In the last article
of the wilderness journey, I quoted the following scripture: "Then I saw that for all the causes
for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I [YHVH] had
put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous
sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also” (Jeremiah
3:8 emphases added). The failure of the Sinai engagement/betrothal was not due to YHVH’s unfaithfulness, but
His beloved’s. She just could not overcome the power of Sin that operated within
her and stand against the influence of her surroundings.
The natural fallen Adamic inclinations were working against her/them
(Israel). Although some were trying their best to keep all of the statutes,
laws and ordinances, the problem of the uncircumcised heart still
remained. The worship of the golden calf
soon after Israel had experienced YHVH’s presence and heard His voice, is but one
example. It was no different during the
days of the Mishkan in Shiloh, and when the two respective Temples stood in
Jerusalem, resulting in YHVH’s action and attitude toward her, as expressed by the prophet
in the above quote. Even the redeemed
New Covenant believers of today, notwithstanding the circumcised heart and
ability to hear the Spirit, are still under the influence of the power of Sin,
which has not been completely defeated (see Romans 7:5, 23).
Interestingly, the Jeremiah
excerpt does not mention Judah as being subject to all the conditions of the
divorce (“not my people”), and separation that ultimately
met the destiny of Northern Israel.
Thus, since YHVH still calls the Jews “ami” (“My people”), it may be
concluded that Judah is still bound to the Law Giver through the
Sinai agreement. Judah was assigned by the Almighty to carry the scepter of the
Torah “until Shiloh comes” (Gen. 49:10). Remember, YHVH’s purpose for
giving the commandments was to reveal Sin and bring His people to the knowledge
of its existence and influence (see Romans 3:20). Since this was all
planned and foreknown by YHVH, He immediately told Moses to build the Mishkan and set up
the priesthood. This explains why the
religious Jews of today long for the Temple to be rebuilt, as without it and
its sacrificial system there is no atonement for Sin, nor the implementation of
the demands that the Torah places upon the Levitical Priesthood. This provision of grace, through animal
sacrifices in set apart edifices, was to last until such a day that YHVH would
usher in a more permanent solution to the spiritual heart condition of His
people and ultimately for all humanity.
So when the New Covenant was brought to light through the blood of the
Messiah, did Judah’s role end as Law giver? If so, then there would be no need
for the Torah and the Prophets. The
apostle makes clear that the commandments and the Torah were given to lead one
to the Messiah. “Therefore
the law was our tutor to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians
3:24).
As already mentioned,
Judah was given the scepter of the Torah and the responsibility to hold the
commandments and the instructions for righteousness before the eyes of a sinful
humanity, especially their brothers, who have become ‘gentilized’. This
assignment, obviously, has not alleviated or exempted the Jews from having the
same contaminated nature as the rest of humanity. That, however, did not stop the Almighty from
fulfilling His word for and through the House
of Judah. Judah
Judaism’s demand to
submit to rabbinic authority is still a carryover from the days of Moses, when
the people asked him to hear from Elohim for them. “Then they said to Moses, ‘you speak with
us, and we will hear; but let not Elohim speak with us, lest we die’"
(Exodus 20:19). Yeshua infers to this
when addressing His followers: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in
Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they
tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their
works; for they say, and do not do” (Matthew 23:1-3).
Again, YHVH used
the Jews to carry the Law and prophetic writings to the nations for the purpose of
convicting the world of Sin and unrighteousness, which then leads to the need
for atonement and forgiveness by the Creator.
Throughout Church
history it has been promulgated that the Gentile Church has replaced the Jewish
People. The interpretation (by the ‘Church fathers’) of Paul’s letters led to
casting aside of the Torah of Moses and with it also the Jewish People, along
with their prophetic calling. If that was
what the apostle had in mind, then why did he make the following statements: “What advantage then has the Jew [House
of Judah], or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way!
Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of Elohim…” (Romans
3:1-2 emphases added). Or “... to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the Covenants,
the giving of the law, the service of Elohim, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom,
according to the flesh, Messiah” (Romans 9:4-5 emphasis added)… ? And there
is more. This time addressing Timothy: "All scripture [the Tanach] is
given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). This
last one, in itself, is enough to convince anyone that its author was not
dismissing the Torah, Writings and the Prophets. On the contrary. “For what if some did not believe? Will their
unbelief make the faithfulness of Elohim without effect? Certainly not! Rather, let Elohim be found true [faithful
and just]” (Romans 3:1-4). Regardless of
the present heart condition of Judah
So, what about
the divorced House of Israel, which was cut off and sent away? Do YHVH’s
purposes and plans for them still hold true?
If not, His word has failed and Elohim would be found to be a liar. “For the gifts and the calling of Elohim
are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29a) “In the same way Elohim desiring even
more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose,
interposed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it
is impossible for Elohim to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have
fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as
an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters
within the veil [the holy of holies] Yeshua our High Priest” (Hebrews
6:17-19), and if I may add, also our Bridegroom.
“I
will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness
and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy;
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know YHVH” (Hosea
2:20).
All of
these attributes of the Father were seen when Yeshua’s blood-covered body was
hanging on the execution stake. Just moments before Yeshua cried out
“Eli, Eli, why have You forsaken me”. The Father took the Sin infested life of
Man and immersed it into the flesh body of Him who knew no sin, so that Yeshua
could take that life into death with Himself, fulfilling the judicial
consequence of Adam’s disobedience. Thus, we died with Him and were
buried with Him. The good news is that Yeshua’s flesh body did not stay
in the grave. Because we were in Him in death, we are also with Him in
His resurrection. This is how we, the adulteress and harlot, have
become “a virgin” as expressed by Jeremiah: “Turn back, O virgin of
Israel, turn back to these your cities”(31:21). "Then shall
the virgin rejoice in the dance… And My people shall be satisfied with My
goodness, says YHVH" (Jeremiah 31:13-14).
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