TK Torah Keepers

He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. (Proverbs 22:11 KJV)

The picture drawn by this single verse in the proverbs is a very intimate one.  The king is drawn to those who speak graciously from a pure heart.  If we understand the King to be the Sovereign Creator of the Universe, this verse takes on even greater meaning and significance. Here we may recall the testimony of the scriptures concerning Abraham.

Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend forever? (2 Chronicles 20:7 KJV)

But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. (Isaiah 41:8 KJV)

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:23 KJV)

What an honor to be considered the Friend of God or the Friend of the King.  The Psalmist also reminds us that intimate communion with the Sovereign contingent on the pureness of heart.

Who shall ascend into the hill of YHWH? or who shall stand in his holy place? ⁴ He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. (Psalm 24:3-4 KJV)

Our Master, Yeshua the Messiah, likewise taught,

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8 KJV)

According to the Proverb above, this honored title and position of intimacy is bestowed by the King because of the gracious and loving words coming from the mouth of his subject.  Here we must recall that YHWH desires us to love and serve him from a genuine and whole heart.

And thou shalt love YHWH thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV)

Our Master has taught us that what comes out of our mouth originates in our hearts.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (Matthew 12:34-35 KJV)

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15:18-19 KJV)

If we genuinely love the King with our “whole” heart then our words and our deeds should reflect this pureness of our hearts. A “whole heart” is not polluted with mixture or divided loyalties, or mixed motives.  Our Brother James exhorts us concerning our tongues.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. ¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (James 3:9-12 KJV)

Pure water cannot come from a defiled well.  Nor can pure words come from a defiled heart.  The Spirit of the Holy One desires to write his self-revelation, the Torah, upon the tablets of our hearts.   The scriptures repeatedly encourage us to hide the word of YHWH in our hearts, to bind them to our hearts, to write them on our hearts.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (Deuteronomy 6:6 KJV)

And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love YHWH your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, (Deuteronomy 11:13 KJV)

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8 KJV)

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23 KJV)

Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. (Proverbs 7:3 KJV)

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: (Proverbs 3:3 KJV)

While studying, learning, and memorizing the word of God, are indeed profitable acts, this is not enough to win the friendship of the King.  It is true that the word of God is pure.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5 KJV)

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. (Psalm 119:140 KJV)

While the word of God is indeed pure, it can still be defiled by the vessel that holds it.  There are many within the body of Messiah today that have a great mastery over the scriptures, but use YHWH’S pure word like a venomous sword for selfish and unholy purposes. Only the words of the pure in heart are pleasing in the ears of the King.  It is not enough for us simply to study and memorize the word.  It is not enough for us to “hide the word” in our hearts if our hearts are already defiled.  If we desire such pleasing intimacy with the King we must learn to keep our hearts from defilement.  This is not easy when living in such a polluted world. We must learn to cry out with David,

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10 KJV)

We must learn to subject our hearts to the trying eyes of the Spirit of the Holy One that he may, by his refining fire, raise the dross of our lives to the surface that we may remove it from our hearts. 

Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. (Psalm 44:21 KJV)

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: ²⁴ And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 KJV)

We should daily, search our own hearts, to see what dross and defilement remain, and separate us from intimate communion with the King.  We should likewise, listen carefully to the words we speak, for they reveal much about our hearts.  This is true not only of our words  to the King but to his subjects as well.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. (Mark 8:31-32 KJV)

After having fed a multitude of 5000, and then another 4000, liberating numerous people suffering oppression from spirits of uncleanness, cleansing lepers, and curing the blind, Yeshua revealed the path that he must journey down to accomplish his calling.  It was not a pleasant journey, but according to Yeshua, it shall, after three days, end well.  Peter, Yeshua’s chief disciple, however, immediately began to rebuke his Master.  The parallel account in the Gospel of Matthew gives a little more detail as to Peter’s rebuke.

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. (Matthew 16:22 KJV)

It is interesting to note that Yeshua was prophesying exactly what would ultimately happen.  It is also interesting to note that Yeshua described these events as “necessary” (the Greek word is dei which means “necessary”) to the accomplishment of this divinely appointed purpose.  It was “necessary” according to YHWH’S divine purpose that the Son of man must suffer, die, and rise again.  Yet even hearing these words right from the mouth of the Master, Peter is unable to receive them.  For Peter, these words go against everything that he has hoped for, dreamed of, expected, and desired.  Peter has witnessed the Messiah in person.  Peter has observed the numerous lives transformed by the word and work of his Master.  Peter could imagine how great it would be to live in a Kingdom where such person as Yeshua reigned.  Peter could feel the presence of the Holy One in the person of Messiah.  Possibly for the first time, Peter could see what the Torah was really all about.  Peter was learning the difference between true, genuine, living faith and traditional religion.  While it seemed too good to be true, Peter knew that it was true.  All that he could possibly image the Kingdom of Heaven to be was living right before his eyes.  Peter had no doubt that Yeshua was indeed the promised Messiah come to restore all things.  When asked, Peter did not hesitate to confidently confess who he believed Yeshua to be.

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Messiah. (Mark 8:29 KJV)

Peter clearly understood who Yeshua was.  Peter observed all of these revealing and tell-tale signs that clarified who Yeshua was.  Peter had no difficulty believing that Yeshua was the Messiah.  The cause of Peter’s stumbling, was his failure to understand what it meant to be the Messiah.  Like most of the believers in the time of Yeshua, their hope for the Messiah was one dimensional.  This one dimensional Messianic hope is made evident in the disciples question to the resurrected Messiah.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6 KJV)

The hope of all Israel is revealed in this single question.  All Israel was waiting for the Kingdom of Israel to be restored to its former glory as in the time of David and Solomon.  While the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel is indeed an important part of the Messianic promise it is but one part of a much larger promise.  The original Messianic promise was given much earlier in history.  In fact, it was first promised in the Garden of Eden.

At the fall of Adam and Chavah all humanity became ensnared in sin and subsequently death.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12 KJV)

Thus YHWH promised that there would come one who would indeed reverse the effects of this fall.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15 KJV)

The original Messianic hope was that a promised “seed of the woman” would come that would finally reverse the fall and release all humanity from bondage to sin, fear, and death.  With each child born throughout history this ember of hope would be kindled and then quickly extinguished.  After Israel entered the Promise Land and established the monarchy, becoming a powerful and glorious kingdom, the Messianic hope of the people changed.  No longer were people looking primarily for deliverance from bondage to sin, fear, and death, but from the occupation and oppression of various conquering political systems.  In the time of Daniel people were looking for freedom from the emperor of Babylon.  In the time of Nehemiah it was freedom from Persia.  In the days of the Maccabees it was from the Selucids.  In the days of Yeshua it was deliverance from the occupation and oppression of the Roman Empire.  While the re-establishment of the kingdom of Israel is an important part of YHWH’S plan for the restoration of all Creation, it is not the goal but a means.  But for those living in the occupied land it was what they saw, smelled, tasted, heard, touched and endured in the carnal realm of their daily existence. 

This intermediary step of restoration had for most people of Peter’s time become the focal point and goal of their hope.  The restoration of the Kingdom to Israel meant that they would once more be a self-ruled people free from foreign tyranny. Note that this hope had little to do with matters of salvation.  For most believers, even today, the focus of their hope resides only in what they are presently experiencing in the course of their daily existence.  In other words, we are looking for when the Sovereign One is going to deliver us from our mortgage payment, unemployment, economic hardship, a bad marriage, an oppressive employer, a physical illness, or renegade government.  Most believers, like Peter, can hear only that part of the promise of YHWH that affects their present daily life and circumstances.  We all tend to build our hopes, not upon the promises of YHWH, but upon the particular part of the promise that will solve or address our current circumstance or most pressing crisis.

Peter had clearly grabbed a hold of the promise that the Messiah would come and make life better.  Peter saw in Yeshua the potential for all of his hopes for the restoration of Israel to become reality.  Peter could neither see nor hear beyond his own hopes and dreams.  In other words, Peter’s expectation was built upon his own hope and not the promise and word of God.  This is quite evident in Peter’s response to Yeshua’s prophecy of what the Messiah must endure.  Clearly, rejection, persecution, oppression, arrest, trial, conviction, and a death sentence did not fit Peter’s limited self-hope, even though all of these things were consistent with the word of God and necessary for the accomplishment of his divine plan.

Hope is an important virtue.  But we must all be careful that our hope is solidly grounded in the word of God, and not simply in our own desires and dreams.  When Peter rebuked the Messiah, he revealed that the hope he held was inspired by his own heart’s desires and not the by the Spirit or Word of YHWH.  While we all have our personal hopes, as followers and disciple of Yeshua, we must be careful that we are not allowing our personal hopes and dreams prevent us from submitting to and fulfilling the genuine will of the Father.  While our dreams and ambitions may indeed be righteous, noble, good, and sincere, it they are not the will of the Father, then they serve only to distract us from the path that we must eventually follow.  I have, on more than one occasion, built monuments of ministry which served only my own ambitions, and though very successful from a worldly point of view, had little of nothing to do with the work of YHWH.  As a Lutheran pastor I labored extremely hard to build up that which I now realize was completely contrary to the will of the Sovereign One.  I did this with the best of intentions and the noblest of ideals, but it was not what the word of YHWH commands. 

Few of us will ever choose the path that leads to the cross.  Most of us envision ministry in the most romantic of terms.  But the cross is what Yeshua was called to endure.  While the logic of Yeshua’s suffering, death, and resurrection escaped Peter’s thinking, the infinite wisdom of the Creator has been clearly vindicated over time.  As the body of Messiah we too must follow the same path to the cross.  While this path may seem contrary to all that we hoped, dreamed and imagined for ourselves, it is, nonetheless, the path that the Father has called us to.  Even our hopes, dreams, ambitions, and expectations must ultimately be surrendered, if we are going to give ourselves wholly to the service of YHWH.   We may recall the words of YHWH,

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 KJV)

It is true, that our thoughts are not YHWH’S thoughts.  Many of us pray that YHWH will come around to see everything the way we do, and to grant us our thoughts, dreams, desires, and hopes.  But in truth, the calling we must is embrace, calls us to the take our thoughts, dreams, desires, and hopes to the cross, that we may indeed share the Creator’s thoughts, and make our ways conform to his ways. 

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. ¹⁶ Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. ¹⁷ They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. ¹⁸ Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. (Psalm 88:15-18 KJV)

In the passage above the psalmist is facing the refiner’s fire.  It is clear in theses verses that the author has come to a profound understanding of the finite nature of his life.  It is also evident in these verses that the various afflictions, terrors, and distractions are from the hand of the Sovereign One.  Generally, it is at times like these that we run to seek the companionship, consolation, comfort, and support of our family, friends, and loved one.  Our search for a shoulder to cry on, an ear to complain to, and a heart to pity us knows no bounds.  Even when we do find someone who will entertain our self-vindicating, self-pitying, and self-serving complaint, we are not content, but search for even more advocates to join our cause.  Not wanting to appear self-serving and self-pitying, we often camouflage our intentions with the appearance of seeking “the counsel of the brethren.”

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14 KJV)

It seems at times like these there are always ready comrades waiting to join our cause and bless us with their wisdom.  We may recall YHWH’S servant Job.  An unsuspecting Job found himself in the midst of a moment of unexpected testing.

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁴ And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: ¹⁵ And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁶ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁷ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁸ While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁹ And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ²⁰ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, ²¹ And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: YHWH gave, and YHWH hath taken away; blessed be the name of YHWH. ²² In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1:13-22 KJV)

So went Satan forth from the presence of YHWH, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. ⁸ And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. (Job 2:7-8 KJV)

Almost immediately Job’s ready companions gathered to comfort, console and advise him.

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. (Job 2:11 KJV)

Each of these friends erroneously advised Job failing to see that it was indeed the hand of YHWH that was behind these afflictions.  Even Job’s “lover” was quick to give her husband advice.

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. (Job 2:9 KJV)

We should note in the story none of his companions gave Job correct counsel, they only shared their human, finite, limited, unfruitful opinions.

This pattern of seeking companionship, comfort, consolation and counsel in times of testing is not limited to individuals.  The nation of Israel was often rebuked to turning to counselors other than YHWH for wisdom, consolation, comfort, and help.

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: (Psalm 106:13 KJV)

Woe to the rebellious children, saith YHWH, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: ² That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! ³ Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. (Isaiah 30:1-3 KJV)

In the verses of the Psalm above, however, we should note that it is the Sovereign One that has removed lovers, friends, and acquaintances into the void of darkness.  During these times when we find ourselves in the refiner’s fire, YHWH wants us to turn exclusively to him.  While our fleshly ears may desire to be tickled by the flattering and vindicating words of our compatriots and comrades, the desire of YHWH is that we turn exclusively to him for our comfort, consolation, and counsel.  The scriptures repeatedly warn us of the vanity of all other counsel and help.

An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. ¹⁸ Behold, the eye of YHWH is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; (Psalm 33:17-18 KJV)

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of YHWH. (Proverbs 21:31 KJV)

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. (Psalm 108:12 KJV)

It is better to trust in YHWH than to put confidence in man. ⁹ It is better to trust in YHWH than to put confidence in princes. (Psalm 118:8-9 KJV)

While we may be surrounded by those willing to salve our wounds, console and advise us, YHWH desires us to turn to him alone for help, comfort and counsel.  We should recognize from the opening verses that friends, family, and loved ones can, and often will desert us in our time of need, when the burden becomes too great.  We should also recognize that finite human wisdom cannot compare to YHWH’S infinite wisdom. While man and his love is limited, YHWH is eternal and constant in his love for us.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then YHWH will take me up. (Psalm 27:10 KJV)

We must, therefore, learn to turn only to the Eternal and Infinite one for our counsel and consolation.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. ² My help cometh from YHWH, which made heaven and earth. ³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. ⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:1-4 KJV)          

YHWH bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. ¹¹ The counsel of YHWH standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. (Psalm 33:10-11 KJV)

While this is not always an easy discipline to master, it is indeed a helpful one.  It is through these times of testing that we experience the character and faithfulness of YHWH to deliver us and see us safely through the time of testing.  The more we learn to turn to YHWH for our every need the more we learn that we can trust him for our every need.  It is through these very trying experiences that our faith and confidence in the miraculous power and love of the Father for his people is established.  While times of testing are rarely pleasant to endure, they are for our good nonetheless.  We must learn to console ourselves with the knowledge that YHWH only chastens those he loves.

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so YHWH thy God chasteneth thee. (Deuteronomy 8:5 KJV)

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (Proverbs 13:24 KJV)

For whom YHWH loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6 KJV)

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Hebrews 12:7 KJV)

We should likewise remember that the purpose of the refiner’s fire is not to destroy the gold but to purge and perfect it to the point that the image of the refiner may be seen in its luster.