Are you new to the Bible? Would you like to understand it better? If so, tune into these programs which serve to help the new believer in the Messiah.
Latest Podcasts in Biblical Basics
Now Is The Time with Rabbi Steve Berkson | Are You Saved? | Part 4
Has the One who chose a group of people from among a group of people and set them apart unto Himself rejected those people? Has now another group of people replaced them? Weren’t there promises made according to The Covenant that was made with Abraham, Isaac and...
Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 58 (Footsteps in a Holiness Sandwich)
Our Footsteps of Messiah series has focused on the prophecies contained in the Song of Songs. Once we reach the fourth chapter of the Song, some of the prophecies are repeated, yet we can glean more in-depth understanding with the first chapters already established. In Chapter Four, we read:
How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep which have come up from their washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young.
In a previous lesson, we looked at “Mount Gilead” as a wordplay with “mountain of rolling (continual) witness.” There is a literal mountain range in Gilead, but there was Mount Sinai, where the Israelites responded to the covenant invitation with “We will do, and we will hear.” From the heights of spiritual ecstasy at Mount Sinai, the Israelites descended “like a flock of goats” to become a light and witness to the nations. Goats are often symbolic of sacrifice for atonement. Indeed, Israel has suffered sacrifice to hold onto their covenant agreement at Sinai, reflecting the suffering of Messiah for the sake of the nations.
Next, the prophecy refers to Israel as “a flock of newly shorn sheep which have come up from their washing.” Sheep are often symbolic of the innocent, compliant, and easily led. The sages point to the “washing” as the journey through the Reed Sea in their escape from Pharaoh. A second washing was the three-day preparation of washing for the visitation at Mount Sinai. The first washing at the Reed Sea is of particular interest since it explains in more detail the apostles’ doctrines of mercy, grace, and torah. While there has been a long history of poor understanding and applications of the relationship among them, the foundations are in the Exodus from Egypt.
The twelve tribes of Israel grew in their Egyptian captivity. With courage, the midwives salvaged the “young” of the sheep, protecting them from Pharaoh’s death squads.
“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep which have come up from their washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young [???????? H7909].”
??????? shakkul; from H7921; bereaved:—barren, bereaved (robbed) of children.
There was not a long list of commandments for the flock of Israel to keep while they were being saved.
Listen to Moses’ warning about the plagues.
Circumcise.
Slaughter a lamb, apply the blood to the doorposts, and eat it.
Leave Egypt.
Follow the pillar of cloud.
That’s pretty much it. There were no 613 commandments, or even the Big Ten. Not even the Shema or “love your neighbor.” These were simple, demonstrated acts of faith. The details of the 2, the 10, and the 613 would come later in the wilderness.
There is a play-on word with “all of which bear twins.”
?????? tâ?am; a primitive root; to be complete; but used only as denominative from H8380, to be (causatively, make) twinned, i.e. (figuratively) duplicate or (architectural) jointed:—coupled (together), bear twins.
Ta’am is sometimes translated as “perfect.” The flock may be seen as not only complete, but perfect as in upright, with moral integrity:
“Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be blameless. [???????]” (Ge 17:1)
The children of Abraham would also be counted like their father, upright. It didn’t mean without sin or mistakes; it meant walk and work on the revealed things each day. The Midrash Rabbah presents a homily concerning “all of them are perfect, ta’am which have come up from their washing.” They point out that in spite of being herded and guarded between the Presence of Adonai Himself and the Angel, the Israelites came up from the Reed Sea unharmed by the intense holiness that was experienced between them. Although not yet walking in the commandments, nor had they even agreed to, the Israelites were already walking by faith. They were on the path, leaving death behind, yet obedience lay before them, a journey to prepare them to go up into the Land of their inheritance.
Mark Call – Parsha “Vayakhel” teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa
This Torah portion begins, and is named for, the SECOND use of the word "Vayakhel" in Scripture. Except, this time it's Moses that "gathers together" ALL of the assembly, not as a mob, but to hear, and do, what Yahuah commands. Parsha Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20)...
Torah Teachers’ Round Table – Tanakh Edition – Ezekiel ch 30 into 31
The teacher complete the study of Ezekiel chapter 30. Does the prophecy here for "Egypt", or Mitzraim, not sound a BIT like modern AmeriKa-with-a-K, that might be equally 'prideful'?
Mark Call – Daily News Update Monday
News and commentary for Black Biden Monday, 13 March, 2023. It's been a Long Time Comin' - but the Fiat Buck Debt Collapse and Bank Contagion, the snowball of which was certainly rollin' downhill last wee, has become a Big Deal. And, if things weren't already bad...
Now Is The Time with Rabbi Steve Berkson | Are You Saved? | Part 3
What’s wrong with Christianity? Aren’t there “good people” there? Most of us who are now in the Messianic Torah Observant community came from Christianity. Wasn’t there anything good we learned from being there? Can’t we bring something over with us as we’ve...
Dr Hollisa Alewine – Banner Ministry with Lisa Merwin
Guest Lisa Merwin from River of Life Tabernacle shares her expertise on how to start and minister with banners during worship.
Mark Call – Parsha “Ki Tisa” teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa
After a couple portions that might be called "setup," for the upcoming construction of the mishkan, or tabernacle, this week parsha Ki Tisa (Exodus/Shemot 30:111 through chapter 34) returns to the story of what happens while, and after Moshe returns from his first...
Now Is The Time with Rabbi Steve Berkson | Are You Saved? | Part 2
After a quick review of part 1, Rabbi Steve Berkson continues exploring the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” and the relationship between salvation, faith and works. Rabbi Steve plays the little game called, “What if I had the power to live forever and could...
Torah Teachers’ Round Table – Tanakh Edition – Ezekiel ch 28 into 29
The teachers discuss Ezekiel chapters 28 into 29. And, among some related things, just who, or what, is the Prince of Tyre?
Drive Time Friday
This week, as they look at a week of news that continues to probe 'just how deep the rabbit-hole goes,' Mark and David finally "go there." Where? Maybe even, 'where no man has gone before.' But how much more weird can things actually get?
“Come out of her, My people” Show ~ Mark Call weekly
Special guest Brent Winters, the Common Lawyer, again joins Mark to complete the discussion of some elements of the history of the "common law" that are SO important to understand 'in such a time as this.' Last week Brent introduced the concepts of the "Law of the...