May the Holy One of Israel, Yah YAHWAH, the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who sent His Servant, Ben Ammi, to us in our life time that we might once again be blessed to hear the words of salvation, lift up His eternal countenance unto you one and all and give you the blessing of an eternal place in His eternal Kingdom!
As I sat yesterday with the family and we discussed the High Holy Day, I had a revelation about the day itself and what we should be about on it. As I explained to the family the order of atonement, I realized that the offerings that the High Priest made were called “sin” offerings, in Hebrew “חַטָּאת”, which literally means ‘to miss the mark’. This day is set aside to make atonement for the “sins” we have committed and not sought reconciliation for during the course of the year. This is important to note, because there is a great difference in an “offense” and a “sin”.
This day was not set aside to say “I am sorry for anything I may have done to offend you”; the sons of Aaron, the High Priest, died because they committed acts that were “sinful” in the eyes of the Creator, so much so that He took their very lives! This day is not about petty differences of opinion, but about states of mind and deeds which can cause you to lose your soul/life. This is the time to take a serious look at your life and see what direction you are going in and why, to understand what is acceptable to our Creator and what is not.
“17 Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
Isaiah 1
“3 Thus saith YHWH: Execute ye justice and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.”
Jeremiah 22
“6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.”
Hosea 6
“8 It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what YHWH doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”
Micah 6
Because we go to classes or wear fringes does not mean that we are righteous. And, conversely, if we don’t go to classes or wear fringes it does not infer that we are unrighteous! If we are doing the things that the classes and the fringes are to remind of us, then they have served their purpose; if I do all of the things quoted above and do not make a god out of material possessions, forgive my Brother or Sister and freely give of all that I possess, what more would the Creator ask of me?
These are the “marks” that we must hit, the standards we must meet. In our walking humbly with our God, we are open to hear and accept constructive criticisms; we will not bear a grudge against a person or go up and down as a tale-bearer, nor lie on or to our Brother or Sister. But, if so, we must do all we can to remove the blemish, that it not contaminate our whole being and cost us our soul/life. We must know what truly constitutes a “deadly sin”, one that can cause a person to lose his/her soul/life.
Pride- is excessive belief in one's own abilities that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
Envy - is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.
Gluttony - is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
Lust - is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
Wrath – strong vengeful anger or indignation: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”.
Greed - is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
Sloth - is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work
“There are six things YHWH hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19).
These are all spiritual characteristics which cause their possessor to commit “sinful” acts. These are the traits we must look for within ourselves and seek to weed out, so thereby we can distance ourselves from “sin” and the “sinful acts” it produces. We must be honest with ourselves and ask whether we are guilty of any of these traits or have tendency towards any of them. If not, then we are not in any danger of being found unacceptable in the eyes of our Creator.
And this brings me to another thought I had about Vows:
“22 When thou shalt vow a vow unto YHWH thy God, thou shalt not be slack to pay it; for YHWH thy God will surely require it of thee; and it will be sin in thee.
23 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
24 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt observe and do; according as thou hast vowed freely unto YHWH thy God, even that which thou hast promised with thy mouth.”
Deuteronomy 23
Clearly, from the above, once a person agrees to vow a vow, that person is held accountable for the contents of the words that come forth from his/her lips. To not keep the vow is to commit a “sin”! However, not agreeing to vow is not considered a sin; no one can be forced to commit/vow to something they don’t agree to. Once a vow is given, it is binding until such time as the parties acknowledge its fulfillment or agree to its absolution. It cannot be unilaterally modified; the parties involved must mutually agree to any proposed changes.
I am totally committed to the substance of the “Scroll of the Vows”, but there is obviously a need to modify the 4th vow, because the last line no longer applies. The name of the new Anointed Personage has yet to be revealed, therefore, this line cannot be truthfully stated.
“I will hear Thy voice through Thy Anointed servant, whom Thou has chosen to restore with truth the tabernacle of David that was fallen. We will close up the breaches thereof, judging and seeking judgment and hasting righteousness. And when they shall ask me “What is His name?”, I will declare it to be Ben Ammi, the Son of My People."
The Scroll of the Vows
Once Moses was gone, his dispensation of leadership also ceased. The same is true today; we will extol the teachings and legacy of Ben Ammi the Anointed throughout our generations, just as we do the works of Moses, but we cannot truthfully say that he is still in the position from which he performed those deeds.As YHWH prepared Joshua to succeed Moses, so also, I am sure, he has prepared one to take up where Ben Ammi left off. It is through this Anointed Personage that the voice of Yah YAHWAH will be heard:
“14 And YHWH said unto Moses: 'Behold, thy days approach that thou must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may give him a charge.' And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.
23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said: 'Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore unto them; and I will be with thee.'”
Deuteronomy 31
“2 'Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy ways prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for YHWH thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.'”
Joshua 1
The passing of the scepter of authority was begun while Moses yet lived and completed after his departure. Joshua was now the Anointed Personage:
“5 And Joshua said unto the people: 'Sanctify yourselves; for to-morrow YHWH will do wonders among you.'
6 And Joshua spoke unto the priests, saying: 'Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and pass on before the people.' And they took up the Ark of the Covenant, and went before the people.
7 And YHWH said unto Joshua: 'This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.”
Joshua 2
The Most High left no doubt in the minds of His people; as He was with Moses, so would He be with Joshua. Thus, the Anointed Personage to come will be lifted up by the Most High in a manner that will clearly demonstrate His relationship with His chosen one. He who sits on the throne of David will acknowledge he who sits on the throne of Israel/Ephraim, and together they will unite the people again into one nation upon the hills of Israel, and together go up to Zion, leading the people, to worship the Most High.
“4 In those days, and in that time, saith YHWH, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Yah YAHWAH, their God.
5 They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces hitherward: 'Come ye, and join yourselves to Yah YAHWAH in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten.'”
Jeremiah 50
Anaviel Ben Eleazer
24.09.15