YHVH's Seven Eyes

 Zechariah's prophecies are replete with descriptions that "dangle" in front of the reader like a grandfather clock's pendulum moving back and forth from one time period to another – contemporaneous with the prophet, his future, and all the way to our day and beyond. With this said, it would seem that one could make this kind of claim regarding much of the prophetic word. However, what is special about Zechariah is that he lived during a time of restoration (the return of the Jewish diaspora from Babylon). Many of his utterances, therefore, were focused on this topic, for his day and the future of a greater restoration, thus forming a template or a model for our day's restoration.

Zechariah's futuristic predictions also touch on the Messiah's first coming, AND on His second, as well as on other related events. The symbolism he uses in his multi-layered narratives, while having a profound meaning for his time, has an even greater significance for ours and for those yet to come. Thus, when Zechariah describes the articles for the Temple that was being built in his day, he does so in a manner that is far more than technical or matter of fact (in contrast to Ezra and Nehemiah, for example). Take, for instance, the seven-candle-branched menorah of chapter 4 with the two olive branches pouring their oil into it, and the appended statement to their description, regarding YHVH's Spirit. Encouraging his contemporaries to be involved in the construction of the Temple, Zechariah elaborates on the spiritual significance of its various parts and also their immediate (Spiritual) relevance to the events at hand.

As mentioned, these narratives are multi-layered, especially as they pertain to "restoration" and therefore have a current meaning for us. Here, for example, is a striking picture (though if the translation deviates from the original, it may not be seen): In chapter 3:9 Joshua the high priest is handed a stone with seven eyes (with the futuristic proclamation of "the iniquity of that land being removed in one day"). In chapter 4:10, these seven eyes are mentioned again: "For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of YHVH, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." In the Hebrew original, the reference to the seven eyes is highlighted thus: "these seven are the eyes of YHVH… that are wandering throughout the earth".

At the beginning of the same chapter, the golden lampstand – menorah – with its seven candles is described in detail (v. 2). When it states in verse 10 (in the Hebrew), "THESE are the eyes of YHVH," the question arises: what is the "these" pointing to? Is this an echo of YHVH's seven eyes? The Menorah was the only light source in the Mishkan and the Temple. Some of the Menorah's features resemble a tree (almond). Moreover, the Menorah was fed by the purest olive oil. It is easy to see Yeshua in these descriptions as the light of the world (John 9:5), the tree of life – the life giver (Mat. 20:28; John 1:4, 4:14; Revelation 22:14 etc. etc.), and the anointed high priest (Heb. 1:9; Ps. 45:7). Yeshua tells us that a lamp is not to be hidden, but is to be put on a stand to give off its light (Matt. 5:14-15), while in the next verse He proclaims that His followers are "the light of the world". According to Proverbs 20:2, "the lamp of YHVH is the soul of man which searches the innermost parts" (literal translation).

Together with the lampstand, YHVH's eyes, and the olive branches, notice the mention of the plumb line in chapter 4:10. Zechariah's prophetic pictures line up and reflect the natural and spiritual reality of his day, casting a vision on an even more glorious future.

If we were to summarize, YHVH's eyes, reminiscent of the lights of the Menorah, which is our soul/spirit, scan our innermost being, lighting us up so that we may become His light set up in the world. In this very dark world, these lights turn into revolving search beams of discernment that are needed, as Elohim ushers in the Restoration. Concurrently, with plumb line in hand, YHVH is measuring and preparing His living-stones Temple.

Out of the Archives - Updated "Ancestry and Identity"

 In today’s Hellenistic world of humanism, we tend to focus on our individual identity, choosing what is right in our own eyes. This Greek philosophy of life has led this generation to the ultimate state of no values and no true identity. It ignores any absolutes regarding divine law and order. It perpetuates the selfish, self-centered lifestyle to the point of complete blindness to the operation of the principle of cause-and-effect, or reaping and sowing, and hence exempts the individual from any accountability. The “Woke” mindset that is currently sweeping the Western world and causing chaos within its societies is a direct outcome of the loss of a moral compass and absolute values and standards.

The apostle Paul, writing to the Believers in Rome, makes note of the following: “For this reason Elohim gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain Elohim in their knowledge, Elohim gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality…” (Romans 1:26-29).

When a person does not have a clear idea of his identity, where he has come from, or his destiny, he is lost and prone to search in all the wrong places. In our day, one of those “wrong places”, which is examined and accepted by many, young and even old, is the growing affinity with Jihadist ideology. This is extremely dangerous for the younger generation, as they are presented with a lifestyle of breached boundaries, no guidelines, sexual promiscuity, low moral standards, and violence, especially as the latter is accompanied by some kind of “ideology”. Even before these young ones reach puberty, they think these trends and behaviors are the norm. Again, is this connected to the loss of identity or roots? What about us, as the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who have lost their corporate identity as “Israel/Ephraim?

Through the Prophet Jeremiah, YHVH says: "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, for You are YHVH my Elohim. Surely, after my turning, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, because I bore the reproach of my youth.'” (Jeremiah 31:18-19).

If Ephraim is still lost to his ancestral identity, how will this recognition of guilt for the sin of youth, his repentance, and return to his Elohim ever come to pass? Hundreds of prophecies pertain to Ephraim/Israel, the lost tribes, and their restoration, but with the objects of these prophecies being bereft of the knowledge of identity, some of those prophecies will never be fulfilled (at least not for the ones who are ignorant of who they are). However, has the Word of YHVH ever failed? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

“Not a word failed of any good thing which YHVH had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” (Joshua 21:45), and I might add, “all still will come to pass”.

YHVH sent His Spirit to blow from the four corners of the earth, to bring the whole House of Israel out from their graves and cause them to stand up as a mighty army in these days. Judah is to be the bow and Ephraim the arrow, and together they are to be a weapon in the hand of the Almighty (ref. Zech 9:13-14). Those sons of Zion are to come against the sons of Greece. But if the sons of Zion are still acting and behaving like the sons of Greece, whether by ignorance or willfully, how can they become a weapon against the Hellenistic influences of our day? Let us pray that the sons of Zion will return to their identity as YHVH’s firstborn, and: “Set up signposts, make landmarks; set [their] heart toward the highway, the way in which [they] went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, turn back to these your cities. How long will you go about, O you backsliding daughter?” (Jeremiah 31: 21-22).

If we, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, do not know who we are as their seed in this generation, none of the above scriptures, or for that matter, no prophecy that pertains to all Israel, will be of any consequence. To all of you who have the faith of your father Abraham (ref Rom 4:16), let no one deprive you of your identity, it is your birthmark and hope at present and for the future!

 

Independence Day

 I’m sure that all of you have heard by now about the fires set by the enemy’s arsonists here in Israel. It is not uncommon for these individuals to attack us in this way when we have hot, dry, and windy days. They especially love to target the forests around Jerusalem. 

We mark three special days in Israel shortly after Pesach (the latter being the original birth of the nation).  The first is Holocaust Day, in memory of the 6,000,000 Jewish lives who perished during the Second World War. A week later, we remember all those who have sacrificed their lives, making it possible for this country and State to exist, and along with them we also recall all the many terror victims whose lives were snuffed since the very beginning of the Jewish Aliya (returning to the land), starting in the 19^th century. It is only when this foundation is laid that on the subsequent day we celebrate our independence, on the date, Iyyar 5^th, that our first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, declared the establishment of the State. However, many of Independence Day's events were canceled because of the spread of the fires on Memorial Day. Our enemies within and without celebrated another victory, as they honor all those who gave their lives to destroy this country so that it will be just a memory in Jewish history. (And just as a reminder, the sirens woke us up again at 5:30 this morning, with a ballistic rocket from Yemen.)

Thus, typical of life in Israel, we did succeed in honoring the Day of Independence despite the fires, the evacuations from many places, and other situations, as the weather became very comfortable and most of the fires were contained. Independence Day is fraught with many official and State events and ceremonies, some of which occur at the President’s residence, while others also include members of world Jewry. The public celebrates mostly outdoors, with music in the evening and with picnics and barbeques during the day. This year, many of the parks surrounding Jerusalem could not be used for this purpose. So life goes on – amid the ongoing war we mourn our dead (past and present), we grieve with their families, we remember, we celebrate, we eat, we sing, we dance…. and as things stand now, sometimes in the midst of it all we run to the bomb shelter (and hopefully many of us to YHVH’s hiding place).

A couple of weeks ago, after reading Parashat Shmini (Lev 9-11), the two fires that played such an opposing role in the described scene loomed large in relationship to our situation here in the land. It seems that we are placed between two choices – either lifting a “holy sacrifice, acceptable to Elohim” (ref. Romans 1:12), or lighting up a “foreign fire which He had not commanded” (Lev. 10:1) by kindling flames of defiance, rebellion, anger and retaliation, something which has been all too frequent here among us. Then came the fires, especially in the vicinity of Jerusalem, which brought to bear the above thought all the more.

As we drove home from our private celebration with many friends, local and visiting, we discussed and wondered if our brothers from the Christian Zionist camp, as well as the Ephraimite camp, celebrated with us and with the Jewish communities out in the nations.  Hopefully none of us forgot that the gathering of the first stick/nation of Judah came about by a divine decree, which means that the same prophecy heralds the ingathering of the second stick of Joseph in the hand of Ephraim (see Ezekiel 37:19).  “Drawing closer” to one another, as it says in the Hebrew original, means celebrating and honoring the Almighty for this national day of Israel’s (re)birthday - a nation that was born in a day. "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons” (Isaiah 66:8).  Is Israel’s Independence Day a time to celebrate the hope of one day being united as one nation in the hand of YHVH?  'Thus says Adonai YHVH, ‘Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand"' (Ezekiel 37:19).