TK Torah Keepers

There are times in all of our lives when the hurt, the heartache, the fear, the anxiety, the challenge, or the cross that is before us is so real, so painful, that we become blind and deaf to the presence of the Holy One in our lives.  The discomfort of the cross we are sometimes asked to carry reminds us that our flesh is still very much alive.  While our flesh is crying, shouting, screaming, and begging for relief from the great discomfort, we cannot always hear the still small whisper of the Holy One trying to comfort and console us.  The tears of our heartache cloud our spiritual eyes, while our screams of anger and pain deafen our ears to the presence, word and ministry of the Comforter.  It is at these times that we join our voices with the saints and martyrs of long ago and cry “How long O YHWH?” 

My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O YHWH, how long? (Psalm 6:3 KJV)

How long wilt thou forget me, O YHWH? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? ² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? ³ Consider and hear me, O YHWH my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (Psalm 13:1-3 KJV)

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. (Psalm 35:17 KJV)

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? (Psalm 74:10 KJV)

 How long, YHWH? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? (Psalm 79:5 KJV)

 O YHWH God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? (Psalm 80:4 KJV)

 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. (Psalm 82:2 KJV)

 How long, YHWH? wilt thou hide thyself forever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? (Psalm 89:46 KJV)

 Return, O YHWH, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. (Psalm 90:13 KJV)

 YHWH, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? ⁴ How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? (Psalm 94:3-4 KJV)

 O YHWH, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! (Habakkuk 1:2 KJV)

 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O YHWH, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10 KJV)  

 In our fast paced world of modern conveniences, quick fixes and time saving technology, waiting is not understood to be a virtue.  I remember being given an electric wok and a microwave oven on the same day.  We could cook so fast that we could eat leftovers the same day!  Television shows, newspaper and magazine articles, class-room lectures have all be reduced to 10-15 minute “sound-bytes” because people have lost the patience for watching, reading, and learning.  Our culture has accommodated our fleshly impatience and desire for more stimulation and titillation by more rapid pace of life.  We want to solve problems with the push of a button. We want to change the world by writing a check.  We want to be healthy by taking a pill.  But there is no such quick fix for the cross.  The cross is not something to be cured—but something that must be patiently endured.  Oh yes, we can cry out, shout, and scream at its pain.  Even Yeshua cried out and questioned while enduring the reality of the cross.

 And at the ninth hour Yeshua cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34 KJV)

 What is important in the story of Yeshua upon the cross is not that he cried out and questioned, but that in spite of all the taunting, pain and suffering, he did not come down from the cross, but endured it until the work of the cross was finished.

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ Save thyself, and come down from the cross. (Mark 15:29-30 KJV)

When Yeshua therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30 KJV)

We too must learn from our Master to patiently endure the cross until the work is finished, whatever the cross or the work to be accomplishes may be. 

I will be the first to confess that there are times when I cannot stand the pain of the cross any longer.  There are times that my flesh wants so desperately to climb down and run away from the cross that the Father has asked me to bear.  There are moments when the cross is so appalling and repulsive to me that I simply cannot bring myself to accept that it is my Heavenly Father that is asking me to patiently endure it.  There are times when I cannot see any reasonable purpose or positive outcome to what the Father is asking me to do and to endure. Through prayer, however, there have been four revelations that have helped me to endure the cross. 

The first is simply that YHWH’S grace is sufficient for us.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Even though the cross, whatever it may be, pushes me beyond all of my human strength and ability, it is then at the end of me, that the Father’s love, grace, and strength is seen.  In my own strength I would have stopped a long time ago. But the longer I endure the cross, the more evident it becomes that it is not me but YHWH that is enduring.  It is in my finiteness, weakness, and brokenness that YHWH’S infinite, strong, and perfect love, mercy, grace, and character becomes manifest.  It is no longer me that bears the cross but YHWH.

The second revelation is that YHWH is likewise waiting and enduring, the offense, hurt, heartache, frustration and disappointment with his people. We should realize that as we are waiting on YHWH to answer our prayers, he is waiting for us to turn to him in every circumstance.  The cross is part of the means by which YHWH takes us beyond ourselves so that we will call upon him and seek answers, strength and comfort from him.  We need to recognize that YHWH too is asking “How long?”

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith YHWH God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. (Exodus 10:3 KJV)

And YHWH said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? (Exodus 16:28 KJV)

And YHWH said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? (Numbers 14:11 KJV)

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. (Numbers 14:27 KJV)

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which YHWH God of your fathers hath given you? (Joshua 18:3 KJV)

 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? (Jeremiah 4:14 KJV)

 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; (Jeremiah 23:26 KJV)

 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. (Jeremiah 12:4 KJV)

 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for YHWH hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. (Jeremiah 31:22 KJV)

 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? (Jeremiah 47:5 KJV)

  Then Yeshua answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. (Matthew 17:17 KJV)

 While I patiently endure the suffering inflicted by the sins of others (as well as the pain of my own sinfulness), I must recall that YHWH patiently suffers waiting for me to confess, repent and restore, the damage done by my sins.  We must remember that Yeshua was not simply giving us an example of how to bear the cross, he was actually suffering our sins upon the cross!  As he has patiently borne the cross of our sins, so we too are asked to bear the cross of our brother’s sins. 

 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34 KJV)

 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12 KJV)

 The third revelation is related to the second.  We need to recognize that patience or longsuffering is an attribute of YHWH that was clearly embodied in Yeshua our Master. 

 And YHWH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YHWH, YHWH God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6 KJV)

 YHWH is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18 KJV)

 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15 KJV)

 O YHWH, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. (Jeremiah 15:15 KJV)

 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4 KJV)

 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Romans 9:22 KJV)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20 KJV)

 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15 KJV)

 Clearly patience and longsuffering are attributes of YHWH and Yeshua.  As the body of Messiah, filled with the Spirit of the Holy One we should be embodying the attributes of YHWH in our flesh and in our lives.  This is our calling as the children of Israel and the body of Messiah.  We are to be the image of YHWH in the world.  If YHWH is holy then we are to be holy.  If YHWH is longsuffering and patient then we too must be longsuffering and patient. 

 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (2 Corinthians 6:6 KJV)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2 KJV)

 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1:11 KJV)

 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12 KJV)

 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Yeshua Messiah might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16 KJV)

 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10 KJV)

 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV)

 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Messiah Yeshua: (Romans 15:5 KJV)

 We should understand that at those times when we are asked to endure the cross, but cannot see any possible reason for the request, it is in the longsuffering that YHWH is made manifest in our lives.  At times such as this, the cross we endure is not for us, but for a testimony for those around us who are in desperate need of faith.

 The fourth revelation is a simple one.  While we are enduring the cross we must try to remember that the story of the body of Messiah did not end with death upon the cross but with resurrection from the grave to a new and glorious life in the presence of the Father.  Regardless of what we suffer, and regardless of why we suffer, we must recognize that the suffering is temporary and that victory over death lays at the end of its working.

 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)

 We may also recognize that it is through the cross that YHWH builds our faith and perfects our character, making us a little less like me and a lot more like our Master, Yeshua.

 In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19 KJV)

 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua Messiah: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of the Holy One which is given unto us. (Romans 5:1-5 KJV)

 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:25 KJV)

 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 KJV)

 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12 KJV)

 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3-4 KJV)

 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7 KJV)

 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. ¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:10-11 KJV)

 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua Messiah. (2 Peter 1:4-8 KJV)

 Brothers and sisters, we must learn to patiently endure the cross as we wait upon the Father to answer our prayers, hear our cries, and heal our wounds. 

 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon YHWH, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9 KJV)

 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon YHWH our God, until that he have mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:2 KJV)

 But they that wait upon YHWH shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

 It is our faith in the character of YHWH that allows us to find the strength to patiently wait upon YHWH, trusting that what he wills, and what he allows, is consistent with his nature and character.  Therefore, even the cross must be understood to be good, holy, righteous, just, merciful and compassionate and about life and not death.  While the cross may repulse our flesh, our spirit touched by the love of YHWH will learn to embrace it.  For in the embracing of the cross the character and attributes of YHWH and the body of Messiah become manifest in our world.