Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
HaMisparim LaDebarim
The Numbers of the Words
by Craig Wm. Peters
a When the Messiah spoke forth that portion of Scripture which is now commonly
called, The Beatitudes,2 He was actually teaching us about the life of a person
who expresses true faith in the Elohim of Yisrael through frequent times of fasting
with prayer. It is sad to think of all the children who have grown up across the
centuries learning about the Bible but having never been taught this remarkable
fact:
The Beatitudes reveal truths that are all directly
related to a life characterized by the wholehearted
seeking of hwhy which is only possible through fasting.
And so it was with these oft-quoted lines, and now-famous words, that the Messiah
taught all who would follow Him of true humility and true spiritual service:
Apart from a life characterized by fasting
and prayer, believers will never experience
authentic humility as hwhy defines it.
For the lowliness of mind which is fed by the Spirit of the Most High is only
obtained through fasting-derived humility. Fasting and prayer are the ultimate acts
of enduring righteousness. They are the believers most powerful spiritual
weapons.3 And because of the immense impact (and far-reaching potential) of
these profound, Spirit-filled acts of absolute reverence, fasting and prayer are
essential elements of True Worship that are greatly maligned in the camp of the
Enemy. Because fasting and prayer are the two most consummate acts of True
Worshipand because they are the two things that ensure4 we maintain hearts
which have already been circumcised by the Spirit of hwhy 5the Adversary does
1
Jewish tradition divides this Commandment into two separate parts: The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the
Vhavta (Deuteronomy 6:5). Since the Messiah made no such division (He taught the entire text embodies the
single, greatest commandment), we will refer to both verses as The Shema (capitalized and italicized).
2
Matthew 5:3-12
3
2Corinthians 10:4-5
4
2Corinthians 13:5-6
5
Romans 2:28-29, Colossians 2:11-12
much to darken the paths that would lead the people of the Most High into new
realms of spiritual refreshment, victory, blessing, peace, and prosperity, as Elohim
defines them.
We pray the light that hwhy shines forth from His Word will illumine many hearts
over this most critical topic. Surprisingly enough, there are scores of believers
who will dismiss the importance of fasting as well as the importance of prayer.
Yet their reasons for this are always without any substantial foundation; there is
simply no scriptural basis for such falsehood. And it ultimately comes down to
more fully understanding what it means to love hwhy with all the heart, soul, mind,
and strength. Because the Presence of hwhy is the Ultimate and Only Source of
love, joy, and peace/shalom,6 we cannot experience fullness of joy in this life apart
from abiding in Him7 (i.e., apart from a life of continual, reverent prayer).
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
Like marriage and food, times of fasting are sanctified (set apart) by prayer and
the Word of Elohim. Through Yoel/Joel, hwhy called the people to sanctify a
fast.9 How did this sanctifying of the fast, this setting apart, occur? It came about
through prayer. We see this in the life of Daniel: from the outset of his 21-day
fast,10 the prophets voice was heard in the Courts of Heaven; his time of fasting
and humility marked his determination to seek hwhy with a whole heart and that
time began with prayer.
Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the
first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to
humble yourself before your Elohim, your words were heard:
and I have come for your words sake.
Daniel 10:12
So Daniels time of fasting had been set apart through prayer. And those prayers
ascended on a continual basis for the duration of that 21-day period. But that time
was set apart from the very beginning by the prayer Daniel offered to commence
his fast. Mosheh likewise spoke of the total devotion to prayer before hwhy while
fasting across forty days:
And I fell down before hwhy, as at the first: forty days
and forty nights; no bread I ate, and no water I drank
Deuteronomy 9:18
So Mosheh fell down before hwhy in continual prayer for the duration of his forty
days of fasting. Such is the nature of truly seeking hwhy. Thus, we will not always
write of fasting with prayer, but the reader should know the preponderance of
prayer during times of reverent fasting is absolutely essential; and this preeminence
should be fully understood by all as we progress through the present study.
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
Authentic ministry-service emanates from the life a person lives. The author does
not believe in sitting down to study out a given topic so he can then simply turn
around and teach it to others.11 This manuscript came into existence across a
lengthy period of time as the writer was led of the Spirit into a life of fasting and
prayer in the early 1980s. Across the past 31 years since that time, many things
have been revealed and confirmed in the Spirit over the matter of fasting and
prayer. Thus, the present study emanates from the walk which hwhy has blessed to
reveal His Son, His Name, and His greatness to all of Yahudah and Ephrayim.12
And this brings us to our final, opening thoughtsconsiderations over the
connection between fasting and revival.
eSwhy prophesied that, before He returns to reign out of Tziyon, there would be
many in Yahudah who would turn to Himbelieving Him to be the promised
Mashiach/Messiah:
O Yerushalayim, Yerushalayim, that kills the prophets,
and stones those that are sent unto her! How often would
I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers
her chickens under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold,
your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say to you,
You shall not see Me henceforth, until you shall say,
Blessed is He that comes in the Name of hwhy.
Matthew 23:37-39
This prophecy informs us that there will be (there must be!) a spiritual awakening
among the physical descendants of Yisrael, and that there will be many converts to
the Messianic Faith among their numbers in advance of the Mashiachs return. And
it further tells us they will be declaring of eSwhy the Messiah in advance of His
descent from the Heavens:
Blessed is He that comes in the Name of hwhy.
We note these Israelis will not be making this great proclamation in the Scripturenullifying title of Adonai.13 Replacing the Name of hwhy (in the above Scripture
11
And it is a lack of humility that would even begin to imagine one has fully studied out any topic in the Kingdom
of hwhy or within His Infinite Word. Job 26:14, Psalm 119:96, Romans 11:33
12
13
(i.e., they will not fulfill this word by saying, Blessed is He who comes in the Name of Adonai. Adonai is not
a name, it is not a part of the original text, and it does not fulfill the prophecy).
text) with a mere title is a severe violation of the Torah, wherein hwhy solemnly
warns all Yisrael not to add to or take away from His Word.14 And still further
confirming this reawakening among Yisrael, the psalmist indicated hwhy would not
appear in His splendor until after He had begun to build up Tziyon:
When the hwhy shall build up Tziyon,
He will appear in His splendor.
Psalm 102:16
There could be nothing more significant in the building up of Tziyon than Ruach
Elohim (the Spirit of Elohim) circumcising the hearts15 of those who will turn to
Him in Yisrael as hwhy reveals the Messiah to those whose minds have still not
perceived His great and marvelous mission. We magnify hwhy for working to
fulfill His Word and to reveal His Salvation, even eSwhy, to all Yisrael.
Blessed be His Qadosh and Awesome Name leolam vayed.16
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
(mv)
The number values of the Hebrew lettersand the words they subsequently
formhave been appointed and inspired by the Infinite Mind of the Sovereign
hwhy. This being the case, the Spirit often reveals significant, spiritual
14
300
= (40) M + (10) y + (5) h + (30) l + (1) a + (8) x + (6) w + (200) r = Myhla xwr
300
Simply put, the Spirit of Elohim answers the problem of being spiritually uncircumcised in heart. Ezekiel 36:25-27,
Romans 2:28-29, 5:5, 2Corinthians 3:3, Philippians 3:3 It appears rather evident that Shaul was well aware of this
number connection and the implications the Spirit therein reveals. But the letter SHIN ( S )which begins the
Hebrew word MS/Shem/Namealso has a value of 300. And because MS/Shem begins with the letter SHIN ( S ),
many Yahudim/Jews the world over, thus regard this singular, Hebrew letter to be a representation of the Qadosh
Name/Shem of hwhy. Ruach haQodesh signifying the ultimate circumcision is the circumcision of heart that occurs
when the Spirit of the Mashiach cleanses the heart and makes us doers of the Torah. Jeremiah 31:31-33, Romans
2:13/28-29, Hebrews 8:8-12, James 1:22-25, 4:11 This, in turn, brings about the greatest possible manifestation of
His Name (Shem/S) in all the earth as His Kingdom increases yet more and more. Isaiah 9:7, Matthew 6:9-10,
Deuteronomy 4:5-8
16
Blessed be His Set Apart and Awesome Name to the Age and beyond.
17
All misparim and place values seen in this study may be verified using the Misparim and Place Value charts
which appear at the end of the present document.
implications between Hebrew words that have the very same number values.18 Not
coincidentally, 136 is also the misparim value for the Hebrew word translated
voice (lwq, kol):
(mv)
Case in point: the previous footnote regarding Ruach Elohim and the word uncircumcised. Both Hebrew
words have a misparim value of 300. It is not likely the apostle Shaul was unaware of this exact numerical
connection. Evidence is that he was well aware of this truth and the resulting implications. For the spiritual
implications revealed to Shaul by hwhy over the matter are now seen within many of his writings: numerous times
he connects circumcision of heart with Ruach Elohim/the Spirit of Elohim. And the message is clear: Ruach
Elohim (300) answers to the problem of an uncircumcised (300) heart.
19
Also see Daniel 10:1-12a text which shows the prophets words/prayers were heard on high at the very outset
of his 21-day fast.
In Hebrew, the word emS/Shema means to hear. Many will further add that
hear has a far greater meaningthat this word enjoins us to hear with a heart
that is ready to do and to obey. And the context of The Shemathe text seen at the
outset of this study20shows this really is the case. It was the Messiah who taught
us The Shema comprises the greatest commandment in all of the Torah.21 And
there are many implications to the fact that the very first word of the greatest and
most preeminent commandment is Hear.22 For if one upholds The Shema, that
person will also be found living a life of faith that subsequently upholds all of the
age-abiding and immutable Torah.23 We will look at the first six words of this
Greatest Commandment, as it is seen in the Torah, so that what Abraham fulfilled
can be better understood and fulfilled by those sons of Abraham who believe in the
Messiah. The first six words of The Shema are seen below, and above each word
is see the misparim value (in red) and the place value (in blue):
13/13
26/26
48/102
26/26
64/541
50/410
dxa
hwhy
wnyhla
hwhy
larvy
ems
YHWH
YHWH
Elohenu
our Elohim
YHWH
YHWH
Yisrael
Israel
Shema
Hear
echad
(is) one
Adding the values seen in red, the total misparim value (mv) of this phrase is
1118:24
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Mark 12:28-30
22
For more details, see the study The Messiah Teaches the Shema:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/117823543/The-Messiah-Teaches-the-Shema
23
Romans 3:31
24
Readers are invited to confirm all misparim and place values using the charts which appear at the end of this
study.
25
Romans 4:11-12,16
21
26
Deuteronomy 5:29 shows this has always been the intent of hwhy and many Scriptures prophetic of the New
Covenant confirm this: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Hebrews 8:8-12.
27
Matthew 5:17-20, Romans 2:13, 3:31, 1John 5:2-3
28
Abraham is the first of 1000 generations prophesied to pass before all that hwhy has spoken within the Torah will
finally be fulfilled. Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 105:8-12
29
Genesis 18:20-33
fasting-related30 and that the prophet had long since been abiding in dust and ashes
when hwhy appeared to him.31 Based on this, it is not unreasonable to at least
suspect Abraham himself was seeking hwhy with fasting and prayersitting in
dust and ashes at that time when Elohimaccompanied by two messengers
appeared to him.
Abraham called himself dust and ashes. Identifying themselves with dust and
ashes has been a common practice among all those who have been accounted by
hwhy as faithful. Many faithful men/women of old identified with both dust and
ashes during times of affliction while seeking the Most High in fasting and prayer.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have
laid my horn in the dust. The Prophet Job
Job 16:15
He has cast me into the mire, and I have
become like dust and ashes. The Prophet Job
Job 30:19
And Yehoshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon
his face before the Ark of hwhy until the evening, he and the
elders of Yisrael; and they put dust upon their heads.
Joshua 7:6
For our soul is bowed down to the dust:
our belly cleaves to the earth.
Psalm 44:25
For I have eaten ashes like bread,32
and mingled my drink with weeping
Psalm 102:9
My soul cleaves to the dust:
enliven me according to Your Word.
Psalm 119:25
The elders of the daughter of Tziyon sit upon the ground,
they keep silence; they have cast up dust upon their heads;
they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of
Yerushalayim hang down their heads to the ground.
Lamentations 2:10
30
33
34
So when Abraham spoke of himself as dust and ashes, he was not just trying to
sound humble. His use of that phrase indicates fasting and prayer were absolutely
essential and very significant parts of Abrahams expression of faith towards the
Most High Elohim:
Abrahams use of the phrase dust and ashes is our
indication the patriarch frequently identified with these
elements of humility during his times of fasting and prayer.
And during such times of fasting, we should be expressing our complete
dependence upon the dox/chesed/lovingkindness of hwhy.35 For apart from that
chesed, we will become both dust and ashes. While Abraham was returned to the
dust, it is of great significance to note he will never be turned to ashes since the
Mashiach taught us the patriarch had overcome in this life and that, upon being
resurrected, the father of all the faithful will sit down to eat in the MessianicKingdom Age.36 Abraham has overcome; he will surely enter into the Kingdom
with a reward and an inheritance. And there is yet more significant evidence that
Abraham sought hwhy with a whole heart via many, many occasions of fasting and
prayer. We now move onward to ponder that evidence.
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
That Abraham was well instructed in fasting-derived humility is also seen from his
considerable longevity: the patriarch lived to be 175 years of age.37 And science is
now finally realizing there is much factual evidence behind the significant
longevity associated with what many are calling a reduced caloric intake. This
is a lifestyle in which one eats far less at any meal than is customarily had in our
American societyorchestrated as it is by the rich,38 western mentality. Eating
with commendable self-control, however, is only a part of the reduction of calories
as hwhy accounts it.
Fasting and prayer is/should be
the major contributor in this vein.
And nothing does more to promote the fear and reverence of hwhy in our hearts and
minds than these times of fasting and prayer. During such times of seeking hwhy,
our hearts gain a reverence for His Word beyond anything we have previously
experienced. Of course, the physical and emotional benefits of such fasting will
contribute to physical longevity and this result is spoken of in the true proverb:
The reverence of hwhy adds days,
but the years of the lawless shall be shortened.
Mishle/Proverbs 10:27
35
2Samuel 24:14
Matthew 8:11-12, Luke 13:28-29
37
Genesis 25:7
38
Revelation 3:17
36
10
Days were added to the life of Abraham because of the reverence and zeal for hwhy
that burned in his hearta reverence that was absolutely fueled by his times of
fasting and prayer as the patriarch continually sought the Most High with a whole
heart.
Centuries later, when Queen Esthera descendant of Abrahamfasted to find
favor before the Most High and the King of the Medes, in her statement Mwua/I
fast, she prophetically (and likely unknowingly) recalled the life and death of the
patriarch:39
in Shushan
the Yahudim/Jews
all specifically
gather
Go
night
days
three
drink you
and do
not
eat you
and do
not
I fast
and my maidens
Also
I perish
and as that
according
to law
not
that (is)
the king
to
I will come
and in
thus
We note the full value for Mwua/I fast in this Scripture is 175, the age at which
Abraham died:40
(pv)
(mv)
39
11
btsome
aniti
my soul
with
fasting
I afflicted
This text specifically links the Hebrew word yne / ani / afflict(-ed) with fasting.
Yet some people are of the opinion that the phrase afflict (hne/anah)43 your
soulsa phrase used in connection with Yom HaKippurim (The Day of
Atonement)44has absolutely nothing to do with fasting. But opinions will not
contribute toward anyone obtaining a reward in the forthcoming, Messianic
Kingdom. And the text of Tehillim 35:13 clearly negates the opinions of those
who would opt out of the immense blessings that come forth in the Spirit from
fasting-derived humility. The righteous act of fasting is closely related to the
Hebrew word for affliction. And it is through fasting-derived afflictions that the
Spirit can most readily produce the humility of heart, soul, and mind which hwhy
so desires to see within us.
So we further consider the word yne/ani / afflict(-ed) / humble(-d). Its various
forms appear in a fasting-related context so often that it is only those who choose
to refuse the truth who will deny the facts. The word afflicted (yne/ani) is not
always so rendered; sometimes this word is translated as humbled:
I humbled my soul with fasting
Tehillim/Psalm 35:13
This is the same text we just considered and saw the word (yne/ani) had been
rendered by various translators as afflicted. In other places, the root (hne/anah)
of this word (yne/ani) changes forms (to wne/anav) and it is then translated as
meek or humble:
And the man Mosheh was very meek,
above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.
Numbers 12:3
43
44
12
Yet this statement was written of Mosheh at a time which was subsequent to his 80
days of fasting and prayer on Mount Sinai.45 Mosheh had sought hwhy during that
time of extended affliction and humility (yne/ani) and the result was his remarkable
meekness (wne/anav). As we move forward, let us remember the fasting-related
connection between these words for affliction, humility, and meekness. And let us
not forget the Hebrew text we have pondered from the Psalms: I afflicted my soul
with fasting:
btsome
aniti
my soul
with
fasting
I afflicted
We now progress to the main portion of the study and ponder how each of the
Beatitudes reveals a life of fasting and prayer.
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
45
Mosheh fasted forty days the first time (Deuteronomy 9:9, 11), with another forty days almost immediately
afterward. Deuteronomy 9:18, 25, 10:10
46
John 1:14, Psalm 45:2
47
Matthew 5 - 7
13
The Spirit reveals that a life of fasting is being set forth in The Beatitudes
because, in His teachings, eSwhy uses many key words and phrases that are
elsewhere seen to be clearly related to that most significant act of righteousness.
These words show us what occurs during a time of reverent fasting and prayer
and/or they indicate the results of such authentic times of seeking hwhy. We now
move forward to ponder each section of this body of teaching and readers will note
the last two of the nine Beatitudes have been combined into one.
1. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:3
The Scriptures equate being poor in spirit with possessing a broken and contrite
heart. This humility and brokenness occurs in the life of those who continually
humble themselves before hwhy with times of regular fasting. Unfortunately, the
word poor (or should we say the word yne / ani / afflicted / humbled?) is
inconsistently translated many places in the Scriptures. In Tehillim/Psalms 34,
David speaks of his fasting-derived affliction:
4 I sought 48 hwhy, and He heard me, and delivered me
from all my fears. 5 They looked unto Him, and were radiant:
and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried,
and hwhy heard, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 34:4-6
The problem with the above translation is the word poor: for it is the same word
elsewhere translated as afflicted. This is the Hebrew word yne / ani / afflict(ed)the Hebrew word associated with fasting. The context of Tehillim 34 shows
David had emerged on the other side of fasting and prayer with light49 and joy.
Yet during that time of fasting he had offered to hwhy the sacrifices of
Elohim50a broken and contrite heart:
48
14
15
Luke 7:37-48
2Corinthians 6:4-5, 11:23-27 (actual text in vs. 27)
56
1Corinthians 2:3, Acts 20:31
55
16
minister before hwhy across some 2000 years. Of course, we still remain in that
special time of mourning as we await the return of the Bridegroom, and the words
of the Messiah leave New Covenant believers without excuse should they choose
to shun the righteousness of fasting. When eSwhy taught, Blessed are they that
mourn, for they shall be comforted, He was speaking forth the great blessings that
would abide upon those who sought hwhy with the mourning that accompanies
times of fasting and prayer.
The prophet Daniel also indicated that mourning was a tangible aspect of his
fasting-derived affliction and humility:
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks:
3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine
into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all,
until three full weeks were fulfilled.
Daniel 10:2-3
Like Jeremiah,57 Daniel was almost certainly mourning over Tziyon58 and the
promise of hwhy through Isaiah to favor her once again; so he was likely seeking
Elohim to establish Yisrael in the Kingdom once again.59
Yaacov/James would also be found equating mourning with fasting. When this
first century leader wrote to the twelve tribes scattered abroad,60 he spoke of that
blessing of greater favorthat greater anointing which hwhy grants through the
Spirit to those who seek Him with the mourning that accompanies times of fasting
and prayer. Because of their dire situation and flagrantly carnal attitudes,61 note
the emphasis James conveys by his usage of so many fasting-related words which
he employed:
6 And He gives greater favor. Therefore it says, Elohim
resists the proud, but gives favor to the humble. 7 Submit yourselves
therefore to Elohim. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to
Elohim, and He will draw near62 to you. Cleanse hands, you sinners, and purify
hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your
laughter be turned to mourning, and joy to heaviness. 10 Humble
yourselves in the sight of hwhy, and He will lift you up.
James 4:6-10
hwhy will not exalt the proud, but He is ever pleased to exalt those who honor Him
by walking before Him with reverence and awe. And there is absolutely nothing
57
Lamentations 1:1-22
Isaiah 61:1-4
59
Acts 1:6
60
James 1:1
61
James 4:1-4
62
Psalm 34:18
58
17
that does more to promote the fear, reverence, and awe of hwhy within our hearts
than fasting and prayer.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4
3. Blessed are the Meek
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5
We have seen the Hebrew word translated meek (wne/anav) is derived from the
root, hne/anah. Yet hne/anah is also the root word for yne / ani / afflicted. And it
quickly becomes evident that this word wne / anav / meek is quite related to the
fasting-derived meekness and humility that the Spirit of hwhy produces within
those who seek Him. The prophet Mosheh (Moses) sought hwhy across two, fortyday periods of fasting and prayer (seemingly back-to-back and with no record of
his taking food in between).63 Subsequent to these special times of Mosheh
seeking hwhy, the following was written of him in the Book of Bemidbar
(Numbers):
And the man Mosheh was very meek, above
all the men that were upon the face of the earth.
Numbers 12:3
Given the close relationship between the two words afflicted/humbled (yne/ani) and
meek (wne/anav)both having the same Hebrew root word, hne/anahwe may
rightly conclude the remarkable meekness (wne/anav) seen in Mosheh resulted from
that that time of extended affliction (yne/ani) and humility as he sought hwhy for
Yisrael across 80 days of fasting and prayer. Like Mosheh, meekness is something
we are to seek and find during times of fasting-derived affliction. hwhy even tells
us this directly through the prophet Zephaniah:
Seek hwhy, all you meek of the earth that have
kept His judgments: Seek righteousness, seek meekness.
It may be you will be hidden in the day of the anger of hwhy.
Zephaniah 2:3
James wrote of deeds which are done in the meekness of wisdom.64 What is the
connection? Tehillim/Psalm 37 speaks of the meek inheriting the earth as well as
the wisdom cultivated within those who meditate upon the Torah:
63
Forty days the first time (Deuteronomy 9:9, 11) with another forty days almost immediately afterward:
Deuteronomy 9:18, 25, 10:10.
64
James 3:13
18
(pv)
We also note that meek/meekness (36) is the mirror image of the Hebrew word
for prophet (63):
(mv)
When the Mashiach spoke of meekness and fasting, He further indicated those who
sought and found hwhy through fasting-derived humility would also number among
the prophets.66 Those who seek for wisdom67 from the Presence of hwhy must do
so with fasting and prayer. And all who seek hwhy with fasting and prayer will
experience the powerful way His Spirit opens our ears to hear: Elohim will give us
a fuller understanding of His Infinite Word, and He will grant us increasing
wisdom during those special times of affliction and humility.
The Word Seek
And we should take this opportunity to establish the significant evidence which
shows us the word Sqb/baqash/seek is also fasting-related. This word is seen
three times in the Zephaniah text which is now cited once more:
65
Please note, the Word of hwhy indicates the meek shall inherit the earth, not heaven (Matthew 5:5): The Kingdom
of Elohim will descend from heaven to earth and not the other way around.
66
Matthew 5:12
67
James 1:5
19
68
The reference here is to the Birkat Kohanim the Aaronic Blessing, which puts the Name/Spirit of hwhy upon
His people. Numbers 6:22-27
20
69
21
(pv)
(pv)
The wisdom of hwhy is something which must be sought and found, and He has
ordained that the chief way for His people to do this is through fasting and prayer.
May all those who follow the Mashiach be encouraged to seek hwhy with the whole
heart to find the righteousness and the meekness of wisdom that only His Spirit can
impart:
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5
4. Blessed are They that Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6
While believers might say they hunger and thirst for the righteousness of hwhy,
fasting with prayer is the tangible evidencethe real faith-expressionof that
hunger and thirst. The physical hunger and thirst which accompany fasting are
intended to be outward, faith-expressions toward hwhy73 of a deeper, inner,
spiritual hunger and thirst on the part of one who desires to know the will of the
Most High and to live in accordance with the things which Ruach haQodesh74
reveals. So the spiritual hunger and thirst which emanates from within the heart of
one seeking hwhy is expressed during our times of fasting and prayer. Faith
without works is dead:75 if a person claims76 to hunger and thirst for hwhy, but fails
to fast and pray, there is no substance to such faith. Fasting and prayer are the
authentic expression of faith towards hwhy that our spiritual hunger and thirst are
real and sincere. A spiritual hunger and thirst for hwhy was expressed as the
73
And we emphasize toward hwhy, but not outwardly toward others. Matthew 6:16-18 However, we should not take
this to mean that corporate fasting among a body of believers was ever forbidden by the Messiah (see Acts 13:1-3).
For there are many in our days who are not rightly dividing the Word of truth and who readily and erroneously make
such baseless assumptions. Because corporate fasting among a body of believers is so powerful, the Adversary
works overtime to prevent this.
74
The Set Apart Spirit
75
James 2:17,20,26
76
James 2:18
22
psalmist endured physical hunger and thirst during his times of mourning, fasting,
and prayer:
As a deer longs for the water streams, so my being
longs for You, O Elohim. 2 My being thirsts for Elohim,
for the living El. When shall I enter in to appear before Elohim?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they
say to me all day, Where is your Elohim?
Psalm 42:1-3, ISRV
David is here expressing his thirst for hwhy. We should not suppose his thirst
stemmed from a mere lack of physical water; the great psalmist of Yisrael was
hungering and thirsting for the Presence of the Most High:
O Elohim, You are my El; I earnestly seek You;
my being has thirsted for You; my flesh has longed for You
in a dry and thirsty land without water. 2 Therefore, I
have had a vision of You in the set-apart place,
to see Your power and Your esteem.
Psalm 63:1-2, ISRV
Like Mosheh during his time of fasting, David desired to see the splendor of hwhy
and the greatness of His Name.77 hwhy will always honor such desires and He will
reveal still more of His dwbk/cabode/weight/splendor to those who seek Him with
a whole heart.
The Righteousness that Comes Forth From Times of Fasting
What evidence do we have that increasing righteousness comes forth from times
of fasting? While there have been those whose warped minds have twisted the
original intent of fasting,78 much evidence indicates fasting is an act of reverence
and righteousness. Yet righteousness will lead to still more righteousness.79 And
we have seen that times of fasting are special times to seek both righteousness and
meekness in the Presence of hwhy:
Seek hwhy, all you meek of the earth that have
kept His judgments: Seek righteousness, seek meekness.
It may be you will be hidden in the day of the anger of hwhy.
Zephaniah 2:3
Having earlier spoken of seeking meekness, we pause for a moment to ponder
seeking righteousness. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness during their
times of fasting and seeking hwhy make themselves to be like dry ground before
77
23
the Throne of the Almighty. And for those who are contrite, hwhy is pleased to
respond by bestowing upon them the Rain of His Spirit:
3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,
and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit upon
your seed, and My blessing upon your offspring: 80 4 and they shall spring
up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. 5 One shall say, For hwhy
am I, and another shall call himself by the name of Yaacov;
and another shall subscribe with his hand For hwhy
and surname himself by the name of Yisrael.
Isaiah 44:3-5
Through the prophet Hoshea, hwhy spoke of this very thingthe rain of
righteousness that Elohim is pleased to bestow upon those who seek Him:
Sow to yourselves in righteousness,
reap according to chesed/kindness, break up your
fallow ground. For it is time to seek hwhy, till He
comes and rains righteousness upon you.
Hoshea 10:12
The Hoshea text, then, manifests how we can sow to the Spirit,81 and this word
teaches us many, many things:
1. Fasting is an act of righteousness: it breaks up the fallow ground, the hard soil
of ones heart, so still more righteousness can be planted. Yet like planting a seed,
it is still just the beginning. Yet while only the beginning, fasting is not to be
minimized: Apart from preparing the soil and planting the seeds, there would never
be any harvest (in this case, a harvest of righteousness).
2. All of the above notwithstanding, it still takes the miraculous working/watering
and care of the Spiritthings which only hwhy can doto bring about the growth
and harvest.
And if the Word of hwhy is to be believed, the Ruach informs us that fasting breaks
every yoke of bondage and oppression; the result is righteousness and light
springing forth from the life of those who so seek hwhy:
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loosen the bands of
lawlessness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed
go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal your
bread to the hungry, and that you should bring the poor that are
cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you should
80
81
24
cover him; and that you should not hide yourself 82 from your
own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth as the morning,
and your healing shall spring forth speedily: and your
righteousness shall go before you; the splendor of hwhy will be
your rearguard. 9 Then will you call, and hwhy will answer; you
will cry, and He will say, Here I am. If you will take away
from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and
speaking vanity, 10 and if you will draw out your soul to the
hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then will your light rise in
obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon day, 11 And hwhy
will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and
make strong your bones: and you wiall be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12 And of you
shall they build the old waste places: you will raise up the
foundations of many generations; and you will be called, The
repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isaiah
58:6-12
Above all others,83 eswhy the Messiah, fulfilled the fast that hwhy has chosen:
He let the oppressed go free;84
He loosened the enslaving bands of lawlessness;85
and He broke every yoke of bondage86
including the bonds of death.87
The Mashiach brought life and immortality to light through the Good News;88 He
was/is the Repairer of the Breach and the Restorer of Paths to dwell in! And in this
regard, the Savior taught us a great deal surrounding fasting and prayer. We
further profess that eswhy was referring to nothing less than fasting and prayerto
those who truly hunger and thirst for hwhy during times of fasting-derived
afflictionwhen speaking these words to the multitudes:
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6
The Spirit of the Most High will fill those who hunger and thirst for Him.
82
25
Thousands of years later, the Torah made Flesh taught likewise: Matthew 6:23, 20:15, Mark 7:22, Luke 11:34. So
this is still the case today. Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33
26
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loosen the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed
go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal your
bread to the hungry, and that you should bring the poor that are
cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you should
cover him; and that you should not hide yourself from your own
flesh?90 9 If you will take away from the midst of you the
yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity 10
And if you will draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the
afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your
darkness will be as the noon day Isaiah 58:6-7,9,10
We note this Word of hwhy through Isaiah deals with fasting, prayer, and alms
while the teaching of eSwhy in Matthew 6 sets forth alms, prayers, and fasting.91
Of course, the Messiah had already spoken of fasting in His opening lines at the
very outset of The Sermon on the Mount.92 And that is the very thing we are
pondering in this main portion of the study: the fasting-related nature of The
Beatitudes.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 5:7
6. Blessed are the Pure in Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see Elohim.
Matthew 5:6
In one sense, fasting may be likened to a spiritual, emotional, and physical
mikvah/cleansing. While we will never lessen the cleansing from sin that may
only occur through the shed blood of the LambeSwhy the Messiaheven He
taught that there was something that an individual must initiate to be cleansed on
the inside of the cup and of the platter.93 We will see He spoke of fasting when
speaking of this personal initiative. The uncleanness of pride and arrogance are
accounted by hwhy to be the filth of an uncircumcised heart. Note what Elohim
said of the need for such hearts that have been wrongly lifted up with pride against
His Torah:94
36 And upon them that are left (alive) of you, I will send a
faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the
sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they will flee, as
fleeing from a sword; and they will fall when none is pursuing.
90
27
(pv) 31
(mv) 76
==========
(fv) 107
95
96
28
(pv) 31
(mv) 76
==========
(fv) 107
We doubt there could be anything more amazing, or anything more awesome, in all
of the Scriptures: Blessed be His Qadosh Name who lives forever and ever; it is He
who gives this revelation to His people by the Spirit. Not only does the full value
exactly match for these two words, but so do their place values (31) and their
misparim values (76)! Let there be no doubt that reverent fasting prepares the
heart and allows the Spirit the means to cleanse our inner man, to mold us anew,
and to make us vessels of honor97 in the Hand of the Sovereign Potter.98
Many other Scripture shows us hwhy has ordained fasting as a means for personal
cleansing which requires personal initiative. Referring to fasting and humility, the
Messiah told the scribes and Pharisees to cleanse the inside of the cup and of the
platter:
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter,
but within they are full from extortion and excess. 26 You blind
Pharisee! Cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter,
that the outside thereof may become clean also.
Matthew 23:25-26
Writing to Timothy, Shaul spoke of the very same cleansing; note the preparation
of heart that occurs when that heart had been, thus, purified:
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.
21 If , therefore, a man cleanses himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor,
set apart, suitable for the Masters use, prepared unto every good work.
22 But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love,
peace, with those that call upon hwhy out of a pure heart.
2Timothy 2:20-22
James also spoke of the very same cleansing. And in his teaching, he not only
mentions a cleansing/purifying of the heart (and hands), but James uses several
fasting-related words to emphasize the great need for these believers to earnestly
repent before hwhy so they could receive said cleansing:
97
98
2Timothy 2:21
Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:6
29
99
This is that greater favor which Mosheh had sought and found via reverent fasting and prayer: Exodus 33:12-17
Psalm 34:18
100
30
101
Malachi 3:6
Hebrews 6:4-8, 10:26-31, 12:25
103
Exodus 33:18-19
102
31
fasting, mourning, cleansing, and humility. Yet the promise of the Messiah still
remains today:
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see Elohim.
Matthew 5:6
7. Blessed are the Peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called sons of Elohim.
Matthew 5:7
This may initially appear to be a teaching that has no relationship to fasting and
prayer. Yet that is not the case. We should consider how and why Mosheh sought
hwhy across his second, 40-day period of fasting. In so doing, it will be readily
seen that the prophet was becoming a peacemaker in the fullest sense of the word.
And even near the end of the first 40 days, the people of Yisrael had turned aside
to worship false gods because Mosheh was delayed in his coming down from
Sinai:
1 And when the people saw that Mosheh was delayed to come
down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves
together unto Aaron, and said to him, Up, make us gods, which
shall go before us; for as for this Mosheh, the man that brought
us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of
him 7 And hwhy spoke to Mosheh, Go, get you down; for your
people, that you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have
corrupted themselves: 8 they have turned aside quickly out of the
way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten
calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and
said, These are your gods, O Yisrael, which brought you up out
of the land of Egypt. 9 And hwhy said to Mosheh, I have seen this
people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 10 now therefore,
let me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I
may consume them: and I will make of you a great nation. 11
And Mosheh besought hwhy his Elohim, and said, hwhy, why
does Your wrath wax hot against Your people, that you have
brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with
a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak,
saying, For evil did He bring them forth, to slay them in the
mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn
from Your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Your
people. 13 Remember Abraham, Yitschak, and Yisrael, Your
servants, to whom you swore by Your own self, and said to them,
I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land
32
that I have spoken of will I give to your seed, and they shall
inherit it for ever. 14 And hwhy repented of the evil which He
said He would do to his people. Exodus 32:1,7-14
So even during this first 40 days of fasting, Mosheh interceded as a peacemaker on
behalf of Yisrael: he sought hwhy that Yisrael would not be destroyed in the wrath
of Elohim. And recounting the events that led to the second 40-day period of
fasting, Mosheh said this:
13 Furthermore, hwhy spoke to me, saying, I have seen this
people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 14 let me alone,
that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under
heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater
than they. 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and
the mountain was burning with fire: and the Two Tables of the
Covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and, behold,
you had sinned against hwhy your Elohim; you had made you a
molten calf: you had turned aside quickly out of the way which
hwhy had commanded you. 17 And I took hold of the Two Tables,
and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your
eyes. 18 And I fell down before hwhy, as at the first, forty days
and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water; because
of all your sin which you sinned, in doing that which was evil in
the sight of hwhy, to provoke Him to anger. 19 For I was afraid
of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith hwhy was angered
against you to destroy you. But hwhy hearkened unto me that
time also. Deuteronomy 9:13-19
Other prophets, too, have fasted and prayed before hwhy as peacemakers for all
Yisrael as they interceded for the people in their various times of national
rebellion. Eliyahu/Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Danielall these men
fasted and prayed before hwhy as peacemakers, requesting Him to turn with
compassion upon the nation of His inheritance:
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of Elohim.
Matthew 5:7
Referring to this very text, and speaking of the fruit of righteousness that comes
forth from such times of fasting and prayer, James wrote to all Yisrael:
And the fruit of righteousness is sown
in peace by those that make peace.
James 3:18
33
8. Blessed are They that Have Been Persecuted for Righteousness Sake
10 Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness
sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they
shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for My sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad:
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they
the prophets that were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12
Because fasting and prayer are the ultimate expressions of ones desire to live
righteously, those who seek hwhy in this Elohim-ordained manner will also suffer
persecution. It is just as Shaul wrote to Timothy:
Yes, and all who are determined to live in a reverent
manner in the Messiah eSwhy will be persecuted;
2Timothy 3:12
While this is another teaching that initially appears to have no relationship to
fasting, minimal study will show otherwise. During Jobs time of great suffering,
he embraced fasting-derived affliction as part of his mourning unto hwhy. And
during this time of extended seeking, Job was spit upon as well as smitten on the
cheek:
8 They are children of fools, yes, children of base men;
they were scourged out of the land. 9 And now I have become
their song, yes, I am a byword to them. 10 They abhor me, they
stand aloof from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
Job 30:8-10
They have gaped upon me with their mouth;
they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully:
they gather themselves together against me.
Job 16:10
Those who humble themselves with fasting will likewise become the objects of
reproach:
10 When I lamented my soul with fasting,
that was to my reproach. 11 When I made sackcloth
my clothing, I became a byword to them. 12 They that sit in
the gate talk of me; and I am the song of the drunkards.
Psalm 69:10-12
Jeremiah likewise wrote of his times of fasting, wherein his cheek was given to
persecutors who smote him:
34
105
To read more about this yoke, see the study, The Yoke of Fasting-Derived Meekness and Humility:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/49181380/The-Yoke-of-Fasting-Derived-Meekness-and-Humility
Romans 3:31
35
(mv)
But see what number is derived from adding both the misparim and place value of
the Hebrew word xySm/Mashiach/Messiah:
36
btsome
aniti
my soul
with
fasting
I afflicted
Tehillim/Psalm 35:13
The misparim value of this phraseI afflicted my soul with fastingis now
calculated as seen below:
138
440
=====
1118
Yet 1118 is also the exact misparim value of the first six words of The Shema:
13
dxa
echad
(is) one
108
26
102
26
hwhy
wnyhla
hwhy
YHWH
YHWH
Elohenu
our Elohim
YHWH
YHWH
2Peter 3:18
37
541
410
larvy
ems
Yisrael
Israel
Shema
Hear
1118
Could anything be clearer than this marvelous and amazing number connection we
are provided by the Spirit of Elohim?
When we humble our souls with fasting,
we are especially preparing our hearts to
hear His Voice and to fulfill The Shema.
It is not a coincidence that the phraseI afflicted my soul with fastingand The
Shema both add to a misparim value of 1118! This is so by Infinite Design and
Blessed Providence. The Sovereign hwhy has provided for us some very telling
evidence about hearing His Voice and being those who desire more of His Spirit
and Presence. And we express that desire as we hunger and thirst for righteousness
during those most special times of fasting and prayer. Ruach haQodesh109
signifies that our seasons of fasting and prayer are set apart times for fulfilling The
Shema by hearing His Voice, His Spirit, with ever increasing clarity.110 Our times
of fasting and prayer are times to hear His Voice:
Only when our hearts are inclined to hear
and obey His Voice, only then will our
voices be heard on high.111
So the humility that surrounds fasting and prayer involves our humble, loving
submission before hwhy as we seek to know, to hear, and to do His sovereign will:
This is the all-important beginning
of living a life that truly fulfills The Shema.
The Infinite Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge Hidden in the Mashiach
For the believer, seeking and finding the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
hidden in the Word of hwhy is one of the greatest honors that He so graciously
bestows upon those who worship Him. The only greater honor on this side of the
Resurrection is dwelling in His Presence during times of prayer:
It is the Spirit of the Almighty that
creates within us a hunger for the Presence
of hwhy and a hunger for His Word.
One of the significant ways that hwhy speaks to us is through the things He teaches
us112 from His written Word.113 And as our understanding of His will and ways
increases, we see the path growing ever brighter:114 we progress in the Faith, and
109
38
we progress in the levels at which we can serve Him more effectively.115 But the
Mashiach was the Word made Flesh:116 and because He was/is/remains the
embodiment of the Torah, it is ultimately in Him that hwhy has hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Shaul wrote of this very thing:
2 in order that their hearts might be encouraged,
being knit together in love, and to all riches of the entire
confirmation of understanding, to a true knowledge of the secret
of Elohim, and of the Father, and of the Messiah, 3 in whom
are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3, ISRV
During times of fasting and prayer, we grow in our ability to fulfill The Shemato
hear the Voice of hwhy and to more fully understand His Word. Those with the
Spirit of the Mashiach will increasingly gain His ears to hear. Through eSwhy, we
will both see and reveal the light and splendor which Ruach hwhy shines forth from
the Torah:
12 Having therefore such an expectation hope, we use great
boldness of speech, 13 and are not as Mosheh, who put a veil
upon his face, that the children of Yisrael should not look
steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away: 14 but
their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading
of the old covenant the same veil remains, it not being revealed
that it is done away in the Messiah. 15 But until this day,
whenever Mosheh is read, a veil lies upon their heart. 16 But
whenever it shall turn to the Sovereign, the veil is taken away. 17
Now hwhy is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of hwhy is, there is
liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the splendor of hwhy, are transformed into the same
image from glory to glory, even as from hwhy, the Spirit.
2Corinthians 3:12-18
In this text, Shaul indicates only the Messiah can take away the veil that prevents
a person from seeing the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in the Torah.
For those who follow Him, eSwhy now shines immense splendor on the Infinite
Torah; and He is more greatly revealing the Name117 and the ways of the Most
High. hwhy, the Father, wishes to shine that splendor upon all nations through
those who have believed on His Son.118
115
2Peter 3:18
John 1:1-5, 14
117
John 17:26
118
Isaiah 60:1-3
116
39
Yet seeking and finding hwhy through His Word even goes beyond the benefits and
blessings of this life as His Kingdom increases. It is actually part of the means by
which hwhy will reward us in the Resurrection. Solomon wrote about how Elohim
conceals His Ways and about those who acknowledge that concealment and who
act accordingly. Those who know Him to be an Elohim who hides Himself,119 then
live lives which are established to seek out those hidden aspects of the Words of
the Torah:
The splendor of Elohim is the concealing of a word,
but the splendor of kings is searching out a word.
Psalm 25:2
There are treasures of wisdom and knowledge within the Torah which Elohim has
generally hidden from plain view; and those who faithfully seek out those things
will be rewarded with a rule and an inheritance in the Kingdom. If we hope to
number among those who rule with the Mashiach, even the least of His
commandments is never to be minimized.120 In guarding His Word, overcoming
believersthose who seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness
will show themselves to be worthy kings and they will guide the nations on the
earth during the Millennium.
The Hand of hwhy and His Sufficiency/Provision
We recall the account in which Ezekiel was carried in the Spirit to the captives by
the river Chebar. Note the hand of hwhy was upon him and he wound up fasting
for at least seven days:
14 So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away. And I went
in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of hwhy was
strong upon me. 15 Then I came to them of the captivity at TelAviv,
that dwelt by the river Chebar, and to where they dwelt; and I sat there
overwhelmed among them seven days. 16 And it came to pass at the end of
seven days, that the word of hwhy came to me, saying, 17 Son of man,
I have made you a watchman to the House of Yisrael: therefore hear
the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.
Ezekiel 3:14-17
Hebrew thought is cyclical/circular: If the Hand of hwhy is upon us, we will fast
and pray; conversely, if we fast and pray, the Hand of hwhy will be upon us.121 The
Hebrew word for hand is dy/yad, yet this word reversed gives us the Hebrew
word yd/dai, meaning sufficient. And as we have already seen from numerous
Scriptures, the word seek is fasting-related:
119
40
122
123
Hebrews 2:3
Exodus 6:3
41
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the lawless
be no more. Bless hwhy, naph-shi.124 Hallelu-Yah!
Tehillim/Psalm 104:35
Bullinger further points out that Jewish scholars125 have also noted this same
connection. Yet Scripture brings us even more light on the matter.
The short form hy / Yah of the Name, hwhy, is the form used in the word
hywllh / Hallelu-Yah. Since this is used in the word hywllh / Hallelu-Yah,
it is of special instruction to note the short form, hy / Yah, is first seen/used in
Scripture (and in worship) when hwhy defeats the enemies of Yisrael at Yam Suph
(the Sea of Reeds):
1 Then sang Mosheh and the children of Yisrael
this song to hwhy, and spoke, saying, I will sing to hwhy,
for He has triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider He has thrown
into the sea. 2 My strength and song is Yah, and He has become to me for
salvation/deliverance. This is my El, and I will praise Him;
the Elohim of my father, and I will exalt him.
Shemot/Exodus 15:1-2
This short form, Yah, is the word that would later be placed with Hallelu- to
form Hallelu-Yah. So the short form ( hy / Yah ) of the Name ( hwhy ) really
reveals/exalts His power to both redeem His people and to bring them salvation
and deliverance from their enemies.126 Yet does fasting, likewise, result in such
power falling from the Heavens? It does.
We have spoken about how fasting brings forth the righteous splendor of hwhy into
our lives and into all the earth. And the Word bears witness to this as having
occurred with many prophets of old. Those many who sought hwhy by fasting and
prayer were subsequently used to show forth still more of His greatness, power,
and deliverance before all Yisrael and before all the world. Amazingly, this
victorious exclamation of praise, Hallelu-Yah! is not unrelated to fasting. We
see this further revealed in the Hebrew misparim. Note the place value, the
misparim value, and the full value of this inspired word, hywllh/Hallelu-Yah:
(translated my soul)
(in the Talmud and Midrash)
126
For so is it used in the Tanak as well as within its first occurrence in the Renewed Covenant Scriptures (see
Revelation 19:1-2).
125
42
Yet this 136 exactly matches the misparim value for Mwu / tsme / fast / fasting:
43
rending of ones heart before Him. Elohim spoke of this humility through the
prophet Yoel/Joel:
12 Yet even now, says hwhy, return you unto Me with all your
heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 and rend your heart (Mkbbl werqw), and not your
garments, and return to hwhy your Elohim; for He is gracious
and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in chesed/kindness,
and He repents of the evil. Joel 2:12-13
We will consider more about the phrase And rend your heart, momentarily. But
first, we review the Hebrew numbers around the word lwm/mol/circumcise(-d)
are established:
(pv) 31
(mv) 76
========
(fv) 107
Presently, we will only consider the full value (fv) of lwm/mol/circumcise(-d): the
number 107. In a previous study, we saw how this value of 107 related Psalm 107
to circumcision of heart and BOOK FIVE, the Debarim, or Deuteronomy Book of
Tehillm/Psalms.135 The Spirit teaches us that an uncircumcised heart is proud and
lifted up while a circumcised heart is continually humbled before the Almighty.
This is what the apostle Kepha/Peter meant (and to what he referred) when he
wrote of humbling ourselves under the mighty Hand of Elohim.136 And this is
what Yaacov/James referred to when teaching believers to humble themselves in
the sight of hwhy. We once more note his usage of so many fasting-related words
in these lines of truth:
6 And He gives greater favor. Therefore it says, Elohim
resists the proud, but gives favor to the humble. 7 Submit yourselves
therefore to Elohim. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to
Elohim, and He will draw near137 to you. Cleanse hands, you sinners, and purify
hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your
laughter be turned to mourning, and joy to heaviness. 10 Humble
yourselves in the sight of hwhy, and He will lift you up.
James 4:6-10
135
44
Yaacov was clearly indicating they needed to rend their hearts. That the humility
of fasting and prayer are critical to this aspect of True Worship becomes yet more
evident when we study the place value (pv) for the phrase And rend your heart:
Mkbbl werqw
lebav-kem
of your hearts
vkir-oo
And rend you
To fuel our awe and amazement before the Most High, this phrase has a place
value (pv) of 107a number identical to the full value of the word lwm / mol /
circumcise:
= Mkbbl werqw
67
40
=========
(pv) 107
Once more, Ruach haQodesh138 shows us of the connection between a
circumcised heart and fasting-derived humility. This more clearly reveals what it
means to seek hwhy with the whole heart:
Another of the many spiritual
ironies in the Kingdom of Elohim is that
brokenness results in wholeness.
So the relationship between fasting, humility, and seeking hwhy with a whole,
circumcised heart is only confirmed by this marvelously inspired number
connection. Blessed be His Name.
s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
Closing Thoughts
The Hebrew word shema/emS means hear. In our opening text, this word
serves as a call to hear the Eternal Word of hwhy, the Elohim of Yisrael. It is a call
to hear and obey the King of Yisrael from a heart of lovenot from a lukewarm
heart acting out of a sense of mere moral duty, and not from an even colder heart
motivated by an outward show of religious display or an arrogant self-exaltation
steered by the religious self-supremacy people so often feel due to the punishable
pride of denominational idolatry. If eSwhy taught us to uphold the Eternal precepts
of the Age-Abiding Torah (and He did139), then those who castigate such a life of
loving obedience (by calling it legalism) are setting forth their Messiah as a
138
139
45
senseless imposter before all the world. When eSwhy taught us to seek first the
Kingdom of Elohim and His righteousness, He was directing us to fulfill The
Shema with a reverent life characterized by fasting and prayer. Of course, we
cannot fast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but the reverence and humility that we
cultivate during those special times of fasting will remain with us as we emerge
from our sanctuary of seeking, mourning, and affliction.
The carnal man rejects fasting outright, perhaps due to the unwillingness to
suppress the appetite even for relatively brief periods of time.140 One could rightly
expect this from the unconverted. But for sincere believers to outright reject
fasting is a concern of significant proportions. There is an ancient saying which
pertains to the beginning of a great sojourn; it goes something like this:
The journey of a thousand miles
begins with the first step.
Our spiritual sojourn through this life is much like that 1000-mile journey on foot.
Once one has placed his or her faith in the Messiah, if that person refuses to seek
hwhy by fasting and prayer, then the first major leg of this life-long journey can
never be what our Savior has always intended.
To follow the Lamb wherever He goes,141 we must believe and keep His
Teachings.142 And He clearly teaches His followers the importance of fasting
through The Beatitudes. The believer who does not fast is much like a light which
continually flickers due to a fluctuating power sourceperhaps caused by a nearly
severed or shorted cord. Such light may be minimally helpful, but it cannot dispel
the darkness.
To be sure, fasting is not an end in itself, but it is most certainly a rather significant
and necessary beginningthe beginning expression of the deepest reverence
which cultivates a lasting, far-reaching faith, expectation, and love towards hwhy
El Shaddai. Such seeking is clearly a required beginning in the Mind of hwhy, and
we have seen that these times of fasting prepare and cleanse the heart. Thus, those
who refuse to seek Him by fasting and prayer143 simply never get past square
one, so to speak. Their service rendered for the Kingdom of hwhy will be likely
be without reward, and their understanding of His Word and ways will likely
remain deficient, watered-down, and incomplete.144
140
46
We are commanded to teach every nation all that the Messiah taught. And since
eSwhy clearly indicated a life given to fasting and prayer would characterize His
followers after His ascent into the Heavens,145 we can advocate nothing less.
As with everything in the realm of obedience,
fasting is an act of faith, expectation, and love
into which one must grow. And the Spirit will
lead and teach all those who desire to obey.
But spiritual growth requires action. A mere mental ascent to the goodness of
fasting will not bring about spiritual benefit. We pray no one will make the
mistake of waiting, only to realize many years from now that you have missed out
on so many vital opportunities to serve your Creator and to enter into a greater
spiritual progression because you failed to humble yourself before Him during so
many special and blessed times of fasting and prayer.
This work has been written in judgment of no one. However, having spoken with
believers across the nation and from around the world, I have often encountered
the close-minded objections of numerous people who outright reject the truth of
fasting. Yet their objections oppose the Word of hwhy and His Messiah. Emerging
from the Dark Ages, many men have died in their mission to translate and
distribute the Scriptures. For the sake of those reformers, and certainly for the sake
of his Messiah, this author feels obligated to make sure every true doctrine, and
every upright practice, is not set aside in disuse, or ill-repute, based on unlearned
deductions which never came forth from the Mind of hwhy. As we have seen,
fasting often was taught by the Messiah and practiced by all of His apostles. t
C.P.
11/2013-12/23/2013
145
Matthew 9:14-15
47
PC
This document may be freely copied and distributed if it is left unaltered and in its
entirety. It must also be given away without cost to recipients, and it may not be
included in any publication without the authors written permission.
Zechariah 7:10
Micah 3:11, 1Timothy 6:5-10, 1Peter 5:2
148
Isaiah 55:1,2, Mark 11:15-17
147
48
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http://www.yahuyahweh.org/iah
t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a
1 .
2 .
3 .
4 .
5 .
6 .
7 .
8 .
9 .
10 .
20 .
30 .
40 .
50 .
60 .
70 .
80 .
90 .
100 .
200 .
300 .
400 .
1 ..
2 ..
3 ..
4 ..
5 ..
6 ..
7 ..
8 ..
9 ..
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 ..
17
18
19
20
21
22
Name
Letter
ALEPH a
BEIT b
GIMEL g
DALET d
HE h
VAV w
ZAYIN z
CHET x
TET j
YOD y
CAPH K, k
LAMED l
MEM M, m
NUN N, n
SAMECH o
AYIN . e
PE P, p
TZADE .. U, u
KOF .. q
RESH r
SHIN, SEEN s, S
TAV t
A letters place value, or what some people call the ordinal value, is simply
obtained by finding its numerical order, or position, within the ALEPH-BEIT. So,
from first to last, we have ALEPH = 1 while TAV = 22. Below are provided more
compact Place Value and Misparim Charts which readers may wish to print and
cut out so you may more readily confirm the calculations in this document as well
as finding the MV or PV of any Hebrew word.
--------------------------- PLACE VALUE (PV) CHART ----------------------
(11) k (10) y (9) j (8) x (7) z (6) w (5) h (4) d (3) g (2) b (1) a
(22) t (21) S (20)r (19) q (18) u (17) p (16) e (15) o (14) n (13) m (12)l
(20) k (10) y (9) j (8) x (7) z (6) w (5) h (4) d (3) g (2) b (1) a
(400) t (300) S (200)r (100) q (90) u (80) p (70) e (60) o (50) n (40) m (30)l
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