It is time to remove all Chametz for Pesach. I am removing other things too.
This is a little different - no audio reading this week.
I wanted to talk about the preparation for passover which starts with the cleaning of the house, getting all the regular bread out (leaven being symbolic for sin in this case).
As part of my cleaning to remove chametz or yeast products from my home in preparation for the week of unleavened bread and Pesach (passover), I found some photographs in a folder. They were pictures I do not plan to keep, but rather post, relating to how the Father feels about idols and carved images.
I didn't get a chance to make the post earlier, but I wanted to do it before Shabbat this week, then clean out my memory card and get rid of them in preparation for March 30. So these photos will be off my devices before then.
The writings about idols in Zechariah 13 start with "In that day..."
Whenever I see something like that, I choose to scan backward to find out what day the Father is speaking of. What day?
For context, we have the introduction to His thought. At the bottom, you will see what He will do about idols and the spirits that inhabit them.
Zech 12 context
As context (always find out what the context is)
Zechariah was talking about the word coming from the Almighty regarding his people Israel - that Yerushalayim will become a heavy stone (hard to handle - tough to deal with) and how people that try to mess with it or even fix it will get hurt (self harm really).
Yes, many photos of things I want nothing to do with
I am posting the photos I took so that I can make another point. See scriptures below. Most people today might wander into this store (I am not going to name where I took these pictures) and buy one of these statues as a decoration but they are idols that represent something that had once been worshiped. Some still are.
Most people I know don't care one way or the other about these little gods and won't even relate them to something that is against what the God of Israel (elohai israel) would like. Some know silly superstitions, some that bring you money (the elephant), and others that will bring good luck. Nothing of the sort is so.
The names will be cut off and not remembered. I am not sure if I could even tell you the name of one of these. I find them to be annoying to my God and so they rub me the wrong way too.
It says He will remove the spirits of uncleanliness (that come with them).
As I said, these mean nothing to me
But I know that YHVH is a jealous God and He repeats that fact over and over as you will see throughout the Tanakh.
They may look shiny and decorative, but something inside me burns when I see them sitting in a store. I walk past but will not enter. It bothers me to even chose photos for this post, but I felt I had to post them. If nothing else, as a warning for those who have not heard what is in those ancient scrolls.
I wanted to share this with you and afterwards find peace in my soul. I wish peace for each of you as well.
Shabbat Shalom
As usual your posts are very knowledgeable @hebrew.
Even that I am traditional and I know the "Tanach" you always give something new and fresh to my perspective.
Very good Reminder.
The sages decreed that the search for chametz should take place on the night of the fourteenth of Nissan (March 30/18) . This time was chosen because people are usually at home in the evening, and because one cannot search effectively in the corners by daylight. It is necessary to use a candle for this, and since candlelight has little effect during the day, it was decreed that the search be done in the evening.
The correct time for the search is when the stars appear.
Although it is common practice to perform a mitzvah at the earliest possible time, this mitzvah should not be performed before the appearance of the stars. The search should be started immediately when the stars appear, while there is still a bit of daylight.
From half an hour before the stars appear, at the time when the sun sets on the thirteenth of Nissan, one should be careful not to begin any work, nor should one eat, until after he has searched for the chametz. Even if one usually engages in Torah study at this time, he should postpone it until after the search. If one began to study or to work at a time while it is still permissible, he should interrupt whatever he is doing as soon as the time for the search arrives.
Passover 2018 will be celebrated from March 30- April 7.
The first Seder will be on March 30 after nightfall, and the second Seder will be on March 31 after nightfall.
Passover is celebrated by eating matzah (unleaven bread) and maror (bitter herbs). For the duration of the 8 (or 7 days in Israel) of Passover, chametz (leaven) is strictly avoided.
What Is Passover?
The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan, March 30-April 7, 2018. Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.
In Hebrew it is known as Pesach (which means “to pass over”), because G‑d passed over the Jewish homes when killing the Egyptian firstborn on the very first Passover eve.
Thank you for all your research and comments. I am enjoying the Pesach along with the week of unleavened bread. It's hard to cease working for two day s straight. I wish your family shalom during this week.
We had our Seder on Thursday like Yeshua did.
I just joined here a few days ago---I am also JEWISH BELIEVER in Yeshua---Shalom Brother!!!!!
Very good post. We are doing this also and we will celebrate the Pesach
(Passover) as Jesus (Yeshua) did 2,000 years ago.
http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm
There are so many things in our lives that can be idols: money, people, jobs, possessions, houses, status, trips, indulgences. There's not necessarily anything wrong with them, but if we put them above God in our hearts, then they're an idol. It's good to take the time to intentionally look at things in our lives that could come before God. Having a cleansing time is good and healthy and can help realign our hearts. :)
So true. my only thought when I read your comments is "Why does this guy have a rep of 54?". You seem to be one of the most genuine people here on Steemit. You opinion is well noted. Some of the things you mention may come under the related title "It is impossible to serve God and Money."
It's not that it is difficult or really hard, but it is impossible. I don't have any photos for that sermon though, so we can leave that for another day. I prefer to teach rather than preach.
Thanks 'noname'
Very nice @hebrew
I am follow you
Thank you! Yeah, I'm still working my way up. Haven't made it "big time" yet. It just means I get more experience learning to be humble.
Although I'm rather sarcastic on some people's posts about random things, I really believe that your message is important. I've had numerous things in life that have taken precedence or priority over God. They might be fun for a time, but even if they're not bad,they're still not His best for me... which is relationship with Him. It's a process, but I also get to experience His grace in the times when I fall short.
Yes, God never said that money was evil. He said that you can't serve Him and it. I look forward to you getting those photos. I'd like to read that article. You seem to have a very grounded and authentic view of God.
By teach rather than preach, I'm assuming that you mean something like "coming alongside people and helping them" rather than "speaking from a soapbox for anyone who will listen." Is that close?
Yes. That is exactly what I mean. There is an old saying, "If you are not walking with the Almighty as closely as you once were, guess who moved?"
He doesn't move in and out of our life. Our choices make, even small ones, sometimes are the start of a slow walk away from Abba.
The beautiful part of it is that even if we choose to walk away... even if it's for years, He still welcomes us back with open arms. It's not a system where He keeps score and adds up our points and demerits. He just wants relationship with each of us. Even if we keep walking away, He'll take us back.
And if we don't get things quite right, that's ok too as long as we're walking with Him. David is a great example of this. Every time he messed up, he went right back to God, and God always took him back. The same is true for us! :)
חג חירות שמח
עבדי הזמן עבדי עבדים הם
עבד ה' הוא לבדו חפשי
רבי יהודה הלוי
Hmmm
It's very much impossible to serve God and money. Money is good but the love of it is evil. There is no way one will serve or love money and be able to love God because the time he or she will be devoting to searching of Scripture to know about God will be shared or probably given to money making activities. Moreso,.money is very evil, it gives man a kind of confidence that attract being insolent to the people of God and to God himself
I love this
Learning from a man coming from the perspective of teaching rather than preaching is what I like. Well-done sir!
As per the impossibility in serving God and money, I totally agree to it. There is no way one will pursue money and one's mind will not be far from God. To serve money takes one time and effort and by that, one deny God the true service he demands
I love this well-done sirs
@hebrew @themanwithnoname
Waooo nice to see your post again this week @hebrew
Everything that is not of God raises itself up against God, even in the life of a Christian. So we constantly have idol pop-ups in our lives. We have to cast them down, but they will be there as long as we live here on earth
wow excellent new lesson, i am slowly learning hebrew and i enjoy learning my friend @hebrew
i will say...it's a good lesson for all the people..that's why they can learn diffrent type of letter day by day...
Hope next we will see another lesson soon..
שבת שלום.
תהנה בסוף השבוע.
אלוהים יברך אותך.
thanks for the great information @hebrew. this post is very important lesson and useful. your great work. upvote and resteem
great post,well said,beautiful picture,
This is a very informative sharing,i will continue to read these,
my dear friend @hebrew
this hurt the heart somewhere and i know that feeling i am very happy that you shared this feeling with us
a lesson none of one would have learnt this is beyond anything so thanks for being an inspiration to us dear