afflict your souls. You will do no kind of work;”
           1. עִנִּיתֶם אֶת-נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם ve’initem et-nafshoteichem = “afflict your souls” or beings
        2. Not any work vs. No work of service
           1. כָּל־מְלָאכָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ kol melachah lo ta’asu = “any (or all) work you will not do” instead of כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ kol melekhet avodah lo ta’asu = “any (or all) work of service you will not do”
           2. All moedim have “any (or all) work of service you will not do” except Shabbat (cf. Leviticus 23:3) and Yom Kippur (cf. Numbers 29:7) Yom Kippur is called a “Sabbath of rest” in Leviticus 23:32.
        3. 1 young bull, 1 ram, 7 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + 1 male goat for a sin offering
           1. “But you will bring a burnt offering to YHWH for a pleasant aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, all perfect ones” (Numbers 29:8)
           2. “and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the one ram, one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs; one male goat for a sin offering” (Numbers 29:9-11)
           3. Same grain offering and sin offering as for Pesach, New Moons, Shavuot, and Yom Teruah; no specific libation offering
        4. “in addition to the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and their grain offering, and their libation offerings.” (Numbers 29:11)
     2. Topic Study at https://thecord.life/topic/kippurim/
  3. Numbers 29:12-38 Yom Shemini Atseret (Booths/Tabernacles + Eighth Day Assembly) 
     1. “On the fifteenth day of the seventh new moon you will have a holy convocation. You will do no work of service.” (Numbers 29:12)
     2. “You will hold a festival to YHWH seven days.” (Numbers 29:12)
        1. Festival = חָג chag (H2282) literally means “to gather in a circle” because the participants of a festival would gather together with joy (שִׂמְחָה simcha H8057) to feast and dance in a circle. (cf. Exodus 5:1; Exodus 10:9; 1 Samuel 30:16 (chagag H2287); Psalms 42:4 (chagag H2287); Ezra 6:22)
        2. “You will bring a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to YHWH:”
        3. 70 youngs bulls, 14 rams, 98 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + 7 male goats for a sin offering. Instead of 1 young bull, 1 ram, 7 male lambs like each day of other appointed times, Sukkot starts with a reverse of this counting from day one. If we count from day 7 and back, we have the base of 7 young bulls, 2 rams, 7 male lambs and only add a young bull (or take away a young bull when starting from day one), but the 2 rams and 7 male lambs are the same each day. Same per day grain offering and sin offering as for Pesach, New Moons, Shavuot, and Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur; no specific libation offering:
           1. On the first day “thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, all perfect ones; and their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams, and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation offering.” (Numbers 29:13-16)
           2. “On the second day, twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, perfect ones; and their grain offering and their libation offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the judgment; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its grain offering and their libation offerings.” (Numbers 29:17-19)
           3. “On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, perfect ones; and their grain offering and their libation offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the judgment; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its libation offering.” (Numbers 29:20-22)
           4. “On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, perfect ones; their grain offering and their libation offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the judgment; and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation offering.” (Numbers 29:23-25)
           5. “On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, perfect ones; and their grain offering and their libation offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the judgment, and one male goat for a sin offering [to make atonement for you],^(DSS) in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and its libation offering.” (Numbers 29:26-28)
           6. “On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, perfect ones; and their grain offering and their libation offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the judgment, and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and the libation offerings of it.” (Numbers 29:29-31)
           7. “On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, perfect ones; and their grain offering and their libation offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the judgment, and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation offering.” (Numbers 29:32-34)
           8. “On the eighth day you will have a closing assembly.” (Numbers 29:35)
              1. “Closing Assembly” = עֲצֶרֶת atseret (H6116) is a special occasion as a temporary ceasing of normal activity. עֲצֶרֶת atseret is from the word עֲצָר atsar (H6113) which means “to stop, restrain, or close” cf. Genesis 16:2; “Sarai said to Abram, “See now, YHWH has restrained (H6113) me from bearing. Please go in to my servant. It may be that I will build from her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.”
              2. “You will do no work of service” (Numbers 29:35)
              3. 1 young bull, 1 ram, 7 male lambs + burnt offering + grain offering + 1 male goat for a sin offering. Same per day grain offering and sin offering as for Pesach, New Moons, Shavuot, and Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur; no specific libation offering:
                 1. “You will bring a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to YHWH: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old, perfect ones; their grain offering and their libation offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, will be according to their number, after the judgment” (Numbers 29:36-37)
                 2. “and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its grain offering, and its libation offering.” (Numbers 29:38)
     3. Topic Study at https://thecord.life/topic/sukkot/
  4. “You will do these to YHWH in your appointed times—in addition to your vows and your freewill offerings—for your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your libation offerings, and your peace offerings.” (Numbers 29:39)
  5. “Moses told the sons of Israel according to all that YHWH commanded Moses.” (Numbers 29:40)

Exhortation
Counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15)

1. Numbers 28:2; You will guard = t’shmeru; shamar means to watch something closely in order to guard or protect it. Shamar is demonstrated concretely and practically by a “brier” which is a prickly shrub from which shepherds constructed corrals of briers (שָׁמִיר shamir H8068) at night to protect the flock from predators.
   1. Isaiah 7:23-25; “It will happen in that day that every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, will be for briers (shamir) and thorns. 24 People will go there with arrows and with bow, because all the land will be briers (shamir) and thorns. 25 All the hills that were cultivated with the mattock, you will not come there for fear of briers (shamir) and thorns…”
   2. The proper understanding of “guarding”  the commandments as opposed to “keeping” the commandments should help us to understand that whether the command or instruction directly relates to us, we are to protect it. Even though the archaic definition of the word “keep” is the same as “guard” (e.g. gatekeeper, housekeeper, zookeeper, etc.). Modern understanding of the word “keep” has taken one of the lesser used definitions; “to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.)” This causes many to think a certain command, instruction, statute, or judgment is not relevant unless an individual can demonstrate direct obedience or fulfillment of it. However, a housekeeper doesn’t live where they serve but still protect, take care of, and tend to the home.
      1. Matthew 14:3-4; For Herod had arrested Yochanan, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For Yochanan said to him, ” It is not lawful for you to have her.”
         1. Leviticus 18:16; You will not uncover the [indecency]^(LXX) of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s [indecency].^(LXX)
         2. Leviticus 20:21-23; If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is an impurity. He has uncovered his brother’s [indecency].^(LXX) They will be childless. 22 You will therefore guard all my statutes and all my judgments, and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out. 23 You will not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
2. Numbers 29:39; “You will do these to YHWH in your appointed times”
   1. In Leviticus 23:2 YHWH says these are “מוֹעֲדָי” moadai means “my feasts”
   2. In Numbers 23:39, YHWH says, “בְּמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם bemoadeichem” = in your appointed times. These are YOURS and not just YHWH’s appointed times
   3. “You will do” = תַּעֲשׂוּ ta’asu (H6213) means to make, do, or fashion something. It’s something you make or do with your OWN hands.
3. The question that can remain is, “I’m not Jewish, are these really MY appointed times?”
   1. Isaiah 56:2-8; Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3 Let no foreigner who has joined himself to YHWH speak, saying, “YHWH will surely separate me from his people.” Do not let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” 4 For YHWH says, “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, choose the things that please me, and hold fast to my covenant, 5 I will give [them]^(DSS)(LXX) in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. 6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to YHWH to serve him, and to love YHWH’s name, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant, 7 I will bring these to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” 8 YHWH, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “I will yet gather others to him, in addition to his own who are gathered.”
   2. Acts 10:34-35; Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
   3. Ephesians 2:11-22; Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands), 12 that you were at that time separate from Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Messiah. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in decrees, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and [peace]^(mss) to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but [you]^(mss) are fellow citizens with the holy ones and of the household of God, 20 being built on the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, Messiah Yeshua himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
   4. Colossians 2:13-17; You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in the decrees which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. 15 Having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with part of a festival, or a new moon or a Sabbath, 17 which are a shadow of the things to come, and the body of the Messiah.

Application
Living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13)

1. Sirach is from approximately 200 to 175 B.C. and was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages.
   1. Sirach 35:1-20:
      • He that guards the Torah multiplies offerings; (Sirach 35:1)
      • He that takes heed to the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. (Sirach 35:1)
      • He that returns a favor to kindness offers fine flour; (Sirach 35:2)
      • He that gives alms sacrifices a thank offering. (Sirach 35:2)
      • To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to YHWH; (Sirach 35:3)
      • To depart from unrighteousness is an atoning sacrifice. (Sirach 35:3)
      • See that you appear not in the face of YHWH empty. (Sirach 35:4)
      • For all these things are to be done because of the commandment. (Sirach 35:5)
      • The offering of the righteous makes the altar fat; (Sirach 35:6)
      • And the sweet savor thereof is before the Most High. (Sirach 35:6)
      • The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable; And the memorial thereof will not be forgotten. (Sirach 35:7)
      • Glorify YHWH with a good eye, And stint not the first fruits of your hands. (Sirach 35:8)
      • In every gift show a cheerful countenance, And dedicate your tithe with gladness. (Sirach 35:9)
      • Give to the Most High according as he has given; And as your hand has found, give with a good eye. (Sirach 35:10)
      • For YHWH recompenses, And he will recompense you sevenfold. (Sirach 35:11)
      • Think not to corrupt with gifts; for he will not receive them: And set not your mind on an unrighteous sacrifice; For YHWH is judge, And with him is no respect of persons. (Sirach 35:12)
      • He will not accept any person against a poor man; And he will listen to the prayer of him that is wronged. (Sirach 35:13)
      • He will in no wise despise the supplication of the fatherless; Nor the widow, if she pours out her tale. (Sirach 35:14)
      • Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek? And is not her cry against him that has caused them to fall? (Sirach 35:15)
      • He that serves Elohim according to his good pleasure will be accepted, And his supplication will reach to the clouds. (Sirach 35:16)
      • The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds; And till it come near, he will not be comforted; And he will not depart, till the Most High will visit; And he does justice for the righteous, and executes judgment. (Sirach 35:17)
      • And YHWH will not be slack, neither will he be patient toward them, Till he have crushed the hips of the unmerciful; And he will repay vengeance to the heathen; Till he have taken away the multitude of the arrogant, And broken in pieces the sceptres of the unrighteous; (Sirach 35:18)
      • Till he have rendered to every man according to his doings, And to the works of men according to their plans; Till he have judged the cause of his people; And he will make them to rejoice in his mercy. (Sirach 35:19)
      • Mercy is seasonable in the time of his afflicting them, As clouds of rain in the time of drought. (Sirach 35:20)
   2. Acts 10:1-4; Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. 3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.”
   3. Romans 12:1; “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of Elohim, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well-pleasing to Elohim, your logical service. 2 And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, in the examining of yourselves in what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of Elohim.”
   4. 1 Peter 2:1-5; Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babies, long for the logical unadulterated milk, that with it you may grow, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim, precious. 5 You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah.

Discussion
Questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)

1. Is there a difference between guarding and keeping the commandments?
2. How has your understanding/celebration of the appointed times / feast days matured over the years?
3. Without a physical tabernacle or temple, how do we present sacrifices, acceptable to Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah?
4. What changes do I need to make in my life and my house to be a devout and one who fears God with all my house like Cornelius?