Showing posts with label sabbath day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sabbath day. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Yah Separates us from that Pagan World

Yahweh tells us to be 'set apart' because He is Set Apart. The first example of this is the 7 day count, beginning each month and counting every 7th day as the day of rest. This shall be a sign to Him: 
Exodus 16:23 - then he said to them, "This is what Yahweh meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, set apart to Him. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning." (get all your meals prepared the day before so you don't have to 'kindle a fire' on the sabbath to do any cooking) 35:2 For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Set Apart day, a sabbath of Complete Rest to Yahweh Elohim. You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day."
Leviticus 23:3 - For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of Complete Rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to your Elohim, in all your dwellings.
Deuteronomy 5:12 - Observe the sabbath day to keep it set apart as Yahweh your Elohim commanded you
Ezekiel 20:12- Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

Yah says to do it, so we do it because of our Faith in Him. We believe He is the One True Living Elohim and we show our love for Him by obeying His Instructions. It is a Sign to Yahweh that we are His people.

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Zephaniah 1:4- I will stretch out My arm against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem; and I will wipe out from this place every vestige of Baal, and the name of the priests of the heathen gods, and those who bow down on the roofs to the host of heaven; and those who bow down and swear to Yahweh your Elohim but also swear by Malcam (Milcom, the abomination of Ammonites) and I will wipe out all those who have forsaken Me, who have not sought nor turned to Me.
Baal (ba'al) was an ancient Canaanite and Mesopotamian deity associated with agriculture. He was believed to be the "giver of life" and mankind was dependent upon him for providing what was necessary to sustain the farms, flocks and herds. He was also called the "son of Dagon" (who was in control of the grain), and "Hadad" the storm god who would provide plentiful rains after hearing his voice (thunder).

The land of Canaan was devoted to the worship of Baal. The Semitic word Baal means "lord" or "master" and the Canaanites believed that Baal was in absolute control over nature and over people. It was he who was in charge of the rain and the weather, and man's survival was dependent upon Baal's provision.

One may question that those ancient enemies of Israel were as evil as the Bible claims that they were, but even a superficial glance at Canaanite religion alone ably demonstrates their iniquity. Base sex worship was prevalent, and religious prostitution even commanded; human sacrifice was common; and it was a frequent practice, in an effort to placate their gods, to kill young children and bury them in the foundations of a house or public building at the time of construction: Joshua 6:26 "In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn." Howard E. Vos, "An Introduction To Bible Archaeology" Revised ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1953)
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These are some of the pagan things mentioned in Scriptures, also known as 'alien', 'heathen' or 'foreign':
  • altars/shrines
  • customs
  • symbols
  • nations/peoples
  • gods
  • women
2 Chronicles 14- Asa did what was good and pleasing to Yahweh Elohim. He abolished the alien altars and shrines; he smashed pillars and cut down the sacred posts. He ordered Judah to turn to Yahweh the Elohim of their fathers and to observe the Teaching and the Commandment.

2 Kings 23- King Josiah ordered the high priest Hilkiah, the priests of the second rank, and the guards of the threshold to bring out of the temple of Yahweh all objects made for Baal and Asherah. He suppressed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to make offerings at the shrines in the towns of Judah and in the environs of Jerusalem, and those who make offering to Baal, to the sun and moon and constellations - all the host of heaven.  He brought out the image of Asherah from the House of Yahweh to the Kidron Valley, burned it, beat it to dust and scattered its dust over the burial ground of the common people. He tore down the cubicles of the male prostitutes in the House of Yahweh, at the place where the women wove coverings for Asherah (Ishtar/Easter).

(Can you imagine anyone standing up for Yahweh like this today?) 

Ezra 10:2- Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel of the family of Elam spoke up and said to Ezra, "We have trespassed against our Elohim by bringing into our homes foreign women from the peoples of the land 10:44- All these had married foreign women, among whom were some who had born children

Why are some 'believers' offended by using 'God's Word' to point out the difference between right and wrong?  His Instructions set us apart from the traditional, man inspired doings of the world. We are called to come out of this world system, a hot bed of paganism reeking of Mystery Babylon, just as the city of Babylon was back in the day: lawless, totally without regard for the Instructions of Elohim.  If we are not taught right from wrong, if we do not trust our Father and believe His Son, we will trust anyone and do whatever we please.

Are we making reservations for Fire Lake or the Promised Land?