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Sermons Series 3:11, 12 November
Songs of the Soul
Worship and Contending with Reality
Main Themes:
Minor Themes:
One of the great characteristics of the American people is that they have, until recent times, always been optimists. Before the advent of New Age ideas, the United States was a shining example of John Knox's Protestant work ethic. They set themselves lofty goals and, aided by Calvinist thinking, pursued it with vigour and enthusiasm. We find much of the same drive in the German people who, like their American relatives across the Atlantic Ocean, have a great deal of the blood of Manasseh in them.
I have always been interested by the scriptures which believers are attracted to and the kind of worship songs they sing. As we all know, the Book of Psalms, written by King David and one or two others, was the hymn book of the Israelite Nation. The psalms were sung publically in the same way that belivers sing contemporary worship music. Today you can go into a modern Christian Church and hear racey, up-beat melodies with lyrics extolling how wonderful, great and glorious God is and the wonderful feelings worshippers experience. And yet in how many modern songs would you ever hear such lyrics as: "I cry to You for help, O Yahweh ... Why, O Yahweh, do you reject me and hide Your face from me?" Have you heard anything like that coming out of modern Christian worship? When was the last time you heard a lyric anywhere resembling such sentiments? A year ago? Ten years ago? Twenty years ago? And yet isn't it true, brethren and sisters, if you are brutally honest with yourselves, that there are times when you feel exactly like those lyrics? They are, in fact, a quotation from Psalm 88. So why is it we never hear lyrics like this any more?
The answer is, I think, that negative feelings are 'religious incorrect' nowadays. The unreal culture we live in, with all its crazy laws regulating our thoughts and emotions, expects us to behave in a certain way. We aren't allowed to go through all the usual human processes anymore. We aren't allowed to be 'negative' because, to use the New Age jingo, it creates 'bad vibes'. The problem with this attitude, which denies us the right to be honest about how we actually feel, is that we create an unreal fantasy world. Christians have been conditioned to respond to their negative feelings by pretending they don't exist because that is what our charismatic-driven churches expect of us. As a Christian, they say, you're supposed to be on fire and behaving in such a way, whether it is speaking gibbersh or simply 'feeling great'. So people pretend, so as not to disappoint or shame themselves, because of these unreal expectations. By behaving in this pre-programmed way, mdoern believers are pretending their problems do not exist - they are ducking into denial. And the first principle of the Gospel contradicts this destructive notion - the Gospel is about facing whatever is true, whether positive or negative.
Have you noticed that most of our music is played in the major key? How many pieces of music do you know that are played in the minor key? The truth is, Christians don't much like the minor key because they prefer their songs to be upbeat and joyful. As Walter Bruggeman has commented: "There is an emormous temptation for 'high faith' to deny the dark side of life when things do not work ... against that common failure the psalms or laments make contact with the emotions of failure." Indeed, as Selwyn Hughes puts it, "we seem as afraid of lament as we do of catching a serious case of the 'flu." So my question is: Why is this so? Is it because we fail to see that oppenness and honesty is the soil out of which grow true confidence and joy?
Our Israelite forefathers sang their songs of lament as worshipfully as they sang their hymns of praise. They were able to express their emotional struggles as part of their worship, knowing that Yahweh would not turn His face away from them. Yahweh delights in our passionate engagement with Him, and what He longs for most of all is that His children be real. If the 151 Psalms included in the book of the same name had only focussed on joy then they would not have been true to life. So what do we find in this ancient song book? We find psalms of complaint, confusion, doubt and heartache in addition to those of joy.
Everybody who comes intio the Garden of Yahweh is forced to deal with the reality of their own souls, and when they don't, they discover unusual things happening to them. They see themselves surrounded by fences, walls, bushes that envelop them, and even rings of fire. Those who have been in the garden have experienced these things. They are seen to be unnatural and restricting, and are thus alerted to the fact that something is wrong. We have even had one person bury herself in the ground! Others curl up and go to sleep in order not to deal with reality. In the Garden of Yahweh the truth is revealed and we are forced to deal with reality.
Now why, you may ask, would we want or even need negative psalms? Surely all forms of negativity are to be shunned? Shouldn't we be following the preachers of 'positive thinking' like Norman Vincent Peele? And the answer is, no. Yes, it is true, we can be negative when we don't need to be and this can end up undermining us, but there is a sound reason for songs about negative things. When we are in denial, we start glossing over the negative feelings that from time to time may arise in us. It is then that the verses in which the psalmist express lament can help us to acknowledge them. John Calvin wrote: "The psalmists lay open their inmost thoughts and affections and call - or rather draw - each one of us to the examination of himself in particular in order that none of the infirmities to which we are subject and of the many vices in which we may abound, may remain concealed."
The point, then, of making contact with our sorrows and negative feelings is not to wallow in them and feel self-pity but precisely so that we can deal with them. A person who is wounded inside needs to deal with the woundedness and have the possibility of grieving, for only by doing this can he finally get delivered. Thre whole theophostic system works on this principle, so that we can actually expose the lies we believe in and the demonic which is hiding behind them and afflicting them. The enemy hides in us when we go into denial. When we refuse to admit we have a problem, when we will not confront the pains of abuse or wrong choices, then all we do is give the demonic a ticket to remain concealed and drive us with feelings and impulses that make no sense to us - feelings that alienate us from others and fuel a relentless loneliness.
Now as you read the psalm of David I cited at the beginning, don't you get the feeling that he is battling with some deep-seated emotions? "How long, O Yahweh? Will You hide Yourself for ever?" (Ps.88:46). He is being ruthlessly honest - he feels that Yahweh is hiding Himself from him. Now we all know that Yahweh doesn't 'hide' from man - this is the cry of a desperate man who, through one process or another, has worked himself up into a sense of desperation and is desperlately trying to make contact again. He knows Yahweh is real. He was walked and talked with Him, as most of us have here. In fact, the problem is not about Yahweh hiding but about an emotional wound that is eating him up. He doesn't say what it is but, given what we know about the history of King David, it has probably something to do with the sense of betrayal he felt when those who should have been his faithful servants turned against him - men whom he had lavished his love and trust on. The problem, then, is not Yahweh's literal absence, but emotional injuries that make Him seem to be absent.
Those who live and breathe in the Garden know exactly what I mean. They can be in the depths of spiritual, emotional or mental pain and yet they know that Yah'shua is only a minute's walk away. He's right there in the Garden! They're spoken to Him before, communed with Him, received healing from Him. And yet for some reason they either can't see Him or they just can't make heart-contact. He's right there, and they know it, and yet for some reason it appears as though He is light-years away because their own hearts are blocked. So the question is: why are they blocked? And the reason is because they aren't being real and honest about themselves. Either they're denying the problem even exists or they are deliberately concealing it, for whatever reason. And they can conceal it by being evasive, cold, or simply covering it over with an artificial coat of psychic emotional enthusiasm.
Now you all know how people do this. A person can be in the depths of inner pain but they know they have to meet someone and present a smiling face. And there are some people who are expert at this artificiality. They suddenly bubble with enthusiasm and warmth, and yet there is something fake about it - you can feel it. They, of course, are counting on the fact that you will be swept away by this psychic gush and so neutralise your spiritual sensitivity - that's how the charismatic forces work in the churches today - it's all denial.
Honesty and integrity caused King David to look into the depths of his soul and to express in a lament what he found there. There is absolutely nothing wrong in this. He is not striking out at others but taking responsibility for his own neediness. Here, the Monarch of Israel, is expressing his own helplessness and need, something that macho men and butch women find repulsive because they have been taught to believe in the lie that they must, at all times, preserve their dignity. And, oh yes, we've all done it, haven't we? We have all, at one time or another, wanted to create and maintain the illusion that the need to have honour amongst men is more important than being real to Yahweh. We don't want to be seen as weak, helpness, and needly, because it offends our pride - the sense of artificial and useless worth which we obtain when we think we have managed to achieve without anyone else's help, because we have been taught by the secular society that achievement equals worth. Brethren and sisters, this is a demonic lie!
Our worth and value come solely from the fact that Yahweh loves us unconditionally, and He proves that by sending His Son Yah'shua to live full time in the Garden which we call home. He's always there! He doesn't go and hide. We can go to Him or we can call Him in times of need. He always comes. He's always available. He never turns us away - never - no matter what we've done, so long as we are genuine, honest, and real. That means, in a word, setting pride - and all notions of self-worth based on self-achievement - aside, because such notions are from Satan. We don't have to earn His acceptance, He simply accepts us as we are - always. And He truly does not mind that we express our true feelings in His presence.
I will relate a personal experience of mine in the garden from about two weeks ago. Several of us had climbed to the top of a high mountain in the Garden to pray for one of my adopted daughters who had fallen into the hands of the satanists whom I knew would torture her. I was fighting a lot with grief that day for her and I guess something in me 'broke'. So I found myself being frivolous and teasing one of my other adopted daughters. As I did so, I felt guilty that I was not being somber and serious enough given the grave consequences facing this other beloved daughter, and the temptation on my part was to withdraw and hide. But something in me chose to just be who I was and express exactly how I felt. And to my great surprise everyone on the mountain, including Yah'shua who had brought most of us there to pray and be near the Father, laughted with me. I was amazed. Actually, incredibly grateful. He let me work off the frustration through my humour. He accepted me as I was. And once I experienced that acceptance, I didn't need to tease any more. I settled down. I knew I could be real with Him and wouldn't be slapped down.
We need never feel afraid of expressing our real feelings in Yahweh's presence. He's a caring and sympathetic Father who knows and understands our struggles, who knows better than anyone else that we need to both be loved and to love, in a genuine way, in order to be alive. He wants us to be real because it is only from the point of reality that we can begin to live. Yahweh has Himself said that He is 'Ehieh esher ehieh' which we translate as "I am that I am" (Ex.3:14). This is another way of saying, "I am totally real". Our Father in Heaven is 'the genuine thing', the 'ultimate reality', and we, as His children, were created to be just like that - genuine, real, open, transparent, honest. He is the opposite of illusion, fantasy, playing games, wearing masks, deviousness, subtlety, and hiding. Now be honest - those of you who have spoken to Yah'shua in the garden - how many times has He been evasive with you, or used long flowery words or concepts to baffle and confuse you? Never! He is direct and to the point. He says things as they really are and only tells you to do things that you absolutely must do. I now have hundreds of recorded conversations between Him and people who speak to Him in the Garden and the pattern is always the same. "You need to do this", "you should address this problem", "trust Me", "trust and obey your father", and so on. He doesn't waste words and there isn't an ounce of pretentiousness in them. And yet time and time again the reaction is often, "No that can't be right", or "I take care of that later" or "I'll manage on my own".
We must be willing to respond in obedience as a trusting child at all times and not fear what He asks of us, because that fear it totally unfounded. Instead let us approach Him always in this way: "Father, may I never be afraid of expressing my real feelings - of crying out from the depths. Help me understand that to reach the depths of You that I must first be willing to reach to the depths in me, no matter what is there, in Yah'shua's Name, Amen".
It is, I believe, no accident that printed copies of the New Testament, such as those provided free by Gideons, usually include Psalms as well. There is a reason people connect to the psalms, and the reason is that they are real to us. They speak to our humanity. They help us deal with our realities and open up to Yahweh. We can only reach into the depths of His love when we open our heart deep enough for Him to fill us with that love.
Now I know, because I have experienced it myself, that all of us at times feel threatened when asked to open up. We are afraid, if there are hurts in the depths of our soul, to get hurt even more. That's natural and understandable. But equally, the enemy exploits that and whispers to us that 'no one' can understand you, that you are 'alone'. It's a lie - it's simply not true. Everyody feels more or less in the same way and everybody at times feels, as David did, that Yahweh is hiding and we are utterly alone.
How many times have you come to a worship service and have felt that your problems were so overwhelming that it was almost impossible to concentrate on Yahweh and give Him praise? Now I'll be honest with you: I am personally more interested in finding solutions to problems than in focussing on praise. If that's the way you feel too then I have to congratulate you for being honest. You have spoken truly.
Some churches sing a song which goes something like this: "Let's forget about ourselves and concentrate on Him and worship Him". Now that is often easier said than done, isn't it, especially when our life is filled with problems? But though it is not an easy thing to do, it is not impossible. In another of his psalms, King David exclaimed: "Praise Yahweh, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name!" (Ps.103:1). Now I find the wording of this very interesting, it's as though he is having an inner dialogue with himself. And actually, that's exactly what he is doing! The word we translate as 'soul', the Hebrew word nefesh, means a man's whole being, his whole self. David is talking to himself, and in effect saying: "Come on, soul! Do what you are supposed to do and begin to praise Yahweh!" Now it is quite true that worship and praise are a response to Yahweh, but it is equally true to say that there are times when our soul, self, inner being, or nefesh are in such a state of spiritual idleness that we need to take some sort of initiative and begin to praise Him - even though the conscious part of us does not feel like it.
I have been doing this for year. I talk to myself and coax my soul to praise Yahweh! We are always a minimum of two parts - there is always a carnal part and a spiritual part. And each has its own voice and pair of spiritual ears. Many - if not the vast majority of people - may be split into multiple parts. Either way, the same principle holds. The core personality must be the spiritual one and become the choir-master for all the rest. I remember serving in several choirs years ago and there were times when I did not feel like singing. The choir-master had a terrible time getting us going. We would start singing half-heartedly and he would beat his baton on his music score holder and say, "Come on boys, wakey, wakey!" and then give us a pep talk and try to instill some of his enthusiasm into us. In due course we would 'wake up' and start singing with some spirit. We can, and must, do the same to ourselves. Try it out - make it a regular practice - become the choir-master or -mistress for the rest of your soul and get things going. There is always a part of you that is spiritually alive - that part of you needs to start a dialogue with the soul and get things going.
Yahweh has made you a choosing being. The next time you don't feel like worshipping Him, choose to do so anyway. There is always one part of you that does - always - a part that is open, genuine and real. Find it, call it out, and get to work! By the by, the soul will be rejuvenated as the Ruach flows in and awakens the sleepy, reluctant or rebelling part. Persist at it. Don't give in to the dead mass of the unwilling part. Edify the rest of yourself until the battle is won. As you do this, you will find a door in your soul - as tens of thousands have done throughout history - through which Yah'shua comes and refreshes your inner being. And when you go to Yah'shua the next time in the Garden, why not go to Him with a gift to show your appreciation to Him? It doesn't have to be anything huge. Pick a flower in the Garden for Him or just kiss Him on the cheek. Some people have done this in the Garden and have had the most wonderful refleshing experiences with Him.
Praise is like that. It is genuine appreciation of what he has done for us and is still doing for us. Do the same for your fathers and mothers, your sons and daughters, and your brothers and sisters. You will be so blessed and become more and more real. May the week ahead therefore be an especially joyful one for you as you allow yourself to be real, encounter the Ultimate Reality, and joyfully praise our Father. Amen.
Author: Lev-Tsiyon
Glossary of MLT Hebraic, Greek and English Terms For other terms and full details please see the Micropedia
A
Adon(ai) = Master, a pagan fertility god, Adonis; used by many Messianics but not MLT
(a)eon(ian) = 7 dispensation- or age-long time periods, not forever (see le-olam-va-ed)
Alef-Tav = Alpha-Omega, A-Z, first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet = Yah'shua
Amen = truly, let it be so, written Amein by some Messianics
Apocrypha = Hebraic Scriptures not a part of the Protestant canon (e.g. Baruch)
Anti-Messiah = Hebraic term for the end-time Antichrist or anyone opposed to the Messiah
antinomian = lawless Christian who disregards all or part of Torah/commandments
Ashkenazi Jew = East European Jew descended from the Turkic-Japhethite Khazars
Assembly = church, congregation, ekklesia, community, fellowship, koinonia, gathering
Azazel = the Yom Kippur scapegoat
B
Baal, Ba'al = any other master than Yahweh, usually demonic in MLT terminology
Bachor(im) = firstborn son(s)
Bar/Bat Mitzvah = Son/Daughter of Commandment, covenant to obey Torah at age 12
being = soul, the whole person (spirit and body), e.g. "my whole being"
Beit, bet, beth = house, e.g. Beit Yisrael (House of Israel), Beth Lechem (House of Bread)
Beit haMikdash = Yahweh's Temple in Yerushalayim
B'rit Chadashah = the New Covenant; B'rit Chadashah Scriptures = New Testament
B'rit Milah = circumcision - abolished in the B'rit Chadashah, replaced by Mikvah
C
canon = authoritative Scripture (Heb. qaneh, Gk. kanôn = measuring instrument)
Catechumen = a serious, covenanted investigator seeking Mikvah or Baptism in MLT
Chag haMatzah = Feast of Unleavened Bread, second of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Chavurat Bekorot = MLT's Priesthood Order, Holy Order and Assembly of the Firstborn
Cohen = priest; Cohen Gadol = High Priest (also spelled Kohen)
Council of Yah's elohim = the heavenly Assembly of the Firstborn or Chavurat Bekorot
D
demon = fallen malek or angel in rebellion against Yahweh (Heb. shad; see Êl-Shaddai)
derech = the Way, Path or Road - Yah'shua and the Gospel are the Way
Drash = moral or homiletic interpretation of Scripture - see PaRDeS
E
Echad = One, Union of two or more in one (as opposed to Yachid) - see Elohim
Echad Godhead Doctrine = Father Yahweh, Son Yah'shua and Sevenfold Ruach (Mother)
Êl, Eloah, Elah = God the Father, Yahweh
Êl-Elyon = Most High God, Yahweh
Êl-Shaddai = Master/Lord over all shads or demons
Elohim = God, the Godhead (Father, Son & Holy Spirit), lit. 'Mighty One(s)', 'Ruler(s)'
elohim = Israelite judges, rulers, angels or gods (false deities, idols, demons)
emunah = faith, actively trusting, clinging or adhering to (especially Yahweh or Yah'shua)
emet = truth, Yah'shua is the Emet
Ephraimite = descendant of the patriarch Ephraim and head of Messsianic Israel
F
Feasts of Yahweh = the 7 annual Moedim (Pesach, Chag haMatzah, Yom haBikkurim, Shavu'ot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot)
G
Gan-Eden = Garden of Eden, Paradise and state of the purified heart in Messiah
goy(im) = nation(s), Israelites or gentiles not born in or converted to the Covenant
H
hallelu-Yah = praise Yah(weh)!
Heylel = proper name of Satan or haSatan = the Adversary, the devil
Sabbath = Yom Shabbat (Friday to Saturday sunset, add 1 day in IDL Zone)
Hochmah = Wisdom, title of the 7-fold Ruach haQodesh
I
IDL = International Date Line, false man-made time division in Pacific Ocean
IDL Zone = Area between the true Divine Date Line (Lake Van/Eden) and the false one
Israeli = citizen of the modern Edomite-Khazar Republic of Israel (not Biblical Israel)
Israelite = citizen of biblical state of Israel or a modern follower of the Messiah
J
Jew = post-biblical term describing descendants of Edomite and Khazar converts to Judaism
Johannine = pertaining to the Apostle Yochanan (e.g. Gospel of John)
Josephite = descendant of the patriarch Joseph, the head of Messianic Israel
Judahite = a person in direct descent from the patriarch Judah, forefather of the Messiah
Judaism = a Talmudic-based religion rejecting Yah'shua the Messiah
Judean = a citizen of the Kingdom or Province of Judah until the 2nd Century diaspora
K
Kadosh la Yahweh = set-apart or dedicated to Yahweh, 'Holiness to the Lord', MLT motto
Karaites = Jews (from 700 AD) who reject the Talmud and accept only the Tanakh
kashrut = keeping kosher, food laws of Yahweh and correspinding lifestyle
Ketuvim = Writings or Hagiographa of the Tanakh
Khazar = a Turkic convert to Judaism ~700 AD forming the Ashkenazi Jewish community
kosher = clean foods authorised by Yahweh for human consumption
L
Lashon Hara = evil-speaking, gossip or slander
legalism = false route to salvation through works (self-salvation)
le-olam-va-ed = dispensation- or age-long, aeonian, not eternal, forever or for eternity
Lev = heart, as in Lev-Tsiyon = heart of Zion
Lev-Tsiyon = Heart of the Fortress [of Yahweh], Hebrew name of MLT's founder
M
Master = Lord, Sir, Adon(ai) - (one in authority, a ruler - a king, husband, prophet, judge)
Malak(im) = Angel(s), heavenly supernatural messenger(s)
manna = wafers of honey, bread from heaven (lit. 'what is this?')
matzah = unleavened bread, see Chag haMatzah
Menorah = 7-armed candlearbra = the 7 annual Moedim and 7-fold Ruach haQodesh
Messiah = Christ; Anti-Messiah = Antichrist
Messianic Community = Body of Christ, sum total of all true believers; all true fellowships
Messianic Israel = all who worship Yahweh, trust in Yah'shua, obey Torah and overcome
Messianic Jew = Messianic convert from Judaism still clinging to Talmudic traditions
Midrash = aggadic interpretation of scripture viâ Drash, a scriptural discussion
Mikvah = baptism by immersion of convert into Yah'shua or of wife into husband
Mishpachah = family: nuclear, congregational, tribal or the whole of Messianic Israel
MLT = Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon = family of the heart of the fortress [of Yahweh]
Mishpat = right-ruling or judgement
mitzvah/mitzvot = commandment(s)
moed(im) = appointment(s) of Yahweh, 7 Annual Feasts, Sabbath and Rosh Chodesh
N
Nefilim, Nephilim = giant offspring of materialised demons and human women
Nevi'im = prophetic writings of the Old Testament or Tanakh
New Birth = spiritual conversion in the Ruach haRishon, being 'born again' with new heart
Nidah = a woman's menstruation period during which no intercourse is permitted
O
Olive Branch = collection of revelations, prophecies and visions published by MLT
P
Paraclete = Comforter, Advocate (NEB), Counsellor, Ruach haQodesh (Gk. paraklêtos)
PaRDeS = method of textual interpretation (homiletics) - see P'shat, Remez, Drash, Sod
Patriarch = a father who is head of his family, clan or tribe (lit. 'father-ruler')
Pentateuch = first five books of the Tanakh (Genesis-Deuteronomy), also called Torah
peribolaion = headcovering worn by daughters/wives in submission to fathers/husbands
Pesach = Passover, first of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Peshitta = an Aramaic version of the Bible
Prototrinitarianism = early, simplified MLT formulation of the Echad Godhead Doctrine
Prush(im) = Pharisee(s)
Pseudepigrapha = Non-canonical Hebrew writings additional to the Apocrypha
P'shat = literal, contextual, philological, exoteric, outer meaning of Scripture - see PaRDeS
Q
Qadosh Qadoshim = Holy of Holies, most sacred set-apart room of the Beit haMikdash
Qodesh, Kodesh = set-apart, holy (see Ruach haQodesh)
R
Rabbi = Teacher, term used by Messianic Jews and some Messianic Israelites = Pastor
Refuge, the 12 Cities of = divinely protected MLT fortresses during the 7-year Tribulation
Remez = hint or allegorical level of Hebraic understanding of Scripture - see PaRDeS
Rosh Chodesh = monthly New Moon appointment of Yahweh
ruach = spirit of a person (lit.'breath')
Ruach Elohim = Spirit of God (the Spirit of the collective Godhead or Elohim)
Ruach haChamashee = 5th Ruach presides over Yom Teruah and Yom Chamashee
Ruach haQodesh = the Sevenfold Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost (lit. 'Set-Apart Breath')
Ruach haRevee = 4th Ruach presides over Shavu'ot, Yom Revee and Bar Mitzvah
Ruach haRishon = 1st Ruach presides over Pesach, Yom Rishon and the New Birth
Ruach haShanee = 2nd Ruach presides over Chag haMatzah and Yom Shanee
Ruach haSheshi = 6th Ruach presides over Yom Kippur and Yom Sheshi
Ruach haShleshi = 3rd Ruach presides over Yom haBikkurim, Yom Shleshi and Mikvah
S
Sabbath = Yom Shabbat (Friday to Saturday sunset, add 1 day in IDL Zone)
Satan = rebel archangel Heylel, father of lies, devil, chief demon (lit.'Adversary')
Sephardic Jew = West European Jew of mixed blood containing many Judahites
Septuagint = Greek translation of the Tanakh, LXX
Shegal haShabbat = 7th Ruach (Sabbath Queen) presides over Sukkot and Yom Shabbat
Shekinah = Divine Presence and Glory of Yahweh-Elohim
Set-apart = holy, sanctified, consecrated, dedicated, separated (to and by Yahweh)
Shabbat-Shabbaton = High Sabbath (e.g. Yom Kippur)
Shalom = heavenly peace, standard Hebraic greeting invoking Yahweh's peace
Shamash(im) = servant(s), deacon(s), attendant(s)
Shavu'ot = Pentecost or Weeks, fourth of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Sheol = grave or pit, euphamism for Hades or hell - also see Tartarus
shofar = ram's horn, blown during Yahweh's Moedim
simcha = joy, keynote of Sukkot
Sod = mystical, anagogic, inner or esoteric understanding of Scripture - see PaRDeS
Sukkot = Tabernacles or Booths, seventh of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Synagogue = Greek word used by Jews and Messianics (but not MLT) for a meeting house
T
talmid(a) = male/female disciple or student
Talmud = scriptures, teachings and commentaries belonging to non-Messianic Judaism
Tanakh = acronym for Old Testament Scriptures - Torah, Nevi'im & Ketuvim
Tartarus = place of imprisonment under the earth for rebellious angels and Nephilim
teshuvah = repentance, remorse and contrition leading back to Torah obedience
Torah = Yahweh's teachings or Law; New Covenant Torah includes Yah'shua's teachings
Tribulation, the Great = the final 7 years of the present aeon when Anti-Messiah rules
Trinity = Catholic Godhead formula - see Echad Godhead Doctrine and Prototrinitarianism
Tsiyon = Zion, a fortress, a name of Jerusalem and a prominent hill
Tzitzit/Tizitziyot = tassel(s) worn by men in remembrance of Torah
U
Universalism = salvation of all at the cosmic Yovel, with different rewards and punishments
Y
Yachid = one, single person or item, as opposed to Echad (many in one, unity)
Yah'shua the Messiah = Jesus Christ (the Son)
Yahudah = Judah - see Judahite
Yahweh, Yah, YHWH = the true Name of our Heavenly Father, also carried by Yah'shua
Yahweh-Elohim = LORD God (the Father, Yahweh as Head of the Godhead or Elohim)
Yahweh haQatan = the sent Yahweh = Yah(weh)'shua, Malak of Yahweh's Presence
Yam Suf = Sea of Reeds, the true Israelite Exodus water crossing, not the Red Sea
Yarden = Jordan River (lit. 'meanderer')
Yerushalayim = Jerusalem
Yisrael = Israel (lit. 'ruling with Êl') = true believers under the New Covenant
Yom Chamashee = 5th day of the week (Thursday, Friday in IDL Zone)
Yom Din, Yom haDin = (the) Day of Judgement
Yom haBikkurim = Feast of Firstfruits, third of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Yom Revee = 4th day of the week (Wednesday, Thursday in IDL Zone)
Yom Rishon = 1st day of the week (Sunday, Monday in IDL Zone)
Yom Kippur = Day of Atonement, sixth of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Yom Shabbat = 7th day of the week and Sabbath Rest (Saturday, Sunday in IDL Zone)
Yom Shanee = 2nd day of the week (Monday, Tuesday in IDL Zone)
Yom Sheshi = 6th day of the week (Friday, Saturday in IDL Zone)
Yom Shleshi = 3rd day of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday in IDL Zone)
Yom Teruah = Day of Trumpets, fifth of the annual feasts of Yahweh
Yosef = Joseph - see Josephite
Yovel = Jubilee or Year of Jubilee
Z
Zaqen(im) = elder(s) of an assembly or congregation, or senior members of a community
Zoë Life = Greek term for spiritual life in the Messiah
Commonly Used MLT Abbreviations
For additional abbreviations and explanations, please see the Micropedia
A
Amp.V(er). = Amplified Version of the Bible
Aram. = Aramaic
AV = Authorised Version of the Bible - see KJV
B
BCAY = B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh - see NCCG
BoA = Books of Abraham (e.g. 1Abr., 2Abr., etc.)
C
cp, cf = compare with
CB(Q) = Chavurat Bekorot
CEV = Contemporary English Version of the Bible
ch. = chapter
CJB = Complete Jewish Bible
CLNT = Concordant Literal New Testament
CYe = Council of Yah's elohim
E
Eng. = English
F
ff. = and onwards/forwards
fn = footnote
G
Gk. = Greek
GNB = Good News Bible - see TEV
H
Heb. = Hebrew, Hebraic
HEM = Holy Echad Marriage, eternal marriage
HO = Holy Order - see Chavurat Bekorot
HOC = Holy Order Collection of revelations - see OB
HRV = Hebraic-Roots Version of the Bible
I
ibid. = ibidem (lit. 'in the same place'), referring to a book previously cited
ICJC = Independent Church of Jesus Christ, earlier name of NCCF
ISRV = Institute for Scripture Research Version of the Bible
J
JB = Jerusalem Bible
JBP/Phillips = J.B.Phillips translation of the New Testament
JNT = Jewish New Testament
K
KJV = King James Version of the Bible - see AV
L
LB = Living Bible
lit. = literally or literature
LXX = Septuagint, Greek translation of the OT
M
MLT = Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon
Moff. = Moffatt translation of the Bible
MRC = Messianic Renewed Covenant Version of the NT
MS(S) = Manuscript(s)
N
NASB, NASV = New American Standard Bible/Version
NC&C = New Covenants & Commandments - see OB
NCCF = New Covenant Christian Fellowship, earlier name of NCCG
NCCG = New Covenant Church of God, earlier name of MLT - see BCAY
NCP = New Covenant Press, publishing arm of MLT
NCW = New Covenant Witness, MLT magazine
NEB = New English Bible
NIV = New International Version of the Bible
NKJV = New King James Version of the Bible
Nor. = Norwegian
NT = New Testament, B'rit Chadashah
NWT = New World Translation of the Bible, unreliable Jehovah's Witness version
O
OB = Olive Branch - see NC&C
op.cit. = opere citato (lit. in the work cited)
OT = Old Testament, Tanakh
P
p(p). = page(s)
pl. = plural - see s.
PWNC = Prophetic Words of the New Covenant, revelation cataloging system - see OB
Q
QED = quod erat demonstrandum (lit. which was shown to be proved)
R
RCF = Restoration Christian Fellowship, earlier name of ICJC
RhQ = Ruach haQodesh, Holy Spirit
RSTNE = Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition of the Bible
RSV = Revised Standard Version of the Bible
RV = Revised Version of the Bible
S
s. = singular - see pl.
S&G = Smith & Goodspeed Version of the Bible
T
TEV = Today's English Version of the Bible - see GNB
V
Vulg. = Biblia Vulgata, Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible
W
WEB = World English Bible
Glossary Copyright ©2007 Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon (MLT) - All Rights Reserved
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This page was first created on 7 March 2007
Last updated on 7 March 2007
Copyright ©2005 Mishpachah Lev-Tsiyon (MLT) - All Rights Reserved
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