December 4, 1998
We hear a lot today about renewal, restoration, and revival. We see and hear about the move of YHVH’s Spirit from many corners of the globe. Over night some obscure ministries catapult into fame and fortune. They become the authority “on-how-to-get-Elohim-to-move-in-your-life.” Is this the restoration that YHVH is speaking about in His word, or is it a refreshing experience, like a visit to an oasis in the wilderness? It appears to be a move of YHVH’s grace. “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of YHVH; and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the periods of time of restoration of all things about which YHVH spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times” (Acts: 3:19-21).
As we journey back to the “ancient times,” we find the prophets quite consistent about a “restoration,” especially of the house of Jacob. One of the first assignments given to the Messiah, for example, was: “to bring Jacob back inorder that Israel might be gathered to Him...to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel and then to make them a light to the nations” (Isa. 49:5-6). “I will restore the captivity of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwelling places” (Jer.30:18). “I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land” (Ez.36:24). It is very interesting to note that the Hebrew word for restore, is the same as for “repent:” “Shoov.” It also has other shades of meaning, such as: to turn back to a starting point; to come back home; recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, requite, rescue, retrieve, reverse, and reward. The restoration of the fallen booth of David (a united Israel) in Acts 15:16, is another example of Jacob’s restoration as a national entity. Also the angel announced to Miriam that He (Yeshua) "would be great, and would be called the Son of the Highest; and the YHVH would give Him the throne of His father David. And that He would reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).
The last verse written by the last of the prophets from of old, Malachi, has to do with restoration: “He will restore, or turn the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse” (Mal. 4:6). Who are the children? Who are the fathers? In the Tenach the word “fathers” almost always refers to the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the word “children” to their progeny, or seed.
Throughout the scriptures we see YHVH working or doing things in secret or in mystery, things that are hidden from the eyes of our understanding. Even as YHVH multiplied the seed of Abraham, He did it without the Patriarchs even knowing, as we see in these scriptures. “Though art our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not recognize us, yet though art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Thy name” (Isa. 63:16). “Therefore thus says YHVH, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now turn pale; But when He sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My name; indeed, they will sanctify the Holy one of Jacob, and will stand in awe of YHVH - Elohey Israel, and those who err in mind will know the truth, and those who criticize will accept instruction” (Jer.29:22-24). “Remember, O YHVH, what has befallen us; Look, and see our reproach! Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens. We have become orphans without a father, our mothers are like widows” (Lam.5:1-3). In YHVH’s prophetic time, He will reveal, lift the veils, and bring to light that which He Himself has hidden. Are we in that great hour of revelation-restoration, when the sons of Zion arise and shine with the light that comes from the glory of YHVH? (see Isa 60) Are these the times of the restoration of the two sticks, the two nations, the two families? Are the children yearning for their true identity? Are they looking for their roots and desiring to return home without even understanding why? Is this the time that YHVH Himself is acting upon the hearts in answer to the prayer of our forefathers “Restore us to thee, Oh Soveriegn One, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,” (Lam.5:21)?
“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving ‘Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, For Thou art YHVH my Elohim” (Jer. 31:18). "Heal me, O YHVH, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for Thou art my praise” (Jer. 17:14). Is this the time when Elohim’s blazing judgements upon the house of Joseph ends and His lovingkindness and compassion begins. Ephraim (the whole house of Joseph) was called “a gentle” “not my people” an outcast, banished ones and an orphan. But now, in the Messiah, they are called: “vessels of mercy” “watchmen” “priest of the most High Elohim” and “sons of the living Elohim” (Hos. 1:9-10).
“Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, Thou who dost lead Joseph like a flock; Thou who art enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Thy power, and come to save us! O Elohim, restore us and cause thy face to shine upon us, and we will be saved” (Ps. 80:1-3).
“Is not Ephraim my dear son? I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. I will gather you from the remotest parts of the earth, with weeping you shall come, with supplication I will lead you; a great company you shall return here (to the land). For YHVH has ransomed you, and redeemed you from the hand that was stronger than you (remember Pharaoh and his army?)...You shall come and shout for joy on the height of Zion (Elohim’s resting place), you shall be radiant over the goodness of YHVH... Set up for yourself roadmarks, place for yourself guideposts; direct your heart to the highway, the way by which you went and return, O virgin of Israel, return to these your cities” (from Jer.31).
“Therefore behold days are coming,” declares YHVH, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but ‘As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them, for I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers” (Jer.16:14-15).
“In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel (Ephraim) and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave their fathers as an inheritance” (Jer. 3:18).
Ephraim
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell (shevet achim) together in unity...for in this Elohim commands the blessing life eternal” (Psa. 133).
We hear a lot today about renewal, restoration, and revival. We see and hear about the move of YHVH’s Spirit from many corners of the globe. Over night some obscure ministries catapult into fame and fortune. They become the authority “on-how-to-get-Elohim-to-move-in-your-life.” Is this the restoration that YHVH is speaking about in His word, or is it a refreshing experience, like a visit to an oasis in the wilderness? It appears to be a move of YHVH’s grace. “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of YHVH; and that He may send Yeshua the Messiah appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the periods of time of restoration of all things about which YHVH spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient times” (Acts: 3:19-21).
As we journey back to the “ancient times,” we find the prophets quite consistent about a “restoration,” especially of the house of Jacob. One of the first assignments given to the Messiah, for example, was: “to bring Jacob back inorder that Israel might be gathered to Him...to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel and then to make them a light to the nations” (Isa. 49:5-6). “I will restore the captivity of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwelling places” (Jer.30:18). “I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land” (Ez.36:24). It is very interesting to note that the Hebrew word for restore, is the same as for “repent:” “Shoov.” It also has other shades of meaning, such as: to turn back to a starting point; to come back home; recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, requite, rescue, retrieve, reverse, and reward. The restoration of the fallen booth of David (a united Israel) in Acts 15:16, is another example of Jacob’s restoration as a national entity. Also the angel announced to Miriam that He (Yeshua) "would be great, and would be called the Son of the Highest; and the YHVH would give Him the throne of His father David. And that He would reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).
The last verse written by the last of the prophets from of old, Malachi, has to do with restoration: “He will restore, or turn the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse” (Mal. 4:6). Who are the children? Who are the fathers? In the Tenach the word “fathers” almost always refers to the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the word “children” to their progeny, or seed.
Throughout the scriptures we see YHVH working or doing things in secret or in mystery, things that are hidden from the eyes of our understanding. Even as YHVH multiplied the seed of Abraham, He did it without the Patriarchs even knowing, as we see in these scriptures. “Though art our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not recognize us, yet though art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Thy name” (Isa. 63:16). “Therefore thus says YHVH, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now turn pale; But when He sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My name; indeed, they will sanctify the Holy one of Jacob, and will stand in awe of YHVH - Elohey Israel, and those who err in mind will know the truth, and those who criticize will accept instruction” (Jer.29:22-24). “Remember, O YHVH, what has befallen us; Look, and see our reproach! Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens. We have become orphans without a father, our mothers are like widows” (Lam.5:1-3). In YHVH’s prophetic time, He will reveal, lift the veils, and bring to light that which He Himself has hidden. Are we in that great hour of revelation-restoration, when the sons of Zion arise and shine with the light that comes from the glory of YHVH? (see Isa 60) Are these the times of the restoration of the two sticks, the two nations, the two families? Are the children yearning for their true identity? Are they looking for their roots and desiring to return home without even understanding why? Is this the time that YHVH Himself is acting upon the hearts in answer to the prayer of our forefathers “Restore us to thee, Oh Soveriegn One, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,” (Lam.5:21)?
“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving ‘Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, For Thou art YHVH my Elohim” (Jer. 31:18). "Heal me, O YHVH, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for Thou art my praise” (Jer. 17:14). Is this the time when Elohim’s blazing judgements upon the house of Joseph ends and His lovingkindness and compassion begins. Ephraim (the whole house of Joseph) was called “a gentle” “not my people” an outcast, banished ones and an orphan. But now, in the Messiah, they are called: “vessels of mercy” “watchmen” “priest of the most High Elohim” and “sons of the living Elohim” (Hos. 1:9-10).
“Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, Thou who dost lead Joseph like a flock; Thou who art enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Thy power, and come to save us! O Elohim, restore us and cause thy face to shine upon us, and we will be saved” (Ps. 80:1-3).
“Is not Ephraim my dear son? I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. I will gather you from the remotest parts of the earth, with weeping you shall come, with supplication I will lead you; a great company you shall return here (to the land). For YHVH has ransomed you, and redeemed you from the hand that was stronger than you (remember Pharaoh and his army?)...You shall come and shout for joy on the height of Zion (Elohim’s resting place), you shall be radiant over the goodness of YHVH... Set up for yourself roadmarks, place for yourself guideposts; direct your heart to the highway, the way by which you went and return, O virgin of Israel, return to these your cities” (from Jer.31).
“Therefore behold days are coming,” declares YHVH, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt, but ‘As YHVH lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of the north and from all the countries where He had banished them, for I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers” (Jer.16:14-15).
“In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel (Ephraim) and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave their fathers as an inheritance” (Jer. 3:18).
Ephraim
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell (shevet achim) together in unity...for in this Elohim commands the blessing life eternal” (Psa. 133).
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