June 5
Categories: messianic
The first ten chapters of the Book of Numbers is about how the Jewish people prepared to march to the promised land. They got themselves organized; they also made sure that they were inwardly organized by purging sin from their midst and being spiritually prepared. By the time we get to chapter ten, they are ready to go. At the end of the chapter we see that the Ark moves first – ahead of the people and the cloud is upon them to guide them along the way. Then Moses says these words:
Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” (Num 10:35) The picture that we see is one of tremendous confidence in the Lord to reach the land.
This verse is repeated in Psalm 68:2 and Psalm 132:8. In each case the verse is used to exude confidence in the power of God to bring to pass his promises. In Psalm 132 the verse is used to give assurance that the promise of a Davidic dynasty will come to pass.
This verse is a reminder to us that the Messiah has come and in him is the victory. We can have confidence that God will indeed rise up and scatter the enemies. When Yeshua came he defeated sin and death in his own death and resurrection. When he appears again he will bring victory to the Jewish people over her enemies and he will be the final king of Israel.
What is of special interest to me is the fact that the words of Moses are repeated every week when we open the Aron HaKodesh. When we open the Ark we sing: Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” (Num 10:35 NAU) Therefore every week we are reminded that we can still have confidence in God to bring his words to pass. As we lift the Torah out of the Ark we are reminded that his word abides forever and that the Messiah will return and bring the final peace to this world.
But there is more…
I find it amazing that after singing Numbers 10:35, we continue to sing…ki mitzion tetze torah… this is the last part of Isaiah 2:3 ” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ” This verse is clearly a promise of messianic peace and faith. Evidently the Sages of old who organized this liturgy identified Numbers 10:35 as a verse that not only was about the wilderness wanderings but also applied to the victory of God in the end of days when the Messiah will bring peace and the Word of God will be the way of life of the world. What other reason could there be for placing these two verses together in such a prominent spot in the Torah service?
Every week therefore we sing…Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” ” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. “
The Rabbis (without realizing it) give us a great statement that we sing every week of messianic hope that has begun to be fulfilled in Yeshua! Indeed he has risen up and scattered the enemy. He goes before us and defeats the enemy so we can move forward in our journey. In Yeshua we have the assurance that the day will come when he will be bring peace to the world and his word will have universal acceptance.
A Great Reminder Every Week of Messianic Hope
By howard silvermanCategories: messianic
The first ten chapters of the Book of Numbers is about how the Jewish people prepared to march to the promised land. They got themselves organized; they also made sure that they were inwardly organized by purging sin from their midst and being spiritually prepared. By the time we get to chapter ten, they are ready to go. At the end of the chapter we see that the Ark moves first – ahead of the people and the cloud is upon them to guide them along the way. Then Moses says these words:
Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” (Num 10:35) The picture that we see is one of tremendous confidence in the Lord to reach the land.
This verse is repeated in Psalm 68:2 and Psalm 132:8. In each case the verse is used to exude confidence in the power of God to bring to pass his promises. In Psalm 132 the verse is used to give assurance that the promise of a Davidic dynasty will come to pass.
This verse is a reminder to us that the Messiah has come and in him is the victory. We can have confidence that God will indeed rise up and scatter the enemies. When Yeshua came he defeated sin and death in his own death and resurrection. When he appears again he will bring victory to the Jewish people over her enemies and he will be the final king of Israel.
What is of special interest to me is the fact that the words of Moses are repeated every week when we open the Aron HaKodesh. When we open the Ark we sing: Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” (Num 10:35 NAU) Therefore every week we are reminded that we can still have confidence in God to bring his words to pass. As we lift the Torah out of the Ark we are reminded that his word abides forever and that the Messiah will return and bring the final peace to this world.
But there is more…
I find it amazing that after singing Numbers 10:35, we continue to sing…ki mitzion tetze torah… this is the last part of Isaiah 2:3 ” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ” This verse is clearly a promise of messianic peace and faith. Evidently the Sages of old who organized this liturgy identified Numbers 10:35 as a verse that not only was about the wilderness wanderings but also applied to the victory of God in the end of days when the Messiah will bring peace and the Word of God will be the way of life of the world. What other reason could there be for placing these two verses together in such a prominent spot in the Torah service?
Every week therefore we sing…Then it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD! And let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You.” ” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. “
The Rabbis (without realizing it) give us a great statement that we sing every week of messianic hope that has begun to be fulfilled in Yeshua! Indeed he has risen up and scattered the enemy. He goes before us and defeats the enemy so we can move forward in our journey. In Yeshua we have the assurance that the day will come when he will be bring peace to the world and his word will have universal acceptance.
Rabbi Howard Silverman is the Spiritual Leader of Beth Messiah Congregation. Beth Messiah is a community of Jewish people, intermarrieds and Gentile people who embrace Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah and are committed to Jewish life and practice. Howard is also a past President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. He serves on the Board of the Messianic Studies Institute as well as an instructor.
Howard’s academic interests include the Hebrew Bible, Biblical Studies, Rabbinic Literature, biblical exegesis of both Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. He is currently (forever?) a graduate student at The Ohio State University in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. His passion is to study and teach the Word of God and to share the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah. He is concerned about issues affecting Judaism, the Jewish people, Israel and the Messianic Jewish community.
http://yeshuamatters.wordpress.com/
Howard
Silverman
Faculty, President
Howard’s primary interests include the Hebrew Bible, Biblical studies, Rabbinic Literature, Jewish culture and tradition, and the Jewish essence of the New Covenant Writings and Christian faith. He has been in full-time Jewish ministry since 1980. Howard has served as the Congregational Leader of Beth Messiah Congregation since 1991 and has been an MSI faculty member, Board member, and President since its inception.
Graduate Student, The Ohio State University, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures; and Messianic Jewish Theological Institute, School of Jewish Studies; Advanced Studies Program Diploma, Moody Bible Institute, 1980; B.S., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1979.
Courses Offered: Torah, Prophets I & II, Writings, Book of Deuteronomy, Book of Isaiah, Hebrew Liturgy, Rabbinic Literature, and Jewish Essence of the Faith
Howard’s academic interests include the Hebrew Bible, Biblical Studies, Rabbinic Literature, biblical exegesis of both Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. He is currently (forever?) a graduate student at The Ohio State University in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. His passion is to study and teach the Word of God and to share the Good News of Yeshua the Messiah. He is concerned about issues affecting Judaism, the Jewish people, Israel and the Messianic Jewish community.
http://yeshuamatters.wordpress.com/
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Howard
Silverman
Faculty, President
Howard’s primary interests include the Hebrew Bible, Biblical studies, Rabbinic Literature, Jewish culture and tradition, and the Jewish essence of the New Covenant Writings and Christian faith. He has been in full-time Jewish ministry since 1980. Howard has served as the Congregational Leader of Beth Messiah Congregation since 1991 and has been an MSI faculty member, Board member, and President since its inception.
Graduate Student, The Ohio State University, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures; and Messianic Jewish Theological Institute, School of Jewish Studies; Advanced Studies Program Diploma, Moody Bible Institute, 1980; B.S., State University of New York at Buffalo, 1979.
Courses Offered: Torah, Prophets I & II, Writings, Book of Deuteronomy, Book of Isaiah, Hebrew Liturgy, Rabbinic Literature, and Jewish Essence of the Faith
