Sneaky Little Traditions

Traditions have been handed down through the generations and Satan has blindsided us in our excitement to obey our Creator. So I ask, are we doing something because we think it's right or because we know it's right? Are we pleasing ourselves or are we pleasing YHWH by obeying His Command? His Instructions in Righteous Living are not traditions. If we're not careful to see the difference between His original intentions and what man has added over the years, we will inadvertently begin to 'worship' the created thing instead of the Creator. If we do things our own way we are doubting the Word of Yah and have fallen into the same trap set by Satan in the Garden.

Romans 1:25 - They exchanged the truth of Yah for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...

Here is an example of a command, simple to understand, and later turned into a tradition: 

Numbers 15:38 we find the instructions to make fringes on the corners of a garment and to attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. These fringed corners with an attached cord of blue served to help one remember all the commandments of YHWH, to live by them and not follow after our own heart and eyes in lustful urges. These fringes were not beaded, braided, knotted, wrapped or multicolored or to be anywhere but the four corners of a garment. This command was given after a man was found gathering wood on the day of rest. He was made an example of and, in contrast, perhaps willingly disobeyed the command not to do this.

A few verses earlier YHWH says if anyone unwittingly fails to observe any one of the commandments they were instructed to provide a burnt offering; if an individual sinned unwittingly they were to bring a sin offering. Our loving Father was still training up His children. When they accidentally did the wrong thing He allowed them to be forgiven by bringing the appropriate offering to the priest. It makes sense the He would add a little reminder after the fact, The Fringes Command (aka tzitzits), for His people so they would not to do things as they saw fit, but to abide by every word of YHWH. He did something similar after the Nadab and Abihu incident, about drinking too much wine.

So then, if we are abiding by His Instructions, would we substitute one thing for another; add to His Command or do something we think is better? That didn't work out so well for Nadab and Abihu, or the man who decided to gather fire wood on the day of rest. We must not continue to make it up as we go along. His Instructions are set in stone and for all of us.

Making fringes on the corners of a garment and adding a blue cord is the command. The knotting and wrapping of strings is tradition. 

Tradition has turned "fringes" into ornamental tzitzits complete with mystic overtones by wrapping and knotting them, denoting numbers and applying the system of gematria, which is numerology, which is from pagan traditions. That is the 'tradition' I am pointing out.  I do not deny the command or that Set Apart believers, including Y'shua, wore garments with fringed corners.

Mark 7:5

The scribes and the Pharisees ask Y'shua, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the traditions of the elders? His short answer is: "You hypocrites... You have left the Commandment of Elohim and have embraced the tradition of men. ... And you despise the Word of Elohim because of the tradition that you have handed down..."

Mark 7:8 

You have disregarded the commandment of Elohim to keep the tradition of men.” He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the commandment of YHWH to maintain your own tradition.

Mark 7:13

Thus you nullify the word of Elohim by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.

Romans 1:25

They exchanged the truth of Elohim for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...

Jeremiah 9:12

Yahweh replied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their fathers had taught them.

Definition of tradition:

1: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable

2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction

3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions

4: characteristic manner, method, or style

Here is the 'traditional way' to make tzitzits and I share this post from Aish so you can see for yourself how far Yah's command has been perverted from His Instruction and to caution you against purchasing or making these for yourself.  Quote: Each string actually consists of two threads twisted together, and must be spun especially for the sake of Tzitzit. Therefore one should buy Tzitzit that carry a proper rabbinic supervision. Once you've purchased the strings, it's not so difficult to attach them yourself. It's fun and meaningful. The process of putting Tzitzit on the garment is as follows:

• use four strings, one which is longer, to wrap around the others 
• tie the four ends together, to ensure that each string will end up with one end on each side.
• insert the strings into the hole, and be sure to say "Le'shem mitzvat Tzitzit."
• tie a double-knot
• wind the longer string around the others 7 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 8 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 11 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 13 times
• tie a (fifth and final) double-knot (end quote)

Compared to the instruction in Numbers 15:38, 

this reads like a lesson in witchcraft!

Colossians 2:8 

Beware, or else any man make you naked by philosophy and by vain deception, according to the doctrines of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to the Mashiyach...

For the record, I presently do not own a four cornered garment of which to fringe the corners and add a cord of blue. I do think about it and plan to make such a garment, as either a linen or cotton tunic, either fabric would fringe nicely, and I do have a length of blue cord in my sewing box... some day I will do this, but in the meantime I won't substitute tradition for His Word.

Click Here to go to my study

Codes vs YHWH

Here are a few examples of Scriptures which have been twisted by man's imagination resulting in traditions that have been handed down and accepted by many in the Hebrew Roots phase of their lives, as I once did:

• Mezuzahs - The Instruction is to take to heart His Instructions, the laws and the rules, and as it is written in Deuteronomy 6:9 "inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Tradition has it that you write 'the prayer Shema Yisrael' and place it inside a decorative case (mezuzah) which is then attached at an angle to the door frame of an entry way. Then you touch it and/or kiss it each time you pass by it.
• Shabbat observance A Seven Day count which does not always fall on a Sun. or Sat. and teaches how YHWH counts the days, months and years.
• Feast Days (Yah's Moedim) Many specifics relating to His Set Apart times for us cannot be adhered to since the temple and priesthood no longer exist. Also we need take into consideration that Y'shua gave himself as the sacrifice for our atonement from sin, so there is no need of any other offerings to be made.  
• Ram's Horns (shofars) and the two Silver Trumpets and who is to use them:
  Numbers 10:
  Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work.... and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Step back and take some time to read Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy again, without looking for some deeper meanings. Read these books as a light surface reading, then read them again... read them one more time, without referring to your Strong's concordance or the Hebrew Greek Interlinear.  See if Yah's Set Apart Spirit has enough to work with in revealing the truth to you.  Don't let objects of Jewish traditions or man's imagination become a distraction, a stumbling block or a snare.  Don't wear those designer tzitzits just because you love to wear them or other's think they are cool. They are not a badge proving your worth nor do they make you a representative of the Most High. Don't envy the guy with the shiny ram's horn or kiss that icon in the doorway. YHWH does not require this type of behavior and we are not honoring Him by doing things the way we think they should be done.

Queen of Heaven

The Queen of Heaven is a heathen goddess (Asherah). 

 

Assyrian cult practices invaded Yah's own precincts and by Jeremiah’s time became a flood. Even within the temple area the worship of heavenly bodies—sun, moon, planets and constellations—had been established. Ishtar, the planet Venus, appeared as the queen of heaven, who as morning star was goddess of war and as evening star was goddess of love and harlotry. This supposed queen was worshiped on the housetops of the city, and the whole family in every household was employed in the ritual of her worship—children would gather fuel, fathers would kindle the fires, and the women would knead the dough and make cakes to her honor.

Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19

The so-called “queen of heaven” was the chief goddess of the pagan pantheon, known by various names in the various nations, notably Ishtar in Babylon, but also Astarte, Ashtoreth, Venus and others. There has been a modern revival of worship of the “goddess” among the feminists of the New Age movement, and even some evangelicals have begun to argue that God is our universal “mother” as well as heavenly Father. Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been exalted to the status of deity.

After Nimrod’s death, Semiramis his mother/wife/queen had to maintain her grip and power over the people. In order to solidify her power she invented a religion for the people that would keep Nimrod’s control over them even after his death.

She then gave birth to a son named Tammuz whom she claimed was the reincarnation of Nimrod or the son of the sun god, the incarnation of God, God in the flesh. So Tammuz was “Nimrod in the flesh” and “one” with his father who was “one” with his wife/mother through marriage. Semiramis was the mother of god… the Trinity is born.

• Baal's female counterpart was the goddess Asherah
• Asherah was Ishtar of Babylon, (Queen Semiramis of Babylon deified)
• Ishtar was the mother goddess, the Queen of Heaven...
• Mary has been elevated by the Roman Catholic Church to 'mother of god' including Queen of Heaven status...

Jeremiah 7:18

The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven ....

Jeremiah 44:17

We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her ....

Jeremiah 44:18

But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword .... 

Jeremiah 44:19

The women added, "When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes ... 

This 'queen of heaven' theme carries through 

to the end times prophecies.
  

Click here to go to the study about Mystery Babylon.

The Day of One's Birth

The celebration of birthdays year after year is not something we should be doing. Although, the day of one's actual birth is praiseworthy and a joy beheld by the parents and shared with family, as children are gifts from Elohim, but to make a yearly party out of it doesn't lead to anything good. Yes, this includes the pagan celebration called Christmas that many people have been duped into thinking as the day Messiah was born.

As punishment for disobeying that one commandment: 

Genesis 3:16 To (Eve) He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children....

Should we celebrate the day, elevating ourselves to such importance, forgetting that we caused our mothers great physical pain?

Pharaoh had his chief baker impaled during his birthday party: 

Genesis 40:20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. ... He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation of the dream.

Job makes sin offerings for his sons who celebrate their birthdays: 

Job 1:4 And his sons went and had a feast in the house of each on his day, and sent and invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it came to be, when the days of feasting had gone round, that Job would send and set them apart, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings – the number of them all – for Job said, “It might be that my sons have sinned and cursed Elohim in their hearts.”

John the Immerser is beheaded at Herod's birthday party: 

Matthew 14:6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 

With that scenario in mind, I will include a link to this information:

Bad Dancing

There is nothing wrong with knowing how many years we have lived. Knowing the age of people was kept track of since there were age requirements in regards to taxes and military service. The ages of those recorded in the genealogies give us a time frame to work with in our studies. It is the adopted pagan practice of celebrating the day with drinking, eating and dancing (party time) that has been passed on down through the generations that we should stop doing.  

Birthday celebrations are actually rooted in paganism. The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: "The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles."
Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal in their book The Lore of Birthdays: "Mesopotamia and Egypt were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope."
So, there is a direct connection between the Pagan practice of birthday celebrations and astrology (horoscopes and fortune telling).

Also, The World Book Encyclopedia (volume 3, page 416) states:

"The early Christians did not celebrate [Y'shua's] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone's birth to be a pagan custom." 

Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.

Notice also the record of the first century historian Josephus: The Jews in Christ’s day knew God’s attitude toward birthday celebrations, “Nay, indeed, the law does not permit us to make festivals at the births of our children” (Flavius Josephus, Against Apion, Book II, section 26). 

Remember His Name

Jeremiah 23:26 (YHWH asks) 

"How long? 

Is there anything in the hearts of the prophets 
who prophesy falsehood, 

even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, 

who intend to make My people forget My name 

by their dreams which they relate to one another, 

just as their fathers forgot My name because of Baal?

~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~

Hebrew is read from right to left....

 ←

This is the Name of our Father: 

→ Y H W H

Romans 10:13- For everyone that will call on the name of Master YHWH will have life. How then will they call on him, in whom that have not believed? Or how will they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Or of whom will they hear without a preacher? how will they preach if they are not sent forth? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of the heralds of peace and of the heralds of good things."

I have learned that the alphabet of Old Hebrew (Aramaic) was derived from the Phoenician. And the Phoenician alphabet came from what is called the Proto-Sinaitic, represented by the image above. As Hebrew is read from right to left the picture reads: Yod - Heh - Waw - Heh. 

This alphabet was in part derived from Egyptian hieroglyphics and adapted to the Semetic language.

As we continue to learn, and begin to remember the Name of our Creator, I quote linguist and historian Andrew G. Roth who points out: 

Waw or the W sound is the more ancient pronunciation in both Hebrew and Aramaic. Later Hebrew literature leans more to the Vav or V sound. (end quote)

Pronouncing His Name as "Yah-Weh" is acceptable, if not the proper way to pronounce it, but I will not turn this into a topic of contention.  There are way too many views on this and I am happy to know that there is a Name Above All Names and we His people are finally accepting the fact and learning it.  Knowing His Name does not mean that we must learn to speak the entire Hebrew language, but I do suggest learning to recognize Hebrew idioms and poetic writings (which were lost in translations). All is helpful in gaining a better understanding when reading Scriptures.  

Andrew Gabriel Roth from the Aramaic English New Testament:

YHWH is the name of the Most High Elohim. Netzari followers of Y'shua never subscribed to the Rabbinic ban against vocalizing the Name of YHWH (Yah-Weh). Neither was the pronunciation lost within Jewish culture.  When Torah was translated into Greek, observant scribes preserved the Name of YHWH by writing it with Hebrew characters in the Septuagint. Mainstream rabbinical Judaism decided that because of the sanctity of the Name and the fierce punishment for abuse and blasphemy of the Name, that they would ban the pronunciation and say "Adonai" instead of YHWH. "Adonai" was then translated into the Greek "Kurios" which was then translated into the English "Lord".  The English word "Lord" is an equivalent term for Baal. 

Exodus 20:7 ... do not bring the Name of יהוה your Elohim to naught, for יהוה does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.

What are we doing when we call our Father "Lord"? We are taking His Name in vain, replacing it with the name of a pagan god, bringing His Name to naught, to nothingness.

Hosea 13:1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt by worshiping Baal and died.

Deuteronomy 4:4 Your eyes have seen what יהוה did at Ba‛al Pe‛or, for יהוה your Elohim has destroyed from your midst all the men who followed Ba‛al Pe‛or.

Baal was the name of the supreme god worshiped in ancient Canaan and Phoenicia. The practice of Baal worship infiltrated the life of the Israelites during the time of the Judges (Judges 3:7), became widespread in Israel during the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-33) and also affected Judah (2 Chronicles 28:1-2)

~ * ~ * ~

Quote from Britannica:  Although Christian scholars after the Renaissance and Reformation periods used the term Jehovah for YHWH, in the 19th and 20th centuries biblical scholars again began to use the form Yahweh. Early Christian writers, such as Clement of Alexandria in the 2nd century, had used a form like Yahweh, and this pronunciation of the tetragrammaton was never really lost. Many Greek transcriptions also indicated that YHWH should be pronounced Yahweh.

I am YHWH your Elohim who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage: You shall have no other gods besides Me. You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image or any likeness of what is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them. I YHWH am your Elohim, impassioned, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children upon the third and the fourth generations of those who reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments. You shall not swear falsely by My Name for I will not clear one who does.

Leviticus 23:10 .... There came out among the Israelites one whose mother was Israelite - Shelomith, daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan - and whose father was Egyptian. A fight broke out in camp between the son and a certain Israelite. The son of the Israelite woman pronounced the Name in blasphemy and was brought to Moses and was placed in custody. YHWH told Moses to take the blasphemer outside the camp and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let the whole community stone him.

There are reasons we've become unaware of His Name and Satan is the only one happy about that. If we don't know His Name we might just call upon any god.  One reason is given in Jeremiah 44:24-26 - they have been worshipping a pagan goddess while calling upon the Name of Elohim, all while they burnt incense to the Queen of Heaven.

44:24 Hear the word of YHWH, all Judeans in the land of Egypt! You and your wives have confirmed by deed what you spoke in words saying; We will fulfill the vows which we made, to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour libations to her. 26 .... none of the men of Judah in all the land of Egypt shall ever again invoke My name... 

Semiramis was the Queen of Babylon. When deified she became known as the Queen of Heaven, the Babylonian goddess Ishtar.  The modern day version of this Babylonian goddess worship is the Catholic Mary mother of god worship....

Yud (Y)

Ancient Name: Yad 

Pictograph:  Arm and closed hand

Meanings: Work, Throw, Make, Praise

Sound:  Y, iy

Hey (H)

Pictograph: Man with arms raised

Meanings: Look, Reveal, Breath

Sound:  H, eh

Waw (W)

Ancient Name:  Waw 

Pictograph: Peg 

Meanings:  Add, Secure, Hook 

Sound:  W, ow, uw

Hey (H)

Pictograph:  Man with arms raised 

Meanings:  Look, Reveal, Breath 

Sound:  H, eh

~ * ~ * ~

Symbolic Connections to the Name YHWH:

Yod: 
Symbol: Arm and closed hand ~ Meaning: Work, Throw, Make, Praise

Heh: 
Symbol: Man with arms raised ~ Meaning: Look, Reveal, Breath

Waw: 
Symbol: Peg ~ Meaning: Add, Secure, Hook 

Heh: 
Symbol: Man with arms raised ~ Meaning: Look, Reveal, Breath

His Name does not represent:  "Behold Nail Behold Hand"

That is a backwards reading of His Name some folks use to point towards the crucifixion of Y'shua. Their intentions may be good but the idea is stretching it quite a bit. It is true that the Son came in the Father's name, to do His works and both Names will be written upon the foreheads of the 144,000 first fruits of the earth when that day comes.  But lets not twist the physical in an attempt to make it fit the spiritual.

quote:

The name of the Heavenly Father is composed of four Hebrew letters. For that reason it is referred to as the Tetragrammaton. Understand that when James Strong produced his concordance, the popular view among scholars was that the name of the Heavenly Father was Jehovah. Strong and most scholars of that time were still following the error of the original English translators who had mistakenly incorporated the vowel points occurring in the Hebrew text into the transliteration. These vowel points had been added by the Masoretes to maintain their belief that the Sacred Name should not be spoken. For those fluent in Hebrew the vowel points are not necessary for reading or understanding the text. .... the same “liberties” that were taken with YHWH’s Name were also applied to the Savior’s Name in Hebrew. Because of these corrupted traditions it is necessary to disregard the vowel points when translating these names. (end quote)

The name of the Son

The name of the Father is in the name of His Son, the name He gave him, meaning:

Yah is Salvation = Yahshua

י ה ו שׁ ע

from right to left the Hebrew letter are:

yod - hey - waw - shin - ayin 

pronounced Yah-Shua

Priesthood Chart

Click Here to go to the source of this chart

Tighten Your Belts

Know that there comes a time when we are to knock the dust off our feet and walk away from certain types of people. Love them = Yes; Forgive them = Yes; Take your shalom and go = Yes.

Mark 6:10 ~ “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.”

The reason it is alright to walk away from these folks is because they are the types of people who will suck the life blood out of you; drag your heart into their misery; pretend to listen to your words of advice then continue to use you at their every whim.  It is a sad deal but I believe it all plays into the end time warnings we have been given and identifies types of people we all know. 

Y'shua answered his disciples when they asked about the signs of the end of the world and his return: Many stumble, hate each other and will report 'believers' to the authorities to save their own lives (betray one another). Because of the spread of wickedness, lawlessness, the love of many grows cold. 

What we see going on today is our practice-run, folks. It is not going to go well with the ones left behind and the reason our time is shortened is because it would break our hearts to witness His Day of Wrath which will affect our family, friends and loved ones, just to name a few. It just might turn us into a pillar of salt if He left us on this earth to witness the results of His Wrath. Sure, we've read all about it, being in His Word every day.... but to see the unimaginable happen before our eyes to folks we love? It would be as if no flesh could survive. 

Now is the time to separate ourselves from those who won't listen. Now is the time to leave those places we are not welcomed.

Abiding by His Instructions: The Moedim

When we come into covenant with our Maker there are terms of that covenant we are to abide by. A section of those terms are instructions in observing specific set apart times, His moedim. There are segments of those instructions we are unable to fulfill these days because the temple no longer stands in Jerusalem nor is there the priesthood to handle the daily affairs of temple life. This includes the various offerings which were to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem three times a year: the passover offering, Shavuot and Sukkot. Neither are we to substitute what we think is right in the meantime. His Set Apart times are meant to be observed throughout the generations, which we can do in 'remembering' why they were done and realizing how they train us up for a future time. We still treat them as sacred times and observe them as the Sabbaths that they are, sans sacrifice, offerings and traveling to Jerusalem.

Y'shua is the Lamb of Elohim and his blood was shed for the forgiveness of sin. In this he has become our High Priest offering atonement on our behalf. He has gone before the throne of Elohim for our sake, seated at His right hand until the day of wrath. He also pointed out that 'we' are the temple, as he knew the destruction of the physical temple would come. Designating our physical bodies as 'temples' makes it possible for the Spirit of YHWH, the Ruach haKodesh to dwell within.  This Spirit comforts us with truth.

Because of the sacrifice of His Son we are no longer obligated to make a passover offering which was originally for the sake of painting the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintels of the houses believers were living in, protecting from 'death' that night and set free from bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt. Nor should we try to substitute any other behaviors at this time.  They were also instructed not to delay nor wait for the dough to rise before they left, hence the days of Unleavened Bread. We, too, can eat unleavened bread for seven days in remembrance of the mighty works of our Creator. We treat the first and the last day as Sabbaths. We can take this opportunity to read and share from Exodus to remember why Yah did what He did. 

The Feast of Weeks is a tough one to fulfill as most of us are not farmers, raising barley and wheat. And, again we cannot bring an offering to the priest in Jerusalem on the fifty day count after the barley harvest. One can't even rely on an accurate day of when the barley harvest begins in Israel, let alone count off 50 days! So even our attempts at observing Shavuot is iffy at best.

Leviticus 23:10- When you enter the land which I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before YHWH for acceptance in your behalf (on the day after the weekly Sabbath). 14 Until that very day, until you have brought the offering, you shall eat no bread or parched grain or fresh ears, it is a law for all time throughout the ages in all your settlements. 15 from that day after the Sabbath you shall count off seven weeks; until the day after the seventh week - fifty days (total) - then you shall bring an offering of new grain to YHWH - two loaves of bread (of the first fruits) as a wave offering, as first fruits to YHWH. 20 The priest shall offer these- they shall be set apart to YHWH, for the priest. 21 On that same day hold a celebration, a sacred occasion - do no work at your occupations. This is a law for all time in all your settlements, throughout the ages.

During this time called the Feast of Weeks we can observe it by being thankful for His bounty in our lives. We give Him our best every day and are content with what we have. We are grateful for how He has provided for our needs as we see to the needs of others. We must not substitute vain imaginings to replace His Instructions. If you can't take the first sheaf of the harvest to the priest to make an offering in your behalf, don't fake it with anything else. Jeroboam was 'faking it' and did not turn back from his evil ways whereby the House of Jeroboam incurred guilt.

The next appointments are referred to as the fall feasts, set times of Yahweh to be celebrated as sacred occasions. 

Leviticus 23:23-44

• On the first day of the 7th month sound the trumpet;
• The 10th day of this month is The Day of Atonement;
• On the 15th day of this 7th month begin the Feast of Booths
• Followed by the 8th Day, a solemn gathering

After further study I have learned that the Day of Trumpets was originally called a Day of Shouting as in making a joyful noise unto Yahweh. Searching out this moed further, I came across something I had totally missed before! 

Numbers 10:

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before Yahweh your Elohim, and you shall be saved from your enemies. On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months (new moon), you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your Elohim: I am Yahweh your Elohim.”

Do you see what I see? Two Silver Trumpets - not shofars (ram's horn) - to be sounded to gather the congregation, or to be blown over burnt offerings and sacrifices of peace offerings and to be sounded at the new moon sighting and appointed feasts. Two silver trumpets. So I must ponder this: if we can no longer make offerings and not gather at the temple of Yahweh in Jerusalem, the only time (other than wartime) we would sound two silver trumpets would be at the sighting of the new moon (Jerusalem time) and at Yom Teruah, the day of shouting, making a joyful noise of thanksgiving to our Creator. But wait! Only the priests were in charge of these two trumpets!  So, what are regular old joes doing blowing on their shofars whenever they feel like it?

Leviticus 23:23 ~ YHWH spoke to Moses saying, "Speak to the Israelite people thus: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts. You shall not work at your occupations and you shall bring an offering by fire to YHWH Elohim.

On the first day of the 7th month of Yah's Calendar we may observe the Feast of Trumpets as a Sabbath's day rest and do no work on this day. Shout praises unto Elohim, let Him remember you're here! Then on the 10th day of this 7th month, set it aside as a dignified ceremony wherein not only do we treat it as a Sabbath of rest and do no work but also deny ourselves our usual activities. Go without eating regular meals this day or fast if you are able, stay off the computer and turn off the TV and radio, be in prayer about your life and where you stand in the Word and know Y'shua the Son of Elohim is making Atonement in our behalf. Let us be worthy of this friendship with the one who laid down his life that we could gain life eternal.

Leviticus 23:27 ~ The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: you shall practice self denial, and you shall bring an offering by fire to YHWH Elohim; you shall do no work throughout that day. It is a Day of Atonement on which expiation is made on your behalf before Yah your Elohim. Whoever does not practice self denial throughout that day will be cut off from his kin, and whoever does any work throughout that day, I will cause that person to perish from among his people. Do no work whatever; it is a law for all time, throughout the ages, in all your settlements. It shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for you and you shall practice self denial; on the ninth day of the month from evening to evening, you shall observe this Sabbath.

Next up is Sukkot, the in-gathering of Yah's people, which begins on the 15th day of this seventh month. This is another one of the set times where the males traveled to Jerusalem, after the end of the season's harvest, to make the appropriate offerings at the temple, and they lived in sukkahs while there. Only during every 7th year did the entire household attend Sukkot. We treat the first day as a Sabbath day of complete rest and do the same for the 8th day. If we want to 'camp out' with our family in our own backyards for the seven days, I don't see why not as long as we remember we do this so that we teach future generations that Yah made His people live in make-shift shelters when He brought them out of Egypt. He left the 'light on' but it wasn't at Motel 6. Read from Scriptures every day and night, Genesis through Deuteronomy, remembering the awesome power of our Creator, Yahweh.

There are many groups who like to advertise a gathering place for folks to celebrate Sukkot, which seems like a good thing, but in reality Yah chose Jerusalem as the last place He attached His Name, so how can we think we are honoring him if we do it our own way, and wherever and however we choose? We know enough not to make it up as we go along. I refer back to Jeroboam. 

Follow His Instructions. Do not substitute what you think is right and pleasing. Think about what Nadab and Abihu were doing, remember what Jeroboam did, and make the realization we are not to improvise.

We must abide by the Creator's Instructions, the terms of His covenant, and follow Him with all our heart, doing what is right in His sight; and not substitute anything in place of His Instructions lest we become displeasing or provoke Him and incur guilt. Continue to read Scriptures and let the Ruach haKodesh reveal His Truth. 

From my studies I share the basic outline of how to keep Yah's Set Apart times in this day and age within His parameters. See how different and easy it is compared to the various offerings and engagements from the Hebrew Roots Messianics plan of action which cost money, time and travel? and how simplified compared to Jewish tradition (oral law: the very thing Y'shua taught against).

I can understand why our heavenly Father said this in Isaiah 7:11 ~ What need have I of all your sacrifices... I have no delight that you come to appear before Me - trample My courts no more. Bringing your offerings is futile, incense is offensive to Me. New moon and Sabbath you proclaim solemnities and assemble with wickedness I cannot tolerate. Your new moons (calendar months) and your fixed seasons (man's traditions and substitutes for Yah's moedim) fill Me with loathing - they have become a burden to Me, no longer a joy. When you lift up your hands in false praise and worship I will turn My Eyes away from you.

Satan has a counterfeit for almost everything put forth by our Creator; let us not fall into this same pattern. The example of Jeroboam is what happened in 1 Kings 25 when he (out of fear of losing his position of power) convinced the Israelites (who had chosen him as king) that they did not need to go to Jerusalem to worship YHWH anymore. Jeroboam had built 2 temples, one in Bethel and the other in Dan, in which he had a golden calf placed in each, telling them 'this is your god'. He convinced them that 'God was Everywhere' and it was okay to worship Him anywhere. This is not according to Yahweh! Jeroboam also made cult places and appointed priests from the ranks of people who were not descendants of Levi. This same example applies to religious traditions of today when teachers and leaders and preachers convince folks of things that just aren't right in comparison to what is actually recorded in Scriptures.

Click Here to go to the study

Who is Israel? 

 and Scroll Down to the heading:

The time of Solomon - Division of the Tribes

for more about Jeroboam's deception