RSEA.D. Week 125

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Week 125

Read
Aloud together to hear the Word (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)

  • Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 35:9 – 36:13
  • Prophets (P): Joshua 20:1-9
  • Apostolic (A): John 8:12-59
  • Additional (ADD): Sirach 11:1-34

Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Chapter 35

  1. The Levites were to receive cities and land from the possession of the twelve tribes as their portion (Num. 35:2-3). This aligns with all the other portions (i.e., food and textiles) they received as YHWH’s servants in-place of the inheritance allotted to the assembly as a whole (Deut. 18:1-2). Moses had specific instructions as to the exact size, dimensions, and use of the real estate. The same specificity that was instructed with the tabernacle, furniture, and offerings (Num. 35:4-5).
  2. There were 48 cities in total with 6 designated for refuge (Num. 35:6-7). Moreover, a holy district was to be established as set apart for the temple operations [500 sq. cubits] and the Levites dwelling [50 sq. cubits] for their acts of service to the Most High (Ezk. 45:1-7). This particular designated area was of very significant size spanning approximately 3 miles wide by 8 miles long, roughly 15,360 acres of land. By comparison Disney World is 30 thousand acres, so the holy district was about half the size of Disney World. According to Ezekiel 45:6, a portion of the land () is for all Israel as a common use area within the city (Ezk. 45:15-18).
  3. Another aspect of partitioning the land of promise was for refuge. Cities were to be designated for unintentional death; The cities will be for your refuge from the redeemer, that the murderer does not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment (Num. 35:12). Refuge cities were the epicenter for a judicial court system to operate in administering the Torah. They provided a safe harbor for a just decision to be decided without having personal justice run amuck. In spite of the misnomers attributed to the bible, specifically the Tanak (first five books), as antiquated and barbaric Numbers 35 actually flips those misconceptions right on their head. On the contrary, we discover scripture has another reality that is just, fair, redemptive, and full of mercy.
  4. Merits of Justice
    1. Protection for the innocent: Num. 35:11-12, 15; 22-28 The city of refuge was a haven for innocent offenders; however, that protection was only afforded within the border of the city. If found beyond its borders, or before the death of the high priest, the redeemer would be able to exercise repayment by death without cause.
      1. Yeshua, our High Priest, redeems us from the death sin has over us Col. 1:13-14: who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins
    2. Premeditated murder is swiftly judged: Num. 35:16-21, 31-32.
      1. Murder is determined by the mouth of two, or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15).
      2. The Redeemer of the blood is to execute justice.
      3. A relative is allowed to partake in the redemption of the deceased. How does this align with vengeance belonging to YHWH alone?
        1. Deut. 32:35: Vengeance is Mine, and repayment, At the time their foot slips; For near is the day of their calamity, And the matters prepared are hastening to them.’
        2. Rom. 12:17-19: Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, on your part, be at peace with all men. Beloved, do not revenge yourselves, but give place to the wrath, for it has been written,” Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay”
  5. What can be drawn from scripture is the level of sophistication and organizational arrangement YHWH requires for His people to live by. It reveals His character for orderly living, discipline, and societal harmony. What we find in the nations is completely different. Although they function under similar general principles of YHWH’s governance history has shown the imprint of man’s wickedness ultimately rules in Godless societies. Like all facets of life, anything that attempts to thrive outside and apart from His providence is chaotic and bound to fail.
  6. Ecclesiastes 1:1-4: The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he labored under the sun? One generation goes, and another generation cometh; but the earth abides forever.

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

      1. “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness but will have the light of life. – John 8:12
        1. John. 1:4 – In him was life, and the life was the light of men. That life, zoe G2222, is both physical and spiritual. Yeshua has the ability to share His the gift of life; to renew the soul that has been made dead through sin.
          1. Gen. 2:17 – but from the tree of the knowing good and evil, you shall not eat from it; but in whatever day you should eat from it, to death you shall die.
        2. Proverbs 4:18-19 – But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
        3. Rom. 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Elohiym is eternal life through Yahusha Ha’Mashiach our Adonai.
      2. I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. – John 8:21
        1. Yeshua was speaking of the death of their soul which they were blind of understanding due to their corrupt heart. Yeshua was well aware of the words of Ezekiel and was quoting this to their face. Whether or not they perceived it is unclear from the text, but He was following the statutes of His Father’s commands by declaration of this warning.
          1. Ezekiel 3:5-7, 9; 18-19 – For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and of difficult language, but to the house of Yisra’ěl, not to many people of foreign speech and of difficult language, whose words you do not understand. If I had rather sent you to them, they would have listened to you. “But the house of Yisra’ěl is going to refuse to listen to you, for they refuse to listen to Me. For all the house of Yisra’ěl are hard of head, and hard of heart…“Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I shall make your forehead. Do not be afraid of them, nor be discouraged at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”…“When I say to the wrong, ‘You shall certainly die,’ and you have not warned him, nor spoken to warn the wrong from his wrong way, to save his life, that same wrong man shall die in his crookedness, and his blood I require at your hand. “But if you have warned the wrong and he does not turn from his wrong, nor from his wrong way, he shall die in his crookedness, and you have delivered your being.
          2. Gen. 2:17 – but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.”
          3. “If you remain in my word (logos, G3056), then you are truly my disciples. – John 8:31
            1. Again, we see the “if, then” condition introduced here by Messiah which bears the semblance of a vow. But moreover, it is a promise, or declaration by Yeshua identifying the characteristics of a true follower.
              1. 2 John 1:9 – Everyone who is transgressing and not staying in the teaching of Messiah does not possess Elohim. The one who stays in the teaching of Messiah possesses both the Father and the Son (1Ti 6:3; 1Jn 1:3; 1Jn 5:20).
              2. John 15:7-8, [10] – If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples…If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
              3. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. – John 8:38
                1. John 5:19-20 – Therefore יהושע responded and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is able to do none at all by Himself, but only that which He sees the Father doing, because whatever He does, the Son also likewise does. “For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He Himself does. And greater works than these He is going to show Him, in order that you marvel.
                  1. Proverbs 8:22-31 – “יהוה possessed me, The beginning of His way, As the first of His works of old. “I was set up ages ago, at the first, Before the earth ever was. “When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no springs heavy with water. “Before mountains were sunk, Before the hills, I was brought forth, “Before He had made the earth and the fields, Or the first dust of the world. “When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, “When He set the clouds above, When He made the fountains of the deep strong, “When He gave to the sea its law, So that the waters would not transgress His mouth, When He inscribed the foundations of the earth, “Then I was beside Him, a master workman, And I was His delight, day by day Rejoicing before Him all the time, “Rejoicing in the world, His earth; And my delights were with the sons of men.
              4. “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our Elohim. – John 8:54
                1. John 17:1, 4-5 – יהושע said these words, and lifted up His eyes to the heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come. Esteem Your Son, so that Your Son also might esteem You,…“I have esteemed You on the earth, having accomplished the work You have given Me that I should do. “And now, esteem Me with Yourself, Father, with the esteem which I had with You before the world was.

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

Romans 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

  1. What questions or comments came up during your family’s discussion of this week’s study?
  2. “What other related Scriptures did you find during your study of this week’s portion?”
  3. Have you ever experienced something from this study or something related to it?
  4. “What changes do you need to make in your life to align with what you learned during this week’s Torah Study?”
  1. To walk in darkness means not following the Messiah. To walk, from the Hebrew, is to maintain a certain way of life and conduct.
    1. Gal. 5:16 – So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
    2. Psa. 143:10 – Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
  2. When we observe errors in someone’s life how do admonish them as prescribed by scripture without condemnation?
  3. [CAUTION] Wisdom of Solomon 2:12 – But let’s lie in wait for the righteous man, because he annoys us, is contrary to our works, reproaches us with sins against the law, and charges us with sins against our training.
    1. Matt. 18:15-20 – ‘If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ‘Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’

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

  1. Are we glorifying Messiah in our walk?
  2. Is remaining in Yeshua’s word exercised by our level of understanding? And if so, how do we walk together with believers in unity?
  3. Fun Trivia: It has long been understood historically that Yeshua was in his thirties at the advent of His ministry. Why then do the Judeans comment that He was not yet fifty years old during their exchange of His witness of His relationship with YHWH in John 8:57? Was this a Jewish idiom commonly expressed at that time? Or, Is this a factual clue that Messiah’s age may have been miscalculated by many historians and scholars?