TK Torah Keepers

Integrity and honesty, though little exhibited in our world today, are still essential virtues within the body of the Messiah and among the children of Israel.  Plain, truthful, and honest speaking and dealing were once prized even in the literature, poetry, and popular culture surrounding the people of God. In Williams Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet we hear Juliet speaking of her forbidden admirer, who bears the name of her family’s sworn foe,

“What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”

Gertrude Stein expressed a similar thought in her poem “Sacred Emily,”

“Rose is a rose is a rose

Loveliness extreme

Extra gaiters,

Loveliness extreme

Sweet ice-cream

Pages ages page age page age

In his “Apothegmata” Plutarch wrote

“ten skafen skafen legontas” (Greek for; “Call a trough a trough”)

Erasmus later wrote,

“Ta suka suka ten skafen de skafen onomason” (Greek for; “Calling a fig a fig and a trough a trough”)

It is said that Erasmus understood the Greek word “skafen” to be a “shovel”. It is from this misunderstanding that we have received the popular expression,

“Call a spade a spade.”

People generally appreciate “straight shooting” leaders who are faithful in speaking the truth. This is especially true when it comes to the Word of YHWH.  King Solomon in his wisdom taught that it was necessary to call things what they are. 

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to YHWH. (Proverbs 17:15 KJV)

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: ²⁵ But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. (Proverbs 24:24-25 KJV)

As the children of Israel, we are called to be the image of YHWH.  We have been called to be holy as YHWH is holy.

For I am YHWH that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:45 KJV)

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16 KJV)   

YHWH commanded Aaron to place his name upon the children of Israel.

And they shall put my name (YHWH) upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:27 KJV)

Since we are associated with, and the bearers of, the name and image of YHWH in the world, we must learn to embody his nature and character.  Truth and honesty are clearly essential aspects of YHWH’S character.  It is for this reason that YHWH condemns the lying tongue.

These six things doth YHWH hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, ¹⁹ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)

The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (Proverbs 12:19 KJV)

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. (Proverbs 21:6 KJV)

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Proverbs 26:28 KJV)

YHWH is truth.  The Word of YHWH is truth.  YHWH desires us to be about the truth.

Because I will publish the name of YHWH: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. ⁴ He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4 KJV)

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. (Psalm 31:5 KJV)

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. (Psalm 43:3 KJV)

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. (Psalm 119:142 KJV)

Thou art near, YHWH; and all thy commandments are truth. (Psalm 119:151 KJV)

Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: (Psalm 146:6 KJV)

The Father genuinely desires us to seek and possess the truth.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:6 KJV)

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23 KJV)

Because of our calling we must “call a spade a spade, a rose a rose, a fig a fig, and a trough a trough.”  The priests and leaders of Israel were soundly condemned for failing to be honest with the distinctions of YHWH.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21 KJV)

The gravity of this situation is spelled out for us in the words of the following proverb,

The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7 KJV)

Those who have spent a life time studying the word of YHWH and have been blessed with knowledge, insight, wisdom, understanding and spiritual maturity have built their house upon the rock and little will cause them to stumble or fall.  A little discernment will go a long way in sorting out the truth. However, in this current move of the Spirit there are many souls who have been mislead by denominational dogmas, toxic religious systems, and false prophets.  Now, these poor liberated souls who inherited lies from their fathers are without a sound foundation upon which to build their faith.  These poor souls are  hungry and vulnerable to deception and falsehoods. The newly awakened believer or convert often lacks the ability or knowledge to discern truth from deceit and fall prey to the sweet sounding words of false teachers.  It is this lack of discernment that leaves them vulnerable to the false prophets, false Messiahs, and false shepherds who seek to fleece them.  Therefore it is of utmost importance that we speak the truth and call things what they are. YHWH is a God of distinctions, who separated the light from the dark.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4 KJV)

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5 KJV)    

This must then be true even within the body of Messiah, which is to be the image of YHWH.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what concord hath Messiah with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith YHWH, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:14-17 KJV)

We must be clear that light is light, dark is dark, tahor is tahor, tamei is tamei, sin is sin, righteousness is righteousness, lies are lies, truth is truth, a rose is a rose and a spade is a spade. We must not excuse that which is clearly contrary to the nature of YHWH even when it is found in a brother or sister, a teacher or leader or even in ourselves!  We cannot try to justify the wicked. We should not call a liar honest, nor should we call the wicked righteous.  Such behavior just creates confusion in the body and leads to further deception and distortion of the image of YHWH.  We should therefore, call a spade a spade and speak honestly with our brethren.

With this said, however, we must also recognize that the greatest attribute of YHWH is that of love.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8 KJV)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16 KJV)

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 John 4:20 KJV)

Since we, as the children of Israel and disciples of Yeshua, are called to be the bearers of the name and image of YHWH, love should be a central attribute of our lives and character.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV) 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22 KJV)     

Therefore, while we are called to speak the truth to one another, we are to do so only in a spirit of genuine love.

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Messiah: (Ephesians 4:14-15 KJV)

We should remember that we are all part of the same body.  We need one another. We are dependent upon each other.  The object is not to bash and beat our brothers into submission when they are in error.  Our calling is to speak the truth to them in love, encouraging them, reasoning with them, and edifying them, so that they will repent and be restored to their proper calling and place in the body of Messiah.

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:20 KJV)

While speaking the truth to our brother or sister in love, we are not to publically expose them, humiliate them, or shame them.

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12 KJV)

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. (Proverbs 17:9 KJV)

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8 KJV)

Here we must understand the gentle balancing act.  We must not publically expose our brother, while at the same time we must call a sin sin! We do not justify the falsehood or error in order to protect the sinner. 

Our first priority must be the image of YHWH.  We must remember that we are the image of YHWH in all that we do. Since his name is upon us, everything we do reflects upon YHWH. We must protect the image and name of YHWH always.  Therefore, we may confront our brother privately and not make the error of his way public, but we do not change YHWH’S designations or judgments to do so.  We must not allow the vulnerable who are hungering for truth to become a victim of deceit.  If our brother or sister does not repent, then it may be necessary, unfortunately, to make his wickedness known among the brethren, in order to protect the vulnerable and hungry brethren as well as the image of YHWH.  Our Master, Yeshua, gave us a pattern to follow in such matters.

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. ¹⁷ And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the body of believers: but if he neglect to hear the body of believers, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (Matthew 18:15-17 KJV)

The public exposing of another’s faults is never undertaken alone.  Everything must be done by witnesses, in good order, and only as a last resort to protect the body.  If the errant member of the body is recognized locally or nationally as an elder of the body especial caution must be exercised due to the potentially negative impact on the body of Messiah and on the elder’s ministry and reputation.   

We must also exercise great caution in our discernment of another’s failings, that we neither rejoice in their fall, nor fall into pride and self-righteousness ourselves. 

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: ¹⁸ Lest YHWH see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. (Proverbs 24:17-18 KJV)

We should recall that that ALL of us have been deemed guilty of sin in the eyes of YHWH. None of us can stand on our own merit before the Sovereign One.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. ⁷ And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. ⁸ But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:6-8 KJV)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)

Therefore, when we deal with our fallen, errant brethren, let us remember that we are dealing with members of the body of Messiah, and show them the same love, compassion, and respect that we would show our Master, and would hope to have shown to us in our time of weakness.  Since we have all, at one time or another, been shown the mercy of YHWH upon our own sins and wickedness, let us be the image of YHWH to our fallen brethren.  Our actions must never be motivated by revenge, personal justice, or hope of personal gain.  As members of the body of Messiah, our ministry must always be one of reconciliation.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Yeshua Messiah, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:18 KJV)