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Adar 25, 5762 / Mar 9, 2002
II Adar 1, 5765 / Mar
12, 2005
II Adar 1, 5768 / Mar 8, 2008
I Adar 29, 5771 / Mar 5,
2011
II Adar 27, 5774 / Mar 29,
2014
Adar 27, 5777 / Mar 25, 2017
Adar 25, 5783 / Mar 21, 2020
Adar 25, 5780 / Mar 18, 2023
- Two commentaries
follow -
Hash'kem Baboker /
Rise Up Early in the Morning
SCRIPTURES should be read first
In the midst of reading about the ten plagues
that God used to deliver Israel from Egypt, let us consider the future plagues
and the deliverance of Gods people from this world of sin.
Before the coming Millennial Sabbath, when Yeshua
will reign for a thousand years, the Erev-Shabbat fires of war will be ignited.
There will be massive destruction and death on the earth before the
thousand-year peace. Following the great Sabbath, the worlds armies are going
to be gathered against Jerusalem, but all of the armies will be destroyed. The
Havdallah fire from heaven will be extinguished in their blood. Then Yeshua will
dwell with us on a renewed earth for eternity.
Tribulation preceding the Sabbath:
From
His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations,
and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the
fierce wrath of God, the Almighty Revelation 19:15.
The Millennial Sabbath:
Blessed and holy is the one who has a
part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but
they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a
thousand years. When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released
from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four
corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the
number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad
plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city,
and fire came down from heaven and devoured them Revelation 20:6-9.
The Renewed Earth:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for
the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any
sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the
throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell
among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them
Revelation 21:1-3.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit
the earth Matthew 5:5.
The righteous will inherit the earth and
dwell in it forever Psalm 37:29.
Isaiah 34:
(V.1) Shma, O nations! Hear / obey what
Yahweh has to tell you!
(V.2) Yahwehs indignation is against all the
nations! Their armies shall be destroyed, the hills drenched with blood,
the corpses making a great stench. Concerning Edom, it is Yahwehs day of
vengeance, and for Zion, the year of recompense.
Present-day Jordan is where part of Edom was
3,000 years ago, south of Israel. Today, Edom is seen as representing the Roman
Empires world-wide influence.
In Revelation 18, we read that Babylon the
Great is fallen! . . . The kings of the earth have committed immorality with
her. Babylon is in present-day Iraq, east of Israel. But the description of
Babylon here strongly resembles Rome, and Rome has to the present perpetuated
the Babylonian religious system that began with Nimrod worship.
Our country uses a Roman calendar for years (AD
2005), months (January through December), hours of the day (midnight to
midnight), and national holidays. Much of our religious culture is Roman from
Sunday observance to church hierarchy and doctrine.
God says, Come out of her, my people, so that
you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues (v.4). In
one day, Babylon will be plagued, and burned (Revelation 18:8). God says to
rejoice over this (v.20)! Next we see Yeshua beginning to reign, and the
Marriage supper of the Lamb (v.19:7). This is what we rehearse in the Feast of
Tabernacles, the Marriage Feast all nations falling, and becoming the Kingdom
of Messiah. This places the time just prior to the beginning of the Millennial
Sabbath, the last thousand years before the earth is cleansed by fire.
Edom will be burned, and no man will even pass
through it. Thorns and nettles will grow there, and wild beasts and monsters
will dwell in it. Yahweh will gather the animals and portion out the land to
them, and it will be theirs forever (v.17).
Revelation 8:
Prior to the Millennial Sabbath, the world will
see judgments reminiscent of the plagues on Egypt. John prophetically saw seven
angels with seven trumpets. As each angel sounded his trumpet, a plague came
upon the world. With the first five trumpets there is hail and fire mixed with
blood (v.7), a third of the sea becoming blood (v.8), a third of the waters
becoming deadly bitter (v.11), a third of the day being dark and a third of the
night without moon or stars (v.12), and smoke ascending and bringing locusts
(v.9:2-3). It will become so horrible that men will seek to die, and will not be
able to die (v.6)!
Psalm 46:
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For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of
Korah, set to Alamoth.
This Psalm was presented to the Temple Choir
director.
It was to be sung by alamoth young
soprano women.
It was for the sons of Korah:
(Numbers 16) Korah and three others led 250
leaders in Israel to rebel against Moses. God caused the earth to open
up and swallow Korah and his adult household and possessions. But the
sons of Korah did not die (v.26:11). |
(V.1-2) God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the
earth should change. God defends us, and also strengthens us for the time
of battle. If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31. We
therefore need not fear, even if we see the world being destroyed around us!
One Jewish commentary (Chazah Zion) says that
this refers to the sons of Korah, who received refuge, strength, and help
when they witnessed the earth opening up and swallowing their families. Another
(Radak) says that this refers to the travails of the advent of Messiah.
(V.3) Though (earths) waters roar and foam,
though the mountains quake at its swelling pride is a metaphor for the
armies of the earth Gog and Magog roaring, then in defeat being covered with
rubble.
(V.4) There is a river whose streams make
glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. This river
is seen in the Eden of old and the Eden / Paradise of the future. Yeshua will
dwell in this city, when he dwells on the renewed earth with us.
Now
a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and
became four rivers Genesis 2:10.
Then
he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the
throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of
the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its
fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations. Revelation 22:1-2.
(V.6-9) The nations made an uproar, the
kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. Yahweh of hosts is
with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Come, behold the works of
Yahweh, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the
end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the
chariots with fire. In the Psalm, we see what the prophets tell us, that
the nations will be gathered against Gods people, but He Who is Almighty will
defend us and deliver us. He will put a sure and permanent end to the war.
(V.10-11) Cease striving and know that I am
God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Yahweh of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. We
can rest in knowing our Sovereign God. He is far higher that all the nations
with their armies. He is ruling in the affairs of men, though they cannot see
this. Yahweh the commander of the armies of heaven is our defense and
strength.
Readings:
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who chose us from among all peoples by
giving us Your Torah.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
1
Amen* 20 Now Yahweh said to Moses, "Rise early in the morning and present
yourself before Pharaoh, as he comes out to the water, and say to him, 'Thus
says Yahweh, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 21 "For if you will not
let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of insects
on you and on your servants and on your people and into your houses; and the
houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of insects, and also the ground
on which they dwell. 22 "But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen,
where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, in order
that you may know that I, Yahweh, am in the midst of the land. 23 "And I will
put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall
occur."'" 24 Then Yahweh did so. And there came great swarms of insects into the
house of Pharaoh and the houses of his servants and the land was laid waste
because of the swarms of insects in all the land of Egypt. 25 And Pharaoh called
for Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God within the land."
2
Amen* 26 But Moses said, "It is not right to do so, for we shall sacrifice
to Yahweh our God what is an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice what
is an abomination to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not then stone
us? 27 "We must go a three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to
Yahweh our God as He commands us." 28 And Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that
you may sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go
very far away. Make supplication for me." 29 Then Moses said, "Behold, I am
going out from you, and I shall make supplication to Yahweh that the swarms of
insects may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people
tomorrow; only do not let Pharaoh deal deceitfully again in not letting the
people go to sacrifice to Yahweh." 30 So Moses went out from Pharaoh and made
supplication to Yahweh. 31 And Yahweh did as Moses asked, and removed the swarms
of insects from Pharaoh, from his servants and from his people; not one
remained. 32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let
the people go.
3
Amen* 9:1 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and speak to him, 'Thus
says Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
2 "For if you refuse to let them go, and continue to hold them, 3 behold, the
hand of Yahweh will come with a very severe pestilence
on your livestock which are in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys,
on the camels, on the herds, and on the flocks. 4 "But Yahweh will make a
distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that
nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel."'" 5 And Yahweh set
a definite time, saying, "Tomorrow Yahweh will do this thing in the land." 6 So
Yahweh did this thing on the morrow, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of
the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and
behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of
Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
4
Amen* 8 Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "Take for yourselves handfuls
of soot from a kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of
Pharaoh. 9 "And it will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will
become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of
Egypt." 10 So they took soot from a kiln, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses
threw it toward the sky, and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and
beast. 11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils,
for the boils were on the magicians as well as on all the Egyptians. 12 And
Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not listen to them, just as Yahweh
had spoken to Moses.
5
Amen* 13 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and stand
before Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, "Let
My people go, that they may serve Me. 14 "For this time I will send all My
plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that
there is no one like Me in all the earth. 15 "For if by now I had put forth My
hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, you would then have been
cut off from the earth. 16 "But, indeed, for this cause I have allowed you to
remain, in order to show you My power, and in order to proclaim My name through
all the earth. 17 "Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting
them go. 18 "Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail,
such as has not been seen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. 19
"Now therefore send, bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to
safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home,
when the hail comes down on them, will die."'" 20 The one among the servants of
Pharaoh who feared the word of Yahweh made his servants and his livestock flee
into the houses; 21 but he who paid no regard to the word of Yahweh left his
servants and his livestock in the field.
6
Amen* 22 Now Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky,
that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, on
man and on beast and on every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt."
23 And Moses stretched out his staff toward the sky, and Yahweh sent thunder and
hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And Yahweh rained hail on the land of
Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the
hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became
a nation. 25 And the hail struck all that was in the field through all the land
of Egypt, both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and
shattered every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the sons
of Israel were, there was no hail. 27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and
said to them, "I have sinned this time; Yahweh is the righteous one, and I and
my people are the wicked ones. 28 "Make supplication to Yahweh, for there has
been enough of God's thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay
no longer."
7
Amen* 29 And Moses said to him, "As soon as I go out of the city, I will
spread out my hands to Yahweh; the thunder will cease, and there will be hail no
longer, that you may know that the earth is Yahweh's. 30 "But as for you and
your servants, I know that you do not yet fear Yahweh God." 31 (Now the flax and
the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.
32 But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they ripen late.) 33 So
Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread out his hands to Yahweh; and
the thunder and the hail ceased, and rain no longer poured on the earth. 34 But
when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he
sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 And Pharaoh's heart
was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as Yahweh had
spoken through Moses.
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living
Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
______________________
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who selected good prophets, delighting
in their words which were spoken truthfully.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the
Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,
and the prophets of truth and
righteousness."
Isaiah 34:11
But pelican and
hedgehog shall possess it, and owl and raven shall dwell in it; and He shall
stretch over it the line of desolation and the plumb line of emptiness.
Psalm 46
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah,
set to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not
fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the
heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake
at its swelling pride. Selah. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the
city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of
her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations
made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7
Yahweh of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. 8 Come,
behold the works of Yahweh, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. 9 He makes
wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in
two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 "Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 Yahweh
of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
Revelation
8:1 9:6
1 And when He
broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God; and seven trumpets were given
to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden
censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers
of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the
smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of
the angel's hand. 5 And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the
fire of the altar and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder
and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake. 6 And the seven angels
who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. 7 And the first
sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood,
and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a
third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. 8 And
the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire
was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became
blood; 9 and a third of the creatures, which were in the sea and had
life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10 And the third angel
sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on
a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters; 11 and the name of the star
is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood; and many men died
from the waters, because they were made bitter. 12 And the fourth angel sounded,
and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were
smitten, so that a third of them might be darkened and the day might not shine
for a third of it, and the night in the same way. 13 And I looked, and I heard
an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those
who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the
three angels who are about to sound!"
9:1 And the
fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth;
and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 2 And he opened the
bottomless pit; and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great
furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. 3 And
out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as
the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And they were told that they should not
hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree,
but only the men who do not have the seal of God on
their foreheads. 5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to
torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion
when it stings a man. 6 And in those days men will seek death and will not find
it; and they will long to die and death flees from them.
"Blessed are You, Yahweh
our God, King of the Universe,
Rock of Ages, righteous
throughout all generations.
You are the faithful God,
promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,
for all Your words are true
and righteous.
Faithful are You, Yahweh
our God, and faithful are Your words,
for no word of Yours shall
remain unfulfilled;
You are a faithful and
merciful God and King.
Blessed are You, Yahweh our
God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."
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