Messiah in Sukkot Chapter 4
- Eliyahu (Elijah) will come
- The Heart of the Fathers will be restored to the hearts of the children
- The Heart (Living Torah) of the Seven Shepherds
- Leviticus 23:34-36
- Reclining with the Patriarchs during Sukkot
- Honored Shepherd (Day #1) – Heart of Father Avraham
- Honored Shepherd (Day #2) – Heart of Father Yitzchak
- Honored Shepherd (Day #3) – Heart of Father Ya’akov
- Honored Shepherd (Day #4) – Heart of Father Yosef
- Honored Shepherd (Day #5) – Heart of Father Mosheh
- Honored Shepherd (Day #6) – Heart of Father Aharon
- Honored Shepherd (Day #7) – Heart of Father David
Eliyahu (Elijah) will come:
הנה אנכי שלח לכם את אליה הנביא לפני בוא יום ה’ הגדול והנורא׃והשיב לב־אבות על־בנים ולב בנים על־אבותם פן־אבוא והכיתי את־הארץ חרם׃
הִנֵּה אָֽנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ לָכֶם אֵת אֵלִיָּה הַנָּבִיא לִפְנֵי בֹּוא יֹום ה’ הַגָּדֹול וְהַנֹּורָֽא׃ וְהֵשִׁיב לֵב־אָבֹות עַל־בָּנִים וְלֵב בָּנִים עַל־אֲבֹותָם פֶּן־אָבֹוא וְהִכֵּיתִי אֶת־הָאָרֶץ חֵֽרֶם׃
“Behold I am going to send you Elijah, the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD, And he will restore the heart of the patriarchs (לב־אבות-forefathers) to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers (על־אבותם-fatherhood) lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
The Heart of the Fathers will restore the hearts of the children:
To understand this passage of Scripture we need to define the terms being used here from a corporate context. “Fathers” here applies to all Israel. The fathers of Israel (אבות-patriarchs) are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (etc.). We are not the Fathers of Israel. The patriarchs of Israel are the fathers who are prophetically in view here.
Therefore, God is not talking about the two Jewish fathers Chuck and David. If you are a Jewish father He is not talking about you either. The fathers that are being referenced to here begins with the father of us all—-Father Abraham (האב אברהם). He is the first among the fathers and he is most blessed to be called the Friend of God. Father Abraham is both our physical father (Israel) and our spiritual father (Israel and the believing Gentiles). So the “Heart of the Fathers” is not a reference to all fathers; rather it is a specific reference to “The Heart” of our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (etc.)
The Heart (Living Torah) of the Seven Shepherds:
In our celebration of the Festival of Sukkot—in addition to our fathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph—we recognize (honor) three other patriarchs These three aditional fathers are: Moses, Aaron, and David. These latter three spiritual leaders are counted among the patriarchs of Israel because they represent the three offices instituted by Adonai Eloheinu (the LORD our God). These three offices are that of Prophet, High Priest, and King. All three of these offices are now held jointly by our heavenly Messiah – HaMashiach Yeshua. So during the seven days of our Jewish celebration of Sukkot we give special recognition to seven guests of honor. These seven most honored guests are called the seven “Ushpizin” (אושפיזין-“Honored Guests”). They are:
The Seven Holy Shepherds: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, and David.
During the seven days of Sukkot each of these Seven Shepherds act as an Honored Guest of the Day. The order begins with father Abraham and is completed on the great last day of the festival with King David. In Malachi 4:5-6 there is a reference to the Torah of the Patriarchs (the “Heart” of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.) captivating our hearts: the hearts of the children. For we are to love the Living Torah (teaching) of the Holy One that proceeds out of the patriarchs’ teaching. As just stated previously: during the seven day period of Sukkot (the Festival of Booths) there is an honored patriarchal guest for each day. Our receiving (hearing, understanding and obeying) the unique Living Torah lessons of each of these honored guests is what is meant by “restoring” the children’s hearts to the Heart of the patriarchs (the fatherhood). As we celebrate Chag HaSukkot and study the D’var HaShem (Word of God) together keep in mind the following passage:
Leviticus 23:34-36:
דבר אל־בני ישראל לאמר בחמשה עשר יום לחדש השביעי הזה חג הסכות שבעת ימים ל ה’׃ ביום הראשון מקרא־קדש כל־מלאכת עבדה לא תעשו׃ שבעת ימים תקריבו אשה ל ה’ ביום השמיני מקרא־קדש יהיה לכם והקרבתם אשה ל ה’ עצרת הוא כל־מלאכת עבדה לא תעשו׃
דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֜ר יֹ֗ום לַחֹ֤דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי֙ הַזֶּ֔ה חַ֧ג הַסֻּכֹּ֛ות שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים לַ ה’׃ בַּיֹּ֥ום הָרִאשֹׁ֖ון מִקְרָא־קֹ֑דֶשׁ כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים תַּקְרִ֥יבוּ אִשֶּׁ֖ה לַ ה’ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַשְּׁמִינִ֡י מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה לָכֶ֜ם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֨ם אִשֶּׁ֤ה לַֽ ה’ עֲצֶ֣רֶת הִ֔וא כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃
Speak to the children of Israel, saying, on the *fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is Chag HaSukkot (חג הסכות) to HaShem (the NAME). On the first day shall be a mikra-kodesh (מקרא־קדש-holy assembly); you shall not do any ordinary work. On each of the seven festival days you must present offerings to HaShem by fire. On the eighth day you must gather again for holy assembly and present another offering to HaShem by fire. It is a solemn closing assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.
Reclining with the Patriarchs during Sukkot:
{Classical and Mishnaic Hebrew}
וַאֲנִי אֹמֵר לָכֶם רַבִּים יָבֹאוּ מִמִּזְרָח וּמִמַּעֲרָב וְיָסֵבּוּ עִם־אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב בְּמַלְכוּת הַשָׁמָיִם׃
אני אומר לכם, רבים יבואו ממזרח וממערב ויסבו עם אברהם ויצחק ויעקב במלכות השמים. פ
אֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם, רַבִּים יָבוֹאוּ מִמִּזְרָח וּמִמַּעֲרָב וְיָסֵבּוּ עִם אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב בְּמַלְכוּת הַשָּׁמַיִם. פ
“I say to you, many will come from east and west and recline (sit down) with Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov in the kingdom of Heaven.”
*The Messiah Yeshua
Honored Shepherd (Day #1) – Heart of Father Avraham:
The Heart (Torah) of father Abraham is one of loving God our Father.
Father Abraham’s teaching is about our heavenly Father. In Abraham’s life we see that it was Adonai Avinu (the LORD our Father) who sent His beloved Son M’shicho (His anointed one) to sacrifice his life for our salvation (Genesis 22). A great deal of father Abraham’s Torah (heart) is devoted to teaching us that we Jews (and the gentiles) are Justified by faith in the (perfect) favor and kind (gracious) works of the Spirit of the Holy One; and not by our own (deficient) works.
Honored Shepherd (Day #2) – Heart of Father Yitzchak:
The Heart (Torah) of father Isaac is about loving the Messiah.
Isaac (lit. Laughter) was born into this world as a result of a miraculous conception (Genesis 21:2). Isaac’s Torah (teaching) illustrates the birth, death and resurrection of the Messiah. The life of father Isaac (האב יצחק) also illustrates the Messiah ben Avraham taking a woman (gentile) convert to be his bride. This bride (Rebekah) is taken into the tent of Sarah (Genesis 24:61-65) which represents “heaven”—the Jerusalem “above“.
Insight #1. The (now) converted Jewish bride in view here is the body of Messiah composed of a remnant of both Jews and believing Gentiles. As to the meaning of the bride of Isaac (the Messiah) being taken into the tent of Sarah (heaven) we recommend you study further the mystery of the resurrection and translation of the Bride of Messiah in the document, “Messiah in Rosh HaShanah” (cf. chapters 9, 10, 11, 12).
Insight #2. Isaac was sacrificed on Mount Moriah during a prophetic role play that was acted out by his father Abraham. Three days after Isaac’s mock death was acted out on Mount Moriah the beloved son Isaac returned to his father Abraham’s house (Genesis 22). Later, after an unknown period of time had elapsed, Isaac took his converted (gentile) cousin Rebekah into his mother’s tent—to be his one and only bride—-who would bear him two twin sons. The eldest son being Esau and the youngest son being named “Jacob.”
Insight #3. Ultimately Rebekah’s favorite son was Jacob. One day all the (converted gentile) followers of the Messiah Yeshua will favor “Jacob.”
Insight #4. The Assembly of Messiah will not truly be the Rebekah of the Moshia HaOlam (the Savior of the World) until all its (gentile) members treat with kindness and favor the people and nation of Israel. Regretfully, this will not happen to the fullest extent required until our heavenly Messiah (who Isaac is a type of) returns from Sarah’s Tent (heaven) with his bride (who Rebekah is a type of) to finally establish Adonai our God’s kingdom rule on earth; thereby fulfilling all of His promises to our Jewish Patriarchs and His Prophets—-the restitution of everything (“all things”).
Insight #5. Jacob, therefore, in addition to being a prophet, is a type of the Nation of Israel. Rebekah is a type of the body of Messiah. The Assembly of Messiah, the Bride of Messiah (כלת המשיח-Kallat HaMashiach), is composed of both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Adonai Avinu (our Father) through faith in His Messiah, the “Salvation of HaShem” (יֵשׁוּעַ-lit. Yeshua). This international body of believers represents a ‘prototype’ of things to come. One day this remnant of Messiah Yeshua’s followers will grow into the very great kingdom of God that our prophets spoke of. Presently the Kallat HaMashiach represent a *minority of the human population.
*We believe at present that less than ten percent of the global population really believes in the God of Israel and His Messiah. Later, in the restored kingdom of Israel and the (future) Commonwealth of Israel we believe over ninety percent of the world population will believe in the God of Israel and His Messiah (הושיעה נא-“Save us now!”).
Insight #6. One day these global ambassadors—representatives from every nationality and ethnic group—will be resurrected or translated in glorified bodies and they will ascend into heaven (for a time). As the Holy One’s perfected servants this remnant of God’s messengers (שליחים-shlichim, emissaries) will one day return from Sarah’s Tent (Heaven) to assist the Messiah in his leading over ninety per cent of the earth’s populace to a saving faith in Adonai our Father and our God. The Messiah will build a Temple in the center of Israel (at the ancient site of Shiloh) and the entire world’s populace will acknowledge that their God is El-Yisrael (the God of Israel) and that during the age of the messianic Kingdom there will be only one capitol city for all the world (Jerusalem) and one *Temple for all the world (at Shiloh).
*Messiah in Rosh HaShannah II and Chanukkah II, “Shiloh the Place,” Chapter 4.
Insight #7. We believe when the millennial harvest season has been completed over two-thirds of humanity—all the men, women, and children who have ever lived on earth will have been saved (received the gift of eternal life). This means that the final number of elect persons (children of God) who will live forever with God will exactly correspond to the number of the righteous holy angels who have remained faithful to God. This also means the number of those who will not be saved—who will refuse to be delivered from their sin by the grace of God—will exactly correspond to the number of the unrighteous angels who have rebelled against God.
*Two-thirds of the holy angels have remained faithful to the rule of God.
**One-third of the holy angels have rebelled and followed the evil one.
Honored Shepherd (Day #3) – Heart of Father Ya’akov:
The Heart (Torah) of father Jacob (האב יעקב), who is protected and preserved by Adonai (the LORD), he is the “Supplanter” of the evil world system. He replaces the evil world system on earth with the Rule of God (lit. meaning of Yisra’el). Jacob is about loving the Spirit of Holiness and hating (overcoming and replacing) the evil world system. The ha-olam (Hebrew) and the cosmos (Greek) will permanently be replaced with the rule of the Spirit of Holiness in the coming messianic age—-the age of the *kingdom of God.
*Israel and the Commonwealth of Israel.
The Heart (Torah) of Jacob is about the sanctifying work of the Spirit of the Holy One.
We observe in Jacob’s life the struggle of growing up as a “called out” one (believer). Jacob was elect of God from childhood, through adolescence, to maturity. In this developmental process we discover:
Developmental step #1. In the beginning we discover in our childhood that Adonai Eloheinu (the LORD our God) is our eternal Father and that “our sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.”
Developmental step #2. Next, we are matured to young adulthood where we become strong in the Word of God and are able to “overcome the evil one.”
Developmental step #3. Finally, some of us even mature to spiritual parenthood where we come to (supernaturally) “know Him who is from the beginning.”
“Knowing Him” who is from the beginning (the Eternal One) indicates we have learned from experience (obedience) to walk in a intimate friendship with the Spirit of God (our Father); according to the developmental help and agency of the Indwelling Presence of His Spirit (the Real – Oral Torah).
By the phrase “knowing God” we are referring to the actual (supernatural) experience of relational closeness to the Holy One. Not just (natural) intellectual attainment. Our spiritual parents (or “Fathers” and “Mothers”) as the Scriptures call them are those people who act as role models to us all and teach us by example how to live a life of loving our Father in heaven, His Messiah, and each other.
Our spiritual fathers have all “known Him who is from the beginning.” By the power of the Spirit of Holiness these persons possessed both a reflexive (supernatural) discernment of good and evil and a gift of wisdom—a (supernatural) mastery of the art of living. We also should not forget the elect women of our faith. Our spiritual Mothers (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah etc.) also have exemplified (supernatural) discernment and wisdom. These elect women have taught us by their example of humility and grace to “walk” in the truth and love (unity) of the Spirit of the Holy One.
Honored Shepherd (Day #4) – Heart of Father Yosef:
The Heart (Torah) of Joseph is about the glorification of the Messiah and the entire kingdom of God by the Spirit of the Holy One.
In the Jewish besorah (good news) of the “Grace of Adonai (the LORD)” we read: “But when it was now the midst (middle) of the Festival (of Sukkot) Yeshua went up into the Temple and began to teach.” The Messiah timed His appearance at Jerusalem very carefully. He made certain that he did not appear at Jerusalem until the day of Yosef’s Torah (his witness; i.e. his teaching).
Yeshua is both the Messiah ben Yosef and the Messiah ben David.
In his first coming Yeshua was the Suffering (priest) Messiah ben Yosef; like the beloved son Joseph in Genesis; and in his second coming Yeshua will return to Israel to be the Conquering (king) Messiah ben David; like his ancestor king David .
Father Joseph (האב יוסף) was at the first the beloved suffering son and at the last the beloved “glorified” son (1, 2). Initially his brothers acted in a jealous hateful manner to their brother Yosef because he was the righteous one sent to them by their father to check on their deeds; and their deeds were wicked. So Yosef had to truthfully report to his father and their father Jacob of their wicked deeds (Genesis 37:2).
Yet Yosef, who was enslaved by his brothers, imprisoned by gentiles, and “declared dead” by his father Israel (Jacob), ultimately overcame all of his difficult circumstances; eventually ascending to rule over “all of the land of Egypt;” even riding in the (second) chariot throne of the Pharaoh, acting as his (proxy) ruler over all the *world. This honor enabled Yosef ben Yaakov (Yisrael) to save all of his Jewish family from starvation during a world-wide seven year famine.
Incredibly in spite of his brothers’ hateful acts toward him, Yosef completely “forgave” his brothers; and so at the end the hated one became the beloved one of all of his brothers (Genesis 37-50).
*Ancient Egypt in the Torah is a prophetic symbol of all “the world” (HaOlam).
Joseph’s Torah (Heart) is about glorifying the Messiah Yeshua, revealing who God has favored him to be. He is not only the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua is Melekh HaGoyim—the King of (all) the Nations. Our heavenly Father bears witness to His most favored son, His Messiah of “all the world.” He is the one who comes in the name of HaShem. For his name is—the “Salvation of HaShem” (Yeshua).
Honored Shepherd (Day #5) – Heart of Father Moshe:
On the fifth, sixth and seventh days of Sukkot, we honor the Heart (Torah) of our fathers Moses, Aaron and David. The messianic teaching of the final three days of Chag HaSukkot are a witness to the three permanent offices that God has assigned to M’shicho (His proxy ruler). These three offices are foreshadowed in the lives of the last three ushpizin (אושפיזין-“Honored Guests”)—-Moses, Aaron, and David. Therefore, the three permanent offices of the Messiah that are celebrated (honored) in the latter time of the Festival of Sukkot are: the Prophet (Moses), the High Priest (Aaron), and the King (David). As to the first teaching (witness) of the three offices of Messiah:
The Heart (Torah) of father Moses is that of the “Prophet.”
During the messianic observance of the Festival of Sukkot, the Prophet Moses (Hebrew: the “Drawn Out” one; Egyptian: “Son“) is explicitly referred to. In the fourth and final Besorah of the “Grace of Adonai” in the Brit HaChadashah the Messiah rebuked his fellow Jewish brothers for not spiritually understanding the spiritual meaning of Moses’ teachings regarding circumcision, observance of the Sabbath, making righteous judgments, and doing the righteous works of the Spirit of the Holy One:
הֲלֹא משֶׁה נָתַן לָכֶם אֶת־הַתּוֹרָה וְאֵין־אִישׁ מִכֶּם עֹשֶׂה הַתּוֹרָה מַדּוּעַ תְּבַקְשׁוּ לְהָרְגֵנִי׃ וַיַּעַן הָעָם וַַיֹּאמַר שֵׁד בָּךְ מִי מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהָרְגֶךָ׃ וַיַּעַן יֵשׁוּעַ וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם מַעֲשֶׂה אֶחָד עָשִׂיתִי וְכֻלְּכֶם עָלָיו תִּתְמָהוּ׃ משֶׁה נָתַן לָכֶם הַמִּילָה אַךְ לֹא מִמּשֶׁה הִיא כִּי אִם־מִן־הָאָבוֹת וּבְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת תָּמוּלוּ כָל־זָכָר׃ וְעַתָּה אִם־תִּמּוֹל עָרְלַת אָדָם בַּשַּׁבָּת לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר לֹא־תוּפַר תּוֹרַת משֶׁה מַה־תִּקְצְפוּ עָלַי כִּי רִפֵּאתִי הָאִישׁ כֻּלּוֹ בַּשַּׁבָּת׃ אַל־תִּשְׁפְּטוּ לְמַרְאֵה עָיִן כִּי אִם־מִשְׁפַּט־צֶדֶק שְׁפֹטוּ׃
הלא משה נתן לכם את התורה ואין איש מכם מקים את התורה. מדוע אתם מבקשים להרג אותי? השיב ההמון: שד בך, מי מבקש להרג אותך? ענה ישוע ואמר להם: מעשה אחד עשיתי וכלכם תמהים. משה נתן לכם את המילה אלא שלא ממשה היא כי אם מן האבות – וגם בשבת אתם מקימים את המילה. ובכן, אם נמול אדם בשבת כדי שלא תופר תורת משה, עלי כועסים אתם מפני שרפאתי כליל איש בשבת?! אל תשפטו על-פי מראה עינים; משפט צדק שפטו. פ
הֲלֹא מֹשֶׁה נָתַן לָכֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְאֵין אִישׁ מִכֶּם מְקַיֵּם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה. מַדּוּעַ אַתֶּם מְבַקְּשִׁים לַהֲרֹג אוֹתִי? הֵשִׁיב הֶהָמוֹן: שֵׁד בְּךָ, מִי מְבַקֵּשׁ לַהֲרֹג אוֹתְךָ? עָנָה יֵשׁוּעַ וְאָמַר לָהֶם: מַעֲשֶׂה אֶחָד עָשִׂיתִי וְכֻלְּכֶם תְּמֵהִים. מֹשֶׁה נָתַן לָכֶם אֶת הַמִּילָה אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא מִמֹּשֶׁה הִיא כִּי אִם מִן הָאָבוֹת – וְגַם בְּשַׁבָּת אַתֶּם מְקַיְּמִים אֶת הַמִּילָה. וּבְכֵן, אִם נִמּוֹל אָדָם בְּשַׁבָּת כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תּוּפַר תּוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה, עָלַי כּוֹעֲסִים אַתֶּם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁרִפֵּאתִי כָּלִיל אִישׁ בְּשַׁבָּת?! אַל תִּשְׁפְּטוּ עַל־פִּי מַרְאֵה עֵינַיִם; מִשְׁפַּט צֶדֶק שִׁפְטוּ. פ
“Did not Mosheh give you the Torah? Yet none of you carry out the Torah. Why are you seeking to kill me?” The people (the crowd who were observing the verbal conflict between Rabbi Yeshua and the priestly and rabbinic leaders) answered and said, “There is a demon in you! Who is seeking to kill you?” Yeshua answered and said to them, “I have done one deed, and all of you are amazed by it. Mosheh gave you circumcision, although it does not come from Mosheh but the fathers, and even on Shabbat every male is to be circumcised (brit milah). Now if you will circumcise a person’s foreskin on Shabbat so that the Torah of Mosheh is not violated, why do you get angry at me for healing the entire man on Shabbat? Do not judge by the appearance of the eye, but judge with a correct righteous judgment” (משפט צדק-mishpat tzedek).
Messiah accused his opposing Jewish brothers of not adhering to the commandments of HaShem (the NAME) that Mosheh (האב משה) had delivered to God’s people (Israel). Instead, these false teachers—who sat on the seat of Mosheh—falsely interpreted the commandments of HaShem to His people in an oppressive, legalistic way. They did this for reasons of ‘their’ own personal pride and self-promotion; and not for the purpose of sincerely serving Avinu Shebashamayim (our heavenly Father). Messiah, the Holy One (Kedosh) of HaShem accused the religious leaders (priests and rabbis) of his day of committing the same *sins toward him as did Joseph’s brothers in the book of Genesis (cf Bereshit Chapter 37).
*Jealousy and hateful envy.
Honored Shepherd (Day #6) – Heart of Father Aharon:
The Heart (Torah) of father Aaron is that of the “High Priest.”
Aaron’s name (lit. the Light-bringer) is not explicitly mentioned in the messianic narrative of Sukkot. It appears that the Salvation of HaShem (Yeshua) has assumed that his fellow Jews know that the sacrifices of Chag HaSukkot could not happen without the Jewish priesthood. His Jewish audience knows that central to all of the festivals it is necessary that daily and special sacrifices must be offered up to Adonai Eloheinu (the LORD our God). Therefore, Messiah’s reference to Aaron (האב אהרון) on Sukkot is both subtle and obvious. Obvious, for we know that the Messiah is the true (permanent) High Priest who brings to us both God’s “Living water” and His “Light of life.” For this reason we assert that if you look closely you will see :
The theme of the Messiah’s priestly ministry to Israel and the entire world is, in fact, central to his teaching on Sukkot.
How did the Messiah give reference to the Torah of Aaron (the Light-bringer), the High Priest, in his teaching during the Festival of Sukkot? The Messiah addressed several priestly issues when he taught us (Israel) about the outpouring of his *Living Torah of the Spirit. Look at his multiple references to his delivery of God’s “springs of living water;” and also, pay attention to his claim that he was the Bringer of (God’s) “Light to the world.” Both of these allusions of the Messiah to the living water and the illuminating light of God are certainly priestly in nature and function.
*The real Oral Torah is the Living Torah of the Spirit.
In summary the Messiah’s two-fold illustrations of his priestly ministry were: first, that due to his redemptive ministry on earth (in his first coming) the Spirit of Holiness would be poured out on Israel and eventually upon the entire gentile world. We read:
“On the last and greatest day of the Festival (Chag HaSukkot), the ‘Salvation of HaShem’ (Yeshua) stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By this he meant the Spirit whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (cf. the Messiah in Sukkot, chapters 21 for further explanation).
And second, it is written that when the Messiah spoke again he said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (cf. the Messiah in Sukkot, chapters 22 for further explanation).
Honored Shepherd (Day #7) – Heart of Father David:
The Heart (Torah) of father David is that of the “KIng.”
The Heart (Torah ) of father David (האב דוד), the Beloved One (whose name means love that is boiling over) is taught to us by our Messiah ben David on the *seventh day of his teaching at the Festival of Sukkot. The seventh day is the day of celebrating the Torah of the King. This “last and greatest day of the Festival” is a symbol of the culmination of all human history that happily ends with the near edenic rule of the Messiah ben David over all of the nations and peoples of the world (cf. our document “Messiah in Rosh HaShanah II & Chanukkah II“). The religious leaders of the first century were aware that the Messiah had to be a direct descendant of King David and must be born in Beit-Lechem (Bethlehem). They knew both requirements were true of the Messiah Yeshua. In the Temple was a record of every Jewish person’s physical ancestry. The religious leaders who opposed our Rabbi most definitely could have used this genealogical record against him if he were not a true descendant of King David (the ‘Beloved’ One). These high ranking leaders without a doubt also knew that Rabbi Yeshua’s birthplace was Beit-Lechem (the ‘House of Bread’). Some would have even known about the special events that surrounded the Messiah’s birth:
Event #1. The census by Caesar Augustus, the travel of Yosef ben David and Miryam bat David to the city of their ancestor David—Beit-Lechem;
Event #2. The angels’ appearances and announcement of the Messiah’s birth to the priest Zecharyah, and the Messiah’s mother Miryam; and later to the shepherds in Beit-Lechem;
Event #3. The testimony of the wise men from the East;
Event #4. King Herod’s failed attempt to murder the Messiah Yeshua ben David as an infant;
Event #5. The testimony of the elderly Shim’on (meaning one who has “Heard, Understood, and Obeyed”) and the widow Anna (meaning “Kindness, Favor, Grace”) who both gave forth witness to the truth that Yeshua is the Messiah of God. Thy did this at the Temple 33 days from the day of his circumcision that occurred on the eighth day of Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Extended Assembly) and Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in Torah); these are the two holidays that immediately follow Sukkot.
The corrupt, elite priestly and rabbinic religious leaders of Rabbi Yeshua’s day knew the truth that Yeshua was by birth the direct descendant and actual heir to King David. Yet, they attempted to oppose the rightful king at every turn.
Like King Saul in his murderous hatred of David, the civil (and religious) leaders hated the Messiah ben David and they sought to kill him.
The corrupt religious and political leaders of Israel were in one accord – even seeking to kill the promised King of Glory. Nevertheless, the fact is the Messiah Yeshua was not killed at the hands of the people of Israel; our Messiah was killed by the gentiles (Roman rulers). Not by our people of Israel. However, like Joseph in Genesis, the Messiah ben Yosef was betrayed by his own envious brothers; the religious (priests, rabbis) and political (Herod Antipas) rulers over Israel. Fortunately for Israel and the entire world the Messiah ben HaAdam Ha-acharon (the last Adam) due to his faithfulness even (now) possesses power over death. He is alive! And he shall return to Israel soon! (Regarding his victory over death – cf. the Messiah in HaBikkurim).
*The number seven in the Torah speaks of what has become “whole,” “well,” “complete,” and “perfect.” Therefore, when the Messiah ben David is finally installed as the King of Israel and the King of (all) the World – finally the fulfillment of all of the wonderful promises of God will bring healing (wellness) to the nations. Then will the Messiah of HaShem “make all things new” (1, 2, 3) – complete and perfect in every way!