June 25, 1999
When the angel Gabriel, who had been sent to earth by YHVH, arrived in a little Galilaean town called Nazareth he announced to a young girl that she was to conceive a son by Divine intervention. This young maiden was to name her baby Yeshua (salvation). Keep in mind that this was not the first time that YHVH, blessed-be-His-name, intervened in a woman's womb so as to bring forth His purposes.
Isaac's was another miraculous birth, as his mother and father were too old to have children. Not only was his mother too old, but she had also been barren all of her life. Jacob's mother, Rebecca, was barren too, and in need of the touch of the Spirit of the Father. And of course Jacob's beloved Rachel, who became the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, needed that healing touch as well.
However, the situation was a little more dramatic in Miriam's case, as she had not had sexual relationships with a man. Today we do not think much of the status of a virgin, but in those days a maiden could lose her life by stoning, if her husband found her to be without blood on the wedding day. In the case before us, YHVH Himself was to supply the life force that would become His only begotten Son. He therefore sent a messenger to announce the purpose for bringing forth this son at that time.
"You shall call his name Yeshua, which means salvation, and He would be great, and He will be called the Son of the Most High Elohim, He will be given the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, for His kingdom will have no end." (Luke 1:31-33).
It is not the promise that Yeshua would succeed to the throne of David which is puzzling, but rather the wording: "throne of His father David," is what makes this announcement somewhat curious. How could Yeshua be David's son, when we know that He was not of the sperm of natural man? His mother, who was Jewish, had relatives connected to the priesthood, which most likely made her a Levite (see Luke 1:36). Joseph, the man she was betrothed to, was of the seed of David (Luke 1:27). However, as you know, he had a bit of a problem with this bride of his, who (just happened) to be pregnant before their marriage was consummated. Being a righteous man, Joseph was ready to take the necessary steps and have her put away according to the Law. However, in another angelic visitation he was told to take Miriam as his wife. By doing so he in essence adopted the child that she was carrying, as his own. Thus, through adoption, Yeshua entered the lineage of David, who, in a very real and legal sense, became his (fore)father, just as we, who are sons of Abraham, become sons of Elohim through adoption (see Rom 8:15, 9:4; Gal. 4:5).
Why was it so important that Joseph adopt this child? Couldn't redemption have been accomplished anyway, say through a Levite, or a Benjamite or for that matter through a Syrian? As we know, Yeshua came to redeem a lost inheritance. Whose inheritance? His Father's. What or who belonged to His Father and had gotten lost, so as to be in need of redemption? At some time or another YHVH must have owned something. In the Torah we see the principle that all first fruit belong to Him (see Ex. 22:29-30, 23:16-19; Deu. 26:2 and many more). Because these first fruit belong to YHVH He places His name on them, marking them "for His name sake."
The following scriptures indicate that the entire nation of Israel was (and still is) YHVH's possession and inheritance. "But YHVH has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance as you are this day," (Deut. 4:20). "Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm," (Deut. 9:29). Not only were the people His inheritance, but so was a place called Mount Zion. "You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O YHVH, which You have made for Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O YHVH, which Your hands have established" (Ex. 15;17).
In order for Yeshua to become the redeemer of His Father's inheritance, in this case Israel, He would have had to have a very specific legal status in the family. He could not be a son randomly chosen, from 'any old' family in humanity because YHVH is a law-giver, and everything that has been created in the heavens and the earth is governed by His laws. This is especially true concerning the laws of redemption. Regarding our justification we are not under Law, yet the Law should be under us, as it were, giving us a firm foundation!
In the book of Revelation we see YHVH the Mighty One sitting on His throne with a scroll in His hand (Rev. 5:1). It says about this scroll that it was inscribed on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. What was this seven-sealed document? It must have been extremely important, as the legal qualifications to open it were so high that no one could be found, in heaven or on earth, worthy of taking it and of opening its seals. The thought of no one qualifying was so grave, that it caused the prophet to weep uncontrollably. Most scholars agree that this scroll was the scroll of redemption. Such a scroll was seen when Jeremiah redeemed a piece of property by purchasing it (Jer.32). A scroll of redemption was usually written on both sides; the one side had the title deed to the property and the other, the qualifying requirements of its redeemer. Please notice that the Father had the scroll in His hand. He was like the judicial guardian over that inheritance, until the one qualified would come and take the scroll.
The question is: What was written on the scroll? What were those regulations that qualified the Redeemer to take the scroll and open its seals? What does all of this have to do with us?
Ephraim
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell (shevet achim) together in unity…for in this Yahoveh commands the blessing "life eternal". (Ps. 133)
When the angel Gabriel, who had been sent to earth by YHVH, arrived in a little Galilaean town called Nazareth he announced to a young girl that she was to conceive a son by Divine intervention. This young maiden was to name her baby Yeshua (salvation). Keep in mind that this was not the first time that YHVH, blessed-be-His-name, intervened in a woman's womb so as to bring forth His purposes.
Isaac's was another miraculous birth, as his mother and father were too old to have children. Not only was his mother too old, but she had also been barren all of her life. Jacob's mother, Rebecca, was barren too, and in need of the touch of the Spirit of the Father. And of course Jacob's beloved Rachel, who became the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, needed that healing touch as well.
However, the situation was a little more dramatic in Miriam's case, as she had not had sexual relationships with a man. Today we do not think much of the status of a virgin, but in those days a maiden could lose her life by stoning, if her husband found her to be without blood on the wedding day. In the case before us, YHVH Himself was to supply the life force that would become His only begotten Son. He therefore sent a messenger to announce the purpose for bringing forth this son at that time.
"You shall call his name Yeshua, which means salvation, and He would be great, and He will be called the Son of the Most High Elohim, He will be given the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, for His kingdom will have no end." (Luke 1:31-33).
It is not the promise that Yeshua would succeed to the throne of David which is puzzling, but rather the wording: "throne of His father David," is what makes this announcement somewhat curious. How could Yeshua be David's son, when we know that He was not of the sperm of natural man? His mother, who was Jewish, had relatives connected to the priesthood, which most likely made her a Levite (see Luke 1:36). Joseph, the man she was betrothed to, was of the seed of David (Luke 1:27). However, as you know, he had a bit of a problem with this bride of his, who (just happened) to be pregnant before their marriage was consummated. Being a righteous man, Joseph was ready to take the necessary steps and have her put away according to the Law. However, in another angelic visitation he was told to take Miriam as his wife. By doing so he in essence adopted the child that she was carrying, as his own. Thus, through adoption, Yeshua entered the lineage of David, who, in a very real and legal sense, became his (fore)father, just as we, who are sons of Abraham, become sons of Elohim through adoption (see Rom 8:15, 9:4; Gal. 4:5).
Why was it so important that Joseph adopt this child? Couldn't redemption have been accomplished anyway, say through a Levite, or a Benjamite or for that matter through a Syrian? As we know, Yeshua came to redeem a lost inheritance. Whose inheritance? His Father's. What or who belonged to His Father and had gotten lost, so as to be in need of redemption? At some time or another YHVH must have owned something. In the Torah we see the principle that all first fruit belong to Him (see Ex. 22:29-30, 23:16-19; Deu. 26:2 and many more). Because these first fruit belong to YHVH He places His name on them, marking them "for His name sake."
The following scriptures indicate that the entire nation of Israel was (and still is) YHVH's possession and inheritance. "But YHVH has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance as you are this day," (Deut. 4:20). "Yet they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out by Your mighty power and by Your outstretched arm," (Deut. 9:29). Not only were the people His inheritance, but so was a place called Mount Zion. "You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O YHVH, which You have made for Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O YHVH, which Your hands have established" (Ex. 15;17).
In order for Yeshua to become the redeemer of His Father's inheritance, in this case Israel, He would have had to have a very specific legal status in the family. He could not be a son randomly chosen, from 'any old' family in humanity because YHVH is a law-giver, and everything that has been created in the heavens and the earth is governed by His laws. This is especially true concerning the laws of redemption. Regarding our justification we are not under Law, yet the Law should be under us, as it were, giving us a firm foundation!
In the book of Revelation we see YHVH the Mighty One sitting on His throne with a scroll in His hand (Rev. 5:1). It says about this scroll that it was inscribed on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. What was this seven-sealed document? It must have been extremely important, as the legal qualifications to open it were so high that no one could be found, in heaven or on earth, worthy of taking it and of opening its seals. The thought of no one qualifying was so grave, that it caused the prophet to weep uncontrollably. Most scholars agree that this scroll was the scroll of redemption. Such a scroll was seen when Jeremiah redeemed a piece of property by purchasing it (Jer.32). A scroll of redemption was usually written on both sides; the one side had the title deed to the property and the other, the qualifying requirements of its redeemer. Please notice that the Father had the scroll in His hand. He was like the judicial guardian over that inheritance, until the one qualified would come and take the scroll.
The question is: What was written on the scroll? What were those regulations that qualified the Redeemer to take the scroll and open its seals? What does all of this have to do with us?
Ephraim
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell (shevet achim) together in unity…for in this Yahoveh commands the blessing "life eternal". (Ps. 133)
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