Behar - On the mountain בְּהַר
Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-26:2
Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27
Apostolic Writings: Luke 4:14-22
Reading #7 - Leviticus 25:47–26:2
My Thoughts:
Again we learn about redeeming the Jewish “brothers” that are sold into slavery. Hashem is very clear that one day they will have the right to be free. He helps us to remember that once all of His people were in slavery in Egypt and he chose to redeem them and bring them to freedom. It seems He wants a “fairness” of how to negotiate this redemption and payment according to the calendar of the upcoming Jubilee. Just as Hashem is fair and just, so should be. Think about that.
Challenge:
Some groups have done Bible research and say that “keep the Sabbath” is mentioned over 172 times (in both the Old and New Testaments). It would seem with this kind of acknowledgment that following Sabbath must be pretty important. And yet how many of us actually do this. Do you completely rest with your family on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). Do you resist going out shopping, banking, to get gas, or going to a restaurant? Are you “sloppy” about keeping the Sabbath? I know there have been many times that I have been. I use the excuse that we are not in a Jewish or Messianic community so I don’t have the support to follow many of the commandments. Really there is no excuse for not honoring the blessed Shabbat that is given to us each week. So my challenge to you today is that you start to do this. That you consciously make a point to make the Sabbath a holy day in your life. If you are struggling with this then seek Hashem for help. I will try to do this too.
Reading #7 - Leviticus 25:47–26:2
25:47 “‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, 48 after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself. 50 He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he sold himself to him to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; he shall be with him according to the time of a hired servant. 51 If there are yet many years, according to them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 If there remain but a few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according to his years of service he shall give back the price of his redemption. 53 As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight. 54 If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee: he and his children with him. 55 For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Hashem your Adonai..
26 “‘You shall make for yourselves no idols, and you shall not raise up a carved image or a pillar, and you shall not place any figured stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am Hashem your Adonai..
2 “‘You shall keep my Sabbaths, and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am Hashem.
Haftarah
My Thoughts:
So Hashem is instructing Jeremiah as in Torah about the redeeming of land. A word comes to Jeremiah from Hashem to purchase the land. The transaction is completed and Jeremiah praises Hashem for all He has done and continues to do. I don’t really understand all of this regarding redemption, but I believe they were in a time where getting the land back was really important. And for this Jeremiah is grateful. Just as we should be when Hashem helps us through difficult times.
Challenge:
I love the name “Hashem of armies” in verse 18 (and many other Scriptures). I believe He is called that because of the angels He is in charge of in the heavenlies. Can you imagine the countless amount of angels that He has created. And all of them to His service. They are His army and He is the commander. To me, that is a very comforting thought. I have mentioned this in other blogs. That we should be grateful for the angels that Hashem set charge over our lives. They have most likely been life saving at times we were unaware. And comforting in other situations. Right now take a moment to thank Hashem for His ministering angels in your life. Amen!
Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27
32:6 Jeremiah said, “Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 7 ‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.”’”
8 “So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to Hashem’s word, and said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.’
“Then I knew that this was Hashem’s word. 9 I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, called witnesses, and weighed the money in the balances to him. 11 So I took the deed of the purchase, both that which was sealed, containing the terms and conditions, and that which was open; 12 and I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of the purchase, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the guard.
13 “I commanded Baruch before them, saying, 14 Hashem of Armies, Adonai of Israel says: ‘Take these deeds, this deed of the purchase which is sealed, and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days.’ 15 For Hashem of Armies, the Adonai of Israel says: ‘Houses and fields and vineyards will yet again be bought in this land.’
16 Now after I had delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to Hashem, saying,
17 “Ah Hashem Adonai! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you. 18 You show loving kindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them. The great, the mighty Elohim, Hashem of Armies is Your name: 19 great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings; 20 who performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even to this day, both in Israel and among other men; and made Yourself a name, as it is today; 21 and brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, with wonders, with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm, and with great terror; 22 and gave them this land, which you swore to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and possessed it, but they didn’t obey your voice and didn’t walk in your law. They have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do. Therefore you have caused all this evil to come upon them.
24 “Behold, siege ramps have come to the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, of the famine, and of the pestilence. What you have spoken has happened. Behold, you see it. 25 You have said to me, Hashem Adonai ‘Buy the field for money, and call witnesses;’ whereas the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.”
26 Then Hashem’s word came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 “Behold, I am Hashem, Adonai of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?
Apostolic Writings
My Thoughts:
In verse 16 we read that it was Yeshua’s “custom” to read in the synagogue. That is because He was a rabbi. Not many people teach this because if they did they would have to admit that He taught the Torah, believed the Torah, followed the Torah and some believe He IS THE TORAH (the Word spoken by Elohim). If you would like to learn more about this go to my blog: Jesus Was a Rabbi .
Challenge:
Verse 21 says that the Scripture He read from Isaiah has been fulfilled by Him. That He is the Mashiach who has come to set His people free. Only we killed Him. He was unable to usher in the Messianic Era. The great news is that many people think He will be the returning Mashiach! Regardless, we need to be praying every day that the Mashiach sent by Hashem will come soon! That He will rule and reign from Jerusalem, from the Temple. Proclaiming the Torah!
Apostolic Writings: Luke 4:14-22
14 Yeshua returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
16 He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. He entered, as was His custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of Hashem is on me,
because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed…”.
19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of Hashem.”
20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
